Bowie was bewildered.


    The oddly shaped sweater was hand-knitted by Sienna Horwich herself?


    Upon closer inspection, the beads and pearls intricately woven into the fabric were of top quality.


    The pearls at the top shone with a wless luster, likely purchased at some high-end auction by


    their individual count.


    ra, grinning from ear to ear, said, "My mom isn''t exactly a whiz in crafting these things, but she


    puts her heart into everything she does! And it''s exclusive to us - my dad and brothers don''t have


    anything like it!"


    In ra''s eyes, anything handcrafted by Sienna became a treasure to unt.


    The value of the garment wasn''t in the costly materials used, nor did the asional dropped stitch


    or the asymmetric sleeves dampen its significance.


    What mattered was that it was a gift from her mom!


    Bowie raised an eyebrow. "Does Noe actually wear it?"


    "Of course, she does. Noe''s pretty handy herself and never looked down on my mom''s knitting.


    Why wouldn''t she wear it?"


    To avoid Sienna straining her eyes while knitting, Noe took the sweater she was halfway through


    making and made some slight modifications before putting it on. ra, too impatient to wait for


    adjustments, wore hers as it was.


    "Do you think it looks bad?" she asked, sensing Bowie''s hesitation.


    At a nce, the sweater wasn''t exactly a masterpiece, but its charmy in its... uniqueness.


    Bowie struggled for words before finally managing, "It''s... quite special. I was worried the Schnabels


    didn''t care much for you, but I see that''s not the case now."


    "Why would you think that?" ra frowned.


    Upon learning of ra''s identity, Tristan didn''t hesitate to take her home. For her sake, he was


    ready to confront Jacob head-on. When Sienna first discovered ra''s background, she would


    sneak into her room at night, silently crying. ra pretended to sleep during those moments, her


    heart aching at the sight of Sienna''s tear-streaked silhouette.


    Although the Schnabel brothers didn''t say much, they quietly added a significant amount of money


    to ra''s ount during that time. And her sister was always by her side, worried about her well-


    being.


    She knew she had caused her family concern but also felt their love and care deeply.


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


    Bowie, feeling awkward, quickly changed the subject. "I mentioned before that the Richardson


    family is nning to invest in an amusement park. The location''s been decided. Want to check it out


    with me?"


    ra thought for a moment.


    "No, thanks. I need to head back to theb today. Just send me the info on the park."


    Bowie had nned to invite ra for a meal, but she waved off the offer and left.


    ra was prepping for an uing scientific conference, an opportunity to meet her idol Loadstar,


    which she couldn''t miss.


    Watching ra walk away, Bowie''s gaze hardened with determination.


    "There''s still time," he murmured, dialing his assistant. "Contact the Richardson elders. Get them to


    pressure Grandpa to demand ra''s return and change her surname to Richardson."


    If he could just get ra away from the Schnabels and back to the Richardsons, she would be his


    tomand. He knew this wouldn’t be easy, but he liked challenges.


    His assistant hesitated, "The Schnabels and the Pocks won''t agree easily..."


    Bowie smirked. "Isn''t there an olddy at Imperial West Hospital who can be of use?"


    "Right away, sir."


    ...


    At Imperial University, Garrick was overwhelmed by the crowd around him.


    Dealing with Merrick Horwich was challenging enough, let alone Helen and Sexton.


    Helen sat on the sofa, her face twisted in a sneer. "Garrick, if you don''t clear things up for Noe,


    prepare to see this university turned upside down."


    Garrick frowned. "I thought you were blind."


    She didn''t look blind at all.


    Helen was relentless in her mockery. "Being blind physically is preferable to being blind-hearted like


    some people. Are you flipping insane? Is your brain malfunctioning? It''s clear who''s in the wrong


    here, and yet you shield that student?"


    Garrick hadn''t faced such blunt and insultingnguage in years. "Helen Barth! Are you here to


    cause trouble?"


    Helen mmed her hand on the table. "I''m here to curse your ancestors! Maybe they messed with


    some mojo, giving birth to a wretch like you!"


    Garrick was so angry he could barely breathe.


    Sexton, ignoring Helen''s outburst, chuckled. "Garrick, Helen''s got a bad temper and health issues,


    including depression. Go easy on her."


    Depression? With that attitude?


    Garrick felt like he was the one slipping into depression!


    Merrick attempted to mediate, easing the tension. "Look, I understand as a principal you''ve got to


    weigh all sides, but as Noe’s grandparents, we''re going to fight for justice in our own way!"


    Garrick raised his eyebrows, wary. "And what exactly are you nning to do?"


    Merrick replied with a calm yet determined tone, "Us old folks might not be much in the grand


    scheme of things, but we can certainly make sure all the evidence gets out there. Clearing the kid''s


    name is the least we can do."


    With Merrick''s influence in the academicmunity, word would spread like wildfire. It was a small


    world, after all.


    "Let''s call a spade a spade. Things should be dealt with as they are. And yes, that includes making


    your decision public, Garrick. Don''t worry, I''m not like you. Twisting facts and smearing reputations


    isn''t in my ybook."


    Merrick was collected as he continued, "It just so happens that I''ve included some of Noe''s works


    in my new book. Her creativity is a treasure, not something to be pilfered and disrespected by some


    academic highwayman!"


    Tristan nodded in agreement. "Garrick, just because Noe is bright doesn''t mean she should be


    walked all over!"


    The fallout from Merrick''s potential disclosure could significantly tarnish both Imperial University and


    Garrick''s reputations.


    Caught in a tight spot, Garrick clenched his teeth and said, "Alright then, let me ask Noe what she


    wants to do!"


    Everyone present agreed to this approach.


    Garrick dialed Noe''s number, putting the phone on speaker.


    Before Noe could even speak, Garrick preemptively said in a stern tone, "Noe, think carefully.


    Not everyone in this world is infallible."


    Noe raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with disdain. "Garrick, is this some sort of obedience


    training? Or perhaps a humiliation exercise?"


    "I didn''t mean it like that! Your grandparents just want to know how you intend to handle this


    situation."


    Noe replied coolly, "You want my opinion? Then it''s simple – expulsion."