Garrick''s face was a study in frustration!


    "Marcel Schnabel actually agreed to this nonsense? This is higher education, not some kind of


    yground for your whims!"


    Noe pointed to the parental signature at the bottom of the withdrawal application, where Marcel''s


    name was signed with a flourish that spoke volumes of his character. A personal seal from Marcel


    himself was also stamped next to the signature, ensuring all formalities were meticulously observed.


    "My grandfather supports all my decisions."


    "This is madness! Has Marcel lost his mind? A perfectly good student quitting school to gallivant


    around like a headless chicken? I won''t have it!"


    Noe, her backpack slung over one shoulder and her ponytail swinging with determination, faced


    the incensed Garrick with a cool, calm gaze.


    "Sir, I don''t need school toplete your so-called ''obedience training''. If you think that''s the way to


    keep me here, you''re sorely mistaken."


    Garrick looked up at Noe, taking in her confident stance as if she had the world at her fingertips, a


    beacon of unattainable grace and authority. As the original founder of Pris Star, he knew all too


    well that Noe attending sses at Imperial University was a sheer waste of her time.


    What Garrick truly wanted was to bend Noe to his will! But Noe scoffed at such petty power


    ys.


    Garrick''s gaze deepened. "I''d love to know what those old geezers have been teaching you. Your


    duty is to follow orders, and you can''t even master that!"


    Noe raised an eyebrow, a smirk ying on her lips. "Garrick, the first people who demanded my


    obedience are now serving aspost in the Pris Star Cultivation Nursery."


    Her presence here was proof enough that she was now the rule-maker at Pris Star!


    "Garrick, just take a look at these two applications. Your signature is wee but not necessary."


    With that, Noe turned on her heel and left without a backward nce, as if the prestigious school


    and the respected Garrick meant nothing to her.


    This disy of nonchnce and cool defiance stoked a fire in Garrick. Clenching his fists, his voice


    betrayed a hint of anger.


    "I''ll sign your exemption, but you are required to attend my sses!"


    "Understood. Thank you."


    ...


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    At Serene Haven’s Dragon Tower, a car pulled up in front of the grand Pock Mansion.


    Jacob stepped aside to open the door, extending his hand to assist the elderly passenger.


    The olddy, adorned in a silk jacket and a glowing pearl ne, gracefully stepped out of the


    car. She nced at the neighboring tower, then shifted her gaze to the stark and quiet Pock


    Mansion.


    "Where''s Sexton?"


    "He''s been staying at the Schnabel Manortely. Says Marcel can''t bear to be without him."


    Old Mrs. Pock snorted disdainfully, her thin lips pressed tightly together. "Marcel can''t bear to be


    without him? More like he can''t wait to see him in a coffin. Where''s my granddaughter?"


    Jacob wiped the sweat from his brow nervously. "Mom, ra is with the Schnabel family as well."


    "Useless!"


    Old Mrs. Pock red at Jacob, her dragon-headed caneing down hard on Jacob''s leg.


    "A perfectly good child, and you can''t even acknowledge her. What use are you? I should''ve let you


    fall into a ditch and bepost back in the day! Palmer, help me inside! I''m going to see my


    granddaughter!"


    After being whacked by Old Mrs. Pock''s cane, Jacob couldn''t do much but grit his teeth and,


    along with Palmer, support the olddy into the Schnabel Manor.


    Marcel was in the middle of a chess game with Sexton when the glittering figure of the olddy


    entered the room, causing Sexton to drop his chess piece in surprise.


    "Helen, why did you leave the nursing home?"


    Helen gave Sexton a cold look. "None of your business. Out of my way! Where''s my


    granddaughter?"


    Her visit wasn''t to see this old codger. Having encountered nothing but irrelevant people since her


    arrival, she was growing impatient.


    ra just happened toe downstairs, a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers in her hands, which she


    ced in a vase in the living room.


    Helen''s eyes lit up, pushing past her son and grandson to approach ra.


    "Who are you, madam?"


    "I''m your grandmother! You''re ra, right? A Schnabel?"


    Helen frowned, her sharp and somewhat intimidating features making ra feel uneasy.


    "Yes, I''m ra Schnabel."


    Jacob feared his mother might say something untoward that could upset ra, leaving him in a


    difficult position.


    "Mom, it doesn''t matter what ra''sst name is. Please, don''t make this hard for her."


    Helen brushed Jacob aside, raising her voice. "Why are you blocking my way? No manners, off with


    you!"


    Her voice, sharp andmanding, betrayed her past as a professional opera singer.


    "Why not take myst name, huh? What''s so good about being a Schnabel? And ‘Pock’ doesn''t


    make it any better!"


    ra was bewildered, struggling to follow the conversation.


    "My daughter takes after me, so why can''t you? Marcel must be some ancient relic from the past,


    clinging onto old traditions. Look at you, all skin and bones. What, are you studying archaeology?"


    ra shook her head. "No, I''m into paleogics..."


    "I thought you had a thing for skeletons, but no, it''s worse. You''re pretty though, got that from


    Tristan or Sienna?"


    Jacob was mortified. "Mom, ra is my daughter."


    His daughter, likened to Tristan and Sienna?


    Helen paid him no mind, her presence dominating the room.


    "Your daughter? You think you''re up to it? You think you could raise such a fine girl? ra, isn''t it?


    Help me back to my ce."


    ra was still trying to figure out her grandmother''s temper, but seeing her reaching out, she had


    no choice but to step forward.


    "Grandma, take it easy."


    "I won''t die. The Schnabels have done a good job raising you. It''s only right that Jacob is too


    ashamed to acknowledge you. I feel like I''ve struck gold."


    ra''s smile twitched. This was the first time she had heard someone describe it as striking gold.


    After escorting Old Mrs. Pock to the somewhat chilly Pock Mansion, she spoke up again.


    "Palmer, bring your wife over tomorrow for me to meet, and ra, youe too. I''ve prepared


    wee gifts for you both. It''s toote tonight; I need to rest. You all can go now."


    Jacob tentatively asked, "Mom, Dad''s been staying with the Schnabels recently. Should we invite


    him back to keep youpany?"


    "Cut it out. The house is better off with one less old man; it smells less musty without him. He can


    stay away! Nice words, but keep mepany? I finally gotfortable in the nursing home, why


    would I need him bothering me? If hees back, I''d have to look after him!"


    Jacob chuckled nervously. "Mom, we have a nanny; you wouldn''t need to look after Dad. We just


    thought you might feel lonely!"


    Helen raised an eyebrow, her feisty spirit shining through.


    "Then let rae keep mepany. It''d be even better if Palmer''s wife coulde too. But


    with their situation being what it is, having the girle over to spend time with an olddy like me


    might not look too good. The Pocks might not care about propriety, but I certainly do."