CHapter 136


    After hanging up the call with Master Killian, the crisp chime of Noe’s miniptop resonated


    through the stillness of her room.


    She settled into her chair, booted up theputer, and plugged in a custom–madework card


    that granted her direct ess to the shadowy reaches of the deep web, her IP address.pletely


    obfuscated.


    Even the sharp–eyed hounds from the Schnabel family couldn’t sniff out her midnight digital


    excursions.


    A message from Erek popped up: [Boss, got the scoop. Ashlyn’s insisting on a hospital visit,


    probably ‘cause of that morning call from Vincent.]


    [Vincent?]


    [Yeah, the sleazeball seems keen on marrying you off to Ellsworth, that notorious money pit of a


    gambler. Need us to handle it?]


    [No need to dirty our hands. Let Ellsworth’s creditors knock on his door.]


    Ellsworth was up to his neck in debt, and those underground casinos in Linefort City had some ties


    to Pris Star.


    Back in the day, when Noe had learned the art of gambling stones with Master Hector, they’d


    dominated the underground scene with nothing but a deck of cards, inadvertently gaining some


    shady assets.


    Thankfully, their operations had been smooth sailing, no


    messes ma


    Erek chuckled and replied: [Roger that, Boss. You’ve always been too kind. Phecda and the crew


    are retrieving Old Mrs. Lambert’s DNA as we speak. Now we just need Vincent’s. Want me to ‘draw


    some blood‘ from him?]


    Erek had been itching for a chance to teach Vincent a lesson!


    Without their boss’s discreet support, Vincent wouldn’t have made a dime. Yet, he mistook Noe’s


    goodwill for his supposed business acumen. Such a man belonged under a bridge, collecting cans!


    [I’ll handle it myself. Where are they now?]


    [Headed to Imperial West Hospital. I’ll be outside to cover you.]


    With an affirmation, Noe closed her palm–sizedputer, swiftly disassembled it, and


    transformed it into an inconspicuous trinket on her desk.


    With everything in ce, she slipped out of her room, unnoticed by anyone.


    1023


    In the dead of night, at Imperial West Hospital, Vincent, wheelchair–bound, was wheeled in by


    Belinda, with a few ckers from the Fuller family trailing behind.


    Ma Fuller stopped a passing nurse with a grin, “Excuse me, we’re looking for Marcel’s wife.


    Could you tell us where her room is?”


    “Ashlyn’s in ICU. It’s not visiting hours. Come back at eight in the morning.”


    Vincent was baffled!


    How did Ashlyn end up in ICU? She sounded fine when he called earlier! If Ashlyn was ill, where


    would they find Noe?


    Ma grew desperate. “Where do we find Noe now? I don’t care; she’s gotta marry Ellsworth!”


    Vincent was equally vexed.


    ncing around the hospital corridor, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the end.


    “Quick, push me over there!”


    Belinda wheeled him towards the figure. “You’re Noe’s father, right? You’re the one who took her


    awayst time. Remember me?”


    Wren, busy with paperwork for Marcel, looked puzzled at Vincent.


    Who was this? He seemed vaguely familiar.


    Vincent hurried to jog his memory. “That time when you were gatekeeping for the Schnabels…


    We’ve met before!”


    As he thought about it. Noe’s father must’ve been a security guard for the Schnabels, which was


    how she got to khow them.


    Wren frowned. “You’re Noe’s former foster father? I’m busy, step aside.”


    Everyone in the Schnabel family knew these people had never been good to Noe. If it weren’t for


    the watchful eyes in the hospital, Wren would’ve pped them.


    Noe was so kind and sensible, and yet they treated her like dirt!


    Vincent, still thinking about Emerald County’s subsidies, was reluctant to let Wren go. “Look, it’s like


    a family feud. We’re all Noe’s fathers, we’re family…”


    Η


    “Family? I’m not Noe’s father. What do you want, exactly?”


    Vincent rubbed his hands together. “Well, we heard about some subsidies at Emerald County. We


    did raise Noe for years, so shouldn’t we get a little something?”


    Wren realized they were there for money. “Considering you turned down a contract worth a ten


    billion before, you’re asking for favors now? Toote!”


    Vincent was stunned.


    10-23-


    A ten billion! What was it about? When?


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    “You… Can you tell me, what exactly is the status of Noe’s birth parents?”


    If they were ordinary people, how could they afford a contract worth a ten billion?


    Wren motioned for a fewmandos. “Get them out of here. They’re an eyesore.”


    He couldn’t be bothered to exchange another word with them! After giving Ms. Noe a hard time in


    the past, now that they saw an opportunity to benefit from her, they shamelessly tried to cozy up?


    The nerve!


    “No! Don’t throw me out! Tell me who Noe’s parents really are!”


    Wren looked at him with utter contempt. “Pfft, I haven’t seen someone this shameless in a long


    time. Get lost!”


    Watching the group being thrown out, Wren finally took a deep breath of relief.


    Vincent was utterly confused!


    “Belinda, do you think Noe’s family can actually pull off a ten billion deal?”


    And that guy, he could actuallymand special forces; Vincent suddenly had a sinking feeling.


    Could it be that Noe’s folks weren’t just humble farmers tending their fields in the sticks after all?


    Belinda was equally puzzled. “No way, if that girl was from a wealthy family, would she be working


    as a caregiver? And the clothes she wears don’t look designer at all.”


    Those clothes didn’t even have a single logo, definitely not high–end.


    Vincent nodded in agreement. “You might be right. That guy could very well be Noe’s father.


    ying dumb. Let’s just find Noe and get to the bottom of this.”


    As Vincent mulled over this, he looked up and saw Alioth standing not too far away. His eyes lit up,


    and he quickly signaled Belinda to wheel him over.


    “You’re Noe’s friend, right? I saw you back in Tranquility City!”


    Alioth stared nkly at Vincent. He had been with the boss in Tranquility City handling some


    business, probably when Vincent had spotted him.


    “Oh, you must be Noe’s ssmate, right? Our whole family came to the hospital, and we


    suddenly lost touch with Noe. Could you help me get in touch with her? Look at me, I’m sick as


    can be, and that kid won’t evene to see me. Even if my child is cold–hearted, I can’t me her,


    can I?”


    His tone almost made him sound like the world’s most selfless father.


    10:23


    Alioth felt an itch in his fist just looking at him. He was the least intimidating member of the Pris


    Star crew, with a friendly smile and a round, seemingly easy–to–bully face.


    Vincent thought he’d found an easy mark!


    Sure enough, after shedding a few crocodile tears, Alioth started pushing his wheelchair out of the


    hospital.


    “I’ll take you to her.”


    Vincent was overjoyed! He hurriedly motioned for his entourage to follow.


    They hade with a party of six, and he was determined to take Noe back with them, by hook


    or by crook. Once she was with him, he’d call the shots.