CHapter 68


    Palmer’s parting etiquette was a dime a dozen, and his moves were smooth as silk – the dude was


    unppable. But Noe couldn’t shake off the feeling that her hand was getting hot where he


    touched it.


    “Pick me up for what?”


    “Aren’t we supposed to swing by to see your grandparents? Got the presents all wrapped up and


    ready to go.”


    Merrick had indeed set a date with her to chow down with the Horwich family tomorrow, and since


    the Schnabel family folks had a spat and bounced, her n was to roll with Stirling.


    Beckett was jet–setting for business talks, Ulrich was tied up with surgeries untilte, and Jasper


    had court stuff. That left Stirling, who had just wrapped up a movie gig and was heading home.


    “Don’t tell me you aren’t nning to bring me along? Grandpa Merrick invited me too, you know.”


    Noe was speechless. Since when did her grandpa invite him?


    However, Grandma managing to leave theb ande home was partly thanks to Palmer, and


    since both families go way back, giving him the cold shoulder wouldn’t be cool.


    “Alright, I’ll wait for you.”


    Palmer, all lovey–dovey, tapped her cute, upturned nose and cooed, “Good girl.”


    in a few


    The Pock Group was up to its eyeballs in deals, so after Palmer nagged Noe with a few


    reminders, he hightailed it out of the hospital.


    No sooner had Palmer left than Vincent, dodging Major Gat on patrol, snuck into the ward.


    “Noe, girl, you gotta help your old man out! Your mom got knocked by someone, still unconscious.


    Since you’re Marcel’s caretaker, put in a good word for us with him so the Schnabels can lend a


    hand, can you?


    Our family has never done anything bad to you, and raising you wasn’t a walk in the park! All these


    years, whatever you wanted, we gave. You can’t just discard us after you’ve gotten what you


    wanted!”


    Noe’s smirk wasced with sarcasm. “When I was a kid, Grandma asked you for cash for my


    school. You said girls didn’t need that much book smarts. It was Grandma, behind my back, trash–


    picking to send me to school.”


    Vincent squirmed! This was stuff from when Noe was four or five- how the heck did she


    remember it like it was yesterday?


    “Back then, we were strapped. Your mom and I were pinching pennies, really didn’t have the


    11:13


    dough for school…”


    Noe cracked a smile.


    Back then, Briony was living it up at a private kindergarten, thanks to Vincent’s five grand a month.


    And her? She was depending on Old Mrs. Lambert, tirelessly collecting bottles to save up for her


    education.


    Vincent had swiped all of Old Mrs. Lambert’s savings for his business ventures, not leaving a dime


    for Noe’s schooling.


    “In middle school, Grandma footed the bill for living expenses and tuition. You thought dropping five


    hundred a month was too steep and even told me to skimp on meals. You weren’t hurting for cash


    then.”


    By that time, Vincent had his mansion, and the family had moved to Tranquility City.


    “I’m telling it straight, Noe, Girls with too much cash are bound to go bad. I was looking out for


    you. Five hundred was plenty for grub. I only spent three hundred a month on food back then!”


    “Mr. Lambert, back in the day, you and your wife were slurping down bird’s nests that cost three


    grand a bowl daily.”


    Vincent was speechless.


    This girt! Why the heck did she have to remember all that trivial junk? He had even forgotten those


    nitty–gritty details. She was heartless, hanging onto all the wrong things. Why didn’t she ever talk


    about the good stuff they did for her? Plus, if they were really mistreating Noe, would she have


    turned out this tall and pretty?


    “I was just worried you’d stretch out your stomach if you ate too much. It’d be a pain to slim down


    later, wouldn’t look good. Look at you now; you’re in great shape!


    I raised you all these years, even if you don’t give me merit, at least you’ve got to appreciate it was


    hard work, right? Your grandma is a Lambert, too. Her being good to you is me being good


    to you!


    Find time to butter up Marcel, get him to prop up our family. Once we’re on.easy street, it’ll only be


    good for you!”


    The door swung open, and in rolled a livid Marcel, pushed by an equally sour–faced Stirling. ready


    to knock Vincent into next week.


    They always thought the Lambert family did right by Noe, but it turned out her childhood was


    even rougher than they had dug up. What kind of family wouldn’t even give their kids a full meal?


    Their only daughter in the Schnabel family had to rely on an olddy picking trash to afford school


    how bitter was that!


    “Mar… Mr. Marcel, I’m Noe’s dad; I’m here because…”


    11:13


    Marcel gripped the wheelchair’s armrest, not wanting to lose it in front of his granddaughter. gritted


    his teeth, and spat. “Scram!”


    Vincent, faced with the old man’s wrath, was tongue–tied and got hauled out of the ward by Major


    Gat.


    Tears filled Marcel’s eyes as he motioned for Noe.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Come here, child.”


    “Grandpa, I’m okay.”


    Marcel held Noe’s hand, his heart aching. “Noe, you want us to take them down? Just say the


    word, and I will do anything for you!”


    Noe shook her head. “No need to dirty our hands for people who don’t matter. Grandpa, I have a


    family now. The past doesn’t matter.”


    Tears brimming, Marcel turned away and wiped his eyes.


    He couldn’t find the words, just patted his granddaughter’s delicate hand firmly. “Good girl. you’re


    melting your grandpa’s heart!


    From now on, you’re one of the Schnabels. Your big bro said we’re moving Old Mrs. Lambert’s


    grave. The Schnabel family will take over the offerings. Even if it means moving it to our family’s


    ancestral home, I agree!”


    Had it not been for Old Mrs. Lambert taking care of Noe, he might never have met such a


    wonderful granddaughter.


    If Old Mrs. Lambert didn’t mind, the Schnabel family’s ancestral home was the prime spot, a perfect


    ce for the olddy to rest in peace!


    “No need, Grandpa. Grandma would probably prefer to stick closer to home. I had my older brother


    set her up in the family estate, which we’ve also bought.”


    Stirling stepped forward and hugged Noe, gently patting her back. “Sis, if anything’s bugging you,


    you’ve got to spill the beans to your brothers. If that jerk shows up to hassle you again,e


    straight to me, alright?”


    “Got it, Stirling.”


    Stirling held Noe tight, his face pressed against her shoulder. She felt a dampness that made her


    do a double–take.


    Was her brother crying?


    Stirling’s voice was shaky. “I’m sorry, we didn’t keep you safe. You were right here, and we let that


    scumbag bother you. It won’t happen again!”


    What did that have to do with the Schnabel family? It was Vincent who sneaked in all by himself.


    The Lambert family folks were always thick–skinned, and the Schnabels, considering them to be


    Noe’s former kin, didn’t go all out on him.


    11:13


    The Schnabels yed fair, but the Lamberts had no shame. Keeping Vincent at bay was no


    easy task.


    Noe patted Stirling’s shoulder, turning the tables tofort her brother.


    “I’m fine. I don’t give a hoot about the Lambert folks; don’t worry about me.”


    Marcel watched the hugging siblings and made a hooking gesture with his little finger.


    Major Gat bent down, getting close to Marcel.


    “Set up a squad to protect the young miss at all times. If those punks from earlier get anywhere


    near her, kick them out. If pushes to shove, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.”


    That ‘don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty‘ meant Marcel was seriously ticked off!


    “Understood! We’ll make sure the young miss is safe and sound!”