In his final days, what weighed heavily on the old man''s heart was the welfare of his family and children. Staring at the medical reports, Noe felt a
pang of sorrow.
Surgery could potentially extend his life, but Sexton refused to endure a treatment that would leave him tethered to machines, unable to maintain
rity in his final moments. The thought of fading away, hooked up to life support, was unbearable to him.
Calvin sighed, "l tried convincing him. If he had agreed to the surgery with you leading it, there might have been a chance... But Sexton, he just
wouldn''t have it."
Noe felt a lump in her throat. Sexton was worried about burdening the family, disrupting her and Palmer''s wedding ns with his hospitalization. It
was supposed to be a time of joy andughter for the Pock family.
"How could he bear to fall now?" she thought.
"Grandpa Sexton''s chance of sess with the surgery is only thirty percent. Afterward, he might lose consciousness, requiring constant care.” Noe
exined.
"He doesn''t want to end up like that,” Calvin agreed.
Sexton, a venerable man with a head of silver hair, wished to leave this world on his own terms.
Noe understood Sexton''s feelings.
When Marcel called to inquire about Sexton''s condition, a heavy silence fell after she exined the situation. Eventually, Marcel let out a deep sigh.
"At his age, it''s a blessing not to suffer too much," he said. "I''ll keep an eye on things at the hospital, grandpa. Take care of yourself."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.
Marcel, having shared a lifetime of friendship and battles with Sexton, was undoubtedly heartbroken.
"Grandpa knows what''s best."
After hanging up, Marcel sat in his rocking chair, holding a chess piece that he couldn''t bring himself to move. He muttered to himself, "Sexton, I''ll let
vou take back that move. Make sure youe back."
The chessboard remained untouched, a solitary yellow leaf falling upon it
At the Schnabel Hotel, the lobby was aze with lights, exuding opulence. A woman in high heels and sunsses strutted in, arm in arm with a
middle-aged man, her face full of disdain
"Where''s your manager? Get him here!" she demanded.
"Our manager is unavable at the moment. How may I assist you?" the receptionist asked politely.
"Then get Linnea Schnabel. She should have some say here, right?"
The receptionist hesitated before calling Linnea down
Upon seeing the woman, Linnea eximed, "Oriana? What''s this..."
The man beside Criana was clearly in his fifties, and the child with them bore a striking resemnce to him, no doubt his son.
Linnea was shocked. "In this day and age, sugar babiese with kids to the party?"
Criana removed her sunsses, affectionately clinging to the rotund arm of the middle-aged man. "Darling, this is my dear friend Linnea.”
"What''s this? She''s worthy of being your friend?” The man''s eyes cozed sleaze. "She''s not bad-locking. Say the right words, and I might let you two
reunite..."
Before he could finish, a knife flew out of nowhere, nicking his hand and drawing blood
"Damn it!" he cursed, as the sound of a high heel tapping the floor echoed with a chilly undertone.
Nog''s calm voice filled the air: "Call the police."
"You want to call the police? I should
be the one catfing! Do you know who
I am? Noene in Imperial City dares ?
to cross me," the man blustered,
believing his own hype about being a
tycoan, a linchpin in Imperial City''s
elite circles.
=
Linnea knew Oriana well enough to suspect that the pair had deluded each other about their wealth, a couple of con artists in a mutual scam.
Noe was curious. "Didn''t you check whose hotel this is before making a scene?"
The massive logo of the Schnabel Group was unmissable at the entrance, a clear sign of the establishment''s ownership.
The man puffed up, arrogantly iming, "I''m brothers-in-arms with Tristan Beckett, head of the Schnabel Group. You think I can''te to a Schnabel
family hotel?"
Noe, puzzled, wondered when Tristan had acquired such a brother.
Misinterpreting Noe''s silence for
intimidation, th man sneered, "Are
you the pergon in charge? Here''s N
how it''ll gos upgrade me toa VIP C
e J Ss pensate me with three
+
Sui
mil ior-dors for the trouble.
Otherwise, if this reaches Tristan,
you''ll regret it. It''s hard fora young
lady out here, so considéef the three
million a favor."
Noe remained silent for a moment. If it weren''t for the old-timers from Pris Staring to Imperial City and nning to stay at her hotel, she
wouldn''t have encountered such a spectacle.
"Pity. only three million for extortion. Even Vincent had a bigger appetite.”
Linnea nodded in agreement. "Right, Mr. Schnabel. I''ll call the police now."
Seeing their intent to proceed with the call, the man''s demeanor turned menacing. "Can''t you understand? Calling the police won''t do you any good
I''m the victim here. Do you really want to end up in jail?"
Linnea rolled ker eyes in disgust.
"Our hotel lobby is under constant
surveince; you know. What you did
was dowaright harassment. Plus;
you''ve got no proof who poked you.
For aflyou know, it could''ve been
divine intervention setting you
straight.” fo
The middle-aged man was taken aback!
Indeed. no one had seen where that little knife hade from!
"Don''t think you''ve got me cornered. I''m calling Tristan Beckett right this second. We''ll see who''s begging for mercy in a minute!”
Noe''s gaze was icy cold.
"Go ahead."
Criana suddenly clung to the man named Dan, "Dan, aren''t you buddies with Mr. Schnabel? Let Mr. Schnabel sort this out for you!"
Linnea looked at Oriana as if she was aplete idiot.
She knew full well that Tristan was Noe''s father. Why would she encourage this buffoon Dan to call Tristan?
Little did Linnea know, Dan had made his fortune in pyramid schemes.
Criana was utterly convinced that Dan was a big shot, even bigger than the Schnabel family in high society!
Seeing Noe''s calm demeanor, Dan snorted.
"Should I really make the call? There''s still time to apologize!”
Nog flicked her fingers, and someone immediately rolled in a chair and served up some coffee.
"Call, make as many calls as you want. If you don''t, I will."