CHapter 124


    In the Lunar Lab, it only took a couple of hours to verify a familial connection with their cutting–edge


    equipment.


    “Let’s use maic beads to extract the DNA and run a parallel test with the silica column method.”


    Phecda suggested, slipping on surgical gloves with practiced ease, while Megrez did the same,


    inquiring. “Boss, if she’s adopted, why the DNA check? It can’t be another Vincent situation, can


    it?”


    Noe, masked and withshes fluttering like delicate feathers, peered down at the lysis solution


    she had just enriched with tissue fragments. “In this world, there might be random acts of kindness,


    but nothing truly happens without reason.”


    She had sensed something off when Vincent and Belinda showered extra attention on Briony,


    overlooking both her and Old Mrs. Lambert. At that time, it was just suspicion, but when she was


    suddenly dered not a Lambert, she took matters into her own hands to test her DNA against that


    of the Lambert family. She was indeed not Vincent’s daughter, and neither was Briony.


    “So, boss, you think Yvonne might be blood–rted to Ashlyn? What’s the angle here? To have


    your own flesh and blood raised without recognition? If Yvonne really is a Schnabel, why all this


    cloak–and–dagger stuff?”


    Noe expertly added isopropanol and maic beads to the solution, inverting the tube to mix the


    contents.


    “Uncertain. We’ll know once the results are in.”


    She always preferred to let the data do the talking.


    Phecda was puzzled. If Yvonne was actually Ashlyn’s granddaughter, wouldn’t she rightfully be Ms.


    Schnabel, entitled to at least the same treatment as their boss?


    “By the way, boss, Ivan messaged that ‘Thorpe‘ we nabbedst time, real name Tandy, turns out


    he’s the head of Heartfelt Orphanage and Tandy Hospital. He’s locked up in Lockhart


    Prison now.”


    Noe frowned slightly. “Isn’t Lockhart on the border?”


    “Yeah, we’ve been there before. His activities were border–based, so they transferred him to the


    border prison. But ourwork in Lockhart Prison isn’t very strong right now, so meeting him could


    be tricky.”


    Their Obelisk Organization had its dealings on the deep web and some connection with


    Lockhart Prison, thergest penitentiary on the border.


    “Which group has sway over Lockhart Prison right now?”


    Phecda gave Noe a mischievous wink, his mask nearly slipping off.


    “Cut the clowning, Phecda. Is your mouth crooked or what?” Her fingers snapped as she ced the


    centrifuge tubes into the maic rack. “If your mouth is crooked, I don’t mind helping you


    fix it.”


    “No, no, no need. I can’t afford your doctor’s fees, Boss. You can find another sucker for that. Right


    now, Mr. Pock of Abyssal Organization has the most pull at Lockhart. You know, Vocalist.”


    “Boss, all you need to do is marry Vocalist or, you know, show a little leg, wear something slinky,


    and he’ll be putty in your hands. Hey, hey, no face–hitting, I make my living with this mug!”


    Phecda covered his face, feigning horror. “Round it off, and if Vocalist has a say, then so does our


    Obelisk Organization, right? If you want to see Tandy, just go through Vocalist.”


    Megrez scoffed, “Vocalist might be chums with the top brass at Lockhart, but to get our boss in to


    see a high–profile inmate like Tandy, that’s a huge favor to ask. You think our boss likes to be


    indebted to others?”


    Noe certainly did not!


    Over the years, she had learned to stand on her own two feet, never bothering others with problems


    she could handle herself.


    Phecda chuckled, his eyes narrowing. “Mr. Pock isn’t just anybody; he might be family one day.


    Besides, if he’s not willing to help with such a small favor, where’s hismitment?”


    Noe’s thoughts submerged as she watched the DNA samples settle in the centrifuge tubes.


    Tandy was pivotal to her; she had to meet him and find out exactly what happened back at Heartfelt


    Orphanage, how she had been moved from the Schnabels to the Lamberts.


    And this might well be connected to ra’s origins!


    If she could unravel the mystery, at least she’d know who ra’s real family was.


    “Let me think it over.”


    Phecda stroked his chin. “Or you could just ask Mr. Pock out–dinner, a movie, an amusement


    park. Isn’t that how all the young couples date these days?”


    Megrez couldn’t bear to watch. “That’s how guys ask girls out, not the other way around. It doesn’t


    suit our boss!”


    “It’s all the same. Bet if our boss asked Mr. Pock on a date, he’d parachute into theb right


    now!”


    Phecda winked at Noe, the mastermind behind the scenes. He’d already sent the text. It was up


    to Mr. Pock to pick up on their boss’s hints.


    Two hourster, Noe reviewed theb results with a furrowed brow.


    Everything was as she had anticipated.


    kin!


    Meaning. Yvonne was truly Ashlyn’s granddaughter, though unconnected to Marcel. So Ashlyn had


    her heart set on looking out for Yvonne, which was sort of understandable given that Yvonne was


    her own flesh and blood, her granddaughter. The notion of Yvonne stepping into her shoes in the


    Schnabel family wasn’t too far–fetched.


    At the entrance of theb, Megrez, who had just changed and was about to hit the restroom, let out


    an exmation, “Holy smokes, Boss, have I time–traveled or what?”


    Then Noe’s phone buzzed insistently. She neatly arranged theb reports on her desk and picked


    up the call.


    Palmer’s voice was deep and seductive,ced with an indefinable allure. “I’m outside. Come on


    out.”


    Noe was puzzled. Hadn’t they agreed to meet tonight? What on earth was Palmer doing here


    now?


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Phecda, with a sly smirk, nudged Noe’s shoulder, ushering her towards the door.


    The scene at theb’s entrance left half the staff dumbstruck, while the jaws of the other half were


    practically still on the floor.


    A carpet of roses stretched from the barrennd outside theb, winding its way to a spot ten


    kilometers away, transforming the entire vicinity into a sea of flowers. Each rose bore a brilliant


    diamond, dazzling in the sunlight, blinding all the single folks with its splendor.


    Not far off, several hot air balloons rose into the sky, their colossal shapes painted into heart


    patterns with the letters “NP” emzoned on them!


    ?N


    The helicopter’s rotor whipped up waves among the floral sea, and there was Palmer, dressed to


    the nines in a tuxedo, dangling one–handed from the helicopter’s rope. His face was etched with a


    tender smile as he descended towards Noe!


    His movements were fluid and effortless, casual yet dashing, with the surrounding roses merely an


    embellishment to his knightly presence.


    “My fiancée said she wanted a date, and I’m thrilled. I had to throw this together on short notice, but


    I hope you like it.”


    Noe, frowning at the extravaganza before her, said, “When did I ever say…”


    Behind her, Phecda took advantage of her distraction and pushed Noe into Palmer’s arms!


    “Heh, Boss, your experiment is done. Go enjoy your date!”


    If they let Noe, this workaholic, stay in theb forever, she’d have nothing but experiments on her


    mind, and their own ns wouldn’t get far.


    He had sneakily used Noe’s ount to message Palmer. Getting no reply, he thought their


    10:24


    boss had met his match in another workaholic. But judging by the current setup, at least Mr. Pock


    knew a thing or two about romance!


    Noe was enveloped in Palmer’s embrace, her senses wrapped in his scent,