CHapter 220


    Briony paced around her room, wringing her hands before finally gathering up the courage to call


    her mother, Belinda


    “Mom, I really don’t want to end up behind bars, and I sure as hell don’t want this baby. The


    Rosenbergs are bankrupt now, and there’s no way they can give me or the kid a decent life.”


    She wouldn’t let Milford drag her down with his failures! She had set her sights on the Rosenberg


    fortune and now that it was gone, she wanted nothing to do with them.


    Belinda was silent for a moment before soothing her. “Don’t you worry, honey, I’ve got you.”


    Brieny continued, desperation in her voice. “Mom, if ites down to it, can’t you reach out to my


    real dad? Vincent’s practically on his deathbed. Are you really gonna stick with him?”


    The mere mention of Vincent got Belinda’s blood boiling.


    That damn fool Vincent, always crying poor when he had slyly transferred all his assets to his


    bastard son!


    “I won’t divorce him until I get back every penny of our marital assets. I’ll be damned if I let Vincent


    get away with this!”


    As for Briony’s biological father…


    Well, Belinda wasn’t exactly sure herself. She’d had a string of boyfriends before marrying Vincent,


    and pinning down which one fathered Briony wasn’t straightforward.


    With no clear answer, she decided to choose the most suitable candidate for now.


    Belinda pondered a moment, then replied, “Your dad…he’s in the gemstone business. He


    mentioned something about mining nephrite, and that stuff’s worth a fortune. If we can find him, you


    won’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll find you a sharpwyer first. Once you’re in the clear, we’ll


    take care of the baby. The Rosenbergs are broke as a joke now; we can’t have their child.”


    Briony quickly agreed!


    If she found her real father, she was sure her future would be bright. Then, whether it was Milford or


    Noe, they would have to bow


    down to her.


    “Mom, you’ve got to get back what Vincent took from us, or how are we supposed to live? I heard


    from Milford’s mom that Noe’s rolling in dough. Now that we’re down on our luck, she can’t just


    ignore us, right?”


    The words left a sour taste in her mouth.


    Why was Noe so damn lucky, finding a rich guy totch onto in times like these?


    “Noe? That little brat? Forget it. She doesn’t see us as family. Briony, do not go to her.”


    Belinda still felt the pain from thest time Noe had given her what for, and it made her skin crawl.


    If Briony went to Noe, she might end up getting a beating too.


    Briony dismissed her mother’s concerns, suspecting Belinda wanted to go after Noe’s money


    herself and would abandon her if she got it.


    After hanging up, Briony eyed the guards outside her room.


    She needed to find a way out the thought of jail or having Milford’s child and then prison was N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    just terrifying!


    Meanwhile, Noe dined leisurely, listening to Yasbel’s animated recount of the afternoon’s


    spectacle.


    “Boss, you should have seen it! Milford at the hospital, aplete mess. And then, a bunch of girls


    calling him, iming they’re pregnant, and he’s denying all of them. I was there for a shoot and


    witnessed this whole circus.”


    The onlookers, including the doctors, all turned their gaze on Milford, expressions souring.


    Noe knew Milford’s true colors and wasn’t surprised by the news.


    “It’s none of my business.”


    She never took people like Milford seriously.


    Yasbel whistled, ncing at Palmer who was busy grilling steaks for Noe.


    “True that. You’ve got yourself a real man now. Milford’s just trash.”


    Palmer’s smile didn’t waver, taking thements aspliments from Noe’s crew.


    Yasbel had stopped by to drop off some documents and snagged a dinner invite. Watching Palmer


    pamper Noe, a hint of envy crept


    1. in.


    Even with an injured hand, Palmer was grilling steaks and serving her like royalty. Yasbel couldn’t


    help but feel a pang of jealousy.


    10:32


    Outside the restaurant Milford, arm–in–arm with a couple of models he’d just met, was off to a hotel.


    However, his gaze caught Noe standing by the entrance of the grill house, bathed in the warm


    glow of the streetlight. She looked ethereal in her dress, like a modern–day goddess. Milford’s


    thoughts raced, fueled by Linsey’s earlier words, and his heart raced with desire.


    He approached Noe. “Noe, are you here waiting for me?”


    Noe nced back at Yasbel and ordered coldly, “Turn off the cameras”


    “Got it!”


    Milford, clueless, thought Noe wanted privacy for a date, but before his smile could bloom, he


    was on the receiving end of a solid punch!


    The fierce blows came without mercy, leaving Milford crying out in shock.


    Noe massaged her wrist and took a wet wipe from Palmer to clean her hands.


    “What filth. Even restrooms are cleaner than you.”


    Milford, in feat backed away, staring at Noe and Palmer. “You… you dare hit me?”


    “I didn’t want to bother with you, but you insisted on parading in front of me, disgusting.”


    “Noe, you can’t touch me! You think your pretty boy will stand up for you? I’m not afraid of you! If


    youy a hand on me, I won’t let you off the hook!”


    Noe shook her head in disdain. “Yasbel, take care of him, then dump him at the police station.”


    “Right on it!”


    They were pros at ying host, promising to give Milford the warmest wee he’d never want to


    head back to his own digs again.


    Noe retracted her gaze, her expression serene. “Don’t go overboard; just make sure he crosses


    the street whenever he sees meing.”


    Yasbel chuckled mischievously. “We’ve got a bunch of new tasers in theb that haven’t been


    tested yet. Using him would be perfect and, hey, it might even contribute to science. Just hope he


    doesn’t end up like a roast on the BBQ…”


    The thought of the BBQ they had just had for dinner made Yasbel hastily shake the gruesome


    image from her mind.


    Seeing the tide turning against him, Milford blurted out in panic, “Noe, you’re nothing but trash.


    Me taking a shine to you was a blessing you ungrateful…”


    “If it weren’t for the fact that you just wet yourself, I might’ve believed that bluster.”


    Milford’s pants were indeed soaked, a testament to Noe’s intimidation tactics that had him literally


    pissing his pants!


    Yasbel and a few others from the Obelisk Organization mped a hand over Milford’s mouth and


    disappeared around the corner of the alley. The up–anding model waiting for Milford caught


    themotion and bolted without a trace.


    “After you’re done with your business, can you hand him off to me?” Palmer’s voice floated over.


    Noe looked up to see him standing where the moonlight and streemp light intersected, draping


    him in an aura of prestige and brilliance.


    “What do you have in mind for him?”


    “Probably something more entertaining than sending him to the mmer.”


    Noe nodded. ‘Be my guest. I’ve lost all interest in him.”


    Palmer suddenly stepped closer and took Noe’s hand in his own, squinting slightly as he admired


    the formidable beauty before him. “Under the streetlight, there are two shadows. One is mine, and


    the other, well, that’s still mine.”