Back in the day, the man stirring the pot behind the scenes of the Pock family drama was none


    other than Garrick!


    "We don''t y ball with his ns, and he decides to throw both our families into chaos. But how


    could he go after Harriet like that!" Sexton was visibly upset.


    Marcel shook his head. "Harriet and Xavier were his biggest supporters back in the day. When they


    realized something was off with his ns, they were the first to walk away. He held a grudge against


    Harriet, worried she took secrets of the Pris Star with her. After Harriet left, Garrick wasn''t about


    to let her off the hook."


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Sexton mmed his hand on the table in front of him. "Heartless! He imed Harriet was like a


    sister to him, and look what happened!"


    "Let''s not go there. It''s my fault. I didn''t protect Harriet when she needed it most. I''m here to pay my


    respects to your daughter-inw, and then I''ll be on my way."


    Outside the hall, a light drizzle began to fall, with dark clouds pressing down, casting a somber


    ambiance. Inside, the solemn praying continued, its ancient tones offering a measure of peace.


    Palmer gently squeezed Noe''s hand, reluctant to let go. "It''s starting to rain. You head back first.


    I''lle find you after I finish up here."


    Noe knew Palmer had a lot on his te. "Will my staying here hold you back?"


    "I''ll be distracted. Knowing you''re here, I won''t be able to focus."


    Despite knowing Noe’s capability and that sometimes she could be of help, Palmer hated the


    thought of her being anywhere but safe.


    "Alright, then I''ll head out first."


    After bidding farewell, Tristan left with his two daughters in tow.


    Once in the car, Sienna finally turned to Noe with a smile. "Noe, why isn''t Palmer leaving with


    you?"


    Sienna''s question stemmed from spotting Emeric, feeling that Noe’s future father-inw seemed


    a bit unreliable.


    "There''s still a ceremony to wrap up, and some matters that need attending."


    Sienna frowned. "Palmer''s the youngest in the Pock family, why does everything fall to him? Even


    if he''s capable, they shouldn''t take advantage of him like this!"


    Sienna''s attitude towards Palmer was pure mother-inw doting on her son-inw. In her eyes,


    Palmer was already part of the family! Seeing how Emeric treated Palmer, Sienna couldn''t help but


    feel sympathetic.


    Marcel turned to Noe. "Noe, when you go back to college, could you pass a message to your


    principal for me? Just tell him, it''s time to settle ounts!"


    Noe was taken aback. In the confined space of the car, Marcel''s calm gaze and authoritative


    voice made the request all the more weighty.


    "Garrick was also a friend of your grandma. Since we''re nning to slowly hand over all family


    matters to you, I don''t want to keep you in the dark."


    Marcel believed that Noe wouldn’t want to miss anything rted to Harriet. With the kids growing


    up, he trusted in their abilities.


    "Tristan will be driving Noe to college from now on."


    "Sure thing!"


    The prospect of daily drives with his daughter made Tristan ecstatic.


    ra had been fast-tracking through her education, spending any free moment in theb, leaving


    Tristan with little chance to enjoy father-daughter moments. Now, he finally had his chance!


    ...


    At Imperial University, as Noe entered the ssroom, the ss president, Ingrid, swiftly grabbed


    a book and took the seat beside her.


    "Is this seat taken?"


    "Nope."


    Ingrid had a pleasant, round face with ordinary features that somehowplemented each other,


    giving her the unique freshness of a college student.


    "Noe, there''s apetition in the department. Interested in joining?"


    "Not really."


    Desperate to persuade her, Ingrid quickly pulled out her phone to show Noe all thepetition


    details.


    "It''s a jewelry design contest. Winninges with a cash prize! The best designs might even be


    bought by Falen Gemstones, a partner of our department, and turned into actual products for sale!"


    Noe raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Falen Gemstones, if she remembered correctly, was the jewelrypany Merrick had given her,


    located not far from the campus.


    With so much going on, Noe hadn''t found the time to check it out. Thepany was currently


    being managed by Beckett, likely arranging thispetition with Merrick as a coborative effort


    with Noe''s department.


    Ingrid showed Noe the design submissions from other contestants.


    "Look, many of our ssmates have entered. Why not give it a try? Ms. Darcy said your design


    skills are top-notch!"


    Ingrid, the ss president, often worked with Darcy, the temporary ss advisor. Having heard


    about Noe''s impressive drawing and design skills from Darcy, Ingrid had eagerly anticipated


    inviting Noe to join the department''s contest for days!


    Noe wasn''t much interested inpetitions. However, when she saw one of the designs Ingrid


    showed her, she felt a flicker of recognition.


    Opening the design, she saw it was signed by Oriana.


    Seeing Noe''s interest in the design, Ingrid quickly shared, "Oriana''s entry has been a dark horse


    this time! I already told Ms. Darcy about her previous incident, and she said she''ll handle it


    properly."


    "How so?"


    "Ms. Darcy ns to have Oriana apologize to you in front of everyone and then give her a major


    disciplinary mark!"


    For any college student, being disciplined in such a manner is a ck mark on both their dignity and


    future resume. A person with Oriana''s temperament would most likely never agree!


    "She would agree to this?"


    "She doesn''t have much choice! The incident was just too vile, and Ms. Darcy is absolutely livid!"


    Noe gazed at Ingrid, whose round face was marked with signs of indignation and dissatisfaction,


    all in defense of Noe.


    Ingrid, along with Darcy, had dug into the nitty-gritty of the ordeal and even roped in Stirling


    Schnabel. When it came to light that everything was a malicious fabrication by Oriana, Ingrid was


    ridden with guilt.


    Noe was simply an angel! Despite such a predicament, she remained calm, not letting Oriana''s


    actions get to her. It was infuriating how someone as outstanding as Noe had to face such


    baseless nder and defamation out of sheer jealousy from Oriana!


    "Noe, I hope this doesn''t sour your view of our school. We will definitely clear your name!"


    "Really?" Noe said with a light chuckle.


    "Absolutely!"


    Observing Ingrid nodding fervently, like a hen pecking, Noe pointed towards the designs


    submitted by Oriana.


    "I might as well report that these pieces Oriana submitted for thepetition are all giarized!"


    "What? Noe, how did you know? These designs were among our top picks for the contest."


    Noe said casually, "Because she giarized them from my work!"