Stepping out from Larson''s estate, Lucian handed ra a small box. "Here, this is for you."


    ra opened it to find the jade bracelet that Larson had been clutching tightly just moments before.


    "Grandpa, did you really give him a million?"


    "Oh, dear, it''s not important. That amount will eventually find its way back to me. I just bid on a snuff


    bottle for two million. He’ll need topensate me a million. Here, take this bracelet. It matches the


    one Helen gave to Noe. It''s lovely, isn''t it? Stepping out, anyone can tell you two are sisters. How


    wonderful."


    The bracelet Lucian gave to raplemented the one Helen had given Noe, both shimmering


    under the sunlight with their translucent and moist luster.


    Helen nced at ra and Noe standing together, a rare gentle smile on her face. In her view,


    although ra was born into both the Pock and Richardson families, she would always belong to


    the Schnabel family too!


    "Lucian, my point is, let ra keep the Schnabel surname. Even when she gets married, she should


    leave as part of the Schnabel family!"


    "You old witch, always having the final say! I''m notpeting with Marcel for my granddaughter.


    Does the surname matter? What right do I have to ask her to take my family name?" Lucian huffed


    coldly. "I shouldn''t be proud, and neither should Sexton! Even if she keeps the Schnabel name, it


    doesn’t mean I won''t provide her with a wedding gift."


    Helen looked at ra, reaching out to pat her hand. "Don''t worry, dear. The Schnabel family raised


    you, and we''re more than grateful. Whatever surname you choose, you won''t lose out on anything


    meant for you."


    ra nodded. "Thank you, Grandma."


    Helen sighed and, along with Lucian, got ready to leave.


    Meanwhile, Larson, who had been severely squeezed, slowly opened his eyes.


    "This whole ordeal must be Palmer''s doing, setting me up just to make my life miserable! Damn it! I


    won''t let him off easily!"


    Larson was filled with anguish. "Even if it means mutual destruction, I''ll see that boy join his mother


    in death!"


    Luther whispered, "Larson, in a few days, it will be the anniversary of Kendra''s passing. Palmer has


    invited Horatio, probably to perform a ceremony for her, right?"


    Larson''s eyes flickered with thought. He clenched his fists, murmuring, "A ceremony? Escaping


    purgatory won''t be that easy! Better to see her son join her in hell! Make sure everything is perfectly


    arranged this time!"


    "Yes!"


    ...


    A few dayster, at the Pock ancestral home, the entire estate was adorned with roses and lilies,


    thete Kendra''s favorites, as preparations for the memorial ceremony were well underway.


    Horatio, apanied by his disciples, knelt at the forefront, chanting scriptures and praying for the


    deceased''s peace.


    Dominating the hall was a portrait of a young woman, not yet forty and bearing a resemnce to


    Palmer. Her ssical beauty was captivating, making it hard for anyone to look away.


    The Pock family members stood solemnly behind the chanting monks.


    The atmosphere was one of solemn respect, with no one speaking a word.


    ra and Noe stood hand in hand at the back.


    Noe''s gaze fell on a middle-aged man standing behind Sexton, presumably Palmer''s father. His


    ck suit hung loosely on his slender frame, his hair tied back in a carefree manner. His silhouette


    carried an air of solitary artistry and deep mncholy, more akin to a street artist than a widower.


    Jacob was seen conversing with the man. Turning around to wipe away a tear, the man locked eyes


    with Noe.


    Noe raised an eyebrow slightly. This man... she seemed to recognize him!


    Back then, Noe didn''t know he was Palmer''s father. Now, upon seeing him again, she''s also


    somewhat puzzled.


    Theirst encounter was at a war-torn art gallery near the border, right before a terrorist bomb


    attack. Racing to help, Noe was stopped by him.


    Holding an empty bottle, the man pulled Noe back. "God, you''re young with a whole life ahead.


    Being a hero here won''t earn you any medals!"


    "I won''t be harmed."


    The man smiled gently. "You''re so young. There''s so much ahead of you. Not me, though. My life


    isn''t important. I''m forgotten by the world. If I''m gone, then so be it."


    After saying this, he rushed into the exploding gallery, emerging with several children in his arms!


    When Noe wanted to look for him, he had vanished, rumored to have headed further north.


    Unexpectedly, they met again under such circumstances!


    Palmer''s father recognized Noe too and approached her with a nod. "So, it''s you, youngdy. I''m


    surprised you''re still alive."


    "Sir, I''m equally surprised to see you. Did you find what you were looking for?"


    He had mentioned being an artist on a quest for a dream in the Arctic Circle.


    With tears in his eyes and a nce at the portrait, he seemed lost in thought. "I''ll never find it. Not in


    this lifetime."


    Noe opened her mouth to say something, then decided against it.


    "You''re Palmer''s fiancée? Pleasure to meet you, youngdy. I''m Emeric Pock, Palmer''s father.


    Let''s keep our previous encounter between us, shall we? Our little secret, okay?"


    Noe gave him a light look. "Why? If you''re digging into the cause of your wife''s demise, why keep


    Palmer in the dark?"


    The rift between the Pock men stemmed from Palmer''s belief that Emeric didn''t care about his


    mother''s passing.


    "Kid, some things can''t be summed up in a few words. Plus, Palmer''s got a mind like a steel trap -


    trusts no one. Even if I told him what I was up to, he''d take it as nothing but an excuse! But you can


    try talk to him and see if he’ll believe you."


    Noe let out a soft chuckle. Her gaze drifted over the crowd,nding on Palmer, who was paying


    his respects. His silhouette was tinged with solitude, a stark contrast to the capable man he was


    known to be. To Noe, he still looked like a lonely boy.


    That nce seemed to unveil Palmer''s solitary journey to Noe.


    Maybe their paths had been too simr. Suddenly, Noe felt she truly understood Palmer.


    She chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with an unconscious warmth.


    "He''ll believe me. Wanna bet?"


    Emeric shook his head, smiling. "Kid, even if you fancy Palmer, you don''t quite get his personality..."


    Palmer finished his respects and turned around, spotting Noe talking with Emeric. His gaze


    deepened before he strode over to them.


    "What are you talking about?"


    Noe was straightforward, locking eyes with Palmer and speaking clearly. "I was making a bet with


    Mr. Pock here. A bet about you!"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.