CHapter 188


    There they were, thest Gemstone Gambling King and Queen of Film, TV, Music, huddled


    beneath a small table, their mouths filled with creamy cheesecake, and each hand securely


    grasping a slice.


    Yasbel chuckled. “Boss, you two just carry on. Don’t mind us.”


    Noe pressed a hand to her temple. “What are you doing down there?”


    Yasbel was quick with a defense. “I went to pick up Master, didn’t I? After hours on a ne, he was


    famished. But, you know, being a public figure, I can’t just pig out without it. hitting the gossip


    columns!”


    She still seethed at the memory of a headline: [Heartbroken Starlet Devours Cheesecake. in


    Midnight Binge]. As if! Her cravings had nothing to do with a broken heart.


    Master Hector and Yasbel shared a love for cheesecake that bordered on the religious.


    With a stretch of his arm, Master Hector called out, “Noe, help me up, would you? My legs are


    numb from squatting.”


    Noe helped them up, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself.


    Master Hector shook out the pins–and–needles from his legs and nced at Palmer. “Not bad.


    Where did you con this one from?”


    Noe replied with dry humor, “Picked him up off the street.”


    “Well done. He’s a gem. Better than thest one, for sure. I’m off to grab something else to


    eat. Carry on, you two.”


    Master Hector had a penchant for describing people with terms borrowed from his days of stone


    gambling. Noe was used to it by now.


    To be described as a ‘gem‘ by him meant you were a cut above the rest, wless and of the finest


    grade.


    As Master Hector and Yasbel scurried off to the next table, Noe sighed softly.


    Palmer leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “Thest one?”


    The idea that his fiancée might have once ‘picked up‘ another man was a sour note in his heart. The


    more he got to know Noe, the more she seemed like a treasure trove of surprises, an


    extraordinary woman whose past he had yet to explore.


    “He’s talking about someone unimportant. Just a misunderstanding.”


    “Do I count as important?”


    Noe nced at him, a knowing twinkle in her eye. “Master Hector said it, didn’t he? A


    In the world of gemstone gambling, men would go bankrupt for a stone with the just–right


    water content. If Noe were a gambler, then Palmer was the prize find.


    It took a moment for Palmer to realize she wasplimenting him.


    Noe dug into her purse and handed him a sleek men’s watch. “I’ve adjusted it. If your don’t like


    it…


    “I love it! Anything from you is a treasure.”


    She had tweaked his watch on their way back from Emerald County, a reciprocation of the watch he


    had gifted her.


    “Thanks, my fiancée.”


    Noe nced at Palmer’s wrist, unable to ignore the fact that he consistently wore the cufflinks


    she had given him during their time at Fortress Hospital. To the uninitiated, it would seem as though


    the CEO of the Pock Group had but a single pair of cufflinks to


    his name.


    Noe met his shining gaze and helped him put on the watch.


    Malvina popped up out of nowhere. “Noe, darling, I’ve found us the perfect spot.”


    “I’ve got a couple of friends with me. Is that okay?” Noe gestured toward Hector and Yasbel, now


    emerging from theirtest table hideaway.


    Malvina’s lips twitched. “Well, ain’t that a sight? If they’re friends of my Noe, they’re wee.


    Though, they do look vaguely familiar.”


    Despite being an avid movie–goer, Malvina couldn’t quite ce the face of Yasbel, who was a far


    cry from herrger–than–life screen persona.


    The Gruber family’s gemstone auction was a ma for guests, most drawn by the allure of the


    Gemstone Gambling King’s reputation.


    ording to the rules of the game, any rough stone of interest could be auctioned on the spot. But


    since this was the Gruber family’s event, any quality jade unearthed would likely end up in the


    Grubers‘ coffers.


    Malvina patted her chest. “This spot’s got the best view. If you see a stone you like, Noe, darling,


    I’ll buy it for you!”


    Master Hector snorted. “What good cane from the Gruber family’s stones?”


    Yasbel, still indulging in cheesecake, agreed. “Haven’t spotted anything worthwhile.”


    Noe merely nced up. “There are a few, but not many.”


    Indeed, of the multitude of rough stones disyed by the Gruber family, only a few caught


    10:55


    her discerning eye, and even those were of the sort that wouldn’t fetch much on the open market.


    After a dainty wipe of her mouth, Yasbel spoke with earnest. “Malvina, your cheesecakes are


    divine. Might I take some home?”


    You’ve got taste! I’ll have some packed for you!”


    Pelmer, sitting beside Noe, whispered, “You know about gemstone gambling?”


    “Not really. Just guessing. I’ve been lucky, that’s all.”


    To most, gemstone gambling was a matter of chance, but Noe sat with Master Hector, the


    Gemstone Gambling King, and Yasbel, who called Hector ‘Master‘


    He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Yasbel and that person with you before, they look quite alike.”


    He remembered the faces of those who assisted Noe back at Fortress Hospital, one of whom


    bore a strong resemnce to Yasbel.


    Noe’s voice was calm. “Nn and Yasbel are twins.”


    In that case, Yasbel must have belonged to Pris Star too.


    On stage, Yates Gruber, the Gruber family’s eldest, stood in his impable suit, his smile reaching


    out to the crowd.


    The night was young, and the game was just beginning.


    Malvina whispered, “Yates is no good.”


    Yasbel’s smirk twitched. “Aren’t you biologically rted?”


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Who threw their own brother under the bus like that?


    Malvina just shrugged, unconcerned. “Yeah, so what if he’s my brother? Am I not supposed to state


    a fact? Walden may be as dumb as a bag of hammers, and Yates, he’s got a heart like a slot


    machine–takes a lot, gives little. Noe, honey, if Yateses chatting you upter, just ignore him,


    okay?”


    There was a hint of something more behind Malvina’s words.


    Noe nodded in understanding. “Got it, thanks.”


    Yates scanned the crowd below the stage, his gaze finally resting on Noe. He shot Palmer a


    warning look before turning away.


    “Thank you all for joining the Gruber family’s gemstone auction. Without further ado, let’s wee


    the Gemstone Gambling King!”


    The title of Gemstone Gambling King was so illustrious that even Malvina perked up to see who


    was on stage.


    10:55


    tion the two people hext to Noe were the so–called Gemstone Gambling King


    let out a “heh


    Hector snorted. “Some joker trying to step into my shoes.


    nothing


    A middle aged man with a pencil mustache slowly appeared on stage, making Master Hector’s lip


    curl in disdain. “Ugly as sin, and he dares to gamble on stones? Might scare the rocks into dust”


    Yates pped his hands. “Ladies and gentlemen, the man of the hour, the legendary Gemstone


    Gambling King, Mr. Gary!


    The Gruber family hopes to witness the miracle of stone gambling with you all today. In addition to


    the rough stones handpicked by Gary for live cutting, we invite everyone to choose their own


    stones. Any treasures you find are yours to keep, and the duds, well, they’re on us!”


    Yasbel sneered. “Sounds generous, but it’s just a show for the greenhorns. There aren’t many real


    gems in this pile ”


    The Gruber family wasn’t known for making losing bets


    Yates’s gaze settled on Noe “Ms Schnabel, care to try your luck with a couple of rough stones?