CHapter 123


    Ashlyn huddled on the hospital bed, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind, while the battered


    caregivery sprawled beside her, stacked like a house of cards, all of them out cold.


    Palmer casually shut the door behind him and whispered, “Does your hand hurt? You’ve had quite


    the workout. Don’t worry about the security cameras, I’ll handle that.”


    His role as gatekeeper served a dual purpose, giving Noe room to let off some steam and dealing


    with any potential threats to her in that room.


    Noe nced up and said coolly, “How thoughtful.”


    “Of course. It’s a hitman’s instinct, and part of my duties as your fiancé.” He didn’t see Noe’s


    outburst as excessive. On the contrary, he thought it was great that she had the chance to cut


    loose. “It’s a decent stress reliever, too.”


    Noe looked at him, speechless.


    Was he really suggesting she attacked Ashlyn just to blow off some steam? Or did he not see any


    issue with her hitting Ashlyn at all?


    Handing over the divorce papers to Major Gat, Noe said ndly, “Some folks mighte


    sniffing around for Ashlyn in the next few days. If it’s not too much trouble, could you hang onto


    them for me?”


    Major Gat, looking at the divorce agreement, felt like he’d struck gold!


    Ms. Noe was his lucky star, and he could hardly refuse her anything. “No trouble at all! Anyone


    whoes looking for Ashlyn will be detained and delivered straight to you, Ms. Noe!”


    “Much appreciated.”


    Major Gat smiled warmly, his eyes shining brightly as he nced at Noe!


    Now that was the stature befitting the Schnabel family’s Ms. Noe- graceful, tactful, powerful, and


    clever. She’d snagged the divorce papers with such ease!


    Major Gat marched out of the hospital with his prized document like a soldier on parade, his


    excitement palpable.


    Palmer took Noe’s hand gently, massaging her wrist, and even brought it to his lips to blow on it


    as if soothing a child’s boo–boo.


    Noe tried to withdraw her hand but found that Palmer gave her no quarter, forcing her to endure


    his warm, imposing presence.


    Marcel’s call came at that moment, and Noe answered it casually.


    10:23


    “Sweetheart, all sorted? Did Ashlyn give in? She didn’t give you a hard time, did she?”


    “It’s done. I dealt with her.”


    “Oh, you ‘dealt with her‘. Wait, what? You dealt with whom? Ashlyn?” Marcel nearly dropped his


    chess piece in shock.


    “Yup, I did. And a few caregivers too.”


    Marcel’s jaw could’ve dropped a chicken egg! After a moment, he burst out in frustration.


    “Listen, kiddo! How can you go about things this way? Didn’t I tell you to take Palmer with you?


    Shouldn’t he be the one doing the rough stuff? What if you got tired? Are my precious


    granddaughter’s hands made for beating up that wretched crone?”


    Noe’s gaze turned to Palmer, a hint of amusement in her eyes while listening to Marcel’s


    rant.


    “Noe, you really need to learn to adapt! When I said to bring Palmer, it meant let him step in when


    necessary, not to hang around like some lord! That boy doesn’t have a clue! Tired, aren’t you?”


    The warmth spread through Noe’s heart. “You aren’t mad at me?”


    Marcel chuckled, sharing a knowing look with Merrick beside him. “Silly girl, do you think I don’t


    know what you and Ashlyn are like? If you hit her, she had iting! I’m not going to me my


    precious granddaughter for dealing with an irrelevant person. And if you ever get tired of Palmer, I’ll


    even help you pack his bags!”


    Noeughed out loud. She knew Marcel was joking, trying tofort her, even dragging Palmer


    into it.


    *Just remember toe home for dinner. Don’t worry about the rest; I’m not old yet, I can handle


    things.”


    “Alright, I got it.”


    Noe hung up, her face lighting up with a smile.


    Palmer ruffled her hair gently, wearing a slightly aggrieved expression. “Looks like Grandpa Marcel


    is ready to give me a whooping. I’ll need to pick up some peace offerings for tonight!”


    He had heard the entire call.


    Noe turned her face away, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks.


    Palmer leaned in close, his breath warm on her face. “Come with me to pick out the gifts, will you?”


    “No, I’ve got other things to do.”


    Palmer didn’t push her. She had plenty on her te and he had a backlog of work himself, what


    with Annie borrowed by Ulrich and not yet returned, he was even more swamped.


    10:23


    “Alright, I suppose you’re bound for the Lunar Lab? I’ll give you a ride and we’ll head home for


    dinner together.”


    “No thanks. I’ll head back on my own tonight.”


    Palmer smiled in resignation, a trace of fondness tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Okay, but


    you know you always lose track of time in theb. By the time you remember dinner, the grandpas


    won’t see hide nor hair of you tonight. So, I think it’s best for me to pick you up.”


    It was true. Whenever Noe delved into an experiment, she becamepletely absorbed, only


    stopping once she obtained results, and then she’d start a new series of tests, as busy as a


    bee.


    Tonight was Marcel’s first night back, and they were having a family dinner with the Schnabels. She


    couldn’t be absent.


    Thinking back, there were many nights when Palmer had waited for her at the door, under the stars,


    without a singleint.


    With that thought, Noe’s cheeks flushed a deeper red. “Alright, I’ll wait for you tonight.”


    After dropping her off at Lunar Lab, Palmer rested one hand on the steering wheel and lifted


    Noe’s hand to his lips, leaving a kiss on her knuckles.


    “See you tonight.”


    With a flourish of grace in every move he made, his actions were the epitome of gentlemanly


    conduct. His hand–kissing gesture flowed as smoothly as a river, executed with poise and serenity.


    Yet, as his lips touched Noe’s hand, she felt a spark of passion so intense, it seemed to linger on


    her skin.


    As Palmer’s car drove off, a few of theb techs behind Noe started to whistle.


    “Whoa there, Mr. Pock sure is a ss act!”


    “Hand–kissing? So chivalrous, so elegant. I’m quite smitten myself!”


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Cut it out, don’t be gross! Boss, we all think Mr. Pock’s a catch. When are you gonna… ya


    know…”


    Phecda mimed a shing motion across his neck. “Take him out?”


    Noe nced at them coolly. “You want his head? That’s on you, the organization won’t get


    involved.”


    “No, I mean, you should totally make a move! Have you seen the guy’s physique? Chef’s kiss, boss.


    You’d hit the jackpot, and I bet he would too…”


    If they kept this up, Noe would never be able to look at Palmer with a straight face again! “Zip it,


    back to work! Did any of the equipment that came inst time have DNA monitoring


    10-23


    capabilities?”


    Ivan, with a de of grass hanging from his mouth, pondered for a moment. “Boss! Don’t tell


    me your current family isn’t biologically rted to you too! No way, they’re too good to you! It’s not


    easy to con a family that naive…”


    Noe couldn’t help it; shended a kick squarely on him!


    “Out.”


    The group scampered off to theb, each clutching their behinds, fearing another strike.


    Noe pulled out some hair samples sealed in stic bags, each marked with a different name.


    “Boss, aren’t these from the olddy from the Schnabel family, your grandpa, and your dad? And


    whose is this one?”


    “Yvonne, the olddy’s adopted granddaughter.”