CHapter 104


    The silence outside the operating room was deafening. No one spoke, all eyes filled with


    Inexplicable wariness and vignce as theynded on the mboyantly dressed Yvonne, who


    seemed to have materialized out of nowhere,


    Palmer had promised Noe a peaceful surgery, and he wasn’t about to let anyone, especially not


    Yvonne, disrupt that promise,


    His eyelids flickered with a glint of icy determination. The unspoken threat in his gaze was as clear


    as the low atmospheric pressure before a storm, intensely focused on Yvonne.


    “Get out!” His voice was a growl.


    Yvonne was taken aback by Palmer’s ferocity.


    Why was he being so harsh?


    “Palmy,” she whimpered, tears welling up in her eyes. “You’ve been duped by Noe. She was here


    at this hospital, avoiding her own family clinic- there must be something wrong. My sources saw her


    heading to the maternity ward. Palmy, she must be carrying another man’s child! You mustn’t be


    fooled!”


    Palmer was rattled by her mor and didn’t want her theatrics to impact Noe’s concentration.


    He lifted a hand, his index finger giving a slight waggle.


    Thorpe, who had been anxiously crouched on the floor, surged to his feet with a menacing aura.


    Anyone disrupting his brother’s operation was a dead man walking.


    Yvonne remembered Thorpe’s face and cowered at the sight of him, copsing on the floor in


    terror.


    “Palmy, this man kidnapped me once! He’s bad news! Why are you with him?”


    Palmer spared Yvonne not a nce, his eyes flicking to Thorpe.


    “If shepromises the operation, you know what to do,” he said ‘coolly.


    Thorpe approached Yvonne, his fists creaking like sandbags ready to spill their deadly contents. He


    might not be a match for Palmer, but he was certain he could handle this meddlesome woman.


    Thorpe said coldly, “Idiot.”


    Yvonne scrambled backward in panic, her feet kicking up a storm on the sterile floor.


    Before she could beg for mercy, Thorpe scooped her up off the floor like a rag doll, mping a hand


    over her mouth and slinging her over his shoulder.


    Palmer spoke with detached authority. “Keep her alive and intact. Otherwise, do as you please.”


    Yvonne looked on in disbelief. How could Palmer be so cold to her? Was this the same man she


    had fallen for?


    Her heart refused to ept it. He was so tender with Noe; why so ruthless with her?


    Thorpe, harboring a storm of anger and concern for his brother in the OR, had little interest in


    dealing with this fool. He passed Yvonne off to his associates. “Clean this up. Don’t let her disturb


    us again.”


    “Yes, sir!”


    The associates hustled Yvonne away, her struggles futile against their firm grip.


    Was this the end for her?


    The OR light went off, and Noe emerged, fresh from surgery.


    “What was all that noise? Did something happen?”


    Palmer’s gaze softened the instant he saw her. “Nothing to worry about. It’s been handled. How are


    you feeling? Tired?”


    Thorpe, too, looked at Noe with a mix of hope and anxiety.


    “The surgery is sessful for now. We’ll need to monitor the post–op response. Rest assured,


    I’ll be here.”


    She hadmitted to saving a life, and she intended to see it through.


    Thorpe exhaled in relief, his towering frame trembling with emotions as he knelt and offered


    thanks.


    “Thank God! This is such a relief!”


    It was clear how much his brother meant to him.


    Palmer’s voice was tender. “You’ve worked hard. Are you hungry? I’ve ordered us some food.”


    Noe nodded, gave a few instructions for post–op care, and followed Palmer out of the OR.


    “I know my fiancée must be exhausted. For now, we’ll have to make do with a meal in my office.”


    “Anywhere is fine.”


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    She was tired from the surgery, but she had heard themotion outside. Palmer’s vigil had not


    been easy.


    He had dealt with countless threats from the deep web’s chaotic factions, blood still fresh on his


    wrist, stark against the crimson cufflinks.


    Noe slipped off herb coat, producing a small box from her pocket and handing it to Palmer.


    Surprise flickered in Palmer’s eyes. “For me?”


    “If you don’t want it, forget it.”


    How could he refuse the first gift from his beloved?


    Inside the boxy a pair of exquisite sapphire cufflinks, their sparkle subdued yet luxurious,


    reminiscent of an elegant count from a medieval castle.


    Palmer recognized the signature on the cufflinks – a creation of the renowned jeweler Cressida,


    whose designs were treasures that fetched astronomical prices.


    He had never seen this particr pair before. Did she know Master Cressida personally?


    “Thank you. I love them.”


    Switching to a clean shirt to match his new cufflinks, Palmer held out his wrist to Noe. “I


    overexerted myself earlier. Would my fiancée mind helping me?”


    With a resigned look, Noeplied. She couldn’t refuse him after he had just guarded her.


    The office door burst open.


    Ulrich stormed in, his imagination running wild with scenarios that nearly brought him to tears.


    “Noe! Where does it hurt? Don’t worry, I will keep your secrets safe. Whatever the problem, the


    Schnabel family will handle it!”


    “Ulrich? What are you doing here?”


    Ulrich paused, seeing the couple preparing to dine in the office.


    “Mr. Pock, what’s going on here? Don’t tell me you came all the way to this hospital’s office for a


    date?”


    Ulrich grew rmed. His sister couldn’t be ying some twisted game with Palmer, could she? She


    was too young to be led astray by Palmer’s wiles!


    His mind conjured up wild scenarios, and seeing the discardedb coat only fueled his fears.


    “Noe, what on earth are you doing here? If you’re feeling unwell, you’ve got to let me know,”


    uttered a visibly concerned Ulrich, his eyes scanning his sister for any sign of difort.


    “Just visiting a friend who’s just had brain surgery. But what brings you here?” Noe replied with a


    hint of surprise in her voice.


    Ulrich, ever the protective older brother, meticulously checked Noe over to make sure she hadn’t


    sustained any injuries. Despite finding none, his worry didn’t entirely dissipate.


    “Come on, let’s head back. We’ll get you a thorough check–up just to be sure.”


    “Ulrich, I’m fine. I came to see a friend, really,” Noe insisted. “You’re a doctor too. You can check


    on my friendter and see for yourself.”


    “But why didn’t you tell anyone at home? Yvonne called me panicked, thinking you were ill. It scared


    me half to death.”


    Only after confirming that Noe was indeed unharmed did Ulrich begin to rx. He took a seat


    beside her, wishing he had x–ray vision to ensure she waspletely okay.


    Casting a disdainful eye over the food on the desk, Ulrich’s lip curled. “Mr. Pock isn’t actually


    making you eat this, is he? Noe, I’ll take you out for some real foodter.”


    The meals looked perfectly fine, but Ulrich was simply not in the mood to see anything associated


    with Palmer in a good light.


    He had no idea why Palmer had lured his sister to this hospital!


    Palmer wanted to rify, but he couldn’t do so without revealing too much. His secret with Noe


    wasn’t something he was ready to share with the Schnabel family just yet.


    “Speaking of which, where’s Yvonne? She said a friend was ill and asked me to check in on them.


    Why haven’t I seen her around?”


    Palmer handed Ulrich a medical record.


    After Yvonne had been whisked away, he’d looked into why she was at this particr hospital and


    discovered it was due to someone from the Lambert family – Vincent Lambert


    Ulrich sprang from his seat, incensed. “She called me here to tend to this old scoundrel? If he’s


    sick, he probably got what he deserved!”