Meeting Noe''s slightly amused gaze, Palmer was briefly taken aback.


    A bet about him?


    "Me?"


    "I''ve met your father before, out on the bordends."


    At this, Palmer furrowed his brows slightly, his gazending on Emeric as if trying to figure out why


    he would show up at the bordends.


    In Palmer’s memory, ever since his mother passed away, Emeric had been wandering, hardly ever


    involving himself in the affairs of the Pock family or any of his brothers.


    "I guess Mr. Pock showed up at the bordends looking for clues about your mother''s case."


    Palmer''s expression hardened a bit, his view of Emeric shifting slightly.


    Noe continued, "That period was exactly when the Abyssal Organization was most active along


    the bordends. Mr. Pock must have been quietly helping you, doing what you wanted to do."


    The time Emeric spent at the bordends coincided with the silent growth of the Abyssal


    Organization there! Being a Pock, he must have known Palmer was there too!


    Noe roughly matched up the timeline, looking towards Emeric, who still wore a gentle smile.


    A man who''d dive into a demolition site to save a few kids couldn’t be all bad!


    "Mr. Pock said, even if I told you, you wouldn''t believe he actually cares about you. I guess Mr.


    Pock has always been concerned about your mother''s issue, just never told you."


    Palmer was somewhat shocked! He looked at Emeric, who stood with one hand in his pocket, still


    looking like a wanderer, with a hint of a rich alcoholic scent about him, and graying at the temples.


    Emeric turned his face away, slightly ufortable. "Don''t specte. What I do has nothing to do


    with you!"


    "Why not say it?"


    "Do I need to report my actions to my son? Just mind your own business!"


    Palmer''s expression turned cold. "Then you didn''t have to secretly do things you thought were for


    my good. Neither the Abyssal Organization nor the Pock Group needs your meddling! And as for


    Mom''s case, I will investigate it myself; there’s no need for your concern!"


    "What I do, is that any of your business?"


    The atmosphere between father and son was tense!


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Every time they met, Emeric and Palmer could hardly exchange a few words without ending up in a


    heated argument.


    Noe gently tugged at Palmer''s sleeve. "Your mother is watching. Let''s not fight now."


    The anger in Palmer seemed to vanish in an instant at Noe''s touch, as if the man who had just


    been as cold as ice wasn''t him!


    Emeric, seeing this, knew his son probably met his match in this girl. He then looked at Noe,


    chuckling, "Smart girl. But I thought you''d keep those things from Palmer."


    After all, Noe had also been active on the bordends. Emeric had assumed most girls would


    avoid bringing up such a past to spare their beloved from needless worry!


    Noe smiled lightly. "What I did isn''t something that needs to be hidden. Besides, Palmer knows


    more about my activities on the bordends than you do."


    "Are you trying to mend the rtionship between me and Palmer? It''s a futile effort!"


    Noe shook her head. "How you and Palmer stand is none of my business. I''m not him, nor do I


    have the right to excuse your actions on his behalf! But as for that bet, consider it won by me!"


    Emeric was clearly not expecting Noe to be this kind of person. Unlike the girls he had met


    before, it''s no wonder Palmer was so invested. Poised, logical, sharp-tongued without being overly


    sympathetic, truly a child of the Schnabel family, hard to dislike.


    Emeric nced at Palmer, who looked displeased, and huffed. "Jacob told me you haven''t won her


    over yet. With a face that sour, if I were this girl, I wouldn''t want to deal with you either."


    Such words were not typical of what a father might say to his youngest son.


    Palmer''s expression was unreadable, his gaze towards Emeric as still as stagnant water.


    Their rtionship was indeed at its worst!


    Noe realized then, Emeric was the kind of person better off silent; despite his deep concern for


    Palmer, he seemed to fear his son''s acknowledgment of his good deeds.


    Truly... an odd man.


    ra couldn''t help but exim, "I used to think Palmer was twisted, but now I see his dad''s


    personality is the truly twisted one."


    Compared to Emeric, Palmer was practically sunny!


    After speaking, Emeric moved ahead to talk quietly with Sexton, his demeanor exuding a sense of


    detachment. As if everything concerning the Pock family had nothing to do with him! He appeared


    here today solely because of the person in the hall. It was for the departed loved one that Emeric


    returned to this cold home. After today, he would still remain detached from the Pock family!


    A young man in a suit approached Noe, holding several exquisite boxes.


    "I''m Palmer''s eldest brother, Quin Pock. This is a wee gift for Ms. ra, and this one''s for


    our future sister-inw. This one''s from me, and the other''s from Palmer''s another brother. Please,


    feel free to ept them!"


    Taking the boxes from Quin, Noe thanked him and opened them to find two identically carved


    jade pieces!


    Both carvings were incredibly lifelike.


    ra, astonished, said, "Why do these look like they''re crafted by Master Sylvie?"


    Quin offered a mild smile. "I carved it myself. My idol is the renowned sculptor, Master Sylvie. It''s


    hard not to see some of Master Sylvie’s influence in my work. Sorry, I guess I just like to dabble in


    things that aren''t exactly my job."


    Noe was taken aback. She never expected Palmer''s older brother to be this kind of person. One


    could tell a lot about someone from their sculptures. Quin was quiet and reserved, yet seemed to


    hold all his emotions tightly within himself!


    ra quickly shook her head. "Oh no, we''re happy to ept it. Thank you so much."


    Quin nodded slightly, then turned to Palmer. "Don''t take what Dad said to heart."


    Palmer''s face remained expressionless. "My shoulders aren''t broad enough to carry all that


    nonsense."


    If he really took Emeric''s words to heart, he''d have been driven mad by now!


    Amotion came from outside the funeral hall.


    "Come on, old man, how can you not invite us on such a big asion?"


    Several cars parked outside the Pock ancestral home, and a group of middle-aged men stepped


    out.


    Larson was at the back, his smile sinister as he looked at the Pock family members.


    Sexton spoke with a cold stare, "Today is a family matter. You are not wee. Please leave."


    "Sexton, that''s not the way to talk. After all, it''s the Pock family''s daughter-inw holding the


    ceremony, and we''re part of the Pock family too. Howe we can''t be here?"


    "And look, you have outsiders here as well." Peregrine Pock scanned the people present, his


    gaze finallynding on Noe and ra. "I don''t recall when Ms. Schnabel became rted to the


    Pock family!"