Noe was gobsmacked! She never expected Helen to be so out of line.


    It was clear as day that Garrick couldn''t swim. His silk button-up fluttered on the water''s surface,


    scattering the fish in all directions, and by the looks of it, he''d swallowed more than a few gulps.


    Jacob was frantically calling for help.


    "Help! Someone, please! Man overboard!"


    In the ensuing chaos, with everyone running around like headless chickens, they finally managed to


    fish Garrick out of the water. Thankfully, the Pock family''s resort had the foresight to have several


    lifeguards on standby, so apart from a few swallowed gulps, Garrick was just a bit out of sorts,


    nothing serious.


    Jacob, wiping the sweat from his forehead, asked, "Mom, what''s gotten into you? Didn''t you have


    an arrangement with Garrick? Why''d you go and kick him into the water?"


    Helen settled back into her chair, adjusting her shawl with a serene expression.


    "He was fishing in the sweet spot, lots of fish, and I wanted in. But he was such an eyesore, just


    irked me, and I didn''t invite him."


    While Jacob was still processing this, a van pulled up and several strapping young men emerged,


    all smiles, gathering around Helen.


    "Lady, we''re here."


    "Hush now, don''t scare away my fish."


    Seeing Helen surrounded by a half-dozen men in light button-ups, each with a red bow tie, left


    Jacob bbergasted!


    One of the hunks nced at Jacob and leaned on Helen''s shoulder.


    "Lady, did you order this one too? Looks a bit old."


    "No, that''s my son. Off with you, Jacob, don''t be a nuisance."


    With his mind buzzing with questions, Jacob awkwardly made his exit. Listening to theughter and


    chatter behind him, he suddenly understood why his mom never wanted to go home.


    Noe, watching Megrez drive up in the van, couldn''t help but twitch her mouth.


    "Since when did we offer this service?"


    "It''s always been around. You have no idea how lucrative it is. Don''t worry, Boss, it''s just about


    keeping the elderlypany, providing emotional support, no selling snake oil."


    That reminded Noe of the time when Pris Star was short on research funds, and Megrez had


    come up with the idea of an elderpanionship program. It was all about caring for the lonely


    elders, but she never imagined it would be implemented in this fashion.


    Noe heard Helen''s heartyughter, which seemed much more cheerful.


    "Be mindful of the boundaries."


    "Don''t worry, Boss! Helen was a bit down, but ever since she signed up for ourpanionship


    service, she''s been much better! She even started taking her medication."


    Noe could tell from Helen''s pulse that she must have been severely depressed, noticing the scars


    on thedy''s wrists.


    Since it was a Pris Star initiative, Noe felt somewhat relieved.


    Megrez winked at Noe. "Boss, if you ever need ourpanionship service, you can pick any of


    our models! They''re all top-notch, with six-packs you can wash clothes on! First-rate service!"


    Noe rolled her eyes at Megrez''s cheeky grin, only to find Palmer standing right behind her.


    She had no idea how much of the conversation he caught. But judging by Palmer''s expression, he''d


    heard enough.


    Palmer took Noe by the wrist and led her away without a word.


    "Where''s Uncle Jacob and ra?"


    "They went to check on Garrick. Let me show you around the resort."


    His face was unreadable, but just as Noe let her guard down, Palmer suddenly swept her off her


    feet, seating her atop a flowerbed.


    From her elevated position, Noe could look down at Palmer''s handsome face.


    "Let me down..."


    His hands were firm on Noe''s slender waist, his gaze filled with an indescribable emotion.


    One hand held Noe''s, cing it against his chest.


    Noe''s hand felt warm, and she tried to pull away, but Palmer held it firmly, allowing her to feel his


    solid muscles and the steady beat of his heart.


    "Do you like it, fiancée? You can go lower if you want."


    Palmer''s shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the top, revealing a hint of his toned abs as he moved.


    Noe quickly withdrew her hand. "I didn''t know about Pris Star''s service of this until now, but


    rest assured, Pris Star wouldn''t cross the line."


    With a soft chuckle, Palmer brushed a stray hair from Noe''s forehead, captivated by her


    enchanting face. Behind her, the flowerbed bloomed with lush roses, and as he gazed into her


    sparkling eyes, his heart raced uncontrobly.


    "I heard about it. Grandma has severe depression, even had suicidal tendencies before. She''s been


    in a nursing home since being saved. We let her do whatever makes her happy, that''s why."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    As long as it brought Helen joy, the Pock family was willing to indulge her.


    "What caused her depression?"


    "It was my mother''s situation, followed by ra''s mother''s. That''s when Grandma fell ill."


    Listening to theughter in the distance, with Helen being entertained by the hunky models, it was


    clear her mood had greatly improved.


    Noe nced towards the source of theughter but was quickly redirected by Palmer.


    "Look at me, not them."


    It was clear now; Palmer was feeling a tad jealous.


    Raising an eyebrow, Noe teased, "Mr. Pock, do you see yourself in the same light as them? Or


    perhaps you''d like to join ourpany and take over this line of service?"


    Why was this man even jealous of the models providingpanionship services?


    It was clear that Megrez''s rambling had struck a chord, igniting a fear in Palmer that Noe might


    actually go off in search of those male models, to the point ofpromising himself by pressing her


    hand against him.


    Palmer''s head was buried in Noe''s waist as he mumbled, "I was just worried you''d get spooked


    by Grandma''s stories."


    "I''ve told you, I see you as a friend. I haven''t really given marriage much thought."


    Palmer''s eyes, deep like night’s sky, lit up at her words.


    No thoughts of marriage, but at least there were no thoughts of calling off the engagement!


    Noe looked at Palmer, hershes fluttering like raven feathers.


    Gathering her courage, she continued, "I''m not good at dating, but I don''t dislike you. Last time you


    asked for a chance... so let''s start as friends."


    This was the biggest concession Noe could make. She had seen too much love and loss from a


    young age. Whether it was the superficial marriage of Vincent Lambert and Belinda Fuller, or the


    various scenes she witnessed at Pris Star, all had left Noe skeptical about marriage and love.


    Perhaps, returning to the Schnabel family had also given Noe a fresh perspective on


    rtionships. She should give Palmer a chance, and herself a chance too!


    "Alright! Let''s start with friendship!" Palmer agreed immediately.


    As long as his girl hadn''t rejected him, he still had a chance!