CHapter 86


    “Craving anything to munch on?” he asked.


    “Nah.”


    Palmer got the hint and gestured for Annie to steer the car towards a downtown eatery.


    “Into painting, are you? Prefer oil or sketch? Got a few decent pieces back at mine, could owing


    them by next time.”


    “I’m more into oils. Don’t bother, I’m swamped with paintings as it is.” She said.


    Master Killian must churn out a gazillion paintings for her each year, and Ivan, Killian’s star pupil


    leaves his works lying around Pris Star’sb like they’re going out of style.


    “So spill. What’s your jam?” Palmer requested.


    Noe couldn’t help but look up at Palmer with a puzzled look.


    The guy was a mix of suave and ice–cold, one nce and you’d peg him as a ruthless ruler with a


    heart of stone. Yet, when he peered at her, all you could see was this uncontroble tenderness.


    Those deep and piercing eyes carried a touch frosty, while his whole vibe screamed a chilled


    elegance. And there, at his cuffs, a pair of ruby cufflinks added him an extrayer of posh.


    “Why the sudden interest in my likes?” she asked.


    “I could y the guessing game with your preferences, but hitting the nail on the head with gifts. is


    always a win. Plus, I wanna get to know you better.” Palmer whipped off his sses that were


    perched on his prominent nose and put them aside casually.


    Without the barrier of lenses, he could gaze more intently into Noe’s crystal–clear eyes.


    “Before I knew you were my fiancée, prying into your likes might’ve! can, I’d rather hear it from you


    than through the grapevine.”


    Under his intense gaze, it was like she could see a vast starry sky.


    “Got it.” She nodded.


    a tad rude. Now that !


    “But hey, if you are itching to figure me out, there are plenty of ways. I’m an open book.”


    Noe pursed her lips, ncing at Palmer, “Saw this morning’s gossip rag tagging you with some


    mystery actress at a hotel. Cool with that?”


    His smile froze instantly. Tabloid journos always cook up anything for clicks!


    If Noe actually bought that spiel, he’d be up incapable of defending himself.


    A smirk yed on Noe’s lips.


    Annie, the dutiful assistant, leapt into action as she watched her boss get cornered, “Miss, that


    13:24


    was a family member rted to Mr. Pock, and they were at the Pock Group’s hotel. We’ll


    handle that media mess, so you just sit tight.”


    Noe wasn’t really using the news to test Palmer. She just got a kick out of seeing him.


    squirm.


    Palmer chuckled wryly, his eyes never straying from Noe, “Gotcha, you’re miffed I haven’t


    introduced you to the Pocks. Was worried you’d be spooked because they’re a tad overbearing.


    But since you’ve asked, I’ll set it up ASAP. Just give me a bit of time.”


    Now Noe was the one who couldn’t muster a smile. She never wanted to meet his family.


    But Palmer took it to heart. He turned around to arrange a Pock family dinner, and with Noe


    unable to get a word in edgewise, she just let it be.


    In the Horwich Mansion


    Yvonne sat on the couch and was bawling her eyes out. Her tears were flowing like a faucet as she


    said, “Grandpa, I never wanted topete with Noe! But she’s just too much. She tossed out the


    painting I ved over for two months!”


    Merrick had seen Yvonne’s dedication to that piece and knew it was abor of love.


    But if Noe tossed it, there must be a reason.


    He’d given Noe the gallery and wasn’t about to meddle. Whatever she wanted to do was fine by


    him.


    Watching Yvonne cry her heart out, Tristan was getting edgy, “Yvonne, the gallery’s Noe’s now.


    Our hands are tied. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ve got a small gallery and now it’s yours. Take your


    paintings, hang them up, and have your own show.”


    Yvonne’s tears stopped in their tracks!”


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Tristan’s gallery wasn’t even a tenth of Merrick’s size!


    They were fobbing her off with that little space?!


    And why did Noe get the prime gallery, and she’s left with crumbs?


    “Dad, that’s not what I meant. I just want an exnation. She’s being unfair to me. Is she holding a


    grudge? That painting was my heart and soul. Grandpa’s an artist: surely he understands the


    significance of a work. If she treats an artist’s work like this, then God knows what she’ll do with the


    gallery.” She retorted.


    Merrick waved it off as if it were nothing. “Noe can do as she pleases. Worst case, the gallery


    goes under. No biggie.”


    No biggie?!


    That gallery was the Imperial City’s art hub and home to the most Killian masterpieces. If


    1904


    Noe runs it into the ground, won’t that prove the bumpkin can’t handle a gallery?


    Why was Merrick so chill about it?


    “I don’t mind the gallery, but that painting was my masterpiece and it was two months of hard work.


    She showed me zero respect so she owes me an apology!”


    Tristan was in a pickle.


    His princess apologizing to Yvonne? He couldn’t bear it.


    Even if his daughter stepped out of line, it wasn’t the end of the world.


    But Yvonne grew up alongside Ashlyn, calling him ‘Dad.‘ If she made a fuss to Ashlyn, his girl would


    be in for a headache.


    After a silent moment, Sienna suggested, “Let’s wait for Noe toe back, then we’ll talk.”


    She was confident her sweet, smart, lovely, and charming daughter would never do anything so


    disrespectful!


    Sienna knew her precious girl’s character inside out. The Lambert family has been such jerks to


    Noe, and she hasn’t even thought about getting back at the Lamberts. It’s just heartbreaking.


    Sienna wants to believe there’s a good reason her daughter’s taking the high road.


    Yvonne was bitter and ticked off that Sienna still didn’t take her side, even with things the way they


    were, “Mom, are you saying you don’t believe me? I’m your daughter too. I get that you feel for sis,


    but you can’t just ignore right and wrong!”


    Freya couldn’t stand it anymore and snapped, “Enough! We can’t just take your word for it. Let’s


    wait for Noe toe back and give us the lowdown. If she really ditched your painting without


    any good reason, she owes you an apology. But if there’s more to the story, that’s a different ball


    game.”


    “Yes, Grandma.” Yvonne didn’t dare to throw a tantrum in front of Freya and had to agree.


    Darn it, they were still siding with Noe even if things had gone so wrong. If she couldn’t do


    something soon, she’d be a nobody in the Schnabel family.