CHapter 190


    Noe’s choice didn’t seem out of the ordinary. It was just a piece of stone Gary had discarded


    earlier, nothing noteworthy at first nce.


    Gary let out a sigh of relief, hisugh tinged with contempt. “I thought you picked something


    special, but just like what you said earlier, this stone is just junk.”


    It was one he had overlooked.


    Noe gently wiped the stone in her hand and weighed it thoughtfully. “Your failure to find treasure


    is your own shoring. If I seed, it’s simply good luck.”


    Gary, still hoping to ride on the coattails of his moniker “Gemstone Gambling King,” saw Noe’s


    novice demeanor and hatched a n.


    He had studied all the raw stones before the game, convinced that this particr rock harbored


    nothing of value, not even a mediocre peony jade.


    “Ms. Schnabel, if you fail, you owe me an apology!”


    Noe met Gary’s gaze with disdain. “You, the self–proimed Gemstone Gambling King, fail to


    find anything of worth and expect an apology from a novice like me?”


    Yasbel chimed in with mockery. “It’sughable. The Gemstone Gambling Kinges up empty and


    demands an apology from Ms. Schnabel. How childish. You should just go home to your mommy.”


    Gary’s face tightened, but he was certain Noe’s stone was junk. “If Ms. Schnabel’s piece turns out


    to be something, I’ll never gamble on stones again!”


    Noe shook her head lightly. “No, you’ll have to admit you’re a fraud. ording to the Northstone


    Quarry tradition, you’ll have to leave a hand behind.”


    There had been impostors iming to be the Gemstone Gambling King in the past, and losing a


    hand was getting off easy.


    Gary shuddered under Arthur’s menacing look. “Fine! I agree!”


    After all, he was sure the girl’s stone was worthless.


    Yates offered his assistance with a smile. “Ms. Schnabel, need a hand?”


    Noe didn’t even nce at him, instead passing the stone to Palmer, “Help me out. I’ll guide you


    on where to cut.


    “Happy to assist my fiancée.”


    Noe, dressed in a form–fitting strapless gown, found it impractical to bend over the cutting


    machine. After handing the stone to Palmer, she didn’t miss the joy twinkling in his


    eyes.


    10:55


    Just a small favor and he’s this ted? His happiness seemed all too easy to achieve.


    Perhaps sensing Palmer’s delight, Noe allowed a small smile to grace her lips.


    Below, Yasbel shuddered. “It’s still a bit unsettling to see our boss smile.”


    Hector whispered, “Noe and this guy seem well–matched. What’s his line of work? Looks like a


    businessman, and he’s down–to–earth. Not bad at all.”


    Palmer positioned Noe’s chosen stone on the cutting machine.


    “Just cut anywhere along this line.”


    After securing the stone, he removed his suit jacket and draped it over Noe, saying considerately,


    “It’s going to get dusty. Wait for me over there.”


    Her gown was stunning, and it would be a shame if it were marred by the dust from the cutting.


    Noe’s cheeks flushed slightly and she stepped back as instructed.


    Malvina and Yasbel shivered in mock jealousy.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    “Never thought Mr. Pock would be so tender with Noe. But it’s only right. If I had a fiancée that


    beautiful, I’d spoil her rotten too.”


    Yasbel’s brain went numb for a moment. “Wait, you want a fiancée too?”


    Malvina was speechless.


    Gary craned his neck to get a better view of the stone under Palmer’s hands.


    The hum of the cutting machine echoed in the hall, Palmer’s hands steady, betraying no sign this


    was his first time cutting stone.


    When the grinding wheel stopped, everyone held their breath.


    Yates couldn’t believe his eyes as he stared at the freshly cut surface, “That’s… that’s ssy


    Type!*


    Gary was the most shocked; how could there be ssy Type in this batch of stones?


    He had carefully checked each one; all the likely ones had been cut open. How could Noe’s


    random pick yield ssy Type?


    The exposed surface revealed a vibrant green, translucent and bright, without a single w.


    Noe sprinkled some water on it, downying her sess. “Not bad, ssy Type, but not the


    best.”


    This was already the best piece from the batch, and finding such quality ssy Type was a stroke


    of luck for the Gruber family. But now it was Noe’s luck that shone!


    10:55


    to the


    bfounded Yates, her eyebrows raised. “Yates, this ssy Type


    das for the Gemstone Gambling King… remember our bett


    Gary copsed to the ground, his face ashen, speechless.


    ssy Type, this naive girl had unearthed ssy Type while he had found nothing. The Gruber


    family would never forgive him!


    Yates knew that relying on the Gemstone Gambling King was futile now. He waved his hand,


    directing someone to take Gary away, then turned to the crowd with a grin. “Ms. Schnabel, I truly


    apologize. The Gruber family was deceived by Gary as well. Ms. Schnabel, you’re incredibly lucky,


    and I respect that.”


    Someone from the audience raised a sign. “Ms. Schnabel, are you selling that ssy Type? I love


    the color! Name your price?”


    Noe wasn’t short on emerald, and to her, this ssy Type wasn’t particrly precious. She


    turned to Palmer, meeting his gaze. He was impably dressed in a ck shirt, now dusted with


    the residue from the stone.


    “Do you like it?”


    Whatever emerald my fiancée picks out, I’m all for it.”


    To Palmer, the quality of the emerald wasn’t the issue; the fact that she chose it was what mattered.


    It was also the first time she had reached out to him for help.


    Could this mean that, at the very least, his fiancée was trying to ept him in her own way?


    “Then it’s yours. After it’s cut, it’ll make a fine set of cufflinks.”


    “Great!”


    Noe turned to the audience with a nonchnt air. “Sorry, folks, this gem is a gift for


    someone.”


    The paddles in the crowd were swiftly withdrawn.


    Who would dare topete with Palmer for an emerald? Never mind that spending money was no


    object in Mr. Pock’s eyes, who would dare outbid the CEO of the Pock Group? Just by Mr.


    Pock’s demeanor, even if Ms. Schnabel had offered a in rock, he would have treasured it like a


    rare gem!


    Arthur’s smile was brimming as he addressed Master Hector. “Since Master Hector graces us with


    his presence, why not show us a trick or two?”


    Hector snorted dismissively. “Show off in your venue and give you the honor? I’ll be at the


    Schnabel’s tomorrow showing my skill. You cane if you want! Noe, how about it?”


    “Of course, we would be honored to have you at the Schnabel estate,” Noe responded


    10.55


    with a supportive tone.


    If Beckett knew that Hector was nning to cut a stone at the Schnabel estate, he’d


    probably be grinning from ear to ear. After all, Hector’s hands had never cut anything less than


    extraordinary!


    Master Hector cutting a stone at the Schnabel’s? Was he nning to take the helm there?


    The crowd was abuzz with their own schemes.


    It seemed today’s gemstone auction at the Gruber family was turning into a farce!


    Arthur’s face twisted in anger as he watched Master Hector’s retreating figure, his heart bleeding.


    “Find someone to take him out. He cannot, under any circumstances, show up at the Schnabel’s


    tomorrow and show us up!”


    He nced at the young heirs of the Gruber family. “Whichever of you secures a good marriage first


    will inherit the Gruber legacy. Whether it’s with the Pock family or the Schnabels, it’s up to you


    now.”


    Walden and Yates felt a surge of determination, understanding Arthur’s hint. Whether it was the


    Pock family or the Schnabels, there was only one daughter to vie for!


    As they left the venue, Yates’s secretary leaned in close.


    “Sir, Ms. Schnabel might be tough to sway, but don’t the Schnabels have an adopted daughter as


    well…”


    10.56)