CHapter 90


    “Grandma’s health is really bad, and every time Noees around, she says some pretty nasty


    stuff. I have no clue why she’s being so mean to Grandma.


    Yvonne was bawling her eyes out, looking absolutely pitiful.


    “Mr. Pock! Grandma is just looking out for the Schnabel family, she’s telling the truth. I swear. I


    know you don’t wanna believe it, but Grandma wouldn’t lie to you…


    Palmer gave Yvonne and Ashlyn, who was clutching her chest and moaning, a cold nce.


    “I only believe what I see with my own eyes. I know exactly what Noe is like, and nobody’s gonna


    drag her name through the mud on my watch.”


    With those words, he yanked the hospital room door open, ready to make his exit without a second


    thought. He didn’t even give a rat’s ass about Ashlyn pretending to be sick on the bed.


    Ashlyn was freaking out!


    She couldn’t believe Palmer wouldn’t even give her the time of day! She had it all nned out – if


    Palmer just showed a bit of sympathy while she was ying sick and said some nice things, she


    could weasel Yvonne into his good graces.


    Even if she couldn’t make them break off the engagement right away, at least she could keep


    Yvonne around Palmer all the time. Any guy would fall for that eventually! And the engagement


    would naturally fall into Yvonne’sp!


    But Palmer just up and left, with a face colder than ice.


    “I’m telling the stone–cold truth! That Noe chick stole a ton of my money!”


    Palmer frowned, and as he opened the hospital door, Noe was standing right there.


    She was dressed in a light purple dress today, paired with a pearl bag that Sienna had picked out


    with care, wearing off–white leather shoes. Her eyshes were long and curled, making her look


    like an adorable, delicate doll.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Ever since her daughter came home, Sienna was all about this new game of dressing her up. She


    would pick out a bunch of outfits for Noe every day. Just seeing Noe dolled up could keep


    Sienna grinning all day long. Noe was her precious girl! The Lambert family must’ve been out of


    their minds to cut ties with such an amazing daughter!


    Worried that Noe might have heard Ashlyn’s rant, Palmer quickly shut the ward door, closing


    off the world behind them.


    “Weren’t you supposed to go see Grandpa?” Palmer sounded distressed.


    If she had been standing there the whole time, she must have heard all the nasty stuff Ashlyn was


    spewing.


    Noe tilted her chin up and pointed to a few caretakers standing by.


    12:25


    “They wouldn’t let me leave, worried that Grandma Ashlyn might want to say something to me after


    seeing you.”


    Ashlyn’s n indeed involved making Noe and Palmer call off the engagement on the spot or at


    least get Noe to agree to pass the engagement on to Yvonne.


    Palmer took Noe’s hand with a frosty look at the caretakers nearby.


    The caretakers met Palmer’s piercing, icy stare and quickly found their shoes incredibly


    interesting….


    They only dared to stop Noe from leaving because Ashlyn had told them to. However, just looking


    at Mr. Pock standing there, oozing that intimidating vibe, they were literally shaking in their boots


    – they definitely wouldn’t dare to stop him!


    Palmer, hand in hand with Noe, left Ashlyn’s ward.


    “Did you catch what Grandma Ashlyn said?” Palmer asked.


    Noe nodded. She had a pretty good guess about what Ashlyn might say. But she hadn’t expected


    Palmer’s reaction.


    “Don’t sweat the stuff she said. I’m not calling off our engagement. You know, Noe, if it weren’t for


    you being my fiancée at the birthday bash, this engagement would’ve been history.” Palmer looked


    seriously into the eyes of the girl in front of him, making his feelings crystal clear.


    “Noe, the reason this engagement existed in the first ce was to make the old folks happy. But


    now, it’s because of you. It exists only because of you.”


    Noe met his deep, gem–like gaze and got the picture.


    If it wasn’t her, Palmer would’ve ditched the engagement in a heartbeat.


    As for Ashlyn’s delusional n to hook Yvonne up with Palmer – pure pie in the sky.


    Noe’s cheeks flushed a bit, and she felt slightly warm.


    Palmer reached out and handed her a nk check.


    “What’s this for?” Noe felt confused.


    “I can’t have my ncée short on cash. I know the Schnabel family gave you plenty of bank. cards,


    but my check can be cashed at any bank.”


    Noe frowned slightly, her slender, fair fingers pinching the check, puzzled.


    Palmer chuckled and ruffled her hair. “Don’t overthink it. I’m not buying what Grandma Ashlyn’s


    selling not a single word.”


    –


    “Then why the check for me?”


    12:25


    A twinkle flickered in Palmer’s eyes like scattered stars. “Can’t I give my fiancée some pocket


    money?”


    Pocket money?


    She was not really a little kid!


    Sexton Pock, who had been waiting at the ward door, heard their voices.


    The moment he saw Noe, Sexton, decked out in his hospital gown, bolted towards her.


    “My dear granddaughter–inw! I’ve missed you like crazy! What are you and that rascal chatting


    about in the hallway? Why didn’t youe in?”


    Seeing Sexton so full of beans, Palmer could tell his grandpa was doing alright.


    Sexton noticed the check in Noe’s hand and scoffed.


    “A check? Man, you really don’t know how to make a girl happy. Who on earth gives checks as a


    gift?”


    Palmer helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. “It’s just a little pocket money I’m giving to


    Noe.”


    Sexton inserted himself between them, shouldering Palmer aside and taking Noe’s arm to head


    back to the room.


    “Pocket money? Let me tell you, us Pock men? Once we’re hitched, we’re broke. All the cash is


    gonna be Noe’s turf, and you’ll be the one on an allowance.


    Heh, Noe, sweetheart, you just give him as much as you feel liketer on, but don’t spoil the guy!


    As for this check, write any amount you want; the kid’s loaded; no need to pinch pennies


    for him.


    Noe was a bit helpless.


    Her and Palmer’s wedding wasn’t even on the horizon.


    But faced with Sexton, she couldn’t bring herself to say no.


    “Alright, got it.”


    The more Sexton looked at Noe, the more he took to her,pletely forgetting about his


    grandson standing behind him.


    Palmer, watching Sexton and Noe’s retreating figures, felt a new warmth in his heart.


    Sexton was actually a stiff, quirky old–timer, so his taking a shine to Noe was totally unexpected.


    He had already spotted the old man eagerly waiting in the hallway and could feel his genuine


    fondness for Noe.


    But waiting for Noe wasn’t Sexton’s only agenda.


    12:25


    “Noe, honey, could you check on how I’m doing? Can I get discharged from the hospital. soon?”


    Marcel’s voice came from the doorway of the room. “How are you doing? You’ll be six feet under


    tomorrow! Scram, stop pestering my precious granddaughter! If you’ve got the guts, go have your


    own kids pop out one for you!”


    Sexton perked up instantly. “Hey, Marcell My kids might not be able to give me a granddaughter as


    great as this one, but my grandson and his wife sure can give me an even better great–grandkid!”


    Although Marcel also longed for the sight of four generations under one roof, his top priority at the


    moment was verbal sparring with Sexton.


    “If I don’t agree, you can kiss your dream of holding a great–grandkid goodbye.”


    Sexton charged at him on the spot. “You just wait! I’m gonna settle the score with you today!”