Noe''s affirmative response was reflected in Palmer''s smile, mirrored in the pristine ss window.
His voice, deep and seductive, wrapped around her, "Let''s not make a fuss this time, but next time, I
hope you''ll remember what you''ve promised me. Even if it''s just sharing a meal, I''ll be looking
forward to it."
The mere thought of dining with Noe made him patient enough to endure the tediouspany
partners. He found himself browsing through the trendiest spots where the local youngsters liked to
hang out for dates. But before he knew it, she had slipped away from Imperial City.
What a heartless little thing she was! Did she really think it was just about a meal?
Deep down, Palmer knew it was probably because hisdy hadn''t taken him to heart yet. That was
why the things he asked for could be so easily forgotten. That realization left a bittersweet taste in
his mouth.
Noe touched her nose, not sure if she felt embarrassed or guilty.
"I get it. It was my fault this time. When I''m back, I''ll make it up to you."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Noe nced at the call log on her phone. When exactly had it be a daily
routine for him to call her? Was the CEO of the Pock Group really that free?
She put her phone down and took out the watch she had borrowed from Palmer. She promised him
to send it back after some modification. Since now she got nothing to do, seemed like the perfect
time to get to it.
Wren, watching Noe''s concentrated profile in the rear-view mirror, thought how serene and
elegant she was. She exuded theposed grace of ady born into high society. The memory of
what had happened at Imperial West Hospital made Wren''s blood boil.
"Ms. Schnabel, if you ever run into the Lamberts, please don''t reveal your identity to them. They''re
nothing but greedy. I used to think they were good to you, but I was clearly mistaken."
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"The Lamberts?"
Wren recounted the encounter with Vincent at the hospital. "If you see them, don''t give them the
time of day!"
Noe nodded, fitting thestponent back into the watch. The refurbished men''s watch was a
masterpiece of understated luxury, its diamonds full and dazzling. It suited Palmer to a T.
Wren continued to caution, "I don''t think they caught your birthday live stream; they probably don’t
know who you really are."
If Vincent knew that Noe was the daughter of the nation''s wealthiest family, he''d lose his mind!
Families like the Schnabels kept their wealth shrouded in mystery. They never appeared on those
rich lists because they chose not to.
Someone like Vincent, with his greedy and petty nature, would surely try to bleed her dry if he found
out. Noe must never let him know.
Noe smiled softly, nodding her agreement, "It''s fine. Whether they know or not, I have nothing to
do with them now."
Ever since she learned her grandmother had no ties to the Lambert family, Noe had felt at ease.
She had never had much regard for the Lamberts; it was all for her grandmother''s sake, not wanting
to cause her distress. But her grandmother knew everything.
Noe nced at the delicate jade bracelet on her wrist, a piece so exquisite that a simr one had
fetched seven hundred grand at auctionst year.
Wren saw that Noe had things under control and rxed. He just worried that Ms. Schnabel''s
kindness might be taken advantage of and that the Lambert family could hurt her.
As the car stopped at theb entrance in Emerald County, ra, having heard the news, dashed
down from herb and enveloped Noe in a tight hug as soon as she stepped out.
"Noe! You finally came to visit me!"
ra looked pale, with dark circles under her eyes, clearly the result of too manyte nights. But
the sight of Noe made her face light up with joy.
"ra, I brought you lots of things. Mom prepared them all for you."
Noe gestured to the bags and packages piled behind her. Sienna had packed the car full, all for
ra.
"Awesome! Mom sent me pickles!" ra looped an arm around Noe''s neck, calling for her
assistant to bring in the goodies. "Come on, let me show you around. These breeding grounds are
part of ourb."
ra led Noe towards the breeding area with pride, "Just between us, some of this is edible!"
Noe couldn''t help but smile. Even if it was edible, ra must be sick of seeing these things every
day.
"How''s everything at home?"
Noe shared the recent events with ra, picking and choosing the details. ra was taken
aback.
"Noe, slow down, let me process this...there''s so much to take in. I don''t know whether to be
more shocked about Grandpa and Grandma getting a divorce, or that Grandma isn''t Dad''s real
mom, or that Grandma ended up in the ICU because of Yvonne!"
All these revtions had ra''s jaw dropping. She could hardly believe the drama unfolding at
home. She hadn’t been away that long, and so much had happened. Bravo, indeed.
"ra, why did our family take in Yvonne?"
"Oh, that? Back then, Grandma Ashlyn...I mean, Ashlyn was sick and had a dream about God
sending her a child of fortune. Then she found Yvonne abandoned on the street and insisted that
she was the child sent by God. She was adamant about adopting her."
ra shrugged helplessly.
“Well, if she wants to adopt, let her be. It''s just another mouth to feed, and we can afford it. Besides,
ever since she took in Yvonne, she''s been less of a bother to Mom, so I guess it''s a good thing.”
Noe frowned slightly, "Picked up from the street?"
"That''s what grandma says, but I think..." ra lowered her voice, hooking her arm around Noe''s
neck, and whispered conspiratorially into her ear, "For all we know, Yvonne might be Grandma''s
secret love child! She''s awfully sweet on her, even more than she is with us."
Noe stared at ra, speechless, "She''s Ashlyn''s biological granddaughter."
She handed ra a paternity test report, the results clear at a nce. ra''s mouth dropped open.
"This is...just absurd, totally!"
Noe observed ra in front of her. She wore a well-wornb coat that had faded to a pale white,
her hair simply tied back with the scrunchie Noe had given her. When she reached out, her hands
bore thin calluses and even traces of chilins.
Both daughters of the Schnabel family, ra lived a life of austerity for the sake of her research.
Noe pulled a small box from her bag and handed it to ra.
"What''s this? A present from you?"
"Yes, it''s for you. It will help get rid of those calluses and prevent chilins."
ra''s eyes lit up. She didn''t care much for such things, but she was still a girl who loved beauty.
Sometimes the conditions in theb were far from ideal, requiring her to get hands-on, even working
in sub-zero temperatures.
Thest time she went back to the Schnabel Mansion, she took great care to hide her hands, not
wanting her family to see her wounds. And yet, her little sister had noticed and even prepared a gift
in secret.
Oh, how sweet and kind her little sister was!
Touched and filled with warmth, ra hugged Noe''s face and nted a few kisses on her cheeks.
"Thank you, Noe! I love it, love you to bits!"