Noe arched an eyebrow slightly. "Where''s Lorne now? I''m heading over."
"He''s waiting for you on the rooftop of the Richardson Hotel, insisting on a one-to-one meeting. He
also made it clear he’d reach out to your sister if you didn''t show."
Noe rubbed her temples, a cold smile ying across her fair and striking face, adding a touch of
allure to her features.
The few people around her shivered at the sight!
Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.
Their boss, when most angered, wouldn''t rage but smile instead. This smile was internally referred
to within Pris Star and along the frontier as the Grim Reaper''s grin!
Noe nodded slowly, her fingers cracking with tension.
"Fine, I''ll remember this. You guys keep an eye on things here. Since there''s a heartfelt invitation, I
must honor it."
"Don''t worry, Ms. Gruber is safe with us."
After all, Lorne''s invitation was, essentially, his life on the line!
Noe swung her leg over her motorcycle and sped off, her presence chilling the air around her!
Malvina stepped out of the visitation room just in time to see Noe''s departing figure, and after
hearing from Alioth what Lorne had done, she was stunned!
"What? Is Lorne out of his mind? Lavinia is his aunt, for heaven''s sake! You''d think his brains were
scrambled by Arthur, the scoundrel! Aren''t you guys going with Noe?"
Phecda shrugged. "Boss always has someone shadowing her. Don''t worry."
Besides Pris Star, Noe was also protected by a whole squad of mercenaries, all arranged by
Beckett to serve as her bodyguards. While shaking them off was easy, Noe tolerated their
presence to keep Beckett from worrying.
Growing increasingly anxious, Malvina finally made a call to Palmer. "Mr. Pock, Noe might be in
danger. You have to help her!"
"Exin yourself!"
After quickly detailing Lorne''s actions, Malvina stamped her feet in frustration. "I didn''t dare tell
ra, but what if Lorne hasid a trap for Noe?"
After careful consideration, Malvina concluded that Palmer was the most reliable choice. Given how
Palmer looked at Noe, he surely wouldn''t stand by if she was in trouble!
Palmer''s furiousugh came through the phone, his voice dripping with cold menace.
"That damn Lorne!" he cursed angrily, followed by the sound of a car engine roaring to life. Palmer''s
chilly orders could be heard before the call abruptly ended.
From the sounds on the other end, it was evident that Palmer was already on his way!
Malvina finally breathed a sigh of relief!
...
On the rooftop of the Richardson Hotel, Lorne sat in a wheelchair, a ss of red wine in his hand,
its liquid shimmering under the sunlight. Besides him, Lavinia was tied up in a chair, her expression
filled with confusion.
"What on earth are you nning, Lorne? If I had known this is what you''d be, I''d have never
let your father adopt you!"
Lorne took a sip of his wine, seething with anger. "I know you and Grandpa have always looked
down on me, but I don''t care! The Richardson family will soon be mine!"
Lavinia couldn''t believe the maniacal Lorne before her, her gaze filled with disbelief.
"What are you trying to do? Who were you trying to threaten using me?"
"Aunt, you should be thankful. I even contacted your daughter. Don''t you want to see your child?"
Her child?
Lavinia felt like her head was splitting open, the intense pain giving her the sensation that she was
about to be torn apart.
Her child... When did she have a child?
"What are you on about! Let me go!"
Lorne''s phone, which had been on the call screen, was finally disconnected as he tossed it aside.
ra stood up abruptly on the other end, trembling all over! Without even bothering with shoes,
ra ran out barefoot straight to the Pock family estate, calling out for Jacob.
"Jacob! Come out quickly!"
Jacob was startled by ra''s voice. "What''s wrong? What happened?"
Tears streamed down ra''s face, her features contorted with intense fear as she clutched at
Jacob''s sleeves, sobbing uncontrobly.
"Lorne kidnapped Mom. You have to help me find her, please!"
"Don''t cry, I''m heading out now!"
As Jacob was overtaken by shock, Helen intervened.
"With you two in this state, driving there yourself might as well send your whole family to meet in the
afterlife! Let the chauffeur take you!"
The chauffeur brought the car around, and together with ra and Jacob, they headed towards the
Richardson Hotel.
Helen adjusted her shawl, watching the car leave, her eyes brimming with tears.
...
The door to the Richardson Hotel rooftop swung open, and without turning, Lorne chuckled, wine
ss in hand.
"Ms. Schnabel, I hope you make the right choice."
Noe stood behind him, her gaze icy. Lavinia seemed to have passed out, her head drooping
beside the chair, though her breathing remained steady.
"Ms. Schnabel, what do you say? Just break off your engagement with Palmer and be with me, and
I''ll release my aunt! See, I''m the better match for you. Palmer is too dangerous; he couldn''t possibly
truly love you."
Lorne took another sip of wine, continuing, "How could someone who wouldn''t bat an eyelid at his
own mother''s death in front of him be a good match?"
Noe sneered, "And you think you, a beast, are a good match?"
Lorne''s face tensed up for a moment, but he managed to smooth it over quickly.
"Ms. Schnabel, guess what? I also invited ra toe over. Imagine how she''d feel seeing her
sister pick a man over her mother?"
Lorne''s n was simple - ra’s presence would likely sway Noe to choose him, given the
potential impact on her sister’s well-being if she didn’t! After all, choosing him meant choosing
Lavinia!
"Ms. Schnabel, you should choose me! Just break off your engagement with Palmer, marry me, and
Aunt Lavinia will start getting better day by day, won''t she?"
Noe frowned. "Are you the one who''s been agitating Lavinia, causing her condition to worsen?"
Lorne burst intoughter, shaking his head. "Yes, it was me, but it wasn''t on purpose. I just didn''t
want her to recover too quickly. You know, if Aunt Lavinia got a bit better, I''d be cut out of the family
fortune!"
Lavinia was the sharpest mind in the Richardson family. If not for her ill health, Lorne wouldn''t stand
a chance at inheriting the family''s wealth.
ra''s heavy breathing sounded from behind Noe. She leaned against the wall, having rushed up
here so hastily her feet were bleeding!
Seeing ra, Lorne raised his ss in a distant toast.
"Noe, it''s time for you to make your choice."