CHapter 87


    12:24


    “Grandpa knows how long I ved over that painting, and even if sis took over the gallery, she can’t


    just chuck it out like that. I know she’s always treated me like I don’t belong, like I’m the ck sheep


    of the family, and it’s all my fault.”


    Seeing Yvonne sobbing her heart out, Tristan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy, “Chill out.


    Yvonne. Let’s wait for Noe to get back and we’ll get the lowdown on the whole thing.”


    Yvonne was almost beside herself with frustration.


    Just wait till that bumpkin shows up and see what she has to say! She thought.


    If the Schnabel family got wind that she’s targeting me on purpose, they’d kick her out on her ear for


    sure.


    An hourter. Palmer parked the car at the gates of the Horwich Mansion.


    “I can’t stick around for a visit today: got a bit of a situation at the office. Apologize to your grandpa


    and grandma for me, will ya?”


    Noe nodded at the car door, “Yeah, don’t sweat it about dropping by for grub when you’re


    swamped. We can catch up on the blower if anything’s up.”


    Deep down she knew Palmer’s recent busyness was all about carving out time to meet up with


    Thorpe.


    Now that she’s set on meeting Thorpe, having the folks from Pris Star and Obelisk Organization


    in her corner was enough. She’d be ready for whatever came her way.


    Palmer, lounging in the plush car seat, caught wind of her words and suddenly lifted his gaze. His


    eyes sparkled as he looked at the girl before him, “I wanna be there with you.”


    He’d been burning the midnight oil and crunching financial statements while waiting for her–all just


    to spend time with her.


    After all this time together, Palmer had a pretty good read on his fiancée’s temperament.


    “The gifts for my grandpa and grandma will be delivered. You go on in.” Noe, under his intense


    gaze, felt her cheeks heat up and turned to enter the Horwich Mansion.


    Only after her figure had vanished behind the doors did Palmer start up the car engine and leave


    the Horwich Mansion.


    Sienna spotted Noe walking in and immediately went to greet her, “Sweetheart, did you eat your


    fill tonight? Mr. Pock called to say you dined together, so we didn’t save dinner for you. Want me


    to whip up something?”


    Noe was touched that Palmer had even thought to give Sienna a heads–up, “I’m good, no need


    to cook.”


    Sienna peeked behind Noe a few times, but there was no sign of Palmer.


    12:24


    *Sweetie, did Mr. Pock head out? Why not invite him in for a quick drink before he left?” she


    asked.


    “He had stuff to do so he had headed back to the office.


    Sienna had worried that Noe and Palmer might have had a falling out over dinner, but hearing


    that Palmer had gone back to work, she breathed a sigh of relief.


    With thepany that busy and still making time for a meal with Noe, it was clear Palmer was


    serious about his future with their daughter.


    Merrick was also quite taken with Palmer.


    Ever since they met on the yacht, he could tell Palmer was super protective of the girl by his side–


    that look in his eyes was unmistakable. It was just like the way he looked at his own missus.


    Merrick cleared his throat and nced at Yvonne, who was still perched on the sofa, “Noe,


    Yvonne’s saying you’ve lost one of her paintings. What’s the deal?”


    Noe caught on that Yvonne had run to Merrick to snitch, “The painting was a copy and shouldn’t


    be hanging in the original section. I had the gallery manager take care of it. The so–called ‘creator‘


    insists it’s original, but I don’t think it fits our gallery.”


    The painting was a copy?


    Merrick nodded; although he thought the painting had perfectposition and lighting. Yvonne


    really didn’t have the aesthetic sense or the skill for it.


    Yvonne bit her lip, looking forlorn, “Why do you get to say it’s a copy? It’s really my own creation. If


    you don’t want my stuff in your gallery, just tell me. There’s no need to humiliate me like this…”


    Noe frowned slightly. Was she implying she’d been singled out?


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    All this fuss over a painting that was actually still hanging in her study, using such a flimsy excuse to


    smear her seemed downright petty.


    Noe stated coolly. “Because the real deal is in my study. The original piece called ‘The Mountain


    Portray‘ is by Master Killian. Your painting just so happens to be a carbon copy of Master Killian’s


    work.”


    Sienna remembered there were indeed several oil paintings hanging in Noe’s study. She thought


    her daughter liked oil paintings and had specially ordered several of Master Killian’s pieces to


    surprise Noe.


    Yvonne’s eyes bulged!


    The original was in Noe’s study?!


    Impossible!


    And Noe could even name the painting–Yvonne had seen it once at a private exhibition and


    12:24


    remembered it.


    It must be a gift from the Schnabel family parents to Noe, or else how could that bumpkin get


    ahold of a Master Killian original?


    Thinking of the Schnabel parents‘ boundless affection for Noe, Yvonne’s face contorted with


    jealousy. “That painting is my original work. I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”


    Merrick nced between the everposed Noe and the wide–eyed, agitated Yvonne, and his


    suspicions were confirmed, “Alright, Yvonne, you should head off. Your dad said he’d give you his


    small gallery. If you like painting that much, focus on running it well.”


    Yvonne couldn’t fathom why Merrick refused to belleve her.


    Was it just because they weren’t blood–rted?


    All this should’ve been hers.


    Seeing things resolved, Tristan also breathed a sigh of relief.


    As long as his precious daughter wasn’t being wronged, everything else was just water under the


    bridge.


    “You go take care of your grandma at the hospital. I’ll have someone send your painting over.” He


    announced.


    “Okay, I got it.” Yvonne gritted her teeth, not wanting to give in but also scared of Noe giving her a


    hard time, so she grabbed her purse from the couch and bolted from the Horwich Mansion.


    The moment she stepped outside, she hailed a cab to the Imperial West Hospital and copsed.


    beside Ashlyn’s bed in tears, “Granny! How can they treat me like this? Noe tossed out the


    painting I ved over for two months! And she used me of copying.”


    Ashlyn’s ears perked up. This was not going to fly, she mused.


    “What did your dad say?” she asked.


    “Dad told me to let it go. He said we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff as a family. E…even if we’re not


    blood–rted, Dad shouldn’t y favorites like this. I mean, you basically raised me from scratch,


    and Dad doesn’t seem to care about your feelings at all.”


    Not blood–rted? Ashlyny back down, squinted her eyes, and pondered for a while.


    “Hand me my phone, I need to call Tristan.”


    “Granny, please don’t fight with Dad over me, I’m okay.” Yvonne sobbed.


    But Yvonne said this while passing Ashlyn her phone, worried that if she was too slow, her granny


    might change her mind.


    Tristan was out shopping for thetest fashion for their darling daughter when he picked up the call.


    “What’s up?”


    12:24


    Hearing theughter and joy on the other end, and thinking about how she was alone in the chilly


    hospital room with no visitors, Ashlyn’s temper red.


    “How dare you ask? I’ve been sick for so long, and you can’t evene to see me?” she


    scowled.


    Tristan’s mood instantly deted when he heard Ashlyn’s voice, “Haven’t I arranged for over twenty


    caregivers for you? Isn’t that enough?”


    “What good are caregivers? They can’t match the care from your own flesh and blood. The olddy


    in the bed next to me has her son and daughter–inw looking after her personally. Guess I’m just


    not that lucky.”