CHapter 79


    The moment Merrickid eyes on Noe, he knew exactly how he’d pen his new masterpiece!


    The old man felt like his long–dormant writer’s heart had been reeled back in, and his creative block


    was smashed to smithereens!


    Sienna was pretty bbergasted too. “Dad, how many years has it been since you’ve written a


    book? I remember that you said you were gonna take a breather after snagging the Honor


    Literature Prize.”


    The old man was all fired up, not showing a hint of feeling under the weather.


    “After seeing Noe, I reckon I could whip up another ten books! Noe, kiddo, I’ve got a sort of


    music store and I’m handing it over to you. Pop in when you’ve got a sec and pick out a zither you


    fancy. We’ll start creating magic next week!”


    Sienna jumped in to intercept.


    “Dad, that music store’s got a ton on its te. Noe will get worn out. If you’re fond of her, just


    snag her a zither and call it a day.”


    Merrick’s store wasn’t just any old shop; it doubled as an art exhibition center where many maestros


    showcased their zithers, a real hub for the zither bigwigs.


    “A girl’s gotta have her own gig. Noe, the store is yours now. Whatever dough it makes each


    year, it’s all yours. Oh, and throw in the gallery next door too. If it gets too much, have Beckett pitch


    in. He’ll handle the hustle and you pocket the cash. The old man didn’t see anything off–kilter with


    his n..


    He was doling out businesses to Noe left and right, with the vibe that he wouldn’t mind tossing a


    few more her way.


    When Beckett heard this, he thought Merrick’s n held water.


    “Alright, I’ll keep things ticking over for Noe, and the profits are hers. If it tanks, I’ll take the


    hit.”


    The old man cracked a satisfied grin, “That’s my boy.”


    Beckett already had his hands full, so squeezing in a family dinner was a feat. He was already


    buried in financial reports during his car rides, and piling morepanies on his te would


    probably run him ragged.


    So Noe quickly chimed in, “I’ll manage it myself. It’s Grandpa’s hard work, and I’ll be sure to learn


    the ropes from Beckett.”


    Merrick nodded, “Sure, they’re just small ventures. Have a little fun with them. And hey, if they go


    belly up, no biggie. Count it on me.”


    Merrick sounded like he was practically grooming Noe to be some kind of spoiled heiress.


    Noe felt a warm fuzziness inside. She knew that her grandpa felt like he owed her something. and


    that was exactly a thought from someone who loved her. Both the Schnabel and the Horwich


    families felt they owed her because they loved her.


    Freya looked at Noe with tender affection. Her silver locks didn’t dull her elegance one bit.


    Instead, they added a touch of poise and grace.


    “Noe, September’s around the corner. Have you decided on a university yet? If not, how about


    shadowing grandma in biology?”


    Noe pulled out the eptance letter from her bag and handed it over to Freya.


    “I’m off to Imperial University to study jewelry design.”


    She had settled on her school and major a while back, partly because Imperial was closest to the


    Schnabels, and partly because she had promised Old Mrs. Lambert as a child she’d craft the


    world’s finest jewelry.


    Back in that starry courtyard, Old Mrs. Lambert had taught her to identify the stars while cradling her


    in her arms.


    “Someday, our little one will shine bright as a star too.”


    “Then I’ll study jewelry design and make the prettiest jewels for grandma!”


    Old Mrs. Lambert was over the moon, showering Noe with kisses as theirughter filled the


    courtyard.


    Seeing Noe’s eptance letter, Freya beamed ear to ear.


    “Wow, our Noe’s such a star! A schrship offer, no less! The brainy kid is surely our lineage!”


    Sienna joined in, grabbing Noe’s letter and nting several kisses on her!


    Her daughter was just perfect! She was beautiful, sweet–tempered, and excelling academically


    even in the dump of the Lambert family. Such a wless daughter was truly Sienna’s pride and joy!


    “Noe, why didn’t you tell us?” Sienna asked.


    Noe was a bit speechless.


    From Beckett to ra, everyone pretty much waltzed into university without a hitch in the


    Schnabels – not to mention ra being some kind of teen prodigy. Her eptance was hardly a


    big deal in the Schnabel family.


    “Just got it a few days ago.” She replied.


    Tristan was beside himself with emotion, practically bawling. “The Schnabels have a few jewelry


    businesses – they’re all yours now! I will keep them warm for you until you graduate, then you can


    dive straight into work!”


    12:21


    Sienna was all for it.


    “A girl needs her own career. Noe, it’s not that your dad and I don’t want to take care of you. Look


    at me – I got pushed around because I was stuck at home doing nothing.”


    Seeing his wife bring up painful memories, Tristan was a bundle of nerves.


    “Honey, let’s just jet off somewhere after Noe starts school. Let the eldest deal with the household


    mess!” he added.


    “That makes sense. After we drop off Noe, we’ll take a trip. Didn’t we buy an indst time? We


    should get one for Noe when shees to find us there during the holiday too!”


    Beckett couldn’t bear to watch these two. So, they’d have their fun and leave him to mop up the


    mess at him, huh?


    He was at his wit’s end dealing with Ashlyn’s tantrums and antics.


    Recalling what Marcel had advised her, Noe nced at Beckett, who was lost for words. “Brother,


    Grandpa said not to sweat it too much.”


    Beckett’s eyes lit up!


    The kids haven’t had much love for Ashlyn for ages. They’ve watched her push Sienna around


    since childhood. She was also harsh to them, and they couldn’t evenpete with Yvonne.


    Back when they were kids at the dinner table, Yvonne was the only one having meat in her bowl,


    while Beckett and his little brothers could barelyy their hands on an egg.


    Merrick thought the Schnabels were hitting rock bottom, so he scooped up the kids. And Ashlyn?


    She was all snarky, going on about how the Horwiches looked down on the Schnabels and saying a


    married daughter should never hang at her folks‘ ce everyday.


    t


    If she wasn’t their elder, those Schnabel sons wouldn’t give her the time of day.


    But now that Marcel’s spoken up, he ain’t sweating the small stuff, “Alright, got it.”


    Merrick was grinning ear to ear while gazing at Noe’s eptance letter, “Hey, Noe, can you let


    me keep this? I wanna frame it and hang it in my study!”


    In Merrick’s study, it’s like a hall of fame of literary trophies. And now he wanted to add her no–frills


    eptance letter?


    Noe’s turning beet red.


    But everyone else seems to think it’s a brilliant idea.


    Freya’s got her hands together, all hopeful eyes on Noe, “Noe, can you make a copy for me


    too? I wanna hang it in myb .And let’s snap a family photo to carry with me. I want to keep you


    close at all times!”


    “But my other brothers and sister aren’t home.” Noe said.


    Freya waves that off, “I’ve got heaps of their photos. We take them every year! I just want


    12:22


    yours!”


    Freya and Merrick may be getting on in years. They were still on the front lines of art and research,


    but their hearts were all set on Noe, their granddaughter.


    It’s a crying shame they missed her kiddie years – damn Lambert family didn’t even snap a few


    pics! Instead, it’s Briony who’s got albums galore.


    Now, looking at Noe, they want to put her on a pedestal – she can do no wrong in their eyes.


    “Okay, I’ll take a photo with you two in a bit.” Noe smiled.


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    “Alright! Let’s go change, quick sticks!” Freya and Merrick eximed.