CHapter 257
Maddox was practically buzzing with exciteme
Watching the young couple, Noe and Palmer, walking hand in hand made him giddy with joy. The
dense, secluded woods were perfect for nurturing romance
Imagine, if by some stroke of luck, a venomous snake decided to make an appearance, and Noe,
with her swift moves, managed to eliminate the threat. Wouldn’t Palmer be absolutely smitten?
Or perhaps if a wild bear loomed out of the shadows, and Noe, with her unparalleled bravery,
took it down. The tale of the damsel saving the hero would surely bind Palmer to her side forever.
And what if a wild boar charged through, only for Noe to turn it into a magnificent feast? Palmer
would undoubtedly fall head over heels in love!
Maddox was well aware of Noe’s capabilities, inside and out. Even the steep inclines that would
deter most were child’s y for Noe, who had been scaling rocks barehanded since the age of
five.
To Palmer, with his city–bred eyes, Noe must have seemed like a delicate flower, unaware of the
strength and skill she possessed.
Maddox felt anxious for them, noticing that things didn’t appear any different from theirst visit.
Finding Stirling with Noe’s help was a given, so he wasn’t worried.
If Noe knew what Maddox was thinking, she might jokingly ask if his tongue was blessed.
As they ventured deeper, a suspicious rustling from the bushes caught Palmer’s attention.
Instinctively, he pulled Noe behind him, his eyes scanning the underbrush for signs of danger.
“Be carefull” he wamed.
The woods around Glen Vige were notorious for their snakes.
A small, triangr–headed serpent flicked its tongue menacingly close to them, its eyes cold and
calcting.
“It’s alright, I’ve got this,” Noe started, reaching for the snake repellent and various powders she’d
prepared.
Having grown up in Glen Vige, she was well–acquainted with the local wildlife and had even
hunted venomous snakes to support her family.
Palmer, however, out her off, positioning himself protectively in front of her and drawing a knife from
his pocket. “I’ve got this. No need for you to step in, my fiancée.”
“You then just be careful.”
“Wait here.”
The venomous snake lunged forward at lightning speed, its forked tongue flickering. Within
moments, the man’s hand swiftly seized the snake’s neck, and a military knife plunged into its
head, securing the snake to the ground!
His movements were deft and elegant, his arm muscles bulging. The snake’s tail wrapped around
Palmer’s wrist, gradually ceasing its
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movement.
“Shall we keep it? Maddox might appreciate it for his snake wine collection.”
“No need. Maddox’s cer is already stocked,” Noe replied, shaking her head..
In such a situation, he could confidently shield her without hesitation. He even thought about the
needs of those close to her. Was he simply thoughtful, or… was it just for her?
Unaware of Noe’s adoring look, Palmer swiftly disposed of the snake and then took Noe’s
hand, leading her forward.
They soon found the Fuller family’s dpidated home. As Noe pushed open the door, a strong
scent of blood hit her.
Inside, she found Stirling and Yasbel unconscious. Thankfully, a quick check confirmed they were
unharmed, just knocked out by ether.
Noe breathed a sigh of relief.
Noe,e here, Palmer called from the yard, where a grim scene awaited.
The chickens and ducksy dead, and amid the carnage, an injured man, Ellsworth,y
unconscious.
“Looks like he’s involved in this, Noe deduced.
As Noe moved to enter the yard, Palmer quickly took her hand and gently said, “Let me handle
this. Don’t get your hands dirty.”
His tone sounded matter–of–fact, and without hesitation, he continued into the yard. After bending
down to check Ellsworth’s breathing. and pulse, he looked up and confirmed, “He’s still alive.”
Noe raised an eyebrow slightly.
How did Palmer know she was interested in Ellsworth’s vital signs?
Between them, there seemed to be an unspoken understanding. Palmer could sense her needs
without her having to speak. Palmer didn’t rush to leave. His intense gaze lingered on the
unconscious Ellsworth, his eyes shing with emotions that Noe couldn’t quite interpret!
His tall figure crouching there stood out prominently against the backdrop of an almost lifeless man
and a yard littered with dead. chickens and ducks, creating an oddly discordant scene.
Noe couldn’t help but asked, “Palmer, what’s wrong?”
Palmer’s voice was raspy. “Noe, I actually… kind of envy this guy.”
Envy who? Ellsworth? How could someone like Palmer, a prodigy, feel envy towards a thug from
Glen Vige?
Palmer pped his hands and stood up, walking towards Noe against the backlight.
“He’s known you since childhood, grown up with you. Though I shouldn’t feel this way, I can’t help
but be jealous that you two were childhood friends!”
Noe had never heard such honest words from Palmer before!
Palmer stopped a few steps away from Noe. “I have blood on me. I don’t want to get you dirty.
Stay back.”
She also had blood on her from checking Stirling and Yasbel’s condition.
Noe took a step forward. “It’s okay.”
A soft light fell on Palmer’s face, and his gaze towards Noe held a gentle and incredulous
warmth.
The man stood with the sun of the vige casting long shadows behind him, enveloping Noe in a
silhouette that seemed to im her as his own. His Adam’s apple bobbed, adding an unexpected
allure to his presence.
His voice, raspy and beguiling, broke the silence. “Noe, I’m quite fond of you. If I’d known you
when we were kids, I might’ve been that annoying boy camped out on your doorstep every day.”
Noe looked up at Palmer, her gaze steady. “But Grandpa Sexton mentioned you had a girlfriend
before.”
Palmer blinked, a sh of panic crossing his eyes. “That’s just gossip. I’ve never had a girlfriend.
You’re my first love.”
Sexton, for some reason, had decided to spread those rumors in front of Noe! If those tales
scared his fiancée away, Palmer wondered how his grandfather would manage to smooth things
over.
Seeing Palmer’s flustered attempts to exin, hindered further by his reluctance toe too close
with hands stained from work, Noe couldn’t help butugh.
“I’m just messing with you. Grandpa Sexton said your romantic history was a clean te.”
Palmer had told her she was his first love. As for Noe, she was still trying to decipher her feelings
for Palmer.
Yet, standing so close to him, she didn’t feel any urge to pull away. Instead, when his intense gaze
fixed on her, unwavering, Noe felt her heartbeat quicken.
Was this what being smitten felt like?