CHapter 120


    Merrick was getting fired up too. “You think only you’ve got the cash? Noe, sweetheart, if you beat


    me in chess, I’ll gift you a brand spanking newpany!”


    Noe looked helplessly at the two old timers.


    This kind of one–upmanship was fine, but totally unnecessary.


    Half an hourter, Merrick couldn’t sit still! “Noe, dear, where did you learn to y chess like this?


    I am at my wit’s end!”


    Marcel chortled with pride. “Ha, even old Tavian can’t beat Noe at chess. And you’re making fun


    of me? Think you can do better?”


    Back in his youth, Merrick was a chess prodigy, yet here he was, unable to outy his


    granddaughter for even half an hour!


    “Embarrassed much?”


    “Get outta here. Noe being a whiz is all thanks to our Horwich family genes. You’ve got nothing to


    do with it.”


    Marcel was having none of it, mming his cup down, sparking yet another round of bickering.


    “What are you implying? Noe is a Schnabel through and through!”


    This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    “Heh, saying your wife had the good genes? I’m not calling you daft, Tristan, but your mom, she’s


    no Einstein.”


    Tristan wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking this was pretty much the same as being called


    dumb.


    Merrick quipped, “Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re not Ashlyn’s flesh and blood, thankfully. You don’t


    resemble that hag, which is a good thing.”


    The family was stunned.


    What did he mean Tristan wasn’t Ashlyn’s flesh and blood?


    Tristan was dumbfounded. “What are you saying? Whose child am I?”


    Realizing he had misspoken, Merrick chuckled. “I’m pulling your leg. You couldn’t possibly be mine,


    a Horwich, right?”


    Tristan got the picture he was still being called ugly.


    Indeed, Merrick and Freya were known for their looks. When Tristan firstid eyes on their daughter


    Sienna, it was love at first sight.


    Marcel frowned at Merrick, twirling a chess piece in his hand, sensing there was more to Merrick’s


    words. “Are you keeping something from me?”


    “Give me a break. Who do you think you are, demanding me to report everything to you?”


    11:1


    ***


    Merrick wasn’t ying that game. He grabbed Noe and headed for the chessboard. “Come on,


    Noe. Let’s y chess. I’ve got a whole new book in mind! It starts with a chess game!”


    He had it all figured out. His new book would make a ssh, showcasing his beloved


    granddaughter’s brilliance.


    This was the romance of a wordsmith – weaving all his affections into his writing. Everyone who


    read that book would know about his perfect granddaughter!


    “Grandpa, do you know something that you’re keeping from Grandpa Marcel?”


    “Not a clue. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell. Heh.” Merrick was all smiles, ncing at Marcel scratching


    his head.


    Heh, he’d never spill the beans!


    Tranquility City, at the Lambert Mansion.


    Vincent returned to the Lambert Mansion, his battered body dragging with exhaustion as he


    copsed onto the couch.


    Belinda and her parents were close behind, none faring much better.


    “Vincent, get in touch with Noe, will ya? I heard from Maddox she was at the Lambert ancestral


    home a few days back. Probably went back to pay her respects to the olddy.”


    Vincent had a n. He took the Fuller parents‘ phone and dialed Noe’s number, intending to use


    Old Mrs. Lambert as leverage to coax Noe into visiting Tranquility City. If she came, they could


    call the shots.


    Noe picked up nonchntly, and upon recognizing Vincent’s voice, she hung up without a word.


    Vincent barely got out, “Noe, uh…”


    The dial tone rang in his ear, leaving Vincent fuming.


    That darn kid!


    The Fullers wouldn’t give up. “I heard she left by helicopter. Maybe she’s met some rich folks?


    Vincent, are Noe’s real parents truly paupers?”


    Weren’t her folks just some chicken farmers in Emerald County?


    Vincent, now unsure, sat up and dialed a number.


    “Buddy, it’s Vincent. Didn’t you used to live in Emerald County? You see, a rtive’s kid wants to


    visit. How’s the ce holding up?”


    His buddy snickered and belched. “Everyone’s moved out. The government’s using Emerald County


    for experiments now, paid us a pretty penny!”


    Vincent was shocked. Everyone from Emerald County had moved? That meant Noe’s real


    parents were likely rolling in cash from the government buyout.


    Vincent had recently made a rush on real estate to get out of a bind. He needed money now more


    than ever! If he could just find Noe’s biological parents, he might recover some funds. for ‘raising‘


    their daughter, right?


    “How much did you guys get?”


    “Not much, just ten million for us. But one family in the county hit the jackpot with fifty million!”


    Fifty million!


    Vincent perked up instantly!


    Too bad he had no clue what Noe’s real parents‘ names were, or else he’d know exactly how


    much they pocketed.


    After the call, Vincent rubbed the bruises on his face, his eyes narrowing with determination.


    “I’m totally rooting for Noe and Ellsworth to tie the knot. I just can’t seem to get ahold of that girl.


    Trying to y matchmaker here and I can’t even get in touch with her…”


    Mr. and Mrs. Fuller had decided to park themselves at the Lambert Mansion and showed no signs


    of leaving.


    “Noe’s like a daughter to you. She won’t answer your calls, so you gotta find another way. Worst


    comes to worst, report her as missing. Won’t the cops have to do something then?”


    “And Briony? Get her toe down and give me a foot rub, will ya? Oh, my aching body!”


    Vincent couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the Fullers‘ entitled behavior.


    He had to find Noe!


    With a sense of resolve, he finally bit the bullet and dialed Ashlyn’s number.


    “Ashlyn, I’m Noe’s foster father. I don’t know what’s gotten into the kidtely; she just won’t see


    me. Her grandparents are sick with worry. I was hoping you could help us out, maybe arrange a


    meeting with Noe, see if she’d be willing toe home?”


    Ashlyn had enough on her te. She didn’t feel like taking Vincent’s call at first, but when he


    mentioned wanting Noe back with the Lambert family, her interest was piqued.


    Marcel was probably divorcing her because of some loose talk from that wild child, Noe. Why else


    would he choose to divorce now of all times? If she could just get rid of that troublemaker, she could


    stay in the Schnabel family!


    “You really want Noe toe home?”


    “Absolutely, no doubt about it!”


    Ashlyn pondered for a moment. “Alright, wait for my word.”


    Vincent hung up the phone, grinning from ear to ear!


    With Ashlyn’s help, Noe would surelye back. Once she was home, he’d be back in


    control.


    Noe’s phone buzzed with a message from Ashlyn.


    [I’ll agree to the divorce, but you have toe and get the papers.]