?


    "This doesn''t make any sense!"


    The Schnabels had a handful of sons who were nothing short of remarkable, yet Tristan felt like his genes had hit the jackpot of evolution itself.


    But when it came to Noe, Tristan was half-convinced his gics had gone rogue!


    How could his daughter be this incredible?


    Noe exined, "For Da Vinci, painting was just a hobby, so all of this is just my hobby too."


    She had picked up some skills on the side, never expecting to excel the way she did.


    If it weren''t for not wanting the Schnabels to worry, Noe wouldn''t have even mentioned it.


    A hobby?


    Girl, saying it like that makes your dad''s expensive, yet utterly useless hobbies seem even more worthless...


    Tristan felt a twinge in his knee.


    Gritting his teeth, he said, "Well, you''re still my precious daughter! I can''t let you face danger alone. No, I need to call Palmer toe with you!" Having Palmer tag along gave Tristan some peace of mind.


    While speaking, Tristan dialed Palmer''s number and exined the situation.


    "Palmer, you''ve got to go with Noe! With you by her side, I''ll feel a lot better."


    After all, their precious daughter was soft and sweet, a real heartbreaker if anything were to happen to her out there!


    Tristan was nearly in tears.


    "If someone called me with a scam, iming Noe was in trouble, I''d be there in a heartbeat!"


    Sometimes, being tricked isn''t about being foolish; it''s about caring too much!


    Noe understood that too!


    Palmer quickly agreed, "Got it, I''ll pick up Noe right away."


    This was originally Noe''s own battle, and she hadn''t nned on dragging Palmer into it, but his prompt and decisive response warmed her heart. Whether it was the Schnabels or Palmer, she knew she was cherished.


    Shortly after, a tall figure appeared at the Schnabel residence.


    The foyer was filled with an array ofrge and small gift boxes, leaving Sienna Horwich speechless!


    "Palmer, it''s great you came, but why bring all this?"


    "It''s engagement gifts from my mom''s side, and also for aunt and uncle and grandpa."


    Palmer''s engagement, though his mother couldn''t be there, included many items Kendra Fowler had prepared in her lifetime, along with gifts from the Fowler family too!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Sienna quickly had the butler take everything, her face beaming with joy!


    Watching Palmer head upstairs to talk business with Marcel, Sienna felt like any mother-inw admiring a son-inw, more pleased with each nce. Taking Noe by the hand into the kitchen, Sienna said softly, "Palmer and his mom haven''t been in touch for years, so these gifts, they really show his effort!"


    It was Palmer''s way of showing his respect for Noe and the Schnabels!


    The gifts might not have been extravagantly expensive for either family, but they symbolized Palmer''s sincerity.


    Noe nodded, her eyes soft.


    "I understand."


    Handing Noe a fruit tter, Sienna smiled, "Men, what they need is just the right attitude."


    Malvina, curious, asked, "Mom, you and dad have been so good for so many years, how do you do it?"


    Sienna proudly replied, "Part of it, because Tristan is a good man! And part, well, marriage takes work.


    "When I had just given birth to Beckett, the Schnabel business was struggling, and your dad liked to gamble. One night he lost tens of thousands, I didn''t say a word. But when he came home, there was only veggies and tofu on the dinner table. He thought we were broke, felt so guilty, he never gambled again!"


    Even in the hardest times, the Schnabels and the Horwichs nevercked food, but Tristan, burdened by guilt, quit gambling for good.


    Malvina gave her mom a thumbs-up, slightly embarrassed, "But with Ulrich, it seems like I''m always the onepromising..."


    "It''s not aboutpromising; it''s about


    ???:


    ing because of love e


    Didn''t you marry Ulrich because you love him? I''ve seen that boy grinning a fool in bed at midnight!"


    To Sienna, her sons were full of ws, but managing to get married was an achievement in itself!


    "As long as you''re happy, everything else is negotiable!"


    Malvina, clinging to Sienna''s hand, cooed, "I wouldn''t return him. Even if I did, you''d still be my mom!"


    "That''s right, as long as we make our days count, that''s what matters."


    Suddenly, Ulrich seemed less significant!


    Noe knew Sienna felt this way because she loved her by association.


    Yasbel''s eyes shimmered, hiding her envy as she sighed, "Big sis, we were all worried you weren''t happy, even nned to sneak you away in the dead of night."


    “The Lamberts are really something else."


    Noe''s lips curved slightly, her tone calm and gentle, "They''ve been good, but you''re my family too."


    "Right you are!"


    Carrying the fruit tter upstairs, about to knock, the study door swung open.


    Palmer stood there, taking the fruit tter from Noe''s hands and cing it on a table behind him, "We''re done talking, leave the fruit for grandpa and the others."


    "What did you talk about?"


    Holding Noe''s hand, they returned to her room, "Grandpa gave me some things my grandfather left behind."


    Sexton had entrusted Marcel with some matters rted to the internal conflicts of the Pock family before he passed. "And there''s also some stuff about my mom''s side. When we have time, I want to take you to meet my uncles."


    Rarely did he speak of the matters


    concerning the Fowler family, and all Noe knew was that after Kendra''s passing, the Fowlers had faced a downturn, almost vanishing from the public eye!


    Listening to Palmer''s calm tone, Noe agreed as well.


    "Alright, if you''ve decided, then that''s fine by me."


    Closing the bedroom door behind her, she shut out all the hubbub of the Schnabel family, filling the room with a peaceful silence.


    Noe was just about to say


    something when her body was pinned against the door, an overpowering presence enveloping


    her, carrying a mix of punishment and displeasure in his kiss, his breath mingling with hers in a silent assertion.


    "Palmer..."


    Her exmation was swallowed up, and for a moment, the room was filled with nothing but their intimate whispers.


    After a while, Palmer spoke, a hint of annoyance in his voice, right by Noe''s ear.


    "You''re about to do something dangerous, and I''m thest to know. That doesn''t sit well with me."


    "...Didn''t I include you too?"


    "It''s not the same."


    It was Tristan who had called him, not her!


    Palmer gently caressed Noe''s slightly swollen lips, "Everything about you is important to me. I want to be there for you, but I also wish to be invited


    by you!"


    Noe''s voice softened.


    "I won''t be in any danger."


    "But I''m your fiancé. I''m different from the others."


    Holding Noe''s hand against his beating chest, Palmer lowered his voice, "My heart beats for you. Do you have a ce for me in yours?"


    His emotions were intense, his love fervent, enough to engulf her.


    Looking up into those eyes, aze like fireworks, staring back at her as if to consume her, Noe leaned in and kissed the corner of Palmer''s lips.


    "Of course, I do."