Yvonne was on the verge of a meltdown, her face hidden behind her hands as tear after tear


    streamed down her cheeks.


    “Malvina, how could you hit me? I swear I didn’t mean it that way. I wasn’t trying to stir up trouble!”


    “Yeah, right!” Malvina massaged her wrist before pping Yvonne once again. “Come on, tell her


    how she’s supposed to talk to ady of my standing.”


    One of the Gruber family’s servants stepped forward and dered, “Being pped by Malvina is a


    privilege, Yvonne. You should be thanking her for even bothering with you.”


    Yvonne’s face was aze with pain, her gaze turning to Noe, who had remained silent throughout


    the ordeal.


    Noe’s expression was indifferent, and Yvonne suddenly felt like aplete fool in her presence.


    “Noe, we’re practically family. Please, ask Malvina to let me off this once,” Yvonne pleaded, her


    eyes locking onto Noe’s.


    Convinced that with so many high–society guests watching, Noe would surely y the


    magnanimous card to leave a good impression, Noe had to speak up for her.


    Noe’s voice was cool and detached. “Have you forgotten what I told you outside the art gallery


    last time?”


    The mere memory of that public humiliation at the gallery had Yvonne’s cheeks throbbing all over


    again. “Ms. Schnabel, please, ask Malvina to spare me. I’ll never cross you again,


    save me.”


    Noe was toying with her! It must be that Noe was jealous now that she had be the Gruber


    family’s darling. It had to be envy!


    Noe looked away, her tone unchanging. “Oh, I won’t help.”


    Yvonne was dumbstruck.


    The country bumpkin dared to reject her? Was she not afraid of being seen as uncouth and


    heartless by the others?


    Noe wasn’t giving Yvonne a second thought. Her little charades were just pathetic attempts to


    sow discord between her and Malvina, all to gain some advantage.


    “What’s going on here?”


    Amanding voice echoed from nearby as Walden approached, pushing an elderly man in a


    wheelchair.


    The old man, appearing frail and aged, was dressed in a silk robe embroidered with a thajestic


    ck dragen, exuding an air of authority.


    Yvonne’s spirits lifted at the sight of Arthur. This was her chance to y the victim!


    Palmer, sensing the impending drama, wrapped his arm around Noe and stepped back.


    He whispered, “Looks like we’re in for a show. My fiancée, getting to know what Ms. Gruber is


    really like is part of the package.”


    Noe, new to the Imperial City’s elite, was unacquainted with the notorious Malvina. This was her


    first encounter with someone so brazen yet unsophisticated. Malvina’s personality was bold, and


    somehow, Noe couldn’t help but find it entertaining..


    As Yvonne rushed over to Arthur, Malvina’s foot jutted out, tripping her and sending her sprawling to


    the ground.


    “Ah…”


    Malvina pped a hand over her mouth, feigning innocence. “Yvonne, how could you be so mean


    to me? You even tried to hit me. Oh, dear! It’s okay, I don’t me you. After all, you can’t help it if


    you weren’t taught our Gruber family ways. Your father was just an adopted child, after all.”


    Malvina pinched her waist, wincing in pain, and tears immediately began to flow.


    Yvonney on the ground, internally cursing Malvina. When had she ever hit Malvina? It was clear


    who the real victim was!


    “Grandfather, it’s not like that, it’s…”


    Malvina turned and clung to Noe, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ms. Schnabel can vouch for me,


    Grandpa. Yvonne’s just immature. I don’t me her; she’s clueless. I can forgive her for the sake of


    our family!”


    Arthur’s gaze shifted to Noe. She nodded to him in greeting. “Malvina is innocent.”


    With a sly wink at Noe, Malvina turned back and stealthily stepped on Yvonne, her stiletto heel


    digging in.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Yvonne burst into tears from the pain. “Ow!”


    Malvina, disgusted, said, “Yvonne, you really need to learn some manners. Sigh… it pains me to


    see this. You can’t just scream and shout like that, especially not here. But then again, I suppose


    it’s natural for someone less fortunate–looking to seek attention in such ways. I get it!”


    Yvonne was speechless.


    Was Malvina crazy?


    Noe’s lips curled into a smile, her impression of Malvina deepening. Indeed, the Gruber


    family’s youngdy was too hard to hatel


    After Malvina’s disy, Arthur’s frown softened, and he beckoned her over. “Malvina knows best. I


    am so proud of you. Yvonne, on the other hand… Go rest, and don’te out until you can


    behave.”


    It was clear that he saw Yvonne as an embarrassment.


    Unable to protest, Yvonne’s eyes filled with tears of indignation. “Yes, Grandpa.”


    Supported by the servants, she limped back to her room, her eyes burning with


    resentment.


    Malvina whistled cheerfully at Yvonne’s retreating figure, yfully tossing her hair.


    That’s it? Trying topete with her? Way too easy.


    Walden’s eyes were fixed on Noe, full of admiration. “Ms. Schnabel, I’m so pleased you could join


    us today.”


    Noe faced Walden, her voice calm. “Walden, out of the dog house so soon?”


    Walden’s lips twitched as he clenched his teeth to rify. “Ms. Schnabel might have gotten the


    wrong impression of me! The incident at your gallery wasn’t my doing–I was framed!” “You publicly


    picking a fight with me in front of the media was you being framed too? Walden, are you delusional?


    Or is it that you’re possessed by some foul spirit?”


    Noe’s distaste was palpable as she cast a disdainful nce at Walden, stepping back as if he


    were some kind of vermin.


    Palmer’s arm steadied Noe, his brow furrowed. “If the Gruber familycks such decorum, we


    would rather leave! From now on, the Pock family will have no part in the Gruber family’s


    business affairs!”


    Walden’s face turned a shade of green!


    What did they mean by that? What did it mean that the Pock family would have no part in the


    Gruber family’s business affairs? Did Palmer remember how he had snatched away all of the


    Gruber family’s deals in Imperial City justst month?


    All of them!


    Many of Walden’s deals had been poached by Palmer, even those that the Pock Group didn’t


    actually need, causing the Gruber family a substantial financial lossst month.


    The whole point of organizing the gemstone auction was to win back those lost clients.


    Once he became the helmsman of the Gruber family, he’d see if they dared to look at him with such


    disdain!


    As Palmer seemed poised to leave with Noe, Arthur intervened. “Mr. Pock, on behalf


    374


    of Walden, I offer you and Ms. Schnabel my apologies. Out of respect for me, Mr. Pock, would


    you please stay?”


    Palmer looked down at Noe in his arms, asking softly, “Shall we stay?”


    Realization dawned on Arthur. “Ms. Schnabel, my sincerest apologies. Please, in light of the


    longstanding friendship between the Grubers and the Schnabels, don’t be upset.”


    With a light chuckle, Noe replied, “Since Mr. Gruber insists, I’ll stay and see how things unfold,


    But if the Gruber family is represented by a bastard, it’s Mr. Gruber’s reputation that’s being


    tarnished.”


    Palmer forced a smile. “Mr. Gruber, my fiancée has a delicate stomach; unsavory sights tend to


    upset her. Our apologies.”


    Malvina yawned. “Noe, darling, feeling queasy? The stomach is a mirror of our moods;–


    difort is indeed distressing! Grandpa, let’s prioritize our guests‘ needs today, shall


    we?