Why now of all times?


    Marcel scoffed. "Then go find Sexton. I don''t buy that he''s out traveling too."


    As for who Tristan''s mother was, Marcel had his suspicions, but he needed more evidence.


    ...


    At the Pock Mansion, Marcel looked at Sexton, who was sprawled on the couch, feigning death.


    "Sexton! Get up! I want some straight answers from you!"


    "What''s gotten into you? How am I supposed to know what you''re on about? I was as gutted as


    anyone when Harriet had her troubles. If you''d taken better care of Harriet back in the day, let her


    marry me, she wouldn''t have had such a miserable life."


    Marcel took a seat, exhaling heavily at the words. "I just need to know one thing. Did Harriet have a


    child back then?"


    Sexton rolled over, hugging his tailor-made body pillow, silent as the grave.


    "It was my mistake back then. I never imagined Harriet was still alive, nor did I suspect that Tristan...


    Tristan wasn''t her child."


    The ''her'' he referred to was Ashlyn. Marcel was at the point where he couldn''t even stand to speak


    her name.


    "She deceived me. I had no idea Tristan was my son but not hers. I married her for the sake of the


    child. If I''d known Harriet was still alive..."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Sexton cut him off with a wave of his hand. "You sure do go on. If you''re really hung up on Harriet,


    get to the bottom of what really happened."


    Marcel leaned in, his tone serious. "Sexton, I came to you because I suspect there''s more to


    Harriet''s story. She was in Tandy Hospital when it happened. I''ve checked, and there have been


    mix-ups at Tandy Hospital. Noe was switched at birth there, and your second son, Jacob’s wife


    had her ident there too!"


    At this revtion, Sexton sat bolt upright. Narrowing his eyes, he locked gazes with Marcel. The


    once formidable business tycoon and the battle-hardened general seemed to return to their prime;


    the air itself froze in that instant.


    "Spill it. What have you found?"


    "There''s definitely something fishy about Tandy Hospital. Last month, the director of Tandy Hospital


    got nabbed by Interpol for meeting with Toxic Monarch in Imperial City. He''s been shipped off to


    Lockhart Prison. He knows everything."


    Sexton nodded, his tone bold. "I''ll see what I can do. But neither of us can leave the country, let


    alone get into Lockhart Prison. We can''t go in person, but this is critical. I''ll send Palmer. Though


    young, he''s reliable. Have Noe apany him. Heh, they might even bond over the adventure!"


    Sexton indulged in his fantasy, chuckling at the thought of them returning with a baby in tow.


    Marcel stood abruptly, his cane thudding against the floor. "Are you out of your mind? Do you have


    any idea what kind of ce Lockhart Prison is? If anything happens to my precious granddaughter,


    I''ll have you in a coffin ahead of schedule! Noe is just a child. How could you consider sending


    her to such a perilous ce? What are you ying at?"


    Lockhart Prison was in one of the most dangerous international war zones, a ce of constant


    violence and bloodshed.


    Marcel felt uneasy at the thought of sending delicate, precious Noe there.


    Sexton shot him a defiant look. "Sit down! Let''s talk this through without you getting on your high


    horse. I wasn''t finished. What''s the rush?"


    "Palmer will look after her, isn''t that reassurance enough? I swear, with my grandson by her side,


    Noe will be perfectly safe. Plus, Noe was raised by Harriet. With Harriet''s bracelet, Lockhart


    Prison will be her turf."


    Calmed by this assurance, Marcel sat back down.


    Sexton continued persuasively, "Noe''s in a unique position. If you sent your son or grandson, they


    wouldn''tst two seconds. I don''t want to endanger my future granddaughter-inw. I''m looking


    forward to their wedding, after all!"


    Marcel stood and headed for the door without looking back.


    "Eh? What''s that supposed to mean, Marcel? Are you agreeing or not? I need a straight answer


    before I talk to Palmer!"


    Marcel cursed under his breath, "I''m gonna call Xavier. If he dares mistreat Noe, I''ll blow Lockhart


    Prison sky-high!"


    ...


    At the Schnabel Manor, in Marcel''s study, an antique agarwood desk held an exquisite coffee


    brewing set. The rich aroma wafted from the brewing pot, filling the room with aforting scent.


    Noe rolled up her sleeves to prepare the coffee, revealing slender, pale wrists, and the glow of the


    jade bracelet made her arms look even more delicate. Her fluid coffee brewing technique was both


    elegant and professional, not a single grain of coffee spilled.


    Even Marcel, with his critical gaze, was taken aback with pride and admiration. He sipped the


    coffee, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.


    "Did your grandma teach you this?"


    "Yes, Grandma loved coffee, especially with a hint of osmanthus."


    That particr vor, only Harriet could brew. Marcel hadn''t tasted it since she left.


    Setting down his cup, he spoke solemnly. "Noe, there''s something I''ve been hesitant to ask, but


    I''ve made up my mind. There''s a favor I need you to do for me."


    "Please, tell me."


    After Marcel exined, surprise and confusion washed over Noe''s face.


    "I know this sounds like a risky business, but I promise you, I''ll make sure youe back safe and


    sound! Palmer will be there to protect you every step of the way. Do you want to go?"


    Noe was merely surprised that Marcel would arrange for her to go to Lockhart Prison. Even


    without Marcel''s words, she and Palmer would still go to Lockhart Prison.


    Noe nodded in agreement. "I''m willing to go. This is about finding out what really happened to


    Grandma back in the day, and about mine and ra''s origins. I''ll get to the bottom of it. Don''t


    worry."


    Noe''s lips curved into a smile, dimples shing softly at the corners of her mouth, her smile as


    beautiful as it was sweet.


    "Grandpa, there''s something I want to show you." Noe took out the paternity test report and


    ced it on the desk.


    Marcel seemed to have anticipated what it was, his hands trembling slightly as he picked up the


    report. Looking over the data, he lifted his head in a mix of excitement and disbelief.


    "Is this... is this for Harriet and Tristan?"


    "Yes, when Grandma Harriet was sick, I kept a sample of her DNA and had aparison done.


    Grandma was indeed Dad''s biological mother."


    Marcelughed and cried at the same time. Looking at Noe, Marcel was overwhelmed with


    emotion!


    The child she had raised was, without a doubt, the best kid in the world.


    "I feel guilty for not having you grow up in the Schnabel family from the start, but I thank you, Noe,


    for always being by your grandmother''s side. Lucky for me, having you means I have fewer


    regrets!"


    Marcel could vividly imagine the bond between Harriet and Noe over the years, how Harriet must


    have cherished Noe. Thankfully, Noe had grown up to be such a good kid. It was wonderful that


    Harriet had Noe''spany!


    Marcel''s tears were still fresh on his cheeks when the study door was pushed open by Tristan.


    He looked at Noe, then at Marcel, and spoke with conviction. "Dad! I do not agree with Noe


    going to Lockhart Prison!"