CHapter 204


    Palmer’s fingers coaxed Noe’s curtains aside. Leaningzily against the balcony rail, his gaze


    swept over the potted blooms Sienna had chosen with care–a riot of color that celebrated the vigor


    of life.


    The scent of flowers mingled with something odd, causing Noe to frown slightly.


    “You…” she hesitated.


    “Just missed you,” Palmer said. “Saw you were busy, and I didn’t want to intrude.”


    Clear weariness tinged his features, but azy curve softened the lines of his face. With the room’s


    light swallowed by the heavy drapes, Palmer under the moon took on an alluring and mystical air.


    Noe stepped toward him, pausing at the window’s edge, “It seems that my fiancée has her own


    empire to run; I’ve got my hands full for a while, too. Pock Group’s got a slew of mergers on the


    table. Would you miss me if I didn’te around, my fiancée?”


    The mountain of paperwork that came with Pock Group’s dealings justified Palmer’s busyness.


    “I’ll… try.” She said.


    His smile deepened, “Good. Once this is all over, I’ve got a story for you.”


    “What story?”


    “About the first time we met! You might’ve forgotten, but I remember every detail.”


    With a lingering gaze that seemed to caress her from afar, Palmer drew back his hand as if to touch


    her, then thought better of it.


    “Sweet dreams.” He swung himself from the balcony with a grace that belied his fatigue. His car


    purred to life in the shadows–he didn’t return to the neighboring Dragon Tower.


    Onest look at Noe’s rose–framed room, and his smile dropped into a mask of ice.


    “Let’s go.” He said.


    “Boss, aren’t you gonna tell Ms. Noe where you’re off to?”


    “No need. If she cares, she’ll worry without me saying a thing. If she doesn’t, it’s better she doesn’t


    fret.”


    He wished for her a night free from concern–for her dreams to be as peaceful as the stars above.


    Hospital, private room.


    Yvonne, leaning on a cane, had finally found her way to Malvina’s room before she slipped in while


    the nurses were distracted.


    Gazing down at Malvina, her face twisted with derision, “Ever imagine you’d be here, Malvina? It’s


    hrious!”


    Malvina put down theic book she was reading, her gaze lifting to meet Yvonne’s.


    Der heiress?dy here!”


    “Hrious? How about you show some respect and kneel? I never took you for much, and it seems


    you’re bent on proving me right.”


    Yvonne hadn’t expected Malvina to mock her, not in this state! She scoffed, “You still think you’re


    the high and mi The Gruber fortune’s gone, and here you are, bedridden–might even end up


    scarred. You’re less than me now–I’m


    Malvina raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “Oh, ady? So which nightclub’s got


    you dancing on tables, my deardy? Never seen a club desperate enough for a limping, sour–


    faced dy‘ like you.”


    2 2 2 2 2 0 2.


    Yvonne seethed, itching to p Malvina silly. She remembered her purpose, so she was quelling


    the storm of anger and jealousy. Why should Malvina, even now, trample her dignity?


    “Listen up, Malvina. Don’t y games with me. Get ahold of Shadow Dragon Society and free my


    father! And whatever hidden assets the Gruber family has left–I’m a Gruber too, and you owe me a


    share!” Yvonne gritted her teeth.


    Malvina now finally understood Yvonne’s goal here. Arms folded, she looked down her nose at


    Yvonne. “Duncan got himself locked up because he’s as dirty as theye. And as/for the Shadow


    Dragon Society, most of them are dead or in cuffs. Who’s left to call?”


    The remnants of the Shadow Dragon Society were in Malvina’s hands, but why would she help


    Duncan, a man of more brawn than


    brains?


    “As for the Gruber’s money, the old man’s still kicking. Go to him instead of me. But you’d better


    hurry, or you’ll be left with nothing.”


    The old man could kick the bucket at any moment, and she was almost worried about if Yvonne


    could catch thest crumbs of their crumbling dynasty.


    Yvonne’s eyes flicked with malice. Even bankrupt, the Gruber family could still be loaded. Arthur


    surely had funds. If she could get the money from his hand, her life in Imperial City would be


    secured.


    Taking steps closer to Malvina, her eyes were dripping venom, “I’ve despised you for too long! Why


    should you have ever humiliated me


    10:27


    In our family?”


    Her hand raised for a p, but it was caught by a chilling grip.


    “Ah–It hurts!” she eximed.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Ulrich’s face was a mask of frost as he twisted Yvonne’s wrist with a sickening crack.


    “Ulrich, how can you hit me? Let go!”


    He flung Yvonne aside, her body hitting the ground with a series of bone–chilling snaps. Tears


    streaked down Yvonne’s face. The fire hadn’t left her with any serious injuries, but now, thanks to


    Ulrich’s rough handling, she felt like all her bones were about to shatter! “… I’m going to report you,


    and you’ll be out of a job soon, Ulrich! How dare a doctor at this hospitaly hands on a patient!?”


    Ulrich looked at Yvonne with a chilling gaze, “Honestly, I’ve been itching to do just that.“.


    “Sometimes, upholding medical ethics can be exhausting. The day yourint against me


    seeds, I swear I’ll personally disassemble every single bone in your body.”


    His chilly words wereced with undeniable menace, and with that, Yvonne swallowed the retort


    she had ready.


    Ulrich closed the door of the hospital room and turned to face Malvina, who had been watching the


    whole scene.


    “Are you out of your mind? She tried to hit you, and you didn’t even try to dodge?” he asked.


    “Huh? She couldn’t have beaten me anyway. I was trained by the Shadow Dragon Society…”


    Malvina blinked at Ulrich’s growing irritation and quickly changed her tune. “Alright, I’ll make sure to


    dodge next time.”


    “There won’t be a next time.” Ulrich pinched the bridge of his nose and took out his phone to send a


    few messages. “She won’t be bothering you anymore. We used to cut her some ck because of


    her grandmother, but we eventually realized she’s an ingrate who was always coveting what


    belongs to Noe and ra.”


    Thankfully, they had realized it not toote.


    “Didn’t you say you were interested in EKGsst time? I’ve brought you some authoritative


    literature.” He added.


    Malvina looked at the journals filled with medical terms beside her and twisted her face.


    Looking at Ulrich, she suddenly asked, “Dr. Schnabel, are all the kids in your family really bright?”


    Ulrich nodded, “Yeah, Stirling’s the least sharp, that’s why he went into showbiz.”


    “And your mom… Sienna doesn’t y favorites?”


    Ulrich gave Malvina a puzzled look. “y favorites? My mom can even ept my dad, and his IQ


    isn’t exactly sky–high. Stirling’s still got him beat by a long shot!”


    Malvina draped the journal over her head, muttering to herself, “Sienna’s a great mom, even if the


    son she raised is a bit… off.”


    Was she really interested in EKGs after all?


    ???