CHapter 121


    Noe nced at the message on her phone and handed it over to Marcel.


    “She wants you to get the papers? What’s she scheming now? Always causing trouble! Noe,


    don’t bother with her. She has to agree to the divorce, whether she likes it or not. The flight’s


    arranged; she’ll be out of here by tomorrow!”


    Marcel thought of Ashlyn’s antics over the years, and his face soured.


    Their marriage had been unconventional. He’d spent his early years on military duty, and after that


    woman passed away, he’d be jaded about love. That’s when Ashlyn showed up with a child,


    iming it was his.


    Marcel, bewildered about when he could have fathered a child with Ashlyn, was met with her tears


    and usations of his drunken advances!


    After a DNA test confirmed the child was his, Marcel, under orders from above, had reluctantly


    married Ashlyn, and years had flown by. Despite his suspicions that Ashlyn might not be Tristan’s


    biological mother, he couldn’t figure out who else it could be.


    The boy was definitely his son! But the identity of the boy’s mother remained a mystery.


    Maybe he’d been duped for over five decades!


    Marcel turned to Palmer, his voice grave. “Palmer, since she’s insistent on having Noe fetch the


    divorce papers, go with her. Remember, you’re a Pock, not involved with the Schnabels for the


    time being.”


    Palmer perked up. Did Marcel mean… if Ashlyn did anything against Noe, he could retaliate?


    “Understood. I’ll protect Noe.”


    Marcel nodded, satisfied.


    Sending Palmer was strategic; it would be unseemly for a Schnabel to intervene, but as Noe’s


    fiancé and the Pock head, Ashlyn wouldn’t dare send him away.


    Merrick beamed at Noe. “Noe, dear, I’ve acquired a jewelry designpany for you, right near


    your campus. You can put your designs into practice there, and I’ll buy everything you create!”


    Since learning Noe studied jewelry design, Merrick had been busy scouting for the perfect


    company. It needed to be just the right size, not too overwhelming for Noe’s studies but allowing


    her to unleash her creativity without academic constraints.


    “I’ve heard about how you’ve revamped the music store and the gallery, tweaking policies. Is our


    Noe a business prodigy? All our assets might as well be yours. Who knows, you might be a


    business legend!”


    Marcel was rmed. This was his precious granddaughter, and suddenly she was their


    10-22


    business prodigy? “Noe, I bought you a hotel. If you’re ever unhappy with your amodations,


    just stay at the hotel!”


    Noe was flustered.


    What would she do with so manypanies? Her own ventures were managed by the folks at


    Pris Star!


    Tristan chuckled, “Dad, what are you up to? Noe’s campus is just next to our ce, a five–mile


    drive. She cane home! Oh, and darling, whenever you find the time, go get your driver’s


    license. You’ve yet to drive any of the cars I bought for you!”


    Getting a driver’s license was a trivial matter; she simply needed to find the time. After all, when


    patrolling the borders, a license wasn’t needed, and she could driverge vehicles regardless!


    Noe nodded in agreement and stood up. “Alright, I’ll learn when I’ve got time. Now, I’ll head to the


    hospital to get the divorce agreement.”


    “Hey,e back early for dinner. We will wait for you!”


    Palmer stood by her side, smoothly picking up her handbag, every move flowing naturally.


    The elders watched with satisfaction.


    Look at them, a perfect match!


    The towering, handsome gentleman exuded a confident,posed presence as he sheltered the


    petite girl by his side. The slender young woman, with her flowing hair, met his gaze with


    tenderness.


    A match made in heaven, indeed!


    As Noe and Palmer, left, Marcel turned to Tristan and the younger Schnabels. “Go attend to your


    matters. We old men have things to discuss.”


    Despite his age, Marcel’s eyes were sharp andmanding, exuding an aura of authority.


    When he spoke, Tristan and his sons hastily bowed out, “Understood.”


    Marcel faced Merrick, picking up the chess pieces beside him. “Come, let’s y another game.”


    Merrick squinted, then cracked a smile. “Sure. Let’s y!”


    “Merrick, if you lose, you owe me a truth!”


    A truth? The world wasn’t filled with clear truths. Seeking them came at a price!


    “Heh, win first, then we’ll talk.”


    Palmer’s car pulled up in front of Imperial West Hospital, where Major Gat rushed to take the


    keys, whispering, “Ms. Noe, Mr. Pock, Ashlyn just won’t sign. I’m still waiting to


    retrieve the report for filing!”


    Marcelcked interest in keeping the signed papers, but they needed to be filed for record–keeping


    – the reason Major Gat was still there.


    Palmer, holding Noe’s hand, headed inside. “She still hasn’t signed?”


    “She did, but she refused to hand it to me. When I tried to take it, she used me of… of assaulting


    her.”


    Major Gat’s expression fell.


    At forty, with a wife and kids, he certainly wasn’t going to make a move on his former superior’s


    wife… no, ex–wife, especially not here at Imperial West Hospital!


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    Ashlyn had a reputation for being shamelessly unabashed. As her voice echoed through the halls,


    heads turned, and a collective wave of sympathy washed over the faces of the senior staff as they


    nced toward Major Gat.


    It was evident they were all too familiar with Ashlyn’s track record. At a time like this, they didn’t


    dare intervene to support Major Gat, fearing they might be her next target.


    Noe’s gaze held a hint of pity for Major Gat.


    “You’ve had it tough,” she said. “Since the paperwork is signed, she’s no longer my grandma.”


    Major Gat blinked in confusion. “Ms. Noe, what do you mean?”


    Even with the signed papers, Ashlyn was still Tristan’s mother, and biologically, she was still


    supposed to be Ms. Noe’s grandmother, right?


    Noe shed a charming smile, her dimples deepening, “I’m not listed in the family tree. My


    records are separate.”


    Ever since Belinda and Vincent publicly disowned her, Beckett had transferred Noe’s records to


    her own residence at Serene Haven. She was the sole owner of Phoenix Tower at Serene


    Haven!


    Since she wasn’t on the same record as Ashlyn and wasn’t registered in the family tree, what right


    did Ashlyn have to think she could control Noe?


    A spark of realization lit up Major Gat’s eyes, but he still harbored concerns for Noe’s safety.


    After all, Ashlyn was notorious for throwing her weight around due to her age, and Ms. Noe


    appeared so literate, gentle, and soft.


    Entering the hospital room, Ashlyn’s eyes lit up with joy at the sight of Noe. Her tion was


    short–lived as she noticed Palmer trailing behind Noe.


    What’s the Pock kid doing here again? Is he that smitten with this wild girl?


    “I told you toe alone. Can’t youprehend simple instructions? Tell Mr. Pock to leave!


    What a brat!”


    Noe, unperturbed, took a seat opposite Ashlyn’s bed, elegantly crossing her legs. With a frosty


    gaze and chin held high, she looked up as if donning an invisible crown.


    “Comprehending instructions? Don’t think just because you’re older, I should be deferential. Cut the


    act, you old hag!”