CHapter 76


    Yasbel was massaging her earlobes and leaning into Noe, breathing out a scent as lovely as


    orchids, enchanting and mesmerizing.


    “Okay, this bug might be an eyesore, but I’ve tested it out. We can mass–produce these bad boys,


    and the data’s good to go.”


    The bugs from Pris Star were made in cahoots with Harmonia Country Research Institute’s top–


    notchbs, supplied directly to the military and for Pris Star’s internal use.


    “You’ve been working your butt off. All the credit for this experiment’s data goes to you.”


    Yasbel, tickled pink, hugged Noe’s arm and nuzzled it affectionately. “Who cares about credit? I


    wanna be in the spotlight!”


    “You got it. I’ll bankroll you. Shoot whatever movie you want.”


    Yasbel’s eyes lit up like Christmas trees! Her boss was rolling in dough these days.


    Back in the day, they had to hustle like crazy just to scrape together some change for their


    experiments. They startedpanies left and right, some hitting the big time, others opening


    shops, but money was always tight.


    And thoseb gears cost an arm and a leg!=


    Last time, they bought a few grams of some rock, and bam, over a hundred grand gone, making the


    boss mine for stones up in Northstone.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Just thinking about it got Yasbel all teary–eyed.


    But now, her boss had switched to a family rolling in it, and finally, they could live a bit more


    comfortably!


    “Next month, when the Gemstone Gambling King swings by Imperial City, you’re gonna be my plus


    one.”


    Yasbel nearly bit her tongue off, stuttering as she looked at Noe. “The Gemstone Gambling…


    King?”


    “The old man’sing too. No more hiding.” Noe’s gambling skills were mostly learned from the


    old man and Yasbel. But Yasbel chose to unt her beauty in acting instead. If the old man caught


    her, she would probably get an earful for days!


    Yasbel drooped, reluctantly agreeing. “Oh, boss, I bumped into two characters at the audition. What


    a scene! Ran into Briony and Yvonne, and they so don’t have what it takes to act.”


    Briony and Yvonne? Why on earth would they think of joining showbiz?


    “That’s none of my business.”


    “Want me to mess with them? That Yvonne even told me to drop out. Hrious! Even if I did, she


    couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag. Thinks she’s all that.”


    Noe frowned slightly, looking at Yasbel with concern. “You okay?”


    “All good, all good. If it weren’t for you showing up, there might’ve been trouble. You know I don’t


    know my own strength. Let’s grab some grub!”


    Yasbel was one of Pris Star’s own, someone Noe picked up from the edge of the international


    warzones.


    If it came to a fight, she knew a ton of ways to shut Yvonne up.


    In the audition hall, Yvonne was still wiping away tears.


    Not Noe again!


    Damn it, Noe. Even the actress Noe admired was one she couldn’t stand. If it weren’t for that


    shameless Yasbel snatching roles from her, she would have been the lead!


    “Stirling, you’ve got to stand up for me! That Yasbel just bullied me and didn’t give a damn about our


    family…


    Stirling spoke indifferently. “Just y a supporting role well; don’t cause drama. Remember you’ve


    got a resit at school and Grandma needs you. Don’t go looking for trouble everywhere.”


    Yvonne didn’t want to go back to school! She studied medicine but couldn’t understand a thing!


    “Can I take a break from school… I want to take care of Grandma and maybe polish my acting. I


    don’t want to be the only dead weight in the Schnabel family.”


    The real dead weight of the Schnabel family wasn’t her. It was Noe, whozed around all day.


    Why did she get all the luck?


    Stirling frowned, displeased. “What are you up to now? If you want to take a break, go talk to


    Grandpa, not me. If you want to act, start with the supporting roles. I started as an extra, and so will


    you. Take it step by step.”


    Yvonne nodded, seething inside but not daring to contradict Stirling. She had no choice but to


    agree.


    But once she got into the crew, she would find her chance. Maybe some sabotage to make sure


    Yasbel could never act again and the lead role would be hers.


    Briony, seeing this, hurried over like apdog. “Mr. Schnabel, give me a role too. I’m friends with


    Ms. Schnabel.”


    Stirling felt she looked familiar, probably seen her around Yvonne’s circle before. He nced at


    Briony with impatience. “Go audition yourself.”


    Briony rushed after the departing Stirling, whispering, “I’m the sister of your family’s caretaker,


    Noe…”


    She felt awkward saying it, and only Stirling heard.


    Stirling’s eyes narrowed dangerously, staring straight at Briony. “You’re from the Lambert family?”


    “Yes… I’m Noe’s sister from before; we’re family. If she did anything wrong, Mr. Schnabel, could


    you please forgive her for my sake?”


    Stirling was about to burst intoughter from irritation! Where did the Lambert family get off?


    Comining about their sister right to his face!


    “Alright, I’m seriously sick of this crap!” Stirling, with a stone–cold face, called over some clueless


    security guards. “Throw her out! And cklist their whole family from all Schnabel enterprises!”


    Briony’s eyes widened in shock, wanting to argue her case, but she was quickly silenced and


    tossed out by security!


    It had to be Noe’s doing! Everything was fine until Stirling heard Noe’s name and got mad; that


    was why he treated her this way!


    If it weren’t for that jinx, Noe, she would’ve scored the role she wanted today and been a shining


    star in showbiz!


    Briony was super bummed out and whipped out her phone to tattle to Vincent, only to find her


    phone had been off this whole time. She hurriedly turned it on and called, but after several attempts,


    no one picked up.


    She wondered. “Where the heck did Mom and Dad go? They didn’t ditch me and go back to Noe,


    did they?”


    The more Briony thought about it, the more she felt it was possible. If Noe got back into the


    Lambert family, she was certain to snatch everything that was hers!


    She had to do something to prove she was the Lambert family’s most valuable daughter.


    Finally, the call went through, and Vincent’s screams came from the other end. “My dear daughter!


    Hurry up and bring some cash to save us! Or else your mom and I are gonna get whacked!”


    Briony’s eyes nearly popped out of her head! “Dad, what are you talking about? Where are you


    now?”


    “Outskirts of Imperial City. They’re demanding five million; hurry up and bring the money to save


    us!”


    Five million? She didn’t have that kind of cash! After her return to the family, she had been on a


    revenge shopping spree. Forget about having five million; she didn’t even have five hundred bucks


    on her.


    12-21


    “I, I don’t have that much money…”


    “Go to Milford! Get the Rosenberg family to cough up the dough to save us! Ah! Stop hitting, stop


    hitting… Dear daughter, your mom’s and my lives are in your hands now!”


    Vincent and Belinda’s screams were a nonstop horror show on the other end of the phone, sending


    chills down Briony’s spine.


    Nearly in tears and panicking, she quickly agreed, “Okay, okay, I’m on my way to find Milford.”