CHapter 180


    ra’s mom, Jacob’s fiancée?


    While she never had a wedding with Jacob, he had always acknowledged her as his only wife!


    What If she was still alive?


    Noelle, are you talking about the nonsense Tandy was spouting after he had the vodka?”


    “He wasn’t drunk; he was faking it. I remember Thorpe once mentioned that their family has a


    gic tolerance for alcohol.


    With a sheepish grin stered on his face, Thorpe slowly turned around.


    When did all this happen? He couldn’t even remember! How on Earth did Wise Fool remember


    such a trivial thing?


    Xavier bellowed with a mix of anger and protectiveness, “What are you staring at? Keep eyeing


    Noe like that and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”


    Grinding his teeth, Thorpe hadn’t expected that it would be his own offhand remark that would


    betray his brother. He waspletely numb to it all.


    “No, I was just marveling at how Ms. Schnabel’s head, so pretty and small, could remember so


    much stuff!”


    Noe, chin held high, retorted, “Based on what Tandy said, it seems they used the same tricks on


    my grandma and ra’s mom. Since my grandma is alive but has lost some memories, I have


    reason to suspect ra’s mom might be in the same boat.”


    Palmer’s steely gaze fell on Hollis.


    With an innocently disarming smile and a nonchnt shrug, Hollis met Palmer’s lethal stare,


    conveying a helpless air. “I’ve told you all I know; the rest is beyond me, and Tandy knows even


    less.”


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Noe turned to Xavier and tossed her maic earrings to him. “Inside is a copy of a file. Videos


    and photos left by my grandma are all in there–the password is her birthday.”


    Xavier, in a fluster, caught the earrings Noe casually threw. He was terrified of breaking


    something so precious!


    This was everything Harriet had left behind!


    His voice softened as he looked at Noe and Palmer. “Uh… are you guys leaving?”


    “Yes. I’ve got the answers I needed. They won’t be able to answer my other questions.”


    treasure


    of


    A trace of sorrow shadowed Xavier’s weathered face. His life had been one of turmoil, his only t


    being his dearly departed sister. With her gone, his heart had died too. Yet, upon seeing Noe, a


    spark hope ignited within Xavier!


    “Will youe back to… Forget it, this ce is no good. Just go, and don’t look back!”


    He watched as Noe and Palmer headed to the helicopter, his eyes heavy with reluctance.


    The helicopter des roared to life, and as Noe stood in the tempest, she turned back to look at


    Xavier. “I’ll be back to settle scores! Old man, make sure you’re still kicking!”


    He had tried to scheme against her several times before, even reaching out to other hit squads on


    the deep web to take her down. She hadn’t forgotten.


    Whatever his reasons, Xavier had to remember the debt he owed her.


    11:53


    his voice quivering with emotion, called out, “Hey!ll be waiting for that troublet


    As the helicopter ascended into the sky, vanishing from Lockhart Prison’s bounds, Thorpe


    sighed. “Hollis, I Buddenly feel like our organization will never outdo the Obelisk Organization or


    the Abyssal Organization


    Hollis, puzzled, said, “When did you start thinking we could take them down? What have I done to


    give you


    Buch an illusion?”


    Even if Noe and Palmer weren’t part of the Schnabel and Pock families, the power of the


    Obelisk and Abyssal organizations still surpassed that of Cerulean Whale. Did Thorpe always


    believe they could rece them?


    Wiping away a tear, Xavier cheerfully took the earring Noe had given him and prepared to go


    inside for a closer look. As he passed Thorpe, he gave him a kick into the pool.


    “Xavier, are you out of your mind? Why did you kick me in!”


    “To teach you a lesson for being rude to Noe. Soak in there for a bit! If it weren’t for that


    bandaged head of yours, Hollis, I’d throw you both in to cool off!”


    Xavier snorted and walked away.


    At the Phoenix Tower of Serene Haven, the Schnabel Manor was bustling.


    Noe and Palmer were greeted by a living room full of people as they entered.


    The entire Schnabel family, along with Sexton and Merrick, had shown up. Even Freya, who was


    supposed to be conducting experiments, had requested toe home!


    The room was eerily quiet, the ticking of the clock hanging on the wall echoing clearly.


    Noe was taken aback by the crowd, but soon realized that they were all there for ra’s sake.


    Marcel waved Noe over. “Back already? Tough trip, huh? Did that Xavier guy give you any


    trouble? Come, sit by me. We’ve been waiting for you. Have you eaten?”


    “We’re fine, thanks. We grabbed something on the way.”


    “Palmer, you too. Thanks for looking after Noe. Go sit by your grandpa before he blows a gasket.


    And if he does, just haul him off and bury him wherever


    For once, Sexton didn’t retort to Marcel’s sarcasm. Clutching his canes, his hands trembled


    uncontrobly. his gaze never leaving ra.


    Noe obediently took her seat next to Marcel, with ra right beside her.


    ra leaned in and whispered, “Don’t be scared, they’ll leave after the chat.”


    Noe soothed ra’s palm with a gentle scratch.


    In this setting, shouldn’t it be ra who should be scared?


    Marcel nced at Sexton, who had been silent throughout the conversation.


    “Look, what’s done is done, and I’m not one to dwell on the past. Now, it’s ra’s call, and we’ll


    respect whatever she decides.”


    Freya snorted dismissively. “Jacob hasn’t even had the decency to show his face. It’s pretty clear


    where ra should stand.”


    Palmer shot a sympathetic look toward Sexton, feeling that Jacob had indeed crossed a line.


    “Where is my uncle? Should I get in touch with him?


    Sexton’s voice was grave as he responded, “No need. He’s already trying to pull some strings to


    get ra transferred back to the Imperial City Institute. At least he’s doing something.”


    Merrick turned to Noe with a twinkle in his eye. “So, Noe, did you guys uncover anything new


    on this trip?”


    Noe nodded. “We’re still not sure what exactly happened to Grandma back in the day, but Palmer


    and I think there’s a chance ra’s mother might still be alive. Grandpa Sexton, who is ra’s


    mother, really?”


    Only the Pock family knew the true identity of the woman once betrothed to Jacob.


    Sexton stood up abruptly, a storm of emotions in his eyes. “Noe, you… you mean she could be


    alive? Then why hasn’t she sought out Jacob, or ra? What kind of mother could be so


    heartless?”


    Noe shook her head, her voice steady. “If she is alive, she might have lost her memory, just like


    my grandma.”


    Sexton’s lips quivered as he struggled to find the words. “Oh, the tragedy of it all. That poor child, if


    she’s out there, having forgotten everything, forgotten Jacob and ra, then ra…”


    His voice trailed off as he turned to look at ra, his eyes brimming with tears that streaked down


    his weathered cheeks.