CHapter 178


    Hanging upside down from a beam in the ck tower of Lockhart Prison, Thorpe was a sorry sight


    to behold. His once intimidating frame was now a patchwork of bruises and wounds.


    Noe peered at the battered figure, her brows knitting together in confusion. “And who might you


    be?”


    Thorpe’s fury broke through his battered facade. “Wise Fool, do you have to do this to me? I didn’t


    know you are Ms. Schnabel, and it was Xavier who had a bone to pick with your grandpa, not me!


    You’ve killed more of my guys over that sted deal than I can count, and I haven’t evene


    knocking for payback!”


    With a casual shrug, Noe replied, “You’re Thorpe? Didn’t recognize you there. Anyway, if your


    boys were stronger, maybe they wouldn’t have fallen so easily. ming me seems a bit shameless,


    don’t you think?”


    Xavier chimed in with a snicker. “Shameless? He’s way past that. I knocked the looks right off his


    face!”


    Thorpe’s swollen appearance did little to help his recognition; in fact, he looked more like a bloated


    caricature of himself.


    It was only because Thorpe had watched a livestream of Noe’s birthday bash, organized by the


    Schnabel family while he was helping Hollis recover, that he recognized her. The face of Palmer, a


    familiar enemy. had appeared amid the birthday bash and it nearly drove Thorpe over the edge.


    The CEO of the Pock Group was one of his archenemies?


    The moment he saw Noe standing close to Palmer, he knew–she was that Ms. Noe from the


    Schnabel family. Her confident stance as she fired her gun and her tussle with Lyra, it all clicked for


    Thorpe, who had faced her numerous times on the international warzones.


    Ms. Noe from the Schnabel family, another nemesis?


    Suddenly, Thorpe felt as if all his efforts over the years had been for naught.


    What kind of heiress moonlights as a hitwoman?


    “You’re the one who summoned me to Lockhart Prison and now you’ve got me strung up like a side


    of beef. What’s your endgame? You aiming to swallow up Cerulean Whale?”


    “Cerulean Whale? Not interested. Your crew are a bunch of goons–not only are they ugly as sin, but


    they’re dumb as a sack of hammers. Taking them out would just be embarrassing.”


    Noe was known for collecting orphans from war–torn regions to join the Obelisk Organization.


    While looks weren’t a priority for a hitman, Cerulean Whale’s bizarre standards had turned them


    into a pack of over–muscled transformers. Noe preferred to keep her distance from such


    ostentatious disys of brute force.


    “Besides, I called you here for a rescue, remember? Don’t you care about your little brother?”


    After a moment’s silence, Thorpe looked defeated. “Can you let me down? Xavier, you’ve wiped out


    my team; I’m no threat now.”


    Xavier nced at Noe, clearly seeking her approval.


    “Let him down. His brain’s fried anyway.”


    Noe was referring to a rather literal injury to Thorpe’s head–a blow that had left him with more


    than just a few clots and a close call with death.


    Once released, Thorpe slumped beside a water basin. Hollis, looking frail and pale, was wheeled in


    by Magee.


    Xavier scoffed. have no interest in beating dying man. This guy seemed half–dead already!”


    Hollis, ever the gentleman, inclined his head towards Xavier from his wheelchair. “Xavier, I


    apologize for the inconvenience.”


    With a polite smile that belied his condition, Hollis then turned his attention to Noe, his smile


    growing a touch warmer. “I owe you my life, and for that, I am grateful.”


    Noe’s response was cool and detached. “Lunaris saved you, not me.”


    “Of course, as long as you understand what I meant,” Hollis replied, his eyes acknowledging her


    true identity. This guy, Hollis, seemed to be smarter than his brothers.


    Thorpe said, “Xavier, let’s make a deal. Hand over Tandy, and I’ll let you call the shots with


    Cerulean Whale’s men from now on!”


    Xavier rolled his eyes, and he dragged a chair over for Noe. “Have a seat, Noe. Why stand


    when you can sit? That Pock boy didn’t even think to fetch you a chair. Useless. If you ever get


    bored of him, I’ve got a whole lineup of better suitors right here in Lockhart Prison–take your pick, a


    dozen if you like.”


    Noe’s gaze was icy as she retorted. “What are you offering? Death row inmates? Drug lords or


    serial killers?”


    Xavier rubbed his forehead awkwardly, realizing his blunder. Lockhart Prison was filled with the


    depraved and the damned, including himself–a man burdened with sins. There was little hope of


    finding someone ‘normal‘ for Noe in such a ce.


    “Thorpe, I’m tired of this nonsense. If it wasn’t for orders from up high, Tandy wouldn’t havested


    this long. You think I’d tolerate his attitude? If you want to take him, make him spill everything first.”


    Xavier’s n seemed wless. ording to Noe, Tandy was already on death’s door. If Thorpe


    took Tandy away, it would also save the prison the trouble of disposing of him.


    Xavier sneered. “Or maybe you know something, Thorpe. You can spill the beans just as well.”


    With a snap of her fingers, Noe cut to the chase. “Xavier, how many times did you try to off my


    grandpa?”


    “Just once,” Xavier replied with a shrug. “You think Marcel is worth spending on more than once?”


    Noe gazed at Thorpe with a meaningful look. “Is that so? Yet, I seem to recall the Cerulean Whale


    gang trying to take out my grandad not once, but twice.”


    It was during the second incident that Noe had casually saved Sexton, who was in the throes of


    an illness.


    Whoever it was, they were well–prepared, having rigged the hospital room with explosives and


    bribed the medical staff. If anything had gone wrong. Sexton and Marcel would likely have been


    beyond saving.


    Xavier roared, “No way! I only pay up once, and I wouldn’t have bothered if it weren’t for Harriet’s


    birthday. I don’t need this mess!”


    Palmer mercilessly pointed out. “Or was it more about not finding the right opportunity before? The


    day you chose just happened to coincide with the hospital’s security shift change.”


    After all, making a move against a former high–ranking general of Harmonia Country in Imperial


    City wasn’t easy. Otherwise, why hadn’t Xavier made his move during any of Grandma Harriet’s


    previous birthdays?


    Xavier’s face turned beet red with embarrassment. “Shut it! Bring Tandy out here. Whoever tells the


    truth gets to walk, and the liars can go swim with the sharks!”


    Noe turned her attention to Hollis, who had remained silent. “Tandy has said his piece, and now


    it’s your


    turn to spill the beans!”


    “Me? Ms. Schnabel, you must be mistaken. I’m in poor health; what could I possibly know?”


    Noe shook her head, looking sternly at Hollis. “You are the one Tandy and Thorpe have been


    covering for. Whether it’s the Cerulean Whale or the Heartfelt Orphanage, you’re the real shot–


    caller, aren’t you? Whether It’s the Heartfelt Orphanage or Tandy Hospital, you’re the real director.”


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    From the moment Noe met Hollis, she knew he was different. Thorpe’s look of brotherly affection


    was mingled with an unusual reverence! That look, different from how the Schnabel family regarded


    her, yet identical to the folks from the Pris Star viewed her!


    It was a respect and awe reserved for a leader, someone worth sacrificing to protect.


    Hollis narrowed his eyes and smiled. “I’m ttered that Ms. Schnabel thinks so highly of me, but you


    might be mistaken. I don’t know a thing.”


    Noe gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh dear, I forgot to mention a little mishap


    urred during your brain surgery, something got left behind. Now, what do we do about that?


    Could it be considered malpractice?”