CHapter 169


    The Schnabel family was a mess of tears, and it fell to Noe to console one after the othe


    Nothing weighed heavier on the Schnabel brothers‘ hearts than the realization of how tough


    Noe’s life with their grandmother had been.


    Beckett ruffled Noe’s hair, feeling an unbearable ache in his chest. How could their sister have


    endured such hardships?


    Looking at Noe with a stern face, Beckett dered, “Sis, from now on, your brothers will protect


    you!”


    With a gentle smile, Noe replied, “Okay.”


    Marcel wiped away his tears, stood up, and handed Noe the USB drive.


    “Noe, copy your grandma’s video onto this. Bring it with you tomorrow, it mighte in handy.”


    A sudden thought struck Noe as she gazed at Marcel’s determined face. Did Grandma have


    some connection to Lockhart Prison? Was it rted to the secret she kept from


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    her?


    From the tone of her grandmother’s voice during the video, it was as if she’d known at the


    time that Noe was a Schnabel.


    Suppressing her curiosity and without further questioning, Noe nodded and epted the USB


    drive.


    “Got it.”


    After giving his instructions, Marcel turned and went upstairs. His figure seemed to age with every


    step, a man deeply struck by grief.


    Tristan, holding Sienna, cried like a toddler, “Honey, Mom knew she was my mom; I’m not an


    orphan! And she helped raise Noe, but they lived such a hard life.”


    “There, there. Now we’ll make it up to Noe. Let’s move Mom’s plot back to the Schnabel family


    cemetery, okay?”


    Tristan had thought of that too but was worried Harriet might not like it.


    “Noe, would Grandma be okay with that?”


    After a moment’s thought, Noe nodded. “Grandma would want to be with Dad and me. She


    knew about you, and she was a good person. She wouldn’t hold the past against Dad.


    I don’t know what happened between Grandma and Grandpa, but she wouldn’t me Dad and my


    brothers.”


    aten burst into tears again! Looking at his precious daughter, so sensible anks to his mother who


    raised her so well in such tough conditions.


    Honey, tomorrow we’re bringing Mom back! And we’ll visit ra in Emerald County; one daughter


    has already endured enough hardship, we can’t let the other suffer in the mountains!


    “Of course, I’lle with you.”


    ra, after watching the video sent in the group chat, buried her face in her pillow and wept in


    silence for a long while.


    Her sister and grandmother had suffered too much. Just the thought was enough to sadden her.


    She realized how caring Noe was because of the hardships she faced in previous years, the


    ordeal she went through with her grandmother.


    ra took her phone, and after pondering for some time, she eventually decided to send Noe a


    sum of money. Coldfort was no substitute for a substantial bank transfer. Noe, puzzled by


    the unexpected windfall, wondered why her sister had suddenly sent her money.


    ra, with her characteristic generosity, texted: [It’s all for you. That’s thest quarter’s research


    bonus. I’ll keep earning and buy you even more nice things! Take it, and don’t you dare refuse, or


    it’s like you’re looking down on me! Buy whatever you want, and if you run out,e to me. If I’m


    broke, I’ll rob a bank to support you!]


    The message was followed by a string of kissy–face emojis.


    Noeughed helplessly and epted the hard–earned money.


    [Thanks, sis. But no need for bank heists. I’m well off, and if you run short for your research, just


    ask me.]


    Truth be told, between Pris Star’s assets and the allowances from the Schnabel family and the


    Palmer family, Noe had no idea how much she was worth.


    [No worries. If I run out, I’ll just kidnap Mr. Pock – he’s loaded!]


    ra unted her bank transfer in the group chat.


    [Seriously, guys? Haven’t you sent Noe any cash? Stingy bunch of dudes. Man, I’m disappointed.


    Looks like I have to be the guardian of this family.]


    The Schnabel men were silent. One after another, Noe’s phone chimed with transfer


    notifications.


    ra chuckled while her own phone buzzed with iing transfers from the Schnabel family.


    The next morning, the Schnabels were busy rolling eggs over their ey puffiness


    the helicopternded on thewn, Palmer, with his trench coat billowing in the wind, pproached


    the Schnabel Manor with an air of nobility. His austere presence and piercing eyes exuded an


    almost intimidating aura, which could send shiver down the onlooker’s spine. Yet, the moment


    heid eyes on Noe, that frosty demeanor melted into a look of tender warmth.


    “Is the Schnabel family breakfast all about eggs today?”


    Sienna quickly ushered Palmer inside, “Come on in, Palmer. Have breakfast first. You’ll be in


    charge of Noe’s safety for the next few days!”


    “You can count on me to keep Noe safe.”


    The Schnabel brothers huffed, somewhat distrustful, but since they couldn’t go to Lockhart Prison


    themselves, they had no choice but to rely on him; otherwise they’d never allow their sister to risk


    going to that perilous ce.


    Beckett, with a deadpan expression, warned, “Mr. Pock, if my sisteres to any harm, the


    Pock Group will pay dearly.”


    Tristan cursed, “Shut it! If you can’t say anything lucky, keep your mouth shut! Talking about harm


    and retribution, I’ll knock you out myself!”


    In a fit of anger, Tristan threw an egg at Beckett, who caught it with a stern face and returned to


    nursing his swollen eyes in silence.


    Palmer couldn’t suppress a chuckle. With long strides, he came over to Noe and sat down, taking


    his time to share the morning meal with her.


    Both Noe and Palmer had the daunting Lockhart Prison on their minds, leading them to pick at


    their food. The rest of the Schnabels was in a hurry to head to Linefort City to relocate Harriet’s


    grave, quickly wrapping up their meal.


    After breakfast, a convoy of cars rolled out of the Schnabel Manor, while Noe and Palmer’s


    helicopter set its course towards Lockhart Prison.


    Lockhart Prison.


    At the edge of the frontier, a formidable international penitentiary painted in the darkest hues stood


    as a testament to human depravity. It housed the worst of the worst: notorious drug lords and arms


    dealers who were destined to spend their final days within these walls.


    In Lockhart Prison, no one could keep secrets. Only those who bared their deepest, darkest secrets


    could meet their end. Otherwise, they faced inhumane torment that was beyond imagination.


    RIA


    05:47


    Prisoners, shackled at the ankles, trudged across the vast yard, their movements


    restricted and weary. Beyond the towering walls, not a sliver of light offered hope; the prison was


    an immense cage.


    The helicopter hovered in the sky.


    Noe peered down at Lockhart Prison, “Where’s the rendezvous point?”


    “Inside. Down there are themon criminals – drug traffickers, human smugglers, or serial


    killers.”


    Such inmates were confined to the outermostyers of Lockhart Prison. To reach the core, one had


    to traverse a raging river.


    In the midst of the river stood an isted plot, akin to an ind, utterly cut off from the world.


    The prison’s inner sanctum was reserved for those whose crimes were so heinous that they would


    warrant execution multiple times over in their own countries.


    From high above, they could sometimes spot sharks patrolling the waters.


    Noe frowned as she surveyed the scene, “We’re in the crosshairs of at least a dozen snipers!”