《The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)》 CHapter 1 CHapter 1 On the second floor of the Lambert Mansion. Briony Lambert, decked out in a in white princess dress, whipped out her pocket mirror to admire her own lovely face. She pinched her handkerchief, cocking a smug smile at Noe in front of her. ¡°Sis, there¡¯s something I wannay on you¡­¡± Justst month, when Belinda fell ill and needed a blood transfusion, both Noe and Briony were called over. And bam! Turns out Noe wasn¡¯t the biological daughter of the Lamberts! A paternity test on the spot proved Briony was the real flesh and blood of the Lambert family! Holding the paternity test report, Briony¡¯s eyes were dancing with triumph. She grew up with Noe since they were knee¨Chigh. Why should she remain relegated to the role of the nanny¡¯s niece while Noe basked in the glory as the high and mighty Ms. Lambert? Now, it was all hers for the taking! Behind Briony, the Lambert folks were giving Noe heart¨Cwrenching nces. Spotting Noe¡¯s gaze, Vincent Lambert brushed away a nonexistence tear. ¡°Noe, nobody anticipated that Briony was our own flesh and blood. We had ns for you to grow up here alongside her, but out of the blue, your folks decide to take you back. We¡¯re gutted to see you go, but it¡¯s only right to send you back. I can¡¯t bear to separate you from your biological parents; it would be too cruel.¡± Vincent was actually game for keeping Noe around, but Belinda argued that Briony had been overshadowed by Noe all her life, and living together would be unfair to her. Just the thought of her darling daughter living like a servant under her own roof was enough to make Belinda¡¯s heart bleed. It¡¯s all Noe¡¯s fault! As for Noe, their supposed daughter, the moment Vincent spread the word, calls from Emerald County flooded in, seeking a reunion. The thick ent on the other end of the line was as dense as msses! Vincent could barely make heads or tails of what they were saying. Emerald County, as the news reported, had an average annual ie of less than a grand per residentst year. A ce so broke that charity couldn¡¯t even lift it up! It turned out that Noe¡¯s real parents were from Emerald County, and judging by the sound of it, they were farmers. ¡°Noe, even though your parents are farmers, don¡¯t you worry. I heard chickens in the background when I was on the phone. So, at least if you¡¯re hungry, you can chow down on some chicken¡­¡± Briony snorted withughter. What a backwater! They even raise chickens! ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t get it. In ces that poor, chickens are worth more than people. You can¡¯t just eat them whenever you want.¡± Briony¡¯s face was a picture of superiority. Noe saw right through their act and stood up, asking coolly, ¡°I¡¯ll leave in a bit. Where¡¯s my laptop?¡± She was the picture of grace and elegance that Briony could never mimic, no matter how hard she tried. The nerve! What a show¨Coff! ¡°Sis, we didn¡¯t touch yourptop. It¡¯s a clunker from five years ago. You must¡¯ve lost it, right?¡± The nannies behind chimed in, dissing her. ¡°Yeah, only Ms. Noe would be so petty as to care about aptop that old.¡± *Ease up, Noe¡¯s about to head back to the boonies, where folks probably don¡¯t even know what aptop is.¡± Briony was smirking all over. Noe gave her a cool nce and whipped out her phone, pulling up a surveince clip. The video unmistakably revealed Briony sneaking into Noe¡¯s roomst night when everyone else was distracted and swiping herptop. The footage showed Briony looking downright ferocious. ¡°That old hag, why does she only care about you! I¡¯m the real daughter of the Lambert family!¡± Briony was speechless. Had Noe lost her marbles? She¡¯d actually rigged her, own room with cameras! And caught her cursing out Old Mrs. Lambert. Belinda yanked Briony behind her as if Noe was about to gobble her up. ¡°Noe, you¡¯re out of line. This is your home too. How could you set up cameras here? You know your dad¡¯s got loads of trade secrets. If those got out¡­¡± With that, Vincent¡¯s expression turned all kinds of awkward. ¡°Noe, hand over your phone. I want to check if you¡¯ve nted cameras anywhere else.¡± Noe was left speechless. She didn¡¯t give a hoot about the Lambert¡¯s business. Right in front of Vincent, Noe wiped her phone clean, restoring it to factory settings. Vincent, feeling a bit sheepish, chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not doubting you. Just ying it safe, you know.¡± Noe¡¯s reply was icy. ¡°Give me myptop, and I¡¯ll leave.¡± Vincent quickly had Briony dig up Noe¡¯sptop. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Briony grumbled, ¡°She can¡¯t even let go of such an old piece of junk. Emerald County probably doesn¡¯t even have the inte.¡± That bustedptop couldn¡¯t even boot up now, only a soon¨Cto¨Cbe poor girl like Noe would treasure it. Noe gave her onest nce. Thisptop, a gift from Old Mrs. Lambert while she was still around, had been customized by Noe herself. It was precious, sure, but not indispensable. She could rece theptop, and these so¨Ccalled family members? She could do without them. It¡¯s just that this gadget held a different kind of sentiment. The entire Lambert family favored Briony, top to bottom, except for Old Mrs. Lambert who loved. her from the start, giving her a warmth she¡¯d always cherish. With Old Mrs. Lambert gone, the Lambert family meant squat to her. Noe turned and walked towards the front door without a backward nce or a shred of regret. Belinda, who¡¯d been gearing up to drop some sentimental lines, was left feeling awkward as hell ¡°Hey you, hold up! What¡¯s with the attitude? An elder is trying to have a word with you, and here you are, giving me the stink eye. You and Briony grew up together, for crying out loud. It¡¯s like one of you is from another!¡± From Vincent¡¯s lips, Belinda had also caught wind of how tough Noe¡¯s biological parents had 1. it. The word on the street was they were dirt poor, residing in Emerald County, one of the most poverty¨Cstricken areas in the country, without even a proper main road in their vige. Her folks were farmers, with four bachelor brothers at home and a sister with a temper shorter than a summer day, not to mention grandparents who weren¡¯t in the best of health. In a family like that, if Noe went back, she¡¯d be in for a rough ride. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if. at her young age, she¡¯d have to bust her chops to put food on the table, maybe even ve away. to save up wedding gifts for her brothers to find brides! Briony, who had lived in Noe¡¯s shadow for years, transformed her insecurity into a thickyer of confidence as she rose to follow Noe. ¡°Sis, let me walk you out.¡± Vincent cast a disapproving nce at Belinda. ¡°Cut her some ck. Noe¡¯s been decent to you over the years. Remember when you were sick? She took care of you.¡± Belinda shot him a look that could kill. 13:07 ¡°Take care of me? I¡¯ve been waiting on her hand and foot, and look what she turned out to be. I¡¯m just worried she¡¯ll start getting ideas about Briony¡¯s wedding. A Rosenberg wedding is for our own flesh and blood!¡± Milford Rosenberg and the Lambert family had a marriage arrangement in ce, but it was meant for the Lambert¡¯s daughter, not Noe, the cuckoo in the nest! Besides, Briony and Milford Rosenberg shared a close bond since childhood. Unlike the rebellious Noe, Briony was the real deal thoughtful and sensible, which brightened Belinda¡¯s day considerably. Noe didn¡¯t have much to take with her, Just a small suitcase with theptop Old Mrs. Lambert had given her. Briony sidled up, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Sis, I¡¯m really gonna miss you, but you know I¡¯ve always been close to Milford. It¡¯s such a shame you can¡¯te to the wedding.¡± Briony had always been a little magpie, snatching everything from Noe, from food and clothes to the doting affection of Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. Noe never let it get to her. As for Milford, if Briony hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Noe would have almost forgotten the guy event existed. ¡°You like picking up guys at the dump. I¡¯m not into that.¡± CHapter 2 CHapter 2 Briony blinked, her eyes welling up as she grabbed Noe¡¯s arm. ¡°Sis, I know you dig Milford, but you know damn well Milford and I are head over heels for each other. Please don¡¯t break us up! What the heck did you say to Milford yesterday? He¡¯s been ghosting me all day.¡± Noe frowned, giving her wrist, which Briony was squeezing, a cold nce. ¡°Slipped my mind. Some dude wanted to add me on WhatsApp yesterday, but I didn¡¯t give it to him. So that was your boo, huh?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Noe looked at her with a pitying gaze. She can¡¯t fathom what¡¯s so great about that oddball. Milford¡¯s got a bunch of honeys, sweethearts, and darlings in his phone. March ¡®em all out, and they could put on a whole women¡¯s ser match for Briony right there. All with simr mugs. same series as Briony¡¯s. Anyone would think he¡¯s into stamp collecting. This kind of yer, only Briony would treasure like gold. Seeing that look in Noe¡¯s eyes, Briony¡¯s pride was deeply wounded. What gave her the right! She¡¯s the real Ms. Lambert now! Why the hell is this imposter still looking down on her with pity? A fierce jealousy shed in Briony¡¯s eyes, and when she caught a glimpse of Belinda approaching, she nimbly tripped herself and went down. ¡°Ah! Sis, why did you push me!¡± Noe was speechless. Belinda rushed over to her precious daughter sprawled on the ground, scolding Noe as she helped Briony up. ¡°Noe! She¡¯s your sister, for crying out loud! Don¡¯t you have a heart?¡± Noe looked at Briony bawling in Belinda¡¯s arms with indifference. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly sane, thank you. You two might want to look after yourselves first.¡± Belinda was baffled. ¡°What do you mean? How on earth did I raise a kid like you?¡± A snicker escaped from a nearby servant. Noe dusted off her hands, her tone icy. ¡°Don¡¯t me you. My words are a bit of a brain¨Cteaser, something you clearlyck.¡± Belinda was at a loss for words. ¡°You stand right there! If you dare im you¡¯re part of our family out there, I¡¯ll break your legs!¡± WL 13:07 A smug look flickered in Briony¡¯s eyes as she quickly yed the sweet daughter, consoling an enraged Belinda. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be mad. Noe has no idea how rough it¡¯s gonna be when she gets home. I¡¯ve heard that girls from rural areas often have to marry early to bring money for their brothers.¡± At that, the nanny who had raised her chimed in. ¡°Briony is right. With her temperament. Noe could only marry some lonely old widower who can¡¯t afford a wife. With her sharp tongue, she¡¯ll surely get beaten up when she¡¯s married! Briony has always been more caring than Noe. Since childhood, Briony has been more diligent than Noe.¡± These words were music to Briony¡¯s ears. She smirked, but noticed that Noe was still as serene as ever. How could she still be smiling? She must be faking it! Briony reached out, ¡°Sis, let me help you with your suitcase. Oh my¡­ Howe you have so little stuff?¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. identally, she flung open Noe¡¯s small suitcase, revealing only a neatptop and some nk papers inside. Briony had expected Noe to take some valuables to sellter, but upon seeing the nk papers, she couldn¡¯t help but lose herposure. ¡°Sis, even though Emerald County is dirt poor, these nk papers won¡¯t do you any good! You can¡¯t just draw a pie and call it dinner,¡± sheughed. The nanny added, ¡°Hasn¡¯t even hit the countryside yet and already looking so destitute?¡± Belinda, still fuming, snatched theptop from Noe¡¯s hands. ¡°You think you¡¯ve grown up eating what, air? Even if I send you out naked today, you must obey me!¡± Briony¡¯s eyes widened with anticipation. This was too thrilling! Vincent rushed in, took theptop, and stuffed it back into Noe¡¯s arms. was he After all, Noe had grown up under their watch. Making a scene like this- how supposed to keep his rep around here? The mishap of acknowledging the wrong daughter was already the talk of the town; he couldn¡¯t risk further embarrassment. ¡°Noe, dear, you can take whatever you want. It¡¯s all yours anyway.¡± The nanny wouldn¡¯t let up. ¡°Every time I see Noe, I get chills down my spine. She¡¯s such a country bumpkin, isn¡¯t she? I hope she¡¯s not up to any weird tricks. I say don¡¯t let her take anything. What if there are Noe bent down to pack her small suitcase. Lifting her clear eyes, she stared at Belinda and Briony. With a slight smile, she said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed over the years how much you two resemble each other?¡± Since childhood, no matter what Noe did, Belinda favored Briony. She even told her not to worry about grades, stating that the Lambert family doesn¡¯t rely on academics. It was onlyter that Noe discovered the reason behind it- Briony was jealous of her good grades and had cried to Belinda about it. If Noe scored too high, she¡¯d get scolded for not considering Briony¡¯s feelings. It seemed that a nanny¡¯s niece mattered more to Belinda than her own daughter. As for what that represents, Noe didn¡¯t believe for a second that Belinda had no clue. Noe curved her lips into a smile, looking at Vincent. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. Hope you¡¯ll like it. It¡¯ll be delivered after ! Leave.¡± Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. Those words were cold, marking a clear boundary with the Lambert family, with no hint of association. Vincent¡¯s face tightened. Upon hearing her words, Belinda felt as though Noe was on the verge of leaving yet still threatening her. Fuming with anger, she stormed past Briony¡¯s half¨Chearted attempts to stop her, hell¨Cbent on pping Noe right across the face. ¡°Listen up, once you¡¯re out of here, don¡¯t even think abouting back. Even if you end up crying from feeding chickens, we won¡¯t give you a second thought!¡± Belinda tried to snatch the suitcase out of Noe¡¯s hand, her p hanging midair, but Noe nimbly dodged it. Before anyone behind could catch her, Belinda crashed headfirst into the wall, instantly forming a large bump on her head! Belinda let out a piercing scream, ¡°You dare to push me?!¡± Briony got the fright of her life, rushing over to help Belinda up. Noe stood her ground, seeing Belinda and Briony as nothing more than pathetic clowns. That look made Belinda inexplicably feel a twinge of guilt. 17-07 Her raised hand never came down, and Vincent, ever the peacemaker, tried to smooth things. over. ¡°What¡¯s the big scene for? Noe¡¯s ride is here. Let¡¯s all see her out together. Who knows. this might be thest time we see her.¡± CHapter 3 CHapter 3 Briony was freaking out that If things got too heated, Noe might bail on leaving. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll hit the mall with youter to chill you out. I heard that Master Azure¡¯s new fall collection is out, and if we¡¯rete, It¡¯ll be sold out. You know Master Azure¡¯s stuff is always priceless.- Briony was secretly thrilled at the thought of Noe having zilch to do with these high¨Csociety luxuries, maybe even having to get up at dawn to feed the chickens. She couldn¡¯t help but smirk, her eyesnding on the car at the door. Suddenly, she gasped. ¡°Yikes, what¡¯s up with that car¡­¡± Everyone looked where she was pointing. Briony had never seen such a casual sedan before. The car was pitch ck with zero bling, and the logo was something Briony had neverid eyes on ¨C definitely not a luxury brand or anything. Moreover, the car was filthy as hell, caked in dust so thick it almost had a matte finish. The idea that this vehicle might¡¯ve rolled straight out of some chicken coop in Emerald County, possibly with chicken poop still on the tires, disgusted the Lambert family, causing them to recoil and step back in revulsion. Talk about embarrassing! The driver hopped out, his gaze scanning until itnded on Noe. In an instant, he knew she was the one he was there for! Her face, a dead ringer for Mrs. Schnabel¡¯s, was unforgettable at a nce- captivating and clear, as if she had stepped out of a painting, impossible to look away from. The driver bowed. ¡°Miss, wee home! The lord anddy have a special status and couldn¡¯t come to get you, the one and only Miss in the family, themselves. We hope you aren¡¯t upset about it. We¡¯ve got a wee home bash ready for you. Unfortunately, we got caught in a dust storm on the way here, so we didn¡¯t have time to wash the car.¡± Noe couldn¡¯t figure out the car¡¯s brand either, but it looked kinda familiar. Wasn¡¯t Emerald County supposed to be some backwater? Why was there even a car? Her family seemed different from what she¡¯d imagined. ¡°The one and only Miss? Thought I had an elder sister?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re the only daughter of the young master and hisdy. Old Lady Schnabel said no matter what, you¡¯re the only true Miss of the family! The other young masters and misses have no objections. From now on, at home, your word isw! I¡¯m Wren, the lord¡¯s driver. This is his personal car. Everyone¡¯s stoked for you toe home!¡± Wren spoke with sincere earnestness, his face sporting the honest grin typical of the trustworthy type. Anxious not to upset Noe, he exined everything in detail. Noe frowned slightly, this family seemed different from Vincent¡¯s description. Wren opened the car door, respectfully saying. ¡°I¡¯ll go grab your luggage. If there¡¯s too much, I¡¯ll get more people to help. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get it all moved today.¡± Wren didn¡¯t know how much luggage Noe had, but figured a youngdy would have plenty. Last time he helped ady from the family move, even her stuffed animals had toe along ¨C took a whole ten trucks. Noe got in the car, simply stating. ¡°No need. Let¡¯s go.¡± Wren was a bit stunned, then somewhat dazed. It was the first time he met the miss, and she spoke just like the young masters at home! Wren quickly nodded. ¡°Alright, do you have any other orders? Your folks told me to thank your foster parents, If you got anything to say, I¡¯ll pass it along.¡± Noe was about to decline when Wren suddenly got drenched head to toe with a bucket of water, chilling him to the bone. Speechless, Wren¡¯s sses were speckled with droplets, and the water had a weird smell to it. ¡°Is this how they wee guests in Tranquility City?¡± Behind Wren, the Lambert family¡¯s nanny pped her hands, setting down her bucket. ¡°Oops, just dumping some veggie water, didn¡¯t see you there. Thought I¡¯d give your car a quick rinse, no biggie, right?¡± Wren was gobsmacked! Not only had she dirtied his clothes, but he also still had the Schnabel family¡¯s thank¨Cyou gift for the Lambert family on him! A contract worth billions, along with a heftywork, all down the drain. N?velDrama.Org content. The Schnabel family racked their brains over what to gift and ended up deciding on resources to lend the Lambert family a hand. That¡¯s what the Schnabel couple stressed for him to deliver personally. Now it was all ruined! The nanny Alena, after dumping the water and seeing he wasn¡¯t mad, gave him a defiant nce and waddled back inside. Vincent hurried out to smooth things over. 13.07 ¡°Sorry about that, our nanny¡¯s just obsessed with cleanliness. Can¡¯t have such a dirty car rolling up to our ce¡­¡± Reading between the lines, Wren¡¯s ride was too filthy for their taste. Wren quickly pulled out the still¨Cdripping documents, trying to hand them to Vincent. ¡°Mr. Lambert, this is our family¡¯s gift to you, for taking good care of the miss all these years¡­ Belinda snickered. The guy in front of her must be Noe¡¯s real dad. Wearing dusty, no¨Cname clothes, probably just came from working the fields. A hick farmer, his face flushed from the hignd air, calling Noe ¡®miss¡® ¨C pure Mary Sue stuff. Belinda searched but found zilch on the car ¨C it had to be some junker the bumpkin borrowed for show. She scoffed, ¡°Alright, take her and scram. We¡¯ve got to take Briony to get her custom fall fashion. We¡¯ll bete!¡± With that, she dragged Vincent back inside, mming the door shut. Wren, looking at the soggy papers in his hand, thought, the gift never made it. Guess he¡¯d ask what to do once back. These people¡­ Wren couldn¡¯t shake the feeling they didn¡¯t seem to care much for the miss. Shaking his head, Wren hurried back to the car and drove Noe away from the Lambert Mansion. ¡°Miss, please buckle up. We¡¯re tight on time, so we gotta hustle.¡± Noe nodded. The Schnabel family wasn¡¯t quite what she expected. Take this car, for instance, the interior was all high¨Cend stuff. The seats were made of some fancy fabric that feels super soft and cool to the touch, yet it¡¯s tough as nails. You could barely make a dent with a knife: this kind of material was definitely not something you¡¯d find in a farmer¡¯s house. In the next second, Wren hits a button in the car. The ordinary ck sedan that was just parked there started to transform. Helicopter des. popped out of the sunroof, and the whole car turned into a chopper! ¡°Vroom¨Cvroom!¡± Suddenly, Noe was hit with that feeling of weightlessness, and Wren, like a pro, steered the helicopter up into the skies until it¡¯s just a speck! Noe¡¯s was left dumbfounded. Wren chuckled and said. ¡°Scared ya, didn¡¯t I? The lord gets carsick, so they rigged up this little ne for him. It¡¯s a bit of a tight squeeze, so don¡¯t hold it against us!¡± Carsick, so they got a ne? ¡°If I remember correctly, the amphibious tech for helicopters and cars was sessfully tested just last month.¡± Wren got all pumped up and said, ¡°Yep, yep, it was just sorted outst month! I was in the air force before I hung up my boots, so now I¡¯m the lord¡¯s chauffeur.¡± Noe gazed out at the clouds, the sky¡¯s a pristine shade of blue, and the Lambert Mansion quickly vanished from her view. She was familiar with the tech, after all; justst month, her research data had been sent off, and they quickly got back with the correct experimental results based on it. She hadn¡¯t expected to see a finished product so fast. And she sure as heck hadn¡¯t expected to see it with her own family, of all people. Noe didn¡¯t say much the whole trip; she just fiddled with her phone for a bit and then Scribbled on a piece of paper. Wren sneaked a peek and realized she was just shuffling around nk sheets, and that pen she was holding seemed to have run out of ink. It didn¡¯t leave a single mark on the paper. Wren frowned up a storm. The Lambert family couldn¡¯t even provide their daughter with a working pen ¨C that¡¯s just sad! It looked like when he got back, he needed to have a serious chat with the olddy and the lord about how the Lambert family was treating Miss Noe! CHapter 4 CHapter 4 Noe remained notably quiet, resembling the depth of still water. Her brows and eyes exuded a picturesque quality, akin to delicately painting hills in soft shades of green, evoking elegance and charm. Wren coughed twice, thinking about the task the lord had given him, and gently said, ¡°Miss, are Mr. and Mrs. Lambert good to you?¡°¨C Noe looked up nonchntly, her gaze steady yet somehow making Wren feel as though there were needles on his back. Despite being only 18, her look was more intimidating than the lord. It was as if she could see right through him. Noe shifted her gaze back down, her eyshes resembling raven feathers, focusing on the design draft in her hands. She said indifferently. ¡°They¡¯re okay. Are we heading to Emerald County?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not heading to Emerald County. Miss ra is just doing her research there. She manages a 2,000¨Cacre chicken farm. You seem interested, maybe next time I can take you there for a visit. The call you gotst time was from a staff member at the research institute. We¡¯re heading back to Imperial City. Your family is waiting for you at home.¡± Imperial City, the political and economic hub of Harmonia Country, where real estate was worth its weight in gold. Getting a house there for a whole family to live in, even a small one, would cost a pretty penny. Just yesterday, Briony wanted to buy a house in Imperial City because of university stuff, but Vincent shot her down saying it wasn¡¯t a smart investment. On top of money, you¡¯d need connections to snag a house in Imperial City that ticked all your boxes! Even in a mountainous area like Emerald County, owning a 2,000¨Cacre chicken farm for research meant you had to be loaded. Vincent¡¯s connections and cash barely qualified him as the richest guy in the smallest district of Tranquility City, all thanks to Noe secretly funneling him resources out of respect for Old Mrs. Lambert. Otherwise, Vincent wouldn¡¯t have been able to afford a vi by now. But his days as the top dog were numbered! At the Lambert Mansion, after seeing Noe off, the family sat amid the chaos of their living room. Briony asked uncertainly. ¡°Mom, if sis has a hard time in the future, will shee back to us for money?¡± Belinda snapped, ¡°Listen up, sweetie, keep your distance from her. People like us, we¡¯re not on the same level as those country bumpkins.¡± Briony was just worried Belinda might soften and take Noe back in. Hearing her say that made Briony feel warm and fuzzy inside. ¡°Did you see that helicopter flying by earlier? It wasn¡¯t Noe, was it?¡± Vincent chuckled and tapped her nose affectionately. ¡°Her family having a decent car is already a stretch. Honey, you have no idea, that was thetestbat chopper, brand spanking new tech, only deputy national leaders get to ride those. No way Noe¡¯s family could pull that off.¡± Deputy national level big shots were way out of Vincent¡¯s league for life. If that were true, he¡¯d be frying fish for Noe with his bare hands. ¡°And their car¡­ Belinda cut in, annoyed, ¡°Must be something her dad borrowed. Just looking at all that dust on him was bad luck. This afternoon, I¡¯ll take you shopping and get you more jewelry and clothes!¡± Briony smiled sweetly, snuggling into Belinda. ¡°I want thetest from Master Azure too!¡± Owning anything designed by Master Azure, even a tiny handkerchief, would let Briony strut around the socialite circle. Belinda readily agreed. Alena walked in with a parcel. ¡°Sir, your delivery.¡± Vincent received tons of mail and parcels every day; he couldn¡¯t keep track of them all. N?velDrama.Org content. He opened it, and the contents made his eyes nearly pop out of his skull! Inside were two paternity test reports. One was between him and Briony, and the other between Belinda and Briony. However, the results were worlds apart! Vincent¡¯s hands trembled as he looked at the sequence of numbers, feeling like he was betrayed. ¡°What the heck is this!¡± Belinda hurried over, nced at the documents, and suddenly remembered what Noe had mentioned about the ¡®gift¡® for them before leaving. That damn girl! Gritting her teeth, Belinda said, ¡°Vincent, it must be Noe¡¯s doing. This report is definitely forged. Do you know how expensive a paternity test is? She only gets 2,000 a month; where would she get the cash? She¡¯s about to live a miserable life and wants to drag Briony down with her! Honey, Briony looks so much like you. You can¡¯t doubt her!¡± Briony, tears streaming down her face, yed the part of the tearful daughter. Vincent looked at her skeptically, indeed seeing his own features in hers. This daughter must be real. He put the report down, wearily saying, ¡°I¡¯m not doubting Briony, I just don¡¯t want to mistake my daughter. It¡¯s definitely Noe¡¯s doing; the kid¡¯s twisted. Good thing we cut her off.¡± Sending away such a malicious girl was the wisest decision they¡¯d made!! Once Vincent left, Belinda breathed a sigh of relief. She instructed Briony. ¡°I¡¯ve enrolled you in a course to learn micro expressions. As long as you act and look like your dad, he¡¯ll think you¡¯re like him and won¡¯t doubt you.¡± Briony didn¡¯t dare defy Belinda and muttered a yes, ¡°Then mom, buy me another designer piece. from Master Azure. I want a matching hair clip!¡± Belinda hugged her, her smile full of tenderness. ¡°Sure, I will get it for you.¡± Briony¡¯s smile was smugly satisfied. Noe probably didn¡¯t even know who Master Azure was. Their lives from now on would be Worlds apart ¨C one a princess, the other an ugly duckling! On the ne, Noe nced at her phone, selectively replying to messages. She had a hand in developing that helicopter too. It could stay connected even 10,000 meters. up in the sky. Her phone wasn¡¯tpletely wiped either. With a few taps and swipes, she had it back in business. She couldn¡¯t care less about keeping anything from the Lambert family.. Kitai¡¯s message instantly came in: [Boss, thetest collection just dropped. I¡¯ll send the reservation details to your phone.] [The design is killer! Just hit the shelves and it¡¯s selling like hotcakes. The cash is already rolling into your ount. There was even a catfight over a scarf at theunch ¨C talk about high society drama!] Noe replied coolly: [Make sure everything¡¯s safe.] Kitai replied: [Don¡¯t worry, boss. We¡¯ll make sure they pay up everyst dime!] They¡¯ve been working with Noe long enough to know her inside out. Kitai asked: (Boss, have you sketched out next quarter¡¯s drafts? Not that I¡¯m rushing you or anything!] But Kitai knew what Noe¡¯s like when she¡¯s in the zone. In just one hour, while he¡¯s still munching on his meal, she¡¯d whip up a whole season¡¯s worth of designs! Every piece she created was nothing short of breathtaking. Kital got to the point where he 13-08 wanted to drop to his knees in awe of those magical hands of hers. Everyone in the industry raved about Master Azure¡¯s designs being out of this world. If they had only known these masterpieces were whipped up during her lunch breaks, their jaws would have hit the floor! Noe looked at that stack of nk papers, no patterns in sight. [I¡¯ll send them over once they¡¯re done. I¡¯ll give you the heads¨Cup once I¡¯ve sorted the form for the reveal agent.] [Roger that!] Kitai knew Noe had always been super careful. Every design draft she made was on her custom paper, using special pens that no ordinary Joe could decipher. To actually see the designs, you needed Noe¡¯s personally concocted reveal agent mixed to the right form. To anyone else who might have stumbled upon these drafts by some fluke, they¡¯d have seen nothing more than nk sheets. Getting your hands on Master Azure¡¯s designs? Might as well try to reach the stars. Wren was over the moon after picking up Noe, grinning ear to ear, happier than if he¡¯d hit the jackpot himself. ¡°Miss, you¡¯re finally home. Now we can seal the deal on that marriage arrangement with the Pock family.¡± CHapter 5 CHapter 5 Noe was taken aback, her brows furrowing slightly. ¡°Marriage? Doesn¡¯t the family have other daughters?¡± ¡°Miss ra sald she¡¯s not a daughter of the Schnabel family, not worthy to take your engagement spot. The lord said the marriage is yours, and no one can snatch it away!¡± Wren was grinning from ear to ear after receiving a call, chatting respectfully with the other party for a bit before hanging up and turning to Noe. ¡°Miss, before the lord wants you to swing by to see him before you go home. You know his health isn¡¯t great, and he¡¯s been missing you for many years.¡± Noe didn¡¯t mind and nodded. ¡°Sure, but the gift I¡¯ve prepared for Grandpa hasn¡¯t arrived yet. Wouldn¡¯t it be improper to show up empty¨Chanded?¡± Wren quickly waved his hands. ¡°The fact that you¡¯re willing to visit is already a big deal. The lord doesn¡¯t care much for those things.¡± Marcel Schnabel had lived for so long, what good things hadn¡¯t he seen? What Wren was really worried about was Noe refusing to go. The fact that she had thought to prepare a gift for the lord was already impressive. Considering the Lambert family¡¯s poor state, living in that tiny vi, Wren didn¡¯t expect Noe to come up with anything too fancy. But with Noe saying so, showing bnce and politeness, yet neither servile nor overbearing, Wren¡¯s impression of her improved a lot. That demeanor, truly fitting for the Schnabel family¡¯s Miss! ¡°The lord is recuperating in a hospital on the outskirts of Imperial City. I¡¯ll take you there now.¡± Half an hourter, the helicopter turned into a regr sedan, smoothly entering Imperial West Hospital. Wren handed Noe a piece of paper with a room number on it. ¡°Miss, the lord doesn¡¯t like too many people around. I¡¯ll go wash the car, so could you please go up on your own? I¡¯ll wait for you here!¡± Marcel had a foul temper, which had grown even more entric since falling ill. Wren looked apologetically at Noe. Taking the paper, Noe nodded faintly. ¡°Okay.¡± Just as she reached the third floor, a bunch of wild kids knocked over a nurse¡¯s cart, sending it barreling towards Noe! ¡°Watch out!¡± The nurses cried out in rm. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh no. that cart has the medicine for bed number three. If it spills, we¡¯re done for¡­¡± Noe was about to dodge when she overheard the nurses¡® conversation. Bed number three? Wasn¡¯t that Marcel¡¯s bed number? The cart was out of control, speeding towards Noe. In the midst of the chaos, with a swift move of her feet and a gentle nudge of her knee, Noe steadied the cart. Not a single drop of medicine was spilled! The nurses were stunned! That was some slick move! ¡°Miss, are you okay?¡± Noe shook her head, just about to return the cart to the nurses, when suddenly, a plumpdy threw herself at her. Thedy reached out to grab Noe¡¯s arm, but Noe dodged with a speed invisible to the naked eye. Thedy lunged at air, and while Noe was distracted, she grabbed onto her clothes, her voice loud enough for the whole floor to hear. ¡°Miss, you gotta hear us out! Imperial West Hospital killed someone. Imperial West Hospital won¡¯t own up after killing my son. What can I possibly do? Miss, you gotta help us get justice!¡± Thedy started bawling, making a scene. ¡°Imperial West Hospital mustpensate for my son! You quacks took his life! You must pay!¡± Every patient¡¯s door had onlookers. The medical staff, used to such sights, hurried over to try to pull Noe away. Thedy shoved the nurse to the ground, wailing, ¡°Oh Lord! Why is my son¡¯s life so hard!¡± The nurse, visibly annoyed, frowned and said, ¡°Excuse me, you signed a surgical consent before the operation. The patient died from postoperative care negligence, not because of us. What does that have to do with our hospital?¡± Thedy¡¯s voice grew even louder, buzzing in Noe¡¯s ears. ¡°No rtion? Are you now saying there¡¯s no rtion? My son breathed hisst in your hospital! You quacks took his life; you mustpensate!¡± Thedy was a natural loudspeaker, her booming voice wearing everyone down. After her rant, she took out a prescription, plopped herself on the floor, and continued her wails. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t anyone believe me? My son came to me in a dream, saying it was all your fault!¡± The nurse was disgusted but couldn¡¯t just kick her out. ¡°Stop your nonsense. Just because your son said that in your dream, you think that¡¯s the evidence? Superstitious rubbish! Security, take her away!¡± Thedy threw herself on the floor, making a scene as if she wouldn¡¯t leave without an exnation from the hospital. A cool voice sounded above thedy¡¯s head. ¡°Is this your son¡¯s prescription? There¡¯s a problem with this medication. Thedy¡¯s crying stopped abruptly! She looked up to see Noe, her expression calm as she looked at the prescription in thedy¡¯s hand. Noe¡¯s cool gaze, like water stirring ripples, met hers. Thedy got all worked up, her voice louder. ¡°I knew someone would see it! Finally, someone¡¯s taking my side! It¡¯s all because of Imperial West Hospital¡¯s Ipetent doctors that my son died!¡± Thisdy came by every couple of weeks, and the whole floor¡¯s medical staff were at their wit¡¯s end dealing with this kind of malicious disturbance. The doctors were giving Noe hostile nces. ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t just say anything you like. What makes you think our hospital¡¯s prescription is off?¡± ¡°How old are you to be talking nonsense? Can you even understand this prescription? Do you know what the patient¡¯s symptoms were?¡± Noe gave her a steady look. ¡°Licorice can inhibit the synthesis and release of prostandins, suppress the activity of 11B¨C hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, leading to elevated blood pressure in patients. This ismon knowledge. The amount of licorice tablets in this prescription is excessive, causing the patient¡¯s blood pressure to spike and resulting in death.¡± Meeting her gaze, the nurse felt overwhelmed. ¡°You¡¯re just a high school student, talking to me aboutmon knowledge? This was prescribed by a team of experts!¡± This brat, thinking she knows medication just from flipping through a few books? If she¡¯s not. taught a lesson, she probably won¡¯t learn respect! An elderly voice broke through. ¡°Enough, what¡¯s all themotion?¡± The doctors and nurses immediately shut up, turning respectfully towards the old man standing at the door of a ward. Dressed in a hospital gown and holding a dragon¨Cheaded cane, he emanated authority without a hint of anger. The nurse¡¯s eyes darted around, calcting. ¡°Marcel, the patient¡¯s family from Room 8 is kicking up a fuss again, and this chick is adamant that there¡¯s something fishy with our meds! The meds for Room 8 were handpicked by Professor Calvin from MediCore University: they¡¯re top¨Cnotch in credibility. I¡¯m betting we¡¯ve got a spy in our midst. I say we have security escort her out!¡± The old man snorted with authority, his toneced withmand. ¡°Letting spies sneak in? Is security cking off or what?¡± The medical staff were quick on the draw, about to grab Noe¡¯s arm and hustle her out. o was out of their grasp before they However, Noe pulled a slick move, a little legwork and could eveny a finger on her clothes. Thedy stepped up, positioning herself in front of Noe. ¡°Try me. I dare you! Lay a finger on this girl, and I¡¯ll give you a show you won¡¯t forget ¨C I¡¯ll drop dead right here!¡± The medical team was heads over heels in trouble now. With thedy causing a scene and this loose¨Ccannon chick stirring up trouble, the whole ce was in an uproar. ¡°Get them outta here, pronto! She¡¯s spouting nonsense here; there¡¯s gotta be something up with them!¡± Noe was left speechless. She just pointed out amon¨Csense mistake with the medication. and these folks were going nuts over it? Noe¡¯s gaze was steady. ¡°So Calvin¡¯s a big shot? Even he can make rookie mistakes.¡± She remembered the name: justst month he was emailing her, trying to get her to join his team. She thought it was a dead¨Cend and gave him the cold shoulder. Calvin went bananas trying to reach her after she dropped some papers on NEJM, the kind of stuff she wrote up when she had a spare moment. Noe managed to infuriate all the doctors around her with herment! Professor Calvin was a big fish in the medical world, a leading authority on cardiovascr diseases, with at Harmonia Country national medal to his name, his word carrying serious weight. Yet now, some young upstart was throwing shade his way! ¡°What are you on about? You think you¡¯re in the same league to challenge Professor Calvin?¡± Noe¡¯s reply was cool as a cucumber, ¡°I could give Calvin a ring, have him own up to his blunder.¡± CHapter 6 CHapter 6 What on earth was this girl yammering about? Did she have any idea who Professor Calvin is? The dude¡¯s a top¨Cnotch doc who checks up on the bigwigs! Did she really think she can just hit him up whenever? The nurse sneered. ¡°If you can get through to Professor Calvin, I¡¯ll bow down and apologize.¡± *Kids these days. I tell ya. My son thinks he¡¯s Ultraman or something.¡± ¡°Enough chit¨Cchat, let¡¯s kick her out already. A little time at the police station will knock some sense into her and show her where she stands.¡± Right in front of everyone, Noe whipped out her phone and dialed a number. A doctor nearby scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s just punching in random digits. At least save a fake ¡®Calvin¡® in your contacts to make it look good.¡± Noe was speechless. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s that important. Why would she bother saving his number? She remembered it because he¡¯d called way too many times. The other end picked up quickly. Noe hit the speakerphone. ¡°This is Noe. There¡¯s something wrong with the meds you prescribed.¡± A confident male voice responded, ¡°So you¡¯ve finally decided to join ourb? Wait, what did you say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at Imperial West Hospital. You prescribed licorice tablets for a patient with hypertensive heart disease.¡± Calvin smacked his forehead. ¡°Right, right, I did prescribe licorice tablets for a patient, but just once. The dosage is correct, strictly controlled.¡± ¡°You prescribed it five times. The patient is dead.¡± Calvin said in disbelief, ¡°Impossible! I have the prescription right here. I only signed off on it once, for the patient in room eight. Their blood pressure couldn¡¯t handle too much licorice!¡± Noe coolly replied. ¡°So, you got it wrong.¡± Calvin, in a frenzy on the other end, ¡°Alright, my bad. If you¡¯re willing to join ourb¡­¡± ¡°Yourb¡¯s going nowhere. Count me out.¡± After saying that, she asked again, ¡°Who is this?¡± There was a pause on the line before he replied with this name. Upon hearing his name, Noe hung up. Calvin, still holding his phone, was dumbfounded. 13:08 Chartere Hold on a sec! How could the prescription for bed eight be wrong? And someone died? He had to get to Imperial West Hospital right away, or else there would be hell to pay. Plus, maybe he¡¯d get to see that girl! Back at the hospital, Noe, having hung up, tilted her chin up slightly and looked at the nurse. ¡°Did you say you¡¯ll bow down and apologize?¡± That was actually Professor Calvin¡¯s voice on the line! And he was all gung¨Cho about inviting the girl in front to hisb! The medical staff were bbergasted. This was a leading figure in medicine, now admitting he screwed up a prescription! If word got out, it would rock the entire medical world. The nurse¡¯s face fell, her voice catching. ¡°Even if Professor Calvin admits it, nobody knows which family¡¯s kid you are. You clearlyck manners!¡± Were people this tough to crack nowadays? Noe stood there, her eyes coolly locking with Marcel¡¯s. He had an imposing presence that made people hesitate to meet his gaze. The air of authority. that comes with long¨Cheld power was all over Marcel; just one look from him could overwhelm any aristocrat. Noe met his gaze and pointed. ¡°His.¡± The nurse was speechless. This girl imed to be from Marcel¡¯s family! What a joke! She was sure that the name the girl had used on the phone didn¡¯t match the Schnabel family. How could she possibly be Marcel¡¯s granddaughter? ¡°Youngdy, you can eat junk food, but you can¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Noe remained serene, her expression as tranquil as an ink wash painting, not a ripple to be seen. She locked eyes with Marcel. At that nce, Marcel felt a sudden daze! From the moment he saw Noe, he knew this girl had to be his granddaughter. Those eyes. were the spitting image of those boys at home. Noe resembled his daughter¨Cinw when she was young, with hints of histe wife in her eyes. However, she appeared even moreposed and graceful, making those rascals look like 13:08 amateurs! Marcel was increasingly pleased with what he saw. The medical staff were still moring to throw Noe out. ¡°Marcel, this girl¡¯s gotta be a spy, out to get you! There¡¯s definitely something off. I¡¯ll call security right now.¡± Marcel raised his hand for silence, and everyone mmed up like chickens. He waved Noe over. ¡°Call me Grandpa.¡± Noe went with the flow, stepping up to stand beside Marcel. ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°Good to have you back.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Marcel¡¯s gaze swept over the group of medical staff, his smile vanishing instantly. ¡°My granddaughter, Noe Schnabel, and you dare to butt in? Who said to take her away? I¡¯d say you¡¯re the spies!¡± The staff never imagined that Noe was actually Marcel¡¯s granddaughter! Did they just criticize the Schnabel family¡¯s upbringing and bully the Schnabel family¡¯s youngdy in front of her own grandfather? Their legs turned to jelly at the thought. ¡°Marcel, we didn¡¯t mean it. We didn¡¯t know she was the young miss of your house¡­¡± Marcel waved them off. ¡°Someone will be in touch regarding these matters.¡± Everyone knew what that meant. Their faces fell, staring at Noe behind Marcel. Thedy on the floor, her face streaked with tears, looked at Noe with gratitude. Noe calmly assured her. ¡°Someone will help you, don¡¯t worry.¡± Thedy nodded vigorously, crying harder, sure now that she had been wronged. Marcel turned and handed Noe the prescription, ¡°Girl, take a look for me. Is there anything in the prescription that shouldn¡¯t be?¡± Noe didn¡¯t miss the tension on the face of one doctor as she took the paper. The nurse who had been arguing with her also subtly stepped back. Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Grandpa, there are plenty who want you dead. You¡¯re not exactly Mr. Popr.¡± Marcel was speechless. After all these years, no one had dared to speak to him like that! If it had been one of those boys. 13:08 at home, he would have pped them already! But not with granddaughters. Marcel held back, retorting. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly Miss Congeniality yourself.¡± Noe couldn¡¯t help but think that her grandpa was not only dealing with heart issues, but his noggin might be on the fritz too. Marcel¡¯s hospital room was a private suite decked out with top¨Cnotch amenities, medications double¨Cchecked at every turn, all under the watchful eye of a first¨Css medical team. This squad also took care of a bunch of VIPs over at Harmonia Country. If there was a slip¨Cup with Marcel¡¯s crew, it would mean tightening the screws everywhere else. Marcel threw out a question on purpose. ¡°Kiddo, what do you reckon we should do about it?¡± Noe lifted her chin a tad, cool as a cucumber. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say they¡¯re all spies? p the cuffs on ¡®em.¡± The crowd was so scared they were shaking in their boots. Marcel nodded, his gaze slightly icy. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do it your way.¡± Several medical staff members were taken away for questioning, and thedy who had caused a scene earlier, sensing a glimmer of hope, obediently followed the police officers out. Noe¡¯s phone lit up with a scrambled number shing. ¡°Grandpa, gotta take a call¡± Marcel, understanding that young folks always had their secrets, didn¡¯t press the matter. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Noe nodded and stepped into the hospital corridor to answer the call. Noe had tricked out her phone herself, ensuring there were no worries about eavesdroppers. The call from the tiny ind in the Pacific came through crystal clear. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a new gig on the deep web. They¡¯re asking for you by name and offering a cool. billion.¡± At that price, it was no wonder her underlings were buzzing with excitement. Noe¡¯s voice remained even as she inquired, her eyes downcast, ¡°Who¡¯s the mark?¡± ¡°A top dog in Harmonia Country, Marcel Schnabel. Currently at Imperial West Hospital.¡± Chister CHapter 7 CHapter 7 Noe was speechless. ¡°Who ced the order?¡± ¡°No clue, the ount¡¯s encrypted.¡± Noe stretched her hand to massage her temple. ¡°Reject it. Find out who they are, their ID, and their background.¡± ¡°Got it, but it looks like they¡¯ve posted a bunch of simr gigs. Aside from the one specifically for you, there are several other scattered jobs that have been snapped up!¡± Jobs posted on the deep web were up for grabs, except for those with a set price for her and a few other top¨Cnotch hitmen. To take out Marcel, they actually lined up over a dozen hitmen! Noe asked for the details of the person who took the job and hung up the phone. ¡°This the ce? Got a tip from an informant that Marcel¡¯s holed up here, third floor, room three in building three.¡± ¡°Yep, that¡¯s right. Snipers, in position. The rest of you, follow me into the hospital¡± Across from Imperial West Hospital, three snipers took aim from different angles at Marcel who was pacing around inside the ward! Six hitmen disguised themselves and waltzed right into the hospital, scattering toward various buildings. Noe stood on the rooftop, her silenced sniper rifle aimed at the three snipers through the window. She was calcting the trajectory. The snipers were a thousand feet away, well within her shooting range! The trigger was pulled, and three bullets flew out simultaneously, hitting their marks without fail, right between the snipers¡® eyes! They hit the ground before they could even signal for help. Noe, as if knowing the oue in advance, packed up her rifle and put on her hat as she descended. On the third floor, a group of people made a grand entrance in the corridor! The leader was particrly eye¨Ccatching, dressed in a ck shirt with the sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing muscr forearms, sharp eyes, and a chiseled face that looked like a masterpiece from God. And yet, there was this subtle smile on his face, seemingly approachable and easy¨Cgoing but. with an underlying cold aloofness that kept people at bay. With a towering height of nearly six feet three inches and an air of frostiness, only one person could exude such an aura! The helmsman of Imperial City¡¯s top tycoon family, the Pock family, Palmer Pock! The Pock family¡¯s business spanned the globe, with Palmer¡¯s name consistently topping. Forbes¡® lists, and that was just the tip of the iceberg; the true extent of the Pock family¡¯s power was beyond anyone¡¯s guess. In Harmonia Country, with their fingers in political and business pies, real estate, healthcare, finance, education¨Cyou name it, the Pock family had a stake in it. Every household in Harmonia Country had something from the Pock family¡¯s empire! When Palmer showed up, the entire floor fell silent. His gaze swept over, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°Have the medical staff been switched out?¡± The head nurse, caught off guard by the sharp perception of the Pock family helmsman, quickly exined, ¡°Yes, there was an issue with Marcel¡¯s medication.¡± A flicker of imperceptible coldness crossed Palmer¡¯s eyes before he looked away. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A subtle sound of a bullet slicing through the air suddenly reached Palmer¡¯s ears! He couldn¡¯t mistake that sound. Having been rigorously trained since childhood, he knew every bullet sound by heart, and this sound was one he had heard before! ¡°Ensure the old man is safe.¡± He gave the order and turned to walk down the corridor behind him. Noe¡¯s hand was on a hitman¡¯s neck, her knife skillfully severing his carotid. Her expression was calm, her moves swift, urate, and ruthless, each strike efficiently downing a hitman. ¡°This technique, you¡¯re Wise Fool? I thought Wise Fool wasn¡¯t taking orders! What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Run, it¡¯s a trap, Wise Fool is here!¡± Noe ignored them, her bullets flying from the gun barrel, hitting the hitmen right between the eyes! Several hitmen, blinded by rage and seeing her, knew they had no way out and drew their guns, ready for ast stand. ¡°Your opponent is me.¡± A soft male voice echoed from the depths of the stairwell! 13.09 A man in a ck shirt walked up the stairs, his ck shoes tapping the ground, each step like a demon crawling up from hell. With aposed smile on his lips, he moved at a speed Invisible to the naked eye, and before the hitmen even realized what was happening, they were breathless! Noe¡¯s gazended on him. Never seen him before. But with those moves and the aura of death all over him, if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, there was only one person in the world like that. The leader of the number one hitman organization on the deep web¡¯s rankings. Abyssal Organization, whose code name was Vocalist! Noe frowned slightly, meeting Palmer¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. Palmer effortlessly took down a hitman beside him, his wrist bones cracking, and said with a smile, ¡°Heard your price went up again?¡± Noe was speechless. ¡°Really, dude?¡± She thought. Her price on the hit list was already worth 200 million dors. Those after her could line up from the Lambert Mansion all the way to the Pacific. Clearly, Palmer had figured out who she was. Noe¡¯s knife swiftly entered another hitman¡¯s neck as she said coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short: your head¡¯s pretty valuable, too.¡± Palmer was at a loss for words. Who would¡¯ve thought the infamous Wise Fool from the deep web¡¯s hit list would have such a sharp tongue? N?velDrama.Org content. Noe dusted off her hands, taking down a few more hitmen nearby, and looked up at Palmer. ¡°Are you here to kill Marcel, too?¡± Palmer shrugged his shoulders, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to meticulously wipe the blood from his hands. ¡°Does it matter if I am or not?¡± He had also seen the message posted on the deep web, which specifically mentioned Wise Fool taking the order. He didn¡¯t expect Wise Fool to be a girl and such a young¨Clooking one at that. But Palmer knew that age, gender, and appearance were the least important things. In fact, they are the best disguise. Noe¡¯s gaze turned icy. If Vocalist was also here to kill Marcel, she wasn¡¯t confident she could 13:09 make it out unscathed. ¡°Back out of this job,¡± she said. Palmer was totally chill, leaning against the staircase with his bespoke shirt sporting some snazzy cufflink, oozing this indescribable ease and gentleness with every move he made. Even Noe, just by looking at the guy, couldn¡¯t peg him as the ruthless, vicious killer known as Vocalist. ¡°Sure thing, but you gotta join the Abyssal Organization.¡± Noe cursed inwardly. ¡°Are you freaking kidding me?¡± Everyone on the deep web knew that her Obelisk Organization and Palmer¡¯s Abyssal Organization were at each other¡¯s throats, constantly snatching jobs from one another. And now he¡¯s asking her to join his gang? ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for the good news.¡± Noe had this mixed look on her face, took onest nce at Palmer who was cool as a cucumber, and left the corridor. Behind her, Palmer lit up a cigarette, shrouding his sinister and chilling expression in the smoke like a soul reaper straight out of hell. Marcel took a couple of calls, and his face, which had softened a bit at the sight of his granddaughter, suddenly turned grim. He grabbed his cane and entered the next room. Inside, an old man dolled up in hospital garb and ying chess with himself looked up, ¡°What brings you here? Weren¡¯t you supposed to meet my granddaughter¨Cinw today? Where is she?¡± Marcel was so close to whacking him with his cane. ¡°I sent her home.¡± Sexton Pock pped his thigh. ¡°What? You just let her go? I didn¡¯t even get to see her!¡± Marcel huffed and sat down on the sofa, his grandfatherly warmth gone, reced by an aura of authority as solid as a rock. ¡°In this hospital, there¡¯s no shortage of people wanting me dead.¡± Sexton snorted. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me? Drop dead for all I care. Don¡¯t expect me to shell out cash for your funeral! Where¡¯s my granddaughter¨Cinw?¡± He turned to his grandson Palmer, who just walked in. ¡°You¡¯ve got the nerve to show up? I¡¯m telling you, if you don¡¯t marry her this year, I¡¯ll beat the 13:09 living daylights out of you!¡± Palmer rubbed his forehead with a smile, ¡°Grandpa, you couldn¡¯t take me.¡± Sexton chucked a chess piece at him, which Palmer caught with one hand, Marcel acted as if he saw nothing and cheerfully said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard some noise. They¡¯re here to kill me, aren¡¯t they?¡± Palmer nodded. ¡°Yeah, all anonymous hitmen from the deep web. I suspect there¡¯s also the top¨Ctier assassin Wise Fool out for you. If you need, Grandpa Marcel, I¡¯ll help you investigate.¡± Marcel waved him off and moved a chess piece. ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got it all figured out. Let¡¯s y chess. No more talk of such dreary things.¡± Palmer kept quiet, still the picture of a noble gentleman,posed and serene. Sexton threw another chess piece. ¡°Get lost. You¡¯re a pain to see! Go ask my granddaughter¨Cin¨C law out for dinner and a movie, or you¡¯ll regret it when I¡¯m gone!¡± CHapter 8 CHapter 8 Palmer put the chess piece back on the board and walked out of the hospital room, No sooner had he stepped out than he bumped into a frantic Calvin. ¡°Mr. Calvin, doing rounds?¡± Calvin, seeing Palmer, wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°Mr. Pock, I got a call that someone¡¯s been tampering with the meds I prescribed for the old¨Ctimers. A patient kicked the bucket because of changes made to their prescription, causing post¨Copplications. Just here to check things out.¡± He looked around but couldn¡¯t spot the person he was searching for. Palmer, catching on, raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Got a meeting, Mr. Calvin?¡± Calvin, irritated, said, ¡°Darn it, I told you before that I¡¯d spotted a medical prodigy I wanted to snag for myb. Looks like I¡¯m a step behind; she¡¯s already vamoosed.¡± ¡°For someone to be called a ¡®prodigy¡± by you must be quite something.¡± Realizing his search was futile, Calvin sighed. ¡°If you¡¯d ever taken up medicine, you¡¯d be at prodigy too. Too bad, all you think about is making bank.¡± Palmer just smiled, saying nothing. Exiting the hospital, the driver, Wren, had the car spick¨Cand¨Cspan, respectfully waiting for Noe. ¡°Miss, did you see Mr. Marcel?¡± Noe nodded, boarding the car. Now that the car was clean, she could confirm it was a special model provided to the government and military. Bulletproof, ording to the reports she had seen when involved in research, and judging by the way those folks treated Marcel, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess her granddad¡¯s clout. Her family had nothing to do with the ¡®broke¡® Vincent rambled about. Maybe they kept a low profile because of their unique status? And those who wanted Marcel gone? She wasn¡¯t going to let them off easy. All smiles, Wren said, ¡°Mr. Marcel has been yakking about you for ages. Just now, Mr. Tristan Schnabel and his wife called; they¡¯re waiting at home for you!¡± Noe nodded again. She had figured out her new home wasn¡¯t the poor house Vincent had described. Even with her mental prep, Noe was still taken aback when Wren drove straight into Imperial City¡¯s priciest neighborhood, the Golden Age Community. She was rendered speechless. Get this the smallest t in the Golden Age Community could buy five Lambert Mansions! Not to mention, Wren stopped in the vi section of themunity! The vi was the belle of the ball, with all the other houses circled around it. ¡°We¡¯re home, Miss.¡± Noe gazed at the sprawling vi and the 3000¨Csquare¨Cfoot garden with a twinge of surprise. A 3000¨Csquare¨Cfoot garden might be peanuts elsewhere, but this was Imperial City! At the vi¡¯s entrance, Tristan Schnabel and Sienna Horwich, the couple, were already waiting. As Noe stepped out, ribbons in the couple¡¯s hands took flight. Behind them was a whole troop of servants with bouquets, ribbons fluttered down on Noe like a grand celebration. Everyone shouted in unison, ¡°Wee home, Miss!¡± Noe was confused. What in the world was this spectacle? Seeing the Schnabels not giving Noe the cold shoulder for being away for years, Wren was relieved and drove off to report back to Marcel. Noe was covered in streamers. Tristan and Sienna rushed over, each grabbing one of Noe¡¯s hands. Sienna went in for the hug. ¡°Darling! So d you¡¯re back! Mom¡¯s been missing you so much. I could only manage three meals, afternoon tea, and ate¨Cnight snack!¡± Noe was speechless. That¡¯s a full house, isn¡¯t it? But the embrace felt warm. Couldn¡¯t recall Belinda ever hugging her like this, though she often saw herforting Briony that way. And she had thought that was all there was to a mother¡¯s love. Turns out, a mother¡¯s embrace could be as tender and warm as spring. After Sienna had her cry, she took a good look at Noe. Noe had some of her features, her skin soft and fair like a peeled egg, standing there so prettily. Seeing her daughter looking so good, Sienna felt the tearsing back. Holding her daughter, she realized how skinny she was! She was almost 5¡¯7¡± and skinny as a rail in her arms. She wondered how the Lambert family had been raising her girl to be this way. Wren had mentioned on the phone that the Lamberts were dirt poor, all crammed into a tiny house without even a separate room for a maid. ¡°You¡¯ve had it tough, baby. It¡¯s all good now. Mom¡¯s here to protect you!¡± Tristan, not to be outdone, kept nodding. ¡°Yeah, yeah, we might not be filthy rich, but we can make sure you¡¯re well¨Cfed and clothed!¡± Noe nced at the row of luxury cars parked on thewn behind Tristan, thinking, ¡°Not filthy rich?¡± Following her gaze. Tristan pped his forehead. ¡°Oh, you must love the garden, right? Ours is a bit on the small side, but no worries- I¡¯ll get you a castle and estate in Franse to enjoy during your holidays!¡± Sienna, leading Noe toward the vi, cautiously asked, ¡°Honey, do you prefer Frensh or Italonian estates? Royal ones are okay too; just a bit of a hassle to kick them out first.¡± Noe was speechless. Just like that, they were talking about booting out royalty like it was no big deal? ¡°No need. Anywhere¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not keen on going abroad right now.¡± Both parents eagerly agreed, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll get you something here. Mom¡¯s got a 2,000¨Cacre garden in Shangri¨CRa- it¡¯s all yours now.¡± Inside the vi, it was all glitz and m. The floor tiles cost hundreds of thousands, the trash bins were gifts exclusive to customers who spent 200 million dors on a certain brand, the chandelier was worth 60 million, and everywhere one looked, there were pricey antiques and masterpieces¡­ Sienna¡¯s w N?velDrama.Org content. wrist was rocking a jade ne that was straight¨Cup emperor¨Clevel bling. It fetched a whopping 600 million at an international auction justst month. This jade set, personally carved by the Gemstone Gambling King himself, was born from a nondescript rock that turned out to be wless top¨Cnotch jade¨Cthe ne, earrings, bracelet, and bangle ¨C each piece a stunner. At the auction, it was a total frenzy, with wealthy tycoons wing over each other to snag it. The final price? An incredible 678 million. Who would¡¯ve thought it would end up in the Schnabel family¡¯s treasure chest? Sienna caught Noe eyeing the jade. ¡°Babe, you like this ne? It¡¯s all yours!¡± As Sienna moved to drape it around her, Noe quickly stopped her. ¡°No, I¡¯m more into 13:09 Amethyst Gems.¡± Her young age just didn¡¯t live with this royal¨Cgrade jade. Sienna, with her graceful beauty and dignified poise, was the perfect match for it. But what really blew Noe¡¯s mind was thinking about that 600 million sale with a sweet 80% probably tining Sienna¡¯s own pockets. Talk about speechless. Meanwhile, the nanny was over there, rolling her eyes. This jade set was Miss Yvonne¡¯s crush. She begged Sienna for it a bunch of times but got shot down. This country bumpkin clearly had no clue what¡¯s precious. Amethyst Gems? Pfft, might as well be cheap ss beads. Sienna¡¯s all in. ¡°Totally; Amethyst Gem¡¯s got that vibe, y¡¯know? I¡¯ve got a decent set of them in my room. I¡¯ll hook you up tonight!¡± Noe¡¯s feeling all sorts of emotions. ¡°Violet Cloud Fairy?¡± Sienna was beaming. ¡°Yeah, you know about the Violet Cloud Fairy? It¡¯s gorgeous! And now it¡¯s yours!¡± Noe had no words. Suddenly, she was dying to know just how much of the Gemstone Gambling King¡¯s loot ended up in the Schnabel family¡¯s deep pockets. Tristan ushers Noe into the living room. ¡°Your room¡¯s all set. If it¡¯s not to your liking, we can switch it up for you. We thought about giving you our room, but then we realized the furniture¡¯s all old school!¡± Sienna hands over a pile of food. ¡°Sweetie, eat up. You¡¯re looking way too skinny. Didn¡¯t the Lamberts feed you right or what?¡± Even though the Lambert couple was rather indifferent, they never skimped on the meals. Noe stares at a bowl of soup in her hands. It looked like the average cabbage soup, but it was actually a fancy¨Cschmancy dish straight from state banquets, with the broth alone costing a five¨C figure sum. More importantly, one could not just throw money at getting a state banquet chef to whip it up. CHapter 9 CHapter 9 ¡°Do you not like it? How about trying something else?¡± With a nonchnt air, Noe said, ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of seasonings: I can¡¯t stand onions, ginger, or garlic.¡± It was just a minor issue, and she didn¡¯t sweat it. After all, in the Lambert family, Belinda never cared about what she liked to eat. Instead, she would force Noe to eat stuff she hated just to flex her control freak muscles. The soup bowl in her hand was swiftly taken by Sienna, who then turned to the nanny and instructed. ¡°From now on, absolutely no onions, ginger, or garlic in any of our dishes!¡± The nanny was speechless. Yvonne¡¯s favorite dishes contained onions and gingers! However, she didn¡¯t dare speak up, just shot a re at Noe, who had been throwing her weight around since she came home, almost grinding her teeth. Noe blinked, surprised by Sienna¡¯smand. ¡°It¡¯s fine, really.¡± Sienna was unfazed and, taking Noe¡¯s hand, advised, ¡°Noe, when you¡¯ve got a sec, jot down what you like and dislike. What you like to eat, me and your dad will like, and what you don¡¯t is a no¨Cshow in our house!¡± Tristan nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, look how skinny you are; the Lamberts definitely didn¡¯t feed you any good grub.¡± To the Schnabel parents, the Lambert family had practically be Noe¡¯s tormentors. Her clothes were nothing to write home about, no brand names and her suitcase was tiny, with no other luggage in sight! Talk about pinching pennies! Sienna hesitated before spilling the beans, ¡°Sweetie, you¡¯ve got four brothers and one sister at home. We figured out a few years back that you and ra were switched at birth. It took us years to find you. Your dad and I, it wasn¡¯t on purpose, we¡­¡± Noe nodded. Nobody intentionally swaps kids. ¡°As for ra, she¡¯s innocent. We¡¯ve raised her for years, and she¡¯s not looking topete with you. So, until she finds her own family, we hope she can stay with us. Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s usually out at Emerald County doing research.¡± ¡°The one who called me, that was her?¡± She remembered Vincent mentioning a rooster crowing on the phone. ¡°Yup, ra found you and called you. These past two years, we¡¯ve been digging into what 13:09 happened and realized ra¡¯s actually a few days older than you. Your dad and I are still trying to find ra¡¯s real family.¡± Finding rtives was all about fate. The Schnabet parents simply hoped ra Schnabel could remain part of the family. Noe didn¡¯t object; whoever the Schnabel folks wanted to take care of was their prerogative. ¡°I got it.¡± The Schnabel parents breathed a sigh of relief. They knew their daughter wasn¡¯t the type to kick ra out of the Schnabel household. ra had been with them for years, and even when they stumbled upon the truth years ago, they couldn¡¯t bear to send her away! Sienna said excitedly. ¡°You¡¯ll surely like ra when you meet her!¡± Noe¡¯s expression remained neutral, silent. The nanny muttered under her breath, ¡°And there¡¯s also Ms. Yvonne¡­¡± The mention of Yvonne Schnabel noticeably dampened the parents¡® enthusiasm and anticipation. Sienna took a sip of her soup and said indifferently. ¡°As for Yvonne, she¡¯s an orphan adopted by your grandma, not really a Schnabel daughter, so don¡¯t worry about her.¡± The nanny looked a bit miffed but kept her gaze on Noe. She had finally managed to get ra to stay away for research, leaving Yvonne as the only daughter at home. Mr. Schnabel and his wife were bound to grow fond of Ms. Yvonne! But now, with a new miss in town, everything that was Yvonne¡¯s was at risk of being snatched away! Noe noticed the nanny¡¯s resentful look but didn¡¯t give two hoots. ¡°Why adopt?¡± Talking about Yvonne, the Schnabel couple¡¯s attitude was lukewarm at best. ¡°Your grandma was sick back in the day, dreamed about a celestial maiden descending to keep her company. After she got out of the hospital, she adopted Yvonne, who¡¯s been keeping grandma company ever since. Your brothers are all busy; we¡¯ll Introduce you to themter.¡± Noe acknowledged with a nod, slightly bowing her head. Tristan pped his hands. ¡°Noe, wanna check out your room?¡± Meeting the hopeful gaze of the Schnabel parents, Noe nodded. They went upstairs. ¡°Noe, I heard you¡¯ve got college entrance exams next month. Got any schools in mind? No 13.09 worries if academics aren¡¯t your thing. We can study abroad! Which university do you fancy?¡± Noe hadn¡¯t really thought about it. She had received eptance letters from Aqua Vine College and Northlight Universityst month and was still weighing her options. The Lambert couple was clueless about these developments. Ever since Belinda stopped Noe from studying properly to provoke Briony, she kept her grades to herself, away from the Lambert couple. ¡°Haven¡¯t figured it out yet.¡± ¡°No rush, take your time. Your brothers all studied abroad, and ra graduated from Northlight¡¯s gifted youth program and is now pursuing her Ph.D. at the Harmonia Country Science Research Institute. We¡¯ll have ra give you some pointerster on. Noe could tell ra was a genius in the science area. No wonder the Schnabel parents were so keen on keeping her around. N?velDrama.Org content. Tristan patted his chest, ¡°You can ask me too! I¡¯m a Aqua Vine College grad!¡± Sienna called him out, ¡°You only got into Aqua Vine College because your old man donated a couple of buildings to the school.¡± Tristan was at a loss for words. He chuckled awkwardly and pushed open the door to the second¨C floor hallway. The whole floor was decked out in minimalist style, but every nook and cranny screamed understated opulence. A thirty¨Cmillion antique shelf, loaded with priceless antiques, a walk¨Cin wardrobe bigger than the Lambert family¡¯s master bedroom, a bathroom floor one could see one¡¯s reflection in, plus a study, a dance studio, and a game room¡­ Tristan swept his arm grandly. ¡°This whole floor is yours, Noe. Do you like it?¡± The entire second floor, at least three 3000 square feet, all for her? Sienna chimed in, ¡°Yeah, check out the style. If it¡¯s not your cup of tea, we¡¯ll knock it down right away. The third floor¡¯s yours too. If you¡¯re not into it, we¡¯ll switch it up!¡± Noe did not know what to say. ¡°No need. The second floor is fine.¡± Tristan and Sienna were worried sick that Noe wouldn¡¯t be into it. Seeing her nod, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Sienna flung open the walk¨Cin wardrobe¡¯s door. ¡°I¡¯ve got some loungewear ready for you. See if you like it.¡± Half the wardrobe was stuffed with high¨Cend designer loungewear, but the most eye¨Ccatching were a few pieces with the distinctive willow leaf logo. ¡°This is Master Azure¡¯stest collection. You like?¡± Noe felt a mix of emotions. ¡°I like it.¡± Sienna and Tristan almost burst into tears of joy! Their daughter said she liked it! ¡°Sweetie, you rest up. I¡¯m gonna call your brothers toe home, and we¡¯ll all have dinner together tonight!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sienna and Tristan skipped downstairs, over the moon. Noe thought for a moment and sent a text. Noe: [Find out why Vocalist showed up in Imperial City and when he took Marcel¡¯s order.] [Gotcha!] Five minutester. [Boss, Vocalist took a gig for a tycoon in Imperial City, but he didn¡¯t take any job about Marcel] Damn that Vocalist! Noe: [Dig into the mix¨Cup with the Schnabel family¡¯s daughter back in the day.] [On it!] Noe had always suspected there was more to that story! CHapter 10 CHapter 10 [Boss, are you doubting that there was something fishy about you being switched at birth?] Noe nodded and replied: [The Schnabel family is no ordinary wealthy family. A mix¨Cup like swapping kids that goes unnoticed for over a decade just doesn¡¯t happen in families like that, especially when it involves several children.] [Gotcha, I¡¯ll dig into it right away.] Five minutester, thanks to the intelwork Noe had set up herself, there was fresh news. The mix¨Cup with Noe, Briony, and ra happened because the hospital where their moms. gave birth had a major medical mishap that year. N?velDrama.Org content. The delivery room was moved next door to the orphanage, where there were too many people to keep track of, and the security wasn¡¯t exactly tight, leading to the baby switcheroo. Noe: [Give me the location of that orphanage; I¡¯ll check it out personallyter.] [Boss, the orphanage and the hospital are at the same ce, but the hospital has been shut down for years and is now abandoned, while the orphanage is still up and running. Still standing after all these years and in Imperial City, too? That¡¯s no small feat. Be careful, Boss.] Noe had a hunch that something was off about that orphanage! She checked the address of the orphanage and put away her phone. Tristan¡¯s voice came from the doorway. ¡°Darling,e down for dinner. Not sure what your taste is, so see if it suits your pte.¡± Tristan looked at Noe with eyes full of fatherly love, anxious that she might not like the dishes. Walking beside him, Noe asked, ¡°With our family¡¯s connections, didn¡¯t you guys want to dig into my past after finding me?¡± Tristan chuckled. ¡°It was your sister ra who said investigating beforehand might bias us, and if your past was rough, it¡¯d be harder for us to make it up to you. So she suggested we get to know you slowly after you came home.¡± Noe nodded in understanding. The grand dining hall was bright, luxurious crystal chandeliers scattered light across the marble walls like a gathering of stars, a fireworks disy of light forming the words ¡°Wee home, darling.¡± The dining table, worth thirty million, was made of fragrant ebony and filled the air with its natural aroma, making the food on the table look even more exquisite. Standing in front of the table were four men, all looking at Noe with eager and cautious eyes. Then they saw a girl who resembled their mother standing on the stairs, dressed in a light purple dress with a luminous Amethyst bracelet on her wrist. Her demeanor was elegant and otherworldly, calm and poised, as if she stepped out of a painting with a touch of ice lotus¨Clike pride and purity. This was their sister! Tristan introduced. ¡°Noe. these are your brothers. Come on, Beckett, say hello.¡± The man at the front had a refined and easy¨Cgoing appearance, a true gentleman, dressed in a custom¨Cmade Italon suit, sporting a pair of precious ruby cufflinks that had fetched sixty. million at last year¡¯s auction. Noe remembered Beckett Schnabel the boss of Rising Glory Industry, bought those cufflinks. Not only was Beckett the youngest at the top of the new rich list, but he was also a well¨Cknown oil tycoon on the deep web! Beckett handed Noe a ck card. His gentleness was unbelievable; the smile was a product of careful practice on the way home. perfectly elegant. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m your big bro, Beckett. This is a wee gift from me. Buy whatever you like, there¡¯s no limit.¡± Noe took it and nodded politely. ¡°Thank you, Beckett.¡± The smile on Beckett¡¯s face was more touching than striking gold ten times over. The second man to step forward was fair, with impable features and hands that looked like fine jade, tempting to be cherished as works of art. ¡°Little sister, I¡¯m your second eldest brother, Ulrich. Here¡¯s my wee gift for you.¡± He handed Noe a box made of pearwood, pleasing to the touch and polished to perfection at every corner. There were wood shavings on Ulrich¡¯s hands; it was clearly his handiwork. Inside the box was a hairpin and a card. Ulrich smiled. ¡°The card lets you ess any medical facility worldwide freely. Whatever the situation, if you need it, you¡¯ll get the best care possible. Of course, I hope you¡¯ll never need it. I¡¯m not as wealthy as our oldest brother, but I made this hairpin myself, and I hope you like it.¡± Ulrich Schnabel was a name Noe had seen in medical journals. The youngest medical genius in the world, the only one capable of performing surgeries with a hundred percent survival rate, an international sensation who many organizations tried to poach with high bids, all in vain. Noe picked up the hairpin, finely carved with orchids, made from top¨Cgrade wood that cost a hundred grand a piece. ¡°Thank you, Ulrich, I like it.¡± Seeing Noe actually wearing the hairpin he made, Ulrich¡¯s smile bloomed like spring flowers, more satisfying than snatching a hundred lives from the jaws of death. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m your third brother, Stirling. You¡¯ve probably seen me before, right? This is the wee gift from me!¡± Stirling Schnabel was the most handsome of the brothers, with piercing eyes and a sculpted nose; even his hair spelled elegance. The youngest grand m actor in Harmonia Country, he swept all the acting awards since his debut, and his songs were known in every nook and cranny of Harmonia Country, a superstar red¨Chot on the charts. Noe epted the luxurious yacht keys from Stirling, expressing her gratitude. ¡°Thank you. Stirling, I like it.¡± Stirling¡¯s eyes sparkled! He had been worried all the way that his sister wouldn¡¯t like his gift, but her saying she liked it was just perfect! Thest man couldn¡¯t wait and strode forward, scooping Noe up in a whirl. Tristan eximed in rm, ¡°Jasper, put your sister down! If you drop her, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Sienna screamed and rushed forward, wishing she could kick Jasper a few times for fear he would be too rough and hurt their precious gem. Jasper Schnabel was dressed in a floral shirt, the top button undone, revealing a sexy Adam¡¯s apple. The Schnabel family folks were all pretty much the cream of the crop when it came to looks. and Jasper, with his slightly roguish charm, was no exception. Thanks to his handsome mug. you just can¡¯t find it in you to dislike the guy. Jasper, the world¨Crenowned hotshotwyer, had strutted his stuff in international courts and never met a case he couldn¡¯t knock out of the park. His cut from a single case could hit the eight¨Cfigure mark ¨C talk about every word being worth its weight in gold. ¡°Noe, this is a little wee gift from me ¨C what¡¯s a youngdy like you doing with a yacht?¡± He ps his hands, and a parade of servants stream in, wheeling in a massive clothes rack. It was organized by color and type into six sections, decked out with this season¡¯s haute couture from top¨Ctier designers. Matching shoes, bags, and nes were all there, too, saving Noe the hassle of mixing and matching. Next to the rack, six professionally dressed individuals bowed to Noe. ¡°Miss, we¡¯re here to tailor these to your taste. We¡¯ll tweak the sizes right away to suit your style.¡± Noe was pretty blown away by the spread. She was starting to think she might have underestimated just how loaded the Schnabel family was. Jasper waved. ¡°Take it to her room. Let her try them on after she¡¯s had some rest.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Noe looked at Jasper with genuine gratitude. ¡°Thanks, Jasper. This is the first time I¡¯ve ever gotten so many clothes. I really love them.¡± If Jasper had a tail it would be wagging through the rool. Sienna was wiping away tears. That bit of shopping from earlier was just a chump change to her, and she was feeling pretty second¨Crate about Jasper¡¯s gift. But here was her daughter, saying she had never even had that much before! Just how dirt¨Cpoor were the Lamberts to let their precious girl live like a beggar? It broke her heart! A cutesy voice floats in from the doorway. ¡°Dad, Mom, brothers, I¡¯m home.¡± The mood flips from cloud nine to lukewarm in an instant. Jasper pulled Noe to her seat, and Tristan responded with a nonchnt ¡°Oh, when are your leaving?¡± Noe was speechless. At the door stood a girl in a fluffy pink dress, her hair in elegant curls, topped with a dainty little crown. She had the looks down pat, but those thin lips and petite nose gave her a bit of a Sourpuss vibe. Yvonne was feeling super wronged but didn¡¯t dare make a peep. ¡°I heard big sis wasing home today, so I wanted to pop by and see her. After all, she¡¯s from the country and might not get our family¡¯s ways.¡± Her eyes locked onto Noe, putting extra emphasis on ¡°our family.¡± Jasper snorted dismissively, speaking faster than he could think. ¡°She¡¯s my real sister, our parents¡® real daughter, the one and only princess of the Schnabel family. Whatever che says goes for the Schnabel family rules, and even if it didn¡¯t, we¡¯d change them on the spot. She might not get it, but do you?¡± CHapter 11 CHapter 11 ¡°The Schnabel family is steeped in culture and high society. Where did this wild and unruly girl come from, daring to butt in even on my own sister? Just looking at her brings bad vibes.¡± Stirling, with a flourish, served Noe a bowl of soup using the fancy gold¨Cted serving spoon. rolling his beautiful eyes in the process. ¡°Seriously, who knows who¡¯s fresh off the turnip truck, being spoon¨Cfed by Mother Nature herself. With your bumpkin vibes, you could go back to the countryside and get straight onto farming.¡± Yvonne was at a loss for words. Her hands, d ince¨Ctrimmed white gloves, tightened around the hem of her dress, her facial expression contorting. ¡°Stirling. Jasper, I¡¯m just looking out for Noe. Why are you being like this? I¡¯m part of the Schnabel family, too. I just want us to be a harmonious and beautiful family. Grandma was worried about Noe not knowing the ropes and sent me here on purpose.¡± When Ashlyn was mentioned, everyone held their tongues. Yvonne was an outsider, but Ashlyn was, after all, their elder. The Schnabel family was all about strict upbringing; elders were to be respected. Tristan waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Noe¡¯s got her head on straight; she¡¯s awesome. The whole family adores her. Just head back, will you? Don¡¯t disrupt our family dinner.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief. She had deliberately stood at the entrance for half an hour. timing her entrance with dinner, just to show off her impable table mannerspared to country¨Cbumpkin Noe. That way, the Schnabels would see that she was the perfect fit for the family. Why do they still side with Noe, knowing full well she was rough around the edges? Was this all about blood? So what if she didn¡¯t have it? Yvonne, her face burning with shame, stormed out. Ulrich, with his golden hands, peeled a te of crab meat for Noe and passed it over with a beaming smile. ¡°Give it a try.¡± The crab meat was sulent, the roe rich and vorful. ¡°Delicious,¡± said Noe. Tristan smiled. ¡°Honey, just tell us whatever you like. As Jasper said, from now on, you will set the rules in this house. Mom and Dad will listen to you.¡± Sienna said lovingly, ¡°Don¡¯t take Yvonne¡¯s words to heart. She¡¯s no rtion to our family. She bears the Schnabel surname because your grandma does. You¡¯re the only daughter of our household.¡± Noe nodded, feeling the warmth of the Schnabels¡® protection¨Csomething she had never experienced in eighteen years with the Lambert family. ¡°Thanks, Mom, Dad, and brothers. I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Yvonne left in a huff, not a single tear on her face. Hunger pangs gnawing at her stomach, she wandered through the vast Schnabel garden. nearly getting lost. Seeing a group of servants nting new flowers. Yvonne asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± The servants replied with a smile, ¡°Ms. Yvonne, Ms. Noe likes roses. Mr. Tristan has ordered us to clear all the flowers in this courtyard and nt roses for her. Oh, and the lilies over there. are to be removed too. Mr. Tristan bought some red maple trees from Kanada, and we¡¯re nting them soon.¡± Yvonne was stunned. Those lilies were her favorite! She would swing among them every year. How could everything be snatched away just because of Noe¡¯s arrival? Green with envy, Yvonne scurried off to call ra. ¡°ra,e back home, quick! There¡¯s trouble. Mom, Dad, and the bros have lost it!¡± ra replied indifferently, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Yvonne, frantic, her eyes darting around, finally blurted out with determination, ¡°ra, don¡¯t you want to know why you were switched at birth?¡± ra, eyeing her experimental data, retorted, ¡°As if you can find something out with your brains. Go work off some of that extra energy by exercising; there¡¯s no saving your brain.¡± Hanging up, Yvonne¡¯s face twisted in rage! Damn ra, always at odds with her since childhood, nothing but a bookworm! Stomping her feet, Yvonne dashed off toward Ashlyn¡¯s ce. At the Heartfelt Orphanage Noe was barely eighteen and had no time to get her driver¡¯s license. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Though she could drive, she didn¡¯t want to worry the Schnabels, so she took a cab to the orphanage. The orphanage was in the suburbs, surrounded by a private estate with a vast rose garden and 13:101 a verkable sea of flowers. As Noelia entered the orphanage, a piercing gunshot rang out. Her instincts had her swiftly pressing against the wall concealing hersel Assassins hurried past, cursing, ¡°Damn that Vocalist, stealing our s again!¡± ¡°When did Vocalist get to Harmonia Country? If we¡¯d known he was here, we¡¯d never have taken the job.¡± ¡°Zip it. If he spots us, we¡¯re goners, tool The hitmen were well¨Ctrained and quick on their feet, but not quicker than Vocalist¡¯s bullets. Gunshots streaked across the sky, and the four assassins dropped dead. Palmer emerged from the shadows, the sunlight catching his handsome features. He was dressed in a vintage vest and suit jacket, his tie unruffled by the shooting. ¡°We meet again, Wise Fool.¡± Noe nced at Palmer, her brow furrowing slightly. ¡°You here on business?¡± Palmer shrugged. ¡°I live nearby. Saw somemotion and thought I¡¯d kill some time.¡± Noe was at a loss for words. Living nearby? With all the deste viges and private estates around, hitmen were those desperate to make a buck with their lives on the line. Vocalist must be one of the local poor folk. ¡°The target?¡± Palmer wasn¡¯t stingy with what he had learned. ¡°The director of Heartfelt Orphanage. Client unknown, order taken by the Cerulean Whale organization.¡± Realizing the gravity of the situation, Noe turned on her heel and strode into the orphanage. In the orphanage, the director¡¯s office was deserted, papers scattered all over the floor. Palmer piped up from behind her. ¡°What are you digging into? I can lend a hand.¡± ¡°Some old memories. I used to live here.¡± A flicker of pity shed through Palmer¡¯s handsome eyes. With Noe¡¯sbat skills through the roof, even if he went toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with her, Palmer couldn¡¯t guarantee walking away unscathed. Those moves didn¡¯t seem like something you¡¯d get from just any household. So, she was an orphan? Noe didn¡¯t find the files she needed and stood up with a sigh. ¡°I bet someone knew you¡¯d show up and cleared the ce out in advance. Swear, when I got here, it was already a ghost town.¡± Noe turned around, surprised at Palmer. TRIPE ¡°I¡¯m not casting any shade on you. If you had a hand in this, I wouldn¡¯t have found jack squat.¡± For Palmer, that was apliment. He grinned, a warm smile that was as pleasant as a gentle breeze. ¡°Let me give you a lift. It¡¯s kinda out of the way here, and your pad is a bit of a hike.¡± Noe didn¡¯t say no and followed Palmer out of the Heartfelt Orphanage. On the roadside was a dusty old Volkswagen sedan parked next to a Bentley twinkling with bling. Noe approached the Volkswagen and asked, ¡°This your ride? I¡¯ll cover the fare.¡± Palmer was speechless. He looked into Noe¡¯s eyes, bright as ss marbles, as if he had spotted the most splendid peach blossoms on a spring day. Palmer clenched his teeth and said gently, ¡°Hold on, let me grab the keys.¡± Turning away, he dialed up his butler, ¡°Bring me the keys for that heap of metal parked by the curb.¡± The butler, confused, asked, ¡°Huh? The Volkswagen¡¯s what our maid uses for grocery runs. You need it? ¡°Five minutes. The keys.¡± ¡°Right away, sir. Just a moment.¡± After handing over the keys, the butler watched his boss peel away in the beat¨Cup Volkswagen, his gaze drifting to the luxurious Bentley. It must be that Bentley wasn¡¯t up to snuff, and that was why the boss wasn¡¯t into it! It had been years since Palmer drove a stick shift. A little way down the road, Noe finally looked at him. ¡°You yed mest time.¡± Palmer just smiled. ¡°Not really, but I do really want you to join Abyssal Organization ¨C no joke. You¡¯ve got a killer charm, the most badass femme fatale I¡¯ve ever met, and Abyssal Organization needs you.¡± It was the first time Noe had heard such a blunt statement. Her face felt hot, and she turned to look out the window. Palmer, ever considerate, rolled down her window. ¡°You cold?¡± The outside breeze rushed in, cooling Noe¡¯s cheeks, quite refreshing. ¡°Thanks.¡± Not cold, but her face was definitely hotter. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± she said. ¡°Anytime, waiting on pins and needles.¡± CHapter 12 CHapter 12 Noe fanned herself with her palm, the roses blooming all over the manor, their scent rich and heady. Palmer parked the car right under the Radi Building as Noe had said. ¡°This the spot? I¡¯m not too hot on they of thend around here. Noe nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the ce. I¡¯ll shoot you the cab fare.¡± Palmer couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, pulling out his phone and handing it over to Noe. ¡°Let¡¯s add friends on WhatsApp first, then you can Venmo me.¡± After Noe added him and grabbed her backpack, she hopped out of the car. Palmer watched her sprinting into the office building, even swiping an employee card to get through security. Radi Building was chock¨Cfull ofpanies ¨C was she one of the employees here? Noe had a hunch and turned around to see Palmer still by the car, gazing her way. Bathed in light, he was the picture of elegance and charm, not at all like a top¨Ctier assassin who flirted with death on the daily. Palmer waved at her, his face wearing a warm, genial smile, putting even Beckett to shame in the gentlemanly department. Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed, and she bolted for the elevator. After she disappeared inside, Palmer whipped out his phone to call his secretary. ¡°Radi Building could be one of my assets. Get me everything on all thepanies and their employees here.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Pock. We¡¯ll start the acquisition of Radi Building immediately.¡± Noe made her way to the top floor and found a studio with no sign on the door. Kitai¡¯s face lit up with surprise when he saw her, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re here.¡± Noe passed him the design draft. ¡°Use disy agents 3 and 5, a 30-70 mix then finish with number 8 for five minutes.¡± ¡°Got it! Boss, our new store is in the Rising Glory Mall. Wanna check it out?¡± Rising Glory Mall was all about first¨Crate, blue¨Cblood brands, a famous hotspot for luxury goods in Imperial City. If something was sold out everywhere else, you could probably snag it there. Beckett¡¯s face shed in Noe¡¯s mind; Rising Glory Mall was his turf, too. ¡°Nah, let¡¯s pass. Give Rising Glory Group a 10% cut from our sales at the mall.¡± Kitai¡¯s jaw dropped ¨C that was a hefty 10%! A sliver of Master Azure¡¯s designs, even at 10%, was worth a small fortune. Was the big boss of Rising Glory Group some kind of lifesaver from her past life? ¡°Just do as I say.¡± ¡°Sure thing, boss.¡± At the Schnabel Mansion. Ashlyn was wrapped in a faded nket, listening to Yvonne¡¯s sob story from her rocking chair. ¡°Grandma, they¡¯ve crossed the line. I¡¯m telling you. The moment Iid eyes on that Noe, I got the heebie¨Cjeebies, like something was off. But Mom, Dad, and the bros are all under her spell. They won¡¯t listen to a word I say. Grandma, do we even have a ce in this house anymore? Boo¨Choo¨C hoo.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s eyes snapped open, her wrinkly lids sagging with a don¡¯t¨Cmess¨Cwith¨Cme vibe. ¡°You serious? You think Noe¡¯s got bad juju?¡± To Ashlyn, Yvonne was a blessed child sent by the gods. If she felt Noe was bad news, Ashlyn wouldn¡¯t let her step foot inside the mansion. Yvonne nodded furiously. ¡°She even got my brothers to scold me, kicked me out without dinner, calling herself the only daughter of the Schnabel family.¡± Ashlyn snorted. ¡°The only daughter? She¡¯s got no ce here if I don¡¯t say so.¡± Yvonne¡¯s face was a mask of smug delight. No sooner had Noe stepped through the Schnabel family gates than a posse of tall and sturdy maids stopped her. ¡°Ms. Noe, Madam Ashlyn wants to see you.¡± Noe nodded and followed the maids. Ashlyn usually kept to the old house, away from the Schnabel crowd, except for the annual visits from the four Schnabel sons. She wasn¡¯t a fan of Sienna, always sour¨Cfaced at the sight of her, leading the men of the family to minimize their visits. The maids led Noe into the Schnabel Mansion, pointing to a bench in the garden with a frosty. ¡°Ms. Noe, you can wait right here.¡± As they turned on their heels and left, it was clear the garden bench wasn¡¯t meant for sitting- rusty and muddy. It looked like it would crumble if breathed on. Noe knew this was Ashlyn¡¯s power y, maybe taking a stand for Yvonne? She didn¡¯t mind. The Lamberts used to make her stand as punishment just to appease Briony. 13:10 Noe stood in the garden, lost in thought about the Heartfelt Orphanage, Who had taken the director? Yvonne peeked through the curtains, a smirk ying on her lips as she saw Hoe standing in the courtyard. ¡°Grandma, you know what¡¯s up. If she stands there long enough, her legs will give out for sure.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s prayer beads kept rolling, not even looking up. ¡°You said she doesn¡¯t know her ce. and there you have it. I told her to sit but didn¡¯t say she had to stand. Who¡¯s she performing for? Makes it look like I¡¯m mistreating her, totally not presentable.¡± Yvonne sweetly agreed, ¡°You¡¯re right, Grandma,¡± An hourter. Noe was still there, standing like a statue, not having moved an inch. She reyed the details of her day at the Heartfelt Orphanage in her mind, profiling the killers¡± perspectives and reconstructing the scene. As Noe slowly opened her eyes, she had found it! Cerulean Whale not only saw hering but had Palmer pegged, too. Those hitmen were just a smokescreen. The maid stood behind Noe and said, ¡°Ms. Noe, please go on in.¡± Noe nodded and strutted into the small building where Ashlyn lived. She moved with the grace of a flowing cloud, not showing the slightest sign of fatigue or soreness from standing for an hour. Instead, every gesture she made was dripping with ss. Ashlyn squinted at Noe and spat out with distaste, ¡°No manners. Go learn some and thene back. I only recognize Yvonne and ra as my granddaughters. Don¡¯t think any Tom, Dick or Harry can im that title.¡± Noe took a good look at Ashlyn and asked, ¡°Excuse me, but do you have some kind of psychological issue?¡± Ashlyn was speechless. She suddenly opened her eyes wide, so pissed off¨Cshe threw her prayer beads across the room. Noe dodged smoothly, and the beads shattered on the floor. Ashlyn roared, ¡°Go learn some manners! Don¡¯te back until you do! Calling me having psychological issue the moment you open your mouth, I want to see how a wild girl like you. could ever set foot in the Schnabel family!¡± The maid stepped in front of Noe, ¡°Please, Ms. Noe.¡± The nuns Ashlyn called in to teach manners were a bunch of stiff old birds, and getting on their good side was a snowball¡¯s chance in hell. If Noe didn¡¯t get it together, there was no way she was going back to the Schnabel family anytime soon. And if she did, she would likely have her hide tanned. An hourter. The four sons of the Schnabel family came rushing from different directions and gathered in front of Ashlyn¡¯s building. Jasper said, ¡°Beckett, our sister has been in there for ages. I told you we should¡¯ve reminded her not to bother with that old witch.¡± Beckett replied, ¡°Slipped my mind to tell her. Let¡¯s bust in and get her out. I¡¯ll handle Grandma The next second, a bunch of old nuns actually escorted Noe out, smiles on their faces for once! ¡°You¡¯re so incredible; your manners are totally on a royal level. The olddy sending us to teach you was really overkill.¡± ¡°The olddy said you could leave when you¡¯ve learned your manners, but we all agree that it¡¯s us who should be learning from you.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Safe travels, Miss.¡± Noe nodded at them with her usual elegant and dignified poise, effortlessly exuding nobility. ¡°Brothers, what brings you guys here?¡± The Schnabel boys breathed a sigh of relief, seeing here out safe and sound. Beckett said, ¡°Let¡¯s head home, sis. From now on, ignore grandma. She¡¯s getting old, not all there anymore.¡± Noe nodded; her preliminary diagnosis confirmed that Ashlyn wasn¡¯t all there indeed; she must have been on some hallucinogenic meds for a long time, with obvious side effects. Yvonne looked on as the Schnabel brothers took Noe away, fretting like mad. ¡°Grandma, why did they just leave like that? They have no respect for you at all!¡± Ashlyn, listening to the nuns¡® praises of Noe and fuming with rage, felt her blood pressure rise, and her head ached so bad she passed out right then and there. CHapter 13 CHapter 13 Ashlyn was rushed to the hospital right on the spot. Calvin packed up his medical gear and turned to the waiting Yvonne. ¡°No biggle, the olddy¡¯s just dealing with her usual issues. A few days of R&R, and she¡¯ll be as good as new.¡± Hearing Calvin say she was okay, Ashlyn slowly cracked open her eyes. ying sick was an old trick up her sleeve, and she just couldn¡¯t believe that Tristan wouldn¡¯te running with his boys to apologize. When that happened, she would take the chance to send Yvonne back to the Schnabel family and keep that jinx in check. Yvonne, almost too excited to speak, saw Calvin and was over the moon! This was someone one would only hear about in the news. She never tagged along when Ashlyn saw the doctor before, so this was a first. ¡°Professor Calvin, I¡¯m Yvonne, the granddaughter of the Schnabel family. I¡¯m also into medicine. Would you consider taking me on as your apprentice?¡± Calvin chuckled. ¡°First time meeting the granddaughter of the renowned Mr. Marcel. Didn¡¯t expect you to be into medicine, too.¡± Yvonne shyly said. ¡°Yeah, my grandparents aren¡¯t in the best of health, and I want to study medicine to take good care of them.¡± She hid a hint of resentment in her eyes. It was all because Marcel told her to stay in herne and not to dream about fighting over the Schnabel family fortune with the four sons, forbidding her to study business and finance and pushing her towards medicine instead. She just couldn¡¯t fathom why she, also a Schnabel kid, got the short end of the stick when it came to inheritance. If she could stick close to Calvin, the whole Schnabel family would see she was the real deal! Ashlyn snickered. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s my only granddaughter. If she could learn from you, Professor Calvin, I¡¯d be content.¡± The Schnabel sons were all quite the catch, and Calvin figured the daughter wouldn¡¯t be far behind. He readily agreed, ¡°Alright, Yvonne can shadow me for now, and if she¡¯s got the chops, I¡¯ll personally mentor her.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Thank you, Professor Calvin!¡± Calvin asked, ¡°Have you published any core international papers or led any major research projects?* Yvonne was speechless. Chap What was that? She didn¡¯t even bother with regr sses, let alone have time for research. Couldn¡¯t she just buy her way into that kind of thing? Seeing her awkward expression, Calvin immediately got the picture¨Cthis girl was all show and no substance. Too bad, since the Schnabel sons were all brilliant, and he was hoping to take on an apprentice like Ulrich. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve got rounds to make. Contact me in a couple of days.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± At Imperial West Hospital, Special Convalescent Ward ¡°Marcel, you¡¯re holding up alright. Keep up the exercise.¡± Calvin grinned at the old man resting in bed. ¡°Getting old. My granddaughter¡¯singter to take me out for some sun.¡± Marcel¡¯s face lit up with a warm, grandfatherly smile at the mention of his granddaughter. As Calvin stepped out, he bumped into Palmer, who was there to see his grandpa Sexton. ¡°Mr. Calvin, how¡¯s my grandpa doing?¡± Calvin handed him a medical report. ¡°All vitals are stable, but his blood pressure¡¯s a bit high. Needs to watch his diet.¡± Palmer took the report and carefully went over it. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Calvin. I¡¯ve looked into that prescription issue. Could youe with me for a moment?¡± That prescription issue was a thorn in Calvin¡¯s side. After all, the patients here were big shots, with even bigger shots recuperating upstairs, and they couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes, let alone a fatality. Calvin quickly followed Palmer. ¡°I¡¯ve got some freshly roasted coffee beans in my office. Honor me with your presence, Mr. Pock. Inside the office, the air was thick with the aroma of six¨Cfigure coffee beans. ¡°That incident is tied to the Cerulean Whale, a deep web hitman organization. They colluded with someone inside the hospital to tamper with your prescription. The culprits have been caught.¡± Calvin was shocked. ¡°Foreign forces?¡± 5 Palmer nodded, sipping his coffee. ¡°The elderly here are high¨Cprofile targets. A lot of foreign eyes are on them. Marcel¡¯s attack was also their doing.¡± Calvin broke into a sweat. ¡°Got it, thanks, Mr. Pock, I hear you¡¯re engaged to the Schnabel granddaughter?¡± Palmer looked up with a smile. ¡°Mr. Calvin, you¡¯re not one for gossip, so what¡¯s with bringing this up?¡± Calvin hesitated, recalling Yvonne¡¯s beautiful but shallow and uninspired face, especially those eyes filled with self¨Cinterest, which just made him uneasy. ¡°If you trust my judgment, Mr. Pock, Ms. Schnabel is not the right match for you.¡± Someone like Palmer would definitely have a woman whoplimented him well, and Yvonne just didn¡¯t fit the bill. Palmer was surprised but just smiled gently, holding his coffee, and said no more. As night fell, the thick darkness cloaked the city¡¯s edges. The de unsheathed and pressed against the vulnerable throat of the hitman. Noe¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Where¡¯s the head of Heartfelt Orphanage?¡± ?stonishment filled the hitman¡¯s eyes. How did she know they took the orphanage head? ¡°Wise Fool, you think you can get away with this? Cerulean Whale will soon rece your organization!¡± The three major deep web hitman organizations¨CObelisk, Abyssal, and Cerulean Whale¨Cwere rivals and checks on each other. As the hitman fell, Noe rubbed her wrist and walked into a nearby underground fight club. ¡°Knock him dead!¡± ¡°Go, Cheetah! Take out that clueless guy!¡± The crowd was going wild, and up on the stage, the fighters in the octagon were throwing punches straight for their opponents¡® vital spots. The fight club owner bowed before Noe. ¡°Boss, someone¡¯s called you out to fight, offering up a cool 60 mil.¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°Head to the message room. I¡¯m not stepping up to the ring today.¡± ¡°Right this way, please.¡± Inside the underground fight club was the Imperial City¡¯s biggest information trading post, where news was auctioned off to the highest bidder. With a mask on, Noe sat in the VIP section, eyeing the auctioneer on stage, introducing thetest scoop. S/E 13:12 ¡°Kicking off this piece of intel about the international crackdown on the deep web, we¡¯re starting at 50 grand.¡± Every year, international outfits would try to throw the over the deep web, where arms. dealers, smugglers, and hit squads were notoriously listed. Noe wasn¡¯t biting this one. If the Obelisk Organization could be snuffed out that easily, it would¡¯ve been history by now. In the end, the intel sold for 60k. ¡°Next up, we¡¯ve got something from 18 years back at Tandy Hospital, starting at a million bucks.¡± The ce erupted! ¡°What kind of news is worth a million? Thest piece about the identity of the Sea Shell. syndicate boss went for just half that.¡± ¡°Something from 18 years ago? Who¡¯d buy that?¡± Noe raised her paddle. ¡°One point five million.¡± the crowd was rendered speechless. Was someone actually forking over cash for this old news? And from thefort of the VIP section¡­ No, there¡¯s gotta be more to it. ¡°One point six.¡± Noe kept her paddle up. ¡°One point seven.¡± The neighboring VIP wasn¡¯t far behind, ¡°One point eight.¡± ¡°Two mil.¡± ¡°Two point five.¡± Noe paused. Tandy Hospital was that shut¨Cdown ce next to Heartfelt Orphanage. Who else was interested in Tandy Hospital¡¯s past? ¡°Two point six.¡± The next bid came in. ¡°Three mil. In the VIP room, Palmer, cool as a cucumber, kept lifting his paddle, upping the ante. This info meant zilch to him personally, but if Wise Fool was sniffing around Heartfelt Orphanage, she would want this tidbit. Thinking of that slender, graceful figure, Palmer¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. 13:121 Noe didn¡¯t raise her paddle again. Who knew how deep this info went? If it was just a few words, she would be throwing her money away. The auction house had a strict ¡°no refunds¡± policy on their intel. ¡°Three million going once, going twice, sold! Congrats to VIP number nine!¡± CHapter 14 CHapter 14 The auctioneer was all chuckles as he wielded the tiny gavel. ¡°Up next, an open piece of Intel: Cerulean Whale¡¯sunching a crackdown on Obelisk Organization and Abyssal Organization, and they¡¯re stirring the pot in Imperial City. Starting bid: three million dors. Sure, the headline was on the house, but if they wanted the nitty¨Cgritty, they got to bid. Noe couldn¡¯t care less about Cerulean Whale gunning for her crew. Bring it on, who¡¯s eating who was still up in the air. She had been knee¨Cdeep in the gem gambling biz for the past couple of years, letting her hitman outfit grow like wildfire, and without much fuss, it became one of the deep web¡¯s big three. What piqued her interest was Cerulean Whale¡¯s shenanigans in Imperial City, and if she wasn¡¯t barking up the wrong tree, it likely involved Marcel. She had to snag this info! Cerulean Whale attacked Marcel right under her nose, could she even show her face around? Noe raised her paddle. ¡°Three million and ten grand, name¡¯s Wise Fool.¡± The crowd was like, ¡°Say what now?¡± Three million and ten grand was chump change, but that moniker made everyone else put their paddles down! Even the auctioneer was speechless. They were hoping to rake in tens of millions for this juicy tidbit, but with Wise Fool in the house, who would dare to bid against her? In VIP Room No. 9, Palmer was taken aback, setting his paddle aside,as well. Looked like it was her he was up against earlier. Since she was interested in thatst piece of intel, his three million wasn¡¯t spent in vain. With that thought, Palmer leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face. He had scoured every nook and cranny of the Radi Building for Noe to no avail. Wise Fool wasn¡¯t one to be easily tracked down. With Wise Fool throwing her hat in the ring, the room went quiet as a mouse, letting her walk away with the news. ¡°Congrats to Wise Fool. Sold for three million and ten grand!¡± The auctioneer was grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Up next, a little freebie for y¡¯all: Gemstone 13:12 Gambling King is teaming up with some families for a public gem gamble next month. Don¡¯t miss out.¡± Noe was confused. Gemstone Gambling King was a household name in the jewelry game, a riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual toss of a rock always turned out to be top¨Cnotch emerald. But a public appearance? News to her. Noe strutted over to the message center, swiped her card, and got the dirt. ¡°Cerulean Whale is sending a hitman after General Marcel again tomorrow, the price tag: a hundred million dors.¡± Outside the Radi Building, a squeaky¨Cclean yet beat¨Cup Volkswagen was about as low¨Cprofile as it gets, clearly showing its age. Noe spotted Palmer by the car as soon as she stepped out. He waved her over, his refined and handsome face all lit up with a weing ease. N?velDrama.Org content. ? bit surprised, Noe approached and quipped, ¡°What, you moonlighting as an Uber driver?¡± Palmer was momentarily frozen, his smile stiffening before meeting Noe¡¯s skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his were something else, bright and captivating. Noe nced at his ride, recalling the info she had just dug up about the viges near Heartfelt Orphanage. Dirt¨Cpoor. So poor that folks either got tangled in scams or dabbled in adult entertainment. Palmer had done well to survive the cutthroat underworld of the deep web. ¡°Mind if I give you a lift?¡± Figuring a ride¡¯s a ride, and it would be a nice gesture to support Palmer¡¯s ¡°side hustle¡°, Noe hopped in without much fuss. ¡°I¡¯ve got a wee gift for you, in case you fancy joining Abyssal Organization.¡± Noe did not know how to respond. Who would give wee gifts after they had already met a few times? Palmer handed over a little box with the intel. ¡°Take a peek.¡± Genuinely surprised, Noe asked, ¡°You were in VIP Room No. 9? Why drop all that cash on this? How many Ubers do you need to drive to make that back?¡± As a billionaire, being mistaken for an Uber driver was new. Palmer felt a mixed bag of emotions, hinting, ¡°I¡¯ve got a day job, you know.¡± 13:12 Noe got it then; the guy was the head honcho of Abyssal Organization. He could make a killing with just one job on the deep web. ¡°You bought this intel just for me? What if I don¡¯t want to join the Abyssal Organization?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all good. A gift¡¯s worth is in the joy it brings. If it makes you happy, that¡¯s its true value. Everything else is just gravy.¡± Dropping so much cash just to cheer her up? Noe felt her hands holding the box heat up. ¡°You always splurge like this on girls?¡± Palmer was speechless for a moment, then said, ¡°You¡¯re the first. I never gave gifts todies, except for my mom, back when she was around. She loved her flowers.¡± Noe hadn¡¯t meant to stir up sad memories and quickly apologized, ¡°Sorry. Didn¡¯t mean to bring that up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. So, does my gift make you happy?¡± Noe was dumbstruck. Who asks that kind of thing point¨Cnk? Why wasn¡¯t she this speechless when she got presents from the Schnabel family¡¯s fourth son? Or was it that folks from the slums didn¡¯t get the concept of subtlety? Did they have to wear all their emotions on their sleeves? Noe had chatted with international orphans online and knew they were straight shooters, always fearing they might not get another chance to speak their minds. With that in mind, Noe stifled the oddly exhrating flutter in her heart. ¡°Yeah, happy.¡± Palmer¡¯s smile deepened, and Noe, feeling her face heat up, quickly looked away. Man, it¡¯s getting hot in here! Noe pondered for a moment before opening her message box right in front of Palmer. [The head of Tandy Hospital and the director of Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who had dealings with Vincent, a merchant from Tranquility City, before going missing.] Vincent? How did he get mixed up in this? The Lambert family was indeed part of the whole missing kids mess, so it wouldn¡¯t be a shocker if Vincent had a hand in it. Noe put away the note, her beautiful brows furrowing ever so slightly. She was a knockout, with her expressive eyebrows and a look that could turn heads, yet she carried that chilly vibe that¡¯s signature to a hitman, her eyes sparkling with intensity. This look gave her a more down¨Cto¨Cearth charm like she was just a teenage girl. ¡°Is the info useful?¡± ¡°Yeah, thanks. What should I prep to return the favor? Forget joining the Abyssal Organization I¡¯m not ditching the Obelisk Organization just yet.¡± The killers at Obelisk Organization had been with Noe for years; they had deep bonds with her and the org, and she wasn¡¯t about to bail on her crew. Palmer¡¯s face was tinged with a light smile. ¡°Then just tell me your name. I want to know your real name¨Cyour in¨Cthe¨Csun, off¨Cthe¨Cdark¨Cweb name.¡± Noe was taken aback. Her name worth three million? Was this guy Vocalist not schooled or something, not knowing the first thing about bargaining? ¡°Noe.¡± ¡°Palmer.¡± Noe nodded mentally noting Palmer¡¯s name. ¡°Can you drop me off at Rising Glory Mall?¡± Azure¡¯s biggest brick¨Cand¨Cmortar store was about tounch in Imperial City, and Kitai had been on her back, making her promise to be there. Timing wise, it should be right about now. If she didn¡¯t show, Kitai would throw a fit, cry, make a scene, threaten to hang himself and roll around on the floor. ¡°Of course.¡± Rising Glory Mall was the biggest shopping center in Imperial City, packed with luxury brands¨Cno surprise a gal like Noe would want to hit it up. After dropping Noe at the mall, Palmer spun the car around and drove into the parking lot of Rising Glory Mall, heading straight for the parked Maybach. The butler, Xander, was almost bug¨Ceyed seeing his boss step out of some nondescript beater. What was going on with the boss? Suddenly into the minimalist vibe? When Palmer looked his way, Xander quickly bowed. ¡°President, everything you¡¯ve arranged has been taken care of. Your grandfather wants you to visit the hospital tomorrow.¡± ¡°Why tomorrow?¡± Xander hesitated, knowing he couldn¡¯t lie to Palmer, and finally stuttered out, ¡°Marcel¡¯s granddaughter will be there.¡± Palmer closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. CHapter 15 CHapter 15 ¡°President, Mr. Sexton has been itching for you to tie the knot so he can cuddle his great¨C grandchildren already.¡± Palmer replied with a cool detachment, ¡°He¡¯s already got three great¨Cgrandkids, and with his current health, he can¡¯t even lift one.¡± The youngest of the Pock family¡¯s great¨Cgrandchildren was five, andst year, Sexton threw his back out picking one of them up, and he wasid up in bed for two weeks. Xander was speechless. ¡°Don¡¯t be so hardheaded with Mr. Sexton. His health isn¡¯t great, and besides, the Pock family and the Schnabel family are well¨Cmatched. The Schnabel boys are all top¨Cnotch, and Ms. Schnabel is surely no slouch, either. This marriage has been set for ages, decided by the Schnabel and Pock families together. You¡¯ve got to consider the reputation of the Schnabel family, too.¡± Palmer slightly lifted his eyelids. ¡°Zip it, or you¡¯ll be the one marrying Ms. Schnabel.¡± Xander quickly mmed up. He was fifty¨Cthree, not exactly in the marrying age bracket! At Rising Glory Mall Briony clutched her little purse, her eyes brimming with eagerness. ¡°Mom, is the handkerchief we reserved finally in stock? We gotta snag it this time!¡± Master Azure¡¯s designs required not just a reservation but a mad dash to purchase. Even with a reservation, it was just a ticket in whether you can actually buy anything is a matter of fate. Belinda chuckled with pride. ¡°Of course, for my darling daughter, I¡¯ve rallied all our servants to help nab that Master Azure design. Didn¡¯t you say Milford¡¯sing with you today, sweetheart?¡± Briony blushed, shyly saying, ¡°Milford texted that he¡¯s stuck in traffic. He¡¯ll bete.¡± Just thinking about her gentle and tall fianc¨¦, soon to be all hers, Briony felt a surge of pride. The Rosenbergs had a slightly higher standing than the Lamberts; Belinda had to pull all sorts of strings for the Lamberts to climb the socialdder through the Rosenbergs, but luckily, Briony has always been close with Milford since young. The mother and daughter waited in line to enter the mall, with Briony standing on tiptoes, scanning the crowd for Milford. There would be plenty of socialites here today; she had to keep an eye on Milford and show 19-12 those women that such a catch was hers! Noe had just entered Rising Glory Mall, ready to get in touch with Kital, when someone blocked her path. ¡°Noe, is that really you? I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Noe was puzzled. Who was this nutjob? Milford had been eyeing the crowd for fresh talent for his ser team when he spotted a figure in a light green dress, graceful and alluring, especially that face absolutely bewitching! It was Noe! ¡°Even though you¡¯re no longer Mr. Lambert¡¯s daughter, in my eyes, you¡¯re still my fianc¨¦e. If you¡¯re willing. I can take you back to the Rosenberg family right this moment.¡± Noe was speechless. What kind of big, sick joke was this? ¡°Noe, it¡¯s always been you for me. It broke my heart to learn you¡¯re not Mr. Lambert¡¯s daughter. I¡¯ve been unable to eat or sleep since you left; I¡¯m in tears every day¡­¡± Noe frowned. ¡°Who the heck are you?¡± ¡°Noe, I know you still resent me, but it¡¯s pointless. You must have feelings, hold a grudge. I know you love me!¡± Noe almost gagged on her breakfast. me if you can ¡°Milford? Your family won¡¯t need to buy oil for the next decade; you¡¯re greasy enough.¡± Milford¡¯s known for being a yboy, always on the prowl for pretty women, with nine out of ten phones for keeping women¡¯s contacts. He even had his mistresses numbered down to their height, weight, and menstrual cycles¡­ ¡°Noe, I can¡¯t live without you!¡± Noe, tired of the nonsense, raised her hand and pped Milford across the face. Milford, about to use his physical strength to pull her hand into his embrace, instead took at solid p to the face. Milford was stunned. How could Noe hit so hard?! In the distance, Briony screamed, ¡°Ahh! Noe, you bitch, stay away from Milford!¡± Dragging Belinda, she raced over. Seeing Milford holding his face, she felt a pang of sympathy. ¡°Milford, is she still bugging you? She¡¯s so vile!¡± Belinda looked at Noe with disgust. ¡°What are you doing here? Didn¡¯t you go back to Emerald County? Did you know Briony and I wereing to Master Azure¡¯s store and deliberately staking it out? Let me tell you, you¡¯re no longer part of our family.¡± Briony, clinging to Milford¡¯s arm, disyed her im. ¡°Sis, I know you still have eyes for Milford. but he¡¯s my fianc¨¦e, and you have nothing to do with him. Please don¡¯t disrupt our life, okay?¡± So pretentious. Noe slightly frowned and nced at Belinda and Briony. ¡°If you¡¯re sick in the head, go see a doctor; the cure rate for delusions is pretty decent.¡± Belinda, about to blow her top, suddenly saw the still¨Cclosed mall doors swing open. Beckett, in a sharp suit, stood at the entrance, his usually cold face softened upon seeing Noe. ¡°Noe,e here.¡± Noe walked over to Beckett, and soon the mall doors closed again. Briony, watching Noe¡¯s retreating figure, wondered, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on with Noe? Who was that guy just now? He seemed¡­ not ordinary.¡± Belinda gritted her teeth and spat out, ¡°That chick must be too proud to crawl back to her backwater town and decided to use her pretty face to snag a rich guy! She¡¯s really living up to her lowly fate. Briony, if she everes crawling to you, you better give her the cold shoulder!¡± Briony nodded in agreement, then turned to chat with Milford but caught him still eyeing Noe. Damn that Noe! Why was she still hogging everything even after she was gone? It was clear as day that both her parents and Milford should be hers! Climbing the socialdder? As if Noe, a country bumpkin, had any right to! Briony pouted and yanked at Milford, cooing. ¡°Milford!¡± Milford was clearly distracted, muttering a few soothing words to Briony. He believed Noe must still be head over heels for him. That guy earlier was obviously someone she roped in to make him jealous. What a silly girl. Given his catch, it was no wonder that a girl like Noe, who had nothing going for her except her looks, would be smitten. Beckett whisked Noe off down the corridor. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me a heads¨Cup before showing up? I would¡¯ve sent someone to pick you 1. up. Azure¡¯s packed today: what if you got squished in the crowd?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to disrupt your work.¡± Beckett¡¯s heart melted! ¡°Listen to that, my little sis is just so considerate and sweet! Those brats at home could never say something like that.¡± He thought. Beckett felt like his life wasplete. ¡°It¡¯s all good, Noe. Whenever youe, it brightens up my day no matter what.¡± ¡°Okay, got it.¡± Beckett recalled the scene he had witnessed earlier. Was someone hassling his sister? He frowned slightly. ¡°What happened earlier? Tell me, and I¡¯ll sort it out for you.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just ran into some trash that crawled out of the bin, not worth mentioning.¡± Beckett called over his secretary and ordered, ¡°The folks who were hassling the young miss earlier, kick ¡®em out. And ban them from all Rising Glory properties ¨C stores, malls, hotels. cklist them!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Schnabel.¡± Noe was somewhat surprised. Rising Glory Industry had a nationwide presence; if they cklisted the Lambert family, Briony wouldn¡¯t be able to shop in any decent mall again. ¡°Noe, you remember you¡¯re the Schnabel family¡¯s little princess. Nobody gets to give you a hard time, not even me.¡± Noe nodded, showing she took the words to heart. ¡°Thanks, Beckett.¡± CHapter 16 CHapter 16 Beckett whisped out a pass card and handed it over to Noe. ¡°Here¡¯s the key to every mall under Rising Glory. It¡¯s loaded with a 5% stock of the group. You can now strut into any ce like you own it. No more waiting in line to get in.¡± Stock? Sackett cracked a smile, the affection on his handsome face growing. ¡°You¡¯re my sis; tossing a few shares your way is a piece of cake, and it makes shopping a breeze. Just swipe the card I gave you ¨C the sky¡¯s the limit. If it¡¯s not enough, holler at me!¡± ¡°Do the other brothers have one too?¡± Beckett said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°What makes those rascals think they can score shares from me? I¡¯ve had this card ready for ages, just waiting to hand it over when you got back.¡± Years ago, when the four Schnabel boys found out ra wasn¡¯t their blood sister, they started nning the perfect wee¨Cback present. Counting the two cards Beckett gave away, they still had a whole bunch of goodies up their sleeves! Beckett was sick of the homegrown troublemakers, but now that his sweet and cuddly sis was back, he was all in on spoiling her rotten! After all she was their very own flesh and blood! How about lunch with me? The rooftop garden is my special creation just for you! I¡¯ll clear it out for a private spin?¡± Getting a table at Rising Glory Mall¡¯s rooftop garden was something money couldn¡¯t even buy. Noe was about to say she had nster, but looking into Beckett¡¯s hopeful eyes, the word ho just wouldn¡¯te out No need to clear the ce. I¡¯ll have lunch with you.¡± ¡°Alright your wish is mymand.¡± Beckett gazed at his little sister, liking her more by the second, his face beaming with a panemal warmth that could match their parents¡°. She really knew how to make his day, so understanding and considerate! Beaming with joy. Beckett gave Noe a few instructions and then zipped off to work. Meanwhile the security guard stood in front of Belinda and her crew, politely but firmly informing them they were banned from shopping at Rising Glory Group establishments. Belinda fumed. ¡°Why can¡¯t we shop? We¡¯re customers, too! What¡¯s the deal with Rising Glory 1313 Group? I¡¯m going toin!¡± Briony chimed in. ¡°Yeah, sir, we specifically came to snag Master Azure¡¯s new release. Why can¡¯t we shop?¡± The guard kept up his professional, fake smile. ¡°Sorry, you¡¯ve crossed a line with someone you shouldn¡¯t have. All businesses under Rising Glory Group will be cklisting you.¡± Belinda was speechless. What the heck was going on? Being cklisted by Rising Glory Group, where would she and Briony shop now? ¡°We¡¯re here to spend money!¡± With a wave of the guard¡¯s hand, a squad of security swooped in, grabbed the struggling trio, and tossed them out on their ears. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb our other customers. Mr. Schnabel has made it clear, by crossing our young miss, you¡¯re forever cklisted by Rising Glory Group!¡± With a p of his hands, the guard sauntered off. The high¨Csociety onlookers who had hoped for a show quickly distanced themselves from the three wannabes who seemed to have the logos of luxury brands stamped on their faces, especially after hearing they had offended the young miss of Rising Glory Group. Belinda couldn¡¯t believe it. They were just thrown out like that? When had the Lambert or Rosenberg families ever faced such humiliation? Briony burst into tears. ¡°Mom, when did we ever cross Rising just talked to my sister!¡± ry Group¡¯s young miss? We Belinda was beyond annoyed. ¡°What sister? She¡¯s a country bumpkin, not fit to be your sister. From now on, steer clear of her!¡± Milford dusted himself off as he stood up. ¡°I never heard about the Rising Glory Group¡¯s CEO having a sister. Could it be Noe?¡± Belinda dismissed the thought. ¡°Impossible. That girl¡¯s from Emerald County. You know how poor she 1. is. She must be clinging to us, what young miss? Maybe that little tramp is up to no good¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head back, Milford. I¡¯ve watched you grow up; I won¡¯t rest easy until you and Briony are engaged.¡± Briony blushed at the mention of Milford, her childhood crush and dream husband. She had always wanted to marry into the Rosenberg family. Milford grinned. ¡°Belinda, Briony and I are young; no rush.¡± 13:137 Chapter te Belinda frowned, holding back furtherments. Milford excused himself after a few calls from his buddies about new models at a nearby bar. Briony stomped her foot as he disappeared. ¡°Mom, is he going after Noe? I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e!¡± Belinda¡¯s eyes flickered with malice. ¡°That girl must be behind this, aiming for the Rosenberg family. After all you can¡¯t find a catch like that in Emerald County.¡± ¡°What do we do it she seduces him?¡± Briony was frustrated. Belinda¡¯s eyes gleamed with cold calction. ¡°If that little wretch isn¡¯t back in Emerald County, It¡¯s only natural for her to get into trouble here in Imperial City.¡± Backstage at the Azure¡¯s new store Kital passed over a thick reservation list, his face splitting with a grin. ¡°Boss, take a look at this. These are the earnings from our new store, and the profit is pretty sweet! But why on earth do you insist on cutting Rising Glory Group a deal?¡± Noe replied nonchntly. ¡°I own shares in Rising Glory.¡± Kitai was bbergasted! ¡°Holy moly, boss, you¡¯re basically shifting cash from one pocket to the other, and by doing that. you¡¯re making the whole Rising Glory Group take a shine to us!¡± Noe just kept quiet. That wasn¡¯t exactly what she had in mind. She just thought Beckett had it tough and wanted to lend her big bro a hand. Besides, she was holding onto his supplementary card ¨C helping her big bro rake in the cash was like padding her own wallet. Kital was over the moon. ¡°Yesterday, some filthy rich dude ordered a thousand pieces of clothing from us. We even sold off the stock that was piling up. He said he¡¯s gonna keeping back to preorder next season¡¯s new arrivals from us.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Kitai flipped to the first page and pointed at a name, ¡°This sucker¨Cno, this big spender! Tristan Schnabel, Boss. Does the name ring any bell?¡± N?velDrama.Org content. Noe was silent. Not only had she heard of him, but she had breakfast with this very ¡®big spender¡® that morning. ¡°Give the Schnabel family priority rights in the future.¡± ¡°Priority rights? How much are we charging?* Noe gave him a fleeting look. ¡°No charge.¡± Kitai was puzzled. 13:13 Chapter to Since when did the boss be so generous? The priority rights for the Azure brand could fetch tens or even hundreds of millions a year! Who knew what kind of luck the Schnabel family had struck to save such a huge chunk of change? After leaving Rising Glory Mall, Noe was all set to visit Marcel in the hospital. The old man had been on the phone more than a dozen times, nagging her toe and see him. Noe had once pushed him into the sun for some fresh air and incidentally bumped into his old chess buddies. The old guys didn¡¯t waste any time and started ying. When it looked like Marcel was about to lose. Noe stepped in and left the rest of the old¨Ctimers gobsmacked. How could Marcel¡¯s granddaughter be so highly skilled? They had been ying chess their whole lives and couldn¡¯t even make heads or tails of her moves! From then on, Marcel strutted around the hospital with his hands behind his back and chin up. He was always on Noe¡¯s case to visit the hospital, eagerly waiting for a new batch of old heads to challenge him. Yvonne, dressed in a pinkce¨Ctrimmed dress and holding an umbre, stepped out of Ashlyn¡¯s car. If it wasn¡¯t for Ashlyn¡¯s aversion to splurging. Yvonne wouldn¡¯t have to share a car with her, and it was only because Ashlyn was sick that she got the chance to have the chauffeur take her shopping. Yvonne, fanning herself, headed towards the queue. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Noe?¡± Noe was standing by the roadside, wearing a new dress from Master Azure, and Yvonne¡¯s eyes were twitching with envy! Suddenly, a few shady figures with masks sneaked up from behind, and one of them covered Noe¡¯s mouth and nose, dragged her into a van parked by the curb, and sped off! Yvonne pped a hand over her mouth, struggling not to burst outughing. Noe had actually been kidnapped! This was too good to be true! Lady Luck was smiling down on her! Yvonne was thrilled, hoping the kidnappers would show no mercy to Noe. The Schnabel family would never ept a tainted daughter. Once they ditched Noe, the Schnabel family would be hers for the taking! CHapter 17 CHapter 17 The van jostled along, heading out of the city. Noe noticed they were headed towards Imperial West Hospital, and thought, ¡°Well, ain¡¯t that a stroke of luck! These goons are giving me a free ride.¡± ¡°Who sent you?¡± she demanded. The kidnapper let out a sleazy chuckle, his face full of creep. ¡°Listen, girlie, we ain¡¯t lookin¡® to harm ya, but you had to go and get greedy, eyeing stuff that ain¡¯t yours.¡± he taunted. ¡°We¡¯ll just dump ya in some mountain area, and don¡¯t you worry, you won¡¯t be seeing the light of day again! Lucky for you, you¡¯re easy on the eyes. That pretty face of yours could bring in a good chunk of change up in the hills. Pop out a few chunky kids, and you¡¯re golden.¡± Noe swiftly reached for the small knife tucked at her waist and conked out a few of the kidnappers, then pressed the de against the driver¡¯s neck. ¡°Who sent you? My patience is wearing thin.¡± The driver, shaking like a leaf and gripping the steering wheel, stammered out, ¡°Oh please, have mercy! We¡¯re just hired guns! It was Belinda! She forked over a cool hundred grand for us to whisk you away and sell you off in some mountain dump!¡± Belinda hadn¡¯t said that Noe could fight! With a nonchnt ¡°Drive to Imperial West Hospital,¡± Noe might as well have been the Grim Reaper sharpening his scythe. The driver nearly lit the steering wheel on fire getting her there. As soon as Noe got out, she shouted at the guards at the door, ¡°They kidnapped me!¡± The guards had seen hering and going from Imperial West Hospital and knew her as the pretty granddaughter of the Schnabel family who was also a chess whiz. The hospital guards were special forces soldiers pulled from the ranks for duty. They were used to standing guard. Hearing Noe¡¯s cry for help, the special forces guys stepped up and quickly subdued the bad guys. ¡°Thanks,¡± said Noe. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Miss. Get inside. Mr. Marcel has been fussing over you for ages. We¡¯ve got this!¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. They all thought highly of Noe, a real looker who was polite and smart to boot¨Ca true Schnabel family gem. No sooner had Noe stepped into the ward than she heard Marcel¡¯s robust voice, ¡°Where¡¯s my 13:13 precious granddaughter? Didn¡¯t they say she was on her way?¡± ¡°Grandpa, did you take your medicine today?¡± Atarcel¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of Noe. ¡°Come here, darling. Tavian from building three is waiting to y chess with you.¡± Hearing that Noe knew Marcel was dodging the subject of his medicine. She gave the nurses a knowing look and handed over the daily meds to Marcel and said, ¡°Take your medicine. Grandpa. Be good.¡± Marcel reluctantly downed the bitter pills and pulled a face. ¡°Disgusting! Why are you only getting here now?¡± ¡°I went shopping this morning and had lunch with Beckett. Not wanting to worry Marcel she kept mum about the kidnapping ordeal. She could handle. Belinda¡¯s antics on her own. ¡°Why bother eating with that bore? Shopping¡¯s fine. My granddaughter ought to dress to the nines. I¡¯ll send you some jewelry to y with,¡± beamed Marcel Thanks, Grandpa.¡± Marcel all excited, led her to another ward. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go y some chess!¡± Back in the day. Tavian used to make Marcel lose at chess all the time. This time he was determined to turn the tables! After several games, Marcel¡¯s face was beaming with smiles, Heh, his granddaughter was a champ, winning every game! Tavian, once the second¨Cinmand of Harmonia Country, looked on with admiration. Judging the yer by the y, Marcel¡¯s granddaughter was a real catch. He¡¯d struck gold! With a chuckle, Tavian offered, ¡°Noe, if you ever run into trouble,e to Tavian. I¡¯ll fix it for you!¡± Marcel was not having it. ¡°Who needs your big talk? I¡¯m still kicking!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you kick the bucket or not. My word carries more weight.¡± said Tavian. ¡°Eh you old fossil! Noe, go y. I¡¯ve got to settle a score with this geezer!¡± Noe just nodded and bowed to Tavian before leaving the room. As soon as she stepped out, her smile vanished, reced by a chilling aura. She sensed the presence of an assassin. It seemed the Cerulean Whale had sent their hitman. Noe turned and entered the green¨Clit emergency corridor, pulling out her silencer¨Cequipped pistol and disappearing into the shadows. At the Schnabel Mansion Yvoene burst through the door, flinging herself at Sienna who was tending to her garden. ¡°Mom it¡¯s bad news!! saw Noe being taken away!¡± Sienna was stunned, her $3 million watering can crashing to the ground in pieces. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Tristan, hearing themotion, came out of the study with the four Schnabel sons in tow. They were just discussing which country to buy Noe a castle in when Yvonne¡¯s panicked. words hit them. Sienna almost fainted on the spot! Beckett asked with a stern face, ¡°Where did you see that? Why didn¡¯t you call us? Why didn¡¯t you call the police first? What if something happened to Noe!¡± ¡°I saw Noe getting into a van. I was so scared and I ran home to tell Mom and Dad.¡± Yvonne sobbed, disying her cracked phone and bruised knees, the unfortunate result of her joy at seeing Noe¡¯s plight. to give those scoundrels plenty of time to do their dirty work, she even strolled around Rising Glory Mall treating herself to a shopping spree, a nice meal, and a full¨Cblown skin pampering session, all to be in tip¨Ctop shape to witness Noe getting the boot from the Schnabel family! Utrich whipped out his phone and called the police. Jasper frowned and said, ¡°You¡¯re only telling us about something that went down at three in the afternoon? What the heck have you been up to?¡± Yvonne dabbed her tears and said in a pitiful tone, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean, Jasper? Of course. I was at the hospital taking care of Grandma. Ever since she¡¯s been admitted, it¡¯s been all me, all the time. Noe hasn¡¯t even popped in to see Grandma once¡­¡± Tristan roared, ¡°Everybody zip it! We¡¯re all hands on deck to find Noe now!¡± ¡°Beckett, you check the mall¡¯s security footage: Ulrich, you go talk to the cops: Stirling, hit the road and drive around looking for Noe; Jasper,e with me to the traffic police department! Noe¡¯s been through the wringer out there, and now with this mess under the Schnabel family¡¯s nose, you four are on a spending freeze for a year!¡± The four Schnabel brothers stood at attention and replied, ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Noe stood at the door, watching the stern faces of her four brothers and Tristan. ¡°Where are you all off to in such a rush?¡± Like a whirlwind, Sienna swooped in and hugged Noe. ¡°Baby, are you alright? Let me have a look. Yvonne said she saw you getting kidnapped; I was scared to death!¡± 13:13 Sienna checked Noe from head to toe, making sure not a single hair was out of ce, with tears streaming down her face, Noe quickly wiped away her tears. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I ran into some kidnappers, but Grandpa sent people to rescue me, and now the bad guys have been taken away.¡± ¡°Thank goodness Grandpa¡¯s got sharp Instincts. If I lose you again, I¡¯d be beside myself!¡± Sienna was visibly shaken. ¡°I¡¯m okay, I just had dinner with Grandpa and came back.¡± She pulled out her phone to show a selfie taken with Marcel at dinner. Yvonne was practically wringing her handkerchief to shreds. ¡°Noe, I was so worried. Seeing those guys manhandling you¡­ Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Noe was speechless. Was she trying to make the Schnabels think those thugs had done something to her? Could her tactics be any more lowbrow? ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Yvonne hid the resentment in her eyes. Why on earth! Why should Marcel pay so much attention to Noe, a wild girl who¡¯s just returned home? Just wait until he gets to know me better, then he will realize I¡¯m the perfect granddaughter for the Schnabel family¨Cblood ties be damned! With that thought, Yvonne was determined to drive Noe out of the Schnabel family! CHapter 18 CHapter 18 Yvonne was fuming and green with envy as everyone fussed over Noe, checking on her. Despite being a daughter of the Schnabel family too, why couldn¡¯t she get the same VIP treatment? Noe was thoroughly checked over by the family from head to toe. Tristan, spotting Yvonne still standing there, waved his hand dismissively and said, ¡°Yvonne, your sister¡¯s back, You can hit the road now.¡± Yvonne swallowed back her tears, reluctantly dragging herself away. This was all Noe¡¯s fault! Why did she have toe back and steal everything from her? Yvonne bolted straight for Ashlyn¡¯s hospital room and as soon as she entered, she copsed beside Ashlyn, crying her eyes out. ¡°Grandma, what did I do wrong? I saw Noe getting kidnapped and rushed back to tell Mom and Dad, and I even busted my phone, but they didn¡¯t believe me and kicked me out!¡± 2 Ashlyn¡¯s eyes snapped open, the sparkle of vitality shining in them. ¡°You¡¯re saying Noe was kidnapped?¡± ¡°Yeah, and I saw those thugs touching her all over, stripping her clothes off¡­¡± A look of disgust and agitation shed across Ashlyn¡¯s eyes. She frowned and said slowly, ¡°We. the Schnabel family don¡¯t want a tainted granddaughter. Yvonne, remember, you are the only granddaughter of the Schnabel family, got it?¡± Yvonne was over the moon! ¡°But what about Mom and Dad¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not dead yet. I call the shots in the Schnabel family.¡± Ashlyn patted Yvonne¡¯s hand, her face wrinkling into a smile. ¡°You need to secure that marriage arrangement with the Pock family. Once you marry in, you¡¯ll always be the Schnabel family¡¯s one and only daughter!¡± light bulb went off in Yvonne¡¯s head! Right, the marriage deal with the Pock families! She grew up in the Schnabel family, groomed to perfection as ady of high society. Once Mr. Pockid eyes on her, he¡¯d surely see she was the perfect match. How could Noe, a country bumpkin,pete with her? Once Yvonne became Mrs. Pock, both the Schnabel and Pock families would be hers! 13:14 ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll do my best. I¡¯m going to visit Grandpa Sexton right away! As long as Grandpa. Sexton takes a shine to me, Mr. Pock will know I¡¯m the right choice, and I won¡¯t let your down.¡± Ashlyn smiled, satisfied. Yvonne was a gift from the heavens, always so sweet and empathetic since she was a child. As for ra and Noe, neither were fit to be her granddaughters! Imperial West Hospital No sooner had Noe entered the hospital than she received an encrypted call from an ind. ¡°Boss, a new batch of hitmen has arrived. Something feels off. The Cerulean Whale has been. making big movestely. I heard they¡¯ve hooked up with the Toxic Monarch from the deep. web.¡± The Toxic Monarch, a drug lord lurking in the darkest corners of the deep web! Controlling thergest poppy fields In the area and a private army, topping the international police¡¯s most¨Cwanted list, always shrouded in mystery. Noe frowned slightly. ¡°No wonder the Cerulean Whale is going nuts, looks like they want to expand their turf in Harmonia Country. Use my ount to tip off the international cops, and give ¡®em this intel on the house.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After hanging up, her message alert started blinking. It was Vocalist. [Toxic Monarch and Cerulean Whale are teaming up. Imperial West Hospital¡¯s got some staff on the take, so watch your six.] Noe was confused. Why¡¯s he feeding her this intel? Got an addiction to being the bearer of bad news? Getting this kind of scoop usually meant tapping into the core assets of their respective powers, and here Vocalist was, handing over his findings on a silver tter, making Noe¡¯s cheeks burn. As she walked into the hospital room, Noe heard Marcel¡¯s loud ranting. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare try backing out of the game, you! Stop ying possum and get up!¡± ¡°Grandpa.¡± Marcel, with a handful of chess pieces, turned to see his precious granddaughter and broke into a huge grin. ¡°Come here. Noe, this is Grandpa Sexton.¡± 13:1 Chanter ¡°Hello, Grandpa Sexton.¡± Sexton, seeing Noe, immediately forgot about his aching head and back, and sat bolt upright in bed, eyes lighting up at the sight of the girl. Graceful and beautiful, moving with easy confidence, and what really caught his eye was her captivating presence. ¡°Great, just great. I¡¯m finally meeting my granddaughter¨Cinw.¡± Noe was caught off¨Cguard. Granddaughter¨Cinw? Sheposed herself, her eyshes fluttering like crow feathers, making the dust in the air seem to pause in her gaze. The next second, Noe looked seriously at Marcel. ¡°Grandpa, something¡¯s off with this room. It wasn¡¯t like this when I came yesterday.¡± Marcel was surprised, but if his granddaughter said so, he chose to believe unconditionally. ¡°Go check it out, I¡¯ll cover for you. Come on, Sexton, keep ying.¡± Sexton wasn¡¯t in the mood for chess now, his eyes practically glued to Noe. He was more than pleased! He had some reservations about Yvonne. Sure, she was pretty, but shecked. depth, not quite fitting the bill as Mrs. Pock. As for ra, Sexton liked her too, but the thought of a bookworm paired with his taciturn grandson gave him a headache. Noe was perfect! Carefully, Noe scoured the hospital room, leaving no stone unturned. She once nabbed an arms dealer with her uncanny profiling skills while working with Interpol, earning her the title of honorary comrade¨Cin¨Carms. Noe tapped her fingers on the ground, her brows furrowing slightly. ¡°Grandpa, something¡¯s off here.¡± Marcel set aside his chess, threw on his coat, and got out of bed. There was a floorboard that was obviously hollow. Lifting it revealed a bomb hidden underneath! On the bomb, the countdown timer showed only two minutes left! Marcel went pale with shock, grabbed Noe, and tried to rush her out. ¡°Move it, this ce is bombed, which means outside isn¡¯t safe either. Noe, I can take whates my way, but nothing better happen to you!¡± Sexton, no stranger to dicey situations, nodded in agreement. ¡°Right, run for it, and we¡¯ll cover you!¡± Noe didn¡¯t n to run. 13:14 M Did she say she wanted to leave? ¡°Grandpa, I can defuse this bomb. Let me do it.¡± Marcel didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately left the battlefield to Noe, She crouched down, pikked up a pair of scissors from the hospital room, and held her breath as she began inspecting the bomb. Defusing bombs wasn¡¯t new to her. The one in front of her was a standard 838 pineapple bomb, a type of aerial explosive with a devastating st radius in a small area, The modified pineapple bomb could reduce the entire Imperial West Hospital to rubble! There was a bunch of cotton padding under the bomb. Noe picked it up, turned the tail end over, reached in to remove the T¨Cshaped safety, the tail fins sprung open in an instant, and she quickly inserted the scissors into the squeeze hole. ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s done.¡± Marcel could barely contain his grin! ¡°Great, great, my granddaughter is so badass!¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Sexton was also relieved and was about to express his joy when he suddenly clutched his chest and copsed! Marcel got a fright and was just about to grab the call button when he saw Noe frowning at him, looking serious and concerned. ¡°Grandpa, we can¡¯t trust Grandpa Sexton to the medics outside. It¡¯s not safe.¡± Marcel, having weathered many storms, understood the reasoning. He was just panicked seeing his old buddy go down. Noe remainedposed and spoke calmly, ¡°I can treat Grandpa Sexton.¡± CHapter 19 CHapter 19 Marcel¡¯s eyes lit up! That¡¯s right, Noe was one heck of a healer, and a darn good one at that. Now, his prescriptions were all penned by Noe herself, and she checked on him before every dose. With his precious granddaughter around, what could possibly go wrong for Sexton? The door to the hospital room swung open, and a few medical staff with masks stood at the entrance. ¡°Mr. Marcel, Sexton has passed out, and we need to take him to the operating room now.¡± They obviously came prepared. Their faces were covered up tight, not letting anyone get a glimpse of who they really were. Marcel snorted coldly. ¡°I¡¯d like to see, with me right here, who dares to take Sexton away!¡± The medics were expressionless and spoke in a deep tone. ¡°It¡¯s crucial to take care of Sexton¡¯s health. If something happens to him in your room, the Pock family will hold you ountable. and even you won¡¯t be able to exin it away. Better hand him over to us.¡± Marcel was furious. ¡°Bullshit! I¡¯ve never heard of anyone daring to mess with me! Anyone who threatened me is six feet under in the old battlefield. You think you can too?¡± The medics were speechless. They exchanged nces, a silentmunication passing between them. The lead medic stepped forward, actually attempting toy hands on Marcel and forcibly take Sexton away! ¡°Mr. Marcel, no offense, but Sexton¡¯s condition is critical, and we must take him!¡± Noe¡¯s needles swiftly naked eye. pierced Sexton¡¯s acupuncture points, moving at speeds invisible to the Before the medics could get any closer, Sexton¡¯s eyes snapped open. He kicked the leading doctor square in the chest with a heavy foot. ¡°Get the hell away from me!¡± The doctor, caught off guard by Sexton¡¯s sudden resistance, was holding a sharp little knife, its de glinting with a chilling light! Marcel sneered, ¡°So it was Sexton you were after.¡± Guards that had been lying in wait under the bed sprang out, quickly apprehending the dazed medics. Noe was silent. 13:14 Chanter When she was checking for bombs earlier, she had spotted those special forces soldiers hiding under the bed. It turned out they were lying in wait, ready to nab someone at the crucial moment. Sexton, just waking up, spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and then passed out again. Noe spoke up, ¡°Grandpa, Grandpa Sexton needs surgery to drain the hematoma. Let¡¯s arrange the OR.¡± Marcel nodded,pletely trusting her judgment. ¡°You go ahead. Leave the rest to me.¡± Whatever demons or monsters were left in the hospital, Marcel would take care of them! Three hourster. Noe removed her mask, havingpleted a heart surgery all by herself. Sexton was still unconscious, but out of danger. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m heading back. If Grandpa Sexton¡¯s condition takes a turn, call me and I¡¯ll be right over. Marcel looked at his granddaughter¡¯s sweat¨Csoaked clothes, his heart aching for her. Sexton was lucky indeed. If it weren¡¯t for Noe, he might be ying chess with the Grim. Reaper by now. ¡°Alright, you go on home. I¡¯ll handle the hospital stuff. And those medics, I¡¯ll take care of them!¡± Noe guessed that the pineapple bomb in Marcel¡¯s room must have been the work of those bribed medics. Poisoning Sexton, nting a bomb in Marcel¡¯s room ¨C killing two birds with one stone. Seeing Noe¡¯s concern, Marcel patted her shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are cameras in my room.¡± Noe nodded, said goodbye to Marcel, and left the hospital. At the hospital entrance, Yvonne fussed over her clothes for a long time before walking in with a thermos in hand. She was determined to rack up enough brownie points in front of Sexton to let the old man see how perfect she was for the Pock family! She was the best daughter of the Schnabel family! When Yvonne pushed open the door to the hospital room, she saw Sexton lying on the bed with several tubes attached to him, appearing to be deep in slumber. ¡°Grandpa Sexton? I¡¯m Yvonne from the Schnabel family, and I¡¯vee to see you!¡± Sexton slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Yvonne?¡± Howe he remembered the Schnabel family¡¯s granddaughter who was just with him not being this one? Yvonne nodded excitedly, setting the chicken soup she had prepared next to Sexton¡¯s hand. ¡°Grandpa Sexton, I made this chicken soup for you myself. It¡¯s really good for your recovery!¡± She nced towards the door as she spoke. A crisp voice came from the entrance,den with an indescribable authority and dominance. ¡°Who are you?¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Palmer walked into the room, followed by a string of bodyguards. He had cleaned out the entire hospital¡¯s medical staff! It was only because Marcel hadn¡¯t left any room for those people toe inst time that they were hard to catch. So this time. Palmer had deliberately left a loophole, and with a thunderous strike, the Cerulean Whale would find it as hard as climbing to heaven to meddle with Imperial. West Hospital again! Yvonne looked at Palmer, the man in the ck suit with a rugged and handsome profile, hist every move exuding nobility. His tie was crisp, his gold¨Crimmed sses reflecting a cold light. radiating the aura of a king! ¡°Mr. Pock, I¡¯m Yvonne Schnabel. I¡¯ve brought some soup I made for Grandpa Sexton.¡± Palmer¡¯s expression was icy, and his gaze fell on the chicken soup in Yvonne¡¯s hands. He frowned and said coldly. ¡°Take your soup and get out.¡± Yvonne was stunned. How could he be so harsh to her? He definitely didn¡¯t know that she was his fianc¨¦e! Once he found out, he surely wouldn¡¯t kick. her out! After Palmer spoke, he didn¡¯t spare another nce at Yvonne, who was clearly, out of ce in the room. ¡°Grandpa, are you okay? I heard someone tampered with your medication. I¡¯m sorry foring. late.¡± Sexton waved his hand, coughing several times and speaking weakly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can¡¯t be around all the time. I know what¡¯s going on. I had an episode just now, and I remember it was the Schnabel family¡¯s granddaughter who saved me.¡± Sexton had just woken up, his mind a bit foggy, and he drifted back to sleep while talking to Palmer. Palmer carefully tucked him in, his gaze gentle, his sculpted features extra rugged, and his pupils held an unfathomable dark shimmer. UNMAN TO As Yvonne gazed at his profile, she could feel her heart going wild, thumping like crazy! The man in front of her was just too hot, a total package in looks and vibes¨Ctotally her match! And to top it off, he was the top dog on the elite entrepreneurs¡® rich list! Marrying into his world? Yvonne couldn¡¯t even begin to dream how sweet life would be! Palmer looked up at Yvonne, furrowing his brows as he asked, ¡°Why are you still here? 1 told you get lost.¡± Yvonne, with a coy look, softened her voice as she said, ¡°Palmy, you know, we¡¯re engaged¡­.. haven¡¯t you forgotten? I¡¯m the granddaughter of the Schnabel family, the only grandchild my Grandma¡¯s got. I¡¯m your fianc¨¦el¡± The only one? Just before, Sexton said it was the granddaughter of the Schnabel family who saved him. Palmer was emotionless, his gaze icy and indifferent. ¡°So you¡¯re saying you saved my granddad?¡± Yvonne nodded frantically! Sexton must¡¯ve gotten it twisted; there weren¡¯t that many granddaughters in the Schnabel family. ra¡¯s over in Emerald County, so it couldn¡¯t possibly have been that country bumpkin Noe who saved him, right? ¡°It was me. I¡¯m a student of Professor Calvin, and saving your grandpa was the least I could do. I¡¯m willing to do anything to make you happy, Palmy¡­ Palmer withdrew his gaze, nodding slightly. ¡°Alright then, scram, and don¡¯te back.¡± Yvonne was speechless. How could he do this to her! She had just told him she saved Sexton, and he still kicked her out? ¡°Palmy¡­¡± Palmer, clearly annoyed, waved his hand and instantly a few bodyguards stepped up, grabbed Yvonne by the arms, and chucked her out. Yvonne stood in front of the hospital room, on the verge of tears, staring at the shut door. She¡¯d definitely be back! Inside the room, Palmer was the picture of cool detachment. His secretary stepped forward, bowing slightly as she asked, ¡°Mr. Pock, do you suspect something¡¯s fishy with Ms. Schnabel?¡± Palmer massaged his temples, a predatory smile curling his lips. ¡± she really and save my grandfather, why would she bring him chicken soup? Clearly a fool BENS SNAC soon ehe¡¯s thunder, Go dig up how many daughters the Schnabel family really hash ¡°Yes, sin.¡± CHapter 20 CHapter 20 Palmer hung around Sexton for a bit before getting up and walking out of the ward. Outside the ward, Yvonne was practically drooling over Palmer. ¡°Palmy, how about we grab dinner together? I know this killer spot downtown that¡¯s just perfect. for couples¨Csuper romantic. I have always wanted to go there with you. Palmer didn¡¯t even give her a nce, his profile cold as ice, untouched by the world, his eyes sparkling like diamonds. ¡°Beat it.¡± The bodyguards kept Yvonne at bay, preventing her from getting any closer to Palmer. Yvonne was stamping her feet in frustration! Once Palmer realizes how awesome she is, he¡¯s bound to fall for her! He must have kicked her out because he¡¯s clueless about their engagement. After some thought, Yvonne dialed a number on her cellphone. ¡°Hello, I¡¯d like to add a trending topic on Twitter, about the Schnabel family and the Pock family¡¯s engagement!¡± Palmer sat in the doctor¡¯s office, pondering over Sexton¡¯s poisoning incident. Calvin came jogging in, his forehead slick with sweat. ¡°Mr. Pock, I¡¯ve looked over Sexton¡¯s prescription; there¡¯s nothing wrong with it, but someone. switched up some of the meds he was taking. I¡¯ve checked his health, and the surgery was a sess! Thankfully, whoever operated on him was a real pro; it looks like the work of a master!¡± Palmer eased up a bit and asked, ¡°A master? Yvonne imed she did the surgery.¡± Calvin swore in exasperation. ¡°Fat chance, I had her in ss just yesterday, and she couldn¡¯t even tell different surgical des apart. And she¡¯s supposed to perform surgery? The person who operated on Sexton is clearly an expert, a genius even! It kinda reminds me of Ulrich¡¯s technique.¡± Palmer nodded. ¡°Thanks, Professor Calvin, for looking after my grandfather.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my job. Gonna make my rounds now.¡± Calvin couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the wound he¡¯d seen as it was stitched up so beautifully! If it weren¡¯t for Sexton¡¯s high¨Cprofile status, he¡¯d have taken a photo to study it. Ulrich was a well¨Cknown prodigy in the medical field, and also Marcel¡¯s grandson. If he happened to be there and performed the surgery, it¡¯s not out of the question. Rumor has it he was in Marcel¡¯s room when Sexton fell ill. Maybe Sexton got confused post¨Csurgery, mistaking the grandson for the granddaughter! A bodyguard walked in with a phone, whispering, ¡°Boss, Ms. Schnabel has bought a trending topic about you. The secretary let out a shriek and whipped out her phone. Top of the trending list was the engagement between Yvonne and Palmer! The post even had detailed introductions of Palmer and Yvonne, pointing out that the Schnabel family had only one daughter! And there werements quoting Beckett from an event, ¡°I, Beckett, only have one sister, and the Schnabel family will always have just one daughter!¡± Thement section was covertly gorging on the drama. [What¡¯s this high¨Cprofile engagement announcement about? It was like a tale of a mogul and a princess in love!] [Miss Yvonne looks every bit the perfectdy, a match made in heaven with Mr. Pock.] [The crowd¡¯s buzzing¨Cwhen¡¯s the wedding?] The secretary was gobsmacked! ¡°Thank goodness they don¡¯t have your photo, Mr. Pock Has Yvonne lost her marbles? Posting so many edited pictures of herself, she doesn¡¯t look anything like that!¡± Palmer¡¯s lips curled in a cold smirk, his whole being exuding a frosty aura! Those who knew him were aware that he was pissed! A sharp, icy glint shed in his eyes. Palmer spoke icily, ¡°Scrub the post, find out who¡¯s behind this, bankrupt those marketing ounts, and sue them.¡± ¡°Right away!¡± ¡°Prepare two gifts for the Schnabel family.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. The secretary got all excited. ¡°Aww, Mr. Pock, did Ms. Schnabel¡¯s reminder jog your memory about your engagement, and now you¡¯re off to ask for her hand?¡± One gift has to be for Ms. Schnabel, and the other for her parents! Another assistant chimed in, ¡°Are you daft? If Mr. Pock was going to propose, he wouldn¡¯t 13:15 Chap 20 have told Ms, Schnabel to scram just now. After buying such a crazy trending topic, how could he go ask for her hand?¡± The secretary was silent. Right, Palmer did just kick Yvonne out! ¡°So what are you up to then, Mr. Pock?¡± With an air of nobility, Palmer spoke calmly. ¡°One¡¯s for Ulrich to thank him for saving Grandpa. the other¡¯s for the Schnabel parents¨CI¡¯m calling off the engagement!¡± The secretary almost bit his own tongue! ¡°Mr. Pock, your grandfather has juste around, and you¡¯re calling off the engagement? If he finds out, won¡¯t he have a rpse from the shock?¡± The assistant retorted. ¡°You¡¯re the dalt one. With Ms. Schnabel acting like this, buying that nutty trending topic, it Mr. Pock doesn¡¯t call off the engagement, that¡¯ll kill his grandfather.¡± The assistant handed over an IPad and said, ¡°Mr. Pock, the Schnabel family does have. another daughter, ra, currently doing research in Emerald County. She¡¯s the one whoseb made headlinesst year.¡± Palmer took the iPad. There was a photo of a girl with an expressionless face, ra, in ab coat holding a test tube. seemingly at peace with the world. The secretary eximed, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought the Schnabel family actually has another daughter, and she¡¯s a genius at that, a postdoc at 18, an honorary fellow at the Harmonia Country Science Research Institute¨Cnow there¡¯s the true daughter of the Schnabel family!¡± ¡°Mr. Pock, are you canceling the engagement with this Ms. Schnabel too?¡± Palmer was silent. He didn¡¯t have an engagement with every Ms. Schnabel out there! ¡°I¡¯ve got an engagement with the Schnabel family, not some Ms. Schnabel. Get the break¨Cup gift ready, and I¡¯m going to call it quits in a few days.¡± The e assistant knew Palmer was set in his ways and wanted to make onest¨Cditch effort. ¡°Mr. Pock, the Schnabels sent an invite for their daughter¡¯s birthday next week. Maybe hit that up first and then drop the break¨Cup bomb? After all, the two families go way back. You¡¯d be really pping the Schnabels in the face if you did it like this.¡± Palmer nodded and said, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s the n. I¡¯ll announce the breakup at Ms. Schnabel¡¯s birthday party.¡± The secretary thought to himself that the Schnabels would probably have a fit. That Ms. Schnabel, she better start praying for good luck! ¡°A birthday party?¡± 13:15 Noe was mid¨Cbite when her folks made a big deal about throwing her a birthday party. She instinctively wanted to say no thanks. She wasn¡¯t one for the limelight. Back when she was with the Lamberts, she never got birthday gifts, only Briony got a birthday cake. Belinda wouldn¡¯t let Noe waste money but would cough up thousands for Briony¡¯s cake. iming it was to make up for Briony¡¯s sadness. Sienna was cupping her face, looking at Noe with kid gloves. ¡°Sweetheart, sorry your dad and I never celebrated your birthday all these years. This time. we¡¯re gonna announce you to the world at your birthday party! Tell everyone you¡¯re the only daughter the Schnabels have!¡± Tristan was nodding like a bobblehead next to her. He had dug up that back in the Lambert days, his precious girl never celebrated her birthday. That¡¯s just sad! Thinking about how his daughter had suffered made Tristan want to cry. Boo¨Choo¨Choo, Noe had it tough! They had to make it up to her big time! ¡°Honey, don¡¯t worry, from now on, your mom and I will make your birthdays special, and you¡¯ll be the happiest princess in the world!¡± The four Schnabel boys were also nodding fiercely, even starting to n the birthday party on the spot. Seeing them so excited, Noe didn¡¯t have the heart to say no and agreed. Beckett tenderly stroked Noe¡¯s silky hair and said with a smile, ¡°Noe, you just show up and look pretty, we¡¯ll handle the rest. Leave everything to your brothers!¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll throw the grandest birthday party for our little sis!¡± Yvonne, shamelessly lounging on the sofa, was practically tearing her handkerchief to shreds! Why should Noe have it so good? She was a Schnabel daughter too, but no one ever made a fuss about her birthday, not even a gift. Does blood really mean that much? CHapter 21 CHapter 21 Standing in front of a vermilion gate worth three million, ra in her whiteb coat dropped her suitcase. ¡°Mom, Dad, Bro, and sis, I¡¯m back.¡± Sienna dashed over like a shot, grabbed ra¡¯s hand, and gave her the once¨Cover with the same serious scrutiny she¡¯d given Noe earlier, her heart aching with concern. ¡°ra, have you lost even more weight? Aren¡¯t you eating well in Emerald County? Mom¡¯s got some soup ready to beef you up.¡± ra shook her head, ¡°No need, I¡¯m doing great.¡± She turned around, her gaze zeroing in on Noe, who was surrounded by the four sons of the Schnabel family. Noe stood gracefully, her delicate face bearing a high resemnce to Sienna, but her brows and eyes held Marcel¡¯s sharp authority, making her seem like a rare orchid in a deserted valley. breathtakingly beautiful. ra couldn¡¯t help but admire inwardly; her sister was indeed a Schnabel through and through, her beauty was enough to make one¡¯s heart skip a beat! ¡°Hey there, I¡¯m ra, and this is a little something for you.¡± ra took out a small box from her suitcase, revealing a colorful feather hair clip inside. Each feather shimmered like gold under the lights, casting enchanting, fleeting glimmers, dazzling enough to rival diamonds. ¡°This came from one of my experiments, not worth much. If you don¡¯t like it, no sweat¡­¡± After all, her experiments involved tens of thousands of chickens. Upon hearing that the hair clip was extracted from those chickens, Yvonne took a big step back. ¡°ra, it¡¯s cool you love your research and all, but bringing something like this straight from theb? Gross!¡± Noe was taken aback. She knew about this hair clip: justst month, Emerald County¡¯s Research Institute No. 3 reportedly bred a specimen closest to a chicken breed from 3000 years ago, the Phoenix Lab No. 6. Institute No. 3 was a top¨Csecret project within all of Harmonia Country¡¯s research initiatives, and who would¡¯ve thought ra was its head honcho! The value of this feather hair clip wasn¡¯t something that could be measured in money; it was a significant leap for human research, bound to have a profound impact on various fields in Harmonia Country! Noe epted the hair clip and said, ¡°Thanks, ra, I really like it, but isn¡¯t it too precious?¡± What she meant by ¡®precious¡® was probably the hassle of getting it out of the research institute. Yvonne rolled her eyes. Typical country bumpkin, treating a chicken feather like a treasure. ra¡¯s face lit up with a smile for the first time, her slender figure and neatly trimmed short hair complementing her delicate and graceful visage, dimples popping as she smiled. Indeed, a sister is the sweetest, softest creature! ¡°If you like it, that¡¯s all that matters. The procedure¡¯s no biggie. If it wasn¡¯t such a pain to get out, I would¡¯ve been there to wee you home too. It¡¯s so annoying. I might just blow up theb one day and try to make it home every day!¡± Noe was speechless. Blowing up theb was definitely overkill. It was a big deal for ra toe out, always escorted by a bunch of special forces to keep ra safe, and even Marcel had to file a report to see her. Over time, ra got so fed up with the hassle that she just stoppeding home. ra couldn¡¯t resist and hugged Noe tightly. Ah, her sister smelled so good! Nothing like her stinky brothers! The four sons of the Schnabel family looked on with envy and resentment. They wanted to hug their sister too! But fearing her anger, they only dared to ruffle the fluff on her head, helplessly watching ra snuggle with Noe. Yvonne was dumbfounded. Had ra lost her marbles? She was actually hugging that country bumpkin! Clearly, too much time in the sticks had rubbed off on her. A bookworm and a bumpkin, and the most beautiful, elegant daughter of the Schnabel family could only be her, Yvonne. ¡°ra, I need to talk to you about something.¡± said Yvonne. ra let go of Noe and turned to Yvonne, ¡°Why are you still dressed so badly? People know you like that rustic charm, but others might think you¡¯re a country girl trying to be a city slicker. Don¡¯t be an eyesore and go take care of Grandma.¡± Yvonne was on the verge of tears! She tugged at ra¡¯s sleeve and said, ¡°ra, I really have something important to tell you.¡± ra was fed up. Yvonne just couldn¡¯t take a hint, always interrupting her sisterly bonding time. ¡°Alright, to the study then. Each of the Schnabel kids had their own private study, and Tristan and Sienna never pried into their affairs, allowing the kids to forge their own paths. Once in the study, Yvonne burst into tears as soon as she entered. ¡°ra, don¡¯t be fooled by Noe; she¡¯s nothing but a sly fox, pretending to be all pitiful on her first day back to make Mom, Dad, and the brothers feel guilty. Today, she was even flirting with several guys on the street. We¡¯re the true daughters of the Schnabel family, and she¡¯ll definitely rob you blind, leaving you with nothing! ra, you¡¯re the real deal, a true Schnabel daughter. why should you give up everything for someone else? We should team up and kick Noe out: having a daughter like her is just shaming the Schnabel family. Grandma was so upset she¡¯s in the hospital now.¡± To prove her point, she pulled out her phone and showed a video she¡¯d taken of Ashlyn in the hospital. In the video, Ashlyn was full of vigor, munching through a dozen oranges, showing no signs of illness. ra raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Grandma seems to have a good appetite. At her age, she shouldn¡¯t be eating so much sweet stuff. How are you taking care of her? And those cupcakes, are they really something she should be eating?¡± Yvonne was at a loss for words. She only bought all that stuff to show off to Ashlyn, trying to look like the dutiful granddaughter! But Ashlyn was clearly having a st eating it too, so what gives ra, who¡¯s hardly ever around Ashlyn, the right to throw shade? ¡°Grandma got sick because of Noe! ra, did you not hear what I said? The moment she got home, she snagged Mom¡¯s Amethyst gem and banned any food with onions or ginger from the kitchen!¡± ra nodded and said, ¡°Oh, so Noe¡¯s not into onions and ginger, huh? And she digs Amethyst gems? I¡¯ve got a set too, and I¡¯ll bring it to herter!¡± Finally, she¡¯s getting the picture about what Noe liked! Yvonne was speechless. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Seriously? ra¡¯s been nothing but cold to her forever, always ragging on her for either being too dumb to crack calculus in third grade, or for being so ugly it¡¯s embarrassing, never including her in anything. And now she¡¯s all buddy¨Cbuddy with Noe? She must think she¡¯s not a real Schnabel and is sucking up to Noe just to stick with the Schnabels! ra, all pleased with herself, went to get the Amethyst gems. ¡°Close the door on your way out. I¡¯m off to give Noe the Amethyst gems,¡± Yvonne watched ra¡¯s back, her eyes full of spite, and then theynded on theptop flere had just opened. Half an hourter. Noe was surprised to see a whole set of top¨Cnotch Amethyst gems right in front of her, She remembered these were the ones she won at a gemstone auction two years ago, fetching a price of a hundred million dors, and it turned out the Schnabels had bought them for ra, ra, rubbing her hands together in anticipation, looked at Noe and said, ¡°Noe, 1 heard you¡¯re into Amethyst gems. This was a graduation present from Mom and Dad when 1 finished my PhD a couple of years back. It¡¯s all yours now!¡± She¡¯d thought hard about it and decided the Phoenix Lab gift card was way too tacky, Petter to give something with real value, right? ¡°Thanks, ra.¡± ra was grinning from ear to ear, happler than when she had a breakthrough with her research data. The Schnabel parents were all smiles seeing their daughters getting along so well. They knew it! ra, raised by them, would surely love and care for Noe just like they did! CHapter 22 CHapter 22 Yvonne shamelessly mooched a dinner at the Schnabel family¡¯s pad. Turns out, being Ashlyn¡¯s adopted kid wasn¡¯t so bad. When she wasn¡¯t causing a ruckus, the Schnabel couple and their four boys would just give her the cold shoulder at most, nothing too harsh. After dinner, Tristan rallied the Schnabel boys to brainstorm about Noe¡¯s birthday party. Beckett chimed in. ¡°Our ce is kinda cramped. Noe¡¯s party might be a tad humble. How about we snap up a new crib right now? The penthouse over at Serene Haven is pretty sweet, a thousand square meters for just a cool billion. We can just put it in Noe¡¯s name.¡± Tristan agreed, ¡°Serene Haven¡¯s barely passable. These days, the mansions in Imperial City ain¡¯t what they used to be. Next year, let¡¯s jet off to Italon and snag Noe a castle. Castles here feel too small¨Ctime. Plus, with Grandpa and Grandma not well, they can¡¯t travel abroad.¡± Noe was shocked at Tristan¡¯s words. Ulrich suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s get fresh flowers air¨Cshipped for the venue. Noe digs roses, so how ¡®bout we craft a rose crown with pink diamonds for her birthday?¡± Stirling got hyped, ¡°We¡¯ll invite all the media, have choppers and drones live¨Cstreaming the whole party, and let the world know about our Schnabel family princess! I¡¯ve already touched base with Imperial Quartet for the music, and Master Azure¡¯s agreed to design a custom gown for Noe!¡± Jasper added, ¡°I¡¯ve invited top chefs from state dinners around the globe for the catering. The ingredients will be air¨Cfreighted the same day, so Noe can feast on the freshest delights from all over the world. Oh, and we¡¯ll ditch the onions and garlic.¡± Noe didn¡¯t know what to say.. It was just a birthday. Wasn¡¯t this all a bit much? Just as Noe was about to decline, ra gently held her hand. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We¡¯re in a bit of a rush this year, sorry for the fuss, Noe. I know you¡¯ve never had a birthday party back at the Lambert family. It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll make it up to you, and give you the best of everything in the world.¡± Sienna was on the verge of tears. She was still fretting that the ns were toost¨Cminute to give her darling daughter the best possible experience. And to think, her beloved had never even celebrated her birthday before! ¡°Sweetie, Mom and Dad are so sorry you¡¯ve had it rough. Why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡± Sienna¡¯s beauty was ssic, the picture of a well¨Cread Horwich familydy ¨C pure, expressive eyes that could melt hearts, especially when she cried. The Schnabel brothers were tripping over themselves trying tofort her. ra patted her own mouth and said, ¡°My bad for running my mouth and upsetting Mom. Sorry, Mom!¡± Noe held Sienna¡¯s hand, wiping away her tears. ¡°I¡¯ve been fine, no worries.¡± Sienna knew her daughter was just consoling her; it was a mix of heartache and gratitude, but mostly it was just painful to know. ra, foreseeing a headache if Sienna continued crying, quickly changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the fireworks for the party. Ourb just cooked up these colorless, odorless fireworks with some sick effects. Noe will definitely love ¡®em!¡± ra¡¯sb stuff was mostly top¨Csecret government gear. If she said it was the good stuff, you couldn¡¯t even buy it with cash! ¡°I¡¯ll grab myptop to write a report and show you guys the designs!¡± Every experiment she ran was crucial, demanding full¨Con focus. The data was super important, too. Even a tiny slip could lead to irreversible damage. Back in the study, ra fired up herptop and her brows instantly knotted ¨C something was off with her data! ¡°Who¡¯s been in my study just now?¡± Sienna looked up at the stern¨Cfaced ra and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up? Noe and I popped in earlier to change the flowers in your study.¡± ra, still frowning, said, ¡°Someone¡¯s tampered with myptop.¡± Herptop data was sacred- not a bit could be out of ce! Yvonne, green with envy over Noe¡¯s birthday ns, piped up. ¡°Everyone knows not to mess with ra¡¯sptop, except maybe Noe. Probably just an ident, but Noe, don¡¯t be scared. You¡¯ve gotta own up, and everyone will forgive you!¡± Noe was left speechless. Why would I mess with ra¡¯sptop? She thought. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± Yvonne, in her sweetest voice, stirred the pot, ¡°Noe, no use denying it. ra¡¯s data is super important ¨C one wrong click could spell disaster. Even if it was an ident, you¡¯ve gotta fess up!¡± Noe frowned slightly and said again, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± Sienna nodded in agreement. ¡°We really didn¡¯t touch yourptop. I can vouch for that.¡± 12:21 Yvonne rolled her eyes. ¡°Mom can¡¯t just cover for you ¡®cause you¡¯re the new kid on the block. It ain¡¯t good for you, you know. Grandma always taught me to be honest and trustworthy. Why are you being like this, Mom?¡± Sienna was in a bind. She was sure Noe hadn¡¯t touched ra¡¯sptop, but data doesn¡¯t just change itself, does it? Yvonne smirked to herself. For ra, those precious datasets trump everything. If Noe messed with them, she¡¯d go ballistic! Let them fight like cats and dogs, and soon the Schnabel family will have only one daughter- her! Whether it¡¯s birthday parties or the Pock family engagement, it¡¯ll all be hers alone! ra nodded. ¡°I trust Noe. If she says it wasn¡¯t her, I believe her. But you¡­ Yvonne, I recall you were in my study before dinner. Did you touch myptop?¡± Yvonne¡¯s face went pale with panic! ¡°Nope, wasn¡¯t me. I know better than to mess with yourptop, so how could you even think it was me? The only one in the house who¡¯s clueless about this stuff is Noe, so¡­¡± ra¡¯s face was stone¨Ccold, her piercing gaze chilling to the bone. Despite her youth, she held a high rank and exuded an aura of authority that scared the living daylights out of her underlings. Just one look from her was enough to send shivers down Yvonne¡¯s spine and give her the creeps! ¡°I got cameras in my study, so let¡¯s just check the footage and see.¡± Yvonne was dumbfounded. Was ra for real? Who puts cameras in their study? How paranoid can you get about your own family? Noe¡¯s voice rang out, nonchnt as ever, ¡°ra, need a hand? Mind if I take a look at your data?¡± Yvonne was full of scorn. She couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of ra¡¯s crazy data, and here was country bumpkin Noe thinking she could crack it? ¡°Noe, c¡¯mon, ra¡¯s data isn¡¯t child¡¯s y. You won¡¯t get it.¡± ra never lets anyone peek at her precious data! But ra hesitated for a sec before nodding. ¡°Sure.¡± It was a rare request from her little sis, and she just didn¡¯t have the heart to say no! Besides, Noe probably wouldn¡¯t understand the data anyway, so no harm in showing her. Noe took theptop and scanned over theplex jumble of numbers like she was reading the morning paper, all focused and serious. She pointed to a figure and asked, ¡°ra, is there a problem with this data?¡± ra leaned in, surprised, ¡°Yes, how did you spot it? These experimental figures are all mixed up with loads of controls. Fixing it¡¯s gonna be a real pain, and I gotta head back to theb,¡± Noe¡¯s fingers danced across the keyboard, a symphony of clicks filling the air. ¡°Is this the one?¡± ra was floored. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it! Noe, how did you figure it out? It¡¯s superplex. I couldn¡¯t even remember it!¡± Noe replied coolly. ¡°Just did the math. Youid out all the data, so just apply Lagrange¡¯s Intermediate Value Theorem and L¡¯H?pital¡¯s rule and vo, piece of cake.¡± ra was over the moon! The four Schnabel brothers were all grinning like idiots at Noe. Their little sis was a genius, for real! Yvonne stood there silently. She couldn¡¯t even understand a word Noe said. It had to be a con; there was no way she could solve the data on ra¡¯sptop. ra was probably just covering for her! Yvonne totally forgot that she was the one who tampered with the data. Her face was all twisted up, and while everyone was distracted, she slipped out unnoticed. The Schnabel family didn¡¯t even realize they were one short. ra showed Noe hertest experiment, and when the fireworks went up, flower petals danced in the sky, creating a breathtaking sea of flowers! In the midst of the blossoms, the fireworks formed radiant words: ¡°Noe, I love you!¡± It was a rare request from her little sis, and she just didn¡¯t have the heart to say no! Besides. Noe probably wouldn¡¯t understand the data anyway, so no harm in showing her. Noe took theptop and scanned over theplex jumble of numbers like she was reading the morning paper, all focused and serious. She pointed to a figure and asked, ¡°ra, is there a problem with this data?¡± ra leaned in, surprised, ¡°Yes, how did you spot it? These experimental figures are all mixed up with loads of controls. Fixing it¡¯s gonna be a real pain, and I gotta head back to theb.¡± Noe¡¯s fingers danced across the keyboard, a symphony of clicks filling the air. ¡°Is this the one?¡± ra was floored. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it! Noe, how did you figure it out? It¡¯s superplex. I couldn¡¯t even remember it!¡± Noe replied coolly, ¡°Just did the math. Youid out all the data, so just apply Lagrange¡¯s Intermediate Value Theorem and L¡¯H?pital¡¯s rule and vo, piece of cake.¡± ra was over the moon! The four Schnabel brothers were all grinning like idiots at Noe. Their little sis was a genius. for real! Yvonne stood there silently. She couldn¡¯t even understand a word Noe said. It had to be a con; there was no way she could solve the data on ra¡¯sptop. ra was probably just covering for her! Yvonne totally forgot that she was the one who tampered with the data. Her face was all twisted up, and while everyone was distracted, she slipped out unnoticed. The Schnabel family didn¡¯t even realize they were one short. ra showed Noe hertest experiment, and when the fireworks went up, flower petals danced in the sky, creating a breathtaking sea of flowers! In the midst of the blossoms, the fireworks formed radiant words: ¡°Noe, I love you!¡± CHapter 23 CHapter 23 The four Schnabel brothers widened their eyes. ra, you¡¯re totally cheating here! Ulrich shed a meaningful smile, his eyes shimmering with ripples like a serene autumn pond, as his gazended on the hairpin atop Noe¡¯s head. On the hairpin he had carved himself, he had also stealthily inscribed: ¡°I love you!¡± The butler hurried forward, ¡°Mr. Schnabel, Palmer has sent over two gifts.¡± Tristan scratched his head. ¡°Two gifts? Should be one for the elders and one for Noe, right? After all, Noe and him are still engaged. The kid sure knows how to curry favor!¡± Sienna looked puzzled. ¡°But Palmer doesn¡¯t know Noe¡¯s back home, so howe he¡¯s sending her a gift?* The butler exined, ¡°One¡¯s for you, Mr. and Mrs. Schnabel, and one for Ulrich, as a thank¨Cyou for saving Sexton Pock.¡± ¡°When did I save Sexton?¡± Noe knew full well that the gift from the Pock family was meant for her but they mistook Ulrich for her. She discreetly tugged Ulrich¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°Ulrich, just take it.¡± Ulrich¡¯s heart nearly melted when a soft little hand gripped his suddenly! Thinking it over, since Noe had been at the hospitaltely, she might know the scoop. Tossing all rational thought aside, Ulrich, with a genteel smile, yed along. ¡°That was me. I helped Sexton with a prescription before. Mr. Pock is too kind.¡± Sienna yfully scolded, ¡°You didn¡¯t even give us a heads¨Cup. You almost had me thinking Mr. Pock got the wrong person. We¡¯ve invited Mr. Pock to Noe¡¯s birthday party; they can meet the kids then!¡± Noe was confused. What¡¯s that got to do with me? Engagement? When?¡± Seeing how the Schnabels were all hyped up, Noe didn¡¯t have the heart to burst their bubble. Imperial West Hospital, patient room Yvonne, holding a nourishing tonic soup, took her sweet time fixing up her look outside Sexton¡¯s room. ¡°Palmy, this is the soup I made for¡­¡± Inside, Palmer was locked in a standoff with Sexton over taking his medicine. ¡°I¡¯m not taking It! There¡¯s nothing wrong with me, and it was the wrong medsst time that made me sick! They are all bad stuff, out to get mel¡± Palmer was helpless. It was indeed his oversight that allowed Sexton¡¯s meds to be tampered withst time, but now It¡¯s Sexton¡¯s excuse for not taking them. ¡°Grandpa, this batch was made on a dedicated production line just for you, and I personally oversaw it, so it¡¯s all good.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t listen, and I won¡¯t take it!¡± Yvonne, feeling ignored, promptly stepped forward, her hat adorned with a massive cluster of artificial flowers screaming for attention, and her skirt supported by a huge crinoline that required her to sidle through the door, with an umbre in hand that nearly poked secretary Annie in the face.. Annie was a bit upset. What¡¯s with Ms. Schnabel? Her fashion sense was like a psychedelic trip! And it was a hospital, not a costume catwalk! As a fellow blue¨Cblooded youngdy, how could her taste be so¡­ backwoods? Palmer had always preferred a clean, neat look. Yvonne¡¯s getup was like jumping into Palmer¡¯s no¨Cgo zone. Annie, maintaining her professionalposure as a top¨Cnotch assistant, suggested, ¡°Ms. Schnabel, would you mind changing into something more appropriate? Your outfit isn¡¯t quite fitting for ady of your stature.¡± Yvonne haughtily lifted her chin, sizing up Annie who stood a head taller in a professional suit. Who¡¯s this chick? Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Who is she to criticize my careful selection for seeing Palmer? Yvonne¡¯s gaze swept over Annie¡¯s supermodel¨Clike face and figure, scoffing. ¡°And who are you, some random chick? Worthy of standing next to Palmer? Once we¡¯re married, I¡¯ll have him fire all the female staff!¡± ¡°Ms. Schnabel, you¡¯re a woman too, so how can you endorse such workce gender bias?¡± ¡°Humph, unlike you lowlifes, I am Palmer¡¯s fianc¨¦e, the futuredy of the Pock family!¡± Annie was bbergasted! They hadn¡¯t even gotten married, yet Yvonne was like this, what if she actually married Mr. Pock? That would plunge the entire Pock Group into a female workce crisis! Sexton nced at Yvonne and saw a colorful blob standing there. 12:22 ¡°And you are?¡± Yvonne quickly shoved Annie aside, fawning over him. ¡°Grandpa Sexton, I¡¯m Yvonne from the Schnabel family. I specially brewed this soup for you!¡± Sexton felt his own eyes drying out looking at her glistening lids. ¡°Yvonne? Never heard of a Schnabel granddaughter by that name.¡± Clearly, Sexton didn¡¯t recognize her. Palmer¡¯s gaze was icy, devoid of any warmth. ¡°Grandpa, she ims she saved youst time.¡± Sexton¡¯s eyes popped out in disbelief. ¡°What? No, no, no, definitely not her. The one who saved me was way prettier, had better taste. It was definitely not this peacock¡­¡± Yvonne panicked as her lie was exposed. ¡°Palmy, I didn¡¯t mean to lie. I really am Professor Calvin¡¯s student, and I know how to take care of your grandfather, so let me stay and look after him, and it would be even better if you could stay here too.¡± Palmer frowned, his aura as formidable as a natural¨Cborn Satan, cold and heartless. ¡°Get out, and don¡¯t you evere back to see my grandfather again. You and I have nothing to do with each other.¡± Yvonne¡¯s face turned pale with shock. How could he be so heartless to her! ¡°Palmy, I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e¡­¡± Palmer let out a snort of disdain, his eyes deep and dark, ¡°A mere adopted daughter of the Schnabel family dares to call herself my fianc¨¦e? Since when did the Schnabels grow such a big pair?¡± Adopted daughter! How in the world did Palmer get wind of that? Yvonne was freaking out! ¡°I truly love you, Palmer, and I¡¯m the one who¡¯s meant to be your wife. Marry me and you¡¯ll see I¡¯m the best choice!¡± Palmer, clearly irritated, waved his hand dismissively and instantly, a bodyguard stepped up. scooped up Yvonne in a sideways hold because of her outrageous hat and dress, and chucked her out! Finally, Sexton could enjoy some peace and quiet. ¡°Man, that chick was annoying, yapping away non¨Cstop. Thest one was so much quieter, and a real whiz at chess too. What was her name? I can¡¯t seem to remember¡­¡± Sexton¡¯s memory had been a bit spotty since his surgery. He was probably talking about ra, the national youth chess champion from a few years back. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m taking off now.¡± 12:22 ¡°Where to? Going on a hot date with my granddaughter¨Cinw?¡± Palmer gave him a cool nce and said, ¡°I¡¯m off to chat with Dr. Calvin about your meds.¡± Sexton immediately shut his eyes and started faking a faint. As Palmer left the hospital room, tall and majestic, he seemed to radiate light, like a natural¨Cborn monarch. He pulled out his phone and shot off a message. [Heads up, I heard that Thorpe from Cerulean Whale will show up at the bar tonight. I¡¯ll pick you up.] Noe responded quickly. [Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you at the entrance of Imperial West Hospital.] Was Noe at Imperial West Hospital too? Must be digging into that whole Cerulean Whale assassin business. Palmer quickened his pace, ignoring Yvonne who was loitering in the hallway, unwilling to leave, his face betraying a slight, almost imperceptible smile. But Yvonne wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer; she hitched up her dress and went after him! She just couldn¡¯t be without Palmer! The bodyguard blocked her at the door, and by the time Yvonne dashed out, Palmer was nowhere in sight. Fuming. Yvonne stood at the entrance, scanning around, when suddenly she spotted Noe! Noe had inherited the tall genes from the Schnabel couple, with a figure as elegant and willowy as Sienna, her hair cascading down, standing out in any crowd. ¡°What¡¯s that country bumpkin doing here?¡± She crouched and crept closer, just in time to see Noe getting into a beat¨Cup old Volkswagen! It had to be Noe¡¯s boyfriend picking her up! Country bumpkin remains a country bumpkin, with no taste in men, only able to snag a guy who drives a clunker like that, barely worth a dime, not even enough to buy her a handbag. Yvonne, with a cunning thought, made sure to snap a photo of Noe getting into the car. If the Schnabels got wind of Noe dating a random driver, they¡¯d surely kick her to the curb! ar CHapter 24 CHapter 24 The little ck car smoothly rolled out of the Imperial West Hospital grounds. ¡°That gal you just saw? She¡¯s not my girlfriend.¡± Noe didn¡¯t respond. ¡°She¡¯s my secretary.¡± Noe was like, what¡¯s the deal with her? Running the show as one of the big three on the deep web, it¡¯s no surprise Palmer¡¯s got a few secretaries, especially when that secretary looked like she could seriously kick some butt probably a real whiz at her job. ¡°Not bad.¡± said Noe. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Palmer went on to rify, ¡°You can¡¯t rece the standout abilities and shining moments that women bring to the table at work, so yeah, I¡¯ve got a good number ofdies on my team.¡± Noe nodded in agreement. ¡°Totally get you. My big bro¡¯spany is chock¨Cfull of women too. He always says no one falls for the boss just because of the job at hand; integrity and skills trump gender every time.¡± Palmer chuckled, ¡°Your brother and I are on the same page.¡± ¡°Guys can fall for their boss just as easily. It¡¯s got nothing to do with gender.¡± That¡¯s not exactly what Palmer meant! Palmer touched his nose, trying to mask the stiffness around his lips. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about Thorpe entering the country, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, Thorpe¡¯s probably here to touch base with Toxic Monarch.¡± Thorpe, the big cheese of the Cerulean Whale Organization, cozying up with Toxic Monarch in Harmonia Country¡¯s Imperial City ¨C that¡¯s quite a meet¨Cup! ¡°What¡¯s your take?¡± asked Palmer. Noe shot him a look and said coolly, ¡°Toxic Monarch¡¯s after the Harmonia market, and Thorpe¡¯s gunning for us. They¡¯re just teaming up for a quick minute.¡± Being both seasoned foxes in the deep web game, Thorpe and Toxic Monarch¡¯sbined craftiness could run circles around the, with not less than eight or ten sly tails trailing behind them. When Palmer heard her say ¡°us,¡± the corners of his mouth curled up ever so slightly, a wave of indescribable joy sweet as honey flooding his heart. Noe, catching the smile on Palmer¡¯s face, was a bit speechless. 12:22 Was Vocalist hit in the head during some missions or what? She¡¯d just mentioned Thorpe and Toxic Monarch joining forces to wipe them out, and he¡¯s still grinning? The neurology department at Imperial West Hospital was pretty decent too; might be worth getting Vocalist checked out when they get the chance. Rising Glory Group, the CEO¡¯s office. Beckett, sulted and booted, sat behind his grand desk, not a wrinkle to be seen on his shirt, his chiseled features exuding a warm elegance, every move demonstrating the polse of high society. His assistant, dressed in a sharp business suit, stood by respectfully. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, we¡¯ve dug up everything on Noe¡¯s time with the Lambert family.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°She¡¯s had it rough with the Lamberts. Her pocket money was capped at two hundred a month. often not even paid out. Last year, she got a measly five hundred for the whole year, nearly had to fork out for her own tuition.¡± ¡°Briony, the current darling of the Lamberts, grew up with Noe. She pulls in five grand monthly, raked in thirty thoust year, mostly under¨Cthe¨Ctable cash from Belinda.¡± Beckett massaged his brow, struggling to contain the rage bubbling inside and said, ¡°Go on!¡± ¡°Noe had a fianc¨¦ lined up, the big shot Milford from the Rosenberg family of Tranquility City. But the Rosenberg heir¡¯s a yer. The Lamberts wanted Briony to marry into the Rosenbergs. so they kicked Noe to the curb. When the old Mr. Schnabel sent folks to get her, they faced nothing but insults.¡± ¡°Just yesterday, Noe got nabbed ¨C all orchestrated by the Lamberts. They were hoping to sell her off to some hillbilly backwater, never to return.¡± Even the assistant was shaking in his boots. What a rotten bunch! The pen in Beckett¡¯s grip snapped clean in two! ¡°Great, just great! Those damned Lamberts! It would¡¯ve been okay if they were just nice to my sis, even if they were broke. But to torment her like that!¡± Beckett was usually the epitome ofposure and refinement; his assistant had never seen him so angry. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, Mr. Tobin from H&Y Corporation wants to meet you at the bar tonight for a business talk, and that Milford will be there too.¡± Beckett scoffed, his thin lips curving into a scornful smirk. 12:22 ¡°Tell Mr. Tobin I¡¯ll be right over.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± At the bar. As the biggest watering hole in all of Imperial City, the bar was a ze of shing lights with thundering music that rattled the senses and soul. The massive dance floor was packed. No sooner had Noe stepped in than she felt a few deliberate bumps against her arm. Palmer grabbed Noe¡¯s hand and pulled her close, his towering frame casting a protective shadow over her. ¡°Sorry, she¡¯s with me.¡± The would¨Cbe flirts, faced with Palmer¡¯s icy demeanor, Instinctively stepped back. Suddenly in Palmer¡¯s embrace, her face pressed against his shirt, she noticed he seemed to be wearing a sandalwood¨Clike cologne, subtle, filling her senses, and causing a slight warmth to spread across her cheeks. Her first time this close to a man, Noe held her breath, about to step back when Palmer¡¯s hand pressed against her spine. ¡°Shh. Thorpe¡¯s over there.¡± He leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and tinged with barely¨C contained delight and allure, thick with a maic charm. Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed even redder, her back stiffening as she followed Palmer¡¯s nod towards a booth. And sure enough, there was Thorpe, knocking back drinks. A few years back, Noe had crossed paths with Thorpe and knew his mug. The unfamiliar guy sharing his booth must be the Toxic Monarch! Palmer gave Noe¡¯s slender back a reassuring pat, which to any onlooker might have seemed like a cozy embrace ¡°Thorpe¡¯s brought a posse of thirty hitmen, and the Toxic Monarch¡¯s got over fifty goons with. him. Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there are more drug lords lurking around here.¡± Noe did a quick. headcount of the crowd. Palmer was taken aback ¨C how did she figure out Thorpe and Toxic Monarch¡¯s headcount in just a split second? She smelled good, making it a little hard for him to let go. ¡°Sorry for the intrusion, but we gotta y it cool to keep Toxic Monarch and Thorpe from spotting us.¡± Noe was like, talk about an unnecessary cover¨Cup! 12:22 Meanwhile, in another booth Milford¡¯s lecherous gaze swept across the dancers before hunting. for tonight¡¯s prey. ¡°Mr. Rosenberg, isn¡¯t that your fianc¨¦e over there?¡± Someone nudged Milford, pointing at two people huddled together at the edge of the dance floor. The man in the ck shirt was whispering something to the girl in his arms, and under the hazy lights, Noe¡¯s face was seductively charming. Milford¡¯s eyes lit up! But out loud, he sneered. ¡°My fianc¨¦e is Briony. She¡¯s the real deal from the Lambert family. Noe¡¯s just a fake. She¡¯s been giving me the cold shoulder, and now here she is, ying coy. in a nightclub.¡± Despite his words, his feet carried him straight towards Noe and Palmer. Milford stered on a greasy smile. ¡°Noe, long time no see. I¡¯ve been thinking about your every day!¡± Oh, right, the bar isn¡¯t Beckett¡¯s joint, so no biggie Milford got in. ¡°Milford? If you¡¯re sick in the head, check into a loony bin. This ain¡¯t your scene.¡± ¡°Noe, I know you¡¯re into me, or else why would you follow me here? Don¡¯t worry, I might not be able to marry you, but I can make you my mistress.¡± Milford thought his offer was pretty darn tempting, definitely better than her ying hostess here. She¡¯d surely bite! Palmer¡¯s smile vanished as he looked down at Noe. ¡°Sorry, just give me a minute.¡± Milford hadn¡¯t even noticed Palmer next to Noe, assuming he was just her client for the night. Palmer leisurely rolled up his sleeves, revealing muscr arms, and his fist, the size of a sandbag, landed squarely on Milford¡¯s face! *Argh!¡± A barrage of punches rained down, and in an instant, Milford felt several teeth shatter! ¡°Do you have any idea who I am¡­ Palmer stepped on Milford¡¯s face with his shiny leather shoes. He ground his heel a few times. his voice as cold as a demon of the dark night, ¡°Nothing but an uncultured bastard.¡± With a wave of his hand, someone from the shadows rushed over and dragged away Milford. who was beaten to a pulp, like hauling away a dead fish. Such brawls weren¡¯t rare in the bar, and with lighting dim enough, hardly anyone noticed Milford getting thrashed. Palmer turned around a slight annoyance still visible in his deep eyes as he looked at Noe with regret. ¡°Sorry for the scare. Just a minor issues, nothing to dwell on.¡± CHapter 25 CHapter 25 Palmer, even when he was throwing punches, was all grace and poise ¨C it was like he had choreographed each hit, explosive power and alll Noe was a bit dazed. For the first time in her life, someone stood up for her! This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Ever since Old Mrs. Lambert passed away, there had been no one in the Lambert family on her side. Every time she bumped into Milford, even if Noe hadn¡¯t done a thing, Belinda would openly mock her and then find an excuse to lock her up at home, sending Briony off on a date with Milford. Even back when Briony was just the nanny¡¯s daughter, she got the royal treatment in the Lambert family, way better than Noe ever did. She never cared about Milford and Briony anyway. Old Mrs. Lambert once held her hand, saying tenderly and said, ¡°My dear girl, you deserve the best man, someone who would protect you unconditionally.¡± Watching Palmer straighten his sleeves, Noe felt her cheeks inexplicably heating up! Palmer looked down, his scent of sandalwood closing in on Noe¡¯s breath, his maic voice resonating softly, ¡°Did I scare you? Sorry, I just couldn¡¯t hold back.¡± He was a bit on edge, momentarily forgetting that the girl before him was not just any youngdy, but a top international hitwoman! ¡°Thank you. ¡°That guy just now, who was he?¡± Noe¡¯s expression was cool, ¡°Just some trash, not important.¡± ¡°He said he was your fianc¨¦. Noe shrugged, ¡°I wasn¡¯t that blind.¡± A flicker of delight crossed Palmer¡¯s eyes. Even though he knew that guy had nothing to do with her, hearing her deny it still sent a wave of joy through him. ¡°Thorpe and Toxic Monarch must have gone to the private rooms. Let¡¯s head over.¡± Noe nodded, bending down to pick up the ruby cufflink Palmer had dropped, and handed it to him. But Palmer extended his hand, the empty cuff dangling in front of Noe, mischief sparkling in his eyes. Noe felt a bit awkward. Putting a cufflink on a man was a bit too intimate, but after Palmer had just stood up for her, she couldn¡¯t just brush him off! 15-017 Thinking this, Noe didn¡¯t refuse and bent her head to fasten his cufflink. Her fingers were cool to the touch, grazing Palmer¡¯s wrist and stirring ripples. Palmer caught Noe¡¯s wrist and led her away from the dance floor, towards the private rooms. Noe could walk just fine. Why was he pulling her along? Her hand was soft, not at all like the unerring sniper she was, not a callus in sight, warm to hold, and he didn¡¯t want to let go. ¡°It¡¯s crowded, and I don¡¯t want you to get lost from me. Sorry for being abrupt.¡± He said ¡®sorry¡®. but the smile never left Palmer¡¯s lips! The back alley of the bar. Milford was tossed next to a dumpster by several bodyguards, the severe pain leaving him unable to move an inch. ¡°Damn it, that damned Noe, just here to keep someonepany, and she thinks she¡¯s above it all? Once she¡¯s in my hands, we¡¯ll see how she begs. ouch¡­ What a little tramp, a country bumpkin will always be just that. She should count herself lucky that someone like me took a fancy to her! Noe, you just wait!¡± He was hit way too hard! Once he found out who that man was, he was going to make sure Noe and her lover pay with their lives! A strong shlight beam shone into the alley from the entrance, the hobos who were sitting in the corner quickly ran over and spilled everything Milford said to Beckett. Beckett¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice! This bastard dared to covet his sister and insult her? Didn¡¯t he know his own weight? Looks like he should have dug deeper when they crossed paths at the mall. If he had, Noe wouldn¡¯t have been kidnapped and suffered for no reason. This was all because he, as a brother, was worried she would dislike it, a dereliction of his duties! Beckett suppressed his rage, his thin lips curling slightly as he said, ¡°Beat him, but leave him breathing.¡± A dozen thugs swarmed in! Milford¡¯s screams and pleas echoed through the alley. Beckett stood in the shadows, lighting a cigar. Amid the swirling smoke, his handsome face was filled with regret and self¨Creproach. Leaving Milford barely alive, he Intended to watch the Rosenberg family go bankrupt! Inside the bar were hundreds of private rooms. The top¨Clevel rooms were inessible to the average bar¨Cgoer, where a bottle of champagne started at hundreds of thousands, and the floors were gold¨Cted, giving the feeling of stepping into a royal pce! ¡°Sir, madam, do you have a reservation?¡± The waiter stopped Palmer and Noe, as all the guests with reservations for the evening had arrived, but these two exuded an air of royalty. and the waiter didn¡¯t dare to offend. Palmer handed over his card, and the waiter hurried to verify it. ¡°Mr. Pock, pleasee in. your private room is ready!¡± ¡°No need for this room. The guests from earlier are in that room; they¡¯re friends of mine. I¡¯ll just join them.¡± The waiter quickly replied, ¡°Mr. Thorpe is in room 9, please!¡± Palmer took back his card and led Noe to room number 9. ¡°Do youe here often?¡± Why else would he have a card? Palmer chuckled, his demeanor warm as a gentle breeze, with not a hint of the cold¨Cblooded killer, even a touch of panic in his voice! ¡°Abyssal Organization has a room here. I had many missions in the countryst year, so this ce was convenient. Their cocktails are quite something: I¡¯ll bring you here to try them sometime.¡± It was normal for assassin organizations to operate in nightclubs. Noe had her own private room in this bar too! She was just asking, why was he so nervous? Outside room number 9, bodyguards packed the area, burly men in ck suits and sunsses on the lookout, wary of everyone passing by, bulges at their waists indicating they were armed. ¡°Who are you? Get out of here!¡± Palmer reached out, pulling Noe closer to his side, and with the bodyguards watching, they entered the private room number 8 next to room number 9. The bodyguard frowned at the door of VIP Room 8 for quite a while. A few beefy guys stepped up, pressing their ears against the door, trying to eavesdrop on what they were up to. Palmer yanked the door open, his shirt cor undone, his face stormy as a winter sky, ¡°Scram!¡± Seeing this, the bodyguards figured they¡¯d stumbled upon a couple looking for a cozy corner to make out, so they chilled out and headed back to their posts. Noe shifted her gaze ufortably as Palmer undid the top button of his shirt right in front of her, exposing his seductive Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°You¡¯re pretty smooth at this.¡± ¡°Turns out it¡¯s a pretty solid cover, but it¡¯s my first rodeo with this trick.¡± After all, he hadn¡¯t had the rightdy partner before to y this game with him! ¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯ve got other disguises up your sleeve that you use more often?¡± 1223 Palmer was taken aback, sensing an undercurrent in Noe¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯ll see all the different disguises I use eventually.¡± Why on earth would she need to know that? VIP Room 8 was tucked away inconspicuously on the fourth floor of the bar, the tiniest room. that was still a squeeze even for just Noe and Palmer. But if a room could carve out its own niche on the fourth floor, VIP Room 8 had its own unique mojo going on! Noe stretched out her hand and used her fingerprint to unlock the electronic screen in front. of them, revealing a live feed of the interior of VIP Room 9! Palmer¡¯s eyes filled with surprise and delight. ¡°The Obelisk Organization isn¡¯t just for show. You¡¯re lucky, picking my room,¡± said Noe. ¡°I think I¡¯m even luckier not just for picking the room, but for picking you.¡± Noe looked up into the handsome profile of Palmer in the dim light, his jawline sharp as a chisel, unwavering. He shed a thin smile, his eyes burning with intensity as he looked at her! Her heart skipped a beat as if in the darkness, some tiny seed had sprouted and was reaching for the light. CHapter 26 CHapter 26 The surveince system was crystal clear, and every move in VIP Room 9 was on disy. As the owner of the bar, Noe had reserved a booth in the beginning just for herself, a special spot where she could keep an eye on all the private booths! Only she could unlock this surveince haven! She had personally tweaked the cameras to catch every little detail, even in the darkest corners. Everything Toxic Monarch and Thorpe did was under her watchful eye. Palmer frowned slightly, pointing at the screen where Thorpe was holding a briefcase full of greenbacks. ¡°They seriously think they can deal here?¡± ¡°Looks like it.¡± ¡°Call the police. If they manage to trade, who knows how many families will suffer.¡± Noe nodded, ¡°Already on it. Sent the video feed straight to the international drug enforcement.¡± Palmer looked surprised. ¡°You¡¯re in touch with international drug enforcement?¡± ¡°Crossed paths with them about three years ago on a gig in Northstone.¡± Palmer¡¯s pupils contracted; he was also in Northstone three years back! ¡°Did you save someone in Northstone?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve saved plenty of people.¡± Noe¡¯s brow furrowed ever so slightly, her gaze shining brightly in the dim light, and for a moment, Palmer recalled the time he nearly tumbled off a cliff, when a masked girl reached out to him! That girl had eyes just like these! So it was her! Noe¡¯s attention returned to the monitors, her gaze falling on Beckett lurking in a corner downstairs. Why on earth was his brother here? She said to Palmer, ¡°Let¡¯s split up. You take the third floor; there¡¯s another drug lord meet¨Cup there. I¡¯ll check downstairs.¡± Palmer grabbed Noe¡¯s wrist, his handsome face filled with concern. ¡°Be careful. I¡¯ll give you a ride hometer.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± 12:23 At the booth, Beckett and the suit across from him were toasting and having a st. Noe squeezed through the crowd, finding Erek lost in the dance. ¡°There are a few bombs on the second floor. Get someone to defuse them.¡± ¡°Whoa, boss! You¡¯re like everywhere¡­ugh, and now, just five minutes into my jam, I gotta go y bomb squad? This job¡¯s killing my buzz!¡± ¡°Quit your yapping and get on it. You¡¯ve got thirty minutes.¡± Erek, as the second inmand of the Obelisk Organization, was pretty top¨Cnotch in the bomb defusal department. Ever since Noe handed his ass to him in blood¨Cred defeat a few years. back, he hadn¡¯t met his match. ¡°Thirty minutes? You¡¯re not giving me much credit.¡± ¡°There are twenty¨Cthree of them.¡± Erek was dumbfounded. Are you nuts? With that many bombs, if they go off, not just the bar, half the district will be toast! Asking me to defuse twenty¨Cthree bombs in thirty minutes? That¡¯s just cold¨Chearted! ¡°Miss one, and it will cost you a year¡¯s sry.¡± A whole year! All bosses are blood¨Csucking capitalists, aren¡¯t they? Erek was fuming but dared not speak out! Beckett¡¯s voice came from behind Noe. ¡°Noe? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Beckett.¡± Beckett took Noe by the arm and led her outside, protecting her from the messy crowd, carefully escorting her to the booth. ¡°Meet Mr. Tobin. This is my little sis Noe. Noe, this is Mr. Tobin.¡± While introducing, Beckett meticulously cleaned a ss until it sparkled and poured Noe a ss of juice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing?¡± asked Beckett. ¡°Just hanging out.¡± A sh of that smug Milford face crossed Beckett¡¯s mind, and he frowned. ¡°Alone?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a friend upstairs.¡± 12:21 Chap 26 Upstairs? So she wasn¡¯t meeting Milford. Beckett let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m not saying you can¡¯t have fun, but folks outside can be dangerous. Next time, give me a heads up, or just bring any of the guys along. Don¡¯t go out alone!¡± Noe really wanted to tell Beckett that she was eighteen, not eight, but faced with Beckett¡¯s concerned and tender look, and the palpable care, Noe¡¯s heart warmed up. ¡°Okay, will do, Beckett.¡± Mr. Tobin, ignored all this while, was quite taken aback. The ruthless oil tycoon, the negotiation expert with deals worth billions, was this soft with his sister? ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°No need, my friend said he¡¯d drive me.¡± Beckett nodded and stroked Noe¡¯s hair gently. Noe caught a glimpse of several inclothes cops and smiled sweetly at Beckett. ¡°Beckett. my friend¡¯s here. I gotta go.¡± Beckett was concerned but didn¡¯t want to overstep and upset Noe. After a long list of cautions, he watched her blend into the crowd. Mr. Tobin¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor! Beckett turned, the warmth on his face now gone, reced with a steely resolve. ¡°Mr. Tobin, about the Tranquility City Rosenberg family, I want them bankrupt within a month. Make it a big scene; I want everyone to hear about their downfall.¡± The Rosenberg family, just small fries in the Schnabel family¡¯s eyes, wasn¡¯t worth Beckett¡¯s personal attention. The fact that Beckett even bothered was a testament to the allure of the tens of thousands of marketing ounts in Tobin¡¯s hands. Lucky Rosenberg family, even their downfall had Beckett¡¯s attention. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Schnabel.¡± An international police stood before Noe, speaking with respect. ¡°We¡¯ve received the video you sent. This time we¡¯ll definitely nab Toxic Monarch and Thorpe!¡± Thanks to Noe¡¯s help, their numerous drug busts had been sessful! This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Noe got a message from Erek; all bombs were safely defused. She nodded at a few police officers and shot a text to Erek. 19-03 [Announce we¡¯re closing up shop for the night, except for Vif room 9 on the fourth floor st clear the ce out, no harm no foul.) IGot it!) The bar¡¯s speakers started ring the messagel ¡°Why are we shutting down so early today?¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s hit the road. Remember thest time we had to clear out? Some folks kicked up a fuss and ended up t broke.¡± The bar had its own beefed¨Cup security team a bunch of towering dudes over six feet tall stood by the door, stony¨Cfaced, ushering out the patrons. Beckett¡¯s ride was parked outside, but no sign of Noe for ages, Mr. Tobin tried to soothe him, ¡°Mr. Schnabel, I reckon Ms. Schnabel must¡¯ve split with her pals. I just saw all the customers inside head out, Beckett was freaking out! He dialed Noe¡¯s number like a dozen times, but she didn¡¯t pick up! Just as he was about to bust in and search for her, Noe¡¯s call came through. ¡°Beckett, I didn¡¯t hear my phone. I¡¯m on my way home now. See you there. ¡°Alright, just d you¡¯re okay. I¡¯m heading home now!¡± Palmer¡¯s car merged into the main road of Imperial City, bing one with the sea of traffic. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught glimpses of Noe¡¯s face, bathed in the streetlights, looking like a serene beauty from a painting beneath a tranquilmplight. ¡°Tired, huh? You can take a nap. I¡¯ll wake you up in a bit.¡± His voice was unbelievably gentle, his cuffs stained with specks of blood, blending with the dazzling ruby cufflinks. It was like an angel and a demon were whispering together a mix of ruthlessness and tenderness in his presence! Palmer reached back to the seat behind and handed Noe a bag. Inside were fruits, milk, and cake he¡¯d grabbed from the bar. The evening had been action¨Cpacked, and it slipped his mind to check if Noe had eaten. Her pale complexion suggested she might be running low on sugar. That was on him, for not arranging everything ahead of time. Noe looked at the bag on herp. Palmer was covered in blood, hinting at how dicey things had got. And in such a moment, he still thought to bring her something to munch on? Suddenly, Noe felt a twinge of emotion about the kind of twisted character she¡¯d crossed 12:23 paths with. Maybe, he was also a friend. Palmer watched her nibble on the cake, her fair profile puffing slightly, her wless skin glowing and delicate, cute as a button like a little hamster. ¡°Noe, you ever heard of the Pock family?¡± ¡°You got a job there?¡± Palmer touched his nose and cleared his throat lightly. ¡°Kinda.¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°No clue, not interested either. I¡¯ve always wanted a simple and stable life, never cared to snoop around those top¨Ctier families.¡± That¡¯s why, after returning to the Schnabel family, she only then realized the Schnabels were one of the big three heavy¨Chitters in Imperial City! CHapter 27 CHapter 27 Noe once thought her parents were just some down¨Con¨Ctheir¨Cluck farmers, but turned out they¡¯ve been topping the Harmonia Country rich list for over a decade as super tycoons! It¡¯s just that Marcel yed it super low¨Ckey. But darn it, the four Schnabel sons and ra were just too brilliant, shining like a dazzling pearl on Harmonia¡¯s map. The Pocks were also one of the top three big shots around. Palmer suddenly got jittery, his voice trembling without even realizing, ¡°What if you marry into one of those wealthy families?¡± Noe frowned without thinking. Not about marrying into wealth, she hadn¡¯t even considered marriage at all! Seeing her frown, Palmer¡¯s heart sank, and he gripped the steering wheel tight. Noe asked coolly. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± He¡¯s not from some fancy family. So Why¡¯s he asking? Palmer zoned out, sighed, and his smile carried a hint of self¨Cmockery. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s none of my business.¡± He still got this darn engagement hanging over him, not in any position to say such things to her until it was called off! Even if he wanted to take things further, he had to wait till he was free. That was the least respect he owed Noe! Noe thought maybe she had been too harsh and stung Palmer a bit. After all, he still needed to drive an Uber to make ends meet, so his family must have been struggling. Samest name as Pock, but that kind of wealth was out of his league for life. She had been too cruel! ¡°I¨Cdidn¡¯t mean it like that. You just focus on your job, work hard, make money. Don¡¯t be jealous of the rich. Their life might not be your cup of tea.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± A big grin spread across Palmer¡¯s face! He chuckled lowly, his voice maic and filled with allure, echoing in the tight space of the car, making Noe¡¯s heart skip a beat. Palmer pulled up outside the Schnabelplex and leaned over to unfasten Noe¡¯s seat belt. ¡°You live here?¡± ¡°Yeah, for now.¡± Per Beckett¡¯s n, she wouldn¡¯t be there much longer. The transfer of the prime property in 12:23 Serene Haven was moving at Beckett¡¯s breakneck pace, soon to be in Noe¡¯s name. Noe got out of the car. Palmer waved and said, ¡°Goodnight.¡± He seemed to be smiling, sending a tremor through Noe¡¯s chest. She didn¡¯t look back. hurrying into theplex. Palmer waited until she disappeared before turning around and driving toward his ce in Serene Haven. Yvonne was sneakily hiding behind some bushes at the gate, trying to make her presence felt to the Schnabel parents, but instead, she caught Noe getting out of that guy¡¯s car from earlier. Even the Schnabels¡® grocery nanny would turn her nose up at that car! It couldn¡¯t even get through the Schnabels¡® gate and had to park outside. Poor Noe had to walk back to her. building, quite a stretch away! This guy must have been poor! Yvonne captured the whole process of Noe getting out of the car, even that sweet smile when she got out. This guy must be Noe¡¯s boyfriend! Country bumpkin to the core, her taste in men just as shabby ¨C even into an Uber driver. How could she darepete with me? Yvonne was in high spirits as she walked through the Schnabel gate. She burst into ra¡¯s room and said, ¡°ra, I think I saw Noe¡¯s boyfriend!¡± ra wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk to Yvonne. ¡°It¡¯s middle of the night. Don¡¯t go nuts. You¡¯re just in time to exin why you messed with myptop and then med Noe for it?¡± Yvonne had almost forgotten about theptop data issue! ¡°It was an ident, ra. I know how important your data is, and I¡¯d never touch it! Believe me, I really got it wrong. I just wanted to help you clean your desk since you haven¡¯t been home for months!¡± ra frowned, trying to read the truth behind that heavily made¨Cup face. Yvonne quickly tried to lighten the mood, afraid ra wouldsh out. ¡°Look, ra. Noe got out of this car both day and night, and she was smiling at the driver! Must be her boyfriend!¡± Yvonne was so sure, and ra took a look at the video on her phone. In the video, Noe got into a car, andter she got out at theplex, smiling at the driver. Could this really be Noe¡¯s boyfriend?! ra grabbed the phone and watched it repeatedly. 12:23 Yvonne was triumphant! Now let¡¯s see how Noe gets out of this one! After watching several times. ra held her face and giggled like a lovesick fool. ¡°Noe¡¯s so cute even when she¡¯s taking a cab!¡± Yvonne couldn¡¯t believe it. Had ra lost it? How did she see cuteness in that short clip? ¡°ra, if Noe has a boyfriend, what about the engagement with the Pocks? She seems to like this guy. We can¡¯t break them up!¡± ra just smiled. This idiot, all she was thinking about was the Pock engagement! Did she really think she, a brainless, petnt fool, was a match for a family like the Pocks? ra ditched the engagement because she wasn¡¯t into guys, had zero interest in the Pock family, and just wanted to focus on her research. She had a taste of the high life with the Schnabels and got the cream of the crop when it came to education. And let¡¯s not forget, all that engagement belonged to Noe! ra pocketed her phone and gave Yvonne the cold shoulder. ¡°Yvonne, even if Noe didn¡¯t want that stuff, it¡¯s not your ce to covet it. Whether it¡¯s the Pock or the Schnabel family. they¡¯ve got zilch to do with you. You better stay in yourne and quit daydreaming.¡± Yvonne felt a burning sting on her face! They were both adopted, so why the heck was ra warning her? ra must want to snag Palmer for herself, that¡¯s why she¡¯s spewing this stuff! No way! The Pock and the Schnabel fortunes were hers for the taking! Yvonne glowered at ra¡¯s icy back and ground her teeth before sneakily dialing Ashlyn¡¯s number. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Grandma, I totally saw Noe romancing some broke dude. Why won¡¯t ra believe me?¡± Ashlyn chuckled with an air of mystery. ¡°Silly girl, your proof ain¡¯t packing a punch. If ra doesn¡¯t buy it, take it to the masses. They¡¯re making a big to¨Cdo about Noe¡¯s birthday party. right? Drop the bomb then and let her face¨Cnt in high society. Let¡¯s see how the Schnabels protect her then!¡± For swanky families like the Schnabels, reputation is everything. Ashlyn coaxed, ¡°If they find out Noe¡¯s been mixing with a penniless guy, think Palmer would give her a second nce? He¡¯ll see who the perfect match is soon enough, and if Palmer gives you the nod, you¡¯ll be the legit Schnabel heiress!¡± Ashlyn wasn¡¯t sweating it. Palmer wouldn¡¯t pick a wild child who didn¡¯t know the first thing about decorum to be the Pock family¡¯s future matriarch. Yvonne was all revved up! ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve got my game n!¡± CHapter 28 CHapter 28 In the ICU ward of Tranquility City First Hospital, Milfordy amid a sea of tubes and wires, appearing as a human pincushion, barely hanging on by a thread. Any slight movement and he was in a world of hurt! Once handsome, his face now grotesquely swollen, bearing no resemnce to its former self, almost resembling a pig¡¯s head. The three from the Lambert family stood before him, all gobsmacked! Briony, seeing her beau looking like something out of a horror show, wanted to grab Milford¡¯s hand but couldn¡¯t find a gap amidst the jungle of tubes! It was a face not even a mother could love! Briony let out a blood¨Ccurdling scream! ¡°Milford, how on earth¡­ what happened to you?¡± Belinda was shell¨Cshocked too. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Milford had been a looker since he was a tot, which was why she and his mother Linsey had secured this marriage arrangement when he was still in diapers. They were worried that a guy with such good looks and from an affluent family would be snatched up by someone else if they didn¡¯t act quickly. Now, looking at Milford¡¯s face, Belinda could hardly believe her eyes! ¡°Oh Milford, what¡¯s be of you?¡± Linsey was on the sidelines, bawling her eyes out. ¡°Who would have guessed? Milford was just heading to a business meeting and some thugs jumped him halfway there! It¡¯s like there¡¯s now and order anymore!¡± Briony¡¯s heart was in her throat. ¡°Did you guys call the cops? This is outrageous; we, get justice for Milford!¡± Linsey hemmed and hawed. need to If they went to the cops, wouldn¡¯t the whole saga of Milford living it up in the bar, ringing up a storm on the tab with a bevy of bar girls, be the talk of the town? Linsey was too chicken to call the cops, partly because she feared Milford might have ticked off somedy who decided to get even. If the Lambert family got wind of this, their precious marriage deal would be toast! Milford, his voice hoarse and broken, managed to gasp out, ¡°Noe¡­ Noe!¡± The Lambert family was speechless. Belinda frowned slightly. ¡°Does Milford mean that his beating has something to do with Noe? 12:23 But hadn¡¯t Noe¡­¡± Hadn¡¯t Noe been kidnapped? They had been out of touch with the kidnappers for days, not knowing if their n had. seeded probably just a lousy signal in the mountains! That darn girl she might have been sold off by now. Milford clenched his teeth, ¡°Noe! It¡¯s all¡­ Noe!¡± Briony, seeing how much effort he was putting into speaking, felt her heart break. ¡°Milford, you mean you got beaten up because of Noe?¡± Milford painfully nodded. Vincent, clueless about the dirty deeds of Belinda and Briony, quickly chimed in, ¡°Noe was sent back to the countryside to live with her family. Could it be she didn¡¯t want to leave. Tranquility City and started working here somewhere?¡± Linsey, who was quite the spitfire in her younger days, red daggers at them. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying my son ends up like this all because of your family? You owe me an exnation. Milford¡¯s my only son, and he¡¯s already had three near¨Cdeath experiences ording to the doctors!¡± Belinda quickly intervened, ¡°No, Noe has nothing to do with our family. Briony is our daughter. I¡¯ll issue a public statement to disown Noepletely.¡± How on earth had that pesky girl escaped from the kidnappers? Linsey¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°So you¡¯re admitting it¡¯s got to do with that brat? You owe us an exnation.¡± The Lambert family was in deep trouble, and Linsey¡¯s tantrums could be heard all over the ICU. The Lamberts couldn¡¯t afford to suffer humiliation and reluctantly agreed to her demands. Kicked out of the ICU, the Lamberts stood outside the door, at a loss for words. ¡°Mom, could it be that rich guy who shouted for Noe at Rising Glory Mall helped her escape?¡± ¡°It must be. Who¡¯d have thought that kid would have such dumb luck.¡± Briony wouldn¡¯t let up. ¡°Mom, it must be her, bothering Milford again. How can she be so wicked! She¡¯s not trying to snatch Milford from me, is she?¡± She had worked so hard to secure this engagement! There was no way she¡¯d let Noe get her ws into Milford, such a catch! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Briony. We just need to find Noe and give her a piece of our mind. This time we¡¯ll make sure she gets back to the sticks with our own eyes. She won¡¯t mess with your engagement.¡± The thought of having to look for Noe gave Belinda a headache. What if that girl was 12:24 slumming it in some dive, washing dishes to make ends meet? As members of high society, they couldn¡¯t possibly stoop to looking for her in such ces, could they? Vincent suggested. ¡°Just send some small¨Ctime thugs to sniff around. Noe hasn¡¯t made any influential connections who¡¯d stick their neck out for her. Maybe Mr. Rosenberg got roughed up by a business partner? We¡¯ve heard the Rosenberg family¡¯s been having some business troubles, so we might need to keep an eye on Briony¡¯s engagement.¡± ¡°Dad, are you saying you are going to find me a new nc¨¦? I don¡¯t want that! I only have eyes for Milford!¡± Plus, all the guys who visited the Lambert family only had eyes for Noe, but Milford had been. different towards her since they were kids. She believed that she and Milford were truly star¨C crossed lovers! Vincent was all about business, always weighing the pros and cons. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. If the Rosenberg family can¡¯t pull through this time, we can¡¯t let Briony sink with them.¡± Belinda nodded in agreement. Just as they reached the hospital entrance, the family nearly bumped into a bunch of cops in uniform, blocking their path. ¡°Belinda and Briony Lambert, you¡¯re suspected of kidnapping and we¡¯re arresting you by the book. Please cooperate with the police investigation!¡± The Lambert family of three was left dumbfounded. ¡°Officer, buddy, you sure you didn¡¯t get it twisted? How could my wife and daughter be mixed up in a kidnapping?¡± The cop whipped out some ID and paperwork. ¡°Mrs. and Ms. Lambert are suspected of masterminding Tom¡¯s gang to kidnap Ms. Noe. Pleasee with us for a chat!¡± Briony freaked out, bursting into tears on the spot. ¡°Mom, Noe¡¯s fine, right? She¡¯s off flirting with Milford already. Why the heck are they hauling us in?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, Officer, Noe even had my daughter¡¯s fianc¨¦ beaten up. Aren¡¯t you gonna throw her behind bars too?¡± Seeing them still talking nonsense, the cop had zero chill with this family. ¡°Juste with us to the station!¡± Belinda and Briony were ovee with tears and sobs as they were escorted to the police car, leaving Vincent standing there, a hot mess in the wind. What in the world was going on! Vincent immediately contacted hiswyer, then instructed his secretary, ¡°Dig up the number. 12:24 that called me iming to be Noe¡¯s family. Get in touch with them, see if Noe¡¯s with them and get her toe see me, pronto!¡± He had never bothered to save Noe¡¯s number; he hadn¡¯t needed to reach out to her before and didn¡¯t even know her cell number. Now, to find Noe, he had to track down that country bumpkin who had called himst time. ¡°Mr. Lambert, I didn¡¯t save that number either.¡± ¡°Pull the records from the carrier. It was a call from Emerald County. We¡¯ve gotta find Noe and get her to sign some sweet deal. That girl¡¯s definitely looking for a chance toe back. Just dangle a carrot, and she¡¯ll bite!¡± The Lambert family would never allow Noe to return. That girl could evennd Belinda and Briony behind bars. It went to show, she had schemes up her sleeve and a heart as dark as coal! At the Schnabel Mansion, the family gathered for a meal around a grand dining table, adorned with fresh flowers that were changed daily, while the soft light cast a cozy glow over the spread. As ra was peeling shrimp for Noe, her phone began to ring. She wiped her hands and answered the call. ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up?¡± On the other end, Zane was all high and mighty. ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Vincent Lambert¡¯s secretary. You¡¯re to send Noe to the police station immediately to offer a peace deal to Mrs. and Ms. Lambert, to forgive them.¡± ra frowned slightly. ¡°What have they done that needs forgiving?¡± ¡°Sure, Mrs. and Ms. Lambert had Noe kidnapped, but it was just to give her a reality check, to reconnect her with her mountain roots. It was just a kidnapping; they did nothing wrong! Send Noe to the station, quick!¡± ra couldn¡¯t believe what she just heard, thinking, is this guy for real? ¡°Mr. Lambert said if Noe doesn¡¯t show at the station, he¡¯s going to announce in the papers that she¡¯s cutting ties with the Lambert family for good. So, think carefully!¡± CHapter 29 CHapter 29 The tone on the phone turned extremely unpleasant. ¡°I¡¯ve been polite enough. Now hurry up and bring Noe to the station. If she ticks off the Lambert family, she won¡¯t be able to handle the heat! Heard your whole family¡¯s farming and chicken¨Craising in Emerald County. Better watch out, or you might not havend to work on soon!¡± ra was left speechless. Polite? That¡¯s not even fit for human ears! While her number might be from Emerald County, her ount was under full surveince by the State Security Bureau. It was practically a government¨Cissued phone. And blocking her from raising chickens- was this person trying to pick a fight with the Harmonia Country Science Research Institute? Was the Lambert family some kind of big shot? Did the daughter of the Schnabel family have to give a hoot about the Lambert family¡¯s status? ra¡¯s veins were popping on the back of her hand, a mouthful of curses poised on her lips, but when she met Noe¡¯s worried gaze across the table, she swallowed it back down. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The mere thought of her sweet little sister living among those sorts of people made ra almost bent the metal fork she was holding out of shape! ¡°Dickheads.¡± ra took a deep breath, hung up the phone, blocked the number, and then continued peeling shrimp for Noe with her insured hands. ¡°Here, these are shrimps just air¨Cflown in. Eat up.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Beckett noticed the fork by ra¡¯s hand, a cold glint in his eyes. ¡°Who called and got you so worked up?¡± ¡°Just some dickheads, nothing important. Beckett, let¡¯s stream Noe¡¯s birthday bash worldwide, shall we? I¡¯ve bought a couple of screens at Era Square to loop the broadcast!¡± She was going to make sure the whole world knew that Noe was their Schnabel family girl! Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry coulde around and mess with her! was the Sienna first to cheer on. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great! I thought the party wasn¡¯t grand enough, and it would be unfair to Noe. Can you get in touch with the PR department to make sure everyone watching TV sees Noe¡¯s birthday live?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll call the PR department right away and ask. Beckett,e with me to the study. Let¡¯s talk about how to pull this off!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Beckett put on his suit jacket and followed ra. 12:24 LINDIFI 29 Noe was at a loss for words. A global broadcast for just a birthday? Was that really necessary? But seeing the whole family plotting for her birthday, and meeting Sienna¡¯s tearful eyes. Noe¡¯s heart melted again. In the study. ra¡¯s face grew serious, dropping the smile. ¡°Beckett, what kind of life has our sister been living? The Lambert family called me, saying if she doesn¡¯t forgive the Lambert mother and daughter, they¡¯ll make sure she can¡¯t live a good life!¡± Beckett knew ra had more to discuss when she called him to the study. Upon hearing her words, a chilling smile crept onto his refined face. ¡°The damn Lambert family! Taking them down is easy, but we should ask Noe first. After all she¡¯s lived with them for years. We wouldn¡¯t want to upset her if she happens to hold any attachment.¡± ra understood this point. ¡°I¡¯m also worried that she might still have some attachment to them, and knowing how they treated them could upset her. They called us dirt¨Cpoor farmers. as if they think we¡¯re broke!¡± Beckett was at a loss for words. It was the first time since he was born that he heard someone call the Schnabel family poor. He pursed his thin lips, gracefully removed his sses, and wiped them with a tissue, his movements smooth and elegant. ¡°There are many ways to deal with a Lambert family, but we still have to ask Noe. Whatever she says, we¡¯ll respect her wishes.¡± ra nodded. Stepping out of the study, they saw Noe holding a fruit tter at the door, her soft hair cascading behind her ears, looking extra docile in her home clothes. ¡°Mom sent this since you didn¡¯t eat much earlier.¡± Sienna, treating all her children equally, noticed that ra and Beckett were too busy serving Noe to eat much themselves. ¡°Thanks, Noe. Come in; Beckett and I have something to tell you.¡± Noe followed her inside. ra told her everything about the phone call and then carefully asked, ¡°How do you think we should handle this?¡± Noe was calm, showing no signs of distress. ¡°I won¡¯t go to the police, nor will I forgive them.¡± The Lambert family was history to her. Beckett breathed a sigh of relief. Although he would support whatever decision Noe made, he was d she wasn¡¯t upset about the Lambert family¡¯s attitude. 19-24 Noelia smiled, meeting the concerned dazes of Beckett and ra. ¡°I won¡¯t waste my energy bene upset over people who aren¡¯t worth it. My family is Grandpa, Mom, Dad, the brothers, and sixty.¡± As for the Lambert family, they hadn¡¯t been a part of her life since she left! Remembering the video Yvonne showed her, ra touched her nose and tentatively asked, ¡°Noe, do you have a boy you like?¡± Beckett immediately tensed up, sitting up straight to look at Noe. Noe shook her head. ¡°No, why do you ask?¡± ra gave her a knowing look. Noe must be shy! ¡°Noe, it doesn¡¯t matter who you fancy. The Schnabel family doesn¡¯t give a hoot about social status or family background. Even if the guy¡¯s family doesn¡¯t have two pennies to rub together, as long as he treats you right and you¡¯re head over heels, worst¨Ccase scenario, he can just marry into our family, right?¡± Noe was left speechless. For some reason, ra¡¯s words suddenly brought Palmer to her mind. But for someone like Palmer to marry into the family? He probably wouldn¡¯t be down for that. With that thought. Noe felt her face grow unexpectedly warm. ¡°Sure, we¡¯ve got that engagement hanging over our heads, but if you¡¯re not into the Pock family¡¯s young master, we can just call the whole thing off!¡± Beckett coughed lightly, interrupting ra¡¯s wild talk. ¡°Cut the crap. What do you mean ¡®call it off? The engagement between the Pock family and us was set in stone by the old timers: it¡¯s not something you can just change your mind about so easily. If Noe¡¯s got someone she¡¯s into, we can just keep him around the house, can¡¯t we? As my sister, what¡¯s the harm in having a few extra guys around?¡± Noe was at a loss for words, What¡¯s this ¡®keep him around the house¡® business? What¡¯s with the ¡®few extra guys¡®ment? Had the Schnabel family became that open? Beckett patted Noe on the head. ¡°I will take care of the Lambert family situation, don¡¯t you worry. How could our little Schnabel princess suffer even the slightest bit?¡± *Thanks. I¡¯m gonna go rest now.¡± ¡°Off you go.¡± Noe knew ra and Beckett had more to discuss, so she closed the study door behind her and left. Beckett¡¯s expression shifted instantly, his demeanor turning dark as storm clouds. ¡°ra, call the State Security Bureau. Inform them that someone¡¯s threatening yourb, repeatedly harassing you, and might be trying to swipe some state secrets.¡± ra nodded in agreement, and they exchanged a nce, each recognizing the towering rage in the other¡¯s eyes. The Lambert family had truly crossed a line this time! In the Lambert Mansion, Vincent paced the living room, visibly agitated. ¡°Mr. Lambert, I¡¯ve reached out to the folks in Emerald County and told them to promptly send Noe back to apologize to Mrs. and Ms. Lambert.¡± ¡°What did they say? When¡¯s Noe getting here?¡± The secretary hesitated, ¡°Those yokels are so unreasonable. They just hung up on me and had the nerve to call you ¡®dickheads¡°!¡± Vincent¡¯s head was throbbing with anger! ¡°I never should have been so nice, taking Noe in all those years. Briony¡¯s my flesh and blood, and Noe just can¡¯t stand seeing Briony living the good life now. She¡¯s scheming to worm her way back into our family! Briony and Belinda kidnapping her? Was that really a kidnapping? It was more¨Clike arranging for someone to take her back to Emerald County, or else she would¡¯ve kept squatting in Imperial City! She¡¯s a parasite on society!¡± The secretary stepped closer, standing by Vincent¡¯s side. found Noe near the entrance of ¡°Mr. Lambert, Madam and Miss mentioned they kidnapped Rising Glory Mall. Maybe you should check out Rising Glory Mall? If you can find her and get her to sign a settlement agreement, Madam and Miss will be safe.¡± A flicker of hope sparked in Vincent¡¯s eyes! CHapter 30 CHapter 30 Once Noe sees him, she would surely soften up! After all, he¡¯s the dad who¡¯s raised her for over a decade! However, Vincent started to waver. ¡°That chick¡¯s definitely scrubbing floors at Rising Glory Mall, but who knows what time she clocks in every day? If she¡¯s a no¨Cshow, am I supposed to just hang around? That¡¯s just a blow to my dignity.¡± How can he, a big shot businessman in Tranquility City, stoop to loitering around a mall entrance for a cleaner? How¡¯s he gonna face anyone after that? ¡°Mr. Lambert, why don¡¯t you just chill at a caf¨¦ near Rising Glory Mall and wait it out? Bet you¡¯ll spot Noe in no time.¡± Vincent thought it over and, gritting his teeth, agreed to the n. ¡°This is all Noe¡¯s fault. Just wait till Belinda and Briony are out of the police station; I¡¯ll show her!¡± ¡°Of course, Noe¡¯s family is nothing but a bunch of unreasonable bumpkins. In the end, they¡¯ll have to listen to you.¡± The Schnabel Mansion¡¯s vast living room was filled with jewelry boxes. Among them, diamond and gemstone nes shimmered inside their velvet cases, with a pink diamond ne worth a whopping billion right in the center. Each diamond boasted three carats, with the centerpiece rivaling the size of a pigeon¡¯s egg, sparkling like crazy! Yvonne was practically blinded by the sea of diamond nes as soon as she walked in! Did Sienna buy all these? Sienna always had a thing for jewels, stocking up every year. As ady of the Schnabel family¡¯s status, jewels were an essential part of Sienna¡¯s getup. meant Yvonne ra, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t care less about these trinkets; it was always Yvonne who apanied Sienna on her jewelry hauls. Sienna¡¯s shopping sprees inevitabl would manage to snag a little something for herself. Now, drool practically dripped down Yvonne¡¯s chin at the sight of all those diamond nes! She had already picked out which one she¡¯d drape around her neck! ¡°Mom, what in the world are you doing?¡± Sienna waved her over. ¡°Noe¡¯s birthday bash is just around the corner, and I need to pick out a ne to wear. Come help me decide which one¡¯s a fit!¡± Yvonne, feigning difficulty, picked up a rather old¨Cfashioned jade ne. ¡°This one¡¯s the perfect match for you, Mom. That pink diamond¡¯s nice, sure, but a tad too 12-24 de tax your aura. She had her eye on that ne the moment she walked int It¡¯s not that Sienna couldn¡¯t rock the pink diamond, a beauty like her would dazzle with any jewel exuding elegance and grace. But Yvonne knew that Stenna would remove the pink diamond ne as an option if she mentioned it to her first. And just like that, the pink diamond ne would be hers! Sure enough, Sienna grabbed the jade ne Yvonne mentioned and tried it on. ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯ll wear this one then, Give the pink diamond one to Noe.¡± Yvonne¡¯s smile froze solid! ¡°Mom, that ne is for Noe?¡± Sienna nodded, gesturing to the treasure trove before them. ¡°All of these are for her. I managed to snag a jade ne for myself thanks to Noe.¡± Yvonne was shocked, thinking this must be a jokel There must be at least a hundred nes there- diamonds, rubles, and even some rare pearls. Together, they could buy a vi in Imperial City! All for that country bumpkin? In the past, after a whole afternoon of essory shopping with Sienna, Yvonne might score a ne with a measly two¨Ccarat diamond. And now, the bumpkin waltzes in andnds all these goodies? ¡°Mom, this is just too much. Noe¡¯s room won¡¯t even hold all this¡­¡± Sienna waved her off. ¡°Nonsense. We¡¯ll just buy more rooms if we must. For these things, space is hardly an issue. I just hope Noe likes them, and if not, we can always buy more!¡± Yvonne was at a loss for words. Why did the country bumpkin get it all! She¡¯s a Schnabel daughter too! Yvonne watched as Sienna moved among jewels that should¡¯ve been hers, her face almost twisted in agony at the thought that they were all for Noe! No way, this should all be hers! Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The nanny stood behind Yvonne and spoke up softly, ¡°Ms. Yvonne, these treasures should be yours. Ms. Noe has just returned and has no right topete with you!¡± Yvonne turned to the nanny in surprise. ¡°I used to care for Ashlyn. I watched you grow up, Ms. Yvonne. I know your character best. You¡¯re the true Schnabel daughter, the perfect match for the Pock family.¡± ¡°Really? What should I do? Mom and Dad are totally duped by Noe now.¡± 274 12:24 The nanny¡¯s voice dropped even lower. ¡°I overheard while cooking that Ms. Noe used to have a fianc¨¦. Maybe you should dig into it. For all we know, she might not be a virgin, and certainly not worthy of the Schnabel or Pock families.¡± Joy sparkled in Yvonne¡¯s eyes! Who knew the bumpkin had an ex¨Cfianc¨¦! She¡¯d make sure that girl was too humiliated to stay with the Schnabels! At the Rising Glory Mall, Vincent paced back and forth at the mall entrance, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He¡¯d been waiting here for days on end! Every time, he hung around until the caf¨¦ closed, yet he still hadn¡¯t caught a glimpse of Noe. Were mall cleaners really thisid¨Cback now? He¡¯d show up post¨Clunch, post¨Cnap, and wait until the caf¨¦ kicked him out without a sign of Noe. Vincent was beyond irritated, his feet blistered and sore! A ck Cayenne pulled up at the curb, its shy emblem dazzling Vincent¡¯s eyes. Noe stepped out of the car, rocking a light blue dress paired with a tiny white cape and a matching light blue hat. She was a knockout, with skin as smooth as porcin, and every move she made oozed the grace andposure of a high¨Csocietydy- just like a princess straight out of a fairy tale. Vincent barely recognized her as Noe! He bolted towards her, all wound up! ¡°Look at you, you little rebel! I told you to spring your mom and sister from the mmer, and here you are, out shopping like you haven¡¯t got a care in the world! Got any conscience left?¡± Noe¡¯s outfit was obviously a knockoff, with not a logo in sight ¨C she must¡¯ve snagged it from some sketchy online store. Dressing like this was her way of saying she didn¡¯t wanna leave Imperial City and the Lambert family, huh? ¡°Come back with me right now; you¡¯ve got to get your mom and sis out!¡± Vincent was about to grab Noe¡¯s wrist when a man stepped in front of him and kicked his leg hard, sending him tumbling down! ¡°Ouch, you dare hit me! You little traitor!¡± Jasper dusted off his clothes, frowning at Vincent sitting on the ground. ¡°Sir, you were the one who spoke can back that up.¡± rudely to Noe and acted aggressively. The cameras here If it weren¡¯t for spotting his sister¡¯s missing brooch on her cape while they were meeting for 1224 dinner, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up at Rising Glory Mall. He should¡¯ve had the designer deliver the stuff straight to their door. Jasper was a bit annoyed, giving Vincent a nasty look. Interrupting his quality time with his sister was just in infuriating! At the entrance of Rising Glory Mall, a bunch of cameras pointed in one direction made Vincent feel edgy. This guy had an air of distinction, and the limited¨Cedition Porsche Cayenne behind him said it all. Definitely some high¨Cflyer Noe met in Imperial City! It all made sense why she had the guts to hang up on him ¨C she¡¯d found herself a new rock to cling to. Vincent got up, his voice choked with emotion. ¡°This is a family matter. Who the heck are you to butt in? We¡¯ve raised this girl for over a decade, and just over some petty issue, she throws my wife and daughter into jail. That¡¯s just inhuman!¡± Jasper just blinked. So, this troublemaker, this old chump, was the poor sap who¡¯d been keeping his sister? The same Lambert family that kidnapped her and expected her to forgive and forget? ¡°I¡¯m Jasper Schnabel, Noe¡¯swyer. Whatever you¡¯ve got to say, spill it.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes widened. Jasper, the hotshotwyer known for never losing a case, the guy who could practically raise the dead in court! The Lambert family had tried to secure Jasper¡¯s services before, but his fees were sky¨Chigh, way beyond Vincent¡¯s reach, so they went with anotherwyer. Now, this powerhouse of ¨¢wyer was representing Noe, that wild child! CHapter 31 CHapter 31 C¡¯mon, that was Jasper Schnabel! His secretary couldn¡¯t even get a glimpse of him, let alone meet him. Meeting Jasper required proof of funds, and the poor were simply not worthy of his legal representation! How on earth did Noe get in touch with him? Vincent was gobsmacked! Jasper, seething, said, ¡°Mr. Lambert, even if you did take care of Noe in the past, you¡¯re nothing to her now! Noe has her own family. Mrs. and Ms. Lambert aren¡¯t her mom and sister, so watch your mouth!¡± Vincent, choking up, ¡°We raised her for eighteen years, and she turns her back on us over some tiny tiff? What¡¯s the big deal about asking her to release my wife and daughter?¡± And he¡¯d been camping out there for days, just waiting for Noe! Jasper couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort. ¡°Mr. Lambert sees kidnapping as only a ¡®tiny tiff¡°?¡± ¡°Kidnapping? My wife was just worried sick about her, wanting to send her back to the boonies. out of the goodness of her heart. Mr. Schnabel, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you ¨C Noe¡¯s broke as a joke. Don¡¯t let her con you out of your fees!¡± Jasper was about to burst outughing! He managed to keep his cool, turned to Noe with a gentle tone. ¡°Noe, if I happen to do something ¡®kind¡® in a bit, just pretend you didn¡¯t see anything, okay?¡± Noe nodded obediently. ¡°Alright, but I still have some questions for him.¡± Vincent eyed Noe warily, his tone frosty. ¡°What do you wanna ask? If you¡¯re thinking about crawling back to us, you can kiss that dream goodbye! I don¡¯t need a heartless daughter like you! If you don¡¯t help me get your mom and sister out, I¡¯ll dig up your grandma¡¯s grave, and she won¡¯t be able to rest in peace!¡± Noe felt a flicker of anger. Old Mrs. Lambert was Vincent¡¯s own mother, who had worked hard to raise him. How could he say such a thing? She was the kindest soul in the Lambert family. When the Lambert couple were too busy to care for her, it was Old Mrs. Lambert who had raised her with love, rocking her in the wicker chair those were the warmest moments of her childhood. When Noe was poisoned by the sweets Briony gave her, and the Lambert couple didn¡¯t bother to check on her, it was Old Mrs. Lambert who, despite her age, carried Noe in search of doctors and took care of her herself! And when Vincent was struggling to start his business, it was Old Mrs. Lambert who supported him with all her savings. 12:24 The thought of Vincent uttering such words made Noe feel sad for Old Mrs. Lambert. ¡°If you do that. I¡¯ll make you regret it. Whether Grandma¡¯s spirit rests in peace is not up to me ¨C it¡¯s on you!¡± Vincent felt a twinge of guilt. He was just trying to scare Noe with those words, not truly nning to desecrate Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s grave. ¡°Grandma? She¡¯s not your grandma, she¡¯s Briony¡¯s!¡± Noe calmly asked, ¡°What¡¯s your connection with the director of Heartfelt Orphanage?¡± Vincent was speechless. How did this brat know to ask about Heartfelt Orphanage? Did she find something out? ¡°Must I give you updates on my college friends? Listen, Noe, if you refuse toe back with me today. I¡¯ll publicly disown you tomorrow! You ungrateful child! Do you have no conscience whatsoever?¡± Noe ignored his rant and walked back behind Jasper. ¡°I¡¯m all done asking.¡± Jasper pped his hands and a bunch of burly men in ck suits emerged from behind his Porsche Cayenne, circling Vincent. ¡°Since Mr. Lambert is all about good intentions, I¡¯ll return the favor ¨C time to send Mr. Limbert back to his roots!¡± The goons stepped up, picked up Vincent like he was a featherweight, and chucked him into a van! Vincent, over fifty and worn out from daily schmoozing, was no match for these beefy bodyguards. He couldn¡¯t struggle free even as his arm was nearly dislocated! Noe tugged on Jasper¡¯s sleeve. Jasper immediately looked down at her, his voice soft, ¡°Anything you want me to note. Noe?¡± ¡°His hometown¡¯s in Linefort City.¡± Vincent made it big from a little southwestern town even poorer than Emerald County, a ce he hadn¡¯t set foot in for twenty years. Getting from Linefort City to Tranquility City was a trek- ride a bullock cart out of the vige, then hop on a tractor to the town, catch a bus to the city. and finally grab a train to the airport. All in all, it took a good three or four days! Jasper¡¯s eyes lit up with pleasure, ¡°Roger that! I¡¯ll make sure he gets home sweet home. Let¡¯s buy you a brooch, a hundred of ¡®em! I heard Master Azure¡¯s got new stuff. I¡¯ll buy it all for you!¡± Noe was speechless. Last time, Beckett had emptied Azure¡¯s inventory just to gift her clothes! She knew exactly what was new at Azure¡¯s- those were the designs she¡¯d whipped up on the ne back to the Schnabels¡®, casual sketches that had skyrocketed in poprity among the high society ladies of Imperial City. Kitai, standing in the shop and spotting Jasper in his bespoke suit, had his smile stretching all the way to the back of his head! There came the big spender, the money god himself, demanding a private shopping session! Kitai caught sight of the stunning girl trailing behind the money god and was instantly at a loss for words. Wasn¡¯t that his cutthroat boss? Could this be the boss¡¯stest tactic for inspecting the stores? Noe shot Kitai a look, signaling him to zip it about their connection. ¡°I want all thetest brooches from your store. Gonna snag ¡®em all for my sis!¡± The clerk zipped into action, hauling out all the brooches they had, even the ones fromst year. Jasper, with a wave of his hand, dered, ¡°Wrap ¡®em all up! And the clothes too; let¡¯s see what fits my sis and get those as well!¡± Noe was left speechless. Why did she need all these clothes? ¡°Jasper, I¡¯m already drowning in clothes at home; my walk¨Cin¡¯s bursting at the seams. I¡¯m good for now.¡± ¡°Walk¨Cin¡¯s overflowing? I¡¯ll just snap up a new house for you. How about this property? I¡¯ve got a ce there too, might as well hand it over to you.¡± Jasper whipped out his phone and showed Noe the swanky South Mansion in the heart of Celestial City, right next to Imperial City. Noe hurriedly said, ¡°Jasper, that¡¯s alright, I kinda love sticking with Mom, Dad, and you guys.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point, but I¡¯ll get it for you anyway; let¡¯s call it a birthday present.¡± Kitai was too shocked to speak. This dude, buying houses like he¡¯s picking up groceries, was the big boss¡¯s family? His boss was actually the heiress of a top¨Cdor dynasty! Jasper, eyeing the fountain of clothes, stroked his chin. ¡°Still gotta buy the clothes. Girls love mming up, and we¡¯ll take the shoes and essories too. Charge it all and send it to the Schnabel Manor.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Kitai¡¯s grin was blooming like spring flowers. ¡°That¡¯ll be 150 million, but for you, a friendly discount to 100 million. Paying with cash or card?¡± Master Azure never offered discounts, but with Noe present, Kital feared his bones would be the ones getting shed if he didn¡¯t sh the price. Jasper asked, ¡°100 million in cash?¡± Even if he could withdraw that much, where would the store even put it? Kitai smoothly presented the card reader. ¡°Here you go.¡± The big boss was a legend, dragging her own brother to the store just to boost sales. Brilliant! Thinking about this, Kitai felt he couldn¡¯t be the drag. Time to haul his own family in for a shopping spree! CHapter 32 CHapter 32 As Noe watched Jasper expertly swipe his card, a slight headache crept over her. Nevertheless, the knowledge that a portion of this hefty sum would find its way into Beckett¡¯s pocket made her feel less uneasy. Perhaps she could also go a little easier on Beckett¡¯s mall in the future! During Jasper¡¯s checkout pause, Noe whispered, ¡°Get someone to keep an eye on Vincent and nt some people near Grandma Harriet¡¯s grave. We can¡¯t let anyone mess with her final resting ce.¡± She was always worried that Vincent, backed into a corner, might do something disrespectful to Old Mrs. Lambert, and that would surely break her heart up in heaven. ¡°Got it, boss. You¡¯re really bringing your own brother to the store to boost sales, huh? I was wondering who was this VIP that could get me to close the store for a private event!¡± Noe didn¡¯t know how to reply. Jasper confidently signed off on the bill and waved at Noe. ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs and have lunch with Beckett!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jasper was in a great mood after buying Noe a ton of clothes and led her to the rooftop restaurant where Beckett had previously taken her for a meal. Inside, Beckett had already arranged the dishes, standing sharply dressed by a table adorned with flowers. He graciously pulled out a chair for Noe. ¡°Thanks.¡± Beckett pped his hands, and the servers came marching in,ying out an array of appetizers in front of Noe. ¡°Give these a try, Noe. They¡¯re the new creations from my restaurant.¡± The cakes in front of her were exquisite, each one crafted into a cute and tempting shape. Noe took a bite with a gold¨Cted spoon andplimented, ¡°Delicious. Must¡¯ve added some lemon juice. It¡¯s got a nice aftertaste without being too rich. This dessert¡¯s a bit off, though. The cocoa powder ratio kind of masks the cake¡¯s own vor.¡± Beckett nodded and summoned the head chef. Chef Jakes, decked out in his chef¡¯s hat, was initially miffed at someone nitpicking his desserts. These folks simply couldn¡¯t grasp the refinement of his desserts! When he learned it was the Schnabel family¡¯s recently returned youngdy pointing fingers, he couldn¡¯t help but think, how could a country girl who knew nothing about fine desserts 15:35 Jakes stepped out with the server and saw Noe, poised and dining gracefully. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Wasn¡¯t this the genius girl who had critiqued his cooking back Franse? Her feedback had helped him secure a championship in an international culinarypetition! Recalling Noe¡¯sments on the desserts, Jakes felt a twinge of embarrassment flush his face! Noe also didn¡¯t expect Jakes to be the pastry chef at Beckett¡¯s restaurant. ¡°Apologies, Ms. Schnabel,¡± Jakes conceded, ¡°I¡¯ll refine my craft. Clearly, the recipe for this dessert was a mistake, unworthy of your refined pte!¡± Beckett coolly ordered, ¡°Remove it from the menu. Noe finds the cheesecake delightful, so let¡¯s keep that. The rest, we can do without.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Jakes wiped the sweat from his brow, gave Noe a bow, and left with the parade of failed cakes. What a humiliation! The restaurant manager rushed in and halted before Beckett. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, a few cops are here, saying they need to speak with the youngdy.¡± Beckett and Jasper nced over, their faces a mix of sternness and concern. ¡°They want Noe? Did they mention what it¡¯s about?¡± ¡°No, they said the youngdy should be aware.¡± Beckett frowned. ¡°Could it be rted to the kidnapping? But why haven¡¯t they contacted us? I reported it, and Jasper is Noe¡¯swyer. Why are theying directly to her?¡± Noe was at a loss for words. That exined how Belinda and Briony got caught; Beckett was the one who called the cops. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Let them in,¡± Noe said. Beckett and Jasper exchanged looks and instructed the manager to allow the police to enter. Three detectives in international police uniforms strode in and stood before Noe, nking her as they presented a banner. [Thank you, Noe. The International Police Organization salutes you!) The officers saluted Noe. ¡°Thank you for your outstanding contribution to Operation D Action! Salute!¡± Noe was left speechless. She had reiterated countless times that she didn¡¯t need a banner; 12:26 where would she even put it? ¡°Next time, don¡¯t bother. I¡¯ve got no room for this.¡± She had received one before at the Lambert¡¯s, and Belinda, disgusted by its tackiness and how it shed with the house¡¯s decor, scolded Noe, telling her not to bring home such worthless things. Beckett immediately stood up, his face wearing a gentle, schrly smile. ¡°Noe is just joking. We¡¯ve got plenty of space at home. Can¡¯t thank you enough!¡± Jasper stepped forward, taking the banner, grinning from ear to ear, happier than if he¡¯d won a case. ¡°Thanks foring all this way. Noe wasn¡¯t involved in anything dangerous, was she?¡± To his knowledge, receiving an de from the international police typically indicated something quite risky. Since the banner didn¡¯t specify the operation, it must be highly ssified! More than the banner, they were concerned for Noe¡¯s safety. Noe quickly rified, ¡°No, it was just that time at the bar when I bumped into some shady¨Clooking guys. Something felt off, so I called the cops.¡± Beckett reached out to shake the leading officer¡¯s hand, his aura of authority shining through. ¡°I¡¯ll escort you out.¡± ¡°No need, we¡¯re due back once the banner is delivered!¡± After seeing off the cops, Beckett realized he was covered in a cold sweat! ¡°Noe, are you absolutely sure nothing sketchy went down? I mean, it¡¯s great that you received a commendation banner, and I¡¯m super proud of you. But let¡¯s be real -our family isn¡¯t exactlycking in des. You don¡¯t need to put yourself at risk for recognition, you know? Your safety is what matters most to us!¡± Just recalling thest time he ran into Noe at the bar and she got mixed up in some shady business, it scared the bejesus out of him! If only he had insisted on keeping Noe by his side all the time! Noe quickly rified, ¡°Beckett, I didn¡¯t do anything dangerous. I just made a call and tipped off the cops, that¡¯s all.¡± Beckett and Jasper breathed a sigh of relief. Catching sight of that bright red banner, Beckett started to ponder where to hang it. ¡°Let¡¯s p it up in the living room! Right next to that Mystic Jade Scenery!¡± he suggested. The Mystic Jade Scenery in the living room was thest masterpiece by a contemporary painting master before he kicked the bucket, fetching a whopping six hundred mil at auction. Her little banner next to that magnum opus? Jasper chimed in, ¡°No way, it should go in my office!¡± Noe felt even more speechless. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Everyone who stepped foot in Jasper¡¯s office was either a billionaire tycoon, a heavy¨Chitter in politics, or some big¨Cshot from the international scene. Her banner hanging there? Talk about embarrassing. ¡°Let¡¯s just take it home for now. Noe is such a badass. We need to throw her an arty party to celebrate!¡± Beckett dered. Noe just didn¡¯t know what to say. This was the tiniest banner she¡¯d ever received. She¡¯d even gotten a medal of honor for her part in an international rescue op. If they started showing off everything she¡¯d been awarded, wouldn¡¯t the Schnabel family end up practically worshiping her? Seeing how pumped her brothers were, Noe just swallowed her words. Oh well, she¡¯d let them find a spot for it and then sneakily whisk it awayter! CHapter 33 CHapter 33 At the Lambert ancestral home in Linefort City. Jasper¡¯s hired muscle flew in by chopper and, while still several feet from the ground, yanked Vincent out and dumped him right at the doorstep of the Lambert ancestral horne, Vincent, well into his fifties, nearly broke every bone in his old body! ¡°Dammit¡­ Do you even know thew? This is assault, pure and simple!¡± The bodyguard, sporting dark shades, Just gave a lopsided grin and sneered. ¡°Our boss said we¡¯re doing you a solid, dropping you home. You know exactly how you treated Ms. Noe¨Cdon¡¯t y innocent!¡± Vincent was speechless. This waspletely different! Noe was just a heartless country bumpkin while he was the high and mighty CEO of the Lambert family! After making the delivery, the bodyguard hopped back on the chopper and took off. Blown around by the helicopter¡¯s downdraft, Vincent¡¯s hair was a mess, his suit was wrinkled, and his face was caked with dust and dirt, making him look like a beggar. The actual beggars at the Lambert ancestral home¡¯s gate nearly mistook him for one of their own. Vincent was fuming. He whipped out his phone to call the cops, but, of course, there was no signal! Maddox, who was in charge of guarding the old homestead, spotted Vincent and hurried over to greet him. ¡°Mr. Lambert, why didn¡¯t you give us a heads¨Cup? Here to donate?¡± Vincent was speechless again. He was too proud toe back home without fanfare, always making a big show of donating like 30 to 50 grand, turning it into a spectacle the whole vige knew about. Vincent changed the subject. ¡°Howe there¡¯s not even a proper road in this ce?¡± ¡°Ah, Mr. Lambert, you¡¯re here to fund road construction? That¡¯s fantastic! I¡¯ll go tell the mayor right now!¡± Vincent quickly grabbed him. ¡°No, no, get me out of here first. My phone¡¯s got no signal; I can¡¯t make any donations to the vige!¡± 12:26 ¡°What? Mr. Lambert, you¡¯re also gonna build us a cell tower? That¡¯s amazing!¡± Damn that Maddox! ying dumb because of his selective hearing! Vincent couldn¡¯t say he wouldn¡¯t donate, and he really didn¡¯t want to shell out cash for these yokels. He grabbed hold of Maddox, ¡°I¡¯ve got a big deal to negotiate. Get me out of here. Does this vige even have a car?¡± Maddox grinned from ear to ear. ¡°Sure do. Let me pull it here for you!¡± Vincent was baffled. What kind of vehicle needed pulling? While Maddox was off to get the ¡°vehicle,¡± Vincent looked up at the Lambert ancestral home. He grew up here, but it took blood, sweat, and tears to make something of himself in Tranquility City, to be a known and respected tycoon. He never wanted toe back. Now, looking at it, the house seemed to have been refurbished? Someone used top¨Cnotch materials, even nted Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s favorite osmanthus tree by the door¨Ca mature tree of this variety could easily fetch 200 grand at auction. There was no way he was behind this renovation. Why would he spend money on fixing up this rundown ce? Could it be that Milford Rosenberg, out of respect for Briony, secretly spruced up the ce to surprise the family? The more Vincent thought about it, the more it made sense! What an amazing son¨Cinw! Even though the Rosenberg family had hit a rough patch, it was still not to be underestimated, given its previous glory. Besides, they had always been a notch above the Lamberts. Lucky for Briony, she had always been close to Milford, unlike Noe, who was always so lukewarm towards those blue¨Cblood boys. Once back, he would definitely need to talk about Briony¡¯s engagement with the Rosenbergs¨Ccan¡¯t let a catch like that get away! Lost in his happy thoughts, Vincent¡¯s daydream was shattered when Maddox showed up with an actual ox cart! The old ox clearly had seen better days, stopping to rest after every step. ¡°Mr. Lambert, this is the only ox cart we¡¯ve got. Hop on, and we¡¯ll make it to town by dawn!¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was trembling. ¡°There¡¯s transportation in town?¡± ¡°Yep, tractors. From there, hop on a bus, and you¡¯ll be in Linefort City in no time!¡± Vincent remembered. 715 17-26 The reason he hadn¡¯te back for years was because it was such a hassle to leave! Linefort City had no airport; he would have to take the rickety old train to the nearest one. Years ago, when the vige asked him to donate for road construction, he thought it wasn¡¯t worth it since he couldn¡¯t brag about it, so he donated to Tranquility City¡¯s overpass instead, barely making it onto the donor list among all the other wealthy benefactors. Maddox called out cheerfully. ¡°Mr. Lambert,e on up. Once it gets light, the old ox has to plow the fields!¡± Cursing under his breath, Vincent pinched his nose and climbed atop the ox cart, dodging cow dung and hay. Maddox signaled to a beggar, ¡°Take Mr. Lambert to town.¡± The cart lurched forward, shaking so violently that Vincent¡¯s sandwich lunch threatened to make a comeback. Maddox chuckled as he watched Vincent¡¯s retreating figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite GPS and dialed Noe. ¡°Ms. Noe, got everything Mr. Lambert said about donating for roads and a cell tower on video. Sending it your way now!¡± ¡°Appreciate it.¡± Maddox¡¯s wrinkled face split into a grin. ¡°No trouble at all. If it weren¡¯t for your help, our vige would¡¯ve been toast a long time ago, not to mention the renovations you funded for the ancestral home and the vige!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Grandma¡¯s house. It¡¯s the least I could do.¡± Noe peeped at the video Maddox sent her and then locked her phone. There was this tiny vige nestled in the Linefort City mountains, where Old Mrs. Lambert had weathered her whole life. Noe would guard it with her life, no doubt! Five dayster, at Tranquility City Police Station. The cop swung open the mmer door and let the Lambertdies walk free. Vincent, rocking a scruffy beard and looking all kinds of wiped, waited at the door. Belinda was gobsmacked at the sight of him! ¡°Babe, howe you look like you¡¯ve been through the wringer more than I did, and I was the one behind bars for days?¡± Vincent was on the verge of tears! He hustled back from Linefort City, burning rubber to pull every string the Lambert family had to spring the mother¨Cdaughter duo. 12:26 ¡°Let¡¯s just hit the road home,¡± he sighed. Belinda grabbed Vincent¡¯s arm. ¡°Did that little brat Noe choose to settle?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one who got you out, using my connections. If Noe wanted to push it, you¡¯d be back in the clink¡­¡± Briony covered her mouth, bawling her eyes out. ¡°What are we gonna do, Dad? I can¡¯t stomach the thought of going back in there! It¡¯s just too horrifying! Why is Noe being like this? How have the Lamberts ever wronged her? She¡¯s just heartless.¡± ¡°Honey, I bet Noe¡¯s snagged herself some rich sugar daddy. Where else would she get the guts from?¡± Vincent was on the same pagel Just thinking about Jasper¡¯s devilish mug made his knees knock together! N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°Briony, Milford¡¯s a catch. You better not let him slip away. Once he¡¯s out of the hospital, we¡¯re throwing you two a wedding! As for Noe, we¡¯ll put out a notice, cut ties, and tell her to buzz off for good!¡± Briony, all bashful, chirped, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll visit Milford tomorrow!¡± At Pioneer¡¯s Hospital, in the ICU. Briony handed Milford a bowl of soup, saying, ¡°Milford, I made this soup just for you. Have some, will you?¡± Milford, pampered by the Rosenberg family, could finally run words. He grabbed Briony¡¯s hand and squeezed out a passionate look from his tubeden face. ¡°Briony, you¡¯re the love of my life, the only one I¡¯ll ever marry. The moment Iid eyes on you as a kid, I fell head over heels!¡± Briony¡¯s flushed, her cheeks burning red. ¡°Milford, I love you the most, too! Let¡¯s get married once you¡¯re better!¡± Get married? No way! Those words hit Milford¡¯s ears like a sour note. He had a life to live, beauties to spoil. There was no way he would chain himself to just one woman! Thinking about what Linsey asked him to do, Milford forced a smile. ¡°Sure thing, Briony. Once I¡¯m on my feet, we¡¯ll tie the knot. I¡¯ll throw you the grandest wedding. the world has ever seen and make you the bride everyone envies! Just, Briony, I had my eye on this diamond ring for you, but there¡¯s been a slight hup with the family biz¡­¡± 12:26 He squeezed her hand, looking all lovey¨Cdovey. ¡°Would you help me out? As the futuredy of the Rosenberg family?¡± Futuredy of the Rosenberg family! Those words, like pink bubbles, send Briony floating on cloud nine! CHapter 34 CHapter 34 ¡°Milford, what should I do?¡± ¡°Just sneak into Vincent¡¯s study, find a certain document, and bring it to me. Briony, the future of the Lambert and Rosenberg families is in our hands. You wouldn¡¯t want to see me down in the dumps, right?¡± Briony hesitated. She didn¡¯t have the clearance to enter Vincent¡¯s study. ¡°Briony, don¡¯t you want to marry me? Once this hup is out of the way, I can get you a rock the size of a pigeon¡¯s egg. Come on, just likest time, swipe Vincent¡¯s papers for me. You got this.¡± A rock the size of a pigeon¡¯s egg! Briony¡¯s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll nab it for you! Just wait, Milford!¡± Milford grabbed Briony¡¯s hand, his lips curling into a broad grin. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± As soon as visiting hours at the ICU ended, Briony left with her head turning back three steps at a time, heart heavy with reluctance. Her father had been all for her marrying Milford in double¨Cquick time. He would surely back her up on this. Once the Rosenberg family crisis blew over, she could spill the beans to her dad. At the Lambert Mansion Briony tiptoed into Vincent¡¯s study and, amid a mountain of paperwork, she pinpointed the document Milford had mentioned and made off with it, careful as a cat burr. Her heart was racing like a drum roll! Just the thought of soon bing Milford¡¯s bride made her feel like she was floating on cloud nine! Too bad her bliss was a no¨Cgo show for Noe, who would be green with envy if she caught. wind of it! Belinda lounged on the couch, soaking up a massage from the nanny. She felt like she had been put through the wringer just thinking about the stint she had had to endure in the clink because of that little stinker Noe. ¡°Where¡¯s Briony?¡°. ¡°The young miss is visiting Mr. Rosenberg at the hospital.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. At least Briony knows the score: She better clinch that marriage deal with the Rosenberg family. Once she¡¯s in, she¡¯ll be living the life of Riley! As for that little stinker Noe¡­¡± Belinda¡¯s thoughts took a sharp turn. She shot up and found Vincent watering the garden, 12:26 dragging him over to sit down, ¡°Honey, do you reckon the olddy left some dough for Horta in sacs YAGE DE Bezed the bucket? How else could she have cut loose so easily It clicked for Vincent. ¡°The old bat always had a soft spot for Hoe. No way she¡¯d leave this wild without leaving a little something behind. If Noe managed to snag Jasper, she must have used her coc Belinda frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not on. All that foot should be Brionys. She¡¯s the Lambert¡¯s flesh and blood. Why should Noe get a dime?¡± Vincent nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll give Noe¡¯s folks a ring myself to make her cough up every penny, it¡¯s all Briony¡¯s!¡± Thinking they could take anything from the Lamberts? Fat chance! Vincent made up his mind and headed upstairs to his study. Five minutester, he bolted out of the study, sweating bullets! ¡°Where the heck are my papers? That¡¯s the bid proposal ourpany needs. It¡¯s top priority!¡± Belinda joined the panic. ¡°Did anyone go into your study? Briony and I just got back. We haven¡¯t been in there. When did you prep the bid?¡± ¡°The same day Noe took off. Haven¡¯t nced at it since!¡± Vincent pped his forehead, grinding his teeth. ¡°That little snake! She must¡¯ve swiped it. Is she trying to get back at the Lamberts?¡± ¡°What do we do now? Should we call the cops?¡± The bid had too many secrets to go public. If Vincent called the cops, Noe would be in hot water, but he would be the one embarrassed. If word got out, he could kiss his reputation in Tranquility City goodbye. ¡°No, no. Let¡¯s get ahold of Noe first and make her hand it over. If we push her too far, and she runs off to our rivals with the bid, then what?¡± ¡°That treacherous little brat! I knew I should have¡­¡± Belinda caught herself mid¨Csentence, realizing she was about to spill the beans, and mmed 1. up. Lucky for her, Vincent was so wrapped up in the bid that he didn¡¯t catch her slip¨Cup. At Imperial City, Imperial West Hospital. As Noe stepped out of Marcel¡¯s ward, she spotted a familiar car parked at the hospital entrance. The setting sun cast its glow on the ck car and the dashing man leaning against it, painting a picture of worldly charm. His faint smile tugged at Noe¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°Please.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Noe got in the car, frowning slightly. ¡°Can¡¯t you get any other fares? Why do you always end up picking me up?¡± Palmer was speechless. ¡°My car¡¯s a bit rough around the edges. The tform won¡¯t approve it, and you don¡¯t seem to mind.¡± True, the car had seen better days. Most Imperial City Uber drivers had nicer rides, and with Palmer¡¯s unique situation, getting approved was tricky. Palmer leaned in, close enough to help Noe buckle up, his scent of sandalwood enveloping her, making even the dust in the air seem bewitched. ¡°I can do it myself. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s just this car¡¯s seat belt is a bit fiddly. My apologies. I¡¯ll work hard to upgrade to a better one.¡± Noe did not know what to say. What did his car upgrade have to do with her? She hid the flush creeping over her face, speaking coolly. ¡°Thorpe skipped town. Actually, he never showed up at the bar. It was his brother who met with Toxic Monarch.¡± ¡°My guys found out, too. Turns out Abyssal Organization has some dirt on Thorpe. Wanna take a look together?¡± Noe shot him a nce, ¡°This intel is from the Abyssal Organization. Why share it with me?¡± Abyssal and Obelisk, two assassin groups that were like cats and dogs! Palmer¡¯s lips curled into a smooth smile. ¡°Why not? When I do things I follow my heart, not the rules.¡± Heart? Noe turned away, feeling a bit awkward. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll share what Obelisk has on Thorpe too.¡± ¡°In that case, let¡¯s grab a bite and have a proper chat.¡± Palmer drove into the city center and picked out a revolving restaurant that oozed romance from every brick; all lit up with colorful lights. Just as well, the joint was a real wallet¨Cbuster; you wouldn¡¯t get out of there for less than a five¨C figure meal! 12:26 ¡°Did we really have to pick such a pricey spot to eat?¡± Palmer came up beside her, swung open the door, and shielded it with his hand to keep her from bumping her head. He leaned in slightly, a ripple of darkness crossing his deep¨Cset eyes. ¡°The first meal I treat you to. I want it to be special. Rx, it¡¯s just dinner. I still have enough dough for a new ride.¡± Noe was at a loss for words. What¡¯s it got to do with her? She just thought Palmer, already not Mr. Moneybags and busting his back to support a whole org, was burning cash like it was going out of style ¨C must be tough. What car he would buy wasn¡¯t up to her! Inside the restaurant, Palmer led Noe to a window¨Cside seat with a killer view, overlooking most of Imperial City¡¯s nightlife. ¡°Any preferences?¡± He asked. ¡°Whatever.¡± Palmer nodded and motioned for the waiter toe and order. His phone buzzed, and then Yvonne¡¯s voice, all dolled up in sweetness, sounded. ¡°Palmy, when are youing to get me? I wanna have dinner with you!¡± ¡°Who gave you my number?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way. Palmy, I really like you!¡± ¡°Beat it!¡± He hung up, blocked the number in one fell swoop, and messaged Annie to sniff out who leaked his digits to Yvonne. Looking up, he caught Noe¡¯s teasing gaze across the table. ¡°Palmy?¡± Hearing his name from Yvonne¡¯s lips made Palmer¡¯s skin crawl, but from Noe, it sounded like music to his ears! The girl opposite him was all smiles, lips shining and juicy like jelly, the name she utteredced with an enchanting allure.. ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing to do with her. I can¡¯t stand her.¡± Noe nodded. ¡°So, people you can¡¯t stand can call you that, too? Palmy?¡± Palmer was speechless. He stood up and poured Noe a ss of red wine. ¡°Only someone I like can call me that.¡± CHapter 35 CHapter 35 Why was the word ¡°like¡± suddenly so hot on his Ups? Palmer casually undid his suit button with one hand and took his seat like a true gent. ¡°Let me reintroduce myself. Name¡¯s Palmer Pock, flying solo. Got grandparents at home with health issues, a dad who¡¯s not much help, and two brothers who aren¡¯t the sharpest tools in the shed. As you can see, I¡¯m busting my hump trying to keep the family afloat. Noe was speechless. Why should she care about who¡¯s in his family or whether he¡¯s single? ¡°Thedy who called me earlier Is no one to me. I¡¯ve never been in love, and I¡¯m aplete rookie when ites to rtionships.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Palmer¡¯s handsome face was adorned with a gentle, breezy smile, and the glint from his gold¨C rimmed sses added a touch of luster to his appearance. ¡°I need a favor, hoping you can help me out.¡± ¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to meet ¡®Lunaris¡® from the Obelisk Organization, the so¨Ccalled Phantom Surgeon. My grandparents, especially Grandpa, aren¡¯t doing too great. His heart condition has been pretty bleak these past years, and I¡¯ve grown numb from signing too many critical condition notices.¡± On the deep web, the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris was a big deal. Apart from knowing that Lunaris was part of the Obelisk Organization, no one had the scoop on her. Rumor had it that during a group mission for the Obelisk, Lunaris single¨Chandedly saved all the critically injured members, snatching lives right out of death¡¯s clutches! Noe pressed her lips. ¡°Sure, when do you need to see her?¡± ¡°Sooner, the better.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the 20th sound?¡± She couldn¡¯t make time to see Palmer¡¯s granddad on the 18th since the Schnabel family was throwing her a birthday bash. ¡°Perfect, I¡¯ll sort everything out and pick you up then! As for getting in touch with her, I¡¯ll leave that to you. I¡¯ll have the fee ready.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Noe agreed, then remembering Palmer¡¯s financial situation, added, ¡°You don¡¯t need to break 12-27 the bank for the fee¡± The Phantom Surgeon charged a fortune just to make a house call and Palmer might not be able to foot the bill Palmer chuckled. For the first time in this world, someone¡¯s actually worried about him being strapped for cash! Yet, the girl in front of him was so pure and transparent, like an uncut gem, and he couldn¡¯t bear to taint her innocence. Palmer admitted, he was really enjoying the concern! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got it covered.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After the meal they stepped out of the restaurant into the brilliantly lit street. A somewhat old BMW was parked under the warm glow of a streetmp, and Vincent hopped out, rushing towards Noe. ¡°Noe, did you take your grandma¡¯s shares? I¡¯m telling you, that¡¯s all Briony¡¯s stuff. Hand it over now, and I can let bygones be bygones!¡± He tried to grab Noe¡¯s hand but was stopped by an iron grip on his wrist! Standing in front of Vincent was a cool and handsome young man, nearly six feet tall, looking refined but with a grip so firm that Vincent couldn¡¯t wriggle free at all! The fear of being dominated by Jasper still haunted Vincent! ¡°Let go of me! I¡¯m teaching Noe a lesson here: what¡¯s it to you?¡± Palmer slightly furrowed his brows, then looked at Noe. ¡°Can I give him a thrashing?¡± ¡°Sure, but there are cameras here.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s take it to the alley over there.¡± Vincent was appalled. What were they talking about? ¡°You want to hit me? I¡¯m telling you, everything that belongs to your grandma is the Lambert family¡¯s, and you have to return it all!* Noe replied calmly. ¡°You didn¡¯t evene to Grandma¡¯s funeral. She waited for you in the hospital for three days before she passed, wanting to see you onest time, but you never showed.¡± Vincent had no response. ¡°I¡­ I was too busy with work. If I hadn¡¯t been working so hard, could your grandma have afforded such a nice hospital room?¡± 12-27 ¡°In the years Grandma was sick, you visited her three times, never staying more than ten minutes. I was the one who took care of her.¡± When Old Mrs. Lambert was at her worst, she couldn¡¯t recognize anyone and kept calling out for Noe over and over. Before she died, she wanted to see Vincent onest time, to remind this good¨Cfor¨Cnothing son to take good care of Noe. But Vincent thought Old Mrs. Lambert had had too many close calls, and he didn¡¯t want to miss dining with the new model he had just met.. Belinda thought funerals were bad luck, and Vincent, being a businessman, thought it was too inauspicious to attend. He never went to say goodbye to Old Mrs. Lambert. ¡°I¡¯ve been working hard. Do you think you grew up on thin air? Now, you¡¯re no longer part of the Lambert family. Briony is my real daughter, and you must return everything that belongs to the Lamberts!¡± Noe said indifferently, ¡°I didn¡¯t take anything with me.¡± The day she left, she only took theptop Old Mrs. Lambert had bought her! ¡°If you didn¡¯t take anything, then where are your grandma¡¯s shares?¡± Noe sneered, looking at Vincent as if he were crazy. ¡°Don¡¯t you know whether Grandma had any shares?¡± Vincent was speechless again. Reminded by Noe, he suddenly remembered that Old Mrs. Lambert had no shares. What use would a country olddy have for shares? ¡°Never mind the shares; where¡¯s the bid proposal you stole? Hand it over now!¡± Bid proposal? Looking at the bid proposal produced by Vincent¡¯s intellect was an insult to Noe¡¯s eyes. That Vincent could produce such a trashy bid proposal after decades in business was a talent in and of itself. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your stuff. As for where your bid proposal is, just check the surveince footage when you get back.¡± Vincent¡¯s study had always been under surveince! The cameras were originally to keep an eye on Noe and Old Mrs. Lambert, and Vincent had nearly forgotten about them after Noe left the Lambert family. Noe paced out without giving Vincent a second nce. This family was out of their mind; she wasn¡¯t going to waste another minute on them. Palmer let go of Vincent¡¯s hand, which he was about to wrench out of its socket, and followed 12:27 her. He felt a twinge of heartache for her. Was this really her family? So, that was what her days used to be like! Noe walked through the night, her slender frame all resilient, her hair a misty cloud trailing behind her ears. A fleeting nce from the girl under the streetlight was enough to send waves of awe through anyone. And yet, Palmer caught a whiff of sadness in Noe at that moment. He stepped forward, took Noe¡¯s hand, and enveloped her petite hand in his. Noe was puzzled. ¡°I had a bit too much to drink. Just help me out a bit.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not your tribe; don¡¯t sweat it for their sake.¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not upset, but you can let go now.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. She had Vincent pegged a long time ago. But the image of Old Mrs. Lambert, clinging to the doorway with those weathered eyes brimming with tears, her grip on Noe¡¯s hand weakening¡­ The thought still haunted Noe! Palmer went with the flow and released her hand. Watching Noe hail a cab and leave, Palmer stood there, a bit loath to part. Annie parked the car behind Palmer and sighed, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re really not the best at this chasing game, huh? She says ¡®let go¡®, and you just let go?¡± Palmer¡¯s smile faded as he turned, all icy sharpness again. ¡°You don¡¯t get it. I can¡¯t openly pursue her until I¡¯ve called off my engagement; it wouldn¡¯t be right.¡± ¡°So, you just let her cab it alone? I was waiting right behind you to drive her!¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know who I am; I don¡¯t want to burden her. She doesn¡¯t seem to fancy the high life.¡± Palmer thought back to his earlier probing and felt a slight headache. He feared scaring Noe away, so he only dared to disguise himself in the simplest way to gain her care and trust. Annie was speechless. This was huge! The boss who dominated the business world with deals in the billions was actually a hopeless romantic! 12:27 ¡°What about the Schnabel family engagement?¡± ¡®Til be at Ms. Schnabel¡¯s birthday bash. Have a gift ready: I¡¯ll be proposing we call off the engagement with the Schnabel family that day!¡± CHapter 36 CHapter 36 ¡°Bringing up a breakup at Ms. Schnabel¡¯s birthday bash, isn¡¯t that a bit inappropriate?¡± After all the Schnabel and Pock families had been tight for decades, and the whole point of their kids¡® engagement was to take their friendship to the next level. Palmer dropping the breakup bomb at Ms. Schnabel¡¯s party was like pping the Schnabel family in the face. Palmer spoke up with an icy voice. I¡¯m definitely calling off this engagement; I can¡¯t wait any longer!¡± Without breaking it off, he wouldn¡¯t be free to chase after Noe with all his heart! Even if Yvonne¡¯s character wasn¡¯t his cup of tea, they were still engaged. Calling it quits was the respectful thing to do for both her and Noe! It was the respect that the rtionship deserved! Annie thought about all of Yvonne¡¯s dramatic antics and couldn¡¯t bring herself to like her either. Yvonne had already tried to fire Annie before even joining the family. Thus, Annie had zero warm fuzzy for her. Compared to her, Ms. Noe was a whole different story¨Cleagues better! ¡°Got it!¡± At Tranquility City, the Lambert Mansion. The nanny handed Belinda a bowl of soup, whispering, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr. Lambert seems to have gone to see Noe.¡± Old Mrs. Lambert didn¡¯t have a single share to her name, and Belinda knew it more than anyone! The Lambert family¡¯s missing funds? She had quietly siphoned them off, propping up her own folks! If Vincent found out, it would be another row. Just the thought of it gave her a headache. ¡°Ma¡¯am, that Noe girl¡¯s sharp as a tack. She¡¯s never seen eye to eye with you. I bet she¡¯s scheming to worm her way back into the Lambert family. Mr. Lambert¡¯s a soft touch, and if Noe gets her way, what will happen to Ms. Briony?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point. Noe¡¯s sticking around because she can¡¯t let go of the Lambert family. Last time, she was flirting with Milford right in front of me. Get in touch with the papers. We need to publicly cut ties with her, snap her out of this daydream!¡± ¡°Alright, will do!¡± 12:27 Chacte At Imperial City, the Schnabel Manor As soon as Noe stepped into the house, she saw Sienna bustling around the kitchen in an apron. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mom, what are you up to? Let me help you.¡± ¡°No need, dear. I made you a cake, but I just can¡¯t seem to get this little bunny right Sienna,ing from a family of schrs, with her father Merrick Horwich being a past winner of the International Literary Prize and her mother Freya recognized for her significant scientific contributions, had never really cooked in her life. Noe watched as her mom¡¯s wless hands picked up a knife and stabbed it into the chocte, splitting the bunny clean in two. ¡°Oh dear, another flop! I¡¯m just hopeless!¡± The trash can was already a graveyard of bunny failures! ¡°It¡¯s okay, it looks¡­ cute as it is.¡± ¡°Really? If you like it, that¡¯s all that matters!¡± Noe picked up the little cake and took a bite in front of Sienna. ¡°It¡¯s delicious, thanks, Mom. You don¡¯t have to do this for me.¡± ¡°How could I not? I¡¯ve never done anything for you, and you¡¯ve been through so much. Just thinking about my baby suffering makes me feel horrible!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not suffering.¡± Sienna patted Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°You eat up. I¡¯ve got a present for you, too!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yvonne walked in, only to see Noe sitting at the table munching on a shapeless cake. How pathetic! As a daughter of the Schnabel family, she only ever indulged in desserts made by Chef Jakes. Only a backwoods bumpkin like Noe would think everything¡¯s a treat. ¡°Sis, what¡¯s that you¡¯re eating? Oh my, what is this? I know you¡¯re used to being broke, and all about saving, but not everything that¡¯s trash is worth eating¡­¡± Noe just gave her a look and kept silent. ¡°But then again, if even the family that raised you for eighteen years could abandon you, I guess you haven¡¯t seen much of the finer things, right?¡± Yvonne¡¯s face was a picture of smug satisfaction. 12:27 ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know? Poor thing. Your foster parents have made a public announcement cutting you off, telling you to stop bothering them!¡± Noe simply said, ¡°Oh.¡± It was actually a relief that the Lambert family did this; it saved her the hassle. Yvonne was bbergasted. What did ¡®oh¡® mean? Shouldn¡¯t she be in tears over news like this? If even the family that raised her could ditch her, that just showed how lousy Noe¡¯s character must be! If their parents knew about this, they would be so disappointed. They would see that she, Yvonne, was the realdy of the Schnabel family! Yvonne proudly waved the newspaper. Sienna,ing down the stairs, snatched the paper and read it carefully. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Mom! Noe¡¯s foster parents have publicly disowned her! Doesn¡¯t this mean¡­¡± Sienna was livid. ¡°How dare they treat my child like this! This is outrageous!¡± Yvonne was confused. Shouldn¡¯t they be ming Noe? Why were they getting mad at the Lambert family? Sienna hugged Noe tightly, her heart breaking. ¡°My sweet girl, don¡¯t be sad. They¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to them for treating you this way. Mommy will protect you!¡± Noe patted her mother¡¯s trembling back, feeling the warmth in her heart. She couldn¡¯t care less about the Lambert family. The only person she had cherished there was now just a handful of dust. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not sad.¡± Sienna was so pissed off thinking about how Noe used to live like this; she felt like going full¨Con Hulk on the Lambert family! ¡°Noe, here¡¯s a ne I just bought you; just wear it for now. There¡¯s another auction tomorrow, and I¡¯ll snag some more goodies for you.¡± Yvonne, seeing the sparkling pink diamonds in Sienna¡¯s hand, was so jealous it gave her a headache! Why the heck was Sienna still splurging on such an expensive ne for Noe? Shouldn¡¯t they be kicking her to the curb? 12-27 Yvonne was totally bummed out by the whole scene! Sneaky as a cat, she tiptoed to a corner when the mother¨Cdaughter duo wasn¡¯t looking and dialed Ashlyn¡¯s number, spicing up the story as she spilled the beans. ¡°Grandma, is Noe like some kind of bad luck charm? Why else would Noe¡¯s foster parents ditch her? You¡¯ve taken care of me for years. I¡¯d be heartbroken if you suddenly stopped, but Noe doesn¡¯t seem sad at all; she looks pretty happy, actually.¡± ¡°Hmph! That ungrateful and jinxed brat! Not even folks from the boonies want her, so why would she think the Schnabel family would? If she thinks she can just waltz into the Schnabel family, she¡¯s got another thinging! Yvonne, your top priority should be hooking up with Palmer, that¡¯s your ticket to the Pock family!¡± The olddy on the hospital bed, with her beady eyes, chuckled coldly. ¡°As for that Noe, I¡¯ve got plenty of tricks up my sleeve to deal with her!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Grandma! Got it, I¡¯ll call Palmer in a bit, don¡¯t you worry!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s call came through on Sienna¡¯s phone. ¡°I¡¯ve been sick for so long; those kids don¡¯t bother to visit, but what about Noe? Isn¡¯t she supposed to take care of me? Does the Schnabel family even care about their Grandma? Noe better show up at the hospital tomorrow!¡± Sienna¡¯s head ached the moment she heard Ashlyn¡¯s voice. ¡°Mom, the hospital has nurses, right? Noe doesn¡¯t know the first thing about caregiving.¡± ¡°Stop with the excuses! What¡¯s she doing all day, waiting to go out and flirt with guys?¡± ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t talk like that¡­¡± ¡°She better be here tomorrow! Or I¡¯ll see how you all deal with it!¡± Ashlyn hung up, leaving Sienna with a pounding headache. That old witch, wasn¡¯t it enough dealing with her in her younger days? Now, she was after her daughter! But Ashlyn was still the elder, and Sienna didn¡¯t want the kids to have hard feelings towards their grandma. Worstes to worst; she would just grit her teeth and go herself, no way she would let her daughter be mistreated! ¡°Noe, if you don¡¯t wanna go, forget it. Mom¡¯s got your back!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll go tomorrow.¡± CHapter 37 CHapter 37 Sienna was still kind of hung up on it. Just thinking about Ashlyn¡¯s tricks gives her the heeble¨Cjeebies. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. Mom. Grandpa¡¯s at Imperial West Hospital. I¡¯ll swing by and check on him, too.¡± ¡°s, Noe, knock ¡®em dead. I¡¯ll sit this one out! I¡¯ll make you a cake tomorrow!¡± Noe was speechless. She wasn¡¯t really counting on Sienna tagging along anyway. Yvonne was beyond shocked. The gunk Noe was chowing down turned out to be a homemade cupcake by Sienna herself! Her face was so puckered it was practically twisted. Yvonne felt a bit of schadenfreude thinking about Noe not getting any brownie points with Ashlyn at the hospital tomorrow. If this kept up, Noe would definitely steal her thunder! At Imperial City, the Pock Mansion. Annie, with a newspaper in hand, knocked on Palmer¡¯s study door and ced the paper on his desk. ¡°Read it. I don¡¯t recall being a fan of reading the newspaper.¡± ¡°Well, you asked for it, boss, so here goes! ¡°Tranquility City¡¯s Lambert family (originally from Linefort City¡¯s Peace Vige) Vincent and Belinda have officially disowned their adopted daughter Noe. The Lambert family wants nothing to do with Noe anymore and hopes to avoid further entanglements, parting ways amicably¡­¡°¡± She cleared her throat and dramatically read the public notice from the newspaper, but Palmer snatched it before she could finish. ¡°A public notice from the Lambert family?¡± ¡°Yep, they¡¯ve cut ties with Ms. Noe. I did some digging, and she was their adopted daughter. Now that their biological daughter is back, they¡¯ve kicked Noe to the curb.¡± Kicked to the curb? How dare they! Palmer¡¯s thoughts went to her gentle yet defiant face; she cared so much about her family, and yet she was treated like this. His heart ached uncontrobly! He wanted to see her right now! Annie, indignant, said, ¡°Ms. Noe is such a gem, and they¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Palmer rubbed his temples, stood up, and grabbed his coat and car keys from his desk; this 12:27 beat¨Cup car had be his go¨Ctotely, and even the mansion¡¯s gardener got a new ride. ¡°Boss, you off to see Ms. Noe? Why not switch cars? This one¡¯s a bit too shabby!¡± Annie always felt a twinge of pity seeing her boss, dressed to the nines, driving a car that cost less than one of his cufflinks. Palmer, t r, topping the list of young billionaires for six straight years, was reduced to driving a manual sedan worth a mere hundred grand and ying an Uber driver¡­ You couldn¡¯t make this stuff up! Anniemented. ¡°I fear our partners will see this and think the Pock Group has gone belly up¡­¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°She likes this one.¡± ¡°Boss, hear me out! No girl is into clunkers. Ms. Noe must be feeling down after seeing the paper; pick her up in a different ride!¡± Palmer frowned slightly, uncertain. ¡°Won¡¯t I scare her off?¡± ¡°No way! Switching cars now, showcasing your power, is key!¡± ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Meanwhile. Rising Glory Mall, Azure store¡¯s back office, Noe¡¯s slender fingers tapped away at the keyboard, and a string of gibberish characters appeared before her. Noe didn¡¯t mind the data, pulling up info from a website she developed herself. An encrypted call came through the site. ¡°Boss, Thorpe¡¯s been sniffing around for the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, even posted a job ad on the deep web, hoping Lunaris will join their crew.¡± ¡°Disregard it.¡± Thorpe¡¯s recruitment pitch for Lunaris alsonded in her deep web ount for Lunaris. ¡°Roger that. Also, we had a snag with a deal; it looked like a loss, but someone from Abyssal Organization gave us a leg up. Boss, we in cahoots with Abyssaltely?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve had dealings.¡± ¡°The Lambert¨Cfamily made their split with you public. Should we cut all ties with them, too?¡± Erek was fuming; if it weren¡¯t for the boss¡¯s behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes aid, did Vincent really think he was some business whiz? With his smarts? Avoiding bankruptcy was already a stroke of luck! The boss did so much for the Lambert family, and Vincent cut her loose as if they couldn¡¯t wait to part with their riches. Just the thought made Erek want to barf! 12:27 Noe paused, tapping her pristine fingers on the desk as if pondering. She spoke softly. ¡°No, based on market cooperation, im damages from the Lambert family.¡± Erek was astounded. As partners, they had every right to hit up the Lambert family for the business shortfall! Erek was getting psyched! ¡°Right, I¡¯ll draft the paperwork! Let Vincent taste bankruptcy!¡± Noe murmured an acknowledgment, ignoring the intricate web of data, and closed the site.. Briony pushed a somewhat recovered Milford along Rising Glory Mall¡¯s luxuryne. ¡°Milford, you¡¯re too good to me, taking me to Imperial City for a shopping spree just after getting better. I¡¯m so blessed!¡± Milford waved his ster¨Ccast hand around a few times, shing what he thought was a killer smile. If it weren¡¯t for Briony dragging him out, he wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to escape Tranquility City and hit up the grand opening of thetest club in Imperial City. Just thinking about the fresh faces, the new models showing up tonight made Milford¡¯s heart itch with anticipation. Splurging on a few bags for Briony was also a way to keep her from tagging alongter in the evening. ¡°Briony, you¡¯re a lifesaver for bringing me those documents; you really pulled the Rosenberg family out of the fire. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll treat you well!¡± Briony beamed, the picture of a blushing, bashful woman. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Noe? What¡¯s she still doing in Imperial City?¡± Briony frowned, eyeing Noe at the entrance of Rising Glory Mall: Dressed in a simple outfit, Noe stepped into a sleek ck Bentley. ¡°She must be hanging on to those wild guys she¡¯s snagged. I really don¡¯t get what they see in her!¡± A shadow flickered in Milford¡¯s eyes. Damn Noe, if it hadn¡¯t been for her, he wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. ¡°Forget her. She¡¯s made her bed. Briony, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s meant to be my bride.¡± Briony shyly nodded, though her eyes stayed fixed on the Bentley Noe had entered. The guy behind the wheel looked middle¨Caged, even older than Vincent, and balding to boot. 1227 Probably Noe¡¯stest sugar daddy¡­ Milford thought the same. When all those men dump her, she would have plenty of tears to shed! And when that time came, she would surelye crawling back to him. Inside the Bentley, Palmer handed Noe a stack of papers. ¡°Here¡¯s the info on Thorpe from the Abyssal Organization.¡± ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll share the data from the Obelisk Organization with you as well.¡± Palmer¡¯s face carried a gentle smile as if sharing the files was of no concern to him. ¡°Got word from Interpol that Toxic Monarch is trying to push their newly developed Frost Crystal 2 in the Harmonia Country region. If they seed, we¡¯re in for another nasty fight.¡± ¡°Frost Crystal 2? They¡¯ve got the form to refine it?¡± Noe¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, her pale skin giving off a soft glow, her slightly annoyed expression making her look like she stepped out of a painting, radiating power like a queen. Frost Crystal 2, known as the purest narcotic in the world, just a gram could shatter an average family into pieces, symbolizing monstrous profits. Three years back, when Noe was on the international warzone, she promised someone that Frost Crystal 2 would never enter Harmonia Country in her lifetime! ¡°Yes, but luckily. Toxic Monarch has been caught, and Frost Crystal 2 is currently in Interpol¡¯s hands, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°Alright. You changed cars?¡± Palmer seemed a bit nervous. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Noe was speechless. What did it have to do with her? The driver joined in with a chuckle. ¡°Yeah, the old one was getting up there¡¯in years. Mr. Pock was worried it wouldn¡¯t befy for you, so he swapped it out quickly.¡± A starry twinkle lit up the depths of Palmer¡¯s eyes. ¡°I read the papers and worried I might do something rash if I drove you myself, so I can¡¯t be your driver today, sorry.¡± Something rash? Noe¡¯s mind shed back to Palmer pummeling Milford in the bar, his fists full of explosive power and restrained rage as if it was happening right before her eyes, sending her heart into an inexplicable flutter. 12:28 In the Imperial West Hospital¡¯s ward. CHapter 38 CHapter 38 Ashlyn squinted her eyes. lying on the bed and looking all high and mighty at Noe, who had Rust walked in through the door. She snorted coldly. ¡°Do you even know what time it is? Do I even exist to you anymore?¡± Noe replied with indifference. ¡°It¡¯s seven in the morning. Can¡¯t you tell the time? I thought second graders learned that. Maybe I should get you one of those talking digital clocks tomorrow.¡± The wall clock was right there beside Ashlyn¡¯s bed, impossible to miss. So, she must¡¯ve forgotten how to tell time. Ashlyn was so angry her chest heaved, and she was about to lose grip on her prayer beads! ¡°Great, just great, you little brat, trying to send me to an early grave, huh? I asked you here to take care of me, not to act like some spoiled princess.¡± Noe was baffled. ¡°Grandma, your mood swings are kind of intense. Should I get a neurologist. to check on you?¡± Ashlyn was speechless. Looking at Noe¡¯s face, which bore a 60-70% resemnce to Sienna, Ashlyn¡¯s mouth and nose almost twisted together in anger! ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ll have an easy time under my roof! Come here, I want an apple. Peel one for me.¡± Noe sat down, picked up an apple from the fruit basket, and peeled it for Ashlyn. No sooner had she finished peeling than Ashlyn¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°What kind of peeling is this? You¡¯ve taken half the flesh off! What am I supposed to eat?¡± In Noe¡¯s other hand was the apple skin, thin as a cicada¡¯s wing. ¡°If you don¡¯t fancy the flesh, you can nibble on the skin, though I wouldn¡¯t rmend it.¡± Ashlyn was speechless again. Country bumpkins like her surely had done plenty of rough and unsophisticated farm work. Peeling apples was somethingdies and misses of high society would never dream of doing themselves. Ashlyn red at Noe with contempt in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite. Get me a ss of water. I want it hot.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Noe stood up, poured a ss of water, and handed it to Ashlyn. 12-2A ¡°You damned girl, are you trying to scald me to death?¡± Noe took out a thermometer. ¡°The water¡¯s 104 degrees Fahrenheit. If that¡¯s too hot for you, maybe it¡¯s time to consult a psychiatrist.¡± Ashlyn was speechless. Who the heck would carry around a thermometer for food? ¡°Are you implying I¡¯m losing my marbles? You really want to drive me nuts! Is this how your parents raised you? Ha, such a fine daughter of the Schnabel family!¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment, Grandma. I think I¡¯m pretty fine, too.¡± Ashlyn was speechless again. This wild child was immune to both carrots and sticks! ¡°Go to the nurse¡¯s station and fetch my meds for today. Just seeing your face gives me a headache!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Noe, ever sopliant, headed out to the nurse¡¯s station and picked up Ashlyn¡¯s medication for the day. Holding the medicine box, Noe¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Is this all Ashlyn¡¯s medication?¡± The nurse quickly exined, ¡°Yes, some of them are additions she insisted on. We just prepare them daily as she requests; the rest is out of our hands!¡± Noe was confused. Self¨Cprescribed? Patients could just add their own meds now? The nurse looked distressed. ¡°She warned us not to tell Dr. Calvin, threatening toin about us if we did. We can¡¯t afford to cross her!¡± Ashlyn¡¯s character was something Noe was beginning to understand. Sure enough, bullying was within her wheelhouse, and these fresh¨Cfaced nurses were no match for Marcel¡¯s wife. ¡°I get it. You go on with your work.¡± There was clearly something fishy about these meds! But it was evident that the medical staff didn¡¯t arrange them; it was Ashlyn who snuck them in. After some thought, Noe pulled out her phone and dialed Calvin¡¯s number. ¡°I¡¯m Noe. Can you swing by Imperial West Hospital?¡± ¡°You finally decided to call me! I¡¯m on my way! Wait for me!¡± 12:78 Calvin seemed to want to say more, but Noe hung up and promptly cklisted him. The man was simply too chatty for her liking, a real headache inducer. ¡°Grandma, got your meds.¡± Ashlyn sat up, took the medicine from Noe¡¯s hand, and eyed her suspiciously. ¡°Did you switch my meds? They look different from what Yvonne usually brings me.¡± Noe was at a loss for words. Now, she suspected that Ashlyn had a severe case of paranoia. ¡°You can check the security footage: I brought them straight from the nurse¡¯s station.¡± Ashlyn grunted. ¡°I doubt you have the guts for that. Just so you know, as long as I¡¯m alive, you¡¯re not setting foot in the Schnabel family home!¡± Noe said calmly. ¡°But I go there every day.¡± How else would she get home? Ashlyn was nearly choked with rage! This cheeky girl just as unlikeable in her speech as her mother! Just looking at her brought bad luck, nothing like the sensible and lucky Yvonne. After taking her medicine, Ashlyn started bossing Noe around again. ¡°Come, help me to the bathroom; I need to go.¡± ¡°Grandma, when did you be paralyzed?¡± ¡°What are you implying? Are you cursing me?!¡± Noe said innocently, ¡°People who aren¡¯t paralyzed should be able to manage on their own. If you can¡¯t, I¡¯ll call a doctor to fit you with a catheter right away.¡± Grumbling, under Noe¡¯s guileless gaze, Ashlyn had no choice but to haul herself up to use the bathroom. This girl was nothingpared to the sweet and helpful Yvonne, who always assisted her! After using the bathroom, Ashlyn started clutching her heart and sighing dramatically. ¡°Oh dear my life is so hard, even the gods can¡¯t bear to watch¡­ oh dear¡­¡± ¡°Grandma, are you nning on divorcing Grandpa?¡± Ashlyn¡¯s headache and backache miraculously disappeared as she sat bolt upright, trembling finger pointed at Noe. ¡°You, you, you, you¡¯re trying to kill me! What do you mean? Did your mother teach you to say that? Oh, that ungrateful woman. I knew she was up to no good!¡± Noe¡¯s gaze remained calm as she locked eyes with the increasingly hysterical Ashlyn. ¡°If 12:28 you¡¯re not divorcing Grandpa, then your life isn¡¯t all that bad, don¡¯t you think?¡± Ashlyn could not utter a word. She came from humble beginnings and hitched her wagon to Marcel. Ever since then, she had been on a fast track to the top, throwing around the title of ¡°Mrs. Schnabel to boss people around for all these years. This chick was totally shading her! It had to be Sienna¡¯s doing! Ashlyn was nearly out of breath and dozed off as soon as the medication hit. Noe tucked her in and stepped out of the hospital room. Calvin came hustling over and spotted a high school¨Clooking girl standing outside Ashlyn¡¯s room.. She seemed young, with a face bright and charming as hills under a full moon¨Cstunning yet dignified. But with a touch of baby fat still lingering, she couldn¡¯t be more than in her early teens. ¡°Are you Noe? I¡¯m Calvin!¡± ¡°That¡¯s me. Let¡¯s talk over here.¡± ¡°Come to my office; we won¡¯t be disturbed there.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Once the office door was closed, Calvin, all pumped up, blurted out, ¡°Have you finally decided to join myb?¡± ¡°Not happening. It¡¯s a dead end.¡± ¡°How can you say that? Ourb¡¯s got the second¨Cbest gear in the country, right after Ulrich Schnabel¡¯sb!¡± Noe handed over the medicine she was holding to Calvin. ¡°This is Ashlyn¡¯s medicine. There¡¯s a huge problem with it. Take a look.¡± Calvin took it, inspected it closely, and started sweating bullets! ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Nourishment Pill that¡¯s all the rage on the ck market? Stuff¡¯s deadly if you take too much!¡± The Nourishment Pill was notorious not for miraculous effects but for causing delusions in patients, even making them believe they were cured, leading to a downward spiral into madness. In severe cases, it could cause addiction and even death! Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. How did the Nourishment Pill end up in Ashlyn¡¯s meds? He definitely didn¡¯t prescribe that! CHapter 39 CHapter 39 Noe said nonchntly. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t prescribe it, but if you don¡¯t show up and something happens, that medicine will be on your head.¡± Calvin¡¯s cold sweat was streaming down his forehead like a leaky faucet! Ashlyn was Marcel¡¯s better half! If this were ancient times, she would be at least ady with a royal command. If something went wrong on his watch, he might as well kiss his career goodbye. Just the thought made Calvin shiver! ¡°How did this end up in Ashlyn¡¯s medicine?¡± He asked. ¡°The nurse said she added it herself, but you know as well as I do that Nourishment Pills are like hen¡¯s teeth on the ck market. Our country¡¯s got a tight grip on that stuff.¡± Calvin nodded and frowned. ¡°You¡¯re right. Even with my connections, scoring that medicine is no cakewalk, let alone for a septuagenarian dowager¡­¡± Because the medicine was so hard toe by, if anything happened to Ashlyn, he, as her primary physician, would be in hot water! ¡°I want you to give Ashlyn a thorough check¨Cup. From what I¡¯ve noticed, she¡¯s been a bit off her rocker. Ashlyn had been muttering in her sleep, fussing over whether Marcel was cheating on her. At her age, if she was fussing about her husband cheating, that was probably an early sign of Alzheimer¡¯s, a prelude to dementia. Calvin nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll check her out in a bit. But what about the medicine?¡± Just holding the medicine was making Calvin feel like he was holding a hot potato! Noe nced at him coolly.¡°I swapped it for some jelly beans this morning, and she didn¡¯t notice. Just find a simr cebo to tide us over and hold off on giving her the real deal.¡± ¡°Okay, you got it. What brings you here anyway? Did the Schnabel family rope you in for Ashlyn¡¯s check¨Cup? Fancy joining myb? We offer apetitive package with full insurance and a housing fund!¡± Noe did not know what to say. The reason Noe had blocked Calvin so many times was precisely because he just wouldn¡¯t stop yapping! She brushed him off with an excuse. ¡°I¡¯ve joined Ulrich¡¯sb, so zip it.¡± She would just have to give her brother a heads¨Cupter. Calvin was petrified. What a shame! 12:28 In the ward. Calvin cheerfully said to the just¨Cawoken Ashlyn, ¡°Madam, let¡¯s do a more detailed check¨Cup today, Mr. Marcel¡¯s already done it.¡± Calvin had Ashlyn¡¯s number by now. Every time he mentioned that Marcel had undergone some procedure, Ashlyn would not be undone and insisted on having the same done for her. Sure enough as soon as Calvin mentioned it, she eagerly extended her hand. ¡°Much obliged, Professor Calvin.¡± While doing the checkup, Calvin jovial asked. ¡°Madam, I noticed a peculiar medicine in your mix. Was that your request?¡± Ashlyn had a lot of faith in Calvin¡¯s medical skills. Her face crinkled into a smile at the mention of the medicine. ¡°Yvonne brought it and said it was a miracle cure she prayed for in church just for me. And you know, I really did feel a whole lot better after taking it!¡± Brought by Yvonne? Miracle cure indeed ¨C it makes you feel like Hercules at first, but overdose it, and it¡¯s curtains. How did Yvonne get her hands on the Nourishment Pill? Yvonne, she¡¯s so thoughtful and dutiful not like some people¡­¡± She ranted on, shooting a venomous nce at Noe standing in the corner. Not knowing how to y the game, just watching like a bump on a log while she¡¯s getting checked out, not even offering to lend a hand! If Yvonne were here, she would be running back and forth, tending to her! After the check¨Cup, Calvin shot Noe a look. ¡°Madam, the results should be out by tomorrow, and you¡¯re in tip¨Ctop shape right now.¡± ¡°Thanks a million, Professor Calvin. Noe, see the professor out, will you?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two of them left together. Ashlyn watched their retreating figures. Calvin was still chatting with Noe, and her brow furrowed fiercely. Professor Calvin was usually so aloof, barely exchanging extra words with Yvonne when she was around, just sticking to medical advice. Why did he be Mr. Chatterbox with that Noe? Could it be that she had some serious ailment he didn¡¯t dare tell her about? But he told Noe; it must be that vile Sienna¡¯s doing! The more Ashlyn thought about it, the more convinced she became. In a rage, she hurled her Diass across the room! ¡°You all just want to see me dead! Well, I won¡¯t make it easy for you! Sienna, this isn¡¯t over!¡± Screams echoed through the corridors. Calvin, standing at the door of the room, had just started discussing Ashlyn¡¯s condition with Noe when he heard themotion inside, along with the sounds of the caregiver trying to soothe Ashlyn. Noe said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°That seals it. Premonitory Alzheimer¡¯s, severe and irreversible.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. Ashlyn was riddled with severe delusions. From the looks of it, her condition was not going to be any lighter. Calvin heaved a sigh. I got it. I¡¯ll arrange to adjust her medication.¡± ¡°Thanks for the trouble.¡± At Imperial City¡¯s priciest golden central business district was the Pock Group skyscraper. The towering buildings were a sight to behold, with the Pock Group¡¯s office blocks lined up and dominating the entire park area ¨C a vast expanse of Pock family assets. Yvonne, in her dazzling dress, was still adamant about carrying herce¨Ctrimmed parasol even in the office building, and she was giving the receptionist a hard time. ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Pock¡¯s fianc¨¦e¨Cto¨Cbe, and you dare bar my entry? Do you believe I¡¯ll be the first to fire you once I¡¯m married in?¡± The receptionist kept a polite smile stered on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss, but without an appointment, I can¡¯t let you through.¡± ¡°Who cares about appointments! I need to get in now! Call Palmy for me; he¡¯ll definitely let me up!¡± The receptionist kept up a professional smile, ¡°You¡¯re also wee to reach out to Mr. Pock yourself.¡± Yvonne wanted to call Palmer, but she was blocked; no way to buzz his phone! Today, Noe got called away to grandma¨Csit, but hanging out in a hospital room all day? Not her idea of fun. Ashlyn was simply dull to be with. So, Yvonne ended up at the Pock Group building, and this darn receptionist had the nerve to not let her in! 12:28 She was fuming! And to top it off, the Pock Group was crawling with young, pretty employees. Just wait until she became the Mrs. Pock ¨C she would show them the door! Palmer stepped out of his private elevator, all suave, his suit practically cutting through the air. Yvonne¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of Palmer! She shot a killer re at the receptionist and moved to meet him. ¡°Palmy, I¡¯m here to pick you up from work. Let¡¯s go shopping together!¡± Palmer didn¡¯t even spare her a nce, his voice icy. ¡°Security, toss her out. If anyone not rted to the Pock Group tries to enter the building again, you can kiss your jobs goodbye.¡± The security guys sprang into action, yanking Yvonne away and tossing her out on her ear! Yvonne was stunned! Why was Palmer being so heartless to her? She had made her feelings for him crystal clear! She couldn¡¯t believe it! Palmer just didn¡¯t realize how great she was, but once he did, he would definitelye around¡­ CHapter 40 CHapter 40 Word was out that the Schnabel family¡¯s daughter was throwing a birthday bash, and the whole upper¨Ccrust circle was buzzing about it! Briony got wind of it, too, and looking at the extravaganza posted by some social media influencers on her phone, she was so green with envy she could barely straighten her face. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s the big deal with this Schnabel family anyway? They throw a birthday party for their daughter and casually snap up Serene Haven¡¯s top¨Ctier penthouse. I heard they dropped a whopping 1.5 billion on the purchase and the decor.¡± Belinda peeled off her face mask and massaged the wrinkles by her eyes. ¡°The Schnabels are no small potatoes, sweetheart. They¡¯re top dogs In Imperial City. Honey, did you square things away with Milford about tying the knot?¡± Briony blushed and nodded. ¡°Yeah, Milford said once he¡¯s back in tip¨Ctop shape, we¡¯ll get engaged.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl!¡± Milford was such a catch, and Belinda wouldn¡¯t rest easy until he was officially part of the family. Just thinking about Milford¡¯s tenderness made Briony utterly contented.. Vincent had just walked in when Briony pounced on him. ¡°Dad, I wanna buy a ne for when I get engaged.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sure thing, pumpkin. Dad¡¯s got you covered!¡± ¡°Thanks, Dad! Three million should do it!¡± Vincent was bbergasted. ¡°What kind of ne costs three million? Briony, our money doesn¡¯t grow on trees. Don¡¯t splurge like that or try to keep up with the Joneses. Every penny we have, I¡¯ve worked my fingers to the bone for!¡± Briony felt wronged to her core. Why should Ms. Schnabel get to unt nes worth several hundred million dors at just a birthday party? And her spending three million on a ne was considered wasteful? Vincent¡¯s phone started ringing. ¡°Mr. Lambert, ourtest project tanked, and the losses are hefty¡­¡± ¡°Oh, flops happen. What¡¯s the word from North Peak Finance?¡± The failed investment didn¡¯t faze Vincent; he was used to his ventures bombing eight or ten 12-28 times a year. With North Peak Finance and South Mountain Financial backing him, the Lambert family never worried about finding new partners. The secretary¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°Otherpanies have cut ties with us.¡± ¡°Let them go. A bunch of snobs! With North Peak and South Mountain behind the Lambert Group, what¡¯s there to worry about?¡± North Peak Finance, a rising star in the domestic financing scene, had quickly carved out a niche in the market with its sharp investment acumen and solid capital chain, snapping up several mega¨C deals. South Mountain Financial just a notch below the big monopolies in Imperial City, had opened an oil mine in the North Seast year. With projects flowing like water, everyone was eager to cozy up to them for a partnership. With North Peak and South Mountain itching to coborate with the Lambert Group, there was no shortage ofpanies licking their boots. ¡°Mr. Lambert, North Peak and South Mountain are suing us. They say our investment losses are too severe, and they¡¯re going after us legally!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Vincent leaped off the couch in a panic. ¡°Have North Peak and South Mountain lost their minds?¡± Sure, their contract had risk uses, but they had never been enforced. ¡°And West Ocean Media is demanding 300 million dors in damages, iming our movie ventures have caused them significant losses.¡± West Ocean Media was a big¨Cname production house in Imperial City. Vincent had invested in a few movies, using West Ocean talent and directors, but he had reced a few leads with his pet models, relegating West Ocean¡¯s award¨Cwinning stars to supporting roles for his arm candy. ¡°They didn¡¯t mention this before. Why are they asking for money now?¡± ¡°East Sea Culture Company is also on our case forpensation, saying that the artists we sent over have caused them public disgrace with their unseemly behavior.¡± Vincent was stunned! ?? Sure, he had sent some models over to East Sea Culture Company, hoping tounch his pets into stardom and save himself some cash. But their off¨Cscreen antics weren¡¯t exactly squeaky clean, tarnishing East Sea¡¯s reputation. ¡°Why is everyone shaking us down? Get thewyers on it! I want to meet with thesepanies¡® bigwigs in person!¡± This had to be some sort of mistake! 12:29 He must still be half¨Casleep; otherwise, why would he be bombarded with these breach¨Cof¨Ccontract bombshells. ¡°Our legal team got mmed with awsuit from Jasper¡¯s firm for copyright infringement.¡± Vincent felt like he was about to pass out on the spot! The Lambert family¡¯s legal department usually went for whatever docs they could get their hands on ¨C all for free, of course. And Jasper¡¯s legal documents were everywhere; any case worth its salt was his handiwork¡­ To even peek at Jasper¡¯s docs, you had to pay a copyright fee to his firm something Vincent never did. Just looking at a document cost a hundred grand! Vincent gritted his teeth. ¡°Get our legal eagles on it. If we have to pay, we pay. Get finance to release the funds.¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert, about that money you said you¡¯d send to fix up roads and signal towers back home, finance has already wired it out. We¡¯re a bit tight on funds right now.¡± Vincent was baffled. ¡°When did I ever say I¡¯d fix up roads back home?¡± What was the point of paving that backwater ce? No media would ever sing his praises for that! ¡°Your videos got sted all over the web! I thought that¡¯s what you wanted.¡± Vincent hastily hung up the call and hit up the trending topics online. [Rural Entrepreneur Reminisces Hometown, Splurges Five Mil on Roads and Towers] His disheveled and down¨Cand¨Cdirty ¡®king of the hill¡® act in front of Maddox was caught on camera and thrown up on the inte. And there were a bunch ofments about his bald spot, too. And just his luck, the video got him loud and clear, talking about building roads¡® and signal towers for his hometown! Five million bucks! What kind of road costs five million? ¡°Hit up those fourpany heads for me, will ya? I¡¯m heading to the office, gotta invite them out for a bite.¡± There were too manypanies; the thought of treating each separately was making Vincent¡¯s wallet cry. Anyway, they were all chummy thest time they talked business. ¡°Let¡¯s hit up that joint we went tost time; it¡¯s easy on the wallet.¡± ¡°Got it, I¡¯m on it.¡± 12:29 After hanging up. Vincent took a deep breath. Thosepanies must have lost their marbles! All teaming up to hit him with ims! and Crunching the numbers, the Lambert family would be dead broke after paying up downgraded to second¨Crate status. They would never be able to hold their heads high in Tranquility City again. ¡°Briony, reach out to the Rosenberg family and see if they can give us a hand. ¡°Sure thing. Dad. I¡¯ll call Milford right away; he¡¯s got our back!¡± Thinking of Milford, Vincent¡¯s mood lifted. Such a ster son¨Cinw, secretly helping with the old house repairs¨Cthere was no way he would sit out on this. With the Rosenberg family¡¯s help, the Lambert family would surely weather the storm! At Serene Haven. Dominating the heart of Serene Haven, the two towersplemented each other perfectly. looking from above like a dragon and phoenix in harmony. Dragon Tower, snapped up by Palmer. Phoenix Tower, acquired by the Schnabel family as a birthday gift for Noe. Bright and early, it was all buzz and bustle in front of Phoenix Tower. All the big shots from Imperial City were hustling over with gifts for Noe! Just peep the scene, and one would know how much Noe was the golden girl. Anyone who could snag a ride on Ms. Schnabel¡¯s coattails was set for life! CHapter 41 CHapter 41 Serene Haven was buzzing with energy early in the morning. Both the Schnabel family at Phoenix Tower and the Pock family at Dragon Tower were swamped with visitors. After all, their buildings just happened to be next to each other! The guests all prepared two gifts just in case someone from either family took a shine to them. People almost wore out the Schnabels¡® doorstep with all the gift¨Cgiving traffic! Yvonne¡¯s rich girlfriends, who were tight with her, were green with envy seeing such a turnout! ¡°Yvonne, your family is really going all out for you, throwing such a bash for your birthday. I heard they even transferred the deed of this house to you!¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, Yvonne, you¡¯re living the dream! I heard it¡¯s being streamed worldwide; talk about parental love!¡± Yvonne¡¯s smile was a bit on the stiff side. ¡°It¡¯s not my birthday.¡± The gals thought she was just being shy. ¡°We know your birthday¡¯s next week. You¡¯re the only daughter of the Schnabels. If it¡¯s not for your birthday, then what¡¯s all the fuss about? Your dad, mom, and brothers probably want to celebrate just with you next week, so they¡¯re doing it big now!¡± ¡°That carpet you¡¯re walking on costs a cool three mil! That¡¯s so Schnabel family it hurts. We¡¯re so jealous!¡± Yvonne was super awkward. She was totally at a loss for words! If only she knew how much she wished all of this was for her! ¡°Don¡¯t be like that¡­ My parents don¡¯t like making such a big deal.¡± Her friends gave her a yful nudge with their shoulders, and one of them said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re one lucky girl. To be with you, your fianc¨¦ even bought the building next door. Those two towers are a match made in heaven; it¡¯s envy¨Cinducing.¡± ¡°Palmer¡¯s got romantic moves like that?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯d kill for a fianc¨¦ that¡¯s as romantic and thoughtful as yours!¡± Palmer bought the building next door? Yvonne thought it must be for her! He had no idea the Schnabels had any other daughters, so that purchase had to be for her! Yvonne¡¯s heart was buzzing with sweetness. ¡°It¡¯s nothing: I¡¯ll invite you all over sometime.¡± Her friends let out sounds of envy. Meanwhile Vincent had been waiting at the hotel for the better part of the day and hadn¡¯t seen the hide or hair of the four bosses from severalpanies for lunch. The cheapest banquet he booked for 999 was about to go cold. His secretary made a dozen calls, then came over to Vincent, sweating bullets. ¡°Mr. Lambert, the bosses from the East Sea Culture Company, West Ocean Media, North Peak Finance, and South Mountain Financial all went to give gifts to Ms. Schnabel for her birthday party today.¡± Vincent perked up. ¡°To get all those big shots to gift¨Cgive, the Schnabels really are something. Get a present ready: we¡¯re heading to Imperial City to give Ms. Schnabel our best!¡± If they managed to catch the Schnabels¡® eye, who would worry about future partners? Vincent started daydreaming about the Lambert family bing the top dogs of Tranquility. City tomorrow if only the Schnabels would take him under their wing. ¡°What should we gift Ms. Schnabel?¡± Vincent took a bite of his food but nearly spit it back out. Nine hundred ny¨Cnine for a vast spread, and he even got quite a sum inmission. It was. no wonder he could tell some of the grub was yesterday¡¯s leftovers; even the cucumbers tasted off. He put down his cutlery and wiped his mouth. ¡°The Schnabels are used to the good stuff; Ms. Schnabel probably won¡¯t be impressed with anything. It¡¯s the thought that counts!¡± ¡°Just grab something from my wife¡¯s jewelry box, and let¡¯s hit the road to Imperial City.¡± ¡°Got it; I¡¯ll grab something right away!¡± Whenever it was time to give a gift. Vincent would just snatch something from Belinda¡¯s vanity. If she found outter, she couldn¡¯t say much.. It was all about being thrifty and free. An hourter, Vincent¡¯s ride pulled up in front of Serene Haven in Imperial City. He stepped out and was instantly petrified by the scene before him! ¡°Holy moly, Ms. Schnabel¡¯s birthday bash is no joke. Look at this crowd!¡± The bigwigs one would typically only see on the business news were all lined up at the Schnabels¡® doorstep, gift boxes in hand, waiting to sign in! ¡°Come on, let¡¯s bring up our gift. If just one bossys eyes on ourpany, the Lamberts are going ces. And if the Schnabels take a shine to us, even better.¡± Vincent, holding a box that was a bit worn out, peeked inside at a pearl ne and joined the queue to give gifts. 12:13 ¡°The Lambert family from Tranquility City, here for Ms. Schnabel¡¯s birthday.¡± Wen, who was loading the gifts, was confused. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. This name rand a bell it sounded like the family he had seen when picking up Noe before. Wren looked up and sure enough, there was Vincent¡¯s familiar muat Thinking about how they even put out a public notice to disown Noe got Wren¡¯s blood boiling. What a dem Noe was, hanging out with her grandpa Marcel almost every day. From his old ww buddies to the doorman at Imperial West Hospital, everybody loved her! Wren, with an icy stare, said, ¡°We¡¯re not epting this. You can leave.¡± Vincent was frantic! What do you mean you¡¯re not epting it? I¡¯m here to wish Ms. Schnabel a happy birthday!¡± Wren turned to a servant behind him. ¡°Go get the young masters.¡± The moment the Schnabel boys heard that the Lambert family was causing a ruckus in the banquet hall, their vibes went through the roof, and they threw on their coats and stormed out! All four of them were real catches, tall and decked out in ck tailcoats like princes and Knights straight out of a fairy tale except they all had their game faces on, chilling the air so much that folks outside the banquet hall were quaking in their boots! Vincent¡¯s calves started twitching uncontrobly at the sight of these guys. Man, it only he could snag one of them as a son¨Cinw, the Lambert family would be sitting pretty for life. Beckett said with an icy voice, ¡°The Schnabel family doesn¡¯t roll out the wee mat for you. so beat it.¡± Vincent was sweating bullets! ¡°I was just dropping off a gift for Ms. Schnabel. No need to get nasty¡­ I mean, it¡¯s the young. miss¡¯s birthday, wouldn¡¯t hurt to rack up some good karma, right?¡± Ulrich retorted, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind giving you a beatdown and tossing you out half¨Ccrippled, you know.¡± Vincent was speechless. When did he ever cross the Schnabels? Why were they so ready to throw punches as soon as he opened his mouth? Stirling chimed in, ¡°Wren, next time someone makes trouble at our doorstep, just chuck ¡®em into the dog pen. My new Tibetan Mastiff is still hungry!¡± Vincent was freaking out! Don¡¯t the Schnabels have any respect for thew? 12:13 The next moment. Jasper grabbed Vincent by the cor and hurled him out! ¡°Today¡¯s my sister¡¯s birthday, and we don¡¯t need any eyesores around. Scram.¡± Beckett turned to the silent crowd with a corner of his mouth twitching into a cold, domineering. smirk. ¡°Sorry to entertain you all with this mess. Today¡¯s the little sis¡¯s birthday bash, and the Schnabel family only wees those with genuine well¨Cwishes. As for the Lambert bunch, who can¡¯t tell right from wrong and ditch their daughter after eighteen years, the Schnabel family doesn¡¯t associate with such trash!¡± With that, the four Schnabel brothers walked away. Vincent, clutching his nearly split¨Cin¨Chalf backside, was all over the ce mentally. What on earth was going on? Why were the Schnabels so hostile towards him? With the Schnabels making their stance clear, everyone looking to hitch their wagon to a star took a step back, instantly distancing themselves from Vincent. They were not in the same boat as the Lambert family! Thest thing they wanted was a Schnabel misfire! Vincent¡¯s face was burning as he scurried away with the help of his secretary, clutching his behind. Near Yvonne, a group of heiresses from wealthy families saw themotion at the door and looked puzzled. ¡°Yvonne, what¡¯s up with your brothers? Did that Lambert family offend you?¡± ¡°Yvonne¡¯s brothers are just too dreamy, ah! Each one is totally my type.¡± Yvonne¡¯s face sported a polite smile, but she was practically crushing the handkerchief in her hand! Noe had been kicked to the curb by the Lambert family; why on earth were the Schnabel brothers still so nice to her? If she could get them to acknowledge her as the one and only Schnabel¡¯s daughter at the birthday celebration, then everything at the party would rightfully be hers! A calcting glint shed in Yvonne¡¯s eyes¡­ CHapter 42 CHapter 42 Up on the second floor of Serene Haven, Noe was getting dolled up. The Schnabel family had roped in a top international makeup squad to primp Noe to perfection. ¡°Miss, your face is just drop¨Cdead gorgeous, and that figure? Outta this world! Skinniest waist I¡¯ve ever measured!¡± ¡°Oh boy! She¡¯s like the final masterpiece from the Goddess of Creation herself! My mug in comparison? Just a pdash y pinch from the Goddess.¡± In the vanity mirror, a touch of makeup graced Noe¡¯s face, her stunning beauty even breathtaking, difficult to even look away from! Sienna was over the moon. ¡°Baby, you¡¯re a knockout! A chip off the old block!¡± more Yvonne sauntered in from outside, handing over her phone. ¡°Mom, Grandma¡¯s on the line for you.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s booming voice sts from the receiver. ¡°Noe, why aren¡¯t you here taking care of me today? Get yourself to the hospital, pronto!¡± Sienna was grinning through gritted teeth. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s Noe¡¯s birthday bash today. We¡¯ve got a whole lineup of blue¨Cblooded pals to meetter. There¡¯s no time for the hospital. How about I set you up with twenty caregivers instead?¡± ¡°Caregivers can¡¯t hold a candle to your own flesh and blood! If Noe¡¯s too good for this old hag, just spit it out.¡± Sienna could barely keep the smile on her face! Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Noe chimed in cool as a cucumber, ¡°Yep, too good.¡± ¡°Ha! Knew it! You think you¡¯re too good for me! But tough luck! As long as you¡¯re a Schnabel, I¡¯m your grandma! Drop whatever it is you¡¯re doing, ande to the hospital today! Otherwise, I¡¯ll spill to the press about your ungrateful ways, saying you¡¯re unfit to be a Schnabel!¡± Ashlyn huffed, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you swiped my prayer beads, you uncultured bastard¡­¡± Sienna fired back, ¡°Mom, Noe is the real deal, my own flesh and blood, Dad¡¯s beloved granddaughter. What¡¯s this ¡®bastard¡® talk? That¡¯s way out of line!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. Her manners arecking, even snatching my prayer beads! Who knows what bad seed she¡¯s picked that up from!¡± Sienna almost burst intoughter. Ashlyn wouldn¡¯t dare bad¨Cmouth her son Tristan; she was practically saying Sienna was the bad influence corrupting Noe! Yvonne was giddy with delight! ¡°Noe, did you really swipe Grandma¡¯s stuff?¡± She was brimming with anticipation. If Noe actually did take Ashlyn¡¯s stuff, with all these guests coming over, the Schnabels surely wouldn¡¯t stand for a light¨Cfingered daughter. Noe¡¯s frown was as arresting as a captivatingndscape painting. ¡°The ne around my neck¡¯s worth 600 million, earrings 300 million, bracelet 100 million. and this dress is a bespoke creation by Master Azure, worth a pretty penny. I¡¯m not exactly eyeing a 30¨C grand string of prayer beads.¡± Ashlyn was livid. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? You calling me poor?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to think, I can¡¯t help it. But when I left yesterday, those beads were still on your wrist.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s beads were her constantpanion. She knew full well whether Noe took them or not. The makeup artists, hearing the price tags on Noe¡¯s bling, are nearly choking on their fists. They all knew the Schnabels were filthy rich, but this was next¨Clevel loaded! Yvonne, hearing the value of those items, was green with envy! Why couldn¡¯t all that swag be hers? If Noe got dragged away by Ashlyn today, left at the hospital, and weren¡¯t back for the global. live broadcast, Yvonne would step in as the real Schnabel daughter! Ashlyn¡¯s voice was tinged with rage. ¡°So, you mean you¡¯re noting today? I¡¯ll contact the reporters right now and tell them how unfilial you are, that you don¡¯t even care about your Grandma!¡± Ashlyn hung up with a click. There was dead silence in the room, the staff not daring to make a sound. Was this what a high¨Csociety showdown feels like? Would they end up silenced for good? Sienna couldn¡¯t hold back the tears, looking like a sorrowful beauty. ¡°She always treated me like this. Your dad and I couldn¡¯t even have a decent wedding. My parents always thought the Schnabels were a disgrace. They¡¯ve never set foot in the Schnabel house ever since. Made me wash clothes in the yard in the dead of winter, cook and serve her meals. My parents never even tasted my cooking! When your eldest brother was born, all she fed me was greens, not a grain of rice, saying I¡¯d gotten fat. Almost drove me to postpartum depression, thank goodness your dad whisked me away! Why is sheing after my daughter now? I¡¯ve had it!¡± 12:13 Word of the wife¡¯s tears and the sister¡¯s woes brought the Schnabel men running. Tristan embraced Sienna, his heart aching for her. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. Your mom¡¯s gone too far! Wasn¡¯t it enough how she tormented me, and now she¡¯s after my daughter! Tristan, I¡¯m telling you, if anything goes wrong with Noe¡¯s party today, I¡¯m filing for divorce!¡± ¡°Divorce? No way, hon. How would I go on without you!¡± Beckett frowned slightly, looking at Noe. ¡°Sis, you don¡¯t have to go. We¡¯ll go for you.¡± Anyway, Ashlyn was just looking for trouble. Yvonne jumped in. ¡°But Grandma asked specifically for Noe. She knows who we are. Otherwise, I could go. I¡¯d hate to see Noe¡¯s first homing party get interrupted¡­¡± Noe spoke up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this.¡± She whipped out her phone and called Marcel, giving him the lowdown. Marcel chuckled. ¡°Got it. You just enjoy your birthday; leave your grandma to me.¡± Marcel¡¯s health wasn¡¯t excellent, and his big¨Cshot status meant he usually skipped the grand events. Noe was a bit skeptical. ¡°Grandpa, can you handle it?¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®can I handle it¡°? Just watch and learn!¡± Offended by the doubt, Marcel busted out of his ward and headed straight for Ashlyn¡¯s ward. He looked at Ashlyn, who was lying in bed, and said in a deep voice, ¡°If Noe doesn¡¯t get to properly enjoy her birthday today, I¡¯m divorcing you!¡± The Schnabel family was all stunned. Seriously? That could work? But as it turned out, Ashlyn totally ate that up! After a moment of stunned silence, Ashlyn burst into tears. ¡°You old fart¡­¡± Marcel chuckled at his phone, bragging, ¡°How about that, my dear granddaughter? Grandpa¡¯s pretty badass, right? Just rx and enjoy your birthday; my gift is already on its way!¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa. Everyone in the Schnabel family breathed a sigh of relief, and finally, Sienna stopped crying. Yvonne waspletely dismayed! Why was Marcel taking Noe¡¯s side? They must all be clueless about her true colors! 12:13 If the Schnabel family found out that Noe had been secretly dating some Uber driver punk. they would definitely be disappointed in her! In Serene Haven, Dragon Tower. Annie handed the gift to Palmer and bowed, saying, ¡°Mr. Pock, the gifts for Ms. Schnabel and her parents from the Schnabel family are all ready, and the blue diamond ne you won at the auction has been wrapped up with them.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Annie stood her ground. ¡°After you call off the engagement today, you can wholeheartedly give Ms. Noe her gifts! That ne you snagged at the auction suits Ms. Noe¡¯s style perfectly. She¡¯s going to love it and feel your affection!¡± Palmer was tempted. That blue diamond ne, hailed as the Queen¡¯s Crown, was incredibly rare. Its former owner was the most prestigious princess of the royalty, and its value couldn¡¯t be measured in money. The thought of Noe¡¯s charming face adorned with that ne¡­ It was indeed a perfect match! ¡°Hand it over. I¡¯ll go find Noe after I break off the engagement.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. May you win thedy¡¯s heart!¡± What mattered was that Ms. Noe had the makings of a great bossdy! CHapter 43 CHapter 43 Annie said with anticipation, ¡°The shindig at the Schnabel Manor is really something today.¡± As a senior assistant to the president of the Pock Group, Annie had her fair share of fancydy friends in her social circle. ¡°I saw a bunch of girls posting selfies with Ms. Yvonne Schnabel. Though it¡¯s her birthday bash, Ms. Schnabel dressed pretty inly. I have no clue how she passed that high society etiquette ss.¡± High¨Cend birthday parties came with a whole set ofplicated do¡¯s and don¡¯ts! Yvonne¡¯s sporting a dress with like tenyers ofce and this huge, ridiculous hat ¨C totally not the vibe for a birthday party. ¡°Her etiquette skills aren¡¯t my problem. I¡¯ll head over when the birthday party kicks off tonight.¡± The disdain Palmer had for Yvonne was in as day in his voice! ¡°Right, I¡¯ll get ready then.¡± Annie bowed and left Palmer¡¯s study. Standing in front of the massive floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window was a man with a statuesque figure and handsome features as perfectly chiseled as an ice sculpture, exuding an air of absolute authority! He nced at his phone, eyebrows knitting slightly. ¡°Busy today? Or some mission from the Obelisk Organization?¡± Noe hadn¡¯t replied to his messages all day! The conversation was still on yesterday¡¯s transaction, where Noe sent him a hundred bucks, jokinglybeled ¡®taxi fare¡®! This was probably the smallest amount of money Palmer had ever received in his life! Yet, it excited him more than his first 100 million dors when he was fifteen. His business empire was all under his thumb, but Noe¡­ he had to admit she had him all twisted up! A wave of sheer joy swept over him; he couldn¡¯t wait to see her! Palmer pocketed his phone and looked out over the Schnabel family¡¯s blooming estate. No rush! Once he sessfully broke off the engagement today, he would be free to chase after her! Meanwhile, at the Schnabel Mansion. From top to bottom, even the family dog¡¯s cor was worth a whopping ten grand. Each servant scrubbed up three times and donned fresh threads just for this birthday event! Stirling was not only a movie star and top idol, but he also had the world¡¯s biggest 12:13 entertainmentpany in his grip! ¡°Over here, make sure the live stream captures every angle. I want my sister looking wless from all sides! What do you mean by ¡®turn on the filter¡®? Are you trying to insult my sister¡¯s out¨Cof¨Cthis¨C world beauty? Look at me. Do you think my sister needs a filter?¡± Stirling¡¯s face had been hailed as a universal treasure, topping the ¡®World¡¯s Most Handsome Men¡® list for five straight years. The assistant thought, ¡°Sure, Mr. Schnabel might not need it, but Miss Yvonne sure could use a little help.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, we¡¯ll sort the cameras! We¡¯ll make sure the young miss¡¯s face shines from every angle!¡± Jasper stayed by Beckett¡¯s side to greet guests. The who¡¯s whoing and going were the ones topping the rich list each year, and anyone outside the top hundred didn¡¯t stand a chance of getting an invite from the Schnabels! Even Noe¡¯s birthday wasn¡¯t a free¨Cfor¨Call ¨C not everyone had the privilege to step into the Schnabel manor. Yvonne couldn¡¯t help feeling sour and slighted as she watched the spectacle unfold. She cursed inwardly. ¡°Just you wait! Soon, you¡¯ll all see in a house like the Schnabels, even if you¡¯ve got the blood, an impure daughter won¡¯t ever be acknowledged!¡± As night fell, the birthday celebration began! Outside the Phoenix Tower, eighty¨Ceight cannon salutes echoed in unison, fresh flowers flown in overnight carpeted the entir¨¦ venue, and ribbons danced in the sky! Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The girls close to Yvonne were green with envy! ¡°Yvonne¡¯s got it made, just for a birthday party.¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, isn¡¯t that Mr. Pock? Did Mr. Pocke just for Yvonne¡¯s birthday party?¡± In the twilight, Palmer was followed by an impressive entourage, with Annie in tow wearing her business suit, clutching several gift boxes. Palmer, alone in the moonlight, exuded a cool and distant charm, his model¨Clike stature and features bathed in the soft moonlight ¨C his presence was killer! Tristan hurried over when he spotted Palmer. ¡°Ahh, Mr. Pock, long time no see! I was beginning to think you wouldn¡¯t make it even thought we sent an invite!¡± Palmer replied with a casual smile, ¡°Mr. Tristan, just Palmer is fine. Since it¡¯s the young miss¡¯s birthday party, of course, I should attend. Plus, I¡¯ve got some important matters to discuss with 12:13 Tristan exchanged a knowing look with Stenna by his side. Clearly, they had all but forgotten about Pared! Even if they hadn¡¯t, who would have thought he would actually have time to show up? Palmer, reigning at the top of the world¡¯s wealthiest for several years, had businesses too numerous to count, so busy he barely had a moment to spare, Even his grandfather Sexton couldn¡¯t see him whenever he wanted, Sure, the invite was sent, but the Schnabels had totally spaced on the fact that Palmer had never actually met Noe! Meeting his fiancee for the first time at her birthday party, the Schnabels felt it was rather sudden for the Pocks. Palmer was definitely here to talk marriage! Tristan pped Palmer on the shoulder, speaking with a hint of subtlety, ¡°Whatever it is, let¡¯s wait until she shows up; then we can all sit down and talk it over, okay?¡± Palmer scanned the crowd but didn¡¯t spot Yvonne anywhere. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow your lead. These are my gifts, one for you and your wife and one for Ms. Schnabel¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite, kid! Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make sure my daughter knows these are from you! Heh heh.¡± The more Tristan looked at Palmer, the more he liked what he saw! Outside, fireworks burst into the sky! The entire sky was engulfed in brilliant pyrotechnics, with the dazzling disy converging into patterns above that rained down as showers of fresh flowers! Everyone was gobsmacked! Oh man, talk about the Schnabel family making a scene! Imagine this: flowers raining from the sky, a massive swing made of blooms, suddenly appearing amid the most dazzling fireworks. And there, sitting pretty on that swing, a little fairy in a gown! At the end of the fireworks show, bold letters light up the night: ¡°Happy Birthday Princess Noe Schnabel!¡± The four Schnabel brothers lined up and took a knee in front of the swing, reaching out their hands. Noe ced her hand in Beckett¡¯s and gracefully stepped off the swing. 12:13 Tristan and Sienna, watching their son and daughter approach step by step, were so overjoyed they were on the verge of tears! Noe was rocking a dress designed by Master Azure, hem decked out with diamonds. sparkling under the lights like a real fairy from the Milky Way; each step she took was a sight. to behold, the epitome of grace and beauty. Walking alongside the Schnabel brothers, one could tell right away she was a Schnabel daughter through and through! She lifted her dress slightly and curtsied to her parents with the smoothness of a stream, pulling off a move that would put even court nobles to shame! Palmer watched Noe step by step onto the stage, his breath caught in his throat! Noe! Her name was Noe Schnabel! Tristan, holding Noe¡¯s hand, turned to the crowd. ¡°This is our daughter Noe Schnabel, who, for various reasons, wasn¡¯t able to grow up with us. Now, by some miracle, she¡¯s finally home, and we couldn¡¯t be more grateful. Thank you all for joining our little girl¡¯s birthday bash: the Schnabels owe you big time!¡°. Noe, too, holding up her dress, curtsied to thank everyone. The four Schnabel sons and the equally dolled¨Cup ra stood at the foot of the stage, looking every bit the knights to the princess, nodding their thanks to the crowd! Tristan went on, ¡°Noe is our youngest, and ra is our adopted daughter, just as much a part of the Schnabel family. We¡¯re entrusting these six young ones to your care.¡± Six young ones! Annie¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock. So, that meant Ms. Yvonne Schnabel wasn¡¯t even acknowledged. She was not even a Schnabeldy! The real Ms. Schnabel, the one her boss couldn¡¯t stop thinking about, was none other than Ms. Noe! CHapter 44 CHapter 44 Palmer¡¯s eyes were glued to Noe on the stage the whole time. He¡¯d run through a gazillion scenarios in his head, but never saw iting that she¡¯d turn out to be thedy of the Schnabel family! She looked stunning in that gown! The sheer silk outlined her slender waist, which was slim enough to make anyone green with envy. The gown was tailored to perfection, with each swirl and pleat meticulously designed, making her look like she was enveloped by waves and clouds as she moved. With a pink diamond ne gracing her swan¨Clike neck and her hair cascading down like mist, she was the spitting image of a fairy straight out of a storybook. Tristan was busy introducing Noe around and raking in a ton of birthday presents. But Palmer was on the move, heading straight for Noe! ¡°Hey, wasn¡¯t there some kind of arranged marriage deal between the Pock and Schnabel families?¡± ¡°Yeah, and look at Palmer making a beeline for Noe. If you ask me, they¡¯re a match made in heaven.¡± ¡°Totally! Only a family like the Pocks couldnd a celestial beauty like the fairy¨Clike youngdy from the Schnabel family.¡± Hearing the whispers around him, Palmer couldn¡¯t help but crack a slight smirk. ¡°Happy birthday! This is my gift to you.¡± Noe¡¯s eyes met Palmer¡¯s, and there was a fleeting look of surprise in them. Tristan pped his forehead and quickly introduced them, ¡°Oh, Noe, totally slipped my mind to introduce you. This here¡¯s Palmer Pock, your fianc¨¦. You two were betrothed as kids and now¡¯s the perfect time to meet.¡± ¡°Palmer, this is my daughter, Noe!¡± Palmer nodded with a mischievous and teasing grin, ¡°Noe? That¡¯s a pretty name, got it memorized!¡± She Couldn¡¯t tell if he was emphasizing her name on purpose or not! And fianc¨¦? She knew she had one, but she never imagined it would be Palmer! What happened to driving an Uber and scraping by? ¡°Here¡¯s my gift for you.¡± Palmer handed over a beautifully wrapped box with a pearwood carving and some fancy lettering. 12-13 ¡°To my heart¡¯s bright moon. Palmer.¡± Tristan couldn¡¯t close his mouth when he saw the box! ¡°Didn¡¯t you just prepare a gift for Noe? Why another one? You¡¯re being too kind!¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze rested on Noe¡¯s face, as tender as moonlight. ¡°That one was for Ms. Schnabel, this one is from me to Noe,¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Tristan couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of young people¡¯s idea of romance! But he knew, if Palmer went out of his way to give two gifts, he must be really into their Noe! Seeing the kids hit it off made him as happy as a m, and he even started to ponder whether the grandkids would take the Schnabel or the Pock surname. Noe simply said, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, my dear fianc¨¦e. Is this guy for real? She was speechless for a moment, but with all the eyes around, she couldn¡¯t diss Tristan¡¯s face and had to y along. ¡°Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Pock are such a dream couple!¡± ¡°Ms. Schnabel is a knockout, and with Mr. Pock, they¡¯re just perfect!¡± kids are gonna be off¨Cthe¨Ccharts cute!¡± But the Schnabel brothers weren¡¯t buying it. Their sister had juste home, and they weren¡¯t done spoiling her yet! How could they let some random fianc¨¦ swoop in and steal her away! Beckett stepped in front of Noe, sizing up Palmer with a critical eye. ¡°My sister just got home. and she¡¯s got her own name. No need to scare her, Mr. Pock.¡°. Ulrich pushed his sses up his nose and said with a seemingly friendly smile. ¡°Noe¡¯s still young; no rush for marriage. We, the Schnabels, aren¡¯t nning on marrying off any daughters for at least a decade.¡± A decade? Noe would be an old maid by then! Stirling frowned at Palmer and pulled Noe behind him. ¡°No offense, Mr. Pock, but aren¡¯t you twenty¨Cfour already? My sis is only neen. Don¡¯t you think you are a bit old for her?¡± Palmer had just turned twenty¨Cfour, so how did that make him old? Jasper looked at Palmer disapprovingly. ¡°Mr. Pock, you¡¯ve delivered your present, so you can leave now, right?¡± 12:14 ra stood by Noe¡¯s side, seemingly chatting with her, but her sharp eyes stayed fixed on Palmer, full of wariness. ¡°Noe, if you don¡¯t like him, just say it. We don¡¯t need to marry off a daughter for some business alliance. Your happiness Is what matters most!¡± The Schnabel siblings shielded Noe behind them, not leaving even a sliver of space. Tristan, touched by the kids¡® closeness, was about to burst into tears. ¡°Stop messing around. Mr. Pock came all the way here to give Noe a gift. You all go. entertain the guests and don¡¯t make a spectacle.¡± Beckett reached out to Palmer. ¡°Come on, Mr. Pock, I saw a few families you¡¯re in business with over there.¡± Palmer¡¯s face still wore a gentle and affable smile. ¡°No, you go ahead, Beckett. I want to keep Noepany.¡± Beckett was a bit annoyed. Ulrich was definitely not feeling Palmer¡¯s vibe. ¡°Mr. Pock¡¯s all fired up meeting Noe for the first time, huh? Or is he just like this with any pretty girl that crosses his path? So¡­¡± Palmer cracked a gentlemanly smile. ¡°I¡¯m only like this with Noe. No need to sweat it ¨C I¡¯ve already bumped into Noe loads of times.¡± Ulrich was like, yeah, pull the other one! They¡¯ve all been up to their eyeballs in birthday party prep these past few days. They¡¯ve hardly had a chance to hang with their own sis, and Palmer¡¯s saying he¡¯s seen Noe a bunch? Stirling, who¡¯s got the shortest fuse, snapped, ¡°Mr. Pock, you talk like you¡¯re head over heels for our Noe. Don¡¯t you worry it¡¯ll be a real knee¨Cpper when people catch wind of this?¡± Palmer¡¯s gazended on Noe. ¡°As long as Noe knows my true feelings, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Stirling was speechless. How thick¨Cskinned can this Pock dude get! Suddenly, a video popped up on the giant screen in the middle of the banquet hall! The clueless crowd nced over, hands over their mouths in shock! ¡°Isn¡¯t that Noe in the video? What¡¯s she doing getting out of that clunker?¡± ¡°Could it be Ms. Schnabel¡¯s actually got a boyfriend? That would make Mr. Pock look like a real cuck!¡± ¡®But no one dared to say it out loud; they all pretended they saw zilch. 374 Yvonne was holed up in the control room, giddy with anticipation for a showdown. Then she¡¯d swoop in to tell Palmer she could be his new bridel Just thinking about it had Yvonne on the verge of squealingl Noe¡¯s eyes were fixed on the screen. The video was shot from a bunch of different angles, One could clearly see her stepping out of the car each time, a sweet smile stered on her face. Waiting for the car, one could almost feel her anticipation. ra had already seen the video and was freaking out, trying to cover for Noe! ¡°This video¡¯s gotta be doctored ¨C It¡¯s got ¡®fake¡® written all over it!¡± The four Schnabel brothers were on high alert! They couldn¡¯t give a hoot about the family¡¯s rep. but if this video got out, folks would definitely be gabbing about their little sister! She¡¯s just a kid: she wouldn¡¯t be able to handle all that chit¨Cchat! CHapter 45 CHapter 45 Beckett had a brainwave. If this video is legit and my sis has got the hots for someone else, and we let this dude marry into the Schnabel family, then Noe¡¯s never gonna leave the nest! As for Palmer, the Pock family¡¯s a big deal in Imperial City and around the globe, so you bet they¡¯ve got their fair share of family drama. If Noe actually ties the knot with them, who knows if they¡¯ll even get to hang out much after that! Beckett caught his siblings just as they were about to blow a fuse. He looked at Noe all sweet¨C like and asked, ¡°Noe, do you dig this guy? Don¡¯t sweat it. In our family, as long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters. Whoever it is, we¡¯re cool with it. If you¡¯re not into them, forget about fancy doors, and if you are, heck, even if they drive for Uber, it¡¯s all good!¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes lit up like fireworks, all eager, looking at Noe! ¡°We¡¯re just friends, no crush or anything.¡± Beckett nodded, ¡°Friends are cool, who knows what could happen down the line.¡± ¡°Mr. Pock, since Noe¡¯s got someone she¡¯s into, maybe we should revisit this arranged engagement thing. I mean, you probably aren¡¯t keen on some old¨Cschool arranged deal either. right? Young folks should be all about free love.¡± Palmer had a grin like a sunrise on his face. ¡°I agree, and so Noe and I are all about that free love. The dude driving in the video? That¡¯s me.¡± The four Schnabel brothers were in shock. Tristan was all ¡°What the heck?¡± The car in the video wasn¡¯t worth the lint on Palmer¡¯s clothes, and he was saying he was the driver? Palmer turned and strutted over to the big screen, looking all sharp and stand¨Cout in his tailored suit. He hooked up his phone to the screen and quickly pulled up a¡¯video. It was from the driver¡¯s POV, showing Noe waiting for a ride at the roadside. Just a couple of seconds long, but it had all the goods. ¡°Sorry about this, didn¡¯t expect someone to catch a video of Noe and me. It was just a bit of fun between us. When we throw our wedding party, we¡¯d love for you all toe.¡± Everyone was floored! Who would¡¯ve thought Palmer was the guy in that clunker! ¡°Ya know, that ride¡¯s kinda trendy. I might get one myself.¡± 12:14 ¡°Mr. Pock and Noe are so chummy. It looks like he¡¯s been picking her up from work every day!¡± The Schnabel family was like, ¡°What?¡± Tristan and Sienna were over the moon! So all this time, it¡¯s been Palmer chauffeuring their girl in this charmingly vintage set of wheels. for the sake of keeping it low¨Ckey. So romantic! Looks like Palmer¡¯s really into their daughter, and she seems to have a soft spot for him, too. That smile when she hops in the car is just like back when they were young and in love. Jasper was a bit miffed. ¡°Mr. Pock, you¡¯re picking up my sis in this junker? You dissing the Schnabel family or what?¡± Palmer was the picture of politeness. ¡°Not at all, Noe picked this car when we first met, so I thought she liked the brand. As a present, I¡¯ve bought her an entire car brand. Jasper¡¯s mood improved a ton. If sis likes it, it¡¯s gotta be the real deal! Noe looked at Palmer, a tad conflicted. ¡°When did you film this?¡± ¡°I noticed we were being filmed, so I shot this as a precaution. Also, I wanted to capture you.¡± That killer instinct for his surroundings was legit, but what was up with the second half? Tristan saw them getting along so well, all pleased as punch. ¡°Mr. Pock, Noe, since you¡¯re both here, how about the opening dance? The first dance at Noe¡¯s birthday party with Mr. Pock would be just perfect!¡± They were nning on having the Schnabel brothers take turns dancing with Noe. Now with Palmer here and an engagement on the books, he¡¯s definitely the top pick! Palmer¡¯s gaze was burning with intensity. He bowed slightly and offered his hand to Noe. ¡°May I have the honor of the first dance with you, my dear fianc¨¦e?¡± Protocol says you can¡¯t turn down the first dance. Facing the expectant looks from the Schnabel parents and Palmer¡¯s deep eyes, Noe reluctantly agreed. ¡°Alright.¡± The romantic waltz filled the air, the royal orchestra¡¯s lead violinist struck up the tune, and the piano melody flowed with the swirl of elegant dresses. Palmer held onto Noe¡¯s slender waist, and they glided across the dance floor together. 12:14 ¨C ¡°You look stunning today, my dear fianc¨¦e,¡± said Palmer. Noe was speechless. She¡¯s got a name, why keep calling her fiance? What¡¯s he up to A little payback for Beckett¡¯s talk of calling off their engagement? She had no clue he could be so petty! The dashing man, tall and mighty, and the delicate girl in his arms, their steps in perfect sync left everyone¡¯s hearts pounding! It was sheer perfection! This opening dance could go straight into the etiquette textbookst A daughter of the Schnabel family and the helmsman of the Pock family, the epitome of grace! Yvonne, biting her handkerchief, envied the dancing couple, bubbling with jealousy. She was the one who should¡¯ve been dancing with Palmer! She¡¯d dressed to the nines today, hoping to steal the show, but her video plot flopped, and Palmer imed the footage! Yvonne turned to her nanny, teary¨Ceyed. ¡°What do we do now? Palmer¡¯s dancing with her, and I¡¯m the joke!¡± She was all dolled up and not a single soul had asked her to dance! Even Tristan didn¡¯t acknowledge she existed! The nanny wasn¡¯t fazed and consoled her, ¡°Miss Yvonne, don¡¯t sweat it. Being the belle of the ball tonight doesn¡¯t mean squatting for the future. The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Just wait until Mr. Schnabel realizes you¡¯re the cream of the crop, the real Schnabel family gem. Your time in the spotlight will dwarf this one. And just so you know, Miss Noe isn¡¯t even on the family tree yet.¡± The family tree! To get on the Schnabel family¡¯s tree, Marcel and Ashlyn both gotta give the thumbs up! With Ashlyn¡¯s current vibe towards Noe, It¡¯s a snowball¡¯s chance in hell she¡¯d let her on that tree. As long as Noe¡¯s not on it, Yvonne still has a shot. ¡°You¡¯re right, but with Palmer being so sweet on her, what chance do I stand?¡± ¡°Mr. Pock just met Miss Noe, and he hasn¡¯t seen much of girls from the poorhouse before. It¡¯s all just for show to save face. It¡¯s all an act. If you ask me, Miss Yvonne, you still got a shot!¡± Yvonne watched as Noe and Palmer finished their first dance in the ballroom. Palmer was bending over, nting a kiss on the back of Noe¡¯s hand! Though it was a must¨Cdo in high society etiquette, Yvonne was green with envy! As the dance wrapped up, the servants scurried along, lined up, and stood before the Schnabel family. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Schnabel, this is a gift for Miss Noe from Tavian, an ancient painting.¡± Everybody was like ¡°What?¡± Tavian, wasn¡¯t he the former president? ¡°Master Hector has sent a pair of agate bracelets for Miss Noe.¡± Hector, the old¨Cschool Gemstone Gambling King of Harmonia Country, pretty much owns the whole gemstone and maritime trade biz now! Noe¡¯s got connections like these? ¡°Master Rainer presents an ancient zither to Miss Noe.¡± Rainer, a zither sage of our times, a heavyweight in the world of zither, the man who writes the textbooks! Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The old Mr. Schnabel has gifted Miss Noe an LC5 Helicopter!¡± Everyone was gobsmacked! Isn¡¯t that thetest model, a car and chopper in one, the only one in the world? Marcel Schnabel sure spoils his granddaughter rotten. Getting on Noe¡¯s good side would mean smooth sailing in future Schnabel family deals. Tristan was floored looking at the mountain of gifts. He didn¡¯t even have the guts to send these big shots an invite, considering it was just a kiddo¡¯s birthday party, and it didn¡¯t seem right to bother them. ¡°Noe, you know all these maestros?¡± Noe eyed the pile of presents from her mentors and was a bit speechless. With their caliber, they should¡¯ve known she was a Schnabel the moment she walked in the door. Noe shook her head and said, ¡°Must be Grandpa¡¯s pals.¡± ¡°Ah, must be your granddad wanting to surprise you, then. No worries! Never would¡¯ve guessed your granddad had this attention to detail. The old fox still has it!¡± CHapter 46 CHapter 46 Tristan has no idea how vast Marcel¡¯s connections were! Yvonne¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw that mountain of gifts worth at king¡¯s ransom! A ghostly voice whispered in Yvonne¡¯s ear. ¡°Yvonne, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Ah! ra, you scared the bejeezus out of me!¡± ra was so close to Yvonne¡¯s ear when she spoke that Yvonne practically jumped out of her skin! ¡°Cut the act. You¡¯re the one who leaked that video, right? You showed it to me before. Don¡¯t you dare say someone swiped your phone and yed it at Noe¡¯s birthday party on purpose!¡± Yvonne was crying up a storm, all choked up. ¡°I was just looking out for Noe! What if she¡¯s got a crush on someone and doesn¡¯t want to marry Mr. Pock? I can¡¯t bear to see her unhappy! ra, how could you think I did it on purpose?¡± ra frowned at Yvonne, making her squirm with guilt. ¡°ra, Grandma¡¯s in the hospital with no one to look after her. I¡¯m heading there now, so can we talk about this when I get back, please?¡± ¡°Go ahead. ra watched Yvonne beat a hasty retreat, her eyes scrutinizing her every move. Something about Yvonne just didn¡¯t sit right with her. After the party, Tristan turned to Palmer. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had something to discuss with us?¡± The four Schnabel sons were on high alert, ready to bounce Palmer if he even hinted at stealing their sister away. ¡°It¡¯s my granddad; he¡¯s hoping Noe woulde to see him. And someone from the Schnabel family bought some trending searches that were harmful to both our families. I¡¯ve dealt with it. but you still have the right to know.¡± Tristan tensed up. ¡°What trending searches?¡± Annie handed over a phone, respectfully saying, ¡°Mr. Schnabel, it was Miss Yvonne who bought the searches, iming she¡¯s the only daughter of the Schnabel family.¡± ¡°Shoot, how could I forget about that Yvonne girl?¡± Tristan looked around but couldn¡¯t spot Yvonne anywhere. ¡°What was she thinking, buying that kind of trending search? Thank 12:14. goodness Mr. Pock caught it in time, otherwise our families¡® reputations would¡¯ve been trashed. I disown her; she¡¯s at best a granddaughter my mother took in.¡± Tristan apologized. ¡°The olddy¡¯s not well, and her mind gets muddled. As for your grandfather wanting to see Noe, that¡¯s easy. Noe visits her grandpa every day, so she can drop by to see your grandfather too.¡± Noe had already agreed to help Palmer¡¯s grandfather and wouldn¡¯t back out now just because she finds out he¡¯s not really a broke Uber driver. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up: I live next door, so we¡¯re neighbors now.¡± If Beckett had known Palmer also bought a ce in Serene Haven, he never would¡¯ve bought a house for Noe there. He should¡¯ve bought Noe a castle! He didn¡¯t believe Palmer could be neighbors with Noe if he¡¯d bought her a castle! The Lambert Mansion, Tranquility City. Briony clutched her phone, green with envy as she watched Ms. Schnabel¡¯s birthday party. being livestreamed worldwide! Any old wine ss there would cover her living expenses for a Property ? N?velDrama.Org. month. And just when Ms. Schnabel made her entrance, the stream froze, leaving Briony unable to catch a glimpse of her face. ¡°Why can¡¯t all this be mine¡­¡± The stream came back, and Briony, eagle¨Ceyed, spotted someone in the corner of the frame holding hands with an old man. That had to be Noe! ¡°Mom, isn¡¯t that Noe? What¡¯s she doing at the Schnabel family¡¯s party?¡± Belinda sneered at the screen. ¡°That old man looks like he¡¯s pushing eighty. Noe, using her youth to snag an old geezer¡­ She¡¯ll get her legs broken once his family finds out!¡± Briony felt it was bad luck and quickly turned off the live stream. She snuck into Vincent¡¯s study, swiped a few documents, and hopped a cab to the Rosenberg family. In the Schnabel brothers¡® study, the four of them plus ra looked dead serious. Beckett said, ¡°I think Palmer¡¯s genuinely smitten with Noe.¡± Ulrich said, ¡°So what? Noe just got home, and I won¡¯t allow her to marry off so soon! Not before she¡¯s at least thirty!¡± 12:14 ra was calmer. ¡°Thirty? Forget Noe, Mom and Dad and Grandpa would kill you.¡± Stirling said, ¡°Thinking he can marry our little sister that easily? No chance!¡± Jasper added, ¡°I¡¯m gonna dig up any legal loopholes in the Pock Group, see if they¡¯ve got any dirtyundry. Can¡¯t have Noe marrying into trouble!¡± They all exchanged meaningful looks, the seriousness clear in their eyes. The thought of their sister getting married soon had them all up in arms! ra suddenly said, ¡°What if¨Cand I just mean what if¨CNoe likes him?¡± Beckett adjusted his sses, all business. ¡°Whether Noe likes him or not, we gotta vet this guy. We can¡¯t let Noe get swindled!¡± Noe was pure and innocent, a total newbie to the world. They had to be the ones to protect her! Meanwhile, in Noe¡¯s room. She stared at her phone, bombarded with messages all from Palmer. She was just getting the usual barrage of texts from him asking where she was, if she needed a lift, how her day was. and if she had any new missions or whatever. After the party wrapped up, he kept blowing up her phone like there was no tomorrow. Noe, without skipping a beat, chucked him straight into her block list and turned her attention. to replying to her mentors. [I got the gift from you. Thank you so much.] Hector replied. [Kiddo, I¡¯ll be swinging by Imperial City next month to check in on you. Heard the Gemstone Gambling King is headed that way too. You caught wind of that, right?] [Yeah, I¡¯ll pick you up then.] [Great, see you then.] Both the former and current Gemstone Gambling Kings were in the chat¨Chow many of them were actually going to show up in Imperial City to try their luck with the stones? Seems like Master Hector was also looking to throw down a challenge. Noe¡¯s pretty psyched to see for herself who this gutsy Gemstone Gambling King was that had been raising hell in the ck market. Next door in the neighboring vi, Palmer¡¯s glued to his phone. [Lunaris is heading to the hospital.] He shoots back a [Got it] and the message didn¡¯t get through. 12:14 Clear as day, Noe blocked him! Looks like she¡¯s ticked off about his true identity! Noe seemed all warm and fuzzy, but she had got a fiery streak and some serious grit¨Cotherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be running a rival assassin crew. Palmer was feeling anxious, itching to dash over and clear the air, but his manners and. upbringing had him holding back. Tomorrow, he¡¯s gotta set things straight! Bright and early the next day, Palmer had all decked out in a sharp dark brown suit, knocking on the doors of Schnabel Manor. Tristan could tell Palmer had got Noe high on his priority list, showing up at the crack of dawn like this! ¡°Mr. Pock, this early? Come on in and join us for breakfast!¡± The Schnabels were all gathered for the morning meal. Noe was cradling a bowl of porridge, still bleary¨Ceyed and barely awake¨Cshowing a side of her Palmer¡¯s never seen before. Who knew her just¨Cout¨Cof¨Cbed look could be so darn cute? Sienna called out, ¡°Have a seat next to Noe. Not sure what you fancy, but give us a heads¨Cup next time, and we will whip up something you like!¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m good with whatever Noe¡¯s having. Whatever she digs, I dig.¡± Noe was speechless. Jasper, not too thrilled, said, ¡°Mr. Pock, we¡¯re having a family meal, and you just rock up to mooch off us bright and early. Is that really cool?¡± Sienna shot him a re that could kill. ¡°Zip it. Mr. Pock¡¯s going to be family soon enough. There will be plenty of meals together!¡± Palmer offers a refined smile. ¡°Just call me Palmer, Mrs. Schnabel. It¡¯s my job to take care of Noe.¡± Sienna and Tristan couldn¡¯t be more pleased with Palmer! Look at that, the epitome of noble grace, knowing exactly how to act, and so protective of their daughter. They¡¯ve hit the jackpot in the son¨Cinw department! CHapter 47 CHapter 47 The Schnabel sons all gave Palmer the stink eye. This guy was here to swoop in on their sister! Whye to mooch off the Schnabels for breakfast when you¡¯ve got food at home? What¡¯s he ying at? Sienna was checking out Palmer like a mother¨Cinw sizing up a son¨Cinw, liking him more. the more she looked. She shot Tristan a look that could melt steel. ¡°You never bothered to join me for breakfast before, always too ¡®busy with work.¡® Look at Palmer, see how sweet he is to Noe!¡± Tristan immediately turned on the charm, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll have breakfast with you every day. We can have whatever you fancy. Thepany and the kids can wait.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± The rest of the Schnabel family all felt awkward watching their parents¡® sudden show of affection. They were all used to the couple¡¯s PDA, pretending not to notice as they kept their heads down and focused on their food. A serene smile yed on Palmer¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ll join you for whatever you want to eat from now on. ¦° ¡°No need, I prefer skipping breakfast.¡± Noe wasn¡¯t fibbing. Back at the Lambert ce, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert never bothered with breakfast for her, iming a bit of hunger was healthy for kids. Plus, with work being so hectic, she often forgot to eat in the mornings. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t skip breakfast. The Pock family chefs whip up a mean. breakfast. I¡¯ll have them go to your ceter.¡± Tristan was nearly moved to tears. ¡°Palmer, that¡¯s really thoughtful of you., Noe really isn¡¯t big on breakfasts. Appreciate you looking out for her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do. Taking care of Noe is my responsibility.¡± The smiles on the faces of the Schnabel sons were about to disappear! Palmer was definitely here to steal their sister, no doubt about it! Sienna turned to Noe, ¡°Honey, I¡¯ve prepared some gifts for you to take to Sexton. We can¡¯t show up empty¨Chanded on our first visit.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Noe grabbed the gifts and hopped into Palmer¡¯s ride. 12:14 The stretch Rolls¨CRoyce gleamed in the sunlight, a limited edition luxury car worth a cool billion, not to mention the custom mods. To Noe, It screamed money.. Settling into the car. Noe spoke up, ¡°Riding in the old car must¡¯ve been rough on you, Mr. Pock.¡± ¡°Not at all I like it. It¡¯s an honor to drive you. Also, I hope I can clear the air a bit.¡± Noe nodded nonchntly. She didn¡¯t care for his exnation, just like he never asked about her background. Fair¡¯s fair. ¡°I wanted to tell you who I really am, but then I thought, I didn¡¯t want our time together to be colored by anything else. I met Wise Fool as Vocalist, not as Palmer Pock meeting Noe Schnabel ¡°So my gift, one for Ms. Schnabel, and one for you.¡± Noe remembered the words carved into the ne box, a gift of the bright moon in his heart! Was he saying she was the moon in his heart? ¡°I hope you¡¯re not mad, and even if you are, please don¡¯t ignore me. And¡­¡± Palmer paused, searching for the right words. ¡°You have no idea how thrilled I was to see you yesterday!¡± The girl he was into was his betrothed all along! Noe said, ¡°I blocked you because you were a chatterbox, distracting me from work.¡± Annie in the passenger seat was shocked. Years working with Palmer and she never thought she¡¯d see the day someone would block him! Miss Noe is badass! ¡°So, after hearing me out, will you unblock me?¡± When did she say she needed his exnations? ¡°Sure.¡± The Rolls¨CRoyce pulled up to the Imperial West Hospital. Palmer opened the door and with a slight bow, offered his hand to Noe. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re willing toe with me to visit my grandpa. My dear fianc¨¦e.¡± Noe took a deep breath, reminding herself that this was just how aristocratic families roll! Noe ced her hand in Palmer¡¯s palm and stepped out of the car with him. His scent was a subtle sandalwood, warm like spring. Annie quickly snapped a photo to capture the moment Palmer and Noe held hands ¨C a match made in heaven from the back! Inside the hospital room, Sexton and Marcel were staring at the door. 12:15 Chucher 47 ¡°Marcel, howe they haven¡¯t shown up yet?¡± asked Sexton. ¡°You didn¡¯t even bother with a birthday gift for my granddaughter yesterday, and now you¡¯re fussing?¡± Sexton grumbled. ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t prepare a gift? It¡¯s for my future granddaughter¨Cinw! You think I¡¯ll just hand it over?¡± Marcel snorted, his whiskers twitching. ¡°As if you¡¯re one to talk! You¡¯re just stingy!¡± Sexton was getting riled up. ¡°Stingy? What do I have left to hold onto in this lifetime? If only you had told me you had another granddaughter, and here I thought Yvonne was the only one!¡± Just thinking about Yvonne, always dolled up like she¡¯s about to be an art exhibit, gave Sexton a headache. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Yvonne? I never said she was my granddaughter. I¡¯ve got two, ra and Noe, and the rest don¡¯t count.¡± Sexton waved dismissively, clearly annoyed. ¡°I don¡¯t care about the twists and turns in your family. With all the mess you made when you were younger, you¡¯re getting what¡¯sing to you! As for Yvonne, as long as you know what¡¯s what, it¡¯s a good thing she¡¯s not my granddaughter!¡± Marcel chuckled with an air of dignified authority, the vibe of someone who¡¯s used to being on top. ¡°Who isn¡¯t tangled up in their own mess? As long as you have a clear conscience! Yvonne¡¯s not bad at heart. She¡¯s fine just sitting quietly by her grandma¡¯s side.¡± Marcel always turned a blind eye to the stuff Yvonne was up to, mainly ¡®cause of Ashlyn. At the end of the day, they¡¯ve been married for years, and there are lines he just doesn¡¯t want to, and can¡¯t, cross! Sexton gave him the once¨Cover and kept on hollering about wanting to see his granddaughter¨Cinw. Noe and Palmer walked into the hospital room, handing over gifts to the two old timers. ¡°Grandpa, Grandpa Marcel, this is something I picked out for you, and here are the gifts Noe got for you two.¡± Noe paused a little. Since when did she get Palmer to shop for gifts on her behalf? Sexton couldn¡¯t stop grinning as he looked at the two youngsters in front of him! ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m just been itching toy eyes on my granddaughter¨Cinw before I kick the bucket!¡± 1215 Marcel also gazed at them, his eyes crinkling with affection. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who would¡¯ve guessed Noe was Marcel¡¯s granddaughter? I was so embarrassed to have mistaken someone else for you. Girl, I owe you big time forst time. You snatched me right back from death¡¯s door, safe and sound. I¡¯ve got that debt of gratitude etched in my memory. and it¡¯s all on Palmer now!¡± Palmer looked at Noe somewhat surprised! He thought it was Ulrich who saved Sextonst time and even went out of his way to send a gift to the Schnabel family, but turns out it was her! No wonder Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, the name that sends shivers down the spine of the deep web ck market, was a no¨Cshow at the hospital today; turns out, the infamous Lunaris is none other than this youngdy! Palmer looked down, his eyes tenderly fixed on Noe. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll take this favor as mine.¡± ¡°No need, it was nothing.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. Last time my gift got nabbed by your brother, and I¡¯m still gonna need your help today. Of course, I need to make it up to you properly!¡± CHapter 48 CHapter 48 Sexton was over the moon! Last time he heard Yvonne iming she was his savior, he was so bummed out! Thought his peepers were failing him and he got it all twisted, but he vividly remembered being rescued by a knockout, not that in girl Yvonne. He asked Marcel, but that old coot yed dumb and wouldn¡¯t spill the beans! If it weren¡¯t for the live TV broadcast he caught yesterday, revealing that Noe was actually the Schnabel family¡¯s daughter and even had the first dance with his grandson, he¡¯d still be in the dark. That old fox Marcel, too crafty for his own good! ¡°Noe, I didn¡¯t get you a birthday present yesterday, but I¡¯ve had your gift ready for a while now, all set to give to you!¡± Sexton, all mysterious¨Clike, whipped out a box and handed it over to Noe. Marcel shocked, blurted out, ¡°Sexton, isn¡¯t that the jewelry your wife got when you two got married? Are you really giving away your nest egg?¡± ¡°Buzz off, you old buzzard! Can¡¯t you say anything nice? We had this pact in our family, a gift for each granddaughter¨Cinw! I thought I¡¯d never get the chance to give away thisst one, but thank God¡­ Sexton¡¯s eyes eyes brimmed with kindness as his weathered hands caressed Noe and Palmer¡¯s. drawing them together for a gentle pat. ¡°Open it up, see if you like what I got you!¡± Noe, meeting Palmer¡¯s equally eager gaze, went with the flow and cracked open the wooden box. A set of top¨Cnotch diamond jewels caught her eye, each piece wless. And Noe, having seen her fair share of gems, could tell this set was worth a small fortune! ¡°It¡¯s too precious. I can¡¯t ept this.¡± Sexton clutched his chest, putting on an act like he was about to kick the bucket any second! ¡°Marcel, I think I saw our old friends¡­¡± Marcel teased, ¡°They probably don¡¯t want to see you at all.¡± ¡°My heart¡­ it aches¡­ Palmer, you better stick to the will I wrote earlier¡­¡± Noe quickly piped up, ¡°I¡¯ll keep it, but it¡¯s too valuable. I¡¯ll just hold onto it for now and give it back to youter.¡± Instantly, Sexton was good as new, peppy enough to sprint up five flights of stairs on the spot! 12:15: ¡°Once I¡¯m gone, that¡¯s yours to keep. There¡¯s no giving it back! if word got out that the Pocks take back their wee gifts, how am I supposed to face people?¡± Marcel chuckled, ¡°In a few years you won¡¯t be among the living anyway, just a ghost.¡± ¡°Go ahead and make me madl Humph! This wonderful granddaughter of yours is bing part of my family! I¡¯ll let you win this time The two old timers were used to squabbling; it was just a game of who could act more childish. Noe, holding the diamond set, felt a headacheing on. Palmer whispered, ¡°If it¡¯s bothering you, just tuck it away for now. The set¡¯s a bit mature because Grandpa always figured I¡¯d settle down in my forties or fifties. Then it¡¯d suit my wife just fine.¡± Noe shot him a look, meaning to have him take it back, but unexpectedly found herself lost in his warm, smiling eyes, full of emotions she couldn¡¯t quite grasp. ¡°You¡¯d look better with the ne I gave you yesterday. Why aren¡¯t you wearing it today?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like wearing Jewelry.¡± Heading out usually meant offing someone or taking on risky missions. Jewelry would only get in the way! ¡°Wear it when you¡¯re not on a mission. It suits you!¡± At the birthday party, all the jewelry she wore seemed tailor¨Cmade, turning her into a dazzling, starlike presence. Noe gave him a peculiar look. What did her wearing Jewelry have to do with him? ¡°Grandpa Sexton, let me give you a check¨Cup.¡± ¡°Eh, eh, sure thing,e on over, girl. I trust your medical skills! Even Professor Calvin said I¡¯ve been recovering well!¡± Seeing Noe so concerned about Sexton, Marcel Jealously muttered, ¡°Humph, she¡¯s still my granddaughter. I¡¯m sick too, and I need a check¨Cup!¡± Noe smiled helplessly. With one hand on Marcel¡¯s wrist and the other on Sexton¡¯s, she began taking their pulses simultaneously! Palmer¡¯s eyes shone with admiration. The legendary Phantom Surgeon Lunaris could check the pulse of ten people at once, rapidly diagnosing each condition and making quick decisions to snatch lives back from the Grim Reaper! Noe¡¯s fingers delicate and fair rocted an thair aulene CHALII. . ¡ê. like a paintinge to life. ¡°Grandpa, you stayed up tootest night. Do it again, and I¡¯ll confiscate yourics. Grandpa Sexton, you¡¯ve been upte too, and you¡¯ve been getting mad a lottely. That¡¯s not good for your health.¡± Marcel quickly hid hisics under the nkets and sald, ¡°No, no, no! You got thern for me, so. you can¡¯t take them away!¡± ¡°If you stay up past three, you can kiss them goodbye.¡± Marcel looked downcast, scolded by his granddaughter. ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re scarier than any of your brothers. Even Ulrich wasn¡¯t this harsh when he checked up on me.¡± But the thing is, Ulrich¡¯s a clinical doc, not Into pulse¨Ctaking like Noe, let alone pinpointing his bedtime so urately! Noe turned to Sexton and said, ¡°Grandpa Sexton, you¡¯re mostly fine, but you¡¯re still recovering from that poisoning. Plus, have you eaten anything you shouldn¡¯t havetely?¡± Palmer grew worried too, eyeing Sexton. ¡°Grandpa, you already got poisoned by taking the wrong meds, so how could you go eating random stuff?¡± Sexton looked utterly wronged. ¡°I didn¡¯t eat anything weird! Just my meds, my meals, and when I have a game of chess with Marcel here, I would have the afternoon tea the Schnabel family¡¯s chef brings. I swear, that¡¯s all I had!¡± His meds and food have been checked and double¨Cchecked, all to ensure his safety! The Schnabel family¡¯s afternoon tea was legit delicious! Noe nced at Palmer and exined, ¡°Grandpa¡¯s tea is this special medicinal recipe I whipped up for him. It¡¯s cool for Grandpa Sexton to have some too ¨C all good. But his pulse is off, for real. Mind if I take a look at his meds?¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sure thing, hang tight, I¡¯ll grab them for you in a jiffy!¡± Palmer took long strides, dashed to the room next door, and came back with Sexton¡¯s box of pills, handing it over to Noe. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± She picked up a few pills from the box, frowning slightly. Sexton was puzzled too. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this stuff? Beats me, let me think. Oh snap, I remember now! Yvonne, that chick, dropped them off a while back, imed they were like health boosters or something. She said they were good for my body. She mentioned Marcel and Ashlyn were popping them too, so I figured, why not?¡± But honestly, the sight of Yvonne¡¯s dress that was bigger than his hospital bed was enough to give him a headache. He barely looked at what she gave him before shooing her away. He¡¯d totally spaced on it these past few days and just chucked them down the hatch with his regr meds. Palmer¡¯s brow was knitted with worry as he asked, ¡°Noe, what is this stuff?¡± Noe spoke up coolly, ¡°Some ck market miracle cure, ¡®Nourishment Pill¡®.¡± CHapter 49 CHapter 49 Palmer had certainly heard of the Nourishment Pill before! The Abyssal Organization had previously tried to acquire the Nourishment Pill under the guise of the Pock Group. All their attempts to send out feelers had sunk like a stone in the sea. which showed that the power behind the Nourishment Pill wasn¡¯t something the average Joe could fathom. ¡°How the heck did this thing end up in Grandpa¡¯s meds!¡± Annie pulled up the surveince footage from Sexton¡¯s hospital room. Sexton¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his skull when he saw it! ¡°Hey, when did you sneak a camera into my room? Didn¡¯t I say no cameras allowed?¡± Palmer remained chill, with a tone that brooked no argument. ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s for your safety.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! I¡¯m 86 and I can¡¯t even have a little privacy? You¡¯re trampling on my rights, and I¡¯m gonna sue your pants off!¡± Palmer ignored Sexton¡¯s rants and turned on the surveince. ¡°It was indeed Yvonne who brought in the meds. How did she get her hands on this stuff?¡± Marcel also looked pretty grim. Yvonne was still a Schnabel. If word got out that the Schnabel family had been messing with Sexton¡¯s meds, they¡¯d never be able to show their faces to the Pock family again! ¡°Noe, what the heck is this stuff?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a miracle drug from the ck market. Goes for a cool million a pop. It gives yo you a false sense of being fit as a fiddle for a short while, but long¨Cterm use can mess with your head and even cause drug dependence. You quit and you¡¯re a goner. Last time, Grandpa Sexton had a bad reaction because of the Nourishment Pill shing with his regr meds. Marcel frowned. ¡°So why hasn¡¯t he passed out now? Last time he got poisoned so he passed out. It should be the same deal this time!¡± Noe was silent for a moment. ¡°Because Grandpa Sexton is picky with his meds. He doesn¡¯t take the ones that aren¡¯t pretty, so he avoided the ones that would react with the Nourishment Pill¡± Sexton was smug as can be. ¡°Hmph, now you see, my way is the best. Lucky I¡¯m so clever, or I¡¯d be meeting the Grim Reaper right now!¡± The whole room was rolling their eyes. This old guy, being picky with his meds and acting all proud of it! The caregivers were sweating buckets, eyeing Sexton¡¯s box of meds and trembling with fear. ¡°Ms. Yvonne Schnabel came to visit, and we didn¡¯t think it was our ce to stop her.¡± Palmer¡¯s voice was ice cold. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say before, every time Yvonne shows up, kick her out? Did you think my words were just wind?¡± ¡°Of course not! But she said¡­ she said she¡¯s your fianc¨¦e¡­¡± ¡°My fianc¨¦e is Noe. You guys can¡¯t even recognize people properly, so you might as well not stick around the Pock family anymore! Annie, rece everyone in Grandpa¡¯s room!¡± The caregivers knew they had screwed up and Palmer wasn¡¯t going to let them off the hook, but they really didn¡¯t want to lose the generous care fees from the Pock family, so they all looked pleadingly at Noe. Noe said coolly, ¡°You took Yvonne¡¯s money, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, not at all! Noe, it¡¯s a misunderstanding! Since we¡¯re already paid by Mr. Pock, how could we take Miss Yvonne¡¯s money.¡± Noe pointed to the video, ¡°At one minute and thirty seconds, Yvonne handed you a card.¡± Annie quickly rewound the video, and sure enough, Yvonne was seen handing a bank card to one of the caregivers! The caregivers were left speechless and were dragged away by the security! Sexton didn¡¯t care and said, ¡°How many times have we changed staff now? I say it¡¯s like trying to plug a leaking dam, Just let me check out and go home!¡± Palmer was speechless, Property ? N?velDrama.Org. The previous medical staff werepromised because the old guys wanted to use themselves as bait to see if there was danger hiding in the hospital. And yet, after changing staff, Sexton¡¯s meds were still tampered with! Marcel apologized, ¡°Sexton, my apologies, this is on our family. We¡¯ll definitely make it right for you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all good¡­ But wait a second, why didn¡¯t Yvonne add anything to your meds?¡± Marcel gave a mysterious smile. ¡°I only take the meds Noe prescribes for me. Even if Calvin prescribes them, I won¡¯t touch them.¡± Sexton was like, alright, you old fox! Marcel proudly showed off his own pillbox. ¡°These are prescribed by Noe. She delivers them 12:15 to me daily. These are from the hospital, and I haven¡¯t touched them.¡± Noe squatted down and picked up the pillbox. ¡°There¡¯s Nourishment Pill here too, but Grandpa didn¡¯t take any.¡± Sexton wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°I want Noe to prescribe my meds too! Noe, you can¡¯t y favorites. I¡¯m still looking forward to your wedding!¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes also held hope and a plea, ¡°Noe, I don¡¯t trust any meds that aren¡¯t prescribed by you. Grandpa¡¯s meds have had issues several times, and I feel pretty bad about it.¡± Noe nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll deliver them along with my grandpa¡¯s meds from now on. Just so we¡¯re clear, my meds aren¡¯t as sweet as Nourishment Pill. They¡¯re bitter.¡± Sexton¡¯s face soured, how did she know he always went for the Nourishment Pill because it was sweet! Marcel was the first to dere, ¡°It¡¯s just a few pills, right? He¡¯ll take whatever you tell him to take. Some old guys im to adore Noe, but can¡¯t even stomach a few bitter pills ¨C what kind of love is that? ¡°Fine, fine, I get it! I¡¯ll take them, okay?¡± Noe, holding the Nourishment Pill, said, ¡°Grandpa Sexton, I want to take this away and analyze the ingredients.¡± The two old timers agreed instantly. ¡°Take it, take it. I sure as heck can¡¯t keep it around here!¡± Marcel mulled over, ¡°There¡¯s no way Yvonne could afford a Nourishment Pill; all this stuff together must be worth over ten million.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still a bunch at Granny¡¯s, and it looks like she¡¯s been taking it for quite some time.¡± Marcel nodded, a sly twinkle in his eye. ¡°Professor Calvin gave me the heads up, but I didn¡¯t expect to find the same thing at my ce. and Sexton¡¯s. Noe, it¡¯s tricky for me to get involved, so you and Palmer dig into it, will you? We owe it to Sexton to set things straight!¡± Noe could do the snooping herself; there was no need to drag Palmer into it. Sexton too looked at Noe with hopeful eyes. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m counting on you for this. You¡¯ve already saved me once; surely you can¡¯t bear to see me knocked down again. It¡¯d be such a waste of your efforts!! Marcel knew that Noe had pulled off thest surgery all on her own, and he felt a mix of pride and heartache! He hadn¡¯t even let his granddaughter perform surgery yet, and here was Sexton. lucky as ever! · Palmer also turned his gaze to Noe his eyes brimming with anticination ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± said Noe. In front of everyone, Marcel dialed Yvonne¡¯s number. Yvonne¡¯s voice, dripping with affectation, was enough to give anyone the creeps, came throught the receiver. ¡°Grandpa, why are you calling me? Are you missing me? I¡¯lle to the hospital right away!¡± ¡°No need toe. I¡¯m just asking you, what medicine did you give Sexton? Now that Sexton¡¯s in the ICU fighting for his life, the Pock family is breathing down my neck for answers. Think carefully about how you¡¯re going to exin this to the Pock family. If you can¡¯t give a good ount, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± Noe was impressed. Marcel sure didn¡¯t mince his words! CHapter 50 CHapter 50 Marcel snorted coldly. ¡°Where did you get the money to buy such pricey stuff? And who did you buy it from?¡± Yvonne hemmed and hawed, ¡°Just some medicine dealers sold it to me for a hundred grand a pop. Grandma¡¯s been feeling way better after taking the Nourishment Pill, so I got it for Grandpa Sexton tool It cost me a pretty penny of my pocket money! Grandpa, I really wanted Grandpa Sexton to get better. How could there be anything wrong with the Nourishment Pill?¡± ¡°The Pock family¡¯swyers will being for you. Tell me everything you know, and cough up those dealers¡® contact info, or the Schnabel family can¡¯t save you!¡± Yvonne quickly agreed! How could the Nourishment Pill be a problem? After hanging up, Marcel frowned and said, ¡°With this girl¡¯s smarts, she couldn¡¯t have pulled this off alone. I¡¯ll leave the rest to you guys. Noe, don¡¯t worry, no matter what you find, Grandpa¡¯s got your back.¡± ¡°Okay, Grandpa.¡± Stepping out of the hospital, Noe furrowed her brows as she looked at her hand, still intertwined with Palmer¡¯s. ¡°Can you let go?¡± or was to Holding hands reassure Marcel and Sexton, but why the heck are we still hand in hand? Palmer¡¯s face, however, was all smiles. ¡°Last time I let go of your hand, I regretted it, but back then I didn¡¯t know you were my fianc¨¦e, so I didn¡¯t dare to overstep. If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have let go.¡± Noe was like, is he talking about that time we ran into Vincent? ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°No.¡± Noe frowned lightly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me thump you.¡± ¡°If my fianc¨¦e fancies a sparring session right here at the hospital entrance, I¡¯m all in, but the grandpas are watching us. Besides, I¡¯d prefer to spar somewhere more fitting, any way your want.¡± Noe was speechless. Why do I get the feeling this guy¡¯s words haveyers of meaning? Turning her head, she indeed saw the two old men braving the wind, heads out the window. watching them. Two huddled together, faces beaming with loving smiles. #ta brawl between them broke out now at the hospital entrance, the old gents would probably be scared straight into the ICU. Palmer gantly opened the car door for her. ¡°Where to? I¡¯ll drop you off.¡± Noe thought for a moment and said. ¡°To Utrich¡¯sb, I need to borrow some of hisb equipment. Ulrich¡¯sb boasted some of the world¡¯s most advanced equipment, capable of getting results. in a jiffy with 98.9% precision, ¡°Don¡¯t you have your ownb?¡± Phantom Surgeon Lunaris certainly had her ownb; the meds she developed for Marcel were all her own work! ¡°Yeah, but myb¡¯s not as up¨Cto¨Csnuff as Ulrich¡¯s, precision¡¯s at 98.5%.¡± She hadn¡¯t gotten around to updating her equipment, plus a new set cost an arm and a leg and needed a bunch of procedures to get approved. ¡°I¡¯ll send it over as a gift. Just give me an address. If you don¡¯t want me to know where yourb is, you can have your people pick it up from the Pock Group.¡± The precision she needed for herb equipment was sky¨Chigh, and a set would probably cost a small fortune. He was offering it just like that? ¡°Because your consultation fee and the ongoing cost of the meds for my grandpa isn¡¯t expensive. ¡°I have a few international caregivers on hand, trustworthy but pricey.¡± Price isn¡¯t an issue: the Pock family is loaded. ¡°Thanks, Noe. I really owe you one this time! Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t know how to face Grandpa!¡± ¡°It¡¯s no sweat. I¡¯ll send you the address. Just drop me off at Ulrich¡¯s today.¡± A hint of regret shed in Palmer¡¯s eyes! The Pock Group really couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the Schnabel family in the medical field. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have to go to Ulrich for ab! Annie was driving, visibly excited! Miss Noe said she¡¯d send Palmer her address, which means she doesn¡¯t mind him knowing where herb is! What does that mean? It means the boss will have plenty of chances to pick up and drop off Miss Noe from work. And when they¡¯re both free, they could even go for a romantic candlelit dinner. And Annie wouldn¡¯t have to work overtime anymore! Ulrich, having received Noe¡¯s call, was already waiting at theb¡¯s entrance. 12:16 Thanks, Mr. Pock, for bringing Noelia over. Next time, just call me for a ride. Pamer smited politely and said. ¡°Dropping off mync¨¦e is my duty, no need for formalities, re later to pick Noelia up for dinner, you joining?¡± Urich¡¯s gaze at Palmer wasplicated, as if he¡¯d swallowed a fly. ¡°Oh sure What are theypeting for? rich, let¡¯s go in,¡± said Noe.. ¡°Alright.¡± Palmer watched the siblings disappear into theb before turning away, ¡°Annie, dig into Yvonne¡¯s entirework, I want to know where every single Nourishment Pill in her hands came from.¡± ¡°Yes. Mr. Pock. Do you think Yvonne is clueless about these things?¡± Palmer sneered, his thin lips curling into a mocking smile. ¡°She¡¯s a blockhead, but that doesn¡¯t mean her backers are. A Nourishment Pill that goes for a million a pop is usually difficult to sell. If Yvonne¡¯s got so many, it just means she doesn¡¯t know. what she¡¯s dealing with!¡± With Yvonne¡¯s smarts, chances were she thought the Nourishment Pill had some other effects. and that¡¯s why she fed them to the old folks! Annie was also aware of the gravity of the situation. Although Sexton didn¡¯t voice any me in the hospital room, Mr. Pock was actually feeling quite guilty! Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes!¡± Meanwhile, in Ulrich¡¯sb. ¡°Noe, I got the lowdown on what you were talking about, and I¡¯ve got all theb gear ready to roll. But I¡¯ve got a surgery lined up in a bit, so you¡¯ll have to hang tight.¡± Ulrich, being the genius doc that he is, has folks lining up out the door every day to get a piece of his time, and most of them are patients that even the Schnabel family can¡¯t turn away. Noe knew Ulrich¡¯s mmed, and sweetly said, ¡°Got it, Ulrich. Can I take theb gear for a spin?¡± Ulrich cracked a tender smile and gently ruffled her soft hair, looking like the cat that got the cream. ¡°Of course you can. Dive right in! If anything breaks, I will just buy a new one!¡± He¡¯s got that indulgent vibe of a parent who can¡¯t say no to their kiddo. 12:16 ¡°What I mean is, I can crunch the numbers on the Nourishment Pill data. You do your thing, Ulrich. Just leave theb gear to me, and don¡¯t worry.¡± Ulrich was over the moon, not doubting for a second whatever reasoning his little sis had for iming she¡¯s got the chops to handle the gear. ¡°Cool, I¡¯ll set you up with ess. Take my card, and feel free to use it for anything. All theb equipment passwords are your birthday.¡± ¡°Alright, go do your thing, Ulrich.¡± Ulrich gave his assistant a few heads¨Cups to stick with Noe like glue, just in case something went sideways and he couldn¡¯t bail her out mid¨Csurgery. ¡°Miss Noe, I¡¯m Mr. Schnabel¡¯s assistant Lily. Please follow me.¡± Noe gave a nod and trailed behind Lily to theb that Ulrich had all prepped. A bunch of busy doctors looked up as Noe walked in, giving her the once¨Cover, all a bit puzzled about how a girl who looked like a high schooler waltzed into theirb space. After all, It¡¯s not exactly a ce where just anyone can pop in. ¡°Lily, what¡¯s the deal? This isn¡¯t daycare: what¡¯s with the kid dropping by for a tour?¡± Lily quickly shoots them a look that said, ¡°Cool your jets. That¡¯s Mr. Schnabel¡¯s sister, so watch it!¡± ¡°But Mr. Schnabel¡¯s sistering to see him doesn¡¯t mean she should be in theb, right? This ce is chock¨Cfull of experimental data. If something goes awry, not even Mr. Schnabel could fix it.¡± CHapter 51 CHapter 51 Lily exined, ¡°Miss Noe is here for an experiment, not to visit Mr. Schnabel¡± Experiment? How old is this young girl? Does she even understand medicine? Know what a medical experiment is? Noe looked past everyone¡¯s stares and said, ¡°I¡¯ve got someone joining me, hope that¡¯s cool with you guys?¡± Everybody was shocked. ¡°Noe, do you think you¡¯re on a pic or something? Even if you are Mr. Schnabel¡¯s sister, you can¡¯t just disrespect science like that!¡± Lily was in a bit of a bind too ¨C Mr. Schnabel hadn¡¯t mentioned Noe was bringing someone along! ¡°Miss Noe, ourb has some pretty strict standards, and it might not be convenient for your friend toe in.¡± ¡°No worries, they should have an ess pass. The group of doctors exchanged puzzled looks. What does this Noe think ourb is, a free¨Cfor¨Call? Does she think anyone can waltz in just like that? Like a bolt of lightning. Calvin zipped in from outside, worried sick about missing out on Noe¡¯s experiment. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here! You haven¡¯t started yet, have you? I haven¡¯t missed it, right? I don¡¯t care! Even if you¡¯ve started, you gotta let me in on it!¡± ¡°You¡¯d bete if you were any slower. Come on in, but you can only be my assistant.¡± Calvin nodded so hard you¡¯d think his head would fall off. ¡°Being an assistant is awesome! I¡¯d be down to be your cheerleader just to see you experiment!¡± Noe didn¡¯t need a cheerleader for her experiment. Calvin followed Noe into Ulrich¡¯sb, and the doctors were about to lose it! This was Professor Calvin! Anyone in the medical research field would recognize him! And he¡¯s so stoked about being an assistant to a high schooler! The doctors who were looking down on Noe earlier were freaking out, rushing to ask Lily, ¡°Lily, what¡¯s the deal with Noe? Howe we¡¯ve never heard of the youngdy having any scientific achievements before.¡± ¡°She¡¯s Mr. Schnabel¡¯s own sister, so could she be a genius like him? No way! We¡¯ve gotta see 12:42 this for ourselves!¡± Determined, the group of doctors all followed into theb. ¡°Miss Schnabel, can we watch your experiment?¡± Noe nodded, ¡°Sure, as long as you don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Ulrich¡¯sb staff were all his trusted soldiers; Noe didn¡¯t mind them watching. ¡°Microscope, nar cutting of pills, make a hundred control samples.¡± ¡°Dissolve the reagent, to the centrifuge.¡± ¡°Use IHC, get the medical microscope.¡± Calvin immediately started moving ording to Noe¡¯s instructions, totally unpretentious, and Lily, seeing him swamped, spontaneously joined in to assist Noe. The group of doctors went from disbelief to amazement! Noe was actually legit at conducting experiments, and the samples she was experimenting on were Nourishment Pills from the ck market, worth millions! Noe¡¯s eyes were clear and focused as she turned to the dumbstruck doctors. ¡°Excuse me, anyone good at recording data?¡± ¡°Me! I¡¯d be honored to assist you!¡± ¡°I need three hundred sets of sample slides.¡± ¡°Me! My slides are especially neat!¡± Noe picked over a dozen doctors to join her experiment, and those chosen were as thrilled as if they¡¯d just published ten papers in a row! Two hourster. Noe, holding the report in her hand, slightly frowned. ¡°So it is, my hunch was right.¡± Calvin looked at the string of data, utterly shocked! ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that besides the miracle herb, Paeonol Grass, there would be Mirage Grass in the Nourishment Pill!¡± Mirage Grass, notorious on the ck market as a hallucinogenic, also a banned substance. Overuse of Mirage Grass causes dependency and can render patients delirious. What¡¯s special is that when patients are delirious for a long time, their mental state bes chaotic, and no matter who speaks to them, they¡¯ll think it¡¯s their own consciousness talking! On the deep web, Mirage Grass is known as a brainwashing tool, and many organizations inject their members with it to maintain control! 12:42 ¡°These Nourishment Pills vary in the content of Mirage Grass, which is quite minimal, not noticeable in early stages.¡± ¡°This is like a slow poison, Isn¡¯t it? This stuff can¡¯t be absorbed by the body and affects the nervous system. Long¨Cterm use leads to brain death!¡± The Nourishment Pills Noe got had very low levels of Mirage Grass. If it weren¡¯t for Sexton¡¯s medication shing with Paeonol Grass, no one would¡¯ve noticed he was taking Nourishment. Pills. ¡°Grandma Ashlyn¡¯s Nourishment Pills have the highest content of Mirage Grass.¡± Calvin¡¯s face grew serious too. Long¨Cterm use of Nourishment Pills leads to addiction to Mirage Grass, Increasing the craving for it. Meaning, Ashlyn¡¯s been popping Nourishment Pills for quite some time! Noe picked up the report, signaling Calvin to sign it. Calvin was confused and looked at Noe. ¡°What are you looking at me for? This is high¨Clevel drug analysis; what¡¯s up with you signing. it?¡± This isn¡¯t herb after all, and the report needs to be kept on file. ¡°But you did the experiment, and I¡¯m just the assistant!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not certified.¡± Medical experiments require a license from the Harmonia Country Pharmaceutical Research Institute, and Noe, finding it a hassle, never got around to it, so technically, she¡¯s been winging it without a license. Calvin got the picture!She invited him to the experiment not for a schrly debate, but to take the fall for her. After all, this is the Nourishment Pill. Calvin could already foresee the Institute calling him up in a few days with questions! She was not leaving any trouble for herself, was she! ¡°Why don¡¯t you let your brother sign it?¡± ¡°How could I leave such a hassle for my own family? Sign it, or don¡¯t bothering to my next experiment.¡± Calvin just mboyantly signed his name for the lead experimenter! ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road. Could you give Ulrich the heads¨Cup that I¡¯ve got some stuff to take care of? Hand him a copy of theb report.¡± 12:43 Lily¡¯s totally in awe of this high¨Cmaintenance gal¨Ct out worshiping the ground she walks on! ¡°Sure thing! Don¡¯t be a stranger, missy! Ourb¡¯s gear is top¨Cnotch in the nation! Don¡¯t even think about stepping foot in Professor Calvin¡¯sb!¡± Calvin was like, hello? I¡¯m still standing right here! Is it really cool to diss myb like that? Stepping out of Ulrich¡¯sb, Noe¡¯s eyesnd on the man standing by the road. He¡¯s wearing a turtleneck sweater, giving off a whiff of sex appeal with that Adam¡¯s apple peeking out, and his khaki trench coat is fluttering in the breeze¨Coozing a ¡®back off vibe, icy as can be. Seeing Noe emerge, Palmer strode over. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°All done with the experiment?¡± ¡°Yep, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Came to grab a bite with you, remember? Where¡¯s our brother?¡± Noe thought, why does it sound like he¡¯s mentioning her family so naturally, like he¡¯s not an outsider at all! ¡°He¡¯s in surgery. Here¡¯s the experiment data.¡± Sexton¡¯s another victim of the Nourishment Pill, so Palmer¡¯s got every right to see the analysis. ¡°Mirage Grass? How did that stuff make aeback? I recall Northstone plunged into chaos over it three years ago!¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the one, I suspect Toxic Monarch¡¯s coboration with Thorpe has something to do with it, considering the cash it rakes in.¡± Palmer furrowed his Brow at the report. ¡°Why¡¯s Professor Calvin down as the main experimenter?¡± ¡°He ran the experiment.¡± Palmer was clued in that Noe didn¡¯t dig the spotlight and didn¡¯t want the world in on her Phantom Surgeon ID. The Phantom Surgeon¡¯s rep was way too hot to handle, even for Imperial City¨Cit¡¯s like a ma for bad mojo. If she runs into trouble and he¡¯s not around, that¡¯d be bad news! Thinking back, Calvin must¡¯ve been talking about her when he mentioned bumping into a med whiz kid. Palmer smoothed out his expression and gantly opened the car door for Noe. Settled in the car, Noe was all cool and collected. 12:43 ¡°A single Mirage Grass nt was going for eighty mil a few years back. Despite the hefty price tag, it¡¯s super rare, and for Toxic Monarch and Thorpe, that kind of money is chump change. Thorpe¡¯s hankering for Mirage Grass has got to be more than just money.¡± . Palmer caught on to her drift in a sh! ¡°Like, say, needing Mirage Grass for a family member¡¯s illness, and the only person in the world who¡¯d use Mirage Grass is Phantom Surgeon Lunaris!¡± Thorpe had been spamming the deep web with offers for the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris. Bids hitting the billion¨Cdor mark! Noe shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not it. Besides the Phantom Surgeon, there¡¯s at least one other person who knows their way around Mirage Grass.¡± ¡°The person whipping up these Nourishment Pills?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± CHapter 52 CHapter 52 The phone started ringing off the hook and Noe grabbed her phone, hitting the answer button. Dubhe, a researcher from Lunar Lab, was howling on the other end. ¡°Boss, someone dropped off thetestb gear for us, and guess what, it¡¯s from the Pock Group! They say it¡¯s a gift for Mr. Pock¡¯s fianc¨¦e, but who the heck is a fianc¨¦e in ourb? It¡¯s all dudes and beasts here! Should we even take this stuff? What If there¡¯s a bomb inside or something? And if it blows us to kingdome, I wonder if they¡¯d find any shining wisdom in my remains.¡± Noe said, ¡°Theb gear¡¯s for me.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re kidding, right? I mean, no offense, but who in their right mind would see you as a damsel? Wait a sec, it¡¯s really for you? Since when are you chummy with the big boss of the Pock Group?¡± The Pock Group is a mega conglomerate that¡¯s got its fingers in pies all over the globe, from oil to toilet paper, they¡¯ve got a stake in it. ¡°Just ept the stuff and zip it.¡± ¡°Hold up, the Pock Group sent a bunch of potions too, stuff you can¡¯t even buy with cash. Boss, you sure you didn¡¯t do anything sketchy? Don¡¯t tell me you knocked over the Pock Group!¡± From the side. Phecda chimed in, ¡°As if! The boss ain¡¯t like that. If she was gonna hit the Pock Group, she¡¯d totally go for the whole shebang, not just swipe some trinkets!¡± Noe was speechless. Palmer was muffling a chuckle with his fist, shoulders shaking. He was clearly amused by the clowns Noe had around her. ¡°Shut it, just log the data and keep your traps shut, or I¡¯ll use you as guinea pigs for my next dissection practice.¡± Two screams came from the phone, ¡°Ahh, I knew our boss is stone¨Ccold! She¡¯s terrifying!¡± ¡°Hang on, the boss is the fianc¨¦e of the Pock Group¡¯s CEO? Does that make me part of her wedding gift?¡± ¡°You clueless? We¡¯re more like bridesmaids! Heehee, when the boss marries off, do we get to dress up too?¡± Noe hung up, totally exasperated. Palmer was trying hard not tough, his shoulders bouncing up and down. It was a rare sight to see her looking a bit flustered¨Cadorable! 12:43 ¡°Yourb¡¯s researchers?¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re all orphans taken in by the Obelisk Organization, picked up from warzones.¡± International warzones were brutal, and the Lunar Lab¡¯s researchers were orphans Noe had rescued. In Palmer¡¯s eyes was unmistakable tenderness. ¡°You¡¯re very kind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about being kind. You would¡¯ve done the same.¡± She¡¯d taken a whole medicalb¡¯s worth of researchers¨Cthose orphans were the test subjects! Their intelligence was constantly being pushed, with endless drugs, shocks, and other harrowing methods to stimte their brains repeatedly, all to reach the limits of human intellect! Noe couldn¡¯t stand it, so she just up and took down thatb named after the Pris Star. Palmer was shocked. ¡°The famed Pris Star organization that vanished from the international scene¡­ you took them in?¡± The disappearance of Pris Star had caused an uproar on the deep web!. And to think Noe was behind it! Pris Star¡¯s members were all absolute geniuses, each a pinnacle of excellence in their fields. The former members of Pris Star were now heavy hitters influencing the world in big ways! Noe frowned slightly, not really agreeing with his perspective. ¡°Yeah, I just happened to adopt twenty¨Cfour orphans and got to know a few old men.¡± Those old men were the surviving members of the former Pris Star! Theyter became Noe¡¯s mentors, passing on all the expertise of the twenty¨Cfour constetions to her. Luckily, Noe was smart enough to surpass her mentors without any forced brain¨Cboosting. The twenty¨Cfour had their mental issues, unable to tolerate anyone but Noe. Before long, she had them stay by her side as her most loyalpanions. Palmer was impressed. No wonder the guy on the phone said she¡¯d knocked over the Pock Group¨Cthere was a precedent! Noe might not look it, but she was full of shocking surprises! Palmer looked at Noe with even softer eyes. ¡°If you want mypany, you don¡¯t have to steal it, and I¡¯ll give it to you. Just one condition, take me with you, and everything I have is yours.¡± Was he out of his mind? 17:43 Noe gave him a look that screamed, ¡°Are you brain¨Cdamaged?¡± Annie, sitting in the passenger seat, could barely keep her grin under wraps. She¡¯d been worried her boss wouldn¡¯t know the first thing about dating, but with these smooth lines, he was on a . roll! ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± asked Palmer. ¡°Whatever.¡± ¡°I got a list from Sienna this morning of what you like and dislike. From now on, the Pock. family¡¯s kitchens and all our restaurants won¡¯t serve anything you don¡¯t enjoy.¡± Noe was speechless. Was that necessary? She hadn¡¯t even said she¡¯d definitely marry him! Meanwhile, Yvonne had been a bundle of nerves since getting Marcel¡¯s call, totally freaking out! The Pock family¡¯s legal team was quick toe knocking for Yvonne. ¡°Hello, Ms. Schnabel, could you please show us where you¡¯ve been getting the Nourishment Pills from? Mr. Pock is asking for the contact details.¡± Yvonne immediately put on her best frail and flustered act. ¡°Oh my, my head is killing me¡­ Am I getting sick too? I think Palmer shoulde and ask me himself. Where is he?¡± ¡°Mr. Pock took his fianc¨¦e, Noe, out for a candlelit dinner.¡± ¡°What the heck?¡± Palmer actually went to dinner with that bumpkin! And a candlelit one at that! It must¡¯ve been Sexton and Marcel twisting his arm to go. The thought of Palmer having to stare at Noe¡¯s mug while eating made Yvonne¡¯s heart ache. Palmer must be grossed out for sure! Just give it some time, he would get sick of that country bumpkin! ¡°Ms. Schnabel, please cooperate with us! Otherwise, we will have to take legal action against you. Sexton is still in the ICU!¡± ¡°I am cooperating, but the other party always contacts me first. He calls from different numbers every time, usually every couple of months, and I have no clue how to reach him!¡± To prove her point, Yvonne rummaged through her phone. ¡°These are all calls from him, each time with a different bank ount for the transfer. I can¡¯t get in touch with him on my own!¡± ¡°He told me the Nourishment Pill was the real deal, and that¡¯s why I spent so much money to buy them for my grandparents. I just wanted my grandparents to be healthy and live a long life!¡± The legal team jotted down all the phone numbers and bank ounts, then asked Yvonne a few more questions. ¡°When was thest time he contacted you?¡± ¡°Last week.¡® The legal guy frowned. Judging by the pattern of these calls, the next one wouldn¡¯t be for several months! ¡°Alright, thanks for cooperating. We¡¯ll let Mr. Pock know. We¡¯ll need to take your phone, but here¡¯s a new phone set up by the Pock Group for you, same number, so it won¡¯t mess with your life.¡± Yvonne, with puppy eyes, asked, ¡°Can I go see Grandpa Sexton? He really likes me!¡± The legal guy thought, ¡®The old man is busy ying chess with Marcel. If he sees you, he might really end up in the ICU!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t decide on that. Goodbye Ms. Schnabel.¡± And with that, the legal team bolted. Yvonne checked her phone ount and saw it was bone dry! Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. After thest splurge on Nourishment Pills, cosmetics, and handbags, she was t broke. With Ashlyn still bedridden, she probably couldn¡¯t remember to send Yvonne some spending money. Seeing her distressed, the nanny suggested, ¡°Miss Yvonne, I heard Miss ra mention that the deep web often has jobs that pay really well. Why not check it out? With your smarts, you could definitely make some pocket money. Who knows, you might even show off your talents and make Mr. Schnabel and Mr. Pock sit up and take notice!¡± CHapter 53 CHapter 53 Yvonne¡¯s eyes lit up! ¡°Miss Yvonne, there are loads of loaded folks on the deep web. You could make a killing without even trying.¡± Yvonne was itching to give it a go, and cautiously she opened up the deep web. Sure enough, there were a bunch of high¨Cticket orders waiting. The top few orders all came from the same ount, untouched by anyone. ¡°Thorpe¡¯s trying to rope in Phantom Surgeon Lunaris to treat his family, with a whopping offer of a billion bucks! That¡¯s a truckload of cash! But I don¡¯t know squat about medicine¡­¡± Even though she majored in medicine back in college, she never attended those sses. The thought of dissections with mice and bunnies made her see those folks as nothing but crude and filthy. So she paid others to attend all her sses. Now, forget medical skills, she couldn¡¯t even make heads or tails of a basic prescription! The nanny was unimpressed. ¡°Aren¡¯t you trained in medicine? Treating a patient should be a walk in the park for you, right? I see a lot of doctors these days just googling stuff and scribbling down some meds. If anythinges up, you can just hit up Dr. Calvin. This could be your shot to strut your stuff.¡± And we¡¯re talking a billion dors here! Yvonne was practically squirming with excitement! But she was terrified she¡¯d be tongue¨Ctied when the time came. Better to check out the other orders first! She shut down theptop, not realizing she had inadvertently clicked ¡°ept¡± on the order. ¡°I¡¯m off to take an exam at school. I¡¯ll check out the easier orders when I get back.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Yvonne always had someone else sit her exams in exchange for cash, but she was dead broke now, couldn¡¯t cough up the money for a stand¨Cin. Time to face the music herself! After wrapping up a surgery, Ulrich didn¡¯t even have time to catch his breath before rushing off to theb. He knew all too well the kind of characters hisb doctors were a bunch of snooty. self¨Crighteous types. He had to pull out all the stops just to get them to willingly follow his lead! 12-400 If he got backte, they¡¯d surely give his sister a hard time! As soon as he walked into theb, Ulrich saw Calvin engrossed in examining over three hundred samples. ¡°Professor Calvin? What brings you here? Where¡¯s my sister?¡± ¡°She¡¯s out dining with Mr. Pock. I wanted to take another look at the data, thought we could go over it together when you¡¯re back.¡± Ulrich thought, Palmer sure has a knack for timing! He knew when he said they¡¯d go eat together he was just pulling his leg. He wanted a one¨Con¨Cone dinner date with his sister! Calvin handed the research data to Ulrich. ¡°Take a look.¡± Ulrich speed¨Cread through the data, his expression growing serious. His eyes scanned over to Calvin¡¯s signature, and he got the picture. This was after all about Sexton and his own grandfather. His sister must have wanted the data ASAP, which is why Professor Calvin was called in for the experiment. With Calvin on board, it¡¯s no wonder the data came back so quickly! ¡°Professor Calvin, we owe you one for this experiment. Just so happens ourb got a new batch of reagents. Let¡¯s give you a sample, shall we?¡± Calvin was grinning ear to ear! Samples from Ulrich¡¯sb? Those were treasures you couldn¡¯t even beg for! He couldn¡¯t believe his luck ¨C helping out and scoring big time. The Schnabel family sure knows how to spread the wealth! ¡ª Meanwhile, Palmer took Noe to a Secret Kitchen in the city center. The quaint courtyard was adorned with pricey nts and flowers, with the peohy in the center probably the one that sold for three million at thest auction. The weing pine at the gate was also worth a million. To the uninitiated, this ce seemed too intimidating to even enter! Dining here required a hefty bank bnce check beforehand ¨C you wouldn¡¯t be a target customer without millions in the bank. The owner of the secret kitchen stood before Palmer and said, ¡°Mr. Pock, your private room is ready. Right this way, please.¡± ¡°Noe, let¡¯s go.¡± Dishes were served one after another, each in just a small portion. 12:43 The owner exined, ¡°Mr. Pock wanted to know what you like, Miss Schnabel, so from now on, we¡¯ll only serve what you prefer. The rest of the menu will be discontinued!¡± Noe frowned slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit much? What about other customers?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, miss. The restaurant has been transferred to your name. From now on, it caters only to your tastes!¡± Noe was overwhelmed. Palmer chuckled. ¡°I noticed you liked this courtyard when we drove pastst time. Since it¡¯s part of the Pock Group¡¯s holdings, I transferred it to you.¡± Last time she casually mentioned that the pine at the entrance looked sprightly and now she inexplicably owns a restaurant? ¡°There¡¯s no need to tailor everything to my taste. It¡¯s a restaurant; it needs to do business.. Where will the staff¡¯s wagese from otherwise?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be paid by me. But now that you own the ce, you call the shots.¡± The owner was almost in tears! Noe was just too kind! She even cared about their wages! Truth be told, even without a year¡¯s business, they wouldn¡¯t be short on sry. But who wouldn¡¯t want a considerate boss? After a moment of silence. Noe turned to the owner. ¡°I don¡¯t need to be fussy when Ie here. Bring me a taste of everything.¡± ¡°Yes, miss. We understand!¡± Now that she owned the ce, popping in to guide the kitchen once in a while wouldn¡¯t hurt. Thest chef she mentored became an international pastry master, though his skills were still pretty basic. Palmer looked at Noe with a gaze full of tender affection. ¡°Do you like it here? The Pock Group has more properties like this. I¡¯ll take you around sometime.¡± Noe was like, why should I tour around the Pock Group¡¯s properties? Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Thank you for your help with Grandpa¡¯s medication,¡± said Palmer. Noe nodded, her clear eyes rippling with beauty. ¡°The slip¨Cup in the ward isn¡¯t your fault, so don¡¯t be too hard on yourself.¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes lit up! He definitely smelled a rat when he noticed the two old¨Ctimers had conspired to fish for trouble ¨C otherwise, the hospital wouldn¡¯t be popping off like this. The oldies basically rolled out the red carpet for those guys to exploit loopholes, while also 12:43 lending a hand to the younger generation. But as far as Palmer was concerned, he¡¯d rather have Sexton kick back and enjoy his retirement! ¡°Much obliged for thefort, my fianc¨¦e. It makes me happy!¡± When Annie cautiously knocked on the private room door, Palmer was rolling up his sleeves, peeling shrimp for Noe. His ruby cufflinks were sparkling like nobody¡¯s business. It was the same pair he¡¯d rocked that time they hit the bar together, and he¡¯d been sporting them ever since! ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve got some fresh intel¡­¡± Palmer wiped his hands with grace, his expression the picture of sophistication. ¡°Spill it. There¡¯s no need for secrets around Noe; she can be privy to everything about me.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve got news that on the deep web. Phantom Surgeon Lunaris has taken up Thorpe¡¯s offer, and now the deep web is losing its mind!¡± Noe was confused. Howe she had no clue she¡¯d taken an order from Thorpe? ¡°Thorpe¡¯s throwing down a billion bucks. After Lunaris took the gig, she went MIA, and Thorpe¡¯s locked down her digital footprint, probably doesn¡¯t want anyone snooping.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The two in the room exchanged nces, falling silent for a moment. ¡°If I may be so bold, do you know any other Phantom Surgeons?¡± Noe eyed him for a beat, sensing he was beating around the bush. With his smarts, he must¡¯ve figured out that ¡®Phantom Surgeon¡® was code for a whole organization! ¡°I know one; just bit the dustst month, the grave¡¯s still warm. Wanna pay your respects?¡± Palmer asked, ¡°Could the person who took the job be the maker of the Nourishment Pill?¡± ¡°Could be.¡± Noe fiddled with her phone, shooting a coded message to Phecda. [Using Lunaris¡® ount to post a denial.] [Yes.] Five minutester, a new post from Phantom Surgeon Lunaris popped up on the deep web. Palmer caught a glimpse of the post and couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Your crew is quite the riot!¡°¨C Noe was puzzled, but Palmer handed over his phone, and they leaned in close enough to 12:43 catch each other¡¯s scent. The warmth from their arms made Noe¡¯s face heat up. [Always respected Mr. Thorpe, never took the job, never switched sides, never took the money. Even a piggy has a brain, but Mr. Thorpe seems to be missing one. Phantom Surgeon Lunaris.] Screens full of snark and shade, ssic Phecda shenanigans. CHapter 54 CHapter 54 Imperial West Hospital. Ashlyn was lying in bed, eyes shut. Yvonne came rushing in, bawling her eyes out, and copsed onto Ashlyn¡¯s bed in a flood of tears! ¡°Granny, you¡¯ve gotta save me! Grandpa says he¡¯s gonna hand me over!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the scoop? Your grandpa¡¯s not lost his marbles; where¡¯s he handing you off to?¡± Yvonne pulled out the sob story she had prepped, crying her heart out. ¡°Granny, I¡¯ve been pinching pennies to buy Nourishment Pills for Grandpa and Grandpa Sexton, but they say it¡¯s no good. You¡¯re taking Nourishment Pills yourself, Granny, you know best how awesome they are! I blew half a year¡¯s pocket money on Nourishment Pills for Grandpa, and now he¡¯s talking about handing me over to the Pock family¡¯s legal team, saying I¡¯ve gotta do time¡­ Granny, if I¡¯m gone, who¡¯s gonna look after you?¡± Hearing this, Ashlyn started to panic. ¡°Yvonne, you still got enough Nourishment Pills for me. right?¡± If Yvonne got snatched by the Pock folks, at least she wouldn¡¯t be left high and dry without her meds! ¡°Yeah, you haven¡¯t taken today¡¯s yet, Granny. Have it now!¡± With Yvonne¡¯s help, Ashlyn took her Nourishment Pill, visibly rxing, and with the scripture reading in the background, she began to drift off, losing focus on what was in front of her. ¡°Granny, you¡¯ve gotta help me out. I¡¯m your one and only granddaughter.¡± Ashlyn, groggy, nodded along, echoing her words. Yvonne tucked Ashlyn in with a smirk, pride written all over her face. If Sexton got dosed with Nourishment Pills, maybe he¡¯d start dancing to her tune just like Ashlyn! In Marcel¡¯s room, Calvin was holding two test papers. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, does your family have two Yvonnes or something? I mean, any rtives with that name?¡± Marcel was stumped, putting down his chess piece. ¡°I got two identical test papers here, both with Yvonne¡¯s name on them, check this out.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± On both papers, Yvonne¡¯s name was written clear as day! One was a fail, the other aced it. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the handwriting; the failing one¡¯s gotta be hers, and the other must be a ringer she hired. Plus, a bunch of teachers have been saying they haven¡¯t seen Yvonne since the term started!¡± Marcel¡¯s brow furrowed, reaching for his phone. ¡°Yvonne, to my room.¡± ¡°Right away. Grandpa.¡± Yvonne walked into the room and saw Calvin, smug as a bug in a rug. Professor Calvin must¡¯ve tipped off Marcel about her being a whiz kid in medicine, about time he started giving her some props! ¡°Yvonne, exin this.¡± Yvonne saw the twin papers and was utterly flummoxed! She hadn¡¯t paid up, so howe the hired gun still took the exam? ¡°Grandpa, give her a break. She¡¯s had it rough! Even though she bullied me at school, stopped me from attending sses, I had to prove my chops this way. But I know she didn¡¯t mean any harm, just green¨Ceyed over the Schnabel family fortune.¡± Marcel¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°You¡¯re saying you were threatened? Then why not tell me?¡± ¡°I was scared of being called a bully, using my family¡¯s name. Some kids used to pick on me for being a Schnabel girl, and with my folks and bro so busy, I didn¡¯t wanna stir the pot.¡± She whipped out her phone, a barrage of mean messages on disy. ¡°These are all the nasty things they¡¯ve said. I¡¯m really scared, Grandpa! But please, go easy on them. They didn¡¯t mean it.¡± Marcel¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the test then?¡± ¡°The high score¡¯s mine, even though I never set foot in school, I¡¯ve been secretly studying outside the ssroom. I¡¯d never let the Schnabel family down!¡± Marcel said, ¡°Off you go, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Yvonne left relieved, tears still streaming. Calvin was gobsmacked! Her acting chops are wasted on medicine! ¡°Mr. Schnabel you buying her story?¡± ¡°Not for a second, full of baloney like her granny.¡± *So what¡¯s the n for this mess?¡± Marcel pondered for a moment, then dialed Beckett¡¯s number, giving him the lowdown. 12:43 ¡°Check out what Yvonne¡¯s been up to at school, and go easy on the hired gun. Handle with kid gloves!¡± ¡°Will do, Grandpa.¡± The Lambert Mansion In Tranquility City Vincent walked into his study to find it looked like a burr had been through it, a total mess! He¡¯d been savvy enough to install cameras in the study after a bid document went missingst time. Checking the footage, he caught Briony sneaking into his study more than once, filching a bunch of the Lambert family documents and passing them to the Rosenberg family. No wonder the Lambert family had been taking hits. The Rosenbergs were stabbing them in the back! The Lambert family had been thriving under his watch, never faced such a rough patch before! Vincent dialed up the Rosenberg family. ¡°You Rosenbergs sure got some nerve swiping all my stuff. If you don¡¯t make up for ourpany¡¯s losses, consider yourselves sued!¡± N?velDrama.Org content. The Rosenberg family¡¯s been having a rough patchtely. It seems like everything they touch turned to dust, and they were all a bunch of jinxed hot¨Cheads. They just lost it when Vincent gave them an earful out of the blue! ¡°Are you out of your mind, Vincent? Who the hell would want your family¡¯s junk? You really think you¡¯re some kind of business whiz? How do you have the nerve toe begging us, the Rosenberg family, for money?¡± Vincent just snorted. ¡°I¡¯ve got proof, and if you¡¯re gonna y dumb, we can just take it to court!¡± The Rosenberg folks weren¡¯t falling for that. ¡°Proof? You mean that trash your daughter dragged in? Pfft! She was the one all eager to bring it, and we didn¡¯t even want it! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know about you trying to butter up Ms. Schnabel with gifts and getting the door mmed in your face. Now, the whole Imperial City and Tranquility City won¡¯t touch you with a ten¨Cfoot pole! Bad luck charm!¡± The Rosenberg family hung up in no time. Vincent thought, these people have no shame! He suited up and stepped out of his study, nning to get the lowdown from Briony, only to find out she wasn¡¯t home. She¡¯d gone shopping with Milford Rosenberg. Just yesterday, Briony was saying how Milford was fixing up a mall for her, and now it hit him- that mall was exactly what he¡¯d had his eye on! 12:44 Vincent was freaking out! ¡°Quick, set up a dinner with the CEOS from the East Sea Culture Company, West Ocean Media, North Peak Finance, and South Mountain Financial, book the priciest private room at the Imperial Hotell ¡°That¡¯s not cost¨Ceffective, though. It¡¯s at least 300K for a night. How about the hotel we went tost time? We can get a set meal for 1299.¡± ¡°Alright, 1299 it is. I need to have a heart¨Cto¨Cheart with the big shots ASAP! If I can win them back, the Lambert family might still stand a chancel¡± Vincent hurried out the door. Meanwhile Noe had just gotten out of her car back at Schnabel Manor when Alkaid rang her up, ¡°Boss, Vincent wants to treat us to dinner. That cheapskate. His suit alone costs 38 grand, but he¡¯s pinching pennies when ites to hosting dinners 1299 and that includes drinks!¡± ¨C Vincent¡¯s penny¨Cpinching wasn¡¯t news; back at the Lambert family, he¡¯d skimp on Noe¡¯s dinner for a whole month, iming it¡¯d help her keep her figure, while he¡¯d gorge himself silly elsewhere. The Lambert family had a shot at teaming up with the municipal department once, but Vincent insisted on docking the workers¡® pay. If Noe hadn¡¯t quietly stepped in with some cash, it would¡¯ve blown up big time, and the Lambert family would¡¯ve been aughing stock in Tranquility City. ¡°Just thinking about thest meal gets me riled up. Alioth ended up with an upset stomach, and Ivan landed in the hospital with gastroenteritis. And Vincent had the gall to say that ce was tasty! It drove me nuts!¡± They¡¯d avoid it like the gue unless Noe said otherwise. Noe responded, ¡°No need to go. Just block him and send a legal notice.¡± ¡°Yay! Boss, looks like the Rosenberg family¡¯s been hit with a bunch of mishapstely. It seems like they¡¯re heading towards bankruptcy. Your doing?¡± Noe said, ¡°Not me.¡± ¡°I knew it. If it were you, the Lambert family would be biting the dust too!¡± Noe cracked a smile, a touch of refined amusement on her lips. The Lambert family¡¯s downfall might just be on the horizon! CHapter 55 CHapter 55 ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, everything will be by the book.¡± Vincent¡¯s all about saving face, and the bet agreements he¡¯s signed have got him ready to fork over a pretty penny. As for Rosenberg family. Noe had never thought twice about them. Alkaid was so stoked to hear her say that, he was this close to setting off a string of firecrackers to celebrate Noe¡¯s decision! ¡°Awesome!¡± After hanging up the phone, Beckett gently knocked on Noe¡¯s door. ¡°Beckett,e on in.¡± ¡°Noe, Grandpa asked me to swing by Yvonne¡¯s school, and I was thinking, since you¡¯re about to hit college too, wanna tag along and check it out with me? Beckett said that, but really he was just looking for an excuse to hang out with Noe! They were all so mmed with work; managing to grab breakfast together was a feat, let alone finding time to spend with Noe. Noe pondered a moment; MediCore University has the most detailed top¨Csecret files on the Nourishment Pill ¨C perfect for a little recon. ¡°Sure.¡± MediCore University, the top academy of Imperial City¡¯s educational institutions, boasted a powerhouse faculty. The second¨Cranked Calvin¡¯s medicalb in Harmonia Country was located there, only outdone by the top¨Cranked Ulrich¡¯sb. Milford, wheeled in by Briony, got hit with a wave of youth vibes the second he entered the campus. Mini¨Cskirted beauties and white¨Ccoated doctors everywhere, instantly igniting his uniform fetish! This ce was just too good! Milford adjusted the bandage on his face, scouting for his next target. Seeing him eyeing the crowd, Briony was sour as a lemon. Those girls, unting their long, fair legs in skimpy outfits, were tantly trying to seduce her fianc¨¦! ¡°Noe? What¡¯s she doing here?¡± Milford, eagle¨Ceyed, spotted a girl stepping out of a deep purple Porsche, those legs long and slim, perched on a pair of limited¨Cedition Master Azure heels, outlining her figure to perfection. Beckett tossed his car keys to his secretary and caught up to Noe in a few strides, tenderly 12:44 touching her hand. ¡°It¡¯s a bit chilly: I forgot to tell you to dress warmer. Next time, I¡¯ll have a jacket ready for you in the car.¡± As he spoke, he gentlemanly slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over Noe. Her light green tulle dress, now paired with the jacket¡¯s scent of dark, rich agarwood, added an air of cool elegance, her gaze lofty. ¡°Thanks, Beckett.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head to the registrar¡¯s office. I¡¯ve got a meeting lined up with the director of MediCore University.¡± Following Beckett, Noe¡¯s striking looks and aura drew a crowd of onlookers. Briony¡¯s nails were practically digging into her palms! Milford was beside himself with excitement, pointing at Beckett¡¯s figure and shaking like he had Parkinson¡¯s! ¡°That¡¯s him! I knew he had something to do with Noe. He¡¯s the one who hit mest time!¡± ¡°Milford, was it him who hit you before? But he looks like he¡¯s loaded. It doesn¡¯t make sense he¡¯de after you for Noe.¡± Milford looked at Beckett with a mix of rage and fear. Just thinking about how his once handsome, dashing face ¨C ready for stardom ¨C was disfigured by Beckett¡¯s jealousy, Milford was itching for a fight! ¡°Briony, Noe¡¯s just down in the dumps because she can¡¯t marry me, so let¡¯s forgive her!¡± Briony couldn¡¯t believe Milford was still speaking up for Noe. ¡ª Noe was indeed looking great back in the day at the Lambert family¡¯s ce, even with Belinda¡¯s ban on dressing up, Noe still drew a flock of noblemen to their doorstep. And now, hooking up with someone loaded¡­ That green tulle dress alone was a custom piece you couldn¡¯t just buy at a Master Azure¡¯s store! Briony was green with envy, pushing Milford forward, blocking Noe¡¯s path. ¡°Noe, how could you have Milford beaten up? You owe him an apology! Even if you can¡¯t marry Milford, you should at least wish us well. I¡¯m so disappointed in you- look what you did to Milford!¡± Noe was at a loss for words. This mummy is Milford? She thought Briony had some hobby of wheeling around relics. Beckett stepped in front of Noe, his gaze icy. ¡°Ms. Lambert, I believe I¡¯ve already warned you!¡± 12:44 1 Briony was a bit intimidated by Beckett. After being cklisted by all the Rising Glory Group¡¯s malls, Briony did her homework on Beckett and found out he was the CEO of Rising Glory Group, worth billions! Briony thought, how did Noe snag someone like that. Especially since, looks¨Cwise, I don¡¯tg behind at all! ¡°You must apologize to Milford and cover all his medical expenses! Noe, our parents always taught us not to bully others with power. After you left home, you kept bothering Milford and even resorted to such actions when he rejected you.¡± Noe frowned slightly, ncing at Milford. ¡°You think I¡¯m obsessed with this kappa? Sorry, I don¡¯t have a fetish for ugly.¡± The surrounding onlookers, who had been watching themotion, burst into thunderousughter. The director of MediCore University hurried over, rushing up to Beckett. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, Miss Schnabel, wee to our school for a visit. We have everything prepared for you. Please, follow me.¡± Beckett didn¡¯t even throw a nce at Briony and Milford, just scooped up Noe and hopped into the director¡¯s ride, peeling out of there like a bat out of hell.. It left Briony dumbfounded. ¡°That was the director of MediCore University just now, wasn¡¯t it? Why was he calling Noe ¡®Miss Schnabel¡°?¡± Milford got a bunch of texts from his bros to hit up a bar outside the school, and just to brush it off, he said, ¡°Who knows what those rich folks are into. If you dig it, I can call you that too, Miss Lambert. Let¡¯s go.¡± Briony clenched her teeth, peeved as she watched Noe¡¯s figure disappear in the distance, but MediCore University was just too massive; she couldn¡¯t see squat. On the electronic screen of the college town mall, there scrolled a fancy poster with Noe in a light blue princess gown, chilling in an old¨Cschool courtyard enjoying the flowers. The diamond tiara on her head was sparkling so bright, her every pout and smile was drop¨Cdead gorgeous, making you think she was some international supermodel or something! And there was this fancy font scrolling across, ¡°Happy Birthday, Princess Noe Schnabel!¡± Briony¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head! Howe Noe¡¯s photo was stered on the mall¡¯s screen, and with the surname Schnabel¡­ Could it be she¡¯s got some ties with Mr. Schnabel from Rising Glory Group? No way! ¡°Milford, could it be that Noe is rted to Mr. Schnabel?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. 12:44 Milford caught sight of that photo too, his eyes brimming with barely concealed awe! He¡¯d always known Noe was a stunner from the get¨Cgo, but who would have thought that with diamonds as her backdrop, she¡¯d turn into this showstopping beauty that he just couldn¡¯t take his eyes off. ¡°How could they be family? Didn¡¯t Mr. Lambert say her folks were just chicken farmers in Emerald County? It¡¯s probably just a coincidence they share the surname Schnabel!¡± Briony eyed the words on the poster. ¡°Triple Entertain Media¡­ Could it be Noe has taken up a stage name, gearing up to break into showbiz?¡± Triple Entertain Media was the biggest entertainment powerhouse in Imperial City right now, rolling deep with supermodels and A¨Clist actors, and resources that were off the charts. If Noe¡¯s really aiming tounch from Triple Entertain Media, with a face like hers, she¡¯d shoot to stardom in the blink of an eye. CHapter 56 CHapter 56 Briony was green with envy! ¡°Theard the boss of Triple Entertain Media is an old geezer, over fifty, and just so happens to have thest name Schnabel, Now Noe¡¯s going by Noe Schnabel¨Cdon¡¯t tell me she¡¯s snagged herself a sugar daddy or something.¡± Stuff like that isn¡¯t exactly unheard of in showbiz. Milford was itching just looking at that poster. If Noe really was nning to make her debut. it could be a sweet deal. As long as he had some dirt on her past, he could make sure she¡¯d be eating out of his hand! Briony was a hot mess, nning to grill Noe about the whole deal as soon as she got home. If Noe really did enter the limelight, she wouldn¡¯tst two minutes! Meanwhile the director escorted Noe and Beckett to the university president¡¯s office. respectfully handing over some documents. ¡°Mr. Schnabel here¡¯s Ms. Yvonne¡¯s school record. She barely got into school because Ashlyn donated a building, plus she had the Imperial City residency¡­ her academic foundations are pretty shaky.¡± Beckett, without breaking a sweat, pulled out a fine cup, poured Noe some water, checked the temperature with his hand, and handed it to her before asking in a cool tone, ¡°I won¡¯t bother reading the documents. Just give me the gist. Yvonne¡¯s been a poor student from the get¨Cgo. but do you think that justifies her being bullied by her ssmates?¡± The director¡¯s head shook like a bobblehead. ¡°Are you joking, Mr. Schnabel? Who in their right mind would dare pick on Marcel¡¯s granddaughter?¡± She¡¯d be lucky not to bully someone herself¡­ Beckett knew Marcel¡¯s character; the Schnabel family kids went to school without him unting his clout to get them perks, let alone using his status to push people around. Frowning, he asked, ¡°Has my grandfathere to visit Yvonne at school?¡± ¡°Nope, the old Mr. Schnabel is busy; no time for that. It was Yvonne herself who announced she was his granddaughter at the inauguration ceremony.¡± Marcel might be low¨Ckey, but that didn¡¯t stop others from making a big deal of it! Beckett was speechless. ¡°Since enrolling. Yvonne rarely attends sses, iming to be caring for the old Mr. Schnabel 12:44 In the hospital and sharing pictures of her and the old Mr. Schnabel on social media. This exam had a hired gun test¨Ctaker for Yvonne. Here¡¯s the paper.¡± Two exams wereid out before him, one with a score of just 58 out of 100. Beckett raised an eyebrow, ¡°Has she always hired someone for her exams?¡± ¡°Yes, but to be fair, our school¡¯s exams are tough, and considering Yvonne never attended a single ss, scoring 58 isn¡¯t too shabby¡­¡± The director was sweating bullets. These were all half¨Cbakedpliments he had conjured up, and even he found them absurd. Judging by Beckett¡¯s care for Noe by his side, he probably wouldn¡¯t be any less protective of Yvonne. If he made a fuss, the school would be in deep trouble¡­ Noe nced at the exam paper and casually asked, ¡°Got any nk papers and a pen?¡± Beckett thought she was just bored and instructed the director to fetch a nk exam. After some digging, the director could only find a graduate¨Clevel medicalpetition paper. ¡°This is all we¡¯ve got. It¡¯s super tough. Even Professor Calvin scored only 80. You can just skim through it.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± The director was worried Noe might doodle something silly on it, and he¡¯d have toe up with more ttery. But watching her handle herself withposure, she was leagues ahead of Yvonne, who always strutted into the office like she owned the ce. # Now, the mere mention of ¡°Do you know who my grandpa is?¡± gave the director a headache. ¡°How¡¯s Yvonne¡¯s social life at school, really?¡± ¡°Not too bad, mainly ¡®cause Yvonne can¡¯t stand the other students. She calls them all ¡®country bumpkins¡® and ¡®poor as church mice.¡® And since she hardly ever attends ss¨¦s, she doesn¡¯t really interact with them! But yeah, rtions are great!¡± Knowing Yvonne¡¯s character, Beckett could guess the kind of drama she¡¯d stir up at school. Noe put down her pen and handed the test back to the director. ¡°All done? Don¡¯t worry if you didn¡¯t get the professional jargon. Wait, what?¡± The director, almost choking on his own saliva, was stunned by the answers and calctions Noe had jotted down. He didn¡¯t even have the answers himself; they needed to be looked up on the medical intr. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, please bear with me for a sec!¡± 12.44 Five minutester, the director was a bundle of nerves, looking at frontlike one w kind of prodigy. Professor Calvin couldn¡¯t get past 80, and Noe had scored 50 They knocked off one point because her paper was all worked out processes being some points for presentation. But it proved she had just aced the paper in ten minutes ¡°Miss Schnabel, would you be interested in enrolling in our school? We¡¯d like to offer you fast¨Ctrack invitation to abined bachelor¡¯s, master¡¯s, and Ph.D. program Noe shook her head and said, ¡°No thanks.¡± She was just killing time and curTIUS TO SEE HIM tough the school¡¯s questions were. Turned out she identally got the test paper she designed, and since Calvin only scored she went ahead and scribbled down the calction processes for the key questions Consider it payback for his help with her experiments. Beckett¡¯s eyes lit up, looking at Noe with extra tenderness. ¡°Noe, interested in medicine? Ulrich could mentor you. If you are, I¡¯ll set up ats for you night away.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that the granny who raised me wasn¡¯t well, so I picked up a bit on the side. Not really interested.¡± If it weren¡¯t for taking care of old Mrs. Lambert, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered with medicine at all. The director looked a bit bummed out, eyeballing Noe with puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°If you ever change your mind, remember to hit me up!¡± Noe nodded, then nced at the failed test paper on the table. ¡°As for this test, it¡¯s a piece of cake. If your school ever needs someone to set questions, you know where to find me.¡± ¡°Sure thing! Even if you don¡¯te to school here, it¡¯d be great to have your insights¡± Her questions might just crank up the rate of students staying extra years at MediCore University. ¡°Noe, what major are you interested in?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t decided. Anything¡¯s fine, I guess. A school closer to home would be better.¡± The Schnabel family¡¯s parents and brothers kind of enjoyed having meals with her, and they¡¯d be the first to veto if the distance was too great. She wasn¡¯t all that keen on going to college either. To her, she had already learned everything they could teach, so attending was just a waste of time. But then, there were those countless nights old Mrs. Lambert would cuddle her on the rocking chair at the ancestral home, gently swaying and moon¨Cgazing. ¡°My dear, you must go to a top¨Cnotch college, attend the best school. You have to spread your wings from here, and go to the finest ces!¡± ¡°What about you, Grandma, If I go?¡± Old Mrs. Lambert chuckled, fanning herself with a fan, softly patting her back. ¡°I¡¯ll turn into the moon, and I¡¯ll always be with you in the sky. So you can¡¯t go astray. You must go to college!¡± Those memories were buried in dust, yet they were the cherished moments Noe would never forget! Noe¡¯s phone flickered with an encrypted number. She stood up. ¡°Beckett, I need to take this.¡± Beckett had some things to ask the director in private and said. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t wander off too far.¡± Noe stood in the hallway and pressed the answer button. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Boss, got a message from the old Linefort City estate. Belinda¡¯s nning to relocate old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s grave!¡± ¡°Relocate? Isn¡¯t Grandma¡¯s grave in good shape?¡± Noe had forked out a hefty sum to have old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s resting ce picked out, meant to bless the descendants with prosperity and fortune. ¡°Yeah, the ce is great, and that¡¯s why Belinda wants to move old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s coffin out. so her own parents can move in! She ims the Lambert family¡¯s recent bad luck is all because of the bad location of the ancestral grave, so she wants to tamper with old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s. Boss, we paid top dor for that plot, you know. If someone digs it up, where¡¯s old Mrs. Lambert supposed to go?¡± 12:44 CHapter 57 CHapter 57 The whole Lunar Lab members were steamed about Belinda and Vincent for what they used to treat Noe. When Noe was an infant, It was actually the Belinda¡¯s parents from the Fuller family who were taking care of her. But then old Mrs. Lambert came to see her granddaughter and found. out they were dissing her for being a girl, only willing to feed her in water ¨C Noe nearly didn¡¯t make it! If old Mrs. Lambert hadn¡¯t swooped in and taken care of her, dotting every ¡®I¡® and crossing every ¡®t. there would be no way they¡¯d have such a kick¨Cass and beautiful boss now. Did the Fuller family really think kids grow up on dew or something? Noe¡¯s moves became so slick because she used to scrap with bears in the backwoods and deep forests as a kid! And yet, Briony was always kept close by their side, under the pretense that Belinda needed a nanny. Now the Fuller family had their eyes on old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s grave, nning to snatch it away! ¡°Boss, what on earth is Belinda thinking? It¡¯s not like she can do anything with that grave!¡± Noe frowned and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t the Fuller parents still alive?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just it. They say it¡¯s a plot they¡¯re eyeing for themselves, thinking old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s got a jackpot and they want to be buried there when they kick the bucket!¡± What a bunch of jokers this family is, squabbling with the dead over a piece ofnd. ¡°Tell Vincent that spot is a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Ccentury find, that their descendants are sure to strike it rich if they get it.¡± Alkaid nodded, grinding his teeth in frustration. ¡°I bet even if we tell Vincent, he¡¯ll still get sweet¨Ctalked by Belinda. What if they really mess with the grave?¡± Noe sighed, her delicate brows knitting together slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if they dare touch Grandma¡¯s grave, I¡¯ll make them regret it.¡± Alkaid breathed a sigh of relief with Noe¡¯s word, he could rest easy. Back in the office, Beckett had pulled up all of Yvonne¡¯s school records, including every instance of her having someone else attend sses and take exams on her behalf. ¡°What does the school want to do about it?¡± he asked the director. The director hesitated for a moment but then answered honestly, ¡°Repeat the year, retake all 12:44 subjects, record a major demerit, issue a probation warning, and if the retakes fail, expulsion¡­¡± Beckett nodded and said, ¡°Go by the book. Make sure all teachers call Yvonne¡¯s name during roll call. I¡¯ll donate some equipment to the school, and from now on, attendance checks are gonna be done with facial recognition.¡± The director was over the moon! What a brilliant idea! Noe walked in just in time to hear this and couldn¡¯t help cringing. She thought, if Beckett actually goes through with this, I bet the whole MediCore University student body would be sticking pins in voodoo dolls of him. ¡°Beckett, that¡¯s like tearing someone else¡¯s umbre because you¡¯re getting wet.¡± Beckett just smiled, a graceful curve on his lips. The director disagreed, ¡°Miss Schnabel, our school is MediCore University, after all. Serious study now means fewer mistakes on the operating tableter, and more preciseb data. It¡¯s only the literature majors we allow skipping ss now and then.¡± Noe nodded, realizing MediCore University had strict standards and knew how to teach ording to students¡® needs. ¡°If you are interested, please consider our school!¡± ¡°I will.¡± After sorting out Yvonne¡¯s business, Beckett walked Noe out of the school. ¡°Noe, you seemed down after that phone call. Wanna tell me why? Of course, it¡¯s cool if you¡¯d rather not!¡± Originally, she didn¡¯t want to bother her family with the Lambert family drama, but then seeing Milford, she realized Beckett was already on top of things, even sorting stuff out without her knowing! Beckett gently patted Noe¡¯s hair and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s normal for girls to have stuff on their minds. Is that Palmer kid giving you trouble? Tell me, and I¡¯ll sort him out!¡± Noe was like, what does this have to do with Palmer? After hesitating, she told Beckett about what had happened and her concerns. Beckett got it and knew how close Noe was to old Mrs. Lambert ¨C that without her, there would be no Noe today. The Schnabel family owed her one! ¡°Noe, I¡¯ll find a better ce for old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s grave. Maybe she wants to be closer to you, right? I¡¯ll relocate her to Imperial City, buy the Lambert ancestral home, so no one can disturb her peace, making it easy for you to visit. If she were still around, we¡¯d all owe her our thanks. She raised you so well! I¡¯ll get on it, don¡¯t worry. Even though you¡¯re back with the Schnabels, she will always be your grandma!¡± Noe was beautiful gentle, strong, and sensible the best sister in the world! And none of this had anything to do with Vincent and his wife. Noe originally arranged old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s grave near the family home because she wanted to go back there in her final days. Maybe, like Beckett said, Grandma really wanted to stay with her. ¡°Alright, thanks. Beckett.¡± Meanwhile, MediCore University¡¯s admin office was ringing Yvonne¡¯s cell. When Yvonne heard the school¡¯s verdict, she was about to lose her marbles. Probation? If the Schnabel family gets wind of this, she¡¯s gonna catch hell! ¡°What? Are you guys out of your minds? Just because someone took a test for me, it¡¯s such a big deal? Do you know who my grandpa is?¡± The director replied coolly. ¡°We¡¯ve already reported to your grandfather, and he fully supports the school¡¯s decision.¡± Yvonne was speechless. Didn¡¯t she just tell Marcel yesterday that she was the one being picked on? What the heck was going on! D Yvonne did not want to waste another year at school, attending sses with a bunch of broke college students was just in dumb. She¡¯d rather spend her time getting dolled up and hanging out with her girlfriends ¨C those were the real connections! After hanging up the phone, Yvonne hurriedly made ns to dash to the hospital to get Marcel to put in a good word for her. If Marcel was willing to call the president, nobody would dare to follow up on this matter. ¡°Anika, where¡¯s the driver?¡± ¡°Miss Yvonne, the driver has been sent out by the madam to pick up a delivery,¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Sienna has her own personal driver, so why was she hogging others too? ¡°What kind of delivery needs so many people?¡± Could it be that Sienna finally realized Yvonne¡¯s birthday wasing up and was sending her a birthday present? ¡°It¡¯s Crystal.¡± Crystal! It must be that piece she had her eye onst month! Yvonne had been dying to get a piece of crystal for a bracelet and earrings, it would totally suit her style. She hadn¡¯t expected that the piece from the auction was secretly bought by Sienna to! surprise her. If Sienna agreed, she didn¡¯t really care about going to university: she could just 1244 buy a degree. The more Yvonne thought about it, the more excited she got! ¡°Did they say what it¡¯s for?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s to redo the bathroom floor for Noe, the current flooring doesn¡¯t match the decor.¡± Redoing Noe¡¯s bathroom floor? For real? ¡°Noe hardly ever stays here, right?¡± She owns the penthouse at Serene Haven, why bother redoing the room here? ¡°The madam said it¡¯s all for Noe¡¯s home, and since she isn¡¯t staying here these days, she¡¯s nning to revamp the decor for her.¡± Yvonne nearly choked. Yvonne scolded inwardly. ¡°Why the heck does the Schnabel family pamper Noe so much? That country bumpkin really doesn¡¯t know the value of things. Doesn¡¯t she feel like a nouveau riche using such precious crystal for flooring?¡± ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll take a cab! Seeing Grandpa is more important right now.¡± It¡¯s several miles from the Schnabel Manor to a ce where you¡¯re allowed to hail a cab. After all, everyone living in the same neighborhood as the Schnabel family has their own cars, and taxis aren¡¯t even allowed in. Yvonne walked to the gate, her ankles rubbed raw with blisters, hurting so much that she was grimacing in pain. A car pulled up in front of her, and the man inside with a scar on his face rolled down the window, his sinister gaze falling on her. ¡°Miss, where to?¡± Yvonne, not paying much attention, hopped in, ¡°Imperial West Hospital. Step on it!¡± The driver tugged at his baseball cap, shadowing his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure you get where you need to go.¡± ¡°What do you mean? I said Imperial West Hospital. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± Yvonne started to feel uneasy; this guy looked shady all over, not some creep drawn to her beauty, right? CHapter 58 CHapter 58 The moment she thought of it, Yvonne started to freak out. ¡°Listen here, don¡¯t you go messing around. Do you have any idea who I am? Do you know who my grandpa is? I¡¯m from the Schnabel family, for crying out loud!¡± ¡°Ms. Schnabel? What a coincidence, I was actually looking for a Ms. Schnabel. Since you took. on my order, you should y by the rules, right?¡± Yvonne was totally lost. Order? What order? She had been strapped for cashtely and hadn¡¯t hit the card tables in ages. There couldn¡¯t possibly be an order, could there? The driver¡¯s voice turned fierce, and his arm, bulging with veins, sported a tattoo of a mountain peak. The scar on his face made him look all the more ferocious! ¡°The order from Thorpe. If you¡¯ve taken it on, then you have toe with me whether you¡¯re the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris or not!¡± Yvonne was like, ¡°What¡± What was he on about with this Phantom Surgeon Lunaris business? Was he talking about that billion¨Cdor order from the deep web? She wanted to say something else, but then she got clonked on the back of her head and cked out, eyes rolling back. The unlicensed cab quietly pulled away, disappearing into the night. The Lambert Mansion, Tranquility City Vincent mmed the surveince report on the table, his beard practically trembling with rage. ¡°Briony, tell me what the heck is going on? How many of our family¡¯s orders have you shown to the Rosenberg family?¡± ¡°Not that many, Daddy. I didn¡¯t have much choice. Milford said he¡¯d dump me if I didn¡¯t show him, and he said it¡¯s all in the family anyway, right? Once we¡¯re married, we¡¯re all one big happy family, aren¡¯t we?¡± Belinda also stepped in to calm Vincent down, ¡°Exactly, honey. Besides, our family¡¯s business doesn¡¯t even ovep with the Rosenberg family¡¯s. It¡¯s probably all just a coincidence. And when Briony marries into their family, we¡¯ll be able to peek at the Rosenberg family¡¯s contracts too, right?¡± Vincent was like, well, when you put it that way¡­ Even though the Rosenberg family¡¯s business wasn¡¯t doing too hottely, they were still doing Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. better than the Lambert family by a long shot. Plus, Milford was definitely a stand¨Cup guy: otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have helped fix up the Lambert ancestral home. ¡°Alright, no more of this, but if you can, try to get a look at the Rosenberg family¡¯s contracts for your old man.¡± Seeing Vincent wasn¡¯t pressing further, Briony quickly agreed, ¡°Once I¡¯m married, I¡¯ll let your know everything. Daddy. Milford is good to me; he won¡¯t keep secrets from you.¡± Vincent nodded, his mind returning to the Lambert family¡¯s recent business woes. He had splurged on a feast for the four big bosses, and not a single one showed up. He ended up eating all the food himself, and even got the runs for days because the ingredients weren¡¯t fresh. Briony remembered seeing a poster of Noe around the university town, bit her lip, and voiced her thought. ¡°Daddy, I think I saw that Noe is about to make her debut. Not sure if she¡¯s acting or singing. I never heard about Noe having any talent for that sort of thing. It¡¯d be bad news if she¡¯s nning to star in those not¨Cso¨Cssy films.¡± Vincent got ticked off at the mention of Noe. That ungrateful girl! She had managed to cozy up to Jasper and when he asked for a simple. introduction, she had the nerve to block him! What an ingrate! ¡°Who cares about her? She¡¯s cut ties with the Lambert family anyway. Briony, you¡¯re ady of a reputable house, so don¡¯t you go following in her footsteps; all she¡¯s got are bad habits.¡± ¡°I know, Daddy. Aren¡¯t we being sued by East Sea Culture Company? Why don¡¯t I debut? I want to help the family too.¡± With her beauty and talents, she was sure to do better than Noe once she debuted. And once she married into the Rosenberg family, they wouldn¡¯t dare look down on her as someone raised by a nanny! Vincent shot that idea down immediately. ¡°No way, my girl¡¯s my pride and joy. Go be an actress? What nonsense! A girl¡¯s ce is at home. taking care of her husband and children. The idea of you unting yourself in public is just unseemly. You¡¯d do better sweet¨Ctalking Milford into marrying you sooner and discussing the dowry with the Rosenberg family.¡± The most important thing was that Briony didn¡¯t have any real skills; she wouldn¡¯t even qualify as a sexymp if she debuted. Vincent had it all figured out. When a family like theirs marries off a daughter, the wedding gift from the bridegroom can¡¯t be less than two or three hundred million. That money woulde in handy to settle hispany¡¯s ims! Briony felt a bit wronged. Why could Noe do things that she was barred from? If she debuted, she¡¯d totally outshine Noe! ¡°Enough of that. Once I¡¯ve sorted all this out, I¡¯ll prepare a generous wedding gift for you.¡± He was thinking his daughter¡¯s wedding gift ought to be at least five million, but the Lambert family just didn¡¯t have that kind of cash right now. Briony¡¯s mind raced and said, ¡°I heard from Milford that the CEO of Pock Group has been visiting Imperial West Hospital every day. Maybe we should try our luck?¡± ¡°You mean Palmer from the Pock Group? Is he sick or something, that he¡¯s going for checks every day? That¡¯s a big shot you don¡¯t see every day.¡± If they could cozy up to the Pock Group, Vincent wouldn¡¯t have to worry about doing business anymore. Forget about the Rosenberg family giving him the cold shoulder; he¡¯d be able to kick them to the curb and find an even better match for his family! ¡°Get things sorted, and we¡¯re heading to Imperial City tomorrow!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Vincent was all giddy as he made the arrangements, then his secretary rang in. ¡°Mr. Lambert, someone¡¯s offering three million to buy the Lambert family¡¯s old house in Linefort City.¡± ¡°Who? That ce is ancient. I haven¡¯t set foot in there for over twenty years. Who¡¯d want that old dump?¡± ¡°Some local, said they¡¯re fond of the osmanthus tree in the yard. If you¡¯re not keen on selling, I¡¯ll just turn them down.¡± Vincent shot up from the couch right away. ¡°Of course I am! That old shack¡¯s market value is barely two hundred thousand tops, and now someone¡¯s willing to pay that much for it? No one¡¯s living there, might as well sell it!¡± He had no attachment to that old house. And why should he? Isn¡¯t the vi he¡¯s living in now swanky enough? Why hang onto some rickety old ce! Now that someone¡¯s ying the fool with three million, he¡¯s obviously going to cash in. ¡°Tell them yes, and see if you can hike up the price. Even if it doesn¡¯t go up, three million will do.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± CEO¡¯s office of Rising Glory Group. ¡°What did you say? Vincent wants five million? Where does he get the nerve!¡± 12:45 The secretary was at a loss for words too. Beckett was willing to shell out three million, all for the sake of returning the favor for old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s affection towards Noe. How could Vincent have the cheek to suddenly jack up the price? . Sitting on the sofa, Noe chimed in with a hint of indifference. ¡°Probably it¡¯s the secretary¡¯s own idea, trying to pocket a cool two million. Get straight to Vincent. Tell him our initial offer was five million, but now we¡¯re only putting down one million. Take it or leave it.¡± Beckett couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. With Vincent¡¯s personality, he¡¯d not only be beating his chest in regret for not snagging a bargain but he¡¯d probably want to throttle his secretary. ¡°Do as Noe says.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Noe picked up thetest financial news, curious about the recent financial trends, but as soon as she grabbed it, she saw the man in a suit on the cover. Palmer¡¯s face jumped out at her, his half¨Csmile exuding an aura not to be taken lightly. It looked like he was unting something, deliberately showing off a pair of ruby cufflinks on his sleeve. The newspaper even made a special note that they were put on by his fianc¨¦e herself. Noe was speechless. If she remembered correctly, that was ancient history, wasn¡¯t it? Her phone rang three times before Noe picked up. It was Palmer. She put down the paper, not bothering to avoid Beckett nearby, and answered the call. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I just miss you?¡± Noe was a bit speechless, instinctively ready to hang up. ¡°But the important thing is I miss you. The unimportant thing is Yvonne got taken by Thorpe¡¯s people. They might¡¯ve mistaken her for the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris.¡± ¡°Got it. Anything else?¡± ¡°How about the honor of dining with my fianc¨¦e tonight? Of course, we could sneak in a quick five¨C minute chat about Thorpe ¨C can¡¯t take too long. It¡¯s not quite right. I¡¯m not too fond of my fianc¨¦e chatting about other men.¡± Noe was dumbfounded. Was this guy serious? Noe thought it over, then coldly rejected, ¡°We can skip dinner and just talk for five minutes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not okay. We haven¡¯t seen each other in days. I¡¯ve been working overtime just for the chance to have a meal with you. If you talk like that, it¡¯s gonna break my heart!¡± CHapter 59 CHapter 59 Palmer¡¯s voice sounded a bit whiny. Over at the Pock Group, things were crazy busy, plus he¡¯d been on¨Ccall like a full¨Ctime chauffeur for someone recently, racking up a backlog of work. Now Noe wouldn¡¯t even spare him the time for a meal. What, was he less charming than Thorpe or something? ¡°I wanna see you. Is that cool?¡± The voice was so woeful it tugged at Noe¡¯s heartstrings. Noe couldn¡¯t help but twitch a smile and cave in. ¡°Alright, but I¡¯ve got stuff to do in a bit.¡± ¡°Just text me the address, and I¡¯ll pick you up.¡± Noe grunted an acknowledgment and hung up. Beckett looked up from a mountain of papers, casually asking, ¡°Palmer?¡± ¡°Yeah, he wants to grab dinner tonight.¡± ??? Beckett didn¡¯t say much, just slid a bank card over to Noe. The ck and gold card screamed low¨Ckey luxury, with the Rising Glory Bank logo catching the eye. ¡°Why are you giving me money?¡± ¡°Schnabel family dinners always involve give and take. Even if you¡¯re engaged to Palmer, your gotta stay in the driver¡¯s seat, get it?¡± Beckett wasn¡¯t thrilled about Noe hanging out alone with Palmer, but she¡¯d already agreed, and he wasn¡¯t about to cook up a reason to keep his sister tied down. ¡°Schnabel girls can y the game and handle a loss. No matter how tough the Pock family is, if the Schnabels aren¡¯t keen on a wedding, tough luck for them. Hang out with Palmer without any pressure. If you¡¯re over it, just shoot me a text and I¡¯ll sort out the break¨Coff with the Pocks in no time!¡± Noe was bbergasted. Calling off an engagement with a text? She was gobsmacked! Beckett chuckled a bit sheepishly, the picture of elegance and gentleness. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing some high¨Cend client researchtely, upational hazard. Let¡¯s keep it our little secret. Take the money, and if it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll transfer more.¡± ¡°Thanks, Beckett.¡± CEO¡¯s Office of East Sea Culture Company Alkaid, d in a tailor¨Cmade Azure suit, stood before Noe, reporting on recent work. ¡°Boss, Yvonne got snatched by Thorpe, and might even skip the country. Should we tip off the Schnabels?¡± ¡°Nah.¡± The Schnabels, with their sharp senses, would catch on to Yvonne¡¯s situation soon enough. Dropping them a hint at the right time was all that was needed. ¡°We almost had Thorpe¡¯s location pinned, then those Abyssal Organization goons beat us to the punch! They even said you should go ask their big boss directly. That Abyssal Organization is ying dirty, I swear. Boss, you better not go!¡± Noe deadpanned, ¡°I¡¯ve got dinner ns with Abyssal¡¯s head honcho tonight.¡± Alkaid was floored! He turned and clung to Ivan behind him, the two weeping in each other¡¯s arms, bawling their eyes out. ¡°Our boss is too noble, already got a fianc¨¦ and still sacrificing her charm for the sake of the organization. Boss, what if Abyssal¡¯s leader is a pervert, what then?¡± Ivan smacked him on the head, correcting. ¡°Are you daft? If it¡¯s a pervert, it¡¯s perfect bait for the boss. With those killer looks, what can¡¯t the boss do? Boss, you can¡¯t tell your clueless fianc¨¦. I heard he just splurged on newb equipment!¡± ¡°Could it be, boss, you¡¯re actually keeping the Pock CEO as a backup? Oh man, this is too thrilling! Who are we gonna end up marrying off to?¡± Noe was at her wit¡¯s end sometimes dealing with these quirky geniuses. ¡°Add two more sets to tonight¡¯s experiments. No sleep until they¡¯re done.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. The two cried even harder. What kind of heartless boss was this! ¡°Vincent¡¯s been calling non¨Cstop. I haven¡¯t picked up, even blocked him.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t bother.¡± Now that the Lambert family had publicly disowned her and decided to move old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s grave, with the Lambert ancestral home transferred, she had nothing to do with the Lambert family anymore! Outside the office, Briony was all dolled up and jittery. She finally managed to get the East Sea Culture Company boss¡¯s number from Vincent¡¯s contacts, convinced that if the East Sea boss took a shine to her, she could still make her debut! Briony was super confident in her looks, but the security guard at the door wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°Please, let me in. I really need to see Mr. Alkaid. I¡¯m begging you.¡± 12:46 The guard remained stonyced at the entrance. ¡°You can call Mr. Alkaid directly. If he says okay, then you cane in.¡± Briony was nearly at her wits¡® end! Did she not want to call Mr. Alkaid? The problem was he . didn¡¯t even pick up unknown calls, straight up blocked her! ¡°I¡¯m here for a job interview. I promise I¡¯ll be a hit if I join yourpany.¡± The guard almostughed, giving Briony the once¨Cover. ¡°Lady, what we don¡¯tck here are pretty faces and confidence. Your looks don¡¯t cut it at ourpany!¡± He pointed to the rolling ads on the big screen by the door. ¡°See, you gotta at least be a stunner like Miss Noe to turn heads!¡± The Schnabel family had bought out all the mall screens to celebrate Noe¡¯s birthday, and even the former Pris Star Lab was stered with birthday posters of her. Seeing their boss¡¯s face at work, everyone felt an extra kick of motivation for the day! When Noe walked in, she was pretty speechless. But Alkaid was like, ¡°Who cares, as long as it¡¯s not hanging at the entrance of the Lunar Lab, we¡¯re all good.¡± If Noe hadn¡¯t put her foot down, they would¡¯ve stered her poster on thetest satellite and sent their boss on a cosmic joyride¡­. Briony couldn¡¯t believe she was getting shown up by Noe¡¯s face at East Sea Culture Company of all ces! Grinding her teeth, she muttered resentfully, ¡°She¡¯s had work done! She didn¡¯t look anything like this before.¡± The office door swung open, revealing a pair of shapely, long legs with delicate high heels clicking on the floor like a princess waltzing into the room. The girl had a face that was both alluring and refined, with eyes like tranquil pools, cool and boundless yet brimming with emotion. Her presence was so ethereal it felt almost sacrilegious to disturb her. Catching sight of that face, Briony quickly covered her mouth. She hadn¡¯t been overheard, had she? But what if she had? It wasn¡¯t like Briony hadn¡¯t crossed Noe before without any repercussions! Alkaid stood respectfully behind Noe. ¡°Be careful, Miss Noe. I¡¯ll walk you to the entrance.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± When Briony saw Alkald, she was thrilled and wanted to rush over to chat him up, hoping he¡¯d take her under his wing andunch her career. The security guards were caught off guard by her sudden outburst ¨C Alkaid had a serious case of germophobia, and he¡¯d probably want to hurl if she touched him! ¡°Miss, please mind your behavior!¡± Briony stomped her foot in frustration, blocked by those clueless guards! This was her only shot! She couldn¡¯t just watch Noe and Alkaid leave, so in desperation, she blurted out, ¡°Noe! Can¡¯t you just help me out?¡± Noe didn¡¯t miss a step, her heels clicking crisply on the marble floor. Ivan turned around with a displeased look at the guards. ¡°Step up the security around here. Don¡¯t let any trash get near Miss Noe!¡± The guards were so done with Briony! ¡°Got it, we¡¯re on It! Miss, please leave immediately!¡± Briony was still in a daze. Wasn¡¯t that Ivan, the boss of West Ocean Media? Why were they calling Noe ¡®Miss¡®? And with such deference, could it be that both East Sea and West Ocean were actually part of the Schnabel family¡¯s empire, and as Beckett¡¯s kept woman, Noe had the privilege to be there? The more Briony thought about it, the more it seemed usible! ¡°What a shameless woman, degrading herself, selling her body. I never imagined Noe could be so dirty, totally unworthy of being the Lambert family¡¯s daughter!¡± Watching Noe being escorted by Alkaid and Ivan into another luxury car, Briony was sour and bitter, wishing she was the one in that car. After all, she¡¯d sneaked out behind Vincent¡¯s back, and now she¡¯d have to grab a cab or even bike home on a shared ride. CHapter 60 CHapter 60 Alkaid and Ivan were only so eager to see Noe off because they wanted to get a gander at what the big cheese of the Abyssal Organization looked like! But they got just a glimpse of the hoity¨Ctolty Palmer sitting in the car. When Palmer gave them the eye. Alkald and Ivan felt like they were under attack by that sharp hawk¨Clike stare, full of scrutiny and wariness, as he watched them holding Noe¡¯s hand. Holy moly, the CEO of the Pock Group was seriously intimidating! Calis Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Alkaid whispered, ¡°What do you reckon, could the Pock Group¡¯s CEO be that Vocalist from the Abyssal Organization?¡± ¡°Do you even have to ask? With the way he was looking at us, he was practically shooting daggers.¡± ¡°Dude, I thought Noe was ying the field! The Pock Group with all their riches, probably offing people for fun when they¡¯re bored, huh? Gee, I didn¡¯t expect that our gang would be getting hitched with the Abyssal Organization even now!¡± Ivan rolled his eyes. ¡°Our boss ain¡¯t any better. What if she tricked or snatched that Vocalist, huh?¡± ¡°You might be onto something.¡± The two exchanged nces, watching the Porsche Cayenne¡¯s exhaust fumes fade into the distance, lost for words. Inside thetest model Cayenne, Palmer handed Noe a cup of water, and gently touched her hands. Thank goodness, not too cold. She hasn¡¯t frozen. Noe felt weird and thought, ¡°I¡¯m not a toddler; how would I let myself get cold?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been days, but only now did I realize that I could actually miss someone this much,¡± said Palmer. Annie, sitting in the passenger seat, was shivering with goosebumps! The old Mr. Pock, Sexton Pock, was worried Palmer didn¡¯t know how to romance, but with that smooth talk, it was more like worrying whether Noe could handle it! Palmer watched Noe sipping water with a smile growing deeper. Noe capped the cup and nced at Palmer with a coquettish look, murmuring, ¡°You always this straightforward?¡± really. I used to hate showing emotions as a kid. So after my mom passed away, I¡¯ve been full of regret. If I¡¯d expressed my feelings more when she was alive, she¡¯d have known how 12:46 much I loved her.¡± There was a faint mncholy in Palmer¡¯s voice, a hint of sorrow in his handsome and stern features, his smile turning bittersweet. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± ¡°No worries, everything I say to youes straight from the heart. If you don¡¯t like it. I¡¯ll learn to change. Just give me some time.¡± His voice was deep and maic, enough to make anyone¡¯s ears tingle. Annie shuddered, thinking how on earth was Miss Noe going to turn down her boss now! Sure enough. Noe simply stated, ¡°No need to change.¡± Palmer¡¯s face lit up with joy and asked, ¡°So, do you like hearing me talk like this?¡± How had Noe never noticed him being such a brown¨Cnoser before? Annie silently pulled out earplugs from her bag and put them on with practiced ease. maintaining the professionalism expected of a top¨Clevel assistant. ¡°What do you fancy eating? Got any ns for tonight?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°Anything¡¯s fine.¡± Beckett knew she was going out for dinner with Palmer, and the Schnabel family wouldn¡¯t wait for her. Tristan and Sienna were probably thrilled to have Noe and Palmer stick together all day, under the guise of fostering a rtionship. ¡°Then let¡¯s grab dinner first, and afterwards, I want to take you somewhere.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when we get there. Let¡¯s keep some mystery, shall we? Heard you went to MediCore University today with your brother. Thinking of studying there?¡± Noe wasn¡¯t surprised that Palmer knew her whereabouts; she had turned a blind eye to the Pock Group personnel lurking around corners. ¡°Don¡¯t you want me to?¡± Palmer held her hand, warming it in his, a feeling that always brought himfort, as if all the fatigue and the sickening backstabbing just washed away. ¡°It¡¯s not what I mean. Medical studies are tough, and you¡¯d be in theb most of the time. I¡¯d think you¡¯d prefer to keep some time for yourself, for other things.¡± Noe certainly wouldn¡¯t just abandon her own organization. To have time for taking on jobs, she couldn¡¯t schedule all her time at school. In the past, her time was divided between old Mrs. Lambert and missions; now, she had to share it with the Schnabel family and Palmer. For the first time, Noe felt like there weren¡¯t enough hours in the day! ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Palmer smiled, his handsome face glowing, almost dazzling. If Noe studied medicine, she¡¯d hardly have time for him, and that would mean less time together ¨C no way that could happen! Besides, with Noe¡¯s talent, she didn¡¯t need to waste time at university. ¡°Your grandpa Sexton¡¯s medicine is all arranged; it¡¯ll be delivered tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thanks! I¡¯lle to pick you up.¡± On the bund in Imperial City, the rippling river reflected the ptial restaurant on the roadside. where the piano music inside was melodious and lingering. Palmer pulled out a chair for Noe, a perfect gentleman, and only sat down opposite her after making sure she wasfortably seated. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with Yvonne?¡± ¡°Simple. She was tempted by the amount of money Thorpe offered, so she took a job under Lunaris¡® name, and got taken away by Thorpe. She should be at the port by now.¡± Noe frowned slightly. Yvonne was, after all, still with the Schnabel family. If she was indeed taken out of the country by Thorpe, it would bring some trouble to the family. Palmer poured her a ss of wine, his affectionate gaze on her face, always feeling at peace whenever he saw her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he ain¡¯t going anywhere. Grandpa Marcel¡¯s got a special status. If anyone from the Schnabel family tries to make a run for the border, it¡¯ll definitely set off rm bells.¡± ¡°You got people set up at the port?¡± Palmer swirled the liquid in his ss, chuckling with a knowing smirk. ¡°Didn¡¯t you take care of it too? Great minds think alike, eh? You and I are really in sync.¡± Noe was at a loss for words. Maybe they did have a kind of unspoken understanding. Ever since their organizations began eyeing the same hit jobs, there¡¯s been no shortage of tussles and sneaky power ys. No wonder Alkaid and Ivan were so curious about him! ¡°When do we make our move then?¡± Palmerid out the nicely cut steak in front of Noe and said with poise and elegance, ¡°No rush. Gotta at least let you have your fill first. This restaurant¡¯s steak is on point. Wanna try?¡± ¡°It is good.¡± After the meal, Palmer took Noe¡¯s hand and led her straight to the beach, boarding a yacht 12:46 with her. The yacht was alight, hosting a low¨Ckey dinner party. Palmer¡¯s arrival drew plenty of stares, but even more eyes were fixed on Noe, the woman he was holding hands with! Under the lights, Noe¡¯s demeanor was cool and detached, like a queen looking down on her subjects, exuding an otherworldly and stunning elegance. ¡°That must be Noe, right? She¡¯s gorgeous, a perfect match for Mr. Pock.¡± ¡°The young miss is even more beautiful in person than on live TV!¡± Palmer extended his hand, signaling Noe to take his arm, showing impable manners even though she hadn¡¯t been prepped to attend the dinner. ¡°Are we joining the party?¡± ¡°No, just passing through. This yacht will pass by the port where Thorpe is nning his escape.¡± Palmer caught Noe¡¯s slender waist and slowly stepped into the dance floor to the rhythm of a waltz, the chandelier¡¯s light rippling down, the open sea stretching out endlessly. Leaning close to Noe¡¯s ear, Palmer¡¯s voice dropped to a low, maic whisper that tickled her senses. ¡°By the way, I just wanted to spend some more time with my fianc¨¦e. I¡¯ve been missing you these past few days. Have you thought about me at all?¡± CHapter 61 CHapter 61 Noe mmed up, looking a tad awkward! She had been up to her eyeballs these days with the whole former Pris Star mission and whipping up remedies for Grandpa Sexton. She really hadn¡¯t had a sec to think about Palmer, Plus, he was a grown man for crying out loud. Did he really need her fussing over him? Palmer caught the vibe from her face and knew what was up. He let out a chuckle, low and husky from his chest, that kind ofugh that tickles your ears and you just can¡¯t help but itch. ¡°Ah, forget it, you heartless little thing. Just don¡¯t forget to miss me, okay?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Palmer grinned, satisfied, swaying with her in the dance hall. The cruise ship¡¯s party was lit up like a Christmas tree, swarming with who¡¯s who from all over, yet they all stepped aside to give Palmer and Noe the center stage to dance! Off to the side of the cruise, a young woman in a sharp suit was helping an old man with snow¨C white hair to his seat, super careful¨Clike. ¡°Take it easy. Mr. Horwich, I¡¯ll go grab you some grub.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m good just sitting here.¡± This old¨Ctimer was none other than Merrick Horwich, a literary legend with a rep that crossed borders, bagging every top lit award you could think of. His name weighed a ton in the literary world. ¡°Who¡¯s that dancing? Looks familiar, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°No clue, but if you¡¯re keen. I¡¯ll go snoop around.¡± Merrick shook his head, but his eyes were glued to Noe who was dancing, her green dress fluttering like a sprite, every move a piece of art, a downright masterpiece! The more Merrick watched, the more pumped he got. He ordered his Secretary, ¡°Invite her here. would you? I wanna know if this youngdy would be up for being the muse for my new book!¡± ¡°You got it. Mr. Horwich.¡± Merrick couldn¡¯t get enough. Seeing Noe seemed to pump him full of life and youth, like a st from the past, breaking through his writer¡¯s block in a snap! ¡°Miss, Mr. Horwich would like a word. Got a moment?¡± Noe, a bit taken aback, looked over at Merrick bathing in the moonlight by the window. Merrick Horwich, headliner of Harmonia Country Literature Newspaper every week? That¡¯s her grandad! Sienna¡¯s folks had bolted abroad for some health R&R, so they missed her birthday bash! 12:46 Palmer spotted Merrick too and, hand in hand with Noe, made his way over. ¡°Grandpa Merrick, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°The Pock kid? Hold up, ain¡¯t you engaged to my granddaughter? What¡¯s this, dragging another girl around? Listen here, don¡¯t think you can push my granddaughter around just ¡®cause you¡¯ve got the big bucks! I¡¯ll take you down a peg or two! Out with it, what¡¯s your deal. with this pretty young lady? I saw you, hand in hand, even had your arms around her!¡± Back in the day. Merrick did a stint as a war correspondent, so you bet he¡¯s got a bit of a short fuse. The fact that he¡¯s even talking is him holding back. Noe sweetly said, ¡°Grandpa, how are you?¡± Merrick was shocked. Hold the phone! What did this little rascal just call him? Grandpa? ¡°You¡¯re Noe? You looked just like your mom back in the day! Good thing you didn¡¯t take after your dad, or it¡¯d be game over. Your brothers, especially Stirling, are as unfortunate¨Clooking as your father. Noe was like, even though Stirling¡¯s got the spitting image of Tristan, his face is the talk of Tinseltown for all the right reasons! ¡°Come, sit with Grandpa. Oran, grab Noe something to munch on. The Pock kid can stand; he¡¯s probably no good, just like his granddad!¡± The secretary Oran tried to keep a straight face, apologizing to Palmer, signaling him not to get. worked up over Merrick¡¯s temper. ¡°What would you like, miss? I¡¯ll get it right away.¡± ¡°Anything¡¯s fine. I already ate.¡± Merrick, holding onto Noe¡¯s hand, was all smiles, his wrinkles nearly vanishing. ¡°Noe, who picked such a nice name for you? Just by hearing it, I know you¡¯re a Schnabel kid!¡± ¡°It was my step¨Cgrandma.¡± Merrick, looking at Palmer standing by the table, frowned and waved him over. ¡°Sit down, why don¡¯t you? Standing there like a sore thumb. Is that how Sexton teaches his grandkid?¡± ¡°Sure, thank you, Grandpa Merrick.¡± Palmer knew Merrick¡¯s temper was a match for his own grandpa¡¯s, and with his engagement to Noe, Merrick¡¯s cold shoulder was no surprise. Calling him Grandpa smoothed things over a bit; Merrick¡¯s face unwrinkled, clearly pleased. This kid¡¯s got smarts, and if Merrick ever found out Palmer was messing around and doing Noe dirty, he¡¯d break his legs without a second thought! ¡°Noe, what brings you here?¡± ¡°He did.¡± Palmer chimed in, ¡°Grandpa Merrick, the view¡¯s not half bad on the high seas. Thought I¡¯d take Noe out for some fresh air, plus let the world get a glimpse of the future Mrs. Pock.¡± Merrick gave Palmer an approving nod with a hmph through his nose. ¡°Smart move, kid! Noe, I just got back. I¡¯m sorry that I missed your birthday party. Don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. You¡¯re looking well, Grandpa. Still getting headaches?¡± Merrick¡¯s gaze softened even more as he looked at Noe, chuckling, ¡°Your mom told you? I¡¯m much better. Your grandma¡¯s been buried in some big experimenttely, total lockdown, I can¡¯t even see her! She doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re back; she¡¯d be thrilled to hear it!¡± Merrick was itching to tell his wife about bumping into Noe. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe it. Last time I saw your grandma, it was ra who dragged me in there! What¡¯s it gonna be, spending a lifetime with me or with herb?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Though Merrick grumbled, his eyes couldn¡¯t hide his longing. Palmer whipped out his phone and shot off a few texts, and in no time, got a thumbs¨Cup response. He looked up, his face breaking into a gentle smile. ¡°Grandpa Merrick, it¡¯s all set! Granny will be heading home this weekend.¡± ¡°Really? Oh man, you Pock family kiddo, you finally did something right! Noe, sweetie. make sure you head back with ra this weekend. Your granny¡¯s been missing you like crazy! I just hope it doesn¡¯t throw a wrench in the olddy¡¯s experiments!¡± Noe nodded obediently. ¡°ra actually headed back to Emerald County yesterday. She¡¯s got some presents for you and Granny. I¡¯ll bring them over this weekend.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, you guys are such thoughtful kids.¡± ra grew up under the care of the Merrick couple, so they had a particrly deep affection for her. Seeing how well ra and Noe got along put their minds at ease! ¡°Although I gotta say, it makes me feel a bit red¨Cfaced, Noe, but ra¡¯s innocent in all this. We once thought she wasn¡¯t your biological parents¡® child, so we took her for a paternity test. And would you believe it, the results back then confirmed they were rted! It¡¯s been a confusing mess for years, and that¡¯s why it took so long for you toe back.¡± Merrick was somewhat wistful as he recounted the past. ¡°Why was there a doubt? And why did the results show a biological rtionship?¡± Merrick matter¨Cof¨Cfactly replied, ¡°Well, she was just too darn smart. They say daughters take after their dads, and I just couldn¡¯t see your dad¡¯s IQ producing such a bright spark, so we went 12:46 for the test! No offense, Noe, you take after your mom, so your smarts are a given!¡± Noe just sat there, speechless. ¡°Not to throw shade on you, Noe¨Cyou¡¯re smart as a whip. Just like your mom! As for why the test showed a biological rtionship back then¡­¡± CHapter 62 CHapter 62 Merrick let out a long sigh, sinking into his memories. Noe didn¡¯t rush him, cing the warm milk brought by the secretary next to him. Merrick wasn¡¯t in the best shape, probably had chronic sleep issues, and a little warm milk could help him rest easier. ¡°This whole thing just ticks me off. If it hadn¡¯t been for that doctor screwing up the paternity test back then, we wouldn¡¯t have only had youing back just now! We had it all figured out. ra was such a sweet kid, and your grandma and I couldn¡¯t bear to let her go. If she wasn¡¯t our flesh and blood and we couldn¡¯t find her folks, we were ready to adopt her. Heck, we would¡¯ve just had her take the Horwich surname!¡± Merrick took a sip of the warm milk and continued, ¡°But then the test results came back a perfect match, so we breathed a sigh of relief. Fast forward, ra¡¯s research got some recognition, and with some internal hups in the organization, they insisted on proving her parents were really hers.¡± Merrick started cursing up a storm at this point. ¡°Turns out after redoing the paternity test. she¡¯s not a Schnabel kid at all!¡± ¡°How could the results have matched back then?¡± asked Noe. Merrick was fuming just thinking about it. ¡°Guess what? That doctor saw the mismatch, thought for sure we¡¯d abandon ra. He figured the kid was innocent and needed a home, so he went ahead and fudged the results! Talk about a bonehead move!¡± Noe was just speechless. She¡¯d thought of many scenarios but never guessed it was such a mix¨C up. But how did they end up swapped in the first ce? They¡¯d probably have to track down the head of Heartfelt Orphanage to get that story! ¡°If not for that mess, ra might¡¯ve found her real parents by now, and you wouldn¡¯t have had to rough it out there.¡± Merrick said, tears welling up in his eyes, patting Noe¡¯s hand, filled with regret. ¡°Grandpa, the grandma who adopted me treated me well, and ra had a good life in the Schnabel family.¡± Palmer listened quietly to the grandfather¨Cgranddaughter talk, only speaking up after the old man turned away to wipe his tears. ¡°If ra needs help finding her family, Noe, make sure to let me know. The Pock Group has got some solid connections.¡± Merrick snorted, ¡°Why ask? If you really cared, you¡¯d have done something yourself! You trying to make Noe owe you one? Typical Pock, all high and mighty, no ss.¡± Noe just rolled her eyes. ¡°Yes, got it! But you know, our family¡¯s way of doing things isn¡¯t half bad. If you are curious, you can chat with my granddad. He¡¯d be more than weing.¡± 12:48 ¡°Forget it, why would I want to see him? At this point, I¡¯m half in the grave; I¡¯m not looking to pick a fight!¡± Just thinking about Sexton¡¯s face made Merrick ufortable. Seeing him, you just knew he was up to no good! Merrick got up with help from his secretary. ¡°Noe, remember toe home this weekend. I¡¯ve got a favor to ask. I¡¯m beat, gonna head up and hit the hay.¡± ¡°Sure, got it.¡± Merrick, getting on in years, was already worn out after a short chat. After greeting a few acquaintances at the party, he retired to rest. The yacht docked, and Palmer escorted Noe away, striding up to the Rolls Royce parked at the pier and sliding into the car. The night was deep; apart from the brightly lit yacht, the rest of the open sea was tranquil. Not far off, a cab was surrounded by a crowd. Yvonne was being held hostage by Thorpe, obviously taken as his bargaining chip. Jasper watched Thorpe with a cold smirk, his expression predatory, like a hawk eyeing the hunter in the dark! ¡°Mr. Thorpe, I¡¯d advise you to let her go now. If you think you can walk out of Harmonia Country with a Schnabel, you¡¯re signing your own death warrant!¡± Thorpe squinted, eyeing Jasper on the dock. ¡°Even you couldn¡¯t touch me in international court. You think you can stop me from taking someone?¡± Seeing how protective the Schnabels were of Yvonne, Thorpe was almost certain this woman had to be the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris he was after! He¡¯d risked it alling to Harmonial Country for the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, and now that he¡¯d found her, no way was he letting her slip away! Jasper was irked. He had a chance to hang with Noe tonight, maybe hit the shops and grab a bite, but no, he had to deal with this mess. Yvonne just couldn¡¯t do anything right! ¡°Mr. Thorpe, don¡¯t underestimate the Schnabels. Leave her be, or don¡¯t me me for not ying nice!¡± Yvonne¡¯s mouth was gagged with a foul rag, tears streaming down her face. Jasper really blew it this time; she had a chance to follow this guy and make some cash. They must¡¯ve caught wind of his billion¨Cdor contract and wanted to hog the loot for themselves! Yvonne thrashed about, trying to say something, but no one cared what she wanted. Thorpe found her too annoying and knocked her out cold over his shoulder. Jasper chuckled, casually undoing his floral shirt¡¯s buttons and slipped off his suit jacket. This outfit was picked out by Noe; he¡¯d hate to get it dirty! Palmer nced at Noe, furrowed his brow, and said, ¡°Looks like Bro Jasper¡¯s about to throw down.¡± Noe just sighed. ¡°Jasper¡¯s probably younger than you.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. He¡¯s my fianc¨¦e¡¯s brother. That makes him my brother as well.¡± At the end of the day, it was just a title. If it made her happy, then it was a good deal! Noe knew this guy yed by his own rules, and she couldn¡¯t be bothered to intervene. ¡°Whatever. We can¡¯t let Jasper and Thorpee to blows. He probably can¡¯t take Thorpe anyway.¡± Thorpe ranked third on the deep web¡¯s hitman list, so Jasper didn¡¯t stand a chance against him. Noe couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch Jasper get into trouble right before her eyes. And Yvonne? No way she was getting nabbed that easily. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Whipping out her trusty miniptop, Noe used her hairpin to pop the lock, and with abo of fingerprint and iris scan, booted up the system. [Single¨Cuse healing privilege auction. Time¡¯s ticking¨C10 minutes only. Phantom Surgeon Lunaris.] The message sent shock waves through the deep web, and Thorpe¡¯s phone started blowing up too. He seemed to be on the fence about something. ¡°Boss, Lunaris just threw up an auction on the deep web, so the one we nabbed is gotta be a decoy. How about we just chuck her into the sea?¡± ¡°We¡¯re talking ten minutes here, and the price has already hit 20 mil. Move it, boss, or you¡¯ll miss out!¡± Thorpe nced at the crowd around him, gritted his teeth, and dumped the unconscious Yvonne into the sea before hailing a cab and making a getaway! Jasper, looking at the pitch¨Cck sea, waved his hand impatiently. He was itching to get back. and hang with Noe! As for Thorpe¡¯s sudden change of heart? Jasper couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°Fish her out and get her to a hospital. I wanna know what the heck went down.¡± ¡®Got it.¡± Jasper¡¯s crew quickly rescued Yvonne, and the convoy vanished from the harbor. 19-410 m Two groups lurking in the shadows quietly slipped away too. Noe¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Boss, your auction went for a cool 300 million to Vocalist!¡± ¡°Boss, ain¡¯t you and that dude dining out tonight? What¡¯s with this high¨Croller romance? Dishing out 300 million like it¡¯s nothing and getting the whole deep web to y along¨Care we just a part of your game?¡± Noe was speechless. Looks like she needed to set aside some time to straighten out the team discipline. Lest these chatterboxes start airing the dirtyundry! CHapter 63 CHapter 63 The person on the other end of the phone had no idea that their little bit of trash talking had caused the workload for the entire organization to skyrocket overnight. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re so ruthless, even scamming your own nc¨¦. Back when you werepeting for missions, was that also a kind of date for you guys?¡± Noe interrupted them, ¡°Beat it. I want to see thetest data on Reagent Number Three by tomorrow morning.¡± A shrill scream echoed through the phone! ¡°Boss, just ¡®cause we interrupted your little date, you¡¯re gonna make us stay up all night? That¡¯s cold!¡± Fearing the workload might increase even further, Alioth quickly hung up and blocked his boss¡¯s number. Palmer¡¯s smile widened, and a muffled grunt escaped his chest, oozing sex appeal. ¡°So you like this kind of date, huh? Then Abyssal Organization will have to coborate with Obelisk Organization more often, to give us more opportunities for ¡®dates.¡°¡± Noe was like, is this what they call dating? Noe gave him a puzzled look and asked lightly. ¡°Why did you take the order?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that magnanimous. I don¡¯t want my fianc¨¦e treating other men.¡± ¡°Your grandfather is also a man.¡± Palmer struggled for a response. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he count? Next time I¡¯ll have to tell Grandpa Sexton you said he¡¯s not a man.¡± Palmer¡¯s smile was choked out, and his handsome face showed a rare look of embarrassment. the corners of his eyes tinged with a blush, making his good looks even more strikingly beautiful. Noe¡¯s lips curled into a triumphant smile! Palmer was just petty. She was a doctor; since when did she discriminate by gender? He was just looking for trouble! ¡°How¡¯d you know Thorpe was treating a man?¡± asked Noe. Palmer reached for his gold¨Crimmed sses and handed them to Noe. ¡°Help me clean them, will you? I can¡¯t see the road.¡± ¡°Need to clean non¨Cprescription sses? I think you see better without them.¡± ¡°They¡¯re special sses.¡± Noe took a look and angled the lenses to catch the light, revealing a thin data screen, a mini surveince device! This device was once sold on the ck market for a high price by Pris Star, and she didn¡¯t expect Palmer to have bought it. All the data from Pris Star came from her, and seeing this monitor, Noe understood what Palmer meant. ¡°You¡¯ve put surveince on Thorpe?¡± I ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same with you? Like I said, we are always in sync.¡± After a moment of silence, Noe carefully wiped the lenses clean with her handkerchief and handed them back to Palmer. ¡°My people aren¡¯t there to watch Thorpe; they¡¯re looking for the director of Heartfelt Orphanage.¡± Thorpe had taken the director of Heartfelt Orphanage, and Pris Star¡¯s people were on their trail. Palmer enjoyed watching her seriously cleaning his sses, the night¡¯s shadows casting down on her as she slightly bowed her head, her eyshes shielding her starry eyes, giving him more time to admire her. Thinking of how calm and graceful she looked while cleaning his sses made his heart soften. feeling warmth he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time! That was Noe¡¯s magic, always making him want to be near her. He put on his sses and steered the car back towards the city. ¡°My guys have gotten close to Thorpe. The one arrested with Toxic Monarch is Thorpe¡¯s brother, and he has another brother who¡¯s terminally ill. That¡¯s the real reason he¡¯s been frantically looking for Phantom Surgeon. Lunaris.¡± ¡°Mhm, he got close to Toxic Monarch, supposedly to make money in Harmonia Country, but really to get his hands on Toxic Monarch¡¯s Mirage Grass. I¡¯ve analyzed theponents of Mirage Grass, and it indeed acts as a catalyst for certain cancers.¡± ¡°So, he won¡¯t give up easily. You need to be careful these next few days.¡± Noe nodded. She always had a team with her; Thorpe¡¯s people wouldn¡¯t find it easy to approach her. ¡°Let me take you around for a while then. I won¡¯t be at ease otherwise.¡± Noe didn¡¯t respond. Lately, she was either apanying her three brothers in turns or video calling Stirling, who was filming outside, and ra, who was busy with experiments. Whenever she had time, she¡¯d y chess with the old guys at Imperial West Hospital. Why would she need him to chauffeur her? ¡°You haven¡¯t even got your driver¡¯s license, so how about I be your personal driver, huh?¡± Palmer probed further. Noe nced at him indifferently and said, ¡°If you¡¯re into driving that much, why not sign up as an Uber driver and make some money on the side?¡± ¡°So are you already nning for me? You are so considerate! Don¡¯t worry, I have a decent earning ability, so I won¡¯t let you go hungry in the future. The Lunaris order I just took can be considered as your consultation fee. If my grandpa needs money for medicine,e to me, got it? If you ever run into danger, remember to find me, okay?¡± Would there be time to find him if real danger struck? Palmer pulled the car into a side street and stopped under a dim streetmp. Suddenly, he leaned forward, propping his hand by Noe¡¯s side of the car window, his presence looming as he gazed at her intensely. ¡°Noe, I know you¡¯ve always been independent and capable; You are not like the average girl. But now you have a family. If you can, I hope you¡¯ll trust me; I can provide whatever the Schnabel family can give you, and what they can¡¯t.¡± His voice carried a deep, seductive charm, like a siren singing softly on the shores. ¡°For instance, I can offer you my embrace and my back.¡± Noe¡¯s eyes widened slightly, her longshes trembling. They were both assassins; they knew a person¡¯s back was only left for their most trusted partner in life and death. ¡°So, give it a shot ¨C trust me, lean on me, and hey, maybe let yourself miss me a smidge. When you need a lift, I¡¯ll be there to scoop you up, okay?¡± His voice carried a hint of hurt, like he was halfining, half begging, and it totally turned Noe into a softie. ¡°Mhm, got it.¡± Palmer smiled and gently patted her head, his palm slightly damp with a nervous warmth only he knew about. Standing so close to Noe just then had him on pins and needles. If he wasn¡¯t so worried about spooking his littledy, he might¡¯ve even gone a bit overboard. But not yet. she¡¯s still too young, she¡¯d freak out. Palmer didn¡¯t skimp on the praise, ¡°Such a good girl.¡± Imperial West Hospital In Ashlyn¡¯s hospital room, Sienna shifted her feet, which had been rooted to the spot for a solid two hours, as she watched Ashlyn dozing off. Bright and early, she got summoned without a peep, just to stand there like a statue! Whenever Ashlyn was feeling off, Sienna got the brunt of it. She was pretty much used to it by now. ¡°Sienna, when did you get here? Did I ask for you?¡± Sienna was puzzled. What new scheme had Ashlyn cooked up to mess with her this time? ¡°Ashlyn, you called me bright and early wanting some homemade chicken soup and told me to bring it to you.¡± The soup was right next to Ashlyn, wafting its tempting scent, enough to make anyone¡¯s mouth Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. water. Ashlyn looked baffled, havingpletely forgotten she had summoned Sienna over. ¡°Oh, hand it over.¡± Sienna took the soup, ready to feed Ashlyn, but Ashlyn¡¯s hand shot out, knocking the bowl from Sienna¡¯s grip, and it crashed to the floor! ¡°Get out! You¡¯re trying to poison me! There¡¯s poison in the food. I¡¯m calling the cops!¡± CHapter 64 CHapter 64 The soup had been kept in the thermos for two hours and was still piping hot when it sshed onto Sienna¡¯s wrist, turning arge patch of her fair skin bright red. Instead of feeling like she¡¯d done something wrong. Ashlyn let out a weird, low chuckle at the sight. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for trying to mess with me, you witch! Scram! Get out of here, now!¡± Tears welled up in Sienna¡¯s eyes as she fought through the pain and left the hospital room, only to bump into Noe who had juste from Marcel¡¯s room. Noe had heard Sienna was with Ashlyn and, worried that Ashlyn might give Sienna a hard time, hurried over after giving the meds to the two old gents. ¡°Mom, what happened to you?¡± Seeing the burns on Sienna¡¯s wrist, Noe quickly led her to the washroom to rinse it with cool water and then applied some homemade ointment she¡¯d made. Sienna had held back her tears until then, but seeing her daughter take such good care of her made her heartache. ¡°Noe, do you think your grandma is out of her mind? She calls me over only to give me a hard time! She rang me up at 5:30 am to bring her chicken soup. I stood in that room for three hours. and then she used me of poisoning her!¡± Noe carefully spread the ointment over Sienna¡¯s burn. She had developed the ointment. herself, and thankfully, after a few hours, the soup wasn¡¯t as scalding as it would have been straight off the stove. This kind of burn would heal in a week. * Breathing a sigh of relief, Noe then took Sienna to Marcel¡¯s room. Marcel knew what had happened the moment he saw them. ¡°Sienna, what¡¯s this about? That old hag¡¯s been bullying you again?¡± the ¡°Marcel, you have to stand up for me! All these years, what have I ever done to displease the two of you since I married into the Schnabel family? We¡¯re not some nobodies; our Horwich family has its own standing!¡± Sienna sobbed before continuing, ¡°Why does she always have to make things difficult for me? Isn¡¯t that just throwing her weight around? Does she want Tristan. to marry her niece from her side of the family? If that¡¯s the case, just tell me, and Tristan and I can get divorced!¡± Marcel¡¯s expression turned awkward. Back in the day, Ashlyn had a thousand and one grievances against Sienna. She had been hell¨C bent on marrying her niece to Tristan. The Schnabels were an educated family, and how could they engage in such backward and corrupt practices like cousin marriage? Plus, Tristan was head over heels for the gentle and beautiful Sienna the moment he saw her, 12:48 hanging around the Horwich household day in, and day out. Seeing that the Horwich family was also respectable and Sienna clearly a good daughter¨Cinw, Marcel agreed to the marriage. Ashlyn had always felt that Sienna snatched away a good match from her niece, preventing them from strengthening family ties. Over the years, she didn¡¯t miss a chance to make life difficult for Sienna. Marcel, busy with work, only had time to scold Ashlyn now and then, but she still thought Sienna was tattling and even used Sienna of eyeing Marcel, her father¨Cinw, wanting to step into her shoes as Tristan¡¯s stepmother. After back¨Cand¨Cforth squabbles, Sienna was too embarrassed to make a fuss, and Marcel found it humiliating. Tristan, having heard some news, slid into the room and immediately crouched down to hug Sienna¡¯s legs, bawling his eyes out. ¡°My love! You can¡¯t divorce me! You¡¯re the one and only for me! You can¡¯t leave me¨Cahhhh! If you divorce me, I¡¯ll jump out of Dad¡¯s hospital window right here, right now, and end it all!¡± Noe and Marcel was dumbfounded by Tristan¡¯s words. Tristan waspletely oblivious to his own father and daughter being present; all he knew was that if he was toote, his wife would be gone! ¡°Baby! You¡¯re my one and only, my sweetheart, my life, my everything!¡± ¡°Bur your mom always bullies me; I have to divorce you!¡± Looking at Sienna¡¯s reddened wrist, Tristan got anxious. He turned to Marcel and stuttered. ¡°Dad, maybe you should divorce Mom, then Sienna won¡¯t technically be her daughter¨Cinw, right? You can¡¯t let me lose my wife! Anyway, you don¡¯t need a wife anymore, so maybe just divorce her?¡± Marcel swung his cane down in frustration, cursing under his breath, ¡°Get lost, you little brat! Even if your mom and I divorced, you¡¯d still be her son, and Sienna would still be her daughter¨Cinw!¡± What kind of son schemes to use his own father in his ns? Sienna managed to extract her legs from Tristan¡¯s grip, sobbing. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my parents¡® house! Now!¡± Tristan hurriedly followed, still calling after his ¡°precious sweetie¡°. Marcel, feeling embarrassed, waved it off. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with them; your parents have always been like this. Every time your mom argues with your grandma, she heads back to her parents¡® ce. I heard your grandparents are back in town recently. Have you seen them?¡± Noe nodded obediently. ¡°I saw Grandpa Merrick, and Grandma will be home this weekend.¡± Marcel sighed deeply. ¡°When you head back, take something for Merrick from me as an apology. Your mom has had it tough all these years. If it weren¡¯t for the conflict between your grandma and your mom, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have been lost back then.¡± Curious, Noe sat next to Marcel and started massaging his calves. She had the perfect touch, hitting all the right spots, making Marcel feel a whole lot better. Thinking about that peculiar couple from before, he couldn¡¯t help but appreciate his granddaughter more. See, how caring she is! ¡°What happened back then? What does the feud between Grandma and Mom have to do with me?¡± ¡°Back in the day, your mom had a rough time while she was expecting you, always in the hospital trying to keep you safe. Your grandma was convinced your mom was just being a drama queen and wouldn¡¯t let her stay at our hospital. Instead, she sent her off to that backwater Tandy Hospital, iming she knew folks who could look after your mom. Then, wouldn¡¯t you know it. Tandy Hospital and Heartfelt Orphanage caught fire, and in all that chaos. they ended up mixing up the babies!¡± So. Sienna ended up at a ce like Tandy Hospital all because of Ashlyn? ¡°Why Tandy Hospital?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too sure myself. Tandy¡¯s medical care wasn¡¯t top¨Cnotch like our hospital, but it was decent enough, so your mom agreed to go. Looking back, if she hadn¡¯t agreed, you wouldn¡¯t have had to go through all that trouble!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not troubled.¡± Marcel chuckled, clearly pleased with his granddaughter¡¯s sensibility. ¡°Noe, listen, Grandpa¡¯s getting on in years, and there¡¯s a lot I can¡¯t do anymore. But when ites down to it, the Schnabel family owes your mom an apology for the way she¡¯s been treated. If your grandma and your mom ever butt heads again, we, the Schnabel family, will have your mom¡¯s back! You got that?¡± ¡°Got it, Grandpa.¡± Calvin pushed the door open and walked in. ¡°Miss Yvonne took a tumble into the water, and she¡¯s in the ICU now.¡± Marcel looked surprised and asked, ¡°How did she fall into the water?¡± ¡°Jasper said she wanted to learn swimming and tried to swim from Imperial City¡¯s port back to the Schnabel Mansion, and ended up nearly drowning.¡± Noe was like, is Jasper really fine with spouting such tall tales? Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Marcel¡¯s gaze flickered, his shrewd face took on a thoughtful expression. ¡°Alright, make sure she¡¯s well looked after. Don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡± CHapter 65 CHapter 65 Calvin got the scoop about Yvonne first thing in the morning when he swung by the hospital for rounds. He quickly threw on his clothes and dashed to the ICU to check on her. Seeing she was mostly okay, he could breathe a sigh of relief. Why on earth would she take a plunge into the water out of the blue? The sea was still freaking cold in spring! ¡°Mr. Schnabel do you think Miss Yvonne was all worked up and went off the deep end because of the school¡¯s punishment?¡± Marcel was also clued in on Yvonne¡¯s disciplinary action. The school had been fair and square. even cutting her some ck because of the Schnabel family¡¯s rep. Otherwise, she¡¯d be packing her bags and out on her ear by now. Marcel thought, ¡°How did the kid I watched grow up turn into this hot mess?¡± ¡°All worked up? What¡¯s there to be worked up about? Just keep an eye on her until she wakes up, and then we¡¯ll talk.¡± Calvin nodded and gave Marcel a thorough check¨Cup. He was the go¨Cto guy for these old¨Ctimers¡® health and knew Marcel¡¯s condition like the back of his hand. Last month¡¯s shaky numbers are now looking way better! ¡°Mr. Schnabel, you¡¯re in such good shape. You could pass for a young buck! You¡¯ve bounced back so much and could probably be homebound for some R&R next month.¡± Marcel, getting on in years, loved nothing more than good news about his health. ¡°Really? Thank heavens for Noe¡¯s magic touch with the meds. Can¡¯t wait to get out of here ¨C I¡¯m starting to smell like disinfectant!¡± Marcel shot up from bed and kicked open the neighboring ward¡¯s door, puffing himself up and boomed, ¡°Sexton, I¡¯m busting out of this joint next month! Hahaha! You can rot in here for all I care!¡± Sexton couldn¡¯t sit still. He sprang up and grabbed Noe¡¯s hand, begging with puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°Noe, I want to be discharged too! Please, Noe, I¡¯m begging you!¡± Noe was about to turn him down, but looking at those big, sad eyes, she just couldn¡¯t spit it out. ¡°Fine, stick to the meds I gave you, get your daily checks, exercise, no staying upte, no picky eating, and you¡¯ll be out next month.¡± ¡°Yeah! You¡¯re the best. Noe!¡± Sexton strutted over to Marcel, giving him a nudge with his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s not just you with a granddaughter here, Noe¡¯s my granddaughter¨Cinw too!¡± ¡°And if I say no, your boy Palmer is gonna stay a bachelor!¡± Marcel retorted. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°Watch me!¡± Noe was used to the old coots scrapping like kids. At their age, they couldn¡¯t really throw down, at most just yank a few hairs out of each other¡¯s already thinning scalps. She turned to Calvin and whispered, ¡°Ashlyn¡¯s condition has worsened. Go check on her.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll send you a reportter. As for the old men here¡­¡± Calvin was practically starry¨Ceyed looking at Noe, inches away from dropping to his knees and shamelessly begging for Marcel¡¯s miracle recipe. ¡°Help me out next time, then we¡¯ll talk.¡± Calvin was floored! He might actually get a chance to see Noe in action! ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go check on Ashlyn. You¡¯ve got this!¡± As soon as he stepped out of the ward, Calvin expertly ignored the crowd that had gathered at the door. These big shots¡® visitors were always a circus, bringing gifts that ended up in the anti¨Cbribery department by the truckload. Belinda perked up when someone finally came out, only to see a doctor in a white coat ¨C not the Pock family VIP they were waiting for. She sized up Calvin, feeling he looked familiar but couldn¡¯t ce him behind the mask. Maybe he was one of those Insta¨Cfamous docs. The Lamberts seemed a little deted. They were promised a visit from the Pock Group¡¯s big cheese, and yet, no sign of him. Vincent grumbled. ¡°Talk about undutiful. What time is it, and he still hasn¡¯t shown up to see his granddad? We¡¯ve been here all morning!¡± 1 Milford shot him a re when no one was looking. Like the Pock Group¡¯s CEO needs to report his whereabouts to you. Get over yourself! Milford scolded inwardly. The Rosenbergs were here because Beckett had them by the throat in business. If they could cozy up to the Pocks, getting ckballed by the Schnabels wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. Right now, the Pocks were the Rosenbergs¡® lifeline! Briony eyed Milford in his wheelchair, almost jealous. She could kill for a seat. Standing for five hours in heels, her feet were on fire. ¡°Mom, is Palmer Pocking today or what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, sweetheart. Just look at the crowd waiting!¡± But unlike them, this crowd seemed toe prepared, whipping out newspapers and plopping down on the floor like it was a pic! Was this how you ask for a favor? Or was this just how Imperial City folks rolled? 12:49 And the hospital staff didn¡¯t even bother to shoo them away. Standing with them, Belinda felt her own ssiness slipping. When the ward door swung open, there was Marcel, masked and hatted, being wheeled out by Noe. Seeing his get¨Cup, Noe had to stifle augh. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Marcel hated small talk. Whenever the ward got crowded, he¡¯d cover his face to avoid identally rolling his eyes at the public. The moment she stepped out, the folks lounging by the door were up in a sh, ditching their newspapers and snapping to attention. They formed a neat, human wall in front of Marcel and Noe! ¡°Mr. Schnabel, Army Unit 302 at your service to escort you!¡± The Lamberts and the Rosenbergs hadn¡¯t even gotten over the shock of bumping into Noe here when they noticed the bunch of country bumpkins sitting around them suddenly rise up, exuding a fierce, military aura. Turns out, these weren¡¯t farmers at all; they were special forces soldiers recruited from the military. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Fifteen, all secured, Mr. Schnabel. Rest easy!¡± Marcel hodded with a smile. ¡°A bit fewer than yesterday, not bad. Looks like it¡¯s about time for me to head home. Hear that, Noe?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll arrange your discharge.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go check on Ashlyn¡¯s ward. After the bigmotion this morning, Sienna, even as virtuous as she was, she was still the Schnabels¡® grandkids¡® real¨Cdeal mom. Merrick and Marcel wererades in arms from their youth, and with his fiery temper, knowing his daughter was being slighted and the Schnabels did zilch, he¡¯d be ready to raise hell. Noe pushed the wheelchair past,pletely ignoring the two families standing by the road. Milford¡¯s itch started acting up when he saw how chummy Noe was with Marcel. He wondered what Beckett was thinking, allowing his secret sweetheart to take care of his own. granddad. Rich folks sure know how to live it up. Vincent was gobsmacked seeing Noe. ¡°Noe, what are you doing here? Since when did you get to know Marcel, and you didn¡¯t even tell me!¡± He was almost beside himself with excitement! Maybe Noe was a caregiver the Schnabels hired for Marcel. If she put in a good word, the Schnabels would definitely start seeing the Lamberts in a new light, giving them a leg up to thrive! CHapter 66 CHapter 66 Marcel¡¯s gaze turned noticeably colder as he squinted and took a good look at the two families standing before him, quickly realizing they were the adoptive parents of his precious. granddaughter from before. Had the nerve to show up in front of his precious granddaughter, huh? Noe said coolly, ¡°If I remember correctly, you guys publicly disowned me. We¡¯re strangers now. Please step aside.¡± Vincent was a bit embarrassed but couldn¡¯t bear to let Noe go. Milford gazed at Noe with deep affection. ¡°Noe,e back to me. I want to rekindle our past romance. I know you love me, and I¡¯ve never forgotten you for a day. You¡¯re the most. beautiful woman in my heart. I know you¡¯re just testing my feelings for you!¡± Noe was speechless, thinking, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not sick?¡± Briony¡¯s face twisted in ugliness, biting her lower lip hard, watching Noe with a mix of humiliation and resentment. This damn woman, she must¡¯ve been in contact with Milford behind the scenes! She was someone else¡¯s mistress now; why couldn¡¯t she just disappear from Milford¡¯s life? Noe nced at him and said, ¡°There¡¯s a mental illness called erotomania, which fits your symptoms quite well. You should visit a psychiatrist when you get a chance; mental issues need treatment.¡± Milford was taken aback. Erotomania? A mental illness? What in the world was that? The medical staff standing by couldn¡¯t hold back and snickered behind their hands, thinking the young miss sure knew how to cuss without the dirty words! Seeing Noe about to wheel Marcel away, Milford grew desperate. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t leave me!¡± Noe responded indifferently, ¡°Major Gat, please take care of them.¡± Gat saluted promptly and said respectfully, ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± The special forces soldiers formed a solid wall in front of the two families, tight and without a single gap. ¡°Please leave!¡± Vincent tried to resist, holding a gift and pleading, ¡°Mister, we¡¯ve got a present ready for Mr. Marcel Schnabel! Please, do us a solid, or maybe pass it to that caretaker from earlier. I¡¯m her dad! Have her give it to the chief!¡± Major Gat was puzzled, wondering, ¡°Who¡¯re you calling a caretaker? Noe? And you say you¡¯re Noe¡¯s father? What outrageous wishful thinking is that? Pure delusion! Just this morning, Mr. Tristan Schnabel and his wife left the ward. We¡¯ve already met Noe¡¯s real 11:12 parents!¡± Hearing that Noe was supposedly a caretaker, Milford¡¯s passion dimmed a bit. Major Gatpletely ignored them and waved his men to shoo away the two families. Linsey, who had never encountered such a scene, was flushed with embarrassment, and her gaze at the Lambert family was particrly scornful.. ¡°Some folks mistake a fish eye for a pearl, picking up trash and treating it like treasure. Now, even if you¡¯re all eager to get close to her, nobody¡¯s buying what you¡¯re selling.¡± Vincent felt a bit awkward at being called out. ¡°Come on, that¡¯s not quite fair to say, right? Briony is our real daughter.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear Milford just now saying he likes Noe? Some street rat dreaming of bing a phoenix, huh? Dream on!¡± Linsey rolled her eyes, bumped past a pale¨Cfaced Briony, and pushed Milford out of the hospital. Belinda was fuming! ¡°What¡¯s with the Rosenberg boy? He likes Noe? She¡¯s just a caretaker!¡± Vincent was also seething, ring at Belinda. ¡°I told you not to rush, but you insisted on disowning Noe publicly, and now see what happened! The kidpletely resents us now! If she badmouths us in front of Marcel, we¡¯re doomed!¡± ¡°So what do you suggest we do? She¡¯s already blocked me!¡± Thinking about this, Belinda felt Noe was utterly heartlesspared to how thoughtful Briony was. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do, I¡¯ll call herter and send her some money. Returning to our ce is out of the question, but at least she could put in a good word for us in front of Marcel. Mr. Pock hasn¡¯t shown up today: let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± Briony stood behind them, her face ashen! As a child, she tried to sneakily rece her drawing with Noe¡¯s during apetition. However, someone caught her and threw her into the trash! The Lambert family¡¯s bodyguards took days to find her! It was the greatest humiliation of her life! The Rosenberg family bringing it up was like poking at her wounds,pletely disregarding her feelings¡­ They must still be hung up on Noe! If she could just expose some of Noe¡¯s past¡­ Briony¡¯s eyes spun with resentment! A low¨Cprofile luxurious Cayenne smoothly entered the hospital, zooming past the Lambert family, leaving behind a stunning silhouette. ¡°That¡¯s Mr. Pock¡¯s car! Quick, quick, follow it!¡± 11:12 The Lamberts hurried after the car, afraid of missing Palmer getting out. Through the rear¨Cview mirror. Annie saw the three people running behind¡­ Weren¡¯t they Noe¡¯s former adoptive parents? Have they found a new hobby, running marathons at the hospital? ¡°Sir, Ms. Noe¡¯s adoptive parents are following your car. Should we deal with them?¡± Palmer¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly. These people bothering Noe again? ¡°Ignore them. Find out why they¡¯re looking for Noe.¡± Annie snorted with disdain. ¡°Definitely up to no good; their family has never been kind to Noe: they must be here to bother her.¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze turned icy, his usually elegant face filled with frost. They had bullied his fianc¨¦e: how could he let them off easily? ¡°Teach them a lesson.¡± ¡°You got it!¡± Annie¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement; she rubbed her hands together, turned the car around, and headed towards the Lamberts. Vincent, seeing the car turn around, almost jumped with excitement. ¡°Mr. Pock must¡¯ve spotted us and wants to do business! The Lambert family is saved atst. Briony, spruce yourself up a bit; we can¡¯t afford to look like slobs in front of Mr. Pock!¡± Briony was pretty stoked, too sure, she liked Milford, but if Palmer gave her the time of day, she might just snag a better match. Belinda eyed the Porsche Cayenne, uncertainly saying, ¡°Honey, are you sure he¡¯s here for business? Something smells fishy to me.¡± ¡°What could possibly be fishy?¡± Vincent was still in dreand when he saw the Cayenne showing no signs of slowing down in fact, the driver floored it! ¨C The car zoomed past, nearly grazing the Lambert family, clipping the corner of a flower bed as it sped by! The Cayenne vanished at the crossroads, heading straight into the hospital. The Lambert family was nearly scared stiff! Vincent¡¯s face was a picture of shock as if he could still feel the sharp wind of the car brushing past, like a de grazing his skin ¨C painful and terrifying! That wasn¡¯t a car; it was the Grim Reaper¡¯s scythe! Belinda, terrified out of her wits, plopped down on the ground. ¡°This is attempted murder! They¡¯re trying to kill us! I¡¯m calling the cops!¡± Vincent clenched his teeth, his smarts surprisingly kicking in. ¡°Call the cops? And what¡¯s your emergency? What proof do you have? We can¡¯t even drive into the hospital, but Mr. Pock can go speeding through it! Even if you call the cops, do you think the Pocks will let you off the hook?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Belinda¡¯s eyes rolled back, and she fainted! Vincent and Briony frantically scrambled to get her to the emergency room, thankful they were already at the hospital talk about convenient care. Noe stood upstairs, watching the scene with a mix of speechlessness and choked emotion. She couldn¡¯t care less about the Lambert family; whatever they did was none of her business. As for Palmer¡­ She nced indifferently at Palmer, who had just entered the ward and was walking towards her, taking off his coat with a smile that was not quite a smile, yet his eyes held a boundless tenderness for her. ¡°Are you three? Childish.¡± ¡°If I were three, I¡¯d have hit them straight up.¡± ¦§ Palmer walked up to Noe and leaned in close, his smile warm and lingering, intoxicatingly charming. ¡°I¡¯m not magnanimous enough to let go of anyone who bullies you. Since my little girl won¡¯t snitch, I¡¯ll have to uncover your grievances myself.¡± CHapter 67 CHapter 67 Palmer was feeling a bit of regret. He reached out, twirling a strand of Noe¡¯s hair that had fallen across her face between his fingers. ¡°If we were somewhere else, say in the international warzones, their fate wouldn¡¯t have been so lucky.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. In the international warzones, he was known as Vocalist, the fearsome leader of a killer organization. Those who fell into his hands usually had one inevitable oue! Death! The Lambert family should count their blessings for having raised Noe for nearly neen years. Otherwise, what they would face from him wouldn¡¯t be so lenient! Palmer squinted slightly, shielding the sunlight from Noe¡¯s eyes, coaxing her to look into his. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of bankrupting the Rosenberg family. Would my dear fianc¨¦e mind?¡± ¡°Why would I mind?¡± What did she have to do with the Rosenberg family? Even if Milford had been betrothed to her in childhood, his fianc¨¦e in question was ¡°Ms. Lambert¡°, not her personally. ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me what you¡¯re up to. Aren¡¯t you already on it?¡± Noe was speechless. Did Palmer have a screw loose or something? Every single day, whatever he was up to, he would shoot her a message. Photos of his meals, videos from his schmoozing sessions, even updates on whom he¡¯s met ¨C and if she didn¡¯t text back, he would call up to ask! She had no choice but to reply with a sentence or two every time Palmer texted her. This back¨C and¨Cforth meant she was pretty much clued into his daily doings. Palmer chuckled. This little ingrate ¨C he shared everything with her, and she couldn¡¯t get the hint? ¡°I¡¯m keeping you in the loop to put your mind at ease and also to keep myself on your mind. Since you¡¯re not used to missing me, I can work on that!¡± She w wasn¡¯t used to having him around, which was fine! He was going to gradually make her get used to it. ¡°Thorpe sent me a message, hoping I¡¯d give up Lunaris¡® consultation rights. What do you think, my dear fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you call me something else?¡± Always with that title, it was like the whole world knew she was his betrothed. Noe felt her face burning with embarrassment. ¡°Sure, how about ¡®babe¡®? ¡®Honey¡°? I¡¯m open to other nicknames, but I¡¯d prefer them after we¡¯re 11:12 Chanter ba married.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Never mind, call me whatever you want. How much is Thorpe offering?¡± ¡°You willing to treat him?¡± Noe nodded. Thorpe still had the director of the Heartfelt Orphanage in his hands, and she needed to find the person to uncover the truth about the past. With families like the Schnabels, she doubted they would easily mix up children. Plus, there was ra¡¯s case that self¨Cproimed humanitarian doctor also came from Tandy Hospital! There had to be bigger secrets lurking behind these events, and Noe had to get to the bottom. of it. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll get in touch with Thorpe, but I have one condition.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Palmer slid his hand around Noe¡¯s slender waist, drawing her close to his side, almost flush against him, creating an intimate atmosphere that even the air seemed to blush. ¡°If you go see Thorpe, you have to take me with you!¡± ¡°Thorpe would probably freak out if he sees you.¡± Thorpe only wanted to see Lunaris for his brother¡¯s treatment, not the head of the Abyssal Organization! ¡°Just go under a different pretext; he doesn¡¯t know who I am. I don¡¯t like the idea of my fianc¨¦e spending too much time with other men. I get jealous.¡± Noe was speechless. She was a doctor going to see a patient ¨C what was there for him to be jealous about? Was he nuts? ¡°Oh, when I operated on your granddadst time, I took off his shirt and touched his chest. Go get jealous, then.¡± Palmer¡¯s face went through shades of red and white, speechless at Noe¡¯s retort, and for once, he seemed a bit flustered. A glint of mischief sparkled in Noe¡¯s eyes. Yvonne, lying in the ICU bed, slowly came to. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, you¡¯re awake. We can move you to a regr ward now.¡± ¡°How¡­ how did I end up here?¡± As the nurse was making notes, she exined. ¡°You forgot? Last night, you insisted on swimming from the harbor back to Emerald County. You almost drowned, and Jasper brought you here. You¡¯re fine now that you¡¯ve woken up.¡± Yvonne was puzzled. Swim from the harbor back to Emerald County? She wasn¡¯t aware of such a n! Clearly. Jasper had popped up and spoiled her chance. Otherwise, by now, the billion dors would be hers! If Jasper showed up, it must be because he didn¡¯t want her to strike it rich or steal Noe¡¯s thunder. Looked like she needed to find some other business on the deep web. The nurse wheeled her bed out, ncing down from the floor. ¡°Looks like that¡¯s Mr. Pock¡¯s car. Mr. Pock is so devoted, visiting his grandfather at the hospital every day.¡± Right! Palmer! If Palmer saw her now, all frail and with a touch of sorrow, he would surely be drawn to her. Just a bit of sympathy and she could slip in how terribly the Schnabel family treated her. Once Yvonne was settled in the regr ward, the nurse left. Yvonne slipped away quietly. heading toward Sexton¡¯s room. Marcel and Sexton were downstairs, ying chess with a few silver¨Chaired old gents. That meant Palmer was alone in the room! Yvonne¡¯s excitement grew as she hurried along, reaching the door to the room, even tugging at her clothing and undoing a few buttons. ¡°Palmy, I¡¯m here!¡± On the balcony, Palmer had his arms around Noe¡¯s waist, whispering in her ear while she asionally responded, looking very much in sync. The moment that whiny, grating voice hit his ears, Palmer¡¯s face soured. ¡°Beat it!¡± Yvonne was stunned! Howe Noe was here? And cuddling with Palmer! The shamelessness¡­ Before even tying the knot with Palmer, Noe was at the hospital trying to seduce him. Just what one would expect from an uncultured bumpkin! If it weren¡¯t for Noe screwing up her own game here, she could¡¯ve been the one in Palmer¡¯s arms right now. Major Gat charged in, hoisted Yvonne, and high¨Ctailed it out of there. Completely ignored her shrieking and whisked her away from the ward in no time. And he even had the courtesy to shut the door behind him. Noe was at a loss for words. The way Major Gat moved, it was like he had done this a million times before like he had gotten used to dealing with Yvonne. 11:12 ¡°She a regr or something?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing to do with her. Believe me.¡± Noe was speechless. What was it to her who he was involved with? ¡°I don¡¯t let here to see Grandpa, but with Grandpa Marcel around, since she¡¯s part of the Schnabel family, that¡¯s outta my hands. Every time Yvonne used the excuse of visiting Marcel to hassle Sexton, Major Gat would be there to swoop in and carry her off. It got to the point where he would just charge in and bundle her away the moment heid eyes on her. Noe nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have Major Gat block her from now on, and she won¡¯t need to bother Grandpa either.¡± Yvonne might still have that Nourishment Pill on her. If she slipped it into Marcel¡¯s meds when he was not looking, that would be a real mess. Better y it safe and keep her at bay. ¡°Tell Thorpe we¡¯ll trade with the director of Heartfelt Orphanage: I want him alive.¡± Palmer got her drift. ¡°That¡¯s too cheap.¡± Asking for just the person might tip off Thorpe about some aspects of Noe¡¯s identity, which wouldn¡¯t be a good thing. ¡°Throw in a little extra cash; how about a billion? It¡¯s not much, but I¡¯ve checked Thorpe¡¯s assets; asking for any more would be dirty money.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll work.¡± Palmer took her hand and gently dropped a kiss on the back of it. ¡°I¡¯lle to pick you up tomorrow. Remember to wait for me.¡± CHapter 68 CHapter 68 Palmer¡¯s parting etiquette was a dime a dozen, and his moves were smooth as silk ¨C the dude was unppable. But Noe couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that her hand was getting hot where he touched it. ¡°Pick me up for what?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to swing by to see your grandparents? Got the presents all wrapped up and ready to go.¡± Merrick had indeed set a date with her to chow down with the Horwich family tomorrow, and since the Schnabel family folks had a spat and bounced, her n was to roll with Stirling. Beckett was jet¨Csetting for business talks, Ulrich was tied up with surgeries untilte, and Jasper had court stuff. That left Stirling, who had just wrapped up a movie gig and was heading home. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you aren¡¯t nning to bring me along? Grandpa Merrick invited me too, you know.¡± Noe was speechless. Since when did her grandpa invite him? However, Grandma managing to leave theb ande home was partly thanks to Palmer, and since both families go way back, giving him the cold shoulder wouldn¡¯t be cool. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Palmer, all lovey¨Cdovey, tapped her cute, upturned nose and cooed, ¡°Good girl.¡± in a few The Pock Group was up to its eyeballs in deals, so after Palmer nagged Noe with a few reminders, he hightailed it out of the hospital. No sooner had Palmer left than Vincent, dodging Major Gat on patrol, snuck into the ward. ¡°Noe, girl, you gotta help your old man out! Your mom got knocked by someone, still unconscious. Since you¡¯re Marcel¡¯s caretaker, put in a good word for us with him so the Schnabels can lend a hand, can you? Our family has never done anything bad to you, and raising you wasn¡¯t a walk in the park! All these years, whatever you wanted, we gave. You can¡¯t just discard us after you¡¯ve gotten what you wanted!¡± Noe¡¯s smirk wasced with sarcasm. ¡°When I was a kid, Grandma asked you for cash for my school. You said girls didn¡¯t need that much book smarts. It was Grandma, behind my back, trash¨C picking to send me to school.¡± Vincent squirmed! This was stuff from when Noe was four or five- how the heck did she remember it like it was yesterday? ¡°Back then, we were strapped. Your mom and I were pinching pennies, really didn¡¯t have the 11:13 dough for school¡­¡± Noe cracked a smile. Back then, Briony was living it up at a private kindergarten, thanks to Vincent¡¯s five grand a month. And her? She was depending on Old Mrs. Lambert, tirelessly collecting bottles to save up for her education. Vincent had swiped all of Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s savings for his business ventures, not leaving a dime for Noe¡¯s schooling. ¡°In middle school, Grandma footed the bill for living expenses and tuition. You thought dropping five hundred a month was too steep and even told me to skimp on meals. You weren¡¯t hurting for cash then.¡± By that time, Vincent had his mansion, and the family had moved to Tranquility City. ¡°I¡¯m telling it straight, Noe, Girls with too much cash are bound to go bad. I was looking out for you. Five hundred was plenty for grub. I only spent three hundred a month on food back then!¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert, back in the day, you and your wife were slurping down bird¡¯s nests that cost three grand a bowl daily.¡± Vincent was speechless. This girt! Why the heck did she have to remember all that trivial junk? He had even forgotten those nitty¨Cgritty details. She was heartless, hanging onto all the wrong things. Why didn¡¯t she ever talk about the good stuff they did for her? Plus, if they were really mistreating Noe, would she have turned out this tall and pretty? ¡°I was just worried you¡¯d stretch out your stomach if you ate too much. It¡¯d be a pain to slim down later, wouldn¡¯t look good. Look at you now; you¡¯re in great shape! I raised you all these years, even if you don¡¯t give me merit, at least you¡¯ve got to appreciate it was hard work, right? Your grandma is a Lambert, too. Her being good to you is me being good to you! Find time to butter up Marcel, get him to prop up our family. Once we¡¯re on.easy street, it¡¯ll only be good for you!¡± The door swung open, and in rolled a livid Marcel, pushed by an equally sour¨Cfaced Stirling. ready to knock Vincent into next week. They always thought the Lambert family did right by Noe, but it turned out her childhood was even rougher than they had dug up. What kind of family wouldn¡¯t even give their kids a full meal? Their only daughter in the Schnabel family had to rely on an olddy picking trash to afford school how bitter was that! ¡°Mar¡­ Mr. Marcel, I¡¯m Noe¡¯s dad; I¡¯m here because¡­¡± 11:13 Marcel gripped the wheelchair¡¯s armrest, not wanting to lose it in front of his granddaughter. gritted his teeth, and spat. ¡°Scram!¡± Vincent, faced with the old man¡¯s wrath, was tongue¨Ctied and got hauled out of the ward by Major Gat. Tears filled Marcel¡¯s eyes as he motioned for Noe. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Come here, child.¡± ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m okay.¡± Marcel held Noe¡¯s hand, his heart aching. ¡°Noe, you want us to take them down? Just say the word, and I will do anything for you!¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°No need to dirty our hands for people who don¡¯t matter. Grandpa, I have a family now. The past doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Tears brimming, Marcel turned away and wiped his eyes. He couldn¡¯t find the words, just patted his granddaughter¡¯s delicate hand firmly. ¡°Good girl. you¡¯re melting your grandpa¡¯s heart! From now on, you¡¯re one of the Schnabels. Your big bro said we¡¯re moving Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s grave. The Schnabel family will take over the offerings. Even if it means moving it to our family¡¯s ancestral home, I agree!¡± Had it not been for Old Mrs. Lambert taking care of Noe, he might never have met such a wonderful granddaughter. If Old Mrs. Lambert didn¡¯t mind, the Schnabel family¡¯s ancestral home was the prime spot, a perfect ce for the olddy to rest in peace! ¡°No need, Grandpa. Grandma would probably prefer to stick closer to home. I had my older brother set her up in the family estate, which we¡¯ve also bought.¡± Stirling stepped forward and hugged Noe, gently patting her back. ¡°Sis, if anything¡¯s bugging you, you¡¯ve got to spill the beans to your brothers. If that jerk shows up to hassle you again,e straight to me, alright?¡± ¡°Got it, Stirling.¡± Stirling held Noe tight, his face pressed against her shoulder. She felt a dampness that made her do a double¨Ctake. Was her brother crying? Stirling¡¯s voice was shaky. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we didn¡¯t keep you safe. You were right here, and we let that scumbag bother you. It won¡¯t happen again!¡± What did that have to do with the Schnabel family? It was Vincent who sneaked in all by himself. The Lambert family folks were always thick¨Cskinned, and the Schnabels, considering them to be Noe¡¯s former kin, didn¡¯t go all out on him. 11:13 The Schnabels yed fair, but the Lamberts had no shame. Keeping Vincent at bay was no easy task. Noe patted Stirling¡¯s shoulder, turning the tables tofort her brother. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t give a hoot about the Lambert folks; don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Marcel watched the hugging siblings and made a hooking gesture with his little finger. Major Gat bent down, getting close to Marcel. ¡°Set up a squad to protect the young miss at all times. If those punks from earlier get anywhere near her, kick them out. If pushes to shove, don¡¯t be afraid to get your hands dirty.¡± That ¡®don¡¯t be afraid to get your hands dirty¡® meant Marcel was seriously ticked off! ¡°Understood! We¡¯ll make sure the young miss is safe and sound!¡± CHapter 69 CHapter 69 Vincent got booted straight out of the hospital. When Major Gat heard what he had just said, he didn¡¯t go easy at all and chucked him right onto the concrete. Vincent was gritting his teeth in pain; his butt nearly bloomed with bruises! What was the deal with the Schnabel family, always tossing people out like that? Last time he went to give a gift, he got thrown out by the Schnabel folks, and this time, just for having a chat with the old man¡¯s caretaker, out he went! Noe, that heartless little wench. If it wasn¡¯t for them kicking her out of the house, would she ever have had the chance to rub elbows with the Schnabels? Now that she had climbed up the socialdder, she didn¡¯t give a hoot about the Lambert family¡¯s fate! Vincent stomped back to Belinda¡¯s ward, fuming. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t decided to cut ties with Noe on your own, she¡¯d still be our daughter, and I wouldn¡¯t be in this embarrassing mess.¡± Belinda was also seething. ¡°She¡¯s just a caretaker, and you want her as our daughter? I¡¯m embarrassed even if you¡¯re not! That girl¡¯s an ungrateful wretch; you can¡¯t count on her. Better think of another n than running after her.¡± Vincent, puzzled, asked, ¡°What other n could there be?¡± Belinda leaned back on her pillow and gave a mysterious smile. ¡°I just overheard the nurses saying Ashlyn¡¯s in this hospital too. Whether it¡¯s the old man or the olddy, they¡¯re both Schnabels. If one road¡¯s blocked, we¡¯ll just take another.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes lit up! + Ashlyn was good. She¡¯s surely more approachable than Marcel. A little whisper in her ear and the Lambert family could be back from the dead. ¡°Good thing I still have the gifts from earlier. Let¡¯s take them to Ashlyn now!¡± The Lambert family, pumped up like they were on steroids, lugged their bags and headed toward Ashlyn¡¯s room. Ashlyn was lying in her hospital bed listening to catholic songs, looking all serene and peaceful. The sunlight streaming through the window lit up her white hair; anyone clueless would think she was a sweet, friendly olddy. ¡°Madam Ashlyn, we¡¯re the Lamberts from Tranquility City. We heard you¡¯re not well, so we brought you some gifts!¡± Ashlyn opened her eyes to find three strangers by her bed. Gifts for her? 11:13 Ever since Marcel banned her from mingling with the noble families, it had been years since anyone brought her gifts! What were these people up to? Ashlyn eyed the three rough¨Cand¨Cready folks in front of her and snorted coldly. ¡°Take all this. stuff away: I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°Madam, we¡¯ve juste from Marcel¡¯s ce. He sent us to give you these, said he¡¯s been worried about your health!¡± Hearing that Marcel had sent them, Ashlyn¡¯s eyes suddenly widened! She knew it! That old coot still had her on his mind. After a lifetime together, he couldn¡¯t be that heartless. ¡°Alright,y them down, then you can go.¡± Vincent stered a sycophantic smile on his face, rubbing his hands together. ¡°Madam, we¡¯re Noe¡¯s foster parents. Just wanted to ask if that girl is still behaving well?¡± Noe¡¯s foster parents? Hearing this, Ashlyn¡¯s disdain grew even stronger. No wonder she felt these people reeked; turned out they were that girl¡¯s foster parents. Birds of a feather, coarse and crass. ¡°Behaving? What¡¯s that got to do with me? As long as I¡¯m alive, she¡¯s never setting foot in the Schnabel household!¡± The Lambert family perked up at that! Wasn¡¯t Ashlyn basically saying Noe had no chance of marrying into the Schnabel family? Even if she was dying to climb up the socialdder, they didn¡¯t give a damn about her! Briony felt a whole lot better, too. ¡°Madam, Noe is my sister. We grew up together. She always liked to hang with lots of boys. and she was engaged to my fianc¨¦, but she was unfaithful.¡± Ashlyn frowned as if she had heard something filthy. ¡°I knew that girl was no good! What exactly are you here for?¡± ¡°Madam, mainly we don¡¯t want you to be duped by Noe. She¡¯s been trouble since she was little! My mother was practically driven to her death by her! If you want the scoop on Noe, we¡¯re at your service.¡± A glint of intrigue appeared in Ashlyn¡¯s eyes. She might not have much respect for these three, but if they could provide something interesting, she wouldn¡¯t mind lending an ear. ¡°Madam, you must kick Noe out of the Schnabels! We¡¯ll cut ties with her just because she¡¯s always been light¨Cfingered¡­¡± ¡°Light¨Cfingered?¡± 11:13 Vincent spilled the beans about losing his contract. ¡°The Schnabel estate is massive; if Noe pulls something at home, the losses could be huge!¡± Ashlyn was rmed. She whipped out her phone and dialed her son Tristan¡¯s number straight away. But Tristan was busy pampering his wife and didn¡¯t pick up even after ten calls! This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°Mr. Schnabel must be tied up. Why don¡¯t you give me his number, and I¡¯ll get in touch with him.¡± Vincent looked at Ashlyn with puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°Alright, make sure you tell my son everything she¡¯s done. Don¡¯t let him be fooled.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± Vincent left his number with a beaming smile and strutted out of the room with Tristan¡¯s number in hand. ¡°Judging by Ashlyn¡¯s behavior just now, Noe must¡¯ve been up to no good in the Schnabel family. It¡¯s a good thing we cut ties with her; she could¡¯ve dragged us down with her.¡± Belinda nodded in total agreement. ¡°Let¡¯s hustle back and reach out to Tristan Schnabel. As long as we have the Schnabel family on our side, we¡¯ll definitely make it through this rough patch.¡± At the Horwich Mansion. The quaint courtyard was brimming with priceless nts and flowers, and the little bridge over running water added an extra touch of unique and elegant charm, much like a scene straight out of the water towns, filled with an air of romance. Sienna lounged on the deck chair, letting Tristan grovel at her feet and massage her legs like a lapdog. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t be mad anymore. Look at how you scared our daughter today.¡± 1 ¡°Was it me who wanted to be mad? It¡¯s your mom who drove me to it!¡± Tristan gave a sheepish grin. ¡°Heh heh, my mom¡¯s getting on in years; her brain¡¯s not what it used to be. Next time she calls you over, just ignore her.¡± Sienna shot him a look that was all alluring and annoying. ¡°You think I want to deal with her? I¡¯m only doing it so she won¡¯t bother me and then take it out on Noe. Let me tell you, I can handle her bullying me, but if she even thinks about messing with my daughter, it¡¯s war!¡± Tristan nodded vigorously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Noe is our little treasure. No one¡¯s allowed to bully her.¡± Right after he said that his phone started to ring. 11:13 ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Mr. Schnabel! This is Vincent from Tranquility City. I¡¯ve got some dirt on your family¡¯s caretaker, Noe! That chick is full of tricks, has a heart like a snake, and shows no respect for parents and elders. She¡¯s always been vicious to our daughter and is not fit to stay by Mr. Marcel¡¯s side as a caregiver.¡± Tristan was utterly confused at first, but the more he listened, the angrier he got. He was so close to reaching through the phone and wringing Vincent¡¯s neck! Back in his younger days, he was a big shot, a heavyweight, a boss who ruled the roost, especially among the Schnabel kids. Once they took over the family business, Tristan happily stepped back. Thus, he seemed to be the easiest one in the family to talk to, though that couldn¡¯t be further from the truth. Tristan¡¯s face turned stone cold, an aura of chilling anger emanating from him that even Sienna picked up on and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who¡¯s calling?¡± Vincent was still going on and on. ¡°Is your wife there too? This is really important. I swear on my name that if Noe stays with the Schnabel family, she¡¯s going to harm you guys. We wouldn¡¯t have kicked her out of our house for nothing!¡± CHapter 70 CHapter 70 Tristan rubbed his temples; his voice was as cold as ice. ¡°Vincent, right? Where you at now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital where Mr. Marcel¡¯s staying! Some blind bat rammed into my wife! If you want a chat, Mr. Schnabel, you cane on over. Got a bunch of juicy secrets that could interest you! Tristan had yet to meet someone who actually got him to make a house call. How could people. be so shamelessly thick¨Cskinned? Vincent hung up, still lost in his daydream about his soon¨Cto¨Cbe rocketing sess. Mr. Schnabel must be intrigued by what he said: maybe he would evene to meet him in person. That would be his chance to call the shots the Lambert family¡¯s troubles wouldn¡¯t be a concern anymore! As Vincent mulled over this, he dialed his secretary. ¡°Tell thosepanies we can do without their partnership. Whatever they want, we¡¯ll cough it up as per the contract!¡± The secretary hesitated, ¡°Boss, that¡¯s gonna cost a pretty penny. We¡¯d have to drain all our liquid assets. Vincent couldn¡¯t care less about that chump change. ¡°Chill, I¡¯ve got a n. North Peak Finance, South Mountain Financial, East Sea Culture Company. West Ocean Media ¨C thepanies that look down on us don¡¯t matter. Soon, they¡¯ll be the ones I look down on! Pfft! Just a bunch of nobodies! Once I¡¯ve inked a deal with Mr. Schnabel, I¡¯ll be strutting across Tranquility City!¡± The secretary quickly agreed and went off to deal with the im contracts from thosepanies. Tristan hung up, fuming mad, feeling like his heart was going to burst! ¡°Damn the Lambert family! I was thinking since they raised Noe, I¡¯d let bygories be bygones, but they¡¯re crossing the line!¡± Sienna, hearing it was the Lambert family on the phone, quickly asked, ¡°What did they say? Definitely nothing good. Get rid of them fast. I heard they¡¯re also at the hospital. We can¡¯t let them bump into our precious girl. These people are insatiable and have no shame. If they see her, they¡¯ll definitely bother her.¡± Tristan was on the same page. ¡°Should we send our little treasure to study abroad?¡± Sienna shook her head, not liking the idea one bit. ¡°Our girl hiding from them? Wherever our darling wants to study, she¡¯ll study. She¡¯s responsible for being happy; we¡¯re responsible for keeping those people out of her sight! Besides, if we send our treasure abroad, wouldn¡¯t that mean she¡¯d hardly see Palmer? That¡¯s not gonna help their rtionship grow.¡± 11:13 The main thing was they couldn¡¯t bear it! They had only just gotten their daughter back, and they wanted to see her every day! ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to give that damn Vincent a beating! Heck, make it a buy one get one free ¨C beat up his whole family!¡± Tristan quickly sent out the message. Then, he called Noe, his voice dripping with fawning affection and tinged with caution. ¡°Hey, darling, it¡¯s me. How¡¯s your mood today? What have you been up to?¡± ¡°Pretty good. yed chess with Grandpa this morning, then went to buy gifts for my other grandparents with my brother in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Buying gifts, that¡¯s great! Daddy¡¯s gonna send you some pocket money right away, just a little something. Go and treat yourself; you¡¯re looking too thin!¡± Noe was speechless. In the month or two since she got back, she had received who knows how much pocket money. Seeing her bank ount bnce now, Noe was a bit numb. Without realizing it, she was living off her family¡¯s generosity. ¡°No need, I still have money.¡± Tristan was nearly in tears! ¡°Darling! Do you think our family¡¯s too poor? Don¡¯t worry, Daddy¡¯s going back to work tomorrow! You don¡¯t have to worry about us? Noe was at a loss for words. The Schnabel family going broke? As if! broke!¡± If the Schnabel family ever did go broke one day, the GDP of Imperial City would take a twenty¨C year step back. Not to mention it was impossible for the Schnabel family to go bankrupt, but even if that day came, she had ways to make them bounce back. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Tristan hung up, pleased as punch, and in a sh, Noe received a transfer of fifty million. Just after hanging up and transferring the money, Tristan¡¯s expression turned cold again. ¡°What on earth is Beckett doing? Why haven¡¯t those two families gone bankrupt yet!¡± They couldn¡¯t sleep at night thinking about all the suffering their precious daughter had endured without making those two families pay. Sienna thought for a moment and grabbed Tristan, ¡°Let¡¯s find a time to ask Beckett but keep it from our darling girl. She¡¯s so kind¨Chearted, she¡¯d definitely be upset.¡± Thinking about Noe¡¯s past, Tristan and Sienna burst into tears! Damn the Lambert family! 11:14 pier SU At the Lunar Lab The wholeb was kitted out with the world¡¯s most advanced equipment; even the sinks had been switched to automatic temperature¨Ccontrolled ones, and they had added a bunch of new This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. greenery. Noe walked into theb wearing a white coat. ¡°Boss! Your conned fianc¨¦ really came through! He even swapped out ourb toilets for ones with auto¨Cchanging seats!¡± ¡°How did he know we¡¯ve been dying for high¨Ctech toilets? We were gonna bet on the loser to tweak the data and rig up a fully automated toilet!¡± For this bunch of geniuses, tweaking a toilet¡¯s data was a piece of cake. Noe nced at Phecda. ¡°Where¡¯s the experimental data?¡± ¡°Right here. Toxic Monarch¡¯s got ten Mirage Grasses. Still MIA, could¡¯ve hit the ck market by now.¡± ¡°Find a way to track it down.¡± Phecda clutched his head and wailed, ¡°This isn¡¯t about finding a way or not! Ourb¡¯s been growing Mirage Grass, too, but we¡¯ve lost contact with theb across the Pacific. No clue what Nn and his crew are up to over there.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re out of cash¡­¡± The investment needed for medical experiments was massive, and Lunar Lab often found itself strapped for cash, with the big boss even having to doodle design drafts and open up a shop to make ends meet. Noe whipped out a bunch of ck cards and chucked them over. ¡°This should cover it. I¡¯ll figure out the rest of the dough.¡± Phecda¡¯s eyes practically turned into dor signs! ¡°All these ck cards! Boss, did you knock over a bank or something?¡± Megrez looked up from a mountain of experimental data. ¡°Banks don¡¯t even have this kind of cash. Boss definitely hit up a vault.¡± ¡°Holy smokes, Boss, you¡¯re treading on thin ice with the whole crime gig. If one day the cuffse on, don¡¯t rat us out. We ain¡¯t in the same boat as you.¡± Speechless, Noe rubbed her temples and swiftly twirled her hair up with a hairpin hand¨Ccarved by Ulrich, revealing her slender, swan¨Clike neck. ¡°It¡¯s just some pocket money from my family, all above board.¡± Members of the former Pris Star generally avoided rubbing shoulders with the outside world due to their past experiences, hardly ever spending time watching TV or surfing the web. They only knew their boss had recently switched parents but had no clue which family she had rolled into. ¡°Pocket money! You¡¯re calling Rising Glory Bank¡¯s ck cards pocket money! Boss, your family isn¡¯t in with the mob, right?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the boss¡¯s fianc¨¦ have deep pockets? When can we get hitched into that kind of wealth, too?¡± They were itching to y the part of a maid and take a spin at being filthy rich! There would be no point in doing research if they were that wealthy! Sick of the chatter, Noe grabbed the experimental data in her hand and smacked it down. ¡°Scram. I want fresh data in three minutes, or you two are taking turns scrubbing the john.¡± Phecda and Megrez beat it quick, without leaving a trace behind. CHapter 71 CHapter 71 Theb crew were all whiz kids Noe plucked from the brink of the international warzones. Their IQs had been cranked up to the maximum humans could handle. They rattled off the experimental data Noe needed in under five minutes. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m gonna run a control experiment on Mirage Grass, see what ailments it really kicks. butt against. Noe skimmed the data and quickly zeroed in on the vital clue. ¡°Highly likely it¡¯s brain cancer. Half an hourter, the control experiment results were in, and Mirage Grass was a game¨Cchanger for brain cancer but only had side effects like an anesthetic or hallucinogen for other diseases. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. It was a godsend for patients with screwy minds, or who had been under mental duress for ages, but for those with their heads screwed on right, it was pure poison. ¡°Boss, how the heck did you figure that out? That¡¯s just nuts; you¡¯re even smarter than us!¡± ¡°Set up the new experiment. I need five hundred slides.¡± Five hundred slides meant Phecda and Megrez were in for hours of hustle, but they didn¡¯t utter a peep and got cracking, seamlessly working in sync with Noe to carry out the experiment methodically. After finishing up in theb, Noe stepped out to find night had fallen¨Cit wasn¡¯t early by any stretch. She then remembered she had promised Ulrich she would swing by hisb that afternoon. She had blown it off, and Ulrich must¡¯ve been blowing up her phone. She pulled out her phone, and sure enough, there were twenty missed calls and a barrage of over fifty messages. [Sis, where you at?] [Got caught up in something? Hit me back when you see this!] Noe quickly dialed back, chatting with Ulrich as she made her way to a car parked at the curb and hopped in. ¡°Ulrich, I got tied up this afternoon; it totally slipped my mind to tell you. I¡¯m with Palmer now, be home in a jiff.¡± Hearing her voice nearly brought Ulrich to tears! ¡°Alright, as long as you¡¯re safe. I was scared you got nabbed by aliens or something! Next time, give me a heads up, okay?¡± 11:14 ¡°Got it.¡± Ulrich had been worried sick about Noe and couldn¡¯t even focus on surgeries. Even thought the surgeries went well, he was so distracted he nearly stitched up Noe¡¯s name. If it weren¡¯t for worrying about stressing out his sis, he would¡¯ve sent way more messages! Palmer was dealing with contracts in the car, only putting them aside when Noe climbed in. ¡°Tuckered out? I¡¯ll take you to dinner, then home.¡± Noe nced at the mountain of contracts by Palmer¡¯s hand. ¡°Why are you working in the car? Yourpany went belly up? Or did the Pock Group building get knocked out by an earthquake?¡± ¡°I¡¯m chuffed you¡¯re worried about my safety, but both thepany and the Pock Group building are A¨COK. Just wanted to make sure you had a ride when you got out, so I came to get you.¡± Noe couldn¡¯t be bothered to get her driver¡¯s license, even though driving was a cinch for her. But things are different in Imperial City than in the international warzones, and Noe didn¡¯t want to be a hassle for the Schnabel family, so she either got a lift from them or hailed a cab. ¡°How¡¯d you know I was at theb?¡± Palmer chuckled, took her hand in his, and yed with it. ¡°Since you agreed to Thorpe¡¯s request, you¡¯d definitely be researching Mirage Grass. If not at Ulrich¡¯sb, then here. The gear I sent over is way better than Ulrich¡¯s.¡± The moment the equipment arrived, the men in Lunar Lab poked and prodded and tweaked it all over again. Partly because the geniuses didn¡¯t trust anyone but Noe, and they wouldn¡¯t touch the equipment unless they were sure it hadn¡¯t been tampered with. The other reason was their experiments were so frequent that regr machines just couldn¡¯t take the high¨Cload action.. The current setup was perfect for Lunar Lab! The secretary drove into the city center and asked, ¡°President, which restaurant are we heading. to?¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze rested on Noe next to him, draped in his suit jacket, her head tilted slightly, fast asleep. In the dim night, her sleeping face was exceptionally peaceful and cute. The high¨Cfrequency experiments were brain¨Cdraining and tough on the heart; she must¡¯ve been beat to fall asleep next to him. As an assassin, dozing off next to another assassin could only mean she truly trusted him now! Palmer¡¯s heart softened, shifted Noe¡¯s head onto his shoulder to let her sleep more ¡°Roger that.¡± 11:14 Outside the Schnabel Manor in Serene Haven, Palmer scooped up the snoozing Noe and carried her into the Schnabel family home. Tristan and Sienna were still being lovey¨Cdovey at her folks, leaving only Stirling in the living. room, supposedly reading a script. He was ¡°reading a script¡± but his eyes kept darting to the door, the same spot in the script stared at all night, without even a hint of his part. Seeing Palmer carry in Noe, Stirling leaped up from the couch and zipped over. ¡°What¡¯s up with Noe?¡± ¡°Asleep. Where¡¯s her room? I¡¯ll take her up.¡± Stirling was all defensive, hand outstretched. ¡°No need to trouble you, Mr. Pock. Hand her over; I¡¯ll take Noe up.¡± ¡°She might wake up.¡± Palmer showed zero signs of handing Noe over, a faint smile on his face as he faced Stirling. but his words were filled with a no¨Carguments vibe. Stirling, seeing Noe¡¯s sleeping face, backed down but warned, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll show you. But don¡¯t you dare try anything funny!¡± Palmer, with Noe in his arms, strode upstairs. Phoenix Tower at Serene Haven got a makeover that was totally Noe¡¯s jam, but the ce was still chock¨Cfull of gifts from the four Schnabel brothers and a ton of plushies that ra snagged ¨C the girly vibes were off the charts! Palmer gentlyid Noe down on the bed and nted a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Nighty night, my adorable fianc¨¦e.¡± Stirling was leaning against the door, rolling his eyes, but kept his trap shut. He told himself, ¡°Hold your horses. Stirling. Palmer and Noe are¨Cbetrothed, and the dude¡¯s just following protocol. Don¡¯t go flying off the handle and deck him¡­¡± ¡°You can take off now.¡± ¡°Do me a solid and rustle up some grub, can you? Noe hasn¡¯t had her dinner yet, and she¡¯ll probably be starving when she wakes up.¡± Hearing this, Stirling¡¯s re at Palmer softened a smidge, but his words were still dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Howe Noe¡¯s missed dinner hanging with you? If she marries into the Pock family, what¡¯s next? Skipping breakfast, too? What on Earth were you up to this afternoon? Ulrich said Noe was off the grid all afternoon!¡± No contact all afternoon, looking beat and getting toted back by Palmer¡­ 11:14 The more Stirling thought about it, the more outrageous it seemed, his head filling with censor¨Cworthy scenes, damn near ready to shake Noe awake and drill her on what the heck happened! Did Palmer do something despicable to their little princess? That was just begging for a fight. Of course, Palmer wasn¡¯t about to spill the beans about Lunar Lab to Stirling. That¡¯s a secret between him and Noe, not for anyone else¡¯s ears. ¡°Noe wasn¡¯t feeling top¨Cnotch today. If the Schnabel family can¡¯t handle the Lambert situation, just give me a shout, and I¡¯ll step in.¡± The mention of the Lambert family had Stirling¡¯s face falling. It was tricky for the Schnabels to make a move ¨C partly because Marcel¡¯s status was super unique, and even a little wave could have a bunch of eyes on them. Stirling gestured towards his study. ¡°Mr. Pock, right this way.¡± Yvonne got back to the Schnabels¡®, raided the kitchen for what felt like ages, and finally stuffed herself silly, belching contentedly. Nobody from the Schnabel family had the decency to drop off some food while she was cooped up in the hospital! She was starved! The living room was deserted, a few scripts tossed on the marble tabletop. Yvonne tiptoed over, snatched up a script, and started flipping through. Breaking into acting! Even though she usually looked down on celebs, thinking of them as nothing but actors, Stirling was a top¨Ctier movie star. If she hit the screen, raking in the dough would be a piece of cake! CHapter 72 CHapter 72 Yvonne was flipping through the script, and the more she read, the more her fingers itched to jump in. Stirling, as a Grand m Best Actor and a superstar heartthrob, always got his hands on scripts from top¨Cnotch production teams. For someone with her experience,nding a leading.dy role would be a piece of cake. If Stirling would take her under his wing, she would be strutting around showbiz like she owned. the ce! But she wasn¡¯t sure if Stirling would be down for letting her y the lead. If he agreed, getting some clout would mean the Schnabel family wouldn¡¯t look down on her so easily anymore! Clutching the script, Yvonne walked up to Stirling¡¯s study with hope in her heart. ¡°Stirling, you in there?¡± Stirling was deep in discussion with Palmer about how to tackle the Lambert and Rosenberg families. Yvonne¡¯s voice made him frown. ¡°Don¡¯t bother me.¡± Yvonne¨Cpushed the door open, looking all pitiful at the entrance, only to catch a glimpse of Palmer chilling on the couch with a coffee! ¡°Palmer, what are you doing at our ce?¡± Palmer didn¡¯t even spare her a nce; he just picked up the Lambert family¡¯s personnel files Stirling had prepared and said coolly, ¡°I brought Noe back. She¡¯s resting. Ms. Schnabel, keep it down, will you?¡± Noe! Always Noe! ¡°Yvonne, what do you want? If it¡¯s nothing, leave. Mr. Pock and I have business to discuss. and you shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± Although Stirling wasn¡¯t too kind to Yvonne, with Palmer, a third party, in the room, he didn¡¯t want to embarrass her. ¡°Stirling, I saw your script downstairs and thought I¡¯d bring it up. It¡¯s really interesting. Can I give it a shot and audition for a role?¡± Her, acting? Getting into the entertainment industry? Stirling¡¯s gut reaction was to shut it down, but seeing Yvonne¡¯s pale face from a recent dunk in the water, coupled with the fact she hadn¡¯t eaten all day, looking all kinds of pitiful, he bit back the scolding on the tip of his tongue. ¡°Stirling, just let me have a go; I promise I won¡¯t disgrace the Schnabel family.¡± 11:14 Stirling pondered. Maybe acting would give her something to do and keep her busy so she wouldn¡¯t hassle Palmer and Noe so much. Might keep her out of trouble! ¡°Alright, but you¡¯re only ying a supporting role. You can be the maid in the script!¡± Yvonne was dumbstruck. She wanted to y the leadingdy, not end up as a maid! ¡°Stirling, I don¡¯t want to y a maid, having to kneel before others; it¡¯s just embarrassing. I want to y the lead!¡± Stirling gave her a look, ¡°The lead? And what makes you think you¡¯re up to it? The lead is already set for the Best Actress. You, a greenhorn with no acting chops, think you can handle a role opposite me?¡± Forget handling a role opposite him; Yvonne would tremble just from him giving her an extral nce! ¡°Get out. Don¡¯t push me to lose my temper.¡± Yvonne looked at Palmer with tearful, expectant eyes, hoping he would put in a good word for her. But Palmer didn¡¯t even give her the time of day. She left the study clutching the script, only to hear Stirling¡¯s voice as she stepped out. ¡°Don¡¯t sleep here tonight. Go back to Grandma¡¯s. Noe doesn¡¯t like strangers around.¡± Yvonne¡¯s tears fell. She was mortified! Even if the house was Noe¡¯s, it was still the Schnabel family¡¯s property. Why couldn¡¯t she stay? In the whole of Serene Haven, not even a room was reserved for her! The moment Noe showed up, she became a stranger. If things kept going this way, she would be booted out of the Schnabel family sooner orter. $ Yvonne clenched her teeth, looking at the script in her hands. She had to seize more opportunities for herself. Only bynding the lead could she secure her footing in the Schnabel family and be the futuredy of the Pock family. Noe padded out of her room barefoot and stepped onto the soft carpet, her dainty feet as charming as porcin. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s the fuss about?¡± Seeing her, Stirling and Palmer both rose to their feet. Palmer stepped forward, scooped up Noe, and headed to her bedroom, setting her down by the bed and bending down to slip her into her slippers. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing shoes? Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± Stirling acted as if he hadn¡¯t seen anything. After all, the CEO of Pock Group going out of his 11:14 way to take care of Noe indicated something special. As her brother, even if he was sore about his sister being snatched away, he couldn¡¯t exactly scold Palmer in front of her. Stirling touched his nose and rolled up his sleeves to head downstairs. ¡°Sis, you hungry? I¡¯ll whip something up!¡± The kids of the Schnabel family weren¡¯t the helpless rich types. In fact, to train them to fend for themselves, Marcel had them roughing it out in military camps from a young age and even surviving on a deserted ind. The cooking skills of the Schnabel boys were pretty darn good. And Stirling was the best cook of the bunch! Soon, three steaming bowls of chicken soup were served up nice and neat. Palmer looked at the dining table, his face lighting up with a smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No need. You haven¡¯t eaten since bringing Noe back, and we can¡¯t have people saying the Schnabels mistreat their guests.¡± The Schnabels, indeed, had impable manners. Even if Stirling couldn¡¯t stand seeing Palmer and Noe cozy, his hospitality was spot¨Con. The three of them sat down and enjoyed a harmonious and cozy meal together. ¡°Stirling, you¡¯re really letting Yvonne try acting?¡± ¡°Just giving her something to do so she won¡¯t be up in everyone¡¯s business all the time. With her brain, she¡¯s probably not cutting it at MediCore University. Let her audition and see. If she makes it, fine.¡± He was not about to pull strings for Yvonne to get her some connections. Sure, there was no shortage of nepaliem in showbiz, but Stirling only respected real talent. ¡°Noe, you interested in the entertainment world too? Want me to set something up for you?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m not into making a ssh and being all in the spotlight. It¡¯s a hassle.¡± Palmer knew her style¨Cshe wasn¡¯t one to show off. ¡°Showbiz is exhausting, both theworking and the acting. Noe should just do whatever she likes, no need to go into acting.¡± Palmer said. Stirling actually agreed with him on that. Anything good for Noe, they were on the same page. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Pock, we¡¯ve had our meal, time you head back, don¡¯t you think?¡± Look at howte it was! Didn¡¯t the Pock family teach Palmer basic manners? Palmer looked at Noe, a sickly sweet smile creeping on his lips. ¡°Do I seem like a stranger to 11:14 you?¡± Noe was a bit puzzled and shook her head. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not a stranger, then surely there¡¯s no need to rush me out the door, right?¡± Stirling was clenching his fists so tight! He managed to keep a friendly smile on his face, holding back the urge to jump Palmer right in front of Noe. ¡°Mr. Pock, your ce is right next door. No need to overstay your wee, is there? Since when has the Pock family fallen so low that they need to crash at someone else¡¯s ce?¡± Noe picked up on the undertones in Stirling¡¯s words and nced at Palmer. ¡°You should go.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow, we¡¯ll head to Grandpa Merrick¡¯s together.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Palmer took Noe¡¯s hand and nted a light goodbye kiss on the back of her hand, grabbed his coat, and left. Once Palmer finally took off, Stirling nearly cried tears as wide as noodles. He had to tell Beckett that if they didn¡¯t do something fast, their little sister might just get snatched away! ¡°Noe, what¡¯s Mr. Pock got to do with us going to Grandpa Merrick¡¯s?¡± ¡°Grandpa invited him too. You don¡¯t like Palmer?¡± Stirling ground his teeth, his face painted with a gentle smile and patted Noe on the head. ¡°No, why would I? I can¡¯t get enough of him!¡± Faced with Noe¡¯s puzzled, slightly frowning expression, Stirling could¡¯ve pped himself. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I mean, if you like him, then I like him!¡± CHapter 73 CHapter 73 Looking at the scrutinizing and side¨Ceye his sister was giving him, Stirling felt a whole lot of reuret in his heart. It only he knew better, he wouldn¡¯t have agreed to star in that movie with two male leads! If this whole mess tarnished his shining reputation in his sister¡¯s eyes, he would go ballistic on those movie studios. ¡°Go to sleep; we¡¯ll catch up tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, good night, Stirling.¡± At themon ward in Imperial West Hospital. Vincent was staring at the bill like it was sucking his blood dry. Just for passing out from a shock, and he even told them somebody at the door knocked into him- the hospital should be chasing that dude for the medical expenses! But the medics? They wouldn¡¯t listen; they just kept nagging him to cough up the cash. With no choice, Vincent paid up and, spotting Briony walking in, said, ¡°Briony, where have you been? Mr. Schnabel¡¯s gonna show up any minute. Don¡¯t go wandering off.¡± ¡°When is Mr. Schnabel gonna get here? We¡¯ve been waiting all afternoon. Is he reallying?¡± Vincent couldn¡¯t be sure. Would someone like Tristan actuallye to see them? Belinda just chuckled with an air of mystery. his ears at work. When ¡°You guys just don¡¯t get it. Mr. Schnabel¡¯s a big shot, always up would he find the time to meet us? Even if he doese, for the Schnabel family¡¯s rep, he would avoid daylight and sneak in under the radar. ¡°You¡¯re right. If Mr. Schnabel knows he¡¯s been bamboozled, he¡¯ll definitely show.¡± Vincent nced at his watch, getting antsy. If Mr. Schnabel didn¡¯t show up soon, they would be forking over another day¡¯s hospital fees! A few bodyguards in sleek ck suits entered the ward. ¡°Vincent? Mr. Schnabel sent us to pick you up. Come with us.¡± The Lamberts couldn¡¯t contain their glee, scrambling out of bed to follow the bodyguards. Briony, not seeing Tristan anywhere, whispered, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Schnabel? We¡¯ve got some important stuff to tell him. Isn¡¯t heing?¡± The bodyguards didn¡¯t give her the time of day, making things awkward real quick. Briony tugged at Belinda¡¯s sleeve with a pout, ¡°Mom, I need to pee.¡± 11:15 ¡°Go ahead, make it snappy. The bodyguards didn¡¯t mind Briony and whisked Vincent and Belinda off in the car, zooming away from Imperial West Hospital. As soon as the car started, Belinda got antsy. Briony wasn¡¯t on board yet! ¡°Hey, sir, my girl¡¯s not in the car yet! Why¡¯d you take off? I swear, I¡¯m gonna tell Mr. Schnabel to fire your asses!¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± The Lambert couple exchanged looks, sensing something was off. Where the heck were they being taken? ¡°We¡¯re Mr. Schnabel¡¯s guests! What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± The bodyguards just smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough!¡± The next morning, Stirling had just whipped up breakfast and was about to wake Noe when the doorbell rang. Palmer, with a whole parade of food carts behind him, watched as the servants efficientlyid out a breakfast spread that filled the grand table with tempting sights and smells, making Stirling¡¯s home¨C cooked meals look downright inconspicuous. Stirling¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡± ¡°After enjoying your dinnerst night, it¡¯s only right I take care of breakfast.¡± Stirling¡¯s mood improved slightly, and he was about to let it slide when Palmer strutted upstairs. ¡°Hey! What do you think you¡¯re doing? You¡¯re addicted to my sister¡¯s room or what? Get down here!¡± Noe woke to see a snazzily dressed Palmer with a fuming, pajama d Stirling behind him. Stirling was still cursing up a storm. ¡°Stirling, what¡¯s all the ruckus this early?¡± She had just woken to their bickering, yet they both looked fresh as daisies. Noe, in her light blue pajamas, her hair like a misty cloud sprawled on the pillow, her doe eyes still misty with sleep, gazed at the two men before her. Palmer caught his breath, momentarily lost for words at the gorgeous sight before him! He bent down, caressing Noe¡¯s head with a tender touch. ¡°Awake? Wanna sleep some more? I brought breakfast and got all the stuff you said you liked ready in the kitchen.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll be right up.¡± 11:15 ¡°Don¡¯t rush; I¡¯ve got some stuff to hash out with your brother anyway. Take your time.¡± Reluctantly leaving the silkiness of her hair, which carried her signature hint of cedar, Palmer turned away. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Stirling, ying the third wheel against the door, muttered under his breath as Palmer stepped out. ¡°Good on you, kiddo, for knowing your ce!¡± As Palmer closed Noe¡¯s door, he massaged his temples, a tad frustrated. ¡°Next time I¡¯m talking to Noe, try to keep your distance, will you? And if you¡¯re just jealous of our chemistry, go find yourself a fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Wait, what? Is he poking fun ¡®cause I¡¯m single?¡± Stirling thought. He flew off the handle, fists clenched. ¡°What are you implying? She¡¯s my sister, mine! Don¡¯t even think about messing with her in front of me!¡± ¡°The Lambert couple got dragged out to the sticksst night and got a thrashing. Was that your doing?¡± Stirling paused, whipping out his phone to check, and then looked up cluelessly. ¡°Nah, my guys were scheduled to rough up the Rosenberg folks today. I thought it was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Palmer and he locked eyes, both thinking the other was the culprit. Stirling said, ¡°Looks like it was my dad¡¯s doing, but my guys went too. It¡¯s a buy one get one free deal might as well give them another thrashing. At least that way, they won¡¯t be able to hassle Noe again. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this between us, okay? No need to tell Noe about it,¡± Palmer said. Stirling nodded in agreement with Palmer¡¯s suggestion, deciding there was no point in bothering Noe with this annoying stuff. She should just stay happy and carefree. The Pock family¡¯s cook whipped up a seriously hearty breakfast, so much so that even Stirling, who was always watching his weight, downed three sandwiches with a look of pure bliss on his face. ¡°The Pock family¡¯s chef is pretty darn good, huh? When¡¯s he gonna jump ship to Schnabel Manor? Mr. Pock, you wouldn¡¯t be so petty as to not let a chef go, would you?¡± ¡°No way, it¡¯s just that my grandpa is also a big fan of the chef¡¯s skills. If you like it, you shoulde over to the Pock Mansion more often. Noe and I would love to have you.¡± Stirling nearly choked on his almond pastry, shooting Palmer a look that could kill. Noe nced over at Palmer and Stirling. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. You guys can keep bickering if you want; I¡¯m outta here.¡± Stirling hurried after her, worried that Noe might overthink things. ¡°Sis, it¡¯s all his fault; I¡¯m innocent! You believe me, right?¡± ¡°I do.¡± 11:15 Palmer followed Noe, gently taking her small hand in his. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared gifts for Grandpa Merrick and Grandma Freya; we¡¯ll send them together under our names, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Watching their hands sped together, Stirling felt like he had been stabbed in the heart, his eyes sore, his heart riddled with holes. Could it be true? Like Palmer said, should he start looking for a fianc¨¦e? Palmer must be scheming to steal his sister away on purpose! At the entrance of the Horwich Mansion, Sienna and Tristan, having received the news, were already there early, pushing the old man and thedy out to wait. ¡°Mom, Dad, why don¡¯t you go inside? It¡¯s cold out here!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? It¡¯s sunny, It¡¯s Noe¡¯s first time here: I¡¯m just helping her recognize the ce so she knows this is her home, too!¡± CHapter 74 CHapter 74 17-15 Sienna saw that the old man anddy were set in their ways, so she thought better of trying to persuade them further. A stretched Bentley pulled up at the door, its luxurious, sleek body gliding over the flower and nt¨C covered path, leaving a trail of sweet fragrance. Two tall and handsome men got out first, and just as Stirling reached out his hand, he saw Palmer already bending down and offering his hand to Noe. ¡°Sis, save some hand¨Cholding for me!¡± Stirling was on the verge of tears. At home, Beckett always hogged the spotlight, and he could live with not getting to hold his sister¡¯s hand, but now Palmer was in the picture, too! Noe, holding onto one brother on each side, approached the Horwich family elders. ¡°Grandpa and Grandma, I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Good, good. From now on, this is your home too!¡± Merrick Horwich had met Noe before, so he was quiteposed, patting her hand gently. Freya, however, was meeting her granddaughter for the first time. Initially, she had mixed feelings about Noe because of her worries about ra, but the moment she saw Noe¡¯s face, which bore a striking resemnce to Sienna¡¯s, Freya¡¯s tears started rolling down her cheeks. ¡°My dear child, you¡¯ve finallye back. I missed yourst birthday; don¡¯t hold it against me.¡± Sienna was startled. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on? Why the tears? Don¡¯t scare Noe, let¡¯s go inside.¡± Noe squatted in front of Freya, looking up at the olddy with white hair. Freya, a scientist who made significant contributions to Harmonia Country and didn¡¯t even shed a tear when receiving the national medal of honor, was now crying like a baby. ¡°Grandma. I¡¯m not mad.¡± Stirling chimed in, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m still here, don¡¯t y favorites! Don¡¯t act like I¡¯m invisible; you always said I was your favorite!¡± Freya couldn¡¯t help butugh upon seeing her obviously neglected grandson. ¡°You little scamp. who could possibly miss you? Let¡¯s go inside. Noe must be tired from standing at the door, and even the little Pock family guy is here. Great, I love a full house.¡± Polite as ever, Palmer presented a gift. ¡°These are for both of you, prepared by Noe and me.¡± Sienna couldn¡¯t help but see hearts when she looked at Palmer and Noe together¨Csuch a picture¨Cperfect couple! She had worried that someone with Palmer¡¯s background wouldn¡¯t think Noe was good enough, but Palmer couldn¡¯t care less and was super attentive and caring towards Noe¨Ctotal devotion! Freya and Merrick only had Sienna as their daughter and treated her kids like the apple of their eve. At the dinner table, the family sat together for a rare meal. Freva turned to Sienna, putting down her cutlery. ¡°Sienna, you mentioned you wanted to divorce Tristan? What¡¯s that about? I didn¡¯t have a chance to ask you when I got backst night, what exactly happened?¡± Tristan was on the brink of tears! Oh boy, his dear mother¨Cinw! He had just barely smoothed things over, and Sienna had agreed to drop it, but now his mother¨Cinw brought it up, and Sienna was sure to get worked up again! Sienna put down her fork, her gaze piercing as she looked at her parents. ¡°Yes, and I¡¯m determined to go through with it! Mom, Dad, I¡¯ve thought it over. I didn¡¯t divorce Tristan before because I loved him and also because Noe hadn¡¯te back. I felt guilty towards my child, thinking how devastated she would be if she found out her parents were divorced.¡± She looked lovingly at Noe sitting beside her, her mind made up. ¡°But I can¡¯t stand that old witch bullying my daughter over and over again! Why should my Noe be bossed around by her? Mom, Dad, can you believe Tristan¡¯s mother badmouthed my precious daughter right in front of me? I was so close to pping her!¡± Sienna had always been well¨Cmannered and demure, never raising her voice. But when it came to Ashlyn, she was so furious that her eyes were bloodshot, remembering the nasty things Ashlyn had said about Noe right to her face. Merrick looked at Tristan. ¡°Tristan, this is something we really can¡¯t meddle in. Your mother has indeed gone too far. For years, Sienna and we have put up with it for you and the kids, but it¡¯s clear that your mother won¡¯t be kind¨Chearted just because of our patience!¡± Tristan was frantic! ¡°Right, right, I¡¯ve discussed this with my father, and he says they will divorce tomorrow. From now on, Sienna and Noe won¡¯t have to see her again. I promise I¡¯ll make sure it never happens again!¡± Sienna snorted. ¡°Your promise? And how will you keep it? Do you have any idea that the call you gotst night was from someone she gave your number to?¡± Tristan¡¯s gaze turned icy. What the Lambert family had done to Noe was unforgivable to the Schnabel family. If Ashlyn of the Schnabel family indirectly assisted the Lambert family in harming Noe, he might not be able to forgive his own mother! Yox, Fit get to the bottom of this, Don¡¯t worry, no matter what she says, I won¡¯t let her bother Trdan was about ready to kneel right there in front of his inws. In his middle age, though sit the refined and handsome helmsman of the Schnabel family, Tristan had no airs about him when it came to Sienna. ¡°Sienna, I can¡¯t be without you. How about we just stay here and never back home?¡± seeing him so tearful. Sienna¡¯s heart softened. She took Noe¡¯s hand, her face full of remorse. Sweetheart, if that old witch ever bothers you again, just ck her.¡± Sana nced over at Palmer standing behind Noe. ¡°Mr. Pock, Noe¡¯s still wet behind. the ears and, just like me, a total softie. Please, keep an extra eye on her for me.¡± Palmer nodded resolutely, slipping his arm around Noe¡¯s waist in a sweet yet appropriate gesture No worries, Noe¡¯s my fianc¨¦e; I¡¯ll take good care of her.¡± Freva, seeing how lovey¨Cdovey they were, couldn¡¯t help but snicker and yfully kicked the old man next to her. That old coot, justst night, he was bad¨Cmouthing Palmer, plotting to call off this engagement. and now he was gawking at Palmer, who was looking at Noe like she was his prized possession; their romance was obviously going strong! ¡°Sienna, why does your mother¨Cinw have it out for you all the time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because she¡¯s banking on her niece marrying Tristan, dead set on getting her own kin in as the Mrs.¡± Talking about all that drama, Sienna rolled her eyes and reached out to show her parents the burn she got from Ashlyn¡¯s ridiculous tantrum. When she stretched out her hand, she noticed the redness and swelling had vanished! ¡°Noe, that medicine you gave mest time is pure magic. I thought it would take ages to heal! Hook me up with some more; next time I get hurt, it¡¯lle in handy!¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get some for you when I get home.¡± The ointment Noe made for Sienna was top¨Cnotch, her handiwork. In the ck market, anything doled out by the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris was worth its weight in gold. But it was with the Schnabel family that her concoctions really proved their worth. She just wanted to protect her family, hoping they could live happily and safely! Palmer, on the sidelines, didn¡¯t feel like an outsider at all, watching Noe with a smile in his eyes. The family she cherished, he would dly protect, too! 11:15 Briony had only popped to the loo, and her parents had vanished into thin air. After searching high and low to no avail, she decided to just book a hotel room and catch some Zs. She had a film audition to nail and needed her beauty sleep. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. To avoid any interruptions from her parents, Briony switched off her phone early and arrived at the set bright and early. Everyone there was gearing up for auditions, with Briony¡¯s hands shaking with nerves. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, right this way, please.¡± Yvonne strutted onto the set, taking a look at thepetition vying for the same role and snorted disdainfully. ¡°This part. I¡¯ve got my eye on it, so the rest of you might as well pack it in!¡± CHapter 75 CHapter 75 Yvonne strutted among a group of actors waiting to audition, her nose in the air. ¡°I¡¯m the youngdy of the Schnabel family. Since I¡¯m here for the audition today, this role is as good as mine!¡± The other bit yers looked at each other, a bit lost. But Briony, sitting in the corner, suddenly had a lightbulb moment. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Ms. Schnabel? The same Schnabel family that livestreamed their birthday bash around the world? She remembered trying to watch the livestream but got kicked out because of a lousy inte connection before she could see Ms. Schnabel¡¯s face. And now, she could actually see her here in the flesh! Yvonne paraded around with her chin up, scoping out herpetition for the role. Her brother had agreed to let her audition, and she wasn¡¯t about to settle for some minor role where she would have to kneel and serve the lead. The mere thought made Yvonne¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, this role is definitely yours, but as for the other roles¡­¡± Yvonne nced at Briony, who had spoken, and frowned, ¡°Who are you to speak to me?¡± Briony wanted to suck up to her, but Yvonne wasn¡¯t buying it at all! And now Yvonne had embarrassed her in front of everyone, leaving Briony with no way to save face. Some people around them snickered, clearly unimpressed by Briony¡¯s brown¨Cnosing. Yvonne¡¯s gaze swept over the actors andnded on a woman who hadn¡¯t said a word. + ¡°You, drop out of this audition.¡± ¡°Me? You sure?¡± Yvonne felt a strong sense of threat from this woman. If she was around, Yvonne was sure she wouldn¡¯tnd the lead role. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, missy. Whichpany are you with, huh? Got no eyes or what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Yasbel, with East Sea Culture Company. What advice do you have for me, Ms. Schnabel?¡± Yasbel sat there cool as a cucumber, legs crossed, oozing charisma with just a nce, making all the auditionees¡® eyes pop. She looked at Yvonne, who was dressed like a peacock, her sly eyes slightly mocking. Yvonne was taken aback at the name. Yasbel? Wasn¡¯t she the actress who just snagged the Best Actress award? Her brother just mentioned the female lead in this y was supposed to be an award¨Cwinner. Could it be Yasbel? 11:15 Chapter /5 ¡°Drop out, let me take the role. Name your price, I can pay.¡± Yvonne looked at Yasbel, thinking if she could just get the role and act opposite Stirling, the grand m actor, she would be an overnight sensation. Yasbel looked at her as if she were a fool. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I¡¯m not short on cash.¡± Yvonne waved her hand impatiently, shooing her away like a fly. She couldn¡¯t believe these showbiz girls didn¡¯t need money. If they weren¡¯t in it for the dough, why act at all? ¡°Just tell me how much you want.¡± Yasbel gave Yvonne a look like she was looking at an idiot. Was this Schnabel family gal out of her mind? ¡°Ms. Schnabel, better move aside. I¡¯ve got an audition to attend.¡± Yasbel clicked her heels and walked past Yvonne, her presence felt from dozen feet away, not giving a second nce to Yvonne, who was now red¨Cfaced with anger, then left. Seeing Yasbel leave, hardly anyone bothered with Yvonne anymore. Ms. Schnabel? She was just out here losing face for the Schnabel family, Wasn¡¯t she? Briony sidled up to Yvonne, hoping to curry favor. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, don¡¯t worry, the role¡¯s in the bag for you. Just put in a word with the Schnabels; I hear Stirling¡¯s invested in this y.¡± ¡°What¡¯s Stirling¡¯s investment got to do with you? The lead role is mine, for sure!¡± Briony was fuming. Was Yvonne deaf to hints? She had made it so obvious! After all, Yasbel was an award¨Cwinning actress, and the lead role had already been discussed with her. Now, she was just going through the motions with her audition. Yvonne felt her eyelid twitch at the sight of Yasbel. With her around, there was no chance of nabbing the role! Her gaze then fell on the obsequious Briony, who seemed to have popped out of nowhere, looking every inch the country bumpkin. ¡°Get Yasbel to give up the role for me, and I¡¯ll let you y a minor role serving me coffee.¡± Briony clenched her teeth. This was a period drama, and if she couldn¡¯t be the lead, she would be reduced to ying a kneeling maid. No way she was going for that! If she could get Yasbel and Yvonne to both drop out¡­ Briony walked up to Yasbel and cooed, ¡°Miss Yasbel, I¡¯m a huge fan. I¡¯ve always loved your work¡­¡± Yasbel rolled her eyes at the person responsible for putting her boss through hell in the Lambert family and thought, ¡°With that look and smarts, she dared to think she was prettier than my boss?¡± ¡°Then tell me what works I¡¯ve done.¡± Briony was stumped! How would she know what Yasbel had acted in? She didn¡¯t have time to keep up with showbiz gossip. 11:16 ¡°I can¡¯t think of any at the moment, Miss Yasbel. I really admire you, but Ms. Schnabel sent me to ask you to drop out of the audition.¡± Yasbel rolled her eyes again, still a picture of beauty. ¡°What Ms. Schnabel? Some nobody that. even the Schnabel family doesn¡¯t acknowledge has the nerve to im she¡¯s Ms. Schnabel? Last time I checked the live stream, the Schnabel sisters didn¡¯t look anything like her.¡± As Yasbel spoke, she tilted her chin up arrogantly, looking down at Yvonne, who was on the verge of going ballistic. What on earth was this woman bbering about? She had the nerve to bring up that livestream from Noe¡¯s birthday bash¨CGod knows what kind of love potion Tristan got slipped by Noe and ra! After that birthday fiasco, she became the butt of the joke among her circle; her so¨Ccalled friends wouldn¡¯t even call her for a card game, literally giving her the cold shoulder. If it weren¡¯t for that, would she stoop so low as to do this kind of penny¨Cante gig to make money? ¡°Zip it! Do I need you to tell me if I¡¯m Ms. Schnabel or not?¡± Yasbel shrugged nonchntly, her red lips parting in a seemingly harmless smile. Yvonne was so livid she could punch someone! She wanted to rip Yasbel¡¯s face apart and see how she would strut around then! Before Yvonne could pounce, a cold voice pierced the air from outside. ¡°What¡¯s all the racket? If you don¡¯t want to audition, then get lost!¡± A man in a sharp suit walked in, exuding authority and looking dashing, his jawline sharp as a de and sleeves rolled up, a natural¨Cborn leader. His presence silenced the room instantly. Everyone was so in awe you could hear a pin drop. Yvonne quickly sidled up to him, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°Stirling, this woman¡¯s bullying me! She won¡¯t even let me audition. I just wanted to y a small role. How can she bully me just because she¡¯s been around the block in showbiz? I¡¯m your sister¡­¡± Stirling didn¡¯t even nce at Yvonne, his gaze settling on Yasbel. ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but my sister says she¡¯s a huge fan of yours. She¡¯s waiting in the car outside. Would you mind meeting her?¡± It was the first time Yasbel had heard Stirling use such a gentle tone in all the time she had known him. Looked like the boss¡¯s new family was much more attentive to her than the Lambert family ever was. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m quite interested in Ms. Schnabel too, but as for this Ms. Schnabel impersonator¡­¡± Yasbel cast a meaningful look at Yvonne, who was shivering like a leaf, then strutted away in her five¨Cinch heels. She walked straight to the Cayenne, opened the door, and sat down, handing over the earrings 11:16 she was wearing to Noe. ¡°Boss, next time, tell Phecda and the crew to upgrade this thing. This bug is so ugly, it¡¯s cramping my style.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± E CHapter 76 CHapter 76 Yasbel was massaging her earlobes and leaning into Noe, breathing out a scent as lovely as orchids, enchanting and mesmerizing. ¡°Okay, this bug might be an eyesore, but I¡¯ve tested it out. We can mass¨Cproduce these bad boys, and the data¡¯s good to go.¡± The bugs from Pris Star were made in cahoots with Harmonia Country Research Institute¡¯s top¨C notchbs, supplied directly to the military and for Pris Star¡¯s internal use. ¡°You¡¯ve been working your butt off. All the credit for this experiment¡¯s data goes to you.¡± Yasbel, tickled pink, hugged Noe¡¯s arm and nuzzled it affectionately. ¡°Who cares about credit? I wanna be in the spotlight!¡± ¡°You got it. I¡¯ll bankroll you. Shoot whatever movie you want.¡± Yasbel¡¯s eyes lit up like Christmas trees! Her boss was rolling in dough these days. Back in the day, they had to hustle like crazy just to scrape together some change for their experiments. They startedpanies left and right, some hitting the big time, others opening shops, but money was always tight. And thoseb gears cost an arm and a leg!= Last time, they bought a few grams of some rock, and bam, over a hundred grand gone, making the boss mine for stones up in Northstone. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Just thinking about it got Yasbel all teary¨Ceyed. But now, her boss had switched to a family rolling in it, and finally, they could live a bit more comfortably! ¡°Next month, when the Gemstone Gambling King swings by Imperial City, you¡¯re gonna be my plus one.¡± Yasbel nearly bit her tongue off, stuttering as she looked at Noe. ¡°The Gemstone Gambling¡­ King?¡± ¡°The old man¡¯sing too. No more hiding.¡± Noe¡¯s gambling skills were mostly learned from the old man and Yasbel. But Yasbel chose to unt her beauty in acting instead. If the old man caught her, she would probably get an earful for days! Yasbel drooped, reluctantly agreeing. ¡°Oh, boss, I bumped into two characters at the audition. What a scene! Ran into Briony and Yvonne, and they so don¡¯t have what it takes to act.¡± Briony and Yvonne? Why on earth would they think of joining showbiz? ¡°That¡¯s none of my business.¡± ¡°Want me to mess with them? That Yvonne even told me to drop out. Hrious! Even if I did, she couldn¡¯t act her way out of a paper bag. Thinks she¡¯s all that.¡± Noe frowned slightly, looking at Yasbel with concern. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°All good, all good. If it weren¡¯t for you showing up, there might¡¯ve been trouble. You know I don¡¯t know my own strength. Let¡¯s grab some grub!¡± Yasbel was one of Pris Star¡¯s own, someone Noe picked up from the edge of the international warzones. If it came to a fight, she knew a ton of ways to shut Yvonne up. In the audition hall, Yvonne was still wiping away tears. Not Noe again! Damn it, Noe. Even the actress Noe admired was one she couldn¡¯t stand. If it weren¡¯t for that shameless Yasbel snatching roles from her, she would have been the lead! ¡°Stirling, you¡¯ve got to stand up for me! That Yasbel just bullied me and didn¡¯t give a damn about our family¡­ Stirling spoke indifferently. ¡°Just y a supporting role well; don¡¯t cause drama. Remember you¡¯ve got a resit at school and Grandma needs you. Don¡¯t go looking for trouble everywhere.¡± Yvonne didn¡¯t want to go back to school! She studied medicine but couldn¡¯t understand a thing! ¡°Can I take a break from school¡­ I want to take care of Grandma and maybe polish my acting. I don¡¯t want to be the only dead weight in the Schnabel family.¡± The real dead weight of the Schnabel family wasn¡¯t her. It was Noe, whozed around all day. Why did she get all the luck? Stirling frowned, displeased. ¡°What are you up to now? If you want to take a break, go talk to Grandpa, not me. If you want to act, start with the supporting roles. I started as an extra, and so will you. Take it step by step.¡± Yvonne nodded, seething inside but not daring to contradict Stirling. She had no choice but to agree. But once she got into the crew, she would find her chance. Maybe some sabotage to make sure Yasbel could never act again and the lead role would be hers. Briony, seeing this, hurried over like apdog. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, give me a role too. I¡¯m friends with Ms. Schnabel.¡± Stirling felt she looked familiar, probably seen her around Yvonne¡¯s circle before. He nced at Briony with impatience. ¡°Go audition yourself.¡± Briony rushed after the departing Stirling, whispering, ¡°I¡¯m the sister of your family¡¯s caretaker, Noe¡­¡± She felt awkward saying it, and only Stirling heard. Stirling¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously, staring straight at Briony. ¡°You¡¯re from the Lambert family?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m Noe¡¯s sister from before; we¡¯re family. If she did anything wrong, Mr. Schnabel, could you please forgive her for my sake?¡± Stirling was about to burst intoughter from irritation! Where did the Lambert family get off? Comining about their sister right to his face! ¡°Alright, I¡¯m seriously sick of this crap!¡± Stirling, with a stone¨Ccold face, called over some clueless security guards. ¡°Throw her out! And cklist their whole family from all Schnabel enterprises!¡± Briony¡¯s eyes widened in shock, wanting to argue her case, but she was quickly silenced and tossed out by security! It had to be Noe¡¯s doing! Everything was fine until Stirling heard Noe¡¯s name and got mad; that was why he treated her this way! If it weren¡¯t for that jinx, Noe, she would¡¯ve scored the role she wanted today and been a shining star in showbiz! Briony was super bummed out and whipped out her phone to tattle to Vincent, only to find her phone had been off this whole time. She hurriedly turned it on and called, but after several attempts, no one picked up. She wondered. ¡°Where the heck did Mom and Dad go? They didn¡¯t ditch me and go back to Noe, did they?¡± The more Briony thought about it, the more she felt it was possible. If Noe got back into the Lambert family, she was certain to snatch everything that was hers! She had to do something to prove she was the Lambert family¡¯s most valuable daughter. Finally, the call went through, and Vincent¡¯s screams came from the other end. ¡°My dear daughter! Hurry up and bring some cash to save us! Or else your mom and I are gonna get whacked!¡± Briony¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head! ¡°Dad, what are you talking about? Where are you now?¡± ¡°Outskirts of Imperial City. They¡¯re demanding five million; hurry up and bring the money to save us!¡± Five million? She didn¡¯t have that kind of cash! After her return to the family, she had been on a revenge shopping spree. Forget about having five million; she didn¡¯t even have five hundred bucks on her. 12-21 ¡°I, I don¡¯t have that much money¡­¡± ¡°Go to Milford! Get the Rosenberg family to cough up the dough to save us! Ah! Stop hitting, stop hitting¡­ Dear daughter, your mom¡¯s and my lives are in your hands now!¡± Vincent and Belinda¡¯s screams were a nonstop horror show on the other end of the phone, sending chills down Briony¡¯s spine. Nearly in tears and panicking, she quickly agreed, ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m on my way to find Milford.¡± CHapter 77 CHapter 77 After Briony hung up the phone, she was freaking out and her hands were shaking like crazy as she managed to get through to Milford. Milford had been living it up these past few days, partying hard and hitting up all the chicks around him, having the time of his life. When Milford got Briony¡¯s call, he didn¡¯t even think twice before hanging up on her. ¡°Mr. Rosenberg, ain¡¯t Ms. Lambert your fianc¨¦e? Looks like she¡¯s checking in on you!¡± Milford scoffed and lit up a cigarette. ¡°She¡¯s already cramping my style before we¡¯re hitched, acting like she¡¯s thedy of the Rosenbergs! She¡¯s definitely got no good news there. I¡¯m not dealing with her.¡± The phone wouldn¡¯t stop ringing, and Milford, with no other choice, picked up again. ¡°Milford! Something¡¯s happened to my parents! Please, you gotta help me! Briony¡¯s voice, all teary and shaky, came through the speaker, while Milford, still ying cards, gave the model beside him a kiss. ¡°Mhm, what¡¯s up? Spell it out.¡± ¡°Some¡­ someone kidnapped my parents, and they¡¯re beating up my dad! They¡¯re saying they need five million to let them go, and I don¡¯t have so much cash. Milford, please, you gotta save my folks!¡± Milford was surprised, ¡°Five million? Is Mr. Lambert worth that much?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean, Milford? Just help us out; once my folks are safe, we¡¯ll pay your back!¡± Milford didn¡¯t have that kind of dough on him either. Plus, Briony¡¯s family nearly lost all face just yesterday at Imperial West Hospital, and Mrs. Rosenberg made it clear he should keep his distance from Briony. That girl from the ghetto wasn¡¯t fit to step foot in the Rosenberg estate. ¡°Look, Briony, you should chill out. I ain¡¯t got that much cash either so better ask someone else.¡± Briony couldn¡¯t believe Milford actually turned her down. ¡°Milford, what¡¯s that noise over there? Where are you? I¡¯m freaking out and can youe get me?¡± Milford wasn¡¯t born yesterday. The Lambert girl wasn¡¯t worth five million to him. If he went to pick up Briony now, that five million would go down the drain because the Lambert family wouldn¡¯t pay back squat! 12:21 Milford hugged the models and had a st with drinks. He muddled it through, not giving a single thought to Briony¡¯s crisis, I¡¯m in the middle of a deal here, Briony. I¡¯m doing this for our future. Don¡¯t make a scene: gotta hang up now. Briony, hearing such suspicious noises on the other end, had a feeling Milford wasn¡¯t really talking business. But she just couldn¡¯t find a way to express it. What the heck was Milford up to? Why did it sound like there were women¡¯s voices? Damn it! Must be those shameless hussies again! The call was quickly ended, and Milford didn¡¯t offer her a dime. Briony tried calling him over a dozen times, but none were answered. Standing on the roadside, Briony stamped her foot in frustration, almost in tears worrying about the Lambert parents.. ¡°It¡¯s all that Noe¡¯s fault, our family¡¯s mess is because of her. She¡¯s a Jinx!¡± Yvonne, who was about to leave the set, stopped in her tracks when she heard this. Did she hear that right? Was that girl talking about Noe? Herst name was Lambert if she remembered it right. Could that mean she¡¯s rted to the family that adopted Noe before? Yvonne forced a warm smile and walked over to Briony, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Anything I can help with?¡± Briony¡¯s spirits lifted on seeing Yvonne. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, could you please give, um, lend me five million? My parents have been kidnapped, they they¡¯re demanding five million for their release. Once my folks are safe, we¡¯ll repay you! Five million is just pocket change to you, so please, I¡¯m begging you to help me! I¡¯d do anything for you¡­¡± Yvonne¡¯s lips curled as she asked, ¡°Are you from the Lambert family? Then you know Noe, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, I know her! She used to be my sister¡­¡± Briony felt like Ms. Yvonne Schnabel seemed really interested in Noe¡¯s business and, wary of having another Stirling incident, she decided to y it smart. She whipped out her phone and showed Yvonne some sneaky snaps of Noe she took in the Lambert estate. Noe was either watering nts or ying music in the photos. She was looking so serene and graceful, oblivious to being photographed. ¡°We used to live together and I took all of these. If you want to know more about Noe, we could work togetherter, but right now I need to save my parents. Please help me!¡± 12:21 The contempt was clear in Yvonne¡¯s eyes. The bumpkin lived in such a tiny house, and she really thought herself as sort of posh artist with that cheap music instrument? She thought. And then there¡¯s Briony, clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed. But if she could be of use¡­ Briony bit her lip, ¡°Ms. Schnabel, if you agree to help, I¡¯ll tell you anything you want to know!¡± ¡°You know everything about Noe?¡± ¡°Absolutely. We grew up together and those pics are proof.¡± Yvonne didn¡¯t have five million on her, or else she wouldn¡¯t be out finding a job of acting. But she didn¡¯t want to let Briony slip away so easily; more dirt on Noe could surely mean kicking her out of the Schnabel family. ¡°Wait for me. Give me an ount number, and I¡¯ll wire the money this afternoon.¡± Briony¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°Alright! Thank you so much, Ms. Schnabel!¡± In the ward of Imperial West Hospital. Yvonne tiptoed into the hospital room and fished out Ashlyn¡¯s phone from under her snoozing head, then she transferred some cash to her own ount and slipped it back ¨C her action was smooth as silk. Just as she returned the phone, Ashlyn¡¯s eyes popped open. That nearly scared the bejesus out of Yvonne. ¡°Yvonne, where have you been?¡± Ashlyn asked. ¡°Granny, I¡¯m out pounding the pavement and trying tond an acting gig. But Stirling ain¡¯t letting me shine as the lead. He only lets me grovel as that darn maid on the floor. It¡¯s such a p in the face to you!¡± Ashlyn perked right up, ¡°What¡¯s that you say? Stirling¡¯s got you ying a maid? Does he even See you as a sister anymore? That¡¯s utterly outrageous! I¡¯m calling Stirling this instant!¡± Yvonne, scared stiff that a call would blow the lid off her bullying antics on set, quickly intervened. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Granny, it¡¯s cool. I can start small and I swear I won¡¯t ever let you down!¡± Ashlyn shot her a look of disapproval, ¡°Why in the world would you want to be an actress? What¡¯s so great about being a clown? A fine Ms. Schnabel, why bother chasing the spotlight?¡± Yvonne pouted, looking like the picture of misery. ¡°It¡¯s all ¡®cause Noe keeps badmouthing me at home and she even got me booted from school.¡± Ashlyn bolted upright, her eyes zing with fury. 12:21 ¡°What did you say? That wild child Noe dares to mess with you!? Have you told Mr. Pock about this? Yvonne, listen to me; you¡¯ve got to y your cards right and marry into the Pock family! That¡¯s how you¡¯ll snag a spot in the Schnabels!¡± ¡°But Mr. Pock doesn¡¯t even bat me an eye.¡± She did want to seek out Palmer, but she just couldn¡¯t even get a glimpse of the guy. A gleam darted across Ashlyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll make the call to get Noe to bring Mr. Pock over to see me. I refuse to believe they won¡¯t show. And when they do, you know what to do, right?¡± Yvonne jumped up from her chair. She was all fired up! As long as she had the chance to be alone with Palmer, she was confident that she could make his heart skip a beat for her! ¡°I got it, Granny! I¡¯ll knock it out of the park!¡± CHapter 78 CHapter 78 In Yvonne¡¯s eyes, a guy like Palmer could only be snagged by a top¨Cnotch chick like herself. As the helm of the Pock Group, Palmer¡¯s wealth was off the charts Yvonne had eavesdropped on Marcel cracking jokes about it. If the Pock family ever hit rock bottom, the entire GDP of Imperial City would take a twenty¨Cyear nosedive! Right then and there, Yvonne vowed to herself that she¡¯d tie the knot with Palmer no matter what. Noe was just a bumpkin fresh from the sticks ¨C she¡¯s not qualified to stand next to Palmer? ¡°Granny, chill. I¡¯ll make sure Mr. Pock falls head over heels for me.¡± Ashlyn gazed at her granddaughter, the apple of her eye, all smiles and pride. Yvonne really knew how to show some love, who always popped by to see her. She was not the same as that wild, rule¨Cbreaking girl. Ashlyn dialed Noe¡¯s number with her nose in the air, ¡°Noe, where the heck have you been these past two days? Did I ever say you could skip looking after me in the hospital? I¡¯mying it down for you now ¨C bring Mr. Pock along today to see me, or you¡¯ll have hell to pay!¡± Noe nced at her phone while she was at the Horwich Mansion, keepingpany with a couple of old¨Ctimers and eating with the Schnabels. She was in the middle of cracking a lobster for Freya so her hands were tied. In that case, she just flipped on the speakerphone. It didn¡¯t ur to her that it was Ashlyn on the line, and her rant echoed throughout the dining hall. Sienna couldn¡¯t sit still as she heard it. She mmed the table and stood up, only to be held back by Tristan next to her. His wife was on a tear and he¡¯d just managed to pacify her. If she went head¨Cto¨Chead with his mom, he¡¯d be the one in hot water. Ashlyn was clueless that Noe had audience. ¡°You have no idea of what¡¯s decorum just like your mother. The other day I asked her to bring me some food, and she wolfed it all down herself. And my carnelian bracelet¡¯s gone missing ¨C wouldn¡¯t put it past your mom to swipe it.¡± Sienna, hearing this tant lie, shoved Tristan away. ¡°Who stole your stuff? That bracelet of yours can¡¯t even compare to one of my hairpins! And I didn¡¯t see you wearing any bracelet when I visited!¡± Ashlyn snorted when she heard Sienna¡¯s voice, ¡°I knew it; all those years of ying nice and now your true colors are showing. Sooner orter, I¡¯ll have Tristan divorce you, you 12:21 home¨Cwrecker.¡± Freya, who looked so glum, couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Ashlyn, if you¡¯ve got beef with how we raise our family,e talk to me face to face. My daughter hasn¡¯t wronged you one bit.¡± Ashlyn was caught off guard by Freya being on the line and mmed up. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Freya continued, ¡°I recorded everything you just said and I¡¯m going to send it to Marcel Schnabel as is. I want to see how your family has been treating my daughter all these years! And let me tell you something today. Not only will my daughter not being to see you, my granddaughter won¡¯t either. You¡¯ve got a whole squad of caregivers and you still want to boss around my kid?!¡± Freya¡¯s laugh was dripping with sarcasm. ¡°And who are you to expect Mr. Pock to visit you? If you don¡¯t have a mirror in your hospital room, I¡¯ll have one sent over pronto. Take a good look at yourself and see what you¡¯ve be! Everyone knows your game ¨C you just want to pawn off your wild granddaughter to the Pock family. You think they¡¯d fall for the kid you¡¯ve raised? Don¡¯t act like your past shenanigans are forgotten. Zip it, will you?¡± Although Freya was a science worker, she didn¡¯t pull any punches when she was riled up. Ashlyn lost her voice, obviously knowing she was in the wrong. ¡°I¡¯m just sick and asked your daughter to take care of me. Isn¡¯t that what she¡¯s supposed to do?¡± Freya rolled her eyes. ¡°What kind of sickness do you have that requires my daughter to check on you at five in the morning? Watch your,step! Wait if you keep harassing my daughter and granddaughter.¡± With that, Freya hung up and went ahead and helped block Ashlyn¡¯s number on Noe¡¯s phone. Merrick turned to Tristan, ¡°Sienna doesn¡¯t have to return to the Schnabel family until this mess is sorted out. And if it¡¯s not sorted, I¡¯m not optimistic about your marriage.¡± Tristan was in a tizzy when he heard his father¨Cinwy this down. ¡°Merrick, I¡¯ve been dealing with this over and over, but my mom just pays lip service and forgets right after. I¡¯m starting to think she¡¯s got a screw loose.¡± Noe spoke up after a pause, her tone cool, ¡°Last time I heard Professor Calvin say that Grandma Ashlyn might be showing signs of dementia. She is paranoid about her things being stolen and suspecting grandpa¡¯s caregivers of infidelity ¨C those are red gs for dementia.¡± At their age, dementia was nothing out of the ordinary. Freya didn¡¯t look pleased either. ¡°Dementia? I think she brought it on herself! And it¡¯s not like she¡¯s been this way for years. She gave your mom a hard time when she was young. If it wasn¡¯t for Tristan moving out with your 12:21 mom and living apart from her, nobody knows what would happen.¡± ¡°Has Grandma Ashlyn always been like this?¡± Noe asked. Tristan managed a bitter smile. He was almost breaking down right there. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t like this before. When Sienna and I started dating, she was actually supportive and said she could tell in the first ce that Sienna was a good kid. But I don¡¯t know when she had flipped a switch. She kept picking on Sienna and spouting nonsense from then.¡± Noe nodded, getting the picture about Ashlyn¡¯s changes. If so, Ashlyn must have been popping Nourishment Pills since before Tristan tied the knot with Sienna. The person who first slipped Ashlyn those magic beans had to be someone in her inner circle, but then the baton got passed to Yvonne. Merrick wasn¡¯t in the mood to be a Debbie Downer either, ¡°Let Tristan deal with that mess. Sienna¡¯s gonna crash at our ce for a bit, and it¡¯s perfect timing since Noe¡¯s also bunking here for a few days. Grandpa¡¯s got this itch to pen a new novel and is thinking of using Noe as his muse¨Cwhat do you say?¡± The crowd at the table was gobsmacked. Beckett shot a look at Noe with a gut reaction was a hard no. Who in their right mind would volunteer to be the muse for Merrick¡¯s brainchild, knowing the blood, sweat, and tears it would take The old man would craft his protagonist straight out of his noggin, and he didn¡¯t mess around with his standards. In other words, his little sis ain¡¯t gonna have it easy for a while. ¡°Grandpa, let¡¯s not. My sister is still wet behind the ears!¡± Merrick waved him off, ¡°You rascal. I just wanna whip up a story about a dancer. Noe can just pick up a few dance moves and pluck the zither a bit. She¡¯s golden for the rest!¡± Stirling by Noe¡¯s side was also freaking out. ¡°Grandpa! Sis doesn¡¯t know any of that jazz! You¡¯re setting the bar sky¨Chigh, and she¡¯s just a squirt¨Cit¡¯s gonna be brutal for her to pick up!¡± Merrick was a bit miffed. He had this vision of Noe dancing with Palmer on the yacht, and bam, he thought of a forest sprite! But then, giving it a second thought, he realized he might be asking for the moon from his granddaughter. Still Merrick wasn¡¯t keen on throwing in the towel, his eyes twinkling with hope at Noe. ¡°Noe, would you wanna be the leadingdy for your old grandpa¡¯s next masterpiece?¡± 12:21 Noe was caught off guard. Merrick, a literary giant of his time, was notorious for his hardcore standards. But that was mainly because all his works sent shock waves through the literary world.. After a beat, Noe nodded, ¡°Sure, Grandpa. I¡¯m in.¡± Merrick¡¯s face bloomed into a grin that stretched from ear to ear. CHapter 79 CHapter 79 The moment Merrickid eyes on Noe, he knew exactly how he¡¯d pen his new masterpiece! The old man felt like his long¨Cdormant writer¡¯s heart had been reeled back in, and his creative block was smashed to smithereens! Sienna was pretty bbergasted too. ¡°Dad, how many years has it been since you¡¯ve written a book? I remember that you said you were gonna take a breather after snagging the Honor Literature Prize.¡± The old man was all fired up, not showing a hint of feeling under the weather. ¡°After seeing Noe, I reckon I could whip up another ten books! Noe, kiddo, I¡¯ve got a sort of music store and I¡¯m handing it over to you. Pop in when you¡¯ve got a sec and pick out a zither you fancy. We¡¯ll start creating magic next week!¡± Sienna jumped in to intercept. ¡°Dad, that music store¡¯s got a ton on its te. Noe will get worn out. If you¡¯re fond of her, just snag her a zither and call it a day.¡± Merrick¡¯s store wasn¡¯t just any old shop; it doubled as an art exhibition center where many maestros showcased their zithers, a real hub for the zither bigwigs. ¡°A girl¡¯s gotta have her own gig. Noe, the store is yours now. Whatever dough it makes each year, it¡¯s all yours. Oh, and throw in the gallery next door too. If it gets too much, have Beckett pitch in. He¡¯ll handle the hustle and you pocket the cash. The old man didn¡¯t see anything off¨Ckilter with his n.. He was doling out businesses to Noe left and right, with the vibe that he wouldn¡¯t mind tossing a few more her way. When Beckett heard this, he thought Merrick¡¯s n held water. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep things ticking over for Noe, and the profits are hers. If it tanks, I¡¯ll take the hit.¡± The old man cracked a satisfied grin, ¡°That¡¯s my boy.¡± Beckett already had his hands full, so squeezing in a family dinner was a feat. He was already buried in financial reports during his car rides, and piling morepanies on his te would probably run him ragged. So Noe quickly chimed in, ¡°I¡¯ll manage it myself. It¡¯s Grandpa¡¯s hard work, and I¡¯ll be sure to learn the ropes from Beckett.¡± Merrick nodded, ¡°Sure, they¡¯re just small ventures. Have a little fun with them. And hey, if they go belly up, no biggie. Count it on me.¡± Merrick sounded like he was practically grooming Noe to be some kind of spoiled heiress. Noe felt a warm fuzziness inside. She knew that her grandpa felt like he owed her something. and that was exactly a thought from someone who loved her. Both the Schnabel and the Horwich families felt they owed her because they loved her. Freya looked at Noe with tender affection. Her silver locks didn¡¯t dull her elegance one bit. Instead, they added a touch of poise and grace. ¡°Noe, September¡¯s around the corner. Have you decided on a university yet? If not, how about shadowing grandma in biology?¡± Noe pulled out the eptance letter from her bag and handed it over to Freya. ¡°I¡¯m off to Imperial University to study jewelry design.¡± She had settled on her school and major a while back, partly because Imperial was closest to the Schnabels, and partly because she had promised Old Mrs. Lambert as a child she¡¯d craft the world¡¯s finest jewelry. Back in that starry courtyard, Old Mrs. Lambert had taught her to identify the stars while cradling her in her arms. ¡°Someday, our little one will shine bright as a star too.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll study jewelry design and make the prettiest jewels for grandma!¡± Old Mrs. Lambert was over the moon, showering Noe with kisses as theirughter filled the courtyard. Seeing Noe¡¯s eptance letter, Freya beamed ear to ear. ¡°Wow, our Noe¡¯s such a star! A schrship offer, no less! The brainy kid is surely our lineage!¡± Sienna joined in, grabbing Noe¡¯s letter and nting several kisses on her! Her daughter was just perfect! She was beautiful, sweet¨Ctempered, and excelling academically even in the dump of the Lambert family. Such a wless daughter was truly Sienna¡¯s pride and joy! ¡°Noe, why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡± Sienna asked. Noe was a bit speechless. From Beckett to ra, everyone pretty much waltzed into university without a hitch in the Schnabels ¨C not to mention ra being some kind of teen prodigy. Her eptance was hardly a big deal in the Schnabel family. ¡°Just got it a few days ago.¡± She replied. Tristan was beside himself with emotion, practically bawling. ¡°The Schnabels have a few jewelry businesses ¨C they¡¯re all yours now! I will keep them warm for you until you graduate, then you can dive straight into work!¡± 12:21 Sienna was all for it. ¡°A girl needs her own career. Noe, it¡¯s not that your dad and I don¡¯t want to take care of you. Look at me ¨C I got pushed around because I was stuck at home doing nothing.¡± Seeing his wife bring up painful memories, Tristan was a bundle of nerves. ¡°Honey, let¡¯s just jet off somewhere after Noe starts school. Let the eldest deal with the household mess!¡± he added. ¡°That makes sense. After we drop off Noe, we¡¯ll take a trip. Didn¡¯t we buy an indst time? We should get one for Noe when shees to find us there during the holiday too!¡± Beckett couldn¡¯t bear to watch these two. So, they¡¯d have their fun and leave him to mop up the mess at him, huh? He was at his wit¡¯s end dealing with Ashlyn¡¯s tantrums and antics. Recalling what Marcel had advised her, Noe nced at Beckett, who was lost for words. ¡°Brother, Grandpa said not to sweat it too much.¡± Beckett¡¯s eyes lit up! The kids haven¡¯t had much love for Ashlyn for ages. They¡¯ve watched her push Sienna around since childhood. She was also harsh to them, and they couldn¡¯t evenpete with Yvonne. Back when they were kids at the dinner table, Yvonne was the only one having meat in her bowl, while Beckett and his little brothers could barelyy their hands on an egg. Merrick thought the Schnabels were hitting rock bottom, so he scooped up the kids. And Ashlyn? She was all snarky, going on about how the Horwiches looked down on the Schnabels and saying a married daughter should never hang at her folks¡® ce everyday. t If she wasn¡¯t their elder, those Schnabel sons wouldn¡¯t give her the time of day. But now that Marcel¡¯s spoken up, he ain¡¯t sweating the small stuff, ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Merrick was grinning ear to ear while gazing at Noe¡¯s eptance letter, ¡°Hey, Noe, can you let me keep this? I wanna frame it and hang it in my study!¡± In Merrick¡¯s study, it¡¯s like a hall of fame of literary trophies. And now he wanted to add her no¨Cfrills eptance letter? Noe¡¯s turning beet red. But everyone else seems to think it¡¯s a brilliant idea. Freya¡¯s got her hands together, all hopeful eyes on Noe, ¡°Noe, can you make a copy for me too? I wanna hang it in myb .And let¡¯s snap a family photo to carry with me. I want to keep you close at all times!¡± ¡°But my other brothers and sister aren¡¯t home.¡± Noe said. Freya waves that off, ¡°I¡¯ve got heaps of their photos. We take them every year! I just want 12:22 yours!¡± Freya and Merrick may be getting on in years. They were still on the front lines of art and research, but their hearts were all set on Noe, their granddaughter. It¡¯s a crying shame they missed her kiddie years ¨C damn Lambert family didn¡¯t even snap a few pics! Instead, it¡¯s Briony who¡¯s got albums galore. Now, looking at Noe, they want to put her on a pedestal ¨C she can do no wrong in their eyes. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take a photo with you two in a bit.¡± Noe smiled. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go change, quick sticks!¡± Freya and Merrick eximed. CHapter 80 CHapter 80 12:22 Merrick and Freya were making such a big deal about taking photos with Noe, as if they were more excited than if they finished novels or won science awards. They even dug out their wedding outfits to snap pics with her. Freya¡¯s rocking this burgundy silk dress, and man, she¡¯s still got it all grace and poise. The dress just added to her charm. Merrick¡¯s suit was an oldie but goodie, with a well¨Cpreserved fleur¨Cde¨Clis brooch adding a touch. of schrly kindness. Noe, sandwiched between the two old¨Ctimers, snapped their first group selfie. Freya was over the moon, and she waved at Tristan and Sienna, who look like they were about to drool with envy. They were practically itching to jump in and take pics with their daughter. away Last time at the birthday bash, they were so busy clicking at their girl that they totally spaced on getting a group shot. Now they were kicking themselves over it. ¡°Come on, get in here. We¡¯ll photoshop Stirling and ra inter.¡± The whole family ended up taking a bunch of photos together. Merrick couldn¡¯t wait to switch his profile pic to the selfie with Noe. He hightailed it to chat with Marcel, ¡°Whoa, why did I change my profile pic? Can¡¯t quite make out who¡¯s in it, can you?¡± Marcel was in the middle of a chess game with Sexton, and when he saw that message, he was so close to flipping out. ¡°That sly old fox¡¯s showing off his pic with Noe, huh? Just wait until she visits me in the hospital. I¡¯ll get my photo op too!¡± Seeing Noe all cozy with Merrick in the photo, Marcel was getting all choked up. Why didn¡¯t he think to take a pic with his granddaughter? Now he¡¯s just got to sit there and watch Merrick strut his stuff! In the Schnabel family group chat, Beckett ¡®identally¡® dropped ¨¤ ton of Noe¡¯s pics. including the fresh ones they just took. Ulrich: [Noe¡¯s looking adorable. That outfit¡¯s perfect on her. Grandma doing okay? I¡¯ll swing by after my surgery.] Stirling: [What¡¯s the deal here? Why didn¡¯t we take any when I was home?!] ra: [No biggie, I got Photoshop.] She yed it cool, but she quickly edited herself into the group shot and uploaded it to the chat. 12:22 Stirling: (Fake is fake, drop the act. You¡¯re probably dying to cry, right?] ra gave Noe a call, his voice pathetic, ¡°Noe! Stirling¡¯s saying I¡¯m fake, so does he want to kick me out? I can¡¯t stand to leave you, my baby girl! Oh well, I guess I¡¯m not really a Schnabel; I deserve this and I¡¯ll just leave.¡± Noe¡¯s head was spinning as she calmed her down, ¡°Sis, I¡¯ll swing by Emerald County when I can. I¡¯ll bring you some treats then.¡± ¡°Then I wanna take photos with you too!¡± ra said. ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll take loads.¡± ra hung up. She was pleased as punch and dropped the recording of the call into the group chat. Stirling was livid. [You¡¯re way out of line! You are stirring up drama to get sympathy from our sis. Right, Ulrich?] He furiously typed. Ulrich was not even bothering with their group chat drama. ¡°Noe, lunch tomorrow? I wanna take photos with you too.¡± He called Noe directly. ¡°Sure.¡± After sorting through the Schnabels¡® photo requests, Noe breathed a sigh of relief. Back in the Lambert days, she hardly ever took pics and didn¡¯t have many keepsakes. Except for Old Mrs. Lambert, who treasured this one photo of her as a kid. And when she wasid to rest, that photo went with her into the grave. Therefore, Noe didn¡¯t have a single picture left from her time with the Lamberts. Freya peeked at the photo of Noe¡¯s sweet, gentle smile, sneaking a tear wipe when no one¡¯s watching and nting a kiss on that photo on her phone. ¡°My granddaughter is so precious; what a blessing.¡± Noe felt a warm current flowing through her heart as she sensed Freya¡¯s love in that simple act. Beckett offered his hand, ¡°I take you to check out the music store?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± She answered. As they drove off with Beckett, Noe heard him humming a tune. Sounding like he¡¯s in a particrly good mood. ¡°Noe, you wouldn¡¯t believe it, but our folks weren¡¯t always like this. Dad used to be super tough, but after finding out ra wasn¡¯t ours, he just changed ¨C no joke, you¡¯d have thought he was this stony type if you met him earlier.¡± Like one time, there was an elevator ident at the mall, and a kid was stuck. Dad could¡¯ve 12-22 had someone wait with the kid, but no, he sat there himself, saying how great it¡¯d be if someone did that for you if you were in trouble. We¡¯ve always been big on charity, especially thesest couple of years. One time, Grandma said it was Mom¡¯s fault for losing you, and Mom just broke down and got ill. ra¡¯s great, but we missed you too. Now you¡¯re here with us, and you have no idea how happy we are.¡± After a moment of silence, Noe cracked a smile too, ¡°Yeah, I know. I¡¯m happy too.¡± Beckett reached out to ruffle her soft hair, ¡°ra once came to me, said she¡¯d leave the Schnabels once you were back. But she dropped the idea as she thought that the elders wouldn¡¯t let her go.¡± Noe knew it was tough for the Schnabels at first, so she cracked open, ¡°ra¡¯s awesome. We are still a family even if she finds her own, right?¡± Beckett was caught off guard, then moved and reassured as he pinched Noe¡¯s cheek. She¡¯s just the best, a true Schnabel through and through! He forwarded Noe¡¯s words to ra without changing a single letter, and added a few scolding lines of his own, telling ra to stay put with the Schnabel family because she¡¯ll always be a part of it. ra quickly bombarded him with a stream of crying emojis. ¡°My sis is my little angel! And how dare you scold me, Beckett? You piece of crap! Lololol! My sister and I love each other. You are the only one getting blocked!¡± Beckett looked at his phone and felt a throb in his temples. After a moment, he couldn¡¯t help but curse with a chuckle, ¡°What a cheeky girl. She just has no respect for her brother.¡± But the corners of his mouth still curled up in a smile and brimmed with Joy. The Lambert Mansion in the Tranquility City. Vincent and Belinda were dumped rudely at the vi¡¯s doorstep as the car with no te sped off into the distance. Briony, hearing themotion, hurried outside only to the Lambert couple lying on the ground. battered and bruised. ¡°Mom, Dad, what happened to you? I sent the money already!¡± Vincent pped Briony across the face, ¡°You little brat. Did you dy our rescue on purpose and cause us all beaten up? You did it all on purpose!¡± Half of Briony¡¯s face went numb. This was the first time she¡¯d ever been hit. ¡°Dad, why would you do that? It took me so long to borrow that money, and I still have to pay it 12:22 Property ? N?velDrama.Org. back¡­¡± she muttered. Vincent and Belinda, helped by the housekeeper, entered the house and plopped down on the couch, heaving sighs of distress. ¡°Pay it back? Didn¡¯t you borrow it from Milford? Just deduct it from the wedding gift when it¡¯s due. What¡¯s there to pay back?¡± That was five million! If Vincent had to cough up five million, it would be the death of him! Paying it back was just not happening! Briony was torn, ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There are no ¡®buts¡®. Call the doctor now! Ouch, it hurts like hell!¡± Vincent retorted. Seeing Vincent and Belinda all bruised up, Briony was worried and anxious, ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Vincent rolled his eyes in annoyance, ¡°Call the police? They delivered us right to our doorstep so what¡¯s there to be scared of? Just go call the doctor!¡± The most important thing was that during the beating, Vincent had vaguely heard some illegal stuff the Lambert family¡¯spany was involved in. If he called the police, and those things got reported by the other party, the Lambert family would be utterly ruined! CHapter 81 CHapter 81 Vincent felt a pang of guilt just thinking about it. How did those folks get wind of his greasing the wheels with business judges, his failed attempts at buttering up top officials with gifts that got tossed back in his face, or his torching the rival company¡¯s ce to swipe their trade secrets? And they even knew about the time he swiped thepetitor¡¯s menu and served up nothing but tapas at their dinner. The more Vincent thought about it, the more scared he got. His back broke out in a cold sweat. and with injuries all over his body, that sweat stung like hell. ¡°Ow, ow! Where the heck is that doctor? Briony, where on earth did you get the money? I was just about to give the Rosenberg family a ring to chat about your wedding ns!¡± Wedding ns! Hearing those words, Briony¡¯s heart skipped a beat. If Vincent thought the money was from the Rosenberg family, he¡¯d definitely start hashing out her marriage to Milford with them. And as for that five million, someone like Yvonne surely wasn¡¯t hurting for cash. Worst case scenario, she could just hit up the Rosenberg family for it once she was hitched to Milford. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, Dad. I¡¯ll figure something out. I bumped into Stirling and the moment he heard Noe¡¯s name, he kicked me out. Looks like the Schnabel family really has it out for her. Better to steer clear from now on.¡± Vincent nodded in relief. Briony was way better as a daughter, a hundred times better than that ungrateful girl, Noe. It was so lucky that they cut the tie with her, or no one knew how she would¡¯ve dragged the Lambert family down. ¡°I even saw Noe chatting it up with the owners of East Sea and West Ocean. Seemed like they knew each other.¡± She added. Vincent perked up at that. Noe literally knew the big shots of East Sea and West Ocean? Maybe they had rtives at the Imperial West Hospital and hired Noe to care for them? That girl was only good for serving others. Her vibe of poverty made you wonder just how poor her original family must be. ¡°Forget her. She¡¯s made her bed and she¡¯s no concern of ours! Belinda, forget about revisiting the ancestral estate. I¡¯ve sold it!¡± Vincent announced. Belinda shot up in panic and stared at Vincent, ¡°You sold our ancestral estate? And what about old lady¡¯s graveyard?¡± ¡°That too! Some sucker insisted on buying it all, even the graveyard. Beats me why!¡± 12:22 Vincent was over the moon thinking about the sucker who bought the family estate and Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s graveyard. They never spent a dime on that house or the graveyard. They just picked out a random spot. Now, Vincent was tickled pink after selling it at a price of three million. Belinda nearly passed out, ¡°You sold the olddy¡¯s graveyard as well? Some old psychic told us the spot could protect our wealth!¡± ¡°Huh? It¡¯s just a graveyard, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Belinda couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. That grave was handpicked by her family. They nned to boot Old Mrs. Lambert out and move in themselves to ensure their Fuller lineage would be rolling in dough. Who knew that Vincent, the loser, had sold his mother¡¯s graveyard? ¡°Hubby! Maybe that buyer was after the graveyard all along. My folks had a psychic to explore the ce, saying it would promise prosperity and endless wealth for our descendants!¡± ¡°Really? No wonder the guy coughed up three million for an old house. I gotta see if I can buy it back.¡± Vincent, ignoring his pain, whipped out his phone and called the buyer of the estate. In the car, Beckett¡¯s assistant handed him the phone. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s Vincent.¡± Beckett nced at the caller ID, then eyed Noe beside him. Noe nodded subtly, signaling him to take the call. ¡°Hello? Martin, the guy who bought our family estate, right? So here¡¯s the thing. You bought the estate and a grave along with it, but I just remembered that¡¯s my mother¡¯s resting ce, my own mom!¡± It¡¯s been eating at me these days and I just feel wrong. After all, it¡¯s just a graveyard, and you guys have no use for it. Maybe you could give it back or something?¡°¡± Beckett snorted, ¡°Give it back for free? I paid good money for thatnd! The contract¡¯s signed. Mr. Lambert. If you want it, you¡¯ll have to buy it back.¡± ¡°Name your price, Martin.¡± ¡°Ten million.¡± Vincent nearly jumped out of his skin despite his wounds, ¡°Martin, you¡¯re being a total highway robber here! You only spent three million on our estate and my mother¡¯s graveyard; why should I cough up a million to get it back?¡± ¡°Because thatnd and house are both mine now. If you¡¯re not willing to pay, let¡¯s not waste each other¡¯s time.¡± 12:22 Vincent, thinking of thend¡¯s potential to bless the Lambert family with never¨Cending wealth, couldn¡¯t bear to let go. ¡°Martin, that¡¯s my mother¡¯s burial ce, for heaven¡¯s sake! You can¡¯t just dishonor her like that!¡± ¡°Your mother? I¡¯ve already dug her up and buried her somewhere else, no big deal. I¡¯m hanging up now if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Vincent was totally gobsmacked. What do you mean just dig a hole and bury it? He thought to himself. Old Mrs. Lambert was his mom, not Martin¡¯s. What gave him the right to say he dug her up? ¡°Martin, how could you treat my dear mom like this? You¡¯re way out of line!¡± he cried out. Beckett frowned and said with annoyance, ¡°If you want your mother¡¯s coffin, dig it up yourself. That graveyard¡¯s mine now. If you want it back, pay up and cut the chatter.¡± He hung up the phone and tossed it to his assistant, ¡°cklist his calls from now on, unless he¡¯s ready to cough up the cash for that plot.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Schnabel.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Vincent, left with a dial tone, was fuming. ¡°How can someone be so heartless and hogging our family¡¯s burial plot just like that? It¡¯s ours!¡± Belinda, with her swollen face, sucked in a breath of cold air. Who knew why those guys were aiming for her face? ¡°Hubby, what if we sneak over sometime and bury the olddy back? That way thend will be ours again, and we won¡¯t have to shell out.¡± She said. Vincent thought about it and it made sense. ¡°But we¡¯ve both got no time to go backtely.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get my parents to do it. They¡¯d definitely agree for the family¡¯s sake.¡± Belinda added. The key was they could secretly bury the Fuller family elders¡® ashes there, so the plot would bless the Fuller family forever. Vincent, realizing he didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger, was touched and thrilled. ¡°Big thanks to the inws. When the Lambert family hits it big, they¡¯ll get their fair share!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? We¡¯re all family.¡± Meanwhile, Beckett turned to Noe, ¡°Noe, do you think Vincent will go after Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s coffin?¡± ¡°No, but they¡¯ll definitely sneak back to bury whatever they¡¯ve got in mind.¡± She answered. Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s casket had been relocated by Beckett, now resting peacefully at the Lambert ancestral home, newly named Verdant Garden, next to the osmanthus tree Noe had 12:22 bought for her. Vincent couldn¡¯t care less about where Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s casket was; he was probably after the benefit of that plot. Since they weren¡¯t going to look for where Old Mrs. Lambert was buried, whoever they wanted to bury in secret definitely wasn¡¯t her. ¡°I¡¯ve got people watching the area, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Beckett said. Seeing Beckett¡¯s warm smile on his chiseled face, Noe felt a warmth in her heart too. ¡°Beckett, did you arrange something else in that burial plot?¡± Beckett smiled mysteriously and patted Noe¡¯s head, ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the timees. Come on, we¡¯ve reached the music store.¡± CHapter 82 CHapter 82 Noe only realized when she got out of the car that the music store Merrick had described as ¡°sort of¡± actually took up a whole quaint little building right smack in the middle of Imperial. City¡¯s busiest commercial street. The ce was a full six stories of musical heaven. Whether it was a zither, piano, or guitar, they had everything on and off the market. They even had a lineup of instruments signed by the masters themselves. Pianos that international maestros had tickled the ivories on were just gathering dust in the corners here. Noe stood at the entrance of the music store and was lost for words. The gallery next door, the one the old man had lumped on her along with the music store, was already on Yasbel¡¯s radar. Pris Star had wanted to snap it up and run it themselves, but Yasbel was ying hardball. Beckett pointed to the jade sculptures at the entrance and said, ¡°That¡¯s a masterpiece by the carving legend, Master Sylvie. I had to fork out a pretty penny to snag it at the auction.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze fell on the all¨Ctoo¨Cfamiliar sculpture, and she went even quieter. Those statues by the doors of the music store and gallery were her handiwork; carved during a data bottleneck at Pris Star when she needed to cool off and rethink things. And even such pieces had fetched a cool 30 million at auction. Beckett ushered Noe into the music store, and the bustling clerks all paused from their tasks. Beckett took Noe¡¯s hand and introduced her, ¡°From now on, this music store is Noe¡¯s. She¡¯s your boss. Got it?¡± The clerks exchanged nces, sensing something unusual in the air. The youngdy took over such a fancy joint right aftering back, so Merrick must think the world of her. ¡°Yes, Mr. Schnabel.¡± They replied. Beckett waved over, and two suit¨Cd gents scurried over with fawning grins stered on their faces, ¡°Noe, meet Terrell, the manager of the music shop. And this is Travis, manager of the gallery next door. If you need anything, these are the guys to talk to.¡± Noe nodded, going through the motions of meeting the team with Beckett. After Beckett chatted with the managers about thetest quarter¡¯s financial of music store and gallery, he turned to find Noe standing in front of a zither. The zither was Master Rainer¡¯s handiwork, priceless, and only on disy in Merrick¡¯s music store because the old man had begged and borrowed it, only to have to return it next month. 12:22 Dressed in a light blue gown, Noe looked like a star under the perfectly adjusted lights of the store. Her dress was shimmering as if sprinkled with stardust. She stood there, and her elegant poise was like a piece of snowke untouched by the world¡¯s taint. She was breathtaking, and Beckett couldn¡¯t resist whipping out his phone to capture the beauty before his eyes. Without a second thought, he shot that fairy¨Clike pic into the family group chat. Ulrich: [Noe looks gorgeous. She¡¯s like a little fairy from our n.] Stirling: [Does sis fancy that zither, Beckett? Could we convince Master Rainer to sell it to us?] Jasper: [I¡¯ll touch base with Master Rainer right away, see how much he¡¯d let it go for.] ra: [Noe looks great with those instruments too. Let¡¯s buy them all, heck, just gift¨Cwrap the whole store for her. If you guys are short on cash, I¡¯ll foot the bill. You men are a bunch of cheapskates.] The chat was charged like a standoff at high noon. The Schnabel men were all fired up with a burning desire to splurge. Who was a cheapskate? Talk about throwing away cash here! Terrell, the manager of the music store, had pretty much run the show since Merrick rarely intervened and Beckett wasn¡¯t a frequent visitor. So, in his eyes, Noe was nothing more than a clueless heiress. Do these young misses think they know music? She probably doesn¡¯t even know the first thing. about a zither, he mused. ¡°Miss, this zither was personally crafted by Rainer. It¡¯s one of a kind, so please be careful.¡± he thus added. Noe looked up, giving Terrell in his sharp suit a nonchnt nce. ¡°The instruments here are all precious, and this one before you is the crown jewel. If you damage it, we¡¯d be in hot water with Master Rainer.¡± Beckett shot Terrell a less than friendly look, ¡°My sister¡¯s liking is the zither¡¯s luck.¡± Terrell apologized with his lips but couldn¡¯t hide his skepticism. Herees a clueless heiress who probably doesn¡¯t know what a zither was, yet she still wants to run the shop. What a joke. Noe turned away and settled in front of the zither, casually remarking. ¡°If it¡¯s so precious, why hasn¡¯t anyone fixed contrabass strings when they¡¯re damaged?¡± Terrell was sweating bullets, ¡°Well, it¡¯s Master Rainer¡¯s creation, and we wouldn¡¯t dare¡­¡± FUL 12:22 ¡°The contrabass strings are important. If you are not fixing them, that¡¯s fine. But why didn¡¯t your clean its whole soundboard as well?¡± Noe knew Master Rainer. The old guy wouldn¡¯t bother if it wasn¡¯t perfect. He used the best. materials. And she¡¯d hand¨Ccarved the soundboard¡¯s pattern for him. ¡°Master Rainer would be livid if he knew how you were treating his zither.¡± As she spoke, Noe effortlessly opened a toolbox on the floor and began meticulously restoring the zither. She was carefully maintaining the strings to ensure the old man¡¯s hard work wasn¡¯t wasted. Beckett¡¯s icy gaze fell upon Terrell, ¡°Terrell, I believe you owe me an exnation.¡± ¡°Well Mr. Schnabel, we really didn¡¯t dare touch this instrument and since Master Rainer¡¯s zithers are said to be unyable by anyone. We never y it, so we never noticed this.¡± Before Terrell could even finish his sentence, the melodious sound of a zither began to echo through the store. The notes twinkled like fireflies, and the girl ying the piano had fingertips that were pink and lustrous, with nails that were just the right length and sported a soft pink hue. The music flowed in waves, as soothing and refreshing as a cool breeze under a bright moon, which made everyone around hold their breath. Beckett was so pumped he didn¡¯t forget to record the moment. When the performance ended, Noe casually tuned the zither before getting up, ¡°A zither is made to be yed. What¡¯s the point of having it otherwise? If I catch you guys cking off and not maintaining the zither again, you can forget about working here.¡± The staff in t in the shop were utterly gobsmacked! They had been working there for years and had never heard such amazing zither music before! ®” This Missy wasn¡¯t just some boss who had stumbled in; she was like a fairy descended from the heavens. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Terrell¡¯s eyes were wide as saucers; he hadn¡¯t expected the Missy whom he thought was ignorant to actually know her way around the zither, and to y it so well, too! Meeting Noe¡¯s gaze, clear and cool as a spring. Terrell broke out in a cold sweat, ¡°Yes, Miss! We¡¯ll be more careful from now on!¡± With a grin, Beckett shared the video to the Schnabel family chat, adding, ¡°No way! Can you believe there are people who haven¡¯t heard this live?!¡± The chat went dead silent. A momentter, Beckett found himself kicked out of the group chat by Tristan. Beckett was about to say something when he saw himself booted. ¡°What? What¡¯s this supposed to mean?¡± he frowned and asked. Was he booted just because they never managed to hear her sister ying music? 12:22 Speechless, Beckett opened his Facebook, and the first thing he saw was a video of Noe ying the zither, posted by Tristan: (Our little girl is growing up. Seeing my treasure y the piano is enough to bring a tear to a father¡¯s eye! How¡¯s my filming, everyone?] Did you even film this?? Beckett mused. Now he had to hurry up and buy that zither for Noe. Otherwise, she¡¯d soon be snatched away by their other family members. Beckett¡¯s mouth twitched as he pocketed his phone and walked over to Noe, ¡°I still got something to handle, so let the manager apany you to the gallery. Anything you need, just tell me.¡± ¡°Alright, you go ahead with your work,¡± Noe answered. CHapter 83 CHapter 83 Beckett, the eldest son of the Schnabels and prez of Rising Glory Group, is always on the move. hustling 24/7. He¡¯s got a gold mine gig that needs his attention across the globe, and his flight¡¯s about to take off any minute now. But hanging with his sis was top priority for him. Noe¡¯s such a sweetheart, and without him, she¡¯d probably get pushed around at the music store and gallery. Beckett just couldn¡¯t shake off the worry until he saw Noe make that piano store manager eat humble pie. Only then did he leave with a satisfied grin. No sooner had he stepped out of the music store than he hopped on a motorbike parked right out front. Noe turned around to see her brother decked out in his sharp suit and tear off towards the airport on the motorbike, which almost sparked up the pavement with speed. Beckett¡¯s just looking out for her. That was why he took time out of his mad schedule to be with her, and that thought alone warmed Noe¡¯s heart. Just out of the store, Noe got a ring from Master Rainer. ¡°Kiddo, some sucker just offered a whopping 90 mil for that botched zither I had, saying it¡¯s a gift for his sis. Can you believe that? Who in their right mind does that?¡± After a brief pause, Noe responded with a smile, ¡°Who¡¯s the buyer?¡± ¡°Let me check¡­ the Schnabel family¡­ Hey, isn¡¯t that your family? Are they buying that junker for you? There¡¯s no need! The zither I gave you before is way better, ain¡¯t it?¡± Master Rainer, thinking he¡¯d stumbled upon a poor sod, didn¡¯t expect it was Noe¡¯s folks who wanted to splurge. He¡¯s got this serious OCD about his work, but he¡¯s also precious about it. Only the so¨Cso stuff he didn¡¯t fancy made it to exhibitions, and only the clueless outside treasured them as gems. ¡°I fixed it up and it¡¯ll sing after. You wanna sell it, that¡¯s cool. But if it¡¯s the Schnabels asking. cut ¡®em some ck on the price.¡± Hearing that Noe had fixed up the zither, Master Rainer¡¯s wrinkles smoothed out with joy. ¡°Kiddo, you¡¯re too good! If the Schnabels had said it was for you, you could¡¯ve just taken it and no cash is needed! Seems like they treat you right.¡± ¡°They¡¯re alright.¡± She replied. The Old Mr. Schnabel knew the rough times Noe had been through and that the Schnabels treated her like a treasure, and that put his heart at ease. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. If they ever give you trouble, just bring those rascals back here. Pris Star will take care of you.¡± 12:23 ¡°Got it. Found some new Jade for you, I¡¯ll polish it up and send it over.¡± Master Rainer¡¯s a sucker for jade zithers. He¡¯s picky about the material andposition, and Noe¡¯s the only one who remembered all his quirks and got him the best jade. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve got this shindig in Imperial City next month. How about you join me?¡± The old man¡¯s voice carried a hint of expectation. It¡¯d been ages since he¡¯d seen Noe. Last time was when she popped by his tea house for a cuppa while on a border mission. Noe thought it over, then agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± The old masters of Pris Star were like family, who had been schooling Noe in the ways of the world since she was a kid. In their eyes, she was just their kid like those prodigies in Pris Star. ¡°Awesome! Don¡¯t forget to whip up my favorite grub, and I¡¯ll see you then.¡± Master Rainer replied. ¡°You got it. I¡¯ll make sure everything¡¯s sorted for your visit.¡± Master Rainer, content as can be, hung up and rang Jasper. Jasper, who¡¯d been waiting forever, picked up immediately. ¡°Master Rainer, have you made up your mind? My sis really digs that zither. Please name your price!¡± ¡°Nope, not selling.¡± Jasper¡¯s pacing his office like a caged animal with his phone glued to his ear, ¡°Master Rainer, I¡¯m begging you to think it over! We¡¯ll pay whatever it takes!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the cash. I¡¯m not hard up.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. True, Rainer¡¯s worth wasn¡¯t sweating the price of a zither. ¡°Name your terms then. Whatever you ask, the Schnabel family will make it happen.¡± After a good listen, Rainer was reassured that the Schnabels genuinely cared for Noe. That kind of concern couldn¡¯t be faked, so he¡¯s relieved. ¡°One condition. I need the girl who wants the zither to be my student!¡± Jasper¡¯s eyes nearly popped out! Having Noe as Master Rainer¡¯s student would be a dreame true! Trying to keep his cool amid the thrill, Jasper said, ¡°Deal, but I gotta check with my sis first!¡± Rainer nodded. They didn¡¯t presume to answer for Noe and they respected her feelings. That showed the Schnabels¡® decent upbringing. Jasper¡¯s quick to dial Noe. When she hears Rainer¡¯s offer, Noe¡¯s taken aback but then agreed. The old man was her mentor anyway. 12:23 Jasper was still cautious, ¡°Noe, think it through. If you¡¯re not keen, I won¡¯t push you.¡± ¡°No worries, I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s great! Master Rainer¡¯s hitting up Imperial City next month for an event. He wants you there for the ceremony.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jasper, buzzing with joy, reported back, ¡°Master Rainer, leave your travel and stay to us; the Schnabel family¡¯s got you covered. No sweat.¡± Rainer nodded in satisfaction, his Impression of the Schnabel family getting a solid boost, ¡°That zither is just for the little miss to tinker with and I won¡¯t charge a dime. Next month, I¡¯ll bring her something even better.¡± ¡°Thanks a ton, Master Rainer!¡± Jasper replied. Meanwhile, on the flip side. Noe strutted into the gallery. Merrick¡¯s so¨Ccalled and sculptures. ry was more like an art hub, with dedicated spaces for both paintings Manager Travis, after the episode at the music store, didn¡¯t dare show Noe any disrespect and took her on a tour around the gallery. ¡°Miss, our gallery spans eight floors. These two floors are rented out for artists to hold exhibitions, and we¡¯ve got exclusive exhibition areas upstairs, along with some pieces that our gallery has the exclusive rights to showcase.¡± Noe nodded and followed Travis around the gallery. She paused in front of an oil painting. ¡°Miss, this is a piece by the renowned oil painting master, Master Killian ¨C ¡®Spring Night¡®. We shelled out a cool three hundred mil to snag it for our gallery, and it¡¯s our pride and joy.¡± Noe looked at the painting before her, her brow furrowing slightly. If her memory served her right, ¡®Spring Night¡® should still be chilling in Master Killian¡¯s bedroom. How did it end up here? Noe asked coolly. ¡°Who was in charge of acquiring this painting?¡± Travis thought for a moment and motioned to someone behind him, ¡°It was an artist too. Harper, come here.¡± The gallery was teeming with resident artists. Harper, half of his face hidden under a fisherman¡¯s hat, sauntered over and sized up Noe with a laid¨Cback gaze. 12-23 Clearly, this clueless little rich girl was stirring things up with her new authority. He wondered what kind of trouble she was going to drag him into. ¡°I bought it. What about it? I went through a lot of hoops to score this piece for the auction.¡± He said. Noe¡¯s gaze was calm but seemed to possess a piercing rity that somehow made Harper break out in a cold sweat. Travis, unsure of the new boss¡¯s angle, leaned in and asked, ¡°Miss, do you have any instructions?¡± Noe withdrew her gaze and stated coldly. ¡°This painting is a fake.¡± CHapter 84 CHapter 84 The moment she dropped that bomb, the whole gallery fell weirdly silent. This painting was the crown jewel of the gallery. Tons of folks came here just to eyeball this masterpiece, turning the ce into a hotspot for Instagram selfies and all that jazz. It even got its 15 minutes of fame on a bunch of TV interviews. No way this piece was a fake! Harper couldn¡¯t help but smirk sarcastically. ¡°Listen up, Miss, this work of art¡¯s been vetted by TV crews and whatnot it¡¯s the real thing, so don¡¯t y expert if you ain¡¯t one, okay? No wild guessing.¡± ¨C Travis was getting antsy too. ¡°How could this be a fake, Miss? Loads of art buffs have given it the thumbs up ¨C it¡¯s legit!¡± Noe just shook her head cool as a cucumber, her eyes fixed on the y of light and shadow in ¡®Spring Night¡®. The genuine ¡®Spring Night¡® had a few roses added in the top left corner ¨C just a little magic touch she threw in while Master Killian was painting. Those roses took the whole thing up a notch. Killian loved it so much he hung it in his bedroom. At its first showing, the roses weren¡¯t there, so any copycat wouldn¡¯t even know about them. This painting in front of her, although a pretty good knockoff, was definitely a dud. Too many details were dealt with heavy¨Chanded strokes, which didn¡¯t make it the same league work as the original ¡®Spring Night¡®. Noe pointed at a corner of ¡®Spring Night¡® to everyone and imed. ¡°The original by Master Killian didn¡¯t start its strokes in this sequence.¡± Harper scoffed, ¡°Come on, princess, Killian¡¯s brushwork is one of a kind. Who could possibly fake that?¡± Noe turned to Travis, ¡°Bring me some paper and paint.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, sure, right on it,¡± he said, quickly grabbing the best paints and brushes from the gallery¡¯s stash and setting up an easel for Noe. Noe grabbed a brush and started mixing colors like a pro, whipping up ¡®Spring Night¡¯s palette in no time! Master Killian¡¯s color mix and brushwork were his signature, and those were the most impossible things to replicate. Most wannabe forgers couldn¡¯t even get the colors right and bailed at step one. And here was Noe, nailing every shade on the fly and sketching out a piece of ¡®Spring Night¡® in a blink! ¡°This is how Killian does it. This ¡®Spring Night¡® is all wrong with its strokes and colors.¡± She said. Everyone was gobsmacked! The ¡®Spring Night¡® Noe whipped up on the spot was even more vivid than the one on disy. The water at spring night was rippling and galloping with an eye¨Ccatching mour. Harper was gritting and his knees knocking. ¡°Just because you can paint doesn¡¯t mean this one¡¯s a phony. We dropped a cool three hundred mil on this.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze was icy as itnded on him. ¡°You painted this, didn¡¯t you? And that money went straight into your pocket.¡± Harper was sweating bullets! How did she figure it out? No way! She must be bluffing! If he got busted, he¡¯d be behind bars! ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t smear my good name like that. How could I have painted this?¡± he said with a shaky voice. Noe pulled out her phone and video¨Ccalled Killian, turning the camera to the ¡®Spring Night¡® in question before the old man even said hello. ¡°What¡¯s that? Isn¡¯t the real painting still hanging in my bedroom?¡± the old man was confused. Seeing Master Killian, Travis didn¡¯t care if the guy was a living legend in the art world. If the gallery¡¯s painting was a fake, he¡¯d be in deep trouble! ¡°Master Killian, are you sure this is a counterfeit?¡± he asked. Killian snorted, stood up, and showed the real ¡®Spring Night¡® in his bedroom, ¡°See? It¡¯s got the roses my hopeless student added. You think I can¡¯t spot a fake? You¡¯ve got a dud!¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. With Killian¡¯s live testimony, everyone in the gallery hit the floor like sacks of potatoes! Noe¡¯s eyes were on Harper, who was plotting his escape, ¡°Travis, you gonna nab him or wait to get nabbed yourself?¡± Travis snapped to it and immediately rushed up to nab Harper. ¡°You little weasel. That¡¯s three hundred million! Enjoy your life in the mmer!¡± Harper didn¡¯t expect the thing he¡¯d been hiding for so long to be exposed all of a sudden. He was panicked and scared out of his wits, ¡°I did it for the gallery! How is my painting any worse than Killian¡¯s? You wouldn¡¯t showcase my stuff, and instead, you made me fix up old paintings. And you still treated my painting as a treasure, right?¡± 12-23 ¡°Still talking tough, huh? You¡¯ve done the crime!¡± Harper knew he was toast. Cops showed up quick and hauled him away. Travis asked Noe with respect. ¡°Miss, what do we do with the fake? Should we destroy it or¡­?¡± ¡°Keep it. Hang it up somewhere with Harper¡¯s name on it. Even among fakes, it stands out.¡± She replied. ¡°But it¡¯s a fake, and Harper is such a jerk. Keeping it here could tarnish our gallery¡¯s rep¡­¡± Noe, who was perched on her chair looking down at Travis and the rest of the staff, dered. ¡°If you wanna prove yourselves, now¡¯s your chance. Paint something for me, and if it¡¯s good, we¡¯ll disy it and share the profits. In my gallery, there¡¯s no difference between big¨Cname masters and rookies. Also, cut the backstabbing and scheming. I¡¯ve got no room for bullies or frauds.¡± Her voice was ice¨Ccold, and she quickly pointed out the gallery¡¯s operational ws withser precision and issued new requirements, ¡°Tomorrow morning, I want to see thetest staff structure and financial reports.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Travis was sweating bullets. He thought it was just the typical ¡®new broom sweeps clean¡® scenario, but boy, was he wrong. The youngdy was seriously clued up about music and art. She could spot the unique features of oil paintings, ssical pieces, and evenic exhibitions at a nce. The regional managers were all struck dumb. ¡°Switch up the exhibition areas to enhance the visual impact; also, take down a bunch of the paintings and ditch the costly and useless sections.¡± Noe whipped out a stack of papers and quickly sketched out all the poorly designed areas in the gallery. The folks in charge w totally blindsided by how much the youngdy knew! She could spot what was off with just one look. If we really spruced up the ce ording to Miss Know¨CIt¨CAll¡¯s suggestions, the gallery would totally be reborn. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll get right on it!¡± they promised. ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡± She nodded. Travis now didn¡¯t dare y any tricks in front of Noe. He was just nodding and bowing like there¡¯s no tomorrow, ¡°No trouble, no trouble at all CHapter 85 CHapter 85 In the expansive gallery, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only Noe¡¯s voice audible as she inspected the artworks, ordering some to be repositioned or even taken down. Noe was standing before a painting. In the picture, a fairy¨Clike girl descended before snow¨C capped hills, with her dress fluttering in the breeze beneath the towering canvas. Travis sidled up to introduce it, ¡°Miss, this piece is Miss Yvonne¡¯s submission for the exhibition. It¡¯s an original by Miss Yvonne herself, and even Mr. Schnabel is aware of it. He¡¯s even said she¡¯s got quite the knack for painting.¡± Yvonne¡¯s work? ¡°Travis, have you everid eyes on Master Killian¡¯s ¡®The Mountain Portray¡¯?¡± she asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t had the privilege to feast my eyes on every one of Master Killian¡¯s pieces,¡± he replied. Killian¡¯s no ordinary Joe¨Che¡¯s a master of oil painting, a national treasure! His artworks are so coveted they¡¯re gifted straightaway to visiting dignitaries of Harmonia Country. How could a gallery manager like him get a peep whenever he wished? ¡°The Mountain Portray is actually hanging in my study right now.¡± Noe whipped out her phone and showed Travis the masterpiece gracing her study. The Schnabels had set up a study for each kid, and since they didn¡¯t have a clue about Noe¡¯s tastes, Sienna had asked for her input when decorating, tailoring it to her preferences. ¡°The Mountain Portray¡± was the first painting Master Killian had gifted Noe. The picture was inspired by her elegant gesture and it was one of a kind. Even when Killian had exhibitions, he¡¯d unted that painting too. The painting here? It waspletely a knockoff of ¡°The Mountain Portray¡°! Travis broke into a cold sweat as hepared the image on Noe¡¯s phone to the painting hanging before them, ¡°Miss, I mean, this is Miss Yvonne¡¯s work after all. We can¡¯t just¡­ take it down on a whim.. Noe coolly stated, ¡°My gallery is open to creation and imitation. Master Killian always wees those who wish to learn his techniques, but iming a forgery as an original? That¡¯s a no¨Cgo. This painting needs to go.¡± ¡°Understood, I¡¯m on it.¡± With no other choice, Travis reluctantly dialed up Yvonne. ¡°What? Has Noe lost her marbles? Who gave her the right to toss out my work? That gallery was supposed to be Grandpa¡¯s, what gives her the authority to call the shots?¡± Yvonne shot back. 12:23 ¡°Ms. Yvonne, now Noe is the boss of the gallery. Your grandpa has already gifted it to her.¡± Yvonne nearly crushed her phone in fury! She had her eye on that gallery for ages, perfect in location and prestige for her. If only Merrick cut it loose and gifted it to her, her standing among the Imperial City¡¯s elitedies would be unmatched. She fell for ¡°The Mountain Portray¡± at a gallery stroll and had managed to replicate it with great effort. Master Killian had taken the original back and hardly anyone had seen it. Even Beckett hadn¡¯t noticed the forgery when it was hung. How could Noe tell it was fake? That country bumpkin must be green with envy of her talent and trying to smear her reputation! Her malice was just too vile! Yvonne mmed her pillow a few times in a rage, Then she grabbed her bag, stormed out the door, and headed straight for Merrick¡¯s ce. It was just because she hadn¡¯t been schmoozing up to the old mantely that Noe found her opening. She must¡¯ve fed Merrick some kind of love potion to get him to hand over the gallery! Meanwhile Noe stepped out of the gallery to spot a sleek and understated Aston Martin parked across the street. The car was a limited global release; only those with a hefty bank bnce got to test drive it, let alone buy at a hefty price tag. And the car was even customized. The passersby couldn¡¯t help but stop and stare. Annie, who was impably dressed in a suit, stood before it and greeted Noe with a bow and a smile. Noe strode towards the car and slid in as Annie held the door open for her. Inside, Palmer was the picture of sophistication in a bespoke suit, his tie crisp. Whether by chance or design, hispel sported a leaf decoration, which was clearly an Azure original. And that was worth a pretty penny. No barely remembered crafting that suit herself; it must¡¯ve beenst year when some big shot from Kitai requested a few custom pieces from Azure. With Pris Star in a financial pinch, she¡¯d worked through the night to get it done. To think, the only suit Azure ever made was for Palmer. Kitai had even remarked on the suit¡¯s owner having a great figure, saying if he were a male model who topped the industry. At the thought, Noe blushed and coughed awkwardly. Palmer, who had been reviewing financial reports, looked up with concern, ¡°Feeling off? Annie. ¡°Ms. Yvonne, now Noe is the boss of the gallery. Your grandpa has already gifted it to her.¡± Yvonne nearly crushed her phone in fury! She had her eye on that gallery for ages, perfect in location and prestige for her. If only Merrick cut it loose and gifted it to her, her standing among the Imperial City¡¯s elitedies would be unmatched. She fell for ¡°The Mountain Portray¡± at a gallery stroll and had managed to replicate it with great effort. Master Killian had taken the original back and hardly anyone had seen it. Even Beckett hadn¡¯t noticed the forgery when it was hung. How could Noe tell it was fake? That country bumpkin must be green with envy of her talent and trying to smear her reputation! Her malice was just too vile! Yvonne mmed her pillow a few times in a rage, Then she grabbed her bag, stormed out the door, and headed straight for Merrick¡¯s ce. It was just because she hadn¡¯t been schmoozing up to the old mantely that Noe found her opening. She must¡¯ve fed Merrick some kind of love potion to get him to hand over the gallery! Meanwhile Noe stepped out of the gallery to spot a sleek and understated Aston Martin parked across the street. The car was a limited global release; only those with a hefty bank bnce got to test drive it, let alone buy at a hefty price tag. And the car was even customized. The passersby couldn¡¯t help but stop and stare. Annie, who was impably dressed in a suit, stood before it and greeted Noe with a bow and a smile. Noe strode towards the car and slid in as Annie held the door open for her. Inside, Palmer was the picture of sophistication in a bespoke suit, his tie crisp. Whether by chance or design, hispel sported a leaf decoration, which was clearly an Azure original. And that was worth a pretty penny. Noe barely remembered crafting that suit herself; it must¡¯ve beenst year when some big shot from Kitai requested a few custom pieces from Azure. With Pris Star in a financial pinch, she¡¯d worked through the night to get it done. To think, the only suit Azure ever made was for Palmer. Kitai had even remarked on the suit¡¯s owner having a great figure, saying if he were a male model who topped the industry. At the thought, Noe blushed and coughed awkwardly. Palmer, who had been reviewing financial reports, looked up with concern. ¡°Feeling off? Annie, let¡¯s swing by the hospital.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m a doctor myself.¡± Noe replied. Palmer put away his reports and reached for Noe¡¯s hand with a hint of guilt, his expression softening a lot under the cabin lights. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been a bit tied up these past few days and couldn¡¯t keep youpany.¡± He apologized. I never said I neededpany, did 1? As Noe mused that and tried to pull her hand back, Palmer let her by releasing it with a smile. He just wanted to check if her hands were cold. He didn¡¯t want to do anything that might annoy her, though he was reluctant to let go.. But as she withdrew her hand, Noe felt an odd twinge of disappointment. ¡°How¡¯d you know I was here?¡± she asked him. ¡°I called the Horwich Mansion and Grandpa Merrick told me. I remember this gallery belonging to him. Came to check out some art?¡± He was still in the dark about her fondness for art galleries. With Pock Group owning several, he could easily gift her one. ¡°Came to work.¡± She said. Palmer was a bit caught off guard ¨C he hadn¡¯t expected Merrick to be so generous. The girl had just turned neen, and he¡¯s already letting her take the reins of the gallery. ¡°Artists can be a bit of a handful, you know? If you ever need anything, my fianc¨¦e, just hit me up. I¡¯ve got your back,¡± Running a gallery wasn¡¯t as easy as pie, the toughest part being dealing with the artists who were as stubborn as mules. He couldn¡¯t stand the thought of his precious littledy being driven up the wall by those artists. who act like they¡¯re the next big thing. Noe yed it cool, ¡°I doubt their temperaments are worse than those of the Obelisk Organization¡¯s folks.¡± Palmer paused for a sec, then it clicked ¨C his fianc¨¦e wasn¡¯t some delicate flower in a greenhouse. She was a force to be reckoned with, a worthy adversary. If she could handle hitmen on the border, a few artists would be a walk in the park. But when she spoke, there was this subtle pride in her voice, and that dainty chin lifted in a charming arc that made Palmer¡¯s heart skip a beat. His smile turned extra soft and tender, ¡°Of course, my fianc¨¦e is the baddest of them all. I just hate to see you upset. How about joining me for dinner?¡± 12:23 It¡¯s not every day that the big cheese of the Pock Group came across so humble. A powerful man bowing down always softened one¡¯s heart. ¡°Sure.¡± Noe gave a little nod, agreeing to it. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. CHapter 86 CHapter 86 ¡°Craving anything to munch on?¡± he asked. ¡°Nah.¡± Palmer got the hint and gestured for Annie to steer the car towards a downtown eatery. ¡°Into painting, are you? Prefer oil or sketch? Got a few decent pieces back at mine, could owing them by next time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m more into oils. Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯m swamped with paintings as it is.¡± She said. Master Killian must churn out a gazillion paintings for her each year, and Ivan, Killian¡¯s star pupil leaves his works lying around Pris Star¡¯sb like they¡¯re going out of style. ¡°So spill. What¡¯s your jam?¡± Palmer requested. Noe couldn¡¯t help but look up at Palmer with a puzzled look. The guy was a mix of suave and ice¨Ccold, one nce and you¡¯d peg him as a ruthless ruler with a heart of stone. Yet, when he peered at her, all you could see was this uncontroble tenderness. Those deep and piercing eyes carried a touch frosty, while his whole vibe screamed a chilled elegance. And there, at his cuffs, a pair of ruby cufflinks added him an extrayer of posh. ¡°Why the sudden interest in my likes?¡± she asked. ¡°I could y the guessing game with your preferences, but hitting the nail on the head with gifts. is always a win. Plus, I wanna get to know you better.¡± Palmer whipped off his sses that were perched on his prominent nose and put them aside casually. Without the barrier of lenses, he could gaze more intently into Noe¡¯s crystal¨Cclear eyes. ¡°Before I knew you were my fianc¨¦e, prying into your likes might¡¯ve! can, I¡¯d rather hear it from you than through the grapevine.¡± Under his intense gaze, it was like she could see a vast starry sky. ¡°Got it.¡± She nodded. a tad rude. Now that ! ¡°But hey, if you are itching to figure me out, there are plenty of ways. I¡¯m an open book.¡± Noe pursed her lips, ncing at Palmer, ¡°Saw this morning¡¯s gossip rag tagging you with some mystery actress at a hotel. Cool with that?¡± His smile froze instantly. Tabloid journos always cook up anything for clicks! If Noe actually bought that spiel, he¡¯d be up incapable of defending himself. A smirk yed on Noe¡¯s lips. Annie, the dutiful assistant, leapt into action as she watched her boss get cornered, ¡°Miss, that 13:24 was a family member rted to Mr. Pock, and they were at the Pock Group¡¯s hotel. We¡¯ll handle that media mess, so you just sit tight.¡± Noe wasn¡¯t really using the news to test Palmer. She just got a kick out of seeing him. squirm. Palmer chuckled wryly, his eyes never straying from Noe, ¡°Gotcha, you¡¯re miffed I haven¡¯t introduced you to the Pocks. Was worried you¡¯d be spooked because they¡¯re a tad overbearing. But since you¡¯ve asked, I¡¯ll set it up ASAP. Just give me a bit of time.¡± Now Noe was the one who couldn¡¯t muster a smile. She never wanted to meet his family. But Palmer took it to heart. He turned around to arrange a Pock family dinner, and with Noe unable to get a word in edgewise, she just let it be. In the Horwich Mansion Yvonne sat on the couch and was bawling her eyes out. Her tears were flowing like a faucet as she said, ¡°Grandpa, I never wanted topete with Noe! But she¡¯s just too much. She tossed out the painting I ved over for two months!¡± Merrick had seen Yvonne¡¯s dedication to that piece and knew it was abor of love. But if Noe tossed it, there must be a reason. He¡¯d given Noe the gallery and wasn¡¯t about to meddle. Whatever she wanted to do was fine by him. Watching Yvonne cry her heart out, Tristan was getting edgy, ¡°Yvonne, the gallery¡¯s Noe¡¯s now. Our hands are tied. Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: I¡¯ve got a small gallery and now it¡¯s yours. Take your paintings, hang them up, and have your own show.¡± Yvonne¡¯s tears stopped in their tracks!¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Tristan¡¯s gallery wasn¡¯t even a tenth of Merrick¡¯s size! They were fobbing her off with that little space?! And why did Noe get the prime gallery, and she¡¯s left with crumbs? ¡°Dad, that¡¯s not what I meant. I just want an exnation. She¡¯s being unfair to me. Is she holding a grudge? That painting was my heart and soul. Grandpa¡¯s an artist: surely he understands the significance of a work. If she treats an artist¡¯s work like this, then God knows what she¡¯ll do with the gallery.¡± She retorted. Merrick waved it off as if it were nothing. ¡°Noe can do as she pleases. Worst case, the gallery goes under. No biggie.¡± No biggie?! That gallery was the Imperial City¡¯s art hub and home to the most Killian masterpieces. If 1904 Noe runs it into the ground, won¡¯t that prove the bumpkin can¡¯t handle a gallery? Why was Merrick so chill about it? ¡°I don¡¯t mind the gallery, but that painting was my masterpiece and it was two months of hard work. She showed me zero respect so she owes me an apology!¡± Tristan was in a pickle. His princess apologizing to Yvonne? He couldn¡¯t bear it. Even if his daughter stepped out of line, it wasn¡¯t the end of the world. But Yvonne grew up alongside Ashlyn, calling him ¡®Dad.¡® If she made a fuss to Ashlyn, his girl would be in for a headache. After a silent moment, Sienna suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for Noe toe back, then we¡¯ll talk.¡± She was confident her sweet, smart, lovely, and charming daughter would never do anything so disrespectful! Sienna knew her precious girl¡¯s character inside out. The Lambert family has been such jerks to Noe, and she hasn¡¯t even thought about getting back at the Lamberts. It¡¯s just heartbreaking. Sienna wants to believe there¡¯s a good reason her daughter¡¯s taking the high road. Yvonne was bitter and ticked off that Sienna still didn¡¯t take her side, even with things the way they were, ¡°Mom, are you saying you don¡¯t believe me? I¡¯m your daughter too. I get that you feel for sis, but you can¡¯t just ignore right and wrong!¡± Freya couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and snapped, ¡°Enough! We can¡¯t just take your word for it. Let¡¯s wait for Noe toe back and give us the lowdown. If she really ditched your painting without any good reason, she owes you an apology. But if there¡¯s more to the story, that¡¯s a different ball game.¡± ¡°Yes, Grandma.¡± Yvonne didn¡¯t dare to throw a tantrum in front of Freya and had to agree. Darn it, they were still siding with Noe even if things had gone so wrong. If she couldn¡¯t do something soon, she¡¯d be a nobody in the Schnabel family. CHapter 87 CHapter 87 12:24 ¡°Grandpa knows how long I ved over that painting, and even if sis took over the gallery, she can¡¯t just chuck it out like that. I know she¡¯s always treated me like I don¡¯t belong, like I¡¯m the ck sheep of the family, and it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Seeing Yvonne sobbing her heart out, Tristan couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sympathy, ¡°Chill out. Yvonne. Let¡¯s wait for Noe to get back and we¡¯ll get the lowdown on the whole thing.¡± Yvonne was almost beside herself with frustration. Just wait till that bumpkin shows up and see what she has to say! She thought. If the Schnabel family got wind that she¡¯s targeting me on purpose, they¡¯d kick her out on her ear for sure. An hourter. Palmer parked the car at the gates of the Horwich Mansion. ¡°I can¡¯t stick around for a visit today: got a bit of a situation at the office. Apologize to your grandpa and grandma for me, will ya?¡± Noe nodded at the car door, ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t sweat it about dropping by for grub when you¡¯re swamped. We can catch up on the blower if anything¡¯s up.¡± Deep down she knew Palmer¡¯s recent busyness was all about carving out time to meet up with Thorpe. Now that she¡¯s set on meeting Thorpe, having the folks from Pris Star and Obelisk Organization in her corner was enough. She¡¯d be ready for whatever came her way. Palmer, lounging in the plush car seat, caught wind of her words and suddenly lifted his gaze. His eyes sparkled as he looked at the girl before him, ¡°I wanna be there with you.¡± He¡¯d been burning the midnight oil and crunching financial statements while waiting for her¨Call just to spend time with her. After all this time together, Palmer had a pretty good read on his fianc¨¦e¡¯s temperament. ¡°The gifts for my grandpa and grandma will be delivered. You go on in.¡± Noe, under his intense gaze, felt her cheeks heat up and turned to enter the Horwich Mansion. Only after her figure had vanished behind the doors did Palmer start up the car engine and leave the Horwich Mansion. Sienna spotted Noe walking in and immediately went to greet her, ¡°Sweetheart, did you eat your fill tonight? Mr. Pock called to say you dined together, so we didn¡¯t save dinner for you. Want me to whip up something?¡± Noe was touched that Palmer had even thought to give Sienna a heads¨Cup, ¡°I¡¯m good, no need to cook.¡± Sienna peeked behind Noe a few times, but there was no sign of Palmer. 12:24 *Sweetie, did Mr. Pock head out? Why not invite him in for a quick drink before he left?¡± she asked. ¡°He had stuff to do so he had headed back to the office. Sienna had worried that Noe and Palmer might have had a falling out over dinner, but hearing that Palmer had gone back to work, she breathed a sigh of relief. With thepany that busy and still making time for a meal with Noe, it was clear Palmer was serious about his future with their daughter. Merrick was also quite taken with Palmer. Ever since they met on the yacht, he could tell Palmer was super protective of the girl by his side¨C that look in his eyes was unmistakable. It was just like the way he looked at his own missus. Merrick cleared his throat and nced at Yvonne, who was still perched on the sofa, ¡°Noe, Yvonne¡¯s saying you¡¯ve lost one of her paintings. What¡¯s the deal?¡± Noe caught on that Yvonne had run to Merrick to snitch, ¡°The painting was a copy and shouldn¡¯t be hanging in the original section. I had the gallery manager take care of it. The so¨Ccalled ¡®creator¡® insists it¡¯s original, but I don¡¯t think it fits our gallery.¡± The painting was a copy? Merrick nodded; although he thought the painting had perfectposition and lighting. Yvonne really didn¡¯t have the aesthetic sense or the skill for it. Yvonne bit her lip, looking forlorn, ¡°Why do you get to say it¡¯s a copy? It¡¯s really my own creation. If you don¡¯t want my stuff in your gallery, just tell me. There¡¯s no need to humiliate me like this¡­¡± Noe frowned slightly. Was she implying she¡¯d been singled out? Property ? N?velDrama.Org. All this fuss over a painting that was actually still hanging in her study, using such a flimsy excuse to smear her seemed downright petty. Noe stated coolly. ¡°Because the real deal is in my study. The original piece called ¡®The Mountain Portray¡® is by Master Killian. Your painting just so happens to be a carbon copy of Master Killian¡¯s work.¡± Sienna remembered there were indeed several oil paintings hanging in Noe¡¯s study. She thought her daughter liked oil paintings and had specially ordered several of Master Killian¡¯s pieces to surprise Noe. Yvonne¡¯s eyes bulged! The original was in Noe¡¯s study?! Impossible! And Noe could even name the painting¨CYvonne had seen it once at a private exhibition and 12:24 remembered it. It must be a gift from the Schnabel family parents to Noe, or else how could that bumpkin get ahold of a Master Killian original? Thinking of the Schnabel parents¡® boundless affection for Noe, Yvonne¡¯s face contorted with jealousy. ¡°That painting is my original work. I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Merrick nced between the everposed Noe and the wide¨Ceyed, agitated Yvonne, and his suspicions were confirmed, ¡°Alright, Yvonne, you should head off. Your dad said he¡¯d give you his small gallery. If you like painting that much, focus on running it well.¡± Yvonne couldn¡¯t fathom why Merrick refused to belleve her. Was it just because they weren¡¯t blood¨Crted? All this should¡¯ve been hers. Seeing things resolved, Tristan also breathed a sigh of relief. As long as his precious daughter wasn¡¯t being wronged, everything else was just water under the bridge. ¡°You go take care of your grandma at the hospital. I¡¯ll have someone send your painting over.¡± He announced. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Yvonne gritted her teeth, not wanting to give in but also scared of Noe giving her a hard time, so she grabbed her purse from the couch and bolted from the Horwich Mansion. The moment she stepped outside, she hailed a cab to the Imperial West Hospital and copsed. beside Ashlyn¡¯s bed in tears, ¡°Granny! How can they treat me like this? Noe tossed out the painting I ved over for two months! And she used me of copying.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s ears perked up. This was not going to fly, she mused. ¡°What did your dad say?¡± she asked. ¡°Dad told me to let it go. He said we shouldn¡¯t sweat the small stuff as a family. E¡­even if we¡¯re not blood¨Crted, Dad shouldn¡¯t y favorites like this. I mean, you basically raised me from scratch, and Dad doesn¡¯t seem to care about your feelings at all.¡± Not blood¨Crted? Ashlyny back down, squinted her eyes, and pondered for a while. ¡°Hand me my phone, I need to call Tristan.¡± ¡°Granny, please don¡¯t fight with Dad over me, I¡¯m okay.¡± Yvonne sobbed. But Yvonne said this while passing Ashlyn her phone, worried that if she was too slow, her granny might change her mind. Tristan was out shopping for thetest fashion for their darling daughter when he picked up the call. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± 12:24 Hearing theughter and joy on the other end, and thinking about how she was alone in the chilly hospital room with no visitors, Ashlyn¡¯s temper red. ¡°How dare you ask? I¡¯ve been sick for so long, and you can¡¯t evene to see me?¡± she scowled. Tristan¡¯s mood instantly deted when he heard Ashlyn¡¯s voice, ¡°Haven¡¯t I arranged for over twenty caregivers for you? Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°What good are caregivers? They can¡¯t match the care from your own flesh and blood. The olddy in the bed next to me has her son and daughter¨Cinw looking after her personally. Guess I¡¯m just not that lucky.¡± CHapter 88 CHapter 88 1224 Taken care of by his own son and daughter¨Cinw? Wasn¡¯t that just a jab at him? Tristan had definitely taken care of Ashlyn himself before; he knew she wasn¡¯t short of caretakers. She just wanted to ruffle Sienna¡¯s feathers. Any normal person would lose their cool hearing this, but Tristan, having dealt with Ashlyn for years, had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. ¡°Mom, your ward is private. What neighboring bed? Besides, all the folks on your floor are old men, not a single woman.¡± Ashlyn was stumped! She had her speech ready, but now she was tongue¨Ctied and only managed to spit out that Tristan was ungrateful. ¡°Getting a wife and forgetting your mom! What kind of love potion has Sienna fed you? Let me tell you, you can find a new wife, but you only get one mom in this lifetime!¡± Tristan¡¯s smile vanished, and even Sienna at his side felt the shift in his mood and nced over. ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to repeat myself. I¡¯ve checked out the Gerastor nursing home. Keep up this nonsense, and you¡¯re off to recuperate there. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll send Yvonne with you forpany.¡± Hearing that Tristan would actually send her away just to back up Sienna, Ashlyn panicked! ¡°Tristan! How dare you treat me this way! I¡¯m your mother! I¡¯m telling you, simply because my connection with your dad, 1 can¡¯t just leave the country.¡± Marcel¡¯s sensitive status meant that even Ashlyn couldn¡¯t simply travel abroad without a thorough vetting process. of More importantly, at her age, once she was sent away, she would never have a chance toe back, let alone scheme more for Yvonne. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Dad¡¯s aware of my decision. Mom, do you really think the Schnabel family can¡¯t find a way to send someone away if we wanted to?¡± Ashlyn was floored by his icy words. ¡°Tristan, you can¡¯t treat me this way. I¡¯m getting on in years; I just want to live out my days in peace. If you keep this up, you¡¯re asking for a lightning strike.¡± Even if Tristan had grown a thick skin to such words, they still stung. ¡°You¡¯ve been duped by that girl. Is that brat bad¨Cmouthing her in front of you? She bullied. Yvonne, and you¡¯re just going to let it slide? Tristan, you¡¯re my son. I wouldn¡¯t steer you wrong. 12:24 That Noe, she¡¯s trouble!¡± Tristan couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. Why, even now, did Ashlyn still believe Noe had done something wrong? ¡°Enough! Mom, Noe has had it tough. Why can¡¯t you just cut her some ck?¡± Ashlyn scoffed. ¡°Me, be nice to her? Does she even deserve it? Tristan, you have no idea. Even the family that adopted her said she¡¯s trouble, not to mention a thief. I mysteriously lost ten mil from my ount, and I bet it was that girl!¡± Did Ashlyn really believe the words of the Lamberts, known for their greed, cunning, and heartlessness? Tristan could not believe it. Ashlyn kept on ranting over the phone, mostly regurgitating stuff she heard from Vincent. Tristan¡¯s heart grew colder. ¡°That¡¯s it, Mom. I¡¯m starting the arrangements to send you and Yvonne to Gerastor. Get ready: this isn¡¯t up for debate. The environment here is toxic; it¡¯s bad for your health. The nursing home in Gerastor is top¨Cnotch.¡± After saying his piece. Tristan hung up, unwilling to hear another word from Ashlyn. Sienna, sitting beside him, asked, ¡°Are you really sending her to Gerastor? She¡¯s got some years on her, and with Dad¡¯s status, it¡¯ll be tough to travel abroad.¡± Tristan took her hand, pulling out some documents. ¡°Dad¡¯s been ready to divorce her for a while now. He¡¯s just worried she couldn¡¯t handle it at her age, so he¡¯s been sitting on the papers. He¡¯s already reported this up top.¡± Sienna was just finding out that Marcel had already signed the divorce papers with Ashlyn! Tristan sighed. If Ashlyn hadn¡¯t gone too far, he wouldn¡¯t have decided to send her away so soon. As soon as he hung up, Ashlyn was at her wits¡® end. How could Tristan be so heartless? She was his flesh and blood! It must be Sienna, that little vixen, filling his head with nonsense, driving a wedge between. mother and son. She couldn¡¯t be sent away that easily; once she left. Yvonne¡¯s chance to marry into the Pock family would vanish. Yvonne was in a tizzy, too. She didn¡¯t want to go abroad, especially not with Ashlyn. She was young, with plenty of time ahead of her. What good would it do to stick with an olddy. ¡°Grandma, what do we do now? If we go abroad, we¡¯ll never see Grandpa and my brothers again. And what about my marriage to Mr. Pock?¡± Ashlyn thought hard and dialed Palmer¡¯s number, a contact she sneaked from Marcel¡¯s phone when he wasn¡¯t looking. Even after a lifetime together, Marcel guarded his phone from her like she was a thief! 12:24 The moment Palmer picked up, Ashlyn¡¯s tone turned sweet as pie. ¡°Mr. Pock? Is that you? It¡¯s Noe¡¯s grandmother. Do you have time to visit me? I¡¯m at Imperial West Hospital, too. That girl, Noe, really should have brought her fianc¨¦ to see me.¡± Ashlyn was, after all, Noe¡¯s grandmother, and Palmer agreed toe. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be visiting the hospital tomorrow to see Grandpa, and I¡¯ll stop by to see you. ¡°Okay!¡± After hanging up. Ashlyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with cunning. ¡°Come on, Yvonne. I don¡¯t buy it for a second that Palmer would still trust Noe once he gets a load of her true colors. I bet he was just ying nice before because he didn¡¯t want to lose face in front of the Schnabel family. Just wait until I spill the beans to him; he¡¯ll definitely realize. who the right woman for him is.¡± Ashlyn was brimming with confidence. A guy like Palmer was bound to pick the one who was the best match for him. And the granddaughter Yvonne she had raised with her own hands? She was the perfect fit to be the futuredy of the Pock family. ¡°As long as we get you hitched to Mr. Pock, I won¡¯t have to go abroad.¡± Yvonne was over the moon! Just the thought of seeing Palmer the next day had her grinning from ear to ear. First thing in the morning, a whole entourage turned up at Ashlyn¡¯s hospital room. Annie, with a gift in tow, knocked on the door, a fleet of bodyguards in her wake. The moment Yvonneid eyes on Annie, she rolled her eyes so hard they nearly got stuck. This chick screamed trouble, always buzzing around her Palmer. Just looking at her, got on Yvonne¡¯s nerves. ¡°Ashlyn, this is a present from our president.¡± Ashlyn wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled to see Annie either. ¡°Yeah, where¡¯s Palmer?¡± Annie said with a smile, ¡°Our president is off having a meal with the young missus. They¡¯lle and visit you togetherter.¡± Yvonne nearly twisted her handkerchief into shreds! Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. It was so early, and Palmer was already off to breakfast with Noe? Was she starving or what? 12:241 Calling her ¡®the young missus¡® before they were even married, talk about shameless! Ashlyn muttered to hersell, seeing Palmer taking that girl out for breakfast this early, it looked like he had a bit of a soft spot for her! That was not good news¡­. ¡°I only agreed to meet Mr. Pock alone. You tell that bi¡­ tell Noe to head back.¡± She couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Noe! CHapter 89 CHapter 89 Ashlyn was just dying to get Palmer alone in the hospital room so she could spill the beans about what she knew. If he brought that broad along, what the heck would she even say? She gave Annie the stink eye and bossed her around. ¡°Go tell Noe she¡¯s not allowed to see me. I need some one¨Con¨Cone time with Mr. Pock.¡± Annie¡¯s mouth twitched. Why did she feel like the missus¡® grandma didn¡¯t exactly have a soft spot for her own granddaughter? Instead, she was all goo¨Cgoo¨Ceyed over Yvonne. To an outsider, Yvonne seemed more like the flesh¨Cand¨Cblood granddaughter¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t make that call, but I¡¯ll pass your message on to Mr. Pock.¡± Ashlyn cut Annie off, clearly annoyed. ¡°Cut the crap. You¡¯re an assistant at the Pock Group and you can¡¯t handle this simple task? Totally useless.¡± Annie kept her polite, professional smile stered on her face. ¡°I believe my work ethic is something for.Mr. Pock to judge.¡± ¡°Fine, you can go now.¡± Ashlyn got a headache just looking at this secretary. Once Annie left, she turned to Yvonne with all the seriousness in the world and said, ¡°Yvonne, once you marry Mr. Pock, you better chase away all those flirty girls hanging around him. They¡¯re nothing but trouble.¡± ¡°Grandma, I got it.¡± Seeing her granddaughter acting all sweet and obedient, Ashlyn grinned with satisfaction. Clearly. Yvonne was her most sensible granddaughter; the others were just lowly girls not fit to be seen. Yvonne carefully watched Ashlyn¡¯s mood and slipped out a Nourishment Pill from her pocket, popping it into Ashlyn¡¯s mouth. Ashlyn had been hooked on those Nourishment Pills for years; they were like her lifeline. As soon as she took it, her furrowed brows rxed. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m your only granddaughter. Only if I marry Palmer will you have good days ahead. You gotta listen to me, stand by my side.¡± Ashlyn, drifting into sleep, heard Yvonne¡¯s voice gradually recing the voices in her head, as if her memories were being rewritten. ¡°Yeah, I know¡­ I know¡­¡± Seeing Ashlyn like this, Yvonne sneakily transferred some cash to herself using Ashlyn¡¯s phone. 123 and pocketed the gemstone bracelet from Ashlyn¡¯s wrist. ¡°Grandma, remember, it was Noe who took your money and jewels. She¡¯s got light fingers, always eyeing your stuff, a bad omen.¡± A lifetime of superstition made Ashlyn echo the words, ¡°Thief! She¡¯s a thief! Bad omnen!¡± After setting everything up, Yvonne tucked Ashlyn in, watching her fall into a deep sleep. Nourishment Pills really were the bee¡¯s knees. Too bad Sexton and Marcel never got to taste them. She was running low and needed to stock up if she wanted to keep Ashlyn sweet on her and heeding her words. Half an hourter, Palmer and Noe were outside Ashlyn¡¯s hospital room. Annie stood guard at the door. ¡°President, Miss, Ashlyn just woke up, but she said she only wants to see Mr. Pock alone.¡± She was just the messenger of Ashlyn¡¯s wishes, though she did think Ashlyn seemed a bit off. It didn¡¯t look like she genuinely cared about her granddaughter¡¯s or the boss¡¯s marriage.. Noe got the hint; it was normal for Ashlyn not to want to see her. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go visit Grandpa first.¡± Surprise flickered in Palmer¡¯s eyes. Noe and the Schnabel family matriarch didn¡¯t seem to be on good terms? He had thought the Schnabels treasured her like her brothers did, treating her like a gem. If any Schnabels treated her poorly, he wouldn¡¯t mind giving her a few more loving family members. The Pock family might be a perfect fit for her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just say hi to Grandma Ashlyn and thene find you.¡± Palmer walked in and immediately noticed the room was filled with a flock of attendants and an overdressed Yvonne. Ashlyn shivered as Palmer¡¯s icy aura hit her! The head honcho of the Pock family lived up to his reputation; just his presence was enough. to ooze authority. If Yvonne could snag him, she¡¯d be set for life. ¡°Grandma, hello.¡± ¡°Hello, Palmer,e over to Grandma.¡± Ashlyn beckoned eagerly, trying to get him to stand beside Yvonne. Yvonne looked at Palmer with a coy, fluttering demeanor. ¡°Palmy, long time no see.¡± Seeing this setup, Palmer¡¯s eyebrow twitched. The dissatisfaction of not having Noe by his side turned into a chill, and his hint of a warm smile was quickly masked by a frosty demeanor. 12:24 ¡°No need, Grandma. Just get straight to the point.¡± Ashlyn coughed awkwardly as he didn¡¯t y along. For some reason, all she could think of was that such a catch could only be meant for her granddaughter. ¡°Palmer, I¡¯ll be straight with you: Noe is not right for you. You should call off the engagement ASAP. You have no idea; she even snatched 30 million from me. As if the Schnabel family is short on pocket change! Not to mention the jewelry she took! I bet she¡¯s gallivanting around with all sorts of riffraff; that¡¯s why she needs so much cash. Even her foster parents say she¡¯s no good; definitely not fit to be the futuredy of the Pock family¡­¡± Ashlyn tugged at Yvonne beside her, nudging her towards Palmer. ¡°Yvonne is the perfect match for you!¡± Yvonne¡¯s face was a mix of bashfulness and excitement! If Palmer was down, she was ready to tle the knot with him right then and there! This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Just thinking about soon bing Mrs. Pock, Yvonne was practically bubbling over with joy. Palmer¡¯s expression gradually darkened. He eyed Ashlyn, who was lying in the hospital bed, her face also filled with barely concealed dissatisfaction. ¡°Grandma Ashlyn, I¡¯m here because you¡¯re Noe¡¯s grandma, not to listen to you badmouth her.¡± Ashlyn started to panic. How could Palmer not believe her? She was telling nothing but the truth! It was not like the Lamberts, who had raised Noe for neen years, could be fibbers, right? They were the ones who knew Noe best. Palmer must¡¯ve been hoodwinked by Noe! ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, you¡¯ve been duped by Noe! Palmer, being with Yvonne is the best move. for both the Pock and the Schnabel families. That bimbo is totally not in your league! Who knows what kind of dirty stuff she¡¯s been up to¡­¡± Palmer furrowed his brows. How could Noe¡¯s very own grandma speak so unseemly of her? ¡°Grandma Ashlyn, watch yournguage! I know Noe better than you do.¡± Seeing Palmer about to leave and fearing her ns might fall through, Ashlyn clutched her 12:24 chest andy down. ¡°Ouch! My heart hurts so bad! Am I going to die soon? Yvonne¡­ if I die, you gotta take good care of yourself¡­¡± ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t scare me!¡± Yvonne looked at Palmer through teary eyes, sobbing. ¡°Mr. Pock, please, don¡¯t upset Grandma¡­ CHapter 90 CHapter 90 ¡°Grandma¡¯s health is really bad, and every time Noees around, she says some pretty nasty stuff. I have no clue why she¡¯s being so mean to Grandma. Yvonne was bawling her eyes out, looking absolutely pitiful. ¡°Mr. Pock! Grandma is just looking out for the Schnabel family, she¡¯s telling the truth. I swear. I know you don¡¯t wanna believe it, but Grandma wouldn¡¯t lie to you¡­ Palmer gave Yvonne and Ashlyn, who was clutching her chest and moaning, a cold nce. ¡°I only believe what I see with my own eyes. I know exactly what Noe is like, and nobody¡¯s gonna drag her name through the mud on my watch.¡± With those words, he yanked the hospital room door open, ready to make his exit without a second thought. He didn¡¯t even give a rat¡¯s ass about Ashlyn pretending to be sick on the bed. Ashlyn was freaking out! She couldn¡¯t believe Palmer wouldn¡¯t even give her the time of day! She had it all nned out ¨C if Palmer just showed a bit of sympathy while she was ying sick and said some nice things, she could weasel Yvonne into his good graces. Even if she couldn¡¯t make them break off the engagement right away, at least she could keep Yvonne around Palmer all the time. Any guy would fall for that eventually! And the engagement would naturally fall into Yvonne¡¯sp! But Palmer just up and left, with a face colder than ice. ¡°I¡¯m telling the stone¨Ccold truth! That Noe chick stole a ton of my money!¡± Palmer frowned, and as he opened the hospital door, Noe was standing right there. She was dressed in a light purple dress today, paired with a pearl bag that Sienna had picked out with care, wearing off¨Cwhite leather shoes. Her eyshes were long and curled, making her look like an adorable, delicate doll. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Ever since her daughter came home, Sienna was all about this new game of dressing her up. She would pick out a bunch of outfits for Noe every day. Just seeing Noe dolled up could keep Sienna grinning all day long. Noe was her precious girl! The Lambert family must¡¯ve been out of their minds to cut ties with such an amazing daughter! Worried that Noe might have heard Ashlyn¡¯s rant, Palmer quickly shut the ward door, closing off the world behind them. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to go see Grandpa?¡± Palmer sounded distressed. If she had been standing there the whole time, she must have heard all the nasty stuff Ashlyn was spewing. Noe tilted her chin up and pointed to a few caretakers standing by. 12:25 ¡°They wouldn¡¯t let me leave, worried that Grandma Ashlyn might want to say something to me after seeing you.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s n indeed involved making Noe and Palmer call off the engagement on the spot or at least get Noe to agree to pass the engagement on to Yvonne. Palmer took Noe¡¯s hand with a frosty look at the caretakers nearby. The caretakers met Palmer¡¯s piercing, icy stare and quickly found their shoes incredibly interesting¡­. They only dared to stop Noe from leaving because Ashlyn had told them to. However, just looking at Mr. Pock standing there, oozing that intimidating vibe, they were literally shaking in their boots ¨C they definitely wouldn¡¯t dare to stop him! Palmer, hand in hand with Noe, left Ashlyn¡¯s ward. ¡°Did you catch what Grandma Ashlyn said?¡± Palmer asked. Noe nodded. She had a pretty good guess about what Ashlyn might say. But she hadn¡¯t expected Palmer¡¯s reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat the stuff she said. I¡¯m not calling off our engagement. You know, Noe, if it weren¡¯t for you being my fianc¨¦e at the birthday bash, this engagement would¡¯ve been history.¡± Palmer looked seriously into the eyes of the girl in front of him, making his feelings crystal clear. ¡°Noe, the reason this engagement existed in the first ce was to make the old folks happy. But now, it¡¯s because of you. It exists only because of you.¡± Noe met his deep, gem¨Clike gaze and got the picture. If it wasn¡¯t her, Palmer would¡¯ve ditched the engagement in a heartbeat. As for Ashlyn¡¯s delusional n to hook Yvonne up with Palmer ¨C pure pie in the sky. Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed a bit, and she felt slightly warm. Palmer reached out and handed her a nk check. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± Noe felt confused. ¡°I can¡¯t have my nc¨¦e short on cash. I know the Schnabel family gave you plenty of bank. cards, but my check can be cashed at any bank.¡± Noe frowned slightly, her slender, fair fingers pinching the check, puzzled. Palmer chuckled and ruffled her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. I¡¯m not buying what Grandma Ashlyn¡¯s selling not a single word.¡± ¨C ¡°Then why the check for me?¡± 12:25 A twinkle flickered in Palmer¡¯s eyes like scattered stars. ¡°Can¡¯t I give my fianc¨¦e some pocket money?¡± Pocket money? She was not really a little kid! Sexton Pock, who had been waiting at the ward door, heard their voices. The moment he saw Noe, Sexton, decked out in his hospital gown, bolted towards her. ¡°My dear granddaughter¨Cinw! I¡¯ve missed you like crazy! What are you and that rascal chatting about in the hallway? Why didn¡¯t youe in?¡± Seeing Sexton so full of beans, Palmer could tell his grandpa was doing alright. Sexton noticed the check in Noe¡¯s hand and scoffed. ¡°A check? Man, you really don¡¯t know how to make a girl happy. Who on earth gives checks as a gift?¡± Palmer helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s just a little pocket money I¡¯m giving to Noe.¡± Sexton inserted himself between them, shouldering Palmer aside and taking Noe¡¯s arm to head back to the room. ¡°Pocket money? Let me tell you, us Pock men? Once we¡¯re hitched, we¡¯re broke. All the cash is gonna be Noe¡¯s turf, and you¡¯ll be the one on an allowance. Heh, Noe, sweetheart, you just give him as much as you feel liketer on, but don¡¯t spoil the guy! As for this check, write any amount you want; the kid¡¯s loaded; no need to pinch pennies for him. Noe was a bit helpless. Her and Palmer¡¯s wedding wasn¡¯t even on the horizon. But faced with Sexton, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no. ¡°Alright, got it.¡± The more Sexton looked at Noe, the more he took to her,pletely forgetting about his grandson standing behind him. Palmer, watching Sexton and Noe¡¯s retreating figures, felt a new warmth in his heart. Sexton was actually a stiff, quirky old¨Ctimer, so his taking a shine to Noe was totally unexpected. He had already spotted the old man eagerly waiting in the hallway and could feel his genuine fondness for Noe. But waiting for Noe wasn¡¯t Sexton¡¯s only agenda. 12:25 ¡°Noe, honey, could you check on how I¡¯m doing? Can I get discharged from the hospital. soon?¡± Marcel¡¯s voice came from the doorway of the room. ¡°How are you doing? You¡¯ll be six feet under tomorrow! Scram, stop pestering my precious granddaughter! If you¡¯ve got the guts, go have your own kids pop out one for you!¡± Sexton perked up instantly. ¡°Hey, Marcell My kids might not be able to give me a granddaughter as great as this one, but my grandson and his wife sure can give me an even better great¨Cgrandkid!¡± Although Marcel also longed for the sight of four generations under one roof, his top priority at the moment was verbal sparring with Sexton. ¡°If I don¡¯t agree, you can kiss your dream of holding a great¨Cgrandkid goodbye.¡± Sexton charged at him on the spot. ¡°You just wait! I¡¯m gonna settle the score with you today!¡± CHapter 91 CHapter 91 ¡°Come at me! You think I¡¯m afraid? You were my punching bag back in the day!¡± The moment Sexton heard this, he rolled up his sleeves and lunged at Marcel in a sh. ¡°Marcel, you¡¯ve got the nerve to bring up the past? You promised you¡¯d take good care of her, and what happened? I should have never stepped aside back then!¡± Talking about the past, the two old¨Ctimers were as pumped as if they had been shot with adrenaline, neither willing to back down. ¡°You not stepping aside? She wouldn¡¯t give you the time of day! Your staying in the game wouldn¡¯t have made a lick of difference!¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh, cut the crap! If it weren¡¯t for your dirty tricks, she wouldn¡¯t have been duped by you.¡± Sexton got more and more heated, even kicking Marcel in frustration. ¡°She¡¯s gone, and that makes you happy?¡± Marcel, clutching his cane, sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze tinged with forlornness. ¡°Happy or not, I¡¯ll be joining her down there one day.¡± ¡°Pfft, Marcel, save your breath. Maybe I should beat you to it; then you¡¯d have no say in the matter.¡± ¡°You wish! Even if you went first, she¡¯d ignore you.¡± Sexton was about to throw punches when the two old coots got into a scuffle yet again. The bodyguards and caregivers didn¡¯t dare intervene, worried about identally hurting the two. Palmer, left with no choice, stepped in to break them up. Noe was curious; every time they argued, they would dig up the past, but she had never seen them this worked up before. ¡°Grandpa, who are you talking about?¡± Marcel¡¯s eyes were filled with deep memories, and a smile crept across his face as if he was lost in the past. ¡°An old friend. It¡¯s not important anymore.¡± That set Sexton off again, and he snapped, ¡°Not important? Marcel, how can you be so heartless to say she¡¯s not important? Poor thing, to have crossed paths with a jerk like you!¡± Noe was speechless. To be called a jerk at this age, Marcel was livid, too. ¡°You¡¯re not a jerk? You went and married someone else while professing your love for her!¡± ¡°That was because I knew I had no chance! Not like you, an old fool who leaves a trail of 11:50 chaos!¡± Sexton was also fuming. ¡°She only had eyes for you back then, Marcell¡± ¡°Who she liked is none of your business; what¡¯s the point of bringing it up now?¡± Both had fallen for the same woman in their youth, but she only had eyes for Marcel, Now that she was no longer around, she remained an untouchable presence in the eyes of both old men, As they were about to tangle again, Noe coolly said, ¡°Whoever throws a punch can forget about leaving the hospital.¡± Her words worked like magic, instantly calming the two old men down. Their chance of discharge was entirely in Noe¡¯s hands! ¡°Darling, I¡¯ve been good; I took all the meds you sent!¡± ¡°I did, too! Acting like you¡¯re the only one who did? I¡¯ve been following Noe¡¯s orders to a T.¡± Watching the old men trying to prove their obedience, a faint smile crossed Noe¡¯s face, Her eyes landed on theics tucked under the hospital bed. ¡°Who brought theseics? Didn¡¯t I say they¡¯re bad for your eyes, to cut down on them?¡± Marcel quickly nudged theics farther under the bed with his foot. Sexton hid his game console under the nket, fearing their precious toys might be discovered by Noe, jeopardizing their chance to leave this dreadful hospital! Marcel quickly changed the subject. ¡°Noe, you just came from your grandma¡¯s? What did she tell you this time?¡± Noe nced at Palmer standing beside her. ¡°Nothing much, just that she wants me to call off the engagement with the Pock family.¡± Sexton bounced up from his bed, eyes wide as saucers. ¡°Kid, you didn¡¯t agree, did you? That nasty old hag! Could she be jealous that I¡¯ve got such a fantastic granddaughter¨Cinw? Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. I really like you, and even if Palmer, this stinker, doesn¡¯t deserve you, I can snag you a proper guy from the Pock family!¡± Palmer looked on speechless. Was his grandpa poaching right in front of him? Despite what Sexton said, he was looking out for his grandson. ¡°The kid may be a grump with a bad temper, but he¡¯s a looker and can earn a buck. Noe, for those reasons, you should give him a chance. If it doesn¡¯t work out, I will find you someone else! As for your grandma, that nasty old hag, you can¡¯t take her seriously. Justst time, she barged into the ward, iming your grandpa had an affair. Pure nonsense.¡± Sexton rolled his eyes while speaking. Noe, seeing the speechless Palmer beside her, couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t agree.¡± Sexton breathed a sigh of relief, then nced at Marcel beside him. ¡°This is your family¡¯s ? business; you deal with it.¡± They could see right through the old hag¡¯s intentions. She just wanted her own granddaughter Yvonne to marry Palmer, didn¡¯t she? Marcel felt weary and sighed. ¡°I know what you mean. I filed with the authorities to end our marriage last month. But she is Tristan¡¯s mother, after all, so I can¡¯t be too harsh.¡± Noe was taken aback. Marcel had quietly divorced Ashlyn? And it was all arrangedst month? Given Marcel¡¯s status, a divorce would need a long preparation time and involveplicated procedures. So, Marcel must have been nning the divorce even earlier. Sexton smiled knowingly, looking like he had all the answers. ¡°If there weren¡¯t things I can¡¯t tell you, you probably would¡¯ve divorced long ago.¡± Keeping a secret for so many years was no easy feat! Marcel caught the hint. ¡°What do you mean? What can¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot I can¡¯t tell you. What, you want to know everything, like how much I ate for breakfast?¡± Marcel squinted, sensing something fishy. Realizing he had said too much, Sexton pped his mouth shut and cheerfully dragged Noe off to his room to y video games. When the time came to spill the beans, Marcel would have plenty to regret! ¡°Noe, that game you told me aboutst time, l¡¯just can¡¯t beat it! It¡¯s driving me nuts!¡± Sexton whipped out his gaming console, eager to dive into the game Noe had shown himst time she was over. He had the ytime all set up, foolproof. Noe wouldn¡¯t have a clue he¡¯d been sneaking in some game time in the dead of night. Noe grabbed the console and, like a pro, fired up the backend console, tapping into all the hidden files. A stream of numbers flooded the screen, rolling non¨Cstop. Her fingers flew over the controls, and in no time, she had pulled up all the recent times the console had been used. ¡°Grandpa Sexton, you were gaming at 3 a.m.st night?¡± Sexton¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ¡°I just happened to wake up for a bathroom run!¡± ¡°A three¨Chour bathroom run?¡± ¡°Hey, constipation¡¯s no joke when you¡¯re old¡­¡± Noe nodded. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll prescribe you some medicine for that, but fair warning, it¡¯s gonna taste bitter.¡± Sexton felt like bursting into tears! He had pros cover his tracks for crying out loud! They had reassured him they could delete any trace of his gaming escapades. How did his granddaughter¨Cinw sniff it out so easily? CHapter 92 CHapter 92 ¡°You¡¯ve been popping out of bed at 2 AM to game every night for a week straight. Every gaming sessionsts from two to three hours. You skipped your gaming seshst Friday night. Did something happen?¡± Sexton was freaking out! ¡°Last Friday¡­ I must have hit the hay for real!¡± Noe shook her head, brought up Sexton¡¯s gaming ount, fired up the hidden program, and tracked the login times straight from the backend data. All the deleted info was restored in a snap. ¡°Last Friday, you must have been gaming with my grandpa. His console was running all night long.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. After Marcel realized his console had no secrets from Noe, he sneakily switched to reading Palmer was frowning big time, ring at his grandpa with a mix of worry, helplessness, and a dash of anger. ¡°Grandpa, Noe busts her butt every time she makes your meds. If you keep acting like a child, she might just wash her hands of you.¡± Sexton¡¯s meds weren¡¯t rocket science, but Noe crafted them with her own hands. Every time Palmer was at the Lunar Lab¡¯s door, he would only catch a glimpse of herte at night. Seeing those faint shadows under Noe¡¯s eyes always hits him right in the feels. And yet, Sexton just can¡¯t seem to toe the line! ¡°Come on; I¡¯ll be good from now on. Darn it, the game¡¯s just too addictive, and I can¡¯t crack this level¡­ The more I think about it, the less I can sleep, and I end up dragging Marcel into it, and there you have it ¨C neither of us gets any shut¨Ceye.¡± Noe was speechless. Making excuses for not sleeping now? The games Sexton was hooked on were just some casual ones Noe whipped up when she was bored, meant to kill time. Little did she expect them to be snatched up by Ivan, turned into legit gaming apps, going viral, and raking in the dough. Palmer, not buying it, said, ¡°Grandpa, that¡¯s not an excuse for not behaving. Noe¡¯s a doctor, and even Professor Calvin told you to rest up. And you¡¯re throwing that away for a game?¡± Sexton had lived a life of calling the shots, and now, getting a lecture from his grandson, he felt a tad embarrassed. ¡°What do you know? That game¡¯s tough as nails. Bet you couldn¡¯t beat it either.¡± Sexton¡¯s eyes darted around as he shoved the console into Palmer¡¯s hands. ¡°If you crack it in half an hour, I¡¯ll promise to quit my midnight gaming sprees!¡± Palmer gave him a look. Grandpa was up to kiddie tricks at his age. ¡°This is a co¨Cop game. You team up with Noe, and if you two can beat it in 30 minutes. I¡¯ll be all ears from now on.¡± Sexton had it all figured out. The game was a beast. Even a daily grind with the console might not cut it, let alone a measly half¨C hour. Palmer was not much of a gamer except when it was about making bank. No chance he could beat it. And Noe, well, Sexton even roped in some hospital nurses to try the game, and they couldn¡¯t even get past level one. Even if his daughter¨Cinw was a brainiac, there was no way she would ace it! Which meant he could game in peace! Palmer saw right through Sexton¡¯s game. He picked up the console, looking at Noe. ¡°Up for a round? Really sorry for the hassle my grandpa¡¯s causing you.¡± Noe pursed her lips and synced up with Palmer¡¯s console like a pro. ¡°Let¡¯s roll.¡± Sexton scrambled to get Marcel, still sneaking peeks atics, toe watch. This was a brainy little game, each level a battlefield sim. One needed razor¨Csharp logic to beat it, and the levels were all clever as hell. Noe and Palmer, side by side, each worked their consoles. No chitchat, but their teamwork was on point. Palmer was grinning, smoothly moving all the way. It was his first time gaming with Noe, and he was feeling her vibe through the game¡¯s tactics¨Cher sharpness and aggression were rare finds. From the software she pulled up earlier to check Sexton¡¯s gaming time, she had skills he hadn¡¯t bargained for. Looked like Palmer had struck gold. Ten minutester, ¡°Level Complete¡± lighted up the screen. Sexton and Marcel, having had a crack at this game, knew just how difficult it was. Thepletion screen had them bug¨Ceyed in disbelief. ¡°You beat it in just ten minutes!¡± Marcel was all smiles at Noe. ¡°Kiddo, you ever yed this before?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°Nope.* Though she developed the game, Ivan¡¯s team pimped it out, and it was her first time ying the upgraded version. ¡°Noe¡¯s a sharp one!¡± Marcel was chuffed. Breezing through the game like that only proved his granddaughter had killer instincts and reflexes. ¡°That¡¯s my girl!¡± He thought. Palmer stowed the console and handed it off to his bodyguard. ¡°Grandpa gets two hours of game time a day, and only during daylight.¡± ¡°Roger that, Mr. Pock!¡± Sexton was on the verge of tears! And to think, he was the one who set up this bet, not knowing they would be such whizzes! Two hours a day? That was practically a death sentence! ¡°Noe, when can I get out of this joint? I can leave tomorrow, right?¡± All he wanted was to head home and game to his heart¡¯s content. Once he was home, Palmer wouldn¡¯t be able to touch him. ¡°Next month. But keep up these all¨Cnighters, and it might not be till next year.¡± The mere thought of a next¨Cyear discharge had Sexton in a tizzy. ¡°No way, I¡¯ll be good! Just make sure youe to spring me next month!¡± Marcel lifted his foot and gave Sexton a boot in the rear. ¡°What are you on about? My granddaughter¡¯sing to pick me up, not you. What¡¯s an old geezer like you need picking up for?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with picking me up? Cut the sass; if you hadn¡¯t dragged me into gaming at midnight, Noe wouldn¡¯t have caught on.¡± Marcel could feel Noe¡¯s gaze burning a hole through him, and he started freaking out, afraid he would be thrown under the bus right then and there. ¡°Whoa, hold up, don¡¯t talk nonsense. I hit the hay like clockwork every night. Who dragged you into gaming? With your noob skills, ying with you is just a waste of time.¡± ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve not been gaming? Right, right, right, you¡¯re up at the witching hour readingics; you¡¯re gonna go blind at this rate.¡± Noe frowned slightly, giving Marcel a stern look. ¡°Grandpa, when I leaveter, I¡¯m taking all your comics with me. You better rest up good before you get discharged.¡± The moment Marcel heard his preciousics were about to be confiscated, he gave Noe the puppy dog eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t you leave me just one? Just one, please?¡± CHapter 93 CHapter 93 Theseics were Marcel¡¯s pride and joy! He had to twist Major Gat¡¯s arm to finally snag them, and now he was hooked right in the thick of the juicy bits! Marcel had spent a lifetime in uniform, always the picture of stone¨Cfaced seriousness, but for these comics, he was practically on his knees, clinging to his granddaughter¡¯s arm, begging. The moment Calvin heard that Noe was the one dishing out the prescriptions, he zipped his lip, grabbed the meds his granddaughter handed him, and was out like a light all afternoon. Now, he just swung by to scribble a signature on the prescriptions that Noe whipped up, just going through the motions. Officially, Calvin was still the head honcho doc, but let¡¯s be real, the power to spring Marcel from the hospitaly in the hands of his darling granddaughter! ¡°Noe, can¡¯t you leave just one for Grandpa? I¡¯m at the good part, about to hit the motherlode of the plot!¡± Seeing Marcel get the same treatment, Sexton was having a field day, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°What¡¯s so great about those rattyics anyway? You¡¯ve been through a stack of them and still no clue who¡¯s kiddo that is.¡± Sexton had flipped through some of Marcel¡¯sics himself. ¡°But the next issue is gonna spill the beans, right? Just leave me one!¡± Noe picked up aic, thumbing through it nonchntly. ¡°Why¡¯s it in Gerastor?¡± Marcel chuckled. ¡°Theic¡¯s called Tandy, a Gerastor artist. I learned Gerastor just for this! Memorizing words at my age, talk about a slog!¡± His nightstand was still piled high with dictionaries! Tandy? Never heard of thisic artist. Noe flipped through theic in hand. It was a stunner, bold colors, a style one wouldn¡¯t see much from local artists. With a slight frown, Noe studied thest panel. It showed a heart¨Cshaped orphanage next to a hospital with four bold letters on top. Tandy Hospital! Why on earth was Marcel¡¯sic tied up with Tandy Hospital? Without a peep, Noe pocketed theic, facing Marcel¡¯s puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll hold onto these for now. You¡¯ll get them back once you¡¯re out.¡± 11.50 Marcel¡¯s face fell. He flopped back onto the bed, hamming up every ache in his body. ¡°Ouch! I feel awful¡­ is this the end for me? Noe, if I kick the bucket, promise you¡¯ll spill the beans on the rest of theic.¡± Noe was at a loss for words. Where was that dignified,manding Grandpa? Turned hustler over a fewics? If word got out, jaws would hit the floor. Resigned, Noe handed back one issue. ¡°If I find out you¡¯ve been up all night reading. I¡¯m taking this one too.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Marcel sprung to life, clutching theic from Noe¡¯s hand, darting back to his room. fearing thest issue might get swiped. Halfway out the door, he remembered something else, rushed back, and snapped a bunch of selfies with his precious granddaughter. ¡°Heh, let¡¯s see that old coot Merrick show off now. Who¡¯s got no photo now?¡± After a victoryp on his socials, Marcel trotted off,ic in hand. Noe watched his retreat, a mix of exasperation and amusement. Guess the old man still had some pep in his step. Sexton snorted at Marcel¡¯s antics. ¡°Noe, your grandpa¡¯s got a screw loose. After you tie the knot with Palmer, you¡¯ll bunk with me, got it? In case his bad habits spoil my great¨Cgrandkid.¡± Great¨Cgrandkid¡­ Noe and Palmer hadn¡¯t even sealed the deal, and Sexton was already counting chickens. Seeing the old man¡¯s bubble of bliss, Noe couldn¡¯t bring herself to burst it. ¡°Grandpa Sexton, I¡¯ll drop by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t wear yourself out, kiddo.¡± Sexton sped Noe¡¯s hand, snuck a small box from under the bed, and slipped it into her hand while Palmer was distracted. When Palmer looked over, Sexton was back to whispering sweet nothings, ying it cool. ¡°Noe, you¡¯re busting your butt for my meds, and I¡¯ve lived a good long life. A pill more or less won¡¯t kill me. Don¡¯t overdo it, promise me.¡± He patted Noe¡¯s hand, nudged the little box into her sleeve, and winked mischievously. ¡°I¡¯m good, Grandpa Sexton. You rest up. I¡¯m heading out.¡± ¡°Hey, Palmer! Walk Noe out. And you, scram! You¡¯re cramping my style. Scat!¡± Sexton had zero patience for his own grandson, shooing him out with a mutter. ¡°Useless kid, standing around like furniture. Stick with Noe, foot the bill when she shops, be her chauffeur, and wait on her hand and foot. Got no clue how to charm ady. Your dad ain¡¯t no fool. How¡¯d he end up with you¡­¡± 11:50 Sexton sent Palmer packing with a dressing down. Noe couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Palmer¡¯s look of utter resignation. Herughter seemed to lift his spirits in an instant. Maybe she felt the same way about what Grandpa said? Outside the hospital, Noe handed Palmer aic. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. The whole thing was in Gerastor, but as the bigwig of the Pock Group, Palmer was a polyglot. He breezed through it. ¡°Tandy Hospital? You suspect thisic¡¯s tied to Tandy Hospital?¡± ¡°Sort of. I¡¯m not sure, but with Tandy Hospital and Heartfelt Orphanage popping up, this artist¡¯s no simpleton.¡± Palmer nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll dig into it. Leave it to me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s divvy up the work. The Obelisk Organization has got a yground in Gerastor territory, but the Abyssal Organization doesn¡¯t.¡± She remembered thatst year, Obelisk Organization muscled its way into calling the shots in several missions within Gerastor, and that was when Abyssal Organization bowed out of the game. Palmer chuckled under his breath, his voice deep and maic, oozing with sex appeal. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t brought it up, I would¡¯ve almost forgotten how your crew kicked m CHapter 94 CHapter 94 Palmer was a bit taken aback ¨C this box had a super tight lock system, the kind where if one messed up the unlocking process, it would seal itself shut forever. The moment heid eyes on the box, Palmer got what the old man was driving at. He was almostpletely certain his grandfather was using the unlock¨Cthe¨Cbox excuse to get him to bring her home and keep her there. But who would¡¯ve thought? Noe cracked it open just like that, leaving Sexton, who was rubbernecking from the window, utterly gobsmacked! What the heck was going on with this kid? Why didn¡¯t Palmer let Noe know the key was at the house and that she needed to follow him home to open the box? Now she had gone and opened it, and all his plotting went down the drain! Palmer looked at Noe with an extra tender gaze. Seemed like she was full of more surprises than he had ever imagined! Noe deftly opened the box to find two things inside: a photo and a key. The kid in the photo was cute as a button ¨C a mini version of Palmer. Young Palmer was as adorable as a doll, with a chubby, fair face and cherry lips, though¡­ he was dressed in a skirt. Noe couldn¡¯t help butugh when she saw the photo. She never imagined Palmer had such a picture from his childhood. Palmer panicked for a second when he saw the photo. Why did Grandpa put that picture in the box? Didn¡¯t he sayst time that those cross¨Cdressing photos were all destroyed? When Palmer looked up, he caught Sexton behind the curtain, throwing him a peace sign. ¡°When was this taken?¡± Noe asked. Palmer was a bit resigned but answered anyway. ¡°When I was three. My mother liked to¡­ do this kind of thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty cute, I¡¯m keeping it.¡± Palmer¡¯s expression was a bit bitter. ¡°I think you could make better choices, like taking a portrait with me. The Pock Group has a top¨C notch photography team. You could have lots of pictures you like instead of this one.¡± Noe looked up, a smile ying at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Then give me back that photo in your wallet.¡± 11:50 Palmer was caught off guard. When did she notice he had a photo of her as a kid in his wallet? There weren¡¯t many photos of Noe from the Lambert family; the only childhood ones were taken by Old Mrs. Lambert. They were faded, but thinking of them as Noe¡¯s only childhood memories made Palmer¡¯s heart melt. He ended up carefully preserving it, tucking it into his seven¨Cfigure leather wallet. ¡°I have other photos from my childhood.¡± ¡°I only want this ¡®dress¡® one of you.¡± Seeing her insistence, Palmer threw in the towel. Noe picked up the key from the box, ¡°What¡¯s this key for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the Pock ancestral home. Grandpa is telling you he approves of you bing the future lady of the Pock family.¡± With the wealth and status of the Pock family, it took more than a key to get into the old house, but the key symbolized absolute ownership. Noe frowned slightly. ¡°This is too valuable; I can¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Grandpa is watching. If you hand it back to me, he might get upset.¡± As Palmer said this, he subtly gestured towards Sexton. Noe looked up to see Sexton practically hanging out of the window, looking like he was about to jump. ¡°Noe! If you don¡¯t take that key, I¡¯ll jump right now, and you, Palmer, you useless lump, can arrange my funeral! I¡¯ve got my coffin all picked out!¡± Worried the old man might slip and do something rash, Noe reluctantly epted the key. Palmer nodded at Sexton, who hopped back in, delighted, and started filming Noe and Palmer together. It was just too perfect! A match made in heaven! Palmer said with a soft smile, ¡°Take it. It¡¯s just a key. If not for you, I probably would never have the chance to give it away.¡± Though it was just a key, it represented half the empire of the Pock family. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it for now. If you want it back, you cane to me.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sorry for the hassle. To make it up to you, let me take you out to eat and share some info about Thorpe.¡± Noe was puzzled. She took the key to the Pock ancestral home, and he was apologizing? Yet, Palmer¡¯s reasoning left her with no way to refuse. ¡°Okay.¡± 11:51 Annie, standing in front of the car, quickly opened the door for Noe, ¡°Miss, please get in.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze swept from Annie¡¯s face, noting a red mark, and she was surprised. Who had the nerve to be so rough with Palmer¡¯s secretary? ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Annie didn¡¯t expect Noe to notice her face, let alone show such concern, and she was nearly in tears from emotion! Look at that ¨C such a kind and gentle miss, soon to be her bossdy! ¡°I¡¯m fine; thank you for your concern, miss.¡± Noe pulled out a tube of ointment from her pocket and handed it to Annie. ¡°It¡¯ll heal in a week. Be more careful next time.¡± Annie, overwhelmed, covered her mouth in disbelief, looking at Noe holding the ointment. She acted as though what she had done was nothing, just casually giving her some ointment. ¡°Miss¡­ I¡¯ll apply it every day! And when it¡¯s used up, I¡¯ll enshrine the jar and light incense for it every day!¡± Noe was speechless. It was just a jar of ointment, no need for all that. Getting in the car, Palmer took Noe¡¯s hand and admired it. Seeing Noe¡¯s concern for Annie¡¯s face, his gaze also fell on Annie. ¡°Annie, what happened?¡± ¡°I was downstairs waiting for you and Miss¡® when I ran into Miss Yvonne, wheeling Ashlyn out for some sun. Miss Yvonne seemed to have some doubts about my work abilities and just came at me¡­¡± Annie was pretty miffed. After all, Yvonne was a daughter of the Schnabel family. She thought that a Schnabel girl, no matter how outrageous, would be somewhat like Noe. But nope, Yvonne came at her and pped her right in the face. Yvonne even used her of trying to seduce Palmer, saying she dressed too seductively every day, definitely up to no good, asking if she had been badmouthing her to Palmer. Annie was speechless! She would have to be out of my mind to get a crush on her boss while on the clock. It was like a total smear against working stiffs and a p in the face to her professional integrity. Plus, she was just wearing a normal business suit and skirt, and it was all below the knees! Out of the blue, she got pped, and she was gonna just suck it up and let it slide, but Miss Noe even noticed such a small incident and gave her some medicine. Such an amazing youngdy, kind, gentle, intelligent, and elegant. Annie swore that from now on, she would be her loyal follower! 11:51 Noe didn¡¯t expect Yvonne to have such a big beef with just the secretary by Palmer¡¯s side, ¡°It¡¯s not just me. Thest time Miss Yvonne visited the office, she even said she wanted to fire all our receptionists.¡± Looked like Yvonne¡¯s got it in for all the female employees at the Pock Group. Palmer caught Noe¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. His survival instincts kicked into high gear, and he quickly rified. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who told her to go to the office. She showed up on her own, and I¡¯ve already instructed thepany¡¯s security to cklist her!¡± Noe didn¡¯t expect Yvonne to have such a big beef with just the secretary by Palmer¡¯s side. ¡°It¡¯s not just me. Thest time Miss Yvonne visited the office, she even said she wanted to fire all our receptionists.¡± Looked like Yvonne¡¯s got it in for all the female employees at the Pock Group. Palmer caught Noe¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. His survival instincts kicked into high gear, and he quickly rified, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who told her to go to the office. She showed up on her own, and I¡¯ve already instructed thepany¡¯s security to cklist her!¡± CHapter 95 CHapter 95 Yvonne had been busting her butt trying to get on Palmer¡¯s good side, constantly making a beeline for the Pock Group¡¯s skyscraper. Whenever she spotted a young and pretty female employee, she couldn¡¯t help but throw shade. She managed to get on the bad side of the entire Pock Group¡¯s staff, and they all gave her the cold shoulder. But the kicker was that she was the little miss from the Schnabel family, so no one at the Pock Group dared to mess with her. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked all the security at the Pock Group campus to cklist her, sorry Noe, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Noe yed it cool. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be apologizing to me; you should be apologizing to your staff.¡± Annie was over the moon! Listen to that; what a stand¨Cup, kind¨Chearted bossdy! Palmer chuckled. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve given them a little extra something in their paycheck. I¡¯ve seen the rules you set for the gallery and music store, and the Pock Group will likely take a leaf out of her book.¡± Noe was taken aback. The Pock Group was an old¨Cschool conglomerate with its own set way of doing things, not quite like her gallery and music store. Merrick¡¯s contributions to her music store and gallery were small potatoes. The main point of the gallery and music store wasn¡¯t to turn a profit. She wasn¡¯t surprised Palmer had read her charter but that he would actually consider adopting her policies. ¡°The Pock Group¡¯s charter has been a bit ck on the human touch; your rules are really on point.¡± Her charter included specific menstrual leave for female employees and had even better benefits overall. Noe caught Annie¡¯s ears practically perking up and let out a chuckle. Palmer seemed like he would make a decent boss. Sitting at the dining table, Palmer reached his hand out to Noe, his voice seductive. ¡°Do me a favor, fianc¨¦e, and help me with these cufflinks.¡± No matter what shirt he wore, he always sported this pair of ruby cufflinks, adding ayer of mysterious, understated elegance to his whole aura, like some vampire duke of the night. 11:51 Noe casually unfastened them for him and ced them on the velvet cloth beside her. ¡°Why do you always wear these?¡± With his kind of dough, he must have cufflinksing out of his ears, right? ¡°Because the girl I like once helped me put them on.¡± He rolled up his sleeves while carefully slicing the steak beneath his knife, the pair of ruby cufflinks twinkling with a low¨Ckey shine. Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed a soft pink in the y of light and shadow. After Palmer had expertly cut the steak, he swapped it with the untouched te in front of Noe. ¡°Want to try?¡± The steak was dripping with a sweet sauce, the scent of rosemary mingling with the rich, meaty aroma, making one¡¯s mouth water. Noe nibbled on the steak Palmer cut for her, looking up at him with a cool gaze. ¡°Why did you be a hitman?¡± ¡°Some family stuff, not something I can go into right now.¡± Palmer, cradling a ss of wine, watched the girl in front of him stuffing her cheeks with food, cute as a button. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hide things, nor do I want to fob you off with excuses, so I can only share so much. It¡¯s rted to my mother¡¯s death. She was hurt by someone from an international hitman organization. Even though the hit failed, she was bedridden for years and eventually passed away. You could say I wanted to take revenge for my mom with my own hands.¡± A ripple of emotion flickered in Noe¡¯s eyes, reflected in the candlelight on the table. ¡°The part you can¡¯t talk about, does it involve the Pock family?¡± Palmer picked up a delicate spoon and popped a piece of creamy cake into Noe¡¯s mouth, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Shh, smart kids know when to zip it.¡± The Pock family tree was vast and deeply rooted. Even though Noe was the daughter of the Schnabel family, Palmer still worried she could get hurt. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°The Pock family business is a bitplicated, but trust me, my fianc¨¦e, I¡¯ll have it sorted out before you marry me.¡± Her marrying him? She hadn¡¯t even considered that yet! But locking eyes with Palmer¡¯s clear and distant gaze, Noe suddenly felt intrigued. ¡°If I decided to marry you tomorrow, you couldn¡¯t wrap up all that stuff in just one day, could you?¡± Palmer was taken aback, then burst intoughter as if he had heard an exceptionally good joke. Hisughter was rich and heady, like the red wine at his side. ¡°Have you forgotten what i do for a living? If you want to marry me tomorrow, I¡¯d storm in with the Abyssal Organization today, and we¡¯d take care of everything.¡± The cake in Noe¡¯s mouth suddenly tasted cloyingly sweet. Palmer¡¯s gaze softened as he looked at Noe. She was just too cute! ¡°In exchange, my fianc¨¦e, can you tell me why you became a hitman?¡± Why did she be a hitman? Noe stayed silent, toying with the piece of creamy cake in front of her with her spoon. ¡°I¡¯m guessing your turn as a hitman has something to do with the Pris Star Organization, right?¡± Noe suddenly looked up, her gaze a warning. He maintained a calm andposed smile, no prying or probing, just concern and anticipation, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even though I don¡¯t know what exactly went down with Pris Star, once I learned the people around you were all rescued from there, I got curious and did some digging.¡± The Abyssal Organization might have limited info, but the Pock Group had the means to uncover more about Pris Star. As an organization forgotten on the border, Pris Star¡¯s members were prodigies collected from all over the world. Their intellect was pushed to the limit with drugs and mechanical methods, aiming to reach the human brain and body¡¯s full potential. Palmer stood up and knelt halfway in front of Noe, taking her hand. 1 ¡°I¡¯m really curious. What kind of role do you y in the constetion of the Pris Star?¡± Noe¡¯s eyes flickered. How could he be so sharp? ¡°Nothing at all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to spill the beans; I just want you to know that you can count on me.¡± Palmer reached out and yfully tousled her soft hair, chuckling. ¡°You¡¯re still a kid at heart; it¡¯s okay for you to be a little bratty sometimes.¡± Bratty? She had lost the privilege to be bratty since she was little. The indifference and favoritism of the Lambert family forced her to grow up faster so she could take care of herself and Old Mrs. Lambert. Palmer understood her personality and didn¡¯t push it. ¡°I¡¯ve got a meet¨Cup with Thorpe this weekend. The spot will be set up by the Abyssal Organization. I¡¯lle to pick you up then.¡± Noe frowned slightly. ¡°The person Thorpe wants to save is within our borders?¡± ¡°No, his brother¡¯s sickness is pretty bad. They¡¯re at a point where anyone but the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris is out of their depth. Thorpe doesn¡¯t dare move him, but I¡¯ve given him just one shot. If he doesn¡¯t bring the person, he misses his chance.¡± The meeting location mattered; if Thorpe arranged it, they would lose the upper hand. Palmer was smart and bold enough when making decisions. Seeing her hesitate, Palmer chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve already touched base with the folks at your Obelisk Organization, and they¡¯re down to team up with us. It all hinges on your nod.¡± Noe was speechless. Those little rascals were itching to get a glimpse of what Palmer actually looked like! Plus, Palmer¡¯s Abyssal Organization had covered all the bills for the members of her Obelisk Organization, even hooking them up with top¨Cnotch sniping gear. Those guys had been poor as church mice following her around ¨C the sight of money made them want to pounce. As if they would say no! Just thinking of those little rascals¡® faces makes Noe resign herself. ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. CHapter 96 CHapter 96 At Linefort City, the Lambert ancestral home. Five people decked out in camo gear were sneaking around the graveyard, ducking and dodging every shlight beam. Vincent signaled to Belinda Fuller, trailing behind. ¡°Hurry up, watch your step. It¡¯s just a darn graveyard, no clue why Martin¡¯s made such a fuss calling a crowd to keep watch.¡± The Fuller couple, aka Belinda¡¯s parents, were bringing up the rear, all miffed, poking Belinda in the back. ¡°What¡¯s the deal? Why¡¯s Vincent tagging along? Didn¡¯t we agree it¡¯s just us dropping off the stuff?¡± They were plotting to secretly stash the Fuller family elders¡® ashes and then just say Old Mrs. Lambert was already resting there, hoping the graveyard¡¯s blessing worked its magic for the Fuller¡¯s future generations. Poor Belinda was in a pickle! This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. She was clueless as to why Vincent¡¯s gone bananas all of a sudden, insisting on going back to the homestead to rebury Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s ashes himself. He was all antsy because he wasn¡¯t there when she wasid to rest, wondering how Noe managed the burial and wouldn¡¯t have peace of mind until he saw it for himself. Belinda¡¯s mother Debbie¡¯s eyes were all shifty. ¡°Let¡¯s negotiate with Vincentter. The grave¡¯s roomy enough; maybe we can sneak the ashes of Old Mrs. Fullers in, too?¡± Belinda¡¯s father, Ma Fuller, nodded, rubbing his back and following along. Let¡¯s go with that for now. If Vincent ain¡¯t on board, we¡¯ll think of something else.¡± Belinda¡¯s stomach was flipping. Knowing how tightfisted Vincent was, good luck to anyone trying to snag a slice of his fortune! They were all crouching and creeping in the graveyard. Beckett¡¯s guards were everywhere with military¨Cgrade shlights, patrolling like there was no tomorrow, worried about troublemakers. Seeing the setup, Vincent muttered, ¡°What¡¯s Martin¡¯s deal, making a mountain out of a molehill for a graveyard? If we could buddy up with him, our pressing issues wouldn¡¯t be issues¡­¡± His wounds from an unknown beating were still throbbing, and he was feeling all sorts of ufortable. If it weren¡¯t for the graveyard¡¯s sweet location promising a fortune for the Lamberts, he wouldn¡¯t be caught dead checking it out himself. 10:22 ¡°Briony, you have been in touch with Milfordtely?¡± Vincent had been spam¨Ccalling Milford, trying to chat about the Rosenberg¨CLambert wedding, but the Rosenbergs weren¡¯t picking up. Briony felt guilty: she had been all wrapped up in scripts, getting ready to shoot, with no time for Milford. ¡°Nope, Milford said he¡¯s swamped withpany stuff, no time to hang.¡± Vincent was not happy about that at all. ¡°What¡¯s Milford thinking, ignoring his gorgeous fianc¨¦e like that? Tomorrow, I¡¯ll personally take you to their ce to talk wedding bells.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Briony buzzed at the thought of marrying Milford. She would make sure the media was all over their wedding, showing Noe, now just a caregiver for the Schnabels, just how blissful she was! Milford was the guy she had dreamed of marrying since forever, and soon they would be together. The mountain path was a mess, especially after rain had turned the graveyard into a mud pit. The family trudged through, deep in mud and silence. It had been ages since Belinda had been to such a ce. She nearly slipped, but Ma behind her caught her from falling. ¡°What a dump. This is really a hotspot?¡± ¡°What do you know? The grave¡¯s location is top¨Cnotch! Didn¡¯t you see Martin¡¯s got a whole crew here guarding it?¡± Fair point. Only the good stuff would get guarded like this. Otherwise, why would Martin drop three million? Surely not just for Lambert¡¯s old shack, right? Or she wouldn¡¯t go there if she was paid. Soon, Vincent finally found the spot Martin mentioned and whipped out his portable shovel, eager to dig up Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s ashes. Just as he started, a weird noise hit them! ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Vincent nearly jumped out of his skin! With the whole hillside as a graveyard, where was this eerie sounding from? ¡°What¡¯s that noise?¡± Belinda and Briony were scared stiff, huddling together. ¡°Dunno, maybe we skip digging up Old Mrs. Lambert for now; pop open the grave first?¡± They stopped digging, and the banging noise grew wilder. 10:22 Vincent was freaking out. ¡°Is this, like, haunted or what?¡± Ma pped him on the back of his head. ¡°Haunted my foot! I¨CIt¡¯s the middle of the night; where would ghostse from?¡± His voice shook as they all huddled, listening to the mysterious sounds. ¡°Let¡¯s check the grave first. Vincent. I brought some of your mom¡¯s ashes. It should be enough; there¡¯s no need to dig.¡± Ma got his story straight; he would tell Vincent he had Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s ashes on him¨C Vincent wouldn¡¯t know the difference. And just like that, the Fullers¡® patriarch could slide right in. Vincent was tearing up. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re the best!¡± His father¨Cinw must¡¯ve known he would be spooked, so he grabbed some of Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s ashes in advance! The family resumed their grave¨Cdigging. And with every shovel, the thumping against the coffin grew louder. Belinda was getting the creeps. ¡°Honey, think that sound¡¯sing from Mom¡¯s coffin?¡± Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s coffin? Vincent nearly chucked his shovel in fright! ¡°Talking rubbish¡­ What nonsense! Must¡¯ve heard wrong; let¡¯s just dig this up quickly and head back down the mountain!¡± He never wanted to set foot in this creepy ce ever again in his life! Finally getting the grave opened and prying the coffin lid off, Vincent was gobsmacked! ¡°Zachary Rosenberg? How in the world did you end up in my mom¡¯s grave?¡± Briony covered her mouth in shock, ¡°Zachary?¡± Wasn¡¯t this Milford¡¯s dad, the big cheese of the Rosenberg Group, her future father¨Cinw?! Zachary, gasping for breath with a ghostly pale face, looked at Vincent weakly. ¡°How the fuck should I know? Why would I be here out of the blue?¡± Briony was puzzled. ¡°Zachary, what¡¯s that you¡¯re holding?¡± Zachary said feebly, ¡°It¡¯s my mom¡¯s ashes, for crying out loud. Stop asking and help me up; I¡¯m about to suffocate in here.¡± He was just out for a simple grave visit in the afternoon, noticed his mother Valeria¡¯s grave was a bit copsed, and decided to have it fixed up while holding Valeria¡¯s urn. He hadn¡¯t gone two steps before everything went ck, and he passed out, waking up in Old Mrs, Lambert¡¯s grave! Who knew which heartless soul dumped him in a grave and nearly suffocated him to death? He had been knocking on the coffin for ages, and Vincent hadn¡¯t noticed a thing, which really ticked him off. Vincent squinted his eyes in thought. That Martin guy imed he bought this plot for his ancestors to bless his family with evesting wealth¡­ And now, herey Zachary and his mom¡¯s ashes in the grave. What did that tell him? ¡°Oh, great! Just great, Zachary, you actually swiped our family¡¯s burial ground, and now you want my mother to have nowhere to rest in peace? That¡¯s some diabolical scheming! You better give me a good exnation today, or I¡¯m gonna give you a piece of my mind!¡± CHapter 97 CHapter 97 Zachary waspletely lost. What nonsense was Vincent spouting? ¡°What kind of gibberish are you talking about? Pull me up already! This crappy graveyard is giving me the creeps; I¡¯m about to suffocate here!¡± Who knew which jerk with no conscience tossed him in here and left just a tiny crack in the coffin, barely enough for him to breathe? Vincent was giving Zachary even weirder looks now. What was a perfectly good person doing lying around in a graveyard for no reason? And to top it off, the Rosenberg family¡¯s ancestral home was like two districts away from the Lambert family¡¯s! ¡°Zachary, oh, you¡¯re a sly one, eh? Getting people to fix up my ancestral home just to take it over for yourself, huh? Let me tell you, this graveyard belongs to my mother, and you¡¯re going to give it back to me!¡± The more Vincent thought about it, the more it made sense. Why would Milford secretly refurbish the Lambert family¡¯s ancestral home without telling them? It had to be this old coot Zachary eyeing the Lambert estate and graveyard, looking for a chance to snatch away their fortune hotspot! ¡°Are you out of your mind? I told you I have no idea how I ended up here, and now you¡¯re getting all up in my face?¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m a fool? Showing up in my mom¡¯s graveyard with your mom¡¯s ashes? Isn¡¯t it just to sneak your rtives in here, stealing our family¡¯s generations of good fortune? And you had Milford work on our old house, all because of this graveyard! Is that Martin guy one of your stooges?¡± ¡°What are you bbering about? When did I ever get my son to fix up your family¡¯s ancestral home? Your rundown old mansion is worth fixing?¡± Zachary scrambled out of the coffin, aching all over. He wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled to see Vincent either. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Just as he was about to leave with the urn in hand, Zachary had another thought and shuffled back to the edge of the graveyard. ¡°You say this ce has good fortune. Well, I¡¯m here now; I might as well bury my mother here, too.¡± Vincent snorted with derision. ¡°I knew you were up to no good! You think you can scheme against our family, and I wouldn¡¯t notice?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s scheming against your family?¡± What was there to covet about the Lambert family now, Vincent¡¯s massive debts? ¡°You want to bury your mom here? Dream on!¡± He just knew Zachary was eyeing this piece ofnd for its blessing, hoping it would bless the Rosenberg family. Fat chance! Zachary had his eye on the spot, too, and seeing Vincent¡¯s reaction, this ce must have top¨Cnotch fortune. If it could really bring wealth to his descendants, maybe it was worth making a move. With that thought, Zachary just plonked down on the ground. ¡°You say this graveyard is yours, got any proof?¡± There were no gravestones around, not even anything in the coffin to identify the owner. Vincent was stumped! That heartless wretch, Noe, burying her grandma without even setting up a gravestone! ¡°You say it¡¯s your mom¡¯s graveyard, but there¡¯s nothing inside, no gravestone; what makes it yours? I was just lying in that coffin; I could im this graveyard is mine!¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes bulged, and he rolled up his sleeves, ready to smack Zachary. ¡°Oh, look at you! So you admit it; you¡¯ve been plotting all along to snatch this graveyard from our family!¡± And the worst part? The ownership of this plot wasn¡¯t even in his hands! That damn Martin, he must be one of Zachary¡¯s men, the two of them conspiring to take away this treasure from him. ¡°So you say it¡¯s mine, then it¡¯s mine, you guys can scram!¡± Zachary, clutching Valeria¡¯s urn, was about to ce it in the coffin, clearly intent on iming this prime burial spot. Vincent was livid, snatching up Valeria¡¯s urn and hurling it down the hillside! ¡°Vincent, have you lost your mind? That¡¯s my mother¡¯s ashes! I¡¯m gonna kill you!¡± Zachary was super close to his mom, and even Milford was raised by Valeria herself. Now, with Vincent throwing his mother¡¯s urn, Zacharypletely lost it. He pped Vincent on the head, spinning him around with stars in his eyes from the pain. ¡°Zachary, you dare hit me? That does it!¡± Briony and Belinda were freaking out on the side, wanting to break up the fight but scared of getting hurt themselves. The Fuller couple took the chance to bury their urn quietly. They were old, only there for their own business; who knew where Old Mrs. Lambert ended up now? Vincent roared, ¡°Where did you bury my mom?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care where your mom is; you just tossed my mom¡¯s urn. I¡¯m gonna finish you off today!¡± 10:23 Briony was in tears. ¡°Dad, Zachary, please stop fighting¡­¡± Zachary was fuming at the sight of the Lambert folks. ¡°Why the tears? I¡¯m telling you, you dreaming of marrying Milford? Forget it! As if the Rosenberg family would fancy some ragamuffin picked up from the trash!¡± Hearing her precious daughter insulted, Belinda couldn¡¯t hold back and gave Zachary a kick in the waist. With the ground all mushy from the rain, Zachary slipped, dragging Vincent down the hillside with him! Briony screamed as they tumbled together down the graveyard slope. ¡°Ah!¡± Vincent and Zachary¡¯s screams were all over the ce, setting off rms for the petrolling folks. The shlight beams from below suddenly swept over, and the guys on the hill quickly ducked and hid. But Beckett¡¯s patrol team was no small fry ¨C over a dozen of them decked out with thetest gear, and they found their gang in no time. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°Take ¡®em away!¡± Belinda got snagged by the patrol along with the Fuller couple and Briony. Vincent and Zachary, all tangled up and taking a tumble down the hill, ended up in an ambnce. When the call hit Milford¡¯s phone, he was cozying up with a few little models, his face all smudged with lipstick marks. 1 ¡°What? You¡¯re telling me my dad got whacked by Mr. Lambert? And he was shoved off a cliff? What the heck happened?¡± ¡°Get over to the hospital; your father¡¯s in bad shape.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Milford rushed to get dressed and called his mother Linsey, both of them hurrying to the hospital. As soon as they got to the hospital, they found Vincent and Zachary in bed, groaning and moaning, with not a single spot on their faces untouched by bruises, a total mess to look at. ¡°What in the world happened here?¡± Briony was in tears looking at Milford, ready to spill her guts, but then she noticed his face stered with lipstick and his clothes reeking of perfume! ¡°Milford, what the hell have you been up to behind my back?¡± Linsey pped Briony across the face and snapped, ¡°Zip it, will you? You¡¯re not even part of 10.23 Chaper 97 this family yet, and you¡¯re already poking your nose everywhere? Now spill it. What kind of crazy stunt did your dad pull? I¡¯m telling you, this mess isn¡¯t over today!¡± CHapter 98 CHapter 98 Belinda and the Fuller family couple both got hauled off to the cop shop by the mountain patrol. Briony got off the hook since she didn¡¯t really do much wrong; she just tagged along with her family to the graveyard. Plus, with Vincent needing someone to watch over him, the cops let her walk. She was no match for Linsey in a rage! She Spilled the beans about tonight¡¯s drama in just a few words. When Linsey heard it, she got even more ticked off, raised her hand, and whacked Briony across the other cheek with a p! ¡°You Lamberts are all nuts! If anything happened to my husband today, I¡¯m gonna make your life hell! And you want to marry Milford? In your dreams!¡± Briony was seething but didn¡¯t dare to speak up; she just covered her face and bawled her eyes out, feeling super wronged. She wanted to vent to Milford but realized he hadn¡¯t even nced her way, just glued to his phone, checking messages¨Cobviously from some chick. The thought of Milford possibly cheating on her turned Briony¡¯s anger into pure spite! She curled up in a corner, trying to make herself invisible so Linsey wouldn¡¯t go ballistic on her again. A low¨Ckey luxurious sports car cruised into the dim light of dawn, rolling up to where Noe stood. Palmer, decked out in a deep brown suit, looked like a gentleman straight out of a medieval painting. Resting one hand on the steering wheel, he reached out to her. ¡°Hop in.¡± Noe had just settled into the car when Palmer leaned over to buckle her seat belt. He kept the perfect distance, close enough for her to feel his warmth and scent but not too close to be intrusive. ¡°Where¡¯s your meet¨Cup with Thorpe?¡± ¡°Fortress Hospital. It¡¯s neutral ground and doesn¡¯t belong to any faction, so it¡¯s rtively safe. Thorpe will be less on guard there.¡± Fortress Hospital was indeed a solid pick, but it was a bit of a trek from Imperial City. Palmer drove a few feet away from the sight of Serene Haven¡¯s high¨Crise and then snapped his fingers. The car morphed into a helicopter, its des stirring up a vortex that made trees on the ground thrash about. ¡°Sorry for the turbulence, but we¡¯re pressed for time. This will be quicker.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Thest time Wren picked up Noe from Tranquility City, they had used the same tech. Looked like more brands had teamed up with this tech recently. This should mean a nice chunk of change in research funds for Noe. Palmer, with flying skills that even outdid Wren¡¯s Air Force background, casually handed Noe a paper bag. Inside was a warm sandwich and milk, clearly prepped by him for her breakfast. ¡°Rushed it a bit, so don¡¯t get mad, my fianc¨¦e.¡± Noe was puzzled. Was she known for having a short fuse? ¡°Thanks.¡± Noe nibbled on the sandwich, watching clouds race by the windows. ¡°Got folks from Obelisk Organization and Abyssal Organization lying low near the hospital sincest night, so don¡¯t fret, my fianc¨¦e.¡± Palmer exined, ¡°Set it all upst night while you were- resting. Didn¡¯t want to bug you.¡± The stakes were high for this op¨Ctop brass from the three elite deep web hit squads all converging. Palmer knew Noe would be there, and to ensure her safety, he had been losing sleep for days. He had run through this mission in his head over and over to guarantee nothing went wrong. She couldn¡¯te to any harm. Noe noticed the dark circles under Palmer¡¯s eyes. ¡°I know. Erek called mest night; my people are also stationed around the hospital.¡± She hadn¡¯t had much rest either, prepping for this showdown. But Palmer had his corporate gig to juggle, making time for meals with her; even covering her breakfast. Noe eyed the other sandwich in the bag, thought for a second, then handed it over to Palmer. ¡°You skipped breakfast, too, right? Here.¡± A faint smile yed on Palmer¡¯s lips; fatigue eased by her concern. ¡°Hands are tied. Mind helping me out?¡± He needed to focus on flying, so he really couldn¡¯t take his hands off the controls. Noe sighed, carefully unwrapped the sandwich, and held it up to Palmer¡¯s mouth. ¡°Thanks, it¡¯s good.¡± 10:23 It was from his own stash¨Chow could he not know it tasted good? A blush crept onto Noe¡¯s cheeks as she fed him the whole sandwich, The sunrise painted the sky as the helicopter smoothlynded at Fortress Hospital¡¯s entrance. morphed back into a car, and rolled into the parking lot. Noe followed Palmer upstairs to the agreed¨Cupon ward. ??? Briony sat outside the door, wiping tears and feeling aggrieved. How could the Rosenbergs treat her like this? Linsey had the nerve to say she was picked out of the trash and acted all disgusted by her! And Milford didn¡¯t even bother to back her up. Briony clenched her teeth in fury, but her gaze identallynded on Noe heading upstairs. What was Noe doing at Fortress Hospital? Was she called in by Milford? It couldn¡¯t be that she had clients even here, right? Must be she knew about Vincent¡¯s hospitalization and wanted to stir up trouble. Briony squinted, eyeing the man with Noe. She didn¡¯t recognize him, but just his suit screamed big bucks¨Clooked like a custom job, just the jacket was worth a cool two hundred grand. They walked too fast for Briony to get a good look at his face. Maybe some rich dude Noe had just hooked up with? The more Briony thought about it, the fishier it seemned. She whipped out her phone and dialed Yvonne¡¯s number. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I just caught a glimpse of Noe with some dude at Fortress Hospital, and they seemed to be heading towards the maternity ward. Could Noe be preggers?¡± Briony covered her mouth as she spoke, pretending to be utterly shocked. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this guy before, definitely not one of your family. Noe¡¯s love life is such a hot mess, isn¡¯t it? Ms. Schnabel, this surely isn¡¯t how we Schnabels bring up our girls.¡± Yvonne perked up when she heard this. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Why on earth would that bumpkin Noe trek all the way to Fortress Hospital? Even if she felt off, the Imperial West Hospital and the Schnabel Hospital, with their superior medical resources, would be the top picks. Running off to Fortress Hospital, and to the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at that¡­ 10:23 Yvonne¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement! If that bumpkin got herself knocked up by some random guy, Palmer would totally dump her. and the entire Schnabel family would wash their hands off this daughter. The more Yvonne thought about it, the more thrilled she became. ¡°Briony, keep tabs on her; don¡¯t let her slip away; I¡¯m on my way!¡± ¡°Got it, will do.¡± Palmer and Noe made their way to the top floor and slipped into an open¨Cdoor doctor¡¯s office. Erek handed them two crisp whiteb coats. Noe took hers and, in perfect sync, she and Palmer slipped them on. Since she was making an appearance as Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, a disguise was in order! Erek¡¯s gaze fell on Palmer, and he couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. ¡°I remember now! You¡¯re the guy who was all cuddled up with our boss at the barst time. I never would¡¯ve guessed you¡¯re the boss¡¯s fianc¨¦. I thought you were just some hottie our boss had a fling with!¡± CHapter 99 CHapter 99 Erek had been staring at Palmer for quite a while before he suddenly remembered thatst time at the bar, his boss was dancing with a guy on the dance floor, and he even recorded a video, nning to post it in the Obelisk Organization¡¯s private chat. Look at that; even the boss had her romantic escapades! ¡°Never thought you¡¯d have a fling with Abyssal Organization¡¯s Vocalist. Boss, you¡¯re¡­¡± Erek gave Noe a thumbs up, his face beaming with pride. That was their boss, nothing short of awesome! A smile yed on Palmer¡¯s lips as he cast a meaningful nce at Noe. Noe lifted her foot and aimed a kick at Erek. ¡°Did you defuse all the bombs in the hospital?¡± Erek dodged with practiced ease. ¡°Ah¡­ not yet. Thorpe nted forty¨Ceight bombs in this hospital; I¡¯m still on the hunt.¡± Speaking of bombs got Erek steamed up. Last time at the bar, Thorpe and Toxic Monarch were defusing bombs everywhere, and Erek spent the whole night defusing them instead of having fun! He didn¡¯t even have a second to say hi to the pretty boy who was hitting on his boss, talk about. infuriating! Luckily, he got another chance to meet him, and he was even his boss¡® fianc¨¦ now. Just the thought made Erek excited! ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr Pock. I¡¯m a member of the Obelisk Organization; after you marry our boss, we¡¯ll be part of the family assets you guys share! Looking forward to working with you, Mr. Pock!¡± Noe couldn¡¯t hold back and kicked Erek in the back. ¡°One half¨Chour, miss one bomb, and you lose a month¡¯s sry.¡± ¡°Come on! Boss, you¡¯re heartless!¡± Erek thought about his already pitiful paycheck, and with tears as wide as noodles, he greeted Palmer and headed off to defuse bombs. Palmer called out to Erek, ¡°Abyssal Organization has a member who¡¯s good at defusing, too; go with him.¡± ¡°Aw, how can I ept this kindness? Mr. Pock, you¡¯re such a good guy!¡± Noe nced over. ¡°Fifteen minutes. If you defuse fewer bombs than the guy from Abyssal Organization, you lose a year¡¯s sry.¡± A year¡¯s sry! His pay was already peanuts! Filled with righteous indignation, Erek left on his noble mission to out¨Cdefuse bombs against the folks from the Abyssal Organization. Now, it was like he had a blood feud with the Abyssal Organization! Palmer unfolded a medical mask from the desk and carefully ced it on Noe. He was a good half¨Chead taller than her, so he had to bend down slightly when he spoke, making it sound like his voice wasing from deep within his chest. ¡°Got apetitive streak with my people, too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only right, you wouldn¡¯t want your Abyssal Organization to be weaker than my Obelisk Organization, would you?¡± Palmer smiled, brushed Noe¡¯s hair aside, and tucked it neatly behind her ear. ¡°Of course not, but I just think that someone too weak can¡¯t protect my fianc¨¦e. Abyssal Organization¡¯s folks started off protecting themselves but ended up protecting those I want to protect. It¡¯s the same with your Obelisk Organization, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, the same.¡± Their kind lived on the edge of danger in the international warzones, amid de and shadow, filled with destion and blood¨Cstained sin. Noe had founded Obelisk Organization initially just to protect those she rescued from Pris Star. She, too, was once part of Pris Star; they were saving themselves, defending themselves, and protecting their loved ones! 1 The year she was taken to Pris Star, she managed to save herself and learned all sorts of skills with the members there. When she returned to Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s side, she concocted a potion to conceal all traces of her assassin life on her hand so as not to worry her grandmother. Old Mrs. Lambert said nothing, just hugged her over and over, saying it was good to have her back, her treasure by her side. During that year, apart from Old Mrs. Lambert, no one sought her out! Vincent and Belinda couldn¡¯t care less about her safety, so much so that her multiple returns to Pris Star went unnoticed. Noe looked at her hands and let out a self¨Cdeprecating chuckle behind her mask. At least she had protected her grandmother, and now there were more family members she wanted to protect. Palmer felt the subtle shift in her mood and took her hand, enveloping it in his warm palm. BLA 10:23 ¡°Don¡¯t think about the past; we have now and the future. Don¡¯t be sad.¡± Noe was surprised. How did he know she was reminiscing? Palmer looked into those eyes that shimmered like ss beads, now reflecting only his image. satisfying his heart immensely. He picked up a mask and handed it to her. ¡°Would you mind? I can¡¯t see my own face.¡± Noe took the mask, a bit speechless. Even if he couldn¡¯t see his face, there were mirrors in the office; couldn¡¯t he see for himself? Meeting his expectant gaze, Noe took the mask and carefully fitted it on him. ¡°Let¡¯s go; Thorpe¡¯s little brother¡¯s room is just next door; it¡¯s just Thorpe and his brother in there now.¡± Noe followed Palmer into the hospital room where Thorpe sat peeling an apple for a middle¨Caged man lying in bed. Hearing the noise at the door, Thorpe immediately stood up, alert, with the fruit knife aimed at the entrance, on guard. Noe ignored his actions and went straight to the man lying in the hospital bed. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± The man in bed was pale, his lips tinged with an unhealthy shade of ck and purple, and he reached out his hand to Noe. Thorpe looked like he had seen a ghost, his muscles all tensed up and on high alert, ready for these two to make a move. But when the woman approached, his guard was totally gone! ¡°You!¡± He threw up his hand, trying to shove Noe away, but Palmer behind him grabbed his wrist in a vice grip. Those eyes, sharp as a hawk¡¯s, pinned Thorpe in ce as Palmer icily said, ¡°Mr. Thorpe, since you¡¯re so keen on meeting Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, being rude is a no¨Cgo.¡± ¡°She¡¯s Phantom Surgeon Lunaris?¡± ¡°Mr. Thorpe, with all your cronies lurking around here, you¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t notice someone getting close?¡± Thorpe grudgingly pulled back his hand, only to realize that the spot where Palmer had grabbed him had gone totally numb! Among those who had crossed paths with him, only one person had the bone¨Cchilling power and killer vibe to pull that off! ¡°You¡¯re Vocalist! Since Lunaris is here, I¡¯ll y ball with your demands, but for the life of me. I 10:23 can¡¯t figure out why you¡¯d want the director of Heartfelt Orphanage.¡± One of the conditions Phantom Surgeon Lunarisid out for treating his brother was for Those to hand over the director of Heartfelt Orphanage, Palmer let out a scoff, nting himself between Noe and Thorpe, blocking any chance of Thorpe getting close to Noe. His voice dripped with a chill that could freeze hell over, and his animosity towards Thorpe wasn¡¯t exactly under wraps. ¡°It¡¯s getting chilly; my fianc¨¦e hates the cold. I figured I¡¯d make her a nice human fur coat and what¡¯s left could double as a piece of art, a nice little knick¨Cknack. What do you think, Me Thorpe?¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Human fur coat? Thorpe¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head! ¡°Are you kidding me? You went through all this trouble for a fur coat?¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking, Mr. Thorpe? Can¡¯t you tell?¡± CHapter 100 CHapter 100 Thorpe was on edge, eyeing Palmer with a mix of suspicion and guardedness, The moment their gazes locked, Thorpe could tell Palmer wasn¡¯t messing around. ¡°You¡¯ll get your man, but you¡¯ve got to guarantee his safety.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Mr. Thorpe give a hoot about anyone¡¯s safety before. After all, you¡¯d throw one brother under the bus just to get treatment for the other.¡± That jab hit Thorpe right where it hurt, and he swung his fist at Palmer in a sh! Before his fist could make contact, Noe chimed in coolly, ¡°Lay a hand on him, and your brother can kiss my help goodbye.¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes softened, a tender smile gracing his lips as they misted over with a swirl of soft blue. The girl finally started to show some concern for him, remarkable! Thorpe¡¯s punch hung in the air, mere inches from Palmer¡¯s face! He looked back and forth between Palmer and Noe, confused, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris one of Obelisk Organization¡¯s own? Since when did you cozy up with Abyssal Organization¡¯s Vocalist? If you can leave Obelisk, why not check out Cerulean Whale? Whatever Abyssal¡¯s offering you, I¡¯ll double it. No, triple!¡± Thorpe was convinced that Noe had sided with Palmer, likely because he snagged that consultation order Lunaris had posted on the deep web. Thorpe scanned the area and saw no sign of Obelisk Organization¡¯s crew. That meant Phantom Surgeon Lunaris was flying solo on this gig, with no ties to Obelisk. ¡°Phantom Surgeon, joining Cerulean Whale will be the best move you¡¯ll ever make. Name your price, and I¡¯ll meet any demand! If Wise Fool of Obelisk knew his man got poached by Vocalist, I wonder how he¡¯d feel. But here at Cerulean Whale, we¡¯ve got your back for sure!¡± Palmer snorted with a sneer. ¡°If you can¡¯t even snag a consultation order, what makes you think you can outdo Abyssal?¡± Just mentioning the consultation order got Thorpe steaming! He wasn¡¯t a regr in Harmonia Country, so he was clueless about a lot of stuff here. Last time he tried to secure the order, his inte crapped out on him! If it weren¡¯t for that glitch, he wouldn¡¯t have missed out. ¡°Phantom Surgeon, name your price¨CI¡¯ll pay up!¡± Noe whipped out an encrypted payment code. ¡°Three hundred mil, upfront, for today¡¯s consult.¡± 10:23 Thorpe gazed at the code, his mind a whirlwind of chaos. ¡°Sure, the consult fee¡¯s a given, but you haven¡¯t filled me in on my brother¡¯s condition yet!¡± Noe, her face masked and capped, revealing only her icy eyes, stared down Thorpe. ¡°Register first, then get treated. Get it?¡± The patient in bed coughed violently, his pale face flushing red, and when the coughing fit ended, bright red stains of blood marked the pristine white sheets. He gasped for air, shed Thorpe a feeble smile. ¡°Bro, don¡¯t bother. My life ain¡¯t worth the trouble.¡± Thorpe¡¯s eyes reddened in an instant, and he scanned the payment code with his phone. ¡°Cut the crap! I didn¡¯t say you can give up yet!¡± Noe tore up the one¨Cuse payment code, lit it up, and tossed it into the bin. The specially treated paper turned to ash in no time, leaving no trace of its former self. ¡°Brain cancer, needs surgery, but you¡¯ll need Mirage Grass, which you should have, right? You met with Toxic Monarchst time; if you left empty¨Chanded, then you¡¯re beyond saving.¡± Thorpe¡¯s meetup with Toxic Monarch was no secret on the deep web. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Thorpe nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got it. When¡¯s the surgery, and what needs prepping?¡± ¡°I need three of my folks toe prep for surgery with me.¡± Thorpe¡¯s gut reaction was a hard no. ¡°No way! I¡¯ve got doctors prepped too. You work with mine. I don¡¯t trust your crew.¡± Noe looked up, her gaze as cold as ice meeting Thorpe¡¯s wary eyes. ¡°And I don¡¯t trust yours.¡± Thorpe clenched his teeth but stood his ground. ¡°My guys wouldn¡¯t hurt my brother. What if one of yours does something during the surgery?¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s no deal. If you¡¯ve got doctors, you can find someone to operate.¡± As she spoke, Noe got up and started peeling off her disposable gloves, clearly ready to leave. Seeing her about to split, Thorpe¡¯s arm muscles twitched, reaching out to her. Before he could touch Noe, he copped a solid punch. ¡°Mr. Thorpe, I warned you. Touch Lunaris, and you¡¯re a dead man!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Thorpe barely started to speak when he caught another fist to the face! Palmer rubbed his wrist, standing by Noe¡¯s side. The man in the bed struggled to help Thorpe up, ¡°Bro¡­¡± Books tumbled from his bedside as he moved. Noe bent down to pick them up¨CGerastorics! Thorpe wiped the blood from his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Phantom Surgeon, please, save my brother. Your crew can join in, but I¡¯m staying too. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t get in the way.¡± Noe flipped through theics nonchntly before handing them back to the patient. ¡°Even if you¡¯re in there during the surgery, if I wanted to harm your brother, there¡¯s nothing you could do to stop it.¡± Noe slid her hand into her white coat pocket and spun around to give Thorpe a cold, hard stare. ¡°If I don¡¯t save him, he¡¯s toast. Why would I screw him over? Sabotaging your own reputation might be Cerulean Whale¡¯s cup of tea, but I¡¯m not into that kind of y.¡± Working on the borderlines required teamwork between the crews, but the Cerulean Whale gang hadn¡¯t missed a chance to pull a fast one for their own gain. Dealing with their shenanigans was always a headache. Thorpe¡¯s face turned beet red. ¡°If you¡¯re game to join us at Cerulean Whale, you could be riding shotgun as my right¨Chand man!¡± Palmer rested a hand on Noe¡¯s shoulder, his icy gaze dropping like a hammer on Thorpe¡¯s face. Trying to poach right in front of him? Thorpe seriously needed to check if he was punching above his weight! ¡°I¡¯ve got zero interest in Cerulean Whale. Since the patient has already fasted, we¡¯ll start the operation in an hour. If my people can¡¯t get through, the show won¡¯t start. When to let them in, that¡¯s your call.¡± Noe gave Thorpe a casual nce. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s not my neck on the line. His condition is pretty dicey right now, so if you dilly¨Cdally, you might as well go knock on the Grim Reaper¡¯s door yourself.¡± Thorpe¡¯s face was a picture of turmoil! Stepping out of the ward, Noe and Palmer made their way back to the office.. Peeling off her mask, Noe let out a big sigh of relief. ¡°What¡¯s up? Is the surgery that tricky?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen trickier. I¡¯m just puzzled why Thorpe¡¯s brother is into the sameic as my granddad.¡± Thatic wasn¡¯t exactly mainstream, and the artist wasn¡¯t a household name. Ever since she got back from Imperial West Hospital, Noe had hunted down and read every 10-24 Marcel stumbled upon thatic by sheer fluke while he was visiting some old-timer for a game of chess. It caught his fancy in no time, and he even got so impatient with the slow trantions that he picked up Gerastor just to follow the serial. The old geezer who introduced Marcel to theic had been dischargedst month. Noe had a hunch that there were more secrets hidden in thoseic pages! CHapter 101 CHapter 101 On the fifth floor of the Fortress Hospital, Vincent stirred from hisa, aching in ces he didn¡¯t even know could hurt. After being kidnapped and roughed up, he¡¯d found himself in a graveyard brawl with that old piece of work, Zachary. Vincent felt as if all the bones in his body were on the brink of falling apart. Zachary also came to, blinking back consciousness. Linsey rushed over, exasperated. ¡°What in the world happened? Weren¡¯t you just going to visit Mom¡¯s grave?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even start! That lunatic Vincent had the nerve to toss my mother¡¯s urn! I was ready to tear him limb from limb!¡± As Zachary shifted, his spine crackled painfully, making him wince and snarl. From the adjacent bed, Vincent was not having any of it. ¡°Zachary, it was you who wanted to tamper with my family¡¯s graveyard. You had Milford spruce up our ce so you could move inter. I won¡¯t stand for it. Either return my property and the graveyard, or forget about Briony marrying into your family.¡± Linsey, a force to reckon with, dropped Zachary back onto his bed before turning her attention to Vincent, hands on her hips and her voice rising in fury. ¡°What joke are you trying to pull? We want that decrepit old house of yours, covered in dog crap and bird droppings? And that raggedy daughter of yours? You think Milford would fancy someone like her? She¡¯s got nothing going for her, parading around like some high and mightydy! Even if we were desperate, Milford wouldn¡¯t touch your daughter with a ten¨Cfoot pole!¡± Vincent had been banking on Briony¡¯s wedding gift from the Rosenberg family to pay off his debts. At Linsey¡¯s words, he bristled with anger. ¡°Dream on,dy. Briony and Milford are engaged. If you want to call it off, get ready for the talk of the town!¡± ¡°Laughable. Who wouldugh at Milford for calling off an engagement with a girl picked from a dumpster? Your family, the Lamberts, will foot the bill for my husband¡¯s medical expenses!¡± Vincent sneered, unfazed. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s how you want it, I¡¯ll just call the cops!¡± Zachary¡¯s presence at Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s graveyard was indisputable, along with his devious attempts to seize the Lambert property. Briony, having been insulted by Linsey, felt her cheeks burning and tears welling up. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Briony. I¡¯ll find you a better fianc¨¦, someone with ss!¡± ¡°You think someone better would want this girl? Get real!¡± The two families were at each other¡¯s throats, almost ready to duke it out in the hospital. 11:39: Milford, overwhelmed by themotion, didn¡¯t botherforting a sobbing Briony. He was itching to get away; he had ns with some local models and was looking forward to a night out. Just as he reached the door, the doctor entered the room. ¡°Zachary, you¡¯ve been diagnosed with lung cancer. Your family should start preparing for the end.¡± ¡°What?¡± Milford froze in his tracks, turning to face the doctor holding the diagnosis. ¡°Lung cancer? How could I have lung cancer? Doc, are you sure? Maybe there¡¯s been a mistake. Why talk about preparing for the end?¡± Zachary was nearly in tears; he¡¯d only felt unwell the past couple of days. How had ite to this? From the adjacent bed, Vincent burst intoughter. ¡°Ha! What goes aroundes around. You¡¯ve been nothing but trouble, and now it seems the man upstairs can¡¯t stand it either! This is karma!¡± Hisughter was relentless. ¡°Briony, darling, they say cancer can be hereditary. We want no part of that family. Don¡¯t you marry into it!¡± As tears streaked her face, Briony couldn¡¯t help but feel there was truth in Vincent¡¯s words. The doctor approached Vincent with another diagnosis in hand. ¡°Vincent, it appears you have stomach cancer. Your family should also prepare.¡± Vincent¡¯sugh caught in his throat. What was happening? He was sick too! Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. He stared at the report, which spelled out ¡®advanced stomach cancer¡® alongside a list of iprehensible data. Zachary roared withughter. ¡°Ha! Serves you right! That¡¯s what you get forughing at me. This is youreuppance! Even if I¡¯m sick, I¡¯ve got a son to carry on the family name. You¡¯ve got only a daughter. No heirs for you, ha!¡± Having no sons was Vincent¡¯s greatest sorrow. After having Briony, Belinda couldn¡¯t have more children, and the starlets Vincent kept didn¡¯t want to sacrifice their careers for motherhood. Vincent ignored his pain and sat bolt upright. ¡°No, Doctor, what¡¯s going on? I¡¯m still young; how could I have stomach cancer?¡± Zachary spat disdainfully. ¡°You¡¯re fifty¨Csix and calling yourself young? Get real.¡± The doctor ignored their squabbling, his expression serious. ¡°Your diet is a huge problem, 11:39 Vincent. You seem to indulge in greasy food often, and Zachary, your smoking has contributed to the spread of the cancer cells. Our hospital is at a loss.¡± Vincent couldn¡¯t understand; he always took care of his health! He saved all thevish meals for the evenings since he wasn¡¯t home for lunch and didn¡¯t have to share his expensive ingredients with Belinda and Briony. Back when Noe was home, he¡¯d kept her from eating dinner to maintain her figure. But the food was prepared, and he couldn¡¯t let it go to waste, could he? Over time, he often ate two dinners in one night and went straight to bed afterward. Linsey, sobbing, hit Zachary. ¡°I told you to quit smoking, but you wouldn¡¯t listen. Look where it¡¯s got you! What am I supposed to do with Milford now? He¡¯s not even married!¡± Zachary slumped in his chair, his eyes glued to the medical report in his hands, disbelief etched on his face. Vincent clutched the document as if it were a lifeline, his phone pressed against his ear. He had made several calls, only to be met with the same grim prognosis. His illness was incurable! Briony hesitated, her lips trembling as she spoke up. ¡°Dad, Mr. Rosenberg, I just saw Noe at the hospital. She¡¯s working as a caregiver for the Schnabel family; she must know a lot of doctors, right? I heard that Ulrich Schnabel is a brilliant doctor. If Noe would be willing to put in a good word, maybe there¡¯s still hope for your condition?¡± Vincent perked up instantly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Ulrich, too. They say that the legendary Professor Calvin is taking care of Marcel¡¯s health. If we could get him or Ulrich to take a look at me, there might be a chance!¡± The Rosenberg family pricked up their ears at this conversation. ¡°Briony, you said you saw Noe here? Where is she?¡± If they could get in touch with Noe and she could connect them to Ulrich, there might be a sliver of hope for their own ailments! Briony stammered, her gaze flickering uncertainly. ¡°Well¡­ I think Noe is pregnant. She was in the maternity ward, and there was this man with her I didn¡¯t recognize, so I didn¡¯t dare approach them.¡± CHapter 102 CHapter 102 Noe was pregnant? Milford¡¯s faint glimmer of interest immediately died out. He had a thing for pristine women; the moment they were tarnished, he wouldn¡¯t give them a second nce. Vincent, on the other hand, was in no position to be choosy. ¡°Briony, hand me your phone. I need to call Noe and see what¡¯s up!¡± Whatever Noe demanded, he had to get her to agree to his terms. He wasn¡¯t ready to face his own mortality. Noe had blocked Vincent long ago; his calls wouldn¡¯t even ring through. Fumbling with Briony¡¯s phone, Vincent hurriedly dialed Noe¡¯s number. ¡°Hello? Noe, sweetheart, it¡¯s Dad. Were you at Fortress Hospital today?¡± Noe almost hung up when she heard Vincent¡¯s voice, but at the mention of Fortress Hospital, she frowned. How did Vincent know she was at Fortress Hospital? ¡°Noe, darling, I¡¯ve been sick, and it made me realize how much I miss you and your grandmother. That¡¯s why I went back to visit her, but I took a tumble down the mountainside. and now here I am in Fortress Hospital. Would youe see your old man?¡± Vincent, fearful of rejection, quickly added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if you¡¯re willing toe back to the Lambert family, I¡¯ll make sure to take good care of you and the baby in your belly!¡± Briony¡¯s fingernails dug into her palm. ¡ü Damn it! Noe¡¯s life was a hot mess, and Vincent still wanted her back? How could Vincent not be disgusted by such a daughter? On the other end of the line, Noe frowned as she listened to Vincent. A baby? Since when was there a baby in her belly? ¡°Noe, I know you¡¯re at the maternity ward to get an abortion surgery so the Schnabels wouldn¡¯t find out about the baby. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep your secret as long as you agree to reach out to the Schnabels and get Dr. Schnabel toe and treat me.¡± So, it was all for Ulrich Schnabel. ¡°Noe, I know I¡¯ve been wrong. You and your grandmother are the most important to me. Can you really stand to watch your father suffer? Your grandmother would be heartbroken too!¡± Noe spoke coolly, ¡°Did it break your heart when Grandma was ill?¡± Vincent was about to say it did when Noe continued indifferently, ¡°If it did, why didn¡¯t you show up at the hospital even once? She wanted to see you more than anyone in her final hours, 11:39 but you never came, not even to her funeral. Did you ever really care?¡± Vincent was at a loss for words! This infuriating girl, why was she dredging up the past? ¡°Noe, I needed to make money then, to give you and your grandma a better life. The hospital where your grandma was had the best care!¡± Noe let out a scornfulugh. ¡°Three hundred a month, and you think that buys the best care? Perhaps now that you are sick yourself, you can enjoy the ¡®luxurious¡® treatment thates with three hundred.¡± When Old Mrs. Lambert was ill, it was Lunar Lab that footed the medical bills, and Noe made sure every medication was tested thoroughly before letting it anywhere near her grandmother. Vincent had never shown up. A bit sheepish, Vincent tried to further justify himself, hoping to soften Noe enough to summon Ulrich. ¡°Noe¡­¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Noe hung up the phone and promptly added the number to her cklist. Palmer watched, a surge of sympathy pricking him like a needle, filling him with a protective urge toward the girl. ¡°The Lamberts?¡± ¡°Yeah, who knows what got into them. Just block and done.¡± 1 Noe effortlessly created a filter, preventing any calls from the Lambert family from reaching her phone. A member of the Pris Star in doctor¡¯s garb knocked and entered. ¡°Boss, Thorpe has agreed to let us operate.¡± ¡°He had to. His brother¡¯s been through too much; he can barely hang on.¡± Noe turned to Palmer. ¡°The surgery will take a while.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing will disturb you. I¡¯ll be right outside the OR, waiting for my fianc¨¦e to finish her work.¡± He knew the silence she needed at her surgery table. One of the Pris Star members grinned. ¡°Man, who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d see the day when Vocalist would be guarding my surgery table. Lucky me!¡± ¡°Is he guarding you? It¡¯s boss that he¡¯s guarding! Boss, with Mr. Pock being so great, when are you going to clean us up and take us all with you when you marry over?¡± 11:40 Noe gave them a helpless look, and Palmer let out a pleased chuckle. Her cheeks flushed, thankfully hidden by the surgical mask. ¡°Go get ready.¡± Brain surgery was no small feat, and the prep work was just as intricate. The Pris Star trio whistled and scampered off, not eager to get a kick in the rear. Noe said, ¡°I¡¯m off to prep.¡± Palmer caught Noe, gently tucking loose strands of her hair under her surgical cap with care. ¡°I¡¯ll be right here, waiting for you toe out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. The OR light turned on, and Thorpe paced anxiously outside the door. Meanwhile, Vincent, blocked by Noe, was fuming with indignation. ¡°That girl has no sense at all! I¡¯ve raised her for years! Does she think she grew up on fairy dust or something? No gratitude whatsoever! To just stand there and watch me fall into trouble? It¡¯s infuriating!¡± Linsey let out a snort of derision from the corner. ¡°Now you know to beg for help? I honestly can¡¯t understand your logic. It¡¯s just another daughter, but you were too stingy to keep her around, had to kick her out to make room. It¡¯s not like she¡¯s a son who would fight you for the inheritance. Such petty behavior, and now you¡¯re reaping what you sowed!¡± 1 Linsey couldn¡¯t help but want tough at Vincent¡¯s misfortune. Served him right! Although she wasn¡¯t a fan of Noe¡¯s holier¨Cthan¨Cthou attitude, it was still far better than Briony¡¯s timid and shrinking demeanor. Besides, even if Noe wasn¡¯t Vincent¡¯s biological daughter, what¡¯s the big deal in raising an extra girl? Some people yearn for a house full of children, seeing it as a blessing, but Vincent acted as if he was afraid of spending an extra dime! She disliked this rushed attitude to marrying off daughters! Briony felt humiliated by Linsey¡¯s res, and with Milford noting to her defense, she was on the verge of tears. ¡°Dad, I have contacts with Miss Yvonne Schnabel of the Schnabel family. Maybe I could ask her for help. Ms. Schnabel might be able to get us in touch with Dr. Schnabel.¡± Vincent perked up immediately. ¡°Ah! Briony, you really are my lucky star! Hurry and contact Ms. Schnabel! I can¡¯t wait for you to bring Dr. Schnabel to me, while some people can¡¯t find a good doctor and might as well be left for dead!¡± The faces of the Rosenberg family members were all looking rather grim. Vincent felt a surge of pride. ¡°Noe has no idea what¡¯sing. The Schnabels definitely don¡¯t know about her antics, or else she wouldn¡¯t have kept it a secret from them.¡± After a moment of thought, he discreetly sent a message to Ashlyn! CHapter 103 CHapter 103 He wondered, if he spilled all the dirt on Noe to the Schnabels, would they still wee her with open arms? He didn¡¯t want to take things that far, but it was all that heartless girl¡¯s own doing. Vincent thought this as he let out a long sigh. Just thinking about his own health made him restless! ¡°Briony, did Ms. Schnabel mention when she might drop by?¡± ¡°Ms. Schnabel is already on her way.¡± Upon hearing this, the Rosenbergs decided to camp out in the hospital room. If Ms. Schnabel really had the connections, they would do anything to have her reach out to Dr. Schnabel too. This was a matter of life and death! Two hourster, Yvonne strutted into Fortress Hospital, her chin up, dressed in a flouncy pink tulle dress. It had been years since she¡¯d set foot in such a rundown hospital. Typical of a bumpkin¡¯s hometown; it was no wonder Noe reeked of provinciality, having grown up in such a dump. Briony spotted Yvonne from afar and hurried over with a look of excitement. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, you¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Noe?¡± Briony pointed upstairs. ¡°She went up there. Upstairs are the maternity and neurology wards. She must¡¯ve gone to maternity.¡± Joy spread across Yvonne¡¯s face! Ulrich had arranged a full health screening for Noe when she first returned to the Schnabel family. It was impossible she had any brain issues. Yvonne remained cautious. ¡°Do you know if Noe is acquainted with someone who¡¯s not right in the head? The kind that needs surgery?¡± ¡°Not at all. Noe always kept to herself; she didn¡¯t have many friends.¡± This got Briony¡¯s blood boiling. Noe had always acted so superior, never giving Briony the time of day. In her younger years, Briony had tried to befriend her, but Noe wouldn¡¯t even look at her! Yvonne rxed, a smug look spreading across her face. ¡°Then it must be some secret lover Noe¡¯s keeping in the sticks, something she¡¯s done to disgrace the Schnabel family. Why else would shee to this trashy hospital?¡± Fortress Hospital was the best Linefort City had to offer, but to Yvonne, it was nothing but trash. ¡°Exactly, Ms. Schnabel. My dad¡¯s also admitted here. When he heard you wereing, he wanted to meet you, too.¡± Yvonne rolled her eyes, clearly puzzled. ¡°Your dad? Meet me for what? Does he really think anyone can just see little ol¡® me? That¡¯s hrious.¡± Briony¡¯s face turned beet red from Yvonne¡¯s scolding! Yvonne didn¡¯t want to go, but then she remembered Briony¡¯s dad was Noe¡¯s foster father. ¡°Lead the way, I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Worried Yvonne might change her mind, Briony quickly guided her straight to Vincent¡¯s hospital room. As they reached the door, Yvonne almost couldn¡¯t squeeze through because of herrge dress. ¡°What kind of podunk ce has such tiny doors? So petty!¡± Vincent craned his neck anxiously, waiting for Yvonne, his eyes practically bulging with anticipation! With a push from Briony, Yvonne and her exaggerated gown finally made it through. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, any idea when you might be able to get a hold of Dr. Schnabel for me? My health just can¡¯t wait!¡± Yvonne frowned, ¡°What are you talking about? Why should I contact my brother for you?¡± Hearing this, Linsey rushed forward. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, our family is willing to pay top dor if you can get Dr. Schnabel to treat my husband!¡± Vincent red venomously at the Rosenbergs. ¡°This is our guest you¡¯re talking about, what¡¯s it got to do with you? Ms. Schnabel, you have to help!¡± Yvonne looked skeptically at Vincent, whoy on the hospital bed. This guy was Noe¡¯s foster father? He looked like a greedy, cowardly sort! Thinking about Noe growing up with such a man filled Yvonne with a sense of superiority. She couldn¡¯t fathom what that country bumpkin thought she had topete with her. ¡°I¡¯ll call Ulrich, but I can¡¯t guarantee he¡¯ll agree. Not everyone is worthy of his attention.¡± Yvonne whipped out her phone and dialed Ulrich¡¯s number. ¡°Ulrich, there¡¯s a patient here who wants to see you. Can you spare a moment?¡± Ulrich, feeling drained after a long surgery and not in the mood to chat, was about to decline when he overheard someone near Yvonne speaking. ¡°Dad, I swear I saw Noe heading upstairs. There¡¯s only maternity and neurology up there, and I didn¡¯t recognize the man with her.¡± Ulrich caught the key words and perked up. Why would Noe be at a hospital? If she felt unwell, she should go to Imperial West Hospital or tell him toe home to check her out. Could it be something she didn¡¯t want to tell the family? Although he had arranged for Noe¡¯s full health check¨Cup initially, Ulrich couldn¡¯t overlook any potential illness. Noe was so sensible. What if she was silently suffering without telling anyone? That was uneptable! ¡°Send me the address, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Delighted by his response, Yvonne sent the address immediately. When Ulrich saw it was in Linefort City, his concern for Noe grew. He grabbed his car keys and made a beeline for Fortress Hospital! Yvonne pocketed her phone, looking disdainfully at the two people in the hospital bed. ¡°Ulrich is on the way, and whether he¡¯d be inclined to treat you is no longer my concern.¡± Vincent and Zachary couldn¡¯t contain their joy upon hearing that Ulrich was actually willing toe. Usually, they couldn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of him, let alone convince him to treat their ailments! Yvonne basked briefly in their ttery but soon grew impatient. ¡°Where¡¯s Noe? Lead the way; I need to see her!¡± 1 ¡°Ms. Schnabel, follow me.¡± Briony was also itching to see Noe¡¯s faux pas. Linsey was frantically signaling Milford, hinting that he should secure Briony¡¯s favor. This girl had somehow managed to summon Ms. Schnabel, and she mighte in handyter. Although the Rosenbergs didn¡¯t think much of this daughter¨Cinw, using her for the time being was eptable. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Milford gazed at Briony with a look of deep affection. ¡°Briony, the hospital isn¡¯t going anywhere, and neither can our guest. Let Ms. Schnabel find her own way; I have something I want to share with you.¡± Blushing under his intense, loving stare, Briony¡¯s face turned a shade rosier. With an eye roll and a scoff, Yvonne left the room. Milford was transparent to her; she could see right through him, and it was only Briony who treasured him like a gem. Yvonne couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of disappointment thinking about how this man was once LA 11:40 Noe¡¯s fianc¨¦. Why didn¡¯t Noe marry him before returning to the Schnabel family? Yvonne hastened upstairs, and after a quick tour of the maternity ward with no sign of Noe, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the country girl was truly out of her mind. Undeterred, she continued up the staircase. As she reached the next floor, Yvonne spotted a familiar figure outside the OR! What was Palmer doing here? And in ab coat, no less? Yvonne could hardly catch her breath! Even in ab coat, Palmer was stunning, the kind of handsome that stopped you in your tracks. ¡°Palmy, what brings you here? I heard from Professor Calvin that you have a knack for medicine; are you considering a career in healthcare?¡± Anxiety fluttered in Yvonne¡¯s chest. If Palmer indeed pursued medicine, it could alter his position as the heir to the Pock family, and he would no longer be her prime choice. But faced with his charming presence, Yvonne felt anypromise was worth it! 4 CHapter 104 CHapter 104 The silence outside the operating room was deafening. No one spoke, all eyes filled with Inexplicable wariness and vignce as theynded on the mboyantly dressed Yvonne, who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere, Palmer had promised Noe a peaceful surgery, and he wasn¡¯t about to let anyone, especially not Yvonne, disrupt that promise, His eyelids flickered with a glint of icy determination. The unspoken threat in his gaze was as clear as the low atmospheric pressure before a storm, intensely focused on Yvonne. ¡°Get out!¡± His voice was a growl. Yvonne was taken aback by Palmer¡¯s ferocity. Why was he being so harsh? ¡°Palmy,¡± she whimpered, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been duped by Noe. She was here at this hospital, avoiding her own family clinic- there must be something wrong. My sources saw her heading to the maternity ward. Palmy, she must be carrying another man¡¯s child! You mustn¡¯t be fooled!¡± Palmer was rattled by her mor and didn¡¯t want her theatrics to impact Noe¡¯s concentration. He lifted a hand, his index finger giving a slight waggle. Thorpe, who had been anxiously crouched on the floor, surged to his feet with a menacing aura. Anyone disrupting his brother¡¯s operation was a dead man walking. Yvonne remembered Thorpe¡¯s face and cowered at the sight of him, copsing on the floor in terror. ¡°Palmy, this man kidnapped me once! He¡¯s bad news! Why are you with him?¡± Palmer spared Yvonne not a nce, his eyes flicking to Thorpe. ¡°If shepromises the operation, you know what to do,¡± he said ¡®coolly. Thorpe approached Yvonne, his fists creaking like sandbags ready to spill their deadly contents. He might not be a match for Palmer, but he was certain he could handle this meddlesome woman. Thorpe said coldly, ¡°Idiot.¡± Yvonne scrambled backward in panic, her feet kicking up a storm on the sterile floor. Before she could beg for mercy, Thorpe scooped her up off the floor like a rag doll, mping a hand over her mouth and slinging her over his shoulder. Palmer spoke with detached authority. ¡°Keep her alive and intact. Otherwise, do as you please.¡± Yvonne looked on in disbelief. How could Palmer be so cold to her? Was this the same man she had fallen for? Her heart refused to ept it. He was so tender with Noe; why so ruthless with her? Thorpe, harboring a storm of anger and concern for his brother in the OR, had little interest in dealing with this fool. He passed Yvonne off to his associates. ¡°Clean this up. Don¡¯t let her disturb us again.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The associates hustled Yvonne away, her struggles futile against their firm grip. Was this the end for her? The OR light went off, and Noe emerged, fresh from surgery. ¡°What was all that noise? Did something happen?¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze softened the instant he saw her. ¡°Nothing to worry about. It¡¯s been handled. How are you feeling? Tired?¡± Thorpe, too, looked at Noe with a mix of hope and anxiety. ¡°The surgery is sessful for now. We¡¯ll need to monitor the post¨Cop response. Rest assured, I¡¯ll be here.¡± She hadmitted to saving a life, and she intended to see it through. Thorpe exhaled in relief, his towering frame trembling with emotions as he knelt and offered thanks. ¡°Thank God! This is such a relief!¡± It was clear how much his brother meant to him. Palmer¡¯s voice was tender. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Are you hungry? I¡¯ve ordered us some food.¡± Noe nodded, gave a few instructions for post¨Cop care, and followed Palmer out of the OR. ¡°I know my fianc¨¦e must be exhausted. For now, we¡¯ll have to make do with a meal in my office.¡± ¡°Anywhere is fine.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She was tired from the surgery, but she had heard themotion outside. Palmer¡¯s vigil had not been easy. He had dealt with countless threats from the deep web¡¯s chaotic factions, blood still fresh on his wrist, stark against the crimson cufflinks. Noe slipped off herb coat, producing a small box from her pocket and handing it to Palmer. Surprise flickered in Palmer¡¯s eyes. ¡°For me?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, forget it.¡± How could he refuse the first gift from his beloved? Inside the boxy a pair of exquisite sapphire cufflinks, their sparkle subdued yet luxurious, reminiscent of an elegant count from a medieval castle. Palmer recognized the signature on the cufflinks ¨C a creation of the renowned jeweler Cressida, whose designs were treasures that fetched astronomical prices. He had never seen this particr pair before. Did she know Master Cressida personally? ¡°Thank you. I love them.¡± Switching to a clean shirt to match his new cufflinks, Palmer held out his wrist to Noe. ¡°I overexerted myself earlier. Would my fianc¨¦e mind helping me?¡± With a resigned look, Noeplied. She couldn¡¯t refuse him after he had just guarded her. The office door burst open. Ulrich stormed in, his imagination running wild with scenarios that nearly brought him to tears. ¡°Noe! Where does it hurt? Don¡¯t worry, I will keep your secrets safe. Whatever the problem, the Schnabel family will handle it!¡± ¡°Ulrich? What are you doing here?¡± Ulrich paused, seeing the couple preparing to dine in the office. ¡°Mr. Pock, what¡¯s going on here? Don¡¯t tell me you came all the way to this hospital¡¯s office for a date?¡± Ulrich grew rmed. His sister couldn¡¯t be ying some twisted game with Palmer, could she? She was too young to be led astray by Palmer¡¯s wiles! His mind conjured up wild scenarios, and seeing the discardedb coat only fueled his fears. ¡°Noe, what on earth are you doing here? If you¡¯re feeling unwell, you¡¯ve got to let me know,¡± uttered a visibly concerned Ulrich, his eyes scanning his sister for any sign of difort. ¡°Just visiting a friend who¡¯s just had brain surgery. But what brings you here?¡± Noe replied with a hint of surprise in her voice. Ulrich, ever the protective older brother, meticulously checked Noe over to make sure she hadn¡¯t sustained any injuries. Despite finding none, his worry didn¡¯t entirely dissipate. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back. We¡¯ll get you a thorough check¨Cup just to be sure.¡± ¡°Ulrich, I¡¯m fine. I came to see a friend, really,¡± Noe insisted. ¡°You¡¯re a doctor too. You can check on my friendter and see for yourself.¡± ¡°But why didn¡¯t you tell anyone at home? Yvonne called me panicked, thinking you were ill. It scared me half to death.¡± Only after confirming that Noe was indeed unharmed did Ulrich begin to rx. He took a seat beside her, wishing he had x¨Cray vision to ensure she waspletely okay. Casting a disdainful eye over the food on the desk, Ulrich¡¯s lip curled. ¡°Mr. Pock isn¡¯t actually making you eat this, is he? Noe, I¡¯ll take you out for some real foodter.¡± The meals looked perfectly fine, but Ulrich was simply not in the mood to see anything associated with Palmer in a good light. He had no idea why Palmer had lured his sister to this hospital! Palmer wanted to rify, but he couldn¡¯t do so without revealing too much. His secret with Noe wasn¡¯t something he was ready to share with the Schnabel family just yet. ¡°Speaking of which, where¡¯s Yvonne? She said a friend was ill and asked me to check in on them. Why haven¡¯t I seen her around?¡± Palmer handed Ulrich a medical record. After Yvonne had been whisked away, he¡¯d looked into why she was at this particr hospital and discovered it was due to someone from the Lambert family ¨C Vincent Lambert Ulrich sprang from his seat, incensed. ¡°She called me here to tend to this old scoundrel? If he¡¯s sick, he probably got what he deserved!¡± CHapter 105 CHapter 105 Ulrich¡¯s furrowed brow deepened as he red at the medical chart in front of him. Yvonne had the nerve to call him in just to treat Vincent? Did the Lamberts actually think they deserved his medical expertise? Why couldn¡¯t they just drop dead and be done with it! Memories of the conversation he¡¯d overheard on the phone flooded back¨Cwhispers that Noe had been spotted at the hospital, perhaps even in the maternity ward. Damn it all! The Lamberts must be spreading vile rumors about Noe! He should have done more than just have someone rough them up a bit; that was far too kind for their ilk! Just as Wren had dug up, the Lamberts were a greedy, conscienceless lot. Ulrich shuddered to think of what Noe must have endured with them before. The thought alone was enough to twist his heart in pain. Noe noticed Ulrich¡¯s growing agitation with the chart¨Chis teeth clenched, his face contorted with a burning vengeance, looking as if he might rip the chart to shreds right then and there¨Cand felt a twinge of confusion. Ulrich was known to be the most even¨Ctempered of the Schnabels. ¡°Ulrich, who¡¯s sick?¡± she asked. Ulrich quickly tucked the chart away and shed a tender, warm smile. ¡°It¡¯s nobody important, just an annoying bug. Not worth our attention.¡± He gently stroked Noe¡¯s silky hair and covertly exchanged a knowing nce with Palmer. ¡°Noe, you just focus on eating. I¡¯ll go check on things.¡± The moment Ulrich stepped out of the office, the spring breeze of his smile vanished, reced by an icy, steely resolve. Annie approached with a respectful bow. ¡°Dr. Schnabel, I¡¯m Mr. Pock¡¯s assistant. Ms. Yvonne is currently in the underground parking garage.¡± As a capable assistant, Annie knew precisely what to do the instant she saw Ulrich emerge¨Ca Schnabel through and through, he was surely out for blood now. ¡°Lead the way.¡± In the parking garage, Yvonne was gagged with severalyers of duct tape and bound to a concrete pir. She was cornered by a few of Thorpe¡¯s thugs, with no chance to cry for help! The situation was terrifying! Despite her im to be a Schnabel, the thugs had dared to abduct her! And they had chosen such a secluded spot, surrounded by Thorpe¡¯s cars, ensuring no one woulde by! Yvonne was close to despair. The sound of leather soles hitting the concrete echoed through the silent garage. Ulrich, d in his white coat, walked in from the other side, his polished shoes kicking up dust that seemed to sparkle in the light. Approaching against the backlight, his handsome face was a mask of frost as he eyed Yvonne¡¯s captors. ¡°Which group are you guys from? Mind if I take this one off your hands?¡± The thugs ignored him, their eyes on something in Annie¡¯s hand. She discreetly held up an item from the Abyssal Organization and gestured to the thugs. Once the thugs confirmed Annie¡¯s affiliation with the Abyssal Organization, they dropped their guard around Ulrich. ¡°Was the surgery a sess?¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Annie hurried forward. ¡°Aplete sess. We¡¯ll take it from here.¡± Nodding, the thugs tossed Ulrich the loose end of the rope binding Yvonne and quickly vanished into the garage. From the moment she saw Ulrich, Yvonne was paralyzed with relief. Someone had finallye to rescue her! She knew the Schnabels wouldn¡¯t abandon her; she was still important to them. If it weren¡¯t for Noe¡¯s unexpected return, she¡¯d still be the Schnabels¡® darling little princess. ¡°Mmph¡­¡± Yvonne attempted to speak through the duct tape, issuing muffled cries towards Ulrich. Ulrich¡¯s icy gaze fell on her, sending shivers down her spine! Why was the usually gentle Ulrich looking at her like that? Ulrich might have appeared to be the mildest of the Schnabel children, but Yvonne knew better. It was all a facade. In truth, Ulrich was the most terrifying of them all! Even if she identally crossed the other Schnabels, the worst she¡¯d get was a scolding. Jasper and Stirling might have harsh words, but they were the soft¨Chearted ones of the family. But the least soft¨Chearted? That was the man before her, Ulrich. Yvonne still remembered, as a child, identally shattering Ulrich¡¯s favorite vase. She had endured two long months of his creative punishments, leaving her too scared to even visit the Schnabels for a while. Ulrich crouched down, picked up a small knife from the ground, and, without a hint of mercy, used the de to lift a corner of the duct tape on Yvonne¡¯s mouth before ripping it off. The pain was so intense that Yvonne screamed, tears streaming down her face. She couldn¡¯t say a word against Ulrich¡¯s cold stare. Ulrich¡­¡± ¡°Yvonne.¡± Ulrich¡¯s voice was sharp, ¡°exin why you¡¯re here.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes darted around, desperately concocting an excuse, but Ulrich¡¯s grip on her jaw silenced her. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that Noe is our family¡¯s daughter? Why can¡¯t you remember? You think you can take what¡¯s hers?¡± ¡°Ulrich, I wasn¡¯t going after Noe. I was scared. I heard she snuck into the maternity ward, and I just followed because I was worried something happened to her. I swear, I had no other intentions!¡± Ulrich¡¯s smile was devoid of warmth as he looked down at her. ¡°Really? And what makes you so sure Noe has been to the maternity ward? Let me guess, because if Noe was expecting. with some guy. the Pock family would kick her to the curb, and we, the Schnabels, would never forgive her, leaving you the perfect opening. Right?¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes widened with panic. ¡°Ulrich, I swear, that¡¯s not what I was thinking. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it; I¡¯m just concerned about Noe. If I had such intentions, I¡¯d have marched straight to Mr. Pock¡­¡± Her little scheme was as clear as day to Ulrich, and she was all out of sorts. ¡°You didn¡¯t go to him? Then how did thisdy beside me end up with that red mark on her face? Did she p herself for fun?¡± Annie was just as startled. Ulrich deduced that from a red mark? Were all the sons of the Schnabel family that sharp? Yvonne was stunned, too. She couldn¡¯t believe this¡­ this snitch had dared to tattle on her! So what if she had pped her? She was going to be the future matriarch of the Pock family. and she¡¯d have every right to fire all these seductive women. Yvonne red at Annie with venom in her eyes. Just from her expression, Ulrich knew his offhand guess had hit the mark.. ¡°Yvonne, you¡¯re a Schnabel, but you¡¯re out here acting a fool. Mr. Pock¡¯s assistant is his trusted aide. You think you can just strike one of Mr. Pock¡¯s own and he won¡¯te after you?¡± Yvonne started to feel a bit scared. ¡°Ulrich, she¡¯s just an assistant. It was her fault for getting in my way that day. I wouldn¡¯t have hit her otherwise.¡± Ulrich let out a scornfulugh. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m an idiot? You know how the Lamberts have been treating Noe. If you¡¯re so chummy with them, then maybe you don¡¯t need to part of the Schnabels anymore.¡± What was he implying? 11:41 ¡°Ulrich! I¡¯m sorry! I really am! The Lamberts reached out to me! I came because I was so worried about Noe. They¡¯ve looked after her for years, and when they start talking smack, I wanted to find out the truth.¡± The look Ulrich gave Yvonne was filled with nothing but disdain. ¡°If you trust them over your own family, then go be a Lambert. How about you run along and y Vincent¡¯s little girl? What do you think of that?¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes bulged in shock. ¡°Ulrich, what do you mean?¡± CHapter 106 CHapter 106 Did Ulrich mean that he¡¯s gonna cut her connection with the Schnabel family? No, that couldn¡¯t happen! How could Ulrich even entertain the thought of casting her aside for Noe, that country bumpkin, when she was the truedy of the Schnabels? Had all those years together meant nothing? Hadn¡¯t they formed any bonds of affection? ¡°Ulrich, please don¡¯t send me away!¡± Ulrich¡¯s gaze at Yvonne was as frosty as if she were aplete stranger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma adopted you, so you¡¯ll still be taking care of her. But as for returning to the Schnabel family, forget it. Your options are to stay in the hospital or go to the Lamberts. Since you trust the Lamberts that much, and they treat you like royalty, maybe I should just arrange an adoption for you, and you can officially be a Lambert!¡± Yvonne¡¯s face went ghostly pale at the thought! Being sent to Noe¡¯s old home was akin to a death sentence for her. ¡°No! Ulrich, don¡¯t do this to me. I¡¯ve been part of the Schnabel family for years. Don¡¯t you have any affection for me at all? I¡¯m part of this family too!¡± Suddenly, Ulrich¡¯s grip tightened around Yvonne¡¯s throat. ¡°Yvonne, this is yourst warning. No matter what Noe does, she¡¯s part of the Schnabel family. Her future children will be Schnabel heirs, regardless of who their father is. As for Mr. Pock¡­¡± Annie chimed in from behind, her smile courteous and bowing slightly. ¡°Mr. Pock treasures Ms. Noe like a gem. He says he¡¯ll do anything to make her happy, and he¡¯ll treat any child of hers as his own.¡± ¡ü Palmer had said this with such confidence, clearly certain that he¡¯d be the father of Noe¡¯s children. But Ulrich and Yvonne heard it as if Palmer was willingly fitting himself with a cuckold¡¯s horns. Ulrich suddenly found his subtle prejudice against Palmer melting away. He had misjudged Palmer in the past! Yvonne¡¯s expression soured further. Why would Palmer go to such lengths for that bumpkin? And the Schnabels even wanted Noe¡¯s future child to be their heir! If that happened, there indeed wouldn¡¯t be anything left for her in the Schnabel family. ¡°Ulrich, please don¡¯t send me away. I¡¯ll never dare to cross you again!¡± Ulrich¡¯s grip was firm on Yvonne¡¯s neck. ¡°Remember your words. You won¡¯t have a hard life sticking by Grandma¡¯s side, but if you try to harm Noe, there¡¯s no ce for you in the Schnabel family.¡± ¡°Why? I am a daughter of the Schnabels too.¡± Desperation and suffocation filled Yvonne¡¯s heart,pounded by Ulrich¡¯s choking hold. A cold chuckle escaped Ulrich as he leaned into her ear. ¡°It¡¯s because you don¡¯t deserve it. Your heart is too tainted.¡± Despair flooded Yvonne¡¯s eyes! Ulrich cut the ropes binding her without sparing a nce at Yvonne, who gasped on the ground, and walked away from the underground garage. Annie followed Ulrich out, seemingly unfazed by what had just happened. Annie hadn¡¯t expected the Schnabels to care so much for Noe, but given Noe¡¯s wonderful character, she felt she deserved it! Terrified, Yvonne¡¯s face twisted with fear and resentment! She couldn¡¯t just sit back and wait to be doomed. It was all that country girl¡¯s fault! After coughing violently, Yvonne managed to pull out her phone and dialed a secure number¡­ Meanwhile, in the hospital ward, Vincent was on edge, eagerly awaiting Yvonne¡¯s arrival with Ulrich in tow, hoping for a miraculous consultation. The Rosenbergs were also anxiously hoping for the same. Vincent scoffed, ¡°Ah, still clinging to the hope of Dr. Schnabel gracing you with his presence? As if you¡¯re worthy.¡± Zachary bristled at Vincent¡¯s gloating demeanor. ¡°You think Dr. Schnabel would see you? His fees aren¡¯t cheap. Can your family even afford it?¡± Vincent was, in fact, strapped for cash. His liquid assets were tied up in several ventures to the East Sea Culture Company, West Ocean Media, North Peak Finance, and South Mountain Financial. The Lamberts had less than three million to their name. That paltry sum was courtesy of Martin for buying the Lambert ancestral home! Ulrich¡¯s consultation fees started at five million, a sum Vincent couldn¡¯t dream of affording. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business whether I can afford it or not. You talk as if you coulde up with that kind of money yourself,¡± Vincent retorted, puffing up with indignation and tantly disregarding Zachary¡¯s presence. He was well aware of the near¨Cbankruptcy rumors surrounding the Rosenbergs. Zachary¡¯s recent investment flops had not only tanked his own finances but also cost the Rosenberg Group a fortune. Hence, Zachary¡¯s foul mood and his ns to visit his mother¡¯s grave for sce. Vincent knew the Rosenberg family had hit a rough patch with their business tankingtely. He had initially nned to milk them for a hefty money when Briony tied the knot, figuring she 2 10:15 could always divorceter if need be. But now, with his own health in shambles, he couldn¡¯t care less about squeezing pennies out of anyone else! As for Zachary, the mere thought of him swindling Vincent over the Lambert ancestral home made Vincent wish the guy would keel over first! Not a single decent soul in the Rosenberg lot! Zachary let out a derisive chuckle. ¡°Even if my family¡¯s down on its luck, we¡¯ve got enough stashed away for my medical bills. Unlike your lot, who seems to have poured all their cash into buttering up the inws.¡± ¨C Vincent was perplexed. He barely gave the Fullers, his wife¡¯s parents, two grand a year ¨C pocket change, really. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°What are you on about? When have I evervished my father¨Cinw with dough?¡± Zachary looked at Vincent with a mix of pity and scorn. Linsey, catching her husband¡¯s cue, joined in with a sneer. ¡°Everybody knows your wife sends her folks a cool hundred grand each month. I bet your savings are all funneling into your brother¨Cin¨C law¡¯s new house fund.¡± In a small town like Tranquility, the socialites were few, and word got around fast. Belinda had bragged about Vincent¡¯s generosity to her parents before, boasting about the monthly hundred grand he supposedly gifted them. Linsey had been green with envy at the time. It was that impression of generosity that had convinced her to agree to an alliance with the Lamberts. Now, seeing Vincent¡¯s penny¨Cpinching ways, she figured he was clueless about the whole deal. Vincent¡¯s world spun on its axis! A hundred grand each month?! That would be the death of him! His hands trembling, Vincent whipped out his phone and scrutinized every bank bnce he had. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head! Belinda had been siphoning off his earnings to prop up her family all this time! No wonder he¡¯d never managed to save a dime; it had been funneling into Belinda¡¯s coffers! Vincent was so livid his chest heaved with fury, but Briony quickly came to his side to soothe him. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t get worked up. There might be some kind of misunderstanding. Let¡¯s wait for Mom to get back and you can ask her about it.¡± Vincent thought it over and realized she might be right. He had just calmed down when a knock at the door announced the arrival of the police. 10:15 ¡°Vincent, Zachary, you¡¯re both suspected of uwfully entering someone else¡¯s property ¨C the graveyard, to be precise. We¡¯re going to need you toe with us. CHapter 107 CHapter 107 Vincent bolted upright from his hospital bed, a sense of urgency propelling him. ¡°Officer, that graveyard is ours, fair and square. It¡¯s my mother¡¯s final resting ce, and every neighbor around here can vouch for that!¡± The officer pulled out some official documents. ¡°Legally, the rights to that plot belong to Martin. It¡¯s his private property, and you¡¯re suspected of illegally trespassing.¡± Frantically. Vincent grabbed the documents from the officer¡¯s hand, only to realize that not just the graveyard, but the entire hillside belonged to Martin! They had been trespassing the moment they set foot on that hill. Vincent turned to Zachary, who was equally stunned. ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t buy the land?¡± Zachary erupted into a tirade. ¡°Damn it, why the hell would I want anything to do with your family¡¯s graveyard?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t add up. Then why would you suddenly show up at my mom¡¯s grave?¡± ¡°How should I know! Officer, I want to file a report too. I was visiting my own family¡¯s graves back home, and the next thing I know, I wake up in the Lambert family¡¯s plot, nearly buried alive in a coffin!¡± The officer looked at Zachary as if he were looking at an idiot. ¡°Our investigation reveals that you drove here to Linefort City overnight and ended up in Martin¡¯s plot.¡± Did Zachary really think they were fools? They had checked the surveince footage in advance, and it clearly showed Zachary sneaking from his family¡¯s graveyard to Linefort City. Zachary was dumbstruck! How could he have driven to Linefort City himself? He didn¡¯t remember a thing! Vincent, upon hearing this, wished he could leap up and p Zachary, ¡°I knew it! You¡¯ve always been after my family¡¯snd!¡± Vincent¡¯s mind raced. Unwilling to give up, he turned to the officer. ¡°Do you have any solid evidence of us breaking in? If not, even if you take us in, the worst we¡¯d get is a fine and then be sent on our way.¡± ¡°Two sets of ashes were found in the grave, belonging to your wife Belinda¡¯s grandparents. We¡¯ve also got footage of you entering and exiting the plot, so you¡¯reing with us.¡± Vincent was dumbfounded! There were cameras around the graveyard besides the patrol guards? Sure, there were ashes, but shouldn¡¯t they belong to his mother, Old Mrs. Lambert? How did they be Belinda¡¯s grandparents¡®? Vincent suddenly remembered Linsey mentioning that Belinda had been sending money to the Fuller family every month. When had they swapped the ashes in the Lambert graveyard? So, all this time, the good fortune of thend had been blessing the Fuller family? The more Vincent thought about it, the more it made sense. The Fuller family took the Lambert family¡¯s fortune, and Belinda took the money from his wallet, all to honor the Fuller family! Fuming, Vincent said, ¡°Fine, officer, I¡¯lle with you!¡± Belinda and her parents were still at the station, and he had to confront them face to face! Seeing Vincentply, Zachary begrudgingly got out of bed and followed the officer out. Linsey strutted out, smirking at Briony, then turned on her heel and left with Milford. Briony, tears brimming in her eyes, bit her lip and decided to follow. A nurse stopped her, ¡°Ms. Lambert, you haven¡¯t settled the medical bills yet. Pleasee with me to take care of it.¡± Medical bills? Vincent was stingy with everyone but himself, and the allowance he gave her was meager, so she only had a small amount of money on her, Reluctantly, Briony followed the nurse and gasped when she saw the bill. ¡°How could it be so much?¡± ¡°The bills include Mr. Lambert and Mr. Rosenberg¡¯s expenses¨Cemergency services, ICU, private room, and personal care.¡± Why should she pay for the Rosenberg family¡¯s bills? Vincent and Zachary had used the best services, racking up tens of thousands. She didn¡¯t have that kind of money. ¡°Why should I pay for these people I don¡¯t even know?¡± The young nurse gave Briony a strange look. ¡°Their family said you¡¯re their daughter¨Cinw and responsible for the bills.¡± That¡¯s why they left so quickly¨Cto stick her with the bill! With contempt in her eyes, the nurse said, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to skip out on the bills, are you? Dressed all proper, but acting like this¡­ No wonder you have issues with your inws.¡± Briony¡¯s issues wereid bare, her face burning with embarrassment. She clenched her teeth and paid the bills with her savings, feeling as though she was bleeding money. Meanwhile, Ulrich leaned against a car outside the parking lot, dialing his brother Jasper¡¯s number. 10.15 ¡°I¡¯ve got them locked up. Vincent had no clue that hill had been designated a nature reserve, Plus, with their grave¨Crobbing and property damage, a little time behind bars won¡¯t hurt them.¡± ¡°Since when was that hill a nature reserve?¡± asked Ulrich. Jasper shrugged. ¡°Well, I might have pulled a few strings the other day.¡± As awyer, Jasper knew how to y it safe and get people locked up. Ulrich nced at a report in his hand. ¡°No need for a long sentence. They¡¯ll be out on medical bail soon enough. Let them find their own doctor to drain their wallets.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ording to the medical records, Vincent and Zachary were critically ill, and their current assets would barely cover their healthcare costs, let alone save their lives. Jasper idly yed with an orchid on his desk. ¡°Oh, that medical report? That was just a ruse to fool them. Our brother Beckett¡¯s idea.¡± The n, courtesy of Beckett, was to drive Zachary and Vincent to financial ruin, letting therm await death in despair, only to discover they weren¡¯t sick at all. ¡°They think they¡¯re sick, they¡¯re gonna be on pins and needles every single day, scared to death, full of anxiety. Heck, with all that stress, it¡¯d be a miracle if they didn¡¯t actually get sick.¡± Ulrich caught on to Beckett¡¯s scheme and nodded in agreement. ¡°We better keep this under wraps from Noe, to save her from another headache with the Lamberts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, we¡¯ll keep it zipped. Beckett wouldn¡¯t dream of spilling the beans.¡± Poised to take the reins of the Schnabel Group, Beckett was a man with more tricks up his sleeve than a street magician. He definitely wouldn¡¯t burden his little sister with this mess! Meanwhile, Noe picked up her phone to answer a call from Beckett. ¡°Hey, Beckett, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The graveyard issue¡¯s been dealt with. If the Lambert folkse knocking, just ignore ¡®em.¡± Noe¡¯s curiosity was piqued. Last time, Beckett mentioned leaving a little ¡®surprise¡® for Vincent at the graveyard. What could it be? Beckett chuckled, a sound that carried a sense of satisfaction. After hearing Beckett¡¯s exnation, Noe¡¯s mouth dropped open in amazement. ¡°What? So, you¡¯re saying you managed to trap Zachary in a tomb just for the Lamberts to dig him out?¡± The mere thought sent a shiver down her spine. Vincent was already a scaredy¨Ccat; this would give him nightmares for weeks. ¡°Yeah, and I even dropped off a couple of ¡®medical reports¡® for them. Ulrich and Jasper thought we should keep you out of it, but I believe you deserve to know.¡± 10:15 His voice was gentle, and Noe could almost see Beckett¡¯s warm smile through the phone, ¡°As a member of the Schnabel family too, I believe you aren¡¯t some delicate flower. Anything you want to know, just ask, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Even if Beckett hadn¡¯t told her, Noe had her ways of finding out, but feeling valued and respected by her family still warmed her heart. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that Beckett would consider her feelings over such a trivial matter! ¡°I got it, thanks. Beckett.¡± CHapter 108 CHapter 108 Beckett had been chatting with Noe, answering her questions about what he had been up to. Noe was puzzled when she heard that Zachary had driven himself to Linefort City. ¡°How did the cameras capture Zachary driving himself if he was knocked out?¡± Beckett exined, ¡°ra tampered with the footage. She reced the surveince video from that day with an old one of Zachary driving to Linefort City.¡± ¡°And what about the arrest?¡± Even though the mountains were Beckett¡¯s private property, getting Vincent and Zachary convicted would be challenging. ¡°Jasper turned those mountains into a nature reserve. Trespassing and looting are serious offenses there, along with vandalism. It should be enough to charge them. Stirling installed lots of cameras, and we have regr patrols. The evidence is solid.¡± So, the whole Schnabel family was involved in this? Noe¡¯s lips curled into a warm smile. ¡°Thanks, Beckett, and thanks to the others. This may seem trivial, but I appreciate you all taking the time.¡± ¡°No matter is too small when ites to you,¡± Beckett said earnestly. ¡°I know you got used to handling things on your own at the Lambert family, but now you have us, reliable family. You¡¯re the baby of our family, and you have every right to be a little spoiled.¡± Ulrich leaned against the doorway of the office, sighing and holding his forehead. ¡°Just a moment ago, I was saying Beckett would never sell us out, and now he just threw us under the bus.¡± ¡ü He didn¡¯t look the least bit resentful, though. In fact, his gaze towards Noe was filled with tenderness. Beckett, on the other end of the line, asked, ¡°Noe, is Mr. Pock with you?¡± Noe nced at Palmer by her side, nodded, and handed her phone to him. Beckett didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Yvonne contacted an overseas ount. I think it¡¯s connected to the person who supplied her with those Nourishment Pills.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it. I¡¯ve got people tracking it,¡± Palmer replied. The Pock Group was already monitoring all outgoing calls made by Yvonne. She mostly chatted with girlfriends and asionally attended social gatherings. There seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. ¡°I¡¯ll have my people on it too. Is Ulrich there?¡± Palmer looked at Ulrich standing at the door and turned on the speakerphone. ¡°Since you¡¯re 10:15 there, you can go and keep an eye on Yvonne.¡± Ulrich nearly blew his top! Why should he do this kind of thing? He wanted to spend time with Noe tool ¡°Beckett, we¡¯re not short on people. Why do I have to watch her? I¡¯m busy, you know!¡± Beckett had always been stern with his brothers. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your surgery schedule; you¡¯re free for the next three days.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve already made ns to take Noe out!¡± He was busy every day, hardly having any free time. Finally, he managed to squeeze out some time to spend with Noe. He had already nned where they would go as well! Beckett was relentless. ¡°The Nourishment Pill is crucial; it nearlypromised our grandfather¡¯s safety. You¡¯re a doctor; it makes sense for you to handle this.¡± How did it make sense? However, Beckett, as the eldest brother, held a prominent position within the Schnabel family. After Tristan Schnabel devoted himself entirely to charity, the Schnabel family¡¯s children mainly listened to Beckett¡¯s words. He naturally wielded authority over his younger siblings. Ulrich looked dejected, as if he had a tail that was drooping. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it.¡± After ending the call, Ulrich gazed at Noe with a somber expression. ¡°Noe, I¡¯ve got to go!¡± Noe chuckled at his dramatics. ¡°Next time you¡¯re off, I¡¯ll go out with you.¡± Ulrich¡¯s eyes lit up. His little sister really was the best! Before leaving, Ulrich instructed Palmer to take good care of Noe. ¡°Mr. Pock, I rushed out without my team. Mind if I borrow your secretary for a couple of days? I¡¯ll return her soon.¡± Palmer gave him a nonchnt look. ¡°If she agrees, I have no objections.¡± Annie was highlypetent, and Ulrich was getting himself a valuable assistant. With that, Ulrich left on his mission reluctantly. A ¡­ At the local Linefort City police station, Zachary was utterly shocked as he watched the surveince footage. He was indeed driving himself to Linefort City! How was that possible? Vincent sneered, ¡°Seems like someone¡¯s brain has cancer, forgetting even something as big as this.¡± Zachary was truly bewildered. He had no memory of it whatsoever! 10:15: Members of the Fuller family sat on the other side, anxiously eyeing Vincent, Belinda whispered. ¡°Honey, if there¡¯s anything you want to discuss, let¡¯s do it at home. The important thing now is to get out of here¡­¡± Vincent was furious at the sight of them. ¡°Home? So you can keep stealing my money to support your family? Over my dead body!¡± Vincent scolded her in front of the Rosenberg family, leaving Belinda embarrassed. ¡°What do you mean by that? ¡®Stealing your money¡®? What¡¯s mine is yours!¡± Vincent mmed the table in anger, wincing in pain. ¡°For years I¡¯ve been in the dark about these expenses. You all have to pay me back! I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m sick now, and I need that money to save my life. If you don¡¯t give it back, I¡¯ll divorce you!¡± Belinda looked at him in disbelief. He was actually suggesting divorce? ¡°Have you lost your mind? We¡¯ve been married for years, and you want to divorce me over some chump change?¡± Vincent was livid, to the point of feeling his blood boil. ¡°Chump change? Do you even remember how much dough you¡¯ve handed over to the Fullers? It¡¯s no small sum!¡± The mere mention of paying back the money sent the Fullers into a frenzy. The cash Vincent gave them had been splurged on building their son a new house and funding his big fat wedding. What was left had been swallowed up by the grandkids¡® tuition fees. And heavens, they¡¯d need even more for the grandkids¡® future weddings! The Fullers were t broke and still counting on Belinda to keep the money flowing. Paying it back wasn¡¯t even in the realm of possibility. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°What proof do you have that you didn¡¯t know about all this spending? Why should we pay you back? Isn¡¯t supporting the elderly part of your duty?¡± ¡°Supporting the elderly doesn¡¯t mean bankrolling your whole family!¡± Just thinking about the cash he¡¯d forked over through the years made Vincent¡¯s heart ache. That was his hard¨Cearned money! ¡°If you don¡¯t pay up, I¡¯m taking you to court!¡± he threatened. Belinda¡¯s father Ma Fuller squinted his eyes, scheming. ¡°You want your money back, fine. You¡¯ve got two daughters. Marry off the one who isn¡¯t even your flesh and blood into our family. We¡¯ll take her as a bride for our grandson. It¡¯s all in the family then, right?¡± He¡¯d saved up for his grandson¡¯s future wedding, but if they could tie him to Vincent¡¯s adopted daughter, they wouldn¡¯t have to cough up a wedding gift. Thinking about it, it was a win¨Cwin for the Fullers, and they¡¯d score a pretty bride to boot. Vincent scowled, ¡°You mean Noe? No way, she won¡¯t even pick up my calls, and you dream of marrying her into your family? Dream on!¡± 10:15 Belinda nudged Vincent. ¡°It¡¯s for Noe¡¯s own good. We all know each other, and we certainly don¡¯t look down on her. Aren¡¯t you sick? She could marry into our family and then get your connected with the Schnabel family doctor. She wouldn¡¯t dare defy her inws.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes gleamed at the thought. CHapter 109 CHapter 109 If Noe were to marry Belinda¡¯s good¨Cfor¨Cnothing nephew, it would be a win¨Cwin for both the Fullers and the Lamberts. The Fullers would save a bundle on the wedding gift, while the Lamberts would tighten their grip on Noe. Vincent¡¯s mind was awash with images of Noe surrounded by a revolving door of dashing young men, all of whom he was certain she had lured in on her own. Even if the method wasn¡¯t exactly above board, once they were in Vincent¡¯s reach, they were connections for the Lambert family! The more Belinda thought about it, the more it made perfect sense. ¡°Honey, think about it. Noe¡¯s just a caregiver right now, Marrying her off to my nephew Ellsworth Fuller would be a decent match. We¡¯re already looking out for her best interests! Besides, Ellsworth¡¯s had a crush on Noe since they were kids. It¡¯s fate, and us ying matchmaker is just helping fate along. Given her job, she must know plenty of doctors from the Schnabel family. Your illness might just find its cure.¡± Vincent wasn¡¯t too bothered about being locked up; he figured a bit of cash would smooth things over and he¡¯d be out in no time. Right now, his illness was the real pressing issue! The thought of his condition made him feel sick to his stomach, as if the cancer was spreading right before his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re right. We have to make this happen. Even if Noe herself isn¡¯t willing, she doesn¡¯t get a say! We have supported her for years; it¡¯s time for her to pay us back!¡± The Rosenbergs couldn¡¯t help but roll their eyes at Vincent¡¯s hasty decision about his former daughter¡¯s future. Zachary scoffed, ¡°She doesn¡¯t even give you the¡¯time of day. Besides, you might want to focus on getting out first!¡± He was still in the police station, after all! Ellsworth Fuller was nothing but azy troublemaker. How could they even think of scheming against Noe? Linsey couldn¡¯t bear to listen anymore! She nced at her son and raised her voice, ¡°Son, you and Noe grew up together. Why don¡¯t you get in touch from time to time? If she truly has connections to good doctors, our door isn¡¯t closed to her.¡± Milford, thinking of Noe¡¯s pure and lovely face, swallowed hard and agreed. Vincent panicked. ¡°What do you mean by that? Briony is the one betrothed to Milford! Noe¡¯s meant to marry the Fuller boy. Don¡¯t get any funny ideas!¡± Linsey¡¯s eyes practically rolled back in her head. Vincent was already sure Noe would agree to marry Ellsworth? His brains might as well be in a toilet bowll 10:16 On the outskirts of Linefort City, Yvonne wrapped herself up tight and put on a mask as she stepped into a fast¨Cfood joint. Disdainfully eyeing the burger and fried chicken in front of her, she impatiently demanded, ¡°Where¡¯s my order?¡± The middle¨Caged man across from her, with a sinister scar under his eye, didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. He rubbed two greasy fingers together. ¡°No money, no goods.¡± Yvonne frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Am I not good for the money?¡± She had blown through all the cash she¡¯d secretly transferred from Ashlyn¡¯s ount and now couldn¡¯t afford the high¨Cgrade Nourishment Pill she needed. The man finished his meal and looked up at Yvonne. ¡°Spill it. What did you mean on the phone?¡± Yvonne nced around and whispered, ¡°I need to know if anyone else around here is selling Nourishment Pills.¡± The man¡¯s expression changed. ¡°You are looking for a new dealer?¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°No, we¡¯ve been partners for years. Why would I go to someone else?¡± But she suspected that Noe did something to have the Schnabels and Palmer wrapped around her finger so quickly. It could be that she was doling out Nourishment Pills to the Schnabels too! Otherwise, how else could she, after years of dedication, be outshone by a wild girl who¡¯d only been back a few months? The Schnabels¡® indulgence and affection for Noe was a thorn in Yvonne¡¯s side! ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that. Anything else? I need to go.¡± Desperate, Yvonne blurted, ¡°I want to hire some hitmen. Know any good ways to find them?¡± The man¡¯s gaze turned peculiar as he sized her up. ¡°Try the deep web. Cash talks, and there¡¯s plenty willing to take the job.¡± Right, the deep web! She¡¯d only had a glimpse before and hadn¡¯t fully understood it. He sneered, ¡°nning a hit?¡± Yvonne shrank back from his gaze. ¡°Just give me the goods!¡± ¡°The cash first!¡± Yvonne clenched her teeth. She¡¯d dealt with this man so many times; couldn¡¯t he let her have a tab just once? 211 10:16 ¡°I¡¯m short right now. Give me the stuff, and I¡¯ll wire you the money pronto,¡± ¡°No deal. You¡¯re asking for the top¨Cshelf stuff this time no money, no pill.¡± Yvonne¡¯s request was for the purest Nourishment Pills, potent enough to turn someone into a fool it mishandled. It it weren¡¯t for the Schnabels pushing her to the edge, she wouldn¡¯t have to resort to such desperate measures, Yvonne knew the man she was dealing with was as sly as a fox. He wouldn¡¯t spill the beans without seeing some green first. So, she had no choice but to dip into her own little stash of cash. That money was her secret savings, amassed over the years by pulling the wool over Ashlyn¡¯s eves. Did anyone really think she liked ying the humble servant in front of Ashlyn? She¡¯d been working her tail off to be epted as the real Ms. Schnabel of the Schnabel family, dreaming of the day they¡¯d truly take her in. But now, they only had eyes for that country bumpkin! Just thinking about how Ulrich had warned her off because of that hayseed made Yvonne¡¯s blood boil. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the dough, now hand over the goods!¡± ¡°If you¡¯d just said so from the get¨Cgo, we could¡¯ve avoided this song and dance. I run a tight ship here, no tabs.¡± Five minutester, Yvonne clutched a small box,and hurried out of the diner. Half an hour passed before the middle¨Caged man sauntered out, looking casual as anything. Ulrich lowered the binocrs. ¡°You tall Yvonne. I¡¯ll follow this guy. We split up.¡± Annie, while deftly slipping on gloves and a mask, asked, ¡°Is this because you¡¯re worried you might go easy on Ms. Yvonne, Dr. Schnabel?¡± Ulrich shrugged. ¡°No. I just don¡¯t think you can handle that guy.¡± Annie was speechless, giving Ulrich a probing look. After all, she was a killer of some renown in the depths of the deep web, ranked within the Abyssal Organization. And here was Ulrich, doubting her! Probably, Ulrich had his reasons, thinking the man with the Nourishment Pill was the bigger threat, backed by a more significant organization. As she opened the car door to head to another vehicle, she said with a poised smile, ¡°Well, thank you for your concern, Dr. Schnabel.¡± 10:16 The cars headed off in different directions, disappearing into the woods. Ulrich watched the middle¨Caged man¡¯s retreating figure, feeling a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. He was sure he¡¯d seen that guy somewhere before! Meanwhile, at Fortress Hospital, Thorpe stood vigil by his brother¡¯s bedside, anxiously waiting for him to wake up. Noe, in her whiteb coat with a mask obscuring most of her face, had a pair of eyes that shimmered with emotion, the only part of her the world could see. ¡°When will he wake up?¡± Thorpe asked. Noe replied coolly, ¡°Severe brain injury. If he wakes up within a week, he¡¯s lucky. Just wait.¡± Thorpe wasn¡¯t surprised; he knew his brother Hollis¡¯s condition better than anyone. He had devoured most medical papers on brain injuries, all to help his brother recover. ¡°When my brother wakes up, I¡¯ll give you the information you want.¡± ¡°What do you mean? You don¡¯t have the person with you?¡± Thorpe nodded, his gaze never leaving Hollis. ¡°No, but I know where they are. And I¡¯m the only one who does!¡± CHapter 110 CHapter 110 Noe¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°After you took the director away from Heartfelt Orphanage, you weren¡¯t together?¡± Thorpe nodded. ¡°We split up pretty quickly. I¡¯m not sure what you want to pry from him, but his identity has always been a secret. If you want to uncover it, wait until my brother wakes up.¡± His gaze fixed on Noe, who stood at the foot of the bed. A menacing re shone in his eyes, and every muscle in his body trembled with barely contained rage. ¡°If anything happens to my brother, I swear, I¡¯ll make you pay with your life!¡± Noe shrugged nonchntly, casting a fleeting nce at him. Beneath her mask, her red lips curled into a smirk, her eyes tinged with disdain. ¡°You think you can take me on?¡± Her voice was soft, yet it made Thorpe feel a suffocating pressure! Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, a name that had always been synonymous with bloodless killings on the deep web. She could save lives, but she could take them just as easily! Noe¡¯s gaze was serene, exuding an intense aura of authority, akin to a queen of the night. She regarded Thorpe with a chilling indifference. ¡°Mr. Thorpe, let¡¯s not forget, I¡¯m both a doctor and an assassin. If you¡¯re after my life, you¡¯re simply not up to the task.¡± She withdrew her gaze and chuckled dismissively. ¡°Your brother¡¯s life is in your hands. Cross me, and he might never see the light of day again. Do you understand?¡± Thorpe¡¯s breath hitched at her threat! Was this woman seriously daring to threaten him? After years of battling through international warzones, he had never met a woman so audacious! Yet, her eyes bore into him with an invisible force, as if a hand was sping his throat, suffocating him! ¡°I won¡¯t leave until he wakes, but if you think to threaten me, he might stay asleep for the rest of his life.¡± Her tone was even, as if discussing something utterly trivial. Noe cast onest indifferent nce at Thorpe and stepped out of the hospital room. Ivan leaned in, whispering, ¡°Boss, Yvonne met up with a man with a scar face. They¡¯ve definitely been trading a substantial amount of Nourishment Pills in secret.¡± ¡°Do we know who this guy is?¡± Ivan followed Noe into the office, shutting the door behind them. The office appeared ordinary but was meticulously modified by the Pris Star Organization. During Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s hospital stay, Noe had made this very office her home, tirelessly researching medical files and pharmaceuticals. She had taken the liberty to reinforce the office. Not even a sniper bullet could prate the doors or windows! 10-16 ¡°That guy¡¯s probably just a stooge. I checked him out; he¡¯s a drug peddler who used to run with Toxic Monarch years ago.¡± Noe nodded. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s someone behind him?¡± ¡°Absolutely. At the very least, it¡¯s an organization capable of producing Nourishment Pills, with a production scale no smaller than ourb.¡± To have a medicalbparable to Lunar Lab was notable even within the entire confines of Harmonia Country, which means there was only one possibility! ¡°Ab from abroad?¡± ¡°Sharp as always, Boss. We¡¯re not far from the border, and it¡¯s likely ab from thewless zones, especially since smuggling Nourishment Pills isn¡¯t easy.¡± Linefort City was only a few hundred miles from the border, which was how Noe had been able to navigate between Pris Star and the Lambert ancestral home undetected, The Lamberts were indifferent to her, and even if Old Mrs. Lambert cared, she never pried. ¡°Can we pinpoint whichb it is?¡± ¡°Still looking. Ulrich Schnabel is tailing Finn, seems like they¡¯re heading to the border. Should we arrange some backup?¡± Ivan¡¯s offer stemmed from the Schnabel family¡¯s decent treatment of Noe. ¡°Don¡¯t expose us. Make sure he doesn¡¯t find out which organization is involved.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got it under control. Even if he¡¯s curious, he won¡¯t find out from me.¡± The Schnabel family had cherished her, and she didn¡¯t want her own undertakings to be their concern, to cause them unnecessary worry. She was resolved to shoulder the darkness of her past alone. ¡°How did Yvonne get in touch with that guy? Look into it.¡± Ivan, munching on an apple, raised an eyebrow. ¡°You think Yvonne had an angle in approaching the guy?¡± Noe replied coolly, ¡°Yvonne¡¯s intellect makes me question whether her brain is just for show.¡± In simple terms, Yvonnecked the brains and the savvy to get involved with something as high¨C stakes as Nourishment Pills! This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Ivan agreed, nodding in affirmation. Yvonne was indeed a fool; it was a wonder how she had survived this long. Nn, engrossed in theputer screen¡¯s dense data, was startled by the green text against the ck backdrop, signifying iing information. ¡°Whoa. Boss, there¡¯s a hit. Someone on the deep web is offering ten million for the life of Imperial City¡¯s Ms. Schnabel¨CNoe Schnabel,¡± Noe was left speechless. Ivan burst intoughter, finishing his apple in a couple of bites and peering at theputer screen. ¡°Boss, your bounty is even lower than mine. Someone once offered fifty million for me.¡± Noe was irked. ¡°Who posted it?¡± Was Ms. Schnabel¡¯s life really valued so cheaply? Nn¡¯s fingers danced over the keyboard, a flurry of activityter, and he had traced the IP address behind the post. ¡°Boss, it was Yvonne who posted it.¡± Nn couldn¡¯t believe how clueless Yvonne seemned to be. ¡°Should we tip off the Schnabels about this?¡± Given how much the Schnabels adored Noe, they¡¯d definitely take action against Yvonne once they got wind of this news! Noe shook her head slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no need. The Schnabels will find out about this on their own.¡± The Schnabels had their informants all over the deep web. Ivan, always the curious one, asked, ¡°If the Schnabels catch wind of this, whose side will they take? Boss might be their flesh and blood, but Yvonne¡¯s been with them for years.¡± Ivan meant no harm by his question; they had all grown up with Noe and she was as much family to them as any blood rtion could be. He just didn¡¯t want to gamble on the Schnabels choosing Yvonne over their own kin. What if their decision hurt Noe? Human nature is the most fickle of all! Noe lowered her gaze, hiding her emotions. ¡°That¡¯s their business, not mine.¡± Regardless of the Schnabels¡® decision, she was determined to protect herself at all costs! ¡°If they turn on you, Boss, we¡¯ll just leave!¡± ¡°Boss, someone actually took the hit!¡± Nn was glued to the screen, eyes widening as he read the hit confirmation. He stood up abruptly, hoisting the sniper rifle he had propped up behind him. ¡°Is this Thorpe guy out of his mind? Our boss just saved his brother, and now he¡¯s taken a contract to kill her? I¡¯m going to take him out with one shot right now!¡± In the adjacent hospital room, Thorpe casually epted a few contracts. Just as he put away his phone, the door burst open, and the chilling barrel of a gun was abruptly aimed at his head. CHapter 111 CHapter 111 As Thorpe looked up, the cold, dark muzzle of a sniper rifle stared back at him, poised like a beast ready to pounce. Hearing themotion, his men streamed into the hospital room, guns trained on Ivan and Nn. ¡°What is this all about? I¡¯m working with Lunaris here. Are you trying to double¨Ccross me now?¡± Ivan was unfazed by the threat. ¡°Thorpe, not every job¡¯s worth taking. Some money might look easy, but it could cost you your life.¡± Thorpe frowned. He had indeed taken on a few jobs impulsively. Cerulean Whale, shaky in its foothold within Harmonia Country, was in dire need of operational funds. And so, he had snapped up several jobs in the vicinity. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°Are there anyone that you need to protect in one of those jobs?¡± Ivan snarled, ¡°If anything happens to Ms. Schnabel, everyst one of you will pay with your lives!¡± Ms. Schnabel? It didn¡¯t take long for Thorpe to realize they were talking about Noe Schnabel. ¡°Since when did the Schnabels need your organization for protection?¡± Nn deftly pushed Ivan¡¯s gun aside with two fingers. ¡°Mr. Thorpe, if you want to partner with Lunaris, we¡¯re willing to extend some courtesy. But if the Schnabels find out you¡¯re here, do you think your brother¡¯s safety is guaranteed? You might be fine, Mr. Thorpe, but your brother isn¡¯t in any condition to move.¡± Thorpe tensed up instantly! If the Schnabels knew he was here, they wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook! He had previously taken a contract to kill Marcel Schnabel, and not only had none of his hitmen returned, but the Schnabel family had also issued several warnings! Beckett Schnabel had even threatened his life! He hadn¡¯t realized his target was Ms. Schnabel at the time of epting the job. Now it dawned on him that if the Schnabels found out, he might not even be able to leave Harmonia Country. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯ty a finger on Ms. Schnabel. Other organizations wouldn¡¯t dare ept them either.¡± Sweat was beading on Thorpe¡¯s forehead. Ivan tucked away his sniper rifle with a grunt and left the room. Nn¡¯s face was all smiles, but his eyes betrayed no mirth. He was known in Pris Star as a smiling tiger. ¡°Mr. Thorpe, do you think the Schnabels haven¡¯t heard about the jobs you just epted?¡± Thorpe¡¯s pupils dted in fear! At another ce, Beckett rose from his chair abruptly, spilling his coffee all over the desk as he glimpsed the contract on the deep web. Stirling looked at him with surprise. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Beckett clenched his teeth and mmed his fist on the table. ¡°Damn Thorpe! Does he really think the Schnabels have no way to deal with him? He dares to take a contract to kill Noe? He¡¯s asking for it!¡± Stirling rose from the couch and strode over to theputer, his gaze deepening with menace. ¡°Who posted the job?¡± Beckett pulled up all the data he could find, squinting his eyes. ¡°Someone¡¯s wiped the data clean, but we¡¯ll recover it. Once we find this person, they¡¯re going to regret it!¡± *Should we send someone to warn Thorpe? He¡¯s getting bolder, taking our family¡¯s contracts,¡± Stirling suggested. Beckett chuckled coldly, his presencemanding, an aura of authority enveloping him. ¡°We haven¡¯t settled the score with him for thest incident with Grandpa. Since he¡¯s so bold, let¡¯s y his game and show him who runs Imperial City!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call Noe to make sure she¡¯s safe.¡± Stirling¡¯s call went through quickly. ¡°Anything up, Stirling?¡± ¡°Noe, what are you up to?¡± Stirling¡¯s voice was always gentle with his sister, a stark contrast to his reputation as an entertainment industry provocateur. Noe nced at Palmer, who was handlingpany finances across from her. ¡°I¡¯ve been helping a friend with Palmer. We¡¯ll head home once he¡¯s better. Why?¡± Knowing Noe was with Palmer put Stirling at ease. Though he often found Palmer irritating and suspected the young man had designs on his sister, at this moment, her safety was paramount. ¡°Then, enjoy yourselves. Don¡¯t rush back. Be safe, and if you need money, just call me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Noe, aware that the Schnabels must have seen the deep web alert and were calling to caution her. Stirling hesitated before speaking solemnly. ¡°Noe, no matter what happens, when ites down to choosing between you and someone else, I choose you.¡± He was aware of the trouble with Yvonne and the Nourishment Pill deal. If Yvonne¡¯s involvement was confirmed, she would have no ce in the Schnabel family anymore. Noe felt a pang of surprise. She had wiped the deep web information to avoid burdening the family. Had Stirling found out? ¡°You may doubt our family. Noe, considering how your previous family have acted like scum. But we¡¯re different. Trust me. No matter what others say about you, we¡¯ll always trust what we see with our own eyes,¡± Stirling¡¯s voice was asforting as a warm nket. ¡°We¡¯ll get to the bottom of every story, never led astray by idle gossip!¡± Noe finally got it. Stirling was addressing the rumors Yvonne had been spreading. But honestly, she couldn¡¯t care less. To her, Yvonne¡¯s antics were nothing more than child¡¯s y. her schemes as undercooked as a half¨Cbaked pie, and her wit on par with that of a scarecrow in a wheat field. To avoid putting the Schnabels in an awkward spot, she¡¯d taken to treating Yvonne¡¯s approaches with the same attention she¡¯d give a TVmercial¨Cnone at all. ¡°I get it.¡± ¡°Noe, to us, you¡¯re the main event!¡± Stirling continued with the kind of brotherly fervor that could light up a room. ¡°Even if one of our own brothers tried to mess with you, I¡¯d be the first to set him straight!¡± Noe¡¯s heart swelled with warmth. Was this what being wrapped in family love felt like? After the call, Noe exhaled a sigh of relief she didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d been holding. A message silently made its way to Palmer¡¯s phone. He nced at it, and a subtle smile yed on his lips. ¡°Your brothers just texted me, making me promise to look out for you.¡± ¡°I saw.¡± ¡°While I¡¯m d they trust me, protecting my fianc¨¦e is part of the job description,¡± he said with a touch of pride. Noe shot him a look. When did he be such a show¨Coff? Palmer felt a surge of pleasure. It was the first time he felt the Schnabel family¡¯s trust without a shadow of suspicion looming over him. He quickly texted back, assuring them all was well. Ivan, standing at the door, gave a ceremonial knock before entering the office. ¡°Boss, Thorpe¡¯s brother is awake. He¡¯s asking for you.¡± Hollis waking up was part of the n, but to keep Thorpe from getting too savvy about Lunaris¡® medical prowess, Noe had yed it coy with the timing. Thest thing they needed was Thorpe trying to poach talent from the Obelisk Organization. The headache that would cause wasn¡¯t worth thinking about. Entering the hospital room, Noe watched Thorpe practically bouncing around his brother like a hyperactive kangaroo, She winced at the sight and discreetly averted her gaze. ¡°He¡¯s going to be fine. I¡¯ve prepared the medication he¡¯ll need,¡± she said, businesslike. ¡°Now, you can tell me where the person I¡¯m looking for is, right?¡± The smile evaporated from Thorpe¡¯s face, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, he managed to utter. ¡°In the clink!¡± CHapter 112 CHapter 112 ¡°What do you mean?¡± Thorpe tucked his brother into bed, casting a hopeful nce at Noe. ¡°Not the ce to talk. Let¡¯s not disturb his rest; we¡¯ll step outside.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Once outside the room. Thorpe began to exin. ¡°The guy is locked up, alright. After we got him out of Heartfelt Orphanage, your cops nabbed him not long after. I can only give you the location of the jail. Whether or not you¡¯ll get to see him or hear what you want, that¡¯s not my concern.¡± Noe wore a mask that concealed her face, her slightly furrowed brow the only visible sign of her emotions. Her eyes were striking, with an icy sheen like a goddess descended from snow¨Ccapped peaks, untouched by the world¡¯s filth. ¡°Fine, but you better not be lying to me.¡± ¡°Rx. A promise is a promise. And hey, if you ever feel like joining our anytime!¡± Thorpe seized the moment to make his pitch. crew, you¡¯ll be wee The illness guing Hollis was so severe that even renowned international neurosurgeons wouldn¡¯t dare operate. Thorpe had risked consulting with underground doctors, yet not one could guarantee sess. Only the enigmatic Phantom Surgeon Lunaris had managed to pull his brother back from death¡¯s door. It was no wonder Thorpe wanted her on board with Cerulean Whale; she could be their ace in the hole. Suddenly, a warm hand wrapped around Noe¡¯s slender waist from behind. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. The heat from his palm wasforting on her delicate frame and Noe could feel the strength. of his grip. Palmer stood there, a cold and deadly aura about him, ring at Thorpe. ¡°Mr. Thorpe never learns to read the room. Since that¡¯s the case, Abyssal Organization will be sure to extend a warm wee to our friends from Cerulean Whale.¡± Thorpe¡¯s face paled! This was a threat from Palmer! Meeting Palmer¡¯s warning gaze, Thorpe couldn¡¯t help but scoff in response. ¡°Does Abyssal Organization run Harmonia Country now?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough if we do,¡± Palmer said coolly, guiding Noe away from Fortress Hospital. Palmer reluctantly released the sweet softness of his fianc¨¦e from his embrace, not understanding the magic she wielded that made him never want to let go. If she weren¡¯t so young, he¡¯d marry her this instant. Palmer opened the car door for Noe and buckled her in. ¡°Granddad called, wants us to pick them up from the hospital. Heading back to Imperial City now?¡± It was indeed time for the elderly gentlemen to be discharged, and Palmer¡¯s phone had been bombarded with calls early in the morning because Noe didn¡¯t pick up their calls, ¡°Sure, but this isn¡¯t the way back to Imperial City.¡± Palmer smiled, a warm spring breeze in his demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m taking you somewhere special. The granddads can wait a little longer. Considering the amount of time they had already spent at the hospital, a little more wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough. Besides, Beckett said to take you out for some fun, no rush.¡± Beckett was concerned about Thorpe¡¯s men still lurking in Imperial City and had been busy dealing with them. By the time Thorpe realized what was happening, his entire Harmoniawork might be uprooted. Palmer drove into a rustic countryside, the luxury of his car shing with the dpidated surroundings like an unwee intruder. They stopped in front of a yard, and Noe immediately recognized it as the Lambert ancestral home where she¡¯d grown up! A new sign hung at the entrance, announcing the new name: Verdant Garden! Maddox, spotting the,car, jogged over to greet them. ¡°Ms. Noe, wee back! And this must be your fianc¨¦? Come on in!¡± Noe was clearly surprised by Palmer¡¯s choice to bring her here. The courtyard¡¯s osmanthus trees were in full bloom, their fragrance enveloping the area in at heady scent, soothing and delightful. She noticed even the path to the front door had been renovated. ¡°Maddox, who fixed the road?¡± Maddox puffed up with pride. ¡°On your orders, of course. We used Mr. Lambert¡¯s donation! Best materials only. The vige¡¯s got inte now! With the leftover funds, we¡¯re nning to buy sr panels for themunity!¡± The vige¡¯s perpetual poverty stemmed from its remote location, making Palmer¡¯s drive there quite challenging. If it weren¡¯t for the recently repaired road, only ox carts and helicopters could make it in! Pushing open the gate, they saw a rocking chair swaying beneath an osmanthus tree. ¡°Mrs. Lambert¡¯s casket is here in the yard, under the osmanthus,¡± Maddox exined, discreetly wiping away a tear. He and Old Mrs. Lambert had grown up together, and it pained him to see her pass away after a lifetime of hardship that seemed for naught. ¡°Your grandma¡­ she was lucky to have such a wonderful granddaughter. Life has its own justice. Your dad¡­ I mean Mr. Lambert, he was her karma. The ungrateful wretch! After she took him in and raised him, he repaid her like this.¡± Maddox shook his head with a mix of anger and sadness. Noe was taken aback. Could Vincent really not be Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s own flesh and blood? ¡°Maddox, what are you getting at? Vincent isn¡¯t my grandmother¡¯s biological child?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s all ancient history now. Back in the day, your grandmother had a child, but tragically. the little one passed away. Heartbroken, she took in an orphan nobody else wanted¨Cthat child was Vincent.¡± Realizing he¡¯d spoken too much, Maddox pped a hand over his mouth and, despite Noe¡¯s prodding, refused to divulge more. With a wave and a chuckle designed to brush off the gravity of his revtion, he made his exit. Noe watched his stooped figure retreat, her mind swirling with confusion. Vincent wasn¡¯t a true Lambert? How had she never known this all these years? Old Mrs. Lambert had never mentioned it once! Palmer gazed at Noe standing beneath the osmanthus tree, her dress speckled with the delicate blossoms as if she were in the midst of a glorious lc shower. She appeared like a fairy straight out of a painting. And yet, she moved with such an effortless grace, her gestures brimming with a wild elegance. The evening breeze lifted her skirt, revealing her shapely, baster legs that gleamed in the fading light. Palmer¡¯s breath hitched, and he reached out to brush away the lcs that had settled on Noe¡¯s shoulders and hair. His voice, gentle and enthralling, carried the rhythm of a waltz. ¡°Would you mind showing me around the ce? I want to see where my fianc¨¦e grew up. His voice was soft as a feather as it grazed Noe¡¯s ear. ¡°Did you bring me here just for this?¡± Palmer took her hand, hisughter a soft whisper. He was tender and considerate as he carefully exined his actions. ¡°On one hand, I wanted to see where my little girl spent her childhood. On the other, now that we¡¯re back, it¡¯s only right toe home and show your grandmother that you¡¯re doing well.¡± CHapter 113 CHapter 113 Come home! Noe felt a tug at her heart and turned to look at Palmer. The tall and striking man stood under an osmanthus tree, petals from the blossoms fluttering down around him like rain from heaven. ¡°Did you grow up here?¡± ¡°Yeah, I lived here with Grandma before I moved to Tranquility City.¡± When she and Old Mrs. Lambert were taken to Tranquility City, Briony was already a part of the household. Not long after, Old Mrs. Lambert fell ill, and Belinda sent her off to the hospital, where she stayed until the end. Palmer reached into the car and took out a bouquet. When had he prepared the flowers? She had no idea! ¡°You brought these?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯m meeting Grandma; I want to let her know who I am.¡± Palmer had that calm smile on his face, as if he was just doing something that came naturally to him, nothing worth making a fuss about. ¡°My fianc¨¦e has been so busy, so it¡¯s my responsibility to take care of this.¡± Visiting Grandma had somehow became his responsibility? It was her family matter, yet here he was, a man who belonged at the top of the world, treating it as his own. Noe¡¯s heart pounded hard! She took the flower from Palmer, then bowed sincerely in front of Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s portrait before gently cing it down. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m back.¡± Noe took out the admission letter she had prepared long ago from her bag and said, ¡°Grandma, I promised you I¡¯d go to the best university. You can rest easy now!¡± Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s lifelong dream was for her to attend college. Despite knowing so little, she wished for nothing but the best for Noe. Though her childhood had been tough, those were the happiest days of Noe¡¯s life! Palmer knelt down and positioned a photo of him and Noe in front of the flower. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m Palmer Pock, Noe¡¯s fianc¨¦. I promise to take good care of her and give you. no reason to worry.¡± ¡°When did you prepare the photo?¡± Palmer smiled and gently touched Noe¡¯s head. His aves radiated a warmth akin to the lingering glow of the sunset outside the window. ¡°For quite some time now, I¡¯ve been meaning to visit Grandma. During that time, I had already thought about what I wanted to say to her. I think it¡¯s important to introduce myself to her as her grandson¨Cinw. Let¡¯s leave the photo here.¡± Maddox stood at the gate of the yard, waving at Noe. ¡°Ms. Noe, there¡¯s something I need to talk to you about.¡± Palmer squeezed Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°Go ahead, I have a few words for Grandma, just between us.¡± What could he possibly have to say to Grandma alone? Noe looked at him, puzzled, but met Palmer¡¯s steady gaze and agreed to go. She stepped out of the yard and faced Maddox. ¡°What is it?¡± Maddox handed Noe a small fabric pouch embroidered with a tiny apple blossom, clearly something Old Mrs. Lambert had made herself. The olddy lived a frugal life, using the few pouches she made for a lifetime. Yet, every year. she would venture to the neighboring town to buy pretty fabrics, sewing clothes for Noe. Despite Noe¡¯s quick growth, Old Mrs. Lambert insisted on not making clothes in arger size. always saying that clothes that fit well looked nicer. ¡°Growing tall is a blessing,¡± she would often remark. ¡°I¡¯ll simply make you new clothes when they no longer fit.¡± ¡°This is what Old Mrs. Lambert left for you. She wanted you to have it when you returned.¡± Grandma had left something for her? Noe carefully opened the pouch to find a bank card and a key inside. ¡°The PIN for the card is your birthday, and this key is for a safety deposit box at the same bank. Old Mrs. Lambert said you¡¯d know the number. She left something for you inside.¡± Holding the bank card and key, Noe felt a mix of sadness and warmth. ¡°When did she give this to you?¡± ¡°It was long before you left for Tranquility City. She entrusted it to me. She said once she was gone, and the day you returned with your betrothed, I should give this to you. It¡¯s the wedding gift she saved for you.¡± Maddox, holding back tears, continued, ¡°Her life got so much better with you around.¡± Most folks in Glen Vige didn¡¯t have much, but Old Mrs. Lambert doted on Noe, raising her so well. ¡°If you want to know anything else, don¡¯t ask me. I promised Old Mrs. Lambert I wouldn¡¯t tell. But I believe she intended to tell you herself. Check the safety deposit box.¡± Maddox wiped away his tears, sat by the gate, and took a few puffs of his pipe, his eyes filled 11:12 with loneliness and unending longing. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I understand, Maddox. Take care of yourself.¡± Maddox nodded, giving Noe a contented look before leaning in with a sly grin. ¡°Ms. Noe, why don¡¯t you stay the night? I clean the room every day. It¡¯s getting dark, driving now is dangerous. It wouldn¡¯t be easy for your man to drive back here. Just stay overnight before you go!¡± Noe looked at Maddox, speechless. Driving out of Glen Vige at night was indeed unsafe, but this old house had been uninhabited for years; staying overnight didn¡¯t really seem appropriate. She didn¡¯t mind, but Palmer was the head of the Pock Group. To make him spend a night in such a ce, she couldn¡¯t bear the thought. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way out.¡± Maddox, eyeing the situation, raised his voice toward Palmer inside the house. ¡°Young Master. the night¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you and Ms. Noe stay here? It¡¯ll be goodpany for Old Mrs. Lambert. She¡¯d be thrilled to see you both!¡± Noe was left speechless. Palmer stepped out from inside the house, his dark coat catching the moonlight. He exuded a gentle aura, the epitome of a noble gentleman. ¡°Alright, Noe and I will stay to keep Grandmapany.¡± The moment Maddox agreed, his face lit up with surprise and delight. He gave Noe a proud pat on the shoulder and whispered. ¡°You¡¯ve got yourself a keeper. Old Mrs. Lambert can rest easy! I¡¯ll go whip us up some dinner!¡± With that, Maddox dashed off like a shot. Noe massaged her temples, her voice tinged with exasperation, ¡°There¡¯s no need to stay the night. Your car can transform into a helicopter, right? You should rest. I can take the wheel.¡± Palmer took her hand and gently enveloped it in his. ¡°I want to spend time with Grandma, and I want to see the ce where you grew up.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s so small here, and not that convenient.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Your fianc¨¦ isn¡¯t some pampered prince. I¡¯ve survived the front lines, gunfire and all. This is a piece of cake.¡± They both hade through the fire, two survivors who understood each other¡¯s past without needing words. Whatever the other had endured, they had faced it too!! Palmer led Noe to sit in the yard, settling onto a rocking chair beneath the sweet¨Csmelling osmanthus tree. ¡°We¡¯ve got a yard, flowers, peace, and you. That¡¯s all priceless to me.¡± Noe watched Palmer recline in what was Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s favorite chair. No one could have imagined that the billionaire tycoon at the helm of an empire could show such a calm and tender side! Noe¡¯s lips quivered slightly, as if a petal from the flower had gentlynded in her heart. ¡°What about the grandpas?¡± she asked. ¡°I called them. Told them they could either check themselves out today or wait for us to pick them up tomorrow.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Palmer¡¯s smile gleamed in the moonlight, his chiseled profile casting a silvery hue. ¡°They let me have it, insisted we show up tomorrow without fail. Noe could picture the two old men ranting and raving, fuming at the news! CHapter 114 CHapter 114 The old timers had been on pins and needles, eager to bust out of the hospital, when suddenly they were stood up! This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Being stood up is one thing, but when they heard Palmer ducked out to escort Noe back to her childhood home, the old coots were surprisingly understanding. They just told him to keep it safe and swing by the next day. Bottom line, they didn¡¯t want to get discharged by themselves. They were dead set on waiting for Noe to pick them up. Hearing Palmer ry the old guys¡® nagging, Noe couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. Whether it was the elders or the Schnabel family, everyone genuinely had her back! Palmer and Noe¡¯s phones buzzed simultaneously. Beckett¡¯s roar sted from Palmer¡¯s phone, ¡°Palmer! Where the heck did you take my sister? Aren¡¯t you guysing home tonight?¡± ¡°Chill, Beckett. Noe and I are over at Verdant Garden. Didn¡¯t you pen the sign yourself?¡± Beckett¡¯s face flushed, clearly caught off guard that Palmer had seen right through his little scheme. While it might have seemed excessive to disy it in a Glen Vige homestead, the fact that it was his sister¡¯s home, filled with memories of her past, warmed Beckett¡¯s heart. ¡°Hmph, so what if I did? You nning on camping out at Verdant Garden tonight instead ofing back?¡± ¡°We¡¯re staying the night.¡± Beckett hung up in a huff and tried calling Noe, only to find her line busy. ra, eyes glued to herb data, issued a warning. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t let that blockhead pull one over on you. If he tries anything funny in the dead of night, you make sure he sings soprano!¡± Noe was at a loss for words. ¡°And if you fancy making a move, you know, y it safe.¡± Noe was even more speechless. What on earth was her sister thinking? ¡°ra, how did you know Palmer and I are at Verdant Garden?¡± ¡°Palmer shared his location. And your selfie with him, huh. Never expected him to show your photo to Old Mrs. Lambert. Guess he¡¯s got a conscience after all.¡± Noe finally realized Palmer had actually shared their whereabouts with the Schnabels. Probably didn¡¯t want them worrying about her! The fact that he could be so considerate about even the little things warmed her heart. ¡°Noe, when are youing to visit me in Emerald County? I miss you terribly: I can hardly focus! I¡¯m practically withering away! Come see me, and I¡¯ll whip up a feast of roast chicken, boiled chicken, stewed chicken, and fried chicken ¨C a whole chicken banquet!¡± Noe didn¡¯t know what to say. At the Emerald County research base, those banquet chickens probably had a ce in the pecking order. Was it even okay for her to eat them? ¡°I¡¯lle in a few days, after picking up Grandpa Marcel and Grandpa Sexton from the hospital. Grandma Freya and Grandpa Merrick have a heap of gifts for you.¡± ¡°Awesome, can¡¯t wait to see you!¡± ra showered the phone with a barrage of kisses before. reluctantly hanging up. Beckett¡¯s relentless calling finally broke through after ra hung up. ¡°Noe, you¡¯re noting home tonight?¡± Noe nced at the darkening sky, now sprinkled with stars. Beckett, clutching his phone, wished he could fly her back home himself. Tristan, seeing his son¡¯s state, snatched the phone from Beckett¡¯s grip. ¡°Sweetheart, it¡¯s gettingte. Don¡¯t bothering back. Just stay there for tonight. Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s been so kind, and we¡¯re grateful. We¡¯ll make it a family trip sometime!¡± Tristan¡¯spoke gently to his daughter while shooting a re at Beckett. What an oblivious kid! Noe was with Mr. Pock now, a perfect chance for romance. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t rush. Enjoy yourself back home. Show Mr. Pock around, have a st, ande back when you¡¯re ready!¡± Tristan hung up, smugly ignoring Beckett¡¯s forlorn puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°Dad, I can arrange a chopper to bring Noe back.¡± ¡°Arrange nothing! Off to bed with you! What¡¯s the big deal if Noe and Mr. Pock spend a couple of days together? It seems like he¡¯s really into her, and that puts my mind at ease. When they do get married in the future, they will surely have a strong bond!¡± Married? The word hit Beckett like a bolt from the blue. His baby sister just got home and now marriage talk? Not on his watch! Tristan swatted him. ¡°Go on, don¡¯t interfere with your sister¡¯s love life!¡± Noe pocketed her phone, turning to Palmer. ¡°There are only two rooms in the house, and Maddox said they¡¯re both clean. You sure you want to stay here?¡± Maddox, carrying a te of food, chimed in. ¡°Ah, Ms. Noe, I forgot to mention, Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s bed is gone. Some darn rodents got to it. I took it out for repairs.¡± ¡°Grandma¡¯s bed was chewed up? When did that happen?¡± ¡°Just a few days ago. The house has been empty, and stuff breaks down fast. Your room¡¯s bed was fixed upst month, good as new!¡± Noe frowned slightly. ¡°Well, if the bed¡¯s busted, let¡¯s head back after dinner. Maddox didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°I dozed off while cooking and dreamed of old Mrs. Lambert. She was hoping you¡¯d stay tonight. Ah, these old bones, always dreaming!¡± Noe was at a loss for words. Dreamed of Grandma while cooking? You probably should listen to what you were saying. Palmer stood up to help Maddox with the meal, his voice soft as he reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯ll crash on the couch. Since Grandma wants us to stay, we¡¯ll stay.¡± Maddox shot Palmer a yful wink and quickly made his escape. The way he moved, you¡¯d think he could sign up for a seniors¡® marathon right now. Hardly the image of someone frail and aged who might doze off while cooking! A few years back, Maddox evenpeted in the local Pr Bear Plunge, taking home the gold each time. The spread on the table was modest, but it was clear Maddox had gone out of his way to wee them, even preparing a chicken specially for the asion. The rich aroma of the chicken soup was enticing, enough to make anyone¡¯s mouth water. Palmer showed no signs of distaste. He sampled each dish carefully before turning to Noe. ¡°Did you grow up eating this kind of food?¡± ¡°Yeah, Grandma was always worried I wouldn¡¯t grow properly, so she made sure every meal was hearty.¡± In what seemed likepensation for the neglect she¡¯d nearly suffered at the hands of the Fuller family, Old Mrs. Lambert had been particrly meticulous in raising her. This little courtyard held Noe¡¯s fondest memories, yet sadness lingered in her eyes whenever she recalled them. A dull ache settled in Palmer¡¯s heart, and he reached out to gently touch Noe¡¯s hair. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll be by your side. Grandma will always be there for you too!¡± CHapter 115 CHapter 115 The spread prepared by Maddox was simple, but the home¨Ccooked meals carried a warmth reminiscent of a quaint countryside. Palmer savored each dish meticulously, as if reliving paths Noe had once wandered. The modest garden was but a small patch of earth beneath a sprawling canopy of stars that invited one to get lost in their beauty. ¡°You must have been quite the picky eater as a child, eh?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Palmer gestured to the meal. ¡°These dishes look like they were ted separately. I saw Maddox with garlic and breadcrumbs on him earlier. Was he making pasties? Since he didn¡¯t serve them, it means he knows you don¡¯t like them.¡± Those who remembered what she didn¡¯t favor obviously catered to her pte when preparing other foods. Old Mrs. Lambert never grumbled about her pickiness, except to joke that it might stunt her growth, yet she always cooked to her liking. Now, the Schnabel family also remembered her preferences! Noe gazed at her te. The chicken legs and wings were deboned, leaving sulent meat that melted in her mouth. The golden broth, enriched with local herbs, was exceptionally delicious. Perhaps the man before her was also the one who remembered what she loved most! After the meal, Maddox came in to clear the dishes,mp in hand. He checked Verdant Garden¡¯s wiring, then pped his forehead. ¡°Shoot, Ms. Noe, seems like we got a bit of an electrical issue. Shall I get someone to fix it tomorrow?¡± In his mind, a power outage meant fumbling in the dark, hands brushing against each other, and idental collisions in the cramped space¡­ Just thinking about this scene alone made Maddox exited! Old Mrs. Lambert used to say that Noe was too stubborn, and that she would definitely be impatient when it came to dating in the future. The strategies he¡¯s using now were all agreed upon back then! Maddox chuckled to himself, thinking of Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s spiritughing along from above. Noe frowned slightly and approached the fuse box. Lifting her phone shlight, she inspected the wiring closely. ¡°Ms. Noe, it¡¯s an old house; wiring issues are expected. Don¡¯t bother with it; I¡¯ll have the vige electrician take a look tomorrow.¡± ¡°I remember we have some tools for fixing this stuff,¡± Noe replied, heading to fetch them. Maddox didn¡¯t think much of it, knowing that Noe studied design and probably knew nothing about electrical work. Noe climbed thedder, donning insting gloves, and examined the circuitry closely. Palmer steadied her by the waist, sending an electric jolt through her that almost felt like a short circuit. As if sparks invisible in the night burst forth, scattering ripples of light. ¡°Be careful. Let me do it if you can¡¯t see well. Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed inexplicably. ¡°You know how to do this?¡± ¡°I had to practice a lot outdoors for my graduate studies. Did I ever mention I designed Dragon Tower¡¯s wiring myself? Maybe you would like to see it sometime?¡± Serene Haven¡¯s tower, bought by Palmer and the Schnabels, was always brilliantly lit, its lights. shining like fireworks. ¡°Beckett said the Dragon Tower¡¯s lights are too shy, like a peacock¡¯s disy.¡± Palmer¡¯s smile froze in an instant. He had personally designed the lighting but rarely turned it on. Now Sexton insisted on lighting it up every night, hoping Noe would feel the warmth of the Pock family. Sexton believed that Noe might decide to join their family because of the beautiful lights. Noe examined the circuit board¡¯s angle te and chips, frowning slightly. ¡°Has someone tampered with this?¡± The angle te was clearly warped, as if deliberately damaged with pliers. Maddox was shocked: she could tell it was sabotaged! He had caused the damage himself just moments before. ¡°Ah, no. Just an old circuit shorting out on its own, nothing serious!¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The diodes and capacitors need recing too. Pass me the tools.¡± Noe took the tools from Palmer, her shlight illuminating the circuit. She quickly fixed the wiring using the tools at hand. When she flipped the breaker, a warm yellow light filled the house. Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s portrait in the hall seemed more peaceful than ever. Maddox truly hadn¡¯t expected Noe to be so handy! After inspecting her work, Noe said, ¡°Tomorrow, have an electrician rece some parts. Many are worn.¡± ¡°Sure, Ms. Noe. You and the young master rest up; I¡¯ll prepare your bed.¡± Maddox was inwardly disappointed; if only Ms. Noe couldn¡¯t fix the wiring, they would have had a romantic evening in the dark! Noe¡¯s room was small, with just a desk and a twin bed. A tiny wardrobe stood against one wall, and in front of it hung a full¨Clength mirror framed with dried flowers. Noe touched the mirror gently. ¡°Grandma said all girls love to look pretty, so she bought this mirror especially for me.¡± Palmer surveyed the cozy room, feeling a bit cramped with his height. The night breeze wafted through the window, filling the room with a sweet fragrance. ¡°Your grandma cared a lot for you. She¡¯s watching over you now, content in heaven.¡± Noe nodded, a touch of mncholy in her gesture. If only Grandma were still here! Maddox peeked his head out from the neighboring room. ¡°Ms. Noe, sorry for the inconvenience, but it looks like the young master will have to bunk with you tonight. The floor in Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s room has been chewed up by mice.¡± Noe¡¯s room wasn¡¯t exactly spacious, and amodating Palmer meant relegating him to the narrow hallway. She eyed the corridor with a sense of ustrophobia just thinking about it, let alone how Palmer¡¯s frame would fit in that space ¨C he¡¯d hardly have room to roll over. She turned to Palmer. ¡°Or maybe you could sleep in the car?¡± Palmer looked at her with a hint of a pout in his voice, slightly nasal. ¡°Noe, I drove a convertible. Sure, it¡¯s got a roof, but it¡¯s no ce to sleep.¡± Noe was at a loss for words. She hadpletely forgotten that Palmer drove a sports car! The temperature in the mountains fluctuated wildly between day and night, and it was particrly chilly in the evenings. If Palmer spent the night in the car, he¡¯d surely catch a cold ¨C not to mention that his model¨Clike stature would never fit in a two¨Cseater sports car. Maddox quickly interjected, ¡°Ms. Noe, I¡¯ll just set up a makeshift bed for Mr. Pock in your room, eh? Right next to the bed, it¡¯ll be roomy!¡± Roomy, indeed. It was the kind of ¡®roomy¡® where Palmer could do a half¨Cturn and find his face smushed against the wall! CHapter 116 CHapter 116 Noe was about to add something more when she saw Palmer had already taken the quilt from Maddox¡¯s hands and made her bed first, before casuallyying out his own sleeping spot on the floor. The more Maddox observed Palmer, the more he liked him. Just look at how he took care of Ms. Noe! If Old Mrs. Lambert could see this from the heavens, she would surely rest in peace! Holding a kerosenemp and rubbing his hands together, Maddox spoke up. ¡°Ms. Noe, there¡¯s something else: the upstairs bathroom is out of order, so you and the young master will have to go outside for showers and¡­ well, you know.¡± As a child, Noe had lived in a poor area where every household¡¯s outhouse was located. outside, often sharing space with the pigsty. Later, Old Mrs. Lambert, citing the inconvenience of having to go outside for such needs, had a bathroom built upstairs just for her. ¡°Out of order?¡± ¡°Not exactly, just a small leak. I¡¯ve got some cement and called the crew, but they haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡± Indeed, there were several unopened bags of cement by the bathroom door. Noe nodded. ¡°Got it, Maddox. You should get some rest too.¡± Maddox left with a beaming smile, casting several nces back at Palmer and Noe¡¯s little room. This gentleman, with his high status and a fortune worth billions, was still willing to stay with Ms. Noe in such a humble abode. It seemed his heart truly belonged to Ms. Noe! Wiping away a tear, Maddox stepped out to the main hall to pay respects to Old Mrs. Lambert. ¡°Harriet, rest easy now; your granddaughter is in good hands!¡± The courtyard gate shut, and all was silent save for the rustling of the night breeze. Noe, feeling a bit embarrassed, turned to Palmer. ¡°Is it okay with you to shower in the little shed outside?¡± Palmer, rising from his makeshift bed, answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ¡°No worries. It¡¯s actually better than staying at the hospital. I¡¯ve got some spare clothes in the car; I¡¯ll go grab them.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Thinking she might as well take a shower after grabbing the clothes, Noe decided not to go back downstairs. Palmer smiled, the corners of his lips lifting gently as he took her hand. ¡°Watch your step, I¡¯ve got you.¡± The old house had once been inhabited only by Old Mrs. Lambert and Noe, and since Noe had grown up, she rarely visited. The once spacious staircase now seemed narrow. Palmer led the way, holding Noe¡¯s hand firmly, each step steady and secure. Noe recalled her childhood, when she had been nearly poisoned by candy from the Fuller family, Old Mrs. Lambert had carried her up and down these stairs to see the doctor, frantic with worry. Those hands had been just as warm and steady, bringing warmth to her heart¡­ During the days waiting for Hollis to wake up, Noe had stayed at the hospital, with Palmer asionally leaving to handle other matters but also spending nights there with her. Compared to the cold hospital, Verdant Garden at least retained some scent of home. After fetching their clothes, Noe approached the shaky wooden door of the little shed in the yard, speechless. Hadn¡¯t that door been perfectly fine in the afternoon? Why did it now look like it was about to give way at any moment? One corner of the shed¡¯s door couldn¡¯t close properly and needed someone to lean against it from the outside to prevent the night wind from blowing it open. Noe looked at the door, feeling it might just retire if she attempted any repairs. Palmer leaned against the door, bowing slightly to look at her, his forehead almost touching the top of her head. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll keep watch outside. No one wille, and the door won¡¯t open. His voice was low and seductive, causing a blush to spread across Noe¡¯s ears. Fortunately, it was dark enough that her flushed face went unnoticed. She patted her cheeks, clutching her clothes tightly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be quick.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush, I¡¯ll be right here. I won¡¯t leave.¡± It wasn¡¯t that she was in a hurry. Thankfully, Verdant Garden still had a water heater, making showers somewhat convenient. Noe turned on the shower, and soon the sound of water filled the small shed, its thin walls doing little to muffle the sound for Palmer¡¯s attentive ears. So that was Maddox¡¯s n all along! Palmer¡¯s hand against the door blocked even the slightest draft. His heart, however, was aloft. as if he could see all her movements. In the quiet of Glen Vige, with no nightlife to speak of, every sound seemed amplified. He could almost picture her every move, suddenly feeling a dryness in his throat. Even Palmer, who prided himself on his self¨Ccontrol, found himself a bit flustered. Thank goodness for the deep night, which had hidden the flush of his ears from view! Soon, the rustling sound of Noe dressing reached him, the fabric against her skin nearly unbearable, making Palmer swallow hard. Noe was quick with her shower, emerging just minutester. Her skin still steaming slightly, her cute face flushed, and her hair damp with droplets glistening at the tips. ¡°Thanks, your turn now. I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Entering the bathroom, he was greeted by the scent of her floral shower gel, still lingering in the air, mingling with her unique fragrance. Palmer turned the tap to the cold side. He needed to cool down! Leaning against the door, Noe wiped her damp hair with a towel while listening to the sound of water inside. This ce was her home, yet she was with a man she barely knew. Staying with him at Verdant Garden, forced to listen to him shower outside, stirred a strange sensation in Noe¡¯s heart. It was as if her grandmother were watching, leaving her bashfully aware. Palmer quickly finished his shower and, taking Noe¡¯s hand, guided her upstairs. Noe nced at him, her voice tinged with a hint of irony. ¡°Do you not find the conditions here rathercking?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not so bad. We both know what life is like out here on the international warzone.¡± Those days could be as unpredictable as the weather, and now with her by his side, how could he possiblyin about the simplicity of their surroundings? Noe settled onto the tiny bed, and Palmery down beside her. As she predicted, his frame barely fit on the narrow mattress, leaving him no room to turn over. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Maybe I should check out the Grandma¡¯s room? It can¡¯t be toofortable for you here.¡± If there really were mice, she would just take care of them. Palmer wrapped an arm around her wrist and gently pulled, drawing her into his embrace. Noe lost her bnce and tumbled onto him, suddenly enveloped by his scent. It was a blend of vani and cedarwood, the signature fragrance he always wore. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she protested. Palmer¡¯s arm encircled Noe¡¯s waist, and he chuckled softly, his voice rich and seductively charming. ¡°Just let me hold you for a bit, no need to go anywhere.¡± His hearing was always sharper than most, and so far, he hadn¡¯t detected any sign of mice in the neighboring room. Maddox probably just made up an excuse to give them some private space. Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed with warmth. ¡°Let go of me.¡± *Just for a moment, consider it a token of appreciation for all the times I¡¯ve yed chauffeur. Think of it as interest.¡± Interest for a hug? She wondered what his terms would be when he decided it was time to collect on the principal. CHapter 117 CHapter 117 His breath was hot against her skin, his breathing growing more urgent by the second. The warmth of it caressed Noe¡¯s neck. ¡°Let go, or I won¡¯t hesitate to give you a thrashing!¡± Palmer chuckled helplessly. ¡°I know my fianc¨¦e fancies a spar, but it¡¯s quite the mood killer in this setting.¡± Mood killer? She was practically trapped in his embrace, unable to move an inch! And he had the nerve to call it a mood killer? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the house¡¯s renovations had left the structure less than stable, her fist would have already made contact with his face! With a gentle yet firm grip, Palmer¡¯s hands encircled her slender waist, lifting her effortlessly onto the bed. The room was dark, and her bed was unusually high. Palmer sat cross¨Clegged on the floor mat, gazing up at her. His eyes seemed to hold endless moonlight, merging with the silver glow from the window, casting an indescribable tenderness. ¡°Just sleep here, alright? Let¡¯s not disturb Grandma by going to her room, okay?¡± Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s room was small, and besides, without Noe, he had no particr inclination to stay at someone else¡¯s ce. He was here solely for Noe. With that said, Noey back down. The moonlight poured through the window, and she slept dreamlessly. In the morning. Noe rose quietly to answer a call in the yard, careful not to wake the still¨Csleeping Palmer. ¡°Boss, Ulrich and that guy with a scar face are almost across the bortler. Should we keep tailing them?¡± ¡°Keep on them, don¡¯t let anything happen to Ulrich.¡± ¡°We¡¯re checking out the address Thorpe gave us, and something¡¯s off.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noe frowned. ¡°ording to this prison timeline, the man we¡¯re looking for might be another brother of Thorpe¡¯s.¡± Another brother? The one who had dealings with Toxic Monarch and got nabbed at the bar, the fake Thorpe? ¡°Review all the surveince footage from that night. I need more info on this guy and keep me updated.¡± Erek agreed and hung up. Standing in the yard, the morning breeze brisk and clear, Noe began her morning routine, a series of stretches and exercises to tune her body. Finishing her routine, she exhaled deeply. ¡°Looks like my fianc¨¦e is into doing morning exercises? Grandpa likes them too. You two can exercise together in the future.¡± Noe turned to meet Palmer¡¯s gaze. He¡¯d awoken at some point and had been watching her from her bedroom window. Verdant Garden was just an old house in a rural vige, not nearly as grand as the Schnabel Manor. Even from the second story, it felt within reach. Palmer vaulted from the window,nding deftly in the courtyard, his movements fluid and graceful. He walked over to Noe and gently touched his forehead to hers. ¡°Good morning, my fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you find another term of endearment?¡± In just one night, she¡¯d wager the whole vige knew she¡¯d brought home a fianc¨¦. ¡°Too many people call you Noe. If I did the same, you might forget about me.¡± Palmer smiled, straightening up. ¡°Those unloved often crave to stand out. Please, indulge my insecurities.¡± His words left little room for denial without seeming unreasonable. She turned away, only to be greeted by Maddox, who peeked his head in through the door. ¡°Maddox, good morning.¡± Maddox came in carrying a te of breakfast burritos, setting them on the small stone table in the courtyard. ¡°Good morning, I didn¡¯t expect you guys to be up this early.¡± Up this early, could it be nothing happenedst night? Maddox suddenly felt as if he¡¯d let Old Mrs. Lambert down, after assuring her he¡¯d make things happen. Was this gentleman not quite up to snuff? The thought had Maddox eyeing Palmer with a touch of suspicion. ¡°Ms. Noe, will you guys be leaving today?¡± ¡°Yes, I need to head back to Imperial City. Grandpa¡¯s being discharged from the hospital.¡± Maddox nodded. ¡°Good, and maybe the young master can get a check¨Cup too. Ah, no offense. 214 11:13 It¡¯s just that the Fuller family heard you¡¯re back and they¡¯re moring to see you.¡± The Fullers lived in the city, quite a distance from Glen Vige. ¡°What do they want with me?¡± ¡°Ellsworth¡¯s the issue. Lost a bundle gambling recently and is likely cooking up some scheme. Best to eat up and get going before you run into him. It could get messy.¡± Maddox¡¯s tone soured at the mention of the Fullers. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for their constant pestering of Old Mrs. Lambert, and almost taking you away, she wouldn¡¯t have fallen ill. That year, they whisked you. away, barred Old Mrs. Lambert from looking for you. She nearly cried her eyes blind!¡± Maddox¡¯s indignation red as he recounted the past.. The Fullers had been hell¨Cbent on seeing Noee to harm, to clear the way for Belinda to have a second child¨Ca male heir. They¡¯d concocted all manner of vile schemes! Noe nibbled on the breakfast burrito, silent. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. If the Fullers hadn¡¯t stolen her away and dumped her beyond the international warzone, she never would have been found by the Pris Star! All the darkness she¡¯d experienced had begun then. The day she returned, Old Mrs. Lambert hadn¡¯t asked questions, just wept, holding her hand, heartbroken. Vincent had never shown concern, even when she was still considered a part of their family. From that moment, she felt like she was without a home. When Old Mrs. Lambert passed, Noe¡¯s sense of family truly dissolved. The person who loved her most in the world was gone. However, the Schnabels embraced her like one of their own, and it was a revtion to her¨Cshe. of all people, could have a family too. Maddox was still fuming with righteous anger. ¡°Those crooks are the worst, trying to hawk. Verdant Gardenst time, as if they had any right to it!¡± ¡°This house?¡± ¡°Exactly. When the Fullers heard that this house was sold, not knowing that it was bought by your family, they came sniffing around, thinking they were entitled to a slice of the pie. It turns out Ellsworth was in the hole for three million in gambling debts.¡± Noe pieced it together; the Fullers¡® talk of selling Verdant Garden was just a ruse to cause trouble. ¡°The money¡¯s in Vincent¡¯s hands, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Maddox was irate. ¡°Oh, my dear Ms. Noe, obviously, they¡¯re hoping you¡¯d marry into their mess and bring along the three million! Who couldn¡¯t see through the Fullers¡® little scheme?¡± So that was their game. Noe had kept her distance from the Fullers for years and was oblivious to their scheming. 11:13 ¡°I get it. Maddox. Don¡¯t worry about it. We¡¯ll leave after breakfast. Just lock up the yard on your way out. She noticed the security cameras the Schnabels had discreetly installed around the estate. If the Fullers tried anything, they¡¯d be in for a nasty surprise. ¡°Alright, will do.¡± After breakfast, Palmer held the car door open for Noe, exchanging a few words with Maddox. Back in the car, Noe nced at Rim. ¡°What were you two talking about?¡± ¡°I asked for a picture of Grandma. I want her to be with us at our wedding, in spirit at least.¡± Noe was taken aback. He had thought of such a detail? She had never imagined her wedding day before, but if she were to marry, she too would want her grandmother to be there in some way. As the sports car underwent a series of mechanical transformations, it morphed into a helicopter, its rotor des kicking up a noisy fuss. Swirling ground leaves and sweet¨Csmelling blossoms into the air, it left Verdant Garden shrinking into the distance until it was nothing but a shadow. Softly, in her heart, Noe whispered, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯lle back to visit you again.¡± Sensing her thoughts, Palmer offered aforting smile. ¡°We¡¯lle back, together.¡± CHapter 118 CHapter 118 Maddox gazed skyward as the helicopter roared overhead, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. Who knew sports cars could sprout wings these days? This was some next¨Clevel tech! Huffing and puffing, the Fuller family finally rolled up in their rickety old truck to the gates of Verdant Gardens. ¡°Maddox, didn¡¯t you say Noe was back? Where¡¯s the girl?¡± Maddox pointed towards the sky, a smirk curling his lips. ¡°She just took off, man. You gonna chase after her?¡± ¡°What? She left already? Why didn¡¯t you stop her!¡± Chase a helicopter? With what, their beat¨Cup pickup? They had been counting on Noe agreeing to marry Ellsworth Fuller, hoping Vincent would cough up the cash to clear Ellsworth¡¯s mountain of gambling debts! Now she was gone, and they were left with no leads. ¡°Maddox, do you know who bought this ce? Howe it¡¯s sold, and Noe can still stay here?¡± Maddox chuckled and took a few puffs of his pipe. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Ms. Noe¡¯s own kin. They bought the house for her. From now on, this beauty belongs to Ms. Noe, so you lot can kiss your dreams goodbye.¡± The house was Noe¡¯s? The Fullers stood there, dumbstruck. ¡°Didn¡¯t Vincent say Noe¡¯s folks were just some poor chicken farmers from Emerald County? Where did they get the dough to buy her a house?¡± ¡°They must¡¯ve been pulling our leg. Noe¡¯s family can¡¯t be poor! Otherwise, how could she afford a chopper ride? I say her marrying Ellsworth could be our ticket to the high life!¡± If Noe¡¯s family was loaded, not only would Ellsworth¡¯s debts vanish, but the Fullers could be swimming in luxury! With that thought, the Fullers left, visions of dor signs dancing in their heads. Maddox watched them go, then dialed Beckett on the sly. Beckett had left his number with Maddox during Verdant Gardens¡®st renovation, telling him to call if he ever needed anything. Beckett, who was sneakily checking security footage, answered Maddox¡¯s call. He was now kicking himself for not installing cameras inside the house as well. The garden cams showed too little! 11:13 Thankfully, Palmer hadn¡¯t done anything outrageous. He even took care to cater to his sister¡¯s tastes at dinner, moving with practiced ease. Clearly, he¡¯d been at this a while. It was obvious Palmer had looked after Noe in the past; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been so smooth about 1. it. ¡°Mr. Beckett Schnabel, the Fullers seem to have their sights set on Ms. Noe. They¡¯re hoping she¡¯ll marry their gambling addict.¡± ¡°What the heck? They think they can set their sights on my sister? I¡¯m on it!¡± Beckett hung up and continued to watch the feed. Seeing his sister upset about past events. made his heart ache. He wished he could tear apart anyone who had been unkind to her. Luckily, Palmer seemed to know how tofort her, which made Beckett warm up to him a bit. Beckett¡¯s brother Jasper walked in.. ¡°Beckett, the Rosenberg and Fuller families want to settle with cash, keep it out of court. What do you think?¡± ¡°Ten million, not a dor less. Otherwise, they can rot in jail.¡± Beckett was not one to nurse their troubles. Ten million would bankrupt both families; they¡¯d have to sell properties to scrape it together. ¡°Why not keep them locked up for a while?¡± ¡°No need. They¡¯ll just end up in some cushy hospital ward. Let ¡®em pay for their freedom and their medicine.¡± With Vincent and Zachary¡¯s funds tied up in legal troubles, paying for healthcare wouldn¡¯t be easy. Among the Schnabel siblings, Beckett, the eldest, seemed the most harmless but was actually the most cunning. The future helmsman of the Schnabel family was decisive and swift. Meanwhile, the helicopternded on thewn of Imperial West Hospital, stirring up a whirlwind before rolling into the parking garage, reemerging as a sleek car. Palmer emerged with a gift from the trunk, approaching Noe. ¡°For the old gents, as a ¡®get well soon¡® present.¡± Noe nced sideways. ¡°When did you get these?¡± ¡°Just the other day. I figured since we were heading home, we¡¯d need something to cheer up the granddads, what with them being so stubborn.¡± Palmer had a knack for dealing with the old timers, knowing exactly how to y to their moods. Stepping into the hospital room, Marcel sat up straight, pretending he hadn¡¯t been craning his neck in anticipation. ¡°What took you so long?¡± ¡°Just swung by the old homestead, paid my respects to Old Mrs. Lambert.¡± Marcel nodded, exhaling deeply. ¡°That¡¯s the right thing to do. When I¡¯m up and about, I¡¯ll go with you. Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s been a guardian angel to the Schnabels; she deserves our thanks.¡± The entire Schnabel family held Old Mrs. Lambert in high regard, grateful for how she¡¯d cherished their Noe like a precious gem. Palmer handed over the gifts to the two old men. ¡°Grandpa, Grandpa Marcel, Noe and I picked these out for you both. Congrattions on getting out.¡± The old men¡¯s faces bloomed with smiles. ¡°Noe¡¯s always been the thoughtful one. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got us, kiddo.¡± Noe herself was curious about Palmer¡¯s choice. Upon opening the box, she found thetest autumn scarf and hat from Master Azure, namely herself. Noe rarely took up needle and thread herself, but it just so happened that she had casua crafted these items to test the softness and skin¨Cfriendliness of thetest fabric developed by Pris Star. To her surprise, Palmer swiftly imed them, dividing them into two separate gifts. Sexton immediately donned the hat, grinning like a Cheshire cat. ¡°How do I look?¡± Not to be outdone, Marcel wrapped the scarf around his neck. ¡°Noe, do I look dashing or what?¡± ¡°Looking sharp, Granddad! The fabric for both the scarf and beanie was developed by ra¡¯sb. It¡¯s not even on the market yet.¡± ra¡¯sb had a partnership with Pris Star. The fabric originated from ra¡¯s chickens, with Pris Star¡¯s additional touches, it turned into what it was now. Marcel chuckled, ¡°ra¡¯s work, huh? That girl is a true Schnabel, bright and brilliant!¡± Sexton piped up, elbowing his way into the conversation, ¡°Does ra have a beau yet? We¡¯ve got more grandsons. Maybe she¡¯d like to take her pick?¡± ¡°Get outta here, you shameless old coot. ra¡¯s already said she¡¯s wed to her research for life. Besides, do any of your brood have the smarts to match up with ra?¡± That ruffled Sexton¡¯s feathers. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my grandkids¡® smarts? Palmer¡¯s uncle graduated with his PhD at twenty, and he¡¯s the big boss at ra¡¯sb!¡± ¡°That second son of yours is fifty if he¡¯s a day. What are you on about?¡± The two old gents were at it again, nearlying to blows right then and there. Resigned to the inevitable, Noe watched the spirited debate. Judging by their vigor, those old timers were in fine fettle. Palmer gently took her hand, whispering, ¡°Let them argue. They¡¯ll have plenty more chances.¡± Sexton insisted on staying at Serene Haven¡¯s Dragon Tower, wanting to keep an eye on his granddaughter¨Cinw, while Marcel chose Phoenix Tower, eager to be close to his granddaughter. Post¨Cdischarge, the two elders would still be neighbors. Major Gat popped his head in from outside, addressing them with deference, ¡°Sir, Ashlyn¡¯s asked to see you. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Marcel scoffed. ¡°After all this time, I¡¯ve nothing left to say to her. Take this divorce agreement, have her sign it, and bring it back to me.¡± ¡°Understood, sir!¡± Marcel had it all figured out. He¡¯d file for divorce on his discharge day. Even if Ashlyn wanted to make a scene, she wouldn¡¯t be able to find him. Noe and Palmer, along with the old men, left Imperial West Hospital. Ashlyn waited in her room, expecting Marcel¡¯s visit, but all she received was a signed divorce decree! This wasn¡¯t an agreement; it was outright notification of divorce! ¡°No! I won¡¯t agree! He can dream on if he thinks he can divorce me!¡± Ashlyn couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. How could Marcel divorce her? ¡°He¡¯s heartless. I¡¯ve been with him a lifetime. There must be some shameless woman he¡¯s cheating with. I¡¯ll report this to the higher¨Cups!¡± Major Gat, witnessing Ashlyn¡¯s fury, felt quite troubled himself. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯ve delivered what Mr. Marcel Schnabel ordered. Please, sign here.¡± Ashlyn, seething with anger, looked at the divorce papers and the asset division agreement in her hands, then slumped onto the bed. Signing it would sever her ties with the Schnabel family for good. CHapter 119 CHapter 119 Major Gat watched Ashlyn, her expression one of utter despair. He had been with Marcel for many years, witnessed their journey together. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Throughout the years, countless people had suggested Marcel consider divorce,rgely due to Ashlyn¡¯s¡­ indescribable behavior! When they were at the military base, she had the audacity to try setting up some of the female officers with her own nephew, and it was due to Marcel¡¯s reputation that things were suppressed quickly. Not to mention the asions when she covertly took items from the base to aid her family financially! Marcel¡¯s divorce papers were quickly approved, undoubtedly influenced by Ashlyn¡¯s tarnished reputation. ¡°Has Marcel lost his mind? We¡¯ve been married for so many years! I need to find Tristan!¡± Ashlyn immediately dialed Tristan on her smartphone. As soon as he answered, her tears started to fall. ¡°Tristan, has your father gone mad? He actually wants to divorce me!¡± Tristan was taking the wheelchair from his daughter, heading inside the Schnabel Manor in Serene Haven. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s actually good news. It¡¯s about time. Don¡¯t worry, after the divorce, I¡¯ll send you to Gerastor Retirement Home. It¡¯s the best of its kind. I¡¯ve also enrolled Yvonne in Gerastor University to get her focused and out of the house.¡± They really wanted to get rid of her and Yvonne! Ashlyn panicked. ¡°No, Marcel can¡¯t do this to me! I¡¯m your mother, and you¡¯re my son, you have to take my side! Marcel can¡¯t bully me like this! Have I raised you for nothing? You ungrateful child!¡± Tristan had long since been worn down by Ashlyn¡¯s antics. ¡°Mom, sometimes I wonder how you turned into the person you are now. When I was little, you weren¡¯t like this at all.¡± Tristan¡¯s words, meant as a mere reflection, seemed to light a fuse in Ashlyn. ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you implying I¡¯m not your mother? I have always been this way! If you prefer someone else, go find some floozy to be your mother! Ha! No matter what, I am luckier than some!¡± Who was she referring to? Tristan felt a headacheing on and didn¡¯t want to argue further. ¡°Mom, stop making a scene. The divorce papers are already stamped. Whether or not you sign them doesn¡¯t matter much now. Your marriage with Dad is over. Rest assured, I¡¯ll take good care of you. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll go to Gerastor.¡± 11:13 The date on the divorce papers was fromst month. Last month, Marcel had already prepared to divorce her! Ashlyn clenched her teeth, venomously saying. ¡°Marcel, are you really going to burn all your bridges? Turn your own children against you? You¡¯ll regret this one day!¡± Marcel scoffed. ¡°Regret? The thing I regret most is marrying you!¡± ¡°Oh, so you finally admit it. Are you still pining for that tramp Harriet Lambert?¡± Marcel lost his temper. ¡°What does Harriet have to do with this? Stop talking nonsense; I don¡¯t want to say another word to you! Tomorrow, you take Yvonne to Gerastor, or you can go back to the sticks!¡± He wanted to send her back to a life of hardship just because she mentioned Harriet, that ill¨Cfated woman! Noe¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity. Why did Grandpa and Ashlyn mention the same name as Old Mrs. Lambert? It was probably just a coincidence, right? There were many people with the same names back in the day. Noe had never heard Old Mrs. Lambert mention knowing the Schnabel family; it probably wasn¡¯t rted to her grandfather. Marcel, frustrated, hung up the phone, grumbling about Ashlyn¡¯s behavior. Sexton snickered beside him. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for wronging Harriet back in the day. Karma, that is.¡± ¡°How did I wrong Harriet? I returned from a mission, and she was gone. I came home to a bloodbath¡­ Why am I even exining this to you! Why don¡¯t you go back to your own home? This is my house!¡± Sienna quickly chimed in. ¡°Dad, you just got discharged today, and I asked the kitchen to prepare a nutritious meal suitable for the elderly. We should have Mr. Sexton and Palmer here and have a family dinner to celebrate.¡± At the mention of a family dinner, Marcel¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, but he was still relentless in his banter. ¡°Who¡¯s family with him? Our Noe hasn¡¯t agreed to marry into their family yet! Noe, listen to me. You¡¯re still young. Let¡¯s focus on your education first and get to know each other slowly. If it doesn¡¯t work out, you can always return the goods to their origin.¡± Noe twitched at the corner of her mouth. That¡¯s just like what Beckett had said. It seemed family members had simr ways of thinking. Sexton jumped in, ¡°My grandson isn¡¯t good enough? No worries, Noe, take a look at the other grandsons in our family they¡¯re all great! If Palmer isn¡¯t the right fit, there¡¯s always the next one!¡± 11:13 The two old men went back and forth, arguing as if they woulde to blows if not for the wheelchairs between them. Noe exchanged a resigned yet amused look with Palmer. Despite the noisy scene, there was a sense of warmth. ¡°Maybe you should take your grandpa Sexton home?¡± ¡°The house is empty, and it¡¯s just me and Grandpa. Can¡¯t my fianc¨¦e begrudgingly offer some shelter?¡± She didn¡¯t mean to drive them away, especially since Sienna and Tristan had left them behind. She couldn¡¯t bear to upset the elderly. While everyone was focused on the bickering elders, Palmer walked over to Noe, took her hand in his warm palm, and held it firmly. ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°Just for a moment, my fianc¨¦e. Consider it a fare for the ride earlier?¡± Noe sighed, ¡°Mr. Pock, is this how Uber is charging these days?¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze deepened, as if peering into an abyss when he looked at Noe. He didn¡¯t take his eyes off her. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind if you want to pay with a different method;st night was pretty great, after all Speaking ofst night, nothing had really happened between them, not even a stolen kiss under the mistletoe, yet the mere mention of it caused Noe¡¯s cheeks to flush with the slightest hint of pink. She red at Palmer, puffing up her cheeks in indignation like a little chipmunk. Beckett stepped between the two, taking hold of each of them, forcibly separating them. The smile on Palmer¡¯s face froze instantly! As Palmer watched Beckett escort Noe away, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that the Schnabel family had perhaps too many brothers. He had thought having a few more people to dote on Noe would be nice, but it turned out it meant having a few more rivals vying for his fianc¨¦e¡¯s attention! Dinner was a lively affair, with Sienna¡¯s mother Freya heading back to theb to continue her research, and Sienna¡¯s father Merrick Horwich being whisked away by Sienna to stay with them. The three old¨Ctimers got so heated in their discussion they almost came to blows, none willing to back down. After dinner, Marcel challenged Noe to a chess game. ¡°Noe, that chess problem you left for me last time, I couldn¡¯t figure it out for the life of me. You¡¯ve got to show me how it¡¯s done!¡± for 11:13 Merrick let out a scoff. ¡°Pathetic. At your ripe old age, you still can¡¯t best a kid like Noe at chess. Some people just regress the older they get.¡± ¡°Hey! Merrick,e on over. I don¡¯t believe for a second you can beat Noe at this game. Sweetheart, if you win against this old codger, I will let you take the reins of apany for a spin!¡± CHapter 120 CHapter 120 Merrick was getting fired up too. ¡°You think only you¡¯ve got the cash? Noe, sweetheart, if you beat me in chess, I¡¯ll gift you a brand spanking newpany!¡± Noe looked helplessly at the two old timers. This kind of one¨Cupmanship was fine, but totally unnecessary. Half an hourter, Merrick couldn¡¯t sit still! ¡°Noe, dear, where did you learn to y chess like this? I am at my wit¡¯s end!¡± Marcel chortled with pride. ¡°Ha, even old Tavian can¡¯t beat Noe at chess. And you¡¯re making fun of me? Think you can do better?¡± Back in his youth, Merrick was a chess prodigy, yet here he was, unable to outy his granddaughter for even half an hour! ¡°Embarrassed much?¡± ¡°Get outta here. Noe being a whiz is all thanks to our Horwich family genes. You¡¯ve got nothing to do with it.¡± Marcel was having none of it, mming his cup down, sparking yet another round of bickering. ¡°What are you implying? Noe is a Schnabel through and through!¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Heh, saying your wife had the good genes? I¡¯m not calling you daft, Tristan, but your mom, she¡¯s no Einstein.¡± Tristan wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking this was pretty much the same as being called dumb. Merrick quipped, ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re not Ashlyn¡¯s flesh and blood, thankfully. You don¡¯t resemble that hag, which is a good thing.¡± The family was stunned. What did he mean Tristan wasn¡¯t Ashlyn¡¯s flesh and blood? Tristan was dumbfounded. ¡°What are you saying? Whose child am I?¡± Realizing he had misspoken, Merrick chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m pulling your leg. You couldn¡¯t possibly be mine, a Horwich, right?¡± Tristan got the picture he was still being called ugly. Indeed, Merrick and Freya were known for their looks. When Tristan firstid eyes on their daughter Sienna, it was love at first sight. Marcel frowned at Merrick, twirling a chess piece in his hand, sensing there was more to Merrick¡¯s words. ¡°Are you keeping something from me?¡± ¡°Give me a break. Who do you think you are, demanding me to report everything to you?¡± 11:1 *** Merrick wasn¡¯t ying that game. He grabbed Noe and headed for the chessboard. ¡°Come on, Noe. Let¡¯s y chess. I¡¯ve got a whole new book in mind! It starts with a chess game!¡± He had it all figured out. His new book would make a ssh, showcasing his beloved granddaughter¡¯s brilliance. This was the romance of a wordsmith ¨C weaving all his affections into his writing. Everyone who read that book would know about his perfect granddaughter! ¡°Grandpa, do you know something that you¡¯re keeping from Grandpa Marcel?¡± ¡°Not a clue. Even if I did, I wouldn¡¯t tell. Heh.¡± Merrick was all smiles, ncing at Marcel scratching his head. Heh, he¡¯d never spill the beans! Tranquility City, at the Lambert Mansion. Vincent returned to the Lambert Mansion, his battered body dragging with exhaustion as he copsed onto the couch. Belinda and her parents were close behind, none faring much better. ¡°Vincent, get in touch with Noe, will ya? I heard from Maddox she was at the Lambert ancestral home a few days back. Probably went back to pay her respects to the olddy.¡± Vincent had a n. He took the Fuller parents¡® phone and dialed Noe¡¯s number, intending to use Old Mrs. Lambert as leverage to coax Noe into visiting Tranquility City. If she came, they could call the shots. Noe picked up nonchntly, and upon recognizing Vincent¡¯s voice, she hung up without a word. Vincent barely got out, ¡°Noe, uh¡­¡± The dial tone rang in his ear, leaving Vincent fuming. That darn kid! The Fullers wouldn¡¯t give up. ¡°I heard she left by helicopter. Maybe she¡¯s met some rich folks? Vincent, are Noe¡¯s real parents truly paupers?¡± Weren¡¯t her folks just some chicken farmers in Emerald County? Vincent, now unsure, sat up and dialed a number. ¡°Buddy, it¡¯s Vincent. Didn¡¯t you used to live in Emerald County? You see, a rtive¡¯s kid wants to visit. How¡¯s the ce holding up?¡± His buddy snickered and belched. ¡°Everyone¡¯s moved out. The government¡¯s using Emerald County for experiments now, paid us a pretty penny!¡± Vincent was shocked. Everyone from Emerald County had moved? That meant Noe¡¯s real parents were likely rolling in cash from the government buyout. Vincent had recently made a rush on real estate to get out of a bind. He needed money now more than ever! If he could just find Noe¡¯s biological parents, he might recover some funds. for ¡®raising¡® their daughter, right? ¡°How much did you guys get?¡± ¡°Not much, just ten million for us. But one family in the county hit the jackpot with fifty million!¡± Fifty million! Vincent perked up instantly! Too bad he had no clue what Noe¡¯s real parents¡® names were, or else he¡¯d know exactly how much they pocketed. After the call, Vincent rubbed the bruises on his face, his eyes narrowing with determination. ¡°I¡¯m totally rooting for Noe and Ellsworth to tie the knot. I just can¡¯t seem to get ahold of that girl. Trying to y matchmaker here and I can¡¯t even get in touch with her¡­¡± Mr. and Mrs. Fuller had decided to park themselves at the Lambert Mansion and showed no signs of leaving. ¡°Noe¡¯s like a daughter to you. She won¡¯t answer your calls, so you gotta find another way. Worst comes to worst, report her as missing. Won¡¯t the cops have to do something then?¡± ¡°And Briony? Get her toe down and give me a foot rub, will ya? Oh, my aching body!¡± Vincent couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the Fullers¡® entitled behavior. He had to find Noe! With a sense of resolve, he finally bit the bullet and dialed Ashlyn¡¯s number. ¡°Ashlyn, I¡¯m Noe¡¯s foster father. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into the kidtely; she just won¡¯t see me. Her grandparents are sick with worry. I was hoping you could help us out, maybe arrange a meeting with Noe, see if she¡¯d be willing toe home?¡± Ashlyn had enough on her te. She didn¡¯t feel like taking Vincent¡¯s call at first, but when he mentioned wanting Noe back with the Lambert family, her interest was piqued. Marcel was probably divorcing her because of some loose talk from that wild child, Noe. Why else would he choose to divorce now of all times? If she could just get rid of that troublemaker, she could stay in the Schnabel family! ¡°You really want Noe toe home?¡± ¡°Absolutely, no doubt about it!¡± Ashlyn pondered for a moment. ¡°Alright, wait for my word.¡± Vincent hung up the phone, grinning from ear to ear! With Ashlyn¡¯s help, Noe would surelye back. Once she was home, he¡¯d be back in control. Noe¡¯s phone buzzed with a message from Ashlyn. [I¡¯ll agree to the divorce, but you have toe and get the papers.] CHapter 121 CHapter 121 Noe nced at the message on her phone and handed it over to Marcel. ¡°She wants you to get the papers? What¡¯s she scheming now? Always causing trouble! Noe, don¡¯t bother with her. She has to agree to the divorce, whether she likes it or not. The flight¡¯s arranged; she¡¯ll be out of here by tomorrow!¡± Marcel thought of Ashlyn¡¯s antics over the years, and his face soured. Their marriage had been unconventional. He¡¯d spent his early years on military duty, and after that woman passed away, he¡¯d be jaded about love. That¡¯s when Ashlyn showed up with a child, iming it was his. Marcel, bewildered about when he could have fathered a child with Ashlyn, was met with her tears and usations of his drunken advances! After a DNA test confirmed the child was his, Marcel, under orders from above, had reluctantly married Ashlyn, and years had flown by. Despite his suspicions that Ashlyn might not be Tristan¡¯s biological mother, he couldn¡¯t figure out who else it could be. The boy was definitely his son! But the identity of the boy¡¯s mother remained a mystery. Maybe he¡¯d been duped for over five decades! Marcel turned to Palmer, his voice grave. ¡°Palmer, since she¡¯s insistent on having Noe fetch the divorce papers, go with her. Remember, you¡¯re a Pock, not involved with the Schnabels for the time being.¡± Palmer perked up. Did Marcel mean¡­ if Ashlyn did anything against Noe, he could retaliate? ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll protect Noe.¡± Marcel nodded, satisfied. Sending Palmer was strategic; it would be unseemly for a Schnabel to intervene, but as Noe¡¯s fianc¨¦ and the Pock head, Ashlyn wouldn¡¯t dare send him away. Merrick beamed at Noe. ¡°Noe, dear, I¡¯ve acquired a jewelry designpany for you, right near your campus. You can put your designs into practice there, and I¡¯ll buy everything you create!¡± Since learning Noe studied jewelry design, Merrick had been busy scouting for the perfect company. It needed to be just the right size, not too overwhelming for Noe¡¯s studies but allowing her to unleash her creativity without academic constraints. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about how you¡¯ve revamped the music store and the gallery, tweaking policies. Is our Noe a business prodigy? All our assets might as well be yours. Who knows, you might be a business legend!¡± Marcel was rmed. This was his precious granddaughter, and suddenly she was their 10-22 business prodigy? ¡°Noe, I bought you a hotel. If you¡¯re ever unhappy with your amodations, just stay at the hotel!¡± Noe was flustered. What would she do with so manypanies? Her own ventures were managed by the folks at Pris Star! Tristan chuckled, ¡°Dad, what are you up to? Noe¡¯s campus is just next to our ce, a five¨Cmile drive. She cane home! Oh, and darling, whenever you find the time, go get your driver¡¯s license. You¡¯ve yet to drive any of the cars I bought for you!¡± Getting a driver¡¯s license was a trivial matter; she simply needed to find the time. After all, when patrolling the borders, a license wasn¡¯t needed, and she could driverge vehicles regardless! Noe nodded in agreement and stood up. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll learn when I¡¯ve got time. Now, I¡¯ll head to the hospital to get the divorce agreement.¡± ¡°Hey,e back early for dinner. We will wait for you!¡± Palmer stood by her side, smoothly picking up her handbag, every move flowing naturally. The elders watched with satisfaction. Look at them, a perfect match! The towering, handsome gentleman exuded a confident,posed presence as he sheltered the petite girl by his side. The slender young woman, with her flowing hair, met his gaze with tenderness. A match made in heaven, indeed! As Noe and Palmer, left, Marcel turned to Tristan and the younger Schnabels. ¡°Go attend to your matters. We old men have things to discuss.¡± Despite his age, Marcel¡¯s eyes were sharp andmanding, exuding an aura of authority. When he spoke, Tristan and his sons hastily bowed out, ¡°Understood.¡± Marcel faced Merrick, picking up the chess pieces beside him. ¡°Come, let¡¯s y another game.¡± Merrick squinted, then cracked a smile. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s y!¡± ¡°Merrick, if you lose, you owe me a truth!¡± A truth? The world wasn¡¯t filled with clear truths. Seeking them came at a price! ¡°Heh, win first, then we¡¯ll talk.¡± Palmer¡¯s car pulled up in front of Imperial West Hospital, where Major Gat rushed to take the keys, whispering, ¡°Ms. Noe, Mr. Pock, Ashlyn just won¡¯t sign. I¡¯m still waiting to retrieve the report for filing!¡± Marcelcked interest in keeping the signed papers, but they needed to be filed for record¨Ckeeping ¨C the reason Major Gat was still there. Palmer, holding Noe¡¯s hand, headed inside. ¡°She still hasn¡¯t signed?¡± ¡°She did, but she refused to hand it to me. When I tried to take it, she used me of¡­ of assaulting her.¡± Major Gat¡¯s expression fell. At forty, with a wife and kids, he certainly wasn¡¯t going to make a move on his former superior¡¯s wife¡­ no, ex¨Cwife, especially not here at Imperial West Hospital! R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Ashlyn had a reputation for being shamelessly unabashed. As her voice echoed through the halls, heads turned, and a collective wave of sympathy washed over the faces of the senior staff as they nced toward Major Gat. It was evident they were all too familiar with Ashlyn¡¯s track record. At a time like this, they didn¡¯t dare intervene to support Major Gat, fearing they might be her next target. Noe¡¯s gaze held a hint of pity for Major Gat. ¡°You¡¯ve had it tough,¡± she said. ¡°Since the paperwork is signed, she¡¯s no longer my grandma.¡± Major Gat blinked in confusion. ¡°Ms. Noe, what do you mean?¡± Even with the signed papers, Ashlyn was still Tristan¡¯s mother, and biologically, she was still supposed to be Ms. Noe¡¯s grandmother, right? Noe shed a charming smile, her dimples deepening, ¡°I¡¯m not listed in the family tree. My records are separate.¡± Ever since Belinda and Vincent publicly disowned her, Beckett had transferred Noe¡¯s records to her own residence at Serene Haven. She was the sole owner of Phoenix Tower at Serene Haven! Since she wasn¡¯t on the same record as Ashlyn and wasn¡¯t registered in the family tree, what right did Ashlyn have to think she could control Noe? A spark of realization lit up Major Gat¡¯s eyes, but he still harbored concerns for Noe¡¯s safety. After all, Ashlyn was notorious for throwing her weight around due to her age, and Ms. Noe appeared so literate, gentle, and soft. Entering the hospital room, Ashlyn¡¯s eyes lit up with joy at the sight of Noe. Her tion was short¨Clived as she noticed Palmer trailing behind Noe. What¡¯s the Pock kid doing here again? Is he that smitten with this wild girl? ¡°I told you toe alone. Can¡¯t youprehend simple instructions? Tell Mr. Pock to leave! What a brat!¡± Noe, unperturbed, took a seat opposite Ashlyn¡¯s bed, elegantly crossing her legs. With a frosty gaze and chin held high, she looked up as if donning an invisible crown. ¡°Comprehending instructions? Don¡¯t think just because you¡¯re older, I should be deferential. Cut the act, you old hag!¡± CHapter 122 CHapter 122 Ashlyn was utterly bbergasted! In all her years, she¡¯d never been spoken to with such disdain. Who did Noe think she was? ¡°You¡¯ve lost all semnce of ady speaking to me like this. Do you think Mr. Pock will still have eyes for you after seeing your true colors?¡± Noe¡¯s eyebrow quirked up with a smirk. ¡°Or would he prefer a dried¨Cup old prune like you? I know how I looked like, thank you very much. But have you ever taken a good look at yourself in the mirror? Has anyone pointed out your crooked smile? With that wonky eye, do you drool in your sleep?¡± Ashlyn was on the verge of fainting from sheer anger! Palmer couldn¡¯t help but let a sly grin y across his face. He knew full well that Noe never minced words. Even during their chance encounters at the border, where her face wasn¡¯t fully visible, she could silence an entire crew with her biting wit. Her prior politeness towards Ashlyn was likely due to her respect for her grandpa Marcel. Without a doubt, his fianc¨¦e was the most understanding girl in the world! ¡°No matter what, I love Noe. She will be the only one for me, forever.¡± His voice wasced with a tenderness and an elegance that outshone the passage of time, sending a blush creeping up Noe¡¯s cheeks. How he could say such things with a straight face was beyond her. Ashlyn was livid upon hearing this, her face turning a shade of crimson so intense she nearly passed out on the spot. ? ¡°You¡­ I¡¯ll tell you this¨Cunless you leave the Schnabel family, I¡¯m not handing over those divorce papers!¡± Noe just chuckled lightly. Childish games? She¡¯d outgrown those by the age of three. She couldn¡¯t believe Ashlyn still yed these petty little games. ¡°It¡¯s you who should leave the Schnabels, not me.¡± Ashlyn hadn¡¯t expected Noe to be such a tough nut to crack! ¡°You¡¯re nothing but an embarrassment. Why should you stay with the Schnabels? Someone like you should leave, to bring peace back to the family. I¡¯m doing this for the good of the Schnabels. Sooner orter Marcel will see my true intentions. I¡¯m the one who truly has the Schnabels¡® best interests at heart!¡± Noe¡¯s lips slowly curled into a smirk, propping her chin on her hand as she regarded Ashlyn. ¡°So, trying to disce my mother and push your niece into the spotlight is for the family¡¯s good? Are you really that foolish not to know that inbreeding is a bad idea, or do you think your 10:23 niece and my father aren¡¯t closely rted?¡± Ashlyn, without thinking, retorted, ¡°Of course they aren¡¯t rted!¡± ¡°Oh, but I thought that was your biologically rted niece.¡± Noe¡¯s face carried a light smile. watching Ashlyn¡¯sst¨Cditch struggle. Ashlyn grew frantic. ¡°What are you implying? What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to say anything. You asked for me toe, and since you don¡¯t want me to leave, let¡¯s talk about who my father¡¯s real mother actually is.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s demeanor visibly shifted to panic. Her gaze flitted nervously, hands instinctively fidgeting with her hair until it resembled a bird¡¯s nest. ¡°It¡¯s me. It was always me. I¡¯m Tristan¡¯s mother, and with him, Marcel will have to marry me!¡± Ashlyn¡¯s mental state seemed to crumble at the mere mention of Tristan¡¯s birth mother. The caregiver, growing anxious, interjected, ¡°Ms. Noe, please, don¡¯t provoke the patient. She¡¯s still your grandmother. If anything happens to her, can you live with yourself?¡± Noe stepped forward, peeling open Ashlyn¡¯s eyelids and inspecting her tongue. ¡°Pretending to be sick? Not convincing enough. So, my dad isn¡¯t really your child. I had my suspicions, but now I¡¯m sure.¡± Ashlyn¡¯s pupils and tongue betrayed her perfect health. While she might eventually sumb to dementia in her old age, it wasn¡¯t happening now. She was just faking it, hoping to stay with the Schnabel family a little longer. Ashlyn¡¯s eyes snapped back to normal, and she reached out to throttle Noe. If she could just dispose of this troublesome girl, it would pave the way for her Yvonne to marry into the Pock family. However, Noe¡¯s eyes fl¨¢shed dangerously at the sight of Ashlyn¡¯s murderous intent. Before Ashlyn couldy a finger on her, Noe pped her hand away, the resounding smack apanied by several teeth flying from Ashlyn¡¯s mouth! ¡°You dare strike me? Do you wish death upon yourself? I am your grandmother! If my son Tristan sees you hitting me, he¡¯ll kill you!¡± Noe rubbed her wrist and threw a punch at the caregiver who was about toe over and help! Her voice was soft yet chilling. ¡°Sorry, but it was you I meant to hit. I¡¯ve never shield away from throwing a punch. Lately, I¡¯ve been itching for a good fight, and you¡¯re the perfect practice dummy.¡± Ashlyn, clutching her face, copsed onto the bed, torn between fear and fury. ¡°You¡¯ve wanted to hit me all along, haven¡¯t you?¡± Cha 123 Noe¡¯s lips curled into a beautiful, innocent smile, her dimples reminiscent of her mother Sienna¡¯s but far more terrifying. ¡°Right you are. As a reward, I think I¡¯ll indulge in another round.¡± Ashbyn was genuinely scared now, This girl was a madwoman! ¡°Mr. Pock, you see this, right? This girl is not worthy of you! Don¡¯t let her deceive you! She¡¯s clearly unhinged¨Ca total lunatic! She can¡¯t marry into the Pock family, and the Schnabels don¡¯t want a daughter like her! She dares to strike me; what else is she capable of?¡± Palmer watched Noe with a light chuckle. ¡°Would my fianc¨¦e ever want to hit me?¡± Noe frowned in thought, then answered honestly, ¡°Sometimes, I do wonder. I guess I¡¯ll see how you behave.¡± Palmer visibly breathed a sigh of relief, his face lighting up with a smile akin to a sun emerging after a storm, as if he had just heard the mostfortingpliment. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. I¡¯ll make sure to do my best. Leave the outside folks to me. It¡¯s an honor to stand guard for my fianc¨¦e.¡± He spoke with grace and moved with ease, adjusting his suit as he left without giving Ashlyn a second nce. Now, only Noe, Ashlyn, and a few burly caregivers remained in the room. With a menacing re, Ashlyn snarled, ¡°I couldn¡¯ty a finger on you with Mr. Pock here, but now that he¡¯s gone, you think you¡¯re going to have it easy? I¡¯m going to make sure you get what¡¯s coming to you today!¡± f Her entourage of caregivers were handpicked for their strength and even had some knowledge of combat techniques! Noe tilted her head and smiled at her. ¡°Come at me, all of you. I¡¯m in a hurry; Grandpa is expecting me for dinner.¡± And more importantly, she had gotten the information she needed and had no time to waste with Ashlyn. The caregivers encircled Noe. Ten minutester. Noe, rubbing her slightly sore wrists, stood with a caregiver¡¯s face under her foot, looking at Ashlyn who was shivering on the bed. ¡°Hand it over, or do you want a taste of this too?¡± Ashlyn was beyond words! Was this girl raised on a farm or something? How could she be so strong! 10:23 Noe snatched the divorce papers from her hands, checked them carefully to make sure everything was in order, and turned to leave. ¡°No! You can¡¯t go! There¡¯s someone else¡­ someone else who wants to see you!¡± Noe turned back, looking at her as if she were a stranger, her gaze icy. ¡°You mean Vincent? No rush. A beating doesn¡¯t have a queue. I won¡¯t miss a single one!¡± n The hospital room door swung open. CHapter 123 CHapter 123 Ashlyn huddled on the hospital bed, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind, while the battered caregivery sprawled beside her, stacked like a house of cards, all of them out cold. Palmer casually shut the door behind him and whispered, ¡°Does your hand hurt? You¡¯ve had quite the workout. Don¡¯t worry about the security cameras, I¡¯ll handle that.¡± His role as gatekeeper served a dual purpose, giving Noe room to let off some steam and dealing with any potential threats to her in that room. Noe nced up and said coolly, ¡°How thoughtful.¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s a hitman¡¯s instinct, and part of my duties as your fianc¨¦.¡± He didn¡¯t see Noe¡¯s outburst as excessive. On the contrary, he thought it was great that she had the chance to cut loose. ¡°It¡¯s a decent stress reliever, too.¡± Noe looked at him, speechless. Was he really suggesting she attacked Ashlyn just to blow off some steam? Or did he not see any issue with her hitting Ashlyn at all? Handing over the divorce papers to Major Gat, Noe said ndly, ¡°Some folks mighte sniffing around for Ashlyn in the next few days. If it¡¯s not too much trouble, could you hang onto them for me?¡± Major Gat, looking at the divorce agreement, felt like he¡¯d struck gold! Ms. Noe was his lucky star, and he could hardly refuse her anything. ¡°No trouble at all! Anyone whoes looking for Ashlyn will be detained and delivered straight to you, Ms. Noe!¡± ¡°Much appreciated.¡± Major Gat smiled warmly, his eyes shining brightly as he nced at Noe! Now that was the stature befitting the Schnabel family¡¯s Ms. Noe- graceful, tactful, powerful, and clever. She¡¯d snagged the divorce papers with such ease! Major Gat marched out of the hospital with his prized document like a soldier on parade, his excitement palpable. Palmer took Noe¡¯s hand gently, massaging her wrist, and even brought it to his lips to blow on it as if soothing a child¡¯s boo¨Cboo. Noe tried to withdraw her hand but found that Palmer gave her no quarter, forcing her to endure his warm, imposing presence. Marcel¡¯s call came at that moment, and Noe answered it casually. 10:23 ¡°Sweetheart, all sorted? Did Ashlyn give in? She didn¡¯t give you a hard time, did she?¡± ¡°It¡¯s done. I dealt with her.¡± ¡°Oh, you ¡®dealt with her¡®. Wait, what? You dealt with whom? Ashlyn?¡± Marcel nearly dropped his chess piece in shock. ¡°Yup, I did. And a few caregivers too.¡± Marcel¡¯s jaw could¡¯ve dropped a chicken egg! After a moment, he burst out in frustration. ¡°Listen, kiddo! How can you go about things this way? Didn¡¯t I tell you to take Palmer with you? Shouldn¡¯t he be the one doing the rough stuff? What if you got tired? Are my precious granddaughter¡¯s hands made for beating up that wretched crone?¡± Noe¡¯s gaze turned to Palmer, a hint of amusement in her eyes while listening to Marcel¡¯s rant. ¡°Noe, you really need to learn to adapt! When I said to bring Palmer, it meant let him step in when necessary, not to hang around like some lord! That boy doesn¡¯t have a clue! Tired, aren¡¯t you?¡± The warmth spread through Noe¡¯s heart. ¡°You aren¡¯t mad at me?¡± Marcel chuckled, sharing a knowing look with Merrick beside him. ¡°Silly girl, do you think I don¡¯t know what you and Ashlyn are like? If you hit her, she had iting! I¡¯m not going to me my precious granddaughter for dealing with an irrelevant person. And if you ever get tired of Palmer, I¡¯ll even help you pack his bags!¡± Noeughed out loud. She knew Marcel was joking, trying tofort her, even dragging Palmer into it. *Just remember toe home for dinner. Don¡¯t worry about the rest; I¡¯m not old yet, I can handle things.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Noe hung up, her face lighting up with a smile. Palmer ruffled her hair gently, wearing a slightly aggrieved expression. ¡°Looks like Grandpa Marcel is ready to give me a whooping. I¡¯ll need to pick up some peace offerings for tonight!¡± He had heard the entire call. Noe turned her face away, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks. Palmer leaned in close, his breath warm on her face. ¡°Come with me to pick out the gifts, will you?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve got other things to do.¡± Palmer didn¡¯t push her. She had plenty on her te and he had a backlog of work himself, what with Annie borrowed by Ulrich and not yet returned, he was even more swamped. 10:23 ¡°Alright, I suppose you¡¯re bound for the Lunar Lab? I¡¯ll give you a ride and we¡¯ll head home for dinner together.¡± ¡°No thanks. I¡¯ll head back on my own tonight.¡± Palmer smiled in resignation, a trace of fondness tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Okay, but you know you always lose track of time in theb. By the time you remember dinner, the grandpas won¡¯t see hide nor hair of you tonight. So, I think it¡¯s best for me to pick you up.¡± It was true. Whenever Noe delved into an experiment, she becamepletely absorbed, only stopping once she obtained results, and then she¡¯d start a new series of tests, as busy as a bee. Tonight was Marcel¡¯s first night back, and they were having a family dinner with the Schnabels. She couldn¡¯t be absent. Thinking back, there were many nights when Palmer had waited for her at the door, under the stars, without a singleint. With that thought, Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed a deeper red. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you tonight.¡± After dropping her off at Lunar Lab, Palmer rested one hand on the steering wheel and lifted Noe¡¯s hand to his lips, leaving a kiss on her knuckles. ¡°See you tonight.¡± With a flourish of grace in every move he made, his actions were the epitome of gentlemanly conduct. His hand¨Ckissing gesture flowed as smoothly as a river, executed with poise and serenity. Yet, as his lips touched Noe¡¯s hand, she felt a spark of passion so intense, it seemed to linger on her skin. As Palmer¡¯s car drove off, a few of theb techs behind Noe started to whistle. ¡°Whoa there, Mr. Pock sure is a ss act!¡± ¡°Hand¨Ckissing? So chivalrous, so elegant. I¡¯m quite smitten myself!¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Cut it out, don¡¯t be gross! Boss, we all think Mr. Pock¡¯s a catch. When are you gonna¡­ ya know¡­¡± Phecda mimed a shing motion across his neck. ¡°Take him out?¡± Noe nced at them coolly. ¡°You want his head? That¡¯s on you, the organization won¡¯t get involved.¡± ¡°No, I mean, you should totally make a move! Have you seen the guy¡¯s physique? Chef¡¯s kiss, boss. You¡¯d hit the jackpot, and I bet he would too¡­¡± If they kept this up, Noe would never be able to look at Palmer with a straight face again! ¡°Zip it, back to work! Did any of the equipment that came inst time have DNA monitoring 10-23 capabilities?¡± Ivan, with a de of grass hanging from his mouth, pondered for a moment. ¡°Boss! Don¡¯t tell me your current family isn¡¯t biologically rted to you too! No way, they¡¯re too good to you! It¡¯s not easy to con a family that naive¡­¡± Noe couldn¡¯t help it; shended a kick squarely on him! ¡°Out.¡± The group scampered off to theb, each clutching their behinds, fearing another strike. Noe pulled out some hair samples sealed in stic bags, each marked with a different name. ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t these from the olddy from the Schnabel family, your grandpa, and your dad? And whose is this one?¡± ¡°Yvonne, the olddy¡¯s adopted granddaughter.¡± CHapter 124 CHapter 124 In the Lunar Lab, it only took a couple of hours to verify a familial connection with their cutting¨Cedge equipment. ¡°Let¡¯s use maic beads to extract the DNA and run a parallel test with the silica column method.¡± Phecda suggested, slipping on surgical gloves with practiced ease, while Megrez did the same, inquiring. ¡°Boss, if she¡¯s adopted, why the DNA check? It can¡¯t be another Vincent situation, can it?¡± Noe, masked and withshes fluttering like delicate feathers, peered down at the lysis solution she had just enriched with tissue fragments. ¡°In this world, there might be random acts of kindness, but nothing truly happens without reason.¡± She had sensed something off when Vincent and Belinda showered extra attention on Briony, overlooking both her and Old Mrs. Lambert. At that time, it was just suspicion, but when she was suddenly dered not a Lambert, she took matters into her own hands to test her DNA against that of the Lambert family. She was indeed not Vincent¡¯s daughter, and neither was Briony. ¡°So, boss, you think Yvonne might be blood¨Crted to Ashlyn? What¡¯s the angle here? To have your own flesh and blood raised without recognition? If Yvonne really is a Schnabel, why all this cloak¨Cand¨Cdagger stuff?¡± Noe expertly added isopropanol and maic beads to the solution, inverting the tube to mix the contents. ¡°Uncertain. We¡¯ll know once the results are in.¡± She always preferred to let the data do the talking. Phecda was puzzled. If Yvonne was actually Ashlyn¡¯s granddaughter, wouldn¡¯t she rightfully be Ms. Schnabel, entitled to at least the same treatment as their boss? ¡°By the way, boss, Ivan messaged that ¡®Thorpe¡® we nabbedst time, real name Tandy, turns out he¡¯s the head of Heartfelt Orphanage and Tandy Hospital. He¡¯s locked up in Lockhart Prison now.¡± Noe frowned slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t Lockhart on the border?¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve been there before. His activities were border¨Cbased, so they transferred him to the border prison. But ourwork in Lockhart Prison isn¡¯t very strong right now, so meeting him could be tricky.¡± Their Obelisk Organization had its dealings on the deep web and some connection with Lockhart Prison, thergest penitentiary on the border. ¡°Which group has sway over Lockhart Prison right now?¡± Phecda gave Noe a mischievous wink, his mask nearly slipping off. ¡°Cut the clowning, Phecda. Is your mouth crooked or what?¡± Her fingers snapped as she ced the centrifuge tubes into the maic rack. ¡°If your mouth is crooked, I don¡¯t mind helping you fix it.¡± ¡°No, no, no need. I can¡¯t afford your doctor¡¯s fees, Boss. You can find another sucker for that. Right now, Mr. Pock of Abyssal Organization has the most pull at Lockhart. You know, Vocalist.¡± ¡°Boss, all you need to do is marry Vocalist or, you know, show a little leg, wear something slinky, and he¡¯ll be putty in your hands. Hey, hey, no face¨Chitting, I make my living with this mug!¡± Phecda covered his face, feigning horror. ¡°Round it off, and if Vocalist has a say, then so does our Obelisk Organization, right? If you want to see Tandy, just go through Vocalist.¡± Megrez scoffed, ¡°Vocalist might be chums with the top brass at Lockhart, but to get our boss in to see a high¨Cprofile inmate like Tandy, that¡¯s a huge favor to ask. You think our boss likes to be indebted to others?¡± Noe certainly did not! Over the years, she had learned to stand on her own two feet, never bothering others with problems she could handle herself. Phecda chuckled, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Mr. Pock isn¡¯t just anybody; he might be family one day. Besides, if he¡¯s not willing to help with such a small favor, where¡¯s hismitment?¡± Noe¡¯s thoughts submerged as she watched the DNA samples settle in the centrifuge tubes. Tandy was pivotal to her; she had to meet him and find out exactly what happened back at Heartfelt Orphanage, how she had been moved from the Schnabels to the Lamberts. And this might well be connected to ra¡¯s origins! If she could unravel the mystery, at least she¡¯d know who ra¡¯s real family was. ¡°Let me think it over.¡± Phecda stroked his chin. ¡°Or you could just ask Mr. Pock out¨Cdinner, a movie, an amusement park. Isn¡¯t that how all the young couples date these days?¡± Megrez couldn¡¯t bear to watch. ¡°That¡¯s how guys ask girls out, not the other way around. It doesn¡¯t suit our boss!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all the same. Bet if our boss asked Mr. Pock on a date, he¡¯d parachute into theb right now!¡± Phecda winked at Noe, the mastermind behind the scenes. He¡¯d already sent the text. It was up to Mr. Pock to pick up on their boss¡¯s hints. Two hourster, Noe reviewed theb results with a furrowed brow. Everything was as she had anticipated. kin! Meaning. Yvonne was truly Ashlyn¡¯s granddaughter, though unconnected to Marcel. So Ashlyn had her heart set on looking out for Yvonne, which was sort of understandable given that Yvonne was her own flesh and blood, her granddaughter. The notion of Yvonne stepping into her shoes in the Schnabel family wasn¡¯t too far¨Cfetched. At the entrance of theb, Megrez, who had just changed and was about to hit the restroom, let out an exmation, ¡°Holy smokes, Boss, have I time¨Ctraveled or what?¡± Then Noe¡¯s phone buzzed insistently. She neatly arranged theb reports on her desk and picked up the call. Palmer¡¯s voice was deep and seductive,ced with an indefinable allure. ¡°I¡¯m outside. Come on out.¡± Noe was puzzled. Hadn¡¯t they agreed to meet tonight? What on earth was Palmer doing here now? N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Phecda, with a sly smirk, nudged Noe¡¯s shoulder, ushering her towards the door. The scene at theb¡¯s entrance left half the staff dumbstruck, while the jaws of the other half were practically still on the floor. A carpet of roses stretched from the barrennd outside theb, winding its way to a spot ten kilometers away, transforming the entire vicinity into a sea of flowers. Each rose bore a brilliant diamond, dazzling in the sunlight, blinding all the single folks with its splendor. Not far off, several hot air balloons rose into the sky, their colossal shapes painted into heart patterns with the letters ¡°NP¡± emzoned on them! ?N The helicopter¡¯s rotor whipped up waves among the floral sea, and there was Palmer, dressed to the nines in a tuxedo, dangling one¨Chanded from the helicopter¡¯s rope. His face was etched with a tender smile as he descended towards Noe! His movements were fluid and effortless, casual yet dashing, with the surrounding roses merely an embellishment to his knightly presence. ¡°My fianc¨¦e said she wanted a date, and I¡¯m thrilled. I had to throw this together on short notice, but I hope you like it.¡± Noe, frowning at the extravaganza before her, said, ¡°When did I ever say¡­¡± Behind her, Phecda took advantage of her distraction and pushed Noe into Palmer¡¯s arms! ¡°Heh, Boss, your experiment is done. Go enjoy your date!¡± If they let Noe, this workaholic, stay in theb forever, she¡¯d have nothing but experiments on her mind, and their own ns wouldn¡¯t get far. He had sneakily used Noe¡¯s ount to message Palmer. Getting no reply, he thought their 10:24 boss had met his match in another workaholic. But judging by the current setup, at least Mr. Pock knew a thing or two about romance! Noe was enveloped in Palmer¡¯s embrace, her senses wrapped in his scent, CHapter 125 CHapter 125 ¡°Noe, I¡¯m thrilled you¡¯d consider going out with me. Does this mean you¡¯ve been missing me?¡± Noe had finally figured it out; that damn Phecda had used her ount to send the message. The folks at Pris Star were a clever bunch, a nightmare to keep in check. They were all geniuses in their own right, with more tricks up their sleeves than a magician! Even though Noe¡¯s phone hadn¡¯t left her side, they¡¯d still managed to spoof her number and send a text to Palmer! Megrez was whistling nonchntly, a knowing look stered on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss, we¡¯ve jammed the signals around here. Mr. Pock¡¯s grand gesture won¡¯t draw any unwanted attention. At most, people will gossip online about some rich kid¡¯s borate marriage proposal, making us an overnight sensation,¡± he boasted with a grin. Noe sighed at her overly confident team! Was this supposed to be a good thing? Alioth, eyeing the roses, chuckled and said, ¡°Mr. Pock, if you don¡¯t need these flowers, can we turn them into rose petal pies? We¡¯ll even send some your way!¡± ¡°Be my guest. These are indeed edible roses, arranged just to brighten Noe¡¯s day.¡± Palmer wrapped an arm around Noe¡¯s waist, showing no intention of letting go. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Noe took a deep breath. ¡°Let go, or I¡¯ll have to punch you.¡± ¡°A sparring session is part of dating, right? Next time I¡¯ll book us a boxing gym. Does my fianc¨¦e prefer that to an underground fight club?¡± Though his words suggested a challenge, his handsplied with her request. Noe turned to face her subordinates, her smile amiable yet tinged with threat, ¡°You¡¯re all in for it now. Just you wait.¡± A collective shiver ran down their spines as they clutched their necks and scattered! Palmer chuckled affectionately, watching the Pris Star team flee like startled animals. ¡°The people you work with seem to have a good vibe.¡± He could tell they genuinely respected and admired Noe, loyally following her lead. It appeared the girl had quite the knack for leadership, managing to keep the renowned Pris Star team by her side. Surely, there were more facets to her that he had yet to uncover. And he wasn¡¯t in a rush; there was plenty of time to discover all her qualities. ¡°It was Phecda who sent you the message, not me.¡± Noe pulled out her phone, staring nkly at the message Phecud (Dinner tonight? Missing you, my Palmy!] Anyone with half a brain could tell it wasn¡¯t from her, yet Palmer had believed it enough to show up! Palmerughed softly, his arm snaking back around her waist. ¡°I knew it wasn¡¯t you, but the truth is, I¡¯ve been wanting to ask you out. So, I came. I¡¯m not exactly sure how to woo ady, this was all Annie¡¯s advice. If it¡¯s not up to scratch, my fianc¨¦e, I promise I¡¯ll do better next time.¡± He knew full well the message wasn¡¯t from her, yet he hade just because he wanted a date? All because he wanted to see her? ¡°This was all put togetherst minute; I couldn¡¯t find enough roses.¡± He was aware of Noe¡¯s fondness for roses, but sourcing such arge quantity on short notice was a challenge, which had led him to choose the more readily avable, lush roses. ¡°No need for extravagance. Let¡¯s keep it low¨Ckey next time.¡± ¡°Alright, next date will be at a new location, and I¡¯ll have an even bigger surprise for my fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± Surprises could wait; for now, Noe felt fortunate enough not to encounter any shocks stepping out the door! Yet, feeling cherished was undeniably nice. ¡°They mentioned your experiment wrapped up. May I have the honor of taking my fianc¨¦e out?¡± Noe was speechless for a moment before replying, ¡°Sure.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of returning to theb now. She could imagine how the team would have teased her if she walked in. Since she had matters to discuss with Palmer anyway, it made sense to join him. Palmer¡¯s car was parked on the edge of the flower field. With a courteous gesture, he opened the door for Noe and then leaned in to fasten her seat belt with meticulous care. Yet, his presence, much like his scent, was subtle yet profound, seeping into her life and making it hard for her to ignore. ¡°May I inquire about the experiment my fianc¨¦e conducted this afternoon?¡± ¡°You guess.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Palmer raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it the paternity issue between Mr. Tristan Schnabel and the Schnabel family elders?¡± Noe turned her head to watch thendscape fly by. While it was a family matter for the deduce on his own. ¡°Ashlyn isn¡¯t my biological grandmother, that¡¯s all.¡± The matter of Yvonne, however, required a discussion with Tristan to see his perspective, especially since Ashlyn and Yvonne were closer to him. Palmer chuckled. ¡°My fianc¨¦e appears aloof, but she¡¯s actually a caring soul who values her family.¡± He was always honest, eager to express his thoughts and feelings, at the very least to let her sense his fervent affection. Noe rested her head on her hand, hiding the flush that crept onto her cheeks at his words. When he spoke, it always seemed to carry an underlying meaning. ¡°I¡¯m d. It proves that after we¡¯re married, you¡¯ll care for me as much as you do your family,¡± his voice wasced with joy. Listening to him, Noe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Was familial care all he wanted from her? Perhaps for Palmer, she was merely a marriage prospect, nothing more? A mix of disappointment and sorrow washed over Noe, leaving her momentarily dazed. ¡°I need your help with something. Name your terms.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ?? Noe pursed her lips and exined Tandy¡¯s situation, then added, ¡°Because my own people aren¡¯t at Lockhart Prison¡­ but if your Abyssal Organization needs information from other prisons, I can provide it free of charge.¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze remained fixed ahead, his typically icy and solitary demeanor softened by asional glimpses of warmth, yet he carried an undeniable regal presence ¨C the kind that spoke of long¨Cheld authority. ¡°I don¡¯t need any other prisons¡® intel right now. Getting you into Lockhart isn¡¯t the issue, but I¡¯ll need to be by your side,¡± he spoke softly. ¡°My friend only trusts me. You won¡¯t get to see Tandy if you go alone. As for the condition, I need to give it some thought.¡± This was the first time Noe allowed him to set terms, and he intended to make the most of it! Noe spoke indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t keep me waiting.¡± Palmer chuckled lightly. ¡°My term is simple. Until I¡¯m ready to take you to Lockhart, I want you to think of me whenever you have a spare moment.¡± His voice was cool, yetced with a longing tenderness. ¡°Noe, what I ask is for you to try and trust me a bit more. I¡¯d help you regardless of any benefit to myself; not all emotions in this 10:24 world can be measured by profit. I like you for being you, not because you¡¯re Wise Fool or anyone else.¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes met Noe¡¯s, his words imbued with an assertive edge. ¡°I hope, or rather, I demand, that you try to like me a little too.¡± CHapter 126 CHapter 126 To Noe, that seemed like a wishful thinking. Ever since she was lured out of Glen Vige by the Fuller family under the guise of affection, only to nearly lose her way back to Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s embrace, she had learned never to trust anyone¡¯s promation of fondness. Yet, despite herself, this very demand stirred something unfamiliar within her. She remained silent, and Palmer just waited. Winning over Noe¡¯s heart and mind was a long road ahead, but when he saw Noe in her white lab coat, standing with the members of Pris Star, it ignited a fierce sense of urgency in him. Her expression was indifferent, her eyes as icy as those of the colleagues she stood with, as if they were the ones she truly belonged to. Suddenly, Palmer feared that if she couldn¡¯t find a way to like him, she might one day return to Pris Star. And if that happened, he might lose the chance to see her ever again. Under that starry night sky of Glen Vige back then, as Noe slept, Palmer leaned against the window, gazing at the moonlit mountains. The vige was close to the border, near the fabled Pris Star Lab. He had experienced many surprises with Noe but was acutely aware that no girl, no matter how troubled her past, would choose the life of an assassin without reason. Having walked a simr path, he knew the torment it entailed, akin to walking through fire. He didn¡¯t wish to delve into what Noe had endured, but he was desperate to know how he could protect her better. Palmer, who had dominated boardrooms for years, securing billion¨Cdor deals with strategic finesse, found himself at a loss when it came to the girl who had captured his heart. Palmer drove to thergest shopping mall owned by the Pock Group, pulled up in his sleek car, and took Noe¡¯s hand as they stepped out. ¡°Can my fianc¨¦e tell me what role you yed in Pris Star?¡± he asked. ¡°If you¡¯re asking, you probably have an idea,¡± she replied. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Verdant Garden¡¯s proximity to the border meant Palmer would surely know about the Pris Star lab and the Obelisk Organization base nearby. Her role at Pris Star? That was no longer important. Children taken by the Pris Star underwent inhuman trials to enhance their intellect. Chosen for their brilliance, even their remarkable smarts were not enough. Noe chuckled ruefully. The founder of Pris Star was a madman! She had moved past that dark chapter and didn¡¯t wish to revisit it. Seeing that she didn¡¯t want to continue. Palmer didn¡¯t press further. He had guessed her past identity. If other stars followed her lead, she must have been groomed to be a leader in Pris Star! His girl must have endured so much. Taking her hand, Palmer led her into the mall. The grandiose mall was a cathedral of luxury, with a red carpet stretching from the entrance to every level. Employees stood on either side, each holding a bouquet of roses, their backdrop a collection of the season¡¯s luxury items. For their date, Palmer had arranged to have the entire mall at their disposal, all brands at the service of his fianc¨¦e. Behind the employees, a grand rose tree sculpture in the main hall, fashioned in the likeness of a girl with a gown adorned with sparkling gems, unmistakably resembled Noe! Below it, a band in formal attire struck up a waltz, the internationally renowned Sanctified Melody Band, whose tickets usually cost a small fortune, was there just for Palmer and Noe¡¯s first date. The mall manager, beside himself with excitement, rubbed his hands and said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Pock, Ms. Noe, the tearoom is prepared, and all the new items in your size are here for you to choose from!¡± Working for the Pock Group for years, he had never seen Mr. Pock so intent on pleasing a girl. When he received the call, his hands trembled, fearing the worst for the mall, but the boss had called personally to arrange a date setup to a girl¡¯s liking! The manager was stunned; after all, everyone knew about the engagement between Mr. Pock and Ms. Schnabel. And for Noe¡¯s birthday, the mall had reced every celebrity poster with birthday greetings for her. In that moment, the manager knew Ms. Noe was no ordinary person. After hanging up, he swiftly arranged the spectacle before them- a rose sculpture crafted in the pose Noe had taken during her birthday dance. Noe looked up at the three¨Cstory rose sculpture, then turned to the manager. ¡°Who made this?¡± ¡°I did,¡± the manager puffed out his chest proudly. ¡°Though I must confess, my hobby is gardening. The time was short, and I couldn¡¯t quite capture Ms. Noe¡¯s gracepletely. My apologies.¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze lingered on the rose sculpture. ¡°Preserve it, turn it into an eternal bloom, and send it to the Pock Mansion.¡± He wanted to keep this massive thing in their home? Wasn¡¯t it a bit much? 10.04 Palmer said earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s perfect. After we¡¯re married, let¡¯s make a bigger one, of the two of us.¡± The manager nearly choked with excitement! Was Mr. Pock envisioning his married life with Ms. Noe? Rumors were swirling that the Pock¨CSchnabel union was nothing more than a business marriage, devoid of any real affection. But it looked like Mr. Pock had a soft spot for Ms. Schnabel after all. Judging by the looks of it, wedding bells might be ringing sooner than expected. The manager was quick to chime in. ¡°When Mr. Pock and Ms. Noe tie the knot, our department store will present you with a splendid evesting floral sculpture as a congrattory gift!¡± Palmer couldn¡¯t hide the grin in his eyes as he took Noe by the hand and led her towards the row of luxury brands hanging on disy. ¡°What do you think? Should we give out evesting floral favors to our wedding guests?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking this.¡± When had she ever actually agreed to marry him? ¡°Not enough, if you ask me.¡± If he had his way, he¡¯d spare no thought or effort to give Noe the grandest wedding the world has ever seen! Nonchntly, Noe picked a few gifts. ¡°Wrap these up, they¡¯re for ra; this one¡¯s for Beckett; and that for Ulrich¡­¡± She had chosen items that would perfectly suit each member of the Schnabel family, not missing a single one, even remembering Freya, who was still buried in herb work, and Sexton wasn¡¯t forgotten either. Palmer caught Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°What about mine? You have chosen gifts for everyone, where¡¯s mine?¡± Noe gave him a helpless look. Choosing a gift for him in his own store felt like plucking wool off a sheep to gift it back to the animal. Undeterred, Palmer led her towards the elevator. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you haven¡¯t got a gift for me. I¡¯ve prepared something for you, and giving it to you makes me just as happy as receiving something from you.¡± Him being happy to give her a gift? What kind of logic was that? ¡°Do you just like spending money?¡± ¡°I like spending money on you.¡± Palmer¡¯s reflection mirrored in the elevator¡¯s glossy interior, his suit sharp and his tie and shirt without a single crease. His gaze was so tender it seemed it 10:04 could melt into droplets. ¡°You know,¡± he said with a tone full of indulgence, ¡°it¡¯s a blissful thing, driving an Uber to buy a gift for the girl you like.¡± CHapter 127 CHapter 127 Did he really just describe his empire as driving for Uber? When Noe first met him, she truly thought he was just some poor kid who needed to hustle as a hitman and Uber driver to make ends meet. Back then, she even consoled him, telling him not to envy the high society, iming it was nothing fancy. Little did she know, he was the head honcho of the Pock Group, worth enough to buy out a bunch of folks on the dark web. The idea of him moonlighting as a hitman there was beyond belief. Not to mention how he¡¯d been dutifully ferrying her to and from work. Looking back on it now, it was kind of hrious! Palmer led Noe through the bustling mall to the top floor. Annie stood at the entrance of the shooting range, smiling and holding a velvet box. ¡°Ms. Noe, you look stunning today, and Boss looks like a human.¡± She must be out of her mind topliment the boss in front of his fianc¨¦e. Besides, no boss looks good on the job; they¡¯re all capitalists! But Ms. Noe was different, graceful and poised, intelligent andposed¨Ctruly the most beautiful princess in the world! ¡°Annie, I thought you and Ulrich took off together?¡± ¡°Oh, he had me shadowing Ms. Yvonne, but since she¡¯s back with Ashlyn, I¡¯m back on the clock.¡± Annie thought to herself, it was all tears and sweat. Tailgating Yvonne seemed easy, but only those who did it knew the struggle. Yvonne had been doing practically nothing thest couple of days besides lounging in hotels and hanging out in nightclubs. The hardest part for Annie was sneaking into her room to swap out the Nourishment Pill Yvonne bought, almost running out of ces to step. Just thinking about that room made Annie want to cry. After years in the business, it was a first for her to dig through a dumpster for something. ¡°The Nourishment Pill has been delivered to Ms. Noe¡¯sb, and this is a gift Mr. Pock prepared for you.¡± Annie opened the box she held, revealing a pair of exquisite couple¡¯s watches nestled in luxurious velvet, each diamond sparkling. Etched inside the watch face was a discreet series. of numbers. Noe recognized it as a date. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Palmer picked up one of the watches and slipped it onto Noe¡¯s wrist, ¡°The first day I met you. You might have forgotten, but it¡¯s an important day to me.¡± ¡°I thought our first meeting was at Imperial West Hospital.¡± Of course not. Earlier than that, in Northstone, when his life hung by a thread and he was about to reunite with his mother in hell, a pair of soft yet firm hands grabbed his, pulling him from the abyss! ¡°No. This day is.¡± ¡°I remember being in Northstone then.¡± Palmer sped her hand and wrapped his arms around Noe¡¯s waist from behind, lifting the newly fastened watch towards the distant target. His breath fell on her ear, so close she could hear his heartbeat. ¡°It was in Northstone, and you were like this.¡± Palmer took Noe¡¯s hand and pressed a hidden switch on the watch. A sharp dart flew from the face of the watch, hitting the bullseye dead center! This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Just like that, you took out the drug lord in front of me and saved me. If I had known then that you were my fianc¨¦e, I would never have let you go.¡± Palmer¡¯s voice was husky, his longshes brushing against Noe¡¯s ear as his breath and kiss landed on her cheek, sending ripples through her. Noe¡¯s face flushed instantly, and a strange emotion surged within her. ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time; it¡¯s normal to forget. It¡¯s enough that I remember. The watch has three darts. They¡¯re not usually needed, but they¡¯re good for self¨Cdefense.¡± He had custom¨Cmodified the watch himself. From the moment he saw her, Palmer had thought of giving her the perfect gift. He¡¯d give her jewelry and diamonds befitting his noble and elegant fianc¨¦e. A watch with little secrets and his personal touch was for the mysterious and formidable rival, and the girl he adored! ¡°So, you like me because I saved you?¡± ¡°No, I liked you, and then I learned you had once saved me. Logically, it¡¯s just made me like you more, not because of a life debt.¡± There might seem to be no difference, but Palmer stubbornly wanted her to know that his affections were unrted to any identity from the start! Annie, pretending to be a statue in the corner, looked away. The boss was on a roll! But judging by Ms. Noe¡¯s reaction, it might take a while before the boss wins her over. When would Ms. Noe be her boss? It didn¡¯t matter, she could always jump ship and work for Ms. Noe. Surely the Obelisk Organization could use a strong and smart female assistant like her, right? Noe nced at the other watch in the box, caught Palmer¡¯s suggestive gaze, and, understanding, took it out to put it on him. ¡°What¡¯s special about your watch?¡± 10:05 W ¡°Just an ordinary watch. If there¡¯s anything different, it¡¯s that you put it on me.¡± He hadn¡¯t invested much thought in his own watch. He just hoped that every time she looked at the time, she¡¯d think of him. That way, he¡¯d be part of all her moments! Noe thought for a moment, then took off the watch from Palmer¡¯s wrist and held it. ¡°What goes aroundes around. I¡¯ll modify it and then give it back to you.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Palmer restrained the joy bubbling in his heart, his smile uncontroble. Noe, seeing his exuberant expression, couldn¡¯t help but smile along. Maybe trying to get along with him wasn¡¯t such a bad idea? At the very least, it seemed to bring her joy as well! The abrupt ring of a cellphone broke the moment, and Noe nced at her phone. ¡°There¡¯s trouble at the gallery: I need to head over.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay, Annie can drive me.¡± If her memory served her right, Palmer probably had a mountain of things to tackle, and managing to carve out time to be with her was likely the work of Phecda¡¯s cunning little text. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pick you up tonight, and we¡¯ll have dinner at home.¡± Noe nodded in agreement, leaving the mall under Palmer¡¯s longing gaze alongside Annie. Annie was buzzing with excitement! Ms. Noe had asked her for a ride, ditching her own boss in the process. What did that imply? Rounded up, it basically meant she was already on Ms. Noe¡¯s payroll! Annie could almost see the offer letter from the Obelisk Organization fluttering before her eyes. Who cared about her current boss when the prospect of having a sweet and gentledy boss was on the horizon? Noe sat in the car, her gaze steady. ¡°Annie, in the past couple of days you¡¯ve been shadowing Yvonne, did you notice anything off about her?¡± ¡°Let me think¡­ yeah, there¡¯s something. Ms. Yvonne has been ying cards a lot recently with a few people, but there¡¯s one person who wasn¡¯t part of her usual circle.¡± Yvonne was the typical spoiled rich girl, her life a cycle of shopping sprees and card games into the wee hours of the night. Annie pondered before speaking cautiously. ¡°And you know what, Ms. Noe, I suspect Ms. Yvonne might be dabbling in a bad thing!¡± CHapter 128 CHapter 128 ¡°What is a bad thing?¡± Annie focused on the road ahead, her hands firmly on the steering wheel, her gaze resolute. ¡°To me, anything that goes against morals, thew, or ethics is a bad thing.¡± Noe chuckled softly. ¡°I feel the same way.¡± Annie sighed in relief, grateful that Ms. Noe shared her views. It gave her the courage to share her troubling discovery! ¡°The guy Yvonne was ying cards with seemed a bit too close forfort. I checked Yvonne¡¯s ounts, and the moneying in recently was either from Ashlyn or that guy, and it wasn¡¯t chump change. From their chats, it looked just like a normal business rtionship. At first, I thought he was some rtive of the Schnabel family, but he wasn¡¯t. That¡¯s why I kept an eye on them.¡± Annie believed that anyone giving awayrge sums of money for no apparent reason was definitely suspicious! ¡°The thing is¡­¡± Annie hesitated, clenching her teeth as if struggling to speak, ¡°Yvonne, she calls the guy ¡®Dad¡®.¡± The chat logs gave Annie the creeps. She thought she¡¯d stumbled upon something bizarre, but it turned out this guy really acted like a dad to Yvonne. Yet, she¡¯d never heard of the Schnabel family adopting godfathers for their kids. Noe nodded, understanding that if someone was that close to Yvonne and giving her so much money, he was probably her biological father. If she remembered correctly, Ashlyn publicly imed that Yvonne was an orphan. It seemed they might have been pulling the wool over everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°What¡¯s his background?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a businessman, but from the Gruber family. We can¡¯t really probe further.¡± The Gruber family held significant sway in Imperial City. Though they didn¡¯t quite match the Pock or Schnabel families, they still held influence. Digging into Gruber affairs wasn¡¯t simple. Annie did right not to pry deeper. ¡°I see. Thanks for the ride. Go home and rest; we can talk more after you¡¯ve slept.¡± Noe noticed the dark circles under Annie¡¯s eyes ¨C a clear sign ofck of sleep, probably from the hectic days with Yvonne. Tears of gratitude welled in Annie¡¯s eyes! Did Ms. Noe ask her to drive just so she could get 10:05 some rest? What kind of angel was Ms. Noe? Annie nodded like a pecking chicken, watching Noe enter the gallery, reluctant to leave. If only she could work for Ms. Noe, chatting with her every day. Oh, how she longed to switch jobs! Travis stood at the door, respectfully waiting for Noe. ¡°Ms. Noe, several of our partners have abruptly cut ties with us, and we have an exhibition scheduled ¨C the invites are already out. If we can¡¯t proceed as nned, it will tarnish the gallery¡¯s reputation and financial standing¡­¡± Travis was on the verge of tears. Noe entered the gallery, her tone even, ¡°When is the exhibition?¡± ¡°Thursday, tomorrow. We¡¯ve invited many artists and media. It¡¯s toote to retract the invites, but those suppliers just backed out on us without any notice, not even willing to pay the penalties.¡± Noe sat in her office chair and nced at the supplier information. A coincidence? They were mostlypanies tied to the Gruber family or rted businesses. Essentially, all were industries that thrived thanks to the Gruber family. ¡°How many pieces are we short?¡± ¡°One hundred and thirty, and we still need to set up an exhibition hall. We can¡¯t get the materials ¨C there¡¯s only onepany in Imperial City that supplies them.¡± Travis was frantic, the exhibition hanging by a thread. Why didn¡¯t Ms. Noe look worried? Perhaps she was overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation? ¡°Change the materials. We¡¯ll find another solution for the exhibition hall. Leave the artwork to me.¡± Change materials? If it were that simple! With caution, Travis replied, ¡°Ms. Noe, our gallery has a sterling reputation. We don¡¯t use subpar materials, and they¡¯re not good for our guests¡® health¡­¡± Noe gave him a measured look. ¡°Construct with a space frame system, using aluminum for the main frame. Change the venue to an oil painting theme, based on Master Killian¡¯s work.¡± ¡°That could work, but the space framepany¡­..¡® Hadn¡¯t he already said they refused to cooperate? If finding a suitable space frame supplier were easy, he wouldn¡¯t be so distressed! 10:05 Noe picked up the phone and called Beckett ¡°Beckett, I need a batch of space frames for the exhibition tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll have them delivered ASAP,¡± Hope flickered in Travis¡¯s evest R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only How could he forget? His new boss was none other than Ms. Noelta from the Schoolbel tamily What material could the Schnabel family not procure? ¡°But we don¡¯t have that many paintings, let alone Master Killian¡¯s oil paintings, Our entire gallery has only five.¡± ¡°I have a n. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Travis was about to say more, but seeing Noe¡¯s calm demeanor, he swallowed his words. Fine, even if they were short on artwork, at least the exhibition hall would be ready. They could use the lesser works from the storage as ceholders., though the gallery¡¯s reputation was at stake. Noe nced at Travis. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the artwork, ensuring the exhibition won¡¯t be any less impressive than expected. But I want to know why these suppliers suddenly decided not to cooperate?¡± Refusing to work with the gallery, even at the cost of high penalties, didn¡¯t make sense. Moreover, these werepanies that had previously coborated, and it would certainly damage their reputation as it showed theirck ofmitment to contractual obligations. Travis hesitated, stuttering for a while, ¡°Um¡­ um¡­ it¡¯s because thesepanies, I don¡¯t know what they heard, but they said that since our gallery changed owners, they¡­¡± Thepanies in question were like old wolves, previously treading carefully out of respect for the former boss, her grandfather Merrick. They behaved like obedient grandkids, not daring to step out of line. But with the gallery under new management, these samepanies started to strut around like they owned the ce. It seemed they felt slighted because Noe, a neer to the scene, hadn¡¯t hosted a weing dinner or engaged in the right small talk. They were now showing Noe a cold shoulder, hoping to make her bend and learn the ropes of how to y the game of favors and networking in the business world. Noe snorted in derision. ¡°Good grief, their heads are so full of muck, always looking to y the role of the big shot, schooling the younger generation. At their age, still clinging to their positions¨C it¡¯s clear there¡¯s not much upstairs.¡± Although Travis secretly agreed, he wouldn¡¯t dare voice it! Ms. Noe seemed all sugar and spice, but who would¡¯ve thought she could be so sharp¨Ctongued and feisty! ¡°I bet they¡¯ll show up at the exhibition tomorrow to gawk, probably waiting for you to stumble. 10:05 and then go crawling back to them,¡± Travis ventured. Noe let out a soft chuckle, replying coolly. ¡°Stumble? Well, that¡¯s perfect. I rather enjoy watching others make fools of themselves.¡± Travis, watching her exude such strategic confidence, became curious himself. Where on earth was Ms. Noe going to find enough artwork? He really wanted to see those snobs put in their ce! ¡°Ms. Noe, I¡¯ve got some pieces back home that could help fill the space. Should I bring them over?¡± ¡°No need,¡± she replied smoothly. ¡°I¡¯ve got it covered.¡± CHapter 129 CHapter 129 Did Ms. Noe have a trick up her sleeve? Was she considering borrowing the entire Schnabel family¡¯s art collection for the exhibit? If the Schnabels were willing to lend their pieces, it would indeed solve the gallery¡¯s dilemma. ¡°If the Schnabels¡® paintings could be shipped in time, we might just pull this off. But I wonder how many of Master Killian¡¯s paintings they actually have.¡± Noe shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. ¡°We don¡¯t need to borrow from the Schnabels. There aren¡¯t even thirty of Master Killian¡¯s paintings across the entire Imperial City,¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s your n, Ms. Noe?¡± Noe scribbled and sketched, quickly passing her new galleryyout to Travis. ¡°Get to setting up the exhibit. I¡¯ll handle the materials. Pay the workers triple for today, and overtime is extra.¡± Travis¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the new gallery design Noe handed him. The original exhibition design had cost the gallery a pretty penny,missioned from a professional team. Yet Noe¡¯s changes elevated the whole aesthetic to a new level! ¡°Ms. Noe, your design is sheer genius! With your simple tweaks, the initial concept has been transformed magnificently. It¡¯s like you¡¯ve worked a miracle! Absolutely brilliant! Not only is it better, but it also saves materials andplements Master Killian¡¯s pastoral oil paintings even more. Even if we¡¯re short on artworks tomorrow, the exhibit itself will be enough to draw a crowd!¡± Could this be the backup n Ms. Noe had prepared? 1 Travis could hardly contain his excitement! Noe casually tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and spoke coolly, ¡°Half the staff have vanished, suppliers have suddenly be uncooperative. As the manager, care to exin?¡± Travis¡¯s smile faltered. When Noe had walked into the gallery earlier, she hadn¡¯t seemed to look around, and Travis had even removed the staff attendance records for the past two days, fearing she¡¯d notice the issue. Still, Ms. Noe had uncovered the problem! Under Noe¡¯s probing gaze, Travis wiped his brow and said defensively, ¡°Ms. Noe, the Gruber family¡¯s new gallery poached our staff!¡± If it weren¡¯t for the staff defection, with artists in limbo and suppliers pulling out, the exhibition wouldn¡¯t be facing such dire straits. ¡°They left us?¡± 10:05 ¡°Yes, one of our senior managers took her entire team with her.¡± Such mass defections weren¡¯t unheard of, but it was a blow, considering the defectors were in charge of the exhibit in question! Travis seethed at the thought. ¡°Petra crossed a line. She knew how much we invested in this exhibition and how many media professionals we invited. The upfront costs were substantial. If we can¡¯t deliver due to thisst¨Cminute fiasco, the Gruber¡¯s new gallery will overshadow us! To leave is one thing, but her timing suggests malice! She even imed we wronged her, though her sry was nearly higher than mine.¡± As Travis vented his indignation, Noe nced at her phone nonchntly. Messages from the Schnabel family and Palmer filled her screen, which Noe replied to with a series of emojis. If she didn¡¯t respond, the Schnabels mighte looking for her after work. The thought alone was amusing to Noe, but unnecessary. Emojis would suffice. Amid the officemotion, a woman in heels strode in with an air of superiority, looking down at Noe. ¡°Ms. Noe, you haven¡¯t signed my resignation letter, and I¡¯ve yet to receive mypensation from thepany.¡± Travis nearly exploded with anger upon seeing her. ¡°Petra, how dare you show your face here? Why would the gallery owe you anything?¡± Petra smirked with disdain at Travis. ¡°I fronted the cost for materials for each exhibit, and the gallery has docked my pay. Plus, they owe me bonuses for all my overtime. Now that Ms. Noe is here, let¡¯s settle this.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She ced an itemized bill on Noe¡¯s desk. Travis¡¯s face turned crimson with rage. How shameless of Petra! Noe chuckled lightly at the list. ¡°Do you even understand thew?¡± ¡°Ms. Noe, what do you mean by that? I¡¯m entitled topensation ording toborws.¡± ¡°Resigning of your own ord and you need my signature? Besides, considering your history of kickbacks, we definitely need to settle ounts.¡± Petra¡¯s smug expression vanished as she faced the 19¨Cyear¨Cold girl. What could she know? Just a spoiled girl, clueless and coddled by her family. Petra had even hinted at a raise, yet Noe had ignored it! Now, with the Gruber family¡¯s gallery offering her a lucrative deal to manage, Petra thought she could stir up trouble and possibly gain from it. ¡°Ms. Noe, what do you mean by that? The gallery never reimbursed me for the materials.¡± Noe nodded, booted up herputer and essed the backend system. Her slender fingers danced across the keyboard, quickly pulling up a long list of data. ¡°Here are all the exhibits you¡¯ve worked on in your ten years at the gallery, with every material cost ounted for. Last month¡¯s Medieval special exhibit had costs of eighteen thousand, and you imed thirty thousand. That extra twelve thousand, was that supposed to be a gift to the gallery? Over ten years, you¡¯ve siphoned off 3.5 million in this way. And you¡¯re still concerned about quarterly bonuses?¡± Noe leaned back in her chair, her expression cool and detached as she regarded Petra standing before her. ¡°What are you even talking about? How can you prove these figures are legit? Do you have any idea what these materials are going for in the market?¡± With a flick of her wrist, Noe tossed a price list onto the table between them. ¡°So, enlighten me. What¡¯s the going rate for these materials in the market? Aluminum frames for fifty grand a pop? Never heard of it.¡± Petra¡¯s eyes scanned the price listid out before her, which detailed almost all of the major materials needed for the exhibition, along with their market prices! Using the ess Beckett had granted her, Noe swiftly navigated thepany¡¯s internalwork. With a nce, she found all the information she needed, printed it out, and ced it in front of Petra. Travis, witnessing the scene, waspletely bbergasted as hepared Petra¡¯s submitted quote to the market price list. ¡°How could you have the nerve to mark it up this much? Skimming off the top every exhibition, pocketing tens of thousands!¡± Was she here to work, or to y the stock market? This was outright theft! Petra panicked; she hadn¡¯t expected Noe to uncover so much information so quickly, especially about the inted material costs! All she could do now was insist that everything Noe was saying was fabricated and had nothing to do with her. Noe saw right through Petra¡¯s denial. ¡°Whether what I say is true or not isn¡¯t the point. I don¡¯t need you or your underlings. If your hearts aren¡¯t in our gallery, then your presence isn¡¯t required here either. Maybe a stint in the mmer will teach you how to properly switch jobs.¡± The mmer? Petra¡¯s eyes bulged, her previous arrogance gone, nearly copsing right there on the spot! ¡°No, Ms. Noe, I can¡¯t go to jail. The Gruber family, it was the Gruber family who told me to do 10.05 this. They knew about the gallery opening tomorrow and deliberately had the suppliers cut us off.¡± Noe gave her a nce, her voice light, ¡°So, embezzling from the gallery was also the Gruber family¡¯s idea?¡± Petra was speechless! ¡°No, please, no police, Ms. Noe, I¡¯ll bring those workers back, we¡¯ll work our fingers to the bone for thepany, never cking off again!¡± Noe didn¡¯t spare her another look. ¡°I don¡¯t need beasts of burden; I need partners.¡± Petra still wore an expression of disbelief even as the police arrived to escort her away, adorned in shiny new bracelets. She couldn¡¯tprehend how her n to cause a scene had led to her own arrest. Travis looked at Noe with utter respect. Ms. Noe was incredible, spotting the issue with Petra right away! ¡°Ms. Noe, how did you know Petra had inted her quote by so much?¡± CHapter 130 CHapter 130 Every exhibition at the gallery was overseen by Petra and her team. Plus, since Merrick didn¡¯t establish the gallery to turn a profit, and Travis wasn¡¯t specifically in charge of the exhibitions, no one realized how much Petra had overcharged them! She had been siphoning gallery funds all along, behind the scenes! ¡°No big deal just one look and you¡¯ll know.¡± She reviewed all the past exhibitions the gallery had hosted. Some of the materials happened to have been developed by Pris Star, but after failing to meet Noe¡¯s standards, their patents were sold to otherbs. No one knew the cost of those materials better than her! In addition, the markup in Petra¡¯s quotes was outrageously high. Indeed, the patents for those materials had been sold to the Gruber family¡¯s corporation, while the sessful Pris Star products were marketed under their own brand. Several material suppliers under Beckett¡¯s control had long¨Cterm contracts with Pris Star. ¡°Ms. Noe, even although Petra has been taken away, what about her team? Could they leak information about the exhibition? Will tomorrow¡¯s event bepromised?¡± Travis found it hard to believe that Petra was capable of such deceit! After all, if she could embezzle from the gallery for years, she could just as well spill trade secrets to the Gruber family¡¯s gallery! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve made the necessary changes. We¡¯ll start setting up as soon as the materials arrive.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Travis was still anxious about tomorrow¡¯s exhibition, but Noe¡¯s calm demeanor suddenly filled him with confidence. Ms. Noe was so capable, she might have another ace up her sleeve. After wrapping up at the gallery, the moon hung high outside the window. Annie knocked on the office door. ¡°Ms. Noe, Mr. Pock is here to take you home for dinner.¡± Dinner? Tonight was dinner at the Schnabel family home, and it seemed the elders must have been nagging her toe home already. Checking her phone, sure enough, there were several messages from Marcel, wondering why she hadn¡¯te home yet. [Noe, why aren¡¯t you home yet?] [Pick up a box of date and sweet potato pie for me on your way home, I¡¯m craving it.] (Oh, don¡¯t worry if you can¡¯t find it, no need to go out of your way, juste home!] A faint smile yed on Noe¡¯s lips, as if she could already see Marcel babbling on before her, eagerly anticipating his dessert. [Grandpa, I¡¯ll be home soon. Don¡¯t wait for me for dinner, just start without me.] Marcel replied almost immediately: [We must wait! Hurry back, darling!) Noe rose, donning her coat, and continued discussing the details of tomorrow¡¯s exhibition with Travis as she walked out. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Annie followed, her face adorned with a professional smile. Ms. Noe was so captivating at work! Just listening to her give orders, Annie could feel the charismatic aura emanating from her every gesture. She was utterly enchanting. ¡°Ms. Noe, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll keep a close eye on things. Go home and enjoy your dinner.¡± ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± Noe approached the Cayenne parked curbside, with Annie having already opened the door, respectfully waiting for her to get in. Palmer sat inside, his gaze never leaving Noe for a second, burning with intensity like moonlight, until she got into the car. Every time he saw her, he found it hard to look away, as if he could never get enough. ¡°Could we stop by Eternal Joy Pastry first? Grandpa wants their confections.¡± Annie was quick to respond, ¡°Of course! Absolutely no problem!¡± A trip for pastries was a trivial matter, given that it was Ms. Noe who gave the order. Palmer cast a puzzled nce at Annie; why did his assistant seem so overly enthusiastic about his lady? ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need to thank me, Ms. Noe. Whatever you ask, Mr. Pock will surely oblige!¡± Annie¡¯s heart trembled. ncing in the rear¨Cview mirror, she saw her boss looking at her with a displeased expression. Had she said something wrong? After some thought, Annie realized her enthusiasm for Ms. Noe might have sparked jealousy in Mr. Pock. But who could resist Ms. Noe¡¯s charm? To protect her job and future prospects, Annie chose to be the perfect assistant, always eager to please her boss. True to form, Palmer¡¯s mood seemed to improve at her words! ¡°Does my fianc¨¦e have a favorite dessert?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not fond of sweets.¡± Traditional desserts were often too sweet, but Old Mrs. Lambert also loved Eternal Joy Pastry¡¯s 10:20 date and sweet potato pie. Remembering Marcel¡¯s craving warmed Noe¡¯s heart, reminding her of the wonderful bond within her current family. Yet, no one could rece her grandmother¡¯s ce in her heart. Although Old Mrs. Lambert would never again pester her for a slice of that pie¡­ Thoughts of Old Mrs. Lambert brought a wistful look to Noe¡¯s eyes. Palmer squeezed Noe¡¯s hand, pulling her towards him and wrapping his arms around her waist. ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°Just let me hold you for a moment; it¡¯ll be quick. You might not realize, but reviewing all those financial statements is exhausting.¡± Working for the Pock Group was demanding, and before meeting Noe, Palmer practically lived at the office, seldom returning home. But since knowing her, he found himself yearning to go home! Even though his house was still stark,vishly furnished like a showroom andcking the warmth of a home, just standing in his own room and watching the light flicker behind the pinkce curtains in her bedroom was enough to keep himpany through countless nights. He longed for the day they could live together! Until then, even glimpsing her room across the vast garden was enough. Noe was at a loss for words, taken aback by the intimate gesture. Yet, she didn¡¯t push Palmer away. She said in a matter¨Cof¨Cfact tone, ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have to work yourself to the bone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such an ingrate,¡± Palmer¡¯s breath tickled her neck, warm and teasing like a feather brushing by, causing Noe to involuntarily shrink back. His voice was deep and seductive, with a hint of yful charm. ¡°I work hard, so I can spend more time with you,¡± he murmured. Otherwise, why would he pile up all his work like this? ¡°But it seems my fianc¨¦e is a workaholic too. Looks like I¡¯ll have to book an appointment to take you out on a date.¡± He had waited outside her office for a long time. Her gallery office was encased in floor¨Cto¨Cceiling ss, and Palmer only had to look up to see his girl bustling about inside. Even just watching her like this made his heart race; every time he saw her, he couldn¡¯t control the wild thrumming in his chest! Outside the Eternal Joy Bakery, Palmer insisted, ¡°I¡¯ll go get it. It¡¯s chilly out there.¡± The night breeze in the city did have a nip to it, and he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her stepping 10:20 out into the cold. Noe sat in the car waiting, watching Palmer, dressed in his sharp suit, stride confidently into the pastry shop. This man seemed tomand the spotlight wherever he went, with the surrounding lights ying second fiddle to his presence! Ten minutester, Palmer returned to the car with an armful of treats. ¡°Why so many?¡± Noe asked, her brows knitting together. Marcel needed to watch his sugar intake; he couldn¡¯t have all these treats. ¡°I got something for everyone. Remember when you were picking out gifts and you told me to keep your family in mind? They¡¯re going to be my family too.¡± His tone was gentle, his expression tender. ¡°Noe, I love you, and I¡¯ll love your family too.¡± CHapter 131 CHapter 131 Under the cloak of night, the man¡¯s profile was etched with such intricate detail it could have been mistaken for a masterful painting. Emotions, impossible to ignore, flickered in his deep eyes, almost as if he wished to melt the girl before him. Noe turned her face away slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile, though her voice held a cool detachment. ¡°I get it.¡± Palmer ruffled her hair roughly, chuckling with a touch of annoyance. After all he¡¯d said, that was her response? Winning her over was clearly going to be a marathon, not a sprint! Annie drove along, handling the steering wheel with the ease of someone shucking oysters. Unbelievable, the boss was so different around Ms. Noe. Who would have thought that Palmer, known as the Frost Yama at the helm of Pock Group, could be so bold around Miss Noe? But then again, Ms. Noe deserved nothing less than the world¡¯s finest! At the Schnabel Manor, Marcel sat at the head of the table, his neck craned in anticipation. The sight of Noe and Palmer walking in hand in hand transformed his stern face into andscape of joyous wrinkles. ¡°Grandpa, we¡¯re back. Had to handle some things at the gallery this afternoon, then took some time to rx,¡± Noe said. ¡°What¡¯s up with the gallery? Merrick, how could you give Noe a problematic gallery?¡± Marcel asked. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Merrick was confused. ¡°When did I ever give Noe a problematic gallery? That gallery is the biggest in Imperial City! It was meant for Noe once she came of age, a gift from the year she was born!¡± He might not have managed it much over the years, and that was because hecked a business knack, but he¡¯d hired a professional team to take care of it! And with Beckett always keeping an eye out, what could possibly go wrong? Beckett, eyeing the sped hands of Noe and Palmer, was anything but pleased. He had always suspected Palmer of trying to steal his sister¡¯s heart, probably with ulterior motives! As for that engagement, what era were they living in? If his sister sent their secret sibling signal, he¡¯d find a way to break it off! Beckett pulled Noe aside and strode off with authority. ¡°Noe,e sit with me. I¡¯ve already sent over the materials the gallery needed and even got thepany¡¯s construction crew to 10:20 check in.¡± Tristan, worried his daughter might be taken advantage of at the gallery, quickly interjected, ¡°Sweetheart, what¡¯s wrong with the gallery? Do you need Dad¡¯s help?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, just some unexpected issues. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Noe reassured him. Sexton frowned at his grandson Palmer. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re looking after Noe? Howe there is a problem with her gallery? Next time, go to work with her!¡± Palmer looked helplessly at the irritable Sexton. He would love to go to work with his girl every day, but she probably wouldn¡¯t like that. ¡°If Noe wouldn¡¯t mind thepany, I¡¯d arrange to work with her starting tomorrow,¡± he offered. Beckett scoffed, ¡°Who wants to work with you? Mr. Pock¡¯s family business is vast, so it¡¯s better to first manage one¡¯s own affairs well.¡± ¡°Thanks for the concern, Beckett. Everything at Pock Group is running smoothly. I heard you¡¯re interested in thatnd deal with the city council?¡± Beckett perked up, ¡°What are you implying? You got a lead on that property?¡± Palmer just sipped his coffee, a knowing smile on his lips. Stirling jumped in, ¡°Noe¡¯s still young; she doesn¡¯t need to work every day. She can go out and have fun with me instead. Mr. Pock¡¯s help isn¡¯t needed.¡± ¡°Looking after Noe is my responsibility as her fianc¨¦. I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re looking to invest in some entertainmentpanies. Perhaps Ster Entertainment might interest you?¡± Stirling¡¯s eyes widened as he tried to remainposed. ¡°Ster? That¡¯s a giant that rivals Hollywood! You have investment channels there?¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Ster is part of the Pock Group¡¯s portfolio.¡± Stirling was floored. He knew Pock Group was big, but not this big. Holding Ster Entertainment meant Palmer could make a fortune even if he just stayed at home.. Jasper chimed in, ¡°Even if Mr. Pock is a savvy investor, Noe is not yet your wife. Until she explicitly agrees to marry you, keep a respectful distance from our sister.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Palmer said, unbuttoning his suit as he sat next to Noe, gazing at her with deep affection. ¡°I¡¯m in the process of courting Noe, and until she agrees to marry me, I will not overstep.¡± This reassured the Schnabel family. Noe looked at him, surprised, meeting his star¨Cfilled gaze. He was willing to exin himself to her family, to put their minds at ease. This consideration was unexpected, a small gesture he took to heart. 10-20 pter check in.¡± Tristan, worried his daughter might be taken advantage of at the gallery, quickly interjected, ¡°Sweetheart, what¡¯s wrong with the gallery? Do you need Dad¡¯s help?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, just some unexpected issues. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Noe reassured him. Sexton frowned at his grandson Palmer. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re looking after Noe? Howe there is a problem with her gallery? Next time, go to work with her!¡± Palmer looked helplessly at the irritable Sexton. He would love to go to work with his girl every day, but she probably wouldn¡¯t like that. ¡°If Noe wouldn¡¯t mind thepany, I¡¯d arrange to work with her starting tomorrow,¡± he offered. Beckett scoffed, ¡°Who wants to work with you? Mr. Pock¡¯s family business is vast, so it¡¯s better to first manage one¡¯s own affairs well.¡± ¡°Thanks for the concern, Beckett. Everything at Pock Group is running smoothly. I heard you¡¯re interested in thatnd deal with the city council?¡± Beckett perked up, ¡°What are you implying? You got a lead on that property?¡± Palmer just sipped his coffee, a knowing smile on his lips. Stirling jumped in, ¡°Noe¡¯s still young; she doesn¡¯t need to work every day. She can go out and have fun with me instead. Mr. Pock¡¯s help isn¡¯t needed.¡± ¡°Looking after Noe is my responsibility as her fianc¨¦. I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re looking to invest in some entertainmentpanies. Perhaps Ster Entertainment might interest you?¡± Stirling¡¯s eyes widened as he tried to remainposed. ¡°Ster? That¡¯s a giant that rivals Hollywood! You have investment channels there?¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Ster is part of the Pock Group¡¯s portfolio.¡± Stirling was floored. He knew Pock Group was big, but not this big. Holding Ster Entertainment meant Palmer could make a fortune even if he just stayed at home. : Jasper chimed in, ¡°Even if Mr. Pock is a savvy investor, Noe is not yet your wife. Until she explicitly agrees to marry you, keep a respectful distance from our sister.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Palmer said, unbuttoning his suit as he sat next to Noe, gazing at her with deep affection. ¡°I¡¯m in the process of courting Noe, and until she agrees to marry me, I will not overstep.¡± This reassured the Schnabel family. Noe looked at him, surprised, meeting his star¨Cfilled gaze. He was willing to exin himself to her family, to put their minds at ease. This consideration was unexpected, a small gesture he took to heart. 10:20 Sipping her soup. Noe felt a warmth spreading, much like the soothing broth warming her insides. Tristan, wielding thedle, tapped each of his sons on the head, his voice rising, ¡°What are you boys talking about? Mr. Pock and Noe are fond of each other. If you¡¯re feeling sour about it, go find some daughters¨Cinw for me! And Ulrich, where is he for this family dinner?¡± Ulrich stood at the entrance, dust¨Ccovered and sun¨Ckissed, his armsden with gifts. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late. I brought presents for everyone.¡± Sienna stood up to inspect Ulrich. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve been through the desert. Why are you all dusty and tanned?¡± Ulrich exchanged a knowing nce with Beckett, the brothers sharing a silentmunication. ¡°Mom, I was out on a research expedition. I didn¡¯t want to miss dinner, and my car broke down, so I ran back. I¡¯ll go change and join you shortly.¡± Sienna, hearing it was for research, rxed. The family settled into a lively dinner, the atmosphere warming as they shared news andughter, the bonds of family intertwining with subtle threads of romance weaving through the evening. Noe¡¯s nose twitched subtly as she caught a faint whiff of iron mixed with a medicinal scent in the air, a telltale sign that Ulrich had been injured but had seen to it with his own skilled hands. Being a genius doctor himself, he hardly needed her to worry about him on that front. It wasn¡¯t until Ulrich returned to the dinner table that the family started their meal. Although Marcel didn¡¯t say a word, there was an unspoken agreement among them to wait for Ulrich; they wouldn¡¯t pick up a fork until everyone was present. Beckett was just about to start peeling shrimp for Noe when he noticed Palmer had already taken over the task! Watching Palmer care for Noe so naturally brought a barely concealed motherly beam to Sienna¡¯s face. Tristan too seemed to be reminiscing about his own youthful romance with Sienna, finding the sight in front of him utterly sweet. ¡°Noe, darling, I heard you took care of that pest at the gallery? That rascal had been skimming money for ages, and you caught her red¨Chanded. Our girl is so incrediblypetent! I bet our family¡¯s fortunes are safe with you around!¡± The whole family perked up, listening to Tristan¡¯s embellished recount of how Noe handled the situation with Petra. His storytelling, rich with ups and downs and full of emotion, was a performance in its own right. For the first time, Noe realized that if Tristan ever found himself out of work, he could 10:20 definitely pursue a career in stand¨Cupedy! Merrick dered on the spot, ¡°We¡¯re all attending the exhibition tomorrow! I want to see if anyone dares to mess with our Noe!¡± Marcel agreed wholeheartedly, ¡°Finally, you¡¯re making sense. Of course, we¡¯re all going to support Noe! It¡¯s a must!¡± The family began to discuss the n with excitement bubbling between them. In the corner, the nanny quietly captured the scene on her phone and sent it to Yvonne. [Ms. Yvonne, I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s hardly a ce for you in this household now! You better up your game!] CHapter 132 CHapter 132 [Look at them, the picture of family harmony. If you don¡¯t take action soon, the Schnabels will surely strip you of your position.] The nanny warned as she sent the video. Yvonne watched the video of the jolly family gathering, her eyes reddening with rage. She zoomed in on the video, spotting Palmer and Sexton. Why was Sexton there too? Was Palmer roped into this get¨Ctogether by him, with no choice but to join the Schnabels¡® feast? At this rate, that country bumpkin might actually marry Palmer, and then she¡¯d have no standing in either the Schnabel or Pock families. All her painstaking efforts- was she really supposed to just hand everything over to someone else? Tears streaming down her face, Yvonne handed the phone to Ashlyn. ¡°Grandma, look at this. They are dining together right now, and it looks like they are one big happy family.¡± Ashlyn gave a weak nce at the video and lethargically nodded in agreement. Noe¡¯s outburst earlier in the day had left Ashlyn terrified, fearing another violent episode. Rumor had it that a few caregivers Noe had struck ended up in the ICU. It was simply horrifying! With her own face still swollen, Ashlyn hadn¡¯t received the slightest care, and Yvonne, upon her return, hadn¡¯t even noticed her grandmother¡¯s injury. ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t you care even a little bit? Mom and Dad have no sense of filial piety towards you. They don¡¯t treat us like family. Such an important asion, and they didn¡¯t even call us to join them for dinner!¡± Ashlyn merely nodded and mumbled, ¡°Oh, dinner, family dinner.¡± Frowning at her grandmother, Yvonne only now noticed Ashlyn¡¯s bruised face. She screamed and called for a caregiver. ¡°What happened here? How did my grandmother get hurt?¡± ¡°It was thedy herself,¡± the caregiver spoke without emotion. ¡°Also, Mr. Schnabel instructed you to prepare for a flight to Gerastor tomorrow. The arrangements for the convalescent home for the old lady and your school have all been made.¡± Yvonne nearly dropped her phone! The Schnabels were sending her and her grandmother abroad¨Cand as soon as tomorrow? The caregiver left without another nce at the duo. They were Pock family caregivers, not the beefy, do¨Cnothing bruisers Ashlyn had hired to strut around her. 10-70 The entire Pock Group had heard the rumors¨CYvonne aspiring to be their group¡¯sdy wod attacking Annie, the assistant, even contemting firing all the female employees! How could someone so contemptible bully their futuredy, graceful and noble? They wouldn¡¯t stand for it! Yvonne was dumbfounded, The Schnabels were partying while plotting to ship her and Ashlyn off? it was outrageous, Wiibat had she done so wrong all these years? No one in the Schnabel family seemed to have a conscience. Despite being at Ashlyn¡¯s side, her status was less than a nanny¡¯s, Tears streaming down her face, Yvonne replied to the nanny¡¯s message, [I¡¯m being sent away tomorrow. From then on, I¡¯ll have nothing to do with the Schnabels) The nanny responded quickly: (Ms. Yvonne, don¡¯t be so negative, Think about it if something happens tonight, you and the olddy might not have to leave, right? And isn¡¯t someone missing from the video? You and Ms. ra are both adopted daughters. If Ms. ra agrees to join forces with you, the Schnabels¡® assets could easily fall into your hands. Mr. Pock only joined the dinner out of politeness. The old gentlemen have been friends for generations. Don¡¯t overthink it.] Bolstered by the message, Yvonne sprang into action. She was right; she could still do something¨Cshe had to! With determination, Yvonne forwarded the video to ra, who was busy with experiments in Emerald County. She wanted to see ra¡¯s reaction to the footage of the Schnabel family dining happily without her, wondering if it would upset her, ra magnified the video several times, focusing on Noe, and said to herself, ¡°Who took this? Why are they filming my brothers? Can¡¯t they get a direct shot of Noe? Who wants to see those brats?¡± All she cared about was her sister. ra quickly replied: [Send more.] Overjoyed, Yvonne sent all the videos she had, but ra¡¯s response was dyed, Was she too heartbroken, crying secretly in Emerald County? Yvonne messaged her with falsepassion: [ra, there¡¯s no need to be sad. We were never really part of their family. It¡¯s normal for outsiders like us not to fit in. If you¡¯re upset, I can keep you company! Believe me, if we join forces, no one can ever hurt us again! All of that was supposed to be yours, ra. Why should Noe get everything?] ra¡¯s reply was sharp: [Team up with you? If I had an IQ of 300, adding yours would leave us in the negatives. I have no interest in fools. I was never a Schnabel. None of what they have is mine, nor is it yours, Yvonne. Listen carefully! Those things, they, are, Noe¡¯s!) With each word punctuated for emphasis. ra sent smiling emojis to hint that Yvonne shouldn¡¯t worry so much. Yvonne was so angry she could have bitten into her phone! Damn it a!!! She just couldn¡¯t believe that ra wasn¡¯t the slightest bit jealous of Noe. Didn¡¯t ra feel like something of hers had been taken away? She didn¡¯t buy it! ra had to be faking it, sucking up to Noe, that country bumpkin, thinking it. would secure her a spot in the Schnabel family! Yvonne was about to fire off another message when she realized ra had blocked her. With a furious scowl, she chucked her phone aside, her gazending on Ashlyn, who was still trembling. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only ¡°Grandma, you don¡¯t want us to get kicked out, do you? Since I¡¯m your only granddaughter, you should do something for me, right?¡± Meanwhile, at the cozy Schnabel Manor, Tristan¡¯s phone rang with a lovely melody. Beckett furrowed his brow. ¡°Dad, why does your ringtone sound like Mom singing?¡± Sienna¡¯s cheeks flushed pink. That old rascal had actually recorded her singing and set it as his ringtone. She could imagine the looks on business associates¡® faces, and the snickers from their kids if they heard it. Stirling picked up his phone and saw a message from ra. [I went to see my little sis chowing down!!] Stirling¡¯s lips curled into a smile as he casually filmed Noe enjoying her meal and sent it over. The video panned to end on the empty seat beside Jasper, where ra¡¯s favorite dinner set was ced. She might not be here, but she was still in everyone¡¯s thoughts! ra felt content upon seeing the video. Noe was just too adorable! Who wouldn¡¯t love such a sweet, cuddly little sister? Her eyes lingered on that dinner set and she let out a chuckle, saving Noe¡¯s picture as her phone wallpaper, feeling all warm inside. After taking care of that, she put her phone down and went back to reviewing her research data. ¡°How silly of me to overthink it,¡± she mused. ¡°I love the Schnabel family and everyone in it, just like the rest of you.¡± They were her family, after all. Tristan hung up the phone, his face a mask of confusion, turning to Marcel. ¡°Dad, the hospital called. Mom¡¯s had an ident, they¡¯re trying to save her now.¡± CHapter 133 CHapter 133 Tristan was still reeling, unable toprehend how Ashlyn, who was perfectly fine moments ago, had suddenly been rushed to the emergency room, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m going to head to the hospital to check on her, You guys go ahead and eat. If anything comes up, I¡¯ll call.¡± The tone in his voice suggested that Ashlyn¡¯s condition was far from optimistic, Marcel set down his knife and fork, looking at Tristan intently, ¡°What exactly happened? is she really sick, or is this just another one of her acts?¡± Ashlyn¡¯s history of faking illnesses was no news to the Schnabel family, who had endured her theatrics more times than they could count. Their pained expressions spoke volumes about the toll her antics had taken on them. Tristan spoke earnestly, ¡°The call was from the operating room at the hospital. They said she¡¯s in critical condition, and they also mentioned that Mom has been mentally unstable and inquired about any history of mental illness. I¡¯ve never heard of such things, and they wouldn¡¯t make this up. I better go and see for myself.¡± Even though Ashlyn and Marcel were divorced, she was still Tristan¡¯s mother. In a moment teetering between life and death, he feltpelled to be there. Marcel nodded, ncing at the Schnabel children. ¡°Sienna, stay put at home. No need for you to go. Noe, take Palmer with you, and Ulrich, you should go too.¡± Ulrich was a prodigy in medicine; one look at Ashlyn, and he¡¯d know what was wrong. Noe pressed her lips together. ¡°Ulrich, you don¡¯t need to go. I can handle it.¡± Ulrich¡¯s arm seemed to be in bad shape; he hadn¡¯t lifted it during dinner, and for a surgeon, hands are indispensable. Noe was worried that making the trip might worsen his injury. She nodded slightly towards Marcel, who understood. His granddaughter was also a gifted healer, perhaps not far behind Ulrich. She chose not to brag about her skills to the family, not wanting to cause worry. Marcel knew that mastering such medical expertise, aside from requiring exceptional talent, must have involved immense effort. Before rejoining the Schnabels, who knew how much hardship she had faced? If she wanted to share this secret just between the two of them, Marcel was more than happy to oblige. ¡°Alright, Ulrich just got back and must be tired. Let Noe and Palmer handle this. See what the situation is and manage it as you see fit. I¡¯ll stay out of it.¡± Marcel had no desire to see Ashlyn again. Their rtionship had deteriorated to the point of mutual loathing. But for now, he chose to maintain a facade of civility. Ulrich reached for the coat hanging behind him and draped it over Nige¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Nee. I can go. Let me apany you. I¡¯m a doctor and I can be of help,¡± Noe shook her head, whispering so only Ulrich could hear, ¡°Take care of your injury? Ulrich was taken aback! Beckett was unaware of his injury how had Noe noticed? Was it because he had identally aggravated it while eating, betraying his difort? He realized it must be Noe¡¯s attentiveness that had uncovered what everyone else had missed, Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Understanding that she was concerned about his injury, Ulrich felt a rush of warmth and nearly burst into tears in front of the whole family. Oh, what an angel his sister was! Tristan, Palmer, and Noe hurried to Imperial West Hospital, Upon reaching the doors of the OR, they found Yvonne crying uncontrobly, as if Ashlyn had already passed away. Tristan stepped forward. ¡°Yvonne, what¡¯s the situation with your grandma?¡± Yvonne wiped her tears and looked up to see a worried Tristan and Noe behind him. Why had this unsophisticated country girle along too? Did shee to relish their misfortune? Yvonne wiped away more tears, noticing Palmer¡¯s proximity to Noe and felt a pang of envy, Why was Palmer always by Noe¡¯s side? Why didn¡¯t he nce at her? She was just as valuable. $ ¡°Dad, Grandma suddenly started talking nonsense and then fainted. I don¡¯t know what happened, and then she was rushed in for emergency care.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense? What did she say?¡± Yvonne shook her head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t understand her. She said someone hit her, and she had wounds on her face, but the caretaker said Grandma did it to herself. The hospital won¡¯t let me see the security footage. Dad, do you think someone¡¯s trying to harm Grandma?¡± Her excitement built as she spoke. If someone was indeed trying to harm Ashlyn, they might not have to leave the Schnabel family! After the surgery, the doctor emerged from the OR. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, the patient¡¯s condition is still fluctuating: she needs to be observed in the ICU for a few days.¡± ¡°Eh, is my mom okay for now?¡± ¡°For the moment, yes. But she¡¯s mentally unstable. Does the patient have a drug dependency?¡± Tristan was dumbfounded. What did the theageRKE!! He quickly denisd #, to way, my mom¡¯s too old for that sort of thing, Please, take good care of her. Use the best medication and serpent, Wis, the Schnatate, WY cover the costs. After giving further instructions, the doctor thesed komu a Boe stood aside, taking in the sight of Ashlyn connected to sttor, and quicky understood what had happened. Yvonne looked at Tristan, Gad, are you twing sted? ¡°Yeah, visiting hours in the ICU are strict. Yvonne, you should find a hotel and get some rest. Your grandma is going to need you, Noe and are heading back Don¡¯t you two rush off tomorrow, wait until your grandma¡¯s getting better? Yvonne stared at Tristan, incredulous. They were actually leaving her behind, with no intention of bringing her back to the Schnabel family? Her grandma was in the ICU, and her dad Tristan was suggesting she stay alone in a hotell ¡°Dad, maybe it¡¯s best if Grandmaes home once she¡¯s better. The doctors say familiar surroundings might help her recovery, ¡°That¡¯s not suitable,¡± Tristen expressed with some hesitation. Yvonne, your grandma and grandpa have divorced, it wouldn¡¯t be right for them to live together again. You go rest; you¡¯ve had a long day.¡± Yvonne felt like she¡¯d been struck by lightning! How could Ashlyn be so careless? To divorce Marcel while she was away from Imperial City! With the divorce, her kes to the Schnabel family were severed. Why hadn¡¯t Ashlyn considered her at all? Frustrated and heartbroken, Yvonne could only watch as Tristan walked away. As they returned to the Schnebel Manor, the night was deep. Tristan was going to see Marcel. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m going to see your grandpa. Take Palmer to your room for a bit.¡± He vanished as quickly as he had appeared, leaving Noe to meet Palmer¡¯s amused gaze, feeling somewhat helpless. ¡°I¡¯d love to see my fianc¨¦e¡¯s room too. Would that be alright? It wouldn¡¯t ¡°But your dad suggested it. You wouldn¡¯t want to upset the elders, would you?¡± With no other choice, Noe led Palmer into her room. Her room was a picture of understated elegance, save for the pink curtains Sienna had painstakingly chosen. The rest of the furnishings reflected her own taste. Moonlight streamed onto the balcony, casting a cozy glow inside. Palmer wrapped his arms around Noe from behind, resting his chin on the nape of her neck. His warmth enveloped her instantly, his breath hot on her skin, his heartbeat almost audible. CHapter 134 CHapter 134 Noe barely had to turn her head to feel Palmer¡¯s presence, his aura enveloping her with an assertive dominance. ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°Just a moment more. My fianc¨¦e wouldn¡¯t want to disturb anyone, right?¡± Since when was it her causing the disturbance? Palmer held Noe close, his arms circling her slender waist. ¡°Look, your mom and grandpa are still in the garden.¡± Merrick had a thing for flora, and on a whim that night, he remembered that the Schnabel Manor boasted a fine collection of night¨Cblooming cereus. His excitement was such that Sienna, unable to dissuade him, decided to apany him instead. Noe¡¯s room was on the second floor, offering the best view. One nce and she could survey a good portion of the Schnabel Manor. Likewise, anyone in the garden looking up could easily see what was happening on the balcony right now. If anyone from the Schnabel family caught sight of Palmer holding her like this, Noe didn¡¯t dare think what might unfold tonight. ¡°If you let go, it won¡¯t disturb anyone else.¡± Palmer¡¯s grip tightened, his breath growing hotter in an instant, spraying across the nape of Noe¡¯s neck. ¡°But I can¡¯t bear to.¡± Did she not realize how alluring she was to him? Every time he saw her, his heart seemed to beat more furiously. At this rate, it seemed he might not be satisfied with just holding her! To avoid disturbing the others in the vi, Noe kept silent and did not push Palmer away, letting him hold her quietly. His heart pressed against her back, as if in that moment, their heartbeats aligned. His strong masculine scent swirled around her, causing Noe¡¯s cheeks to flush. Why was her heart racing as wildly as his? After five minutes, Noe finally spoke up, ¡°Alright now?¡± Palmer released her reluctantly, his toneden with a deeper meaning, ¡°Just five minutes, and my fianc¨¦e underestimates me.¡± The smirk at the corner of his mouth carried unspoken mischief, as if he might devour the demure girl before him at any moment. However, he knew Noe wasn¡¯t some fragile blossom; even if he couldn¡¯t bear it, he had to restrain himself. As night deepened, Palmer felt the beast within stir! All because she was just too tempting, always making it so hard for him to resist. 10:21 Noe¡¯s ears turned a deeper shade of red! She had a feeling Palmer had a hidden message, and meeting his intense, fiery gaze, she felt as if she were about tobust. Palmer took her hand and they leaned together against the balcony railing. ¡°When do you n to tell Grandpa about Yvonne¡¯s situation?¡± ¡°What have you discovered?¡± R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only ¡°Whatever my fianc¨¦e has discovered, I have discovered.¡± Noe pursed her lips. ¡°I suspect that Ashlyn¡¯s sudden illness tonight is also because of something Yvonne did.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking along the same lines as you.¡± Palmer¡¯s fingers yed restlessly with the palm of Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°Tonight¡¯s events suggest that Yvonne isn¡¯t eager to leave Imperial City, hence the stalling.¡± Noe nced up at him. ¡°Do you care about her?¡± ¡°Of course not. Why would I care about her? I¡¯m only concerned about one person¨CNoe.¡± Meeting Noe¡¯s gaze, he felt captivated by how adorable she looked! How could she think he cared about Yvonne? To him, Yvonne barely registered! ¡°It¡¯s just that she keeps interrupting my time with my fianc¨¦e, which is quite irritating.¡± The precious moments he managed to carve out to be with Noe weren¡¯t meant to be shared with unwantedpany! Noe replied coolly, ¡°Whether she wants to leave or not has nothing to do with me.¡± But whatever Yvonne was up to, the Schnabel family had a right to know. ¡°I support all of my fianc¨¦e¡¯s decisions.¡± ¡°You can go now. My grandpa has been giving you looks.¡± In the garden, Merrick, having watched Palmer and Noe holding hands on the balcony, had coughed significantly several times! That rascal, he¡¯d been given plenty of time to court, so why was he still clinging on? Palmer chuckled, nting a goodnight kiss on the back of Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°Goodnight.¡± His actions were always so gentlemanly, beyond reproach. With the kiss ced, Palmer left Noe¡¯s room and exchanged a few words with Merrick in the garden. From Noe¡¯s viewpoint, Palmer could be seen bending down to share augh with the old man over the night¨Cblooming cereus, eliciting genuineughter from Merrick. Sienna stood by, her eyes full of affection, seemingly more pleased with Palmer than her own sons! Palmer, a man of such stature, somehow blended so harmoniously with her family. A sudden thought struck Noe, he had said he would love her family Across the estate, lights came on, and Palmer stood on his own balcony, gazing at Noe with a face full of tender warmth, Seeing her only from across a garden was far from the satisfaction of holding her close. But to have her willing to live with him, he would have to wait until they were married Beckett entered Noe¡¯s room, his face stern as he drew the curtains closed, shooting Palmer a warning nce, ¡°Is Mr. Pock too idle? Noe, do you want to switch rooms? Maybe to the other side of the house, to avoid disturbance,¡± ¡°No need, it¡¯s too much hassle moving back and forth.¡± She was ustomed to her room. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t let Palmer fool you!¡± Noe looked puzzled. ¡°Beckett, what could he possibly fool me with? Confronted with Noe¡¯s clear eyes, Beckett was suddenly at a loss for words! He couldn¡¯t very well tell his sister that Palmer was clearly harboring less than honorable intentions, could he? No, no, that would surely frighten her! After a moment¡¯s thought, Beckett simply dragged a chair over and sat beside Noe. ¡°Noe, do you like him?¡± 1 Like? It had been years since she¡¯d felt such an emotion, much less for another person. But she didn¡¯t mind Palmer¡¯s closeness, nor did she reject his protection when faced with danger. She was even willing to trust him with her back. That must be affection, right? When he held her, her heart would race too, but was that really being smitten? Noe pondered for a moment before deciding to answer truthfully. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I don¡¯t dislike it.¡± Beckett¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, haunted by the illusion that his little sister was about to be snatched away from him, yet he managed to squeeze out a kindly smile. ¡°Yeah, as long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters. And if he ever gives you trouble, you remember toe straight to me, alright?¡± ¡°I will.¡± Beckett stroked Noe¡¯s hair, his expression turning serious. ¡°How¡¯s Grandma doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the ICU. Beckett, I need to ask you something.¡± ¡°Shoot, I¡¯ll tell you anything you need to know.¡± Noe looked earnestly at Beckett. ¡°I want to know what¡¯s your take on Ashlyn?¡± The Schnabel family¡¯s stance on Ashlyn would determine whether or not Noe should reveal the findings of her investigation to them! CHapter 135 CHapter 135 What¡¯s his take on Ashlyn? Beckett hadn¡¯t expected her to ask this question, but now that she had, he pondered for at moment. He stroked his chiseled jawline and let out a heavy sigh. ¡°To be honest, it¡¯splicated. As kids, we never really got along with Grandma. She didn¡¯t like Mom, and she wasn¡¯t too fond of us either. You might not believe it, but we had it rougher than Yvonne. That¡¯s partly why us, especially Stirling and Jasper, didn¡¯t care much for Yvonne; Grandma showed tant favoritism from the start. She used to say Yvonne was a gift from the heavens, and that Mom would lose you because of her sins, herck of faith. She said you had bad luck, imed Mom had a cursed fate. When. Yvonne was little, she could have anything she wanted, even if it meant taking things from ra. And Grandma would scold ra, not her.¡± Under such extreme favoritism, and with Ashlyn constantly being hard on Sienna, it wasn¡¯t surprising that the Schnabel kids didn¡¯t have much love for Ashlyn! ¡°When we were little, Grandma said kids shouldn¡¯t eat too much at night if they wanted to grow tall. I believed it until Yvonne came to our house, and then I realized she could eat her fill!¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. I Beckett felt a bit embarrassed recalling these memories. It was as though, even now, as the head of the Schnabel business empire, he still couldn¡¯t shake off the memory of the meals he missed out on as a kid! ¡°As for Yvonne, once we caught her taking ra¡¯s things and damaging them. ra and Jasper gave her a thrashing, a proper one. But even then, Grandma made ra apologize and refused to let her eat. Eventually. Dad took us and moved out. On one hand, I feel like I should respect Grandma as my elder, but on the other, it¡¯s really hard to muster that respect.¡± He had meant to sugarcoat his words, but for some reason, he found himself opening up more around Noe, sharing everything with her. He never felt this way about ra. Perhaps it was because Noe was his sister! Noe nodded. ¡°I get it.¡± The fact that Beckett was this candid meant there wasn¡¯t much affection for Ashlyn. Noe pulled out a paternity test report and handed it to Beckett. ¡°Beckett, this is for you.¡± Beckett looked puzzled, but as soon as he saw what the report contained, he stood up abruptly. eyes wide with shock. ¡°Noe, what is¡­ where did thise from?¡± ¡°I was curious, so I asked Professor Calvin to do it.¡± Even though Calvin didn¡¯t know about this, she promised to share thetest pharmacological research with him, which would surely make him grit his teeth and ept it. Beckett was stunned by the contents of the report! Since Ashlyn and Tristan weren¡¯t directly rted, it meant they had no blood connection to Ashlyn at all! Was that why Noe was asking all these questions, concerned about their feelings for Ashlyn? Perhaps she feared that if they were close, finding out the truth would hurt them. Noe was just too kind¨Chearted, too considerate! Beckett felt like bursting into tears right there. He forced himself to calm down and caressed Noe¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Noe. Who else knows about this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only told you. It¡¯s up to you to decide when to tell Dad.¡± Beckett, as the eldest brother and the one who knew the temperaments of the Schnabel family best, was the right person to make the decision. ¡°You did the right thing. This needs careful consideration. Grandpa¡¯s health isn¡¯t great and telling him directly might be too much for him.¡± ¡°Grandpa probably already guessed.¡± Marcel, after all, was a seasoned veteran who had emerged unscathed from the line of fire in the military. Noe had asked Thorpe why someone would want to harm Marcel. Thorpe said that Marcel had made enemies at the border during his youth, and those enemies were people whose names Thorpe wouldn¡¯t dare utter now. The old man¡¯s vigor and dominance in his youth were evident! Sexton and Merrick had hinted so many times; could Marcel really be unaware? Beckett was still in shock. ¡°How could Grandpa know?¡± At the door, there was a knock. Marcel was outside in his wheelchair, pushed by Tristan. The old man exuded an air of calm authority, with his white hair a testament to his years, yet his eyes remained as sharp as ever. ¡°Girl, let me see that.¡± Noe handed the clear and conclusive report to Marcel, which proved many things. Marcel read it for a while, then suddenly chuckled. ¡°Well, well! This settles one of my worries. Once she¡¯s in her right mind, we¡¯ll find out who Tristan¡¯s biological mother is.¡± Tristan was shocked to learn that Ashlyn wasn¡¯t his biological mother; instead, Yvonne was revealed to be Ashlyn¡¯s true granddaughter. Had Tristan be a motherless child overnight? The revtion was staggering! 10:23 ¡°Is this for real? Then who¡¯s my mom? Is she still alive?¡± ¡°This, we¡¯ll have to ask that olddy! But I doubt she¡¯ll tell the truth.¡± ¡°No, Dad, you mean to say you don¡¯t know who you had a child with? I¡¯m your blood, and you don¡¯t know who my real mom is? Where am I supposed to find her?¡± Marcel gave Tristan a swift kick in annoyance. ¡°Shut it, you don¡¯t get to talk to me like that! Tristan didn¡¯t dare speak further. Marcel mused, ¡°If Yvonne is Ashlyn¡¯s true granddaughter, then who¡¯s her actual son? It¡¯s probably not so simple, Beckett. I trust you to handle this; go find out and tell me.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Marcel then looked at Noe. ¡°Girl, was Ashlyn¡¯s illness caused by Nourishment Pills?¡± Noe nodded in confirmation. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s been scarfing down too many of those pills. It must¡¯ve been Yvonne who triggered a bad reaction with the remnants still in her system, causing her to go a bit haywire.¡± Tristan nced between his father and his precious daughter. ¡°Dad, Noe, can someone clue me in here? What in the world are ¡®Nourishment Pills?¡± Marcel rolled his eyes at his son¡¯s question and decided not to entertain the foolishness of his offspring. Thank goodness his grandchildren had more brains. Tristan had clearly missed out on the smarts. Marcel looked on with satisfaction at Noe and Beckett, before giving Tristan, who was still bombarding them with questions, a nudge with his foot. So annoying! Finally, when the whole family retreated to their rooms for the night, it was already the wee hours. Noe was lying in bed when her phone rang; it was a call from Master Killian. ¡°Noe, I¡¯ve justnded at the airport. See you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle to pick you up.¡± Master Killian chuckled. ¡°No need, my dear. You just wait for me at your gallery. I want to see for myself what kind of ruckus dares to mess with my favorite apprentice!¡± Who dared to mess with the apprentices trained by them? A bunch of old geezers? The thought of seeing Noe and the rascals of Pris Star the next day put a spring in Master Killian¡¯s step. ¡°See you tomorrow. And let me get a glimpse of what kind of goblins and ghouls Imperial City is 10:23 hiding!¡± Noe¡¯s smile was soft, her heart warmed by the conversation. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± CHapter 136 CHapter 136 After hanging up the call with Master Killian, the crisp chime of Noe¡¯s miniptop resonated through the stillness of her room. She settled into her chair, booted up theputer, and plugged in a custom¨Cmadework card that granted her direct ess to the shadowy reaches of the deep web, her IP address.pletely obfuscated. Even the sharp¨Ceyed hounds from the Schnabel family couldn¡¯t sniff out her midnight digital excursions. A message from Erek popped up: [Boss, got the scoop. Ashlyn¡¯s insisting on a hospital visit, probably ¡®cause of that morning call from Vincent.] [Vincent?] [Yeah, the sleazeball seems keen on marrying you off to Ellsworth, that notorious money pit of a gambler. Need us to handle it?] [No need to dirty our hands. Let Ellsworth¡¯s creditors knock on his door.] Ellsworth was up to his neck in debt, and those underground casinos in Linefort City had some ties to Pris Star. Back in the day, when Noe had learned the art of gambling stones with Master Hector, they¡¯d dominated the underground scene with nothing but a deck of cards, inadvertently gaining some shady assets. Thankfully, their operations had been smooth sailing, no messes ma Erek chuckled and replied: [Roger that, Boss. You¡¯ve always been too kind. Phecda and the crew are retrieving Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s DNA as we speak. Now we just need Vincent¡¯s. Want me to ¡®draw some blood¡® from him?] Erek had been itching for a chance to teach Vincent a lesson! Without their boss¡¯s discreet support, Vincent wouldn¡¯t have made a dime. Yet, he mistook Noe¡¯s goodwill for his supposed business acumen. Such a man belonged under a bridge, collecting cans! [I¡¯ll handle it myself. Where are they now?] [Headed to Imperial West Hospital. I¡¯ll be outside to cover you.] With an affirmation, Noe closed her palm¨Csizedputer, swiftly disassembled it, and transformed it into an inconspicuous trinket on her desk. With everything in ce, she slipped out of her room, unnoticed by anyone. 1023 In the dead of night, at Imperial West Hospital, Vincent, wheelchair¨Cbound, was wheeled in by Belinda, with a few ckers from the Fuller family trailing behind. Ma Fuller stopped a passing nurse with a grin, ¡°Excuse me, we¡¯re looking for Marcel¡¯s wife. Could you tell us where her room is?¡± ¡°Ashlyn¡¯s in ICU. It¡¯s not visiting hours. Come back at eight in the morning.¡± Vincent was baffled! How did Ashlyn end up in ICU? She sounded fine when he called earlier! If Ashlyn was ill, where would they find Noe? Ma grew desperate. ¡°Where do we find Noe now? I don¡¯t care; she¡¯s gotta marry Ellsworth!¡± Vincent was equally vexed. ncing around the hospital corridor, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the end. ¡°Quick, push me over there!¡± Belinda wheeled him towards the figure. ¡°You¡¯re Noe¡¯s father, right? You¡¯re the one who took her awayst time. Remember me?¡± Wren, busy with paperwork for Marcel, looked puzzled at Vincent. Who was this? He seemed vaguely familiar. Vincent hurried to jog his memory. ¡°That time when you were gatekeeping for the Schnabels¡­ We¡¯ve met before!¡± As he thought about it. Noe¡¯s father must¡¯ve been a security guard for the Schnabels, which was how she got to khow them. Wren frowned. ¡°You¡¯re Noe¡¯s former foster father? I¡¯m busy, step aside.¡± Everyone in the Schnabel family knew these people had never been good to Noe. If it weren¡¯t for the watchful eyes in the hospital, Wren would¡¯ve pped them. Noe was so kind and sensible, and yet they treated her like dirt! Vincent, still thinking about Emerald County¡¯s subsidies, was reluctant to let Wren go. ¡°Look, it¡¯s like a family feud. We¡¯re all Noe¡¯s fathers, we¡¯re family¡­¡± ¦§ ¡°Family? I¡¯m not Noe¡¯s father. What do you want, exactly?¡± Vincent rubbed his hands together. ¡°Well, we heard about some subsidies at Emerald County. We did raise Noe for years, so shouldn¡¯t we get a little something?¡± Wren realized they were there for money. ¡°Considering you turned down a contract worth a ten billion before, you¡¯re asking for favors now? Toote!¡± Vincent was stunned. 10-23- A ten billion! What was it about? When? N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°You¡­ Can you tell me, what exactly is the status of Noe¡¯s birth parents?¡± If they were ordinary people, how could they afford a contract worth a ten billion? Wren motioned for a fewmandos. ¡°Get them out of here. They¡¯re an eyesore.¡± He couldn¡¯t be bothered to exchange another word with them! After giving Ms. Noe a hard time in the past, now that they saw an opportunity to benefit from her, they shamelessly tried to cozy up? The nerve! ¡°No! Don¡¯t throw me out! Tell me who Noe¡¯s parents really are!¡± Wren looked at him with utter contempt. ¡°Pfft, I haven¡¯t seen someone this shameless in a long time. Get lost!¡± Watching the group being thrown out, Wren finally took a deep breath of relief. Vincent was utterly confused! ¡°Belinda, do you think Noe¡¯s family can actually pull off a ten billion deal?¡± And that guy, he could actuallymand special forces; Vincent suddenly had a sinking feeling. Could it be that Noe¡¯s folks weren¡¯t just humble farmers tending their fields in the sticks after all? Belinda was equally puzzled. ¡°No way, if that girl was from a wealthy family, would she be working as a caregiver? And the clothes she wears don¡¯t look designer at all.¡± Those clothes didn¡¯t even have a single logo, definitely not high¨Cend. Vincent nodded in agreement. ¡°You might be right. That guy could very well be Noe¡¯s father. ying dumb. Let¡¯s just find Noe and get to the bottom of this.¡± As Vincent mulled over this, he looked up and saw Alioth standing not too far away. His eyes lit up, and he quickly signaled Belinda to wheel him over. ¡°You¡¯re Noe¡¯s friend, right? I saw you back in Tranquility City!¡± Alioth stared nkly at Vincent. He had been with the boss in Tranquility City handling some business, probably when Vincent had spotted him. ¡°Oh, you must be Noe¡¯s ssmate, right? Our whole family came to the hospital, and we suddenly lost touch with Noe. Could you help me get in touch with her? Look at me, I¡¯m sick as can be, and that kid won¡¯t evene to see me. Even if my child is cold¨Chearted, I can¡¯t me her, can I?¡± His tone almost made him sound like the world¡¯s most selfless father. 10:23 Alioth felt an itch in his fist just looking at him. He was the least intimidating member of the Pris Star crew, with a friendly smile and a round, seemingly easy¨Cto¨Cbully face. Vincent thought he¡¯d found an easy mark! Sure enough, after shedding a few crocodile tears, Alioth started pushing his wheelchair out of the hospital. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to her.¡± Vincent was overjoyed! He hurriedly motioned for his entourage to follow. They hade with a party of six, and he was determined to take Noe back with them, by hook or by crook. Once she was with him, he¡¯d call the shots. CHapter 137 CHapter 137 Vincent had it all figured out in his head. He was even strategizing about what to say when he saw Noe. He had to find out the true identity of Noe¡¯s biological parents. If they were indeed loaded, he¡¯d make sure to milk some benefits from them. And that ten¨Cbillion contract, If it existed, it was meant for them, wasn¡¯t it? Taking it would only be fair. With that money, their financial troubles would vanish, and it wouldn¡¯t have been for nothing that they¡¯d raised Noe all these years! Alioth could barely contain his disgust at the sight of Vincent¡¯s smug grin. He kept telling himself to hold back as there were too many cameras around; it wouldn¡¯t be a good ce to start a fight here. Taking several deep breaths, Alioth steered Vincent toward the small grove outside the hospital. Since thest time someone dragged Vincent into the grove and gave him a hiding, he¡¯d developed a phobia of such ces. ¡°Dude, where are you taking me? If Noe¡¯s around, can you ask her toe see me? Look at me, I¡¯m not in the best shape. Maybe we shouldn¡¯t go inside?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just go in. The boss is waiting for us inside.¡± Vincent was confused. What did he mean by ¡°boss¡°? Was Noe waiting for him with a purpose? Alioth stopped in the grove and looked up. ¡°Boss, he¡¯s here.¡± Vincent nced up, clueless. His eyes widened at the sight of Noe standing on a tree branch. She was cloaked in a ck trench coat, like a specter of the night! Her figure was slender, her hair misty as twilight, pinned up with a hairpin gifted by Ulrich, exposing her long, pale neck. In the dim light, her eyes were cold and detached, like a queen of the dark! Vincent swallowed hard without realizing it. ¡°Noe? What¡¯s with the spook show? What are you doing out here?¡± Belinda was equally startled by Noe¡¯s appearance. Somehow, just looking at Noe made her feel like her breath had been taken away. Mysterious and dangerously alluring, she was a sight that felt almost sacrilegious to behold. Was this really the same girl she had never taken seriously? Feeling a little intimidated and with her voice trembling, Belinda said, ¡°Noe, have you been waiting here for us? We really missed you. Let¡¯s go home together, shall we?¡± Vincent chimed in, ¡°Yeah,e home with us. It¡¯s too hard for a girl like you to work out here 1023 alone. Come home and live the good life with me. We¡¯ve even found you a match.¡± Vincent nced back at Ellsworth. Ellsworth, staring at Noe perched above, was practically drooling! She was stunning! He¡¯d always known she was pretty, but he hadn¡¯t realized that a bit of dressing up could transform her this much. She was like a phantom of the night, her legs in boots long and slender. Just standing there in silence was enough to mesmerize Ellsworth. ¡°Noe, I¡¯ve always liked you. Trust me, juste back with us, and then we can spend some time getting to know each other.¡± Such a beautiful woman had to be his! Noe looked down at her so¨Ccalled family, her lips curling into a sneer. ¡°You like me? You just want me to bail you out, don¡¯t you, moron? Couldn¡¯t afford a mirror at home, could you? Take a good look at yourself, you toad¨Cfaced, filthy thing! Vincent, do you even believe the rubbish you spout? I¡¯m not a three¨Cyear¨Cold.¡± R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only She hadn¡¯t believed such nonsense since she was that age! It was the first time Vincent had heard Noe call him by his first name so directly. He was enraged. ¡°Noe, was it wrong for us to raise you for so many years? You¡¯reing back with us today, and you¡¯re going to settle down with Ellsworth! We¡¯ve raised you all these years; you owe us for that upbringing. Don¡¯t worry about paying too much. I know your parents got a big payout from the Emerald County council. Just give me ten million, and we¡¯ll call it even.¡± Noe¡¯s lips twisted further into a scornful smile. Vincent sure had a nerve, still thinking about getting money from her. ¡°Just looking at you makes me sick!¡± With a graceful leap, Noe flipped down from the tree, her legs kicking against the trunk as she landed with poise. Her trench coat red like a skirt, casting a bewitching and dangerous arc in the night, like the scythe of the Grim Reaper slicing through the darkness. Vincent and the Fuller family were dumbstruck by her disy. When did Noe be so agile? Was it from climbing trees back in Glen Vige? She stood beneath the tree, taking deliberate steps toward Vincent. Facing those icy cold eyes, Vincent¡¯s heart started to race erratically, as if their owner was about to tear him to shreds. ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do? I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m your dad¡­ Before he could finish, Alioth¡¯s gloved hand mped over his mouth. 10:24 Alioth, slightly disgusted, said, ¡°Enough with the noise. And keep it clean, will you?¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes bulged as the Fuller family members around him passed out, copsing in a heap on the ground! When had they made their move? Noe approached Vincent, calmly putting on her thin surgical gloves. She flicked open a small knife, twisting it in her hand and stabbing it into Vincent¡¯s thigh! Vincent almost bit his tongue in pain! Noe produced a syringe, her voice cool, ¡°Rx, I didn¡¯t hit an artery. You won¡¯t die yet. But if you keep bothering me. I can¡¯t guarantee how long you¡¯llst.¡± She was being merciful to Vincent, but only out of respect for Old Mrs. Lambert. But that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d always be so forgiving! The chill in Noe¡¯s gaze made Vincent truly afraid. Those cold eyes seemed to freeze his blood. When had this girl be so terrifying? Vincent felt like his head was spinning after getting a syringe of blood drawn. The pain was almost enough to make him pass out, and to make matters worse, Alioth was mping his hand over Vincent¡¯s mouth to stifle his screams. Ivan sauntered up behind them, casually tossing a handful of what looked like firece ashi onto Vincent¡¯s wound. ¡°Picked it up off the sidewalk. It¡¯ll stop the bleeding, but no guarantees beyond that,¡± Ivan said, indifferent to Vincent¡¯s difort. Vincent, staring at the mess of soot on his leg, promptly fainted. Alioth, with a look of disgust, peeled off his gloves and stuffed them into Vincent¡¯s agape mouth. ¡°Disgusting.¡± Alioth muttered. ¡°Boss, are you heading back to theb? We can handle these guys.¡± Noe, having collected the blood samples she needed, cast a disinterested nce at the people sprawled on the ground. The Fuller family, they were old acquaintances of hers. They¡¯d been a thorn in her side for ages, harassing her and her grandmother. Once, when her grandmother had been saving up to send her to school, the Fullers had stolen the tuition money, almost reducing her grandmother to tears for days. How could she forget those deeds? ¡°Handle it.¡± Noe said coolly, ¡°but leave one breathing. When I find the time, I¡¯ll settle the score with them myself.¡± 10:241 ¡°Sure, Boss. You go on ahead.¡± Noe nodded and vanished into the night. There was an exhibition tomorrow, and it was toote to head back to theb, but she needed the DNA report early to uncover whatever secrets her grandmother had been hiding from her. Mulling over her next move. Noe swung her leg over a sleek ck motorcycle parked by the curb. She had just slipped on her helmet when suddenly, a figure appeared out of nowhere. right in front of her! CHapter 138 CHapter 138 Under the veil of the deepening night, Noe stood with a guarded expression, sizing up the figure before her. The individual opposite did the same, taking her in. With her slender waist and long legs wrapped in a sleek ck trench coat made of some high¨Ctech fabric, she was the epitome of icy allure. Her striking legs were entuated by thigh¨Chigh leather boots, perfectlyplementing the motorcycle she stood beside. Even with her helmet on, obscuring her face, Walden Gruber felt an undeniable pull, convinced that beneath ity a breathtaking beauty. He casually slipped his hands into his jeans pockets, maintaining a safe distance. ¡°Evening, Wise Fool. Allow me to introduce myself¨CI¡¯m Walden Gruber of the Gruber family. You can call me Walden.¡± ¡°How did you know me?¡± Walden was d in a rugged brown parkayered over a turtleneck sweater. His hair styled in modern undercut with a hint of a rogue¡¯s charm. His smile, a mix of nonchnce and inscrutability, left Noe with a sense of mystery. ¡°The Gruber family has its ways of finding information when it needs to.¡± ¡°What do you want from me?¡± a The Gruber family, a name second only to the Pocks and the Schnabels, had made significant strides in various sectors. Before Beckett took over the reins of his family¡¯s empire, the Grubers had even outpaced the Schnabels in influence. But the Schnabel sons were exceptional, and with the majority of patents flowing directly from ra¡¯sb, the Grubers didn¡¯t even get the chance to bid on them. And as for the Pock family? Ever since Palmer had taken control of the Pock Group, the Grubers hadn¡¯t even managed to sneak a fly past their doors. Walden observed Noe, her aura radiating an icy detachment, and offered her a disarming smile. ¡°I¡¯d like to propose a coboration with your Obelisk Organization. Would you consider granting me the opportunity?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay handsomely. Name your price.¡± Noe frowned at the man before her. ¡°I¡¯m not in need of money, but if you persist in blocking my way, I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t ept a contract from your opponent¨Csending you to meet your maker sooner than you¡¯d like.¡± Walden¡¯s smile froze instantly. This woman was audacious to the extremel Yet he knew all too well that as the leader of a top¨Ctier assassination ring on the deep web, her threats were no joke. ¡°Wise Fool, my request is simple. I just want Ms. Schnabel¡¯s recent travel Itinerary, nothing more. I¡¯d also like to be friends.¡± ¡°A paparazzo would fetch that information faster and with more professionalism than I. I won¡¯t help you, nor will I be your friend. The Obelisk Organization only makes friends with those about to die.¡± Those who befriended her often ended up at her own hands. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m aware that Obelisk specializes in killing. If you take out the head of the Pock family, I¡¯ll pay you a billion.¡± A flicker of obsession sparked in Walden¡¯s eyes. In his mind, no one could resist the allure of money. Unless, of course, it wasn¡¯t enough. Noe nced at him emotionlessly and simply stated, ¡°Move aside! I won¡¯t say it twice.¡± She was pressed for time: heading to theb at this hour was already a stretch, and this fool was blocking her path. ¡°Ever heard the phrase, ¡®Let sleeping dogs lie¡®? If you Gruber family can¡¯t teach its dogs manners, perhaps it shouldn¡¯t keep them.¡± Noe revved up her bike and zoomed past Walden, slicing through the night air with the grace. of a gust of wind. Walden¡¯s face flushed with anger. Was she insinuating he was a dog? His expensive parka now sported a fresh tear, a near miss to his skin, evidence of her serious. intent. As the motorcycle and its enigmatic rider disappeared into the night, Walden¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. Interesting. Challenging. ¡°Find out who she really is. I¡¯m intrigued,¡± he ordered. ¡°Yes, sir. Since she¡¯s declined the contract, we should head back. Tomorrow¡¯s the grand opening of Ms. Schnabel¡¯s gallery, and we must show our support.¡± Walden nodded, tossed his parka into a nearby trash can, and slid into his luxury car to leave. The following morning, the Schnabel family was a flurry of activity. Sienna rose early, applying extra care to her appearance, even switching nes several times. ¡°Does the pearl look better, or should I go with the diamond? Or perhaps the ruby is more 10-24 striking?¡± ¡°Darling, you look stunning in anything!¡± Tristan was distracted, dark circles under his eyes. Sienna spared him a nce and began dabbing at his face. ¡°Losing sleep is one thing, but on the night before our daughter¡¯s big day? What if you embarrass her?¡± ¡°Right, right, cover these up for me. Can¡¯t let our little star down!¡± Once ready, Sienna admired the reflection of the elegantdy in the mirror, brimming with satisfaction. This was her debut at her daughter¡¯s gallery, and she was determined to dazzle. to make her daughter proud. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She knocked gently on Noe¡¯s door, her voice soft, ¡°Darling, are you up yet?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you downstairs for breakfast. Don¡¯t forget to wear the dress I picked out for you!¡± Noe responded, swiftly getting ready. After ate¨Cnightb visit and a return home to sort through a heap of matters, she hadn¡¯t slept a wink. Fortunately, she was not prone to dark circles¨Ca touch of makeup would be enough to captivate, without letting anyone in the Schnabel family sense anything amiss. As expected, the results confirmed Noe¡¯s suspicions- Vincent was not Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s son! The DNA match suggested that Vincent was probably a child Mrs. Lambert had taken in years. ago. For some reason, Noe felt a wave of relief wash over her when she found out. Vincent wasn¡¯t her grandmother¡¯s kin, but she was! Slipping into the dress Sienna had picked out for her, Noe descended the staircase to where everyone was gathered. She was a vision in a pale blue strapless gown, its simple elegance entuated with diamond embellishments that twinkled like stars with every step she took- a beauty both breathtaking and dignified. The Schnabel family¡¯s eyes lit up with delight. ¡°Our darling looks so beautiful, a true daughter of the Schnabel family!¡± At the front door, Palmer pushed Sexton¡¯s wheelchair, his eyes brimming with an unrestrainable tenderness as he watched Noe gracefully move down the stairs.. The whole family dined together, dressed to the nines, ready to attend Noe¡¯s gallery exhibit. To an outsider, it might have seemed like Noe¡¯s own exhibition! Sienna took Noe¡¯s hand as they stepped out of the Schnabel Manor. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, honey, with us here, everything will go off without a hitch!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, Noe. Oh my, why are my hands shaking? It must be the cold!¡± Beckett chimed in. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s 86 degrees out, are you sure you¡¯re cold?¡± Tristan delivered a yful smack. ¡°Cut it out! Oh, we can¡¯t fit everyone in the car. Noe, why don¡¯t you ride with Palmer?¡± Tristan nced at the Schnabel family¡¯s fleet of cars, then gently nudged Noe towards Palmer, taking over from him the handling of Sexton¡¯s wheelchair. ¡°Mr. Sexton cane with me and my dad; we¡¯ve got the space.¡± ¡°Sure, sure, I¡¯lle over to your car. That works perfectly.¡± Noe was speechless, watching as Tristan led the family away, as if afraid she¡¯d suddenly insist on joining them. Palmer¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth as he held the car door open, bowing slightly. ¡°Would my fianc¨¦e do me the honor of apanying me?¡± CHapter 139 CHapter 139 Noe slid into Palmer¡¯s sleek sedan and immediately felt the intensity of his gaze¨Cit never wavered from her for a second. His hand clutched hers, and he seemed reluctant to let go. ¡°Ease up.¡± she said. ¡°Can I just hold it for a moment? I¡¯ve been missing my fianc¨¦e all night. I¡¯ve missed your terribly.¡± Noe shot Palmer a look. ¡°Someone¡¯s put a price on your head, a tempting one at that. I¡¯m considering taking the offer.¡± Palmer chuckled but released her hand, shifting closer to her instead. He may not have been holding her hand anymore, but he was definitely closer now. Leaning in, Palmer¡¯s presence enveloped her as he whispered, ¡°If you want my life, darling, feel free to try and take it.¡± ¡°You keep talking like that, and I might just take you up on it,¡± Noe retorted. After all, no one would turn down money. Palmer pulled out a checkbook, scribbled his signature, and handed it to Noe. ¡°Whatever they¡¯re offering. I¡¯ll match it. Consider this a down payment to reim my life. In the meantime, it¡¯s in the safekeeping of my betrothed.¡± Could one¡¯s life be entrusted to safekeeping? Noe pinched the thin check between her fingers, noting that the amount was left for her to fill 1. in. ¡°Can I know who wants me dead?¡± ¡°The Gruber family,¡± she replied. Palmer didn¡¯t seem surprised. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you agree to their offer?¡± Noe met Palmer¡¯s teasing gaze with cool detachment. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it. Keeping you around, I can still make money.¡± She waved the check in her hand. Even if she had refused Walden¡¯s request, Palmer would still have given her the same amount. Killing him just didn¡¯t add up. Noe preferred a steady ie, and maybe there were other reasons she couldn¡¯t quite name. Palmer buried his head into the crook of Noe¡¯s neck,ughing, his shoulders trembling lightly. Was his fianc¨¦e always this adorable? Her reason was both pragmatic and irresistible. ¡°I¡¯ll drop you off soon; I¡¯ve got some business at the corporation. In the meantime, would you 10-24 mind taking care of Grandpa?¡± Noe nodded in agreement. With several bodyguards around Sexton, safety wasn¡¯t an issue; it was the old man¡¯s health that concerned Palmer more. Outside the gallery, Sexton watched Palmer¡¯s car disappear into the distance and grumbled, ¡°That kid! Dropping Noe off and then just leaving? Is thepany really that important? Can¡¯t he just spend more time with Noe!¡± Sexton knew the Pock Group kept Palmer busy, but he disapproved of his grandson¡¯s neglect. in wooing his fianc¨¦e. Did Palmer realize how exceptional Noe was? What if she caught. someone else¡¯s eye while he was away? Seeing that Noe didn¡¯t seem too fond of Palmer yet. that kid really should worry! Sexton was genuinely concerned. Outside, the press had already taken their ces. As soon as Noe appeared, the cameras went live, trained on the Schnabel family. Travis was stunned by the turnout. Had Ms. Noe brought the whole family? Was this her idea of not worrying about the exhibition? But the Schnabel¡¯s presence wouldn¡¯t matter at an art exhibition. Those highbrow artists were only there for the paintings! Dressed in a sharp suit, Walden emerged from the crowd like a celebrity. Upon seeing Noe, surrounded by the Schnabels, a sh of admiration crossed his eyes. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, you¡¯re even more stunning in person than during your birthday live stream. My apologies for not introducing myself¨CI¡¯m Walden Gruber.¡± Beckett stepped in front of Noe, his stare icy. ¡°Stay away from my sister.¡± Their family wasn¡¯t exactly friends with the Grubers, but they maintained civility in public. Walden just shrugged and greeted a few of the elders. ¡°I heard there was an exhibit at Ms. Schnabel¡¯s gallery today, but I don¡¯t see any artwork. Are we here to watch a Schnabel family reunion? If you wish to gather, there¡¯s no need to use the guise of an art exhibition.¡± Standing beside Noe. Stirling frowned. ¡°That guy¡¯s still as obnoxious as ever!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like him?¡± ¡°Who would? He¡¯s a bastard child, and even the Grubers don¡¯t take him seriously. A few years back, he tried to court ra and got a beating from us. When he found out she wasn¡¯t a Schnabel by birth, he insulted her and got another beating.¡± Walden was just a Gruber bastard? For a bastard to dare go after Palmer, the Grubers were truly wild. Noe hadn¡¯t realized the depth of the bad blood between Walden and the Schnabel siblings. 10:24 ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then our parents made us apologize, and we beat him up again in the hospital. We almost gave him aplex. After that, Ulrich treated his injuries, and he stayed in the ICU for about three months. The Grubers have kept him away from us since.¡± Recalling those events, Stirling felt his fists itching again. The way Walden had looked at his sister earlier had not gone unnoticed by the Schnabel. brothers, whose res were anything but friendly. Noe covered her mouth, hiding her amusement. The Schnabels always protected their own. Jasper cautioned, ¡°Noe, stay away from that guy. He¡¯s dangerous and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. If he harasses you, tell us and we¡¯ll handle it!¡± ¡°Right, let¡¯s give him another thrashing!¡± From the moment Walden had stood before her the previous night, shouting out her code name, Noe knew he wasn¡¯t just any ordinary guy. A bastard son rising through the ranks of the Gruber family¨Chow could he achieve that without a fair share of cunning and resourcefulness? Walden turned his gaze to Noe. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, since we¡¯re talking about an art exhibition, and not just any but Master Killian¡¯s, shouldn¡¯t we at least get a peek at the paintings?¡± He continued, ¡°This exhibition seems to be quite the event. I presume it will unveil many new pieces we¡¯ve neverid eyes on before? But I¡¯ve heard no whispers of new masterpieces from Master Killian in recent years. Perhaps, Ms. Schnabel, you n to pass off forgeries as the real deal? And to hold an exhibition for Master Killian, one would need his personal consent, wouldn¡¯t one? Where might one find such a letter of agreement?¡± Walden¡¯s tone grew more irksome with each word, his demeanor so smug as if he¡¯d already decided the gallery¡¯s exhibition was doomed to fail. Noe¡¯s gaze shifted to a figure emerging from behind Walden. Lifting the hem of her dress, she stepped forward. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± Through the crowd, an elder gentleman in a tailored Azure suit that echoed the lines of formal. attire stepped into view. His aura was vibrant, his eyes gleaming with a frosty resolve. He was curious to see who dared to mess with his cherished apprentice. He¡¯d make a note to remember their faces¨Cto report back to the old guard at home! ¡°My apprentice is organizing my exhibition, and you¡¯re worried about theck of paintings? As for the letter of consent, my dear apprentice could organize ten exhibitions of my work, and I would bless each one!¡± Shock filled Walden¡¯s eyes! 10:24 How could Master Killian himself be here! He referred to Ms. Schnabel as his apprentice? N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. CHapter 140 CHapter 140 Master Killian stood with an air of pride beside Noe. ncing behind him at the exhibition hall, he took in the artistic atmosphere. A symphony of colors and strokes had turned the modest space into something out of a Renaissance dream, with a luminous full moon hanging high above the carefully curated exhibits. Clearly, this was Noe¡¯s handiwork. She had indeed surpassed the teacher. He couldn¡¯t fathom why these upstarts thought they could get the better of the talents he and the other old guys had painstakingly nurtured. ¡°Kiddo, don¡¯t let them walk all over you,¡± he said, his voice carrying over the murmurs of the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s just an art exhibition, and not everyone deserves an invite.¡± His gaze shifted to Walden, who stood there, stupefied. The Gruber family had thrown a fortune at the chance to have Master Killian grace their gallery. They had sent out invitations like confetti, but to no avail¨Cthey hadn¡¯t garnered a single response. Walden approached hastily. ¡°Master Killian, our gallery would be honored to host you as our premier artist. We¡¯ve sent numerous invitations, but we¡¯ve heard nothing back. We truly seek your presence!¡± If Killian agreed, the Gruber Family¡¯s gallery would make its mark on Imperial City and ascend to new heights. Killian regarded Walden with a look that bordered on disdain. ¡°Who are you, again?¡± Walden¡¯s cheeks flushed a shade of crimson. In front of the press and the public, Master Killian had snubbed him. If word got back to his family, the other Grubers would never let him live it down. As a bastard son, he had to excel in his work to secure a foothold in the family. ¡°Master Killian, I am Walden of the Gruber family. Our gallery in Imperial City is about to open, and we¡¯d be privileged to have you.¡± Master Killian gave Walden a look that could only be described as ¡®are you serious?¡® ¡°Why would I forsake my apprentice¡¯s gallery for yours? Is it you who¡¯s lost his senses, or am I just too brilliant?¡± Walden struggled to maintain hisposure. ¡°Girl, a gallery isn¡¯tplete without artwork. Bring me my tools!¡± Master Killian extended his hand, and Noe stepped forward to roll up his sleeves. He was about to create a masterpiece¨Cright there and then! The Schnabel family and the media were agog with surprise. Sienna nudged Tristan, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Honey, can you believe Noe is Master 11:21 Killian¡¯s apprentice? Our little girl is a prot¨¦g¨¦ of a painting legend. How did she manage that?¡± Tristan, although clueless about when Noe became acquainted with Master Killian, puffed out his chest with pride. ¡°Our daughter is exceptional!¡± He leaned toward Marcel, whispering, ¡°Dad, did you introduce Noe to Master Killian?¡± Marcel looked baffled. ¡°I don¡¯t even know the man, let alone introduce her.¡± He wondered if perhaps Palmer had arranged the meeting. It wasn¡¯t beyond the realm of possibility¨Cgiven the Pock family¡¯s clout, they could have sought Master Killian¡¯s support for Noe in advance. Master Killian rarely painted in public anymore, and never with an apprentice. The media present were in a frenzy. Who would dare call Ms. Schnabel¡¯s gallery a joke now? With Killian¡¯s arrival, the Grubers were the realughingstock! As Master Killian prepared to paint, Walden frowned. ¡°Master Killian, isn¡¯t painting before the media a desecration of art?¡± Master Killian put down his brush and looked at Noe. ¡°Who is this guy? Annoying, isn¡¯t he? Can we hit him?¡± Yes, but not in front of these people. Noe nced at the persistent Walden and summoned security. ¡°Walden poached our staff, sabotaged our partnerships, and stole trade secrets,¡± she said with calm authority. ¡°Shall we discuss this here, or at the police station? It¡¯s funny, just yesterday, I dealt with a greedy employee who, as it turns out, was Walden¡¯s aunt.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Walden studied Noe¡¯s face, which was as beautiful as any painting, and clenched his jaw. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I¡¯ll remember you. Make sure you remember me, too. We¡¯ll cross paths again.¡± ¡°I have no interest in remembering a fool,¡± Noe replied coolly, dismissing him without a second thought. Walden gritted his teeth, about to confront Noe, but the Schnabel brothers stepped in front of him. Beckett cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing ominously. ¡°The weather¡¯s getting cold. Perhaps the Gruber family¡¯s business could use a chill, too.¡± Ulrich¡¯s lips curved into a smirk. ¡°And those old injuries of yours, Walden¨Cthey must re up in this damp weather.¡± Stirling turned to the media. ¡°You know how to spin this, right? Walden¡¯s antics need to make headlines, for those who need to know!¡± The people who needed to be in the know were, of course, all members of the Gruber family. 11:227 Jasper squinted his eyes and said, ¡°The cease and desist letter will be sent along with you. Now, get out.¡± It was a tant threat! Walden cast a nce at them before following the security guard out of the gallery, He couldn¡¯t quite wrap his head around it. Everything had been meticulously nned, foolproof. He was supposed to create a scene at the gallery today and then graciously offer his help, Surely, Ms. Schnabel would remember him that way. Yet, she dared to snub him like this! Once the Gruber family caught wind of this, it would surely tarnish the reputation he had worked so hard to build among them! That damn Yvonne had imed Ms, Schnabel was just a country bumpkin fresh from the sticks. How on earth could she know Master Killian? Could it be that the Schnabels had paved the way for her long ago? The more Walden thought about it, the more uneasy he felt! He had to get Wise Fool to agree to coborate with him. Any living Schnabel would pose a significant obstacle to his ambitions! Back in the gallery, Master Killian massaged his wrist as he surveyed the three¨Cmeter¨Clong canvas. ¡°Noe, your side is over there, and mine is here.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Sienna¡¯s eyes widened with excitement. ¡°Is Noe painting too? Quick, get it on camera! Send it to ra and my mom!¡± Stirling had already set up the ultra¨Chigh¨Cdefinition camera equipment, aiming it at Noe. On the stage, both Noe and Master Killian held several brushes, sshing the pre¨Cmixed paints directly onto the canvas as they began their creative endeavor! Everyone present held their breath, not wanting to disturb the moment that seemed nothing short of miraculous. An hourter, Noe and Master Killian stopped painting simultaneously, both rubbing their slightly sore wrists. Before them stretched a breathtaking oil painting, three meters in length and two in width. It depicted rolling green hills, a quaint bridge over a babbling brook, with vibrant flowers scattered across a picturesque vige. The romanticism of the countryside leaped out from the canvas, stunning onlookers with its vibrant color bnce, as if the very soul of the scene was dancing within the painting! This was no mere painting; it was a masterpiece! Walden had brought a host of artists to stir trouble, but they were all dumbfounded by the 11:22 artwork before them. Most astonishing was that the painting showed no signs of being a coboration; the junctions were wless. Ms. Schnabel¡¯s artistic talent was undoubtedly of a prodigious caliber! Noe set down her brushes and faced the crowd. ¡°This painting is the sole exhibit for today. Are you all satisfied?¡± CHapter 141 CHapter 141 On the stage, the young girl was all smiles. d in a pale aquamarine chiffon dress, she seemed to merge with the oil painting behind her, a beauty so ethereal it was as if a sprite had stepped right out of an enchanted grove. Her voice, a melodious tinkling, resonated with confidence, yet it sent shivers down the spine of many in the audience! How could they dare to express dissatisfaction? Setting aside the repercussions of having offended Master Killian, even the Schnabels themselves wouldn¡¯t let them off the hook! Standing beside Noe, Master Killian spoke with gravity, ¡°Noe is my one and only apprentice in this lifetime. Her artistic talent surpasses even my own. If any of you wish to critique my apprentice, you¡¯ll have to go through me first!¡± His implication couldn¡¯t be clearer. Did they really think they could measure up to his apprentice? Travis stepped forward, pride written all over his face. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the exhibition begins now. Please, enjoy at your leisure.¡± He was beside himself with excitement! This was Master Killian in the flesh! For those in the art world, it was like their ancestors had blessed them with fortune! Who could have imagined that Ms. Noe was the direct disciple of Master Killian! Years ago, Master Killian had dered he would take only one student under his wing to inherit all he knew. With this, their gallery¡¯s status in Imperial City was set to be unmatched! Noe escorted Master Killian over to the Schnabels. ¡°These are my family.¡± Master Killian gave Marcel a nod, a gesture that conveyed ample respect to the Schnabels. ¡°Have they been good to you?¡± he inquired with genuine concern. ¡°Very,¡± Noe replied. Master Killian cared deeply about how the Schnabels treated Noe. Coming from the Pris Star, he knew all too well the challenge of epting new family members, akin to throwing a ray of hope into an already sealed and darkened heart. If they hadn¡¯t treated Noe right, he¡¯d whisk her away without a second thought and join forces with the old timers to bring the Schnabels to their knees! Master Killian¡¯s gaze lingered on the face of the four Schnabel sons, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. ¡°You taught the Lamberts a lesson, and that¡¯s good. Noe is the best child in this world. Should you fail her, I¡¯ll take her away, and you¡¯ll never see her again!¡± Tristan hurriedly interjected, ¡°Master Killian, you jest! Noe is the jewel of our family. We¡¯d 11:22 ¾Ž never mistreat her. As for the Lambert¡¯s troubles, we¡¯ll handle it without disturbing our dear He had no desire to let the Lambert¡¯s issues trouble his beloved daughter. Master Killian nodded, his expression softening, and his gaze on the Schnabels turned gentler. He then turned to Noe. ¡°They seem to be a cut above the Lamberts. I can rest easy then. I¡¯m ed: I¡¯ll head back to the hotel. I¡¯ve got some business to attend to but will catch up with youter.¡± ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll have Ivan apany you.¡± ¡°That would be helpful; I could use a hand.¡± As Master Killian made his way out, he cast a slightly reproachful look at Noe. ¡°Why hide behind my name when yours could shine even brighter?¡± The mysterious painter known as ¡°Solitude¡°, whose works had taken the international art scene by storm, was none other than Noe herself¨Ca rising star whose paintingsmanded event higher prices than Master Killian¡¯s. Even in the depths of the deep web, Solitude¡¯s pieces fetched astronomical sums at auction! f Noe were to host an exhibition under the name of Solitude, it would not just rock Imperial City but send shock waves around the globe! ¡°For now, there¡¯s no need. I don¡¯t seek the spotlight.¡± Her identity as Killian¡¯s sole apprentice was recognition enough. If her alias as Solitude were to be revealed, she feared she wouldn¡¯t have a moment¡¯s peace. Initially, she had released her work under the alias Solitude out of boredom during an experiment, casually crafting a few pieces to appease Master Killian¡¯s impatience. To her surprise, they became an overnight sensation. Master Killian shook his head with indulgent affection. ¡°Suit yourself. Even if you publicly imed to be Master Killian, I wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± He could hardly wait for Noe to reveal her identity as his apprentice, to show the world he had the most outstanding apprentice of all! ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. You can just go back to the hotel; I¡¯ve arranged everything for you. ¡°You¡¯re thoughtful, kid. I appreciate not having to endure that long flight for nothing.¡± With a chuckle full of fondness, Master Killian left. Noe watched as he got into the car with Ivan and disappeared into the stream of traffic. Meanwhile, Yvonne paced anxiously outside the ICU at Imperial West Hospital. 11:22 What in the world was Walden doing? Why hadn¡¯t he messaged her yet? If today¡¯s gallery opening was a flop, especially with so many Schnabels and the press present, the family would surely cast her aside! But the exhibition was nearly over, and she had yet to hear from Walden. Surely that bastard couldn¡¯t botch such a simple task, right? Impatient and agitated, Yvonne decided to take matters into her own hands and dialed Walden¡¯s number. ¡°Walden, how did things go today?¡± Just released from the police station, Walden was seething with frustration. He never thought the Schnabels would have the guts to actually call the cops on him. No sooner had Jasper¡¯swyer sent a scathing letter than itnded in the hands of Arthur Gruber, who unleashed a tirade of fury. Just five minutes ago, Walden had been fished out. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only ¡°Yvonne, have you lost your damn mind? How dare you y me like that! I¡¯m telling you, this isn¡¯t over between us!¡± Yvonne panicked at his words. ¡°What the heck happened?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me. Check the news and you¡¯ll see.¡± Walden was gritting his teeth; he was still waiting to go back to the Grubers to face the music, and he didn¡¯t have an ounce of patience left for Yvonne. He knew she was a fool! Had she not assured him that the Schnabels didn¡¯t give a hoot about Ms. Schnabel, that she was just a country bumpkin who didn¡¯t know squat, he wouldn¡¯t have staged this whole mess that now had him as theughingstock of the Grubers! After hanging up, Walden let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Did you get in touch with the Gemstone Gambling King? My next move is critical to my inheritance rights. It has to go off without a hitch!¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be in Imperial City next week.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Yvonne, listening to the dial tone, felt her heart racing faster. Irritated, she clicked on the news app on her phone. There was Noe, looking like royalty in a designer gown, standing in front of a painting, her elegance and beauty piercing Yvonne¡¯s heart! That gown was a masterpiece from a world¨Cfamous designer. She had begged Ashlyn for six months to wear it, but to no avail. And now it adorned Noe, while Master Killian had dered her his sole apprentice. Back when Yvonne was studying painting, she¡¯d dreamed of just a glimpse of Master Killian. The Schnabels had never obliged, and now they had somehow snagged him to teach Noe. Making Yvonne look like a clown, relegated to the hospital entrance! Why did it alle to this? The door to the ICU swung open from the inside. ¡°Visiting hours. Family cane in now.¡± Yvonne stepped into the room, looking down at Ashlyn, whoy on the bed, a shadow of her former self. ¡°Grandma, no one else came to see you. Your life doesn¡¯t seem to count for much now, does it? Do you also think Noe is your real granddaughter? Why does everyone treat me like this!¡± 11:22 CHapter 142 CHapter 142 Yvonne was at her wit¡¯s end! Her looks and upbringing were all superior to Noe¡¯s. Yvonne had been received top¨Cnotch education since she was in diapers, so how on earth was Noe, that backwoods bumpkin, outshining her? Staring at her phone, she could see the marketing teams under Stirling¡¯smand were practically rocketing Noe¡¯s artwork to the stars! Yvonne felt a pang of heartache so acute it was as if her heart was bleeding. Her gaze shifted to Ashlyn, whose breathing was fragile and weak, and a wave of self¨Cpity washed over her. Why should Noe be out there living it up while she was stuck in this sterile hospital, keeping company with an old woman who was more dead than alive? Now that Ashlyn had divorced Marcel, the title of being rted to her meant nothing to Yvonne anymore. With a look of cold indifference, Yvonne stood up from beside Ashlyn¡¯s ICU bed and walked out without a backward nce. She was expected to stay here with this old woman while the Schnabel family was ready to ship her off to Gerastor, never to return? Fat chance! Yvonne called Walden once again, ¡°Walden, let¡¯s revisit ourst conversation, shall we? I assure you, there won¡¯t be any slip¨Cups this time!¡± ¡°Find yourself somewhere to stay. I¡¯ll get back to you,¡± Walden said, ready to hang up, but Yvonne quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m¡­out of money.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the daughter of the Schnabel family, and you don¡¯t even have enough to cover a hotel stay? Fine, I¡¯ll transfer some to you.¡± Walden frowned, his eyes filled with disdain and revulsion. To think a daughter of the Schnabel family had fallen this low; clearly, her brains were just for show. After the call, Yvonne nced at her ount bnce, freshly padded with funds, and left the hospital without a second look. Meanwhile, Noe was coborating with Master Killian on a painting, and word had already spread throughout the industry. When Annie handed Palmer the phone, he was in the midst of a merger meeting, calcting financial risks with his partners, all of whom were on the edge of their seats. Suddenly, they saw their stone¨Cfaced, iron¨Cwilled boss break into a smile ¨C a tender, adoring smile that seemed to melt in the warmth of his gaze. A chill ran down the spines of everyone present. After Annie exined that the boss¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Noe Schnabel of the Schnabel family, was a direct mentee of Master Killian, it all made sense. No wonder their boss showed such a gentle side when it came to Noe. A socialite as talented as her was bound to be Palmer¡¯s pride and joy. The partners began to whisper among themselves, ¡°I caught Ms. Schnabel¡¯s birthday live stream; the Schnabels certainly dote on their daughter.¡± ¡°Joking aside, if your kid was that aplished, wouldn¡¯t you dote on them?¡± ¡°If my daughter was Master Killian¡¯s mentee and any single person in Imperial City didn¡¯t know about it, I¡¯d say I failed in my PR duties!¡± Palmer, watching Noe in the video, thought she looked just as lovely painting. Her arm muscles moved with grace and elegance, each gesture like a dance of the sprites. ¡°Save the video,¡± Since he couldn¡¯t be there in person, he wanted to savor the sight of his girl shining brightly. ¡°It¡¯s already saved, and I¡¯ve selected the best shots from the media for your phone,¡± Annie confirmed professionally. Palmer nodded, satisfied, and returned to his meeting ¨C albeit at a noticeably faster pace. It was clear to all that the boss was eager to wrap up. What was supposed to be a three¨Chour asset evaluation was done in half an hour. Palmer, signing documents, asked curtly. ¡°What time is it?¡± R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only ¡°Six o¡¯clock. The exhibition is over, and Ms. Noe hasn¡¯t left work yet. Master Killian has already gone home,¡± Annie reported. Palmer capped his pen and pushed the signed papers forward. As the partners looked up, Palmer¡¯s silhouette had already vanished from the conference room! The gallery exhibition wrapped up quickly. The media reluctantly left the venue, many hoping to interview Noe, but Stirling, the super¨C popr star and first¨Cever grand m best actor winner, gracefully deflected them. His mere smile satisfied the eager cameras. In showbiz, Stirling was the epitome of someone with incrediblyrge fan bases. After the media flurry, Beckett saw the elders off. Marcel, beaming with pride, patted Noe¡¯s hand, ¡°Noe, you¡¯ve done well. But don¡¯t overdo it; you¡¯re the youngest of our family. There¡¯s no need to push yourself so hard, though I am proud of you!¡± Tristan chimed in, ¡°Your mom and I are proud of you too! But don¡¯t wear yourself out. If the gallery needs anything,e to me directly. You don¡¯t need to worry about any trivial matter.¡± 11:22 He¡¯d just taken the opportunity to scour the gallery¡¯s ounts, looking for any discrepancies to protect his precious daughter, but found she¡¯d managed everything perfectly. His daughter was practically the one and the only genius! ¡°I got it. I¡¯m not tired.¡± After the Schnabels left, a cluster of artists lingered by Noe¡¯s paintings, not wanting to leave. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, could we possibly join the gallery? We¡¯re here to learn, and we don¡¯t need to be paid!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Schnabel, just being able to study Master Killian¡¯s work would be enough. We don¡¯t need sries!¡± Noe nced at the group of artists before her. ¡°Those interested, send your resumes to my email. If you¡¯re a good fit, I¡¯ll invite you through the proper channels, and you will be paid fairly.¡± She was not the kind of boss who exploited her staff. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll send them right away!¡± Travis approached Noe, his face alight with excitement, ¡°Ms. Schnabel, today¡¯s exhibition was a smashing sess. Your coboration piece with Master Killian is now hanging in the prime spot.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± Noe strode into her office, trading her evening gown for a sharp business suit. Tying her misty locks into a tight bun, she exuded an authoritative aura. She picked up the report form on her desk, noting a few figures circled in red ink by someone, each followed by new data precise to three decimal ces. A sticky note with a cartoon bear fluttered to the floor. ¡°Sweetheart, found some tiny issues with the numbers, but I¡¯ve fixed them for you. Don¡¯t work too hard! Love you ¨C Dad.¡± A warm smile graced Noe¡¯s lips. She wondered when Tristan had slipped into her office. The thought of him poring over report form and leaving her cute sticky notes while she was out warmed her heart. As dusk settled, Travis rapped on the ss door of the office, ¡°Ms. Schnabel, everyone¡¯s left for the day. You should head home, too.¡± ¡°Alright, you go ahead. I¡¯ll be out soon; just need to finish up here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, Ms. Schnabel!¡± Once Travis left, Noe turned her attention back to the data on the report, her brow furrowing slightly. 11:23 Her phone rang: she answered it on autopilot Palmer¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Still burning the midnight oltz Hit a snag?¡± Wrapping up now,¡± Noe stood, and turning, caught sight of a man standing across the street, in the night¡¯s embrace, Palmer stood alone, an untouchable chill about him. But when his gaze met hers, stars seemed to fall, his eyes impossibly tender, ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± ¡°Just five minutes. I¡¯m taking you out for dinner. I don¡¯t mind my fianc¨¦e being a workshots, but you still need to eat,¡± Noe flicked off the office lights and made her way downstairs. In the darkness, her voice carried a yful lilt, ¡°Beckett thinks you might prefer a domestic goddess.¡± Beckett wasn¡¯t wrong; most heirs to prominent families married genteel, nurturing women. Palmer¡¯s deep chuckle filled Noe¡¯s ears, ¡°I don¡¯t do well withbels, but I¡¯m not drawn to power women or domestic goddesses; I¡¯m drawn to you, and only you. It¡¯s not about social rotes.¡± His words wrapped around her like a caress, a whisper shared between loved ones in the quiet of the night. CHapter 143 CHapter 143 Noe rounded the corner of the staircase when a peculiar noise from the basement storage room caught her attention. She frowned slightly and whispered, ¡°Palmer, hang on a sec ¡°I can wait forever.¡± After all, what was a little waiting if it made her fall for him? < 20 Noe paused, sensing an undertone in Palmer¡¯s words. She slipped her locked phone into her zer pocket and headed towards the basement, where stacks of supplies awaited, The gallery staff had gone home for the day, but there were still some workers in blue overalls bustling about. Noe nced around the storage area and stealthily climbed atop a construction scaffold, crouching above the workers to eavesdrop. ¡°Come on,ce that batch of paint with the stuff.¡± ¡°You sure they won¡¯t detect it once we put them in?¡± ¡°No way!¡± The ringleader was brimming with confidence. ¡°They¡¯re odorless and colorless. Once they¡¯re in, those painters will be none the wiser until they¡¯re sick. And when that happens, the gallery will be in deep water. Ms. Schnabel chose to be uncooperative and cross swords with the Gruber n. She made such a show today, turning the Gruber¡¯s gallery into aughingstock!¡± The workers mixed the powdered substance into the paint, and then added the doctored paint cubes into the original batches. ¡°Is Ms. Schnabel still in her office?¡± ¡°Lights out upstairs, must¡¯ve left.¡± The lead worker pulled a vial from his pocket, his face twisted with malice, ¡°Just drop this into her office water cooler. One sip and she¡¯s done for!¡± The other workers paled on spot, not expecting to take action against Noe. ¡°You can¡¯t hit Ms. Schnabel, even if you¡¯re out for Petra¡¯s blood. What if the Schnabelse after us?¡± That was Ms. Noe Schnabel, for heaven¡¯s sake. If something happened to her, they wouldn¡¯t have lives enough to pay! The lead snarled, ¡°Rx, the Gruber family¡¯s got our backs.¡± That young wretch had done things without considering their feelings. All Petra did was skim some cash, chump change for the Schnabel family. But Noe had to show her authority and lock Petra up. Well, she couldn¡¯t me him for ying dirty! 11:23 Noe watched the scene impassively. Her gaze swept over the surveince EXTATES, AN predictably dead, every red light that should have been blinking was out cold. These guys came prepared. Once the paint was tampered with, they turned to the materials stored elsewhere, ¡°What about the equipment?¡± ¡°Forget it. The materials we supplied them are faulty, in three days, half of this exhibition space will copse, preferably during business hours. Wouldn¡¯t it be fun if it crushed a few patrons?¡± They had it all figured out. If the equipment failed and the exhibition copsed, killing people, not even the Schnabel family could save the gallery. It would close for sure. And they would see who could challenge the Gruber family then! ¡°Just some country bumpkin thinking she¡¯s Ms. Art Connoisseur? Let¡¯s see how she handles a disaster then!¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°When the gallery falls, they¡¯ll regret handing it over to a brat. There¡¯s nothing the Gruber family can¡¯t do!¡± Teeth gritted, the workers swept a nce around the stuff in the storage and left, satisfied with their sabotage to basically everything. Noe¡¯s gaze darkened bit by bit as she watched them leave through the back door. She recognized them; they were Petra¡¯s go¨Cto crew, who had swindled the gallery for years under Petra¡¯s wing. Now with Petra locked away, those workers lost a cash cow, thus turned to the Gruber family and ganged up for revenge? Conspiring for money and murder, the lowest of the low. Noe touched her earlobe, remembering the spy earrings Yasbel had tested ¨C with added video capabilities, perfect for recording everything she had just witnessed. The storage room was silent as Noe descended from the roof, dusted off her zer, and left the gallery. Stepping outside. Palmer was there with an umbre. ¡°It¡¯s started to rain. What were you up to, my fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Just tying up loose ends.¡± This was the first time Palmer saw Noe in her professional attire. Her tailored capris revealed slender, pale ankles, and her heels added an elegant touch to her usual sassy charm. After dinner, Palmer walked Noe to the gates of her home, gazing at her, reluctant to part ways. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I missed the chance to see you paint today.¡± But he¡¯d saved the video as his phone¡¯s live wallpaper, a reminder of her when he used his phone. 11:23 hapter 145 Palmer stepped forward, embracing Noe and nting a swift kiss on her forehead. ¡°Goodnight. And if you¡¯re not yet ustomed to missing me, then dream of me.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± Noe turned and entered the manor, only to find Marcel eagerly awaiting in his wheelchair like a rubberneck, his gaze fixed on her, coughing until she entered the house. ¡°Noe, did you have fun with Palmer?¡± ¡°It was alright.¡± ¡°Good, good. Just remember, you still gotta be careful. I¡¯m not an old fuddy¨Cduddy, but you¡¯ve got to look after yourself. And you know, I do look forward to seeing a fourth generation of the Schnabels. Will the kids take the Palmer name or stick with Schnabel?¡± Noe could only muster a helpless gaze at Marcel¡¯s misguided musings. What was he even talking about? Her and Palmer hadn¡¯t evene close to discussing kids. ¡°Grandpa, what are you getting at?¡± Marcel clutched the throw pillow on the sofa, chuckling with glee, ¡®I¡¯m just getting a feel of what it¡¯s like to hold a baby again. Gosh, it¡¯s been ages since we had a little one in the house. I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡± Noe struggled to find her words, ¡°Grandpa, maybe my brother Beckett should take a crack at it. He¡¯s the eldest in the Schnabel family. It really shouldn¡¯t fall to me.¡± Marcel perked up at that. ¡°Sure thing! I¡¯ll nudge him about it tomorrow! You head on up and get some rest.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Grandpa.¡± As Noe turned to ascend the staircase, she could still hear Marcel cackling with the pillow sounding like he was already brainstorming names for his future great¨Cgrandchild She quickly assembled herpactptop, her slender, baster fingers dancing across the keyboard, pulling up a page on the deep web. ¡°Send this video to the head of the Gruber family, under the name of the Obelisk Organization.¡± Erek clicked on the video and nearly choked on his pasta. ¡°Holy smokes, the Gruber family have some nerve! To think they¡¯d make a move on you boss! I¡¯ll send it right away. Any message to include?¡± Noe¡¯s expression was ice¨Ccold as she responded indifferently. ¡°Tell them to have three hundred million ready. Otherwise, this video goes straight to the Schnabels. Pay up, or clean their necks and wait for me.¡± The Gruber family had challenged her too many times, thinking she wouldn¡¯t fight back? Her retaliation was something most people couldn¡¯t handle. CHapter 144 CHapter 144 Erek could hardly contain his excitement as he watched the video. ¡°Boss, the looks on the Gruber family¡¯s faces when they see this will be priceless! I¡¯m actually looking forward to it!¡± The video was considerate enough to capture every worker¡¯s face, and every word they said was recorded without fail. If the Gruber family didn¡¯t want to burn bridges with the Schnabel family too soon, they¡¯d most likely opt to pay up. ¡°Boss, when ites to swindling cash, you sure don¡¯t beat around the bush. Three hundred million is gonna make the Grubers gasp for air. I bet they won¡¯t cough it up easily.¡± The Gruber family¡¯s business empire had been facing a string of issuestely, and their liquid assets weren¡¯t as flush as they used to be. Erek couldn¡¯t help but think that their boss was¡­ruthless! But, hey, the boss didn¡¯t even spare his own fianc¨¦, considering the gear at Lunar Lab was courtesy of Mr. Pock. Erek suddenly felt a surge of respect for the boss! Their boss had been working her tail off for the future of the organization! Noe said indifferently, ¡°They¡¯ll pay. Three hundred million is a small price for not getting on the bad side of the Obelisk Organization and the Schnabel family.¡± Hearing this, Erek was touched. Such a fair and square deal, the Gruber family would be fools to pass up such a sweet offer! Erek promised to send the video to the Gruber family that very night. The next morning, Noe got ready and descended the stairs, only to see the living room brimming with gifts. Boxes of all sizes filled the space, leaving barely any room to step. Exotic herbs and luxury supplements were neatly boxed up; there were even dozens of bird¡¯s nest packages, and at the forefront was a fist¨Csized pearl, which seemed like the one auctionedst year at the East Sea Pearl Market. Sienna¡¯s face lit up with joy as she saw her darling daughtere downstairs. ¡°Sweetheart, take a look and pick whatever you like. I¡¯ll have it sent to your room.¡± ¡°Why all this stuff?¡± ¡°They¡¯re from the Gruber family, sent as an apology, probably because of Walden¡¯s little tantrum at the gallery yesterday?¡± Remembering yesterday¡¯s incident, even Sienna had to admit the Gruber¡¯s illegitimate son had 11:23 been a bit of an embarrassment. But to send all these gifts as an apology the next day showed ss, and since the two families had numerous business dealings. It was best to meet each other halfway. Marcel, sitting at the breakfast table with his newspaper, cast a scrutinizing nce at the pile of gifts. ¡°All this for yesterday¡¯s mishap? The Gruber family seem to have some sense of decorum.¡± Marcel¡¯s eyes were sharp. He could tell that the gifts were over the top for just a petty squabble between children. The Gruber family could have dismissed it as youthful roughhousing. Even if they felt obliged to s, this was simply too much. ¡°There¡¯s likely some other reason. Let Tristan dig a little deeper.¡± Sienna chuckled, ¡°Dad, you might be overthinking it. Tristan checked yesterday, and there was nothing else.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze swept over the multitude of presents. The Gruber family were probably acting preemptively because ofst night¡¯s video, testing the waters with the Schnabel family. If the Schnabel family knew about the incident, these gifts wouldn¡¯t just be refused at the door; they¡¯d be thrown back in the Grubers¡® faces. epting the gifts meant that the Schnabel family were indeed oblivious to the situation. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m heading to the gallery.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself, sweetheart. I know you¡¯re exceptional, but take care of yourself, got it?¡± Sienna was all smiles as she watched Noe. Her precious daughter was simply too impressive! Just yesterday, she was at a party, and all the other societydies looked on with envy. Who wouldn¡¯t be proud to have such a sessful child? Noe nodded and stepped out, heading straight to the car parked at the curb. She opened the door and slid into the vehicle. Erek, munching on a sandwich, spoke up, ¡°Boss, the Gruber family have agreed to pay up, but they¡¯re asking for a face¨Cto¨Cface meeting to hand over the cash.¡± A face¨Cto¨Cface to hand over the money? More like they wanted to take care of them in person. With such damning evidence in the hands of the Obelisk Organization, the Gruber family couldn¡¯t be sure when the video might end up with the Schnabel family. If the Obelisk Organization decided to double¨Cdip, the Gruber family would just have to swallow the bitter pill. Erek scoffed, ¡°Meeting up is a sham. They either want to rope us in for their dirty work or 11:23 intimidate us. The Grubers are ying dirty. Are we going to meet them, boss?¡± Noe¡¯s expression was cool and detached, ¡°No. Tell them any tricks, and the price jumps to half a billion. Not a penny less, or the video goes straight to the Schnabel family, along with some extra footage the Gruber family haven¡¯t seen.¡± Erek chuckled gleefully. The Grubers thought they could strong¨Carm their boss, but they¡¯d hit a steel wall. The Obelisk Organization, in their international warzone dealings, let¡¯s say, their sense of ¡°justice¡± was not to be taken lightly. The Grubers were still fixated on petty profits! They had a long way to go if they wanted to y in the big leagues. ¡°Boss, you heading to the gallery today?¡± ¡°First, a bank.¡± Old Mrs. Lambert had left everything for her in that bank, and she had to check it out. Whatever Old Mrs. Lambert had left, she intended to take good care of it. The bank that Old Mrs. Lambert had chosen was a multinational giant. It just so happened to be Rising Glory Bank, owned by the Schnabel family, with the safety deposit boxes located in Imperial City. When had Grandma evere to Imperial City to store things? Why didn¡¯t she know anything about it? It must have been while she was away on a mission with the Obelisk Organization, not by her grandmother¡¯s side. Erek pulled up in front of Rising Glory Bank, and as Noe was about to step out, someone opened the car door from the outside. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Walden¡¯s face bore a partial smile, but his eyes were all scrutiny as they settled on Noe. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, we meet again. It seems we¡¯re quite fated to cross paths.¡± Noe¡¯s gazended on Walden¡¯s face. The imprint of five fingers, still somewhat visible even after being medicated and iced, indicated he¡¯d received quite the p. ¡°Walden, didn¡¯t you look in the mirror before stepping out? That face might give someone a fright, which would be rather unfortunate.¡± Walden¡¯s smile stiffened! Just yesterday, he had returned home to a resounding p across his face, the pain of which only subsided after a night of icing. How did this girl spot it right away? And even if she did notice, to call it out in front of everyone, not leaving him the slightest bit of dignity! ¡°Ms. Schnabel, do you always speak so bluntly?¡± Noe said coolly, ¡°Given your intellect, I fear you wouldn¡¯t understand a subtler approach.¡± Walden couldn¡¯t muster a smile any longer. 11.2 This woman was imprable! But he thought of establishing a close rtionship with Ms. Schnabel, which would bring him endless benefits, made his heart race. Whether it was the Gruber family or the Schnabel family, it could all be his! Just thinking of the towering wealth made Walden¡¯s heart surge with heat. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, they say serendipity brings people together. How about we have dinner. together?¡± Noe frowned at the man before her. ¡°Do all Gruber men have such thick skins? Or is Walden truly blessed with an extraordinary ability to misunderstand in speech? I told you to get lost. Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Chapter 145 Noe in the car wore an air of indifference, her eyes clear, captivating and spirited. Her lips parted ever so slightly, a coolness radiating from her poised figure, at once stunning and aloof. Walden felt a curious itch in his heart at the sight of her. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I truly wish to befriend you. Mr. Pock just isn''t right for you. Have you considered giving me a chance?¡± The words had barely left his mouth when Erek thought the guy must be off his rocker. Their boss hadid it out in as day, and yet here he was, pretending to be clueless? That was just boring! On the spot, Erek coughed twice and whipped out his phone, beginning his performance with gusto. ¡°Mr. Pock! This is Ms. Noe¡¯s driver. We''ve met before. Ms. Noe had to swing by the bank to retrieve some items. Ran into some joker who had the nerve to suggest Ms. Noe should ditch you!¡± Smiling, Erek turned to Walden, ¡°Walden, care to chat with Mr. Pock? He seems keen on making your acquaintance.¡± Walden couldn''t believe even Noe''s drivercked such tact. To think he had the gall to call Palmer to his face! If Palmer learned he was brazenly hitting on his girl, would Walden even have a leg to stand on? Meeting Noe''s cool gaze, Walden clenched his teeth, ¡°I have a feeling our paths will cross again, and when they do, you''ll regret your choice today.¡± Walden then strode away. Erek handed the phone to Noe, and Palmer''s voice emerged from the receiver, ¡°Why didn''t you tell me someone was bothering you? Walden? I¡¯ve kept it in mind.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine; it was just a random encounter on the street.¡± ¡°To think I didn¡¯t know you were going to the bank today, and Walden ¡®happens¡¯ to be there? Quite the tactic!¡± Palmer adjusted his tie, his eyes glinting coldly at the documents before him, yet his voice exceedingly softened, ¡°Join me for lunch today?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t, I¡¯ve got some things to take care of.¡± ¡°How about dinner then?¡± ¡°I have to return to theb tonight.¡± ¡°Then let''s do ate-night snack; I¡¯lle get you.¡± As the conversation unfolded, Noe couldn''t help but detect a whine in Palmer''s tone, as if he were almost...pouting. But then she thought, the formidable CEO of the Pock Group wouldn''t even know how to pout, right? ¡°Hurry up and agree, I have a meeting. If my people hear me talking like this, there goes my authority,¡± Palmer urged. Noe could hardly picture thepany staff''s reaction to Palmer''s tone; it would be quite the scene. Helplessly, she nodded, ¡°Alright.¡± After hanging up, Palmer''s voice instantly dropped a couple of degrees, icy and stern. ¡°Annie, bring up all recent dealings with the Gruber family.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Pock. Are we cutting ties with them?¡± A cold smile yed on Palmer¡¯s lips as his eyes narrowed menacingly. ¡°We are going to outbid the Gruber family on every deal. They dare to hassle my fianc¨¦e; they will pay.¡± Annie realized the gravity of the situation. Someone from the Gruber family had harassed their boss¡¯s future wife! Sweet and graceful Ms. Noe, stuck dealing with those relentless Gruber folks? The thought was unbearable! ¡°Yes, Mr. Pock! Rest assured, I shall defend Ms. Noe to myst breath!¡± Palmer raised his head and nced at Annie, his gaze fleeting. Annie quickly corrected herself, ¡°Ms. Noe can only be my boss¡¯s future wife! With an outstanding fianc¨¦ like you, Mr. Pock, no man could ever take her away.¡± That was close. She''d almost forgotten how jealous their boss could be, and she was just an ordinary employee admiring Ms. Noe. She wondered how much jealousy Palmer would have to swallow facing all of Noe¡¯s brothers. The thought left a sour taste in Annie¡¯s mouth. Palmer turned away, giving a slight nod, his phone¡¯s screen saver a picture of Noe - he seemed unable to get enough of her. As for those who dared to bother her, he would not let a single one off the hook. ... Inside Rising Glory Bank, Noe, with the key to the safety deposit box, recovered the items left by her grandmother. The box held simple jewelry, among them a jade bracelet her grandmother had always worn. There was also a letter. [Noe, if you are reading this, I am no longer here. Everything here is for you, my dear. There are many things I''ve kept from you to protect you. You have always been the apple of my eye. I hope you''ll always be healthy and happy. After I¡¯m gone, don¡¯t go back to the Lambert family. They haven''t been kind to you, and I won¡¯t bless them. If you can, find your own family. Don''t mind those who treat you poorly; I will always watch over you.] The letter was sinct but flooded Noe with emotions. She wept. Grandma, when had she written this letter, and with what feelings had shee here alone to secure her possessions? She must have feared the Lambert family would fight her for these items, hence she prepared everything in advance and entrusted it to Maddox. These were her grandmother''s lifelong treasures. Noe had seen that jade bracelet when she was just a girl. Vincent had once demanded that her grandmother sell it to fund his business ventures. Grandma had refused, and Noe had never seen the bracelet since, thinking perhaps Vincent had taken it. But in truth, her grandmother had left her most precious possessions to Noe! Grandma had always known Noe wasn¡¯t a Lambert by blood! In the end, Grandma had been thinking of her all along. Tears streamed down Noe''s cheeks, her voice choked with emotion. "Grandma, you said there were many things you didn''t tell me; what are they? It''s okay, I''ll find out about the things you didn''t want to tell me on my own." Wiping away her tears, Noe carefully packed up everything in front of her and ced it back in the safety deposit box. Then, after a moment''s thought, she reopened the box, took out a jade bracelet, and slipped it onto her wrist. It was as if Grandma was with her all along. As she stepped out of the vault room, the bank manager approached. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "Ms. Schnabel, there''s six million in this passbook, and it''s in your name. You have the right to manage it." Six million? How could Grandma have had so much money? No wonder Vincent was still fixated on the fortune Grandma had left behind! "Give me the passbook. Keep everything else in the safety deposit box as is, and don''t touch the money." "It¡¯s your call, Ms. Schnabel." Rising Glory Bank was under the purview of the Schnabel family, and the bank''s manager treated Noe with the same respect as his own boss. In fact, he seemed to revere her even more! Everyone knew that winning over Ms. Schnabel was as good as winning over Mr. Schnabel himself! "Ms. Schnabel, per Mr. Schnabel''s orders, our bank has allocated shares to you, so please feel free to direct me as you wish!" She had shares in Rising Glory Bank too? That must have been Beckett''s doing. The Schnabel family were just like Grandma, always trying to give her what they thought was best for her. Noe stepped out of the bank, ncing at the bracelet on her wrist. It was luminous and smooth, a comforting presence that made her feel as though Grandma was still by her side. Chapter 146 Erek pulled up to the gallery, "Boss, I signed you up for a driving course. Everything''s all set. Just pop in for the test when you can." After all, being in Imperial City was nothing like being in the international warzones. Here, having her own wheels was just more convenient. Noe was more than capable behind the wheel, and there was no need for her to waste time in driving sses. She could knock out all the tests in one go. "If you''re driving next time and run into a numbskull like we did earlier, just floor it and send him flying!" Noe''s voice was cool and detached, "In another ce, he''d be dead." It was only because of the ongoing business between the Gruber family and the Schnabel family that Walden was still breathing. If Walden had encountered Noe out on the front lines, he would''ve been greeted with bullets and fists from people of the Obelisk Organization - and those didn''t discriminate! Noe stepped into the gallery, her attention immediately drawn to a group of people causing quite a ruckus up front. Travis, clutching a pile of sketches, red at the intern before him who was practically quivering. "I told you to revise this draft; how long has it been? Why isn''t it done?" "I''m sorry. I''ve revised it six times already. I didn''t even sleepst night." Travis mmed the sketches on the table in front of the intern, his voice rising in anger, "Yourck of sleep is your own inefficiency. I told you what to change. You can''t get it right, and you¡¯re ming me?" "But didn''t you mean the first draft? When I did it that way, you said it wasn''t good." "You''re talking back now? The revisions are poor because of your own ipetence. Do you even want your internship stipend this month?" The intern was on the verge of tears, the injustice of it all shadowing her eyes darkly. She crouched down, tears falling as she bowed her head. Approaching them, Noe picked up the sketches, "What needs so many revisions?" On seeing her, the gallery staff immediately bowed, "Good morning, Ms. Schnabel." Travis immediately stered on a sycophantic smile, "Ms. Schnabel, good to see you. This is just a minor issue; these interns are ckers, unable to handle even the simplest tasks. You needn''t worry." Noe looked at the intern, "Got a pen?" "Yes, right here!" The intern hastily wiped her tears and handed over a pen. Efficiently, Noe began to mark the sketch, circling overlooked details, "See, the perspective data here is off; you need to subtract from the base number. Change the theme color in this section to highlight the artwork better. The figures here should be like this." The intern was in awe. How did Ms. Schnabel spot all the issues in just a few minutes? Many issues Travis hadn''t noticed, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint what, wereid bare by Ms. Schnabel with a few swift strokes. "Do you see these errors, Travis?" Travis felt Noe''s piercing gaze and a cold sweat broke out on his back. "Well...Ms. Schnabel, I''m not an expert in gallery work." "If you''re not an expert, why not delegate these tasks to someone who is? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s irresponsible to dictate professional work with an amateur''s eye?" Travis hung his head, caught between shame and embarrassment, "I...I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Schnabel." Noe handed the revised sketch back to the intern, her touch warm as she wiped away her tears, gentle in her movements. "Clear now?" "Yes. Thank you, Ms. Schnabel!" The intern was starstruck. Ms. Schnabel was not just addressing her in such a gentle tone but was also kind enough to wipe away her tears. What kind of angelic boss was this? "What''s your name?" "Dalia! I just graduated from the art school, started interning here." Noe nodded, "I''ll remember that. You have talent in exhibit design. If you have any problems, come straight to me." "Really? But you''re so busy, Ms. Schnabel!" "It''s fine." With eyes shining at Noe, Dalia had been working long hours and revising drafts tirelessly, each detail scrutinized countless times. Yet Travis was never satisfied, threatening her internship. But here was Ms. Schnabel, not only revising her work but also wiping away her tears; she was the epitome of kindness. Noe spoke calmly, gazing at Dalia, "Take the rest of the day off; go rest. You can''t do your best work when you''re not well-rested. You''ll still get paid." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely." As Noe cast a cold nce at Travis, who looked like he wanted to protest, her voice was firm, "Travis, my office, now." "OK, Ms. Schnabel, but letting her off is against protocol. Maybe we could treat it as time off to be made upter." "This gallery operates under my rules, right? I said Dalia can go home. Is that not clear?" Travis wiped the cold sweat away from his face, "Crystal clear, your word isw." Dalia watched Noe lead Travis away, her eyes filled with gratitude. Despite being younger than her, Ms. Schnabel was so formidable, so outstanding, and gentle. Once the office door closed behind them, Noe''s gaze turned to Travis. "I don''t want any exploitation of workers or undue stress in their lives. If you can''t manage your professional duties or personal emotions, sort them out beforeing back to work. If you''re not up to par, learn. Leave professional tasks to the professionals." ¡°I...¡± Travis struggled to respond. The idea of learning was a waste of time to him. Hiring more people meant his power would be diluted, and the benefits he reaped would shrink. He had just managed to push Petra out; he couldn''t stand to share his authority now. And it was just some sketches, after all. Couldn''t he just look at them more closely to find the problems? It was all due to the intern''sck of patience. What was wrong with revising a few times? N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Noe''s gaze was as icy as a winter storm, showing no mercy, "Travis, do you really think you''re cut out for handling everything?" Travis gritted his teeth, "I can handle it, Ms. Schnabel. I just want to save our gallery some money. I''ve been in charge of these tasks before, and I''m sure I can do them well in the future. Please, trust me." With a scoff, Noe rose from her chair and strode out of the office. Confused, Travis hurried after her. "Ms. Schnabel, isn''t this the exhibition hall we set upst month?" "Yes. I recall this was your work, Travis. Petra didn''t have a hand in it." Puffing up with pride, Travis dered, "Yes, it was all me. The exhibition hall did quite well, and we''ve received some ster reviews from the industry!" If only Ms. Schnabel would take a closer look at the exhibit, she''d see Travis''s talent. With Petra gone, it was time for him to take the reins, time for the gallery''s power to shift back into his hands. Noe surveyed the hall before her, motioning for everyone to clear the area. Her hand rested on one of the structural pirs, and with a firm push, the entire exhibition hall copsed before their very eyes! Travis nearly fainted from shock, "What...what just happened?" Noe withdrew her hand, dusting off the debris with an indifferent expression, "Travis, is this the well-done exhibition hall you were talking about? It fell apart with a single touch. Even a house of cards is sturdier than this!" Chapter 147 The exhibition hall was the one that Noe had heard the workers mentioningst night, which had been tampered with. Perhaps in an attempt to deflect suspicion and clear her own name, Petra had sabotaged the materials used in the exhibit overseen by Travis. All it took was finding the central stress point of a load-bearing pir and giving it a gentle nudge. Then the already hollow materials of the structure would copse, just as they had before them. The employees summoned by Noe stood around, their faces a mask of confusion. What exactly had happened? Thankfully, the gallery wasn''t open to the public yet. If this disaster had urred during visiting hours, the reputation of the gallery would have been in ruins! Travis''s legs shook uncontrobly, trembling like the dust settling around the wreckage. "What...what on earth has happened? I swear I didn''t know, Ms. Schnabel! You have to believe me; I had no idea there was anything wrong with the exhibition hall." Noe spoke evenly, "You''re in charge of this ce, Travis. As the head, you im ignorance about the ws? Have you even inspected this ce since its construction?" "I...I''ve been busy with other things. You have no idea how many tasks we have to manage daily at the gallery, Ms. Schnabel. I simply couldn''t keep track of everything." Noe let out a coldugh, her gaze falling on the ruins before her. "I''ll be calling the police to handle this matter." This disaster was just the fallout of the internal squabble between Travis and Petra, with the Gruber family cunningly taking advantage of the chaos. "You engage in petty power struggles and let others pay the price. You flex your muscles before the staff, forcing them to take sides. If I''m not mistaken, wasn''t Dalia previously an intern under Petra?" Travis''s torment of Dalia was solely for his own selfish desires! Bullying a fresh graduate intern - what kind of game was that? "Ms. Schnabel! I truly had no knowledge of this; please don''t let the police take me away. The gallery has so many issues that need my attention; even if I haven¡¯t made many achievements, I still deserve some credit for my years of service here!" Noe''s expression remained impassive. "I know this particr incident isn''t your doing, but what about the other things? Those incriminating files on Petra - you sent them to my inbox, didn''t you? Unfortunately for you, Petra also sent me a file on your misdeeds. There''s no need to exin anything further to me." Travis had been siphoning funds, oppressing the staff, allowing for wage deductions that wound up in his pocket, even skimming from their benefits and pension contributions. And the worst part? These young employees, fresh out of college, unaware of their right tobor arbitration, brainwashed by Travis''s talk of making sacrifices for the gallery, for the sake of art. Tristan had highlighted these issues yesterday without putting it in a direct manner, leaving them for Noe to handle. After all, the gallery was her inheritance now, and Tristan wouldn''t interfere too much. Tristan had it all nned out. If Noe hadn''t noticed these issues, he would have quietly taken care of things, ensuring his daughter''s happiness wasn''t disturbed. "Ms. Schnabel...you can''t do this. I''m innocent!" "Let the police decide if you¡¯re innocent or not," Noe turned her attention away and handed him over to the waiting officers before walking into her office. At the office entrance, a group of nervous employees huddled together. Although Travis had made their lives miserable, seeing Ms. Schnabel swiftly deal with both Travis and Petra, the gallery managers, had them anxious that they might be next. Noe looked up, her expression stern. "Who''s the assistant manager?" A man raised his hand from the crowd, "Ms. Schnabel, that would be me, Jarred." "Good. From now on, you''ll temporarily take over all of Travis''s duties. Make sure topile a report of any actions he''s taken that have harmed thepany. You can handle that, right?" "Yes! Thank you, Ms. Schnabel, for this opportunity!" Jarred could scarcely believe he was being promoted. Always suppressed by Travis, he never even had the chance to speak to Noe. Travis was terrified that his staff might curry favor with Noe and encroach on his power. Now, Ms. Schnabel had ced the power directly in his hands. "And who''s the assistant manager responsible for the exhibition galleries?" "That''s me; my name is Nyssa." "From now on, you''ll take over Petra''s duties. Whether you secure your position depends on your performance." Nyssa was visibly excited, vowing with conviction, "You can count on me, Ms. Schnabel. I''ll prove myself!" After twenty years at the gallery and seeing her designs imed by Petra as her own, no one was more familiar with setting up galleries than her. Noe appointed a few new positions, revitalizing the once dispirited staff. "Onest thing. We''re closed for the day. The police will confiscate all our paints and canvases for testing. I suspect someone has spread poison in them." Spread poison? Nyssa was taken aback, "Ms. Schnabel, why would someone do that? We use those canvases and paints every day!" If there really was poison, then no one in the gallery could escape unscathed. "Don''t worry, just cooperate with the investigation." Noe had already checked this morning. The tainted supplies hadn''t been used, and the existing artworks in the gallery were safe. The police soon returned with their report. "Ms. Schnabel, we found significant amounts of sarin, or isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate, in your gallery''s paints, and there are various toxic chemicals in the canvases. Even your office''s drinking water contains traces of these substances, which could be lethal if ingested." The employees in the room gasped in shock. Not only had the paints and canvases been poisoned, but even Ms. Schnabel''s office water wasn''t safe? Who could have been so brazen? It was a sheer act of madness! Noe had anticipated which items would bepromised and merely wanted to verify the extent. "Thank you. We''ll cooperate with the investigation and rece these materials as soon as possible." After recording the data and securing all surveince backups, Noe sent the police on their way and turned to face Nyssa and Jarred. "Everything squared away?" "All set! The paints and canvases are gone, though we lost some of the surveince footage. But we recovered most of it." The staff at the gallery hadpletely changed their tune about her! Ms. Schnabel wasn''t just a mentee of the renowned Master Killian; he was also the epitome of poise and grace. Even in the face of such an incident, she remained cool as a cucumber. She helped with the police investigation and even took the time tofort the shaken staff, quickly bing their pir of support. Everyone''s gaze seemed to instinctively follow Noe as she moved. Her lean, confident silhouette stood at the gallery''s entrance, hands casually tucked in her pockets, with her hair, reminiscent of a morning mist, billowing in the breeze. Her presence was nothing short of regal! Noe spoke with an air of nonchnce. "Take the day off, everyone. Go home and rest. You''ll get paid as usual. I want you to tidy up all the records and data. I expect to see a revitalized gallery. No more backstabbing or employee exploitation. I won''t stand for it." "Yes, Ms. Schnabel! We understand loud and clear!" ... Meanwhile, Yvonne, bundled up to the nines, hopped into a car parked on the curb, her eyes darting about as if afraid of being spotted. Walden looked at her with disdain, "Ms. Schnabel, what''s with the cloak-and-dagger act? What are you afraid of?" This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Yvonne clenched her teeth, "Walden, what I''m about to give you is critically important. It absolutely must not fall into the wrong hands!" Chapter 148 Walden''s tone carried an edge of impatience. "What is it already?" Clutching the hem of her skirt, Yvonne mustered the courage to lock eyes with Walden and spoke deliberately, "Have you ever heard of Nourishment Pill, Walden?" Walden sat bolt upright, disbelief etching his features as he looked at Yvonne. "Nourishment Pill? As in the legendary ck market panacea? That''s what you''re offering me?" Yvonne''s spirits lifted at his reaction. "I can get my hands on the Nourishment Pill. If you''re interested, Walden, maybe we can still talk business. I hear Mr. Arthur Gruber hasn''t been feeling well. Imagine the boost to your status in the Gruber family if you could present him with this elixir." If he could secure the pill for Arthur, his standing within the Gruber family would be unassable. A fanatic gleam touched Walden''s eyes. "Deal." ... At a local police station in Imperial City. Vincent, wheelchair-bound, gazed anxiously at the officer before him. "Officer, we''re telling the truth! I was attacked, our whole family nearly died out there - you can''t just ignore this!" "Do you have awyer?" Awyer? Since when did reporting an assault require legal representation? Wasn''t their battered appearance evidence enough? Why would they need awyer? The money Vincent had wouldn''t stretch to afford a defense attorney, not to mention the legal fees from his previous settlement talks with Martin were still outstanding. To think that he, once a district''s wealthiest man, had fallen to such straits made Vincent seethe. The officer, growing impatient, said, "I''ve asked you repeatedly, and you can''t provide a clear ount of what transpired, only that you were assaulted, while the surveince footage appears normal." Vincent blurted out, "The cameras! Yes, it was the man who pushed me out! He''s the one who hit me!" The officer pointed at the screen, a look of incredulity on his face. "Who pushed you? Didn''t you roll out on your own?" At that moment, Vincent''s heart sank. The very person who had been pushing his wheelchair had stayed out of the camera''s view. He remembered now how he had been positioned just out of sight. It was a setup all along! The Fuller family, together with Vincent, couldn''t piece together what had happened to them. All they knew was they''d cked out and woken up in the middle of nowhere, nearly frozen to death! Vincent''s leg bore a wound, a stark reminder of Noe''sst look - it sent shivers down his spine. The girl was nothing like she used to be. Leaving the police station, Vincent turned to Belinda, "This was all Noe''s doing. She must''ve be twisted after we cast her out! We must go to Emerald County, find her kin!" Vincent was still fixated on thepensation from Emerald County. He had learned that the payouts were per capita, and with Noe''srge family, including four brothers without spouses, they must have received a tidy sum. The Lambert family were teetering on the edge of insolvency. He couldn''t believe that once they found Noe''s biological family, they would refuse to share the wealth. ... At Pris Star Lab. Noe furrowed her brow as she reviewed the data sprawled before her. There seemed to be a few times of coboration between Pris Star''sb and the one ra managed, and the numbers suggested there were issues within ra''s facility. "Boss, judging by these figures, there might be a hup at the Emerald Countyb. Should we send someone to check it out?" Noe tucked away the report, "No need, I''ll go myself." She had promised ra a visit to Emerald County, and it would also be an opportunity to inspect the Schnabel family estate. If she encountered any problems in Emerald County, she could resolve them swiftly. After informing Sienna of her trip, her mother immediately approved, pleased by the close bond between her daughter and ra. Sienna was relieved to see the girls getting along so well; before Noe returned to the family, she had worried about potential friction between her and ra, which would''ve upset her regardless of who was at fault. Now, the sight of their closeness made her feel like she was the happiest mother in the world. After all, she had those two excellent daughters! "Alright, sweetheart, I''ll pack for you. And there are many gifts for ra; she loves the pickles from home, so let''s send her some jars, shall we?" "Sure, I''ll swing by and pick them up." Noe ended the call with her mother still fussing about getting ra''s favorite pastries to take along. When Noe arrived, she was greeted by piles of packages in the living room, and Sienna was concerned it wouldn''t be enough. "Sweetheart, can you think of anything else we should send with you? Poor ra, she''s practically living in thatb; she''s gotten so thin." Without waiting for Noe''s response, Sienna grabbed even more items. To the uninitiated, it would seem as though Noe was moving out. "That should do it. Your grandfather''s napping, so I won''t wake him." "Okay, I''ll be back in a couple of days." The Schnabel family car waited nearby. Noe,den with gifts, got in and headed for Emerald County. Wren chuckled, "Ms. Schnabel, it''s a two-hour drive. You might want to kick back and rx for a bit."This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Noe nodded, picking up the stack of documents she had prepared and started reviewing them. She suspected that there might be some technical hups at ra''sb. As the car rolled out of Imperial City, Noe''s phone began to ring. Palmer''s voice came through the receiver, "Remember our date? What snacks are you in the mood for?" It was hours away from night snack time, and Noe knew Palmer was just looking for an excuse to chat with her. If he hadn''t mentioned it, she would have probably forgotten all about their ns. Noe gazed at the scenery whizzing by in reverse, "I''m sorry; it slipped my mind." She had already left Imperial City, and going back now to join Palmer for a meal was definitely out of the question. "It''s okay; we nned for ate-night snack, so you''re not toote." "I''m not in Imperial City right now; I might be tied up for a while." Palmer pressed a hand to his forehead and stood up from his chair, walking over to therge floor- to-ceiling window. Skyscrapers towered and the river murmured beyond the ss, but none of it captured his attention. His world was onlyplete with her in it! "Where are you off to? Do you need me toe with you?" "No, it''s just a quick trip to Emerald County to visit my sister." Palmer''s voice turned a bit bitter, "So, to my fianc¨¦e, family is a good enough reason to forget about our ns?" It was true, she had forgotten. Noe pressed her lips, her grip tightening on her phone. "I''m sorry; it''s on me. Let''s have dinner when I get back." "No," Palmer''s voice held a hint of hurt, but his lips curved into a slight smile, "I want you for a whole day!" Noe had her hands full with tasks, and spending an entire day with Palmer seemed daunting. She had forgotten their date, and that oversight had let him down. She tried to find the words to refuse, but none woulde. With a hesitant nod, Noe finally agreed, "Alright, I''ll stay with you a whole day." Chapter 149 Noe''s affirmative response was reflected in Palmer''s smile, mirrored in the pristine ss window. His voice, deep and seductive, wrapped around her, "Let''s not make a fuss this time, but next time, I hope you''ll remember what you''ve promised me. Even if it''s just sharing a meal, I''ll be looking forward to it." The mere thought of dining with Noe made him patient enough to endure the tediouspany partners. He found himself browsing through the trendiest spots where the local youngsters liked to hang out for dates. But before he knew it, she had slipped away from Imperial City. What a heartless little thing she was! Did she really think it was just about a meal? Deep down, Palmer knew it was probably because hisdy hadn''t taken him to heart yet. That was why the things he asked for could be so easily forgotten. That realization left a bittersweet taste in his mouth. Noe touched her nose, not sure if she felt embarrassed or guilty. "I get it. It was my fault this time. When I''m back, I''ll make it up to you." "Alright." After hanging up, Noe nced at the call log on her phone. When exactly had it be a daily routine for him to call her? Was the CEO of the Pock Group really that free? She put her phone down and took out the watch she had borrowed from Palmer. She promised him to send it back after some modification. Since now she got nothing to do, seemed like the perfect time to get to it. Wren, watching Noe''s concentrated profile in the rear-view mirror, thought how serene and elegant she was. She exuded theposed grace of ady born into high society. The memory of what had happened at Imperial West Hospital made Wren''s blood boil. "Ms. Schnabel, if you ever run into the Lamberts, please don''t reveal your identity to them. They''re nothing but greedy. I used to think they were good to you, but I was clearly mistaken." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "The Lamberts?" Wren recounted the encounter with Vincent at the hospital. "If you see them, don''t give them the time of day!" Noe nodded, fitting thestponent back into the watch. The refurbished men''s watch was a masterpiece of understated luxury, its diamonds full and dazzling. It suited Palmer to a T. Wren continued to caution, "I don''t think they caught your birthday live stream; they probably don¡¯t know who you really are." If Vincent knew that Noe was the daughter of the nation''s wealthiest family, he''d lose his mind! Families like the Schnabels kept their wealth shrouded in mystery. They never appeared on those rich lists because they chose not to. Someone like Vincent, with his greedy and petty nature, would surely try to bleed her dry if he found out. Noe must never let him know. Noe smiled softly, nodding her agreement, "It''s fine. Whether they know or not, I have nothing to do with them now." Ever since she learned her grandmother had no ties to the Lambert family, Noe had felt at ease. She had never had much regard for the Lamberts; it was all for her grandmother''s sake, not wanting to cause her distress. But her grandmother knew everything. Noe nced at the delicate jade bracelet on her wrist, a piece so exquisite that a simr one had fetched seven hundred grand at auctionst year. Wren saw that Noe had things under control and rxed. He just worried that Ms. Schnabel''s kindness might be taken advantage of and that the Lambert family could hurt her. As the car stopped at theb entrance in Emerald County, ra, having heard the news, dashed down from herb and enveloped Noe in a tight hug as soon as she stepped out. "Noe! You finally came to visit me!" ra looked pale, with dark circles under her eyes, clearly the result of too manyte nights. But the sight of Noe made her face light up with joy. "ra, I brought you lots of things. Mom prepared them all for you." Noe gestured to the bags and packages piled behind her. Sienna had packed the car full, all for ra. "Awesome! Mom sent me pickles!" ra looped an arm around Noe''s neck, calling for her assistant to bring in the goodies. "Come on, let me show you around. These breeding grounds are part of ourb." ra led Noe towards the breeding area with pride, "Just between us, some of this is edible!" Noe couldn''t help but smile. Even if it was edible, ra must be sick of seeing these things every day. "How''s everything at home?" Noe shared the recent events with ra, picking and choosing the details. ra was taken aback. "Noe, slow down, let me process this...there''s so much to take in. I don''t know whether to be more shocked about Grandpa and Grandma getting a divorce, or that Grandma isn''t Dad''s real mom, or that Grandma ended up in the ICU because of Yvonne!" All these revtions had ra''s jaw dropping. She could hardly believe the drama unfolding at home. She hadn¡¯t been away that long, and so much had happened. Bravo, indeed. "ra, why did our family take in Yvonne?" "Oh, that? Back then, Grandma Ashlyn...I mean, Ashlyn was sick and had a dream about God sending her a child of fortune. Then she found Yvonne abandoned on the street and insisted that she was the child sent by God. She was adamant about adopting her." ra shrugged helplessly. ¡°Well, if she wants to adopt, let her be. It''s just another mouth to feed, and we can afford it. Besides, ever since she took in Yvonne, she''s been less of a bother to Mom, so I guess it''s a good thing.¡± Noe frowned slightly, "Picked up from the street?" "That''s what grandma says, but I think..." ra lowered her voice, hooking her arm around Noe''s neck, and whispered conspiratorially into her ear, "For all we know, Yvonne might be Grandma''s secret love child! She''s awfully sweet on her, even more than she is with us." Noe stared at ra, speechless, "She''s Ashlyn''s biological granddaughter." She handed ra a paternity test report, the results clear at a nce. ra''s mouth dropped open. "This is...just absurd, totally!" Noe observed ra in front of her. She wore a well-wornb coat that had faded to a pale white, her hair simply tied back with the scrunchie Noe had given her. When she reached out, her hands bore thin calluses and even traces of chilins. Both daughters of the Schnabel family, ra lived a life of austerity for the sake of her research. Noe pulled a small box from her bag and handed it to ra. "What''s this? A present from you?" "Yes, it''s for you. It will help get rid of those calluses and prevent chilins." ra''s eyes lit up. She didn''t care much for such things, but she was still a girl who loved beauty. Sometimes the conditions in theb were far from ideal, requiring her to get hands-on, even working in sub-zero temperatures. Thest time she went back to the Schnabel Mansion, she took great care to hide her hands, not wanting her family to see her wounds. And yet, her little sister had noticed and even prepared a gift in secret. Oh, how sweet and kind her little sister was! Touched and filled with warmth, ra hugged Noe''s face and nted a few kisses on her cheeks. "Thank you, Noe! I love it, love you to bits!" CHapter 150 CHapter 150 ra, with a tube of ointment in her hand, took a couple of videos in all angles, and sent them to the Schnabel family group chat with a flourish. [Check this out, guys! My little sis sent me this exclusive care package. Beat that!] Beckett chimed in: [Noe¡¯s first trip to Emerald County, make sure she¡¯s well looked after. Don¡¯t let her lose any weight.} Ulrich added: [She¡¯s so thoughtful. Last time she hooked me up with a bunch of snacks.] A series of videos followed, all featuring Noe bringing treats to the set. Stirling vented: [What¡¯s the deal here? Am I chopped liver?] Jasper joked: [No grub for me either, but I did get a shirt from Noe. She imed she herself.] e crafted it Jasper shared a selfie, sporting a sleek ck shirt adorned with his initials. The cor was trimmed in his favorite mboyant colors, and a few ostentatious rubies sparkled ¨C exactly Jasper¡¯s style. The chat exploded with reactions! ra, reading through the messages, yfully wrapped an arm around Noe¡¯s neck, ¡°Noe, I want a handmade shirt too! Why does Jasper get one and not me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got something nned for you, but I wasn¡¯t sure about your favorite color. So I¡¯m here to ask you about it.¡± Her designs for Azure¡¯s new season were a hit, and she also handled some exclusive, high¨Cticket orders. Whipping up some threads for the Schnabel family members was no biggie. she realized that a chunk of Azure¡¯sst quarter¡¯s profits came from the deep pockets of the Schnabels and Palmer. ally s Even after she gave Rising Glory Mall a sweet deal, her shares in Rising Glory Group meant the money was stillnding in her own purse. Thinking about how Pris Star¡¯s cash flow relied on the Schnabel family, Noe felt a twinge of guilt. Last time she was designing, she stumbled upon a rather gaudy piece of fabric that wasn¡¯t in harmony with Azure¡¯s style, yet matched Jasper¡¯s taste to a T. So she drew the sketch and made him a shirt, and he adored it, wearing it with pride. This was his sister¡¯s work and it fit him just perfectly. The two of them were definitely sibling goals! ra hugged Noe tightly, nting a couple of kisses on her, ¡°Whatever you pick, I¡¯ll love it! I¡¯m always in ab coat, so I don¡¯t want to ruin your creations. I¡¯ll wear them when I¡¯m home!¡± 07:35 Her handcrafted clothes weren¡¯t meant to be preserved in a museum. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make extra for you so you can wear them anytime.¡± ¡°Aw, you¡¯re the best, Noe! Love you!¡± ra was so ecstatic she nearly jumped for joy! Noe knew ra was just trying not to worry people from the Schnabel family. ra was a genius, much like the unexploited members of Pris Star. They all possessed extraordinary intellect, which often meant they were wise beyond their years. When ra found out she wasn¡¯t the biological daughter of the Schnabel family, she started visiting less. She loved her family but didn¡¯t want to put them in a tough spot if the real Schnabel daughter returned. Choosing to step back, she immersed herself in her research in the solitude of the wild. ¡°Wait here for me, Noe. I¡¯ve got to sort out a minor glitch at theb. I¡¯ll be back to hang out with you soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ra ruffled Noe¡¯s hair, reluctant to leave, and then ran to theb. She needed to resolve those problems quickly so she could return to Noe¡¯s side. Noe¡¯s phone was bombarded with calls from the Schnabels, all moring for her to make them clothes too. Why should Jasper be the only one? Their little sister couldn¡¯t y favorites! Feeling overwhelmed, Noe promised, ¡°Alright, alright, everyone gets one.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Beckett gazed at the family portrait on his desk with a fond smile, even adding a picture of ra for good measure. No Schnabel left behind. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself. When you feel like it, just whip up some designs and let the pros handle the sewing. I worry you might get tired.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± There were a lot stuff in Rising Glory Group that was required to handle, so Beckett addressed. few words before hanging up. Not far away, Vincent and his family spotted Noe strolling alone near the farm and hurried toward her. ¡°Noe, I knew I¡¯d find you here! What will it take for you toe home with me?¡± Noe regarded Vincent coldly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t thest beating enough for you?¡± ¡°If youe home, we can forget all about that.¡± Vincent offered magnanimously. ¡°I¡¯m sick, Noe. If you don¡¯te home. I¡¯m afraid I couldn¡¯t see you onest time before I die. I¡¯ve been feeling regretted for being not able to stay at your grandma¡¯s side when she still had thest breath. You don¡¯t want me to regret it once more, do you, Noe?¡± Vincent swept a nce at Ellsworth Fuller, signaling him to stand behind Noe, in case she ran awayter. As long as they had her in control, she could only listen to them! Taking a glimpse at those few people from the Fuller family behind her, Noe snorted. ¡°What¡¯s your angle? Ironic you would bring up my grandma. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡± Vincent perked up. ¡°We¡¯re family, Noe, I raised you for nearly two decades. I¡¯m the closest one in the world to you! Come on, take me to meet your birth parents. After all these years of raising you, they should at least cough up a little thank you money¡­I mean, medical expenses. Dad¡¯s illness is costing a fortune!¡± It was always about the money. Noe reached out her hand, and just when Vincent thought she was going to shake his as a gesture of reconciliation, she pped him across the face! ¡°I never hit you before out of respect for Grandma, not for you, Vincent. Did you really think I tolerated you because of your personality charm?¡± Vincent clutched his cheek, looking at Noe in disbelief. ¡°How dare you hit me!¡± Another firm p mirrored the first, leaving Vincent¡¯s face symmetrically stung. The Fuller family members rushed forward to intervene as they saw Vincent getting pped. Noe cracked her knuckles and let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°And you all, giving me expired. candy when I was little, trying to kill me, plotting to steal Grandma¡¯s house deed and sell the old family home. Remember when you tricked me and I nearly didn¡¯t make it back alive? You think I¡¯ve forgotten all that? When I was three, you talked about slipping me rat polson to get rid of me. At five, you tried to drown me in the well. By seven, you stole the tuition Grandma saved for me, forcing her to borrow money everywhere. Did you really think I¡¯d forget?¡± Confronted with Noe¡¯s icy re, the Fullers were visibly uneasy. How could this damn girl remember all those petty, ancient grievances? Ma Fuller, feeling guilty, mumbled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you still alive? Besides, what¡¯s the point of a girl getting so much education. That money would¡¯ve been better spent on his grandson ¨C the future of the family. In his eyes, girls shouldn¡¯t be wasting time on books. If Noe had died back then, Belinda could¡¯ve had a shot at a second child, a boy, instead of ending up with no hope for the future. Ellsworth, inexplicably intimidated by Noe, still choked out a defense. ¡°We did it all for your own good. Your grandma wanted you to study, and look where that got you. Wouldn¡¯t marrying me have been better?¡± Noe scoffed, herugh as chilling as a specter¡¯s, ¡°The reason I¡¯m still alive is a mystery, especially since it means you lot are still around, too. How unfortunate!¡± She stepped forward and delivered two sharp ps to the faces of the old Fuller couple, then grabbed Ellsworth by the head and dunked him into a pile of chicken droppings by the roadside. ¡°If you can¡¯t speak nicely, then it¡¯s time you cleaned your mouth out properly!¡± CHapter 151 CHapter 151 The Fuller family erupted into piercing screams! ¡°Arghhhh! Noe, have you lost your mind? How could you do this to Ellsworth!¡± Yet, as they beheld Noe in her fury, none dared to step forward and Intervene! What if she turned her wrath upon them as well? What then? And there stood the most despairing of all ¨C Ellsworth! He could taste the sickening, sticky muck flooding his mouth and nostrils, and without even looking, he knew exactly what vile substance it was. He didn¡¯t have the strength to push Noe away and retch! How could this girl be so strong?! He was a grown man, for crying out loud, and yet he couldn¡¯t free himself from her grasp! Noe showed no mercy, grinding Ellsworth¡¯s head into a pile of chicken droppings at the roadside. ¡°I would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d be used to this, what with all the crap thates out of your mouth. Eat up, isn¡¯t this the kind of stuff you chew every day? Why aren¡¯t you eating now?¡± Tears of sheer physical revulsion streamed down Ellsworth¡¯s face as his mouth filled with the foul substance, and he passed out cold! Noe dropped his head, and dusted off her hands, ¡°Pathetic fool. Can¡¯t even handle this and yet you shoot your mouth off.¡± She turned to face the old Fuller couple, Ma and Debbie, with a mocking smile. ¡°So, it¡¯s your turn now. Do you want to step up, or shall I take action?¡± Ma and Debbie trembled with fear! What did she mean by ¡°take action¡°? Hadn¡¯t she already pped them? Surely that counted for something? Noe stepped forward, grabbing Ma by the cor with a look of disdain. ¡°Sorry, I almost forgot I already hit you, but just looking at you makes my blood boil. You dare to desecrate my grandmother¡¯s grave? Looks like you¡¯ve got a thing for the dead! Fine, let¡¯s give you your fill!¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane! Noe! Put me down this instant! Ahhh! I¡¯m Belinda¡¯s father, so your grandfather!¡± Grandfather? The same man who had tried multiple times to off her, she would never want one. He had attempted to snatch her away multiple times from her grandmother and dump her somewhere, just because she was a girl! It wasn¡¯t just about him tossing her aside; it was the heartache he caused her grandmother, how he sneered at her, the tears she shed in the night, all of which were etched into Noe¡¯s memory. 07:36 Chacher 151 She flung Ma into a nearby potter¡¯s field, kicking him down the slope where he tumbled, screaming into the pit below! Emerald County had once been a battlefield, with mass graves scattered about. Ma¡¯s cries echoed as he fell among the bones of the forgotten, then abruptly quieted ¨C perhaps he too had fainted. Noe turned to Debbie, tilting her head to reveal her dimpled smile, all innocence and charm, which made Debbie think maybe, just maybe, Noe wouldn¡¯t hurt her, ¡°Noe, dear, I¡¯ve always been good to you.¡± Noe¡¯s smile vanished as she kicked Debbie hard in the midsection and gave the unconscious Ellsworth a shove down the slope. ¡°Off you go. Family should stick together, after all.¡± Debbie¡¯s screams soon faded as she joined her husband in the pit. Noe then faced Vincent and Belinda. ¡°Your turn. You going down by yourselves, or do I need to escort you?¡± As Vincent and Belinda attempted to slip away, Noe¡¯s re pinned them in ce. This girl had clearly gone mad! ¡°Noe, we¡¯re family. You can¡¯t do this to us! Just help your grandparents back up, apologize. and we¡¯ll pretend none of this ever happened.¡± Vincent had to admit, he was a bit scared! He never imagined Noe, on her own, could take down three Fullers, especially Ellsworth, who was toughened by street fights from a young age. Noe chuckled, ¡°Pretend it never happened? Sorry, I can¡¯t do that.¡± She a advanced towards Belinda and Vincent. ¡°When I tried to let things slide, you had toe to me, thinking to scrounge money off me and taint my reputation.¡± A trace of embarrassment flicked across Belinda¡¯s face. Worried Noe wouldn¡¯t give up and might find ways to get back to the Lambert family, she did bad¨Cmouth her among the societydies, but how the heck did Noe know about this? Impossible. What Belinda didn¡¯t know was that they didn¡¯t see Noe¡¯s birthday live stream prepared by the Schnabel family, but those societydies saw. Who would openly turn against Ms. Schnabel? Plus Belinda even announced to the press that she¡¯d cut ties with Noe, which made those society ladies able to piece together the story. They took initiative to meet the Schnabels, telling them what kind of life Noe once had gone through. In order to cozy up to the Schnabels, they certainly would choose to rat on Belinda. After all, everyone was well aware the Lambert family were not in the same league as the Schnabel family. ¡°When I wanted to maintain dignity and avoid conflict, what were you doing? You tried to desecrate my grandma¡¯s resting ce to bury the Fullers! Did you ever think about where my grandma would go? I¡¯ve overlooked your past treatment of me because you¡¯re nothing but trash in my eyes. But you crossed the line by disturbing my grandma¡¯s peace.¡± This was something she would never allow. Noe raised her hand and pped Vincent repeatedly. ¡°These are for Grandma.¡± After delivering the final blow, she kicked Vincent in his wheelchair, watching as both tumble down the hillside. Belinda plopped on the ground, shivering as she looked up at Noe standing before her. She had truly lost it! ¡°I¡¯m your mom¡­how could you do this to me?¡± Noe crouched down, her hand reaching out to pinch Belinda¡¯s chin. ¡°Does Vincent have any clue about being cuckolded? Do you think he really fell for your fibs. when he saw the DNA test results, believing that Briony was actually his child?¡± Belinda¡¯s eyes widened in shock. What was she implying? Did Vincent suspect anything? ¡°No¡­I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Noe smiled, ¡°Belinda, you know Vincent better than anyone. You don¡¯t need me to tell you what kind of man he is.¡± What kind of man was Vincent? A sycophant, greedy for wealth, miserly with money, paranoid to the core. ¡°Did he not dump me with my grandma to raise, just because you told him I didn¡¯t resemble him enough? Now, guess what, do you think he might doubt Briony¡¯s parentage?¡± A wave of shock and fear crashed over Belinda! Vincent might not have doubted Briony¡¯s lineage before, but after seeing the paternity test Noe left behind when she walked out, he certainly would! Noe stood up, her foot pressing down on Belinda¡¯s expensively maintained face. Once, in her obsession with her looks, Belinda had neglected Grandma during a stroke, nearly costing her life! These were debts she owed, and she couldn¡¯t escape a single one. ¡°Guess why Vincent, despite his suspicions, hasn¡¯te after you all this time.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Belinda was in too much pain to speak, her heart seized by terror. Noe¡¯s words were like a curse! ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because he¡¯s got other kid now!¡± Before Belinda could grasp what was happening, Noe¡¯s foot came crashing down on her waist, reuniting the family in their disgrace. Noe dusted off her hands, ncing at the transparent jade bracelet on her wrist with a smile. She thought Grandma should have seen this. ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m living a good life!¡± CHapter 152 CHapter 152 After dropping off Vincent and the Fullers, Noe¡¯s phone buzzed with an encrypted message that seemed like gibberish at first nce. Holding her phone, she deftly decoded it, importing the text into a custom app she had developed, and quickly extracted the clear message. [Boss, we¡¯ve got a situation at theb in Emerald County. Need you here.] [Got it.] To synergize with ra¡¯s Phoenix Lab, Pris Star had set up its own facility in Emerald County. Noe pocketed her phone and navigated through the streets with the mental map she had long memorized, arriving at the Pris Star Lab. Theb¡¯s exterior was a nondescript suburban house, nothing out of the ordinary. Standing at the entrance, Noe passed through a triple security checkpoint ¨C fingerprint, iris scan, and a password ¨C before she could enter. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°Boss, the data we sent to Phoenix Lab has been intercepted.¡± Theb¡¯s supervisor, Mizar, handed her a report. ¡°Phoenix Lab has ultra¨Ctight security. The documents are supposed to be top secret. This shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Noe scanned the report indicating that data meant for Phoenix Lab had been maliciously hijacked. Slipping into ab coat and donning a face mask, she instructed, ¡°Get me some equipment.¡± Mizar, buzzing with excitement at the sight of their boss getting hands¨Con, quickly assembled the necessary tools. It had been ages since they saw the boss in action! This was going to be good! Five minutester, Noe, examining the data, uttered as she stretched her hand, ¡°Pen and paper, please.¡± Mizar handed her the requested items, and noting the mud on Noe¡¯s shoes, she asked with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Boss, did you juste from a hike?¡± ¡°Yeah, ran into people from the Fuller family. Gave them a piece of my mind.¡± Mizar listened to Noe¡¯s cool response, seething, ¡°Those pests are still jumping around! You were too lenient before!¡± ¡°No need to dwell on that. The fall from the giddy heights of potter¡¯s field wouldn¡¯t have killed the Fullers or Vincent and his wife ¨C just a few broken bones, a little bedrest. It would do them good toy low for a while. After all, whether the Lambert family and the Fuller family would still be around once they recovered was anyone¡¯s guess. ¡°It¡¯s time to leak the Lambert family¡¯s project ws and Vincent¡¯s tax evasion.¡± ¡°On it!¡± They had been sitting on that information for too long. Vincent had managed to disgust Noe enough to not let his family off lightly, despite Old Mrs. Lambert. Mizar scoffed, ¡°When that ident happened on Vincent¡¯s project and people died, heined about the dy. Heartless.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s heartless, there¡¯s no need for us to care. Spread the word as the Phantom Surgeon: any international organization that provides medical aid to Vincent will be an enemy for life.¡± ¡°Got it! But what if they seek typical medical care?¡± Noe replied ndly. ¡°No worries, I have a n.¡± She tapped out a message to Ulrich and hit send. Ulrich¡¯s response was swift. [Finally, You remember me, your brother! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got everything set up. All reputable hospitals nationwide, even globally, will cklist Vincent. He can try to get medical attention, but it will cost him a fortune, and he still won¡¯t find the right doctor. When are youing back? How¡¯s ra? Miss you!] are! Ignoring the flood of messages, Noe selectively answered before pocketing her phone. With Ulrich on the case, Vincent¡¯s chances of a quick recovery were next to none. By the time he was well, the Lambert family¡¯s fortune would be all but drained dry. After documenting her findings, Noe drafted a misleading report and hit send. Half a minuteter, the system gged the message as intercepted. Her slender fingers flew across the keyboard, pinpointing the IP address of the interceptor, and she frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s also in Emerald County. Looks like someone from Phoenix Lab. ra¡¯s got her own dramas to deal with, it seems.¡± Mizar shrugged, ¡°Not everyb is drama¨Cfree like ours. With ra being so young and brilliant, there¡¯s plenty of people waiting for her to slip up. Plenty of them haven¡¯t made any major achievement, all biding their time for promotions.¡± They were all eagerly hoping to be promoted, when suddenly a youngdy dropped into their midst. Noe had heard that ra earned her spot at Phoenix Lab, but the Schnabel family had generously funded an entire research base for her. Basically, all the equipment in Phoenix Lab was donated by the Schnabels. ¡°So, the thing they talk about ra,¡± Mizar shrugged, ¡°it gets pretty nasty.¡± Especially once they found out ra was only an adopted daughter of the Schnabel family, the comments turned even uglier. Clutching the notebook with her data, Noe said, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look.¡± ¡°You bet!¡± Nothing beat crashing a party like this! At Phoenix Lab. ra frowned at a few middle¨Cagedb technicians in front of her. ¡°Ryker, Zack, what¡¯s the deal? If you don¡¯t want to work here, submit your resignations. I won¡¯t stop you!¡± Zack, the apparent leader of the group, sneered at ra. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, we¡¯ve all been busting our butts on this data research. As the project lead, we¡¯ve been out there collecting samples, and what exactly have you contributed?¡± ¡°Right, if anyone should be packing their bags, it¡¯s you, Ms. Schnabel. Isn¡¯t it high time you. settled down, maybe got hitched? The Schnabel family are one heck of a n. They wouldn¡¯t stiff you on some wedding gifts just because you¡¯re the adopted daughter, right? Haha!¡± Their barbs were as blunt as they were cruel. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ra clenched her teeth, ¡°What are you implying? Those experiments were my doing! As the technical head and the one with the signing authority, you¡¯re ountable for all the data!¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re not shirking responsibility. But if you want us to take the fall, sure, we can talk about that. After all, the data is in our hands, not yours. You, the do¨Cnothing little missy, can take a hike from Phoenix Lab!¡± They¡¯d finally let the cat out of the bag. ra could onlyugh in fury! The data they imed was theirs had been the result of her countless sleepless nights in theb. Had they stolen her work midway just to push her out of Phoenix Lab? She knew every nook and cranny here, and although leaving the Schnabel family had been partly her own choice, she truly loved her job! The other researchers held their breath, caught in the crossfire of a battle of the gods. Then, a lilting voice cut through the tension from outside theb, ¡°I remember the head of thisb is a Mr. Pock. Where might he be?¡± Ryker hadn¡¯t expected anyone else to walk in. Phoenix Lab was top¨Csecret, off¨Climits to most. He turned to scold the intruder, but then he caught sight of the logo emzoned on Noe¡¯sb coat, shining like stars against the daylight. Zack frowned, ¡°Who dares to barge into Phoenix Lab? Security! Take these two away!¡± Noe stood calm andposed, her face obscured by a mask and cap, only her bright, clear eyes visible. She tossed Zack the pass. It read: Distinguished Laboratory Talent, Harmonia Country ¨C authorized for allb levels! Everyone was stunned. Noe sat downfortably and said, ¡°Can we speak inly now?¡± CHapter 153 CHapter 153 She was d in a sleek experimental suit made of high¨Ctech fabric, her eyes as brilliant as stars in the night sky. piercing and clear, immediately captivating many of those present with just a nce. And yet, her gaze carried an air of haughty disdain, as if she were a queen surveying her realm! Ryker clenched his teeth, ¡°I need to verify if the pass is authentic!¡± Noe replied with scorn. ¡°What kind of dimwit are you? To think someone with such a small brain made it into Phoenix Lab. Mr. Pock must be really scraping the bottom of the barrel. Mizar chimed in, adding fuel to the fire. ¡°Yeah, boss, with all that security gear at the entrance. do you really think we could get in here with fake passes? Geez, that brain of yours would be better off in a chicken coop.¡± Ryker nearly choked on his own rage! The nerve of this brat,paring him to a farmyard chicken! ra¡¯s gaze fell on the two young women who had just entered, her brows knitting together in confusion. One of them was Mizar from Pris Star Lab, whom she had met during a data exchange and knew possessed the special clearance to ess all of Harmonia Country¡¯sbs due to their exceptional contributions. She had been impressed by Mizar¡¯s credentials and had eve considered poaching her! After all, the researchers at Pris Star Lab were all young, yet each one was a one¨Cin¨Ca¨Cmillion genius. The speed at which they reached conclusions with just a set of data was a mere three¨Cquarters of ra¡¯s time! And their uracy was equally impressive, leaving ra utterly astonished! She had always been hailed as a prodigy, but it was only when she saw the researchers at Pris Star that she truly understood the meaning of the term! The girl sitting in the chair, referred to by Mizar as ¡°boss¡°, was most likely the head of Pris Star Lab. From her brief interactions, ra knew just how proud these geniuses from Pris Star could be and they had every right to their pride! The kind of person they would follow must be an extraordinary genius. What sort of individual couldmand such loyalty? ra, looking at the girl with the mask and cap, couldn¡¯t contain the excitement in her voice, ¡°Mr. Pock is in a meeting today and will be backter.¡± The head of theb, Jacob Pock, held vast amounts of scientific data and had made significant contributions to Harmonia Country¡¯s researchmunity. There were rumors about his powerful connections being the reason for his leadership position, but those were just whispers. Ryker and Zack, two of theb¡¯s management staff, were only making trouble because Jacob, who was fond of ra¡¯s abilities, was absent. It was all about power ¨C they wanted ra to resign from Phoenix Lab of her own volition. They were going to such lengths merely out of fear that Jacob would make things difficult for them upon his return! Noe watched ra, who appeared calm and collected, but she knew how much struggle it took to maintain her ground in such an environment. And none of this she had ever mentioned to people from the Schnabel family! Ryker frowned, looking at Noe, ¡°This is an internal matter for ourb. You have no say here!¡± Noe¡¯s reply was icy. ¡°Who is your coboration with?¡± ra quickly raised her hand, ¡°Me!¡± As theb¡¯s lead, she had signed a short¨Cterm experimental agreement with Pris Star. Ryker smirked at Noe, ¡°The experimental data is all ours. You can¡¯t fake that! Ms. Schnabel, if you can¡¯t produce the experimental data, how can you im the experiments were your work?¡± Noe understood. The ones intercepting the experimental data midway were these two men before her. ra, indignant, shot back, ¡°I personally conducted those experiments. You didn¡¯t even participate. Where were you every time the experiment started?¡± Zack¡¯s eyes darted away! At their age, their ideals had long since vanished. The idea of relying purely on scientific research for a living wasughable to them. Only someone naive and unworldly like ra would actually put in the work. No matter how good the data looked, could it make them rich? Better to ck off and coast through work. ¡°Of course, we were conducting our own experiments in ourb. Just because you enjoy hiding out in yourb, does that mean no one else in the world is allowed to work hard?¡± ra almostughed in frustration at such tant distortion of truth! ¡°Fine, let¡¯s check the surveince footage and see if you were really working.¡± Ryker sneered, ¡°ra, you have no right to do that. Mr. Pock isn¡¯t here today, and you have no authority to ess our office¡¯s surveince.¡± These two were old foxes, slippery and evasive. They had been preparing for this day for who knew how long! It was all to push ra out of Phoenix Lab! Noe suddenly spoke up, ¡°I happen to have something I¡¯d like everyone to see. May I use the central screen?¡± ra nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± The central screen in theb was impressivelyrge, typically used for meetings, and rarely N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. turned on otherwise. Ryker watched Noe with a cold gaze, ¡°Ourb¡¯s central screen is not your average size. Think you can handle it?¡± Noe surveyed the jumble of data cables before her. Phoenix Lab, being Harmonia Country¡¯s leading facility, had a central control screen that fundamentally wasn¡¯t much different from a regr LED disy control panel. It was all about receiving the serial port image disy information from theputer. Finding the controller¡¯s driver and the location of the sending card was all that was needed to activate the screen. ra stepped forward, her voice soft. ¡°Uh, Boss, do you need a hand?¡± She didn¡¯t know the name of Pris Star¡¯s boss, but she was sure this was a super¨Cgenius well worth clinging to for support! Noe said coolly, ¡°No need.¡± Ryker nced at Noe, convinced that she wouldn¡¯t know how to operate the central screen, and let out a mockingugh, ¡°Heh, if you can¡¯t do it, just say so. There¡¯s no need to show off. These are ourb¡¯s internal affairs; outsiders should just get lost!¡± As soon as the voice trailed off, Noe effortlessly synced up with theb¡¯s central monitor. The ease with which she managed this feat left everyone gobsmacked, considering that many of them struggled to even turn the thing on. And there she was, the boss of Pris Star, flicking it on like it was nothing. But what really blew their minds was what appeared on the screen! There, two middle¨Caged men with cigarettes dangling from their lips werezily eyeing their fishing rods, the very picture of peace and contentment. It was none other than Ryker and Zack, who were supposed to be in theb! Behind them, Mizar was grinning from ear to ear, pulling out her phone, ¡°It¡¯s 3 o¡¯clock, Monday afternoon in Imperial City, prime working hours, folks. Wonder how the fishing¡¯s going for these. two gentlemen.¡± Ryker¡¯s voice drifted from the video. ¡°Damn, I can¡¯t stand the sight of that ra. What¡¯s she got that she thinks she can lord it over us?¡± ¡°That brat thinks she¡¯s all that; we need to find a way to boot her out!¡± Ryker took the cigarette from his mouth and leered, ¡°And she¡¯s a looker too. Once we get her out, maybe I¡¯ll have a little fun myself.¡± Everyone was utterly gobsmacked! Ryker and Zack were theb¡¯s ringleaders! It was one thing to sneak out for a fishing jaunt during work hours, but it was quite another to scheme against and assault Ms. Schnabel! ra, on the other hand, was the picture ofposure. She¡¯d risen to her position by facing down plenty of malice. This was nothing new to her. The video rolled on, revealing that on nearly every workday afternoon, after clocking out, Zack and Ryker would head out to y cards, go fishing, or even hit up the town for some seedy salon massages, anything but being in theb! Seeing the video, Zack and Rykerpletely lost their cool. Chapter 154 They had all scrambled their way to a position where they were stuck in limbo, neither rising nor falling in the ranks. They had long lost any real interest in putting in an honest day''s work at theb! After punching the clock, they would skedaddle out to fish, y cards, or find some other mischief. Little did they know, their shenanigans were being captured in crystal clear detail! ¡°You¡¯re invading people''s privacy!¡± one of them protested. Mizar just shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re fishing in my pond. I haven¡¯t even billed you for that pleasure. And the card games? They''re held at my own tavern. Tell me, what rules have I broken?¡± When the whiz kids from Pris Star arrived in Emerald County, they embraced theid-back lifestyle with gusto. They leased a few ponds for casual fishing and bought some storefronts to dabble in business. Before they knew it, they had snapped up an entire block. And in the process, they also managed to catch Zack and Ryker''s fun-seeking escapades on camera. ¡°Speaking of which, you still owe forst month''s card game and yesterday''s fishing. We run a tight ship here, right, Boss?¡± ¡°Of course, payment is due.¡± Noe faced the pair''s panicked attempts to shut down the central monitor with a sneer. ¡°I¡¯vee to ask Mr. Pock whether the securitywork at yourb has fallen so far behind that even experimental data can be intercepted?¡± Just minutes ago, her freshly minted experimental data had been pilfered, still warm from theb! Turning to ra with a softened tone, Noe continued, ¡°Ms. Schnabel, have all the recent experimental results from Phoenix Lab been your doing?¡± ¡°Yes, it''s all my and my team''s sleepless work, but¡­¡± ra¡¯s face turned ashen, her words trailing off. The data were hers, but for reasons unknown, they had vanished overnight! The assistant, indignant on her behalf, chimed in, ¡°Our director ra hasn¡¯t had a proper night''s sleep in a week, living in theb, and now the data''s gone.¡± Zack fumbled with the controls, trying to stop the endless loop of video on the central screen. As he neared the controller, Noe''s cool, detached voice rang out. ¡°I¡¯ve forwarded a copy of that video to Mr. Pock. It¡¯s the full, unedited high-definition version. As for its contents, maybe it''s time to reflect on what you''ve been saying.¡± Zack, realizing the gravity of her words, copsed onto the floor, legs turning to jelly. What had they been saying? Of course, they had bad-mouthed ra, and not even their boss Jacob Pock was spared. They imed he had climbed the ranks on looks alone,cking any real expertise, and now was probably trying to keep ra as a... Well, the words they had used were far from ttering! If Jacob ever saw that video, their careers were as good as over! Ryker, mustering what little spirit he could, challenged ra. ¡°Just because Ms. Schnabel ims to have done the experiment, we should believe her? You don''t have any data to show for it!¡± Theck of data was indeed ra''s biggest problem. These two were dead set on using that point to force her out of Phoenix Lab, weren''t they?N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Noe rested her chin on her hand, eyeing ra with a gleam in her eye. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, do you remember your experimental results?¡± ¡°Of course, I remember, but results without data... they''re useless.¡± ra¡¯s expression was tinged with a resigned bitterness. At Phoenix Lab''s caliber, a single experimental result must be underpinned by countless pieces of validating data. Results derived from too few or no samples would not be acknowledged! Noe nodded. ¡°That¡¯s enough for me. I came because I discovered data from Phoenix Lab and our ownb being intercepted, and it''s an inside job.¡± Her announcement stunned everyone. Someone from within theb had stolen their colleagues'' data? In the world of research, this was nothing short of scandalous! Ryker looked at Noe, his voice strangled. ¡°You¡¯re not even part of ourb. What gives you the right to spout such nonsense?¡± ¡°Whether it''s nonsense or not, you''ll soon find out.¡± Noe turned to therge screen behind her and switched the disy. ¡°These two sets of data, one of them was submitted by Ryker, correct? I remember it well; it was from the experiment I conducted half an hour ago and sent to Phoenix Lab.¡± As Rykerpared the data on the screen with the email he received, he nodded after confirming it matched. ¡°Yes, I submitted it. What''s the issue?¡± Noe smirked, her demeanor a mix of contempt and confidence. ¡°The issue is, the results in the email I sent was fake, and you, Ryker, have used this fake results as your own. If the experiment was truly your work, you¡¯d recognize which results were your own, wouldn''t you? Everyone here is a scientist. Don¡¯t you know what results your experiments should yield? How could samples ''aa'' and ''bb'' possibly produce ''c''? Has Phoenix Lab''s staff lost their minds over the last two years, or is it just old age causing forgetfulness?¡± The sarcasm in her tone was palpable. Ryker''s face was slick with sweat. ¡°It''s... I forgot... I chose the wrong one. The other set is my data!¡± ¡°Are you sure? Have you made your choice?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure! The other one is my data!¡± Noe looked to ra with a smile. ¡°And you, Ms. Schnabel, which do you choose?¡± ra¡¯s gaze was fixed on the data disyed on the screen, her conviction unwavering. ¡°I choose neither. My data, with minimal error, could not possibly yield these two results. If it were mine, it''d look something like this.¡± With a pen and paper handed to her by her assistant, ra quickly jotted down her predicted results. Although it was supposed to be Pris Star''s job to handle this stage of the experiment, she always double-checked every step in her mind to ensure the final oue was urate. ra held up her own data. ¡°Roughly, it should look like this. Both sets of data from this boss are incorrect.¡± Mizar, standing by Noe¡¯s side, was full of admiration. The boss''s sister was a gem, a true asset to research. No wonder these lowlifes wanted her out. With ra around, theb would soon be under her name! Noe produced the correct experimental data. ¡°Coincidentally, my results match Ms. Schnabel¡¯s.¡± ra''s nerves had been on edge, but when she saw that Noe was holding data identical to her own, a wave of relief washed over her, tinged with a pleasant surprise. She had been worried about causing offense; after all, her years at Phoenix Lab had earned her Mr. Pock''s constant criticism forcking people skills. What if she had somehow upset the big boss from Pris Star? What would happen if they severed their coboration? But it turned out, this was all orchestrated by the boss herself! ra''s gaze shifted to Ryker and Zack. Her usually delicate brows furrowed, her tone uncharacteristically sharp and biting. "I never would''ve pegged you two for the moles. I''ve ignored your petty schemes in the past, but stealing my data, ndering me, trying to tarnish theb''s reputation¡ªthat''s where I draw the line!" Ryker and Zack exchanged a nce, both seeing the panic and fear in each other''s eyes. If ra exposed them, not only would their research careers be over, but they''d likely be cklisted from the entire sciencemunity. "Ms. Schnabel! We just lost our way, please, we''re begging you to forgive us!" Noe had no time to indulge in their melodrama. She stood up and handed ra the prepared dossier. "Ms. Schnabel, we look forward to continuing our experiments together, but please take care of your health," she said. ra nodded, her gratitude evident. She could tell that the boss of Pris Star Lab hade specifically to back her up. But why? She didn''t even know the woman. Noticing ra''s puzzled look, Noe withdrew her gaze, speaking coolly. "Make sure they settle their debts. I''ve already contacted Jacob; he''ll handle the rest." "Of course, that''s a given. Even if they don''t pay up, theb will cover it," ra assured her. Still puzzled, ra wondered if Noe hade just to collect a debt. How much did Ryker and Zack owe, anyway? It had to be aboutb data security, right? Suppressing her curiosity, ra dismissed the silly notion that Noe hade for her sake. That couldn''t be right. Watching Noe and Mizar exit, their uniqueb coats seemed to shimmer in the light, as if they were the true stars of Pris, gleaming in the firmament above. Chapter 155 ra was still reeling from the chaos when theb''s hefty door swung open, and in strode Jacob, the head honcho of Phoenix Lab, trailed by a posse that meant business. He cast a mocking nce around the room, his chuckle sending a chill down everyone''s spine. "Step out for a quick pow-wow, and look what happens¡ªthis ce turns into a regr circus! Ryker, Zack, you two really outdid yourselves, didn''t you?" Jacob exuded an air of authority that was unmistakable, a natural-born leader with an innate sense ofmand. His entourage included a squad of SWAT members who stepped up to grace Ryker and Zack with a pair of shiny silver bracelets. With aposed aura, Jacob eyed the crowd. "This mess has ruffled some serious feathers. I''ve called in the big guns for an investigation, so let''s all put our pet projects on ice and y ball. If there''s any more rotten apples in Phoenix Lab, they won''t find sanctuary here!" He was fuming! His own turf, his own mess, and it had to be some otherb that blew the whistle. During the meeting, as he showcased theirtest breakthrough, he didn''t hesitate to click on the iing video. The content, now witnessed by the creme de creme of the scientificmunity, was out of the bag, and all Jacob could do was watch helplessly as the footage yed to its embarrassing end. Now, these two had made a name for themselves all right¡ªa name that would live in infamy! Phoenix Lab''s reputation was in tatters! As the two culprits were escorted out, Jacob was practically steaming. After sorting out the fallout, he finally approached ra and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Rough day, huh? Take a couple of days to yourself, ra. Oh, and introduce me to your sister, would you?" ra eyed him warily. "Boss, my troubles are nothing to sweat over, but why the sudden interest in my sister? You''re pushing fifty¡ªdon''t tell me you''ve got... you know..." She gave him a look that mixed disdain with suspicion, as if he was some sort of creep. Jacob''s patience wore thin, and he pped her shoulder in exasperation. "Cut me some ck, will ya? Can''t I meet my future niece-inw without you jumping to conclusions? Get your mind out of the gutter!" He whipped out his phone, shing ra a photo of himself with Sexton. In the picture, Jacob stood proudly next to Palmer, the family resemnce clear, and the domestic bliss unmistakable. Rubbing her sore shoulder, ra gaped at the photo. "Boss, I heard rumors you were some tycoon''s kid, but Sexton... Wait, what are you doing in research?" Wouldn''t it be sweeter to take over the family empire? Was the Pock fortune not enough, or was the lure of theb too strong for Jacob to resist? Pocketing his phone, Jacob said cryptically, "Isn''t Ms. Schnabel of the Schnabel family also in research?" ra pouted, trying to mask her own sense of defeat. "I''m not like you." Realizing something, her eyes suddenly widened. "Wait a minute! Boss, don''t tell me you''re not his real son?" "Watch your mouth, I''m as real as theye. I''m talking about my ideals, my dreams¡ªyou wouldn''t get it. Let''s go meet my niece-inw!" He had given theb a day off and rushed back just to meet her. "That''s fine, but don''t mention any of thisb drama to Noe, okay? I don''t want her to worry." As Jacob and ra made their way out, he nodded in agreement. "Well, given that your grandmother Freya is aware, it¡¯s certain that the Schnabel family won¡¯t be kept in the dark." During the meeting, Freya had been at Jacob''s side, and when the video surfaced, her expression was one of sheer fury, as if she was ready to storm Phoenix Lab herself. The thought alone made Jacob shiver. ra, scratching her head in irritation, began to strategize how to exin things to her family when they came across Noe, standing amid the flower beds, engaged in a phone call. Theb''s garden, usually a hub for experimentation, also served as a serene escape. Noe, dressed in a light blue sundress, stood against the vibrant garden backdrop, her long, silk hair elegantly pinned up, revealing a neck as delicate and fine as porcin. Palmer''s deep, maic voice came through the other side of the line. "When are youing back? I miss you." "Soon, in a few days." "Should Ie to you? Thepany''s pretty quiet right now." "No need." Just ncing at the schedule Annie sent to her inbox, Noe could imagine the Pock Group was anything but quiet, what with taking over three multinational corporations. The finance team probably hadn''t had a break in ages. And Palmer iming he wasn''t busy? What about Annie mentioning he hadn''t eaten all day because of meetings? ra wrapped an arm around Noe. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Who''s on the line? Let me introduce you to ourb director, Mr. Jacob Pock." R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Noe met Jacob''s gaze with a polite nod. She was about to speak when ra whispered conspiratorially. "He''s apparently Palmer Pock''s uncle. He asked to meet you, and I was worried he might have... ulterior motives. The Pock men don''t exactly have the best rep. If you don''t like Palmer Pock, I''ll find you a better match in theb. Though, none of them are worthy of our Noe." Noe¡¯s lips twitched as she was about to correct ra, only to hear Palmer''s icy retort from the phone, "Ms. Schnabel, is it decent to poach right in front of me?" ra recoiled as if hit by a bolt of electricity. "Noe, why didn''t you tell me you were talking to Mr. Pock?" Noe''s smile was tinged with exasperation as she looked at her sister. She had slightly altered her voice when she arrived at theb, adopting a different speaking style that ra wouldn''t recognize. Holding her phone, Noe softly addressed Palmer on the other end. "Sorry." "No worries, it''s not the first time my fianc¨¦e''s family has said things like that. I''ll wait for them to come around. Jacob is indeed my uncle, and if there''s any trouble over there, he''s the guy to call." "Alright." Palmer hung up the phone reluctantly and picked up the inte to his executive office. "Annie, I need a list of all the researchers at Phoenix Lab, especially the single male ones!" "What? Mr. Pock, are you... switching things up? What about Ms. Noe?" Palmer rubbed his forehead in frustration, grinding his teeth as he spoke, "Are you looking for an early retirement? We''ve got a project in Tanzania that''s short a project manager." "I''ll send it right over! You must be checking to ensure Ms. Noe stays loyal, right? Don''t worry, your charm is unmatched! Ms. Noe and you are a match made in heaven!" "Hmph, that''s more like it." Palmer nced at the documents in front of him, feeling an itch in his heart. Just hearing her voice seemed to unleash a whirlwind of longing within him, making him eager to see her again. ... Meanwhile, Jacob approached Noe with a gentlemanly smile. "Hello, Ms. Schnabel, I''m Palmer''s uncle. May I call you Noe?" "Sure, feel free." Facing Noe, Jacob had none of the oppressive aura he carried as a sternb director; his face was all smiles, as if afraid to spook her. "I''ve given ra some time off these past few days so she can spend time with you!" "Thank you, Mr. Sexton." "No need to thank me. You can just call me Uncle! If you run into any trouble in Emerald County, just let me know!" Noe agreed, watching as Jacob left with a look of pure joy on his face. He approved of this niece- inw; she was beautiful, graceful, and poised¡ªa perfect match for his nephew. And to think he had just overheard the always-stoic nephew making a phone call to her, that level of affection... it seemed that boy had fallen hard. Chapter 156 ra watched Jacob''s retreating figure, then turned to Noe with a mischievous grin. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Don''t mind him. Come on, let''s hit the town. I''ll show you around." Emerald County wasn''t exactly sprawling, nor was it tiny. Outside the research facilityy the old county town, where researchers typically passed their time. Noe grabbed ra''s hand, halting her. "I''m beat, ra. How ''bout we just chill? Keep me company?" ra''s heart soared like a Fourth of July firework! Her little sis wanted to hang out with her! Blinded by Noe''s gentle, sunny smile, ra didn''t think twice. She eagerly led Noe toward the Schnabel family''s ancestral home in Emerald County. "I usually bunk at the dorms, but it''s kinda cramped. How about we crash at the family estate for a couple of days?" "Sounds good to me." Noe noticed the dark circles under ra''s eyes but pretended not to see them. The mansion was always kept spick and span, with its charming rustic aesthetics and timeless appeal illuminated by the warm glow of indoor lights. A relic from the previous century, it would fetch a pretty penny if ever put on the market. At the bedroom door, ra''s mix of guilt and glee was palpable. "Uh, so Noe... Since nobody''s been staying at the mansion, I was worried about security stuff. How about you bunk with me for safety?" She twiddled her thumbs, all hopeful and afraid of being seen through. Thankfully, her little sister, ever so innocent and kind, didn''t catch on to her sly moves. "Sure, I''ll freshen up, and you can hit the hay." ra couldn''t be happier! She was gonna share a room¡ªand a bed¡ªwith her sister! She did a little victory roll on the bed, giggling into the pillow, then sneakily messaged the whole Schnabel family. [Guess who''s sleeping with Noe tonight? That''s right, yours truly, ra. Jealous much?] The Schnabel kin weren¡¯t exactly envious, just a tad bitter, maybe a smidge jealous, and kind of wanting to give ra a noogie! After freshening up, Noe found ra already snoozing, clutching a pillow. Her phone screen was still on, disying a family photo sent by Stirling. ra looked peaceful in sleep, clearly wiped out. Noe didn''t disturb her. She quietly left the room and sat down in the garden, connecting to the deep web. Erek''s message popped up. [Boss, top news on the deep web: someone''s looking to score a ticket to Lockhart Prison''s big event. Offering a cool fifty mil.] [The target?] [Unclear, an anonymous ID. We tracked it to the Pacific, then the signal was gone. Also, hot gossip: Arthur Gruber seems keen on making Walden Gruber his heir.] This not-so-secret rumor was all over the circles! Everyone''s buzzing about whether Arthur''s gone off his rocker! [Another piece of news: the Gruber family¡¯s gallery just opened across from your spot, run by Yvonne Gruber.] Erek was practically gorging on drama! Ashlyn''s adoptive granddaughter turned into a Gruber, and Walden''s now the chosen heir. Erek''s half-tempted to ask if the Grubers are prepping for bankruptcy. What were they even thinking? [Keep tabs on Arthur''s mental gymnastics. Any leads, pass ''em to the rest of the Grubers, and get paid.] [Roger that!] Arthur''s antics were way past quirky, veering into ''controlled by hallucinogens'' territory. Noe flicked off the deep web and skimmed through her phone, replying selectively. Just after texting Palmer, his call came through. "Hey, you''ve been ghosting my messages. What gives?" "Just been off the grid." He''d called hardly half an hour ago; how clingy could a guy get? "Miss me yet? I''m really missing you." "I''ll be back in a few days." "But do you miss me?" Noe sighed softly. "Palmer, we just saw each other yesterday." He sounded a little down, perhaps a bit wounded. "So? My fianc¨¦e promised me ate-night snack!" She had forgotten their dinner ns, but wasn¡¯t he getting a tad too clingy? "Yeah, I miss you." That seemed to do the trick, making up for standing him up. Palmer loosened his tie with a smirk. "I missed you too. The Phoenix Lab''s got some trouble brewing, but Uncle''s on it. He''s always been fond of ra, eyeing her as his prot¨¦g¨¦." Noe frowned. "A prot¨¦g¨¦? More like a scapegoat." Hadn''t ra suffered enough at Phoenix Lab? She was a genius, and her talents would shine anywhere. To Noe, Phoenix Lab was lucky to have ra. Palmer was touched; Noe rarely stood up for someone. It seemed like Noe was in good terms with ra. He''d treat her family like his own. "Uncle''s taken up research after our family hit rough waters," Palmer revealed, his voice tinged with mncholy. "What happened?" He paused, then continued with a hint of sorrow. "If not for that incident, my mom might still be here, and Uncle would''ve settled down." Noe was silent, then whispered, "Sorry." Palmer''s tone lightened as he gazed at Noe''s photo on his desk, his eyes soft. "Whenever you''re curious about those old stories, my fianc¨¦e, I''d love to swap tales." The stories he craved were about her and her past with Pris Star. Could those memories, lurking in the dark abyss, truly be brought into the light without hesitation? She''d been through the darkness, a taste she wasn''t eager to relive. It wasn''t just her scars; it was a painful chapter that none of the members of Pris Star wanted to reopen. Noe pursed her lips, her voice icy. "No need, I''m not interested right now." Palmer wasn''t surprised by her rejection. Every time those moments were mentioned, she turned as cold as ice, pushing people miles away. His voice was deep and gentle. "I''m not trying to pry, but I look forward to the day my fianc¨¦e trusts me enough to share her past. I''ve scheduled a visit to Lockhart Prison for the day after tomorrow. Can you make it back by then?" The situation at Lockhart Prison was a tangled mess, not so easy to reschedule. Noe replied, "I can." ... Beneath the haphazard graveyard, Vincent limped to his now-ruined wheelchair, every part of him aching! He couldn''t fathom what had just happened! How did Noe, that defiant girl, change so drastically? Gritting through the pain, he found a spot to rest. Just as he sat down, he heard Belinda''s blood- curdling scream! "Ah! Honey... you, you, you..." "What''s the big fuss about? You scared the life out of me." Vincent cursed under his breath as he turned around, only to realize he was sitting atop a pile of bones! Another scream tore through the air! Vincent copsed on the ground, utterly petrified, his legs throbbing as if they were filled with lead. "Good heavens, what in the world is this ce?" What kind of curse had befallen him? Belinda, recalling Noe''sst words, looked at Vincent with suspicion. If Vincent had another child, how would Briony get anything from the Lambert family''s fortune? "Honey, the bracelet Noe was wearing looked like our mom''s old jade bangle. That piece, considering its quality, must be worth a fortune, at least in the six figures." Having grown ustomed to luxury since the rise of the Lambert family, Belinda could tell that bangle wasn''t cheap. "You mean the one Mom ''identally'' lost, the one she wouldn''t give me, iming it was stolen? Noe took it? I always knew Mom never really lost it!" Chapter 157 The moment Vincent so much as thought about cash, his aches and pains seemed to vanish! Belinda sneered inwardly. Considering how blind and biased the olddy was, her favoritism had known no bounds. She treated Noe like the apple of her eye, raising her as if she were a precious gem. Chances were that bracelet was deliberately left for Noe by the old bat herself! Why should Noe get it, though? The olddy''s belongings should rightfully go to her own flesh and blood, her granddaughter! That bracelet was so exquisite; putting it on Noe was like casting pearls before swine. If only Briony could have it... Calctions danced in Belinda''s eyes. "Honey," she conspired to Vincent, "that bracelet must''ve been nicked by Noe. She''s out of our lives now, so let''s call the cops, say she took Mom''s stuff. She''ll have to return it then, right?" Vincent, who''d gotten a good thrashing from Noe and still felt tender in the face, hesitated at her suggestion. "Well... we don''t have proof that the bracelet belonged to Mom. If that little brat insists it''s got nothing to do with Mom, what then?" "What do we do then? That bracelet''s worth a fortune! Are we just going to let her have it?" Belinda, fighting through her pain, was relentless. Vincent, of course, wasn''t about to let go! The bracelet was worth a pretty penny; how could he let Noe just walk away with it? "Here''s the n¡ªI''ll pay off a few influencers to boost our story, im we lost a family treasure. Once the news spreads, she¡¯ll have no choice but to return it out of fear!" Vincent had it all nned out. If they could just start an online smear campaign against Noe, she would undoubtedly cave under pressure and return what rightfully belonged to them! Unbeknownst to them, Ellsworth, who had been eavesdropping, quietly opened his eyes. Seizing the moment when they weren''t paying attention, he made his escape. Why should that precious item ever belong to Vincent''s? Noe was the future bride handpicked for him by the Lambert and Fuller families. Everything she owned should rightfully be his! ... Night fell early in Emerald County. Stars dotted the canvas of the sky, and ra was sound asleep beside her. Noe had just undone her hair to lie down when she heard a faint rustling noise. The Schnabel family''s old mansion was well-maintained¡ªno critters here. So, it could only mean one thing- someone was inside! Noe nced at ra, picked up her phone, and checked her messages. Mizar texted: [Boss, some punk''s sneaked into your ce. Want us to handle it?] [No need.] Apanying the text were a few candid shots of the intruder¡ªundeniably Ellsworth! Noe pocketed her phone, stealthily left the room, and ra, almost as if on cue, opened her eyes. "Noe..." Why was her sister up? A bathroom trip, perhaps? But their en-suite should have sufficed. Confused, ra''s rm spiked when she heard a strange noise. Panic set in. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only What if Noe, on her first visit to Emerald County, ran into trouble? Without even slipping on shoes, ra dashed out in search of Noe. In the shadows, Ellsworth crouched, scouring for Noe''s room. He''d paid a few local fishermen for information on which grand doorway the girl had entered. This was thergest house in Emerald County. Could the girl be some heiress? The thought set his heart ame with greed. Visions of Noe''s stunning face and svelte figure made him lick his lips with lecherous desire. If he could find Noe, take advantage of the situation, would he not win her heart? His mind was awash with vile thoughts, oblivious to the piercing gaze from above, observing him from the rafters. Noe had to act without making a sound; she couldn''t risk waking ra. She touched her wristwatch, aimed at the intruder''s neck artery, and fired. Ellsworth copsed silently, and Noe descended from her perch, looking down indifferently at the man sprawled on the floor like a lifeless pig. If it weren''t for the risk of causing trouble for ra and the Schnabel family, Ellsworth''s fate would be more than just unconsciousness. ra, shlight in hand, finally found Noe. "Noe! Are you okay? What happened?" "I''m fine. Caught a burr." ra eyed the prone figure of Ellsworth with an icy gaze. "A thief? Since when is the Schnabel family''s security sox!" Noe shook her head. "I don''t know. I came out when I heard noises, and there he was, on the floor, bruised. Maybe he''s one of the local gamblers." In Emerald County, there were indeed quite a few people who gambled all night and failed to pay up, so incidents like gang fights were notmon but still usible. ra didn''t question further. She summoned the old butler, who handled the situation and handed Ellsworth over to the police. Then, she turned to Noe with serious concern. "Next time, let me handle it. I''m the older sister; it''s not your ce to step in. If something happened to you, I wouldn''t be able to live with myself!" It was the first time she''d spoken to Noe like this, her eyes brimming with emotion. Noe pursed her lips, facing ra. "But you were tired. You needed rest. I didn¡¯t want anyone to disturb you." ra paused. Had Noe imed she was tired that afternoon just to ensure she could get some rest? The coolness of Noe''s bedding hinted that she hadn''t slept while ra had. What kind of angel was her sister? Mixed emotions welled up in ra, but she still scolded firmly. "I can take care of myself, I promise! But you mustn''t go off on your own next time, okay?" Noe nodded, her gazending on ra''s bare feet. It was clear that ra was so worried about her that she hadn''t even noticed her own state. "ra, can you promise me something? No matter what happenster, you can''t tell anyone else about it, okay?" "Huh?" ra was still puzzled about what Noe was nning when she suddenly felt herself being lifted off the ground! Noe had actually hoisted her up and was carrying her back to her room! "Remember to wear your shoes next time. Get some sleep now." ra stared at Noe, eyes wide in astonishment, at a loss for words. Was she... really being carried back to her room by her little sister? Wasn¡¯t Noe''s strength a bit too much? Noe paid no mind to ra''s shock; she simplyy down, closed her eyes, and fell asleep. After a moment, ra let out a hidden chuckle and turned to hug Noe beside her, her voice filled with joy. "I won''t tell anyone. Why would I share how cute my little sister is with them?" This was a secret just between her and Noe! ... The next day, at Schnabel Manor, Marcel sat in the garden, perusing the newspaper to catch up on recent events. Sienna, having finished watering the nts, joined him for afternoon tea. "Hey, Dad, look at this news piece. It says someone''s family heirloom, a jade bracelet, has been lost. This bracelet looks really valuable. How could anyone not keep it safe?" "Let me see." Marcel set aside his newspaper, took Sienna''s phone, and after opening the screen, he was so shocked he could barely recover. "This bracelet... it''s Harriet''s bracelet!" "What? You recognize it, Dad?" Marcel zoomed in and out on the image several times, his hands trembling with excitement, his eyes welling up with emotion. He nodded, memories flooding back. "This photo is old, but it''s indeed the bracelet I gave to Harriet! She loved it, even said she wanted to pass it down to our children. But when Harriet passed away, the bracelet was supposed to be buried with her. Who posted this? Find out for me!" Seeing how agitated Marcel was, Sienna realized the significance of the bracelet and quickly agreed to help. "Alright, I''m on it!" Marcel gazed at the image on the phone, tears in his eyes, emotions swirling. "Harriet, are you still out there? If you are alive, why haven''t youe to find me?" Chapter 158 In Emerald County, ra clung to Noe, her grip tight around her waist, reluctant to let go. ¡°Why do you have to leave so soon? Don¡¯t you like it here?¡± Emerald County might only be a small town, but thanks to the research facility and the nearby academy, the local economy was booming. The Schnabel family had made quite a few shrewd investments, and the town had all the amenities one could ask for. ¡°I do like it here. It¡¯s just that there¡¯s something I need to handle back in Imperial City.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is it about the art gallery or the music store? Can¡¯t you let the brothers take care of it for you? Noe, don¡¯t be shy, I¡¯ll talk to them for you!¡± Noe quickly grabbed ra¡¯s hand, which seemed ready to spring into action. ¡°It¡¯s Master Killian calling me back.¡± ra knew that Master Killian was Noe¡¯s mentor, with an unrivaled reputation in the world of oil painting. She wouldn''t want to risk Noe''s future by selfishly keeping her in Emerald County. Her sister was a painting prodigy, after all! ra¡¯s spirits dampened, her head drooping onto Noe¡¯s shoulder as she took a deep whiff of her sister''s scent, almost like a cat with catnip. ¡°Alright, I just can¡¯t bear to see you go.¡± Noe gently patted ra''s shoulder, promising to return for another visit. Only then did ra reluctantly release her. As Noe¡¯s car disappeared in the distance, ra¡¯s smile faded, reced by a profound sense of loneliness. Back in her modest dorm, ra found her desk cluttered with gifts! There were notes on boxes of pastries from Sienna, presents from her brothers, and treats from the old gents. And there, in the center, was a family portrait featuring everyone from the Schnabel family, all beaming, including her. The family portrait on her phone didn¡¯t include her, but the one in her hands did. Mixed emotions swirled in ra¡¯s heart, but before she could sort them out, her phone rang, and a warm, honest voice on the other end came through. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I¡¯m the manager of the diner across from yourb. I¡¯ll be delivering your meals from now on. I already know about your favorite dishes¡ªyou won''t have to worry about a thing. I''ll make sure you''re well-fed!¡± ra was puzzled. ¡°How do you know what I like?¡± ¡°Ms. Noe told me. She said you might forget to eat when you¡¯re buried in your experiments, and we can¡¯t have that! Ms. Noe and Sienna want to see videos of you eating your meals, so you''ll need to cooperate with me, okay?¡± After hanging up, ra flipped the family portrait and read Beckett''s bold handwriting on the back. [ra, you will always be a part of the Schnabel family. We all love you.] Holding back tears, ra felt a rush of warmth amid her sobs. ... Meanwhile, Vincent settled into a local hospital, his body swathed in bandages, resembling a mummy on the move. Belinda and the Fullers were no better off, all lying in their beds grumbling and groaning. Vincent, checking his phone, muttered, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t anyone contacted me today? Didn¡¯t they see the trending topic I bought? Noe must¡¯ve missed it.¡± Ma Fuller grumbled, ¡°Stop looking at that and find Ellsworth, will you?¡± They had just realized that Ellsworth, who had been with them earlier, had vanished without a trace. He was their golden grandchild, but Vincent was too preupied with Noe,pletely disregarding his elders. Debbie¡¯s phone rang with a ring tone, the sound of the old-fashioned device echoing through the small-town hospital ward. ¡°Ellsworth¡¯s family? I¡¯m calling from the Emerald County Police Department. Ellsworth was caught last night for burry. You shoulde down to the station to discuss his situation.¡± Debbie nearly fainted. ¡°Officer, my grandson wouldn¡¯t steal! He¡¯s such a good boy.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see when you get here.¡± After the call ended, Debbie¡¯s wails filled the room, ¡°Oh, my poor grandson!¡± Vincent, covering his ears, scrolled through his messages, spotting a new one. [I¡¯d like to purchase the bracelet. Name your price.] Fighting his excitement, Vincent quickly replied: [The bracelet¡¯s worth seven figures!] [Deal. Contact me once you have it.] Vincent¡¯s heart raced at the prospect of a buyer, but the bracelet was still with Noe. A cruel glint in his eye, he whispered, ¡°idents happen all the time. If one were to happen to her, the bracelet would be mine.¡± ... Back in Imperial City at the Schnabel Manor, no sooner had Noe stepped through the door than her brother Jasper gestured for silence. ¡°Shh, Grandpa just went to sleep.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Grandpa? Is he ill?¡± Jasper was about to whisk Noe off to his room to discuss family matters when Marcel, draped in a coat, appeared. ¡°Noe, you¡¯re back. How¡¯s ra? Why didn¡¯t you stay longer?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine, told us not to worry about her. Master Killian asked me toe back. He said there was an issue.¡± Marcel nodded, understanding that Master Killian¡¯s request was always serious. Then his gaze fell on the bracelet on Noe''s wrist. ¡°That bracelet... How did it end up with you?¡± Marcel''s eyes sparkled with tears as he sped Noe''s wrist, gazing at the familiar bracelet. In a sh, tears coursed down his cheeks. Noe eximed, "Grandpa, what¡¯s wrong?" Hearing themotion, the Schnabel family rushed out from the house, shocked at the sight of Marcel''s emotional state. "Dad, what''s happening?" they asked in unison. Sienna eyed the bracelet on Noe''s wrist, her brows knitting together in concern. "Noe, where did you get this bracelet?" Noe, puzzled, replied, "It was my grandmother''s. She left it to me. Is there something wrong?" Grandmother? Was she referring to Old Mrs. Lambert? A realization dawned on Marcel, and he turned to Noe, his voice trembling with urgency, "The grandmother you''re speaking of, was her name Harriet Lambert?" Noe nodded, gently guiding the nearly distraught Marcel to sit on the couch. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "Yes, how do you know my grandmother''s name?" Marcel looked at Noe, his eyes filled with sorrow and an unspoken hope. "She... she passed away?" "Yes,st year. She fell ill and passed. Grandpa, did you know my grandma?" "Last year? It wasst year! Harriet, oh Harriet, you kept this from me for so many years!" Tears streamed down Marcel''s face, his emotions raw and uncontainable. "Noe, do you have a photo of your grandmother?" "I do." Noe took out her phone and, under Marcel''s expectant gaze, found all the photos she had taken of Old Mrs. Lambert. The old man, with reading sses perched on his nose, scrolled through each photo, his eyes softening with each image. There were many pictures in the phone, capturing moments from Old Mrs. Lambert''s life. As Marcel reached the photos of her in sickness, he wept anew. "Noe, can you tell me how you''ve been all these years?" Noe sat beside Marcel, selecting a few stories to share. "Grandma loved me dearly. If it weren''t for her, I might not have made it through my childhood." Marcel nodded, his face etched with mncholy, seemingly aging twenty years in those moments. "Harriet, could it be that you never forgave me?" Chapter 159 Sienna and Tristan were gobsmacked! Who would have thought that the woman raising their precious daughter was Marcel''s first love! Jasper pondered for a moment. "Noe, Grandma Harriet''s final resting ce is at the Lambert ancestral home, right? Should we relocate her to our family''s burial ground?" The way Marcel was acting, it was clear Grandma Harriet meant the world to him. Noe shook her head. "No need. Grandma loved it there. I don''t want to disturb her peace." Marcel nodded in agreement. "That''s right. She always adored the rolling hills and the greenery, and having that old osmanthus tree by her side made her happy." Their first encounter under a massive osmanthus tree, with its blossoming flowers showering down, had stayed with him all these years, never fading from his heart! Marcel''s eyes brimmed with memories. He removed his sses and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, looking hopefully at Noe. "Darling, could you share those pictures with me?" Noe nodded. "Grandma had made a video recording before she passed. It should be with the Lambert family. I''ll find time to get it back." They had discovered the existence of the video when they opened the safe. In the letter Old Mrs. Lambert had left for Noe, there was a note telling her about a video she had recorded, which was kept with the Lambert family. After some thought, Marcel brought up the trending online topics to Noe. ¡°Looking at it this way, it seems like the Lambert family is behind this. Noe, can you... tell me who your grandma''s significant other was?" It was embarrassing for someone his age to ask such a thing, but thankfully, no one in the family seemed to mock him! Noe shook her head. "There wasn''t anyone. Grandma always took care of me by herself. Grandpa, Vincent isn''t her biological son either; she adopted him." Upon hearing this, Marcel unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, then muttered under his breath. "Good, good. If that fool really was her own, and she found out I had someone beat up her son, she''d never forgive me." "Grandpa, what did you say?" Marcel quickly shook his head, indicating he hadn''t said anything. Jasper stroked his chin. "The Lambert family is no good. They were cruel to Noe and to Grandma Harriet. Noe shouldn''t go there to retrieve anything. What if she runs into danger? We need to find a way to make them give it to us willingly." Tristan also disapproved of Noe going to the Lambert family and looked at Jasper. "How will you get them to hand it over? Will Vincent agree?" Knowing his stingy, greedy nature, would he willingly give something so valuable to Marcel? Jasper patted his chest confidently and raised an eyebrow. "Don''t worry, Dad, I''ve got a n!" Tristan knew his youngest son was full of tricks and probably had another clever scheme up his sleeve. "Alright, just be careful not to put your sister in jeopardy." Noe looked at Marcel and asked, "Grandpa, what did you mean when you said Grandma deceived you?" Marcel let out a sigh. Even he wasn''t sure what had happened! "Harriet and I were very close, but one time when I came back from a mission, she was lying there covered in blood. I rushed her to the hospital, and then she was gone! All these years I thought she had passed away. If only I had known she was still alive..." Marcel didn''t finish his words. "So, Grandpa, how did you end up marrying Ashlyn?" "It''s all a blur now." As he spoke, Marcel sifted through his mind, trying to piece together the past, his eyes deepening with the weight of memory. He hastily stood and walked to his study, pulling out a thick stack of old receipts from a tall cab. Finally, he picked up a faded invoice and strained to read the worn letters. "I remember taking Harriet to Tandy Hospital. I was right." Noe blinked in surprise. Tandy Hospital again? N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. "Back then, I should have made proper arrangements for Harriet''s burial, but an urgent mission came up. There was a copse after an earthquake in a nearby county, and I had to go help. I entrusted Merrick Horwich with Harriet''s burial..." As he spoke, Marcel recalled the times Merrick looked at him with an expression full of unsaid words. He now understood that he had been duped by them all! "No, I must confront Ashlyn and get to the bottom of their deception! They''ve all been lying to me!" The mastermind behind all this was likely Ashlyn herself. As Marcel stormed off, Tristan, worried about his father''s wellbeing, quickly followed. "Hey, Dad! Wait for me!" Noe watched their retreating figures and felt her thoughts churning. If her father wasn''t Ashlyn''s biological child but indeed Marcel''s, then did Marcel and Old Mrs. Lambert have any children back in the day? Tristan and Old Mrs. Lambert''s features did resemble each other in certain angles, but that wasn''t umon nor enough to be conclusive. Noe returned to her room, grabbed her phone, and essed the Lunar Lab internal system. She then requested a DNAparison to confirm the rtionship between sample D and sample H. [Contact me with the results.] [Understood.] came Mizar''s reply, apanied by an audio file. Vincent''s voice echoed, "Arrange for some people to stage an ident on Noe''smute. It''ll just be an unfortunate incident." "She took my mom''s precious treasure and thought she could hide it? What if she decides to sell it? We can''t have that!" "It belongs to our Lambert family! If that brat won''t y nice, then let''s give her a little scare. I''ve already found a buyer for the bracelet." ... Noe clicked off the chat, rubbing her temples with a sigh. Her cell buzzed with Mizar''s name shing on the screen. "Boss, did you catch that insane stream? Vincent''s off his rocker! The bloke''s plotting to hire a hit and stage a car crash to off you." Vincent would never guess that the little clinic in town was owned by Pris Star, fitted corner to corner with their state-of-the-art surveince. They''d snagged footage of him skulking around, scheming about taking out their head honcho! With a calm that chilled the bone, Noe instructed, ¡°Then leak my dailymute to him.¡± "Roger that!" "And while you''re at it, check who''s been trying to buy that bracelet. I''ve got a hunch it''s someone from Grandma''s old circle." Noe had always thought of her grandmother as nothing more than a kind, gentle vige woman, never probing deeper. She never anticipated that her grandma had nearly be Mrs. Schnabel herself. This revtion suggested that her grandma''s social circle must''ve been nothing to scoff at¡ªGrandpa Sexton and Grandpa Merrick were proof of that, both friends of Grandma''s! Mizar''s voice bubbled with mock servitude, "At once, mdy!" Noe could only roll her eyes at such antics. "Cut the drama, Mizar. Just get on with it." ... Meanwhile, in the Phoenix Lab, ra strode into her office, the crisp rustle of her newb coat marking her passage. Jacob nced up. "Weren''t you supposed to be on vacation? Addicted to the grind?" "My sister''s headed back home. What''s a holiday for me if not running experiments?" It didn''t matter what ra did; her thoughts were always swirling with experiments. Even her pre- sleep ritual involved mulling over data. A break was the real anomaly. She picked up the experiment notes left by Noe and instinctively leaned in, sniffing them. There was a faint, familiar scent clinging to the paper, like a whiff of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Something felt off. Driven by her hunch, ra stepped out of theb and dialed Mizar''s number. Furrowing her brow, she cut straight to the chase. "Hello, I need to know, what''s your boss''s name? Does she know me? Or, perhaps, do I know her?" Chapter 160 ra''s nerves were buzzing with a mix of excitement and anxiety as she broached the topic. She couldn''t quite put her finger on why she felt this way, but the timing of the boss of Pris Star Lab showing up just seemed too perfect. Moreover, it was more than just a coincidence that she brought along crucial video footage andprehensive experimental data. The thought that this mystery boss hadpleted his experiments and prepared thoroughly before approaching Phoenix Lab filled ra with a sense of admiration. A person capable of such forethought was surely extraordinary. Mizar, with a grin spreading across his face, said, "Our boss goes by the code name Loadstar in the lab. If the name rings a bell, Ms. Schnabel, it''s probably because you''ve referenced her research in one of your own papers." Loadstar! In the scientificmunity, that name was legendary! To have published ten groundbreaking papers in leading journals, each one a masterpiece, Loadstar had almost be a temte for sess in their research circle. Having referenced Loadstar''s work in her own research, ra was more than familiar with her contributions; she was an unabashed fan. "Ms. Schnabel, our boss really admires your work too, and if you''re interested, we''d love to have you join ourb," Mizar added. ra was practically glowing with excitement. "Loadstar is my hero. Every one of his papers provides a eureka moment, sparking countless ideas. It''s fair to say that without her research, I wouldn''t be where I am today. Joining Loadstar''sb would be an honor, but for now, I must decline." Mizar raised an eyebrow. "If our boss is your idol, why would you turn down the chance to work in herb?" ra turned to nce at the sprawling campus behind her, a ce that held not just her responsibilities, but her convictions as well. Her gaze was steady and resolute, her voice full of confident determination. "Because my country needs me." "I stand corrected," Mizar conceded. "When our boss left, she mentioned that if Ms. Schnabel ever needs anything, you are wee at Pris Star for some cross-pollination of ideas. However, our boss won''t be in Emerald County for the next couple of days." "That''s wonderful, thank you! And... uh," ra stammered, slightly embarrassed, "next time, could you maybe get Loadstar''s autograph for me? I''m a huge fan!" Mizar promised earnestly and hung up the phone, immediately calling Noe. "Boss, your sister''s starting to suspect who you really are. Her smarts are clearly not from the same gene pool as the rest of your family; she''s too clever. If it weren''t for her sense of duty, I''d recruit her in a heartbeat! She even wants your autograph. Can you believe it?" Noe was momentarily at a loss for words. Had Mizar ever considered that Noe herself was also from the Schnabel family? When Mizar suggested that ra''s intelligence surpassed that of the Schnabels, was that an inadvertent insult to her? "If you''re angling for a demotion to janitor at the Obelisk Organization, just say so." "Boss, goodbye!" Meanwhile, ra, content with the conversation, returned to theb, where Jacob was busy with a centrifuge and vials. He looked up at her with a hint of annoyance. "Where have you been, racing around like that?" "Do you know the head of Pris Star Lab, Boss?" "Are you kidding me? Who in research doesn''t? Do you think Pris Star could maintain such an esteemed international status if their leader was anything less than brilliant?" "The country didn''t try to recruit her?" Jacob cast aplicated nce at ra. "They tried, many times. But she said ourb was too primitive, and that research wasn''t her entire life. She refused. You remember the sessful amphibious transport technology from a few months ago, right? That was based on her research." In other words, their equipment was basically antiquatedpared to hers. Phoenix Lab''s research focus had nothing to do with amphibious transport technology, so their data hade from Loadstar! ra''s eyes sparkled. "No wonder she''s my idol!" Jacob shook his head, focusing back on his samples. "She''s impressive, but you''re no slouch. With your talent, you''ll go far." It was the first time Jacob hadplimented her since she joined Phoenix Lab. ra stepped back, wary. "Boss, act normal, will you? You''re old enough to be my dad! That''s not on. Your career might be winding down, but I''ve got a bright future ahead. I''m going to be a leading scientist one day! I have zero interest in older men, just so you know!" Unable to contain his frustration, Jacob barked, "Get out! I can''t stand to be in the sameb as you!" ra retreated, her heart settling down as she tapped her chest in relief. "That''s more like it. You complimenting me out of the blue had me worried. When things don''t add up, it usually means trouble''s afoot!" As she skipped out of theb, Jacob''s expression softened into something more solemn and introspective. He pulled out an old pocket watch and opened it to reveal a faded photograph. If it weren''t for the clear signs of age, anyone could mistake the woman in the photo for ra in some vintage mour shot. Jacob''s fingers gently traced the face in the photo as he whispered to himself with a bittersweet smile. "Yvette, what if I tell her the truth? Will she resent me? The Schnabels treat her like a gem, and I... how should I proceed? She''s doing great, better than we ever imagined our child would be. She is intelligent, mature, and also quite endearing." ra''s recent words, that she was different and not a child of the Schnabels, hit Jacob like a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless with pain. The woman in the photo, with her distinctively curved eyebrows and a beauty mark just like ra''s, reminded one of a crescent moon in the sky. But for Jacob, his moon would remain forever a crescent, its fullness an impossibility, leaving him without answers.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ... At Imperial West Hospital, Marcel gripped his cane tightly as he frowned down at Ashlyn, who was lying in a hospital bed, her mind clouded and distant. Calvin stood beside him. "General, she can''t string a full sentence together and is quite out of it. I''m afraid she won''t be able to answer any of your questions." "When will she recover?" "We''re doing our best, but her dementia is severe. She doesn''t recognize anyone anymore. Maybe it''s best if you head home, General." Marcel didn''t get the truth he was seeking, which edged him with frustration. However, watching Ashlyn¡¯s rambling and disoriented state also stirred impatience within him. After so many years, his rtionship with this person had deteriorated to mutual disdain. Ashlyn mumbled incoherently, as if trapped in a loop. "My son... It''s my son... All mine..." With Tristan''s support, Marcel rose and left the hospital room. "If Yvonne is indeed her granddaughter, look into who her son is." "Yes, I''ll get right on it." Tristan hesitated but finally asked, "Dad, who is my mother, really?" Marcel closed his eyes, a bitter taste creeping up his throat. When he opened them again, his gaze was as sharp and resolute as an eagle''s, his presencemanding and authoritative. "Go find Merrick. I need to get to the bottom of this!" "Alright, I''ll contact him right away. Oh, he says he''s off to the ind for a getaway, looking for inspiration for his new book, and won''t be home." Chapter 161 Why now of all times? Marcel scoffed. "Then go find Sexton. I don''t buy that he''s out traveling too." As for who Tristan''s mother was, Marcel had his suspicions, but he needed more evidence. ... At the Pock Mansion, Marcel looked at Sexton, who was sprawled on the couch, feigning death. "Sexton! Get up! I want some straight answers from you!" "What''s gotten into you? How am I supposed to know what you''re on about? I was as gutted as anyone when Harriet had her troubles. If you''d taken better care of Harriet back in the day, let her marry me, she wouldn''t have had such a miserable life." Marcel took a seat, exhaling heavily at the words. "I just need to know one thing. Did Harriet have a child back then?" Sexton rolled over, hugging his tailor-made body pillow, silent as the grave. "It was my mistake back then. I never imagined Harriet was still alive, nor did I suspect that Tristan... Tristan wasn''t her child." The ''her'' he referred to was Ashlyn. Marcel was at the point where he couldn''t even stand to speak her name. "She deceived me. I had no idea Tristan was my son but not hers. I married her for the sake of the child. If I''d known Harriet was still alive..."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Sexton cut him off with a wave of his hand. "You sure do go on. If you''re really hung up on Harriet, get to the bottom of what really happened." Marcel leaned in, his tone serious. "Sexton, I came to you because I suspect there''s more to Harriet''s story. She was in Tandy Hospital when it happened. I''ve checked, and there have been mix-ups at Tandy Hospital. Noe was switched at birth there, and your second son, Jacob¡¯s wife had her ident there too!" At this revtion, Sexton sat bolt upright. Narrowing his eyes, he locked gazes with Marcel. The once formidable business tycoon and the battle-hardened general seemed to return to their prime; the air itself froze in that instant. "Spill it. What have you found?" "There''s definitely something fishy about Tandy Hospital. Last month, the director of Tandy Hospital got nabbed by Interpol for meeting with Toxic Monarch in Imperial City. He''s been shipped off to Lockhart Prison. He knows everything." Sexton nodded, his tone bold. "I''ll see what I can do. But neither of us can leave the country, let alone get into Lockhart Prison. We can''t go in person, but this is critical. I''ll send Palmer. Though young, he''s reliable. Have Noe apany him. Heh, they might even bond over the adventure!" Sexton indulged in his fantasy, chuckling at the thought of them returning with a baby in tow. Marcel stood abruptly, his cane thudding against the floor. "Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea what kind of ce Lockhart Prison is? If anything happens to my precious granddaughter, I''ll have you in a coffin ahead of schedule! Noe is just a child. How could you consider sending her to such a perilous ce? What are you ying at?" Lockhart Prison was in one of the most dangerous international war zones, a ce of constant violence and bloodshed. Marcel felt uneasy at the thought of sending delicate, precious Noe there. Sexton shot him a defiant look. "Sit down! Let''s talk this through without you getting on your high horse. I wasn''t finished. What''s the rush?" "Palmer will look after her, isn''t that reassurance enough? I swear, with my grandson by her side, Noe will be perfectly safe. Plus, Noe was raised by Harriet. With Harriet''s bracelet, Lockhart Prison will be her turf." Calmed by this assurance, Marcel sat back down. Sexton continued persuasively, "Noe''s in a unique position. If you sent your son or grandson, they wouldn''tst two seconds. I don''t want to endanger my future granddaughter-inw. I''m looking forward to their wedding, after all!" Marcel stood and headed for the door without looking back. "Eh? What''s that supposed to mean, Marcel? Are you agreeing or not? I need a straight answer before I talk to Palmer!" Marcel cursed under his breath, "I''m gonna call Xavier. If he dares mistreat Noe, I''ll blow Lockhart Prison sky-high!" ... At the Schnabel Manor, in Marcel''s study, an antique agarwood desk held an exquisite coffee brewing set. The rich aroma wafted from the brewing pot, filling the room with aforting scent. Noe rolled up her sleeves to prepare the coffee, revealing slender, pale wrists, and the glow of the jade bracelet made her arms look even more delicate. Her fluid coffee brewing technique was both elegant and professional, not a single grain of coffee spilled. Even Marcel, with his critical gaze, was taken aback with pride and admiration. He sipped the coffee, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Did your grandma teach you this?" "Yes, Grandma loved coffee, especially with a hint of osmanthus." That particr vor, only Harriet could brew. Marcel hadn''t tasted it since she left. Setting down his cup, he spoke solemnly. "Noe, there''s something I''ve been hesitant to ask, but I''ve made up my mind. There''s a favor I need you to do for me." "Please, tell me." After Marcel exined, surprise and confusion washed over Noe''s face. "I know this sounds like a risky business, but I promise you, I''ll make sure youe back safe and sound! Palmer will be there to protect you every step of the way. Do you want to go?" Noe was merely surprised that Marcel would arrange for her to go to Lockhart Prison. Even without Marcel''s words, she and Palmer would still go to Lockhart Prison. Noe nodded in agreement. "I''m willing to go. This is about finding out what really happened to Grandma back in the day, and about mine and ra''s origins. I''ll get to the bottom of it. Don''t worry." Noe''s lips curved into a smile, dimples shing softly at the corners of her mouth, her smile as beautiful as it was sweet. "Grandpa, there''s something I want to show you." Noe took out the paternity test report and ced it on the desk. Marcel seemed to have anticipated what it was, his hands trembling slightly as he picked up the report. Looking over the data, he lifted his head in a mix of excitement and disbelief. "Is this... is this for Harriet and Tristan?" "Yes, when Grandma Harriet was sick, I kept a sample of her DNA and had aparison done. Grandma was indeed Dad''s biological mother." Marcelughed and cried at the same time. Looking at Noe, Marcel was overwhelmed with emotion! The child she had raised was, without a doubt, the best kid in the world. "I feel guilty for not having you grow up in the Schnabel family from the start, but I thank you, Noe, for always being by your grandmother''s side. Lucky for me, having you means I have fewer regrets!" Marcel could vividly imagine the bond between Harriet and Noe over the years, how Harriet must have cherished Noe. Thankfully, Noe had grown up to be such a good kid. It was wonderful that Harriet had Noe''spany! Marcel''s tears were still fresh on his cheeks when the study door was pushed open by Tristan. He looked at Noe, then at Marcel, and spoke with conviction. "Dad! I do not agree with Noe going to Lockhart Prison!" Chapter 162 Tristan strode up to Noe, his hands bracing against the desk as he fixed his gaze on Marcel. "Dad! Are you even aware of what kind of hellhole Lockhart Prison is? Jasper nearly lost his life therest time! Noe''s just a kid. How can you even think of sending her to such a ce? Noe might not have been raised by our side, but she''s still the one and only daughter of the Schnabel family! You only have one granddaughter. How can you be so heartless?" Marcel retorted angrily, "Are you suggesting I''m intentionally putting Noe in harm''s way? This is about what really happened to your mother. If it weren''t for that unfortunate incident, neither your mother nor Noe would have had to endure so much hardship!" Tristan was stunned. "My... my mom? Dad, are you saying you know who my mom is?" Marcel nced at him irritably. "I haven¡¯tid a finger on Ashlyn since we were married, and you think I won¡¯t know who your mother is?" He just needed some concrete evidence to support his suspicions, but both Merrick and Sexton were being evasive. Those two old foxes wouldn¡¯t utter a peep! Thankfully, Noe had brought the DNA test results. Tristan, looking at the paternity test report on the desk and hearing Noe say it was a test between him and Grandma Harriet, waspletely dumbfounded! He embraced Noe in a bear hug, sobbing, ¡°Sweetheart! Thank you for always being there for your grandma!" This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Noe, a bit helpless, patted Tristan''s back in an attempt tofort him. Marcel snorted coldly. "I''ve made arrangements at Lockhart Prison. Palmer will apany Noe. Nothing will happen." Tristan straightened up suddenly. "Dad, why didn''t you say you had everything under control? You had me worried sick! I knew you wouldn¡¯t harm Noe. For a moment there, I thought you were Wolf." Marcel, at the end of his patience, snapped, "Get out!" ... Stepping out of Marcel¡¯s study, Noe received a call from Nyssa. "Ms. Schnabel, could you swing by the gallery? There''s a situation here that needs your attention. A new gallery opened across the street run by Yvonne Gruber, and she''s been stirring up trouble with our gallery ever since you''ve been away!" "Alright." Hanging up, Noe left the Schnabel estate and got into the car driven by Alkaid. The traffic in Imperial City was a nightmare, especially during rush hour and holidays. Alkaid took a detour down a side street. ncing in the rear-view mirror, he said, "Boss, we''ve got a tail." "Shake them off." Alkaid floored the gas pedal, and after a few impressively executed drifts, they left nothing but a cloud of exhaust fumes behind them. A car continued to pursue them relentlessly, even trying to ram Noe''s vehicle! After the first unsessful attempt, the car charged again for a second hit. Alkaid scoffed. Did they really think a car modified by Pris Star could be so easily wrecked? "Boss, hold tight!" After a few counter-strikes, several motorcycles emerged from an intersection, trapping the pursuing car in the middle. The driver of the pursuing car was bewildered. Wasn''t the target just some high school kid? This show of force didn''t look like anything a regr high school student could muster! Aposed young woman stepped out of the front car, her gaze icy as she nced at the driver and said indifferently, "Clean this up." "Got it, Boss. The traffic''s too heavy out there. You''re better off on a motorcycle. We''ll handle this and make sure he spills everything." Returning Alkaid''s warm smile, Noe nodded, swung her long legs over a motorcycle parked by the road, and sped off down the alley. ... Outside the gallery, Jarred and Nyssa waited anxiously at the entrance. "Ms. Schnabel''s on the way, right?" "I just called Ms. Schnabel, and she said she''d be here in five minutes, but looking at today''s traffic map, everything''s jammed up. She¡¯s probably stuck in a traffic snarl!" Nyssa, ncing at the throng of people outside the rival gallery, grew increasingly worried. "If Ms. Schnabel doesn''t show up soon, those folks might start trashing our ce. Maybe we should call Rising Glory for help?" Jarred remainedposed. "If we run to Rising Glory for every little thing, how will Ms. Schnabel ever stand on her own two feet? Even if they''re all family, the gallery is Ms. Schnabel''s business. If she doesn''t reach out to Rising Glory, we can''t overstep our bounds." Nyssa nodded but continued to watch the other side with a tense expression. Noe did not appear for a long time, and the event at the rival gallery was in full swing, drawing plenty of media attention. A woman in a frilly pink dress emerged from the crowd, a full fox fur draped over her shoulders, resembling a walking, talking fox. Yvonne, in her high heels, approached the entrance of the gallery, her chin lifted in disdain as she regarded Jarred and Nyssa. "Well, well, look at Noe''s little watchdogs. What''s the matter? Too scared to open up shop because of the noise from our grand opening?" She had transformed into the darling daughter of the Gruber family, confident that her presence would blindside Noe, who was nothing more than a country bumpkin. When the Schnabel family realized her worth and regretted their choices, both the Schnabel and Gruber families would be at her feet. Yvonne had it all nned out; once the Schnabel family saw her true potential and regretted their decisions, she would make Noe pay for every singlepromise she had ever made! Jarred''s face was impassive as he said, "Ms. Gruber, this is our turf. We can stand wherever we damn well please." Yvonne¡¯s arm swung up,nding a stinging p across Jarred''s face! "Loudmouthed mutt, do you even know who you''re talking to?" Jarred, struck by the p, was dazed. Yvonne hadshed out in front of a crowd; was shecking in manners or just out of her mind? Holding to his principle of not causing any trouble for Ms. Schnabel, Jarred bit his tongue and stayed silent. With no retort from Jarred, Yvonne mistook his silence for fear and lifted her chin, basking in a sense of superiority. As she was poised to p Nyssa, a rumbling noise erupted from behind. A teal motorcycle zipped by like lightning in the jungle, pulling up at the curb. The girl on the motorcycle was decked out in sporty gear, with a pink helmet atop her head. As she removed it, her hair cascaded down, the sunlight seemingly orchestrated to entuate her cool and dashing presence. Noe, with her slim waist and long legs, exuded a particr kind of vigor even while atop the motorcycle. Her stunning face was etched with frostiness as she looked down imperiously at Yvonne. "And who might you be?" Yvonne, seeing Noe''s ride, was nearly beside herself with envy! That was thetest model, retailing at a cool million, scarce enough that money alone couldn''t bag one. With its custom symbols, it was obviously a gift from the Schnabel brothers! Why should Noe so effortlessly have everything she had ever dreamed of? Grinding her teeth, Yvonne spat out, "Seems like Noe Schnabel forgets her own kin. Howe you don¡¯t recognize your own sister anymore? Are you singling me out on purpose?" Noe gave her a dismissive nce. "What was your name again?" "Yvonne Gruber!" Yvonne was brimming with confidence, sure that the country bumpkin would be shocked to learn she''d been weed into the Gruber family as Arthur''s granddaughter, probably causing her jaw to drop to the floor! Noe looked at her as if she were looking at an idiot. "You''re a Gruber, I''m a Schnabel, and you''re iming to be my sister? Ms. Gruber, seems like you''ve got a filthy mouth and a mind to match. Guess whatever you flushed down the toilet this morning ended up in your brain." Yvonne was dumbfounded. Had Noe lost her mind? Knowing she was a Gruber, how could Noe dare insult her? Didn''t this hick realize the Gruber''s standing in Imperial City? It had to be ignorance! Shaking with rage, Yvonne¡¯s face powder began to ke off as she pointed at Noe, unable to squeeze out a single word. "Noe Schnabel, the nerve! You''ve got no manners!" Noe stepped off her bike, the keys jingling on her finger. She walked toward Yvonne, each step measured and deliberate. Yvonne eyed her warily, an unexinable trepidation creeping in¡ªbut surely it was just the bumpkin¡¯s rude gaze. Noe''s hand flew up, and she returned the favor, her p ballooning Yvonne''s cheek! Chapter 163 She spoke with a dismissive air, "Ms. Gruber is so clueless. Now that''s what I call rude. You should''ve seen your own vile face when you were hitting my staff." Yvonne clutched her cheek, her face a picture of shock as she stared at Noe. ¡°You! You actually dared to hit me! Do your parents and brothers know about your true colors? If Mr. Pock finds out you''re such an uncouth wildcat, he''ll surely dump you!" "Really?" Noe''s lips curled into a frosty smile, her grin as chilling as a crescent moon in a winter sky, sending shivers down the spine. Smack¡ª Another pnded, swelling both sides of Yvonne''s face! Her face instantly puffed up like she''d gone a few rounds with a boxing glove. Noe observed with a hint of regret. "I must admit, I do prefer symmetry. It''s just that your left side has too much makeup, it''s clouding my judgment. Maybe I should even it out with another p." Hearing Noe''s casual threat of another p, Yvonne was close to tears. "Noe, have you lost your mind? Ahh! Don''t hit me!" She received several solid ps, her eyelids swelling up, and she couldn''t even utter aplete sentence. A Bentley pulled up to the curb, and from it stepped a tall, dashing young man in a sophisticated, vintage suit, his cuffs adorned with shining cufflinks. Yvonne''s eyes lit up at the sight of Palmer! If Mr. Pock knew what kind of woman Noe was, he would certainly abandon her. She whimpered in a delicate voice, "Mr. Pock, my face hurts so much." Palmer didn''t even nce her way, walking straight to Noe and taking her hand. He gently rubbed it and tenderly asked, "Why did you have to get your hands dirty? That thickyer of makeup on her face isn''t good for your skin." Yvonne was speechless. She used the finest cosmetics, and her creams were custom-made, costing a small fortune per bottle. Yet, to Palmer, it all seemed like dirt? He saw Noe hit someone, yet he was still so forgiving! This couldn''t be real! Noe nced at Palmer. "She hit my staff. She deserved it. Are you taking her side, Mr. Pock?" Palmer chuckled softly. "My heartless little thing, I came straight to you after I heard that you went to the gallery. As for her, if she''s something my fianc¨¦e finds offensive, then she should be taken care of." Upon hearing Palmer¡¯s deration, Yvonne trembled like a leaf in the wind. "No... you can''t do this to me! I really like you, Palmy!" Palmer waved his hand impatiently, and immediately, several bodyguards appeared, ready to escort Yvonne away. Annie bowed and said, "Mr. Pock, the gallery across the street also belongs to Ms. Gruber. I''m afraid she might continue to bother Ms. Noe, which could also affect the business of Ms. Noe''s gallery from a professional standpoint." Palmer, still holding Noe''s hand, said coldly, "If it affects Noe''s mood and business, then what''s the point of keeping it? Tear it down!" Nyssa raised her hand. "Mr. Pock, actually, our gallery has been thinking about expanding recently." Palmer looked at her, then back at Noe with a tender gaze. "What do you think? How''s the ce across the street?" "It''s trash, but the location is excellent." Palmer turned to Annie. "Buy it out. Throw the contract to Walden. The gallery across the street, I''ll take it for three million." Noe looked up at him. "With the real estate prices on this street, Walden won''t agree to a three- million transfer." Palmer smirked, his smile devilish, his presence filled with the effortless dominance of a business empire''s ruler. "Giving three million is already being generous. Since this fool dares to bother you, it''s only right that the Gruber family pays for their mistake." Yvonne never imagined Palmer would actually buy her gallery to give to Noe. She was on the verge of madness! She had worked so hard to acquire this gallery! Why should all her possessions be handed over to some country bumpkin! Everything that belonged to the Schnabel family too, and now even her gallery? "It''s mine! Noe is nothing but a lowlife, trying to take everything from me..." Before she could finish her sentence, a gleaming, high-end leather shoe silenced her. The impable shoe pressed down on her face, grinding Yvonne''s teeth, filling her mouth with the rich taste of blood. The shoe''s owner had a sinister look, his cold eyes enough to kill. "If you can''t speak properly, then don''t speak at all. I didn''t hit you before because you were still a Schnabel, but now that you''re no longer associated with the Schnabel family, if you continued with such behavior, someone will address it!" The onlookers all lowered their heads, pretending to see nothing. Not even Yvonne''s weakening cries for help were acknowledged. Who would dare cross the CEO of the Pock Group? If he wanted, not only this street, but the entire Imperial City would bow to his will! Palmer carefully wiped Noe''s hand with a handkerchief, his tone indifferent as he instructed, "Annie, you know what to do with the rest, right?" "Yes, I''ll make sure everything is handled properly. Congrattions to Ms. Noe on the opening of her gallery today; I''m sure it will be a booming sess!" Be it the gallery across the street or today''s incident, everything would be settled smoothly. The Gruber and Schnabel families should know what happened; otherwise, it would be a shame if they didn''t realize their boss had made such a grand gesture for hisdy love. With Yvonne making such a foolish scene, the Gruber family would have to swallow their pride and ept the loss silently! Annie had the bodyguards sweeping up Yvonne as the surrounding media tactfully turned their lenses elsewhere. They weren''t fools; tangling with the Schnabels, the Pocks, or the Grubers was way out of their league. Palmer nodded in satisfaction, wrapping an arm around Noe''s waist as they strolled into the gallery. "You''ll be running the ce across the street too, won''t you? Doesn''t that sound exhausting?" "It''s all the same to me," Noe replied with a shrug. Whether it was one gallery or two, she was unfazed. At the gallery entrance, Jarred and Nyssa were practically buzzing with excitement. "Congrattions on Ms. Schnabel''s gallery opening today!" They knew that the CEO of Pock Group was Ms. Schnabel''s fianc¨¦, but they had no clue about the state of their rtionship. High society was rife with marriages of convenience. It wasn''t until today that they realized Mr. Pock absolutely adored Ms. Schnabel! Catching Jarred''s eye, Noe remainedposed. "I expect not to see a repeat of today''s events." "Yes, Ms. Schnabel..." Noe shook her head. "I''m not talking about the showdown. That''s normal in our line of work, nothing major. As the manager, you''re in charge when I''m not here. And Nyssa, if you get hit, it''s as if I''ve been struck. If you don''t understand the concept of fighting back, then perhaps this isn''t the job for you." Jarred and Nyssa''s eyes shimmered with a mix of determination and emotion. Was Ms. Schnabel actually reprimanding them for not striking back promptly? Noe continued, "Anyone who starts trouble, no matter who they are, just hit them. If you break anything, I''ll cover it. But I have no use for employees who cower. If you can''t even defend the gallery''s honor, you might as well resign and go home. Got it?" Their eyes welled up with tears of gratitude. Ms. Schnabel was clearly standing up for them. They couldn''t ask for a better boss! "We understand, Ms. Schnabel!" Behind the closed doors of the office, Palmer turned and enveloped Noe in an embrace, resting his head on her shoulder and nuzzling her neck. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. It tickled, and Noe tried to wriggle free, but Palmer''s grip on the nape of her neck was firm, his fingers burning against her skin. "Stay still, just let me hold you for a moment." His voice was husky, likely from exhaustion due to the back-to-back workdays. But as he clung to Noe, all that fatigue seemed to melt away. He had to admit, he was addicted to this warmth. Feeling the weariness and affection in his tone, Noe''s heart softened, and she stopped resisting his hold. After all, he would let go once he''d had his fill. It remained uncertain whose heartbeats were entwined together, notably forceful, resembling palpitations. It felt like more than just attraction, perhaps something deeper. Chapter 164 In the alleyway¡¯s corner, the small car, hemmed in by several motorcycles,y crumpled, its driver beaten to a pulp and tossed to the curb. Alkaid sneered. "They''ve got some nerve, trying to stage a car crash for our boss. Pathetic." The driver couldn''t even speak; his teeth were all knocked out! He couldn''t understand it. Vincent had said it was just some high school kid they were dealing with, right? The car wasn''t even a luxury model, so how did that girl get so lucky? He had rammed her several times, his own hood was bent out of shape, yet Noe''s car was still pristine, not a scratch on it! From the entrance of the alley, a few guys suddenly showed up and grabbed the driver off the ground. The leader whispered, "Are you guys sent by Mr. Pock to protect Ms. Noe? We''re Jasper''s crew, here to ensure Ms. Noe''s safety at all times!" Alkaid nodded immediately. "Ah yes, yes, we''re Mr. Pock''s guys." Their boss didn''t like revealing her identity in front of the Schnabel family, and Alkaid understood. After all, their boss had swindled so much money from the Schnabels, she certainly didn''t want to get caught! Such a con artist, truly despicable. "Hand him over to us then, unless Mr. Pock has other orders? Jasper''s got ns for this guy on our end." Hearing Jasper had other uses for the guy, Alkaid agreed, "No worries, take him. He''d be no use to us except for maybe fertilizer... What''s Jasper nning, if I may ask?" "Ha, you''ll see when the timees!" ... In the gallery office, time seemed to stand still as Palmer continued to hold Noe in his arms, showing no sign of letting go. A cough broke the silence. "Ahem, the youth these days, no sense of propriety, eh?" Master Killian could hardly stand to watch the two of them entwined. He had been waiting in Noe''s office, gaming until he was too tired and decided to catch some sleep in the adjoining rest room. But upon waking, he was greeted by the sight of these two in an embrace, with no intention of parting! Palmer reluctantly let go, but not before nting a swift kiss on Noe''s forehead¡ªa fleeting touch. "Sorry, Master Killian, didn''t see youe in." Master Killian rolled his eyes. "Oh, cut it out. If you two can''t even notice an extra person in the room, you might as well be six feet under." One was the head of the Abyssal Organization, the other of the Obelisk Organization. If theycked even that level of alertness, they''d be better off dead, fertilizer in some forgotten corner. They obviously knew he was there but chose to ignore him! Kids these days, no sense of subtlety. "Is everything sorted outside? The space across the gallery looks good. A little makeover, and it could be quite useful." N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Master Killian nced at Palmer, seemingly satisfied with his actions. If thed had dared to side with that peacock of a woman earlier, Master Killian would''ve called up the old timers from the Pris Star to give Palmer a good thrashing! Noe nodded. "It''s settled. I need to visit Lockhart Prison tomorrow. If you need anything, Ivan can assist you." Killian waved the thought away. "Go ahead. Hector''sing to Imperial City in a few days; just be back by then." "I''ll be here." Palmer was surprised to hear the name Hector. The Gemstone Gambling King from Harmonia Country, a legendary figure said to turn even the dullest stone into a gem of unbelievable worth, his empire stretched across the globe! Now, thergest mining operations internationally belonged to Master Hector. Although he had long since stopped gambling with stones, no one dared underestimate the title! Judging by Noe and Master Killian''s conversation, they seemed quite familiar with Master Hector. Palmer felt a tinge of awe. How many more surprises did his fianc¨¦e have up her sleeve? He truly had found a treasure! Master Killian extended a hand towards Noe. "The Gruber family''s been pestering metely. Annoying! Give me some poison, or better yet, take care of it yourself. A little ident might do!" Noe sighed, "Master, this is Imperial City, not the ck Triangle." "What''s the difference? Just make sure they stop bothering me. There''s a dinner tonight,e with me." Master Killian loathedplications and preferred to spend his days painting on his secluded ind. If not for Hector''s advance invite and the chance to oversee Noe''s gallery, he wouldn''t have left his retreat! Noe pondered briefly. "Is it the Gruber family''s dinner? Who''s been troubling you?" "Not their dinner. An old friend''s birthday bash. I''m just going for the fun of it. The Gruber family will be there too, and just the sight of them annoys me. It''s that Walden¡ªcalled me a dozen times!" And always during the climax of his video games. He''d block one number, and Walden would call from another. An enraged Master Killian had retaliated by giving Walden a piece of his mind. Because of Walden, he lost a game. Walden was nothing but a nuisance in his eyes! "Noe, could you also y a round for meter? Boost my season score!" "Sure thing." ¡­ In the heart of Tranquility City, within the walls of the grand Lambert Mansion, Vincent paced with a phone in his hand, a bead of sweat making its way down his temple. He was waiting for that crucial call confirming that his carefully orchestrated ns hade to fruition. The moment his phone rang, Vincent nearly leapt out of his skin. "Is it done? Did you get it?" he asked, voiceced with a mix of anticipation and dread. "Got it. You had me all worried for nothing. There was no need for any car ident. I told the girl that Mr. Lambert wanted her bracelet, and she agreed¡ªonly she wants that osmanthus ornament from Old Mrs. Lambert''s room in exchange. Mr. Lambert, do you have it?" Old Mrs. Lambert had a fondness for osmanthus, and there was indeed an inconsequential ornament in her room resembling the fragrant flower. It amounted to nothing more than a chiseled piece of rock, utterly worthless in mary terms. Vincent''s suspicions perked up. "She agreed to trade, just like that?" The bracelet was a veritable fortune. How could the girl be willing to trade it for a mere piece of junk? "Yeah. She said she found the stone in the garden years ago and carved it herself. It''s not pricey, but she ims it''s important to her. I bet she has no clue about the bracelet''s real value. Lucky for us, there wasn''t any ident; the bracelet could have been destroyed!" The very thought of harming to the bracelet sent a shiver of anxiety through Vincent. "The bracelet is safe, right?" "It''s fine. So, are we trading or what, Mr. Lambert?" Vincent hesitated, then stood and made his way to the room once upied by Old Mrs. Lambert. He picked up the osmanthus ornament from the tabletop. "Tell her we''ll trade. I¡¯m leaving now to get this thing appraised first." He wasn''t going to be yed for a fool. He wouldn''t be outwitted by some slip of a girl, just in case this trinket was of any significant value. Vincent ended the call and, with gritted teeth, paid a pretty penny to get in touch with a renowned expert from the world of antiques, sending a picture of the osmanthus ornament to him. [Master Yasbel, would you mind taking a look at this piece and letting me know if we''ve got treasure on our hands?] Chapter 165 In the world of gemstone connoisseurs, Yasbel was an illustrious expert. Though her fees were steep, her expertise was unquestionable and absolute. Yasbel, who was on a movie set, opened the photo on her phone and let out a whistle of amusement. The call and the picture hadnded on Noe''s phone. "Boss, this numbskull can''t even recognize white marble, asking me if it''s treasure. I reckon his brains are the real gem here, dumb as a box of rocks." "Tell him it''s just a piece of rock. That sculpture''s got a video my grandma made before she passed, super important." "Got it." After hanging up, Yasbel, without a hint of courtesy, pocketed the money and texted Vincent her verdict, ¡°Pebble.¡± Staring at the terse word response on his screen, Vincent was gobsmacked! He''d spent 10 grand, and all Master Yasbel had for him were one word? But given Yasbel''s weighty reputation in the industry, even one-word response was enough to put Vincent at ease. He pocketed his phone, grabbed the sculpture, and strutted out the door, giddy with anticipation. The thought of a six-figure jade bracelet soon to be his made his heart soar. Back on the set, Yasbel pocketed her phone and spied Briony, dressed as a maid-in-waiting, looking around the corner. Yasbel passed by Briony and casually mentioned, "Heard through the grapevine that there''s a six- figure jade bracelet at the Lambert Group in Tranquility City. Wonder if it''s meant as a dowry for the boss''s kid." Briony''s head snapped up in disbelief as Yasbel walked away. A six-figure bracelet in her family? She was clueless about such a fortune! Neither Belinda nor Vincent had breathed a word, and here she was, thinking everything the Lambert n owned would eventually be hers. Briony felt an infinite sense of injustice. Damn it! No one was going to snatch away what belonged to her! Unnoticed, a maid-in-waiting disappeared from the set. Briony changed into her own clothes and hopped in a taxi, racing towards the city. Overwhelmed with fatigue, she dozed off halfway there. Vincent, with the seemingly worthless stone-carved osmanthus tree beside him, examined it repeatedly during the drive, finding nothing special about it. Only a greenhorn like Noe would mistake such a trifle for a treasure! Containing his excitement, Vincent arrived at the deste rendezvous point in the outskirts, where no soul was in sight. After a long wait for the driver, Vincent nonchntly ced the stone sculpture on the ground. As soon as it touched the earth, a car roared towards him. He believed the driver had arrived, his heart racing with excitement! His jade bracelet! The Lambert family fortune was imminent! But the car showed no signs of slowing down; in fact, it seemed to speed up! Vincent, panicked, hurriedly dodged to the side. The vehicle swerved, hitting him squarely, sending him flying a few meters. A car parked nearby opened its door, and shiny ck shoes were stomped on the withered grass. Stirling bent down to pick up the osmanthus sculpture. As if oblivious to the chaos around him, he marveled, "What a stunning osmanthus tree, skillfully carved. Looks like the work of the master artisan Sylvie. They''ve been fetching exorbitant prices lately! No wonder Grandma liked osmanthus trees, I''m quite fond of it myself." Jasper, taking the sculpture, admired it while giving a casual order, "Run him over a few more times. Anyone who dares to cross my sister needs a taste of an ''idental'' car crash! Oh, make sure he stays alive." Vincent, the wretch, would be getting off too easy with death. Alive, he''d suffer endless torment! ... The call came through to Noe''s phone. "Boss, found it. The guy looking to buy the jade bracelet from Vincent is from Lockhart Prison, and thest signal tracking the attempt on Mr. Marcel Schnabel''s life also vanished nearby." "Keep on it." "Also, Vincent''s been in a car ident; the driver was Briony." Noe was surprised, and then realized, "The Schnabel family''s doing?" Alkaid recounted the events. "Boss, your brothers are as ruthless as you. Runs in the family! Looks like Vincent''s going to be paralyzed for the rest of his life...but he had iting!" Noe replied evenly, "Noted. Send me thest known location of the signal; I''ll check it out myself tomorrow." "You got it." She put away her phone. The car pulled up to a quaint estate. The manor, sprawling over five hundred acres, was constructed like an ancient castle, a page out of a fairy tale. Palmer, taking in the estate, was mildly surprised. "The Richardson family? So, Master Killian is here for Lucian Richardson''s birthday." Known for their antique paintings and deep roots, the Richardson family was a household name in Harmonia Country, where one could stumble upon antiques from various times just walking through their home. Palmer exined softly, "Noe, Lucian is an oldrade of Grandpa Marcel. They''re close with the Schnabel family and the Pock family. It''s only proper we drop by for Grandpa Lucian''s birthday." Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Marcel and Sexton had long since crossed the threshold where such social gatherings were the yground for the younger generation. Sending a gift was akin to extending a handshake from a comfortable distance. Noe hadn''t anticipated this twist from the past. Master Killian smoothed out his suit before passing the box he held to Palmer. "What are you gawking at? Take the gift I''ve prepared. Did you really expect my mentee to lug around this heavy thing? Have you no chivalry?" "Of course not, it''s only right for me to carry it." The box was indeed weighty, its contents a mystery. With a slight lift, Noe raised an eyebrow and said, "A painting from you, along with a gemstone from Master Hector''s private collection." Such a generous gift clearly showed Master Killian''s deep respect for this old friend. Arm hooked through Palmer''s, Noe followed close behind Master Killian as they entered the banquet hall. Upon their arrival, the trio captured the attention of everyone present! Master Killian, donned in a dashing three-piece suit, led the way with an air of an otherworldly sage, his hands sped behind him. Despite his ethereal demeanor, not a soul dared to underestimate him. This was a titan striding through the world of fine arts! Trailing behind him was a striking couple. The young woman, in a modern, form-fitting dress that hinted at traditional influences, boasted a slim waist and long legs, herplexion fair and her features delicate. Her eyes, shimmering like tranquil waters, were as enchanting as those found in a ssical portrait. Adorning her wrist was a clear jade bracelet, resting lightly on the arm of the tall, distinguished man beside her. Palmer, with his gold-rimmed sses, exuded a schrly charm, but his eyes, sharp and discerning, sent shivers down one''s spine. A woman in an elegant, tailored gown approached with grace. Her voice was soft and warm as she greeted them with a smile, "Mr. Pock and Ms. Schnabel, what an honor to have you here in person! And Master Killian, my father is eagerly awaiting you. Please,e with me." With a wave of his hand, Master Killian dismissed them, "Go on, enjoy yourselves. I''ll be back shortly." Noe''s gaze lingered on the woman leading the way. A slight frown creased her brow - she was certain she''d seen that face somewhere before. Her memory was impable; this was no mere d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Chapter 166 Noe felt the sudden weight of a well-defined hand on her slender waist, as if it could encircle her with an effortless ease, setting a flutter in Palmer''s chest. Following her gaze, Palmer caressed her hand and murmured, ¡°That¡¯s Lavinia Richardson, Grandpa Lucian¡¯s daughter. She''s been under the weather, so it''s not odd you don''t know her.¡± ¡°Is she married?¡± Palmer had never seen Noe so keen on gossip before. Amused, he smiled indulgently, ¡°Nah, she''s been single. She had a rough bout with illness years ago, and has been recuperating. Never heard any wedding bells for her.¡± Unmarried. Maybe Noe''s odd hunch was off the mark. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. As Noe turned away, she was suddenly enveloped in Palmer¡¯s arms, her svelte figure pressed tightly against his in her form-fitting gown, eliciting a muffled gasp from her. Her hands braced against him, feeling the defined contours of his abs beneath her palms, each one distinct, heating her touch. A blush crept onto her face, and she frowned, "Palmer! What are you doing?" Palmer secured Noe''s waist, halting her squirming. To onlookers, it seemed like Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Pock were simply sharing an intimate moment - nothing unusual for an engaged couple. Most gave them space; some even felt a pang of envy for their PDA. Palmer''s voice was a deep rumble in Noe''s ear, ¡°Just letting them know you''re mine.¡± He knew his fianc¨¦e didn¡¯t realize her own allure; so many eyes had followed her as they entered! Those brazen gazes irked him! Palmer tilted Noe''s chin, gazing into her alluring face, her eyes shimmering pools he was drowning in. ¡°Noe, I don¡¯t mind taking all the time you need toe around to me. But until then, I can¡¯t have others coveting you! Unless you say you don¡¯t fancy me, then maybe I''d reconsider my tactics of chasing you.¡± His handsome face loomed close, his eyshes and a hint of jealousy clearly visible in his eyes. Was he...jealous? Palmer leaned in closer, their noses brushing, breaths entwining. ¡°So, tell me, do you fancy me?¡± Noe was tongue-tied, unsure why he¡¯d ask such a thing at this moment. Did she fancy him? She wasn¡¯t even sure herself! She thought for a moment, looked into Palmer¡¯s expectant eyes, and replied honestly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Not knowing wasn''t a ¡°no¡±, nor a ¡°dislike¡±! It meant there was a ce for him in her eyes, even if she hadn¡¯t realized it yet. One day she''d be won over! Joy surged in Palmer''s heart as his voice echoed softly by her ear, ¡°Onest question, may I kiss you?¡± Before she could react, a quick kiss grazed her lips, leaving a trace of Palmer¡¯s scent. Maybe it wasn''t so bad. Noe looked up into Palmer¡¯s tender gaze. ¡°So, what was that? Marking territory?¡± ¡°No, I was stamping my im! Just to show that you are the one I belong to - even if you don''t care, I wouldn¡¯t want you stumbling on nasty rumors about me.¡± After all, it hadn''t been easy to catch his fianc¨¦e''s eye. If those pests fluttered too close to Noe, all his efforts might be undone! Their public disy of affection already sent a clear message to back off, especially to those with designs on his betrothed! Anyone with eyes would know better how to behave. But some were blind. Walden Gruber approached, holding a ss of red wine, ¡°Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Pock¡¯s love is truly enviable. Us singles are green with envy.¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes were frosty as he regarded Walden; he said mercilessly, ¡°Seems any mutt can yelp in my presence now. The Gruber family must not be able to train their strays.¡± Noe added coolly, ¡°Indeed, someone from the Gruber family was bold enough to assault my staff yesterday. Shamelessness must be a family trait.¡± Walden¡¯s smile froze. He hade over in good spirits, hoping Noe would introduce him to Master Killian, considering the unpleasantness between him and Master Killian earlier at the gallery was rted to Ms. Schnabel. Due to Master Killian¡¯s regard for Ms. Schnabel, if he could curry favor with her, he might mend the rift between Master Killian and the Gruber family! At the thought of it, Walden clenched his teeth and forced a smile, ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I apologize for any offense. I''m here to make amends, and Grandpa also wishes to express his regret. Just tell me how to appease you. Whatever it is, I''ll not shirk it!¡± His eyes were resolute as he appraised Noe - her beauty, her lithe figure like a willow in February''s breeze, her cool, untouchable air making his heart itch. Before Walden could continue, his knees buckled under a swift kick, and he found himself kneeling before Noe! Another kicknded on his back, and he howled in agony, the sound of his bones snapping all too clear. Palmer had moved too fast; Walden had no chance to dodge andy face down on the floor. ¡°If you ever look at her that way again, you can say goodbye to your eyes.¡± Walden felt like crying! Meeting Palmer¡¯s murderous gaze, he nodded frantically, unable to utter a word. Noe''s gaze was icy, her stiletto heel pressing down on Walden''s face as she nudged him with a kick. "Really, Walden, there''s no need for such formalities. Even if you groveled at my feet, I wouldn''t forgive you. And let''s not forget, you''re the Gruber family''s little secret, their illegitimate child. How shameless can you be, dragging the Gruber name through the mud?" The bystanders were gobsmacked at the scene unfolding before them! ¡°Who would have thought Mr. Pock has such a soft spot for Ms. Schnabel? He actually got his hands dirty just because Walden showed Ms. Schnabel disrespect.¡± ¡°Walden is indeed the ck sheep of the family, his actions bringing nothing but disgrace!¡± Hearing the whispers around him, Walden felt a rush of panic. The reputation he had been carefully rebuilding was about to crumble. No, it couldn''t end like this. He had ambitions to be the Gruber heir, it was all meant to be his! Biting back the pain, Walden addressed Noe. "Ms. Schnabel, it¡¯s my fault! Let bygones be bygones. Please forgive me, or tell me what to do, and I''ll do anything!" Noe''s lips twisted into a smirk as she looped her arm through Palmer''s, her eyes cold and detached. "Oh really? Poor Walden, I''m not one to kick someone when they''re down. I suppose I could forgive you, but there''s a condition. The yard''s got a mess left by the dog. Go clean it up with your mouth!" Chapter 167 Walden''s face turned ghostly pale in an instant! "Ms. Schnabel...you''ve got to be kidding me. This is no joke - I truly meant to apologize!" Noe let out a mockingugh, dripping with scorn. "Walden, you''ve been poisoning paintings at my gallery, poaching my staff, tampering with supplies to nearly cause idents, and the Gruber family has been openly challenging my employees. And you call this a sincere apology? If brains were dynamite, the Gruber family wouldn''t have enough to blow their nose. You might as well dere bankruptcy now, rather than waiting for the inevitable." Walden hadn''t expected Noe to know all about the dirty tricks he''d orchestrated! Impossible. His schemes had been so covert; how did Noe find out he was the mastermind behind them? She must be bluffing. "Ms. Noe, don''t throw around usations. I''ve never stooped to such lows. Someone must be framing me. It''s all a misunderstanding; please don''t fall for it." With a sneer, Noe pulled out her phone and yed a video for everyone to see. The video clearly showed workers confessing that the person who wanted to poison Noe to death was none other than Walden! Everybody''s gaze towards Walden becameplicated! ¡°It¡¯s one thing for Walden to use shady tactics to undermine the gallery - that could be chalked up to rough-and-tumble business warfare. But to poison Ms. Schnabel? That takes nerve!¡± ¡°Aside from being the apple of the Schnabel family''s eye, she was also Mr. Pock''s fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Considering how Mr. Pock had just publicly kicked Walden to the curb for her, this mess was far from over.¡± At Lucian''s birthday bash, the elite of high society could see the writing on the wall for the Gruber family! Right there, people started backing out, "Walden, about that deal we discussed, I''ve changed my mind. Let''s not go through with it." "Yeah, that thing you mentioned earlier, let''s forget it. I think it''s best we don''t do business together in the future!" ... Walden''s head buzzed with the voices around him! He had indeed drugged Noe, but only to make her fall mysteriously ill so he could swoop in as the savior. Ms. Schnabel would surely leave Palmer and fall head over heels for him! He never intended for Noe to die. But now his carefullyid ns were in tatters! Unable to take the hit, Walden fainted, and then he was quickly dragged away by the estate''s security to be returned to the Gruber family. Noe watched as Walden was hauled off like a sack of potatoes, her smile fading. Palmer wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered, "Drugged him?" "Mm-hmm, just to keep him busy and away from my mentor, nothing lethal." The non-lethal drug Noe had used was enough to socially bury Walden multiple times, with a few more ¡°burials¡± toe once he got back to the Gruber family. Amazement flickered in Palmer''s eyes. He hadn''t seen when she''d slipped Walden the drug. Her ability to poison without a trace was reminiscent of the elusive medic rumored to operate in international warzones. Could his fianc¨¦e be connected to the medic, or could Noe herself be this phantom figure? No wonder the Abyssal Organization had never received a response to their overtures! "Should I be worried? If I upset my fianc¨¦e, will I also end up bedridden for days?" Noe gave him a cool nce, her voice chilly, "If you¡¯re curious, you¡¯re wee to try." Palmer chuckled softly; leaning closer to her ear, he uttered, "I don''t n on being bedridden, but I wouldn''t mind spending a few days in bed with you." Noe had a feeling there was more to his words than met the ear. Was this man out of his mind? She hadn''t realized before how immature and tedious he could be. A blush crept over Noe''s cheeks, and with an irritated nce at Palmer, she walked towards Master Killian who was not far away. "Lucian, let me introduce you to my sole mentee. You''d better remember her." Lucian, a man of advanced years, kept his silver hair neatlybed back and exuded a meticulously organized aura. His eyes twinkled with life as he took Noe in. He let out an approbatory grin, "Marcel''s granddaughter? Tavian mentioned you''re quite the chess yer. Come by sometime for a game." Noe replied obligingly, "Of course." Lucian nodded contentedly, then looked around the room with a meaningful expression, and said, "Noe, don''t take the earlier incident to heart. The Gruber family has been living high off the hog for too long and seems to have forgotten that they''re nothing butpdogs!" Noe recalled that the head of the Gruber family was once Lucian''s secretary and had risen to prominence with the support of the Richardson family. Referring to them as Lucian''s dogs seemed quite fitting. Master Killian addressed Noe, "I have some matters to attend to. You two head back when you''re ready." Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "Will do." Noe consented and, apanied by Palmer, left the estate to find a car waiting by the curb. As Palmer leaned in to fasten her seat belt, he asked with a touch of care, "Should I arrange for someone to keep an eye on Master Killian?" "No need. He won''t run into trouble." Noe was well aware of Master Killian''s capabilities as a veteran member of the Pris Star. Her mentor didn¡¯t have the intention of making moves; otherwise, nobody was capable of keeping Pris Star¡¯s people. ... At Schnabel Manor. The car rolled to a stop at the front gate, and Palmer bent down to nt a tender kiss on the back of Noe''s hand. "I''ll pick you up tomorrow for our little excursion to Lockhart Prison. I''ll have everything ready, so tonight, just kick back and rx. Think of it as a casual jaunt." The warmth from his lips lingered on Noe''s skin as she withdrew her hand, her expression unimpressed, "Lockhart Prison isn''t exactly a tourist hotspot." And indeed, no one in their right mind would consider that ce a yground. Palmer, however, with his brash confidence, made it sound like a walk in the park. And he had the clout to back it up! Even if the Abyssal Organization wasn''t enough to rattle the bars of Lockhart Prison, the Pock Group''s influence was certainly enough to make them wary. Standing tall on the bordends for ages, Lockhart Prison had its own formidable reputation and an untouchable strength. Palmer chuckled lightly, "Alright, you wish for a different kind of getaway, huh? How about we n a real trip once we''re back? I''ll take care of everything. Wherever you wish to go, we''ll go." In the passenger seat, Annie nearly jumped with excitement. Were the boss and Ms. Noe talking about going on a honeymoon so soon? Did that mean she might be on the brink of securing a super-extended vacation? Annie immediately piped up, "Don''t you worry, Ms. Noe, I''ll handle all the arrangements! You''ll have the time of your life! Do you prefer the beach, or perhaps ancient castles?" Noe stepped out of the car, mming the door shut with a definitive snap, not bothering to look back as she strode towards the Schnabel Manor. When did she ever say she wanted to go on a trip with Palmer? Annie rolled down the window, calling out to Noe''s slender figure, "Ms. Noe, rest assured, I''ll craft the perfect travel itinerary for you!" For the sake of her own holiday, she was all in! No sooner had Noe crossed the threshold of her home than Stirling beckoned to her, "Noe, come take a look at this sculpture. How does it open? Where could Grandma''s video be stored?" Chapter 168 The Schnabel family gathered around the osmanthus sculpture that Stirling had brought back home. If Noe wasn''t so sure there was something hidden inside, they''d all be doubting whether they had the right object at all! How could a U-disk be stashed in this thing? The sculpture looked seamless, carved from a single piece of fine white jade without a single trace of joint or graft, as though it was a masterpiece hewn from the heart of the earth itself! Tristan whistled in awe, "Last year, a white jade sculpture by Master Sylvie went for a cool fifty million at the auction. This one could fetch a pretty penny if we ever decided to sell." Beckett asked, "Noe, did Grandma buy this sculpture?" Noe shook her head, "No, it was a gift from me to grandma. Picked it up at a flea market for ten buck." In truth, this was her very first carving after she learned the craft. Grandma had always cherished osmanthus fragrans, so Noe carved one for her. As for the stone, it indeed cost only ten dor, but the white jade that waster uncovered turned out to be worth a fortune. The Schnabel family members were stunned to hear such an exquisite sculpture came with such a meager price tag! Jasper asked his father, "Dad, are you sure this isn''t a piece by Master Sylvie?" Tristan pped his forehead in frustration. "It has Master Sylvie''s signature mark. Most wouldn''t recognize it, but I''ve bought so many of Sylvie''s pieces over the years; I can tell this is the real deal!" Marcel motioned for silence, "Enough chatter, Noe, where did Grandma stash the thing? Surely we''re not going to smash this sculpture?" Tristan clutched the piece protectively, "No way, Dad! This is a top-tier sculpture!" "Out of my way, you fool. Are you really going to value this over what your mother left behind?" "But...the sculpture was also left by mom!" Marcel paused, contemting the truth in those words. The sculpture was clearly one of Harriet''s beloved possessions. If they destroyed it, she would have been furious. Noe stepped forward, delicately lifting the osmanthus branch from atop the sculpture, revealing a USB drive hidden within. ¡°This is the U-disk.¡± Originally, during her stay with the Lambert family, she came up with the USB to store things discreetly, not wanting Vincent and the others toe across it. Removing the osmanthus branch did not detract from the sculpture''s overall beauty; if anything, it added an air of boundless charm that left Marcel marveling. "Marvelous, Master Sylvie''s craft is indeed exquisite." "You can say that again, Master Sylvie is truly a jewel in the world of sculpture!" Noe touched her nose, silently taking in the Schnabel family¡¯s colorful praises for Master Sylvie. She plugged the USB into therge screen in the living room of the Schnabel Manor. The family sat together, eyes wide with anticipation. The first thing to appear was the soft cough of the elderly matriarch in a sapphire blue dress. Her hair, silver as the moon, was neatly arranged behind her ears, adorned with an osmanthus hairpin that highlighted her picturesque features. Even with the passage of years, Harriet remained elegant and gentle, her gaze as tender as a babbling brook. The moment Marcel saw her, his eyes brimmed with tears. "Harriet." He had often thought about growing old, wondering if Harriet would scorn his aged appearance, remembering her as the young beauty she once was. Seeing Harriet aged, Marcel realized how much he regretted not spending those decades with her, not witnessing her grow old! The gentle voice of the matriarch filled the room, "Noe, my precious girl, if you''re watching this video, I must have already left this world. I''ve fallen ill, and my health is failing day by day. When you weren''t at home, I started to forget many things, and I feared I''d forget you, so I recorded these messages in advance. If I left nothing behind, you''d surely cry in secret, just like when you were a little girl, thinking I wouldn''t notice." Tears welled up in Noe''s eyes, but she blinked them back. Every day since her grandmother''s departure, she had missed her dearly. "My time may not be long, Noe, and you mustn''t be sad. I know you''re not Vincent''s kid, but he¡¯s not my kid, either. So that doesn''t matter to me. Study hard, grow up well, and if you ever find your family, I¡¯d be so happy. You must be happy. If you can''t find them, take my belongings and go to the Schnabel family in Imperial City. Tristan will treat you right, and so will your grandfather, both good men." As she spoke, she smiled towards the camera, "As for the things I''ve kept from you, I hope you can understand. I was ill when I was younger and lost many memories. Now that I''m nearing the end, they''ve all come flooding back. Just show the Schnabels my bracelet, and they will ept you. You don''t need to live the hard life I did. I know you used to sneak out to pick wild vegetables to ease my burden when you were five - I knew. At three, you''d wash dishes and cook, standing on a chair to make porridge for me. You never cried out even when you fell; it broke my heart. My dear girl, if the Schnabel family ever treat you poorly, I''ll haunt Marcel even from beyond the grave." Harriet chuckled softly, followed by a fit of coughing. It took her a while to straighten up again. "Noe, I am so sorry it''s taken me this long to remember the past, to have made you endure so much hardship alongside me. I will watch over you forever from the heavens above. Tristan, I regret that our first meeting is under these circumstances. I''m sorry I wasn''t there as you grew up, that you had to face life''s injustices.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. And for the Lamberts, I know they''re no good. Noe, you need to leave them and live your own life." The video ended, and a heavy silence fell over the Schnabels. Tristan had never expected his mother to have known about his existence! In the video, she had made a point to speak to him, to acknowledge that his life may not have been easy. It was a mother''s concern for her child. Sienna, heart heavy with sorrow, pulled her daughter close, weeping so hard she could hardly catch her breath. "Oh, sweetheart, you and your grandmother went through so much. My sweetheart, to have suffered like that!" The few words from Harriet were enough to offer a glimpse into their past life - one filled with hardship, poverty, and times when there wasn''t enough food or clothing to go around. Sienna''s heart ached unbearably. The thought of her precious child having to mature too soon, to care for her grandmother, and worrying about whether they would have enough to eat the next day - it was too much, and she cried uncontrobly! Noe managed a strained smile, gently patting Sienna''s back. "I''m okay, Mom. It was tough back then, but Grandma and I, we were happy. She said that also, you all treat me well. Now that we''re all together and doing fine, that''s all that matters." For her, the wish from childhood had been simple: to be reunited with her family, to live together in peace and joy. Everything else was secondary. Marcel remained silent, his hand gripping his cane trembling continuously, a storm of emotions raging within him, leaving him speechless. "Harriet, you still haven''t forgiven me." He exhaled slowly, a moment of profound sorrow washing over him, tears streaming down his face, as his once sturdy back bent down in an instant. "Rest assured, we will never treat Noe poorly!" CHapter 169 CHapter 169 The Schnabel family was a mess of tears, and it fell to Noe to console one after the othe Nothing weighed heavier on the Schnabel brothers¡® hearts than the realization of how tough Noe¡¯s life with their grandmother had been. Beckett ruffled Noe¡¯s hair, feeling an unbearable ache in his chest. How could their sister have endured such hardships? Looking at Noe with a stern face, Beckett dered, ¡°Sis, from now on, your brothers will protect you!¡± With a gentle smile, Noe replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Marcel wiped away his tears, stood up, and handed Noe the USB drive. ¡°Noe, copy your grandma¡¯s video onto this. Bring it with you tomorrow, it mighte in handy.¡± A sudden thought struck Noe as she gazed at Marcel¡¯s determined face. Did Grandma have some connection to Lockhart Prison? Was it rted to the secret she kept from N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. her? From the tone of her grandmother¡¯s voice during the video, it was as if she¡¯d known at the time that Noe was a Schnabel. Suppressing her curiosity and without further questioning, Noe nodded and epted the USB drive. ¡°Got it.¡± After giving his instructions, Marcel turned and went upstairs. His figure seemed to age with every step, a man deeply struck by grief. Tristan, holding Sienna, cried like a toddler, ¡°Honey, Mom knew she was my mom; I¡¯m not an orphan! And she helped raise Noe, but they lived such a hard life.¡± ¡°There, there. Now we¡¯ll make it up to Noe. Let¡¯s move Mom¡¯s plot back to the Schnabel family cemetery, okay?¡± Tristan had thought of that too but was worried Harriet might not like it. ¡°Noe, would Grandma be okay with that?¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Noe nodded. ¡°Grandma would want to be with Dad and me. She knew about you, and she was a good person. She wouldn¡¯t hold the past against Dad. I don¡¯t know what happened between Grandma and Grandpa, but she wouldn¡¯t me Dad and my brothers.¡± aten burst into tears again! Looking at his precious daughter, so sensible anks to his mother who raised her so well in such tough conditions. Honey, tomorrow we¡¯re bringing Mom back! And we¡¯ll visit ra in Emerald County; one daughter has already endured enough hardship, we can¡¯t let the other suffer in the mountains! ¡°Of course, I¡¯lle with you.¡± ra, after watching the video sent in the group chat, buried her face in her pillow and wept in silence for a long while. Her sister and grandmother had suffered too much. Just the thought was enough to sadden her. She realized how caring Noe was because of the hardships she faced in previous years, the ordeal she went through with her grandmother. ra took her phone, and after pondering for some time, she eventually decided to send Noe a sum of money. Coldfort was no substitute for a substantial bank transfer. Noe, puzzled by the unexpected windfall, wondered why her sister had suddenly sent her money. ra, with her characteristic generosity, texted: [It¡¯s all for you. That¡¯s thest quarter¡¯s research bonus. I¡¯ll keep earning and buy you even more nice things! Take it, and don¡¯t you dare refuse, or it¡¯s like you¡¯re looking down on me! Buy whatever you want, and if you run out,e to me. If I¡¯m broke, I¡¯ll rob a bank to support you!] The message was followed by a string of kissy¨Cface emojis. Noeughed helplessly and epted the hard¨Cearned money. [Thanks, sis. But no need for bank heists. I¡¯m well off, and if you run short for your research, just ask me.] Truth be told, between Pris Star¡¯s assets and the allowances from the Schnabel family and the Palmer family, Noe had no idea how much she was worth. [No worries. If I run out, I¡¯ll just kidnap Mr. Pock ¨C he¡¯s loaded!] ra unted her bank transfer in the group chat. [Seriously, guys? Haven¡¯t you sent Noe any cash? Stingy bunch of dudes. Man, I¡¯m disappointed. Looks like I have to be the guardian of this family.] The Schnabel men were silent. One after another, Noe¡¯s phone chimed with transfer notifications. ra chuckled while her own phone buzzed with iing transfers from the Schnabel family. The next morning, the Schnabels were busy rolling eggs over their ey puffiness the helicopternded on thewn, Palmer, with his trench coat billowing in the wind, pproached the Schnabel Manor with an air of nobility. His austere presence and piercing eyes exuded an almost intimidating aura, which could send shiver down the onlooker¡¯s spine. Yet, the moment heid eyes on Noe, that frosty demeanor melted into a look of tender warmth. ¡°Is the Schnabel family breakfast all about eggs today?¡± Sienna quickly ushered Palmer inside, ¡°Come on in, Palmer. Have breakfast first. You¡¯ll be in charge of Noe¡¯s safety for the next few days!¡± ¡°You can count on me to keep Noe safe.¡± The Schnabel brothers huffed, somewhat distrustful, but since they couldn¡¯t go to Lockhart Prison themselves, they had no choice but to rely on him; otherwise they¡¯d never allow their sister to risk going to that perilous ce. Beckett, with a deadpan expression, warned, ¡°Mr. Pock, if my sisteres to any harm, the Pock Group will pay dearly.¡± Tristan cursed, ¡°Shut it! If you can¡¯t say anything lucky, keep your mouth shut! Talking about harm and retribution, I¡¯ll knock you out myself!¡± In a fit of anger, Tristan threw an egg at Beckett, who caught it with a stern face and returned to nursing his swollen eyes in silence. Palmer couldn¡¯t suppress a chuckle. With long strides, he came over to Noe and sat down, taking his time to share the morning meal with her. Both Noe and Palmer had the daunting Lockhart Prison on their minds, leading them to pick at their food. The rest of the Schnabels was in a hurry to head to Linefort City to relocate Harriet¡¯s grave, quickly wrapping up their meal. After breakfast, a convoy of cars rolled out of the Schnabel Manor, while Noe and Palmer¡¯s helicopter set its course towards Lockhart Prison. Lockhart Prison. At the edge of the frontier, a formidable international penitentiary painted in the darkest hues stood as a testament to human depravity. It housed the worst of the worst: notorious drug lords and arms dealers who were destined to spend their final days within these walls. In Lockhart Prison, no one could keep secrets. Only those who bared their deepest, darkest secrets could meet their end. Otherwise, they faced inhumane torment that was beyond imagination. RIA 05:47 Prisoners, shackled at the ankles, trudged across the vast yard, their movements restricted and weary. Beyond the towering walls, not a sliver of light offered hope; the prison was an immense cage. The helicopter hovered in the sky. Noe peered down at Lockhart Prison, ¡°Where¡¯s the rendezvous point?¡± ¡°Inside. Down there are themon criminals ¨C drug traffickers, human smugglers, or serial killers.¡± Such inmates were confined to the outermostyers of Lockhart Prison. To reach the core, one had to traverse a raging river. In the midst of the river stood an isted plot, akin to an ind, utterly cut off from the world. The prison¡¯s inner sanctum was reserved for those whose crimes were so heinous that they would warrant execution multiple times over in their own countries. From high above, they could sometimes spot sharks patrolling the waters. Noe frowned as she surveyed the scene, ¡°We¡¯re in the crosshairs of at least a dozen snipers!¡± CHapter 170 CHapter 170 Beneath Lockhart Prison, a dozen of snipers took aim at the helicopter circling above! Noe set down her binocrs and turned to Palmer, who was standing beside her. Think we can dodge a hail of bullets if they all fire at once?¡± It¡¯s gonna be tough,¡± Lockhart Prison was a fortress with checkpoints at every turn. They¡¯d only managed to slip inside because someone up top had greased the wheels, allowing them to take a secret passage. Noe spun around and pulled a metal case from behind her, slipping on a pair of jet¨Cck gloves. ¡°I need five minutes to assemble the sniper rifle. You¡¯re on watch until then.¡± Palmer nodded, his gaze icy as he surveyed the dark expanse of the prison below. ¡°Five minutes is doable, but they¡¯ve got the numbers. Dodging bullets might get a little hairy.* Noe¡¯s voice was cool as she responded, ¡°I¡¯m not looking to go toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with them. I¡¯ve got a different fish to fry.¡± Quickly, she pieced together the sniper rifle, expertly calcting the trajectory as she aimed at a distant flickering window. Atop the highest tower stood a dark spire, and from within, it seemed as if a pair of watching eyes lurked. As Noe zeroed in on the window, she noticed the number of snipers targeting them from below was multiplying rapidly! Palmer took out his phone and made a call, ¡°Xavier, long time no see.¡± The reply was a sardonic chuckle, the voice deep and raspy, as if scarred by a de, ¡°Your little lady¡¯s got some nerve, aiming at me. Does she even know who I am? Marcel¡¯s granddaughter has some guts, huh?* Noe¡¯s voice was indifferent, ¡°What my granddad¡¯s like is none of your business. If you¡¯re brave enough for us to send you to meet your maker, then I¡¯m afraid that precious bracelet of yours will be shattered to bits.¡± She waved a hand in front of the sniper rifle, revealing a clear jade bracelet, wless and imbued with streaks of purple amid the green ¨C a rare gem among themon stones. ¡°The bracelet¡¯s with you? Howe it¡¯s in your hands?¡± scoffed, ¡°My grandma gave to me, so nat ent, that fool, but you got the wrong person It¡¯s with me You The buyer of the jade bracelet had vanished within Lockhart Prison, and in this hellish ce, few had the privilege of inte ess. The man in the tower was clearly the top dog of the dark spire. Noelle had suspected as much when Marcel had her bring along a video her grandmother had recorded, hinting at some connection between her and Lockhart Prison. ¡°Your grandma? What¡¯s her name?¡± The man on the other end of the line stood abruptly, his aged voice quivering uncontrobly. Calmly, Noe released the safety on her sniper rifle and replied coolly, ¡°Harriet.¡± Upon hearing that name, Xavier flung open the window and bellowed, ¡°The lot of you, back off! Let them through! Anyone fires a shot, and they¡¯re shark bait!¡± Noe set down the rifle, a tinge of regret in her voice, ¡°Pity, I was looking forward to blowing your head off.¡± Xavier remained silent, his gaze locked onto the figures in the helicopter. A single shot from Noe, and not even walls of steel would keep the target alive. Hearing her tone, Palmer chuckled softly, affectionately ruffling her hair, ¡°It¡¯s a damn shame I won¡¯t get to see you take the shot. Maybe next time we can have a littlepetition.¡± The leader of the Obelisk Organization was renowned for the marksmanship, never missing the mark, one shot one kill. As the chief of the rival Abyssal Organization, he too was curious to see his girl at her most dazzling. Noe raised an eyebrow and smiled, ¡°Sure.¡± The helicopternded at the foot of the dark spire, where a couple of towering shirtless brutes with muscles like boulders and fierce, intimidating faces stood guard. An old man, well into his seventies, sat behind them. Xavier¡¯s face was marred by a scar running from his eyelid to his jawline, and his eyes were as cold and ruthless as a lone wolf on the desert ins, a single nce enough to send chills down one¡¯s spine. He watched the two young intruders approach. Noe, carrying a heavy sniper rifle, was d in a sleek ck jumpsuit with stiletto boots. She met Xavier¡¯s gaze without fear, her eyes brimming with disdain and contempt. ¡°Xavier, this wee mat of intimidation is just childish.¡± Noe said coldly, ¡°If you¡¯re 05:48 join mer¡¯s hand found Noe¡¯s waist, ¡°Obelisk Organization runs a kindergarten now When we took down Pris Star, we saved some dimwits with fried brains. Ther 10s seem on par with Xavier¡¯s here!* The men surrounding them couldn¡¯t believe these brash youngsters dared to mock their boss. Guns were raised instantly! Xavier, impatient, waved them off, ¡°Get out. You two,e over here.¡± Ignoring Palmerpletely, Xavier fixed his gaze on Noe, which was intense, almost burning with an inexplicable fervor. ¡°You said your grandma¡¯s Harriet? How is she?¡± *She passed away, brain cancer.¡± The news seemed to strike Xavier with disbelief, yet he had to ept it. He sat on a throne adorned with jewels and precious stones, his expression forlorn. ¡°Your bracelet, let me see it.* Noe was on guard, ¡°This is thest thing my grandma left me. What if you don¡¯t give it back?¡± Indeed, Xavier had every intention of keeping it! That bracelet was Harriet¡¯s favorite possession. Just seeing it brought back memories of her. ¡°Hand over the bracelet, and I¡¯ll release the person you¡¯re after.¡± Noe¡¯s response was icy, ¡°Dream on! This is my grandma¡¯s legacy! Xavier, have you no shame, trying to steal from a kid?* For a moment, Xavier was taken aback. He¡­he hadn¡¯t thought of this young woman as a child at all! Which kid could cross borders nonchntly, with a sniper rifle aimed at his head? Which kid would dare tell him he had no shame? ¡°What else did you bring? Got any pictures of your grandma? Show me!* Noe whipped out her smartphone and handed it over to Xavier, who studied the screen for a while, visibly hooked, ¡°That¡¯s it? Just three photos? Don¡¯t you have more?¡± Noe¡¯s voice was frosty, ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got more, videos even. But why on Earth would I let you see them?* R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only helplessness staring back at the young Do you have any idea who I am?¡± Noe let out a derisiveugh, her gaze piercing as she faced the menacing figure before her. ¡°Should I care? If you were a friend of Grandma¡¯s, I never saw you around during the years we lived together. If you mattered to her, why didn¡¯t you ever reach out? And if you didn¡¯t, why should I bother showing you anything of hers?¡± Why hadn¡¯t he looked for Harriet? That question struck a nerve in Xavier. ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t know Harriet was still alive. I thought she had passed away!¡± Noe crossed her arms and snatched her phone back with chilling indifference, ¡°I¡¯m her I only kin, and here you are, bullying me in front of her very picture!¡± A sly grin flickered in Palmer¡¯s eyes. Xavier, the man was all about bluster but crumbled¨Cwith pushback. In his heyday as a bordends kingpin, it was raw power that got him there. Palmer had braced himself to step in between them, expecting a fight. But Noe, sharp as a tack, had already sensed a peculiar connection between Xavier and Harriet. His girl, always one step ahead. Xavier was visibly rattled, ¡°No¡­I didn¡¯t mean it like that! Harriet, I wasn¡¯t harassing her! I was just, you know, joking around, yeah, just a joke!¡± Noe¡¯s suspicion that he knew her grandmother only grew with his reaction. ¡°Where¡¯s the man I¡¯m looking for? Take me to him.¡± Xavier rubbed his hands together nervously and motioned for his sidekick, Magee, whispering instructions. Magee dashed off immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to him, but don¡¯t expect the truth. Tandy¡¯s cunning is something else; even was taken aback.¡± Noe nodded. She had her ways of making Tandy talk. Five minutester, Magee burst back in, breathless, ¡°Boss, Tandy¡¯s taken ill; he¡¯s on death¡¯s door!¡± CHapter 171 CHapter 171 Xavier¡¯s brow furrowed with sudden concern at the news. ¡°Taken Ill? That was news to me ¨C he seemed fine when he arrived. How does one just fall ill out of the blue?¡± Truth be told, he wasn¡¯t overly worried about Tandy¡¯s well¨Cbeing. What really irked him was that just seconds ago, he¡¯d promised Noe she¡¯d get to see the man, and now, it seemed as though he¡¯d orchestrated some sort of mishap. It was all too convenient. Sure enough, Noe gave Xavier a fleeting nce, a sigh escaping her lips as her fingers traced the bracelet on her wrist. ¡°Is this the kind of friend you are, Xavier? Backing out is one thing, but to pull a stunt like this after agreeing¡­ It¡¯s just pointless.¡± Her tone dripped with disdain and mockery, resonating in Xavier¡¯s ears like a gong of sarcasm. Oddly enough, Xavier wasn¡¯t the least bit angry. Instead, he pped Magee on the back. ¡°Spill it. What exactly happened?¡± ¡°We just went to fetch Tandy from his cell and found him passed out. He¡¯s been rushed to the infirmary.¡± Xavier waved dismissively. ¡°Wake him up. If pain¡¯s what it takes, then do it. Let this youngdy have her word with him before he kicks the bucket. Couldn¡¯t he have picked a better time to die? How inconvenient!¡± ¡°At once, Sir!¡± With a hint of eagerness he hadn¡¯t noticed before, Xavier rubbed his hands together and turned to Noe. ¡°Look here, youngdy, what did you say your name was? I swear this isn¡¯t my doing! You have to believe me! Do you have any more pictures or videos of your grandma? Can you show me?¡± 52 Noe tilted her chin up, eyeing the menacing figure before her. ¡°My name is Noe. Weren¡¯t you trying to kill me a moment ago? ying coy now, are we?¡± Xavier chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Nice name. A credit to Harriet, no doubt. Me, kill you? I wouldn¡¯t dare, not knowing you¡¯re Harriet¡¯s kin.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze remained frosty. ¡°And yet, you¡¯ve schemed against my grandfather more than once. Not a single Schnabel is to step foot near Lockhart Prison or they¡¯re dead- those were your orders, weren¡¯t they?¡± Back when Ulrich was a battlefield medic, he¡¯d nearly lost his life on several asions, night on the fringes of Lockhart Prison. Only Xavier, this silver¨Chaired old man, could wield such authority in this region. Schnabels, they¡¯re all doomed because of Marcel! If that man hadn¡¯t betrayed Harriet, if he hadn¡¯t remarried, would she have suffered so? Why should Marcel enjoy a life surrounded by family while Harriet lies in her grave?¡± The more Xavier spoke, the more his rage boiled over, his eyes glinting with a vengeful light. If he could, he¡¯d fly to Harmonia Country and finish Marcel himself. Palmer stepped beside Noe, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. ¡°Xavier, Noe is my fianc¨¦e and Harriet¡¯s very own granddaughter. The man you nearly had killed is also Harriet¡¯s grandson Ulrich. By blood, she could call you ¡®Granduncle¡®.¡± Granduncle? She was Harriet¡¯s granddaughter? Xavier was beside himself. His gaze toward Noe was now alight with anticipation and disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re Harriet¡¯s kin? And Tristan¡­ he¡¯s Harriet¡¯s son?¡± Noe nodded coolly. ¡°What of it? Last night, Grandma visited my dreams to ask how I was. I told her you almost killed my brother and me and that you still want me dead!¡± ¨C Xavier¡¯sposure crumbled. ¡°No, no, Harriet, it was all a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯t know they were your kids. Marcel¡¯s fate is negligible, but thank goodness the children are safe.¡± He suddenly spun to Magee. ¡°Who was it that cut Ulrich? Feed him to the sharks! Dare toy a finger on my sister¡¯s grandkids, and you¡¯ll answer to me!¡± Noe replied with disdain. ¡°Without your orders, would they dare?¡± The injury on Ulrich¡¯s arm was a direct consequence of Xavier¡¯s bidding. Noe cocked her head, looking at Xavier with a mix of pity and disdain. ¡°Ulrich¡¯s a surgeon. If that injury affects his work in the OR, Grandma¡¯s sure to be upset.¡± Xavier broke into a sweat. ¡°I had no idea, I swear. You have to believe me!¡± Noe scoffed, her eyes clearly conveying her disbelief. Xavier knew further exnations were futile. After all, his intent to obliterate Marcel and his family was genuine. Turning away, he retrieved a book from his shelf, carefully flipping through the pages until he found a photograph to show Noe. In the ck¨Cand¨Cwhite photo, a woman¡¯s delicate features were softened by the gentle brush of time, while the man beside her boasted a scar that lent him a rugged charm. In delicate script at the bottom, it read: ¡°To my dear brother, from Harriet.¡± 05:48 A wave of nostalgia washed over Xavier¡¯s face. ¡°Your grandma was my sister. We took our mentors¡® surnames; hers was Lambert. I¡¯ve spent years seeking vengeance for your grandma. Marcel betrayed her doesn¡¯t he deserve to die? How can his family live in bliss while my sister¡¯s life was cut short!¡± Noe studied the young Harriet in the photo, her grace and intelligence shining through. There was so much her grandmother had never shared with her. Who could it all involve? It was clear that Xavier¡¯s mentor was the former head of Lockhart Prison, but who was her grandmother¡¯s mentor? Suppressing her doubts, Noe handed Xavier a document. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only It was the DNA test results she had prepared in advance, proof of her lineage with her grandma. Folks like Xavier, they tend to put their faith in what¡¯s right in front of their eyes. Indeed, the paternity test revealing a perfect match between Tristan and Harriet left Xavier with a face full of regret and self¨Creproach. ¡°Thank God, I botched itst time. If I hadn¡¯t, Harriet would¡¯ve had my head!¡± Noe observed Xavier¡¯s expression, which remained far from pleasant. ¡°Why on earth were you so dead set on having me assassinate my grandpa? What was going through your head?¡± Back then, Xavier had put out a hit on the deep web, a specific request for Wise Fool to take out Marcel. Was he itching to see the Schnabel family tear each other apart? Xavier realized the misunderstanding was colossal and scrambled to exin. ¡°No, no, I had no idea you were Wise Fool. I sent you because I knew Palmer would never take the job.¡± Noe scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t believe a single word you¡¯re saying!¡± Even Xavier found himself in an awkward spot. He had indeed done many inexplicable things, but his sole desire was to avenge Harriet! ¡°It¡¯s all on me. Don¡¯t be mad. Can I call you Noe?¡± Noe shook her head with icy indifference, mercilessly turning him down. ¡°I go by Noe Schnabel. Xavier, stick to my full name.¡± She emphasized herst name with a hint of mockery in her eyes. Xavier knew she was still bitter about his actions against the Schnabels, awkwardly. scratching the back of his head. This was no small blunder, and to make matters moreplicated, this girl was as stubborn as Harriet. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to meet Tandy! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure he tells you everything you want to know, even if it¡¯s something he shouldn¡¯t say!¡± CHapter 172 CHapter 172 Noe withdrew her gaze, a hint of a smirk ying at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t try to cozy up to me,¡± she said with a chuckle to Xavier, who looked at her expectantly. ¡°Neither Grandma nor I will forgive you.¡± Xavier¡¯s spirits plummeted. He knew if Harriet ever found out about his deeds, she¡¯d be furious. Still, he took a smallfort in the fact that he hadn¡¯t crossed any unforgivable lines. With a sigh, he lifted his head and gave a wry smile. ¡°Shall we go see Tandy? He should be awake by now. You¡¯ve got questions for him, right?¡± The staff at Lockhart Prison had their methods to wake a man up, just as they had their methods to put one down for good. Noe nodded. ¡°Lead the way.¡± With a wave of his hand and a stern face, Xavier barked, ¡°Hop to it! Clean out that room over there. You expect my darling to stand while she interrogates?¡± Noe nced at him nonchntly and stayed silent. She didn¡¯t acknowledge her ties to Xavier, but she needed him to get to Tandy. So, she wouldn¡¯t refute him. The fact that he had crossed the Schnabel family, not once but many times, was enough to haunt his conscience. Lockhart Prison was a maze ofyers, from the towers above to the sea below, each with their own brand of cell. Tandy was locked up in one of the underground cells. As they walked side by side, Xavier led Noe towards Tandy¡¯s cell. ¡°How had Harriet been? Was she alright?¡± ¡°Is it considered alright to always be content despite never eating enough, and to have faced illness with almost no money for treatment but no regrets?¡± Noe didn¡¯t hide the truth. When her grandma fell ill, it was her who worked tirelessly. Night after night, she slept barely two hours a night, waking to draw design after design and sewing clothes into the wee hours, with only the stars forpany. She was terrified of losing her grandmother. Vincent wouldn¡¯t spare a dime, always iming Grandma Harriet had savings. Luckily, Noe made enough money¨Cnot only to see her grandma off but plenty to spare, though she still couldn¡¯t keep her grandma alive. Xavier nodded, absorbing her words. ¡°She¡¯s got a poor memory. If she had never mentioned me before, it must have been that she forgot.¡± Noe shot him a cold look. ¡°No, Grandma told me she had a brother. As a child, he was shed with a knife protecting her, from the corner of his eye to his jaw, scars all over his 05.48 body. Grandma said she missed her brother terribly but thought you were dead. Xavier froze in ce. Harriet¡­ she remembered him all along! Only he and Harriet knew that past! An old man, hardened by years of living on the edge, the only redemption in his heart was his dearly departed sister. At that moment, a flood of emotions overwhelmed him. ¡°She remembered me?¡± ¡°Grandma mentioned a brother, not necessarily you.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s me!¡± Xavier insisted, his heart racing. Harriet had only one brother¨Cit had to be him. The cell where Tandy was kept was modest, with all the necessary amenities, even a small bookshelf. Tandy sat on the bed looking schrly and genteel, wrapped in a Lockhart Prison nket, a book in his hand. He seemed like an academic, if not for the bloody sheets and the fresh bloodstains on the wall. Xavier entered the room, nced around, and dragged over a chair, wiping it down with his sleeve. ¡°Noe, take a seat,¡± he offered, his voice carrying a hint of affection. ¡°I¡¯ll just stand.* Noe looked up, her gaze indifferent as she surveyed the fawning Xavier, but she didn¡¯t refuse the seat. After all, why stand when you could sit? Tandy, putting his book aside, coughed twice. ¡°Xavier, what¡¯s all this fuss today? Coming to see me with such a crowd? And who¡¯s this youngdy?¡± Xavier knew Noe¡¯s questions wouldn¡¯t be simple. He dismissed Magee, leaving only himself and Palmer at the sidelines. Tandy, intrigued by Xavier¡¯s gesture, removed his barely intact, ck¨Crimmed sses and set them aside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xavier spoke with a cold edge, ¡°She has some questions for you. You better answer truthfully, or¡­ you know the consequences.¡± Tandy chuckled, which soon turned into a violent cough, blood speckling the linen. ¡°Heh, Xavier, look at me. I won¡¯tst much longer. Whatever you want to know, I might not have the answers.¡± Noe spoke lightly, ¡°Hollis is alive. I saved him.¡± Initially seemed unconcerned, Tandy¡¯s eyes widened in shock upon hearing Noe¡¯s words. ¡°What did you say? Hollis is alright? Why should I believe you!¡± Tandy must care about his brother as much as Thorpe did if he was willing to meet with the Toxic Monarch and get arrested for Hollis¡¯s sickness.. Noe crossed her legs nonchntly, the click of her high heels echoing in the cell. She smiled slyly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to believe it. While operating, I might¡¯ve left something extra in Hollis¡¯s brain. Guess what it could be?¡± Tandy¡¯s pupils dted to their limits. ¡°You!¡± ¡°Take a guess. If I¡¯m not pleased, will Hollis meet the grim reaper with you? It¡¯d be quite a hassle for Thorpe to handle the bodies of both you and Hollis.¡± Tandy suddenly couldn¡¯t sit still. ¡°You can¡¯t do that; he¡¯s innocent! He¡¯s never done anything illegal. Just tell me what you want to know, and leave him out of it.¡± Seeing his reaction, Noe nodded. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it have been easier to start like this? First question: Do you know Vincent?¡± Tandy frowned slightly, clearly not expecting such a question from Noe. ¡°Yes, college buddies.¡± ¡°What major? Which university? How was your rtionship during that time, and did you have any business dealings afterward?¡± ¡°Finance Engineering, Linefort University. We were just acquaintances back then; no dealings after graduation.¡± Noe spoke with a hint of frost in her voice, ¡°Nothing, huh? Think hard. He sought you outst year, didn¡¯t he?¡± Tandy¡¯s expression flickered ever so slightly at Noe¡¯s words. ¡°If you already know so much, then why bother asking? There¡¯s no business between us¨Cit¡¯s just that we¡¯re old schoolmates. We catch up over Thanksgiving and Christmas; is there a problem with that?¡± A sly chuckle escaped Noe¡¯s lips. Vincent, always the opportunist, would never reach out to Tandy without some agenda, certainly not for the sake of old school ties. ¡°Next question: Do you know who I am?¡± Tandy eyed Noe for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Should I?¡± Noe leaned back, settlingfortably into her chair as she studied Tandy. ¡°But I saw youst year at Vincent¡¯s ce. You even said hello to me.¡± Tandy looked at Noe with a rising skepticism. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯ve never been to 05:49 1 Vincent¡¯s ce, nor have I met you.¡± ¡°Really? If you¡¯ve never met me and don¡¯t know me, then why did you hand me over to Vincent? I mean, neen years ago at the Heartfelt Orphanage!¡± The mention of that name wiped theposure off Tandy¡¯s face in an instant! N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Noe watched carefully, taking in every shift of Tandy¡¯s expression. ¡°Not knowing me, yet managing to deliver me straight to the Lambert family¨Cthat¡¯s quite impressive!¡± CHapter 173 CHapter 173 Tandy nced at Noe, a faint smirk ying on his lips. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve got no clue what you¡¯re jabbering about. Neverid eyes on you before. And as for Vincent, well, we barely crossed paths. Xavier fumed at Tandy¡¯s unyielding demeanor. Tandy had been in Lockhart Prison quite a while, and even Xavier couldn¡¯t always get a straight answer out of him. Yet the secrets Tandy held were so numerous, Xavier couldn¡¯t bear to just off him with a bullet. With a stride, Xavier marched over and yanked Tandy off the cot as if he were picking up a sack of potatoes, ¡°You gonna talk or not? Don¡¯t think I¡¯m doing you any favors keeping you breathing!¡± Tandy coughed violently, his face ashen, but managed a wry smile. ¡°Xavier, honestly, I got no idea what she¡¯s on about. What do you want me to say?¡± Noe interjected coolly, ¡°Thorpe¡¯s on his way here. Looks like he¡¯s nning a prison break.¡± Tandy¡¯s eyes bulged in shock! That idiot! Why would he even think of busting into Lockhart Prison! Xavier dropped Tandy back on the cot, his knuckles white with tension. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anyone dumb enough to break into Lockhart Prison. Interesting!¡± Palmer chuckled softly. ¡°Xavier, hadn¡¯t there been a few attempts at prison breaks before?¡± = ¡Á 5 ¡ê ¡ê ¡ê * Xavier whirled around, snarling, ¡°Zip it!¡± He wanted to y the grand protector in front of Noe, and here was Palmer, eager to burst his bubble. Xavier smirked at Tandy. ¡°Those who tried to break out before¨Cyou know what happened to them? My throne¡¯s cushioned with their heads!¡± Xavier¡¯s throne was studded with jewels, the life¡¯s worth of those would¨Cbe escapees! Noemented ndly, ¡°It¡¯s ugly. Your taste is trash.¡± If anyone else had dissed Xavier¡¯s stuff, they¡¯d likely end up ground into dust to stuff his throne, but Noe got away with it, and Xavier just beamed. ¡°Heh, your grandma always said I had no taste. You¡¯re right, kiddo, spot on.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze settled on Tandy. Her eyes were clear, ice¨Ccold, unsettling even to someone like Tandy, who lived life on the edge. Noe tilted her chin, eyeing Tandy. ¡°You don¡¯t want to die.¡± No one nning to die would bother reading in a cell, especially not Tandy, with sses missing a lens and barely holding together. This wasn¡¯t a man who wanted to end it all. Tandy chuckled lightly. ¡°Miss, nobody wants to die, but having found my way to Lockhart Prison, I never expected to walk out alive.¡± ¡°Indeed. Thorpe seems to value Hollis greatly, so I made him to bring Hollis along when he came to rescue you. How touching to have all three brothers die together¨Cfamily should stick together, right?¡± Tandy¡¯s fists clenched on his knees. ¡°What the hell do you want? Thorpe and Hollis are innocent! They know nothing about what you¡¯re asking!¡± Noe snapped her fingers. ¡°Simple. Tell me who ordered you to swap me out. Whose baby was it that took 11:43 any ce? She nced at her wristwatch. ¡°Oh, and to save your brothers the trouble of finding your cell, I¡¯ve shared the coordinates with them. What do you think you¡¯ll see? A rescue or a ughter?¡± Tandy stared in disbelief at Noe. Hisposure hinged on the belief that Thorpe couldn¡¯t locate him, ¡°Are you the devil? Why are you doing this?¡± Noe shrugged nonchntly, ¡°Their lives are in your hands now, not mine.¡± Tandy was silent for a moment, wiped his sses, and hesitantly put them back on. He closed his eyes, his voice quivering. ¡°I can¡¯t spill the beans. If I do, I¡¯m a dead man. Truth is, I feel safer inside Lockhart Prison. So, I was willingly arrested.¡± For Tandy, the prison was a havenpared to the dangers outside! Noe regarded Tandy intently. ¡°I can cure your sickness.¡± Tandy turned to her, his brow furrowed. ¡°I can even cure Hollis¡¯s illness, so yours is the same. Tell me the truth, and I¡¯ll let you live.¡± The offer was too tempting to resist! Xavier looked at Noe, surprised, ¡°Noe, you sure this guy ain¡¯t faking his sickness?¡± Noe ignored him, her eyes fixed on Tandy. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯ve got a severe blood disorder. Bulging eyes with greenish turnors, erged lymph nodes, bruises on your arms, and you¡¯re always in bed because of joint pain, right?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Tandy was battling acute leukemia! Xavier eximed in shock, ¡°What? I didn¡¯t notice!¡± He had thought Tandy was just bruised from the beatings, resting up in his cell, spitting blood. Wasn¡¯t that how it went for every con in Lockhart Prison? Noe cast him a fleeting nce. ¡°That¡¯s ¡®cause you¡¯re not bright enough to see it.¡± ¡°Bullsh¡­ I mean, you are right. Lucky you caught on!¡± Palmer couldn¡¯t help butugh at the sight¨CXavier, the fierce overlord, brought down a peg by this littledy! Noe stared at Tandy, ¡°With acute leukemia, you haven¡¯t got long. If you¡¯re keen on dying, you don¡¯t have to wait¨Cit¡¯sing.¡± She stood up, yawning. ¡°If you¡¯re not willing to talk, I¡¯ll go entertain your brothers.¡± As Noe moved to leave, Tandy¡¯s resolve crumbled. He blurted out, ¡°Wait! I can give you part of the story. You¡¯re smart; you¡¯ll figure out the rest. Noe turned around and sat back down. ¡°Can you really cure my disease? And what about my brothers?¡± ¡°Rest assured, if what you tell me satisfies, you¡¯ll keep breathing!¡± Tandy licked his chapped lips and began to talk. honestly don¡¯t know you, but since you mentioned Vincent, you must be the kid from the Schnabel family. Years back, I got an order saying that a daughter¨Cinw from the Schnabel family was coming to my hospital to give birth. They told me to make sure she gets transferred to the Heartfelt Orphanage. 1 set a fire at Tandy Hospital, wrecked a bunch of equipment. On the day the young Mrs. Schnabel was due to deliver, I handed over the Schnabel baby to Vincent¡¯s wife. She had no clue about the baby¡¯s real identity, and her child wasn¡¯t Vincent¡¯s, but i promised to keep her secret and gave her a cool two hundred grand.¡± Tandy was lost in the past for a moment. ¡°As for the child Mrs. Schnabel took, that kid was just an orphan from Heartfelt Orphanage. I don¡¯t know her story, either. The kid was a few days older than Mrs. Schnabel¡¯s baby. Newborns all look pretty much the same, and no one caught on to the switch. Years ago, when the Schnabel family brought the girl in for a paternity test, I handed them fake results.¡± Tandy let out a heavy sigh. ¡°And about Vincent, he only came to me wanting to know what really went down that year. He must¡¯ve figured out you weren¡¯t his kid by then, so I just told him there was a mix¨Cup at the hospital.¡± Noe looked at Tandy, a wry smile ying on her lips. ¡°You¡¯re lying. If you don¡¯t know the identity of that child, and Heartfelt Orphanage is swarming with orphans, why on earth would you pick her out? I don¡¯t buy any ¡®coincidences¡® in your story!¡± CHapter 174 CHapter 174 Tandy was the very definition of cautious. In his story, it was sheer serendipity that brought ra to the Schnabel household. With so many children in the orphanage, why her? He clenched his Jaw. ¡°Pure coincidence.¡± I¡¯ve checked ail the kids that came out of Heartfelt Orphanage that year, and you just happened to pick the brightest and the smartest. Lucky, huh?¡± Tandy¡¯s gaze drifted. ¡°Alright, that child was indeed handpicked. Someone said she was exceptional, and that she wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicions at the Schnabels.¡± Noe nodded, seemingly agreeing with the statement. ra and the Schnabel boys were alike¨Cintelligent, attractive, and cultured. It was as if she was one of their own. Standing with them, no one questioned ra¡¯s ce in the family. ¡°Whose child is she?¡± Tandy hesitated, silent for a long moment. ¡°She¡¯s doing so well with the Schnabels, so why dig into her past?¡± ra indeed lived well in the Schnabel family, but she deserved to know her origins, to choose her own family! Noe understood this dilemma all too well. Embracing a new family was tough, but the truth was ra¡¯s right. ¡°Just tell me whose child she is, that¡¯s enough.¡± Tandy sighed, a wry smile crossing his face. ¡°If memory serves, she¡¯s a Pock.¡± Noe and Palmer were stunned. ra, a Pock? Xavier frowned at Palmer. ¡°Your cousins are way older than you, your uncle is single, so your dad had an affair?¡± Palmer was quick to deny. ¡°My parents were devoted to each other.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re not with your dad all the time. He could have secrets, right?¡± Facing Xavier¡¯s skepticism, Palmer added, ¡°Even if there was a possibility of an affair, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d have a child ra¡¯s age.¡± During the time of ra¡¯s birth, Palmer¡¯s mother had her own troubles. It was unlikely his father would betray her then. Tandy spoke up faintly. ¡°It¡¯s Jacob Pock, the second son. He likely isn¡¯t aware of the child¡¯s existence.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°My uncle Jacob?¡± Palmer was shocked. Noe pictured ra and Jacob together, their resemnce uncanny. Jacob¡¯s gaze towards ra was more tender than that of a mere superior. ¡°Now that we¡¯re on the subject, what really happened with Jacob¡¯s lover in the hospital?¡± Tandy chuckled and shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that. I can only tell you that she gave birth to the kid when an incident happened.¡± Noe scrutinized Tandy, searching his face for further clues. 11-44 Speaking slowly and deliberately, she asked, ¡°What did you do when my grandmother was hospitalized long before, that made her leave the Schnabel family? Xavier hadn¡¯t anticipated Noe¡¯s inquiry regarding Harriet, and he felt an urge to dissect Tandy¡¯s brain right then and there for answers. Tandy looked at the enraged Xavier. ¡°Got any booze? Give me a sip.¡± With clenched teeth, Xavier grabbed a finely crafted sk from his waist and tossed it over. As the strong liquor went down Tandy¡¯s throat, he coughed violently. After a moment, he regained his ¡°I wasn¡¯t directly involved in that matter, but I can tell you, the former director of Tandy Hospital was the one who issued orders to me. I know Jittle about it; Harriet didn¡¯t die, she even gave birth to a child, but the child given to her wasn¡¯t the one she delivered. Do you understand?¡± Under the influence of alcohol, Tandy grew agitated. ¡°I don¡¯t know the full story! After I switched the baby, they reassured me¨Cold tricks would go unnoticed once more. If my actions were exposed, neither the Schnabels nor the Pocks would spare me! But God will forgive.¡± ¡°People forget their pasts. A mother forgets her child, a spouse forgets their love. Yet God blesses his faithful. Heart! We extend our heart to the world! Children, look to us! You¡¯ll be the brightest stars in the heavens!¡± Tandy began to sing hymns, reminiscent of orphanage lubies¨Cchaotic and disjointed. Xavier, puzzled, muttered, ¡°What¡¯s he rambling about? Is he losing it? I can¡¯t make heads or tails of it!¡± Noe picked up a bottle from the floor. Fifty¨Cfive proof vodka, strong enough to muddle the senses of a sober adult. ¡°Let¡¯s wait for him to sober up. When he does, give him these pills.¡± She removed a ne, opened the pendant, and handed it to Xavier. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you really going to save him?¡± Noe looked at Xavier with a hint of resignation. ¡°He must know something about Grandma¡¯s past. Who else can you ask? Can you find the former head of Tandy Hospital? At least he knows who that is.¡± Xavier nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure he makes it.¡± Magee burst in, a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder. ¡°Xavier, we¡¯ve got a bunch of knuckleheads outside wanting to storm the ce. How do we wee them?¡± Every day in Lockhart Prison was a tedious affair, so when someone attempted a jailbreak, it was practically entertainment! Outside, the excitement was palpable, and Magee was all but losing his mind! Xavier delivered a swift kick and barked, ¡°Next time you get mixed up with thew, ask Noe! You blind, or what? I¡¯m getting on in years; the joint¡¯s gonna be Noe¡¯s!¡± Noe nced at him, her gaze light as a feather. ¡°I don¡¯t want it. Bad vibes.¡± Xavier¡¯s face quickly morphed into an ingratiating grin. ¡°Right, right! You¡¯re spot on. I¡¯ll just let you handle things for now. This ce may not be pretty, but it¡¯s got its uses! What do you reckon we should do with those jailbirds out there? Chum for sharks or feet in concrete?¡± ¡°If they die, Tandy will m up for life.¡± Xavier pped his forehead in realization. ¡°I better go check it out. Can¡¯t let those hooligans identally off someone!¡± 213 With that he dashed toward the fray outside the prison walls. Noe turned to Palmer. ¡°What¡¯s your take on ra¡¯s situation?¡± If ra truly belonged to the Pock family, they deserved to be in the loop. ¡°I n on spilling the beans to Uncle. See what he wants to do.¡± His grandfather Sexton was getting on in years; the news would likely send him racing to Emerald County, which could be a shock for ra. *Til clue in ra. She has every right to know, and no matter her choice, she¡¯s family.¡± Noe eyed the audio file on her phone and hit ¡®send¡®. Palmer chuckled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s a shocker, but if she¡¯s a Pock, Grandpa will adore her. Our family¡¯s been short ondies for a generation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡±. In Emerald County, Tristan, Sienna, and the four strappingds of the Schnabel family were waving from a hilltop at ra. ¡°ra! Over here!¡± ra, still in herb coat, hadn¡¯t expected the whole family to show up. Was it because of that kerfuffle in theb? Had they been worried? ¡°Mom, Dad, what brings you all here?¡± ¡°Just wanted to check on you, sweetheart. Yourb is quite a trek¨Cnearly did in your mother and me.¡± ra hurried over to lend Tristan a hand. A new message popped up on her phone from Noe, and ra opened it with glee. ¡°Hehe, Noe must be missing me.¡± After the message yed, the entire family stood frozen in shock! ra was a Pock, and not just any Pock¨Cshe was the daughter of Jacob, the Pock family¡¯s second son?! CHapter 175 CHapter 175 Tristan snatched ra¡¯s phone, ying the message over and over. ¡°What the heck is this guy on about? Is he speaking gibberish? Am I missing something here?¡± Howe he could understand every word, but couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it? ra blinked, overwhelmed by the tidal wave of informationing from the recording. What did it mean that she was Jacob¡¯s child? Beckett sidled up to ra. ¡°Dad, I thought Mr. Jacob Pock was a bachelor. How could he have kids?¡± Could it be that Tandy got it wrong? With so many kids at the orphanage, a mix¨Cup wouldn¡¯t be that far¨Cfetched. Tristan shook his head. ¡°Ancient history. Heard his fianc¨¦e passed away young, they never made it down the aisle. But that¡¯s not the point!¡± What mattered was how mind¨Cblowing this whole situation was! Sienna looked at ra with concern. ¡°ra, what do you think?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Meeting the hopeful yet cautious gaze of her family, ra slowly shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s get a DNA test with Mr. Pock first.¡± Tristan smacked his forehead. ¡°Right, DNA first! Maybe Tandy¡¯s just talking nonsense!¡± Palmer¡¯s audio file had also made its way to Jacob¡¯s phone. He reyed it numerous times! He¡¯d snooped around Heartfelt Orphanage and Tandy Hospital in private more times than he could count! Tandy¡¯s words were all over the ce, but Jacob was not ready to let go of the details just yet. The Schnabel family marched into Jacob¡¯s office in full force. Knowing Jacob could potentially be his daughter¡¯s biological father, Tristan¡¯s gaze was filled with complex emotions. He decided to cut to the chase. ¡°Mr. Pock, mind sparing us a few strands of your hair?¡± Jacob looked up at the Schnabels, especially at ra, who had remained silent. ¡°You¡¯ve heard the recording too?¡± ¡°We have. Let¡¯s just verify whatever that person said is true.¡± Jacob let out a weary sigh, plucked a few hairs, and handed them to ra in a sealed bag. ¡°Pris Star Lab has the equipment for DNA testing; they¡¯re faster than ours.¡± ra frowned slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t seem surprised at all?¡± Could Jacob have known about this all along? Jacob pulled out a locket from under hisb coat, opened it, and reluctantly passed it to ra. The photo inside stunned the entire Schnabel family. 3 SFF SE B The woman in the picture bore an uncanny resemnce to ra. It was like looking at a carbon copy of her beauty. Jacob offered a bitter smile. ¡°Striking resemnce, isn¡¯t it? The first time I saw you, I thought you looked so much like her. ra, go get that DNA test.¡± Beckett frowned. ¡°Mr. Pock, if you had suspicions about ra¡¯s identity before, why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± Jacob¡¯s fists clenched, his voice thick with sorrow. ¡°What was I supposed to say? I didn¡¯t even know I could possibly have a child! My fianc¨¦e Yvette is gone, and there¡¯s no one to tell me the truth. And even if she is my child, Is it my ce to juste out with it?¡± His gaze lingered on Tristan and Sienna. ¡°You love her dearly, and I can¡¯t even begin to tell her how Wette left us. I am a failed father; what right do I have to disrupt ra¡¯s happiness?¡± The Schnabels loved ra dearly. They¡¯d video call her daily and sent treats to Emerald County non¨Cstop. Freya and Merrick were ready to tear down the research institute at the slightest sign of ra¡¯s distress. Meanwhile, he was just a man with nothing. ra gazed at the woman in the photograph, her face radiating warmth as she smiled, tears shimmering in her eyes. ¡°When did you find out¡­ that I was your child?¡± ¡°Last year. Remember when the institute collected DNA from all the researchers? I used my authority to make a copy for a DNA test.¡± Jacob couldn¡¯t believe he had another child just based on resemnce! It wasn¡¯t until he saw the DNA report that he felt his world go from shattered toplete¨Ca cruel joke. Tristan exploded, ¡°You dic¡­ since you did a DNA test, why didn¡¯t you just show the report and save ra the trouble?¡± He was fuming at Jacob¡¯s actions. Tristan snatched the paternity test report that Jacob had dug out, scoffing as he did so. ¡°Our family loves ra dearly. When Sienna and I got married, she said she wanted a big, lively family¨Cfive kids, a full hand, none missing. But that¡¯s no excuse for knowing she¡¯s your child and not acknowledging her! When we learned Noe was ours, we couldn¡¯t wait to bring her home. How could you bear to not acknowledge ra? How could you be so heartless? Jacob, let me tell you, ra¡¯s never been materialistic. Even if your wife passed early and she never got to meet her mother, she wouldn¡¯t me you. Do you have any idea how considerate she is? She was afraid Noe would be upset by her presence and didn¡¯t even dare toe home! You have no clue how wonderful my child is! You didn¡¯t choose ra; you chose to be a coward! I don¡¯t even want to give my daughter to you. What a joke!¡± Tristan mmed the paternity report down on the desk, his neck veins bulging with anger. ra stared nkly at Tristan. She thought the Schnabels were unaware of the things she¡¯d done. Sienna hugged ra, stroking her face with affection. ¡°ra, if you don¡¯t want to acknowledge him, you¡¯ll always be a Schnabel. You and Noe are my daughters, and we¡¯ll always be together as a family.¡± Tristan huffed disdainfully. ¡°Acknowledge a big¨Cheaded ghost? We¡¯re going home! What a crappy lab. If you knew ra was your kid all along and still allowed her to be mistreated without iming her, I swear I¡¯ll have Phoenix Lab shut down in no time!¡± Beckett coughed subtly, trying to diffuse the tension. ¡°Dad,e on, Phoenix Lab is a national asset.¡± Tristan held ra¡¯s hand tightly, his gaze icy as he looked at Jacob. ¡°ra, let¡¯s go home. Your grandma¡¯s been itching to get you out of this ce for ages. You want to do research? Our family will back you with a bigger and betterb. My daughter doesn¡¯t need to take any crap from anyone.¡± Sienna was in full agreement, ¡°Exactly, let¡¯s head back!¡± 11:44 ?? 9 The family arrived with a mighty presence and left together Just as robustly, leaving Jacob behind with a face full of sorrow. He stared at the pocket watch ra had left on the table, his heart filled with anguish. Had he really made a mistake? As soon as they stepped outside Emerald County, Sienna video¨Ccalled Noe. ¡°Noe, darling, what that man said may have been true, but we¡¯re choosing not to acknowledging it,¡± Sienna recounted the events from theb. Tristan¡¯s furious curses could be heard through the phone, clearly livid with Jacob¡¯s actions. ¡°What does ra want? As long as she¡¯s happy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Seeing her daughter¡¯s understanding and sweetness filled Sienna¡¯s heart with pride. ra leaned in to see Noe on the screen, her eyes rimmed red but her face breaking into a gentle smile at the sight of her. ¡°Noe, thank you. I know one of the main reasons you went to Lockhart Prison was for me. Noe, I really, really, really love you!¡± CHapter 176 CHapter 176 ra was as sharp as a tack, and when she found out that Noe ventured into Lockhart Prison to meet the former head of Heartfelt Orphanage, she knew there had to be a good reason. It was clear to her that Noe was determined to help her find her biological family, even if it meant putting herself in harm¡¯s way. Noe let out a soft chuckle, feeling a warmth bloom in her heart. ra leaned against Sienna¡¯s shoulder, feigning concem. ¡°What are we going to do? Now I¡¯ll have topete with Noe for Mom¡¯s attention.¡± Sienna scolded her lovingly. ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯m already your mom. I changed your diapers and nursed you when you were a baby. Even if your birth mother came back from the dead, she couldn¡¯t take you away from me!* Although the Schnabels hoped to find ra¡¯s birth parents, Sienna secretly dreaded the day they might appear. Her daughter, so intelligent and considerate, was hers to keep. If ra¡¯s biological parents turned out to be unreliable like Noe¡¯s foster parents, Sienna was adamant she wouldn¡¯t let her go. Noe nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, having you at home is perfect. I like ra.¡± ra¡¯s face bloomed like the spring after a long winter, her smile radiant. She turned to the four Schnabel brothers sitting in the back of the SUV, her eyebrows arching triumphantly. ¡°Did you hear that? Did you all listen? If not, I¡¯ve got it recorded ¨C I¡¯ll y it back on loop for you, so you know who the favorite really is!* Stirling, eager to join in, piped up. ¡°Noe,e on, say you like your me best!¡± Jasper countered. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous, she obviously likes me the most.¡± Sienna snapped. ¡°How old are you to be squabbling over things like this? ra¡¯s your little sister! Immature brats.¡± Before her sons could wallow in disappointment, Sienna¡¯s tone softened as she gazed at Noe with delight. ¡°Noe, darling, you do love me the most, don¡¯t you?¡± The Schnabel brothers fell silent, a collective sigh hanging in the air. Noe, feeling a bit cornered, reassured each member of the Schnabel family in turn. Palmer leaned into the video call, greeting everyone politely. ¡°Regardless of ra¡¯s choice, we¡¯ll respect it. But since it involves my uncle, I¡¯ve also sent the recording to Grandpa. I hope you¡¯ll understand.¡± Sienna nodded, acknowledging the necessity. ¡°Sure, Sexton should be informed. But Palmer, your uncle¡­¡± Sienna¡¯s face twisted slightly with distaste. Tristan burst out angrily, ¡°Aren¡¯t all the sons from the Pock family cut from the same cloth? If Palmer ends up like his dad or uncle, he can forget about marrying Noe for life!¡± Palmer¡¯s position as the heir to the Pock Group was partly due to Sexton¡¯s sons being less than capable. After his wife left, Palmer¡¯s father had taken off on a global escapade,pletely indifferent to family affairs. Jacob alsocked ambition, and if it weren¡¯t for a business prodigy Palmer emerging in this generation of the Pock family, Sexton might still be punching the clock. Sienna voiced her concern, ¡°Noe, when are youing home? Why do I hear explosions in the background?¡± To keep Sienna from worrying, the Schnabels hadn¡¯t told her about the nature of Lockhart Prison. Noe kept herposure. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re just sting fish out of the water.¡± 11:45 Nist of nna began to rx, X boomingughter echoed through the phone, Noelle them! A bunch of idiots trying to break out of Jall. Watch me blow them away! Don¡¯t worry, everyone need is alive! Sienna¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion, slowly turning to her children. sting fish.., with that kind of noise? The Schnabel children hastily nodded in agreement. ¡°Oh, yes, that¡¯s right, Mom. You must have misheard.¡± Relieved, Sienna urged, ¡°Thene back soon, baby. I miss you.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± After ending the call, Noe¡¯s smile faded, and she turned to Xavier with a cold gaze. ¡°Can¡¯t you keep it down?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. This man, whomunicated solely through shouting, was practically bursting her eardrums. Xavier scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, grinning. ¡°Sure, you¡¯re right about everything. I will do whatever you say!¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± Xavier proudly replied, ¡°Hanging outside! Strung up for everyone to see!¡± After all, Noe had only asked for a living person, not one with all parts intact. Noe sighed at Xavier, then turned to Palmer beside her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ever notice something was off with him when youmunicated before?¡± Palmer spread his hands in a helpless gesture, looking at a smug Xavier. ¡°I did, which is why Annie usually deals with him. He¡¯s old, so just let him off.¡± Conversing with Xavier always gave Palmer a headache, so he left the task to Annie, who invariably needed to recover from the auditory trauma after each call. Noe remarked, ¡°Being your assistant is no walk in the park.¡± Palmer chuckled affectionately, gazing at Noe. ¡°If my fianc¨¦e is sympathetic, she could marry me sooner, and we¡¯d give Annie as long a vacation as our honeymoonsts.¡± Noe dismissed the idea without mercy. ¡°Pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Watching her swiftly walk away, Palmer knew his fianc¨¦e was just shy and chuckled softly before rushing to catch up. Outside the grim ck tower, a tall woman with a smart pixie cut and dressed in camo gear approached Xavier. ¡°Xavier, did Vocaliste here? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Xavier flicked away his cigarette butt, his voice cold as steel. ¡°Back off, Lyra. I¡¯m not your secretary, am I? Plus, Vocalist was here with his fianc¨¦e. Should I have told you so you could send them a wedding gift?¡± Lyra¡¯s expression shifted from excitement to shock in an instant. When had Vocalist gotten engaged? ¡°No way. Xavier, you¡¯re yanking my chain, right?¡± Xavier shot her a frosty look. ¡°What makes you think you¡¯re even worth the joke?¡± 11.45 Noe¡¯s voice floated from behind them, Didn¡¯t I tell you to keep it down? So tacky Xavier¡¯s face morphed into a grin, chuckling. ¡°Right, right, keep it down.¡± Lyra¡¯s gaze was glued to Palmerl She was finally seeing him again! Vocalist¡­ Palmer wrapped an arm around Noe¡¯s waist, pulling her close, his voice soft and soothing. ¡°Are you pissed or just ying coy?¡± ¡°Neither. I just think you¡¯re delusional.¡± She had never mentioned anything about marrying him; he was the one with the wild imagination. Palmer tapped her pert nose affectionately. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m the delusional one. So, my fianc¨¦e, any idea what pill I should pop to cure me?¡± Xavier shivered with a mock chill, annoyance edging his voice. ¡°I reckon you need rat poison; just drop dead already. Can¡¯t you see Noe¡¯s fed up?¡± But Noe didn¡¯t push Palmer away, and Xavier knew he was probably the only one who was truly irked! Kids these days¡­ no sense of decorum! Seeing the way Lyra¡¯s eyes were practically falling out of her head and sticking to Palmer, Xavier knew she was up to no good. In the past, Xavier might have enjoyed the spectacle. But now? Anyone who dares to vie with Noe for things or people, he¡¯d be the first to burst their bubble! Xavier eyed Lyra with a cold detachment. ¡°Got the picture? If you¡¯re here to drop off a wedding gift, just hit my bank ount. If it¡¯s anything else, beat it!¡± CHapter 177 CHapter 177 Lyra red at Palmer with a mix of disbelief and indignation. ¡°Who is she? Do you really have a fianc¨¦e already?¡± Palmer looked up, meeting Lyra¡¯s incredulous eyes. ¡°And you are?¡± Lyra¡¯s jaw dropped. He had forgotten her? This couldn¡¯t be happening! ¡°Look, if thisdy is strong¨Carming you, just give me the word, and I¡¯ll help you to..¡± Palmer immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, his face a picture of desperate pleading. ¡°Noe, I swear I don¡¯t know her!¡± Noe gave a nonchnt nod. ¡°Am I strong¨Carming you?¡± ¡°Only in my dreams. When would my fianc¨¦e like to strong¨Carm me? And with what?¡± A blush crept onto Noe¡¯s cheeks as she stared at Palmer, confused. ¡°Have you lost your mind? If she¡¯s here for you, you deal with it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll need my fianc¨¦e here to watch.¡± Grabbing Noe¡¯s hand, Palmer looked up at Lyra. ¡°Are you with Westwood Mercenary Corps?¡± Only the mercenaries from Westwood were known to sport camo gear in this area, and judging by this woman¡¯s attire and the dagger at her waist, she was likely one of them. Lyra nodded vigorously, hoping against hope that Palmer would remember her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Lyra from Westwood Mercenary Corps. I saved you once, remember?¡± Mentioning that supposed act of heroism only made Palmer¡¯s expression all the more enigmatic. For a brief moment long ago, he had indeed thought it was Lyra who had saved him. But after seeing her handle a gun, he realized she was nothing but a glory¨Cthief. The true savior had a grace with firearms that was simply unforgettable. Palmer drew his own sidearm from his waist, clicked off the safety, and handed it to Noe. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± she asked, puzzled. ¡°There¡¯s a bird in that tree I¡¯d like. Care to shoot it down for me?¡± His gaze was fixed on a tree behind Lyra, where several of Xavier¡¯s prized Emerald Birds, with their lustrous green feathers perfect for courtly attire in days long gone, perched among the leaves. A hairpin made of those feathers would look stunning in his girl¡¯s hair. He was tired of seeing Noe wear the trinket from other men; he wanted her adorned with gifts solely from him. Noe nced at Palmer, then raised the gun, aiming past Lyra. Before Lyra could even grasp 19:23 what was happening, the shot rang out, and the bird plummeted to the ground. Xavier felt like his heart was bleeding money. ¡°That bird cost me a fortune! Palmer, you and I are done!¡± Lyra screamed. ¡°She shot at me!¡± Did this woman not fear retribution within the confines of Lockhart Prison? Palmer looked at Lyra with Icy eyes. ¡°The person who saved me had far superior aim than you.¡± That very shot had ended a drug lord¡¯s reign and snatched him from death¡¯s grip. Not even the entire Westwood Mercenary Corps could boast a marksman of that caliber. ¡°You¡¯ve lied to me, and I don¡¯t care. I never trusted you. But if you disrespect my fianc¨¦e, I will get rid of the entire Westwood Mercenary Corps.¡± It dawned on Lyra that Palmer had known all along she wasn¡¯t his savior. How did he find out? And this woman, how was she such an excellent shot? Why hadn¡¯t she heard of a woman with such skill in Lockhart Prison? Lyra brushed her hair behind her ear and turned to Xavier. ¡°People can just shoot guns on your turf, Xavier? Seems like they don¡¯t take you seriously.¡± Xavier met Noe¡¯s scrutinizing gaze and itched to kick Lyra. ¡°So what if she doesn¡¯t take me seriously? Even if she pushes me into a ditch, I¡¯d be thrilled!¡± If this fool had ruined his efforts to impress Noe, Xavier would have no choice but to deal with Lyra and her entire mercenary crew. Noe looked a bit nauseated by Xavier¡¯s groveling. ¡°I have no interest in kicking you into a ditch.¡± Lyra couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. Everyone knew about Xavier¡¯s temper, but this was the first time she¡¯d seen him so amiable towards a woman. Could it be¡­ A lightbulb went off in Lyra¡¯s head, and she regarded Noe with a calcting look. ¡°Xavier, if she¡¯s your rtive, you better teach her the rules of surviving in Lockhart Prison, so she doesn¡¯t end up getting beaten without knowing why.¡± In fact, if it weren¡¯t for Palmer holding Noe for so long, Lyra would have suspected that Noe was Xavier¡¯s mistress. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Seeing Palmer¡¯s tenderness towards Noe, Lyra¡¯s heart soured like a lemon, wishing she could rece her. Noe turned to Xavier, her knuckles cracking, her face stoic. ¡°Her mouth is worse than a sewer. I¡¯m getting annoyed. Can I hit her?¡± 214 19:23 Xavier instantly transformed into an epitome of obsequiousness. ¡°Absolutely, you can hit her. Here, you can even hit me if you want!¡± Palmer almost couldn¡¯t contain hisughter at Xavier¡¯s antics. Noe nodded and, without hesitation, walked towards Lyra, her hand swinging out in a forceful p. Lyra sneered, thinking she had provoked Noe into making the first move. With her mercenary training, how could she be bested by this slip of a woman? But Noe¡¯s pnded squarely on Lyra¡¯s cheek, leaving her no chance to retaliate. ¡°You!¡± Lyra knew she couldn¡¯t underestimate her opponent any longer. Clutching her face, she braced for Noe¡¯s onught, but the moment their fists and kicks collided, she realized she was no match for the woman before her! Noe¡¯s punches and sweeping kicks hit Lyra with precision, each blow targeting a vulnerable spot. In no time, Lyra was on the ground, cradling her head and shrieking. ¡°Stop! Please, stop!¡± Noe dusted off her hands, looking down at Lyra with a hint of disappointment. ¡°That was anticlimactic. Can¡¯t take a hit, huh? And here I thought with all that tough talk, you¡¯d be a bit more resilient. To think you¡¯re with the Westwood Mercenary Corps. Seems they¡¯ve gone soft after being around for so long.¡± Xavier chimed in at once. ¡°Noe¡¯s right on the money. Our next move is to wipe Westwood Mercenary Corps off the map!¡± Lyra looked at Xavier in terror, then at Palmer, who was gently massaging Noe¡¯s hands. ¡°No¡­ please, Vocalist, save me! I¡¯ll do anything for you!¡± Palmer turned to Noe and said softly, ¡°It¡¯s your call, Noe. I¡¯m with you all the way.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze on Lyra held a chilling smile, like a death bringer returning from hell itself. ¡°How about this, you die, and I¡¯ll spare the Westwood Mercenary Corps. Deal?¡± Was this woman asking her to die? A devil in disguise! Seeing the reluctance in Lyra¡¯s eyes, Noe sighed. ¡°Out here on the frontier, one life more or less doesn¡¯t make a difference. Since you¡¯re so nobly willing to save your entire crew, why don¡¯t you sacrifice yourself?¡±/ Lyra bit back, ¡°You¡¯re heartless. You think a woman like you can win Vocalist¡¯s affection?¡± Palmer looked at Lyra with icy detachment. ¡°Noe will always be my one and only! You¡¯re foolish, unattractive, and a poor fighter. Best you disappear before you upset my fianc¨¦e any further.¡± Only then did Lyra remember her face was swollen from Noe¡¯s blows! Gritting her teeth, 10.23 she turned and walked away, showing no signs of any intention to save her crew, As Lyra limped away, a figure hung from the ck tower spoke up. ¡°Excuse me, I¡® hanging here! Have you all forgotten about me?¡± CHapter 178 CHapter 178 Hanging upside down from a beam in the ck tower of Lockhart Prison, Thorpe was a sorry sight to behold. His once intimidating frame was now a patchwork of bruises and wounds. Noe peered at the battered figure, her brows knitting together in confusion. ¡°And who might you be?¡± Thorpe¡¯s fury broke through his battered facade. ¡°Wise Fool, do you have to do this to me? I didn¡¯t know you are Ms. Schnabel, and it was Xavier who had a bone to pick with your grandpa, not me! You¡¯ve killed more of my guys over that sted deal than I can count, and I haven¡¯t evene knocking for payback!¡± With a casual shrug, Noe replied, ¡°You¡¯re Thorpe? Didn¡¯t recognize you there. Anyway, if your boys were stronger, maybe they wouldn¡¯t have fallen so easily. ming me seems a bit shameless, don¡¯t you think?¡± Xavier chimed in with a snicker. ¡°Shameless? He¡¯s way past that. I knocked the looks right off his face!¡± Thorpe¡¯s swollen appearance did little to help his recognition; in fact, he looked more like a bloated caricature of himself. It was only because Thorpe had watched a livestream of Noe¡¯s birthday bash, organized by the Schnabel family while he was helping Hollis recover, that he recognized her. The face of Palmer, a familiar enemy. had appeared amid the birthday bash and it nearly drove Thorpe over the edge. The CEO of the Pock Group was one of his archenemies? The moment he saw Noe standing close to Palmer, he knew¨Cshe was that Ms. Noe from the Schnabel family. Her confident stance as she fired her gun and her tussle with Lyra, it all clicked for Thorpe, who had faced her numerous times on the international warzones. Ms. Noe from the Schnabel family, another nemesis? Suddenly, Thorpe felt as if all his efforts over the years had been for naught. What kind of heiress moonlights as a hitwoman? ¡°You¡¯re the one who summoned me to Lockhart Prison and now you¡¯ve got me strung up like a side of beef. What¡¯s your endgame? You aiming to swallow up Cerulean Whale?¡± ¡°Cerulean Whale? Not interested. Your crew are a bunch of goons¨Cnot only are they ugly as sin, but they¡¯re dumb as a sack of hammers. Taking them out would just be embarrassing.¡± Noe was known for collecting orphans from war¨Ctorn regions to join the Obelisk Organization. While looks weren¡¯t a priority for a hitman, Cerulean Whale¡¯s bizarre standards had turned them into a pack of over¨Cmuscled transformers. Noe preferred to keep her distance from such ostentatious disys of brute force. ¡°Besides, I called you here for a rescue, remember? Don¡¯t you care about your little brother?¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, Thorpe looked defeated. ¡°Can you let me down? Xavier, you¡¯ve wiped out my team; I¡¯m no threat now.¡± Xavier nced at Noe, clearly seeking her approval. ¡°Let him down. His brain¡¯s fried anyway.¡± Noe was referring to a rather literal injury to Thorpe¡¯s head¨Ca blow that had left him with more than just a few clots and a close call with death. Once released, Thorpe slumped beside a water basin. Hollis, looking frail and pale, was wheeled in by Magee. Xavier scoffed. have no interest in beating dying man. This guy seemed half¨Cdead already!¡± Hollis, ever the gentleman, inclined his head towards Xavier from his wheelchair. ¡°Xavier, I apologize for the inconvenience.¡± With a polite smile that belied his condition, Hollis then turned his attention to Noe, his smile growing a touch warmer. ¡°I owe you my life, and for that, I am grateful.¡± Noe¡¯s response was cool and detached. ¡°Lunaris saved you, not me.¡± ¡°Of course, as long as you understand what I meant,¡± Hollis replied, his eyes acknowledging her true identity. This guy, Hollis, seemed to be smarter than his brothers. Thorpe said, ¡°Xavier, let¡¯s make a deal. Hand over Tandy, and I¡¯ll let you call the shots with Cerulean Whale¡¯s men from now on!¡± Xavier rolled his eyes, and he dragged a chair over for Noe. ¡°Have a seat, Noe. Why stand when you can sit? That Pock boy didn¡¯t even think to fetch you a chair. Useless. If you ever get bored of him, I¡¯ve got a whole lineup of better suitors right here in Lockhart Prison¨Ctake your pick, a dozen if you like.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze was icy as she retorted. ¡°What are you offering? Death row inmates? Drug lords or serial killers?¡± Xavier rubbed his forehead awkwardly, realizing his blunder. Lockhart Prison was filled with the depraved and the damned, including himself¨Ca man burdened with sins. There was little hope of finding someone ¡®normal¡® for Noe in such a ce. ¡°Thorpe, I¡¯m tired of this nonsense. If it wasn¡¯t for orders from up high, Tandy wouldn¡¯t havested this long. You think I¡¯d tolerate his attitude? If you want to take him, make him spill everything first.¡± Xavier¡¯s n seemed wless. ording to Noe, Tandy was already on death¡¯s door. If Thorpe took Tandy away, it would also save the prison the trouble of disposing of him. Xavier sneered. ¡°Or maybe you know something, Thorpe. You can spill the beans just as well.¡± With a snap of her fingers, Noe cut to the chase. ¡°Xavier, how many times did you try to off my grandpa?¡± ¡°Just once,¡± Xavier replied with a shrug. ¡°You think Marcel is worth spending on more than once?¡± Noe gazed at Thorpe with a meaningful look. ¡°Is that so? Yet, I seem to recall the Cerulean Whale gang trying to take out my grandad not once, but twice.¡± It was during the second incident that Noe had casually saved Sexton, who was in the throes of an illness. Whoever it was, they were well¨Cprepared, having rigged the hospital room with explosives and bribed the medical staff. If anything had gone wrong. Sexton and Marcel would likely have been beyond saving. Xavier roared, ¡°No way! I only pay up once, and I wouldn¡¯t have bothered if it weren¡¯t for Harriet¡¯s birthday. I don¡¯t need this mess!¡± Palmer mercilessly pointed out. ¡°Or was it more about not finding the right opportunity before? The day you chose just happened to coincide with the hospital¡¯s security shift change.¡± After all, making a move against a former high¨Cranking general of Harmonia Country in Imperial City wasn¡¯t easy. Otherwise, why hadn¡¯t Xavier made his move during any of Grandma Harriet¡¯s previous birthdays? Xavier¡¯s face turned beet red with embarrassment. ¡°Shut it! Bring Tandy out here. Whoever tells the truth gets to walk, and the liars can go swim with the sharks!¡± Noe turned her attention to Hollis, who had remained silent. ¡°Tandy has said his piece, and now it¡¯s your turn to spill the beans!¡± ¡°Me? Ms. Schnabel, you must be mistaken. I¡¯m in poor health; what could I possibly know?¡± Noe shook her head, looking sternly at Hollis. ¡°You are the one Tandy and Thorpe have been covering for. Whether it¡¯s the Cerulean Whale or the Heartfelt Orphanage, you¡¯re the real shot¨C caller, aren¡¯t you? Whether It¡¯s the Heartfelt Orphanage or Tandy Hospital, you¡¯re the real director.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. From the moment Noe met Hollis, she knew he was different. Thorpe¡¯s look of brotherly affection was mingled with an unusual reverence! That look, different from how the Schnabel family regarded her, yet identical to the folks from the Pris Star viewed her! It was a respect and awe reserved for a leader, someone worth sacrificing to protect. Hollis narrowed his eyes and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m ttered that Ms. Schnabel thinks so highly of me, but you might be mistaken. I don¡¯t know a thing.¡± Noe gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. ¡°Oh dear, I forgot to mention a little mishap urred during your brain surgery, something got left behind. Now, what do we do about that? Could it be considered malpractice?¡± CHapter 179 CHapter 179 The expressions on Thorpe and Hollis¡¯s faces soured instantly. Hollis¡¯s smile twitched, his previously affable grin near breaking point. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ pulling my leg, right?¡± Noe chuckled lightly, her head held high with a touch of arrogance as she looked down at a somewhat flustered Hollis. ¡°Whether I¡¯m joking or not, you¡¯ll have the chance to find out. But if I¡¯m not, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to handle the repercussions.¡± ¡°As Lunaris, aren¡¯t you afraid of the bacsh for pulling such a stunt?¡± Noe shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Who cares? If Cerulean Whale had the chops, they wouldn¡¯t be perennial underdogs, right? Why aren¡¯t you guys the top hit squad on the deep web? Is it because you don¡¯t fancy the title? Of course, it was a matter of not having enough power! Thinking that Cerulean Whale alone could make the entire deep web condemn Lunaris was nothing short of a pipe dream. Palmer chuckled along. ¡°It¡¯s not thatplicated. If they die here, who¡¯s to know?¡± The smile finally vanished from Hollis¡¯s face. ¡°Spill it, what do you want to know? You¡¯re aware I¡¯m not the sharpest tool in the shed; I tend to forget things.¡± ¡°What went down when the Pock family had their baby?¡± Hollis let out a deep sigh, signaling Thorpe to cool his jets. ¡°In a nutshell, it¡¯s a ssic game of getting rid of the mom and switching the baby. You follow, Ms. Schnabel?¡± Xavier pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Hollis¡¯s head! ¡°Watch your damn manners! Speak to her like that again, and I¡¯ll feed your brains to the fishes!¡± Hollis chuckled and shook his head, pushing Xavier¡¯s gun aside with a finger. ¡°Let¡¯s not be so dramatic; my brains aren¡¯t that tasty. Spare a thought for your fish. We didn¡¯t exert much effort in that mess. It was mostly the Pock family¡¯s own power struggle.¡± The Pock family¡¯s grand feud had cost Palmer his mother too. No wonder the Pock sons never recovered. Noe frowned slightly. ¡°Second matter: was Harriet¡¯s child born at Tandy Hospital?¡± Hollis nodded coolly. ¡°Yes, and then we took the baby. Ran into a dim¨Cwitted woman itching to marry Marcel. Ambitious but brainless. We handed the kid over. Heard Marcel divorced her anyway. Hrious.¡± ¡°What happened to Harriet afterward?¡± ¡°She lost her memory. We gave her some random child, and she took off with it.¡± It all matched up with what Tandy had said. If he was right, then the kid Harriet took by mistake must be Vincent. Hollis added, ¡°Later, that woman, Ashlyn, proved quite useful to us. Without her, your mother wouldn¡¯t have gone to Tandy Hospital to give birth. Mother¨Cinw and daughter¨Cinw issues are as old as time, aren¡¯t they?¡± Noe recalled Marcel mentioning that Sienna going to Tandy Hospital was all Ashlyn¡¯s doing. It seemed that Ashlyn had orchestrated everything! Her eagerness to marry her niece off to Tristan was because she knew he wasn¡¯t her biological son. She was paving the way for her own family. As for her disdain for the Schnabel kids, that was a given, especially with her own granddaughter Yvonne around. Third question: who¡¯s behind all this? Who asked you to do these things?¡± Hollis pressed his hand to his temple, exchanging a worried look with Thorpe and shaking his head slightly Ms. Schnabel, as the head of the Obelisk Organization, you must have navigated these waters before. Ever heard of an organization?¡± ¡°What?¡± Hollis turned serious. ¡°Pris Star!¡± A wave of shock washed over Noe. ¡°You¡¯re saying Pris Star is behind all this?¡± Hollis nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with deep fear. ¡°They¡¯re shadowy figures in the international warzone. Maybe you¡¯ve encountered them before, but only the tip of the iceberg. We took orders from Pris Star, but we never knew who was issuing them. They¡¯re terrifying. Guess what kind of people would scour the globe for geniuses and forcibly develop their intellect?¡± Even speaking of his experiences with Pris Star sent chills down Hollis¡¯s spine. He couldn¡¯t imagine what horrors awaited those who actually survived the brutal experiments conducted by Pris Star. ¡°They name their members after constetions. Failures are brainwashed, and that process might not always seed. You could end up a fool. I¡¯ve been to Pris Star, but they turned their noses up at my intellect and let me go.¡± Noe caught the implication in Hollis¡¯s words. ¡°You weren¡¯t brainwashed?¡± ¡°No, because I didn¡¯t fancy being a fool. You see, I have brothers to look after. They¡¯re not too bright; they wouldn¡¯tst without me. So, I became a pawn for Pris Star, to be manipted at will.¡± ¡°The contact from Pris Star, who was it?¡± Hollis shook his head gravely. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The messages were always fragmented. You were right; it wasn¡¯t Xavier who ordered Marcel¡¯s hitst time. In truth, we were told to eliminate both Marcel Schnabel. and Sexton Pock!¡± It all made sense now! The sting operation in the hospital room was aimed at both Marcel and Sexton from the start! The pain was still evident in Hollis¡¯s voice as he recalled his dealings with Pris Star. ¡°They¡¯re terrifying, man. I can¡¯t even think about crossing them!¡± Clutching his head, Hollis started to squirm, caught in a wave of excruciating pain. Memories, the bad ones, flooded in, threatening to overwhelm his already fragile mind, still in recovery. Thorpe quickly crouched down beside him, kneading his temples in a bid to offer some relief. Noe frowned deeply as she watched them, her heart pounding like a drum inside her chest. She knew all too well what Pris Star was capable of. She was one of the survivors. If those orders had indeede from Pris Star¡­ Noe¡¯s gaze shifted to Xavier, who seemed to dodge her stare. ¡°Who was Grandma¡¯s mentor?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡­ I don¡¯t have a clue!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯te clean, I¡¯m cutting you out of my life for good.¡± fler was suddenly frantic. ¡°I swear, I don¡¯t know. Harriet didn¡¯t know my mentor was from Lockhart as well. But Harriet¡­ she did visit Pris Star once. That was about all Xavier knew. ¡°In those days, knowing your sibling was still breathing was a blessing. Harriet and I, we kept our distance; didn¡¯t want to drag each other into trouble. That photo is the only thing I have left of her.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. It was for this reason that Xavier was so furious to learn of Harriet¡¯s sudden death and Marcel¡¯s quick remarriage! Palmer¡¯s gaze never strayed from Noe. He knew she was intricately tied to Pris Star, perhaps she was once one of those geniuses strapped to ab table, forced to undergo intelligence enhancements! The thought of Noe¨Cwho was so delicate¨Cenduring such inhuman torture made Palmer¡¯s heart ache silently. His girl had faced such profound darkness! He reached out and took Noe¡¯s hand, his eyes softening with concealed sorrow. ¡°What do you want to know? We¡¯ll dig it up slowly; I¡¯m with you every step of the way!¡± Even if it meant delving into the abyss to uncover the secrets of an organization that had vanished without a trace, he¡¯d be by her side! After taking his medication, Hollis let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I think my brother¡¯s a poet, don¡¯t you?¡± Thorpe pointed to himself, visibly puzzled, ¡°Me?¡± Xavier rolled his eyes. ¡°More like a dead man walking!¡± A poet? Noe¡¯s thoughts drifted to the ramblings Tandy had spilled after taking a few sips of vodka. Each line yed over in her mind, transforming from a tangled mess into something patterned, almost like a code. A lightbulb went off in Noe¡¯s head. She turned to Palmer, her expression serious. ¡°Palmer, I think there¡¯s a chance that ra¡¯s mom might still be alive!¡± CHapter 180 CHapter 180 ra¡¯s mom, Jacob¡¯s fianc¨¦e? While she never had a wedding with Jacob, he had always acknowledged her as his only wife! What If she was still alive? Noelle, are you talking about the nonsense Tandy was spouting after he had the vodka?¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t drunk; he was faking it. I remember Thorpe once mentioned that their family has a gic tolerance for alcohol. With a sheepish grin stered on his face, Thorpe slowly turned around. When did all this happen? He couldn¡¯t even remember! How on Earth did Wise Fool remember such a trivial thing? Xavier bellowed with a mix of anger and protectiveness, ¡°What are you staring at? Keep eyeing Noe like that and I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out!¡± Grinding his teeth, Thorpe hadn¡¯t expected that it would be his own offhand remark that would betray his brother. He waspletely numb to it all. ¡°No, I was just marveling at how Ms. Schnabel¡¯s head, so pretty and small, could remember so much stuff!¡± Noe, chin held high, retorted, ¡°Based on what Tandy said, it seems they used the same tricks on my grandma and ra¡¯s mom. Since my grandma is alive but has lost some memories, I have reason to suspect ra¡¯s mom might be in the same boat.¡± Palmer¡¯s steely gaze fell on Hollis. With an innocently disarming smile and a nonchnt shrug, Hollis met Palmer¡¯s lethal stare, conveying a helpless air. ¡°I¡¯ve told you all I know; the rest is beyond me, and Tandy knows even less.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Noe turned to Xavier and tossed her maic earrings to him. ¡°Inside is a copy of a file. Videos and photos left by my grandma are all in there¨Cthe password is her birthday.¡± Xavier, in a fluster, caught the earrings Noe casually threw. He was terrified of breaking something so precious! This was everything Harriet had left behind! His voice softened as he looked at Noe and Palmer. ¡°Uh¡­ are you guys leaving?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve got the answers I needed. They won¡¯t be able to answer my other questions.¡± treasure of A trace of sorrow shadowed Xavier¡¯s weathered face. His life had been one of turmoil, his only t being his dearly departed sister. With her gone, his heart had died too. Yet, upon seeing Noe, a spark hope ignited within Xavier! ¡°Will youe back to¡­ Forget it, this ce is no good. Just go, and don¡¯t look back!¡± He watched as Noe and Palmer headed to the helicopter, his eyes heavy with reluctance. The helicopter des roared to life, and as Noe stood in the tempest, she turned back to look at Xavier. ¡°I¡¯ll be back to settle scores! Old man, make sure you¡¯re still kicking!¡± He had tried to scheme against her several times before, even reaching out to other hit squads on the deep web to take her down. She hadn¡¯t forgotten. Whatever his reasons, Xavier had to remember the debt he owed her. 11:53 his voice quivering with emotion, called out, ¡°Hey!ll be waiting for that troublet As the helicopter ascended into the sky, vanishing from Lockhart Prison¡¯s bounds, Thorpe sighed. ¡°Hollis, I Buddenly feel like our organization will never outdo the Obelisk Organization or the Abyssal Organization Hollis, puzzled, said, ¡°When did you start thinking we could take them down? What have I done to give you Buch an illusion?¡± Even if Noe and Palmer weren¡¯t part of the Schnabel and Pock families, the power of the Obelisk and Abyssal organizations still surpassed that of Cerulean Whale. Did Thorpe always believe they could rece them? Wiping away a tear, Xavier cheerfully took the earring Noe had given him and prepared to go inside for a closer look. As he passed Thorpe, he gave him a kick into the pool. ¡°Xavier, are you out of your mind? Why did you kick me in!¡± ¡°To teach you a lesson for being rude to Noe. Soak in there for a bit! If it weren¡¯t for that bandaged head of yours, Hollis, I¡¯d throw you both in to cool off!¡± Xavier snorted and walked away. At the Phoenix Tower of Serene Haven, the Schnabel Manor was bustling. Noe and Palmer were greeted by a living room full of people as they entered. The entire Schnabel family, along with Sexton and Merrick, had shown up. Even Freya, who was supposed to be conducting experiments, had requested toe home! The room was eerily quiet, the ticking of the clock hanging on the wall echoing clearly. Noe was taken aback by the crowd, but soon realized that they were all there for ra¡¯s sake. Marcel waved Noe over. ¡°Back already? Tough trip, huh? Did that Xavier guy give you any trouble? Come, sit by me. We¡¯ve been waiting for you. Have you eaten?¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine, thanks. We grabbed something on the way.¡± ¡°Palmer, you too. Thanks for looking after Noe. Go sit by your grandpa before he blows a gasket. And if he does, just haul him off and bury him wherever For once, Sexton didn¡¯t retort to Marcel¡¯s sarcasm. Clutching his canes, his hands trembled uncontrobly. his gaze never leaving ra. Noe obediently took her seat next to Marcel, with ra right beside her. ra leaned in and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, they¡¯ll leave after the chat.¡± Noe soothed ra¡¯s palm with a gentle scratch. In this setting, shouldn¡¯t it be ra who should be scared? Marcel nced at Sexton, who had been silent throughout the conversation. ¡°Look, what¡¯s done is done, and I¡¯m not one to dwell on the past. Now, it¡¯s ra¡¯s call, and we¡¯ll respect whatever she decides.¡± Freya snorted dismissively. ¡°Jacob hasn¡¯t even had the decency to show his face. It¡¯s pretty clear where ra should stand.¡± Palmer shot a sympathetic look toward Sexton, feeling that Jacob had indeed crossed a line. ¡°Where is my uncle? Should I get in touch with him? Sexton¡¯s voice was grave as he responded, ¡°No need. He¡¯s already trying to pull some strings to get ra transferred back to the Imperial City Institute. At least he¡¯s doing something.¡± Merrick turned to Noe with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°So, Noe, did you guys uncover anything new on this trip?¡± Noe nodded. ¡°We¡¯re still not sure what exactly happened to Grandma back in the day, but Palmer and I think there¡¯s a chance ra¡¯s mother might still be alive. Grandpa Sexton, who is ra¡¯s mother, really?¡± Only the Pock family knew the true identity of the woman once betrothed to Jacob. Sexton stood up abruptly, a storm of emotions in his eyes. ¡°Noe, you¡­ you mean she could be alive? Then why hasn¡¯t she sought out Jacob, or ra? What kind of mother could be so heartless?¡± Noe shook her head, her voice steady. ¡°If she is alive, she might have lost her memory, just like my grandma.¡± Sexton¡¯s lips quivered as he struggled to find the words. ¡°Oh, the tragedy of it all. That poor child, if she¡¯s out there, having forgotten everything, forgotten Jacob and ra, then ra¡­¡± His voice trailed off as he turned to look at ra, his eyes brimming with tears that streaked down his weathered cheeks. Chapter 181 lose to her feet and handed some tissues to Sexton ¡°Grandpa Sexton, you don¡¯t have to feel bad for You¡¯ve watched me grow up and I¡¯ve always been well taken care of, never slighted.¡± ¡°Ah.. you¡¯re right, kiddo. I¡¯m not sad, not crying. Just old and my eyes are¡­ leaky, that¡¯s all.¡± Sexton fumbled with his handkerchief, trying to dry his tears, but they just kepting. If Wetto had truly forgotten her own child, even if ra found her, she¡¯d be faced with a mother who¡¯d lost all memory of her past. How much would that break ra¡¯s heart? Why did this kid have to draw such a short straw in life? Sexton heaved a deep sigh. ¡°She was a Richardson. After Yvette¡¯s ident, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to face Lucian. And as you all know, Jacob was never cut out for business; he was always into his research. Yvette was like a junior colleague from his Institute.¡± Sexton¡¯s face was filled with bitterness as he shook his head with several sighs. ¡°As old buddies, crawled out of the trenches only to shuffle back towards the grave, the man I least dare to face is Lucian!¡± Marcel frowned. ¡°The Richardson girl? Now that you mention it, ra does bear some resemnce to the girl in her younger days. Why the heck didn¡¯t you speak up about this before?¡± Sexton let out a wry smile. ¡°After Yvette left, Jacob always believed she was his wife, and I respected his decision. But with her gone, we couldn¡¯t very well knock on the Richardson¡¯s door asking for her hand in marriage, could we? Lucian would have my head! I was too ashamed to speak of it, so I kept quiet. Jacob¡¯s been carrying a heavy heart all these years. I¡¯m not afraid to admit it, even if it makes me the butt of your jokes. Just a few years ago, that boy was on the brink of going after Yvette before I stopped him and sent him off to Emerald County, hoping a change of scenery and some work would distract him. I can¡¯t let my gray hair oust his ck hair, can I? But the change did him good; he came back to life, and I was over the moon! Though Palmer¡¯s dad can be a bit of a fool, at least I¡¯ve got Palmer. Jacob¡¯s all alone, with nothing to his name, I dread the day he might leave this world before me.¡± Sexton wiped his face dry. ¡°The thought scared me! Last year, Jacob came back, talked my ear off at the hospital, even brought up Yvette, but he seemed alright, not upset, and I thought he¡¯d moved on, but little did I know¡­¡± Little did he know that it was then Jacob discovered ra¡¯s DNA could be a match with his in Emerald County! ¡°ra, my dear, I¡¯m not asking you to forgive Jacob, nor am I asking you toe home, but please¡­ don¡¯t hold it against him. His days have been hard too.¡± Silence fell upon the room for a moment. Marcel let out a heavy sigh. ¡°He¡¯s had it tough, but does that give him the right to mistreat our ra? Both Noe and ra are innocent. We, the Schnabels, never once thought of abandoning ra. Sexton, look at ra, such a fine young woman, the pride of our family! Even with his reasons, your son¡¯s gone too far. How could he deny such a wonderful child?¡± Sexton managed a bitter smile, ¡°He¡¯s afraid!¡± Suddenly, Noe spoke up, ¡°Grandpa Sexton, does Uncle Jacob suffer from depression?¡± Thest time Noe saw Jacob, she noticed he wasn¡¯t in the best of spirits, very much closed off inside. Sexton nodded. ¡°Yes, but he¡¯s been doing much better in thest couple of years. At least he¡¯s no longer seeking death or chasing after Yvette.¡± 11:53 Preya looked at Sexton, who seemed to have aged significantly, and send with rough time toof Jacob scares me, and I fear for Palmer being alone when I¡¯m gone. That¡¯s why I keep pushing him to may but the boy just won¡¯t listen Palmer chuckled, ¡°Grandpa, youe up with a different reason every time you bring up manage. How can I take you seriously? ra nced around at her gathered family, realizing that if it weren¡¯t for her situation, they wouldn¡¯t all be here together. She cleared her throat and spoke up confidently. ¡°Tve made up my mind! I¡¯ll acknowledge the Pocks, but i am ra Schnabel, always ra Schnabel, Grandpa Sexton will be an extra grandpa who adores me, so guess I¡¯m winning here! As for him¡­ I don¡¯t want to see him just yet, but I don¡¯t me him.¡± Sexton looked at ra, nodding relentlessly. ¡°Eh, you decide. It¡¯s all up to you. You stick with the name Schnabel, a fine name indeed! Marcel, I owe you thanks for raising such a granddaughter.¡± Marcel snorted, his face softening a bit. ¡°Of course she¡¯s wonderful, my granddaughters are the best! Just so you know, ra¡¯s only being kind. She¡¯s still a Schnabel through and through.¡± ¡°I know, and the Pocks will provide for ra whatever she needs. Whatever she chooses to do, both the Pock and Schnabel families will be her home!¡± Merrick muttered, ¡°How did this be your win? I was hoping ra might take on myst name one of these days, but you old coot got lucky¡± ra hugged Merrick¡¯s arm, ¡°Grandpa, I may have two paternal grandpas, but I only have one maternal grandpa like you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Freya coughed. ¡°In the future, maybe ra and Noe should just stay with us. The Schnabel family is quite Erowded, and our ce could use some liveliness¡± I Sexton chimed in, ¡°Sure thing, I could move in too, keep Noe and rapany.¡± Freya snapped, ¡°Have you no shame?¡± ¡°Why would I be ashamed? Marcel, you tell them Noe is going to be our granddaughter¨Cinw, and ra¡¯s our own flesh and blood. They¡¯ll be part of my family sooner orter, right?¡± ¡°Beat it! Getting too big for your britches, are ya? All these treasures belong to the Schnabel family, now scram!¡± Marcel could feel his blood boiling just looking at Sexton, cursing under his breath as he shooed him and Palmer out the door. ¡°I get sick just hearing the name Pock!¡± ¡°And the Schnabel¡¯s aren¡¯t any prize either! Except for Noe and ra, the rest of you are no¨C good troublemakers!¡± The Schnabel family pretended they didn¡¯t hear a thing. ra surreptitiously tugged at Noe¡¯s hand, shielding her face as she whispered, ¡°Noe, I need to get out for a bit. Come with me, will you?¡± ¡°Where to?¡± As ra pulled Noe into the car and buckled her seat belt, she exined, ¡°I want to check out the 11:54 Richardson family. Noe, you can drive, right?¡± can. Noe didn¡¯t hesitate, firing up the engine and driving a good distance before admitting. ¡°But I don¡¯t have a license. ra was struck silent. She should¡¯ve thought this through, maybe casually dragged one of their brothers along. Noells didn¡¯t have a license; what if something happened? ¡°Should we get Jasper toe? Should I call him?¡± Noe¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on the road ahead, her driving smooth, her eyes calm. ¡°You didn¡¯t want them to know, right? My driving is not bad, and I know where the Richardson family lives.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not safe. Should we take a cab?¡± Noe nced at a motorcycle parked on the roadside, tilting her chin up slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s take that. I have a motorcycle license.¡± Half an hourter, a sleek ck motorcycle pulled up outside the Richardson Manor,ing to a stop by the flower beds. ra had clung to Noe¡¯s waist the whole ride, the chilly wind calming her frazzled nerves. As they beheld the estate, ra¡¯s gaze grewplex. ¡°Is this the ce?¡± Was this the ce where her mother had lived? A gentle voice floated from inside the gate. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ms. Schnabel? What brings you to our doorstep? And who might this be?¡± Panor¡¯s front door swung inward with a creak of old hinges. roman, draped in an elegant, floor¨Clength evening gown and clutching a parasol, greeted them with a smile, her face exuding gentle calmness. Ma, Schnabel, since you¡¯vee all this way, why don¡¯t you and this youngdye in for a bit?¡± Nolls, gripping ra¡¯s hand, nodded towards the woman, ¡°Lavinia, this is my sister, ra.¡± Lavinia wasn¡¯t in the best of health, rarely venturing out of the Richardson family estate. This was her first encounter with ra. Her gaze settled on ra, taking in the girl looked vaguely familiar. poised figure standing before her. For some reason, Lavinia felt the She beamed, ¡°I¡¯ve heard tell of another formidable Ms. Schnabel, a researcher despite her tender years. The rumors clearly don¡¯t do you justice. Please,e in. The house tends to be quite empty, it¡¯s rare we have guests.¡± Apart from the buzz during Lucian¡¯s birthday, the vast estate remainedrgely deste. Noe led ra into the heart of the Richardson Manor. 2 2 2 2 F F 95 ¡°Then we¡¯ll be imposing on your hospitality, Lavinia.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it. It¡¯s my pleasure, truly.¡± Lavinia ushered Noe and ra across the manicuredwns of the garden, eventually reaching the drawing¨Croom where she invited them to sit. Her smile was especially warm, eyes shimmering, tinyugh lines adding character to her visage. ¡°Ladies, what would you fancy? I¡¯ll have some afternoon tea sent over.¡± ra found herself captivated by Lavinia¡¯s features, reminiscent of someone they both knew ¨C Sienna, perhaps. Both bore the mark of schrly breeding, an air of refined gentleness about them. Noe spoke up, ¡°Thank you. I have a fondness for honey cakes, and my sister here adores strawberry shortcake.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite partial to strawberry shortcake myself. I¡¯ll fetch some right away.¡± Watching Lavinia retreat, ra scooted her chair closer to Noe, the entire seat scraping along the floor. ¡°Noe, do you think she could be my mother?¡± ¡°The Richardson family only has the one daughter,¡± Noe said, having done her research on the way over. Lucian had but a son and a daughter, the former an ambassador hardly ever in Imperial City. ¡°And she does look quite a bit like you,¡± Noe added, almost understating the resemnce. From the moment sheid eyes on Lavinia, Noe felt an uncanny familiarity, an unforgettable blend of features and demeanor. The simrities to ra were striking! But ra, raised by the Schnabels, had a liveliness that Laviniacked. ra responded with her usual cool logic, ¡°Without DNA evidence, it¡¯s just a theory. I need data before I draw any conclusions.¡± Years of research had honed her mind to trust only in empirical evidence, emotions trailing far behind in The sound of coughing and the whir of an electric wheelchair approached, and Lucian, in the driver¡¯s sest, aped over to them. ra was taken aback. Returning with the afternoon tea, Lavinia scolded, ¡°Dad! How many times have I told you not to zoom around so fest indoors? Have you not seen the news about those old gentlemen getting hospitalized doing Just that?¡± Lucian waved her off. ¡°I¡¯m well past my sd days; I won¡¯t be drag racing. Besides, I was excited to see Noe here!¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware of your age, yet you act like a child. You never make it easy, do you?¡± easy.do Lucian covered his ears, feigning deafness, and navigated his wheelchair towards Noe. ¡°This is?¡± His eyesnded on ra and suddenly froze. ra met Lucian¡¯s gaze, one of shock and disbelief, and introduced herself confidently, ¡°Hello. I¡¯m ra, the daughter taken in by the Schnabel family.¡± As Lavinia arranged the cakes on the table, she chimed in with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Miss ra here. She¡¯s quite the researcher. I remember reading one of her published papers ¨C a very thoughtful piece!¡± Lucian¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity. A child taken in by the Schnabels? And so brilliant, too, an experimenter¡­ But it was her face, the spitting image of his daughter in her youth, though ra exuded more confidence, her short, smart haircut adding a touch of modern chic. ? ??? ? ?? ?? ??? ??? ? Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°So, Marcel raised you? And your birth parents, have you found them?¡± Lucian¡¯s voice trembled unknowingly. his fists clenched on hisp as he awaited ra¡¯s response. ra grinned. ¡°Just found them recently. Turns out my dad¡¯s my boss, and I¡¯m still getting used to that idea! As for my mom¡­ she¡¯s gone.¡± Lucian¡¯s grip on the wheelchair tightened, his voice eager, ¡°Whichb? Which number? Your boss, is his surname Pock?¡± ¡°How did you know? I work at Phoenix Lab, number three, under Jacob. But perhaps not for much longer.¡± Jacob! Lucian¡¯s hands fell away as he slumped back in his seat. ¡°Why might that change?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being transferred back to an Imperial Cityb. It¡¯ll be easier to visit home.¡± Lucian nodded, exhaling heavily. Watching Lucian¡¯s emotional reaction, Lavinia asked with surprise, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s gotten into you? Do you know Mr. Pock?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Could you fetch the photo album from my room? I¡¯d like to show these young women how dashing I was in my day.¡± Lavinia rolled her eyes. ¡°You always want to show off when we have guests. Fine, I¡¯ll get it.¡± As she left, Lucian¡¯s gaze returned to ra. ¡°It might be a bit forward of me to ask, but it¡¯s important. ra, could you share your life story with me?¡± Of course, ra sald, willing to share, Noe gently lifted her mug of coffee to her lips, taking a soothing sip as she sat beside ra in quietpanionship, With a voice as calm as the evening breeze, she recounted tales of her childhood antics, her hands. trembling ever so slightly. Thankfully, they were intertwined with Noe¡¯s steady ones. Having a sinter like Noe by her side was truly a blessing. As she spoke of her seamless academic and personal life, Lucian silently nodded in approval. The mention of being punished by Marcel for a misdeed caused Lucian to Inwardly curse Marcel for treating a young girl so harshly. So what if she had broken a few antique vases? They weren¡¯t worth a fortune! Hearing her speak of her brothers¡® kindness, Lucian blurted out without thinking, ¡°We¡¯ve got a couple of grandsons too, they¡¯re like brothers to you as well.¡± Catching ra¡¯s puzzled gaze, Lucian realized his slip and quickly waved his hand. ¡°Keep going, I¡¯m listening.¡± When ra mentioned Sienna and Tristan, Lucian let out a soft sigh. ¡°They¡¯re good parents, certainly better than the ones you started out with!¡± Lavinia came down with Lucian¡¯s old photo album, chuckling. ¡°Dad, what are you rambling on about?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing much. Come on, let¡¯s show the kids how dashing I was back in the day!¡± With a smile, Lavinia flipped through the album, sharing each memory with Noe and ra. One particr photo caught their attention a young Lavinia. In the picture, Lavinia, dressed in a white sundress, stood on the deck of a cruise ship, her hair elegantly coiffed to appear short from the front. ¡°Hey, doesn¡¯t this photo look a lot like Miss ra?¡± CHapter 182 CHapter 182 he cleared her throat and spoke up confidently. ¡°Tve made up my mind! I¡¯ll acknowledge the Pocks, but i am ra Schnabel, always ra Schnabel, Grandpa Sexton will be an extra grandpa who adores me, so guess I¡¯m winning here! As for him¡­ I don¡¯t want to see him just yet, but I don¡¯t me him.¡± Sexton looked at ra, nodding relentlessly. ¡°Eh, you decide. It¡¯s all up to you. You stick with the name Schnabel, a fine name indeed! Marcel, I owe you thanks for raising such a granddaughter.¡± Marcel snorted, his face softening a bit. ¡°Of course she¡¯s wonderful, my granddaughters are the best! Just so you know, ra¡¯s only being kind. She¡¯s still a Schnabel through and through.¡± ¡°I know, and the Pocks will provide for ra whatever she needs. Whatever she chooses to do, both the Pock and Schnabel families will be her home!¡± Merrick muttered, ¡°How did this be your win? I was hoping ra might take on myst name one of these days, but you old coot got lucky¡± ra hugged Merrick¡¯s arm, ¡°Grandpa, I may have two paternal grandpas, but I only have one maternal grandpa like you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Freya coughed. ¡°In the future, maybe ra and Noe should just stay with us. The Schnabel family is quite Erowded, and our ce could use some liveliness¡± I Sexton chimed in, ¡°Sure thing, I could move in too, keep Noe and rapany.¡± Freya snapped, ¡°Have you no shame?¡± ¡°Why would I be ashamed? Marcel, you tell them Noe is going to be our granddaughter¨Cinw, and ra¡¯s our own flesh and blood. They¡¯ll be part of my family sooner orter, right?¡± ¡°Beat it! Getting too big for your britches, are ya? All these treasures belong to the Schnabel family, now scram!¡± Marcel could feel his blood boiling just looking at Sexton, cursing under his breath as he shooed him and Palmer out the door. ¡°I get sick just hearing the name Pock!¡± ¡°And the Schnabel¡¯s aren¡¯t any prize either! Except for Noe and ra, the rest of you are no¨C good troublemakers!¡± The Schnabel family pretended they didn¡¯t hear a thing. ra surreptitiously tugged at Noe¡¯s hand, shielding her face as she whispered, ¡°Noe, I need to get out for a bit. Come with me, will you?¡± ¡°Where to?¡± As ra pulled Noe into the car and buckled her seat belt, she exined, ¡°I want to check out the 11:54 Richardson family. Noe, you can drive, right?¡± can. Noe didn¡¯t hesitate, firing up the engine and driving a good distance before admitting. ¡°But I don¡¯t have a license. ra was struck silent. She should¡¯ve thought this through, maybe casually dragged one of their brothers along. Noells didn¡¯t have a license; what if something happened? ¡°Should we get Jasper toe? Should I call him?¡± Noe¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on the road ahead, her driving smooth, her eyes calm. ¡°You didn¡¯t want them to know, right? My driving is not bad, and I know where the Richardson family lives.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not safe. Should we take a cab?¡± Noe nced at a motorcycle parked on the roadside, tilting her chin up slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s take that. I have a motorcycle license.¡± Half an hourter, a sleek ck motorcycle pulled up outside the Richardson Manor,ing to a stop by the flower beds. ra had clung to Noe¡¯s waist the whole ride, the chilly wind calming her frazzled nerves. As they beheld the estate, ra¡¯s gaze grewplex. ¡°Is this the ce?¡± Was this the ce where her mother had lived? A gentle voice floated from inside the gate. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ms. Schnabel? What brings you to our doorstep? And who might this be?¡± Panor¡¯s front door swung inward with a creak of old hinges. roman, draped in an elegant, floor¨Clength evening gown and clutching a parasol, greeted them with a smile, her face exuding gentle calmness. Ma, Schnabel, since you¡¯vee all this way, why don¡¯t you and this youngdye in for a bit?¡± Nolls, gripping ra¡¯s hand, nodded towards the woman, ¡°Lavinia, this is my sister, ra.¡± Lavinia wasn¡¯t in the best of health, rarely venturing out of the Richardson family estate. This was her first encounter with ra. Her gaze settled on ra, taking in the girl looked vaguely familiar. poised figure standing before her. For some reason, Lavinia felt the She beamed, ¡°I¡¯ve heard tell of another formidable Ms. Schnabel, a researcher despite her tender years. The rumors clearly don¡¯t do you justice. Please,e in. The house tends to be quite empty, it¡¯s rare we have guests.¡± Apart from the buzz during Lucian¡¯s birthday, the vast estate remainedrgely deste. Noe led ra into the heart of the Richardson Manor. 2 2 2 2 F F 95 ¡°Then we¡¯ll be imposing on your hospitality, Lavinia.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it. It¡¯s my pleasure, truly.¡± Lavinia ushered Noe and ra across the manicuredwns of the garden, eventually reaching the drawing¨Croom where she invited them to sit. Her smile was especially warm, eyes shimmering, tinyugh lines adding character to her visage. ¡°Ladies, what would you fancy? I¡¯ll have some afternoon tea sent over.¡± ra found herself captivated by Lavinia¡¯s features, reminiscent of someone they both knew ¨C Sienna, perhaps. Both bore the mark of schrly breeding, an air of refined gentleness about them. Noe spoke up, ¡°Thank you. I have a fondness for honey cakes, and my sister here adores strawberry shortcake.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite partial to strawberry shortcake myself. I¡¯ll fetch some right away.¡± Watching Lavinia retreat, ra scooted her chair closer to Noe, the entire seat scraping along the floor. ¡°Noe, do you think she could be my mother?¡± ¡°The Richardson family only has the one daughter,¡± Noe said, having done her research on the way over. Lucian had but a son and a daughter, the former an ambassador hardly ever in Imperial City. ¡°And she does look quite a bit like you,¡± Noe added, almost understating the resemnce. From the moment sheid eyes on Lavinia, Noe felt an uncanny familiarity, an unforgettable blend of features and demeanor. The simrities to ra were striking! But ra, raised by the Schnabels, had a liveliness that Laviniacked. ra responded with her usual cool logic, ¡°Without DNA evidence, it¡¯s just a theory. I need data before I draw any conclusions.¡± Years of research had honed her mind to trust only in empirical evidence, emotions trailing far behind in The sound of coughing and the whir of an electric wheelchair approached, and Lucian, in the driver¡¯s sest, aped over to them. ra was taken aback. Returning with the afternoon tea, Lavinia scolded, ¡°Dad! How many times have I told you not to zoom around so fest indoors? Have you not seen the news about those old gentlemen getting hospitalized doing Just that?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Lucian waved her off. ¡°I¡¯m well past my sd days; I won¡¯t be drag racing. Besides, I was excited to see Noe here!¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware of your age, yet you act like a child. You never make it easy, do you?¡± easy.do Lucian covered his ears, feigning deafness, and navigated his wheelchair towards Noe. ¡°This is?¡± His eyesnded on ra and suddenly froze. ra met Lucian¡¯s gaze, one of shock and disbelief, and introduced herself confidently, ¡°Hello. I¡¯m ra, the daughter taken in by the Schnabel family.¡± As Lavinia arranged the cakes on the table, she chimed in with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Miss ra here. She¡¯s quite the researcher. I remember reading one of her published papers ¨C a very thoughtful piece!¡± Lucian¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity. A child taken in by the Schnabels? And so brilliant, too, an experimenter¡­ But it was her face, the spitting image of his daughter in her youth, though ra exuded more confidence, her short, smart haircut adding a touch of modern chic. ? ??? ? ?? ?? ??? ??? ? ¡°So, Marcel raised you? And your birth parents, have you found them?¡± Lucian¡¯s voice trembled unknowingly. his fists clenched on hisp as he awaited ra¡¯s response. ra grinned. ¡°Just found them recently. Turns out my dad¡¯s my boss, and I¡¯m still getting used to that idea! As for my mom¡­ she¡¯s gone.¡± Lucian¡¯s grip on the wheelchair tightened, his voice eager, ¡°Whichb? Which number? Your boss, is his surname Pock?¡± ¡°How did you know? I work at Phoenix Lab, number three, under Jacob. But perhaps not for much longer.¡± Jacob! Lucian¡¯s hands fell away as he slumped back in his seat. ¡°Why might that change?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being transferred back to an Imperial Cityb. It¡¯ll be easier to visit home.¡± Lucian nodded, exhaling heavily. Watching Lucian¡¯s emotional reaction, Lavinia asked with surprise, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s gotten into you? Do you know Mr. Pock?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Could you fetch the photo album from my room? I¡¯d like to show these young women how dashing I was in my day.¡± Lavinia rolled her eyes. ¡°You always want to show off when we have guests. Fine, I¡¯ll get it.¡± As she left, Lucian¡¯s gaze returned to ra. ¡°It might be a bit forward of me to ask, but it¡¯s important. ra, could you share your life story with me?¡± Of course, ra sald, willing to share, Noe gently lifted her mug of coffee to her lips, taking a soothing sip as she sat beside ra in quietpanionship, With a voice as calm as the evening breeze, she recounted tales of her childhood antics, her hands. trembling ever so slightly. Thankfully, they were intertwined with Noe¡¯s steady ones. Having a sinter like Noe by her side was truly a blessing. As she spoke of her seamless academic and personal life, Lucian silently nodded in approval. The mention of being punished by Marcel for a misdeed caused Lucian to Inwardly curse Marcel for treating a young girl so harshly. So what if she had broken a few antique vases? They weren¡¯t worth a fortune! Hearing her speak of her brothers¡® kindness, Lucian blurted out without thinking, ¡°We¡¯ve got a couple of grandsons too, they¡¯re like brothers to you as well.¡± Catching ra¡¯s puzzled gaze, Lucian realized his slip and quickly waved his hand. ¡°Keep going, I¡¯m listening.¡± When ra mentioned Sienna and Tristan, Lucian let out a soft sigh. ¡°They¡¯re good parents, certainly better than the ones you started out with!¡± Lavinia came down with Lucian¡¯s old photo album, chuckling. ¡°Dad, what are you rambling on about?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing much. Come on, let¡¯s show the kids how dashing I was back in the day!¡± With a smile, Lavinia flipped through the album, sharing each memory with Noe and ra. One particr photo caught their attention a young Lavinia. In the picture, Lavinia, dressed in a white sundress, stood on the deck of a cruise ship, her hair elegantly coiffed to appear short from the front. ¡°Hey, doesn¡¯t this photo look a lot like Miss ra?¡± CHapter 183 CHapter 183 ra¡¯s gaze drifted from the photograph with a serene detachment. ¡°We do have a striking resemnce. We must share some serendipitous connection.¡± ¡°It¡¯s uncanny. I must say I¡¯ve taken quite a liking to Miss ra too!¡± Lucian observed the exchange silently, his eyes eventually drifting to the manor¡¯s verdant garden, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. Noe nced at Lavinia with a smile. ¡°Lavina, that hair clip of yours is gorgeous. May I take a look?¡± ¡°Of course, you can. I heard from Master Killian that you are studying jewelry design, right? This clip was crafted by a master jeweler; it¡¯s quite unique.¡± Noe carefully unfastened the hair clip from Lavinia¡¯s head, admired it for a moment, and then returned it. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My pleasure.¡± After a short while, Noe and ra got up to leave. Lucian quickly interjected, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? You¡¯ve only just arrived. Stay a little longer.¡± Noe answered politely, ¡°We were just passing by; we didn¡¯t mean to disturb you guys for so long. My sister and I still need to get home for dinner.¡± Lucian knew he had no right to ask them to stay but couldn¡¯t bear to see them go. ¡°ra, could I get your phone number? Maybe you could visit me sometime?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be working at a research institute in Imperial City soon. If I happen to drop by for a meal, you can¡¯t send me packing!¡± Thergest research institutes were conveniently located near the Richardson family estate, with Phoenix Lab¡¯s affiliatedbs close by. Joy spread across Lucian¡¯s face, smoothing out the wrinkles into a wide grin. ¡°Come by anytime, my dear. If anyone tries to shoo you away, they¡¯ll have me to answer to!¡± Stepping outside the estate, ra exhaled deeply. Noe swung a leg over her motorcycle and handed ra something. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Lavinia¡¯s hair.¡± Noe had snagged it while removing Lavinia¡¯s hair clip, enough for a DNA test. ¡°You said you trust DNA more, right? Lucian also sneakily put away the spoon you ra hadn¡¯t noticed that detail. She pped her forehead as if struck by a sudden revtion. ¡°Is there enough DNA on the spoon, or should I drop a few strands of my hair in there, just in case?¡± ¡°That should do it.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ra quickly pulled a few strands from her head, sealed them in a baggie, and said, ¡°Wait here, Noe!¡± She dashed back to the manor and, panting crouched in front of Lucian. ¡°This is for you. The spoon might not be enough!¡± Lucian blushed at being caught red¨Chanded. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± ¡°No worries. Call me with the results. Goodbye, Lucian!¡± Watching ra¡¯s hasty retreat, Lucian chuckled, holding the strands of hair in his hand. ¡°That girl¡¯s got spunk. I like her!¡± In the depths of the night at the Schnabel Manor in Serene Haven. Noe was on the video call with Yasbel. Yasbel sprawled on her bed, exuding an air of defeat. ¡°Boss! The old man¡¯s arriving in Imperial City tomorrow! We¡¯ve got to pick him up. Ugh, I¡¯m done for!¡± ¡°Is the Gemstone Gambling King invited by the Gruber family here?¡± Master Hector, the previous Gemstone Gambling King, had an impable reputation for his skill in valuing precious stones. His biggest pet peeve was anyone tarnishing his moniker with false ims and deceit! Yasbel scoffed. ¡°Thest Gemstone Gambling King¡¯s on a flight across the ocean, and the current one¡¯s right here. If it¡¯s about half¨Cbaked gem betting, no one beats me. Calling himself a king? More like a joke! The Gruber family¡¯s Walden sure knows how to stir up trouble. He¡¯s still oblivious to the lesson from hisst encounter with you and Mr. Pock. Tomorrow, he¡¯s hosting a public gemstone auction, and the Gruber family¡¯s turning a blind eye because of Gemstone Gambling King¡¯s title.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s Yvonne, her dad¡¯s just a glorified errand boy for the Gruber family. She thinks she¡¯s the heiress or something? Is Yvonne Gruber a cockroach or what?¡± Hearing this description, Noe lifted her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a nightmare. After Mr. Pock bought her gallery and gave it to you, she had the nerve to open a new music store right across from yours!¡± Yasbel was visibly irked. 10:56 Noe responded calm TKT Empying Party Program Vrit freds T ¡®Decent size, simr to your music store. It¡¯s not stocked with as many nos, but it¡¯s in a prime location.¡± Noe nodded, ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± Yasber¡¯s brain short¨Ccircuited. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Any objections?¡± ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ll handle acquiring¡­ wait, no, retrieving your music store.* The excitement in Yasbel¡¯s voice was palpable. Yvonne was still ying in the mud while their boss was making big moves. Their boss could even im Pris Star, so what was a music store to her? ¡°Yasbel, you¡¯ll pick up Master Hector tomorrow, and don¡¯t you dare skip out.¡± Yasbel, resigned to the imminent downgrade of his acting career, muttered, ¡°Got it!¡± After ending the call, Noe¡¯s gaze settled on the curtains dancing in the night breeze. Her voice was cool,ced with a faint hint of mockery. ¡°Since when does Mr. Pock need to scale balconies? Has the Pock Group fallen on such hard times that they can¡¯t even afford a door?¡± The doors on the balcony swung open from the outside, and Palmer stepped through, d in a robe. The silk garment hung open slightly at his chest, revealing the contours of his muscr torso and the hint of a six¨Cpack. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you, so I didn¡¯t knock.¡± ¡°Climbing through windows will wake me just the same.¡± As a hitwoman, Noe was always on edge. Whether it was someone knocking at the door or scaling the wall, she would snap to alertness in an instant, ready for anything. Palmer walked into Noe¡¯s room and leaned on her bed, looking down at her as she sat cross¨C legged on the mattress. She must have bathed not long ago; her body was cloaked in a light fragrance, and her hair, misty as a cloud, cascaded across the bed, alluring and captivating. There was a touch of hurt in Palmer¡¯s voice as he whispered, ¡°I just missed you. You haven¡¯t spoken to me since you got back from Lockhart Prison, and you didn¡¯t reply to my messages.* Noe looked up at Palmer. When did this man be so clingy? At most, he used to just watch her from his own room, and now he was climbing through 10:56 windows to see her! Meeting Palmer¡¯s intense and fervent gaze, Noe reluctantly spoke the truth 1 didn¡¯t have time to check my phone this afternoon, and it was toote to reply.¡± Were you over at Grandpa Lucian¡¯s?¡± He¡¯d seen her and ra ride off on the motorcycle and guessed she must have gone to see Lavinia ¡°Yeah. Our previous suspicions were mostly right. Lavinia doesn¡¯t remember anything, not your uncle, nor ra.¡± T¡¯ll tell Grandpa, is that okay?¡± ¡°By all means, but this is ra¡¯s business; you should ask her.¡± Palmer nodded. ¡°I will. But it¡¯ste now, I¡¯ll talk to her tomorrow.¡± He knows it¡¯ste? Then what was he doing in her room at this hour? Seeing Noe¡¯s usatory expression, Palmer gently tapped her nose, his voice indulgent. ¡°The Gruber family¡¯s gemstone auction is tomorrow. Will my fianc¨¦e apany me?¡± If she hadn¡¯t been ignoring his messages, and he hadn¡¯t been so desperate to see her, he wouldn¡¯t havee at this hour. It seemed that in her presence, the self¨Ccontrol he was so proud of was not quite sufficient. I The gemstone auction was an event Noe would have attended anyway. ¡°Fine, now you can leave. I need to sleep!* Palmer¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile, his voice enticing. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep with me, my fianc¨¦e?¡± CHapter 184 CHapter 184 Sleep with him? Noe nced up at Palmer, who was standing in front of her. Only a dim nightlight lit the room, casting a seductive glow around his features. His intense gaze sent a wave of nervousness through her. We live close by,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Yeah, but climbing through windows is exhausting.¡± Exhausting? Was it her fault he¡¯d decided to scale her balcony in the middle of the night? ¡°You promised to spend the day with me, remember, Noe?¡± She did forget their date because of her visit to see ra at Emerald County. She¡¯d indeed agreed to a whole day¡¯s outing with Palmer. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Noe replied calmly, ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°No can do. Tomorrow¡¯s the Gruber family¡¯s gemstone auction. That hardly counts as a date.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all the same.¡± How could it be the same? He wanted her all to himself, even if they just sat in silence. Just being able to see her was enough for him! ¡°No way, it¡¯s different. You can¡¯t take advantage of my affection by ying hard to get.¡± Palmer chuckled softly, so close that Noe felt his breath on her face. The man was a walking pheromone, his voice like a siren¡¯s call. Noe¡¯s cheeks med, and she subtly shifted back. ¡°Alright, fine.¡± Palmer leaned in closer, his voice husky. ¡°Can I kiss you?¡± Her heart raced, and her face burned hotter. The sound of a door opening and voices interrupted the intimate atmosphere. ¡°Noe, can I crash here tonight? I can¡¯t seem to fall asleep¡­¡± ra had pushed open Noe¡¯s bedroom door while speaking, flipping on the light to reveal a startling scene. Palmer was bending over Noe, dressed only in a robe that was far too revealing, and her darling sister was in a pink nightgown, looking as if they were about to lock lips. ¡°Sorry, just sleepwalking,¡± ra quickly shut the door, but a secondter, opened it again to turn off the light and leave. 10:57 Just a one¨Cminute sleepwalk, guys. Hurry up, or I¡¯ll call our brothers ra was torn Should she yell at Palmer to get lost? But Noe didn¡¯t seem to dislike him. And what it Noe had invited him over? With that possibility, ra¡¯s heart felt even more conflicted. Noe coughed softly. ¡°You better head back¡± Palmer¡¯s kissnded on her forehead. ¡°Goodnight. I¡¯ll pick you up in the morning¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Noe opened the door to find ra crouched down, poking at the carpet. ¡°ra,e on In.¡± ¡°Palmer¡¯s gone? Noe, what¡¯s the deal with you two?* Noe closed the door andy down beside ra. ra was serious andposed. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t be annoyed, I¡¯m just looking out for you! No matter what, you have to take care of yourself!¡± Noe was confused. What on earth was her sister talking about? Her face blushed crimson, and she flipped the covers over her head. ¡°ra, you¡¯ve got the wrong idea!¡± ra snickered. The next morning, Beckett shot an unfriendly re at Palmer as he joined them for breakfast. With ra¡¯s situation, Sexton had decided to move into the Schnabel Manor. The Pock family wasn¡¯trge, with the eldest daughter living abroad and seldom visiting, and the two sons rarely seen, Sexton was pretty lonely. When he suggested moving in, Marcel didn¡¯t object. Before this, Sexton preferred the hospital over his own home, essentially experiencing another form of loneliness. Besides, considering the spaciousness of the Schnabel Manor, there was certainly enough room to amodate Sexton. Beckett gritted his teeth. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m thinking of putting a fence under your room and getting a guard dog. How about that?¡± Tristan smacked him. ¡°Are you nuts? Why keep a guard dog indoors? There¡¯s a garden under Noe¡¯s room. Why fence it? To keep out what?¡°. ¡°To keep out thieves.¡± Beckett nced meaningfully at Palmer. Tristan pped him again. ¡°No taste, man. I designed Noe¡¯s garden. Fences would ruin 10:57 1. it. And what thief? You¡¯re the one who looks like a thief.¡°¡± Beckett dodged smoothly, his re at Palmer intensifying. ¡°Who knows when a ¡®thlef might show up.¡± Last night, Beckett had to deal with a business matter and upon returning, saw a figureing from Noe¡¯s room. At first, he thought it was a burr, but recognizing the face nearly sent him into a midnight rage! Palmer hade out of his sister¡¯s roomte at night ¨C definitely not with noble Intentions! ra coughed, looking at Sienna. ¡°Mom, I was sleeping with Noest night. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t hear you this morning.¡± Sienna was happy to see her daughters getting along so well. They were the treasures of the Schnabel family! Beckett¡¯s mood improved, and his re towards Palmer grew slightly more friendly. After breakfast, Noe and Palmer left the Schnabel¡¯s, heading towards the Gruber event. Palmer held Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°Your brother seems to have the wrong idea about me.¡± Noe looked up at him. ¡°He saw you leaving my roomst night.¡± Annie¡¯s eyes widened, and she floored the gas pedal, nearly speeding on the spot. Were the boss and Ms. Noe moving this fast? Annie perked up. ¡°Ms. Noe, where would you like to honeymoon? I¡¯ve prepared travel guides for lots of countries for you and Boss!¡± Noe paused for a moment, gauging Palmer¡¯s eager expression before speaking up, ¡°Ever thought about switching teams? I could offer you some time off if you join my team.¡± Annie¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Noe! But I can¡¯t leave my current job. My boss once saved my life. People from Abyssal Organization don¡¯t just walk away.¡± She was deeply moved! If she were just an ordinary employee, she would have jumped at the chance to work for Ms. Noe right away. But she owed her life to Palmer, who had saved her multiple times on the international battlefield. She had sworn to work for Abyssal Organization forever! ¡°I¡¯d love to work for you, Ms. Noe. The day Abyssal Organization falls under your Obelisk Organization, I¡¯ll switch sides in a heartbeat!¡± After all, if that happened, even their boss would belong to Ms. Noe, so it wouldn¡¯t really count as leaving the organization. Noe nodded in understanding. Those from Obelisk Organization were just as loyal, 10.57 bound by the same creed and trust forged in life¨Cand¨Cdeath struggles, ¡°Then I¡¯ll work on taking over Abyssal Organization.¡± Palmer chuckled. ¡°Why go through all that trouble? If you want something, I¡¯ll simply give it to you. If you marry me, everything I have bes yours.¡± Noe nced at him, her tone light. ¡°Maybe I should let Beckett invest in a Mastiff instead.¡± Palmer affectionately stroked Noe¡¯s cheek. ¡°You ungrateful little thing.¡± At the Gruber family estate, Walden had made extensive preparations for the gemstone auction. If he could make a ssh today, he¡¯d solidify his standing within the Gruber family for good! ¡°Walden, Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Pock will also be attending today. Do you think we should try to engage Ms. Schnabel in conversation?¡± Just the mention of Noe made Walden¡¯s face twinge with a faint pain, he still remembered how she had publicly humiliated himst time. Yet, despite that, this woman of noble stature was the apple of the eye for both the Horwich and the Schnabel families. For Walden to secure his inheritance within the Gruber family, he needed substantial backing, and the Schnabel family was a perfect ally! ¡°Walden, your sister Malvina Gruber¡¯s back today, too. She¡¯s always had a bit of an interest in Mr. Pock¡­¡± CHapter 185 CHapter 185 Walden¡¯s face lit up with a smile when he heard his secretary¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re telling me Malvina is into Mr. Pock? She¡¯s always been a tough cookie, always gets what she wants. If she sets her sights on seducing Mr. Pock, then Ms. Schnabel is as good as mine!¡± ¡°Even if Ms. Schnabel isn¡¯t smitten with you right now, she¡¯s bound to get a little green with envy seeing Malvina and Mr. Pock together. That¡¯s your chance to swoop in and win her over,¡± the secretary added with a conspiratorial wink. Walden¡¯s lips curled into a smug grin. ¡°You¡¯re damn right. I¡¯ll go find Malvina right now.¡± Around the corner, Yvonne clenched her teeth, eavesdropping on Walden and his secretary¡¯s scheming. The bitterness stung like lemon on a paper cut. Typical Walden, only ever looking out for himself. He never considered her part of the family. And he had the nerve to forget who helped him climb thedder to sess! Malvina, with her princessplex, always looking down her nose at everyone, Yvonne could barely stand the thought of her. That spoiled brat! How could a catch like Mr. Pock ever fall for her? Yvonne¡¯s face twisted with sour resentment. There was no way she was going to let Malvina have her way! But whether it was Malvina or Noe who ended up embarrassed tonight, Palmer was hers for the taking. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Malvina lounged by the entrance, dressed in a lc strapless gown that clung to her like a second skin. Her curled hair cascaded down her back, doll¨Clike in their perfection. ¡°Trouble¡¯s brewing, Sis;¡± a voice called out. ¡°Heard there¡¯s someone gunning for your spotlight tonight!¡± Malvina flicked a cherry pit from her lips and purred, ¡°What did you call me?¡± Yvonne gritted her teeth, begrudgingly correcting herself, ¡°Malvina¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s better. And remember, not every man is family.¡± Malvina scoffed with a roll of her eyes. This was understanding? Yvonne thought it was more like royal disdain. But in the Gruber family, Malvina was Arthur¡¯s little princess, untouchable. If she so much as frowned, Yvonne would be out on her ear. Yvonne¡¯s face grew red. ¡°I understand. Malvina, today Noe from the Schnabel family will also be in attendance. She¡¯s not someone to be underestimated. Seeing you looking so stunning and eye¨C catching, she will definitely try to steal your limelight. And I heard that 10-57 Mr. Pock will also being Malvina nced at Yvonne before her. ¡°What kind of idiot are you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You used to belong to the Schnabel family. Now, in my presence, you¡¯re badmouthing Ms. Schnabel. Are you trying to sow discord between me and her? I don¡¯t even know her, and this is the Gruber family¡¯s territory! Who dares to steal my spotlight?¡± Malvina wiggled her fair feet, and soon a nanny was crouching down to put on her diamond¨C studded high heels. ¡°Although you¡¯re an imbecile, since you¡¯ve mentioned it, I might as well go take a look myself.¡± Fuming but powerless, Yvonne followed Malvina, who nced back with disdain. ¡°Why are you so short? Didn¡¯t the Schnabels feed you? Oh, but of course, with your dad¡¯s genes, how could you be tall? Silly me.¡± Yvonne was livid! Did Malvina think everyone was as towering as a tree just like her? She was tall herself already, and she still liked to wear high heels! Malvina always looked down on her, but Yvonne could only seethe silently, humiliated to her core. Outside, a car pulled up smoothly, and Annie stepped out to open the door. Palmer emerged, hand in hand with Noe, both in ck formal attire. Noe¡¯s dress had a matching pattern to Palmer¡¯s tie, a picture of elegance. Noe wore a simple string of wless pearls, her neck long and porcin, resembling the neck of a vintage vase- mysterious and alluring. Yvonne¡¯s eyes narrowed with envy at the sight of Palmer and Noe¡¯s intertwined hands. Why did Palmer only have eyes for Noe? She knew him first, yet he wouldn¡¯t spare her a nce. It was so unfair! Malvina, too, was momentarily stunned. ¡°Is that Ms. Schnabel? What¡¯s her name again?¡± ¡°Noe Schnabel!¡± Yvonne could hardly contain her excitement, sure that Malvina would make a scene over Noe¡¯s stunning presence, Malvina patted her cheeks and approached brightly, her smile dazzling. ¡°Such a lovely name! I¡¯m Malvina. Care to make acquaintances? Your ne is divine, and your dress, oh so chic! How is your waist so tiny? I¡¯m green with envy! May I touch? Just for a second!¡± Noe was taken aback by such enthusiasm from a Gruber. 10:57 Why was this Gruberdy so different from the rest? Palmer frowned protectively, pulling Noe closer to him, and gave Malvina a warning look. ¡°Ms. Gruber! I¡¯d advise you to show some respect!¡± Malvina instantly bristled, hands on her hips as she red at Palmer. ¡°How am I being disrespectful? I was talking to Ms. Schnabel. What¡¯s it to you? You¡¯re the onecking manneis!¡± The air fell into an eerie silence. ¡°Malvina Gruber is a real piece of work, isn¡¯t he?¡± one of the guests whispered, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes. The audacity to publicly challenge Mr. Pock¡­ and all for Ms. Schnabel¡¯s attention! Even Yvonne was taken aback. Did Malvina not realize she was confronting none other than the CEO of the Pock Group? ¡°Malvina, this gentleman is Mr. Pock¡­¡± Yvonne attempted to intervene. ¡°So what if he¡¯s Mr. Pock? Does that give him the right to interrupt others? Let me ask you, how exactly am I being rude? I wasplimenting Ms. Schnabel, expressing my desire to befriend her. Is that any of your business? Ms. Schnabel is so beautiful; even I want to be her friend!¡± The room was stunned. Malvina was picking a fight with Mr. Pock just to befriend Ms. Schnabel? With a dramatic gesture, Malvina grabbed Noe by the arm. ¡°Noe, let¡¯s go. Even if he¡¯s your fianc¨¦, he can¡¯t dictate who you befriend!¡± Noe, facing Palmer¡¯s icy re, couldn¡¯t help but let out augh. ¡°Ms. Gruber, I¡¯d be delighted to make your acquaintance.¡± She stealthily reached out and gave Palmer¡¯s hand a reassuring squeeze to calm his nerves. Seeing Noe willing to engage with Malvina, Palmer didn¡¯t protest further. He took Noe¡¯s hand and led her toward the Gruber family¡¯s inner circle. He was only worried that Malvina, notoriously spoiled in their social circle, might inadvertently offend Noe. Yvonne watched the trio walk away, dumbfounded. How could it be that Malvina, the wildcat, didn¡¯t start a fight with Noe? It made no sense! Yvonne decided to stir the pot. ¡°Malvina, didn¡¯t you say you fancied Mr. Pock?¡± 10-571 Malvina nodded smugly. ¡°Yes, I like Mr. Pock. And I had dinner justst night with Sexton himself, and he¡¯s quite fond of me too! I¡¯m beloved by all. You ninny, step aside, you¡¯re too ugly, a real eyesore. I prefer thepany of the beautiful!¡± If only she had known how attractive Noe was, she would have paid a visit to the Schnabel family long ago, Malvina was self¨Cabsorbed to the core; she never bothered to watch Noe¡¯s birthday banquet live stream. Why would she care about someone else¡¯s celebration when she considered herself the only princess in her world? Yvonne¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°The Mr. Pock you¡¯re talking about¡­ you mean Grandpa Sexton?¡± ¡°Yes, what of it? Surely you don¡¯t think I¡¯m interested in this one?¡± Malvina scoffed, ncing at Palmer and quickly dismissing him. ¡°He¡¯s not my type, and I neverpete for men. It¡¯s beneath me!¡± She held her chin high, looking down on Yvonne with utter disdain, and with a swift motion, she delivered a stinging p across her face. The sound of the p echoed through the hall. ¡°You think I¡¯d be your pawn, to quarrel with dear Noe? Dream on! Look at yourself. You fool!¡± Chapter 186 Yvonne was on the verge of a meltdown, her face hidden behind her hands as tear after tear streamed down her cheeks. ¡°Malvina, how could you hit me? I swear I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I wasn¡¯t trying to stir up trouble!¡± ¡°Yeah, right!¡± Malvina massaged her wrist before pping Yvonne once again. ¡°Come on, tell her how she¡¯s supposed to talk to ady of my standing.¡± One of the Gruber family¡¯s servants stepped forward and dered, ¡°Being pped by Malvina is a privilege, Yvonne. You should be thanking her for even bothering with you.¡± Yvonne¡¯s face was aze with pain, her gaze turning to Noe, who had remained silent throughout the ordeal. Noe¡¯s expression was indifferent, and Yvonne suddenly felt like aplete fool in her presence. ¡°Noe, we¡¯re practically family. Please, ask Malvina to let me off this once,¡± Yvonne pleaded, her eyes locking onto Noe¡¯s. Convinced that with so many high¨Csociety guests watching, Noe would surely y the magnanimous card to leave a good impression, Noe had to speak up for her. Noe¡¯s voice was cool and detached. ¡°Have you forgotten what I told you outside the art gallery last time?¡± The mere memory of that public humiliation at the gallery had Yvonne¡¯s cheeks throbbing all over again. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, please, ask Malvina to spare me. I¡¯ll never cross you again, save me.¡± Noe was toying with her! It must be that Noe was jealous now that she had be the Gruber family¡¯s darling. It had to be envy! Noe looked away, her tone unchanging. ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t help.¡± Yvonne was dumbstruck. The country bumpkin dared to reject her? Was she not afraid of being seen as uncouth and heartless by the others? Noe wasn¡¯t giving Yvonne a second thought. Her little charades were just pathetic attempts to sow discord between her and Malvina, all to gain some advantage. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Amanding voice echoed from nearby as Walden approached, pushing an elderly man in a wheelchair. The old man, appearing frail and aged, was dressed in a silk robe embroidered with a thajestic ck dragen, exuding an air of authority. Yvonne¡¯s spirits lifted at the sight of Arthur. This was her chance to y the victim! Palmer, sensing the impending drama, wrapped his arm around Noe and stepped back. He whispered, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in for a show. My fianc¨¦e, getting to know what Ms. Gruber is really like is part of the package.¡± Noe, new to the Imperial City¡¯s elite, was unacquainted with the notorious Malvina. This was her first encounter with someone so brazen yet unsophisticated. Malvina¡¯s personality was bold, and somehow, Noe couldn¡¯t help but find it entertaining.. As Yvonne rushed over to Arthur, Malvina¡¯s foot jutted out, tripping her and sending her sprawling to the ground. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Malvina pped a hand over her mouth, feigning innocence. ¡°Yvonne, how could you be so mean to me? You even tried to hit me. Oh, dear! It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t me you. After all, you can¡¯t help it if you weren¡¯t taught our Gruber family ways. Your father was just an adopted child, after all.¡± Malvina pinched her waist, wincing in pain, and tears immediately began to flow. Yvonney on the ground, internally cursing Malvina. When had she ever hit Malvina? It was clear who the real victim was! ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s not like that, it¡¯s¡­¡± Malvina turned and clung to Noe, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Ms. Schnabel can vouch for me, Grandpa. Yvonne¡¯s just immature. I don¡¯t me her; she¡¯s clueless. I can forgive her for the sake of our family!¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze shifted to Noe. She nodded to him in greeting. ¡°Malvina is innocent.¡± With a sly wink at Noe, Malvina turned back and stealthily stepped on Yvonne, her stiletto heel digging in. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Yvonne burst into tears from the pain. ¡°Ow!¡± Malvina, disgusted, said, ¡°Yvonne, you really need to learn some manners. Sigh¡­ it pains me to see this. You can¡¯t just scream and shout like that, especially not here. But then again, I suppose it¡¯s natural for someone less fortunate¨Clooking to seek attention in such ways. I get it!¡± Yvonne was speechless. Was Malvina crazy? Noe¡¯s lips curled into a smile, her impression of Malvina deepening. Indeed, the Gruber family¡¯s youngdy was too hard to hatel After Malvina¡¯s disy, Arthur¡¯s frown softened, and he beckoned her over. ¡°Malvina knows best. I am so proud of you. Yvonne, on the other hand¡­ Go rest, and don¡¯te out until you can behave.¡± It was clear that he saw Yvonne as an embarrassment. Unable to protest, Yvonne¡¯s eyes filled with tears of indignation. ¡°Yes, Grandpa.¡± Supported by the servants, she limped back to her room, her eyes burning with resentment. Malvina whistled cheerfully at Yvonne¡¯s retreating figure, yfully tossing her hair. That¡¯s it? Trying topete with her? Way too easy. Walden¡¯s eyes were fixed on Noe, full of admiration. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I¡¯m so pleased you could join us today.¡± Noe faced Walden, her voice calm. ¡°Walden, out of the dog house so soon?¡± Walden¡¯s lips twitched as he clenched his teeth to rify. ¡°Ms. Schnabel might have gotten the wrong impression of me! The incident at your gallery wasn¡¯t my doing¨CI was framed!¡± ¡°You publicly picking a fight with me in front of the media was you being framed too? Walden, are you delusional? Or is it that you¡¯re possessed by some foul spirit?¡± Noe¡¯s distaste was palpable as she cast a disdainful nce at Walden, stepping back as if he were some kind of vermin. Palmer¡¯s arm steadied Noe, his brow furrowed. ¡°If the Gruber familycks such decorum, we would rather leave! From now on, the Pock family will have no part in the Gruber family¡¯s business affairs!¡± Walden¡¯s face turned a shade of green! What did they mean by that? What did it mean that the Pock family would have no part in the Gruber family¡¯s business affairs? Did Palmer remember how he had snatched away all of the Gruber family¡¯s deals in Imperial City justst month? All of them! Many of Walden¡¯s deals had been poached by Palmer, even those that the Pock Group didn¡¯t actually need, causing the Gruber family a substantial financial lossst month. The whole point of organizing the gemstone auction was to win back those lost clients. Once he became the helmsman of the Gruber family, he¡¯d see if they dared to look at him with such disdain! As Palmer seemed poised to leave with Noe, Arthur intervened. ¡°Mr. Pock, on behalf 374 of Walden, I offer you and Ms. Schnabel my apologies. Out of respect for me, Mr. Pock, would you please stay?¡± Palmer looked down at Noe in his arms, asking softly, ¡°Shall we stay?¡± Realization dawned on Arthur. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, my sincerest apologies. Please, in light of the longstanding friendship between the Grubers and the Schnabels, don¡¯t be upset.¡± With a light chuckle, Noe replied, ¡°Since Mr. Gruber insists, I¡¯ll stay and see how things unfold, But if the Gruber family is represented by a bastard, it¡¯s Mr. Gruber¡¯s reputation that¡¯s being tarnished.¡± Palmer forced a smile. ¡°Mr. Gruber, my fianc¨¦e has a delicate stomach; unsavory sights tend to upset her. Our apologies.¡± Malvina yawned. ¡°Noe, darling, feeling queasy? The stomach is a mirror of our moods;¨C difort is indeed distressing! Grandpa, let¡¯s prioritize our guests¡® needs today, shall we? CHapter 187 CHapter 187 Walden¡¯s face flushed a deep crimson, resembling an overcooked slice of liverwurst. The public humiliation was unbearable, all because of their envy of his exceptional talent. They feared he might indeed be the heir to the Gruber family, trampling the Pock and Schnabel names in the mud. Doubt gnawed at Walden. He couldn¡¯t risk betting on whether Arthur would side with Noe and Palmer and cast him aside. If he was barred from the gemstone auction, his footing within the Gruber family would crumble to dust! ¡°Grandpa, I pulled all the strings to make today¡¯s auction happen. Without me, it might all fall apart.¡± Hearing this, Noe said coolly, ¡°Palmer, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll inform my brother that the Schnabels needn¡¯t associate with the Grubers any longer.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Arthur clenched his teeth. ¡°Walden! Let your brother take the lead today, and you¡¯d better y second fiddle!¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± The bitterness was palpable. Walden had ved over the preparations, even securing the Gemstone Gambling King¡¯s presence. Why should all this benefit only his brother Yates Gruber? ¡°Have my words lost their weight?¡± Arthur challenged. With gritted teeth, Walden conceded, ¡°Yes!¡± Arthur¡¯s word wasw in the Gruber family. Even if Walden had yed his cards right to win a chance from Arthur, defiance was not an option. Malvina sprang to her feet and waved excitedly into the distance, ¡°Yates! Grandpa¡¯s asking for you to take over! He¡¯s really rolling out the red carpet for you!¡± Walden¡¯s heart bled as he watched Malvina¡¯s disy. ¡°Malvina, haven¡¯t you always wanted to meet Mr. Pock? Today¡¯s your chance¡­¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze fell on Malvina. If she could snag Palmer¡¯s attention, the Gruber¨CPock alliance could strengthen, paving the way to fully absorb the Schnabels. Palmer¡¯s engagement to the Schnabels was just one of many high¨Csociety unions. Ultimately, it was Palmer¡¯s call to make, and Arthur wasn¡¯t overly concerned. ¡°Oh? Malvina wants to get acquainted with Mr. Pock? Why didn¡¯t you tell me before?¡± Arthur feigned surprise. Malvina paused, then stered on a sugary smile. ¡°Now you know, Grandpa. Not only have I met Mr. Pock, but I¡¯ve also made friends with his fianc¨¦el¡± She turned to Noe, grasping her hand. ¡°Noe and I are already pals!¡± Meeting her pleading gaze, Noe sensed the tremors in Malvina¡¯s grip. Fear doesn¡¯t lie; Malvina was terrified. It seemed even she wasn¡¯t entirely at ease around the formidable Arthur. Noe nodded. ¡°Malvina is¡­ interesting.¡± ¡°Aww, Noe!¡± Malvina looked at her touchingly. Arthur¡¯s stern eyes scrutinized the bond between Malvina and Noe, weighing the odds of Malvina making a y for Palmer. *Heh, if Malvina and Ms. Schnabel are such good friends, then spend today with Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Pock. Don¡¯t embarrass the Gruber name.¡± ¡°Will do, Grandpa!¡± Arthur¡¯s nce wasden with a silent threat that made Malvina stiffen. As Walden wheeled Arthur away, he shot Noe a venomous look.. How could Ms. Schnabel be blind to his earnestness, favoring Palmer¡¯s pretty¨Cboy charm over him? Watching their retreating silhouettes, Malvina exhaled in relief. Noe¡¯s voice breezed in, ¡°You fear your grandfather.¡± Malvina replied with a bitter smile, ¡°Honey, you¡¯re better off not knowing why I¡¯m scared of him. He¡¯s a real monster! His asking me to stick with you probably means he wants me to seduce Mr. Pock, but rx, I¡¯ve got zero interest in him, I just need to hang around you, or else¡­¡± Malvina¡¯s candor was evident. She shuddered, unwilling to recall what Arthur¡¯s punishments entailed for disobedience. ¡°Please, let me be with you guys. I swear I won¡¯t go after Mr. Pock, at most, maybe just you!¡± Noe was speechless. Palmer¡¯s face hardened, and he reached for Noe¡¯s hand, saying coldly, ¡°Malvina, you should keep your distance from Noe.¡± ¡°If I distance myself from her, I¡¯ll just end up closer to you. Even if you won¡¯t be annoyed by that, I will be disgusted! Sweet Noe, let me stick by your side! Pretty please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± Malvina batted her eyshes at Noe, pleading adorably. 10.54 Noe was somewhat familiar with Arthur¡¯s tactics. The Gruber empire was built on shady dealings, branching off from the Richardson legacy to dabble in the underworld. Arthur¡¯s attire hinted at ties with the Shadow Dragon Society, an organization never associated with thewful. The Gruber family¡¯s business dealings had always skirted the edges of the criminal world. ¡°I¡¯d like to know something about the Gruber family.¡± Malvina breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Sure thing, I¡¯ll tell you whatever you want to know.¡± All that mattered was that Noe would allow her to stick around. Otherwise, once they left, Arthur would surely have her hide! Malvina led them through the venue, holding Noe¡¯s hand, whispering exnations. ¡°I did say I was interested in Mr. Pock before, but that was out of necessity. It was because my granddad wanted to set me up in a marriage of convenience with one of his business associates.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°You don¡¯t like that guy?¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? That guy is uglier than Walden! The first time I saw him, I thought he was a gender¨Cbent version of Yvonne. So hideous I couldn¡¯t sleep for three days!¡± Noe got it. Malvina was attracted to good¨Clooking folks. Her unfriendliness toward Yvonne and Walden was mostly because they weren¡¯t easy on the eyes. Quite a straightforward reason! ¡°Mr. Pock, though, he¡¯s got status, money, and most importantly, he ignores me! He never replies to my messages. Grandpa Sexton was pretty chill when I went to see himst time, so I got to report back without a hitch!¡± Noe was surprised. ¡°You went to see Grandpa Sexton just to report back?¡± ¡°Yeah, I swear, I¡¯ve got zero interest in your man! If I¡¯m lying, may I break out with e so bad that I can¡¯t show my face outside!¡± Just the thought of that scenario was almost enough to make Malvina cry. Noe chuckled softly. She could tell Malvina was serious, and her attitude toward Palmer didn¡¯t seem like she had any real designs on him. ¡°I believe you.¡± ¡°Thanks a million, Noe, darling! You guys wait here for a sec; I¡¯ll go up front and smooth things over!¡± Malvina lifted her skirt and hurried off toward the front of the venue. Palmer slung an arm around Noe¡¯s waist, drawing her close into his embrace. His forehead touched Noe¡¯s, his voice muffled. ¡°So, you don¡¯t care about it at all?¡± 10.54 Palmer didn¡¯t want Noelle to be swayed by some random woman, but his heart sank when he saw Noe discussing him with Malviha without any algn of jealousy or emotion. Noe looked Into Palmer¡¯s deep eyes. ¡°But she¡¯s not interested in you,¡± That¡¯s not the point.¡± Noe didn¡¯t understand. If that wasn¡¯t the paint, what was? Palmer sighed softly, still holding Noe close. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯m overthinking it. It¡¯s normal for you not to care too much, especially since it¡¯s all been one¨Csided on my part.¡± Noe¡¯sshes cast a shadow as she instinctively wanted to rify that it wasn¡¯t what she meant. Suddenly, the table beside them shook. The tablecloth was lifted, and there was Yasbel with a piece of cake in her mouth and Master Hector beside her, both looking eagerly at Noe and Palmer. ¡°Haha, Boss, what a coincidence! Don¡¯t mind us, carry on, carry on¡­¡± CHapter 188 CHapter 188 There they were, thest Gemstone Gambling King and Queen of Film, TV, Music, huddled beneath a small table, their mouths filled with creamy cheesecake, and each hand securely grasping a slice. Yasbel chuckled. ¡°Boss, you two just carry on. Don¡¯t mind us.¡± Noe pressed a hand to her temple. ¡°What are you doing down there?¡± Yasbel was quick with a defense. ¡°I went to pick up Master, didn¡¯t I? After hours on a ne, he was famished. But, you know, being a public figure, I can¡¯t just pig out without it. hitting the gossip columns!¡± She still seethed at the memory of a headline: [Heartbroken Starlet Devours Cheesecake. in Midnight Binge]. As if! Her cravings had nothing to do with a broken heart. Master Hector and Yasbel shared a love for cheesecake that bordered on the religious. With a stretch of his arm, Master Hector called out, ¡°Noe, help me up, would you? My legs are numb from squatting.¡± Noe helped them up, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. Master Hector shook out the pins¨Cand¨Cneedles from his legs and nced at Palmer. ¡°Not bad. Where did you con this one from?¡± Noe replied with dry humor, ¡°Picked him up off the street.¡± ¡°Well done. He¡¯s a gem. Better than thest one, for sure. I¡¯m off to grab something else to eat. Carry on, you two.¡± Master Hector had a penchant for describing people with terms borrowed from his days of stone gambling. Noe was used to it by now. To be described as a ¡®gem¡® by him meant you were a cut above the rest, wless and of the finest grade. As Master Hector and Yasbel scurried off to the next table, Noe sighed softly. Palmer leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. ¡°Thest one?¡± The idea that his fianc¨¦e might have once ¡®picked up¡® another man was a sour note in his heart. The more he got to know Noe, the more she seemed like a treasure trove of surprises, an extraordinary woman whose past he had yet to explore. ¡°He¡¯s talking about someone unimportant. Just a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Do I count as important?¡± Noe nced at him, a knowing twinkle in her eye. ¡°Master Hector said it, didn¡¯t he? A In the world of gemstone gambling, men would go bankrupt for a stone with the just¨Cright water content. If Noe were a gambler, then Palmer was the prize find. It took a moment for Palmer to realize she wasplimenting him. Noe dug into her purse and handed him a sleek men¡¯s watch. ¡°I¡¯ve adjusted it. If your don¡¯t like it¡­ ¡°I love it! Anything from you is a treasure.¡± She had tweaked his watch on their way back from Emerald County, a reciprocation of the watch he had gifted her. ¡°Thanks, my fianc¨¦e.¡± Noe nced at Palmer¡¯s wrist, unable to ignore the fact that he consistently wore the cufflinks she had given him during their time at Fortress Hospital. To the uninitiated, it would seem as though the CEO of the Pock Group had but a single pair of cufflinks to his name. Noe met his shining gaze and helped him put on the watch. Malvina popped up out of nowhere. ¡°Noe, darling, I¡¯ve found us the perfect spot.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a couple of friends with me. Is that okay?¡± Noe gestured toward Hector and Yasbel, now emerging from theirtest table hideaway. Malvina¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t that a sight? If they¡¯re friends of my Noe, they¡¯re wee. Though, they do look vaguely familiar.¡± Despite being an avid movie¨Cgoer, Malvina couldn¡¯t quite ce the face of Yasbel, who was a far cry from herrger¨Cthan¨Clife screen persona. The Gruber family¡¯s gemstone auction was a ma for guests, most drawn by the allure of the Gemstone Gambling King¡¯s reputation. ording to the rules of the game, any rough stone of interest could be auctioned on the spot. But since this was the Gruber family¡¯s event, any quality jade unearthed would likely end up in the Grubers¡® coffers. Malvina patted her chest. ¡°This spot¡¯s got the best view. If you see a stone you like, Noe, darling, I¡¯ll buy it for you!¡± Master Hector snorted. ¡°What good cane from the Gruber family¡¯s stones?¡± Yasbel, still indulging in cheesecake, agreed. ¡°Haven¡¯t spotted anything worthwhile.¡± Noe merely nced up. ¡°There are a few, but not many.¡± Indeed, of the multitude of rough stones disyed by the Gruber family, only a few caught 10:55 her discerning eye, and even those were of the sort that wouldn¡¯t fetch much on the open market. After a dainty wipe of her mouth, Yasbel spoke with earnest. ¡°Malvina, your cheesecakes are divine. Might I take some home?¡± You¡¯ve got taste! I¡¯ll have some packed for you!¡± Pelmer, sitting beside Noe, whispered, ¡°You know about gemstone gambling?¡± ¡°Not really. Just guessing. I¡¯ve been lucky, that¡¯s all.¡± To most, gemstone gambling was a matter of chance, but Noe sat with Master Hector, the Gemstone Gambling King, and Yasbel, who called Hector ¡®Master¡® He narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Yasbel and that person with you before, they look quite alike.¡± He remembered the faces of those who assisted Noe back at Fortress Hospital, one of whom bore a strong resemnce to Yasbel. Noe¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Nn and Yasbel are twins.¡± In that case, Yasbel must have belonged to Pris Star too. On stage, Yates Gruber, the Gruber family¡¯s eldest, stood in his impable suit, his smile reaching out to the crowd. The night was young, and the game was just beginning. Malvina whispered, ¡°Yates is no good.¡± Yasbel¡¯s smirk twitched. ¡°Aren¡¯t you biologically rted?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Who threw their own brother under the bus like that? Malvina just shrugged, unconcerned. ¡°Yeah, so what if he¡¯s my brother? Am I not supposed to state a fact? Walden may be as dumb as a bag of hammers, and Yates, he¡¯s got a heart like a slot machine¨Ctakes a lot, gives little. Noe, honey, if Yateses chatting you upter, just ignore him, okay?¡± There was a hint of something more behind Malvina¡¯s words. Noe nodded in understanding. ¡°Got it, thanks.¡± Yates scanned the crowd below the stage, his gaze finally resting on Noe. He shot Palmer a warning look before turning away. ¡°Thank you all for joining the Gruber family¡¯s gemstone auction. Without further ado, let¡¯s wee the Gemstone Gambling King!¡± The title of Gemstone Gambling King was so illustrious that even Malvina perked up to see who was on stage. 10:55 tion the two people hext to Noe were the so¨Ccalled Gemstone Gambling King let out a ¡°heh Hector snorted. ¡°Some joker trying to step into my shoes. nothing A middle aged man with a pencil mustache slowly appeared on stage, making Master Hector¡¯s lip curl in disdain. ¡°Ugly as sin, and he dares to gamble on stones? Might scare the rocks into dust¡± Yates pped his hands. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the man of the hour, the legendary Gemstone Gambling King, Mr. Gary! The Gruber family hopes to witness the miracle of stone gambling with you all today. In addition to the rough stones handpicked by Gary for live cutting, we invite everyone to choose their own stones. Any treasures you find are yours to keep, and the duds, well, they¡¯re on us!¡± Yasbel sneered. ¡°Sounds generous, but it¡¯s just a show for the greenhorns. There aren¡¯t many real gems in this pile ¡± The Gruber family wasn¡¯t known for making losing bets Yates¡¯s gaze settled on Noe ¡°Ms Schnabel, care to try your luck with a couple of rough stones? CHapter 189 CHapter 189 Seeing Noe¡¯s silence, Yates continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Schnabel. Even if we end up with a lemon or a wildflower, it¡¯s not all bad. Think of it as a stroke of good luck.¡± As Yates shifted the spotlight onto Noe, all eyes in the room followed suit. Noe lifted her head slightly, the ck evening gown and pearl ne setting her apart with an air of untouchable mystique. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°It¡¯s all junk. I¡¯m not interested,¡± Noe said dismissively. The rough stonesid out by the Gruber family were clearly mediocre at best, judging from the surface mottling; they were likely to yield nothing more than low¨Cgrade gems. Noe¡¯s blunt remark didn¡¯t sit well with the self¨Cproimed Gemstone Gambling King. ¡°Who is this youngdy? Shecks manners. Perhaps she shouldn¡¯t embarrass herself in public.¡± Noe didn¡¯t even bother to look up. ¡°I said everything here is junk, and that includes you.¡± Both Noe and Master Hector weren¡¯t the types to let anyone unt the Gemstone Gambling King title in the Imperial City and get away with it. Gary lost his temper on the spot! ¡°You dare say there¡¯s no good stock here? I was in the gem business before you were even born!¡± Amanding voice suddenly cut through the tension. ¡°The Grubers are bold, aren¡¯t they? To doubt Ms. Schnabel of the Schnabel family, when they¡¯ve just hired some greenhorn? Impressive.¡± Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, Lucian, seated in a wheelchair, was pushed in by Lavinia, joining Noe¡¯s side. ¡°And who might you be?¡± Gary frowned. Lucian didn¡¯t bother to respond, not even lifting his eyelids. The atmosphere was charged, but Arthur rose from the front and chuckled. ¡°Lucian, why didn¡¯t you let me know you wereing?¡± The Gruber family had risen to prominence with the support of the Richardsons. Even if Arthur held little respect for Lucian¡¯s ways, he had to greet him with due deference. Lucian nced around. ¡°This youngdy is under my protection. Anyone who dares to speak ill of her should think twice before stepping foot in the Imperial City again. Since you im to be the Gemstone Gambling King, prove it¨Ccut open a couple of those stones and let¡¯s see if they¡¯re royal or just reptiles!¡± 10 55 chardson family¡¯s influence contradict Lucien publicly. world wignificant and With a smile, Arthur gestured to the stage. ¡°Start cutting¡± Seeing Arthur¡¯s cautious demeanor in front of Lucian, Gary didn¡¯t dare say another word He selected two pieces of rough stone and began to cut them in front of everyone. Palmer whispered, ¡°Did he pick the good stuff?¡± ¡°Trash,¡± Noe retorted without hesitation. Gary was extremely careful, daring only to cut along a fine line. Someone in the crowd eximed, ¡°There¡¯s green!¡± Yates and Arthur breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the green jadeite on the stage. Gary, smug, looked down at Noe. ¡°Ms. Schnabel called these junk. Does this luster look like trash to you?¡± Noe frowned slightly, shaking her head in distaste. ¡°Like I said, just like your character, it¡¯s all trash.¡± The exterior of Gary¡¯s stone was a facade, a quick rub would reveal that only the surfaceyer was green¨Cthe rest was worthless ¡°A deeper cut will reveal the truth. A thinyer like that? Who are you trying to fool?¡± The Grubers had spent a fortune on these stones, hoping to make a statement today. If even one turned out to be valuable, it would be a windfall ¡°Cut again,¡± Arthurmanded. Gary, gritting his teeth, was convinced Noe was just a cluelessdy looking to stir trouble ¡°If this stone turns out to be of high quality, Ms. Schnabel owes me an apology¡± A scoff suddenly echoed through the room as a middle¨Caged man in a hoodie rose slowly from behind Noe. ¡°She said it¡¯s all junk, so it¡¯s all junk¡± Everyone present was a gambler, and there wasn¡¯t a soul who didn¡¯t recognize the man. The grandmaster of gem gambling from Harmonia Country, Master Hector! Arthur, his face twitching, quickly stood to greet him. ¡°Master Hector, it¡¯s been too long.¡± Hector rolled his eyes, unimpressed. ¡°Too long, and yet you¡¯re here peddling fakes, Arthur. You really have no shame!¡± To be publicly humiliated by Hector was too much for Arthur to bear. ¡°You, on the stage! You heard her¨Ccut again! Let¡¯s all see the trash you¡¯ve chosen? Palmer suddenly spoke up, ¡°Mr. Gary, you¡¯ve offended my fianc¨¦e. That¡¯s something I won¡¯t forget. Gary hadn¡¯t expected his charade as the Gemstone Gambling King toe crashing. down at the Gruber family¡¯s event, especially not in front of the real deal! His hands shook as he continued to cut the stone, revealing nothing but a worthless chunk of opaque white. Arthur clenched his jaw. ¡°Another one!¡± The quality stones at the event were scarce, and Gary¡¯s subsequent cuts yielded nothing more than a small piece of ice jade. Noe yawned. ¡°This is dull. A fake will always be just that¨Ca fake.¡± With Hector present, Gary could no longer im to be the Gemstone Gambling King without appearing disrespectful. Arthur shot a furious look at Walden by his side, his rage almost spilling out of the screen. Walden was on the verge of a breakdown. The so¨Ccalled Gemstone Gambling King that he¡¯d shelled out a small fortune for turned out to be a fake? His standing in the Gruber family was as good as toast! Gary choked up as he started to defend himself. ¡°Look, the reason I can¡¯t crack a decent gem from this rough is because your supplies are subpar. Nobody here could do any better with this stuff! It¡¯s just my bad luck, that¡¯s all! Even if Master Hector tried, he¡¯de up empty¨Chanded!¡± Hector let out a derisive snort. ¡°Luck? You tter yourself thinking I¡¯d even bother. Noe, show them what real luck looks like.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Of course, Noe¡¯s stone¨Ccutting wasn¡¯t about luck at all. But Gary felt a wave of relief when he saw Noe stand up. She looked clueless about the whole gem gambling business. As long as she couldn¡¯t produce anything remarkable, he¡¯d have an excuse to wriggle out of this mess. Yates watched Noe with barely concealed admiration and a touch of distasteful greed. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, please, even if you don¡¯t unveil a gemstone today, the Gruber family will cover today¡¯s losses. We¡¯d be honored to simply make your acquaintance.¡± Palmer stood up and moved beside Noe, his gaze heavy with a tangible threat. ¡°Even if you¡¯re no longer interested in the business at hand, you should still take into consideration the other members of the Gruber family.¡± 10:55 Pates looked at Palmer, shrugged with a smile, trying to meak the involunta Palmer was Indeed Intimidating, but the thought of Noe¡¯s backing from the entire Schnabel family was too tempting for Yates to resist. Noe bent down and casually picked up a nondescript piece of rough. ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one.¡± CHapter 190 CHapter 190 Noe¡¯s choice didn¡¯t seem out of the ordinary. It was just a piece of stone Gary had discarded earlier, nothing noteworthy at first nce. Gary let out a sigh of relief, hisugh tinged with contempt. ¡°I thought you picked something special, but just like what you said earlier, this stone is just junk.¡± It was one he had overlooked. Noe gently wiped the stone in her hand and weighed it thoughtfully. ¡°Your failure to find treasure is your own shoring. If I seed, it¡¯s simply good luck.¡± Gary, still hoping to ride on the coattails of his moniker ¡°Gemstone Gambling King,¡± saw Noe¡¯s novice demeanor and hatched a n. He had studied all the raw stones before the game, convinced that this particr rock harbored nothing of value, not even a mediocre peony jade. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, if you fail, you owe me an apology!¡± Noe met Gary¡¯s gaze with disdain. ¡°You, the self¨Cproimed Gemstone Gambling King, fail to find anything of worth and expect an apology from a novice like me?¡± Yasbel chimed in with mockery. ¡°It¡¯sughable. The Gemstone Gambling Kinges up empty and demands an apology from Ms. Schnabel. How childish. You should just go home to your mommy.¡± Gary¡¯s face tightened, but he was certain Noe¡¯s stone was junk. ¡°If Ms. Schnabel¡¯s piece turns out to be something, I¡¯ll never gamble on stones again!¡± Noe shook her head lightly. ¡°No, you¡¯ll have to admit you¡¯re a fraud. ording to the Northstone Quarry tradition, you¡¯ll have to leave a hand behind.¡± There had been impostors iming to be the Gemstone Gambling King in the past, and losing a hand was getting off easy. Gary shuddered under Arthur¡¯s menacing look. ¡°Fine! I agree!¡± After all, he was sure the girl¡¯s stone was worthless. Yates offered his assistance with a smile. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, need a hand?¡± Noe didn¡¯t even nce at him, instead passing the stone to Palmer, ¡°Help me out. I¡¯ll guide you on where to cut. ¡°Happy to assist my fianc¨¦e.¡± Noe, dressed in a form¨Cfitting strapless gown, found it impractical to bend over the cutting machine. After handing the stone to Palmer, she didn¡¯t miss the joy twinkling in his eyes. 10:55 Just a small favor and he¡¯s this ted? His happiness seemed all too easy to achieve. Perhaps sensing Palmer¡¯s delight, Noe allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Below, Yasbel shuddered. ¡°It¡¯s still a bit unsettling to see our boss smile.¡± Hector whispered, ¡°Noe and this guy seem well¨Cmatched. What¡¯s his line of work? Looks like a businessman, and he¡¯s down¨Cto¨Cearth. Not bad at all.¡± Palmer positioned Noe¡¯s chosen stone on the cutting machine. ¡°Just cut anywhere along this line.¡± After securing the stone, he removed his suit jacket and draped it over Noe, saying considerately, ¡°It¡¯s going to get dusty. Wait for me over there.¡± Her gown was stunning, and it would be a shame if it were marred by the dust from the cutting. Noe¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly and she stepped back as instructed. Malvina and Yasbel shivered in mock jealousy. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Never thought Mr. Pock would be so tender with Noe. But it¡¯s only right. If I had a fianc¨¦e that beautiful, I¡¯d spoil her rotten too.¡± Yasbel¡¯s brain went numb for a moment. ¡°Wait, you want a fianc¨¦e too?¡± Malvina was speechless. Gary craned his neck to get a better view of the stone under Palmer¡¯s hands. The hum of the cutting machine echoed in the hall, Palmer¡¯s hands steady, betraying no sign this was his first time cutting stone. When the grinding wheel stopped, everyone held their breath. Yates couldn¡¯t believe his eyes as he stared at the freshly cut surface, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s ssy Type!* Gary was the most shocked; how could there be ssy Type in this batch of stones? He had carefully checked each one; all the likely ones had been cut open. How could Noe¡¯s random pick yield ssy Type? The exposed surface revealed a vibrant green, translucent and bright, without a single w. Noe sprinkled some water on it, downying her sess. ¡°Not bad, ssy Type, but not the best.¡± This was already the best piece from the batch, and finding such quality ssy Type was a stroke of luck for the Gruber family. But now it was Noe¡¯s luck that shone! 10:55 to the bfounded Yates, her eyebrows raised. ¡°Yates, this ssy Type das for the Gemstone Gambling King¡­ remember our bett Gary copsed to the ground, his face ashen, speechless. ssy Type, this naive girl had unearthed ssy Type while he had found nothing. The Gruber family would never forgive him! Yates knew that relying on the Gemstone Gambling King was futile now. He waved his hand, directing someone to take Gary away, then turned to the crowd with a grin. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I truly apologize. The Gruber family was deceived by Gary as well. Ms. Schnabel, you¡¯re incredibly lucky, and I respect that.¡± Someone from the audience raised a sign. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, are you selling that ssy Type? I love the color! Name your price?¡± Noe wasn¡¯t short on emerald, and to her, this ssy Type wasn¡¯t particrly precious. She turned to Palmer, meeting his gaze. He was impably dressed in a ck shirt, now dusted with the residue from the stone. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Whatever emerald my fianc¨¦e picks out, I¡¯m all for it.¡± To Palmer, the quality of the emerald wasn¡¯t the issue; the fact that she chose it was what mattered. It was also the first time she had reached out to him for help. Could this mean that, at the very least, his fianc¨¦e was trying to ept him in her own way? ¡°Then it¡¯s yours. After it¡¯s cut, it¡¯ll make a fine set of cufflinks.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Noe turned to the audience with a nonchnt air. ¡°Sorry, folks, this gem is a gift for someone.¡± The paddles in the crowd were swiftly withdrawn. Who would dare topete with Palmer for an emerald? Never mind that spending money was no object in Mr. Pock¡¯s eyes, who would dare outbid the CEO of the Pock Group? Just by Mr. Pock¡¯s demeanor, even if Ms. Schnabel had offered a in rock, he would have treasured it like a rare gem! Arthur¡¯s smile was brimming as he addressed Master Hector. ¡°Since Master Hector graces us with his presence, why not show us a trick or two?¡± Hector snorted dismissively. ¡°Show off in your venue and give you the honor? I¡¯ll be at the Schnabel¡¯s tomorrow showing my skill. You cane if you want! Noe, how about it?¡± ¡°Of course, we would be honored to have you at the Schnabel estate,¡± Noe responded 10.55 with a supportive tone. If Beckett knew that Hector was nning to cut a stone at the Schnabel estate, he¡¯d probably be grinning from ear to ear. After all, Hector¡¯s hands had never cut anything less than extraordinary! Master Hector cutting a stone at the Schnabel¡¯s? Was he nning to take the helm there? The crowd was abuzz with their own schemes. It seemed today¡¯s gemstone auction at the Gruber family was turning into a farce! Arthur¡¯s face twisted in anger as he watched Master Hector¡¯s retreating figure, his heart bleeding. ¡°Find someone to take him out. He cannot, under any circumstances, show up at the Schnabel¡¯s tomorrow and show us up!¡± He nced at the young heirs of the Gruber family. ¡°Whichever of you secures a good marriage first will inherit the Gruber legacy. Whether it¡¯s with the Pock family or the Schnabels, it¡¯s up to you now.¡± Walden and Yates felt a surge of determination, understanding Arthur¡¯s hint. Whether it was the Pock family or the Schnabels, there was only one daughter to vie for! As they left the venue, Yates¡¯s secretary leaned in close. ¡°Sir, Ms. Schnabel might be tough to sway, but don¡¯t the Schnabels have an adopted daughter as well¡­¡± 10.56) CHapter 191 CHapter 191 Yates¡¯s eyes sparkled with intrigue at his secretary¡¯s words. ¡°But she¡¯s just an adoptee, what a waste. ¡°Sir, an adoptee is still a daughter of the Schnabels, and a cherished researcher at that,¡± the secretary reminded him. Yates stroked his chin, his face a canvas of schemes. ¡°Two daughters, and this one has little value. But if something were to happen to that annoying one, wouldn¡¯t she be the sole heiress?¡± Yates was angling for a lucrative alliance with the Schnabels, and he knew he had to pick the most profitable match. Only as an only child could she inherit the undivided wealth of the Schnabels, allowing him to clinch an absolute victory in the inheritance battle of the Grubers. If Ms. Schnabel wasn¡¯t the right fit, he could always set his sights on another Ms. Schnabel! ¡°Make the arrangements. Such a trifle should be well within your capabilities.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Outside the Gruber mansion, Master Hector waved at Noe. ¡°Noe, Yasbel and I will head out to make some preparations. See you tomorrow!¡± Noe nodded. ¡°Stay safe. The Grubers might do something.¡± Master Hector dismissed the concern with a casual wave, clearly not intimidated by the Grubers. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯d be disappointed if they didn¡¯t try. The Grubers think they can. cause me trouble? Hmph!¡± Years of dealing with the rough¨Cand¨Ctumble of the gemstone world had seasoned Master Hector well. Lucian chuckled. ¡°Your life¡¯s get leaper by the day. The Grubers are no threat. It¡¯s the Shadow Dragon Society behind them that ys for keeps.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s dragons or snakes; they all bow down before me!¡± Lucian¡¯s steely gaze rested on Noe, suggesting, ¡°Take care of yourself¡­ and when ra has a moment, have here see me. I hold her dear!¡± Noe understood Lucian¡¯s hint. ¡°I¡¯ll let her know.¡± Watching Master Hector and Lucian leave, Malvina idly yed with her hair. ¡°Noe, darling, knowing Yates as I do, you and your sister better watch your backs.¡± 10-56 the coutin¡¯t be too direct, but she trusted that clever Noelle would get to¨¤ will, thank you? Let¡¯s exchange contact info, please!¡± it was clear Malvina wasn¡¯t having the easiest time with the Grubers, Noe agreed, and they exchanged contact details. ¡°Yay! Rest assured, as long as I¡¯m around, Yvonne won¡¯t have a day of peacel¡± Noe smiled lightly. ¡°She¡¯s no concern of mine.¡± To Noe, Yvonne was a mere jester, not worth her attention. ¡°That¡¯s even better. If there were ties, I¡¯d have to be more careful dealing with her.¡± ¡°Do as you please.¡± Malvina simply found Yvonne irksome, and Noe¡¯s response was all the assurance she needed. On the way back, Palmer was still beaming with joy. Noe nced at him and airily remarked, ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of emerald, Mr. Pock. Haven¡¯t you seen the world?¡± Palmerughed softly, his eyes gleaming as they settled on Noe. ¡°I¡¯m just assessing the rtionship between my fianc¨¦e and Master Hector.¡± From Master Hector¡¯s demeanor towards Noe to his support for the Schnabels, and the fact that Noe casually picked a top¨Cgrade ssy Type emerald, along with Yasbel treating Noe with such respect¡­ If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the Gemstone Gambling King had a close connection with his littledy¨Cperhaps Noe was the King herself! He knew his fianc¨¦e was a treasure, but the thrill of uncovering more of her secrets made him cherish her even more. ¡°The Gemstone Gambling King was quite active in Northstone, and coincidentally, you were there at the same time, weren¡¯t you?¡± Noe replied coolly, ¡°Today was just a stroke of luck.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not one to believe in luck, my dear. Luck is inconsequential when faced with undeniable skill, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± Palmer had never put stock in luck; while buying lottery tickets might require a stroke of it, gemstone gambling demanded skill! Otherwise, why hadn¡¯t someone lucky usurped Master Hector¡¯s ce? 10:56) softened. ¡°Those years in Nor sent the Geinstonedambling King was shining brightest He knew quite a bit about the Gemstone Gambling King¡¯s movements, which nerity matched the scope of activities of the Obelisk Organization! Noe gave him a aldelong nce. ¡°And your point is7¡± Palmer ruffled Noe¡¯s hair affectionately. ¡°Just that you¡¯re pretty amazing, Noe. As a reward, I¡¯ll take you to the hottest new restaurant downtown¡± Noe¡¯s heart skipped, her pulse quickening. Looking at Palmer, she suddenly asked, ¡°Palmer, don¡¯t you have anything better to do?¡± As the CEO of the Pock Group, one would think he¡¯d be swamped with work, yet he always seemed to find the time to share meals with her. Holding Noe¡¯s hand, Palmer spoke honestly. ¡°Swamped? More like drowning in it! But what¡¯s the point of all that busy if I can¡¯t make time for my thoughts of you and being with you? Noe, you can¡¯t strip me of that right.¡± Seeing her, all his fatigue seemed to melt away. The cutthroat politics within the Group, the undercurrents roiling through the Pock family none of it mattered anymore! After dinner, Palmer dropped Noe back at Schnabel Manor and watched her ascend the steps before driving off. As soon as Noe exited the car, the warmth inside plummeted. Palmer reached for his sses, sliding them off the bridge of his nose, his eyes unmasking a chilling intent. ¡°Annie, Noe used a hidden de in Emerald County once. Find out what that was all about.¡± ¡°Will do. Also, Boss, should we tell Ms. Noe about the findings from ourst investigation?¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes narrowed, a hint of red within them, his gaze sharp and lethal. ¡°No need. If we tell Noe, she¡¯ll surely dive into her own investigation, and that¡¯s too dangerous. Set up another date for me and her.¡± Annie couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you worried Ms. Noe will think you¡¯re clingy?¡± Even she noticed her boss transformed whenever he was with Ms. Noe. It was only Ms. Noe¡¯s good nature that hadn¡¯t sent him packing. Thinking of Noe¡¯s face, Palmer felt the gloom in his heart dissipate slightly. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he murmured almost to himself, his voice tinged with a hint of mncholy and bitterness. ¡°If Noe gets tired of me, I¡¯ll just vanish for a few days. She won¡¯t suspect a thing.¡± 10.56 Annie was taken aback by the depth of his sentiment, but she remained silent. Even as an outsider, she was moved by the lengths her boss would go for Ms. Noe. ¡°Are we really not going to tell Ms. Noe?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble her with it.¡± With a light chuckle, Palmer shook his head and the conversation drifted to a close. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Keep ra safe, and keep tabs on the Gruber family. Let the Shadow Dragon Society vanish from Imperial City!¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll arrange it.¡± The Gruber family had crossed a line with Palmer today! The worst mistake they made was casting their filthy schemes on Noe and the sole daughter of the Pock family! Meanwhile, ra¡¯s phone buzzed with a new message. [Ms. Schnabel, wouldn¡¯t you like to know who was behind the Phoenix Lab incident?] CHapter 192 CHapter 192 ra was still gnawing at the rock¨Chard loaf of bread Sienna had baked with more enthusiasm than skill. The message on her screen was so unexpected that she nearly chipped a tooth on the dense bread. Noe walked in just in time to see ra furiously typing away, surrounded by what looked like a pile of charcoal briquettes. ¡°What are you researching there, ra? Charcoal?¡± Noe quipped, peering at the ckened lumps, ¡°Noe, darling, I might as well be analyzing these for their carbon content to figure out why they¡¯re so sted hard! But s, these are Mom¡¯s so¨Ccalled ¡®breads¡°.¡± Noe, well¨Cacquainted with Sienna¡¯s culinary catastrophes, gave a diplomatic assessment. ¡°Well, it¡¯s an improvement over herst batch. Praise where praise is due.¡± But let¡¯s be honest, the improvement wasn¡¯t really obvious. ra gestured Noe toe closer to theputer. ¡°Look at this, I¡¯ve got a string of anonymous texts. I pulled some strings to track the sender, and guess what? It¡¯s Yates Gruber, the eldest son of the Gruber family. What could he possibly want with me?¡± Her phone number was under strict supervision, with all iing messages logged by her superiors. Considering the texts mentioned Phoenix Lab, she decided to dig deeper. ra was a woman who trusted data over gossip. She was more interested in why Yates reached out than the vague threats he mentioned. After Noe nonchntly recounted the recent events at the Grubers¡®, ra¡¯s frown was so sharp it could slice through the tension. ¡°So, that dimwit failed to charm you and now he¡¯s knocking on my door? Genius must run in the Gruber family,¡± ra scoffed. Yates probably assumed that after seeing his messages, ra would inevitably get in touch. His follow¨Cup text was an invitation to dinner, of all things. ra snorted and hit ¡®report¡®. ¡°Protected numbers like mine aren¡¯t handed out to just anyone. If Yates is privy to so much dirt on Phoenix Lab, maybe he¡¯s the instigator. He can exin himself to the State Security Bureau.¡± Reporting Yates on suspicions of tampering with state secrets was quick work for ra. Noe could almost picture the look on Yates¡® face when he got the call from the authorities ¨C definitely not his best moment. After sending the report, ra was in high spirits. ¡°Come on, Noe, let¡¯s hit the shops! Whatever you want, it¡¯s on me!¡± 10-56 She lowered her voice conspiratorially, ¡°You have no Idea, I¡¯vee into quite a bit of cashtely. Donations from the Pock family, from our parents, from our brothers ¨C I¡¯m rolling in it!¡± Initially, ra thought the first deposit from the Schnabel family was a prelude to being kicked to the curb. Turns out, Tristan, Sienna, and her brothers just felt sorry for her. The Pocks didn¡¯t hesitate and cut her in on some shares. And then there were the unexpected funds from the Richardsons, Resting her head on Noe¡¯s shoulder, ra¡¯s voice grew muffled. ¡°I¡¯ve had it too easy, Noe. I¡¯ve never known hardship within our family. I¡¯m not the one to pity. It¡¯s me who stole the life you were meant to have. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The mere thought of Harriet¡¯s revtions ¨C all the experiences that should¡¯ve been her sister¡¯s ¨C brought tears to her eyes. Noe felt a warmth in her heart, knowing these were words ra had longed to say. She smiled gently, patting ra¡¯s hand infort. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your choice to make. You¡¯ve done nothing wrong. There¡¯s no need for apologies.¡± ra nodded against Noe. ¡°I¡¯ve got the what to do.¡± paternity test results, Noe. I¡­ I don¡¯t know The numbers confirmed her suspicions, but seeing them in ck and white left her feeling adrift. ¡°My mother¡­ she doesn¡¯t recognize me, doesn¡¯t remember me.¡± ra tried tough it off, but the tears came anyway. ¡°I tried to see her, Noe, but she¡­ she doesn¡¯t remember me at all. Forgetting one¡¯s child was pain enough, but being forgotten cut ra deeply. Feeling the dampness against her neck, Noe stayed still, offering a silent ear as her sister poured her heart out. ¡°I already have the best mother in the world. Is it too greedy to want more?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s your birth mother. It¡¯s natural to think about her. Whatever made her forget, there¡¯s always hope for a day when she¡¯ll remember.¡± But when that day mighte, Noe couldn¡¯t say. The reasons behind Lavinia and Harriet¡¯s amnesia likely stemmed from outside forces, yet whether they were the same could not be discerned. How Harriet regained her memories was also a mystery to Noe. With the past entangled in parts of Pris Star unknown to Noe, unraveling the truth would be no simple task. Comforted by Noe, ra¡¯s mood eventually evened out. 10.56 Her sister was the best indeed, always knowing how to soothe her! Her phone chimed, and ra tapped to put the call on speaker. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I meant no offense. I just wanted to share some information about Phoenix Lab. Why are you so cold?¡± ra looked to Noe for confirmation; it was indeed Yates on the line. ¡°Then spit it out, Yates. If it¡¯s something the higher¨Cups haven¡¯t disclosed, how in the world did you come by such information?¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Heh, the Gruber family has its fair share of secrets that you might not be privy to. If you¡¯re curious, I¡¯d like to extend an invitation to dinner. I¡¯m an open book, ready to spill the beans on anything you wish to know.¡± ¡°Not interested. I¡¯m afraid just the sight of you would make me lose my appetite. Since you insisted on calling, spill it- who¡¯s the puppet master behind Phoenix Lab?¡± Yates knew the moment he got off the phone with the State Security Bureau that ra Schnabel was no easy nut to crack. However, her aloofness only piqued his interest further. A fool would be no match for him, and he was sure she was anything but. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, what I¡¯m about to reveal might knock your socks off. Are you sure you want to hear such sensitive information over the phone?¡± ¡°Spit it out or I hang up.¡± Yates choked on her icy demeanor, his carefully curated, suave grin faltering! Were all daughters of the Schnabel family this impervious? He was seething. This infuriating woman, nothing but an adopted nobody from the Schnabels, acting all high and mighty like some untouchable queen! If she ever fell into his clutches, he¡¯d show her! ¡°Ms. Schnabel, the snake in the grass looking to trip you up at Phoenix Lab is closer than you think. You ce your trust in the Schnabels, yet they¡¯ve never truly seen you as one of their own.¡± ra rolled her eyes and flipped her phone the bird at Yates¡® number. What kind of moron did he take her for? Who still tried to sow discord between her and the Schnabels these days? With a coldugh, she challenged, ¡°So, who¡¯s out to get me? You seem to know so much, Yates. Surely you know which Schnabel is gunning for me, right?¡± 10.56 Yates smiled with unfounded confidence Ms. Schnabel, a rising star like you naturally steps on toes. The one who wants you gone is none other than the recently returned Noet Ms. Schnabel, you¡¯ve been trusting the wrong person all along! CHapter 193 CHapter 193 ra massaged her temples with a frown. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Yates, that fool, actually suggested that Noe was out to get her? As if she would believe that. ra replied with barely concealed sarcasm, ¡°Yates, are you absolutely sure your IQ is within the normal range? If you need it, I could rmend some good cognitive. assessment centers.¡± In ra¡¯s opinion, even that would be a waste ¨C Yates¡¯sck of intelligence was crystal clear. ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m telling you the truth out of the goodness of my heart, and you think I¡¯m spouting nonsense, Ms. Schnabel? Noe¡¯s just green with envy over your talents and abilities. She wants to be the only darling of the Schnabel family. Noe envies the love and protection you¡¯ve had from the Schnabel family since you were little. Don¡¯t let her deceive you!¡± ra paused before delivering a zinger, ¡°Yates, by any chance, do you know your family¡¯s Yvonne? Are you sure you¡¯re not rted? Judging by your intellect, you could very well be kin. It¡¯s one thing to be a little slow, but don¡¯t unt your feeble mind and your flimsy, full¨C of¨Choles lies in front of me. It¡¯s just embarrassing.¡± She hung up and muttered to herself, ¡°What kind of dimwits does the Gruber family breed? My sister jealous of me? What¡¯s mine is hers, and what¡¯s hers is¡­ still hers! I was actually looking forward to a shopping spree with Noe. But if we step out now, those Grubers. are sure to be up to no good.¡± As ra sent the recording of their conversation to the Schnabel family group chat, she sighed in frustration. She had finally snagged some unexpected time off and wanted nothing more than to enjoy some sisterly bonding at home! Noe stood up, offering her hand to ra. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping.¡± If they let worry over the Gruber family¡¯s antics stop them, it would be ying right into their hands. The Grubers didn¡¯t have the power to interfere. If they dare to show up, she had ways to make sure they won¡¯t have the chance to bother again. ¡°Alright! Just let me change!¡± ra scampered off to get dressed, her mood instantly lifted, while Noe¡¯s phone buzzed with encrypted messages. [Boss, your man¡¯s stirring up trouble with the Shadow Dragon Society. Abyssal Organization¡¯s goons have surrounded the Dragon¡¯s den.] 10:56 The Shadow Dragon Society tried talling Master Hector and Yasbel, but couldn¡¯t find an opening.] There was a brief pause before Phecda¡¯s next message came through, along with a few photos. [Yasbel took Master Hector to an A¨Clist awards ceremony. The ce is swarming with media and cameras; the Shadow Dragon Society can¡¯t make a move.] In the photos, Yasbel was dressed to the nines, with Hector posing as her assistant. They were boldly seated at the event, surrounded by a few burly men with Shadow Dragon Society tattoos. With Yasbel¡¯s status, the awards ceremony was being broadcast live, with countless media outlets and cameras on the scene. The Grubers would be insane to make a move there. Noe fell silent. Hector had said he had a way to handle the Shadow Dragon Society without wasting any resources and this was it? ¨C [Boss, the Shadow Dragon Society is on their way to ambush you and your sister. Does Abyssal Organization need backup? Vocalist seems to be heading there himself. Boss, you¡¯re wicked, letting Mr. Pock charge into battle while you go shopping. Impressive!] Phecda was in awe ¨C their boss was ruthless! She yed everyone, even her fianc¨¦! No one could deny that their boss was a role model among role models. Noe replied with a scowl: [Send me the location. Your sry and bonus are docked for two years, and you¡¯re on border dutye year-end. Triple the experiments.] Phecda¡¯s shrieks echoed through Pris Star, long and loud. ¡°Boss¡¯s just too cruel!¡± She was throwing her fianc¨¦ under the bus and now, her dear employee! In theb, Ulrich watched ra¡¯s video, listening intently a second time. He peeled off hisb coat with deliberate slowness, slipping into a casual trench coat that fluttered. elegantly around him. ¡°Yates really doesn¡¯t have his head screwed on right. The Gruber family¡¯stest generation is doomed, and it wouldn¡¯t hurt to take the whole lot of them down with them.¡± Beckett¡¯s message popped up. [I¡¯m prepping for tomorrow¡¯s gemstone auction. Whoever is free can deal with the Gruber mess. It¡¯s our show tomorrow, and I don¡¯t want any Grubers there, bringing bad luck!] Stirling was on set, Jasper was still tied up at the International¨CCourt, and Ulrich had no 10:57 surgeries lined up. He twirled his scalpel before cing it back in its case, replying without a second thought. [I¡¯m on it.] At the Gruber estate, Yates had just finished grappling with another round of questioning, his face as stormy as thunder. Malvina leaned against the wall, a mocking smile ying on her lips. ¡°Yates, that lowbrow trick of yours isn¡¯t gonna fly with Ms. Schnabel. Sure, she might be an adopted gem, but she¡¯s also a whiz kid who climbed her way up to a researcher at the Harmonia Country Science Research Institute at a tender age You really think she¡¯s like those easy girls your woo with a few bucks?¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Yates red at her, his displeasure unmistakable. ¡°Oh, and you¡¯re any better? It¡¯s not like. Mr. Pock is knocking down your door to take you out.¡± Malvina rolled her eyes inwardly. ¡°Mr. Pock, please. Like he¡¯d give me the time of day. Give me a break. I¡¯ve got more dignity than that. That guy¡¯s worth could snap up three of the Gruber family legacy. A little self¨Cassurance is fine, but too much is just in rude.¡± In Malvina¡¯s eyes, Yates and Walden were the epitome of boneheads They couldn¡¯t seriously think their petty schemes would impress Ms. Schnabel, could they? Malvina casually ran her fingers through her well¨Cmaintained hair. ¡°Besides, neither of two can hold a candle to Mr. Pock in looks, physique, or family background. Ms. Schnabel doesn¡¯t have a thing for pigs. Why go for pork belly when you¡¯ve got six¨Cpack abs to choose from?¡± She never minced her words, not even in front of Yates. ¡°Malvina, watch your mouth. Do you even know who you¡¯re talking to?¡± you Malvina shrugged nonchntly. ¡°What? Last time I checked, you were just my brother, not my dad. Don¡¯t get too big for your britches.¡± The Gruber kids had never been close, and although Yates was Malvina¡¯s brother, they didn¡¯t have the same mother. ¡°Are you not afraid that I¡¯ll kick you out of the Gruber family?¡± Malvina covered her mouth as if stiflingughter, shaking her finger at him with a look full of sly charm. ¡°Yates, let¡¯s just wait and see! Let¡¯s see who ends up with the Gruber family. But I¡¯ll bet it¡¯ll be you who gets the boot, just like when I sent your mom packing!¡± Yates¡¯s mother had been ke Gruber¡¯s secretary, never quite fitting in with the family, a sore spot for Yates. Watching Malvina¡¯s sultry departure, Yates kicked a nearby stool in frustration. m the Gruber family¡¯s eldest son, you¡¯re just a woman. Don¡¯t even dream ofpeting with me.¡± He waved dismissively at his secretary, pointing toward Malvina¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°From now on, I don¡¯t want to see her in the Gruber family ever again!¡± CHapter 194 CHapter 194 Malvina was the apple of the Gruber family¡¯s eye, the most cherished daughter of her generation. The secretary hesitated. ¡°Sir, if anything happens to Malvina, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be easy to exin to Arthur.¡± ¡®Arthur dotes on her, sure, but it¡¯s just because he hopes she¡¯ll fetch a high price, bringing in a lucrative alliance for the Gruber family. Didn¡¯t we find a new girl? Let Yvonne take her ce.¡± Yvonne was nothing like Malvina. It was clear as day that Yvonne was a few sandwiches short of a pic, all ambition and no brains ¨C the easiest kind to manipte. ¡°Go tell Yvonne that if she takes care of Malvina, she¡¯ll be the Gruber family¡¯s new darling!¡± The secretary got the message loud and clear. Yates was setting Yvonne up to take the fall. Yates had been harboring a grudge ever since Malvina had driven his mother out of the Gruber family, ming her even for his mother¡¯s car ident. Whether or not Yvonne could handle Malvina, there was no loss for Yates. ¡°Right away, I¡¯ll go find Ms. Yvonne.¡± Malvina stepped out of the Gruber mansion, stretchingnguidly as her willowy waist swayed softly. Suddenly, a hand mped over her waist, and before she could react, covered her mouth and nose, dragging her into a car parked by the curb! 200 € € ¡°Mmph¡­¡± Malvina¡¯s eyes bulged in terror. ¡°Ms. Gruber, you¡¯d best cooperate with me, or I¡¯m not sure whether you¡¯ll return to the Gruber family on your feet or in a body bag.¡± The voice was cold with a thinyer of chill that seemed to caress her delicate skin with the sharp edge of a de. Malvina¡¯s mind raced, and then she burst into tears. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die. I¡¯ll do whatever you want! Do I need to strip? I will! Just let me live!¡± Ulrich¡¯s hand tightened around Malvina¡¯s neck, his grip silencing her sobs. ¡°No need for that drama. I¡¯m taking you somewhere, and you just need to do a little recon for me.¡± ¡°Fine, just don¡¯t kill me, and I¡¯ll do whatever you say!¡± Ulrich looked at Malvina, willing to do anything to survive, and felt a twinge of headache. This Gruber princess really was something else. 11:08 Meanwhile, Noe¡¯s motorcycle was parked by the curb, and ahead at the crossroads stood a few tough guys sporting Shadow Dragon Society colors, their eyes fixed menacingly on Noe and ra. ra, experiencing this kind of scene for the first time, was a mix of thrilled and terrified, her voice shaking. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ll protect you!¡± Noe¡¯s gaze swept over the brutes, quickly sizing them up, while casually saying, ¡°Thanks.¡± The brutes locked their sights on ra and Noe and advanced, quickly surrounding them. ¡°Come with us!¡± Noe¡¯s hand lightly touched ra¡¯s nape, whispering, ¡°ra, take a break.¡± ra¡¯s eyelids drooped, and she copsed into Noe¡¯s arms. Noe, unfazed, spoke tly. ¡°Make it quick. You have five minutes.¡± The brutes were still confused when suddenly a dozen figures leapt out from behind a nearby wall! Phecda, wielding a stun baton, grinned wickedly. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve. It¡¯s because of scum like you that I lost two years¡® worth of wages!¡± ¡°Boss, five minutes is generous for these guys. You¡¯re underestimating us. The Shadow Dragon Society members were dumbstruck¨Cthey¡¯d been tailing the Schnabel sisters and hadn¡¯t noticed anyone following them. Where did these peoplee from? Three minutester, the Shadow Dragon Society members were down on the ground, and Erek with the Obelisk Organization left swiftly, just as they had arrived. ¡°Boss, Ulrich is on his way. We¡¯ll leave this to you and head to the next spot!¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll catch up with you guys soon.¡± A surprised voice echoed from the crossroads. ¡°Holy smokes, these guys are the core muscle of the Shadow Dragon Society, and they¡¯re wiped out just like that?¡± Noe simply said, ¡°They won¡¯t die.¡± The Shadow Dragon Society members groaned, nursing more wounds than they could count, unable to do anything but watch Noe and her group. They hadn¡¯t even processed what had happened before they were taken down! Malvina patted her heaving chest, foregoing any questions and immediately grabbing Noe¡¯s hand, plopping down on the pavement with a face full of crocodile tears. Ulrich arrived with the police to a scene of Noe holding the unconscious ra, with N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. 11:09 Malvina walling beside them. Malvina cried out, ¡°Officer, please help us! These people just came out of nowhere and started attacking us!¡± The burly Shadow Dragon Society members were silently fuming. They were the ones who were taken down, weren¡¯t they? This was a barefaced lie! Ulrich scooped up the passed¨Cout ra and pulled Noe to her feet, his eyes filled with concern and care. ¡°Noe, are you guys alright? What happened to ra?¡± Noe pointed at the people from the Shadow Dragon Society sprawled on the ground with their eyes wide open. ¡°It was their doing. I¡¯m clueless. ra seemed to have passed out.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here!¡± Malvina looked down at the members of the Shadow Dragon Society and muttered, ¡°You know very well whether your hands are clean or not. Regardless of the truth, you¡¯ll be med for today¡¯s mess.¡± She may not have known what had transpired, but she was certain that the scene before her was somehow connected to Noe. Everyone has their secrets, and the overly curious seldom live long! The Shadow Dragon Society knew everyone from the Gruber family and had previous dealings with Malvina. Taking her words as an implied threat from the Gruber family, they bit their tongues and remained silent. Malvina tugged at Noe¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Honey, give me a hand.¡± Noe casually helped Malvina to her feet. At Ulrich¡¯s signal, the members of the Shadow Dragon Society were quickly taken away, not one was left behind. Ulrich¡¯s gaze fell thoughtfully upon the surveince camera at the corner. ra opened her eyes and was a bit surprised to see Ulrich¡¯s face. ¡°Ulrich, why are you here? I think I just fainted¡­ Oh dear, how¡¯s Noe?¡± ¡°You¡¯re alright, that¡¯s what matters. What made you faint so suddenly?¡± ra shook her head in confusion. ¡°It was probably something the Shadow Dragon Society did, I can¡¯t remember. Thank goodness you came!¡± Relieved to see Noe and ra were unharmed, Ulrich exhaled deeply. Malvina, holding onto Noe¡¯s arm, pouted. ¡°Sweetie, your brother is so scary. He almost 314 11:09 choked me to death! Ulrich, unaware that Malvina and Noe were on good terms, was momentarily embarrassed and coughed awkwardly. ¡°Sorry about that. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re most familiar with the Shadow Dragon Society, so I wanted you to lead the way. My apologies if I offended you.¡± Malvina¡¯s mother had been the only daughter of the head of the Shadow Dragon Society, but she had died in a gang sh years ago, paving the way for Yates¡¯s mother to rise to power. ¡°Hmph, just say you came for Noe, and that would be enough!¡± Ulrich knew he had been somewhat impolite and said sincerely, ¡°I apologize for my behavior.¡± Malvina clearly wasn¡¯t appeased by his apology. ¡°If sorry was enough, we wouldn¡¯t need the cops!¡± Noe nced at the message that had just popped up on her phone. [Boss, things are going south with Vocalist, need you ASAP.] CHapter 195 CHapter 195 There¡¯s only three on Vocalist¡¯s side in the South Flora Storage. Come now, boss!¡± The South Flora Storage wasn¡¯t far from where Noe stood¨Cit was merely six miles away. She quickly memorized the route after a nce at her phone¡¯s map, then pocketed the device and swung her leg over her parked motorcycle, securing her helmet before revving the engine to life. ¡°Hey, Ulrich, I¡¯ve got something urgent, so can you drop off Malvina and ra for me? I¡¯ll head hometer!¡± Noe called out, the roar of her bike punctuating her hastiness. ¡°Wait, Noe-¡± Ulrich¡¯s response was cut short as Noe¡¯s figure vanished around the corner, soon bing nothing more than a blur on the horizon. Malvina let out a whistle, ¡°Wow, would you look at that? Our little Noe¡¯s got a wild streak. I like it!¡± She had thought Noe was the pampered darling of the Schnabel family, the precious Ms. Noe. Squinting in the direction Noe had disappeared, Malvina had a hunch she was heading toward the Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s hideout. Whether or not it was a mere gut feeling, she was all for buying Noe some time. The Shadow Dragon Society had a hand in her mother¡¯s death, and now they expected to roam around Imperial City, terrorizing people under Arthur¡¯s protection. Not on her watch. ¡°If a dog bites without a leash, it¡¯s the owner¡¯s fault,¡± Malvina mused aloud. Turning to Ulrich with a flirtatious smile, she said, ¡°I think I¡¯ll stop here. Those guys know me, and I can¡¯t exin that to grandpa. Mind giving me a ride back?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll tell our dear Noe you¡¯re a bad brother. You¡¯re supposed to bring a girl back safe and sound, right?¡± Ulrich¡¯s eyelid twitched in annoyance. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take you home. ra, hop on.¡± As they drove, Malvina passed the phone to Ulrich, ¡°Add me on WhatsApp, why don¡¯t you? You¡¯re the second in the Schnabels, and I¡¯m in the same spot at the Grubers. We might have more in common than you think.¡± Common ground? What could they possibly share? As Ulrich added her, he raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Do you also have a passion for research on proton pump inhibitors for stress¨Crted ulcers? Because that would be something we have in common.¡± There, Ulrich wasunching into a ceaseless exnation of histest research project, but Malvina didn¡¯t catch a word. Her gaze zed over with confusion. ¡°Uh¡­ what?¡± ra couldn¡¯t contain herself anymore and just cut Ulrich off. ¡°Stop it, will you? Brag about your research when you win a prize or something. Who wants to listem to that kind of talk?¡± Her brother was destined to be a bachelor for life. Did he really think Malvina was Interested in proton pump inhibitors? Malvina rubbed her temples, muttering to herself, ¡°What a blunder. I thought I could snag a Schnabel heir to beef up my inheritance im, but I caught a dud instead.¡± As they continued, Ulrich¡¯s eyes flicked to the rear¨Cview mirror. ¡°We¡¯re being followed. Are they Shadow Dragon Society goons?¡± outfor Malvina just leaned out for a look. ¡°Huh? Looks like they are after me. That driver is Yvonne¡¯s father. His face is uniquely hideous and made me hard to forget.¡± Duncan Gruber, namely Yvonne¡¯s father, was Arthur¡¯s right¨Chand man, had been handling the dirtiest of deeds for Arthur during all those years. ¡°Probably that idiot Yates wanting Yvonne to rece me. As if she could, with that face? Please.¡± Malvina scoffed; her stunning face was dripping her disdain. me, that¡¯d be ¡°Ulrich, if it¡¯s too much trouble, just drop me off. I¡¯m not so helpless as to need the Schnabels to deal with this. Though, if you wanted to leave a few guys with me, great!¡± Ulrich nced at her with aplex look on his face. She was all bravado, despite the sweat on her forehead and her trembling hands. ¡°Since she¡¯s a friend of my sister¡¯s, and she just helped us find several Shadow Dragon Society hangouts, I¡¯m not one to abandon a friend in need.¡± He mused. He undid the top buttons of his shirt as his expression darkened. ¡°There are cameras ahead; better to shake them off before we make a move. Hold tight!¡± South Flora Storage. The vast, abandoned warehouse was a relic surrounded by derelict buildings. Noe¡¯s motorcycle skidded across the decrepitndscape, her eyes fixed on the nearest structure. 19-43 1 Phecda emerged from the bushes and waved at Noe, Boss, over here! Vocalist is on the fifth floor. The Shadow Dragon Society has over three hundred men, and Vocalist¡¯s reinforcements are still on the way. I¡¯m afraid that they won¡¯t make it anytime soon.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t make it?¡± she asked. ¡°People from the Abyssal Organization were blocked. Someone literally dug up the road with excavators and thus trapped them. It¡¯ll take a while to get here.¡± Even Phecda was stunned by the Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s ruthlessness. Imperial City was not somewless border town but now it was more messed¨Cup. As a concerned citizen, Phecda dialed the emergency hotline, reporting everything and sending a file on the Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s activities. Fortunately, unlike the border regions, Imperial City still upheld the rule ofw. ¡°The police have taken control over there, and our guys are on rescue duty. But Vocalist is in a tight spot.¡± Phecda imed. There were only three people here in the Abyssal Organization, so it was indeed a bit tricky to fight against more than three hundred rivals. ¡°Where did the Shadow Dragon Society find so many people?¡± Noe asked. Imperial City¡¯s Shadow Dragon Society only had a total of over two hundred people, and even if Arthur brought along the Gruber family, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to gather over three hundred. ¡°It¡¯s the Westwood Mercenary Corps, no doubt about it. Those guns¨Cfor¨Chire have been itching for a fight after too much downtime at the border. Time to give them a taste of Harmonia¡¯sw and order.¡± Ivan stepped out carrying a heavy sniper with grass in his mouth. ¡°Our guys are ambushed, and it won¡¯t be too much of a problem to rescue them.¡± Noe¡¯s eyes settled on the deserted structure before them. The once¨Cpromising monument to urban development now stood as a monument to neglect. With all those dust and debris, people would have a fatal tumble through the air once they paid less attention. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look from above,¡± she dered, her tone steely. Ivan¡¯s surprise was evident. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re going in yourself?¡± She shook her head, ¡°He doesn¡¯t need my rescue, but he aims at wiping out the Shadow Dragon Society. That¡¯s an oue we can work with. Get ready.¡± The Abyssal Organization might have been out of reach, but people in Obelisk. Organization were ready and waiting. A ragtag gang and an obscure band of mercenaries thought they could stir up trouble in the Imperial City? 12:53 ¡°Bous, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve actually got a soft spot for Vocalist,¡± Ivan teased. ¡°First time I¡¯ve seen you this invested. Must be that betrothal bond, eh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that. It¡¯s about honor and morality. If you were stuck up there, I¡¯d pull you out too.¡± Noe said, As she shouldered her weapon and began the ascent, Phecda eyed Ivan with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Honor and morality? Since when does our boss y that tune?¡± Ivan shrugged, ¡°Not really her style, is it?¡± ¡°You think she¡¯d do the same for me if I¡¯m up there?¡± ¡°Sure, she¡¯d save you,¡± Ivan replied with a smirk. ¡°But whether you¡¯de back in one plece, or breathing, that¡¯s another story.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Satisfied with the amended version of their leader¡¯s intentions, Phecda led the others to their ambush positions. CHapter 196 CHapter 196 On the fifth floor, Palmer stood with his back to a sawed¨Coff concrete pir, where one false step meant a perilous tumble into the abyss below. ¡°Vocalist, you¡¯ve got five minutes to make up your mind. Are you in or out?¡± sneered a member of the Westwood Mercenaries, their faces twisted with the anticipation of Imminent victory on seeing Palmer¡¯s lonely figure. Lyra¡¯s heart pounded as she watched Palmer, trapped by a window on the fifth floor, isted and alone. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Palmer was the picture of calm. There seemed to be a fresh cut across his handsome face so a streak of blood was trailing down his resolute cheek. That had made his gaze even more piercing and severe¨Ca gaze that also carried coldness and malice. Even now, cornered, he exuded that irresistible air of royalty. If only Vocalist would agree to join them, he would be hers tomand. ¡°You lot?¡± Palmer chuckled dismissively while methodically removing his watch and cufflinks and treating them like precious treasures as he stowed them away. After securing his valuables, he rolled up his sleeves to reveal muscr forearms. His gun might be empty, but the thought they could easily capture him was pure fantasy. Lyra grew anxious, ¡°Just say yes, Vocalist, and we won¡¯t harm you today! We¡¯ve got the Abyssal Organization blocked; they can¡¯t get to you!¡± Palmer nced at them with contempt, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present. ¡°Now men from Westwood Mercenary Corps are causing a ruckus, and the Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s got a death wish too? Or are you saying Yates and Arthur don¡¯t care for their lives anymore?¡± The leader, d in a military coat and chomping on a cigar, retorted, ¡°Once you¡¯re dead, Yates and the old man will be safe.¡± Palmer shook his head and said with a mournful voice, ¡°I was just nning to clean up the Shadow Dragon Society, but now it seems I¡¯ll have to take care of the Gruber family too.¡± Despite his loneliness, his icy gaze still made everyone hesitant to underestimate him.¡± ¡°Take him out now!¡± Those mercenaries yelled. Lyra shouted, ¡°Just agree, Vocalist, ande back with us to the border. The Westwood) Mercenaries will protect you!¡± Then a cool, indifferent voice echoed from above. 12:53 ¡°Who gave you that right? The Westwood Mercenary Corps?¡± In shock, Lyra¡¯s head snapped up, just in time to see Noe leap from the sixth floor,nding gracefully and catching steadily by Palmer. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Palmer asked. Nonchntly, Noe handed Palmer a gun, ¡°Heard your crew was held up, thought I¡¯d see If you needed a hand.¡± ¡®If you needed a hand¡®, and that was the reason she came herself? Palmer knew Noe must have been worried. A surge of untimely joy warmed his heart, prompting a smile he couldn¡¯t suppress. Lyra, seeing the smile on Palmer¡¯s face¨Cwas dumbfounded. His smile was reserved for Noe, and that idea made her feel a surge of sour jealousy. She red at Noe venomously, ¡°So, you¡¯re here too. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down. You really think the two of you can escape from us?¡± Noe¡¯s contemptuous gaze made Lyra seem insignificant, like nothing more than a mayfly. ¡°Escape? That word doesn¡¯t exist in my dictionary.¡± Noe pped her hands, and suddenly a thunderous explosion erupted from one of the buildings, which copsed in a cloud of dust. ¡°Oops, my bad. Hit the wrong button. There are explosives in this building too, seems I armed the one next door.¡± ¡°Youid explosives here? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting caught?¡± Noe shrugged, ¡°Since you guys are bold enough to dig up public roads, what¡¯s stopping me?¡± ma Besides, those explosives were leftovers from a bar they¡¯d dismantled, nted by Thorpe. If anyone got in trouble with the authorities, it¡¯d fall on Cerulean Whale, not them. Suddenly, Noe aimed her sniper rifle at the leader of the Westwood Mercenaries and pulled the trigger. Without a chance to react, the mercenary leader clutched his chest and fell. Noe then pointed the gun at Lyra, ¡°Oops, how clumsy of me. Should¡¯ve aimed for you, right?¡± ¡°Have¡­ have you lost your mind? You¡¯ve killed our leader; the corps won¡¯t let you off!¡± Noe chuckled, ¡°Let me think which one was the button for this building¡¯s explosives again. Wouldn¡¯t want to hit the wrong one.¡± 12:54 Palmer added from behind her, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, we¡¯ll get it right eventually.¡± The head of the Shadow Dragon Society clenched his teeth, ¡°Take them down! Don¡¯t let that woman go crazy on us!¡± If Noe really had bombs in this ce, they were all doomed. As he finished his sentence, a bullet whizzed by Noe and Palmer and pierced his head. Noe watched the fallen leader emotionlessly, ¡°Sorry about that. My people can get a little overzealous. I¡¯ll tell them to be more careful next time, maybe take out a few more.¡± Lyra¡¯s eyes grew colder. ¡°You brought the Obelisk Organization with you? Damn it! Move, we can¡¯t let them leave alive!¡± p. A bullet fell to the floor, followed by the thud of a woman¡¯s body. Noe nced dispassionately at Lyra, whoy dying with eyes still open. ¡°Should have put a bullet through your head back at Lockhart Prison. What a pity.¡± She added. Palmer chuckled, ¡°No worries, now is just as good.¡± Years ago in Northstone, she had saved his life in the same manner. Now, history repeated itself as his girl descended from the heavens to rescue him once more. Being protected by her was an unexpectedly pleasant feeling, Noe holstered her weapon, turning to Palmer. ¡°I could really blow this ce. Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± she asked. ¡°Not in the least,¡± he replied. Wiping the smudge off Noe¡¯s cheek with a tender swipe, Palmer¡¯s eyes were filled with unspoken affection. ¡°Whatever you want to do, I¡¯m right there with you!¡± he said. ¡°How about we throw in a freefall for kicks?¡± Noe¡¯s lips curled into a wry smile as she sped Palmer¡¯s hand. Just as the goons from the Shadow Dragon Society charged in, she suddenly leaped into the air! Gunshots and the thunderous roar of an explosion echoed simultaneously as a building was reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye! Palmer, with one arm wrapped around Noe¡¯s waist and the other gripping the ropedder dropped from a helicopter, quickly whisked them both to safety. Looking at the scratches marring Palmer¡¯s face and body from the st, Noe bit her lip and said, I¡¯m sorry you got hurt. She knew their n might lead to Injuries, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated Palmer holding her so tightly through the explosion to shield her unscathed from the flying debris. In contrast, it made his body a patchwork of wounds that made her heart clench. ¡°It¡¯s okay as long as you¡¯re safe. I¡¯m happy to protect you. But before that¡­¡± Palmer bent down and enveloped Noe in his arms, his lips finding her cool cheek, his voice heavy with exhaustion and affection. ¡°I need to catch some sleep. As for these cuts¡­ I¡¯ll be counting on you, my fianc¨¦e, to patch me up. Goodnight.¡± With those words, he sumbed to unconsciousness. Noe quickly reached out to catch Palmer, preventing his body from slumping to the ground. She realized he must have been hurt before and had been stubbornly pushing through the pain after that. Palmer was so tall, and it wasn¡¯t easy for Noe to carry him. Heading to a hospital would certainly alert Grandpa Sexton to his injuries. ¡°Let¡¯s head to Pris Star,¡± she decided. CHapter 197 CHapter 197 Grist, are we really taking him to the Pris Star?¡± Phecda hesitated, knowing all too well that the ce was brimming with so many of their secrets. It didn¡¯t seem right to let Palmer in on it all Noe surveyed the few club members before her. ¡°You disagree?¡± she bit back. Pheoda quidity raised his hand in acquiescence, ¡°You¡¯re the boss, and that¡¯s your call!¡± Ivan stepped forward and hoisted Palmer onto his shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road then. If the boss trusts him, who are we to argue?¡± As if on cue, Nn drove up in a pickup truck, ¡°Hop in! We¡¯ve made too much noise here; someone¡¯s bound to show up soon.¡± The truck¡¯s bed was spacious enough, and Noe instructed Ivan toy Palmer down carefully, then checked his pulse herself. Ihan frowned. ¡°Boss, that Vocalist is real man. To think he carried you through that jump. with such heavy injuries. I was watching from across the way and thinking he was unscamer While aiding Noe in stemming Palmer¡¯s bleeding, Phecda couldn¡¯t help butplimented. ¡°No kidding. The guy stood his ground and said some tough things so I thought he was just fine. But look at my hand¨Cblood everywhere.¡± From their vantage point in the opposite building, they had watched Palmer, so calm and collected that they assumed he was unharmed. The rope van had thrown was snatched up by Palmer in a single grab, and with their boss in his arms, he¡¯d leaped out with such grace and precision. Who would have known he was injured? ¡°No vital hits, but he¡¯s lost a lot of blood. These back wounds are nasty; they need. attention. We¡¯ll take care of it back at the Pris Star.¡± Noelle breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze lingering on the unconscious Palmer. Why hadn¡¯t he mentioned a word about his injury? The scent of blood was overpowering, and Palmer had masked his pain all too well in front of her. She had suspected his injuries but never imagined they were this severe. Had she known about the extent of his wounds, she would never have let him jump first. Phecda nced at theptop, ¡°Boss, Ulrich headed to South Flora Storage. Good thing we left when we did.¡± Noe nodded. Her face was icy and revealing a little bit of her lethal intent. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. The Gruber family and Westwood Mercenary Corps won¡¯t be out anymore. She imed: Ivan rubbed his hands together eagerly. ¡°Are we moving against the Gruber family? Do we handle it ourselves or get in touch with the Schnabel family?¡± We¡¯ll handle it. I want to wake up tomorrow to the news of the Gruber family¡¯s bankruptcy.¡± The Pris Star had enough corporate firepower to bankrupt the Gruber family, and with enough enemies waiting in the wings, others would take care of the aftermath once the Grubers were down on their luck. Noe whipped out her phone and dialed a secure number from across the ocean. At the base of the ck tower, Xavier was in the midst of feeding a few unlucky souls to the sharks. The blood in the water had the predators circling, their scent thick in the air. The sight of the iing call changed his ferocious look into an obsequious one, ¡°Noe, hey. What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°Need a favor. The Westwood Mercenary Corp will be done. My people can¡¯t make it to Lockhart Prison right now. Can you handle it?¡± ¡°A favor? No problem at all, my dear. I¡¯ll take care of it! Did they cross a line with you?¡± ¡°That they did,¡± Noe replied coolly. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know how it goes!¡± After hanging up, Xavier gestured nonchntly, and the remaining captives were fed to the circling sharks, painting the sea red. ¡°These guys were with Westwood too, and I¡¯ll snap a photo for Noe,¡± he said to himself. Noe, looking at the macabre image on her phone, rubbed her temples in frustration. ¡°Westwood¡¯s taken care of. Get the Gruber family to fall apart.¡± ¡°Will do!¡± Back at Pris Star¡¯s posh estate in Imperial City, Ivan deposited Palmer in Noe¡¯s privateb, raised his hands in surrender, and quickly excused himself. ¡°Boss, this is your man; your problem! We¡¯re not sticking around for when he wakes up and goes ballistic. See ya, Boss! You¡¯ve got this!¡± Echoing the sentiment, Phecda raised his hands in mock surrender, ¡°Yeah, we heard from the Abyssal Organization that Vocalist is a real clean freak. Best you handle this, Boss. After all, we¡¯re not the ones married to him. It¡¯s only proper!¡± Nodding in agreement, Nn chimed in, ¡°Boss can take care of his wounds by herself. We¡¯ve got the Gruber family to deal with. Hurry up, Boss, his injuries can¡¯t wait.¡± Noelle watched her subordinates scatter without giving her a second nce as they left her alone with Palmer. She sighed, contemting the need to tighten Internal discipline. Otherwise, these cheeky brats would get too big for their boots! Taking a deep breath, Noe began to unbutton Palmer¡¯s shirt, revealing his well¨Ctoned torso beneath. His body bore so many scars, old and new¨Cmaybe they were just marks of missions past. Carefully, she peeled the shirt away, but her hand was suddenly caught in Palmer¡¯s firm grip. His oceanic eyes were almost threatening to engulf her as he cracked open, ¡°Are you taking advantage of me while I¡¯m down?¡± ¡°Just treating your wounds,¡± she replied, ¡°you¡¯re hurt.¡± Palmer¡¯s hold on her slender wrist wasmanding, yet his eyes were dripping his predatory nature. ¡°Are you nning to bankrupt the Gruber family?¡± he asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you nned?¡± He released her wrist, allowing Noe to continue undressing him without resistance. ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯m on it already. But so are the Schnabels. You might just see the Grubers hit rock bottom sooner than expected.¡± If the Pocks and Schnabels join forces, the Grubers won¡¯t stand a chance to catch their breath. Noe dabbed at Palmer¡¯s wounds with an alcohol swab, her touch gentle but deliberate. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of scars.¡± ¡°Sorry if they scare you. Most of them are from few years ago.¡± Noe frowned slightly at the deepest gash, ¡°How¡¯d you manage to get hurt today?* ¡°They had me outnumbered, and I got sloppy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Knowing Palmer¡¯s cautious nature, he wouldn¡¯t have gone to South Flora Storage after realizing people from his Abyssal Organization were intercepted, not with just a handful of his own men. Noe pressed a bit harder, and the sting of the alcohol made Palmer hiss through clenched teeth. ¡°Easy there¨Cwhat, trying to trade up to a new fianc¨¦ already? I¡¯m not lying. I got a tip that someone had something my mother left behind. They threatened to destroy it if I didn¡¯t 12.54 I show. It matters to me, so I went.¡± Palmer chuckled, shaking his head, ¡°I forgot to tell your that Malvina¡¯s mother was the daughter of the Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s leader, and was a friend of my mom¡¯s. It makes sense she had something of hers.¡± He fished a ring from his pocket and ced it in Noe¡¯s hand, ¡°This was my mother¡¯s, her favorite ring. Now, it¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°For me? But it¡¯s so important to you. It doesn¡¯t feel right to give it to me.¡± She said. Palmer shook his head softly, his gaze on Noe tender and earnest, his voice a warm rumble, ¡°You are the most important person to me now.¡± CHapter 198 CHapter 198 Noe locked eyes with Palmer¡¯s intense gaze, and for a moment, the ring in her hand seemed to scorch her palm with an ufortable heat. ¡°I can¡¯t ept this,¡± she said. ¡°You should take it back.¡± ¡°Without you epting this ring, everything I¡¯ve done today is meaningless,¡± Palmer replied as he tried his best to lift his hand and gently tousled Noe¡¯s hair. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t like me, please don¡¯t reject it, okay?¡± His eyes held a plea, a vulnerability that was likely the result of too much blood loss, and it tugged at Noe¡¯s heartstrings. The ring, with its rose¨Cshaped gemstone, sparkled brilliantly in her palm. It was a testament to how cherished it had been by its previous owner. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. *Please, take it,¡± Palmer implored softly as he gazed at her. Feeling the burn of his gaze, Noe quickly averted her eyes. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep it,¡± she then quickly added when she met his burning gaze, ¡°It¡¯s not that I dislike you. Maybe I¡¯m not that into you, but don¡¯t try to test me.¡± ¨C Her feelings for Palmer were a muddle not quite passionate enough to call love, but certainly far from disdain. ¡°It¡¯s not a test, I justck confidence,¡± Palmer admitted. Noe didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she focused on dressing the wounds he had sustained, handing him a new shirt designed by Azure. The shirt was yet to be embellished with the usual intricate embroidery that would mark it as an Azure original; it looked in, and she hoped Palmer wouldn¡¯t notice its designer origins. But as Palmer examined the shirt he was now wearing, he couldn¡¯t help but find it eerily simr to several others in his closet. High¨Cend brands had their unique styles, after all. Clearing her throat, Noe said sternly, ¡°Take off your pants.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got injuries on your legs from the st. Do you want to strip them off yourself, or should I help?¡± she added. At her serious tone, Palmer couldn¡¯t suppress a chuckle. ¡°I can manage, thanks. I¡¯ve always taken care of my own wounds. But I appreciate if you can prepare the medicine for me.¡± His gaze toward her became suggestive, ¡°I know you are a doctor, so you see no gender in, your patients. B selfishly, I hope that you¡¯ll talk like this under different circumstances like in your bedroom. I¡¯d be very pleased then.¡± at him before handing over the medicine. Malvina¡¯s mother was friends with your mother?¡± she asked. Yes. They were friends back in the day, but Mrs. Gruber passed away shortly after Malvina was born,¡± Palmer exined. Noe leaned against the wall, her brow furrowed as she pressed, ¡°You knew Malvina long before?¡± ¡°Not personally. Both of our mothers died when we were young, although I had met hers. So when she needed the Pock family¡¯s name to approach my grandfather, he was willing to help.¡± Palmer caught Noe¡¯s eye, ¡°Are you nning on staying to watch me apply the medicine?¡± As he began to unbuckle his belt, Noe turned sharply and strode out of the room, leaving Palmer tough quietly to himself, thoroughly amused. At the Gruber estate. Yates rushed to Arthur with a pile of documents with panic written all over his face. ¡°Granddad, our businesses have been sanctioned Deals that were set in stone are now being retracted they¡¯re refusing to work with us!¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze remained fixed outside, where the moonlight draped the Gruber grounds in tranquility. He lifted his cup to have a sip of ck tea and asked with a chilled voice, ¡°What¡¯s there to panic about? Isn¡¯t this something we¡¯ve dealt with before? Is it really that urgent?¡± The secretary burst in, breathless, ¡°Sir, the Shadow Dragon Society¡­ are all wiped out! Anyone who survived was taken by the cops! Our businesses are restricted, and your ounts have been frozen!¡± The cup fell from Arthur¡¯s hand onto the carpet, ¡°What did you say? Who dares to do this?¡± ¡°The gang was nning to move against Hector today, but he¡­ he led the cops straight to several Shadow Dragon Society strongholds. We¡¯ve lost most of our men.¡± ¡°The Schnabel family, Palmer, and Pris Financial are all sanctioning our corporate assets¡­ We¡¯re going under!¡± Arthur looked at his secretary in disbelief, ¡°Have the Pock and the Schnabel families lost their minds? And how dare that Pris Financial, a smallpany that¡¯s barely on its feet, sanction me?¡± The secretary stammered, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the Shadow Dragon Society. They hired the 12.54 Westwood Mercenary Corps for help, and they¡­ they ambushed Mr. Pock¡­ Arthur¡¯s eyes bulged in shock. Had everyone gone mad? Daring to attack Palmer?! If they seeded, the Gruber family would have one less rival. But if they failed, it would spell disaster for the Grubers. Arthur slumped to the floor, his face beaded with cold sweat. ¡°Get me the phone; I need to make a call¡­¡± As soon as the call connected, Arthur began frantically, ¡°Lucian, you have to save me! The Gruber family rose with your help, and can you bear to watch us go bankrupt?¡± On the other end, Lucian moved a chess piecenguidly while ncing across the board at Master Hector. ¡°It¡¯s your turn. Oh, Arthur, what was that? The Grubers are going bust? No biggie, your folks are small¨Ctime anyway. If you go under, you go under. No sweat. Hey, Master Hector, no take¨Cbacks on the chessboard!¡± Arthur clenched his teeth and pleaded, ¡°I know I messed up. I¡¯ll listen to you from now on, I swear. No more bucking heads with the Richardsons. Please, just bail out us Grubers. We¡¯ll all be in your debt!¡± ¡°Look at you, always the joker when you get up there in years. Since when could the Grubers even dream of squaring up to us, the Richardsons? Arthur, you might as well go down with some dignity.¡± Lucian nced at the chess piece in his hand and said indifferently, ¡°Your grandson, Yates, had the gall to make a move on my one and only granddaughter. He¡¯d better be ready for the consequences.¡± He hung up with a chuckle and got back to his game. Arthur stood there, utterly lost, until a voice message yed through his phone¨Crecordings of Yates stirring up trouble between ra and Noe! ¡°You are the disgrace of the family! It¡¯s because of you lot that the Grubers havee to this! But what did Lucian mean by his ¡®one and only granddaughter¡®? Who was he talking about?¡± Arthur didn¡¯t have a clue, nor the luxury of time to figure it out. Yates was visibly panicked, ¡°Grandpa, I¡­ I just wanted to ask Ms. Schnabel out for a bite, that¡¯s all!¡± Arthur¡¯s hand flew across Yates¡¯s face with a smack. ¡°Get lost! You¡¯re a disgrace! If the Grubers go under tonight, you¡¯re sleeping under the 12.54 I At the doorway to the endy, Malving beaned against the frame and popped a gun trade with a loud anap, ¡°Going under, huh? Sooner than I thought./ CHapter 199 CHapter 199 Malvina couldn¡¯t help but smirk as she listened to Arthur¡¯s tirade echoing through the study. The bubblegum she¡¯d been chewing was now plugging the keyhole of the study¡¯s door, a petty act of defiance. Her gaze drifted across the hallway,nding on Yvonne, who looked like a deer caught in headlights. ¡°Malvina, what on earth are you doing? Are you eavesdropping on Grandpa?¡± Yvonne inquired. Malvina let out a rare chuckle, ¡°Idiot, are you scared to see me alive here? Thinking you could plot against me with your pea¨Csized brain? Do you actually believe you¡¯re capable, or that your Nourishment Pill is some kind of wonder cure?¡± She, who always loathed studying, had done her homework by spending three hours with a dictionary and poring over every bit of information she could find on that so¨Ccalled Nourishment Pill. The moment she learned it wasced with toxins, Malvina could finally breathe easy. ¡°Wh¡­what are you babbling about? I don¡¯t understand!¡± Yvonne snapped. ¡°That figures with your intelligence. No need to panic.¡± She had already sent all the rted evidence to Arthur¡¯s inbox. Once he realized he had been poisoning himself, well, Yvonne and her cohort Walden would have hell to pay. Yvonne stepped back, terror written all over her face when she watched Malvina. How could Malvina possibly know about the pill? ¡°Oh, by the way, did I mention your stupid daddy Duncan? He¡¯s going to spend the rest of his days behind bars. Surprise, surprise!¡± Malvina hadn¡¯t expected Ulrich¡¯s version of ¡®dealing with Duncan¡® to involve luring him into a police trap. Duncan was dirty, and the cops had plenty to pin on him. 2. No, Yvonne copsed to the ground, overwhelmed and frantic. If Duncan was locked away, what would be of her? She¡¯d only tasted the life of a Gruber for a short she wasn¡¯t ready to give it up! Ignoring Yvonne¡¯s despair, Malyina sneered and strode back to her bedroom. In her room, Malvina stared at a photo on her bedside table. The seemingly emboldened woman in it had a bright smile and a ck dragon tattoo proudly disyed on her arm. Tears started to fall as she watched the photo. Clutching the photo itself, she was sobbing so hard. Her pain was excruciating, her hatred overwhelming, ¡°Mom, I will find you¡­ I¡¯ll send everyone who hurt you straight to hell. I had nned to watch Arthur¡¯s despair when he realized his end was near. Did he ever consider my despair when he killed you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve prepared so much, but I can¡¯t wait any longer. Will you praise me when we meet 11:21 again? Mom, I miss you so much¡­¡± she murmured. Half an hourter, the Gruber mansion was engulfed in mes. The fire roared, consuming every inch of the estate. Arthur, awakened by the ze, felt death¡¯s cold grip. How had he fallen asleep during a serious conversation with Yates? Yates tried to find the key as soon as he woke up, only to find the door locked from the outside. ¡°Grandpa¡­ why¡­ why is our house on fire?¡± he asked. Arthur scrambled for the keys, but the lock was still jammed after he twisted it for a long time. ¡°Someone¡¯s blocked the lock!¡± In a fit of panic, Arthur knocked Yates to the floor, desperately trying to open the door himself. ¡°Who dares to cross us like this?¡± The fire soon reached the study, overwhelming Arthur and Yates with smoke until they lost consciousness. Meanwhile, at the Pris Star. Nn, monitoring the Pris Star¡¯s surveince system, had essed the Gruber¡¯s cameras, suspecting trouble tonight, ¡°Holy smokes, Boss, Malvina set the Gruber ce on fire! She¡¯s no princess; she¡¯s a warrior!¡± The entire Pris Star crew was stunned. Phecda gave a thumbs-up, ¡°Word is, Malvina¡¯s mom was killed during Arthur¡¯s power grab. He coveted Shadow Dragon Society so he joined forces with the Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s boss to get rid of the original leader and his daughter, namely Ma > mom.¡± Ivan nodded in agreement, ¡°Malvina¡¯s got guts, and that¡¯s a true revenge story. But it¡¯s a shame if she goes down with the ship.¡± Noe stood up, her eyes on Palmer by her side, ¡°I need to go to the Gruber estate. Could use a driver. You free?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Palmer would do anything, even y chauffeur, just for her. But Palmer was so willing to do that; he couldn¡¯t wait for her to call out to him every time she needed a driver. The Gruber mansion was a fiery inferno, an ever¨Cgrowing beacon in the night. Noe sped the unburned window ledge and jumped in, finding Malvina unconscious 11:21 on the bed with a peaceful and content smile on her face. Noe hoisted Malvina over her shoulder, leaping out from the same spot just as the ceiling copsed where Malvina had been lying. Noe checked Malvina¡¯s pulse after resting her in it, ¡°She¡¯s alive. To the hospital.¡± As they drove away, passing fire engines heading to the ze, Noe turned her focus back to the road ahead. They¡¯d leave the Grubers¡® fate to God. It had nothing to do with them. In the ER, just as Ulrich was about to grab a quick bite to stave off his hunger, he almost choked on his water when Malvina was rushed in on a gurney! ¡°What happened? Noe, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Save her first, Ulrich!¡± On the way to the hospital, Noe had already performed some basic first aid, and Malvina¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t too critical. Without another word, Ulrich sprinted towards the trauma center, pushing the gurney with one hand and stuffing his half¨Ceaten sandwich into Noe¡¯s arms with the other. A patient clutching his belly spotted the sudden appearance of the gurney that hadmandeered his spot and was visibly upset. ¡°My stomach is killing me! Why doesn¡¯t the doc see me first? What¡¯s with jumping the queue in this hospital?¡± he grumbled. Resources in the ER were scarce, and in emergencies, the most severe cases took precedence. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting here for two hours! You can¡¯t just cut in line! I¡¯m going to filint!¡± The nurse cast a stern nce at them, ¡°You¡¯ve just got a stomach bug and you can handle the pain! But she might be dying! Emergency rooms are for saving lives, for heaven¡¯s sake!¡± A few patients were about to protest when suddenly another gurney was rushed in from outside. A swarm of medics surrounded it with Calvin sprinting alongside, desperately clutching an IV bag. ¡°Move! Get out of the way! Clear a path! Alert the OR!¡± Calvin¡¯s eyes locked on Noe, and in an instant, it was as if he had seen an angel! ¡°Noe,e with me. This patient is in a critical condition!¡± CHapter 200 CHapter 200 Seeing the figure sprawled out on the hospital bed, Noe furrowed her brow. Calvin¡¯s face lit up with hope upon spotting Noe! The patient was in critical condition, but he remembered Noe¡¯s paper was about the very research on the symptoms now manifesting before them. Noe nced at Palmer and passed the sandwich Ulrich had handed her to Palmer¡¯s waiting hands. ¡°Be back in a jiffy.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Palmer knew she¡¯d dive into the fray, so a faint smile yed on his lips. Donning surgical scrubs, Noe followed Calvin into the ER. ¡°Take a gander, he¡¯s got what looks like a problem in his aortic dissection. The inneryer of the aorta¡¯s torn, and it¡¯s a Type A. Guy¡¯s passing out and bleeding massively from the dissection, and they didn¡¯t even dare do CPR on the way here. We¡¯ve got to operate now, and honestly, even I¡¯ve only got a thirty percent shot at pulling this off.¡± Noe nodded. She grasped the gravity of the situation and looked up at Calvin with a serious tone, ¡°I¡¯ll take over, just sign the consent.¡± Calvin gritted his teeth. He knew there was no time to waver, thus quickly stepping aside for Noe. ¡°Let¡¯s get anesthesia going and prep for surgery!¡± Seeing the hesitant looks from the other doctors, Calvin asserted firmly, ¡°I¡¯m in charge! We¡¯re all backing Noe on this!¡± With Calvin¡¯s word and the urgency of the patient¡¯s condition, the ER buzzed to action. Two hourster. The assisting doctor wiped the sweat from Noe¡¯s forehead with awe at her steady hand. No wonder Professor Calvin had insisted on her for the operation. Her skill was rare even among seasoned surgical experts! Noe exhaled a sigh of relief, ¡°The surgery went well, but we need to monitor closely for complications like renal failure.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll inform the family.¡± Calvin affirmed. Noe nodded and exited with Calvin while peeling off her surgical attire. ¡°Where did you pick up this case?¡± she asked. 11:21 Calvin wasn¡¯t an ER doc, so stumbling upon such a dire case was a rarity for him. He chuckled wryly, ¡°The patient¡¯s Lucian¡¯s grandson. Copsed fresh off the ne at the airport, and I just happened to be there after a conference.¡± He was so lucky to have run into Noe of all people. ¡°Noe, what brings you to the hospital? Checking on your brother?¡± ¡°No, the Gruber family had a fire. Malvina got burned and we rushed her here.¡± Calvin was at a loss for words. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this under wraps from Ulrich; I don¡¯t want him worried. You signed off on it anyway, so it¡¯s not on me. If anyplications arise, call me.¡± Noe added. But Noe was confident in her work. With proper care, the patient should pull through. Calvin gave a wry smile while washing his hands, ¡°Fine by me. Just think, saving a patient with an aortic dissection disease puts me in the limelight for years toe at the hospital¡¯s award ceremonies. If you don¡¯t want the credit, I¡¯ll take it!¡± ¡°It¡¯s yours. I don¡¯t need it.¡± Such des never mattered to Noe. Stepping out of the OR, Palmer was briefing Annie on the Gruber family incident. Annie rushed over when she saw Noe, ¡°Ms. Noe! The news of the Gruber family¡¯s bankruptcy will break tomorrow, but it¡¯s unclear how many made it out of the fire. They¡¯ve nabbed the arsonist, a member of the Shadow Dragon Society.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow, ¡°Shadow Dragon Society?¡± ¡°Yeah, an insider helped Malvina start the fire. Apparently, the Gruber family¡¯s gasoline was all supplied by the Shadow Dragon Society. He imed he had no idea Malvina wanted to end it all. Once he knew Malvina was hospitalized, he took the fall and got arrested.¡± The ER lights finally went off, and a weary Ulrich emerged. ¡°She¡¯ll live, but doesn¡¯t seem to want to. The burn and smoke inhtion aren¡¯t too bad; her airway¡¯s clear.¡± He said. Malvina¡¯s biggest issue was ack of will to live. Muttering, Ulrich added, ¡°Why on earth would she kill herself out of the blue? You and Palmer can head on home, Noe. I¡¯ve got it from here so she¡¯ll make it.¡± ¡°Alright. Will she scar?¡± ¡°Not on her face, maybe on her legs. But a tattoo will cover that up nicely in the future,¡± Ulrich replied honestly. Noe looked at her brother. She had no idea that her brother was a caring doctor who 11:21 even thought about how to treat future wounds for his patient. ¡°We¡¯re off then. Let her know to call me when she wakes. Ordered you some food; it¡¯s in your office. Lay off the sandwiches.¡± With a wave of the sandwich in her hand, Noe and Palmer left the hospital. Hearing about the meal from his sister, Ulrich beamed with joy. The Schnabel family group chat soon buzzed with Ulrich¡¯s boastful videos. ¡°Who¡¯s the angel that bought me thiste¨Cnight feast? Oh, it¡¯s my sis!¡± Beckett chimed in, ¡°Why¡¯s she at the hospital sote?¡± Stirling added, ¡°Thought Noe was with Palmer? Howe she¡¯s in hospital? Did he do something?¡± Ulrich quickly rified, and everyone rxed. ra scrolled through her gallery to share all those photos in the group, ¡°Look at all these meals my sis arranged for me every day. She worries that I won¡¯t eat well in Emerald County. She loves me!¡± Jasper teased, ¡°Now that you¡¯re not in Emerald County, you can skip meals.¡± ¡°So jealous, huh? I even get to snuggle with sis at night, eat your hearts out, boys~¡± ra signed off from the group chat with a sense of satisfaction and quickly clicked on Ulrich¡¯s private message. [Since Ms. Gruber got burnt with you being the lead doc and all, you gotta keep a closer eye on her, ya know?] Ulrich was all bewildered. Why should he care about Malvina in particr? Didn¡¯t he care about all his patients? Bright and early the next day, Noe arrived at the hospital with ra in tow. Malvina was awake. Her once shiny hair was now dull and straw¨Clike, her face drawn and tired, lacking its usual sparkle. ¡°Noe, sweetie, thanks for saving me. Love you to bits.¡± She said. Noe just shook her head, handing Malvina a plush pillow to lean onfortably. Noe knew what Malvina fretted about and didn¡¯t keep her in the dark. ¡°The Grubers are bankrupt. Arthur, Yates and Walden are all hanging by a thread, but Yvonne Gruber managed to hightail it out.¡± Malvina nodded, ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s some silver lining, I guess.¡± RIA 11-21 ra was feeling uneasy, ¡°Malvina, what are you gonna do with the Grubers going under?¡± Malvina gave a weak smile, her hand wrapped in bandages as she brushed her hair aside. ¡°I¡¯ve got a stash, you know. Kept it hidden. Even if the Grubers are bust, I¡¯ve got my own trove ¨C a bunch of gold bars worth a few hundred grand! Smart, huh? But I¡­ never thought I¡¯d make it out alive.¡± Her gaze feil on the photo album ced beside her, her eyes brimming with longing. ¡°I miss my mom, miss her every day. So much that when I see Sienna calling to check if you¡¯ve eaten, what you had, it just makes me wanna cry.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. She wiped away a tear, the corners of her lips pulling into a weary smile. ¡°I¡¯m really scared, you know. Scared Arthur would sell me off to some old geezer for a good price, scared Yates might off me someday, scared I won¡¯t get to avenge my mom, and I was also scared of dying!¡± She was so full of fear, yet when it came time to avenge her mother, she showed such courage. The door to the room swung open, and there stood Ulrich, his face set in a stern expression as he looked at Malvina, ¡°Your life was saved by me, Ms. Gruber! You don¡¯t get to throw it away!¡± ALA CHapter 201 CHapter 201 Malvina blinked, looking at Ulrich who stood before her. ¡°Was it Dr. Schnabel who saved me? Thanks. Let¡¯s forget about the whole neck¨Cgrabbing and waist¨Ctouching incident from before. We¡¯re square now, huh?¡± ra looked at Ulrich with a mix of disgust and disbelief. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into, Ulrich? You¡¯re acting like a street thug.¡± Ulrich, faced with the expectant gazes of two sisters, felt his face flush with embarrassment. ¡°I needed Ms. Gruber¡¯s help to locate the whereabouts of the Shadow Dragon Society. It was an emergency, and I¡¯ve apologized for my actions!¡± The Schnabels rarely mingled with the Grubers, and Ulrich only knew Malvina as the feisty and temperamental heiress. His actions had been out of sheer desperation, so how could he have known what Malvina was really like? Malvina offered a weak smile, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m a forgiving soul. I didn¡¯t let it slidest time, but this time you, are forgiven.¡± Noe popped open the thermos she had brought and handed it to Malvina. ¡°My mom prepared this for you. Don¡¯t turn your nose up at it.¡± Sienna knew that Malvina and her baby daughter got along well, so she insisted that they bring something to eat when they went out, iming that Malvina must have had a tough life growing up without a mother¡¯s care. Imagine that¡­ neither of the Schnabel daughters had managed to make a proper friend yet! Sienna was as excited as if her own daughter had made her first friend. The steamy soup shimmered with a golden hue, while another container held a fragrant almond dessert. Noe set the dessert beside Malvina, ¡°Have this. You inhaled a lot of smoke; this is good for the lungs.¡± Malvina, holding the warm soup, teared up as she looked at Noe. ¡°Did Sienna prepare this for me?¡± she asked. s ¡°Yeah, My mom said you¡¯ve been on your own and wanted us to bring this over. She¡¯ll keep sending food while you¡¯re in the hospital, so don¡¯t worry.¡± 11-21 The scent of the delicious soup with the well¨Cprepared dessert made Malvina¡¯s heart swell with a bittersweet feeling, and yet she couldn¡¯t help but smile. So, there was someone who cared for her after all. Tears rolled down her cheeks and disappeared into the soup. ¡°Thank you, Noe, my dear. It¡¯s so good to have you!¡± She looked at Noe, sobbing with gratitude. If it weren¡¯t for Noe, she wouldn¡¯t be enjoying such a wonderful soup. ¡°I¡¯ve never met my mother. As long as I can remember, my dad always said she was no good. But it¡¯s hrious because Yates is even older than me. The child from a secretary¡¯s affair is older than the legitimate one; talk about who¡¯s the decent one!¡± ¡°Then, you know, people from the Shadow Dragon Society found me and gave me a lot of stuff. My mom knew she couldn¡¯t be there as I grew up, so she left me lots of things.¡± Malvina choked up as she was taking small sips of the soup Sienna had prepared for her. It was the first time she truly felt a mother¡¯s care, even if it wasn¡¯t from her own mother. Noe handed Malvina a tissue to wipe away her tears, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. You¡¯ve done so well, and things are going to get better.¡± ra nudged Ulrich, who was silently standing by. ¡°That¡¯s right, Ms. Gruber. You¡¯ve got the whole future ahead of you! Ulrich will make sure your injuries heal without leaving a scar¨CI stake his reputation on it!¡± Ulrich was baffled. When had he promised that Malvina¡¯s burns wouldn¡¯t scar? He was no miracle worker! Her leg burns might not be extensive, but given the severity, a full recover impossible. What was he supposed to guarantee? Why wasn¡¯t ra staking her own reputation? emed almost But faced with Malvina¡¯s eyes, which were shining with tears, Ulrich couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything. Instead, he swallowed his words and turned away with a pang of sympathy in his heart. ¡°Sure, I promise.¡± Meanwhile, in the ICU. Calvin looked at the patient on the bed and gave a relieved sigh. ¡°He¡¯s finally awake. Otherwise, I¡¯d have had a hard time exining to Lucian.¡± 11:21 The man in the bed didn¡¯t have the energy to speak but looked at Calvin confusedly. He remembered being saved by a girl who didn¡¯t look or sound like Calvin. He was sure that Calvin hadn¡¯t been the one who operated on him. But who was it then? ¡°Alright. Just rest up. Lucian is on his way.¡± After arranging a battery of tests to ensure all the patient¡¯s vitals were stable, Calvin stepped out of the ICU, running into Ulrich and Noe as they left a room. Ulrich pped Calvin on the shoulder, ¡°Nicely done, Professor Calvin. You saved a patient with an aortic dissection problem.¡± ¡°Ah, you would¡¯ve done the same had you been there. If it weren¡¯t for you being tied up with another emergency, this case would¡¯ve likely been yours.¡± Calvin spoke while giving Noe a knowing wink, indicating that everything went well with the patient. ¡°It¡¯s all the same when saving lives. His situation was dire; even if I were there, I can¡¯t say the oue would have been this good.¡± Thinking of the patient¡¯s operation, Ulrich was amazed. Calvin was indeed a top¨Cnotch surgeon among the country! Calvin nced at Noe and nearly rolled his eyes. He only got this one because Noe was indifferent to taking credit. Noe appeared nonchnt. She barely curved her lips and had no idea that she was the one to be praised. ¡°And the Gruber family were taken to which hospital?¡± Calvin shook his head, ¡°Over at the hospital next door. The Gruber family¡¯s mess is all over the news¨Cbankruptcy and fire, what a spectacle. I reckon the old man might be saved, but he¡¯s likely to end up in a vegetative state.¡± he Noe turned around and spoke with a hint of detachment, ¡°He overdoser Nourishment Pill. Even if he lives as a vegetable, he won¡¯t be living much of a life.¡± Arthur¡¯s days were numbered even without the fire. Calvin¡¯s initial shock gave way to understanding as he nodded, ¡°The Gruber boys are in serious trouble. If they don¡¯t make it, it¡¯s game over for the Gruber dynasty.¡± Ulrich thought about the Gruber family¡¯s dodgy dealings and had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. His professionalism held him back. ¡°Yvonne wasn¡¯t hurt too badly¨Cthough.¡± Calvin¡¯s face twisted into something odd when he mentioned Yvonne. He couldn¡¯t quite figure out how Yvonne went from the Schnabels to the Grubers. Yvonne¡¯s fringe position in the Gruber household meant she got one of the lesser rooms, 11:22 which ironically let her escape quickly when the fire started. Noe¡¯s gazended on Malvina, who was in conversation with ra. She kept her back straight though her face bore the signs of weariness. Whatever she was discussing with ra was bringing smiles to both of their faces. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed them in a serene glow, as if that was a moment of tranquil time. Noe¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile, and she chuckled, ¡°No worries, let the rescue happen. But, saved or not, the Grubers are done for.¡± The real shocker she had in store for the Grubers was still waiting in the wings! ra closed the door of the hospital room and stepped out, ¡°Convinced her to stay at the Schnabel estate for a bit once she¡¯s healed. Aren¡¯t I just the best? Bro, there¡¯s no way to fix Malvina¡¯s burns?¡± Ulrich¡¯s face twisted with conflict. Catching Noe¡¯s cue, Calvin cleared his throat, ¡°Well, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got something up my sleeve!¡± CHapter 202 CHapter 202 ¡°So you also know things about burns, Professor Calvin.¡± ra said. Calvin smiled mysteriously and gave Ulrich a reassuring pat on the shoulder, ¡°I haven¡¯t personally researched it, but I know someone who can make sure Ms. Gruber won¡¯t have a scar from that burn. Let me reach out to her.¡± Ulrich knew that if Calvin vouched for someone, they had to be good. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for the great news from you, Professor Calvin. And if your friend requires a hefty fee for the treatment, just let me know. Ms. Gruber might not have the funds right now,¡± he imed. ¡°No worries, my friend charges fairly.¡± Calvin said. Noe rolled her eyes at Calvin¡¯s grimace and focused elsewhere. Healing Malvina¡¯s burn was an easy task; she just needed to whip up a salve in theb when she had a moment. ra wrapped an arm around Noe¡¯s shoulder and clicked tongue in amazement. ¡°Noe, do you think Ulrich got a screw loose or something? Is he, um, ying phnthropist?¡± And he was even offering to cover medical expenses, which was totally out of character. Noe nodded, ¡°Maybe he feels guilty about almost hurting Malvina?¡± ¡°Ha! Guilty? As if he knows the meaning of the word. That¡¯s something Stirling had wiped out ages ago!¡± Ulrich bopped ra on the head and then tenderly ruffled Noe¡¯s hair. ¡°Don¡¯t lead Noe astray. And don¡¯t listen to your sister¡¯s nonsense, Noe! I just feel bad for her, nothing more.¡± He said. ¡°Oh, please. There are plenty of people to pity. Why don¡¯t you pay their medical bills?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me give you a whooping at the hospital, ra!¡± ra and Ulrich wanted to fight each other, but they were careful not to hurt Noe. Also, theynd their blows so softly. Watching that, Noe felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Lavinia, pushing Lucian in his wheelchair, appeared down the hall. ra swiftly skated behind Lucian and tattled with theatrical ir, ¡°Grandpa Lucian, Ulrich hit me! The heartless doctor has no medical ethics¨Creporting him!¡± Lucian could tell Ulrich was just fooling around with ra and shook his head in exasperation, turning to Calvin, ¡°Professor Calvin, how¡¯s my grandson doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s stable for now. Would you like to see him?¡± ¡°Of course, I have to check on him. With his parents abroad, so I¡¯d never forgive myself if something went wrong!¡± Lucian then looked at ra and Noe, ¡°You girls shoulde in with me, okay?¡± Noe knew Lucian wanted ra to spend some time with the patient inside since the eldest grandson of Richardson was also a cousin of ra¡¯s. ra nodded, ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll join you.¡± ¡°Well, so sorry to trouble you guys,¡± Lavinia said with a helpless smile. She had been unwell, and her condition had worsenedst year, nearly proving fatal. Lucian, after much deliberation and consultation with Marcel, chose not to burden Lavinia with the news. Lucian patted ra¡¯s hand, aplex mix of emotions flickering across his face as he hesitated to say something. He knew how cruel it was not to tell Lavinia the truth, but the risk of stimting her brain was too great. With a heavy sigh, Lucian said, ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Inside the hospital room, Lorne Richardson, surrounded by a tangle of tubes, tried to move his fingers at the sight of Lucian. ¡°Just rest easy, the important thing is you¡¯re okay. You nearly gave me a heart attack.¡± Lucian said. Standing by the bed, Calvin whispered to Noe, ¡°He¡¯s doing well with all his vitals stable, and the operation was a sess.¡± Noe nodded slightly, ¡°Got it. Call me if anything changes. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to tell Ulrich? Carrying all this credit around makes my back ache.¡± Calvin said. ¡°If you don¡¯t want the credit, next time I¡¯ll find someone else.¡± Calvin¡¯s grin was wide enough to split his face. His name would be on the department¡¯s commendations for the next three years at least, so he wouldn¡¯t give up this credit. Noe nced at Lorne on the bed, ¡°Show me the vital stats report, and let¡¯s give the room back to Grandpa Lucian and others.¡± Calvin followed Noe out, clearing the way for the Richardson family. Hearing his familiar voice, Lorne¡¯s fingers twitched again. At the Schnabel Manor in Phoenix Tower, a gemstone gambling event had concluded. The 11:22 Schnabel family¡¯s status in the gemstone market was now unchallenged, so Beckett¡¯s face was alight with a radiant smile. And just thinking about the profit brought by half of the gemstone market made Beckett¡¯s mood soar. Plus, with the Gruber family¡¯s bankruptcy, his spirits lifted even higher and he was satisfied with Ulrich¡¯s efficiency. Master Hector lounged in the living room with Yasbel kneading his shoulders. ¡°Put some muscle into it. Haven¡¯t you eaten?¡± he quipped. ¡°No, I¡¯m an actress; I have to maintain my figure. Don¡¯t you get it?¡± ¡°Forget that! Don¡¯t you know that eating well is a blessing? And calling yourself an actress for that little gig? Ridiculous! You¡¯ve squandered the skills I taught you!¡± Yasbel, fuming,nded a heavy punch on Master Hector¡¯s shoulder and plopped down beside him. Acting was her dream, and she knew Master Hector would give her a hard time for it. Stirling blinked, understandingly stepped in to massage Master Hector, and nced at Yasbel, whom he had coborated with several times. ¡°Is Yasbel your apprentice, Hector?¡± he asked. Master Hector was chuckling heartily as Stirling applied the massage, and his affection for the Schnabel n was growing by the minute, ¡°No way, no way. I¡¯m not acknowledging that kid as my apprentice.¡± Within the Pris Star collective, the term ¡®apprenticeship¡® was more about legacy than tutge. The elder ones raised the new generation to pass down a lifetime of knowledge and skill. But Yasbel, poor thing, just wasn¡¯t cut out for the gem game. Whether it was Master Hector and Yasbel, or Master Killian and Ivan, they never admitted to any master¨Capprentice rtionship in public. It was more of a mentorship than anything formal. Tristan was also in high spirits. He chucked away as he said, ¡°We owe you one today, Master Hector. All your expenses while you¡¯re in Imperial City are on the Schnabel family.¡± ¡°No problem! Speaking of which, where¡¯s your daughter? I saw her yesterday and I think she¡¯s got a knack for this gem business. Let¡¯s see if she¡¯s willing to learn a thing or two from me!¡± Hector said. The folks from the Schnabel family looked at Master Hector in sheer astonishment. After all, Hector was a legend among the old¨Cschool Gemstone Gamblers. The high¨Cquality gems he had a hand in were countless, and the Schnabels had their fair share of stones that came from his magic touch. Noe stood at the doorway, watching Hector with a resigned expression. ¡°I¡¯m not interested. I¡¯ve got a lot on my te and no time for gem gambling. You can go now; your hotel is all arranged.¡± She said. Hector turned to see Noe and met her warning gaze with a mischievous grin, ¡°Aw,e on, didn¡¯t I see you crack open a fine stone yesterday? I sense some real talent there!¡± ¡°Just beginner¡¯s luck.¡± Noe knew Hector just couldn¡¯t resist showing off. Seeing Master Killian openly acknowledge his mentorship with her made Hector antsy. Yet she wasn¡¯t ready to reveal her gem gambling prowess to the Schnabel family just yet. Hector had been waiting for Noe¡¯s return, and now that she was back, he was content. The Schnabels feared Master Hector¡¯s displeasure, and Tristan also quickly shot up, ¡°Master Hector, Noe didn¡¯t mean any disrespect. It¡¯s just she truly doesn¡¯t get the whole gem thing. It¡¯s just a kid¡¯s beginner¡¯s luck. We appreciate your kind offer, but let¡¯s just say Noe isn¡¯t keen. Maybe we can discuss this some other time?¡± Tristan wouldn¡¯t dream of making his daughter do something she disliked. Since Noe had expressed disinterest, he wasn¡¯t about to push her into it. Hector nced at Tristan. As a father, he seemed just alright. He was definitely more reliable than thest one. Master Hector looked away and waved at Noe, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off. Left you a little something, and don¡¯t forget to open it!¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. CHapter 203 CHapter 203 Master Hector was one to act on impulse. He grabbed Vashel, who was in the midst of savoring a slice of cake, on his way out from the Schnabel family estate Beckett removed his sses, his voice bubbling with excitement, ¡°Our farity¡¯s business the gemstone market is set with today¡¯s stone¨Cgambling event. I¡¯ve got my eye on a few prospects¡± Stirling was puzzled, ¡°You¡¯ve got enough money, so why bother with the gemston market? it¡¯s peanutspared to your oil business¡± hat do you know? From now on, Mom, Noe, and ra¡¯s jewelry needs are all sorted Beckett wasn¡¯t just eyeing the gemstone quary to make a quick buck. He was after a direct pipeline of premium gemstones for the Schnabel n. If the Schnabels had their own gemstone quarry and cornered a slice of the gemstone trade, Sienna and the two girls would never want for jewelry again. Beckett¡¯s life¡¯s pleasure was making money, but more so, he enjoyed spending what he earned. Noelia retreated to her room, where Master Hector¡¯s gift awaited her. The box, carved from gemstone, appeared seamless with no apparent way to pry it open. The Pris Star had their unique way of opening such boxes, requiring not just a fixed mortise and tenon joint but also abination of password and fingerprint. A single mistake would mean the box remained shut. With a ¡°click¡± the box yielded to Noe¡¯s touch, revealing an old photograph inside. Three young people were captured in that faded photo: Harriet Lambert, Xavier, and a man Noe did not recognize. Noe¡¯s eyes pupils dted on seeing that A note was also tucked inside the box: [Noe, I know you¡¯re looking into your grandmother¡¯s past. This is for you. Also, the osmanthus carving you made hides two USB drives¨Cfind Xavier. From Hector.] Her osmanthus carving? Indeed, the carving had twopartments for USB drives, a precaution Noe took in case one failed or got damaged. But she hadn¡¯t told her grandmother about the second slot! Noe stood up and approached the collection shelf in her room to retrieve the osmanthus carving. Marcel had not taken this piece; it was left for Noe. After all, in the old man¡¯s eyes, Noe, who had apanied Harriet through it all, deserved her grandmother¡¯s keepsakes more than he did Gently twisting the base of the carving, Noe found the second USBpartment, which should have also contained another piece of osmanthus branch but was now eerily empty. When had her grandmother discovered the extra USB in the carving? Noelia dialed Xavier for a video call. Xavier, shing his pearly whites, answered Noe¡¯s call with gusto, ¡°Hey, kiddo! Westwood Mercenary Corps is all screwed! Mission aplished!¡± For Xavier, a man of considerable sway within Lockhart Prison, eliminating a second¨Cstring mercenary group that survived on smuggling arms at the border was a mere flex of muscle. Noells waved the photo in front of Xavier. ¡°Who is this?¡± she asked ¡°How do you have that picture?¡± Xavier¡¯s demeanor shifted to grave seriousness in an instant, removing his sunsses to better scrutinize the photo in Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°Just tell me who he is¡± Without hesitation, Xavier denied, ¡°Don¡¯t know him!¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Almost holding hands in the photo, and you say you don¡¯t know him?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! I don¡¯t swing that way, kiddo! This guy¡­ well, he¡¯s from Pris Star. If it weren¡¯t for Marcel, this dude might¡¯ve been your grandpa.¡± As far as Xavier was concerned, Ha being Noe¡¯s grandmother was all that mattered. Who the grandpa was didn¡¯t really make a difference, especially since Marcel was no saint himself. ¡°He¡¯s from Pris Star? Why don¡¯t I know him?¡± Xavier¡¯s smile turned cryptic, ¡°Pris Star isn¡¯t just a duo, my dear! Even if you¡¯ve got a few stars in your hands right now, don¡¯t think 10.27 there aren¡¯t older stars out there. This guy¡¯s one of the old guards of Pris Star, namely the Merak from back in the day. And I have no Idea which side he belongs. But he was already leading the pack when your grandma joined up with Polens Stail¡± Noe¡¯s eyes widened instantly. ¡°Chandma was part of Poles Star?¡± Xavier quickly covered his mouth and cursed for seconds. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s ancient History! Gotta go, kiddo. I¡¯ve got a pot of braised beef waiting!¡± Noe pressed. Onest question. Where is he now?: He left Pris Sts with your grandma. Now he¡¯s probably running some university as a dean. If you¡¯re after something to do with your grandma, he¡¯s your man, not Marcel * Why haven¡¯t you looked for him?¡± Noe asked. Xavier would surely want whatever Harriet had left behind. Why hadn¡¯t he sought out this man? Xavier dered with a straight face. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m still serving time in Lockhart Prison, ain¡¯t I? Can¡¯t just leave my cell, I¡¯m a criminal!¡± Noe paused. Considering Xavier¡¯s stronghold in Lockhart Prison, she hardly saw any signs of him being incarcerated. ¡°Just don¡¯t think about sending some to look for him. He is too cunning, and I¡¯m no match Xavier shook his head as if fearing Noe might ask something he couldn¡¯t reveal, hurriedly cut off the call, and turned his attention back to his prison¡± braised beel Noe collected her thoughts and swiftly set up herpactptop, booting up the internalwork of Pris Star, ¡°Investigating Former Pns Stars Merak with the use of a big data facial recognition system to match faces and photos.¡± Noe uploaded the picture of the man from the group photo into their chat, and it didn¡¯t take long before Mizar sent a message back: [Garrick, a postdoc from Harvardton University, now the dean of Imperial University and a professor at the Design Academy. Boss, can you believe this guy¡¯s from Pris Star? Howe we never heard about it?] But inside Pris Star, no one really made much of a fuss about Garrick¡¯s upation. After all, when you¡¯ve got an Oscar¨Cwinning actress in your ranks, being a university dean seems pretty tame byparison. Alioth¡¯s still dreaming about setting up a food truck outside the local elementary school selling hot dogs and fries. Mizar shoot back a question mark and remarked: [Howe I¡¯ve never heard of the ¡®former Merak¡® before? I checked his resume, and there¡¯s arge gap in his history indeed. His published papers have got Pris Star all over them. After matching him with other guys who look like him in the pictures, there¡¯s no doubt it¡¯s him! Boss, weren¡¯t you nning on attending Imperial University?] The former Merak had certainly piqued the interest of everyone at Pris Star, and they were all itching to go see what kind of person he really was Noe pondered for a moment, her mind swirling with questions. It seemed she would have to find Garrick and have a chat. Why would her grandmother, if she was part of Pris Star, end up in a ce like Glen Vige? And did she know Pris Star as well? But deep down, Noe always believed that her grandmother would never harm her. With a soft sigh, Noe quickly replied; [Set it up. We¡¯ll enroll when school starts next month!] [Yay! We are going to school with our boss!] e had been to The bunch of Pris Star prodigies, who had never spent a day in a formal ssroom, were brimming with excitement about college life. Noe closed herptop and ced it back on the collection shelf, then turned to look out towards the balcony. ¡°Are you addicted to window¨Cclimbing or what, Palmer?¡± 312 CHapter 204 CHapter 204 Palmer¡¯s fingers coaxed Noe¡¯s curtains aside. Leaningzily against the balcony rail, his gaze swept over the potted blooms Sienna had chosen with care¨Ca riot of color that celebrated the vigor of life. The scent of flowers mingled with something odd, causing Noe to frown slightly. ¡°You¡­¡± she hesitated. ¡°Just missed you,¡± Palmer said. ¡°Saw you were busy, and I didn¡¯t want to intrude.¡± Clear weariness tinged his features, but azy curve softened the lines of his face. With the room¡¯s light swallowed by the heavy drapes, Palmer under the moon took on an alluring and mystical air. Noe stepped toward him, pausing at the window¡¯s edge, ¡°It seems that my fianc¨¦e has her own empire to run; I¡¯ve got my hands full for a while, too. Pock Group¡¯s got a slew of mergers on the table. Would you miss me if I didn¡¯te around, my fianc¨¦e?¡± The mountain of paperwork that came with Pock Group¡¯s dealings justified Palmer¡¯s busyness. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ try.¡± She said. His smile deepened, ¡°Good. Once this is all over, I¡¯ve got a story for you.¡± ¡°What story?¡± ¡°About the first time we met! You might¡¯ve forgotten, but I remember every detail.¡± With a lingering gaze that seemed to caress her from afar, Palmer drew back his hand as if to touch her, then thought better of it. ¡°Sweet dreams.¡± He swung himself from the balcony with a grace that belied his fatigue. His car purred to life in the shadows¨Che didn¡¯t return to the neighboring Dragon Tower. Onest look at Noe¡¯s rose¨Cframed room, and his smile dropped into a mask of ice. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He said. ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you gonna tell Ms. Noe where you¡¯re off to?¡± ¡°No need. If she cares, she¡¯ll worry without me saying a thing. If she doesn¡¯t, it¡¯s better she doesn¡¯t fret.¡± He wished for her a night free from concern¨Cfor her dreams to be as peaceful as the stars above. Hospital, private room. Yvonne, leaning on a cane, had finally found her way to Malvina¡¯s room before she slipped in while the nurses were distracted. Gazing down at Malvina, her face twisted with derision, ¡°Ever imagine you¡¯d be here, Malvina? It¡¯s hrious!¡± Malvina put down theic book she was reading, her gaze lifting to meet Yvonne¡¯s. Der heiress?dy here!¡± ¡°Hrious? How about you show some respect and kneel? I never took you for much, and it seems you¡¯re bent on proving me right.¡± Yvonne hadn¡¯t expected Malvina to mock her, not in this state! She scoffed, ¡°You still think you¡¯re the high and mi The Gruber fortune¡¯s gone, and here you are, bedridden¨Cmight even end up scarred. You¡¯re less than me now¨CI¡¯m Malvina raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°Oh, ady? So which nightclub¡¯s got you dancing on tables, my deardy? Never seen a club desperate enough for a limping, sour¨C faced dy¡® like you.¡± 2 2 2 2 2 0 2. Yvonne seethed, itching to p Malvina silly. She remembered her purpose, so she was quelling the storm of anger and jealousy. Why should Malvina, even now, trample her dignity? ¡°Listen up, Malvina. Don¡¯t y games with me. Get ahold of Shadow Dragon Society and free my father! And whatever hidden assets the Gruber family has left¨CI¡¯m a Gruber too, and you owe me a share!¡± Yvonne gritted her teeth. Malvina now finally understood Yvonne¡¯s goal here. Arms folded, she looked down her nose at Yvonne. ¡°Duncan got himself locked up because he¡¯s as dirty as theye. And as/for the Shadow Dragon Society, most of them are dead or in cuffs. Who¡¯s left to call?¡± The remnants of the Shadow Dragon Society were in Malvina¡¯s hands, but why would she help Duncan, a man of more brawn than brains? ¡°As for the Gruber¡¯s money, the old man¡¯s still kicking. Go to him instead of me. But you¡¯d better hurry, or you¡¯ll be left with nothing.¡± The old man could kick the bucket at any moment, and she was almost worried about if Yvonne could catch thest crumbs of their crumbling dynasty. Yvonne¡¯s eyes flicked with malice. Even bankrupt, the Gruber family could still be loaded. Arthur surely had funds. If she could get the money from his hand, her life in Imperial City would be secured. Taking steps closer to Malvina, her eyes were dripping venom, ¡°I¡¯ve despised you for too long! Why should you have ever humiliated me 10:27 In our family?¡± Her hand raised for a p, but it was caught by a chilling grip. ¡°Ah¨CIt hurts!¡± she eximed. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ulrich¡¯s face was a mask of frost as he twisted Yvonne¡¯s wrist with a sickening crack. ¡°Ulrich, how can you hit me? Let go!¡± He flung Yvonne aside, her body hitting the ground with a series of bone¨Cchilling snaps. Tears streaked down Yvonne¡¯s face. The fire hadn¡¯t left her with any serious injuries, but now, thanks to Ulrich¡¯s rough handling, she felt like all her bones were about to shatter! ¡°¡­ I¡¯m going to report you, and you¡¯ll be out of a job soon, Ulrich! How dare a doctor at this hospitaly hands on a patient!?¡± Ulrich looked at Yvonne with a chilling gaze, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been itching to do just that.¡°. ¡°Sometimes, upholding medical ethics can be exhausting. The day yourint against me seeds, I swear I¡¯ll personally disassemble every single bone in your body.¡± His chilly words wereced with undeniable menace, and with that, Yvonne swallowed the retort she had ready. Ulrich closed the door of the hospital room and turned to face Malvina, who had been watching the whole scene. ¡°Are you out of your mind? She tried to hit you, and you didn¡¯t even try to dodge?¡± he asked. ¡°Huh? She couldn¡¯t have beaten me anyway. I was trained by the Shadow Dragon Society¡­¡± Malvina blinked at Ulrich¡¯s growing irritation and quickly changed her tune. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make sure to dodge next time.¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡± Ulrich pinched the bridge of his nose and took out his phone to send a few messages. ¡°She won¡¯t be bothering you anymore. We used to cut her some ck because of her grandmother, but we eventually realized she¡¯s an ingrate who was always coveting what belongs to Noe and ra.¡± Thankfully, they had realized it not toote. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were interested in EKGsst time? I¡¯ve brought you some authoritative literature.¡± He added. Malvina looked at the journals filled with medical terms beside her and twisted her face. Looking at Ulrich, she suddenly asked, ¡°Dr. Schnabel, are all the kids in your family really bright?¡± Ulrich nodded, ¡°Yeah, Stirling¡¯s the least sharp, that¡¯s why he went into showbiz.¡± ¡°And your mom¡­ Sienna doesn¡¯t y favorites?¡± Ulrich gave Malvina a puzzled look. ¡°y favorites? My mom can even ept my dad, and his IQ isn¡¯t exactly sky¨Chigh. Stirling¡¯s still got him beat by a long shot!¡± Malvina draped the journal over her head, muttering to herself, ¡°Sienna¡¯s a great mom, even if the son she raised is a bit¡­ off.¡± Was she really interested in EKGs after all? ??? CHapter 205 CHapter 205 She was intrigued by the Schnabels instead! N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Malvina never expected that her casual inquiries about the Schnabel family,bined with her polite Interest in Ulrich¡¯s medical work, would lead him to believe she was fascinated by the field of medicine. Did she really look like someone who could understand all those medical terms? Luckily for her, a nurse poked her head in to summon the ever¨Cchatty Ulrich, ¡°Dr. Schnabel, there¡¯s an emergency patient!¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡± Ulrich dashed off, and Malvina seized the moment to toss aside the stack of medical journals he¡¯d handed her while taking a deep breath in relief. Beside her was the shiny new smartphone Noe had given her, a perfect recement for the one that had perished in the fire. She had no idea how Noe had managed to restore everything from that old phone. If Malvina hadn¡¯t confirmed its demise herself, she would have suspected this was her original phone. The Schnabels were truly a family of geniuses. E Nervously biting her nails, Malvina scrolled through the contacts in her phone and dialed Noe¡¯s number. Noe had thought of everything¨Cnot only had she restored the phone¡¯s original content, but she had also saved several important numbers: her own, ra¡¯s, and even Ulrich¡¯s. ¡°Hey, Noe, you up for hanging out?¡± she called and asked. ¡°I¡¯lle pick you up.¡± Noe answered. ¡°Perfect! I¡¯ll wait for you at the hospital entrance.¡± Half an hourter, Noe zoomed up to the hospital on her motorcycle, looking every inch the rebel in her ck leather jacket. Taking off her helmet, she shook out her tousled hair as her strands were dancing in the breeze. Malvina hobbled over, swamped in an oversized coat that clearly belonged to Ulrich. ¡°Did you sneak out without telling Ulrich?¡± Noe asked. ¡°I did. He¡¯s busy with a patient who slit the wrist. And he¡¯d worry if he knew I was out. But I need to check on something at South Flora Storage.¡± Malvina was clearly fed up with Ulrich¡¯s lectures as a doctor. Noe raised an eyebrow at Malvina¡¯s coat, recalling Ulrich wearing something simr recently. Without prying further, she gave Malvina a considerate look, ¡°Let¡¯s take a cab. Riding a bike isn¡¯t the best idea with your injuries.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± They arrived at South Flora Storage to find it a shadow of its former self. The aftermath of an explosion left only a few unstable structures standing surrounded by piles of police tapes. Following the coordinates on her phone, Malvina found an underground bunker. ¡®Over here, Noe.¡± Noe eyed the bunker warily. Her assassin¡¯s instincts alerted her to the presence of others inside¨C they were members of the Shadow Dragon Society. ¡°I¡¯ll stay out here and wait for you.¡± She said. Malvina nodded and ducked into the entryway, vanishing from sight. The Shadow Dragon Society had splintered years ago after the untimely demise of their former leader, with some following the Gruber family and others secretly protecting Malvina. And those with the Grubers were either dead or in jail. In less than ten minutes, Malvina reemerged with her eyes teary; she was also clutching a box. ¡°It¡¯s all gold bars¡­ my mom left them for me. I¡¯m rich now. With what I¡¯ve saved, I won¡¯t have to work a day in my life! But¡­¡± Her mood dipped, eyes swimming with conflict and loss. Noe saw through her dilemma, ¡°You want to take them with you?* ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ve always looked out for me. Without them, I wouldn¡¯t have survived the Grubers. But I don¡¯t know if I can¡­¡± Malvina couldn¡¯t bear to see the Shadow Dragon Society, where her mother¡¯s effort wasid in, disband. ¡°Your life¡¯s gonna change if you take them.¡± Noe reminded her. §á§â§à§Ó Malvina blinked, a smile breaking through her face, ¡°That¡¯s okay! What my mom could do, I can do too. Besides, being a mob boss is so 10:28 cool, right?¡± She held the box and mused again, ¡°And I don¡¯t want to be loser as well. Thanks for saving me. At first, I got close to you for protection, but I do really like you, Noe. It was that damn Yvonne who made me realize I don¡¯t want to be a damsel in distress!¡± Don¡¯t worry, Noe. In Imperial City, the Shadow Dragon Society is mine!¡± She didn¡¯t want to be a delicate girl controlled by others, even if her heart raced at the sight of Ulrich¡¯s protective stance. Malvina wanted to be like Noe. She grabbed Noe and pressed her still bandaged face against hers, ¡°I¡¯ve figured it all out! Instead of waiting for others to shelter me, I¡¯ll shelter myself! My fate is mine to control. Here In Imperial City, you and ra will be both under my wing!¡± Noe¡¯s lips curled into a warm smile, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to the new Malvina. And you¡¯re always wee at our ce; my mom¡¯s already got fresh pajamas waiting for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so sweet! I¡¯ll definitelye over!¡± Malvina hugged Noe tightly. She seemed to make some kind of decision before she turned back into the bunker. This time, she did not return. Noe stood amid the ruins of South Flora Storage, overlooking the st¨Cdamaged buildings while the police continued their investigation in the distance. Alioth emerged from a bush and approached Noe with curiosity, ¡°Boss, I checked out those guys. They¡¯re loyal enough, but for Ms. Gruber to get a grip on them? That¡¯s gonna take some doing. After all, the Shadow Dragon Society is no Sunday school, and Malvina, that pampered Ms. Gruber, will have to hustle hard to get the Society under her thumb.¡± ¡°Keep a close eye on her¨Cdon¡¯t let her get into any scrapes.¡± She answered. ¡°We¡¯ve got it covered. There¡¯s a fight club we run not too far from here, got some ties to the Shadow Dragon Society. Looks like Ms. Gruber¡¯s gonna have to tough it out!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, it won¡¯t be too rough.¡± If there¡¯s sweetness after the struggle, then it¡¯s all worth it. With Malvina¡¯s disposition, controlling the Shadow Dragon Society won¡¯t be a walk in the park. But Noe will help her make it look easy! Meanwhile, at the hospital. After finishing a lifesaving surgery, Ulrich stepped out of the OR and into a private room, only to find the patient who should¡¯ve been resting was gone! Where the heck? Just as Ulrich was about to call a search party, his phone buzzed¨Cit was Noe. Even his head was throbbing while listening to the rundown of events. He was grinding his teeth and his voicr ne from deep within, ¡°Got it!¡± He¡¯d never seen such a reckless patient! A nameless rage surged through Ulrich¡¯s chest, his anger momentarily making his head spin. Ulrich changed out of his scrubs and strode out of the ER. Several doctors, taken aback by his urgency, eximed, ¡°Dr. Schnabel, where to in such a rush? You¡¯ve been on for over twenty hours¨Ctake a break!¡± ¡°I¡¯m off to find a disobedient patient, to ask if she¡¯s got a death wish!¡± At the border. A blood¨Cstained Rottweilerbat boot pressed down on the face of a man gasping hisst breaths, and the sharp de was teasing open his windpipe. The owner of the boot was an ice¨C cold presence, his intent to kill palpable, his gaze lethal. As Thorpe watched the scene from the other side, his face twitched at the sight of his young opponent. The man was giving Thorpe a chilly stare. He was travel¨Cworn with the telltale red veins of fatigue in his eyes. Thorpe let out a low chuckle and sat up straight to meet the young man¡¯s eyes. ¡°You finally showed up, Vocalist! I¡¯ve been waiting on you for ages!¡± CHapter 206 CHapter 206 Thorpe had known since theirst encounter that Palmer woulde back for him¨Cor rather, for Hollis, the man who knew everything. Palmer casually tossed aside the blood¨Cstained knife he had used moments before and removed his gloves to wipe away the blood that had spattered near his mouth. It wasn¡¯t his blood, so its stench still hung in the air. Taking a seat. Palmer¡¯s cold and unnerving aura filled the room. His men followed him so close, forming an invisible line against Thorpe¡¯s crew. With a chilling smile, Palmer locked eyes with Thorpe, ¡°You knew I¡¯de, yet you still sent those Westwood Mercenary to their deaths. You¡¯ve got guts ¡± ¡°They were disposable,¡± Thorpe sneered, his eyes devoid of any genuine regret. ¡°Pity though, even with the Westwood Mercenary Corps and the Gruber nbined, they were useless against you, Vocalist.¡± Palmer¡¯s words were like frost, ¡°I¡¯m short on time and I¡¯m not here for small talk. Hand over Hollis or you¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference? I¡¯m curious about how did you survive the onught of all those men.¡± Palmer¡¯s eyes narrowed as he clicked off the safety on his revolver. Thorpe¡¯s men raised their guns in response, aiming at Palmer. But Thorpe waved them off, ¡°Put them down. What¡¯s the point of a shootout? You see, Vocalist. I can¡¯t just hand him over. Ask your questions here.¡± This was thergest concession Thorpe could make. As the brain of Cerulean Whale, Hollis was critical to their operations. He couldn¡¯t just let Palmer take Hollis. With a nod, Palmer handed his revolver to Annie and watched as Thorpe pushed Hollis forward with a relieved sigh. Hollis ignored all those corpses on the ground and greeted Palmer with a smile, ¡°Long time no see, Vocalist. Where¡¯s Wise Fool?¡± Palmer wasn¡¯t there for a reunion or pleasantries. ¡°Answer me, and you¡¯ll live,¡± he stated tly. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°The orders you followed, they came from the former Pris Star¡¯s Merak, right?¡± Palmer¡¯s expression was frosty as he said with a chilly tone, ¡°What does Pris Star have to do with my mother¡¯s death?¡± Hollis was stunned for a split second before he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know former Merak¡¯s code name. As for your mother¡¯s death, it was due to infighting within the Pock family. I don¡¯t know whether Pris Star was involved. I don¡¯t have clearance for so much information. All I can tell you is the Chess Master¡¯s reach is beyond your imagination. At least it¡¯s powerful enough to get us out of Imperial City and back to the bordends.¡± It¡¯s also the ability to get so many people from Westwood Mercenary Corps to Imperial City with so much fanfare to dig up the highway. Palmer scoffed, his gaze chilly as a hawk. And, before anyone could react, he took Annie¡¯s revolver and shot Thorpe in the leg, ¡°For crossing me. Cerulean Whale has too many members. Just the three brothers will suffice.¡± As soon as Palmer¡¯s words were out of his mouth, the men behind him pulled their triggers at the same time. Cerulean Whale¡¯s assassins went down in pieces. as when the As his people opened fire, Palmer¡¯s voice was cold, ¡°Two members of Abyssal Organization are dead. There must be an offering.¡± Thorpe clutched his bleeding leg, his eyes bloodshot with fury. Palmer left, his gaze as frigid as a hellish demon. 9 Thorpe stared at the dead around him, his teeth gritted. ¡°Does he really think we have no way to deal with him?¡± he murmured. Hollis, searching for a first aid kit, responded, ¡°As of now, yes.¡± All that was left of Cerulean Whale were the three brothers, all sick and wounded. ¡°But we still have the boss,¡± Hollis¡® eyes glistened under the guise of his sses. When Palmer stepped out of Cerulean Whale territory and exhaled deeply, his expression was still ice¨Ccold. 1 Annie handed him a phone, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s Ms. Noe. Wanna take it?¡± Palmer¡¯s tone softened as he answered, ¡°Noe, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m on the border dealing with some trade issues for the Pock Group. Some factories had trouble. What¡¯s wrong?¡± 10-28 Noelia frowned slightly The sound of harsh winds on the line didn¡¯t seem like factory noise, it was more like an open field. She had called because she remembered the strong scent of blood on Palmer from the night before when he stood on her balcony ¡°Nothing, Grandpa Sexton is asking when you¡¯ll be back.¡± Since moving in, Sexton had shared meals with the Schnabels every day Sitting down to dinner, he always thought of Palmer, that stubborn kid. He couldn¡¯t understand what was so pressing at the company to keep him away. Why that workaholic left such a beautiful fianc¨¦e alone at home? Sexton¡¯s blood boiled whenever he thought of how clueless Palmer could be. His eyes darted around, and then he fibbed that his battery was deed, asking Noe to make a call for him. Palmer, overhearing Sexton¡¯s boisterous tirade, knew most of it was aimed at him. *ill be back soon once this is sorted out.¡± Palmer said, ¡°Okay¡± After hanging up, Palmer¡¯s gaze lingered on the ruins in the distance. Annie felt a twinge of concern, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you worried Ms. Noe will be upset if she finds out you didn¡¯t tell her the truth?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. She would have done the same in my shoes. A bit of anger is better than her being in danger.¡± He said. Years ago, when Palmer lost his mother, he had sworn never to let such a thing happen again. He smiled, ¡°If I¡¯m in trouble and Noe doesn¡¯t care, maybe that¡¯s not so bad.¡± phone Annie opened her mouth to speak but then thought better of it. She couldn¡¯t quite grasp her boss¡¯s logic. If you liked someone, weren¡¯t you supposed to want them to worry about you? To y the sympathy card a little? If Ms. Noe found out, wouldn¡¯t she be incredibly moved? Palmer strode toward the ruins, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s check out the abandoned Pris Starb. And dig up some dirt on the former Merak; I want his full dossier!¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. He was determined to see what kind of life she had been forced to endure. At the Schnabel family dinner table. After giving Palmer a piece of his mind, Sextonunched into a tirade against his three children, not stopping until he had cycled through his eldest daughter and both sons, finally feeling satisfied. Marcel scoffed, ¡°Shut it, Sexton. At least all my kids and grandkids are around me. This is almost killing you, huh?¡± ¡°Hey! Marcel, what good would it do you if I kicked the bucket, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯d let me enjoy a couple more bowls of stew.¡± Sexton rolled his eyes in annoyance, ¡°Eat up and hope you burst! You cantankerous old coot! Noe, don¡¯t be too hard on Palmer, the kid¡¯s just a deep thinker! Who can me him¡­ after all, he watched his mother leave this world. I can tell, the racal truly fancies you!¡± It was the first time Noe had heard Sexton speak of Palmer¡¯s mother¡¯s past. ¡°Back then, Palmer was hiding in a closet when his enemies came knocking, and his mother¡­ in front of his very eyes¡­ Ah! I shouldn¡¯t be filling your head with such sorrow, but I just hope you can give Palmer a chance!¡± Sexton¡¯s earnest words left Noe feeling moved. She nodded, silently agreeing to consider his plea. Her phone buzzed with an encrypted message. [Boss, half an hour ago, Vocalist took down most of the Cerulean Whale crew and injured Thorpe!] Noe¡¯s eyebrow arched slightly. So he wasn¡¯t off handling business after all? CHapter 207 CHapter 207 [Boss, it appears Vocalist headed out to Pris Star¡¯s abandonedb. Should we interce What was Palmer doing poking around the ruins of Pris Star? Noe quickly shot back a message: [Let him bel If Palmer¡¯s got a hunch, he¡¯ll dig up the dirt one way or another, even if she tried to stop him. As far as the was concerned, everything that needed to be torched in thatb had been turned to ash, leaving no trace behind. Noe wasn¡¯t worried about Palmer finding anything incriminating Phecda, eyes glued to the satellite images, whistled in admiration. ¡°Vocalist truly aligned with Boss; his methods are just as ruthless. The deep web¡¯s gonna be our yground soon enough The Obelisk Organization was theirs, the Abyssal Organization belonged to their boss¡¯s fianc¨¦, and both were virtually the same thing. Ivan chimed in with a touch of awe in his voice, ¡°Who¡¯d have thought we¡¯d see the day when we¡¯d be living the dream, all thanks to Boss?¡± At the dinner table, Sexton was lost in memories of yore. Marcel was getting irked by the nostalgia. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Palmer have two brothers? He¡¯s the youngest, right Where are the others?¡± ¡°Yeah, Palmer¡¯s brothers both got hitched and had kids. Just my luck Palmer¡¯s still flying solo. What¡¯s an old man to do? The kids have their own lives, and I can¡¯t be clingy, can I?¡± The Pocks and the Schnabels couldn¡¯t be more different. Marcel only had Tristan, and the family tree wasn¡¯t aplicated one. The Pock n had been a hot mess since the days they made their fortune, with non¨Cstop infighting until Palmer took the reins. It was only then that things started to calm down. Even now, though, there were sharks circling in the water, waiting to snatch a piece of the Pock Group. Sexton shook his head. ¡°That whole fiasco back then hit the boys hard, especially Palmer. He disappeared abroad for years, came back covered in scars, but he promised he¡¯d keep the Pock name going strong¡± The old man¡¯s face was a map of hard years, yet his smile was a mix of pride and sorrow. I¡¯m getting on in years. This family¡¯s a shadow of what it once was. Palmer¡¯s brothers are caught up in their jobs. At my age, you can¡¯t be hounding your kids, right? I should¡¯ve listened to Garrick. Should¡¯ve stayed clear of the Pock waters. At least we¡¯d still be together as a family¡± Marcel snorted. ¡°Garrick was all talk. The guy was clueless. Wasn¡¯t he the one hellbent on starting that Pris Star venture?¡± Noe¡¯s brow twitched ever so slightly. She looked at Marcel. ¡®Grandpa, this Pris Star you¡¯re talking about, is it the one out on the frontier?¡± Marcel waved it off, though his eyes held a flicker of regret. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter now. Heard it¡¯s gone to dust. I regret not blowing thatb to smithereens back in the day¡± ¡°Yeah, right. Like you¡¯d have the guts to touch Pris Star. Theirb¡¯s still standing on the frontier. Try blowing it up and see if Xavier doesn¡¯t chop you to bits before you even get close.¡± 14:39 The materials used for the Pris Starb made it nearly indestructible. tha speed toets was how the two old men seemed familiar with Pris Star¡¯s history. They were sayog Carick was the founder of Pris Star? Merd gumbled. I never liked Garrick¡¯s ways. Taking good kids and turning them intob rats. That¡¯s Berton shook his head. ¡°Enough with the nonsense. It¡¯s all water under the bridge. You know Garrick was med, right? He was the type to use himself as a guinea pig to chase some twisted dream. Anyway¡­¡± Sexton didn¡¯t finish his thought, he just shook his head with aplex look and turned to the younger generation. ¡°If you ever run into someone from Pris Star, steer clear. Most of those folks are a few sandwiches short of a pionic! Noe pressed her fingers to her temples discreetly. Would it shock her family to know she had spent time at Pris Star? She bit her lip liftly and spoke softly, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m starting college next month. Our principal¡¯s also named Garrick, Just a coincidence? ¡°Starting college? Ther¡¯s wonderful! I take you there myself! Wait a minute, what did you say the principal¡¯s name was? Garrick Marcel¡¯s face lit up at the mention of college, but at hearing the name Garrick, his demeanor shifted dramatically. He quickly pulled Sexton into the study. Toe, just wait! I need to check something Clearly, the name Garrick struck a chord with both Marcel and Sexton. ra, watching their hasty retreat, was puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s up with Grandpa? Is this Garrick guy a big deal? Hey, doesn¡¯t Ulrich have a surgery today? Why isn¡¯t he home for dinner?¡± Sienna smiled softly. ¡°He said he was busy and told us not to wait. That boy¡¯s practically living at the hospital! Noe, you¡¯re heading off to college soon. Don¡¯t feel any pressure, darling. You¡¯re the youngest of the family, and I have no expectations.¡± She cupped her face, her eyes brimming with love as she gazed at Noe. ¡°When we raised your siblings, it was all very hands¨Coff. Who knew they¡¯d turn out so bright? At first, I thought your father and I just hit the gic jackpot when your brother aced his first test!* Tristan nodded vigorously at his wife¡¯s side. ¡°Absolutely, who knew the younger ones would be so sharp too? It must be the fabulous genes from your mom and me! Noe, honey, don¡¯t worry about a thing. As long as you guys are happy, that¡¯s all that matters to us. We¡¯re behind you no matter what. The Schnabels were secretly concerned that the ster achievements of the elder siblings might overshadow Noe, piling on the pressure. They¡¯d seen too many headlines about kids buckling under the weight of academic stress, spiraling into depression, or worse. The very thought sent shivers down their spines To the Schnabels, it didn¡¯t matter if their children were just average, their darling Noe was already more than they could have ever asked for! They always handled Noe with extra care, as if to compensate for any hardships she might have faced in the past. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Noe nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± Then Sienna chimed in, ¡°ra mentioned bringing that Gruber kid over to stay for a few days. Where is 14:39 she? I¡¯ve already got the quest room all set up. That poor child, what she must¡¯ve gone through growing up in the Gruber family. if her mom were still around, she¡¯d be heartbroken to see it? The Grubers had always been a topic of gossip in high society for their questionable decisions. Just the fact that Yates Gruber and Walden Gruber, born out of wedlock, could im a spot in the family tree. while Arthur Gruber managed their affairs, said plenty about their character, orck thereof. Growing up in that kind of environment couldn¡¯t have been easy! Sienna¡¯s thoughts inadvertently drifted to Noe¡¯s own past, and her heart ached in empathy Noe knew that Sienna¡¯s concern for her friends stemmed from her love for her. Sienna¡¯s affection spilled over, extending a protective wing over those close to Noe. ¡°Til give her a callter,¡± Noe promised. ¡°Great! Make sure shees, okay? I would love to have another daughter around the house! Meanwhile, in the corner, the nanny watched the Schnabels¡® joyous family scene and quietly slipped away to make a call to Yvonne. she? I¡¯ve already got the guest room all set up. That poor child, what she must¡¯ve gone through growing up in the Gruber family. If her mom were still around, she¡¯d be heartbroken to see it!¡± The Grubers had always been a topic of gossip in high society for their questionable decisions. Just the fact that Yates Gruber and Walden Gruber, born out of wedlock, could im a spot in the family tree, while Arthur Gruber managed their affairs, said plenty about their character, orck thereof. Growing up in that kind of environment couldn¡¯t have been easy! Sienna¡¯s thoughts inadvertently drifted to Noe¡¯s own past, and her heart ached in empathy. Noe knew that Sienna¡¯s concern for her friends stemmed from her love for her. Sienna¡¯s affection spilled over, extending a protective wing over those close to Noe, ¡°I¡¯ll give her a callter,¡± Noe promised. ¡°Great! Make sure shees, okay? I would love to have another daughter around the house!¡± Meanwhile, in the corner, the nanny watched the Schnabels¡® joyous family scene and quietly slipped away to make a call to Yvonne. CHapter 208 CHapter 208 ¡°Ms. Yvonne, what have you been up totely?¡± Yvonne ached all over; her burns on her leg throbbed with every heartbeat, not to mention the bruises from being tossed out by Ulrich! ¡°I¡¯m recovering. Didn¡¯t you hear about the fire incident that urred at the Gruber¡¯s? What¡¯s with the call at this hour?¡± The thought of the Schnabels being so cruel to her, yet all smiles with Noe and Malvina, soured her mood with a mix of bitterness and envy. Sure, they considered Noe their darling daughter and treated her well, but what about Malvina? She had seen Ulrich speaking to Malvina in hushed, gentle tones! Was it just because she was chummy with that country bumpkin? The Schnabels never gave a damn about how she felt. If they had, she wouldn¡¯t have had to slog over to the Gruber ce.. ¡°Ms. Yvonne, were you hurt? Is it bad? Without a bit of elbow grease, you¡¯ll lose your spot in the Schnabel family for good!¡± Yvonne¡¯s anger red. ¡°When have I ever had a ce in the Schnabel family? They¡¯ve never cared about me!¡± Whether it was blood¨Crted Noe or the unrted ra, they had the Schnabels¡® hearts. Their hearts might as well be floating out in the Pacific! ¡°Ms. Yvonne, go cry on thedy¡¯s shoulder, she¡¯ll surely take you back.¡± Sienna? Yvonne hesitated, torn. ¡°Forget it. Mother doesn¡¯t care about me. She only has eyes for that country bumpkin!¡± The nanny whispered, ¡°Ms. Yvonne, I¡¯m talking about your birth mother, not Sienna. Sienna is blind to your worth, but your real mother would never reject you.¡± Duncan.had indeed never once mentioned her mother! Yvonne¡¯s spirits lifted. ¡°Do you know my mom? Tell me who she is!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you thedy¡¯s number; you contact her. Just exin things to her, she¡¯ll surely take pity on you.¡± Battling the pain in her body, Yvonne was ovee with excitement. ¡°Alright!¡± She hung up and made her way to the hospital where the Gruber family was being treated. However, before she could enter the room, she was stopped by several policemen at the door. ¡°No entry for bystanders, these are high¨Crisk criminals. Are you a Gruber?¡± High¨Crisk criminals? Yvonne nearly bit her tongue and beat a hasty retreat without another word! She needed to keep her distance from the Grubers, lest they drag her down with them. 14:39 Inside the hospital room, Arthur was hanging by a thread, barely pulled back from death¡¯s door, still able to hear the chatter around him. His fingers twitched, desperate to speak, but his throat, clogged with tubes, couldn¡¯t make a sound. The policeman rattled off a list of the Gruber family¡¯s crimes, down to the exact dates and details! Arthur¡¯s eyes widened in shock. They had covered their tracks wlessly; how could their dark deeds havee to light? Especially with the police knowing such precise details. ¡°Ah¡­ugh!¡± The police, aware of his condition, packed up their files after their recitation and left with the attending doctors. Arthur caught their parting words. ¡°He¡¯s got a ton of Nourishment Pill residues in his system; he probably can¡¯t help with the investigation now. He doesn¡¯t have long. Better he dies here than facing a firing squad.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes bulged, unbelieving. He tried to rise, to demand answers, but he was powerless! Shocked beyond measure, he passed out cold. In South Flora Storage, the empty air¨Craid shelter yawned like a beast¡¯s mouth, its unseen depths veiling countless sins. Malvina stood before the gaping maw, facing Ulrich. Her hair was pulled back, and she held out his coat to him. ¡°Dr. Schnabel, here¡¯s your jacket back. Thanks for looking out for me. I won¡¯t be returning to the hospital just yet.¡± Ulrich didn¡¯t take the coat, his face marred by displeasure. ¡°Have a death wish? Or do you think you¡¯re lucky? Fresh out of a fire and into the underworld immediately? If you can¡¯t afford the hospital, I¡¯ll foot the bill. Come on, let¡¯s go.¡± Malvina blinked. ¡°I¡¯ve settled the hospital bills, but thanks, Dr. Schnabel.¡± Facing Malvina¡¯s impervious demeanor, Ulrich was irked, yet clueless about the source of his irritation. He was just too darn ethical; that¡¯s why he bothered with this mess! ¡°Forget it, have it your way! Toss the jacket, I don¡¯t want secondhand charity.¡± Malvina wasn¡¯t offended. Her lips curled slightly as she watched Ulrich drive off in a huff. Behind her, members of the Shadow Dragon Society approached. ¡°Miss, they said if you win just one fight in the underground fight club, they¡¯ll follow you. Isn¡¯t that asking too much? Maybe we should renegotiate, get them to change the terms?¡± Although Malvina had learned some self¨Cdefense growing up with the Shadow Dragon Society, she was hardly prepared for the brutal world of underground fighting. But to control the underworld, she needed to y by their rules. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. To them, looking after Malvina was one thing; epting her as their leader was quite another. Why should 35 14:39 they bow to some greenhorn girl? ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll give it a shot. Worst case, I get locked out, no big deal.¡± ¡°Missl¡± Malvina smiled, eyeing the jacket in her hands. ¡°If I¡¯m still breathing, make sure I get to the hospital where Dr. Schnabel works. His skills are the only ones I trust to save me.¡± Malvina¡¯s expression was cool and detached, as if the Impending challenge was of little concern to her, and as if she had steeled herself for what was toe. Her demeanor was unnerving, enough to give anyone the jitters. Knowing Malvina¡¯s stubborn streak rivaled that of the old boss, her associate didn¡¯t bother with further attempts to dissuade her and simply nodded before departing Once alone, Malvina quickly fished out her smartphone and dialed Noe¡¯s number. ¡°Noe, darling! It¡¯s a code red situation! I need a lifeline! Those goons want me to step into the ring next door, throw punches in some shady fight club, and only if I win, they¡¯ll listen to me. But I don¡¯t know the first thing about fighting! What if I get clobbered? Can you imagine how ugly I would look?¡± Noe stayed silent for a moment before asking. ¡°The underground fight club near South Flora Storage?¡± ¡°Yes! Little ol¡® me is about to meet my maker, Noe! Does the Schnabel family have any connections there? Maybe someone could go easy on me during the fight, pretty please?¡± Someone was appearing carefree on the surface but aplete mess on the inside. Noe nced at a notification on her phone; there was a post on an underground fight club forum calling her out by name, with a tempting reward on the line. ¡°Hold tight, I¡¯m on my way. I¡¯ll take you there to scope it out.¡± ¡°Oh my stars! The Schnabel family really does have someone in there? That¡¯s just peachy!¡± Relieved, Malvina felt hope once again. Noe pocketed her phone and nced at the dark sky. The Schnabel family had already turned in for the night, and exiting through the main door would wake them. She deftly swung herself over her balcony railing, slipping into a hoodie to blend into the shadows, vanishing into the night. As she executed her silent descent, an unexpected thought of Palmer shed through her mind. A sudden and strange fancy struck Noe, that perhaps the sensation of someone spying on her from her own balcony wasn¡¯t entirely unpleasant. 14 CHapter 209 CHapter 209 The motorcycle sputtered to a stop near South Flora Storage. With a flick of her wrist, Noe tossed the keys to Alioth and strode purposefully through the reeds toward the old air¨Craid shelter now serving as their hideout. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s still a bunch of those Shadow Dragon Soolety goons left, but they¡¯re giving Ms. Gruber the cold shoulder. They say she¡¯s gotta win a boxing match before they¡¯ll take orders from her. Isn¡¯t that nuts? I checked the lineup at our fight club there are several champs scheduled to fight. It¡¯s no ce for someone like Ms. Grubert¡± Malvina, with her skinny arms and legs she was clearly not cut out for the ring. Alloth figured if she stepped into that ring, the Gruber family might as well fly the white g. But the underworld has its own logic when ites to loyalty and leadership. Noe¡¯s steps were firm in the boots Sienna had bought her. ¡°If the Shadow Dragon Society has rigged the fights with their own people, Ms. Gruber doesn¡¯t stand a chance!¡± ¡°Why not just let her fight me?¡± Alioth¡¯s brain momentarily short¨Ccircuited. ¡°What?¡± Noe turned, giving him a quizzical look with an arched eyebrow. ¡°Any problem?¡± No problem at all. Their boss was a legend in the fighting circuit, a champion who had held her own for years. If she decided to step into the ring, whatever setup the Shadow Dragon Society had in mind wouldn¡¯t stand a chance! Alioth hustled to keep up with Noe, taking his ce beside Malv¨ªna. ¡°Malvina,e on, I¡¯ll show you.¡± ¡°To the fight club?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Malvina¡¯s eyes sparkled with a mix of anticipation and fear ¨C she had never been to an underground fight club before! Alioth drove in the direction of the fight club with Noe and Malvina. Hidden within a vast expanse of reeds towering taller than a person,y the underground fight club, concealed from daylight Noe nced at Malvina, whose excitement was tinged with nervousness, and spoke with a cool detachment. ¡°I forgot to tell you, we couldn¡¯t save Yates. Walden and Arthur are hanging by a thread, and even if they recover, they¡¯ll face a firing squad. The fire has been ruled an ident, so you won¡¯t be troubled any further. You did well, but don¡¯t risk yourself for people who aren¡¯t worth it again.¡± Malvina blinked back tears, vowing to herself to ovee her tearful tendencies. ¡°Got it!¡± Upon entering the fight club¡¯s domain, Noe handed Malvina a mask. ¡°Wear this. Don¡¯t let anyone inside memorize your face.¡± Those who fought for money were ruthless, and remembering a face could lead to trouble, or worse, 14:40 revenge. Even Noe, to avoidplications, never showed her face in the club, let alone Malvina, whose situation was precarious. Malvina quickly donned the mask, somewhat surprised. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that this wasn¡¯t Noe¡¯s first time here. Noe¡¯s face, covered by a fearsome demon mask, seemed oddly fitting despite the mismatch with her persona. Inside the fight club, the air was thick with the shouts of gamblers urging fighters to kill their opponents and win them more money. ¡°Boss, this way.¡± They entered a VIP room with arge screen providing a clear view of every move on the fight floor. Noe turned to the visibly tense Malvina. ¡°You sure you want to go down there?¡± ¡°Well, even if I¡¯m not sure, it doesn¡¯t seem like I have a choice, right? What are my chances of making it out alive?¡± Noe¡¯s reply was merciless. ¡°Zero. There¡¯s no chance. You¡¯ll die for sure.¡± Malvina swallowed hard. ¡°What if¡­ what if it¡¯s not a fight to the death? Just until one yields?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too frail, still injured. Even if the fighters hold back, you¡¯d die.¡± The underground fights were about money and life itself, where one gambled with their very existence. Noe secured her mask and handed Malvina a hairpin. ¡°Hold this for me.¡± It was a gift from Ulrich, and she didn¡¯t want it dirtied in the fight. Tying her hair back with a simple band, Noe flexed her wrists, her gaze calm behind the mask. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ll show you what real fighting is.¡± Malvina gripped the hairpin in her hand, looking at the radiant Noe before her. ¡°Noe, my dear, are you going down there?¡± The scene seemed incredibly perilous! Noe seemed to be the same size as her. Could it truly be safe for her to enter like this? ¡°Yes, give me half an hour.¡± Alioth eximed in disbelief, ¡°Boss? Half an hour? Are you nning for a tag¨Cteam match?¡± Considering their boss¡¯s prowess, it wouldn¡¯t take her half an hour to fight a match at all! Noe nodded nonchntly. ¡°I need to take down all those people to ensure that only I face Malvina.¡± ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll arrange it immediately.¡± Within the octagonal cage, the g for the tag¨Cteam match was swiftly raised, and excitement buzzed outside the arena! Watching the girl appearing in the video before her, Malvina noted the sudden transformation of Noe, who had been so gentle just moments before. Once she donned the mask and stepped onto the stage, it was as if she had be a different person! Every one of Noe¡¯s punches was a precise strike to a vital point, relentless and powerful. The gamblers¡® 14:40 eyes turned bloodshot as they roared. ¡°Monkey, take her down!¡± ¡°Demon King, finish off that Northstone Monkey!¡± Within five minutes, the fighter known as Monkey was face down on the mat, dragged away. The next opponent stepped up without giving Noe a chance to catch her breath. Malvina, clutching her chest, turned to Alioth. ¡°Is Noe going to be okay?¡± ¡°This is just the start. Our boss¡¯s record is taking down fifteen fighters in a row. Tonight¡¯s still young!¡± The crowd had forgotten the name of the Demon King, but as new fighters entered and fell before Malvina¡¯s eyes, Noe¡¯s legend was reborn in the ring. On stage, Noe stood unfazed, her eyes scanning the fighters below as she made a taunting gesture. ¡°Come at me, you chicken¨Clegged wimps.¡± The fighters below were seething with anger, yet not one dared to take her on! She was the undisputed queen of the ring, her gaze sharp as icicles, the fight club her kingdom where no one could steal her spotlight! Malvina was gobsmacked! ¡°Is she even real?¡± It was her first time witnessing such a dazzling spectacle. Noe met Nn¡¯s gaze below and nodded at him. Alioth turned with a grin. ¡°Ms. Gruber, you¡¯re up.¡± ¡°Wha¡­ Me? Can I really do this?¡± ¡°Of course, our boss is waiting for you. Go on!¡± Inside the octagon, it was just Malvina and Noe. The roaring crowd could have drowned them out, and Malvina¡¯s lips trembled slightly, thankfully hidden behind the mask or she¡¯d be mortified. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to throw a punch. What do I do?¡± Noe¡¯s voice was void of emotion, icy as she instructed, ¡°Malvina, imagine I¡¯m Yates, Arthur, and your dad, all the executioners who killed your mom. Right now, they¡¯re all me.¡± ¡ªLine with intensity. ¡°Now, tell me, are you ready to throw a punch?¡± CHapter 210 CHapter 210 Ready to throw a punch? She didn¡¯t need skill to channel the rage and pent¨Cup agony that now erupted within her. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Malvina had been stifled for twenty years, a fire that couldn¡¯t simply be quenched. Arthur¡¯s tant scheming, her father¡¯s favoritism, the shameless Yates and his mother, Walden¡¯s leering gaze¡­ Noe felt Malvina¡¯s fists, wild and untrained, but aze with fury and hate! This was the kind of raw power the underground fight clubs craved. ¡°Good, now control your arm¡¯s point of impact, put some oomph into your calves.¡± ¡°Aim a bit to the left,e on, target my face.¡± ¡°Malvina, when faced with the bastard that killed your mom, is that all the strength you¡¯ve got? Don¡¯t you want revenge with your own hands? You¡¯re too weak for the Shadow Dragon Society.¡± ¡°All of your mother¡¯s hard work, just handed over to someone else.¡± Malvina clenched her teeth, tasting the metallic tang of blood, unaware of when she¡¯d bitten her lip. Her eyes bloodshot, yet her fists now packed a punch under Noe¡¯s guidance! One solid hit, caught firmly in Noe¡¯s grasp. Breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, Malvina¡¯s arms spasmed uncontrobly, yet it felt unexpectedly exhrating. Noe said lightly, ¡°Would a tie be eptable? If I were to admit defeat, you might end up in trouble.¡± If the Demon King, undefeated in the ring, were to lose, it would be evident that she had intentionally let her opponent win. Then, those people probably wouldn¡¯t harm the fight club or Noe, but they could cause trouble for Malvina. ¡°Will a draw cause you any trouble?¡± Malvina panted. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± At least she didn¡¯t throw the entire match in that case. Nodding, Malvina stumbled off, caught by Nn below and carried back to the locker room. The draw incited rage in the crowd, but Noe beat several fighters in a row, quelling the anger as bodies hit the floor. ¡°Tonight¡¯s champion is¡­ Demon King!¡± Insults and cheers mingled beneath her, but atop the ring, Noe stood as the world¡¯s sole conqueror. Malvina, too weak to lift her, arms, gazed at Noe descending from the ring, looking effortlessly cool. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re so cool! You¡¯re my hero!¡± ¡°Can you even walk?¡± Malvina shook her head earnestly. ¡°Not a chance. How can you not be tired?¡± 14:40 ¡°I am, but I never show it.¡± Noe adjusted her breathing beneath the mask, appearing unfazed, a feat of strength in Malvina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Think you could teach me to fight? I want to learn!¡± ¡°Sure, but I¡¯m a tough coach. You might not handle it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll manage!¡± She wanted to be like Noe! Noe nodded, her attention drifting back to the cage. ¡°Whoa, isn¡¯t that your brother, Ulrich, in the ring?¡± Alioth eximed. ¡°Is the Schnabel family going broke? Why¡¯s he fighting?¡± Fighters could earn a decent sum depending on the match and rank. Noe¡¯s bouts had quadrupled the club¡¯s earnings. Frowning slightly, Noe ordered, ¡°Get him a level one fighter. Don¡¯t let him get hurt.¡± Was Ulrich so pressured that he resorted to fighting? But why choose this fight club out of many in Imperial City? Malvina sat up, mask off, watching Ulrich trade blows with a muscr opponent on screen. ¡°Does the Schnabel family have a boxing tradition?¡± Why did her brother step into the ring just as she had returned? Ulrich¡¯s boxing style was filled with malice, sharp and precise, targeting his opponent¡¯s vulnerabilities. Noe knew it was a doctor¡¯s instinct, knowing the body¡¯s weak spots, his style eerily simr to hers. Alioth was stunned. ¡°Boss, your brother¡¯s style is risky; he¡¯ll get hurt.¡± Noe nced up. ¡°You go, knock him out and drag him off.¡± Knocking out Ulrich without hitting his weak spots was a job for a Pris Star. ¡°On it, but he¡¯ll probably get some bruises. I¡¯ll try to spare his hands!¡± Twenty minutester, Ulrich copsed in the ring. Malvina¡¯s heart eased. ¡°Thank goodness, I thought Dr. Schnabel was a goner.¡± Noe exhaled in relief. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Ulrich I was here,¡± she instructed Malvina. ¡°Sure!¡± Malvina was sharp enough to know what to keep secret. Noe¡¯s desire for anonymity meant her lips were sealed. Leaving the fight club with Malvina, Noe had Alioth toss Ulrich into the car, waiting for him to come to among the reeds. ¡°Where am I? Noe? What are you doing here?¡± Ulrich moved his sore body, quickly assessing his injuries. He realized his opponent, despite aggressive punches, seemed to deliberately avoid certain spots. 14:40 Even underground fighters had ethics? ¡°Dr. Schnabel! Noe came for me, and you were just thrown out by the club. What were you doing fighting? The Schnabel family would flip if they found out!¡± Malvina sat close to Ulrich, her gaze locked on him. Ulrich shifted ufortably away. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just blowing off steam from work. Noe, don¡¯t tell anyone, they¡¯d worry.¡± Noe eyed Ulrich. ¡°Tell me the real reason, and I¡¯ll keep quiet. Otherwise, I¡¯m spilling it to Mom.¡± Work stress was a flimsy excuse. Ulrich had been a doctor for years; why would his job suddenly drive him to fight? Back in the day, when he was a doctor at the borders, the pressure was immense, yet he never set foot in the makeshift fight clubs that seemed to sprout up along the border like wildflowers. Ulrich hesitated, stumbling over his words. Under Noe and Malvina¡¯s intense gazes, Ulrich rubbed his face in a gesture of resignation and turned to Malvina. ¡°I heard that to get the Shadow Dragon Society to listen to you, you¡¯ve got to win a fight. So, I want you to fight with me. I¡¯m a doc, you won¡¯t get hurt fighting me¨Cat least you¡¯ll live to tell the tale.¡± Malvina¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment! Was Ulrich on the same wavelength as sweet Noe? Were they both plotting to help her by first securing a win in the ring before throwing the fight in her favor? Malvina murmured to herself, ¡°Are all the Schnabels this kind¨Chearted?¡± Noe leaned back in her chair, her mind racing with the thought that she and Ulrich really were cut from the same cloth. Except her brother¡¯s skills were sorelycking. He had the strength but not the technique; facing off against seasoned fighters, he was like amb to the ughter. Malvina¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile as she looked at Ulrich. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Schnabel! But I¡¯ve already earned my stripes. You really shouldn¡¯t be so kind, sticking your nose in everyone¡¯s business!¡± Ulrichy back, his hand covering his face. ¡°I¡¯m not meddling in just anyone¡¯s business¡­ Oh well, consider me a busybody then!¡± CHapter 211 CHapter 211 Malvina blinked, not quite catching what Ulrich had muttered under his breath. Noe craned her neck from the passenger seat to look back at Ulrich and Malvina. ¡°Ulrich, you haven¡¯t been home for two days, thinking of heading back?¡± Ulrich quickly whipped out his phone and used the camera as a mirror. ¡°Talk about professional courtesy, they didn¡¯t go for my face! All good then, let¡¯s head back.¡± if Sienna saw a bruise on his face, the whole Schnabel family would be up all night worrying! Once he confirmed his face was unscathed, Ulrich breathed a sigh of relief and nced at Malvina beside him. ¡°Ms. Gruber, you shoulde too.¡± ¡°Me? Really? It¡¯s sote, and I haven¡¯t even brought a gift for Sienna. It doesn¡¯t seem right to just show up unannounced.¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, my mom has been asking about you. She¡¯s really looking forward to your visit.¡± The car¡¯s engine roared to life, heading towards the Schnabel Manor in the Phoenix Tower as the night grew deeper. No sooner had they left when a car hidden in the reeds followed suit, disappearing into the opposite direction. At the Schnabel Manor, the Schnabels were all asleep when Noe showed Malvina to the guest room before returning to her own. No sooner had she stepped inside her room than her phone rang. Annie¡¯s anxious voice came through the receiver, ¡°Ms. Noe, are you awake? Could you please come check on Boss? He¡¯s not doing so well!¡± lightly. ¡°Where is he?¡± Noe¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°He¡¯s at the Pock Mansion. He refuses to go to the hospital. Pleasee!¡± ¡°Give me two minutes.¡± The Pock Mansion was just in the Dragon Tower opposite to them. As Noe reached the entrance, she saw Annie, her clothes stained with blood, her face etched with worry. ¡°Ms. Noe! Boss is in his room, III take you to him.¡± The Pock Mansion was a stark contrast to the lively Schnabel Manor, eerily quiet, with the sound of the courtyard fountain echoing clearly. Pushing open Palmer¡¯s door, the scent of blood hit them h hard. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he gone to the hospital?¡± Noe asked, her frown deepening. said it was nothing. We couldn¡¯t convince him, so we had to find you. Thank goodness you came.¡± wrist hade undone, the blood seeping through. ching Palmer, Noe saw his eyes shut tight, his wounds crudely leaded to out 7385 Foton ¡°Get the first aid kit¡± I¡¯ll get it right away!¡± Annie dashed out and returned to find Noe¡¯s hand resting on Palmer¡¯s forehead, gauging his temperature. He was burning up, likely a reaction to his injuries. Noe re¨Cdressed the wound on Palmer¡¯s wrist and checked the others, most of which were sustained during the South Flora Storage st ¡°Ms. Noe, Is Boss going to be okay?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be fine once the fever breaks, He should wake up then.¡± Relief washed over Annie. She¡¯d been on edge all night, and now she could finally rx Noe looked at her with an imposing air. ¡°Come here.¡± Annie instinctively responded, ¡°Yes!¡± Facing Ms. Noe¡¯s stern gaze was as unnerving as facing the school principal back in the day. If the situation had been different, Annie might have snapped to attention. Noe motioned her over. ¡°Palmer¡¯s stable for now. Don¡¯t you need those cuts looked at?¡± 10:55 Annie froze, having been so wrapped up in worry for her boss that she¡¯d forgotten about her own injuries- amon urrence for hitmen. When she called Noe, she had braced herself for questioning. However, she hadn¡¯t expected Ms. Noe to be concerned about her wounds! Tm¡­I¡¯m fine. I can take care of it myself: With a nce that brooked no argument, Noe¡¯s eyes spoke volumes. ¡°Come here. I don¡¯t want to have to ask twice.¡± Annie quickly followed Noe to the guest room, and only when she started to undress did she realize her wounds were stuck to her clothes, causing her to wince in pain. As Noe cleaned Annie¡¯s wounds, she inquired, ¡°Now tell me, what exactly did Palmer do to get himself injured?¡± ¡°We ran into a gang war at the border. Someone wanted to go out with a bang and nted bombs everywhere. We weren¡¯t involved, just happened to pass by¡± shes along the border weremonce, with rival gangs fighting almost daily. But the Abyssal Organization, a top¨Ctier yer in the deep web, wouldn¡¯t make such amateur mistakes. It meant that the gang war broke out exactly where Palmer intended to bel ¡°Where did this happen?¡± Annie hesitated, but meeting Noe¡¯s piercing gaze, she shivered and finally whispered, ¡°Near the abandoned Pris Stab.¡± The Pris Starb covered a significant area, and it wasn¡¯t umon for gangs to covet its secrets. Even deserted, the Pris Star¡¯s reputation stood firm. Who knew what treasures one might find inside? But if they actually stumbled upon something valuable, Pris Star wouldn¡¯t be the powerhouse it was known as. ¡°Why was Palmer there?¡± ¡°You know we took down Cerulean Whale. Boss suspects that his mother¡¯s death has something to do with Pris Star, so he went to investigate.¡± The mystery of Palmer¡¯s mother¡¯s death was a thorn in his side. For years, he hadn¡¯t given up on uncovering the truth. Noe set down the gauze and bandages she had been using to dress the wound. ¡°There you go. Get some rest now, and don¡¯t forget to take your antibiotics,¡± she said with a gentle, yet firm tone. Annie blinked back to reality, only then realizing that all of Noe¡¯s questions had been a clever distraction. In that moment, Annie couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how kind¨Chearted Ms. Noe was! ¡°I¡¯ll just rest in the guest room. Ms. Noe, if you need anything, just holler!¡± ¡°You can go home. I don¡¯t need help here. If Palmer asks, I¡¯ll fill him in.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Resting in the Pock Mansion didn¡¯t exactly spellfort. Annie¡¯s injuries were far worse than Palmer¡¯s and demanded a good spell of bed rest. ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll do whatever you say!¡± Noe stood up and gazed around the still and silent expanse of the Pock Mansion, breaking the hush with a soft inquiry. ¡°Has it always been this quiet around here?¡± Annie nodded. ¡°Yeah, ever since I joined the Abyssal Organization years ago, Boss¡¯s ce has been like this. Sexton would rather stay at the hospital thane back home. Boss has always beenckingpany. But ever since you came along, Ms. Noe, Boss has been spending more time here!¡± The mansion was so immactely decorated it could have doubled as a showroom for an interior design firm, utterly devoid of warmth. The Schnabel Manor was always bustling and lively, but here it was eerily silent. it was because you were Annie blurted out, ¡°Ive caught Boss staring into space in his room so many times. Later, I found out that it staying in the room right across from his.¡± Noe paused for a moment and then nodded at Annie. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it. Y You head back now, I¡¯ll keep an eye on Palmer¡± ¡°Thanks, Ms. Noe, I owe you one.¡± After Annie left, Noe pushed the door to Palmer¡¯s room open and stepped inside. As she reached out to check his forehead, her hand was abruptly caught in his grasp. The man, lost in a groggy haze, seemed barely conscious, mumbling out of habit more than awareness. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t go, stay with me¡­¡± CHapter 212 CHapter 212 Palmer¡¯s voice was a jumble of tones. 1.she Noe wanted to pull her hand away, but remembering Palmer¡¯s wrist was still wounded and any tug might cause it to bleed again, decided against it ¡°Palmer?¡± Palmer slowly opened his eyes, his gaze foggy, but at least he was awake. ¡°Noe? Wasn¡¯t I just dreaming? Howe you¡¯re here?¡± Instead of answering his question, Noe picked up the water ss from the nightstand and handed it to him. ¡°Take your medicine¡± ¡°Alright¡± Noe watched Palmer swallow his medicine and helped him lie back down. His eyes, typically deep and imprable, now sparkled with a vivid luster, following her every move without shifting away even for a moment Feeling her cheeks heat under his gaze, Noe suddenly recalled what Annie had said earlier. ¡°Boss wanted to head to Pris Star to dig up some dirt on your past. He figured if he didn¡¯t, you would.¡± Was he so set on handling dangerous matters himself just because he felt they were too perilous for her? Gazing at the frail Palmer before her, she noticed his pallor, yet his fever made his eyes moist and vulnerable, his gaze fixed on her. ¡°1 seem to recall telling Annie not to disturb you, yet she still called you. Sorry for interrupting your sweet dreams.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you want me toe?¡± Palmer reached out his touch scorching due to the fever, his palm pressing hotly against Noe¡¯s cheek. ¡°Noe, tell me, do you worry about me?¡± He wanted his girl to care, yet he didn¡¯t want her distracted on his ount. But now that she was here, he yeamed for an answer. Palmer squinted slightly, a ghost of a smile ying on his lips, as elusive as the moon still hanging outside the window. ¡°If I told you and then found out you didn¡¯t worry about me at all, I¡¯d be heartbroken,¡± Palmer said, his words blending jest with delirium, his voice thick with exhaustion and longing Noe¡¯s eyshes fluttered as she tucked Palmer back under the covers. ¡°Go to sleep now. You don¡¯t have to worry about a broken heart. Yours is just fine.¡± The medicine kicked in, and it was hard to tell whether it was fatigue or happiness that brought a smile to Palmer¡¯s face first. She said he wouldn¡¯t be heartbroken- did that mean¡­ she did worry about him, even just a little bit? Noe frowned slightly as she watched Palmer drift off to sleep again. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Palmer¡¯s fever wasn¡¯t due to his wound, but rather from catching a chill. His wound wasn¡¯t inmed; the lever seemed more like the result of getting drenched. Annie¡¯s injuries seemed far more severe. While Noe pondered, she felt her hand grasped by Palmer¡¯s, and he pressed a burning kiss into her palm. ¡°Goodnight.¡± Noe quickly withdrew her hand, yanked the covers over Palmer¡¯s face, and left the room in a fluster! Annie, who had just left the Pock Mansion, nced back towards her boss¡¯s home. ¡°Geez, I wonder if Ms. Noe will question how Boss caught a fever from such a minor injury? Probably not!¡± After all, the wound was real enough, though the circumstances were somewhat convoluted. The oue was the same, wasn¡¯t it? The next morning, Noe yawned as she descended the stairs, only to see Sienna holding Malvina with a face full of motherly love. Sienna was soft¨Chearted, her greatest trial in life being a tumultuous mother¨Cinw rtionship, which now seemed to have reached a sweet resolution. Seeing the burn scars on Malvina, Sienna¡¯s tears flowed with empathy. ¡°Does it hurt, sweetheart? Don¡¯t worry, I know several top stic surgeons who can fix you right up!* ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sienna, Dr. Schnabel said he can take care of it.¡± Ulrich,ing downstairs, nearly stumbled at the mention, nearly missing thest step. 10:55 Jasper questioned, ¡°Since when did you pick up an interest in bum treatment? Change of research topic? Ulrich cleared his throat to regainposure Thofessor Calvin has been studying it, so I thought Td learn a bit as well Hearing that Calvin had a solution. Sienna also rxed. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. Nothing beats Professor Calvin Malvina, you stay with us for a while. I¡¯ll cook you some delicious meals!¡± The rest of the Schnabel family didn¡¯t show any surprise at Malvina¡¯s presence. It was as if her joining them at the table was the most natural thing in the world. But seeing Palraer at the breakfast table, the Schnabel brothers¡® eyes held a hint of hostility, especially when they saw their sister helping him with his food due to his bandaged wrist. Jasper couldn¡¯t hold back his imitation ¡°If Mr. Pock isn¡¯t well, he should stay in the hospital instead. Tristan pped him on the back, annoyed ¡°Quit your sniping! What¡¯s wrong with Palmer having a meal here? You¡¯m the one who talks too much! Palmer, don¡¯t mind him. Have some more to eat. How did you get hurt all of a sudden?¡± Palmer, epting the pomidge Noe had prepared, thanked her. ¡°Thanks, Noe. Sorry to worry you, Tristan, Just a small mishap during a site inspection at work, nothing serious¡± Sexton chuckled at Palmer. ¡°Now that you¡¯re hurt, take a break from thepany for a couple of days. The ce will run without you. Stay home and spend some time with Noe.¡± He had long been irked by Palmer¡¯s dedication to work over spending time with his granddaughter¨C inw, Now, he had his chance. Marcelughed along with Sexton, ¡°Palmer¡¯s a hard worker, and you, old man, haven¡¯t kicked the bucket yet, so go fill in for the kid at work for a few days!¡± ¡°What? Why should I go to work? At my age, shouldn¡¯t I be the one taking it easy?¡± Palmer caught Marcel¡¯s incessant winking and couldn¡¯t help but let a grin spread across his face. In a yful tone, he addressed Sexton, ¡°Grandpa, I still need to head out for a meeting to sign some contracts.¡± Sexton, frustrated with theck of initiative, eximed, ¡°What contract is so important that you have to attend to it personally? I can oversee things for a couple of days! I refuse to believe that with me around, anything can go south!¡± ¡°Thanks, Grandpa I appreciate it.¡± It dawned on Sexton a moment toote that he had just agreed to step in for Palmer at work. Was anyone his age still clocking in at the office? But seeing the pallor on his grandson¡¯s face, enough to tug at anyone¡¯s heartstrings, Sexton felt compelled to step in. After all, managing the Pock Group for so many years, signing a few contracts, and following procedures was no big deal Jasper couldn¡¯t help but feel his temples throb as he watched Palmer ¡°Mr. Pock, it¡¯s not like both of your hands are injured. You can still manage to eat on your own, can¡¯t you?¡± Why on earth would his sister need to spoon¨Cfeed Palmer? The very sight was like a punch to the gut! Palmer shed an innocent smile at Jasper. ¡°Well, you see, eating with my left hand is a bit awkward, so I had to trouble Noe¡± Awkward? Jasper vividly remembered that during theirst meeting at the Pock Group, Palmer had signed documents with his left hand! A guy who could write with his left hand was iming eating was inconvenient? But Palmer was ying the patient card, and Sienna shot Jasper a waming nce. ¡°Quit nitpicking and just eat your food!¡± Palmer reached out and took the spoon from Noe¡¯s hand. I can manage on my own, Wouldn¡¯t want to dy your meal.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Sure, just call if you need anything¡± Jasper rolled his eyes The boy was definitely ying games! His sweet, nalve sister had beenpletely bamboozled by Palmer, the wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! CHapter 213 CHapter 213 Jasper knew that no matter what he said, no one would take his side, so his gaze sought an ally in Ulrich, hoping for support ¡°Ulrich, you¡¯re a doctor, do you think Mr. Pock is sick?¡± Ulrich nced up. ¡°Looks like Mr. Pock has a fever, huh? But the wound¡¯s been well taken care of. Porridge is good for him Was this even his brother? Concerned about Palmer¡¯s diet? But should the focus really be on Palmer¡¯s nutritional needs? Ulrich ced a bowl of porridge beside Malvina. ¡°Here, have this, it¡¯s healthy¡± ¡°Thanks, Dr. Schnobel.¡± Jasper was puzzled. Sienna looked at Noe and Palmer, feeling a burst of contentment at seeing the kids getting along. However, as she nced at her sons, a feeling of imitation washed over her. Sienna eyed her two sons. ¡°You both better bring home a daughter¨Cinw for me this year, or don¡¯t bothering home at all!¡± With Beckett and Stirling absent, all the pressure was on Ulrich and Jasper. Uinch raised his hands in surrender. ¡°Mom, Beckett¡¯s still single, start with him!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all the same, none of you are off the hook!¡± e now!¡± Jasper stood up abruptly. ¡°I¡¯m full! I¡¯ve got a bunch of divorce cases to look at today, heading to the courthouse Sienna was puzzled. ¡°Divorce? But aren¡¯t you a criminalwyer? Why are you handling divorce cases now?¡± Jasper kept a straight face. ¡°Oh, because a division of assets turned into a criminal case. Gotta run!¡± He snatched a piece of toast and a ss of milk from the table and dashed out of the house. Ulrich massaged his forehead. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve been performing surgeries for over twenty hours straight, my head is killing me. Im gonna catch some sleep!¡± Sienna¡¯s attention shifted instantly. ¡°My child, you¡¯re a doctor and you still don¡¯t look after yourself. Go rest.¡± ra made it a point to eat her meal quietly, reducing her presence to avoid Sienna¡¯s notice. Sienna¡¯s gazended on ra. ¡°ra dear¡­¡± ¡°Mom! I have to be at theb tomorrow. I won¡¯t be home for dinner tonight. Grandpa Lucian invited me over ra¡¯s break had been sudden and it was time to get back to the grind. Theb had a pile of work waiting for her, and her data was calling. Lingering at home any longer would only make her the subject of matchmaking, something she wasn¡¯t ready for just yet. Sienna sighed as she watched her children flee the scene. These kids, not a single one gives me peace of mind. Just yesterday, I came across a rumor about Stirling, and I was meaning to ask him about it!¡± But Stirling was nowhere to be found, busy with shootings and appearances. Malvina was surprised. ¡°A rumor? With who?¡± ? ?? ? ? ?? ?? ? ?? ? ??? ??? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ?? ??? ? ??? ? ? Sienna gleefully pulled out her phone to show the screenshots to Noe and Malvina. Noe recognized the familiar smiling face in the photos. ¡°Vasbel? Isn¡¯t she shooting a movie with Stirling?¡± ¡°Yeah, she was over at our ce a few days ago.¡± Yasbel had met Sienna during the gemstone auction at the Schnabel estate, so they were somewhat familiar. Sienna eximed, ¡°Noe, you have no idea. Your brother never gets involved in rumors with actresses, this is the first time. And hispany hasn¡¯t even denied it! Sweetheart, do you have any info on this actress? I can¡¯t find anything!¡± Sienna was obviously excited. Stirling hated generating publicity through rumors with actresses. Having maintained a scandal¨Cfree image since his debut, this rumor had Sienna over the moon. The past that Yasbel used for her debut was fabricated, and her true history with Pris Star was buried deep. Even if Sienna found out, it wouldn¡¯t be of much use. Noe, thinking on her feet, called Yasbel in front of Sienna to inquire about the rumor ¡°Huh? Stop joking. Getting a marriage certificate is like a waste of paper to me, which I could use for advertising. It¡¯s probably Ivan and his team buying the trending spot. I don¡¯t need to use such methods for publicity. But hey, I overheard your brother on the phone at the set, and he mentioned something about pregnancy. Could it be that he¡¯s got someone and hasn¡¯t told you?¡± Sienna dropped her cutlery in shock! 10:55 ¡°I need to talk to Stirling about this. How could such a big matter go unmentioned at home!¡± Noe couldn¡¯t stop stop Sienna and Tristan from storming off. She pressed her temples, asking Yasbel to look out for Sienna if they crossed paths on set, hoping to avoid any mishaps. Marcel coughed, turning his attention to Malvina. ¡°You seem about the same age as Noe, aren¡¯t you in college? I could help you with that¡± Malvina waved her hands frantically in refusal. ¡°Oh no, Grandpa Marcel, when I was in school, my grades were lined numbers. The only reason I could study abroad was because I excelled in languages.¡± up like lottery ¡°Oh? And what was your score?¡± ¡°Thirty¨Cfive out of a hundred.¡± The Schnabel children had been academic stars from a young age. Marcel was clearly unustomed to such dismal academic performance. He was momentarily speechless, staring at Malvina in disbelief. Thirty¨Cfive and that was ¡®excel¡®? How bad were the other subjects? Malvina wasn¡¯t cut out for academia; the mere mention of school gave her a headache! Fortunately, upon hearing about her exceptional score, Marcel quickly abandoned the idea of sending Malvina to college. After dinner, Malvina retumed to the Shadow Dragon Society. Noe looked at Palmer, still loitering in her room. ¡°You should go back and get some rest.¡± ¡°I feel like my ce is too quiet, not like a home at all. Your home is so lively. I really love it.¡± Noe thought of the Pock Mansion, a room silent and empty. The house was luxurious and extravagant, but itcked the warmth of a home ¡°I¡¯ll set you up in the guest room.¡± ¡°But I¡¯d rather stay in my fianc¨¦e¡¯s room.¡± Noe looked at the man in front of her with a frown. ¡°Palmer, would your grandfather approve of how shameless you¡¯re being?¡± Palmer¡¯s face broke into a sly grin. ¡°My grandad would probably say I¡¯m not shameless enough. If being shameless meant keeping the people I want close, then I don¡¯t mind one bit.¡± She looked at him, feeling both exasperated and amused. Then her thoughts drifted to Sexton, with his suggestive winks and nudges. The old man indeed seemed to wish Palmer would be even bolder. ¡°I¡¯ve got to head to the airport to pick someone up today, so you just make yourself at home here.¡± nt toe with you¡± Palmer caught Noe¡¯s hand in his, his eyes glistening with a mix of yfulness and plea. ¡°I want to Whoever she was going to meet must be important to her. ¡°You¡¯re not in any shape to be going out¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I want to be with you!¡± Palmer held on to Noe¡¯s hand, pressing a feathery kiss onto the back of it. ¡°If you¡¯re not ready to share your life with me, at least don¡¯t shut me out.¡± F 25 2 sting shadows like raven feathers. Noe looked down at him, hershes casting ¡°Palmer, weren¡¯t you going to tell me about the first time we met?¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. CHapter 214 CHapter 214 The first time they met? Palmer shed a grin, lifting his gaze to meet Noe¡¯s cool eyes. ¡°Shall we chat on the way?¡± His look was intense and Noe turned her head away slightly, feeling a tad ufortable ¡°If you don¡¯t care about your health, that¡¯s not my problem.¡± That was her way of agreeing to let him tog along! Fresh from his vacation, Mizar parked at the entrance of Serene Haven, her eyes nearly popping out as she watched her boss and Vocalist hop into the car together! Wasn¡¯t Vocalist at the border just a couple of days ago? And now he¡¯s back? And he¡¯s been holding onto their boss¡¯s hand the whole And time, the most shocking part being that she hasn¡¯t shaken him off or chopped off his hand! Had she missed some crucial plot twist while she was away from Imperial City? ¡°Let¡¯s roll, time to pick up our guest¡± The grand master of the zither, Rainer, was arriving in Imperial City today, his itinerary hush¨Chush. With Rainer¡¯s stature, if word got out about his travels, it would stir up a storm in the social circles! ¡°Roger that, boss. Heard there¡¯s been a run on nephrite around Imperial Citytely, fetching a pretty penny.¡± ¡°That stuff isn¡¯t worth much¡± Though it was nephrite, sourced from the mountain peaks, its greatest value was medicinal. The Schnabel family had snagged arge. plece, spending a small fortune to ce it in Marcel¡¯s bedroom. To the outside world, it was a coveted treasure, but to the folks of Pris Star, merely a decorative trinket with little practical use, considering Pns Star was the world¡¯srgest distributor of nephrite! Mizar shrugged. ¡°Yeah, some nutjob imed it could cure cancer, and suddenly it¡¯s hot again, with fakes flooding the market? All the nephrite production was tightly controlled by Pris Star. Noe was clueless as to how so much had been sold off in Imperial City. Most likely forgeries, or inferior goods passed off as premium. There were too many suckers in Imperial City with more money than sense. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Noe nced at the financial report on her phone; business at the music store had spiked recently. Clearly, the nephrite craze had even reached the parts used for zither essories. It seemed she¡¯d n need to carve out time for a visit after picking up her guest; otherwise, things might spiral out of control. On the way to the airport, Palmer held Noe¡¯s hand, a smile ying at theer of his mouth. Nephrite held little interest for her, as it seemed Pris Star¡¯s dealings were far grander than he¡¯d imagined. If he didn¡¯t step up his game, he might soon be outssed by this youngdy! ¡°Our first encounter was in Northstone,¡± he reminisced. ¡°I wonder if you remember the gang war between the drug lords I got caught up His voice, perhaps still affected by his illness, sounded more maic than usual, reverberating through the car¡¯s cabin ¡°I was investigating my mother¡¯s case in Northstone, and some of the Pock family¡¯s dealings were there. They set a trap to kill me, and my men were wiped out. You saved me.¡± That was probably the lowest point in Palmer¡¯s life! Trapped in the shadows of watching his mother pass away without being able to do anything, he wanted to uncover the truth and avenge her on his own When he thought his time hade, she appeared out of nowhere to save him! Clutching Noe¡¯s hand, Palmer was lost in the past. ¡°Noe, you might not be able to imagine what it was like. I watched my mother being murdered. I couldn¡¯t make a sound, and she didn¡¯t dare nce at me before she left. I dreamed of that scene every night, her copsing in a pool of blood.¡± He chuckled softly. ¡°Then, you saved me.¡± From the moment she fired that shot, from the moment she reached out to him, he never had that n CHapter 215 CHapter 215 Boda Poyce Bundy with failed by mother car not far behind Muar on Sisi, had an pourty that stood nut from Ne gave a slight nod. How long has been following in Tive minutes. It¡¯s been on our tail einge Shortly thereto, Noe¡¯s phone buzzed with a new meseng After Mazar Hacked the suspicious vehicle, the ensoped a photo of ma teanga te and sent the vehicle owner¡¯s details straight to ¡°Lome? Was he supposed to be in the hospital Why was Lome¡¯s car following her? Could it be he realized she was the one who performed that surgery on him? Included in the data sent was the car¡¯s recent travel og Last night, it was parked at South Flora Storage just a stone¡¯s throw from the underground fight club In all her years, this was the first time someone had tailed her ¡°Boss, want me to shake off this car?¡± ¡°No need. Let¡¯s pretend we haven¡¯t noticed. Since he¡¯s suspicious, let¡¯s not reveal any more than we need to. Palmer¡¯s gaze tumed frosty someone trying to make a move on his fianc¨¦e right under his nose? ¡°Do you know this Lome? on him as a favor¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°Not really just happened to perform a surgery on hi Lome, the eldest grandson of the Richardson family, had taken over the bulk of the family¡¯s enterprises, carving out a significant niche for himselt in the antique world at a young agel Now The Richardson holdings had doubled since Lucian¡¯s time, all thanks to Lome¡¯s efforts, Only, much of those holdings weren¡¯t exactly above board far more than the legitimate side of the business! A chill flickered in Palmer¡¯s eyes ¡°With Lome¡¯s sharpness, he probably suspects you were the one in the OR¡± Noelia shrugged. ¡°So what if he suspects? I¡¯m not about to admit anything¡°. y not? Afraid of the hassle?¡± ¡°Why ¡°Yeah I don¡¯t know him well and I don¡¯t want to get reported forcking medical credentials.¡± Palmer seemed taken aback, but then chuckled softly, the vibration reverberating through his chest and felt by Noe beside him. Was it that amusing? She¡¯d only made an offhandment. Palmer knew it was all in jest, Lome was also familiar with the international warzone. If he knew that the surgeon was none other than the infamous Phantom Surgeon Lunans, he¡¯d probably be over the moon. But Palmer was particrly fond of Noe¡¯s attitude of keeping her distance from others! After he finishedughing, he looked up at Noe. ¡°If my fianc¨¦e is worried about trouble, let me take care of it.¡± Palmer pulled out his phone and dialed a number Holding Noe¡¯s hand, he coldly instructed the person on the other end, ¡°Warn Lome. He¡¯s overstepped¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Pock Meanwhile, Lome, upon receiving the message on his phone, raised an eyebrow in silent amusement. It seemed Palmer was also in that cac and his actions had been noticed. With Palmers keenness, it would¡¯ve been odd if he hadn¡¯t detected Lome¡¯s arrangement. The car Lome had set up wasn¡¯t meant to take action at this time. ¡°Pull back¡± Lome put down his phone, a smirk og his lipt Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Just making you aware of my presence has served my purpose. As for the rest¡­there¡¯s no rush.¡± He would choose a better moment to make her awam of him! 10-56 The car following them soon received the order and exited the highway at an interchange. Mizar nced in the rear¨Cview minor ¡°Boss, they¡¯re gone. That guy is a weird one. Why would he use his own car to tail you? Isn¡¯t that Just exposing himself? Mizar couldn¡¯t fathom this logic! 22 2 2 2 Palmer frowned, ¡°Lome¡¯s retum at this time is abnormal. He¡¯s probably here for the nephrite market.¡± Noe spread her hands nonchntly. ¡°Whatever Whatever Lome was up to didn¡¯t concern her, but if he Intended to peddle subpar nephrite under the guise of Pris Star, he¡¯d surely pay the price! Elora¡¯s call came through on Noe¡¯s phone. ¡°Noe, you know Lome, right? He asked me for your contact info, but I turned him down Lome had approached ra to get Noe¡¯s number, which ra refused without a second thought. ¡°We¡¯re not close. Who knows what he¡¯s up tol Noe took the call without hiding from Palmer, who remarked upon hearing. ¡°Elora, isn¡¯t Lome sort of your brother too? ¡°Brother? No offense, but thest thing I¡¯m short on is brothers! Including the Pocks, I¡¯m practically swimming in them¨Calmost ten. and Mr. Pock, you¡¯re like one too. Just make sure you take good care of my little sister, or one of these days, I¡¯ll be short a brother! Having plenty of brothers is nice, losing a couple wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± Anyone who wanted to get close to her little sister had to get past her first! To ra, Noe was just a sweet, gentle, innocent, and adorable girl. Without the betrothal agreement, Palmer stood little chance of getting close to her, ra considered her sister paramount, rendering these once¨Cseen so¨Ccalled brothers inconsequential! Even if Lome had no ulterior motives, ra saw no need for him to obtain contact details without her mediation. ra¡¯s threat to Palmer sounded like a jest, and he did not take her too seriously ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take good care of Noe.¡± The entire Schnabel family tended to treat Noe like a child, even though she was more than capable of looking after herself. Even for such small matters, ra would call to inform her, which always made Noe feel a warm current in her heart. Outside the airport terminal, Mizar was ushering an elderly man with youthful vigor into the car. Master Rainer chuckled softly as he gazed at Noe and Palmer, seated in the back row. ¡°Noe, aren¡¯t you going to introduce me?¡± ¡°You probably already did your homework when you came here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same. An introduction from you carries a different weight than my own investigations.¡± Ever since these old timers had leamed about Noe¡¯s fianc¨¦, they had turned over every stone to dig up dirt on Palmer. To their surprise, thed seemed decent, a good egg. With a resigned sigh, Noe made the introductions. ¡°This is Palmer, and this is my mentor, Master Rainer¡± Master Rainer beamed with an air of cultured charm. ¡°A fellow assassinator like Noe, I see. Sporting some fresh scars, too. You¡¯ve certainly made some noise taking down the Cerulean Whale¨Ca hefty feat¡± The Cerulean Whale, notorious as the third¨Cranking assassin organization on the deep¨Cweb, had been major news after Palmer had left its leaders with nothing but their titles to cling to, a tale that had echoed across the entire underworld. Palmer¡¯s lips twitched into a half¨Csmile. ¡°I can¡¯t hide anything from you.¡± Palmer targeting the Cerulean Whale was no surprise to Noe. The fact that folks from the Westwood Mercenary Corps could cross borders had a lot to do with the Cerulean Whale. And with Palmer having been wounded at the South Flora Storage, there was no way he would let that score go unsettled! ¡°Heh, you¡¯re as ruthless as Noe, indeed. But there¡¯s something else I¡¯m rather curious about,¡± Master Rainer said, his voice suddenlyced with caution and probing intent. The temperature in the car seemed to drop a few degrees at his words. ¡°I¡¯m quite intrigued, what exactly were you after in the ruins of Pris Star?¡± CHapter 216 CHapter 216 Palmer looked up, his gaze meeting the icy calmness of Master Rainer¡¯s eyes, which held a glint of frost ¡°You know, Palmer, this girl might not have mentioned it, but we Pris folks are particr about our turf. Even if it¡¯s of no use anymore. you shouldn¡¯t have trespassed.¡± Palmer wasn¡¯t cowed by the warning. He met Master Rainer¡¯s gaze, his voice steady and calm ¡®No offense intended, but I¡¯ve got my own matters to investigate Id appreciate your understanding.¡± Master Raine, eyed Palmer for a moment, and then, surprisingly, heughed. ¡°It¡¯s only because of Noe that you dare speak to me like this, isn¡¯t it? Your reputation at the border isn¡¯t exactly ster¡± ¡°You are Noe¡¯s mentor, so it¡¯s only right to show respect.¡± As for reputation, the methods of the Abyssal Organization were swift and decisive. In a world ruled by bloodshed, a good reputation was unnecessary. Master Rainer was sure that if he weren¡¯t Noe¡¯s mentor, Palmer wouldn¡¯t be nearly as courteous. Thed was being so obliging probably just to make Noe happy, and Master Rainer found that rather pleasing. Mizar chimed in, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a bad reputation? Our boss here doesn¡¯t exactly have the best rep either¡± Noe replied coolly, ¡°Rumors. Our organization and my reputation are in good standing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Our outfit has achieved a zeroint record on all missions. Both clients and fargets have nothing but rave reviews!¡± Of course, those who couldn¡¯t give a good review were no longer breathing. After Master Rainer arrived at the hotel, he turned to Noe. ¡°In the next couple of days, I need to meet an old friend. I¡¯ll get in touch once I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Alright, §±ll leave it Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. it to your schedule.¡± Mizar muttered, ¡°Boss, I sneakily nced at Master Rainer¡¯s phone. He was secretive about it and wouldn¡¯t let me see. I¡¯m going to tail him for the next couple of days!¡± ¡°Do as you wish, but don¡¯t expect me to bail you out if you get caught.¡± if Master Rainer caught her, Mizar wouldn¡¯t be having an easy time. ¡°Don¡¯t be so heartless, I think he¡¯s nning to visit Imperial University.¡± Imperial University? Was Master Rainer meeting with Gamrick? Noe quickly changed her mind. ¡°Follow him, m, and if anything goes sideways, I¡¯ll get you out.¡± ¡°You got it!¡± The car stopped in front of the music store, and Noe pursed her lips as she looked at Palmer beside her. ¡°Your body is better suited for rest. There¡¯s no need for you to apany me here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. out now. I want to be with my fianc¨¦e at work. I won¡¯t be a bother, and besides, you promised me a whole day¡¯s date, you can¡¯t back Noe¡¯s slender, cool fingers rested on Palmer¡¯s wrist. He looked weary, but his pulse was strong. Since he wasn¡¯t in any serious trouble, Noe didn¡¯t press further and stepped into the music store. The store manager, Terrell, hurried to greet them. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, the music store across has been refurbished, and the financial reports for our shop are on your desk!¡± Thanks for the hard work.¡± The music store across was bought by Yvonne in an attempt to challenge Noe, but fortunately, it became Noe¡¯s property before the Gruber family went bankrupt The gallery and music store were next to each other, and to make things convenient for Noe, Beckett had both officesbined, with a decent¨Csized lounge added as well. The office was bathed in light, with floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows offering a clear view of the street. Noe picked up the financial reports from her desk as soon as she entered the office. 10 56 The soles of zithers, especially vintage ones, had skyrocketed recently. Several masterpieces had reached exorbitant prices, and the store had held onto them, not rushing to sell These prices are good. Why not sell them?¡± ¡°Ms. Schnabel, we n to auction these instruments. We can probably double their prices that way.¡± The zithers¡® most distinctive feature was the nephrite added to them, but the nephrite on a zither is merely a small part, already polished and fitted asponents,cking the medicinal value Noe said calmly. I remember that thest time I was here, the store didn¡¯t have these instruments.¡± Terrell ornned. ¡°You must be mistaken. These zithers are the pride of our store!¡± ¡°Show them to me¡± Confronted with Noe¡¯sposed gaze, Terrell didn¡¯t panic. While Ms. Schnabel might have proficiency in ying the zither, it was highly unlikely she possessed the expertise to construct one. Zither¡¯s craftsmanship involved intricate details, typically discemible only by seasoned professionals. ¡°Please follow me, Ms. Schnabel¡± Noe stood up, with Palmer trailing behind her. He whispered to her, his voice enticing and deep. I missed the chance to see you paintst time. Might I have the pleasure of hearing you y the zither now?¡± If his fianc¨¦e was a disciple of Master Rainer, her skills with the zither ought to be quite profound. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to y right now.¡± Palmer nodded. ¡°Alright. The financial report seemed off to me as well. It looks like you have your work cut out for you today.¡± He had nced at the financial report while she was looking at it. Many figures were clearly off, and with his years of experience in the business world, he had immediately spotted the discrepancies. Yet, he was impressed that Noe needed only a nce to home in ont the most problematic data Sometimes, he felt his fianc¨¦e was too perfect so much so that the more he got to know her, the closer he wanted to be. Terrell led Noe to the zithers, which were maintained impably, their nephrite iys shining with a subtle luster. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, these zithers have been the talk of the towntely. Once we hold the auction, we are sure to make a handsome profit!¡± Noe¡¯s fingers danced lightly across the strings, and the crisp sound reverberated through the music store, lingering in the air like an echo in a cathedral, revealing the instrument¡¯s quality from a single note. ¡°Ms. Schnabel,¡± the assistant spoke with pride, ¡°this is a zither handcrafted by Master Sylvie herself. The nephrite iy is of the highest quality, making it the most expensive piece among all the harps we¡¯ve got!¡± ¡°This masterpiece also features strings personally selected by the renowned luthier, Mr. Rainer Just one strum, Ms. Schnabel, and you¡¯ll recognize the exceptional quality!¡± The zither under Noe¡¯s touch was indeed adomed with exquisite nephrite, and even the slightest pluck of the strings seemed to unleash the thunderous charge of a cavalry, resplendent and majestic. A fine instrument, indeed. But the problem was, since when did she carve this zither? And since when did Master Rainer set strings? The old man named each of his creations, and Noe could spot a Rainer original with just a nce. Noe¡¯s gaze was icy as it fell upon Terrell standing before her. ¡°Are you and Travis twins?¡± she inquired sharply. ¡°Not, Ms. Schnabel, it¡¯s just a coincidence that we share a simr name. The shenanigans he pulled off in the gallery, I had no knowledge of them! Terrell was clearly worried about being implicated. Noe¡¯s eyes narrowed with a touch of disdain. ¡°So, you¡¯re not rted, yet the stunts you pull are strikingly simr? It seems names can be a twist of fate, and sharing a cell might just be another twist for you two!¡± CHapter 217 CHapter 217 Terrell¡¯s face was a study in difort, hispasum slipping ping like ice on a hot summer day Travis, his kin through thick and thin, had been sent up the river by Noe after that fiasco at the art gallery Word on the street was that he was now getting three squares a day behind bars ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re driving at Terrell stammered, his words chasing each other in confusion. ¡°Didn¡¯t you visit him a few days ago? Seemed like he¡¯s living the life.¡± Terrell and Travis shared more than just blood, they shared loyalty. Even with Travis locked away, Terrell made time for brotherly visits ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I visited him because we were colleagues once. As for your insinuations, they¡¯re lost on me. Are there any issues with these withers?¡± Noe maised an eyebrow, her expression cool and unreadable. ¡°Where did you get these zithers, Terrell?¡± ¡°Well, Ms. Schnabel, these zithers have always been at our store! It¡¯s possible that when you visitedst tim attention to them.¡± time, you were too rushed to pay ¡°The headstock is rounded, the neck a bit short, the waist cinched¨Crich in sound. These aren¡¯t Master Rainer¡¯s creations.¡± Cradling the zither¡¯s waist, Noe flipped the zither over to inspect the inscription on the bottom. There, stamped into the wood, was indeed Master Rainer¡¯s personal seall ¡°Ms. Schnabel, the seal¡¯s right there. We¡¯ve checked it multiple times¨Cit¡¯s genuine. Terrell was set in his mind that even if Noe knew something about zither construction, she couldn¡¯t unravel the true origin of this instrument. Near the tailpiece, there was a mboyant signature¨CSylvie. Noe¡¯s eyebrow arched just a fraction higher. When did she ever craft this wither and leave her name on it? And that signature¨Cit looked like it was scrawled by a foot. ¡°If you insist on ying tough, then let¡¯s bring in the appraisers.¡± Vintage zithers and those crafted by masters fetched top price, and there were professional appraisers in the industry for such items. Terrell didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Sure thing, I call the appraisers right now.¡± After all, he knew the appraisers¨Cit was all part of the n, To ensure the uing auction went smoothly. Terrell had already made arrangements with the appraisal firm. Stepping outside with his phone, Terrell dialed up his contact. ¡°Ryder, grab your kit ande to the music store. My boss insists on an appraisal for those zithers. She¡¯s clueless about how the world works¨Cthinks she¡¯s some kind of expert. It¡¯sughable. I¡¯ve been in the zither business for years; she can¡¯t hold a candle to me.¡± If only Travis had been a little smarter, Noe would never have gotten the upper hand. Those zithers were pricey finds from the antique market, and though a bit worse for wear when acquired, a little restoration made them as good as new. A fresh coat of polish and they could sell for a handsome price. Ryder, grabbing his toolkit, replied, ¡°Tll be right there. We¡¯ll stick to our agreed price. Just some greenhorn, a little smoke and mimors will do. Just a Schnabel, barely out of her teens, and she¡¯s meddling in the zither world? If we don¡¯t teach her a lesson, she won¡¯t know who¡¯s boss! Before Ryder could finish, the door suddenly burst open with a kick, revealing a group of unexpected visitors. ¡°What are you doing here!¡± Ryder eximed in shock. Mizar chuckled, stepping aside to let Master/Rainer and the head of the appraisal firm through. The head appraiser delivered a p across Ryder¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve been with us for years, Ryder, and you pull these illegal stunts! You dare mess with Master Rainer¡¯s apprentice?¡± by the gr The whole conversation with Terrell had been overheard through the speakerphone by remarks about Noe The head appraiser¡¯s face was red with anger group at the door, including their disparaging Forget that Ms. Schnabel was the treasured daughter of the Schnabel family¨Cjust being Master Rainer¡¯s acknowledged apprentice made her untouchable in the zither world! Ryder, hand on his cheek, was still reeling- On the other end of the line, Terrell waited for a response. 10:56 Master Rainer snorted. ¡°I was beginning to think your firm had lost its way. Take him away¨Chell fit right in there, with their regimented schedules. ¡°Right away, 11l call the policel¡± Ryder¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Galen, I¡¯ve given thirty years to the center. Won¡¯t you give me one chance to make it right?¡± ¡°Save it, Ryder. You¡¯re a professional. You took money to deceive customers. That¡¯s fraud, and the center will hold you ountable. As Ryder was taken away, Master Rainer gestured dismissively. ¡°I have people to see. I won¡¯t linger here. Go to the music store.¡± ¡°Immediately!¡± The head of the appraisal firm, Galen, relieved by Master Rainer¡¯s approval, quickly gathered his staff and headed to Noe¡¯s music store. Master Rainer had noticed Mizar following and after confronting her, they detoured to the appraisal center¨Ca fortuitous coincidence. ¡°Mizar, since you¡¯re shadowing me, get in the driver¡¯s seat. Or do you expect me to chauffeur you?¡± ¡°Heh, you got it, Master!¡± Terrell, puzzled by the dial tone on the other end of the phone, felt a growing unease. Ryder, it seemed, had a knack for disappearing mid¨Ccall. However, since he promised to show up, all one could do was wait ¡°Ms. Schnabel, the folks from the appraisal center are on their way.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Noe¡¯s fingers brushed lightly over the thirteen markers of the zithers, iid with what was supposed to be nephrite. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. It didn¡¯t take an expert to realize these were inferior pieces of nephrite. If not for the fact that zithers didn¡¯t require much of the stone and the iy work made it hard to spot, these scraps of nephrite would barely fetch two grand. Yet Terrell had somehow managed to hype up these subpar nephrite zithers to sky¨Chigh prices. The music store¡¯s assistant manager arrived with the appraiser. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, Galen from the appraisal center is here.¡± Terrell¡¯s heart raced at the sight of the neer. Why was the boss here himself? What about Ryder? ¡°I thought I was dealing with Ryder. Why is Galen here in person?¡± As Galen prepared himself, donning gloves and appraisal gear, he exined to Noe. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, I¡¯m Galen, owner of the Imperial City Zither Appraisal Center. Today, I¡¯ll be providing my services to you free of charge!¡± Noe arched an eyebrow ¡°Ryder has been taken for investigation due to a professional transgression. He¡¯s facing a stint behind bars!¡± CHapter 218 CHapter 218 Noe nodded slightly. ¡°Thanks for the assist, Galen It¡¯s no trouble at all ¡± Sweat was beading on Terrell¡¯s Terehead as he waited anxiously! How could Ryder be taken away so easily? Most of the shady deals had Terrell¡¯s fingerprints all over them. If Ryder¡¯s wrongdoings were uncovered. Terell knew he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of getting away! Just days ago, Terrell had visited Travis, who was now getting a taste of prison life. It was far from living, it was surviving Lights zed 24/7, sleep came in fits and starts under harsh fluorescent bulbs, and even a trip to the can was under the unblinking nye of surveince cameras. No privacy, not even dignity, remained for those behind bars. The mere thought sent shivers down Terrell¡¯s spinel Il Noe got wind of his part in these shenanigans, he¡¯d be bunking with Travis soon enough Terrell swallowed hard, silently praying Galen wouldn¡¯t notice the tampering he had done to the instruments. Noe stood aside, silently observing as Galen and his team of technicians were busy with their assessments. Half an hourter, Galen peeled off his gloves. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, we need to take these samples back for a thorough analysis with our high¨Ctech gear, but at first nce, none of these instruments were crafted by Master Rainer, and the iys and carvings certainly weren¡¯t the handiwork of Master Sylvie,¡± Gritting his teeth, Terrell insisted, ¡°Galen, could you take another look? How are they not Master Sylvie¡¯s creations?¡± Galen waved him off, his face a mask of reverence and seriousness. ¡°Master Sylvie is my idol! I¡¯ve studied every single one of her sculptures meticulously, and I can tell you, the pressure and technique used in these carvings are nothing like her signature style!¡± Galen was dead serious, offended that someone would dare question his idol right before him! Noe nced at Galen, surprised. The owner of the appraisal center was a fan of hers? Galen continued to point out several inconsistencies in the carvings on the instruments, minor details that only a true aficionado would notice Indeed, he was a fan. Noe nodded in acknowledgment ¡°If they¡¯re all fakes, there¡¯s no need to send them for further appraisal. These instruments, mere antiques with no real value, are likely bought from some flea market to pass off as rare finds.¡± Realizing they were dealing with counterfeits, there was no sense in wasting more time on appraisals. Terrell, clearly distressed, dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, the nephrite in these instruments is genuine. Event if the instruments aren¡¯t the work of Master Sylvie or Master Rainer, the nephrite alone is quite valuable. I was duped by Ryder. Just at single piece of the nephrite alone is worth two hundred thousand!¡± Noeid her hand on one of the nephrite pieces and, with a firm twist, removed it from the instrument Without the wooden backdrop, the stone¡¯s impurities were ring under the bright light. It was the lowest quality of nephrite ¡°Two hundred thousand? For that sum, I could get you a hundred thousand pieces just like it. I thought maybe two thousand was a fair estimate but seems I¡¯ve overrated this trash and underestimated your nerve.¡±¡° Terrell was stunned; he never expected Noe to physically dislodge the nephrite! Even a novice could discern the quality of the stone. This piece of nephrite was coarse and grainy, the kind that wouldn¡¯t even turn heads in the jade market. Noe raised an eyebrow at Terrell. ¡°As the manager of a music store, conspiring with appraisers to cheat customers by flipping real for fake, buying low and selling high, and charging exorbitant fees for false certificates. Your city mansion was probably funded this way. wasn¡¯t it? The shop¡¯s sry can¡¯t afford you ¨¤ Lamborghini, yet you boast three, all collectors¡® editions. Terrell, you and Travis truly are cut from the same cloth. I reckon you¡¯ll be sharing a cell soon enough.¡± Seeing the tide turning against him, Terrell backed away, defiant but desperate. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re talking nonsense. I earned my money through hard work. I¡¯ve been with this store for years, and not even Mr. Horwich could fire me. Don¡¯t you go too far!¡± Noe¡¯s gaze was heavy with disdain and . ¡°Would you dare tell my grandpa about your escapades?¡± Terrell, faced with Noe¡¯s icy stare, shuddered, leaning on the windowsill before making a rash leap outside! The assistant manager gasped. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, should we go after him?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°Do you really think a pig can make it far after jumping from the third floor? Besides, I had some¡­ additions made to the garden bed below¡± 10:56 The store¡¯s garden bed, facing the street, was always nted with seasonal blooms for decoration, switched out every quarter. Temell¡¯s scream echoed from below. The assistant manager peeked down to see Terrell, hefty and greasy, caught up in the cacti that filled the garden bed! Noe stated tly, ¡°Call the police and have him taken away.¡± ¡°Right away, Ms. Schnabell Those cacti, part of Pris Star¡¯sst quarter experiment and imported directly from the desert, had not been ounted for by Terrell in his hasty escape. He was now a human pin cushion! ¡°You¡± Noe said, tuming to the assistant manager ¡°will take over as head manager. I expect no more mistakes.¡± The assistant manager, overwhelmed with gratitude, replied, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Schnabel, for this opportunity!¡± e store¡¯s Noe efficiently dealt with the counterfeit goods and reorganized the store¡¯s operation. Galen, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t help but admire Noe¡¯s swift handling of the store¡¯s affairs. It seemed that young Ms. Schnabel was not only an apprentice of Master Rainer but, in the vein of the Schnabel family, a business prodigy as well. ¡°Galen, could you do me a favor and appraise all the zithers in the store? We¡¯ll settle the fees ording to standard rates.¡± ¡°You got it, Ms. Schnabel. I look forward to more coborations with you,¡± Galen replied with a grin, his eyes crinkling at theers. Noe was an apprentice of Master Rainer and the proprietor of thergest music store in the Imperial City: Galen knew his appraisal center would be working hand in glove with Noe for the foreseeable future. Galen sprang into action, his team bustling about, attentively inspecting each instrument, After straightening out thest zither, Noe turned and caught sight of Palmer. He¡¯d been leaning against the door frame, a smile ying on his lips as he watched her take charge. This was her realm, and he seemed content to observe hermand the room with natural authority. ¡°You¡¯re doing great, Noe. Seeing you in your element gives me a run for my money. As a reward, would you care to spare a moment to hear me y a piece?¡± Palmer offered with a twinkle in his eye. y a piece? For her? ¡°You can y?¡± Noe asked, her eyebrow arching in surprise. I¡¯ve picked up a thing or two watching others. I dabble,¡± Palmer confessed with a casual shrug. He picked up a ssical guitar from a nearby stand and led Noe by the hand into her office, gently closing the door behind them. Settling into a chair, Palmer cradled the guitar and his long fingers began to caress the strings, sending ripples of melody through the Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. air. Noe¡¯sshes fluttered slightly. ¡°Your wrist is injured, you shouldn¡¯t be ying.¡± w guys serenade their sweethearts Palmer let out a soft chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal; I can manage with my left hand. Back in college, I saw with guitars. I figured, why not give it a shot? Maybe I can make my fianc¨¦e feel just how much she means to me!¡± CHapter 219 CHapter 219 Palmer¡¯s voice carried a deep, maic quality, blending seamlessly with the strumming of the guitar. In Palmer¡¯s hands, the ssical guitar produced tones of dignified mellowness, akin to a gentleman softly reciting verses of poetry The piece, neither overly long nor too brief, revealed Palmer¡¯s limited familiarity with musical instruments, his technique somewhat unpolished. Yet, as his long, smooth fingers caressed the strings, bathed in sunlight streaming through the office windows, their distinct knuckles glinted like gold. As the melody ended, Noe felt her heart flutter in time with the guitar strings. ¡°My first time ying. I¡¯ll perform better for you when I get the chance.* Noe averted her gaze, lowering her eyes to conceal her emotions. ¡°Don¡¯t y until your hand is healed. And¡­ your left hand seems quite deft¡± If she remembered correctly, he was using his left hand earlier in the office when he wrote with her pen. A few annotations had appeared on the financial statements of the music store, all circled by Palmer, pointing out the bugs in the reports. With such proficiency, how could he have the nerve to ask her to feed him this morning? That look of contentment on Sexton¡¯s face when he saw them earlier now made Noe¡¯s cheeks burn with embarrassment. She stared coldly at Palmer. ¡°What are you, a toddler?¡± She didn¡¯t need anyone to feed her when she was three, let alone engage in such nonsensical antics. Palmer set aside his guitar and leaned in close to Noe, their proximity close enough for their breaths to mingle. ¡°If I were three, could I kiss you, Noe?¡± Noe stood up abruptly, fists clenched. ¡°Shameless! Palmer, have you no decency?¡± 5 ? 2 F 2 1?? # 3 F? If the employees of the Pock Group could see their aloof CEO acting like a clingy brat, spouting such lines, their jaws would probably hit the floor! Watching Noe storm out of the office, the door mming shut with a thud, a pleased smile yed on Palmer¡¯s lips. ¡°I forgot to mention, besides learning the guitar at school, I also learned that if you want to win over a girl you like, you can¡¯t worry about preserving your image.¡± Noe strode out of the office, only calming down once she reached the cool st of the air conditioner. Was Palmer really that shameless? She didn¡¯t understand how he could say those things so nonchntly! Her mind was in disarray, and at that moment, her phone rang. Yasbel¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Boss, I need your help. I think I¡¯ve got myself into a real pickle.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± wrong?¡± ¡°Your brother Stirling has been oddly attentive to me these past few days. I suspect he might have untoward intentions, but I can¡¯t think of anything I¡¯ve said that could¡¯ve led him on.¡± In an effort to avoid misunderstandings with the male actors, Yasbel would even announce she was going to ¡°nch herself¡± instead of taking a shower, just to maintain professional boundaries. Noe massaged her temples. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Stirling told me that since we get along, he¡¯ll be looking out for you a bit. Your kind belongs in a zoo, not in Stirling¡¯s league.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief. I was worried I¡¯d identally be a heartbreaker, especially with those creepy looks from your brother.¡± ¡°He¡¯s nearsighted; he looks at dogs with the same affection.¡± There was a pause. ¡°You¡¯ve really upped your insult game, Boss! Oh, and one of the actresses on set mentioned she bought arge piece of nephrite recently. Aren¡¯t we out of that stuff?¡± ¡°Imperfections. Look into who¡¯s been collecting the rejects we don¡¯t want.¡± While Pris Star controlled thergest nephrite supply, they only dealt with high quality stones, rejecting even slightly wed ones. The nephrite on the zither earlier was of particrly low quality. ¡°There are only a few families who deal in nephrite. I¡¯ll check it out.¡± After hanging up, Kiera, the store¡¯s new manager, approached Noe with a respectful tone. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, there¡¯s a woman outside who wants to see you. Do you know her?¡± Noe¡¯s gaze swept past the rows of instruments to the familiar figure at the door. 10:32 dunt surprise ford Rosenberg¡¯s mother, Linsey. nsey had tracked her down. Though imperial City was vast, it wasn¡¯t impossible to find someone if you Kiera walked to regretful. Tm sorry, mm, but Ms. Schnabel says she doesn¡¯t recognize you.¡± Ms Schubert A spark of shrewdness appeared in Linsey¡¯s eyes. The music store she stood in was thergest in imperial City. If Noe really was the owner, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her livelihood. The Rosenberg family had recently gone bankrupt, and their businesses were inexplicably thwarted, leading Linsey to promptly divorce Zachary Rosenberg. After all, her family still had some money. There was no way she¡¯d end up on the streets with that wretch And now, to stumble upon Noe! Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then I just shop. That¡¯s allowed, right?¡± ¡°Of course. What kind of instruments are you interested in? I¡¯ll show you.¡± Linsey¡¯s eyes scanned the instruments and their price tags, the rows of zeros sending a shock through her The cheapest instrument here cost twenty thousand? How on earth did Noe acquire this music store? ¡°Is this store solely owned by Ms. Schnabel?¡± ¡°Yes, and the gallery next door, as well as the stores across the street, are all solely owned by Ms. Schnabel.¡± So, was Noe wealthy now? Delighted, Linsey hurriedly called Milford. ¡°Milford, listen to me. I¡¯d never steer you wrong. You go look into Noellia, and forget about Briony who¡¯s about tond in jail¡± ¡°Got it, gotta go Milford wasn¡¯t discreet as he took the call, and finong, lying before him, tumed deathly pale at his words. ¡°Milford, what the heck does your mom mean? five grot your bun in the overs. You can just leave me in the lurch!¡± Briony couldn¡¯t fathom why she found herself at the scene of Vincent¡¯s car wreck. The moment her eyes flew open, the harrowing sigha of Vincent¡¯s mangled body nearly made her faint If it hadn¡¯t been for the pregnancy testing back positive night then, she might¡¯ve been behind bars by now, Milford was visibly imitated. ¡°Briony, whether that kid is mine is still up in the ant. For all I know, you could¡¯ve been seeing someone else¡® Briony bristled, staring at Milford in sheer disbelief. ¡°What are you sanng? How could you even doubt me? Of course, it¡¯s your child? Tve got a ton of work back at the office. I gotta jet. Take care of yourself¡± Milford was up and out before Briony had the chance to utter another word Briony clutched her belly, resentment written all over her face as she watched Milford¡¯s retreating figure. The Rosenbergs were bankrupt. Where was he off to? Apany? He was probably heading straight to Noef But she had to keep the baby, no matter what. If she didn¡¯t, it was back to the stammer for her CHapter 220 CHapter 220 Briony paced around her room, wringing her hands before finally gathering up the courage to call her mother, Belinda ¡°Mom, I really don¡¯t want to end up behind bars, and I sure as hell don¡¯t want this baby. The Rosenbergs are bankrupt now, and there¡¯s no way they can give me or the kid a decent life.¡± She wouldn¡¯t let Milford drag her down with his failures! She had set her sights on the Rosenberg fortune and now that it was gone, she wanted nothing to do with them. Belinda was silent for a moment before soothing her. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, honey, I¡¯ve got you.¡± Brieny continued, desperation in her voice. ¡°Mom, if ites down to it, can¡¯t you reach out to my real dad? Vincent¡¯s practically on his deathbed. Are you really gonna stick with him?¡± The mere mention of Vincent got Belinda¡¯s blood boiling. That damn fool Vincent, always crying poor when he had slyly transferred all his assets to his bastard son! ¡°I won¡¯t divorce him until I get back every penny of our marital assets. I¡¯ll be damned if I let Vincent get away with this!¡± As for Briony¡¯s biological father¡­ Well, Belinda wasn¡¯t exactly sure herself. She¡¯d had a string of boyfriends before marrying Vincent, and pinning down which one fathered Briony wasn¡¯t straightforward. With no clear answer, she decided to choose the most suitable candidate for now. Belinda pondered a moment, then replied, ¡°Your dad¡­he¡¯s in the gemstone business. He mentioned something about mining nephrite, and that stuff¡¯s worth a fortune. If we can find him, you won¡¯t have to worry about a thing. I¡¯ll find you a sharpwyer first. Once you¡¯re in the clear, we¡¯ll take care of the baby. The Rosenbergs are broke as a joke now; we can¡¯t have their child.¡± Briony quickly agreed! If she found her real father, she was sure her future would be bright. Then, whether it was Milford or Noe, they would have to bow down to her. ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve got to get back what Vincent took from us, or how are we supposed to live? I heard from Milford¡¯s mom that Noe¡¯s rolling in dough. Now that we¡¯re down on our luck, she can¡¯t just ignore us, right?¡± The words left a sour taste in her mouth. Why was Noe so damn lucky, finding a rich guy totch onto in times like these? ¡°Noe? That little brat? Forget it. She doesn¡¯t see us as family. Briony, do not go to her.¡± Belinda still felt the pain from thest time Noe had given her what for, and it made her skin crawl. If Briony went to Noe, she might end up getting a beating too. Briony dismissed her mother¡¯s concerns, suspecting Belinda wanted to go after Noe¡¯s money herself and would abandon her if she got it. After hanging up, Briony eyed the guards outside her room. She needed to find a way out the thought of jail or having Milford¡¯s child and then prison was N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. just terrifying! Meanwhile, Noe dined leisurely, listening to Yasbel¡¯s animated recount of the afternoon¡¯s spectacle. ¡°Boss, you should have seen it! Milford at the hospital, aplete mess. And then, a bunch of girls calling him, iming they¡¯re pregnant, and he¡¯s denying all of them. I was there for a shoot and witnessed this whole circus.¡± The onlookers, including the doctors, all turned their gaze on Milford, expressions souring. Noe knew Milford¡¯s true colors and wasn¡¯t surprised by the news. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business.¡± She never took people like Milford seriously. Yasbel whistled, ncing at Palmer who was busy grilling steaks for Noe. ¡°True that. You¡¯ve got yourself a real man now. Milford¡¯s just trash.¡± Palmer¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver, taking thements aspliments from Noe¡¯s crew. Yasbel had stopped by to drop off some documents and snagged a dinner invite. Watching Palmer pamper Noe, a hint of envy crept 1. in. Even with an injured hand, Palmer was grilling steaks and serving her like royalty. Yasbel couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of jealousy. 10:32 Outside the restaurant Milford, arm¨Cin¨Carm with a couple of models he¡¯d just met, was off to a hotel. However, his gaze caught Noe standing by the entrance of the grill house, bathed in the warm glow of the streetlight. She looked ethereal in her dress, like a modern¨Cday goddess. Milford¡¯s thoughts raced, fueled by Linsey¡¯s earlier words, and his heart raced with desire. He approached Noe. ¡°Noe, are you here waiting for me?¡± Noe nced back at Yasbel and ordered coldly, ¡°Turn off the cameras¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Milford, clueless, thought Noe wanted privacy for a date, but before his smile could bloom, he was on the receiving end of a solid punch! The fierce blows came without mercy, leaving Milford crying out in shock. Noe massaged her wrist and took a wet wipe from Palmer to clean her hands. ¡°What filth. Even restrooms are cleaner than you.¡± Milford, in feat backed away, staring at Noe and Palmer. ¡°You¡­ you dare hit me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to bother with you, but you insisted on parading in front of me, disgusting.¡± ¡°Noe, you can¡¯t touch me! You think your pretty boy will stand up for you? I¡¯m not afraid of you! If youy a hand on me, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± Noe shook her head in disdain. ¡°Yasbel, take care of him, then dump him at the police station.¡± ¡°Right on it!¡± They were pros at ying host, promising to give Milford the warmest wee he¡¯d never want to head back to his own digs again. Noe retracted her gaze, her expression serene. ¡°Don¡¯t go overboard; just make sure he crosses the street whenever he sees meing.¡± Yasbel chuckled mischievously. ¡°We¡¯ve got a bunch of new tasers in theb that haven¡¯t been tested yet. Using him would be perfect and, hey, it might even contribute to science. Just hope he doesn¡¯t end up like a roast on the BBQ¡­¡± The thought of the BBQ they had just had for dinner made Yasbel hastily shake the gruesome image from her mind. Seeing the tide turning against him, Milford blurted out in panic, ¡°Noe, you¡¯re nothing but trash. Me taking a shine to you was a blessing you ungrateful¡­¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you just wet yourself, I might¡¯ve believed that bluster.¡± Milford¡¯s pants were indeed soaked, a testament to Noe¡¯s intimidation tactics that had him literally pissing his pants! Yasbel and a few others from the Obelisk Organization mped a hand over Milford¡¯s mouth and disappeared around the corner of the alley. The up¨Canding model waiting for Milford caught themotion and bolted without a trace. ¡°After you¡¯re done with your business, can you hand him off to me?¡± Palmer¡¯s voice floated over. Noe looked up to see him standing where the moonlight and streemp light intersected, draping him in an aura of prestige and brilliance. ¡°What do you have in mind for him?¡± ¡°Probably something more entertaining than sending him to the mmer.¡± Noe nodded. ¡®Be my guest. I¡¯ve lost all interest in him.¡± Palmer suddenly stepped closer and took Noe¡¯s hand in his own, squinting slightly as he admired the formidable beauty before him. ¡°Under the streetlight, there are two shadows. One is mine, and the other, well, that¡¯s still mine.¡± CHapter 221 CHapter 221 Under the bright streetlights, two shadows fell, their outlines merging as if they were nestled close in an intimate embrace. The peculiar romanticism cast by the ovepping lights, coupled with the voice still echoing in Noe¡¯s ears, made her heart skip a beat. It must be from when she went a little too hard in the scuffle earlier, the adrenaline probably sped up her heartbeat! Noe steadied herself and looked away. With purposeful strides, she headed toward a parked car. ¡°I need to make a run to the underground auction.¡± Palmer followed Noe, smoothly opening the driver¡¯s side door. ¡°I¡¯ll drive my fianc¨¦e there. Heard there¡¯s some juicy intel up for grabs tonight, and we¡¯re just in time.¡± ¨C His wrist was wrapped in a bandage ¨C not a serious injury, but not ideal for driving. As doctor, Noe didn¡¯t want her patient risking further harm right in front of her. She pressed down on Palmer¡¯s hand. ¡°Take a seat. I¡¯ll drive.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention your driver¡¯s license test is still on the to¨Cdo list?¡± Noe had already nudged Palmer into the passenger seat and buckled up like a pro, her gaze steady on the road ahead. ¡°The route to the auction is off the radar, no worries.¡± The auction, nestled deep within the urban jungle, operated in a legal gray area where no one batted an eye at thew! Besides, it was hidden behind the Pris Star¡¯s own underground fight club, with all surrounding surveince firmly under their control. Noe floored the gas pedal, and the car lurched into motion! Palmer watched Noe with admiration. She managed to look adorable even when focused on driving! Half an hourter, Noe and Palmer arrived at the underground auction. Noe opened the car¡¯s glove box, retrieving two masks and handing one to Palmer. She donned her mask, and Palmer tied it securely behind her head with his slender fingers. After ensuring Noe¡¯s identity was concealed, he rxed. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°To show your gratitude, my fianc¨¦e, please help me with mine.¡± Noe couldn¡¯t very well refuse such a request. It was only polite. She took Palmer¡¯s mask, securing it on him. Palmer chuckled, taking Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Spotted a few familiar faces earlier; tonight should be quite intriguing.¡± ¡°The Pock family?¡± The youngdy beside him was d in a sleek and elegant suit, her demeanor cool and detached, exuding an aura of untouchable grace. Her raven hair was pinned up, revealing her slender neck ¨C amanding presence reminiscent of a queen. Despite the mask, her appearance still drew lingering nces! Palmer shielded her from the intrusive eyes. ¡°Yes, they seem to have an interest in tonight¡¯s offerings too.¡± It wasn¡¯t unusual for the Pock family to frequent the underground auction, especially tonight with the buzz that had built up for weeks. Palmer had received his invitation a month ago, but knowing Noe would attend, he preferred herpany over engaging in the cutthroat bidding war. Every time he saw her, Palmer¡¯s gaze was glued to Noe, not wanting to miss a moment. The auction staff, dressed not in traditional attire but rather in crisp uniforms, treated the pair with utmost respect. The quality of their invitations and the air they exuded told the staffer they were not to be trifled with. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Esteemed guests, please follow me,¡± They were led to a private booth. For security, the door was veiled. The staffer handed them an electronic tablet. ¡°Tonight¡¯s auction items are listed here. Should you find something of interest, simply ce your bid on this device, All bids from private booths will be disyed, ensuring total anonymity.¡± Noe nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Once the staffer left and the curtain was drawn, the booth dimmed. Palmer removed his mask and began absentmindedly ying with Noe¡¯s hair. 10:32 Noe frowned slightly. ¡°You¡¯re messing up my hair.¡± It had been neatly done, but Palmer¡¯s fiddling had caused a few strands to stray. Yet, he looked Innocently at her. She sighed. How childish could he be? ying with her hair at his age! Palmer nced at her hair. ¡°Allow me to fix it for you.¡± He delicately removed the fairpin from her hair, his fingers gentlybing through the soft strands before carefully pinning it back in ce. Unbeknownst to Noe, the hairpin she now wore was different from the one she had before. Palmer admired his handiwork, his eyes filled with tender fondness. He had longed to rece that hairpin. He knew his fianc¨¦e was stoic yet deeply loyal. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have cherished the hairpin from Ulrich so dearly. She honored her family in her own way, but he hoped the hairpin she wore would be one he had given her. Noe was too focused on the electronic tablet to notice the swap. ¡°It seemsst auction¡¯s fiasco and tonight¡¯s high stakes have prompted a change in how things are done.¡± ¡°You mean the robbery that wiped out two gangs outside thest auction?¡± Such news wasn¡¯t a secret among their circles. Raids for auction items weremon, but seldom on such a grand scale. Palmer loosened his tie and settled into the sofa, his arm casually draped behind Noe, almost as if he was holding her. ¡°Curious about who ended up with thest item?¡± ¡°You know?¡± ¡°Of course. The item¡¯s details were confidential. It wasn¡¯t easy for those gangs to get the intel and show up in time.¡± With a wry smile ying at the corners of his mouth, Palmer watched Noe¡¯s reaction unfold. ¡°Was it you who spilled the beans?¡± ¡°Guilty as charged. After all, it¡¯s all in the family with the Pock Group¨Cthink of it as housekeeping for me.¡± The Pock family was an empire with deep roots and a multitude of factions¨Cover a dozen, to be precise. For Palmer to tighten his grip on the family reigns, he needed to sweep away any riff¨Craff! Noe lifted her gaze to the man before her. The dim light of the private booth barely illuminated their surroundings, except for a lonemp casting a warm glow upon his striking features. ¡°I guess it¡¯s a case of ¡®when two dogs fight for a bone, a third runs away with it.¡± Since Palmer had brought it up, the prize must have surely ended up in his hands! ¡°Sharp as ever, my fianc¨¦e! As a reward, tonight you can buy whatever your heart desires, on dime.¡± Noe shifted her gaze away. Why was this man so keen on dishing out rewards all the time? Was he simply too flush with cash, or just bored out of his mind? CHapter 222 CHapter 222 which kicked off with the usual fare¨Ca smattering of trinkets and baubles to warm up the crowd. Noelle casually eyed the stage, her voice tinged with a cool detachment. ¡°I¡¯m guessing yourst injury had something to do with the aly the Pocks could have such precise control over Palmer¡¯s interests, luring him to South Flora Storage with an heirloom from his tate mother. And it was the Pocks who seemed most eager for Palmer to meet his demise, to relinquish his grasp on power. Hadeed. That¡¯s why I made sure the culprits and their entire family met with a rather¡­ permanent end,¡± he replied, his gaze softening, but bis words as chilling as the Arctic wind. Mahma¡¯s mother was a close friend of my own mother, and those people had the audacity to desecrate her grave to lure me in. Since they have such an affinity for graves, I thought it only right to give them a family reunion six feet under.¡± Noe nodded impassively. ¡°How benevolent of you.¡± They were more alike than she cared to admit. as a shame I¡¯ve yet to find the key evidence of their involvement in my mother¡¯s death.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. A shame indeed, but evidence isn¡¯t what you¡¯re after, is it?¡± For someone like Palmer taking action never required evidence. He was simply determined to root out the true mastermind behind his mother¡¯s untimely demise. In other words, the Pocks¡® continued existence was not a testament to their strength, but rather to their usefulness to Palmer as he hunted for the real viin.. The once helpless child who could only hide and sumb to despair was now the thunder¨Cwielding patriarch of the Pock family. The auctioneer¡¯s voice snapped the room to attention. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, our next item is a remarkable piece of nephrite. As you know, the market for nephrite has been quite favorable recently, and this piece is a true gem!¡± Interest piqued among the previously indifferent guests, many of whom hade specifically for the nephrite. The nephrite, roughly the size of a fist,y on the stage, wless and gleaming under the unrelenting spotlight, a sight to soothe the soul. Let¡¯s not dawdle¨Cour starting bid is three million!¡± Noe¡¯s interesty not with the nephrite itself, but with the person who had put it up for auction. Palmer whispered, ¡°A piece from Pris Star?¡± ¡°Perhaps once, but it¡¯s been sold off long ago. Even if it originated from Pris Star, they have no im over it now.¡± A nephrite of such quality would havemanded a hefty sum even at its original sale. As Noe nced at the nephrite being showcased, she pulled out her phone and began scouring for information. Pris Star kept meticulous records of all their sales, and with nephrite being as unique as fingerprints, she was certain she could trace its origin. Frowning at her phone, she muttered, ¡°The buyer¡­ why is it him?¡± Palmer nced at the information disyed on Noe¡¯s screen. The Richardson family, and in particr, Lorne. ¡°He bought it only to resell it now?¡± She nodded. ¡°Exactly. And I¡¯ve just learned something quite intriguing¨CLorne has been fueling the nephrite market¡¯s surge in prices.¡± Boosting interest in an item before a sale wasn¡¯t umon in the antique world, but for Lorne to create such a spectacle for a single piece of nephrite? It didn¡¯t add up. Noe¡¯s phone buzzed with a new message: [Boss, those zithers were sold directly through the Richardson family¡¯s own market.] Terrell, a regr at the market, had been in contact with Lorne numerous timesst month. Noe¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Nephrite prices spikedst month.¡± During that month, Pris Star sold quite a bit of nephrite for a considerable sum. ¡°Are you suggesting Lorne hyped up the nephrite market for a windfall?¡± She nodded again. ¡°The Richardsons wouldn¡¯t dare sell subpar items openly. The nephrite pieces in the music store are of such poor quality that Lucian would definitely notice if they were taken out from Lorne¡¯s antique market.¡± However, it would be a different story if they formed alliances with others! For someone like Terrell, as long as there¡¯s money to be made, it doesn¡¯t matter. Lome could earn more money without taking any risks, so it wouldn¡¯t be a loss for him at all. On stage, the nephrite sold for an eye¨Cwatering ten million¨Cwell beyond its actual value. 10:32 Another message arrived on Noe¡¯s phone: [Boss, Lorne wants to buy more nephrite from us. Should we sell to him?] Her response was swift: [Don¡¯t sell.] [But he¡¯s hinting he has info we¡¯d want, asking for a discount in return.] Alioth, her contact, seemed bewildered by Lorne¡¯s antics. Pris Star never did discounts; they were more inclined to break bones than prices. [Find out what info he has.] Minutester, Alioth replied: [He wants a face¨Cto¨Cface with you. ims the info is too sensitive for text.] [Then block him. Pris Star is cutting all ties with Lorne.] Alioth nced at the message on his phone and let out a snicker. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. This guy thought he could strong¨Carm Boss with such a trick? What¡¯s he got rattling around in that head of his? When Lome received the message forwarded by Alioth, he wasn¡¯t surprised. He chuckled, his expression as serene as a clear sky, not a hint of his defenses being breached. [I was just kidding around, you know. I just wanted to make friends with the head honcho at Pris Star. After all, I was chums with the former big cheese of Pris Star.] Alioth didn¡¯t respond, but ryed the message verbatim to Noe. [Boss, does he mean he knew our previous head honcho? I sure don¡¯t!] Noe¡¯s brows furrowed even deeper. What¡¯s Lome getting at? [If they¡¯re such good pals, then let him buddy up with thest boss. I¡¯m not interested in a partnership.] When Lorne received the update, hisposed facade began to crack! 202 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 9 5 1 2 2 3 How could the current kingpin of Pris Star be so unshakeable? It seemed he needed a fresh strategy to find out who was calling the shots at Pris Star now. He¡¯d thought that hyping up nephrite would surely catch the attention of Pris Star, but it seemed the interest wasn¡¯t mutual. Lorne frowned slightly. ¡°Where did I go wrong? Wasn¡¯t my n foolproof?¡± Shouldn¡¯t these actions grab the attention of Pris Star¡¯s current boss? Noe set her phone on the desk. Palmer asked, ¡°What do you think of Lorne?¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably not the sharpest tool in the shed. Sounds like he¡¯s got a screw loose. If he¡¯s off his rocker, then whatever he¡¯s up to has nothing to do with me.¡± CHapter 223 CHapter 223 Noe had initially thought Lome was stirring up the nephrite market just to make a quick buck. But to her surprise, his sights were set on Pris Star. She didn¡¯t buy for a second that Lome was bending over backward to get in touch with her just to snag a discount from Pris Star. If he imed to know the previous boss of Pris Star, then he had no need for such roundabout ways to get a discount. His attempts to contact her through such a pretext indicated only one possibility- either Lorne was not being truthful, or he wasn¡¯t as chummy with this so¨Ccalled previous boss as he imed! Noe nced at the calendar on her phone. Next week was her check¨Cin date at Imperial University. Pris Star had tracked down another part of the USB drive left by Harriet, which could possibly be in Garrick¡¯s possession. Noe had a hunch that whatever her grandmother wanted to tell her was stored on that USB drive! On the auction stage, a new disy pedestal appeared behind the auctioneer. *Our next item up for bids is a zither crafted by the Master Rainer himself. As everyone knows, Master Rainer doesn¡¯t typically craft this type of zither. This is the one and only piece! A unique treasure in the world, starting at one million.¡± On the stagey a simple, unassuming zither. Every aspect of its construction was exquisite, with the thirteen markers adorned with lustrous nephrite. The appearance of this zither instantly drew the gaze of nearly everyone present. To showcase the items better, the auction house was bathed in bright lights, with all information disyed on electronic screens in the private booths. Noe was astonished at the sight of the zither! She could tell immediately that it was indeed a work of Master Rainer! It even retained many of the craft techniques Master Rainer was known for, the strings were well¨C maintained, though slightly worn. It was evident that the zither¡¯s owner rarely yed it. The room erupted into excitement, and the once¨Cquiet private booths buzzed with noise. The bids on the electronic screens in the booths were rolling in. ¡°Two million.¡± ¡°Two and a half million.¡± ¡°Three million.¡± Master Rainer¡¯s zithers were priceless, with the few that had surfaced on the market reaching sky¨C high figures. Moreover, it was a rare urrence for Master Rainer to craft this particr type of zither! Palmer arched an eyebrow at the visibly excited Noe. ¡°Interested?¡± Noe pondered for a moment. ¡°Since it¡¯s my mentor¡¯s creation, we should bring it back, no matter what.¡± Just as she prepared to raise her bid on the electronic screen, a message suddenly popped up. [One million is the price, and I am Rainer.] With that message, the previously animated guests fell silent! Those who had been raising the bids quickly withdrew their offers! When Master Rainer himself had set a price, they weren¡¯t fools to jack it up. Even though the zither was precious, it couldn¡¯tpare to Master Rainer being there in person! Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Watching the retracting bids on the electronic screen, leaving only Rainer¡¯s own million, Noe chuckled softly. Palmer seemed to remember something. ¡°You sure follow in Master Rainer¡¯s footsteps, bold as brass.¡± Previously at the auction, Noe had openly dered her identity to get the information she wanted. Was this a hallmark of Pris Star? Noe shrugged indifferently. ¡°After all, those items have their own inherent value, and the folks at Pris Star aren¡¯t suckers.¡± It wasn¡¯t that they couldn¡¯t afford it through normal means; it¡¯s just that not paying extra was more cost¨Ceffective! With the rightful owner present, the zither auction concluded swiftly, selling for one million. Noe¡¯s phone pinged with a new message. 10:32 [Noe,e backstage with me after to pick up some things.] [Sure thing.] In such a setting, Master Rainer knew Noe had to be there! Noe turned her attention back to the stage. ¡°Our next announcement rtes to nephrite ¨C this is a public notice. A family has discovered a significant nephrite vein in the mountains. Bids for this information start at ten thousand,¡± The announcement was somewhat vague. It mentioned the discovery of nephrite but not the specific location, leading interested parties to assume that the paid information would include the site¡¯s whereabouts. As expected, quite a few were intrigued by the notice. Palmer turned to Noe. ¡°Not interested?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± It wasn¡¯t ack of interest; she suspected that the announcement was likely a ruse by Pris Star. After the auction, Noe indeed receive a transaction alert from the auction house. However, she was listed as the seller. Noe wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°Did Pris Star release this information?¡± ¡°Yes, and I checked who bought the information ¨C it¡¯s a jade merchant from Imperial City, someone who specifically deals in nephrite.¡± The catch was that this person was one of Lorne¡¯s. The auction stage refreshed. ¡°Our next item, a paid request. A gentleman has entrusted us to find a way into Lockhart Prison. If anyone has a method, please state your price.¡± The auction house was a marketce for buying and selling, and it wasn¡¯t umon for people to use it to seek information. Noe tapped on her electronic screen. Thirty million. Master Rainer in another booth saw the information on the screen and couldn¡¯t help butugh. He nced at the person sitting next to him. ¡°My little apprentice sure knows how to y hardball.¡± ¡°Heh, she¡¯s the product of all you old¨Ctimers¡® fine teaching, after all.¡± Master Rainer pretended not to catch the sarcasm in his words, continuing to chuckle. ¡°If Harriet hadn¡¯t contacted me back then, wanting Noe to learn a thing or two from us, I wouldn¡¯t have even known you lot were still kicking around.¡± ¡°Knowing it or not doesn¡¯t change the fact, Harriet¡¯s gone.¡± The person sitting next to Rainer crossed their arms defensively, a guarded look in their eyes as they faced theirpanion. ¡°Coming to me won¡¯t do you any good either. Garrick¡¯s off his rocker, and there¡¯s no reasoning with him!¡± Garrick had insisted onunching the Pris Star Project against everyone¡¯s advice, all for the sake of nurturing a new generation of prodigies. His ns were brutal, and there were countless who opposed him, including the person now seated before Master Rainer. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to talk sense into him. The fact that he¡¯s auctioning off the zither I gave him back in the day is a clear message that old¨Cfashioned appeals are worthless, right?¡± Well, they weren¡¯t nning on ying nice either. A snort of coldughter came from beside him. ¡°I¡¯d be curious to see what the kid would think, knowing she got shipped off to Pris Star because of a deal you old timers struck with Harriet. What would she say? A perfectly happy kid, put through hell¨Call by your making. Do you think she will end up hating you?¡± Master Rainer shook his head with a sigh, yet a tender smile crept across his face. ¡°Noe wouldn¡¯t. She¡¯s the best kid in the whole wide world!¡± CHapter 224 CHapter 224 The room fell into a deafening silence. The person seated next to Rainer clearly didn¡¯t buy his exnation. ¡°A good kid? You know precisely the kind of hardcore training she¡¯s been through. On one hand, you call Garrick a madman, but you weren¡¯t exactly pulling your punches during training sessions, were you?¡± ¡°It was all Noelia¡¯s choice¡± Rainer¡¯s first lesson to Noe wasn¡¯t about the zither; it was about taking a life! When Noc first pulled the trigger, ending the lives of those who had taken the Fuller family¡¯s money and left her stranded on the outskirts, she changed! Master Rainer had never seen such resilience in a child! Tears filled her eyes, yet she told Rainer with utter determination, ¡°I¡¯ll give anything to be stronger!¡± She was a miracle created by Pris Star. Without any drugs to enhance her brain, Pris Star had nurtured an exceptional prodigy! The training methods were indeed harsh, and initially, the new members of Pris Star didn¡¯t acknowledge this leader. But after witnessing the grueling training Noe endured, they joined in, only to realize they couldn¡¯t keep up! Later, when Noe led them away from the original Pris Star, those members became her loyal subordinates and partners. The person next to Rainer scoffed again. ¡°You had already decided to break away from your old ties and conveniently ced your bets on that girl, just to ensure the current members of Pris Star rallied behind her. All this, for one girl¡¯s sake? You guys are so boring.¡± Master Rainer didn¡¯t find it boring in the slightest, his tone even carried a hint of pride. ¡°What do you know? You have no idea how formidable Noe is!¡± She was their brightest apprentice. If she desired the moon and the stars, they would move heaven and earth to obtain them. If they couldn¡¯t, it wasn¡¯t because her demands were too high; it was them who failed her. The person sitting beside Rainer was evidently at a loss for words against his oblivious affection. What kind of magic did Noe possess? The room quieted down once more. In an adjacent private booth, Palmer leisurely watched the numbers flicker on the electronic screen. ¡°I need this information. Fianc¨¦e, bid higher for me, whatever the cost.¡± *Alright Palmer was after information on recent activities in a renowned economic development zone. It seemed like a regr business tip, with not many people showing interest. However, one private booth keptpeting with Noe¡¯s bids. The price stopped at six million five hundred thousand. Noe didn¡¯t bid higher. ¡°This information isn¡¯t worth that much. Are you sure you want to keep raising the stakes?¡± ¡°Your word isw.¡± Noe was left speechless. It was he who wanted to outsmart thepetitors from the Pock family, yet now it seemed she was calling the shots? Noe nced at him, her gaze light. ¡°Did you leak this information?¡± ¡°How smart! My fianc¨¦e is indeed in tune with my thoughts.¡± * No one knew Palmer better than the Pock family, but Palmer also knew the Pock family better than anyone else! He was aware of their interests and conveniently had the information they craved, so selling it was no big deal. Thend in the economic development zone was already in his possession anyway. He didn¡¯t mind shifting all the money from the Pock family¡¯s pockets into his own. Palmer was adept at such schemes and knew exactly how to drive them to bankruptcy. He didn¡¯t relish their sudden demise, but rather enjoyed watching them helplessly lose their fortunes! They had hurt his mother for money; he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take theirs! When Palmer had his fill of y, it would be time to close the. Noemented without mincing words. ¡°You¡¯re quite ruthless.¡± ¡°Thank you for thepliment, my fianc¨¦e.¡± The auction soon ended, and Palmer, once again, fitted Noe¡¯s mask and took her hand, leading her out of the room. 10-43 Nel seral area upon her it was unsettle as if someone was lurking in the shadows ved the wikely shares to the pulled Noelta chose and cast a sidelong nce at the onlookers. it identify Palmeet avere filled with derous coldness, and the intended en behind the cased tore of several private boothe a derisiveugh echoed nech a porty mide aged man puffed on a cigas eveling the departing couple. on a silver tter The more he cares for Ms. Schnabel, the more tantalizing it bes. If mes Ale babel¡¯s demise just as he saw his mother¡¯sst breath, I wonder if he¡¯ll lose his mind.* tapte epled and he Wait that young buck does mad that easih; it would be his good fortuner Parbor¡¯s heart is more sinister than his grandfather¡¯s Do you really want toy hands on Als Schabel? Aren¡¯t you worried the Schnabel family wille after you?¡± aged mae chuckled ¡°They sooner trouble my dear nephew Palmer. Let him team the meaning of respect for his elders. met her end night before his eyes, and he didn¡¯t dare utter a peep, did he? I¡¯d like to see just how colorful his expression bes if Me Sabel dies befive ban The others nodded. Then let¡¯s make the arrangements.¡± scussed such matters with caUAN onchnce, as if it were an everyday urrence! Sence once again engulfed the room Backstage. Master Rainer dumpster will you providers of information, Noe and Palmer dispatched what they had sold. ached with a casual stride. ¡°Noe, I¡¯ve got to run. Take this zither with you and just chuck it in the nearest Noe was a bit speechless Dume it Master Rainer waved a dismissive hand. ¡°It¡¯s trash in and simple. I gave it away because of that! If you can¡¯t bear to throw it out, just stick it in your music store and sell it off. It itates me just looking at it.¡± ¡°Gott Master Rainer as brisk in his departure as he was in amval, left soon after giving his instructions. At the grand entrance to Schnabel Manor, a car pulled up, and Noe unclipped her seat belt to step out. Palmer, however, showed no signs of leaving the vehicle. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of a situation at thepany that needs my attention. You¡¯ve had a long day. Get some rest and sweet dreams,¡± he said, with a hint of concern. Noe looked at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation. ¡°I¡¯m not convinced your body can handle any more stress.¡± Such a stubborn patient! Palmer drew her hand towards him and kissed the back of it softly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay. Grandpa can handle things for a day or two.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The old man could take a little hassle without much trouble. Seeing Noe¡¯s frown of concern, a surge of joy filled him. Could it be a sign that she was starting to care for him too? Noe withdrew her hand. ¡°Ttle by to change your dressing tomorrow.¡± ¡°Perfect III be waiting¡± Noe turned and strode back to her room. Upon entering, she was greeted by an unexpected sight¨Csomeone was on her bed! CHapter 225 CHapter 225 Noe exhaled a long sigh as she looked at the person lying on the bed. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Malvina was wrestling with a pile of plush toys on Noe¡¯s bed, distorting the face of a teddy bear with a forceful tug. ¡°I missed you, sweetie. You hadn¡¯t been home for a while, so I thought I¡¯d wait for you in your room!¡± ¡°Spit it out if you¡¯ve got something to say.¡± Malvina¡¯s fidgeting had already betrayed her, it was clear she had something on her mind or she wouldn¡¯t be camping out in Noe¡¯s room. ¡°I knew I couldn¡¯t hide anything from you!¡± Malvina pulled out her phone and handed it to Noe. ¡°Got these weird messages a couple of days ago. Someone ims they¡¯ve got a bunch of my mom¡¯s stuff. But it feels off.¡± Growing up with the Grubers, a family notorious for living on the edge, Malvina had developed a keen sense for these things. One nce from Arthur, and she knew exactly what to do and say. Her gut told her something was wrong the moment she saw those messages. After some thought, the only person she felt she could turn to was Noe, so she made her way to the Schnabel¡¯s. After all, Noe was so capable; she was bound to know how to handle the situation! ¡°Did you look into this guy?¡± Malvina would have naturally inquired within the Shadow Dragon Society to find out what was going on. Her mother had passed away when Malvina was just an infant, so whoever had her belongings now should be known to the members of the Shadow Dragon Society who were close to her. ¡°I did. Turned out to be an ex¨Cmember of the Shadow Dragon Society who retired due to age.¡± Malvina propped her chin on the stuffed animal, her brows knitting together in thought. Noe nodded, affirming Malvina¡¯s suspicions. ¡°It¡¯s unusual. If these were truly your mother¡¯s things, those close to her¨Cand now you, as the head of the Shadow Dragon Society¨Cwould¡¯ve handed them directly to you. There¡¯s no need for a secret rendezvous.¡± Noe gave the phone a shake. ¡°Mind if I use this?¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead!¡± Malvina said generously. She expected Noe to do something with her phone, but instead watched her bend down and retrieve a palm¨Csizedptop from under the bed. Noe deftly used a hairpin from her head to activate a hidden mechanism on theptop, only then noticing the unusual heft of the pin in her hand. Upon closer inspection, she saw that the hairpin was of the ssy Type jade, wless under the light. It was from a piece of jade she had won during a recent showdown at the Gruber estate. ¡°Hey, that hairpin is gorgeous. Did you buy it recently?¡± ¡°Sort of.¡± Noe suddenly remembered the night before when she was bandaging Palmer¡¯s wounds. She had noticed numerous cuts on his palms. As an assassin, Palmer faced countless challenges, and injuries were par for the course, so she hadn¡¯t thought much of it. But now, holding the jade hairpin, she realized Palmer had intentionally tousled her hairst night. He had actually used the piece of gemstone she had gifted him to craft this hairpin for her! Receiving a hairpin from Ulrich had delighted her, but holding Palmer¡¯s hairpin now made her feel distinctly different- her heart began to beat erratically for some unknown reason. Utilizing the hairpin, Noe unlocked theptop¡¯s mechanism and powered it on. Fingers flying across the keyboard, Noe¡¯s gaze was steady and focused as she connected Malvina¡¯s phone. Malvina watched the stream of data on theptop screen and felt overwhelmed. What on earth was all this? She couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it! Was Noe really that amazing? How could she know how to do all this? Soon, the data pinpointed a discreet location, and Noe¡¯s eyes narrowed at the address. ¡°Do you recognize this ce?¡± Leaning in, Malvina nced at the screen. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that near the old Gruber ce?¡± Recognizing the familiar address, she remembered it was close to the Gruber family¡¯s former estate. . ¡°I think that¡¯s where the gemstone workshops and antique shops are. Must be one of those antique stores.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check it out tomorrow.¡± 10:43 ¡°Huh? Why tomorrow? Would we be spotted if we went now?¡± Noe shot her a look, gathered theptop and phone, and settled into bed. ¡°Because I need to sleep now.¡± After being called to the Pock Mansion by Annie the night before, she hadn¡¯t found any time to rest during the day. Sleep was what Noe craved most right now! Next door, at the Pock Mansion, Palmer looked across to the room where the lights had just been turned off. The spacious vi was now shrouded in silence. Knowing Noe must have gone to bed, he turned and made his way to the study, The old butler stood by Palmer¡¯s side. *Mr. Pock, several of our acquisition deals have run into trouble. They need your attention. Mr. Sexton has reviewed them and said it¡¯s those folks stirring up trouble again.¡± Palmer nodded, picking up the documents from the desk. The paperwork at home was only a small part, more awaited him at the office. 1 got it. I¡¯m going to rest now. I¡¯ll deal with it tomorrow.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh, alright then! Goodnight, Sir!¡± The butler was taken aback. Even when sick, Mr. Pock used to work through the night. He¡¯d even checked financial reports right after surgery! Working non¨Cstop was just how he operated. The butler had braced himself for a night where Palmer wouldn¡¯t sleep due to the paperwork. Now, Palmer was actually nning to rest! Meeting the butler¡¯s shocked gaze, Palmer said sternly, ¡°If Noe asks, tell her I went to bed and didn¡¯t workte¡± The butler¡¯s eyes widened in respect for Ms. Noe across the hall. So, this was all thanks to Ms. Noe¡¯s influence! It was no small feat that Mr. Pock, known for working his family like a well¨Coiled machine, knew when to take a break. Ms. Noe must have been quite the force to reckon with! She was truly the granddaughter¨Cinw that the old master couldn¡¯t stop singing praises about. If Ms. Noe had be part of the family, imagine the buzz and bustle their home would have had. The next moming, Noe took Malvina to the spot they had investigated the previous evening. The ce was an antique street bustling with shops selling all sorts of gems and jewels. Noe was sure they had found the right spot as the storefront was heaped with uncut gemstones. ¡°Looks like this is the spot ¡°I had no idea they opened a gemstone shop after stepping down.¡± Malvina wasn¡¯t overly familiar with the ins and outs of the Shadow Dragon Society, but she knew that folks who had dabbled in the underworld often had enemies. To avoid retribution, most wouldn¡¯t dare go into business after retiring. Opening a gemstone shop? That was practically asking for trouble, as it made it all too easy for old foes to track you down. Noe lifted her chin slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s go in and see for ourselves.¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. The shop was filled with stones, and on the countery a few pieces of jade, obviously meant to deceive unassuming customers. They were the kind of low¨Cgrade goods that looked expensive but were actually filled with resin. The shopkeeper¡¯s face lit up with a grin when he saw two young and pretty girls walk in. These types of naive girls were the easiest to con! With that thought, he looked at them with the same eagemess as a wolf spotting a pair of plump lambs. CHapter 226 CHapter 226 ncing at the designer outfits hugging the frames of Noe and Malvina, the shopkeeper knew instantaneously that these weredies with deep pockets! Rich folks, especially young heiresses, were his favorite¨Cthey were the easiest to dupe, swallowing any story he spun. Ladies, looking for some fine jade? Everything in my store is top¨Cshelf material!¡± he boasted, his face a grotesque mask of greed despite his attempt at a weing smile. Noe observed the hands of the shopkeeper. Theycked the calluses of a man who¡¯d done time in the underworld, let alone the skilled hands of a true jade connoisseur. Clearly, he was a chatan hired to swindle unsuspecting customers. Sensing their silence, the shopkeeper feared letting two cash cows slip through his fingers. ¡°Our pieces are unique treasures you can¡¯t find just anywhere. Take this bangle, for instance¨Cit¡¯s top¨Cof¨C the¨Cline ssy Type!¡± Noe eyed the bangle in his hand, a chunk of resin masquerading as luxury. ¡°A high¨Cend piece made of stic?¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s hands trembled¨Ca giveaway, How had the girl discerned the fraud? Maintaining hisposure, he shed another smile. ¡°Ah, I see you have an eye for quality, miss. Then perhaps this piece will meet your standards. Genuine ssy Type!¡± Noe arched a brow. ¡°ssy Type made of actual ss?¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s smile faltered. His counterfeits were usually top¨Cnotch, but this youngdy saw through them with just a nce? In the past, when daughters of fortune came shopping for jade, they¡¯d be fobbed off with resin or ss imitations. However, it seemed they had encountered a true connoisseur this time. The shopkeeper¡¯s demeanor shifted as he scrutinized Noe. She appeared young, barely twenty, perhaps a novice in the world of jade, having picked up a trick or two from her family¡¯s dealings? If she truly understood the value of jade, she wouldn¡¯t have set foot in his shop¨Csomething any genuine aficionado would know. After all, not a single item in his store was a genuine ssy Type. ¡°You¡¯re not here to shop? Then what do you want?¡± he asked, a hint of hostility creeping into his voice. Noe¡¯s gaze was icy as she replied, ¡°We¡¯re looking for the real boss of this establishment¡± ¡°I am the boss. What business do you have with me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Even a shop dedicated to selling fakes wouldn¡¯t have a clueless man at the helm. With a dismissive nce, Noe took Malvina by the arm and they left. The shopkeeper watched them leave, sensing something amiss Had these two young womene merely to cause trouble? If they were looking for a fight, he wouldn¡¯t let them leave unscathed. His expression deepened as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number After narrating the events, the person on the other end chuckled coldly. ¡°Tail them. See which store they enter. If someone¡¯s trying to mess with me, make sure they never return home!* As Noe and Malvina appeared on the surveince feed, the caller¡¯s gaze shifted to a man shrouded in the shadows. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The middle¨Caged man who¡¯d just issued threats suddenly wore a different expression. ¡°Mr. Larson Pock, that girl is Palmer Pock¡¯s darling. You really want to cross her here?* Larson leisurely sipped his drink, ncing at Noe on the monitor. Even through the grainy footage, her graceful figure was evident. ¡°Palmer is still wet behind the ears, choosing such a naive girl. She¡¯s pretty, sure, but she¡¯s nothing but a canary¡± His smirk was cruel. ¡°Td love to see if Palmer¡¯s reaction will be more entertaining than the past if he finds his canary breathless.¡± ¡°But she is from the Schnabel family. If we harm her, how will we exin ourselves to the Schnabels?¡± ¡°Once I take the helm of the Pock family, even the Schnabels won¡¯t dare cross me!¡± Larson¡¯s confidence was palpable. Palmer¡¯s mother hade from a simr background, yet they hadn¡¯t touched him. As long as he remained a Pock, all he needed was for that young fool to die in despair, leaving the leadership role open. What could the Schnabels do to him then? ¡°Send a few men. It won¡¯t take much to deal with that girl. Just make sure she breathes herst. And let it be slow. After all, I¡¯d like my dear nephew to witness his sweetheart¡¯s final moments¡± ¡°Understood fl see to it immediately¡± 10.43 G Exiting the jade shop, Noe led Malvina to an antique store across the street Upon entry, the curt voice from behind the counter greeted them. ¡°Look around if you must, but I doubt you can afford anything here.¡± Noe replied coldly, ¡°Megrez, what in this store could possibly be beyond my reach? Hearing the familiar voice, Megrez looked up and instantly swapped his disdain for sycophancy. ¡°Heh, Boss, what brings you here?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got some tails. Take care of it.¡± Malvina was baffled. Tails? Someone was following us? I didn¡¯t notice anything!¡± She watched in astonishment as Megrez pulled a sniper rifleplete with a silencer from under the counter and sauntered out the door Her jaw nearly hit the floor as she stared at Noe. ¡°Honey, aren¡¯t the people you associate with a bit too¡­ wild?¡± But when she turned back, Noe was already reclining on a rocking chair within the shop, eyes closed in rxation, sipping coffee, with a mysterious cat nestled on herp. The serene scene almost made Malvina forget the sounds of struggle and screams emanating from outside. 1 ¡ì 2 2 3 2 601 32 32 0 3 1 9 2 3 9 € 2 3 Surely, it had to be her imagination. Noe opened her eyes and beckoned to Malvina with a wave. ¡°There¡¯s a stool over here,e take a seat. It won¡¯t be long; the line isn¡¯t too crazy. We¡¯ll be done in no time.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Half an hourter, Megrez came whistling back inside, casually wiping a smudge of blood from his cheek. ¡°Boss, they were all sent by Larson Pock,¡± Megrez felt a tinge of disappointment. ¡°Too easy. They spilled the beans after just a couple of threats. Not a single tough nut in the bunch. Doesn¡¯t give me much of a thrill, you know?¡± Larson? That must be Palmer¡¯s distant uncle- bold enough to cross her and clearly on Palmer¡¯s bad side. Think she¡¯s an easy target? That¡¯s augh and a half! Noe settled back into her chair, closing her eyes, her hand gently caressing the sleek, soft fur of her cat. ¡°Another group¡¯s on their way, so get ready for your thrill. Not one left standing¡± Chapter 227 In the sleek, dark offices of the Pock Group, a man in a meticulously tailored ck suit exuded a chilling aura, his arms crossed as he faced the overreaching middle-aged man before him. Palmer slowly removed his gold-rimmed spectacles, which served a purpose beyond aiding his vision, and methodically polished them with a cloth. "Your demands are simply ludicrous. It seems you might have had one too many at the pubst night. If you are facing any mental afflictions, I wouldn''t mind arranging some professional help for you." Eamon Pock''s face shifted through a spectrum of colors. "My dear nephew, thepany is a big pie, and it''s not just for you to carve up. I''m merely asking for my fair share of the stocks," Eamon insisted. The majority stake in the Pock Group was firmly in Palmer''s grasp, with a significant portion allocated to Sexton and only scraps left for everyone else. Eamon''s eyes were set on the slice of the pie held by Sexton. Palmer sneered with contempt. "Dream on!" Eamon mmed his fist on the table, his corpulent frame quivering with rage. Momentster, he scoffed. "My dear nephew, you''re riding high now, but would your littledy friend feel the same?" Palmer''s brow furrowed instantly. "What are you implying?" Reading Palmer''s reaction like a book, Eamon knew he''d hit a nerve. "Hah, my naive nephew, as your elder, I think it''s time I teach you a lesson. To truly steer the ship, you can''t afford weaknesses. I''ll relieve you of this burden, and you should thank me for it!" Eamon''s expression turned sinister. "My dear nephew, it''s your own high-profile antics that put Ms. Schnabel in the spotlight. If you hadn''t unted her at the auction, I wouldn''t know where your affections lie." He was about to add more when a sudden, severe pain shot through his leg! Looking down, Eamon saw the gun pointed at him and his own thigh bleeding profusely. Palmer''s eyes were filled with murderous intent, striking fear into Eamon''s heart. Gritting his teeth, Palmer hissed, "Uncle Eamon, if a single hair falls from Noe''s head, I will hold you and your entire family ountable!" The fear in Eamon''s heart was indescribable. He realized at that moment that Palmer''s previous inaction wasn''t due tock of courage. Palmer''s methods were far more terrifying than Eamon and his associates could have ever imagined. Discarding Eamon''s trembling body, Palmer strode out of the office, his pace urgent. He rushed to the parking lot, mmed the car into gear, and sped off. After several unanswered calls to Noe, despite knowing she was more than capable of taking care of herself and should have someone with her, Palmer''s heart refused to settle. Memories of his youth shed before his eyes as he saw the same scene unfold once more. With mmy hands gripping the steering wheel, he drove relentlessly until he reached the antique shop. Megrez was whistling while hosing down bloodstains on the stairs. The sight of Palmer''s car pulling up, and Palmer emerging with an aura of fury, sent a shiver down Megrez''s spine. Was Vocalist here seeking retribution against their boss? Or had he finally figured out their boss was a swindler? Determined to be a loyal henchman, Megrez stammered, "Vocalist¡­ Mr. Pock! Boss isn''t¡­ isn''t here¡­" Palmer''s gaze swept past Megrez, focusing intently on the interior of the shop. There, in the sunlight, sat a wicker chair gently rocking. A delicate hand stroked a cat nestled in the lap of ady who turned her head slightly, yawning, her eyes misting over with drowsiness. "Palmer? What brings you here?" Palmer stood still, ensuring the scene before him was without ws before approaching. He knelt on one knee before the wicker chair, and the cat, sensing the scent of blood, leapt away. "Are you alright?" "Me? I''ve been here soaking up the sun. What could possibly happen?" Palmer exhaled a sigh of relief, joy flooding his heart at her safety. He held Noe¡¯s hand to his forehead. "I was worried that¡­" Noe looked at him, surprised to see such vulnerability in someone usually soposed and decisive. She softened her voice, realizing the cause of his disquiet. "The men who came here have been dealt with." Palmer nodded affectionately. "I apologize. It was Pock family business." "It''s not your fault, and you don''t need to apologize," Noe reassured him, adding, "Several Pock family members have been treading on Pris Star''s territory. I would have had to deal with them sooner orter." Thus, none of this was Palmer''s doing. Understanding her implication, Palmer wasn''t fully cated. Those men coulde back for her! Megrez, witnessing the tender scene, patted his chest in relief. Vocalist wasn''t here for vengeance, and it seemed their boss hadn''t been caught with another man after all. Dutifully, Megrez brought over a chair for Palmer, cing it beside Noe''s wicker chair. "Mr. Pock, please sit. Two groups, thirty-five men in total, all taken care of. The mastermind still needs to be handled." Palmer settled next to Noe, his voice cold with intent. "Their lives, I''ll collect personally." Megrez grinned from ear to ear. "That''s the spirit. Our boss has never been one to be trifled with." "I get it!" Not many dared toe after their boss, treating her like some helpless canary ripe for the taking. Megrez was practically buzzing with excitement! Even if their boss was a canary, she was the kind that could snap a crocodile''s neck with one bite¡ª a deadly canary with venomous fangs. Noe handed Palmer a handkerchief, and after a moment''s hesitation, she tenderly wiped his face herself. "You''ve got blood on your face," she murmured softly. "It looks like spatter. Where''s it from?" "Thigh, I think. Can¡¯t remember. Should''ve aimed straight for the heart." Noe couldn''t help but smile slightly, hearing the frustration in Palmer''s voice. "There''s always next time for target practice." "Okay, I''ll listen to you." The scene was oddly touching and harmonious. Malvina, standing to the side, pretended she hadn''t seen anything. Why did she suddenly feel like a third wheel? It was too much¡ªlike she''d swallowed a whole bag of sour grapes! ... Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Larson, waiting in front of the screen for some good news, leapt up from his chair! "What did you say? All our guys are gone? Could Palmer have anticipated this? Impossible! And Palmer injured Eamon? How dare he!" Chapter 228 Larson broke out in a cold sweat in an instant! To them, Palmer was just a clueless kid, a greenhorn who had ascended the ranks solely through the backing of Sexton. Without Sexton''s support, he was nothing. "What''s gotten into Palmer? Did Sexton get wind of this? That can''t be right." They had been involved in their fair share of shady dealings over the years, and it was possible that Sexton knew but simply turned a blind eye. Could it be that their mistreatment of Ms. Schnabel was thest straw for Sexton? Larson was drenched in sweat as he stared at the photo on his phone, trying to regain his composure. In the photo, Eamon had been wounded in the leg¡ªit looked beyond saving! The middle-aged man beside Larson asked with concern, "Larson, is Sexton meddling in this? Or could it be the Schnabel family stirring the pot?" "It''s not certain yet. If it¡¯s the Schnabel family or Sexton, then Eamon and I can only curse our luck! Go find Lorne Richardson and ask him how we should handle this situation!" After all, it was Lorne who had suggested they go after Palmer now, iming it was prime time to strike given Palmer''s recent injury. After mulling it over, Larson decided to call Lorne himself. Lorne''s voice was weak, tinged with illness, as he fidgeted with a pair of stress balls in his hands. "Larson, I only told you to rough up Palmer a bit, not toy a hand on Ms. Schnabel," he said, his face twisting into a sickly grin. "After all, Ms. Schnabel... she''s someone I have my eye on too. If you hurt her, I won''t be pleased." Larson scoffed. "Don''t act like you couldn''t predict we''d go after Ms. Schnabel. Don''t even think about using me and Eamon as your scapegoats!" Lorne shrugged nonchntly, stretching his limbs. "Honestly, I didn''t see iting. My n was to get rid of Palmer so Ms. Schnabel''s engagement would be off the table, benefiting both you and me." The Pock family''s eagerness to eliminate Palmer and grab power for themselves was tantly obvious. What Lorne truly wanted was that engagement. Larson frowned. "An engagement? Ms. Schnabel must be quite something to catch your interest." Indeed, the girl had charm, enchanting both Palmer and Lorne! Lorne chuckled. "So, Larson, are you in for a continued partnership? I want Ms. Schnabel, and you want the helm of the Pock family. It''s a win-win." Larson was tempted. Lorne''s influence in their circles was formidable. If they could join forces, toppling Palmer might be within reach. With the reins of the Pock family in his grasp, even if the Schnabel family came for him, what of it? Lorne threw in his final bargaining chip. "Besides, Eamon''s mishap works in your favor." "What do you mean? We''re brothers by flesh and blood. Whatever happens between me and Eamon is our business, and you have no right to meddle!" Lorne''s lips curled into a silent smirk. "But with Eamon out of the picture, no one will suspect you, and one less brother means one less rival. Don''t you get it, Larson?" With only so many shares to go around, how much would be left for him if he had to share with Eamon? Out loud, Larson stood his ground, "This is my affair. Mind your own business! If you want to work with me, show some sincerity." "Fair enough." After hanging up, Lorne''s gaze fell on hispanion. "Thorpe, what are our odds against Palmer?" Thorpe, munching on an apple, nearly spat it out at Lorne! "What? You''re calling me in to take out Palmer? Lorne, you''ve got a twisted mind! My leg injury is thanks to Palmer!" Asking him to confront Palmer now was akin to sending him to his grave. Lorne raised an eyebrow. "Don''t you want revenge for your Cerulean Whale buddies?" C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Thorpe finished his apple in silence, wiping his mouth carelessly. He shook his head. "We don''t y that game on the front lines. If it were about revenge, I''d be hunting down scores of people every day. Cerulean Whale has made too many enemies to count." Besides, wasn''t Palmer after Cerulean Whale for revenge in the first ce? If they were keeping score, it was Thorpe who had underestimated the Abyssal Organization''s strength from the start! Lorne kept trying to persuade Thorpe. "If you truly don''t want revenge, you wouldn''t havee when the boss called you." "Bullshit. The boss calls, and you expect me to ignore it, waiting to be chopped by him?" Thorpe thought Lorne was an idiot. The chance for Thorpe to loaf around Imperial City was too good to pass up! Lorne set down the stress balls. "I''ll find a way to weaken Palmer. Then you can make your move." Thorpe had no objections to that, smirking as he closed his eyes to rest. That was, of course, if Lorne truly had the power to take down Palmer! Lorne reviewed his n in his head, ensuring it was airtight before a smug smile crept onto his face. "I need to get out of this hospital soon, or I''ll miss the start of the semester... and miss seeing her. Thorpe, you can proceed with the n I set up." Thorpe rolled his eyes. "Hollis has already taken care of it! You''re a shady one, alwaysing up with crooked schemes." Lorne merely shrugged. "Call it crooked, but if it works, it''s a good n." ¡­ Larson set down the phone, a thin sheen of cold sweat on his forehead. His middle-aged secretary leaned in and whispered, "Larson, there''s someone here to see you. Says she''s an old friend. I''ve let her in." "Show her in, then." Larson often had visitors seeking favors, so he didn''t think much of it. Enter a woman in a figure-hugging velvet dress, adorned with what seemed like costume jewelry that tried too hard to impress. Her high heels clicked on the floor as she sashayed into the room, her poise carrying a hint of allure. Despite her years, she retained a certain charm, her beauty not entirely faded. Larson stood up abruptly, his brow furrowing. "Belinda Fuller? What are you doing here?" At the sight of Larson, Belinda''s eyes reddened with emotion. It had been years since theyst met, and now, confronted with Larson, Belinda''s eyes brimmed with tears. "Larson, after all these years, I still can''t forget you..." Larson quickly ushered Belinda to sit beside him. "Weren''t you married? How have you been all these years?" he asked with genuine concern. At his words, Belinda burst into tears. Dabbing at the tears on her face, Belinda gazed at Larson- her first love and one of the wealthiest men she''d ever been involved with. If only she''d known back then that Larson was from the affluent Pock family, she would have never married Vincent, a man with empty pockets! This time, she was determined to hold on to Larson, no matter what. CHapter 229 CHapter 229 she¡¯s not okay we have a child?¡± He clearly didn¡¯t buy what Belinda was selling. After so many years apart, to drop a bombshell like this upon their reunion¨Canyone would have trouble swallowing that Especially a bombshell about a child, Larson grew even more cautious. If Belinda really had his child, why would she have mamed someone else? Larson didn¡¯t care who Belinda was with in all these years, he¡¯d never been short of female company Women were dime a dozen for him With a pitiful gaze, Belinda looked at Larson. ¡°Back then, I kept it all from you¡± Wiping away tears, she recited the words she had long since prepared. I didn¡¯t know I was pregnant. I only found out after getting mamed, but when I counted the days the child wasn¡¯t Vincent¡¯s! I was terified, too scared to evene to you. Then I gave birth, and someone threatened to tell Vincent the child wasn¡¯t his if I brought her home! I was so scared, so I raised our daughter as the nanny¡¯s niece. You can take Brony¡¯s hair for a patemity test if you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯m not lying.¡± Larson frowned, bombarding her with questions, not missing a beat as he watched Belinda answer. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying, you and I have a daughter, and now she¡¯s about to go to jail?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Brony found out Vincent was involved in some deals that conflicted with you. She wanted to do something for you, even though you didn¡¯t know she existed. Our kid is just too naive, I couldn¡¯t bear to see her good intentions go to waste, that¡¯s why I came to you!¡± Belinda sobbed through her story, the epitome of heartbreak and despair. She handed Larson the documents she had prepared. They were contracts from Vincent, several indeed conflicting with Larson¡¯s interests, potentially harming him. ¡°So, Briony got into this mess trying to help me?¡± Larson asked, his eyebrows knitting together. Belinda nodded through her tears ¡°Well, that¡¯s some dedication from the kid! I¡¯ll arrange the paternity test. And if you¡¯re lying, you know the consequences!¡± Belinda shuddered under Larson¡¯s menacing gaze. Once she left, Larson¡¯s expression changed. His secretary approached ¡°Larson, are you really going to arrange a paternity test?¡± Larson snorted dismissively. ¡°Idiot, you think I¡¯d fall for her sob story? Do I look like I¡¯m in need of a child? Even if she is my blood, what of it? But this Vincent fe seems to be Ms. Schnabels former foster father.¡± This meant that the Noe from the Schnabel family was brought up by Belindal Suddenly, Larson¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°No need for the test, but not just any riffraff can im to be my child! Let¡¯s put her in your name, pretend she¡¯s yours. Who knows, this girl who came knocking might just surprise me one day!¡± ¡°Understood, I make the arrangements.¡± Such maneuvers weren¡¯t umon in the Pock family, the secretary had more than a dozen kids under his name. One more wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Belinda¡¯s dream of elevating her daughter into high society was about to shatter! Larson nced at his secretary. ¡°Make arrangements to ensure Eamon¡¯s departure is smooth.¡± ¡°Eamon?¡± Eamon was Larson¡¯s own brother. Was he really going to harm him? Larson closed his eyes, seemingly in pain. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. Palmer¡¯s shot went awry. If he had finished the job, I wouldn¡¯t need to step The implication was clear- Eamon¡¯s demise would be attributed to Palmer¡¯s failed shot. Stepping out of Larson¡¯s office, Belinda¡¯s legs were trembling. Those few nces from Larson were enough to terrify her to the core, but the thought of Briony bing a genuine Ms. Pock spurred her on Meanwhile, at the antique shop, Megrez looked up from a pile of data, astounded. ¡°Boss, Mr. Pock, Larson has sent someone after Eamon, just as you predicted. Our guys intercepted them.¡± Noe nodded slightly. ¡°Is he okay?¡± ¡°He¡¯s alive, but that leg of his won¡¯t be the same after Mr. Pock¡¯s shot.¡± Noe was indifferent to Eamon¡¯s potential disability, as long as he was alive, that was enough for her. Palmer was surprised. ¡°You arranged protection for him?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get it twisted.¡± Noe casually brushed a strand of hair from her face, rifying, ¡°I¡¯m no saint, and I won¡¯t forgive those who cross me. It¡¯s just that Larson targeting Eamon now will likely ssh back on the Schnabel family.¡± A little digging would reveal Larson and Eamon had just attempted to harm Noe. With Noe unscathed and Eamon in the hospital, if was clear something was amiss. Though it wouldn¡¯t significantly affect the Schnabels, given Marcel¡¯s unique position, Noe didn¡¯t want any dirt on the family¡¯s name. Palmer seemed moved. ¡°So, are you helping the Schnabel family or¡­ me?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s for the Schnabel family, nothing to do with you.¡± Despite her words, Palmer couldn¡¯t help but smile. Even if her decision was initially for the sake of the Schnabel family, perhaps deep down, there was a part of her doing it for him, right? Megrez stared at the message popping up on his screen. ¡®Boss, this Larson guy is downright dirty, nning to off his own brother and then pin it on Mr. Pock and your folks. That¡¯s just low!¡± If it weren¡¯t for the Obelisk Organization¡¯s preemptive control at the hospital, the news would probably be out by now. That¡¯s one hefty load of trouble! Noe¡¯s gaze settled on Palmer, standing beside her. ¡°You didn¡¯t arrange for someone to handle it?¡± ¡°No. Whatever they n is just a dying animal¡¯sst fight to me, insignificant Palmer stood up,posedly slid off his watch, and handed it to Noe. ¡°Would you mind keeping this safe? I¡¯ll be right back.¡± For him, Larson and Eamon had crossed a line they shouldn¡¯t have! ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as those with ill intentions are gone, no dirt will fall. I¡¯ll protect the Schnabel family.¡± I Noe didn¡¯t expect he would also consider the Schnabel family¡¯s part in all of this, feeling a sudden warmth in her heart. ¡°If you need help, feel free to use the members of the Obelisk Organization at the hospital. Just make sure they¡¯re wellpensated for their actions.¡± Palmer chuckled lightly. ¡°Thanks, Noe. I¡¯m just using this free time to take care of a couple of people. I¡¯ll be back very quickly. Just wart a bit!¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. In one of the private rooms at the Pock Group¡¯s hospital wing, Eamony on the bed, ring at the wound on his leg, grinding his teeth in anger! The doctor had told him his leg was beyond saving and that amputation was inevitable. Without his leg, his future was as good as over! ¡°Damn that Palmer, if I lose my leg, I swear he¡¯ll pay with his life!¡± Eamon yelled several times, but there was no response came from the medical staff outside. Cursing under his breath, Eamon struggled off the bed and as he opened the door, he was met with the business end of a gun! The person behind the gun spoke with an icy tone, eyes brimming with lethal intent ¡°Funny, I¡¯ve got a life that needs settling too!¡± CHapter 230 CHapter 230 Pal Palmer Do you even realize what you¡¯re doing? I¡¯m your uricle! Your dad wouldn¡¯t dare point a gun at me like this!¡± Eamon¡¯s forehead was drenched in sweat, his jowls quivering with fear, and the wound on his leg oozed fresh blood due to his frantic movements. Palmer sneered. ¡°Uncle? You tter yourself. Keeping you alive this long was my mistake.¡± It was now clear that there were other ways to dig into the secrets he was after. He didn¡¯t spare these worms so they couldy a finger on his fianc¨¦s. Eamon shuffled backward awkwardly, his muscles twitching uncontrobly. ¡°How dare you try to hurt me? I want to see Sexton! He won¡¯t let you get away with this!¡± Palmer just smiled. ¡°I was nning to take you all out, but since I¡¯m not the only one after you, it seems I can let someone else take the fall for this mess¡± Eamon shuddered. What did Palmer mean by that? There were others out to get him too? ¡°Getting on in years, Uncle? Not hearing as well? Did you miss the gunshots just then?¡± Recalling the earliermotion outside the hospital room, Eamon realized someone else was indeed seizing the moment to end his life! ¡°Who is it? Who wants me dead!¡± Palmer cocked his revolver and fired, the bullet piercing Eamon¡¯s other leg, blood sttening! ¡°You ought to have an idea, Uncle.¡± He spoke casually as if discussing trivial matters, his gun discharging several more rounds Eamon let out a gut¨Cwrenching roar. ¡°Ah! Palmer! I¡¯ll haunt you even in death!¡± His mouth issued threats, but his heart was flooded with terror. With all themotion and none of his bodyguards rushing in, Eamon knew Pa she¡¯s not okay we have a child?¡± He clearly didn¡¯t buy what Belinda was selling. After so many years apart, to drop a bombshell like this upon their reunion¨Canyone would have trouble swallowing that Especially a bombshell about a child, Larson grew even more cautious. If Belinda really had his child, why would she have mamed someone else? Larson didn¡¯t care who Belinda was with in all these years, he¡¯d never been short of female company Women were dime a dozen for him With a pitiful gaze, Belinda looked at Larson. ¡°Back then, I kept it all from you¡± Wiping away tears, she recited the words she had long since prepared. I didn¡¯t know I was pregnant. I only found out after getting mamed, but when I counted the days the child wasn¡¯t Vincent¡¯s! I was terified, too scared to evene to you. Then I gave birth, and someone threatened to tell Vincent the child wasn¡¯t his if I brought her home! I was so scared, so I raised our daughter as the nanny¡¯s niece. You can take Brony¡¯s hair for a patemity test if you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯m not lying.¡± Larson frowned, bombarding her with questions, not missing a beat as he watched Belinda answer. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying, you and I have a daughter, and now she¡¯s about to go to jail?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Brony found out Vincent was involved in some deals that conflicted with you. She wanted to do something for you, even though you didn¡¯t know she existed. Our kid is just too naive, I couldn¡¯t bear to see her good intentions go to waste, that¡¯s why I came to you!¡± Belinda sobbed through her story, the epitome of heartbreak and despair. She handed Larson the documents she had prepared. They were contracts from Vincent, several indeed conflicting with Larson¡¯s interests, potentially harming him. ¡°So, Briony got into this mess trying to help me?¡± Larson asked, his eyebrows knitting together. Belinda nodded through her tears ¡°Well, that¡¯s some dedication from the kid! I¡¯ll arrange the paternity test. And if you¡¯re lying, you know the consequences!¡± Belinda shuddered under Larson¡¯s menacing gaze. Once she left, Larson¡¯s expression changed. His secretary approached ¡°Larson, are you really going to arrange a paternity test?¡± Larson snorted dismissively. ¡°Idiot, you think I¡¯d fall for her sob story? Do I look like I¡¯m in need of a child? Even if she is my blood, what of it? But this Vincent fe seems to be Ms. Schnabels former foster father.¡± This meant that the Noe from the Schnabel family was brought up by Belindal Suddenly, Larson¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°No need for the test, but not just any riffraff can im to be my child! Let¡¯s put her in your name, pretend she¡¯s yours. Who knows, this girl who came knocking might just surprise me one day!¡± ¡°Understood, I make the arrangements.¡± Such maneuvers weren¡¯t umon in the Pock family, the secretary had more than a dozen kids under his name. One more wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Belinda¡¯s dream of elevating her daughter into high society was about to shatter! Larson nced at his secretary. ¡°Make arrangements to ensure Eamon¡¯s departure is smooth.¡± ¡°Eamon?¡± Eamon was Larson¡¯s own brother. Was he really going to harm him? Larson closed his eyes, seemingly in pain. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. Palmer¡¯s shot went awry. If he had finished the job, I wouldn¡¯t need to step The implication was clear- Eamon¡¯s demise would be attributed to Palmer¡¯s failed shot. Stepping out of Larson¡¯s office, Belinda¡¯s legs were trembling. Those few nces from Larson were enough to terrify her to the core, but the thought of Briony bing a genuine Ms. Pock spurred her on Meanwhile, at the antique shop, Megrez looked up from a pile of data, astounded. ¡°Boss, Mr. Pock, Larson has sent someone after Eamon, just as you predicted. Our guys intercepted them.¡± Noe nodded slightly. ¡°Is he okay?¡± ¡°He¡¯s alive, but that leg of his won¡¯t be the same after Mr. Pock¡¯s shot.¡± Noe was indifferent to Eamon¡¯s potential disability, as long as he was alive, that was enough for her. Palmer was surprised. ¡°You arranged protection for him?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get it twisted.¡± Noe casually brushed a strand of hair from her face, rifying, ¡°I¡¯m no saint, and I won¡¯t forgive those who cross me. It¡¯s just that Larson targeting Eamon now will likely ssh back on the Schnabel family.¡± A little digging would reveal Larson and Eamon had just attempted to harm Noe. With Noe unscathed and Eamon in the hospital, if was clear something was amiss. Though it wouldn¡¯t significantly affect the Schnabels, given Marcel¡¯s unique position, Noe didn¡¯t want any dirt on the family¡¯s name. Palmer seemed moved. ¡°So, are you helping the Schnabel family or¡­ me?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s for the Schnabel family, nothing to do with you.¡± Despite her words, Palmer couldn¡¯t help but smile. Even if her decision was initially for the sake of the Schnabel family, perhaps deep down, there was a part of her doing it for him, right? Megrez stared at the message popping up on his screen. ¡®Boss, this Larson guy is downright dirty, nning to off his own brother and then pin it on Mr. Pock and your folks. That¡¯s just low!¡± If it weren¡¯t for the Obelisk Organization¡¯s preemptive control at the hospital, the news would probably be out by now. That¡¯s one hefty load of trouble! Noe¡¯s gaze settled on Palmer, standing beside her. ¡°You didn¡¯t arrange for someone to handle it?¡± ¡°No. Whatever they n is just a dying animal¡¯sst fight to me, insignificant Palmer stood up,posedly slid off his watch, and handed it to Noe. ¡°Would you mind keeping this safe? I¡¯ll be right back.¡± For him, Larson and Eamon had crossed a line they shouldn¡¯t have! ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as those with ill intentions are gone, no dirt will fall. I¡¯ll protect the Schnabel family.¡± I Noe didn¡¯t expect he would also consider the Schnabel family¡¯s part in all of this, feeling a sudden warmth in her heart. ¡°If you need help, feel free to use the members of the Obelisk Organization at the hospital. Just make sure they¡¯re wellpensated for their actions.¡± Palmer chuckled lightly. ¡°Thanks, Noe. I¡¯m just using this free time to take care of a couple of people. I¡¯ll be back very quickly. Just wart a bit!¡± In one of the private rooms at the Pock Group¡¯s hospital wing, Eamony on the bed, ring at the wound on his leg, grinding his teeth in anger! The doctor had told him his leg was beyond saving and that amputation was inevitable. Without his leg, his future was as good as over! ¡°Damn that Palmer, if I lose my leg, I swear he¡¯ll pay with his life!¡± Eamon yelled several times, but there was no response came from the medical staff outside. Cursing under his breath, Eamon struggled off the bed and as he opened the door, he was met with the business end of a gun! The person behind the gun spoke with an icy tone, eyes brimming with lethal intent ¡°Funny, I¡¯ve got a life that needs settling too!¡± razen? And with his own hit on Noe foiled, Eamon realized toote. Palmer was a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! They should never have allowed him to grow up unscathed. ¡°No, you can¡¯t kill me. You still need to uncover the truth about your mother. You can¡¯t kill me!¡± Palmer aimed at Eamon¡¯s arm and pulled the trigger without hesitation. ¡°I won¡¯t be the one to kill you. It wasn¡¯t me who harmed you, was it?¡± Eamon¡¯s body was riddled with bleeding wounds, the floor a gory mess Palmer, unbothered by the blood beneath his polished shoes, approached the desperate Eamon like a sovereign of the night. He reveled in Eamon¡¯s terror and his struggle against death. ¡°Back then, you watched my mother die like this. Feeling all the from one¡¯s body is indeed a fitting end. I won¡¯t let you die so easily, Uncle Eamon. Enjoy yourst moments.¡± blood drain The bloodlust on Palmer¡¯s face was like the whispers of a demon, echoing in Eamon¡¯s ears. He was here for revenge¨Cfor the past. ¡°You¡­ you can¡¯t do this to me. Larson isn¡¯t innocent either! And there are¡­ others!¡± Palmer nodded, wiping the blood from his hands. ¡°Yes, I know. But Uncle Larson has to take the fall for your death, for now.¡± Palmer would keep Larson alive, but in the most unbearable way possible. Larson hoped to pin Eamon¡¯s death on the Schnabel family and Palmer, but Palmer was ready to return the favor with arger burden. ¡°As for the others, you¡¯ve reminded me. It¡¯s time to pay a visit to your boss¡± Eamon¡¯s gaze wandered in panic, How did Palmer know about his boss? When did he find out, and through what means? A whirlwind of chaotic thoughts overwhelmed Eamon¡¯s mind, buzzing with confusion. Palmer spared him no further nce. To him, Eamon was already a dying man. ¡°You let me go, and I¡¯ll tell you who was behind your mother¡¯s death!¡± ¡°No need I don¡¯t require the likes of you to meddle in my affairs.¡± 10:51 Palmer tossed his revolver into the pool of blood and left the hospital room without looking back, C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Before he breathes hisst, I don¡¯t want to see another soul here.¡± Yes, Mr. Pock!¡± The bodyguard outside didn¡¯t dare lift his head as Palmer passed, Eamon¡¯s agonized screams echoing behind him. Eamon recognized the revolver on the floor¨Cit was Larson¡¯s! Larson dared to strike at such a moment! With hisst ounce of strength, Eamon dialed the emergency contact on his phone. ¡°Boss, save me. Palmer¡¯s after my life!¡± The boss, flipping through a book, replied with a cold, mocking tone. ¡°If he wants you dead, then die. Why bother me?¡± you!¡± ¡°Boss! If I go down, he¡¯lle after y The boss cut the line, ignoring all of Eamon¡¯s desperate calls. In the car outside the hospital, Palmer sat back and closed his eyes. Annie shifted slightly. ¡°Mr. Pock, the deed is done, and the word is out. The inner circles believe Larson killed Eamon. We¡¯ve kept quiet about the attempt on Ms. Noe, but should we give the Schnabels a heads¨Cup?¡± Palmer blinked his eyes open and pulled out his phone. He mulled over his next move for a moment. ¡°Beckett¡¯s no fool. If there¡¯s trouble brewing with the Pocks, he¡¯ll sniff it out sooner orter Better to give him a heads¨Cup now than let him find out the hard way that Noe¡¯s caught the Pocks¡® eye¡± After all, they were Noe¡¯s kin, and they deserved to be in the loop about everything that was going down with her. What mattered more was that once Beckett got wind of the situation, he¡¯d surely put some muscle on Noe¡¯s tail for protection. That would make the scenarios Palmer dreaded far less likely to unfold. On the other end of the line, Beckett shot up from his swivel chair as soon as Palmerid out the situation in the bluntest terms. ¡°What did you say? Those lowlifes had the gall toy hands on my baby sister? Oh, that is just peachy!¡± Palmer¡¯s voice was ice cold. ¡°Took care of one, but the other needs to stick around a bit longer. His number¡¯s up, and I be the one to collect Beckett bristled at the idea. These scumbags had the audacity to target Noe, and Palmer v d to leave one breathing? ¡°Mr. Pock getting soft on family matters? If you can¡¯t bear to rough up your own flesh and blood, I can sure as hell do the dirty work for you!¡± CHapter 231 CHapter 231 ¡°No, you¡¯ve got it wrong.¡± Palmer said, releasing fie top button of his shirt to let in a bit of air. There was a chilling hardness about him. in murderous mum that clung to his frame like a second skin. Yet, his lips curled into a sly, rogue¡¯s smile I¡¯m keeping him around because he has a bigger role to y Noello worries he might sling mud at the Schnabel name, and Mr. Schnabel, you wouldn¡¯t want Nee to be worried about you guys, would you?¡± The moment Beckett realized his sister was involved, the displeasure on his face ebbed away. If Noe had a say in it, the situation must be different. His sister was the smartest, kindest little princess in the world. Whatever Noe said was gospel, whatever she did was with question Palmer was well aware of how the Schnabels doted on Noe ¡°Noe doesn¡¯t want you to worry, so she kept this from you. But the Pock family affairs are a tangled web, and I¡¯m concerned there might be aspects I can¡¯t protect her from. I hope Mr. Schnabel will also ensure Noe is looked after¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. His plea was eamest, his tone sincere The came he expressed for Noe couldn¡¯t be feigned, and Beckett could feel Palmer¡¯s genuine concem for her Beckett¡¯s expression softened considerably. ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me. I know what to do. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to watch over Noe discreetly. It won¡¯t disrupt her life.¡± His sister was too naive. If the Schnabels knew the danger she was in, they would have tumed the Pock family upside down! Knowing his sister was concemed about them, Beckett¡¯s heart melted, His sister, why was she so wonderful? Beckett was nearly heartbroken over her! ¡°Even though it¡¯s a Pock family matter, for ra¡¯s sake as well as Noe¡¯s, I need to ask bluntly, Mr. Pock, how do you n to handle it?¡± Whether or not Noe would end up with Palmer, ra was still a Pock by blood, an unbreakable bond. ra might not bear the Pock name now, but Sexton had added her to the family tree and nned to pass on all his shares of Pock Group to her. This meant ra was facing a host of challenges. Beckett¡¯s tone was icy. ¡°Mr. Pock should understand that to me, ra is just as important as Noe. If the Pock family can¡¯t ensure her safety. I might not allow her to return. And as for Noe, if you truly care for her, you should consider her future as well. A Schnabel daughter will not marry into danger¡± The scandal surrounding Palmer¡¯s mother had once been infamous among the elite circles. If Noe ended up in a simr plight, the entire Schnabel family would be devastated. Just the thought was enough to shatter Beckett¡¯s heart. Palmer knew that Beckett¡¯s harsh words stemmed from love for Noe and ra ¡°The Pock family issues are nearly settled. I assure you, before ra returns home and Noe bes part of the family, all will be taken care of ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Beckett was somewhat reassured by Palmer¡¯s promise, mindful of theplexities within the Pock family. He refrained from probing further, his sole concem being the well¨Cbeing of his two precious sisters. After the call, Beckett paced his office like a man on fire, spinning in circles as he tried to think. Finally, he dialed Noe¡¯s number. ¡°Noe, what are you up to? Did you miss me?¡± ¡°Just out shopping with Malvina. What¡¯s up?¡± Hearing Noe¡¯s casual tone, Beckett¡¯s heart settled. He could handle international deals worth billions without breaking a sweat, but when it came to Noe¡¯s troubles, he found himself sweating buckets. w you know who to call,¡± ¡°Nothing much. Just remember, if you run into trouble, you tell me, okay? And if you¡¯re short on money, you After hanging up, Beckett immediately wired some money to Noe. Noe looked at the bank notification on her phone and deduced that Palmer must have told Beckett about the attack. Beckett hadn¡¯t asked directly, likely to spare her unnecessary worry. This was Beckett¡¯s way of showing he cared Malvina, eyeing the message on Noe¡¯s phone, twisted her face in mock envy. ¡°Noe, sweetie, is your brother in need of another sister? Would I fit the bill, or maybe they need a new keychain? I can be shameless!¡± Noe nced at her, a lightugh escaping her lips. ¡°My brother doesn¡¯t need another sister, but he could use a girlfriend. Maybe you should give it a thought?¡± Malvina¡¯s face contorted as if she¡¯d nearly bitten her own tongue, her hands waving frantically, her cheeks flushed, ¡°No, no, no, absolutely not! Your family too clever by half. I can¡¯t be the one to dumb down the Schnabel gene pool!¡± 10:51 Considering her test results, which resembled a phone number being with the Schnabels would be downright embarrassing Malvina touched her nearly smoking cheek and quickly changed the subject ¡°Honey, we still haven¡¯t found that person who sent me the message. Where do we even start looking?¡± Malvina hadn¡¯t forgotten the real reason they werebing through the antique street to find the person who imed to have a keepsake of her mother¡¯s. Noe nced at Megret, who was buried in hisptop, crunching data. ¡°Got a lead yet? I¡¯ve already yed two rounds of games. What¡¯s taking so long?¡± Feeling the chill from Noe¡¯s icy stare, Megrez quickly minimized his game and brought up the spreadsheets. That was close almost caught by the boss for gaming on the job! But who could me him when thetest release from Pris Star was so dam addictive. ¡°Found him! The guy¡¯s now an assistant to Larson, goes by the name Luther.¡± Malvina nodded. ¡°Right, he used to be known as Lotus in the Shadow Dragon Society. What¡¯s he doing as Larson¡¯s sidekick?¡± Malvina was puzzled. Neither Luther nor Larson seemed to have a specific reason to call her to the antique street. ¡°Boss, Master Rainer wants you to report to the university next week¡± Noe arched an eyebrow. ¡°He went to Imperial University?¡± ¡°Seems like it. He wants you to drop by the campus tomorrow. Looks pretty urgent. Ah, I¡¯ve missed the student life!¡± Noe gave him a silent look. The kids from Pris Star never had a school life; they were taken from their families and subjected to experiment after experiment upon being chosen! It was understandable that Megrez and the others were curious about the campus life. She stood up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. III keep the promises I made.¡± She was determined to steer the members of Pris Star onto a normal life trajectory. Even in the depths of trouble and surrounded by darkness, she remainedmitted to guiding them towards the light Megrez chuckled softly, deeply moved. It proved they hadn¡¯t followed the wrong person. No matter what Noe would do, she would always be the leader of Pris Star! CHapter 232 CHapter 232 Inside the sterile white walls of the hospital room, Belinda sat next to Briony, her face glowing with a maternal pride as she handed her a freshly peeled apple ¡°Briony, sweetheart, it¡¯s time to make a clean break. Your real dad has been found, and he¡¯s whisking us away to a life of ease and Real dad? Briony¡¯s eyes sparkled with the mention. ¡°But I¡¯m still facing jail time¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry your pretty little head. Your father¡¯s got connections that can make these troubles go pool! You don¡¯t owe the Rosenbergs a thing, they¡¯re nothing but cold¨Chearted snakes!¡± Belinda¡¯s affection for her once favored son¨Cinw, Milford Rosenberg, had turned to bitter contempt. Briony was still carrying his child, and he hadn¡¯t even shown his face at the hospital ¡°I¡¯ve reached out to the Rosenbergs. They owe you, at the very least, a decent payout. Then we¡¯ll take care of this pregnancy.¡± Briony couldn¡¯t bear the thought of carrying the child a moment longer. Milford¡¯s doubt and absence from the hospital fueled her anger and frustration Then the phone rang. It was Linsey ¡°Belinda, have you lost your mind? Your little girl ys the field, gets pregnant, and suddenly it¡¯s my son¡¯s responsibility? Stop the joke. Milford¡¯s abroad, clinching deals. He¡¯s the future of the Rosenbergs!¡± Belinda sneered in response, ¡°Ha, just you wait. Briony will be out of your league soon enough!¡± Linsey hung up without another word and tried dialing her precious son, eager to uncover the truth about Briony¡¯s child. But Milford¡¯s phone was unreachable, no matter how many times she tried. Belinda clenched her teeth in anger. ¡°That old hag! it¡¯s her son¡¯s only child, and it¡¯s them who don¡¯t want this baby. Briony, after we terminate this pregnancy, we¡¯ll send the child to them! Let¡¯s see how they react!¡± Briony¡¯s thoughts were far from here, consumed by the desire for a better life and the hatred for the child within. The doctor, his face hidden behind a mask, entered and nced at Briony. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have to tell you that you can¡¯t keep the baby You¡¯ve contracted several infections, including HIV. It¡¯s best to terminate the pregnancy Bnony¡¯s world copsed with those words, tears streaming down her face. ¡°No. How could this happen? It¡¯s all Milford¡¯s fault! I don¡¯t want to die, I¡¯m so young¡­¡± The doctor flipped through her chart with a sympathetic gaze. ¡°Milford is a frequent patient in our infectious diseases department, and he has transmitted infections to many. Considering your age and health, it¡¯s best not to continue with the pregnancy¡± In a haze of despair, Briony cried uncontrobly. y questioning what she had done to deserve this. Belinda, frantic at the thought of losing her chance to return to Larson¡¯s side, urged the doctor to proceed with the treatment and singery keep this from your dad. His family¡¯splicated, and they¡¯d shun us if they knew As the doctor left, Belinda soothed Briony, ¡°Well ke Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Briony, her spirit tom between hope and despair, asked, ¡°Mom, who is my father?¡± Belinda¡¯s smile held a secret promise. ¡°You¡¯ll meet him tomorrow. He¡¯s nning a wee party for you. As for your illness, Ill make sure you get the best care.¡± Filled with anticipation, Briony awaited the new chapter of her life. Meanwhile, at the opulent Schnabel el Manor in the Phoenix Tower of Serene Haven, a nanny sneakily hid in a corner, making a covert ¡°Ms. Yvonne, have you contacted thedy?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m seeing her tomorrow.¡± Yvonne¡¯s heart raced at the thought of meeting her mother for the first time in eighteen years. ¡°Queenie, who exactly is my mother?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret about that Shell give you a life of luxury. Soon, you won¡¯t just be picking from the Schnabels; even Mr. Pock will be within Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. your reach. Yvonne¡¯s thoughts drifted to Palmer¡¯s handsome andmanding presence, feeling a twinge of desire. 10:51 Why should Noe, that naive girl, monopolize such a man? Once she¡¯s with her mother, Palmer would surely notice her. The nanny was about to divulge more when a chilling voice Interrupted from above. ¡°Queenie, what are you doing down there?¡± Queenie looked up to find Noe¡¯s piercing gaze, a mix of innocence and authority that sent shivers down her spine. *Just cleaning the floors, Miss. Thedy spotted a spider here earlier. Have you juste back, Ms. Noe?¡± ¡°Cleaning? Carry on, then.¡± Queenie¡¯s Hding spot was spotless¨Can unlikely ce to find dirt, let alone need a nanny¡¯s attention. Noe cast a casual nce at her and walked away without a sound Queenie was drenched in cold sweat! How on earth did Ms. Noe manage to move so silently? She nearly jumped out of her skin, almost flinging her belongings into the air. There was something off about the way Noe looked at her, as if she knew exactly what she had been up to. No, that couldn¡¯t be. If neither Sienna nor Mr. Schnabel had noticed anything, how could Ms. Noe, a greenhom fresh from the countryside, know anything at all? As soon as Noe returned to her room, her phone buzzed with a message from Palmer [There¡¯s a soiree Larson arranged tomorrow. Would my fianc¨¦e care to join me?] [Sure.] The word on the street was that Larson had yed a rough hand with Eamon, and now he was throwing a party, most likely in a bid to clear his name. There was a knock at the door, and Beckett poked his head in, ¡°Noe, there¡¯s a gathering at the Pock¡¯s tomorrow. How about you join me for the event?¡± ¡°Sure, but I¡¯ve already promised Palmer. We¡¯ll attend together.¡± The words on the tip of Beckett¡¯s tongue retreated back down his throat! How did Palmer beat him to the punch with ns like that? Noe couldn¡¯t help but let a smile y on her lips as she saw Beckett¡¯s deted expression. ¡°Beckett, I actually have something I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you. The nanny, Queenie, how long has she been with our family?¡± CHapter 233 CHapter 233 The Schnabel family had a fall share of honnies and housekeepers, with a rotating crew just to manage the kitchen. Beckett, who was rarely home, couldn¡¯t quite ce the name at first; 1 remember now, she was initially brought in by Ashlyn because her cooking suits her taste And she¡¯s been with us ever since.¡± Since Ashlyn and Marcel had divorced, and she wasn¡¯t their biological grandmother, it wasn¡¯t quite right to keep calling Ashlyn ¡®Grandma¡® Noelia nodded, getting the gist of who Queenie was Beckett thought for a moment. ¡°I believe she hails from the same hometown as Ashlyn; they were even neighbors back in the day. She¡¯s been with our family for years, taking care of Mom after she gave birth to us. What about her?¡± Noe didn¡¯t keep Beckett in the dark 1 think there¡¯s something off about her, so I checked her phone records. She¡¯s constantly in touch with Yvonne, and she¡¯s been filming videos of our house and sending them out. She¡¯s even got a bunch of followers on social media¡± Queenie had taken the unconventional route of sharing snippets of her life working for the Schnabels on social media and had amassed quite a following! ¡°Filming is not allowed in the Schnabel family. Also, I¡¯ve noticed somerge transactions in her bank ount. I looked through her online marketce profile, and she¡¯s been selling our stuff,¡± Beckett was floored. Queenie had not only filmed and exposed the privacy of their family but was also secretly selling their items on second¨Chand tforms? Noe handed her phone to Beckett. There are so many things in our homes that it¡¯s easy to lose track. Mom¡¯s forgotten about a lot of them, and that¡¯s how Queenie¡¯s been able to sell them.¡± Items from the Schnabels were pricey, often unique and unavable for purchase elsewhere, which Queenie sold at half¨Cprice, quickly finding buyers. Whether it was Sienna¡¯s designer bags, clothes, shoes, or even the family¡¯s bonsai trees, garden stones, and kitchenware, everything was listed online. Beckett was shocked. That¡¯s from my study! The vintage leather briefcase Grandpa Merrick gave now Queenie has sold it!¡± I never a got around to using it, and The leather briefcase, a gift from Merrick Horwich, was worth a small fortune, and Queenie had snapped it up for a mere thousand. A thousand wouldn¡¯t even cover the cost of the briefcase¡¯s recement strap! Noe opened Queenie¡¯s social media ount. Almost daily. Queenie posted sneak peeks of the Schnabel family from her perspective. showcasing her mundane work life. This approach had earned Queenie a significant online following, with Sienna and Tristan¡¯s faces even appearing in some of her clips. Grinding his teeth, Beckett said, ¡®Filming is not allowed in our house, and it¡¯s stipted in the contracts. With these videos, we can demandpensation! Noe, don¡¯t worry, I will handle this. Come on, let¡¯s go down to eat.¡± Noe followed Beckett into the living room, where Sienna was discussing the menu with Queenie. ¡°Queenie, serve these dishes by Noe, and ce these tters near Beckett¨Cthey¡¯re his favorites.¡± ¡°Sure thing, ma¡¯am.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°I got a set of porcin dinnerwarest time. Bring it out tomorrow; it¡¯ll match my outfit.¡± Hearing about the porcin dinnerware, Noe raised an eyebrow. Queenie¡¯s hand visibly trembled That very set of porcin had been sold by Queenie just yesterday for twenty¨Cfive hundred, and soon it would be a prized possession in someone else¡¯s disy cab. Queenie, unfazed, nodded in agreement to Sienna¡¯s request Clearly, Queenie was a seasoned hand. Noe, keeping herposure, said, ¡°Mom, Td love to see that porcin dinnerware too. Why don¡¯t we use it today? Your outfit today would go perfectly with it¡± Sienna, d in a traditional dress, exuded ssical elegance. Her every gesture was filled with grace, indeed fitting for fine porcin At her daughter¡¯s request, Sienna beamed and agreed. ¡°Of course, anything you say, dear Queenie, didn¡¯t you hear Noe? Hurry and change them.¡± Queenie was practically grinding her teeth in frustration What was Ms. Noe ying at? Who changes dinnerware right before the meal? It would ruin the food¡¯s tastel Besides, she had already shipped the real dinnerware off. The knockoff she¡¯d ordered online hadn¡¯t arrived yet she had nothing to show! ¡°Maam, the food¡¯s already on the table. Changing now might make the gentlemen wait for their meal.¡± Using the gentlemen as a shield, surely they wouldn¡¯t insist on bringing out the dinnerware now? Marcel waved dismissively, ncing over his newspaper. ¡°If Noe wants new dinnerware, then change it. It¡¯s not often she asks for something, and we should indulge her!¡± Sexton agreed wholeheartedly. His granddaughter¨Cinw was such a gem¨Csmart, beautiful, and considerate. Too considerate, in fact, a clear sign of Harriet¡¯s fine upbringing. They were more than willing to fulfill any request Noe had. After all, it was just a matter of changing dinnerware. She wasn¡¯t asking for the moon, so why not please her? Queenie felt like she was about to fain!! Only she knew that the cupboard was empty¨Cthat set of dinnerware didn¡¯t exist. And now, with Sienna requesting it, where on earth would she get it from? ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯ve sent the dinnerware out for a polish. It won¡¯t be back until tomorrow.¡± Noe nced up at Queenie, a puzzled frown knitting her brows. ¡°But I thought our dinnerware was already sparkling when it arrived. Why send it out again?¡± ¡°Oh, you see, Ms. Noe, the Schnabels aren¡¯t just any family. When ites to dining, we have certain standards to uphold. Since you¡¯ve taken an interest in that particr set, Ill make sure it¡¯s delivered to us posthaste tomorrow.¡± Theer of Noe¡¯s mouth twitched into a sardonic smile. Is that so? I¡¯m just worried that you, dear Queenie, won¡¯t be able toy your hands on that set at all, considering it might already be halfway to Linefort City with the way shipping and logistics are these days.¡± Queenie¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her gaze fixed on Noe. How on earth did Noe know she had sold the dinnerware to a buyer in that city? Sienna, looking confused, chimed in, ¡°Noe, what are you talking about? What¡¯s happened to the dinnerware?¡± Noe shot a nce at Queenie. ¡°That set has been sold by our very own Queenie. Panic flickered in Queenie¡¯s eyes as she began to bluster. ¡°Ms. Noe, you can¡¯t just nder me like that! Without proof, how can you use me of such a thing? I¡¯ve been a part of the Schnabel family even longer than you!¡± Proof, as it happened, was something Noe had in spades. She handed her phone to Sienna, disying a page filled with Queenie¡¯s recent sessful sales of second hand treasures. Sienna¡¯s eyes immediately recognized several items. ¡°My pearl ne that I¡¯ve been searching for high and low! You just up and sold it? We have been nothing but good to you! How could we have nurtured such an ingrate!¡± CHapter 234 CHapter 234 Sienna¡¯s hands trembled with rage as she stared at her phone. Marcel¡¯s only offspring was Tristan, and with most of the extended family away from Imperial City, Sienna had been the one calling the shots since Ashlyn moved out. Their household wasn¡¯t strict, and Sienna had always been kind to the staff. But beneath her watchful eye, a snake had been lurking Queenie stumbled several steps back, legs quaking, yet her mouth ran with defiance. ¡°Madam, Ashlyn instructed me to take those items, it wasn¡¯t my doing¡­ The videos she had been filming mostly featured the Schnabel Mansion, particrly the part where Ashlyn used to live. Noe smirked slightly ¡°The money on your statements has been funneled to your son, not a dime went into Ashlyn¡¯s pockets.¡± Queenie had been selling off the Schnabel family treasures at bargain prices. With Ashlyn and Marcel¡¯s divorce, the old house was even more deserted, and the missing items became more apparent. As the thefts piled up, so did the money in Queenie¡¯s ounts. ¡°No big deal, Queenie,¡± Noe said coolly. ¡°Your son and his wife just bought a fancy downtown apartment in Imperial Cityst month, without even having jobs. Relying on your support to purchase a property at a hundred thousand per square foot, your husband and sons don¡¯t work; you¡¯ve been carrying quite the burden, haven¡¯t you?¡± Queenie had more than one son, and the fact that each could afford a downtown Imperial City apartment outright was a testament to her ¡°hard work¡°. But the nature of that hard work was something only Queenie knew too well. Having had it so easy at the Schnabels for years, she¡¯d allowed her sons to quit their jobs. If she lost this job, how would her sons survive? ¡°Madam, please, don¡¯t fire me. I was forced into this. Every time I sold something. I gave arge cut to Ashlyn! She made me do it!¡± Sienna¡¯s fury was palpable. ¡°Save your excuses for the police!¡± Queenie knew Sienna only listened to Noe these days. If Noe spoke for her, Sienna wouldn¡¯t be too harsh on her. She knelt toward¡¯s Noe, bowing her head repeatedly and muttering pleas. ¡°Ms, Noe, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I beg you, don¡¯t send me to jail. I¡¯m old, and I raised the young masters anddies¡­¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°The only one you raised was Yvonne, and she¡¯s a ¡®Gruber now, not a Schnabel. As for jail, it seems like the best ce for you right now.¡± Queenie¡¯s social media ounts had vanished, and those who shared her videos were being contacted by the Schnabel Group for removal. Beckett, massaging his temples, said coldly. ¡°The police are waiting for you. The properties bought with illegal money will be reimed by the Schnabels. Tell your sons to im a spot under the bridge while they can.¡± Queenie copsed on the floor! ¡°No, please! I¡¯ve served the Schnabels for years, I beg of you, don¡¯t do this. It was Ms. Yvonne¡¯s idea, and Ashlyn¡¯s. I¡¯m innocent!¡± Noe said, ¡°Let the police bring Yvonne and Ashlyn for questioning too. It¡¯s time to clean house.¡± Noe¡¯s gaze swept over the row of servants. ¡°Queenie was dirty; you might want to clean your own hands.¡± The servants panicked at the thought of being investigated. ¡°Madam, this house is still under your rule. Ms. Noe just got back, and she¡¯s already trying to step over you¡­¡± ¡°Exactly, Madam. We¡¯ve served for years and deserve better than this. If we¡¯re investigated, it will shake our faith.¡± ¡°Ms. Noe is a country bumpkin; she knows nothing of the Schnabel¡¯s ways¡­¡± Sienna, exhausted, rubbed her temples and snapped, ¡°What my daughter says, goes! You might not listen to me, but you must heed Noel This house belongs to Noe; we¡¯re merely living under her grace. Whatever she decides, we¡¯ll abide by it! She is a Schnabel. If you disrespect Noe in front of me, what would you do if I weren¡¯t here? Lay hands on her?¡± Tristan chimed in, ¡°Exactly I¡¯d be happy even if Noe stepped on my head!¡± He regretted not being able to raise Noe, never experiencing the tender moments of a father lifting his daughter on his shoulders to watch fireworks. ra was always mature, preferring to study and dismissing such activities as childish. Tristan never knew what it was like to have a sweet, soft daughter to cherish. alty to the The police arrived promptly, taking ay a group of servants. Even the driver, Wren, went along, iming innocence and loyalty to t family. Sienna sat down at the dining table, sighing. ¡°This mess has happened under my watch¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for Noe stumbling upon the secretive antics of Queenie, she would¡¯ve remained utterly clueless. Sienna had been the apple of her parents, Merrick and Freya¡¯s, eye, and after tying the knot, Tristan had catered to her every need. Her 10:51 greatest challenge had been dealing with Ashlyn, which, at its core, was a testament to her forgiving and broad¨Cminded nature. Marcel set aside the newspaper he¡¯d been reading and removed his reading sses, his sharp and prating eyes softened with affection. ¡°All right, it¡¯s all small potatoes. Water under the bridge now From here on out, we¡¯ll let the kids call the shots when ites to family matters.¡± Sienna was an exemry daughter¨Cinw, and Marcel often thought that if his son hadn¡¯t been so shameless and persistently wooing her, he wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance with someone like Sienna. How was it that both he and Hamlet, sharp as tacks, had managed to raise a son who was all show and no substance? Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Sienna, you¡¯ve had it rough, and none of this mess is your fault! You can¡¯t see into people¡¯s hearts¨C kindness doesn¡¯t always beget kindness. Noe handled this beautifully, and I¡¯m delegating all things in Serene Haven to her from now on. You, Sienna, deserve a break¡± Over the years, Marcel had seen his fair share of those with honey on their lips and daggers in their hearts. He had watched Noe handle the situation with a keen eye, recognizing that his granddaughter had more resilience than Sienna, more brains than Tristan, and knew when to advance or retreat This granddaughter was simply perfect! A true chip off the old block, Harriet¡¯s upbringing had done wonders! CHapter 235 CHapter 235 Sienna wiped away her tears and nodded in agreement. ¡°If you ever feel overwhelmed, Noe, just tell me I¡¯ll make sure your brothers lend a hand!¡± Her words camed a hint of quilt But the Schnabel family¡¯s affairs were too much for Sienna to handle. After all, the children had grown up, each proving to be smart and capable. It was time for them to take over the reins She had longed to retime with Tristan and travel the world! If it weren¡¯t for their desire to see Noe off to college first, Sienna and Tristan would probably already be globetrotting. She had meticulously nned their travel itinery! Noe, seeing the excitement mixed with a touch of sheepishness on Sienna¡¯s face, couldn¡¯t help but smile. Her mother was quite adorable ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom, I ask Beckett if I¡¯m not sure about something.¡± The issues at Serene Haven weren¡¯t too numerous. Many of the problems with the Schnabel family¡¯s staff stemmed from the remnants left by Ashlyn, who wasn¡¯t exactly squeaky clean. When Ashlyn first mamed Marcel, she nearly brought her dog from her vige to the Schnabel household to establish some kind of pecking order. Sienna, upon taking over the household, had chosen not to rece the old staff, instead managing with them for years. However, thispromise had led to significant problems Beckett rose to serve Sienna some soup, his tone soothing. ¡°I¡¯ve had someone Investigate the social media ounts of all the Schnabel family¡¯s servants. Queenie was an exception; though others might not be clean, they¡¯re not as egregious. However, we¡¯ve found substantial sums of money flowing into Queenie¡¯s ount, and we¡¯re tracking the source.¡± Noe looked up, her voice calm. ¡°It¡¯s probably from people interested in the Schnabel family¡± Though Queenje was bold, making contacts with many wanting to pry into the Schnabel family¡¯s affairs, she didn¡¯t have ess to any real secrets The Schnabel family¡¯s studies were off¨Climits to the nannies. The children of the Schnabel family cleaned their studies themselves, and with plenty of surveince installed, Queenie couldn¡¯t find an opportunity to sneak in even if she wanted to. The information she sold was mostly fabricated by her. ¡°Queenie has sold quite a bit of our family¡¯s information, but it¡¯s mostly false. For instance, she imed Mom loves eating caviar and demands it be prepared at three in the morning.¡± Sienna had never asked anyone to wake up at three to cook caviar! Such rumors were absurd, but many were willing to believe them, contributing to Queenie¡¯s ie from these falsehoods. Tristan suddenly stood up, fork still in hand. ¡°I knew something was off when people kept sending me caviar for the past few years! There were rumors of me having an affair with a nanny, that we were expecting a new child, and that Sienna and I were on the brink of divorce!¡± All the gossip and scandalous news had been spread by Queenie! Tristan was near confusion, and if Sienna hadn¡¯t known him so well, she might have had her doubts. Thinking back on those rumors, Tristan felt like crying. ¡°Noe, you have no idea. People even said that to marry into our family, you had to have five children, and that we favored boys over girls, which is why no one courted Beckett for years.¡± Beckett¡¯s mouth twitched. Those rumors were ancient history. Was Tristan bringing them up now just as an excuse for him to go on dates? ¡°Let it go, Dad. No one courting me is my choice, not because of the rumors.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know squat! Those things kept me up at night, and you¡¯re nearly thirty!¡± Beckett rolled his eyes discreetly. With Tristan¡¯s penchant for dozing off while watching TV if he was up at night, it surely meant he¡¯d napped too much during the day. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep? Maybe you should find a night job while you¡¯re still young, to save up for Noe and ra¡¯s wedding gifts¡± ¡°Insolent! With you still single, I can hardly hold my head up when I walk!¡± ¡°Then maybe don¡¯t hold your head up. Walk with it down, less chance of tripping.¡± Tristan was so frustrated he nearly choked, while Noe pretended not to hear, sharing a secret laugh with Sienna. 10 52 Meanwhile, Beckett dealt with Tristan¡¯s marriage nagging as he peeled shrimp for Noe and Sienna. Dinner was a raucous affalt and once finished, Tristan left a mountain of dishes on the table. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for arguing with me¨Ctonight, you¡¯re on dish duty!¡± With the Schnabel family¡¯s servants under investigation, the house was short on dishwashers. Noe looked at the pile of dishes, then at Beckett, who was beginning to clear them alone. ¡°Beckett, let me help you.¡± Beckett, already tying an apron around his waist with the practiced ease of a domesticated finance mogul, shook his head affectionately ¡°No need. You go keep Mompany. It¡¯s just a matter of loading the dishwasher; our family doesn¡¯t need the little sister to do chores. Even when ra was home, she never had to clean up.¡± Look how good his sister was! He knew Tristan had purposely picked a fight during dinner just to saddle him with dishwashing duty! Otherwise, why would he wait until now to bring up those issues? ¡°That¡¯s Dad¡¯s old trick. I am used to it. You¡¯ll figure it out soon enough.¡± ¡°Then let me help you start the dishwasher.¡± ¡°Sure, thanks, Noe.¡± Beckett was clearly not new to household tasks, his movements steady and efficient. He stacked a dozen tes and still managed to free up a hand to wipe down the counter. Noe was amazed! Once the dishwasher was humming along. Beckett offered a restrained smile. ¡°Back when I was studying abroad, I had to fend for myself. Now that I¡¯m home, I have to look after your good¨Cfor¨C nothing brothers as well. I guess it¡¯s just what I¡¯m used to.¡± ¡°You¡¯re pretty awesome, Beckett. The praise was heartfelt and sincere. Even the folks from Pris Star didn¡¯t expect their staff back a stack of dishes taller than a man to the kitchen. Beckett¡¯s grin was all confidence. His little sister had given him apliment! ¡°Go get some rest. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to the Pock family¡¯s party. Noe nodded in agreement. M to lug The following day. Larson spread the word early, eager to turn things around swiftly stops to ensure a well¨Cattended event. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. and quash the viral rumors. He pulled out all the Yvonne, holding a ss of fine wine, her gown concealing burn scars that hadn¡¯t fully healed, had a face brimming with anticipation. Her own mother had asked her toe to Larson¡¯s party to meet her! of the woman who had reached out to her. Yvonne¡¯s heart was aflutter with excitement as she scoured the room for It must be thedy engaged in conversation with Larson! Could this mean her mother might be Larson¡¯s wife? Yvonne¡¯s heart threatened to leap out of her chest with excitement. To be part of the Pock family would secure her future! And it would certainly bring her closer to that remarkable man she had her eye on. CHapter 236 CHapter 236 Yvonne made her way across the room towards the woman chatting animatedly beside Larson Meanwhile, tucked away in a corner, Belinda supported Briony, who was struggling to stand. Having undergone surgery just the day before, Briony was drained of strength herplexion ashen. ¡°Mons, who is my father, really?¡± The quests at the Pock family soiree represented a blend of affluence and Influence. The dazzling array of luxurious gowns was enough to make Briony¡¯s head spin! Above all, there was Larson in the spotlight, donning a bespoke suit ¨C a privilege that money alone couldn¡¯t buy Vincent had once coveted a suit from that designer, only to be turned away after a humiliating wealth check. The brand had stuck in Briony¡¯s memory following Vincent¡¯s rant at home. ¡°Oh, Brony, just you wait and see, your father¡¯s identity is bound to knock your socks offi Her heart pounding, Briony wondered, could Larson be her father? The Pock family- a name synonymous with wealth. Vincent¡¯s entire fortune wouldn¡¯te close to being a fraction of their wealth. Rumor had it that the Pock children¡¯s monthly allowances started in the millions. If Larson was her biological father, a life of luxury awaited her And Milford, whom she once thought out of her league, along with all the men at the g, could be within her reach. Belinda held Briony steady. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to offend any guests here. Let¡¯s wait for your father to come to us. Briony nodded absent¨Cmindedly, her gaze catching a familiar figure entering the room. Her pupils dted, voice quivering. ¡°Mom, isn¡¯t that Noe? Belinda followed her daughter¡¯s gaze. The girl in a pale blue gown seemed like a woond fairy, her skin radiant. The gown flowed in delicateyers, ented with subtle pattems, and trailed behind her as she entered, nked by two men who released the hem of her dress to the floor. Noe¡¯s hands were encased in matching light gloves, linking arms with Palmer and Beckett as they made their entrance, instantly bing the center of attention. She was breathtaking, and Briony¡¯s envy red, especially considering the men beside Noe- one wearing a tie to match her dress, and the other in a suit of the same palette. Briony clenched her teeth in frustration, ¡°Mom, why does Noe get to flirt with two men at once? Don¡¯t they know how messy her personal life is? Belinda was unsure. Hadn¡¯t Noe visited the maternity ward at Fortress Hospital? Surely a sign of a tumultuous love life, uncertain of the father of her child! Briony¡¯s eyes filled with resentment and bitterness, especially when Larson personally greeted them, chatting amicably with the man in the pale suit beside Noe¨Cthat made Briony¡¯s jealousy peak. Larson¡¯s friendly demeanor indicated the man must be someone of significance. Unable to stand it any longer, Briony tugged on Belinda¡¯s arm, making her way towards Larson. Larson smiled as he looked at Palmer, noticing his sharp suit and smiling in response. He remembered that Palmer didn¡¯t like light¨Ccolored suits. Now, willing to wear light colors to match his fianc¨¦e¡¯s outfit, it was clear that the idea of taking action against Ms. Schnabel suggested by Eamon was not a bad one. The approach was a bit rushed, but Larson believed that if given the chance, Palmer¡¯s expression would be even more interesting than it was years ago. Thinking of this, Larson¡¯s expression became even more intriguing. ¡°Palmer, it¡¯s been too long! And is this my future niece¨Cinw? She¡¯s stunning ¨C truly a Schnabel through and through. Mr. Schnabel, you¡¯re quite the young achiever Us old¨Ctimers are probably on our way out!¡± Palmer gave a forced smile. ¡°Indeed, some more quickly than others.¡± Noe nodded. ¡°I¡¯m d you recognize me as a Schnabel. I was worried you might not.¡± Beckett let out a chuckle. ¡°Noe, mind your manners. Larson may be aging, but he¡¯s not blind. Of course, he knows who you are. After chastising his sister, Beckett offered Larson an apologetic look. ¡°Sorry about that, Larson, Noe¡¯s been a bit spoiled by us. She shouldn¡¯t talk that way. The Pack family wouldn¡¯t forget a Schnabel, right? Noe, you should be more careful with your words. If no one recognizes a Schnabel daughter, it would break Grandfather and Father¡¯s hearts.¡± 10:52 20ter 23 7 got it¡± The siblings¡® banter wasden with hidden meanings, suggesting more to their words than met the ear. Larson¡¯s smile twitched at the edges: the Schnabels were more protective of their recently reimed daughter than he had anticipated. ¡°She¡¯s just a girl,¡± he thought, ¡°The Schnabels can¡¯t be that concerned.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Mr. Schnabel,¡± Larson chuckled, ¡°I have a daughter about your age. Perhaps you could meet her, and who knows, the Pock and Schnabel families might build more connections¡± Beckett returned the smile ¡°That sounds promising, although I wonder which daughter you¡¯re referring to.¡± In the circles of high society, it was an open secret that Larson had a string of illegitimate children, with six known daughters and rumors of more tucked away overseas. This was a stain on the Pock family¡¯s otherwise pristine reputation. Larson felt awkward, and his wife shot him a sharp re that could slice through the thick air of the ballroom. ¡°Oh,e now,¡± Larson said with a chuckle that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°Everyone knows these stories are just tabloid fodder, I was talking about my one and only daughter. Don¡¯t go believing every tall tale, Mr. Schnabell¡± Yvonne muscled her way through the crowd, her heels clicking like a time bomb, and made a beeline for Larson. ¡°Daddy!¡± she cried sweetly. Almost on cue, another voice chimed in. ¡°Daddy. Briony missed you so much!¡± Larson¡¯s face twitched with the effort of maintaining hisposure as he stared down two surprise daughters who had seemingly sprung from thin air. The room turned into a whirlwind of confusion, with guests exchanging shocked whispers. Hadn¡¯t Larson just dered he had only one daughter? Yvonne and Briony, meanwhile, caught sight of each other. ¡°Aren¡¯t you that girl from the Lambert family? You think you have any right to call my father ¡®Daddy? You shameless little wretch! And let¡¯s not forget, you still owe me a cool five million!¡± Indeed, Briony had once borrowed five million to bail out Vincent and Belinda, and she hadn¡¯t paid back a cent. Without warning. Yvonne¡¯s hand flew,nding a p on Briony¡¯s cheek that echoed through the hall, followed by Briony¡¯s piercing scream. ¡°Trash like you shouldn¡¯t be so eager to im a father.¡± Yvonne spat. ¡°He¡¯s my dad. Open your eyes and get a good look!¡± CHapter 237 CHapter 237 Yvonne delivered a series of swift, sharp ps, leaving Briony reeling under the force of each blow. Fresh from surgery, Briony¡¯s body was still frail, and it was only her thirst for the glitz and mour that propped her up; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have even been able to stand. But now, struck down, she copsed to the floor, clinging to Larson¡¯s leg. ¡°Daddy, It¡¯s me, Briony, your own flesh and blood! You can¡¯t possibly disown me, can you?¡± Yvonne, not to be outdone, rushed forward and sped Larson¡¯s wife¡¯s hand, trying to squeeze out a few tears to appear as pitiful as possible. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s Yvonne Remember? You called me and asked me toe find you here.¡± Beckett with a hint of mischief, tugged Noe back a step. ¡°Let¡¯s hang back; the view¡¯s better for the show.¡± Suppressing a giggle, Noe gently tugged Palmer¡¯s sleeve, bringing him to the safety zone as well. Palmer responded by slipping his hand into Noe¡¯s, their fingers intertwining secretly. The other guests shared the same sentiment- this was a spectacle not to be missed. If these girls truly were Larson¡¯s and his wife¡¯s daughters, intervening would mean crossing the Pock family, and no one wanted to risk that. If not, it wasn¡¯t their ce to sort out the mess. Either way, it wasn¡¯t their reputation on the line. A muffled chuckle spread among the crowd. ¡°Larson¡¯s got so many kids, what¡¯s two more?¡± ¡°True, but these two aren¡¯t exactly lookers. If he took them in, he¡¯d be the talk of the town, and not in a good way. These girls would be a real hand¨Cme¨Cdown.¡± With the whispers and crass words buzzing around, Larson felt his head spinning. He red at Belinda hiding in the back, then kicked Briony away from his feet. ¡°Get lost! Who¡¯s your dad? A bastard child like you wants to im me as a father? Our Pock family isn¡¯t open to just any Tom, Dick, or Harry!¡± Larson¡¯s wife shoved Yvonne aside. ¡°Who are you? I¡¯ve never been in touch with you. I have only one daughter, and she certainly doesn¡¯t Took anything like you!¡± As she spoke, she shot Larson a fierce look. It It must have been his mess outside that hadn¡¯t been dealt with, bringing all this riff¨Craff to their doorstep! Yvonne, on the verge of tears, pulled out her phone, pointing to a message as she pleaded. ¡°Mom, you asked me toe find you here at the party!¡± Larson¡¯s wife nced at the message and frowned. ¡°Your mother is our housekeeper, not me!¡± Housekeeper? How could it be the housekeeper! When Queenie had instructed her to make contact, she was called Madam. Since when did one refer to a housekeeper as madam? With a wave of disgust, Larson gestured to a man covered in dirt, addressing Briony. Our bodyguard, also my s your real dad!¡± Luther had been tending to the garden and was still wearing his gardening gloves. secretary, Luther that¡¯s A woman resembling Queenie approached, grabbing Yvonne. ¡°Yvonne, is it? I¡¯m your n mom! This is your dad, and now our family can finally be whole. Apologize to Larson and his wife.¡± Luther also grabbed the dazed Briony. ¡°Right, being together as a family is what matters most.¡± Briony was stunned! So, when Belinda spoke of her father¡¯s prestigious status, she meant Larson¡¯s secretary? What kind of prestige was that? ¡°You¡¯re my dad? Then why is this woman Yvonne also your child?¡± Luther chuckled, a simple man¡¯s smile masking a sly cunning. ¡°What¡¯s the issue? Your mother¡¯s children are mine as well. You¡¯ve got eight brothers and seven sisters waiting for you at home¨C quite the party!¡± A party? More like a circus! These were all the children Larson had fathered but refused to acknowledge. They were conveniently dumped at Luther¡¯s doorstep, registered under his name. Since he didn¡¯t have to pay for them, and they weren¡¯t his own, Luther didn¡¯t care if there was one more or one less Hearing about the myriad siblings and realizing her father was just a bodyguard, her mother a housekeeper, Briony¡¯s future seemed bleaker than Noe¡¯s farming family¨Can overwhelming thought that caused her to faint Luther hoisted Briony over his shoulder and dragged Yvonne away, disappearing from the hall Belinda, who had hidden to gauge Larson¡¯s reaction to Briony, had already silpped away unnoticed at the first sign of trouble. Larson tumed to the crowd, his voiceced with apology. ¡°Terribly sorry, folks. The kids of our housekeeper and bodyguard have made quite the scene, apoiling your fun. I take the hit for this¨C three drinks on mel He downed the champagne, his face flushing red¨Cwhether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. Larson moved from guest to quest, raising his ss in toast, until he finally reached Palmer. ¡°Palmer, we¡¯re family after all, and blood¡¯s thicker than water. You can¡¯t side with strangers over your uncle, can you? Lately, every time I call, you¡¯re busy with Ms. Schnabel, neglecting your manners!¡± His eyes darted towards Noe as he spoke. Palmer, with Noe¡¯s waist under his arm, lifted his gaze with a smile. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re speaking in riddles. Noe will be my family, sa naturally, I¡¯m on her side. As for you¡­ Even if I¡¯m not with Noe, I will be handling thepany affairs. Honestly, I don¡¯t have the time to visit your ranch.¡± His words were just shy of calling Larson inhuman! Noelle let out a snort ofughter, and seeing her amused, Palmer¡¯s look softened considerably. Beckett took the ss of water from Noe¡¯s hand. ¡°Better not to eat anything here, it¡¯s filthy. I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll get a stomachacheter Let¡¯s go grab a bite somewhere else after this.¡± ¡°Sounds perfect.¡± Larson¡¯s lips twitched into a half¨Csmile as he turned to Noe. ¡°Ms. Schnabel is quite the belle of the ball. No wonder my nephew is so smitten. All those debutantes used to flutter around him like moths to a me, yet none caught his eye the way Ms. Schnabel has. It speaks volumes about your charm,¡± Noe let out a soft, melodiousugh, her demeanor as graceful as a swan. ¡°ttery will get you everywhere, but I¡¯m nothing special.. I¡¯m just very close with my brothers. I certainly wouldn¡¯t stoop to, say, tripping them up and sending them to meet their maker.¡± Beckett chimed in with agreement. ¡°Only a real beast couldmit such an act. Our Noe¡¯s got too much sense to do something like that¡± Palmer nodded along, his gaze towards Larson filled with a frosty edge. ¡°Noe¡¯s night. Some people are no better than beasts. Calling them human might be an insult to the rest of us,¡± Larson knew Palmer was referencing the botched attempt to take out Eamon. But he hadn¡¯t seeded! The one who ended Eamon was Palmer himselfl N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Larson was ready, though, and with a derisive snort, he retorted. ¡°Speaking of which, my brother¡¯s untimely demise is still a mystery. Mr. Pock, I presume you owe me an exnation?¡± The audacity of the man, practically demanding an exnation as if he was the wronged party. As long as he stuck to his story that it had been Palmer¡¯s doing. Palmer wouldn¡¯t be leaving this house today¨Cnot on his own two feet, anyway. CHapter 238 CHapter 238 Larson¡¯s reputation was severely tarnished, and he held the party just to turn the tables. He had meticulouslyid a trap throughout his sprawling estate, waiting for the moment Palmer would fall from grace and be absolutely staying ¡°Palmer, didn¡¯t your old man ever teach you that you need hard evidence in everything you do? I¡¯m just as heartbroken over Eamon¡¯s ident as anyone. Today¡¯s g is to clear the air, I had nothing to do with his tragedy!¡± Larson¡¯s voice boomed across the room, his arms raised high to ensure everyone heard his deration ¡°You¡¯re saying Uncle Eamon¡¯s fall from grace has nothing to do with you. Then who¡¯s it tied to? Palmer¡¯s question was the cue Larson had been waiting for ¡°Who else would benefit from our dear Eamon¡¯s downfall? Surely, you¡¯ve got a clearer picture than I do, Palmer?¡± Palmer chuckled nonchntly, ¡°Actually, I brought a surprise for you, Uncle Larson. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll appreciate it¡± ¡°A surprise?¡± Larson was confused. The grand screen in the banquet hall showcased Larson¡¯s rise to power. To ensure his innocence and influence on all the participants, he even yed a clip of Larson shaking hands with a former head of state. With a p from Palmer, the video on the screen shifted from Larson hobnobbing with military bigwigs to Eamon, who was covered with blood. A collective gasp rose from the audience. They were clearly shocked by the gruesome sight of Eamon. Eamon was lying in a pool of blood, his eyes bulging and face pale, and muttering a haunting phrase over and over, ¡°Larson, I¡¯ve been nothing but good to you! Why would you do this to me? Trying to frame Palmer with my death¨Cha! nl be waiting for you in the hell!¡± Eamon¡¯s bitter and resentful words echoed throughout the hall, A voice piped up next to Noe. ¡°Yikes, that video is seriously creepy.¡± All Eamon left was that sentence, while the video just looped inside the hall. That, coupled with Eamon¡¯s enraged expression, was indeed hard to stomach. Noe tumed to see Malvina, stuffing a cream¨Cfilled pastry into her mouth with little concern for decorum. ¡°How¡¯d you get in here?¡± she asked. ¡°Just grabbing something from Luther¡± Noe eyed Malvinas casual hoodie and jeans topped with sneakers ¨C hardly g attire. And above all, it was a wonder she got past the front door. 2 7 7 28 7 3 3 ¡°How¡¯d you manage that?¡± Noe pressed. Malvina nodded towards Ulrich, now engrossed in the video, ¡°Ran into Dr. Schnabel on my way here. He brought me along!¡± Ulrich cut an elegant figure despite hisck of formal wear, his ck trench coat exuding a schrly charm that drew attention. Ulrich, analyzing Eamon in the video, came to a conclusion, ¡°Looks like someone wanted to torture him and make him bleed out. What a vendetta! And they¡¯re brothers, no less. Astonishing.¡± ¡°His ulna, distal radial joint, and the humerus have more than one gunshot wound, but none of them critical. Larson is a good shot,¡± he added. Larson was in a state of panic. He scrambled to shut off the video, but the damage was done. The quests¡® gazes had changed. What was this g really about? unting the murder of his own brother and pinning it on Palmer? Noe feigned concem, ¡°Beckett. Do you think Larson¡¯s trying to intimidate us? Like we¡¯re going to end up like that if we don¡¯t y ball with him or something.¡± Malvina was quick to dismiss the notion, ¡°No way! Larson¡¯s not like that. He only takes shots at his own kin, Poor Palmer though, taking such a heat at his age. It¡¯s not good for the spine¡± Beckett nodded in agreement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll steer clear of Larson. The Schnabel family¡¯s loyalty lies with Palmer alone. I also wouldn¡¯t dare cooperate with a man who could kill his own brother¡± Their words echoed through the crowd and stroked their chords Could it be that refusing to cooperate with Larson would lead to a fate worse than Eamon¡¯s? Larson was desperate, his forehead beading with cold sweat. Nevertheless, he was unable to appease the throng of guests. ¡°Palmer, is this your idea of a ¡®gift? You slow Eamon and left him for dead. You¡¯re heartless!¡± Palmer surveyed the room with a smile, ¡°The man Uncle Eamon mentioned wasn¡¯t me.¡± 10:52 Malvina covered her mouth dmmatically, ¡°Oh my! Is this what they call framing someone?! Someone¡¯s gonna take the fall and that¡¯s a huge one!¡± Noe cast a pitying nce at Palmer. ¡°You might want to get your spine checked after this. That¡¯s too burdensome for you¡± ¡°Sure, I listen to Noe.¡± in we¡¯re not Noe¡¯s enticing eyes, which were filled with disdain, settled on Larson, ¡°If we decide not to work with Larson, does that mean leaving today?¡± Beckett frowned, ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen. Larson wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± As they yed off each other, the suspicion in the room thickened. Was this g a ploy to force their hand? And would they end up like Eamon if they refused to cooperate with Larson? Larson has nothing to say Palmer actually made this kind of video in order to pull him down. Larson gritted his teeth and even his cheeks were getting some, ¡°You¡¯ve all got it wrong! This video is forged. The video must be made by someone who¡¯s trying to frame me. I¡¯d never hurt my brother!¡± Malvina took another bite of her pastry, ¡°I saw the throng around the hall when I came in. Are you saying we¡¯re not free to leave?¡± The room was abuzz with whispers and confusion. Larson had people posted outside? One guest stood up, ¡°Larson, I have urgent matters at home and I must attend to my group business. Excuse me!¡± ¡°Mr. Hugh, please wait! It¡¯s all a misunderstanding. My men are here for your safety, and nothing more¡­¡± But Mr. Hugh was already striding away, leaving Larson in a frenzy of damage control. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Beckett, gripping Noe¡¯s hand, let out a sardonicugh. ¡°Noe, let¡¯s hit the road, seems like Larson¡¯s got his hands full today.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Noe tumed around to call out for Malvina and Ulrich to join them, but realized that the duo had vanished into thin air behind her. Palmer nced towards the balcony, ¡°Your brother Ulrich and Malvina have gone to hunt down Luther, and they told us to head back first. Beckett raised an eyebrow, ¡°When did that little rascal get so chummy with Ms. Gruber? When I asked him this morning toe with he was moaning about being wiped out from a string of surgeries so he didn¡¯t have the energy to get up.¡± He said he was wiped out? The guy was just seen helping Ms. Gruber over the balcony! Anytime you needed Ulrich to lift a finger, he¡¯d groan like it¡¯s the end of the world, but if you put Ms. Gruber in the picture, he¡¯d got so much strength to spare! Larson approached Palmer and tried to grab his wrist, but Palmer sidestepped with a nimble move, leaving Larson nearly face¨Cnting into the ground. ¡°Palmer! You can¡¯t leave today!¡± CHapter 239 CHapter 239 To keep Palmer at the estate, Larson actually prepared a veritable feast offorts and amenities in the vi. if Palmer walked out today, any future attempts to meddle with him would be even more of an uphill battle! Palmer looked squarely at Larson, a chilling smirk ying across his lips. ¡°Thinking you can keep me here with this crew? I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re sorely mistaken. He said. 1 mean no disrespect. This is our own little shindig, you know. It¡¯d be quite rude to bail on us now¡­¡± Palmer couldn¡¯t be bothered with idle chitchat, ¡°Pull the wool over someone else¡¯s eyes if you must, but don¡¯t kid yourself.¡± ¡°What are you insinuating?¡± Larson asked, Had Palmer caught on to his borate setup? But he had deployed cadres of hitmen! He had put a lot of capital on the line to ensure Palmer would never return to the Pock Group. Larson couldn¡¯t believe all his schemes had been unveiled¡­. Palmer snapped his fingers, and secondster, the estate¡¯s perimeter erupted in explosive sts. The chandeliers in the banquet hall swayed violently and ster showered from the walls. The sts kepting, one after the other, the closest at the garden just outside the hall. That was where Larson had stationed a cadre of hitmen¡­ Beckett scrambled to grab his sister, only to clutch at the air, he tumed to see Noe already in Palmer¡¯s protective grasp. Palmer¡¯s hand shielded Noe¡¯s ears, his suit jacket enveloping her to safeguard her with utmost care. Beckett stared at his empty palm with a cocktail of emotions brewing inside him. It should¡¯ve been heartwarming to see Palmer instinctively protect his sister, but damn, why did it leave such a sour taste? The explosions outside sent Larson into a full¨Cblown panic. He could tell, every st was right where he¡¯d ced his hitmen. Larson gritted his teeth so hard he nearly tasted blood, ¡°Palmer You¡¯ve got a heart of stone!¡± The loss was hemorrhaging his finances; those were high¨Cticket hitmen Palmer, half¨Ccarrying Noe, had strode out of the banquet hall and slid into the car waiting curbside. Beckett followed close behind, his gaze filled with concem for Noe. ¡°Noe, you alright?¡± he asked. Tm fine¡± This sort of chaos was nothing new to her. Only the Schnabels would think she¡¯d be scared Beckett frowned at Palmer with disagreement, Mr. Pock, don¡¯t drag Noe into this madness again! It¡¯s far too dangerous!¡± He was taken aback when the sts rang out¨Cshocked by Palmer¡¯s audacity to blow up L Larson¡¯s estate right in the middle of a party. And then there was the fear for Noe¡¯s safety. The more Beckett thought about it, the more he shuddered at the close call. ¡°If you¡¯re handling Pock family business, Mr. Pock, don¡¯t gamble with Noe¡¯s safety. She¡¯s our family¡¯s treasure. If anything happened to her, you couldn¡¯t afford the loss!¡± Palmers icy gaze met Beckett¡¯s, a silent sh in the air. Til keep Noe safe. No one can harm her with me around. Mr. Schnabel, I know you want to protect her, but remember, you need to know she¡¯s not a delicate girl. Hasn¡¯t she faced dangers returning to the Schnabel n?¡± Beckett knew the perils that came with being a Schnabel better than anyone Noe smiled gently at her brother¡¯s pained and apologetic expression. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Beckett Palmer briefed me on the n beforehand, so I wasn¡¯t scared. I don¡¯t want to be a burden to you guys. I¡¯m a Schnabel, too, so don¡¯t worry about me. In truth, she could handle more than Beckett imagined, if not for the fear of rming the Schnabels Beckett¡¯s heart melted at his sister¡¯s sweet demeanor and her moist eyes. And now he felt quiltier How could she be so dam endearing? Her words nearly brought him to tears. He tousled Noe¡¯s hair with a heavy hand, pushing back the tears welling in his eyes. ¡°Sorry, Noe. I haven¡¯t been there enough. Whatever you want to do from now on, I¡¯ve got your back!¡± ¡°Thanks, Beckett. Noe replied Annie, from the diver¡¯s seat, waited until they were done before piping up, ¡°Um, are Dr. Schnabel and Ms. Gruber still back at the Larson¡¯s?¡± The detonation points had been set in advance, and Malvina and Ulrich had left the hall before the chaos ensued. An ident involving them would¡¯ve been disastrous. Beckett waved it off nonchntly, ¡°No worries, a few little bangs are nothing. Noe¡¯s not scared, so what¡¯s there for a grown man to fear? Forget about him. Noe¡¯s hungry. That¡¯s what matters most!¡± Annie thought, Your tune was quite different just a moment ago! Ulrich, still back at the bombed estate, didn¡¯t seem to matter as much as Noe needing to eat. It was clear the Schnabels had their favorites! Meanwhile, at Larson¡¯s ravaged estate. After the dust and noise had settled, two muddy figures crawled out from the ruins of what was once a pristine garden. Ulrich spat out the dirt from his mouth, his once white shirt now a sodden mess of earth and grime. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, removing his coat to cover Malvina¡¯s head. Tm fine, but Dr. Schnabel, you look like you¡¯ve been through the wringer¡­ Ulrich followed Malvina¡¯s gaze and only then realized that his shirt had been torn to shreds by flying debris, hanging off him in tatters and revealing the well¨Ctoned muscles underneath, which made him look like a beggar. Anyone who didn¡¯t know better might think he¡¯d gone back to his days as a doctor in the intemational warzone, constantly dodging bullets at the border. Malvina, shielded by Ulrich, was unscathed. Uinch quickly covered Malvina¡¯s eyes and turned her head to look elsewhere, then shook off muddy trench coat and put it back on. Malvina blinked and said, ¡°Dr. Schnabel, you didn¡¯t have to worry about me! My ce used to blow up all the time so I¡¯m used to it! How much did that shirt cost? I¡¯ll pay for it or get you a new one!¡± ¡°Zip it¡± She wouldn¡¯t have mentioned the shirt. It had made Ulrich¡¯s face burn with embarrassment! How humiliating he felt ¡°As your attending doctor I don¡¯t want you ending up in the hospital again. Dealing with a disobedient patient like you is a headache! don¡¯t need.¡± He said. all vi on the estat Malvina didn¡¯t dare to speak further, instead she crouched and tugged an Ulrich¡¯s sleeve, leading him to a small Larson¡¯s estate was m made up of a series of terraced vis, and at the moment, most of the people were in the banquet hall. Malvina had already scoped out the ce. ¡°This area houses Larson¡¯s secretaries, drivers, and bodyguards. He doesn¡¯t trust them living too far away since he fears betrayal. So, Luther should be staying around here too.¡± Ulrich looked down at Malvina¡¯s hand clutching his sleeve and theers of his mouth curled slightly into a smile Malvina stopped in front of a door her ear pressed against it, listening to the fierce argument raging inside. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do with those two kids!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t care? If you don¡¯t, i spill all the dirt your sister has done with the Schnabel family.¡± ¡°Are you insane?! If the Schnabels find out about those deeds, it¡¯s not just you and me that are done for Larson himself won¡¯t survive it¡± CHapter 240 CHapter 240 The house was alive with a fierce argument ¡°These two brats am Larson¡¯s charity cases, we¡¯re not exactly short on kids. What¡¯s the harm in keeping them around?¡± The middle¨Caged woman wound up her fist and took a swing at Luther¡¯s face, ¡°Who knows if this is the fruit of your infidelity? How did you treat the Grubers before? Now you¡¯re getting your comeuppance! That¡¯s what you get for conspiring with Arthur Gruber to off the old boss!¡± ¡°Come on, that mess with Larson and the other guy had nothing to do with me!¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. So the death of the Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s old boss wasn¡¯t an ident? Malvina held her breath in shock. Luther wasn¡¯t about to take it lying down. He pped the woman back, grabbed her hair, and smashed her head against the wall, ¡°Keep yapping, and neither of us will make it out alive. The Grubers might be gone, but the Schnabels are still very much in y!¡± The two grappled and scuffled, filling the room with the woman¡¯s piercing scams. Ten minutester, themotion inside died down. Luther kicked at Yvonne, whose mouth was now sealed with ck duct tape, and took a drag on his cigarette, ¡°How did this girl get in touch with you?¡± The woman on the floor, whose hair was a tangled mess, gasped for air and rolled her eyes, ¡°You mean this kid from Duncan Gruber and my sister Queenie? Queenie didn¡¯t dare let her husband find out, so she was raised under the Schnabels¡® rool. Now that she¡¯s locked up, the kid¡¯s been dumped on me.¡± Gagged, Yvonne couldn¡¯t utter a word in response to this revtion. What did they mean? Her biological mother wasn¡¯t Larson¡¯s wife but Queenie, the woman who contacted her every day?! But Queenie was just a high school dropout tumed housekeeper! If it wasn¡¯t for Ashlyn bringing her to the Schnabels to work, she¡¯d probably still be jobless in some backwater town. And she was her mother? Yvonne couldn¡¯t ept it! Luther nced at Yvonne, ¡°She looks like your sister. I thought she could ydy at the Schnabels, and it turns out that she¡¯s got no game. All your sister¡¯s scheming to snatch away Ms. Noe from the Schnabels was for naught¡± ¡°You think the Schnabels are pushovers? Larson sent men to take down Ms. Schnabel, and look how that turned out. My sister tried every poison in the book on the Schnabel n and got nowhere.¡± Outside, Ulrich and Malvina¡¯s eyes were wide with disbelief. Queenie had even tried to poison the Schnabels? The middle¨Caged woman was still dredging up the past inside the door, ¡°I gave Ashlyn so many ways to torment the Schnabel daughter¨Cinw, hoping one would leave her and the kids with a lifelong ailment. But never had I imagined that Ashlyn could be so useless. And all she sent to seduce Tristan while the Schnabel daughter¨Cinw was in Jabor¨Call Larson and Arthur¡¯s doing¨C didn¡¯t make a dent.¡± She continued, The Grubers and Larson even tried nting spies around Marcel, but no avail¡± Luther snorted, ¡°If this girl and her mother had been of any use, the Schnabels would¡¯ve met the same fate as the Grubers. We gave her so many Nourishment Pills to take to the Schnabels, all for nothing¡± Yvonne was on the verge of a breakdown while listening. Were they telling the truth? The Gruber family was either dead or in jail, their assets seized. And the Nourishment Pills were always Larson¡¯s ording to Luther. The door was kicked open, and the man standing there, who was radiating menace, aimed a cold gun at Luther¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t move, or you¡¯ll be off to meet your maker¡± The man imed. ¡°Who who are you?¡± Who was this intruder? Had he overheard their entire conversation? Luther¡¯s gaze darkened as he thought of these. Malvina peeked out from behind Unch, ¡°Long time no see, huh? You asked me toe find you, and now you¡¯ve forgotten?¡± ¡°Malvina? What are you doing at the Pocks¡®?¡± Ulrich pulled the trigger, and the silenced gun¡¯s bullet pierced the air, wounding Luther and the woman in the leg. As the estate scrambled to deal with the explosions elsewhere, no one paid any mind to the events unfolding here. 10:52 Yvonne saw Ulrich and began to wriggle desperately, hoping he¡¯d take her away from this ce. She didn¡¯t want to be the child of a bodyguard and a housekeeper anymore! If she could just plead with Ulrich, he¡¯d surely soften and take her back to the Schnabels. Ulrich stepped on Yvonne¡¯s reaching hand without a nce. ¡°Go find what you¡¯re here for; I¡¯ve got this covered.¡± ¡°Alright, Dr. Schnabel, be careful.¡± Malvina stormed into Luther¡¯s bedroom and began to rummage with a loud sound, While waiting for Malvina, Ulrich wasn¡¯t in any rush. He turned around, found a stool, sat down and held a delicate scalpel in his well¨Cdefined hand, I have zero patience, so pill the beans now, or I can¡¯t promise that you¡¯ll walk away from this alive.¡± The manor was all aze after the recent explosion, Ulrich¡¯s handsome face, half in the firelight and half hidden in the darkness, was a far cry from his usual elegant image. His gaze swept over Luther with an intensity that made his heart jolt with fear. ¡°After all, with the ruckus at the Larson estate tonight, a few extra bodies won¡¯t cause much of a stir. Ulrich said. Luther writhing in pain, looked at Ulrich with eyes wide with terror, ¡°You¡¯re from the Schnabels? How did you find me? I swear I don¡¯t know anything about it¨Cit was all Larson¡¯s doing¡­¡± ¡°You were saying Larson wants everyst Schnabel six feet under?¡± It seemed the Grubers and Larson had been scheming for quite some time, lying in wait for the Schnabels¡® downfall. Luther dared not speak the truth. If he¡¯d known a Schnabel was lurking outside, he wouldn¡¯t have dared reveal anything. ¡°You heard wrong! I never said that¨Cit¡¯s all lies¡­¡± As Luther spoke, he sidled back, and without Ulrich noticing, he hit the panic button! A piercing rm echoed through through the manor, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. Even Larson, busy managing the aftermath, heard the sound and tumed sharply toward its source, ¡°What¡¯s that racket? Something must have happened. Take some men and check it out. Luther wouldn¡¯t hit that thing without good reason. Arm yourselves, and don¡¯t let a fly escape!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± A squad of armed guards rushed toward theer of the row of townhouses. Malvina burst from the house, clutching a box, and grabbed Ulrich¡¯s arm, pulling him toward an escape. ¡°Dr. Schnabel, we¡¯ve gotta bolt! He hit the rm¨Cthat¡¯s bad news! The Grubers had one too, if we don¡¯t leave now, we¡¯ll be caught in the st!¡± Malvina knew all too well about the Gruber family¡¯s devices. The sound of that dreaded rm made her skin crawl Luther desperate to keep his secrets, was actually willing to take Ulrich down with him. CHapter 241 CHapter 241 Malvina clutched Ulrich¡¯s hand as they sprinted through the sprawling estate of Larson. Ulrich, with a backward nce to ensure they weren¡¯t being followed, never forgot to express his concern for her, ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡± ¡°Yeah, just some trinkets. Not worth getting you into this mess with me!¡± ¡°Zip it and run.¡± They zigzagged their way towards the curb, finally got rid of the tail of bodyguards, and hopped into a waiting taxi. Without questioning the convenient cement of the cab, Ulrich buckled up and instructed, ¡°To Serene Haven, please!¡± The driver, Alioth, sporting sunsses and a casual demeanor, flicked away a piece of chewing straw and started the meter with a nod, ¡°Hang tight and here we go.¡± As the taxi sped off, a parade of cars sparked a chase, their tires screeching against the pavement. Only when they entered the safety of the second ring road under the vignt eyes of the security cameras did Ulrich finally rx, though his brow soon furrowed with suspicion. ¡°Hey, are you a proper taxi driver?¡± he asked. The slick maneuvers they¡¯d just witnessed weren¡¯t something Ulrich was confident he could match. Alioth adjusted his cap and pulled down his mask slightly, pointing to his ID badge on the dashboard. ¡°I used to race cars professionally, old habits die hard. Sorry for the show! Ulrich scanned the QR code on the badge with his phone, only easing up when he saw that the driver¡¯s profile did indeed list a retired professional racer from a well¨Cknown team. ¡°No offense, you¡¯re a great driver, I¡¯ll be sure to leave a good review¡± ¡°Thanks, I appreciate that.¡± The Pock family was cautious, but so was the Pris Star. The real taxi driver was currently dozing in the trunk, and the credentials Alioth had on disy were fabricated by Pris Star. Once Ulrich had scanned them, any future attempts to revisit the page would lead to a dead end¨C secure and untraceable. With the driver confirmed as no threat, Ulrich called Jasper to discuss their findings at the Pock estate. Aliath, with an earpiece keeping him updated, ryed everything back Noe. Jasper suggested, ¡°Larson is bold, but this isn¡¯t something he can manage with hiswork and skills. Il dig into hispany and trouble him alongside this.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll talk to our brotherter¡± Ulrich said. Beckett was currently dining with Noe and he even didn¡¯t get the call. Upon arriving at Serene Haven, Ulrich used his face ID to graft the taxi entry, and they pulled up to the front of the Schnabel Manor After settling the fare, they disembarked. Alioth watched Ulrich and Malvina walk away, then spokes Noe, reassured, ended the call. Fihto hisms, ¡°Boss, the package is delivered safely.¡± Stepping inside, Sienna caught sight of Ulrich¡¯s dishevelled appearance and Malvina trailing behind him. She let out a piercing scream. Hands shaking, Sienna pointed at Ulrich¡¯s tattered clothes and Malvina¡¯s flushed face. ¡°Ulrich, what on earth have you been up to?¡± Ulrich watched her with his puzzled eyes, ¡°Huh? Nothing much.¡± Sienna was on the verge of panic, fearing the worst thing was happening. ¡°Go change! You look like a mess. People might think you¡¯ve been up to some weird performance art or something¡­ she muttered Only then did Ulrich notice his state and hurried upstairs to change. Sienna, now gripping Malvina¡¯s hand, looked both conflicted and anxious, ¡°Malvina, sweetheart, he¡­ he didn¡¯t mistreat you, did he?¡± Malvina, confused, shook her head, ¡°No, Dr. Schnabel was very kind.¡± ¡°Oh, good, that¡¯s good. So, when are you moving in with us at the Schnabel estate to keep me company?¡± ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s appropriate¡± But Sienna settled the matter merily, ¡°Nonsense. It¡¯s perfect. Noe will be off to college soon, and ra¡¯s hardly home. I could use a daughter¨Cinw, um, daughter around. It¡¯ll be convenient for you to stay here!¡± 10:26 [Chapter Original from N?velDrama.Org. But deep down, if her suspicions were correct and her son had indeed done something disgraceful, they owed it to the girl to make things right. Sienna couldn¡¯t help but feel excited¨Cwas she about to gain a daughter¨Cinw? Imperial University. Beckett¡¯s car pulled up to the university entrance, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want me toe with you?¡± As Noe stepped out she declined Beckett¡¯s offer, ¡°Master Rainer Invited me: it¡¯s probably nothing major. You go ahead with your work.¡± Tile pick you upter. Give me a call when you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± After checking again and again, Beckett drove off with his mind preupied with the incident at the Larson estate. F3 5 21 2 Palmer had already been summoned home by the head of the family, and Beckett had his hands full. Once he¡¯d dropped Noe off, he humed back to the office. As Noe walked to her designated meeting spot with Master Rainer she tapped themunicator at her ear. Mizar¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Boss, I¡¯m in the auditorium with Master Rainer. Larson¡¯s been in touch with Lorne.¡± ¡°Business dealings?¡± ¡°Seems so, but my gut tells me there¡¯s more to it. They seem to call each other too many times compared to the frequency of their cooperation. Neither Larson nor Lome strike me as the type to call a buddy for a midnight chat.¡± Mizar shrugged and continued. ¡°Besides, their ages didn¡¯t quite add up. They were neither like long¨Clost brothers, nor did they have the rapport of a father and son duo, nor the quirky chemistry of a couple of love¨Cstruck pups. It was clear that beyond the business facade, they probably had other, more personal matters to share.¡± Faced with Mizar¡¯s blunt and simplistic way of thinking. Noe was momentarily silent. ¡°You should experiment more with reality and cut down on the weird stuff. She concluded. As the school year approached, the campus was already bustling with students. The sound of wheels trailed behind Noe, and a slightly impatient male voice interrupted her thoughts. An electric wheelchair halted in front of her. ¡°Excuse me, do you know how to get to the auditorium?¡± The man in the wheelchair was d in a British¨Cstyle shirt, his cufflinks a perfect match to his outfit. His face was pale and sickly, yet there was an oddly fitting aura of broken elegance about him, and the corners of his mouth held a gentle, schrly smile. Just like that, he caught the attention of many passersby. Noe arched an eyebrow. A patient with an aortic dissection out of the hospital so soon definitely wasn¡¯t a sign of Calvin throwing in the towel on his career to embrace a wild streak 2 2 2 5 = 2 It was more likely Lome had taken it upon himself i Noe averted her gaze and stepped past Lorne. I wouldn¡¯t know¡± She imed. out. Lome maneuvered his wheelchair to keep pace beside Noe, ¡°Are y you headed to the auditorium n as well? I might as well join you.¡± Im not going to the auditorium, I¡¯m off to the library¡± ¡°Perfect, I need to swing by the library too. Let¡¯s go together.¡± Noe cast a cool nce at Lome, seated in ¡®his wheelchair. The campus light filtered through the leaves, casting a With a chill in her voice and a mocking twist to her lips, she looked at Lome¡¯s wheelchair warm glow o on him. sun, will you join me for ¡°What a coincidence. You¡¯re going exactly where I am? So, if I decide to head up to the rooftop to catch some su that, too?¡± CHapter 242 CHapter 242 Lome could sense Noelin¡¯s wariness in her lines. He adjusted his smile and shed her an apologetic expression, ¡°You¡¯ve got me all wrong. Noe I didn¡¯t mean any harm. You¡¯re ra¡¯s sister, right? I didn¡¯t get the chance to properly introduce myself at the hospital. I¡¯m not the bad guy here. Maybe it wasn¡¯t the smartest move to approach you now, I admit. Sorry if I startled you¡± Noe gave him a fleeting look, her expression cool and detached, ¡°What does it matter to me whether you¡¯re a bad guy? You¡¯re in my way Please move Lome rolled his wheelchair aside, watching as Noe disappeared down the tree¨Clined path without a backward nce, His smile faded as he said to himself, ¡°She¡¯s quite the tough cookie. But then again, she¡¯d have to be one to run the Obelisk Organization.¡± An limping big guy emerged from the shadows behind Lome with a smirk yed across his lips, ¡°You think a little chitchat is going to impress the Wise Fool? That devil is way tougher than you can imagine.¡± ¡°She¡¯s only siding with Palmer for the prestige of the Pock family. Us Richardsons are no slouches either,¡± Lorne said with a chuckle. Thorpe paused. He, as a towering and burly man, expressed his iprehension at Lome¡¯s self¨C confidence at the moment. ¡°Should I remind you that neither the Schnabel family nor the Obelisk Organization are short on cash? Maybe Wise Fool, that rich girl, is just taken with Vocalist¡¯s pretty face¡± Lome snorted. ¡°Pretty face? If she¡¯s that shallow, then this will be a cakewalk. I¡¯m as good¨Clooking as Palmer, if not better¡± Thorpe¡¯s smirk twitched into a grimace as he regarded Lomne. Such confidence these Harmonia Country folks had ¡°I¡¯ve got all the paperwork sorted. Proximity breeds fondness, and Ms. Schnabel will soon see Im a far better catch than her fianc¨¦.¡± Lome imed A marriage contract among the elite meant little. Once Noe got to know him, she¡¯d see his worth. Thorpe just shrugged helplessly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s your life. Just don¡¯t mess with my mission.¡± Noe had just stepped into the grand hall when Mizar popped out from the side, ¡°Boss, you ran into Lome out there? What¡¯s his angle?¡± Noe¡¯smunicator had still been on during her encounter with Lorne, and Mizar had overheard the exchange. ¡°What he wants doesn¡¯t matter. Where¡¯s Master Rainer?¡± Mizar gestured towards the stage, ¡°He¡¯s been invited to y a piece at the opening ceremony next week. We¡¯re here to help him out.¡± ¡°Who invited him?¡± Master Rainer had been off the stage for years. Thest public performance was at a state banquet. Whoever had persuaded Master Rainer to y must be someone of significance. ¡°Who else but the legendary former leader of the Pris Star, Gamick!? But when the master met him, he didn¡¯t let me in on it. All hush¨Chush. Afterwards, he just said he¡¯d honor them with a performance. Anyone who can get the teacher to y is certainly no ordinary person,¡± Mizar admitted with a trace of regret. All her prepared eavesdropping devices had been for naught, and she¡¯d even earned herself a warning. Noe nodded slightly. Thest photo of Garrick with Hanter had also been left by Master Hector, which showed that the old guards truly had a connection with Garrick. Master Rainer¡¯s return to the country was likely linked to Garrick as well. Noe¡¯s gazended on the man standing beside Master Rainer. The long¨Chaked man in a suit was grizzled, his clothes embroidered with dragons. Despite the evident wear of years, his features remained sharp, matching the man in the photo provided by Master Hector. Feeling Noe¡¯s gaze, Garrick looked up, locking eyes with her from his position on stage As thest music note faded, Master Rainer scowled. ¡°What are you staring for? it¡¯s not like you¡¯ve never seen him before!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe Garrick had been in the dark about Harriet all these years. When Noe had joined Pris Stat he was certain Garrick must have heard something. Garrick remained unfazed, his eyes filled with appreciation as he looked at Noe, as if admiring a rare work of art. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a shame I¡¯ve never met her before. If I had known about her sooner, I would have taken her under my wing. Pris Stor failed to hamess her talents. If I had been mentoring her, she would have surpassed her current self.¡± He imed. ¡°Balderdash! Your twisted experiments never worked!¡± ¡°You have no right to criticize my work. Haven¡¯t all the stars of Pris Star shone brightly in their fields, bing leaders and inspiring 172 awe? Your achievements are the result of my experiments!¡± The stars of Pris Star indeed twinkled brightly in various domains, pioneering worlds remained forever shadowed new b paths and setting benchmarks. Yet, their inner Gamick¡¯s founding vision for Pris Star was to hamess genius and ignite the future of humanity to its utmost potential! And he had seeded, as history bore witness. Master Rainer red at Garrick and said, ¡°One day you¡¯ll realize all your experiments were folly. I¡¯ve no time to waste on your drivel Don¡¯t forget what you promised.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ill look after the girl. After all, she¡¯s Harriet¡¯s granddaughter. Seeing her, I¡¯m reminded of Harriet¡¯s younger days. Since she chose toe to this school, it¡¯s fate that¡¯s brought us together.¡± Master Rainer stood up, packing away his zither, ¡°Fate is what¡¯s meant to be, but what you¡¯re plotting is nothing but schemes.¡± Gamck simply smiled and remained silent, As they left the grand hall, Master Rainer was quiet. After a while, he tumed to Noe, and his brow was furrowed with concern. ¡°Noe, maybe it¡¯s time to consider a different school. If it¡¯s too much, we don¡¯t have to stick with this university. Why not head back to the ind with the old¨Ctimers? We could bring the boys back too, at least they could keep you safe.¡± On the ind, Pris Star called the shots, The idea of leaving Noe in Imperial City right under Garrick¡¯s watchful eye made Master Rainer uneasy. That madman had looked at Noe with such intensity earlier, a look Master Rainer knew all too well! To him, Noe wasn¡¯t a person; she was a perfect specimen, a piece of data without a single w! Noe was surprised Was Gamick really that frightening to Master Rainer? ¡°My family is still in Impenal City, master. Besides, running away isn¡¯t my style.¡± ¡°Why not just bring the Schnabel family over to the ind? If all else fails, we could just kidnap them and dump them on the ind!¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Noe rubbed her forehead in exasperation, ¡°This is Imperial City, not some remote bordend.¡± Getting the Schnabels to uproot their lives and move to the ind with her was wildly impractical. Marcel and ra had unique statuses that normally prohibited international travel. The Schnabels had their careers, their foundations in Imperial City. How could they abandon it all just for her sake, to lead a life cut off from the world? From the exchange Master Rainer had with Garrick, it wasn¡¯t hard to deduce that some sort of deal had been struck. Master Rainer heaved a sigh. ¡°Alright, as long as you¡¯re aware of the risks that¡¯s hur Barrick¡¯s getting on in years anyway. He should realize that Pris Star isn¡¯t under his thumb anymore!¡± CHapter 243 CHapter 243 Master Rainer knew exactly what was on his mind. If Garrick ever stepped out of line, well, then it was no big deal to send him packing a bit earlier than nned A color of fierce appeared in his eyes, ¡°Noe, remember this¨CIl Garrick dares toy a finger on you, you use those tricks our old geezers taught you, and send him packing. Blow him to smithereens and no coffin needed! That old coot really thinks he still calls the shots around Pris Star? If it weren¡¯t for him, you wouldn¡¯t even be-¡± Realizing he was saying too much, Master Rainer chose to mute himself, closing his eyes to rest. Noe, seeing the hesitation in Master Rainer¡¯s expression, didn¡¯t press further It seemed that neither her mentor nor her grandmother was telling her everything! Upon entering the Schnabel Manor in Phoenix Tower at the Serene Haven, Beckett and Noe were sneakily pulled aside by Sienna into the quaint garden. With a secretive air, Sienna produced a thick stack of brochures that showcased various banquet options and wedding nner portfolios. ¡°Noe, where do you think would be the perfect spot for your brother Ulrich¡¯s engagement party?¡± ¡°Huh?! Since when is Ulrich engaged? He doesn¡¯t even have a girlfriend, does he?¡± Beckett looked just as shocked, ¡°Since when does he have a girlfriend?¡± Ulrich had been a lifetime bachelor, his most intimate contact with the opposite sex being in the operating room. Where on earth did he find someone? And they¡¯ve progressed to an engagement? Sienna gestured upstairs, lowering her voice to spill the events of the day Noe and Beckett fell silent After a moment, Beckett picked out the bits he could share and revealed the truth to Sienna. ¡°What? So you¡¯re saying Ulrich dressed up like that because of a st? Not because he was up to no good?¡± Noe nodded firmly. ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve got it wrong.¡± Sienna put down her materials, a mix of deep disappointment and relief in her voice. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief. I mean, it would have been so unbing of him. I¡¯m afraid it scared away poor Malvina. Oh dear, there goes my daughter¨Cinw!¡± Around theer, Malvina, who had been eavesdropping w with a cup in hand, blushed furiously. She nearly bit her tongue when she heard the conversation and tumed to leave, only to bump into Ulrich behind her. Her nose hit his solid chest, and she winced in pain, ¡°Ouch! That hurts! Dr. Schnabel, you- Sienna and Noe humed in from the garden while hearing themotion, only to see Ulrich and Malvina quickly disappearing Beckett, eyeing the direction of the hall, was also puzzad What¡¯s the brat up to? Why did he just rush off with Ms. Gruber like that? It was so rude!¡± Marcel, who had been sipping coffee, sighed. He set his cup down and walked away hands behind his back, ¡°When are these kids going to give me great¨Cgrandchildren with such bad brains?¡± Tristan wasn¡¯t a fool, yet why were his children so clueless? During Imperial University¡¯s opening ceremony The entire Schnabel family had risen early to attend Noe¡¯s universitymencement; It had been ages since theyst attended an opening ceremony, back when ra was still in elementary school. There was a was a plethora of giftsy before Noe, each one an opening present from her family members. Sienna wiped away tears, ¡°My darling, we missed so many of your school days, but we¡¯ll make it all up to you!¡± Last night, the Schnabel family had unearthed an old school video of Noe, which was filmed to promote a charity project for vige kids with each child only having half a minute of screen time. Stirling had stumbled upon the video while filming in the mountains and shipped it back, unable to retum in time. Watching little Noe beam on the screen, the family wept together. Seeing them ice their swollen eyes the next moming, Noe felt a bittersweet warmth. 10:26 Those blurred images, treasured like the lost time they represented, were precious to her family. They all loved her! ra had taken leave from theb just to attend Noe¡¯s ceremony. them for prepare you every year!¡± ¡°I used to get gifts when I started school too. From now on, well Surrounded by gifts of all sizes, Malvina watched Noe with a sparkle in her eyes as she rested her chin upon her hands. ¡°So people do get opening gifts.. she murmured. The harmony of the Schnabel family was something she¡¯d never experienced. Compared to the chaotic mess of the Gruber family, witnessing the Schnabel¡¯s affection was eye¨Copening. Here was a family that gave without expecting returns, where love was about feeling forever indebted, not making a loss. Malvina fell a twinge in her nose. She was like a stray cat peeking at the bliss of a house cat. The family escorted Noe to school in a grand entourage, The auditorium was packed with students and families for the opening ceremony, yet few had the Schnabel¡¯s level of attendance. ¡°How lucky to have so many people send her off.¡± ¡°Psh, all grown up and still the whole family shows up. What a baby!¡± The girl speaking was dressed in a chic designer dress that must have cost a pretty penny. She could tell that Noe was wearing thetest collection from Azure, a piece you couldn¡¯t just buy with money. When she tried to reserve it, she was told it had already been snapped up. To her surprise, it was Noe who had snagged it. Just one look and she knew Noe was a ssic nouveau riche. She even had her whole family drop her off at school. Someone nudged her arm, ¡°Oriana, watch what you say. That¡¯s Noelle Schnabel of the Schnabel family. We don¡¯t want to mess with her.¡± Oriana scoffed dismissively. ¡°So what if she¡¯s Ms. Noe Schnabel? Probably bought her way into her diploma. Bet she¡¯s never even taken the SATS.¡± Mizac, who was posing as a student, chuckled along. ¡°Exactly! She was headhunted by the university. Never had to take the SATs. The dean from Medi Core University visited the Schnabel estate a bunch of times, hoping that Ms. Noe would study medicine.¡± ¡°Oh my God, she got headhunted? I didn¡¯t realize Ms. Noe was not only gorgeous but also so academically gifted!¡± As Oriana listened to the gasps of admiration, her face tightened, and she couldn¡¯t hide her sour expression. ¡°People meant for medicineing into our design program? She might not have a knack for it. Does she think jewelry design is piece of cake? It takes more than a little drawing skill. In Oriana¡¯s eyes, Noe, who was born with everything, was nothing but upstarts! ¡°You should hold your tongue. Your crush is Ms. Noe¡¯s brother, and you¡¯re so into Stirling. His sister must be great too¡± That struck a nerve with Oriana, and she said, ¡°Stirling is different! Everything he¡¯s got, he earned through hard work and determination. She doesn¡¯t know anything!¡± Whenever Stirling came up. Onana¡¯s passion fared, get where he was ady whipped out her phone to show everyone how hard he had worked to ¡°Stirling works so hard, and how can he have a sister like that! If he knew his family was living it up while he¡¯s out there busting his chops on set, he¡¯d be heartbroken!¡± she eximed Mizar rolled her eyes and began to tease, ¡°Oh, you understand, do you? Just because her family brings her to school, that¡¯s living it up? Or are you just jealous no one¡¯s dropping you off? I see your screensaver is a photoshopped wedding picture with Stirling What, are you his dream girl? Does he know you¡¯re badmouthing his sister behind his back?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. CHapter 244 CHapter 244 Oriana¡¯s face was a patchwork of reds and whites, a veritable disy of indignation. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a family parade dropping me off because I¡¯m Independent. We¡¯re modern women with our own thoughts and personalities. I¡¯m not a parasite replying on my family!¡± Mizer couldn¡¯t help but snicker behind her hand. ¡°Now you¡¯re talking about personality? Maybe you should¡¯ve joined philosophy instead of design. With that attitude, you¡¯d make a great debater. Look, the Schnabels making a big show of sending their kid to school ¨C it¡¯s about being close¨Cknit and valuing their daughter. How does that make anyone a family parasite. Onana was convinced that the Schnabels¡® disy was in poor taste. Mizar¡¯s mockery made her face contort even further. She scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Buddy, you can defend the Schnabels all you want, but Ms. Schnabel isn¡¯t gonna thank you for it¡± In her eyes, Mizar and those who spoke in Noo¡¯s favor were simply brown¨Cnosers, attracted to the Schnabels¡® wealth and status, hoping to rub shoulders with their prestige. Stirling was different from the Schnabels! Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t he be here today? He must feel the same as her, that such behavior was utterly embarrassing! At the front of the auditonum, Garrick greeted Marcel with a grin as warm as a summer¡¯s day. ¡°Marcel, old chap, it¡¯s been ages! We¡¯re getting on in years, aren¡¯t we? Come,e, have a seat over here.¡± Marcel returned the smile with a calm one of his own. ¡°No need, it¡¯s just dropping off the kid at school. Any seat will do.¡± Gamick¡¯s eyes then fell upon Noe, who stood by Marcel¡¯s side. The youngdy was the picture of grace in her understated white dress. She clutched a trench coat, her hair elegantly styled, with soft curls framing her face, adding a youthful charm that was hard to ignore Her outfit was the perfect blend of youthful brightness and subtlety, but it was her striking face and her cool, ethereal aura that made it impossible to look away. omething Garrick saw something familiar in Noe¡¯s face, something that resonated with a memory lodged deep within his mind. ¡°Wee to Imperial University¡¯s design department, Noe. I look forward to seeing your work¡± Thank you, Principal.¡± Garrick smiled, then turned his attention to the stage as he was introduced by the host. The spotlight was on Garrick as he began his rousing speech, the auditorium filled with notable alumni heating up with his every word. Noe offered a candid assessment. ¡°He¡¯d be great at selling pyramid schemes.¡± Her tone left no doubt about her opinion of Garrick¡¯s character. Indeed, his oratory skills moved many in the audience to tears, stirring even ra to nod in agreement. Only Malvina, the academic cker, yawned repeatedly, her head bobbing until she dozed off, using Noe¡¯s shoulder as a pillow. Garrick nced down from the stage. ¡°We have the honor of having the virtuoso Master Rainer perform for our opening ceremony The crowd erupted in excitement. Master Rainer was pend Mizar worked her way through the crowd to Noe, whispel Boss, there¡¯s been a hup with Master Rainer, a traffic jam¡¯s holding things up, and he might not make it.¡± The assistant humed onto the stage, and Garrick, too, had heard the news. ¡°Master Rainer is stuck in traffic and may not make it. As we wait, please enjoy some of the other performances.¡± Everyone knew the traffic in Imperial City could be a nightmare, taking hours to clean up. The auditorium was filled with a variety of performances prepared by the students in advance. Backstage, the principal¡¯s assistant pped his hands. ¡°Ready everyone? You¡¯re up soon. Give it your best and make the school proud!¡± Oriana was beaming as she prepared for her turn. She had been practicing tirelessly for this moment, eager to showcase her talents in front of the aplished audience. What a boost for her future prospects! Pity that the whole Schnabel family showed up except for Stirling. If only he could see her shine on stage.. Oriana was set to perform a piano solo. Malvina, waking up during the performance, yawned. ¡°This piano ying is¡­ beginner level, a bit heavy¨Chanded.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°You know about piano?¡± 10:26 ¡°I can¡¯t y, but I can listen. Arthur Invested a lot in me, hoping to cash in someday. Too bad he got locked up first, hah Melving was spot¨Con. Oriann¡¯s no ying wasmendable among students but indeed showed signs of forcefulness. Maybe it was Noe¡¯s imagination, but during the performance. Ona seemed to nce her way now and then. Noa couldn¡¯t recall knowing this student before. After the piece, Oriana lingered on stage, her eyes challenging Noe. ¡°Principal, I heard Noe was a special admit. I wonder if she has any talents to share?¡± Garrick was taken aback but looked at Noe with a smile. ¡°Noe, would you like to perform as well?¡± Noe¡¯s expression was cool. ¡°No, thank you¡± Oriana¡¯s smile grew more smug. Just as she thought- Ms. Schnabel had no real talents and must have gotten into Imperial University through her family¡¯s influence. Such a person didn¡¯t deserve to be associated with Stirling! Noe felt the inexplicable hostility emanating from Oriana and quirked an eyebrow. Was this person for real? Mizar whispered to Noe, ¡°Boss, that gal was just talking smack about you. She seemed to be a fan of your brother, Stirling.¡± Surling¡¯s fan? How did that exin her hostility? Garrick sensed the strange tension in the air and smoothly changed the subject ¡°Since we¡¯ve got the chance here, why don¡¯t you take the stage, Noe? Anything is fine. This stage is all yours ¨C it¡¯s all about the youth these days!¡± As he spoke, many in the crowd started pping in agreement. Marcel frowned. ¡°Garrick, seriously? You¡¯re an old man. What¡¯s with the kick you get out of watching kids perform?¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Was Garrick actually going to push Noe onto the stage against her will? Garrick smiled, his tone gentle but firm. ¡°Come on, Marcel, Noe¡¯s gonna be a student at our university soon enough. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to get acquainted with everyone early! The youth are the dawn of a new era. If she¡¯s shy now, what¡¯s she gonna do on the world stageter? You can coddle them now, but you can¡¯t make all their decisions for themter, right?¡± Noe raised an eyebrow So, not getting up there wouldbel her as stage¨Cshy? It seemed Garrick was dead set on her doing a show. CHapter 245 CHapter 245 Garrick had intentionally ced Noe in a catch¨C22 situation. The g with the Schnabel family quests at the opening ceremony Included several partners affiliated With Garrick having made his statement, if the Schnabels didn¡¯t let Noe take the stage, it would be tantamount to admitting they had raised a child whocked savvy It Noe refused Garrick, it would only serve to embarrass him and, by extension, tamish the Schnabel family¡¯s reputation. Should she perform, at woret, only she would face embarrassment. Garrick must have calcted that Noe would act in her own best interest and choose the lesser of two ev Merck frowned in displeasure. ¡°Garrick must¡¯ve been lying in wait, just eager to see our Noe perform. Now it makes sense why he¡¯s been eyeing her all this time!¡± Marcel also fixed his gaze on Noe. ¡°Noe, if you don¡¯t want to go up there, I¡¯ve got your back! The Schnabel family had no tradition of parading the kids out for a show at every festive gathering. Only Garrick, a childless widower, seemed to relish putting other people¡¯s children on disy! Noe shook her head, rising withposed elegance. ¡°It¡¯s just a little performance.¡± She didn¡¯t want the Schnabels to be criticized over such a trivial matter. If Garrick was set on her taking the stage, he¡¯d surely have other schemes up his sleeve if she didn¡¯tply. et to unfold. Onana was a fool, Garrick¡¯s true intentions were yet As Noe shrugged off her coat and stepped onto the stage, a glint of smugness twinkled in Oriana¡¯s eyes. She must be forcing herself to perform, Oriana thought. Once she¡¯s up there and clueless, she¡¯ll be theughingstock! Compared to her own wless piano recital, this Ms. Noe, who rode her family¡¯s coattails to university, would surely pale inparison. Noe looked at Mizar, cool and collected, asked, ¡°Master isn¡¯t here, but what about his instrument?¡± ¡°Right here! Il fetch it at once!¡± A zither wasn¡¯t exactly portable, and frequent moving could damage it. Master Rainer¡¯s zither was backstage. Seeing her opt for the zither, Garrick raised an eyebrow, both surprised and wholly expecting it. He nced at his phone¡¯s map, noting the traffic¨Cfme route Rainer was on. That old rascal surely knew his prized apprentice would end up on stage and had left both the stage and the zither for her. Backstage, the students and teachers were astounded. ¡°Noe can y the zither?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Master Rainer¡¯s instrument. Can she even handle it?? Oriana bit her lip, sourly remarking, ¡°She¡¯ll never manage. If she darpages Master Rainer¡¯s zither, what then?¡± Noe on stage was a vision of serenity, her simple white dress shimmering in the spotlight. Her delicate fingers strummed the zither strings, and the melody of ¡°High Mountain and Flower filled the hall, her music captivating everyone present The elegant resonance of the zither filled the air, lingering long after she had finished. Sienna couldn¡¯t resist capturing her daughter¡¯s performance on her phone, and soon every Schnabel had a video of Noe¡¯s recital. They had almost forgotten that Noe could y the zither and y it exquisitely, without a hint of stage fright, bing the star of the show. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. As thest note faded, Noe rose, carefully put away the zither, and left the stage Her rendition made Oriana¡¯s no solo seem like child¡¯s y inpanson Being a musician herself, Oriana could tell Noe¡¯s mastery of the zither was nothing short of professional, leaving her own bitterness unspoken. Oriana¡¯s nails dug into her palms, her voice tinged with envy. ¡°That¡¯s Master Rainer¡¯s zither she¡¯s using without so much as a by¨Cyour¨Cleave¡­¡± On the big screen over the stage, Master Rainer appeared from his car, all smiles ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, apologies for my absence, but my zither is there with you. My talented apprentice Noe will y for you, and I promise her music will delight you all!¡± The video angle betrayed no hint of traffic; the roads through the car window were clear and smooth. With Master Rainers endorsement, the crowd was stunned! Who would have thought Ms. Schnabel was also Master Rainer¡¯s apprentice? Her ¡°High Mountain and Flowing River¡± was proof enough 10:26 of her talent! The Schnabel family had indeed found a gem. It was a shame she was already engaged to the Pock family, otherwise, many would have jumped at the chance to ally with the Schnabels. In fact, several people began exchanging cards with Tristan, inquiring if the Schnabels had any other daughters avable! Tristan¡¯s face was lit up with a pride that couldn¡¯t be priced. His darling daughter was truly magnificent! Lome, sitting beside ra, watched the young woman descend from the stage. Just one zither performance, and she shone so brightly that he found it hard to look away He had initially sought her out for the Pris Star, but now Lome felt his heart racing beyond his control. With a hint of yfulness, Lome mused, ¡°Ms. Schnabel is truly extraordinary. If only she¡¯d met me sooner, Mr. Pock wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance¡± ra locked at Lome with a puzzled expression, turning to face him. ¡°Excuse me for asking, but does the Richardson family have a history of mental illness? Or to put it bluntly, Lorne Richardson, is your urine matte? Because if it were shiny, wouldn¡¯t you have seen your own reflection when you hit the john?¡± It¡¯s not like the Richardsons were so broke they couldn¡¯t afford a mirror, How could he be so blindly unobjective about himself? Lome turned to ra. ¡°ra, what do you mean by that? I¡¯m just a bit smitten with Ms. Schnabel and wanted to get to know her, that¡¯s ¡°Grandpa Lucian¡¯s noggin is working fine, too. You didn¡¯t take a nasty knock to the head as a kid, did you?¡± Or had he not fully recovered from his recent brain surgery? But that wouldn¡¯t have damaged his brain, would it? ra shook her head, her gaze on Lome uncertain. ¡°Lome, even if we take a giant step back, you¡¯ve got to admit, you¡¯re no match for Mr. Pock¡± Lome¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief and embarrassment! It must be that ra¡¯s got a closer tie to the Pock family. She¡¯s siding with Palmer over him, that must be why she¡¯d say something like that. Watching Lome wheel away, Elora¡¯s brow twitched. Was it her imagination, or was there something off about Lorne? Or was he just a typical clueless guy? At Larson¡¯s estate, Briony came to with a shiver, groggy and cold! She sneezed messily only to malize she was lying on the floor of a room, om, with Yvonne staring daggers at her from the bed. ¡°Ah! What the hell are you doing!¡± Briony yelped, jumping in fright! Yvonne¡¯s gaze shifted away, her hand holding a gleaming pocket knife. ¡°Why should a tramp like you share a room with me?¡± There were too many unknown kids at the Larson¡¯s at the estate was bombed, and many ces were unlivable. So, Luther had unceremoniously shoved Yvonne and Briony together Briony was terrified, stumbling backwards. ¡°No¡­ my dad is a Larson, not some bodyguard. If you lay a finger on me, my dad won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± Yvonne couldn¡¯t care less about Briony¡¯s thering. She picked up her phone, which buzzed with a message from Queenie. [Yvonne, I was wrong about the past! I¡¯ve got a ton of followers. You make a bunte ount, spread the word that the Schnabels are mistreating their nannies and foster kid. If we can¡¯t have peace, neither will they A wicked gleam lit up Yvonne¡¯s eyes. Queenie had millions of followers. Even if the Schnabels got her ount banned, a new one would do just the trick! CHapter 246 CHapter 246 Yvonne felt her world spinning out of control. She had once been a cherished member of the Schnabel family, but ever since that country bumpkin showed up, Tristan had kicked her to the curb without a second thought! How could this be happening to her? Queenie¡¯s social media ount had vanished, surely stirring the pot among her many followers Yvonne wasted no time in setting up a new, inconspicuous profile. Briony, seated on the floor, clicked on a video and muttered, ¡°A celestial beauty descends to Imperial University, and among the freshmen is an apprentice of the zither maestro, Master Rainer?¡± The person ying in the video looked all too familiar¨Cit was Noellel Why on earth was she at Imperial University? She was nothing but a farmer¡¯s daughter, a cuckoo in the nest for years, stealing the life she should have had. And now she had the gall to attend Imperial University? Brony seethed with jealousy, wishing she could slither away into the shadows. On impulse, she left ament on the video: [This is all a lie. She has a messy private life. I grew up with her. She can¡¯t y any instrument] After posting. Briony¡¯s heart raced with quilt. She quickly opened her chat with Belinda, only to find that Belinda had blocked her! Yvonne was frantically manipting her new ount, iming to be Queenie¡¯s distant rtive and alleging that Queenie¡¯s ount had been frozen by the Schnabel family. She threw in a fair share of veiled insults at the Schnabels, not daring to be too direct. Once the messages were sent, Yvonne tossed her phone aside. She refused to sit back and ept defeat! Queenie imed to be her mother, but she didn¡¯t buy it for a second! Clutching the curtains so tightly the fabric warped in her grip, Yvonne¡¯s face contorted with anger, making Briony too scared to even look at her. ¡°I won¡¯t be ughtered like amb. I¡¯ll confront the old hag and get some answers!¡± She barked at Briony, still on the floor. ¡°Get me some water, and stop staring or Ill gouge out your eyes!¡± After gulping down the water Briony poured, Yvonnemanded, ¡°Spill everything about Noe¡¯s time with the Lambert family!¡± If she could just dig up some dirt on Noe, a few well¨Ccedments from Queenie¡¯s ount, and sooner orter the Schnabels would see that country bumpkin for who she really was ¡°Ms y Yvonne, Noe¡¯s at Imperial University now, and the inte is buzzing, calling her a goddess.¡± Briony wanted to know the real status of Noe¡¯s biological family. They seemed far from ordinary, didn¡¯t they? But hadn¡¯t Vincent said Noe¡¯s family were just simple farmers? Upon hearing this, Yvonne was reminded of her own expulsion from MediCore University, while Noe¡¯s life seemed to get better by the day. In a fit of rage, she pped Briony across the face. ¡°Ah! Just drop Briony, not one to back down, engaged in a vicious dead!¡± th Yvonne, their nails drawing blood as they wed at each other¡¯s hair Yvonne was no longer part of the Schnabel family, so by what night did she strike her? The scene quickly spiraled out of control. In the next room, the Luther couple heard themotion but didn¡¯t bother to intervene. The wife rolled her eyes and cursed their bad luck. ¡°My sister Queenie thinks she can pull the same trick twice, sending that girl to Larson¡¯s feet to be a daughter of the Pock family. As if that girl could ever be so lucky!¡± Yvonne had never made a ce for herself within the Schnabel or Gruber families. Either kicked out or witnessing bankruptcy, she had nowhere to turn. Queenie wanted Yvonne to be Larson¡¯s daughter, but that would require Yvonne to actually have the chops! At the Schnabel Manor, the bathroom was steamy as Noe emerged in her pajamas, her hair wet and clinging to her as she absentmindedly dabbed it with a towel. A shadow flickered across the balcony as a silhouette loomed at the window. Just as a pair of elegant hands pried it open, an rmed cry rang out! ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Malvina sat munching on potato chips, clutching Noe¡¯s plush toy, and locked eyes with Palmer, who had just mbered through the 10:26 window Feeling Palmer¡¯s icy gaze, Malvine suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. ¡°Heh, Mr. Pock, did you two have ns? I just pretend I¡¯m not here!¡± Palmer¡¯s gaze swept past Malvina, settling on Noelle as she continued to dry her hair. The droplets trickling down her hair soaked through the thin fabric of her nightgown, clinging to her delicate back. Further down were her long, pale legs, so exquisite in their form, they were almost mesmerizing. Noe caught Palmer¡¯s burning gaze, as if he could devour her whole. ¡°Why are you here?¡± In the darkness, the man¡¯s attractive Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, swallowing his Immediate desires, all his urges subsumed by a calm, self¨Cpossessed demeanor. ¡°Your seem to have forgotten. Im here so you can change my dressing¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°You could have called any doctor for that, no need for a special visit.¡± His wound was merely superficial; any capable medic could¡¯ve handled it. Noe couldn¡¯t help but scoff inwardly. If he¡¯d put half the effort he used to climb through her window into his recovery, he¡¯d be healed by now! ¡°I don¡¯t trust anyone else.¡± ¡°Alright, you sit tight; I¡¯m gonna grab the first¨Caid kit.¡± Malvina nced at Noe, then at Palmer, who obediently settled on the couch. She rolled out of bed with a groan. ¡°Just remembered! gotta run an errand for Dr. Schnabel, Ill head out now! If it¡¯s needed, I can crash in the hallway tonight, no worries!¡± Staying here any longer, and she felt like her forehead would start beaming at least 800 watts worth. To avoid bing Palmer¡¯s next target, Malvina cheerfully opted for a swift exit! Noe returned with the first¨Caid kit to find that Malvina had already dashed off, ammed with an arsenal of snacks, to knock on Ulrich¡¯s door Unwrapping the bandage from Palmer¡¯s wrist revealed a wound threatening to split open, the cloth soaked through with blood. ¡°Do you not want your hand anymore?¡± ¡°Little mishap,¡± he replied. Noe frowned slightly but didn¡¯t press further. Palmer had killed Eamon and dropped a bomb at Larson¡¯s estate, tarnishing his reputation and making him the talk of the town. The fallout from such antics was bound to be a headache. From what Pris Star had heard, the Pock family was already up in arms! Noe arched an eyebrow. ¡°Your family stuff, pretty messy. Palmer was caught off guard, the thin lips curving t wound She was¡­ showing concern for him! htful smile, his longshes dipping as he watched the girl tending to his Noe¡¯s hair was still dripping, her body wafting the scent of her shower gel, fresh and subtle. Her skin was porcin, almost translucent with a faint mist of moisture. Her pajamas clung to her damply, tracing the contours of her delicate figure. For a moment, Palmer was thoroughly distracted, unaware of the intensity that had prept into his gaze. CHapter 247 CHapter 247 Noe didn¡¯t look up, but the intensity of her grip on the bandage increased slightly. staring, and I don¡¯t mind you suffering a few more days.¡± Paimer turned and picked up a thin cardigan with his uninjured hand, draping it over Noe¡¯s shoulders, its just that my fianc¨¦e is too enchanting. He had been impolite, but every time he saw her, Palmer realized that his self¨Ccontrol, which he had always taken pride in, amounted to nothing! Noelta shipped into the cardigan and finished rebandaging Palmer¡¯s wound, securing it with a knot. ¡°There, that should do it¡± e expertly disposed of the bloodied bandages and sprayed the room with a scent that neutralized the metallic smell of blood. Only then did Palmer respond to Noe¡¯s earlier question. I Es not a tough situation. If they want the CEO seat at the Pock Group, I¡¯ll just let them have it. After all, the CEO is just a puppet for the board. I don¡¯t mind taking some time off.¡± As thergest shareholder of the Pock Group, it was Palmer¡¯s stock that truly allowed him to call the shots within thepany. But anyone who wanted what he had would have to weigh their own clout in taking it from him! It was perfect timing, he could use this opportunity to spend time with his fianc¨¦e! ¡°Are you going back to university tomorrow? Will you be staying at home?¡± Teah, Beckett took care of the paperwork. I won¡¯t be boarding.¡± The Schnabel family was too fond of Noe, and with the university so close to the Schnabel Manor Sienna wasn¡¯t keen on having her precious daughter crammed into a tiny dorm with several ssmates. So Beckett arranged for Noe tomute daily from the Schnabel Manor for Noe either. with plenty to handle at Pris Star and Obelisk Organization, living on campus wasn¡¯t ideal fo Aner Senna and Tristan dropped Noe off at university, they boarded a flight to Bader, embarking on some alone time. Palmer was also pleased with this arrangement. If she stayed at the dorm every day, it would be harder for him to see her. He couldn¡¯t pactly loiter around the school gates, could he? Yer the thought of doing just that brought a smile to his face. Shall I drive you to and from university?¡± No nced at him. ¡°It¡¯s just a few minutes¡® walk, no need¡± Of course, there¡¯s a need. My fianc¨¦e doesn¡¯t have a driver¡¯s license, and it¡¯s a bit of a hassle for you to get home alone. You don¡¯t mind that i¡¯m currently unemployed, a drifter with no job, do you?¡± His recentck of employment was part of his own scheme to cast aside thepany¡¯s affairs, wasn¡¯t it? Everyone knew that the Pock Group was still under his thumb, even Sexton was working for Palmer! Once the Pock family actually took over thepany they would find a plethora of pitfalls left by Palmer. Whether they grit their teeth and use their personal fortunes to fill those gaps er willingly retum the power, they¡¯d have enough trouble to lose ayer of skin, with wolves in front and tigers behind, and crocodiles lurking beneath. Ne was just beginning to realize how cunning this man was! Has anyone from Abyssal Organization ever told you that you¡¯re cold¨Chearted?¡± Palmer chuckled, propping his uninjured hand under his chin, gazing intently at the woman before him. However Obelisk Organization speaks of you is how Abyssal Organization speaks of me. In that regard, we¡¯re quitepatible.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. In fact, he thought they matched well in many ways! ¡°Theard you yed zither today. It¡¯s a shame I wasn¡¯t there to witness it. I hope I don¡¯t miss such asions in the future.¡± im ident She hadnt nned to perform Noe didn¡¯t care for Oriana¡¯s underhanded tactics and insincere demeanor. However, considering Garrick¡¯s setup, it seemed he was determined to put her on disy Ma didn¡¯t understand what he wanted from this! man of strategy and calction, wasn¡¯t the type to grow older and develop an interest in watching children perform. 10 26 ¡°Well still be around Garrick, won¡¯t we? No matter what he ns, we¡¯ll find out eventually¡± Palmer fetched a hairdryer from the bathroom and beckoned to Noe. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Palmer pulled Noe by the hand to sit beside him, and with his uninjured hand, he gently massaged her scalp. The warm air from the dryer flowed through her hair. Was he seriously drying her hair? In their shadow, cast against the window, the man held apact hairdryer, carefully helping her dry her hair. Those hands, aside from sealing lucrative deals, were used to pull the trigger and blow away an adversary¡¯s head, or stir the winds in unseen, treacherous depths. Yet at this moment, they were engaged in a most ordinary, yet extraordinary task! Palmer was meticulous and gentle, afraid of pulling her hair. Her locks were silky and smooth, like satin, requiring patience to dry ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. I can manage on my own.¡± ¡°Consider it a reward for your sessful performance today.¡± A reward? The Schnabel family had indeed showered her with rewards; Tristan even impulsively bought Noe many zithers before boarding the ne, dering he would personally craft one for her. But it was because the Schnabel family treated her as the youngest child in the family! ¡°Im not a child. I don¡¯t need rewards like this.¡± Palmer stopped the dryer and leaned in close to Noe, their breaths mingling in ufortably close proximity. His eyes bore a tenderness softer than moonlight, ¡°You¡¯re right, my fianc¨¦e. You¡¯re no longer a child. So, miss, may I pursue you? As an adult.¡± Noe¡¯s heartbeat became erratic as she faced Palmer¡¯s wless features and his passionate, fiery gaze, leaving her speechless. Palmer gently massaged Noe¡¯s cheek. ¡°Though we are engaged, I want to win your heart in my own way.¡± No matter the hurdles, he was more than willing to go the extra mile for the girl he cherished! ¡°Can I get a chance, and can you give yourself a chance, to truly understand your own heart?¡± If she held a ce for him in her heart, he hoped she could see the depth of his feelings! If not, then he would make sure that her heart and eyes were filled only with him! Noe gazed into his eyes, deep and shiny, as if the passion and favor of the entire universe were pooled within them. It was as though not even the gods would dare to deny him! Noe¡¯s eyshes trembled slightly. ¡°Alright.¡± The next moming. Beckett¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he saw Palmer emerging from Noe¡¯s room. Had the guy spent the entire night in Noe¡¯s room. He had seen Palmer sneak off to Noe¡¯s room in the middle ¡°the night, and after restraining himself from intervening when no calls for help came, he didn¡¯t disturb them. But now, seeing Noell and Palmere out together, Beckett couldn¡¯t stay put. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Mr. Pock, don¡¯t tell me you spent the entire night in Noe¡¯s room?¡± Palmer smiled with gentle elegance. ¡°Last night, I was helping Noe dry her hair. She mentioned back, and I ended up staying the night.¡± Noe cast a fleeting nce at him. ¡°It was you who wouldn¡¯t take no for an it waste, so she didn¡¯t let me go Insisting his wrist was too injured to climb back over the balcony, he made do with her couch for the night rather than leaving. Seeing that Noe didn¡¯t object, Beckett had to admit he was taken aback! Tristan and Sienna just went on a trip, and the Schnabel family¡¯s home was burrized! CHapter 248 CHapter 248 Beckett couldn¡¯t shake off the uneasy feeling chuming inside him! Although Palmer was Noe¡¯s fiance, the fact that he had just emerged from his sister¡¯s bedroom seemed to rush things up a bit too much! Noe could tell at a nce that Beckett had gotten the wrong idea. ¡°Beckett, he got hurt. He crashed on the couchst night.¡± Knowing Palmer had only slept on the couch, Beckett¡¯s expression softened significantly. Marcel and Sexton, on the other hand, were chuckling away. Sexton, in particr, was thrilled to see Palmer, that boy, finally get a clue and walk out of Noe¡¯s room. His old face was blooming with joy! At this rate, he could start pondering names for his great¨C grandchildren! But upon hearing that Palmer had just slept on the couch, Sexton¡¯s eyes betrayed a hint of heartache. With such a beautiful fianc¨¦e by his side, and he slept on the couch? The Schnabel family¡¯s nannies had been reced, and the breakfast table showcased a new array of dishes. Marcel just wanted to enjoy his twilight years in peace, staying out of affairs, Beckett¡¯s tone camed the weight of a solicited opinion. ¡°Noe, as for home matters, just do what you can. I have the butler handle the rest. Don¡¯t worry about a thing, focus on your studies!¡± ¡°Okay¡± Ulrich nced at his phone, his eyelids twitched with irritation, which he quickly subdued, regaining hisposure. Only after Marcel and Sexton had left for their chess game did Ulrich pass the phone to Beckett. ¡°Beckett, someone¡¯s been spreading info about Noe online, trying to stir up trouble. I¡¯ve handled it, and we¡¯re tracking down the source. Beckett mised an eyebrow Were people itching for trouble, daring to smear his sister online? A video of Noe ying the zither had somehow be popr online. Several ounts had posted disparagingments about Noe, making Beckett bristle with anger! Watching Noe calmly eating across the table, Beckett felt a surge of protectiveness. His sister had endured so much, and yet people were still spinning tales about her! ¡°Noe, don¡¯t be scared. How about we skip school today? We¡¯ll go after I¡¯ve sorted this mess out, okay?¡± Noe just smiled softly and shook her head with a resolute gaze. ¡°Beckett, have you forgotten what I said? I¡¯m a Schnabel too. I¡¯m happy to be behind my brothers, but I want to stand with you, shoulder to shoulder.¡± Beckett was nearly moved to tears! Those words¡­ She truly was a daughter of the Schnabels! Ulrich grew sentimental too. ¡°Reminds me of when Stirling was starting out. He said something simr.¡± The Schnabel kids always stood together! Palmer, who was by Noes side, had a flicker in his eyes and a gentle curve to his light His fianc¨¦e was so tough and brave, no matter what. It was endearing, yet it tugged at his heartstrings. Since Noe had spoken, Beckett didn¡¯t press any further. He handed her the phone to look at the messages herself. After scanning them, Noe¡¯s expression remained unchanged, if anything, she chuckled. ¡°They just can¡¯t believe a girl can y sa well. A girl getting into Imperial University on a schrship has shattered their ss ceilings!¡± Those attacking remarks insinuated that her academic sess was merely due to being a Schnabel. They suggested that Master Rainer¡¯s zither was not meant for a young girl¡¯s touch. Even worse, there were rumors about her so¨Ccalled indecent life back in Glen Vige. Noeughed it off with disdain. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. As if they knew her from Glen Vige, as if they had grown up together! 10:27 ¡°Beckett, those don¡¯t matter. Today¡¯s my first day of college, and I can¡¯t miss IL¡± Beckett nodded. ¡°Should we try to clear things up?¡± Noe shook her head, her eyes fierce with . ¡°Self¨Cdefence is the most foolish act, I won¡¯t get sucked into that vortex Let ourwyer deal with the nderers. We won¡¯t be paying them attorney fees, right?¡± Why should she prove her worth against baseless nder and spection? To Noe, it was as absurd as proving she was herself! Beckett couldn¡¯t help butugh, yet he felt relieved. ¡°Nonsense, if Jasper dares charge you legal fees, I¡¯ll break his legs myself¡± Noe calmly instructed, ¡°Then please have him trace the source. Sue every rumormonger, make it public, then clolm damages.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Seeing Noepletely unfazed by the situation, logically arranging the follow¨Cup, Beckett felt both proud and heartbroken. His sister¡¯s cool, calm demeanor was a result of the hardships she faced growing up with their grandmother in Glen Vige! Malvina, nibbling on her fork, swiftly scrolled through her phone. ¡°Noe, sweetie, I just saw aizen iming to be Queenie¡¯s burner ount, saying that you bullied Queenie and got her ount deleted. This¡­¡± With these nders they had just seen, wasn¡¯t this all a bit too coincidental? How could all of this target Noe at once? Noe effortlessly switched to her internalwork ount and, with a few simplemand lines, located theizen Malvina mentioned Beckett and Ulrich didn¡¯t catch the quick keystrokes N Noe made, but Palmer, sitting close by, saw everything clearly Having dabbled in deep web programming himself, he knew theplexity of setting up a local network. Observing the speed of Noe¡¯s typing and the time it took to locate the information, he realized the localwork she had set up must be extensive! Palmer felt a stir of curiosity, suddenly keen to uncover any connection between Noe and the infamous Q of the deep web! Maybe Q was also one of the Pris Star folks? Noe stared at the message on her phone and blinked. ¡°It¡¯s from Yvonne, on Queenie¡¯s behalf.¡± The speed at which the ount information was investigated and rified had even Beckett and Ulrich gobsmacked! ¡°Noe, do you you know some kind of elite hacker?¡± This timing and speed not even the cops could lock down someone¡¯s details this quick, let alone knowing them inside out! Noe looked as innocent as amb, spreading her hands and shrugging her shoulders, casually nudging Palmer who was standing by her side. ¡°It¡¯s a favor from Palmer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my crew. Got a couple of decent hackers at the Pock Group.¡± The ones who just sifted through that data and pinned dan tepuppet master so quickly, were indeed his people! He was somewhat amused by his girl¡¯s eamest attempt to pass the buck. At least it proved that she trusted him. Noe wanted to explode but held back, considering there were several others around the dinner table. She had to swallow her frustration. Hearing that the help was from Palmer¡¯s crew, Beckett breathed a sigh of relief, reassured that the Pock Group wouldn¡¯t set Noe up and with Palmer on watch, no significant trouble would arise. Palmer grunted softly, nonchntly taking credit for this unexpected de. At the same time, his hand swiftly caught Noe¡¯s nudging leg, gripping her ankle firmly to stop her from fidgeting. CHapter 249 CHapter 249 winter lowered his voice to a near whisper, audible only to Noe and himself. Pay nice, and I help you with whatever you need ¡± Noe withdrew her foot, taking several sips of ice¨Ccold water to calm herself. Why did she get the feeling Palmer¡¯s words held a double meaning? Beckett pressed his fingers against his temples. ¡°Yvonne is going too far. Why is she never satisfied? Not only did she poison Ashlyn, but she always targets Noe!¡± why she keeps pushing her luck. We might as well maroon Malvina shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I think Noe¡¯s been too soft on her. That¡¯s w her on a deserted ind and let her fend for herself.¡± Malvina had seen Noe throw a punch or two in her time. If those fists evernded on Yvonne¡¯s sour face, a couple of hits and Yvonne would be knocking on heaven¡¯s door. Unch cast a nce at Malvina. ¡°That would be illegal.¡± ¡°What? And your punch at the hospital wasn¡¯t? Got it. It¡¯s all part of your special treatment for psych patients!¡± Unch met Beckett¡¯s puzzled gaze and coughed into his fist, pushing Malvina¡¯s head back down to her meal. Hin hadshed out at Yvonnest time because she had insulted Malvina and spread nasty rumors about the Schnabel family. If he had known she wouldn¡¯t leam her lesson, he would have hit her harder! Malvina checked the message on her phone. ¡°Noe darling. Yvonne is threatening to livestream and expose your so¨Ccalled crimes. Talk about shameless!¡± Malvina marveled at Yvonne¡¯s audacity, which seemed as imprable as city walls! o live). With swift thumbs, Noe issuedmands through her phone. [Track the ount; let her go Heh, this is going to be good!] Alioth rubbed his hands together gleefully, ready for the show to begin Beckett soothes Noe. ¡°Noe, I will take care of this, including the Yvonne situation. You don¡¯t need to worry Thanks, Beckett¡± As impenal University, a sleek Cullinan pulled up, and Palmer handed a bag to Noe, his gaze soft ¡°Tile pick you up when you¡¯re done¡± No need to bother, I can take a cab home.¡± Seeing Palmer¡¯s insistence and remembering her promise from the night before, Noe nodded in agreement. ¡°Then I¡¯m off¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have many sses today. Are you going to e theres a restaurant nearby owned by the Pock Group.¡± lolle stood at the entrance, puzzled by Palmer¡¯s excessive care. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Was he this considerate with everyone? Tm fine with the canteen.¡± ith your ssmate? If the canteen doesn¡¯t serve anything you like, Paimer didn¡¯t press further. ¡°I¡¯ve put some snacks and a thermos in your bag M ¡°Palmer, why are you fussier than my dad?¡± you drink plenty of warm water.¡± In fact, on the way here, Palmer had even fixed Noe¡¯s hair and cor ¨C something even Tristan hadn¡¯t fussed over so much! A rare flush of embarrassment crossed Palmer¡¯s face. ¡°Ungrateful kid, I¡¯m just worried about you¡± an adult, not a three¨Cyear¨Cold. Or maybe, like the Schnabel family, Palmer subconsciously treated her like a child? This realization always struck Noelia as a bit odd As Noe nodded and walked away, Annie, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Feeling the chill and pressure from the back seat, she quickly suffed her urge tough aloud. 10 27 Thats her idol, Ma Noe, for you! She dared to say such things right in front of Bona! Palmer¡¯s re was icy as he wamed, ¡°Annie, if you no longer want this job, just say sol Annie promptly mmed up Imperial University was vast, and following the map shedmitted to memory, Noe easily found the lecture hall. As she entered, the noisy ssroom hushed. Her performance of High Mountain and Flowing River had already made her a campus sensation! Seeing her in person, more stunning than in the videos, her ethereal demeanor captivated many hearts. Some people were born to be the cente, of attention! The girl, dressed in a simple hoodie and jeans with a sleek ponytail, exposed a slender neck through the neckline, looking sharp and spirited. This contrasted starkly with her fairy¨Clike image from yesterday, yet still a sight that captivated many ¡°Noe¡¯s so gorgeous. I wonder if she has a boyfriend.¡± ¡°I heard she¡¯s already engaged. Don¡¯t get your hopes up¡± ¡°Noe could be our campus queen with those looks.¡± Listening to the unabashed conversations around her, Oriana rolled her eyes, envious of how beautiful Noe looked even in such simple clothes. But upon closer inspection, Noe¡¯s clothes didn¡¯t seem branded. Could it be that Ms. Schnabel wasn¡¯t as favored as they thought? The thought made Onana secretly gloat. After all, a country girl plucked from obscunty probably knew nothing, and it would be normal for a prominent family like the Schnabels to look down on her. Oriana intentionally raised her voice. ¡°I wonder if those news stories from yesterday have affected Nocta.¡± At the mention of the news, the ssmates expressions soured. Seeing people pay attention to her, Oriana¡¯s voice grew even louder. ¡°I never expected Noe to be this kind of person. You think you know someone but¡­ Noe, slouched in the back row with her legs stretched out, overheard the whisper and let out a derisive snort. ¡°What kind of person would that be?¡± she asked, her voice low but carrying enough to make heads turn. Her tone was a mix of resolve, cool detachment, and biting sarcasm that sent shivers down spines. She sounded like a mountain stream¨Cclear and distant- yet her wordsnded like thunderps. She twirled a fountain pen between her fingers absentmindedly. It was a morning gift from Marcel, who imed it held sentimental value from his own school days. ¡°What kind of person am I, exactly? Enlighten me. What does ¡®you think you know someone, but even mean? Do you know me, or just my reputation?¡± she be hiding at home, too ashamed to show her face Oriana hadn¡¯t expected Noe to retort, especially not here, not now. Shouldn¡¯t she be here? A flush crept up Oriana¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything bytte just all the gossip online, it¡¯s not exactly painting you in the best light Noe¡¯s lips curled into a ful smile, a light and airy expression that chilled to the bone. Her eyes, icy andmanding, transformed her into a queen of ice and snow causing the room temperature to drop. ¡°Oh, really? Then it seems you might becking some grey matter. No capacity for judgment, just a mouthpiece for rumors. Seems like this ssmate¡¯s brain and gut are pretty much the same full of the same stuff. 10:27 CHapter 250 CHapter 250 ¡°Speaking ill of others without knowing the truth, this ssmate¡¯s intellect and character leave much to be desired¡® Noe¡¯s voice, sweet and melodious, echoed through the ssroom Noe could spot a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing from a mile away, and someone like Oriana wasn¡¯t worth a second thought to her. Noe was only here to fulfil her grandmother¡¯s wish for her to get a proper college education, but she had her own ns too. Oriana came from an academic family, each member more bookish than thest. Her face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment when Noe¡¯s words hit their mark. ¡°But the person online said she was your sister. It can¡¯t all be made up, can it?¡± Noe nced at Oriana with a look of sheer disdain. Did they really believe whatever the inte spewed? Yvonne or Briony, both slightly older than Noe, referred to her as their ¡°older sister¡± merely to appear delicate and in need of care. In reality, she had no sisters at all ¡°I could im to be your long¨Clost father would you buy that?¡± Oriana was speechless. Laughter broke out among the students, and Oriana¡¯s cheeks stung with em ment. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rify things? If it¡¯s a misunderstanding, you should set the re ¡°Oriana, the stuff you¡¯ve got in your head and guts, how exactly would you rify that? In other words, if I say I¡¯m your real dad, how would you clear that up?¡± Oriana was stunned! How could you rify such nonsense? It didn¡¯t need rification! Everyone knew what the head and guts were full of, and who would seriously think Noe could be Oriana¡¯s father? To rify such a thing would be an exercise in futility. The room erupted inughter again. ¡°Noe should join the debate team. With her, our college would take home the gold this year!¡± Oriana¡¯s face turned a spectrum of reds and purples, and with the teacher¡¯s entrance, she had no choice but to simmer down and take her seat. The first ss was Intro to Jewelry Design, taught by ady dressed in a tailored dress and a crisp white zer, who brought a treasure trove of jewelry for the students to examine. ¡°I¡¯m Darcy, and I¡¯ll be your instructor and advisor for this course,¡± Darcy began, her gaze sweeping over the amphitheater. Noe couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Darcy lingered a little longer on her. Was it because of the online rumors, or was it because of the zither performance from yesterday? 10.17 After ss, Darcy announced the homework ¡°Please submit your design drafts to my email after ss,¡± she said. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Jewelry design demanded an assessment of the students¡® artistic skills and understanding of the craft, and many students were prepared in advance. Darcy¡¯s eyes fell on the girl at the back of the room. ¡°Noe, could youe to my office, please?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Noe¡¯s summons to Darcy¡¯s office sparked giggles from Oriana and a few other girls. They were sure the teacher was going to give Noe a hard time! Oriana, apanied by a few cohorts, followed stealthily, eager to eavesdrop. After all, the rumors online had tarnished the college¡¯s reputation, and a public scolding would surely embarrass Noe In the office, Darcy sipped water to moisten her throat before addressing Noe, who stood tall and poised. Noe¡¯s fairplexion and refined features wereplemented by her gaze, which carried a palpable air of cool indifference. Darcy smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. I asked you here for two reasons. First, about the courses you¡¯ve applied to be excused from¨CI¡¯d like to know why¡± ¡°No particr reason, just that some sses feel like a waste of time.¡± Noe had her te full, managing the Schnabel family¡¯s business ventu internal affairs, and fulfilling duties at the border. She simply couldn¡¯t spar curriculum. ending to Pris Star¡¯s r the school¡¯s Darcy was taken aback, expecting a more borate excuse than just ¡®a waste of time¡®. ¡°What about physical education? That¡¯s still important.¡± Noe handed over documents she¡¯d prepared in advance. ¡°I¡¯m a second¨Clevel skier and table tennis athlete in Harmonia Country, PE. sses won¡¯t teach me anything new.¡± Behind the certificates were numerous jewelry design drafts, casually sketched by Noe in her spare time. Darcy¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. The sketches outlined the use of gemstones and detailed every cut and process. If brought to life, these designs would dazzle and shine! ¡°Noe, did you draw all these?¡± ¡°Just something I do when I¡¯m bored. Since you¡¯ve called me in, I might as well mention that I could miss some of my major sses too.¡± From her sketches, it was evident that the curriculum offered little that Noe didn¡¯t already know of couldn¡¯t self¨Clearn. Darcy hesitated, clearly impressed. 213 1017 Was every child from the Schnabel family a prodigy? Noe remained calm. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to attend final exams, but I can¡¯t guarantee my presence at other times.¡± At Imperial University, course participation only counted for thirty percent of the grade, so even if she missed all her sses, she wouldn¡¯t fail. Darcy frowned thoughtfully. ¡°But with your talent, Noe, schrships would be yours for the taking Don¡¯t you want topete for one?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary. Better to leave it for someone who really needs it.¡± Schrships held no allure for Noe; there were plenty of diligent students who could use that money Sensing Darcy¡¯s dilemma, Noe asked, ¡°Is it a problem?¡± If it was a no¨Cgo officially, she¡¯d just have to skip sses when necessary. Darcy waved the thought away. ¡°Just have your brother visit the school to sign a request, and that¡¯s it. He even told me to look out for you¨CI had no idea Beckett¡¯s sister was such a jewelry design prodigy. These drafts are incredible!¡± ¡°Wait, you know Beckett?¡± ¡°Yeah, we go way back, to our PhD days. And the second thing, I owe you one for giving my sister a shot. She was over the moon when she heard you¡¯d be attending our college. Told me to make sure I show you the ropes.¡± But as it stood, Noe was way out of her league to teach anything! ¡°Your sister is¡­¡± ¡°An employee at your gallery, Dalia. She couldn¡¯t stop singing your praises to me.¡± Noe nced at the photo on Darcy¡¯s phone, the one of them together, and remembered the intern who used to be under Travis¡¯s thumb. Last month, she¡¯d been promoted to a full¨Ctime position at the gallery. ¡°But what I¡¯m really curious about is what you¡¯re nning to do with all that time since you¡¯re not taking many sses?¡± To dodge a few courses, Noe needed a good excuse. ¡°Running the family business. I¡¯ve got a dozenpanies under my name that need managing CHapter 251 CHapter 251 10:17 Did the Schnabel family really set their kid up with apany gig this early? Darcy¡¯s mouth twitched, suddenly hit with a wave of upper¨Css culture shock. She remembered finding so many sses boring back in school, but why didn¡¯t she have a dozen companies managing her affairs? Talk about a humbly extravagant excuse! Darcy had thought Noe simply didn¡¯t want to attend school and had prepared a bunch of arguments to persuade her to take her studies seriously. Now, she realized that even with her own sry, she was reaching for the stars. Before leaving the office, Noe¡¯s gaze fell on a bunch of flowers beside Darcy¡¯s trash bin- vibrant purple irises, full of life, with a card bearing strong and vigorous handwriting. ¡°Wishing you all the best. May you soar high.¡± Though unsigned, it was clearly Beckett¡¯s handwriting! The flowers were wrapped in the same paper as the bouquet Beckett had given Noe yesterday, from the florist shop beneath Beckett¡¯spany building. Beckett¡¯s flowers, tossed carelessly into the trash by Darcy? Noe paused. ¡°Ms. Darcy, are these from Beckett?¡± Darcy didn¡¯t shy away from answering, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear with a smile. ¡°Yes, it was his way of asking me to look after you. But Beckett doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m allergic to irises. Since your parents are abroad, it would be best if you could get Beckett to sign the application tu S.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let him know.¡± How did Darcy know Tristan and Sienna were out of the country? Noe didn¡¯t ask for more details; she simply nodded and left the office. As she opened the door, a few eavesdroppers stumbled backward in aical fall, awkwardly facing Noe. Noe swept her gaze over them, the majority of whom were friends of Oriana, probably there to see if Noe got scolded by Darcy. The situation was momentarily awkward. Noe didn¡¯t spare them a nce, stepping away and leaving the scene. After Beckett was informed about signing the forms, he called Darcy. Darcy paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Thank you for the gesture, Mr. Schnabel, but there¡¯s no need for flowers next time. I¡¯m allergic to all pollen.¡± It seemed likely Beckett¡¯s assistant chose the flowers on a whim. ¡°Sorry, I wasn¡¯t aware. Can I make it up to you over dinner? My treat, and we can discuss Noe¡¯s situation.¡± 10:17 ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got a lot on my te with school. It would be best if you coulde by soon, Mr. Schnabel.¡± Beckett didn¡¯t press further, agreeing before ending the coll. Darcy received another call and hurriedly left the office. Oriana and her group were surprised; Noe wasn¡¯t scolded and didn¡¯t seem prepared to even attend sses. How could the college agree to this? ¡°Typical Ms. Noe, some people just don¡¯t belong in school.¡± Oriana¡¯s eyesnded on the design drafts on Darcy¡¯s table, sparkling with admiration. Could these amazing drafts have been left by Noe? Just from the sketches, one could see the designer¡¯s talent and skill level. How could a college freshman like Noe draw these? Could the Schnabel family have hired a master designer to help her skip school? The more Oriana thought about it, the more convinced she became that it was true! The Schnabel family was truly out of line. It was clear that only they, with their newfound wealth, could do such a thing. Then, she remembered the Schnabel family proudly sending Noe off to school, fussing over her every move. When Noe yed the zither, the Schnabel family radiated pride and joy. Oriana even saw Sienna wiping away tears. ¡°My baby is so talented. She must have worked so hard!¡± Tristan was busyforting Sienna, their eyes shining as if Noe was a precious treasure to be cherished. And there Oriana was, without even a single person to send her off to school. Her jealousy twisted into something ugly. She eyed those design drafts with a new greed. In the spacious, well¨Clit CEO¡¯s office of Rising Glory Group, the distinct sound of a pen scratching against paper echoed through the room. Jasper, d in an extravagant floral shirt, lounged in Beckett¡¯s office, looking over Noe¡¯s leave application. ¡°Many sses are indeed boring. I applied for exemptions when I was in college, too. It¡¯s a good opportunity for Noe to explore other interests.¡± Beckett responded, ¡°Noe can pursue whatever she desires. We don¡¯t need others¡® opinions to support her interests. Have you filed thewsuits?¡± Jasper scrolled through his device and sent a long list to Beckett. ¡°All filed, including against Yvonne Gruber and Briony Lambert, the main culprits. They¡¯ll be enjoying a day in court soon. But Beckett, should we file one for you too?¡± Beckett frowned, ¡°For me? I don¡¯t have any legal issues!¡± Rising Glory Group¡¯s legal department, while not as top¨Cnotch as Jasper¡¯s own firm, was still among the best in the industry. DIA 10:17 Jasper shrugged. ¡°Didn¡¯t you almost get married back in the day? If it weren¡¯t for those rumors about you having an illegitimate child, I¡¯d have a sister¨Cinw by now.¡± Beckett had remained unmarried for many years, and the Schnabel family hadn¡¯t pressed the issue,rgely due to the fallout from those past rumors. Sienna feared Beckett hadn¡¯t moved on, so they never broached the subject again. Lately, seeing Noe and Palmer getting along so well, Sienna felt relieved but couldn¡¯t help worrying about her eldest son. Beckett¡¯s pen identally poked through the paper. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. What happened in the past is over.¡± Recently, Rising Glory Group acquired a few plots ofnd, and some are starting to stir the pot again, buying into those old rumors. Doesn¡¯t that bother you?¡± Beckett put away his things, straightening his suit. ¡°If they want to make a fuss, we¡¯ll handle it by the book. There¡¯s no need for anything more.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. Jasper gave a meaningful chuckle. ¡°Beckett, you¡¯ve been single for years. Still waiting for that lady?¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Beckett looked at his wless reflection in the mirror. The man¡¯s face was resolute, and despite days of work, he didn¡¯t seem overly tired. His eyes held an indescribable sharpness. Jaspermented, ¡°Beckett, with that face, you¡¯ve got all the youngdies in thepany sighing, ¡®What a shame he ever opens his mouth¡®. If you were a bit sweeter, I¡¯d have a sister¨Cinw by now. How about chasing after your ex?¡± After all, not many could handle Beckett¡¯s sharp tongue! Beckett nced at him, his tone neutral. ¡°She¡¯s married now. Do you think I can be the other man?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only the unloved who are the other men. Wait! Your ex is married? That¡¯s too bad, definitely not appropriate.¡± That woman, who was nearly Beckett¡¯s wife once, was said to be his college mate. The Schnabel family had never met her, scared off by those rumors about Beckett. Jasper felt a bit of regret, about to say more, but then saw Beckett striding out of the office. ¡°Beckett, where are you headed?¡± ¡°Off to the university to arrange course exemptions for Noe.¡± Meanwhile, just as Noe stepped out of the lecture hall, her phone buzzed with a call from Nn. ¡°Boss, your brother, Sterling, was filming in Glen Vige. He then dropped by Verdant Garden, and now we can¡¯t reach him!¡± Stirling had been nearing the end of his filming project in Glen Vige. Noe frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t Yasbel there filming too?¡± Yasbel, as a member of Pris Star, wouldn¡¯t simply go missing. 10:18 ¡°Can¡¯t reach Yasbel either. We found her tracker in a ditch! Boss, we need you!¡± CHapter 252 CHapter 252 Nn¡¯s voice had a hint of urgency. ¡°Boss, Yasbel¡¯s not the type to act recklessly, and sticking close to your brother Stirling should¡¯ve kept him out of trouble. But you know how it is with Glen Vige. If something really went wrong¡­¡± Nn and Yasbel were twins, sharing a bond that was rare and deep, like two stars orbiting each other in the sky. Glen Vige, nestled close to the border, was a ce where the unexpected could lurk in the shadows. ¡°When did shest check in? I¡¯m on my way.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Forty¨Ceight hours ago. There was some trouble at the site just before we lost contact. You¡¯ll see when you get here!¡± Members of the Pris Star were supposed to report their locations every twenty¨Cfour hours. With Yasbel missing for so long, especially with Stirling, the situation was indeed serious. Noe nced at her phone. With only a few sses scheduled these days, she decided she would skip ss even if the paperwork wasn¡¯tpleted yet! After hanging up, Noe made a beeline for the campus gates. Just as she reached the tree¨Clined path, someone blocked her way! Before Noe could get a good look at the person, a car horn red down the path, and a sedan came hurtling towards her, out of control! The person blocking her path saw his chance to y the hero. Despite Noe remaining as cold and aloof as ever, he believed that increasing their entanglement would surely melt ¨C icy gaze. ¡°Watch out!¡± Lorne, barely managing to stand from his wheelchair, lunged forward only to catch a kick to the chest! Noe¡¯s foot connected with the car¡¯s hood, and upon seeing Lorne¡¯s foolhardy charge, she frowned slightly. What was this idiot thinking? Did he really believe that he, a man barely able to walk, could save her? Considering he was Lucian¡¯s grandson and technically her patient, it wouldn¡¯t do for him to get hurt on her watch. With a swift kick, Noe sent Lorne flying away from the car¡¯s path, tumbling across the ground and ending up unconscious, blood trickling from his mouth. The out¨Cof¨Ccontrol sedan crashed into a tree, its front crumpled and smoking. The driver¡¯s airbag deployed, and the drivery unconscious, clearly injured. Noe looked at the gathering crowd. ¡°Could someone call the ambnce?¡± ¡°Yeah, sure! Don¡¯t you wanna go to the hospital with the ambnce to get checked out?¡± The sudden chaos had left everyone stunned. They had expected the beautiful girl to be hit, but instead, her agile leap to safety was nothing short of heroic. 10:18 This girl was seriously cool! Noe shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just make sure the injured get to the hospital.¡± Beckett, sweating bullets, rushed over and checked Noe from head to toe. ¡°Noe, are you alright?¡± He had just entered the campus and met Darcy when he witnessed the terrifying scene. The thought of Noe getting hurt was unbearable to Beckett. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°No, no, we should still get you checked out at the hospital. I won¡¯t be at ease until Ulrich gives you a thorough examination.¡± Only after a meticulous inspection by Beckett, confirming she was unharmed, did he rx a bit. ¡°There¡¯s really no need, Beckett. I¡¯m truly fine.¡± Beckett¡¯s gaze was sharp as he turned to the president of the council. ¡°I believe we¡¯re owed an exnation! Why would such an incident happen here? If Imperial University can¡¯t even ensure the safety of its students, I might have to reconsider whether my sister should continue her studies here!¡± Beckett¡¯s Rising Glory Group had donated a building and countlessb equipment to Imperial University just before Noe enrolled. The educational investment was also ongoing Noe¡¯s presence here was more than just a student¡¯s education, it was tied to Imperial University¡¯s reputation in Imperial City! If the Schnabel family¡¯s precious gem got hurt on campus, it wouldn¡¯t just be trouble for Noe but for Imperial University as well. Noe faced the president, her expression calm as if she wasn¡¯t the one who had nearly been hit by a car. ¡°It was indeed dangerous. I remember vehicles aren¡¯t allowed on this path. I¡¯m fine, but it could¡¯ve been much worse for other students.¡± To Noe, this was nothing out of the ordinary, but what about regr students? Facing a car speeding at 60 km/h, a normal student would¡¯ve been injured, if not worse. The president was sweating bullets. ¡°Of course, we will investigate thoroughly and ensure Noe gets a proper exnation!¡± In truth, even the president was at a loss as to how such an incident could ur. How did an out¨C of¨Ccontrol vehicle end up on a pedestrian path, nearly causing a disaster? Only when the ambnce took away the driver and Lorne did Beckett notice Lorne¡¯s presence. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Richardson family¡¯s eldest grandson? What¡¯s he doing here?¡± The president was trembling with fear, sensing that his career might be at its end. ¡°Lome is a postgraduate student here. He just started, actually Beckett frowned. ¡°Enrolled as a postgraduate at his age? Wasn¡¯t he just in the ICU a few days ago? How¡¯s he out and about already?¡± Noe nodded in agreement. ¡°He must¡¯ve sneaked out. I even saw him in the ICU with ra a few days 10:18 ago.¡± The tree¨Clined campus was bustling with onlookers, and neither the president nor Beckett had seen Noe¡¯s swift kick that sent Lorne flying. They assumed Lorne was just unlucky, getting hit by a car out of the blue. Upon hearing that Lorne was in bad shape, having bolted from the ICU and then getting into an ident, the president didn¡¯t hesitate to jump into the ambnce himself! If this blew up, the school would have his head! The president felt like he needed saving too at this point! Beckett was still worried. ¡°Noe, why don¡¯t you get checked out too? I¡¯ll call Ulrich right away!¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll just go for a check¨Cup on my own, Beckett. I need to take a couple of days off Could you cover for me and request some leave?¡± ¡°Where are you heading?¡± Beckett asked instinctively, his gaze dropping to Noe¡¯s innocent and radiant face. Her wide, doe¨Clike eyes melted his heart instantly. His little sister must have been scared stiff! CHapter 253 CHapter 253 The incident had taken Beckett by surprise, leaving even him a bit rattled. And to think his sister, Noe, just a girl shy of her twenties, must have been terrified! Catching the shimmer of fear in Noe¡¯s eyes, Beckett¡¯s heart sank with an overwhelming protectiveness. His sister was incredibly mature for her age, a trait that both pained andforted him. With a tenderness that was rare for him, Beckett gently patted Noe on the head. ¡°Were you nning to hang out with friends? Go have fun! If you need cash, you know I¡¯m here. And don¡¯t worry about getting time off, I¡¯ll handle it!¡± Clearly, Beckett had misunderstood. He assumed Noe needed a distraction, a brief escape to unwind. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head off now. See youter, Beckett.¡± ¡°And make sure to get that check¨Cup when you¡¯re back. Don¡¯t me me for keep nagging at you; I just want to make sure you¡¯re alright.¡± Taking it as a regr check¨Cup to ease Beckett¡¯s worries, Noe agreed. She wasn¡¯t ready to let the Schnabel family in on theplexities of Glen Vige just yet. Whether it was the Pris Star base or the tangled borderlines, it was all better kept away from her family¡¯s knowledge for now. She decided to first reconnect with Stirling and Yasbel. Watching Noe walk away, her ponytail swaying in the sunlight, Beckett felt a pang of sadness. His sister seemed too wise beyond her years, leaving him and their siblings wondering how else they could support her. They could offer her money and love, but Beckett felt there was always something she kept from them. Perhaps having grown uprgely on her own, she had lost the ability to rely on others. This realization weighed heavily on Beckett¡¯s heart. Nheless, if Noe wasn¡¯t ready to talk, they wouldn¡¯t push her. Darcy approached, her gaze lingering on the departing Noe. ¡°It¡¯s clear Mr. Schnabel cares deeply for Noe.¡± ¡°Yes, she¡¯s had it tough. Before she came home, we were bracing ourselves for a spoiled or unruly little sister.¡± After all, Noe had spent neen years away from the Schnabels, raised in the modest Lambert family of Tranquility City. Considering Briony¡¯s example, they had little hope for a well¨Craised child. Beckett rubbed his temples. ¡°No matter what, I was ready to ept her, ws and all.¡± He had been prepared to wee an imperfect sister. Yet, Noe¡¯s resilience and maturity only made Beckett more protective. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Darcy¡¯s eyes sparkled with unspoken thoughts, quickly hidden away. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, weren¡¯t about bringing home a troubled child?¡± you worried ¡°It wouldn¡¯t matter. I¡¯d guide her, as long as she was home.¡± The Schnabel siblings had always relied on Beckett; he was the pir of their upbringing. If Noe turned out difficult, he¡¯d simply guide her as he had with the others. But Noe seemed to need little from him, 10:18 leaving Beckett proud yet somewhat disappointed. Darcy teased, ¡°Never thought you had it in you to be a ¡®mom¡®.¡± A mom? What was that about? This was a new term for Beckett, raising his curiosity before Darcy moved on. ¡°Let¡¯s head to my office to sign off the forms. And about earlier, we should check the surveince, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Nothing concerning Noe was trivial to Beckett. Entering Darcy¡¯s office, Beckett noticed the discarded flowers in the bin. ¡°Sorry, I wasn¡¯t aware of your allergy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mr. Schnabel. You didn¡¯t need to know my personal issues.¡± Darcy, sitting behind her desk, handed Beckett the necessary paperwork. ¡°Noe¡¯s quite insightful; some sses do bore her. Skipping them won¡¯t hurt her grades.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Beckett, taking out his pen, filled out the forms with great care, his physique betraying his disciplined lifestyle even in the confines of an office. He scrutinized every detail, determined not to overlook anything concerning his sister. Darcy offered, her gaze briefly meeting his before looking away. ¡°Coffee?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve cut back.¡± Darcy¡¯s eyshes fluttered slightly. ¡°I remembered you liked coffee. Thought you still did.¡± Beckett put the pen back, his voice calm and steady, showing no signs of emotion. ¡°People change. Things I used to like in the past, I no longer enjoy.¡± Like Darcy, who once adored irises yet could im an allergy without a flicker of emotion. Due to stomach issues, Beckett had been advised against coffee by Ulrich and Sienna. People change, and so could his preferences. Handing the paperwork back to Darcy, Beckett stood up. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll check on that surveince now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll join you. Noe is my student, after all.¡± Beckett didn¡¯t object, stepping aside to let Darcy lead the way. Beckett¡¯s gaze swept over everything on Darcy¡¯s desk, finally resting on a photo frame. It held a portrait of Darcy alone, d in a graduation gown, clearly taken at her PhD ceremony. That photo¡­ it looked like one he had taken! ¡°Do you not disy a photo with your husband?¡± Darcy¡¯s voice remained even, devoid of emotion. ¡°No need.¡± 10:18 Beckett nodded, not pressing further. He understood the boundaries and decorum required when interacting with a married woman, and he maintained them well. Is Mr. Schnabel still a bachelor?¡± ¡°Not for long. Darcy hesitated slightly at his response but didn¡¯t stop walking. ¡°Then let me offer my early congrattions to Mr. Schnabel. When¡¯s the big day? You¡¯ll have to let me buy you a celebratory drink.¡± ¡°Next May.¡± Hearing such a specific date made it clear Beckett had already been nning his wedding. As for who the lucky person was, that didn¡¯t seem like her ce to ask. Darcy felt an inexplicable bitterness in her throat, dry and unable to articte a response. Beckett himself didn¡¯t even know he was supposed to get married next May. But setting a date for a wedding, only to call it offter, was not unheard of for him. After all, even with everything prepared and amid his great anticipation, his bride¨Cto¨Cbe could still leave h¨¬m. He was no stranger to that experience. CHapter 254 CHapter 254 In the surveince room, the screen clearly showed a car losing control, bursting out of the parking lot, mming into the guardrails on either side of the road before careening down the tree¨Clined avenuet The logistics personnel retrieving the footage were visibly nervous, On one hand, an incident like this happening within the college¡¯s premises was unthinkable. If it blew up, the consequences would be dire. On the other hand, Beckett¡¯s presence behind them was overwhelmingly intimidating! Despite Beckett¡¯s politeness and somewhat courteous demeanor, the aura he exuded sent shivers down their spines. Beckett pointed at the screen. ¡°Rewind it, to the frame at four minutes and fifteen seconds, please.¡± In the rewound footage, a figure suddenly appeared in the tree¨Clined avenue, seated in a wheelchair. This sudden appearance was due to Lorne initially being in the car but then deciding to disembark and proceed in the wheelchair. Beckett frowned. ¡°Ms. Darcy, I don¡¯t recall the graduate school being on this route.¡± Noe wasing to Imperial University, and the Schnabel family had scrutinized every possible route through the college the night before. Beckett always liked to have everything under his control. Darcy nodded. ¡°Maybe, Lorne wanted to enjoy the view?¡± Indeed, Imperial University, being an established institution, boasted beautiful scenery. But how could someone fresh off the surgery table enjoying the scenery? ¡°He should be in intensive care at this time, not out sightseeing. It would be more fitting for him to visit the River Styx at this rate. Please copy this video for me; I will pursue legal action against the driver and the college.¡± Sweat beaded on the logistics personnel¡¯s forehead. At this moment, they couldn¡¯t muster the courage to suggest that Beckett should let the college off the hook, given it was indeed apse in the college¡¯s oversight! Darcy looked at Beckett with a gentle tone. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, it¡¯s right to hold the college ountable, but wouldn¡¯t this affect Noe, given she¡¯s still studying here?¡± ¡°There are colleges all over the world; Noe can choose any. She doesn¡¯t need to stay at one that nearly had her in an ident!¡± Beckett¡¯s tone was sharp, veins throbbing on his hand. His temper, which had been soothed by Noe, red up again upon seeing the footage. Had Noe not reacted swiftly, would she be the one lying in the hospital now? ¡°Mr. Schnabel, perhaps we could calm down a bit. idents can happen due to human error at any college, right?¡± Beckett¡¯s gaze paused, the aura of authority around him palpable as his eyes swept over Darcy before retracting. 10-18 ¡°What do you mean? Are you suggesting this was deliberately orchestrated?¡± ¡°From the video, it¡¯s not hard to infer that this ident was likely aimed at Noe.¡± Beckett¡¯s assistant entered from outside, leaning in. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, the driver has been revived. He confessed to intentionally targeting Ms. Noe after seeing those rumors about her online.¡± Due to baseless rumors? Someone attempted to harm Noe with a vehicle on campus? Beckett scoffed. ¡°Dig deeper and include the Richardson family in the investigation. I want to see who¡¯s so relentless in chasing after Noe, not resting until they see her harmed!¡± ¡°Yes, also, Mr. Pock called to say Ms. Noe is with him and asked you not to worry.¡± After Noe left the campus, she got straight into Palmer¡¯s car. Somehow, Palmer knew about the incident and had his assistant inform Beckett¡¯s. Beckett¡¯s mood visibly improved. Even in such a trivial matter, Palmer made it a point to notify him, clearly showing he cared for his sister! Exiting the surveince room, Beckett said sternly, ¡°Ms. Darcy, would you mind showing me around the campus? We don¡¯t have to visit everywhere, just the ces Noe frequents for her sses.¡± His tone was strictly professional, his gaze exceptionally cold, as if they were strangers. ¡°Ms. Darcy, if you¡¯re busy, feel free to call another teacher, preferably one from Noe¡¯s major.¡± His words set clear boundaries; his invitation was solely because Darcy was Noe¡¯s professor. The logistics director eagerly pushed Darcy forward. ¡°Of course, Ms. Darcy¡¯s free after this!¡± The director gestured to Darcy with exaggerated facial expressions. They needed to appease this influential figure! If Rising Glory Group and the Schnabel Group really sued the college and it escted, the college would suffer! Forget about Darcy having no sses; now, even if she did, she¡¯d have to apany Beckett on a campus tour! With no choice, Darcy reluctantly agreed, only to look up and find Beckett striding ahead. Darcy then led Beckett around the academic building. ¡°Freshman sses are usually held in the auditorium. Noe has waived many courses, so you might just want to visit the main academic building, Mr. Schnabel.¡± Since Noe didn¡¯t stay in the dorms, there was no need to visit the student housing. Beckett mentioned, ¡°And the canteen.¡± Given Beckett¡¯s meticulous care for Noe, it made sense to inspect the canteen. Imperial University had several canteens, and the one closest to the Design Academy was bustling with students. The dozen or so food stalls offered a wide variety of meals. Beckett, still in his upscale suit, exuded a model¨Clike grace with every move, drawing the gaze of many students as he entered. He remained unfazed, his gaze serene. ¡°Ms. Darcy, did you bring your faculty card?¡± 10:18 ¡°Mr. Schnabel, are you nning to dine here?¡± Darcy nearly bit her tongue in shock! Beckett, a name that shines bright on the list of influential young tycoons, stooping down ag duw ing college canteen? It boggled the mind. The cost of a meal here probably wouldn¡¯t even cover the poe cup of coffee for Beckett Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If Noe finds this ce good enough to eat, I should definitely give it a try. Don¡¯t worry about the cous consider it my treat,¡± he said. Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. So, it was all about Noe. For a moment there, she thought Becher pos actually going to join her for a meal in the canteen. Darcy quickly waved her hands. ¡°Oh, no, I insist, Mr. Schnabel, Let me treat. The food here is super affordable! What would you like to have, Mr. Schnabel?¡± ¡°Anything¡¯s fine. Whatever your are having, get me the same.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure what Noe would choose if she were eating at the canteen, Beckett finished his meal quickly and casually picked up a call from ra, ra¡¯s voice sounded a bit down, with a hint of tears in it! ¡°Beckett, there¡¯s been an incident at theb, and I need a few days off to go home and rest. Could you ¡°Sure, wait for me at your office, I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Beckett didn¡¯t ask for details. He stood up, picked up his tray. ¡°This meal¡¯s on Ms. Darcy, Next time, it¡¯s my turn to treat Ms. Darcy, I¡¯ve got to run now!¡± Watching Beckett casually take his tray to the collection point by the door and leave without looking back, one could only wonder. His rush¡­ was he going to pick up his fianc¨¦e? Suddenly, Darcy found the food in her mouth tasteless. CHapter 255 CHapter 255 Outside theb, ra, with her unruly hair that hadn¡¯t seen ab in days, squatted on the ground, her short locks a tangled mess from constant scratching. Not far behind her stood the head of theb. *ra, we admit theb¡¯s at fault here. We¡¯ll straighten things out with the staff. You can¡¯t just think about resigning every time something goes wrong!¡± ra¡¯s talent in research was well¨Crecognized in the field. Her rise to her current position at such a young age was certainly helped along by the Schnabel family¡¯s support, but it was also due to her own hard work and intelligence. Even among prodigies, ra stood out! ¡°I won¡¯t approve your resignation! Both personally and for the sake of our country, we need you to stay and shine in your role!¡± His words were eamest and sincere. ra dusted off her hands and stood up, pointing at a form on the ground. ¡°Boss, I recalcted that data from before, and it¡¯s correct.¡± The head of theb was taken aback! He thought ra was just doodling in the dirt out of frustration, cursing those responsible. But she was actually recalcting data? ¡°Boss, I came here because theb¡¯s research aligns with my expertise, not to get caught up in petty squabbles.¡± She nced indifferently at her sweating boss. *I¡¯m not resigning on a whim. It¡¯s just that my sister told me there¡¯s no need to put up with nonsense. People were insulting me to my face. Was I not supposed to respond? They¡¯re idiots, and I¡¯m supposed to just take it? Why?¡± The boss was at a loss for words. Indeed, he had asked ra to be more tolerant towards the new interns, but wasn¡¯t that just how things work? With ra¡¯s family background, she shouldn¡¯t have to bother with those fresh graduates! ra kicked her suitcase beside her. ¡°Sorry, but they¡¯re older than me! It¡¯s their first time being human, and I¡¯m not here to y daddy. If theb can¡¯t handle this, then maybe you¡¯re not up to the job.¡± To openly tell the boss he¡¯s ipetent, ra was the first. The boss grew angry. ¡°ra, what do you mean by this? Don¡¯t think just because you have the Schnabel family behind you, you can do whatever you want in the scientificmunity! Those are just newly graduated students; they may be clueless, but why are you acting clueless as well? Our researchb has been turned into a mess. Nowe back with me to the meeting, and I might let this slide!¡± ra rolled her eyes. She saw the Cullinan parked not far away, with Beckett stepping out and walking towards her. Theb head¡¯s gaze flickered. He knew Beckett, but he hadn¡¯t expected him to show up over such a trivial matter! Wasn¡¯t ra just an adopted daughter of the Schnabel family? Beckett approached, asked no questions, grabbed ra¡¯s suitcase and her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ? ?? ¨¹ ?? ? ? ?? ? ?? ¨¹E #??? ?? ? ? ¡°Okay!¡± As they drove away, leaving theb head behind without a second nce, Beckett asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ra sniffled, trying to act nonchnt as she shrugged. ¡°A few interns told me to get lost right to my face. No big deal, but they stole my unpublished research data, iming there were issues with it and that I didn¡¯t deserve my position.¡± These interns, fueled by some brazen background, were extremely offensive in their remarks. They even imed that ra was an unwanted child by the Schnabel family, desperate and clinging to them, trying to steal Ms. Schnabel¡¯s belongings. They suggested that her own parents didn¡¯t want her and called her a wild child. After sharing this, ra hung her head, her voice muffled and low. ¡°Sorry for the trouble, Beckett.¡± Beckett frowned, his voice stern. ¡°When did this start? How long has it been going on? Why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡± ¡°It started as soon as I joined theb. I didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble for the family¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean trouble? If you consider me your brother, then don¡¯t talk like that! I¡¯ll get in touch with your supervisor. I¡¯ll handle this!¡± ¡°Thanks, Beckett.¡± ra¡¯s spirits were low, her eyes red as if she¡¯d been crying. Seeing her like this, Beckett felt a headacheing on. ra wasn¡¯t much older than Noe, still a kid in many ways, needing her family¡¯s support, yet she bore everything on her own. But all he did was pat ra¡¯s head, saying nothing. 10:28 Maybe it was time to have a serious talk with the Pock family about this! The roar of the helicopter swept across Glen Vige, stirring up a storm. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Noe removed her helmet and unbuckled her safety belt, her cool gaze tinged withplexity. Stepping out of the college gates, she saw Palmer waiting and realized his car hadn¡¯t moved all morning! When had he be so free as to wait for her all day? Then, hearing she needed to return to Glen Vige, Palmer insisted oning along! Seeing Palmer instruct Annie to inform Beckett, Noe swallowed her initial refusal. Knowing she was with Palmer would indeed make the Schnabel family feel more at ease. Palmer, nursing an injury, had Noe as his pilot on the way. Upon disembarking, Nn was there to greet them. ¡°Boss, your brother¡¯s been staying at Verdant Garden for the shoot, but a couple of days ago, some overzealous fans showed up.¡± Stirling, a superstar in the entertainment industry with millions of fans, indeed attracted numerous obsessed followers. If not for the weight of the Schnabel family name, which those fans dared not provoke, they might have even shown up at their doorstep. Sienna mentioned that in Stirling¡¯s early days, fans would camp outside the Schnabel family home! Stirling¡¯s agent, upon seeing Noe, felt like he had seen a lifeline! ¡°Ms. Noe, those hardcore fans must have found out that Stirling was filming in the countryside, where security isn¡¯t as tight as in the city. They actually sneaked around the vicinity of Verdant Garden, and someone even climbed up to the roof from a tree in the middle of the night.¡± Verdant Garden was an old house, not very tall, so climbing up to the rooms via the roof at night was certainly possible. Hearing this, Noe¡¯s brows furrowed in concern. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Stirling ever filed comints against those people?¡± ¡°He has, and it seemed to have reduced the harassment to just some annoying texts, so Stirling didn¡¯t take it too seriously.¡± It never crossed Stirling¡¯s mind that someone would actually climb into his room via the roof in the dead of night! As Noe entered Verdant Garden, she noticed several roof tiles had fallen off the second floor. When Stirling decided to stay at Verdant Garden, he had asked for Noe¡¯s permission to use her room, leaving the neighboring room, which belonged to Old Mrs. Lambert, for Yasbel. Nn added, ¡°I even heard Yasbel¡¯s cries for help. By the time I got there, they were gone.¡± Yasbel was a former free¨Cfighting champion, and now she had disappeared along with Stirling. Ordinary entertainment industry fans couldn¡¯t possibly pull off something like this! CHapter 256 CHapter 256 The production team was pacing nervously Midway through filming, the lead actors, Stirling and Yesbel, had mysteriously vanished. If word got out, it would spell disaster for involved, from the investors down to thest crew membert The person in charge of the crew sighed in relief at Noells¡¯s arrival. ¡°We¡¯ve been keeping it under wraps, too scared to even call the cops. Thank heavens you are here, or we¡¯d have no clue how to handle this messt Noe frowned, her tone stem. ¡°How could you even think of not reporting something this serious? If anything happens to Stirling and Yashet, who¡¯s going to take responsibility?¡± She wasn¡¯t a cop or a detective. Surely, the crew couldn¡¯t expect her to find them, could they? Sewing the faint anger on Noe¡¯s face, the crew leader wiped his sweat and hurriedly exined, ¡®We wanted to, really, but Stirling and Wasbel¡¯s agent told us to wait for you!¡± Yasbel was under contract with Pris Star¡¯s own entertainmentpany, East Sea Culture Company. The agent, being an internal staff member, decided not to alert the authorities, uncertain of what had actually happened. Noe stepped into the room. ¡°If there¡¯s no news in two hours, call the police. You¡¯ve already missed the golden hour for a search and rescue The production was a massive investment, and they were hoping this movie would be their ticket to major awards. If it leaked that the leads were missing, billions in investment would go down the drain! The crew leader didn¡¯t dare hesitate and quickly agreed. Noe¡¯s gaze then turned to the two agents waiting by the side. ¡°Has Stirling been harassed by any fans recently?¡± ¡°Just those. Even if Stirling filed aint, most of them are underage, barely fourteen. It¡¯s tricky to handle.¡± From day one of shooting, several obsessed fans, barely twelve, had been lurking around, forcing the crew to arrange transportation to send them home. Unfortunately, this made those fans think Stirling was indulging and weing them! An agent pulled out a phone. ¡°This is Stirling¡¯s phone. I don¡¯t know the passcode, Ms. Noe. Maybe you could try.¡± The lock screen was a photo of Stirling and Noe together, with a few members of the Schnabel family cropped out at the edges. Noe paused for a moment, then tried her birthday as the passcode, and it worked. She remembered Stirling mentioning that he had set all his devices, including his bank PIN, to her birthday! The message inbox was filled with offensive content. ¡°Why didn¡¯t Surling just contact his carrier to disable messaging?¡± The agent exined, ¡°Stirling used to ignore his messages, but after you went home, sometimes you¡¯d text, and Stirling would check in case he missed something from you.¡± In reality, the times Noe actually texted were few and far between, as she preferred to call if there was something important. Stirling¡¯s fear of missing any message from Noe was evident. Noe didn¡¯t know whether to me herself for texting Stirling in the first ce or regret that she hadn¡¯t sent him more messages! The few messages she did send were all saved as favorites by Stirling! Palmer, seeing Noe¡¯s guilt, whispered soothingly, ¡°Even if he disabled messaging, those fans would just start calling, making it even more of a hassle. It¡¯s not your fault. Besides, we shouldn¡¯t have to limit ourselves to avoid these situations. The most important thing is dealing with these intrusive fans effectively¡± Noe quicklyposed herself. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on finding them. Where was Yasbel¡¯sst known location?¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Nn replied, ¡°North, near a small creek.¡± Glen Vige was small, surrounded by mountains, with the border only a hundred kilometers further. Noe pocketed Stirling¡¯s phone. ¡°Lead the way¡± As they approached, the gate of a nearby house creaked open, and Maddox emerged, draped in an army coat. ¡°Ms. Noe and Mr. Pock, you¡¯re back? Why didn¡¯t you let me know!¡± ¡°Maddox, have you heard anything unusual these past few days?¡± Living not far from Verdant Garden, Maddox would¡¯ve noticed if Stirling and Yasbel had disappeared! Everyone looked at Maddox with hopeful eyes. Maddox pondered for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s see, Ellsworth Fuller came by the other night, along with the rest of the Fuller family, asking for Ms. Noe¡¯s contact. I didn¡¯t give it to them!¡± Remembering the Fullers¡® expressions made Maddox angry. They clearly had no good intentions! ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything unusual at night. The young master mentioned their filming was a bit noisy, so I didn¡¯t stay here at night.¡± Maddox lived nearby mainly to keep an eye on Noe¡¯s property and to guard Old Mrs. Lambert¡¯s coffin. When the Schnabel family came in full force to respectfully relocate Old Mrs. Lambert to the Schnabel family¡¯s cemetery, Maddox was somewhat relieved. He worried about who would apany Old Mrs. Lambert when he passed away! With Stirling staying at Verdant Garden, Maddox decided to spend his nights at a distant nephew¡¯s house, away from the film crew. Maddox was quite pleased with the Schnabel children; they were clearly extraordinary folks. Stirling¡¯s concern for his rest was touching! Hearing that they were missing, Maddox grew anxious too. Noe nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll check the north.¡± ¡°North? The Fuller family¡¯s old house is up there too!¡± The Fuller family¡¯s ancestral home had been neglected for years, left to crumble and decay, yet it indeedy to the north! ¡°Take me to see it!¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± Maddox, without any hesitation, led Noe and the film crew on a grand trek towards the northern hillside. The paths around Glen Vige were treacherous, with wild grass towering over humans, and many areas were simply impassable. The film crew grumbled under their breath but dared not voice their comints too loudly. They had seen Noe striding ahead, leading the way without so much as a word ofint. Not only did she notin, but Noe also moved at a brisk pace! She and Palmer followed Maddox, leaving the rest of the film crew far behind, clearly very concerned about Stirling! The sibling bond between the Schnabels was admirably strong! Palmer reached the hilltop first and turned back to extend a hand to Noe. ¡°Come on!¡± He showed no sign ofint in such a setting. One moment he was the CEO covered in gold, hands tied up with international contracts worth billions, and the next, he stood on the challenging slopes of a hillside vige, reaching out through the thorns to Noe. cing her hand in Palmer¡¯s, Noe easily climbed up the hillside with his help, then turned to Maddox. ¡°Maddox, the film crew might not make it up here. Wait for them and take them around another way.¡± Noe and Palmer, being top¨Ctier assassins ustomed to operating in border areas, found scaling such slopes to be as easy as pie. However, for the film crew attempting to climb this nearly vertical hillside, the task would prove much more challenging! To save time, Noe and Palmer opted for a shortcut. Maddox, unable to make the climb himself, stayed behind to wait for the crew. ¡°Alright! Just over this hilltop, and we¡¯ll be at the Fuller family¡¯s ce CHapter 257 CHapter 257 Maddox was practically buzzing with exciteme Watching the young couple, Noe and Palmer, walking hand in hand made him giddy with joy. The dense, secluded woods were perfect for nurturing romance Imagine, if by some stroke of luck, a venomous snake decided to make an appearance, and Noe, with her swift moves, managed to eliminate the threat. Wouldn¡¯t Palmer be absolutely smitten? Or perhaps if a wild bear loomed out of the shadows, and Noe, with her unparalleled bravery, took it down. The tale of the damsel saving the hero would surely bind Palmer to her side forever. And what if a wild boar charged through, only for Noe to turn it into a magnificent feast? Palmer would undoubtedly fall head over heels in love! Maddox was well aware of Noe¡¯s capabilities, inside and out. Even the steep inclines that would deter most were child¡¯s y for Noe, who had been scaling rocks barehanded since the age of five. To Palmer, with his city¨Cbred eyes, Noe must have seemed like a delicate flower, unaware of the strength and skill she possessed. Maddox felt anxious for them, noticing that things didn¡¯t appear any different from theirst visit. Finding Stirling with Noe¡¯s help was a given, so he wasn¡¯t worried. If Noe knew what Maddox was thinking, she might jokingly ask if his tongue was blessed. As they ventured deeper, a suspicious rustling from the bushes caught Palmer¡¯s attention. Instinctively, he pulled Noe behind him, his eyes scanning the underbrush for signs of danger. ¡°Be carefull¡± he wamed. The woods around Glen Vige were notorious for their snakes. A small, triangr¨Cheaded serpent flicked its tongue menacingly close to them, its eyes cold and calcting. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ve got this,¡± Noe started, reaching for the snake repellent and various powders she¡¯d prepared. Having grown up in Glen Vige, she was well¨Cacquainted with the local wildlife and had even hunted venomous snakes to support her family. Palmer, however, out her off, positioning himself protectively in front of her and drawing a knife from his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ve got this. No need for you to step in, my fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°You then just be careful.¡± ¡°Wait here.¡± The venomous snake lunged forward at lightning speed, its forked tongue flickering. Within moments, the man¡¯s hand swiftly seized the snake¡¯s neck, and a military knife plunged into its head, securing the snake to the ground! His movements were deft and elegant, his arm muscles bulging. The snake¡¯s tail wrapped around Palmer¡¯s wrist, gradually ceasing its Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. movement. ¡°Shall we keep it? Maddox might appreciate it for his snake wine collection.¡± ¡°No need. Maddox¡¯s cer is already stocked,¡± Noe replied, shaking her head.. In such a situation, he could confidently shield her without hesitation. He even thought about the needs of those close to her. Was he simply thoughtful, or¡­ was it just for her? Unaware of Noe¡¯s adoring look, Palmer swiftly disposed of the snake and then took Noe¡¯s hand, leading her forward. They soon found the Fuller family¡¯s dpidated home. As Noe pushed open the door, a strong scent of blood hit her. Inside, she found Stirling and Yasbel unconscious. Thankfully, a quick check confirmed they were unharmed, just knocked out by ether. Noe breathed a sigh of relief. Noe,e here, Palmer called from the yard, where a grim scene awaited. The chickens and ducksy dead, and amid the carnage, an injured man, Ellsworth,y unconscious. ¡°Looks like he¡¯s involved in this, Noe deduced. As Noe moved to enter the yard, Palmer quickly took her hand and gently said, ¡°Let me handle this. Don¡¯t get your hands dirty.¡± His tone sounded matter¨Cof¨Cfact, and without hesitation, he continued into the yard. After bending down to check Ellsworth¡¯s breathing. and pulse, he looked up and confirmed, ¡°He¡¯s still alive.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow slightly. How did Palmer know she was interested in Ellsworth¡¯s vital signs? Between them, there seemed to be an unspoken understanding. Palmer could sense her needs without her having to speak. Palmer didn¡¯t rush to leave. His intense gaze lingered on the unconscious Ellsworth, his eyes shing with emotions that Noe couldn¡¯t quite interpret! His tall figure crouching there stood out prominently against the backdrop of an almost lifeless man and a yard littered with dead. chickens and ducks, creating an oddly discordant scene. Noe couldn¡¯t help but asked, ¡°Palmer, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Palmer¡¯s voice was raspy. ¡°Noe, I actually¡­ kind of envy this guy.¡± Envy who? Ellsworth? How could someone like Palmer, a prodigy, feel envy towards a thug from Glen Vige? Palmer pped his hands and stood up, walking towards Noe against the backlight. ¡°He¡¯s known you since childhood, grown up with you. Though I shouldn¡¯t feel this way, I can¡¯t help but be jealous that you two were childhood friends!¡± Noe had never heard such honest words from Palmer before! Palmer stopped a few steps away from Noe. ¡°I have blood on me. I don¡¯t want to get you dirty. Stay back.¡± She also had blood on her from checking Stirling and Yasbel¡¯s condition. Noe took a step forward. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± A soft light fell on Palmer¡¯s face, and his gaze towards Noe held a gentle and incredulous warmth. The man stood with the sun of the vige casting long shadows behind him, enveloping Noe in a silhouette that seemed to im her as his own. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, adding an unexpected allure to his presence. His voice, raspy and beguiling, broke the silence. ¡°Noe, I¡¯m quite fond of you. If I¡¯d known you when we were kids, I might¡¯ve been that annoying boy camped out on your doorstep every day.¡± Noe looked up at Palmer, her gaze steady. ¡°But Grandpa Sexton mentioned you had a girlfriend before.¡± Palmer blinked, a sh of panic crossing his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s just gossip. I¡¯ve never had a girlfriend. You¡¯re my first love.¡± Sexton, for some reason, had decided to spread those rumors in front of Noe! If those tales scared his fianc¨¦e away, Palmer wondered how his grandfather would manage to smooth things over. Seeing Palmer¡¯s flustered attempts to exin, hindered further by his reluctance toe too close with hands stained from work, Noe couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you. Grandpa Sexton said your romantic history was a clean te.¡± Palmer had told her she was his first love. As for Noe, she was still trying to decipher her feelings for Palmer. Yet, standing so close to him, she didn¡¯t feel any urge to pull away. Instead, when his intense gaze fixed on her, unwavering, Noe felt her heartbeat quicken. Was this what being smitten felt like? CHapter 258 CHapter 258 Exctions were live a foreign country the dednewer eally wored Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Whenever she was around Palmer, her heart would ace uncontrobly Was this what a cram felt like? If not then what was i Palmer locked into Noe¡¯s eyes camesty pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to gently wipe the blood off her hands. your brother okay? He¡¯s just knocked out. We¡¯ll ask him what happened when he wakes up.¡± As No spoke, she noticed Palmer suddenly pulling her hand closer to sniff it It¡¯s just chicken and duck blood, no womes Watching this man carefully clean each of her fingers before casually wiping the blood off his own hands warmed Noe¡¯s heart. ¡°Thank your If you really went to thank me can I hug you?¡± There was a yful glint in Palmer¡¯s eyes as his tall fame cast a protective shadow over Noe, as if embracing her Meeting Palmer¡¯s gaze, Noes heart skipped a beat again. ¡°Okay¡± Just as a smile flickered across Palmer¡¯s face and he reached out towards Noe, a shout echoed from inside the house. Noe! Are you out there?¡± Noe pushed Palmer away and ran towards the house. ¡°String, I¡¯m here¡± Palmer looked at his empty hands, stall feeling Noe¡¯s presence linger He was so close to holding her¡­. With a sigh of resignation mixed with a wry smile, Palmer followed Noe inside. Stirling rubbed his head, looking up at Noe kneeling before him. ¡°Noe, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°String, never mind that. What happened to you and Yacbel? How did you end up here? You¡¯ve been missing from the set for almost three days¡± Stirling was shocked. That long? No wonder you¡¯re here! I¡¯m so sorry, Noe¡± Noe shook her head, helping Stirling to his feet. Yacbel, also groggilying to, locked at Noe and the hurriedly arrived Nn, then drifted back to sleep. The crew arriving at the scene were also drenched in cold sweat, frantically checking on both of them before taking them back to Glen Vige. Stiring, sitting in Maddox¡¯s backyard, had to eat several bowls of spaghetti toe back to his senses. Wiping his mouth, he began to recall the events of the past few days. That night, as Stirling was about toy down. He always felt a pang of sadness whenever heid in Noe¡¯s tiny room. The room was no bigger than the bathroom in his own room at Schnabel Manor, barely amodating his tall frame. The old, bulky wardrobe and the bed made by the vige¡¯s elderly carpenter with somewhat damp wood materials made him think of how his sister and grandmother had lived in such conditions for years! On a whim, String decided to explore the room¡¯s contents. After getting Noes consent via text, he got up. All of Noe¡¯s childhood possessions were carefully preserved by Old Mrs. Lambert in boxes. Among them were report cards with straight As, and inside a small wooden box, Stirling found drawings Noe had made as a child. Stirling was surprised, these drawings seemed familiar The style reminded him of something he¡¯d seen before. Without much thought, Sading moved to the wardrobe to see what was inside. Upon opening it, he was greeted by Debbie and Ma Fuller hiding what String was Was this some kind of pedomance Suddenly, bles fell off the balcony and a group of obsessed fans climbed in, staring in shelf at the scene inside A scream came from the next room I was Yerl ¡°What the hell is thest (1) kill your Yashel had been preparing to rest when Ellsworth tried to sneak into her bed in the middle of the nightt In the end, Ellsworth was left beaten ck and blue by Yashel, unrecognizable even to his own mother Sting shagged. ¡°Then we chased them all the way to the old Fuller family house, and next thing we knew, we passed out. When! woke up, I saw Noe¡± After finishing a bowl of spaghetti and drinking a ss of juice, Yashel bumped. was starving! If you hadn¡¯t shown up, we might¡¯ve starved to death there. And where did the ether come from in such a rural gre Noe frowned slightly ¡°With the security measures in ce, neither the Fuller family nor obsessed fans should¡¯ve been able to approach your location¡± Stirling and Vasbel were knocked out with a high concentration of ether. Even in Imperial City, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to obtain such a high concentration of ether, let alone in a remote countryside. This couldn¡¯t be a coincidence, someone must be targeting Stirling and Yasbel! Noe nced at Ellsworth lying on the ground. ¡°Who did this?¡± Yasbel whistled nonchntly ¡°Who knows? We were all out cold, and when we woke up, he was like this?¡± Clearly, Yasbel was the culprit, but with no evidence, she wasn¡¯t about to take a day trip to the police station! The police took away the unconscious Fuller family members, while the intruding obsessed fans had long since vanished. Noe looked sternly at Stirling. ¡°Stirling, you have to press charges against those people. You can¡¯t let them off the hook¡± Stirling gently stroked Noe¡¯s hair, speaking softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Noe, for making you worry about me.¡± With obsessed fans running wild, Jasper had also said many times they couldn¡¯t be lenient. ¡°One year, a fan chasing after my car got into an ident, and then the fan¡¯s family med me for it. Later, someone messaged me out of the blue, asking what if my sister were to be someone else¡¯s superfan?¡± Stirling chuckled sheepishly. ¡°I know, it¡¯s unlikely. My sister would never be that obsessed with anyone, but still¡­¡± Still, he couldn¡¯t help but think of the possibility! ¡°I just figured, if I treat them kindly, maybe others will do the same for my sister.¡± Yasbel snorted. ¡°Come on, Stirling, how old are you? Still so naive? Not to mention whether Boss would ever be someone¡¯s superfan, it¡¯s your indecisiveness that could be your downfall.¡± Yasbel had known this ever since Stirling gave Yvonne a chance to audition andnd a supporting role. Despite knowing Yvonne was bad news, Stirling wanted to give her a chance, just like with those superfans. Her boss¡¯s brother, Stirling, of all the Schnabel siblings, was probably the most tender¨Chearted and soft! In the entertainment industry, that¡¯s not necessarily a good trait! Wasn¡¯t it Stirling¡¯s soft heart that caused this mess in the first ce? Stirling raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Boss? Yasbel, did you know Noe before?¡± CHapter 259 CHapter 259 Yabel wrapped her arms around Noe¡¯s waist, nuzzling against her with an almost pitiful affection. ¡°Ever since the gemstone auction, my mentor asked me to follow Ms. Noe! Boss, I¡¯m all yours from now on. You¡¯ve got to take good care of me, okay? And when you tie the knot with Mr. Pock, don¡¯t forget to include us maids in your bridal party!¡± If Noe could take the Pr Star under her wing and maybe even annex the Abyssal Organization, not to mention snagging such a heartthrob, their dreams of ruling the frontier would practically be within reach! Stirling¡¯s attention was immediately diverted. ¡°Noe, howe you arrived with Mr. Pock? When I called you over earlier, were you guys possibly..¡± From where Stirling was lying down, his view was skewed. All he could see was Noe and Palmer in an embrace, looking like they were about to lock lips at any moment! Good thing he spoke up when he did! Otherwise, who knows what scandalous scene might have unfolded. The thought of his pure and kind¨Chearted sister running off with another man made Stirling¡¯s heart ache! Noe finally spoke. ¡°After I got the call, it was Palmer who drove me here. I haven¡¯t told Beckett yet, but I fill him in when I get back¡± The Schnabel kids, though all capable of standing on their own, had a subconscious rule of not keeping secrets from each other. No matter what happened, they would share it with the rest, keeping their family in the loop of their lives! The production manager approached with a cheerful grin. ¡°Stirling, feeling better? Just to be safe, we¡¯ve arranged for a car to take you to the hospital for a check¨Cup!¡± Stirling raised an eyebrow at the manager, his responseced with sarcasm, ¡°Oh, so the cat¡¯s out of the bag, and you¡¯re hoping for some PR damage control now?¡± The manager, caught in the act, sheepishly nodded in admission Somehow, despite efforts to keep things under wraps, news about Stirling and Yabel¡¯s disappearance had exploded everywhere! Stirling¡¯s phone was nearly blown up by calls from the Schnabel family members Yasbel, too, received endless queries from the meda The coincidences were too suspicious to ignore. They couldn¡¯t help but believe it as intentional! Noe pondered for a moment ¡°Stirling, can we hold off on the PR for now?¡± ¡°Of course, we can! Whatever you say, Noe!¡± Stirling didn¡¯t even question why, immediately agreeing to Noe¡¯s suggestion,pletely disregarding the production team¡¯s dismay ¡°Stirling, if we don¡¯t nfy things, the production will suffer a huge loss¡± Noe¡¯s icy gazended on the manager, her look one of dedain that suggested she saw right through him ¡°The main reason Stiding and Yasbel were in danger is because of the production¡¯s securitypses. Whether it was leaking the filming location or allowing them to be attackedte at night, it¡¯s on you¡± The manager tried to defend. ¡°It was an ident. We didn¡¯t anticipate such incidents Noe scoffed. ¡°So, the immediate leak of their discovery just happened on its own? You saw an opportunity to stir up some buzz now that they¡¯re safe! Its like hitting the jackpot with free trending topics Having Stirling and Yasbel rify now means the production doesn¡¯t lose a thing¡± Instead of losing, the production could position itself as a victim in the narrative After all, it was all the fault of those obsessive fans, The manager¡¯s gaze shifted, avoiding eye contact. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, it¡¯s not like that. If we were the ones releasing the news, wouldn¡¯t we be inviting criticism for ourck of security? We¡¯re genuinely concerned about the safety of our cast, we wouldn¡¯t do such a thing!¡± Noe¡¯s contempt was palpable. ¡°Who released those stones can easily be found out¡± Yasbel, spitting out a piece of straw, called Nn avec ¡°Bro, track this down. Nn, without hesitation, whipped out hisptop. The production manager wasnt womed, knowing the weak signal in Glen Vige made inte ess a challenge: one had to practically climb a mountain for a decent connection Yet, they watched as Nn¡¯s fingers flew over the keyboard, his actions a blur, and within three minutes, he turned the screen around. ¡°Ross, it was someone from the production who sold the story, pushing those marketing ounts to spread the news¡± The screen disyed several screenshots of discussions between the director and marketing ounts, all advocating for blowing the news out of proportion Only by making a big deal out of the situation could the production benefit 12 Whether it was spinning the narrative of Stirling being kidnapped by obsessive fans or being harassed in the middle of the night, it was all prime material for publicity. The production could then buy trending spots on social media and arrange a hospital visit for the two, manipting public opinion to its advantage. Noe looked at the screenshots, disdainfully remarking. ¡°It seems the director has thought everything through, knowing exactly how to steer public opinion. But Stirling and Yasbel shouldn¡¯t be used as pawns for your publicity stunts!¡± The director feltered under Noe¡¯s piercing gaze, which seemed to see through everything, finding her more intimidating than Stirling, a seasoned actor. But despite her formidable presence, she was still just a young girl, barely in her first year of college. Surely, she couldn¡¯t understand theplexities of the industry, he thought. A little misdirection should be enough to confuse her. ¡°Ah, Ms. Noe, you might not be aware, but all this buzz is actually beneficial for Stirling and Yasbel. It trantes into real, tangible poprity that will reflect back positively on them. Yourck of familiarity with the industry is understandable, but rest assured, we have Stirling¡¯s best interests at heart!¡± Noe¡¯s smile was sharp. ¡°In Stirling¡¯s best interest, so you leaked his location to obsessive fans? As far as I know, Stirling changed his number after joining the production!¡± The director and the entire production team had Stirling¡¯s new number, along with his agent and the Schnabel family. All ounts were registered under Stirling¡¯s assistant¡¯s name to prevent hardcore fans from track it down! Unless someone had leaked the information in advance, thats how the obsessed fans managed to locate Stirling! The director was panicking! C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. How did Noe, a young girl,e to know about these things? They always kept such deeds under wraps, having developed aplete cycle of hype. who would then show up causing wave to buy a few trending spots on social media for publicity The crew would sell information to the obsessed rbances, and the crew would ride on the Nae must be making wild usations ¡°Ms. Schnabel, you can eat whatever you like, but words should not be thrown around lightly. We have never engaged in such unprofessional conduct¡± Lands ¡°Yeah, Ms. Schnabel, Stirling has been in the showbiz for so many years, he understands how things work. Ms. Noe is just talking nonsense, maybe it¡¯s best she leaves now! They were clearly angered and wanted Noe to leave immediately Stirling erupted, ¡°What do you mean? How dare you tal ter like that? He ced a hand in front of Noe, shielding her by pulling her wrist befund him The man¡¯s piercing gaze turned icy, his presence alone enough to send shivers down the director¡¯s spinel Palmer smiled slightly, calm and collected. ¡°Who just said my quite charming!¡± nce was talking nonsense? Somehow, I find every word she says CHapter 260 CHapter 260 Palmer and Stirling positioned themselves protectively on either side of Noe, like she was some kind of damsel in distress w needed sheltering Yasbel and Nn couldn¡¯t help but raise their eyebrows in surprise. who was their first time witnessing someone actually standing up for their boss! Back in the day, it was always their boss who was front and center shielding them from harm Vasbel cast a curious nce at Stirling, suddenly eager to see his reaction if he ever witnessed their boss, rifle in hand, single¨Chandedly dismantling a dozen members of a rival gang. Given Stirling¡¯s skills, if it ever carne down to an actual fight, chances are he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against their boss. Poor Stirling¡¯s jaw might just hit the floor! Stirling¡¯s voice hardened, ¡°Director, what was that all about? Noe¡¯s right. I¡¯ve overlooked your antics before, thinking we had future projects to consider and didn¡¯t want things to get too tense. But if you speak to my sister like that, consider our cooperation over!¡± Stirling was the entertainment industry¡¯s youngest superstar to achieve a grand m of awards. Losing out on a project with this crew wouldn¡¯t be a loss for him; there were plenty of others lining up to work with Stirling The only reason Stirling was working with the director was out of nostalgia for the first movie they did together when Stirling was just starting out. If not for that, given Stirling¡¯s current status, the director wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of coborating with him again! The director was at a loss for words. Palmer¡¯s gaze tumed icy. ¡°If the head of yourpany can¡¯t even speak properly, I doubt you can produce anything of quality. Just misleading the audience. We won¡¯t be needing your movies on our tforms anymore.¡± Stirling nodded in agreement. That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m thinking!¡± He turned, taking Noe by the hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Noe. We¡¯ll have Jasper sue them, including those obsessed fans. I¡¯m curious to see what¡¯s stronger thew or your so¨Ccalled industry rules!¡± The director and the producer were in panic mode! This was tantamount to cklisting their entire production! The assistant director humedly approached Yasbel. ¡°Yasbel, please, say something. You¡¯ve invested in this movie too.¡± They couldn¡¯t believe everyone was siding with Ms. Schnabell Yasbel dusted off her clothes, standing up. ¡°Boss, when do we start suing? That creep Ellsworth climbing into my room in the middle of the night scared the life out of me! The crew¡¯s been terrifying!¡± The issue with Ellsworth was genuinely unknown to the crew. The Fullers were locals in Glen Vige, and they found out about the movie shooting from the townsfolk Upon seeing Yasbel¡¯s poster online, Ellsworth was immediately taken. A celebrity, beautiful and rich ¨C a dangerousbination that sparked a wicked idea in Ellsworth¡¯s mind! Might as well pin that on the production crew too! Noe raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s sue together. That way, we can get a discount onwyer fees.¡± She didn¡¯t want the Schnabel family to find out about her real rtionship with Yasbel and the others. Those entertainmentpanies were initially set up to support Yasbel¡¯s debut but ended up producing several well¨Cknown stars, making a name in the industry. If the Schnabel family knew thosepanies were hers, they¡¯d probably be worried. To avoidplications, she decided to just proceed with thewsuit normally, covering thewyer fees herself. After all, Azure and Sylvie had already made a fortune off the Schnabel family. The Schnabel family, noticing that Azure¡¯s clothing line suited Noe perfectly, were among the top buyers. Noe couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit guilty every time she saw their names on the order list, followed by significant figures. Palmer was always the top spender Sometimes, Noe wondered how much of her pocket money came from the Schnabel family and Palmer. Yasbel was silent Wasn¡¯t theirpany also owned by their boss? Suing their ownpany and chargingwyer fees! No wonder they said their boss was ruthless, sparing no one, not even herself. Stirling quickly added, ¡°No, no, we won¡¯t charge. I¡¯ll cover Jasper¡¯swyer fees!¡± Yasbel gave him a light look, ¡°At least you¡¯re sensible¡­ But then turned to face Noe¡¯s somewhat cold gaze and quickly added, ¡°But we should still go by the industry standard! Whatever Jasper¡¯s rate is, just give us a discount, and we¡¯ll be good!¡± 09:54 Yasbel was worried if she didn¡¯t say this, Noe might give her a hard time when they got back! Watching their departing figures, the crew members were left spinning in circles, anxious and confused. Hadn¡¯t Stirling and Yasbel always turned a blind eye to their practices? Why the sudden change of heart? The director, desperate, pulled out his phone to dial a secure number. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve got a problem here because of Ms. Schnabel. She¡¯s not letting this minor issue go!¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. A pleased chuckle came from the other end. ¡°Understond. I¡¯ll have someone speak with Ms. Schnabel, If she backs down, we can avoid the lawsuit.¡± The director¡¯s mood quickly changed! On their way back, Stirling looked at Noe with a concerned gaze, thinking she was still troubled by the recent events. ¡°Noe, don¡¯t worry. With me here, no one can bully you¡± He had grown ustomed to the dirt and grime of the entertainment industry over the years, but that didn¡¯t mean he would let it affect his sister! Noe shook her head. ¡°Stirling, has it been tough for you, all these years in the industry?¡± Stirling didn¡¯t expect Noe¡¯s concem to be directed at him, and his heart melted instantly ¡°It¡¯s all part of the job! I got into acting because I genuinely enjoyed it. Plus, let¡¯s be honest, I wasn¡¯t exactly the brainiac my older. brothers were. Jasper went straight from undergrad to a Ph.D., and here I am, barely scraped through with my bachelor¡¯s¡­¡± Stirling said, a touch embarrassed. ¡°Grandpa always imed he didn¡¯t want an actor in the family, but deep down, he was my biggest fan! I caught him once, making ate¨Cnight call to his old buddy in the PR department to give my career a nudge!¡± Marcel was a stickler for tradition, much like Merrick, both were considered quite the intellectuals The family was initially against Stirling¡¯s decision to pursue acting. Yet, one night, as Stirling stayed upte reading scripts, he caught Marcel, squinting through his reading sses at Stirling¡¯s lines and even calling up an old army pal who worked in public rtions! The pride and admiration in his voice were as if Stirling had already made it big! *About that crazed fan incident, that was on me. I won¡¯t let that worry you again.¡± Yasbel chimed in. ¡°Stirling, your biggest w is that you¡¯re too soft¨Chearted. Remember Yvonne Gruber? She caused trouble on set left and right, and there you were, pulling strings for her tsk tsk.¡± Speaking of Yvonne visibly annoyed Stirling. He had just found out it was Yvonne who had paid off Ellsworth to sneak into Verdant Garden with those obsessed fans in the dead of night! CHapter 261 CHapter 261 Verdant Garden¡¯s location was a bit of a puzzle. Adding to its mystery, Noe had intentionally surrounded it with natural barriers to keep unwee guests at bay. Unless someone was an old hunter or a local from the hills, it would be nearly impossible to locate, even with the best GPS If it weren¡¯t for Ellsworth guiding those obsessed fans in, they¡¯d never have found Stirling, even if they knew the general area! Yvonne had paid Ellsworth a tidy sum to sneak those relentless fans into the vige! Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Stirling frowned. ¡°I thought Yvonne wasn¡¯t all bad at first. I figured she was just upset because Noe came back home all of a sudden. But turns out, she¡¯s rotten to the core!¡± Yashel just shrugged. ¡°You thought she wasn¡¯t bad, but look who paid the price! Well, I guess you leamed your lesson the hard way.¡± Stirling was known for his integrity and kindness, a rare find in showbiz. He was always ready to help; even stray cats and dogs found a home with him.. Yasbel couldn¡¯t understand how the Schnabel family raised such a gentle soul in Stirling, yet their eldest was as cold¨Chearted as they It just didn¡¯t add up! Stirling rubbed his face. It won¡¯t happen again, Noe. I had no idea Yvonne was like that¡± Thankfully, Yvonne hadn¡¯t caused any real harm to his sister! Noe never took Wonne senously. Just another schemer trying to stir trouble. Seeing the information on his phone, Stirling gasped in shock! ¡°It was Yvonne who spread rumors about Beckett having a secret child. Back then, it caused such a stir and even led to his girlfriend leaving him!¡± Stirling¡¯s team had dug up everything they could on Yvonne. She had been cautious, using someone else¡¯s identity to contact Ellsworth, a detail Beckett had overlooked. Yvonne was meticulous, always using others IDs for registrations, cutting ties as soon as her dirty work was done. This time, her repeat contact with the same marketer was her undoing. Even her attempts to secretly buy trending spots for her and Palmer¡¯s supposed engagement were exposed! This was news to Noe. ¡°Beckett¡¯s girlfriend?¡± ¡°Yeah, he was actually close to getting married a few years back. But those rumors ruined everything.¡± Noe was puzzled. ¡°But anyone who really knows Beckett wouldn¡¯t lose faith over some gossip ¡°That¡¯s true, but we¡¯re not exactly sure what went down back then.¡± Beckett kept mum, and the Schnabel family, not wanting to upset him, didn¡¯t pry. Now it seemed Yvonne was more entangled in their lives than they knew. ¡°Why would Yvonne do this? We need to tell Becketti¡± After much thought, Stirling decided to call Beckett and share everything, even sending all the findings to the Schnabel siblings¡® group chat The immediate response e was concern for Noe, asking if she had been bullied on set ra: [Come on, Stirling, you¡¯ve got to do better. Noe almost got harassed because of this. I¡¯m disappointed! Jasper asked. [Noe, you okay? Stirling, drop by my office when you can. We need to prepare for awsuit.] Ulrich added: [¡®m going to check Noe¡¯s well¨Cbeing when she gets home! Oh, and Stirling, you come too.) ra teased: [Deckett, maybe it¡¯s time to clear things up with your ex?] Learning about Yvonne¡¯s deeds left the Schnabel siblings in silence. Ulrich regretted not dealing with Yvonne when they had the chance at Larson Pock¡¯s estate. After a long silence, Beckett simply expressed concem for Noe and Stirling¡¯s health. [We¡¯ll handle this. Let¡¯s not worry Mom and Dad; they¡¯re enjoying their vacation. Just make sure to get checked out] Trying not to worry his siblings, Beckettter added: [She¡¯s married now. The truth doesn¡¯t matter anymore.] Those who didn¡¯t believe in him before might see this truth as an intrusion on their peaceful life. Reflecting on the past, Beckett realized It wasn¡¯t ack of faith in their love, but rather in him. 00:54 After a moment, Beckett dialed a number ¡°Ms. Darcy, sorry to bother you Has Noe¡¯s exemption request been processed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s underway, but Garrick is being difficut Mr. Schnabel, could you possibly visit the campus?¡± Even at Imperial University, they¡¯ve had students apply for exemptions under various circumstances. Darcy had never seen Garrick block an exemption process before, but as the Design Academy¡¯s dean and the university president, his signature was needed. ¡°Alright III be there in half an hour¡± Ulrich¡¯s After being checked at the hospital and enduring Ulrich¡¯s long winded concerns, Noe and Stirling were finally allowed to return home. Yasbel insisted she was too spooked to sleep alone and needed a night of deep conversation, so she apanied Noe to the Schnabel Manor As they got out of the car and watched Stirling and Yasbel head into the courtyard, Noe paused. She turned to look at Palmer standing behind her, seeing her own reflection in his eyes, filled to the brim with emotions. Yet, there was an almost imperceptible sense of hurt and disappointment. Recalling a conversation at the hospital, Yasbel had pointed out how Noe seemed too indifferent towards Palmer, not showing the affection expected of a fiancee Moved by the thought. Noe stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Palmers lean waist! Her presence instantly enveloped his world, her soft body pressing against him. Palmers eyes lit up with ecstasy, a beautiful smile curving his lips, his pupils dting in the moment! This was the first time Noe had initiated a hug! ¡°Noe Noe whispered, her voice as faint as a mosquitos, ¡°The hug I promised you in Glen Vige.¡± She was not one to break her promises; if she promised Palmer a hug, she wouldn¡¯t go back on her word. With that, she ran off, her ears burning red. dashing past Stirling and Yasbel into the house, a cold?¡± Stirling, puzzled, remarked, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into her? Why is her face so red? Could Noe be coming down with a c ¡°A cold? Since when do colds make your ears t turn red!¡± Yasbel thought. Having known Noe for years, Yasbel had never seen her catch a cold. Yasbel¡¯s lips twitched as she turned to nce at Palmer, who was still standing there with a silly grin. Such a priceless smile! At Impenal University, a sleek ck sedan, understated yet luxurious, parked at the front entrance. The car¡¯s interior light was on, casting a warm glow on the man¡¯s refined and elegant features, entuating his chiseled profile, Darcy jogged to open the car door and slid in. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Schnabel. A meeting came up unexpectedly and just wrapped up.¡± Beckett put away the documents he was reading, his expression unreadable, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Huh? I thought we were here to discuss Noe¡¯s exemption application¡­ Beckett¡¯s voice camed a decisive note that brooked no argument ¡°Ms. Darcy, your oversight made me wait an additional two hours. Nobody has made me wait this long except for dyed flights. Do you really expect me to discuss this on an empty stomach?¡± CHapter 262 CHapter 262 While Darcy was still daydreaming, Beckett had already started the ear and was driving away Watching the scenery zoom by, Darcy couldn¡¯t help but feel the air inside the car was a bit awkward. After all, she was the one at fault today. Ast¨Cminute meeting piled up with work, and shepletely forgot about Beckett. She didn¡¯t even notify him, making him wait outside the university for so long. ¡°Your car choice is quite low-key.¡± ¡°upational hazard. I don¡¯t need a car to make a statement.¡± Beckett¡¯s job sometimes involved liaisons with the finance sector and with Marcel¡¯s status, being too shy could be sensitive. Being the CEO of Rising Glory Group and the future heir to the Schnabel Group, no one would look down on him no matter what he drove. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about today, a sudden department meeting kept you waiting.¡± Beckett¡¯s lips curved into a self¨Cdeprecating, bitter smile. The time you¡¯ve made me wait isn¡¯t just limited to these two hours.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± His voice was so low, Darcy thought she had misheard. By the time she asked again, Beckett had already stepped out of the car, and Darcy hurried after him. Beckett chose a quaint bistro, seemingly under the Rising Glory Group¡¯s extensive dining portfolio. After sitting down, Darcy apologized, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, this one¡¯s on me. For Noe¡¯s exemption request, Garrick said she needs to discuss it with him personally.¡± Garrick wasn¡¯t known for making things difficult for students. Yet, he was stubbom about Noe¡¯s exemption process, only relenting after much persuasion from Darcy, demanding Noe to personally apply to him. Beckett nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let Noe know. What would you li ¡°Anything¡¯s fine!¡± like to eat?¡± Beckett casually ordered a few dishes, speaking in a wless and effortless foreignnguage, choosing dishes that Darcy was familiar with. He still remembered what she liked? It must be out of habit and politeness As they waited for their food, Beckett carefully reviewed the documents Darcy had given him. The process wasn¡¯tplicated, but it was stuck at needing the principal¡¯s signature. Then, his phone rang, and Beckett answered casually, his tone instantly soft and tender upon hearing ra¡¯s voice. ¡°Tm out for dinner, will be homete. Tell Noe that Garrick wants to see her about the exemption. If she doesn¡¯t want to, it¡¯s fine; we can look at other colleges.¡± Darcy realized then that Beckett was utterly indulgent when it came to his sister Noe. For him, everything revolved around what Noe wanted. ra countered, ¡°Switching colleges might not solve the problem I think Garrick is doing this on purpose! I¡¯ll talk to Noe. Pleasee home soon, BecketL ¡°Alright, don¡¯t wait up for me, go to bed early. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. The man opposite her, surrounded by the warm glow of the restaurant, looked effortlessly elegant. ¡°He must be talking to his fianc¨¦e, right?¡± Darcy instinctively thought, as she had never heard Beckett speak so tenderly before! So, apart from his sister, another woman also enjoyed his tender care. Darcy looked away, casually mentioning. ¡°She seems to get along with Noe too.¡± ¡°Of course, Noe is her sister too.¡± ra¡¯s care for Noe was well¨Cknown, often noticing things even Sienna missed Beckett seemed to know what Darcy was thinking, adding, ¡°She¡¯s my sister too, ra.¡± Darcy then remembered that the Schnabel family had indeed adopted a daughter. But why did Beckett feel the need to exin this to her? Even if the caller was his sister, he still had a fianc¨¦e with a wedding date sel The Schnabel family did have many daughters. The one who had approached her back then also imed to be a Schnabel daughter Beckett¡¯s gaze swept over Darcy¡¯s face, casually asking. ¡°How have you been?¡± ¡°Pretty good. Work¡¯s going well, family¡¯s happy. Mr. Schnabel seems to be doing well too. Won¡¯t your fianc¨¦e mind you having dinner blone with me?¡± ¡°I have dinner with different investors every month if every dinner needed an exnation, I couldn¡¯t do my So, in his eyes, dining with her was just another business meeting? If it weren¡¯t for Noe¡¯s situation, he wouldn¡¯t be here with her After dinner. Beckett nced at his watch. ¡°Could you wait a moment? I¡¯ll have my driver take you home. I need to head back to the office¡± Darcy quickly declined. ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got a rideing!¡± Beckett nodded understandingly. Is it your husband? That¡¯s good then. Thank you for your help with Noe¡¯s matter, Goodbye¡± ¡°It¡¯s what i should do.¡± Darcy epted his thanks, and by the time she realized, Beckett¡¯s car had already sped off, leaving behind a trail of exhaust Not far from the crossroad A car parked in the dark, its upant lighting a cigarette. The smoke blurred his features. After confirming that the woman had left the bistro and gotten into a cat Beckett took a drag of his almost finished cigarette. The man who picked her up looked young and matched her well, his demeanor was likely to her taste. Beckett muttered to himself with a bitter smile. Beckett, what are you really expecting?¡± Did he need to make sure she was doing well, that her life had moved on without a trace of him, to be satisfied? Such behavior was foolish. But all he wanted was to ensure her safety, nothing more! Beckett casually snuffed out his cigarette and maneuvered the car back onto the road. In the heart of Serene Haven, nestled amid the sprawling estates, stood the majestic Phoenix Tower, within which the Schnabel Manor imed its prestigious ce. ra ryed the message she received from Beckett over the phone to Noe. ¡°He wants me toe to the office in person to apply?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what he said. If you don¡¯t want to, forget about it. I can reapply for colleges for you, even abroad if you like!¡± Noe frowned slightly, but her mind quickly sorted through her thoughts. Garrick had no real reason to stonewall her with bureaucracy, it was just an excuse to see her. As the director, Garrick had plenty of reasons to meet with her ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go.¡± It was a good opportunity anyway, as she had her own reasons for wanting to see Garrick There were items left by her grandmother that Garrick might still have, and Noe was curious to find out what exactly Garrick was up ra, clutching a teddy beary sprawled on her bed. ¡°Noe, that person wants to meet up. Should I go?¡± The only person who could make ra this conflicted had to be none other than Jacob Pock! CHapter 263 CHapter 263 Beckett had just brought m back from the research facility when he decided to meet up with Jaent. They sat down in the conference room at Rising Glory Group¡¯s headquarters for a lengthy chat, all about ra Beckett wanted Jacob to seriously consider m¡¯s situation I called Mr. Pock her solely for ra¡¯s sake. ra might be a Schnabel by name, but she¡¯s also a Pock. If Mr. Pock can¡¯t treat her right, just give us a heads up. The Schnabel family can take good care of her Jacob was only made aware of ra¡¯s ordeal at theb through Beckett. He had thought that bring in a differentb from his own, ra could focus solely on her research without distractions. Little did he know, she was still being harassed! ¡°I look into it, and make sure ra doesn¡¯t suffer any injustice. As for anything else¡­ I¡¯d like to meet ra before making any decisions¡± When it came to matters conceming ra, his hands were tied. Beckett agreed, and they shifted the conversation to ra¡¯s childhood, a bittersweet moment for Jacob. After Beckett left for another meeting. Jacobs sat alone, hands covering his face, his shoulders shaking: When ra received Jacob¡¯s call, she waspletely flustered! Holding onto her stuffed toy, she was tom. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Noe, ever so considerate, asked, ¡°Do you want to see him? If not, forget it. But if you do, then let¡¯s go.¡± ra sat up in bed with a start! ¡°Maybe you and Mr. Pock shoulde with me?¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. While she expected to apany ra, why did Palmer need to join them? ¡°Think about it. You¡¯re on my side, and Mr. Pock represents the Pock family. It¡¯s only fair we each have someone.¡± Besides, having Noe was mainly for moral support. But considering her sister¡¯s naivety and kindness, what if Jacob managed to sway her? Noe was speechless. It was indeed a well¨Cthought¨Cout n. The idea of representing families in such a manner was new to Noe. ra had covered all bases, patting Noe on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s also a chance to see who Mr. Pock chooses between his family and you. If he chooses you, it shows he¡¯s heartless. If not, then he¡¯s not the man for you!¡± How straightforward. Noe couldn¡¯t help but twitch at theer of her eyes. ¡°ra, are you nning to go all out against Jacob?¡± Was it really ¡°No, no, the most important thing right now.¡± ra pulled the covers over her head. ¡°is to sleep! We can worry about those troubles tomorrow morning. Remember to bring Mr. Pock, Noells. If I push Jacob too far and he wants to hit me, Mr. Pock better step in, or I¡¯m not marrying my sister off to him.¡± Noe sighed in resignation. So, ra¡¯s real intention all along was to use Palmer as muscle? She sure had quite the imagination! The next morning, ra came downstairs with bags under her eyes, joining the Schnabel family already gathered for breakfast. Marcel nced at her. ¡°ra, were you up all night gaming?¡± Yawning. ra took her seat. ¡°No, just couldn¡¯t sleep, thinking about meeting Jacob.¡± Sexton paused from thering his toast with peanut butter. ¡°You¡¯re nning to see him? It might be good to talk things out. Remember, I¡¯m always on your side.¡± Ever since ra returned from Phoenix Lab, she hadn¡¯t seen Jacob. After transferring all his assets and shapes to ra upon learning that Sexton had acknowledged her, Jacob spent most of his time in theb. Sexton was still worried about how ra would feel upon seeing Jacob again. Responding to Sexton¡¯s concerned gaze, ra reassured him, ¡°it¡¯s okay, Grandpa. I¡¯m taking Noe and Palmer with me!¡± ¡°Ah, good, good. Jacob won¡¯t stand a chance against Palmer. If he gives you any trouble, let Palmer handle him! If anything gets broken, I will pay for it. And if Palmer doesn¡¯t back you up, you just let me know. I¡¯ll take care of him and Jacob together!¡± Elera promised with a print Marcel scoffed. ¡°With your frail body? Who could you possibly beat? Just don¡¯t end up hurting yourself; that¡¯d be the real joke¡± The banter between the two elders was a usual scene in the Schnabel family. Noe noticed Becketting downstairs, still in his pajamos, with dark circles particrly noticeable. ¡°Good morning. Beckett. Did you not sleep well?¡± ¡°Thanks for asking Noe. Just stayed upte reviewing financial reports¡± Jasper was there, his mboyant shirt barely buttoned, revealing his pale corbone and seductive Adam¡¯s apple. Beckett couldn¡¯t help but wince at the sight. ¡°Jasper, you¡¯re awyer. Dress appropriately.¡± ¡°Beckett, I¡¯m not in court today. Just meeting a client to discuss a case. Doesn¡¯t matter what I wear¡± Except for court days, Jasper¡¯s wardrobe was notoriously shy. He tugged at his cor, unting the embroidery Noe had done for him, leaving her somewhere between amusement and dismay. Though Azure¡¯s handmade embroidery was pricey, it wasn¡¯t something one would expect a high¨C profilewyer like Jasper to cherish so much. But then again, it was all because her brothers loved her dearly! Jasper leaned back in his chair, fixing Beckett with a questioning look. ¡°Beckett, are you seriously not going to reach out to my ex¨Csister¨Cinw to clear the air? It¡¯s such a shame how things ended between you two.¡± Without looking up, Beckett replied, ¡°And what? You expect me to reach out to a married woman for what exactly? To meddle in her marriage, wreck her home, or be the guy sneaking around in the shadows?¡± Jasper just shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Guess that¡¯s off the table then. Some things just aren¡¯t meant to be.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve got my hands full with some tricky international partnerships for thepany right now. I need you to take care of Noe¡¯s college stuff in the meantime. Give me a call if you need anything. I¡¯ll text you Noe¡¯s teacher¡¯s contact infoter.¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Jasper was more than happy to spend more time with Noe since Beckett had been monopolizing all her time until now, It looked like he was finally going to get his chance! After breakfast, Jasper hopped into his shy red sports car, leaving Serene Haven in a blur as he whistled and dialed the number Beckett had sent him. ¡°Is this Jasper? It¡¯s Darcy. I¡¯m at the caf¨¦ we agreed on. Can I get you anything to drink?¡± Darcy¡¯s greeting caught Jasper off guard! He quickly checked the contact info again, realizing it was actually the client he had arranged to meet today! ¡°No, that¡¯s alright. Ill be there in a sh, Ms. Darcy. Just hang tight!¡± CHapter 264 CHapter 264 Ten minutester, a cloud of dust kicked up outside the coffee shop. A bright red sports car screeched to a halt at the entrance, and out stepped Jasper, d in an exclusive, mboyant floral shirt paired with trendy hip¨Chop wide¨Cleg pants. His meticulously styled hair showcased several colors. He whistled at the valet, tossing him the keys with a flick of his wrist. This man, exuding fashion sense from every pore, initially didn¡¯t catch Darcy¡¯s attention until he boldly took the seat right in front of her! Darcy was nearly blinded by the sparkle of at least seven rings on his hand under the incandescent lights. He smirked, an carring dangling from one ear his handsome featuresplemented by his shy outfit, almost making Darcy mistake him for some pop star fresh off a music video shoot! ¡°Hello, partner at Four Seasons Law Firm, Jasper.¡± ¡°Jasper?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me. Sorry if I startled you¡± Jasper smoothly presented his attomey¡¯s license and ID to prove his identity, a routine he was all too familiar with by now. It was evident that he had surprised quite a few clients befom. After checking the documents, Darcy finally rxed. ¡°Hello, Jasper. I¡¯ve already briefed you on the matter. It¡¯s about an inheritance Issue Despite his shy appearance, Jasper¡¯s professional knowledge and ethic were impable, quickly grasping the entire situation from the documents Darcy had prepared. ¡°So, you¡¯re looking to reim your father¡¯s inheritance in the best possible way? However, if I may be so o bold, given your stepmother¡¯s marital status to your father, the portion of the inheritance you¡¯re entitled to might not be substantial Darcy nodded. ¡®Tunderstand, but I believe they weren¡¯t legally married.¡± your marital ¡°Commonw mariages under certain conditions can still grant a spouse inheritance rights. Another question, what¡¯s your status? This could also impact your inheritance rights.¡± I¡¯m single, never mamed, and so is my sister¡± Jasper snapped his fingers, tucking his pen back into the pocket of his mboyant shirt ¡°Great, I¡¯ve got all I need to know. Your case isn¡¯tplicated, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to maximize the benefits for you and your ¡°Thank you Jasper. Il pay your fee ording to your standard rates!¡± Jasper shed a bright smile. ¡°No need for that. You¡¯re Noe¡¯s teacher, and I¡¯m Noe¡¯s brother. Il give you a 50% discount! We¡¯ll be seeing more of each other regarding Noe¡¯s matters!¡± Darcy hadn¡¯t expected that the man she¡¯d been talking to was Beckett¡¯s brother! She subconsciously squeezed the bag on herp, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Beckett Schnabel always the one handling Noe¡¯s affairs?¡± ¡°Beckett¡¯s been busy, he took thest flight out for business meetings! From now on, you cane to me for anything regarding Noe! Pleasure doing business!¡± Jasper¡¯sugh was open and hearty as he extended his hand to Darcy. ¡°Pleasure doing business, Jasper,¡± Meanwhile, Palmer opened the car door, letting Noe and ra step out The car stopped in front of a quaint courtyard nestled within Imperial City, its antique charm standing out amid the surrounding skyscrapers, like a hidden gem exuding elegance. The weing pines at the entrance, clearly worth a fortune, hinted at the restaurant¡¯s prestigious status just from its decor. ra was about toment on the impressive appearance of the ce when the owner greated them at the door bowing respectfully to Noe and Palmer ¡®Dear guests, Mr. Pock awaits youth the private room. The financial report for thest quarter is also in your office! Noe nodded slightly. ¡°Thank you¡± It dawned on ra that this upscale restaurant was owned by her sister, and it seemed likely that Palmer had gifted the restaurant to Noel might like¡± Noe turned to ra, smiling lightly. ¡°ra, there are a few dishes here you n Choosing this venue was also meant to make re feel more at ease. Jacob awaited them in the private room, a middle¨Caged man in a dark blue shirt standing tall and serene, like bamboo swaying in the wind, his presencemanding attention. You¡¯ve arrived. Please, have a seat¡± Palmer guided Noe to one side, leaving the seats across for ra and Jacob. ra furrowed her brow slightly but sat down without a word. ¡°What did you want to discuss?¡± ¡°I wanted to ask if you¡¯d be willing to return to the Pock family? It¡¯s not about changing your l But id like the chance to publicly acknowledge you.¡± nama you can remain a Schnabel, N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. He had pondered over his decision, realizing his selfishness had caused ra much distress. Initially unaware of her existence, he chose to avoid the responsibility upon learning about her ¡°I¡¯m not a great father, notpared to Tristan. But you shouldn¡¯t refuse what¡¯s rightfully yours. You don¡¯t have to acknowledge me, but you shouldn¡¯t have to suffer,¡± ra scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m doing just fine with the Schnabels. It¡¯s you who¡¯s pitiable.¡± She even patted Jacob on the shoulder. ¡°Mr. Pock, life must be tough for you- losing a wife and having a child who doesn¡¯t acknowledge you¡± or words. Jacob was at a loss for ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. You just feel sorry for me and want to publicly acknowledge me, right? There¡¯s no need to make such a self¨Cgratifying gesture. Being a daughter of the Schnabel family doesn¡¯t humiliate me a bit. The few grievances in my life mostly came from you. If you think I don¡¯t want to see you, then just stay away Huh, when you secretly did a paternity test and found out I was your child, why didn¡¯t you stay away then? Now suddenly you care about your dignity?¡± She rolled her eyes, unable to hold back her sarcasm. ¡°Mr. Pock, you should be grateful you didn¡¯t know about me when I was younger. With your twisted personality, you could never have raised a confident beautiful, optimistic, and strong girl like me!¡± Jacob knew he was in the wrong, and ra¡¯s words held weight and truth. Rubbing his forehead, he nced at Noe and Palmer sitting across from him. ¡°Palmer, why don¡¯t you and Noe go for a walk? I need to have a word with ra in private¡± After Noe nodded in agreement with ra, she stood up and left the booth with Palmer ¡°They might chat for a while. Shall we go to the office?¡± ¡°As long as I¡¯m with you, anywhere works.¡± Noe looked down at her hand intertwined with Palmer¡¯s. Somehow, neither the hug they shared before nor holding hands now seemed as bad as she thought Once Noe left, ra quickly took her ce across from Jacob ¡°Let¡¯s hear it then. What else do you want to say?¡± Jacob¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°ra, can you¡­ give me another chance? I¡¯ve never been a dad before. I don¡¯t know how to bond with you. I messed up, but I can change! I¡¯ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I¡¯m really envious of Tristan. I¡¯d love to have a normal father¨Cdaughter rtionship with you. Can you give me that chance?¡± ra sighed softly, a sarcastic smile ying on her lips. ¡°Mr. Pock, you might be new to being a father, but you were a child once. When you were little, what did you expect from your parents? To avoid you or to im they cared while never showing up? You need to understand, it¡¯s not that I haven¡¯t given you a chance; it¡¯s that you never chose me to begin with.¡± ra curled up, her slender back forming an arch as her shoulders trembled slightly. Her voice choked with emotion. ¡°I had already epted that my parents didn¡¯t love me that much. Why do you have to reopen my wounds and tell me an even more painful truth?¡± CHapter 265 CHapter 265 Jacob was all over the ce, a bundle of nerves Please, dont cry. It¡¯s all my On his way to see her, Jacob had thought a lot. His life had been a series of failures, except for his work in theb. Facing his only daughter, he was at a loss for how to approach her without pushing her away. ¡°ra, I didn¡¯te to see you because I was afraid you¡¯d find me annoying. I¡¯ve called Tristan several times¡± At first. Tristan wouldn¡¯t give Jacob the time of day. It was only after Sienna mediated that Tristan agreed to talk! Worried that ra might not believe him, Jacob quickly showed her the texts on his phone. They were all conversations between Tristan and Jacob, mostly about how to take care of ra. Tristan¡¯s attitude was rough, but it was clear Jacob was trying, all for ra¡¯s sake. Cut the excuses. Look at Noe, she¡¯s hardly been home. Would she say her parents don¡¯t love her? It¡¯s all on you!] If it wasn¡¯t for ra, I wouldn¡¯t bother arguing with you!] If all else fails, work more, eam more, and give it all to ra if you can¡¯t be there, at least show your support with a hefty check. If you can¡¯t do that, then what¡¯s the point?) Pointing at the message, Jacob said seriously, ¡°I think there¡¯s some truth to it, so I¡¯ve been working hardtely, and I¡¯ve been depositing money into your ount!¡± ra was baffled. She had received a sum of money a few days ago and had no idea where it came from. She thought it might have been Tristan or Beckett, too busy with her experiments to check her bank app. Turns out, it was all from Jacob! Tristan¡¯s parenting philosophy was ¡°where the money is, the love is.¡± ra looked down at the middle¨Caged man kneeling in front of her, his eyes red. The Pock men all shared a striking resemnce, and Jacob, with his looks and status at the institute, was considered quite a catch, ¡°ra, III do anything you ask!¡± ra raised an eyebrow. ¡°All your papers list me as the primary author?? Jacob said seriously, ¡°I can¡¯t promise that for coborative work, but I make you the primary author on all my personal papers!¡± To any researcher, this was an attractive offer. Then I want to meet Loadstar! Arrange that, and III give you a chance!¡± Loadstar, a rising star in the research world, was ra¡¯s idol. ess to Pris Star was tightly controlled, and she had only met her price. Jacob pondered for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s a bit challenging, but there¡¯s a science summiting up. Loadstar should be there. If she isn¡¯t, I figure something out!¡± Next door, in the office, the restaurant¡¯s financial statements and quarterly business reports were spread out on Noe¡¯s desk. ¡°I hope nothing¡¯s wrong with ra and Uncle Jacob.¡± ¡°Uncle Jacob knows what he¡¯s doing. He wants to make things right with ra.¡± Noe looked up at Palmer standing in front of her ¡°You didn¡¯t have toe. Sorry for the trouble.¡± If not for ra¡¯s request, there was no need to involve Palmer. Even though Palmer, as the major shareholder of the Pock Group, was busy with thepany¡¯s affairs, he still found time for this. Palmer chuckled, his hand affectionately patting Noe¡¯s head. ¡°Being with you is never a bother. Besides, the situation between ra and Uncle Jacob is a family matter. I should be thanking my fianc¨¦e for joining me.¡± Palmer admired the girl sitting beside him./ Bathed in sunlight, her delicate features were as exquisite as porcin art, her hair cascading down like mist. Feeling warm, Noe had shed her jacket, revealing a square¨Cnecked dress that showcased her slender corbones Palmer¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. Somehow, he felt restless. ¡°Last time, you ran off too quickly. Can I hold you a bit longer this time?¡± Last time, before he could react, the girl in his arms had darted away, as cute as a bunny. Despite knowing his ¡°bunny¡± had sharp ws and hidden secrets, Palmer couldn¡¯t help but neo Noe as a precious girl.. His fianc¨¦e, with eyes so pure and clear, made him, a man ustomed to darkness, feel a tingling sensation just from looking at her. Stapler 265 Seeking light was his instinct! Palmer wrapped his arms around Noe, his head resting on her shoulder, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.. ¡°You ¡°Noe¡¯s heartbeat sped up. He always maintained a respectful distance, and thinking he might be tired, Noe hesitated to push him away. The office door swung open, and ra¡¯s voice got stuck in her throat. ¡°Noe¡­¡± Upon entering, ra found Palmer¡¯s hands around Noe¡¯s waist, his head nestled on her shoulder, and Noe¡¯s hand on his shoulder a Scene of intimacy and tendemess. ¡°Sorry to interrupt. Carry on!¡± ra wanted to p herself. What luck she had, always walking in on Palmer and Noe¡¯s intimate moments! ra could feel Palmer¡¯s icy gaze without even looking up. She forced herself to ask, ¡°Are you guys hungry?¡± Noe pushed Palmer away and approached ra. ¡°Did you talk it out?¡± ¡°Sort of. He agreed to let me meet my idol, Loadstar! If I really get to meet Loadstar, I guess I¡¯ll give him a chance.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Just for meeting Loadstar, you¡¯d forgive him?¡± Was Loadstar that important? Indeed, there was a scientific summiting up, but Noe hadn¡¯t nned on attending. ra wrapped her arms around Noe¡¯s waist, a yful smirk on her lips. ¡°If he could score me a ticket to see Loadstar, make me the primary author for his research paper, and throw a heap of cash my way for sports cars and mansions, I¡¯d say let¡¯s roll with it! Even if it means a bit of a compromise Noe bit back a smile, her voiceced with amusement. ¡°Ah, such a sacrifice¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. But what mattered most was that ra felt Jacob¡¯s concem for her. It might not have been overwhelming, but catching snippets of his conversation with Tristan, ra knew she had a father figure worth admiring. She couldn¡¯t let her whimsy cause Tristan unnecessary worry or sadness. If it meant bringing a bit more joy to her family, ra was ready to bend a little. Noe squeezed ra¡¯s hand gently, her voice soft. ¡°Whatever you decide, ra, I¡¯m right here with you. I hope you¡¯re doing it for yourself, not just for anyone else. Your happiness is crucial, and I¡¯m sure our parents and brothers would back you up too.¡± Noe understood that ra was the type to put her family¡¯s happiness before her own, even to her own detriment. When she first came home, ra¡¯s absence was also her way of ensuring Noe felt bnced and valued. Tears brimming in her eyes, ra hugged Noe tight. Oh, her little sister was nothing short of an angel! Between bites at dinner, Noe shot a message to Mizar. [About that research summit we talked about, count me in.] CHapter 266 CHapter 266 [Boss, since when did you start caring about these conferences?) Pris Star gets bombarded with invites every year Noe always thought of them as nothing more than gatherings of so¨Ccalled Industry Insiders putting on airs. Pris Star had its own well¨Coiled machine internally. There wasn¡¯t any need towork or expand resources at these conferences. It was the organizers who were desperate to connect with Pris Star by any means necessary. [Ive changed my mind. How¡¯s the investigation going? [Pheeda managed to snag a medical report on Lavinia Richardson, and it looks fishy. You better take a look yourself.] Reviewing the medical report on her phone, Noe¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. She¡¯d had her suspicions about Lavinia¡¯s condition and had Pris Star¡¯s people look into it. The data in the report only confirmed her hunch! Seeing Noe engrossed in her phone, Palmer ced some peeled shrimp on her te. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Pris Star¡¯s intemalmunications were in code, indecipherable to those not trained to understand it, Noe quickly sent a message to Professor Calvin and put away her phone. ¡°Nothing. Just discussing Grandpa¡¯s medication with Professor Calvin. And Grandpa Sexton¡¯s prescriptions seemed off. This moming. I spotted a few discrepancies.¡± Now responsible for Sexton and Marcel¡¯s health, Noe asionally gave the old gentlemen massages. However, Marcel, not wanting to burden his granddaughter, often had Uinch, his strong and knowledgeable grandson, do it instead. Spotting issues with Sexton¡¯s medication that morning had raised Noe¡¯s concern. ¡°Grandpa¡¯s medication was off?¡± ¡°It seems Grandpa Sexton caught a cold and chose his own medication.¡± There were a few more medications Noe needed to discuss with Calvin. Calvin¡¯s reply came quickly [You are interested in a case? Great, swing by the hospital when you have time, and we¡¯ll talk.] [See youter today.] After replying. Noe put away her phone. ¡°Sorry for interrupting the meal,¡± Jacob quickly interjected. ¡°No worries! Whether you¡¯re checking on the old man¡¯s health or ying games, it¡¯s all good here. Palmer spoils you rotten!¡± While he spoke, he worried that Palmer might not express himself well and nudged him under the table. Palmer chuckled helplessly. ¡°Of course, Noe can do whatever she pleases here. Although, if it¡¯s gaming. I hope she¡¯ll y with me.¡± His tone was filled with adoration. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ra shivered at his words. ¡°You better keep your word, or Noe might not marry you! You wouldn¡¯t believe how many folks at theb have been asking me for Noe¡¯s contact info!¡± But ra hadn¡¯t given it to a single one. Those balding researchers, despite their hairless heads, were dreaming of being with her sweet and innocent sister! Jacob tumed serious. ¡°ra, got your eye on anyone?¡± ra rolled her eyes. ¡°Why would I fall for someone who¡¯s worse at experiments, has less hair, less money, less looks, and throws their back out lifting a water jugpared to me? I¡¯ve called several Sir before leaming they¡¯re younger than me!¡± The mere thought made ra see stars. Men like Jacob, who found a partner in theb, were rare gems. ra had seen photos of a young Jacob at Sexton¡¯s ce; it was no wonder a young Lavinia fell for him. ra kept Lavinia¡¯s condition from Jacob, It was Lucian who said Lavinia was frail and couldn¡¯t handle stress. Jacob nodded. ¡°You¡¯re young, so so no rush for love. As for thatb mess, FL handle it.¡± ¡°Can you, though? Mr. Pock, I thought you hated the backstabbing in theb?¡± ¡°When it¡¯s about you, like or dislike doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s all important.¡± Bara smirked. After dinner, Noe had the kitchen pack some meals, nning to take them to Ulrich still tied up in surgery Jacob checked his watch. ¡°Noe, sorry, but I need to borrow Palmer for a bit I retum himnter.¡± 09:54 apter 266 His tone made it seem as though Palmer was Noe¡¯s to lend. They were merely engaged, Jacob didn¡¯t need her permission to take Palmer. Yet, Jacob made it sound perfectly natural, and Palmer seemed to have no objections. Noe merely nodded. ¡°As you wish¡± Jacob patted Palmer on the shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s pick up your grandma. She¡¯s anxious to return after hearing about ra Palmer¡¯s grandmother, a recluse living in a nursing home, seldom wished to see visitors, not even her own grandchildren. However, news of her second son having a daughter and wanting to see Palmer¡¯s fianc¨¦e had her eager to leave. Palmer nced at Noe, exining softly. Tve mentioned my grandmother before¨Cshe¡¯s a tough character. I didn¡¯t want to scare you, so I thought we¡¯d wait. We¡¯ll arrange a meeting when the time¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Fine by me.¡± Palmer and Jacob were nervous about meeting Old Mrs. Pock! Knowing her reputation for being peculiar, Palmer wasn¡¯t sure how she¡¯d react to Noe and feared she might say something off¨Cputting. It was better to meet her first, give her a heads¨Cup, and avoid scaring off his fianc¨¦e! At the hospital, in the emergency department, Noe ced the packed lunchbox she was carrying on Ulrich¡¯s office desk. ra pointed towards the ward. ¡°I think I just saw Grandpa Lucian there, I¡¯ll go check on him. Can you wait here for Ulrich? And hey, if a stranger tries to chat you up, just ignore them, okay?¡± Noe sighed in exasperation. ¡°I¡¯m not a toddler, ra.¡± The Schnabels always treated Noe like a child, often seeming eager to do everything for her. No sooner had ra left than Calvin barged into the office. ¡°Wow, that smells amazing. I haven¡¯t had lunch either, and Dr. Schnabel¡¯s surgery won¡¯t be over for a while. Maybe I¡¯ll just help myself!¡± Noe replied coolly, ¡°Not happening. Hands off.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so unfair!¡± He handed Noe the medical files he had prepared earlier, his eyes wide with feigned sadness as his hand sneakily reached for the lunchbox Noe had prepared. Without looking up. Noe said, ¡°The two boxes on the left are yours; don¡¯t touch the rest.¡± Calvin gasped in surprise. He knew she wouldn¡¯t let him starve! Noe¡¯s attention remained fixed on the medical files in her hands. She was surprised. ¡°So, my suspicions were correct. Lavinia¡¯s illness is due to external stressors and medication reactions. Which meant, someone had been deliberately agitating Lavinia¡¯s mind, causing her to break down n time and again! CHapter 267 CHapter 267 ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It¡¯s not every day you take an interest in a patient. What¡¯s up with Ms. Lavinia Richardson?¡± Noe casually handed the medical file to Calvin. ¡°I suspect someone¡¯s been messing with her head on purpose.¡± The Richardsons had kept Lavinin sheltered very well, having her stay at the estate all these years. Calvin put down his fork, looking serious. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my initial suspicion. I¡¯ll need to see the patient to know more.¡± ¡°Alright, she¡¯s due for a follow¨Cup in a few days. You can join me then.¡± After a moment of silence, Noe looked up. ¡°Did Grandpa Sexton get you to prescribe something?¡± Calvin¡¯s hand trembled! He had intended to brush it off with a vague response, but meeting Noe¡¯s clear gaze, he felt as though she could see right through him! The words he had ready died on his lips, and he could only manage a wry smile. ¡°Can¡¯t hide anything from you, can I? If you went into medicine, the Schnabels would have two genius doctors on their hands! Yeah, Sexton did have me prescribe him something. I checked him out, and his health hasn¡¯t been greattely. You noticed too, didn¡¯t you?¡± Noe nodded, her expression somber. Sienna had mentioned it offhand recently; Sexton had been very sleepy and developed a craving for strong vors in his meals. At his age, it¡¯s not unusual for health issues to crop up, especially since he had surgery not too long ago and hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet. ¡°Sexton didn¡¯t want me to tell you or your family about his condition, but he knows about his own health.¡± Calvin sounded slightly guilty, aware that Palmer might give him trouble if he found out. However, with Sexton insisting on secrecy, he dared not call Palmer either! Noe sighed softly. ¡°Let me see his medical file, and I¡¯ll take over prescribing his medication.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re overseeing it, Sexton might have a bit more time.¡± Relieved that Noe didn¡¯t press the issue, Calvin quickly passed Sexton¡¯s medical file to her. 88 F2 2 5 8 9 8 9 2 = 2 8 ¡À 8 8 2 ¡À 5 2 2 2 2 2 3 Sexton¡¯s condition was heart¨Crted; he had undergone coronary bypass surgery years ago, and now, at his age, some of his organs had irreversibly started to decline! He must have realized the severity of his condition, secretly getting Calvin to prescribe medication while acting as if nothing was wrong, keeping it from his family. Calvin had other patients to see, so after a brief conversation with Noe, he left. As Noe waited for Ulrich, she studied the medical file in her hands. Suddenly, a faint crying sound came from the office next door. Her instincts, honed by her profession, made her particrly sensitive to such noises! She remembered that the office belonged to a well¨Crespected surgeon, a middle¨Caged man. The crying, however, clearly belonged to a young woman. Noe stood up, walked to the office door, and knocked. ¡°Hello, can I help?¡± The crying stopped abruptly at her words. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. A nurse pushing a medication cart passed by. ¡°Ms/ Schnabel, are you looking for Dr. Caleb? He¡¯s still in surgery.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s in there?¡± ¡°Probably a patient waiting for Dr. Caleb, or one of his interns.¡± The nurse hurried off to deliver medication, as ER staff always raced against time. Noe was left with a nagging feeling that something was off. As she turned the doorknob, she said softly, ¡°I¡¯ming in, sorry for the intrusion.¡± The office was empty, with no one in sight. Then, the suppressed crying resumed, intermittent and coming from the cupboard! Opening the cupboard door, Noe found a young woman in ab coat curled up inside, her wrist shed by a scalpel, biting her wrist in agony, weak cries escaping her lips. Blood flowed from her artery, staining her white coat a shocking red. Noe bent down to lift the woman,/simultaneously dialing Calvin. ¡°I need emergency authorization for an operation in OR three, now!¡± Calvin, still confused, heard chaos through the phone, along with shouts ¡°Isn¡¯t that Dr. Lowry? Get the OR ready!¡± 10-12 ¡°Dr. Lowry attempted suicide! We need to save her!¡± Calvin rushed over as quickly as he could. Noe nodded to him at the OR door, their unsaid understanding clear. Once at the operating table, Calvin stepped aside. ¡°Your do it! You can handle this surgery. I¡¯m not familiar with her case, and you¡¯re more steady¨C handed.¡± Without hesitation, Noe began setting up life¨Csaving equipment while talking to Calvin. ¡°Does the blood bank have her blood type?¡± ¡°She¡¯s Rh¨Cnegative? I¡¯ll call the blood bank right away!¡± Rh¨Cnegative blood was rare in any hospital¡¯s blood bank, making finding a matching donor crucial. Noe calmly said, ¡°My sister¡¯s here at the hospital. Check with her if the blood bank¡¯s out.¡± She remembered the file mentioned Lavinia¡¯s blood type was Rh¨Cnegative. As Lavinia¡¯s child, ra¡¯s chances of having the same blood type were extremely high! Calvin immediately had an assistant call for blood and find a donor. The assistants were nervous, racing against time. None had expected Dr. Lowry to have Rh¨Cnegative blood. A doctor from Dr. Lowry¡¯s training program couldn¡¯t help but cry on the spot! ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Professor Calvin, I know I shouldn¡¯t be like this, but I can¡¯t help it¡­¡± They graduated together and came to the hospital for training, only to see a dear friend fighting for her life in the ER! Calvin didn¡¯t make it harder for her. ¡°You¡¯re not in the right state to be here. Go outside.¡± ¡°Can I stay with her? I can do the surgery log!¡± ¡°Wait outside.¡± On the operating table, there couldn¡¯t be any emotions. Even when a loved oney before your eyes, you had to swallow all your emotions! ra hustled down the hallway, trailing behind the assistants to the entrance of the OR, breathless with urgency. ¡°I have Rh¨Cnegative blood. If it¡¯s needed, I¡¯m ready to donate!¡± In a situation where every second could mean the difference between life and death, ra didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, rolling up her sleeve without a second thought. An hourter, the lights in the OR flickered off. Ulrich emerged from the OR, peeling off his surgical mask, his gaze instantly locking onto ra, who was seated anxiously outside. ¡°ra, what are you doing here? Are you alright?¡± ¡°I came with Noe to bring you lunch. Just then, I heard there was a need for blood donation. Luckily, my blood type was a match.¡± Both Ulrich and ra fixed their eyes on the OR doors as they swung open, revealing Noe stepping out alongside Calvin! How did her sister end up inside the OR? Could it be that the patient in desperate need of ra¡¯s blood was Noe herself? CHapter 268 CHapter 268 Ulrich was suddenly consumed by panic. He rushed over and began inspecting Noe¡¯s body meticulously. ¡°Noe, did you hurt yourself and not tell anyone at home?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Calm down, Ulrich. The patient who was rushed in isn¡¯t me.¡± She stood right in front of Ulrich, perfectly fine. ¡°Besides, ra and I don¡¯t have the same blood type.¡± Calvin removed his mask. ¡°The emergency case was Dr. Caleb¡¯s intern, Dr. Lowry. She attempted suicide by shing her wrists. We managed to save her, but her will to live is dangerously low. She needs careful monitoring.* Ulrich frowned. ¡°Then why was Noe in the OR?¡± Calvin exined without skipping a beat. ¡°I saw potential in Noe¡¯s medical intuition and wanted her to get some hands¨Con experience. I¡¯ve taken care of all the paperwork.¡± Noe didn¡¯t need Calvin to ess the operating room, but she preferred not to reveal her extraordinary medical skills and often used Calvin¡¯s name to book the OR. Ulrich grew even more puzzled. ¡°I had no idea Noe was interested in medicine.¡± Noe subtly changed the subject. ¡°Why did Dr. Lowry attempt suicide?¡± A teary¨Ceyed intem pulled out a suicide note found in Dr. Lowry¡¯s pocket. ¡°She was overwhelmed, said she couldn¡¯t take it anymore.¡± The note, written in elegant script, detailed a deep sense of despair. [I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t be the workhorse you want. I¡¯m so tired. I was supposed to have a day off, yet here I am, working overtime again. Endless paperwork, assisting surgeries, and never enough learning¨Cjust grunt work. Can¡¯t even go home for Thanksgiving, and I haven¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep in over seventy hours. My heart feels like it¡¯s going to burst, yet I¡¯m expected to keep working? At least now, I can finally rest. Goodnight. This world is beautiful, but I won¡¯t being back¡­] The note wasn¡¯t long, but each word was heavy with hopelessness. It was clear Dr. Lowry was in a dark ce. The intern sobbed uncontrobly. ¡°Why would she give up like that? We were almost done with our internships. Things were about to get better¡­¡± Noe handed her a box of tissues, her gaze shifting to Ulrich. ¡°Ulrich, has the hospital always been this harsh on interns?¡± Ulrich shook his head. ¡°No, at least the interns under Professor Calvin and me get regr days off. The paperwork is endless; there¡¯s no need to work them to the bone.¡± A middle¨Caged doctor in ab coat hurried over from another OR upon hearing the news and joined them. ¡°How is she? Can you believe this? Why would she think of such a drastic step?¡± The neer was Dr. Lowry¡¯s supervisor, Caleb. Noe¡¯s gazended on Caleb, her voice cool. ¡°It¡¯s your refusal to let her rest and your exploitation of her that led her to despair. If you¡¯re looking for someone to me, maybe start with yourself.¡± Caleb¡¯s face turned beet red. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! We¡¯re all doctors here; who hasn¡¯t gone through tough times? Did I force her to stay up all night doing paperwork? That¡¯s on her for not being up to par! I managed my paperwork without losing sleep over it! I¡¯ve done three days and nights straight in the OR. If I could handle that, why can¡¯t she handle some paperwork without resorting to suicide? Young people these days are just too fragile, too selfish!¡± In Caleb¡¯s view, Dr. Lowry simply couldn¡¯t handle the pressure, which he saw as a rite of passage for all doctors. Even Ulrich, a prodigy, endured his fair share of hardship during his internship, although his family¡¯s influence undoubtedly smoothed his path. ¡°Not everyone is Ulrich. Ordinary people need to climb thedder step by step! Being a doctor requires dedication. If you can¡¯t handle adversity and aren¡¯t willing to push through, maybe it¡¯s time to consider a different career.¡± Noe¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as she listened to Caleb, who was vehemently denying any wrongdoing. ¡°Since that¡¯s what you believe, would you then subject your own child to the same conditions? No rest, on call 24/7, just to file reports. Would you be okay with that?¡± Being Caleb¡¯s intern came with an unspoken rule of being always on standby, or risk not receiving certification for their training, effectively derailing their future careers. Interns had no choice but to endure, though not all could bear it. During the rescue, Noe noticed that Dr. Lowry¡¯s physical state was already on the brink of copse. Even if she hadn¡¯t resorted to suicide, the likelihood of her copsing or dying suddenly at work was rmingly high. Caleb was silent. To have his own child go through medical training under such conditions? Of course, he wouldn¡¯t want that! Seeing Caleb speechless, Noe¡¯s mockingughter filled the air. ¡°Can¡¯t bear the thought? Then have you ever considered that those you exploit are someone else¡¯s children too?¡± Caleb choked out, ¡°You don¡¯t know anything! Being an intern is supposed to be tough!¡°. Ulrich pulled Noe closer, his gaze on Caleb cold and wary. ¡°Dr. Caleb, my interns don¡¯t go through that and they still sessfullypleted their training. If, in your eyes, the only way to improve is through exploitation, then I¡¯ll request the hospital to send you on a mission to Africana. Maybe that will ¡®improve¡® you.¡± Africana? An assignment there would mean missing out on all opportunities for advancement back home! Noe¡¯s eyes held a hint of chill. ¡°Dr. Caleb, taking students¡® research papers, putting your name on them, winning numerous awards, and having your wife listed as co¨Cauthor on several? If I¡¯m not mistaken, your wife isn¡¯t a schr in the medical field. It¡¯s quite remarkable that she could produce such outstanding papers.¡± Caleb broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this. Exploiting students for personal gain was not new to him; it was amon practice in the industry, wasn¡¯t it? ra spoke up with fury, ¡°As a fellow researcher, nothing disgusts me more than academic theft! Dr. Caleb, I¡¯ll be filing an officialint against you.¡± As a respected figure in the researchmunity, ra¡¯sint would lead to a thorough investigation of Caleb¡¯s publications, potentially ending his career. Trembling with rage and fear, Caleb could barely stand. ¡°Ulrich, you¡¯re just trying to snag that promotion right out from under me, aren¡¯t you? Trying to set me up? Well, I¡¯m not scared, I¡¯ll tell you that much. And who gives you the right to send me to Africana? Even if you report me, you can¡¯t just make stuff up. And I¡¯ll also expose how the Schnabel family pulls all the strings around here. Why is it always you, Ulrich, getting all the des?¡± He seemed to have forgotten that he and Ulrich weren¡¯t even on the same level when it came to being surgeons. Caleb was still trying to reassure himself, thinking it didn¡¯t matter much since ra was just a researcher, and not even in the same field. Noe, with her head bowed, tapped on her phone screen. Half a minuteter, everyone¡¯s phones suddenly lit up with notifications, pulling their gazes down. It was a report initiated by Pris Star Lab! The report used Caleb, a surgeon at Imperial Third Civic Hospital, of academic misconduct and exploiting students to the point of driving one to suicide. The whistleblower ¨C Pris Star¡¯s Loadstar. CHapter 269 CHapter 269 The entire research forum was buzzing with activity! The message that had just been sent out had already received a flurry of responses. ra clutched her phone, her face alive with excitement. ¡°How did my idol find out about Caleb¡¯s misconduct? Or has the news spread so far that even Pris Star knows about it?¡± Pris Star was a legend on the medical forums; every post they made caused a stir in the industry. And here was ra, awaiting approval for her report under her own ID! S, another message popped up on the forum. A formalint against Dr. Caleb for academic dishonesty, filed by the renowned Phoenix Lab of the third research institute. Phoenix Lab might not have been focused on medical research, but its influence in the scientific community was undeniable! Quickly, ra received a message from Jacob.. [I saw you submitted a report too. Using theb¡¯s name gets it processed faster, skips the approval queue. It was someone from Pris Star who told me to do it.] So, Pris Star not only reported Caleb but also roped in Jacob for the cause? C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. The academicmunity was tight¨Cknit; soon, the forum was clogged with various reports, but the most eye¨Ccatching was still the post sent by Loadstar! Caleb sat on the floor, utterly defeated. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did Pris Star even notice someone like me?¡± It was all over. Everything he had worked for was ruined! All because of that damned intern, who had to go and end it all! His career was effectively over. Noe¡¯s hand rested in her coat pocket as she watched Caleb weep bitterly. ¡°You should regret your actions, not me Dr. Lowry for not being able to bear the burden.¡± People like Caleb had no ce in a profession dedicated to saving lives. Calvin noticed Noe¡¯s earlier gesture and wondered if she knew someone from Pris Star. If she had learned her medical skills from Pris Star¡¯s Loadstar, that would exin a lot. No wonder she always looked down on his l¨¢b! Pris Star Lab was a leader in the field; if he wasn¡¯t so tied down by his current role, he¡¯d jump at the chance to join them! Calvin rubbed his hands together. ¡°Noe, do you know someone from Pris Star?¡± Getting a contact there would be a dreame true! Ulrich was skeptical. ¡°How could Noe know someone from Pris Star?¡± Noe replied indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ve read Loadstar¡¯s papers.¡± ra got excited all over again. ¡°Right! Loadstar¡¯s papers are groundbreaking, aren¡¯t they? Such innovative ideas, truly a pioneer in the research field! If I ever get the chance to meet Loadstar, I¡¯m definitely asking for an autograph!¡± Watching ra praise her, Noe couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly. ¡°Indeed, very¡­ impressive.¡± In truth, many of those papers were written off the cuff during her experiments. However, during a financial crunch at Pris Star, she had entered them in several contests and won a fair amount of prize money. That¡¯s how Pris Star became a household name in the researchmunity. ra was buzzing with excitement. ¡°Then you muste with me to the research summit in a few days! Loadstar might be there.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Noe was nning to attend the summit anyway, so epting ra¡¯s invitation was no hassle. A nurse peeked out from a room, eximing, ¡°Professor Calvin! Dr. Lowry¡¯s awake. She wants to thank her rescuer!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be right there.¡± After ra and Ulrich moved ahead, Calvin tugged at Noe¡¯s sleeve, his smile bright and somewhat sycophantic. ¡°Noe, you must know someone in Pris Star¡¯s core team. Could you take me for ab tour? Or ask if they need researchers? I¡¯d work for them in a heartbeat once I retire!¡± Noe shot Calvin down mercilessly. ¡°You¡¯re too old, and frankly, not sharp enough. You¡¯d be mopping floors at Pris Star.¡± 10-12 Calvin was speechless. It was the first time anyone had doubted his intellect! Upon reflection, Calvin found the name ¡°Pris Star¡± oddly familiar. ¡°Could Pris Star be connected to that organization that had mysteriously disappeared from the international scene?* Noe gave him a t look. ¡°Just a coincidence. I could change my name to Calvin; what a coincidence.¡± Calvin wisely shut his mouth.. Inside the room, Dr. Lowry, just waking up, was still a bit dazed. Her gaze moved from Calvin and Noe to Noe, who wasgging behind. ¡°It was you¡­ who saved me. Thank you.¡± Noe nodded gently. ¡°You only have one life; Caleb will face his consequences. Don¡¯t punish yourself and your loved ones with death.¡± Ulrich thought Dr. Lowry was thanking Noe for discovering her suicide attempt in the office. He offeredfortingly, ¡°Once you¡¯re better,e be my intern! I promise, no exploitation; you¡¯ll complete your internship smoothly.¡± Dr. Lowry was aware of Ulrich¡¯s reputation for kindness toward his students, which brought tears to her eyes as she nodded weakly. Her ssmate, with tears streaming down her face, eximed, ¡°You¡¯re so silly! Remember how you endured bullying in college? Why give up now?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to. I just couldn¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Bullying at school, exploitation at work, her research appropriated by others, and no rest for so long¡­ it all became too much. Calvin frowned. ¡°I thought you were a student at MediCore University. How did you end up being bullied? Did you report it to the administration?¡± Dr. Lowry offered a shy smile, a shadow of her distress hidden behind it. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Professor Calvin. The one who bullied me was called Yvonne Schnabel, but she¡¯s dropped out now. I guess what goes aroundes around.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Just the other day, she was messaging you, demanding money. She threatened to use her family¡¯s influence to ensure you neverplete your residency, effectively ruining your chance of bing a doctor!¡± The mention of the Schnabel family made everyone around them widen their eyes in shock! Dr. Lowry¡¯s suicide had a connection to Yvonne? Ulrich, uncertain, pulled out his phone. ¡°Is this the Yvonne you¡¯re talking about?¡± His phone still held a photo of them all together, a memento from when Ashlyn and Yvonne insisted on taking a group picture. Seeing her face seemed to trigger a visceral reaction in Dr. Lowry. The surrounding doctors were filled with righteous indignation. ¡°And to think, her family! Back in school, not only did she get you to do her assignments without paying, but now she¡¯s extorting money from you!¡± Calvin remembered too. ¡°That student you took the exam for¡­ that was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Dr. Lowry, as a postgraduate, and following Marcel¡¯s directive not to pursue the matter with the substitute exam taker, meant that only Beckett had actually met Dr. Lowry. Ulrich rubbed his temples. ¡°What else has she done? Tell me everything! If I¡¯m not mistaken, when she mentioned her family¡¯s influence, she must be talking about mine.¡± After all, in Imperial City, there aren¡¯t many families as notable as the Schnabels! CHapter 270 CHapter 270 The hospital room fell into an eerie silence. Dr. Lowry hadn¡¯t expected this ¨C that Ulrich¡¯s and Yvonne¡¯s connections would trace back to the same roots! The Schnabel family never publicly acknowledged Yvonne¡¯s im, but she took it upon herself to promote her own status. Her mantra at school was all about M¨¢rcel¡¯s status. Ulrich tried to calm the waters. ¡°Look, she doesn¡¯t carry that name anymore. And her threats about ruining your residency? Empty words.¡± Jasper had already taken legal action against Yvonne and the production team from Stirling. THE Just yesterday, she was scrambling for money, probably to afford a decentwyer. As if anyone could outmaneuver Jasper in court! *She¡¯s likely facing jail time, but we¡¯re curious if there¡¯s more to her story. Though my family never embraced her, we¡¯re prepared to make amends on her behalf.¡± The Schnabel children were always responsible. Despite the fact that the Schnabel family had no involvement in Dr. Lowry¡¯s issues, Yvonne had maliciously used their names against her. Dr. Lowry quickly interjected, ¡°Oh no, Dr. Schnabel, since she¡¯s not really one of yours, it¡¯s not for you to fix her messes. Knowing she¡¯ll face justice is enough for me. Besides, I owe my life to the twodies here.¡± It was Noe and ra who pulled her back from death¡¯s door! ¡°Yvonne didn¡¯t really do much at school. She was hardly there. But, I overheard her once, bragging on the phone..¡± Dr. Lowry hesitated, struggling to voice her thoughts. She nced at Noe and whispered, ¡°Can you lean in, Ms. Schnabel?¡± Noe nodded and leaned closer to hear Dr. Lowry¡¯s hushed words. After listening, Noe¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Really?¡± Dr. Lowry nodded. ¡°Yeah, it seemed like she was talking to her grandmother. She sounded really proud.¡± Noe was taken aback! If what Dr. Lowry said was true, then Yvonne once reached out to Beckett¡¯s ex, iming she was the future Schnabel daughter¨Cinw And Ashlyn was in on it too! Or perhaps she was the mastermind? Dr. Lowry, exhausted from the conversation, rested. Stepping out of the room, Noe shared what Dr. Lowry had disclosed. ra gasped. ¡°What? Yvonne imed she was pregnant with Beckett¡¯s child? That¡¯s utterly ridiculous! She was underage back then!¡± Ulrich took a moment to process. ¡°So, those rumors about Beckett having a secret child was Yvonne¡¯s doing. Perhaps Beckett¡¯s ex didn¡¯t believe those rumors but trusted Yvonne when she approached her directly?¡± Noe nodded. ¡°In that light, it¡¯s understandable why Beckett¡¯s ex might have believed Yvonne.¡± Putting themselves in her shoes, Beckett¡¯s ex¨Cgirlfriend¡¯s departure made more sense, likely due to being heartbroken beyond repair. The siblings exchanged looks. ra questioned, ¡°Should we tell Beckett? But he said she¡¯s married now. It wouldn¡¯t be right to disrupt her life, would it?¡± Ulrich looked at Noe. ¡°Noe, you should tell him.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Ulrich smiled knowingly. ¡°Beckett dotes on you. He won¡¯t get mad at whatever you say. He deserves to know, regardless of what happens next. We should trust Beckett to do the right thing, morally and ethically. ra nodded. ¡°Makes sense. Noe, you talk to him. He won¡¯t shoot the messenger if it¡¯s you.¡± Reluctantly, Noe dialed Beckett, briefly exining the situation. ¡°Beckett, are you listening?¡± ¡°Yes, Noe, I am. Thank you for letting me know.¡± Beckett¡¯s voice was hoarse, tinged with weariness. ???? ¡°Beckett, won¡¯t you try to clear things up with her?¡± 10:12 Beckett chuckled sadly, his gaze drifting towards the beach. He had just emerged from a corporate gathering, his body cloaked in exhaustion. ¡°Noe, what if someone approached you iming Mr. Pock had a child? What would you do?¡± Noe pondered earnestly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t believe them.¡± Despite her confusion about her feelings for Palmer, she¡¯d verify such ims herself. ¡°At least I¡¯d confront him. I wouldn¡¯t unjustly use someone. That¡¯s unfair.¡± Beckett smiled warmly. ¡°That¡¯s my sister. So, it wasn¡¯t just Yvonne and Ashlyn meddling. There was more. She always hesitated to visit our family. I thought it was just stress, but it was also ack of trust in me, in us.¡± Beckett had once been clueless about Darcy¡¯s avoidance. Now, with the wisdom of years, he understood her perspective. He failed to protect her vulnerabilities and insecurities; she doubted his steadfastmitment. Beckett lifted a champagne ss, its contents shimmering under his elegant touch. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I know what I must do.¡± ¡°Take care, ande home soon.¡± Hanging up, Beckett¡¯s gaze lingered on the waves, draining his ss in solitude. He chuckled at himself. ¡°Looks like the party¡¯s over.¡± They couldn¡¯t go back anymore. At Imperial University, a knock on the dean¡¯s office door was followed by Garrick¡¯s voice from inside, ¡°Come in.¡± Noe entered, her backpack slung over her shoulder. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m here to apply for an exemption from some courses.¡± Garrick took off his sses, fixing his gaze on Noe. ¡°As a student, your primary responsibility is to learn. Why are you trying to skip so many sses? If that¡¯s the case, why bothering to college at all? Noe replied calmly, ¡°My grandma wanted me toe.¡± Garrick paused, clearly not expecting such a simple reason for Noe¡¯s attendance! ¡°You shouldn¡¯t treat your studies lightly. I cannot approve your application. You need to attend all your sses punctually. If you don¡¯t show up, I¡¯ll have to fail you!¡± Noe frowned slightly, looking at the stern and somewhat aloof elderly man before her. Garrick was about the same age as Marcel, but his eyes always held a certain inscrutable quality that made Noe slightly ufortable. She nodded, pulling out a prepared withdrawal form from her bag. ¡°Well, in that case, I guess you¡¯ll just have to sign this withdrawal form.¡± Garrick looked at the form. ¡°Are you joking? You promised your grandmother you¡¯d attend college, and now you¡¯re treating it like a joke? Haven¡¯t the Schnabel family taught you to keep your promises?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. Noe shrugged, a hint of resignation in her voice. ¡°I promised Grandma I¡¯d go to college, not that I¡¯d graduate.¡± Chapter 271 Garrick''s face was a study in frustration! "Marcel Schnabel actually agreed to this nonsense? This is higher education, not some kind of yground for your whims!" Noe pointed to the parental signature at the bottom of the withdrawal application, where Marcel''s name was signed with a flourish that spoke volumes of his character. A personal seal from Marcel himself was also stamped next to the signature, ensuring all formalities were meticulously observed. "My grandfather supports all my decisions." "This is madness! Has Marcel lost his mind? A perfectly good student quitting school to gallivant around like a headless chicken? I won''t have it!" Noe, her backpack slung over one shoulder and her ponytail swinging with determination, faced the incensed Garrick with a cool, calm gaze. "Sir, I don''t need school toplete your so-called ''obedience training''. If you think that''s the way to keep me here, you''re sorely mistaken." Garrick looked up at Noe, taking in her confident stance as if she had the world at her fingertips, a beacon of unattainable grace and authority. As the original founder of Pris Star, he knew all too well that Noe attending sses at Imperial University was a sheer waste of her time. What Garrick truly wanted was to bend Noe to his will! But Noe scoffed at such petty power ys. Garrick''s gaze deepened. "I''d love to know what those old geezers have been teaching you. Your duty is to follow orders, and you can''t even master that!" Noe raised an eyebrow, a smirk ying on her lips. "Garrick, the first people who demanded my obedience are now serving aspost in the Pris Star Cultivation Nursery." Her presence here was proof enough that she was now the rule-maker at Pris Star! "Garrick, just take a look at these two applications. Your signature is wee but not necessary." With that, Noe turned on her heel and left without a backward nce, as if the prestigious school and the respected Garrick meant nothing to her. This disy of nonchnce and cool defiance stoked a fire in Garrick. Clenching his fists, his voice betrayed a hint of anger. "I''ll sign your exemption, but you are required to attend my sses!" "Understood. Thank you." ... Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. At Serene Haven¡¯s Dragon Tower, a car pulled up in front of the grand Pock Mansion. Jacob stepped aside to open the door, extending his hand to assist the elderly passenger. The olddy, adorned in a silk jacket and a glowing pearl ne, gracefully stepped out of the car. She nced at the neighboring tower, then shifted her gaze to the stark and quiet Pock Mansion. "Where''s Sexton?" "He''s been staying at the Schnabel Manortely. Says Marcel can''t bear to be without him." Old Mrs. Pock snorted disdainfully, her thin lips pressed tightly together. "Marcel can''t bear to be without him? More like he can''t wait to see him in a coffin. Where''s my granddaughter?" Jacob wiped the sweat from his brow nervously. "Mom, ra is with the Schnabel family as well." "Useless!" Old Mrs. Pock red at Jacob, her dragon-headed caneing down hard on Jacob''s leg. "A perfectly good child, and you can''t even acknowledge her. What use are you? I should''ve let you fall into a ditch and bepost back in the day! Palmer, help me inside! I''m going to see my granddaughter!" After being whacked by Old Mrs. Pock''s cane, Jacob couldn''t do much but grit his teeth and, along with Palmer, support the olddy into the Schnabel Manor. Marcel was in the middle of a chess game with Sexton when the glittering figure of the olddy entered the room, causing Sexton to drop his chess piece in surprise. "Helen, why did you leave the nursing home?" Helen gave Sexton a cold look. "None of your business. Out of my way! Where''s my granddaughter?" Her visit wasn''t to see this old codger. Having encountered nothing but irrelevant people since her arrival, she was growing impatient. ra just happened toe downstairs, a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers in her hands, which she ced in a vase in the living room. Helen''s eyes lit up, pushing past her son and grandson to approach ra. "Who are you, madam?" "I''m your grandmother! You''re ra, right? A Schnabel?" Helen frowned, her sharp and somewhat intimidating features making ra feel uneasy. "Yes, I''m ra Schnabel." Jacob feared his mother might say something untoward that could upset ra, leaving him in a difficult position. "Mom, it doesn''t matter what ra''sst name is. Please, don''t make this hard for her." Helen brushed Jacob aside, raising her voice. "Why are you blocking my way? No manners, off with you!" Her voice, sharp andmanding, betrayed her past as a professional opera singer. "Why not take myst name, huh? What''s so good about being a Schnabel? And ¡®Pock¡¯ doesn''t make it any better!" ra was bewildered, struggling to follow the conversation. "My daughter takes after me, so why can''t you? Marcel must be some ancient relic from the past, clinging onto old traditions. Look at you, all skin and bones. What, are you studying archaeology?" ra shook her head. "No, I''m into paleogics..." "I thought you had a thing for skeletons, but no, it''s worse. You''re pretty though, got that from Tristan or Sienna?" Jacob was mortified. "Mom, ra is my daughter." His daughter, likened to Tristan and Sienna? Helen paid him no mind, her presence dominating the room. "Your daughter? You think you''re up to it? You think you could raise such a fine girl? ra, isn''t it? Help me back to my ce." ra was still trying to figure out her grandmother''s temper, but seeing her reaching out, she had no choice but to step forward. "Grandma, take it easy." "I won''t die. The Schnabels have done a good job raising you. It''s only right that Jacob is too ashamed to acknowledge you. I feel like I''ve struck gold." ra''s smile twitched. This was the first time she had heard someone describe it as striking gold. After escorting Old Mrs. Pock to the somewhat chilly Pock Mansion, she spoke up again. "Palmer, bring your wife over tomorrow for me to meet, and ra, youe too. I''ve prepared wee gifts for you both. It''s toote tonight; I need to rest. You all can go now." Jacob tentatively asked, "Mom, Dad''s been staying with the Schnabels recently. Should we invite him back to keep youpany?" "Cut it out. The house is better off with one less old man; it smells less musty without him. He can stay away! Nice words, but keep mepany? I finally gotfortable in the nursing home, why would I need him bothering me? If hees back, I''d have to look after him!" Jacob chuckled nervously. "Mom, we have a nanny; you wouldn''t need to look after Dad. We just thought you might feel lonely!" Helen raised an eyebrow, her feisty spirit shining through. "Then let rae keep mepany. It''d be even better if Palmer''s wife coulde too. But with their situation being what it is, having the girle over to spend time with an olddy like me might not look too good. The Pocks might not care about propriety, but I certainly do." Chapter 272 Palmer raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Grandma, if you didn''t want Noe toe over, you wouldn''t have even suggested it. Isn''t this a bit like wanting your cake and eating it too?" If Helen truly didn''t wish for Noe''s presence, there was no need for her to express a desire for her to visit, only to quickly shoot down the idea herself. Helen nced up at her grandson. "What are you staring at? If you weren''t so useless, wouldn¡¯t I have a granddaughter-inw by now? Get out of my sight!" Helen''s temper was notoriously foul, and she was difficult to get along with, often delivering proud and biting remarks. Even among the Pock family''s grandchildren, few could im a close rtionship with her. Understanding her nature, Palmer didn''t take offense and left the room with ra. Palmer rubbed his temples. "ra, if you want toe, thene. If not, no worries. Grandma can be quite difficult, and I wouldn¡¯t want her to give you a hard time." Jacob nodded in agreement. "Yeah, her temper has gotten even worse these past two years. Last time I visited, she insisted on having fried chicken and Coke, and there was no stopping her." After a moment of thought, ra said, "I''lle over with Noe tomorrow to see how things are. If it feels off, Noe and I will just leave." The idea of facing Helen alone did indeed intimidate ra slightly. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Palmer''s thoughts drifted to Noe¡¯s charming face, warming his heart. His expression softened considerably. Noe received a message from Palmer on her phone. [My grandma''s back. Would you mind checking up on her health?] [Sure.] Palmer stood before his study window, his gaze intense as he looked across at the lit window opposite, where Noe was likely reading. After sending ra home, Jacob stood behind Palmer, looking at his nephew who was in prime condition. Following Palmer¡¯s gaze, which was fixed on Noe¡¯s room without even a glimpse of her in sight, Jacob joked half-seriously, "Really fallen for her, huh?" "Yeah." "I thought you''d call off the engagement." Given Palmer''s personality, Jacob was sure he would not easily ept an arranged marriage and had braced himself to see Palmer confront the Schnabel family to call it off. Yet here he was, treating his little fianc¨¦e like a treasure, with all the softness in his eyes almost melting away. "Uncle Jacob, I thought she and I were just ships passing in the night, but then I realized, I can''t live without her." From the day she saved him in Northstone, the image of this girl had been indelibly etched into Palmer¡¯s mind! Jacob, holding a ss of wine, remarked, "This girl doesn''t seem easy to court." Palmer¡¯s eyes were filled with determination as he looked toward that window, his gaze filled with desire. "It¡¯s okay. I''ll make sure she has eyes and heart only for me!" ... The next morning, Noe, rubbing her sleepy eyes, opened her door only to see Palmer standing there. She promptly closed the door, leaving Palmer outside. Why was he here so early in the morning! Assuming it was ra, she had rushed to the door in her pajamas and bare feet! After being shut out, Palmer rubbed his nose helplessly, his mind filled with the image of Noe in her just-awoken state. She was adorable even then! Unfortunately, his fianc¨¦e didn¡¯t give him more opportunities to lie in with her. Palmer found himself looking forward to seeing her just-awakened face every day. When the door opened again, Noe, now fully dressed, simply walked past Palmer and headed downstairs. She didn¡¯t even spare him an extra nce, clearly seeming a bit miffed. Palmer followed behind, a warm smile curling at his lips. It turned out watching someone be grumpy in the morning could be quite amusing. Perhaps it was also because it was her doing all these things that made everything she did endearing to him! Throughout their walk downstairs, Noe ignored whatever Palmer was saying. "I''ll go get Grandpa. You can go ahead and have breakfast." "Okay." Sitting down at the breakfast table, ra handed Noe a ss of warm water. "Noe, didn¡¯t Palmere to get you? Where is he?" "He went to call Grandpa Sexton. Next time, don''t let hime up." ra chuckled mischievously. "Did you two have a fight?" "No, I''m just not a morning person, and he talks too much." Noe wasn''t inclined to chat first thing in the morning, yet Palmer kept talking non-stop. He was asking if she slept well, if she dreamed about him... She wasn¡¯t sure if she didn¡¯t want to answer because she was a morning person or simply because she didn¡¯t want to talk to him. But the thought of opening the door to see Palmer first thing made Noe realize she might not be averse to it after all. ra, trying to stifle herughter, said, "Alright, next time we won''t let him bother you!" Seeing Noe expertly remove Palmer from the block list on her phone, ra¡¯s smile widened even further! It seemed Palmer had been blocked quite a few times by Noe! "Way to go! That¡¯s my sister!" Noe exined, "He kept messaging me while I was working. It was distracting." After finishing her work, Noe would forget to remove Palmer from the block list. ra was nearly in stitches! Who would have thought the aloof and proud flower, the decisive and swift helmsman of the Pock Group, could be so chatty! Just imagining that scenario had ra in fits ofughter. "But this does show that he really likes you!" Noe, eating her breakfast, merely smiled faintly at thement, feeling a sweetness she couldn¡¯t quite name. After breakfast, Noe and ra headed over to the neighboring Pock Mansion. Helen had just finished her breakfast,fortably nestled in her garden rocking chair, engrossed in a good read and asionally strumming her guitar, acknowledging their presence with a mere nod. "Entertain yourselves, don''t bother me." Noe had been forewarned about the olddy''s temper but chose not to take it to heart. Closing her book, Helen serenely yed a melody on her guitar, then practiced her vocal scales, belting out a piece of ssic soprano piece. Listening to the song, Noe suddenly remembered Old Mrs. Pock was the celebrated singer Helen from thest century. Back then, Helen''s fame had swept the nation, captivating fans from coast to coast! As a child in Glen Vige, Noe remembered her grandmother speaking fondly of her favorite singer, Helen. It was hard to believe she was Palmer''s very own grandmother. But time had altered Helen''s features so much that Noe initially failed to recognize her. ra was utterly amazed, pping until her hands turned red. "Grandma! You''re absolutely amazing! But how on earth did you end up with Grandpa Sexton? It just doesn''t add up!" Helen offered a rare smile. "For the simplest reason - he was wealthy, and I was in need. So, we married!" "Come here, let me have a look at you!" she called Noe over. Understanding the cue, Noe approached Helen, allowing those sharp, discerning eyes to scrutinize her. With a raised eyebrow, Helen cut straight to the point. "Do you really n on marrying Palmer?" Chapter 273 That question threw Noe for a loop, and it made Palmer beside her sweat bullets! Helen furrowed her brows at Noe, her gaze sharp. "It''s just an engagement, not set in stone. If you''re having second thoughts, just call it off." Palmer frowned. "Grandma!" He knew it was a mistake to let Helen meet Noe! Helen mmed her hand on the table, her eyebrows knitting tighter as she red at Palmer. "Shut it. Did I ask you to speak? No respect! Off with you!" She clearly didn''t care much about the engagement. She knew her grandson all too well. After a moment of thought, Noe honestly replied, "I don''t n on marrying him, or anyone for that matter, at the moment. I don''t dislike Palmer. Let''s just say we''re friends." Palmer heaved a sigh of relief. As long as Noe didn''t dislike him, there was still a chance! "Not too foolish. If you were rushing into marriage at such a young age, I''d have no respect for you. Your grandma in heaven would be so mad, she''d rise from her grave just to knock some sense into you." Helen, while applying hand lotion, critiqued her grandson with her sharp words. "Palmer''s got a better temperament than his dad and stronger than his granddad - not foolish or spineless. But if he wants a wife, he''s gotta learn the hard way. Men never value whates easy." In her eyes, Noe was still too young. Thinking of marrying Palmer at not even twenty seemed like foolishness to her. "You knew my grandma?" "Harriet Lambert? Back in her day, she was the heartthrob of Sexton. Since your grandma didn¡¯t even give a second nce to a Pock, if you fall for Palmer so easily, I''d think less of you." Helen squinted, her wrinkles folding together, her thin lips curling in a peculiar smirk. "Back then, whether it was Sexton or your granddad, and even Garrick, they were just flies buzzing around your grandma, swatted dead in no time." Noe didn''t quite understand what had happened with her grandma back then, nor could she comment on Helen''s choice of words. Jacob looked at the fried chicken and c on the table, frowning, "Mom, this is what you ate for breakfast?" Helen shot him a cold nce. "How old are you?" "Me? I''m fifty." "I''m seventy-six. You could eat healthy and still might not live as long as me. Mind your business, and you might live longer." Jacob''s mouth twitched, unable to utter a word! ra, trying not tough, gave her a thumbs up. "Grandma, you''re awesome!" Helen smiled, handing something to ra. "I''m off to fish. Carry my stuff." The Pock family owned a resort, just a half-hour drive from Serene Haven. An octogenariandy going fishing at a resort sounded outrageous, but with Helen, it somewhat seemed normal. As they helped Helen into the car, Noe checked her pulse. Helen, sharp as ever, looked at Noe''s serious side profile, her stunning eyes captivating. "What, I''ve got health issues?" "Grandma Helen, how did you know I was checking your pulse?" Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. "I''m not dead yet, dear. I''d know if someone was checking my pulse." Noe got a taste of Helen''s biting but not unkind manner. "Grandma Helen, have you been having trouble sleepingtely? You seem to stay upte." "Sleeping fine, dear. I just look at male models on my phone before bed. Sleep like a baby, though a bitte." Noe was at a loss for words. ¡°Grandma Helen, do you get frequent headaches?" "Only when I see the Pock family calling. Gives me a headache every time, but I can''t not answer. They might think I''ve kicked the bucket in some nursing home." "Grandma Helen, are you feeling short of breath, having difficulty breathing?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just me getting older and putting on weight. Can¡¯t fit into my younger days¡¯ dresses anymore, they¡¯re too tight." No matter what Noe said, Helen had an excuse ready. Noe smiled lightly, understanding that the olddy was just making excuses so Palmer wouldn''t worry about her. "She''s in good health," Noe concluded. Helen smiled, pleased. ra gaped. "Noe, you can diagnose? I thought you and Grandpa were just ying when you checked his pulse, like some doctor-patient game!" Noe smiled helplessly. "I''m neen, ra." Pretending to be a patient and doctor was not something she''d be doing, especially since Marcel wouldn''t y along! "But I remember Ulrich studied clinical medicine, not pulse reading. Who taught you?" Helen nced over. "Her grandma, Harriet, I''d wager. Loved all that holistic stuff, always ranting about the virtues of traditional medicine, always dabbling in the mystical." Seeing Helen starting to rest, ra didn''t push further. Life had been tough for her little sister! ra''s mind conjured images of a young, frail Noe sitting with Harriet Lambert, picking herbs to sell for a living. Feeling a twinge of emotion, she grabbed her phone and sent Noe some money. Noe, puzzled, stared at the unexpected notification of a money transfer on her phone. Why on earth was she sending her money out of the blue? ra''s note read: [For all your hard work! Here''s some spending money for the month!] No sooner had she picked up her phone again than she received another transfer, this time from Palmer. Palmer''s memo was straightforward: [For your consultation fees, thanks, fianc¨¦e.] ... Upon arriving at the resort, Helen grabbed a fishing rod. "Go have fun, I''ve got ns. Don''t bother me." With that, she motioned for Jacob to carry the fishing gear towards theke. There was already an old man sitting by theke, seemingly the one Helen had arranged to meet. ra frowned. "Isn''t that Garrick? He''s the one Grandma arranged to meet?" Noe shook her head. "Not sure, but Grandma Helen definitely knows Garrick." Palmer''s gaze fell on Noe. "Is Grandma doing okay?" "Just the usual ailments, sleep disorders, mood swings, breathing difficulties. I''ve prescribed some medication for Grandma Helen to help manage them." Palmer finally rxed. Helen was known for her entric behavior, often withholding the truth from her doctors. With arms crossed and a haughty stride, Helen approached Garrick, seated by theke. ra''s eyes widened in shock! Without a word, Helen kicked Garrick right into theke! Chapter 274 Noe was gobsmacked! She never expected Helen to be so out of line. It was clear as day that Garrick couldn''t swim. His silk button-up fluttered on the water''s surface, scattering the fish in all directions, and by the looks of it, he''d swallowed more than a few gulps. Jacob was frantically calling for help. "Help! Someone, please! Man overboard!" In the ensuing chaos, with everyone running around like headless chickens, they finally managed to fish Garrick out of the water. Thankfully, the Pock family''s resort had the foresight to have several lifeguards on standby, so apart from a few swallowed gulps, Garrick was just a bit out of sorts, nothing serious. Jacob, wiping the sweat from his forehead, asked, "Mom, what''s gotten into you? Didn''t you have an arrangement with Garrick? Why''d you go and kick him into the water?" Helen settled back into her chair, adjusting her shawl with a serene expression. "He was fishing in the sweet spot, lots of fish, and I wanted in. But he was such an eyesore, just irked me, and I didn''t invite him." While Jacob was still processing this, a van pulled up and several strapping young men emerged, all smiles, gathering around Helen. "Lady, we''re here." "Hush now, don''t scare away my fish." Seeing Helen surrounded by a half-dozen men in light button-ups, each with a red bow tie, left Jacob bbergasted! One of the hunks nced at Jacob and leaned on Helen''s shoulder. "Lady, did you order this one too? Looks a bit old." "No, that''s my son. Off with you, Jacob, don''t be a nuisance." With his mind buzzing with questions, Jacob awkwardly made his exit. Listening to theughter and chatter behind him, he suddenly understood why his mom never wanted to go home. Noe, watching Megrez drive up in the van, couldn''t help but twitch her mouth. "Since when did we offer this service?" "It''s always been around. You have no idea how lucrative it is. Don''t worry, Boss, it''s just about keeping the elderlypany, providing emotional support, no selling snake oil." That reminded Noe of the time when Pris Star was short on research funds, and Megrez had come up with the idea of an elderpanionship program. It was all about caring for the lonely elders, but she never imagined it would be implemented in this fashion. Noe heard Helen''s heartyughter, which seemed much more cheerful. "Be mindful of the boundaries." "Don''t worry, Boss! Helen was a bit down, but ever since she signed up for ourpanionship service, she''s been much better! She even started taking her medication." Noe could tell from Helen''s pulse that she must have been severely depressed, noticing the scars on thedy''s wrists. Since it was a Pris Star initiative, Noe felt somewhat relieved. Megrez winked at Noe. "Boss, if you ever need ourpanionship service, you can pick any of our models! They''re all top-notch, with six-packs you can wash clothes on! First-rate service!" Noe rolled her eyes at Megrez''s cheeky grin, only to find Palmer standing right behind her. She had no idea how much of the conversation he caught. But judging by Palmer''s expression, he''d heard enough. Palmer took Noe by the wrist and led her away without a word. "Where''s Uncle Jacob and ra?" "They went to check on Garrick. Let me show you around the resort." His face was unreadable, but just as Noe let her guard down, Palmer suddenly swept her off her feet, seating her atop a flowerbed. From her elevated position, Noe could look down at Palmer''s handsome face. "Let me down..." His hands were firm on Noe''s slender waist, his gaze filled with an indescribable emotion. One hand held Noe''s, cing it against his chest. Noe''s hand felt warm, and she tried to pull away, but Palmer held it firmly, allowing her to feel his solid muscles and the steady beat of his heart. "Do you like it, fianc¨¦e? You can go lower if you want." Palmer''s shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the top, revealing a hint of his toned abs as he moved. Noe quickly withdrew her hand. "I didn''t know about Pris Star''s service of this until now, but rest assured, Pris Star wouldn''t cross the line." With a soft chuckle, Palmer brushed a stray hair from Noe''s forehead, captivated by her enchanting face. Behind her, the flowerbed bloomed with lush roses, and as he gazed into her sparkling eyes, his heart raced uncontrobly. "I heard about it. Grandma has severe depression, even had suicidal tendencies before. She''s been in a nursing home since being saved. We let her do whatever makes her happy, that''s why." Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. As long as it brought Helen joy, the Pock family was willing to indulge her. "What caused her depression?" "It was my mother''s situation, followed by ra''s mother''s. That''s when Grandma fell ill." Listening to theughter in the distance, with Helen being entertained by the hunky models, it was clear her mood had greatly improved. Noe nced towards the source of theughter but was quickly redirected by Palmer. "Look at me, not them." It was clear now; Palmer was feeling a tad jealous. Raising an eyebrow, Noe teased, "Mr. Pock, do you see yourself in the same light as them? Or perhaps you''d like to join ourpany and take over this line of service?" Why was this man even jealous of the models providingpanionship services? It was clear that Megrez''s rambling had struck a chord, igniting a fear in Palmer that Noe might actually go off in search of those male models, to the point ofpromising himself by pressing her hand against him. Palmer''s head was buried in Noe''s waist as he mumbled, "I was just worried you''d get spooked by Grandma''s stories." "I''ve told you, I see you as a friend. I haven''t really given marriage much thought." Palmer''s eyes, deep like night¡¯s sky, lit up at her words. No thoughts of marriage, but at least there were no thoughts of calling off the engagement! Noe looked at Palmer, hershes fluttering like raven feathers. Gathering her courage, she continued, "I''m not good at dating, but I don''t dislike you. Last time you asked for a chance... so let''s start as friends." This was the biggest concession Noe could make. She had seen too much love and loss from a young age. Whether it was the superficial marriage of Vincent Lambert and Belinda Fuller, or the various scenes she witnessed at Pris Star, all had left Noe skeptical about marriage and love. Perhaps, returning to the Schnabel family had also given Noe a fresh perspective on rtionships. She should give Palmer a chance, and herself a chance too! "Alright! Let''s start with friendship!" Palmer agreed immediately. As long as his girl hadn''t rejected him, he still had a chance! Chapter 275 At least Noe was still willing to give him that chance. Noe looked at Palmer, a teasing smile ying on her lips. "So, you don¡¯t have to do this." Palmer lifted his gaze to meet Noe''s. Her eyes shimmered, looking at him as if she were a celestial being from the heavens above, her gaze imbued with a captivating magic that threatened to pull him under. Palmer chuckled softly, reaching out to lift Noe off the bench. "It''s alright, we''re friends. And if you ever need, my six-pack and pecs are yours to poke." "Is that so? Being Mr. Pock¡¯s friend seems toe with its perks." Palmer looked at the girl standing next to him. "Of course, after all, you''re my only friend right now." He didn''t want her to get the wrong idea - that he was this generous with all his friends. "I don''t have any friends of the opposite sex that I''m this close to, so Noe, you can rest assured." Noe raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean you have friends of the same sex you''re this close to?" Her eyes sparkled with cheeky and cunning amusement, bright and lively like a butterfly in the garden. Palmer was momentarily stunned, but seeing theughter dancing in Noe''s eyes, he realized she was only teasing. "Not really. Work keeps me so busy; I hardly have time to make friends." Before meeting Noe, Palmer''s lifecked color and social engagements. As they walked towards the resort vi, Noe¡¯s chin was up, her steps lively. Palmer always exuded a calm and strategic air, unhurried, as if everything was under his control- a natural born leader. Walking beside him, Noe didn''t feel ufortable. Instead, she felt thoroughly cared for by Palmer in every way! Having just agreed to start as friends, Palmer maintained a polite social distance, which added a warm touch to Noe''s heart. Yet, his gaze lingered on her, always present and attentive. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. By the shore, Helen had caught several fish. Palmer could tell that most of them were caught by the male models Megrez had brought along, yet somehow they all ended up on Helen¡¯s fishing line, eliciting heartyughter from her- bright and cheerful. One of the male models supported Helen, saying, "Madam, you''re truly amazing! Please have something to eat before you continue. We''d be heartbroken if you got tired." What was handed over was Helen¡¯s pillbox, and she happily took her medication. Watching Helen take her medicine and restfortably with thepany of the male models, Palmer felt a sense of relief. "This service from Pris Star is really something." Suddenly, Megrez appeared, handing Palmer a QR code with a sycophantic smile. "Mr. Pock, we wee your investment! Our main focus is on caring for the elderly, and we help keep their secrets too!" Palmer caught the hidden meaning behind Megrez''s words. "What did Grandma tell them?" "Oh, quite a lot! As a family member, you have the right to know, but thates with a different price." Noe looked at her subordinate helplessly. "Is thepany short on cashtely?" She remembered the two entertainment subsidiaries under Pris Star were thriving, with numerous top-tier actors in their roster. Even if they weren''t making a fortune daily, they shouldn¡¯t be strapped for cash. "It wasn''t until Yasbel had topensate for breaking a drama contract! We''ve sued the production, but that''s a separate matter. The director knows several luxury brand ambassadors, and Yasbel has had to pay quite a bit recently. It''s infuriating; this director also snatched a lot of resources from Yasbel. The schedules of our other artists have also been affected! Mr. Pock, as you know, we''re a legitimatepany,w-abiding citizens! We¡¯re not those shady businesses; ourpany is a model taxpayer..." Noe raised an eyebrow, quietly watching Megrez''s performance. These issues had gued Yasbel since the beginning of her career. Upon her debut, Yasbel encountered the darker aspects of showbiz and ended up physically confronting a director, skillfully avoiding vital areas but leaving him incapacitated for months. Yasbel entered acting out of passion, not necessity. Listening in, Palmer, with his distinguished profile and regal demeanor, took a special interest because it involved Noe¡¯spany. "Alright, I''ll invest. Send me yourpany''s proposal when you can. If it''s a good fit, I might increase my investment." "Yay! Mr. Pock, you''re ourpany''s guardian angel. No, our god of wealth!" Megrez quickly added Palmer as a contact and left clutching his phone, not wanting to intrude on their moment. "Boss, I''ll leave you to it. Don''t want to interrupt your lovey-dovey time!" He had seen how cozy and cute Noe and Mr. Pock were together. Mr. Pock was even unting his charms in front of her! Their boss was legendary! Megrez realized that Noe allowing Mr. Pock to be so close to her was all to attract investments for Pris Star! To go to such lengths for thepany''s growth- truly the epitome of a modern-day capitalist. Upon receiving the investment transfer, Megrez quickly sent a screenshot to the Pris Star group chat. [Look, this is all thanks to our boss''s man, so no need for dividends! After all, Mr. Pock''s money is as good as the boss''s!] Noe, seeing the messages on her phone, could only shake her head in resignation. "You didn''t have to invest; they would have managed. Yasbel has Jasper to help, and our legal department isn''t just for show." "I''m a businessman, interested in any promising project!" Palmer remainedposed, his stature dignified, as if the investment was just a minor affair. If it hadn''t been for the hefty sum involved, Noe would have thought he just stepped out for groceries. There was a subtle twinkle in Palmer''s eyes, his lips curving into a modest smile. "Or perhaps you¡¯re worried that I''m getting the short end of the stick? Rest assured, my knack for investments is pretty solid; I haven''t been wrong yet." He suddenly stepped closer. "Whether it''s judging projects or people, I''ve never missed the mark." Feeling Palmer¡¯s imposing aura drawing near, Noe retorted, ¡°If Mr. Pock isn¡¯t worried, then why should I be!¡± With that, she turned and walked away without looking back, her departure swift like a startled rabbit. Behind her, Palmer''s deepughter echoed. ... At the resort''s infirmary, Garrick had changed into fresh clothes and was lying on the bed, while his assistant busily dried his damp hair. He looked a bit frail, but thankfully, it was nothing serious. The years had caught up with Garrick, and the reservoir''s chilly and deep waters had left his face red with cold. Jacob looked at Garrick, rubbing his hands apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Garrick. My mom¡¯s getting on in years; her eyesight¡¯s not what it used to be. She didn¡¯t see you there. Bless her, she was just out for a bit of fishing. Who knew she¡¯d identally bump into you like that.¡± Chapter 276 ra''s eyes widened in disbelief. Was Jacob seriously pulling a fast one right in front of everyone? It was clear as day that Helen had made a beeline for Garrick! And he called that poor eyesight? ra had never encountered a supposedly visually impaired elderly person who could point out a loose thread on her embroidered blouse first thing in the morning. She even noticed a piece of fried chicken that had been double-dipped in sauce, and then went on a tirade, dragging the entire Pock family through the mud. Jacob, with all sincerity, said, ¡°Garrick, this is like a storm in a teacup. Let me cover all your expenses at our resort as an apology.¡± Garrick, looking slightly recovered, barely opening his eyes to look at Jacob. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying your mom¡¯s got bad eyesight?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just bad eyesight; my mom¡­ she¡¯s blind!¡± Jacob pinched himself hard, managing to squeeze out a few tears. Garrick was taken aback. They were all from the same social circle - how had he never heard anything about Helen going blind? Garrick frowned, straightening up. ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°My mom¡¯s been in a nursing home for the past few years because of her declining eyesight. She didn¡¯t want toe back and make us sad¡­¡± ra lowered her head, covering her mouth to stifle augh and biting her tongue in the process. From Garrick¡¯s perspective, it looked like she was sobbing, her shoulders shaking. He was somewhat convinced but still dubious. After all, someone had kicked him squarely in the back, and that aim didn¡¯t seem like it came from poor eyesight. ¡°Fine, if her eyesight is poor, she probably shouldn¡¯t be fishing. Let¡¯s consider the matter closed.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Ah, Garrick, always the bigger man! I¡¯ll make sure my mom apologizes to you!¡± ¡°No need, she¡¯s old. Let her rest up. You can leave now. I need some time to rx.¡± After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Jacob and ra left the room. After closing the door, ra turned around and embraced Noe as she approached, burying her head in Noe¡¯s shoulder andughing uncontrobly. She just realized how adept Jacob was at spinning tales! Jacob, dead serious, replied, ¡°Leading a research institute requires bending the truth now and then. You¡¯ll get the hang of it too.¡± ra, face flushed withughter, said, ¡°What if Garrick finds out Grandma isn¡¯t actually blind?¡± Jacob shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Dr. Calvin is a miracle worker. Since returning home, with you and Noe by your grandma¡¯s side, her spirits have been lifted, and she can see again. A medical marvel, right?¡± Besides, it¡¯s not likely Garrick and Helen would cross paths again. Even if Garrick did find out Helen intentionally kicked him, he¡¯d have nowhere to start. Jacob seemed quite used to this kind of talk. ra raised an eyebrow. ¡°You know, I¡¯m starting to find you less annoying!¡± She always found Jacob¡¯s calm andposed demeanor off-putting, feeling like she couldn¡¯t rte to him at all. To her surprise, Jacob cracked a smile! Noe hadn¡¯t expected Jacob to have such a yful side. A voice of surprise came from the next room. ¡°Noe, is that you?¡± Briony Lambert stood at the doorway in her simple white dress, now faded from washing. It was the same dress she wore the day Noe left the Lambert family. She appeared somewhat ufortable as she gazed at Noe, who seemed to shine like a star among them. Noe, draped in an oversized cardigan over a snug dress, looked every bit the part of an exquisite doll. Her demeanor was queenly and aloof, a stark contrast to Briony¡¯s appearance. Briony had managed to persuade Luther to bring her to the Pock family estate, a preferred spot for Larson¡¯s business dealings. Seeing the radiant Noe and the tall, refined man by her side, Briony felt a twinge of envy. Thest time she was at the Pock Manor, she had also seen this man, always by Noe¡¯s side. A quick search revealed that this man was none other than the head of the Pock Group, a billionaire with a global business empire. His wealth was beyond measure, and hismanding presence and handsome features could make any woman swoon. Seeing him, Briony¡¯s heart skipped a beat! Larson had been scheming to wrest control of the Pock family¡¯s assets from Palmer. Why did Noe get to be with such a man? First Beckett, now the CEO of the Pock Group. How did Noe get so lucky? She must have used some underhanded tactics. As Briony¡¯s thoughts twisted in jealousy, she stepped forward. ¡°Noe, are you working as a cleaner here? If you¡¯re struggling, you can tell me. There¡¯s no need to have visited the OB-GYN before¡­¡± If Palmer found out about Noe¡¯s scandalous personal life, he would surely leave her! Before she could finish, Yvonne Gruber emerged, her gaze locking onto Palmer, her eyes lighting up with hope. ¡°Mr. Pock, please, you have to help me. I don¡¯t want to go to jail.¡± ra frowned at the unfolding drama. ¡°Yvonne, still strutting around? Have you be so down and out that you¡¯re sharing a room with others now? Or is there some secret hobby you¡¯re not telling us about?¡± ra¡¯s eyesnded on Briony, who wasying it on thick. "Maybe you should treat yourself to something decent for once. This¡­ here''s to your sess." It was a tant insult! Tears welled up in Yvonne''s eyes. "ra, why would you say such a thing? I had nothing to do with the incident involving Stirling; I swear I was framed! It must be that country bumpkin. It''s all because Noe is jealous of me!" Noe raised an eyebrow in disdain. "What''s there for me to be jealous of? Your knack for bullying at school, or buying dirt to harm the Schnabel family? And the stunt you pulled with Beckett''s girlfriend? He knows all about it, so you better watch yourself." Yvonne started to panic! How could that country bumpkin know about those old stories? Back then, Yvonne had truly wanted to marry Beckett as soon as she came of age, aiming to smoothly inherit the Schnabel family fortune. However, Beckett had never given her a second nce. "I... I only had Beckett''s best interests at heart. That woman was only after his money! I didn''t mean any harm!" Noe sneered, "Oh, so it''s not about the money for you? But what you want is the entire Schnabel family fortune, isn''t it?" Yvonne''s gaze shifted, betraying her true intentions. Gritting her teeth, she turned to Palmer. "Mr. Pock, I have something very important to tell you- something that will make you regret your engagement to Noe. My grandma told me, and it''s the absolute truth! You have to believe me!" Palmer gave her a brief nce and nodded. "I see. But I''m not interested in listening to barking dogs. Now, if you''d kindly leave!" Chapter 277 Yvonne looked at Palmer with a mix of frustration and disbelief. She pointed at Briony, who stood awkwardly behind her. ¡°Mr. Pock, Briony is Noe¡¯s stepfather¡¯s daughter, and she said Noe had a messy private life. Why won''t you believe her? I swear, I''m not trying to harm you!¡± Feeling the weight of everyone''s stares, Briony''s whole body shivered uncontrobly. Noe smirked sarcastically at Briony. ¡°Oh really? How ''messy'' is my private life? You must be pretty resilient to be out in this breeze with your current health.¡± If Yvonne knew the truth about Briony''s health, she''d probably think twice before sharing a room with her! Stammering, Briony managed, ¡°Noe, what do you mean by that...¡± ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡± ra, hands on her hips, red at Yvonne and Briony. ¡°Move aside! If you want to y the sisterly love card, do it elsewhere. Noe and I have no time for your games! Yvonne, the mess you''ve made is going to get the cops on your tail. Better find yourself a decentwyer!¡± ¡°ra, I¡¯m truly innocent. Can''t Jasper just defend me for once?¡± ra raised an eyebrow. Yvonne, hoping Jasper would defend her as awyer? As if! ¡°Wishful thinking much? You expect Jasper to defend you and p his own brothers in the face? Dangerous thoughts, Yvonne.¡± Humiliated, Yvonne''s face turned a patchwork of red and white, fury mixed with shame. ¡°ra! What''s got you so puffed up? You''re just the Schnabel family''s adopted daughter. Noe, that country bumpkin, is the real Schnabel. You think cozying up as her sidekick makes you family?¡± ra, without a word, pped Yvonne across the face. ¡°That was for calling Noe a ''country bumpkin''. Insult my sister in front of me? You''re really asking for it!¡± Before Yvonne could react, another pnded, harder this time, causing her to taste blood and spit out three teeth! Noe flexed her wrist. ¡°That was for daring to insult my sister. Haven¡¯t you learned anything from last time?¡± Yvonne, recalling the humiliating beatdown by Noe at the gallery entrance, pleaded, ¡°No, no... I¡¯m sorry! Please forgive me, ra, Noe, I was misled by Briony!¡± Palmer gently took Noe''s hand, soothing her wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s just kick them out. There¡¯s no need for violence.¡± Jacob¡¯s gaze turned icy. ¡°ra, does Marcel care for this girl at all?¡± ¡°Not a chance.¡± If Marcel had any affection for Yvonne, she wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. Jacob nodded, his expression deadly. ¡°Good. Palmer, take your sister and Noe to dinner. Your grandma mentioned catching a bunch of fish for the kitchen.¡± Realizing Jacob''s anger, Palmer nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± As Yvonne watched them leave, her thoughts scattered. Did Jacob just include ra as a member of the Pock family? Or, even more shocking, was ra actually a Pock by blood? That couldn¡¯t be! Despite her efforts, why couldn¡¯t she be Larson¡¯s daughter, yet ra effortlessly won the Pock family¡¯s affection? Being the only granddaughter of Sexton, the Pock patriarch? Yvonne couldn¡¯t even fathom the privilege. Why couldn¡¯t it be her? Lost in envy, Yvonne looked up to find Jacob¡¯s icy stare, shivering at the sight. ¡°Jacob, what are you nning¡­¡± Jacob signaled, and several resort guards approached. ¡°Just a friendly reminder of Pock hospitality. Keep them alive for their trial.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Yvonne screamed as the guards advanced. Briony, sensing trouble, bolted towards Larson¡¯s room, her mind in turmoil. Noe was the true Schnabel daughter? Recalling thevish birthday celebration she saw on social media, Briony felt a pang of jealousy. Hadn¡¯t Vincent mentioned that Noe was just a girl raising chickens in the countryside? How did she be the heiress to the nation''s wealthiest family and even get engaged to another tycoon''s son! Finding Larson absent from the room and feeling a surge of panic at the noises behind her, Briony decided to take drastic measures. She grabbed a kitchen knife from the room, pressing it against her own wrist as a threat to the following bodyguards. "Thinking of offing yourself? That won''t help you. Even if you''re barely breathing, we''ll throw you out!" one of them shouted. Briony clenched her teeth, her resolve hardening. "I... I have HIV. Stay away from me if you don''t want to catch it, and that goes for Yvonne Gruber too. She''s been living with me, so she''s no better off." The bodyguards'' faces went pale! Yvonne, who was being carried by one of them, nearly passed out hearing that! Concerned, the bodyguards decided to report back to Jacob on what to do next. "HIV? Our resort doesn''t discriminate against guests, but if she''s threatening our staff with her condition, call the police. Let the CDC handle her!" "Right!" Yvonne and Briony were locked in the room, guarded from the outside. Briony turned to Yvonne. "You said Noe is actually the biological daughter of the Schnabels? What''s going on! Weren''t Noe''s parents broke?" Seeing the kitchen knife in Briony''s hand, Yvonne was terrified of getting infected. "What are you on about! If the Schnabels are broke, then I''m a nobody! No wonder you had the guts to mess with Noe. You had no clue about the Schnabels'' true power." Briony felt her world spinning! So, the reason Vincent''s business faced retaliation from the Schnabels was all to defend Noe''s honor? She quickly grabbed her phone, dialing Vincent''s number in a panic. "Dad, did you know Noe''s parents are the Schnabels? Yes, those Schnabels from the news!" Chapter 278 Vincent was stuck in the hospital, paralyzed from the waist down. When he got the call from Briony, he was ready to give her an earful! That ungrateful girl, she had the audacity to hit him with her car, leaving him bedridden and paralyzed, unable to do a thing. "Why aren''t you in jail? You almost killed me with that car. How did you get out?" "Dad, it wasn''t me who hit you. It was all a setup by the Schnabel family! Just look it up online, and you''ll see that Noe is actually the Schnabel¡¯s daughter! She must be out for revenge. Our family''s downfall - it''s all because Noe used the Schnabel family''s resources to target us!" Vincent suddenly felt a surge of energy. "I''ll look into what you''ve said." He hung up and immediately started looking up information on the Schnabel family. The first thing that popped up was Noe''s globally streamed birthday bash! It was such a grand affair, and Vincent had even attended, trying to give Ms. Schnabel a gift, only to be turned away by the Schnabel family''s folks! It was quite the embarrassment for the Lambert family! He hadn''t kept up with the news online since then. Realizing that Noe was indeed Ms. Schnabel of the Schnabel family, Vincent''s vision blurred. He had insulted Noe in front of the Schnabel family''s young masters, calling her an ingrate. And he even said in front of Marcel that Noe was just a caregiver! The Lambert family''s bankruptcy must have been Noe''s doing! Vincent dialed Belinda''s number. "Come get me discharged! We need to reach out to Noe and the Schnabel family. As long as Noe is willing to forgive us, with the Schnabel family behind us, our family can surely rise again!" Belinda, initially impatient, jumped at the news! "Are you serious, honey?" "Absolutely. Just check the news online! Before, Briony told us that it was all fake, but turns out Noe was the real Ms. Schnabel." Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Belinda''s eyes sparkled, suddenly regretting everything! "That little devil, always keeping us in the dark, such an ingrate! Honey, let''s go find Marcel Schnabel. We''ve raised her for so many years; we deserve somepensation, don''t we? Even if not for us, your mother was truly heartfelt towards Noe." Vincent initially felt a bit guilty. But remembering Old Mrs. Lambert''s kindness towards Noe, he stood his ground. "You''re right. Asking the Schnabel family for a billion isn''t too much." That amount was just pocket change for the Schnabel family. Belinda, knowing she wouldn''t get much of that billion, schemed further. "Honey, the Schnabel family is so wealthy, Noe''s birthday alone cost over a billion. Let''s just im half of the Schnabel family''s fortune. Without us and your mother, Noe wouldn''t have made it this far." Half of the Schnabel family''s fortune! That was a lot of money! Vincent swallowed hard, greed evident in his gaze. "Alright. Let''s go to the Schnabel family and demand our share!" Vincent and Belinda,pletely forgetting about Briony hiding out in the vacation resort, hurriedly drove the Lambert family''sst beat-up car to Imperial City. The car was bought by Belinda with the money she had squirreled away from Vincent. Serene Haven was Imperial City''s most elite neighborhood, ordinary folks couldn''t just walk in. The guard looked at Belinda''s beat-up car and didn''t recognize the two, refusing them entry. "What''s your business here? No loitering allowed!" Belinda quickly exined with a smile, "Hi, I''m here to see my daughter. She lives here in Phoenix Tower." "Phoenix Tower belongs to Ms. Schnabel. Is your daughter one of the Schnabel family''s maids?" "My daughter is Ms. Schnabel! We''re here to visit her!" The guard frowned, looking at Belinda and Vincent with skepticism, then reached for his walkie- talkie. "Two nutcases at the east gate, send them away!" These two were Ms. Schnabel''s parents? Ridiculous. As the security guard, they knew what Tristan and Sienna looked like, and even if they had stic surgery, they couldn''t possibly end up looking this bad! Suddenly a sleek, ck luxury car approached, its engine purring softly. The driver was d in a crisp suit and pristine white gloves. In the car''s rear seat, Beckett sat, smoking a cigar. His profile, akin to that of a finely crafted sculpture, exuded both elegance and authority. A slight furrow of his brow emitted an icy aura, permeating his entire presence. "Mr. Schnabel, wee home." Now, this was the sort of presence befitting the Schnabel family, not some folks in a run-down car! Vincent''s eyes lit up at the sight of Beckett. He really missed the boat before, thinking Noe was just batting her eyshes and climbing the socialdder by getting with Beckett. If only they knew then that Noe was Ms. Schnabel, the Lambert family could''ve been living the high life by now! All said and done, it was all Noe''s fault. Had that sneaky girl not kept this from them, they wouldn''t just be finding out now. Vincent saw that Beckett was about to leave and quickly blurted out, ¡°Mr. Schnabel, a moment, please!¡± Beckett slightly turned, his gaze deep and piercing,nding on Vincent. ¡°I¡¯m Noe¡¯s foster father. We had no idea Noe was actually part of your family. We came to see her, but the security guard wouldn¡¯t let us in.¡± Beckett exhaled a puff of his cigar, his thin lips curling into a mocking smile. ¡°Serene Haven isn¡¯t a dumpster; of course, you shouldn¡¯t havee.¡± Vincent hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Schnabel, there was a misunderstanding before. We¡¯re all family here¡­¡± Beckett asked indifferently, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°We just missed the kid, wanted to see Noe. Is she home?¡± ¡°Noe¡¯s not home. You can leave now.¡± After saying that, Beckett rolled up his car window and instructed the driver to leave. Vincent and Belinda, seeing Beckett¡¯s attitude, were quite upset. ¡°It must be Noe, that little brat, bad-mouthing us to the Schnabel family.¡± Suddenly, another car stopped behind them, the window rolling down to reveal Oriana looking at Vincent and Belinda. ¡°Do you know Noe?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re her foster parents! Came to see her!¡± Oriana also lived in Serene Haven, albeit in the least expensive building. Her parents were still paying off the mortgages. Upon seeing Vincent and Belinda''s appearance, Oriana felt a sense of superiority. So what if she was Ms. Schnabel? She still had foster parents who looked like they¡¯d fallen on hard times! Compared to Noe, she came from a family of education and culture, way above the nouveau riche Schnabels. Oriana could see that these two weren¡¯t good news and could spell trouble for Noe, so she said, ¡°Noe might not be home, but why don¡¯t youe in with me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! You¡¯re such a kind-hearteddy!¡± Chapter 279 Oriana escorted the Lambert family to the grand entrance of Serene Haven¡¯s Phoenix Tower. Phoenix Tower, the crown jewel of Serene Haven, stood majestically among the rest. Its presence was highlighted by a massive dragon and phoenix fountain at its forefront, dazzling in gold and splendor. Surrounding it were sculptures of the zodiac animals, each crafted in pure gold! ? Oriana noticed Vincent¡¯s awe¨Cstruck expression and couldn¡¯t help butbel him a country bumpkin in her mind- utterly unworldly, She figured Noe must be the same. ¡°These sculptures weremissioned by the Schnabel family to distinguish them from historical artifacts. Made of gold, but really, they¡¯re not worth much.¡± Gold, yet not worth much? Vincent¡¯s understanding of the Schnabel family¡¯s wealth was being constantly updated. Phoenix Tower was enveloped in lush greenery, with every nt being an expensive specimen. Even the weing pine at the entrance was a rare treasure wo more than a million! Just by looking, Vincent could tell how valuable the tree was. He once wanted to get a simr one for the Lambert Mansion, but no one would sell it to him. Oriana hung around after delivering her guests, curious to watch the unfolding scene. A car pulled up at the entrance, and Vincent excitedly proimed, ¡°That must be Noe returning!¡± The car door opened, revealing a pair of slender legs stepping onto the ground, followed by a cascade of silky hair flowing down as the young girl leaned forward. Her face was a mix of cool detachment and an indescribable allure. Despite her youth, she possessed a captivating charm, yet her expression was icy, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. Vincent had never seen Noe look so stunning! It seemed the Schnabel family must really cherish their daughter. ¡°Noe, oh! Daddy missed you so much!¡± Noe frowned slightly. ¡°Vincent? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Noe, what kind of talk is that? Your mom and I just wanted to see you, that¡¯s all!¡± Vincent and Belinda¡¯s appearance here was clearly driven by their discovery of Noe¡¯s real identity, envious of her status. It must have been Briony who contacted them, seeking to gain favor from the Schnabel family. Noe knew all too well what kind of people Vincent and Belinda were- greedy and shameless, with eyes only for profit. Now aware of the Schnabel family¡¯s status, they wouldn¡¯t rest until they got a piece of it. ra emerged from the car, eyeing Vincent and Belinda. ¡°Noe, howe these trash still have the energy to show up? They¡¯ve announced cutting ties with you in the papers, and now they¡¯re Sti shamelesslying back for what?¡± Vincent¡¯s face turned sour. ¡°It was all a misunderstanding, Noe! The newspaper thing was the housekeeper¡¯s fault; your mom and I would never agree to such a thing!¡± Oriana chimed in, supporting them. ¡°Yeah, Noe, they are still your parents, after all. Being so heartless 10:50 isn¡¯t right.¡± Noe nced at Oriana coldly. ¡°Oh, you again, the brainless wonder. Seems like your brain¡¯s made a permanent home for your intestines. I thought it was just a one¨Ctime mistake, but now it¡¯s clear your head¡¯s really just filled with guts.¡± Oriana was speechless. Noe¡¯s words reminded Oriana of the humiliation she faced in front of everyone at college, all thanks to Noe! ¡°Noe, I¡¯m only speaking the truth. Your parents are getting old; it¡¯s you for years. You can¡¯t treat them like this!¡± cruel to be so heartless. They raised Noe crossed her arms, looking down her nose at Oriana. ¡°Moral ckmail? Sorry, I¡¯m fresh out of morals. If you like these kinds of parents so much, they¡¯re all yours.¡± Without giving Oriana another nce, No turned away. ra added, ¡°Allowing unauthorized entry into Serene Haven, I¡¯ll have to speak with security about this. This girl¡¯s security awareness is shockinglyx.¡± Past the fountain was strictly Phoenix Tower territory. ¡°Private property, trespassers not wee. Invading someone¡¯s home, wonder how, many years that gets you?¡± Oriana panicked at ra¡¯s words. She had always admired the view from afar, never having the chance to step inside. Only because these two imed to be Noe¡¯s foster parents did Oriana think to guilt¨Ctrip Noe, hoping not to be prosecuted. Maybe even catch a glimpse of her idol, Stirling, within the Schnabel family. But hearing ra¡¯s threat, Oriana quickly made her escape, leaving Vincent and Belinda stranded. Despite seeing Phoenix Tower¡¯s grandeur, Vincent and Belinda refused to leave! Such a vast vi in the heart of Imperial City, all for Noe! It would be quite reasonable for Noe to hand it over to them, right? Original from N?velDrama.Org. Their faces were etched with repulsive greed. Palmer and Jacob were handling the Pock family¡¯s affairs at the resort, so Noe and ra left first. ra nced back at the persistent Lambert couple. ¡°Noe, should we throw them out?¡± ¡°No need, let them in. It¡¯s easier to deal with them indoors. I hate the thought of them sullying the flowers Mother adores.¡± Noe¡¯s expression was nk, but her eyes were cold as ice. Last time around, Larson and Eamon¡¯s move on Noe had Beckett spooked big time. In response, Beckett got a squad of mercenaries as bodyguards in Serene Haven. Vincent and Belinda had the guts to show up, so Noe figured she might as well roll out the red carpet for them! Following Noe into the grand entrance of the Schnabel Manor, Vincent and Belinda almost got knocked off their feet by the sheer opulence! Just one painting from the Schnabel collection could easily snap up a couple of the Lamberts¡® swanky 10.500 pads in Tranquility City. The new nanny of the Schnabel family nced at Vincent and Belinda and eximed in surprise, ¡°My, what do we have here? A pair of street performers, perhaps? If you¡¯re here for a nanny job interview, those outfits won¡¯t do. Don¡¯t even think abouting inside!¡± There was Vincent, still perched in his wheelchair, mud caking the wheels! Belinda nearly fainted at the sight of the family¡¯s wealth. nny¡¯s designer uniform, an obvious sign of the Schnabel Beckett, now in his casual wear, came down with a coffee in hand, eyeing Vincent and Belinda at the doorstep. ¡°Noe, how did they get in? Are they bothering you? Just say the word, and I¡¯ll have them escorted out.¡±. Noe just shook her head gently. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Let them stand at the door.¡± Catching Noe¡¯s drift, Beckett didn¡¯t press further but turned to summon Marcel. Marcel, with a demeanor thatmanded respect, gave Vincent and Belinda a look that sent shivers down their spine. Seeing these two reminded him of their cruelty towards Noe and Harriet! Had Vincent ensured a blissful life for Harriet and a worry¨Cfree old age, had he allowed Noe a happy childhood and a chance to grow up well, the Schnabel family would have surely compensated the Lambert family generously! But Vincent¡¯s treatment of Harriet and Noe amounted to nothing short of abuse! Marcel let out a deep sigh, trying to contain his rage. ¡°Come over here, you two!¡± he called out to Noe and ra, worried they might get tainted by the negative vibes radiating from Vincent and his wife. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Vincent, with a sycophantic smile stered on his face, said, ¡°We just missed Noe, thought we¡¯d drop by to see her.¡± Chapter 280 Marcel snapped, ¡°You missed Noe? The nerve of you guys!¡± Upon witnessing the opulence of the Schnabels¡® home decor, Vincent made up his mind to stick around, at least until he got his hands on some cash. ¡°Look, sir, my mom treated Noe far better than she ever treated Briony, her own granddaughter!¡± Bringing up Harriet proved to be a mistake. Marcel scoffed at the mention of her name. ¡°Harriet was good to Noe because Noe¡¯s her granddaughter, which has nothing to do with you.¡± . Vincent thought Marcel meant that Old Mrs. Lambert treated Noe like her own granddaughter without any ulterior motives. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve raised Noe for nearly neen years. I believe we deserve some recognition for that.¡± Marcel raised an eyebrow, his mere presencemanding respect. ¡°You im to have raised her, yet you¡¯ve never celebrated her birthday, skimped on her tuition and allowance, and even restricted her from eating her fill at night. This is what you call for raising her for neen years?¡± Vincent insisted, ¡°Little girls who eat too much end up struggling to lose weight when they¡¯re older! You¡¯ve no idea how hard Belinda had to work to slim down. I Want Noe to go through that. Restricting her from eating was also to prevent her from growing too tall, which could make it hard for her to find a husband!¡± The Schnabels had never seen such shamelessness! After returning to the Schnabels, Noe had grown a bit taller, now standing over 5¡¯7¡°, towering over both. Belinda and Vincent. Marcel couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you starved Noe out of concern for her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What exactly are you here for? Speak now or I¡¯m calling the police!¡± Vincent wasn¡¯t here for Noe; he was obviously after the Schnabels¡® money. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re all family here. I¡¯m only asking because, well, look at me¡­ I want to be there for Noe¡¯s wedding day. I heard your younger son¡¯s a doctor. Maybe he can treat me, so Noe has a healthy dad, right? Then, give us half of the Schnabel fortune and buy me a private jet, so visiting would be much more convenient!¡± The drive from Tranquility City to Imperial City took over ten hours. Vincent had already decided to ask the Schnabels for a private jet while on his way there. The Schnabels were beside themselves withughter. ra¡¯s hands were shaking as she recorded the video. ¡°Good Lord, I¡¯ve never seen such shamelessness.¡± Marcel looked at Vincent and Belinda, then back at Noe. 10:50 ¡°Noe, your mom said this house is yours. You¡¯re in charge here, and I support whatever you The message was clear. Vincent and Belinda, who had mistreated Noe, were now at her mercy. Beckett nodded in agreement. decide.¡± don¡¯t worry. Whatever you decide, we¡¯ve got your back. Getting rid of two less¨Cthan¨Cdesirable people isn¡¯t a big deal.¡± Just the sight of Vincent and Belinda¡¯s greedy, shameless behavior was enough to make Beckett feel protective. He couldn¡¯t believe Noe and their grandmother had lived with these people! Upon hearing that this house was under Noe¡¯s control, Vincent added another condition. ¡°Also, your mom and I don¡¯t have a ce to stay. This ce might be a bit small, but it¡¯s good enough for us. Just transfer the ownership to us, will ya?¡± Noe stepped forward from behind Marcel, her knuckles cracking. ¡°If we¡¯re settling ounts, then let¡¯s do just that.¡± She pulled out her phone, connecting it to the Schnabels¡® living room projector. The first scene depicted a hospital. Belinda, pointing at Briony lying in the bed, scolded Noe standing beside her. ¡°You saw the caring. Why didn¡¯t you push Briony out of the way? You wouldn¡¯t have been hurt much by the car, but now Briony¡¯s got a fracture!¡°¡± Noe looked at Belinda with sarcasm. ¡°Two years ago, when Briony had that ident, Belinda hadn¡¯t done the DNA test yet. You didn¡¯t know I wasn¡¯t your daughter then.¡± The mockery in her voice was palpable. Belinda¡¯s face burned with embarrassment, her head hanging low. Damn Noe, how could she have a video of such an old, trivial matter! The second scene was in Vincent¡¯spany. Vincent, smoking a cigarette, instructed his secretary. ¡°Get in touch with that boss fromst time. Tell him I¡¯m willing to meet any condition, as long as they ask for less money.¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert, that boss is sixty years old and seems interested in Miss Noe¡­¡± ¡°A daughter¡¯s just a bargaining chip, right? If it settles the debt, letting him have her for a bit is fine, isn¡¯t it?¡± Noe smirked. ¡°Mr. Lambert, is this your idea of treating me well? nning to send me off to a sixty¨Cyear¨Cold man?¡± Vincent was stunned! How did Noe know about the conversations in his office! Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You ungrateful wretch, you bugged my office!¡± Noe scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your dirty dealings.¡± The third scene was at the Lamberts¡®. Belinda, looking at a bill, said, ¡°Honey, I want to buy a handbag. It¡¯s just over fifty thousand.¡± ¡°Another one? Fine, consider it your birthday gift. We made good money this month.¡± ¡°Thanks, honey! Ugh, another hospital bill for your mom has arriveu. What kind of medications are costing us over ten grand? It¡¯s not like her life is worth that much. Does she really need such expensive treatments?¡± Vincent was also getting impatient. ¡°Hospitals are such rip¨Coffs, charging us an arm and a leg for medications that probably cost pennies. Tell them to switch it up or we¡¯re not paying.¡± Noe sighed deeply. Old Mrs. Lambert was on targeted therapy, with her medication costing tens of thousands monthly, not to mention her stay in a private suite, which felt like pouring money down the drain. And that ten¨Cgrand bill was just the leftover amount after Noe had already paid everything else. Vincent was even reluctant to cover that! Watching those recordings, Vincent broke out in a cold sweat! Noe smiled. ¡°Want to continue watching? I have plenty more, showing how ¡®kind¡® you have been to me and Grandma in the past. This kind of ¡®kindness¡® is truly unheard of, unseen before.¡± She was hesitant to bring these things out, not wanting the Schnabel family to be hurt by them. Luckily, Sienna and Tristan were not home. Marcel clenched his fists, seething with anger! ¡°How dare you treat Noe and Harriet like this! How dare you!¡± Vincent tried to defend, ¡°It¡¯s all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding¡­¡± Beckett gritted his teeth, taking a deep breath. ¡°Noe, what do you want to do with them? You call the shots, I¡¯m here for you!¡± Noe had long moved past the hurt. ¡°Mr. Lambert once mentioned he liked the inds, and it just so happens Xavier wanted to know some stories about Grandma¡¯s past. Two birds with one stone, let¡¯s send them to Lockhart Prison.¡± Surely, in Lockhart Prison, Xavier would treat them with the utmost hospitality! Vincent and Belinda tried to say something but were knocked out by the bodyguards and carried away, directly onto the helicopter bound for Lockhart Prison! Seeing the teary¨Ceyed expressions of the Schnabel family, Noe lowered her gaze, feeling a warm surge in her heart. She stepped forward, gently embracing Marcel, whose eyes were red¨Crimmed. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Grandpa. I¡¯m already very blessed to have you all.¡± Chapter 281 Noe had long stopped caring about the days gone by. Finding out that Harriet was actually her biological grandmother made Vincent and Belinda seem like a joke to her. But what Vincent did was unforgivable. Despite being taken in by his grandmother, he mistreated her! Noe patted Marcel on the shoulder. "Grandpa, look at me now. Am I not doing well? Am I not good enough, or are you not satisfied with me?" At that, Marcel''s eyes widened in disbelief. He grabbed Noe''s hand. "Who dares to say my granddaughter isn''t good enough? I''ll teach them a lesson!" Beckett smiled at Noe warmly. "Indeed, Noe, you''re doing great. Actually, before you came back, I was all set on how to discipline you." It turned out Noe did everything so well that even Beckett was surprised! ra raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, Noe, you have no idea. Me and the other brothers were all raised by Beckett. He sure knows how to raise kids." Beckett always believed that even if Noe wasn''t up to par aftering back from the Lambert family, who were as poor as church mice, he was confident he could teach her well! Noe chuckled. "Since I''m doing good enough, then why have you all been crying every time you see me? If you''re satisfied, how about showing me a smile instead?" The warmth and affection Noe received from the Schnabel family was something she had never experienced before. As the new leader of Pris Star, she wasn''tcking in praise and recognition from all walks of life. "Actually, beforeing back, I told my mentors that if the Schnabel family was anything like the Lambert family, I''d just take a look and leave. But now, I really hope I can live here with everyone." Original from N?velDrama.Org. The old timers at Pris Star felt pity for Noe''s past with the Lambert family but knew she couldn''t let go of Harriet and didn''t try to persuade her otherwise. Marcel, filled with contentment and affection, proimed, "Alright, from now on, let''s all smile for Noe!" "I''ll give Xavier a call. I¡¯ll send a few more men over to him." Marcel''s tone shifted, showing just how much he cherished his granddaughter and how much he despised the Lambert family! He stormed into his study, and soon, loud arguing could be heard coming from the room. "Xavier, listen here, the two that were sent over were mean to Harriet! How mean? Not feeding her, does that count as mean?" "I''ve sent you some videos, have a look, and you''ll understand!" "What? You''re asking about those two kids? Two for the price of one! Deal with them!" "I''m not wasting words! Do as you please with them!" ... Marcel''s intention was clear; he wanted to send Briony and Yvonne straight to Lockhart Prison as well! ra was surprised. "Those two, with their delicate skins, probably would cry for ages with just one punch, right?" She doubted whether Briony and Yvonne could survive three days in a ce like Lockhart Prison. Noe said indifferently, "It''s no longer our concern. They brought it upon themselves." If Vincent and Belinda hadn''t caused a scene, maybe they could have served their time in peace. ra sighed. "Ah, now they''ll realize that serving time in Harmonia Country''s prisons is much safer." They could have served their time in peace, but no, they had to mess up. Now, they were up for a luxury prison meal! Noe nced at her phone as Xavier''s message of eagerness popped up. [Girl, how do you want them dealt with? I am listening! Feed them to the sharks or bury them in the desert as fertilizer?] [Dig up everything they know. The rest is up to you.] Whether these people were alive or dead, Noe had no interest in knowing. She only wanted to find out if Vincent and Belinda knew more details, especially since Belinda was the one who took Noe from the orphanage! Yvonne must have done some unsightly things in the Schnabel family over the years too. All this, the Schnabel family had a right to know! ... In Serene Haven, within the outermost circle of single-story apartments, Oriana paced her room, worried and scared. She feared the Schnabel family might sue her, given she couldn''t afford to mess with their legal team. It was all Noe''s fault for being so heartless, even to her own foster parents. The Schnabel family surely didn''t know her true colors! Upon hearing from friends that Stirling was on a break, Oriana lit up with an idea. This meant Stirling might be home, and they now lived in the samemunity! Thrilled at the thought of possibly bumping into her idol just by stepping outside, Oriana quickly dolled herself up and left her apartment. She dared not get too close to the Schnabel family''s yard, settling for a hidden spot to wait. A sleek silver car slowly entered the Phoenix Tower''s exclusive parkingne. The Schnabel family preferred to alight at the entrance and have the driver park the car underground. Stirling, with his long strides, stepped out of the car, his agent by his side advising, "Even though you''re on a break, be mindful of your safety. And get that hair dyed back before your next gig!" Taking advantage of the break, Stirling had dyed his hair silver-white, adding a rebellious charm to his look. Rocking a face that could pull off any hairstyle, each vacation Stirling took was an opportunity to experiment with a new, often outrageous, do. And yet, his fans ate it up, utterly enchanted by Stirling''s unconventional charm! "Don''t worry about it. The next gig is with my family''spany; they wouldn''t dare criticize me." His agent took a deep breath. Even after years of managing Stirling, she was still asionally floored by Stirling¡¯s family background¡ª if he didn''t hustle, he''d simply inherit his family''s empire. "Fine, do as you wish. Just make sure you''re back to normal before we start filming. And be careful around the neighborhood; we don''t want any overzealous fans stalking you." Stirling''s gazended on a figure lurking nearby. Dressed in a loud, colorful outfit and hiding under a hat, they were crouched by the bushes. "Did you summon them or what? That person over there is either about to relieve themselves in public or they''re a hardcore fan." Stirling was too familiar with that look on Oriana¡¯s face! As soon as their gazes met, Oriana couldn''t contain her excitement and hurried over from the bushes. "Stirling! I''m a huge fan, and I also go to school with your sister Noe." Knowing the fan was Noe''s ssmate softened Stirling''s initial reaction, and he rxed the defensive stance he was about to take. Had Oriana spoken a momentter, she would''ve been pinned down by the Schnabel family''s bodyguards! Still cautious, Stirling took a step back. "What do you want?" "Stirling, I really adore you! You mean everything to me; do you understand my feelings?" Hearing this passionate confession, Stirling stepped back again, only for a cold, teasing voice to follow. Noe leaned over her balcony, resting her chin in her hands as she watched Oriana. "Stirling is your everything?" ra chimed in, "Wow, I didn''t get a good look before, but this kid looks kinda shocking." Chapter 282 ¡°Stirling, hurry back! This girl looks like a walking barcode, makes my head spin if I stare too long.¡± Thinking back to how Oriana had just brought the Lambert family couple in without hesitation, ra couldn¡¯t see her in any sort of good light at all! Just by looking at her expression, and hearing the extremely excited confession she had just made to Stirling, it was clear that this fan was probably the type that Stirling disliked the most. The obsessed kind, thinking she''s his true girlfriend! ra pouted. ¡°Noe, looks like she sees you aspetition too.¡± In the eyes of fans like Oriana, any girl near Stirling was the enemy! Especially Noe, who was showered with Stirling¡¯s affection, dancing right into Oriana¡¯s danger zone. So, from the moment sheid eyes on Noe, Oriana had her in her sights! Noe just shrugged it off. ¡°Crazy is as crazy does. If a dog bites me, I don''t bite back.¡± ra nodded in agreement. ¡°Must have crawled out of some dark alley, this one.¡± Oriana, hearing Noe and ra¡¯s undisguised mockery, nearly fainted with anger! Remembering how Noe had overheard her passionate confession, she blushed but quickly rallied. ¡°Stirling, I don¡¯t know when I ever offended Noe. She¡¯s always picking on me.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Me, picking on her? When did that happen?¡± ra chimed in, ¡°Delusions are a sickness too. Barcode, better get that checked out!¡± Stirling stepped back, distancing himself. Tears welled up in Oriana¡¯s eyes, as if she was sure Stirling would take her side. She''d been his fan for years, his posters decorating her room since his debut. Stirling had been her rock all these years! In her heart, Oriana believed that Stirling would always stand by her. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Stirling frowned, a look that could kill a mosquito. Noe casually mentioned, ¡°Stirling, this girl brought the Lambert folks into our neighborhood, and Grandpa is still fuming.¡± Stirling was rmed. ¡°Noe, are you okay? What¡¯s the security doing? Did they bother you?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°No, Grandpa took care of it.¡± Hearing this, Oriana realized the Schnabel family didn¡¯t value Noe¡¯s adoptive parents as she had hoped. If they truly cared for Noe, they¡¯d have shown some respect to her adoptive parents too! ¡°Stirling, how could Noe be so disrespectful to her adoptive parents? It¡¯s just so unfilial. If I get a chance, I¡¯ll make sure to teach her a thing or two, since she¡¯s your sister.¡± Stirling¡¯s eyes deepened with disgust. He¡¯d encountered fans like her before. They acted as if they owned him, denying him a personal life. Anything he did would be met with a barrage of messages ¡°advising¡± him to follow their script. He appreciated his rational fans, but some were just too much! ¡°You probably have some brain problems. There¡¯s a clinic outside the neighborhood you can visit.¡± Oriana was devastated! ¡°Stirling! How can you say that to me? I¡¯m only looking out for you!¡± ¡°Thest thing I need is a self-righteous fan like you. And Noe is my sister. She¡¯s the best in my eyes, no matter what. You have no right to judge her!¡± Stirling signaled. ¡°Security, make sure we don¡¯t have any unwanted visitors around here from now on.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The security team, swift and efficient, escorted Oriana out. Oriana couldn¡¯t believe Stirling wasn¡¯t the person she thought he was. Although known for his sharp tongue in the industry, she didn¡¯t expect him to turn it on her! ¡°Stirling! You¡¯ll regret this! Without fans, you¡¯re nothing!¡± Stirling watched Oriana¡¯s furious departure with a calm, almost cold demeanor. ¡°I might not be the star without you, but I will always be a Schnabel.¡± With the Schnabel family¡¯s support, Stirling knew he had plenty of options. His agent suggested, ¡°I got a video of this. Let¡¯s use it to deter fans like her and call for rational fandom.¡± ¡°Good, sue if we need to. No mercy.¡± Stirling was all for treating fans kindly, grateful for everything he had achieved and the des. But if anyone dared to target his sister, that was a line crossed. After briefing his agent, Stirling turned to find his sisters smiling up at him. ra, tossing her short hair with a flirtatious smile, said, ¡°Stirling, don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. You got to where you are with the Schnabels¡¯ support, your looks, and your acting skills.¡± Noe nodded. ¡°Everything you are, you earned yourself and was given by your audience. Losing fans like her is actually a blessing.¡± Stirling felt a warm glow inside, his smile bright and gentle as an early spring day. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Before Stirling could finish his thought, ra teased, ¡°With your smarts, taking over the family business might be a stretch, but your looks could definitely attract some sugar mommas. Forget those crazed fans, time to make some calls while you¡¯re still young!¡± Stirling¡¯s smile froze, his fists clenched tight as he red at her. ¡°ra! Just you wait, I¡¯ll get you for this!¡± Watching Stirling roll up his sleeves and march upstairs, ra grabbed Noe, pretending to weep dramatically. "Stirling''s gonna kill me! He''s out to get me. I knew I''ve always been the outsider..." Noe gave a resigned smile, gently patting ra''s cheek with a mix ofpassion and drama. "Don''t worry, ra. We''re all family here. Stirling won''t kill you, at worst you''ll be bedridden for a few days. Go on, I''ve got your back!" "So heartless!" The Schnabel Manor was alive with the sounds of ra and Stirling''s uproarious sibling rivalry. ... In a hospital, at the emergency department corridor, a young man, wrapped in bandages and leaning on a crutch, sidled up to a woman sitting in a corner. He had spotted a real knockout from across the room! "Excuse me, miss..." Malvina Gruber had just left the fight club, aching all over, barely able to lift her arms. She knew Ulrich was swamped and didn''t want to be a bother, so she decided to wait it out in a corner. "Are you a mummy?" "No, no, I''m just a patient here too. I''ve been watching you for a while, wondering if you might like to get to know me!" "No thanks..." Before Malvina could finish, the mummy guy cut in again. "Hear me out before you decide! My family''s loaded, we even have a microwave at home. You won''t regret being with me!" Malvina''s face was a picture of confusion. "Huh?" "I see you''re here alone, must be tough. You won''t have to y the tough girl anymore, because your knight in shining armor is here!" Chapter 283 Malvina¡¯s frown was so deep, it looked like it could trap a mosquito. She took a big step back, trying to escape this mess, only to find her path blocked by a hand propped against the wall above her head. ¡°Miss, won¡¯t you give me a chance?¡± The scent of disinfectant grew stronger, and the mummy¡¯s hand was grasped by a doctor in a white coat. ¡°Still running about with all those bandages, huh? Get back on the bed!¡± Seeing the doctor, the man who was oozing charm just seconds ago quickly straightened up and left, ncing back every few steps. Wearing a mask and a white coat, Ulrich tapped Malvina¡¯s head with the back of his hand. ¡°Ms. Gruber, do you not know how to dodge a flirt anymore?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m out of energy.¡± Justing off a boxing ring and still finding the strength to seek Ulrich for treating her wounds wasmendable! ¡°Back in the ring again? Why do you insist on learning boxing?¡± Though he said that, Ulrich bent down, scooped up Malvina, and walked into a trauma room. Feeling suddenly weightless, Malvina blinked. ¡°Dr. Schnabel, this is a hospital!¡± With people bustling everywhere in the hospital, him carrying her like this could stir rumors if seen by the wrong eyes! G Ulrich remained unfazed. ¡°What, you nning to make a scene? No offense, Ms. Gruber, but if you¡¯re looking for a boyfriend, you might want to wait until the bandagese off to see what¡¯s underneath.¡± After checking her in, Ulrich put away his tools. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone handle your payment. Wait here, a nurse wille to treat your wounds.¡± ¡°I can handle the payment myself! No need to trouble your assistant!¡± Malvina tried to sit up but was promptly pushed back down by Ulrich. Ulrich gave Malvina an annoyed look. ¡°What assistant? My assistant¡¯s off today. When I said I¡¯d find someone, I meant me! Rest up.¡± Luckily, the emergency department wasn¡¯t too busy today; most patients suffered from the flu, and none required his expertise in surgery. As Ulrich left and closed the door behind him, a sense of istion settled over Malvina, disconnecting her from everything outside. Malvinay on the bed, the sound of her heartbeat echoing loudly and irregrly in the room. Ulrich was kind to her, but so was everyone from the Schnabel family. Malvina nced at the burn scars still visible on her arm. She had secretly consulted several renowned stic surgeons, all of whom said her burns were beyond repair. 10:18 Ulrich, being so capable and kind, surely couldn¡¯t be with someone who had nothing like her, right? Besides, Ulrich¡¯s kindness was probably because she was friends with Noe! A nurse pushing a cart came in to treat Malvina¡¯s wounds. ¡°You¡¯re Dr. Schnabel¡¯s friend, right?¡± ¡°Sort of. I¡¯m friends with his sister.¡± Malvina braced for the nurse¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, knowing Ulrich carrying her to the exam room must¡¯ve been seen! ¡°So, you¡¯re Ms. Schnabel¡¯s friend? No wonder Dr. Schnabel was so insistent on having me bandage you.¡± The nurse¡¯s tone carried a hint of yfulness, and Malvina only noticed the badge on her chest when she looked up- it read ¡°Head Nurse¡°. ¡°Dr. Schnabel mentioned your fear of pain, but rest assured, my hands are steady. It¡¯s unusual to see him so attentive to a youngdy.¡± Maybe it was the steadiness of the head nurse¡¯s hands or the yfulness Malvina sensed from her, but as she realized there was no ill intent, Malvina found the courage to speak up. ¡°Is Dr. Schnabel¡­ popr?¡± ¡°Popr? He has to clear out his WhatsApp contacts yearly! They are mostly female doctors, nurses, and pharmaceutical reps he meets at conferences.¡± Ulrich¡¯s handsome face, impressive resume, and undeniable family background attracted many females. ¡°One patient even groped Dr. Schnabel during rounds, iming he harassed her. There are plenty of stories like that. Dr. Schnabel¡¯s practically welded his mask to his face. Once, an olddy insisted on marrying him for the third time!¡± Malvina¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°Has Dr. Schnabel ever thought about switching hospitals?¡± With his skills and background, he could easily serve a more upscale hospital. The head nurse, while wrapping Malvina¡¯s wounds, chuckled. ¡°Dr. Schnabel and Professor Calvin are both driven by their professional aspirations. If they were afraid of such encounters, they wouldn¡¯t be in clinical practice.¡± Malvina nodded, somewhat understanding. ¡°Has Dr. Schnabel ever been in a rtionship?¡± The head nurse gave a meaningful look towards the shadow behind the curtain, ¡°Maybe you should ask Dr. Schnabel yourself.¡± As the curtain was drawn, Ulrich leaned against the door, his gaze coldly settling on Malvina, his brow slightly furrowed as if wondering if she also took a hit to the head. The head nurse smiled. ¡°Dr. Schnabel, is this your girlfriend? Youngdy, Dr. Schnabel is quite a catch. He¡¯s our top performer every year, never lost a case!¡± As the nurse left, Malvina rushed, ¡°Dr. Schnabel, aren¡¯t you going to rify?¡± Ulrich walked to the window and opened the curtains, breathing in the fresh air. 10:18 ¡°rify what? I am indeed the annual top performer, and I¡¯ve never lost a case.¡± ¡°No, I mean¡­¡± Malvina found herself at a loss for words! Was that what she wanted him to rify? Obviously, it was the first part! Or was it that the Schnabel family was this oblivious? Seeing Ulrich¡¯s indifferent demeanor, Malvina wondered if she was overthinking. Malvina shook her head lightly, a wry smile on her lips. ¡°Forget it, let the head nurse think whatever she wants. With all those people buzzing around you, it¡¯s probably not a bad thing for her to think you¡¯re taken. I don¡¯t mind ying the role of your shield!¡± Ulrich¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile. There was a knock on the door again. ¡°Dr. Schnabel, we have an emergency surgery.¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯m on it!¡± Ulrich turned to Malvina. ¡°You rest here. I¡¯ll drive you hometer!¡± With the urgency of the surgery calling him, Ulrich hastened away, leaving Malvina alone in the room. Not wanting to be a bother, Malvina decided to get out of bed and leave on her own. As she stepped out, a familiar figure caught her eye. Limping, she hurried forward and embraced Noe, who had just appeared in the hospital corridor. ¡°Noe, darling! What brings you here?¡± ¡°Malvina? Are you hurt again?¡± Malvina nodded pitifully. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s this new fighter. Some of the guys in the gang who don¡¯t like me much set me up to fight him.¡± Running the Shadow Dragon Society was no easy task, especially for someone as petite as Malvina. A few of the old timers in the gang never missed a chance to give her trouble. ¡°The new fighter? I¡¯ve got it.¡± Noe nodded slightly, keeping tabs on everyone who showed up in the underground fighting scene. It seemed the Shadow Dragon Society had deliberately brought in someone to trouble Malvina! CHapter 284 CHapter 284 In the depths of the Shadow Dragon Society, deceit was asmon as the air they breathed. Some members had openly thrown their support behind Larson, hastening to curry favor with him once he ascended to the presidency of the Pock Group. Recently, Malvina found herself in a tight spot, her situation far from as rosy as it appeared. Noe spoke up, her voice calm. ¡°If you need help, just head down to the fight club and look for Alioth and the crew.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve already done so much for me! Some things, I¡¯ve got to handle on my own.¡± Malvina was well aware that her grip on a significant portion of the Shadow Dragon Society was largely due to Noe¡¯s covert assistance. Without the protection of the folks from the fight club, she might not have had the chance to crawl back to Ulrich every time! At this, Malvina felt a wave of despondency, hugging Noe tightly, burying her head in her embrace. ¡°Lucky I¡¯m always on my toes! Otherwise, I¡¯d have been done for by now! Arthur was about to be executed, and he even wanted me to witness it. Noe, darling, would youe with me?¡± The verdict for the Gruber family had just been passed down; Arthur and Yates were sentenced to death, while Walden received a lighter sentence due to his minimal involvement in the core affairs of the Gruber family. ¡°If you want to go, I¡¯ll be with you.¡± Malvina showered Noe¡¯s face with kisses! ¡°Let¡¯s go tomorrow then! Noe, darling, what brings you to the hospital?¡± 1 Noe nced up at Calvin, who had just finished his rounds. nked by a procession of doctors, he was briefing a colleague on some details. ¡°I¡¯m here for him.¡± Professor Calvin had an appointment with Lavinia for a follow¨Cup today and had invited Noe to join. Calvin felt fortunate for the rare interest Noe showed in a patient. He sometimes felt intellectually dwarfed by Noe and Ulrich¡¯s analysis, almost as if his IQ was being ground into the dust by the brilliance of the Schnabel family. Noe was a medical prodigy! If only she wasn¡¯t so averse to drawing attention to herself, Calvin doubted he¡¯d have had the chance to be involved in her research projects. Turning around, Noe saw a middle¨Caged man stumbling out of a room, rushing up to hug Calvin¡¯s leg! ¡°Professor Calvin! My feelings for you are genuine! Please, give us a chance!¡± An awkward silence fell over the onlookers. Calvin, struggling to keep his pants up without being pulled down, turned beet red. ¡°I¡¯m married!¡± The patient grew even more agitated. ¡°I know, but I don¡¯t want to be your wife! I¡¯ll be your husband!¡± 10:18 Calvin searched his mind for words that could rebuff the patient without wounding his dignity. After a long pause, he managed, ¡°I¡¯m not into men.¡± The patient¡¯s face, flushed with high altitude red, was full of reproach. ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, why did you check out my backside?¡± Calvin was at a loss for words. ¡°You¡¯re a proctology patient. How am I supposed to treat you without checking?¡± The patient was relentless, demanding Calvin take responsibility. The surrounding doctors quickly intervened to separate them. Malvina, watching the scene unfold, recognized the mummy guy helping the patient. Wasn¡¯t he the same one who had harassed her earlier? ¡°Birds of a feather flock together, huh¡­¡± Calvin, his face a shade of crimson, had not expected such a situation in years, especially not in front of Noe, which made him feel utterly embarrassed. Approaching Noe and Malvina, who were trying hard not tough, Calvin resigned himself. ¡°Go ahead,ugh if you want!¡± His years in the field hadn¡¯t spared him from encountering such patients! Sensing the gaze upon him, the mummy guy turned to see Malvina and rushed over, his attention fixated on Noe. ¡°Are you Noe? I¡¯m your brother!¡± Noe frowned, stepping back with Malvina without making a sound. ¡°I¡¯m Vincent¡¯s son, your brother, Harry Lambert!¡± Harry¡¯s excitement at seeing Noe was palpable. Had Vincent not informed him just days ago that the Lambert family¡¯s disregarded adopted daughter, Noe, was actually the daughter of the Schnabel family, Harry might not have recognized her. Noe¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± Undeterred, Harry was desperate. Vincent¡¯s bankruptcy had left him penniless, and now that he had found Noe, he was not about to let her go. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Harry observed Noe from head to toe. She was exceptionally beautiful, indeed bearing no resemnce. to anyone from the Lambert family. ¡°Noe, darling, Dad even sent me a video of going to you at Serene Haven. I couldn¡¯t possibly mistake you!¡± His words hinted at a threat. If Noe refused to acknowledge him, he¡¯d leak the video and ruin her. ¡°Perhaps we should talk in the emergency exit? It¡¯s more private.¡± ¡°That sounds appropriate.¡± Noe agreed, knowing the emergency exitcked surveince¨Ca perfect spot for a discreet conversation. Harry had underestimated Noe, assuming her delicate appearance meant she was weak. Malvina fully understood Noe¡¯s capabilities but couldn¡¯t help but caution, ¡°Be careful, alright? Don¡¯t get your dress dirty.¡± 012 10:18 ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be back in no time.¡± As Harry and Noe stepped through the security door and it shut behind them, Calvin started to fret. ¡°How could you just let her go off with some guy we barely know? What if something happens? How am I supposed to exin this to Marcel?¡± The more Calvin thought about it, the more anxious he became, so he hurried off to make some calls for backup. Inside the emergency exit, Noe faced Harry and rubbed her wrists. ¡°To be honest, I really wanted to leave the Lamberts alone, but you guys just keep pestering me. It¡¯s truly annoying.¡± Mistaking Noe¡¯s calm demeanor for fear, Harry confidently made his demands. ¡°Look, Noe, all I need is for the Schnabels to hook me up with a cushy job. Nothing too strenuous, just a CEO position at the Schnabel Group, and maybe toss a fewpanies my way to manage. That¡¯s not asking too much of the Schnabels, right?¡± ¡°Oh, and that beauty you hang out with? I¡¯m quite taken with her too. Marrying her might be out of my league, but a little fling wouldn¡¯t hurt¡­¡± Before Harry could continue, Noe¡¯s fist connected with his face, and before he could even scream, her next punch hit his throat, silencing the cry that had reached his tips. Gazing down at Harry as he tumbled down the stairs, Noe¡¯s eyes were filled with utter disdain and coldness. ¡°Disgusting. It seems the things that displease me truly deserve their fate.¡± It was clear, her past restraint only served to embolden people like him., Noe descended the stairs, step by step, towards the now terrified Harry, with a smile reminiscent of a queen from the underworld. ¡°What was that you were saying? I didn¡¯t quite catch it. Maybe you¡¯d like to repeat it?¡± Harry shook his head frantically. ¡°No, no, if youy a hand on me, my backer won¡¯t let you off! Even the Schnabels can¡¯t afford to mess with him!¡± CHapter 285 CHapter 285 ¡°Don¡¯te any closer! I¡¯m warning you, you don¡¯t want to mess with my backer!¡± Noe let out a derisiveugh, casually asking, ¡°Oh? The people behind you? Who are they, the Devil himself?¡± Harry had been stashed away in a vi by Vincent, having never met Noe, nor did he know about her temperament or character. From what Vincent had described, Noe was just an ordinary girl- seemingly frail and delicate. However, when it came to throwing punches, she showed no mercy! Noe¡¯s foot pressed down on Harry¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve heard someone spout such nonsense.¡± After Noe became the leader of Pris Star, such talk wasughable! Harry struggled. ¡°I can call him!¡± Noe lifted her foot. ¡°Go ahead, you have one minute. Make your call or meet your maker, your choice.¡± Her gaze drifted towards the staircase, and Harry, bandaged as he was, thought about the pain of tumbling down those stairs again and decided against it. ¡°I¡¯ll call now! You¡¯ll be kneeling and apologizing in no time!¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. He pulled out his phone, trembling as he dialed a number, sweat dripping down his cheeks, stinging his wounds. The voice on the other side was quick to respond. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to call me unless it¡¯s an emergency?¡± Desperate, Harry nced at Noe, thinking this would surely intimidate¡® her. ¡°Mr. Richardson! It¡¯s not that I wanted to bother you, but I¡¯m about to be beaten to death here. Please, Mr. Richardson, save me.¡± Hearing the familiar voice, Noe realized Harry¡¯s so¨Ccalled backup was none other than Lorne Richardson. ¡°Who¡¯s beating you? If you can¡¯t even handle this, don¡¯t bother me even if you are beaten to death.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Schnabel. I asked her for money, and without a word, she attacked me!¡± Lorne was silent for a moment. ¡°Why were you asking her for money?¡± Harry, feeling justified, replied, ¡°The Schnabel family is rich. What¡¯s the harm in giving me a little? Besides, my father was her foster father. I just asked her for a few million. She could¡¯ve just said no. Why beat me?¡± Noe couldn¡¯t help but snort withughter. Hearing thatughter, Lorne knew Noe must be standing right next to Harry and immediately made his stance clear. ¡°That¡¯s on you for being shameless. If Ms. Schnabel feels it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll send someone else to give you a beating!¡± 10:18 ¡°Mr. Richardson, what do you mean by that? Hello? Hello¡­¡± The phone buzzed with the sound of a disconnected call, and Harry realized he¡¯d been blocked by Lorne! Noe smiled. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve made your call, it¡¯s my turn.¡± ¡°Can the Schnabel family act sowlessly? I¡¯m calling the police!¡± Noe¡¯s eyes caught the SWAT team entering the staircase, obviously sent by Calvin who was worried about her. ¡°Good, the police are here.¡± Just as Harry was about to exaggerate Noe¡¯s actions, the leading officer saluted her. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, we¡¯re here on Colonel Gat¡¯s orders to ensure your safety!¡± Hearing this, Noe realized that afterpleting his mission at Imperial West Hospital, Gat had been promoted. ¡°Thank you, take care of him then.¡± Watching the SWAT team align themselves with Noe, Harry nearly bit his tongue in shock. Vincent never warned him how formidable Noe could be! Stepping out of the staircase, Noe left all the noise behind. She turned to Mizar. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see him again. Remember all the shady stuff Vincent and his son got up to? Find them the most remote prison to grow old in, and let¡¯s not have them hopping around anymore.¡± These people were nothing but trouble. ¡°From now on, if anyone from the Lambert family bothers me, pack them off the same way.¡± Mizar, covering her mouth to stifle augh, chimed in, ¡°Sure thing! It¡¯s about time! Boss, ever since you returned to the Schnabel family, you¡¯ve changed.¡± Noe smiled softly, shaking her head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t changed. It¡¯s just that before, no one stood by me. Now, I know it¡¯s okay to be a little headstrong.¡± f Before, with no one on her side, Noe had to consider her grandmother¡¯s feelings and repeatedly give in to the Lamberts and the Fullers! Now, she had family ¨C her family, who loved her unconditionally! Tristan and Beckett would call or text her daily, reminding her to eat and sleep. Ulrich, no matter how busy. would always say goodnight to Noe and remind her to take her medicine. Stirling had set her photo as every screen saver, even choosing to film in Glen Vige, where she had lived for years. Jasper shared every fun courtroom story with Noe, replying to every message she sent. Her room, every inch of it, was filled with items personally chosen by ra and Sienna. Her heart, too, was filled with love from her family! Mizar sighed. ¡°Love always feels like a debt, a pity Vincent only saw it as a loss.¡± Then, Noe received an overseas call. As soon as she answered, Tristan¡¯s cries and wails could be heard on the other end. ¡°Sweetheart! Did that darn Vincente looking for you again? I should¡¯ve knocked him out cold last time! This is driving me insane! I¡¯m so sorry, sweetheart. It¡¯s all because I wasn¡¯t home. Your mom and I are already at the airport, we¡¯ll be home to see you in no time!¡± 10.10 Listening to the background noise on Tristan¡¯s end, Noe paused before speaking. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve never heard of any airport announcement that sounds like a DJ.¡± ¡°Ah, well, heard from your granddad that the Lambert family got shipped off to Lockhart Prison, so I canceled our tickets! Your mom said you¡¯ve been having a rough time, so I¡¯ve got you a gemstone as big as a boxing glove to kick around like a ser ball when I get back!¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine at home. You and Mom should just enjoy yourselves. I don¡¯t need anything to kick around.¡± Tristan then started wailing for a bit, as if he needed to speak loudly just to hear his own voice. Tristan had his own way of thinking. ¡°Sweetheart, you do whatever you want. I¡¯ve got your back. And if I can¡¯t handle it, there¡¯s always your grandpa. And if he can¡¯t, just pin it on one of your brothers. It¡¯s no big deal!¡± He had plenty of sons, after all! ¡°It won¡¯te to that. But, if I end up punching Lorne, that shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡± ¡°Who? Lorne? Go ahead, punch¡­ actually, never mind, forget it. But if you really want to, you should marry Mr. Pock sooner. He¡¯s got plenty of brothers to take the fall. Come to think of it, sweetheart, you could probably blow up Imperial City and we¡¯d still find a way to cover for you!¡± CHapter 286 CHapter 286 Tristan mulled it over and decided it made perfect sense. Noe, however, couldn¡¯t quite get on board with Tristan¡¯s way of thinking. Was she seriously measuring trouble by the ¡°brother¡± unit? Lorne¡¯s antics were bing too much, enough to make Noe sick of him. Tristan stepped aside to a quieter spot, asking with concern, ¡°Sweetie, why do you want to hit Lorne? What did he do?¡± Lucian Richardson and Marcel, after all, were acquaintances. And with ra¡¯s connection in the mix, Tristan wouldn¡¯t normally mess with the Richardson family, unless they messed with his darling daughter first! ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just that he deliberately had someone try to run me over on campus, thinking he could y the hero. So, I gave him a piece of my mind. And he even got Vincent¡¯s illegitimate son to harass me.¡± Tristan felt his blood pressure soar! This was ¡®nothing¡®? ¡°The hell, does Lorne have a death wish? Messing with my daughter? Sweetie, are you okay? Why didn¡¯t you tell me about the near ident? Has Beckett been eating dirttely?¡± How could Beckett let something this big happen while taking care of his siblings! ¡°I¡¯m fine, Beckett took care of it, and even got in touch with the Richardson family. But I felt better settling it myself.¡± As Noe spoke, she headed towards Lorne¡¯s hospital room. Tristan calmed down. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay, that¡¯s what matters! Go on, give him what for! If you break anything, it¡¯s on Jacob. After all, Lucian can¡¯t stand him, and won¡¯t mind adding to his troubles.¡± Tristan had his own reasons. Why not? Jacob had made his other daughter suffer! ¡°It¡¯s settled then. I¡¯m off.¡± Hanging up, Tristan was still fuming. When Sienna came over, the couple realized there was a serious concern. ¡°What if our darling hurts her hand in the process? Better call Ulrich in line and get some backup over there!¡± By the time Noe hung up, she was already at Lorne¡¯s hospital room door. With a slight tilt of her head, she said, ¡°Handle the surveince.¡± ¡°Right away!¡± Noe entered the room, and shortly after, she stepped out, casually rubbing her wrist. Mizar chuckled. ¡°Boss, Ms. Gruber and Professor Calvin are waiting for you on the floor we were on.¡± ¡°Okay. Take care of things here.¡± 10:19 Original from N?velDrama.Org. *Chapter 286 In the room, Lorney unconscious. Noe had carefully avoided the surgical wounds as she made her point. As someone who had recently undergone major surgery, Lorne couldn¡¯t withstand any sort of physical assault. Apart from the initial surprise on Lorne¡¯s face upon seeing Noe, the rest was disbelief and blood. Mizar clicked his tongue, snapping a photo to capture the moment. Lying on the bed next to Lorne, Thorpe feigned deep meditation, choosing to y dead the moment Noe entered. No joke, he wasn¡¯t about to get beaten for nothing! As Noe returned to the emergency department floor, she saw Malvina arguing fiercely with a young man, defending Dr. Lowry, who was seated in a wheelchair behind her. The young man was adamant. ¡°My mom said if I marry Dr. Lowry, the house won¡¯t be in her name, but she¡¯d pay for the decor since she¡¯ll live there too!¡± Malvina was bbergasted by his audacity. ¡°Oh, please! And what¡¯s next? The kids won¡¯t take your name, but you¡¯ll still support them, even if they¡¯re not yours? Since you¡¯ll be ying daddy anyway! Such a schemer, why not go back to ying Monopoly? Think you¡¯re some kind of ountant?¡± The man¡¯s face turned beet red. ¡°You don¡¯t get it! My mom said this is all normal: Besides, this is between me and Dr. Lowry, none of your business! My mom also said the hospital would definitely pay Dr. Lowrypensation, which we can use for the renovations. It¡¯s all free money for her anyway.¡± Noe stepped in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°All this ¡®my mom¡® talk, I thought you were some kindergarten kid who hadn¡¯t weaned off yet.¡± Malvina snorted in agreement. ¡°Kindergarten kids speak better than this. At least they don¡¯te up with such calcting yet heartlessments. You might as well marry your mom and live happily ever after. What¡¯s this ¡®free money¡® you speak of? She¡¯s been through hell and back, not just picking up cash off the street. Why don¡¯t you try hurting yourself, maybe aim for your pant, see if you consider that free money. 7 Malvina¡¯s sharp tongue had made many in the Gruber family weep. In just a few sentences, she had Dr. Lowry¡¯s boyfriend¡¯s face turning a deep shade of crimson! ¡°I didn¡¯t even mind her being more educated. My mom¡­ high education turns women bad, makes them terrible at bearing children. What¡¯s wrong with her spending a bit on decor?¡± Malvina¡¯s eyes could¡¯ve rolled out of her head. Noe turned to Dr. Lowry. ¡°Are you going to break up with him?¡± Dr. Lowry stepped out of the hospital room upon learning that Noe had arrived, intending to have a conversation with her. But she didn¡¯t expect Noe to encounter her while she was arguing with her boyfriend. Least of all, she hadn¡¯t anticipated that Noe, witnessing her lowest, would still stand up for her! Nodding vigorously, Dr. Lowry agreed, ¡°Yes! Breaking up! Right now. I¡¯ve had enough!¡± After the ident, she received a lot of support. Her colleagues and parents took turns caring for her, yet all this man cared about waspensation! Noe nodded: ¡°At least you¡¯re notpletely foolish.¡± 10:19 *Chapter 286 She was willing to lend Dr. Lowry a hand, but not to a lovesick fool. To Dr. Lowry¡¯s ex, Noe said, ¡°Life¡¯s a drag when you¡¯re a toad trying to lecture humans. The crematorium should call your beloved mom, ask how well¨Cdone she wants you.¡± ¡°How dare you talk to me like that! So what if I don¡¯t have a master¡¯s degree? I¡¯m still a gentleman!¡± The man couldn¡¯t handle the sharp wit of Noe and Malvina, each jab more cutting than thest. He ended up sitting on the floor, bawling his eyes out! He was one step away from calling his mom to tell her someone was picking on him. When Dr. Lowry¡¯s parents heard what happened, they came rushing over and practically chased her ex¨Cboyfriend off the hospital. Malvina gave Dr. Lowry aforting pat on the shoulder. ¡°Why on earth would you pick guys out of the dumpster?¡± ¡°I¡­I used to think I was unattractive, and believed that finding someone who¡¯d want me was next to impossible¡­¡± That¡¯s why Dr. Lowry had put up with her ex¨Cboyfriend¡¯s nonsense. Her eyes shone with gratitude as she looked at Noe. It was Noe who had pulled her back from the brink, who had been there for her time and again, reminding her that her life had purpose! Dr. Lowry clenched her fists. ¡°Thank you, guys. I swear I¡¯ll be stronger!¡± Down the hallway, amotion was brewing. Dr. Calvin was apanied by a dashing man in a sleek trench coat, his presencemanding and intense, as chilling as a mountain spring. But the moment his eyes found Noe, the ice melted away, reced by a warm, tender smile. ¡°What brings you here?¡± in shining armor. Tristan called me, said a friend of mine was stirring up trouble in the ¡°ying the hospital, and asked me toe sort it out.¡± Noe hadn¡¯t expected Tristan to call Palmer as well! Raising an eyebrow, Noe looked at Palmer. ¡°There¡¯s a mess alright. What¡¯s your n for cleanup?¡± ¡°Anyone who upsets you doesn¡¯t just get a mess to deal with; they get a tombstone,¡± Palmer replied, half¨Cjoking yet entirely serious. Chapter 287 Half an hour ago, Palmer stood his ground against Larson at the Pock family¡¯s vacation resort. An old mahogany table stood between them, bearing a document that had Larson shaking with fury. ¡°Palmer, you¡¯re crossing the line! I''m now the CEO of the Pock Group. Stealing my deals? Do you want to run the Pock Group into the ground?¡± Palmer, with a casual air, responded, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle it, step down. You''re the CEO of the Pock Group, but also my employee. If you can¡¯t cut it, I¡¯ll find your recement at the next board meeting.¡± As the major shareholder, Palmer had the power to elevate Larson to his position, or to take it away. Larson realized then that Palmer¡¯s support had been a setup, making him a puppet for his amusement! Those damned partners, all siding with Palmer, understood that this was an internal shake-up within the Pock Group and ignored Larsonpletely! His position as CEO had be a joke. Now, Larson was stuck, unable to advance or retreat, with a pile of business matters waiting for his attention. Palmer lit his cigarette with a lighter, not even sparing Larson a nce. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle matters as insignificant as this, you¡¯ll have no role in the Pock Group affairs anymore.¡± ¡°Palmer! You want me out? Over my dead body!¡± Palmer chuckled softly. ¡°Uncle Larson, why rush? I¡¯ve got plenty more ''gifts'' for you. You¡¯re going to love them.¡± Gifts? Thest ''gift'' Palmer gave Larson was a video of Eamon¡¯s downfall! What could it be this time? Something to push Larson over the edge, no doubt. Caught in a dilemma, Larson felt like Palmer had him over a barrel. Annie entered, bowing slightly. ¡°Mr. Pock, Mr. Schnabel is on the line from overseas.¡± Tristan had tried to reach Ulrich without sess, likely caught up in surgery. So, he had called Palmer instead. Tristan¡¯s exact words were, ¡°Palmer, Noe has never been one to fight her own battles. Go handle Lorne! Don¡¯t let Noe get bullied. I was thinking of having Ulrich pull the plug on Lorne.¡± A brutally simple n, thwarted only by failing to reach Ulrich. ¡°I¡¯ll go see Noe right away.¡± ¡°If Lorne really causes trouble, just me it on your Uncle Jacob!¡± Palmer couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly, realizing Tristan still harbored resentment towards Jacob over ra¡¯s situation. After ending the call, Palmer hurried over, grateful he wasn¡¯t toote. A smile crossed Noe¡¯s face. ¡°The VIP suite on the sixth floor? I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°Would you join me for dinnerter, as thanks?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Professor Calvin watched Palmer leave, sensing something odd between him and Noe. Strange, almost like an unspoken intimacy! ¡°How bizarre. You two are practically engaged, yet there¡¯s something so peculiar about you.¡± Despite theirck of affectionate gestures, Professor Calvin couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of being fed a dose of sweetness! Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Where is the patient I¡¯m here to see?¡± ¡°In my office. Let¡¯s go.¡± Noe then turned to Malvina. ¡°Are you heading back, or will you wait for me?¡± Malvina remembered Palmer¡¯s dinner ns with Noe. Staying would mean ying the third wheel. ¡°I¡¯ll head home!¡± Then, it hit her ¨C her home was gone, consumed by fire. ¡°Oh, right¡­ I¡¯ll head back to the gang. Got some things to sort out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent some folks from the fight club to your gang. It¡¯s best you stay away for now.¡± The Shadow Dragon Society had crossed a line, and Noe wouldn¡¯t mind teaching them a lesson. ¡°Ah? Sweetie, you didn¡¯t have to do that for me. Ugh, I¡¯m forever in your debt!¡± Noe¡¯s expression softened. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I don¡¯t like it when they use my turf to bully you.¡± The underground fight club was a murky world, yet it was under Pris Star¡¯s control. Noe disliked any chaos on her turf. Helping Malvina was just part of cleaning house. ¡°Then, I¡­ I¡¯ve made ns with Dr. Schnabel. Yes, I¡¯m taking him out to dinner!¡± Malvina, desperate to not intrude on Noe and Palmer¡¯s dinner, had no choice but to drag Ulrich into her ns! Firmly, she added, ¡°Dr. Schnabel covered my medical bills. Dinner is the least I can do to thank him.¡± Noe nodded, leaving with Calvin. Once Noe was gone, Malvina slumped, her heart racing. ¡°Scared me to death. Looks like I really have to take Dr. Schnabel out to dinner now.¡± Dr. Lowry, puzzled, asked, ¡°Are you Dr. Schnabel¡¯s girlfriend? I feel like I¡¯ve seen you around before.¡± ¡°Of course not! Dr. Schnabel would date a cadaver before dating me.¡± A cadaver ¨C the term for bodies donated to medical science. This was Dr. Lowry¡¯s first encounter with someone like Malvina, leaving her speechless. As Malvina pushed Dr. Lowry back to the ward, she mused aloud, ¡°I asked Dr. Schnabel when was thest time he held hands with a girl. He said it was with a cadaver, studying how cancer cells spread to the hand.¡± Dr. Lowry just stared, speechless. "I asked him if he ever felt his heart skip a beat, and he said yes, once during an anatomy ss, when the cadaver''s heart was just perfectly shaped!" That was when Malvina, out of curiosity, asked what a perfect heart looked like, and Ulrich, in the middle of her lunch, bombarded her with pictures of heart specimens! All from international journals, imed to be the epitomes of perfection. Malvina was feeling all sorts of emotions. "First off, I have a huge respect for cadaver, and second, I respect the art of medical photography, but there I was, chowing down on a cold pork heart sd!" Original from N?velDrama.Org. Dr. Lowry''s lips twitched in response. Malvina had already wheeled Dr. Lowry to her room. Leaning on the edge of the wheelchair, she started with a smile. "And you know, we''re about the same age. Look at me, I''ve made it through so much. I grew up without parents. After my mom passed, my dad unted his new me right in front of me. The first person I dealt with aftering of age was that woman. I thought I was done for, but then Noe, the busybody, saved my life." There was a sparkle in Malvina''s beautiful eyes. "So, you gotta keep on living, okay?" Dr. Lowry nodded, whispering, "I get it! But, I feel like you and Dr. Schnabel would make a great pair. You''re both so attractive." Malvina straightened up, shrugging. "I''ll admit I''ve got looks that couldunch a thousand ships, but Dr. Schnabel and I... we''re just in different worlds now." She was starting from scratch, with a tough journey ahead, never knowing if she''d identally get caught in a gang crossfire. Malvina smiled wistfully, her gaze drifting to the window where flowers bloomed vibrantly on the trees, their fervor unmatched. Yet, she felt herself sinking into barrenness. "Dr. Schnabel is too good, and being with me just wouldn''t be right. Even if it means shortchanging myself, I couldn''t bear it." Dr. Lowry, puzzled, asked, "Ms. Gruber, don''t you like Dr. Schnabel?" Chapter 288 Malvina paused for a moment, her mind racing. Did she like Ulrich? Tucking a curl behind her ear, Malvina''sughter wasced with allure. "You don''t get it, sometimes liking someone just isn''t enough. And besides, I like you too, Dr. Lowry." Malvina was the kind of stunning, bold beauty one would expect to see on the silver screen, not in real life. Her vivacious personality and exotic charm were irresistible. Dr. Lowry blushed a deep shade of crimson at her teasing promation ¨C something she¡¯d only seen in movies! "If Dr. Schnabel and I were in school, he''d be the teacher''s pet, and I''d be the teacher''s headache. We''re not exactlypatible." Malvina''s fleeting sadness was quickly masked. "Besides, he deserves better, certainly not me." After all, she was the rebel with a cause, and Ulrich, with his gleaming reputation as a medical prodigy, was out of her league! Patting Dr. Lowry''s head, Malvina smirked, "I''ll see you around. Next time, dinner''s on me." "Weren''t you supposed to invite Dr. Schnabel for dinner?" "I did say that, but he doesn¡¯t know. What¡¯s wrong with us beautiful women being a bit unpredictable?." Malvina''s whole body ached, and she had no desire to wait here for Ulrich. What if catching sight of Ulrich''s face triggered some inappropriate thoughts again? Sienna, Noe, and ra had been nothing but kind to her. "I need to be grateful," she murmured, her voice bitter. The Schnabel family had been so good to her, yet she contemted pulling Ulrich into her chaos. That was too cruel! Frustrated, Malvina decisively brushed her hair back. "No more visits to this hospital. I''ll find another. Take care, I''ll treat you next time!" "Ms. Gruber... Goodbye." With her bag in tow, Malvina stormed out as if being chased by shadows. ... In Calvin''s office, the atmosphere was different. Lavinia Richardson, dressed in a vintagece-trimmed dress with a string of pearls around her neck, exuded a timeless grace, as soothing as a gentle spring breeze. Calvin greeted her with a warm smile. "Ms. Richardson, wee back. No need to be nervous. Ms. Schnabel has been shadowing me in medical training; think of her as my intern." Under the table, Noe''s foot found Calvin''s with a swift kick. He really thought of himself as her mentor. The pretext was a convenient one, albeit Calvin''s skills were hardly a match for Noe''s. Lavinia''s eyes softened as she looked at Noe, radiating maternal warmth. "If I had a daughter as smart and beautiful as Ms. Schnabel, I''d be the happiest woman alive. Though, I do have a lovely daughter." Noe was taken aback. "You have a daughter?" Lavinia nodded, her voice tender, her brows knitted with faint sorrow. "Yes, but I don''t know where she is. I''ve looked everywhere at home. I fear they''ll think she''s a figment of my imagination. Ms. Schnabel, my mental health isn''t great; I don''t want to worry my father." Noe looked at Lavinia and suddenly asked, "Lavinia, do you remember what my sister ate when west visited?" "Last time? Ms. ra had a walnut pastry. That was our first meeting." Noe nodded, her expressionplex. "Do you remember Jacob?" Noe asked, veering the conversation. Lavinia, surprised, pondered before responding. "Yes, but it''s been years since we parted. Ms. Schnabel, you¡¯re engaged to Palmer Pock, so you might have met Jacob. Is he well?" "He''s fine." "That''s good to hear," Lavinia sighed, a shadow of mncholy crossing her features. "Previously, you showed me pictures of Grandpa Lucian in his youth. He looked quite dashing." "Did I? I seem to have forgotten." The first time Noe and ra visited the Richardson Manor, ra didn''t eat walnut pastry. It was evident that Lavinia had forgotten about it. Noe decided not to press further, handing Calvin a special request for medical tests. "Just follow this list for the examination, Lavinia. Goodbye." Lavinia expressed her gratitude politely, took the list, draped ace shawl over her shoulders, and departed the office with elegance. Calvin asked, "Why did you request a special examination?" "We need to run these tests for dissociative phenomena." Calvin was momentarily astonished, and eximed, "You suspect... she has dissociative identity disorder? But after all these years, I haven''t noticed anything!" Noe spoke with seriousness, "Her two personalities are very simr, but their ents and cognitive abilities arepletely different, showing significant disparities." Noe recollected every encounter she had with Lavinia. She produced a piece of paper, "Let¡¯s temporarily assume she has two personalities. One speaks with a southern ent, while the other has an Imperial City ent. One prefers tailored business wear, while the other favors vintage dresses. Their personalities are so simr that it''s understandable you haven''t noticed." Lavinia''s memory showed discrepancies. "The medical records state that she suffers from severe forgetfulness, dizziness, and ringing in the ears, with instances of fainting and hospitalization during severe episodes. But she always recovers after a few days in the hospital. I believe it''s because one personality falls ill while the other remains unaffected." Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Calvin remained somewhat shocked. "Dissociative Identity Disorder, it usually kicks in after some heavy trauma, right? Ms. Richardson didn''t have a shot at something like that!" From what Calvin knew about Lavinia, the Richardson family kept her under such tight wraps that something so drastic couldn¡¯t possibly have happened to cause a split personality. Noe spoke up, her tone light, "There was something. She mentioned she had a daughter." "And what''s that supposed to prove? Couldn''t that just be a figment of one of her alternate personalities?" "No, she actually had a daughter. So, it''s likely that the trauma urred during childbirth, leading to the split." Noe let out a sigh. "I suppose her primary personality is aware she had a child but lost her. That''s probably why there''s a second personality telling her to forget it all." Calvin was all questions. "You''re saying she really has a daughter? Howe I never knew about this!" Noe shot back, "Well, you''re not her dad, why would you know?" Calvin''s eyes widened. "And you''re not either! How do you know about it?" "Is it so strange I know more than you?" Noe packed up her things and walked away, with Calvin calling after her. "Hey, make sure you fill me in on the treatment n, alright? Where are you off to?" There was a hint of cheer in Noe''s voice. "Off to grab a bite with a friend, and to check if Lorne is really gone for good." Calvin was even more puzzled. Wasn''t Palmer Noe''s fianc¨¦? How did he be just a friend? "Is that what the young folks are calling their significant others these days?" Chapter 289 In Lorne''s hospital room, Noe pushed the door open to find a scene straight out of a nightmare. Thorpe was huddled in a corner, his massive frame shivering, holding his head in his hands. Lorne, pale as a ghost on the bed, was pointing a trembling finger at Palmer. "Mr. Pock, what have I ever done to you for you to treat me like this?" Palmer''s hand was resting on Lorne''s shin, feigning friendly banter, but only Lorne knew the true force behind that grip. It felt as if his bones were about to be crushed! That damn Thorpe, the moment Palmer walked in, he was the first to surrender. After all his big talk about taking Palmer down, now he was just cowering in a corner, pretending he didn''t exist. Such a turncoat. It infuriated Lorne so much he couldn''t stop cursing under his breath. Palmer looked on indifferently, his aura of authority more intimidating than ever. "You know well what you¡¯ve done," he said coolly. "Agh! Mr. Pock, aren''t you afraid of my grandfather and my fathering after you?" Lorne was in agony, his body convulsing, veins bulging on his neck as the pain sawed through him. Noe walked over, her voice detached. "I''m hungry. Let''s go grab a bite." Palmer withdrew his hand, wiping it carelessly. "Sure, whatever you say. Lorne, you better keep yourself alive. I''d be quite displeased to find you dead when I need you." Lorne knew Palmer was not only the heir to the Pock Group but also the head of the Abyssal Organization. However, he had never directly confronted Palmer before!Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. No wonder Thorpe looked like he''d just seen the Grim Reaper himself upon seeing Palmer. This man, he was like a demon straight out of hell, utterly terrifying! Even though Lorne knew he was no match for Palmer, this was the first time he truly felt the terror of facing such an adversary. An enemy like this made him apprehensive. To get what he wanted, he needed to have the Pris Star! Ignoring his pain, Lorne called out to Noe, who was about to leave. "Ms. Schnabel, even for ra''s sake, you shouldn''t just stand by and let Mr. Pock treat me this way." Noe turned around. "For ra''s sake, you''re still breathing. And by the way, I''ve already contacted your grandfather and your father. If your first thought after messing up is to run home and cry to daddy, maybe you should consider preschool instead." Tristan had called Lucian, outlining all of Lorne''s misdeeds. Lorne wasn''t the only one who could tattle; Tristan could do it too! And he didn''t see why he should feel ashamed. After all, he was also a junior in Lucian''s eyes. Lucian himself called Noe to apologize, asking her and Palmer to let Lorne off this once, as he was already on his way to the hospital. "Lorne, I couldn''t care less about what you or Garrick intend to do. But both you and your boss should know, the Pris Star is mine now." Noe''s eyes gleamed with a deadly sharpness. The reason why Lorne was acting so recklessly was that he thought he had Garrick''s backing. Whether it was Garrick or Lorne who dreamed of taking the Pris Star back, they were delusional! Lorne was shocked, instinctively saying, "No, I hadn''t nned on making a move on the Pris Star." "I thought you''d deny being Garrick''spdog. Tell your boss, a dog that bites recklessly doesn''t live long, and neither will you." Noe was only guessing that Lorne was Garrick''s man, but his reaction confirmed her suspicion. Garrick''s ultimate goal was to take back the Pris Star. She had dealt with the old man and his schemes before, and now the Pris Star shared her name! "I don''t understand what you''re talking about. I have no ties to Garrick..." Noe smirked, her voice carrying a cold and faintly menacing edge. "Whether you''re connected or not, deep down, you know the truth. But let me make it clear, if you want to take what''s mine, you might as well go y cards with the Devil." Noe wasn''t one for lengthy discussions with the likes of Lorne, but he was so persistent. Without looking back, she walked out of the room. Palmer spoke up, "Grandpa Lucian also called me." "I know. That''s why Lorne only ended up with a broken leg." Palmer nodded. "The Pock Group has reported all of Lorne''s illicit activities, which might involve Grandpa Lucian." "It''s fine. Grandpa Lucian has been hands-off with the family business for a while now. Besides, the part you reported will likely impact the Pock family as well." Palmer''s eyes softened behind his sses, a hint of amusement in his gaze. She always understood his actions; this unspoken agreement was more than enough for Palmer. "Yes, that part involves businesses Lorne had with Larson, and Arthur Gruber had some shares in it too." Palmer had allowed Larson to take the seat of CEO at the Pock Group, but he would make sure Larson understood the true cost of that position. The gift he was preparing for Larson was already on its way, leaving no room for discontent. Noe turned, the man behind her tall and imposing. As the hallway lights dimmed, his features were cast in shadow, his sharp jawline giving him an air of cold nobility. "Larson will find it impossible to step down now. I''ll make sure he feels the true heat of being at the top, as unbearable as the fires of hell. Noe, do you find me terrifying?" He was always calcting, with a depth to his strategies that was almost inscrutable, his gaze icy and defiant, his methods ruthlessly efficient. Palmer wanted Larson to taste the ultimate despair and agony¡ªhaving everything he ever wanted yet feeling an endless void of despair! Noe stood where a shaft of light fell, creating a stark contrast between her and Palmer¡ªone in the light and one shrouded in darkness. It was a scene of light and shadow, yet their eyes were fixed on each other. Feeling a sudden impulse, Noe reached out, grabbing Palmer''s wrist and pulling him slightly. "I am the same." As her words echoed, the lights in the hallway flickered on, revealing the mix of joy and surprise in Palmer''s eyes, all witnessed by Noe. "There''s no need to worry about how I see you, Palmer. Just be who you are. My opinion isn''t that crucial." Noe let go of his wrist, walking side by side with him out of the hospital. "Maybe, I wish my friends could be a bit more unrestrained. The real you might not be disagreeable to me, but a facade? That, I might not like. The dealings of the Abyssal Organization and the Obelisk Organization are often simr. You''re well aware of the challenges I face, and my methods are no kinder than yours." Palmer chuckled softly. "I understand." He knew Noe wasforting him! Palmer never cared about his methods; it was just that when facing Noe, whom he treasured above all, he subconsciously worried she might not like this side of him. Noe paused, suddenly speaking, "But I also care about how you see me, so this time, we''re even." Chapter 290 Noe and Palmer had barely left the hospital when Lucian made his appearance. Seeing his grandson lying in bed with his leg encased in a cast, Lucian paced back and forth in frustration. "What on earth have you been doing, Lorne? How did I raise you to get into such messes? Did I ever encourage you to get involved in such reckless escapades?" Lorne had been brought up under Lucian''s watchful eye, leaving for studies abroad at the tender age of eight. Lucian had always felt instrumental in molding Lorne from his earliest years. Yet now, his grandson seemed like a stranger. Lorne kept his eyes shut, offering no words in his defense. Lucian''s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Think about your actions, Lorne. You''re old enough to understand right from wrong. You''ve deeply disappointed me!" Already advanced in years, Lucian found himself apologizing to Tristan, a younger member of another family. After a series of calls, including a rather sarcastic berating from Marcel, Lucian found himself, for the first time, unable to retort. Raising a grandson who brought shame upon the family was beyond embarrassing for Lucian. Marcel was furious, and even Merrick joined in to scold Lorne over the phone. "Your grandson must apologize to my granddaughter! Lucian, I''m telling you, I can''t be at ease letting ra return to the Richardson family under these circumstances." Perhaps feeling a bit sympathetic towards Lucian after the rant, Merrick offered some constion. "Let it go, Lucian. Kids have their own journeys. Don''t overthink it. But your grandson must make it right for my granddaughter. Even a beating would be too lenient for him!" Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Lucian felt as though he was the one in need of forgiveness. After making amends with Noe and Palmer, thanks to ra, they agreed to let Lorne off the hook this time. Feeling exhausted, Lucian sat down and advised, "Ah, Lorne, I''m getting too old for this. I can''t keep cleaning up after you. I''ve swallowed my pride this time, but you need to start behaving." Hearing Lucian''s voice, aged significantly from stress, Lorne hesitated. Lucian sighed deeply. "I''ll call your brother back. You and he will have to sort out the family business mess together." The Richardson family''s businesses were under scrutiny, and Lucian had no choice but to summon Lorne''s brother back home to prevent Lorne from facing legal troubles. The thought of his grandson possibly ending up in a dire situation pained Lucian profoundly. Opening his eyes and seeing Lucian''s visibly aged appearance, Lorne felt a pang of guilt. But then, he reflected on his actions. He had done everything for the sake of the Richardson family, so why should Bowie Richardson be called back? Lorne had always felt overshadowed by Bowie in every aspect of his life. Clutching his fists, Lorne adopted a remorseful expression. Lucian spoke sternly, reprimanding Lorne. "Ah, Lorne, I''m only covering for you this one time. If you don''t learn from this, I won''t be there to save you next time. Do you understand?" "Grandpa, I... I want to call Grandpa Sexton and apologize." Lorne''s voice was hoarse. "Grandpa, it''s all my fault. I''ve wronged Noe and ra." Seeing Lorne in this state, Lucian didn''t stop him. "Alright, I''ll go check on your aunt. She''s still here for her medical examination." Lucian walked out of the room, his figure stooped, clearly weighed down by the ordeal. This incident had tarnished his reputation among old friends, but Lorne was his flesh and blood; Lucian couldn''t abandon him. The doctor informed Lorne, "Your condition isn''t suitable for surgery right now. We''ll schedule it as soon as possible." "Okay. You can leave now." Looking at his injured leg, Lorne was filled with rage! Palmer had caused apound fracture, and due to his already frail health,pounded by Noe''s unexpected assault, he wasn''t even fit for surgery. If his leg ended up permanently damaged... Lorne clenched his fists, waited for the medical staff to leave, and coldly dialed Sexton''s number. "Grandpa Sexton, it''s Lorne. Mr. Pock has caused me apound fracture. Doesn¡¯t the Pock family owe me an exnation?" Sexton was having dinner with his wife, Helen. With his advanced age, Sexton had the call on speaker, volume at its highest, allowing everyone at the table to hear Lorne''s words. Sexton replied leisurely, "Palmer hurt you? Then take it up with Palmer. I don''t handle his affairs." "Grandpa Sexton, I''m still ra''s cousin. If the Pock family treats me this way, what would my aunt say about your family?" Helen scoffed, "What would she say? She''d look with her eyes! Who knows if you''re even a legitimate member of the family. Marcel could mix up wives and granddaughters, and who knows about Lucian." Sipping her soup leisurely, she continued with a mocking tone, "With your scheming, you''re more like Arthur''s grandson. Your real grandfather is on the verge of a dire fate, and yet you, his dutiful grandson, don''t bother visiting? Perhaps you''ll share his fate soon enough. Might as well get acquainted with the ce now." Helen, known for her sharp tongue and living in a nursing home, had rarely interacted with Lorne, but her reputation for being acerbic was well-known throughout the Pock family. Lorne''s face twisted with irritation at the old woman''s snide remarks. Helen continued her tirade, unfazed. "I heard you used to be quite dutiful to Arthur, visiting him on special asions. One might mistake you for a Gruber with such dedication." The shady dealings Lorne was involved in were all orchestrated by Arthur, and somehow, the Pock family was in the know, while the Richardsons were left in the dark. Lorne, red-faced and furious, shot back. ¡°If the Pocks won¡¯t give me an exnation, I''ll spill everything to ra.¡± Helen scoffed, ¡°As if ra would take your word over ours.¡± ¡°Madam, I have my ways of making ra believe me,¡± Lorne retorted, his voice dripped with thinly veiled threats. Helen bristled at the challenge. ¡°You dare to threaten me? Lay a finger on my granddaughter, and I''ll have the Richardsons'' family plot turned upside down! You think you can strut around making threats, you little punk?¡± Jacob intervened, trying to calm his mother, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t get worked up. ra¡¯s got a whole team of special forces from Harmonia Country watching over her. She¡¯ll be fine.¡± Lorne clenched his teeth, resorting to hisst y. ¡°Old Mrs. Pock, I''ll have no choice but to tell my aunt, who¡¯s currently in the hospital unaware of ra¡¯s existence. Just imagine how thrilled she¡¯d be to know she has a daughter. But given her frail health, who knows if the shock might... well, I wouldn¡¯t want to specte.¡± Chapter 291 "ra even met my aunt before, but s, my aunt didn''t recognize her!" Jacob shot up from the dining table when he heard Lorne''s words. In an instant, his head was buzzing, unable to make out what Helen was saying. "What did you say? Who are you going to tell!" Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ra met her? When? Why didn¡¯t ra tell him! Lorne knew he had yed his cards right, casually adding, "My aunt loves me the most. If she knew I was being bullied, she''d definitelye to my aid!" Helen scolded sharply, "Jacob, calm down!" Jacob''s hands were shaking, tears uncontrobly streaming down his face. Seeing him like this, Helen became extremely worried. Helen snapped. "Sexton, are you dead? Hang up the phone. Don''t listen to this kid''s nonsense!" Was Sexton blind or what? Could he not see the state Jacob was in! Sexton was too shocked to react at first but quickly regained hisposure and hung up the phone. This was a lot to take in! During Jacob¡¯s rtionship with that girl, they called her Yvette. Now she was still alive as Lavinia? Sexton paced back and forth in the living room, his prayer beads almost worn smooth. Helen frowned, handing Jacob a ss of water andmanding, "Drink this! Calm down, and think whether Lorne is deliberately saying this or if it''s true!" Jacob, holding the ss, spoke with a trembling voice. "I¡­ I''ll call ra. If she met Yvette, no Lavinia, why didn''t she tell me?" Sexton turned around. "No need. The girl''s already bothered by you; questioning her about her mom will only annoy her further! I''ll call Lucian directly!" Lucian picked up quickly, and there was a long silence before he finally let out a sigh. "All these years, I''ve hidden her existence! She''s been frail, couldn''t handle the shock, so I didn''t dare reveal ra''s identity to her." "Lucian, you mean she is indeed alive?" Lucian let out a bitterugh. "Yes! The night she returned home, covered in blood, she even asked me, ¡®Who are you?¡¯ She didn''t even remember me!" Hearing this, Jacob, who was just about to head out to find Lavinia, stopped in his tracks! Lucian, sounding defeated, said, "Sexton, we made too many mistakes when we were young. I ept my karma withoutints! But the kids, they¡¯re innocent!" Sexton clenched his teeth. "How could you let ra grow up without recognizing her own mother?" "How could I bear it? I couldn''t just watch my daughter die, could I? Sexton! She fainted the moment she heard Jacob''s name, was in ICU five times. I''ve signed who knows how many critical condition notices! I kept her indoors, didn''t tell you she was alive, because all I wanted was for my daughter to live! Sexton, you have kids, don''t you understand me?" Lucian, tears streaming down his face, sat heavily on a bench in the hospital corridor. Sexton sighed. He understood all too well! "It''s been hard on you too!" Lucian shook his head. "I didn''t know about ra. That child¡­ I''m thankful for the Schnabel family, but she''s had it rough!" Now Jacob understood why ra said what she did. She hade to ept that her parents didn''t love her as much because she had met her own mother, only to find her mother didn''t recognize her. How pained ra''s heart must have been! She was always too smart for her own good, understanding theplexities of human rtionships better than anyone. Years ago, when she found out she wasn''t the biological daughter of the Schnabel family, ra made a swift decision. She voluntarily gave up the Schnabel family''s fortune, gradually distancing herself from them, making way for their daughter and marginalizing herself. Such a sensible child, seeing her mom but unable to call out, still cooperating with Lucian. How heartbroken ra must have been! Jacob wiped his face, only to realize it was drenched. "Sir, may I see her?" Lucian hesitated for a moment, then looked towards Lavinia, who was walking out from the examination room. He sighed. "It''s not that I don''t want you to see her¡­ Never mind, just listen to this!" Lavinia''s gaze was indifferent as water, looking at Lucian as if he were a stranger. She bent down, her voice gentle and caring, "Sir, are you feeling unwell?" Lucian seemed to have gotten used to it. "Lavinia, have you forgotten me again?" Lavinia looked surprised. "Should I know you? Sorry, I might be a bit forgetful." "Look at your phone." Lavinia unlocked her phone, finding a screensaver of her and Lucian together. It seemed she knew she would forget, so she had recorded a video in advance for herself. After watching it, Lavinia apologized, "Dad, I''m sorry, I''ve forgotten you again. Shall we go home now?" She pushed Lucian''s wheelchair, her eyes still somewhat puzzled. Why couldn''t she remember anything? Lucian looked at his phone. "Do you understand now? There''s something in her brain, like an eraser, making her forget everything periodically, including me! I can''t let you see her, for her sake!" Jacob understood. Lucian, worn by age and the weight of past sorrows, couldn''t bear any more turmoil. He had endured the pain of his shattered daughter¡¯s condition for many years and couldn''t risk any further harm. If Jacob¡¯s presence would upset Lavinia, Lucian would never allow him the chance to meet her! Sexton frowned. "Something in her brain? Can it be treated?" "Professor Calvin said it''s conservative treatment only, but he mentioned a surgical genius, suggesting if that medical prodigy operates, the sess rate might be higher. I just haven¡¯t decided yet!" Lucian was a bundle of nerves. Lavinia''s brain tumor was one of those rare conditions that even the best neurosurgeons, dubbed the "Hand of God," had only a 30% chance of sessfully treating. Thirty percent. Those were the odds of him having a healthy daughter again. But it also meant a risk of losing her forever! In the midst of his turmoil, Sexton''s thoughts unexpectedly drifted to his granddaughter-inw. Noe - that girl had some impressive medical skills! Having been under her care himself, Sexton knew firsthand how capable Noe was. If they could get Noe to operate on Lavinia... "Lucian, I know a prodigy, the one who did my heart surgery! Absolutely trustworthy! But whether she''d agree to consult on Lavinia''s case, that''s up to her." Lucian perked up at that. "Absolutely, go find her! Money is no object for us!" "Money isn''t the issue, Lucian. No matter what, Lavinia will always be my daughter-inw!" Sexton''s voice was firm, his eyes misty with emotion. Lucian sighed heavily. "It''s my fault. I''ve let Jacob down! But Jacob must not see Lavinia until she''s on the mend!" Lavinia''s gentle voice came through on the phone. "Dad, who''s this Jacob you''re talking about? Should I know him?" Chapter 292 Lavinia looked lost, her eyes clouded with confusion. She had forgotten many things, and she was certain she didn''t know anyone named Jacob. But her dad talked as if she should know this Jacob. Lucian knew better than to push Lavinia''s understanding too hard at this moment. "You don''t know him. He''s just a friend of mine." "That''s a relief. I thought I had forgotten something important." Lucian pocketed his phone and let Lavinia wheel him away. ... At the Pock family dinner table, silence enveloped the three of them. Helen wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her eyes brimming with sadness. "This child, she''s had a tough life. Sexton, go contact that doctor you mentioned. See what it''ll take for her to treat Lavinia. You''ve got the means, after all. Money is no object! If it could heal Lavinia, we''d spare no expense." Sexton fretted over Lavinia''s condition, uncertain if Noe would agree to treat Lavinia. He couldn''t force Noe if she was unwilling, but he hoped Noe would consider it. He hade to trust Noe''s medical skill above all others! Helen was getting irritated watching him pace. "What kind of medical wizard is even beyond your reach?" Jacob spoke up anxiously, "Dad, I can reach out!" He could use his connections to get in touch with the medical prodigy, willing to offer anything for Lavinia''s treatment. Sexton found himself in a bind, caught between a rock and a hard ce. He didn''t want to pressure Noe. His eyes lit up as Noe walked in with Palmer, feeling as though providence had answered his call. Noe handed a gift box to Old Mrs. Pock, "Grandma Helen, my mom bought this for you." Helen dabbed at the tears in her eyes. "Oh, thank you, dear." Sensing the low spirits around her, Noe frowned slightly. "If I''m intruding, I can leave now." Palmer caught Noe''s wrist, keeping her there. He didn''t want his family''s issues to cause her any difort. Whatever it was, it should be discussed openly. "What''s going on?" Sexton made up his mind and approached Noe, grabbing her hand. "Noe, I have a favor to ask of you!" Noe was startled by his earnest look. Grandpa Sexton had always been kind to her, and she could tell he was in a tough spot. "Grandpa Sexton, what is it?" "It''s about Lavinia''s condition. I''m really putting you on the spot here, but you''re the only one I trust!" Noe was surprised to hear that Sexton was referring to Lavinia''s illness. Jacob''s disheveled appearance must have been because he found out Lavinia was still alive. Jacob, in shock, asked, "Dad, is Noe the doctor you''ve been talking about?" Sexton nodded vigorously. "If it weren''t for Noe and Marcel, I wouldn''t be here today. I trust her medical skill!" Noe nced around, noticing everyone¡¯s expectant gaze fixed on her. "Lavinia''s brain tumor surgery carries a significant risk, particrly given her rare condition and psychological issues. Her central nervous system is more fragile than most. I''ve been working with Professor Calvin on a treatment n. If I perform the surgery, the sess rate is just over fifty percent." "But if anyone else performs it, it¡¯ll be less than thirty percent." Her voice was soft but filled with resolve and confidence. Jacob, taken aback, looked at the young woman standing before him. Noe, with her hair loosely tied and an air of understated elegance, exuded calm assurance. Meeting her serene gaze, Jacob felt a wave of trust wash over him. "A fifty percent chance for brain surgery is already remarkable!" Noe gently shook her head. "What I want to discuss is Lavinia''s dissociative identity disorder. It has been overshadowed by her tumor, but I suspect her current symptoms are linked to the disorder. Uncle Jacob, what is the Lavinia you know like? That persona is likely her core identity." Jacob''s eyes widened in realization. "Dissociative identity disorder? You mean, Lavinia has multiple personalities? That exins..." He suddenly remembered the odd detail that had been bothering him. "The Lavinia that spoke on the phone had an ent from Imperial City, but her mother was from the south, and she grew up speaking with a southern ent. She never spoke with an Imperial City ent before!" Noe calmly exined, "That detail isn''t crucial; she could have learned itter. What''s important is identifying Lavinia''s primary personality, the one that remembers ra¡¯s existence." That Lavinia knew she had a daughter and remembered Jacob too! "The brain tumor actually protected Lavinia, making her particrly forgetful. She forgot the bad things, or rather, the thing that hurt her the most." Dissociative identity disorder was actually a way for Lavinia to protect herself. "Uncle Jacob, I needed to know what Lavinia''s primary personality was like in order toe up with a treatment n." The one who understood the old Lavinia the best in the world was Jacob! Jacob sank into memories, trying to piece together the Lavinia he once knew. ¡°Lavinia was always bold and confident. As researchers, she possessed a sharp mind, akin to ra''s, with top-notch data uracy. She had a heart of gold, the kindest soul I''ve ever met. ra, well, wasn¡¯t much like us. She resembled a Schnabel more, possessing the easy grace of your brothers and the ability to stand her ground. Even when I ticked her off, Lavinia would calmly exin things to me. ra...she''d just tell me I''m nuts." Noe raised an eyebrow. Was Jacob equating ra''s sharp tongue to self-defense, much like the legendaryebacks of the Schnabel boys? Thinking about it, she did share a striking resemnce in temperament with her siblings. The kids from the Schnabel family, unmistakably cut from the same cloth! Jacob had a lot to say, and Noe took mental notes of it all. "Alright, I''ll work on this with Professor Calvin." "Let me know as soon as you find something!" Noe nodded, promising to do so before she said her goodbyes. Sexton nudged Palmer. "It''s pitch ck outside, and it¡¯s not safe for Noe to walk home alone in the dark. Go walk her home! Don''t worry abouting back; just make sure Noe gets home safe!" Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. The Pock and Schnabel residences were just a short walk from each other, and the streets were well-lit. How was it pitch ck? Noe watched quietly as the old man fibbed. Ever amodating, Palmer walked Noe back to the Schnabel Manor. Upon reaching the doorway, illuminated by the moon¡¯s soft glow, Palmer looked at her with gentle eyes, his demeanor calm. "Noe, thanks for agreeing to treat my aunt-inw." Noe smiled softly. "Don''t mention it. I''m just helping my sister find her mom!" Chapter 293 Back in her room, Noe logged into the Pris Starwork. She initiated an internal video conference. Rubbing his eyes, Alioth asked, ¡°Boss, what''s the asion? Why are we doing a video call?¡± Megrez chimed in, ¡°Hard to say. Last time we had a big meeting was when we blew up a bunch of those rival gang hideouts.¡± Ivan quipped, ¡°What''s the target this time? My dynamite''s itching for some action!¡± Noe replied sternly, ¡°Keep it up, and you might be looking for a new boss soon.¡± Silence fell among the group. With a grave tone, Yasbel ventured, ¡°Boss, so you¡¯re¡­ pregnant?¡± Nn let out a sharp gasp. ¡°No way! Are we about to have a mini boss?¡± To Pris Star, their loyalty was to Noe alone. The only thing that might change leadership was if Noe had a child. They''d have another boss to follow! Mizar muttered, ¡°Didn¡¯t see thating. Mr. Pock¡¯s got some moves.¡± Noe had enough. ¡°You all bored? I¡¯m doubling the quota for this year¡¯s operations!¡± A chorus of groans andints filled the call. Their boss was inhumane! Was this what pregnancy mood swings were like? Noe frowned. ¡°It¡¯s about Garrick. He wants to take back the leadership of Pris Star. He¡¯s weighing whether to lead me or to have me eliminated.¡± Garrick, the original leader of Pris Star and the founder of the Pris Star Project, wanted his position back? On the video call, twenty-four members listened in, Noe included. This generation of Pris Star was missing four members from the start. Deacon, usually the quiet one, said softly, ¡°How old is Garrick now? Besides, he left Pris Star. We don¡¯t acknowledge him.¡± Enoch added, ¡°Think about it. In Garrick¡¯s eyes, he¡¯d probably want to eliminate us too!¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. A chilling silence took over as everyone pondered Enoch¡¯s words. Garrick, who even disdained their leader Noe, probably wouldn''t spare the rest of them either. Noe nodded. ¡°When he left, he took some people with him, probably looking to rece us. His version of Pris Star is history. Now, it''s us who call the shots!¡± Warm smiles spread across their faces. Following Noe was what gave their lives meaning! Noe stated, ¡°The purpose of this meeting is to inform you that I won¡¯t let Garrick go easily. We¡¯re in for some tough times ahead. Overtime is on the horizon.¡± Mizar wiped away a tear. No words were spoken, but it was clear. The battle against Garrick was for them! Garrick, as the founder of the Pris Star project, was responsible for their plight. Because of him, they became orphans enduring countless tortures and experiments. Yasbel and Nn, the twins, had been taken by illegal means, only to return home to find their family gone! Many within the Obelisk Organization were failed Pris Star experiments. Just the thought of the daily electrocutions and the barrage of drugs used to forcibly enhance their intellect and physical abilities was enough to send shivers down any Pris Star member¡¯s spine! Garrick believed in the innate evil of humanity, wanting to create an emotionless, thoughtless army. It was Noe who showed them the meaning of life! Yasbel, flipping her hair, said yfully, ¡°You¡¯re the boss, so you call the shots. Our lives were saved by you; they¡¯re yours tomand.¡± The others didn¡¯t speak, but their determination was evident in their eyes directed at Noe. Noe nodded. ¡°Good. If Garrick thinks he can touch what¡¯s mine, hurt my people, then let¡¯s show him who really runs Pris Star now.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± ¡­ The next morning at the front of the Shadow Dragon Society, several burly meny unconscious on the ground. A man with a ck dragon tattoo approached, shocked at the sight. ¡°Weren¡¯t these the thugs Lorne sent over? Did Malvina handle them?¡± If that was the case, opposing Malvina would be asking for trouble. ¡°Boss, did Malvina do this?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know anyone tough enough!¡± Robert, the leader, spat out his cigarette and crushed it underfoot, his teeth nearly grinding to dust. If it weren¡¯t for Malvina, that reckless girl, the Shadow Dragon Society would already be under his control! ¡°The Grubers are supposed to be dead or gone. These guys probably just picked a fight at the ring with someone out of their league!¡± The underground fighters often made enemies. Robert was convinced this had nothing to do with Malvina. Magee suggested uncertainly, ¡°Maybe we should ask Malvina?¡± Emerging behind them, dressed in a sleek ck suit and hat, with heels clicking authoritatively, was Malvina, a stark contrast to the girl who had arrived not long ago. Her presence reminded Robert of Malvina¡¯s mother. Back then, Robert and Arthur worked together to kill Malvina''s mother when she was at her weakest during childbirth. A chill ran down Robert¡¯s spine, but he didn¡¯t take Malvina seriously. ¡°Malvina, where are you off to in such a hurry?¡± ¡°To give my mom a proper send-off to Arthur, see what it looks like when he¡¯s taken out by a firing squad.¡± Malvina presented a photo, her smile loaded with implications. "I''ll make sure my mom knows that I won¡¯t let any of those who took her from me off the hook." Robert managed a fake smile and asked, "Do you know these folks?" Malvina nced at the few people sprawled on the ground and scoffed. "What, are these your long- lost rtives from some wild night out? They''re allid out here, and you''re not taking them home to pay your respects? You expect me to recognize them?" Veins throbbed in Robert''s neck! "Malvina, with that sharp tongue of yours, I doubt you''re cut out for the Shadow Dragon Society¡­" Malvina bent down to look at Robert, who was a good half-head shorter, and lowered her voice. "Cut the act. You think I don''t know you set this up? Wanted me gone in the ring? I¡¯ve returned all these people to you, so why aren¡¯t you happy?" "Malvina, seems like you''ve got some backup. Not to be that guy, but as a woman, maybe you should just find a man, settle down, and stay at home with the kids instead of stirring up trouble¡­" "Shh, look behind you." Before Robert could finish his harsh words, he followed the direction Malvina was pointing. On a hill not too far away stood several figures, the leader- a woman wearing a ghoulish mask reminiscent of a medieval executioner- exuded a formidable presence. Behind her were a dozen or so folks, armed to the teeth with sniper rifles! Noe''s voice, cold and authoritative, echoed from the distance. "Who''s next on the chopping block? You tell me." Chapter 294 "My aim''s pretty solid, guarantee a hit every time, but patience isn''t exactly my strong suit." Noe''s icy gaze pierced through Robert and Magee, who stood behind him. "Though for the thick-skinned ones, not sure how many shots it''ll take to bring ''em down." Her casual remark left everyone from the Shadow Dragon Society gobsmacked! The gear in their hands was top-of-the-line sniper rifles, and they had them in spades. Some were even clutching multiple firearms! The dark muzzles all pointed in Robert¡¯s direction, sending shivers down everyone¡¯s spine. Gritting his teeth, Robert spat out, ¡°Malvina, are these your friends? Are you not afraid I''ll take you hostage?" Shrugging, Malvina pulled out apact mirror and applied her lipstick. "Orphan here, living or dying ain''t much of an issue. If you take me down, you''re taking them with me. Sounds like a win to me." Noe raised an eyebrow. "Doubting my shooting skills?" Before her words even settled, Magee behind Malvina clutched his head and copsed. He had intended to control Malvina to threaten Noe but ended up with his head blown off instead! Noe handed her still-smoking revolver back to Nn and calmly said, "Malvina,e here." Witnessing Noe''s shooting stance, Malvina was nearly driven insane by how cool it looked! Noe was just too damn capable! She walked over to Noe, and Robert didn¡¯t even daring to stop her. Who knew what kind of crazy backstory this woman had? Robert tentatively asked, "Which gang you with? This is an internal matter of the Shadow Dragon Society. You sure you''re not sticking your nose where it doesn''t belong?" Alioth sneered, "Idiot, our boss does what she wants. Arthur''s about to bite the dust. Better start looking for a new boss! This lesson''s for you. Dare to mess with our fight club, and next time, it''ll be you lying here." Robert''s pupils shrank. The neighboring underground fight club was the biggest in Imperial City, with a mysterious owner whomanded respect from the underworld. With an army of fighters at her disposal, few could afford to cross her. Malvina affectionately grabbed Noe''s hand. "Babe, you here for me?" And made such a big scene, too. Robert''s guys were practically wetting their pants! Noe simply stated, "Weren''t we supposed to see Arthur? You''rete. I was worried you''d miss his execution." "You''re the best, babe! Let''s go then!" Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Robert watched them leave in a swarm, not daring to utter a word. "Malvina, that little brat, thinking she''s all that, huh? I''d like to see what tricks she''s got left!" "Boss, you mean..." "Take out that brat. The Shadow Dragon Society is mine!" Robert red in the direction Malvina left. "Contact Lorne. That idiot Luther couldn''t even handle a little girl. Absolute moron." ... Inside the car, Noe finally took off her mask, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. "Let''s head to the prison." Malvina nodded. "Babe, I can''t thank you enough!" "No worries. We''re friends, after all." Malvina''s eyes sparkled as she stared at Noe, her lips quivering, on the verge of tears. "You know, you''re my only friend!" Noe raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you''re not exactly popr." "True. But I had friends when I was little. Then I found out Yates, that bastard, was bullying them. So, I filled his bed with snakes and spiders, scared him so bad he didn''t daree home for a week. But then, no one wanted to hang out with me." Malvina rested her chin on her hands, her eyes twinkling. "Arthur didn''t care. He''d rather have me doll up every day to attract investors, didn''t matter if they were old men or widowers. So today, I had to dress up nicely to send them off." Noe chuckled and extended her hand towards Malvina. "Then be my friend. No one can scare me away." Malvina sniffed messily and grasped Noe''s hand. "I''m your friend too, and so is Mr. Pock. He won''t silence me, right?" "What''s he got to do with this?" Malvina boldly concluded, "Right. With you being so great, I fully support monogamy for you! I don''t mind Mr. Pock, and he shouldn''t mind me!" Noe''s forehead throbbed, suddenly feeling the urge to get Malvina''s head checked. With that mouth, it''s a wonder she has any friends at all, but Noe didn''t take offense. ... In the prison, Arthur sat in a wheelchair, his expression weary as he stared at Malvina sitting across from him. He couldn''t fathom how, with the Gruber family wiped out, Malvina managed to survive. Arthur¡¯s re at Malvina seemed to pierce through her as if he wanted to devour her whole. Malvinaughed lightly, her beauty a stark contrast to Arthur''s dishevelment. "Stop staring. Your gaze won''t drag me down to hell with you." Suddenly, it dawned on Arthur. "It was you! You wanted the Gruber family to fall! You are also a Gruber. How could you be so heartless?" Malvina''s scorn was palpable, her gaze filled with disdain. "How did the Gruber family treat me? What did you do to my mother? And my grandfather? To me, executing you is too kind, a waste. Pity, the fire I set didn''t clean up all your rotten bones!" Arthur had pinned his hopes on Malvina to save him, only to realize that the fires then were set by Malvina herself! "You... you''ll rot in hell!" "Why don''t you drop dead and show me?" Arthur''s furious screams did nothing; his voice went hoarse, only earning him a mocking smile from Malvina. "Forgot to tell you, your son and Yates''s mom, I took care of them. Impressed? Ensuring the Gruber family ends with you was my duty." Arthur screamed with rage, attempting to lunge at Malvina, but the prison guards held him back. At the door, Noe listened to themotion inside without interrupting Malvina. Phecda, holding a phone, approached with a grave expression. "Boss, Lorne, that damn guy, has kidnapped Ms. Lavinia Richardson! He wants you to meet him to negotiate, or he''ll spill everything to Ms. Richardson, including the existence of your sister!" Phecda couldn''t believe Lorne''s audacity, going so far as to kidnap his own aunt. What was going on in his head? Noe frowned. "What exactly does Lorne want?" The look on Phecda''s face said it all. "He wants you to break off your engagement with Mr. Pock and get engaged to him instead!" Chapter 295 Noe arched an eyebrow slightly. "Where''s Lorne now? I''m heading over." "He''s waiting for you on the rooftop of the Richardson Hotel, insisting on a one-to-one meeting. He also made it clear he¡¯d reach out to your sister if you didn''t show." Noe rubbed her temples, a cold smile ying across her fair and striking face, adding a touch of allure to her features. The few people around her shivered at the sight! Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Their boss, when most angered, wouldn''t rage but smile instead. This smile was internally referred to within Pris Star and along the frontier as the Grim Reaper''s grin! Noe nodded slowly, her fingers cracking with tension. "Fine, I''ll remember this. You guys keep an eye on things here. Since there''s a heartfelt invitation, I must honor it." "Don''t worry, Ms. Gruber is safe with us." After all, Lorne''s invitation was, essentially, his life on the line! Noe swung her leg over her motorcycle and sped off, her presence chilling the air around her! Malvina stepped out of the visitation room just in time to see Noe''s departing figure, and after hearing from Alioth what Lorne had done, she was stunned! "What? Is Lorne out of his mind? Lavinia is his aunt, for heaven''s sake! You''d think his brains were scrambled by Arthur, the scoundrel! Aren''t you guys going with Noe?" Phecda shrugged. "Boss always has someone shadowing her. Don''t worry." Besides Pris Star, Noe was also protected by a whole squad of mercenaries, all arranged by Beckett to serve as her bodyguards. While shaking them off was easy, Noe tolerated their presence to keep Beckett from worrying. Growing increasingly anxious, Malvina finally made a call to Palmer. "Mr. Pock, Noe might be in danger. You have to help her!" "Exin yourself!" After quickly detailing Lorne''s actions, Malvina stamped her feet in frustration. "I didn''t dare tell ra, but what if Lorne hasid a trap for Noe?" After careful consideration, Malvina concluded that Palmer was the most reliable choice. Given how Palmer looked at Noe, he surely wouldn''t stand by if she was in trouble! Palmer''s furiousugh came through the phone, his voice dripping with cold menace. "That damn Lorne!" he cursed angrily, followed by the sound of a car engine roaring to life. Palmer''s chilly orders could be heard before the call abruptly ended. From the sounds on the other end, it was evident that Palmer was already on his way! Malvina finally breathed a sigh of relief! ... On the rooftop of the Richardson Hotel, Lorne sat in a wheelchair, a ss of red wine in his hand, its liquid shimmering under the sunlight. Besides him, Lavinia was tied up in a chair, her expression filled with confusion. "What on earth are you nning, Lorne? If I had known this is what you''d be, I''d have never let your father adopt you!" Lorne took a sip of his wine, seething with anger. "I know you and Grandpa have always looked down on me, but I don''t care! The Richardson family will soon be mine!" Lavinia couldn''t believe the maniacal Lorne before her, her gaze filled with disbelief. "What are you trying to do? Who were you trying to threaten using me?" "Aunt, you should be thankful. I even contacted your daughter. Don''t you want to see your child?" Her child? Lavinia felt like her head was splitting open, the intense pain giving her the sensation that she was about to be torn apart. Her child... When did she have a child? "What are you on about! Let me go!" Lorne''s phone, which had been on the call screen, was finally disconnected as he tossed it aside. ra stood up abruptly on the other end, trembling all over! Without even bothering with shoes, ra ran out barefoot straight to the Pock family estate, calling out for Jacob. "Jacob! Come out quickly!" Jacob was startled by ra''s voice. "What''s wrong? What happened?" Tears streamed down ra''s face, her features contorted with intense fear as she clutched at Jacob''s sleeves, sobbing uncontrobly. "Lorne kidnapped Mom. You have to help me find her, please!" "Don''t cry, I''m heading out now!" As Jacob was overtaken by shock, Helen intervened. "With you two in this state, driving there yourself might as well send your whole family to meet in the afterlife! Let the chauffeur take you!" The chauffeur brought the car around, and together with ra and Jacob, they headed towards the Richardson Hotel. Helen adjusted her shawl, watching the car leave, her eyes brimming with tears. ... The door to the Richardson Hotel rooftop swung open, and without turning, Lorne chuckled, wine ss in hand. "Ms. Schnabel, I hope you make the right choice." Noe stood behind him, her gaze icy. Lavinia seemed to have passed out, her head drooping beside the chair, though her breathing remained steady. "Ms. Schnabel, what do you say? Just break off your engagement with Palmer and be with me, and I''ll release my aunt! See, I''m the better match for you. Palmer is too dangerous; he couldn''t possibly truly love you." Lorne took another sip of wine, continuing, "How could someone who wouldn''t bat an eyelid at his own mother''s death in front of him be a good match?" Noe sneered, "And you think you, a beast, are a good match?" Lorne''s face tensed up for a moment, but he managed to smooth it over quickly. "Ms. Schnabel, guess what? I also invited ra toe over. Imagine how she''d feel seeing her sister pick a man over her mother?" Lorne''s n was simple - ra¡¯s presence would likely sway Noe to choose him, given the potential impact on her sister¡¯s well-being if she didn¡¯t! After all, choosing him meant choosing Lavinia! "Ms. Schnabel, you should choose me! Just break off your engagement with Palmer, marry me, and Aunt Lavinia will start getting better day by day, won''t she?" Noe frowned. "Are you the one who''s been agitating Lavinia, causing her condition to worsen?" Lorne burst intoughter, shaking his head. "Yes, it was me, but it wasn''t on purpose. I just didn''t want her to recover too quickly. You know, if Aunt Lavinia got a bit better, I''d be cut out of the family fortune!" Lavinia was the sharpest mind in the Richardson family. If not for her ill health, Lorne wouldn''t stand a chance at inheriting the family''s wealth. ra''s heavy breathing sounded from behind Noe. She leaned against the wall, having rushed up here so hastily her feet were bleeding! Seeing ra, Lorne raised his ss in a distant toast. "Noe, it''s time for you to make your choice." Chapter 296 Lorne''s gaze was locked onto Noe, full of hope and desperation. He was convinced she would make the right choice. However, Noe stood her ground, her expression calm and unwavering. "I disagree," she said, her voice steady and clear. "Your threats won''t work on me." Lorne was bbergasted. "Why? Don''t you care about what ra thinks? This is about her mother! It''s impossible! I''ve checked everything myself. You''ve used your connections to clean out the rats in ra''sb. She gets her meals delivered from your diner every day. You can''t possibly be indifferent to her well- being! How can you be so heartless? How can you disregard ra''s feelings? Do you really want her mom gone?" Lorne''s eyes were burning with fury, his demeanor verging on the edge of madness. He was battered and bruised, having injected himself with several doses of a potent drug just to keep himself going after taking Lavinia away. He had made all the preparations, only for them toe crashing down upon hearing Noe''s refusal. Lorne was on the brink of copse. After extensive investigation, Lorne was certain that Noe cared deeply for ra, perhaps even more than for her own brothers in the Schnabel family. She shouldn''t have rejected him! "Or is it because you have a thing for Palmer? He''s just a man! I can''t understand it! You''d forsake your own sister for a stranger?" ra, seizing Noe''s hand, fixed her gaze on Lorne. "What nonsense are you spouting? Stop trying to intimidate my sister with your so-called noble speech, Lorne. You''vepletely lost it! Hasn''t my mom been good to you?" "Good? She wouldn''t even share her shares with me! Just because I''m not a blood-born Richardson. But neither is Bowie!¡± Lavinia''s older brother and his wife, having no children of their own, adopted Lorne and Bowie due to a twist of fate, who have always been regarded as their own by the Richardson family. ra retorted with a sneer, "Oh, that really shows yourck of abilities. Even I got a share in the Schnabel family." Lorne''s eyes widened in shock. "Are you mocking me? Are you not afraid I''ll kill your mom?" ra coolly pulled out her phone. "Hello, police officer, this man here kidnapped my mom." Lorne hadn''t expected ra to actually call the cops! On the way there, ra had forced herself to stay calm, strategizing with Jacob to go straight to the authorities. Lorne''s scheme was nothing more than a ploy to use ra to pressure Noe, and he surely wouldn''t dare to risk Lavinia''s life. Noe slightly tilted her chin up. "Look behind you." Lorne turned abruptly, only to find a tall figure in a trench coat standing atop a nearby building, his gun aimed straight at Lorne''s head! "Palmer? How did he get here!" Seeing Palmer, Lorne panicked. He had miscalcted; he had thought Palmer didn''t care about Noe at all. The Schnabels and the Pocks were tied by business, not by feelings. Facing Palmer''s icy gun and cold stare, Lorne felt as if his blood had turned to ice. Noe spoke calmly, "Oh, I brought a gun too. You''ve heard about my shooting skills, haven''t you, Lorne?" On the border, there wasn''t a soul who hadn''t heard of Wise Fool''s legendary marksmanship! With an expressionless face, Noe pulled the trigger, and the silencer-equipped bullet flew, striking Lorne''s thigh! "Ah! You''re insane! If you touch me, I''ll make sure Lavinia dies with me! I''ll take her down with me!" As Lorne lunged towards Lavinia, ra rushed to embrace her mother. The chair toppled under theirbined weight with a loud crash, and Lavinia slowly came to, her eyes meeting ra''s. "Ms. ra? What are you doing here?" Tears streaked down ra''s face. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" Shaking her head, Lavinia felt the warmth of ra''s embrace, something so familiar yet so distant. That face, had she seen it somewhere before? It reminded her of her own reflection every morning. Another bullet from Noended, this time in Lorne''s arm! "Don''t kill me. Garrick will never let you go. I know too many of his secrets..." "I don''t need to hear them from you." "If you kill me, the Richardson family won''t let the Schnabels off either!" Noe looked down at him. "Your actions today ensure that neither the Schnabels nor the Richardsons would spare you." "No! You can''t kill me!" As Lorne spoke, he searched for an opportunity to escape. Noe''s gaze fell on the nearby corridor, where the sniper was aiming- the rooftop on this side! In terms of trajectory, the targeted person was none other than ra! "Watch out, ra!" Lorne bellowed, "I''ll kill you all! I''ve had a sniper ready all along, ha!" But before hisughter could fade, a bullet fired from the opposite direction pierced Lorne''s heart, and almost simultaneously, took down the opposing sniper with a thud. In the ensuing chaos, ra''s cries echoed. In a moment of grave danger, Lavinia shielded ra with her own body. The bullet went through her shoulder, blood seeping out and staining her clothes red. ra, panic-stricken, tried to staunch the bleeding with her hands. "Why? Why did you do this? You''re so frail. Why save me!" Noe moved closer, quickly untying the ropes that bound Lavinia, checking her wounds with a practiced eye before gently pressing on her shoulder. "I''ll call an ambnce." "Mr. Pock''s already downstairs. The ambnce and the cops should be here any minute." As Jacob reached the hotel lobby, he remembered his promise to Lucian not to meet with Lavinia, worried that seeing her might cause undue stress. ra and Jacob took different paths as the sound of sirens began to fill the air below. ra was inconsble, tears streaming down her face. "Noe, she''s going to be okay, right? I... I just found my mom. I can''t lose her now..." Original from N?velDrama.Org. "Don''t worry, she''s going to be fine. The chair took some of the bullet''s impact, lessening the force." As Noe spoke, she was already performing first aid, trying to stop the bleeding. Weak and trembling, Lavinia gently caressed ra''s face, her expression filled with love and tenderness. Lavinia couldn''t ce who ra was exactly; this child seemed to have no direct ties to her. "Maybe it''s just instinct? The thought of something happening to you right in front of me... it hurts so much, I''d rather die myself, as long as you''re safe." After saying these words, Lavinia passed out, a content smile on her lips. ra was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe, wondering why the ambnce was taking so long to arrive; time seemed to drag endlessly. Noe looked down, gently patting ra''s back. "ra, she might have forgotten everything, but she never forgot to love you. Don''t worry, you won''t be without a mom. Trust me." Chapter 297 The ambnce arrived swiftly, its siren cutting through the calm of the evening. Lavinia was carefully loaded in, with Noe and ra apanying her to the hospital. Jacob remained, watching the vehicle speed away, his expression clouded with worry and a touch of mncholy. The air was filled with the scent of absinthe and sandalwood as Palmer appeared beside Jacob, cing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°Uncle Jacob, you should go see her too.¡± ¡°I¡­ Lucian forbade me from seeing her.¡± Palmer, hands buried in his trench coat pockets, stood tall and somberly elegant. His features softened slightly. ¡°It¡¯s Noe who asked for you.¡± Noe would be performing surgery on Lavinia today, removing a protective personality that had emerged, leaving behind the core personality who recognized Jacob. Hearing this, Jacob turned in surprise to face his slightly taller nephew. ¡°Go on, Uncle Jacob. Follow the doctor¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t youing? Aren¡¯t you worried about Noe?¡± Palmer turned to leave, his voice carrying a chill. ¡°I trust her. There are matters I need to attend to. You go ahead, Uncle Jacob.¡± He was determined to leave no trouble for Noe, including cleaning up the mess Lorne had left behind. ¡­ At Four Seasons Law Firm, Jasper, now dressed in a sleek suit, looked every bit the part as he sat across from his older brother. ¡°Beckett, you could¡¯ve given me a heads up beforeing. I had a client meeting scheduled.¡± ¡°Just passing by. Came to check in and, well, there¡¯s some corporate legal matters that need your attention.¡± Jasper¡¯s assistant opened the door, politely announcing, ¡°Jasper, your client has arrived.¡± ¡°Have her wait in the conference room.¡± Jasper gestured for Beckett to make himselffortable in the office before quickly excusing himself. Beckett idly picked up a case file Jasper had been working on. A few papers slipped out, and as he bent to pick them up, his eyes scanned the documents. His pupils dted slightly as the content of the papers swiftly sank in. Momentster, Beckett knocked on the conference room door. Inside, Jasper was discussing the case with the client when he looked up in surprise at Beckett¡¯s entrance. ¡°Sorry to disturb. I¡¯ve had your secretary prepare a file on all of Lorne¡¯s holdings for a report. I¡¯m heading to the hospital. Handle the rest, will you?¡± Jasper frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t we already file a report? What¡¯s at the hospital for you?¡± ¡°This time it¡¯s everything. Including Lorne himself. He kidnapped his aunt to ckmail ra and Noe.¡± Jasper stood abruptly, his water ss tipping and spilling onto his expensive tailored suit. ¡°What the hell? Does Lorne have a death wish?¡± Beckett¡¯s gaze lingered on a familiar figure before speaking calmly, ¡°If all goes as expected, he won¡¯t have the chance to live much longer.¡± The client, standing up, met Beckett¡¯s calm yet angry gaze. Darcy clenched the documents in her hand. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Dalia, anxious, asked, ¡°Is Ms. Schnabel alright? How could this happen?¡± Jasper pressed a hand to his forehead. ¡°Sorry, but we¡¯ll have to postpone today¡¯s meeting. I can¡¯t leave my sisters in this state. Today¡¯s consultation will be on the house.¡± Dalia quickly responded, ¡°Oh, no, that¡¯s okay! Can wee with you? I¡¯m worried about Ms. Schnabel!¡± Darcy spoke up calmly, ¡°I¡¯d like to see Noe too. Please, take us with you.¡± For Darcy and Dalia, as Noe¡¯s teacher and employee, the news of potential harm had them more agitated than any inheritance dispute could. Jasper looked to Beckett for approval, only to find his brother already striding away. He quickly gathered the sisters and followed. In the car, Dalia continued to express concern for Noe. ¡°Jasper, nothing¡¯s going to happen to Ms. Schnabel, right? Oh, she¡¯s so capable, surely she¡¯ll be fine!¡± After several unsessful attempts to reach ra and Noe by phone, Jasper¡¯s anxiety mounted. Finally, ra called back, her voice trembling with tears. ¡°ra, don¡¯t cry, we are on our way! How¡¯s Noe?¡± ¡°Noe¡¯s fine, and so am I. She¡¯s with Professor Calvin in the surgery room now. Jasper, I¡¯m so scared.¡± Relieved to hear they were safe, Jasper loosened his tie and let out a breath, adopting a soothing tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re almost there!¡± After hanging up, Jasper clenched his fist, striking the leather seat in frustration. ¡°Damn it! Using ra to ckmail Noe into calling off the engagement? Do they think our family is to be trifled with?¡± Beckett remained calm. ¡°As long as Noe and ra are safe, that¡¯s what matters. Let¡¯s get the full story before we decide anything. Let¡¯s not tell Grandpa or our parents yet.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± With Marcel¡¯s age, it¡¯d be best not to trouble him with this news, and with Tristan and Sienna abroad, informing them would only cause more distress. Dalia breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Jasper, is that ra, the one who was on TV? She¡¯s your sister too?¡± ra¡¯s research had earned her a prestigious award, and the clip from the TV broadcast was saved on every Schnabel family member¡¯s phone. ¡°Yeah, I only have two sisters, ra and Noe. If anything had happened to them, I¡¯d have Lorne¡¯s grave dug up!¡± Darcy¡¯s expression flickered with concern as she ventured, ¡°What about Yvonne?¡± "Yvonne? She was never really part of our family! My grandpa had her sent off to jail for spreading rumors about Beckett and Stirling, and trying to snatch Noe¡¯s stuff - just nasty." Sent to jail? And what''s with spreading rumors about Beckett? Jasper was clueless that Beckett¡¯s ex was right in front of him. "Ms. Darcy, you''ve got no idea. She even went after Beckett''s ex, cooking up all sorts of trouble, messing things up so bad that Beckett''s still flying solo..." Beckett interrupted with a cold voice, "Jasper, zip it." Jasper pped a hand over his mouth. "Sorry, Ms. Darcy. My bad, really. The stuff Yvonne¡¯s done is beyond the pale, just like her grandma." Dalia chimed in, "Now that you mention it, I remember someone causing a scene at our gallery, getting a lesson from Ms. Schnabel. Was that the same Yvonne my sister mentioned?" Darcy felt uneasy. "Probably." Their brief exchange was enough to confirm that the person who had sought her out back then was indeed no kin to the Schnabel family. Darcy clenched the fabric of her dress tightly, her gaze fixed on Beckett sitting before her. His demeanor was calm and resolute, his jawline sharp, his presence understated yet powerful. His shirt and tie meticulously arranged, with a hint of mercilessness beneath his cool exterior. Beckett seemed to notice Darcy''s stare. He slightly turned his head, his tone indifferent, leaving it unclear whether he was referring to the past or the present. "It''s okay, it''s all in the past now. No need to dwell on it." Chapter 298 The car pulled up to the hospital, its journeying to an end. It wasn''t until the final stitch was ced that Noe finally allowed herself a moment of relief. "We nailed it. Time to update the family." Calvin looked over at Noe, thoroughly perplexed by her genius. How could someone so young, barely in her twenties,mand the operating room with such calm and precision? Here he was, merely her assistant, marveling at her every move. As he observed another sessful surgery, Calvin found himself continuously astounded by Noe''s prowess. Noticing Noe''s scrubs soaked with sweat, he urged her to go freshen up. With the operation room lights dimmed, Calvin, mask in hand, walked out to face a crowd eagerly awaiting news. Having spent extensive time operating alongside Noe, Calvin had mastered the art of delivering updates. "She''s doing well, but we''ll need to keep a close eye on her. She''s been moved to the ICU, equipped with thetest tech." ra, anxiety written all over her face, asked, "How''s my sister?" "She''s changing. We''re all pretty spent. The patient should wake up within a week, and we''ll monitor her closely." "Thank you, Professor Calvin!" "It''s what we do." Jasper pulled ra into aforting embrace, her tears soaking his suit. "There, there, I''m here now. Your mom''s going to be okay, sweetheart." ra, unable to speak, let her fears and frustrations flow freely. "Jasper, I''m so scared. Scared for Noe, scared that I made her agree to Lorne''s demands. I feel so powerless." "I understand, and it''s okay. You''re concerned for Noe and your mom, right? But you, ra, are stronger than you think. No more tears." Beckett gently patted ra''s shoulder, his voice soothing. "You''ve done incredibly well, ra. Leave the rest to us." Nodding, ra let her worries dissolve into Jasper''s suit. ... In the dimly lit hospital stairwell, the sudden flick of a lighter sliced through the darkness. Noe looked up to see a man standing above, his cigarette briefly illuminating his face. "Why are you here?" Palmer took a drag, then crushed the cigarette underfoot, his gaze locking with Noe''s as he ascended the steps. "I figured you''d be here." Noe''s eyes flickered as she watched the man approaching her step by step. "How did you know?" "Just a guess." Actually, upon arriving at the hospital and noticing Noe¡¯s absence, Palmer knew she would be here. Between them, they already shared a deeper connection than she had realized. "And how did you know I¡¯d be atop that building?" Noe stayed silent, locking eyes with the intense gaze before her. The man standing in front of her boasted impably sculpted features, resembling a work of art, with sharply defined and handsome contours, and piercing eyes. "I guessed." Palmer chuckled softly, opening his arms, unaware of the tenderness in his gaze. "Mind the smoke?" He looked down at her. "We seem to understand each other well. So, I guess you need a hug?" Their hugs were not umon, but this time, Palmer offered her the choice to step into his embrace. "Is it really up to me?" "Of course. I assume you''re here because you don''t want to burden your family with your stress. Right?" Noeughed lightly. "You sure enjoy your little guessing games, huh?" "But I was right, wasn''t I?" Stepping forward, Noe hugged him tightly, her voice muffled. "That''s not fair. You didn''t really give me another option." With her back against the wall and him in front, she had nowhere else to turn. "Hard day, huh?" Palmer''s voice was aforting rumble. Going to the hotel alone, then undergoing such an exhausting surgery, but having to digest the emotions alone, not wanting to bring any negativity to the family. His fianc¨¦e always saved her best side for the family, while the rest of the time was spent growing alone. "You worked hard. My embrace was always here for you." Noe''s arms were still sore, the energy required for the operation was beyond imagination, and after the surgery she felt like her brain had emptied for a few seconds! "Thanks." "Is it tougher operating on someone you know?" Noe nodded, findingfort in Palmer''s arms. "My first surgery was on my grandma. I couldn''t look at her face, afraid I''d break down." "Was it sessful?" "Very. I started studying medicine to be able to operate on her." Noe''s determination was driven by a desire to help her only remaining family member through a complex illness, leading to her first interactions with Calvin. "And did anyone ever tell you how incredible you are for that? You worked hard." Original from N?velDrama.Org. Learning so much at such a young age, she must have endured many hardships, driven solely by the desire to keep her only family member close! Listening to Palmer''s voice, Noe felt momentarily disoriented. Performing surgery on her grandmother wasn''t for des; the greatest happiness for Noe was prolonging her grandmother''s life. Yet, upon hearing this dyed expression of gratitude, she still felt a warm glow in her heart. Noe realized that Palmer truly knew her. "I was on that building because I knew you needed someone." "You seem to know me well." "Of course. First, to know my rival, and now, to understand a friend." Understanding Wise Fool or Noe was essentially understanding her! In the past, they''d make identical decisions, vying for the same resources and territories along the frontier ¨C a sort of unspoken agreement between them. "I turned down Lorne without considering my sister''s feelings. You don''t think I''m being capricious, do you?" "Noe, I couldn''t be happier that you rejected him! Besides, your sister loves you more than you realize. You''re family." What Noe declined was to call off their engagement, and he should be over the moon she didn''t want to end things with him! Even if her motivation was not wanting to be manipted, Palmer was still ecstatic. He held her close, his voice deep and reassuring. "You can do anything you want, and from now on, by my side, you can always be Noe, not... Loadstar!" Chapter 299 Palmer''s voice was soft and tender in a way that words could hardly describe. "Being Loadstar is tough, but being my pal, you can rx and be yourself." "How did you know?" Noe pulled away from Palmer''s embrace, looking up at him. "I''m no fool." Besides, once he got a hint of something, there wasn''t a thing the Pock Group couldn''t uncover! When Noe reported Caleb for academic misconduct on a research forum under the guise of Loadstar, Palmer suspected it was her. How many leaders could Pris Star have? Palmer had delved into Loadstar''s every move, uncovering more of her past traces than she could have imagined. From the moment he learned of her pivotal role within Pris Star, Palmer had sought to understand her in his own way! Palmer extended his hand, palm open, towards Noe. "As a reward for your hard work, Noe, this is my gift to you." "A gift?" Noe''s gazended on Palmer''s palm as he slowly opened his hand. Inside, there was a USB drive! "Where... where did you get this?" Palmer chuckled lightly, "I figured you''d need it." Noe indeed needed that USB, but she was more astonished by how Palmer knew she would need it! "I traced back through Pris Star''s history, even visited the desertedb, and stumbled upon some interesting facts." Shouldn''t this USB be in Garrick''s possession? Noe was puzzled, looking at Palmer. "Where did you get it from?" "Garrick auctioned off this a while back, and I happened to acquire it." Palmer''s exnation was casual, but Noe didn''t believe it was just a simple coincidence. Her fingers traced Palmer''s shirt cuff, undoing his buttons, revealing arms wrapped in bandages, with a strong scent of antiseptic beneath the musky cologne. "You''re hurt?" "In my line of work, isn''t getting injured pretty standard?" Being injured might be normal for an assassin, but for someone of Palmer''s caliber to sustain such serious injuries was definitely not normal! Noe knew Palmer''s skills well; Vocalist, a renowned assassin, wouldn''t make such basic mistakes. The wounds on his arm clearly resulted from a surprise attack! "Tell me, what exactly happened?" "ept my gift, and I''ll tell you." Palmer didn''t stop Noe from examining his injuries but still stubbornly insisted she ept his gift. Noe took the USB from his hand, and it felt as if the warmth of Palmer''s palm had transferred onto the USB, offering aforting sensation. "I''ve epted it." "You probably know that I went to the border and had a couple of drinks with Xavier." Xavier loved his liquor and was confident in his ability to hold it. When Palmer showed up wanting to drink, Xavier epted without hesitation, even boasting he''d drink Palmer under the table! As it turned out, Xavier woke up the next day with Palmer long gone, unable to recall what he had bbered about after getting drunk! "Xavier''s weakness is that he spills everything when drunk. But on the borders, aside from me, no one can get him that wasted. I asked about your grandma, and that''s how I knew this USB was important to you." Whether it was due to the sentimental value of the USB left by Noe''s grandmother or the data hidden inside it, the USB held great significance for Noe! "Garrick did auction off this, but it was at the Spring Haven auction house." Spring Haven, located on the fringes of Harmonia Country, was awless zone bordering several small nations. Its narrow borders and straits hid untold crimes and bloodshed! The auction house in Spring Haven was more chaotic than orderly; once the items were sold, it became a free-for-all, with chaos and disorder creating their own opportunities! "You went to the Spring Haven auction house?" "Yeah, when I arrived, the USB had juste up. The seller wasn''t after money, which made it quite a bargain." Those who went to Spring Haven''s auction house to sell weren''t short of money or connections; they were often entrics! "What did he want?" "Not much, just a trip to the Spring Haven underground fight club, a free-for-all brawl." Noe looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with unmistakable surprise... and concern. No wonder Palmer had to mask his scent with cologne! He couldn''t possibly think he could fool a doctor''s nose, could he? "Why go through all this? You knew it was dangerous." Exiting the Spring Haven fight club wasn''t too hard for Palmer, but the issue was his unhealed injuries! Heading into the underground fight club, especially a free-for-all brawl, with countless desperadoes aiming at him, it was no surprise he came out with wounds. "I just knew you needed it. Maybe Garrick wanted to lure you there, so it didn''t matter who went." If he hadn''t gone, she would have! Knowing the dangers, Palmer couldn''t bear to let Noe face them head-on. Palmer reached out to stroke Noe''s hair, his voice deep and tinged with a hint of amusement. "As long as you need it, what I do is never in vain." Noe tightened her grip on the USB, pulling Palmer''s wrist, leading him out of the stairwell and straight to Ulrich''s office. Bursting in, she pushed Palmer onto a chair. Noemanded coolly, "Strip." The door creaked open, and several heads peeked in, chorusing, "Noe, are you¡­ okay?" Inside the office, Noe was bent over, tugging at Palmer''s cor, her gaze stern and authoritative as she ordered him to strip. Jasper mmed the door shut and patted his chest in disbelief. "Man, I had no idea Noe and Mr. Pock... Turns out Noe''s the one taking the lead!" The scene was spicy enough to make Jasper¡¯s eyelids twitch. Beckett murmured, "Maybe we got it wrong." ra chimed in, "Beckett, don''t kid yourself." Ulrich was puzzled, "I still need to fetch something from inside. Should I just vanish for a bit?" When Noe opened the office door, the Schnabel siblings were staring wide-eyed at her! Their expressions said it all. They had jumped to conclusions. Noe, looking at Ulrich, said, "Ulrich, do you have another surgery? If not,e in. It¡¯s kind of difficult to manage this alone." Ulrich¡¯s head buzzed with confusion! Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Following Noe into the office, they saw Palmer, his upper body wrapped in bandages, some soaked with blood, and realized that Noe intended to change Palmer¡¯s dressings. "What happened to Mr. Pock?" As Ulrich moved to check on Palmer, Noe blocked him. "Please, just hand me those supplies." "Noe, let me do it. Mr. Pock¡¯s wounds look pretty deep." Even though Palmer and Noe were practically engaged, they hadn¡¯t made it official yet. The idea of letting his sister tend to a semi-nude man was something Ulrich couldn¡¯t stand for. Noe didn¡¯t back down. Her eyshes fluttered slightly, but her hands were steady and sure. "Ulrich, he doesn¡¯t like others touching him. I¡¯ve got this.¡± Chapter 300 Ulrich''s hand was already reaching out, but upon hearing Noe''s words, he retracted it. Beckett and Jasper stood at the door, both mirroring Ulrich''s expression. Only Palmer had a slight smile on his face, his gaze constantly following Noe''s movements, never shifting away no matter what she did! The light cast on them outlined their figures under the Tyndall effect, the profiles of Noe and Palmerplementing each other as if all other sounds in the world were suddenly superfluous. ra suddenly felt like she was third wheeling. "Uh, I just remembered I haven''t put on my shoes. I''ll head out first. Jasper, could you settle the bill for me?" "Sure, anything for you." ra had rushed out too hastily, running barefoot all the way, only now feeling the chill creeping into her soles. Jasper quickly ushered ra away from the scene. Beckett nced at Palmer''s wound. Noe was being very careful and attentive, asionally asking him if it hurt. Watching the scene unfold, Beckett chuckled softly, his eyes reflecting a mix of loss and contentment. The emotions wereplex, but he eventually closed the door. Beckett turned to face Dalia and Darcy. "Noe''s fine. I''ll drive you home." Dalia was practically bubbling with excitement. "Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Pock are so close! In the past, whenever Mr. Pock had some free time, he would join Ms. Schnabel at work!" Everyone in the gallery knew Palmer; every time he brought afternoon tea for Noe, he''d also treat the staff, and they''ve been mooching off Noe''s treats for a while! They''ve practically adopted Palmer as one of their own, seeing him as their boss''s man! Darcy quickly refused, "Mr. Schnabel, we''re just here to check on Noe. You don''t have to trouble yourself. We can take a cab back!" Beckett stood still, turning his gaze to Darcy. In the bustling hospital corridor, with the smell of disinfectant spreading everywhere, Beckett''s gaze met Darcy''s. After a moment, his lips curved slightly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Are you refusing me? It''s just a ride home, no trouble at all." With those words, he turned and left, as if the chilly atmosphere hadn''t been his doing at all! Darcy had no choice but to pull Dalia along. After all, her sister was still working under the Schnabel family''s enterprise. It wouldn''t do to offend the Schnabels, nor was this unnecessary interaction with Beckett. With that thought, Darcy braced herself and followed Beckett''s lead. Beckett drove steadily, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, not sparing a nce for the passengers behind him. Dalia, being younger and having had work interactions with Beckett at the gallery, chattered away about her job. Beckett listened attentively, nodding after Dalia had finished. "Thank you, your cooperation makes Noe''s job easier." "No, no, it''s all thanks to Ms. Schnabel''s management. She¡¯s truly remarkable. I had an issue with an exhibit setup, and despite revising it over a dozen times, I couldn''t find the problem. Yet, she spotted it right away!" Dalia was practically in awe of Noe! Despite being about the same age, Ms. Schnabel was so much more aplished! "Does Mr. Pock often visit Noe?" "Yeah, Mr. Pock sends afternoon tea when he''s busy and even apanied Ms. Schnabel to workst time!" Seeing Noe and Palmer through an outsider''s perspective always gave a clearer understanding of their rtionship. Beckett felt reassured. Perhaps it was Beckett''s reciprocal manner that made Dalia drop her guard, daring to gossip. "Mr. Schnabel, do you have a girlfriend?" "No." Dalia was both surprised and a bit disappointed. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Have you had any girlfriend in the past?" Beckett responded lightly, "There was one, but she felt I wasn''t presentable enough, so even when we met her family, no one knew we were dating." "What? That''s terrible!" Beckett smiled gently, steering the car onto a newne, diverging from the original flow of traffic. "I didn''t understand her insecurities back then, so it was my fault. Encounters in a crowd are rare, but losing each other is easy." Dalia nodded, somewhat understanding. "You are right, but it''s still such a pity." Darcy bit her lower lip, her voice slightly hoarse. "Wasn¡¯t Mr. Schnabel nning to get engaged next year?" "Yes, the date is set, but the person isn''t." Dalia gasped, "What? You can do that? Set a date before finding the person?" "The family''s pressing, and it''s a good excuse to buy some time. If I don''t find someone by then, I¡¯ll just let Noe and Mr. Pock get engaged, which wouldn''t be a problem." Beckett indeed had an engagement party nned for next May. "If Noe and Mr. Pock also aren''t ready to get engaged, I''ll just tell my mother I got dumped. She''d understand. Considering I''m of age and have so many younger siblings, it''s not easy finding someone in the dating market." Dalia hadn''t expected Beckett to have such a sense of humor! They always thought of him as stern and distant, but now she realized how witty and fun he actually was! "With your condition, it should be easy to find someone! I believe your engagement party next May will definitely happen!" "Let''s hope so." Darcy couldn''t shake the feeling that Beckett''s words, and more specifically his gaze, were meant for her. It was like sitting on a bed of nails, ufortable and piercing. When the car pulled up near Darcy and Dalia''s shared home, Beckett''s lingering look finally broke, and he drove off, leaving a cloud of dust behind. Dalia turned to say something to Darcy, only to find her sister still staring after Beckett''s car, her eyes filled with emotions that Dalia couldn''t quite decipher. "Hey, what''s up with you? Darcy, why are you rushing off like that?" Without a word, Darcy hurried back to their house and straight into her room, locking the door behind her. Beckett''s words echoed in her head, stirring up feelings of difort and unease. The shattered truths of years pasty bare before her, making her feel all the more cornered. It felt like Beckett was speaking in riddles today. Was he trying to exin something to her? But the events of the past weren''t something she could simply resolve on her own. Whether it was her own departure without a word or the Schnabel family''s unexpected visit, it was all too much for Darcy to handle. Her phone vibrated on the floor, a message lighting up the screen. [I''m sorry for thete apology. Also, I''vee to know everything about what happened back then. - Beckett.] Darcy''s hands trembled as she read it, unsure of how much Beckett truly knew. She reached to brush away her hair, only to realize her hands were wet with tears. Regret and an indescribable pain pierced her heart. Darcy covered her face, crying silently. ... Meanwhile, in an office elsewhere, Ulrich watched Noe expertly bandage Palmer''s wounds. "Noe, where did you learn to do that?" "I''ve known since I was a kid." Ulrich was stunned, and a wave of sadness washed over him. He couldn''t help but imagine the grim scenes from the past when his sister and grandmother had to tend to their wounds all alone. Chapter 301 Noe had certainly faced her fair share of tough times. Ulrich''s mind was a whirlwind of jumbled images as he imagined how hard life must have been for Noe and their grandma. Noe, however, was watching Ulrich as he lost himself in his dramatic musings with a calm gaze. "Ulrich, could you give him a tetanus shot for me, please?" "I''ll go grab it." Palmer had a few nasty scrapes, and Ulrich had noticed those wounds too. Understanding the risk of infection if left untreated, he wasted no time getting on his feet and out the door. In the office, it was just Noe and Palmer. She handed him a clean shirt, and a flicker of concern¡ª unnoticed even by herself¡ªcrossed her usually stoic face. "Don''t do something like this again. What would Grandpa Sexton do if something happened to you?" Palmer looked up at Noe with a smile. "Don''t worry, Grandpa''s been through worse." That''s an experience Sexton could do without! Noe rolled her eyes, not amused. But watching her lively reactions, Palmer felt his mood lighten considerably. In his eyes, she seemed even more vibrant. Everything he did, it all seemed worth it! "Palmer, don''t do this again," Noe said, her head bowed slightly. "At least, you should''ve brought me along." "What if I say this was my decision to make? That I did it because I wanted to." "Then whatever you brought back is yours; I don''t want it. If you think you did it for me, then it involves me." She wasn''t one to hide behind others. While being under the Schnabels'' wing was nice, Noe wasn''t about to let someone else fight her battles for her! She was all about standing side by side. And if she ever considered being with Palmer, she wouldn''t be content just standing behind him! Palmer was initially taken aback but thenughed heartily, his hand resting on Noe''s waist, his head leaning against her stomach, hisughter muffled. His voice was filled with an indescribable sense of joy and relief. "Okay, I won''t keep you in the dark next time. If there''s anything nned, I won''t make decisions for you." Noe let him hold her, and she said seriously, "Also, using cologne to cover up your wounds is pretty dumb." "You don''t like the smell?" Palmer deliberately shifted the focus of the conversation, and Noe, catching his drift, didn''t press the issue. "Not a fan." "Then tell me what scents you do like, and I''ll wear it next time I see you. I want my friend to be happy." Ulrich returned with the tetanus vine, only to walk in on Palmer''s smooth talk. He couldn''t help but interject, "Mr. Pock, what kind of game are you ying now?" Was he out of touch with how rtionships worked these days? What kind of romance was this? Palmer raised an eyebrow. "Dr. Schnabel, I heard Ms. Gruber went to another clinic for her wounds. Is she not interested in your hospital?" Ulrich''s face twitched, but he maintained a dignified tone. "Whatever clinic she chooses is her right. Seeking medical care should be about convenience." Palmer simply smiled, taking the vine from Ulrich and handing it to Noe. Ulrich was on the verge of exploding! "Mr. Pock, my sister doesn''t know how to give IV injections. Are you questioning my medical skills?" Palmer calmly replied, "No, I just don''t trust a doctor who''s emotionally unstable. Dr. Schnabel, take a look in the mirror, and you''ll see how unappealing your expression is right now. My biggest rule is to value my life." Noe held back a smile, taking the vine and expertly administering the injection. Ulrich was speechless. "Is my expression really that bad?" Noe nodded. "Yep, it''s pretty bad. Ulrich, if you like Malvina, you should go after her." "How does being responsible for a patient suddenly trante to liking her?" "Ulrich, anyone with eyes can see it. Last time, Mom even asked me when you and Malvina are getting married." Ulrich''s eyes widened, and the next second, his face went red. Faced with his sister''s calm yet all- seeing gaze, Ulrich wished he could just disappear. "Ulrich, Malvina is great, but you have to make the first move, or she might never do it." Malvina''s delicate sensibilities, shaped by her upbringing, led her to navigate personal and emotional matters in her own unique way. Given Ulrich¡¯s status and the Schnabel family''s reputation, it seemed unlikely that Malvina would make the first move. Ulrich covered his face, deciding to just squat on the ground and rub his now-heating cheeks. "Noe, if you were in Malvina''s shoes and liked Palmer, would you make the first move?" Noe was momentarily speechless. How did this questionnd on herp? She caught Palmer''s amused look and couldn''t help but smile too. "I wouldn''t, because he''d pretend he''s just a taxi driver." Palmer felt embarrassed as Noe brought up the past. That had all been a misunderstanding; Palmer had mistakenly believed that Noe was working as a hitwoman due to financial troubles. To avoid scaring her away with his own background, he had concocted that wed excuse. Ulrich chimed in, "But you knew, right?" Noe, being sharp and having ess to information through the Obelisk Organization, could see that Palmer''s financial situation was far from one that required him to drive a taxi. She spected that perhaps he had some deep, unspoken troubles he didn''t want to delve into, or maybe... she just wasn''t that into Palmer''s drama at the time. "It doesn''t matter. What matters is, Ulrich, are you really not nning to pursue Malvina? I have a friend who''s quite interested in her." Ulrich shot up so fast, he almost gave himself a concussion. "Which friend? What did Malvina say?" One could practically see the nerves and difort oozing off Ulrich. The Schnabel kids weren''t exactly the Don Juans of the dating scene. Ulrich couldn''t even pin down if he liked Malvina or not! But every time he saw her, he couldn''t help but want to look out for her! And when he couldn''t see her, he''d find himself wandering near the underground fight club, hoping to bump into her. And if he did, she''d tease him about having too much free time. Heaven knows he was swamped, with back-to-back meetings and endless research. But without seeing her, Ulrich felt a gaping emptiness inside! "I just think, with all the drama going on at her ce, stepping in now would probably be annoying, right?" Ulrich looked downright dejected. "And besides, she... doesn''t like me back." To Ulrich, Malvina was just out of his league. She was smart, beautiful, and handled everything with ease, radiating a resilience and vitality as if she was literally glowing. That vibrant charm was something Ulrichcked! Original from N?velDrama.Org. He admired Malvina''s fierce independence and respected her quiet perseverance, empathizing with her tragic past. Was this what liking someone was all about? Noe wasn''t exactly seasoned in the love department either. Honestly, when it came to the Schnabel siblings'' love lives, it was a nk te! "So, Ulrich, are you basically saying you have a crush on Malvina?" Chapter 302 Crush? That word felt like a hot potato! Ulrich had never really known what having a crush felt like! ¡°A crush...what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like, whenever you think of someone, you get this bittersweet feeling inside. Or imagine, if Malvina were to confess her feelings to you, would you say yes?¡± The mere thought of Malvina confessing to him made Ulrich¡¯s lips curve into a smile, his eyes sparkling with hope. Being the most literary among the Schnabel siblings, his smile was like the first day of spring after a long winter! Realizing he might be smiling too broadly, Ulrich quicklyposed himself. ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t say yes right away! I¡¯d y it cool, wait for her to make the first move. Don¡¯t worry, Noe, I¡¯ve got my own pace. I won¡¯t be led by the nose!¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Waiting for Malvina to confess to Ulrich seemed to Noe like waiting for a train that might never arrive. Ulrich nced at his surgery schedule, then swiftly changed out of hisb coat and strode out of the room. On his way out, he bumped into ra, who was just returning from a shoe shopping spree. Seeing Ulrich hurrying out of the hospital, ra was puzzled. ¡°Ulrich, where are you off to in such a hurry?¡± Without looking back, Ulrich marched on. ¡°Off to have your future sister-inw confess to me!¡± ra was baffled. ¡°What? I tell you, this is what happens when you spend too much time in theb.¡± Thinking Ulrich was off to make a fantasye true was one thing, but expecting Malvina to actually confess? Given Ulrich¡¯s routine of home,b, hospital, ra doubted any confession outside his imagination. Jasper also concluded, ¡°He¡¯s lost it.¡± Noe shrugged, quickly siding with ra and Jasper in agreement. ... In Lavinia Richardson¡¯s hospital room, Helen, sat by, watching over the sleeping Lavinia. Lucian sat opposite her, both elders silent, sharing a heavy sigh. ¡°Lucian, you insisted on adopting those kids, and now look what¡¯s happened.¡± ¡°Was it really my choice at the time? I had no choice.¡± Helen scoffed, her disapproving gaze unwavering. ¡°No choice? Well, if you insist on ying the fool, you¡¯ve certainly left yourself no options.¡± ¡°Helen Barth, could you not be so harsh?¡± ¡°That would require you to act like a decent human. To a fool, even wise words sound like nonsense.¡± Frustrated yet unable to win the verbal spar, Lucian knew too well that Helen¡¯s biting wit was unmatched. ¡°This is your daughter, Lucian. If you won¡¯t care for her, who will?¡± Lucian, feeling the weight of his decisions,mented, ¡°With Lorne gone, what more can I do for Lavinia but be there for her? It¡¯s not like I can undo the past.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re not entirely wrong.¡± Helen, her eyes clouding with sadness, touched Lavinia¡¯s hand, her own voice heavy with emotion. ¡°Lucian, the wrongs you¡¯vemitted shouldn¡¯t punish the child, right?¡± Tears brimmed in her eyes, perhaps recalling a painful memory, as she turned away to wipe her cheeks. Seeing Helen¡¯s shoulders tremble, Lucian too felt a pang of regret. ¡°I know how much you cared for Lavinia, dreaming of her as your daughter-inw. But when she discovered what she shouldn¡¯t have, what choice did I have but to hide her away?¡± For years, Lucian had kept Lavinia¡¯s existence a secret, partly due to her health and partly because he didn¡¯t want the world to know she was still alive. Lucian confessed, ¡°Lavinia¡¯s been unwell, and in a way, I¡¯m relieved she forgets things. But seeing ra, I regret so much.¡± Tears streamed down his face, the sorrow of a father¡¯s heartbreak. ¡°If only I¡¯d known about ra sooner. Lavinia is my only child; how could I bear to lose her?¡± The Richardson family secret, that Lucian¡¯s eldest was adopted, was barely known. Lavinia, his only daughter, remained the primary shareholder of the Richardson legacy. This was why the Richardson family sought an alliance with the Schnabels. Hearing of ra, Helen sighed. ¡°ra is a good kid. Don¡¯t you dare let her down. I¡¯ve written my will; all my possessions will be hers. We owe her that much.¡± Helen¡¯s gaze was firm as she prodded Lucian with her cane. ¡°But money isn¡¯t what shecks. What she needs is her mother. Let¡¯s not dwell on what could have been. It¡¯s your mess to clean up. Just don¡¯t leave my granddaughter motherless.¡± With that, Helen, her body trembling, stood up, her heart heavy. ¡°I¡¯ve already seen three grandsons grow up without a mother. I can¡¯t bear to see them look at me, wondering if their mom will evere back.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The thought of Palmer and his two brothers¡¯ longing looks was enough to tear her apart. Stepping out of the hospital room, Helen nearly collided with ra and the others who were headed her way. ra rushed forward. "Grandma, what are you doing here?" "Just checking on your mother, and dropping by to see Lucian. ra, you weren''t too scared, were you?" ra shook her head then nodded. She had been frightened, but after a good cry in Jasper''s arms, she felt much better. Her emotions were somewhat relieved now! "That''s good to hear. Make sure someone keeps a close eye on your mom these next few days. Someone who can be with her every step of the way. And double-check all her medications. We can¡¯t afford any mistakes!" Helen''s expression was stern as she held ra''s hand, her instructions detailed to the point where it seemed less like caring for a patient and more like a briefing. After finishing, she left. ra found it odd watching Helen''s retreating figure. She couldn''t help but wonder, "Why is Grandma acting as if she¡¯s guarding against spies?" ra''s job made her particrly sensitive to such matters. Helen had been too detailed, even mentioning the need to monitor Lavinia''s room daily! Noe watched Helen walk away on her own. Why did it feel like Helen knew something they didn''t? Entering the hospital room, Lucian was wiping away tears as he looked at Lavinia. "You¡¯re here, find yourselves a seat. Lavinia... it''s my fault, if I had known what kind of person Lorne was, I would have never agreed to adopt him!" ra asked, puzzled, "Lorne was adopted by you?" Lucian nodded. "Yes, both brothers were. When Garrick brought them to me, I couldn''t say no. If only I had known... I would have never agreed! I just thought, if I didn¡¯t take them in, Garrick would surely have sent them to Pris Star for experiments. I couldn¡¯t bear that!" Little did Lucian know, his act of kindness would end up hurting his daughter! Noe frowned slightly. "Grandpa Lucian, do you know about Garrick and Pris Star?" Lucian shook his head with a sigh. "How could I not? I, too, once escaped from that dreadful ce." Chapter 303 "Nobody knows Pris Star better than me!" Lucian''s face held a hint of wistfulness. ra was totally gobsmacked! "Grandpa Lucian, you were part of Pris Star too?" Lucian waved it off. "That''s all water under the bridge. If it hadn''t been for Garrick spinning his tales, who would''ve even considered taking on that project?" Listening to Lucian, it seemed he was, just like Garrick, one of the pioneers of the Pris Star project! Lucian tucked Lavinia in a bit more snugly. "The biggest regret of my life is Pris Star. Garrick sold it as a humanitarian effort, and I got involved because the guy had dirt on me. Then he backed out, and so did I. Over twenty years ago, he asked me to take in Lorne and Bowie, and I did!" There were many decisions Lucian couldn''t make on his own. Even now, thinking back, he was filled with regret. "But what''s the use of regret now? Pris Star never should''ve existed!" Noe remembered visiting Lucian with Master Killian, who had even brought some paintings as gifts. She was puzzled about how Master Killian knew Lucian! It turned out, they met during their time with Pris Star! "What about my grandma?" Lucian shook his head. "You should ask your granddad about your grandma''s story. If he''s not willing to tell you, it''s not my ce to say." "My granddad knew about Pris Star?" "Your granddad nearly blew up Pris Star''s base back in the day, what do you think?" Noe bit her lip, her brow furrowing slightly. Marcel''s station was right on the border, coincidentally the same border where Pris Star was located! Noe calmly said, "If my grandpa couldn''t do anything, it only means Pris Star was sanctioned from up high." ra chimed in, "With a project as big as Pris Star, who could sign off on it?" To keep such a massive project afloat, there had to be someone of significant stature backing it, or else it would never have existed. The allure of Pris Star was too great, with too many opportunities for profit. Someone wanted a piece of the pie badly enough to approve Garrick''s proposal! Lucian chuckled. "Smart, as expected from Marcel Schnabel''s kids, better than the ones I raised. But there''s no need to dig deeper. Knowing too much won''t do you any good." It seemed Lucian wasn''t willing to disclose what he knew. Noe looked at Lucian for a moment before suddenly saying, "Grandma Helen pushed Garrick into theke. He''s probably still recuperating. If you''re looking for him, he''ll be at the Pock family¡¯s resort." "What did you say?" Lucian was clearly taken aback! His gazended on Palmer, who nodded affirmatively, and then Lucian gritted his teeth and cursed. "Helen, that crazy woman! Even in her old age, she''s not toning it down! She almost sent Garrick to meet his maker when she was younger." Recalling Helen''s exploits, Lucian was practically seething with indignation! ra curiously asked, "What did Grandma do?" Lucian''s face turned a shade of beet red, seemingly with a thousand curses he wanted to unleash but refrained from doing so in front of the kids. "Helen was a wild card even when she was young. I could never figure out what Sexton saw in her!" Perhaps feeling it inappropriate to discuss such matters in front of the kids, Lucian sighed and nced at Lavinia, who was lying in the bed. "Lavinia, as long as you can live safely, I¡¯ll bear all the sins." The atmosphere in the room grew tense, the smell of disinfectant unusually strong. Noe bent down to pick up Lavinia''s medicine, her brow furrowed as she carefully inspected a pill after popping it out of the blister pack. "This medication doesn''t seem right." Initially, Noe thought Helen''s warnings were just out of caution. But after hearing Lucian''s words, she began to suspect that Helen might have known something all along! After inspecting all of Lavinia''s medications, Noe found several issues! ra eximed, "So Grandma Helen was right?" "Let''s get these tested. Luckily, she hasn''t woken up yet, so we don''t need these drugs for now." Calvin officially signed off on Lavinia''s surgery, but Palmer knew the surgery was actually Noe''s work, and she prescribed the medications, fully aware of their effects. In the short time they had left the operating room, the medications had been tampered with! Lucian immediately requested the hospital to review the surveince footage from the room. "I''ll head to the surveince room. You guys stay here with Lavinia." ra followed, supporting Lucian as they left the room together. After their departure, Palmer spoke softly, "Do you think Grandma Helen knows who''s behind this?" Noe met Palmer''s gaze, a slight smile ying on her lips. Their understanding of each other seemed to have reached a point where words were unnecessary ¡ªthey knew what the other was thinking. "Yeah, so I''m nning to ask her. Do you want toe? Whoever managed to tamper with the medications right under our noses won''t be easy to trace. But before that, I need to pick someone up from the airport." This was the first time Noe had invited him to join her in doing something! Palmer couldn''t hide his delight, his eyes and smile brimming with excitement. He mock-bowed, as if tipping an imaginary hat. ¡°You forgot, I''m currently a free spirit with time to spare. Can''t be your chauffeur right now because of this injury, but I''d be more than happy to y porter for Ms. Schnabel.¡± The idea of having the head honcho of the Pock Group carrying bags seemed a bit too grand for Noe! ¡°I don¡¯t have any bags that need carrying, but you can follow.¡± Lavinia¡¯s hospital suite had already been staffed with caregivers, all part of a professional team developed by Megrez while brainstorming services forpanionship for the elderly, ensuring Lavinia¡¯s safety. After exchanging greetings with Jasper, who was waiting outside, Noe and Palmer left the hospital, heading towards the airport. On the way, Palmer gazed at the rapidly passing scenery. ¡°The one we''re picking up, is it someone from Pris Star?¡± ¡°Not exactly, but someone I trust. Not your average Joe. You¡¯ll see.¡± For Noe, that was high praise. ¡°Are you introducing me to more of your friends?¡± ¡°Is that a problem?¡± A smile yed on Palmer¡¯s lips, his eyes twinkling with delight. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s an honor.¡± Annie, who was driving, covered her mouth to hide her grin! ... At the Imperial City International Airport, a bald monk, his robe adorned with gems, sat in the VIP area, his eyes lowered in prayer, his whole being seeming to radiate light. A young man beside him looked on with respect and admiration. ¡°Horatio, I''m Bowie from the Richardson family. To meet is to be fated, and I¡¯d like to invite you to our ce for a bit!¡± Horatio¡¯s prayer beads moved slightly in his hand, but he didn¡¯t look up. He had already used many excuses to decline Bowie¡¯s invitations and was now running out of patience. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No, my friend, put your faith in science, don¡¯t fall for superstitions!¡± Chapter 304 Horatio was loungingfortably in a plush armchair, his fair face radiating a serene aura that seemed almost divine. The prayer beads in his hand, engraved with ancient scriptures, added to his mystique, making him appear as a sage from another world. Bowie was stunned to encounter Horatio at the airport! As the revered abbot of the Dragon Monastery, Horatio had been a monk since the tender age of three. Born with a spiritual essence, he was a vegetarian by nature, destined for a monastic life. But Bowie knew Horatio was no ordinary monk! In Imperial City, many high-profile figures sought Horatio''s counsel, making pilgrimages to the Dragon Monastery and often failing to secure an audience with him. Thest time Horatio had left the monastery was to counter a global flu outbreak, devising a solution that became well-known among the inner circles of Imperial City. Desperate, Bowie hoped to persuade Horatio to visit the Richardson family. "Horatio, my family''s home has been rather unsettledtely. I was hoping you could perform a blessing." Horatio closed his eyes, his youthful face serene yetmanding attention, his presence both awe- inspiring andforting. "Bless you, but you should put your faith in science. If your home feels unsettled, perhaps calling the police would be more effective. I''m afraid I''m not the one you need." Bowie was taken aback by Horatio''s reluctance. "Master, name your price, and I''ll meet it!" "You''ve mistaken me for someone else. I''m not Horatio." Confusion spread across Bowie''s face. He had seen Horatio once before, from a distance, while with Lucian. Could he have been mistaken? At the VIP lounge entrance, a cool voice suddenly broke the silence. "Monk, let''s go." "Ah,ing." Horatio, seeing Noe at the door, quickly stood and followed her, paying no mind to Bowie. Bowie had seen Noe in live streams and knew of her through the Schnabel family''s public appearances. Tristan Schnabel and Beckett Schnabel had given her a significant share of the Schnabel Group, so he recognized her on sight. Seeing Noe and Horatio together, seemingly familiar with each other, Bowie followed. "Ms. Schnabel, hello, I''m Bowie Richardson." Noe nced back at the man trailing behind her. Bowie, unlike Lorne, was sophisticated with a schrly charm, his sses framing his expressive eyes. "Do you need something?" "My family''s been troubled recently, and I was hoping to invite Horatio over, perhaps to cleanse... Could you possibly facilitate an introduction? I would be eternally grateful." Noe''s gaze shifted to Horatio. "Can you perform such rituals?" Horatio shrugged. "I told him to trust in science, or call the police if necessary, but he wouldn''t listen." Noe nodded at Bowie. "He''s not the one you''re looking for. Try someone else." Without another word, she and Horatio turned to leave. Horatio, rubbing his hands together, asked, "So, Noe, what''s on the menu today? I heard you acquired a famous painting recently. Gift it to me!" "You''re a monk. Why do you need such worldly possessions? To take with you to the grave?" Horatio appeared to be ustomed to the way of interacting with Noe, as he gently touched his head, smiled with a hint of brightness, appearing less like a monk. "Everyone has their hobbies, I just have a few too many." Bowie, watching them leave, gritted his teeth but decided to follow. "Horatio..." Horatio, discussing the painting with Noe and noticing Bowie still on their trail, grew impatient. "My friend, if you can''t understand spiritual or worldly advice, I must warn you, I''m also versed in martial arts." His voice held a note of annoyance. "Understood? If so, please step aside." Bowie reluctantly stayed back. "If you change your mind, Horatio, you can still reach me..." Horatio caught up with Noe, not sparing Bowie another nce. A few stepster, Horatio noticed a man standing close to Noe, an unusual sight given her usual distaste for malepany. "Ah, you''re not just anyone to Noe." Observing Palmer''s handsome and reserved appearance, Horatio mused aloud. "Oh, her fianc¨¦. That exins it." Original from N?velDrama.Org. Just one look was enough for Horatio to understand Palmer and Noe''s rtionship. Palmer, having heard of the revered Horatio, hadn''t expected him to be the one Noe was meeting. "Horatio, you''re aware of my rtionship with Noe?" "It''s obvious at a nce. Not difficult to see." What truly surprised Horatio wasn''t Palmer and Noe''s rtionship but Noe''s demeanor towards Palmer. Knowing Noe for years, he had never seen her allow any man other than members of the Pris Star to get close, let alone hold her hand. Horatio chuckled to himself. For Noe, Palmer was clearly special. Acknowledging this, Horatio gave Palmer a closer look and advised, "Young man, it''s a blessing to have few familial ties. Your connections with your parents and siblings are light, which can be a good thing. Don''t dwell on past lives too much! Sometimes, learning to let go of family ties isn''t such a bad thing. Living life is all about finding your own path!" Palmer looked surprised as he saw Horatio head towards the car, waving his hand as he went. "Family ties might be thin, but¡­ There''s always a silver lining," Horatio quipped, his coat fluttering open in the wind, giving him an almost mystical aura, like a sage from another world. Noe bit her lip. "The monk might be a bit entric, always rambling on. But if he says so, it''s not without reason." Noe knew that Horatio wasn¡¯t one for small talk. If he was opening up to Palmer like this, it must be because he saw how much Palmer was troubled by his family situation! Palmer had never gotten over his mother''s departure and had refused to forgive his father. His contact with his siblings had been minimal over the years. Sexton was a permanent resident of the hospital, and Helen was in a nursing home. It was as if the family never saw each other. This thought made Noe think of the cold, distant Pock family. Their home felt nothing like one; its decor could have been lifted straight from a showroom. Palmer nced down at Noe, her fair, delicate profile stunningly beautiful. Her skin was so soft it seemed it might break at a touch, and the delicate curve of her corbone was highlighted by a ne, its diamond sparkling under the light. "Then I should thank Horatio, and my friend as well. With Horatio''sst words, I feel like the solitude and hardships of the past twenty-four years might finally find their resolution." Horatio''sst words unspoken was: family ties might be thin, but thankfully, the bond of love is deep! Chapter 305 Seeing the twinkle in Palmer''s eyes, Noe felt her own heart skip a beat in response. She averted her gaze, awkwardly touched her face, and then turned on her heel and strode away. "Let''s head back," she suggested. Palmer followed closely behind Noe, his eyes never straying from her form. In the car, Horatio and Alkaid were having a stare-off. "It''s been years, and I can''t just take your word for it that you''re Alkaid. You''ll have to prove it," Horatio dered. Alkaid raised an eyebrow. "Go on, then." Horatio cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Medusa turned a general''s wife to stone, and the general eximed, ''How dare you petrify my dear wife!''" Alkaid kept a straight face. "A bird of sorrow for lost love." Horatio pressed on, "What did the gentleman say when Lady Medusa passed gas unexpectedly?" Alkaid shrugged, "Didn''t see thating, you''re a rattlesnake." Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Increasing the difficulty, Horatio continued, "You''re cursed out by Noe, but you still say, ''I''d face a thousand deaths before I''d resign!''" With a confident smile, Alkaid responded, "Cursed a thousand times, I''d never quit." High-fiving each other, Horatio confirmed, "That''s you, alright. Let''s roll." Annie, who was driving, looked bewildered. "What kind of inside jokes are these? Have I been out of the loop for so long that the world''s turned upside down?" Noe exined, "Horatio''s got a taste for this stuff. He''s a monk; let him have his fun." Despite his monk status, Horatio had a youthful spirit, enjoying a good corny joke now and then, a habit Noe had grown ustomed to. Alkaid was one of the few who could keep up with Horatio''s unique sense of humor. Palmer chuckled. "Horatio''s interests are certainly unique, quite fascinating. Was that Bowie trying to stop him earlier?" Outside the VIP room, Palmer had bumped into some business partners and couldn''t follow Noe inside. When Noe emerged, Palmer also noticed Bowie, who had been lingering behind Horatio. Bowie had been called back to deal with some Richardson family affairs and naturally, didn''t want to miss out on encountering Horatio. Noe raised an eyebrow. "I guess he wanted the monk to solve his puzzles. Seems like he''s been quite troubledtely." Horatio waved dismissively. "I''m no detective; if you''ve got problems, go to the police, not me." "What brings you down from the monastery this time?" Horatio, satisfied with the sugar-free c Alkaid had brought him, took a big gulp and let out a contented belch. "Burp¡­I''m here to perform a ritual for my senior; she asked me to help her daughter-inw find peace. That, I can do." Annie looked surprised. "A monk with a senior who has a daughter-inw?" "Oh, my senior didn''t take the vows. She just learned the craft from our master. Marriage and children were all part of her path." The master who trained Horatio, a truly remarkable monk, was no ordinary person. Noe nodded. "So, are you staying with the Schnabels, or would you prefer a hotel?" After a moment of silence and some contemtion, Horatio''s face brightened with a smile. "I''ll stay with you. Just find me a room with some sunshine. My senior lives nearby." Noe knew Horatio preferred not to be a bother. Staying with the Schnabels would at least keep the unwanted visitors at bay. Palmer''s gaze sharpened a bit. It wasn''t that he disrespected Horatio, but Horatio didn''t exactly fit the monk image, with his charming red-tinted eyes and a clean, handsome face. Considering Horatio and Noe''s long acquaintance, Palmer couldn''t help but feel wary. "The Schnabel Manor is quite bustling. Why don''t you stay at my ce? It''s more serene." Annie wore a look of astonishment. Good heavens, was the sun rising from the west? Her boss was notoriously private, hardly ever weing strangers to his home. Even her stays were work-rted exceptions. Now, he was inviting Horatio to the Pock Mansion? Most likely, it was all for Ms. Noe''s sake. Noe, catching on to Palmer''s intention, raised an eyebrow. "Monk, you choose." Horatio, stroking his smooth chin, looked whimsically. "Do you have c?" "Plenty." "How close is it to Noe''s ce?" "Right across hers." With that, Horatio happily decided to stay with Palmer at the Pock Mansion! Noe looked at Palmer with a yful glint in her eye. A monk, really? Did Palmer need to be this cautious? She wasn''t so desperate as to be interested in a bald monk! Upon arriving at the Pock Mansion, ra was discussing matters concerning Lavinia with the family. When Horatio entered, Sexton immediately stood up, staring intently at him. "Horatio, what brings you here?" Jacob, too, was surprised to see the handsome monk apanying Palmer, his mouth agape in shock. Horatio was a figure of renown! And here he was, at the Pock Mansion! Helen looked on coldly, her lips curling disdainfully. "All sh, no substance. A monk draped in gold, how tacky." Just as Jacob was about to chide his outspoken mother, Horatio stepped forward, closing the distance. "My dear senior! I''ve missed you so!" Helen rolled her eyes in response. "Your room''s all set up. Don''t bug me unless it''s necessary. Let''s n a memorial service and then you can head back." "Sure thing!" Everyone was gobsmacked! Helen was actually Horatio''s senior disciple? But the ages didn''t seem to match at all! With a guileless smile, Horatio exined, "My master took me under his wing in hister years. I was hisst student before he passed away, so there''s quite an age gap between me and my fellow disciples. Originally, my master didn''t take female students. But he made an exception for her here because of her extraordinary talent." Sexton was astonished. "Howe you never mentioned this before, Helen?" "Do I need to report everything to you? I invited Horatio to perform a memorial service for Kendra Fowler, a proper ceremony." Kendra was the deceased daughter-inw of the Pock family and Palmer''s mother. Jacob was equally amazed! "Mom, we had no idea about any of this! A memorial service for Kendra, and you invited Horatio?" Helen replied indifferently, "She deserves it, and I''m willing. Any objections? It was supposed to include your wife too, but since Lavinia is still alive, let''s allow Kendra some peace on the other side." With that, she walked away, her figure appearing notably more weathered, as if she had aged significantly in just a few days. Time spared no beauty, yet it left its cruel marks on them. ra coughed twice, nudging Horatio who was beside her. "So, master, what exactly did my grandma study?" It was normal for her to be curious, especially since Helen''s demeanor hardly seemed like that of a serene practitioner. Horatio spread his hands, an innocent look on his handsome face. "Did she not tell you? Well, that really shows she doesn''t think much of keeping you in the loop. She was trained in the art of tomb raiding,monly known as grave robbing. Oh, she used to work with someonest named Richardson. I think they were partners." Chapter 306 The entire family was in utter disbelief! Could it be that Helen and Lucian were once partners in tomb raiding? ra couldn''t wrap her head around the image of Helen sneaking around in ancient tombs¡ªit just seemed so oundish. Horatio shrugged nonchntly. ¡°My mentor used to say that Helen was a prodigy, quick to learn but too ambitious for her own good. Barely had she learned the ropes when she wanted to hit the big time, aiming for none other than the tomb of an emperor from antiquity. My mentor said that tomb wasden with traps, not meant to be disturbed.¡± ra''s jaw practically hit the floor! ¡°What kind of traps? Mercury pools or dart shooters?¡± ¡°Law enforcement.¡± ra shivered at Horatio''s dry wit. They were torn between marveling at the myriad skills Horatio''s mentor must have possessed and being astonished by the past upations of Helen and Lucian. Though ra knew the Richardson family had its fair share of unconventional ventures, she never imagined Helen to be Lucian''s sidekick! Horatio added, ¡°Eventually, their paths diverged. Helen figured bing a celebrity and marrying some rich fool was easier. Her partner wasn¡¯t on board, so they split up.¡± The room fell silent. Smacking his forehead, Horatio looked at Sexton. ¡°That rich fool Helen mentioned¡­ it couldn¡¯t be you, could it? Considering the timelines and all, you fit the bill perfectly. It¡¯s definitely you.¡± Sexton was a mix of emotions, his feelingsplex and hard to decipher. After a moment, he sighed deeply. ¡°What else did Helen do?¡± It seemed that even after a lifetime together, Sexton was just now realizing how little he knew about his wife! It was as if, for half their lives, he and Helen had been drifting apart. ¡°Anything else? I¡¯m not too sure. She came looking for me on the mountain once after her daughter- inw left, but I was in deep meditation and didn¡¯t see her. Before that, she had inquired about her former partner.¡± Horatio shrugged, seemingly indifferent. ¡°It¡¯s prettymon in our line of work for generations to be cursed. Helen¡¯s partner wanted a child, asked me for a blessing, but I refused. Helen herself didn¡¯t dabble too much in such matters, so it¡¯s more about the shallow ties with her offspring.¡± Realizing he was talking in front of Helen¡¯s descendants, Horatio let out a chuckle. Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°What about Lucian¡¯s child?¡± Horatio shook his head. ¡°After spending a fortune, he got a daughter gued with health issues and a life full of hardships. Parents, spouses, children¡ªnone of them had it easy. It¡¯s all fate, no escaping it. They just have to endure.¡± Yawning, Horatio asked, ¡°So, where¡¯s my room?¡± Palmer nced at the emotionally stirred Jacob and ra before responding, ¡°Follow me.¡± Noe and Horatio followed Palmer as he led the way upstairs. On the ascent, Noe inquired, ¡°Is there a way to break the curse?¡± Horatio gave her a look. ¡°I thought you said you wouldn¡¯t meddle? Seems like you couldn¡¯t help yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not meddling.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in fate. Whether she can turn misfortune into fortune is up to her, not you. You¡¯re not the judge of life and death. You¡¯ve done what you could; without you, her own mind would have been her downfall. Do you think others could operate on her like you?¡± Before entering his room, Horatio turned to Noe with a solemn expression. ¡°Noe, as a longtime friend, let me offer some advice. Everyone has their own destiny. You¡¯ve already taken on enough, always worrying about others. That¡¯s not the path to enlightenment. You should focus on yourself, not on family or friends. That¡¯s all I¡¯ll say.¡± ¡°You invited me here for a ritual for your grandmother, and I¡¯ve agreed to that.¡± With that, Horatio entered his room and closed the door. Noe stared at the closed door, lost in thought. Being friends with a monk who could see through everything had its disadvantages. In Horatio''s presence, she felt as if she had no secrets, as though all her actions were transparent. Fortunately, they were friends, always maintaining a respectful facade. Palmer noticed Noe standing at the door, her face showing a rare moment of confusion and vulnerability, a look befitting her age, filled with uncertainty and a bit of helplessness. ¡°Palmer, did I do something wrong?¡± In that moment, Palmer¡¯s heart softened. He stepped forward and gently embraced Noe, his voice deep and soothing. ¡°You did everything right. The master just wants you to take better care of yourself.¡± Noe had chosen the path of the Pris Star for her grandmother, enduring grueling training that could have broken her. But for her grandmother¡¯s sake, she persevered. Now, her heart had room for the Schnabel family, the Pris Star team, and¡­ new concerns. ¡°Has anyone ever told you, ¡®Noe, you¡¯ve worked hard, and you¡¯ve done well¡¯?¡± For years, she had walked her path alone. No one close to her had ever uttered those words! For her grandmother, for Pris Star, Noe had to be strong. She had to disregard her gender, forget her age, and walk a path filled with thorns! Palmer gently stroked Noe''s hair, his touch tender. ¡°Tired, aren¡¯t you? But you¡¯re truly remarkable, Noe. Every time I learn what you¡¯ve aplished, I feel so proud. I believe your grandmother sees you as her pride and joy, always!¡± Tears welled up in Noe¡¯s eyes, dampening Palmer¡¯s shirt as they embraced. Feeling the girl¡¯s emotions in his arms, Palmer¡¯s own heart ached with a mix of sorrow and affection. ¡°From now on, try to rely on me a bit more, okay? When you''re feeling down, in need of some praise, or just happen to think of me,e find me. I''ll always be by your side. When ites to friends, you deserve the best of the best, better than Horatio, better than Malvina. Let me be your best friend, okay?" Noe''s voice was somewhat muffled. "Okay, I''ll be... your best friend." ... In the hospital, Lavinia''s room was bathed in sunlight. The pristine white sheets were untouched by dust. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Lying in bed, Lavinia slowly opened her eyes, her fingers twitching slightly. Perhaps the sunlight was a bit too ring, so she closed her eyes again, listening to the chaotic bustle of medical staff around her before she managed to open them once more. Lucian was ovee with emotion, tears streaming down his face, "Lavinia! You''re awake? How do you feel? Professor Calvin will be here any minute!" Lavinia shook her head, then nodded, her voice a bit hoarse. "Dad, I''m fine, don''t worry." Her gaze swept across the room, as if searching for someone. "Dad, where''s ra?" Chapter 307 Lucian looked at Lavinia with a hint of uncertainty. "Who are you looking for? ra?" "Yeah. I just had this long dream about ra, and I want to see her." Lucian was still basking in the joy of his daughter finally waking up. He had forgotten that Lavinia usually referred to ra in a more formal manner, calling her Ms. ra. This sudden familiarity was a first! "Alright, wait here, I''ll give ra a call right away." Lavinia shook her head. "No rush. Let her take her time. I can wait." As she reminisced about everything she saw in her dream, she felt a bit surreal. Observing ra''s life, watching her grow up so smart and sensible, left a profound impression. Despite the Schnabel family treating ra with such care and affection, ra cried for a long time in secret upon learning she wasn''t their biological child, only to act as if nothing was wrong the next day. Seeing her hiding under the covers, crying secretly, Lavinia felt an overwhelming sense of empathy and sorrow! Lavinia felt, more than ever, that she needed to meet ra! Lucian quickly dialed ra''s number, and learning she was already on her way, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Lavinia, be a good girl and go get checked up. Once the doctors are done with their examination, ra will be here." Looking at Lucian, his hair now silvered with age, yet still concerned for her, spoke with a tone as if soothing a child. Lavinia nodded. "Dad, you used to talk to me like this when I was sick as a little girl." Lucian shuddered. Those memories - hadn''t Lavinia forgotten them long ago? How did she still remember her childhood? He was shocked and worried as the medical staff gathered around, blocking his view from the inside. After a careful examination, Calvin, followed by a fully geared Noe, whispered, "She seems to be recovering remarkably well, almost too well." Noe calmly replied, "There was a study on patients with dissociative identity disorder where the disappearance of one personality led to the physical healing of the body. Let''s observe for now. If she''s getting better, it might be a simr case." Recalling that groundbreaking case in the medicalmunity stirred a sense of relief in Noe. Yet, due to the scarcity of cases, the research didn''t win any awards. Calvin eximed, "If it''s the same scenario, that¡¯s incredibly fortunate!" Lavinia''s recovery was far beyond that of a typical brain surgery patient. Seeing her clear and bright eyes, Calvin found it hard to associate her with the Lavinia of the past. After the check-up, Noe re-examined all the medications, ensuring no errors before leaving the room with Calvin. Calvin joked, "They''re almost treating you as my assistant now. How did I get so lucky?" Noe preferred not to reveal her identity in the hospital, finding it convenient to operate under Calvin''s esteemed name in the medical field. She removed her mask, her gaze sharp. "If we were on the international warzone, on my turf, I wouldn''t mind showing you what real luck looks like." Calvin quickly shut his mouth. Watching Noe leave in her casual attire, Calvin called out to her. "Where are you off to? Weren''t we going to discuss the follow-up n?" "Got a ss to attend. I''ll be backter." Calvin almost forgot that Noe was still a university student! As he watched her leave with a backpack, Calvin reminisced about his own school days. Comparisons indeed could be disheartening! Inside Lavinia''s hospital room, ra looked at her with concern. "Lavinia, are you feeling better?" "Much better. Can we chat for a bit?" Seeing Lavinia¡¯s gentle gaze, ra was torn between wanting her to rest and not being able to refuse her request. "Sure, what would you like to talk about?" "I want to hear about your childhood. Could you share some stories with me?" ra chose some light-hearted tales, mostly about her lively antics with the Schnabel siblings in the Schnabel Mansion. "Stirling was terrible at school; he used to pay me to do his homework until Grandpa Marcel caught us." Lavinia smiled. "Stirling is quite a bit older than you, right? You''re so smart. What did Marcel say?" "Grandpa called me clever and gave Stirling a good talking-to." Marcel always had a soft spot for ra, his granddaughter, and that hadn¡¯t changed! "He always wanted a granddaughter. Seeing his buddy with one, he used toe home and scold my dad and brothers. But after I arrived, he realized I was just as much a handful as my brothers." It wasn''t until Noe came into the picture that Marcel finally lived his dream of spoiling a granddaughter! The biggest hup was with Ashlyn, but since Marcel had divorced her, ra didn''t bring it up. Seeing ra''s bright smile, Lavinia felt a warm glow in her heart. "How about your parents? Were they good to you?" "Very. While I may not be a Schnabel by blood, the warmth and eptance I felt within the family were unparalleled." Lavinia nodded, her gaze serene and tender. "ra, you might find this scary, but I had a dream, so vivid and real, it matched everything you just shared. So, I was wondering, would you be willing to do a DNA test with me, to see if... if you might be my child?" ra was speechless for a moment, her hands trembling. "A DNA test?" Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "Yes, I''m a researcher. I trust in data the most. You look a lot like me, but facial resemnce isn''t enough to prove anything," Lavinia said, trying to keep her voice as calm as possible. "Okay, this mighte out of the blue, but I need you to hear me out," Lavinia continued, her voice wavering, showing the strain of speaking. "I believe... I believe I have a daughter, but somehow, I lost her." "Don''t freak out, okay? If this is too much too soon, you don''t have to answer right away," she added, noticing ra''s tears but feeling too weak to offer any physicalfort. ra was taken aback by her own reaction, only realizing she was crying when Lavinia pointed it out. She turned away hurriedly, wiping her tears, her heart racing with confusion and sudden emotion. Lucian couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Lavinia waking up and immediately wanting a paternity test with ra? This was beyond anyone''s wildest imaginations. "Lavinia, did somethinge back to you? Do you remember anything?" he asked, trying to piece things together. Lavinia managed a weak smile, looking almost ghostly. "Bits and pieces, but they feel so surreal, like fragments of a dream. Yet, in those dreams, I can''t shake the feeling that ra could be my child." She had been battling her illness for years, never daring to share these fragmented memories with Lucian. "Dad, I''ve never told you, but I''ve always felt I had a daughter. And now, seeing ra, the resemnce... I really want to know if she is my daughter." Chapter 308 Tears streamed down Lavinia''s cheeks as well. In an effort to calm her heightened emotions, Lucian quickly intervened. "Alright, alright, I''ll get someone on the DNA test right away. You just rest up, okay? Don¡¯t let emotions swing too wildly; your health is what matters most." Lucian had spent a fortune to have Lavinia and couldn''t bear the thought of losing her in his twilight years! He hadn¡¯t told her about the already conducted paternity test, fearing it might overexcite her. Lavinia''s gaze was icy, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes shimmering with tears. "Dad, have you already done the test? I overheard you talking to thewyer about transferring all your assets to ra." Realizing he owed ra, Lucian had indeed instructed hiswyer to divide his assets after receiving the paternity test results. Seeing Lucian''s hesitation, Lavinia knew she was right. ra... was really her child! Struggling slightly, she moved her hand to grasp ra''s, patting it reassuringly. "I overheard you, but I thought I was mistaken back then. Since that¡¯s the case, everything I have should also go to ra. Just bring in thewyer." ra waved her hands in protest. "No, no, that¡¯s too much. I don''t need money. I get a hefty research grant from the government every year, and my grandparents make sure I''m well-provided for. I''m quite wealthy!" "It should have been yours all along. I overheard Dad mentioning it. The Richardson family might notst long. Those things are just fleeting; those are the only amends... a mother can make to you." Over the years, her child had grown so much. She was so beautiful, yet because of her own frail mind, she had been unaware of her existence for so long! Lavinia fought back her tears, refusing to cry in front of ra. "Please take it, okay? It''s all my fault. I''m sorry for not being able to protect my baby..." ra shook her head, burying her face in Lavinia''s palm, wetting it with tears. It was a tearful moment but also one filled with warmth. "I remember, you were born, but someone took you away from me. Who was that person?" Lavinia frowned slightly, clearly unable to recall who had taken her newborn away. "I can''t remember. There was a fire at the hospital, a huge fire. Someone helped me out, and when I opened my eyes again, I was at home." Lucian, witnessing her distress, felt a profound sense of sorrow. "Let¡¯s not dwell on it if you can''t remember. Just rest up; ra and I are here with you." Tears welled up in Lucian''s eyes, overwhelmed by the thought that his daughter might regain her memories. Lavinia held onto ra''s hand, reluctant to let go, as if fearing she''d lose sight of her. Her lips quivered slightly, wanting to say something but then hesitated. ra, always considerate, prompted, "What do you want to say? I''m not busy these days, I''lle and visit you." "Could you... call me ''Mom''?" ra looked into the eyes of the woman lying on the hospital bed. Her expression was unexpectedly calm, yet the tears in her eyes and the trembling of her hands betrayed her emotions. She probably feared rejection. After all, from what ra had shared, the Schnabel family seemed nurturing. ra already had a caring mother. Did she even need Lavinia? She had failed to protect her own child. ra met Lucian''s hopeful gaze, knowing his health was fragile, and any unexpected mishaps with Lavinia would be too much to bear. She smiled and looked into Lavinia''s eyes. "Mom, I''ve missed you a lot these past few years." Lavinia''s face was filled with contentment. Her baby still wanted to acknowledge her. After so many years, she, as the unfit mother, had finally found her precious child! "To be honest, I thought it was you who didn''t want me, perhaps you had abandoned me. Especially during those years when I was doing research in the field, I saw many such cases." "How could we ever not want you? It''s my fault, for forgetting you! It''s all my fault!" "Don''t say that. You''re a victim too." No mother could ever stand by and watch her child being taken away without a fight. Lavinia, when she nced over, had a look of tender love almost spilling from her eyes. Even Jacob, the unreliable father, had quietly resolved many issues for ra. "Have you seen your dad?" Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ra nodded. "Yeah, I have. Do you want to see him?" "Not for now. I don''t want him to see me like this." Moreover, Lavinia wasn''t sure how to face Jacob. Their rtionship seemed tethered only by ra, yet there was something else, aplexity that made her feel uneasy. "I''m sorry, ra. We''ve wronged you." "Compared to my sister, I¡¯ve been fortunate. Noe had such a hard life; I should be grateful." "Yes, your sister is a good girl, a real sweetheart." Lavinia''s eyes teared up as she nodded off, her spirit fading along with her consciousness. After exchanging a few words with ra, she drifted back to sleep. After tucking her in, ra and Lucian exited the room. Bowie Richardson was waiting outside. His eyes lit up at the sight of ra. ra was tall, with a slender waist and long legs, her short hair giving her an edgy look. Her face bore a striking resemnce to Lavinia''s but carried an additional air of nobility that was unforgettable at first nce. Bowie stepped forward, offering support to Lucian. "I''ll take care of Lorne''s mess. Grandpa, I''m so sorry for the heartache. I apologize on his behalf to both you and Aunt Lavinia, and to ra too, truly sorry!" "It''s my failure in raising him. You handle his affairs. I''m too old for this turmoil, not to mention the family business." Bowie smiled apologetically, his demeanor respectful. "Grandpa, I''ll take care of everything at home. Lorne crossed many lines you advised against; I''ll deal with it all. As for the business, I n to transfer my shares to ra. What do you think?" Lucian nced at him, considering. "You three should have received an equal share of my legacy. I wouldn''t y favorites!" Bowie shook his head, a gentle smile ying on his lips. "It''s bothpensation and a gesture of goodwill. My own business is doing pretty well. You don''t need to worry about me, Grandpa." Bowie and Lorne couldn''t be more different if they tried. Lorne was cunning, often resorting to underhanded methods, something Bowie had always looked down upon with disdain. "It¡¯s good that you could think in such a way. Rest assured, I won¡¯t mistreat you. You¡¯re my grandson, after all!" The conversation shifted as Bowie mentioned running into Horatio at the airport. "I had hoped to get the master to perform a ritual, but he refused. It''s a pity." "Horatio''s in Imperial City? It must be Helen who called him over. It''s almost the anniversary of that poor girl from the Fowler family. When I took you and Lorne in, I had Horatio do a reading for me." Bowie was surprised to learn about Lucian''s connection with Horatio and asked curiously, "What did the master say?" Chapter 309 Lucian looked back on those days with a silent shake of his head. "The Master only said, ¡®Let it be!¡¯" The mistakes of his youth, he still had to bear in his old age. When he adopted Lorne and Bowie, he wondered if this could be considered a good deed, a way to atone for his mistakes. But in Horatio''s eyes, these were all obsessions! If back then he knew the repercussions would fall on his own child, perhaps he wouldn''t have insisted on having his daughter Lavinia. Bowie chuckled alongside. "Grandpa, if that''s the case, don''t dwell on it too much. I''ll take care of Lorne''s funeral arrangements. You''re not in the best of health, so there''s no need for you to attend. Let ra and I handle it. After all, the Richardson legacy will eventually go to ra." Lucian stubbornly shook his head. "No, Bowie, you''re my grandson too. What ra has, you''ll have as well. I won''t favor one over the other! Having ra back doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll stop seeing you as my own. I¡¯ve treated both you and Lorne as my own for so many years." Lorne''s stubbornness led him astray! "I understand." "ra, you and Bowie take care of it! You were raised by Marcel and Merrick. I trust you can handle it." ra thought for a moment. With Lucian putting it that way, it was clear he hoped ra would return to the Richardson family, giving him some peace of mind. What mattered most to the old man now was his descendants. "Alright, Grandpa, I understand." Hearing her refer to him so naturally as Grandpa, Lucian''s eyes welled up with tears. After patting ra and Bowie''s hands, he left the hospital. Bowie politely asked, "ra, have you eaten yet? I haven''t had a chance to grab a bite since my flight. Would you mind joining me for a quick meal? I''ve brought some documents over, so you won''t be bored. If you don''t trust me because of what Lorne did, you can just look over the documents. We can act like family in front of Grandpa and Aunt, and strangers otherwise." Bowie''s tactful manner was a stark contrast to Lorne''s personality. No wonder the Richardson¡¯s family business was entrusted to him. Compared to Lorne, Bowie had aforting presence, like a breath of fresh spring air. With him lowering his stance so much, ra found it hard to refuse. "Sure. There''s a nice diner nearby, owned by the Schnabel family. Do you mind?" "Not at all." ... At the Imperial University, Noe walked into the ssroom with her backpack, finding a seat in the back row of therge amphitheater. Absentmindedly, she rubbed the USB drive Palmer had given her. She was supposed to check it as soon as she got home, but then there was the whole ordeal with Lavinia, plus helping out with some late-night errands for Pris Star and Horatio. She hadn''t had a chance to see what was on it yet. The USB felt like it still carried Palmer''s warmth, bringing a smile to Noe''s face. A new person took the seat beside her. Malvina, wearing a preppy id skirt and hiding her face behind a book, sat next to Noe. Malvina''s expression was one of utter distress. Upon seeing Noe, she looked like she was on the verge of tears! Noe raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Malvina? What brings you here? Did you suddenly decide to relive your college days?" "I checked your ss schedule and knew you''d be here. Relive college days? As if! I finally graduated and there''s no way I''m going back to school. Noe, darling, your brother Ulrich...¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Malvina paused for a moment, looking for the right words. ¡°Has he lost his mind?¡± ¡°What did he do?¡± Malvina rested her chin in her hands,menting, ¡°I was at the hospital getting some gang members patched up, and he came up asking why we didn''t go to his hospital. Those guys were barely hanging on; we obviously would go for the closest help avable! Then he asked why I hadn¡¯t confessed to him yet! Do you think he¡¯s sick? Or is it that all doctors are a bit off? Not you, darling, I just think... your brother might be suffering from delusions.¡± Malvina''s earnest and somewhat scared expression, her eyes shining as she solemnly recounted Ulrich''s misdeeds to Noe. Noe almost burst outughing. ¡°What else did he do?¡± ¡°He said his EQ was 180, iming he could tell I liked him and wanted to know when I¡¯d confess, so he could consider whether to ept.¡± Malvina was expressionless, but on the verge of tears. Noe struggled to contain herughter, asking patiently, ¡°And what did you say?¡± ¡°I told him his EQ wasn¡¯t 180; it must be 80 at most.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Noe was surprised at how boldly Ulrich acted, straightforwardly pursuing what he wanted, a true hallmark of the Schnabel family. ¡°So, what do you think of Ulrich?¡± Malvina shuddered. ¡°He¡¯s nice, handsome, and sessful. I heard from the nurses that he dedicates a week each year just to turn down friend requests from doctors, nurses, patients, and pharmaceutical reps. He must be quite popr!¡± But his EQ was a whole other story. In the final row, there were only Malvina and Noe, with several rows ahead also unupied. Upon entering, students hesitated upon seeing Noe seated at the back, before proceeding to the front rows with their books, leaving an unusually vacant space around her and Malvina. Noticing this, Noe flipped open her textbook and quietly asked, ¡°Oh, what about you? Do you like him?¡± Malvina looked even more troubled. ¡°I do, but I¡¯m scared he¡¯s not right in the head.¡± Noe tried to stifle herughter, finding it harder to stop. She wondered how Ulrich would feel if he knew what Malvina thought of him! "Sweetie, don''tugh. Dr. Schnabel''s problem is that he''s too perfect. He''s had it all too easy in life. He might find my life utterly dull if he really got to know me. Right now, he''s charmed, probably because he''s never encountered a hot mess like me before. But once hees to his senses, who''ll want me then?" Malvina just didn''t want to be left behind. All her life, nobody had ever firmly chosen her. "The day I was born, my mom died. My granddad always med me, said it was my fault, that I was a curse that killed my mom. And my biological dad? Total deadbeat. They never loved me. I feel like nobody in this world loves me, and that makes me scared... scared to just love anyone. Anyways, does Dr. Schnabel really like me? Or is he just mocking me?" Noe nced at Malvina beside her. Traces of bandages still adorned her, and the burns on her legs hadn''t healed properly. The ointment Noe developed would need her skin to recover a bit more before it could be applied. Despite this, her face still shone brightly, her eyes like marbles, yet they held a hint of vacancy and disillusionment. Noe forwarded everything Malvina had said to Ulrich without changing a word, adding a line of her own. [Ulrich, looks like you are going to lose your girl!] Chapter 310 "Ulrich isn''t trying to mock you." Noe exined. Malvina said earnestly, "You''re lying. I don''t believe you. He must think it''s my fault for not getting treated at your family''s hospital. Why else would he chase after me? I don''t even know how to exin this to my crew!" Thinking about the situation gave Noe a headache too. Dating someone from the Schnabel family was indeed a bit of a challenge. Better leave that exnation to Ulrich, the emotional genius with an EQ of 180. Darcy''s lecture was engaging and far from dry, despite its high level of professionalism. After ss, Noe nudged Malvina, who had dozed off next to her. "Malvina, let''s go." Rubbing her sleepy eyes and noticing the drool on her book, Malvina wiped her mouth. "See, I told you, college isn''t for me." Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Noe raised an eyebrow at the book in Malvina''s hand, "Swine Postpartum Care" written in bold letters across the front. "If you''re interested in agriculture, our university has a pretty good program for that," Noe teased. Shaking her head, Malvina replied, "Just grabbed a random book. Didn''t even look at the title." She had picked it up on her way to ss, thinking it was better to have something in her hands while at school. Flipping through the book, a photo fell out. "Hey, isn''t this your brother Stirling?" Malvina, not one to follow celebrities, could still recognize Stirling Schnabel''s unforgettable face. Stirling, known for his looks being even better in person than in photos, could still drive countless fans wild with just a single snapshot. The photo showed Stirling in a close embrace with a girl, looking very much like an infatuated couple. Seeing the girl in the photo, Noe raised an eyebrow. "Your brother''s girlfriend?" Malvina asked. "Obviously not. If you''re into it, I can get you one too." "No, thanks. If I really liked your brother, I''d have already made my way to get a photo with him!" As they went through the book, Malvina was shocked to find a page filled with curses directed at Noe! The page was filled with hateful and vile words. "Who the hell dares to be so vicious and insult you! I ought to p her!" Noe smiled. "Not gonna ask why? What if it was my fault?" "Impossible! Whatever you do is right! If someone says you''re the problem, they should take a good look at themselves!" This tant bias and protectiveness warmed Noe''s heart. Instead of rushing off, she watched as Oriana approached. "Here, this book must be hers." Having found the culprit, Malvina resumed her usual haughty princess demeanor. Oriana had been spreading rumors about Noe in ss. She also imed to be Stirling''s girlfriend since they lived in the same neighborhood and had several photos to prove it. The ss had mixed reactions, most choosing to stay neutral and distancing themselves from Noe, who noticed but didn''t mind. Oriana pleaded, "Noe, I¡¯ve realized my mistake. Please don''t make Stirling break up with me." She imed to be Stirling''s official girlfriend and used Noe of being jealous and trying to break them up. Malvina frowned. "So you''re the ''swine'' ssmate? Makes sense, you do look a bit like one. Already studying postpartum care at your age? Oh, haven''t got back to your pre-pregnancy figure yet?" Oriana panicked at the sight of the book and photo in Malvina''s hands. "Who are you? You''re not from our ss. Why are you even here?" "This isn''t your family''s university. Universities openly allow auditing sses. What, afraid someone will steal your postpartum care tips?" Oriana felt anxious. She had grabbed a random book from the library and couldn''t find it when she lookedter, not expecting Malvina to have it. "You stole my stuff! That book is mine!" Noe smirked, "This book, it''s yours? Are you sure? How can you prove it?" "It has a photo of me and Stirling from yesterday!" Oriana felt proud, sensing the envy of her ssmates. Noe disdainfully remarked, "Since it''s your book, does that mean all the content inside was written by you?" "That''s right! It''s all mine! She stole my book!" Noe flipped to the page filled with insults against her. "Did you write these words, Oriana? Exin. If you can''t, Jasper, my family''swyer, will have a word with you." The Schnabel family had only onewyer, Jasper, but he alone was sufficient to handle the legal affairs of such arge conglomerate! If Jasper were to have a conversation with Oriana, it probably wouldn''t end so simply! Noe continued, "Also, Stirling has been home these days, and I haven''t seen you around. I''ll send him the photo for confirmation. My family''s legal team is quite experienced in handling defamation." Oriana''s panic was visible for all to see. ¡°How could you be so vicious! It¡¯s just because you can¡¯t stand seeing me and Stirling getting along so well. Having you as a sister, Stirling really hit a streak of bad luck!¡± Noe¡¯s gaze was icy, filled with a mix of pity and disdain as she looked at Oriana. ¡°An empty mind is more prone to delusions, Oriana. Maybe you should consider seeing a psychiatrist.¡± Oriana tried to reim the book. ¡°I got it wrong. This book is actually one I borrowed from the library, none of the stuff written in it was by me. Please don¡¯t get the wrong idea, Noe.¡± Malvina looked at her with a mix of scorn. ¡°My friend, you¡¯re supposed to be a student at a prestigious university, yet you¡¯re not making any sense. Your story is full of contradictions. Maybe you should get your head checked.¡± Irritated and embarrassed, yet unwilling to provoke Noe, Oriana turned her frustration towards Malvina, a girl she had never confronted before. ¡°And what right do you have to judge me, looking like a freak show with scars all over? You think it¡¯s okay to go around scaring people?¡± Malvina smiled to Noe, ¡°Sweetie, if I stir up some trouble, you got my back?¡± ¡°Of course, do what you want.¡± Satisfied, Malvina nodded, then turned around and pped Oriana across the face! ¡°Since we¡¯re clearly not the same breed, I won¡¯t waste my words on you. It¡¯s easier to just take action!¡± Chapter 311 The p resonated crisply in the silent ssroom, turning heads and dropping jaws. Oriana clutched her cheek, disbelief painted across her face as she stared at Malvina. Pride had always been Oriana''s cloak, worn since childhood; never once had she faced such public humiliation. Fury quickly reced her shock. "Are you insane? Hitting me, here? Which department do you even belong to? I''m reporting you! Good luck trying to study here after this!" Malvina''s reply dripped with sarcasm. "Oh wow, such a big deal, huh? Telling me I can''t study here. Geez, you must really think you''re something. Why don''t you just ban me from Earth while you''re at it? What, you think you''re the dean now? Or maybe the queen of Earth? I wasn''t aware you were the dean Garrick''s secret love child. Oh wait, are you... the nanny?" "What did you just say!" Malvina covered her mouth, barely suppressing a chuckle. "I meant, you must be hard-working. Where did your mind wander off to?" Oriana, red-faced and fuming, could barely muster a response. "You''re shameless!" Malvina''s retort was swift and dismissive. "Rebound." Having mastered the art of verbal sparring since she could barely walk, Malvina had always been the bane of the Gruber family. Her wit and sarcasm was honed to perfection. How could a bookworm like Oriana ever hope topete? Oriana, burning with anger, turned only to find Noe as serene as if the altercation hadn''t urred. Noe¡¯s calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to the chaos, her elegance making her seem almost ethereal. She appeared to be bathed in a light that seemed to favor her alone. It was infuriating! What was Noe trying to prove? Why should her be the viin in contrast to Noe''s saintliness? "I just wanted to genuinely apologize to Noe," Orianamented amid tears. "I didn''t mean to upset her. Noe, please don''t force Stirling to leave me." Malvina, feigning innocence, nced at the book Noe was reading and the offensive photos sprawled across the desk before letting out a whistle. "Go on, report me. A p might cost me a fine for medical expenses, but your nder? The Schnabel family''swyer is no joke. I could see through your little ys because I used to put on such acts as well. But I¡¯m smarter than you. You worked hard to get into college, so why not just focus on your studies?" Knowing she was at fault, Oriana could do nothing but retreat with tears streaking down her face. Noe hadn''t been sleeping well, regretting her decision to agree to Horatio¡¯s request for her to go out, which now left her exhausted. Just as she was about to leave with Malvina, a few people approached them. Noe raised an eyebrow in confusion, her beautiful eyes shimmering with fatigue, which made her look pitiful in the eyes of others. While they knew Noe was attractive, they had only seen her from a distance. Being confronted with such a face made several of them blush. Noe casually inquired, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± One of the girls blushed and apologized, "I''m sorry, Noe. Oriana spoke ill of you, and we didn''t intervene. We''re really sorry!" "I don''t mind what was said. What you believe doesn''t concern me," Noe replied with a dismissive grace. "No! Allowing someone to tarnish a fellow ssmate without knowing the full story, disying poor judgment, which led to you being harmed, was our mistake, and we deeply regret it!" Looking at their sincere and innocent faces, brimming with the vibrant energy and growth typical of student life, Noe also smiled gently. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered such situations before, and I truly don¡¯t hold it against you. However, I appreciate your apology.¡± The lead girl, Ingrid, spoke earnestly, "I¡¯m the ss president. Feel free to approach me if you ever need anything!" "Got it, I''ll keep that in mind." Ingrid added, "We''ll inform the teachers about Oriana''s matter and handle it together. We hope it won''t affect you, and we look forward to seeing you in ss in the future!" Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Noe raised a slight eyebrow. Were they assuming she skipped sses due to malicious rumors? Noe didn''t bother to rify, but she heard Malvina, seated beside her, speak in a sweet tone. "Ah, our dear Noe mustered the courage to attend ss, only to encounter such a situation. Noe is naturally reserved and timid. How is she expected to cope? If I hadn''t been here today, would you have left her, a gentle and lovely youngdy, to face malice alone? Ingrid, if I''m not mistaken, you all deliberately avoided sitting next to Noe. Don''t say it¡¯s a coincidence. When I was in college, the most coveted seats were always in the back row." The back row seats were always the most sought after; it was normal for the front row to be empty, even for students at Imperial University. They had deliberately isted Noe! Malvina scoffed, "I''ve seen my fair share of people hurling insults at me. I usually brush it off as nonsense. But just because Noe prefers not to dwell on such matters doesn''t mean you all can turn a blind eye to it, understand?" Upon Malvina''s remarks, Ingrid recalled Oriana''s earlier nder against Malvina. "We sincerely apologize!" "Let it go. I''m not even part of your ss. Noe is the one owed an apology." Ingrid and a group of ss representatives then offered their heartfelt apologies. "No need to dwell on it. I''ve already epted your apology. The me doesn''t solely rest on you, so let''s leave it at that." Lacking sufficient evidence to judge, they had relied on Oriana''s casual remarks and fabrications. Besides, Noe herself hadn¡¯t beening to college these days, so even if they wanted to verify, they wouldn¡¯t have had the chance. People naturally tend to seek advantage and avoid harm, so it''s understandable for them to keep their distance from Noe. "I hope what you''ve witnessed today was an eye-opener. The fact that you came to apologize shows you have a basic sense of right and wrong. I''m not one to hold grudges." Ingrid''s eyes sparkled with admiration! Noe, with her stunning beauty and her talent on the zither that had be a staple across the music department, not to mention her wealthy background and kind personality, was truly understanding! The thought of Noe, such an exceptional student, feeling uneasy abouting to college because of Oriana''s issue made Ingrid deeply upset. Noe handed a book to Ingrid. "Could you please pass this on to Ms. Darcy for me? I''ve got to head out." She had already taken photos of the book''s content and sent them to Jasper. "Of course, you can count on me! We won''t let this kind of problem happen in our ss again!" "We''ll see." As Noe and Malvina left the ssroom, Noe raised an eyebrow slightly, just in time to see a boy approaching them, presenting Malvina with a bouquet of roses! "This for you." Chapter 312 Malvina''s eyes, wide and round, blinked in surprise. "For me?" Today wasn''t Valentine''s Day or April Fool''s, right? Or had she suddenly be so breathtaking that someone could overlook her unwashed hair of three days and the bandages wrapping her arms? Damn, her charm was always so enchanting. Malvina¡¯s confusion deepened when she received a second rose. "Is my face really that pretty they can ignore the burn scars on my legs?" Noe, barely holding back a chuckle, said, "Who knows? Maybe?" "But they wouldn''t give them just to me and not you! You''re way prettier than me!" Malvina was puzzled, but the boy who gave her the flowers just walked away without a word. This wasn''t the usual flirting she was used to! Malvina was ready to whip out her phone, but the guy just smiled and walked off! Staring at the roses in her hand, Malvina couldn''t figure out what was happening. But as she walked on, she found herself holding more and more roses! "What''s going on here?" Malvina eximed in astonishment. "Noe, darling, your college is one of the top institutions in Imperial City; there can''t possibly be a scam going on, right?" Noe couldn''t help butugh. "Theoretically, a scam wouldn''t involve such expensive roses. These seem like high-grade desert roses." The roses, which grew solely in the desert, each bloomed amid thorns, exuding a vibrant and passionate essence, their lives soaring with vitality! "Could this be some kind of charity then?" "Who uses red roses for charity?" With every few steps they walked, a student would hand Malvina a rose. Noe''s phone buzzed with a message from Ulrich. [Noe, bring Malvina to the small woond by the library entrance.] The library''s woond at Imperial University was a sight to behold this season, a breathtaking scene at every turn as if wandering through an enchanted garden. Noe understood then; these roses must all be from Ulrich, intended for Malvina. Noe grabbed Malvina''s wrist and headed towards the library. "Eh? Weren''t we heading home? You got more sses?" "Just remembered I need to borrow a book. Come with me." "Sure, got nothing else nned today." Malvina hade to see Noe because of Ulrich''s whims and was shocked to find her darling Noe isted in ss! Though Noe didn''t care for such matters, Malvina couldn''t stand by idly. The nerve! Picking on her only friend, Malvina was ready to fight back, sweep away the naysayers, and stand up for Noe! Holding Noe''s hand tightly, Malvina dered, "If anyone dares to mess with you, just let me know! I''m an expert at dealing with these mean girls!" "No need, they can''t really hurt me." "That won''t do. My darling Noe can''t suffer even a bit!" Noe was left a bit speechless. Malvina was content as they walked closer together. Protecting Noe made Malvina feel needed, a sensation she cherished over just being the one always shielded. Being protected was nice, but friendship was about give and take, mutual support. Feeling like she could also do something for Noe was truly wonderful. Reaching the library, Malvina''s arms were full of roses. Original from N?velDrama.Org. The bright red blooms made even the usually oblivious Malvina realize something special was happening. She stopped short, spotting the man approaching her. Ulrich stood amid a sea of roses, dressed in a crisp white suit that seemed oddly fitting against the floral backdrop. Tall and handsome, his suit tailored to perfection, he exuded an aura of effortless confidence and charm. His gaze was tender as he looked over, the arrangement clearly his doing, and the area was surprisingly devoid of onlookers. "Is Dr. Schnabel trying to be a florist?" Malvina joked. Ulrich stepped forward, his eyes soft. "Noe, you can head home now. ra is waiting for you at the gate." "Alright, Ulrich. Good luck." Ulrich evidently wanted privacy for his conversation with Malvina. As Noe left, Malvina panicked slightly. "Hey, Noe, darling, why are you leaving me..." She was supposed to be here for Noe, and now she was alone with Ulrich! "Do you like the flowers I sent?" Malvina blinked. "Can I use these roses for a foot bath?" Ulrich''s smile briefly faltered. Malvina was always... practical. Looking at the flowers and the dreamy setup behind Ulrich, she teased, "Dr. Schnabel, you''re not trying to confess, are you? That''s impossible!" "Why is it impossible?" Malvina calmly responded, "Ever seen a confession with just two people?" Normally, confessions were grand affairs, craving audiences. But Ulrich had arranged for no spectators and even sent Noe and ra home! Ulrich smiled gently. "I wanted to give you the opportunity to reject me directly. I''ve never arranged anything like this before; I had to ask Annie for help. Your past has been hard enough; I wouldn''t use morals or an audience to coerce you. What I have to say doesn''t require witnesses, and if you choose to refuse, you don''t have to worry about hurting my feelings." Everyone from the Schnabel family believed that if you were going to do something, you had to do it well. Though the preparation time was short, Ulrich wanted to make everything perfect. Malvina blinked. "Then you could totally pick a different ce, you know." "It was you who said you wanted to experience a real college romance," he reminded her. Given Malvina''s academic record, a return to campus for further studies was out of the question. Malvina was touched but still couldn''t believe Ulrich was about to make a confession of love! "Dr. Schnabel, are you serious? Are you really about to confess your love to me?" Ulrich gently shook his head. "When I asked you yesterday why you hadn''t confessed your feelings to me, there was actually more I wanted to say, but you ran off before I could finish." "What was it?" "If you had confessed, I would have said ''yes'' in a heartbeat!" Malvina''s eyes widened slightly as she saw Ulrich get down on one knee right in front of her, lifting his gaze to hers. His captivating eyes shimmered slightly, but they were filled entirely with her reflection. Ulrich spoke earnestly. "I''m not nning to just confess my love. I want to ask you to¡­ marry me!" Chapter 313 "What did you say?" Malvina''s eyes widened in disbelief, convinced she had misheard. Was the genius mind of his really that different? Ulrich looked at her with utter seriousness. "I''ve been giving it a lot of thought on my way here, and I realized that I want to be with you- for a lifetime, just like my parents." Initially, he had only nned to confess his feelings. But somehow, Tristan and Sienna got wind of it. Most likely, ra, who was in on the n, let the cat out of the bag! Tristan, having misunderstood, thought Ulrich was nning to propose. After a transantic call filled with earnest advice from Tristan, insisting that Ulrich treat Malvina well, Ulrich felt more and more that something was off. After clearing up the misunderstanding, father and son hit upon an idea: why not propose directly? "Dr. Schnabel, are you serious?" "Absolutely! I like you, and I want to be with you every day!" Malvina stared at the earnest man before her. Ulrich, d in his white suit, looked somewhat simr to how he did in his white coat, casting an enigmatic aura reminiscent of a vampire knight from a medieval castle. "Dr. Schnabel, are you sure you''ve thought this through?" She was astounded! Whether it was Ulrich¡¯s affection for her or his sudden decision to propose, both were equally shocking. Was Ulrich overwhelmed by work stress to the point of madness? "I''ve thought about it a lot! I know I''m not the smartest, and I don''t know how to pursue a girl, but every time I see you, I feel incredibly happy!" Ulrich struggled to describe his feelings. It was as if after years of barrenness, the first flower had suddenly bloomed in the soil! From the moment he secretly saved a photo of Malvina, to finding himself smiling at it after a long surgery day. From his nightly strolls near the Shadow Dragon Society, devoid of purpose until heid eyes on Malvina. From seeing Palmer going out with Noe, and his first thought not being his sister being taken away but wondering if Malvina would like the ce they were going to... Through these moments, Ulrich realized he waspletely smitten! "Malvina, do you like me? Would you marry me and join my family? My mom and sister, they all really like you!" Malvina felt nervous and out of her depth. "But, this is all so sudden. And I''m still young, not in a hurry to get married." "It¡¯s okay, you can grow up after marrying me, or not grow at all; it doesn''t matter, everything you need, I''ve got you." Malvina''s heart skipped a beat. "Dr. Schnabel, I''m tempted to ept, but... I must decline. You know about my family, and I just don''t have faith in something like marriage. Maybe it''s not for me, you should find someone else." A hint of disappointment flickered in Ulrich''s eyes, but it quickly vanished. He smiled. "It''s okay to reject my proposal, thenpensate me by bing my girlfriend." "What?" She had already declined. Then how could Ulrich continue to confess? "Be my girlfriend. You don¡¯t need to consider marriage. I want to marry you because I want to share everything with you - my wealth, my family, and lots of love. My family adores you, and from the first day we met, I''ve been captivated by you, Ms. Gruber. Please, give me a chance to love you openly. Will you?" All Malvina ever wanted was love! Her eyes were slightly moist as she looked at Ulrich firmly. "Are you sure it''s me?" "It''s you, only you. It can only be you, and it will always be you!" Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "But I... I''m not as pretty as I used to be, and I don''t have a family." Ulrich smiled gently. "I''m your doctor. Your wounds will heal, and even if they don''t, I don''t mind! As for family, mine is yours." Facing such unwavering eyes, Malvina felt her resolve waver. All her life, she had never been chosen so firmly. Perhaps all she ever wanted was someone to love her firmly, something she never got from the Gruber family, and never expected from a stranger. But now, it seemed possible. Malvina smiled softly. "Okay, I ept." If someone chose her firmly, she could also be brave for love, just this once! Ulrich was momentarily stunned before realizing what Malvina had said. He quickly stood up and spun her around in his arms several times! Hiding behind a nearby tree, ra and Noe watched the scene unfold. This was too good to miss for ra; she wouldn''t dream of leaving now! "Did they just make it official? Why isn''t he kissing her?" ra wondered aloud. "My guess is that he just doesn''t know how." Ulrich was a total novice in romance. Beyond holding Malvina and dancing around in joy, he was clueless about what else to do. The happiness between Ulrich and Malvina was palpable, even to the bystanders; it was almost like pink bubbles were about to burst out! ra gleefully live-streamed the entire scene to the Schnabel family, and receivedments from each one of them. Tristan: [Your mother and I booked the earliest flight back! We need to celebrate!] Sienna: [I knew we should''ve kept that honeymoon brochure! Time to put it to good use!] Stirling: [No way, Ulrich moved fast! I told you he had that look in his eyes for Ms. Gruber!] Jasper: [It''s not Ms. Gruber anymore, it''s our sister-inw.] Beckett made a bank transfer to them in celebration. ¡­ In the heart of Serene Haven, nestled within the grandeur of Phoenix Tower,y the quaint yet imposing Schnabel Manor. Inside her room, Noe had just finished setting up her miniputer. Despite its palm-sized frame, it boasted both essential and some rather unexpected features. Inserting a USB drive into it, Noe was met with a prompt for a password on the screen. She furrowed her brows slightly. When she had originally crafted this intricate piece, she hadn''t programmed it to require a password. It must have been something her grandma had set up herself. First, Noe tried entering her own birthday, only to be greeted with an ''Incorrect Password'' message. After a moment of contemtion, she typed in another date - a special one that only she and her grandmother shared,memorating the unique way they used to celebrate her birthday together. The drive unlocked sessfully. A video began to y, and there on the screen was Harriet Lambert, her gaze as tender as ever, seemingly looking right at Noe through the digital barrier. Her eyes were soft, and her lips curved into a gentle, loving smile. "Noe, this message is meant for you only. I miss you dearly, and I wanted to say, I''m sorry, my dear!" Chapter 314 Harriet''s face was the epitome of kindness and warmth. She wore her favorite dress, a rich, deep red gown that Noe had painstakingly dyed and sewn for her. It marked Harriet''s first foray into wearing such elegant attire, a cherished garment until her illness made it impossible for her to wear it any longer. Eventually, it was relegated to a memory in the attic. In Noe''s memories, Harriet adored that dress above all else. In the video, Harriet appeared frail, pausing to catch her breath after a few words, making the recording disjointed. "Noe, by the time you see this, you''ll already know about Pris Star." Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "It was I who pleaded with Pris Star to take you in. It was also I who got them to send you there." Tears filled Harriet''s eyes as she spoke. "I know my Noe has suffered a lot. But that was because I hoped it would allow you to survive! Pris Star was something Garrick and I started, initially just a regr talent selection program. It later morphed into something unrecognizable to me. Due to ess rights, I wasn''t brainwashed after leaving Pris Star. But when they came for me after Tristan was born, I chose to have my memory wiped for the safety of Tristan and your grandfather. Behind Pris Star, there are forces strong enough to back the project. Even your grandfather didn¡¯t know who signed the initial documents. But as long as Pris Star exists, it carries its own might. I never imagined you would be sent to me. Later, I found out they were searching for me, and they discovered you! That''s when I remembered some things." Harriet managed a wan smile. "I knew they wanted me back at Pris Star. I used myst bit of influence to plead for your well- being. Being with those old folks, you could learn a lot, more than if you stayed with me. Upon assessing my own health, I realized I couldn''t protect you any longer. I feared what those people could do if they found you, and Pris Star could offer you protection!" Noe was acutely aware of the aftereffects of Pris Star''s brainwashing. She recalled the symptoms, mental states, and fragmented memories of Harriet''sst years, all indicative of brainwashing aftermath. "I wanted to protect my Noe forever, but I never got the chance. I hope you won''t me me for being so harsh, for sending you to such a painful ce." "Noe, I just wanted you to live well! Not to live a life as pitiful as mine." "Garrick is not a good man. Don''t trust him. If you get a chance, go to Lockhart Prison to find Xavier; he will protect you." "If you want to know more about Pris Star, ask your grandfather." "Noe, I love you. Soon, I''ll be nothing but a star in the sky, forever protecting my little girl." "Don''t be sad for me. I''m relieved that I won''t be a burden to you anymore. Now, my Noe can soar." ... The video was long, Harriet speaking whatever came to her mind. After watching patiently, Noe touched her cheeks, only to realize they were wet with tears. Little did she know, it was her grandmother who sent her to Pris Star, yet she didn¡¯t hate her. Under those circumstances, Harriet only wanted to ensure she could live on. It was also torture for her to wait anxiously every time Noe returned from the border. Noe remembered Harriet wiping away her tears at her bedside. Back then, Harriet must have known what she was doing, right? With her hands covering her face, Noe''s slender shoulders shook. She missed her grandmother dearly. A hand rested on Noe''s shoulder, turning off the looping video. Palmer had appeared beside her at some point, his gaze tender as he knelt beside her, wiping away her tears. "Don''t be sad. It''s all in the past. Grandma had her reasons." Noe nodded, her eyes red and swollen, evoking Palmer''s sympathy. "I just miss Grandma so much. Some of these things... she could have told me before." "Maybe Grandma felt she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to face you and tell you these things." "Yeah. Why are you here sote?" Palmer''s sudden appearance through the window was something Noe had grown ustomed to, his unexpected visits no longer surprising her. Noe''s hair cascaded down her back, her reddened eyes adding a fragility to her appearance, like fine porcin in need of careful protection. Palmer was moved, his fingertips gently tracing the corners of Noe''s eyes. "My mom''s memorial ising up. Horatio has made all the arrangements. Grandpa asked me to see if you''d attend." As Palmer''s fianc¨¦e, it was only fitting for Noe to be part of such an asion. "ra will be there. Grandpa hopes you cane too." ra, being part of the Pock family, had Marcel''s approval to attend the memorial service for Palmer''s mother. "Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate for me to go?" "Of course not. My mom would have been happy to see you there. My brothers are also on their way back. I really hope you can make it." After considering for a moment, Noe agreed. "Okay, I''ll be there." Suddenly, the balcony window was knocked on, and a head peeked in under the moonlight. Horatio, upon seeing the intimate atmosphere between Noe and Palmer, wondered if he had chosen the wrong time to interrupt. "Um, Noe, is this a bad time?" "Indeed, it is." "Should I leave then?" Noe sighed. "Come back. What do you want this time?" Horatio chuckled mischievously. "Didn''t I borrow a paintingst night? Finished admiring it, time to return it today!" Knowing Horatio all too well, Noe suspected there was more to it than just returning a borrowed item. "What have you set your eyes on this time?" Horatio grinned. "Ah, you¡¯ve misunderstood me. It''s all about appreciating the art! It¡¯s a guy called Larson Pock. The man''s got a collection of vintage paintings, and word has it he''s nning to offload them all. Such desecration of art!" Noe raised an eyebrow. Larson''s business had hit a rough patch recently, leaving a gaping financial void that needed filling urgently. "So, he''s thinking of auctioning them off?" "Exactly! Which is why we need to hurry and take a look before it''s toote. I swear those masterpieces were practically begging me to take them home!" Noe was all too familiar with Horatio''s antics. His tone implied a clear reluctance to spend any money on acquiring these items. She nced at Palmer, her eyebrow arching slightly. "Are you plotting to bankrupt Larson?" Palmer smiled, his eyes mirroring Noe''s expression. "Yes. Are you going to help me?" "Of course, that¡¯s what friends are for." Chapter 315 Palmer chuckled softly. "Need me to tag along with you guys?" It was pretty obvious that the vintage paintings missing from Garrick''s ce the other day were Horatio''s doing. Horatio waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, you wouldn''t get our vibe. You¡¯d just be in the way for me and Noe. Just chat with Helen, alright? Make sure everything''s ready for the memorial!" Palmer raised an eyebrow. This was the first time someone had told him he''d be a bother! But then again, this was Horatio speaking, whose insights as a spiritual practitioner always seemed particrly pure. Meeting those clear, earnest eyes, Palmer knew Horatio spoke his mind. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. It was hard for Palmer to feel offended. "Grandma''s out of town, so I''ll handle the preparation. Just get back soon. If you need help, give me a buzz," Palmer said, directing thetter part to Noe. "Got it, will do." Horatio pped Palmer on the shoulder, satisfied, and left with Noe. ... At Larson Pock¡¯s estate, Larson was almost amused by Old Mrs. Pock, who sat across from him, sipping her coffee with an air of indifference. "Mrs. Pock, how many times do I have to tell you? Those antiques were meant for the auction!" "Larson, we both know the true origins of those items. Don''t make me report you." "They were all legitimately bought with my own money. How can they be tainted? If it weren''t for Palmer ruining my business, I wouldn''t even be selling these things!" Helen didn¡¯t even bother to lift her drooping eyelids. "I''ve made myself clear, Larson. I''m taking those items. You know very well whether they''re yours to keep." Larson was at his wit''s end! The moment Helen stepped in, she insisted on iming all the antiques Larson treasured from his storeroom. When Larson resisted, Helen threatened to report him on the spot, her phone already poised to dial the Cultural Heritage Agency! "Ma¡¯am, those vases came through clean deals, you can''t just nder me like this!" Helen offered a faint smile. "Vases from 18th century, adorned with borate designs and patterns. You¡¯re saying they came through clean channels? As far as I know, such items belong in museums. Exactly how ''clean'' are your sources? Raiding museums?" Larson¡¯s expression soured. "Those are my lifelines. If you take them, I can''t go through with the auction tomorrow!" "I care not. I''vee for them, and I will take them. Otherwise, enjoy your time behind bars." Helen left Larson with no other choice. Suddenly, thumps echoed from the ceiling. Larson looked up towards the noise, only to hear Helen''s sarcastic remark, "Oh dear, seems you''ve really hit rock bottom, hosting rats in your home." "Ma¡¯am, I really can''t just hand these over for nothing!" As Helen listened intently to the noises, she elegantly sipped her coffee. "Let''s see the goods then. If they''re not up to par, I don''t want them. If they are, I''ll pay you half the market price." Hearing Helen haggle from above, Noe''s lips curled into a smile. "Never would''ve guessed Grandma Helen had it in her." Horatio shrugged, hisrge frame carefully tucked in the narrow passage. "That¡¯s nothing. Ever since Helen went straight, she''s been a top consultant for the Cultural Heritage Agency, even got amnesty. Let''s get moving, time to grab the goods." Helen knew all too well the unpredictability of their line of work. So, she gracefully epted the government''s offer, leveraging her expertise in antiques at the Cultural Heritage Agency. Whatever Larson had, Helen knew its true origins better than anyone. As the sound faded, Helen''s lips slightly curled. Noe and Horatio made their way to where Larson stored his antiques. "Monk, over there." "Right on." Noe removed a hairpin and expertly inserted its end into the security port, her muscles flexing slightly as she dismantled the camera, causing a brief system ckout. Without looking back, Horatio skillfully swapped Larson¡¯s genuine antiques with replicas, cing a newly procured vase back on the shelf. As footsteps approached, Noe signaled to Horatio. They quickly returned to the roof¡¯s passage, pressing against the wall to conceal themselves. The security system rebooted as if nothing had happened, the brief glitch seeming like a mere illusion. Larson opened the storage room, nced at the blinking surveince camera, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Ma¡¯am, please, pick whatever you like. But those items you mentioned earlier, I really can¡¯t let go! Palmer should at least leave me a way out! We''re family, aren''t we?" Helen scoffed, "Family? Don¡¯t make me regretst year¡¯s Thanksgiving dinner." She approached the shelf, tracing her fingers along the vase''s surface, then suddenly smiled. She could tell at a touch whether the items were genuine or fake. Clearly, Horatio had emptied the ce of all genuine articles in the past few days! The antiques Larson had pinned his hopes on were nothing but forgeries! Helen snorted coldly. "Larson, you better watch yourself." With that, she turned and left, not sparing Larson another nce. Larson was baffled but figured Helen was just being her unpredictable self again. As long as she wasn''t demanding items from him now, it was a relief. He then called for Luther. "For tomorrow''s auction, ensure Palmer and Sexton are invited. I n to turn the tables in front of them, show them once and for all who really calls the shots in the Pock family!" "Understood." ... At the Pock Mansion, Horatio rubbed his hands together, his gaze lingering on the antiques scattered around his room, a big grin spreading across his face. Unable to hide her bemusement, Noe quipped, "Monk, your approach to spirituality is certainly unique. Why not just dig up an ancient burial site and set up camp there? It''d be vintage and authentic, even the graves would be centuries old." Horatio pressed his palms together in a gesture of respect. "Noe, you just don''t get it. This is my path of enlightenment. Sending these items to auction means countless children could afford to go to school, dress in warm new clothes!" Horatio''s path to enlightenment was centered on one crucial principle: robbing the corrupt rich to aid the destitute poor! "Before that, let me truly appreciate these items, the essence of our ancestors'' legacy!" Horatio¡¯s serene expression as he held a vase in one hand and an ancient painting in the other prompted a slight twitch at the corners of Noe¡¯s mouth. Luckily, she had grown ustomed to Horatio''s antics. Thinking about how the antiques in storage had been swapped for replicas, Noe cracked a smile herself. "I''m really looking forward to the auction tomorrow. Can''t wait to see the look on Larson''s face!" Chapter 316 The next morning dawned bright and early, setting the stage for Larson''s meticulously nned auction. The auction hall at the Pock Hotel was bustling with guests, as an entire floor had been cleared to amodate the event. Beckett made his entrance with Noe and ra in tow. Noe was a vision in a white sundress, its back cut out to reveal her graceful figure, a blend of innocence and allure. Her look waspleted with understated jewelry, effortlessly drawing gazes her way. ra opted for a sharp ck dress suit, her short hair cascading over her shoulders, pinned back casually with a diamond clip, adding a touch ofid-back elegance to her aura. The sisters, one on each side, clung to Beckett''s arm as they entered, immediately greeted by Larson himself. "Where''s Palmer? Thed''s cking off, not apanying Noe to the auction," Larson''s voice boomed across the room, his intent clear to stir up spection about Palmer''smitment to his engagement with the Schnabel family. Noe brushed it off with a dignified, yet indifferent smile. "Palmer''s on his way, just running a bitte. Unlike some, he''s had a bit of a leisurely schedule lately," she retorted, not missing a beat. The dig at Larson, who had inherited Palmer¡¯s CEO position at the Pock Group more by default than merit, was not lost on the crowd. Larson''s auction was widely regarded as a desperate bid to fill the financial gaps he''d found himself in. Beckett interjected with a cool tone, "Be polite, Noe. Larson''s not one to cross lightly; I worry about your safety around him." ra added, her brow furrowed in mock concern, "Yeah, let''s keep it down. I¡¯m so scared. Larson isn¡¯t thinking of hitting me, is he?" Larson was momentarily regretful for engaging with the Schnabels, having previously experienced their sharp wit. "Let''s head this way," he said, quickly changing the subject. Noe continued, undeterred, "It''s quite the spectacle, selling off family treasures so publicly. Makes one wonder if bankruptcy is just around the corner." The remark elicited snickers among the guests, especially those familiar with the internal dynamics of the Pock family. As the Schnabel siblings took their seats, Larson felt a headacheing on, his temples throbbing with irritation. Seated in front of them were Helen and Lucian Richardson. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Helen was chatting with an elderlydy beside her. "I envy you. Your husband passed away at such a young age. Mine is still alive, but he doesn''t seem to have much time left," Helen remarked. The silver-haireddy consoled her, saying, "Your good days wille soon." Helen let out a coldugh. "I don''t have much time left either. Who knows which one of us will go first, me or the old man." Helen''s style of speaking was not epted by most people, but fortunately, this elderlydy had seen a lot in life. Sheughed heartily and nced around. "Oh dear, is your husband not here today?" "He''s ying chess with Marcel Schnabel. He wouldn''t understand this type of gathering if he were here. He''d just be in the way." Helen was blunt in her speech, never avoiding anyone. If Sexton, the former head of the Pock Group, showed up at this auction, she wouldn''t have a moment''s peace today. "I don''t see much point in this auction. You''re not interested in antiques either, so why bother coming?" "I''m here for a rumored collection of Sylvie''s jade sculptures." Noe, overhearing, was skeptical. Her collection,rgely managed by Pris Star, had detailed records, and she didn''t recall any transactions with Larson. She also didn¡¯t remember seeing any jade sculpture in Larson¡¯s storeroom either. The elderlydy beside Helen looked at the bracelet on her wrist and eximed admiringly, "Isn''t this bracelet from that auction many years ago? I remember there were two bracelets back then, and you bought this one!" "My husband bought it for me as a gift. It''s not valuable," Helen replied nonchntly. Taking the bracelet off, Helen handed it to Noe behind her. "Noe, my dear, this is for you. Wait a moment for ra''s. Larson has a particrly exquisite bracelet, and I will have it reserved for you." Noe looked at the bracelet handed to her by Helen. The wless emerald was clearly a priceless treasure worth millions. "Take it, or I''ll toss it." Seeing Noe hesitate to take it, Helen became impatient and said, "This was acquired at the same auction as your grandmother¡¯s bracelet. Do you want it?" With a bracelet gifted by Harriet adorning her wrist, Noe swiftly caught the bracelet offered by Helen upon learning of its connection to her grandmother''s. ¡°This is way too precious, Grandma Helen. You should keep it for yourself.¡± Helen frowned in displeasure, rolling her eyes in a rather sharp manner, her voice dripping with impatience. ¡°At my age, what use do I have for all this sparkle and shine? nging around all day, you¡¯d think I was practicing for my own funeral. Take it, and enough with the chatter!¡± Helen gave a nudge to Lucian standing by her side. ¡°Larson has a ssy Type bracelet. You better buy it for ra. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯d look down on you.¡± Lucian replied coolly, ¡°Just a bracelet? There¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t buy for ra if she wants it!¡± The elders bickered at the front, leaving the younger ones too timid to intervene. Soon, the auction began. The lights dimmed, and a spotlight fell on the stage. Larson stood there, smiling warmly at the audience. ¡°Thank you all for taking the time to join us at the Pock Group auction. Without further ado, our first item is a painting from the 18th century, ¡®The Lady with a Fan¡¯. Starting bid, six million!¡± Noe suddenly felt someone sit beside her. The distinct, cool scent of absinthe wafted over from him, unmistakable even without looking ¨C it had to be Palmer! Boldly taking the seat next to Noe in such a setting could only be Palmer¡¯s style! He gently took Noe¡¯s hand, tracing words in her palm with earnest precision. The cool touch of his fingertips against the warmth of her palm sent a tingling sensation throughout her body. Noe forced herself to calm down, ignoring the increasingly loud thumping of her heart in the darkness as she deciphered the words Palmer wrote. [All set, let¡¯s enjoy the show!] Chapter 317 After Palmer finished writing these words, he lifted his bidding paddle. ¡°Six and a half million.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Whispers filled the room. Weren''t there rumors about bad blood between Larson and Palmer? Or perhaps, in the end, blood was thicker than water within the Pock family? Larson forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. Noe''s words still echoed in his ears! Seeing Palmer, Larson couldn''t help but feel as if he was there to witness the sale of his family''s treasures. ording to the unwritten Pock family code, only a failed son would resort to selling off the family''s valuables! Larson''s cheeks burned with humiliation! Thankfully, Palmer''s bid sparked a flurry of others. ¡°Seven million.¡± ¡°Seven million and ten thousand.¡± ... Larson was hosting the auction all by himself, but the process was all managed by a professional auction team to ensure fairness for all parties involved. Backstage, a team d in white gloves and masks stood ready for action! Alkaid couldn''t help but sneer, ¡°This piece actually fetched nine million, huh? Some folks really have more money than sense.¡± The painting in question, a masterpiece, was actually a fake ¨C a clever reproduction painted by Ivan himself. Ivan chuckled. ¡°You just don''t get it. It proves they appreciate my art.¡± Megrez added, ¡°They never suspected they were bidding on forgeries.¡± Who would have thought Larson would dare to auction off nothing but fakes! Standing on stage, Larson was all smiles. ¡°Next up, we have a masterpiece by the renowned sculptor, Sylvie. An exquisite jade carving reminiscent of the iconic Wee Pine. I spared no expense to acquire this piece. Let''s start the bidding at one million.¡± A lifelike jade sculpture was unveiled, its craftsmanship so exquisite it immediately drew bids. ¡°Two million!¡± ¡°Two and a half million!¡± ... Noe yawned, unimpressed. Though a fine piece, it wasn''t one of her creations. Imitators were indeed plentiful these days. Noe smirked as several ¡°masterpieces¡± were sessfully auctioned off. Lucian was about to bid when Helen stopped him. ¡°Fakes.¡± With a lifetime of experience in antiques, her judgment was rarely wrong. At her words, Lucian scrutinized the piece more closely. Noe raised an eyebrow. Helen''s discernment was impressive indeed! Noe recognized that she had never carved this jade sculpture herself, so she knew it was fake. However, Helen relied solely on her visual judgment to discern authenticity! Lucian reluctantly put down his paddle. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°If you had eyes, you''d see it too. But considering your track record, I''m not surprised you didn''t notice.¡± Lucian was at a loss for words. He was used to Helen¡¯s sharp tongue by now. Lucian scoffed. ¡°Don''t waste our time with these worthless items. People might start thinking the Pock family is going under! Larson, don''t you have anything of value?¡± Lucian, an authority on antiques, challenged the room. Larson forced a smile. ¡°What exactly are you interested in, sir?¡± ¡°That ssy Type bracelet. Bring it out.¡± Larson nearly choked. That bracelet was his trump card! Lucian''s demand threw off his rhythm entirely. ¡°Please, sir, that piece willeter! The other items are also of great quality!¡± Lucian scoffed derisively. ¡°Noe, dear, what did your grandfather say before you came?¡± Noe chuckled. Marcel hadn¡¯t said a word, but his absence meant Noe had free rein to interpret as she pleased. ¡°Grandpa said they were all worthless forgeries. Just here for a show.¡± The room erupted in shock! Larson was auctioning forgeries? Palmer joined in with a coldugh. ¡°Uncle Larson, there¡¯s no need to gather us for a charade.¡± A charade? Who had the time for such games? Today''s guests were carefully selected by Larson for their potential business benefits. Larson fumed. ¡°My items are genuine! Palmer, choose your words carefully!¡± As a major shareholder in the Pock Group, Palmer wielded considerable influence. Palmer shook his head with a smile, his presencemanding attention as if he owned the room. ¡°Whether it¡¯s genuine or not, an inspection will tell.¡± Larson clenched his teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s inspect them then! If they prove to be genuine, Palmer, you owe me an apology!¡± Larson was confident. Palmer was surely trying to undermine him by questioning the authenticity of his collection! What Palmer didn¡¯t know was that he had spent a fortune verifying these items to ensure their authenticity. Palmer smirked. ¡°Agreed. But if your sales are all forgeries, it¡¯s your reputation on the line, not the Pock Group¡¯s.¡± Under mounting pressure, Larson summoned the professional appraisers to review the already sold antiques. Watching the team, Palmer''s eyebrow twitched, a smile ying on his lips. If he wasn''t mistaken, these experts were from Pris Star,. Megrez spoke with an air of finality, "They''re all counterfeits." Larson reacted with shock. "What did you just say? How could they possibly be fakes! Is your team evenpetent? Has someone bribed you to deliberately nder me?" While speaking, Larson''s gaze kept darting towards Palmer, his suspicions clear without words. Noe simply smiled lightly. "My granddad said, since Larson''s been ying pretend and peddling fakes, he''d never own up to it. That''s why my family intervened, inviting an expert who''s incapable of lying!" Noe''s smile grew more meaningful, and Palmer, standing by her side, mirrored her grin. Their joyous expressions were like daggers to Larson. "I''m eager to see this ''expert incapable of lying''. The Schnabel family''s monumental lie¡ªdo tell." A figure in modest attire came into view, a priest in a red cassock, his presence calm yet divine, his eyes reflecting a subtle sorrow and benevolence. Everyone was astounded! This was Horatio, a man they couldn''t hope to see without an appointment! Horatio gave a gentle chuckle, as if blessing the gathering. "God bless! I''m Horatio from the Dragon Monastery. Mr. Larson, I regret to inform you that these items are indeed forgeries. Because, as fate would have it, the authentic pieces are all with me!" Chapter 318 Horatio kept a straight face, the picture of solemnity. "I never lie, and as it happens, the genuine items are with me." The crowd was stunned! Horatio blinked innocently at Larson. "I''m just as baffled as you are, Larson. Howe you¡¯re selling things I happen to have? Could it be... you''ve had your eye on my collection?" With that, lightbulbs went off over everyone''s heads. Of course! Horatio, known for his integrity, wouldn''t lie. He''s the revered abbot of Dragon Monastery, after all! ra''s mouth twitched. "Is Horatio... spouting nonsense?" Noe shrugged. "He always believes as long as everyone thinks he''s telling the truth, then it must be so. ''It''s the heart that matters in practice, not just the morals,'' he always says. ''Be lenient with yourself but strict with others.'' That''s his mantra." "Lesson learned. Horatio is indeed a life coach!" ra was in awe of Horatio''s philosophy. Larson felt like he was living in a twilight zone! "Horatio, what''s this all about?" Horatio chanted a brief prayer. "I''m just as puzzled as you are, my friend. Ms. Schnabel invited me over for an appraisal, but it seems there''s no need now. They''re all fakes. I was expecting something worthwhile with such a grand setup. Did you believe they were genuine treasures? That would be rather naive." Every word from Horatio was like a dagger to Larson. The audience was bewildered! They weren''t here to buy fakes! Beckett scoffed. "Larson, that''s quite the feat, gathering us all for this." Lucian added, "Told you to sell that bracelet of yours. Could''ve made some money instead of me exposing all your fakes." Palmer spoke up, "I believe, selling forgeries at auction requirespensation at half the sale price, right?" Larson''s fingers trembled. "Since when was that a rule?" Palmer exined nonchntly, "Just now. Noe suggested it, and I thought it was an excellent idea. Mr. Schnabel and I decided to implement it immediately. Any objections?" The savvy crowd, realizing Larson''s goods were bogus, were visibly outraged! "Since Mr. Pock and Mr. Schnabel have spoken, we have no objections!" "That¡¯s right. It''s about time the auction industry was cleaned up." Lucian, with a smirk, said, "The Richardson family backs this too. Everyone knows our business is in this line. We can''t afford to waste time on fakes." With Lucian and Palmer leading the charge, and the Schnabel family in full support, everyone nodded in agreement, ring at Larson. "Pay up!" Larson, seeing Palmer''s smug smile, was filled with despair. He now realized why Palmer had been so generous with his bids earlier. It was all a setup! Justpensating Palmer would bankrupt Larson. Not to mention, Noe had bid on several items. Larson could already see his finances draining into the Pock and Schnabel families'' coffers! Were this couple devils in disguise, conspiring to swindle his wealth? Was this even fair? Lucian calmly asked, "Still selling that bracelet?" Larson was fuming! But selling the bracelet now meant recouping some of his losses, while not selling would mean even greater financial ruin. Larson gritted his teeth. "Fine!" The jade bracelet, initially ted as the final item, was brought forward. "This bracelet is of the finest ssy Type, my wife''s beloved treasure. Reluctantly parting with it, we start the bidding at 10 million!" Helen raised an eyebrow,. "A million, take it or leave it." Larson had firsthand experience with Helen''s haggling. Whenever she made an offer, she couldn''t care less about Larson''s wellbeing. With her bid, everyone knew the bracelet was eyed by the Pock and Richardson families. No one dared topete. The crowd began to chime in. "Larson, just sell it. You''ll at least break even. Miss this chance, and there won''t be another." Helen stated tly, "Make up your mind. Once you leave, no one but me would dare to buy it." Larson felt as if his insides were twisted in knots! "Alright, alright, a million it is!" Lucian, cheerful as ever, handed Larson a card. "Exactly a million in here. Just take it." It was clear to anyone this was a setup to corner Larson! "You all... are beyond shameless!" Palmer stood up, looking at Larson. "Uncle Larson, make sure thepensation is wired to our ount. Mine can go directly to Noe. After all, I was hoping to buy something to please my fianc¨¦e." He surveyed his surroundings with a light smile. "I had intended to purchase something to delight my fianc¨¦e, only to find that the antiques Noe favored turned out to be counterfeits. Luckily, Horatio mentioned he has the real deal and is ready to auction them off. Thus, on behalf of the Pock family, we invite you all to join us. Horatio''s starting bids will be half of Uncle Larson''s!" Horatio stood there, an aura of mystique about him, hands pressed together as if in prayer. Original from N?velDrama.Org. "God bless, my friends, I don''t dabble in the pursuit of wealth. These worldly possessions mean little to me. Please, enjoy yourselves. Mr. Pock and Ms. Schnabel will handle the details. Farewell," he said, before turning to leave, an almost divine aura radiating from him that made him seem untouchable. ra could barely contain herughter. After all, Horatio hadn''t spent a dime on these items; of course, he wasn''t attached to them! With that move, Horatio had solidified his reputation as a sage, utterly detached from worldly desires. The Pock family inadvertently promoted their new auction, leveraging Horatio''s name for essentially free advertising. They even saved on sending out invitations, merely inviting the guests who were already present! A team of professional appraisers took one look at the antiques on disy. Phecda, all smiles, said, "We''re here on behalf of Master Sylvie, to use you of selling fakes and tarnishing Master Sylvie''s reputation. We''re going to have to sue you!" Even the jade carvings were fakes! Larson''s smile twitched. "These sculptures, I bought them for a hefty sum from Mr. Garrick himself; they can''t possibly be fakes!" Phecda presented an electronic contract. It clearly bore Sylvie''s signature and seal. "This contract can be verified. We also have a video of Master Sylvie''smission. Where you got these items isn''t our concern, but we''re here to tell you, quite seriously, that you''ve been had." "Looks like that Mr. Garrick saw youing from a mile away!" Larson looked from the seal to the wless sculptures, unwilling to believe they were anything but genuine. But the seal was unmistakably real; Sylvie''s seal was unique and impossible to replicate. Larson spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot, overwhelmed by the betrayal. Chapter 319 Stepping out from Larson''s estate, Lucian handed ra a small box. "Here, this is for you." ra opened it to find the jade bracelet that Larson had been clutching tightly just moments before. "Grandpa, did you really give him a million?" "Oh, dear, it''s not important. That amount will eventually find its way back to me. I just bid on a snuff bottle for two million. He¡¯ll need topensate me a million. Here, take this bracelet. It matches the one Helen gave to Noe. It''s lovely, isn''t it? Stepping out, anyone can tell you two are sisters. How wonderful." The bracelet Lucian gave to raplemented the one Helen had given Noe, both shimmering under the sunlight with their translucent and moist luster. Helen nced at ra and Noe standing together, a rare gentle smile on her face. In her view, although ra was born into both the Pock and Richardson families, she would always belong to the Schnabel family too! "Lucian, my point is, let ra keep the Schnabel surname. Even when she gets married, she should leave as part of the Schnabel family!" "You old witch, always having the final say! I''m notpeting with Marcel for my granddaughter. Does the surname matter? What right do I have to ask her to take my family name?" Lucian huffed coldly. "I shouldn''t be proud, and neither should Sexton! Even if she keeps the Schnabel name, it doesn¡¯t mean I won''t provide her with a wedding gift." Helen looked at ra, reaching out to pat her hand. "Don''t worry, dear. The Schnabel family raised you, and we''re more than grateful. Whatever surname you choose, you won''t lose out on anything meant for you." ra nodded. "Thank you, Grandma." Helen sighed and, along with Lucian, got ready to leave. Meanwhile, Larson, who had been severely squeezed, slowly opened his eyes. "This whole ordeal must be Palmer''s doing, setting me up just to make my life miserable! Damn it! I won''t let him off easily!" Larson was filled with anguish. "Even if it means mutual destruction, I''ll see that boy join his mother in death!" Luther whispered, "Larson, in a few days, it will be the anniversary of Kendra''s passing. Palmer has invited Horatio, probably to perform a ceremony for her, right?" Larson''s eyes flickered with thought. He clenched his fists, murmuring, "A ceremony? Escaping purgatory won''t be that easy! Better to see her son join her in hell! Make sure everything is perfectly arranged this time!" "Yes!" ... A few dayster, at the Pock ancestral home, the entire estate was adorned with roses and lilies, thete Kendra''s favorites, as preparations for the memorial ceremony were well underway. Horatio, apanied by his disciples, knelt at the forefront, chanting scriptures and praying for the deceased''s peace. Dominating the hall was a portrait of a young woman, not yet forty and bearing a resemnce to Palmer. Her ssical beauty was captivating, making it hard for anyone to look away. The Pock family members stood solemnly behind the chanting monks. The atmosphere was one of solemn respect, with no one speaking a word. ra and Noe stood hand in hand at the back. Noe''s gaze fell on a middle-aged man standing behind Sexton, presumably Palmer''s father. His ck suit hung loosely on his slender frame, his hair tied back in a carefree manner. His silhouette carried an air of solitary artistry and deep mncholy, more akin to a street artist than a widower. Jacob was seen conversing with the man. Turning around to wipe away a tear, the man locked eyes with Noe. Noe raised an eyebrow slightly. This man... she seemed to recognize him! Back then, Noe didn''t know he was Palmer''s father. Now, upon seeing him again, she''s also somewhat puzzled. Theirst encounter was at a war-torn art gallery near the border, right before a terrorist bomb attack. Racing to help, Noe was stopped by him. Holding an empty bottle, the man pulled Noe back. "God, you''re young with a whole life ahead. Being a hero here won''t earn you any medals!" "I won''t be harmed." The man smiled gently. "You''re so young. There''s so much ahead of you. Not me, though. My life isn''t important. I''m forgotten by the world. If I''m gone, then so be it." After saying this, he rushed into the exploding gallery, emerging with several children in his arms! When Noe wanted to look for him, he had vanished, rumored to have headed further north. Unexpectedly, they met again under such circumstances! Palmer''s father recognized Noe too and approached her with a nod. "So, it''s you, youngdy. I''m surprised you''re still alive." "Sir, I''m equally surprised to see you. Did you find what you were looking for?" He had mentioned being an artist on a quest for a dream in the Arctic Circle. With tears in his eyes and a nce at the portrait, he seemed lost in thought. "I''ll never find it. Not in this lifetime." Noe opened her mouth to say something, then decided against it. "You''re Palmer''s fianc¨¦e? Pleasure to meet you, youngdy. I''m Emeric Pock, Palmer''s father. Let''s keep our previous encounter between us, shall we? Our little secret, okay?" Noe gave him a light look. "Why? If you''re digging into the cause of your wife''s demise, why keep Palmer in the dark?" The rift between the Pock men stemmed from Palmer''s belief that Emeric didn''t care about his mother''s passing. "Kid, some things can''t be summed up in a few words. Plus, Palmer''s got a mind like a steel trap - trusts no one. Even if I told him what I was up to, he''d take it as nothing but an excuse! But you can try talk to him and see if he¡¯ll believe you." Noe let out a soft chuckle. Her gaze drifted over the crowd,nding on Palmer, who was paying his respects. His silhouette was tinged with solitude, a stark contrast to the capable man he was known to be. To Noe, he still looked like a lonely boy. That nce seemed to unveil Palmer''s solitary journey to Noe. Maybe their paths had been too simr. Suddenly, Noe felt she truly understood Palmer. She chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with an unconscious warmth. "He''ll believe me. Wanna bet?" Emeric shook his head, smiling. "Kid, even if you fancy Palmer, you don''t quite get his personality..." Palmer finished his respects and turned around, spotting Noe talking with Emeric. His gaze deepened before he strode over to them. "What are you talking about?" Noe was straightforward, locking eyes with Palmer and speaking clearly. "I was making a bet with Mr. Pock here. A bet about you!"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Chapter 320 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!" Chapter 321 Sexton snorted disdainfully. "Peregrine, I don''t want to start a fight on a day like this, but if you disturbed the memorial service, you''re cutting yourself out of the Pock family for good." It was a clear threat to ostracize Peregrine from the Pock family! Jacob''s voice was cold. "ra is my daughter, and Noe is Palmer''s fianc¨¦e. What''s the problem with them being here?" Peregrine took a puff from his cigar, letting it dangle from his lips. "Ha, since when did you have another kid? If she¡¯s not in the family tree, she''s not legitimate. And since when did Ms. Noe Schnabel ever acknowledge the engagement? Palmer, youe from a decent family. Ms. Schnabel never treated you like one of hers." Noe raised an eyebrow coldly. The Pock family was indeed a den of vipers, each harboring their own agendas, eager to knock Palmer off his pedestal at the Pock Group. Yet, aside from Sexton, none of them had any real interest in the family business. It was Palmer''s efforts alone that had grown the Pock Group into the towering enterprise it was today! Noe smirked. "And what makes you think I don''t acknowledge the engagement? Did I tell you that? Or was it you moonlighting as a fortune teller? With such skill, you might as well set up shop under a bridge instead of disrupting proceedings here." Peregrine was indeed there to stir trouble. "Ms. Schnabel, such a sharp tongue. Does Mr. Schnabel know?" "My Dad and Granddad are on their way here. If you''re interested, I can arrange for you to have a drink with them." Larson chimed in from the back. "Ms. Schnabel, I heard you''re not fond of Palmer. If that''s the case, why waste his time?" Noe nced at Larson lightly. Just as Palmer was about to speak, Noe''s voice, calm yetced with amusement, cut through. "How do you know I don''t like him? Is fortune-telling your hobby too?" Noe''s smile was icy as she intertwined her fingers with Palmer''s. The moment their hands locked, Palmer''s eyes gleamed with wild joy! Standing next to Palmer, Noe could hear his heart pounding, a rapid, drum-like rhythm. His whole being radiated an indescribable joy and disbelief! It seemed her choice wasn''t wrong after all. Noe lifted their entwined hands. "I don''t dislike him. As Palmer''s fianc¨¦e, I believe my presence here ispletely justified." ra, standing by their side, covered her mouth and silently moved closer to Jacob. Even as a bystander, she was moved by her sister''s bold and direct confession of her feelings for Palmer! Palmer could hardly believe his ears. "Noe, you said... what?" "I won''t repeat myself." "You said you like me! Is that true? You won''t regret it?" Noe gazed into Palmer''s eyes. Her feelings weren''t a whim, nor were they out of pity for Palmer being all alone in the world! Falling in love wasn¡¯t a singr moment but a tapestry woven from countless shared experiences - from their first encounter at the border to countless covertpetitions. In the midst of a world aze with lights, Palmer always lingered in the twilight, solely for her. Whenever he looked at her, his eyes held nothing but her image. Amid the ebb and flow of trivial grievances, Palmer remained a steadfast presence, always ready to extend his hand in support. It was after discovering their deep, soulful connection that Noe suddenly realized, missing out on Palmer might be her biggest regret! Seeing the dynamics within the Pock family today, Noe realized her presence wasn''t about some trivial engagement. Engagements, to her or the Schnabel family, were no shackles. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She was here, all because of Palmer! Only after arriving did Noe see that Palmer, like her, was fighting against the currents within a vast family. Surrounded by people who couldn''t offer warmth, yet he had given all his tenderness and warmth to her! Noe tightened her grip on Palmer''s hand. "I won''t do anything I''ll regret, so if you ever betray me, I''ll kill you. Palmer, I''m not known for my patience. If we''re together, you can only have eyes for me!" Feeling Noe''s resolve, Palmer felt a rush of happiness so intense, he thought his heart might burst! "Okay! Don¡¯t worry, I won''t give you the opportunity to kill me." Noe lifted her gaze and murmured softly. "Also, your dad was mistaken; it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to deal with you." At most, she found Palmer a tad bothersome, disrupting her work, so she casually blocked him a few times. "Mm, he was mistaken," Palmer responded. Noe raised an eyebrow. "Cat got your tongue? Are you a parrot?" "I''m just too thrilled; everything you say is correct, I''ll just listen to you!" He chuckled softly, his joy reaching every part of him, a sense ofpleteness he''d never felt before. If not for the surrounding crowd, he''d have drawn Noe close for a heartfelt talk. He had never felt so ted! Sensing Palmer''s happiness, Noe smiled too. She tilted her chin up, facing the somewhat intrusive crowd gathered around them. "I can''t stand them, so I''m nning to take care of them once and for all!" Palmer''s gaze shifted towards the distant rtives of the Pock family, his eyes regaining their icy edge. "You''re not wee here. If you can''t understand humannguage, then I won''t waste my words!" Peregrine snorted coldly. "What do you want to do about it? I''m already here; you can''t possibly kick me out!" No sooner had he finished speaking than a dozen bodyguards emerged from seemingly nowhere, surrounding the Pock family''s distant rtives. The bodyguards, sporting sunsses, didn''t advance but each had a leash attached to a snarling Mastiff! From the crowd, disguised Ivan pulled out a specially made spray and started frantically spraying Peregrine and hispanions! A pungent odor assaulted their nostrils, akin to rotten fish and spoiled shrimp mixed with an indescribably foul stench, making them nauseous. Larson, covering his nose, frowned and said, "Did you just fart? Why does it smell so bad? What the hell did you eat for lunch!" As Ivan sprayed towards Larson''s face, he murmured disdainfully, "Why is he so greedy? Isn''t smelling it enough? Why is he asking for the recipe?" Larson''s mouth was filled with a smell so overpowering it seemed to pierce his brain, making him double over and retch! Finding a gap, Ivan rolled out of the crowd and sat at Noe''s feet, signaling her with a gesture. "Mission aplished! Boss, this concoction is a Mastiff''s favorite. Since they can''t understand humannguage, let''s see if they can understand dogs¡¯!" The surrounding Mastiffs, attracted by the scent unbearable to humans but irresistible to them, turned their eyes blood red with excitement. Chapter 322 A pack of ferocious Mastiffs bared their teeth at the distant rtives from the Pock family, growling menacingly! Noe raised an eyebrow and said, "These dogs haven''t had a good meal in a while." Peregrine, sweating bullets, couldn''t believe what he was seeing¡ªthose dogs had madness in their eyes! "This is illegal! You all are crazy! What the hell did the Schnabel family teach you?" Noe just shrugged indifferently. "You should count your blessings you met me here." Had it been anywhere else, Noe wouldn''t have hesitated to show him what crazy really means! After all, they were at the Pock ancestral home. Considering the old folks and not wanting to scare ra, Noe was actually being quite restrained. Peregrine took a huge step back. Noe chuckled. "Step forward, and I''ll release one dog leash. Your choice, Peregrine." To the Pock family, this seemed like a fair deal. Horatio paused his prayer, shocked at the scene unfolding before Noe, though an outsider might think he was worried. Helen straightened her dress. "Horatio, keep praying. This won''t affect you for a bit. Don''t worry about Noe. The Pocks aren''t pushovers." "Oh, I''m not worried about Noe. I''m worried for these poor souls." Noe''s antics were nothing new to Horatio. He just couldn¡¯t understand why these people were deliberately seeking to cross paths with her, the harbinger of catastrophe. Considering this, Horatio just shook his head sadly. "These poor souls have really strayed off the path! If they need spiritual guidance afterward, they cane to our monastery. But given their moral failures, there will be no discounts. In fact, it''ll cost more." With that, Horatio closed his eyes and resumed his prayers, unfazed. Peregrine didn''t dare move. He couldn''t believe that the Schnabel girl was this unhinged! "I''m an elder here, and you''re out of line!" Sexton scoffed. "I''m not gone yet, so what sort of elder are you? Noe represents the Pocks! And since you brought up the issue with ra''s lineage, let''s settle that today, to avoid future encounters." Their patience with the Pock kin was wearing thin. Peregrine was relentless. "I don''t agree! How can this wild girl im a ce in the Pock family tree? She doesn''t even share ourst name!" Sexton''s gaze fell on Palmer. "My position will eventually go to Palmer. He''ll be the next Pock patriarch. Whatever concerns the Pock family, Palmer has the final say." Palmer, the designated heir to both the Pock Group and family, nodded. "Then let''s not dy. Today, we''ll remove you from the family tree. I''m informing you, not asking for your opinion. ra is a Pock, regardless of herst name. If you can''t ept that, you''re out." His words wereced with a cold finality, leaving no room for discussion. Peregrine was stunned! Turning to Sexton and Helen, he saw they had already settled into chairs, with Helen even sipping a Coke! "This is outrageous!" The Mastiffs growled, saliva dripping onto thewn as they snapped at Peregrine and his companions. If the guards hadn''t held the leashes tightly, they would''ve been dinner for those beasts! Peregrine, trembling, took several steps back. "Let''s talk this out. We''re all family here, no need for this..." Palmer smirked, "Family? Alright, Annie, lock the gates. Let''s give Uncle Peregrine a proper wee! In front of my mother, Uncle Peregrine ought to show some respect. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of you being here?" "What are you even talking..." Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. The Mastiffs lunged at Peregrine, stopping just a hair''s breadth away as the guards held them back! Peregrine copsed to the ground, soaked in sweat. Annie, standing by the door, announced, "Mr. Kingsley Pock has secured the gates, and the snipers brought by Peregrine have been detained and handed over to the police." Kingsley Pock, the second grandson of the Pock family, who had been conspicuously absent, had actually been quietly preparing at the entrance all along! The snipers Peregrine had hired were all shady figures, now facing a long stint in prison, effectively ending their careers. Larson shouted, "This is too much! You''ve gone too far!" With their significant influence, how could Palmer dare to send those men to the police? Didn''t he worry about needing such connections in the future? Palmerughed. "Please, my mother awaits in the hall. I wonder, facing her, will you feel any trepidation?" If it hadn''t been for their collusion back then, Palmer''s mother would still be here! The Pock ancestral home seemed perpetually shrouded in a chill, no matter how many blooming roses adorned its halls, failing to mask the coldness and sins of the old estate. It was here that Palmer''s mother met her untimely demise at the hands of distant rtives of the Pock family, right in front of Palmer''s eyes! Peregrine''s gaze turned profound. He stared at Palmer, his heart racing with panic. When had that young boy grown into such a formidable figure? As the mansion''s doors shut, several snipers appeared on the walls, rifles in hand, all grinning down at the Pock family gathered in the courtyard. Phecda, with a lollipop in his mouth, raised an eyebrow. "Boss, just say the word, and we''ll take the shot!" Alkaid chuckled. "How could we miss out on this fun?" Noe smiled slightly. The folks from Pris Star loved a good spectacle; she knew Phecda and the others wouldn''t miss this for the world! Wherever there was a hint of danger for Noe, the others would be there, always by her side! She subtly raised her eyebrow, pointing towards Peregrine''s knee. "Target that, a gesture of respect for the departed." Peregrine looked at Noe in horror, and the next second, the bullet found its mark as if guided by sight, piercing Peregrine''s knee! "Ah! You''re all mad! Mad! Sexton, you''re just gonna stand there? Has the Pock family name been forsaken?" Sexton acted as if he saw nothing. "If Palmer wants to spoil hisdy, that''s his business, not mine. I''m getting old, might as well have my picture up on the wall next. It''s the young folks'' world now." Helen scoffed. "Stinks of treachery. Pay your respects to Kendra and then get lost!" Chapter 323 Peregrine just wanted to get out of this godforsaken ce as fast as he could. He had truly fallen for Larson''s tricks, believing that Palmer wouldn''t touch him! Not only was Palmer off his rocker, but that girl from the Schnabel family was a lunatic too! If those two ever got hitched, Peregrine couldn''t even begin to imagine the hellish life they''d endure. Staring at the dozen or so folks perched on the wall, toting sniper rifles, it was clear to any seasoned eye that they were hardened by battle! How could these people be at the beck and call of Ms. Schnabel, a mere slip of a girl? Blood streamed down Peregrine''s knees, yet no one dared to step forward to help. Noe coolly said, ¡°Ivan, give Peregrine a hand.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Boss!¡± With a chuckle, Ivan grabbed Peregrine''s arm, dragging him like a dead dog all the way to the hall, forcing his head down to pay respects to Kendra Fowler multiple times. Noe nced towards Larson and the others. ¡°Y''all need a hand too?¡± Larson''s muscles were convulsing! While Noe did this, Palmer stood by her side, grinning from ear to ear, his eyes brimming with pride and joy as if he were looking at his most treasured possession! ra was dumbfounded! ¡°Holy moly... My sister''s too cool! Did Grandma Harriet teach her this?¡± Helen gave her a nce, her eyelids slightly raised. ¡°Probably, but Harriet wasn''t nearly as bold as Noe in her youth. This girl is more like your grandad, bold and brash, but I like it!¡± Seeing Noe''s actions, Helen felt like she was glimpsing the woman who once roamed the bordends. Noe also carried a lot of young Marcel''s fearless spirit. Sexton felt a wave of nostalgia. ¡°Noe reminds me a bit of Xavier.¡± Peregrine''s head was bloody, constantly hitting the ground, feeling like he was on the verge of a concussion! Facing Noe''s gaze, Larson and the others were petrified, their movements exceptionally obedient as they knelt, their actions swift and efficient. Larson was filled with regret. He thought he came here to cause a scene, but the only scene to see here was Peregrine getting his head smashed against the floor. Peregrine had already passed out, eyes rolling back as he frothed at the mouth, unconscious! The roar of the Mastiffs echoed not far behind, Larson''s actions more agile than when he paid respects at his own father''s grave! "Kendra, we wronged you back then, but let''s be clear, we weren''t the masterminds!" Back then, some members of the Pock family were momentarily blinded by folly. They thought harming Kendra would doom Emeric Pock, and indeed, Emeric renounced his im. However, they did not expect Palmer to turn out to be a hundred times more formidable than Emeric! None of Emeric¡¯s sons were ones these distant rtives could afford to provoke! Palmer took Noe''s hand and walked inside the hall, finding a stool and carefully wiping the dust off before letting Noe sit. ¡°Wait for me here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After settling Noe, Palmer approached Larson. ¡°Dear nephew, this is all a misunderstanding¡­¡± Larson wanted to argue his case, but the next second, his face was met with a solid punch. The taste of blood filled his mouth, and touching his face, he realized several teeth hade loose! Palmer''s gaze was profound, but his lips curled into an extremely cold smile. ¡°A misunderstanding? Uncle Larson, it was right here, in front of me, that you burned my mother alive! Are you saying it wasn¡¯t you who set the fire? And it wasn¡¯t you who lured away all the Pocks, leaving my mother alone at home? Who else but Uncle Peregrine orchestrated the downfall of her family, causing a series of car idents? A misunderstanding, or the Reaper''s mistake?¡± Larson swallowed his words. How had Palmer found out about all these things? Palmer snorted coldly. He looked down at Larson with an imposing presence, like a hawk in the night ready to strike its prey at their weakest moment! Palmer''s revenge wasn''t absent; it had always been waiting for the right moment! ¡°Are you suggesting that someone else orchestrated the deaths of my mother and Uncle Jacob¡¯s wife? Regardless, you go wait in hell first. Someone will join you soon enough. After all, we can¡¯t have my mother wandering theherworld alone, can we?¡± Larson was soaked in cold sweat! ¡°Palmer, listen to me! You can¡¯t do this! We¡¯re family, for better or for worse!¡± Palmer looked at his elder brothers as they entered the hall. Despite appearing distant for years, hardly interacting on the surface, in secret, each of the brothers had been strategizing and plotting. They had waited many years for this day toe! Kingsley, expressionless, said, ¡°Clean this up quickly. Mom doesn¡¯t like them; it¡¯s disgusting to look at.¡± Quin surveyed the group of middle-aged men kneeling in the hall. ¡°Neatly arranged, all fools. Together, their ambition and greed are sky-high, but their brains are pitifully small.¡± Had it not been for their greed, they wouldn¡¯t have been manipted into harming Kendra! Larson had even attempted to repeat his scheme against Noe, but those he sent turned to ashes! The only thing Larson received was a bill from the funeral parlor. Larson had thought the Schnabels were looking out for Noe, only to discover she didn''t need anyone''s protection at all! After witnessing their respectful bows, Palmer rubbed his wrists. "Annie, arrange a vacation for them. The uncles have indeed worked hard over the years. Uncle Larson, especially, has been busting his back for the Pock Group, practically going broke. I feel bad; let''s just send him on a vacation." Annie bowed. "Yes, the helicopter is ready. From now on, you''ll be spending the rest of your days at Lockhart Prison." Lockhart Prison! Palmer was actually sending them to that hellhole! "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure you all stay alive. Death would be too easy for you. As aw-abiding citizen, I prefer sticking to the traditional ways of solving problems," Palmer said coldly. Laws? Whatws could possibly exist in Lockhart Prison! In that ce, even those with the strongest wills couldn''t survive, enduring inhuman torture daily! Noe yawned, waving her hand. "Monk, your prayers are really hard on the ears." Horatio scratched his bald head. "It''s their stench that¡¯s getting to me. Let''s get them out of here quickly!" "Ivan, did you hear that? Lend a hand, and drop something off at Lockhart Prison on your way." "Got it!" The members of Pris Star jumped down from the wall, each carrying a member of the Pock family''s distant rtives. These pampered folks stood no chance against the well-trained members of Pris Star. Quickly, they were hoisted onto the helicopter, which soon vanished over the Pock ancestral home. What awaited them was Xavier''s deadly game! The Pock brothers stood quietly in front of the memorial hall, gazing at the photo above. Emeric walked over to Noe, squatting down to meet her eye with sincerity. He could tell the little girl had put in a lot of effort today. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Thanks, kiddo." "No thanks necessary, I wasn''t exactly helping you on purpose." Emeric raised an eyebrow, noticing Noe''s gaze drifting towards Palmer. "I did this, all for Palmer!" Chapter 324 The reason Noe was here, lending a hand to the Pock family, was because of Palmer! Emeric raised an eyebrow, his gaze loaded with a meaningful depth, before breaking into a soft chuckle. ¡°Kiddo, when a Pock man falls in love, he¡¯s hooked for life. You better be sure about this. If things don¡¯t work out with Palmer, he might just lose it.¡± ¡°I have no intentions of backing out.¡± Emeric continued, ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared? What if history repeats itself?¡± Noe locked eyes with the man in front of her, a middle-aged figure wrapped in a cloak of artistic ir and a touch of mncholy. ¡°Choose fear over him? Mr. Pock, did fear stop you from choosing Palmer?¡± Her gaze was unwavering. ¡°You think you¡¯re doing what¡¯s best for Palmer, watching over him from the shadows as he grows up alone. Was that because of fear?¡± The question left Emeric momentarily speechless. He was indeed afraid. After Kendra left, he delved into the case, uncovering forces the Pock family couldn''t stand against. That was also when he discovered the Pris Start, which led him to venture alone to the bordend. The deeper he investigated, the more terrified he became. He even started to fear that if the demise of the Pock family was inevitable, his closeness with Palmer might one day harm him. Noe¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Mr. Pock, your excuses boil down to not loving Palmer enough. You only loved your wife, and out of fear of losing again, you chose to keep your distance.¡± To Noe, Emeric¡¯s excuses only reinforced the impression that his parents and children were insignificant in his eyes. Noe was an outsider, not wishing to judge Emeric¡¯s actions with more words. But when it came to her own choices, she was confident in her ability to decide for herself! Her gaze shifted past everyone,nding on Palmer, who was also watching her. In that moment of eye contact, she saw a bright smile on his face, as radiant as the flowing light. Noe¡¯s lips curved up. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid! I¡¯ve never been afraid! Besides, I can take care of myself. Even if the Pock family is a den of dragons and tigers, they can¡¯t touch me. Mr. Pock, you failed to protect your loved one, but I¡¯m not like you!¡± Noe wasn¡¯t Lavinia, nor was she Kendra. She had chosen Palmer simply because she liked him, nothing more! When she witnessed the embrace between Ulrich and Malvina, Noe also felt the joy as an observer. In that moment, her thoughts unexpectedly turned to Palmer! Instinctive reactions don¡¯t lie. Noe chuckled softly, her eyes filled with unprecedented tenderness. ¡°Mr. Pock, you say all this not to discourage me but because you worry about Palmer, right? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll protect him. No one can harm him, not even you as his family.¡± Emeric¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn¡¯t expected this young girl, not even twenty, to see right through him! And he certainly didn¡¯t expect Noe to confront him so directly! This girl was unlike any other Emeric had ever met. Regardless of Emeric¡¯s intentions, Noe spoke her mind. ¡°Mr. Pock, I don¡¯t have much respect for you, and don¡¯t measure me by your standards!¡± Emeric was momentarily taken aback. Facing Noe¡¯s serious yet disdainful gaze, Emeric was a bit stunned. ¡°What do you know¡­¡± Noe shook her head, looking at Emeric with pity. ¡°I may not understand, but you don¡¯t understand me, nor Palmer. It¡¯s okay, from now on, I¡¯ll be the one who understands him.¡± After saying that, she got up and walked towards Palmer, who took her hand and quietly asked what she had talked about with Emeric. Momentster, Emeric saw Palmer nce at him in astonishment. Then he looked away. But in that look, Emeric saw eptance! The father-son bond momentarily seemed to revert to its former state, yet it was clear it could never fully return to what it once was. Over the years, he had deliberately kept his distance from Palmer, and now he wondered if he had made a mistake. The Schnabel family car pulled up in front of the Pock ancestral home. Marcel, supported by Tristan, entered to pay his respects to the departed, his expression solemn. Turning to Sexton, Marcel inquired, ¡°Is everything resolved?¡± ¡°All resolved! But my people didn¡¯t even need to step in; the kids handled it brilliantly, better than I expected!¡± Sexton was somewhat moved. He had set the stage to resolve past issues on this asion. Unexpectedly, his people didn¡¯t get a chance to show up; the troublesome rtives were dealt with swiftly!Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Sexton felt reassured. ¡°With the Pock family in their hands, I¡¯m at ease. Marcel, you¡¯ve got a wonderful granddaughter, and thank you, for giving me one too!¡± Sexton gestured for ra toe over. ¡°ra, I know you dislike scheming environments. So, I¡¯ve arranged a special project just for you. The Pock and Schnabel families will fund it, and you¡¯ll be the sole lead. Your team, your rules. Theb was nestled close to Lucian and Merrick¡¯s homes. However, the ownership was still tied up inyers of bureaucracy.¡± Sexton always wanted ra leading her own research facility, but the higher-ups were reluctant to let such a talent go. ra was taken aback. "Grandpa..." "The top brass said that once your project yields results, you could be fast-tracked to a national honor, ra! Give it your all!" They must have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to help her achieve independence. Just the thought of the hoops Sexton and Marcel must have jumped through for her sake was mind- boggling. Marcel chuckled. "You''ll always be our granddaughter, the pride of the Schnabel family, just like Noe. To us, you''re equally cherished. The Schnabel family will always be your home!" Tears welled up in ra''s eyes. "I have so many homes now." Palmer, holding Noe''s hand, cast a wary nce at Emeric from a distance. "He''s bad news, keep away from him in the future." Noe happily agreed to Palmer''s suggestion. "Of course." Meanwhile, Tristan was exchanging pleasantries with Emeric, while Sienna kept Helenpany, the elderlydy wearing a rare smile. Sexton sighed. "Kendra''s case is still open, but at least she can rest in peace now!" Marcel snorted. "You always had to y the good guy, putting our own at risk. Do we finally know who was behind it?" Sexton nodded, his gaze sharp. "Garrick... It''s been years since we''ve crossed paths. I wonder if he''s still as tough as he used to be." Chapter 325 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!" Chapter 326 "Has Ms. Darcy not reviewed these submissions?" Noe remembered the pieces she handed in. Darcy should have seen them! There¡¯s no way Darcy would have reviewed her pieces and still allowed Oriana''s submissions to go through. Ingrid shook her head quickly. "Not yet. Ms. Darcy said she wouldn¡¯t handle the submissions herself to avoid any bias. I collected them and submitted them together." "Then let''s show them to Ms. Darcy. These sketches, if I''m not mistaken, are mine." Noe had submitted these pieces early to apply for course exemptions. And now, Oriana''s name was on them. Faced with such an interesting situation, Noe couldn''t help but smirk. Raising an eyebrow, Noe said, "Ingrid, as future designers, we should absolutely detest giarism, right? How would you feel if your designs were stolen?" Ingrid felt as if her own creations had been snatched away! "I get it. I''ll go to Ms. Darcy right now!" With ss starting in ten minutes, Ingrid couldn¡¯t wait any longer and rushed out of the ssroom towards the faculty office. Darcy was preparing for ss and looked up as Ingrid entered. "What''s the matter?" "Ms. Darcy, Noe said these are her works. Could you take a look?" Ms. Darcy took Ingrid''s phone and scrolled through thepetition entries. The more she saw, the deeper her frown became. She opened her drawer and pulled out the works Noe had submitted to her, finding several pieces that were identical, even down to the materials listed for each gemstone! Seeing these, Darcy frowned. "They are indeed the same. Get Oriana and Noe here." Ingrid was stunned! She hadn''t expected Oriana''s shocking submissions to be giarized from Noe''s work. These pieces had dazzled everyone, making them believe they were prize-winning material. Because of these designs, Oriana had been the talk of the department recently. Rushing back to the ssroom, Ingrid solemnly called Noe and Oriana to Darcy''s office. Seeing Noe, Oriana felt a twitch in her eye. She had been deliberately avoiding Noe, hoping to steer clear of any confrontation. ncing at Noe now, Oriana spected that Darcy intended to address their past conflict, perhaps expecting an apology. As if! Noe was dressed simply in a hoodie and jeans, her legs long and slender. Her hoodie bore a discreet Azure logo, clearly thetest from Master Azure. One couldn''t just buy this outfit; it was said that only Master Azure''s clients could reserve one! Oriana couldn¡¯t hide her aversion for the Schnabel family, convinced that they couldn''t measure up to her esteemed schrly lineage! Jealous and bitter, Oriana internally rolled her eyes. Once she won the departmentpetition and gained fame, she wouldn''t have to consider Noe a rival anymore! Thinking of her submissions, Oriana''s smile twisted slightly. Darcyid out Oriana''s and Noe''s submissions on the desk. "These two sets of submissions, please exin. I recall Noe submitted hers to me first, and Oriana''s cameter. Something doesn¡¯t add up." Oriana, feeling guilty, insisted, "Ms. Darcy, my designs are original. I don''t know when Noe copied mine..." Noe raised an eyebrow. "These pieces, I drew themst year. Yourpetition was this year. How could I copy your design?" This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Oriana pulled out her phone, showing a pre-recorded timeline of her designs, purportedly fromst January. "Ms. Darcy, my drafts were also fromst year. I created these drafts in Januaryst year. Was Noe¡¯s also drawn at that time?" The video smoothly demonstrated the production cycle of eachyer of Oriana''s work, and the timestamps below indeed showed January ofst year. This was something Oriana prepared well in advance! Oriana had already investigated. Last year, Noe was still in Tranquility City, a remote and insignificant city. She didn''t have the chance toe into contact with these things at all. These drafts might have been bought by the Schnabel family through connections! With this thought, Oriana became even more convinced. There wouldn¡¯t be any problem with the predetermined timeline she arranged in advance! Darcy watched carefully, but found no obvious issues. Yet, these designs matched what Noe had submitted earlier! Oriana said with a smug tone, "Ms. Darcy, this proves my innocence, right? These are my designs. As for when Noe copied me, I can''t say. After all, being from the Schnabel family, there''s hardly anything she couldn''t acquire if she wanted, right?" Noe chuckled lightly. "Ms. Darcy, may I use yourputer for a moment?" "Sure, go ahead." As Beckett''s sister and also her own sister¡¯s boss, she couldn''t believe Noe would giarize. However, as a teacher, she needed to remain impartial. Noe''s fingers danced across the keyboard, dissecting Oriana''s so-called proof. Oriana smirked triumphantly. She had splurged a fortune on that video, and there was no way Noe could dissect it! A country bumpkin from the boondocks, thinking she¡¯s some sort of computer whiz? What a joke! All those drafts she had seen before were handwritten. She refused to believe that Noe could produce such video evidence! A momentter, Noe stared at the screen, then swiveled the monitor towards Darcy. ¡°This video is a fabrication. The initialyer was added justst week, but it¡¯s been manipted to appear as if it¡¯s fromst January. Altering metadata is a piece of cake. Like with this photo, originally from Monday, just a few tweaks in the coding, and vo, it¡¯s from next year. The design couldn¡¯t possibly have been drawn next year, right?¡± Noe¡¯s fingers danced across the keyboard, swiftly restoring the earliest images andyers. The very bottomyer, the one Oriana was certain she had erased, was right there. Seeing those images, panic visibly washed over her. How was this possible! How did Noe manage to recover the supposedly deleted originalyers? Chapter 327 Noe smiled faintly. "Ms. Darcy, I have a habit of incorporating my personal touch in my designs. These images all feature my signature, just like the drafts I submitted to you. Moreover, the background of these images includes your lesson ns, suggesting that my design drafts were captured right here, correct? Or are we to believe, by sheer coincidence, Oriana''s drafts were also created right here in Ms. Darcy''s office?" The images in question were clearly snapped with a smartphone. In the background, at the edge of the frame, was unmistakably Darcy''s lesson nner! Noe zoomed in on the picture, pointing to a small, delicate logo in the corner¡ªfive petals gathered together, reminiscent of peach blossoms in full bloom during springtime. The same logo was discreetly ced on the drafts near Darcy. Oriana hadpletely missed this detail. She thought these were just elements casually added by Noe. Although Oriana had preserved the peach blossom in her copies, she had magnified it significantly, making it a highlight of her design. In hindsight, this act only magnified the essence of her giarism! Oriana retorted angrily, "You could have fabricated this video! What proof do you have?" Noe responded coolly, "Whether it''s fabricated can easily be determined by a professor from the Computer Science Department. It''s a simple piece of software that you might not understand, but that doesn''t mean others can''t." Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Her tone,ced with a hint of disdain, left Oriana feeling the sting of humiliation. Darcy pondered for a moment. "Ingrid, could you please fetch Thad from the next office over? Let''s have him take a look." Thad was the dean of the neighboring Computer Science Department. Computer programming textbooks across the department were authored by Thad himself! Not to mention, several spacecraftunched by Harmonia Country carried code written by Thad! In this field, Thad was an undeniable authority. Ingrid nodded and quickly found Thad, engrossed in aplex piece of programming, and exined the situation. Thad, with his graying temples, wearing a well-worn shirt and schrly sses, looked up with a kind and approachable smile. He chuckled as he took theptop from Ingrid, scanning the software on the screen. His smile quickly turned to astonishment! "Who recovered this program?" "It was one student, Noe Schnabel. Is there an issue?" Thad shook his head, pointing at a particr line of code. "This code is brilliant! Recovering deleted images is nearly impossible with a single piece of software, and typically requires multiple lines and ess to the original source code. Could this student be aputer genius? Regardless, let me see her immediately!" Thad, initially nning to offer a quick consultation, was now thoroughly intrigued by the code and made a beeline for the Design Academy''s office. Ingrid, noticing Thad''s forgotten cane in his rush of excitement, quickly grabbed it and followed after him, worried he might stumble in his eagerness. Upon entering the office, Thad, withptop in hand, asked, "Who wrote this code? It''s impable!" Seeing Thad in person, Darcy quickly offered him a seat, but Thad waved her off. Noe spoke up calmly, "I recovered it. Wasn¡¯t too difficult, was it?" After adjusting his sses and scrutinizing Noe, Thad typed in a new piece of code. "Do you understand this?" "If I''m not mistaken, you''ve been working on a library categorization algorithm? This code, with slight modifications, could be improved." Noe''s fingers danced across the keyboard, swiftly adding her own modifications to Thad''s code. "Excellent, much clearer now!" Thad, visibly excited, mentioned, "I have another project that''s been giving me some trouble. Would you be interested in joining my team? Don''t worry, you''ll be compensated." Ingrid quickly interjected, "Sir, Noe is from our department..." "Imperial University allows dual degrees. If needed, switch your major, and I''ll sign off on it!" To Thad, Noe was a prodigy, wasted on jewelry design! Noe smiled gently. "Thank you, but that¡¯s not within my n. It¡¯s not about money or a diploma for me; it¡¯s a passion born out of love for the craft." For Noe, a diploma was just a piece of paper. She was here to honor her grandmother''s memory. Thad sighed, reluctant to let go. "Are you sure? Joining myb could make you shine!" "Thank you for the offer, but I''m sure. Thanks for proving my code is legitimate." Though disappointed, Thad couldn''t argue with Noe''s resolve. "Your code is not only perfect but also efficient. This video is indeed a fabrication." With Thad''s confirmation, Oriana''s giarism was undeniable. Examining the design in the video and Noe''s drafts, Thad understood why Noe had chosen not to pursueputer science. With her impable design skills, Noe was indeed meant to be a jewelry designer. "Your name''s Noe, right? Your surname is Schnabel¡­ Merrick Horwich is your grandfather?" "Yes, do you know my grandfather?" Thad nodded, smiling warmly. "Of course! We''re from the same town. Your design work is exceptional. Would you consider designing a piece of jewelry for my wife? Don''t worry, I''ll compensate you." Thad was slightly embarrassed but radiated warmth when speaking of his wife. Noe vaguely remembered that Thad''s wife was a colleague of Freya. Freya had mentioned that Thad and his wife shared an unwavering love, never having a disagreement in their entire lives. Thad wore a smartwatch, its screen proudly disying a photo of his wife! Since they were friends of her grandparents, Noe saw no reason to decline his request. "Sure, no problem." Thad, beaming with joy, discussed some details with Noe, then turned his attention to Oriana, who was awkwardly scuffing her shoe against the floor. "Youngdy, your actions are utterly disgraceful! Using Noe''s work as your own and then using her of giarism? Imperial University is no ce for someone of your character! It strives to cultivate integrity and virtue, and it seems you''recking in both!" Chapter 328 Facing Thad''s blunt criticism, Oriana felt a stinging pain flush across her face! In the academic world, Thad was a titan, lured back into teaching at the university by Garrick''s persistent efforts. Thad spoke with a weighty tone. "Listen, it''s okay to struggle with your studies, but if your integrity is lacking, then that''s a whole different problem!" Thad¡¯s gaze upon Oriana was filled with a reluctant reprimand. Oriana wanted to defend herself, but words failed her! Darcy frowned at Oriana. "I''m going to have to report this to the administration. They''ll take it seriously!" The matter of Oriana''s insult toward Noe remained unresolved. Despite the administration''s optimism about Oriana''s design talent and their initial perception of the incident as a mere misunderstanding, it was evident that this wasn''t the case now. Oriana started panicking. She turned to Noe, trying to grab her hand, only for Noe to dodge, leaving Oriana grasping at air. "Noe, I know I was wrong. I just got carried away. Can you forgive me? We''re all ssmates here, and I don''t want to be disciplined. If my parents hear about this, it¡¯ll be the end of me! My family barely acknowledges my existence as it is. I just can''t be expelled. Please!" Noe looked at Oriana with a faint smirk. "Moral ckmail, always thest refuge of the immoral. Sorry, but I''m without morals too!" Without morals, one cannot be ckmailed by them! "Oriana, hiring trolls to nder me, spreading rumors, giarizing my work, and then ying the victim? How can you even ask for my forgiveness?" Facing Noe''s disdainful and cold gaze, Oriana felt a sinking feeling in her heart! Damn it! She had already shown weakness, why wouldn¡¯t Noe forgive her! Getting into a top-tier university like Imperial University was no easy feat, and Oriana had always taken pride in her aplishments. The thought of facing disciplinary action or expulsion was unbearable to her. Seeing Noe unwilling to relent, Oriana bit her lip, ready to kneel in desperation! Noe, anticipating Oriana¡¯s next move, turned to Ms. Darcy and remarked, "I''ll leave the rest to you. If the school can''t handle these issues properly, I might have to consider transferring." Darcy was well aware of Noe''s unresolved issues. From encountering car idents on campus to repeated nder by Oriana, it was all undeserved misfortune for Noe! And considering Noe''s family background and talents, she was undeniably a remarkable student. Thad cheerfully chimed in, "If you don''t feel like staying at the Design Department, our department would wee you!" Noe smiled gently. "Sir, the head of the ssical Music Department has also invited me several times. It would be a headache for me to make a decision." Noe had already won the hearts of the professors in the ssical Music Department with her zither performance. Darcy understood the gravity of the situation and quickly agreed. "Alright! Don''t worry, I''ll discuss this with Mr. Schnabel. We will provide you with a resolution!" Noe nced at Oriana, who watched her with hopeful eyes, and scoffed. "Girl, I''m not your ancestor. Not everything can be forgiven just because you bow or kneel. Maybe you should consider working at an electronics factory instead. Or any job where kneeling can earn you money might also be worth trying." Hearing Noe''s mocking words, Oriana found herself unable to kneel. Watching Noe leave with Thad, Oriana clenched her fists, venomously watching her back. Oriana stomped her foot and rushed into the principal''s office, tearfully using Noe of wrongdoing! "I¡¯ve realized my mistake, but can¡¯t Noe just forgive me this once? I''ve worked so hard, does she really want to ruin my life? For the sake of my parents, please give me another chance." Oriana''s parents were acquainted with Garrick from their younger days, often crossing paths in academic circles. Garrick, looking at the incessantly crying Oriana, said, "I''ll talk to Noe about this. It''s a minor issue, knowing you''re regretful is enough." Oriana''s spirits lifted. "Really? I''m willing to apologize to Noe." If an apology could solve the problem, Oriana was more than willing now. Listening to Oriana''s ount, Garrick considered it merely a misunderstanding regarding the design submission, a result of the ss representative''s oversight. As for previous incidents, he dismissed them as mere misunderstandings. Who''s to say it wasn''t Noe who had caused trouble, and Oriana had innocently borrowed the book? Even Oriana found these exnations almost convincing. Garrick called Noe into his office. Listening to Garrick repeat the story, Noe raised an eyebrow and chuckled. Unaware that he had been misled, Garrick impatiently said, "Since it''s just a minor friction between ssmates, don¡¯t take it too hard. Simply have Oriana apologize, and let''s move on! ssmates are your futurework. Managing good rtionships now will be an asset when you enter society." Noe, hearing Garrick''s attempt to downy the situation, smiled sardonically. "If you''re so magnanimous, Garrick, then I suppose you''ve also forgiven Grandma Helen for identally kicking you that time?" Garrick suddenly remembered the incident! Damn Helen Barth! That hadnded him in the hospital for quite a while! Garrick cleared his throat ufortably. "Last time, it was all just a fluke, of course, I forgive." "A fluke can be forgiven, but what about something deliberate? Garrick, no offense, but are you sure you haven''t been left with a bit of water on the brain after that fall into theke? I mean, even if you''ve physically recovered, you brain might still... leak some water." Garrick was about to lose his temper when Thad walked into the office. Thad pulled up a video on his phone and showed it to Garrick. "Garrick, Noe''s the real victim. If you y favorites like this, you''re going to dishearten the rest of the students!" Garrick was blindsided by the actual turn of events. But the idea of apologizing to Noe and swallowing his pride was something he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Noe said coolly, "I once believed you to be a man of principles, a true academic. Seems I was mistaken. My grandfather asked me to pass on a message- it¡¯s time to settle ounts." Her gaze was tinged with a chill indifference. "If the school can''t provide a satisfactory exnation, then I won''t bothering to ss anymore. Goodbye!" Chapter 329 With those words, Noe slung her backpack over her shoulder and walked out. That look of disdain and disappointment she shot Garrick pierced right through him! In this whole mess, Noe was clearly the victim. Yet, Garrick, having only heard one side of the story, tried to use his position of authority to force Noe into epting an apology. He didn''t care about digging into the truth at all. Garrick couldn''t tell if the sting he felt was more from being called out by a younger person or the regret of knowing the truth. Either way, his face turned as red as an autumn apple! He looked down at Oriana, who was still avoiding his gaze, and at Thad, who stood by expectantly. If he continued to defend Oriana now, he''d be pping his own face! Thad spoke with gravity. "Garrick, Noe is a rare gem, a student of exceptional talent! It''s been ages since I''ve seen someone with her abilities. Thest one I remember of her caliber is now programming for missiles." Such high praise from Thad spoke volumes of Noe''s extraordinary abilities! As the founding leader of Pris Star, Garrick knew Noe''s capabilities even better than Thad. But to him, Noe was the stronger party, Oriana the weaker. What was so wrong about asking Noe to step back a little? Thad, however, didn''t move to leave, continuing instead. "Garrick, if an ordinary student couldn''t clear their name in such a manner, would we simply ignore it? Truth and justice should be upheld above all!" Thad shook his head, casting a meaningful nce at Oriana. "Distorting facts and speaking falsehoods! Are such students really in line with Imperial University''s academic principles?" Garrick knew Thad was pressuring him. If he still sided with Oriana, trouble was bound to stir. Caught between a rock and a hard ce, thinking of Oriana''s parents who were old friends, Garrick stubbornly said, "I can handle this! Thad, please, just leave it!" Knowing Garrick''s stubbornness, Thad left the office and immediately called Merrick. "Hey, old man, your granddaughter''s being wronged! You gonna step in or what?" Merrick''s voice rose instantly. "Which granddaughter? Noe or ra?" "Who else could it be? I''m still at Imperial University, so obviously your granddaughter here." After Thad ryed the incident briefly, he added, "Your granddaughter, she''s something else! You must have some strong ancestors to be blessed with such a remarkable descendant!" Merrick basked in the praise. "Damn Garrick! Why should Noe have to yield to anyone? Merely uttering an apology doesn¡¯t signify genuine remorse!" "So, are you going to do something about it?" "Of course! I''m heading to Imperial University right now. I want to see what Garrick is up to!" With that, Merrick rushed out the door, all fired up! ... At the school''s entrance, as Tristan''s car approached the gates, his secretary peered out and cheerily announced, "Mr. Schnabel, Ms. Noe got into Mr. Pock''s car." Not far ahead, Noe was spotted bending to enter a car parked by the curb, immediately recognized as Palmer''s by the secretary! Tristan chuckled. "Good, good. Palmer juggles a busy schedule, yet he still makes time to pick up Noe. Seems he''s quite taken with her!" "And not only that, Mr. Pock brought her favorite roses." Roses for just picking Noe up from college? Tristan''sughter grew louder. As he was still smiling, the secretary eximed, "Mr. Schnabel, why is Mr. Merrick here?" "Eh? Quick, let''s go greet him. Is he here for Noe too? Let''s not have him make a wasted trip!" Catching up to Merrick, Tristan joked, "Dad, Noe left with Palmer. What brings you here?" Merrick huffed. "And you''re stillughing? Your girl was bullied, and they expect her to just forgive and forget! How unfair is that!" As Merrick recounted the events, his concern for Noe was palpable. Noe, always so independent, bearing everything alone, hardly everining. If Thad hadn''t called to inform him, who knew how long this would''ve been kept secret? Hearing the full story wiped the smile off Tristan''s face. "The audacity! They think they can mess with my daughter because she''s easygoing? I''ll see to it that Noe gets justice!" "Dad, you''re getting on in years; leave this to me. Just sit back, and I''ll make sure our girl gets the resolution she deserves!" Fuming, Tristan and Merrick stormed into the university together. ... As Palmer''s car traversed the road, the scenery outside blurred past the windows. Noe, holding the bouquet of roses, noticed a small cut on Palmer''s finger. "Don''t tell me you picked these from your own garden." Palmer smiled gently. "Yes, it¡¯s my first attempt at arranging flowers. It might not look perfect, but I''ll do better next time." Noe knew it; the somewhat lopsided bouquet was Palmer''s own handiwork. "It''s okay, I love them. But really, there''s no need to bring flowers just to picking me up." "I saw them blooming in the garden as I was leaving. Thought you''d like them. I saw Mr. Schnabel''s car earlier; shouldn''t we say hello?" Noe shook her head. "Dad texted me, saying he had some business to handle and told me to go on with you." Tristan, a renowned entrepreneur who had generously donated two buildings to Imperial University, was no stranger to visiting the campus for various matters. Palmer handed Noe a prepared insted mug. It contained warm milk, emitting a rich creamy aroma, clearly a thoughtful gesture from Palmer before he left the house. He probably worried Noe might get hungry after her sses, so he had packed a variety of snacks in the car. Feeling Palmer''s careful attention, Noe felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Sipping the milk slowly, Noe''s phone began to ring. Helen''s voice came through the speaker. "Noe, darling, did I hear right that that old buzzard Garrick gave you trouble? Your grandfather and father are both on it, but I''ll have to see about it myself. At my age, squaring off with Garrick wouldn¡¯t be the worst way to go!" Only then did Noe realize that Merrick and Tristan had gone to stand up for her! Feeling the love from her family, Noe''s heart gradually calmed down, filled with warmth. "Grandma, thank you. But your health is way more important than dealing with Garrick." "That won''t do! I''m heading over to the school to sort this out! Sexton, grab my shovel!" Sexton muttered, "What do you need that for? nning to dig graves? That''s not exactly the trend these days!" Helen was furious. "To give Garrick a ce to lie in advance! I''m going to scatter his ashes! That old coot isn''t acting human! Picking on kids at his age, he''s really gone back in time!"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Chapter 330 What a gem Noe was! Even Helen, known for her notoriously critical eye, could see how much Palmer was smitten with her. She saw how Noe stood by Palmer steadfastly, defending him with everything she had. In her eyes, Noe was already the chosen one for the Pock family, a perfect match for her grandson. And Garrick, that old curmudgeon, dared to upset her future granddaughter-inw! With that, Helen was even more determined to set things right for Noe! "Noe, dear, don''t you worry. I''ll make sure Garrick spends a month in the hospital if I have to. Let''s see him try his tricks then! And as for the other incidents, leave them to me. I''ve got them covered." Noe tried to interject, but Helen, clearly running out of patience, cut her off. "You and Palmer should be out on dates, falling in love, doing what young folks do. Don''t you worry about these adult matters. Just go shopping, buy some dresses, pick out some handbags - Palmer''s credit card is yours to use! Don''t even think about saving his money. It''s all going to be yours someday anyway!" Hearing Helen casually nning Palmer''s finances, clearly siding with Noe, Palmer couldn''t help but chuckle helplessly. Then, amid the ngs and tters from the other end of the phone, Helen was rummaging through her belongings, ready to storm Imperial University and settle the score with Garrick. "Leave the rest to us old folks; we''re not gone yet! Go enjoy your shopping spree, and don''te back until you''ve maxed out Palmer''s card!" With her ns for Noe and Palmer''s date set, Helen hung up. Listening to the dial tone, Noe couldn''t help but feel a bit helpless. Horatio always mentioned how fierce Helen could be, but it seemed thedy was not just fierce but downright explosive. One could only imagine the rough day Garrick was about to have! ... In the hospital, Lavinia''s room was cluttered with research papers and files. Whenever she had a moment, she''d sift through her past achievements. ra took the papers from her hands. ¡°You should rest, not strain your brain with this stuff.¡± Seeing ra, Lavinia smiled softly. ¡°I''m just browsing, not really thinking. Consider it an eye exercise.¡± Even though it was all things she had written in the past, it had been too long. Faced with so much data and experimental samples, and with her mind feeling hazy and sluggish, it was just too exhausting to delve into anything research-rted. Lavinia had only managed to get through one paper, and even then, parts of it were puzzling. ¡°ra, could you check these figures for me?¡± ra frowned slightly. ¡°Your research area was different from mine. These statistics¡­ maybe you should ask Jacob to look at this.¡± Lavinia and Jacob were once part of the same research team. If she sought rity on her own work, Jacob would indeed be the quicker route. Besides, there were ssified materials that ra couldn''t ess due to her clearance level. Lavinia paused, thenposed herself. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t really want to see him, but I do want a copy of these documents. Could you ask him?¡± After so many years, Lavinia didn¡¯t know how to face Jacob. Fortunately, there was still ra between them. ra agreed and then tentatively mentioned, ¡°Mr. Pock said he¡¯d like to see you.¡± Lavinia shook her head with a smile. She tenderly stroked ra¡¯s hair, her eyes shining with warmth. ¡°Having you is enough for me. Thinking about anything else just gives me a headache. I¡¯ve been ill for so many years, it¡¯s like living through a foggy dream. And now, I look so unwell; I don¡¯t want him to see me like this.¡± After surgery, she¡¯d lost much of her hair, and just the thought of her appearance made her feel somewhat absurd. ¡°But he wouldn¡¯t mind. To him, your mere existence bringsfort.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, ra. It¡¯s not your father I need to see, nor my past lover, but my former self.¡± Jacob represented Lavinia¡¯s past. She couldn¡¯t face her younger self, now confined to a hospital bed, barely snatching back her life from death¡¯s grasp, with all her dreams and ambitions turned to dust. For Lavinia, epting her secluded life over the years was a hard pill to swallow. Especially seeing ra, it was like looking at her younger, vibrant self, full of dreams and confidence. Lavinia softlyughed. ¡°Let¡¯s just let things be. As long as you¡¯re with me, I¡¯m content.¡± Bowie Richardson entered, handing ra a medical report. ¡°Aunt¡¯s condition is stable. She just needs peace and quiet now.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing Bowie, Lavinia remembered Lorne Richardson¡¯s funeral. She asked, ¡°Lorne¡¯s funeral¡­¡± ¡°We kept it simple. Everything¡¯s been arranged. My parents won¡¯t being back, and asked me to apologize to you and ra on their behalf.¡± The Richardson family¡¯s eldest son had been adopted by Lucian and worked at an embassy abroad, unable to return home without a significant reason. ¡°That¡¯s alright. You¡¯ve been a great help, Bowie. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself, Aunt. Heaven sent ra as apensation to you. Everything will look up from here.¡± Lavinia shook her head with calm resolve. "ra is a person, not a means ofpensation. Even if she doesn''t return to my side, she remains the Schnabel family''s pride and joy. My presence is merely the icing on the cake." For Lavinia, ra represented redemption, but she was well aware of how much the Schnabel family cherished their daughter! "It was Sienna who shared her daughter with me. It¡¯s a gift from above, notpensation." "You¡¯re right." Weariness evident on her face, Lavinia let ra tuck her in and sing her to sleep before she and Bowie left the hospital room. ra was dressed in a simple sundress, covered by a cardigan with unique stitching. The tiny, handmade pearl buttons added a touch of chaos yet elegance to her outfit. Bowie couldn''t help but inquire after a few nces, "Ms. ra, is that cardigan a bespoke piece from some high-end brand?" After some thought, Bowie couldn''t ce which luxury brand might have released such an item. Could it be that the Schnabel family''s affection for ra was merely for show? With that thought, Bowie''s mind started to race. If the Schnabel family didn''t care much for ra, his ns could be much simpler! ra looked down at her cardigan, grinning. "My mom knitted this for me! Both Noe and I have one. She''s even nning to knit one for Ulrich''s girlfriend!" Chapter 331 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 ¨C expulsion." Chapter 332 Expulsion? If Oriana got expelled, it would be a permanent stain on her record! Garrick clenched his teeth and said, "Are we really going to go this far? Don''t you think we should leave some room for maneuver?" "Room for maneuver? Why would I need to leave any room for myself? By Imperial University¡¯s code of conduct, if this kind of behavior can¡¯t even lead to expulsion... well, it sets a precedent for other students, doesn''t it? I don''t think it''s a move in the school''s best interests," she added, also ying the moral card. Noe followed Palmer into the diner, replying to Garrick as they walked. Garrick couldn¡¯t agree with her. "Noe, getting into our university is no small feat, and Oriana is a ster student. You''re going to ruin her future over this! Since you haven''t suffered any real harm, can''t you just let it slide?" "Garrick, if I had suffered real harm, would you stand by me?" Such hypothetical moral high grounds alwayse from those who''ve never been in the eye of the storm. Without understanding Noe''s feelings, Garrick could easily im the moral high ground. But why should she ept that! Garrick was momentarily speechless. "Noe, but you haven''t been harmed! You''re the stronger party, aren''t you? Even if her schemes did hurt you, you have a powerful family to back you up. Why can''t you show a little empathy for the underdog?" Noe''s smile carried a hint of scorn. She looked out the window at the diner''s idyllicke ind setting, almost magical in its tranquility. "Garrick, what about those failures from back then? How did you deal with them?" Garrick knew exactly what Noe was referring to. The failed ¡®subjects¡¯ from the early days of the Pris Star project, their fates sealed by failure. They had both tacitly agreed not to bring up Pris Star directly before. But now, as it entered the conversation, Garrick fell silent. Noe''s tone was indifferent. "Garrick, those were once-in-a-lifetime geniuses, turned into fools by your experiments. Aren''t they a greater loss than one Oriana? Weren''t they ordinary people?" This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. "You taught me this - the weak should be eliminated. Plus, I''ve always been one to settle scores. My grandma used to say, if someone punches you once, you punch back three times. Garrick, it''s your choice. An eye for an eye, or expulsion." Noe chuckled. "After all, controlling the fate of others has always been your favorite game, hasn''t it?" The sarcasm in her words was palpable. The deeds of Garrick''s past were known to those present. Helenughed out loud. "That¡¯s right. You were so ruthless back then. What, got soft with age, or did your conscience finally kick in? Probably can''t sleep at night, haunted by those poor kids'' ghosts." Garrick''s face turned crimson with anger. Under the pressure, he sighed. "I understand. I''ll proceed with the expulsion." After hanging up the phone and seeing off the room full of imposing figures, Garrick felt stifled. What had be of this generation''s Pris Star? His gaze turned deep. Garrick got up, locked the door, and pulled out a file from a drawer secured with several locks. Atop the file, in bold letters, read: "Proposal to Reboot the Pris Star Project." Garrick flipped open the file, his eyes widening in shock! What should have been pages filled with densely packed text, names of geniuses gathered over the years, and histest refined n, was now just a meme of Batman! Scrawled across it were mocking words- ¡°Thinking of making stars because your ancestors ascended to the heavens? Impossible! With all the sins you''vemitted, your ancestors couldn''t be stars, hence your family tree is still a seed! Thinking of rebooting Pris Star? Why not shoot yourself into space instead!¡± Garrick was trembling with rage! A decade''s work on his new n down the drain! Taking the position of principal at Imperial University was part of his grand scheme to draft a more rigorous proposal for Pris Star''s revival, needing greater support. Now, his n was reduced to a joke! Furious and shaky, Garrick clicked on his office''s surveince footage. A man, donning a Batman mask, sauntered into his office and took the n! He even deleted the original draft. Garrick, fuming and speechless, fainted from the shock! On the other side, Noe flipped through the stolen n Ivan had retrieved. "As I suspected, Garrick left Pris Star ten years ago because the person who used to sign off on his experiments stepped down." The project continued without the support of the top brass, and Garrick was forced to halt. Palmer sliced the steak for Noe. "But Pris Star''s operations never truly stopped until the year you arrived. Someone didn''t want it to vanish, yet someone else did, making your acquisition of Pris Star a product of their conflict." Noe smiled, acknowledging Palmer''s guess in her own way. "Mr. Pock, you''re so insightful. Can you read my mind without me speaking a word?" This seemed a tall order, but Palmer understood it as Noe''s way of showing trust. As he ced the sliced steak onto Noe¡¯s te, Palmer wiped his hands and smiled. "I''d guess you''re currently pondering that Garrick suspects your involvement but is powerless to retaliate." Indeed, Garrick couldn''t publicly acknowledge the covert nature of the missing files. Even with the documents gone, involving the authorities was out of the question; if his actions were exposed, he''d probably be out of his current job in a heartbeat! That''s exactly why the Batman had the guts to stroll in, and put his middle finger up to the cameras before making his exit. "I guess you¡¯re nning to go head-to-head with Garrick, so I''ve already called the police for him. After all, the lost files are so crucial. It''d be such a shame if they couldn¡¯t be retrieved!" Facing Palmer''s somewhat mischievous grin, Noe couldn''t help but smile too. What she loved most was the unspoken understanding between them. "Mr. Pock, quite the phnthropist, aren''t you?" "Indeed, I find joy in giving back. That''s why I matched the donations for those underprivileged students Horatio was sponsoring, and I put both our names on it!" Horatio wasn''t one for hoarding wealth, iming it interfered with his spiritual journey. So, after the charity auction, he handed all the proceeds over to Palmer, entrusting him to deliver the funds to the needy in the rural areas. Just as Noe and Palmer touched on the topic of Horatio, Noe''s phone buzzed with a message from him. [Noe, your sister¡­] Chapter 333 [Was she seriously ill or something?] Noe raised an eyebrow as she read the two messages in quick session. Just as she opened the chat with Horatio, she was bombarded with a flurry of texts full of his grievances. [She¡¯s nuts. She really is nuts.] [She actually said¡­ said I¡¯m quite a looker!] Horatio, though an odd monk, was a genuinely profound spiritual figure. Legend had it that Horatio was the reincarnation of a high-ranking monk, born with a natural affinity for spirituality, carrying endless merits from his previous lives. Right from birth, he was sent to the Dragon Monastery. In all these years, he had never encountered a woman so¡­ disrespectful! Noe could almost picture the expression on Horatio¡¯s face as he texted. She quickly replied: [It¡¯s probably just the pressure of her research making her tease you as a way to unwind. Who doesn¡¯t go a bit crazy at work? Just bear with it. Think of it as part of your spiritual practice.] Spiritual practice? Horatio felt like crying. Never before in his life had he encountered such a method of spiritual practice! Especially since ra didn¡¯t justpliment him verbally for being handsome; she got handsy! While eating, Noe texted back. [Look at your ancestor. Didn¡¯t you say he always remained calm in the face of female benefactors? Horatio, you still have a long way to go on your path to enlightenment.] Upon sensing the schadenfreude in the message, Horatio closed his phone in dismay. He knew he shouldn¡¯t have vented to Noe! Seeing the smile on Noe¡¯s face, Palmer asked, ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°The monk says my sister is harassing him.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. As she spoke, Noe dialed ra to get the full story. ra, while fiddling with a beaker and observing a sample, answered. ¡°Oh, that? I wasn¡¯t harassing him. I just said his skin looks so good, and asked what skincare product he uses. I did it to de- stress. After all,plimenting other menes with risks. Noe, you wouldn¡¯t believe it. I once asked a male colleague how his project was going, and he thought I had a crush on him! He even posted online, saying he felt insecure because of my position!¡± Recalling the experience, ra wanted to roll her eyes endlessly. ¡°Thank goodness Jasper saw that post and figured out the guy was talking about me. I was so disgusted! Since then, I¡¯ve learned it¡¯s best to not speak to men. But Horatio¡¯s different. He surely won¡¯t take it to heart, so there¡¯s no risk.¡± In ra¡¯s mind, Horatio was hardly considered a regr guy. After a moment¡¯s thought, she found a more fitting description. ¡°Noe! Horatio is like a sister to me! That¡¯s his payback for refusing my request for him to predict if I¡¯d ever meet my idol!¡± Resigned, Noe rubbed her forehead. ¡°Horatio is a monk, not a fortune teller.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. If he¡¯s such a high-ranking monk, he should find a way! There¡¯s this amazing bakery near ourb. I¡¯ll bring you something after work!¡± To ra, Noe was the baby of the family, deserving of all the pampering. Whenever she tasted something delicious, ra always remembered to bring some back for Noe too! Sienna had invited Malvina Gruber to dine with the Schnabel family that evening, making a point to have everyone present, including Palmer. It was going to be a family dinner! Sienna started nning the menu days in advance, and Noe worried the grand setup might intimidate Malvina. After agreeing with ra, Noe sent Horatio a message, telling him not to worry. Noe sighed as she put away her phone. Palmer chuckled lightly. ¡°Horatio is profound in his own way, probably just shocked by ra. But I¡¯m more curious, how did you and Horatio meet?¡± ¡°We met in the mountains. Horatio encountered a bear, and I happened to drive by and save him. A few years back, during an earthquake in Char Vige, Horatio called me, and I led a team there.¡± Through these interactions, Horatio and Noe became friends. ¡°I remember Char Vige is quite a distance from Dragon Monastery.¡± ¡°Yes, he was passing through during his travels and happened to be there during the earthquake. He called me hoping I could help. When I arrived, his hands were nearly incapacitated.¡± Noe remembered vividly the sight of Horatio¡¯s hands, covered in blood, his usually serene face streaked with tears, clutching at her sleeves, begging her to save the people below. His eyes were bloodshot, repeating over and over. ¡°I can¡¯t dig them out. I can¡¯t save them¡­¡± How could one possibly move concrete and steel bare-handed. ¡°He was young then, not yet able to see life and death with detachment. The family there hosted him for a few days. The child¡¯s mother kept calling for help, and when we finally got them out, both mother and child had already passed away.¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°The mother¡¯s phone was open to a note that read, ¡®Baby, Mommy will always love you.¡¯ The monk meditated atop the ruins for days, and after conducting a ceremony, he seemed to find peace.¡± That experience deepened Horatio¡¯s spiritual understanding. After the rescue, they held a ceremony, and then Horatio left with Noe. ¡°He apanied me on border activities for a while, teaching the children there whenever possible, but they always ended up stealing his wallet and phone.¡± Children who survived on the border weren¡¯t exactly ordinary kids. They grew up among poppies and sin, their eyes filled with a bloody red. Yet Horatio remained undeterred, insisting he was doing what he wanted, regardless of whether it saved anyone. Spreading his faith didn¡¯t hinge on having believers. Even if he preached to a rock, Horatio could persist for days and nights. nting a seed that might never sprout still held the potential for growth! Palmer now understood why Horatio considered Noe a friend. They were fundamentally the same, at heart pure and transparent, with their own principles and kindness, always steadfast in following the path they believed in! "It''s destiny, and a blessing, that you and Horatio have crossed paths," Palmer said. Hearing Palmer''s words, Noe¡¯s eyes crinkled with a joyful smile. "Mr. Pock, you''re on the same journey as me. Don''t underestimate yourself." "My pleasure." ... At Serene Haven, in the grand Phoenix Tower, within the walls of the Schnabel Manor, the atmosphere was somewhat tense and awkward. An elderly woman in a wheelchair squinted, surveying everyone in the room. Marcel looked at her, his displeasure evident in his voice. ¡°You¡¯re not wee here. What are you doing here?¡± Ashlyn coughed twice, her voice filled with anger. ¡°After all, I¡¯ve spent a lifetime with you! Since ra is not a Schnabel, I demand she be thrown out! She brings bad luck to the Schnabel family, a curse upon us!¡± At the doorway, ra stood frozen, holding a box of pastries. The box slipped from her hands, hitting the floor with a thud, upon hearing those words. Chapter 334 Ashlyn refused to back down, even from her wheelchair. The bodyguards at the door had orders to stop her, but she came prepared with a boombox, sting a recording of usations of Marcel¡¯s wrongdoings right at the Schnabel family¡¯s doorstep. The guards tried to remove her, but Marcel told them to let her in. He had a bone to pick with this stubborn olddy, wanting to confront her about past grievances. Marcel knew Ashlyn had been in the hospital, not in aa as some thought, but actively avoiding the Schnabel family. Seeing her now only confirmed Marcel¡¯s belief that marrying her had been a mistake - a mistake that their children were now paying for. Behind Ashlyn stood a man in a long coat, holding a duster, his eyes closed as if in deep contemtion. ¡°Marcel Schnabel, I¡¯m here on behalf of someone else. ra¡¯s presence is bringing chaos to the Schnabel family. As long as she remains, there will be no peace,¡± he pronounced. ¡°This is Cassius, from the Eternal Monastery. He read ra¡¯s fortune at birth, iming she¡¯s a harbinger of doom. If she doesn¡¯t leave the Schnabel family before turning twenty, catastrophe will befall you all.¡± Ashlyn was adamant, ¡°My divorce from Marcel is because of her!¡± Marcel retorted, ¡°Cut the crap! That¡¯s a bunch of baloney!¡± Ashlyn just smirked. ¡°If you didn¡¯t believe me, why let me in?¡± She was certain Marcel must have known she was right, or else he wouldn¡¯t have let her in. ¡°I¡¯m the one who truly loves you, Marcel. I¡¯m Tristan¡¯s real mother. How could I possibly harm you?¡± Marcel, gripping his cane, stood imposingly. ¡°I let you in because I want to know how Tristan ended up being your child. Don¡¯t lie to me; I¡¯ve had a paternity test done.¡± Ashlyn was caught off guard, trying to maintain herposure despite the shock. ¡°Tristan is my child, born after ten long months. Cassius said it; ra is a curse. Now that you¡¯ve found her real family, send her away! Marcel, while lying in the hospital, all I could think about was you and our child. I was misled by Yvonne in the past, but you must understand, I am your true wife!¡± Noe, holding ra¡¯s hand, frowned. ¡°You were supposed to be bedridden. How did you know about ra finding her family?¡± The knowledge was supposed to be a secret, kept low-key among a few families. Ashlyn rolled her eyes. ¡°Cassius predicted it. His skills are unmatched, and his words are truth.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow. ¡°And when he said Yvonne was an angel in disguise, that ¡®angel¡¯ didn¡¯t bring you any blessings, did she?¡± Instead of blessings, Yvonne exploited Ashlyn, taking all her money and even her cherished jade pendant. Thinking of the betrayal, Ashlyn trembled with anger. ¡°Yvonne will realize who truly cared for her after she ovees her trials. Marcel, send ra and Noe away. Take me back, and together, we can achieve enlightenment.¡± A heavy silence fell over the Schnabel family. Noe remarked, ¡°It seems her illness has worsened.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Ashlyn¡¯s belief in superstition had grown more intense over the years. Now, visibly thinner and with a gaunt face, she appeared more spiteful and bitter. As the sound of high heels echoed through the Schnabel Manor, a woman in a ck velvet dress, her hair elegantly styled in curls, approached with a disdainful look. Helen, without a word, kicked Ashlyn¡¯s wheelchair over. Ashlyn screamed, ¡°Helen, are you trying to kill me?¡± Helen responded coolly, ¡°My apologies, I didn¡¯t see. Was that a stray dog yelping?¡± Ashlyn felt utterly defeated. She hade believing a promise that this act would secure her return to the Schnabel family, only to be humiliated by Helen, whom she despised. The Pocks and the Schnabels had a long-standing friendship, and Helen had never hidden her disdain for Ashlyn. Each time, her frankness infuriated Ashlyn to the point where she felt on the brink of a heart attack. However, being a major celebrity, everyone simply shrugged off her bad temper with a casual remark! Helen turned her scornful gaze to Cassius. ¡°So, you im my granddaughter brings misfortune?¡± Cassius, ever the chatan, replied smoothly, ¡°It was not my intention to offend. Simply put, the presence of the youngdies disrupts household harmony. A change of name and keeping them out of the house could ensure centuries of peace.¡± Helen challenged him, ¡°And what names would you suggest for ra and Noe, then?¡± Cassius fumbled with his movements, pretending to calcte something with great concentration. "Ladies, you should simply adopt your maternal grandfather''s surname, that would suffice." Noe let out a derisiveugh. "Then, my sister and I will take our grandfather''s name, Horwich. That''s settled." A momentary nk expression crossed Cassius''s face. Noe didn''t miss his reaction and followed up with an emotionless tone, "What''s the matter? Since you''re such a master, can''t you figure out what my sister''s maternal grandfather''s name is?" "Well... of course, I can figure that out. This youngdy should take on the surname Richardson! Miss, your destiny is too prosperous, like a rainbow piercing through the sun. Keeping it within the family would harm your rtives! The ¡®Richardson¡¯ surname can help preserve your strength, ensuring peace for the household!" Noe realized then that Cassius must have been sent by the Richardsons. She wondered who from the Richardsons was so eager to have ra return to their fold. Tristan was furious! "I''d like to know exactly who my daughters are supposedly harming! Even if God himself imed they bring bad luck, we, the Schnabels, would let them squander our fortune if they pleased! I refuse to believe that I, Tristan, can''t protect my own daughters!" ra tugged at Tristan''s sleeve. Her surname, in truth, was of little consequence to her. As long as she considered the Schnabels her family forever, that was enough. If she really brought harm to the Schnabels as Cassius suggested, she would feel deeply remorseful. "Maybe I should just change my surname then..." A serene voice, as if imbued with a Zen-like calm, resonated from the doorway. "With me here, who dares say ra shouldn''t bear the name Schnabel!" Chapter 335 A monk in a burgundy robe slowly stepped into the hall from the outside. Horatio kept his hands pressed together in prayer, his demeanor solemn, a natural red mark on his forehead giving him an almost divine aura, too intense for one to stare directly at. It seemed as if he was surrounded by a light, making even the prayer beads on his wrist emit an intense fragrance reminiscent of sandalwood! Horatio whispered a prayer. "Though I''m not one to judge by appearances, I can''t say I believe the words of this gentleman here. We''re all seekers on a spiritual path, but I wonder, would he dare repeat his ims in front of the spirits of his ancestors?" Cassius, upon seeing Horatio''s almost glowing presence, shivered! Even as ayabout, Cassius could tell at a nce that Horatio was a monk of profound spiritual depth! "Who are you? Everything I''ve said is the truth!" Horatio spread his hands. "You''re a fraud." Cassius was taken aback. Horatio, confident and direct, turned to Noe. "Noe, he doesn''t even recognize me, there''s no way he''s a genuine seeker. My face was once voted ''Most Inspiring Religious Figure of the Year.'' It''s still featured on the Religious Affairs Bureau''s official website!" In Harmonia Country, there was a thorough system for regting religious figures. Legitimate monks and priests were certified, and anyone with certification should be familiar with the Religious Affairs Bureau''s website. Horatio''s face was a permanent fixture on the homepage of the Religious Affairs Bureau. Horatio''s immediate branding of the man as a fraud was based on Cassius''sck of recognition. Cassius, indeed, had no certification. His half-baked spiritual practices were nothing more than schemes for deception. How could he possibly have gone through the proper channels to get certified? He stuttered in response. "Of course I''m a legitimate practitioner! Can¡¯t there be independent seekers?" "Of course, but thew states that uncertified practitioners cannot perform religious services." Cassius was nearly apoplectic! Why did this monk keep bringing up thew? Weren''t monks and priests supposed to be relics of superstitious times? Horatio was not ying by the expected rules! "I... I do have certification, just rushed out and didn''t bring it with me." Horatio looked at Cassius. "It''s not thatplicated. I''ll just call the abbot of Eternal Monastery and ask if you''re one of his disciples." He immediately took out his phone, found a contact, and made a video call. As soon as the call connected, they were greeted with a deep, resonant voice. "You''re desecrating the divine! I have to buy a ticket to enter my own home now?" The person on the other end, sounding impatient, responded, "We purchased thisnd with the intention of turning it into a tourist attraction. Is there a problem with that?" The abbot cursed vociferously. "This has been my home for fifty years! You turn it into a tourist spot?" Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. The employee remained unmoved. "It''s a tourist attraction. If you want to enter, you¡¯ll need to buy a ticket." Furious, the abbot bought a ticket and entered, only tounch into another tirade, leaving the Schnabel family in stunned silence. This abbot certainly had character! After his rant, he finally turned to the phone to see what Horatio wanted. As the phone''s camera pointed at Cassius, the abbot inspected him and shook his head. "No, no, my disciples are of a different generation. I don''t recognize this one. He''s a fraud, just beat him to death." Cassius panicked! "You... resorting to violence and insults, are you even a man of faith? You even curse!" The abbot stroked his beard. "A friend of mine once said, ''If you seek a path to your demise, I shall assist you on your journey.'' This is a great kindness, indeed. Another day of doing good deeds! As for cursing, venting all one''s frustrations is the true way to purify one''s soul. After a good rant, I feel spiritually refreshed, and my practice advances!" Cassius was dumbfounded! What exactly was the Eternal Monastery practicing? Putting away his phone, Horatio looked at Cassius with sincere eyes, as if genuinely offering him a choice. "I would dly guide you to the afterlife for free. Would you like to go?" Go... Where? Cassius shook his head. "No, no, I was hired by them. They just wanted me to make the two young ladies change their surnames¡­" Seeing the risk of exposure, Ashlyn quickly interjected. "It''s all true! These girls are nothing but trouble!" Horatio blinked. "Madam, I see the Schnabeldies as bearers of great fortune, capable of ensuring the family''s prosperity for generations. How did you discern their misfortune?" Ashlyn, who had once wielded her status with impunity, had met Horatio on several asions. She knew well the weight Horatio carried in the religiousmunity. If he dered the Schnabeldies to be of good fortune, no one would believe Ashlyn''s ims to the contrary. Horatio continued, "Actually, I find you to be the unlucky one, Madam. Mr. Schnabel''s decision to divorce you was indeed wise. Though you came here by deceit, your poor character makes everything about you seem false, like a castle in the air." At Horatio''s blunt words, Ashlyn nearly fainted from anger! Noe stepped forward, tapped a few points on Ashlyn''s back to revive her breath, and said, "Grandpa invited you here for questioning; ying dead won''t help." What Marcel wanted to ask was also what Noe sought to understand. Faced with Noe''s gaze, Ashlyn felt as if she was looking straight through her, seeing the ghost of Harriet Lambert, the woman she detested! She let out a shrill scream! "Oh my gosh! It wasn''t me! I didn''t take your child! It was Garrick who told me that if I took Tristan away, I could be Marcel''s wife. I swear I didn''t mean to hurt you! Even though Tristan isn¡¯t my biological son, I''ve always treated him as my own. If it weren¡¯t for my failed attempt to arrange a marriage for him with my niece, and Sienna, that wretch, hadn''t interfered, Tristan would be closer to me by now! I left my own children behind because I still have a conscience. Believe me, I''ve never mistreated your son..." Noe retorted with disdain, "Conscience? You''re not guided by conscience, you''re just afraid!" Marcel married Ashlyn because Tristan was indeed his biological son. Had Ashlyn never thought of pulling a switcheroo, swapping her own son with Tristan? Of course, she had! But she was just too scared to actually do it! "It''s all Garrick''s fault! Not mine! He''s the one who told me how to deceive Marcel, to make him believe me!" ra stared unwaveringly at Ashlyn, who seemed somewhat deranged. Suddenly, Horatio''s voice emerged beside her. "Don''t worry about it, she''s not telling the truth. You''re very fortunate! I never lie!" Chapter 336 Listening to Horatio''s earnest words, ra zoned out for a moment! Was she beingforted by Horatio? Or did he think she was so fragile that she would do something rash? "Thanks, master, but I don''t think I''m unfortunate, actually. I consider myself pretty fortunate. That psychic said I was like a rainbow piercing through the sun. How''s that for a bad sign? Who but a creature of the dark would fear the sun? I n to be the brightest ra there can be!" Horatio gently shook his head. "Your pastry box is still on the floor." As ra picked up the box from the floor, she retorted, "So I dropped it, what''s the big deal?" "Nothing." Horatio carried a scent of sandalwood, a fragrance steeped from years of serving in front of the monastery altar, his presence radiating an almost untouchable aura. ra stared at Horatio for a moment, speaking from a ce of simple wisdom, "Master, I''ve got some half-baked ideas, but unfortunately, our country has a pretty solid legal system." "Huh?" ra pped Horatio on the shoulder in a chummy fashion. "Horatio, thanks, but I just helped you out too, so you owe me a thanks!" Horatio, a naturally intelligent man, was momentarily taken aback by ra''s nonsensical statement! "What are you on about?" What had she helped him with that he owed her thanks now? ra beamed, utterly convinced of her righteousness. "I saved you from a fair bit of harassment, thanks to my incredibly strong moralpass." Horatio''s fair and somewhat ethereal face briefly stiffened! She said she prevented harassment by controlling herself from harassing him? Horatio was at a loss for words, the phrase "God bless" almost escaping him but not quite. Was ra, Noe¡¯s sister, a bit too out there? Facing ra''s clear and piercing eyes, Horatio''s heart calmed down in an instant. There was no hidden agenda in ra''s gaze; she was speaking to him purely because... she was just work-crazy! Horatio let out a sigh of relief, silently shaking his head. It had been many years since he''de across someone like this, and he felt utterly defenseless! Marcel looked down at Ashlyn, who was unconscious on the floor. His sharp features still held a bit of a rugged charm, filled with a terrifying dignity. Just one look from him, and the deceitful Cassius felt his legs give out, falling to his knees begging for mercy! "I was hired by the Richardson family. They wanted the youngdy to acknowledge her lineage, and I thought it was a good thing..." Noe scoffed, "A good thing? Wasn¡¯t it because they offered you a hefty sum?" Cassius dared not speak, trembling on the floor. He truly regretted his agreement to cause trouble in families like the Schnabel family for some money! Helen snorted. "Marcel, what do you n to do with this old witch? Still got feelings?" "I never had feelings for her!" If it hadn''t been for his poor judgment back then, truly believing Garrick was a friend, and Harriet too, there wouldn''t have been so many regrets and misunderstandings between them! Helen spoke bluntly, "Nonsense. If you had no feelings, how could you marry her? She ims you two had a son, and you believed it just like that? It''s not like belts just fall off on their own." Known for speaking her mind, Helen cared little for how her wordsnded. In front of the younger generation, Marcel''s face turned red with embarrassment. It took him a while to tap the floor with his cane. "That''s all in the past. There was a day I had a bit to drink at a social, and Garrick kept insinuating, said he saw me entering another room. I always thought I entered the wrong room. All these years, I never touched her!" Helen raised an eyebrow. "Why are you telling me all this, you old yboy?" Marcel was at a loss for words. Wasn''t it Helen herself who brought it up? If she hadn''t mentioned it, he wouldn''t have been keen on dredging up those embarrassingly misguided actions of his past! And now he''s the old yboy? Truly, engaging in a three-sentence conversation with Helen meant preparing to be infuriated thrice over. Helen kicked Ashlyn, who was still on the floor. "If you have no feelings for her, and you''ve asked all you wanted, then she''s mine to deal with." "What do you want her for?" Helen waved for the Pock family bodyguards toe in, taking Cassius along with Ashlyn away. "The Pock family''s nursery home has been my residence. A few years back, Palmer made it mine to keep me happy. Officially speaking, your ex-wife needs some ''recovery time''. I''m bored; what''s more fun than spending time with an old friend from the past?" Although Marcel did not intervene, he doubted Helen was capable of such noble generosity. "And unofficially speaking?" This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Helen rolled her eyes, her lips drooping. "Dumbass. Since it¡¯s unofficial, why would I tell you?" Horatio chimed in, "Helen, isn''t your nursery home right across from the Schnabel family cemetery?" "Yep, a couple years back I was bored, and the doctor said I needed more exercise, so I took some digging tools and made a few holes in the mountainside. This old hag fits perfectly!" Helen had no intentions of letting Ashlyn off easy. This damned old woman, aside from everything else, how dare she im her granddaughter was unfortunate! Initially, Helen thought to let bygones be bygones, considering Ashlyn''s past mistreatment of ra was history. After all, Ashlyn wasn''t particrly kind to the other Schnabel children either. But this time, Helen was truly furious! Fortune? She was determined to dig up the most cursed grave just to bury that old witch straight into it! "I must be the kindest soul alive, arranging a burial site and providing full service in this day and age." Horatio nodded in agreement. "Indeed, your mercy knows no bounds." Seeing that the matter was nearly settled, the merciful Helen didn''t want to waste any more words on the Schnabel family and Marcel. Before leaving the Schnabel Manor, she turned to nce at ra."ra, remember this, if anyone like that ever tries to mess with you, you p them right back! If you break anything, I will cover it! At my age, stabbing a few people in broad daylight won''t make a difference. If anyone''s tired of living and bothers you, I will make sure they don''t live to regret it!" ra felt a warmth in her heart, and she smiled helplessly. Her grandma was truly a uniquely independent olddy. ra could only imagine how stunning her grandmother must have been in her youth! With a smile, ra stepped forward, bent slightly, and hugged the stern-faced Helen, nting a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you, Grandma. You''re my favorite." At that, Helen''s body stiffened! Chapter 337 For the first time in years, a member of the younger generation had drawn so near to her! As ra''s short hair tickled Helen''s face during the embrace, it stirred a sensation that echoed the joy the old woman felt in her heart. Feeling the love from her granddaughter, Helen tried to scold with a straight face, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her, curving into an uncontroble smile. "What''s all this hugging about? Off with you! Horatio, stop gawking ande along. I''ve got things to discuss with you!" "Right away." ra understood Helen''s difort with crowded situations and didn''t press her to stay for dinner. Exiting the Schnabel Manor, the smile lingered on Helen''s face. Seeing Helen touching her face and smiling to herself, Horatio was astounded. In all the years he''d known her, he''d never seen her exhibit such expressions of contentment, happiness, and tenderness. It was like a flood of emotions had swept over her. Horatio waved his hand in front of Helen''s face. "Helen, if you''re happy, why not just tell ra directly?" "What do you know? I''m at an age where I''m practically one foot in the grave. It''s only a matter of time for me." Helen was inherently free-spirited, perhaps due to her unique path in life, which made her somewhat reclusive and aloof. She didn''t want to grow too attached to ra, fearing the pain her eventual departure would cause the girl. After a moment of contemtion, Horatio sighed. "Given ra''s character, she won''t forget you, even if you''re not as close." Just the mere fact that Helen had once fiercely defended ra against baseless usations was enough for ra to forever remember her kindness. Helen paused, then touched her cheek again. "Is that so? Indeed, that child has a heart of gold." Everything she had done was worth it, after all. Horatio, puzzled, asked, "Is hugging how ra shows her gratitude and joy? Then why hasn''t she hugged me as well?" Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Helen gave Horatio a yful kick. "Shameless monk, go back to your prayers!" Confused, Horatio wondered why his simple wish for equal treatment was deemed shameless. Entering the Pock Mansion, Helen looked for Sexton without sess until she found the study door ajar. Sexton was coughing and seemed to be on a phone call. "I know, I''ve been keeping up with my injections. It''s okay, just some breathing issues. Visit when you can, bring some more medicine. Don''t tell Noe, that girl''s too tender-hearted. She''d me herself if she knew my condition was incurable. Just bring the painkillers, don''t fuss about the rest!" Helen, hand on the doorknob, froze upon hearing this. She didn''t enter but stood listening to Sexton''s calm instructions. "Now, my biggest concern is Jacob''s family, especially ra. Just let me tie up loose ends before I go. I''ll take whatever medication necessary, but keep Helen in the dark. It''s been a tough life for her. My biggest regrets are towards Kendra, Jacob, and...Helen." Helen closed the study door silently and walked away, expressionless. Back in her room, she sat on the bed, hands trembling as she covered her face, tears welling up in her eyes. ... At Serene Haven, the Schnabel Manor, Sienna fretted over the dinner table, constantly asking Noe if Malvina would enjoy the dishes prepared. Noe patiently reassured her each time. "Mom, Malvina loves sweets, and you''ve prepared five different cakes.¡± ra nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. She''s dined with us before and always praised our cooking." Sienna, experiencing the role of a mother-inw for the first time, was both nervous and excited. "It''s the first time your brother''s girlfriend is dining with us. Finally, one of my boys shows some promise. When will the others bring home a daughter-inw for me?" Thinking of Malvina''s tough life, Sienna''s heart went out to her. "Such a sweet girl, having faced so much hardship. If her mother were alive, she''d be heartbroken. I''m a mother too; I hope my daughters are treated well by their inws when I¡¯m gone. It''s only right to treat Malvina as my own. Having been a daughter and a daughter-inw myself, how could I possibly make life harder for her?" Sienna''s past experiences shaped her resolve to treat Malvina kindly, vowing never to let her suffer as she had under Ashlyn''s hand. Tristan immediately wrapped his arms around Sienna, supporting her unwavering kindness and empathy. "Honey! Don''t talk nonsense! If you are gone, I wouldn''t want to live either!" The couple''s dramatics were nothing new to the family. Marcel let out a sigh. "Fate can be so cruel. If Harriet were still with us, she would have made a wonderful mother, and a fantastic mother-inw." Worried that bringing up Marcel''s sorrow might worsen his condition, Noe nced at the clock. "Didn''t Ulrich say he''d be home by seven? Why isn''t he here yet?" Sienna, both annoyed and concerned, reached for her phone. "This kid, is he caught up in surgery again? Why didn¡¯t he call if he''s runningte? It''s almost eight now. We''re all waiting on him for dinner, and what if Malvina goes hungry?" Sienna''s thoughts were wholly consumed by her future daughter-inw! A few busy tones came from the other end of the line, Ulrich''s phone went unanswered! Sienna grew anxious and quickly dialed Malvina''s number, only to find it turned off! "What''s going on? Could something have happened to those two..." With that thought, Sienna lost her appetitepletely and started pacing the dining room, making several calls in a row. Palmer subtly caught Noe''s hand, motioning for her to look down, and slid his phone to her under the table. An urgent message from Annie was disyed on the screen: [Boss, Ms. Gruber and Dr. Schnabel were intercepted by the Shadow Dragon Society!] Chapter 338 [Ms. Noe had her people on it already. It¡¯s near Dr. Schnabel''sb.] Palmer, phone in hand, opened up his notes to reveal a single line: [Let''s not tell your parents just yet. Let''s head over together.] Noe knew Palmer didn''t want to worry the Schnabel family and nodded in agreement. Sienna and Tristan were pacing the dining room like headless chickens. After countless calls, Tristan was worried sick about Ulrich and Malvina. Noe''s eyes flickered, and she quickly texted Mizar. Soon, Tristan received a message about Ulrich being held up with an urgent experiment. Ulrich''s lab was top-secret, and it was true he would go off the grid during experiments. Sienna breathed a sigh of relief. "This kid, not even a call home. Making us all wait for dinner, it''s just not right." Tristan was still uneasy. "Beckett, would you mind checking on your brother? It''s unsettling." Jasper raised his hand. "Count me in! I''ve got to meet a client near hisb to pick up some evidence anyway. Might as well join you." Beckett massaged his temples. "If you''re heading that way, what''s the point of me going?" Noe looked at Beckett. "Beckett, I''ll go too." Beckett gave Noe and Palmer a puzzled look. "Just me and Jasper should suffice, no need for you to tag along." Noe kept herposure. "We''re going on a date." Near Ulrich''sb was a popr spot for couples, a ce many visited for romantic selfies. Hearing this from Noe got everyone''s attention. Beckett, however, nodded. It made sense for Noe, being young and drawn to romantic spots, to want to go, likely also out of concern for Ulrich. His sister was indeed the most kind-hearted and considerate! The evening''s drama left Marcel with a throbbing headache. "Alright, go check on Ulrich. I''m heading up." His marriage to Ashlyn, born from a misunderstanding, hadsted many years, a torment to endure. Sienna asked, "Dad, should we call Dr. Hill?" Dr. Hill was the Schnabels'' family doctor, living just a building away in Serene Haven, always a call away. Marcel waved it off. "At my age, Dr. Hill would only say things I don''t want to hear. Forget it!" Sienna had Stirling help Marcel upstairs to rest. Watching Marcel''s stooped figure, Sienna felt worried. "I''ll have Dr. Hill check on him tomorrow, just to be safe." "No need for such fuss. Let Ulrich look after him when he gets back." Sienna scolded, "He''s your father, not a fuss! Trust me on this!" Tristan nodded, and the couple embraced once more. "Honey, your kindness, especially towards my father, just shows how much you love me! Lately, seeing you, it''s like reliving my first love all over again. My heart races, and I''m smitten once more." Witnessing the couple, Jasper shuddered. "Noe, let''s get out of here. ra, you too." Too much of this sappy disy had Jasper worried his dear, innocent sisters might end up with sore eyes. After a trip abroad, Tristan and Sienna''s bond seemed stronger. The Schnabel kids were convinced that perhaps their parents were the true love story, and they, merely happy idents. ... At Ulrich''sb, Beckett parked on the curb, Jasper hopping out immediately. Beckett couldn''t help but cringe at Jasper''s shy attire. A Hawaiian shirt with loud, colorful ties, never fully buttoned, screamed yboy. His wide-legged pants jingled with metal rings. Paired with his confident, asionally roguish smile, it gave Beckett a headache. "Why can''t you dress normally for once, Jasper?" "Beckett, I''m not in court. I''ll wear what I like." Aside from court appearances, Jasper dressed to please himself. ra defended him, "Let Jasper wear what makes him happy. He looks good in anything." "Even in a fertilizer sack?" Jasper quipped. ra pictured that scene seriously! Imagining Jasper, often seen in court, dressed in a fertilizer sack, ra couldn''t help but burst into laughter! Seeing herugh, Jasper''s mood lifted. He had been worried the evening''s events might have upset ra. Her smile reassured Jasper all was well. Spotting Darcy nearby, Jasper waved. "Ms. Darcy, over here!" Darcy, dressed in a light blue dress and a quaint hat, exuded elegance. "Sorry to trouble you, Jasper, making youe all this way." "No worries. I was just visiting Ulrich with Beckett, so it''s on the way." "With your... big brother?" Darcy hadn''t seen Beckett since theirst encounter at the hospital. Beckett''s social media profile was almost eerily quiet, with just a single family portrait of the Schnabel family as his background. In it, Beckett and his brothers stood in the back, while the two sisters nestled close to the three elders seated in the front row. The only post on his social media was a celebration of the Rising Glory Group going public. For some reason, Darcy found herself inexplicably saving a silhouette photo Beckett had used as his profile picture. It was unmistakably him - seated under the soft glow of his office light, with the vast expanse of the azure ocean visible through the towering floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, Beckett¡¯s profile was as striking as a statue. The Schnabels were a good-looking bunch, but Beckett, the eldest, possessed a certain mature and steady charm that was unforgettable. Jasper seemed genuinely curious. "Yeah, Beckett drove here himself. Ms. Darcy, you''ve met Beckett. He''s single, why not consider him?" Darcy was taken aback, half-convinced Beckett had spilled the beans about their past to Jasper. But then Jasper blithely continued, "I''ve yed matchmaker for Beckett so many times, but he never takes it seriously!" So, it was a scattergun approach. Darcy smiled demurely, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She made up a casual excuse, "I''m not really into guys from big families, with so many brothers." To her surprise, Jasper took herment to heart and said earnestly, "I''d take a bullet for that, and so would Ulrich!"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Chapter 339 Darcy was at a loss for words. It wasn''t the first time she''d had a conversation with Jasper, and by now she was fairly acquainted with his temperament. The man could talk circles around anyone, yet in court, he was as sharp and unyielding as they came. Jasper swiftly transitioned to the main topic. ¡°The other party wishes to get in touch with you, and they also mentioned that your father has been keeping you and your sister in his thoughts.¡± Darcy shook her head firmly. "I don''t see any need to reconnect. My father''s gone, and all I want is to secure what''s rightfully mine and my sister''s." "Okay, I''ll ry the message. But she mentioned having something to give you, apparently something your father intended for you." After a brief pause, Darcy said, "Sentimental gestures hold no value for me. I feel no sympathy for a woman who engages in extramarital affairs. Whether it''s my father or her, they''re both perpetrators who have caused harm to my mother." Jasper, ever the professional, didn''t delve into emotional counsel. He was awyer, not a therapist. Darcy subtly nced towards the car parked on the curb, declining Jasper''s offer to grab a drink. "I''ve got things to handle. We''ll catch up another time when you need more documents." ¡°Alright, goodbye.¡± As Darcy walked away, Jasper returned to his car, where Beckett had been waiting. Beckett withdrew his gaze, calmly asking, "What did you talk about?" He was well aware of all of Darcy''s little habits. She would often y with her hair when feeling uneasy, likely due to something Jasper said! Jasper replied, "I asked Ms. Darcy to consider you. She mentioned not liking families with many brothers, so I joked that I and the other brothers could go die together. She politely declined. Quite courteous, actually." Beckett nced at Jasper with resignation. "The next time you meet a client, start matchmaking for me, and I''ll just send you off to be a professional matchmaker." Jasper zipped his lips. Casually driving the car towards Ulrich''sboratory, Beckett remarked as if by chance, "With Ms. Darcy¡¯s case, is it inheritance matters?" "Yes!" Beckett recalled the strained rtionship Darcy had with her family during her school years. Despite her father''s desire for a son, he ended up with two daughters. Determined to have a son, he resorted to having an affair. "Pay extra attention to her requests, considering she''s... Noe''s teacher." "I understand. Ms. Darcy''s sister even works for Noe, so they''re practically family." Jasper casually mentioned the situation of the Darcy sisters. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "The other party wants to get some money, but our country''sws do not acknowledgemonw marriages, nor do they have any documentation like a will. Now, the other party aims to appeal to Ms. Darcy''s emotions." "She won''t be swayed." "Yeah... how did you know?" "Reading people, am I worse than you?" Beckett, after all, was a leader in the financial industry, having met countless people, so Jasper didn''t think much of it. Concerned about client privacy, Jasper refrained from saying more. The car stopped outside Ulrich''sb, and Jasper helped ra out of the car. Maintaining aposed demeanor, Beckett said, ¡°You two go find Ulrich. I''ll take Noe and Mr. Pock to the nearby park.¡± Noe interjected, ¡°Beckett, we can manage on our own. The scenery here is also quite lovely." Near theboratory, there was a vast field of flowers used for experiments. When not in use for experiments, it was open to the public, making it a popr spot for visitors. As they reached the park near theboratory, Annie, hidden among the bushes, breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Noe and Palmer strolling hand in hand. "Ms. Noe, Boss, Dr. Schnabel and Ms. Gruber are in that house over there," Annie said. Noe nodded, her gaze shifting to the small houses surrounding the flowerbeds, where members of Pris Star were perched, waiting for an opportunity. Alioth bounded over excitedly. "Boss, your brother and sister-inw are safe. They''re currently ying games with the people from Shadow Dragon Society!" Annie raised an eyebrow. "What game?" "Hehe, you''ll see when you get there!" ¡­ Watching Noe walk hand in hand with Palmer towards the park ahead, Beckett casually turned off the car''s lights. The interior fell into dimness, illuminated only by the glowing tip of his cigar. The scent of nicotine lingered in the air, enveloping him in its embrace. He knew Darcy would never forgive her father, recalling their conversation from their school years when she spoke of her past. Her words from back then still echoed in Beckett''s ears. "My dad doesn''t care about me. All he sees is money. I earned a schrship to study abroad." "He gave me money, probably hoping I''d take care of him in his old age. I can''t betray my mom." "You don''t understand the pride of us poor people, so please, stop asking, okay?" ¡­ Beckett felt strangely embarrassed! Back then, he hadn''t taken those words to heart, but now, he realized he remembered every single thing she had said! With a weary sigh, Beckett closed his eyes before reaching for his phone to dial a number. "I''ve sent you a case. You must ensure the maximum benefit for the intiff, and put it on Jasper''s te." "Mr. Schnabel, isn''t Jasper''s firm already handling this case?" "Do as I say." The secretary quickly agreed. Putting away his phone, Beckett extinguished the cigar in his hand, gathered his thoughts, nced towards the direction of theb, and drove off! Darcy lived nearby, but at this hour, the buses had already stopped running. She didn''t want to take a taxi either, so she decided to walk back, treating it as a leisurely stroll, her mind in a tangled mess. Darcy was still in a daze when the car pulled up beside her. Beckett rolled down the window, his expression a bit icy. "Get in, I''ll give you a lift." "No, that''s okay, I can walk..." "You''re Noe''s teacher, and I don''t want anything happening to you. It would be a hassle for Noe to have to adjust to a new teacher." His words were too cold. Darcy swallowed the words she had on the tip of her tongue. So, it was to spare Noe the inconvenience of adjusting to a new teacher! Feeling a bit disheartened, Darcy opened the car door and got in. "Thanks, Mr. Schnabel." As she settled into the car, Darcy sensed the awkward atmosphere. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she spoke up, "What did you mean by the message you left mest time, Mr. Schnabel?" Beckett''s expression remained neutral, his eyes fixed on the road. "Do I not have a name? Or is it that you''ve been calling me Mr. Schnabel since you met me?" Darcy almost bit her tongue! What had she called him before? Beckett? Wasn¡¯t it impolite to call him that now? Darcy turned her head away. "Whatever I call you is my choice. I''m not one of your employees; you can''t control that." Beckett adjusted his tie and cracked a smile. "So, whatever message I send you is my choice too! I''m not your student; you can''t control that either!" Chapter 340 In the central flowerbed of the park near theb, there were several small wooden cabins, usually used for tourist sightseeing. Noe, with a raised eyebrow, revealed, "This ce falls within the Pris Star''s secret operational base." When the Shadow Dragon Society made their move, everyone at Pris Star was caught off guard! Phecda peeked out from behind some bushes. "Who knew? We were just grabbing a bite, and they thought this ce was empty. Next thing, they''re hauling someone right in front of us!" The shock was palpable among the Pris Star crew. Annie had a moment of realization. "So this area was under your control all along. Had I known, I wouldn''t have worried!" No wonder her boss and Ms. Noe were taking their sweet time, strolling hand in hand without a care in the world! Phecda exined, "Our boss prefers to keep a low profile. Thisb mainly dabbles in developing perfumes and cosmetics. The production chain is quite lengthy, so we usually sell off the finished product for a tidy profit. And there''s this sucker who keeps buying our forms, even giving us a cut of the annual profits." Annie paused for a moment. "If I''m not mistaken, our conglomerate''s beauty division is involved in coborating with Pris Star''s perfume venture, under the direct supervision of my boss." So, the ''sucker'' Phecda mentioned was right in front of them! Noe couldn''t help but let out a chuckle. Phecda quickly put on a smile. "Mr. Pock, we have some new forms in development. Boss has given her approval. Would you be interested in signing up for more?" Palmer, with his stoic charm, only had eyes for Noe. "Am I the sucker here?" Noe simply shrugged. "If that''s how you see it, I can¡¯t change your mind." Watching her yful demeanor, Palmer affectionately tapped Noe''s nose, shaking his head in fond exasperation. "If Noe approves, of course, we''ll sign." "Mr. Pock, always so generous!" As Noe headed towards one of the lit-up cabins, she teased, "Mr. Pock, ready to sign without even a sniff?" This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Palmer looped an arm around Noe''s waist, whispering suggestively close, "Haven''t I already caught a whiff from you?" She had been wearing a different fragrancetely, a rich blend of lily-of-the-valley with a captivating fruity note. Palmer had assumed it was thetest scent on the market! "Mr. Pock, you seem to know perfume quite well." "Of course, understanding the female market is part of my business." The others, walking in front, acted as if they saw and heard nothing. Inside the cabin, Robert held a knife to Ulrich''s face, his tone icy. "Kid, thinking you can charm someone from the Shadow Dragon Society? Better to give up on that now!" Ulrich barely reacted. "What do you want?" As Robert¡¯s cold, scarred face loomed closer, the sharp de grazed Ulrich''s skin, sending chills down his spine. "I just want you to know that this girl isn¡¯t one to be trusted. No decent girl would flirt with older men since her teens." Robert taunted, while Malvina, expressionless, watched with eyes devoid of any emotion, merely observing. "Kid, you think you''re invincible? Chasing after any woman?" Ulrich narrowed his eyes slightly. "You look unwell. Your liver seems off, your breath smells, your teeth are yellow, and your tongue coating is quite telling. You should visit a hospital when you have the chance." Before Robert could rage, Ulrich offered, "You could try the Schnabel Group''s hospital. I can get you a discount." "The Schnabel Group? What¡¯s your role there?" Beforeying a hand on Ulrich, Robert knew he was a doctor. Malvina, that girl, would often run off to the hospital, likely for this pretty-boy physician! Besides, Ulrich didn¡¯t seem like he belonged to any gang. Robert''s intention in taking Ulrich and Malvina was to manipte Malvina into marrying his eldest son. If he could marry Malvina off to his son, the Shadow Dragon Society would naturally fall under his control! Should Malvina resist, he''d ensure she joined her mother in the afterlife! As Robert interrogated with a furrowed brow, Ulrich skillfully untied his binds, grabbing the knife and striking Robert where it hurt most. In a swift motion, the situation was reversed! The knife now rested at Robert''s throat, Ulrich''s demeanor far removed from his usual genteel appearance, his eyes tinged with a hint of bloodthirsty red. "Ever been told to check who you''re dealing with before starting a game? I couldn''t care less about whatever Malvina has done. I chose her for who she is, not for rumors or nder!" "Who... who are you with?" "Such foolishness. It¡¯s been years since anyone dared speak to the Schnabel family with such ignorance." "The Schnabel family... Which Schnabel family?" Ulrich was almost amused by Robert''s brazen ignorance. "In Imperial City, how many Schnabel families do you think there are?" Of course, there''s only one Schnabel family in Imperial City! Not to mention Robert, even the whole Shadow Dragon Societybined wouldn''t dare to mess with the Schnabels! "You''re a young master of the Schnabel family? Impossible! How could someone from the Schnabel family be so easily taken away by me?" Ulrich smirked. "Of course, it wasn''t easy. So, guess who really took whom?" Robert didn''t hear any response from his men. When he turned around, he discovered all of them sprawled on the floor! His heart sank! "It''s impossible! That brat, Malvina - how did she end up with a young master of the Schnabels? Do you even know who she is..." Ulrich silenced Robert with a p across the face. With a hardened expression, he pressed the knife a bit more against Robert''s neck, drawing a line of blood and causing Robert to grimace in pain! "I know exactly who she is. And I also know, if I press my knife a bit harder, you''ll be ying poker with the Grim Reaper soon. Excited?" Malvina, observing the scene, whispered to Ulrich, "It takes four to y poker." Ulrich grabbed Robert''s hand, tied him up with surgical precision, and after finishing, pulled Malvina closer and nted a kiss on her cheek! "Brilliant, so we''ll just have to send three more down. He still has two kids and a wife, right? Perfect fit!" Chapter 341 Malvina waspletely taken aback by the kiss! Ever since they got together, Ulrich had been living a life osciting between the operating room and the Shadow Dragon Society, just like before. They hardly spent any real quality time together. Malvina herself was swamped with her own pile of issues, not to mention the gang''s internal squabbles. This was, arguably, their closest moment yet! Gazing at Ulrich, memories of their first encounter flooded back to Malvina. That version of Ulrich seemed more genuine. Sinister, rebellious, with a touch of morbidity, his gaze was usually cold. Except when he looked at her, it was always tender! Suddenly, Malvina realized that beneath Ulrich''s typically genteel and somewhat stiff exterior lurked something far more intimidating. Yet, she didn¡¯t dislike this side of Ulrich¡ªin fact, she found herself somewhat drawn to it! Robert was taken aback by Ulrich''s words. ¡°You¡­ you touched my kids?¡± Ulrich found a chair for Malvina to sit on, then crouched beside her to massage the marks left by the ropes. His touch was gentle, but his tone was ice-cold. ¡°Well, you wanted my woman to marry your son, so I had to see for myself what kind of fool he was. And I happened toe across your other kid too. I¡¯m a doctor, after all, more on the benevolent side, so I just helped them reunite. Couldn¡¯t bear to see a family torn apart.¡± Robert¡¯s eyes widened, only now realizing he had crossed someone untouchable! This kid, wasn¡¯t he just a pretty face who couldn¡¯t throw a punch in an underground fight club? Facing this young man, Robert felt his legs tremble uncontrobly. Ulrich continued, ¡°Your life is cheap, riddled with disease. Your son¡¯s life, however, intrigues me. But you¡¯re quite the breeder, aren¡¯t you? Another bastard child? Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll be reunited too.¡± Robert¡¯s heart pounded like a drum! Damn it! The silence outside was so profound, one could hear birds chirping over theke in the park! It was clear his men had been taken out. Had he known Ulrich was a Schnabel family member, Robert would have never dared to touch him! Malvina, surprised, asked, ¡°You investigated him?¡± Ulrich gently unclenched Malvina¡¯s fists, which were tight with tension. ¡°You won¡¯t tell me. So couldn¡¯t I just look into it myself? Malvina, you really don¡¯t listen, do you? Don¡¯t you trust that I love you?¡± Even after getting together, Malvina often avoided him. Ulrich understood¡ªit was all about trust. She didn¡¯t believe his feelings were genuine. ¡°I haven¡¯t. I¡¯m just¡­ too busy.¡± ¡°Lies. You had time to visit me at the hospital before bing my girlfriend. Now, you¡¯re suddenly too busy? Malvina, are you regretting saying yes to me?¡± Facing Ulrich¡¯s slightly reddened eyes, a chill ran down Malvina¡¯s spine. She wanted to believe in love, but doubted such good fortune would befall her, especially not with someone as wonderful as Ulrich. Why would someone like him love her? Instinctively, she nodded, then shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t regret it. I¡¯m just afraid you will. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t have faith in you; I don¡¯t trust myself. Robert was right about me.¡± Ulrich¡¯s grip tightened on Malvina¡¯s chin. ¡°Say that again? Remember, you are better than anyone else! Even if you doubt yourself, you can¡¯t doubt me or Noe! She considers you a friend, which means you are the best. In my presence, you better drop that inferiorityplex. You believe what everyone else says, so why can¡¯t you believe me?¡± Malvina shivered, but Ulrich forced her to meet his gaze. With no escape from his stare and tears brimming in her eyes, she could only nod in agreement. ¡°There, good. I¡¯ll take care of some things, then we¡¯ll head home for dinner.¡± Ulrich caressed her chin, stretched his wrists, and approached the bound Robert. ¡°Your turn now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you say. I won¡¯t cross Malvina in the gang again!¡± Ulrich smirked. ¡°What kind of deal is that? Do you think I¡¯d trust your word? It seems safer to keep you here permanently. Flowers nurtured with human remains bloom beautifully.¡± Robert¡¯s skin crawled! ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°The Shadow Dragon Society¡¯s port operations will go to Malvina, along with all the dealings in District 13.¡± That was almost all of Robert¡¯s most valuable assets! It wasn¡¯t that Ulrich didn¡¯t want the rest; he just found them too dirty. What he wanted for Malvina had to be clean. ¡°You¡¯re mad! Malvina can¡¯t handle those operations!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you¡¯re for? Once Malvina can stand on her own, your sons will return to you. Oh, and before that, I¡¯ll ensure you¡¯re sterilized. People often only value what they have once they can no longer have more.¡± Sterilization? Was this guy insane? Robert was on the verge of copse! ¡°What¡¯s your endgame? She¡¯s just a girl! What don¡¯t you have that you¡¯d go to these lengths for her?¡± It was clear to him that Ulrich¡¯s madness was triggered by Malvina! With a lightugh, Ulrich said, ¡°Myb is next door. Don¡¯t worry, I have a steady hand. But if I get upset, sterilization might turn into castration. As for whether it¡¯s worth it¡­¡± Ulrich¡¯s fist clenched, his smile vanishing in an instant as he delivered a punch to Robert¡¯s gut! His voice turned cold, his face shadowed. ¡°I crown my princess; who has the right to voice their opinion?¡± Robert spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling like his insides were doing somersaults! Meanwhile, in a nearby cabin, a group huddled together, their eyes glued to the monitor disying the adjacent cabin. Phecda and Mizar were practically gasping for air! Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Boss, is your entire family made up of psychopaths or what?" The spectacle before them was shockingly intense! Annie, who had briefly coborated with Ulrich, shrugged. "Dr. Schnabel used to work as a medic on the borders, right on the perilous front lines. He''s usually cool as a cucumber, but once he''s ticked off, watch out. Thest time Dr. Schnabel lost his cool, it was even scarier." Noe raised an eyebrow. "You mean when my brother got hurt?" "Exactly! Dr. Schnabel mentioned that you, Ms. Noe, are one of the most important women in his life. Anyone who dares to mess with you is marked by him!" Phecda snapped his jaw back into ce. "Dr. Schnabel and our boss really are cut from the same cloth. Truly a family thing!" Palmer turned to Noe, his voice soft. "Would you do the same for the person you like?" Noe looked back at him, unwavering. "Absolutely!" Chapter 342 Inside theb. Ulrich''s assistant, Lily, poured two sses of water with a smile. "The boss is indeed in the middle of an experiment, please wait a moment." For Jasper and ra, this wasn''t their first visit to theb. ra waved her hand, "No worries, go on with your tasks. I''ll just look around." Being in the research field herself, ra knew what she could touch and what she couldn''t. "Thisb''s equipment is top-notch!" It''s no wonder it''s considered the leading medical researchb in the country. Lily chuckled, "Still, it''s nothingpared to the Pris Star''sb. The boss couldn''t stop praising it after his visitst time." ra was puzzled. "Which batch of equipment does Pris Star have?" "Thetest. The boss mentioned seeing some gear from the Pock Group there. Seems like Pris Star customized it further, making their experiments the most urate in the country." ra raised an eyebrow. "The Pock Group gear?" The Pock Group''s range is vast, but to think Pris Star would just go ahead and purchase such high-ticket items! That''s theb of her idol, indeed powerful! Ulrich, in his white coat, emerged from the innerb. Knowing that visitors from the Schnabel family were looking for him, he had returned to theb through a back door. Robert was already lying on the operating table. Ulrich instructed his assistant, "Since he''s a tough guy, let''s skip the anesthesia." "Boss, are you really going to perform a vasectomy?" Ulrich replied coldly, "Just scare him a bit." It''d be a waste to use their surgical equipment on someone like Robert for a real vasectomy. The assistant worried, "But if he finds out he''s still fertileter on, wouldn''t Ms. Gruber be in danger?" Ulrich shook his head. "I don''t n to keep him around that long. All the evidence of his crimes is ready. I''ll use him to clean up the Shadow Dragon Society!" For Robert, prison was the best ce. Ulrich''s cold gaze softened as he approached Jasper and ra with a warm smile. "Jasper, ra, sorry for the sudden experiment. Forgot to inform Mom and Dad!" ra waved it off, "No worries. Dad was just worried about you, that''s why he sent us. Where''s Malvina?" "With Noe outside." "As long as you''re okay! I saw an experiment report here, the technique looks a lot like my idol''s." Ulrich raised an eyebrow, "You mean Pris Star¡¯s Loadstar? Why would I have her stuff here?" ra was also confused. She had studied all of Loadstar''s reports and was familiar with her techniques. But that report was signed by Professor Calvin. Could it be Professor Calvin changed his methods recently? ¡­ At the Falen Gemstones. The grand and bright jewelrypany was bustling, and as the general manager''s office door opened, the secretary peeked several times but didn''t catch a glimpse of Noe. A middle-aged man with a coffee cup passed by, disdainfully saying, "Just a young girl, why all the fuss? Find some excuse to send her packing!" The professionally dressed secretary retorted, "Cosmo! Ms. Noe is thepany''s owner now, show some respect!" Cosmo, a senior manager, rolled his eyes. "A parachuter, thinking she can boss us around just because she studied jewelry design in college. Life really does hand out fortunes at birth. Some people are just born lucky." His tone was sharp and bitter, grating on the ears. The secretary ignored him, her eyes lighting up when she saw the girl walking in through the door! Long, slender legs, white sneakers with a floral design, Noe wore a somewhat schoolgirl-like dress and casually carried a shoulder bag as she entered! The secretary expected Noe to wear a high-end suit on her first day but was surprised to see her looking no different from a student just out of ss. Yet, those cold eyes swept over, and although the secretary was admiring Noe''s wless complexion, feeling envious of the Schnabel family''s good genes, she couldn''t help but shiver under that gaze! Quickly stepping forward, she bowed slightly, "Ms. Noe, I''m your secretary, Marisol. Wee to thepany. Would you like me to schedule a meeting?" Noe nced around the officeyout, her gaze sweeping over the curious onlookers. She composed herself, stating tly, "No need, I''m just here to have a look. Are the rest of the employees here to do aerobics in front of the general manager''s office?" The employees, curious or hoping to catch a glimpse of drama, didn''t matter to Noe. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Cosmo stepped forward to smooth things over. "Ms. Noe, everyone just wanted to wee you. Plus, ourpany culture is rxed; we don''t require employees to stay at their desks all the time." Noe nced at him. Marisol quickly introduced, "This is Cosmo, the head of our design department, responsible for the new season''s jewelry designs." Noe nodded, "Cosmo, noted. I was wondering, whichpany policy allows employees to take their breaks in front of the general manager''s office? If the break room and lounge are just for show, we might as well get rid of them." Cosmo touched his nose, looking somewhat embarrassed. He had intended to curry favor with the long-standing employees in front of Noe, rallying them to his side, but didn''t expect Noe to directly challenge him! Indeed, a new boss brings new rules! Cosmo, with a nce at Noe, took his coffee and left. Walking into the office, Noe settled into her chair at her desk. Her phone was buzzing with a barrage of messages. She had gotten hometest night, and Tristan had woken up just to give Ulrich a piece of his mind. The gist of it was Ulrich had been caught up with his experiments and hadn''t bothered to inform anyone at home, leaving Malvina to fend for herself without dinner. Without stirring Sienna, Tristan hadid into Ulrich and ordered him to bring Malvina home for dinner tonight. Noe had received a nudge from Merrick to check in at the office! She understood that the old man was worried the school drama was weighing on her and wanted to give her something to do to take her mind off things. Marisol handed Noe a financial report, which Noe casually set aside. "I need the staff details. I''ll look at the financialster." "Sure thing." Just as Noe began to review the personnel structure of Falen Gemstones, a raucous noise came from the corridor. "What''s going on?" Marisol stepped out to take a look, reprimanding, "Cosmo, what''s this impromptu meeting about?" How could there be a meeting right when the boss arrives! Cosmo shrugged off the criticism with a carefree smile. "It''s a routine meeting for the design department. We didn''t invite Ms. Noe since she''s just a freshman. I was worried it might go over her head." Marisol caught the subtext right away! This was clearly a power move against the new leader! Chapter 343 Marisol was once a bright young student sponsored through college by the generous Merrick. Her journey from a remote Appchian town to the halls of higher education was made possible through the kindness of Merrick and the wise Freya, who insisted that Marisol had to break free from her mountain chains. As the least favored child in her family, and a girl at that, Marisol nearly found herself traded off to a local widower for a sum that would barely cover a small car payment, had it not been for Freya. During one of her field research trips, she saw potential in Marisol and decided to support her academic journey for many years. When Freya was too busy with her ndestine experiments to make public appearances, Merrick stepped in, ensuring Marisol could pursue both her undergraduate and graduate studies. To Marisol, Merrick and Freya were nothing short of angels. And considering the exemry nature of Merrick and Freya, it was clear their granddaughter, Noe, was no ordinary girl. Even if Noe had been the most clueless college student, Marisol wouldn''t let anyone in thepany disrespect her. "Cosmo! First off, the design department meetings are scheduled for the third of every month, and we''ve already had this month''s meeting. Besides, Ms. Noe will be the future boss of this company. What gives you the right to exclude her from the meetings? And you''ve seen Ms. Noe''s design drafts. Don''t act like you don''t know whether she has a knack for design. You''ve been with thepany for over a decade. Don''t tell me you''ve forgotten how things work here?" Though technically Cosmo was subordinate to Marisol, he always acted like he held thepany''s lifeline, barely acknowledging Marisol''s authority. "Marisol, aren''t you being a bit harsh? How do we even know if those are really Ms. Noe''s own designs? She''s not familiar with thepany''s operations or design direction yet. Maybe it''s best she gets limated first." "Our firm is second to none in Imperial City. I think we need a redo of this month''s meeting and perhaps a special session. I''m only thinking of Ms. Noe''s best interests. You know, meetings can be so dreary. Most youngdies would rather avoid them. But, of course, if Ms. Noe wishes to attend, she''s more than wee!" Marisol was fuming at Cosmo''s audacious excuses! As she was about to defend Noe, the young woman herself stepped forward. "Let''s go. I''ll attend." A moment of shock froze Cosmo''s expression. He had hoped to intimidate Noe upon her arrival. The talent and strength evident in Noe''s jewelry design drafts had sent a shiver down his spine. If those designs were indeed Noe''s, Cosmo feared his days of dominating the design department could be numbered. With Noe''s understanding of design, he would no longer be able to rule the roost at thepany. Just the thought was enough to rob Cosmo of sleep. Considering Noe was still a college student unfamiliar with the corporate world, Cosmo nned to marginalize her within thepany. Gritting his teeth, he managed, "Wee, Ms. Noe, right this way..." Noe, paying him no heed, walked into the meeting room with Marisol and chose a discreet spot to sit. Cosmo, leading the design team into the room, was taken aback to see Noe sitting aside. Despite her youthful attire of a pleated skirt and blouse, and her fresh-faced appearance, Noe''s calm, authoritative gaze unsettled everyone present. She might have been a student, but her demeanor reminded them of Marcel¡ªa figure of authority. Cosmo''s nned speech was swallowed back at the sight of Noe''smanding presence. He passed a water jug to a designer nearby. "Simeon, would you mind fetching some water for us?" Noe observed Simeon, a man in his forties whose profile she had reviewed in thepany documents. Simeon, a seasoned jewelry designer with international training, should have been in a leading role if it weren''t for Cosmo''s interference. Simeon''s silent protest, "Next time, I won''t be doing these errands. I''m a designer, not a gofer," challenged Cosmo''s expectations. Cosmo''s attempt to maintain hisposure failed miserably as the room picked up on the tension. Marisol, worried Noe might not grasp the office dynamics, whispered an exnation. "In the corporate world, it''s usually the interns and newbies who end up doing menial tasks as a form of hazing. But Simeon, with his experience, is being deliberately humiliated by Cosmo." Noe nodded in understanding, recognizing the tant power y. No reputablepany would reduce a senior designer with over a decade of service to fetching water, highlighting the toxic environment Cosmo fostered. Noe flipped through the design department''s drafts with her gaze fixed on the pages. The final designs usually bore Cosmo''s name, but from the initial drafts, it was clear that the most outstanding work was Simeon''s. The designs Cosmo submitted bore traces of Simeon''s original ideas. People in design have a keen eye for these things! Cosmo''s own drafts weren''t as striking, but after incorporating elements borrowed from Simeon''s work, they transformed into a wless design. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Beckett, usually swamped with other tasks, hadn''t spent much time on personnel management at Falen Gemstones, where the staff were mostly long-standing employees. It seemed thepany inherited from his grandfather did have its issues after all. Cosmo shot Simeon a dark look! Being shown up in front of the new boss meant Simeon wasn''t going to have an easy time ahead. Noe spoke up, her tone icy. "What about the actual content of the meeting? Assign menial tasks like pouring water to the support staff; don''t waste time on it. If Cosmo''s meetings are just about this, I seriously wonder if we''re conducting business or ying house. If Cosmo''s idea of ying house needs this many people, is he looking for ymates or what? I didn''t realize Cosmo was so in touch with his inner child!" Chapter 344 Everyone was doing their best not to burst outughing! Ms. Noe was just too hrious. It had been years since anyone had dared to speak to Cosmo in such a bold manner at the office. Noe''s frank words also left Cosmo feeling like he had just been pped across the face! He knew from the get-go that this new boss was going to be a handful! If they let such a young woman run wild in thepany, it might just spell disaster! Noe, with an emotionless face and a frosty demeanor, said, ¡°Cosmo, got a problem? You mentioned we''re here for a meeting, yet I''ve seen nothing substantial so far.¡± Cosmo had no choice but to move past the incident, taking several deep breaths internally before turning to Simeon. ¡°Simeon, it¡¯s your turn to present your career report, go ahead.¡± Simeon just shrugged. ¡°Boss, this meeting was sprung on usst minute. My career report isn¡¯t due until the 3rd of next month; I''m not prepared. Looks like you¡¯re up.¡± Cosmo couldn¡¯t keep hisposure anymore! ¡°Simeon, shouldn¡¯t your presentation be ready by now?¡± ¡°I only got the memo yesterday, and it mentioned the meeting on the 3rd of next month. Plus, I had over a dozen design drafts to revise. Do you think I have nothing else to do?¡± Cosmo always wanted results the very next day, that¡¯s just how he was! But not everyone was as idle as Cosmo. Noe nced through the overtime records of the design department. Simeon was practically working overtime till 10 PM every day, though his regr duties were completed before the day ended. Even so, Cosmo had once denied Simeon''s overtime request, thinking Simeon was just after the overtime pay. Yet, Simeon¡¯s work still had to be finished on time. Thus, for a long period, Simeon worked unpaid overtime! Noe raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is Simeon the only employee in the design department? The overtime situation is unreasonable, and you¡¯ve done nothing about it?¡± Cosmo waved it off. ¡°Ms. Noe, you don¡¯t understand. This Simeon, he cks off during work hours and piles up all his work for the evening to im overtime pay!¡± Noe coldly replied, ¡°Judging by the workload, it seems more likely that you, Cosmo, are the one after the overtime pay.¡± Cosmo chuckled awkwardly, ¡°That¡¯s not true. I alwaysplete my work on time, so I don¡¯t need to do overtime!¡± Noe¡¯s gaze moved past Cosmo,nding on the honest face of Simeon. ¡°The overtime pay will bepensated. Falen Gemstones doesn¡¯t mistreat any employee. Of course, those who wish to ck off aren¡¯t wee here.¡± Simeon¡¯s eyes lit up! ¡°Thank you, Ms. Schnabel!¡± Cosmo grumbled, ¡°Ms. Noe, you clearly don¡¯t understand ourpany¡¯s policies. Simeon is just trying to ck off!¡± Noe closed the file in her hand, her clear, piercing gaze holding a hint of icy understanding. ¡°Cosmo, if Simeon is problematic, we can always discuss his dismissal. Or are you trying to save thepany some severance expenses?¡± Cosmo didn¡¯t want to fire Simeon because without him, Cosmo would lose his go-to person for polishing his drafts! Cosmo¡¯s gaze darted around, avoiding a direct answer. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because I¡¯m concerned about Simeon, who has two kids to support¡­ I couldn¡¯t bear it¡­¡± ¡°Cosmo, if you¡¯re usingpany resources to foster your personal sense of humanitarianism, I''m not in agreement. I¡¯m in need of a design assistant. Simeon, let''s have Marisol discuss your sry.¡± Cosmo¡¯s face twitched uncontrobly! Being the design department¡¯s deputy director versus being the CEO¡¯s design assistant, it was clear which position sounded more prestigious. However, everyone in the design department knew that Simeon¡¯s deputy director title was in name only. Being called deputy director meant being Cosmo¡¯s errand boy! Cosmo was visibly upset. ¡°Ms. Noe, you can¡¯t just demote Simeon upon your arrival.¡± Noe looked at Simeon, calmly stating, ¡°Your sry will increase by 20% on your current base, with yourmission rate going from 50 to 60, and weekends off. I dislike overtime, consider it.¡± Simeon¡¯s eyes sparkled! With such a significant sry increase and no overtime, who cared if the job title didn¡¯t sound as morous as before! Knowing the hardships of his current position, and considering theck of overtime pay, Simeon felt a surge of excitement meeting Noe''s strategic gaze. He stood up, fists clenched, his blood boiling with enthusiasm. ¡°Absolutely! I¡¯m thrilled to join your team!¡± Cosmo¡¯s cup spilled as he knocked it over in shock! ¡°Simeon, think this through. If you leave, you¡¯ll have nothing to do with our team anymore!¡± Noe scoffed. ¡°Cosmo, thispany is now mine. Simeon will be working directly under me, still focusing on design, not much different from before. Or are you suggesting, Cosmo, that working with me puts him against you?¡± Though Noe could say it, Cosmo couldn¡¯t! Even if that¡¯s what he thought, Cosmo could only manage a forced smile. ¡°Not at all. Ms. Noe, you misunderstand. I¡¯m just expressing my regret for Simeon.¡± Noe touched her earlobe, yawning. ¡°Let¡¯s continue the meeting. If you¡¯ve got nothing new to say, just repeat thest meeting¡¯s content.¡± ¡°Ms. Noe, our meetings are not meant for repeating old content. That¡¯s a waste of time¡­¡± Noe raised an eyebrow, ¡°I believe this meeting has been a waste of time. Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s call it a day.¡± Cosmo initially called this meeting to put Noe in her ce, but it turned out he was the one who got schooled! Walking out of the meeting room, Simeon quickly followed behind Noe. ¡°Ms. Noe, are you sure about me? I only handled minor tasks in the design department.¡± "I''ve gone through your drafts; they''re far from trivial," Noe remarked, lifting her gaze briefly towards him. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "Simeon, if you think your work doesn''t matter, you''re selling yourself short," she added with a stern look that could pierce through any fa?ade of nonchnce. Simeon knew the weight of his responsibilities better than anyone else! Feeling a shiver run down his spine at Noe''s intense gaze, Simeon realized this was more than just a pep talk. "Working as my design assistant won''t be a walk in the park, and you won''t have to deal with the design department''s workload anymore. I''m curious to see if Cosmo can manage without your help, without the need to work overtime." It was clear to Simeon that Noe was streamlining thepany''s operations, and he couldn''t help but feel grateful. Stepping into the office, Noe handed Simeon a document. "I need your drafts based on the seasonal themes, reach out to our suppliers and gemstone sources, and prepare aprehensive report on our jewelry line. Have it done within a week." The workload was substantial, indeed. With hundreds of emails to sift through from suppliers and partners at Falen Gemstones, Simeon knew he had his work cut out for him, yet it was only half of what he was used to! "Got it!" As Simeon exited the office, Marisol leaned in closer to Noe. "Marisol, could you have Cosmo drop by? And, oh, ask him to bring me a ss of water, will you?" Chapter 345 Marisol couldn''t help but smile, her face lighting up the room. "Are you sticking his neck out for Simeon?" she teased. Ms. Noe was just too kind-hearted! "No, it''s just that I can''t stand seeing a good guy get pushed around. Simeon''s got talent, he just lacks opportunity. If giving him a chance means pulling a few strings to help him grow, I''m all for it." Marisol knew it. Noe was all in on supporting Simeon! "Simeon''s also been under Merrick''s wing, grateful for the opportunities over the years. A lot of folks are hesitant to leave because they just can''t bear to part ways with Merrick and Freya. When the company hit a rough patch, Cosmo wanted to cut staff. Merrick put his own book royalties on the line, saying the young ones could venture out, but someone like Simeon, who had a family to support, wouldn''t find it easy out there. Merrick said, even if you can''t keep up tech-wise or brain- wise, switch roles but don''t cut jobs." And that''s why nobody wanted to leave! "Do you also feel that way, is that why you''re sticking around?" Noe asked, lifting her gaze. Marisol''s cheeks turned a shade of pink, but she nodded firmly. "I''m gonna go call Cosmo!" This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. "Hold up, I''lle with you. It''ll also give me a chance to see thepany''s inner workings." Noe stood up, walking side by side with Marisol. Outside the design department, near the director''s office, a fierce argument was erupting from within! "That damn Simeon!" "Thinks yingpdog to some clueless young thing will skyrocket his career?" The sound of a ss shattering on the floor was crystal clear! You''d know right away it was Cosmo, fuming and trashing his office in a rage. Cosmo''s assistant whispered, "Director, Simeon''s gone. What about those projects you assigned him?" "Hmph! I refuse to believe Simeon has the guts to not follow through!" In the whole design department, there was no one else as exploitable as Simeon. Cosmo couldn''t believe Noe actually had any substantial work for Simeon. Once Simeon was found, a little intimidation and a shiny promise would bring him right back to finish his tasks. "As for Ms. Noe..." "She''s just a wet-behind-the-ears kid, what''s there to fear?" The knock on the door sounded, and Noe entered, smiling at Cosmo. "Cosmo, I forgot to mention, I''m thinking of shaking up the corporate structure a bit. From now on, your work will be reported to my design assistant." Cosmo broke into a cold sweat! Whether it was the shock of reporting to Simeon or realizing Noe had overheard his rant, it sent shivers down his spine. "How long have you been here, Ms. Noe?" Noe raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Cosmo, take a wild guess. I was thinking of having a drink with you, but since you don''t seem too keen on me, let''s forget it!" Cosmo felt a chill run down his back as Noe''s words hit home. "I... Ms. Noe, that''s not what I meant!" "Whether you meant it or not, plenty of people heard you. No need to exin to me." As Cosmo tried to speak, the shattered ss on the floor silenced him. Watching Noe leave with Marisol, Cosmo felt like he''d ignored some crucial advice. "This girl must be my unlucky star..." He made a mental note to visit a church and light a candle or two. ... After wrapping up at the office, Noe stretched. "Ms. Noe, I''m heading off. Don''t stay toote," Marisol said with a smile. "Alright, I''m off too." Noe packed up and checked a message from Sienna. It was full of concerns about work, asking if she had eaten on time. Noe always took the time to respond to Sienna''s long messages, feeling the warmth of family care. Stepping outside, a sleek car waited by the curb, Annie waving from across the street. "Ms. Noe, over here!" Approaching the car, Annie opened the door, revealing Palmer bathed in the twilight, his features even more striking against the evening glow. "Not busy? Or does the CEO abide by nine-to-five?" If she remembered correctly, Palmer had recently taken over the family business again. Palmer took Noe''s hand, his voice soft, "Being a CEO doesn''t allow nine-to-five, but being Noe''s boyfriend does." Business was endless, but time with Noe was precious. Annie grumbled as they drove off. "Ms. Noe, we could''ve parked right in front, but yourpany''s security shooed us away, iming it was the design director''s spot!" Annie was visibly annoyed. "I told them I was picking up Ms. Noe, and they said in Falen Gemstones, the design director''s word isw!" Annie looked to Noe, almost proud of holding back Palmer in the moment. In front of Palmer, Noe''s concerns are paramount. Anything about Noe, no matter how small, bes a big deal. But getting into a tiff with the security guard over a parking spot? This whole situation seemed like... something out of a grade school yground. Palmer quietly turned his head, gazing out at the scenery, pretending as if nothing had happened. Noe didn''t miss the slight flush on his ears! "Did you really get into it with the security guard?" "No. Annie''s just stirring the pot." Noe edged closer, hooking her pinky with Palmer''s, craning her neck to study his profile. With that face, women were practically lining up to throw themselves at him! Yet, only Noe knew just how childishly Palmer could behave when it came to matters of the heart! Annie pursed her lips, her hands gripping the steering wheel in frustration. She wasn''t making things up! "What''s with the car up ahead, blocking the road and not moving? What''s their problem?" The security guard jogged over, failing to notice Noe in the car. "Sorry, but it''spany policy for Cosmo''s car to leave first every day. You''ll have to wait!" Annie was bbergasted! How many rules had this creative director managed to impose on the company? Noe chuckled lightly. "I thought Cosmo was quite young, but turns out he''s like a Victorian-era vampire, acting as if he''s royalty or something!" Chapter 346 "Is Cosmo trying to be the king of the hill here at the office? Maybe I should throw him a coronation ceremony?" The security guard was taken aback when he spotted Noe in the backseat! He definitely knew what the new boss who had just parachuted into thepany today looked like. The moment heid eyes on Noe, the security guard hustled to the front window. "Cosmo, behind us is Ms. Noe''s ride..." Cosmo was fuming! "Why didn''t you say so earlier?" He was fine with throwing his weight around in the office in secret. But Noe wasn''t just any parachuted leader; she was the bona fide Ms. Schnabel, and it certainly wasn''t his ce to show attitude. The person in the passenger seat, the head of HR, said nonchntly, "So what?" Cosmo muttered some choice words under his breath. "You don''t get it, do you? Making a mistake within thepany is one thing; that''s just a matter of smoothing things over between ranks. But outside, I wouldn''t have enough lives to mess with the Schnabel family!" Inside thepany, he and Noe were merely the design director and the boss. Outside, he was just a middle-ss guy, and the Schnabels were top-tier tycoons, way out of his league! Cosmo wasn''t where he was by being clueless. He quickly unbuckled his seat belt, got out of the car, and jogged over, wearing a sheepish smile. "Sorry for the inconvenience, Ms. Noe. I''ll move my car right away." Noe chuckled softly and beckoned Cosmo closer. Only then did Cosmo feel the chill emanating from her! "Cosmo, parking spots don''t matter, but I''m not fond of your attitude." "It''s all because my subordinates don''t know any better, Ms. Noe. I''ll rece them right away. Merrick saidying off staff was out of kindness, but it turns out we''ve been harboring some blind parasites..." Palmer, standing beside Noe, chuckled softly. Only now did Cosmo notice the young man next to Noe! Palmer was dressed in an elegant vintage suit, his tie clip adorned with top-grade rubies, and every piece of his attire, from cufflinks to watch, screamed wealth and ss. This man radiated an untouchable air of dominance! Seeing how close he was with Noe, Cosmo could easily guess his identity - he helmsman of the Pock Group! One Schnabel family was trouble enough for Cosmo; another Pock on top of that, and he worried he wouldn''t live to see the next sunrise. Palmer sneered, "I see, you''re the parasite! A mere design director, blocking my car? That''s a first!" Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Annie chimed in, "Mr. Pock, thest person who blocked your car is still in the hospital." Cosmo shivered in fear! Palmer scoffed disdainfully. "Cosmo? I''ll remember you." Noe nced at Cosmo, "What? Still blocking the way? Were you hoping to join us for dinner?" Cosmo indeed wished, but hecked the courage! "Not at all, I''ll move my car right away!" After Cosmo moved his car, Annie drove off, followed by several cars honking in approval, some even giving her thumbs up! Someone stuck their head out, "That was epic!" They were all tired of Cosmo hogging thene every time they left work. Always blocking the way without a care for anyone behind him, acting as if he owned thene. Annie shrugged, "Well, he was blocking the way for my boss and thedy boss, wasn''t he?" Noe pulled out her phone and called Marisol. "Set up an anonymous reporting email, with rewards for public and confirmed anonymous reports." "Right away, Ms. Noe. I''ll contact the tech department immediately." "No need, I''ve already created the program. Just send it out." Noe wasn''t one to ask the tech team to burn the midnight oil, especially when they couldn''t match her efficiency. Marisol was moved! "Ms. Noe, you''re too kind!" Choosing not to make others workte and doing it himself! Upon receiving the program, Marisol was astounded by itspleteness, impossible to tell it was a last-minute job. "Ms. Noe, you must''ve spent a lot of time on this app, right?" "Twenty minutes, is that long?" Considering it was enough time for Noe to get from the office to home, it did seem quite lengthy. Marisol was speechless. "Twenty minutes... toplete such aplex program?" Indeed, the Schnabels were all geniuses, ying a different league on Earth. Once the app wasunched and Marisol showcased Noe''s task on thepany''s internal bulletin, it was bound to be a sleepless night. ... At the Schnabel Manor. Concerned about Marcel''s spirits, Sienna made a point to invite Sexton and Helen over as well. Hearing about the previous day''s events, Sexton seemed lost in thought. "You''re saying... what exactly is Garrick plotting?" Helen scoffed, "Some people are just twisted. A young weirdo grows up to be an old weirdo." In her view, Garrick was simply psychologically warped, unable to stand seeing others happy. "He just didn''t want Harriet to marry Marcel, that''s all. The way he looked at Harriet wasn''t much different from how you two did." Sexton responded irritably, "Why bring that up again? It''s all in the past, and I''ve told you, Harriet never crossed my mind again!" "Who you think about is none of my business." Helen remained unyielding. In front of the younger members of the family, Sexton chose not to argue further with the olddy. Every time they brought up Harriet, it was like lighting the fuse to a bomb! Malvina quickly took Helen''s hands, trying to smooth things over. "Grandma Helen, let bygones be bygones!" "It''s in the past, sure, but I just... feel bad for Harriet, that''s all!" Helen looked down, a nostalgic shadow crossing her face. "Sometimes I wonder, if Harriet had fallen for Sexton instead of marrying Marcel, maybe her life would''ve been a bit rosier. But as for me... well, it is what it is!" Sexton seemed taken aback by her words! Helen shook her head. "You think I cared about all that? Marrying you, I was under no illusions! I, Helen, didn¡¯t marry for love; it was more about seeing a good-hearted fool with a fat wallet. Compared to those fleeting romances, what I value more is character!" Helen admired Harriet for exactly that! The courage to love fiercely and the determination to strive, it was only natural that the young bucks of her day were drawn to her! Besides it seemed like Sexton''s days were numbered, and she didn''t want to sour his mood with harsh words at this stage. But there was a part of her that was selfishly hopeful. She wished that when her husband finally rode off into the sunset, he''d have her in his thoughts! "Put yourself in her shoes; with Harriet''s fiery nature, she probably wouldn''t have enjoyed my kind of life. That''s why I asked Noe, that dear girl, if she truly loves Palmer!" Chapter 347 ¡°No worries,¡± Noe mused, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at Helen who was seated across from her. She knew the olddy meant no harm from start to finish. It was just her personality; every time she spoke, she somehow chose the most exasperating way to express herself. People who took up the grave-digging trade in their youth were naturally sharp-tongued, after all. Helen had been ming herself for the tragedies that befell Palmer¡¯s mom and Lavinia Richardson, thinking she brought bad luck to her loved ones. Sexton sipped his beer. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ever talk about these things?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point? To make you realize halfway through our marriage that I¡¯m prone to wallowing in self-pity?¡± Helen rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve informed Lucian about that chatan. He¡¯ll handle it." Since it was the Richardson family who got duped by that fraud, it only made sense for them to deal with it! Horatio, also seated at the table, looked up. ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Sienna had gone out of her way to prepare a vegetarian feast for Horatio and invited him to the Schnabel family dinner. Figuring it was Sienna¡¯s invitation and likely with Noe¡¯s approval, and considering the Schnabel family''s food was indeed delicious, Horatio didn¡¯t think twice before epting! ra was quick to shake her head. ¡°No need, Master. This is all worldly trouble; best you don¡¯t get involved.¡± Horatio stroked his bald head. ¡°To someone like me, all worldly matters are just that, worldly. And all can be a path to enlightenment.¡± Noe gave him a sidelong nce, ¡°Speak English.¡± ¡°I heard Lucian Richardson has an impressive collection of antiques. I¡¯d love to see them.¡± Antiques were Horatio¡¯s true passion! The biggest antique collector in Imperial City was none other than Lucian. Seeing Horatio¡¯s genuine interest disguised as an offer to help, ra didn¡¯t refuse this time. ¡°Alright, then. Come with me, Master!¡± ¡°Thank you, ra.¡± Sienna cheerfully handed Malvina a box. ¡°Here, a little wee gift from me!¡± Malvina hadn¡¯t expected to receive a gift just foring over for dinner! ¡°This is unnecessary. I¡¯m not here for the first time... How can I just take this?¡± Sienna nced at Ulrich. ¡°It¡¯s different this time. Before, you were Noe and ra¡¯s friend. Now, you¡¯re here as Ulrich¡¯s girlfriend. I¡¯ve been nning what to give to each future daughter-inw for ten years. This is yours to keep!¡± Malvina blushed and blurted out before she could think. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ept it, and if I ever break up with Dr. Schnabel, I¡¯ll return it. Then it can be passed on to the next person.¡± A peculiar silence fell over the dining table! ra ced a hand on her forehead. ¡°Malvina, leaving aside the fact that once my mom gives you something, it¡¯s yours with no returns, how can you talk about breaking up so casually? Aren¡¯t you worried about upsetting Ulrich?¡± In a family like the Schnabels, a wee gift for a future daughter-inw was never something to be taken back. Malvina was taken aback. ¡°Dr. Schnabel won¡¯t be upset!¡± She nced at Ulrich beside her, who still wore a gentle smile, feeling somewhat guilty. Ulrich ced a peeled shrimp in Malvina¡¯s bowl, wiping his hands before calmly saying, ¡°I¡¯m not upset, but I don¡¯t n on breaking up with you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean now. I meant in case you stop liking meter. Who can predict these things?¡± Tristan jumped into the conversation. ¡°Hey, look at Sienna and me, your Grandpa Merrick and Grandma Freya, we¡¯ve been in love all our lives. Look at your Grandpa Marcel, Grandpa Sexton, they¡¯ve been together this long and never talked about breaking up!¡± Jasper interjected, ¡°Grandpa got divorced.¡± ¡°Well, they still spent a lifetime together. Worst case, divorce is something for the very old days. Who knows, by then, you or Ulrich might not even be around. It¡¯s possible, right?¡± Marcel eximed angrily, ¡°Tristan! What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Only Tristan, with his blunt and bold nature, would dare to make such remarks! Tristan quickly added, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. Just that Malvina, this kid,cks confidence in love and marriage. It¡¯s not a big deal! Live in the moment. Think of yourself as a carefree lover, enjoy dating the younger Schnabel brother! If you find him suitable, marry him; if not, return him! I will find you someone else!¡± Tristan nced at his sons. ¡°I¡¯m not boasting, but I¡¯ve got plenty of sons!¡± Malvina was utterly amused by Tristan. She buried her face in Ulrich¡¯s shoulder,ughing uncontrobly, tears nearly spilling from her eyes! Seeing herugh, Tristan gave Ulrich a knowing look, silently bragging, ¡°Still, your old man¡¯s got the charm, huh? You''ve got a lot to learn about cheering up ady!¡± Opening the box from Sienna, she found a jade bracelet and money. Sienna beamed, ¡°It¡¯s a small gift, $10001, symbolizing you¡¯re one in ten thousand.¡± As she spoke, she also handed Palmer a simr one. ¡°Palmer gets one too. Whether it¡¯s our future daughter-inw or son-inw, everyone¡¯s treated the same!¡± Palmer stood up to ept it graciously, ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Schnabel. I¡¯m truly grateful!¡± The amount might not be significant, but to Palmer, it represented the Schnabel family¡¯s eptance. And Noe¡¯s too! Marcel then spoke up, steering the conversation back to lighter topics. "Malvina, let bygones be bygones, don''t dwell on the past! Ulrich is a good kid, but if he ever bullies you, juste to me, Grandpa will sort him out!" Sexton whispered, "And don''t forget about me,e over for a game of chess with Grandpa Sexton. If Ulrich gives you any trouble, I''ll straighten him out!" "Got it! I''ll remember that!" Jasper started stirring the pot. "Beckett, Ulrich has got a girlfriend, when are you gonna bring a girl home, eh?" Beckett shot him a re. "Just eat your food, will you?" No sooner had he said this than Sienna chimed in, "You''re going on a blind date tomorrow, I''ve set it all up for you! Don''t end up thest bachelor while Noe and Palmer are starting a family!" Noe looked helplessly at Sienna. She and Palmer had just started dating; having kids was still a long way off. Beckett, exasperated, nomittally agreed just to end the conversation. ... After dinner, Noe, needing to tend to some business regarding Pris Star, took Palmer to her study. Just as they rounded a corner, Palmer suddenly pulled Noe by the wrist, tugging her behind the wall, and ced his finger to his lips, signaling silence. "There''s someone there, shh¡ª" He was so close, Noe could feel Palmer''s breath on her face. Around the corner, by the room''s doorway, Ulrich was crouched down, eyeing Malvina.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Repeat what you just said. Thinking of breaking up with me? Ha, you''ve got some nerve!" Chapter 348 "I didn''t mean to..." Malvina was at a loss for words! To im she hadn¡¯t toyed with the idea of breaking up with Ulrich would probably make even Ulrich himself burst intoughter. But those words had just slipped out without her even thinking. Ulrich understood, though. He knew Malvina was just acting out of self-defense! The Gruber family''s messed-up ideas about love had always been a thorn in Malvina¡¯s side, convincing her from a young age that true love was just a fairy tale. And that she herself wasn¡¯t worthy of it. Ulrich, with a mix of assertiveness and tenderness, lifted Malvina''s chin and nted a kiss on her lips! His kiss was fiery, and Malvina found herself sumbing to the heat of his anger and guilt, their breaths intertwining in a dance of desperation and need. "Stop talking like that. At least try to trust me more. If you can''t, then... y with my feelings if you must. If you don''t believe in evesting love, then let''s live in the moment and enjoy what we have, alright?" Ulrich''s expression was a curious mix of humor and seriousness. "You could even y with me, you know. You won¡¯t be at a loss. Just enjoy yourself." Malvina struggled to breathe, Ulrich''s bold proposition sending her into a fit of coughs! "Is that even something you can say? If I really did y with you, would you ever let me go?" "yed or not, I wouldn¡¯t let you go anyway." "Then maybe I should y a little." Malvina felt dragged down a path she hadn¡¯t expected by Ulrich. Following this logic, it seemed she really should indulge in ying with Ulrich''s emotions and... body? But something about that idea just didn¡¯t sit right with her. "Remember how you told me you weren¡¯t allowed to have a puppy when you were little? Well, you don¡¯t have to be sad about that anymore because you can have me as your puppy." Him as her puppy? Just the thought sent a wave of heat through Malvina¡¯s body. Ulrich¡¯s voice,ced with seduction, made her knees weak. If not for the wall behind her, she might have copsed right there and then! "Really? Can I?" "Of course, you can. You¡¯re my queen. Whatever you wish from me, I¡¯m more than happy to oblige." Malvina forced herself to remain calm. "It''s not the same... I also said I wanted to be your sister, and that was just a joke." How could Ulrich take such yful banter seriously? Ulrich stepped closer, his hand finding her waist as he leaned in and whispered, "Then I guess I''ll be your puppy." His words, loaded with enticement, sent shivers down Malvina''s spine, drawing her deeper into the trap he hadid out so enticingly. Yet, his words struck a chord in Malvina¡¯s heart! It was as if electricity coursed through her, fireworks bursting before her eyes. She realized she liked this kind of attention. Before she could gather her thoughts, Ulrich had already scooped her up and carried her into his bedroom, the door mming shut behind them. The hallway fell silent, and Noe peeked out, her curiosity peaked. "Ulrich seems to be quite the yer, huh?" She never knew Ulrich had this side to him. But it seemed his approach was working wonders on Malvina! Palmer, covering Noe''s eyes, whispered, "Don''t spy on others¡¯ privacy." "I''m not spying." She was outright staring, if anything. Noe removed Palmer''s hand from her eyes, fanning herself with her hand as if to cool off from the heated exchange she just witnessed. Though nothing had happened, the atmosphere was charged with a tantalizing tension, leaving even Noe, who nearly walked into the scene, blushing. Not to mention Malvina, probablypletely ensnared by Ulrich by now. Palmer chuckled softly behind her, "Does Noe want to y too?" Noe quickly shook her head, pulling Palmer towards the study. "You''re making things up. I don''t think like that." Palmer''s voice carried a teasing regret. "What a shame, I thought since you''re siblings, you might enjoy it too." Enjoy what? Being pressed against a wall and kissed forcefully? Noe was sure she didn''t harbor such desires. "I don''t have such inclinations, nor do I intend to break up with you." "I''m d to hear that. At least Noe has faith in me." Noe smiled! She had chosen Palmer, just as he had chosen her! Since she had decided to give it a try with Palmer, she wouldn''t waver like Malvina did! But observing Ulrich and Malvina, it seemed Ulrich had found the best way to deal with Malvina''s insecurities. Closing the door to the study, they left themotion behind. "I''ve got work to tend to. Do as you like." Palmer sighed with a smile. His fianc¨¦e was more of a workaholic than he was ¨C a fact that both amused and exasperated him! "I think we should spend our rare time together not working." Noe raised an eyebrow, "Why can''t working together be a date? You¡¯re saying you are less busy than me?" The truth was, he was swamped with work. But whenever he was with Noe, Palmer couldn¡¯t bring himself to do anything else but spend every possible moment with her. "How is working together a date?" Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. "It''s the perfect date for us." "Noe... do you not enjoy being with me?" "I do, that''s why you''re here." Palmer smiled, charmed by Noe''s straightforwardness. He loved how she never made him guess her feelings. "Then, may I have a spot to work beside you?" "Of course." Noe¡¯s study was cozy ¨C making room for Palmer was easy. Handing him an unpoweredptop, Noe pointed to the desk opposite hers, but Palmer shook his head, leaning in closer. "I''d rather sit next to you." "...Alright." Palmer and Noe had set up an impromptu office, two chairs pulled together in a cozy corner. As Palmer pretended to be absorbed in the financial reports on hisptop, his hand casually found its way to Noe''s waist. The arrangement was unconventional, sure, but it felt surprisingly right. Noe booted up herptop, only to be bombarded with notifications from thepany''s feedback app. She hadn''t expected much, but the contents left her utterly shocked. Almost all theints were about Cosmo! There were reports using the HR manager and head of design, Cosmo, of engaging in inappropriate rtionships with both female and male employees. Allegations of taking kickbacks, maintaining dubious rtionships with clients, harassment of staff members regardless of gender, and even skimming off employee bonuses for his own gain were rampant. Reading through the reports, Noe was astounded. Cosmo wasn''t just acting like a king in his own little kingdom; he was treating thepany like it was his personal yground. Given that the feedback app was essible to all employees, Cosmo was in for a sleepless night. Closing herptop, Noe turned to Palmer, who, it turned out, hadn''t been working on financial reports at all but had been watching her, amusement dancing in his eyes. "How about we change the scenery... go on a date?" Noe suggested, a yful tone in her voice. "Absolutely, are we heading to your room?" Palmer responded, his grin widening. Chapter 349 Noe shot Palmer a silent nce. Was she asking Palmer to follow her out now, to her room of all ces? Palmer rubbed his nose, a hint of regretced his voice. ¡°Shame, I thought you were inviting me over to your room.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never been?¡± ¡°Sneaking through windows isn¡¯t quite the same as being invited openly.¡± Noe got it then - Palmer wasmenting theck of formal invitation in the past! Now he was talking about entering her room in broad daylight. When he used to sneak in through the window, he wasn¡¯t too concerned about appearances then, was he? ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who asked you to climb through the window.¡± ¡°Noe, so cold-hearted. If it wasn¡¯t for missing you, why would I do such a thing?¡± Despite his words, Palmer stood his ground, stretching his arms towards Noe, opening up his warm embrace. ¡°Come here for a hug, I¡¯ll go anywhere with you.¡± They were only a few steps apart, Palmer¡¯s shadow merging with Noe¡¯s on the carpet. It seemed even their shadows were embracing. Noe took two steps forward, wrapping her arms around Palmer¡¯s lean waist. Under his thin shirt, his muscle lines were palpable, a walking hormone. Just stepping out of the study, Noe saw ra waving at her. ¡°Noe, are you two heading out?¡± ¡°Yeah, got some errands, what¡¯s up?¡± ra pouted, gesturing towards Ulrich and Malvina''s shut doors. ¡°I saw while Malvina was speaking, Ulrich seemed a bit upset. Do you think he¡¯s at a disadvantage in their rtionship?¡± Noe paused, then decided not to disclose what she had seen earlier to ra. Patting ra on the shoulder, Noe softly reassured her. ¡°Sis, have you ever heard that the most cunning hunters often appear in the guise of their prey? I¡¯m more worried about Malvina being at a disadvantage.¡± It looked like Ulrich was emotionally led by Malvina. But the one craving love was Malvina, yet the one holding it was Ulrich. Hearing this, ra grew more concerned. ¡°No way, I can handle Ulrich losing a bit, but what if Malvina gets the short end of the stick?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ulrich seems really into Malvina. Didn¡¯t dad say, the Schnabel kids are all fiercely loyal?¡± ra briefly calmed down. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again tomorrow. Malvina¡¯s a girl, all alone, Ulrich can¡¯t treat her badly.¡± Stepping outside, Noe got into the car Palmer had opened for her, only to see another car leaving the Schnabel¡¯s driveway. ¡°Is that Beckett¡¯s car? Is he off to ate shift?¡± The Schnabel and Rising Glory business was mostly managed by Beckett, often staying overnight at the office. But hadn¡¯t Sienna said something about blind date tomorrow? Even arranged a meet-up at home. Was Beckett driving off to skip tomorrow¡¯s setup? ¡°Ms. Schnabel, where to?¡± As Palmer leaned in to fasten Noe¡¯s seat belt, he didn¡¯t pull away immediately, instead, propping one hand next to her on the seat, the other encircling her waist. The car¡¯s interior light remained off, only the dim, romantic glow from the streetmps outside filtering through, casting diamond-shaped shadows inside, adding a hint of intimacy. Noe, feeling Palmer¡¯s proximity, felt her heartbeat spike. It seemed her feelings were clear because every time she saw him, her heart would skip a beat. ¡°May I kiss you, my beautiful fianc¨¦e?¡± Palmer patiently awaited Noe¡¯s response. Without hearing her say a word, he felt the fragrance of her lipstick touch his lips. It was like fireworks igniting in his heart! A tingling sensation spread from his spine throughout his body, and amid their intertwined breaths, Palmer whispered in her ear with a slight pant. ¡°We can¡¯t go any further, you¡¯re still young, and it could hurt. If we¡¯re to continue, it must wait until we¡¯re engaged.¡± Realizing what Palmer was implying, Noe wished she could bury her face in her hands! Watching her cover her face and turn away, Palmer chuckled softly, caressing Noe¡¯s cute little ears before sitting back and buckling up. After a moment, Noe pped her cheeks and muttered, ¡°To Falen Gemstones.¡± ¡°My fianc¨¦e wants to go to the office in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Is that not okay?¡± As Palmer steered the car onto the road, he tenderly replied, ¡°Of course, if you wanted to reach for the stars, I¡¯d be right there with you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to reach for the stars, you can see them right here.¡± Noe nced at the night sky, where the stars twinkled dimly, the Big Dipper shining perpetually bright, the heavens tranquil and serene. Touching the corner of her lips, Noe added, ¡°I mean, I can see the stars right by your side.¡± Joy and satisfaction flooded Palmer¡¯s heart. He freed one hand to hold Noe¡¯s, bringing it to his lips as if it were a precious jewel. ... At Falen Gemstones. The moonlight was soft, stars sparse, but the ground floor of thepany was lit, faint shlight beams moving across the sales department. Noe tapped into thepany¡¯s surveince, only to find it all turned off at this hour! Only a few had that level of ess, including Cosmo! As a jewelrypany, the ground floor was crucial, housing countless precious gems. Noe signaled Palmer with a gesture. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± As the top two assassins on the leaderboard, Palmer and Noe had a mutual respect for each other that was born out of absolute synergy! Without needing a word from Noe, Palmer sidestepped and slipped through a side door into the company. Noe adjusted her trench coat and walked towards the source of the shlight''s glow! Voices echoed from a room up ahead. Cosmo was fuming. "That damn Noe Schnabel, what the hell does she think she''s doing? I''ve been at thispany for years, and she thinks she can just waltz in and shake things up?" The voice of the HR manager, Honora, followed suit. "What does that girl know? It''s probably someone else trying to target you using her as a pawn." Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "You''re right, but if it wasn''t for this brat, I wouldn''t be in this mess¡­" Cosmo''s voice took on a sinister tone. "I''ve got some guys who don''t care about their own lives. We''ll find an opportunity to take that damn girl." Honora screamed, "Are you insane? You want to kidnap Ms. Schnabel? Aren''t you afraid the Schnabel family will rip you apart?" Cosmo let out a maliciousugh. "Not kidnap, I''ll get someone to seduce her, film it, and even the Schnabel family can''t stand their daughter being in such a video, right? I just want to see if Mr. Pock still wants her after seeing those videos, what kind of man would want such a tainted woman!" Chapter 350 Cosmo always said, "Men understand men best." If his girlfriend ever got caught in a scandal like that, he''d drop her faster than a hot potato ¨C no way he''d stick around with someone so tainted! Honora just gave him a look, her eyes filling with disdain. Being a woman herself, hearing Cosmo so eagerly plotting to ruin a girl''s life made her sick to her stomach. If Cosmo could turn on Noe this easily, what''s to stop him from doing the same to her if they hit a rough patch? This thought made Honora view Cosmo through a lens of caution and wariness. Oblivious to Honora''s changing expressions, Cosmo busied himself with stuffing the jewels into a bag he had prepared earlier. "These jewels should fetch a pretty penny, enough to keep usfy for a while. I''ve got our ne tickets already, we''re leaving tonight." Honora, however, was worried. "With all that bling, we won''t even make it past the city limits without the Schnabel family catching wind of us. What then?" Cosmo clenched his teeth in frustration. "If it wasn''t for that brat Noe, would I even be in this mess?" "I had everything lined up with the suppliers, damn it. That deal alone could''ve gotten me a new sports car!" Unseen, Noe leaned against the door, quietly listening to Cosmo and Honora''s scheme to smuggle out the jewels. As the design director, Cosmo knew the true value of these jewels. If he managed to get away with them, it would be a massive financial blow to thepany. But the loss of money was the least of their worries. Some of the pieces had already been reserved by clients who paid deposits. Failing to deliver would tarnish Falen Gemstones'' reputation in the industry beyond repair. Cosmo was clearly banking on this fallout, hoping to see thepany''s reputation crumble. Turning to meet Palmer''s gaze, Noe nodded slightly. Half an hourter, the piercing sound of police sirens split the night, their lights slicing through the darkness. Cosmo and Honora, realizing they were caught in their petty theft, panicked even more at the sound of the sirens. "Damn, are they after us? Who could''ve tipped them off?" "We better make a run for it!" In their rush, Cosmo and Honora reached the door only to find it locked tight. Sweat beaded on Cosmo''s forehead as the realization hit him. "Someone must be onto us in thepany..." "But what''s the use in talking? We need to find another way out!" As the sirens grew closer, Cosmo, in a moment of desperation, fixed his gaze on Honora. Feeling his stare, Honora snapped, "Have you lost your mind? You''re not ditching me!" Cosmo, moving towards Honora while trying to cate her, said, "If I get away with the money, I can come back for you. If we both get caught, who''s going to save us?" Honora shook her head in disbelief. "No, you''re not leaving me behind, and you''re not getting my keys..." Despite her resistance, the physical mismatch between them allowed Cosmo to overpower her quickly, taking her keys and leaving her unconscious on the floor. As the HR manager, Honora had a set of keys that could open a side door leading out of the company premises. Cosmo, with the heavy bag of jewels in tow, dashed towards the HR department. Reaching the side door, his hands trembled as he fumbled with the keys, finally managing to escape through the window in a frantic leap. Momentster, a scream echoed from outside. "Help! Let me go!" "You''re the one who paid us, right? Though this guy''s a bit old, he''s still got a decent look..." "Hurry up, the cops will be here any minute." Even though these thugs were more interested in their payment than thew, they didn''t fancy a night in jail. Cosmo finally realized the gravity of his situation ¨C he''d been double-crossed! Palmer, covering Noe''s ears, whispered, "Don''t listen, it''s filthy." Noe responded, "I''ve seen and heard worse at the border. This is nothing." Palmer insisted, "That was different. You were alone back then. Now, you have me. You don''t need to endure this filth anymore." Hearing Palmer''s tender yet assertive words, Noe felt a warmth spread through her heart. The hardships of her past seemed like mere stepping stones, paving the way to this sweeter moment. The police arrived swiftly, and thanks to the video Palmer and Noe had recorded before entering thepany, they had enough evidence to clear things up. Being the owner of thepany and with both the Schnabel and Pock families being significant taxpayers, the police were quick to let them off the hook. Despite knowing the nature of the incident, finding Cosmo in the bushes, twitching and foaming at the mouth with a pool of blood beneath him, was still a shocking sight for the officers. The next morning, thepany was abuzz with the news of Cosmo and Honora''s betrayal. They had attempted to flee with thepany''s jewels, nning to sell them and start anew abroad. Marisol was livid at their audacity. Checking her phone, she stumbled upon a viral video that had everyone talking. Expecting some sleazy site''s ad, she was shocked to find a title that read like a tabloid headline: "Jewelry Company Design Director''s Kinky Secret." Curiosity getting the better of her, Marisol clicked y, only to find Cosmo at the center of an unsightly scandal! Watching the cringe-worthy footage, Marisol felt her eyes burn. Thepany was in uproar! As Noe entered the office, Marisol quickly shut off her phone, not wanting to expose Noe to such filth. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "Watching something interesting?" Noe asked. Quick to shield her boss from the scandal, Marisol inquired, "Ms. Noe, will Cosmo and Honora face prison time?" "Certainly," Noe assured her, "rest easy." Jasper was jolted awake early in the morning by a call from the police. As Noe''s attorney, hearing that something had gone down at herpany overnight was enough to fully wake him up. The moment he found out someone had been hired for a dirty job against Noe, Jasper was so furious he skipped breakfast and stormed out to the police station! ... Sienna was up at the crack of dawn, trying to wake Beckett up. Only to find out that Beckett had left the housest night and hadn''t returned yet! She immediately guessed it was to dodge a blind date! Fuming, Sienna didn''t hesitate to call Beckett and give him an ultimatum. "If you don''te back for this blind date, don''t bothering back home at all!" Beckett, sitting across from Darcy, said calmly, "Mom, I think I''m not in need of a blind date right now." The person across from him paused in the middle of perusing the menu! With a sly smile, Beckett continued, "I''ve got a breakfast date, no need for a blind date." "A breakfast date? With whom? This time of the morning? Male or female? Which client of yours needs a breakfast meeting?" Beckett looked at Darcy, his gaze slightly confrontational. He spoke deliberately, "I''ve got one with the ex-girlfriend who left me right before our wedding!" Chapter 351 ¡°What did you just say? With whom?¡± Sienna couldn¡¯t keep her cool when Beckett dropped that bombshell! She sprang from the couch, pacing the living room, her voiceced with worry. ¡°Beckett, are you¡­ thinking of reigniting an old me?¡± Beckett responded calmly, ¡°It''s just a meal, don''t overthink it. But as for an arranged date, let''s forget about it; I''m not interested in that for now. You¡¯d better push forward Noe and Mr. Pock''s engagement instead. They¡¯re quite fond of each othertely, and the Pocks have been hinting at moving the wedding date up.¡± Beckett truly knew how to steer Sienna¡¯s attention. At the mention of Noe¡¯s wedding ns, Sienna¡¯s worries shifted immediately. ¡°Oh dear, you¡¯re right. I¡¯ll talk to Grandpa next door about it!¡± ¡°When you and my dad were away, Grandpa asked me about Noe¡¯s intentions. It¡¯s best if you handle it.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I will.¡± Sienna reveled in her maternal instincts. To her, discussing her daughter¡¯s marriage was a privilege reserved for mothers! After hanging up, Beckett looked towards Darcy with a clear gaze. ¡°Sorry about that, let¡¯s continue our meal.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to get married next May?¡± ¡°Yes, but there¡¯s no bride yet.¡± No bride, what kind of wedding is that? Surely Beckett isn¡¯t nning to attend his own wedding solo! ¡°It¡¯s okay. After all, I¡¯m no stranger to weddings falling apart.¡± Darcy couldn¡¯t help but sense the sarcasm in Beckett¡¯s tone. And his earlier conversation with Sienna¡­ Was he implying something about her jilting him years ago? ¡°What happened back then was my fault, I¡¯m sorry, I owe you an apology.¡± Beckett¡¯s smile was gentle and refined, a testament to his grace that had only deepened with time, making him feel asforting as a warm spring breeze. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Without being let down once, I might have continued to believe in a love that was merely an illusion. I¡¯ve heard about the school situation. I¡¯ll ask Noe what she wants to do.¡± Imperial University had decided to expel Oriana. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. The department hoped Noe could find time to return to ss and maybe even participate in the uingpetition. Darcy lowered her gaze, ¡°The Schnabel family seems to really care for their children.¡± The entire Schnabel family appeared to dote on Noe! From the birthday posters stered all over town to their overt favoritism, it was clear they were making an effort to wee and make up for the years missed with their youngest daughter. Darcy had also heard from Dalia about the Schnabel family¡¯s affection for Noe. This love was indeed something to be proud of! ... Upon entering the restaurant, Noe¡¯s gaze immediately found Beckett and Darcy by the window. The restaurant manager came forward to greet them. ¡°Ms. Noe, here¡¯s the menu you reserved. Please, take a look.¡± Noe casually handed the menu to Marisol behind her. With thepany undergoing such turmoil, she decided to take Marisol out for a lunch and tea session nearby as a way to reassure her staff. ¡°Take a look, and if there¡¯s any issue, let me know.¡± ¡°Of course, Ms. Noe.¡± Marisol was nearly in tears! Ms. Noe was just too kind! Hearing from the police about the altercation involving Cosmo and Honora, Noe must have been frightened. Ms. Noe, with his gentle and kind demeanor, facing such adversity yet still thinking offorting his staff! Truly the granddaughter of Merrick and Freya! After giving a few instructions, Noe headed towards Beckett and Darcy. ¡°Beckett, the blind date Mom set up¡­ was it with Ms. Darcy?¡± Beckett¡¯s gaze softened visibly the moment he saw Noe. ¡°Of course not. I was discussing your school situation with Ms. Darcy. They¡¯ve agreed to expel Oriana and are proceeding with the public notice. Also, Noe, are you interested in that competition?¡± After a moment of consideration, Noe shook her head. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between thepetition¡¯s oue and directly submitting my designs to Falen Gemstones?¡± Beckett nodded in agreement. From this perspective, thepetition held no real value for Noe. Beckett¡¯s assistant called, reminding him of an overseas business meeting, with the car ready to go. ¡°I have to leave now. If there¡¯s anything at home, just give me a call. Be good.¡± Beckett nodded to Darcy, affectionately ruffled Noe¡¯s hair, and left after buttoning up his suit. Noe also nodded towards Darcy, ready to leave, but Darcy stopped her. ¡°Noe¡­ could we talk?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Sitting opposite Darcy, Noe watched Beckett¡¯s slender figure disappear into the car, then realized Darcy had been watching him too. ¡°Ms. Darcy? You were watching Beckett?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Schnabel is a very good person.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s such a good person, why didn¡¯t Ms. Darcy want Beckett?¡± Faced with Noe¡¯s blunt inquiry, Darcy was caught off-guard! Seeing Darcy¡¯s flustered reaction, Noe realized her guess wasn¡¯t unfounded. Beckett''s demeanor towards Darcy had always seemed peculiar to Noe. Although Beckett was known for his smooth dealings in the business world, his approach towards Ms. Darcy seemed unusually tender. Especially that bouquet Darcy had carelessly tossed into the trash. Darcy was, after all, Beckett''s ex-girlfriend! That was the same ex Jasper had mentioned before, the one who had left Beckett high and dry right before their wedding! Darcy felt cornered. She hadn''t expected Noe to have picked up on it so quickly! Noe''s gazended on Darcy''s phone screen, capturing a familiar silhouette. That photo, it was one she had taken for Beckett. Following Noe''s gaze, Darcy suddenly remembered she had impulsively changed her phone''s wallpaper to that silhouette of Beckett the night before! No wonder Beckett had nced over at her phone several times, a smile lurking in his eyes. This was mortifying! Back in college, Beckett was a star on the shooting team, blessed with eagle eyes. He must have seen it! ¡°So, keeping Beckett¡¯s photo... Does that mean you still have feelings for him, Ms. Darcy?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a reminder to myself not to dwell on that foolish past.¡± Darcy looked towards Noe, her smile gentle and restrained, with a touch of tenderness in her eyes. ¡°Back then, my leaving without a word wasn''t just because of the young Miss from the Schnabel family.¡± Darcy''s smile turned bittersweet. ¡°Because I... I was pregnant at that time!¡± Chapter 352 Pregnant? Darcy didn¡¯t have any kids now! That meant, the baby was gone. ¡°These matters might be a bit inappropriate to discuss with you, given you''re Mr. Schnabel''s sister and my student.¡± But every time Darcy saw Noe¡¯sposed and calm demeanor, she felt a surge of strength. It seemed like just Noe standing there made people believe in her unconditionally! It was a peculiar feeling, kind of like¡­ what Beckett inspired. But those past events, Darcy never dared to mention them to Beckett, nor did she want to! ¡°I was pregnant, but due to an argument between my father¡¯s mistress and him, I lost my child. The doctor said I might¡­ never be able to have children again.¡± Darcy¡¯s smile was tinged with bitterness. Herplexion was pale, her eyes filled with nearly shattered mist. ¡°Noe, you might not understand, but to me, Beckett is someone I look up to. Even though he says his family background shouldn¡¯t matter, how could it not influence how people see him? My family is pretty average. My parents'' rtionship has been broken for many years, and my dad never really cared about me and Dalia.¡± Because they were daughters! Darcy''s father had always been obsessed with having a son to carry on the family business. ¡°Noe, you might find it hard to imagine, but there are mothers who would go to church, seeking blessings to keep their wandering husbands at home, even if those prayers might not be in the best interest of me and Dalia.¡± Sheughed lightly, pretending not to care. ¡°The superstitions, I don¡¯t believe in them either. But knowing that the very thing worshipped at home was meant to harm me and Dalia, just to bring that scoundrel home, makes me not want to go back.¡± From a young age, Darcy was indoctrinated with the idea that her father¡¯s infidelity was because she and her sister were not sons! Her decision to leave on the eve of her wedding was also because her own mother told her, ¡°You can¡¯t have children, so the Schnabel family will never ept you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s ironic, isn¡¯t it? It was my father¡¯s mistress who pushed me down the stairs and caused me to lose my child, but the person who made me leave was my mother. Dalia and I had a decent material life growing up, but were starved of affection.¡± With such a background, Darcy couldn¡¯t feel right about staying by Beckett¡¯s side! This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°Beckett wouldn¡¯t care about these things.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t, but he¡¯d feel guilty forever, and I don¡¯t like that kind of rtionship.¡± From the beginning of their rtionship, Beckett was always the shining light! ¡°Actually, having children isn¡¯t the most important thing, but when you love someone, you want to stand by them, right? Whether it''s emotional strength or social status, I just don¡¯t measure up to Beckett. I don¡¯t want to be like my mother, forever seeking pity!¡± Darcy was both calm and clear-headed! She knew she would always be spiritually impoverished in Beckett¡¯s presence! Their world seemed to consist of nothing but a delicate emotional connection and fragmented hurts beyond the nostalgic lens of first love. Noe''s gaze remained cool, and after a moment, she passed a napkin to Darcy. ¡°You should talk to my brother about this.¡± Darcy shook her head, wiping away the tears on her face. The damage her family had caused her was far greater than she had ever imagined! In such a situation, her father¡¯s mistress still hoped for reconciliation. Impossible! She didn¡¯t want pity, but every time she knew she should keep her distance from Beckett, she couldn¡¯t help but want to be closer to him, even stopping in her tracks whenever she saw news about him. Once, in the cafeteria, she happened to see an interview with Rising Glory Group. The confident and elegant man on the screen moved with decisiveness and meticulous care, his tie perfectly neat. Just a three-minute video, but Darcy watched it over and over again in the cafeteria! That¡¯s when it hit her. How could she possibly forget Beckett! He was someone she liked, liked so much. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this now. The school has already made their decision about the issue, but Falen Gemstones said they couldn¡¯t sponsor thepetition anymore a few days ago. Was that your doing, Noe?¡± Noe shook her head. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡± She had only taken over thepany a few days ago and hadn¡¯t had the time to deal with the school sponsorship. Besides, Imperial University was a top-tier school. The designers who graduated from there were indeed talented; bringing them into thepany would be beneficial. ¡°Ms. Darcy, do you think I¡¯m the type to stop sponsorships out of spite? The funding is from the company and it¡¯s a win-win for both the school and us. Why would I have such intentions? Or does the school administration think I¡¯m seeking revenge?¡± Darcy realized Noe had misunderstood and quickly exined. ¡°Cosmo said it was the senior management¡¯s decision. The school wasn¡¯t aware that you¡¯re the company¡¯s owner.¡± Cosmo, in his attempt to get free designs for inspiration, had frequently coborated with universities to organizepetitions. It seemed he was up to his old tricks again. ¡°Thepetition will continue, and we¡¯ll reorganize internally. Although I don¡¯t like to meddle, Ms. Darcy, maybe you should consider seeing a therapist. Sometimes being too stressed isn¡¯t good.¡± Noe¡¯s words were delivered with an air of casual concern. ¡°Adults have stress, that¡¯s normal, but too much can make you sick.¡± Darcy was under a lot of pressure, looking after her sister and caught between her self-pitying mother and morally bankrupt father, habitually ming herself for everything. The damage from her family background would take a long time to heal. ¡°Ms. Darcy, if there are things you can¡¯t say out loud, at least find a ce to vent. A therapist could be a good option.¡± Despite the cool tone, there was genuine concern for Darcy¡¯s well-being. By the time Darcy realized this, Noe, along with Marisol, had already left the restaurant. Watching her skirt flutter like petals, Darcy felt a warmth in her heart. Children raised in love indeed have a natural ability to love others! Marisol trailed behind Noe, concerncing her voice, "Are you trying to set thatdy up with your brother? Is that why you sent her to see a therapist?" Noe nced at her, her expression indifferent. "I''m not a matchmaker, Marisol. It''s up to them, not me. I just made a suggestion. She doesn''t have to take it." Noe felt a pang of sympathy for Darcy, recognizing the pain she endured from her own family dynamics. It was hard not to feel for her, knowing they both shared the struggle of being women in a complicated world. ... At the Richardson Estate. "An ancient dragon-engraved jade disc, secret-color porcin, tourmaline-set jewelry... These are all treasures of immense value! Could I possibly stay here for a few days to admire them more closely?" Horatio''s eyes sparkled as he surveyed the antique collection room. ra, puzzled, asked, "Master, aren''t you supposed to be detached from worldly possessions?" "These aren''t mere possessions; they''re treasures nurtured by the energy of the universe!" Bowie Richardson, standing behind them, couldn''t help but smile with a hint of curiosity. "ra, you and Horatio seem to share a special bond, don''t you?" Chapter 353 "What so special?" ra crossed her arms and leaned casually against the wall, looking up at Bowie in a way that somehow made him feel she was in control. "Horatio''s a monk, seems to have a soft spot for you, ra." "What are you trying to say? Bowie, I thought you were different from Lorne Richardson, but now it looks like..." Facing ra''s slightly contemptuous gaze, Bowie felt his face flush with heat! Lucian had already spilled the beans to ra. It was Bowie who had contacted other Richardsons, and he was the one who took Ashlyn away, his intentions couldn''t be more obvious! ra smirked coldly. "Some people''s hearts see everything as tainted." "ra, sister, I didn''t mean it like that..." raughed offhandedly, "Sorry, though I have many brothers, you''re certainly not one of them. Can you imagine, each of my brothersnding a punch on you? You''d probably cry for ages, wouldn''t you?" "ra, my apologies." Horatio, holding a giant porcin vase, looked it over before deciding to just sit down among a collection of antiques! Meditating among these relics, Horatio felt his spiritual practice advancing further! "I shall meditate here, Miss ra, please feel free to do as you wish." "Fine, I''ll go find Grandpa." With a fleeting, cold nce at Bowie, ra turned and left, leaving Bowie feeling somewhat intimidated! Bowie watched Horatio sitting cross-legged on the floor, contemting his ns, then moved closer to Horatio. "Master, I''ve been troubled by many thoughtstely. Could you offer me guidance?" "No." Horatio curtly refused without a hint of politeness. But Bowie wasn''t ready to give up just yet! A revered monk like Horatio, sought after by the wealthy and powerful, could introduce him to realms beyond his reach... Suddenly, Horatio opened his eyes. His serene gaze lifted slightly, the crimson at the corners of his eyes and forehead making him look almost divine, making one''s heart skip a beat! "If you''re already walking down a crooked path, why seek me? You must be familiar with many of such lowlifes." "Master, I don''t understand what you''re saying..." Horatio''s phone buzzed, a message from Noe. [Waiting for you in the mountains.] Upon receiving Noe''s message, Horatio quickly got up and strode outside. Just as Bowie was about to follow, Horatio turned back to look at him. "Bowie, let me remind you..." Bowie''s heart jumped to his throat, anxiously awaiting Horatio''s words. "You''ve got a bit of spinach stuck in your teeth." Bowie was mortified! He wished the ground would swallow him up! By the time he came to his senses, Horatio was gone! ... In Lucian''s study. Piles of documentsy in front of ra. "Sign these, and they''re all yours, all clean, you can be sure." "Grandpa, isn''t this a bit too much?" This was practically all of the Richardson family''s assets! Handing them all to her felt like a hot potato! Lucian waved his hand dismissively. "Take it, you''re the only child in our family, and I trust you with these. I was considering giving some to Bowie, but that boy''s intentions aren''t pure. Grandpa is at peace knowing they''re with you." Speaking of Bowie, Lucian sighed. "Grandpa, Bowie wants me back in the Richardson family to drive a wedge between us, the Schnabels, and the Pocks, right?" "Hmm, the Richardson''s assets are just this much. From now on, they''re yours, so no one else covets these peanuts. As for Grandpa''s antiques, do as you see fit. I''m nning to donate those I can''t manage." Listening to Lucian, it felt like he was settling his affairs, making ra uneasy. "Grandpa..." Lucian patted ra''s head affectionately. "Child, I''m grateful to your Grandpa Marcel for raising you so well. I''m content!" Tears welled up in ra''s eyes. ... At the Schnabel family cemetery. The mountain was lush, the distant hills a deep green, with endless mountains stretching beyond, shrouded in mist. Noe, dressed in waterproof hiking gear, climbed the mountain, followed by Horatio in his monk''s robes. Nn swung from tree to tree, holding onto a rope. "What''s he doing? Using the most primitive method to explore?" Horatio was puzzled. Noe, expressionless, replied, "No, he''s looking for monkeys." Nn swung around the vines, quickly found the monkey king, and they chattered away, seemingly in deepmunication. Horatio was astounded! Soon, Nn descended. "No choice, signal''s bad in these mountains; drones aren''t allowed to fly. The Schnabels are strict, any drone gets shot down. Had to ask the monkey for directions." The Schnabel family cemetery was maintained by a professional team. To prevent disturbances to the Schnabel ancestors, drones were banned. Horatio had seen many tricks from the Pris Star, but negotiating with the monkey king in the mountains was a first for him. Nn pointed ahead. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "It''ll lead us there, let''s go!" Following the monkey, they quickly reached Noe''s desired location. The mountain path was rough, but Horiano and Noe, survivors of uninhabited regions, found making a temporary path not so difficult. Standing atop the mountain, Noe looked down. "My grandma''s grave is over there. This side is barren, untouched by people." "Let''s get this show on the road; I''m all set," the voice echoed with a calm readiness. ... An hourter. A group emerged from their hiding spots and ascended the hill, led by none other than Garrick! Cassius, following right behind him, cautioned, "Watch your step, Garrick." Among those apanying Garrick were several imposing figures, including the burly Thorpe and Hollis, who was confined to a wheelchair. Bowiegged at the rear! There were also several faces Noe didn''t recognize, presumably Garrick''s trusted lieutenants. Bowie spoke up, "Garrick, just across is the Schnabel family''s cemetery. It''s their day of remembrance. If we y our cards right, we can definitely take Harriet''s casket." Noe, hidden in the shadows, raised an eyebrow. Garrick wanted to take Harriet''s casket? What was he up to? A crimson zeal red in Garrick''s eyes! "Harriet was a genius, the only one who managed to break free from the grip of Pris Star. If I can just peek inside her brain, I''ll know what she took from Pris Star in the end... That brat Noe has control over Pris Star; it must''ve been something Harriet passed onto her!" "Once Pris Star is back in my hands, I can fulfill my vision! To create a world where only geniuses exist!" Garrick''s delirious words echoed through the hills. Noe frowned. Garrick actually nned to exhume and dissect her grandmother''s body! Chapter 354 Garrick''s mind had be utterly obsessed with rebooting the Pris Star Project. The thought made him incredibly bitter. "If it hadn''t been for... stepping down, I wouldn''t have been kicked out of the Pris Star Project. Those old fools deserve to rot!" Noe knew that Garrick had been ousted by the old guard of the Pris Star. With their backers pulling out and chaos reigning within, Garrick had no choice but to withdraw. Nn flipped Garrick the bird. "Despicable old geezer." If it weren''t for Garrick, they wouldn''t have ended up orphans! Just seeing Garrick''s face made them want to hurl! And now he had the audacity to consider exhuming Harriet''s grave to see what was inside her head. Disgusting! That old coot actually thought Noe could take all of Pris Star''s talents because Harriet had taken some secret weapon? But it was all Noe''s doing, conquering them one by one! Every member of the Pris Star was a genius, with the willpower to survive those inhuman experiments! And yet, Noe had bested them all. Garrick had been investigating the current members of the Pris Star. He realized that rebooting the project would be too costly, and it was better to just train the current members! Cassius was seething. "I was so close to sess, but the Schnabel family wouldn''t cooperate, or else I could have taken the grave...¡± Garrick replied irritably, "Do you think Marcel is an idiot? I was counting on having ra work for me, and you''ve messed it up!" Garrick had always admired ra for her brains! So young and already shining in the field of science, if he could have her intellect under his control, he''d exploit it ruthlessly! Thinking about his experiments, Garrick''s spirits soared. "Noe''s got a sharp mind too, pity... she''s too rebellious! The Schnabel family too, their sons would have made excellent specimens." Thinking about the Schnabel kids, Garrick''s eyes gleamed with a fanatical obsession. Such talents, but Marcel was too old-fashioned, refusing to send his grandsons for experimentation. Otherwise, the Pris Star''s brilliance would be unmatched! Suddenly, Garrick and hispanions felt the ground give way beneath them! It was as if they had stepped on something soft, and amid a whirlwind of confusion, a series of screams erupted. "Ah ah ah¡ª" "Garrick, are you okay?" When Garrick opened his eyes, he found himself having stepped into a trap, with everyone sprawled in disarray. His head was buzzing! "Who dug a hole here? How could there be a hole out of nowhere!" And not just any hole, but a massive one. Not very wide, but incredibly deep. At least ten feet deep, Garrick felt like he had broken every bone in his body! From above, a lightugh echoed. Noe was squatting at the edge, resting her chin on her hands, looking down at Garrick in the pit. "Oh my, if it isn''t Garrick? What''s this, a fall outing? Why stray from the path, preferring wild adventure? Quite the taste for the wilderness!" Wilderness? She calls this wilderness? They had clearly fallen into a trap she had dug! In that moment, Garrick realized it was all Noe''s doing. "Outrageous! Pull us up now!" Noe chuckled. "Sure, then I''ll just have to report you for trespassing in a private cemetery. This hillside happens to be mine." To ensure Grandma Harriet rested in peace, Noe had bought all the uninhabited hills around the Schnabel family cemetery. Garrick gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to y along with Noe''s narrative, despite the pain. "We indeed came for... a fall outing, just got lost, no harm meant. Please, let us up." "A fall outing? Then stay in the pit for a while, enjoy the unique experience." Noe stood up, dusting her hands. Her gaze was scornful, her demeanor indifferent. "Garrick, just so you know, if you dare touch my grandma, whatever difort she feels, you''ll feel tenfold!" Realizing Noe had overheard his earlier words, Garrick''s expression darkened. "To stand against me, are you sure? I could give you the Pris Star, or leave you with nothing!" "Pathetic threat." Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Noe didn''t mince words. "Since Garrick loves to defy age, let him climb out on his own. Oh, and I''ve left some little creatures in the pit for you, enjoy your fall outing." Seeing the expression on Noe''s face, Garrick felt a chill down his spine! Turning around, he saw several snakes hissing at them! With their triangr heads and vivid colors, they were clearly venomous. Noe hadn''t just dug a trap; she yed a deadly game with them. Regardless of Garrick''s regrets, Noe walked away. Horatio followed closely behind. "Those snakes look scary, but Garrick should be able to climb out. What if he goes after Harriet again?" Horatio knew how much Noe cared for Harriet. "Grandma was cremated. What could Garrick possibly learn from her ashes?" "Why didn''t you say so earlier?" Seeing Noe''s reaction, Horatio almost thought Harriet had been buried in the ground! Noe responded with a tone that was neither here nor there, "If I hadn''t led him on, how would Garrick have made his move? And if he hadn''t made his move, how would I have found the chance to strike back?" It was then Horatio realized, Noe was setting a trap for Garrick! A scream cut through the air not far ahead! "Help! Helen, you''re a madwoman! Help!" "You''remitting murder!" Noe gave Horiotio a look, "Let''s check it out." "Is Helen amon name around here? Why does it seem everyone shares the same name as my senior?" "Are you dense? We''re near Grandma Helen''s nursing home, obviously they''re calling for Grandma Helen!" It''s not like we''re on a busy street to bump into someone with the same name by such a slim chance! "Fair point!" While patting his bald head, Horatio followed Noe towards the direction of the screams. The continuous screams sounded all too familiar. Indeed, it was Ashlyn who was wailing miserably. Under the scorching sun, Helen waszily sitting on a rocking chair, enjoying the cool breeze. Ashlyn wasid out under the sun, hands and feet tied, unable to move! Despite it being autumn, the sun was still fiercely hot, scalding the skin of those not under the shade. Ashlyn felt her skin burning! "Helen, you better let me go! If you kill me, I''ll haunt you as a ghost!" Helen, holding an elegant fan, fanned herself gracefully. "You might want to think about how many ghosts won''t let you off the hook once you''re down there! There''s a whole crowd waiting for you at the River Styx." Ashlyn, who had been superstitious all her life, turned pale at these words! Chapter 355 "Ever look back and wonder about the silly things you did when you were younger, huh?" Helen sat in her wicker chair,zily waving a fan back and forth. The fan was embroidered with wisteria, a riot of colors that seemed almost sinister in Ashlyn''s eyes! She recognized it at a nce. This fan was something Harriet used to carry around when she was younger! "Helen! May you never find peace! You hate Harriet so much, yet you keep her belongings? Oh, the horror!" Helen replied calmly, "Why shouldn''t I use it? It was a gift from her. The one with a guilty conscience isn¡¯t me." Ashlyn was on the verge of a breakdown, both mentally and physically! "Let me go, Marcel won''t let you treat me this way. I''ve been his wife for years, who gave you the right to torment me like this?" Helen straightened up, continuing to wave her fan leisurely. The sarcasm on her face was unmistakable! "Me, tormenting you? Think hard about how you treated ra! When she was five, you tried to poison her with rat poison in her food, hoping to get rid of ra so your granddaughter could take her ce in the Schnabel family!" "When ra was in elementary school, you insisted she board there and note home!" "How old was that child, having to cook and clean for you, an old witch? Couldn¡¯t the Schnabel family afford a maid?" At first, Merrick and Freya were reluctant to help with the child as well. Both elders had their careers, thinking a nanny would suffice given the Schnabel family''s brood. It was only after Jasper visited and came back teary-eyed to Merrick, iming his sister was on death''s doorstep! Ashlyn, taking advantage of Sienna''s postpartum recovery, imed she''d help with the child but had the nanny feed ra nothing but water and rice broth behind their backs! Merrick was shocked, skipping a literary award ceremony one evening to rush and retrieve ra. By the time he arrived, ra had withered to a shadow of herself. If not for her maternal grandparents, ra would''ve been long gone, thanks to this cruel hag! Helen was livid as she recounted these events! "When ra was three, you even tried to bind her feet. Your own feet are bigger than a donkey''s hooves; why didn¡¯t you bind them? Why torment my granddaughter instead?" Ashlyn was speechless, not expecting Helen to have dug up so much dirt. "I...I was only thinking of her best interest..." "Best interest my foot! Don¡¯t worry, I won''ty a hand on you. Since you were ''so good'' to ra, I''ll return the favor ''so good'' to you. You seem to forget, making ra stand out in the sun until her skin peeled. What kind of person does that to a child?" Helen red at Ashlyn, whose skin was now sunburnt to a crisp. The venom in her voice was palpable! This old zealot had not stopped her wicked ways for years! "And she turned out just fine... I was toughening her up. She''s sessful now because of my ''good'' upbringing. You should be thanking me!" Facing Ashlyn''s tant self-justification, Helen could only scoff. "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure to ''thank'' you properly. I have all the time in the world. As for what surname my granddaughter chooses, that''s none of your damn business!" Helen rolled her eyes. "You think your marriage to Marcel wasn¡¯t because you snatched someone else''s child? Would Marcel have married you otherwise?" Ashlyn was furious! "You''re lying! Marcel had me in his heart! He loved me! You think you married into the Pock family for any reason other than you and Harriet looking alike? The old Pock head just saw you as a recement!" Helen stood up, approached Ashlyn, and pped her across the face! Back in the day, having worked in tough conditions, Helen''s strength could rival that of any young man, leaving a dazed Ashlyn seeing stars. "Garrick told you what, and you believed it? You''re really as naive as theye." As she noted the time, Helen spoke up, "Marcel ising with the kids to pay their respects to Harriet. Before they arrive, you''ll stay here in the sun, just as you made ra and her mother suffer. I''ll make sure you get a taste of your own medicine." Hearing that Harriet had beenid to rest in the Schnabel family cemetery, Ashlyn broke down completely! "Why? Why does she deserve to be in the Schnabel family cemetery?! I can''t ept this!" Her screams grew weaker under Helen''s relentless hand. Every time Ashlyn nearly passed out from the heat, Helen would revive her with cold water. Since Marcel couldn''t deal with this witch, she would! "Helen! How can you not hate Harriet? Your husband spent his life pining for another woman, doesn¡¯t that bother you?" Ashlyn was baffled. Why wasn''t Helen siding with her? Helen, chin high with dignity, dered, "I, Helen, refuse to stoop so low. If my husband yearned for another woman, that''s my failure, not Harriet''s. To me your failures on someone else, that¡¯s something only trash like you would do." Noe, standing not too far away, turned to Nn. "Make sure Helen doesn''t overexert herself. Send some folks to bring her something to eat." "Alright, boss, ourpany''s... ahem, Senior Comfort Squad, knows exactly what the olddy likes! Don''t worry, after all, she''s your hubby''s granny. We''ll take care of her just right." Noe was speechless for a moment. She nced briefly at Ashlyn, who was sprawled on the floor, sobbing her heart out. All drama, but not a shred of remorse! People like Ashlyn only feel like the world has been unfair to them, driven by greed for wealth and status, and terrified of death! ... At Harriet''s gravesite. The sun zed down, the cemetery serene, and the headstone had been rewritten with Noe''s name! Behind it, a long list of the Schnabel family children''s names, even ra''s, but not Marcel''s. Horatio exined, "Noe, your grandfather didn''t want to upset your grandmother. After all, considering the kids, especially you, she''d definitely love to rest here!" Marcel was afraid, afraid that having his name on Harriet''s headstone would displease her! Xavier''s video call came through. "Noe, today... it''s your grandma''s memorial day, right?" Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Noe aimed the camera at Harriet''s headstone and said softly, "Take a look." On the headstone, Harriet''s smile was still gentle and serene, brimming with strength! Xavier took a look, sniffed, hiding his sadness. Instead, he ended upforting Noe! "It''s okay. Don''t be sad. Harriet may not be here, but you are. You''re the child she raised, her legacy in this world!" Chapter 356 "Just looking at your picture makes me feel like I could live another twenty years!" Noe calmly corrected, "Grand-uncle, you got it wrong." "Huh?" This was the first time Noe had addressed Xavier as grand-uncle, and it took him a moment to process! Then Noe continued. "Just twenty years? That''s not enough. How about a few more? I''ve sent you some supplements. With me around, you could live to a hundred." Noe was not only the leader of the Obelisk Organization but also the rumored Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, known to snatch lives from the grim reaper even at the border. Xavier knew this too! Hearing her say this, Xavier felt his eyes well up with warmth! "Ah, I always listen to you, you call the shots... Oh, right, Noe, let me show you something!" Xavier, like showing off a treasure, twisted his phone''s camera to give a close-up of Vincent Lambert and his family feeding sharks outside! Vincent and his family were holding pieces of crimson meat, still dripping blood. If they were slow in feeding the sharks, the creatures would open their gaping maws at them! Vincent, terrified, screamed and nearly pushed Belinda Fuller into the water! "You guys are insane! Is there now in this ce? I''ve told you, my dad''s a founding general, messing with me, you''ll face divine retribution..." Xavier let out a coldugh. "A founding general? The only Lambert I know crashed his ne." "You know Marcel, right? Marcel won''t let you get away with this!" Vincent''s words were more animated than he intended, mostly because he was just too scared! Every day here felt like a nightmare; he was on the verge of breaking down! Xavier took a drag from his cigarette. "Been here this long and still so chatty, go pull his tongue out and feed it to the sharks." "Yes, boss!" Vincent screamed and fainted on the spot! Xavier exined, "This one, saw me looking at Harriet''s photo when he arrived, tried to im kinship with me!" Noe was silent for a moment. That was indeed something Vincent would do. "Deal with it as you see fit, but let''s not mention this in front of grandma." Noe then mentioned running into Garrick on the mountain. "Grand-uncle, who really backed Garrick inunching the Pris Star Project?" "Ask your granddad! His arch-enemy, nothing to do with me!" Xavier refused to discuss the matter further. "I''m going to deal with this family, damn, thinking about how they treated Harriet pisses me off! They dare to share Harriet''sst name? Might as well change it to ''Scoundrel''!" "Gotta go, sweetie! I have got a pot roast on the stove!" Noe was unaware that Xavier had taken up cooking duties at Lockhart Prison. Watching the quickly disconnected video call, Noe knew she wouldn''t get anything more from Xavier! On the tombstone, Harriet''s smile was gentle and loving. Horatio sped his hands together, "Noe, I must go prepare the memorial service. Everyone has their own path to enlightenment, do as you please." "Speak English." "You''re kinda in the way, please leave." Harriet''s memorial service was ready, and Horatio had to lead his disciples in meditation and chanting here. Noe nced at him, about to leave, then heard Horatio speak solemnly. "Also, I need to recalcte the fatepatibility between the children and the olddy, to ensure she ascends to paradise sooner." Noe''s knuckles cracked as she flexed her hand. Horatio quickly switched to innguage. "Just send me everyone''s birth details, down to the minute." Noe expressionless, "I''ll send it, but remember to speak inly next time, or I won''t mind giving you a lesson." Though Horatio was skilled in martial arts, he was no match for Noe, who could emerge unscathed from underground fights! Content ? N?velDrama.Org. And when Noe fought, she didn''t care who it was against, always aiming for vital points with precision, ensuring minimal effort on her part and maximum pain for her opponent. Remembering how he''d been beaten by Noe before, Horatio shuddered! Noe turned and left. Horatio received the birth details she sent, sat down, and studied each one. When he got to thest one, he checked the numbers several times before putting down his phone. A simple calction revealed their destinies'' intersection. Horatio had wanted these details to solve his own questions! He wanted to know why his heart raced every time he saw ra! Touching his forehead, Horatio murmured, "No wonder, indeed, we have a connection." But it was just a connection, destined to be nothing more! ... Exiting the memorial hall, Noe looked up to see a young man standing not far away. Palmer''s gaze had been fixed on Noe from the start, with no intention of looking away. "Why are you here so early?" "Came early to visit grandma." Palmer reached out to remove a leaf from Noe''s hair, his fingers trailing down her hair like fine silk. "Did you go up the mountain?" Noe''s skirt was dusty, with burrs that could only be found on wild mountains! As he crouched to pick the burrs from her skirt, Palmer''s gaze lingered on Noe''s delicate legs, touching them lightly with his fingertips. "Cold? Next time you go up the mountain, don''t wear a skirt." The touch tickled. Noe stepped back, feeling a bit ufortable. "No worries, I heard someone yelling for help, just went to check it out," Noe said, her cheeks flushing a shade of pink at her own words. Palmer caught the slight action, a knowing smile crept over his face as he chuckled softly and casually tossed aside the dandelions they had been picking. "I''m quite jealous of these little things, being so close to you all the time. If I had my way, I''d stick to my fianc¨¦e just like this." "...You still have a lot of work to do." "That''s not important. I can always hand over thepany to my brothers." If possible, he would rather spend every moment by Noe''s side! Standing up, Palmer took Noe''s hand and began to stroll with her through the cemetery. "Once you''re done with all the things you want to do, let''s find a cozy ce to settle down." He knew she still had many dreams to chase! A soft warmth bloomed in Noe''s heart. It seemed they both yearned for a simple, mundane life, long having grown weary of their perilous existence. "Palmer, are you... nning to spend your life with me?" Palmer tightened his grip on Noe''s hand. "I''m making this vow in front of your ancestors, the Schnabel family. Lying now would get me struck by lightning! Noe, I want to spend a lifetime, two lifetimes, all my remaining years with you, only you!" Chapter 357 Standing here, it truly felt like an audience before the ancestors of the Schnabel family! The forebears of the Schnabel family were allid to rest here. The serenity of the mountains, with endless greenery shrouded in mist, enveloped the cemetery, adding ayer of peace to the silence. Resting here, the ancestors of the Schnabel family must be content! Grandma Harriet surely would have adored this ce too. The Schnabel family car soon entered the cemetery. Marcel donned a suit he would only wear in his younger days, meticulously pressed, showing signs of aging with its slightly yellowed fabric and the traces of hand-stitched embroidery. He declined Tristan''s offer of support, gripping his dragon-headed cane tightly. "I can still walk! I don''t want Harriet to see me struggling to move!" Tristan didn''t insist, simply having Sienna follow with the wheelchair at a respectful distance. Marcel had aged significantly since Ashlyn''s uproar! Had it not been for Ulrich bringing Malvina back for dinner the next day, brightening the old man''s spirits, he might not have left his room at all. Seeing him like this, Tristan was extremely worried but felt it wasn''t his ce to say much. After all, the affairs of the older generation were beyond his purview! Horatio''s disciple had arranged for the memorial service, sitting in a circle chanting in a solemn tone. From afar, Sienna''s eyes teared up at the sight of Noe and Palmer, hand in hand. She gazed at the gravestone, adorned with the loving smile of thete matriarch. "Mom, we''ve never met, but I''m your daughter-inw! Thank you for taking such good care of my Noe! We may not have had the chance to meet, but rest assured, I''ll take good care of the family!" Sienna knew, if it hadn''t been for Harriet''s unconditional love, her precious daughter might never have had the chance to return to the Schnabel family! Thinking of the hardships Harriet and Noe faced, Sienna''s heart ached! Tristan quickly embraced Sienna. "It''s alright, honey, don''t make Mom sad. See, Mom and Noe are both back now, right? Our precious daughter won''t suffer anymore!" The couple cried together, holding each other tightly. Horatio, with his muscr arms partially exposed, wore a maroon robe embroidered with golden threads in sacred texts, exuding a serene aura. "Blessings to all, simply follow my lead in paying respects." This was the first time the Schnabel family held a memorial service for Harriet. Following Marcel''s wishes, it was conducted with the highest honors, to bring joy to Harriet''s spirit! Kneeling beside ra, Noe looked calmly at the photo of the forever gentle Harriet. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Suddenly feeling a presence beside her, Noe turned to see Palmer kneeling next to her. "You don''t have to, this is a family matter¡­" Just a few days ago, at Palmer''s mother''s memorial service, Noe didn''t kneel with Palmer, only offering incense. Yet now, he wanted to join her in honoring her grandmother? Palmer gently took Noe''s hand, enveloping it in his warm, broad palm. His gaze was firm, his expression solemn and respectful. "I¡¯ve already paid my respects to grandma at Verdant Garden. I¡¯m d to be able to honor her with you. May I have a ce by your side?" He had already paid his respects? Noe couldn''t imagine Palmer, a man of such stature, quietly honoring her grandmother in her absence. Verdant Garden, no different from a quaint vige house with its earthen walls and tiled roof, seemed humble. This man''s wealth could buy countless homes like that! "Why didn''t you tell me?" "I couldn¡¯t, I had no right then, so I paid my respects in secret. But now, I can do so openly!" Noe looked down at Palmer''s hand, adorned with the watch and cufflinks she had gifted him. It was hard to say whether it was moved or joy, but Noe''s heart felt full! "Yes, you can meet grandma openly now." Palmer''s lips curved into a gentle smile. As Horatio and his disciples chanted the scriptures, the Schnabel family paid their respects to Harriet''s shrine, each bow filled with deep reverence. Marcel, sitting in a wheelchair, watched silently, his grip on the cane trembling with emotion. After the final bow, Noe looked up at the sky, feeling as if the floating ashes took on a familiar form before dissipating before her eyes. In that moment, Noe understood her grandmother had truly left. She used to worry about Noe, but now she must bepletely at peace. Noe was surrounded by loving family, parents, and siblings who cherished her like a treasure, and Palmer by her side. Palmer turned and embraced Noe,forting her gently. "It''s alright, Grandma knows you''re happy, and that would make her happy too." Noe''s voice was muffled, recalling moments spent with her grandmother, her eyes moist. ¡° Once, my grandmother was my only family, loving me unconditionally. But now, I had many loved ones, including you!¡± "I''m honored." Seeing Palmerforting Noe, Sienna wiped away her tears, feeling immensely relieved. For Palmer to show such care and thoughtfulness, it was clear his affection for their precious daughter was genuine. Filled with relief, Sienna yfully pped Tristan. "Look at Palmer, then look at you. You weren''t even this thoughtful when you were courting me!" Tristan felt wronged beyond words. "Should I court you all over again?" "Come on, we''ve been married for years now. Why chase the past? It''s embarrassing, honestly! Besides, I can''t turn back time." Tristan chuckled, wrapping an arm around Sienna with a sheepish grin. "Honey, in my eyes, you''re forever in your dazzling twenties." Their peaceful moment was shattered by a piercing scream. A bloodied old woman stumbled and fell at the entrance of the cemetery, screaming at the top of her lungs. "Why is Harriet buried here? Get her out!" Helen followed at a leisurely pace. "I won''t go in. Palmer, do me a favor and light a candle for Harriet. Tell her... we''ll meet again soon. Next time in hell, we''ll have plenty to talk about!" "The old witch slipped away when I wasn''t looking. I''ll take her back now." Several burly men stepped forward, lifting the delirious Ashlyn, while Noe watched from the side. Noe knew that Helen had done this on purpose. She wanted her grandmother to see the sorry state Ashlyn was in now. It was Helen''s way of showing her hidden tenderness beneath her ice-cold stubbornness. Palmer apologized, "I''m sorry for my grandmother''s words. She didn''t mean to offend Grandma Harriet." "It''s alright. Grandma Helen was a very gentle soul!" Chapter 358 The sound of car horns pierced the quiet of the cemetery outskirts. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. A convoy of over a dozen cars pulled up, led by an elderly gentleman who stepped out, apanied by a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. Dressed in a pristine white suit, a boutonniere pinned to his chest, and a ck fedora, the old man walked with a slight limp. Upon seeing him, Tristan hurried over. ¡°Uncle Ephraim, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Hmph, you''re holding a memorial for your mother and didn¡¯t think to call your kin? Do we mean nothing to you?¡± Ashlyn, hoisted on a model¡¯s shoulder, perked up at the sight of the Schnabel family members. Trouble was brewing, and she was here for it! ¡°Ephraim, you have to back me up! Kick Harriet out; I should be the one standing here! When have I ever let the family down? And Linnea, oh! You and our Yvonne were practically sisters, you gotta stand with me here! These people are ganging up on me! We need to get rid of these bad omens!¡± To Ashlyn, both Sienna and Noe were just obstacles in her path! If it weren¡¯t for them, the Schnabel family would have been hers by now. How could it be that after marrying Marcel, he wouldn¡¯t even touch her, yet Sienna kept having children, one after another! For thirty years, Ashlyn harbored a towering resentment! Linnea remained calm, ¡°I was taken in by my grandfather, not rted to you. I have my own grandmother.¡± Ashlyn was relentless. ¡°You were raised alongside our Yvonne, who knows, you might actually be sisters! Yvonne is my true granddaughter, just like you!¡± Seeing Linnea, Ashlyn''s eyes lit up! Linnea, however, stepped back emotionlessly. ¡°Then go find Yvonne Schnabel. I¡¯m not your granddaughter.¡± Yvonne? Who knows where that brat ended up! Just mentioning her name made Ashlyn¡¯s blood boil! If it weren¡¯t for Yvonne abandoning her, Ashlyn wouldn¡¯t be in this mess! ¡°Ephraim, what are you here for? To throw Harriet out?¡± Ashlyn was visibly agitated. Ephraim adjusted his suit and, with Linnea¡¯s support, approached Marcel, bowing deeply, ¡°Marcel, I¡¯mte.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t invite you, what do you want?¡± Ephraim said sternly, ¡°To pay respects to my sister-inw, and to ask, when will you let Noe officially join the family? A spot in the family tree is already prepared, right next to ra¡¯s!¡± Marcel nodded. ¡°It¡¯s time to handle this. Noe¡¯s name can be added at any time; she will always be a Schnabel.¡± ¡°What about my sister-inw¡¯s name?¡± Ephraim was cautious. Even in his old age, facing Marcel still filled him with apprehension. Without Marcel¡¯s guidance, the Schnabels wouldn¡¯t be where they are today, and Ephraim might not have survived. Marcel pondered for a moment. ¡°No need.¡± Ephraim quickly interjected. ¡°Marcel, everyone deserves to find their roots. My sister-inw has wandered all her life; you should give her a ce to belong.¡± ¡°If that''s the case, then add her, just list her as Tristan¡¯s mother. I worry... she wouldn¡¯t want to be linked with me!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see to the family tree.¡± Hearing Ephraim, Ashlyn was beside herself! ¡°You¡¯re mad! Why her! I¡¯m Marcel¡¯s wife!¡± Ephraim slowly said, ¡°Right, your name, it should be removed!¡± Ashlyn was livid! Helen, watching the drama unfold with her arms crossed, seemed to find a satisfactory resolution, her downturned mouth curving into a slight smile. ¡°The Schnabels still have some shame. I was about to say, if you didn¡¯t want ra and Noe, I¡¯d take them to add to the Pock family tree today.¡± ra was curious, ¡°Grandma, the Pocks wouldn¡¯t just let us join their tree easily, would they?¡± Given the Pocks they¡¯d encountered before, they didn¡¯t seem easy to get along with! Helen matter-of-factly stated, ¡°Put a de to their neck, and there¡¯s no one in the world who can¡¯t be reasoned with! If it¡¯s about being tired of living, I¡¯ve never been afraid!¡± At her age, she doubted anyone was more reckless than she was. Helen exuded a determined ferocity! Palmer, observing Helen, felt she might have made a bold decision without telling the rest of the Pocks. Ashlyn fainted. Helen remarked indifferently, ¡°Well, I¡¯m off. If this old thing dies, I¡¯ll actually be bored!¡± Her tone suggested she saw Ashlyn more as entertainment than anything else. Watching Helen and her entourage of models leave, Ephraim wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°Helen¡¯s temperament is as fiery as ever... Marcel, let me pay my respects to my sister-inw. Years ago, she saved my life.¡± If not for Harriet¡¯s kindness in saving a critically ill Ephraim, he wouldn¡¯t be here today. ¡°Go on, your gratitude means everything.¡± With Linnea¡¯s support, Ephraim sincerely offered respects to Harriet. Ephraim rose to his feet, turning to face Marcel with a matter at heart. "Marcel, I came over today for another reason. Linnea''s graduating from college this year, and I was thinking it might be good for her to join the Schnabel family business. What do you think?" Marcel nced at Linnea, who was standing beside Ephraim. "Linnea''s majoring in hospitality management, right? Why not have her work at one of our hotels? We just handed one over to Noe. But since Noe''s the boss now, it''s only right we get her take on it." Ephraim looked towards Noe, who was standing a bit back, and shed a big grin. "Hey, Noe, how about letting Linnea be your right-hand woman? That okay with you?" Since it was a requesting from within the Schnabel family, Noe had no objections. She hadn''t even visited the hotel herself yet. If Marcel wanted to make arrangements, sending Linnea directly over would work just fine. Asking Noe was more a matter of courtesy than necessity. "Sure, I don''t mind at all." Ephraim''s smile grew even brighter. "Don''t worry, Linnea''s not some pampered child. She can start from the bottom up! As long as none of the troublemakers give her a hard time, she''ll follow your lead on everything else!" Linnea chimed in, "Grandpa, nobody can bully me. You don''t have to worry." She knew Ephraim was just concerned about her facing difficulties in the workce on her own. That''s why he had brought her to the Schnabel family estate and even arranged for her to work under Noe at the hotel. Outside the estate, Garrick, covered in dirt, coughed a few times, his appearance somewhat haggard. He walked into the estate, followed by a group that had just mbered out of some holes, looking quite the sight. Marcel frowned. "Garrick, what''s this... Did you go treasure hunting, or were you digging your own grave? You look a mess, something''s not right!¡± Chapter 359 Garrick showing up didn¡¯t exactly surprise Marcel. Given their shared history, it was only natural for Garrick to pay his respects to Harriet. Still, his disheveled appearance did make Marcel chuckle. Did Garrick really think looking like a mess would win Harriet¡¯s sympathy from beyond the grave? At his age. still ying these pointless games! Garrick''s gaze, cold and biting,nded on Noe. ¡°Marcel, what a piece of work your granddaughter is! Beckett, sensing the hostility, stepped in front of Noe, shielding her. Ulrich, with a gentle smile, said, ¡°Wondering what brings Garrick here. If it''s your eyesight failing, I can get you an appointment at our clinic!¡± Stirling waved his hand, and the security guards around the cemetery focused on Garrick. Jasper straightforwardly said, ¡°Garrick¡¯s supposed to be a role model, right? Save the snide remarks. Our Noe''s not in the best of health, and she¡¯s timid. What if she gets scared? Palmer, holding Noe''s hand, looked at Garrick with a frosty gaze. ¡°Garrick, now you''re stooping to intimidate a young girl?" Garrick was seething, faced with the united front of the Schnabel family! He hadn''t seen Noe in action. Which frail, timid girl could set a trap as borate as hers,plete with a snake pit? This wasn¡¯t some delicate princess; this was a dark-hearted schemer! And yet. the Schnabels protected her as if she were a precious gem. ¡°You have no idea what that girl has done!¡± Garrick started to say.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Noe, calm as ever, interjected, ¡°Garrick, would you really air schoolundry in front of my grandmother? The departed may be gone, but they¡¯re not blind to the living¡¯s actions, Garrick. Grandma saw it all.¡± Garrick swallowed his words. Noe continued, ¡°Twisting the truth at school is one thing, but in front of my grandma¡¯s memorial?¡± Marcel chimed in, ¡°Garrick, if you''re here to mourn Harriet. fine. But if you''re here for Noe, you might as well leave. The Schnabel family doesn''t wee your kind.¡± That was an eviction notice if ever there was one. ¡°Marcel, I¡¯m here to im Harriet!¡± Garrick dered, stunning everyone. Tristan frowned. ¡°My mother''s alreadyid to rest. Where exactly are you nning to take her?¡± Garrick brushed the dirt off his clothes. ¡°I was once Harriet¡¯s husband. It''s only right I take her.¡± The silence that followed was eerie. Ulrich, with aplex look, said, "Garrick doesn''t seem mentally ill... What kind of nonsense is he spouting?¡± Garrick, iming to be Harriet''s husband to take her away, had everyone¡¯s jaw on the floor. Garrick pulled out an old, stamped marriage certificate from his pocket, bearing his and Harriet¡¯s names. ¡°I''m here for mywful wife. Any objections? The Schnabel family was wide-eyed. Marcel stood up, staring at the marriage certificate. Back then. marriage paperwork was a hassle, but those names were unmistakably Harriet and Garrick''s. ¡°How do we know this is legit?¡± Noe asked coldly. "Forgery is easy these days. And if Grandma was your wife, why haven¡¯t we seen you before?" ¡°I thought Harriet was dead, that''s why I didn¡¯te looking!¡± ¡°But you saw Grandma a few years back. Why not mention your marriage then? Or did you forget, suffering from dementia?¡± Garrick was at a loss for words. His eyes shifted to Noe. ¡°How did you know I saw Harriet years ago... Did she tell you?¡¯ ¡°That''s irrelevant. What matters is, no one¡¯s taking her today, Garrick. Think carefully.¡± Faced with Noe¡¯s fury, Garrick knew he had truly angered her. ¡°You want to be enemies? Noe, join me, and the world will bow to our willl His proposal was met with Noe¡¯s scorn. ¡°Us? I wouldn''t associate with someone like you. Grandma partnered with you, and look where that got her. Grandpa Lucian did too, only to be your pawn. With such examples, why would I join you?¡± Harriet and Lucian had been Garrick¡¯s allies, and their fates were tragic. Garrick clenched his jaw. ¡°Their departures were their choices. Had they stayed in myb, none of this would''ve happened. Noe had no intention of reasoning with Garrick. Anyone capable of running a project as horrific as Pris Star was beyond redemption. Tristan stepped forward, his resolve evident. "Garrick, you show up with a document that could be a total fake, thinking yourtan just waltz out of . here witkremy mom''s remains? Not happening, buddy! If you even think aboutYaying a finger on her, th¨¦ Schnabel family won''t hesitate to raake you a permanent resident of this ce.¡± ike) ~ a is "My mom went through hell and back when she was younger, and now you want to take her ashes? Plus, I''ll have you exposed! A principal of Imperial University should never be someone like you!" Garrick gave the document in his hand a nervous flick. In the nextinstant, a monkey, seemingly out of nowhere, sprang into action. It dashed over with > incredible agility, snatched the document from Garrick''s graSp, and shredded it to pieces in seconds! C¨¦ntent belongs to ot forgettingXo push Garrick to the ground, the stonkey then turned, tauntinglyshaking its rear at him before grabbing a fruit bowl from: Horatio''s hands and disappearing intothe cemetery with a few swift leaps. o fee. a / The Schnabel family stood there, jaws practically hitting the floor. Everything happened so fast, they barely had time to react! ra gently tugged at Horatio''s robe, "Master, how did you know a monkey woulde? Do you know it?¡± Horatio, with a serene nce withdrawing from his sleeve, rested his pale. delicate fingers on the fabric, seemingly troubled by more than just the garment. "I heard their chatter. We have quite a few monkey troops around the Dragon Monastery: I''m quite familiar with them." "Them?" Chapter 360 As soon as ra finished speaking, the previously vanished monkey, followed by arge troop, made a grand entrance down the hill! Horatio directed his disciples to orderly distribute food among the monkeys. The next moment, the Schnabels were stunned to witness the monkeys, now in clusters, carrying away Garrick and his cohorts! Tristan was dumbfounded. He had braced himself for a showdown with Garrick! But who would have thought... that the mountain monkeys woulde to the rescue? Noe signaled Nn from the shadows. Moving swiftly, Nn led the monkeys, and upon departure, a few more individuals were taken along. Garrick struggled in vain as a monkey stuffed a rock into his mouth, the earthy taste nauseating him until he rolled his eyes back and fainted. Horatio murmured a prayer. "God bless, it seems Garrick has a special connection with these monkeys.¡± A special connection? This was certainly an unexpected turn of events! Regaining hisposure, Ephraim expressed his concern, "Marcel, we should arrange for someone to look after the cemetery. It wouldn''t be good if it disturbed your wife''s peace.¡± Garrick was known for his relentless pursuit of his goals! Marcel, looking weary, nodded in agreement. ''I''ve already made arrangements.¡± His gaze was steely, hinting at his resolve. Ephraim nodded, "Then I''ll be on my way. There¡¯s a heap of matters to attend to back home. If she is free, bring Noe over for a family tree update. I''ll make sure it''s taken care of." "Any dissent in the family?¡± ¡°Don''t worry about that. The Schnabels stand united. As long as you acknowledge her, she is treasures to the Schnabel family. Our prosperity and unity span generations, not by making life hard for the young ones." The Schnabel n members echoed in agreement. Marcel nodded Ephraim was a smart man ¡°Alright, I trust you with this." After paying his respects, alongside presenting Linnea, Ephraim quickly departed with the family. Marcel sighed deeply as he nced at the memorial hall. ¡°Harriet, I''m sorry you can''t rest peacefully yet. It''s all my fault.¡± They had misjudged Garrick, allowing him to exploit many opportunities! As Marcel reflected on Harriet''s photo, he sighed again. "We ced our trust in the wrong person with Garrick..." Suddenly, ra remembered Lavinia mentioning an experiment during a conversation, a secret project she got involved with. Could it be rted to the so-called Pris Star? ra tugged gently at Horatio''s robe and released her grip as he looked her way, her action leaving him somewhat disappointed. "What''s the matter?¡± "Master, can you divine the future?" Divining was the domain of mystics, not monks. Yet, facing ra''s earnest gaze, Horatio replied softly, "Perhaps." "Could you uncever past events then?" "I''ve never tried, but it''s worth a shot." Truth be told, Horatio had never divined anything before, let alone urately. But ra believed otherwise. If Horatio wasn''t certain, it must be close to true! A revered monk like him wouldn''t deceive her. The secrets Lavinia couldn''t recall or refused to share, ra hoped Horatio could reveal them n set! Horatio whispered to Noe. "Do you have a book on divination?" Noe looked puzzled. "I''m not a mystic. Why would I need that? Seek a sage!" Thest sage they knew had vanished, possibly in seclusion after an uproar over Cassius. Horatio scratched his head, worried. It seemed a visit to the local mystic''s ce was in order On their way back, Sienna brought up the Schnabel family. "Honey, I didnt.want to burden you with this, butthe current patriarch of the Schnabels is your great-uncle! ~ Since Lirtnea will be working c osely with yau; interactions with himare inevitable. As for Linnea, she''shis adapted granddaughter, found dPandoned with Yvonne..Cont Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ent Reflecting on these events, Sienna felt a wave of nostalgia. ¡°Ashlyn insisted on the girls¡¯ auspiciousness, so your great-uncle also took Linnea in. The Schnabels aren''tcking in resources.¡± ra, nestled against Noe, voiced a concern, "Mom, I hope Linnea isn''t like Yvonne. Maybe she should work elsewhere if she gets jealous of Noe.¡± ¡°That''s unlikely. Linnea is not like Yvonne. She funded her college education ant even taught in mountaineus regions. The money ~ from the''Schnabels went to road construction in mountainous <'' regions,¡¯ Sienna exined, admiring Linfiea''s efforts. ¡°If Linnea. turns out like Yvonne, we''ll addresgnit then. It''s a promise your grandfather made, and I can''t object.¡± Noe nodded. Who managed the hotel was of little concern to her, but she was open te checking it out at Marcel''s request. Hearing Noe''s interest in visiting the hotel, Sienna promptly instructed the driver to stop, signaling the convoy to do the same. Palmer grinned as he drove. his eyes flickering with amusement. "Hey, Palmer, our Noe wants to check out her hotel. You got a sec to tag along? Show her the ropes if she''s got any questions!" The Pock Group, with its chain of hotels spanning the globe, had Palmer as their ace in the hole. Sienna threw Palmer a knowing look, whispering. "Noe''s been down in the dumps about her grandma. Take her out, will ya? Cheer her up!" Noe shot Sienna a helpless nce, her expression saying, ''Do you really think I can''t hear you?" ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll take good care of Noe," Palmer promised. Once Sienna got Noe into Palmer''s car, she watched them drive away. a sense of relief washing over her. Out of nowhere, a shared bike zipped into view, with Nn pedaling furiously and finally stopping in front of Noe¡¯s car. "Boss, Garrick and the crew got dumped in the backwoods. They wan''t be making it back anytime soon!¡± "Got it," Noe responded, nonchntly. The Schnabel family-owned hotel was a sight to behold. Its opulent¡± decor atid grandiose hall, bathed i in light and adorned with sparkling crystal chandeliers, casta ? kaleidoscope of colors around. The manager, nked by staff, greeted them with a chorus of "Wee home. Ms. Schnabel!¡± Tristan had given them a heads-up about Noe''s visit. Yet, the arrival of Mr. Pock himself alongside her was an unexpected honor! Linnea, now donning a sleek business suit, stood a little way off. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Noe and Palmer. Chapter 361 Noe and Palmer looked like a match made in heaven as they stood together. Around Linnea Schnabel, a colleague whispered, ¡°Pock and Schnabel are like peanut butter and jelly, a perfect match! Can you even imagine how gorgeous their kids would be?¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, is there still a chance for me to be reborn as Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Pock''s kid? That¡¯s my top choice!¡± ¡°You''d probably end up as an overworked employee instead.¡± Listening to the murmurs, a shadow flickered in Linnea''s eyes as she withdrew her gaze from Palmer and Noe. Muttering to herself, she said, ¡°Them getting married? I wouldn''t bet on it.¡± Linnea approached, handing Noe her well-prepared resume. ¡°Ms. Schnabel, here''s my resume.¡± Noe took it, scanning through. Linnea¡¯s major in hospitality management was evident, a perfect fit for her standing here. She had spent her college years volunteering in rural areas, earning national schrships annually and graduating top of her ss. A truly impressive resume. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pursue further studies? Your grades could''ve easilynded you a spot. ¡°I wanted to start working, and my grandfather supported that.¡± ¡°What''s your current position?¡± Linnea pointed to her badge, ¡°I¡¯m an intern manager, but I¡¯m aiming for something else.¡± ¡°Oh? Such as?¡± ¡®I''d like to be your assistant. While management suits my major, I¡¯d prefer to learn directly from you. ¡®I''m also new here; you won''t learn much fram me.¡± Linnea shook her head, ¡°But you need an assistant. and what I learn is up to me. Whether or not Ie to the hotel is your call. Her confidence and poise were evident as she spoke directly to Noe, catching her interest. As they walked to Noe¡¯s office, she asked, "Being my assistant won''t be easy, Miss Linnea. What''s your career n?¡± ¡°To work in the hotel for a few years, then study abroad.¡± ¡°I thought you weren''t interested in furthering your studies?" Linnea tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, ¡°To be precise, I''m not interested in using the Schnabel family''s money for it. The schools I¡¯m eyeing are quite expensive, and I''d rather pay my own way.¡± Noe chuckled softly. ¡°Ephraim would¡¯ve supported your studies, you know. ¡°Yes, but I wouldn''t feel right epting the Schnabel family¡¯s generosity.¡± She wasn¡¯t a Schnabel by blood, and Ephraim raising her was already more than generous. Linnea stood tall, ¡°I just hope to make him proud.¡± Returning her resume, Noe took off her coat, which Linnea quickly hung up. leaving Palmer with an empty gesture. Linnea¡¯s professional warmth was undeniable, even as she asked, ¡°Do you need this ironed?¡± ¡°No need, I''ll be leaving soon. Also, youre hired as my assistant.¡± Linnea bowed slightly, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Schnabel. I won¡¯t let you down. After some instructions, Noe realized Linnea had already done her homework on the hotel ¡®I''ll bring the ounts to youter.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Watching Linnea leave the office, Noe turned back to Palmer, who handed her a coffee and pulled her onto hisp, whispering, ¡°Feels like Linnea just took my job, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Linnea seemed to always position herself between Palmer and Noe, even casting Palmer a slightly hostile nce as she left. Noe found it amusing that Palmer seemed jealous, even of a woman. ¡°She''s part of the Schnabel family; as long as she¡¯spetent, it¡¯s fine. Noe had been swamped with herpany''s affairs, rarely visiting Pris Star. Having someone to delegate to meant more time for her own work. Linnea¡¯s attitude wasn''t too bad, either. Palmer, nestling into Noe''s neck, breathed in her scent. savoring the warmth and softness in his arms. ¡°When do you think... we might get engaged? Noe, caught off-guard, wasn¡¯t in a rush for an engagement. They were already partners, and an engagement was just a formality for family and public acknowledgment. Palmer¡¯s voice, hoarse with unspoken desire, made Noe¡¯s cheeks flush. Pushing him away, she stood up in a fluster. ¡°I''ve got something to take care of, just wait here! Watching Noe leave, Palmer''s smile widened. Spinning in his chair, he gazed out at the garden where Noe stood, fanning her flushed face. Their eyes met through the ss, her embarrassment clear. As a doctor, Noe knew all too well what had just transpired between them.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Standing in the flower garden, catching a bit of the breeze before turning around, Palmer had already swiveled in his chair,fortably settling into Noe''sptop to tackle some work issues. Finally freed from that intense gaze, Noe let out a relieved sigh! "Ms. Schnabel, were you out admiring the garden?" Linnea stood behind Noe, her gaze following Noe¡¯s to Palmer, who was engrossed in his work. "Is it really okay for Mr. Pock to just use yourptop like that?¡± ¡®It''s fine, I haveyny ownptop for personal use" No matter the task at hand, Noe always preferred using her own taptop. Besides, Palmer was just using the hotel''sptop fora videe¡¯conference, nothing that required specialized software. "The hotel''sptop is linked to the internalwork. Even if you and Mr. Pock are close, one should still be cautious. Even back in the day, it wasn''t proper for a husband to meddle with his wife''s dowry." Noe archedsan eyebrow. She turned to fase Linnea, meeting her earnest gaze that seemed solely = concerned for Noe''s well- being: Yet, why, did her words carry a hint of he&tility? A hostility, it seemed, directed at Palmer! Contentbelongs 6 "May I ask bluntly, do you have a beef with the Pock family?¡± Linnea responded coolly, "No, I just think someoite as wonderful as you should chadse someone more => suitable!Fhe Pock family''s = intricate re dynamics aside, you could do better, it doesn''t have to be Mr. Pck.¡± tt to 4 It was clear to Noe then. Linnea was openly trying to sway Palmer''s affection away! Chapter 362 "That person might not even have to be a guy!" Linnea dered with conviction. "I''ve seen enough men letting women down while I was volunteering abroad. If Mr. Pock could treasure you, that would be fantastic. If not, he should be dumped! There are so many people in the world; you should find the best one out there!" Noe looked at Linnea for a moment and then burst intoughter. "The one I chose might not be the best. but he''s definitely the right one for me. Like, choosing you as my secretary is the best fit for me. Isn''t it?¡± Linnea blushed! Did Noe just say... she was the best fit for her?! She stuttered, "I''ll do my best! I know about the thing with Yvonne Schnabel, how you aren¡¯t too fond of her, I... I might be her sister, but I''m definitely not like her!" "You don''t look like her." Linnea felt a bit disappointed, "The Schnabel familypare me to her because we were found in the same ce and both taken in by the Schnabel family." It inevitably made them a point ofparison. Especially since Yvonne, with Ashlyn''s instigation, had been making a show of power within the Schnabel family, often suppressing Linnea both overtly and covertly. It was nothing but saying she wasn''t a child of the Schnabel family and should get out! Recalling those moments made Linnea feel unbearable! What if Ms. Schnabel, because of those matters, looked down on her like the other children from the sidelines of the Schnabel family.. Noe''s voice echoed not far from her. "You''re not like her, at least she wouldn''t use the money she earned from part-time jobs to sponsor schrships for impoverished girls. May I ask why you only sponsor girls?" Linnea didn''t expect Noe to know about her deeds! She never thought to publicize her secret sponsorship, not even the Schnabel family knew! "Because boys not attending school often choose not to, but girls in the mountains don''t have the chance. I want to help them see the world beyond their mountains! I was lucky to meet my grandparents, but they weren''t as fortunate!" Finding Noe listening intently, Linnea finally felt at ease. ¡°It''s nothing much, I don''t earn a lot. Repaying the Schnabel family¡¯s kindness is impossible, so I do what I can!" ¡°Count me in then. I''ll transfer funds to your ount, I''ll handle the finances for the schrships, but you''ll select the candidates. Will it bother you?¡± Linnea quickly shook her head! "No, not at all. Ms. Schnabel, your joining this cause is wonderful!" "Then it''s settled.¡± "Thank you, Ms. Schnabel!¡± Linnea danced with joy, then realizing she might be losing herposure, quickly exited the garden Mizar swung down from a tree near Noe, watching Linnea leave. "Boss, I did some digging; she''s kind of the ck sheep in the Schnabel family.¡± "Go on.¡± "Because she was adopted, Linnea isn''t exactly favored in the Schnabel family. Many kids from the sidelines don''t treat her well. She was bullied by Yvonne as a child.¡± Noe already had an idea from Linnea''s earlier hints that her past with the Schnabel family wasn''t exactly pleasant. "Boss, just be careful, okay?¡± ¡°Careful of what?¡± Mizar patted Noe''s shoulder, solemnly saying. "Boss, have you been told you could swing both ways?" Noe nced at Mizar. "I suppose I could, especially with someone like you. Breaded and deep-fried, you''d be quite the snack." Mizar shivered and, with a scream, ran off. At dusk. Palmer gata few calls in the afternoorvand, after a heartfelt = goodbye with Noe, boarded the next flight out to handle international business for the Pock Group. Linnea knocked on the office door, "Ms. Schnabel, it''s six o''clock, are you continuing to work?" "Let''s call it a day.¡± Noe stretched and handed Linnea the neatly arranged projects. "Follow the procedures, and if there''s any issue, give me a call." Noe had managed to arrange all the recent work in just an afternoon! Even the hotel''s kitchen menu was revamped! "Ms. Schnabel, won''t you be visiting the hoteltely?" "No, I''ve got a science conference to attend, might be a while before I return." Actually, if not for a sudden decision, Noe probably wouldn''t have visited the hotel today. But since she was here, she efficiently handled what could be done. Linnea''s eyes brightened! "A science conference, could I join you?" "Interested in science?¡± "I''m applying for schools, still undecided on a few topics!" The science summit would host researchers from various projects, some even funded by the Schnabel family. It wasn''t a bad idea for Linnea to tag along. "I''ll get you an entry ticket." "Thank you, Ms. Schnabel!¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Imperial University. The autumn breeze was cool, and Oriana wrapped her coat tighter around herself, sniffing Finally spotting a familiar car, sheined as she got in, "Linnea, what took you so long? I called you ages ago!¡± Linnea nced at her. "I''m at work. How do you expect me toe and pick you up?¡± Oriana and Linnea had been friends for years, having spent part of their childhood living next door to each other. They grew up together! Linnea drove a modest sedan, and Oriana made a face. "Your family is loaded. Why don''t you drive something nicer? The car your brother drovest time was top-notch!¡± Linnea responded coolly, "Yeah. my family has money, not issues. That car is his, not mine. You think I should just take it?¡± Oriana''s face fell into a pout. ¡°What am Fgoing to do? The school is really ? going to kick me out! It¡¯ SJ wall Noe¡¯s 3 fault. If she hadn''t beers sO relentiess, I wouldn''t be in thissmess. She''s-such a small-town girlso petty!" ~ - Hearing the familiar name, Linnea furrowed her brows. "What are you talking about? Why are you getting expelled?" Oriana quickly recounted the incident at school, though her version made her sound like the victim, embellishing the story to her advantage. To hear her tell it, she was just a poor girl bullied by the wealthy Noe, making Noe¡¯s actions seem utterly reprehensible. "But it doesn''t matter, Garrick is going to arrange a new department head, and I refuse to believe all the teachers will side with the Schnabel family! Linnea, younave to help me! You? know so many influencers, right? Just say I was bullied by Ms, No¨¦ of the Schnabel family! I refuse to believe it won''t make waves!" ¡°You want to use those influencers to spread bad things about Noe?" "It''s not spreading bad things, it¡¯s the truth! Linnea, we''ve been friends since we were kids. Don¡¯t you believe me?" Linnea was bombarded by Oriana''s incessantints. She pulled the car over to the side of the road and looked at Oriana with a stern face. "Get out of my car!" Chapter 363 "Linnea, are you out of your mind? You can''t catch a cab around school to save your life!¡± "Buzz off." Linnea''s voice was ice-cold as she snapped, "I didn''te here to pick you up just to listen to you trash-talk the Schnabels!¡± It was only then Oriana remembered Linnea¡¯s connection to the Schnabels... They were essentially family! "Linnea, after all these years of being pushed around by the Schnabels, with Noe back, it''s only going to get worse for you. Trust me, I wouldn''t steer you wrong...¡± Linnea frowned, "Do you think I''m brainless, or is it that you think your brain''s just on another level? The Schnabels took me in; I''m not about to bite the hand that fed me. If you got expelled, that says more about you than it does about me. I, Linnea, might be friendless, but I''m not desperate enough to buddy up with someone who can''t tell right from wrong and is full of malice." Without a shred of mercy, Linnea left Oriana by the roadside and drove off, leaving nothing but a cloud of exhaust behind. Oriana screamed in frustration, stamping her feet on the spot! No sooner had the car pulled away than Linnea''s phone buzzed with a call fram an unknown number. "Ms. Schnabel, good day. This is Bowie Richardson from the Richardson n. Do you remember me?" "Vaguely. Your ''monkey fight¡¯ face was quite the sight.¡± Bowie''s smile froze on his face! Linnea hit the record button and asked indifferently, "What do the Richardsons want with me?" "Well, I found our encounter at the cemetery quite fascinating. Might I have the honor of inviting you to dinner?" "No."Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Don''t you wish to improve your standing within the Schnabels? I feel for you, having suffered there. Just align with me, and you''ll be the undisputed lady of the Schnabel household!" Linnea¡¯s lips twitched. "Idiot. With your intellect. I''m afraid I¡¯d be the first to suffer if I allied with you." After hanging up, Linnea forwarded the recording to Noe with a little note: Ms. Schnabel, these folks are up to no good, scares me a bit. Noe''s expression turned intriguing upon receiving Linnea''s message Bowie reaching out to Linnea wasn''t surprising. But Linnea''s method of handling it... was quite unique. Hearing Linnea''s firm stance in the recording, and the text she sent, a smile crept onto Noe¡¯s face. ra leaned over to take a nce. "I''ve been working with Grandpa Lucian recently to put the screws on Bowie''spany. He''s desperate, but it''s not a big deal.¡± "Do you need my help?" ra chuckled, ruffling Noe¡¯s hair affectionately, ¡°Leave this little issue to the adults. With Mr. Pock and Beckett on it, Bowie''spany is on the brink of bankruptcy!" It was only in front of the Schnabels that Noe was seen as a naive child "As for Linnea, don''t worry. I took some cousins out for a meal to snoop around." ra hopped off the couch, rummaging through her bag for a USB drive which she then plugged into theputer. The contents of the drive, a video file, were soon disyed on the screen In the video, Linnea, donned in a wedding dress, stood at the altar, the groom''s back facing the camera, unidentifiable. The groom''s parents openly demanded the Schnabels foot the entire wedding bill. Ephraim¡¯s face turned sour instantly. "You, the Schnabels, have wealth and property to spare, our family does not. Aft¨¦r the wedding, all of Linnea''s ass¨¦ts and her house will ¡ª go to us, have another daughterto marry off. itll serve as her wedding gift. Atso, Linnea¡¯s just an adgpted aughter, Once she''s married, bearing sons, serving the-inws, and caring for her husband and children are her duties. As for Linnea¡¯s pets, just get rid of them. They''re bad luck." to Oo The faces of the Schnabels darkened at the mother-inw''s endless demands. Linneaposed herself and turned to the groom. "Do you agree with this?" "My mother¡¯s decision is final. It''s been hard on her: you should understand." Linnea nodded slowly, then turned to Ephraim, finding no me in the eyes of the Schnabels, only smoldering anger and sympathy. With a swift move, Linnea pped the groom across the face! The ceremony descended inte chaos. The groom''s mother attempted to retaliate but was swiftly held down by the Schnabels¡¯ security, unable to move. Linnea yanked off her veil, using it to throttle the groom! "I never wanted to get married; it was all to give my grandparents peace of mind. Let those responsible be held ountable. If it''s too hard for your mom, hire a caretaker. Don¡¯t carry regrets to the grave.¡± As Linnea spoke, she rolled up her sleeves and began to pummel the groom. The Schnabels watched, pretending not to see, while some of Linnea''s younger rtives, who typically shed with her, started to apud. "Well done! If only you¡¯d shown this fire earlier, who would''ve dared to mess with you?¡± Linnea sighed "Did you really expect me to just take it in front of all you scum?" At such avish gathering, the Schnabe family spared no expense. But Linnea was quick to rify, her ?~ voice cutting through the air like ac knife, " This extravagance? Court¨¦sy of theSchnabe S, sure. But it sure as heokNsn'' for marrying you, you sorry excuse for a groom. Today.marks either your unlucky day of the moment you walk away!" Content belongs to With a swift motion, Linnea adjusted the wide hem of her gown, her high-heeled footnding squarely on the groom''s thigh A scream, akin to that of a pig being ughtered, pierced the air, echoing deafeningly! The video ended there, with no further footage captured Noe was astounded. She hadn''t expected Linnea to have such a fiery personality... Yet. she found it impossible to dislike her! ra shrugged, "A squabble among the Schnabel kids is just that¡ªinternal. They picked on Linnea, sure, thinking Ephraim favored her, but it was never anything serious." It was all child''s y to them, their irritation stemming from Linnea''s usually timid and submissive demeanor at home. They were united against the world but seeing Linnea¡¯s fiery temper, the Schnabel kids felt she truly belonged ra massaged her temples. "After this incident, Linnea might just... develop an aversion to men?¡± She worried Linnea might end up like Yvonne, unable to put her mind at ease. It took severalvish dinners with distant cousins to acquire the video footage. But having seen it, ra found herself unable to dislike Linnea either. Noe pondered for a moment. "Did anyone reach out to her family?¡± ra shook her head, "The groom who was just-beaten? He was introduced byhe own parents, iming he-was from the same vige aid thus a known quantity> Turngaut, they epted money fronxhim, a mere ten grand, and sold Linnea off. Her parentsalso tried to extort money frofm the Schnabels but got chased off by Linnea herself!" N Hearing all this, Noe felt a mix of emotions. "If that''s the case, let''s not make things harder for her.¡± ra hugged Noe tightly, nting kisses on her face. "I was worried she''d be trouble for you! Oh, our Noe, always so naive and kind-hearted!" Chapter 364 Just like Noe, she''s the only one who would still be worried about not wanting to put Linnea in a tight spot at this time. The scene where Linnea was hauling chairs and taking swings at people made ra believe she was as tough as nails! After that, who would dare mess with her? Mizar¡¯s call came through. "Boss, heard you got a kid now!" Noe frowned, "Speak English." "In a few days, there''s a science conference that requires submission of documents. I was organizing your files and found out you apparently have a child. Boss, isn''t your man Mr. Pock? When did you have a daughter named Tina? And she¡¯s already three!" As Mizar spoke, he sent the information he found to Noe''s phone. In Noe''s personal rtions. there suddenly appeared a parent-child rtionship, showing Tina as Noe¡¯s daughter! Inside Pris Star, everyone was dumbfounded! "Boss, you weren''t even of age three years ago, and now you have a child?¡± "Did you check it out?" Mizar chuckled, "Of course, I looked into this interesting matter thoroughly. It turns out the ''parents'' of your ¡®daughter¡¯ fancied the school district for one of your properties and wanted their child to attend school there, so they registered her under your residency.¡± "Which school district? I have too many properties to remember." Mizar felt a twinge. This was truly showing off without intending to! The Schnabel family had given Noe so many properties that Tristan, in good moods, would buy real estate for the kids, and in bad moods, still buy real estate... Resulting in Noe not even knowing how many property deeds were under her name. ¡°It''s one of your downtown properties. We contacted the child¡¯s parents, and they refuse to move the residency!¡± ra, seeing Noe''s serious expression, casually inquired. After hearing such a bizarre situation, ra was also stunned! These days, to snatch a spot in a good school district, people really go to extremes... But Noe isn¡¯t even married yet! And now she suddenly has a child out of nowhere? ra quickly got up to find Tristan and Sienna. If this leaked, it would be so bad for Noe''s reputation! Noe pressed her temples. "Boss, what do we do? The child''s parents even want to meet you!" "Let''s meet. I also have to swing by the Azure factory. It''s on the way.¡± "Then I''ll arrange it!" The Schnabel family, upon hearing the news, were all wide-eyed! Seeing Noe packing her bag and ready to leave, and hearing she was going to meet that shameless couple, Jasper quickly followed. His sister was so pure and adorable, what if she got bullied! "Noe, take Jasper with you. How can you not bring yourwyer at a time like this!" "Okay." Sienna pped Tristan on the head. ¡°It''s all your fault, telling us to keep the kids¡¯ registrations separate for better security. Now, look, you''ve got a granddaughter!" For the kids¡¯ own business and safety, the Schnabel family had always kept their registrations separate. But that wasn''t Tristan''s decision alone! However, facing Sienna''s angry re, Tristan had no choice but to swallow his grievances. Downtown caf¨¦. The wind chimes hanging at the door jingled, and the autumn breeze blew aga ¡®girl in a trench coat with a slender I figure walked in, her pale legsin brown leather shoes,¨¦legant like princess. - The man following Noe wore a shy shirt and heart-shaped sunsses, with a gothic chain around his waist. The couple sitting in the booth rxed upon seeing them. These two looked like young lovebirds, probably clueless about everything! Jasper nced at the couple, somewhat surprised. "What a coincidence, thisdy is Ms. Darcy''s father''s mistress... Quite the busy bee." It seems her time with Darcy''s father, Austin, didn¡¯t stop thisdy from having her own family and even registering her child under someone else¡¯s residency. The middle-aged woman in front of Jasper, used to seeing him in sharp suits, failed to connect this non-conformist young man with the renowned lawyer. Sitting down, Noe was cold "So, you''re Tina''s parents? She¡¯s using my residency information. Move it as soon as possible." The middle-aged couple figured Noe and Jasper were just some rich kids who knew nothing about struggles. ¡°Look, we all want what''s best for our children. Since you''re not using that property, why not just let it serve our child''s education "Yeah, you young folks don''t have kids yet, you don''t understand the struggle! How about this, sell us the property at a discount...¡± Noe slightly raised her eyebrows. Such audaciousness. Using her residency, giving her an unexpected child, and now they wanted to buy the property? Jasper chimed in, "Selling the property is an option: we have plenty anyway. But only at market price, not a penny less!" At market price, that school district property wouldn''t sell for less than a couple of million The man chuckled nervously, "Since you''re not living there, and property prices have dropped, why not sell it to us for five hundred thousand!¡± Five hundred thousand would barely cover the living room. "If you''re not willing to sell, then forget it, but we''re not moving the registration!" Jasper asked, "Could we see your marriage certificate? We can''t just assume you''re a couple." The woman handed it over.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. "Here, we''ve been married for years.¡± Jasper slowly started recording with his phone. then took off his sses, facing the astonished woman across! ¡°Ja... Jasper?!" ¡°That''s me. Ma''am, you''ve been married for years yet im Austin''s estate. I''m afraid it''ll be difficult, and the child you mentioned, could it be this girl?¡± The man exploded, "You''re still not separated from Austin? Whose child is Tina then? You deceitful woman!¡± Faced with her husband''s usations and thewyer''s questioning, the middle-aged woman''s emotions started to crumble. She just wanted some cash. What did she do wrong? .. this child...¡± iming it was a child of Austin didn''t work, nor did saying it was her husband''s child. It was like shooting herself in the foot. Noeughed along, "What are you all talking about? Tina isn''t my child?¡± "Jasper, I''vefigured it out. Since that''s what the documents Say, then she''s may xy child! We should call the police-and use them of being childsnatchers, taking awaymy child. How vile!¡± ¡° A spark of hope lit up in Jasper''s eyes! The middle-aged couple was in total panic! Noe stood up, her demeanor calm and collected. "Since they''re¡¯shild snatchers, then I have the right to decide for my child. From nowson, you shouldn''t meet => with Tindever again. This child has nothing to do with you from this moment, and I''ll be pursuingtegal action against you.¡¯ to¡¯ 4 To think that her own biological parents were nowbeled as child snatchers?! Chapter 365 They were trying to cut corners. But instead of a bargain, they lost a child! This was not what they had intended! Noe spoke calmly, ¡°Jasper, taking in another child isn''t much of an issue for our family, but human snatchers should still be caught. Imagine the danger they pose." "My sister has a point." Jasper wholeheartedly agreed with Noe''s decision! In the face of such people, they had to show their strength! The middle-aged woman opposite them started to panic. "Jasper, you''re awyer, how can you break thew? Tina is clearly our child; she has nothing to do with you guys!" "Your child is registered under my sister''s name, which makes her my sister¡¯s child. You are now human traffickers.¡± Ordinary parents turned into traffickers! And this was all their own doing! Jasper stood up, "You have three days to sort this out, or you can think about your child from jail.¡± Facing Noe and Jasper''s resolute gaze, the middle-aged couple slumped into their chairs! The man, baffled, pped the woman across the face. "Whose child is Tina? Mine or that deadbeat Austin¡¯s?¡± "Of course, she¡¯s yours..." The more the man thought, the angrier he got, taking all his frustrations out on the woman! Behind them, Noe raised an eyebrow slightly. "Jasper, Ms. Darcy''s case should be winnable, right?¡± "It wasn''t before, but now it is. Who do you think I am? This is a minor issue!" "How did their child end up registered under me?¡± Jasper stroked Noe''s hair, somewhat helplessly. ¡°It''s not umon. Justst month, I handled several cases where the registry staff took bribes, thinking no one would notice, and just let it slide." They never thought such a thing would involve Noe! Jasper checked his phone. "Shall I take you home? I need to head to thew firm." "No need, I''m meeting Beckett for dinner. I''ll just go to Beckett''spany." Beckett''s Rising Glory Group was nearby. After dropping Noe off at the Rising Glory Group. Jasper hurried off to meet his clients. Outside the Azure store. A young girl, arms filled with shopping bags, pointed at Kitai, furious. "I''m a customer, why won''t you let me shop?" "Sorry, ma''am, Azure only serves clients with appointments.¡± "Can''t I make an appointment now?" Kitai maintained a professional smile. "Of course, you can make an appointment for another day ande back then." "I won''te back in a few days if I make an appointment now." Facing this persistent customer, Kitai discreetly rolled his eyes. Who didn¡¯t know Azure''s rules? After a new productunch, items sell out quickly, leaving only non-sale items and custom orders for important clients on the shelves. Seeing Kitai unmoved, Oriana and her friends clenched their teeth in frustration! Spotting Noe behind them, Kitai''s eyes lit up! There she was, bringing hertest designs! "Ms. Schnabel, right this way, please." Kitai bowed deeply, almost rushing to pull Noe inside. Stepping into the store, Noe said casually, "Show me your best-sellers.¡± ¡°Right away, your favorite pastries are already prepared." Noticing the clear preferential treatment, Oriana nudged her friend. "Myra, it seems they''re looking down on us... This is too much." In Oriana''s circle, the wealthiest friend was Myra Her family did business internationally, hardly fitting into the local elite circles... But Myra, having lived abroad since childhood, was ustomed to princess treatment and strode in with her chin up. She stood hands on hips, looking down at Noe, who was about to take a sip of water. "You, get up, I want to sit!"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Noe didn''t even nce at her, blowing on the tea leaves in her cup, "What happened to the previous tea?" "It''s finished. This is a new variety from Mizar, around ten thousand a cake, not expensive. Please, enjoy as much as you like.¡± Azure was entirely Noe¡¯s, not to mention a bit of tea! If she wished, she could even have Kitai make the tea. Feeling ignored, Myra was displeased. "I''m going toin about your store!¡± Kitai cheerfully replied, ¡°Certainly, the manager''s office is to the left outside." How silly, to think ofining in the owner''s store! Not to mention that Noe had shares in the mall itself. and the managers all recognized her. Kitai exined, "Ms. Schnabel''s umted spending is at the level, do you prefer to pay by card or cash?" Noe raised an eyebrow slightly. Kitai merely quoted a figure. Hearing the astronomical figure, Myra stepped back! "How... How can it be sc much?" "You mightnot be aware, but Ms. ~ Schnabets wardrobe is exclusively provided by Azure. That''s just ter ownSpending, not counting & what others buy for her. to 6 - The store might not have everything now, but we can arrange for items from the warehouse. Serving our customers is our duty!¡± Kitai stepped forward, bringing the card reader right up to Myra. The numbers were set, and staring at the string of zeros, Myra felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. If she actually spent that much on clothes. her family would probably throw her into the deep fryer... Kitai''s tone was dripping with sarcasm. ¡ê you can''t afford it, no worries. We''re not hete to force anyone to spend, butsince you didn''t have an> appointrhent and were quite rude; we''ll have to ask you to leave. Feel freetde back when youhave an appointment!¡± 4 Myra''s face was a palette of indignation and embarrassment. "You... you have no clue about Azure! Master Azure''s designs aren''t just about making money; they''re for th¨¦ whole world! Ms. Schnabel, peapl¨¦ like you, who only know how to.¡¯ ssh cash, are exactly the type Master Azure despises" & Content b¨¦longs ? Noe raised an eyebrow slightly. Wasn''t she running an Azure boutique to make money, to funnel more funds into Pris Star''s research projects? Surely it wasn''t just about the ideals, was it? Kitai couldn''t help butugh! "Madam, no one understands Azure better than Ms. Schnabel!¡± Chapter 366 "Talk about shooting for the moon," Kitai muttered under his breath, "You''re just a salesman. Do you even understand Azure?" Kitai remained silent, his ego slightly bruised. Truth be told, he didn''t know the first thing about Azure. But he knew plenty about Noe, and that had to count for something, right? Myra rolled her eyes so hard. "Even if you spend a fortune, someone reeking of cheap cologne without an ounce of sophistication will never grasp the essence of Master Azure''s art!" Noe leaned in, a smirk ying on her lips, "Oh, you get it, do you?" ¡°Of course, I do!" Myra asserted, her voice dripping with enthusiasm. "Master Azure''s works are like the universe''s treasures, brimming with energy! Every time I see them, it''s like my soul gets a much-needed cleanse! It''s all about expressing freedom and the pursuit of ultimate beauty!¡± "You grew up in the sticks, didn''t you? It''s no wonder you can''t appreciate such profound art,¡± she snorted, looking at Kitai with undisguised contempt. Kitai''s lips twitched in annoyance. He had been by his boss''s side for years and had yet to find these deep meanings in the sketches that were often the result of hitting a creative wall Freedom of the soul, really? As Myra rambled on about Azure''s design philosophies, she didn''t miss an opportunity to throw shade at Noe. "You wouldn''t know art if it hit you in the face!¡± Noe''s reply was calm, yet devastating. "You''ve got some spinach in your teeth." An awkward silence fell over the group, broken only by Myra''s horrified scream as she dashed into the depths of the Azure store. Watching her flee, Oriana and the others hurried after. fearing what their little tyrant might do next. Kitai sighed, ¡°Boss, looks like you''ve got yourself a die-hard fan. If she knew she was insulting you to your face, she''d probably cry even harder.¡± Noe''s response was indifferent. She was here at Azure on behalf of the Schnabel family, having promised to design some clothes for them. ra had been pestering her for days, eager to wear one of Noe''s creations to a science summit, hoping to impress her idol with her sister''s handiwork. "Clear out a workspace for me.¡± "Don''t worry, boss. No one dares to touch your workspace!¡± Kitai nearly jumped with excitement as Noe headed for the studio. The potential boost to Azure''s sales figures next quarter had him grinning from ear to ear. At the Pock Mansion in Serene Haven¡¯s Dragon Tower, Helen sat surrounded by piles of documents, pouring over them with her reading sses perched on her nose. Sexton couldn''t help but tease her relentless dedication. "What''s this? Studying for the top schr award?" "Shut it, will you? I''m busy here," Helen snapped, her focus unbroken. Merrily carrying a cup, Sexton approached and saw that what Helen had been looking at was actually Garrick''s research papers from the past few years! "Why are you reading his papers? Can that guy write anything worthwhile?" "I''m nning to report Garrick, so I have to prepare various things, who knows which side will require the materials I submit.¡± Helen wanted Garrick to fall from power, absolutely andpletely! With no chance of climbing back up! Sexton somewhat disagreed. ¡°Why bother with all this at your age?¡± "It''s because I''m old that I''m bothering with it; otherwise. I''d wait until I''m buried and go to the grave? Either get out of the way or help me." The words were coarse, but the reason was clear. Sexton sat down and took a look at the materials. "To take down Garrick with this stuff. I''m afraid it won''t work.¡± "Is that what you think? I''ve contacted a few old friends for help, and I''m going to make some noise at the uing science summit in a few days.¡± Seeing Helen''s determination to deal with Garrick, the old man didn''t interfere. As she carefully examined the documents, her gentle expression seemed to transport them back to their shared past... In Sexton''s eyes, there were a few more traces of regret and reluctance. His voice was low as he muttered tohimself while leaning on his walkigg stick and leaving. x ¡®Peopleing to this world fora visi always leave with some~ regrets! I didn''t marry you because of Harriet; it was Harriet who told me you love money and asked me to pursue you with it. Helen, in my life, the person I can''t let go the most is you..." Helen''s hand trembled as she turned the page to the next piece of information: Pretending like she => hadn''t h¨¦ard anything at all, only Rer hand was shaking so much that she coukint turn the pages and ber vision blurred! 6 It must be old age, unable to see clearly and hold things steady! Unrted to fleeting passions, all that''s left are the lingering feelings in life and the unspoken love that has been held for half a lifetime. At the Imperial City Hotel, the annual science summit was underway, drawing the elite of the research world. Noe''s presence, alongside Merrick and Freya, sparked whispers and spection, confirming her identity as the cherished Ms. Noe of the Schnabel family. ra''s anticipation to meet her idol, Loadstar, was palpable, a testament to the revered status the mysterious figure held in the scientificmunity. As they navigated the crowd, the entrance of Garrick, wheelchaicBound and apanied bya visibly distressed Bowie, setihe stage for an eventful gathering, promising revtions and perhaps, unexpected confrontations"Content ? ra feigned ignorance, her tone dripping with mock concern "Aw, Bowie, you look like you''ve swallowed a lemon. What''s up? Rough night?¡± Rough night was an understatement. He''d been tossing and turning, half-tempted to confront ra in the dead of night about why she had decided to sabotage his business! He had finally managed to get one over on Lorne, securing a spot at the Richardson family table, only for it to crumble to dust! Bowie forced a smile, but his bloodshot eyes gave him away, making him look rather intimidating. His business was on the brink of breaking through, of establishing a firm foothold within the Richardson empire! But then, his entire operation was hit with an industry-wide boycott. After some digging. he found out that the Schnabels, the Pocks, and Pris Star had all banded together against him! Now. no one in the industry dared to associate with him! Grinding his teeth, Bowie met Noe''s calm gaze, each word seething through clenched teeth. "Does Ms. Schnabel happen to know what I might have done to offend Pris Star? They''ve left me no quarter!" This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Chapter 367 Facing Bowie''s aggressive questioning, ra stepped in front of Noe, shielding her. "What''s your deal? What does Pris Star''s sanction against you have to do with Noe? Don''t think you can seare her just because she''s kind and gentle!" In ra''s eyes, Bowie was likely targeting Noe! Everyone knew Noe was the darling of the Schnabel family. If he could soften Noe''s heart, Bowie could gain favors within the Schnabel family. Bowie forced a smile, "I just want to know why Pris Star is targeting mypany..." ¡°Bowie!¡± ra looked at him coldly, ncing toward Lucian not far away. "You want to make a scene in front of Grandpa?" Lucian was still unaware of Bowie''s deeds. ra worried that the old man couldn''t handle the shock. Lorne''s misdeeds were bad enough; there was no need to upset the old man with them These issues had been kept under wraps ¡°ra, you don''t understand! All I''ve done was for the good of our family! Following Garrick, that''s the path to a bright future. I''m doing this for the Richardson family..." "You''re doing it for yourself. Spare me your righteous act; I''m not a fool." Faced with ra''s sharp gaze, Bowie remembered, after all, she was raised by the Schnabel family. Each of the Schnabel sons was a standout in their own right. Not to mention ra was the youngest, taught by her four brothers; collectively, they were cunning enough to run circles around Imperial City three times! Bowie''s intentions were as clear as day to everyone! A pained expression crossed Bowie''s face. ¡°You''ll regret it. One day, you''ll see that standing by Garrick¡¯s side was the wisest decision..." ra scoffed coldly, "So wise to be fighting monkeys in the mountains at his age?" Speaking of the incident at the cemetery, Bowie looked even more ufortable! They had finally managed to find those monkeys'' caretaker to file a comint. Only to be told the monkeys were protected animals and this was their habitat. They even had topensate for trespassing! ording to the caretaker, they had to check the monkeys for any health issues because human blood could be harmful to them! The disdain from the habitat staff was palpable! Garrick and his group, despite their injuries, were less concerned about their own health than the monkeys. Failing to lodge aint and having to paypensation before leaving! Knowing he couldn''t reason with ra, Bowie tried to engage Noe but ra stood firmly in front, like a hen protecting her chicks! Garrick said sternly. ¡°Noe, you''ll regret this!" Noe shrugged, her expression one of disdain. Members of Pris Star on the second floor gave Garrick the finger behind his back. Thorpe, with his sharp eyesight, quickly informed Garrick, infuriating him further! ra mockingly said, "Looks like Garrick is showing signs of senility, poor thing." Noe''s gaze on Bowie was indifferent. "The master''s gone, why is the dog still here?" Bowie''s face turned ashen, his fists clenched then released, as he left with Garrick. Merrick locked worried. "What''s Garrick up to? Coming here to trouble the younger generation, he''s really regressing!" Noe watched Garrick''s retreating back, a slight smile on her lips. Garrick simply wanted to make a ssh at this scientific summit, finding the right people to restart the Pris Star Project! Dressed in-a cocktail dress, Oriana~. stood beside her parents, both a scientists. After much persuasion, theyagreed to bring her along. They were still unaware of her expulsion!Content ? N?velDrama.Org. From afar, Oriana''s father Kent saw Merrick surrounded by people and hurried over with his drink. "Merrick, long time no see! Still looking distinguished!" "And you are?" "We had the fortune of meeting at an award ceremonyst time!" With Merrick attending countless award ceremonies, he hardly remembered such an encounter. His assistant Oran whispered, ¡°He''s the writer who didn¡¯t win atst year''s literature awards. Youmented his writing was pretentious and greasy. named Kent." With that reminder, Merrick recalled! "Ah, yes, your prose style was rather peculiar. I found much of it confusing. Have you made any changes?" Kent was embarrassed being called out for his peculiar prose style in public! Oriana, following behind Kent, didn''t see who was speaking and felt indignant. "What do you know? My father''s prose is a work of art, wless!" Feeling the attention on her, Oriana suddenly felt validated, a sensation she hadn''t experienced in a while. She rose to tht.asion. "My father''s proses on par with literary giants likeMerrick and Master = => Bryce. We read many works by? up- anging writers who''vewon awards. Why shouldn''t my father S WORK?¡± s a > The room fell into an awkward silence. Oriana continued, ¡°Especially his piece ''Mysteries of Distant Hills,¡® its wording and imagery are enough to rival Master Merrick¡¯s..." Kent''s "Mysteries of Distant Hills" also found a small spot in the literary segment of the scientific summit. Not far from them, the debut of "Mysteries of Distant Hills" was announced with a towering poster, three meters tall! Merrick nced back, a sh of realization crossing his face as he turned to look at his assistant. "Oran, what did I sayst time I read Kent''s ¡®Mysteries of Distant Hills¡¯?" Oran bowed slightly, "You mentioned it was a patchwo k, half your words and half Master Bryce''s. You > wondered if Master Bryce would = come at''you with his walking stiok if he saw it. And you also said, this person isn''t cut out for writing, but H@d make a fine tailor!" Content belongs to Oriana bristled at this! ¡°What are you implying? That my father''s work is giarized? On what grounds do you make such a im!¡± Noe stood by Merrick, a light chuckle escaping her lips "Grandpa, whether this gentleman giarized your work or not, the proof is in the pudding." "You''re right. He chose a few of my old pieces to cobble together, but... some parts were from letters I wrote to your grandma!¡± These were pieces Merrick never intended for the public eye. So at the time, he merely mentioned it in passing, not taking it to heart! Noe gestured to Phecda standing behind them. Soon, Merrick¡¯s unpublished works wereid out for all to see! Chapter 368 Therge screen behind them disyed several handwritten letters, causing an audible murmur of surprise among the audience. To everyone''s astonishment, they were love letters Merrick had written to Freya! No wonder they had never been made public. Written with a fountain pen, each letter was filled with profound affection. Though not a single word explicitly mentioned missing one another, the depth of love between the elderly couple was palpably felt. Freya blushed slightly. "Why bring these out now..." she muttered, slightly embarrassed Oran, with a chuckle, said, "My deardy. Merrick ns to publish these as a gift to you!¡± Back in their younger days, both were incredibly busy, with Freya spending most of her time in theb. It was Merrick who had raised their daughter Sienna almost single-handedly! In those highly confidential settings wheremunication was restricted, they had resorted to letters. Noe''s gaze fell on Kent, who seemed quite uneasy amidst the crowd. "This gentleman can''t exactly be used of giarism, more like ¡®inspiration¡¯. But such obvious borrowing hardly seems fitting for disy here, does it?¡± Spotting the name signed on those letters and standing next to Merrick, Oriana suddenly realized... This was none other than the literary giant, Mr. Merrick! Her righteous indignation moments ago now felt awkwardly misced Kent, who worked in ancient text research and was more of an amateur essayist. was visibly embarrassed by the call-out. He turned to Oriana, "This is your fault. Why would you say that here? Don''t you know how to pick your moments? Is this the ce to embarrass yourself?" Oriana was deeply hurt. Little did she know, Kent''s essays were mereptions from various sources.. Seeing the letters disyed, Freya''s eyes welled up with tears. "I never imagined you kept all these." "How could I throw them away? Even if the letters are gone, the love remains," Merrick responded warmly. Noe asked, "Grandpa, if these were your private correspondences with Grandma, how did someone else manage to use them as inspiration?" Merrick waved his hand dismissively. "Years ago, some of my writing was used as study material at their institute. Kent, being into ancient and rural literature, probably came across them then. It''s no big deal." To Merrick, these matters were trivial. At their stage in life, fame and rivalry held little importance. Freya teased, ¡°Don''t be fooled by this old man''s calm demeanor now. If it were about you guys, his temper res up in an instant!" When ra was bullied at the research institute, Merrick immediately donned his award ceremony suit, brandishing all his medals, to confront the institute in defense of his granddaughter. The couple was soon called away by familiar researchers. ra, dragging Noe along, scoured the £¤ vast venue for members of Pris Star. Spotting - ~N Yasbel aad Mizar indulging in = cheesecake from afar, ra wad aboutto approach when suddenly, herdress was drenched in jbice, staining it red. Content b¨¦longs to Facing Linneas bewildered gaze, both were shocked. Linnea hurriedly exined, ie I didn''t mean for this to happen.<¡ã ¡°Her exnation only < added to ihe chaos. Initially, shehad intended to approach Noe with theddice but ended up spilliag iton ra''s dress after an unseen nudge from behind. Linnea, nearly in tears, tried to clean the stain with tissues to no avail. ra sighed, "Let''s not fuss over it. I believe you didn''t do it on purpose. Noe, let''s go change." Shocked, Linnea offered, "Let me apany you." In the guest suite upstairs, ramented, ¡°It''s a pity. This dress was made by Noe for me... I wanted to wear it to meet my idol.¡± The doorbell rang, and Annie appeared, carrying several dresses. "Mr. Pock sent me with these." The summit¡¯s hosting hotel belonged to the Pock Group! Annie winked at Noe, "Mr. Pock is aware of the incident and will join you shortly.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Despite his busy schedule, Palmer made time for video calls with Noe, often working together. Their unique way of ¡®dating¡¯ impressed Annie, who admired Noe as the perfect match for Mr. Pock. Annie, daydreaming about her uing vacation, knew how rare it was for Palmer to make time for such events, highlighting the importance of Noe in his life. Annie whispered, "Helen and Lucian made it too, they''re over in the main hall, along with Mr. Pock and all your folks, and a couple of the Schnabel brothers showed up as well.¡± By Noe''s folks, she obviously meant those thrill-seekers from Pris Star who never miss a chance for some drama. It wasn''t surprising that the Schnabel n showed up to support ra¡¯s exhibit in the main hall. As Noe bent down to adjust ra''s dress, adding a unique touch with just a few simple safety pins, she responded. ¡°Alright. I''ll head over in a bit." Staring at thepletely transformed gown in Noe''s hands, Linnea eximed, "Ms. Schnabel, your style reminds me so much of Master Azure!" ra had a moment of realization as well. ¡°That''s right. Noe, the brooch you gave mest time, it looks like it could be part of Master Azure''s new collection? It seems like a design that''s not even released yet!¡± Master Azure¡¯screations were often one of a kind:and anything given to ra would naturally be unique, al-> handcrafted by Noe herself. ra, wrappimg Noe in a hug, asked with yftl suspicion, "Noe, cauld it be that you know Master Azure?" Content be ongs to swnevel Chapter 369 It''s no wonder ra Schnabel had her doubts! The resemnce between Noe¡¯s designs and those of the internationally renowned designer, Master Azure, was uncanny! Even the essory pairings and the way the dress hems were pleated echoed Master Azure''s iconic style. Many designers carve out their unique style, but someone like Master Azure, with his distinctive pleating techniques, really sets a benchmark. Noe pursed her lips, calmly stating, "Yes. I''m acquainted. After all, my wardrobe is practically curated by Master Azure." Indeed, Master Azure''s designs dominated Noe''s closet. Ever since the Schnabels noticed how stunning Noe looked in Master Azure''s creations, there was no turning back! Before new collections could even hit the shelves, Kitai would receive a flurry of orders from the Schnabels... ra had an epiphany. "Noe. you''re a genius! You''ve mastered Master Azure''s style, something many aspire to but fail to achieve!¡± A gentle smile spread across Noe¡¯s face. In the main conference hall. After changing, Noe found her seat and was instantly greeted with an array of her favorite snacks, courtesy of the Schnabels'' concern for her and ra''s well-being. The room filled with chatter as the Schnabels reassured themselves upon learning the duo had gone to change. The hall, packed with invited industry moguls, buzzed with anticipation. Palmer Pock, exuding a familiar scent of cedar, unbuttoned his vintage suit jacket and took the seat beside Noe. Grasping her hand, his weariness seemed to vanish at her sight. Noticing the dark circles under his eyes, Noe chided, ¡°You didn¡¯t have to rush back recklessly.¡± "I wanted to be back with you as soon as possible," Palmer replied, a sweet smile curling at his lips. His work ethic had shifted fromboring endlessly to rushing through tasks, all to return home sooner. The reason, and for whom, was unspoken yet understood. As the lights dimmed for the presentation, Palmer gently embraced Noe, drawing a cough from ra and a blush from Noe. Despite the public setting, Palmer''s fatigue and open affection made it hard for Noe to push him away. The Schnabels were used to their disys of affection, so she let him hold her. Garrick, seated in a wheelchair, surveyed the rgom with determinatignas he introduced his lab''s groundbreaking research on > the human brain''s untapped _ potentiat, The room erupted intava buzzal the mention of this a controversial topic. Garrickxfueled bY fervor, revealed his data came from the prestigious Pris Star Lab, causing a stir among the audience. f As debates arose, Garrick defended his work passtenately, iming those who aittin¡¯ t survive his experiments were not failures but ¡°> sacrifices to science, akin to medical cadavers. Thisparison sparked outrage, with one attendee, van, using Garrick of bei ~ shameless for taking credit for work primarily done by Pris Star under a new leadership, Loadstar. Content belongs to swnovel.ne Garrick, undeterred, insisted on his right to the data, iming it as part of his legacy, despite his departure from theb. As tensions rose, the presentation shifted to show distressing footage from the original Pris Star experiments, leaving the audience in shocked silence. Surgica procedures, electroshock f the pha in neu h ra fusions ral res methods employed apy, a barrage o ceuti¨¦als, I intense lig ponses... ntravenous ht provoking ~ an array of ~ to push thes. limits ike) uma? thei eit bri nk! audience I psyche and n sheer a physical The reve ation left the stonishm ent! They we re aware of the snippets from Po obli aris Star''s past, yet vious t o the inhuman extent of experimentation ca rried out in the Con s to lab! ent belong Noe stood up gracefully, her gaze locking with Garrick''s in aposed standoff. "I believe there are several points in Loadstar''s report that merit scrutiny," she dered, her voice crisp yet audible enough to resonate across the studio. "Firstly, this report,piled by Loadstar post-factum, seems to have been tampered with by Garrick, the founding leader of Pris Star, in an attempt to obscure theb''s shorings by erasing data on ¡®failed subjects."" "Secondly, the validity of the experimental data on human brain development, as reported by Principal Garrick, appears to be fabricated." "Thirdly, Garrick had no authorization from Loadstar to publicize this report. That''s a vition of rights!" Someone rose from their seat instantly. "Ms. Schnabel, you''re not exactly a scientist yourself. Questioning Garrick is one thing, but to cast doubts on the uracy of Loadstar¡¯s report? You owe Loadstar an apology!¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. "Yes, indeed! Loadstar''s experiments are renowned for their precision. How could such fundamental errors ur? An apology is in order!" With a light chuckle, Noe straightened her slender frame, her gaze unwavering. "An apology seems out of the question, because... I am Loadstar!" Chapter 370 Mizar rose to his feet, drawing the room''s attention. ¡°Everyone here knows me from Pris Star Lab. I''ve been attending these meetings in ce of our boss, Miss Noe Schnabel. Yes, she¡¯s the head of ourb!" The room went silent, stunned. Those who had been using Noe moments before now stared at her, wide-eyed. They had just demanded an apology from Noe to Loadstar... and now they were learning that Noe was Loadstar? "This... Don''t get me wrong, Loadstar has always been my hero! I didn''t mean anything by it. Miss Hero, could I maybe get your autographter...?" Mizar waved them off. "Our boss doesn''t do autographs, but given today''s special circumstances, catch me after the meeting!" "Wow, yes, yes! Haha, this is going to be legendary!" For those who idolized Loadstar, getting an autograph was more thrilling than winning an award for their research It was a moment that would be talked about for decades! The jaws of the Schnabel family members practically hit the floor. Beckett Schnabel was the first to regain hisposure, though his eyes were wide with shack. "Noe, you''re saying... you''re Pris Star''s Loadstar?" Noe nodded. "Yes, Beckett.¡± Garrick was visibly shaken by Noe''s admission. ¡°You''re insane! Your sess is all because of Pris Star! Noe, you''re biting the hand that feeds you!" Garrick''s outburst only served to confirm Neoe''s identity further. The founding and current leaders of Pris Star locked eyes, each refusing to back down. Noe replied calmly, ¡°You''re wrong. Without Pris Star, I would have been better off.¡± "If it weren''t for the Pris Star Project, my sister and I could have grown up in our own families, and my friends wouldn''t have been left orphaned!" Garrick was livid, his face turning a shade of red. ¡°If it weren''t for me, none of them would have their ''today''!" Mizar scoffed, "Thanks to you, my entire family was wiped out, leaving me the sole survivor. What good is being a genius then?¡± The other members of Pris Star looked at Garrick with cold indifference: "What''s the use of having a family? That''s the most useless burden! Only by severing all ties can one fully utilize their brain and stand at the pinnacle of humanity! Why would anyone choose to be ordinary when they could contribute so much more to society and the nation?¡± Garrick was lost in his delusion When Noe''s gaze met with her family''s, she saw their worry andpassion. The Schnabel brothers had guessed what atrocities the children involved in the Pris Star experiment had faced, and what their sister had endured Revealing this was like pouring salt an Noe''s wounds. They had originally thought that Noe''s worst days were behind her, suffering at the hands of Vincent Lambert and his shameless wife. But her actual suffering was beyond their worst imaginations. Noe offered a reassuring smile to her family. Turning to the audience, her voice was firm and clear. "Isn''t everyone here just an ordinary person?" "I used to think that emotions were unnecessary, that they only slowed down my reaction time. But Garrick, without those emotions, whe would ever choose to fight?¡± At least Noe''s battles were fought to protect her loved ones. "Garrick, your project might have found many geniuses, but what you''ve lost is humanity. Or perhaps, it''s your insatiable greed that led to this experiment!" "I, as Loadstar, on behalf of everyone involved with Pris Star, including those deemed ¡®failures, formally¡± denauince Garrick¡¯s Pris Star Project. It deserves condenination." Noe pped her hands, and the screen switched to show a group of cheerful people at amunity gathering, smiling goofily at the camera. Their stories were disyed on the screen. Most of the "failures" had ended up brain-dead, buried under a simple gravestone. A few, after undergoing brainwashing, were left with the minds of children. Tears were silently shed by some in the audience.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. These were people who should have been living ordinary lives, some even born into wealth, meant to be cherished by their parents... Yet because of this experiment, they were left in this state. On the screen, one of the few coherently aware individuals gave the camera the middle finger. "Garrick, may you rot in hell! There''s a special ce down there with all the children you''ve destroyed waiting for you. They won''t rest until you join them." Their hatred for Garrick was palpable. Noe''s voice grew louder. "Most of their families have passed away, all because Garrick wanted geniuses unburdened by ties. Even after Garrick left Pris Star Lab, the experiments continued." "Now, with Garrick seeking to restart this project, I hope everyone here will join me in opposing him.¡± There was no need for further persuasion: the horrors revealed by Pris Star were enough to shock anyone Palmer was the first to stand. gripping Noe¡¯s hand with a firm resolve "The Pock Group will always support Noe. Garrick''s actions are inhumane." The Schnabel brothers, along with ra, stood together. Beckett took a deep breath "If it weren''t for Garrick''s scheme, my sister would never have left home. As a victim''s family, the Schnabels will hold Garrick''s research ountable!" Loadstar''s fans echoed the sentiment, rallying behind the statement. Garrick''s hands trembled uncontrobly, experiencing for the first time what it felt like when everyone turned against him. He couldn''t understand, where did his n go wrong? It was supposed to be a wless n! For a world ruled by geniuses, he had sacrificed his entire life. Where did it go wrong? At the entrance of the hall, Helen, dressed in a vintage floor-length evening gown, gracefully made her entrance. ¡°Your biggest mistake over the years," she said, "is that you''ve always seen yourself as superior, while failing to see others as human beings.¡± ¡°Helen Barth! Are you also looking to burn bridges? Don''t forget, your Pock family rose to prominence because of me!¡± Helen scoffed, "On your grandmother''s spinning wheel! If: > Sexton feeded you to seed then must''ve been blind, marryingyhim inst¨¦ad of falling for a piece of smoked brisket." ¡° Helen spoke with poise andposure. "I''m here today to have a little chat over tea, with some evidence in hand.¡± "Years ago; my daughter-inw, Lavinia Richardson, stumbled upon the core secret of the Pris Star Project due to an experimentat error. You-forcefully brainwashed Ker, nearly costing her life!¡± Content b¨¦longs to ~ "My other daughter-inw, Kendra Fowler, was killed under your orders, Garrick. You know, there''s such a thing as an eye for an eye." These incidents had happened so many years ago. Garrick had almost forgotten them himself! He never expected Helen to dare bring these things up in public! With these revtions, Garrick knew his life''s work was essentially ruined Chapter 371 Garrick couldn''t bear the thought of all his hard work going dewn the drain! Only by rebooting the Pris Star Project could he reim everything he had lost! These people had no clue just how precious a genius truly was! His hands trembling, Garrick pointed at Helen, shaking so badly he looked like he was about to be diagnosed with Parkinson''s. "Helen, picking a fight with me now is of no benefit to you!¡± he dered, his voice quivering with anger. Helen just smirked, unfazed. "Benefit? The only benefit I''m looking for is the peace of mind thates from not betraying old friends. That''s all I need." Helen had figured it out over the past few days. Instead of self-destructing, why not drive others insane? There was no sense in letting the youth charge into battle while they, the older generation, reaped the rewards from the background. "Helen, you weren''t exactly a saint in your younger days. What gives you the right to judge me now?" Garrick retorted with scorn. Helen pped her hands, and officers filed in one after another. "Well, then, feel free to call the cops on me. I dared to call them on you. Do you have the guts?" Helen wasn''t just after getting Garrick arrested. She wanted him to lose everything, his reputation in ruins! That was Garrick''s biggest fear. Imagine the pain of realizing that everything you''ve fought for your whole life was for nothing. That was the ultimate heartbreak for Garrick. Watching Garrick being led away, Noe breathed a sigh of relief. Palmer squeezed her hand gently, reassuring her, "He won''t get out easily. Let him reflect on his mistakes behind bars." Garrick''s backers would surely do everything in their power to protect him! Noe chuckled lightly, turning to face the members of the Pris Star team standing behind her. ¡°Don''t worry. He wanted to create stars? Well, I''ll show him that stars belong in the sky. From now on, Garrick and whatever''s backing him. I''ve got them in my sights!" Her voice was soft, but it resonated with a powerful conviction. Someone in the crowd rubbed their hands nervously and edged closer to Noe "Uh... Boss, are you hiring? I can do anything, even sweep the floors! Here''s my resume!"Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Seeing someone actually apply for a job on the spot sparked a flurry of activity. "Me too! I''ll do anything just to be part of Pris Star Lab. I can serve coffee or whatever!¡± Those who had previously demanded apologies from Noe and Loadstar now wore eager smiles. ¡°Just say the word, and we''ll ditch our current labs..." Noe hadn''t expected a scientific conference to turn into a job fair... Her gaze fell on her fellow researchers standing behind her. Seeing their hopeful faces, Noe said, "Sorry, but ourb only hires researchers under thirty... with hair." The researchers looked devastated. "I''m not even thirty yet...¡± But baldness? In the world of research, who wasn''t balding?! To think, the closest they hade to their idol¡¯sb was thwarted by ack of hair... The disappointment was palpable. ra grabbed Noe''s wrist, her face alight with excitement. "Noe... are you really my idol? Oh my god, this is the best day ever!" The thought of her idol standing right before her filled ra with a bubbling joy. "It''s me, sis. Sorry I didn''t tell you sooner." ra hugged Noe tightly, her voice choked with emotion. "Don''t apologize. It''s me who should''ve known better. I didn''t understand your struggles.¡± "But you won''t have to go through that alone anymore. Me and the brothers will always have your back!" After the conference, the Schnabel family was still reeling from the revtions... What just happened?! The Schnabel siblings looked at Noe with mixed emotions, still in shock from the earlier revtions. Their youngest sister, the purest and kindest Noe, was supposed to be the family¡¯s darling. Yet she was the genius shaking the entire scientificmunity! While all the Schnabel kids were aplished, Noe''s ? achievernents left them feeling weak at theknees, She was simply ~ amazing! While they felt proud, Beekett also felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Noe, I''m sorry. I didn''t want to worry you, so I kept it to myself.¡± "It''s my fault for not taking better care of you,¡± Beckettmented. Jasper Schnabel pushed past a self-ming Beckett and lifted Noe in a hug, spinning her around in excitement. "Noe, what other surprises do you have for us? You''re incredible!" As for surprises, there might be quite a few more... It was just a matter of whether they''d be pleasant surprises or shocks! Freya hurriedly scolded Jasper. "Put your sister down. If you hurt her, I''ll never forgive you!" Ulrich Schnabel turned to Palmer with a frown. "Did you know about this all along? Why didn''t you tell us?¡± Palmer smirked slightly, an unspoken dominance in his demeanor. "I figured it out on my own. Why should I share my discovery with you?¡± In other words, this was his secret to keep! Moreover, since these were Noe''s secrets, Palmer preferred they remain a shared secret between them, not to be divulged. "If Noe hasn''t spoken up about something, it''s not my ce to decide for her." Beckett stepped forward, his voice heavy with gratitude. ¡°Thank you." "Thank you for uncovering Noe¡¯s secret. It meant she wasn''t alone in her endeavors." To the Schnabel family, it was a mix of shock at Noe¡¯ s hidden depths and concern for her well-being. <> Noe felt a warmth in her heart smiliN y softly. '' ¡®Beckett, I''m notu alon¨¦>I have a whole team atPris StaF supporting me. "Content b¨¦longs ? Behind her, there was always an entire team ready to back her up. Looking at the familiar faces of Mizar and the others, ra patted her forehead in realization. "Noe, was it you who had my back at Phoenix Lab? How on earth did I not recognize you then?" It was such a close encounter, yet ra had failed to realize that the person standing before her was none other than her own sister. She was swamped with guilt! Mizar gave ra aforting pat on the shoulder. "Whatever our boss wants to keep under wraps, you''d naturally be in the dark!" Merrick Horwich was visibly concerned. "Noe, dear, how''s theb doing now?" Noe jumpecin to reassure him. "We''re strictlyinto research, not into development. Our family''spany has coborative projects with the¡¯ Palmeg Corporation. We''re all about develsping and selling patents, totally safe. From now on, there wW6n''t be another Pris.Star." ¡°Everyone''s moved on, found their own paths, embarked on new lives!¡± Merrick''s worry was all about her safety! ¡°Don''t sweat it. Grandpa. Pris Star will remain a star in the sky, that project is never seeing the light of day again.¡± "Thepany''s worried about you. If Garrick goes off the rails, there could be repercussions. Watch your back! And Palmer, I''m entrusting my granddaughter to you for protection!" Merrick was among the few who knew just how capable Palmer was. With him looking out for Noe, he could rest easy. Chapter 372 ¡°Don''t worry! I''ll protect Noe with my life," Palmer dered with a solemnity that left no doubt about his sincerity. Years ago, when Palmer had rescued Merrick, stranded on an ind during an international awards ceremony, Merrick knew that this man, betrothed to his granddaughter in name, was far more reliable than his own father had ever been. Hearing Palmer''s earnest vow, Merrick nodded in approval. "Noe, if you ever run into trouble, just let us know. Your old man of a grandpa can still smooth things over for you, and you''ve got me and your grandma here too!" "Got it, Grandpa." Noe replied, breaking free from her shock. The most excited person, however, was ra... Holding her face, ra felt as if she was floating. "Noe, I''m seeing double... Is it because I''m too happy? Ahhh, my sister is my idol; I must be the luckiest woman in the world!" Ulrichmented dryly, "That''s just your prescription getting stronger, you should get new sses." "You don''t get it! You don''t have an idol; you wouldn''t understand! Hey, howe you''re here alone? Didn''t bring Malvina along?¡± Ulrich rubbed his nose ufortably. "We had a fight. she blocked me. I tried to see her at Shadow Dragon Society, but got thrown out..." ra immediately put on a gossip-hungry expression. "What? That''s not like you, Ulrich, to just let Malvina throw you out without a fight. Didn''t you try harder?¡± "It''s my fault, she''ll cool off," Ulrich admitted, but refused to borate on the issue Pressured by ra, Ulrich finally looked up, trying to sound mature, "Kid stuff, stay out of adult business. If you''re so curious, go find yourself someone.¡± With that, he made a hasty retreat, nning to win Malvina over with gifts he got from Sienna Horwich! If only he hadn''t been so overzealous, which upset Malvina... Initially, Malvina was self-conscious about her not fully healed burn scars, fearing Ulrich would find them off-putting. But Ulrich, in his eagerness, had just started kissing her, leading to... misunderstandings. Knowing he was at fault, Ulrich had be a regr at Shadow Dragon Society, hoping for a chance to speak with Malvina.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Realizing love could make you feel so humble, yet he was strangely okay with it. Watching Ulrich¡¯s swift departure, ra was full of questions. "Has Ulrich lost it? If I were Malvina, I''d block him too!" Stirling Schnabel frowned at Yasbel. ¡°You keep calling Noe ''boss''; are you also a member of Pris Star?¡± Yasbel shrugged with a flirtatious toss of her hair. "Come closer, and I''ll tell you. Too many ears around, and I''m shy.¡± Considering Pris Star members preferred to keep their pasts secret, Stirling leaned in Yasbel whispered, "What if I said I''m your secret dad, would you believe me?" Then, seizing the moment of Stirling''s shock, she dashed away! Stirling was left stunned. "Stop right there!" "Ha, no way, that''s what you get for stealing my roles!" "When have I ever taken your roles? We''re not even the same type!¡± Hiding behind Noe, Yasbel rolled her eyes. ¡°I had a deal almost closed, then your team swooped in. Stealing deals now, huh? That''s low!¡± But it was more about the principle than the deal itself. "Shameless, go eat dog food!" Yasbel snapped Stirling was utterly confused. "I haven''t taken any endorsements recently. How could I have stolen yours?" Yasbel showed him the perfume endorsement on her phone. "Your assistant was negotiating for it. trying to steal my deal!¡± Perfume endorsements could significantly boost an actor''smercial value "I didn''t know about this," Ulrich frowned. ¡®I don''t care er You''re always so sly," Yasbel camined, then turned to Pa mer, batting her eyshes, "Mr. Pock, give me achance. I''ll sing yourpraises to Noe everyO mening!¡± .to - Palmer raised an eyebrow. "I don''t need you to speak well of me." Yasbel was audacious! "As for the endorsement, talk to my secretary. If you fit our brand''s image, we might consider you." "No one''s More suitable than me! I computed''the initial data for those perfumes. Hiring a top researcher and leading actress as the face of yourbrand is a deal you shouldn''t pass up!" .to - Palmer remained unimpressed. If the unique Nair of a researcher could eve b¨¦ tranted into marketinggold, it would undoubtedly be you. Otherwise, ~ yourejust another starlet scrabbling in th¨¦dust with the rest for ay¡± spotlight.¡± to o ~~ Xu NS "After all, being the face of Yasbel doesn''te cheap. What makes you think you''ve got the edge?" Yasbel got it then. When you''re dealing with a businessman, it''s all about the bottom line. But Yasbel saw another angle Getting a discount was out of the question, but she had other cards to y! ¡°Ourpany''s profit is my boss''s profit! Mr. Pock surely doesn''t want the big boss burning the midnight oil just to scrape together funding for research, right?¡± That argument was more persuasive than any other advantage! Even the Schnabel family turned around en masse to ask Noe if she was running low on funds! Beckett whipped out his smartphone, ready to make a transfer, and soon a series of sessful transaction notifications chimed.. Palmer nced at Yasbel. "Consider your perfume endorsement in the bag with the Pock Group from now on!¡± "Mr. Pock sure knows how to throw his weight around!¡± Yasbel left with a spring in her step, not before giving Stirling a metaphorical kick in the shins... ¡°Beat it, loser!" Chapter 373 Stirling was utterly baffled! When did he inadvertently snag Yasbel''s endorsement deal? The more he thought about it, the fishier it seemed, so he decided to just drop a quick "Hey" and dash off to consult his agent. Beckett nced at his watch. "Got an international conference call; gotta jet. Don''t wait up for dinner.¡± Noe coughed softly, tugging at Beckett''s sleeve, whispering, "Beckett, about that unexpected kid popping up in my paperwork¡ªt''s all sorted now." The news was news to Freya, who quickly inquired for details. Jasper, ever the dramatist, gave a colorful ount. Beckett. originally on his way to catch a flight, paused to listen before setting off again. Jasper called out, "Beckett, isn¡¯t the airport the other way?" "Change of ns, got business stateside.¡± Jasper: "?" Bailing on business? Returning from a scientific conference, Noe was bombarded with messages¡ªall frombs hunting for her expertise. And Mizar¡¯s basic requirement to join theirb was having hair, instantly disqualifying many! The prerequisite of maintaining a hairstyle was a second blow to many researchers ra watched as Noe sifted through her messages, the evening breeze gently caressing her face. Despite her youth, she exuded a strategic calm that was beyond her years¡ªa natural leader in her own right. It was as if Noe was born for this! How had she never noticed before? The aura of calm authority that Noe possessed was something only true leaders had Back at the Schnabel residence, Marcel called Noe away. In the study, the fragrance of tea filled the air as Marcel brewed a pot, his hands skillfully preparing the drink. ¡°This was your grandmother''s favorite blend. Give it a try." "It''s strange, this tea wasn''t avable for years, but right after you came home, your dad suddenly found some!" There was more to Noe''s return than just tea. "It''s delightful¡ªa truly fine tea.¡± Sipping the tea, Noe understood Marcel had more on his mind. He looked at his granddaughter, her every move reminiscent of Harriet Lambert. The past lingered in her shadow. "Noe, I... owe you and your grandmother an apology. I met your grandmother at Pris Star." "I was stationed on the frontier, and Pris Star''s security clearance was beyond me. Your grandmother sneaked me in for a visit." Recalling those moments brought a wistful smile to Marcel''s face. "Though ab might not be the most romantic spot, for me, it''s where I hold the warmest memories!" "I called you here to say, whoever signed off on Pris Star had higher clearance than I did, but they''re retired now. If you face any troubles,e to me.¡± Noe nodded in understanding. "I thought you''d ask me to leave Pris Star.¡± Marcel chuckled, his gaze softening with affection. "Leaving Pris Star wouldn''t stop your crew from following you. It''s all the same under a different name as long as you''re aware." Marcel knew Noe well enough. He refilled her cup. "This is about your engagement to Palmer. What are your thoughts? You''re young, no rush to decide who you want to spend your life with." Noe, still youthful, had time to think over marriage. The engagement was merely formal. Thinking of a lifetime with Palmer didn''t seem so bad after all. "I''m okay with it.¡± Marcel''s smile held depth, "Is it okay with anyone, or specifically Palmer?" Noe, much like Harriet, would prioritize the bigger picture over personal desires. Marcel didn''t want Noe to sacrifice her happiness. Meeting Marcel¡¯s gaze, she rified, ¡°Only Palmer is okay." "Then I''m relieved. With new staff at your school, you have the chance to switch up your routine, attend sses. Your happiness is what matters most. Your parents will handle the engagement party details." For Noe, school was a break from routine. With a smile, she nodded, "Understood." Imperial University. A sleek Cullinan pulled up at the school, drawing curious nces. Unbuckling her seatbelt, Noe was about to step out when Palmer held her back. "How about a kiss before you go?" he whispered, a yful edge in his voice. Noe blushed! When had Palmer be so forward? Though they were a couple, Palmer''s words, infused with intimate undertones, i sent her heart racing. Facing those deep eyes up close in the cramped car space, Noe felt his presence enve op her. In a yful mosd, she tapped Palmer''s cheek, quickly pecked his cheek, and dashed out of the car. Watching her leave, Palmer touched his cheek, smiling indulgently and helplessly. She was irresistible! Ingrid was thrilled to see Noe back at school. "Noe!" "Just Noe is fine. What''s up, ss rep?¡± Sitting beside Noe, Ingrid shared, "The school expelled Oriana, and somehow, the principa retired too. There''s anew principal now." The -~ events atthe conference hadn''t. S causedha stir. After all, it was just a scandal that spread within the academic circles, but it was''s ill eniough to dash Garrick''shopes of ever making a career in research for the rest of his life! to Noe had seen thising miles away. Ingrid pursed her lips, "The department head has changed, too. He asked you to drop by his office after ss. Said he saw your previous designs and wanted to get the scoop.¡± Noe nodded in acknowledgment. This ss was supposed to be Darcy Sinirs, who after a short dy rushedin, apologizing to the students before starting the lessons Noe, r¨¦sting her chin on her =< hands,watched Darcy ons age> whensuddenly, there was seme canamotion at the chair next to her! LGoking down, she saw Malvina sneaking in from the back, bending over like a thief, and quietly taking the seat next to Noe. "Honey, your campus is ridiculously huge, I''ve been looking for you for ages!¡± "Was your school not big when you attended?" Malvina stood her ground defiantly. ¡°How would I know? I never went to sses, considering I bought my diploma!¡± "What brought you here?¡± At this, Malvina bristled, instantly turning into a hissing cat. "I''m breaking up with Ulrich! Tell him to stay away from me!" Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 374 "What''s up?¡± Noe asked, her voice tinged with concern. Over the past few days since the scientific conference, Ulrich had been almost entirely absent from home. Whenever he dide back, it was usually to pester Sienna into calling Malvina for him. ording to Ulrich, Malvina''s heart wasn''t really his; it belonged to Sienna... Faced with Sienna''s gentle inquiries and warm demeaner, Malvina found it hard to push her away. It was like getting a hug from a mother figure. Unless Sienna sent her with some homemade goodies, Malvina wouldn''t even let Ulrich through the door! Puffing up with anger, Malvinained, "Ulrich is a wolf in sheep''s clothing! His promises are as empty as a politician''s!¡± "What did Ulrich do this time?" Noe probed, sensing there was more to the story. Malvina found herself at a loss for words, unable to confess that despite Ulrich''s promises to stop, he had insisted on dragging her back into his life. leaving her with a sore back and aching limbs for days... Even to her best friend, these were not grievances she could easily voice. After a moment''s hesitation, Malvina shielded her blushing face with one of Noe''s medical textbooks. "I went for a cardiac ultrasound recently." Ever since that fire incident, Malvina had been experiencing minor health issues. At the clinic, she had bumped into Ulrich, and the nurse didn''t hesitate to hand Malvina over to him! Lying on the bed for her ultrasound, Ulrich peered at Malvina through his mask, his eyes twinkling with unspoken amusement. All he did was smile with those mesmerizing eyes. Was that all they were good for? "Any symptoms?" Ulrich asked, all business. "The other doctor already checked me. You can just look at my file." Malvina retorted. "Who''s the doctor here? Or do you think you don''t need to follow medical advice?¡± Ulrich countered, not letting her off easy. Reluctantly, Malvina described her symptoms. "Shortness of breath, chest tightness, and palpitations after exercise. It feels like my heart is being squeezed." "What kind of exercise?¡± ¡°Boxing.¡± Regr visits to the underground boxing ring had be a part of Malvina¡¯s daily routine. No one in the underworld had time for weaklings! Her goal was to one day match Noe in the ring, im the championship title, and prove she was worthy of Noe''s mentorship. Ulrich, applying the gel to the ultrasound probe, asked nonchntly as he worked, "You''ve been engaging in other ¡®activities¡¯ besides boxing, haven''t you?" The insinuation was clear, and it infuriated Malvina to the point of wanting to p Ulrich. Malvina remained silent, her heart betraying her feelings as Ulrich leaned closer. The atmosphere turned charged, yet Malvina didn''t forget they were in the midst of an argument. After the exam, Ulrich handed her some wipes. "Clean yourself up. or I can help if you want." Malvina snatched the wipes coldly. "No, thank you, Dr. Schnabel.¡± "The report will take a while. Want to wait in my office?" "No!" Malvina dressed quickly and stormed out to find Noe at Imperial University. "He''s such a jerk, making me clean up myself!" "And he knows I hate pumpkin, yet he keeps bringing me pumpkin pie, telling me not to be picky. Who even likes pumpkin?¡± Noe replied, "Actually, my mom made that pie, and she grew the pumpkins herself." Malvina quickly backtracked. "It was delicious, the best I''ve ever had. Ulrich never told me your mom made it. He''s such an idiot!¡± Noe got the picture. Malvina and Ulrich... this was hardly an argument. more like a quirky form of affection between them. "If Ulrich is such a jerk, would you prefer he treats other girls the way he treats you?" Noe teased Malvina was taken aback, suddenly lost for words. Truth be told, Ulrich had been nothing but supportive, a stable partner who tolerated even I her mostfeurotic moments. He had taken herskydiving to cheer hekup during-her darkest times and had always been the one to smaeth tbings over with the Shadew Dragon Society. After numerous fights where she''d kicked him out, he''d simply sleep in his car, waiting to have breakfast with her the next morning... Malvina, feeling a mix of indignation and affection, admitted, "That would be a disaster! He''s better off with me... I guess I kind of like his attention." "Am I being too harsh?" she wondered aloud Noe chuckled. "Ulrich knew what he was getting into. Maybe he enjoys your fiery spirit.¡± That thought made Malvina reconsider her own actions Noe added, "Whether you''re being too harsh, why not ask Ulrich? After all, he¡¯s the one dating you." "But there''s something you should know,¡± Noe said, checking Malvina''s pulse and noting her dark circles. "Take a break from boxing and focus on your health.¡± "What? Is something seriously wrong with me?" Noe chose her words carefully, not wanting to rm her friend =~ unnecessarily. '' ¡®You''re just run-down. I''l talk to the boxing ring and tell thertyou''re taking a break. Focus on getting some rest." to¡° < Malvina''s eyes widened with concern. ¡°Am I dying? The kind of dying where I don''t even need medicine? Don''t scare me!" "What''s on your mind? There''s nothing to worry about, the Gruber family has no history of gic diseases. You''re in perfect health." Noe paused for a moment before speaking lightly. "Malvina, do you like kids?¡± "Of course, I do. Although marriage kinda scares me. I still want to have kids. Someday, I''d love to have a whole ser team of them to y with!" Noe couldn''t help but feel a bit helpless. "Having that many would break Ulrich¡¯s heart, though.¡± "That''s different. Marriage might end in divorce, but kids are always yours. Look at my mom. If it weren''t for me wanting to make things right for her. she''d be so pitiful.¡± Malvina leaned back, her eyes sparkling with longing ¡°Your mom would rather have you safe and happy, not seeking revenge for her.¡± "I know, but to be loved by a child, to know they''re always thinking of me, would make my lifeplete!¡± Resting her chin in her hands, Malvina smiled and said, "Darling, you don''t understand. People like me need babies to heal ourselves." Though she longed for a child, having Ulrich by her side made her feel...plete.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Seeing the tears glistening in Malvina''s eyes, Noe kept her thoughtso herself. To avoid ~ rmingMalvina, she decided they should wait a while before doing¡¯a thorgtigh check-up. After all, Gtrich is a d¨¦ctor. He''d notice anything amiss right away! Chapter 375 Malvina leaned back in her chair, giving a skeptical look to the lecturer on stage Is it just me, or does the prof seem off today?¡± Even Malvina, who barely scraped by academically, could tell something was wrong ¡ª and if she noticed, it meant it was obvious to the whole ss. Darcy stared nkly at the whiteboard, her marker poised mid-air, repeating the same sentence over and over. Clearly, something was wrong. Ingrid voiced her concern, ¡°ls Ms. Darcy feeling alright?" Though Darcy was a younger lecturer, her expertise was undeniable, with a unique teaching style that could rival that of seasoned professors! This was clearly not her usual self. As soon as ss was dismissed, Malvina bolted out of the school. Noe knew she was probably off to mend things with Ulrich. her boyfriend ¡ª young love always had a certain unmistakable aroma Noe entered the office, finding Darcy briefing Ingrid on some homework. Ingrid still seemed worried about her. "Are you okay, Ms. Darcy?" "I''m fine, the ss didn''t go as nned today, my fault. I''ll post the lecture notes online, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out.¡± Ingrid nodded, "Okay, don''t worry about us. We''re just concerned about you. Take some rest." After Ingrid left, Darcy finally noticed Noe standing at the door. "Did you need me for something?" "No, the department head wanted to see me. But you seem... a bit down." On the desk was a vibrant bouquet of irises, a stark reminder that beauty often hides poison. Noe softly asked, "Do you know what irises symbolize?" Darcy paused, her gaze falling onto the flowers, still fresh with droplets of water. A card nestled among them carried Beckett''s distinct handwriting "Wishing you all the best, Happy Birthday. Beckett." Tears uncontrobly streamed down her face! "Sorry, it''s just... Dalia has been sick, and I''ve been taking care of her," she managed to say, referencing a coworker on medical leave. Darcy clenched her fist. ¡°Actually, it was me who pursued Beckett." Beckett was incredibly charming, the type that stood out in any crowd. "He might say he pursued me, for my pride, but it wasn''t like that.¡± ¡°Back in college, I did everything to win him over ¡ª attended all his sses, ¡®identally¡¯ bumped into him around campus, even staged a candlelit confession outside his dorm. Crazy, right?¡± Considering Darcy''s current demeanor, it was hard to imagine her past antics. "I was about to give up when Beckett told me, ¡®If you''re giving up, then it''s my turn to chase you.''" Reflecting on the past, Darcy''s face softened with a tender smile as she looked at the irises ¡°Our timing was always off.¡± Noe calmly interjected, ¡°But if you still have feelings for Beckett. wouldn''t letting go be a regret?¡± Regret was an understatement: some people simply exist and that''s enough to take your breath away.. Darcy''s gaze lingered on the bouquet. Noe continued, ¡°Irises mean ''I think of you.¡¯ Whatever Beckett wants to say, you know it. What matters to you might not matter to him. The Schnabel family doesn''t have a throne to inherit: no kids, so what?¡± "And if you don''t ask and just decide for Beckett, maybe you''re not right for each other.¡± Noe''s words were harsh but necessary. She knew Darcy''s transformation wasrgely due to her upbringing and personal history. Depression can make one fixate on the negatives. With that, Noe headed to the department head''s office, leaving Darcy with her thoughts and the irises Beckett! A name she''d written countless times, each letter etched in her heart. Darcy dialed a familiar number, and Beckett answered promptly. "Something up?¡± "I''d like to take you out for dinner, if you''re free?¡± Beckett paused, "Tonight''s tough. If it''s about Noe, Jasper can handle it.¡± "It''s about me. Tomorrow or the day after works too." Hearing Darcy''s tone, Beckett canceled a meeting. ¡°Tonight at seven, I''ll pick you up.¡± "No need, I''lle to you. Just find me after work!" Beckett was genuinely surprised. os This felt fike a shback to their college days when Darcy would? eagerly wait near his department just to see him after sses. "Would that be inconvenient?" "Not at all. Come to my office, my assistant wille down for you.¡± "Great!" The excitement in the voice on the other end of the line was palpable, as if every second away from him was a second too long Beckett''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he adjusted his tie, his voiceing out bitter and raspy. "Is there something you need my help with?¡± Darcy responded promptly. "There are a few things, actually. I was hoping Beckett could lend me his wisdom." But more than anything, it was because she missed him, wanted to see him, and Beckett was the only one who could make it happen!All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. If she thought Beckett couldn''t =~ ept her troubled past, then a perhaps it was time to ept ihat theirjourney together had reached its natural end. - After hanging up the phone, Darcy grabbed the bouquet from her desk and rushed out the door, urgency in her step. She bumped into Ingrid, who was there to drop off some homework. "Miss, where are you off to in such a hurry?" "To meet someone very important to me!¡± In the dean''s office. The dean, recently returned from abroad, and still catching up on local news, Adjusted his sses as te looked at the student standing before him, Noe. to 6 - "I hear it''s you who''s been causing quite the stir around here, turning everything upside down!" Noe replied coolly. "I believe we''re not in the Agricultural Department." Chapter 376 Since it wasn''t the Agricultural College and there were no chickens or dogs running around, the department head. Simon, seemed to have been rushed into his position. The university was keen on getting rid of anyone associated with the Garrick faction, so they hurriedly appointed new faces. mainly recruiting from abroad to avoid any unwanted ties with Garrick''s teachers. Simon, just back from his international projects, was somewhat out of touch with the local situation and barely knew anything about Noe, except that Garrick¡¯s stepping down had something to do with her. ¡°What does your family do?¡± he asked brusquely. Noe replied calmly, ¡°It''s all in my student file, sir. You can check it yourself.¡± Simon snapped, ¡°I''m asking you now. Just answer the question! He couldn''t stand students who beat around the bush. He was the teacher: they were supposed to answer his questions without any fuss. ¡°My parents don¡¯t work. My grandfather is old, you could say we''re into farming,¡± Noe answered. The Schnabel Estate in Emerald County was indeed into farming ¡ª if you could call owning the entire hillside agriculture. ¡°You have brothers too, right?¡± ¡°Yes, they run a small business.¡± Simon sneered inwardly. Just another student from a family with no real standing, likely causing trouble at the school. He doubted Garrick¡¯s departure had anything to do with her. And as for the incident with Oriana, it probably just proved Noe was a schemer. He despised students like that the most. ¡°Go back to your studies. I''ve denied your exemption request. Attend sses on time from now on, or forget about graduating. Do you think this is your backyard? No discipline at all! Is this how your family raised you?¡± Calmly, Noe said. ¡°I could always drop out. Simon''s face contorted at her words. He was used to having control over students; this was the first time someone had dared to challenge him like this. ¡°Who do you think you''re threatening? Do you think I''d be intimidated by you? Ridiculous! Whose loss would it be if you don''t attend school? As he rambled on, Simon flipped open Noe¡¯s file. The top line made his jaw drop. ¡°*Noe Schnabel, descendant of Marcel Schnabel, former Admiral of Harmonia Country. Honored with several medals from Harmonia Country, specially invited to Imperial University as a highly prioritized talent. Recognized for significant contributions to the scientificmunity under the Pris Star Lab.** These des were beyond anything Simon could achieve in his lifetime! ¡°This...¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll proceed with the withdrawal implications of letting her leave. Noe said as she shouldered her backpack. unfazed by Simon''s dawning horror of the Thad, passing by and always up for some drama, chimed in, ¡°Don¡¯t drop out! Join my department: I''ll offer you a full schrship. You don¡¯t even have toe to ss!¡± Ever since he found out Noe was the genius behind Loadstar that rocked the scientificmunity, Thad revered her. ¡°If you want, myb can carry your name! Noe replied calmly, ¡°Yourb doesn¡¯t meet my standards; it¡¯s a bit outdated. Plus, I preferb technicians with hair.¡± Thad, feeling the top of his bald head, couldn''t believe his research qualifications were being overshadowed by hisck of hair. ¡°What kind of criteria is that?¡± hemented. ¡°Because it''s nicer to look at. It helps with the mood of the researchers,¡± she exined. Trying to recover, Thad quickly epted Noe''s offer to visit her state-of-the-artb and the jewelry she designed for him. ¡°Sure, I''ll visit when I can!¡± Thad then turned to Simon, ¡°Simon, I know you ¡®vebeen focused on your research abroad, but you should => realize that decisions from the ¡®op are always well thought out. It implies that Garrick''s removal \ was du¨¦to his own doing, not Noe¡¯ s.¡± Implying that Simon was out of line for questioning Noe¡¯s status or intentions was an understatement ¡°If you''re unhappy at the Design Academy, my Computer Science department would be thrilled to have Noe,¡± Thad added. Simon, now-sweating, backpedaled quickly, ¡® ¡°NO, no, I didn¡¯t mean for.¡± Noe to drop out. Let''s stick ta the original arrangements. Come to gs sWhen you can, and don¡¯t worry toe-much about exams!¡± Content b¨¦longs ~ Noe, already detached from the situation, simply nodded, ¡°I''lle when I have time.¡± She left without giving Simon, still in a state of panic, a second nce. To her, the dean''s thoughts were irrelevant. Thad chuckled, "Hey, we''ve got this roundtable happening over here and we''d love for you toe by. How about it? I even checked with your granddad, and he was like, ¡®You gotta ask her!" "That sounds great, actually. I''ve been working-on anew system focusing sr +panionship for the elderly living alone and end-of- life- care, a8 5 well asa tracking system for maissing kids. It''d be the perfect opportunity to share ideas.¡°Content ? Thad was thrilled to have her jain in on the Pris Star initiative! He momentarily forgot about Noe''s earlierment that theirb wasn''t quite up to snuff... "I see your projects are all about social care?¡± "Yeah, there are plenty of money-making schemes out there, but I''m pretty well-off now. I want to invest in something meaningful.¡± Only Noe could make such a bold statement about her wealth! Thad couldn''t help butugh along with her self-deprecating humor. "Alright, alright. Pris Star is all about humanitarian efforts. Good on us!" Elder Horatio stared at the I Ching hexagrams before him, frowning. "This doesn''t look too good.¡± The senior monk was at his wit''s end. "Why are you, a monk, dabbling in divination? It¡¯s like every day, monks are stepping on the toes of us spiritual folk. Got too much time on your hands!¡± "Faiths are intertwined." "Nonsense. If they''re so intertwined, why don¡¯t you hand over Dragon Monastery to me then?" Chapter 377 Horatio had pretty much left the old mystic speechless. He''d been summoned up the mountain in what seemed like an emergency. Horatio thought it was something monumental. Turns out, he was supposed to learn divination!Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Not many monks were into divination, but Horatio, being the stubborn monk he was, insisted on learning properly. He''d dived into all the mystic''s teachings, refusing to let the old man leave the mountain until he''d mastered it Looking at the divination chart before him, the mystic pointed out a mistake, "This direction is all wrong. You''ve got the gates of life and death mixed up. Change it, and you''ll get it right." Horatio quickly made the adjustments and, sure enough. the anticipated divination appeared! "So, I''ve got it. Much appreciated, my friend.¡± The old mystic just waved his hand, eager to get off the mountain and have some fun, not really caring what Horatio was up to. ¡°Off I go. Don''t bother me for no reason!¡± Horatio packed up his things and followed him down the mountain. The night was clear, the sky a dark chessboard dotted with stars. Horatio sat at a small caf¨¦ at the foot of the mountain, his monk''s robe fluttering in the wind, his prayer beads gently rolling in his hand His gazended on a girl speeding along on a... shared bike. ra parked the bike, finding a spot after a bit of a search, and sat down opposite Horatio, as agreed. "Sorry, Reverend, got held up withb work. Tea''s on me!¡± "No worries." With the caf¨¦ bustling, ra decided to brew a pot of tea for Horatio herself. After a sip, Horatio shared his findings, ¡°Based on the divination, your mother encountered someone from the Pris Star Project, sanctioned by Noe herself." ra nodded. "So, you''re saying my mom got into trouble because she met with one of the top brass?¡± "Indeed. The fire and illness weren''t idents. Noe mentioned her grandmother had stumbled upon a project and was investigating it before she passed.¡± Horatio took another sip of tea. "It seems Harriet and your mother might have encountered the same project." He paused before speaking up frankly. ¡°If it weren''t for your status in the Schnabel family. you might have ended up in the Pris Star Lab... as a test subject.¡± The word ''test subject¡¯ made Horatio visibly ufortable, prompting him to take another gulp of tea. ra''s intelligence was rare, even among the Schnabels. Pris Star had marked her from years ago! Luckily, Noe''s involvement with Pris Star had uprooted it entirely, avoiding further issues. ra pondered, "I want to know more about Pris Star. Who should I ask? I''m worried about bringing up painful memories for Noe. Damn that Garrick!" Thinking of her sister suffering made ra seethe at Garrick''s cruelty. Horatio calmly suggested, "I''ve been with Pris Star, alongside Noe.¡± "If you don''t mind, you can ask me. But for confidential matters, it''s better to consult Noe.¡± Horatio added after a moment, "She wouldn''t refuse your questions.¡± "That''s out of the question!" ra firmly declined ¡°Even if Noe doesn''t mind, I do. You don¡¯t understand.¡± Gazing out at the calm river, her smile was gentle. I love my sister dearly! At first, I worried she wouldn''t like me, might think was usurping her ce. But Noelfa i is truly wonderful. Being her sister is a blessing!" Conterit¡¯ belongs t6 - "As her sister, it''s my duty to protect her!" Moved by ra''s warmth, Horatio felt a stir in his heart. "..It''s good that Noe found her family." He knew Noe¡¯s past struggles well. ra stood up, "I must go. Thanks, Reverend... Oh my! Who would steal a shared bike?!" Just as ra stood, she saw someone making off with her bike! They were at the foot of Dragon Monastery mountain, near a seldom-visited caf¨¦. Shared bikes were scarce around here, and now hers was stolen! ra was on the verge of tears, contemting a taxi ride back to Imperial City but needing a bike to reach a cab-friendly area. Horatio dusted off his robe. "I''ll apany you." "Really? Reverend, you can drive?" Horatio could indeed drive, but his offer to ra involved a ferry across the river. "By boat, it''s quicker. You can easily get a taxi from the city." "Sounds good!" As they set off, ra waved to Horatio from the ferry¡¯s bow. "Reverend, it''s getting windy. Head back! See you next time!¡± Horatio waved back, waiting until the ferry disappeared before he allowed himself a moment of reflection "It''s not the wind or the g that moves.¡± What truly moved, he mused, was a mystery only he might understand Sitting in a diner, Noe checked her phone. Raising an eyebrow, she read, "The monk says he''s off to wander the world? Out of the blue, what''s he up to now?¡± Last time I checked, Horatio mentioned he''d be spending a while at the Dragon Monastery, schooling the novices, didn''t he? And now he¡¯s hitting the road again? Must be something up if he¡¯s reaching out specifically! Palmer gently picked up a napkin, carefully dabbing away the frosting that Noelia nad identally gotten on her fingers from the cake, softly saying, I Horatio''s amonk, ? wandering¡¯ s pretty much part of the job." "I get that, but he tald me my sister''s digging into our mom''s past, thinks it might tie back to Pris Star, and asked me... to lend a hand?" Since when did the monk start asking for favors like a diplomat? After a beat. Noe decided to just call Horatio and get to the bottom of it. Phone calls only go so far, so she got Horatio to drop by the diner. Horatio showed up in his traveler''s garb, and even though it had only been a few days, Noe couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something mere serene about him! "Do you need me to sort anything for your trip?¡± "No need. My martial arts should hold up well enough, and it looks like our paths won''t cross for a bit. Just got something for you to pass to ra, if you don''t mind.¡± With those words, Horatio turned and left, not ancther word shared. Noe, puzzled, opened the N sandalwood box Horatio left behind. Inside,an old set of prayer beadsy in silence, each bead engraved with harid- carved Sanskrit scripttires. Noe was taken aback! Weren''t these the prayer beads Horatio had worn since he was a kid, never once taken off? Chapter 378 "Why did ra get it?¡± The prayer beads had an antique hue, radiating a subtle sense of tranquility. A closer sniff revealed the distinct aroma of sandalwood. The beads were smooth and glossy to touch, and each bead was meticulously engraved with Sanskrit symbols, appearing freshly carved. Noe examined them briefly and recognized them as protective mantras, crafted by Horatio, a master of his art. His craftsmanship addedyers of deeper meaning. Just looking at the beads instilled a sense of peace in her heart. Still, Noe was worried. "Did the monk see something he couldn''t speak of? Is my sister in some kind of danger?" Palmer reassured her, ¡°ra''sb is even more secure than Phoenix Lab. She has elite security forces assigned to her. There''s nothing to worry about. As for Horatio... maybe he had another reason." "What do you mean?¡± Palmer chuckled softly, gently ying with Noe¡¯s hand. "Men understand each other best. It''s normal that you wouldn''t catch on to certain things!" Even if Horatio had transcended worldly desires, he was still human, subject to emotions. He just chose to control them more strictly than most. "Sometimes, Noe, you should consider that when Horatio gives something to ra, it''s a man giving a woman something very precious to him." Palmer''s words made Noe vaguely guess Horatio¡¯s intentions. "After meditating at the site of an earthquake, he seemed to have had a revtion, simr to now. Maybe he¡¯se to terms with something?" After much thought, still concerned, Noe decided to make a call Horatio''s calm, after a short silence and a knowing chuckle, reassured her. "Noe, to a monk like me, everything in this world is part of my spiritual journey!" She wanted to ask more about his intentions, but Noe swallowed her questions. A person like Horatio would let nothing stand in his way. "Just... stay safe, and if you run into any trouble, let me know. Pris Star will have your back in no time.¡± "Thank you. Having one or two true friends like you in life is enough for me. All other emotions are but steps in my spiritual journey, whether present or absent, they are all part of fate." "Sending these prayer beads to my sister, are you trying to convey something? Or is she in danger?¡± Horatio''s voice remained undisturbed, like still water.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. "With my prayer beads with her, she will be safe.¡± The beads, imbued with his spiritual power, would protect ra from harm at least once! After a moment of silence, Noe asked, "Can you really let them go?" It wasn''t clear if she was asking about the beads or something more. "I can let ga, and yet, I cannot let go of everything in this world. Rest assured, I know what I am doing. Some things, ra doesn¡¯t need to worry about unnecessarily.¡± "I understand.¡± Noe wasn''t one for unnecessary words, but this was about ra and Horatio, which prompted her extra inquiries. After hanging up, Horatio turned off his phone and departed from Imperial City without looking back, his monk''s robe fluttering in the breeze, sounding like the whisper of the wind. Putting away her phone, Noe frowned at Palmer. "I''ve known the monk for so long, and this is the first time I''ve seen him remove his prayer beads.¡± "Horatio probably wants to sever some karmic ties. Let''s just support him," Palmer said, and he was right. Men do understand each other better, and perhaps Palmer saw through Horatio¡¯s thoughts more clearly than Noe could. Noe nodded and took onest look at the serene beads before closing the box. If these were meant to be a gift from Horatio, she would ensure their safe delivery. Palmer whispered, "Don''t worry too much, Noe. Some things are just meant to be. Instead of pondering this, how about we think about... when we should get engaged?¡± Noe nced at him. "Didn''t Horatio already pick a date?¡± "Master gave us three dates. I was waiting for you to choose.¡± Horatio had calcted three optimal dates, with both the Schnabel family and the Pock family leaving the final decision to Noe and Palmer. "I''d love to get engaged tomorrow, but spring next year would be best. It''s a bit chilly these days for a dress, and I don¡¯t want you to catch a cold.¡± Waiting for a warmer season showed Palmer''s care, not willing to let Noe feel even a slight difort. He knelt on one knee before Noe, a ring ready in his hand, his gaze filled with tender adoration It''s a bitte, but this is something I''ve always wanted to do." nowing Noelta preferred intimate moments, Paimer had arranged for the vast dining hall to be empty, <=> save for the soft melody of a waltz yingyin the background, the Violin and-piano harmonizing, creating a romantic atmosphere. Content ? With a serious and earnest expression, Palmer seemed like a devotee offering his love to a long-adored deity. "Noe, will you marry me? Will you spend your life with me? A lifetime, just with me." "Though many people surround you, I hope to be the one to walk the rest of life''s journey with you!" "My life isn¡¯t perfect, but having met you, it''s enough to offset all imperfections!" "I love you, Noe. Will you marry me? Be my wife, and let me love you forever." His voice was deep and soothing, intoxicating Noe without a drop of alcohol. Perhaps its was the silence that followed but Palmer appeared visibly aiixious, a rare sight for.- someone who usuallyhad ¡ª< everything under control, hishands trembling slightly. to¡° < u ~ Unable to hald back, Noe chuckled. This man... was truly adorable. "I''m all for it, but there''s really no need to keep that ring box hidden forever." From the moment Palmer mentioned they were going out for dinner, No couldn''t help but = <> notice the way Palmer kept fidgeting with his pocket, seemingly tryitg to mak¨¦sure something insideit stayed put. Conten belongs to a With a hug that felt more like a detective move, Noe had already guessed Palmer was hiding something meant for her¡ªa gift, perhaps! But little did she expect, it was a meticulously nned proposal! Hearing Noe say she would marry him, Palmer''s eyes sparkled with excitement. She said yes! Holding Noe''s hand, Palmer kissed her palm almost reverently, pressing his face into her hand as if seekingfort Oddly enough. Noe felt a warmth spreading through her palm, a kind of joy washing over Palmer, making him lose control of his emotions. Noe''s heart was set aze by his passion Feeling his happiness, Noe couldn''t help but smile, her fingers gently caressing Palmer''s face, a gesture full of love and teasing. The more time she spent with Palmer, the more she felt warmed by his burning love! The Schnabel family and Palmer showered Noe with an unconditional affection that was hard to find Moved by the moment, Noe pulled Palmer closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Got anything you wanna say to me?¡± "Noe, thank you!" Thank him, for she agreed to be his Mrs. Pock! Chapter 379 For over two decades, Palmer had been riding solo, navigating life without a co-pilot. That was until Noe came into view, her presence bathed in the golden glow of a setting sun, casting a halo around her that to Palmer, made her look nothing short of angelic. "In my barren years, Noe, you''ve been a godsend," Palmer mused, his gaze fixed on her serene and graceful demeanor. To outsiders, Palmer''s life was the epitome of m and sess. Both his mother''s and father''s families held considerable clout in the elite circles of Imperial City. Yet. only Palmer knew the bitter truth behind the facade. His life was a maze of family discord and unfulfilled paternal affection, a weight he bore alone... until Noe''s arrival painted his world in vibrant hues. "That year you saved me. I was at my lowest,¡± Palmer confessed The Pock family¡¯s distant rtives had no intention of seeing Palmer seed. They threw obstacle after obstacle in his path, hoping to trip him up and leave him in the dust. Meeting Noe was like finding an oasis in a desert. She was his beacon of hope in a quest that seemed as futile as searching for a nameless girl in the vast wilderness.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Noe reached out, pulling Palmer to his feet. "You''re such a fool," she said, a yful glint in her eye. Palmer, in her eyes, was adorably naive, a trait that made him all the more endearing The thought of spending a lifetime with him sparked an unexpected excitement in Noe When word got out that Palmer and Noe were nning a spring wedding, Sienna, Palmer¡¯s mother, couldn''t contain her joy. ¡°Alright, I''ll take care of everything,¡± she promised, thrilled by the news that brightened the entire household. Meanwhile, at Stirling''s entertainmentpany, a pile of documents on the table was causing a stir. "Is this the ad campaign you signed me up for? Didn''t I say I''m taking a break from endorsements?¡± Stirling fumed at his executive agent. "Boss, this perfume ad could elevate your brand value significantly,¡± the agent tried to reason, hinting at the potential to impress Master Azure, a key figure in the fashion industry vying for brand ambassadors across the Asia-Pacific. But Stirling wasn''t having any of it. He knew the endorsement was already promised to Yasbel, and he wasn''t about to step on toes to climb the ladder. "Cancel it." he ordered, adamant about not crossing lines he''d set for himself. Despite the agent''s reluctance to let go of such a lucrative opportunity, Stirling''s principles stood firm. He even reached out to Yasbel to clear the air and offer an olive branch in the form of other potential endorsements. "Dinner to make amends?" Stirling offered over the phone, trying to mend fences. "No thanks, I''m not looking to start any rumors," Yasbel retorted, keen on avoiding the paparazzi¡¯s prying eyes. Hanging up;Stirling faced a teasing. remark from Jasper, his younger=~ brothe? lounging nearby. "Got turned down, I huh? That''s a first for you, Stirling.¡± I to Rubbing his temples, Stirling brushed off the jest. "Aren¡¯t you supposed to be finding a girlfriend instead of meddling in my business?" Jasper chuckled, unfazed. "Who knew? Stirling, ying the knight in shining armor for Yasbel. What''s the worlding to?¡± Stirling could only shake his head, amused and annoyed in equal measure. Life, it seemed. was full of unexpected turns. "Man, I won''t name names, but some of us can''t seem to score a dinner date to save their life!" "Oh yeah? Let''s see you try," came the retort. With a cocky raise of his eyebrow, Jasper shed a devil-may-care smile. "What if I actually pull it off?¡± That''s Stirling for you, stubborn as a mule, unwilling to admit he might be the problem. While saying this, Jasper didn''t miss a beat and dialed Yasbel''s number right then and there. "Hey Yasbel, remember that case ~ you mentionedst time? I think Le got something. The trial''s next> month, wanna grab a bite today and tall it over?" 7 "Sure, my treat. I appreciate your help." Jasper couldn''t help but unt his phone with a grin so smug it was begging for a punch. Stirling just stared, speechless. Just as Jasper was about to makea quick exitwith the documents from the table, to avoid any potential physical retribution from Stirling, he heard a cough from behind: ¡®Content ~~ "I''ll tag along," Stirling announced, "I owe you an apology, anyway. Yeah, that''s the ticket!¡± Jasper couldn''t help but smirk. This dinner was shaping up to be more interesting than he''d anticipated. Chapter 380 Jasper had barely made it to the doorway when Stirling''s sudden outburst nearly sent him stumbling. "Whoa, you A-listers really have no shame, huh? Crashing my dinner party now?" Stirling grabbed his jacket that was casually thrown over a chair. "Cut the crap, I''m paying. Are you in or out?" Jasper, trying to hide his amusement, said, "Sure, I''ve reserved a spot at The Frost Bistro, $4,800 a seat. Lucky for you, you''ve been randomly selected as our honored guest!" "Ah, to think an award-winning actor is stooping to snatching opportunities from others, tsk tsk." The more he talked, the more Stirling felt his pride being pricked! Better to clear this up face to faceter! In the restaurant''s private dining room. The room was elegantly decorated, with a small stream flowing outside the window, and a professional guitarist strumming tunes on the restaurant''s bridge. Yasbel took off her sunsses and immediately spotted Stirling sitting next to Jasper upon entering the roam. She rolled her eyes and found a seat. Stirling, feeling a bit awkward, decided to clear the air about the whole mix-up. Yasbel casually said, "For my bro''s sake, I''ll let it slide this time." She knew what Stirling was like and understood his character. She was just a bit peeved, that''s all! "As for the Azure endorsement... if you''re really up for thepetition, it''s probably going to be yours. After all, Master Azure really admires you.¡± After all, that was her bro''s business. If Stirling wasn''t chosen for the endorsement, her bro might just slice him up for a barbecue! Stirling was puzzled. "I haven''t even met Master Azure. Heard he was at a fashion show recently, shame I missed him.¡± How could a designer he''s never met choose him as the face of the brand? Yasbel''s smile was full of intrigue. "How about we make a bet? If you really get picked, you owe me one! Consider it interest for this time!" Getting Azure''s endorsement would be a win-win for Stirling. It wasn''t just because of Master Azure''s fashion influence. Stirling''s agent wouldn''t be so. eager otherwise! "Fine, I agree. Whether or not I get Master Azure''s endorsement. as long as it''s within my power and doesn''t involve meeting Jasper, I''m in.¡± The implication was clear: as long as it wasn''t illegal, Stirling would agree to anything. Yasbel''s smile brightened. Jasper shuddered, feeling a weird vibe in the air.. "Yasbel, not going for the Azure endorsement yourself?¡± Every actress in the industry must be dying for it, right? Yasbel stated proudly, "Not me. If I did it, I wouldn''t earn a dime. No way.¡± She wouldn''t let her family''spany squeeze thest drop of value out of her! Jasper was amazed. "It''s the first time I''ve seen someone not interested in an Azure endorsement. Yasbel, you''re something else!¡± Yasbel just shrugged. Why would she, a major shareholder, use her own money to endorse herself? Only a fool would do that! At the Rising Glory Group, in the downstairs caf¨¦. Darcy sat in the caf¨¦, sipping ss after ss of ice water. The ice cubes chilled her down, helping to calm her restless heart. Yet, as the night fell and the windows darkened, the person she was waiting for never showed. The server gently notified her, "Ma''am, we''re closing soon. You''re wee to sit on the outside chairs if you need.¡± "Thank you.¡± she replied. Stepping out of the caf¨¦, Darcy spotted a man leaving the Rising Glory Group building. He was bathed in the warm glow of the building''s lights, his presence as serene and open as moonlight. A fashionably dressed woman was with him, holding a delicate basket, chatting with Beckett. The woman, dressed in a soft blue floral dress, looked up at Beckett "Mr. Schnabel, Sienna told me you were workingte. I hope my visit isn''t too much of a bother?¡± Beckett''s nce fleetingly passed over Darcy, standing by the roadside, his expression cool and distant. "Millie-t''m not sure what my mother told-you, but I''m sorry you came all this: way for nothing.¡± Content b¨¦longs to ~ Millie Gagher,ing from a family just as prestigious as the Schnabels, represented a potential alliance that both families would benefit from significantly. Politely, Milliexsffered the basket she was carryingf Mr. Schnabel doesn''t mind, I''d like to at least be -> friends. 1 Fhis i is something my mom and I made. Sienna was there when we talked about you, and she suggested bring this mealkit over." Beckett, finding it hard to refuse now, epted the basket. His eyes lingered on Darcy, apologizing. ¡°Sorry, I have ns tonight. Let me take you out for dinner another time." Millie noticed Beckett''s attention was elsewhere and followed his gaze to Darcy, holding a bouquet of flowers. " tseems youyRave a date, I''m the one intruding I came ina rush because my family was pressuring? me. Maybe aspensation formy wastedtrip, Mr. Schnabel, you Could eee deal with my family.next 2¡¯ _ S Manovel on a ss She suggested, half-joking, "No need for any emotional investment. just apany me to a few dinner parties.¡± Beckett tactfully declined Millie''s proposition. "Millie, I prefer not to engage in actions that might be misinterpreted, even if it''s just to appease family expectations.¡± Millie was left somewhat taken aback. "Mr. Schnabel. a businessman through and through, would really let emotions sway him from a mutually beneficial deal?" "Of course not. So, as apromise, I''ve got two single brothers, both Schnabels through and through. Millie can take her pick.¡± The Schnabel kids are truly the cream of the crop. Either one would be a boon for the Gagher family''s ventures. Millie agreed promptly. "Deal."All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "But whether they''ll agree to it, that''s not on me.¡± "If I get turned down by a Schnabel again, I might just have to book a trip to South Korea for a little... facial rejuvenation. But since Mr. Schnabel won''t y ball, then...¡± Millie''s eyes sparkled mischievously as she reimed the lunch box from Beckett''s hands. "This shouldn''t go to waste. It''ll just have to go to the next Mr. Schnabel!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± This was the first time Beckett had ever experienced someone taking back a gift... Millie, a born merchant indeed! After wrapping up with Millie, Beckett strode towards Darcy. He approached. slipping off his suit jacket to drape it over Darcy''s shoulders. "Sorry for the wait. Got tied up with a few extra international meetings. Thought you might have left." Feeling theforting, familiar scent that was distinctly Beckett, Darcy shook her head. "If we agreed to meet. I wouldn''t leave." Beckett chuckled softly, almost inaudibly. "Is that so? I thought maybe... you wouldn''t care much for promises." "Or perhaps, it''s the promises you care about, and what you don''t care about... is me?" Chapter 381 Beckett''s words carried a hint of self-deprecation. When they reached Darcy''s ears, they stung a bit more. But Beckett quickly masked his emotions. Years in the cutthroat world of business had taught him to control his feelings with ease, never letting his guard down too muchContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "Let''s go, it''s freezing out here. I''ll take you to grab something to eat.¡± Darcy quickly followed him. "Can I have a chance to exin?¡± Beckett nced back with a faint, bright smile. "Did I say no? Ms. Darcy, are you always this bossy with your students? I think you missed your calling. You should have been awyer like my buddy Jasper.¡± "Why?" ¡°Because you both have a knack for passing judgment without letting the other side defend themselves." Jasper was notorious in the courtroom for his aggressive tactics, always having his evidence and documents perfectly lined up, leaving the defense speechless! Beckett had witnessed it several times and found that whenever Jasper was involved, the opposition hardly got a chance to speak Beckett strode ahead, his long legs making Darcy almost jog to keep up. After starting the car and turning on the heat. Beckett finally turned to the woman beside him. "So, Ms. Darcy, what''s your exnation?¡± On the way here, Darcy had rehearsed what to say, but sitting next to Beckett, she found it hard to begin. "Who was thatdy earlier?¡± Beckett couldn''t help butugh, somewhat exasperated. That''s what she was worried about? "Right now, you should be more concerned about what we''re eating tonight. I''ve been starving all day, Ms. Darcy." He had barely eaten since breakfast at the Schnabel''s and rushed to the office. Despite the high stress, Beckett prided himself on being one of the few in his circle without any health issues. "Well, let''s find somewhere to eat then.¡± As he drove, Beckett nonchntly said, "She was a date arranged by my family, but she''ll probably end up being set up with Stirling or Jasper next.¡± "Wait, dates can be passed around?" "I''m not interested in her, and she''s not into me. She''s after the Schnabel name.¡± Darcy was intrigued. "So, why did you refuse?" Beckett shot her an annoyed look. "I don''t dine alone with women I don''t like. Whether it''s flirtation or for show, it feels like harassment to me, and I don''t need that.¡± Above all, he didn''t want a misunderstanding from someone already on shaky ground regarding such matters. He had to work too hard to prove his innocence. Darcy clenched the bouquet in her hand, waiting until the car stopped at a diner before she spoke up. "I... I had a child, ance. Yes, a child.¡± Beckett''s hand froze on the door handle. He turned incredulously towards Darcy. "What? A child? Where did this childe from?" "A few years ago, around your birthday. But, for various reasons, the baby left me. As a punishment for not protecting my child, I''ll never have another. It seems fair.¡± Fair? How was any of this fair? "Why didn''t you tell me? You think handling all this by yourself is amusing?¡± Beckett was angry but more overwhelmed with guilt andpassion. He had been oblivious all these years! Darcy forced a pale smile. "It was my fault. But I was scared. Actually, thedy from the Schnabels was just an excuse for me to leave." Back then, the whole world wanted Darcy to leave Beckett. Even her own mother said she wasn''t good enough for him! In her mother¡¯s eyes, if Darcy couldn''t have children, the Schnabels would never ept her. Darcy covered her face. "That year, my mother attempted suicide but failed. She used it to force me to leave you. I''m sorry I didn''t choose you.¡± So, as punishment, she was doomed to remain childless. Beckett was shocked: there was so much he hadn''t known. Guilt, pain, regret, andpassion surged through him. "I never cared much about family, but I''ve always been influenced by it. My mother had severe narcissistic personality disorder. In her world, there was only herself." People with narcissistic personality disorder never believe they''re at fault. I tried so many times to break away from her, but she... she actually took a knife to Dalia. I called the cops." The recent events weighed heavily on Darcy. The moment her mother aimed a knife at her sister, Darcy nearly broke down. Her mother wanted Darcy to marry a dropout, a nobody. Darcy refused, and her mother attacked Dalia right in front of her! "It''s funny, isn''t it? In my family, the mother doesn''t act like one, and the daughter doesn''t seem to be one either. My father is just a memory now. Beckett... I''m truly sorry. It was all my fault." Poppy had lost it when she found out about Darcy and Beckett''s rtionship. She bombarded Darcy with messages, demanding she break up with Beckett and marry a man they could control. When Darcy was pushed down the stairs by Austin Sinir''s mistress and lost her baby, Poppy actually smiled. She said, "Now it''s over. You won''t be fantasizing about rising above your station anymore." Seeing that man, shorter than Darcy, olsiareliare so-called dowry to the house mad@ Darcy sick toher = stomactLYet, Poppy had the =< audacity to say, "What are youc>> comining about? He''s the-best you-can do. Did you really think you Were good enough for Beckett?" "You don''t deserve him! You''re nothing but a tramp. dreaming of marrying into the Schnabels? Give up on that fantasy!" Those words were like sharp thorns, deeply embedded in Darcy''s heart. Beckett took adeep breath. He unbuckled his-seatbelt, turned off the car lights, andleanedinto =X embrac¨¦Darcy. The scent of = cedarwood filled the air, and the> mans Sstrong arms and warn body bratight some heat back toWarcy Ss Chilled heart and body. Cantent ¡°I''m sorry.¡± She heard Beckett''s deep voice close to her. ear. "It was my fault for not taking are of you and the kid. a was too Groud, thinking our love was equally\matched, believing I had> given you enough security. ILwas mysdamn pride that stopped me fr¨¦m going after you wher you left." The woman in his arms was much thinner than she had been years ago, feeling as light as a feather, as if she could slip away from him at any moment. Beckett fought to keep his emotions in check, cing aforting kiss on Darcy''s forehead. "You''ve been through a lot, my Darcy." It was only when she heard the name Beckett reserved just for her that Darcy realized she wasn''t as strong as she had thought! She buried her face in Beckett''s shoulder, sobbing uncontrobly. Chapter 382 The embrace inside the car came after many years apart. It wasn''t filled with romantic tension, but with warmth and a sense of enduring affection. In the world of adults, there aren''t always clear reasons for the pain we bear¡ªjust a collection of scars from past battles. Beckett''s phone started ringing with a tone reserved for the Schnabel family, apanied by a quirky tune. Darcy gave Beckett a nudge. ¡°Your phone...¡± Without letting go of the embrace, Beckett managed to fish the phone out of his zer pocket draped over Darcy. He pressed the answer button, and Jasper''s voice came through. ¡°Beckett! Have you lost your mind? Why did you send that wildcat Millie after me?¡± ¡°I told her to find you or Stirling: looks like she chose you.¡± Jasper was squatting in an alley, ring at Millie, wno was leaning against the entrance with a smirk. ¡°Beckett, do you even realize that woman is a lunatic? I''ve had beef with her since our college days!¡± Millie and Jasper were bothw school alumni, her focus on internationalw and his on criminal litigation. Jasper was on the verge of a meltdown. With ackadaisical tone, Beckett replied, ¡°Since you know each other, it should make coboration even smoother.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Beckett, you''re really out to get me, huh? You''re the eternal bachelor; why not team up with her yourself? Marriages of convenience aren''t unheard of in our circles.¡± ¡°Nah, I''ve got a girlfriend.¡± Jasper''s confusion was almost palpable. ¡°What? You have a girlfriend? Since when? Howe I didn''t know?" Beckett, still on the call, didn¡¯t shy away from Darcy''s presence and raised an eyebrow at her, a mischievous smile ying on his lips. ¡°See, if you don¡¯t take me back, I might just end up in one of those business marriages.¡± Darcy, her face still wet with tears, looked utterly baffled by Beckett''s sudden deration. Jasper was even more infuriated. ¡°Beckett, you dump this she-devil on me and go off ying lovey-dovey? You beast! I¡¯m telling mom!" Calmly, Beckett responded, "Go ahead, a grown man in his twenties still running to mommy.¡± Jasper angrily hung up and immediately dialed Sienna toin. Hearing about Millie''s pursuit of Jasper, Sienna peeled off her face mask remarking, ¡°Millie went after you and not Beckett?¡± ¡°Beckett''s busy with his girlfriend, mom, do you believe how outrageous he is... Hello? Mom? Mom!" Sienna had already hung up. not interested in the boy''s dramas. Jasper, left with the dial tone, felt like exploding. He stood up, exasperated, ¡°Look Millie,ing after me is pointless. I, Jasper, don¡¯t care for the benefits a marriage alliance brings, and besides...¡± He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m notinto you. Millie scoffed, her previously demure demeanor gone as she lit a slender cigarette, revealing a colorful tattoo winding down her arm. ¡°I said, if you can beat me, you''re free to go. If not, you''ll agree to my terms.¡± ¡°You violent maniac! Don''t think I won''t fight back just because you''re a woman!¡± Millie was far from the delicate flower everyone imagined. Instead, she was as fierce and unpredictable as a storm! As the smoke curled from her lips, her eyes gleamed provocatively. ¡°Mr. Schnabel, with looks like yours, I bet you''d cry pretty too.¡± Jasper felt deeply insulted. Unfortunately for him, Millie was a champion in international judopetitions, making her a formidable opponent for most. Spotting a familiar figure passing by the alley¡¯s entrance, Jasper yelled for help. ¡°Noe, save me!! Hearing her name, Noe doubled back to the alley''s entrance, only to find Jasper standing among a cluster of trash cans. ¡°Jasper? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Noe! This woman''s after me!¡± Noe''s gaze shifted to Millie, leaning against the wall. The woman''s appearance was deceivingly frail, but the tattoo on her arm was unmistakable. She hastily extinguished her cigarette, approaching Noe with a sheepish grin. ¡°Master! I¡¯ve missed you so much! Noe pushed her away. disgusted. ¡°Didn''t I tell you to quit smoking? If you don¡¯t take my advice seriously, don''t bothering to me for treatment.¡± Millie, knowing she was at fault, clung to Noetfa¡¯s arm, unwilling to let go. If it hadt been for Noe a teachingher judo, giving her a S foothole¨¦in the Gagher family,-she i) mighthave already been torn- apart by-h¨¦r ruthless rtives. ToWMillie, Noe was her life''s greatest benefactor. Noe nced at Jasper, ¡°You''re not telling me you didn¡¯t know she¡¯s my brother?¡± Millie chuckled d sheepishly, ¡°Honestly, I didn''t. knew Master was a Schnabel, but the Schnabel . family is huge! And I only found out he was-dasper recently.¡± The Gal agher family¡¯s intrigues were enauigh for her to handle without keeping track of every Schnabel offspring. fe) Seeing Millie clinging to Noe, Jasper, ina fit of protective brotherly instinct, rushed to peel Millie away.~ "Stay away from my sister! She < woulda¡¯ work with you even if you begged! She¡¯s not into women; and she''s getting engaged s00n;80 back off, you freak!¡± Realizing Jasper was Noe¡¯s brother, Millie toned down her aggression, yet the alleyway standoff remained charged with tension. Millie, with her doe eyes brimming with innocence, said, ¡°Master, I swear, it wasn''t my idea to seek out the Schnabel family''s young master for a date. Mom threatened to starve me if I didn''t. I''ve really had a tough time." Noe gently patted Millie''s head. "Well, how about youe back to the Schnabel estate for dinner with me? As for the date... that''ll depend on whether my brother''s up for it. No pressure.¡± ¡°Uh-huh! Jasper''s just too intimidating. I''m really scared of him.¡± Jasper: "..." Who''s the intimidating one here? Who exactly cornered him into this cramped alleyway, refusing to let him leave? Millie''s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, a hint of mischief in her expression. ¡°Jasper and I used to be ssmates. We were pretty close, right. Jasper?" Rubbing his sore arm and meeting his sister¡¯s concerned gaze, Jasper gritted his teeth and managed to say, "Yes. very close!¡± Millie, getting the response she wanted, affectionately rubbed against Noe. ¡°Master, I''m about to finish what I set out to do. But right now, I need to lean on the Schnabel family''s strength a little.¡± Noe responded calmly, "I''m a Schnabel too. Whatever you need, I''ll help you." Millie''s eyes lit up! Master is the best! But then she hesitated, "...But you can''t marry me, right?¡± Chapter 383 "Marriage? What on earth requires marriage to be done?" Millie sighed, her frustration evident. "The old man at home is barely hanging on, and he wants to stir up some trouble before he dies, thinking it will elevate the Gagher family a notch.¡± "In their eyes, marriage is just a bargaining chip. It''s all about who can bring home the most advantageous alliance. Whoever does gets to inherit the old man''s fortune.¡± Jasper wrinkled his nose in distaste. "All this for a bit of inheritance?¡± "Yeah, a measly four billion.¡± Jasper''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Dors? How does the Gagher family even have that kind of money? That''s like, their entire empire, isn''t it?" Millie shrugged. "That''s the gist of it. The better your marital alliance, the more you stand to inherit from the Gagher coffers." Millie, clearly aggravated, swung her fist through the air. ¡°Damn it, if there was any other way, I''d just blow the whole Gagher estate sky-high and see how they''d marry then. It drives me nuts!¡± Noe spoke calmly. ¡°Your mother won''t leave with you." Once in the car, Millie¡¯s spirits sank, and she managed a bitter smile. "Yeah, my mom''s stubborn as a mule." Noe was well aware of the situation with the Gagher family. All the assets were tightly held by the older generation. and they called the shots on the family trust and inheritance. Securing the inheritance meant ying the obedient child forever. The current head of the Gagher family enjoyed setting his own children against each other in a twisted survival of the fittest. Only thest one standing would be deemed worthy of inheriting everything. Millie said bitterly, "The old fox is cunning, alright. Technically, the inheritance is mine, but if I can¡¯t produce a suitable husband, he''ll hand it over to someone else.¡± "Best case, pop out a kid too. But since a kid''s off the table for now, might as well trick some guy into marrying me first." It was all about securing a strong ally for the Gagher family. And a way to ensure Millie would be indebted to the Gagher family for life! Jasper twitched at the corners of his mouth. "Millie, don''t tell me the guy you n to trick is me?" "Smart cookie! Jasper, so smart. Are you offering to have kids with me?" Jasper nearly choked on his own saliva! Millie had always been a force of nature back in school. Not just for anything, but... for being shamelessly ambitious! Whether it was debatepetitions or mock trials, she was ready to do whatever it took to win. In her world, there were no friends or family, only victory! Even in a marathon, Millie had to finish first, standing on the podium flipping off the crowd below. I''m the best! All you guys are trash!" Because of that, she was no stranger to controversy at school. Every time Jasper heard something new about her, he was bbergasted! She was. truly wild. Now, getting entangled with her seemed worse than death itself! Realization dawned on Noe; Millie had her sights set on Jasper, thinking he was from the Schnabel family. Indeed, an alliance with the Schnabels would perfectly satisfy the old Gagher generation''s requirements. But Noe wouldn''t allow forcing a Schnabel into something unwillingly. "Come stay at my ce for a few days, and we''ll figure something out. If marriage is a must, I''m not suitable, but there are other members in the Schnabel family. If you''re open to it. we could arrange for you to meet someone.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Millie was more than willing. "Just need to spread a rumor for now. As long as I''m living with my mentor at the Schnabels'', who cares which Mr. Schnabel it is! Let them guess!" After all, just the news was enough to make people anxious. At the Schnabel Manor in Serene Haven, Phoenix Tower, Sienna looked on with a gleeful smile at Darcy sitting in the dining room. Hearing her eldest son was out on a date, she had Beckett bring the girl home straight away! Sienna, though outwardly patient, was indeed worried about Beckett''s love life. Darcy was a bit uneasy, not quite understanding how she ended up following Beckett home... Beckett nced at the still-open restaurant and said casually, "The restaurant''s closed for the night, let''s dine elsewhere." Darcy was puzzled. Closed? Since when? Next thing she knew, Beckett had brought her to the Schnabel family home! Beckett reminded his mother, "I haven''t eaten yet.¡± "I don''t care about that! Darcy, dear, have you eaten? Would you like some dinner?¡± Darcy was about to decline, remembering Beckett hadn''t eaten all day, and changed her mind. "No, thank you, I haven''t." Just as the food was served, a voice came from the entrance. "Sienna, I''m here for dinner too!" ¡°Alright, alright. there''s plenty for everyone.¡± Beckett''s gaze shifted to Jasper trailing behind, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like Millie chose Jasper?" Millie shook her head, wrapping an arm around Noe''s waist, acting coquettishly. "No, no, I chose my mentor. If I knew my mentor was here, I wouldn''t have bothered with you guys." Noe sighed, "You said you needed to get married to im your inheritance, right?" The implication was clear; perhaps Noe really couldn''t be of much help in that regard. While Noe could assist with other matters, marriage was simply out of her hands. Millie, now holding a bowl of spaghetti, began to eat with gusto. ¡°Ah, screw WH, t let''s just y it by ear Who knqws, maybe by the time I i supposed to settle down, that ate geezer wil have kicked the bucket! And hey, if I can''t get hitched; doesn''t mean I can''t mess:up someone else''s big day, righ ?" From that moment on, she was a heartless hitman. If any of the Gagher youngsters were eyeing a tie with high society, she''d make it her mission to ruin their matrimonial ns! Jasper winced. "That''s cold-hearted, ever heard of ¡®better to wreck ten temples than one marriage''?" "Being cold-hearted beats being broke." As she rolled wp her sleeves to dive into a bow of spaghetti, Millie suddenly. remembered the sleeve of tattoos running down her arm, = someting the older folks wouldn''t exactly be thrilled about. She, : sheepishly rolled her sleeve-back d6wn, a bit embarrassed Content belongs to swnovel.ne Sienna chimed in, "Don¡¯t sweat it, tattoos are cool. Besides, if something ever happens to you, your mom will be able to identify you in no time. Millie: ¡°..." "Thanks, that¡¯s... oddlyforting, in a hardcore way." But she had to admit, it was practical advice. Jasper''s gaze shifted to Darcy. sitting next to Beckett. "Ms. Darcy, howe you''re hanging out with Beckett?¡± Millie caught Darcy''s curious look and immediately went into survival mode. "Get it straight, I''m not interested in someone else''s guy! I''m no homewrecker!¡± Darcy quickly shook her head. "Oh no, that''s not what I meant... I was actually admiring your tattoos. Millie loved thepliment! She confidently took off her jacket toz show offher arm, covered in tattoos depicting a female warrior wielding swords and battling demons)a piece straight out of a fantasy saga. "Cool, right? It was done by my mentor!" Jasper eximed, "You mean, Noe did this?!¡± Jasper remembered that Master Azure was famous for her fantasy-inspired tattoo art! Carefully, Jasper asked, "Noe, you know Master Azure?" Millie looked puzzled, "Huh? How could I? My mentor is..." Chapter 384 \"Isn''t Master just a shareholder in Azure?\" Millie took a big bite of her burger. Spending the afternoon trying to act like the perfect daughter alongside her mom and Sienna had nearly frozen her face into a permanent smile! \"I remember on myst birthday, Master gifted me a dress from Azure. It was personally delivered by Kitai, who said it was Master''s request.\" Getting a custom piece from Azure delivered personally by Kitai was a big deal Millie couldn''t help but get excited thinking about that moment! Jasper was shocked \"What? Noe owns shares in Azure?!\" Noe nodded calmly, \"Yes, that''s right.\" There weren''t many shareholders in Azure. A quick look into the ownership structure would reveal that Noe owned eighty percent, with the rest held by folks from Pris Star. Beckett was the first to catch on. \"Last time Azure was negotiating a contract with ourpany, they said they''d cut thepany in for a thirty percent share of the profits. That was your doing?\" \"Yes, it was me. After all, we shop at Azure for our clothes, so it doesn''t hurt to give some profits back to thepany.\" As it turned out, the profits Azure made this year went to either the Schnabels or the Pocks... Every time Noe thought about how the family¡¯s money ended up in her own pocket, she felt a bit embarrassed Azure''s revenue was unmatched in the luxury floor of the mall, and yet they were willing to share profits, something Beckett found odd at the time! But it all made sense now that it was his sister''s arrangement! "I see.\" A look of realization and affectionate amusement spread across Beckett''s face as he casually picked up his phone to call his secretary. \"Handle this first thing tomorrow morning. Going forward, waive the store fees for Azure, and we won''t take any dividends either.\" "Understood, Mr. Schnabell\¡± Beckett looked at Noe, who was about to protest, and said gently, \"It doesn''t make sense to profit from my own sister. Now that I know it''s your business, I''m relieved!\" The performance of Azure''s business was well-known. At the very least, it proved that his sister hadn''t had it too tough in the past! Jasper was still somewhat in disbelief. \"Why didn¡¯t you tell us sooner that you owned Azure? I even gifted you Azure clothes before, how embarrassing!" Being a shareholder, Noe must have been familiar with every piece in the store! Jasper covered his face in agony. Noe reassured him: \"Don''t worry, Jasper, I really like them.\" That was true; the simplest reason behind her designs was her own preference. Sienna patted Noe''s cheek with sympathy. \"You''re amazing, darling! It must have been tough, right? How did you and Millie meet?\" Millie was several years older than Noe, yet she spoke of Noe with such respect! Sienna was curious. Millie rested her chin on her hands and smiled, \"It was back when Master''s grandma opened a diner. I was broke at the time and could only afford the cheapest muffin avable.\" The Gagher family was notoriously tough on their kids! Even in their teens, the Gaghers wouldn''t give them much money, letting them fend for themselves. Vincent refused to provide Noe with support money and always skimped on her living expenses, while Harriet wanted Noe to eat well. So, Harriet decided to open a small diner. Millie would pass by every day with her backpack, always buying the cheapest muffin, which was all she had for the day! \"Then one day, I found my muffin had meat inside. I thought Grandma Harriet made a mistake and was secretly thrilled!\" That was also the day Millie found herself cornered in a dark alley by a group. At the time, Ms. Noe from the Gagher family had many followers. The sewage water poured over Millie''s head as the groupughed mockingly. \"Ha! Thinking you canpete with Millie for the inheritance? Look at yourself!\" Ms. Noe from the Gagher family sneered, holding Millie''s chin, \"Do you think the Gagher family would choose someone who''s been covered in filth as their heir?\" Millie felt her heart sink! Then, a cold voice echoed from the bathroom entrance. \"What are you doing? Bullying? \" This school was the best in the area, but no one dared to cross the Gaghers, and even the teachers turned a blind eye. \"Mind your own business!\" Noe''s gaze fell on the drenched Millie, calmly saying, \"Do you think I''m meddling too much?\" \"...It was you? You better leave, they''re not good people, they''ll hurt you!\" Young Noe shook her head gently, \"I only ask, do you need help?\" Millie''s eyes lit up for a second before dimming again. "You can''t handle them...\" \"Do you need help?\" Millie met Noe''s calm and determined gaze, nodding almost involuntarily!All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. In that moment, she actually felt that the frail girl could be trusted, that she could save her! And that decision truly saved Millie. The jeers of the Gagher group turned into screams! Noe stood firm, her actions speaking louder than words, changing the dynamics in an instant. \"Do you need more help? She seemed keen on dunking you into the toilet just now.\" \"No, that''s enough! Were you... looking for me?\" Noe nodded. \"Yes, my grandma asked me to find you so you coulde home with us for dinner.\" Home? Dinner? Such a rare concept. \''Let''s go. My grandma knew you ~~ couldn''t afford meals and that a muffinwwasn''t enough. She wont charge you; just help clean the diner int feturn.\" That''s when Millie realized, the muffin with meat inside wasn''t a coincidence! Grandma Harriet had known all along that she couldn''t afford a meal. She''d done it on purpose! Millie burst into tears in an instant. Wrapping herself in Noe¡¯s jacket as she stepped out of the restroom, Milliethrew a nce back at Noe, herface aze with angerand fury. Catching up with Noe''s strides, Millie asked, \"Can you teach me?\" \"What do you want to learn?\" \"The way you fought them off just now! I want to learn! I want to be able to protect myself!\" Noe stopped in her tracks, asking nonchntly, \"Just for self-defense?\" Millie, taken aback for a moment. then clenched her fists tighter. \"I want to prove that I am the strongest!\" Noe let out a light chuckle and walked away. \"If you''re up for the challenge, follow me and learn.\" Reflecting on those times. Millie felt a wave of emotion \"If it hadn''t been for Grandma Harriet and my mentor, I might have starved to death. I wouldn''t be where I am today.\" \It was mymentor who taught me that I was-born to be a mountain, not a strear?: I am meant to stand.on the shoulders of giants and look dows on the mediocrity of cowards!\" ¡° Sienna was moved by her words. Jasper looked at Millie with a new respect. \"It hasn''t been easy for you, but meeting Noe was a stroke of luck.\" Millie raised an eyebrow and teased, \"Aw, are you starting to feel sorry for me? How about marrying me then?\" \"Nutcasel\" \"Is that all the vocabry you have, Jasper? What a disgrace to the profession.\¡± Watching the two of them bicker, Sienna couldn''t help but remark that they were truly a pair of rivals. \"Just make yourself at home and stay at ease, as if it''s your own ce!\" Sienna said. Jasper and Millie chorused in unison, \"That won''t do!\" Chapter 385 Jasper retorted, "Mom! If she''s going to live here, I''m moving out!" Millie chimed in with a grin, "Auntie, you can''t treat this like your own home. Back at my ce, I didn''t even get dinner. It''s way better here!" Hearing that Millie often went without meals at home, Sienna''s heart ached for her. "You, my dear, so thin. From now on, you and Noe will start on some nutritional supplements to boost your health. Don''t worry about your mom, [I''ll talk to her." "Thank you, Auntie.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. The words Jasper had ready were quelled by Sienna''s stern look. After all, Millie had it tough and had known Noe for so many years. What''s the big deal about her staying for a few days? "Cut the nonsense. The house isn''t yours. If you want to leave, then be quick about it, scoot!" Jasper: "..." He wasn''t really ready to leave. Who would want to stay outside, missing out on warm meals and cuddles with his sister when he got home? Sienna looked warmly at a somewhat ufortable Darcy. "Darcy, it''s gettingte. Why don''t you stay over? We''ve got plenty of spare rooms, one right next to Beckett''s room!" Jasper: "Hey, that''s my study...¡± Sienna coldly interjected, "From now on, you no longer have a study in this house, got it?" Jasper''s eyes widened as he finally realized something! Was there something going on between Beckett and Ms. Darcy? Why had he only just noticed? It''s just a study room. If giving it up meant happiness for Beckett, the perennial bachelor, then he could certainly live without such an uptight space! Darcy quickly declined, "No, no, that''s too much trouble, I''ll just head home!" As she got up to leave, Sienna dramatically clutched her chest and copsed onto the sofa. "Oh, my chest... it hurts so! Beckett, dear, I think I saw your grandmother... she insisted Darcy must stay. It''s unsafe for her to leave at this hour!" Beckett, despite knowing Sienna''s act was both clumsy and exaggerated, couldn''t help but y along. If he didn''t, he might as well note home tomorrow! Sienna wouldbel him the biggest ingrate of the household. Besides... he had his own reasons for wanting Darcy to stay! ncing at Darcy, Beckett gently offered, "We really do have a spare room. It was actually bought for Noe''s schooling; it''s convenient for your work. Would you consider staying?" Millie, covering half of her face with her hand, whispered to Jasper, "Bet I can make her stay with just one sentence?¡± "No way, who do you think you are?" "Let''s bet. If I win, you give me that case with the Gagher family!" Jasper was puzzled, "That case is a tough one. There''s no way the Gaghers can win." "Who said anything about winning? Just leave it to me." It wouldn''t really affect Jasper to hand over the case to Millie; the evidence was already well-prepared, and there was no chance for a turnaround "Alright, go ahead." He was genuinely curious about what Millie could say to make Darcy stay. Millie approached Darcy, revealing the bangs on her forehead. "Remember me?" Darcy was taken aback, recognizing the familiar face. "It''s you!" "Yes, it''s me. I get so scared living alone. Stay with me, please?" Darcy chuckled, "You, scared? I must say, I''ve never seen a ¡®delicate girl'' who could tackle a gang of thugs all by herself." Back in college, Darcy had encountered a gang who snatched her bag. That bag was a gift from Beckett, andshe didn''t want to lose it like thats illie, appearing out of > nowhere-wie ded a metal rod and¡± managed to retrieve Darcy''s bag. At thatime, Millie was covered in blosd, her hair sticking together. After casually brushing off Darcy''s concern and gratitude, she left like a hero. Darcy hadn''t recognized her because the difference between Millie then and now was just too vast! Millie coyly added, "Had to maintain my image, you know. Things were a bit rough back then.¡± Noe interjected, "You were supposed to buy groceries, and instead, you yed the hero, getting yourself injured.¡± "Heh, couldn''t bear to see a beauty in distress.¡± Darcy smiled. "Alright, then. I''ll impose for one night. Thank you." Jasper was stunned that Millie actually managed to convince Darcy to stay. He looked at Millie, barely containing hisughter, "...you really are a force of nature." Millie, rolling up her sleeves and grabbing Jasper by the cor, teased, "So, Mr. Schnabel, care for a little spar?" Noe''s chilling voice echoed, "Millie, let him go. Gently, please!¡± If only Noe knew the extent of Millie''s relentless energy, she might not have taught her judo in the first ce! Now, seeing her like this was just headache-inducing. Late at night, Noe released her grip fromMillie''s pulse. "No big ~ issues, But no smoking, no drinking, no coffee, and no staying upte. Take''care of yourself Now off to bed with you." od "...might as well kill me." "If you keep this up, you won''t need any help in that department. Then you can forget about the Gagher estate." Millie, meeting Noe''s stern gaze, chuckled nervously. "Okay, okay, I get it." "Why didn''t youe to me?" "I didn''t want to trouble you. I thought, once I get everything from the Gaghers, I''de back for you in style!" Noe shook her head in disbelief, "The flowers on grandma''s grave, that was you, wasn''t it?" "Ah! Grandma Harriet was family too, not being there to say goodbye is something I''ll always regret. Paying my respects is the least I can do.¡± "Grandma wouldn''t hold it against you. Go back to bed." Millie stoodup, and just as she did, she heard voicesing from =~ outside: Curious, she pushed open the window of Noe''s room and wagimmedia ely met with thie sight of Palmer standing on the balcony. Millie: ¡°..." Well, that was awkward! Luckily, Palmer didn''t seem to mind Millie''s reaction and turned to enter Noe''s room Millie tried to pinpoint where the voices wereing from and realized they were all emanating from the rooms upstairs. "Darcy, you really think you''re all grown up, huh? Staying outte and noting home?" Darcy replied calmly, "I''m nearly thirty, I think I can decide when Ie home.¡± "Save it. Mom''s just worried about you. You''re being incredibly selfish!" "You''re her daughter, she knows you best. Noting home must mean you''re out chasing men, right? Are you that desperate? It''s disgraceful!¡± "The guys you''re picking are all losers. Only the ones Mom sets you up with are any good for you. Don''t be so picky. A woman who can''t have kids is useless, so quit dreaming!¡± Chapter 386 After Poppy stabbed Dalia and was taken away, she somehow managed towyer up and get herself out. She came back home looking for trouble but couldn''t find Darcy anywhere. That''s when she decided to give her a call, hurling insults over the phone. "Get back home right now. You think you can stay out all night trying to snag some random guys?" "I''m the only one who''s ever been good to you, you hear me?" Darcy was pretty much numb to these words by now. She tock a deep breath, her hands shaking. "Your idea of being good to me is making me marry a guy who''s shorter, heavier, poorer, and weaker than me? Oh, and he''s got debts that you expect me to pay off?" "Being good to me means hurting Dalia?" "You can only control a man who''s in every way inferior to you, ensuring he''ll never leave you! Dalia was being disobedient. If she had agreed to marry, I wouldn''t have had to hit her! A mother hitting her own child is perfectly natural!" Darcy couldn''t help butugh sarcastically. "It''s fine, as long as you''re crazy like you, you don''t need to worry about divorce. It''s just that Dad didn''t want you." "A husband not wanting his own wife, having affairs with other people, is perfectly natural too." This stung Poppy deeply. She erupted into a tirade of vile words over the phone, the kind ofnguage you wouldn''t expect a mother to use towards her daughter. Darcy gripped the balcony railing, her whole body trembling. Downstairs, Millie overheard themotion. Without a second thought, she climbed up to the balcony and leapt up in one swift move! She snatched the phone right out of Darcy''s hand. "Hey, are you out of your mind? Need me to call a mental hospital for you? Who talks to their own kid like that?" Narcissists are usually pretty good at hiding their true selves in front of others! Poppy, hearing another voice, quickly switched her tone. "Oh, is this a friend of our Darcy? Dear me, this child is always so aloof and strange, hardly any friends. You should be careful around her, you know." "I think you''re the one who needs to be careful, loving to control men so much. Why don''t you head to the local gym and get a massage? You could control plenty there." "...Youngdy, how dare you speak to your elder like that.¡± Millie rolled her eyes "I can''t bear the thought of being your junior. Whoever ends up with that title might as well be set up on a blind date with a potato!¡± Poppy dropped her ranting, adopting a cold tone: "Darcy, if you don''te home tonight, don''t bothering back ever!" "Who cares abouting back? Just go cry over your dear husband''s portrait!¡± Millie hung up the phone with a flourish, not even giving Darcy a chance to react. Handing the phone back, Millie apologized, "Sorry about that, I just have a short fuse.¡± "No worries, thank you." Darcy had long since given up on Poppy! After a moment of silence, Millie said, "No offense, but you really should stay away from that kind of person.¡± "Yeah, I know. But I was worried about Dalia. She was still in school, and I didn''t want her to get hurt.¡± Darcy''s family background was a mess. A cheating father, a mother with severe mental issues and a controlling nature, and a childhood filled with suppression. It all weighed heavily on her. "I blocked her once, took Dalia, and moved out. Then she called the cops on us.¡± Darcy gave a resigned smile, patting Millie on the shoulder. "Don''t worry, I have a n. Worsees to worst, we''ll leave the country and nevere back. It''s not a big deal!" Millie blinked. "...Oh, we''re not exactly close, so if I do something that crosses a boundary, you can''t really do anything about it, right?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. If she mentiored what just happened to Beckett and asked for a bit of coboration, that wouldn''t be. too muck, would it? After all, thisis the Schnabel family. Whatever happens, the Schnabel family:should know, right? Millie thought itmade p¨¦tfect sense! Content begfongs to Darcy: "Huh? What are you nning to do?" Millie pretended she didn''t say anything and was about to climb back down when she heard Noe''s cold voice. "Go back to your room. Now." "Boo-hoo, my master''s got a new guy, and now she''s being heartless to me!" A new guy? Millie had the nerve to use that term! Noe sighed, meeting Palmer''s amused gaze, and felt like pping Millie right then and there. "Noe, this apprentice of yours is quite some thing. I heard she sent all of the Gagher family''s casino > licenses Yo the authoritiesst _~> montmLooks like she''s aiming.to make¡± some of their operations semi-legal.¡¯ + swnovel.ne oe) The Gagher family had built their fortune on the gambling industry. Messing with the casinos was like poking a ho¡¯s nest! You could imagine the chaos Millie must''ve caused within the Gagher family! Noe raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?" "I missed you. Came to see you." "We could''ve video called." Palmer unted his phone, "I called you a bunch of times. You didn''t answer. I was worried you were in trouble, saw your window light was on and came to check." Saying that, he made it seem like Noe was in the wrong. "...Sorry, didn''t check my phone." Palmer gently hugged Nee, leaning on her, "Then be nice, let me hold you for a bit. I''l leave soon." Noe looked down at Palmer, his affection for her never seemed to wane. This straightforward and steadfast choice made Nee''s lips curve up slightly, not pushing him away. The night deepened, and Millie left Beckett''s study, sessfully securing several contracts. Just as she stepped out, she bumped into Jasper, who was holding a cup of water, his hands shaking. "You, you, you, how did youe out of Beckett''s study? Beckett won''t like a violent woman like youl¡± Millie was baffled. She was just there to discuss business with Beckett, a legitimate business exchange, along with some small conditions for negotiation. "Mr. Schnabel, do you really think every time a woman walks cut of a man''s study, it''s only for one thing? You''re such a drooling idiot even when you''re supposedly cured!" Jasper was taken aback, confused and slightly offended. Millie raised the contract in her hand, rolling her eyes. "Mr. Schnabel, I''m a businesswoman, not some fool whose head is filled with nonsense like yours." Jasper paused, "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean it that way." "I don''t care what you meant! You''re such a Neanderthal!" Millie stood tall, her pride evident as she stepped directly onto Jasper''s bare foot, leaving in a huff. "Ow" Hopping on org foot, Jasper''s face turned red with embarrassment! He couldn''t understand his own ~ behavior Even though he knew SS illie wasn¡¯ t that kind of person,¡± seeing J her emerge from Beckett Ss stugly somehow made him< Ufortable? Chapter 387 It must be because he was worried about Beckett getting duped by that cunning woman! Yes, that had to be it! Jasper was set in his belief, more convinced than ever that he was in the right! Beckett''s study door cracked open. "Jasper,e in." Jasper thought he was about to be lectured for some earlier embarrassment Beckett had witnessed. He prepared to make a quick escape. "Beckett, I was sleepwalking... Oh, I thought I saw Mr. Pock sneaking around Noe¡¯s room, I''l go chase him out!" Palmer and Noe were engaged, what could be amiss in her room? Moreover, knowing Noe¡¯s brand, Azure, Beckett felt quite reassured about her. Noe knew what she wanted and wouldnt do anything to jeopardize herself. As long as she trusted Palmer, Beckett was willing to trust Noe¡¯s choice!Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Beckett calmlymanded, ¡°Come in, don''t make me ask a third time.¡± The Schnabel children were all practically raised by Beckett, holding more sway in the household than even Tristan Schnabel. Jasper reluctantly walked in. "Beckett, I didnt mean to speak ill of Millie. I realize my mistake, I''ll go apologize.¡± Beckett looked at his brother standing before him. He had heard everything, "Acknowledging your mistake is good. Don''t let such incidents happen again. Millie, being able to run the family business, is beyond doubt, and the Schnabel children cannot afford to be so reckless.¡± Given the Schnabel family¡¯s standing. there were plenty seeking the favor of the Schnabel children! To hear such talk outside, wouldn''t that be akin to spreading rumors? Millie, as a young woman, couldn''t endure such unwarranted distress! Harsh words rarely seen, Beckett''s face showed a rare anger. "Half a year''s allowance will be cut, and the deducted amount should be transferred to Noe and ra. As for how you''ll earn Millie''s forgiveness, that''s on you." "Yes, Beckett." Even as an aplished individual,manding respect in courtrooms, Jasper still found himself humbly subdued before Beckett! The money was a minor issue, but being penalized financially at his age was Beckett''s way of disciplining him. Beckett pointed to a stool. "Sit." "I''d rather not." "Sit down, grab the first aid kit and tend to your foot." Jasper looked at the swollen red mark on his foot and obediently sat down to disinfect it with the kit. "Tell me about the Darcy case." Jasper cautiously replied, "Beckett, is Ms. Darcy... my future sister-inw?" Meeting Beckett''s cold gaze, Jasper swallowed, "If she''s a future sister-inw, then it''s a family matter. If not, it''s client confidentiality, I can''t share.¡± Beckett, pressing his forehead, didn¡¯tment on Jasper¡¯s professional ethics. He pulled out an invitation from the deepest drawer, tossing it in front of Jasper. It was from years ago, Beckett had prepared a wedding invitation, but never found the opportunity to send it before Darcy left. Jasper, looking at the photo and name, and then the date, had an epiphany! "Ah? Ms. Darcy is the heroine who turned you down back then! I was wondering who''d be bold enough to refuse someone as good as Beckett!" "Jasper, aiming for a bigger deduction?" Jasper shuddered, giving up on the notion of client confidentiality. "Ms. Darcy''s family is in trouble. She wants to reim her father¡¯s inheritance to settle her motherfortably and then move abroad with her sister, never to return. "Her mother... I''ve met her too. She''s hell-bent on suppressing her daughters, wishing them a worse life than hers, a textbook case of NPD, Narcissistic Personality Disorder. "Ms. Darcy is doing her best to break free, yet she can''tpletely abandon her mother. So, she ns to reim her father¡¯s inheritance.¡± Beckett, twirling a pen in his hands, looked intently at Jasper. "Her mother¡¯s condition, can she bemitted?" "Difficult. NPD individuals are adept at masking. She''ll pretend to be well, making it hard to secure a diagnosis.¡± Beckett, massaging his temples, fixed Jasper with a piercing look. "Can it be done?¡± Jasper, meeting Beckett''s sharp gaze, instantly grasped his intent. "I''ll consult Ulrich. But, as awyer, I believe getting treatment for someone mentally ill is the right thing to do. It''s awyer''s social responsibility!" Beckett nodded, satisfied. "Good, get on it." Jasper, about to leave, turned and winked at Beckett. "Don''t worry, Beckett, I won''t let Ms. Darcy emigrate and leave you a bachelor for life!" "Get out." With a chuckle, Jasper scampered off! The study light clicked off, leaving Beckett in darkness, hisplex emotions hidden. Sitting in the dim study, Beckett sighed heavily, a bitter smile on his lips. "Beckett, what are you doing?" Letting someone who should have been cherishedtendure so much alone, out afsight. His youthful love, was too ight, so light he a rogantly. though t [ie could control everything. Yet, itwas also too heavy, so heavy that af er all these years, despite all the I people and sights he'' d" encountered, he still yearfied for that one person! What he once prided himself on as love, now seemed like a mirage, unclear and intangible. Yet, he wished to see, to have. He wanted to grasp the moon reflected in the water; he wanted... to mend what was broken The next morning at the Schnabel family breakfast table. Jasper shot Palmer a lethal re as he N sauntered out of Noe''s room, hig eyelids tyitching uncontrobly. "Mr. Pogk, heard you were up to¡®your old tricks, scaling the wallsst night? Who knew the CEQ-of Pock Group fancied himself a fit of a mountaineer?" Unfazed, Palmer pulled Noe to sit beside him. "I''m also into skydiving. How about I take Jasper for a spin sometime?¡± Thement nearly choked Jasper with indignation. He was younger than Palmer, for heaven''s sake! Grinding his teeth, Jasper retorted, "No thanks, Mr. Pock. Perhaps you should keep your hobbies to yourself. My sister''s still young and impressionable. Don''t lead her astray!" Sienna snorted in annoyance. "Eat your breakfast and get out of here! Off to work with you! You''re a nuisance!" In this household, only Jasper and Stirling were the bachelors. Neither sought to change their status, yet Jasper couldn''t help but be green with envy over Noe and Palmer''s blossoming rtionship. The nerve! Jasper swallowed his pride along with two heaping bowls of breakfast. Marcel, engrossed in his _ newspaper, ¡®surveyed the familiar C and un Familiar faces around the > table understanding the dynamics a y." Let''s eat. Is this the ? Gagher family''s youngdy? A bit more respectable than ysur grandfather, I''d say.¡± Marcel''s words were loaded, and Millie responded with a beaming smile. "Of course, my grandfather was short-sighted. Not me, though. I''m wise and valiant!" Marcel drylymented, "You''ve certainly inherited his thick skin." Just then, Annie''s call came through. "Boss, Sexton''s passed out all of a sudden. He''s been rushed to the ER!" Chapter 388 "I''l be right there.¡± Palmer suddenly stood up, quickly exined, and prepared to leave for the hospital Marcel looked worried as he set down his fork and knife. "Noe, you go with him and check it out!" "Alright." Marcel was well aware of Sexton''s health condition. Since Noe had always been the one to treat Sexton, performing surgeries and prescribing medications, she was most familiar with his condition and could be of great help! Nog was Palmer''s fianc¨¦e, so it was only natural for her to apany him to check on Sexton. The Schnabel family didn''t think much of it. Sienna saw Noe and Palmer out, waiting until their car had disappeared down the road. After much thought, Sienna still felt worried and said, "I better call Ulrich too, have him check on things. How did this happen all of a sudden?" Imperial West Hospital, operating room. Arge group of doctors gathered at the door, appearing somewhat helpless! Seeing the crowd around Palmer approaching, an ER doctor quickly came over. "Mr. Pock, Sexton''s condition is very bad...¡± ¡°Where''s Professor Calvin?¡± ¡°In the OR!¡± As the operating room door opened, Calvin''s gaze fell on Noe next to Palmer, as if seeing a beacon of hope,pletely bypassing Palmer! "You''re finally here! Hurry!" Noe squeezed Palmer''s hand, signaling him to stay calm, "I''ll check on Grandpa Sexton.¡± "Alright!" Palmer''s eyes held aplex mix of emotions, as if he wanted to say something but ultimately held back. He trusted Noe! He didn''t want to add to her stress, understanding that she would do everything in her power to save Grandpa! Inside the OR, Noe¡¯s pressure was no less than his! The operating room doors closed again, and the surgery light turned on Helen sat on the bench, looking extremely calm, though her trembling hands betrayed her emotions! "Grandma, how did Grandpa suddenly fall ill?" "Stayed up handling some matters." Palmer, pressing his temples, said angrily, "Nonsense! What''s so important that Grandpa had to lose sleep over it?" Helen lifted her drooping eyelids, giving Palmer a fleeting nce. "Palmer, everyone has their fate. We can''t force it. He wanted to do something for you all onest time. That''s his duty!" "Grandma! How can Grandpa take such risks with his health?" "Silence." Helen looked down, slightly displeased, her rosary beads sliding through her fingers, though she couldn''t muster a single prayer. No one understood Sexton''s condition better than she did! Half an hourter. The surgery light turned off, and Noe emerged from the OR, removing her mask. She looked at Palmer, her expression holding a restrained sorrow. Calvin followed Noe, sighing, "... We did our best, but the surgery was of little use, Sexton refused to undergo a tracheotomy.¡± Palmer frowned, "Refused?" How could he refuse? Was this a time for stubbornness? Helen stood up, gripping her cane tighter, "Enough, Palmer. Let him maintain his dignity!" Calvin presented a treatment report Sexton had signed earlier.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. It clearly stated that Sexton was aware of his condition and had voluntarily chosen his medication dosages! He also refused the tracheotomy. Having navigated the challenges of life, Sexton, who had led the Pock Group to its peak, wanted to leave with dignity! He refused a life of mere survival, nor did he wish to burden his descendants with his prolonged illness. Helen calmly said, "I''ll go see him. Palmer, you and Nee should start making arrangements." She paused for a moment. "At least, let Noe send him off as his granddaughter-inw.¡± Noe couldn''t refuse such a request "Alright." Tears in her eyes, the elderly woman walked steadily towards her husband''s room, her determination clear in her gaze! Palmer took a deep breath, looking at his fianc¨¦e who had been worried about him Meeting Noe''s gaze, the chaos in his heart stilled. Holding Noe''s hand, Palmer said, "Grandpa... how long does he have?" "If we''re lucky, a month." Calvin sighed, "It''s also thanks to Noe. Initially, Sexton''s condition was expected tost just a few days." Feeling the gravity of the situation, Calvin turned away, "I''l go check on him. You two talk!" The atmosphere in the corridor was somber, dim even in daylight without the motion-sensor lights on. Noe whispered, "...I''m sorry, Grandpa Sexton''s condition has been deteriorating for a while. He didn''t want to worry you." Palmer hugged the girl in front of him, hisrge hands gently squeezing her shoulders "It''s not your fault. You and Professor Calvin have been keeping this secret for a long time. It must have been hard.¡± Sexton was a stubborn old man. In his youth, once he set his mind on something, nothing could sway him! If he decided to keep the family in the dark, Noe and Calvin had to support him, facing significant pressure. Palmer stroked Noe''s hair, "Don''t worry, I''m fine! How''s Grandpa now?" He couldn''t bear to see Noe worried about him! "He''s awake now. You should talk to him." "You go first. I''ll call Beckett Ulrich." "Okay." This matterneeded to be communicated to the rest of the Pock family. Other than o unnecessary rtives that Annie could contact, Palmer knew he had to: apersonally call theo hers: b¨¦longs = Turning towards the room, Noe heard Helen softly speaking to Sexton. "Did I scare you?" "Humph, you think I''m made of paper? After all these years, what haven''t I seen?" Sexton chuckled, a faint yellow shadow crossing his eyes. > "Helen, singme a song, will you? -. That ones: ¡®Moonlight Serenade¡¯. The first time I saw you, you were at the Ballroom, singing Moonlight Serenade¡¯, You were so beautifull "In times like these, you want a song? Do you think I''m here for your amusement?¡± After a brigfsilence, the room filled. with the slow melody of a song, its tenderhotes stretching out, entwining years of emotion, then dissolving into a void of sobs. Sexton was all over the ce, "Hey, don''t cry... Your tears, they''re breaking my heart..." "You''re mistaken.¡± The melody continued. Noe pulled her hand back from the doorknob, not entering. Calvin hinted with a nod, "To my office? We need to take good care of Sexton during this time, you need toe up with a n.¡± "Alright, let''s go." Noe nced back at the hospital room, letting cut an almost imperceptible sigh. Entering the office, Calvin handed Noe a file. "This is all the medication Sexton''s been on recently. He''s holding on because he said he wanted to see your engagement!¡± "He''s worried, you know. Worried he might pass away on your happiest day, bringing you bad luck!" Chapter 389 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 consid¨¦ef 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." Chapter 390 "After all, you''re not the only one who knows Mr. Schnabel," he said, a hint of smugness in his voice. "Coincidentally, I know him too.¡± Not only do I know him, but we also had breakfast together this morning! Upon hearing about Sexton''s illness, Tristan had already taken it upon himself to drive Marcel to the hospital for a visit! It was the first time anyone had seen someone threaten Noe like Tristan did... Clinging to Dan''s arm, Oriana whined coyly, "Dan, didn''t you say you and Mr. Schnabel are like brothers, tight as can be?" Dan couldn''t even remember the tall tales he''d spun! He whipped out his phone, bedazzled to the max, and dialed Tristan''s number. A polite female voice answered, "Hello, you''ve reached Mr. Schnabel''s office line. May I ask who''s calling and if you have an appointment?" "I''m Dan. Mr. Schnabel''s brother from another mother!" "Then please contact Mr. Schnabel''s personal line; this line is for business appointments only.¡± Dan''s cheeks burned with embarrassment, muttering to himself, "Mr. Schnabel must be too swamped..." Nog''s voice then piped up, "Chad, Mr. Schnabel won''t be in the office today. Any business matters should be redirected to Beckett.¡± Chad recognized Noe''s voice immediately and respectfully replied, "Yes, Ms. Noe. Mr. Schnabel has purchased a new property for you. Should the contract be delivered to your home?" "I''m at the Schnabel Hotel today. Send it here." "Understood. And about this Dan...?" Noe calmly stated, "Causing a scene at the hotel, verbally assaulting Schnabel Group employees, obstructing me from calling the police, just an ordinary guest.¡± Chad, surprised, asked, "Ah? Are you alright, Ms. Noe? I''ll inform Mr. Schnabel right away!" "I''m fine." Chad breathed a sigh of relief, recalling recent events. "Now I remember, Dan, the guy who rented the Wren family''s self-built vi in the suburbs and has been dodging the rent? Jasper has been too busy, and the legal department hasn''t gotten to it yet!" "Let''s handle it all at once then!¡± Dan''s face quickly beaded with sweat as panic set in. He red at Criana beside him, fuming, "Why didn''t you tell me she''s Ms. Noe of the Schnabel family?" Oriana was at a loss for words. In her eyes, Noe was hardly favored within the Schnabel family ¡ª just a nobody picked up from the sticks. How favored could she possibly be? Linnea looked at Oriana with aplex gaze. Growing up together, Linnea knew Oriana''s behavior stemmed from the family''s skewed allocation of resources. Despite being sisters, all the money went to supporting the more promising sister, leaving little for her. And so, from a young age, Oriana had been brainwashed! The Schnabel family would never consider you one of their own! Probably in front of Dan, Criana had boasted about being the prestigious Ms. Noe, adding all sorts of embellishments to her story. Facing the genuinely beautiful and favored Noe was like a p in Oriana''s face! Dan, unable to save face and remembering Oriana''s ims, thought: If she truly was ady of high society, wouldn''t all his debts be covered? Thus, Dan couldn''t bear to let go of Criana, his golden goose! "Ms. Schnabel, my sincerest apologies. I was blind not to see that you''re Mr. Schnabel''s daughter! I''m like a distant uncle to you, given my brotherhood with Mr. Schnabel!" Noe remained silent for a moment. Such shamelessness was indeed rare. Wren, Marcel''s chauffeur, owned several vis in the suburbs of the city, with rent reaching millions a year. Dan couldn''t even pay the rent for a self-built home, clearly not a real tycoon!All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Noe mocked, "Dan, your brains truly aren''t on par with the real wealthy. I''ll be handling today''s incident with the police.¡± "Please, niece..." "Dan, if you can''t learn how to address people properly, maybe you should learn how to bark like a dog?" Noe''s knife glinted coldly, its edge sharp and bloodless. Her gaze was icy, sending chills down Dan''s spine. He quickly corrected himself, "Ms. Schnabel, I''m terribly sorry. Please ept my deepest apologies!¡± "No need, some matters are better handled by professionals. I''d rather not waste words on you." As Noe finished, police officers approached, escorting Oriana and Dan away! A young boy clutching a teddy bear looked on in panic as his father was taken. The officer turned to the boy, "Ms. Schnabel, it''s not appropriate to take the child to the station. Maybe: he could stay at the hotel temporarily?" The boy was too young for the station, with no one to care for him there. Noe met the boy''s icy gaze with a flicker of interest, her lips curving slightly, "Our hotel is open for business, not a daycare. Better to contact his family to pick him up.¡± The boy''s eyes, familiar to Noe, reminded her of children she''d seen at the border ¡ª seemingly innocent but harboring resentment The officer nodded, leading the boy away. But as they exited the hotel, the boy looked back at Noe with a steely gaze. "Do you know what happened to my dad''s previous girlfriends?" Noe coldly replied, "That''s none of my concern.¡± "You made my dad look bad, which means you made me lock bad. I''ll remember you." The boy''s emationless face mirrored Dan''s, revealing a maturity and malice beyond his years. "Sister, did you know? Minors don''t pay the price for murder.¡± His words sent a shiver through the onlookers! Noe propped her chin with one hand, her gaze locked onto the little boy with an intensity that could pierce steel "Sweetheart, the price of actions isn''t for you to decide.¡± The boy masked his emotions as he followed the officer out of the hotel. Linnea felt a chill run down her spine. "Ms. Schnabel, is it just me or does that kid seem a bit... off? Doesn''t strike me as your average Joe." "It''s all good. No need to go easy next time. Sure, we''re in the hospitality business, but we''ve got to stand our ground.¡± Linnea knew Noe was trying tofort her, and it warmed her heart immensely. Laughter echoed from the hotel entrance. A silver-haireddy spun Noe around in a tight hug, "Noe, it''s been too long, I''ve missed you!" "Be careful with yourself, mentor.¡± "Not to worry, with the medicine you''ve whipped up for me, I reckon I''ve got another fifty years!" Behind them, Master Hector scoffed, "Ha, another fifty years? That''d make you what, a hundred and twenty? Practically a witch by then.¡± "Zip it! I''m talking to Noe, mind your own business! No respect for the elderly.¡± Thedy hugging Noe was none:. other thag Esme, the founder of ? Pris-Star, a key figure in the intelligencemunity with. ess tq: 3 countless secrets. Content telongs She was also the face behind one of the most fuxurious fashionbels: known across the globe, revered I in every international fashion scene. Chapter 391 Rumors were swirling that Esme was none other than a persona of the enigmatic Master Azure! "I''m here mainly for your engagement party, and also to attend a special event together with you," Esme exined An event that warranted Esme¡¯s personal attendance, with Hector by her side the whole time, was bound to be extraordinary. "Got it. I''ve taken care of everything at the hotel. If you or Master Azure have any issues, just reach out to my secretary.¡± The moment Linnea caught sight of Esme, her eyes lit up with excitement! After all, Esme was a fashion icon, having clinched the title of Fashion Queen multiple times over! Her designs were legendary, setting benchmarks that seemed insurmountable! Linnea gushed, "Ms. Esme, if there''s anything you need, just let me know! Your devoted butler, Shen, is at your service!" Esmeughed heartily, gesturing for Hector to carry her luggage upstairs.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Noe chimed in, "Master, we''ve arranged a sea-view room for you, and we''ll make sure to serve your favorite dishes.¡± "It''s Noe who always knows best!" Upon entering the vast suite, they noticed that even the bed linens had been customized to Esme''s taste, and there, on the nightstand, was an exquisite piece of jade carving, clearly Noe''s own handiwork. Esme''s fondness for Master Sylvie''s jade carvings was well known in the industry. Watching Esme lovingly cradle the jade carvings, Noe smiled subtly. "I might have missed your birthday, Master, but I''ve prepared everything, just in time for this visit." "My dear Noe, always so thoughtful!" Cnly Noe remembered everyone''s preferences, gifting them with thoughtful presents year after year. For them, it wasn''t about the material value but the thoughtfulness behind each gift. Esme caressed a silk quilt, "Is this one of our creations?" "Yes, it''s ourtest silk development. The embroidery is by Azure," Noe informed her. Esme understood that meant Noe herself had done the embroidery. "You always put so much thought into everything. I do have another reason for my visit." Hector added, "Ms. Esme is just worried about you being here alone, and with those kids getting restless, she thought it''d be a good time to sort out some of the old guard as well." Esme knew exactly which of the old Pris Star members were still around! Noe bit her lip, "Master, who allowed the Pris Star Project to exist in the first ce?" "Only a high-ranking madman, someone capable of associating with Garrick. My visit is also to see him. Even though Pris Star is now in your hands, I still need to clean up for you." "And as for who it is, haven''t you ever wondered why your Pris Star has only twenty-four members?" Pris Star was named after the twenty-eight lunar mansions, the missing four were aligned with Garrick! The one who signed off on the Pris Star Project was also a member themselves. Esme wrapped herself in a shawl, herce gloves adorned with exquisite pearls, embodying elegance and refinement. "That per''s old code name was 7-yer!¡± Imperial West Hospital. Cutside the Sexton ward, a well-dressed woman hurried along with a few children in tow. Upon receiving the news, Megan Barth, the eldest daughter of the Pock family, rushed back to Imperial City with her family. Despite the journey''s weariness, worry was etched all over Megan''s face. A young woman trailing behind her looked around excitedly, eager for another chance to see Palmer. Despite being closely rted, Palmer and Megan weren''t particrly close, rarely contacting each other throughout the year. This hospital visit was a rare opportunity for Myra Whitaker, Megan''s husband''s niece, to apany the Pock family. Megan, consumed with concern, paid little attention to Myra''s scheming. Facing Helen, Megan couldn''t hold back her tears. "Mom..." "It''s okay, you''re here now." Megan and Helen, sharing the Barth surname, weren''t exceptionally close, but in times like these, Megan soughtfort. "How long does my dad have?" "No more than a month. Uncle Shen is with him now, talking. It''s good you''re back. We''re nning to have Noe and Palmer''s engagement party these few days. It might cheer him up.¡± ¡¯ - Sexton''s biggest concern was Palmer''s marriage. Megan hesitated, "But isn''t this a bit unfair to the Schnabel girl?" After all, an engagement should be a joyous asion, and it might be tainted by Sexton''s condition. "Uncle Shen suggested this, to let the old man pass without regrets. Noe is sensible and has agreed.¡± For Noe, the timing didn''t matter as long as it was with Palmer. Making Sexton happy in his final days seemed like the right thing to do. Megan nodded, wiping away her tears "Alright, we owe a great debt to the Schnabel family for their kindness." Without the Schnabels, the Pock family wouldn''t have such a wonderful granddaughter and daughter-inw. Behind Megan, Myra was struck as if by lightning! She hadn''t even had a chance to meet Palmer, and now he was getting engaged to another woman? And to that temperamental Ms. Schnabel, no less! Aside from their wealth, what was so special about the Schnabel family anyway! If Palmer khew that Noe was throwing-her weight around in =~ Azure''s boutique, even going as far as to fnsult Azure''s fashion designs as soulless, he''d never stand for marrying such a woman! Content b¨¦longs to ~ Myra felt a painful tug at her heart. Then it hit her. With several major fashion eventsing up. a family with the social standing of the Pocks would surely be attending. If she coujefind Master Azure at one oi these events and spill the beans, the marriage between the Schrabels and i Palmer would definitely I be off the table! fo Myra was getting anxious and quickly found an excuse to leave the hospital. Helen watched her leave, "That girl''s family is going through a rough patch, huh.¡± Megan''s husband and Myra''s family were distant rtives, and recently, the Whitaker business had faced some serious upheavals, stirring up a storm. To protect Myra, her family had sent her to stay with Megan. "She''s just a kid. If mom doesn''t like her. I''ll just send her back. We''ve got enough on our te at home without having to look after her too." "Let them be," Helen said, not wanting to make a big deal over a child. Cutside the hospital, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan was parked by the curb. The car door pened, and a man in a ck suit stepped out. Even in a business suit, Palmer''s stature was imposing, his handsome features making him stand out in any crowd! Myra''s eyes lit up! Just as she was about to approach, she saw Palmer bending over, extending his hand into the car to help a girl in a white dress out. The well-tailored dress highlighted Noe''s delicate and graceful figure, her waist as slender and flexible as a willow branch in the wind. It was Noe! Remembering theirst altercation at Azure''s boutique made Myra''s blood boil! Before she could calm down, Myra received an unexpected call. Criana''s voice came through, tearful and pleading "Myra, please help me. I''m at the police station. Can you get someone to bail me out?¡± Chapter 392 "Who are you? Oriana?" "It''s me, Myra, please help me!" Myra rolled her eyes. "How did you get yourself into this mess?" Criana didn''t dare spill the beans about the real debacle! She quickly resorted to a fabricated story she had prepared. "Myra, I was at this hotel with my boyfriend, and then we bumped into Noe... You know she¡¯s had it out for me, even got me expelled from college!¡± Myra''s interest piqued. "So, you''re saying Noe got you locked up?¡± "Yeah! She tried hitting on my boyfriend, but he only has eyes for me. She got mad and had the cops take me away... You know I can''t handle someone like Ms. Noe!" Myra was secretly thrilled. She had no idea Noe was that kind of person! With a fianc¨¦ as perfect as Palmer, and she''s still after someone else''s man. If Palmer finds out, he''ll definitely see Noe''s true colors! She couldn''t bear to see Palmer get deceived. No matter whom he chooses as his girlfriend, it definitely shouldn''t be someone of questionable morals. "Alright, I''ll have awyere for you. Just keep your head down these next few days.¡± "Thanks, Myra!" Myra hung up and straightened her dress, making her way towards Noe and Palmer. She took a deep breath, spread her arms wide, and blocked Noe and Palmer''s path! Palmer coldly said, "Annie." Annie rushed over, "Sorry, boss, didn''t see thating. I''ll clear the way for you." "Dock half a month''s pay." A paycheck is a lifeline for a working girl! There goes this month''s shopping spree! Annie was livid. Who in their right mind would barge in with a dozen bodyguards tailing them? This woman must be out of her mind! Annie, gritting her teeth, grabbed Myra''s arm, ready to storm off. "Damn, just when I thought work couldn''t get any crazier, I run into a lunatic.¡± But Myra didn''t want to leave! "Mr. Pock, I''m Myra, from the Whitaker family of Zing City!" Palmer frowned. "Never heard of them." Noe looked intrigued. "The Whitaker family?" Seeing her interest, Palmer exined softly. "The big families of Zing City, none of them have business ties with the Pock family.¡± Meaning Palmer wasn''t interested! Myra was getting desperate. "I''m also the niece of the Vaughn family..." Noe remembered, the Vaughn family, Palmer''s uncle''s n! A financial dynasty, albeit their business wasn''t domestic but rather significant in the international finance scene.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "Your uncle''s family?" Palmer shook his head. "Even if you were my aunt''s niece..." He was about to dismiss her im by saying even if she were Megan''s niece, he wouldn''t care, but then he remembered Megan actually had a niece now! It was inappropriate to say that now, especially with Noe''s teasing gaze upon him. Palmer coughed awkwardly. "My aunt''s niece is different; that would be my cousin. The Whitaker family and the Yan family are distant rtives, hardly close.¡± eaning Myra wasn''t important to him. Noe chuckled softly! After spending time together, she seemed to particrly enjoy Palmer''s o slip-ups, finding even his slight ~~ erro s.8ndearing. As the chairman of the-Pock Group, Palmer was apything but cute. But in front of someone you like, even the most mature men can act childish! Seeing them so close, Myra felt a pang of jealousy. She knew she wasn''t in Palmer''s league, not by family, looks, or skills. To her, Palmer was always someone to look up to. But in her eyes, Noe wasn''t right for Palmer either! At the very least, it had to be someone like Master Azure, a queen in her own right! Myra clenched her teeth. "Mr. Pock, she''s not a good person! Don''t be fooled by her! She even tried to seduce my friend''s boyfriend at the hotel!¡± The tension was palpable. Annie facepalmed. Palmer remained stoic. "Oh." Myra was bbergasted. "Mr. Pock, she''s flirty and deceitful, and you''re okay with that? A woman of her morals doesn''t deserve to stand by your side!" Palmer''s gaze was fixed on Noe. He smiled softly, his eyes twinkling like a myriad of stars, dazzling enough to captivate Myra. But that smile was for Noe. Palmer said gently, "It''s okay. As long as Noe wants to be with me, I don''t care about the other men." Myra was speechless. Annie nearly choked on herown saliva, quickly stepping aside to stifle herughter. The bossreally had a way with ~~ > words. Though they knew Noell wasnt tthat sort of person¡ªbarely ackrowledging their boss before, let alofie someone else''s man-After all, being ustomed to thedikes of the Schnabel family''s four sons, Noe had high standards. Content belongs to But for Myra, unaware of the full story, Palmer''s unwavering devotion must have been hard to swallow. Myra was indeed struggling. "Mr. Pock, how can you be so blinded by love? She''s not a good person! She even insulted Master Azure! My friend was her ssmate, and out of jealousy, she had her expelled!" In Myra''s eyes, Noe''s deeds were unforgivable. Noe simply added, "Yeah, that''s terrible. So, what now?¡± "So... so you''re leaving Mr. Pock! Don''t tarnish such a good man!" Nog replied calmly, "I''m leaving him, so you''re nning to be with him?" Myra''s face turned beet red in an instant, but she waved her hands dismissively, "No... I''m not worthy. Only someone like Master Azure deserves to be with Mr. Pock! You''re not a match for him at all!¡± Noe raised an eyebrow and smiled. This Myra, she was just too naive. Anyone who could be easily swayed by Oriana''s few words clearly didn''t have much upstairs. If Oriana hadn''t had the advantage of being from a prestigious background, she probably wouldn''t have made it into Imperial University. Noe nced at Palmer. "So, you''re not afraid I''ll hurt you, knowing how terrible I am?" "No matter what Noe does to me, I''m quite looking forward to it.¡± Myra, looking as if she''d been caught foraging i in the wild for food, stamped herfoot I in frustration and turned ton away, her face oo covered! NPalmer must have been trickechby this wicked woman, she thought. She''d go and clear things up-with egan. Only if the rest of the Pock family knew Noelta''s true colors could they save Palmer from his dire situation! Watching her flee in a panic, Noe chuckled, "Mr. Pock really is blindly in love, isn''t he? What if I really went after another man?" Palmer chuckled lightly. "Then I''d lock you up, keep you by my side forever so you couldn''t go anywhere! As for any other men, they''d be dealt with SENET Noe smiled broadly, intertwining her fingers with Palmer''s. "Funny, if you ever went after someone else, I''d do the same!" Chapter 393 "Feisty, aren''t you?" Despite his harsh words, Palmer''s face was lit up with an affectionate grin. He reveled in Noe''s possessiveness over him! Noe arched an eyebrow. "Impressive. So, Mr. Pock, you better stay on your best behavior, or you''ll give me a reason to get feisty.¡± "Of course. But I wouldn''t mind if Noe got a bit feisty with me in other situations.¡± Noe was dumbfounded. Why did she always feel like he was hinting at something more? His words always seemed to carry an undertone of flirtation! "Let''s go visit Grandpa Sexton in the hospital.¡± "Alright." Annie watched her boss and his futuredy walking away, shaking her head in wonder. "Myra just became the unwitting third wheel in their love fest!" In Grandpa Sexton''s hospital room Megan was by the bedside, tears streaming down her face. "Dad, I''m so sorry I came back sote. We shouldn''t have fought on your birthday!" Sexton, weak and wearing an oxygen mask, gave a frail smile and tried to reach out. Megan quickly grabbed his hand, pressing her face against it. "It''s alright. Being able to argue with your dad at this age is a blessing. Where are Hudson Vaughn and the kids?" "Hudson''s with the kids at a tournament in Amsterdam. They''ve booked the earliest flight back, don''t worry.¡± Megan''s children were among the few great-grandchildren in the Pock family. When the door opened, Palmer and Noe walked in hand in hand. Noe, familiar with the procedures, checked Sexton''s vitals with practiced ease. Sexton''s spirits visibly lifted at her presence. "Noe, dear, any chance we can get rid of some of these tubes?" He was always disheartened to wake up surrounded by medical tubing. "I''l see what I can do." Watching Sexton''s eager face, Noe couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and sadness. To him, she had be like a granddaughter, showered with affection and always kept in mind. Suppressing her emotions, Noe gently said, "Grandpa Sexton, let me help you sit up for a massage.¡± "Alright." Megan quickly called out to Palmer, "Palmer, give her a hand. Ms. Schnabel can''t possibly lift your grandpa by herself!¡± Part of her concern was for Noe''s strength, and part was the fear of unintentional harm to Sexton. Before she knew it, Noe had effortlessly helped Sexton sit up, navigating around the medical tubing to make himfortable. Seeing Sexton rxed and enjoying Noe''s touch, Megan felt relieved and her eyes welled up with tears again. Megan had only heard about Noe from Helen, Palmer''s grandmother, and was surprised to see her medical skills. As Noe tenderly massaged him and engaged in light conversation, it was clear she genuinely cared for Sexton as a family member. Regret filled Megan for not spending more time with her parents over the years.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. "Palmer, I heard from your grandma that you''re nning to get engaged sooner? Isn''t that a bit rushed? If you need any help, just ask!" Palmer was just as surprised to hear this news. It seemed the decision to move the engagement forward was made by the Schnabel family, aiming to bring peace to Sexton in his final days. "Itis a bit sudden.¡± Noe, however, remained calm, ncing at Palmer. "If you''re not willing?" "It would be my honor, I just don''t want to rush you.¡± How could he not be willing! Sexton chimed in, "Dear, this is your life we''re talking about. Don''tpromise just for me. That would make me sad." Noe calmly responded, "Grandpa Sexton, I''m notpromising. My life''s milestones wouldn''t beplete without you.¡± Sexton had always supported Noe and Palmer''s rtionship, ying a key role in bringing them together. Noe smiled, her warmth undeniable. "Grandpa Sexton, I''m not one to settle. Whether it''s today or tomorrow, with or without a big celebration, it doesn''t matter as long as it''s with Palmer. But having you there means everything to us." "Alright, alright] promise!¡± Sexton''s voice brokewith emotion, tears gathering:in his eyes. His grandsop ~ Palmer, after years of neglect, had finally found a partner to sharehis life with, easing one of Sextan¡¯ Ss biggest warries. = After the massage, Noe helped Sexton settleback into bed. He quickly fell into a deep sleep, a rare urrence given his usual restless nights~Megan was astonished at how wel he slept after Noe''s care, understanding why Sexton-insisted off waiting for her. to As they left the room, Megan took Noe¡¯s hand, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, dear. You''re doing so much.¡± "It''s nothing." As they approached the doorway, yra caught sight of Megan holding oe''s hand" with affection. Frustratedhshe realized her aunt had also beer charmed by Noe''s ~.> seemingly kind facade. She hat¡¯ beeitoo focused on impressing Helen and had underestimated how quickly Noe would windver her aunt. Myra was visibly irked! But just as she was about to retort, a simple nce from Helen shut her right up. Her knees actually started shaking! It was as if Helen had magically deciphered exactly what was going through her mind! Confusion swirled within Myra. Even she couldn''t coax a smile from Megan these days. If Noe was really as Oriana described, how could Megan have been so easily fooled? Best to meet with Oriana and get the full story first! At the majestic Dragon Tower, within the grandeur of the Pock Mansion, Horatio fished out a couple of coins, rubbing his bald head thoughtfully. "Sister, your and your husband''s zodiac signs seem to sh. Maybe it''s best you skip the funeral.¡± Helen, unflustered, scrambled the coins¡¯ arrangement. "Take a good look now. Still see any conflict?¡± Horatio: ".." But the signs were clearly at odds just a moment ago! "How can you just change the reading on a whim?" "Monks stepping on priests¡¯ toes, dogs chasing mice¡ªwhy can''t the signs change?¡± Horatio felt like he was being insulted! "I called you here because I need a favor!¡± Horatio: "No money, broke, not lending, not a penny to my name.¡± "Oh,e off it!" "I was thinking... Let''s have Laviniae to Noe and Palmer''s engagement party!" Chapter 394 Helen was determined to bring Lavinia back into the Pock family fold! Horatio, puzzled, asked, "As what, exactly? ra''s mother, or as the second wife in your household?" Helen''s emotions were a tangled web. "Just as ra''s mother is fine, but... I do have my own reasons.¡± She knew what her husband fretted over most in life. It all boiled down to Palmer''s wedding and the unresolved saga between Jacob Pock and Lavinia! She simply wished for Sexton to spend his final days without regrets, to depart this world in peace! Helen sighed deeply. "Oh, it''s tough, really tough! I mean, I could swallow my pride and approach Lavinia, but even then, how do I even broach the subject?¡± Horatio got the hint and let out a knowing "Oh." "So, big sis, you''re saying you''d rather have me embarrass myself on your behalf?" "You''ll be fine, you''ve got a thick skin." Helen just wanted Horatio to step in, to persuade Lavinia to stand by Jacob''s side during Noe and Palmer''s engagement party! That was all. But even this simple request was hard for her to voice! After all, the Pock family owed a great deal to the Richardson n. Horatio quipped, "Half a million, no discounts." Helen rolled her eyes and transferred the money to him immediately. The next moment, she saw Horatio getting up with a grin. His involvement in this matter warranted somepensation, and Helen couldn''t stand his attitude about it! "The wise man sets out, but as for karma and destiny, I make no guarantees! Fate shouldn''t be forced!" Helen fanned herself lightly. "Take ra with you." Just as Horatio stepped out, he paused. He heard Helen''s distant voice gradually rise. "Firstly, it''s about her parents¡¯ affair, and secondly, if you can gift your precious prayer beads, a visit won''t hurt.¡± It was clear Helen saw through much but chose to say little. Horatio instinctively reached for the prayer beads on his wrist, only to grasp at air. His expression solemn and serene, betraying no emotion. "Namaste. I understand.¡± He had said so himself: fate should not be forced! Lunar Lab. Theb was bustling with activity, multiple control experiments running smoothly and methodically. To develop a new drug to sustain Sexton and ensure he could attend the engagement partyfortably, the entireb had been working round the clock without proper sleep for a week! After concluding all the experiments, Noe finally breathed a sigh of relief. Professor Calvin, assisting in theb, was nearly cross-eyed from fatigue! Had Noe not been short-staffed, he wouldn''t have had the chance to witness Lunar Lab''s experiments firsthand! This was Phantom Surgeon Lunaris at work! Seeing the entireb¡¯s workflow, Calvin realized that in the face of sheer talent, hard work paled in significance. He was utterly convinced! As a top-tier medical schr domestically, Calvin had once considered himself a genius But witnessing Lunaris''s experiments made him realize he was nothing special! Watching the experimental oues, Calvin rubbed his face. "Though Garrick¡¯s experiments were controversial, I can''t help but think they weren''t entirely without merit..." Noe responded evenly, "No, even without Garrick''s experiments, they would still be geniuses, living happy, fulfilled lives with their families." Talent shines through regardless of circumstance! Even without Garrick collecting them, their lives wouldn''tck brilliance. Calvin, somewhat excited, said, "So, does my inclusion in yourb mean I''m also talented?" After all, so many applied to Pris Star and got turned down! Noe calmly replied, "No, it''s simply because you have hair." Calvin: " Noe bent down to inspect thetest drug vial, "This should make Sexton morefortable for a while.¡± Time was of the essence, but thankfully, this wasn''t Noe''s first time developing such a drug! When they sent Harriet off, they used a simr drug to ease her difort. But all drugs have their side effects, especially ones as potent as this! Stepping out of theb, under a sky filled with stars, with Pris shining brightly-and unwaveringly, stood a man i-a sleek suit leaning against a car His gaze filled with warmth and fondness for Noe. Content b¨¦longs to = Palmer''s features were striking, his pride and elegance unable to be concealed, his shirt meticulously buttoned save for the top, revealing a hint of his Adam''s apple. Snuffing out his cigarette upon seeing Noe, Palmer''s smile softened with tenderness. "Come here." "How did you know I was done now?" "Tomorrow''s the day we deliver the medicine to Grandpa.¡± Palmer knew Nog would have all the necessary drugs ready before the delivery! Seeing the dark circles under Noe''s eyes, Palmer felt a pang of concern "You''ve worked hard." "It''s okay, but this drug... it has some side effects. I''ve tried to minimize them, but Grandpa Sexton might forget a lot of people in hisst days.¡± Forgetting everything. that was the drug''s side effect! Noe ced her hand in Palmer''s, her tone serious. "My grandma had already forgotten things before taking the medication, so the side effects were negligible. As for Grandpa Sexton, it''s your call." Palmer nodded, "I understand!" Calvin, yawning and trying to ingratiate himself, approached, "Mr. Pock, mind giving me a lift toc?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. He had been running on just a few hours of sleep a night following Pris Star''s lead and didn''t dare to drive. "Mr. Calvin,e aboard, I''ll drop you off." "Great, thanks, Mr. Pock!¡± Twenty minutester. In the spacious backseat, Calvin quickly sumbed to sleep''s embrace Palmer felt a gentle weight press down on his > Shoulder and realized Noe had fallen asleep against him, her breaths even and soft. Their = hands y were still intertwined. oY ncing down at Noe''s serene, yet:exhausted face, Palmer, tenderly smoothed away the creases on her forehead. He rarely saw Nog frown, probably because she was always so worried about her grandpa. "Annie, can you slow down a bit? Let''s not wake them,¡± Palmer whispered. "Sure thing." At the Richardson Estate. Lucian Richardson mulled over the situation, facing Horatio and ra seated across from him. "I can''t make this decision alone. You''ll have tadiscuss it with Lavinia. ~~ My only cendition is that her Rh well-beirlg I is safeguarded, no stress or strain. As for attending the engagement party, it''s only right that Lavinia I is there.¡± swnovel. After all, Lavinia was quite fond of Noe, especially after learning that Noe had performed her surgery, deepening her gratitude. ra nodded, and she and Horatio quickly headed to the car, rushing towards the hospital. "My mom''s recovery has been remarkable. If she''s up for it, attending the engagement party next week shouldn''t be an issue..." Before Horatio could finish, a harsh scraping noise came from the rear of the car, sending it skidding forward due to the impact! The driver, shaken, announced, "Miss ra, we''ve been rear-ended. I''ll go check it out!¡± Chapter 395 ra''s heart was racing! She was wrapped in the protective embrace of the man next to her, his oversized robe shielding her, a faint scent of sandalwood filling the air around them. In that critical moment, Horatio had instinctively used his body to protect her! Letting go, Horatic said calmly, "Apologies for the intrusion. It was a moment of urgency, hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± "Thanks a lot." ra touched her face, feeling its unusual warmth. Deciding to step out, she opened the car door and joined the driver to inspect the fender-bender.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Myra was already on edge, and Criana''s constant babbling was driving her mad, convincing her even more that Noe was nothing but trouble! The thought of Palmer being manipted by such a deceitful woman was driving Myra insane. She couldn''t wait to get to the hospital to reveal the truth to the Pock family! And then, a collision happened on the way! Myra sized up ra, pretty, but not dressed in any luxury brands, looking like she came from an average family. This made Myra even more impatient. "Seriously, can''t you drive? Forget it, just my bad luck. Contact your insurance, and let me know how much. I''m leaving!" ra frowned, "It was your fault for the collision, you''re entirely to me, and I''m in a hurry!" "If you hadn''t been in my way, would I have hit you?" "So, you''re ming the collision on me now?" ra had never encountered such shamelessness! What kind of logic was that! Myra rolled her eyes, "Exactly! Whatever, I''m just unlucky. Move!" A car sped by and stopped beside them. The window rolled down, and Noe, looking concerned, said, "Sis, did you have an ident?" "Just a minor collision, don¡¯t worry, I''ve already called Jasper.¡± Seeing ra was Noe''s sister made Myra even more irritated! "Like sister, like sister, both morally bankrupt.¡± ra was fuming! Insulting her was one thing, but her sister too? "What do you mean? What has Noe ever done to you? You must be sick! It makes sense, considering you can''t even drive properly, can''t expect much from you.¡± "My meaning? Your sister''s actions speak for themselves! Is your family even aware? She''s been chasing after men that aren''t hers, constantly targeting my friend, she doesn''t deserve Mr. Pock!" ra raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So it''s about the Pock family again, huh? Whether Nee is worthy or not isn''t for you to decide!¡± The car window rolled down further, revealing a distinguished man with an imposing profile. "ra, get in, we shouldn''t waste time not seeing grandpa." "On my way." Palmer didn¡¯t spare Myra a nce, leaving her stomping her feet in frustration. Before getting into the car, ra turned to Myra. "This genius, don''t think all of the Pock family are fools. If you''re so smart, why hasn''t your family overtaken the Pock family? Don''t like being the wealthiest or what?" Myra was stunned on the spot! Although harsh, ra''s words made sense! Watching their car disappear, Myra stood frozen, her mind racing at full speed, her CPU overheating! Criana tugged at her sleeve, "Myra, please, don''t be fooled by them, I''m telling the truth..." Myra snapped, "Shut up, you idiot!" Reluctantly, Oriana closed her mouth. Myra wasn''t reliable, she had to find Dan herself! Imperial West Hospital. Lavinia''s room was warmly decorated, with ra changing the fresh flowers daily. After hearing ra out, Lavinia put down her paper. deep in thought. "Attending the wedding is the right thing to do. Your grandfather is also in this hospital? Take your mother to visit him, it''s only proper for the younger generation to pay respects.¡± ra quickly agreed, pushing Lavinia''s wheelchair to Sexton''s room. Seeing her, Sexton sat up in bed! "Lavinia... I''m grateful you''re willing to see me!" Lavinia smileghsoftly, "Mr. Sexton, the past ESI your fault. ra told me the Pol ack family feels guilty, - but please don''t. It wasn''t the = Richardson family¡¯s fault, nor the Pock¡¯s. If anything, it was ck oli fate between me and Jacob!" Content be ongs to swnevel Over the years, seeing Jacob age made Lavinia realize that their young love was just not meant to be. "I and Jacob weren''t meant to be, but we''ve agreed to co-parent our daughter. If there''s anyone to apologize to, it''s ra." "As for everything else, let''s leave it to fate.¡± Tears filled Sexton''s eyes, "If only we had chosen our sides wisely back then... perhaps your family wouldn''t have suffered so.¡± Helen frowned, "Nonsense, would siding with Garrick have spared us? It''s not about taking sides; the o Richardson family suffered ~~ regardless, and following Garrick didn''t bring us any advantages.¡± Reflecting on this, Sexton felt somewhat relieved "Lavinia, Noe, and Palmer are getting hitched! You''reing, right?¡± "Sure, I''ll be there with ra. Might as well drop by the Schnabels'' ce too." She''d beentaying low for a while, recuperating, hardly had the chance to catch¡¯ Rup with Sienna and Tri stan! She oped them big time for looking aftether sweet little girl like she was their own! - Sexton nodded, content. Palmer handed over the medication, detailing the side effects Noe had warned about. "Enough with the fuss, I''m old enough to know that if it''s my time, it''s my time. A few side effects are nothing!" The room fell silent, the air heavy with unspoken worries. Helen blinked back tears, her throat tight. "I need to step out, don''t wait up for me at dinner." Megan, concerned, asked, "Where to? Want me toe with?" "No need, just some errands.¡± Jasper Law Firm. Piles of paperwork had Jasper at his wit''s end. Assistant: "Jasper, Mrs. Jin''s mom passed her mental health check, doctors say she seems fine." Jasper felt a pang of worry, having promised Beckett he''d handle it. Stuck at step one wasn''t a good lock! Millie, lounging on the couch and popping her bubble gum, snapped her fingers. "I''ve got an idea, Jasper, how about a bet?" "If I win, you''re taking me out for a date - and a kiss!" Jasper nearly fell off his chair in shock! Chapter 396 Jasper Schnabel couldn''t believe his ears. "Are you out of your mind?" In his years on the job, Jasper had met all sorts of people, but Millie Gagher was something else entirely! Millie blinked, sitting on the sofa in Jasper''s office, casually applying nail polish. "Isn''t this the kind of crazy stunt the Gagher family pulls? Besides, getting a kiss from a supermodel like me isn''t exactly a hardship for you." "How is that not a hardship?" Jasper was on the verge of jumping out of his skin, staring at Millie in disbelief. Millie let her nails dry, then stood up nonchntly, "I''ll take care of this mess for you. In return, you join me for dinner at the Gaghers''. Sounds fair, right?" Jasper was wary, "As what, exactly?" "College buddies, of course. Yourst name, Schnabel, is your ticket in. Be thankful. If it weren''t for your knack fornding on your feet, I wouldn''t have bothered with you." Jasper''s face turned red with frustration! "Why not Stirling? He''s single too!" "He''s got too many fans. I don''t want to get mobbed, and since we''re in the same line of work, it''s more convenient." Convenient for her, maybe, but did she ever consider his feelings? "You''re already crashing at my ce, what more do you want?" The assistant quickly looked down. OMG! Was this some juicy gossip? Millie was staying at Jasper''s ce? The assistant clenched their fist, stuffing it into their mouth to prevent any idental leaks of this bombshell news from Jasper...This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Millie shrugged helplessly. "That''s why I''m living with you. My mom insists I bring a Mr. Schnabel back for dinner. If you refuse, the only eligible Schnabel bachelor left is your granddad!" Millie nced back at Jasper, her smile brimming with allure. "Mind if I be your step-grandma, sweet grandson?" Jasper had never met a woman so shamelessly bold! But Sienna Horwich, indeed, had a soft spot for her. With her sweet talk and charming ways around the Schnabel family, Sienna was nearly ready to adopt Millie as her own! Jasper couldn''t even if he wanted to kick Millie out... Thinking she might actually turn to Marcel, Jasper clenched his fists. "I give up. Just don''t scare my granddad. If you can really sort out Ms. Darcy''s mother''s mental health assessment, I''ll go to that dinner with you." It was just one meal, after all. Besides, he doubted Millie could really pull it off that easily! Millie snapped her fingers, "You''ll see." Still, Jasper felt uneasy and decided to tag along. "What are you going to do, shadow me?" Jasper replied lightly, "I''m just afraid you''ll end up assaulting someone and bing criminally liable." At the hospital, in the psychiatric ward. A middle-aged woman, impably dressed with her hair neatlybed and adorned with a pearl hairpin, exuded a sense of delicate elegance. Poppy wore a gentle smile as she spoke to the doctor, "Thank you, doctor, but I assure you, I have no mental issues. The incident with my daughter was an unfortunate ident during y, and as a mother, I deeply regret it." She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, appearing genuinely distraught. The door was knocked, and Noe, in a white coat and mask, signaled Deacon to switch ces with her. Facing a younger-looking doctor, although only the eyes were visible, Poppy felt inexplicably hesitant. But then she thought, after so many doctor changes, hasn''t there been one who could confirm her sanity? As long as she lived, she would never let those ungrateful daughtersmit her to a hospital! Noe asked, "Tell me about your children." "My daughters are exceptional, graduates from prestigious universities, thriving in their careers, both in the arts, thanks to their inheritance of my artistic genes. They are wonderful children." "Have you always regretted not having a son?" Poppy wiped away a tear. "Doctor, you''re young, probably haven''t had children. Each child is piece of their mother''s flesh. As for a son, you don''t understand, in the countryside, not having a son is a matter of shame!" Noe observed her, "But you''ve never lived in the countryside, yet you fear shame?" Poppy was momentarily lost for words! Having been raised in the city, why would she worry about rural stigmas? "... My mother only had daughters, and when I was young, she was often ridiculed by her inws, which saddened me." Noe simply nodded. Then, pointing to a photo on theputer, "This is your family portrait, right? If I''m not mistaken, your mother had three sons. You''re the only daughter." Narcissistic liars, always weaving tales! Poppy didn''t flinch. "Doctor, you''re young, unfamiliar with suchplexities. And what if I felt regret? I still raised two sessful daughters!" "Your husband''s mistress bore him a son." Poppy choked on her words! How dare that woman bear her husband a son! "...That''s good news. Besides, my husband passed away, and our marriage was unhappy, so let''s not dredge up the past." "Why not divorce if it was unhappy?" "For the sake of the children. How could I divorce? Without a father, they''d lose their very foundation! I endured an unbearable marriage for a brighter future for my daughters." Poppy looked pitiful. "I only wished for my children to have better lives. What did I do wrong? Even if it meant my sacrifice, it was worth it. I was once so aplished, willing to give up everything for my children. Noe shifted the topic after hearing her story. "I heard you argued with your youngest daughter over her attire?" Poppy dried her tears. "Dressing up is about looking your best. I merely offered my daughter some advice. The modern world''splexities have made her, an art student, lose her sense of beauty." "In this season, I don''t think she looks good in knee-high boots; it just highlights that her legs aren''t all that shapely. What''s wrong with pointing that out?" "And as for getting her hair permed, why make herself look so tacky? Is this what they call artistic taste these days? And then she hangs up on me. Is she trying to cut ties with me or what?" Noe gave her a fleeting look. "She''s financially independent and has the freedom to express herself however she sees fit. How she chooses to dress is a reflection of her personal style." "I just want her to be better. First off, she needs to realize that this look simply isn''t ttering. If she insists on embracing ''ugly as the new beautiful,'' then I''ve got nothing more to say!" Noe stood up, "Got it. Thanks for your input." Poppy''s actions were textbook narcissistic personality disorder. What was needed now was an external trigger to expose her. Opening the door, Millie was leaning against it, sucking on a lollipop, with a grin on her face. "Lucky you, your eldest daughter''s boyfriend is the CEO of Rising Glory, no less!" Chapter 397 Rising Glory Group was a household name in Imperial City, known to all its residents. Even Poppy''s family''s house was developed by Rising Glory Real Estate! Poppy''s expression twisted momentarily. "...What did you say? My eldest daughter''s suitor is no high-flying CEO, just a down-to-earth mechanic. I''ve always liked that kind of boy." "I''m not joking, Ms. Darcy is about to marry Mr. Schnabel." Millie pulled out her smartphone and showed Poppy a photo of Darcy Sinir and Beckett Schnabel dining together. The warm lighting of the restaurant bathed them, as Beckett stood to drape his jacket over Darcy''s shoulders. This photo, taken by Beckett''s secretary and not deleted by Beckett himself, was sent to Millie upon her request. Poppy instantly recognized the outfit Darcy was wearing from a few days ago! "You''re set for life. Mr. Schnabel treats Ms. Darcy so well. With his wealth, Darcy won''t have to worry a day in her life." Poppy scrutinized the photo repeatedly. Eyes don''t lie! Beckett''s gaze was dripping with tenderness, the lighting making him appear refined and dignified. Thest time Poppy saw Beckett was in the news! She knew all too well how exceptional this man was. After all the effort to break Darcy and him up years ago, how did they end up back together? That darn girl must have been in touch with him all along! "This is absolutely not happening! My daughter is nowhere near his league! I won''t allow it!" "Why not? Mr. Schnabel is such a catch. Women would line up from here to France just to have a shot with him." Poppy would never let Darcy marry such an aplished man! "My daughter is full of ws, poor taste, weak health, and she can''t have children! It''s all because she''s been messing around with men, her body is filthy, she has no right to marry a man like Mr. Schnabel!" Noe replied coolly, "Isn''t it a bit harsh to talk about your daughter like that?" "How is it harsh? I''m her mother, I know her best. She''s a lost cause, rotten to the core, can''t even bear children. What does she have to offer to the Schnabel family?" Noe joined in. "Mr. Schnabel said he doesn''t mind, even about the children." Poppy felt as if a switch had been flipped inside her! Suddenly, she screamed, clutching her head! "No! Absolutely not! These people are viins, only I know what''s best for my daughter!" She frantically tried to call Darcy, but after a dozen unanswered calls, she broke downpletely. ¡°All ungrateful wretches, I raised her with such hardship, not for her to go chasing after men!" Watching her emotional meltdown, Noe calmly stamped the diagnostic report with a seal she''d borrowed from Calvin. Getting him to sign off every time was a hassle, so after discussing with Calvin, she just took a seal instead. Though Calvin was more than willing to sign in person, enjoying the drama, Noe found him annoying. "Alright, we can call the psych ward now: overly aggressive, verbally abusive, lying, extreme control issues, ying the victim, no sense of boundaries, unable to ept her daughter doing better. All ssic symptoms." "The most concerning is the psychosomatic aggression." That was more than enough reason to have Poppymitted! Hearing she was to be locked up, Poppy panicked. "I''m just a mother who gave up everything for her children''s betterment, what did I do wrong?" "You''re all viins, I''ll call the police! You want to separate me from my child forever!" Poppy broke downpletely. Noe nced at her, holding down Poppy''s iling arm, "If there''s an issue, you can exin it to the police." As the psych ward staff took Poppy away, Millie waved the diagnostic report in her hand. Jasper eyed Noe at the end of the hallway in her white coat. "Doesn''t that doctor look like Noe?" Millie patted his shoulder. "Don''t avoid the subject,e home for dinner!" "Don''t you think she looks like Noe?" "Why would our mentor be here? Surely not to see you lose it?" Jasper clenched his fists! But he knew he couldn''t stand up to Millie''s might and reluctantly followed her. ¡°Just because you brought up Beckett, her mom went crazy?" "Typically, NPD sufferers can''t stand to see their daughters doing better than them. Why do you think she set your Darcy up with a mechanic? Because he''s beneath you, Darcy!" "For a woman, much of herter life''s misery stems from marriage Finding the right partner ensures Darcy will always be stuck in a mire-quite a bargain." Millie casually munched on a lollipop. "Jasper, you may be a pro, but sometimes you really need to brush up on psychology." "You minored in psychology?" Millie shrugged. "Nah, just that my dad had the same issues, I got to know them well.¡± "But luckily, our family values benefits more, so they didn''t force me to marry a garbage truck driver. Young master, looks like you hit the jackpot." Though he''s the youngest son of the Schnabel family, Jasper didn''t want to be referred to as ''young master''! He was about to argue when Millie stretched,ughed heartily, and strode out of the hospital. Jasper suddenly realized, he never seemed to win any argument with Millie! Azure Studio.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Esme had carefully arranged a shipment of thetest haute couture fabrics and Kitai was practically stretching his neck out in anticipation of their arrival. ¦¥¦«¦¯¦© Among these fabrics were the materials for their boss''s engagement gown! And also the collection Esme nned to unveil at the uing Fashion Week. Nothing could go wrong! After a full half-hour of waiting, Kitai started to get antsy and decided to drive out to meet the delivery himself. If there was any issue with the fabrics, he was sure their boss would have his hide for it! Ten minutester, Kitai, crouching behind a dumpster, nervously dialed Noe. His voice, sneaky as a thief''s, crackled through the phone. ¡°Boss, I think I just saw your guy out on a date with another woman.....¡± "Speak English." Kitai was baffled for a moment. He was absolutely sure the man he saw was Palmer Pock, and there was even a kid with him! Could it be their boss''s man had a child already?! Noe massaged her temples, "Anything else?" ¡°Uh, I also saw a kid lurking around our fabrics. I hope he''s not nning to pee on them!" "Give me the address." Kitai got excited. "Boss, are youing to catch them in the act?" Noe replied calmly, "To skin you and dye your hide for fabric." Chapter 398 Kitai shivered, his voice filled with urgency, "Boss, you''re about to get engaged, and Mr. Pock is still seen with other women? I overheard - she doesn''t share the Pock name, nor is she your sister. Definitely not ady from the Pock family!" "Boss, don''t let him deceive you!" Kitai felt like crying. Azure''s sales were booming this quarter! Could it be trouble with the Schnabel family? Bankruptcy looming? Had their boss resorted to leveraging charm and marriage to save their legacy? Kitai was nearly scared out of his wits by his own thoughts. "Boss, don''t settle for less. If the Schnabel family is really going under, you''ve still got Azure! Worst case, we''ll just take off!" That''s when he realized their boss was too kind-hearted to even consider fleeing. "Boss, this is killing me!" "...Send me the location. I''ll be there in a sh. Better wash up and wait." Kitai sneezed fiercely a few times. Twenty minutester, Noe nudged Kitai, who was crouched in a corner. "I asked you to keep watch, not to y the part of a mouse. Where''s this person you mentioned?" Kitai, nursing his pride, pointed not far off. Several ferries were docked, with guards watching over Azure''s imported fabrics. "I was worried about the fabric, so I decided to check it out myself. They haven''t delivered yet, and I don''t know what''s the hold-up."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. The high-end fabrics ordered from abroad had to undergo strict inspections. Now, despite passing inspections, they were being held at the port! "Boss, see those kids? They''ve been loitering around here, and they don''t seem like they''re from the local fishing families." A group of kids, around ten years of age, were running back and forth near the boxes of fabric. Noe''s gaze locked onto the kid in the lead! She recognized him instantly as the child who appeared at the hotel with Oriana Baker. Noe''s eyes narrowed. Her instincts screamed caution at the sight of such children! After some digging, Noe found out that Dan''s past girlfriends all vanished under mysterious circumstances, seemingly breaking up with Dan. But just some low-profile lovers, no one really cared about their fate. However, Noe knew this was no ordinary child. "Boss, that''s your man, right?" Kitai''s tone wasced with disbelief. Following Kitai''s gaze, a tall, imposing man stood on the pier, the sea waves crashing against the rocks, stirring up foam. Yet the man remained unshaken, with several kids affectionately clinging to Palmer''s legs. A stylishly dressed woman followed off the ferry, leaving Kitai puzzled, "Eh, that wasn''t the woman I saw earlier?" "Boss, does your man have multiple girlfriends and kids?" Noe red coldly at him, "Let''s go up and find out." Kitai instantly gave Noe a thumbs-up. That''s his boss for you, facing such a situation head-on! "A true warrior, brave enough to face the bleakness of life, daring to confront a cheating man!" Noe cracked her knuckles, then coldly said, "If you''ve got so much free time, any issues with this fabric shipment wille out of your sry." That shipment was worth half a year of Kitai''s sry! "No, boss!" Noe turned away, resisting the urge to thrash her employee right there. She strode towards the pier, her skirt lifted by the sea breeze, her graceful posture exuding a carefree charm. The kids hugging Palmer''s legs stared up at Noe with wide eyes. "Uncle, look! A prettydy!" "A fairydy!" Palmer''s gaze softened as he looked at Noe, correcting the kids with a gentle voice, "That''s your aunt, not just somedy. Get your rtions right." UMS Noe smirked. "I heard you had kids, had to see for myself." The woman by Palmer immediately rified, Ms. Schnabel, you''ve got it all These are my kids, here for your and Palmer''s engagement party." 3 Palmer''s cousin''s wife. "I wasn''t mistaken." The only ones Palmer would personally greet were Megan Barth''s grandchildren, who Kitai must''ve mistaken for someone else earlier. Kitai''s jaw dropped. "...What?" So, he was wrong? These were indeed Pock family members! These children were here to visit their ailing great-grandfather, Sexton. With the patriarch''s time running short, his greatest wish was to see his great-grandchildren, who usually lived abroad. The youngest of the Pock great-grandchildren, just five years old, rushed to hug Noe''s leg, his big eyes sparkling. "Auntie, hug!" Palmer lifted him, "Cheeky brat, this is my wife. Go find your own wife for hugs." "Uncle''s shameless, I''m only five! You''re the weird one, getting jealous of a baby! The TV says that''s a sign of a problem." Noe chuckled, pinching the child''s cheek. "Why are you here? It''s windy at the port, and you''re not wearing enough." "Didn''t I say? I came to catch you." Palmerughed, his gaze never leaving Noe, shaking his head slowly. "You wouldn''t. Noe isn''t that impulsive, and I''m not that untrustworthy." "That confident?" "It''s about trust, Noe. Trusting that you''ll choose to trust me." Kitai pped his forehead, showing Noe his phone, "Boss, those kids sneaked into our warehouse!" He knew those kids were up to no good, sneaking around! A port official rushed up, sweating profusely. "Are you in charge of Azure? Some kids said their friend got locked in your warehouse!" Noe furrowed her brow slightly. "If the fabric shipment at customs has already been cleared, why the hold-up?" "Someone gged that batch for potential issues! We need you toe with us for further inquiry." "If there''s an issue, why not just call Azure directly? What''s the reason for the report and the procedures for the hold?" The customs officer seemed to grow impatient. "We''ve told you there''s an issue. Just withhe with us, will you? What''s you''re some kind of fashion guru?" Noe fixed a steady gaze on the officer and extended her hand. "Your badge, please? How do I know you''re legit? I can''t just go with you without proper identification." "I''m in uniform, isn''t that enough? Do you want your fabric back or not?" Noe held his gaze for a moment longer before relenting, "Alright, I''lle with you." At that, Palmer''s little one leaned closer, wrapping their arms around Noe''s hand. "I''ming too! I''ming too!" "And I''ming as well," Palmer chimed in, "can''t let our Noe face this alone!" Chapter 399 "Hey, kid, let go of my hand." "Not happening! Uncle, you''re some. You don''t protect Aunt Noe, I will! Aunt Noe, don''t marry Uncle. Marry me, I''m the most responsible man in the family!" Noe burst intoughter at the child''s words. This kid, he''s something else! Palmer and his youngest nephew were in a stare-off. Instant headache! "Gavin Vaughn, are you asking for a spanking?" "Is it illegal to spank kids here?" "Nope." Gavin immediately screamed and lunged into Noe''s arms! "Aunt Noe, save me!" "Just take him along, it''s no big deal." Since Noe agreed to take the troublemaker, Palmer turned to seek the child''s mother''s opinion. "If it''s not too much of a hassle, take him with you. This child adores his uncle the most! Last time, he even said his dream is to be just like his uncle!" Gavin suddenly became shy, his face flushed as he buried it in Noe''s shoulder, his little hands covering his face. Palmer nodded in agreement, "Okay, we''ll take good care of him." Gavin wasn''t exactly light. Last year, Sexton even strained his back picking him up, which says something about his weight. Worried he might be too heavy, Palmer set Gavin down and led him by the hand. Gavin immediately grabbed Noe''s hand, moring to y with Aunt Noe! Kitai looked at his boss leading a child by the hand, feeling a mix of awe and fear... Their boss had such a tender side? Erek emerged from the bushes, his hair tangled with weeds. "Kinda looks like a family of three, doesn''t it?" "Sort of... but our boss is too young to have a kid that big, right?" Erek spat out a straw he was chewing, "Let''s get to work. Otherwise, the boss might make sure you never get the chance to have your own family of three." Kitai hurried after him! ... Inside the warehouse. A staff member led Noe and Palmer to an empty room, pulling out a document. Feeling the door lock behind them, Noe subtly squeezed Palmer''s hand. As she reached for the document, Gavin read it out loud in a childish voice. "Why''s it in Italian? I know this! It''s asking Aunt Noe to donate her factory for free, and all her fabrics to this person named Or. Who''s that? Aunt Noe also needs to give away all her designers to Or." "That''s so shameless, what''s this about?" The staff member clearly didn''t expect a child to understand Italian! They quickly tried to snatch the document back, cing it roughly in front of Noe. "To get your fabrics back, you need to sign this." Noe raised an eyebrow, "Sign this donation agreement?" "No, it''s all the child''s nonsense. This document is fine, just sign it to take your fabrics." Noe calmly scanned the document. They were after her brand, Azure, and its production line, including all designers under Azure! Especially noted, Azure herself had to be included.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Was this all for her factory? "What''s wrong with my fabrics?" "We received a report iming your fabrics were contaminated with foreign pathogens, needing another round of disinfection. If they fail the tests, they''ll be destroyed!" "Considering Azure''s brand impact and tax contributions, just sign this contract, and you can take your fabrics." Noe''s lips curled slightly. "Oh, is that so? Well, if the fabrics are contaminated, I wouldn''t want to bring them in and disrupt our healthcare system. If it introduces pathogens, that would be a grave mistake. Better to destroy them." The staff member was stunned! What did she say? Destroy everything?! Those fabrics cost a fortune, and many to Ordmestic brands were dying them. This woman willing to just let them go?ent "Are you sure? These fabrics are rare gems. Once destroyed, you''ll never find them again!" Noe was exceptionally calm. "If they''re infected, I can''t risk bringing them in. The fabrics pable, but not as valuabar lives." The staff member became anxious. "Even if you don''t want them, you still have to sign this document!" "Not for taking the fabrics? I don''t want them now, so no need to sign." Noe passed the document back, clearly not intending to sign. The staff''s demeanor darkened. "If you don''t sign, you can''t leave." Were they going for a hard approach? Gavin shouted, "That''s so shameless! Just to bully my Aunt Noe! Uncle, you''re just gonna stand there?" Palmer gave Gavin an exasperated look. This spoiled kid! "Who put you up to this? Must''ve been a nice payoff, huh?" For some reason, the staff member felt intimidated by Palmer! "Enough talk, sign and leave!" "And if we don''t?" "Don''t me me then!" The door opened, and a dozen muscr brutes walked in, eyeing Noe and Palmer menacingly. The staff member smirked. "Now, you choose. Sign or not? Either way, you''ll sign, so better not choose the hard way." Noe gently touched Gavin''s face. "Scared? If you are, just close your eyes." "I''m not scared! My mom said I''m a man, I have to protect Aunt Noe!" Gavin clung to Noe, his body trembling yet trying to appear strong. Palmer, annoyed, picked up Gavin, holding him. "Stupid kid, if you''re scared, close your eyes. It''ll be over soon." "I''m not scared!" Seeing their defiance, the staff member became even more arrogant. "Since you prefer punishment overpliance, too bad for you!" Azure''s brand had be too big, attracting too much envy. Using special means, they discovered Azure''s main operator was a young girl, barely twenty years old! Mostly just trust fund babies blowing through their inheritance those types are always the easiest to scam. Noe flexed her wrists. "I''m really curious, where does your boss get the guts to mess with me?" ???? "My boss''s business isn''t your concern! These guys are top-tier- hitmen from the dark web, none of you are walking out of here on two feet today!" Noe nced over the bulky men. "Top tier? Never heard of any of them, have you?" Palmer shook his head: "Nope, doesn''t matter anyway." "Good." The staff had a nagging feeling something was off. They didn''t seem scared at all. Did they have backup? No time to waste anymore! "Go! Take them down!" Chapter 400 The room was suddenly alive with action as several burly men lunged forward! Their muscles, bursting with explosive strength, propelled their fists forward, veins bulging, as they charged at Noe and Palmer! Holding Gavin in one arm, Palmer coolly said, "Kid, remember to close your eyes." "Got it! Uncle, you better keep Auntie safe! Otherwise, I''ll never let you off the hook!" A smirk yed at the corner of Palmer''s lips. The kid was shaking with fear, yet he didn''t forget to throw a threat his way. Back to back with Palmer, Noe teased, "You''re holding the kid. Should I take a few off your hands?" ¡°Underestimating me, fianc¨¦e? Let''s see who takes down more. Loser grants the winner a favor. How about it?" Without hesitation, Noe''s fist connected with the chest of one of the charging brutes. "You''re on, but you''re going to lose!" Kicking another attacker to the ground, Palmer dodged an iing blow, chuckling with Gavin in his arms, "My fianc¨¦e sure loves to win." "Can''t help it, I''m all about winning!" Noe was unabashed in her ambition. In her world, there was no room for defeat! Only by winning could they survive! These hired guns were no slouches, clearly costing a pretty penny to employ. Too bad, they were up against Palmer and Noe! Leaders of a top-secret assassinwork on the dark web, they didn''t just rely on their underlings. They themselves were born leaders, wielding the power to rule! Pulling a small knife from her boot, Noe''s de sang as it drew blood. Momentster, several assassinsy defeated at her feet! Simultaneously, Palmer brushed off his hands, locking eyes with Noe, a rogue smile on his lips. "Let''s call it a draw." As Gavin clung tightly to him, freeing up his hands to deal with the present threat, the bodies piled at Palmer''s feet matched those at Noe''s. Noe nced coolly at a frightened staff member. "No, including him, I win." The staff member was petrified! Who were these two?! These assassins had cost them millions to hire! And just like that, they were taken down? "No, no... please don''t kill me... I had nothing to do with this!" Noe''s gaze was icy, "Don''t worry, ordinary folks don''t die by my hand." The assassins had countless lives on their conscience. Dealing with them was justice served. This staff member at best was guilty of fraud and embezzlement, prison was where he belonged! Knocking the staff member unconscious, Noe handed him over to Erek who had burst in with a chainsaw to break down the door. "Take care of him. Make sure he talks." "You got it, boss! Interrogation''s our specialty!" Twenty minutester. Dressed in a customs uniform, the staff member was clinging to the police, sobbing and confessing his crimes, begging them to take him away! Under Ivan and Erek''s "warm hospitality," his mental defenses hadpletely crumbled. "I called the police! It''s too dangerous outside, please arrest me!" ¡°Wah, I''m a monster, I''m a fraud, not really customs. Please, lock me up for my own safety!" The police were baffled! Since when did criminals turn themselves in, insisting on being jailed, practically begging for handcuffs? Whata world! ve Swnovel ... Inside the warehouse. Kitai and Noe walked into the warehouse, with the manager, Braden, jogging up to them. "Boss, those kids just barged into the warehouse. Found one hiding in a fabric crate, thought it was fishy, so we locked them up.'' Azure''s warehouse was massive, with many sections. Noe nodded, "Any issues with that fabric?" "All clear. We used our new detection system, not a hitch." Their detection system, developed in coboration with Pris Star, guaranteed 98% uracy. "Our fabric can''t be contaminated! It''s all gh-end material, not a chance it traveled through Afriol missed disinfection!" S or Braden paused, "Plus, we dealt with invasive species clinging to the crates. Had to manually remove ten pounds of snails!" Ten pounds! And those things weren''t even edible! With such rigorous checks, their fabric was beyond reproach! Braden fumed, ¡°And they thought they could shut us down, take everything, including the boss! Utterly preposterous!" Reaching the fabric storage room, Braden gestured, ¡°These kids are up to no good. What normal kid ys at the docks?" Gavin chimed in, "What if they''re bad guys, messing up Auntie''s fabric?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "No worries, I''ve got this." Unlocking the room, they found crates filled with fabric and embroidery supplies. Atop a crate sat a barefoot kid, swinging his legs. "About time someone showed up. Hehe, let us out!" Braden crossed his arms, "How''d you get in? What''s your y?" "We just wandered in, okay? If you don''t let us out, we''ll call the cops, say you''re traffickers, that you kidnapped us!" ¡°Ha, you wouldn''t want to get arrested, right?" Braden was at his wit''s end, exasperated by these "kids." Noe frowned slightly. "The warehouse and crates are monitored. Whether you were kidnapped or snuck in, we''ll know." The boy holding two cameras boasted, "Too bad, we took your cameras down!" Braden stamped his foot in frustration. "Who sent you?" "Don''t worry about it, just let us go!" Noe shrugged, offering the kid a smile. "All the cameras are out. How do you think you''re going to keep yourself safe now?" Thinking a bunch of kids could just waltz out of here without a scratch was like believing in fairy tales! One of the kids swayed the smartphone in their hand. "This is a satellite Even if you jam the signals, it''s no use. I''m calling the cops right now!" Braden was speechless! These weren''t just any kids; they were like little demons! Noe let out a coldugh. "Go ahead, make the call. If you''re grown-up enough, you should be ready to face the consequences!" Chapter 401 "Are you freaked out or something? We''re not adults!" Noe said calmly, "Whether we''re adults or not, a quick check-up will reveal the truth. Appearances can deceive, but skeletal age never lies." Ever since theirst encounter, Noe knew something was off about that kid. Spending time with Gavin, a genuinely innocent and sweet child, the difference between him and those other kids couldn''t be more obvious! Their eyes carried a depth of world-weariness that only adults possess. "I''ve looked into a few cases before, like dwarfism and certain conditions where the body is stunted from birth. With some special training, they canpletely disguise themselves as minors." "There have been cases both here and abroad where people have exploited dwarfism to elicit sympathy,mit fraud, or worse. The skeletal structure of a person with dwarfism is entirely different from that of a normal child." The heads of individuals with dwarfism are nearly the size of a normal adult''s, but their body development severelygs behind, making the disproportion especially noticeable! All these kids, without exception, had the distinctive feature of arge head and a small body. Even a close look at their faces would reveal they were adults! A simple medical examination would prove it! Braden and Kitai were dumbfounded! "Wait, so they''re not actually kids? They''re con artists? We thought they were just children!" Erek snapped his jaw shut and handed his phone to Noe, showing the information he just dug up. "Boss, this guy pretends to be Dan''s son, but he''s actually his brother, Louis, and he''s over thirty." Over thirty?! Louis remained unfazed. "All your assumptions, but if you don''t let us go, you can kiss those fabrics goodbye!" "These high-end fabrics, they''re not supposed to get wet, right? What if we were to pee on them? That''d ruin thempletely!" Fabrics damaged by liquid, especially urine, would be utterly destroyed! That''s just evil! A few adults with dwarfism, looking like children but with a cunning and sinister look in their eyes, it was downright chilling! Noe remained calm. "Those fabrics are costly. Destroying them couldnd you in jail for the rest of your lives, quite the bargain." Louis shouted, "Even if we go to prison, you won''t be able to use these fabrics anymore!" Kitai said, "Oh, those fabrics are our own creation, expensive, sure. But we''ve got plenty more in storage, and they''re not unique. Most importantly, we set the price, so it''s up to us how much they''re worth." The batch of high-end fabrics ordered by Braden was too precious and had been immediately moved to a secure warehouse! The fabrics in this warehouse, though high-end, weren''t one of a kind. Braden nodded. "Go ahead, pee. After you''re done, we still have plenty. The more you pee, the longer you stay in prison. Full board and lodging included, sounds perfect." The dwarfs werepletely taken aback! Noe nced at Louis. "Everything you''ve done will be uncovered too, thanks for reminding me about Dan''s previous girlfriends. Thinking you can kill without consequences just because you''re disguised as minors?" They simply wanted to use the identity of minors as a shield! Noe''s heart grew cold. "Dan used you to clean up loose ends, those women demanding too much alimony or just wouldn''t let go, you ''handled'' them quietly." "Because of your ''son'' status, those women didn''t suspect a thing." Many thought getting on good terms with Louis could make Dan reconsider! Such deception fooled many! "You''re talking nonsense!" Louis panicked immediately! How did Noe know all this?! They had done so much while maintaining perfect disguises! "Whether it''s nonsense, the authorities will have a detailed chat with you." Minors shouldn''t be an all-epassing shield! Especially since they weren''t actually minors! Louis felt his strength ebbing away but tried to stay calm, "If you knew all this, why let us in here?" If he couldn''t guess that Noe had deliberately lured them in, he''d be a fool!Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Noe had clearly investigated everything beforehand! Noe said calmly, "To catch fish, it''s always better to trap them first." Until now, the full extent of what Louis wanted to do was unclear. Now that they knew he wasn''t alone but part of an experienced criminal gang, it was time to catch them all at once. The police arrived soon after, saluting Noe. "Thank you, we''ve been tracking this gang for a long time! Your tips and evidence were crucial!" Kitai was surprised. "Ah? The police knew about them already?" Noe exined, "Pris Star has cooperated with internationalw enforcement before. We have a direct line ofmunication. As soon as I sensed something was off, I informed the authorities." That''s why the police could respond so quickly! The officer solemnly said, "We''ve been monitoring this unique gang for a white. We''ve arrested their members before, but because their IDs showed them as minors@nder ten, we couldn''t charge them." Noe nodded in agreement. "To blend in better, they even attended school like normal kids, but mentally, they were nothing like regr children. These ''kids'' even ganged up and killed another child once." "The method was crude but brutal, beaten to death with a shovel." Yet, because they were considered minors, they couldn''t be prosecuted! The officers were deeply moved. "Thank goodness, they''re not actually minors!" Once their protective guise was removed, these devils who roamed among humans would finally face thew''s punishment! Their methods were even more ruthless than those devilish kids at the border! Louis and his group were dejectedly led away. Ivan strolled in from outside. "Boss, that guy said his boss, an overseas businessman, was just interested in Azure''s brand value and wanted to acquire Azure." "Acquire? That''s outright robbery! Dig up everything on that man. I''m curious, who''s got the guts these days?" To think someone would dare to scam right at the dock, and when that failed, they were ready to force their hand! Such audacity, not even King Goujian could swallow. Ivan whistled. "Got it! Looks like we''ve got work to do, boys!" ... In the upscale neighborhood of Imperial City, nestled within the prestigious Golden Age Estate, lived the well-to-do Gagher family. Randy Gagher was the patriarch, surrounded by arge brood of children and grandchildren, a total of over a dozen, all vying for his attention and favor as they gathered around his wheelchair. S The family''s butler burst into the room, a look of urgency on his face. "Mr. Gagher, Miss Millie has returned, and she''s brought with her the chairman of the Schnabel Group..." Had it not been for his paralysis, Randy would have leaped out of his chair in shock. "What?! Tristan Schnabel? How old is he by now? Doesn''t he have a wife? Has Millie actually managed to cause a stir big enough to make them split?!" This unexpected news sent a ripple of excitement and curiosity through the opulent living room, as the Gaghers imagined the implications of such a high-profile connection. Chapter 402 Hearing that the visitor was none other than Tristan, the entire Gagher n was on edge! Millie''s mother was so anxious she nearly shredded her handkerchief! "What''s gotten into Millie? I''ve got a spa day nned tomorrow with Mrs. Schnabel!" How was she supposed to face Sienna now?! Randy, sitting in his wheelchair, forced himself to calm down. "Tristan''s a bit on the older side, sure, but if Millie can snag him, he''s certainly a catchpared to those Schnabel boys who still have some growing up to do." The butler chimed in: "That''s not all, Mr. Schnabel and his wife, along with Miss Schnabel and young Jasper, are all here too!" It wasn''t just Millie bringing Tristan; the entire Schnabel family hade along! Randy was surprised: "This isn''t any special asion. They''re here for dinner?" Millie''s mother quickly patted her chest, sighing with relief. "I was worried sick Millie was getting into trouble..." Christina Gagher, the younger sister from the second branch of the family, couldn''t hide her jealousy. "As if Millie could even dream of straying off the path with Mr. Schnabel and his wife showing up. Who knows what kind of skeletons Millie''s got in her closet with the Schnabels." Patrick Gagher shot her a look. "That''s not for you to judge! If you''re so capable, why don''t you go and stay with the Schnabels?" Just jealous because she''s not capable herself! Randy nced at Millie''s parents. "We should go greet them together. Mr. Schnabel and his wife have taken the trouble to visit us personally; we must show them proper hospitality."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Of course." Christina felt even more bitter. Randy personally weing them was like adding glory to Millie''s reputation! "Grandpa, you don''t need to go personally by our family''s standards..." "You know nothing. Do we even stand on the same ground as the Schnabel family? Not just Tristan, if the Schnabel family patriarch were to visit, our whole family should be waiting to wee them miles away!" The Gagher family couldn''tpare to the Schnabels on any level! Christina was sour to the core! How did Millie get so lucky as to be involved with the Schnabels?! Carolyn was unconvinced. "Bringing someone home for dinner is no big feat. The real skill is in winning their hearts for good. Let''s see if Millie can actually marry into the family. Just focus on yourself; we''ll see who gets thestugh." She nced at the second family''s son standing next to Christina and advised, "And you, try to get noticed by Miss Schnabel. It won''t hurt." "Mom, isn''t Miss Schnabel almost engaged?" "That hasn''t happened yet. And even if it does, marriages can end. Why worry? Miss Schnabel is both intelligent and beautiful; are you saying you''re not good enough for her?" The second family''s son stayed silent for a moment. "Honestly, I''m more afraid of Mr. Pock killing me." Chasing after someone engaged to another, especially someone like Palmer, was a risk he wasn''t willing to take. Carolyn sighed, "...Then forget it. But I''ve heard the Schnabels have another daughter. Try to mingle more when you can." "Mom," Morgan Gagher asked earnestly, "do you really think I stand a chance with Miss Schnabel? She''s already a fellow at the Harmonia Country Science Research Institute. I can''t even understand her papers!" Morgan had tried, but to no avail. The Schnabel family had only two daughters. Miss Noe Schnabel was one thing, but ra Schnabel was protected by a squad of special forces whenever she stepped outside! Morgan had no chance to get close, let alone impress her with papers he couldn''t even stay awake reading... Carolyn turned away, pretending not to hear. She knew her son''s capabilities all too well... Randy, beaming, ushered Tristan and his family inside, his face alight with joy. "Mr. Schnabel, you''re too kind. I hope Millie hasn''t caused any trouble at your home?" "Not at all! Sienna and I are very fond of Millie. We apologize for intruding like this!" Tristan pped his hands, and Wren opened the trunk of their car, bringing out several gift boxes. "Just a little something as a token of our visit. The old man hasn''t been well; these are some of the same supplements my father uses. Thope you won''t find them too modest!" Randy''s face lit up with a smile. "How could we possibly find fault with anything from the esteemed patriarch? Millie, be sure to thank your Grandpa Marcel for me, will you?" Millie nodded respectfully, "Yes, I will." Tristan and Sienna were buzzing with excitement early in the morning upon hearing that Millie was inviting. Jasper t have dinner at the Gagher residence. They were adamant about tagging along even roused Noe from her sleep to join them. ording to Tristan, it was Jasper''s first time dining with a girl''s family, and it was only proper to bring a hostess gift. No matter what Jasper said, it was to no avail; Tristan, Sienna, and Noe wereing along! Randy quickly ushered them to their seats. Millie pulled Noe to a chair, "Take a seat here, mentor. Ron, could you prepare two servings of that bird''s nest soup I brought backst time? My mentor loves it!" Noe raised an eyebrow, "Since when did I start liking bird''s nest soup?" "You only ate that thest time we dined together. You didn''t touch any other dish!" Millie chuckled, knowing Noe was particr but wouldn''t say it outright. If she didn''t like something, she wouldn''t touch it at all. But Millie had noticed these little habits! Noe calmly replied, "...It was just that the mealst time was terrible. Only the bird''s nest soup was edible." "There are few things that please you, mentor. That''s why I bought a lot! I even nned to bring some to you after sorting out some family matters!" "Aren''t you always saying how expensive that bird''s nest soup is?" Just a small bowl could cost a fortune, making even the generous Millie wince at the expense! "What does it matter if it''s expensive? Being able to buy something my mentor likes is a small issue. The real fear is not being able to buy it at all!" "Besides, I''m quite flush right now!" Watching Millie puffing up with pride, Noe couldn''t help but smile softly, feeling a warmth in her heart. The people around her always had their unique ways of showing their affection. Christina, seeing how close Millie was to Noe, felt a sour taste in her mouth. Both daughters of the Gagher family, yet how was it that Millie always managed to charm members of the Schnabel family? With a hint of jealousy, Christina said, "Millie, the gift you''re offering might not even be to Ms. Schnabel''s taste. The Schnabel familycks for nothing. You should consider giving something of higher value, not to disgrace the Gagher family." Noe nced at Christina briefly before setting her eyes on Tristan. Tristan caught his precious daughter''s cue, his spirits lifting. "Sir, we''vee here today with a proposal," he started, his voice full of excitement. "We''ve taken a great liking to Millie, and we''d like to formally ask if she could be our goddaughter!" Chapter 403 The entire Gagher family was left speechless!Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. What did Tristan just say? Adopt Millie as a goddaughter?! Every daughter in the Gagher household was green with envy! If we''re being honest, there was a chance Millie could have joined the Schnabel family even before Randy kicked the bucket. But if Tristan and his wife were nning to adopt her as their goddaughter, well, that changed everything! Randy was bbergasted, "Mr. Schnabel, are you sure you''re not pulling our leg?" "Of course not! Sienna and I have discussed it, and we think Millie is a wonderful girl. She''s been a dear friend to our Noe for years. On one hand, we want to thank Millie for herpany." "On the other hand, we genuinely like the kid. To be honest, I was hoping Millie would be our daughter-inw! But that''s all down to fate, so for now, Millie will be our goddaughter!" This was the solution Noe and Tristan came up with after much discussion. Adopting a goddaughter wasn''t a big deal for the Schnabels, but for Millie, it was a game-changer! Whether Millie and the Schnabel son were fated to be together was another story, but at least she truly clicked with the Schnabel daughter! At the very least, this made things official, even if it wasn''t on paper. Who knows, maybe Millie really could end up marrying into the Schnabel family. Sienna thought it would also legitimize Millie''s stay at the Schnabel residence. It didn''t bother them, but they had to consider the girl''s reputation! If word got out that she was living with a man''s family without any talk of marriage, it wouldn''t sound good. Sienna chuckled, "Our boys are thick- skinned, but Millie''s a good kid. We can''t let people gossip about her. From now on, the Schnabel household is Millie''s home, and we wee our daughter back anytime!" Millie had only just learned about this herself. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Noe! She knew that in this world, only Noe would care so much for her thoughts! Tristan beamed, "If you have no objections, Millie is officially our goddaughter. We''ll hold the adoption ceremony after Noe and Palmer''s engagement!" Randy was stunned! The Schnabels weren''t just serious; they were also nning an adoption ceremony for Millie? This wasmitment! "Of course, we have no objections! It''s Millie''s good fortune to be favored by Mr. Schnabel and his wife!" Randy''s face was beaming, while the rest of the Gagher family couldn''t hide their sour expressions! After announcing this, Tristan and Sienna got up to leave. "We won''t intrude any longer. This is for the youngsters to discuss. Millie, if you ever need anything, just go to Noe and your... brother!" Despite being alumni and peers, Jasper had skipped grades and was technically younger than Millie. This made Jasper Millie''s little brother! Millie covered her mouth to hide her giggles, teasingly looking at Jasper, whose face was beet red, "Don''t worry, I''ll be sure to bother my dear Jasper, hehe." Jasper felt like dying. It was all Tristan''s fault for adopting godchildren willy-nilly! Randy tried to persuade them to stay longer, but after hearing Tristan needed to check on Sexton, he let them go. After seeing them off, Randy looked at Millie with rare affection! Christina snidely remarked, "Since when did Millie get to know Ms. Schnabel? And why didn''t she tell us? It''s like we''re not even family." Millie raised an eyebrow, "Back when you used to bully me, remember? You almost threw me into a manure pit. Too bad, if you had been the one thrown in, maybe you would''ve met a mentor too." The Gagher household fell silent. The Gagher children''s constant squabbles were something Randy tacitly allowed as part of a survival-of-the- fittest scheme. Still, bringing it up like this was bound to displease Randy! "Millie! Why bring this up in front of guests?" "Grandpa, it wasn''t me who wanted to talk about it. Christina asked, didn''t she? Besides, my mentor saw all of that happen. I couldn''t very well pretend everything was fine, could I?" Noe looked calmly at Randy. "Sorry, didn''t realize she was your granddaughter when I gave her a whooping. No hard feelings, right?" Jasper chimed in, ying along, "Noe, how could you be so careless? Does your hand hurt? If I''d known sooner, I would''ve brought you to the Gagher house to demand medical expenses!" The Gagher family was speechless. Noe had beaten up the Gagher heiress and now they were talking about demanding medical expenses from them? Did they have no shame? Jasper dered confidently, "Everyone knows our Noe the sweetest, wouldn''t hurt a fly. How bad could her punch be? ording to... Millie, Ms. Noe had quite a backup that day!" "Who knows, maybe our Noe got the short end of the stick. How does the Gagher family n to settle this? If it were our Noe causing trouble, the Schnabel family would definitely take responsibility!" Hearing his tone, there was not the slightest hint of belief that his sister was in the wrong. Randy was taken aback for a moment, but quickly reced his expression with a beaming smile. "Mr. Gagher, rest assured, it''s not just that having Ms. Schnabel take matters into her own hands was our family''s mistake, but if that youngdy offended Ms. Schnabel,at''s our family who should be apologizing." Millie, holding Noe''s hand, said pitifully, "If it wasn''t for my mentor saving me, I might have been dead by now!" That was the truth. If Noe hadn''t appeared out of nowhere, she might well have been pushing up daisies by now. Being able to sit here and match wits with Randy was all thanks to Noe''s help along the way! Noe patted her hand. Then turned to Randy, her lips curling into a slight smile. "Millie is family to me, as well as my apprentice. If anyone dares to bully her... even the old man shouldn''t me me." The implication was clear: if Millie had a rough time with the Gaghers, then the fate of the Gagher family''s heiress would serve as a warning! At the dinner table now, there was no ce set for Ms. Noe. The one seated at Randy''s right hand was Millie! Having brought back a member of the Schnabel family, her position had now surpassed that of her father, bringing her one step closer to where she wanted to be. Randy might beughing off on the surface, but inwardly he was in anguish! Mille''s tactics could be said to be more ruthless than any of the Gagher children. She directly reformed half of the Gagher family''s assets, with many businesses ending up being handed over to higher-ups. The family home was now filled withmendation gs! Randy felt like vomiting blood every time he saw those gs. But Millie had her reasons. The Gagher family''s business had always been in a gray area, and if the family was tost, it needed serious reform. After all the reforms, most of the family''s businesses were now in Millie''s hands... Christina rolled her eyes. "Millie''s even talking about this. Big sister is no match for you, who knows if you''re just pretending to be..." Christina hadn''t finished her sentence before her face was sshed with red wine! Noe''s wine ss tilted, her expression nk, "Oops, my hand slipped." "What was that you said? Say it again!" Chapter 404 "Did you not catch what I was saying, Ms. Gagher?" Jasper leisurely pulled out a napkin and began to dab at Noe''s hands. "Sorry about this, folks. Our Noe was raised in the countryside and doesn''t know much about mannerspletely spoiled by us, I''m afraid. I''ll give her a talking-to when we get home." Though he mentioned discipline, there wasn''t a hint of genuine regret on his face! Clearly, he was just standing up for his own. Christina''s face was a mix of purple and red with anger! Noe had dered that she''d have Millie''s back, making it clear that nobody else had the right to badmouth her! Randy, ever the sly one, just took an extra moment to nce at Millie, absorbing the scene. "Christina, apologize." At the patriarch''smand, Christina, however reluctantly, stood and gave a bow towards Millie. The humiliation was palpable. Christina''s face was stained with drops of red wine, and tears began to stream down her cheeks. "Millie, Ms. Schnabel, I''m terribly sorry! I know I was wrong!" Millie covered her mouth, feigning surprise. "Oh my, Christina, what happened to you? Such a well-breddy, why is your face all covered in wine?" It was too much to bear! Unable to handle the humiliation, Christina covered her face and ran off in tears! Morgan wanted to follow andfort her but was stopped by a sharp nce from Carolyn, forcing him to sit back down. Randy, trying to lighten the mood with a half-smile, said, "Ms. Schnabel, Mr. Schnabel, we should definitely get together more often. The Gagher family has many young folks who might just get along with you. It''s easier to talk amongst peers, after all." Carolyn seized the moment, smiling. "It''s all Christina''s fault, really. She''s always been too blunt, but she means well. Morgan, apologize to Millie and Ms. Schnabel for your sister." Standing with a wine ss in hand, Morgan began, "My sincerest apologies. I''ll make sure Christina learns from this. To show my sincerity..." Without another word, Morgan downed five sses of vodka in quick session! Even Jasper was taken aback! Was this Gagherd... a bit too naive? Since when did people skip the small talk and dive straight into heavy drinking? And that wasn''t just any drink-it was high-proof vodka! After his fifth ss, Morgan''s face was beet red, clearly not handling the alcohol well. Carolyn''s eyes widened in shock. "Morgan! You can''t handle your liquor! Why on earth would you drink so much!?" She didn''t actually want Morgan to drink. She was hoping he''d just make nice with the Schnabel family-having Millie pleased was half the battle won, after all. Morgan belched loudly. He seemed unable to focus his gaze, looking around the room before slumping back into his chair. Carolyn asked with concern, "Morgan? Are you alright?"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Morgan nodded and then shook his head. After a moment''s silence, Morgan burst into tears. "Mommy, I don''t want to go to school or take over the family business. I want to be an actor! Why doesn''t anyone support me? I''m not cut out for business. I don''t want topete with Millie. If she hadn''t shared her food with me as a kid, I would''ve starved! When I was studying abroad, it was Millie who sent me money. I couldn''t even earn my tuition. Those thugs always picked on me, knocking on my door at night! You don''t know how hard it was for me out there! I''m not meant to be a Gagher. Mommy, I can''t do this anymore!" The Gaghers were stunned. Morgan suddenly got up, climbed onto the dinner table, and pointed at Randy, unleashing a torrent of usations. "It''s all your fault! Why the hell did you have to be so harsh? We had to fend for ourselves for everything-do you think that was the right decision? You''re too full, that''s your problem! And you have the nerve to suggest I marry Ms. Schnabel? Who in our family is worthy of her? I hate you! If it weren''t for you, my sister wouldn''t have starved to death... She was only eight years old! How could you expect an eight-year-old to fend for herself? You''re a monster! You''ll get what''sing to you!" Randy was so angry he nearly choked. "You... you!" Carolyn was beside herself with fear, trying to pull Morgan off, but a drunk''s strength is unpredictable. Morgan lunged and grabbed Randy by the throat! "Go see my sister if you dare! Why did you do it? I''ll kill you!" Millie, being close by, knocked Morgan out and quickly had the unconscious Randy taken away for medical attention. The room was in chaos. Millie grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it on the floor. "Anyone who causes trouble tonight will end up like grandfather." The rest of the Gagher kids tensed up, knowing they were in serious trouble. Millie handed Morgan over to the second branch of the family, her gaze sweeping over everyone. "Listen up. If anyone speaks of tonight''s events, they''ll spend their life on a deserted ind in the Pacific, got it? Now, go to your rooms. Anyone who leaves, don''t bothering back!" Millie''s father spoke up, displeased. "Millie, it''s not your ce tomand here. The elders are still in charge. What''s with your attitude?" Millie looked towards Noe. "Master, a little help, please? Dinner''s on meter." Noe, calm as ever, replied, "Two dinners." "Deal!" J With that, Noe approached Patrick, who had just managed a fake smile, and greeted him with a solid p across the face! Before Patrick even had the chance to scream, Noe exerted force under her feet, driving her knee into Patrick''s stomach and effectively knocking the wind out of him, leaving him crumpled on the floor, unconscious. Millie''s mother acted as if she hadn''t witnessed the scene unfold. "Oh dear, Millie, your father really, falling asleep in the living room? What if he catches a cold? Hurry up, find someone to carry him back to his room!" Jasper stood gaping, utterly astonished by the smoothness of Noe''s punch. "Noe... you, you, you, and I, I, I... What just happened?!" "Sure thing." "Sorry, Jasper, didn''t mean to scare you. Millie''s dad hasn''t been the best to her, she asked for a little... intervention, so I stepped in." Jasper felt like crying. Was this eln¨¦t really the time for apologies? He was shocked not by the situation,, but by his sister''s skill! The way Noe had thrown that punch, Jasper was convinced that if it came down to it, he wouldn''t stand a chance against her... Millie calmly patted Jasper on the shoulder. "Guess why I call her ''coach''? What do you think I''ve been learning from her?" Jasper was speechless. He had never pondered this question, assuming it was because Noe was a Loadstar, and Millie was merely following her in scientific pursuit! Millie looked at him with a mix of pity and fondness. "Silly boy, do I look like the scientific type to you? What I''ve learned from my coach is how to throw down!" Chapter 405 Jasper was gobsmacked! He was so impressed he almost wanted to drop to his knees right there and then for Noe! Millie scanned the room, her gazending on each person present. "Back to your rooms, folks. And if anyone''s thinking of sneaking off, well, I might just get an itch to stop you." The smile on her face sent shivers down everyone''s spine! It was at this moment that the younger members of the Gagher n realized that the true leader of their family was now Millie! Randy''s power had been silently stripped away from him! Carolyn held her breath, her eyes wide. "Millie, you can count on Uncle Jacob and me! We''re all ears!" With Morgan having just shared how Millie had always been there to protect him, ensuring his survival and return to the Gagher family, and how without her, he wouldn''t have been able to grow up at all, Carolyn pledged her unwavering support for Millie. "I''ve failed Morgan, failed to raise Christina and Caitlin right... I never realized how much Morgan cared for Caitlin, I failed to protect her..." Carolyn copsed to the floor, weeping uncontrobly. The children of the Gagher family, under Randy''s maniptive schemes, had long since lost any semnce of normalcy. Such a cruel survival-of-the-fittest n had left many of them shattered, with Randy turning a blind eye after the demise of the weaker links among them. Carolyn''s breakdown wasplete as she clutched her unconscious son, sobbing breathlessly. Millie sighed deeply. The others exchanged nces before retreating to their rooms. Millie''s mother approached Noe, her eyes brimming with tears. She seemed to want to say thank you but swallowed the words instead. With a meaningful look at Millie, she wiped away her tears and headed upstairs. Millie sat at the dining table, taking a big gulp of red wine. She chuckled bitterly. "Master, am I a disgrace? But this is how I grew up. I''ve always been so scared, afraid to sleep in case someone put a snake in my room." "Growing up in the Gagher family, only Morgan was kind to me. Even when he had nothing to eat, he shared with me... And yet, our parents never lifted a finger to help." Millie hastily wiped away her tears. "My dad''s a piece of work, but I can''t bring myself to hit him, so I had to dirty your hands instead, Master. I''m sorry... I''m so useless..." Noe patted Millie''s back, gently embracing her. "You''ve done well." Millie''s father, notorious for his debauchery and even for beating her mother to the point of hospitalization, had been ignored by Randy. It wasn''t until she met Noe that Millie began to see a glimmer of hope for a different life. "I never really wanted to take over the family business. It''s too corrupt, and I don''t want it. But without fighting for it, I''d have no chance to live, possibly trapped on this ind forever. I don''t want that." "I understand. Whatever you want to do, I''ll support you." Millie nodded, taking a deep breath and hugging Noe. She pped her cheeks, putting on a brave smile that masked her earlier despair. "Jasper, do me a favor?" "Name it." "There are a few Gagher cases I want to..." "Sure, I''ll help." Millie blinked in surprise. "What? Even if it''s illegal?" "I may not trust your character, but I trust your professional ethics." Millie, puzzled, gestured a punch toward Jasper. "Better speak inly! Or I''ll have to punch some sense into you!" Dragging Jasper upstairs, Millie turned to Noe with a sweet smile. "Master, I''ve texted Palmer to pick you up. Jasper''s with me for now!" "Sure, do as you please." Once upstairs, Millie got serious. "Some of the Gagher assets, I n to donate. The ones I control, I'' handle myself. For the rest, Ineed you to help me take legal action." "Easy, consider it done. I''ve been meaning to ask, how is Noe so skilled?" Millie started to make up a story. "Oh, that? You know, Master and Grandma Harriet had it tough. They''d go up the mountains to gather mushrooms, herbs, sometimes tussle with bears,l tigers, even fight with stray dogs over..." over... Before Millie could finish, Jasper interjected in shock, "What? She had to fight dogs for food?!" He was overwhelmed, retreating into a corner, his mind flooded with imagined hardships of Noe''s childhood, breaking down in tears. Millie was at a loss. Was he okay? But she didn''t bother exining. After all, there were indeed people who honed their skills bypeting with stray dogs for food, like herself. The Gagher family, a golden cage rotting from the inside. Millie''s only wish was to dismantle this cage once and for all. ncing at the Valkyrie tattooed on her skin, Millie''s resolve hardened. "Let''s go, Jasper." Jasper, wiping away tears, followed her while transferring money to Noe via his phone. "Donating... for my sister." "What are you doing?" "Sending money... If only she had this before, she wouldn''t have had such a hard life!" Millie patted Jasper''s shoulder sympathetically. Though a bit dim-witted, Jasper had his moments of charm. Outside the Gagher mansion, Noe was just stepping out when Sienna, seated in the garden gazebo, waved her over. "Mom? I thought you guys went to the hospital?" "Ah, well, the hospital can wait a bit longer. We do have a house here, after all. Your dad suggested we just stay home and wait for you guys." After sitting at home for a few minutes, Tristan began to worry about the safety of his son and daughter, so he decided to wait at the neighborhood gazebo. Waiting there, Tristan put down his binocrs. "Buddy, what happened out there? I saw someone trying to strangle Randy after having one too many. Is everyone okay?" Noe looked somewhat exasperated. Only Tristan would do something like spying on the Gagher family with binocrs to catch up on the drama... It was outrageous, but then again, it was very much a Tristan thing to do. After getting a brief on what had happened, both Tristan and Sienna were shocked! Sienna felt a twinge of regret. "Oh, if only we knew there was a show to watch, we wouldn''t have left... The Gaghers really have stirred the pot again, haven''t they? What trouble have those kids gotten inte now? Ah!" s?novel "Millie''s mom has always felt guilty, thinking she failed Millie. But other people''s business isn''t ours to meddle in. It''s tough being Millie, that''s for sure!" Tristan, holding his binocrs, widened his eyes. "Honey, sweetheart, what''s that up there?"Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Following Tristan''s gaze, they saw a figure swaying dangerously on the rooftop of the Gagher''s house! "Could it be... someone''s about to jump?" Chapter 406 Tristan was utterly bbergasted! The Gagher mansion towered with five stories, and including the rooftop garden, it stood six stories tall. A fall from such a height was certain death! Noe pulled out her phone and dialed Millie. "Millie, go check out your rooftop." The mention of someone threatening to jump had Millie losing her cool. She and Jasper dashed to the rooftop. There, a teenage girl stood perilously close to the edge - Chloe Gagher from the fourth branch of the family. "Chloe, are you out of your mind?! If you jump, you''re not surviving this!" Chloe shook her head, trembling as she turned on her phone''s live stream. "I don''t want to live anymore. Why is it that everything good is never meant for me? You all just know how to bully me!" "None of the Gaghers are good people. Uncle Jeff came knocking on my doorte at night. I don''t want to live anymore!" Uncle Jeff, she mentioned, was Millie''s father! Chloe was on the verge of breaking down, clutching her head on the rooftop, ready to leap at any moment. "Millie, I can''t stand being in this family for another day! My life is ruined! If I jump, I''ll be free from it all!" "Christina once said that if you jump, all your troubles go away..." Millie clenched her fists. Her voice trembling, she forced herself to calm down. "It''s not your fault,e down. Whatever you mentioned... I know, because I''ve been through it too! Come down, no matter what happens, I''ll help you!" Jasper''s eyes widened in disbelief and shock at Millie''s words. Millie continued, "Come down, Chloe, listen to me. With your sister here, we can solve anything." Chloe shook her head in agony. "It''s no use, Millie. You''ve had it tough too. This ce... it''s not a home. If I don''t jump, my parents will just trade me off to those old creeps as bargaining chips. I refuse." The Gagher children were forced to grow up too fast. Suddenly, Jasper spoke up. "You could leave the country, escape all this. Don''t you want to see those who hurt you brought to justice? Myw firm can make it happen, fulfill your dreams!" A flicker of hope sparked in Chloe''s eyes. Jasper added, "If you don''t trust Millie, trust the Schnabels. You know, even your grandpa tries to suck up to us." "It''s the wrongdoers who should be punished, not yourself!" Chloe murmured, bewildered, "...Is that true? Would someone really help me?" "Yes, look at Millie now; she''s made it. You can too." Millie was seen as a thorn in the side by the Gagher elders, jealous that she seemed to have taken what should''ve been their children''s. But to the younger Gaghers, no one was more formidable than Millie. Downstairs, Tristan set down his binocrs, worriedly saying, "Honey, maybe call the cops? That kid''s so young, a fall would be disastrous!" "The police are on their way." Noe looked up to the rooftop figure, who seemed about the age of a high schooler, much like Millie when they first met. The way the Gaghers raised their kids left few with a sound state of mind. Millie had managed these years with Noe''s medical treatments and venting her frustrations in the boxing ring. On the third floor''s balcony, Christina, freshly changed, stood smirking. "Chloe, are you jumping or what? You''ve been all talk. If you don''t have the guts, just give up!" "I knew it. You don''t have the courage to leave the Gaghers. You deserve to be haunted by the n family''s perverts for life. Might as well not jump and just cozy up with Uncle Jeff..." Hearing Christina''s vile words, the light in Chloe''s eyes vanished. "Chloe, don''t trust anyone. Only death will punish them. Your suffering ends with your death. Otherwise, you''ll be mocked every living moment!" "Don''t believe me? Check thements on your live stream." Chloe, hands trembling, opened the live stream only to seements urging her to jump or mocking her indecision. The harsh words filled her ears, a ringing noise overwhelming her thoughts. Hopeless, Chloe smiled silently at Millie, whispered goodbye, and leapt. "Chloe!" Millie screamed, rushing forward, her fingers grazing Chloe''s clothes, but a step toote. Downstairs, Tristan and Sienna also cried out in horror! A gust of wind passed, and Noe, already positioned below, caught Chloe in a swift move, though the impact dislocated her arm with a sickening crack. Tristan, mind nk with fear, rushed to them. "Noe! Oh my God! Why would you just rush in like that!" Noe calmly replied, "I''m okay, and so is she." Looking up at Millie, tears streaming down her face, Noe managed a weak smile.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "What''s the big deal? Stop crying, I''ve got this!" Millie''s tears fell even harder. Jasper had pulled her downstairs before she even realized. The car hadn''t fully stopped when Palmer leaped out, rushing towards Noe. "To the hospital!" Noe''s forehead was beaded with sweat, and a sharp pain radiated from her wrist. She looked pale as she shook her head at the person before her. "It''s okay, let''s just check on her first." Chloe waspletely stunned! Despite the scrapes and cuts on Noe''s wrists and back, Chloe, who had taken the leap, was miraculously unscathed! Millie rushed to Noe''s side and, without hesitation, pped Chloe across the face. "I''ve told you time and again not to be so reckless. We''ve lived with the Gaghers for years; why choose such a dramatic exit?" The p brought Chloe back to reality. "Millie... Is Ms. Schnabel okay? Why did she save me... I''m so sorry, this is all my fault!" Palmer carefully examined Noe''s injuries before lifting her in his arms. "We need to get you to the hospital, just to be on the safe side." Turning her head to face Chloe, Noe managed a weak smile and softly said, "You remind me of Millie when she was younger. Just like her, you must seize control of your own destiny." "Even as girls, we possess boundless energy to forge ahead." Chapter 407 Chloe was sobbing uncontrobly, barely managing to choke out apologies. Jasper gently patted her shoulder. "Come on, let''s head to the hospital and check on you." Millie grabbed Chloe, who was now a puddle of nerves, and followed the Schnabel n into the car. On the drive, Sienna and Tristan were on the verge of tears too! "Noe, why''d you have to go and do something so reckless? You''re going to give Mom a heart attack!" Noe, with a chuckle, shrugged. "Didn''t think it through, I guess." Her instinct had just kicked in. Chloe, sitting in the limo''s backseat, was a mess of tears, teetering on the edge of a breakdown. "I''m so sorry, Ms. Schnabel. I dragged you into this mess..." Millie wrapped an arm around Chloe,forting her. "Hey now, it''s not your fault." Palmer checked Noe''s swollen wrist, concern etching his features. Her fair skin was now blotched red, likely dislocated. If Noe hadn''t been a highly trained secret agent, catching a girl mid-fall, she might have lost the use of her hands entirely. Palmer felt a pang of sympathy. "Hold still." Jasper interjected, "Mr. Pock, you''re no doctor. Let''s wait for Ulrich to take a look at Noe''s wrist at the hospital!" He was worried Palmer might worsen his sister''s injury. "No worries, Jasper. He''s got this. I trust Palmer," Noe reassured him. With those words, Jasper found himself speechless, fretting over her wrist. With a firm grip, Palmer found the dislocation and swiftly corrected it with a snap. "Does it hurt?" "No, it''s bearable." This minor pain was nothing for Noe, but seeing the worried faces of Palmer and Tristan made it feel more intense than usual. Leaning on Palmer''s shoulder, as soon as they arrived at the hospital, Noe was scooped up and rushed to meet Ulrich Schnabel at the entrance, heading straight for the treatment room. Surrounded by her concerned family, Noe couldn''t help but smile wryly. "Really, I''m fine. Palmer''s fixed it." Calvin, arriving in a flurry, was beside himself with worry. "Don''t you know how vital hands are for a surgeon? You''re too impulsive!" "Who tries to catch someone jumping off a building? That''s madness! You think you''re some kind of superhero? You''re not Iron Man!" Calmly, Noe responded, "If I hadn''t caught her, she would''ve died. And as a doctor, I couldn''t just stand by." Calvin''s eyes welled up, torn between admiration and concern for his brilliant prot¨¦g¨¦. "You''re too kind-hearted, always rushing to save others. It''s a doctor''s curse." Ulrich, who was examining Noe, paused. "Wait, what did you say? Noe is... who?" "Phantom Surgeon Lunaris," Calvin blurted out, then realized he''d spoken too much. Not everyone knew Noe''s secret identity. Facing the stunned Schnabel family, Noe calmly revealed, "Yes, I''m part of Lunaris. It''s a team, not just me. There are many of us." "In the grand scheme of things, I just perform surgeries and sign documents. Nothing major," she downyed her crucial role. Ulrich''s knees weakened, nearly dropping to the floor. "You... you''re Lunaris? The legend in the medical world?" Noe nodded, mentioning surgeries she''d done and medications she''d prescribed, things even Marcel hadn''t disclosed to his family. As Calvin hastily left to fetch medicines, the truth about Noe''s identity and her incredible contributions left her family in awe. "Palmer, you knew all along?" Tristan asked, amazed that Palmer wasn''t surprised by Noe''s dual life. As Palmer continued to tend to Noe''s bruises, everyone else was left to process the revtion that Noe wasn''t just a family member but a medical superhero. Noe reassured them with a gentle tone, "Don''t worry, Dad, it''s just a minor skirmish, nothing to lose sleep over." Ulrich was silent for a momentContent bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. before he finally spoke, "Ha, if Waris is just a minor skirmish, then what I''m doing now must be ying house." Swnovel Back when he was a Doctors Without Borders surgeon, the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris was the legend Ulrich idolized! He had aspired to be a doctor like Lunaris, saving lives and boasting an unbeaten record in the operating room! And now, it turns out his life''s goal was literally his little sister! Jasper was bbergasted. "Noe, do you have any other surprises we don''t know about?" Noe just smiled. "Nope, that''s about it." Just being Pris StarLoadstar and Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, not to mention the head of the Azure brand, was enough to floor the Schnabel family! Jasper had to physically lift his jaw back up. el "Well, that''s a relief, I guess. If you had anything else up your sleeve, Jasper here.might just keel over from shock... Now it seems we brothers are nowhere near as impressive as our sister. If word gets out, it might just scare people to death." Ulrich was not amused. "What''s so good about that!" Now, every time he saw his sister, he''d have to fight the urge to kneel... On the side, Millie''s eyes twinkled with mirth as she chuckled, a picture of someone hiding her true talents. What a turn of events! And there were still more surprises toe that would astonish them! Chapter 408 Chloe gazed at Noe, her wrists wrapped in gauze, her eyes swollen from crying. Summoning her courage, she approached Noe, bending over in a gesture of deep appreciation, tears dropping onto the floor. "Ms. Schnabel, thank you so much." Noe shook her head, dismissing the gravity of her actions. "It''s nothing to dwell on, really. It was my own choice, nothing to do with you." "I saved you because you''re Millie''s sister," she added. Millie couldn''t help but tease, "Ha, when you saved me back in the day, it wasn''t because I was someone''s sister." Noe looked up at her, a soft smile on her face. "That was because you owed my grandma a bunch of bread money and never paid up. I had to get it back somehow." Millie knew all too well that Noe''s excuses were just her way of showing care. Her mentor, after all, had a heart gentler and kinder than anyone! "Some things you gotta handle on your own. I won''t be checking on you for a while," Noe hinted to Millie. Millie understood what Noe meant. "I got it!" Noe nced at Jasper, "Jasper, could you lend Millie a hand?" "Of course. You just focus on resting. Leave the rest to us." Seeing how much Noe cared for Millie, Jasper knew she held Millie in high regard. Wanting to ease Noe''s worries about Millie, Jasper quickly agreed. As they left the clinic, Millie saw Chloe still in tears. "Hey, no more crying. It''s not the end of the world." "Millie, were you... like me once?" "Much worse, actually. I almost starved! But someone told me to believe in myself." Millie put her arm around Chloe, hugging her sister she''d never been close to before. "Now, big sis has to go back and fight. You gonna rest up in the hospital ore with me?" Chloe''s heart quieted down a bit, turning to see Noe surrounded by the Schnabel family. "I''ll fight alongside you, sis! I can''t let Noe''s rescue be in vain!"Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "Good kid." ... Back at the Schnabel Manor, the family made their way home, Tristan concerned about Noe''s fatigue, "Palmer, take Noe up to rest!" "Alright." Sienna headed to the kitchen to simmer some broth for her precious daughter, today''s events having shaken them thoroughly. Tristan stood beside Sienna, both feeling a bit lost. The housekeeper called out to them, "Mr. Schnabel, ma''am? Weren''t you going to make soup for Ms. Noe? Why are you just standing there with the knife?" Sienna snapped back to reality, pinching Tristan. "Honey, can you believe how brave our Noe was today?" Tristan winced in pain! Sienna puzzled, "It doesn''t hurt. I must be dreaming." "Honey, you''re pinching me! Ouch, that really hurts!" Sienna turned to Tristan. "How did our baby be so kind? What did she go through to be so strong?" They imagined Harriet Lambert, despite her humble means, never failing to care for Noe, raising such a kind and resilient treasure! Their thoughts overwhelmed them, and they embraced, crying together. "Our baby''s had it tough!" "Yes, dear! So tough!" The housekeeper watched, utterly confused. What''s going on now? Palmerid Noe on the bed, still worried, pressing his face against hers to feel her warmth, somewhat reassured. Seeing Noe rush to Chloe''s side had Palmer''s heart in his throat! "Noe, let me see the wounds on your back." "The nurse already took care of them." "I won''t be at ease until I see for myself." Reluctantly, under Palmer''s concerned gaze, Noe softened. She turned, shedding her jacket, revealing bandaged wounds and bruises treated with ointment, as per the Schnabel family''s insistence. It wasn''t as bad as it seemed ording to Calvin, they were lucky to have arrived in time. Even with their impending engagement, revealing herself like this to Palmer made Noe blush. Next, a warm kissnded on her shoulder de, fleeting like a butterfly''s touch. Palmer''s voice trembled slightly. "Please, don''t be so reckless in the future. I know you''re capable, but I worry." Feeling the concern and care in Palmer''s words, warmth spread through Noe''s heart. "I understand." Today had been an unexpected ordeal. She hadn''t meant to frighten the Schnabel family or Palmer to such an extent. "Palmer, I''m okay, really. Don''t worry so much." "Noe, I wish you''d grow up faster." She felt his embrace tighten, his voice shaking. "Hurry and grow up, marry me, let me protect you. I want to share everything with you, wealth, status, and... myself." "Whether now or in the future, I want to stand by you with a better title, ready to face dangers with you, to share your pain." Palmer sighed, cing another kiss on her neck. Though Noe knew Palmer had faced far more frightening situations than today''s incident, the shock had still gotten to him. After a moment''s thought, Noe softened her voice, responding to his concern. "I promise, I won''t be so impulsive anymore." "Even if you promise, when pushes to shove, you''ll still jump right in." He understood her, and he didn''t want to hold her back! "So, grow up fast, my fianc¨¦e. When you''re grown, marry me, be my wife, and let me share all of life''s storms with you!" Palmer''s voice, along with his passionate kiss, whispered into Noe''s ear, igniting a fire of love that melted her heart too. "Mhm, I promise you." At Imperial West Hospital. Dressed in a whiteb coat, Ulrich stood by Sexton''s bedside. "Grandpa, you''re looking quite spiritedtely!" Far from appearing like a man on his deathbed, he seemed lively enough to invite Marcel for a chess match! "It''s all thanks to Noe! For her and Palmer''s engagement party, I have to make sure I''m there in good health!" Ulrich rubbed his hands together. "Could I take a look at the medication Noe prescribed for you?" Ulrich felt a bit sheepish asking Noe directly, so he took the opportunity while examining Sexton to ask. "Here, take it, just don''t lose it. If Noees and sees Phaven''t taken it, she''ll have words for me!" Ulrich held the medicine box Sexton handed over as if it were a treasure, his hands trembling. "Grandpa, could you take off your shirt and lie down?" Sexton: "At my age..." Chapter 409 "Really? Is that appropriate?" "What are you thinking? I just wanted to check out the scar!" Sextonplied without any fuss, lifting his shirt so Ulrich could take a look. "Wow, this scar is wless! My sister is a genius!" This was Lunaris''s handiwork, after all! As Helen walked in, she caught Ulrich intently examining Sexton''s chest, even touching the scar gently. "What''s up with the old man''s ticker?" "Just checking out the old guy''s surgery scar." Not wanting to rm the elderly couple, Ulrich reluctantly shifted his gaze away. Sexton chuckled, "Where''s Malvina, that little rascal? Haven''t seen her in a while. I was thinking of setting her up with Palmer, but you, my boy, swept her off her feet." Mentioning Malvina Gruber made Ulrich visibly ufortable. "I don''t know what''s up with her. Lately, she''s been picking fights with me, seems really out of sorts." "Young love, a little tiff here and there is normal!" Tofort Ulrich, Sexton turned to the recently entered Noe, "Noe, do you and Palmer fight much?" "Never," Noe honestly replied. Part of it was that their personalities weren''t prone to shing. Whenever they had a disagreement, they''d rather duke it out in a sparring match than argue. Moreover, Palmer seemed never to get mad at her no matter the issue! It wasn''t that they didn''t cherish their together time; it was quite the opposite. Ulrich felt even more distressed.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "I don''t get it, just because Malvina wanted instant noodles one night, I made them for her, but sheined they weren''t right, then used me of not loving her and started crying!" "I cleaned her room, did herundry, and she used me of thinking she''s useless, cried again!" "She wanted overripe bananas, where was I supposed to find those? I finally got them from a grocery store, and the owner thought I was nuts! Then Malvina threw them up, saying I was torturing her..." Ulrich was always so amodating with Malvina. Faced with this, he was at a loss of what to do. Noe massaged her temples. It seemed Ulrich hadn''t realized what was going on with Malvina. Helen frowned, "Sounds like she''s either PMSing or experiencing pregnancy mood swings. You''re in medical school, don''t you know anything about pregnancy?" "I''m not an obstetrician..." Ulrich''s response got caught in his throat! He knew Malvina''s cycle well! It wasn''t that time, andtely, her mood had been off, struggling with her appetite. Ulrich was even worried about potential gastrointestinal issues, considering taking her for a scope! Seeing Ulrich''s dumbfounded expression, Helen shook her head in mock disdain. "Idiot boy, how did you even manage to get a girlfriend? You don''t even realize you''re about to be a dad!" "I-I-I... Noe, you-you-you... thi-thi-this..." Ulrich turned utterly tongue-tied! Noe summarized her earlier deductions. "Considering everything you''ve said, it''s likely true, but you should still get Malvina checked out." "I''ll do it right now!" Ulrich dashed out the door, only to quickly return and hand a medicine kit to Sexton. Seeing his exhrated expression, Sexton couldn''t help butugh. "To think Marcel''s grandson would beat me to it, that old fox, always a step ahead." Catching the implied meaning in Sexton''s words, Noe chuckled lightly. "Grandpa Sexton, Gavin is cute too." Mentioning his great-grandson brought a smile to Sexton''s face, He is adorable, but I''d love to see yours and Palmer''s kids too. You both are so good-looking, your kids would be smart and beautiful..." He trailed off, letting out an almost inaudible sigh. Yet, he didn''t have much time left. Helen masked her own touch of sadness, rolling her eyes. "Why bring up such things to make the kids sad? Watch out, or Noe and Palmer''s kids won''t visit your grave!" "That won''t do, Noe. Remember to bring the kids to visit grandpa, will you?" Noe felt a pang of sorrow but promised anyway. ... Outside the Shadow Dragon Society. Robert spotted Ulrich from a distance, grinning cheekily as he approached. "Ulrich, Malvina''s inside. Did you guys have another fight?" Ever since Ulrich threatened to sterilize Robert, he acted like a mouse in front of a cat around him. Despite Robert''s intimidating exterior, Ulrich didn''t mind. He was prepared, ensuring Robert wouldn''t get a chance to harm Malvina. Leading Ulrich into the Shadow Dragon Society, Robert pointed upstairs. "Malvina''s been sleeping since she got back, noting down for meals or going to the neighboring gym. Seeing her look so down figured, heh, must be a lovers'' quarrel with you." He ventured, "Thought maybe you were considering breaking up with Malvina..." Ulrich gave him a cold look. "Keep your thoughts to yourself. I''m not leaving Malvina." "You got me wrong..." After a warning nce from Ulrich, he marched upstairs and knocked on the door. "Malvina? Can Ie in?" No reply came from inside. In his urgency, Ulrich forcefully turned the knob, barging in! Upon opening the door, he found Malvina asleep on the bed, her cheeks flushed, and her forehead rmingly hot to the touch! "Damn it!" He scooped up Malvina, carried her out, and sped towards the hospital. ... Imperial West Hospital. Ulrich had barely rushed Malvina into the hospital when he bumped into Noe, who was on her way upstairs to find Calvin. Without a second thought, he grabbed Noe by the arm. "Noe,e give me a hand here!" Ten minutester. After Malvina had been thoroughly checked, Noe stood up and removed her mask. ? "Ulrich, Malvina''s got a fever, and she''s definitely pregnant. Medication could Karm the baby, so let''s try to bring the fever down with some physical methods." Ulrich was pacing back and forth in the room, a bundle of nerves. "Okay, you stay with Malvina for a bit. I''ll step out into the corridor to call my folks!" This was big news, and the Schnabel family had to be informed. More importantly, he needed to let his family know he was nning to get married! As soon as Sienna picked up the phone, Ulrich was met with a barrage of scolding. "So, you remember to call, do you? How long has it been since you''ve been home? Might as well move into the hospital at this point!" "You never bring Malvina back for dinner. What, have you hooked up with some nurse at the hospital?" "Let me tell you, if you dare to wrong Malvina, I swear I''ll tan your hide!" Ulrich massaged his temples, bracing himself. Then he dropped the bombshell. "Mom, I''m getting married!" Chapter 410 The volume in the room shot through the roof in an instant! "What did you say? You''re marrying that nurse now? How dare you do this to Malvina!" ¡°What in the world did I do to deserve a no-good son like you!" "Damn it all! Ulrich, don''t you dare say you''re a Schnabel when you''re out there. I don''t acknowledge a son like you!" Ulrich was on the verge of a breakdown... He tried to exin multiple times, but Sienna wouldn''t even let him get a word in edgewise! Finally, Ulrich found a gap in Sienna''s tirade to speak. "Mom, it''s Malvina I''m marrying! What are you on about? Malvina might be pregnant, so I thought it''s best to get the wedding sorted sooner rather thanter. What do you think?" There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the phone. "What? What did you say?" After a two-second wait. Sienna''s voice erupted into a sharp scream on the other end! "Tristan! Drive me to the hospital, now!" "Honey, what''s wrong? Are you feeling okay?" "It''s my daughter-inw who''s not feeling well! And my future grandkids might be suffering too, hurry up!" Grandkids? Where did the grandkidse from? It wasn''t until Sienna had jumped into the car that she roared into the phone, "You just wait, young man! I''ll deal with you once I get to the hospital!" This was huge news, and Sienna was beside herself with frustration that it was only being shared now! Ulrich heaved a sigh of relief, his hand pressing against his ear. When the Schnabel family arrived at the hospital, a flurry of activity, Malvina was just waking up from her sleep. Opening her eyes to find the entire Schnabel family surrounding her, Malvina thought she was still dreaming... Sienna''s face was all smiles, her voice soft and gentle. "Malvina, you''re awake? Why didn''t you tell me you were sick, dear? You really don''t take care of yourself! Thankfully, the baby''s fine. You had us worried sick!" Malvina blinked. Baby? Hers? She instinctively touched her still-t belly, feeling no signs of any baby. How could there be a baby? Noe chimed in next to Malvina, "You are indeed pregnant, two months in. Your recent sleepiness, irritability, and morning sickness are all due to pregnancy." Malvina gasped, "Ah? And here I thought I was just sick of seeing Ulrich!" Noe replied, "... Didn''t you notice you missed your period?" ¡°Well, my cycles are irregr. Ulrich usually reminds me, or I''d forget." Sienna took Malvina''s hand in hers. "Malvina, no matter what, we truly adore you. I''ve always hoped for you and Ulrich to get married. It''s not just because of the baby, it''s because of you!" "Don''t feel pressured. Even without the baby, you are the daughter-inw I chose!" Malvina was taken aback. But the fact that Sienna was considering all this was a surprise to her. For a family like the Schnabels, epting her as a daughter-inw just because of the baby was already a big deal! Moreover, Sienna even made a point to exin that they wanted her to join the family not just because of the baby! Malvina felt somewhat embarrassed. "But... don''t you think, getting pregnant before marriage, is... improper?" Sienna waved her off. "What century are we in? Besides, getting pregnant isn''t just on you. If anything, it''s my son who couldn''t keep it in his pants!" Sienna paused, then coughed and leaned closer to Malvina. "And besides, it''s better to test the waters early, right? What if it turned out he was shooting nks? That''d be on you then, wouldn''t it? Don''t let his height fool you. What if, and I''m just saying what if, it''s all for show?" Sienna believed she was speaking some hard truths, considering things from a woman''s perspective! It made total sense! Malvina was utterly shocked! Sienna... was indeed a unique mother-inw! These were words not even her own mother would say, let aloneing from the other side. Amidst her surprise, Malvina felt deeply moved. Touching her belly, she still couldn''t believe it. She looked at Noe, her eyes sparkling. "I really have a baby? My own baby?" "It''s true." Malvina''s gaze then fell on Ulrich, who was watching her the whole time. "I fell asleep at home?" "You had a fever, and you didn''t answer my calls. Your temperature has dropped now. Don''t worry, both you and the baby will be fine." Sienna sped her hands together. "Since the baby''s not too far along, we need to start nning your wedding! Malvina, you don''t have much family, but from now on, we are your family!" The idea of marriage still felt surreal to Malvina. Ulrich knelt before her, his expression earnest. "Don''t be afraid. Our child will have a good life. The love you didn''t feel as a child, our baby will have in abundance." "Didn''t you say, treating our child well is also a way to heal your past self?" "Give me a chance, give our baby a chance for happiness, will you?" Tears welled up in Malvina''s eyes, and she burst into tears. "Yes! I agree!" Before they could embrace, Malvina''s morning sickness kicked in, making her feel nauseous again. "Maybe keep your distance, I feel like throwing up...ugh!"Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Ulrich felt a mix of hurt and amusement at being rejected by their future child, but Malvina''s well-being was all that mattered now. Sienna shoved Ulrich aside. ¡°Off you go, learn something from the obstetrician, will you? What good are you here?" "Right away!" As he dashed out, Ulrich turned back halfway, pulling out a small, exquisite box from his pocket and handing it to Malvina. "I bought this a while ago, my proposal still stands!" Watching Ulrich run off with joy after handing her the ring box, Malvina''s heart felt inexplicably soft. He really did seem over the moon! Malvina always had a soft spot for kids, dreaming of the day she could have one of her own. She used to love believe that the identity of the child''s father didn''t matter much, as long as the love for the child was real. But now, with Ulrich by her side, the word "family" sparked a newfound excitement and anticipation within her. Sienna, with a hint of irritation mixed with relief, remarked, "Well, at least he got one thing right. If he hadn''t even managed a ring, I swear I''d be on the warpath." Had Ulrich not been her own flesh and blood, Sienna might have written him off as a lost cause. It puzzled her how her sons, seemingly sharp in every other aspect of their lives, turned in complete novices when it came to matters of the heart. Ulrich and Malvina''s engagement was finally on the horizon, but what about her other sons? They seemed utterly clueless about romance. Sienna was growing increasingly worried. Turning to her friend, Noe, Sienna inquired about a rumor that had been floating around. "Noe, didn''t I hear something about Stirling being linked to an actress recently?" "You mean Yasbel? She''s a friend of mine." ¡°That''s fantastic! I''d love to meet her," Sienna eximed, her spirits lifted by the prospect of another son possibly finding love. Chapter 411 Sienna insisted on meeting Yasbel, which took Noe by surprise. "Why on earth would we need to see Yasbel?" Sienna exined, "Mom wants to find out if Yasbel has any interest in you, Stirling. Let''s face it, with Stirling''s sense of romance, he wouldn''t know love if it hit him in the face! Might as well have the girl knock him out and drag him home!" Noe: "...What?" While Sienna''s straightforward approach left Noe both amused and exasperated, she couldn''t help but retort, "Mom, love isn''t something you can force." "I know, honey. That''s why I want to see what the girl thinks first." Though they say you can''t force love, how will you know if you don''t give it a try? Considering Stirling Schnabel, who seems more interested inic books than conversations, Sienna doubted his ability to woo a partner on his own! Unable to argue with Sienna, Noe dialed Yasbel''s number. "Boss, what''s up? I''m on holiday here, don''t drag me into work!" "...It''s my mom who wants to talk to you." Hearing it was Sienna wanting a chat, Yasbel instantly dropped her casual tone for a more formal one. "Hello, this is Yasbel, the actress. How may I assist you?" Sienna couldn''t contain her excitement: "Yasbel, dear, have you started seeing someone?" "...Uh? No, I''m all about my career right now. Dreaming of clinching an Oscar and bing the world''s leading actress!" Noe cut in: "Yasbel, in English, please." "Nope, just focusing on making money." Sienna, ever so cheerful, asked, "So, what do you think of our Stirling?" "Stirling? He''s a guy, alive, smart enough toe in out of the rain, looks decent... that''s about it." "And if you were to date him, would you be interested?" Yasbel pondered seriously, "If we dated, would you try to break us up by throwing a $500,000 check at my face? Should that be taxed, boss?" Yasbel, known for her integrity in the entertainment industry, always insisted on abiding by thew, including taxes. Noe sighed, "Can''t you drop the money obsession?" "Why should I? A gentleman loves wealth and seeks it rightly. I, on the other hand, am no gentleman." Despite her words, Yasbel seriously turned down Sienna''s suggestion. "I might be a beauty that couldunch a thousand ships, but honestly, I''m not interested in romance right now. Plus, being an orphan, I don''t think I''d fit well with the Schnabel family!" Sienna quickly rified, "I didn''t mean anything by it. If you like Stirling, that''s great! If not, no hard feelings, okay?" "I didn''t take it the wrong way, but I''m really not a match for Stirling. I prefer to remain single and child-free." After hanging up, Noe calmly stated, "Mom, Yasbel is my friend. I know her well. It''s hard for her to take interest in anyone." Members of Pris Star, they oftenck the courage to start anew, showing distrust towards rtionships andmitment. Getting them to trust someone enough to consider marriage is an uphill battle. Noe understood Yasbel''s stance. Pris Star members only trust each other! Sienna didn''t push further. "Malvina, why don''t you move in with me? Let me take care of you!" "Wouldn''t that be an imposition?" "Of course not! And don''t worry about your gang''s business; I won''t interfere. That''s your legacy. If you need help, just get Ulrich to run errands. That''s what husbands are fort Malvina nodded, feeling a warm and soft spot in her heart. ... At the Schnabel Manor in Serene Haven, Phoenix Tower, Tristan rushed to share the good news with Marcel. "Pop, you''re getting an upgrade!" Marcel, ying chess against himself, looked up, "Upgrade? I''m not a gadget, son. What are you on about?" "Ah, you''re getting promoted! There''s a baby on the way!" "Really? Is it the Gruber girl?" "Exactly! Sienna and I are thinking of arranging Noe and Palmer''s wedding right after their engagement. Hope Mr. Sexton can make it." Marcel motioned Tristan to sit and join the game. "If he can''t, no biggie. Just seeing Noe and Palmer getting engaged would be enough for him." "Lucian Richardson''s sick too. Sienna and I took ra to see him. Just old age. He''s left everything to ra." Marcel paused, chess piece in hand. "Let him be. Understanding life at his age is a blessing!" Tristan rubbed his hands, "The Patel family wants to introduce their grandson to ra. What do you think?" "The Patel boy? Isn''t he Beckett''s mate? Too old, no!" "Really? He''s not that much older, is he?" Marcel was fuming, "ra is barely neen! That Patel dude is practically pushing fifty! Absolutely not!" Tristan just blinked, speechless. The eldest grandson of the Patel n was only in his thirties, quite a bit older than ra, but fifty? Was Marcel''s rounding a bit too enthusiastic? Tristan knew the old man was exceptionally picky when it came to choosing a partner for his granddaughter. "I haven''t agreed to anything! It''s ra''s decision, after all. And Sienna was just thinking, the kids are. growing up, it''s time to start vel.n nning. Aren''t Noe and Ralmer''s engagement perfect?" When it came to Noe and Palmer''s engagement, the Schnabel family was more than pleased! Even the fourth Schnabel son, who felt like Palmer had stolen his sister, was actually reassured seeing how Palmer adored and cherished Noe. Tristan scratched his head. "A parent''s love is nning for the future! As long as the kids are happy, we''re at peace!" Marcel chuckled, shaking his head. "You, having lived a good long while, are finally understanding how to be a good father! The matter with the second child is a good thing. Go ahead and prepare, just make sure Malvina doesn''t feel slighted!" "Got it!" --- At Imperial West Hospital. Inside a quiet emergency exit stairwell, Noe stood on the steps, discussing Malvina''s health with Ulrich.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Malvina, who had just woken up wanting to talk to Ulrich, saw them together as she approached. Before she could say anything, she overheard Noe and Ulrich''s conversation. "Ulrich, Malvina''s condition isn''t great. You need to take special care of her!" Chapter 412 Malvina''s heart skipped a beat! Could it be something wrong with the baby because of her health, and Noe was too scared to tell her? Was that why she was whispering to Ulrich here? "Ulrich, you need to take extra good care of Malvina these next few days. She''s running a fever and can''t take any medication, so be extra cautious." "I know, Noe... I was practically out of my mind with worry when I saw Malvina had a fever. I thought something had happened to her and the baby. I even started thinking about how I''d exin to Malvina if we lost the baby!" "Thankfully, both she and the baby are fine!" Noe, hearing a breath behind the door, guessed it was probably Malvina. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "In your heart, Ulrich, who is more important, Malvina or the baby?" Though it seemed like a trivial question, Noe knew Malvina would care about the answer! Ulrich paused, then chuckled softly. "To be honest, I never thought we''d have a baby, but the idea of having a little one that resembles her makes me incredibly happy!" "Of course, she''s more important. Even if we have a baby, the baby is important because it''s hers. That''s what makes the baby important!" "In essence, she''s the reason the baby matters!" "Babies are important, but it''s because they are hers that they matter!" "Actually, at this stage, a baby isn''t really considered a ''person'' in a societal or existential sense, just a cluster of cells. I don''t have much tangible feeling about this, but as a mother, you might feel the existence of the baby more profoundly." "I''m just really happy and feel so blessed that I''m getting married to Malvina!" Noe, seeing Ulrich in this light, also felt the unnameable joy and happiness radiating from him! For Ulrich, the real excitement came from Malvina being pregnant and the prospect of weing a lovely baby into the world, soon to be celebrated in marriage! Standing outside the door, Malvina gently pushed it open. "Are you guys here?" Ulrich immediately went to her, lifting her into his arms. "Why did youe out? Couldn''t find me? Next time, just ring the bell, and I''ll be right there! Let''s get you back to rest now!" Malvina, wrapping her arms around Ulrich''s neck, whispered softly. "I''m not a patient... Noe sweetheart is watching!" "It''s alright, Noe''s family! Noe, Palmer said he''ll be here any minute, Malvina and I will head off first!" Noe, amused, waved her hand, "Sure, got it." Leaning on Ulrich, Malvina mumbled, "I''m really scared of getting married, afraid it''ll be like my dad..." "I know. If you''re that scared, we don''t have to get married. I can talk to my parents about it." Even at this moment, Ulrich didn''t want Malvina to feel pressured. "You don''t understand! I really do want to marry you." "When you proposedst time, I almost said yes. Later, avoiding you, I was worried I couldn''t resist asking when we''d get married, which would be embarrassing." Ulrich had thought Malvina regretted agreeing to date him! But it was because of this! Malvina nervously traced circles on Ulrich''s coat. "Dr. Schnabel, when you confessed to me, I was so happy! But I''m worried you won''t be able to tolerate my difficult personality..." Malvina, with her personality, only felt unworthy in front of someone she genuinely liked! After cing her on the bed, Ulrich leaned close to Malvina''s face, whispering, "I understand. Your eyes never lie to me." No matter what was said, the eyes never deceive. Every time Malvina looked at him, her eyes were tender and gentle, like a serene pond, soft and inviting, making him unable to resist indulging in them. "I know you like me, Malvina." Someone as perceptive as him could easily tell whether the girl he liked, liked him back! Because he was sure of Malvina''s feelings, Ulrich could embrace everything about her! Malvina hugged Ulrich''s face and kissed him.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "It''s love, Dr. Schnabel!" Ulrich''s smile deepened. ... In the emergency exit, Noe was about to leave when she heard voicesing from upstairs. The door to the emergency exit closed with a loud bang. Oriana looked at Myra Whitaker in frustration and said, "Myra, don''t you like Mr. Pock? Then you should expose Noe''s true colors to him!" "That woman is up to no good. Do you really want to see the Pock family deceived by her?" Myra frowned and replied, "Oriana, do you think I''m a fool?" "What do you mean by that?" "Do you not understand what kind of family the Pock family is? Or are you pretending not to know? If the Pock family is choosing a bride you can bet they''ve vetted her ancestors back eighteen generations. Do you really vel. the Pock family is less informed than you?" Myra''s gaze at Oriana shifted. "You can think of me as a fool if you want! We''ve known each other for years, and I don''t want things to get ugly, but it''s best if you leave and don''te looking for me again!" Oriana hadn''t expected Myra to see through her lies so quickly! Myra was fed up. Ever since Oriana started gossiping, Myra felt something was off. She even went to Helen to badmouth Noe, only to be sternly rebuked by Helen''s gaze, almost unable to lift her head in shame! She was nearly sent packing back home. Helen, pointing towards the Pock family estate, spoke earnestly. "Do you really think the owner of this estate is a fool? Even someone like you, who came home with stair has been thoroughly investigated Better wise up about who your friends are, or don''t me me for not being nice." The Pock family being a bunch of fools? Impossible! How could Palmer, such an outstanding guy, fall for a woman of questionable repute? After giving it some thought, Myra realized she had been yed by Oriana! Watching Myra turn on her heel without a second nce, Oriana was seething with rage. She grabbed Myra''s arm, "Myra, wait... don''t go." Myra instinctively tried to shake her off. In the struggle, Oriana pped Myra on the back, sending her tumbling down the stairs! Screams echoed. Seeing Myra lying unconscious and bleeding at the bottom, Oriana dusted off her hands with a sense of satisfaction and quickly made her escape. At the bottom of the stairs, Noe turned to Mizar and said, "Go help her." "Boss, thatdy was always causing trouble for you before." "She''s also a die-hard fan of Azure. Guess that makes her a fan of mine." Hearing this, Mizar couldn''t help but chuckle. He walked over, picked up Myra, and with a shake of his head and a chuckle, said, "Wonder what she''ll think when she finds out that her despised rival, Ms. Schnabel, and her admired idol, Azure, are one and the same." Noe calmly stated, "Look into that Oriana. There might be something off about her!" Chapter 413 Noe always had a feeling that Oriana wasn''t as simple as she appeared to be. A fool, perhaps, but a fool with some powerful connections behind her. To know someone like Dan, you''d need a pretty solidwork! Mizar shrugged. "Well, that''s why you and Palmer are such a great match. Annie mentioned the Abyssal Organization has been poking around that woman too, along with that pint-sized gang." "It''s quite something that you''re both snooping on the same person. Truly a match made in heaven." Noe raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smile. "A perfect match, indeed. What about it?" Seeing the smile on Noe''s face sent shivers down Mizar''s spine! He hurried off with his crew, eager to escape the lovey-dovey atmosphere. Talk about being force-fed sweetness! Turning around, Noe saw Palmer standing behind her, bathed in the corridor light, the fragmented daylight gathering around him, entuating his distinguished aura. "When did you get here?" Palmer chuckled, his voice smooth and enticing. "With your sharp senses, you already know the answer." The first rule of being a hitman was to use the sounds of breathing to pinpoint people around you, and Palmer''s presence was something Noe was all too familiar with. She had known he was there from the moment he arrived! "You''ve been looking into Oriana?" Palmer reached out to Noe, taking her fingertips in his. "Yes, I knew you''d be investigating too, so I went ahead and did some digging. I''ve already sent the data to the Obelisk Organization." "Sharing the Abyssal Organization''s findings with the Obelisk Organization for free? Mr. Pock, isn''t that bad for business?" "Not at all, I''ve gained the Obelisk Organization''s most valuable treasure!" Catching his implied meaning and feeling the intensity of his gaze, Noe''s smile widened. "So, you n to take over the Obelisk Organization?" "No, I''m thinking of handing over the Abyssal Organization, but only if Ie with it." It sounded like he was the real prize of the Abyssal Organization! Holding Noe''s hand, Palmer nced towards the emergency exit. "Our first meeting was here in Imperial City, right at this spot!" If only he had known then that this girl would be the one he''d spend the rest of his life with, he might never have let her go. Hand in hand, they entered Sexton''s hospital room, where Megan was visiting the old man with her three grandsons. Little Gavin ran up to Noe and hugged her leg tightly. "Auntie, hug!" Megan scolded gently, "They''re not married yet, don''t jump the gun." Noe bent down to pat Gavin''s head. "It''s fine, it''s just a title." She didn''t mind being associated with Palmer, especially in front of his family. Sexton chuckled, "So, Noe, I hear your brother Ulrich is nning a wedding? That''s wonderful, Malvina is a lucky girl to marry into your family!" "Malvina is great, and being fated with Ulrich is a blessing for our family too." Sexton eagerly asked, "Can I... go home soon?" His days were numbered, and he wished to spend his remaining time at home. Noe checked Sexton''s pulse. "You can, I''ll visit you every day at the Pock Mansion." "That''s settled then! Your grandfather mentioned someone wanting to meet ra, bring them over for me to see!" This was news to Noe, presumably an arrangement between the Schnabel family and another influential family seeking an alliance with ra. "Alright, I''ll ask my sister about it." Sexton''s mood lifted at the thought of going home, showering his great-grandsons with affection, But soon, confusion clouded his face as he looked at Gavin, "What''s your name again?" "I''m Gavin, great-grandpa!" "Why the Vaughn surname?" "Because my grandpa is a Vaughn, and my grandma is your daughter!" "And why do you call me great-grandpa?" After Gavin''s exnation, it was clear this wasn''t the first time he had to remind Sexton of their connection. Megan turned away, her eyes welling up with tears. She, Palmer, and Noe stepped outside. "Grandpa keeps forgetting things, but he''s really looking forward to your engagement. Sometimes he even asks why Palmer''s mother hasn''t visited him yet..." Sexton was nearing the end. Palmer looked solemn. "Let''s bring grandpa home for hisst days. Our engagement party can be at home." The Pock and Sexton homes were close, with arge garden in between perfect for celebrations. Megan nodded. "It''s a good idea. Let him enjoy the home atmosphere onest time." ... Serene Haven, Dragon Tower, the Pock Mansion. After bringing Sexton back home, the whole family seemed to have entered into a silent pact not to mention his illness. Sexton himself seemed to have forgotten about his sickness altogether! ra bent down to greet him, "Grandpa, I''m back, and I brought your favorite apple pie." ¡°ra,e here let me have a look at you...Lavinia, why did youe back alone? Isn''t Jacob with you?" ra paused, realizing Sexton had mistaken her for Lavinia Richardson! "Grandpa, it''s me, ra. Mom will be visiting you in a few days." ¡°Oh... ra! Grandpa has missed you so much!" Watching Sexton''s cloudy awareness, ra couldn''t help but silently cry! Noe patted her shoulder. "Sis, don''t be sad." ra, trying to hold back her tears, said, "Noe, it breaks my heart to see Grandpa like this..." "Grandpa Sexton mentioned that Mr. Patel''s son wanted to meet you, suggested you should bring him over sometime." ¡°Huh? Who''s that? I don''t know him! I''ve been getting calls recently, but I blocked the number because it was interrupting my work!¡± ra checked her phone and indeed found several messages asking her out for dinner. "Forget it, with Grandpa''s current state of mind, if I bring someone home, he might think Mom divorced Mr. Pock and brought another man over!" Given the situation earlier, that wasn''t far-fetched... ra''s gaze drifted to Horatio, who was chatting with Helen in the garden. Maybe it was his bald head shining under the sun, or perhaps he was just naturally conspicuous! "Noe, do you think if I went over and flicked Horatio on the forehead, he''d hit me back?"Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Chapter 414 "Try it out, why don''t you?" The mere thought sent a shiver down ra''s spine, prompting her to shake her head vigorously. "Forget it, I''ll choose the high road here." Noe raised an eyebrow, a smirk ying on her lips. At the front door, Tristan arrived, his head peeking out from beneath a giant hay bale, seizing the moment to sprint towards Noe and ra. "Hey, you girls still got some cash to ssh?" Noe and ra exchanged bewildered nces, about to confirm they did when Tristan eagerly cut in. "If so, how ''bout lending your old man a bit, huh?" Noe, perplexed, asked, "Did you and Mom have another fight?" "What do you mean ''another''? I don''t like the way that sounds. It''s not fighting; it''s ''enhancing our emotional connection.'' You get me, sweetheart?" What "emotional connection" he meant was anyone''s guess, but it was true that Sienna had confiscated all his cards. Sitting on the steps with a heavy sigh after receiving money from Noe, Tristan looked up to see Palmer approaching and patted his shoulder. "Palmer, buddy, learn from my mistakes. Never put all the cards in your wife''s name. Had a spat and now I can''t even afford a motel room..." Palmer offered a sympathetic smile, his gaze softening as he looked over at Noe. "The men in the Pock family, well, we do the same with our cards." Noe''s cheeks flushed, and she fanned herself, turning away to avoid his gaze, only to be met with Palmer''s chuckle. "I''m off to visit Grandpa. Meet you for dinner?" he whispered to Noe. "Sure." ra, barely holding back herughter, teased, "Dad, can''t you just ''face pay"?" "What if your mom misses me in the middle of the night and decides toe find me?" The thought of Tristan, the CEO of Schnabel Group, being locked out and homeless after a spat with his wife was almost tooical to bear! It was all just minor squabbles between Tristan and Sienna; neither could bear to truly upset the other. "What''s the fight about this time?" Tristan exhaled heavily. "It''s all because of Stirling, that little troublemaker. When he gets back, I''m gonna give him a piece of my mind!" Stirling, in a bid to gain sympathy on a TV show, had exaggerated tales of neglect within the Schnabel family, despite their known doting nature especially towards the children, Stirling included. Tristan pulled up a video on his phone, showing Stirling in a sleek suit, iming he was mistreated in his childhood. "That kid was in kindergarten, invited his whole ss to eat without paying and got everyone sick! And that swimming story? He pushed me back in the water when had a cramp!" And the story about getting punished for taking his siblings out? "He took ra and Jasper to the beach, and they both ended up in the water. Nearly drowned!" As Tristan grew more incensed, hemented how Stirling''s dramatics had caused Sienna to use him of child abuse, now barring him froming home. "Trying to win over Yasbel by ying the victim, huh? Wait till he gets back. He''s in for it!" ra couldn''t help butugh. "Noe, don''t worry about it. Stirling''s been known for these stories. He''s not the brightest, but acting''s all he''s got." Noe chuckled, resigning herself to the chaos of the Schnabel family dynamics as she nced at Stirling still ranting on her phone screen. Good luck, Stirling. Back at Schnabel Entertainment, Stirling wrapped up his live interview, greeted eagerly by his manager. "Stirling, Azure''s announcing their new brand ambassador soon, and they''ve got aunch event. We''ve got to be there!" The race tond Azure''s first-ever brand endorsement was fierce. Even someone of Stirling''s caliber had to put in the extra effort. Hollywood was practically queuing up to curry favor with Master Azure. "Is Yasbel going?" someone asked. "Ah? We''re not sure about Yasbel yet." Stirling pondered for a moment. He was desperate to find an opportunity to properly apologize to Yasbel! But their schedules never seemed to align, and whenever he suggested they grab dinner, she was wary of being caught by the paparazzi, fearing it would only lead to more trouble. His agent caught the look on Stirling''s face. "Why don''t we arrange a meeting with Yasbel to talk about that TV series you two were involved in? Despite the production team facing bacsh, the script itself was solid." "Buying the rights to the script and shooting it again might be a good investment for us."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Maybe you and Yasbel could... not rekindle anything, per se, but coborate once more?" Stirling was known for his meticulous selection of scripts! And Yasbel was just as discerning, only taking on projects that met her high standards. A chance to reshoot would not only be a tremendous challenge but also a golden opportunity for both of them! Besides, it was all in the name of work... She surely wouldn''t turn that down! With that thought, Stirling felt a spark of inspiration. Chapter 415 Yasbel casually grabbed the phone lying on the couch. The moment she saw the caller ID, her eyebrows knotted in annoyance. "Mr. Schnabel, what''s the drama this time?" "I''m thinking of buying the script from ourst TV project. Are you interested in continuing the shoot?" Yasbel sat up straight. She had investments in that script! She wasn''t about to watch a great script go down the drain because of some directorial issues. "Sure, my agent will discuss the details with you. If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up." Stirling quickly added, "Are you attending Azure''s new productunch?¡± Yasbel nced at Kitai standing before her. Why would she go to theunch? Wasn''t she backstage at Azure right now? "Mr. Schnabel, I''ve told you your sponsorship is secure. Don''t forget our bet." If Stirling secured Azure''s sponsorship, he had to fulfill a condition for Yasbel! "Alright." Before Stirling could finish, Yasbel hung up and decided to block him! Kitai''s eyes widened. "Yasbel, you just agreed to work with him on a project, and now you''re blocking him? Is that really okay?" Yasbel shrugged. "The details are for my agent to handle. Besides, I don''t want to go through another heart attack from getting a call from his mom!" Kitai burst intoughter. "Yasbel, are you sure you''re not into Stirling?" "Not interested." Yasbel was very straightforward. "To me, he''s just a kid! I''m not into younger guys, how could I be interested?" People from Pris Star have seen too much of the world. Far beyond what ordinary people can endure. Even someone as aplished as the young Mr. Schnabel seemed childish to Yasbel. Yasbel stretched, showing off her curves. "Look at the boss, she chose a man who walks the same path as her. Why settle for less if I can''t find a fellow traveler?" Only Yasbel would think being with Mr. Schnabel''s son was settling! Kitai nodded. ¡°That makes sense, but people like Mr. Pock are rare gems. You''re not just saying you''re not good enough for the Schnabel family, are you?"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Yasbel shook her finger. "I''m good enough for anyone! Mr. Schnabel just isn''t my type for now. Maybe in the future, but until he knows about my past, he''s not at my level." Yasbel was only looking ahead. In her eyes, Stirling, who had always had an easy life, could never understand her past struggles. Kitai chuckled along. "Who says Mr. Schnabel''s had it easy? He''s met you, hasn''t he? What a challenge!" It was clear to anyone with eyes that Stirling felt differently about Yasbel. But sadly, it was a case of unrequited love. Yasbel rolled her eyes and slipped on her sunsses. "He should consider himself lucky to face such a beautiful challenge like me. Only the blessed get this kind of trouble!" On the other side. Noe had just finished examining Sexton, advising him on what to be mindful of. "Eat whatever you fancy." Sexton barely recognized the person before him! His eyes gradually losing focus, he suddenly widened them at Noe. "Harriet? What are you doing here? Oh, I remember, your medical skills are top-notch!" Silence fell in the room! It took a moment for Sexton to gather his thoughts. "I''m just down with a cold! Go back to Marcel!" Sexton looked around the room, growing anxious. ¡°Harriet, have you seen my wife?¡± Helen was sitting by the window, clearly unrecognized by Sexton! Noe sighed. ¡°Grandpa Sexton''s memories seem to be stuck in his younger days. We''ll see more of this." Sexton, failing to find his wife, became more agitated. "Harriet, is Helen mad at me? I didn''t mean to stop her from singing. I''m just worried about her. She''s been weak since the birth!" Helen''s eyes flickered. Megan spoke up, "Dad, why didn''t you say this earlier?" "What are you talking about? Helen''s stubborn. If I told her she''s too weak for singing, she''d sing non-stop for days! Ah, I''ve got a daughter now!" "Harriet, could you prepare some medicine for Helen? We should stick to one child. Taking Helen''sst name sounds good too. Childbirth is too painful for women!" Sexton''s face bore a smile that belied his age, like a new father basking in the joy of his child, yet filled with concern for his wife. Noe, knowing the condition, simply nodded. "Okay." Minutester. Sexton turned to his eldest daughter, "Ah, prepare for my afternoon swim!" "Swimming now?" "Your mom''s been ill. I need to stay fit to care for her." Megan remembered a time when Helen was indeed unwell. Despite having enough help, why would Sexton insist on swimming daily, then argue with Helen at the hospital? Megan fought back tears. "Mom''s better now. It''s you who''s sick..." Sexton looked resigned. "Is it really me? Well, if it has to be someone... I guess it''s okay. I mean, Helen isn''t exactly the nurturing type, is she?" Megan turned away, quickly wiping away a tear that had escaped her eye. Helen, who had been quietly sitting by the window, now wore a soft, tender smile that seemed quite out of character for her. The moment Sexton caught sight of her, his whole demeanor lit up with undeniable excitement! "Helen,e over here, sit with me!" he beckoned with a warmth that filled the room. "Of course." The two elderly figures huddled together, their closeness a testament to years of shared I history: Sexton, with a nce at the younger generation standing by, felt a deep satisfaction. to "It''s a pity, though... days like these are numbered..." Next to him, Helen slowly closed her eyes, whispering in a voice so faint it was almost inaudible, "There will be more days like these, many more..." ... Kitai''s call came through at that moment. "Boss, your suit''s all done. Master Esme''s nning to feature it in an exhibition and wants you toe along!" Esme''s trip back home was primarily to oversee the creation of Noe''s engagement dress personally. And now, she intended to put the final touches on the engagement dress live at the fashion exhibition task she insisted onpleting with Noe by her side. "I''ll be right there," came the eager reply. Upon hearing that it was about picking up Noe''s engagement dress, ra insisted on joining them. She wouldn''t dream of missing it! Chapter 416 Theunch of Azure''stest collection coincided with Fashion Week, creating a buzz that had the entire fashion world on the edge of their seats. Fashion icon Esme was set to unveil her first new works in three years alongside Azure''s debut, sending the media into a frenzy! By the time they arrived, the venue was swarmed, inside and out, with media eager for a scoop. Noe, with ra in tow, breezed past the security line, heading straight backstage. ra''s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Noe, I heard even your brother and his friends might be here. Do you think we''ll get to meet the legendary Azure in person?" Beckett was there, pondering over Azure''s business prospects. Ulrich hoped to personally invite Azure to design a wedding dress for Malvina. Stirling was on pins and needles, waiting to see if he''d be the face of the new campaign. Jasper was present purely because Azure was one of Noe''s investments! "Why are you even here, Stirling? Why not have a word with Noe?" someone teased. Stirling shook his head, a faint blush on his handsome face from a recent scuffle with Tristan, who had chased him down in a cab just to give him a piece of his mind! "Noe''s just the investor. It''s Azure who picks the brand ambassadors. She''s the soul of the brand," Stirling affirmed. Jasper nodded in agreement. "Rumor has it, Ms. Esme might actually be Azure. Wouldn''t surprise me one bit." If Esme was indeed Azure, then they knew Noe would have no say over Esme''s decisions! Stirling clenched his fists. "Knowing someone as incredible as Esme already makes Noe amazing in my book." Ulrich chuckled. "Noe''s got more up her sleeve than you know. Just her connections alone span the globe, not to mention her rumored identity as the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris!"Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Beckett, adjusting his sses, said, "Azure sources all its materials from Pris Star and top-tier brands only. I''m here to help Noe assess theirtest product line''s market positioning." Stirling couldn''t help but twitch at Beckett''s workaholic nature. Backstage, Noe and Kitai were giving the uing collection one final check. Esme, draped in a stunning purple gown, stood before a covered garment, her eyes shimmering with joy and anticipation. Master Hector chuckled. "You''ve always wanted to see Noe off into marriage, and now you''re one step closer." "Hmph, this is just the engagement. I n to design for her children''s weddings too!" "Sure, you''ll live to be 120, designing dresses for Noe''s grandchildren. You''ll be the ultimate fairy godmother," Hector teased. Esme shot him a re. "Less talk, more action. I''m taking Noe up there with me to unveil the wedding dress." "And to announce that Noe is my sessor, the next shining star!" Hectorughed. "You just can''t wait to pass on your legacy to Noe before her wedding, can you?" Esme scoffed, ¡°As if you all aren''t nning to leave everything to Noe behind the scenes." 1 The old gang, as they were, had thoroughly vetted Palmer, Noe''s fianc¨¦, down to his baby pictures and even his mother''s prenatal. records. Nothing escaped their scrutiny, all in the name of ensuring the best for Noe. Kitai pulled back the curtain. "Master Esme, we''re up." The show was about to start, with Azure''s collection set to be the highlight. The earlier brands were merely a warm-up. Kitai announced, "This season, Azure is all about first love, a departure from our signature green and mountain motifs. We''ve ventured into bridal wear, aiming to capture the essence of first love." The crowd was abuzz with excitement, especially when they learned that Azure and Esme would present the finale piece together. Jasper pped. "Could Noe''s engagement be the reason Azure''s diving into bridal wear?" Outside, people mored at the gates, desperate for a glimpse. The traffic was a nightmare, with roads blocked and GPS painted red with gestion. Myra, having finally arrived on a bike-share, wiped her brow. She''d barely made it with her ticket in hand, due to the traffic. But then Oriana appeared, blocking Myra''s path, her presence immediately darkening Myra''s mood. "You''re blocking my way. Is this your roundabout way of asking for a ride to the police station?" "Myra, I can exin everything about the past, but today, you have to take me with you!" Myra was beyond impatient. Just seeing Oriana reminded her of the audacity of the woman-pushing her down the stairs! Now, she had her head wrapped in bandages. "Out of my way!" Oriana lowered her voice, "Myra, you know today''s the big reveal of Azure''stest fashion line, right? el What if I told you someone''s nning to sabotage Azure''s showstopper dress, making your idoftheughing stock of the event?" "This is Azure''s debut, with all the media spotlight on him!" Oriana grabbed Myra''s arm. "Myra, you wouldn''t want your idol to face such a scandal, right? If you take me with you now, there''s still time to stop it!" Myra was still healing, and after biking for miles to get here, she was no match for Oriana''s grip. "Let go of me! Even if what you''re saying is true, I''m not taking you with me!" Oriana pulled out her phone, showing Myra a video. "This is the custom fabric ordered by Azure. Someone''s tampered with it, and today, an imposter is nning to pose as Azure!" "How do you know all this?" Oriana gave a mysterious smile. "Because I know who the real Master Azure is!" Chapter 417 The logo of Azure Inc. was unmistakably visible in the video! Could it be true that someone had tampered with Azure''s fabrics? Myra forced herself to remain calm. "Are you treating me like an idiot? If the fabrics have been tampered with, why not just call the cops?" "And you''re telling me someone''s trying to impersonate Master Azure here? That''s the most ridiculous thing I''ve ever heard! With all of Azure''s staff around, do you think they''re blind, and you''re the only one with brains?" After bumping her head, Myra had an epiphany! Even if she was a fool, could the Pock family be fooled? Could a giant like Azure Inc. be easily duped? If fools could build empires, she''d dly join their ranks! Oriana didn''t expect Myra to be so resistant! "But what if it''s an internal power struggle at Azure? With Master Azure never showing their face, what if someone inside wants to push her out, introducing a fake Master Azure? Who would know if it''s true or not?" Myra rolled her eyes. "So, you''re saying everyone''s clueless except you?" Oriana: ". : "..." Wasn''t Myra supposed to be the simpleton? Why the sudden change? Nothing she said was taken at face value anymore! Taking a deep breath, Oriana stepped closer, her hand gripping a knife, pressing it against Myra''s waist. "Look, I tried being nice... Take me with you, got it now?" Sweat dotted Myra''s forehead! With no other choice, she reluctantly led Oriana inside. On stage, Azure''stest line of bridal gowns was being showcased. Kitai, standing off to the side, was practically beaming, his smile costing him nothing, thrilled with the sess of the event. Before even reaching the halfway point, the season''s new arrivals were already sold out! This was a windfall! Had he known how lucrative aunch could be, he would''ve convinced the boss no matter what it took! Clearing his throat, Kitai announced, "And now, for our grand finale, a gown custom-made for Ms. Schnabel!" The Schnabel family instantly straightened up in their seats. Jasper rubbed his hands together, phone at the ready, eager to send the moment to Sienna and Tristan! The spotlight converged on the runway. Esme, in the stunning gown, walked with grace and confidence, her chin slightly raised, her gaze sweeping across the room,manding everyone''s attention. "I personally crafted this gown." The crowd gasped! It was a masterpiece by Esme herself! With a warm smile, Esme shared, "As a designer, I believe love is sewn into the fabric. To convey my affection, I handled every cut of the fabric and every flower made of diamonds myself." "Today''s showcase is also a tribute to my beloved student, Azure,pleting our final step together!" Master Azure was Esme''s prot¨¦g¨¦! Oriana, clutching Myra''s hand, fixed her gaze on Noe as she walked by. Why her! Just because she belonged to the Schnabel family, even Master Azure and Esme had toe together to create a gown for her? Seething with envy, Oriana grabbed Noe''s arm! "Stop right there!" Noe smoothly dodged Oriana''s grasp, her eyes quickly assessing her and Myra.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. If she remembered correctly, Myra was supposed to be in the hospital. With a raised eyebrow, Noe hinted, "If you''ve been kidnapped, blink twice." Myra hurriedly blinked! The threat of the knife loomed over her; she dared not make a move! Had she known Oriana was this deranged, she would''ve never associated with her. Noe nodded and swiftly pulled Myra to her side, her knee sending Oriana tumbling! Myra couldn''t believe Noe would actually stand up for her! "Thank you, but don''t worry about me. She imed someone''s going to impersonate Master Azure today!" Oriana sneered, "Did you really think she''d help you? Ms. Schnabel is just a country bumpkin who probably has never met Master Azure!" "Besides, who''s to say Ms. Schnabel isn''t the impostor?" Noe raised an eyebrow. Pretend to be herself? That theory was amusing, to say the least. What was going on in Oriana''s head? Seeing Noe''s silence, Oriana smiled triumphantly. "Hit the nail on the head, didn''t I? Don''t me me for not warning you, Azure''s factory will soon be mine! In the future, even Master Azure will have to pay her respects to me!" Myra was furious! "What did you say? I won''t allow you to disrespect Master Azure like this! I''d rather see my family bankrupt than let you seed!" Noe remembered the fraudulent customs documents signed ''Or.'' Indeed, Oriana seemed connected to this mess. Noe smirked at Myra, her eyes red with anger. "No one''s going to impersonate Azure, not with Esme up there. Who''d dare, in her presence?" "You''re right!" Noe gestured towards Oriana. "Security, please escort thisdy out." "And why should I leave? This isn''t your house!" Oriana had fought hard to infiltrate this hoping for a chance O Master Azure herse het a fight!! t about to leave without Noe gave her a fleeting nce. Esme disliked disturbances at her events, and so did Noe. People like Oriana were merely pawns to others. "This ce, as it happens, is indeed mine." Watching Noe approach the stage, Oriana seethed. All an act! Was it all because she was the daughter of the Schnabel family? She clenched her teeth, venom dripping from her words, "Just you wait and see, Esme is definitely going to drop her! Esme isn''t some charity worker from the local church bake sale; she won''t go easy on her!" Little did anyone know, as a designer, even though Oriana specialized in jewelry design, her most revered idol was Esme! Seeing Noe standing with Esme, Oriana was nearly losing her mind! She had watched every interview of Esme, knew all about her temperament, and was certain Esme would never let Noe off the hook! As Noe stepped onto the stage, the Schnabel sons'' eyes widened in disbelief. Jasper nudged Beckett, "Is Noe up there to try on dresses?" Beckett shrugged, "Since when do sponsors need to model at aunch? What''s the protocol here?" Ulrich chimed in, "Maybe they''re letting Noe have a go?" Stirling rolled his eyes, "Ulrich, you''re out of your mind. Who tries on clothes on stage? What''s Esme thinking?" Esme gazed at the graceful young woman beside her. Taking her hand, she looked down at the gathered media. "I''m thrilled that my dearest prot¨¦g¨¦ can wear the wedding dress I''ve designed for her during my lifetime," Esme dered. "This dress, I started designing years ago." "And with that, I announce that Miss Noe, the head and designer of Azure, will be my sessor!" Esme''s voice, though not loud, resonated with authority, ensuring everyone heard. The Schnabel brothers stood up in unison, utterly astounded! Chapter 418 Was Noe actually Master Azure?! Esme clutched Noe, tears brimming in her eyes. "I''m overjoyed, my prot¨¦g¨¦, to see you''ve outshined even me. Thank you, everyone, for your kindness!" Together, Noe and Esme bowed slightly. Standing on the stage, they were not only mentor and mentee but also the embodiment of a fashion legacy! Kitai was sobbing into a tissue, unable to control her emotions. ¡°Oh man, the boss and Master Esme always know how to pull on my heartstrings..." Jasper stared at Noe on stage, utterly stunned. "Beckett, did Master Esme just say... that Noe is, Master Azure?" Beckett tried to keep his cool, adjusting his sses. "It seems like it, doesn''t it?" It wasn''t that Beckett hadn''t considered the possibility of Noe being Master Azure before. After all, the owner of the Azure brand being the designer herself made the most sense. But bing the boss of Azure was no small feat! Let alone being the designer who had shaken up the entire Imperial City fashion scene, a true gem in the world of design. Master Azure''s creations carried a soul, a unique essence! Noe was already the leader of Pris Star, and now it turned out she was also the designer Master Azure herself! Suddenly, Beckett felt like maybe they, her brothers, were the least aplished ones in the family... Stirling felt like crying. "Beckett, Noe''s only how old?" Their sister had just celebrated her neenth birthday! She was still a young woman, not even twenty! Noe swept her gaze across the audience, her demeanor calm. "Thank you all for being here. Also, I''d like to take this moment to announce that Azure''s first brand ambassadors will be Mr. Stirling for the men''s line and Ms. Yasbel for the women''s line!" Under the re of countless camera shes, Stirling managed to suppress the urge to cry, putting on a professional smile. "Thank you, Master Azure, for this opportunity. I look forward to our coboration." Only Stirling knew how weak his knees felt. If it weren''t for his professionalism, he doubted he could keep his smile in ce. The audience was astounded! Azure''s first choice of brand ambassadors included Stirling, and the head designer turned out to be Ms. Noe Schnabel! As the curtain behind her was drawn, a dazzlingly white wedding dress was revealed, drawing gasps of admiration from all around. ¡°Oh my goodness..." "This is stunning! Makes me want to get married all over again!" On stage, the dress was not overly borate. The satin gown was elegant and pure, adorned with butterflies and pearls, each diamond meticulously chosen and sewn on by Esme herself! As she said, love was in the very stitches. Each detail was a testament to her affection for Noe! This was Noe''s first viewing of the dress, and just as she remembered Esme''s preferences, every detail was to her liking. From the fabric to the cut, from the embroidery to the hem, every aspect showcased the love embedded in this gown. They were mentor and mentee, but also family, with the elder''s affection for the younger. In Esme''s eyes, Noe had always been her child! Noe''s eyes welled up with tears. "It''s perfect. What else do you need me to do?" In reality, there was nothing more to be done to the dress. Esme stroked Noe''s hair, her eyes brimming with tender love. "Thest thing, only you can do. Wear it! This dress, named ''First Love'', do you like it?" "My Noe, falling for a man for the first time. Your first love, and also a gift from me for your engagement!" Her first love! It was Palmer, to whom she was soon to be engaged, and this wedding dress! Only Esme, who cherished her above all, would make such meaningful gestures to show Noe she was loved. Noe felt a bittersweet surge in her heart. "I love it." "Then go try it on, give this dress its life and value!" Noe nodded. Esme looked around, "While my dear girl is changing, I also want to announce that I''ll be retiring officially! From now on, Noe will take over all my duties!" A journalist reluctantly spoke up, "Master Esme, you could keep going for decades!" Esme quipped, "What, you think I should keep at it till I''m eighty? It''s time for the younger generation to take over!" Behind her, the big screen disyed images of Noelta drawing designs, cutting fabric herself. The first picture showed Noe, only as tall as Esme''s waist, needing to be lifted to see the fabrics in the dye vats. supporting an elder Esm?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Thest one was of Noe the mentor and mentee cutting fabric together. "I''m so proud, my prot¨¦g¨¦ has always been brilliant. She will always be my pride!" The audience felt moved, witnessing the charm of this legacy through the mentor and mentee. The Schnabel brothers were struggling to keep theirposure. If they didn''t maintain their facade, they''d all be in tears! Jasper, while live-streaming to Sienna, was wiping away tears. "Gosh, she was such an adorable kid, so tiny." Sienna and Tristan hugged each other, crying together. "We''re on our way!" If it weren''t for being busy preparing for Noe''s engagement and Ulrich''s wedding, Sienna wouldn''t have missed seeing her daughter in her wedding dress for the first time! Backstage at Azure. Noe slipped into the white dress, its satin design clinging to her form. The zipper at the back got stuck on a diamond, making it difficult to pull up. "Can you help me with the zipper...?" Before Noe could finish, a kissnded on the exposed skin of her shoulder. A deep voice resonated behind her, "Noe, you look absolutely stunning today." Following his reflection in the mirror, Noe realized Palmer had arrived behind her at some point! "Why are you here? Weren''t you supposed to be home with Grandpa Sexton?" "ra said, ''I''d totally regret it if I didn''te!'' so here I am!" el ra coughed twice, clutching her phone and sneaked away! Though she wasn''t a fan of the idea of her sister being swooped up by some random guy, she had to admit, since they were both part of the Pottack family, Palmer didn''t exactly count as a stranger anymore! With that thought, ra cheerfully made her way to the front, joining the Schnabel family''s fourth son for a lively chat. Her slender fingers gently pulled the zipper down a bit, fixing a diamond caught at the edge, and then smoothly zipped it up again. ??? Vel Palmer''s hands were busy tying the sash around his fianc¨¦e''s waist, paying attention to every detail. Noe turned slightly, locking eyes with Palmer''s earnest and passionate gaze. His thumb pressed against Noe''s chin, Palmer held her delicate jaw firmly and nted a forceful kiss. "Thankfully, I''m not toote." "If I hadn''t been the first to see Noe in her wedding dress, I might have lost my mind." Noe wanted to argue that it was all because he had been too busytely. Besides, wasn''t he bound to see her eventually? To punish Noe for her wandering thoughts, Palmer deepened the kiss, boldly iming the scarce air between their lips. A shiver ran down her spine as Palmer''s voice, tinged with a punishing tone, whispered in Noe''s ear. "I''m so d, my fianc¨¦e''s first love, is me." Chapter 419 They were each other''s first love! Palmer''s fingers gently brushed across Noe''s flushed lips. "If only the timing and the ce were right... What a pity." Feeling the intense gaze he fixed on her, Noe understood what Palmer meant by ''pity'' at that moment! The fashion show venue was brilliantly lit with many candles, thanks to Kitai''s genius. Backstage, elegant candbras, reminiscent of a grand castle, adorned the space. ss covers shielded the fabric from the candle mes. The warm, orange glow caught in Noe''s eyes. The sound of the wick popping spread with the light, and at that moment, they only had eyes for each other! Heartbeats skipped. Noe gently pushed back, "There are so many people waiting outside... I should go." "I''lle with you." Palmer bowed gracefully before her, extending his hand. "Since you''re my bride-to-be, it''s only right that I hold your hand." Their engagement party wasn''t even today. But for Palmer, this was the first time his beloved girl wore a wedding dress for him! cing her hand in his, Noe smiled brightly. "Then, I''m counting on you." "The honor is mine." As the curtain lifted, the crowd held their breath! The Schnabel family''s sons were all on edge! All eyes were on Noe as she stepped out, hand in hand with Palmer, who was dressed in a sharp white suit! It might have been a coincidence, but Palmer''s suit was white today, and backstage, Noe had picked out a tie for him. Now, they looked as though they were dressed for their engagement. All the lights focused on them, making them the perfect pair!Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. The media hadn''t expected Palmer to personally attend such an event! "Just trying on the engagement dress, and Mr. Pock himself shows up. It seems he truly adores Ms. Schnabel." "Mr. Pock and Ms. Noe are such a match! I heard the Pock Group recently acquired several factories, all as an engagement gift for Ms. Noe..." "That''s nothing. You know thend in the east of the city? Despite the fiercepetition, it''s also a gift from the Pock Group!" "The engagement gift that costs nine figures..." The crowd was stunned! The Schnabel sons'' eyes nearly popped out! To them, it was all about their sister in her wedding dress! Jasper''s eyes teared up, slightly wanting to cry. "Oh, my sister looks so beautiful, but it''s a shame for that Pock boy..." Beckett was the mostposed, his gaze shifting between Noe and a younger her cutting fabric in the background. At that moment, time seemed to blend together! Their sister had grown up without them noticing. And she had grown up well! She had someone to walk with her through life. Perhaps, they weren''t needed anymore! Stirling dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, his teary appearance captured by the media. He just felt so sad! No wonder Yasbel was so sure; he must be Azure''s spokesperson. The designer chose the most suitable spokesperson for the brand, valuing his fashion sense and fan impact. And the sister chose her brother! Azure''s spokesperson would be him, and only him! For the first time, Stirling felt protected by the youngest member of their family... The other Schnabel children felt the same, their faces wet with tears as they watched Noe. Esme took Noe''s hand from Palmer. "Borrowing her for a moment." "Remember to return her." Esme led Noe to the center of the runway, where the starlight effects converged on her dress, dazzling and stunning everyone! Esme''s eyes were full of love. "This dress, it''s Noe''s first love, but it''s also my star!" For everyone at Pris Star, Noe was their star! She bravely faced Pris Star, leading them away, like a beacon of light in the darkness, bringing stars into their lives! Noe''s eyes moistened. Esme stepped forward, hugging Noe gently. "Be happy, or I swear I''ll make whoever lets you down pay and take you away from here!" "Don''t worry, no one can let me down. You should trust my judgment." She wouldn''t choose or trust the wrong person! At the show''s entrance, Tristan and Sienna, rushing over, paused at the sight of Esme hugging Noe in her wedding dress. Their daughter was the best in the world! In the crowd Myra touched her face, surprised to find herself crying. Recalling her bold ims in front of Noe, stating only a man of high morals like Master Azure deserved Palmer, she now wished for a quick escape from her embarrassment! ... Serene Haven. The entrance was decorated joyously, with the Schnabel and Pock families holding an intimate engagement ceremony, inviting only close friends and family. Palmer had decisively dealt with the Pock Group''s troublesome branches, sending them off to Lockhart Prison. Only those uninvolved in past disputes and allies of Sexton were present. Given Sexton''s poor health, the engagement was officially a family gathering! Early in the morning, Marcel, apanied by Wren, drove alone to the cemetery. Kneeling by Harriet''s grave, Marcel personally wiped her tombstone clean. Wren said with a hint of concern in his voice, "General, there''s no need for you toe down here yourself, the caretaker cleans the gravestone every day. You should be careful with your back; it''s going to start acting up again!" "It''s alright," Marcel replied with a dismissive wave of his hand, "I wanted to do thisst time, but I was worried Noe and the rest would think I''m being silly." After tending to the grave for a while, Marcel gazed at the photograph on the gravestone. "Harriet, my dear, Noe and Palmer are getting engaged. I chose Palmer for Noe! I wonder, if you could see him, would you think I made a good choice?" Wren chuckled and said, "Why wouldn''t she? Look at how well you chose for Mr. Schnabel. His wife is a gem!" Indeed, Sienna was a wonderful addition to the family, excelling as a daughter-inw, a wife, and a mother. "Harriet, Noe is doing just fine, so you can rest easy. And the kids you''ve never met, they''re all doing great too," Marcel reassured the memory of histe wife. After talking to Harriet for a bit more, Marcel took out a family photo from his pocket and ced it in front of the gravestone. Wren, surprised, pointed out, "This photo even has Merrick and Lady Freya in it, but not you, sir!" Even Sexton and Helen were there! The only one missing was Marcel himself. "No, no, it''s better this way. On such a joyous asion, she might feel it''s bad luck to see me. As for forgiveness, well, in a few years, when it''s my time, she''ll tell me herself!" "General, please don''t talk like that!" Marcel waved off the concern, "Let''s head back. Time to go home!" Chapter 420 The Serene Haven was all set and ready for the big day. Since it was a family gathering, Marcel found himself seated right beside Sexton. Sexton, with tears streaming down his face, watched as Noe and Palmer walked in hand in hand. His memory was a bit fuzzy these days. He''d been slipping into longer and longer periods of unconsciousnesstely. But seeing his grandson, the one he worried about the most, finally standing next to a girl in a wedding dress brought tears to his eyes. Helen passed him a handkerchief. "Dry your eyes, will ya? It''s just an engagement, not the wedding!" "An engagement is wonderful too. I guess I won''t be around to see the wedding!" Taking the handkerchief, Sexton carefully dried his face and looked over at the young couple walking towards him, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. Helen watched him, her expression calm. "Well, now you can say you''ve no regrets." "How can I not have regrets..." Everyone has regrets. He just didn''t have the time to make up for his anymore! Merrick Horwich casually asked, "What regrets do you have?" "Oh, loads! I spent thest few years in the hospital, but I wasn''t idle, you know!" Saying this, Sexton pulled out a notebook from his pocket, flipping it open to reveal a list of densely packed ns. ¡¾70th Wedding Anniversary with Helen, a travel itinerary.¡¿ ¡¾Taking the grandkids on a world tour.¡¿ ¡¾Raising Palmer''s kid, a childhood development n.¡¿ It was surprising that Sexton, in his idle hospital days, had written down so many things! "Ya know, a man''s gotta have something to look forward to, or life just ain''t worth living!" Helen blinked, "You were nning to take me... on a trip?" "Yeah! Didn''t we say when we got married that we''d travel every year? Work got in the way, then family troubles, and it just never happened!" These ns were a distant memory for Helen, forgotten over time. She always thought she wasn''t the one truly in his heart! But as the years passed and circumstances changed, no one dwelled on these thoughts anymore. Before bing Mrs. Pock, Helen was the dazzling star Helen Barth! She wouldn''t have married a man she didn''t love, no matter how wealthy he was. "Why didn''t you say these things when we were younger?" "With your temper? You''d have thought I was lying. Besides, who talks about love and affection all the time!¡± It''s all a bit embarrassing to say out loud! Helen wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye, remaining silent. The engagement ceremony was simple. Beckett looked at Noe, his emotions mixed. "Noe, I''m so happy for you! But I have to ask, do you agree to be engaged to Palmer, to be fianc¨¦s?" "Engagement isn''t the same as dating. It''s not the official wedding yet, but from now on, you''ll need to support each other through thick and thin!" Noe nodded gently. "I do." Palmer, holding her hand, said firmly do, too." Beckett nodded, handing them the rings to exchange, a symbolic gesture of theirmitment. The rings sparkled under the sunlight, drawing everyone''s gaze. After signing the engagement certificate, it was as if their promises to each other were even more solidified. The elders looked on, faces beaming with joy. Sexton, momentarily lost in thought, suddenly stood up, ready to leave in a hurry. Megan quickly grabbed him, "Dad, where are you off to on such a great day?" "I need to pick up your mom from work!" "But mom''s right here!" ¡°Oh no, Helen''s still at the theatre!" Megan felt a mix of sadness and sympathy; it was clear Sexton no longer recognized Helen as she was now. "Dad, remember Palmer?" "How could I forget? He''s my most cherished grandson!" "Your cherished grandson is getting engaged today, would you really want to miss that?" Sexton paused, looking confused. Palmer and Noe approached, offering a cup of tea. "Grandpa, please have some teaket Though not a tradition for velitet engagements, Sexton never had the chance to receive this gesture from his granddaughter-inw, Today, they included it. Sexton chuckled, epting the cup and drinking it all in one go. "Ah, grandpa''s enjoying his tea!" The same cups were also passed to Marcel and Merrick Horwich. Sienna nudged Tristan. "Why isn''t Palmer''s dad here today?" "It''s tough for thed. From now on, we''ll treat him like our own son. After all, a son-inw is like a half-son, we''re the winners here!" After all, what business deal couldpare to Palmer? Tristan was bursting with pride! That''s his son-inw! Sienna rolled her eyes. "And who was it that came home crying after the Pock Group outbid himst time?¡± "Who? I don''t know him! Besides, it wasn''t a steal. If I knew that deal was Palmer''s engagement gift to Noe, I wouldn''t have bid... Silly boy, telling me!" Initially, thatN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. contract was meant to be Noet dowry from the Schnabel family! But no one expected Palmer to set his sights on it too. Aftering home fuming, Tristan received an apology call from Palmer. Apparently, his team didn''t understand it was a gift he desperately wanted to secure for the future Mrs. Pock... Tristan''s mood instantly lifted! After all, it was all for Noe, the process didn''t matter! ¡°What does this tell you? It means my son-inw and I are on the same wavelength!" Siennaughed. Being on the same wavelength? Then don''t get so worked up next time! Only she knew how frustrated Tristan had been. Outside Serene Haven, a frail olddy with messy hair attempted to storm in, ranting. "How dare you all treat me this way!" "This house rightfully belongs to me!" Helen straightened up, ncing at the security guards behind her. "What''s with the oversight? On a day like this, having her around is just annoying." Ashlyn was a hot mess, hair flying everywhere as she stormed out of the rehab center, fuming with the news she''d just heard from the doctor. Palmer and Noe were getting engaged today, and it felt like her world was crumbling down. "That witch Harriet! How could you allow this to happen?" "And Noe, that little thief! How dare she steal Yvonne''s man! Yvonne is the one who deserves to be thedy of the Pock mansion!" "Sienna, this is all your fault!" Noe stood by, her face a mask of icy indifference to Ashlyn''s tirades. Before Noe could utter a word, the roar of a helicopter de cutting through the air silenced everyone. The helicopter hovered above, its des whipping up a gust of wind, and down dropped a ropedder with a white-haired old man cackling madly as he descended. "Ha! The old man is back!" "Granddaughter, did grandpa arrive toote? On such a big day, there''s no way I could miss it!" "Let''s see who dares to mess with my granddaughter''s engagement party. I''ll sort them out with my shotgun!" Ashlyn''s eyes widened in shock upon seeing Xavier dangling from the helicopter, her expression turning to one of sheer panic. Chapter 421 "It''s you!" Why the hell is this old man back?! Back in the day, he was always giving her a hard time! Marcel Schnabel had just tied the knot with Ashlyn, and Xavier had been stirring up trouble non-stop. Xavier didn''t care whose fault it was. Anyone who crossed Harriet in his eyes was in for a beating! Sure, Marcel had messed up, but Ashlyn was no angel either. He treated them both the same. Seeing Xavier brought all those old memories flooding back to Ashlyn! And Marcel? He couldn''t care less. Xavier causes trouble, and his advice is just to suck it up! The helicopter was still a few meters off the ground when Xavier slid down the rope, swaggering over with a smug grin, holding out a box. "My dear granddaughter, this is a little something from your Uncle Xavier. An engagement is a big deal, and when you get married, I''ll get you something even nicer!" Noe took the elegant box from him. "I thought you were stuck in prison?" "Hey! Who the hell cares about that? If anyone''s got the guts to deal with me, they might as well try to finish me off! They don''t dare, so I''m back!" Xavier''s robust appearance drew sneers from the other old-timers present! Oh, so you''re the lively one, huh? We''re all the same age, and while they''re stuck in wheelchairs, he''s jumping out of helicopters! Show-off! The old guys scoffed at his antics. "Hey, Marcel, you''re not looking too hot yourself. Maybe it''s time to check out!" "The guy by the door, you deal with it." "It''s none of my damn business! You stirred up this mess yourself! Don''t go ming Garrick, you idiot. You believed every stupid thing. Whose fault is that?" Marcel closed his eyes for a moment. "Xavier! It''s a day of celebration. Don''t make me have you arrested!" Xavier wasn''t actually looking to start a fight. He just couldn''t resist poking at Marcel to soothe his own ego. Approaching Ashlyn, Xavier chuckled, "We go way back, don''t we? So, should I send you to the pearly gates or down below? Your pick." Ashlyn''s face went pale. What''s the difference between those options? "Murder is illegal! You can''t touch me!" "Sorry, but I have a thing for breaking thew. If it''s not illegal, I''m probably not interested!" His mere presence was already breaking thew. But Xavier didn''t want to miss Noe''s engagement! He pulled out his phone and showed Ashlyn a chilling video. The video showed people strung up at the top of a tower, battered by the wind, a sight that sent shivers down the spine! "Look here, this one''s your son, and this one, your granddaughter, and here''s your daughter-inw. What do you think? Missing anything? Maybe we should send you up there too, keep the family together!" On the screen were Duncan Gruber and Yvonne Gruber, among others! Ashlyn, despite her faults, only had that one son! She had hoped he would take care of her in her old age! Seeing this, Ashlyn fainted on the spot. Xavier, a de of grass between his teeth, muttered, "This old hag, might as well take her too, let the family reunite for a bit!" Noe calmly responded, "No need for that trouble. Her body might not make it back with you." Ashlyn''s pulse was weak. Drained by too many ''Nourishment Pills'' and constantly ying deadly games with Helen at the rehab center. Plus, rushing here from the rehab center for Noe and Palmer''s engagement announcement, she was literally scared to death! If Xavier tried to take her, she might not even make it on the way. That would be a literal ascension! Xavier felt a bit regretful. "Such a shame!" Ashlyn had passed out at the sight of Xavier! Thinking of her precious son''s plight while Harriet''s son enjoyed all the perks of the Schnabel family, she couldn''t stand it! ncing at the unconscious Ashlyn, Xavier said, "Noe, dear, Uncle Xavier has to go now!" Noe stepped forward, "It''s not easying here. Stay for a meal before you go. It''s a family dinner!" Family dinner! After years of being on the run, aside from Harriet, no one else had treated him like family! Tristan hurried over, eager, "Uncle, please stay for dinner. And maybe you could visit my mom''s grave with us. It''d be nice, you know?" Xavier seemed tempted. Though he verbally declined, his feet honestly followed Tristan towards the dining area. The Schnabel sons stood together, greeting, "Uncle Xavier." "Eh, alright. I brought something for your sister this time. Let''s skip the formalities for you guys!" After all, the Schnabel kids weren''tcking anything. Tristan was a bit nostalgic. "Last time you saw me, Uncle, you were talking about taking me out..." "Nonsense! If you were Marcel and that wild woman''s kid, I wouldn''t just take you out; I''d make sure your whole lineage ended with you! Anyone who wrongs my sister deserves death!" If not for the Schnabel family''s unique status, and Xavier''s limited activities in the country, he would''ve turned the Schnabel household upside down long ago! His gaze swept over the banquet, pausing on an empty chair adorned with a pink bouquet. The bouquet, a delicate mix of bellflowers and lilies, surrounded a namete. Mrs. Harriet. This was Noe''s reserved spot for her grandmother! Before she was their grandmother, she was her own person! Not anyone''s wife, mother, or grandmother. Just Mrs. Harriet! Before assuming those roles, Noe had learned from Marcel that the original Mrs. Harriet was also a remarkable woman. A woman who co-founded Pris Star with Garrick wasn''t just any follower! Xavier''s eyes became moist. "Harriet would''ve loved these flowers," sighed Noe wistfully, "It''s such a shame she can''t see them in person. She would''ve been over the moon!" With a gentle smile, Noe added, "Grandma always said there''s nothing like a vase of fresh flowers to brighten up the toughest of days. I hope she''s up there, keeping her grace." The bouquet in question was Noe''s own creation, arranged with the utmost care. The same bouquet also graced the seat reserved for Palmer''s mother, Mrs. Kendra Fowler, at the family gathering. Marcel, with a twinkle in his eye, teased, "Xavier, nning oning back anytime soon? Enjoying the high life too much, are we?" "Home? What''s that? Nowhere feels like home! Wait till Noe and that Pock boy have a couple of kids, then maybe I''ll consider it," Xavier shot back, half-joking.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Noe, ever the calm one, chimed in, "If it eases your mind, I''m willing to take over the Lockhart Correctional Facility." Tristan was the first to jump to his feet in protest. "Absolutely not! That ce is a ho''s nest! Sweetheart, why not stick to designing clothes or ying the piano, huh? No way, I won''t allow it!" "Look at you, all delicate and kind-hearted. How could we let you step into such danger? No, if anyone should help Uncle Xavier ease into retirement, it should be your brothers. It''s far too risky!" Their precious Noe was simply too good-natured for such a perilous task! Xavier nced over, baffled by Tristan''s outburst. "What? Delicate? Are you talking about the same girl?" Chapter 422 The girl who dared to point a sniper rifle at his head on their first meeting was certainly not your typical damsel. He raised an eyebrow. "Who said anything about being cute, innocent, and kind?" Noe? Xavier, having ruled the roost at Lockhart Prison and practically owned the borderlines for years, scoffed at such absurd ttery. If Tristan saw Noe in action, taking someone out with a single shot, he''d probably wet his pants in fear! The Schnabel brothers were in agreement.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Beckett adjusted his sses and said, "Granduncle, the situation at Lockhart Prison is too perilous. Let me handle it." Ulrich nodded in approval. "Yeah, Noe should stick to more gentle pursuits, like sewing or healing. Guns aren''t for her!" Stirling chimed in, "Granduncle, it''s better if Beckett goes. Or Jasper, if ites to that!" Jasper rolled his eyes. "Stirling, why don''t you volunteer yourself? But really, Noe isn''t cut out for this. I''ll take over." Noe spoke calmly, "I have no intention of getting involved personally. Pris Star will support Millie. From now on, Lockhart Prison will be under the Pris Star''s wing." Xavier stroked his beard. He might be bald, but at least he had his beard! "Lockhart Prison was always meant to be Pris Star''s stronghold. We just stepped back when we realized Garrick had ulterior motives!" "Handing Lockhart Prison over to you is like returning it to its rightful owner." Jasper was taken aback. "Putting Millie in charge? Is she up for it?" Noe remained calm. "Millie won''t hold back against the Gagher family. Her temperament is better suited for the frontier." Helping Millie with the Gagher family''s case, Jasper realized she had no ns to spare them. After dealing with a business or a key family member, Millie would visit Randy''s bedside. She''d softly recite contracts to him or show him the final moments of the family''s loyalists, keeping the old man alive just by a thread. "Jasper, Millie is a sharpshooter. You don''t need to worry." Jasper''s face turned as red as a beet. "Worry? Why would I worry about her? She''s just a tomboy, always acting like a loose cannon!" "Millie''s health isn''t great. The frontier might actually be good for her recovery." Being stuck in the stifling environment of the Gagher family had taken its toll on Millie. The frontier would give her a chance to vent her frustrations freely. Jasper seemed dazed. He knew Noe, the legendary Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, wouldn''t lie about Millie''s condition needing recuperation. "How bad is it?" Millie sauntered over, ss in hand, and leaned against Noe. "My master said to eat whatever I want and never deprive myself. So, how bad could it be?" Jasper''s eyes widened in shock. Millie''s appetite had been poor, and Noe had advised her to indulge her cravings to aid her recovery. Clearly, Jasper misunderstood. His view of Millie shifted immediately. Xavier nced at Millie. "Come on, girl, show me your shooting skills!" "Here? That''s hardly appropriate!" "There''s nothing inappropriate about it! My granddaughter and grandson-inw wouldn''t mind!" After all, they were no strangers to danger. Millie looked around, grabbed a chopstick from the table, aimed at a distant balloon, and threw it, hitting a blue one dead center. "Not bad! With that aim and strength, your shooting must be top-notch!" "Of course, I was trained by the best!" Her skills were honed under Noe''s guidance. Xavier burst intoughter. "Alright, you''re the one! When you''re ready,e to Lockhart Prison, and you''ll be my sessor!" Millie''s fiery spirit was exactly to Xavier''s taste, and they hit it off right away. Sienna looked worried. "Isn''t it dangerous for Millie to go there?" Noe reassured her, "Don''t worry, granduncle''s men will protect her." That ce,pared to the cutthroat Gagher family, was the perfect outlet for Millie to express herself. Sienna, frustrated, pped Jasper on the back of his head. "Such a fine girl, and you just don''t see it!" "What does that have to do with me?" Jasper felt wronged. "Noe, you said she''s not well. And now Lockhart Prison..." Noe chuckled at Jasper''s obvious concern for Millie. "Happiness is what matters most." Jasper was stunned. So, was Millie''s condition so grave that there was no point in seeking treatment? Such talks had been circting, especially around the old man in his final days. Jasper''s heart raced as he looked at Mitte, his gaze filled with newfound depth. Gavin, dressed as a page boy, hugged ra''s leg. "Prettydy, will you marry me?" Megan quickly pulled him away,ughing. "That''s your aunt, not just some prettydy!" But Gavin wasn''t ready to give up. Watching his younger uncle and aunt share a kiss, little Gavin found himself yearning for a wife to share sweet moments with! With a burst of energy, Gavin mbered onto Palmer''sp, propping his head up to gaze at Millie. "Are you my auntie?" "Nope." "Are you dating one of my uncles?" "Absolutely not!" She didn''t even know any sons from the Pock family! "Well, that''s perfect, then you can be my wife! When I grow up, I''ll marry you!" Millie pondered for a moment. "Sure! Technically, we''re of the same generation anyway!" After all, her mentor was Gavin''s vel.ne aunt, so they were indeed of the same generation. Gavin had finally found a beautiful girl of his generation and immediately dered Millie his fianc¨¦e, inviting everyone to their future wedding! Gavin stretched out his chubby arms, "Sis, give me a hug!" Before Millie could lift him, Jasper swooped in, hoisting Gavin onto his shoulders and marching towards his parents'' table. "Little rascal, did your parents teach you to flirt at such a young age? Get back to your seat!" Gavin was confused; he was just looking for a girlfriend! "Uncle, but the pretty sister already agreed, isn''t it mutual?" He had seen it with his own eyes! If both parties agreed, then they were fianc¨¦s! Jasper clenched his teeth. "Let''s talk about it when you''re older. For now, focus on your education. I heard you like swimming; I''ll take you swimmingter... Wait a minute! What are you doing?!" §Õ§ï§Ý Gavin, feeling embarrassed, covered his face. "You mentioned swimming, and now I need to pee..." Jasper''s lecture was cut short as he felt a warm trickle down his neck! Chapter 423 Feeling the warmth around his neck, Jasper wished he could just disappear! Gavin''s dad quickly scooped him up, apologizing profusely to Jasper. "I''m so sorry, Jasper. Really, I am!" Gavin was just a kid after all, and Jasper figured it wasn''t worth holding a grudge. Especially since their families were about to be united. Gavin, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, muttered, "Sorry, I didn''t mean it. I''ll buy you a new shirt with my allowance!" Jasper took a deep breath and patted Gavin on the head. "It''s alright. I''ll just go change." Thankfully, the Schnabel residence was right behind them, making a clothing change convenient. Theughter that erupted from the Schnabel siblings, along with ra, was loud and merry. Tristan reminisced, "Brings back memories. ra used to be just like this when she was a tot. Kids are adorable when they''re that small." At the mention of ra''s childhood, Lavinia, who had been quiet, looked their way. "Was ra a cute kid?" Sienna, all smiles, responded, "We''ve got pictures! And lots of videos. I''ll show youter!" "Really? I wouldn''t want to impose." Lavinia felt somewhat out of ce. Sienna brushed off her concerns. "Don''t worry about it. Even if ra goes back with you, does that make her any less my daughter? She''s your flesh and blood; wouldn''t she recognize you as her mom?" "It''s unfortunate Noe didn''t have better foster parents; otherwise, we''d be as close as family!" Lavinia was moved, wiping away a tear. She was grateful ra had grown up with the Schnabels. ra, linking arms with both her moms, smiled. "Everyone here is family to me. I''m the luckiest!" Whether it was the Pock, Schnabel, Richardson, or Horwich families, everyone treated her like a treasure. Sexton looked at Lavinia, "What''s Lavinia doing here without Kendra?" Palmer, having just peeled some shrimp for Noe, casually mentioned, "She''s traveling. Was in Turkey just a few days ago." "That child, always wandering the globe even on big asions. But Kendra does love her adventures." "She''ll be back for our wedding."Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Sexton nodded. "That''s good to hear. Traveling is good for the soul!" Kendra''s lifelong dream had been to see the world, a wish that led Emeric Pock to leave everything behind after her departure. In this, Palmer and his brothers were much like their father, each finding their own way to remember Kendra. Sexton handed Lavinia a box. "This is for you, from Dad. Jacob was supposed to give it to you, but he thought you might not like it." Lavinia felt awkward. To Sexton, Lavinia was already part of the Pock family. Jacob, taking the box, said, "I never said that. Lavinia was just unwell and in the hospital. I didn''t want to disturb her." "Now that you''re better, please ept it." Jacob''s fingers brushed the velvet of the box before cing it beside Lavinia. "It''s yours." "Are you sure? It doesn''t feel right." This was meant for the Pock''s daughter-inw, and she felt it wasn''t her ce to take it. "There''s nothing wrong. If not for you, this box would never find its owner. It would have by now." Helen chimed in gently, "Please, take it. Even if you don''t want it, you can give it to rater." With everyone insisting, Lavinia epted. "Thank you, Mom and Dad." Lavinia knew of Sexton''s condition and Helen''s guilt. They weed her warmly for Jacob and ra''s sake. The engagement party was dreamlike, with both the Pock and Schnabel families putting in much effort. As the band started to y, Palmer extended his hand to Noe. "May I have this dance?" "Of course." They were to open the dance floor. ra, dragging Stirling along, teased, "Come on, Stirling. Misery lovespany, let''s dance together!" "Why not ask Beckett?" "Beckett doesn''t look in the mood to dance." Besides, thest time she danced with Beckett, she got a lecture on her steps and etiquette. "Stirling, at least you''re from the entertainment world. You might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but at least you can dance." Stirling: "..." He didn''t quite appreciate that kind ofpliment! Even Sienna and Tristan hit the dance floor, joining in the celebration. Beckett leaned against the bar, a faint smile ying at the corners of his mouth as he watched the crowd dance. His slightly unbuttoned shirt revealed an alluring glimpse of his corbone. S Beer in hand, he seemed like a figure bathed in twilight, shrouded in a misty allure. Malvina couldn''t hit the dance floor, and so, Ulrich stayed back as well. "Beckett, why isn''t Darcy here tonight?" "She''s got sses." To Beckett, even adult rtionships required a sense of boundaries. "No need to take a leave for Noe''s ent party. But... I''m thinking of getting hitched too. Got the date and Ithe venue all set. You''ll have to take a day off when it happens." Ulrich''s brain momentarily froze! "What? When did you set a date?" "A few years back." Seeing Noe and Palmer''s engagement seemed to have inspired everyone in the room! He too wanted to tie the knot! "I heard from Noe that Darcy''s worried about not being able to have kids. That doesn''t bother you, Beckett?" "If she likes kids, we can adopt. If the country''s encouraging it, I say why not adopt yours?" Ulrich: "What?" The country''s encouraging having kids, not necessarily adopting someone else''s! Malvina raised her hand from the bet "Beckett, let''s wait till we''re second child. I''ve` grown too attached to this little one." Ulrich quickly pulled her back! Beckett chuckled under his breath, his chest filled with contentment. Chapter 424 Only Malvina could say something with such seriousness and not even bat an eyelid! The Schnabel family adored her for it. Her personality was just the perfect match for Ulrich! Ulrich,ing from a military family, had spent years as a doctor without borders on the front lines, witnessing countless horrors. As the second child, he was incredibly bright, which often went unnoticed. Not as much in the spotlight as the eldest, Beckett, nor as much as the naive Stirling and the tearful Jasper. And certainly not as much as ra, the once only daughter of the family! Before Noe returned, Tristan was a rather strict father. He was stern with all the Schnabel children, including ra, pushing them towards taking over the family business! What Ulrich needed was a clever yet easy-going girl by his side! Beckett chuckled, "Don''t worry, it''ll be after your wedding." "We''ve decided not to have a wedding just yet. Malvina''s morning sickness is pretty bad, and a wedding would be too much for her now. We''ll wait until things stabilize." "But we''re going to get the license tomorrow!" Malvina blushed and smiled sheepishly. "My birthday is the day after tomorrow, and I wanted to be married before I turned 25, so we''re going tomorrow to make it official!" "Congrattions." "Beckett, we''re still expecting to attend your wedding in May." Beckett smiled, tipping his head back to sip his drink, his Adam''s apple bobbing. "Don''t worry." On his phone, Beckett quickly shared a video he''d just taken with Darcy. Darcy, fresh out of ss, clicked on the video expecting a wedding scene but was surprised to see Beckett''s face instead! His handsome features looked softer, less aloof than usual. Beckett''s voice was a bit low: "Noe got engaged, saved some sweets for you! I''ll bring them to you after your ss." "Got your favorite chocte, still like it?" Darcy pursed her lips, zooming in on the image. "What I liked before, I like even more now." "But it''s not the chocte, it''s you!" Beckett, finding a secluded spot, dialed the number as soon as he read the message. "What do I do, I feel..." Darcy listened to his slightly tipsy voice, "Feel?" "Both warm and sweet." It was hard to imagine the CEO of Rising Glory Group sounding so tender after a few drinks, Darcy was momentarily transported back to their college days... "Beckett, I can''t have children." "I''m not that fond of kids." Beckett massaged his temples, "I like kids, why not start a daycare? The Schnabel Group has ties with the Red Cross, plenty of kids there, they''re all the same to me." "If you must like kids, they''ll be ours. In the absence of them, enjoying each other''spany is just as good, right?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Darcy stopped in her tracks. "But, the Schnabel family would want kids, right?" "Darcy, I have three younger brothers and two sisters, and who knows, maybe my parents could still have more." His words implied that the Schnabel family didn''t necessarily need him to have his own children! Darcy couldn''t help butugh at hisment. "Would your parents mind?" "It''s about you and me, my parents aren''t nning on divorcing any time soon." She wasn''t there to be a stepmother to the Schnabels; Tristan and Sienna''s opinions weren''t that crucial! Besides, they were probably more worried about him ending up alone! Darcy''s main concern wasn''t really about kids, but about Beckett''s stance. Beckett said calmly, "If this really bothers you, I''ll get a vasectomy before we marry, so we''re in the same boat." What kind of man would go to such lengths! Darcy shook her head. "No need! I might not be good enough, but wait for me, I''ll make sure I''m worthy of you!" Beckett chuckled softly, "How long should I wait?" "Very soon!" Beckett knew Darcy was a nner and wouldn''t press her on matters she chose not to discuss. "So, you''re not giving me amitment until then?" He didn''t want to lose the girlfriend he''d finally won back. In Beckett''s eyes, everything he had was thanks to his family''s legacy, having grown up at the top of the pyramid. It was no small feat for Darcy, who came from nothing, to stand by his side. "Mr. Schnabel, don''t worry, your status ising soon." "Looking forward to it." ... After the reception. As thest guests left, Serene Haven settled into a quiet calm, with Helen sitting alone in the garden, admiring the flowers. "Why don''t you go to sleep?" "I can''t sleep." Sexton ambled into the courtyard, settling down on a lounger, and pulled her down beside him. Looking up, the sky was filled with stars, just like always. "When are they heading back?" "In a few days." The conversation dropped, and after a while, Sexton sighed softly, "Helen, I I''m sorry, I promised to travel the Orld with you, but I have to break that promise now!" to "Horatio said our signs are ipatible; you shouldn''te to see me off, it''ll bring you bad luck!" Helen scoffed, "He''s a half-baked fortune teller; he doesn''t know anything!" "Ah, but Horatio''s predictions are spot on. Just listen to me!" "Fine, I won''t send you off." Satisfied with her answer, Sexton nodded contentedly. As the night deepened, the breathing of the person beside her gradually quieted. "Take care of yourself..." His voice faded away until his breathing was no longer audible, his hand slipping gently off the lounger. Helen swallowed the lump in her throat. "I wasn''t going to send you off anyway." Beside her was an empty bottle of medicine. The night air was cool, but the elderly couple remained intertwined, their hands sped together even in silence. Standing on her balcony, Noe was about to bid Palmer goodbye when she suddenly squinted toward the direction of the Pock family''s garden. "Palmer! Hurry back and check on Grandma and Grandpa!" Hearing her cry of rm, Palmer also took a sharp breath! They synchronously leapt from the balcony, sprinting toward the Pock Mansion''s garden! Tristan, who had just stepped out to invite them for ate-night snack, watched his daughter and future son-inw zoom past. A gust of wind blew past him! "... Huh? Are they practicing sprinting?" It surely wasn''t the time for a nighttime jog! Noe turned her head back, urgently saying, "Dad, quick, go call for help! Something might have happened to the Pock grandparents!" Tristan was so startled he nearly jumped out of his skin! But it was toote; Helen had already decided to depart this world alongside Sexton, By the time the Pock family members rushed to the garden, the old couple''s bodies were already cold. Underneath a bottle of pills, therey a note penned by Helen. "I won''t send you off; I''ll apany you on your journey!" Chapter 425 Megan copsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrobly. In just one night, she had lost both her parents. "Mom, why did you have to be so... naive?" They all thought about how hard Sexton''s departure must have hit Helen. Megan had everything nned out for taking the elderlydy abroad, thinking that the presence of three young kids would keep her from sinking into deep sorrow. But the elderlydy decided to follow her husband in death! Losing parents in middle age is a pain that''s just as intense! Jacob forced himself to calm down, pulling his emotionally shattered sister up, while dialing Emeric''s number. Emeric, who was in Antarctica waiting for the aurora with a research team, was stunned when he heard the news. He just sat down hard on the snow. "You''re saying... both mom and dad are gone?" "Dad''s been sick for a long time, and mom... followed him. Palmer''s engagement was rushed because of this. Why didn''t youe back when I asked?" Emeric was silent for a long time. "I get it, I''lle home right away." He had been waiting to see this year''s aurora, a promise made to his wife. Since it was just an engagement, not a wedding, Emeric thought it wasn''t that crucial and chose the aurora over returning home. But he never imagined that this departure would be his final goodbye to his parents. Jacob, frustrated and disappointed, said, "Don''t bother now, just chase your dreams. Kendra''s been gone for how long, and you think you''re the only one hurting? Have you even thought about your kids?" "If all you can see is the past, then don''t bothering back!" "Palmer''s engaged now, and with mom and dad gone, the Pock family won''t force you into anything anymore!" Jacob angrily ended the call. Emeric, stunned, struggled with the poor satellite signal, his ears buzzing, his mind dizzy. "What''s wrong?" "I... I have to go home!" Snapping back to reality, Emeric hastily grabbed his gear, the only thought in his mind being to get home. The team around him was puzzled. "Weren''t you set on seeing this aurora? This one''s supposed to be a century''s spectacle, wasn''t it you and your wife''s dream?" Underneath his goggles, Emeric realized he was already in tears. "If my wife knew I missed our son''s engagement, she''d never forgive me!" "I need to go home, I have to go home now!" Those who wander are without a home. And he was about to lose his. ... On the other side, the Pock family was engulfed in sorrow. The remnants of the daytime engagement party were still being cleared away when they were reced with mourning banners. Marcel stood in the hall, looking at the Pock couple lying side by side, and sighed deeply. Noe stood behind him, whispering, "Grandpa, Grandpa Sexton passed peacefully, and grandma looked serene. Don''t worry." Marcel nodded. Reaching out, Noe came forward, supporting the slightly staggering Marcel as they left. "Noe," Marcel squeezed her hand, his voiceden with emotion, "you and Palmer need to take care of each other. It was your Grandpa Sexton''s wish." "I know." "And if my timees, remember to send me off just like we did your grandpa. I don''t want to end up in a bed, hooked up to machines." "Grandpa..." Hearing the old man speak like this made Noe feel somber. Marcel patted her hand reassuringly. "What haven''t I seen at my age? Knowing you''re back and informed about your grandma, I''m already content. No regrets. Don''t be sad, your Grandpa Sexton didn''t suffer in his passing." "Yeah." It wasn''t Noe''s first time saying goodbye to a loved one. Harriet, too, had closed her eyes in Noe''s arms. Noe softly said, "Grandpa, grandma didn''t me you. I used to think she was waiting for someone from the Lambert family before she passed, but... she was probably waiting for you." Harriet knew what Vincent Lambert was like all along. She hadn''t held much hope. As one of the founders of Pris Star, in her final moments, Harriet''s thoughts were of the person she missed the most. "She often asked me why you hadn''te." Back then, Noe thought her grandmother was just confused. Who was her grandpa? Looking back, Marcel was the person Harriet missed the most after forgetting so much. "Grandma didn''t me you, Grandpa. You don''t need to feel so guilty." Marcel always felt remorseful when Harriet was mentioned. "If I had just been a bit smarter, dug a little deeper, how could Harriet have suffered so much..." "Grandpa, Horatio said it was grandma''s fate. Even if she stayed with the Schnabel family, maybe she would''ve faced other troubles." "At least she passed peacefully." Marcel nodded, wiping away a tear roughly. At his age, so many things no longer mattered, but he and Harriet were destined to miss out on a life together. Marcel sighed. "Sexton, you left first, leaving me here all alone." Their group of old friends, the ones he was closest to, were either scattered across the globe or had passed on. Marcel let out a wistful smile, full of resignation. He declined Noe''s offer to escort him to his room, leaning on his cane as he walked away. Seeing the once-straight back of the old man now slightly bent, Noe felt a pang of sadness. Returning to the Pock home, Noe was immediately embraced by ra. "Noe, I''m so sad!" Noeforted her with gentle pats on the back. "I regret not spending more time with grandma and grandpa. They were looking forward to meing home..." As ra closed her eyes, her mind was flooded with images of Mr. and Mrs. Pock''s warm smiles and loving gazes. "ra, dear, your grandpa will always have your back, no matter what." "I''m so sorry, ra. It''s all grandma''s fault. I made you feel so alienated from the idea of having a grandma. Believe me, I''m nothing like that wicked witch from the Schnabel family."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "ra, no matter where you are, as long as you hold the Pock family in your heart, that''s all that matters!" "ra, your grandparents will always favor you, forever and always!" ra covered her face, burying her head in Noe''s neck as tears rolled down her cheeks, her emotionspletely shattered in that moment. They promised to love her forever, so why did they have to leave her so suddenly? Sexton, who would chase Jacob around the entire yard just to stand up for her. Helen, who would defend her honor at all costs, even if it meant getting into a tussle with Ashlyn. The grandparents who, knowing she was having a hard time eating well and sleeping in theb, would bring their own cook and wait under the scorching sun just to bring her a homemade meal. Even though Helen was allergic to seafood, she would still cook it herself, treating ra like her little child. "Noe, I have no grandparents left..." Chapter 426 "Big sis, they''ll be watching over you from heaven." ra knew the Pocks'' kindness towards her was partly out of guilt. On one hand, they felt that Jacob wasn''t reliable, and his rtionship with Lavinia didn''t offer ra the warmth of a real family. So, the elderly couple went out of their way to make her feel joy. But it was also because they loved her. Their love made them feel they owed her so much. Just like how the Schnabels always felt they hadn''t done enough for Noe, always thinking they could''ve provided a better life for her. The Pock grandparents gave ra an extraordinary sense of warmth. Noe patted ra''s back. The Sextons and the matriarch were also very kind to Noe. Always smiling at her, even the usually sharp-tongued Helen had earnestly advised her to make sure she truly loved Palmer before marrying him. They were unlike Marcel, Harriet, or the Horwich grandparents. Noe felt a bit guilty. If only she had noticed Helen''s intentions sooner, maybe this tragedy could have been averted! Father Horatio approached them, his gaze lingering on the continuously weeping ra. He softly said, "I will pray for their souls, Noe, don''t worry." "Did Grandma Helen tell you anything before?" Father Horatio shook his head. "She only showed me the single grave she had chosen for Sexton,menting on the spot''s good energy, ensuring Sexton would rest peacefully." It was because she had chosen a single grave that Horatio hadn''t thought much of it! Given that Helen and Sexton didn''t seem very close, Horatio hadn''t expected Helen to follow him in death! "Come to think of it, she quite liked that ce... Now I realize she chose it for herself too." Helen had once said she wanted to be buried alongside her husband! Noe nodded. "I understand, Father. I''m going to check on Palmer. Please take care of my sister for me."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Father Horatio instinctively wanted to refuse, but as he looked up and saw ra''s tear-stained eyes, he swallowed his words. "Alright, I understand." Approaching Palmer, who was discussing funeral arrangements with the Pock family, Noe stood on the outskirts of the crowd, observing the man who stood at the center like a star among pls. Palmer was dressed in a ck suit, his face etched with unmistakable fatigue and solemnity. Noe stepped forward. "Palmer, you should take a break." "Not just yet." Megan had copsed emotionally, her husband and children gathered around her, caring for her. Half an hour ago, after crying herself into shock, Noe had administered a shot, and Megan had gone up to rest. Jacob was notifying distant rtives of the Pock family, but it was clear he was also not in great spirits. All these responsibilities seemed to fall on Palmer alone! Having just lost his beloved rtives, the impact on Palmer was immense, yet he had to muster all his strength to manage everything, keeping his emotions hidden! ra could weep openly, but Palmer couldn''t. Noe felt a pang of sympathy. "Then I''ll stay by your side." Palmer held Noe''s hand and nodded, "Thank you, Noe. Don''t worry, I won''t overdo it." "Mhm." The Pock family tradition was burial. Only when Palmer inquired did he learn that Helen had already arranged everything for the funeral! She had even personally selected the caskets, knowing which ones would be morefortable underground! Reflecting on Helen''s activities in the days before her death, it became clear she had been preparing for her and Sexton''s final arrangements... ra''s heart ached. "Father Horatio, can you imagine how heartbroken grandma must have been? Choosing her own casket, it''s unimaginable..." Father Horatio chanted a prayer. Calmly, he said, "Helen was a very intelligent woman. Even if you had noticed her intentions, you couldn''t have stopped her." "In fact, my master once told me he had hoped Helen and Sexton wouldn''t marry." "Because it seemed Helen gave more in the rtionship. But Helen said she wouldn''t choose wrong." Helen was fiercely independent and headstrong in everything she did! Whether it was learning to dive into graves, embarking on a career in showbiz, or marrying Sexton, it was all Helen''s choice! "Father, I think Helen made the right bet." Sexton''s will not only distributed his assets but also included many instructions for his children to take good care of Helen! It''s just that he never imagined his wife, whom he never verbally dered his love for, would choose to follow him in death! ra wiped away her tears. "Grandpa once told me, even though grandma was difficult at times, he always adored her. The Pock men don''t marry women they don''t love." "It''s a relief grandma knew that in the end." What was thought to be justpanionship turned out to be profound love! ra sniffled. "Father, may I lean on your shoulder for a moment?" "Of course." Leaning on Father Horatio''s shoulder, ra took several deep breaths to settle her emotions. After a while, she stood up and patted her face. "Grandpa and grandma wouldn''t want to see me like this. I should send them off happily! Father, grandma mentioned you n to travel the world. When are you leaving?" "After handling Helen and Sexton''s funeral and wrapping up some matters here in the city, I''ll be on my way." "Will youe back?" Father Horatio shook his head then nodded, his tone serene, "If someone needs me, I will return." "Yeah, with your skills, I bet half of the city would line up at your doorstep. And if Noe needed you, you''d be on the first flight back." Horatio spoke slowly, "Noe doesn''t need a monk like me." "Her spirit is strong. She only asked for my presence tofort those who''ve passed." "Not everyone needs what I can offer." After all, the world is full of skeptics, and Horatio''s influence can seem quite limited. A thought suddenly struck ra. "What if I needed you?" Horatio looked down with a slight smile, dimples ying hide and seek on his pale face, the soft blush around his eyes and forehead adding a touch of gentleness. He shook his head. "You wouldn''t need someone like me. And I hope you never find yourself in a situation where you would." "Meaning, you wouldn''te." His words hung in the air, unsaid but clear! ra blinked, feeling unexpectedly empty, unable to pinpoint exactly what she was feeling. She nced at the funeral parlor being set up and Horatio, who was now getting up to join his disciples for the prayer service. "Weird, why do I feel off about him saying that? Must be because the Pocks are gone. I''m just too sad!" Chapter 427 At the Pock family cemetery, a solemn atmosphere enveloped the air. Sexton and his beloved wife were to beid to rest together, their coffins ced side by side in the chapel. The final rites were observed, awaiting burial. The wails of children punctuated the silence. "I want my great-grandma, I want to see my great-grandma!" Gavin cried inconsbly in his mother''s arms, gasping for breath between sobs. Too young to understand the concept of death, Gavin only knew that his great-grandma, who loved him dearly,y still, her eyes forever closed to his gaze. Gavin found this unbearable! His little face turned a bright red as he bawled, demanding to lie next to Helen. Palmer, with a gentle but firm grip, lifted Gavin, his broad hands soothing the boy''s trembling back. "Gavin, your great-grandma is just sleeping," he whispered. "Will we see her again?" Gavin asked, his eyes wide with hope. "Yes. You cane visit her every year," Palmer reassured him. Wiping away his tears, Gavin leaned on Palmer''s shoulder. "I want to see great- grandma and great-grandpa onest time." "Of course." Holding Gavin close, Palmer approached the coffins, where the elderly coupley dressed in elegant funeral attire, their expressions serene. Gavin wriggled, wanting to get closer. "Uncle, a little closer, please." Horatio cautioned, "Don''t let the child''s tears fall on them." The thought was that sensing the presence of their great-grandson might make the departed souls hesitant to leave. Palmer nodded in understanding, slightly bending down so Gavin could gently hug and kiss his great-grandparents'' faces, a gesture filled with affection and reluctance. "Great-grandpa, great-grandma, I''ll be very good, I promise. Pleasee visit me." Gavin''s voice was shaky but determined. "I won''t be picky with food anymore!" Everyone present turned away, their faces streaked with tears, moved by the child''s simple, heartfelt farewell. Palmer lifted Gavin. "Alright, great-grandpa and great-grandma need their rest. Let''s not disturb them." "Okay," Gavin agreed softly. As the coffins were lowered into the ground, the Pock family and friends filled the air with the sound of bagpipes, marking the end of an era. At the cemetery gates, a figure stumbled forward, disbelief and panic written all over his face. Emeric copsed to his knees at the sight of the ck and white mourning ribbons fluttering everywhere. Jacob nced at him, his fists clenched, yet he refrained from striking Emeric in front of their parents'' resting ce. "In front of mom and dad, I won''t hit you, but from now on, the Pocks will wash their hands off you! Palmer''s in charge now, and no one will force you toe back." Emeric, always the ck sheep, had returned not for family reunions but solely for Kendra''s memorial services, blinded by his own pain, oblivious to the suffering of those around him. Jacob wiped away a tear. "Emeric, think about what you''ve done! Your kids were so young when they lost their mother, and then you vanished. How could you justify that?" Emeric covered his face, "Ulrich, I realize my mistake... I didn''t get to see mom and dad onest time. Why couldn''t they wait for me?" "Wait for you? How many years did they wait! How many years did Palmer wait? Emeric, Kendra''s death hurt us all, not just you!" With a heavy heart, Jacob eventually helped Emeric to his feet. "Let''s go. Paying respects to mom and dad might bring them some peace." Though unable to forgive, Jacob knew their parents would have wished for Emeric''s return. At the Schnabel Manor in Serene Haven Phoenix Tower, Marcel had skipped the funeral, preferring solitude his room since bidding farewell to his lifelong friend. Sienna expressed her concern, "Should we have the kids check on Marcel? He''s been bedridden for days now." Marcel''s appetite had vanished, barely touching his meals, raising worry among his family. Tristan, contemting a solution, announced, "Noe and the second one said dad seemed alright, but we can''t just let him skip meals... I''ll go check on him."All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Carrying a tray of food, Tristan knocked on Marcel''s door. "Dad, I brought you something to eat. Can you open the door?" "No need, I''m not hungry." "It''s Sienna''s cooking. If you don''t eat, she''ll consider divorcing me!" Reluctantly, Marcel got up, opening the door to find a marriage certificate among the dishes. Inspecting the certificate, Marcel''s mood visibly lifted. "Got married? Good, good, Malvina is a wonderful girl! How about the dowry?" Tristan knew this news would cheer e Marcel up. "As for the dowry, Malvina said it wasn''t necessary, but we insisted. Sienna worried shee might feel undervalued, so we made sure she felt cherished. Every daughter-inw will be treated equally, no favoritism." Marcel nodded in approval. "As long as you''ve discussed it,e in." Tristan followed Marcel inside and was shocked to find that his father hadn''t been sleepingtely. Instead, the bed was covered in all sorts of documents! "Dad, what''s all this about?" "Just getting my affairs in order, seeing what I''ve got." Tristan''s lips quivered, and he was on the brink of tears! "Pack it in. You''re too old to be crying!" Marcel shuffled some papers around. "I''ve got it all sorted. Something for each of the six kids, but nothing for their kids. They can fend for themselves!" Tristan knew, though, Marcel was just worried he wouldn''t be around much longer to see any future generations. "Dad, don''t talk like that. You''re going to be around for many more years!" Marcel looked at his only son, feeling a mix of irritation and affection. "If you weren''t Harriet''s and my boy, I might strangle you!" "Go get Noe." Tristan''s face went pale. "Dad! Are you feeling alright?!" Before Marcel could answer, Tristan let out a shrill scream and dashed downstairs. "Noe! Come quickly!" Chapter 428 "Grandpa''s about to kick the bucket!" Chaos erupted throughout Schnabel Manor. Tristan''s announcement, piercing and urgent, startled everyone in the household! Five minutester, the family members, gathered in Marcel''s study, looked at Tristan, who had just received a spanking despite being well into his fifties, with a mixture of shock and speechlessness. Noe coughed softly. "Considering how Grandpa''s still so spry, he seems pretty healthy to me." The septuagenarian chasing his son around, brandishing a cane like it was a sword, with Tristan having no chance of outrunning him... It was quite the spectacle. ra covered her face. "Looks like Dad''s not as fit as Grandpa after all..." Marcel, a man of military discipline, had spent his life in rigorous training andbat, unlike Tristan, who had grownfortable with a sedentary lifestyle in the office. "I''ll teach you to spout nonsense! What, you can''t wait for me to drop dead so you can y lord of the manor?" Tristan, nursing his sore behind, sought refuge behind Sienna. "Dad! I''m sorry! With all this talk of wills and calling for Noe, I thought... I thought you were on yourst legs!" Especially since Marcel had been skipping meals for days. And it was after Sexton''s passing. How could anyone not jump to conclusions? Tristan''s imagination had run wild with scenarios of doom and gloom! Noe stepped forward to calm Marcel. "Grandpa, did you want to talk about something specific?" Marcel took a seat, catching his breath after several cups of tea, then waved his hand dismissively. "I wanted to discuss some matters about the Pris Star Project with you." "Getting older, one starts to think about the inevitable. I''ve been giving it a lot of thought these past days. I need to share some things with you!" Originally, it was supposed to be a private discussion with Noe, but thanks to Tristan''s dramatics, the entire family, including a pregnant Malvina, ended up in Marcel''s study. Marcel advised, "Malvina, you should rest." "No need, Grandpa. I''ve napped too much during the day; can''t sleep now." Marcel sought Noe''s consent, "Noe, are you okay with them staying?" After all, the Pris Star Project involved some sensitive information. Noe pondered for a moment, "It''s okay. I didn''t want the family to know before because I was afraid of putting them in danger. But Beckett said we''re family; we should share our burdens." She was a Schnabel, through and through! Even if Noe wanted to keep some things secret, in a bid to protect the Schnabel family, to the others, they were one family: for better, for worse. Marcel nodded, satisfied, "You''ve changed since you first came back!" "Garrick''s seriously ill, beyond saving."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Noe was shocked, "When did this happen?" Marcel raised an eyebrow. "Just a few days ago. It''s your Grandma Helen''s wedding gift to you!" Helen''s message was clear: only by taking action could she show her face to Harriet below! Handing Noe a document, Marcel removed his reading sses and began to clean them. Only then did Noe discover that Helen had not only chosen her coffin and burial plot in recent days but had also poisoned Garrick! Garrick, already frail from various underlying conditions and his exposure to hazardous materials during his research at Pris Star, couldn''t survive Helen''s lethal concoction. Marcel sighed, "She could have taken a less direct approach, but time was of the essence. This, my dear, is Helen''s gift to you." "She didn''t want to tarnish the younger generation''s hands. She hopes you and Palmer have a peaceful and smooth future." Aplex wave of emotions washed over Noe. "Grandma Helen was the most headstrong and independent woman I''ve known." Yet, aside from Harriet and Freya, she was the kindest to her. This unusual gift was precisely what Noe needed. Helen''s love wasn''t in her words but in her profound and enduring actions. "The Pris Star Project was located near my military post back in the day." "Harriet, Garrick, Xavier - they were the pioneers." "They aimed to create stars!" Marcel''s gaze turned distant. "The truth is in the hands of a few. They sought to assemble a team of geniuses who would stand at the pinnacle of the world, shining in their respective fields, seizing the high ground globally!" "And indeed, they seeded." Marcel looked meaningfully at Noe. "If I''m not mistaken, your tutors were members of Pris Star!" "Hector, Killian, Rainer... I knew Rainer back in the day." The Schnabel family was astounded! Noe nodded calmly, "You''re right, Grandpa. My teachers were indeed the elder members of Pris Star." "Did they teach you all those skills?" "Yes, they''ve always been very kind to me." Marcel''s sharp eyes recognized the deep affection and legacy the old masters had for Noe - a love and caremot even inferior to his own as her grandfather. "They were Harriet''srades, it''s only right they looked after you!" Noe agreed, "Though it was at Grandma''s request, my teachers truly cared for me." "The Pris Star Project is bigger than you can imagine. The base covered thousands of acres. My unit was essentially there to protect them." "Later, Grandma realized that Garrick''s methods were just too radical, beyond the pale, so she blew up the base and escaped with Xavier!" Noe was somewhat taken aback. Her grandma had been involved in such bold escapades in her youth? "Besides Garrick, there were several others from his camp who survived." "Grandpa mentioned the 7-yer?" "That''s the one! The benefits the Pris Star Project brought were et immense. Just one prodigy from the project, and it would pay for itself! You get what I''m saying?" Noe looked down, "Grandpa, but at what cost? Human lives." Human lives! There''s no making up for that! Marcel tried to exin, "That''s not what Grandpa meant! The things the Pris Star brought us, the allure was too great!" The 7-yer was the key to activating the Pris Star Project! Garrick, as Merak, was essentially the 7-yer''s right-hand man. Marcel''s gaze sharpened as he looked at his grandchildren, his voice grave. "Now that you''re all here, protecting Noe is your duty! Though, given Noe''s own skills, she might not even need your help." Jasper''s bold deration just about to be uttered was swallowed back. "Grandpa, that really hits where it hurts." Beckett spoke seriously, "Grandpa, who exactly is this 7-yer?" Marcel''s gaze was heavy, his finger tapping on arge photo on the table. "The former deputy leader, Tavian!" Chapter 429 The room fell into an eerie silence, so thick you could cut it with a knife. They all knew Tavian held a position of influence, but the amiable man they knew being involved was beyond their wildest dreams! At Noe''s birthday bash, Tavian had gifted her an extravagantly expensive present. When Marcel was admitted to the Imperial West Hospital, Noe would often y chess with the always-smiling elderly man! The family was utterly shocked! Tristan, mouth agape, managed to stammer, "Ah... Tav, you''re way up there above Dad, how are we supposed to deal with this!" "Obviously! I was leading the troops guarding Pris Star! Do you think anyone less capable would dare take on such responsibility?" If it were anyone else, Marcel wouldn''t have been this worried! Marcel nced at Noe, who appeared calm, and softened his gaze. "Kiddo, did you figure this out already?" "Mhm. I investigated everyone in Imperial City who had dealings with Garrick, including Grandpa." Noe had meticulously researched anyone acquainted with Garrick. Hearing Noe openly admit to investigating even him, Marcel''s expression slightly faltered. "My girl, you don''t trust even me?" "Grandpa, you''re influential and an old acquaintance of Garrick. It fits my investigation criteria." Marcel''s eyes widened in disbelief! "Don''t worry, Grandpa, you won''t tarnish your good reputation. We weren''t close before, so I had to check." The vastwork of Pris Star''s investigation, not even uncovering anything on Marcel, spoke volumes about his integrity! Hearing Noe even investigated her grandfather, Tristan''s schadenfreude hadn''t fully bloomed when his daughter added. "Buy one, get one free. I''ve checked on everyone in the family too, Dad. Your investment in that indst month doesn''t look too promising." Tristan: "What?" "Beckett Corp''s business expansion into Pris Star territory is being expedited at my request." Beckett was somewhat surprised. "I was wondering why that got approved so quickly!" Rising Glory Group had been bracing for a long battle! Noe chuckled softly, "Beckett''s project n was wless and aligned with Pris Star''s industrial chain, so it''s not nepotism." Beckett had personally overseen the project, working tirelessly for days! "Ulrich, there was an issue with a batch of reagents in yourb. Lunaris sent you the data adjustments, did you see it?" "I saw it!" Ulrich was sweating bullets! "It was a minor issue that even I missed! If you hadn''t pointed it out, it would''ve been a disaster!" Noe subtly hinted at Ulrich. Given Ulrich''sb level, such minor data discrepancies were almost certainly deliberate! "Stirling, Azure''s new season requirements have been sent to you; the clothes will suit you well."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Stirling scratched his head. "Noe... I had no idea you were Master Azure!" "I chose Stirling as the face of Azure''s fall and winter men''s line not because you''re Stirling. From every angle, you''re the perfect spokesperson!" Jasper pped his forehead! "So, the money we''ve been spending on clothes goes right back to Noe? Fantastic! Money well spent!" The thought of their money cycling back to Noe delighted Jasper. Noe was somewhat helpless. She didn''t want her pockets filled with her family''s money... However, once the Schnabel family discovered how well Azure''s clothes suited her, almost every new collection became their favorite deity of wealth''s endorsement. "Jasper, there were some malicious reports against your firmtely. I''ve had Millie take care of it." "Eh? Isn''t Millie unwell? I could''ve handled it myself!" "It was meant to be dealt with by Pris Star, but it was a bit tricky, involving some gray market forces. Millie had an easier time handling it." Most of the Gagher family''s business skirted the gray areas of thew. Jasper''s firm had unintentionally ruffled some feathers, leading to vindictivewsuits. Millie, dealing with those issues, inadvertently exposed some of the Gagher family''s operations, causing Randy quite a headache. Old man Gagher was so furious he wished he could kick the bucket right then and there! Jasper grew uneasy. "That... I owe Millie a favor now." "She said to write it off with the help you''ve given her before." "How can we just write it off!" Noe calmly looked at him. It seemed every time Millie was mentioned post-engagement, Jasper acted oddly! Millie had already gone with Xavier to Lockhart Prison! "My sister''sb issues are minor, but thetest funding request was blocked." ra nodded. "Myb''s just getting started, and indeed, there are many troublemakers. Noe, you''re the best!" Her sister was not only her idol but also so considerate! She vowed to be her sister''s loyal supporter forever! Tristan felt a chill down his spine. Sienna angrily retorted, "Didn''t I tell you not to invest in that ind? You never take my words seriously!" "It''s not like that, honey! I was nning to buy it as a birthday gift for you!" He had hoped to surprise Sienna! But his n had not only been revealed by his daughter but also criticized for its viability! Tristan was Self on pins and needles, suddenly jumping up and rushing over to Noe''s side, before dropping to his Knees with puppy-dog eyes. "Honey! What''s the problem?" Noe, looking down at her dad who seemed to have a ir for the dramatic, pulled him to his feet. "It''s not bad news. It''s just that there might be oil under that ind we were talking about." Tristan was floored! He had no clue about this! Clearly, he''d been kept in the dark by his business partners! "This won''t do! I need to fly there myself and check it out. They expect me to take the risk while they rake in the profits? Those sneaky bastards!" If Noe was right, and there really was oil beneath that ind, he could retire! Jasper was utterly shocked, stepping forward to grasp Noe''s hand and ce it on his chest. His heart was racing! "Noe, tell me, what other surprises do you have that we don''t know about?" The thought of more surprises like this had them half-worried they''d drop dead from shock! Noe was the picture of calm. "That''s it, really." To Noe, these things were just minor exploits, simple undertakings she didn''t find too bothersome, hence why she had adopted an alias for herself! It was mostly because, at the moment, she couldn''t even recall if there were any other secrets her family didn''t know about! Chapter 430 Hearing Noe''s "all clear," the entire Schnabel family heaved a collective sigh of relief! The titles they already bore were enough to make them weak at the knees! Any more, and they feared they would not be able to take it! After some thought, Noe spoke up. "To me, the most valuable title is being a part of the Schnabel family." The Schnabel household had always provided her with warmth and love. As a child, seeing Vincent and Belinda Fuller doting on Briony Lambert, Noe was indifferent and somewhat disdainful. After attending Pris Star, a ce where a room full of kids couldn''t make up a full family, the concept of ''family'' was foreign to her! Her grandma had given her endless warmth, only for it to be taken away too soon by the heavens. In her midnight dreams, Noe had to admit, she could never forget her grandma! Because of the Schnabel surname, she had found a family. Bing part of their family was the happiest thing for Noe! The faces of the Schnabel family members were brimming with content and joyful smiles. Noe added, "So, other titles don''t matter to me, really!" Marcel nodded in agreement. "Grandpa is very happy to have such a wonderful granddaughter!" Marcel might not say it out loud, but he had always been proud of his grandchildren! Each one had allowed him to boast among his oldrades, raising the bar for the entiremunity. They were all Schnabel kids! Malvina felt a bit embarrassed, "But the granddaughter-inw next door is more impressive than me..." She had overheard the retired general next door praising his granddaughter-inw, a doctor and a Ph.D. graduate in cardiology! Such a title seemed more fitting for Ulrich, didn''t it? Ulrich was on high alert. "Honey, don''t overthink it. You are the best!" "I''m not overthinking. I think I''m the best, too. It''s just that grandpa mentioned it!" Marcel chuckled. "Being able to tolerate a Schnabel kid, you''re the most suitable daughter-inw for the Schnabel family! Since Ulrich only has eyes for you, the Schnabel family does too!" Marcel knew what his grandsons were like more than anyone else. Ulrich had needed a lot of counseling when he first returned from the border! Malvina nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Grandpa!" Marcel handed Noe an old photograph. A radiant Harriet stood beside Marcel, with Xavier, Garrick, and a youthful Tavian, along with a few others Noe didn''t recognize. "These people are now your responsibility, being the current leader of Pris Star." Marcel looked into his granddaughter''s eyes, seeing the familiar face of his beloved Harriet in her, yet Noe was even more resilient and decisive. "If you need help, just ask grandpa. Remember, you''ll always be a Schnabel, and you''re my pride." Noe felt moved, "Thank you, Grandpa." ... Exiting the study, Tristan hurried off to deal with issues on their ind. Sienna, worried about him and the pregnant Malvina, was torn. Noticing her concern, Noe spoke up, "Mom, Malvina has Ulrich here, you should go with Dad."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. After all, it was Tristan''s carefully prepared birthday gift for Sienna! "Alright, then I''ll go! Your dad can''t tell his left from his right without me!" Tristan was a grown man, but Sienna couldn''t help but worry about him. After the couple left in the middle of the night, Jasper looked seriously at Noe. "Noe, I''m heading to Lockhart Prison!" "What for?" Jasper blustered. "To say thanks! Millie didn''t help me out for nothing, and we Schnabels don''t take advantage of people!" "We can thank her when she gets back." But who knew when Millie would return? Catching on to his real intention, Noe teased, "Jasper, you could just call to thank her. Are you... eager to see Millie?" "No! Why would I want to see her? Every time I do, it''s like losing years off my life!" "Besides, I did call, and shepletely ignored me!" Well, not entirely. ording to Millie, if he really wanted to thank her, he could jump in the sea and swim across the globe... Jasper was close to tears. Was this his responsibility? Could he even do it? Ulrich nced at him. "Just let him go. He''s like a bull in a china shop when he''s idle at home!" Kids grow up, and sometimes, they''re just a handful. Noe considered it and agreed. "Alright, I''ll have someone escort you. There''s a security line near Lockhart Prison, you''ll need a signal to get past..." Before she could finish, Jasper had already hopped into the helicopter parked in the yard and vanished without a trace! Noe was stunned. And he imed he didn''t want to see her? He sure was in a hurry! She had no choice but to send Ivan after him to avoid any mishaps. At Rising Glory Group, Beckett, dressed in a crisp suit, strode into the office and instructed his secretary. "From now on, all I dividends from Azure go directly into Noe''s ount. We''ll restructure the shares of Rising Glory Group." The secretary, surprised, said, "But the dividends from Azure are substantial. The board might not agree..." "The head honcho here is me, and the rest will fall in line." Aside from Beckett holding the lion''s share, the remaining stakes in Rising Glory Group were split between Tristan and a few branches of the et Schnabel n! Finding out his sister was Master Azure, he surely@ouldn''t keep profiting off her, right? As for the other shareholders, Tristan could be set aside, and none of the Schnabel n''s offshoots were petty enough to squabble over their shares and dividends. Beckett, as CEO, held an unchallenged leadership position at Rising Glory Group! "Right! You''ve got a jewelry expo to attend today, a big deal in the industry." Every year, this expo showcases numerous treasures. Last year, a birthday gift for ady of the Schnabel family was snagged at this very expo. Secretary: "This time, there''s a pavilion dedicated to the newly awarded Celestial Ocean Diamond." The Celestial Ocean Diamond series just bagged an international jewelry award. The designer, thanks to a ster presentation, even extracted a rare element from within the Celestial Ocean Diamond, earning a handsome reward! Beckett had been keeping tabs on the Celestial Ocean Diamond. Upon seeing it, he knew it was perfect for someone special! But the designer was only willing to disy the jewelry, not sell it. "Will the designer be there today?" "Yes, wanna try your luck?" Beckett nodded. "Of course!" At Falen Gemstones, Marisol handed over a document. "Mr. Schnabel, will you be attending the jewelry expo today?" "Besides the much-talked-about Celestial Ocean Diamond, there are several promising designers! If we could bring them on board, we wouldn''t have to worry about this season''s lineup!" Noe flipped through the brochure in hand. "Is the designer behind the Celestial Ocean Diamond not an option?" Aside from the Celestial Ocean Diamond, the other designs seemedckluster, nothing noteworthy. Marisol, looking at Noe, suddenly covered her mouth in shock! "Mr. Schnabel, you''re not the designer behind this, are you?" Chapter 431 "Why would you think that?" Marisol chuckled sheepishly. "Because this collection has a striking resemnce to Mr. Schnabel''s previous designs!" Noe shook her head. "It wasn''t my design. I did the special element analysis for the Celestial Ocean Diamond, though." Extracting precious chemical elements from diamonds requires specialized equipment. "But, I do happen to know the designer." Noe smiled lightly, standing up to slip into her zer, neatly pulling her long hair out from under it. Her eyes, clear and sharp, made Marisol''s heart skip a beat. Mr. Schnabel was just too good-looking! Yet, astonishingly, his looks were the least remarkable thing about him! "Let''s go check it out." Whether it''s thetest jewelry exhibition or the designer making headlines, it''s all crucial for theirpany! "Sure thing!" At the jewelry exhibition center, backstage. A woman with an air of arrogance strode into the backstage, followed by a crowd. An assistant, clutching a bunch of boxes, fawned, "Ms. Patel, we couldn''t secure your private dressing room..." "Useless! Am I supposed to mingle here with these mediocre designers? They''re not even in my league!" "Do you know who I am? I''m from the Patel family!" The Patel family has always held a prestigious ce in the Imperial City''s high society, renowned for their jewelry and real estate ventures. The matriarch of the Patel family was also a celebrated figure in Imperial City, internationally renowned alongside Esme as two of the most influential women. "I''m really sorry, Ms. Patel, but the VIP dressing rooms are limited, and we couldn''t secure one for you..." Luna Patel pped the meek assistant across the face! Boxes tumbled to the floor, luckily the jewelry was securely sealed in shock-absorbent bags, preventing any damage. Otherwise, the assistant''s earnings for a lifetime wouldn''t cover the losses. Luna sneered, "Couldn''t secure it? Then tell me, who took it?" The nerve of someone taking her dressing room!All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "I did. Got a problem with that?" A voice cold as a spring brook, yet clear and pleasant, cut through the tension. A pair of slender hands reached out to the assistant, Noe bending slightly, "Need a hand?" The assistant was starstruck by this angelic figure! In an instant, she forgot to breathe! Working as Luna''s assistant was no easy feat. Beatings and scoldings weremon, even if Luna was just dissatisfied with her morning makeup, she''d make the assistant stand outside in punishment, enduring the sun... By the end of the day, they''d be lucky not to copse from heatstroke or peel ayer of skin! Luna raised an eyebrow, "Well, well, if it isn''t Ms. Schnabel. Snatching up spots now, are we?" Noe helped the assistant up. Her tone was even, "If I''m not mistaken, this convention center is named Schnabel. The one next door, too, bears the name Schnabel." The implication was clear. This was her turf! "Ms. Patel''s been abroad too long, can''t tell north from south? Or can''t recognize the convention center''s logo? Seems the Patel family''s offspring might fail basic literacy." Besides the logo, there was the massive sign for the Schnabel Group! Luna was reluctant to confront Noe directly. If not for Noe being Esme''s prot¨¦g¨¦, no one could threaten her status as Imperial City''s top designer! This country bumpkin, what did she know about design? "Ms. Schnabel knows art? If you don''t recognize today''s gems, that''d be the real embarrassment. You should hide in the VIP lounge and study up." "Ms. Patel''s idea of art is being unspeakably rude?" Luna was stung by Noe''s directness! Ms. Schnabel, such harsh words! Not at all the behavior of ady of her standing! A man with amanding presence and impably tailored suit entered, drawing Luna''s attention instantly! Rumors had it, Mr. Schnabel was still single! Of all the Schnabel men, Beckett, who took after the family business, was the only one who caught Luna''s eye! But Beckett''s gaze swept over the room, cold and detached,nding on Noe with warmth unseen for others. He approached Noe, his tone gentle, "Why not wear something warmer? It''s cold, don''t just dress to impress." He draped his coat over her shoulders as he spoke. "Thanks, Beckett, but I''m not cold." "Put it on." Beckett checked Noe''s wrist to make sure she was indeed warm enough before he could rx. "What''s going on here?" Noe smirked, "Ms. Patel here, ims I''ve taken her dressing room!" Beckett''s gaze on Luna was icy and indifferent. "I don''t recall this convention center having a Patel family exclusive dressing room." "Perhaps there used to be, but not anymore, and there won''t be in the future." Luna''s face soured! "Mr. Schnabel, that''s quite inhospitable. What if you decide you want to buy my jewelryter?" Beckett frowned slightly. It had been years since anyone spoke to him in such a tone. Truly, a foolish woman! A greenhorn might be excusable, but Luna, well-versed in the circles they ran in, should have known better than to address him in such a manner, let alone publicly challenge his sister. "Ah, the Patel family, got it." "Isn''t Mr. Schnabel interested in the Celestial Ocean Diamond?" Everyone here was dying to get their hands on the Celestial Ocean Diamond! Beckett was losing his patience. "Are you implying that the Celestial Ocean Diamond was your masterpiece? Ms. Patel, do you think I''m a foot, or do you believe that a high-caliber jewel like the Celestial Ocean Diamond doesn''t require a designer with integrity?" Noe couldn''t help butugh! It was rare for Beckett to talk to her in such a tone, almost making her forget. Her Beckett, after all, was the one whose sarcasticments were collected daily on the internal website of the Schnabel Group! Beckett was a true businessman, the eldest son of the Schnabel family, having raised his younger siblings single-handedly. His knack for insults was such that even his brothers and sisters couldn''t stand it! What Beckett meant was, Luna''s soul was too tainted to have designed something as exquisite as the Celestial Ocean Diamond! Luna, feeling humiliated, covered her face, stomped her foot, and turned to leave. Marisol, standing behind Noe, said, "Mr. Schnabel, Ms. Patel seemed to have an issue with you?" "I don''t know her." Beckett replied coldly, "And I don''t need to. They were hoping to set up their eldest son with ra, but seeing what kind of fool they have in the family, I doubt the other kids are any better!" The Patel family''s intentions to match their eldest with ra were clear as day! "Beckett doesn''t believe she designed the Celestial Ocean Diamond?" Beckett gave his mysteriously always sister a nce. "If the Celestial Ocean Diamond was indeed her design, that would be a shame!" Chapter 432 "It''s actually a blessing in disguise," Beckett said, his demeanor calm as ever while leading Noe toward their private lounge. "At least we''ll save some money." Seeing the smile on Beckett''s face, Noe couldn''t help but smirk too. If the Celestial Ocean Diamond was indeed Luna''s creation, they would simply pass on it. With Luna''s attitude earlier, she couldn''t possibly design something that truly resonates with the soul. The Schnabels prided themselves on unity and avoided internal strife at all costs. Buying jewelry from such a designer was thest thing they wanted; it would just leave a bad taste in their mouths. And just like that, Beckett had also cklisted the eldest son of the Patels. "ra''s still young; there''s no rush in finding her a partner. The Patels wanting to meet her now is nothing but a greedy move!" Even in their circles, such greed wasn''t umon. They were eyeing ra, the sole heir of the Richardsons and the only granddaughter of the Pocks, who was also dearly loved by the Schnabels. Lately, everyone looking to get acquainted with ra ended up contacting Beckett, much to his frustration. "These people are delusional! Since when is a daughter of the Schnabels something they can covet?" Beckett fumed. Noe sighed, "Some even approached Palmer, and I''ve been getting calls too..." Those people had bought thetest from Azure and asked for Noe''s contact details. Kitai thought they were after their hard-hearted boss! But it turned out they wanted to meet ra. Noe had turned them all down. Beckett massaged his temples. "Leave these matters to me from now on! If anyone bothers you, it doesn''t matter who, just block them. I''ve got your back." "Thanks, Beckett," Noe replied. Marisol, trailing behind the Schnabel siblings, was beyond thrilled. The Schnabels really were as doting on Mr. Schnabel as the rumors suggested! "Beckett''s interested in buying the Celestial Ocean Diamond?" Marisol asked. Mentioning the Celestial Ocean Diamond brought a sparkle to Beckett''s eyes. "Someone would love it, and I''m nning to use it for a proposal!" Beckett was open with Noe, sharing his intentions without reservation. Noe was taken aback. Then, curling a finger to her lips, she chuckled softly. "Beckett, you really have a connection with that designer. Don''t worry, the Celestial Ocean Diamond will surely be yours." "A connection?" Beckett asked, intrigued. Noe nodded, "I know the designer. She created the Celestial Ocean Diamond with weddings in mind, so your proposal might just resonate with her. In that case, she might just agree to sell it to you!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Beckett''s face lit up with joy. "Let''s hope so. If you see any jewelry you like, just let me know. It''s on me!" Meanwhile, Luna stormed back to the lounge, seething with anger. Remembering how Beckett looked at her and spoke to her, she was overwhelmed with humiliation and burst into tears at the table. Damn the Schnabels! Her affections for Beckett were a blessing he scarcely deserved, yet he dared speak to her that way! Luna, appearing fragile, wept at her table, drawing the attention of several designers. Darcy approached Luna. "Hi, is there anything I can do to help?" Darcy asked kindly. Luna was infuriated. Couldn''t this country bumpkin see she was dressed in top-to-toe designer? As if she was someone his simple kind could approach! Lifting her head, Luna snapped, "Get lost!" Darcy, taken aback, returned to his seat. Dalia Sinir, who hade with her, frowned. "Is she crazy or something?" "Don''t worry about it. You''re still recovering. Don''t let it bother you," Darcy responded calmly. "I told you there''s no need toe, but you insisted. Such a stubborn girl," Darcy added. Dalia grinned, "But today''s important for you, sis!" They had been constrained by Poppy, their ambitions and talents stifled. Any hint of brilliance was smothered by Poppy to ensure they remained dependent. Darcy''s many attempts to enterpetitions were sabotaged by Poppy. With Poppy now out of the picture, Darcy hoped to start anew. She patted her sister''s head, feeling a twinge of guilt. "Sorry for making you suffer through those years." "With you, it''s never been hard! I think I saw Mr. Schnabel earlier!" Dalia eximed. Darcy ignored Dalia''s teasing. She calmly looked ahead, already informed by Noe''s message that Beckett was at the venue. Luna, drying her tears, whispered instructions to her assistant... who, after a hesitant moment, received a p! "Hurry up! I don''t pay you to stand around like Ms. Noe!" Luna snapped. The assistant, clutching her face, looked fearfully at Luna''s twisted visage and reluctantlyplied. Dalia watched, wide-eyed and speechless. "Hey sis, you gotta admit, when ites to high society, this... it''s likeparing a backyard barbecue to Mr. Schnabel''s grand g." "You think she stands a chance against Noe?" Darcy asked. "Not by a long shot!" Dalia replied firmly. In Dalia''s eyes, Noe''s number one superfan, nobody could hold a candle to Noe! The jewelry exhibition kicked off. The venue buzzed with life, sses clinking in a symphony of social grace. Noetta, arm in arm with Beckett, made her grand entranceet drawing a crowd keen on exchanging pleasantries. Waiters weaved through the with towers of sparkling champagne, careful not to spill a single drop. Then, a clumsy assistant stumbled over the linen covering the service cart! "Watch out!" someone shouted. Chaos erupted! Beckett, quick on his feet, pulled Noe aside, sparing her from the cascading beverages. "Are you okay?" Beckett asked, concerned. "I''m fine, but..." Noe replied, feeling something slip into her pocket amidst themotion. Tugging Beckett to a quieter spot around the corner, she retrieved a box that had been sneakily ced in her pocket. "The Celestial Ocean Diamond?" Noe eximed in surprise as she saw the diamond ne nestled inside the box. This was meant to be one of the exhibition''s highlights, and now it was in her pocket? There was also a note. Noe''s eyebrows knit together as she read the message: "I''m sorry, it wasn''t on purpose, I''m really sorry!" Someone nted the Celestial Ocean Diamond in her pocket to frame her for theft? But why leave note? Handwriting could be easily traced hence the note was printed, and there were only a handful of printers around the venue! Beckett frowned, "Damn it! Someone''s trying to set you up here!" Noe raised an eyebrow and smiled. She held back Beckett, who was already on the verge of demanding the surveince footage. "Beckett, it''s okay. If someone wants to put on a show, let''s give them one to remember!" Chapter 433 "Are you suggesting we beat them at their own game?" Beckett raised an eyebrow, amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Exactly! The stage is set, we might as well enjoy the show," Noe said, her lips curling into a smirk. "This petty scheme, Beckett, don''t you want to see how it unfolds? Plus, I have other ns that won''t interfere with the jewelry exhibition." To think we''d stumble upon such a childish ploy here, of all ces. Who wouldn''t find this intriguing? Seeing Noe so calm and strategic, Beckett''s worries melted away. "If you''re in, I''m with you all the way!" This was happening on Schnabel turf, and yet, someone dared to y these little tricks? Did they really think the Schnabels would just stand by? In a corner, a jittery assistant scurried back to Luna. "Ms. Patel, everything''s ready..." "You didn''t take this long because you were tipping off Noe, did you?" The assistant, pale with fear, shook her head vigorously. "No... I wouldn''t dare!" "I thought so. You don''t have the nerve. Well, I can''t wait to see how she ns to save face after this debacle!" Anyone who dares to cross Luna Patel is asking for trouble! ... The jewelry was disyed in special cabs, each piece taking its turn on the pedestal. The host announced, "Ms. Patel''s Thorny Rose collection, featuring rubies and pink diamonds, is truly a masterpiece and a first-time exhibit!" Dalia gasped at the sight of the glittering jewelry. "Sis, these pieces are stunning!" But experts know better. Darcy shook her head. "It''s a shame, really. Such fine materials wasted on poor craftsmanship. It diminishes the stones'' natural beauty." Pink diamonds are precious, and even seasoned designers opt for conservative cuts to showcase the gem''s inherent allure. Luna''s design overshadowed the jewels'' natural charm, a stark contrast to their true value. Dalia, also a designer, nodded in agreement. "Which number is our piece?" "Soon," Darcy replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Noe said there''d be a change in schedule to amodate us." As Noe''s staunch ally, Dalia didn''t hesitate. "Then let''s go ahead!" After all, Mr. Schnabel''s word was gospel. If there was a mistake, it certainly wasn''t on their part! The host smiled. "Ms. Patel''s collection starts at thirty million. Feel free to make your bids." As the Schnabels hosted the event, Noe and Beckett had front-row seats. ying with her diamond ring, Noe scoffed, "Beckett, in what world does this design fetch thirty million? Monopoly money?" "Indeed," Beckett replied coolly. "It''s not even worth thirty million Monopoly dors." Theirments, though not loud, were enough for the keen-eared. It was clear as day; this wasn''t merely about evaluating jewelry. Why hadn''t the Schnabel siblingsmented on any other pieces? Even those less impressive had seen Beckett''s bids. This was a pointed attack. Whispers spread. "I heard Ms. Patel tried to outdo Ms. Schnabel for the best dressing room..." "Really? Does the Patel family think they rule the jewelry world?" "It''s best not to bid. What if you end up offending the Schnabels instead?" Bidders retracted their offers, fearing the consequences of crossing the Schnabels. Beckett nodded in satisfaction and rxed into his seat, casually unbuttoning his suit jacket. He looked to the host. "If no one''s interested, let''s move on to the next designer." "Of course, Mr. Schnabel." Luna''s face turned a shade of livid red! This was Beckett''s doing! Didn''t he fear regretting this decision?Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Yet, the sight of Beckett''s face inexplicably quickened her heartbeat! Luna began rationalizing on Beckett''s behalf, convinced Noe had poisoned him against her... If only that country bumpkin were out of the picture... then nothing could stop her from joining the Schnabel ranks! Lunaposed herself, turning to the host. "My designs aren''t for everyone. If some can''t appreciate art, that''s not my problem. Let''s eline move on to the Celestial Oceane Diamond, the real reason we''re all here!" The host hesitated, looking to Beckett for approval. "Proceed," Beckett consented. Luna red at Noe, venom in her eyes, eagerly anticipating her downfall. Imagining Noe''s public humiliation, Luna felt a surge of excitement. The audience was captivated by the Celestial Ocean Diamond''s debut, a design that had drawn many there, either for its beauty or the budding talent behind it. Luna seethed in jealousy; her designs, though a collective effort of several designers, bore only her name. Yet, none matched appeal of this neer''s raw If it weren''t for that designer''s obstinacy, after being invited numerous times and still refusing to show, the Celestial Ocean Diamond would have been in her pocket in no time... Just thinking about what was about to unfold made Luna almost burst intoughter! Catching Luna''s side-eye, loaded with venom yet masked with a smile, Noe couldn''t help but chuckle. Seeing Noe''s grin, Luna instantly felt that something was off! Instinctively, Luna turned around to search for her useless assistant, but the person was nowhere to be found. Surely, that damned traitor must have taken Noe''s money and switched sides. With that thought, Luna instinctively tried to sneak away. Suddenly, a hand appeared behind her, and the cold barrel of a gun pressed against her lower back! Alioth: "Don''t even think about moving, sweetheart. My boss said you''ve got to watch the show before you can leave." Noe said no one''s leaving, so nobody''s leaving! "I... I just need to use the restroom, wasn''t trying to leave..." Alioth, with a smirk, replied: "Guess you''ll just have to hold it in." "Do you know who I am? How dare you hold me hostage!" "Make another move, and you''ll be nothing but a dead damsel, darling~" Alioth was just imprable! Left with no options, Luna thought about calling for help, only to hear the sound of a safety catch being released behind her... And just like that, she didn''t dare utter another word! On the stage, where the Celestial Ocean Diamond should have been safely in Noe''s possession, it was now under the spotlight for all to see! Luna''s expression changed in an instant! How is this possible! Wasn''t that supposed to be with Noe?! Chapter 434 The moment the Celestial Ocean Diamond made its appearance, everyone held their breath in anticipation. But what followed was a shocking video! The screen captured Luna''s face in clear view. "Steal the Celestial Ocean Diamond and slip it into Noe''s purse!" "Ms. Patel, this... this is illegal..." Luna pped her assistant across the face! "My word isw! How dare this wretched woman try to embarrass me here! Well, let''s see what she has to say when the Celestial Ocean Diamond turns up on her person!" The video then cut to Luna''s assistant sneaking backstage and taking the Celestial Ocean Diamond. It even captured the moment she tucked it into Noe''s purse amidst the chaos! The Schnabel family''s jewelry exhibition was under tight surveince everywhere but the restrooms. Especially the room where the jewelry was disyed. The cameras were so clear that they could capture every pore on the assistant''s face! Luna realized toote that Noe had set a trap for her! Damn it! Noe calmly stated, "Such actions are not tolerated at a Schnabel Group venue. Theft, especially from within, will never ur in any of the Schnabel family''s enterprises." "As for Ms. Luna and her assistant, the police will handle them." As Luna was dragged away, her mouth covered by Alioth, the crowd was stunned! Just moments ago, some were considering purchasing Luna''s exorbitantly priced designs. Now, they were sweating bullets in relief for not making a purchase. That would''ve been like dancing on the Schnabel family''s head! What was the Patel family even thinking... On stage, the Celestial Ocean Diamond slowly rose. Under a gxy of lights, the diamond sparkled like a star, with the designer donning a matching gown appearing before everyone! With the jewelry as a backdrop, Darcy, in her light tulle dress, looked as if she was wearing a wedding gown woven from the Milky Way! Beckett, seeing the person on stage, stood up, disbelief written all over his face. Darcy looked at him, nodding slightly towards Noe. Suddenly, the entire venue dimmed! All the lights focused on the stage, and a multitude of stars appeared on the ceiling. Darcy''s voice resonated from all directions, her tone both gentle and firm. "Once, I was told my name sounded lovely." "But I always thought, a boat is just a boat, and mountains are simply mountains. Even if a boat can cross over, the mountain paths are still long and winding." "This person took me across mountains and seas, to see the stars!" "I thought that was it for my life. But it was the stars that told me, even in the presence of mountains, stars cannot be obscured!" Beckett remembered their first trip together to see the starry sky. He had thought Darcy didn''t enjoy it. Little did he know, she had cherished every moment! "The Celestial Ocean Diamond was, embarrassingly, designed as my own bridal jewelry." On stage, a pair of rings never before seen were revealed, drawing gasps from the audience. Everyone thought the ne and earrings were the treasures, but it was the rings that truly captured the essence of the Celestial Ocean Diamond. "Being wedding rings, theye in pairs." "And because they were designed for a wedding, they''re also my gift to my star, hence not for public sale." Darcy''s gaze fell on the rings, and behind her, the gxy converged into a sea of flowers, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked towards Beckett. "I''ve always lived in the past, always thinking about what once was." After reuniting with Beckett, Darcy always unwittingly thought of the past. The past, always the past, because she was certain they had no future together! But the seeds of inferiority, sown by a broken family, would eventually wither in her persistence. She wanted Beckett to see her shine, to be worthy of him! "I''m sorry I ran away back then, but now, I want to ask you, will you marry me?" "I''ve traveled a long way to find you again, so... do you still want me?" Behind her a sea of white roses bloomed. She was already in her wedding dress, the one she had chosen long ago. And she wore the rings, designed from the moment they started dating! to She had found her beloved star, always cherished in her heart. But she wasn''t sure if her star still wished to marry her! The audience gasped! They never expected the designer of the Celestial Ocean Diamond to propose to her beloved on this day! And that person was none other than Mr. Schnabel of the Rising Glory Group! Beckett realized the meaning of the white roses, affirming she was indeed worthy of him! His girl, thinking she wasn''t good enough for him! Beckett chuckled softly, momentarily stunned, before Noe nudged him. "Beckett, Ms. Darcy is waiting for your answer!" "Yes, Beckett knows." The stage was a bit high, but Beckett effortlessly leapt onto it, appearing before Darcy. "Is this what you meant by ''status''?" All nned in advance with Noe! Darcy nodded. "Yes, so you have every right to reject me. I''veid everything out in front of you, you can choose not to ept." Beckett slowly shook his head. "I can''t ept." As he saw the light fade from Darcy''s eyes, Beckett picked up the ring behind him, his voice exceptionally tender. "I can''t, because this is something I should have done." "The past is behind us." "So now, will you marry me, Darcy?" yet Holding the rings Darcy had designed, Beckett walked through a sea of stars to stand before Darcy, dressed her wedding gown, and knelt on one knee. Tears streamed down Darcy''s face, but she was resolute. Proposing isn''t just a man''s job, after all. Even facing rejection, she had done everything she had wanted to do! "I do!" she eximed. The matching Celestial Ocean Diamond rings fit perfectly on Beckett and Darcy''s fingers, symbolizing their shared stars worn close to their hearts. Meanwhile, on a Pacific ind, Sienna, lounging on the beach and scrolling through videos on her phone, suddenly sat upright with a gasp! "Oh my, how heartwarming! This designer just proposed in public... Wait, why does the proposee look so familiar?"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Poking Tristan, who was leisurely fishing nearby, Sienna asked uncertainly, "Honey, isn''t that our son?" "How could that be? All three of our sons are bachelors; who would propose to them?" Upon a closer look, Sienna covered her mouth in shock. "But why do I also see our Noe there?" Tristan leaned over for a look, and the couple exchanged bewildered nces. It really was their son! After watching the video several times, Sienna was convinced it was indeed her eldest son, Beckett, who had somehow remained single into his thirties. Just as she was about to call him for details, Sienna received a private message on her social media. "Mrs. Schnabel, your future daughter-inw is no good and doesn''t deserve to marry into the Schnabel family!" Chapter 435 Sienna''s phone buzzed with a message, and she was instantly fueled with righteous anger. With rapid-fire thumbs, she hammered out a response. "Even if my daughter-inw isn''t perfect, she''s only ''afflicting'' my son, and that''s our business, not yours!" "My son finally finds a girl who''s willing to settle for him, and you''ve got the nerve to criticize? Mind your own beeswax!" Still fuming, Sienna couldn''t resist checking out the profile of her critic. She bypassed their other posts until one caught her eye-a snidement about a female celebrity being ''a bit chubby''. Sienna couldn''t hold back, typing swiftly: "Oh, like you''re so slim? You probably don''t weigh more than a feather!" After posting, she grumbled, "Why''s everyone picking on the poor girl? She''s talented and doesn''t even mind our son''s quirks!" The thought of a public proposal was beyond Sienna; she''d never have the nerve herself! Tristan, her husband, seemed cautious. "Honey, aren''t you worried this girl might actually be trouble?" "Trouble? As if your ''mom issues'' aren''t a bigger problem?" Sienna shot back, leaving Tristan speechless. The reference to ''mom issues'' was a sore spot-Tristan''s dad had made some questionable choices in his day. Despite past drama with Ashlyn, Sienna still worried about her eldest. "Time to book flights home!" she dered. Then, another message popped up. "She can''t have kids. Looks like your Schnabel lineage is doomed!" Sienna''s eyes widened in shock. No children? "If our daughter-inw can''t have kids, we''ll just have to nurture her health. Could it be a cold womb or something congenital?" The concern was palpable in her voice. Another message arrived, hinting at a past abortion. Sienna rxed slightly.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. "A past child means it''s not a congenital issue! Looks like we need to focus on improving her overall health." Tristan tiptoed around the subject. "Sweetheart, you''re not holding this against our future daughter-inw, are you?" Sienna pocketed her phone. "Our son chose her. Whatever she''s like, it''s his decision. With Beckett''s judgment, do you really think he''d choose poorly?" Bing the Schnabel family''s matriarch wasn''t easy! "I don''t buy into this gossip, nor do I doubt our future daughter-inw. But I trust our children." At the proposal scene, Noe was still seated, her keen eye for people evident. Sienna trusted Beckett and Noe''s judgment, preferring not to meddle in their affairs. Tristan suggested they treat this as a vacation instead of getting involved. "Let''s enjoy ourselves. The kids will figure it out." That thought alone was enough to convince Sienna. Meanwhile, Beckett, fresh from a jewelry exhibition, listened to Sienna''s voicemail. "Son, just give Mom a heads-up when you''re getting married. I''ve prepared some nutritious meals.for Darcy. And Noe looks a bit thin; it worries me. Take care of your siblings, love you." Despite the concern, the selfies of Sienna and Tristan enjoying their ind getaway spoke volumes of their current mood. Last was a snapshot of the gossip that had reached Sienna, imagining her voice as he read it made Beckett smirk, replying, "Got it." Exiting the venue, Marisol was still buzzing with excitement at having met the famous designer, who was also Mr. Schnabel''s sister-inw. "Darcy, would you consider joining ourpany?" Darcyughed. "I''ve already agreed with Noe. Aside from schoolwork, I''ll provide designs as long as you have the materials I need." "Don''t worry, we''ll get you whatever you need. If we can''t find it, I''ll dig up the mines myself!" Darcy was amused. "No need to go that far!" Looking around, Darcy noticed Dalia was missing. "Where''s my sister? She should be heading to the hospital with her injury." Noe noticed a group huddled in a dimly lit alley, ying cards near a dumpster. "What are you all doing?" "ying cards!" came the cheerful reply. When Noe mentioned she had things to handle, Beckett agreed to take Marisol home, his gaze lingering on the group Noe called friends-members of the Pris Star. Beckett offered help if needed, but learned they were waiting f Pock, another twist that left Beckett pondering his ce in Noe''s adventurous world. Beckett''s gaze sharpened, "Here''s my business card. Call me when you need me, Noe. A million per case!" "Deal! Mr. Schnabel, you''re now our top-tier VIP client!" Watching Megrez skillfully hustle Beckett, Noe lifted her foot and kicked him lightly. "Beat it." "Beckett, don''t mind him, it''s all business talk. Last time, Azure''s shipment got held up at customs, and there are still some loose ends to tie up." Noe''s expression remained calm, "Darcy, I''ve sent Dalia back to the gallery. A client requested her expertise for a project, I''ll call you backter." Darcy, aware of Noe''s healing skills and knowing Dalia was nearly recovered, was just a bit anxious. "That''s a relief, you know best, I trust you!" "Thanks, Darcy, I''ll head out then." As Noe turned to leave with Megrez and the others, Beckett couldn''t help but think how his sister had grown up with these folks... A pang of emotion hit him, and Beckett said, "Noe, invite your friends over for dinner sometime, my treat!" Noe''s face lit up with a warm smile! The others turned around, echoing in unison, "Thanks, Beckett! We''ll definitelye!" Chapter 436 In a deserted alleyway, Alioth''s voice dropped to a whisper, "Boss, Dalia''s been snatched." "When did this happen? Where is she now?" "About half an hour ago. We nabbed the ones who took her too!" Ivan scratched the back of his head in thought. "But they didn''t seem to be working together, so we just let them go. Nn and Yasbel are tailing them now." Nn and Yasbel were Pris Star''s top trackers. They never lost a target! "They''re heading to the harbor, looks like they''re nning to set sail!" Noe interjected, "Why would they kidnap Dalia?" Dalia was just an employee at her art gallery. What were they hoping to gain? Alioth exined, "Seems like they mistook her for Darcy, nning to use her to threaten Beckett." All because Beckett invited them for dinner, now they dragged Beckett into this mess! "...And why did you inform Palmer?" Ivan replied as if it were obvious, "Well, aside from being a brilliant vocalist, he''s a perfect human shield!" "We''ve got intel that the ship is full of foreign forces and unidentified individuals. Recently, the deep web''s been abuzz with assassins sneaking into the country, likely mingling among them. Erek''s alreadyying out ns there." Noe frowned slightly. "Assassins from the deep web? That new third party that just popped up?" After the fall of Cerulean Whale, the assassination organization ranking third on the deep web, Soaring Bird, came into the spotlight. "Exactly, Soaring Bird. Annie said Palmer''s waiting for you at the harbor." A professional matchup indeed! Palmer had been busy dealing with the Pock Group''s issuestely. With the old man gone, the lesser branches were getting restless, causing minor troubles in the Pock Group''s business. They hadn''t seen each other in days. Every morning, Noe received Palmer''s schedule, aware that his business was conveniently located near the harbor today. Noe wondered, "Since when are you and Annie this close?" Ivan, looking utterly sincere, confessed, "Boss, I''m gay." Noe''s mouth twitched, "I wasn''t suggesting anything, but if you really are gay, Annie might not be the one in danger here." Alioth and Megrez exchanged strange looks at Ivan. Ivan: "..." "Why are you guys leaving? What''s with covering your butts?" At the harbor. A luxurious yacht spanned four stories, each catering to different clientele. At the entrance, a waiter stopped Noe: "Wee, this is for VIP guests on the fourth level. May I see your invitation, please?" Noe nced at him, and with a swift motion, the waiter copsed, unconscious. Ivan teased, "Boss, you could''ve just said you''re Ms. Schnabel, would he still dare to block your way?" Noe coolly responded, "Troublesome." On the edge, when action was an option, she preferred it over words. Annie emerged from a room, "Ms. Noe, the boss is waiting for you inside."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Thank you." Approaching the room, Noe noticed a strong scent of blood! Quickening her pace, she entered to find Palmer sitting by the window, his sleeve stained with blood, his muscr arm entuated by the tight band around his bicep, exuding a sexy and dangerous vibe. As he wiped the blood from his hands, Palmer, against the light, had a hint of bloodlust in his eyes. Meeting Noe''s gaze, she walked toward him, stepping over the bodies of the assassins without a flinch, her tone calm. "Skipped breakfast?" "Didn''t have time, did Annie tell you?" Palmer''s attempts to eat and rest were futile without Noe. She was well-informed about his daily activities through Annie. "If Annie hadn''t told me, were you nning on being an iron man today?" Palmer chuckled, cleaning the remaining blood off his hands before daring to embrace her. However, Noe was visibly upset, keeping her distance. "I had food prepared, but got interrupted," he gestured toward the cold meal box and the bodies sprawled on the floor. Annie and van efficiently cleaned up turning the assassins s into the scene while ignoring their` shark bosses'' quarrel... For them, witnessing an angry Noe was scarier than facing a shark! They quickly tidied up and slipped out as if nothing happened. Palmer, trying to appease Noe, said, "Look, they''re evenughing at me." "You''re worried about themughing? Wait till you''re reduced to ashes, and they''ll be peeing on your grave with their kids." It was already five in the afternoon, and the man hadn''t eaten all day! Justst night, Annie mentioned he only had two cups of ck coffee! Knowing Noe was genuinely upset, Palmer quickly raised his hands in surrender. "My mistake! But this boxed meal is terrible. How about we go to a restaurant, just you and me?" The meal had gone cold, sttered with the assassins'' blood, indeed inedible. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Noe knew that forgiving him too easily would only encourage his recklessness. "Remember our betst time? I won, and you owe me a favor, which I haven''t called in yet." "Name it." At this point, Palmer would do anything to appease Noe. "Today, pretend you don''t know me." The smile on Palmer''s face froze instantly! "Is that really necessary, Noe?" "Today, I''m here as Wise Fool, so you don''t know me." From the first floor to the fourth, Noe had spotted several assassins. Their presence reeked of bloodlust and death, impossible to disguise. No matter how extravagantly they dressed, they couldn''t hide their true nature. If it was going to be an assassin''s gathering, being Noe would onlyplicate things. Understanding Noe''s intentions, Palmer still wanted to negotiate but, meeting her icy gaze, he reluctantly d in agreement. Yet, he was more than pleased to pull the charming girl into his embrace. "I realize my mistake now. Since we''re pretending not to know each other, let''s get properly acquainted." Noe didn''t push him away. Looking up, she asked, "Were those guys from Soaring Bird? Why did they attack you?" "Indeed, they were from Soaring Bird." As for why they attacked him, Palmer led Noe to the bed and flung back the covers! Beneath the nket, Dalia, with her mouth sealed with ck duct tape, and an unconscious man were lying next to each other. "Dillon Patel, the eldest grandson of the Patel family." "Why is he here?" Bending over, Noe peeled off the duct tape from Dalia''s mouth and untied her. Palmer spread his hands. "Because this is his room." "Were the assassins after him?" "Not really. He hasn''t made it onto my radar yet. The person they wanted to kill today was you, Stirling!" Palmer nced at the sleeping Dillon. "Kidnapping her was a bait to lure you, Beckett, in. You, Stirling, have a job here. Seems like they wanted to catch everyone in one go!" Thinking it over, Noe remarked, "I''m here too, so this trap was quite cost-effective." Seeing them joke around in such a moment, Dalia''s initially panicked heart calmed down! "Mr. Schnabel, this man, I recognize him!" Chapter 437 Dalia''s voice still trembled as she spoke, "I know him!" Dillon, as the eldest grandson of the Patel family, had been abroad for studies and business, only recently returning home. "How do you know him?" "Well... we met ying video games, and onlyter did I find out he was part of the Patel family." Dalia looked around for her phone, only to remember it was taken when she was kidnapped. The Patel family had business dealings with Noe''s art gallery, having consigned a few paintings there, all under Dalia''s management. Thus, Dalia and Dillon hade to know each other. Noe pulled out her phone and dialed Beckett''s number. "Ensuring Ms. Darcy''s safety, I told her you returned to the gallery." Dalia quickly took the phone, apologizing and coaxing in a flurry to calm the worried and angry Darcy. Noe looked at Dillon, unconscious on the bed. "You knocked him out?" Palmer nodded, "It was convenient. After all, I don''t really like people witnessing me taking someone down." That was indeed very convenient. Noe knew Palmer came into this room probably because he saw Dalia, knowing she was an employee of her gallery, so he followed to check. "These assassins were hired by the Patel family, nning to target you, Beckett, and Stirling. I just took care of them too. Did I do good?" Noe faced the man clearly seeking approval. She coldly chuckled, "So, this isn''t your room, and that takeout on the desk isn''t yours?" He hadn''t nned on eating at all! Caught in his lie, Palmer immediately became flustered! Just as he tried to exin, Noe scoffed and left the room! "So much for lying. Seems Mr. Pock isn''t hungry after all!" "Noe, listen to me..." The door mmed shut, leaving Palmer rubbing his nose, caught in a mix of helplessness and embarrassment. Noe''s temperament was clear to him; usually indifferent to most things, but stubborn and domineering when provoked. Now he was in trouble! Behind him, Dalia, holding Noe''s phone, asked, "Um, Mr. Pock, could you let me out, please?" In a spat between the boss and her fianc¨¦, she naturally sided with her boss, especially holding Noe''s phone! Palmer opened the door, taking the phone from Dalia, and marched out first. "Let Annie set you up in a room, get some rest." Catching up with Noe ahead, Palmer knew she was waiting for him. "Why follow?" She wasn''t ready to deal with him yet! "I was wrong! I''ll go eat now." The attempt at appeasement looked odd on his face, and even his apology sounded stiff, clearly not used to saying such things. Noe took her phone back, looking into his dark eyes, her anger dissipating. "Alright, I''ll look for Stirling." Since Stirling was also a target here, Noe needed to ensure his safety. Palmer knew Noe''s concerns were for their safety. "The Abyssal Organization is at yourmand; they recognize you." "I understand." Having not seen each other for days, Palmer wanted to linger, but worried Noe might still be upset, so he headed to the dining area. As he left, a door cracked open, revealing a gleaming bald head. "Noe, over here!" Approaching with curiosity, "Why are you here?" Letting Noe in, Horatio exined, "Business. Once it''s settled, I''m off wandering again! Thought to say goodbye, but here you are!" Noe didn''t buy his monk''s tale. "What business?" "Can''t say, client confidentiality! But I overheard ns to ambush Stirling in his room during the fireworks tonight, aiming to eliminate him." Noe eyed Horatio skeptically. "That''s quite the coincidence."All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "Indeed! And I heard they wanted to invite Beckett too, nning to take him out next if he didn''t show el They''ve got people waiting outside yourpany too." Raising an eyebrow, "Anything else coincidental?" "Dillon wants to meet ra." "I know, but it''s just an introduction, shouldn''t be a big issue." Horatio, growing anxious, "How can it not be? The Patel n is conspiring with foreign hitmen to take out your family, aiming to get to ra at this critical moment means they''re plotting against your entire lineage!" The Schnabel family, with their numerous children, might be reduced to just one daughter if the Patel''s n seeded! Noe, with a meaningful lean towards Horatio''s handsome, non-monastic face. "Are you worried about my sister?" "I''m concerned for all your family. After all, they are your kin." Horatio left unspoken the worry for the family''s safety, his gaze serious and sincere. "Also, even though I''m a monk, Mr. Pock might get jealous with you this close." "...Get out!" Quickly setting up her portableputer, Noe logged onto the deep web. The top post had numerous hitmen responding. ¡°Board the cruise, eliminate the specified target, $10 million reward for the sessful. Beware, the mission invites a swarm of predators." Clearly, it was a trap for the assassins themselves, pitting them against each other in a deadly game. Noe skimmed through the assassin listings, and Soaring Bird''s name popped up first. The next moment, both Abyssal Organization and Obelisk Organization flooded the chat with their orders! The entire dark web buzzed with shock! Who on earth were they after? That it warranted three entities to spring into action! The target''s details soon came through. ¡¾Target, Imperial City Stirling, Stirling.¡¿ Horatio couldn''t hide his surprise, "Wait, you''re taking a hit out on your own Stirling?" "Is there a problem?" By epting the job herself, any other hitmen en route to cash in would think twice. "And Abyssal Organization took the job too?" Noe said coolly, "Oh, I hacked into Palmer''s ount and snagged it for us." Horatio was dumbfounded! Talk about ruthless, they didn''t even spare Noe''s fianc¨¦. Dark, truly dark! ... At the restaurant, Palmer casually picked some food, snapping a photo from his window seat to send to Noe. Overheard conversations filled the air. "They''re just offing an actor, why did both Abyssal Organization and Obelisk Organization jump on it?" "I bet Abyssal Organization and Obelisk Organization are here for Soaring Bird..." "Whatever, I''m about to go take out that Stirling! Ten million dors will soon be mine!" With a slight clink of cutlery, Palmer''s hand paused for a moment, realizing Noe must have used Abyssal Organization''s name to take the contract. He loved this side of her! After finishing his meal, Palmer took another photo of his empty te. Noe: "Looks good, but where''s the cutlery?" "Disposed of a couple of noisy lobsters on the way out." Chapter 438 At the edge of the restaurant, the sound of cutlery clinking against tes was abruptly reced by a thud as a hitman hit the floor, a steak knife and fork previously resting innocently by a diner''s te now lodged threateningly against the necks of two burly men at the next table. A chorus of gasps filled the air! By then, the man responsible was already strolling out of the diner, as casual as if he''d just finished a meal. Receiving Palmer''s message, Noe couldn''t help but smirk. Her phone rang immediately after. "There are about a dozen hitmen in the diner." "And another dozen on the first floor." The information ryed by Pris Star weighed heavily on Noe. To think they sent such a force just to take out Stirling? Anyone would think the hitmen''s guild was on some kind of team-building exercise! After formting a n, Noe snapped her phone shut. From Horatio''s vantage point, Noe''s stormy expression was clear as day, sending shivers down his spine. A Noe this furious was often a Noe with murder on her mind. Horatio muttered to himself, "That Soaring Bird really hit the jackpot to piss off Noe like this. Must''ve been some kind of karmic luck!" ...N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. On the first deck of the cruise ship, in Stirling''s room. His agent said, "Stirling, we''re shooting on the deck next. Here''s your outfit." ncing at the tuxedoid out on the bed, Stirling waved it off impatiently. For some reason, he couldn''t shake a feeling of unease, sensing many eyes on him wherever he went that day! His agent suggested, "Maybe they''re all fans of yours, Stirling?" "I don''t recall ever having a fanbase of burly white men in their thirties." His movies and shows weren''t exactly the type to appeal to that demographic! The agent joked, "You''re selling yourself short, Stirling. Online, you''re hailed as the epitome of Asian male beauty." Stirling shot back warily, "Cut it out!" Was he talking about Asian beauty or some western poprity contest? Thinking about those gazes, Stirling felt increasingly ufortable, his instincts telling him those men were targeting him... This was not good. A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, and the agent went to answer it. Yasbel entered, holding arge bottle of champagne, making herself at home without invitation. "Mr. Schnabel still up for a shoot?" she asked nonchntly. "...Shouldn''t I be?" This shoot was for an international top-tier magazine, aiming for the cover of the New Year edition-a high-profile gig. Yasbel poured herself a ss of champagne and snapped her fingers. "Don''t mind me, carry on with your shoot. I''m just here to watch. My boss sent me." Knowing Noe sent her, Stirling didn''t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. His gaze lingered on Yasbel, "Why are you on this ship?" "Followed a girl here, just happened to see you too, so I thought I''d drop by." Had it not been for following the kidnappers of Dalia, Yasbel wouldn''t have stumbled upon Stirling surrounded by no less than thirty top-tier assassins. Stirling, on high alert, asked, "Following a girl? You''re not into women, are you...?" Yasbel, offended, threw her ss of champagne in Stirling''s face! Cursing, she snapped, "Shut up! If you can''t speak nicely, don''t speak at all! Go do your photoshoot!" Hastily, Stirling grabbed the tuxedo to get changed. Yasbel, unbothered, checked the room for any surveince, pulling out her phone. "Boss, five bugs and two cameras in Stirling''s room." "Keep him safe until we disembark." "Big show to kill him, for what?" Yasbel couldn''t see what was so valuable about Stirling. "It''s a warning and test against the Schnabel family." Seems like the Patel family was unnerved by the Schnabel family''s prominence in Imperial City, looking to shake up the social order. Noe massaged her temples. "Such fools. If the Schnabel family were so easy to eliminate, they wouldn''t be ruling Imperial City." "Stirling''s safety is your responsibility." "Got it, piece of cake!" Noe seriously added, "I''m not joking. With so many hitmen aboard, stay close to him." "Sure thing, just settle my tabter." Yasbel shrugged and headed to where Stirling was changing, flinging the curtains open without a second thought. "Ah! Are you insane?!" Stirling, halfway through dressing, was startled by Yasbel''s brazen intrusion. "Oops, my bad." "Get out! What are you doing here while I''m changing?" "We''re all human, just different parts, right? Want me to show you mine?" Stirling''s face turned beet red with anger. "Out, now!" "Such a prude." Noe, overhearing themotion through the phone, couldn''t help but twitch her mouth in amusement. Yasbel''s antics were typical, and Stirling''s reaction was to be expected... Stirling sounded lively enough, so there was no immediate worry. After hanging up, Noe focused on the message on her screen. [At 8 PM, during the masquerade ball and the fireworks, make your move in the chaos. Escape is up to each individual''s skill.] Considering the cruise''s route, they would be in the middle of the ocean by 8 PM. nning an escape under those circumstances? It seemed like the Patel family was ready to go all out, leaving no stone unturned. The hitmen? They didn''t n on leaving any loose ends either. ... On the deck, Yasbel yawned as she ina watched Stirling filming. Her hand, holding a cocktail fork, aimed in a certain direction just as a heavy ssh sounded in the water. "What was that noise?" Stirling asked, puzzled. "Just dinner time for the sharks," Yasbel replied nonchntly. Stirling peered suspiciously at the sea, indeed only seeing sharks circling below. The Abyssal Organization seemed ready to devour everything in its path. The easiest way to dispose of problems at sea? Feed the fish. After the shoot, the agent hinted, "Stirling, there''s a g tonight,plete with fireworks. Why not invite Yasbel? It could be a chance to clear the air about earlier." Stirling felt tempted. Just as he was about to invite Yasbel to the g, he saw her turn her head, a serious look in her eyes. "Remember you said, if younded the Azure endorsement, you''d do one thing for me?" "What is it? Just tell me." Yasbel smiled, pointing to a cart carrying trash down theet the The smell of garbage mixed fermented scent of the ship''s alcohol was particrly pungent. "Jump in there and don''te out until sunrise." Stirling: "...What?!" Chapter 439 Stirling stared at the massive dumpster before him, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he nced at Yasbel. "Are you serious?" Was her way of forgiving him really making him dive into a dumpster?! If that was the case, Stirling suddenly felt maybe an apology wasn''t necessary after all... Yasbel nodded firmly. "Seems like you''re not really keen on apologizing. Guess you were just messing around. No backbone." "If you''re a real man, you''d jump in!" Stirling took a step back. He felt she was just ying him, but he had no proof. Tired of the back-and-forth, Yasbel smacked him on the back of his head, knocking him out cold, and dumped him into the dumpster. As they spoke, several hitmen passed by them. Stirling, his eyes rolling back,y among the refuse, just another piece of trash in the bin. Yasbel pulled her hat down to hide her expression and pushed the garbage cart away, disappearing into another room. ... On the other side, the deck. A group of hitmen gathered, puffing on cigarettes and discussing their target roaming the ship''s corridors. "My bug''s been found. That guy''s got his own hitmen for protection!" "Wasn''t that rich kid just an actor? Must be bodyguards hired by the Schnabel family." Finn sneered, "Ha, what can those freeloaders do? I say, we take out everyone on this ship." A bullet hit Finn squarely in the temple! Blood sprayed instantly as a masked woman with a handgun stood above, her gaze icy as she surveyed the dozen hitmen below her. "It''s Obelisk Organization!" Noe''s expression was cold, looking at them as if they were nothing but rotten fish. "Soaring Bird likes breaking rules that much, huh? Looking to get wiped?" The hitmen were both shocked and angry, "Wise Fool, this is just a small-time job. Why the interference?" Silenced bullets flew, piercing through the hitmen''s chests. They fell, the previously indignant man now just fodder for the fish. "It''s been a while since someone spoke such nonsense to me." Noe''s contemptuous gaze swept over the remaining hitmen. "Soaring Bird won''t be flying any longer." "Wise Fool, don''t think Obelisk Organization can afford to be arrogant. Abyssal Organization''s here too. You''re biting off more than you can chew!" "Oh, really?" Noe smirked, a chill in her voice. "I don''t care about Abyssal Organization, but your hides are mine." The hitmen were sweating bullets! Before even seeing their target, they were about to be taken out by Wise Fool. What a waste! "Wise Fool, you''re breaking the rules!" "Rules? In my game, I am the rule." Faced with Noe''s disdain, the hitmen trembled with fear. "Don''t panic, she''s alone. No matter how tough she is, if we all attack at once..." From the depths of the deck, members of Pris Star casually observed the hitmen, carrying boxes and grinning. "Sorry, though our boss could take you all on alone, she''s not by herself." Ivan nudged Nn beside him. "Speak nicely. Our boss isn''t alone, or what? Is she a dog? Ah, boss, no offense..." Noe rolled her eyes at them. In the brief exchange, Ivan and his team had swiftly assembled several sniper rifles, aiming at the hitmen. "Let''s see how convenient our newly developed heavy snipers are." The hitmen were stunned! "Sniper rifles! Didn''t we go through security to get on board?" How did they manage to bring such big things aboard? Assembling several sniper rifles in under a minute, could normal people even do that? Against Obelisk Organization, what chance did they have? Noe''s look was scornful. "Leave now, and you might live. Once the game starts, I can''t guarantee your survival." The cruise ship sailed into the ocean, waves crashing against its sides, the coastline far behind. The nearest ind was deserted, and even if they could swim there, surviving would be a challenge! How could they possibly retreat in such circumstances? "Wise Fool, you''re pushing it too far!" "Not leaving?" flying & Noe''s lips parted slightly, her co?t pping in the sea breeze, her hair The roar of the ocean and the gunfire merged into one tumultuous symphony. Watching the bodies sprawled on the deck, Ivan swiftly disposed of them, feeding the sharks. The scent of blood mingled with the sea, unnoticed. Nn reported, "Boss, we''ve dug up everything on Soaring Bird. Leader''s unknown, always uses a dog avatar on the deep web." On the deep web, most ounts are anonymous. Soaring Bird''s leader had no ID, frequently using a dog avatar for posts, always in gibberish. "The deep web calls him Dog-Head. I tracked hisst IP onboard." Ivan was cleaning the deck, erasing any traces of blood. He looked up, "Seems like someone''s upped the ante. Taking out the Schnabel family on this ship is worth ten million dors a head! Boss, you''re getting cheaper by the day." Six months ago, Wise Fool was worth fifty million on the deep web. Now, as Ms. Schnabel, her price had dropped! "And Mr. Pock boarded under his real name, so he''s a target too." "The chairman of Pock Group is only worth ten million?" "Mr. Pock''s bounty rose to thirty million."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. They were unaware that Noe was also aboard, the stakes raising on Stirling and Palmer. On the bordends, wherewlessness reigned supreme, mercenaries killed without conscience, all for the almighty dor. This time, the price on the target''s head was enough to turn them against each other in a deadly race for the bounty. Noe, with a smirk, whipped out her smartphone and posted a message using her notorious handle. "Anyone who tries to beat me to the punch is a dead man walking. Wise Fool." The deep web erupted into chaos! Killers lying in wait on a luxury cruise ship saw the message and cursed under their breath. Did Wise Fool really think she could dictate terms here on behalf of the Obelisk Organization? Such arrogance! A man wearing a Dog-Head mask chuckled darkly as he read the message. "Well then, looks like it''s time to send Wise Fool packing. What a shame." Nearby, a burly thug took a drag from his cigarette, a look of regret on his face as he regarded the masked man. "Dog-Head, you''d do well not to underestimate Wise Fool." "Thorpe, you''ve already lost. You''re in no position to lecture me!" Thorpe just shrugged. "You think just because I lost, you can win? Wise Fool isn''t someone you can just take out. Why won''t you listen?" "She''s just a woman! There''s no way ady''s going to have the deep web''s assassins under her thumb! I''ll kill her and make Soaring Bird the top crew!" Thorpe took another drag from his cigarette. "Hard to say, but good luck with that." Chapter 440 Crushing the cigarette butt underfoot, Thorpe hoisted Noe up, feeling a lingering ache in his legs. Had he not underestimated Noe, thinking of her as just a delicate woman who could barely handle a gun, let alone kill someone, he wouldn''t be confined to a wheelchair now. Running a hand over his thigh, Thorpe would never forget the day Palmer and his crew wiped out the Cerulean Whale gang. It hurt, but Thorpe didn''t mind seeing Dog-Head, the self-proimed tough guy, share a bit of that pain... "The Abyssal Organization''s Vocalist is also here; you''re gonna be busy," he remarked. Dog-Head scoffed, "Vocalist? That guy? He hasn''t taken down Wise Fool, that witch, in years. Probably another mama''s boy who freezes up around women. Let them fight amongst themselves. I''ll be the one to reap the benefits!" Thorpe just grunted in response. "Oh, look at you, Mr. Big Shot." Dog-Head stared at the surveince screens, his gaze sinister. "If things go south, I''ll just blow this ship up. Take everyone down with me. I don''t care how many of the Schnabel family are here; in the eyes of the Almighty, they''re all equal!" Thorpe corrected him, "Those Harmonia Country folks don''t believe in the Almighty. They''re more likely to meet the Grim Reaper." The level of cultural awareness Dog-Head had was concerning. But since the higher-ups had paired him with Dog-Head, Thorpe had no choice. "Almighty or Grim Reaper, after tonight, Soaring Bird will be the top assassin group on the deep web!" Dog-Head continued with fervor. Wheeling himself away, Thorpe shrugged. "I''m off to the restroom.¡± No sooner had he left the room than a gun''s muzzle pressed against Thorpe''s neck! At the other end, Noe, with a chilling smile, greeted him coldly. "We meet again." ¡°...How unfortunate." Ivan approached from behind, pushing Thorpe''s wheelchair towards the room Pris Star had prepared. Back in the room, Thorpe rubbed his face. "Look, I''ve been saying, don''t hit me. I''m just a college student, very fragile, easy to break!" Noe''s mouth twitched. "College student?" She thought Thorpe''s legs had healed! "Yeah, Garrick got me enrolled. I''ve been hitting the bookstely. The assassin life isn''t for me. It''s a shame my background check won''t clear, or else I could''ve gone for a public..." Everyone fell into an awkward silence. Was this guy''s adaptability a bit too high? "I was assigned to work with Garrick, but now that he''s gone, so am I." "Your boss wasn''t Garrick?" Noe queried. Thorpe shook his head. "Wise Fool, you''ve met my brothers. They aren''t the type to be bossed around by the likes of Garrick." Noe agreed, "The three of you have three brains, and you''re missing one." Hollis was the brain of the trio. While Garrick was formidable, he couldn''t make them follow him blindly. "Your boss, 7-yer?" she asked. Thorpe was clearly surprised Noe knew that name. "Yes! The boss gave us a life, allowed us three to survive on the frontier. But now, it seems he''s ready to discard us..." Thorpe looked visibly hurt, as though he held a different kind of affection for their boss. "We were all orphans taken in by the boss. After the experiments failed and we couldn''t stay in Pris Star, we were supposed to die. But the boss took us with him." "Now, he no longer needs us. After Cerulean Whale, there''s Soaring Bird, and probably more organizations toe." Noe''s expression grewplicated, her smile cold. "You think him taking you into Pris Star, then saving you after the experiments failed, was some grand act of kindness?" "Without him, you three would have had a much better life!" Thorpe shook his head. "No, for kids on the frontier, there''s no future." Remembering the day they met 7-yer, Thorpe still recalled holding his sick brother, crying in despair, with no one to help them. It was 7-yer who appeared, offering food and asking, "What''s your dream?" Won S Unlike the other kids, Thorpe didn''t wish for basic needs; he wanted to see tomorrow''s sun with his brothers. "To forever be with my brothers, or at least for them to see tomorrow." 7-yer smiled, an aura of authority surrounding him. "Alright, follow me. I''ll make you kings of the sea, and the sun will shine for you." ... Thorpeughed bitterly. "Even if he was using us, back then, not even those willing to use us were around..."Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Being used by 7-yer was something they willingly epted. Thorpe turned to Noe. "Wolves eventually turn on their master. So, we were just 7- yer''s dogs." Now that their master no longer needed them, besides Cerulean Whale, he had trained hawks! Noe knew human nature wasplex. "7-yer having you follow Dog-Head, what''s he nning?" "The mission''s pretty straightforward. Take you out, slowly get rid of the Schnabel family, maybe even the Pock family if there''s a chance. But the Schnabel family is the priority... However, the boss said you''rest." 7-yer wanted Noe to fall into the deepest despair. Noe''s expression remained unchanged, "What''s the deal between the Patel family and your boss?" Thorpe frowned in thought. ¡°Followers, but the Patel family doesn''t know much." 7-yer wasn''t the type to share all his cards with the Patels, but he sure knew how to use them for his own gains! Dillon was itching to get to know ra, craving a taste of the Schnabel family''s secret recipe for apple pie. What 7-yer truly desired was for the entire Schnabel family to meet their end in front of Noe! Noe chuckled coldly, "Such ludicrous attempts at training obedience. You''ve trained them enough, but training me? That''s never going to happen!" Thinking he could witness despair on her face, 7-yer was living in a fantasy! "I didn''t want to confront him this soon, but Stirling''s cowardice is infuriating. The noise tonight might just scare him off for good," shemented. Thorpe shivered at Noe''s smile! A smile from this woman meant trouble was brewing! And there was Dog-Head, foolishly believing he could take down both the Abyssal and Obelisk Organizations... Noe raised an eyebrow, "You didn''t spill my secret to Dog-Head, did you?" "Why would I? The boss didn''t order it, and Dog-Head never asked!" Thorpe''s righteous stance brought a knowing smile to Noe''s face. With a hint of mystery in her eyes, Noe calmly assured, "Don''t worry, your brothers are doing quite well in Lockhart Prison these days." "I''m just here to hunt, won''t bother you a bit." Seeing the self-inflicted wound on Thorpe''s leg, Noe could easily guess his intentions! Since he clearly didn''t want to be her enemy, Noe had no reason to trouble him further. Thorpe visibly rxed! It wasn''t that he had a strong will to live. He was just fully aware of what Noe and Palmer were capable of when teamed up. Together, they were like the legendary Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and he wasn''t about to risk his life crossing them! Realizing Dog-Head thought he was too tough to kill, Thorpe decided it was time to bow out. Muttering to himself, Thorpe conceded, "Boss, I''m stepping down. Once I step back, it''s for good." Chapter 441 Noe calmly said, "But the Boss will guess that you came looking for me." Thorpe nodded in agreement. "Of course, the Boss is the smartest person in the world, not to mention he knows me very well." From the moment Thorpe boarded the ship, the Boss had known he woulde looking for Noe! Ivan gave Thorpe a peculiar look. "Aren''t you worried your boss wille after you?" "It doesn''t matter. This ship is rigged with more than seventy bombs. Even a genius like the Boss can''t be sure to escape unscathed, right?" Thorpe appeared calm, but his fists were clenched tight, and beads of sweat covered his forehead. "You''re gambling." "Not at all..." Thorpe knew about the bombs nted on the ship! And he knew that relying on brute force alone, he couldn''t defuse those bombs. Turning to Noe was his way of surviving! Noe''s face wasced with sarcasm. "It seems that both you and the Maverick are beings the Boss has decided to discard." Thorpe''s expression was grave. "If I can''t make it back alive, then I''m truly abandoned. The Boss sent me here so I could find my own way to survive. If I can''t even do that, then I''m worthless!" He wore a look of righteous indignation, which was almost too much to bear. Thorpe spoke gravely, "I''ve given you the intel. The rest is out of my hands." As Noe opened the door, she looked out at the seemingly calm but tumultuous sea. "Thorpe, what''s your dream?" Thorpe paused, his emotions churning. He closed his eyes, aplex mix of feelings washing over him. The setting sun cast its light on his face, marking the rugged features of the Caucasian assassin with scars, filled with a sense of age and sorrow. "My wish... is to see tomorrow''s sun, with my family." ... Exiting the room, Noe brushed past a janitor pushing a giant trash bin. Yasbel''s voice whispered in Noe''s ear. "Dog-Head is gambling on the third floor." Noe''s ears twitched. "What''s in your cart?" Yasbel, unppable as ever, poured a drink and smiled, "Just some fish that aren''t quite dead yet. You''ve never seen that, boss?" "Yasbel, I asked you to protect someone. Is this how you do it?" "Isn''t it perfect? After all, who would suspect a janitor''s cart?" Only someone with Noe''s keen hearing would suspect something amiss with the cart! Noe took a deep breath. "Yasbel, can a hitman from the dark web distinguish between the breathing of a fish and a human?" Yasbel grinned confidently. "Don''t worry, boss. Your brother will be safe and sound." Noe''s expression wasplex. It was obviously toote to lecture Yasbel on being discreet now. At the end of the corridor, several menacing gazes swept over them, filled with a chilling intent to kill! Yasbel''s demeanor hardened as she barreled the cart forward. She hadn''t nned on having Stirling hide his breathing inside the bin. She was simply annoyed by Stirling''s clumsiness, which could slow her down in a pinch! The cart collided head-on with the killers waiting in ambush. Whipping out a dagger, Yasbel sneered, "Trying to steal my mark? You''re asking for trouble!" With a skillful drift, Yasbel left all the killers behind, pushing the cart away triumphantly. "Damn it, that janitor is also in the game. Stop her!" Above them, Nn, whistling nonchntly,ined, "Am I invisible? Why does nobody care about me?" Right in front of these killers, they still had the nerve to ignore him! Nn and Yasbel, siblings skilled in tracking and concealing their breathing, were now in their element. Seeing someone literally hanging above them, the killers were utterly baffled. Is this guy Spider-Man or what? How can he just hang there silently! Nn blinked, "Boss, you''re not needed here. I''ll y with these guys."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. "Alright, leave it to you. Just don''t cause too much of a stir." On the third floor, the entertainment area. Noe donned a mask, adorned with feathers and diamonds reminiscent of medieval masquerades, enhancing her elegance, making her appear like an aristocrat from a bygone European era. The third floor of the cruise ship was dedicated to entertainment, with arge area set aside for gambling, where stakes were ced using seemingly worthless shells. Everyone understood that once the ship docked at its destination, in ces where gambling was allowed, those shells would be exchanged for cash. At the narrow gambling table, a dealer dressed in a provocative gown smiled seductively, her eyes brimming with allure, beckoning the yers with flirtatious nces. "I''m about to deal. ce your bets, everyone." Noe casually took a seat, her gaze sweeping across the table, eventuallynding on a man wearing a husky mask, adding a touch of humor to the scene. The ace cardy in the hands of a man at the end of the table, adorned with several gemstone rings, the ruby on his ring finger glittering in harmony with his cufflinks, also masked in the style of the Baroque period. The man under the mask smiled, tapping the table with his slender fingers. "Miss, it''s your turn to bet." Noe adopted a different voice, one that sounded naive and curious, like a rich girl gambling for the first time. "I don''t know what to choose. Sir, could you for me?" The Husky-masked man scoffed derisively. "Vocalist, if this youngdy knew your true face, she''d probably be scared to death." Palmer responded with a gentle smile. "Is that so? Well, I''m not much to look at, so thedy might be disappointed." "It''s okay. I just want to know how to ce a bet." The seductive dealer, Mizar, cleared her throat and exined the rules once more, concluding, "Just ce a bet, darling. As long as you''ve got money,ing here is all about fun." "Alright then." Noe put all her exchanged chips on the table. "I''ll bet on this." The Husky-masked man stroked his chin, "I''ll also bet on the low." Palmer just shrugged. "Then I''ll go high." Mizar announced with a grin, "High wins." Noe looked a bit dismayed. "Ah? Lost already? If I knew, I wouldn''t have followed Mr. Husky''s lead." Dog-Head gritted his teeth and said, "One more game!" The deal he struck with Vocalist was simple: whoever wins at the poker table calls the shots. But so far, he hadn''t won a single game! "Vocalist, you''re not cheating, are you?" Palmer asked, his smile more a grimace than anything genuine. "Soaring Bird hasn''t questioned my integrity yet! When you''ve got the chops to best me, then you can ask such idiotic questions," Vocalist retorted with confidence. The fact that Vocalist had personally taken down Cerulean Whale was no secret on the dark web. After all, it was Thorpe, the leader of Cerulean Whale, who had admitted it himself. Dog-Head''s expression soured, his husky mask maintaining its goofy grin as he scanned the room. "Another round then! I''m done for! How about it, youngdy, what''s your pick?" Noe sneered, "I''m sticking with this handsome guy. You''re not easy on the eyes, bound to lose the next round too." Chapter 442 Being scoffed at by a young girl who sounded barely in her teens was more than Dog-Head could bear. He was ready to unleash hell right there and then! Would someone kindly exin to him, since when did the rules of the bordends not revolve around strength but looks? And how on earth did she know that Vocalist was a looker?! The guy was wearing a mask, for Pete''s sake! Noe offered a demure smile. "Because he sounds charming, while you, sir, sound rather...mature. Could you be in your fifties?" Dog-Head, in the prime of his life, scoffed coldly! Palmer chuckled lightly, "Thank you, Miss, for your kind but mistakenpliment." Mizar coughed twice, silently bearing the brunt of this unexpected flirtation. Just as they were about to deal the cards again, Dog-Head interjected, "Hold up, she''s clearly in cahoots with them. Let one of my guys deal!" Mizar mmed the cards down on the table, "Sir, you can question my skill, but not my integrity! My character reflects in my gambling. nder me, and I''ll have you cklisted from every casino in town!" Dog-Head was taken aback. He hadn''t expected such a fiery response from a mere dealer. He pulled out a gun and aimed it at Mizar''s head! In an instant, a dozen men in ck surrounded them, their eyes filled with warning. "Boss Mizar, all good?" Mizar sneered, "In my establishment, no one dares to be this bold!" Dog-Head''s men quickly pulled him back. "Boss, thisdy is a protege of the Gambling God. We''ve got several deals pending her approval... starting a fight now could ruin future business." Dog-Head immediately softened his demeanor. "My apologies, Boss Mizar, my bad. I''ll take three shots as penance!" Mizar sneered again. "Get Dog-Head a proper ss. He thinks he''s at a fishbowl with that tiny cup?" Alioth brought over a massive jug. Dog-Head was stunned by the potent mix of whiskey and vodka staring back at him! "This..." Noe interjected, "It''s just water. Not drinking it means no genuine apology." Water? The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, and she called it water?! Dog-Head, having survived the bordends, didn''t hesitate and downed the jug cleanly! Mizar pped, "Nicely done. Since Dog-Head can''t trust me, let''s have someone else deal. Pick your dealer, but I don''t trust your guys either!" The room was filled with people from the casino, the Abyssal Organization, and Soaring Bird. Dog-Head''s gazended on Noe. "You do it!"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "Me? I can''t! I don''t know how..." Dog-Head red menacingly, "Enough! When I say you deal, you deal!" Palmer intervened, "Why so harsh on the girl? As a European, shouldn''t you exhibit some gentlemanly manners?" Dog-Head was livid! What was Vocalist thinking?! Noe, albeit hesitantly, took her seat at the dealer''s table and after a few attempts, got the hang of it. Dog-Head bet high. Palmer bet low. And once again, Palmer won! Palmer shrugged, "Sorry, seems like Mr. Dog isn''t cut out for gambling. No offense, but maybe Soaring Bird should steer clear of the casino business." Dog-Head''s vision blurred from the alcohol, Forcing himself to focus, he challenged, "Vocalist, I don''t believe you ca Can keep winning! I''ll deat this time; there''s no way you''ll win!" Noe held a thin card in her hand. "So, you''re saying it''s all up to you? You deal, you win?" "You know nothing!" The card flew from her hand, turning into a sharp de mid-air. Dog-Head''s men fell to the ground! Noe smiled lightly, "Understand now?" Dog-Head realized he''d been yed! "You... you were all in on this! I''m done here!" Watching Dog-Head stumble away from the table, neither Noe nor Palmer made any move to stop him. Noe calmly noted, "He''s running low on chips." Dog-Head had lost everything at the table. But the biggest gamble was yet toe, at the party. At the cruise ship''s dining hall, Stirling, covered in stains, was at his wit''s end: Feeling dizzy and nauseous, he cursed his usually smooth-sailing life for hitting such a rough patch. "Yasbel, how exactly did I offend you?" "This is my way of forgiving you." Stirling grimaced, "Some forgiveness. It''s costing me a lot." "Cheer up. Get changed; there''s a party in a few minutes. I think I saw my boss!" "Noe? You mean Noe is here too?" The mention of Noe energized Stirling, who hurried to clean up and change. Freshly groomed, Stirling spotted a little boy crying on the floor. "Hey, buddy, why are you sitting here all alone?" "I can''t find my dad." Thinking quickly, Stirling lifted the boy off the ground. "How about I help you find him? Do you know your dad''s phone number? Let''s call him." The boy nodded, dialed a number on Stirling''s phone, and was met with snores. "Dad, it''s Shiba. Where are you?" After several shouts, the snoring stopped. "Shiba, daddy will be home soon. I''ve got lots of souvenirs for you, even your favorite choctes. We''ll go out together, just you and your sister." Shiba clutched his phone with wide, hopeful eyes, barely getting the words out, "Dad, I''m on your cruise ship..." But the call was abruptly cut off, his words lost in digital silence. He tried calling again, but no one picked up. Wiping away tears, Shiba was a mix of confusion and longing. "Dad doesn''t know I followed him here. He''s here to work, and I missed him so much. Did I make him mad?" "Of course not! But let''s not do something this risky again, okay? I''ll help you find your dad. What''s his name, by the way?" Shiba, holding onto Stirling''s shirt for dear life, babbled somethingpletely iprehensible to Stirling. Stirling felt a headacheing on. Yasbel, who expected Stirling to just pop out for a quick shower and change, was bbergasted to see him return with a kid in tow. Where did such a big kid spring from? Yasbel''s jaw dropped in shock. "Wait... did you just... have this kid?" Chapter 443 "Wow, I didn''t see thating. You managed to have such a big kid in no time." Stirling replied dryly, "Where would I have had the time? I found him!"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "Oh, so you''ve got a thing for ying daddy now?" "What did you just say about a hobby?" Stirling was fuming, gritting his teeth. "He got separated from his family. What are you on about?" Yasbel gave Stirling a meaningful look. "Is Mr. Schnabel the type who used to help little olddies cross the street when he was young? Such a do- gooder. Should we pin a gold star on you?" "No need for a gold star, finding the kid''s parents will do. I can barely understand what he''s saying." Yasbel took a deep breath, lifted the child from Stirling''s arms, and weighed him in her own. Stirling couldn''t smell the bordend scent on the child, but she could see it right away! She and the Pris Star crew had been tirelessly protecting Stirling, and here he was,ing out with a child after just a bath! Little did they know, Stirling was the most oblivious of the Schnabel family. He waspletely unaware of Yasbel''s irritation. Seeing the genuine, slightly goofy smile on Stirling''s face, and the child''s somewhat slow response, Yasbel sighed. Forget it! No point in getting mad at two dummies. "Kid, who''s your dad?" Shiba mumbled something, his chubby little hands making a gesture of soaring high, like a bird flying over the sea. Mizar, leaning against the wall, saw Yasbel holding a child and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, did we have a baby? You''re impressive, madam!" "Cut it out, is this kid... a bit off?" Mizar, having picked up some medical knowledge from Noe, stepped closer to examine Shiba''s eyes. "Autistic kids are often like this, children from the stars." "He''s not faking it?" "If a kid this age could control their pupil focus and speak without any logic, unable to carry a conversation, that''d be genius. You think everyone''s as freakish as our boss?" After using a shlight to check Shiba''s pupils and tongue and exchanging a few words with him, Mizar confirmed the child showed mild signs of autism. Stirling noticed too, Shiba tended to avoid eye contact when speaking and couldn''t hold a gaze. His words were mostly illogical, but Stirling thought all kids were like that and didn''t think much of it. He frowned, "I used to work with autistic children. It''s impossible for a child with these traits to wander off on his own. He said he followed his dad here secretly. What''s going on?" "It''s normal. Kids with special talents often excel in one area, usually in the arts, but it''s not unusual for him to have a knack for hiding or tracking." After all, growing up on the bordends, artistic talent isn''t very useful. It''s the skill of evasion that ensures their survival! Kids living on the border evolve in the most unexpected ways! Mizar sighed. "Then let''s take him to the masquerade. Lots of people there, we might spot his dad." "Sounds good." The Masquerade. The cruise ship had invited internationally renowned bands to perform, with pianos and violins ying in harmony. Noe entered the hall in a fitted ck gown that highlighted her slender figure, her aura so icy it made the assassins in the room wary. Her presence was unmasked, her intent to kill unmistakable! Despite a throbbing headache and no memory of recent events, Dillon approached Noe. "Wise Fool. Pleased to meet you." "Get lost." Dillon was unustomed to such tant disrespect! His face turned green on the spot! Noe found a window and started cleaning her sniper rifle right there, in full view of everyone! Then Palmer, dressed in a meticulously tailored white suit, entered the hall. The waltz yed, making him seem less like an assassin and more like a noble. Before Dillon could approach, Palmer said, "Get lost." Dillon: ".." He was, after all, the eldest grandson of the Patel family! Did he look like trash or something?! Seeing the two giants, other assassins were eager for a spectacle. But Palmer and Noe just raised their sses to each other, disying an unexpected harmony! Since when were the Abyssal Organization and the Obelisk Organization on such good terms? Stirling, wearing a mask, entered the hall and immediately felt on edge. "Yasbel, something''s not right here!" "How did you notice?" Being specially trained, Yasbel was naturally sensitive to the aura of assassins, but it was surprising that Stirling could feel those gazes too. Stirling earnestly said, "I''m an actor. I can feel when people are looking at me." Turns out, it was his sensitivity to attention as an actor that tipped him off! "These people are looking at me strangely, Yasbel, you should go first!" "No need, weren''t we going to find this little guy''s dad?" Yasbelughed. Stirling, the fool, was actually thinking of her safety at a time like this! Sure, he might be a bit dim and have some useless kindness, but... not bad! Shiba, clinging to Stirling''s neck, said, "I miss Daddy." "Daddy''s busy working, I miss him a lot. They said if I came to find Daddy, he''d be happy." "Will he really be happy? I have so much to tell Daddy." Stirling patted Shiba''s head. "Why are you called Shiba?" "Shiba Inu is called Shiba! My dad''s a Husky!" A Husky? Who on earth would be named that? Shiba''s gaze locked onto a man wearing a Husky mask, and he shouted with joy. "Daddy!" The man known as Dog-Head turned his gaze and gun toward Stirling, but at that moment, he also noticed Shiba in Stirling''s arms! How did Shiba end up here? He had just overdone it with the booze, puking his guts out before passing out for a bit, Through the haze, he could swear he heard his son''s voice in his dreams. Was it just because he missed his kid so much? "Shiba!" Shiba reached out towards Dog-Head, his face lit up with a joyful grin. Damn it! The other hitmen only knew their target had shown up. They didn''t care if Stirling was holding kid or not Shiba was right there, clinging to Stirling''s chest. feet hitmen aimed for Stirling''s heart, Shiba would be caught in the crossfire! Dog-Head''s eyes went wide with shock. "Shiba, what are you doing here?" "Dad, I sneaked up here. This man brought me to find you. He''s a good guy." Dog-Head, his face hidden behind a mask, looked at Stirling with aplex expression, unable to detect any hint of murderous intent from him. "Listen here... Mr. Husky, you gotta be more careful in the future. Your son loves you a lot; you''re a lucky man." Shiba affectionately nuzzled against Stirling''s chin. It was clear, even from their brief time together, that Shiba had really taken a liking to this handsome man! Chapter 444 Husky sighed deeply, a tired but content smile ying on his lips. "Really? I guess I do feel pretty lucky too. Can I ask you for a favor?" Stirling nodded, "Sure, shoot." "Cover Shiba''s eyes for me, will you?" As soon as he finished speaking, Husky lunged toward a man preparing to attack Stirling, only to have a poisoned dart pierce his arm! "Dad! Are you okay?" Fireworks erupted outside the window, briefly illuminating the dim cabin before chaos ensued. Husky knew better than anyone how many assassins were lurking around, how many bombs were nted in the cabin. He could go down with the members of the Abyssal and Obelisk Organizations, but Shiba was still so young! Pressing down on the person next to him, Husky, enduring the pain, stood up and said with a smile, "It''s okay, buddy. You like fireworks, don''t you? Close your eyes and make a wish. Don''t peek until I say so." Shiba, clearly enjoying the game, obediently closed his eyes, "I''m ready!" Stirling''s hand covered Shiba''s eyes. Outside, the fireworks continued to explode, a dazzling destruction that seemed almost apocalyptic. The venue descended into chaos, the sounds of fireworks masking the noise of the fight and gunfire inside. In the darkness, the sound of bodies hitting the water echoed, as sharks circled the cruise ship. Yasbel pped, "It''s quite the buffet, isn''t it?" In less than ten minutes, nearly all the assassins had been dealt with. The killers from Soaring Bird, under Husky''s signal, stood aside. Husky, looking at Shiba who was well-protected, coughed up blood. Noe stepped forward, her voice cold, "You''ve been poisoned." "It''s you... you''re the girl from earlier, the Wise Fool..." Husky had never met Wise Fool before, but he recognized her by the mask and her aura. Noe was the one who had been toying with him at the poker table! "Wise Fool, my men will stand down. The target is yours! But there are still members of the Abyssal Organization here..." "The Abyssal Organization listens to me." Husky couldn''t believe it! Only now did he realize that he was the mostughable yer in this game. "The target is yours, just please, protect my child. He''s innocent; he knows nothing!" Noe responded calmly, "I have no intention of saving you, but your child is obviously special. Without parental protection, he won''t survive long." "You could tell..." Husky coughed twice, his blood ck as night. He looked at Shiba, still with eyes closed, and managed a desperate smile. "I wanted to be there for him. He''s got autism, and his mom didn''t want him, but I do! It''s okay, Huskies can find a corner to quietly survive in, and even if he can''t... I''ll be waiting for him." Noe flipped her palm, revealing two pills. "This poison might be lethal, but it''s nothing to me. The choice is yours: take these and betray 7-yer to be with your child, or let him live a life worse than a dog''s. After all, whether 7-yer would care for a child who can''t fend for himself, I don''t know, but you do." Husky knew all too well what kind of man 7-yer was. "Betraying the boss, he''d kill me too..." "Then go ahead and die now. Don''t worry, once you''re gone, I''ll toss your kid into the sea." "You can''t do that! He''s done nothing wrong!" Noe smirked coldly, "So, you mean the target did something wrong? Why should he die?" Husky was dazed, "You... you weren''t here to kill him? But you took the job!" Obelisk Organization''s contracts were for assassinations, weren''t they? Not protection! Noe was indifferent. "Just kill the person who issued the contract. How much money did they think would buy a Schnabel''s life?" Stirling, observing the masked assassin, felt a strange familiarity. "Yasbel, doesn''t she remind you a bit of our Noe?" Yasbel shrugged. "The top assassin of the deep web, and you think she''s our boss? Careful, or she might not appreciate theparison and take you out!" Stirling quickly shut up. She seemed like Noe, but the cold, sharp look in the assassin''s eyes made him shudder. Too fierce, definitely not their sweet and innocent Noe! "Didn''t you say you saw Noe earlier? Where is she?" With so many assassins around and a fight breaking out, it would be too dangerous for his sister to be here. Yasbel''s lips twitched. To be the cause of such chaos yet remain so blissfully unaware, Stirling was truly one of a kind. "She''s probably watching the fireworks with Mr. Pock. During such a romantic time, she''s obviously not going to be with you."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Good point, as long as Noe is safe!" Husky looked at the pills in his hand, torn. Betray his boss or choose his son? Stirling, sensing Husky''s dilemma, spoke up, "If it were me, I''d choose my family every time." "Beliefs and bosses be damned! I''ll tell you, if anyone tried to hurt my sister in front of me, or made me choose between her and my acting career, I''d choose my sister in a heartbeat!" Shiba, still with his eyes closed, asked curiously, "Is your sister from the stars too?" Children with autism were often described as ''children from the stars,'' not of this world. Stirling smited gently. "No, but my sister is an angel. Mr. Husky, I can see that Shiba''s condition is improving. I didn''t even notice he was on the spectrum at first That''s all down to your intervention." Helping a child with autism develop the ability tomunicate requires unimaginable effort from a parent. For those more severely affected, they might never even learn to call out ''mom'' or ''dad.'' "If you were... if Shiba was in a special school, it wouldn''t have made things any better." The scales within Husky''s heart tipped even further. Gritting his teeth, he forced the pill into his mouth and with one hand, yanked off the mask on his head! A somewhat simple and honest face fel of a middle-aged man came into view, Husky''s expression a mix of relief and intense agony! The hitmen of Soaring Bird, seeing him actually choose to betray 7-yer, instantly erupted in chaos. "Husky! You actually sided with the Obelisk Organization!" "Traitors must die!" As bullets were loaded, Husky''s pupils dted, and he lunged towards Shiba, who had just opened his eyes! The bullet trajectory shifted, piercing through Hush nee arm, Blood slid down his hand, but the child he protected in his arms was unharmed, bursting into tears at the sight of Husky''s injury. "Daddy! Don''t bleed! Shiba will listen to you from now on!" "Daddy''s okay..." Shiba wailed, "Shiba can go to the bathroom now, Shiba can use his own potty! But daddy isn''t here!" Shiba was following Husky onto a cruise ship, just to tell him about his progress! With bullets and shells flying behind them, Husky held the child tight in his arms. "Shiba, you''re amazing. Even if daddy isn''t here, you have to keep living, to see the sun of tomorrow..." Soaring Bird''s hitmen were held at bay by Noe''s sniper fire. The top sniper, carrying her rifle with a disdainful look and murderous intent, her presence as imposing as a queen. "Even if he''s a dog, he''s now the Obelisk Organization''s dog! You punks, got that?" Chapter 445 The sniper rifles trained on Soaring Bird''s operatives were swiftly disarmed, forcing them to retreat in haste. "Wise Fool, this is our own mess, best you stay out of it!" "Oh, I n to get involved. What are you gonna do about it?" The icy man''s weapon was taken, but beneath his mask, his expression was unexpectedly gentle. "Wouldn''t want to trouble the missus with physicalbor, I''ve got this." Palmer had a way of saying "missus" that just rolled off the tongue!Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The mention stirred excitement among the assassins from the Abyssal Organization and the Obelisk Organization alike. Annie rubbed her hands together in the corner. "When the boss and the missus tie the knot, we''ll be part of the dowry, and I''ll be Ms. Noe''s loyal follower!" Ivan: "...Huh? I thought we were the dowry." "It''s all the same. We''re all family now!" Ivan expertly reloaded, dealing with the assassins trying to cause chaos, tossing them into the sea one by one. The second round of fireworks was even more splendid, capturing Shiba''s attention outside the window! Dog-Head, despite the pain, carried him out to enjoy the fireworks. Stirling looked around to find that, aside from Dillon who had fainted from fear, everyone else had slipped out to watch the fireworks! "Shoot, I still need to find Noe!" With the deck crowded, Stirling couldn''t spot Noe at first nce. Dog-Head, holding Shiba and watching the fireworks, turned to Noe. "Wise Fool, there''s a bomb here..." "Thorpe informed me. My people are on it." Dog-Head sighed in relief. He wasn''t surprised Thorpe had sided with Noe. "I''m curious, why help Stirling? Not satisfied with the pay?" Noe, watching the fireworks, her face softened with a smile beneath her mask. "Maybe because he''d choose me, too." She had heard everything Stirling said. "Just like you''d choose your son, he''d choose me." Dog-Head, puzzled, eximed, "Ah? Stirling is your son?" "If you want to die, I won''t bother saving you." The sea was right there, after all, a convenient ce for a push! Noe raised an eyebrow. "Your son''s intellect isn''t enough to track you without being noticed. Someone''s using him to leverage you from the border here." Dog-Head calmly responded, "Not you?" "You tter yourself." For a moment, Dog-Head thought Noe had taken Shiba to strike a fatal blow when he acted. Noe''s gaze at Dog-Head was almost exasperated. "Shiba, who brought you here?" Shiba thought hard, "A man! Someone who often drinks with dad!" That could only mean someone from within Soaring Bird! Dog-Head''s expression darkened considerably. Noe found a morefortable position leaning on Palmer. "Soaring Bird, I''ve never taken seriously." It sounded harsh, but it was the truth. Dog-Head chuckled in resignation. "Rest assured, from now on, my life is yours. As long as you don''t ask me to take down 7-yer myself, I''m at your service." Noe shook her head. "No need. You''re no match for 7-yer; going after him would be like serving your head on a tter. Sending you after 7-yer wouldn''t even suffice for his drink." Dog-Head: "..." Was there a need to hit where it hurts? Couldn''t Wise Fool be a bit more tactful with a newly sworn ally? "This time... maybe the boss never nned on us returning." Noe agreed, "Finally, something urate. Your backup escape boat was hijacked by your own and, oh so identally, ventured into a shark''s mouth half an hour ago." Palmer nodded in agreement, "Truly careless." Dog-Head was astounded! He knew some within Soaring Bird were already bought by 7-yer. No one was trustworthy in 7-yer''s eyes! The escape boat being hijacked was expected, but crashing into a shark''s mouth... was that really usible? Shiba pped, "Daddy, a ck man!" Erek, covered in soot, emerged from the basement, only to have his nationality reassigned by the kid. "Boss, all seventy-three bombs are disarmed and sent back to 7-yer!" Dog-Head was astonished, "You know where 7-yer lives?" "Sent to his Imperial City residence." 7-yer, a retired official on the surface, lived a peaceful life, tending to his garden and dogs. "This is what happens when you enjoy peace; someone else carries the burden. While 7-yer enjoys his tranquil life, you''re stuck with the hardship of raising a tent Dog-Head was near tears! So the boss''s peace was built on his suffering... Though he had long epted this cruel truth, facing it was still a blow. Erek wiped his face, causing Shiba to exim, "Wow, the ck man turned Asian." Erek: "Ever heard of manners?" Noe''s gaze fell on Dog-Head. "To be effective, socialization is needed. You can''t raise a child well on the border. Consider moving to Imperial City." Dog-Head nodded. "I understand. I''ll handle Soaring Bird''s internal affairs then join you!" Shiba, hugging Dog-Head''s neck,ughed innocently, making flying gestures. "Daddy, peace! We need peace!" Erek, with aplex expression, remarked, "Aiming for peace while being an assassin, that''s cyber peace for you..." Dog-Head shrugged nonchntly, "Well, we''ve gotta find our own fun in this line of work, don''t we?" The crowd was thick, but Stirling, holding Yasbel''s hand, navigated through until they finally spotted Noe on the deck, gazing at the fireworks. Noe, in a brand new dress, was a far cry from her usual cool, assassin demeanor. "Noe! You weren''t in the hall just now, were you?" "Stirling, what are you doing here?" Stirling let out a sigh of relief when he found Noe. He pulled Noe aside, whispering, "It was scary in there just now! So many assassins! Thest time I saw such a big scene was on a movie set. They must''ve been filming something!" Noe: "...Filming?" "Yeah! I knew something was off the moment I walked in. Must''ve been hidden cameras around. Damn it! I''m going to make aint when I get back!" Stirling said all this, still worried about scaring his innocent, kind, and adorable sister. If Noe knew what really went down inside, she would be terrified! He truly was the most considerate brother in the world! On the first level of the cruise ship. Dog-Head gentlyid a sleeping child on the bed, letting out a deep sigh. Thorpe, sitting in a wheelchair, looked at him in surprise, "You''re not dead? What are you, a cat?" How did Wise Fool let this guy slide! Dog-Head, clearly annoyed, responded, "We might be colleagues from now on, but I can still take you down!" Chapter 446 Coworker? What kind of coworker? Thorpe looked utterly perplexed. "You''re not rolling with the boss anymore?" "It''s more like the boss didn''t want me in his crew! He sent my son up here, can you believe that?" The shock in Thorpe''s eyes was unmistakable. "And the kid''s mom?" "An old client we worked with. When she found out Shiba wasn''t your average kid, she bailed." A child abandoned at the border, motherless, with an assassin for a father - talk about a hellish start in life. A gone mom, hitman dad, a reclusive self, a broken home. Watching the child sleeping peacefully on the bed, Thorpe had a moment of rity. "That''s why people like us shouldn''t fall for clients, man. Why''d you go and have a kid with one?" "...Shut it!" Thorpe was always the kind to speak his mind, even when it wasn''t pleasant to hear! He just shrugged. "That''s how the boss rolls. You get used to it. We''re all just pawns he''s decided to toss aside." Dog-Head nodded along. "So, the boss has been to Lockhart Prisontely." "What did you say?!" Thorpe''s brothers were still in Lockhart Prison, probably thinking they were about to retire there with Xavier. With 7-yer heading to Lockhart, who knew what he might do to Thorpe''s brothers! Thorpe frantically wheeled his chair, preparing to find Noe. Then, deciding the wheelchair was too slow, he stood up and ran! Dog-Head: "...A medical miracle." He looked toward the horizon where the dawn broke the darkness with its light. Dog-Head hummed an unknown tune, patting the child, whose steady breathing suggested he was dreaming of something delicious. Dog-Head muttered to himself, "Look, that''s the sun for today." Thorpe sprinted to find Noe dining in a restaurant. He grabbed a chair and sat down as if he belonged there. Noe: "Do you even know where you stand?" Thorpe chuckled, "Isn''t Thorpe a mountain in your Harmonia Country? Same difference, my own mountain!" "Dog-Head said the boss went to Lockhart Prison!" Noe calmly responded, "So, he went to check on his mountain. What''s the big deal?" Tandy and Hollis aren''t 7-yer''s own mountains? Thorpe couldn''t stay seated any longer. "No! I came to you because the boss must know what I''m up to. If he''s at Lockhart now, he''s surely going to make a move against my brothers!" "It''s not like it''s my brothers he''s after." Stirling, puzzled, asked, "What''s this big guy even talking about? Stay away from my sister!" Seeing Stirling unscathed despite what should have been an attack by several assassins, Thorpe knew he''d made the right choice. He gritted his teeth. "Help me out, and I''ll owe you my life!" Noe nced at him. "Your life isn''t worth much to me. Plus, everyone I work with needs to have hair." What''s wrong with being bald? Or having a receding hairline! Thorpe couldn''t believe his pledge of allegiance was being rejected over hisck of hair... Noe sipped her tea. "You''re too weak, Tandy and Hollis aren''t in good shape, what use would I have for you? Plus, you''re all too dumb." Neither the Obelisk Organization nor the Pris Star could make use of Thorpe and his brothers! Thorpe: "...I''ll prove my worth!" The Cerulean Whale once ranked third among assassin organizations at the border, all thanks to him! If not for the overwhelming power of the Abyssal Organization and Obelisk Organization, Cerulean Whale reaching the top wouldn''t have been impossible. What Noe valued was Thorpe and his brothers'' connections and their uniquework along the border! Their link to Toxic Monarch was maintained through those connections! Palmer wiped his hands, his eyes gleaming like obsidian. "That deal you guys made at Club X, was your boss involved?" "I... I can''t say." "That means he was."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Palmer was essentially asking if 7-yer''s dealings with Toxic Monarch were connected! And the Nourishment Pill, rampant in the ck market, wouldn''t have spread so quickly without 7-yer''s push! Thorpe kept his mouth shut, afraid to say more. Palmer smirked coldly. Stirling, looking around, said, "What are you all talking about? I don''t get any of this." Noe smiled, "Nothing much, just some border smuggling stuff. This big guy''s boss stole a product sample from Palmer''spany." "What? Your boss is no good!" Thorpe clenched his jaw: "... You can say that again." Noe stretched, her joints cracking after a long night. "I''ll call Xavier." "Thanks, I owe you one." "It''s a mutual benefit." Stirling, on his phone not far away, was livid. "I''m filing aint against this ship''s management! How dare they have surveince that could spy on me? And what''s with the security letting a kid wander up here? demand action!" His agent was beside him, offering endless reassurances, finally calming the young lord down. Thorpe looked troubled. All part of the Schnabel family, yet Wise Foot seemed to have more schemes than one could im while Stirling appeared utterly innocent and foolish... Mizar chuckled, "Now I see why he can''t help but meddle." The Schnabel family had no fools, just that Stirling''s heart was exceptionally pure. In his eyes, Shiba was just a kid in need of a helping hand, no strings attached! He helped because he could, and that was that! Their boss, the charismatic brother, sure knew how to keep things interesting! Yasbel, arms crossed, leanedzily against the wall, watching Stirling put on quite the show. This man, a jack of all trades, always knew his boundaries-what he should inquire about and what he should leave well enough alone. Yasbel mused, "Hard to tell if he''s ying dumb or just marching to the beat of his own drum." "Isn''t it fascinating? Dude got dumped in a dumpster and didn''t even throw a fit." "That''s true." Other than cing blind trust in Noe and not doubting her identity for a second, Stirling had pretty much figured everything else out on his own. Otherwise, a few soothing words from his agent wouldn''t have been enough to keep him from filing aint. A natural-born actor, his performance was seamless. And somehow... he was bing less and less annoying! In the heart of the city, inside the luxurious dining room of the Rising Glory Mall''s signature restaurant. An elderlydy with immactely styled white hair exuded grace and ? elegance. Her ne, adorned with sparkling rubies, glinted under the soft lighting. Luna stood by her side, voice timid. ¡°Grandma, you really didn''t have to apologize in person..." "Silence! If it weren''t for the mess you''ve caused, would I be in this embarrassing position?" Pearl Patel, the matriarch of the Patel family, couldn''t help but feel irritated at Luna''s meek appearance! "Besides, haven''t you taken a fancy to the eldest Schnabel boy? If an apology could secure your match, it wouldn''t be the worst thing!" Luna''s eyes sparkled at the thought. Grandma was ying a clever game! Chapter 447 Pearl leisurely sipped her Ceylon tea, savoring the moment. "This meeting with Mr. Schnabel is about making amends. Remember, humility is key," she advised with a tone that brooked no argument. Luna murmured under her breath, "But the mess at the venue wasn''t even my fault..." If it weren''t for the Patel family''s connections bailing her out, she''d still be tasting the bitter reality of a holding cell right now. Pearl wasn''t concerned about the incident at the venue. Luna was her granddaughter, the heir she was grooming, and she knew her temperament better than anyone. The mishap was due to Luna''s naivety and underestimation of the Schnabel family''s influence a mistake of youth and inexperience. "You''re still young, Luna. There are many things you don''t understand about men," Pearl continued. "Especially someone like Beckett. He''s one in a million. Women flock around him, and showing your temper like that won''t get his attention." Luna felt indignant. "But I''ve been holding back my temper!" "Holding back? Was embarrassing his sister in front of him ''holding back''? Forget that Ms. Schnabel is set to marry into the Pock family for a second. Considering how much Beckett adores his sister, why would you antagonize her?" Pearl saw Luna''s behavior as petty. Such matters were hardly worth getting upset over. "I''ll tell you this once: A man like Beckett won''t be drawn to your true self. He''s attracted to talented and capable women who can handle themselves. You''re too greedy; tone it down." Luna clenched her teeth. "But Grandma, that bumpkin proposed to Beckett right there at the event, and he epted... Isn''t he into those kinds of dramatic gestures?" Pearl smiled knowingly. "Even marriage has its end in divorce. Why worry? These things don''t matter. Besides, being friends with Beckett will still benefit you in the long run. Every man has his close female friends. You don''t necessarily have to marry him. Sure, being Mrs. Schnabel would be nice, but even as the mother of his child, the baby would still bear the Schnabel name." Luna''s eyes widened with realization. "You''re amazing, Grandma!" Next door, through the ornate partition separating the dining spaces, Malvina couldn''t help but overhear the entire conversation. These two were plotting openly as if the walls were soundproof. Lately, Malvina craved nothing but the dishes from Rising Glory Group''s restaurants, a craving heightened by her pregnancy. Beckett, ever the doting husband, had arranged a private dining room for her, ensuring every meal was perfectly tailored to her whims. As Malvina indulged in her dessert, her phone discreetly recorded the neighboring conversation. "I never thought dinner out would include a liveedy show," she mused to herself, amused by the audacity of nning to be a mistress so openly. The discussion about securing a Schnabel heir was particrly entertaining. Malvina smirked, ready to enjoy the unfolding drama.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Pearl checked her diamond-studded watch, growing impatient. "Why hasn''t Mr. Schnabel arrived? He wouldn''t miss a meeting arranged by me." "Shall we call him?" Luna suggested. After several unanswered calls, Pearl''s demeanor soured. Luna, frustrated, knocked over the tableware. "What''s his problem? Not even the courtesy of a response!" "Calm down. Once you marry into the Schnabel family, you''ll have plenty of time to throw tantrums," Pearl reassured her. Suddenly, Malvina''s voice carried over from the next room, feigning surprise at Beckett''s generosity toward her and their unborn child. "Indeed, the baby will carry the Schnabel name. After all, Beckett''s already ensured our child''s inheritance," Malvina announced loud enough for Luna and Pearl to overhear, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The revtion stunned Luna, causing her to drop her spoon. Beckett already had a child on the way? And had provided for this unborn child? Then what future did her potential offspring have? As Malvina prepared to leave, she couldn''t resist a parting shot. "The Patel family s is bold. With all this scheming, it''s a wonder not all their children bear the Patel name." In the world of the wealthy, such family dynamics were not umon, but they often became the subject of gossip and ridicule. Malvina let out a mockingugh. "Clearly, Mrs. Pearl''s tricks are just that, tricks. The Schnabels would never settle for anything less than brilliance in their offspring." With that, Malvina turned on her heel and exited the private dining room. Pearl, always so proud of her emotionalposure, felt it crumble in an instant! If it weren''t for her husband, pushing seventy and suddenly wanting a divorce to split their assets, she §Ö§ä would never have agreed to such a preposterous and humiliating scheme of trying to secure an heir in such a desperate manner! Luna was livid too. And then, a thought struck her... If something were to happen to the child Malvina was carrying... Then she might have the chance to give birth to the Schnabel family''s prized first grandchild! Once this idea took root, it grew wildly, consuming Luna with a feverish intensity. She quickly stood up and followed Malvina out! Malvina, in the early stages of her pregnancy, liked to take the stairs after meals as a form of light exercise. Eyeing Malvina''s retreating figure, Luna spotted the stairs ahead. They weren''t particrly high, but it was the corner turn with a two-to-three-meternding that caught her attention. It wouldn''t be fatal for most, but for a pregnant woman, it could be deadly! Luna smirked and moved towards Malvina. Just then, Noe walked into the restaurant and immediately spotted Malvina greeting her. "Over here, darling!" Noe called out, her eyes then falling on the woman behind Malvina. A sense of foreboding washed over her, and she quickened her pace towards Malvina! Luna, so fixated on Malvina, hadn''t noticed Noe enter. Her eyes were bloodshot with obsession. "Die, you wretched woman! You think you can threaten me?!" With a shove against Malvina''s back, Luna''s expression was one of near madness as she watched Malvina tumble over the railing, her smile twisted in triumph! Leaning over the railing to look down, Luna anticipated the scene that would unfold before her... Chapter 448 Noe cradled a fallen Malvina in her arms, concern etched across her features. "You alright?" "I''m fine... sweetheart, you''re too amazing!" Noe shook her head, gently setting Malvina down, checking her pulse to ensure she was alright before breathing a sigh of relief. "Next time, have the nanny follow you. It''s too dangerous." Given the distance and the suddenness of the incident, it was a stroke of luck that a conveniently ced ledge at the stair''s turn broke her fall! Luna, witnessing Malvina unharmed, was a bundle of nerves! It was always Noe! She hurried inside the house, tripping over her own feet in her panic. Malvina, patting her chest, eximed, "Sweetie, that woman is evil! She was trying to seduce Beckett! When she heard I was pregnant, she wanted to harm my baby!" Malvina shuddered with the aftershock of the ordeal, her hand trembling as she clung to Noe. Had Noe not been there to find her, the thought of what could have happened was unbearable! "Sweetheart, you scared me to death!" Noeforted her with gentle pats on the back. "You''re safe, that''s what matters. Leave the rest to me." The restaurant manager, out of breath, rushed over, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Ms. Noe, Ms. Malvina, we''ve got everything on camera, including the private dining area! Our legal team is already on it!" Having dealt with Malvina''ste-night menu changes and Noe''s special requests, he knew how important they were to the Schnabel family. Thest thing he needed was trouble on his watch. Noe waved dismissively, "This isn''t on you. What were they here for?" "They said they wanted to apologize to Mr. Schnabel for a previous misunderstanding." Noe scoffed, ¡°Apologize to Beckett instead of me? Their intentions couldn''t be clearer." In the dining area, Luna, flustered, urged her grandmother, "Let''s leave... I''m not feeling well..." ¡°Mr. Schnabel hasn''t arrived yet. What''s the rush?" Luna, fearing Noe''s retribution, lied, "I saw Noe trying to push that pregnantdy down the stairs! I''m scared she''lle after me!" Pearl was astonished. Had the Schnabel family''s infighting escted to this level? "We should steer clear of this mess. You did the right thing. Let''s go." Upon receiving the news, Stirling and Beckett rushed over, concerned for Malvina and Noe. Stirling, visibly worried, insisted, "Malvina, tet''s go to the hospital for a check-up. And Noe, you should Co. You''re still recovering from yourst injury. How could you catch her like that?" Noe reassured, "I''m fine. I''m a doctor, remember? Malvina''s fine too, just shaken." Malvina, overwhelmed by the ordeal and the surge of hormones, broke down in Stirling''s arms, "I was so scared... If it weren''t for Noe, you might not have seen me again!" Beckett, seething with anger, remarked, "The Patel family, huh? Dillon dares to send assassins after Stirling, thinking we''re pushovers?" The revtion of an assassination attempt and the subsequent investigation pointed towards the Patel family''s internal disputes. Beckett mused, ¡°Using their internal conflict to our advantage might be the way to go. Dog eat dog." Stirling nodded, his eyes glinting with a cold, hard edge. "They''re gonna pay before they vanish into thin air!" His voice wasced with a chill that matched his gaze. Daring toy a finger on his wife and kid? They clearly didn''t know who they were messing with! Noe chimed in, her tone equally firm. "When stepped out earlier, I bumped into some sketchy folks too. Palmer''s looking into it, turn et out they''re from a branch of the Patel family. They even had the nerve to hand me this." She revealed an invitation resting in the palm of her hand. Beckett took it, his voice dripping with disdain, "Hah! They''ve got the guts to invite the Schnabel family to a party?" Noe frowned, "It must be someone else pulling the strings. The Patels have always been brazen, but never bold enough to mess with us directly." ording to Dog-Head, the puppet master behind the Patel family has always been 7-yer! "Beckett, you nning on going to this shindig?" "You want to?" he shot back. Noe shook her head, "If I go, it''ll just inte their egos. If 7-yer wants to see us and the Patels duke it out, we''ll give him a show." Sending a ''gift'' might just spice things up. 7-yer wasn''t in it to back the Patel family. He was breeding conflict! "A guy like 7-yer, he wants a family that''s been through the wringer, all battered and bruised from infighting and external battles. Only then can he pull the strings!" The Patel family was just thetest pawn, but what 7-yer really wanted was to get his hooks into the Schnabels. But the Schnabel kids weren''t so easily manipted. Beckett''s phone suddenly broke the tension with its shrill ring. A panicked scream bled through the speaker. "My boy! Come save me! SOS!!" Beckett eyed the unfamiliar number, his brow furrowed, "And you are?" That definitely wasn''t Tristan''s voice!Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 449 "Listen here, buddy, I''m your old man!" "My throat''s been rough these past few days, caught a nasty cold. Stinker, remember when you were a kid, we used to call you ''Stinky''? Guess who?" Only Beckett and Sienna would know about that nickname. Beckett frowned, "Howe you''re calling from a new number?" "Got pickpocketed on my way back! Your mom and I are stuck on some remote ind now, can''t reach anyone!" "Alright, send me your location, I''ll have someonee pick you up." After hanging up, Beckett eyed the location that was sent over. It was indeed on the route Tristan would take back home. He checked Tristan''s flight back, which was indeed scheduled for today. Noe grabbed Beckett''s phone, dialing Tristan''s number, but couldn''t get through! Ulrich worriedly said, "Didn''t Dad mention his phone got stolen? Someone probably wiped it clean by now." Noe shook her head, tried calling Tristan from her own phone, but still no answer! Even messages on WhatsApp were left unanswered. "Malvina, let me borrow your phone for a sec." "Sure." After taking Malvina''s phone, Noe dialed Tristan''s number again! This time, Tristan''s hearty voice came through. "Hey there! Is this my number two, or the missus?" "Dad, it''s me." "Noe, what''s up? Missing me and your mom? We''ll be back in a few days!" Hearing Tristan''s familiar voice, Beckett and Ulrich realized something was off. They might have stumbled into a scam! Noe exined the situation, and Tristan couldn''t just sit still. "I did buy tickets for today, but your mom wanted to stay a few more days, so we decided to returnter! How could there be another Tristan in this world? Beckett, you''ve been out there recognizing random folks as your dad?" Beckett calmly responded, "If I could, I''d have already reced you." Having a dad who talks nonsense like this, the pressure''s real! Tristan fake sobbed, "I''ve got a dozen bodyguards with me. They might lose their way, but my phone''s safe. That ind''s been sketchytely; I''m not nning on visiting!" "I was busy surfing, didn''t check my phone, hence no WhatsApp replies!" Seeing Malvina''s call, Tristan thought maybe she was feeling under the weather or had a spat with Ulrich! Most likely, it was because of the rumors about the offshore oil field under the ind Tristan was nning to buy. That''s a goldmine right there. Plenty of folks would kill for that kind of opportunity! The pie''s only so big; not every time can the Schnabel family have the whole thing. Beckett also thought, with so many bodyguards around Tristan, it was unlikely anything bad would happen. Plus, all the information checked out, he didn''t think much of it at that moment! Little did he know, it was a scam targeting the Schnabel family! Noe sighed, "Stay clear of tel fraud." The siblings figured, since the scammers were keen on luring someone, they''d likely call back! With that thought, and nning to involve the Schnabel family''s legal team, Beckett simply asked the kitchen to send over a te of sliced fruit! Half an hourter. The unknown number called again. This time, Noe had already connected Tristan via video, allowing him to see everything happening on their end. The raspy voice of "Tristan": "Son, have you set off yet? Your mom and I are still waiting for you!" Beckett coolly replied, "Not going. If you die out there, the Schnabel estate is mine." The fake Tristan was momentarily speechless! Is that something you say out loud? Or has the Schnabel family lost their minds? "Not... How could you! Thinking of rebelling? Hurry up and pick up me and your mom, or I''ll write you out of the will this instant! You have toe get me personally!" Beckett, unfazed. "If you die on that ind, you won''t have the chance to write a will. Everything of the Schnabel''s will still be mine." The audacity of Beckett left the fake Tristan stunned! Grinding his teeth, he spat, "Fine. You''ll regret this! Once I get back, I''m leaving everything to your brother and sister!" Beckett casually ended the call. Even the real Tristan was shocked! Rubbing his chin, "You know, that voice did sound a bit like me at first, but itcked the essence. Felt off to me." Noe, typing rapidly on her phone, traced the fake Tristan''s audio source in no time. "It was from that time Dad was at an event, got a bit drunk, and had a cold, so his voice sounded different than usual." Tristan mmed the table! "This is way too sloppy, why couldn''t they find a better quality voice clip?" "Beckett, are you really nning to let your old man die out there so you can inherit the family fortune?"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Beckett deadpanned, "I''d rather have you back at the corporation. Your vacation''s been long enough.'' Did Tristan really want to go back to work? "Fine, fine, you rebellious child, can''t let your parents enjoy a vacation, can you?" "That imposter won''t give up easily, probably will try again." Noe nodded, her eyes fixed on the tracking data on her phone. "They''ll likely change their strategy next." Just as she finished speaking, Ulrich''s phone rang! An international police station number appeared, Ulrich answered calmly. "Hello, are you a rtive of Mr. Tristan Schnabel? He''s encountered a mishap abroad and has met an untimely demise. We need a family member to verify his information and im his body." Tristan pointed at himself, bewildered, "Me? What?" Was this person serious? Here he was, alive and kicking, now being dered dead? Too bizarre for words! Ulrich retorted, "I don''t believe you''re the police. My dad''s still young, how could he be dead? You''re lying!" His face was impassive, but his voice betrayed a note of panic! The response came quickly: "We can confirm via video call that we are indeed the police." "Then let''s have a video call." Clicking on the link sent over, the video opened to show what appeared to be a police station, with a man in uniform looking sternly at Ulrich. "Sir, please ept our condolences. We now require all the records of your father''s travels, and the family needs toe and im the body as soon as possible, otherwise we''ll have to dispose of it in whatever way we see fit." Ulrich couldn''t believe the lengths scammers would go to these days! "Oh, then just toss him in the sea for all I care." A moment of confusion flickered across the officer''s face. "That''s against the regtions. The body must be imed by a family member." Ulrich, with a deadpan expression, asked, "You sure my dad''s gone?" "Positive." "Do you have a DNA test to prove he''s my dad? Or do you have our family''s genealogy records? You say he''s my dad just like that? Well, I could say I''m your dad. Go on, call me ''Dad!" Ulrich pressed on, "You know what, just call me ''Dad'' once, and we can forget this whole thing, or else I''m filing aint!" The other side: "...What?" The Schnabel family, what on earth was going on with them? Chapter 450 "It''s like they''ve lost someone from their own family!" And not just anyone, but the head of the household, Tristan! Howe they''re all acting so cool about it?! "Tristan was your father, right? Since he was, it''s only natural for you toe and im his body. If you don''t, we''ll have to treat him as an unidentified corpse and cremate him with the others!" Ulrich: "He''s my dad, sure, but there''s probably a dozen Tristans in the country. How can you be sure this one''s him?" The other party quickly recited Tristan''s social security number. "After checking, we''ve confirmed this is indeed your biological father." "Oh, then just ditch him." The other party: "What?!" Ditch him? Where exactly? The Schnabel family must be joking! Even a con artist would be shocked at this point! Are these people seriously ill?! Isn''t this the time for tears and mourning? "This is your biological father we''re talking about..." Ulrich raised an eyebrow, "Everyone dies eventually. Don''t be sad, your time wille too." The police officer was totally taken aback. "Why would I be sad? He''s not my father!" "Exactly, not your dad. So what''s the fuss? Just dump him anywhere!" Ulrich said, ready to hang up without leaving any room for further discussion. The other party was clearly panicking! "Wait a minute! We can arrange to send him back to you, but you''d need to cover some expenses." "How much?" "Five million dors." Ulrich immediately shook his head: "Five hundred Vietnamese dong, maybe. My dad''s not worth that much! Just find some ce to dump him, goodbye!" With that, Ulrich hung up the phone. Malvina was almost dying ofughter! All her fears had evaporated, reced by tears of mirth. "I didn''t know you were such a scammer yourself. Five hundred dong isn''t even a cent. You''re gonna give those scammers a heart attack!" Real Tristan frowned: "Five million dors. Am I really worth so little?" Noeughed: "Dad, they wanted to use that as a pretext to get our bank ount details, and then drain it through illegal means." Tristan stroked his chin. "So they''re after the money?" "If they could''ve fooled us into paying, it would''ve been a bonus. Intimidating the Schnabel family andnding a fatal blow, while also making some cash on the side. All part of the n." It made the entire Schnabel family view this as a mere tel scam, trivializing the whole episode! Wealthy families often feel embarrassed by falling for scams and usually keep it to themselves. Knowing this, groups that target wealthy families are not umon! Tristan: "Losing money is one thing, but spreading rumors of my death? That''s downright ominous." Sienna piped up, "I got a message too, saying mom was seriously ill and needed money." Tristan: "Should I send it to the underworld?" His mother had passed away years ago, and Ashlyn, that stepmom of his, was barely hanging on as it was! "It''d be more believable to say my dad was dying. Let me see... And now there are messages saying my daughter needs tutoring fees?" Tristan was dumbfounded! Noe: "Using my name to ask for money from my parents is easy, but there''s a w in their n. If my parents had sent money to the ount provided, their personal information would''ve beenpromised." If it had actually been Noe asking, Tristan and Sienna wouldn''t have hesitated to give. If not for the fact that their precious daughter didn''t need tutoring fees at all, Tristan might have actually sent the money. Damn scammers! Noe''s fingers flew over the keyboard, tracing the scam to its source based on the video call with the scamming police officer. "Beckett, this group is also connected to Dillon." Ulrich, with a cold gaze: "Beckett, encountered a few scam groupse while working with Doctors Without Borders. Pearl''s husband seemed quite involved with those circles!" Pearl''s husband, always a shadowy figure. As a man who married into the family, he was rarely seen in the Patel circles, showing up only to apany Pearl to significant events. Malvina added: "Pearl''s husband, I think his name was Connor Baker. A few years back, he visited the Gruber family. Seemed like an odd fellow." Connor wasn''t a memorable character for Malvina, only known for the many children in the Patel family now bearing the Baker surname! Entering his name, Noe quickly found information about Connor. "Early on, seemed like he was into pyramid schemes? Ended up in jail for it." Beckett nodded, "I''ve heard about that. Afterward, he rarely operated within the country, seems he moved on to scamming." No surprise there. Noe focused on a message from Mizar. [Connor is Oriana''s uncle, her father''s brother.] [The customs officer who tried to scam you? That''s their pro!] Seeing the patterns, it truly was a professional scam operation! Since thest debacle at Azure''sunch event, Oriana has been cooling her heels in a detention center. After a moment of contemtion, Noe replied: "Let Oriana out, inform her about the Patel family''s banquet." [Hehe, boss is up to no good again!] With Oriana''s petty schemes, causing a stir at the Patel family''s banquet would be a piece of cake! The Patel family''s uing banquet was sure to be an eventful one! Lockhart Prison. Amidst a sandstorm, the prison stood isted in the desert, its watchtowers unmanned, as anyone approaching Lockhart Prison without authorization would be shot on sight. In the desert, a woman barely recognizable under the sand, held a gun towards a distant target, squeezing the trigger swiftly! The target fell to the ground with a thud! Xavier pped his hands in approval. "Nice shot!" Millie picked herself up off the ground, spitting out a mouthful of dirt. "Xavier, have people lost their minds these days?" Why are so many folks treating Lockhart Prison like it''s some sort of tourist attraction? Do they think they''re on vacation? Since when did Lockhart Prison be the new Disnend? Xavier snorted dismissively.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. "Some folks just can''t sit still. They want to test your mettle, see if you can hit a target from a hundred yards away with ten consecutive shots. Once you can do that this ce might as well bear your name!" Xavier was genuinely considering handing over the reins of Lockhart Prison to Millie. This kid had the right mix of smarts, cunning, and a certain roguish charm - the perfect sessor in Xavier''s eyes! Millie pondered for a moment, "That''s fine by me, but I follow in my mentor''s footsteps! Whatever she tells me to do, I do!" The duo made their way back to the prison. Jasper was squatting on the ground, phone in hand, taking a call. "Jasper, your dad''s got a mistress on the side! He''s only giving a thousand bucks a month to your little brother and sister!" A mistress? And siblings? Armed with the knowledge about the scam gang, Jasper wasn''t fazed in the least. Jasper replied coolly, "That little, - huh? Well, tell you what,e find me and let them call me ''Dad.'' '' §Ñ§ã add a zero to that amount aze thousand for ten months, a hundred a month. How''s that for generous?" Chapter 451 ? The scammer was practically having a meltdown! "Your father''s illegitimate son outside of marriage has rights to the inheritance! The Schnabel family, doing this, you could be taken to court!" Jasper Schnabel retorted, "Oh, why don''t you take it all the way to the Supreme Court then? How about we see what the President or even the United Nations has to say about this monumental issue?" The scammer was in agony. Trying to con the Schnabel family was proving to be an uphill battle! Their cunning was enough to circle the globe five times. Jasper picked up a stranded little crab and threw it back into the sea. "Illegitimate children have rights, you say? Let him sue then. Shows how little you know about thew." There was a tone of pity in his voice! The phone call ended, and Jasper scoffed. Xavier grumbled, "What''s this now? Something about an illegitimate child? You''ve got one on the side?" "No, it''s my dad." "Your dad has an illegitimate child? Well, that won''t do, we need to make sure all the family money goes to my granddaughter! Time to draft a will!" Jasper couldn''t help butugh. Tristan Schnabel was in the prime of his life. Draft a will? Ridiculous! "It''s a scammer. These fraudsters are getting bold." Millie Gagher frowned, "Xavier, isn''t there a scam ring right next door?" "What are the odds?" Millie pulled over aptop, sitting down right there and snatching Jasper''s phone to track the number from the call. Jasper touched his nose. Ever since arriving at Lockhart Prison, Millie had taken to it as if it was her own home! She had an air of defiance about her, having taken on Xavier''s toughest guys on arrival and now reigning as the queen bee of Lockhart Prison! Seeing her like this, Jasper could hardly believe they were in the same line of work! Millie eyed the screen. "Looks like it was the neighbors." "Millie, you know how to do this?" "Hardly, had to send it back home to my mentor for help. Despite being drop-dead gorgeous and insanely talented, tracking IP addresses is just not my thing." The message from Noe confirmed it wasn''t just Jasper who had received scam calls; other members of the Schnabel family had been targeted by the neighbors! Noe: "I''ll go check it out." With the scam ring operating next door and 7-yer nearby, Noe decided to take a look herself! Millie stood up, serious, "Xavier, have we had many run-ins with the neighbors?" "Not really. Half the inmates here were hand-picked by them, sent over from their side. All of them serious offenders, the kind that would turn on you in a heartbeat!" That "turn on you" bit was meant quite literally! Millie pondered, looking at Jasper. "Sir, fancy a stroll over there?" "To the scam ring?" Jasper''s newfound respect for Millie''s audacity was evident. "Yeah, dare to go?" ncing at Millie, Jasper scoffed, "Why not? Just don''t slow me down!" "Look at our young master, quite the temper." Teased by Millie, Jasper couldn''t help but storm off! Xavier patted Millie on the shoulder. "The kid''s my grandson after all, be gentle with him. I''d hate to exin any mishaps to your mentor." "Don''t worry, he''s a Schnabel!" Just days before, Millie had watched Jasper, unable to sleep, get up in the middle of the night and beat up one of the inmates. That inmate, Vincent Lambert, hadn''t gotten up for days! Marcel had called Xavier, asking him to look after Jasper and suggesting it might toughen him up a bit. Getting roughed up was expected, but sending him back to Imperial City in pieces was not the n. Millie rubbed her nose, her dusty eyshes fluttering over her bright, peach blossom eyes. "The man I choose won''t be a pushover!" ---All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. At the Patel family''s evening g in Imperial City... The Patel family''s hillside vi was aze with lights, hosting guests of high stature. In her room, Luna Patel was getting ready in front of her vanity, hoping to dazzle the attendees. Dillon Patel, standing behind her, worried, "Luna, you''ve been looking paletely. What''s wrong?" "I''m fine..." Lately, just closing her eyes brought back the restaurant incident! Luna couldn''t shake off the cold, harsh look Noe gave her, making her heart race! Trying to calm down, Luna reached for her makeup brush to apply some blush. The moment it touched her skin, she screamed in horror! "What''s happening?" Dillon rushed over as Luna clutched her face, blood trickling down her fingers. A razor de had been hidden in the makeup brush! "Beckett! My face! My face!" Dillon was both shocked and scared. How could someone sabotage them within the Patel family home? "Call the doctor! Let''s not rm the grandparents!" Terrified of being disfigured and losing her only asset, Luna panicked. The doctor, wearing a mask, came to inspect the wound and began cleaning it with a bottle of liquid. As the pain intensified, Luna pushed the doctor away. "What are you applying? It''s burning!" The doctor innocently replied, "Didn''t you say you wanted to be disfigured? I''m making sure your face never recovers!" "You''re not a doctor! Who are you?" Dillon grabbed the doctor by the cor and yanked off her mask, revealing Oriana Baker''s face! "Oriana...weren''t you in custody?" "Yeah, why am I the one left out, huh? I thought the Patels were just swamped with work these days Turns out, you''re all about throwing a big bash..." Oriana was boiling with envy and bitterness! How dare they! "After Luna told me to go flirt with that old Dan, to get close to his s 5 you all do? Not give a damn t me, that''s what!" "If you''re going to be ruthless, don''t me me for whates next!" Luna''s face was now oozing pus, emitting a foul smell like some nasty chemicals! "You witch! What on earth did you put on my face?" "Nothing much, just a bit of diluted sulfuric acid. It won''t eat your face away, but you''ll look like a horror show." Sulfuric acid?! Luna broke down, tears streaming, ready tosh out at Oriana with all her might! Her beautiful face, ruined by this monster! Oriana didn''t care one bit, "Sacrifice me for your gain? Dream on! I''ll spill all your dirty secrets. You think your uncle actually cares for keyour you? Oh, poor thing!" Technically, Oriana''s dad was Luna''s grandfather''s younger brother. Luna, driven to madness, screamed, "I''ll kill you! I''ll make sure your face is destroyed too!" Just then, amidst Oriana''s tirade, the butler knocked on the door. With urgency in his voice, "Miss, Mr. Schnabel is here to see you!" Chapter 452 ? Dillon''s eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Schnabel?" "The one from Rising Glory Group, here specifically to see our young Miss. The matriarch insists you hurry to the parlor for the meeting!" "Beckett Schnabel? I thought the Schnabels weren''ting?" The butler replied, "Ms. Schnabel and Ulrich came along as well. The olddy''s overjoyed and wants you there too." Luna covered her face and shrieked! "Beckett! How can I show my face like this!" Even though a real doctor had treated Luna''s face, it was obviously toote to meet Beckett in this state! Oriana''s eyes flickered with mischief. "Mr. Schnabel rarely makes a visit, and with Ulrich here, this is your chance to charm your way into the Schnabel family. Miss this, and you might not get another." "Shut up! This is all your fault, you wretch! I''ll kill you!" Orianaughed heartily. "Kill me, and you still won''t have Mr. Schnabel! The Schnabel family would never take a disfigured bride!" Oriana found immense joy in Luna''s misfortune. Why should someone from the Patel family be so high and mighty, trampling over her at will! Their conversation was secretly ryed to Noe through an earring the doctor wore. In the parlor, Noe frowned unhappily. "Beckett, Ms. Patel hasn''t shown up yet. Is she refusing to apologize?" "Of course not." Beckett''s icy gaze fell on Pearl Patel sitting across, sharp and warning. "Ms. Patel is most reasonable. She promised Luna would personally apologize, and she will."Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Pearl''s expression soured. That girl Luna, why hasn''t shee yet! She''s about to tarnish the Patel family''s reputationpletely! "Go and hurry her along. Tell her if she doesn''te now, she need not bear the Patel name anymore!" "Yes, ma''am." Noe sipped her tea with visible distaste. "Beckett, this tea is awful. Is this really the Patel family''s way of treating us?" "Noe, don''t be so rude." Though Beckett spoke those words, his tone didn''t carry any me. "My apologies, my sister''s been spoiled at home, very picky." Pearl, having weathered many storms, calmly responded, "It''s our oversight in hospitality. Haven''t you heard? Bring Ms. Schnabel our finest tea!" "Right away." With the new tea served, Noe eyed the packaging and eximed, "Ulrich, this tea is indeed excellent. I saw itst in Grandfather''s study; he said it was exclusive and wouldn''t even share with me! The olddy is much more generous." Ulrich Schnabel smiled knowingly. "Naive girl, this tea is far superior to the one in Grandfather''s collection. Different batch, different value. The olddy''s tea cakees at a six-figure price per ounce." Pearl''s hands trembled while brewing the tea! "You exaggerate, we''re merely merchants, notparable to Marcel''s tea." After tasting the tea, Noe''s lips curved slightly, no longer picking faults. Pearl, expecting moreints, felt like punching cotton - no satisfaction. The Schnabel family''s youngdy was indeed extraordinary. No wonder Luna was so agitated; in terms of tactics and depth, Luna couldn''t hold a candle to Ms. Schnabel. The second butler stood outside Luna''s room. "Miss, if you dy further, the olddy will be displeased." Luna stamped her feet in frustration and burst into tears! "Beckett, please help me...'' Dillon stroked his chin, "Doctor, let''s get Luna a bandage for her face and cover it up with some makeup for now." Doctor Alkaid firmly declined. "That would ruin her chances of recovery.Ammediate medical attention is needed to clean and stitch the wound. Covering it with non-breathable material and makeup will do irreversible damage." Luna wailed even louder. "I don''t want to be disfigured!" Dillon pulled her aside coolly. "Listen you still have a chance to me, good is your beauty?"Either Mr. Schnabel. If you misse To Dillon, climbing the Schnabel family tree was worth any sacrifice of Luna''s beauty. Forcing Luna into a chair, Dillon said coldly, "Disobey me, and I''ll make your life a living hell!" Seeing Dillon''s ruthless reflection in the mirror, Luna shook with fear. After applying the bandage, Alkaid warned, "You have ten minutes. The wound still has some uncleaned agents; you need to get to a hospital within that time." "I understand." Oriana, though reckless, wasn''t bold. The acid used was diluted, but enough to make Luna''s wound painfully itchy and disfigured! After a touch-up to make herplexion less rming, Luna endured the pain and followed Dillon into the parlor. Upon entering, Luna''s eyes lit up at the sight of Beckett! Why couldn''t such a perfect man be hers? Noe raised an eyebrow, covering her nose. "Beckett, what''s that smell? It''s awful." To mask the scent of blood and chemicals, Luna had doused herself in perfume. "Noe Schnabel, don''t push it!" Noe quickly hid behind Beckett. Ulrich''s gaze turned icy as he looked at Luna. "You have a problem with my sister?" As soon as heid eyes on Luna, all he could think about was the rumor that she tried to push Malvina Gruber down the stairs! His gaze even darkened with murderous intent! Luna shuddered, shrinking away, "No, I didn''t mean to..." Pearl, towering with an air of authority, scolded, "Luna, apologize to Ms. Schnabel." Was she called here just to apologize to Noe? This was outright humiliation! Meeting Noe''s mocking gaze, Luna felt the flush of shame burn even brighter. She knew it; Noe was doing this on purpose... But neither she nor the Patel family had any leverage against the Schnabels. "I''m sorry, Ms. Schnabel, I shouldn''t have offended you..." Her voice was so faint, one might think she was muttering in her sleep. Noe feigned surprise, "Does the Patel family have mosquitoes? Such buzzing, be careful not to get bitten." Catching Noe''s drift, Pearl looked at Luna with discontent. "Luna, apologize!" Feeling the impatience from her grandmother, Luna dared not dally any longer, the humiliation eating at her. Through gritted teeth, she said, "Ms. Schnabel, I''m sorry!" Noe offered a dismissive smile. "So formal? No need, Ms. Patel, you''re too kind." As if all the nasty words were hers to say! Just as Pearl breathed a sigh of relief, Noe spoke up again. "Ms. Patel, what''s with the makeup today? It looks a bit odd, doesn''t it?" "Beckett, did you not want to see us and did this on purpose?" Dillon stepped forward, "Ms. Schnabel, my sister was trying out thetest makeup trend." "Trending to put a band-aid on your face?" Noe snorted withughter, "How fashionable indeed!" Luna felt like she was about to explode with frustration at Noe''s taunts! Pearl pinched the bridge of her nose, visibly annoyed, "What on earth are you doing, take that thing off your face now!" Chapter 453 ? "Seriously, Pearl, what''s with the clown makeup?" "Go wash your face, now!" Pearl''s tone was sharp, unforgiving. Today, Luna had thoroughly embarrassed her! Luna''s usually gentle demeanor was reced with a stern expression. Only Luna knew the bandages on her face couldn''t be removed! Panic surged through her as she tugged at Dillon''s sleeve. Noticing their interaction, Noe nudged Ulrich. "Ulrich, they really have a strong bond, don''t they?" "Our family''s just as tight. If anyone dares to mess with my little sister, they''ll have us to deal with!" "Same goes for anyone looking to harm my little brother." Ulrich''s gaze was fixed on Dillon as he spoke. The incident on the cruise ship with the Schnabels and the Patels was still unresolved! It wasn''t a matter of if they''d settle scores, but when. Dillon chuckled, "Grandma, Luna''s just a young girl trying to look her best. Let her wash off her makeup after the guests leave. It''s only polite." Noe covered her mouth, giggling. "That doesn''t look like makeup to me. Luna, is your face having an allergic reaction? Maybe it''s best to remove the makeup." Luna was fuming. She definitely did that on purpose! Yet, it sounded like she was just looking out for her. Pearl was starting to feel embarrassed. "Luna, what''s going on? Are you really having an allergic reaction? Maybe you should stop wearing makeup." "Grandma, I''ll remove it in a bit..." Removing makeup in front of guests was indeed impolite, so Pearl didn''t push further. Ulrich, however, spoke up, "I''m a doctor, and Luna''s face looks... off. Is that a hint of sulfur I''m smelling?" Doctors were familiar with chemical substances. Especially one as corrosive and pungent as sulfuric acid. Luna''s heavy perfume couldn''t mask the scent of sulfuric acid. "And it seems like concentrated sulfuric acid. Luna, has your makeup routinee to the point of needing facial reconstruction?" Luna immediately denied it. "No, no, it''s just my perfume... it''s expired." She couldn''t let her social circle find out there was something wrong with her face! That would make her theughingstock of the entire socialite scene! Pearl frowned, "What''s going on? Your perfume is reced regrly. How could it expire? Come here, let me take a closer look." As Luna approached, Pearl too caught the strange scent. Noe mused, "Beckett, do you think Ms. Patel has ruined her face?" If Luna had indeed ruined her face, it would be a loss for the Patel family. Pearl had ns to make her a sessor, but the Patel family relied on their high-society status, and Pearl, a renowned socialite, couldn''t have a disfigured sessor! Pearl''s gaze hardened. "Tear it off, let me see!" In a state of panic, Luna had no choice but toply as the butlers held her arms and removed the bandages revealing her face, nowpletely marred by sulfuric acid burns. Pearl was shocked! "Luna!" Ulrich and Beckett hadn''t expected Luna''s face to be truly ruined. Luna copsed to the ground, weeping loudly. Pearl, feeling a headacheing on, quickly instructed the butlers to take her to the hospital, out of sight, out of mind. Luckily, the Patel family had other daughters. Pearl swiftly issued a new order, "Call the second daughter over." "Yes." The speed at which the sessor was reced was faster than a meal change. Noe''s lips curled into a smile. Good, changing the sessor would only break Luna further! Daring to target the next generation of the Schnabel family, they had now set their sights on her! Dillon, maintaining his gentlemanlyposure, seemed unaffected by the preceding events. His calm demeanor was a testament to his mental fortitude. Despite encountering Stirling Schnabel on the cruise, it was unlikely he knew Dillon was behind the assassin. After all, the Patels and the Schnabels had limited interactions before this. Noe casually touched her earring, "Beckett, I heard the young Mr. Patel wanted to get to know ra better He even waited outside herb a few times. The security guard almost called the cops, thinking he was casing the ce!" Dillon''s smile faltered! Dropping his feigned elegance, he openly admitted, "Grandma, I indeed have a fondness for Ms. Schnabel and am pursuing her." Pearl nodded, finding the idea appealing. After all, an alliance with the Schnabel family was the goal, regardless of who made the match. Beckett sneered, his gaze sharp as a leopard''s on its prey. "You, fancy ra? You think you''re worthy?" Ulrichughed mockingly. "What delusions of grandeur, thinking you can win over our ra? Is it your age or yourck of hygiene? As far as I know, Mr. Patel, your college wasn''t exactly iel prestigious. Sorry, but ra prefers intelligentpany!" Noe added with concern, "It''s already tough for my sister at work, having to see a kappa like you? Poor thing!" Beckett chimed in, "Don''t worry, I''ve arranged for a new bodyguard for ra, from the special forces, to ensure her safety!" ra Schnabel''s recent project was of utmost importance, keeping her in theb day and night, her focus solely on her research, leaving no time to pay attention to any unwee suitors. Dillon hadn''t expected to be so thoroughly dismissed! "Mr. Schnabel, I swear I''m not just some guy trying to make an impression. I genuinely have feelings for Ms. Schnabel!" Noe looked at him skeptically. "Do you even have the slightest clue about my sister''s research? Do you know what journals she''s published in or what awards she''s won?" Of course, Dillon didn''t have a clue! His interest in ra was purely driven by the prospect of being part of the Schnabel legacy. ra''s academic papers might as well have been written in a foreignnguage to him. He couldn''t understand a word, let alone appreciate her research. "This... I... My field of study is different from Ms. Schnabel''s, but that''s hardly an issue, right? I''m willing to take the time to truly understand her work!" Beckett tossed a few photos onto the table. "Is dining out with Instagram models and local celebrities your definition of specialization?" The photos clearly showed Dillon getting cozy with several women at a nightclub!Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Noe grimaced. "Gross." Dillon hadn''t expected Beckett to have dug into his past! Pearl coughed twice. "These are yourpany''s signed actors, right? Be mindful of your business dealings in the future to avoid misunderstandings!" "Yes, Grandma, I''ll be careful," Dillon responded. Beckett couldn''t even bother to watch this charade unfold any longer. Standing up with his siblings, Beckett''s gaze towards Dillon was as cold as ice. "So, hiring a hitman against my brother is your idea of keeping things professional? Well, the Schnabel family won''t forget this!" Ulrich let out a dark, mockingugh. "And let''s not forget Miss Luna, who nearly caused my wife to miscarry, endangering the next generation of the Schnabel family. Rest assured, we won''t forget this either!" Chapter 454 Pearl''s jaw nearly hit the floor!Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. What in the world was happening? Dillon hiring someone to kill Stirling, Luna nearly causing Malvina to miscarry? Memories of what happened at the diner shed through her mind. Pearl, cunning as a fox, instantly realized Luna was behind this mess and trying to wash her hands of it! That darn girl! Was she trying to drag the entire Patel family into the abyss? Pearl immediately stood up, "Mr. Schnabel, I had no idea thatdy was Malvinast time, my apologies..." Ulrich rolled his eyes. "So, not knowing she was my wife makes it okay for you guys to attack a pregnant woman, huh? I think my wife made it abundantly clear she''s pregnant. I have all the recordings and surveince. You''re in for awsuit!" "Great, the Schnabel family has some acewyers too, ready to give the Patel family a run for their money!" And who''s the Schnabel family''s best in legal battles? Jasper, of course! Who in their right mind would want to face Jasper in court? The guy doesn''t just win cases; he makes the opposition go bankrupt with ease. Plenty of people steer clear of any legal matters linked to Jasper. Pearl fumed, "Mr. Schnabel, there''s a saying about sparing others when you can. Does the Schnabel family really think they can reign supreme in Imperial City?" Beckett smirked and patted Noe''s shoulder. "With my brother-inw''s family in the mix, we should be good!" Who doesn''t know about the Pock family and the Schnabel family''s engagement party? Palmer making a grand gesture by gifting his fianc¨¦e Franse a manor, along with original shares of the Pock Group! It''s no secret that at the Pock Group''s shareholder meetings, there''s going to be a new face around. Pearl threatened, "If this goes to court, can the Schnabel family''s affairs withstand scrutiny? There''s plenty of room forpromise, Mr. Schnabel, don''t you understand? I''ll make sure these reckless kids of mine pay the price, so let''s not hold grudges." Beckett replied, "Ma''am, you''re not in a position to negotiate with me." Pearl''s facade crumbled! "This is the Patel family''s home!" Noe chuckled, "Are you so embarrassed you want to keep us here forever?" Such words weren''t meant for open discussions, but Pearl indeed harbored such intentions. If the Schnabel family continued their relentless pursuit, she wouldn''t hesitate to resort to drastic measures. "It all depends on Mr. Schnabel''s cooperation now." Beckett couldn''t help butugh! "Oh, the Patel family, how interesting! Truly fascinating!" Outside, a buzz filled the air. A dozen helicopters surrounded the Patel family''s manor! The butler rushed in, "Madam, Mr. Pock is here to pick up Ms. Schnabel..." Did picking someone up need such a grand disy? Clearly, this was a well-prepared show of force by the Schnabel family to intimidate them! The butler added anxiously, "Madam, Mr. Pock is waiting in the hall!" The hall was still hosting a banquet, attended by the Patel family''s elite guests. A public spectacle would only embarrass the Patel family. "Since Mr. Pock is so attached to Ms. Schnabel, let''s all head out then." Noe smiled innocently, "I thought you nned to deal with us here, what a pity." "Ms. Schnabel, you''re exaggerating. The Schnabel and Patel families are friends, after all!" Pearl stressed the word ''friends'', almost crushing her dentures. Noe offered to wheel Pearl out, "Let me help you, ma''am." "Thank you." As Beckett and Ulrich led the way, Pearl whispered to Noe, audible only to them. "Ms. Schnabel, this was intentional." "If you''re trying to test me, there''s no need. Your granddaughter isn''t worth my trouble." Noe''s light tone felt like punching cotton to Pearl! "At such a young age, so ruthless. I bet your grandfather would be shocked." "No need to worry, my grandfather doesn''t wear sses." Marcel, with a military background, had excellent vision and only wore reading sses asionally. Pearl was at a loss for words, "There''s a saying about leaving room for future encounters. Don''t you understand, Ms. Schnabel?" "Where to meet? In front of the Grim Reaper?" Pearl had had enough of talking to Noe! It was clear the Schnabel family adored Noe, and Palmer Pock was here for her too. If she would just soften her stance, the Patel family might find a way our But why was this girl so unreasonable? Pearl had already lowered her guard, yet Noe remained unyielding! It was infuriating! Noe leisurely said, "Madam, encouraging your granddaughter to rush into having children with Beckett, such educational methods are frankly uneptable." "Listen, kiddo, don''t think just l because Mr. Pock dotes on you now, it''s going to be sunshine and rainbows forever," Pearl said, her tone dripping with a mix of condescension and feigned concern. "Men like Mr. Pock, they''re never satisfied with just one. You''d be better off having a few kids, keep your cards close. Who cares who the mother is, right?" "It''s quite an achievement for us, the Patels, to have several daughters..." Pearl continued, puffing herself up like some old sage imparting wisdom. But it was all just a y for her own twisted sense of morality! It was as if she was outright suggesting Noe should introduce some of the Patel daughters to Palmer. Pride had her chin lifted high, but then her wheelchair hit something, almost tossing her onto the ground! Noe kept a straight face, "Oops, sorry about that." Before Pearl could react, the wheelchair started malfunctioning, sparking with electricity! Pearl shrieked, twitching in her seat as it shocked her. Noe dusted off her hands, not bothering with Pearl, and caught up with her two brothers ahead. Beckett nced back at the convulsing Pearl, "Did she upset you?" In his mind, it was clear as day that the old bat must''ve said something offensive. Otherwise, why would their sweet, innocent sister be upset? "She wanted to offer up some Patel girls to Palmer for... you know, making babies. Told me I''d enjoy ying mom," Noe shared. "That wretch!" A few shocks seemed too mild a punishment! By the time Noe and her brothers had moved on, the butler dared to approach and rescue Pearl, still drooling and babbling nonsense... "I... I will never see eye to eye with them!" Pearl dered. The butler sighed, "Let it go, ma''am. Even if we wanted to make peace, the Schnabels wouldn''t let us." Was this supposed to be the Patels'' time to threaten? Despite appearances, this was Schnabel territory now! Only their matriarch was still in denial, thinking the Patels still held their old power... But the butler knew better than to voice these thoughts, choosing instead to silently wheel Pearl towards the grand hall. --- Inside the hall. What was once a bustling party fell silent, all eyes drawn to the man seated in the center. Palmer, in his sleek ck and gold suit, had an air of frosty nobility. The cold aura he exuded sent shivers down everyone''s spine as he idly twirled his ring. Had the Patels offended the Pocks? Palmer had taken a seat right in the middle of the hall, facing the Patels'' staircase, wordless and imposing. His presence alone was enough to put a damper on the festive mood, everyone watching, waiting for what woulde next. Then, Beckett and Ulrich appeared at the top of the staircase, guiding Noe by the hands. The moment Palmer saw Noe, a rare smile broke through his icy facade. Letting go of her brothers, Noe ran towards Palmer, who caught her securely in his arms. "What brings you here?" she asked. "Didn''t I tell you? We''re in sync, you and I. Whenever you need me, I''ll be there," Palmer said, a hint of pride in his voice knowing Noe hade to stir things up at the Patels''. ??? "Since it''s a showdown, we might as well make it grand. Does this setup meet your approval, Noe?" Noe couldn''t help butugh, "As long as you''re here, I''m more than satisfied." Chapter 455 Their eyes locked on each other, oblivious to the world around them! The piercing sound of over a dozen helicopters echoed in the sky! At the Patel family''s banquet, guests were holding their breaths, too afraid to make a sound. Was this a dramatic entrance or a bold disruption? Uncertain, they waited and watched. Pearl, still in shock, her hair turned to a pale, burnt yellow! Ms. Patel rushed over and, seeing Pearl''s hair, eximed in surprise, "Grandma, what happened... did your hair dye go wrong?" She didn''t recall her grandmother dyeing her hair that morning. Pearl struggled to speak, choked up with anger and barely able to get her words out. Ulrich said calmly, "You must be seriously forgetting things, don''t ignore your health. It''s time to see a doctor." Was she losing her memory? No, this was all due to the infuriating actions of the Schnabel family! How did the Schnabel family even raise such arrogant kids! Beckett, turning to face Pearl, said with a nod, "Thank you for the hospitality. The Schnabels will not forget this." Pearl''s voice was hoarse, her aged hand gripping Ms. Patel''s tightly to keep from fainting on the spot. "Mr. Schnabel, you''re too kind." Center stage, Beckett scanned the guests, the heir of the Schnabel family exuding a powerful presence,manding respect without a word. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I won''t take much of your time. The Schnabel family has joyful news to share, and the Patels almost turned it into a nightmare. From now on, the Schnabels will cease all coborations with the Patels. Of course, you are free to continue on your own terms." Beckett only mentioned Malvina, his tone even, but enough to shut everyone up. The guests exchanged looks, unsure whether to be more surprised about the Schnabel family''s new addition or appalled that the Patels dared to cross them. The Schnabel family, after all, was not to be trifled with! Years of low profile gave way as the elder Schnabels stepped back, and the younger generation took over, showing the Imperial City''s elite that they were but a joke in the face of the Schnabel''s legacy. When Beckett ranked second on the Forbes list, right after Palmer, it was clear. The alliance with the Pock family only solidified their dominance. Pearl was furious! "Do you really think we, the Patels, are afraid? So arrogant, the Schnabels!" Her voice trembled with barely contained rage and fear. This was a deration of war by the Schnabels against the Patels! Ulrich, ever the peacemaker, turned to a well-dressed middle-aged man by his side. "Mr. Carl, how have you been since your illnessst year?" "Dr. Schnabel, I owe you my life! Rest assured, we''ll cut ties with the Patels!" Ulrich shifted his gaze, "Mr. Drew, how''s your grandfather''s leg?" "Dr. Schnabel, thanks for the medicationst week. My granddad''s been meaning to visit the old general. When might you be free?" Mr. Drew''s grandfather was a closerade of Marcel Schnabel, ensuring their families'' loyalty to the Schnabels. "Mr. Frank..." Before Ulrich could continue, Mr. Frank chimed in, patting his chest, "Dr. Schnabel, say no more. You saved my heart; I''m all ears!" Ulrich''s miraculous surgeries had earned him the title of ''the hand of God'', with many of the city''s elite owing their lives to him. Suddenly, it became clear that the majority of the guests were in some way indebted to Ulrich. Palmer, holding Noe''s hand tenderly, announced, "Our engagement was rushed, and we couldn''t invite many. Please honor us with your presence at the Pock Group''s thanksgiving banquet this weekend." Smiles spread across the faces of the guests. "Mr. Pock, you''re too modest. You and the young miss are a match made in heaven!" "A couple as perfect as you two is rare..." An invitation to the Pock family''s banquet was highly coveted, offering not just a social gathering but also business opportunities. And who would dare cross the Schnabels and the Pocks for the Patels? They simply weren''t worth it. As the Schnabels departed, the guests followed, leaving the banquet hall deserted in under half an hour. Ms. Patel, staring at the empty hall, was speechless. "Grandma... what just happened?" Pearl took a deep breath and fainted from the sheer rage and shock. The butler was in a flurry of panic, "Quick, get in touch with the old man...the Schnabel family is going to bethe death of our dear Mrs. Schnabel!" Ms. Patel was crying as she made the call, her voice filled with anguish. "Grandpa, grandma''s been driven to her grave!" "What did you say? Dead? Speak clearly!" It took Ms. Patel a moment to exin everything, and the elder on the other end just nodded. "I understand, make sure your grandma gets some proper rest." After hanging up, Connor Baker frowned at the wall in front of him, stered with records of various activities of the Schnabel family members! The wall was densely packed with details about the Schnabel family, including their favorite dishes. "Where is the weakness in the Schnabel family..." It didn''t make sense to him; he had done so much, yet the Schnabel family remained unscathed! What was going wrong? Beside him, Magee bowed slightly, "Beckett, we''ll try everything one by one; the Schnabel family can''t be unbreakable!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. "Tell Dillon to step it up." "Understood!" At the Schnabel Manor in Serene HavenPhoenix Tower, Tristan rushed back, dropped his luggage, and entered the living room in beach shorts and sunsses, only to be greeted by Marcel with a cane. "Go change your clothes! You''re an eyesore like that!" "Aw, Dad, I''m this old and I still don''t have the freedom to dress as I please?" Tristan dodged and ran off to change, his voice full of grievance. Wasn''t he just too worried about his family, rushing back on the earliest private flight avable? Who knew he''d be greeted with a beating before even getting a drink of water! Marcel was irritated seeing Tristan like that. The man was about to be a grandfather and stillcked seriousness. That purple-red Mohawk, anyone would think we''ve rolled back to the millennium! When Tristan came back down dressed properly, the living room was already set up with information on the Patel family. Noe was sitting cross-legged on the floor, her long hair pinned up elegantly yet casually. Pointing to the documents beside her, she began, "The Patel family''s covert operations have all been managed by Connor, who''s moved them to the borderlines over the years." All of Connor''s movements wereid out in detail! Stirling was shocked, "Noe, where on earth did you find all this information?" Chapter 456 After all, she was the ringleader of a scam gang operating along the border. And not just any gang, but one that had teamed up with several local fraudsters to pull off their schemes. Where on earth did Noe dig up this information? Noe calmly stated, "Millie and Jasper have been digging around The Baker Group these past few days." Part of this information came from previous investigations by Pris Star, with the rest sent over by Millie just now!This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Stirling''s eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Jasper''s gotten involved with a scam gang? Isn''t that dangerous?" Yasbel, standing next to Noe, had aplex expression. "Well, considering the main gig for our dynamic duo ofwyers - or, as we trante it, our super con artists..." Yasbel continued, "Millie once made a daring escape from Northstone and proved she''s not someone The Baker Group can easily handle." Stirling gasped, "Wait, escaped from where?" "Northstone?" Noe nodded, "Millie had some free time and since the Gagher family''s gem business was right on the border, she decided to take a look." Turns out, despite her harmless appearance, she bumped into the scam gang. Thinking she had nothing better to do, she joined them. But when she found out they were after her kidneys, she made a break for it, torching the Gagher''s gem factory on her way out and pinning it on the scam gang. Noe added, "Escaping from Northstone took her about eight or nine hours, no big deal. The Baker Group has a few of Xavier''s people inside, so Jasper''s safe too." Ulrich waved it off. "No need to worry about Jasper. He might be young, but he''s got more guts than Stirling." Stirling felt slighted. "So, I''m the only useless one in the family, huh!" Beckett exined, "Children of the Schnabel family must prove themselves through trials!" Stirling scratched his head, "Beckett has to revitalize the Rising Glory Group, Ulrich came back alive from his stint as a doctor without borders, facing all manner of crises while keeping his oath. Jasper went undercover near a drug lord, and it was Jasper who brought down the Toxic Monarch of Southeast Asia." "And Stirling?" Stirling shrugged, "I just happened to fall ill, didn''t do anything!" Stirling had beenid up at home for three months after an injury on set, followed by a nasty bout of the flu. And just when he learned that ra wasn''t the biological daughter of the Schnabel family, the whole family was in turmoil! Marcel spoke up, "Maybe we''ve been too harsh, expecting too much. The kids should just be safe and healthy. Whether they face the family''s trials is up to them from now on!" Because of this, Stirling became the only son not to undergo the family''s trials! Beckett shook his head. "Stirling, just keep your innocence. A son of the Schnabel family needs to stand on his own, but not necessarily rise from adversity." "But Jasper doesn''t need to worry, he can handle this!" Jasper might not have Millie''s fighting skills, but he''s got a sharp mind. Beckett calmly said, "When the Toxic Monarch was taken down, he was worried Jasper would be caught, even wanted Jasper as his heir." Yasbel marveled, "To be able to outsmart a drug lord like that! Boss, what''s in your family''s genes?" It seemed Stirling was among the few ''normal'' ones... With Northstone''s quick escape and the smartest son of the Schnabel family involved, The Baker Group should be trembling! Millie and Jasper sent back the internalyout of The Baker Group. The Schnabel family, looking over the map, fell into silence... Noe immediately shared the information with the border police. Yasbel said, "Boss, 7-yer has reached The Baker Group. Erek and his team are nearby, ready to move in. Should we give them a little surprise?" "Go for it, just keep it measured. Don''t kill anyone, and while you''re at it, spread the word about 7-yer being at The Baker Group. Let the other scam gangs turn on them. Maybe release a few folks from Lockhart Prison, there are plenty there who''ve had run-ins with 7-yer." "Got it! I''ve been wanting to get a piece of him for a while now!" Listening to Noe and Yasbel casually deciding to beat up 7-yer, the Schnabel family was stunned! Even Marcel couldn''t bring himself to talk about beating someone up like that. Stirling asked, "Noe, you''re nning to...?" Noe looked up, puzzled, "Can''t we fight? I won''t kill him." "It''s not that we can''t... but..." But they had never seen Noe in action before! Tristan worriedly said, "Sweetheart, you''re not nning to go there yourself, are you?" "Not nning to. Let 7-yer get his beating today, I''ll visit tomorrow." The family hadn''t even caught their breath from the first part of her statement before Noe dropped the second bombshell. The entire family was bbergasted! Noe analyzed with a cool head, "I''ve been to Lockhart Prison than once. It''s no big deal. Velet Pris Star''s base is el. 7-yer will definitely Except for that brief encounter with 7-yer while visiting Marcel at Imperial West Hospital, where they el.ne yed chess and strategized together, they had both been intentionally avoiding each other ever since! It was a ssic case of when kings sh! Beckett immediately said, "I''ming with you!" Ulrich and Stirling also insisted on tagging along with Noe, their eyes filled with worry. "No need, I can handle it." Yasbel interjected, "What? Are you guys going on a suicide mission to 7-yer?" The Schnabel family boys, going to the Baker Group with their boss, it was hard to tell who would be protecting whom! The mental state of the Schnabel siblings was in shambles! Malvina gently tugged at Ulrich''s sleeve. She whispered, "Noe''s a badass, you know. She owns that underground fight club. She was the one who taught me how to box." Malvina had never told Ulrich about this before. Ulrich had been specting if some handsome young face from the fight club had been teaching Malvina how to box, knowing she was being coached by the fight club''s champion, he had been lurking around the club, waiting! vel.n He never found the guy, and Ulrich secretly harbored jealousy for quite some time. Now he realized he had been jealous of his own sister! Ulrich was bbergasted! His sister, who seemed so gentle and innocent, was actually a boxing champion? No wonder thest time they went back to their ancestral home with Noe, she dismantled the iron gate with one hand... Back then, Ulrich thought the gate was just poorly made! Now, he thought the only thing poorly made was his assumption... Malvina soothingly patted her dumbfounded husband, "Honey, I just wanted to tell you not to worry about Noe, she''s tougher than you think." Stirling''s mind raced, "Noe, so you taught Millie how to fight?" "Yeah." The entire family, thinking about Millie''sbat prowess, fell into a collective silence... Tristan, who was always a bit clueless and had an odd way of thinking, asked, "Could Palmer beat you, then?" Noe pondered seriously, "It would be a close match!" She had never officially sparred with Palmer, but if it came down to it, they might be evenly matched! Tristan''s world was rocked! "Palmer came out hardened from fighting on the front lines... If my daughter can stand toe to toe with him, did I somehow raise a genius?" Chapter 457 ? "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 fianc¨¦. 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." Chapter 458 ? The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over the night. Inside the house, the curtains danced in the night breeze, stirring restless hearts and strumming on heartstrings. A shiver ran down her spine, and Noe, catching her breath, said, "I didn''t mean to keep it from you..." It was all about Pris Star, a mess that Palmer had no part in. There was no reason to drag her fianc¨¦ into this perilous situation just because of their engagement! "You don''t trust me. Do you see me as an outsider? When your grandfather contacted me, your little troops also came to me for help." His words implied that her people would think of him first whenever she was in danger! He believed she could always find a way out, no matter the situation. But because he loved her, he worried! Palmer chuckled and bent down to scoop Noe into his arms, "ording to your ''little troops,'' serving as your shield wouldn''t be so bad." That sounded like something one of Pris Star''s people would say...N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The room was bathed in warm light, a cozy and slightly romantic atmosphere spreading throughout. "Can I stay?" he asked. "... You''ve stayed before." Palmer''s pajamas were already a fixture in Noe''s wardrobe! Sienna had personally picked them out, a matching set adorned with huge hearts... Palmer''s gaze deepened. "I mean, I don''t want to sleep on the couch or the floor this time." Previously, he''d often slept on the couch, and since Noe''s room was carpeted, sleeping on the floor wasn''t too bad. But now, he was no longer satisfied with just that! Noe, feeling her ears grow hot, got up and grabbed a spare pillow from the wardrobe, cing it next to hers. After getting ready, she quickly dove into bed. "Good night!" Watching Noe''s actions, Palmer couldn''t help but smile. How adorable! Lying beside Noe, in a room decorated by Sienna in shades too pink for Palmer''s taste, he was utterly enchanted. --- The next day, at Lockhart Prison. The desert and the straitposed a symphony of sand and sea, a romance that masked the ind''s deep-seated bloodshed and sin! Staring at the ck tower prison rising from the rolling sands, the sunlight reflecting off it seemed tainted with blood. Greeting Noe and Palmer as they descended, Xavierughed heartily. "Ha! There''s my granddaughter and her man!" Since Sexton''s passing. Xavier had warmed up considerably to Palmer. With the Abyssal Organization openly and covertly aiding Lockhart Prison, delivering gifts big and small, and Noe''s homemade remedies for Xavier, he felt a warmth he hadn''t known since his sister''s departure. Noe nced at the spry Xavier, "Where''s Millie and the others?" "They''re next door, pulling a scam! Even bet me they could!" Noe raised an eyebrow, "A bet?" "Millie insists they can outsmart the Baker Group. I don''t believe it; I said it''d be a miracle if they make it back alive!" Xavier, older even than Marcel, was in the twilight years of most. Most people his age were enjoying their retirement surrounded by family. But Xavier, still fighting in the desert, was a rarity. Noe offered her hand, "Let me see." "Ah, I''m in perfect health!" But at Noe''s stern look, Xavierplied, letting her check his pulse. Though Xavier was in decent shape, years ofbat had left him with ailments that would trouble him over time. "Why stay here?" "It started because I had nowhere else to My master took me in n this life, isn''t it all about loyalty? He bullet for me, told me to leave, but it''s never that easy." Xavier patted Noe''s shoulder with augh full of bravado. Spending your whole life in one ce, even after your mentors are gone, turning around to see a brotherhood behind you makes leaving hard. "Some things are passed down like a torch! This prison isn''t something just anyone can manage!" Lockhart Prison housed too many inmates with secrets that could shake the world. Xavier pointed to a corner. "That''s a deposed leader over there. He''s imprisoned here for his protection as much as anything else. He''s a threat to many as long as he''s a alive. Apart from Lockhart Prison, no one dares shelter him." "Simrly, his freedom and his secrets are shared with Lockhart Prison! The day he dies is the day we gain those secrets." While it''s called a prison, Lockhart has often served as a sanctuary of sorts. "His country''s gone, so what use are those secrets? To him, none! But to others, they''re valuable." Noe was silent for a moment. "You''re staying to protect them." Xavierughed. "Protect them? They''re nothing! I''m loyal to my own beliefs! Protecting themes with the territory!" A soldier at heart, his loyalty was always to his country. "This ce, if taken by foreign forces, would spell disaster for many small nations. The bnce of power makes its existence necessary!" Noe looked into Xavier''s rugged face, "You won''t leave because you haven''t found a suitable sessor. If Millie can take down the neighboring scam group, you''lle back with me." "What are you talking about?" "Take down who?" 2751 Verify "Kid, the Baker Group has been here for years, maintaining a neutral stance with Lockhart Prison. Even I wouldn''t dare im to take them down directly!" Noe''s gaze remained steady. "With me here, it''s possible." "Girl, you''re crazier than I was in my prime!" Xavier was astounded. "Pock, you''re just gonna let her run wild?" "Uncle George, don''t worry, I''ll stick with her." Was he suggesting Palmer should tag along? What he really wanted was for Palmer to try and talk some sense into her! Why was this kid just as foolhardy as his granddaughter? "No, wait! What do you need the Baker Group for? They''re nothing but con artists!" Over the years, battling wits with the Baker Group, Xavier hade to know their operations all too well. Their main game was fraud, with a side of heart-wrenching maniption, expertly squeezing everyst drop of value from their victims. Noe''s gaze drifted toward the distant, dusty horizon. "You don''t want to leave, is it because even if Millie has the skills to lead, she can''t handle the Baker Group''s harassment?" "Your birthday''sing up, right? The Baker Group sent you a birthday present. Interested?" This was the first time Xavier had received such a bold birthday gift! "For me? What''s in it for you?" Noe''s voice was calm, but it stirred storm in Xavier''s heart! "Trying to get you toe back with me, to offer you afortable retirement!" Chapter 459 "Just think of me as someone with a quirky taste for adopting old men, okay?" "After all, we already have a lonely old man at home. What''s adding one more to the mix?" Xavier was caught off guard! "I, um, this is..." ustomed to betrayal and bloodshed, a world forever shrouded in darkness, he was suddenly greeted by a ray of light! Noe nced at Xavier. "I''m taking over the joint next door. You''reing home with me, any objections?" How could there be any objections? But as easy as it sounds, how could it be done? "This isn''t a joke. The Baker Group is deeply rooted, plus they''ve got the 7-yers on their side. How do you n to make your move?" "Old men don''t need to worry about such details. Just tell me, are you willing toe home with me or not?" In Noe''s eyes, Xavier was nothing but an old man in need of a retirement rest! "You should cut down on the screen time in your golden years, all those silly videos dull the mind." Xavier was at a loss for words! Was he addicted to his phone? The scenes he''d witnessed were far more gruesome than anything those videos could show! But when it came to speaking his heart, all he could muster was a choked sigh. "Eh, alright, granduncle''s all ears..." How could he refuse to go back! It was his homnd, filled with memories! Not to mention, the invitation came from Noe! He had raised the finest kid in the world. Noe patted Xavier on the shoulder. "Crying? Embarrassing, your boys are watching." "Watch what, damn it. It''s just dust in my eye, they don''t know jack!" He was overjoyed! Standing side by side, their silhouettes were identical ¡ª tall and solemn. "Oh, by the way, kiddo, there''s this guy who''s dying. Says he wants to see you onest time. You up for it?" "Who?" "That mutt your grandma took in. That Vincent guy!" Noe had almost forgotten about him! "No need. There''s no point." The Lambert family had long since be strangers to her. "Alright, just that he mentioned someone paid him a visit a few years back, told him to stay out of your grandma''s business. Probably just bbering!" Xavier had enjoyed his fair share of games with Vincenttely. All harmless enough, yet enough to strip Vincent of ayer of skin. Hearing it was about grandma, Noe pondered for a moment, "Then let''s pay a visit. No harm in that." Xavier didn''t press her further, cheerfully escorting the visitor to the cell, keys jingling as he hummed a tune on his way out. Magee asked in confusion, "Boss, why the good mood?" "You wouldn''t understand!" Inside the cell. The entire Vincent family was cramped together, cowering in a corner. Magee exined, "That Briony Lambert got too sick, afraid of contaminating others, so she was taken elsewhere." Meanwhile, Vincent and his wife Yvonne Gruber were locked up together! Upon seeing Noe, Vincent charged at her. "It''s all your fault! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t be in here!" Noe calmly asked, "Do you remember grandma?" "Who? You have the nerve to bring her up? She wasted her kindness on you!" "Grandma was Xavier''s younger sister and my biological father''s mother Had you treated grandma a better, you wouldn''t be in this bit mess." Had Vincent shown Harriet Lambert any kindness, the entire Schnabel family would have remembered his goodwill! Let alone facing jail time, he could''ve walked sideways through Imperial City for the rest of his life. Vincent''s expression crumbled! "What did you say?" "You weren''t grandma''s biological son, hence theck of filial piety. Right?" Vincent had known for years he wasn''t Harriet''s flesh and blood, believing his devotion was futile. "Grandma''s biological son is my dad, Tristan, the CEO of the Schnabel Group. Xavier is my granduncle. Got it now?" Understanding dawned on him, but his defenses were utterly shattered. Vincent, realizing what he had missed out on, sped his head and screamed in anguish. "No, no! It was all supposed to be mine! I was so close to being brothers with the richest man... Mom, why didn''t you tell me? Why did you lie?" Even now, Vincent med Harriet for deceiving him. "Who told you to mistreat grandma?" "I don''t know him. He gave me money to stay out of your grandma and your affairs..." Noe mocked, "Back then, you didn''t know I wasn''t your biological daughter, did you?"Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. "I have other children..." Besides, Noe was just a distant daughter to him. He didn''t need to care too much about her! Back then, Vincent needed money and didn''t care much about Noe or Harriet, so he readily agreed. Noe looked at Vincent with cold disdain, "Hopeless." Ignoring the screams behind her, Noe exited the cell. Palmer leaned against the doorframe, joining her as they both gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky. "Had a good chat?" ¡°Nothing worth mentioning. Just let him know he''s missed out big time. Let''s head next door, shall we?" The Baker Group. The vast underground pce was like abyrinth, its endless corridors twisting in every direction. Casually disposing of a venomous snake that had slithered their way, Milliemented, "What a waste. Could''ve made a fortune selling this." Jasper''s lips twitched. "Are you that desperate for cash?" Even venomous snakes were considered assets! Was life at the Gagher family that tough? ¡°Who doesn''t want more money? These things fetch a good price out there, easy money." There were plenty who''d use the snake for brewing tonic or, for the more entric, as a decorative specimen. "Sir, you''re wealthy, so you wouldn''t understand the plight of those of us who''ve nearly starved due tock of funds." Jasper looked on, his expression a mix of emotions. "When I was broke, I survived on a bowl of noodles every two days, and even that was thanks to my good looks." Back when he was undergoing the family''s trial, Jasper had to win over turning himself into a skeleton wrapped in skin, a penniless nobody. a drug lord''s trust, which meant 1.4 And that bowl of noodles? Earned purely by his charm. Millie raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in her tone. "Wow, our dear Jasper isn''t just good at shedding tears, huh?" Can you believe she just said that? Since when was he known for just crying? "The Schnabel family has no room for failures." Jasper twirled the handle of his knife, tossing aside the carcass of a venomous creature. His movements were smooth and practiced, effortlessly cool. Clearly, this wasn''t his first rodeo. "Wait a sec, you used to roll with the Toxic Monarch, didn''t you? Didn''t you know venomous snakes are worth a fortune?" Jasper''s gazended on Millie as he leaned in close, his hand propping up against the wall near her ear. They were so close, they could see the tiny hairs on each other''s faces. e His Swiss Army Knife pierced the wall, flipping the de to pin the snake''s vital spot directly to the surface. The snake''s head squirmed, but it was quickly immobilized. "Not every snake is valuable. This one''s a gift for you." Chapter 460 ? Millie eyed the rattlesnake on the ground, a flicker of amusement in her gaze. Never in her life had she received a rattlesnake as a gift! "Boss, your choice of gift is certainly unique." But, she liked it! Millie picked up the rattlesnake from the ground, swinging it around like a makeshift baton. "Tell me, Jasper, with gifts like these, are you trying to lock lips with me or what?" Jasper froze mid-step. "You always start talking nonsense when you''re nervous." Millie was taken aback! When had she ever been nervous! Jasper seemed entirely at ease, hands casually buried in his hoodie pocket, his gaze slightly lifted. "Observing micro-expressions is a skill everywyer should possess." Millie lifted her foot to kick Jasper. "Bullshit! That''s criminal psychology! I''m no criminal!" Jasper dodged the kick effortlessly, retorting, "Same difference." Millie''s expression had already given her away. She always blurted out nonsense when nervous, something Jasper had noticed long ago but never pointed out. Millie scratched her cheek. "Seems I''ve underestimated Mr. Schnabel." "It''s not toote to revise your opinion." The corridors of the Baker Group were a maze of surveince and patrolling goons. Pulling out her phone, Millie mused, "Huh, my mentor and Palmer areing too." "What''s Noe doing here?" "Making a scene, I guess. No biggie." Jasper''s eyes widened. "How can you say it''s no big deal? This ce is dangerous, what if something happens to Noe!" She must definitely be here for him! Millie looked conflicted. "Mr. Schnabel, my mentor is tougher than me. You should be more worried about yourself." "That''s not going to fly! Even if Noe is tough, she''s still a kid! How can I, as her brother, let her take such risks?" Seeing Jasper determined to find Noe, Millie didn''t intervene. "Millie, which way do you think they''lle in?" They were in the Baker Group''s underground facility, and Jasper guessed Noe and Palmer would use the underground passages. Millie spected, "Knowing my mentor, they''ll probablye through the front door." Jasper was shocked, "The front door?!" That''s way too dangerous! "Let''s go up and see." Climbing the narrow staircase and pushing open the manhole cover above, Millie pointed towards two figures standing at the front gate. "See, I was right." At the gate, Noe, dressed in a hoodie and jeans, looked like any other student. Palmer, dressed simply, seemed like her tourist boyfriend, casually visiting this "attraction." Not only Jasper and Millie, but even Connor, sitting in his office, was stunned! People had made scenes before, but never quite like this! "The boss, are they crazy?" Connor frowned, "You don''t get it. Strolling in like they own the ce means we can''t touch them." Imagine, Noe brought over a dozen key Baker Group members from Lockhart Prison. You can''t exactly greet your guests with gunfire, can you? Had Noe and Palmer snuck in, Connor could have feigned ignorance and dealt with them silently. Now, with all this spectacle, what to do! Waving his hand, Connor ordered, "Send Bailey to greet them." "Understood." On the monitors, a woman in a form-fitting dress, holding a long cigarette holder, approached the gate with graceful steps. "Wee, dear guests. My apologies for the reception. I''m Bailey Baker, the GM of the Baker Group!" Millie whispered, "Don''t be fooled by her innocent look. She''s got a heart of darkness. She used to control all the border''s brothels, yet no one dares call her a viin." "This woman rescued all the women lost to the borders, monopolized the entire brothel business. Those who wanted out could leave; those who stayed had her full support. If any of the girls got into trouble, she''d personally handle it. She never made life hard for them." Because of her deep connections, Bailey was the biggest madam on the border! Jasper nodded. "I''ve heard of her. A savior among the fallen, quite famous." Millie chuckled. "Then you don''t know how she made her fortune." Their conversation was loud enough for Bailey to turn and see Millie and Jasper peeking out like two little moles! Noe nced back at her crew, "Time for a change." "How could we impose? After you''ve gone through the trouble of bringing these folks, it''s only right we return them to you." Bailey''s expression changed upon noticing the several rattlesnakes wrapped around Millie''s waist: "...?" Were these two here to trade?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Even in this ce, such snakes were considered precious! Millie, sensing Bailey''s interest, guardedly said, "This is my belt, okay? Hands off!" 1902 Verify Who would have thought of using rattlesnakes as belts! It seemed she had underestimated these two little moles'' resourcefulness. Bailey''s smile was strained, "Of course, we wouldn''t dream of it. How could we take from our guests?" Noe calmly stated her request, "We''d like to take a look around, if that''s alright?" "...Of course, please." After taking custody of the Baker Group executives Noe brought, Bailey led them through the Baker Group''splex. "May I ask where our guests hail from?" "Imperial City." "I''m from Imperial City too. Oh, how I miss my home." "Do you find itfortable here. Ms. Baker?" Bailey hadn''t expected Noe to ask such a question andughed softly. "Comfortable? Absolutely. There''s no ce like here." "You might not know this, but I ended up here because back in the day, I was drowning in debt. When my mom got sick, I maxed out every credit card and took loans from every shady lender you could think of And then, I didn''t pay back a dime!" Bailey''s face, radiant as a Hollywood starlet''s, was adorned with a smile so captivating it was almost sinful. Chapter 460 3 Bailey''s smile was light and breezy, as if she was talking about some trivial, everyday urrence. "After all, I couldn''t care less about those nude photos they left on my doorstep. We all have the same bits and pieces, what''s there to be ashamed of?" "But what really got to me, was my mom! She was furious that I got into such a mess trying to borrow money for her treatment. She thought it was disgraceful!" "Every day was a living hell for me. I didn''t care about the scandals, but my mom kept bringing it up, cursing me, telling me I''d be better off dead. Towards the end, she was so ill, and I couldn''t borrow a cent." Bailey chuckled softly. "So after she passed, I found my way here. The ce that''s both the brightest and darkest in the world!" "Wee to the Baker Group,dies and gentlemen!" Chapter 461 The Baker Group had been a towering presence on the border for years, known for their not-to-be-underestimated methods! To Bailey, these folks were just naive heirs and heiresses from old money families, utterly clueless about the real world. Daring to take on the Baker Group? Ridiculous! Did they really think they had as many lives as a cat? Everyone''s got just one life! Behind Bailey, a burly middle-aged man with a face full of scars strode forward, smirking coldly, "Boss, it''s done. They''re buried." "Got it." Bailey''s face remained emotionless. As if they''d buried nothing more significant than some insignificant minnows. Jasper gasped, "Buried alive? How could you!" Millie exined to Noe, "When we arrived, they were dealing with some snitches they''d uncovered, supposed to be sent back as a message, but they buried them instead." Bailey replied with a detached tone, "If you''re looking for justice, you''ve definitelye to the wrong ce." Disgust flickered in Noe''s eyes. "You''ll pay a price for this." "If there was a price to pay, it would''vee already. You''re just too naive, haven''t seen how brutal the world can be." Millie looked at her as if she were looking at an idiot. Leaning close, Millie whispered to Bailey. "Ms. Baker, do you think Vocalist hasn''t seen the world, or is it Jasper you find naive? Oh, definitely not my mentor, right? Calling Wise Fool na?ve would be truly foolish!" Bailey''s smile froze on her face! Why had no one informed her of these people''s real identities before she arrived! Millie pointed at herself. "Or do you think I''m the fool? Ah, I met Ms. Baker at the Gagher family''s docksst time, seems like the distinguisheddy has forgotten me." Bailey''s pupils shrank. "You''re... Ms. Gagher?" "No, I''m the head of the Gagher family, the future chairwoman!" The affairs of the Gagher family were ratherplex, with several of its members having secret dealings with the Baker Group. "The old chairman stepped down?" "Stepped down, straight into the grave." Facing the charming young woman who was smiling sweetly, Bailey instinctively stepped back, feeling a hand wrap around her waist, pulling her closer. "Where are you off to, Ms. Baker? We''re old acquaintances, after all; leaving like this would break my heart." "Since it''s your turf, why don''t we y a little game?" Bailey frowned, "A game?" "Guess how many in the Baker Group are actually with the Gagher family, and how many are my people?" "Are you joking? Aren''t Gagher people your people?" Millie wagged her index finger with a smirk. From a distance, several Magees ran over, wiping sweat, "Boss, those Gagher folks have been taken out! We can''t find the culprit!" "Can''t find the culprit? In Baker Group territory? That''s a bit absurd, isn''t it?" Bailey pped Magee across the face. "If you can''t find them, you might as well be dead!" "Yes..." Millie added fuel to the fire. "Heh, the mighty Baker Group, can''t even find a few people." "Aren''t you worried, sending people in, risking the entire Gagher force?" Holding Noe''s hand, Millie smiled innocently. "Then I should thank you." Facing Noe''s cold, murderous eyes, Bailey''s breath hitched! She knew that look, the kind only the most ruthless killers bore! "I''ve just learned that the Abyssal Organization and the Obelisk Organization have teamed up." Noe chuckled, "There''s much you don''t know." A massive explosion rocked the eastern corner of the Baker Grouppound, followed by a series of sts from a western factory spreading the smell of gunpowder, heating up the entire area! Millie wondered, "Who''s got the nerve?" Noe calmly replied, "An enemy, probably." Jasper agreed, "Right, the Baker Group has plenty of enemies. Looks like someone''se knocking." Palmer nced at the smoke-filled defenses, nonchntly adding,, "Heard you had visitors; must be for them The Baker Group''s hospitality is indeedcking." Bailey nearlyughed out of irritation! This was their doing, wasn''t it? Who would believe otherwise! Noe shrugged, "Any proof?" The pager buzzed: "Boss, those bombs... they''re ours!" "The ones Dog-Head took outst time, all used here!" Bailey gripped the pager, veins bulging on her hand! They''d used the Baker Group''s own bombs against them!Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Was this something sane people did? Looking for evidence? Only Baker Group''s own bombs as proof! Bailey''s gaze shifted. "These tricks? The Baker Group won''t even blink." "Don''t rush, there''s a bigger surprise waiting." It seemed Connor wasn''t nning to show up personally. Noe sighed, "What a pity." Palmer joined in with a chuckle, "No worries, we''ll just go find him. A visit in person calls for a bit of our own sincerity." The two of them yed off each other perfectly, like a rock-and-roll duo in perfect harmony. Bailey couldn''t help but twitch at the corner of her eyes! She was baffled. "What exactly are you folks aiming to do? Visiting the Baker Group with such a grand entrance seems a bit much!" Noe replied calmly, "Oh, I took a fancy to this ce. I want it, so it''s going to be mine." §Ö Even Bailey, who had seen it all from the shady dealings at the border to the high-stakes world of corporate espionage, had never encountered anyone quite like Noe! Talk about hard to persuade! Who speaks so bluntly? "You, you, you, I, I, I..." That Noe could reduce Bailey to a stuttering mess was saying something! Bailey realized then that her usual tactics of tailoring her speech to fit the audience was just a big joke in front of Noe... What scenario hadn''t she encountered before? Well, she certainly hadn''t encountered this! Trying to maintain herposure, Bailey frowned, "Are you joking?" Noe blinked. "Is it a joke? Aren''t you the one who had us surrounded?" Silently, a group of mercenaries had gathered around them! Noe stretchedzily. "Tell your boss that if anyone here makes a move, the Patel family will be history by tomorrow." Bailey forced a smile, "The Patel family isn''t that big of a deal." Connor''s descendants, the ones that mattered, had already been sent abroad. Those left in the Patel family were small fry! To people in their line of work, what did family even mean? Having felt the sting of betrayal from their own kin, they had long since given up on such useless emotions and connections! "You want the Baker Group? That''s a pipe dream! You think the people of the Baker Group will listen to you?" Noe corrected her, "I said I want thend, not the people." While Bailey was still puzzling over Noe''s intentions, the sky above was suddenly swarmed by over thirty military helicopters! Chapter 462 "The Baker Syndicate is surrounded!" "Give it up!" Bailey''s face went ashen. "Since when did Interpol have such a disregard for boundaries? Since when do they dare to meddle in the affairs of the Baker Syndicate?" Jasper smirked coldly. "Just because they didn''t before, doesn''t mean they''re afraid of you." Those informants buried alive were set up by Interpol! Fury zed in Jasper''s eyes. "Do you have any idea how painful being buried alive is? Those were real, living people! They had families, bright futures, not to be suffocated beneath the earth!" "By showing their badges, you''ve directly challenged Interpol!" Arguing about righteousness with the Baker Syndicate is like talking to a brick wall! Bailey stepped back. "So what if they''vee? They''re just here to scare us, they can''t actually do anything." "Besides, their arrival won''t bring any good to you either! We''re all in the same shady business, who''s to say who''s darker?" They were used to being arrogant, with big backers, never taking Interpol seriously. In front of Interpol, Noe and her team wouldn''t fare any better! Noe added, "Oh, I conveniently sent them your syndicate''s defenseyout." "What? Are you insane? If they catch us, you''re going down too!" Millie shrugged. "So, we get locked up in Alcatraz, then what?" Then what? Locked in prison, what else could happen? Bailey''s eyes widened in realization! They hade from Alcatraz! Being sent back there was like going home... But could it really be the same? "Interpol won''t let you off! Better to join forces with us now!" Noe admired, "Ms. Baker, always so adaptable, quickly turning foes into friends." But she had already said she wanted the entire Baker Syndicate! "Your people have us surrounded, where are they?" Bailey turned abruptly! The men she had arranged were now unconscious on the ground, foaming at the mouth! The agents from Starlight stood at the corner, waving at Bailey. "Hello there, beauty." "You... When did you sneak in?" "The Baker Syndicate''s firewall is just pathetic." And they thought they could trap them with that? On the other side, Erek and Annie, along with hitmen from Abyssal and Obelisk, gave Bailey the finger! "The Baker Syndicate''s famed femme fatale, not so impressive!" "Better than their boss who''s too scared to show up, probably already fled?" Surrounded by Interpol, the Baker Syndicate was inplete chaos! Many were looking to escape amidst the confusion! Bailey took the chance to run towards the syndicate''s interior, fearing she''d be caught by Interpol if she dyed any longer. The helicopter slowly descended,nding in front of Noe. The detective nodded at Noe. "Thanks to the info you sent, the Baker Syndicate has crossed the line! We''ve had enough!" "Business as usual." "Right!" Signaling to the people from Starlight and Obelisk, Noe looked at Millie. "Jasper''s in your hands now." "Master, I want toe too! You didn''t take me on thest mission!" Jasper looked around, still confused about what was happening, when a sniper rifle was thrust into his hands. Noe said solemnly, "Jasper, part of the Baker Syndicate is working with Toxic Kingpins on smuggling routes. Can you trace them?" The Baker Syndicate had remained unassable at the border because they partly operated undergroundbs for drug production! "Sure, but it''s too dangerous. You should go back to Uncle!" All Jasper cared about was Noe''s safety. This ce wasn''t meant for his delicate sister! How could Palmer bring his sweet sister here? This wasn''t a ce for a gentle girl! Noe patted Jasper''s shoulder. Pushing him towards the cooperating detectives, "Please ensure my brother''s safety." "Don''t worry!" Watching Noe and Palmer, followed by Millie, head into the Baker Syndicate, Jasper''s lips quivered! "Officer, my sister won''t be in trouble, right?" The officerughed. "I can''t say about your sister, but Wise Fool will be fine!" Wise Fool? Wasn''t that the leader of the top assassin organization in the deep web? Surely, they weren''t talking about his Noe! Jasper felt his mind exploding! Feeling Jasper''s gaze, Noe turned and silently gestured a secret between them. Jasper''s heart trembled as he hurriedly followed the officers towards the undergroundb, asking, "My sister hasn''t been a bother, has she?" "No bother at all. Thanks to her, we''ve had many sessful operations. If she hadn''t mentioned her family wanting her back, we would''ve invited her ted Jasper''s heart raced. His eyes began to water. The officer continued, "Your sister is incredible!" Using herself as bait to help Interpol crack cases, she couldn''t be bad! "Did she... suffer a lot?" "Of course this is the frontier! Any hardship you can and can''t imagine exists here! Wise Fool even said she''de back to help us if her family wasn''t good to her. Luckily, you''ve treated her well!" N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. They were friends with Noe, and at that moment, they even gave Jasper a friendly p on the back. It seemed they were genuinely happy for Noe''s well-being! As the international police went ahead to scout the road, Jasper stood footed to the spot, his emotions aplex whirlwind that was hard to articte. He never imagined his sister could be so formidable! But even more unexpected were the unseen hardships and her pure heart! After a moment, in a ce where no one could see, Jasper discreetly wiped the corner of his eye. "My sister is awesome." "Jasper won''t be the one to hold you back!" He decided not to share this with the Schnabel family. This was his sister''s secret, her contingency n for herself! But Jasper wouldn''t let this contingency be a reality. The role of her safety, after all, belonged to him, her brother! Stepping forward, Jasper had alreadyposed himself, shedding his usual carefree fa?ade for a demeanor that was calm and serious. "This path seems off. I found a couple of rattlesnakes around here earlier, and they weren''t heading this way." Drug cartels often capture rattlesnakes to extract their venom, using various chemicals to attract them. Jasper touched the soil, brought it to his nose to smell, and then confidently dered. "This is the right path!" "Are you sure?" Jasper met the international police officer''s gaze, his eyes brimming with an undeniable confidence, lighting up the moment. "When ites to tracking, I''m your guy!" Chapter 463 ? Back when I was working in a methb, I came across the hottest drug on the market, Frost Crystal 1." "By now, it''s probably Frost Crystal 2, but the recipe hasn''t changed much. The key ingredient is still Mirage Grass." Watching Jasper talk about those drugs with such ease, the Interpol officer asked, "May I know who you are?" "My code name was Breeze!" The legendary figure who infiltrated the previous Toxic Monarch''s inner circle for a year, endured hardships, and ultimately brought the whole gang down, Breeze! The Interpol officer looked at Jasper with a newfound respect. "Salute to you!" "It was my duty." Another Interpol officer chimed in: "Thatst operation was coordinated with one of our other teams. Wise Fool was there too." Jasper''s expression changed: "My sister was there?" "Yes, the Obelisk Organization was on a mission nearby, so we invited Wise Fool to join us!" "A lot of people were trapped in a basement well at that time, and it was Wise Fool who rescued them." Jasper was even more surprised! He was one of those trapped in the well!This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. It was a critical situation; the Toxic Monarch''s men had opened the floodgates, and the basement well was about to be flooded, with over a hundred people at risk of drowning. He hadn''t realized it was his sister who had saved them! Thinking back to how someone had blocked the valve, forcibly closing a water gate that required machinery to operate, and their smooth, cloud-like maneuvering skills, Jasper felt he couldn''t keep up even with ten years of training! Jasper''s knees went weak, and he knelt on the ground! He waspletely bowing down to his own sister! Helped up by an Interpol officer, he managed to stand and said solemnly, "...this way is correct, but there''s poison gas along the path. Make sure your gas masks are secure." "Don''t worry!" Meanwhile, at the Baker Group HQ. Noe sneezed and rubbed her nose, "Who''s thinking about me?" Handing Noe a magazine, Palmer said softly, "Probably family. Everything okay with Jasper?" "As long as Jasper isn''t with me, he won''t run into trouble." With Jasper''sbat prowess, especially when paired with Interpol, it was unlikely he''d face any danger. On the contrary, being with Noe, Jasper would be too worried about her, hindering his abilities! Family is both armor and Achilles'' heel. For them, being apart was the best choice! "When Jasper went by the ID Breeze, his bounty was up to 50 million dors." Millie spat out the magazine she was chewing and eximed in shock, "He''s Breeze? How did I not recognize him?" "Seeing him a few years ago and now, the difference is understandable." While acting as Breeze within the Toxic Monarch''s circle, Jasper was like a proficient Magee. Skinny, hunched, and with a look that made people ufortable. After returning to Imperial City, he transformed into Jasper Schnabel, the most arrogant scion of the Schnabel family. This past was known only to the Schnabel family! Let alone Millie recognizing him, even Noe didn''t recognize him at first! It was only after thoroughly investigating the Schnabel family that she realized Jasper was Breeze! Millie felt her heart shatter. "Breeze is my idol... OMG!" "Isn''t Jasper great?" Choosing between a Southeast Asian scammer Breeze and a suave Imperial City gentleman seemed obvious. Millie, enraged, took out a Magee! "You don''t understand, Master! My idol!" Noe calmly replied, "So what? You''ve even teased him." Millie experienced what it felt like to hit rock bottom! If she had known he was her idol, she would never have treated him like that... Noe watched as Millie''s mental state crumbled. "Jasper didn''t mind, right? You shouldn''t worry." "It''s not the same..." She didn''t know her idol was Breeze. Thinking back to how they interacted, Millie wanted to restart her life. She felt like dying on the spot. In her rage, Millie attacked anyone she saw. Watching her storm off, Palmer raised an eyebrow, "What''s gotten into her?" "Millie and I had a stint along the border. She got too bold and almost got herself killed. It was Breeze who saved her, but she never saw his face." "After learning about Breeze, she idolized him. Knowing it''s Jasper now, she can''t handle it." Palmer nodded, "Understandable." Knowing Noe had saved him made him more relieved than scared. He was d he hadn''t missed out on her. The entire gang was thrown into chaos, not expecting Interpol to confront them with live fire. Panic ensued. Everywhere, people were fleeing, fearing capture and imprisonment! What life could they lead if captured,pared to theirwless freedom? They were adamant about not getting caught! Here, at most, they faced heartache. But there, it was a living hell. Alkaid whistled from the rooftop. "Boss, Connor''s bolted." Noe had anticipated Connor would try to escape amidst the chaos. "No worries, it''s all desert around here. He won''t get far." With desert on one side and the sea on the other, not to mention the watch eyes of Lockhart Prison nearby, escaping from here was easier said than done! Palmer chuckled, "The desert must be beautiful this time!" "Interested? Then go have a look!" Disappearing from the Baker Group HQ, the tire tracks on the road were erratic, a clear sign of desperate escape attempts. Passing the binocrs to Noe, Palmer''s presence seemed to merge with the deep chill of the night air. "He probably didn''t show up in person." "At his age, it''s only natural to be cautious about his health, not to mention that the outdoors isn''t exactly senior-friendly." Palmer couldn''t help but chuckle. "Imagine if the 7-yer himself heard you say that. He''d be livid." "Being livid would be the least of his problems. He''s not that easy to take down." The mastermind hiding in the shadows, dying from anger would be too easy an escape! Off in the distance, an ATV flipped over, followed by the sound of gunfire. Soon after, a signal from the international police confirmed their sess. Noe breathed a sigh of relief. "He''s caught. Let''s go pick up Xavier for a well-deserved retirement." "Lead the way!" Half an hourter. Following Jasper''s lead, the international police discovered the Baker Group''s undergroundb filled with drug manufacturing equipment! Seeing the warehouse filled with machinery left the officers in shock. "The Baker Group truly deserved their fate!" Jasper, eyeing the powders and equipment still bubbling with blue liquids, felt a shiver down his spine. "Wrap it up here. The most valuable piece is already gone." The core piece of equipment was missing! After checking the equipment with the international police, Jasper didn''t dy their work and left the Baker Group''s location to return to Lockhart Prison. love At the edge of the desert, a man d in a weatherproof jacket, his physique lean and strong under the coating of sand, his gaze sharp and dangerous, approached. The moment he saw Noe, his fierce expression softened to that of a protective mother eagle. "Noe! Oh my, are you alright? Jasper was worried sick!" Everyone around was taken aback by the dramatic shift. The contrast couldn''t be more striking! Chapter 464 ? The atmosphere was electric just moments ago. The folks from Pris Star were still marveling - true offspring of the Schnabel family, no doubt. Watching Jasper holding Noe and choking up, even Xavier fell silent. "This kid... sure is an interesting character..." Forget the looks being nothing like Breeze''s; this personality didn''t match the ruthless heir of the Toxic Monarch one bit! Noe patted Jasper''s back. "I''m fine, Jasper. You okay?" "I''m good. But there was something off with the equipment over there, so I stayed to help them check. That''s why I''mte." After making sure Noe was alright, Jasper finally rxed. Holding Noe, Jasper buried his head in her neck, whispering, "This is our secret. Jasper will keep it, won''t let the family know." Both knew exactly what they were talking about. Noe chuckled softly, "Thanks, Jasper." Jasper understood her! There was no need for the Schnabel family to know about this chapter at the border. Sienna and Tristan, with their personalities, would probably lose sleep over it, sobbing every day, worrying about the hardships Noe had to endure. The thought alone was headache-inducing... yet heartwarming. Jasper let go of Noe, looking around. "Where''s Millie? Haven''t seen her." Noe pointed towards a nearby lookout tower and pursed her lips, "Over there." Having just returned from the Baker Group, Millie had been sitting alone on the lookout tower, staring intently at the sea, lost in thought. Jasper climbed up, sitting beside her, waving his hand in front of Millie''s face. "Millie? What''s up? Got your bell rung next door?" Millie forced a smile. "Do you think life is really short?" "Huh?" Jasper felt like he was on high alert! The image of Noe mentioning Millie''s health issues shed through his mind. Was it that Millie''s health had declined again, bringing her closer to life''s end? Jasper''s heart skipped a beat.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°No, don''t think like that. Life is long, really long!" Millie felt like giving up. Life is long, meaning her embarrassment wouldst many more years? She wished she could just disappear. "If you had to choose, would jumping into the sea or off a cliff be better?" Jasper''s expression grew even more serious! "Why end your life? Don''t you have any memorable moments? Any idols? Think about your idol, doesn''t that make you want to keep living?" Millie stared nkly at Jasper. "No, seeing my idol makes me want to die even more." If it weren''t for her idol, she probably wouldn''t have been so eager to end it all! Jasper felt like his brain was overheating. "Millie, you need to pull yourself together!" "I don''t want to. I''m so embarrassed!" Jasper clenched his teeth, "What''s there to be embarrassed about? Tell me, and we''ll act like it never happened!" Millie''s heart sank. Her embarrassing moment? That was just her constantly picking fights with her idol. Was that something she could just say out loud? Millie, furious, pped Jasper and stormed off! Jasper, holding his arm, watched her go, utterly baffled. What was that about? Halfway through, Millie came back, sincerely apologizing, "I''m sorry." "Huh? You don''t have to apologize to me." "I really like Breeze! He''s my life goal! So I''m sorry for how I''ve been treating you... too harsh." Jasper, finally understanding, smiled in relief. "Breeze is history, doesn''t represent the present or future me. So, you''re interacting with Jasper, not Breeze. You don''t have to feel bad about how you treat Jasper, it''s Breeze you disliked." Though it was the same person, Jasper''s logic made it seem like two. But it was reassuring. Millie instantly felt better. "But you''re obviously capable, why act like a fool otherwise?" Jasper calmly exined, "Breeze was Breeze, Jasper is Jasper. I have my ow pace in life. Every day as Breeze, I thought about how dd live once I became Jasper again." Those who''ve lived through darkness yearn for the light even more! To Jasper, his current life was just fine! Millie pped her cheeks, "Mr. Schnabel, there''s one more thing." "Go ahead." "I kinda like you. Not Breeze, but Jasper. Though I like Breeze too. Would you give me a peck?" Jasper''s expression froze! This was a first in his life, such an innovative confession! And what was the connection between the two? Instantly, Jasper blushed and stood up. "No way!" Watching Jasper''s retreating figure, Millie whistled at him from the lookout tower. "Sir, think about it." Jasper nced back, noticing Millie in her vibrant red dress, full of life like a mboyant gypsy woman. That dash of red seemed particrly dazzling. Noe nced at Millie, ¡°Jasper, we''re heading off. Aren''t youing?" ¡°Not just yet, waiting for Millie to fully take over here.¡± Noe raised an eyebrow, "Jasper, really not considering Millie? Then why stay?" Jasper looked seriously at his sister. His gaze shifted to the woman blending with the sunset''s glow. "Hmm, already considering it." Imperial City, Serene Haven. As soon as Xavier stepped into the Schnabel Manor, he dashed upstairs in search of Marcel. Shortly after, the sound of an argument echoed down from the upper floor. "Marcel Schnabel, you old scoundrel, you''re cheating at the game!" "It''s not my fault you can''t keep up. Get lost!" "I''ll show you! I swear, I''ll get you for this!" Turning away from the noise with a lightugh, Sienna asked, "Everything going smoothly? Where''s Jasper? Didn''t hee back with you?" "He''s helping Uncle George wrap up some things. He''ll be back soon. Millie''s still there. Uncle George will be moving in with us now." "That''s settled then. His room is ready, next to Grandpa''s. Grandpa picked it out himself." It''s funny, isn''t it? All the bickering and fighting when they were younger, and now, in their old age, they''ve be each other''s family! Once back in her room and the door was closed, Noe received a message from Interpol. She skimmed through the message quickly, finally feeling a bit relieved. "Palmer, they''re saying Connor''s going to be executed. They''ll make it public soon. The Patel family is going to lose it." Emerging from the bathroom, Palmer was wrapped in just a towel, his abs still glistening with droplets of water, muscles perfectly defined, radiating strength. "It was expected, but shouldn''t Noe be less concerned about those affairs now?" "Should we maybe... focus on our own matters?" Chapter 465 ? Their thing? What could possibly be going on between them now? Eyeing Palmer''s towel-d figure and the defined abs peeking through, Noe felt her ears turn scarlet in a heartbeat! "I''m off to shower!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. She threw these words over her shoulder, darting towards the bathroom, Palmer''s soft chuckle following her. Hearing Palmer''s teasingughter made Noe''s ears burn even hotter! After a quick shower, she found Palmer lounging on the bed with a book, waiting for her. Setting the book aside upon seeing her, it was clear he had been reading up on Grandpa Sexton''s conditiontely. Palmer knew well that to ensure Grandpa Sexton''s final days were pain-free, Noe had been the one bearing the brunt of it all. The medical book, filled withplex Latin and neatly annotated, showed just how much Noe had pored over it. Reaching out, Palmer pulled Noe close with a firm tug, letting her fall onto him. "Thank you, you''ve been through a lot these past days." "It''s what I should do. Grandpa Sexton has always been good to me." With her face against Palmer''s bare chest, the scent of body wash enveloped them, adding a touch of intimacy to the atmosphere. Lifting Noe slightly, Palmer''s gaze, burning with desire, locked onto her eyes as if pulling her into his vortex of passion. "Noe, I don''t think I can wait any longer." "Wait...for what?" Feeling Palmer''s response and the warmth under her palm was exnation enough for the charged atmosphere. Meeting those soft, tender eyes, Noe''s heart skipped wildly. "Is it okay? Or do you...prefer to take the lead?" What was he implying? It was he who was holding her waist, not letting go! Their position was undeniably suggestive, spurring wild thoughts. Noe ced her hand over Palmer''s mouth. Yet, his gaze remained intense, full of desire. Turning off the bedsidemp, Palmer flipped over, cradling Noe in a different embrace. "Is it okay?" Even as he struggled to keep hisposure, a sheen of sweat appeared on Palmer''s forehead, yet he still sought her consent. Touched, Noe wrapped her arms around Palmer''s neck, pressing her lips to his. "If it''s you, then yes." The moon shone brightly, casting a soft glow all around. In the spring of their love, joy was evesting. ... At the ra Research Institute. After wrapping up an experiment, ra stretched, her neck cracking from the long hours. Stuck in theb for weeks had her craving for a break! Finally free, ra spun in her chair and said, "Three days off! Go rest up, folks! And don''t forget to file for overtime." "Yay! Thanks, boss!" Her assistant chimed in, "Make sure you rest too, boss. No sneaky overworking." "Of course, I''m heading home. Mom said she''s cooked up something delicious!" And it wasn''t just Mom; Lavinia Richardson and Sienna were waiting at the Schnabel residence, too! The thought alone filled ra with warmth and happiness. As she tidied up, checking her phone, she found a slew of messages waiting for her. ¡¾Tristan''s seriously ill, the Schnabel estate is being re-divided.¡¿ [Suspicions of Tristan''s death.] ¡¾To hell with that! I''m fine and kicking! ra, ignore those scams!) ¡¾Ms. ra, your ount seems to have made a suspiciouslyrge transaction overseas...] ra skimmed through them quickly. Opening WhatsApp, she saw messages from the Schnabel n, reassuring her it was all a scam and not to worry. Mostly, they were concerned about her experiment and health. After responding, ra felt a warm buzz of affection. But messages to Horatio had gone unanswered for weeks. Sighing, she muttered, "Masters will be masters; too busy to text back, I guess. Well, meeting him doese with a price after all." Stepping out of theb and into her car, ra breathed a sigh of relief. "Wren, it''s good to see you. My nerves have been shot." Wren, having watched the Schnabel kids grow up, shared a deep bond with them. "Thedy of the house has been waiting! She''s prepared all your favorites!" As they were about to drive off, the lead vehicle stopped, and the driver jogged over. "Wren, we''ve got a bit of a situation ahead. We need to take a detour." "What''s the issue?" "A road copse. The city council said it happenedst night. They''re fixing it now." Wren frowned. "Last night? Why wasn''t there any notice? Never mind, let''s take another route. Lead the way!" "Right!" The convoy set off again. But half an hourter, they were halted once more. "Wren, the road ahead ispletely blocked!" Wren was puzzled. "It''s a workday. This isn''t even a main road. Why the blockage?" Coincidences were stacking up so frequently that he couldn''t just chalk it up to mere chance anymore! "Miss ra, I''ll go check it out. Please, stay in the car!" "Okay." Wren stepped out of the car, his expression taut with concern as he surveyed the road ahead, which seemed to be clogged beyond hope of clearing within the hour "Wren, I asked around. There''s been a crash, an entire family''s car flipped over!" "People these days just don''t drive carefully. Never mind, let''s find another way!" There were plenty of main roads leading back to Serene Haven, and they were nearing the vicinity when traffic ground to a halt once again. ra peered ahead, "Wren, let''s just walk back. We''re not that far off." "Sure!" With several bodyguards in tow and Veline only a few hundred meters from Serene Haven, walking indeed seemed much quicker than waiting for the traffic to ease. A few steps out of the car, the sound of a bullet leaving its chamber suddenly rang in ra''s ears! Her bodyguards immediately sprang into action, forming a tight protective circle around her as they scanned for the shooter. Instinctively shielding herself, the impact from the bullet''s near miss struck her wrist where her rosary beads were strung, causing them to shatter and scatter into the bushes! ra''s heart skipped a beat. It was the rosary beads that had taken the brunt of the danger for her! Chapter 466 ? Watching the rosary beads scattered all over the floor, ra quickly bent down to pick them up. But she found that they were all cracked, not a single bead was left intact! Wren remarked, "It''s truly the work of a master. The thing Horatio left for you must have been meant to protect you from disaster!" Horatio is truly miraculous! Holding the rosary beads, ra asked, "Wren, can these be fixed?" "No way, they''re shattered too badly." Wren shook his head. "The sniper must have been lying in wait for a while. Miss ra, you should hurry home!" "Alright." Back at Serene Haven, ra was still feeling unsettled. The Schnabel family learned about the incident from Wren and thought she was just shaken up. Sienna touched ra''s forehead, "Why are you so cold? Did it scare you? Mom will have someone make you some calming soup." Lavinia asked urgently, "Are you hurt? Thank goodness someone was with you, otherwise, I can''t even imagine!" ra shook her head. "I''m fine, we all wore bulletproof vests, so no harm done. It''s just... Horatio''s rosary beads are broken." Noe nced at the rosary beads in ra''s hand, already too shattered to retain any shape, rendering the idea of repairing them meaningless. "When the monk gave them to you, they were probably meant to protect you from harm. It''s good that you''re safe." ra''s eyshes fluttered, her heart torn between expectation and disappointment. "So... why hasn''t he replied to my messagestely?" "The monk doesn''t carry a cell phone when he''s out wandering. This time, Ivan happened to be with him, and they went to Ever River." Just a few days ago, ra received a photo from Ivan of the two by the Ever River. "Don''t worry about him. The monk has his ways. If he''s in danger, he''ll contact me. No big deal." Horatio had his ways of reaching out to Noe, once even sending a bird that chirped incessantly, insisting on taking Noe to rescue someone immediately! "I see..." ra felt somewhat hollow inside! It wasn''t that there was no way to contact her, but rather ack of desire to do so. But then again, why would Horatio need to contact her? It seemed pointless! With that thought, ra wasn''t sure what she was expecting anymore. "I''m fine! It must be because my recent research findings are too significant, attracting envy. Let''s eat, I''m starving!" Hearing her say she was hungry, the family quickly started dinner. ra''s research findings had been coveted for more than a day or two, with numerous foreign powers wanting to kidnap her. This time was probably no different. Meanwhile, at the Ever River. Sacred waters flowed gently, the entire river glowing with golden light. Horatio and Ivan walked along its edge when Horatio suddenly said, "My rosary beads are broken." "They''re broken because they were used!" "That''s true." Ivan, excited like a wild marmoset, skipped a stone across the water, creating a beautiful series of ripples. "Monk, are you upset about your rosary beads, or are you missing someone?"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Horatio''s expression remained calm, revealing no hint of his thoughts. "I don''t know." He had done all he could, yet he still couldn''t fathom his own feelings. "Perhaps my meditation is stillcking. I shall retreat to the mountains for deeper practice. Farewell for now." Ivan followed, "Don''t leave, I''ll go too. The boss asked me to protect you. If you''re off feeding monkeys in the mountains, I''ll just be left washing my feet in some third-rate bathhouse." Looking at the peaceful, yet turbid waters of the Ever River, Horatio found tranquility in his heart. "Some things are best left as they are." Ivan looked at Horatio, puzzled, "I don''t get it. So, you''re giving up on liking the boss''s sister?" Horatio had never hidden his feelings, living openly and honorably. Ivan had seen through him, and he admitted it! "Love is also a form of practice. There''s much more I need to do. The same goes for ra." Ivan felt an unexinable surge of power from Horatio, his aura of enlightenment almost too bright to conceal. Horatio had already set off towards the mountains... ... At Serene Haven, in the Phoenix Tower of the Schnabel Manor. After dinner, Beckett looked at a message just sent by his secretary. "Dillon?" ra frowned, "What''s wrong, Beckett?" "The person who attacked you was Dillon! But something doesn''t feel right." Noe said, "Dillon doesn''t seem like he would know how to snipe. We didn''t notice any signs that he could handle a gun when we met him." Anyone skilled with guns would have calluses on their hands, which are hard to fake. During a previous encounter on a cruise ship, Palmer had tested Dillon, who seemed nothing more than a pampered yboy. Handling a simple handgun might be doable, but urately sniping with a rifle was utterly out of the question! "Right, if it wasn''t Dillon, then he''s being set up!" Noe pondered seriously. "The sniper must be important. They''re looking for an opportunity for him to strike again, so they''re framing Dillon." Connor''s execution was a certainty. The Patel family was in chaos, with Pearl barely able to open her eyes in bed! Those seeking to flee with valuables in the confusion were countless. ra frowned, "Dillon even sent me a message! iming he wasn''t the one who attacked me, that he, had his reasons! What is this, a soap opera?" While speaking, ra forwarded the suspicious message to the police. A message from an unknown number popped up on her phone. [¡¾This is Horatio, the monk. The rosary beads are broken, the disaster averted, peace is yours.) Looking down at the message on her phone, the ripples in ra''s heart gradually calmed. With a soft smile, the tension in ra seemed to dissolve in an instant. She and Horatio, they were kindred spirits! --- In the backroom of Azure. Dropping the measuring tape, Esme snorted, "That old coot 7-yer, probably had it all nned out to let Connor take the fall." "Connor''s just the name he goes by now, used to be called Lone Wolf." Noe frowned, "Then why get into scamming?" "Kid, scams bring in quick cash! The stuff Connor''s been up to could get him life in prison several times over, probably raking in more dough than the Schnabel family, so tell me, why wouldn''t he?" When wealth bes just a number, it corrupts the soul! "If they''re saying the most crucial machine''s not there, it''s likely been moved. 7-yer wouldn''t give up that treasure." "The Mirage Grass was cultivated by 7-yer and his crew from the start, the underground miracle drug Nourishment Pill was just an experiment, overdose, and you''re dead." Noe was aware of all these dark dealings! "What does 7-yer even need all that money for?" "Who would say no to more money?" Esme chuckled, picking up a piece of fabric, sizing Noe up with it. "Stunning! But...tsk tsk, young people should exercise some restraint." Catching Esme''s suggestive gaze, Noe grabbed a mirror to inspect her neck, finding some tell-tale love bites not hidden by her hair... Blushing, she quickly draped a scarf around her neck, and without looking back, she dashed off! "I''ve got to go!" Esme''s cheerfulughter echoed behind her. Chapter 467 ? Just stepping out from the Azure backstage, Kitai walked in holding a package. "Boss, your package." These days, receiving snail mail was a rarity. Upon opening it, the mboyant handwriting danced across the page. ¡¾Congrats on the engagement. The gift will arrive soon. Cheers, 7-yer.¡¿ Noe raised an eyebrow.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "If they wanted to send a gift, they could''ve just sent it directly. Making such a big fuss, how embarrassing." Kitai scratched his head, "Boss, what''s he trying to do? Provoke?" "7-yer is a stickler for details, just a bit old and losing his marbles." Nonchntly tossing the package into the trash, Noe was unfazed. Not giving the matter a second thought! Kitai looked worried, "This guy is cunning, always has something up his sleeve." Noe responded coolly, "No worries, I''ll outlive him." After all, 7-yer was practically one foot in the grave! "Tell Ivan to kick off the n with BaldPeak." "You got it!" Meanwhile, Ivan, having ventured deep into the wilderness, received a signal from Pris Star through a special means. "Heh, time for a big score!" ... On the other side. The Baker Group was leveled overnight, all their equipment destroyed! Millie, hearing themotion next door, sighed. "If this was in Imperial City, I''d have filed a noiseint. What, trying to cover their tracks?" But out here, noiseints were unheard of. Bombed? So what? Jasper wiped the dust off his face. "Not exactly. Criminal outfits don''t want their gear getting confiscated. Take drugs, for example, the most crucial things are the recipes, the machinery, and the know-how. Losing people is one thing, but the gear? That''s a major loss." In other words, they wouldn''t let their own stuff end up as dowries for others. "The charges are inevitable. For them, it''s all the same, whether it''s one charge or ten, execution by firing squad once or ten times." Millie put down her binocrs. At the edge of the desert, a rugged jeep slowly made its way toward Lockhart Prison! Seeing the emblem on the jeep, Millie frowned, "Have you seen this organization before, sir?" Jasper nodded, "A special operations group from up top. When I left Northstone, it was with their help." The g of Lockhart Prison fell, granting the vehicle entry. Magee handed over some documents to Millie. "Boss, they''re here to take a few prisoners." There were about a dozen names on the list. "As long as the paperwork''s in order, let them take them." Leaving Lockhart Prison, other than in a body bag, meant going through the proper channels! After the prisoner transfer, the middle-aged man in the jeep removed his hood and breathed deeply. "Freedom, sweet freedom. Just like God and his followers, we all love freedom!" Another prisoner remarked, "Boss sending us out now doesn''t seem right." "Who cares, being out is all that matters. What about Thorpe?" The driver spoke up, "He betrayed the boss." Tandy chuckled. "What a shame, thought we''d be reunited soon." The driver coldly added, "You can reunite in hell." "The boss didn''t spring you to live it up. Our mission is to reim Pris Star. Such a grand organization shouldn''t be in the hands of some girl. Ridiculous!" Tandy and Hollis exchanged nces. "Indeed, God wouldn''t allow such a mistake." As the jeep left the jurisdiction, none of the prisoners spoke. Tandy rubbed his leg, "Been feeling offtely, wonder if my body''s started to rot, given how easy we had it inside." Hollis slowly nodded. "Yeah, we should get back in shape, can''t serve the boss with rusty skills. She''d surely despise us." "Thorpe, lucky bastard..." Suddenly, the driver''s eyes widened! Before he could react, a de pierced his throat, his body tossed into the desert sands! The jeep echoed with Hollis and Tandy''s wildughter! ... At Rising Glory Group, in Beckett''s office. Ulrich, wearing ab coat and smelling of disinfectant and formalin, approached like a detached scientist, keeping people at bay. Resting his hands on Beckett''s desk, Ulrich frowned, "Beckett, I''ve got a question." "Shoot." Setting down his pen, Beckett looked up seriously. Ulrich hesitated, "No matter what, Noe''s our sister, right?" "Of course! Even if you weren''t my brother, Noe would still be my sister!" Ulrich: "...No need to be that harsh." Beckett asked sternly, "What''s up?" "Beckett, what if I told you Noe has been dabbling in dangerous activities? You wouldn''t disown her, right? If you disown her, I''ll take Noe and live separately with Malvina! I''ll take care of her "Are you out of your mind?" Beckett added, "Looking at it now, if you were to live separately, she''d be taking care of you." Noe was far wealthier than Ulrich! Ulrich was just a doctor, living off research grants and Schnabel family dividends. Compared to Noe''s empire, he couldn''t hold a candle! Ulrichposed himself. "Beckett, Noe is the number one assassin on the deep web, Wise Fool!" Beckett''s belongings crashed to the floor! "What? Are you serious?" Ulrich whipped out his smartphone, bringing up the top message from the depths of the dark web and shoved it under Beckett''s nose. ¡¾Public Announcement: The true identity of Wise Fool, from Capitol Hill, Ms. Schnabel, Noe.¡¿ ¡¾Bounty Alert: Eliminate Wise Fool, reward: $50 million!) Beckett scrutinized the message, his eyes widening as he spotted Noe''s photo posted there! It was a photo taken at Noe''s birthday party, organized by the Schnabel family! "Damn, who was so shameless as to leak this info? This is outrageous!" Ulrich''s initial reaction was to gauge Beckett''s concern for Noe''s safety, which somewhat relieved him. "Beckett, don''t let this change your feelings for Noe. She''s always been our guardian angel! Remember when Grandpa and Stirling were ambushed? It was Noe who saved them!" "Noe has always loved us deeply!" Beckett responded with a swift kick to Ulrich. "Shut it! Since when do I need your opinion on Noe? The priority now is to keep this from Palmer!" If Palmer found out about Noe''s secret identity and they had a fallout, what then? Best to keep it under wraps for now! Just then, a knock sounded at the office door, and there stood Noe, peering in at her two brothers huddled together. "Beckett, Ulrich, what are you two whispering about? What''s this secret you''re keeping from Palmer?" Chapter 468 ? Seeing Noe, Beckett and Ulrich instantly perked up. "Noe, what brings you here?" "I had to deliver Azure Corporation''s quarterly financial report, and there''s some partnership business with the group. Since Ulrich is here, I also brought Malvina''s prenatal checkup results." Ulrich had been on a surgery marathon for the past two days, not having closed his eyes for twenty-eight hours straight. Just as he was about to send a reassuring message to Malvina, he stumbled upon some rming information on the dark web. He immediately sought out Beckett without dy. Malvina had her checkup yesterday, with Noe and Sienna apanying her. "Malvina is in great shape, and the baby is healthy too. Rest assured." Ulrich skimmed through the report in no time. "Noe, if you and Palmer had a fight, would you be upset?" Noe was somewhat puzzled. "We don''t fight." When we do run into issues that aren''t so easily resolved, a good old brawl is more efficient than a debate! Ulrich was taken aback. No fights? What kind of couple doesn''t have their disagreements? This must mean there''s a serious problem! Could the Pocks have already discovered Noe''s other identity? Ulrich felt a pang of empathy. "Noe, don''t worry. If things get tough, juste back home. Your brothers will take care of you! My sister can remain unmarried for life; there''s nothing wrong with that!" Noe was thoroughly confused. "What''s going on? What happened to Palmer?" Beckett shared the troubling news from the dark web with Noe. Noe remainedposed. This must be the "gift" 7-yer mentioned. Revealing her identity would undoubtedly attract a slew of assassins and pose a danger to the Schnabel family. Indeed, a perilous gift that few could afford! Beckett observed Noe''s expression. "Noe, don''t worry. No matter what the Pocks think, our family wants you!" Ulrich nodded continuously. "Yeah, we stand together through thick and thin. You''re our most cherished sister. If things escte, we''ll find a ce to hide. I''ll even quit my job and go with you!" Beckett agreed. "Except for Grandpa, who can''t travel abroad, the rest of us will go wherever you go!" Seeing how Beckett and Ulrich made such a hasty decision to flee the country with her, Noe couldn''t help but smile. Her smile was warm, and her face, much brighter since returning to the Schnabel family, was filled with happiness. "Beckett, Ulrich, if you trust me, there''s no need to hide. They wouldn''t daree after us." "As for Palmer... he wouldn''t hate me for this." With swift movements, Noe used Beckett''sputer to ess the dark web portal, opening a recently highlighted message. ¡¾Touch Wise Fool and face death. Vocalist.) ¡¾I am Vocalist, Wise Fool is my fianc¨¦e. Wee to Imperial City, Pock Group!) This message was like a stone thrown into the sea, causing waves of shock! Noe pointed at the message: "Because Palmer is also an assassin, my partner."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Beckett and Ulrich were stunned! The dark web''s top assassins, both affiliated with their family? Could this family be saved? Beckett silently put down his phone, canceling the purchase of a secluded ind he had just considered as a refuge! He had already envisioned where the family would take shelter! Ulrich, looking at theputer, realized Palmer had openly dered himself alongside Noe''s identity, showing he was determined to stand by her side through thick and thin. The information about Wise Fool was indeed captivating. But with Vocalist joining forces, theirbined strength was greater than the sum of their parts! Beckett asked, "Is Palmer trying to draw fire to himself?" "That''s not it. No matter how manye, it''s all the same to me!" Seeing Noe''s nonchnt demeanor, Beckett felt for the first time that his sister was formidably intimidating! Ulrich, puzzled, asked, "Noe, how did you... get into this line of work?" "It started when Grandma was ill; I was a bit strapped for cash, and this job pays well. Then, the Pris Star''s expenses were overwhelming, and I needed to support the family. Now that Pris Star is self-sustaining, and with financial support, I''m not short on money!" "As for Palmer, it was due to his mother''s situation." Ulrich breathed a sigh of relief. He hugged Noe, "We''ll keep this a secret for you!" "Just don''t tell Grandpa and the parents, Jasper already knows." As for Stirling, Noe recalled a message she had just received. ¡¾Noe, even with a mask, you''re beautiful. But Stirling hopes, next time someone stands in front of you, it''s Stirling.¡¿ Stirling had recognized her on the cruise ship! As an actor renowned for transforming into various roles, experiencing different lives on and off the screen, Stirling could identify someone by a nce or a gesture, even through the most meticulous disguise. No disguise could fool Stirling! S Ulrich eximed, "...So we were thest to know?" That''s just too much! Noe exined, "If Ulrich didn''t ess the dark web, you probably wouldn''t have found out." Ulrich had been monitoring the dark web for a piece of specialized equipment, which led him to discover the news. Beckett asked seriously, "Are we in any danger soon?" "There might be a few threats, but not many. The Schnabel family''s security is tight as Fort Knox, no need to worry about home safety." The windows at the Schnabel residence were all custom-made bulletproof ss, typically imprable to gunfire. "I''ll have my people look after you. Beckett, rich, Stirling, and your sister''s security detail might seem solid, but my crew makes them look like rookies. From now on, I''m taking charge of your safety!" Now that Beckett and Ulrich were in on her little secret, Noe decided she might as well take over the security operations for the household. Beckett was taken aback, it was the first time anyone had suggested his personal security might becking! "What about you? Your safety is what matters most!" Noe grinned confidently. "I''ll be sticking close to Palmer for now, don''t worry. Knowing you''re safe is the best protection I could ask for." "Beckett might not get our game, but if it came down to a shootout, all of them put together wouldn''t stand a chance against me and Palmer!" On the deep web, a message started making rounds. ¡¾Wee to Imperial City, my dear sitting ducks. Wise Fool.¡¿ ¡¾Since someone''s made a bold move, I''ve got a little something in return. Keep your eyes peeled!¡¿ Elsewhere, a burly middle-aged man with a lollipop in his mouth was squatting at the entrance of Imperial City''s special rehabilitation school, glued to his phone. Dog-Head muttered to himself, "I knew there was something fishy about those two! A real Bonnie and Clyde scenario, teaming up to dupe us all!" Recalling how Wise Fool and Vocalist had run rings around him, Dog-Head felt like crying. At least Shiba had been ced in the best rehab school for intervention. A shy SUV pulled up to the curb, sttering mud on Dog-Head as it drove through puddles left by a recent rain. Just as Dog-Head was about to unleash a tirade of curse words, the vehicle circled back and doused him in mud again. "Freakin'' hell, are you out of your mind?!" The window rolled down, and Thorpe whistled at Dog-Head. "Get in! We''ve got a big score to settle!" Chapter 469 ? Dog-Head looked at Thorpe and his brothers, his mind was blown. "The boss let you guys out?" Sliding into the car and buckling up, Dog-Head embodied the epitome of aw-abiding citizen. Thorpe couldn''t help but cringe. "What do you mean ''let us out''? He sent us to take out our current boss!" "You''re quite the scaredy-cat now, aren''t you?" Dog-Head hinted, "Watch out for the speed trap ahead, don''t speed, okay? My son''s waiting for me to pick him up from school." Seeing Dog-Head acting all family-man-like made the trio collectively grind their teeth in irritation. Alright, so you''re the only one with a son, huh! Well, none of them had one! Thorpe cursed, "Damn it, I''d love to find ady and have kids too, but looks like I won''t get that chance in this lifetime." Hollis patted Thorpe''s head. "No worries, I can be your dad! And when you have kids, I''ll be the grandpa!" Thorpe: "...Get lost!" Dog-Head nced at the three of them. "It''s simple, as long as you don''t mind my son being a bit off, he can take care of you guys in your old age!" Thorpe pretended to be disgusted, "Who wants your son? Who ends up taking care of whom is still up in the air." But the smile on his face was blossoming! Hehe, scoring a cute son for free! The jeep drove towards the city center, and when a traffic cop stopped them, seeing the four burly men inside, he was taken aback. "Sorry, vehicles with out-of-town tes are restricted." Thorpe and the brothers hadn''t anticipated that their big move would be halted by a traffic restriction from outside Imperial City! Half an hourter, a car with Imperial City tes picked up the four brothers. They were taken directly to a quaint and elegant Western-style courtyard, with autumn leaves fluttering down, creating a picturesque setting. Facing the elderly man with white hair sitting in the courtyard, the four men sat up straight, as docile as quails. In unison, they greeted, "Boss!" The old man''s wrinkled hand picked up a chess piece, pondering for a moment before cing it down with satisfaction. "Where''s the driver who picked you up?" Thorpe pinched his thigh hard. Tears welling up, he said, "He was shot on the way here!" "Where?" "Near Lockhart Prison, boss, those guys are too much! They don''t respect you at all!" Tavian put down the chess piece. "Is that so? Well, it''s not surprising, they''ve never respected me." "Now that you''re back, there''s a task for you." Tavian adjusted his clothing and stood up, his dignified presence undiminished by age as he walked inside. Following Tavian, a loud thud suddenly echoed in the courtyard! Thorpe on alert said, "An earthquake? Doesn''t seem like it! I''ll check it out!" In the courtyard, right where Tavian was ying chess,y a huge wooden crate! The spot where the chessboard was ced had sunk into a hole. "What''s this?" Dog-Head puzzled, "Boss, is this your delivery?" Tavian took a deep breath. "Who delivers things like this? Check it out!" Approaching the crate, Thorpe carefully pried open the edge, and a three-meter-tall clown popped out, muttering under its breath. "Daddy''s daddy is grandpa, daddy''s mommy is grandma..."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Thorpe wondered, "Did thise straight from a supermarket entrance?" Tavian couldn''t help butugh. "That girl Loadstar, she doesn''t think this is a gift, does she?" He saw the message Noe posted on the deep web! It was nothing but a peculiar challenge to him! Was this supposed to be a joke? Hollis said seriously, "Boss, I think she''s implying you''re a clown..." And he had a feeling, knowing Noe''s temper, this was just the appetizer! Looking closer at the crate, Hollis frowned, "Boss, what''s this thing on the crate?" Tavian stepped forward and saw that the crate housing the clown was made of various wooden nks, each marked with different logos! Without exception, all were rted to Tavian''s legitimate and illegitimate businesses. This was Noe''s warning! Tavian smirked. "Having Pris Star, knowing these things isn''t hard, but using it to threaten me is rather foolish." "If this is all she''s got, I''m quite disappointed!" Tandy, holding a phone, hesitated, "Boss, I know you''re disappointed, but hold off on that. These nks have models, core machinery codes from our factories!" "I just contacted the factories, and they said several of them have been bombed, specifically targeting the core machines! Our production ispletely paralyzed!" Tavian''s expression froze momentarily. "What? How dare she!" "Let it be, they''re just factories, not a big deal." As Tavian gritted his teeth, Tandy added, "She also leaked your information." "My information? How so?" Even using the identity of 7-yer on the deep web didn''t leave any room for leaks. Tandy showed the phone screen, ¡¾Soaring Bird and Cerulean Whale''s mastermind revealed, Wise Fool.¡¿ ¡¾Whoever takes him out can join Abyssal Organization and Obelisk Organization directly!) Tavian: "..." For deep web assassins, the offer to join Abyssal Organization and Obelisk Organization was hugely tempting. Noe wasn''t nning to spend a dime! Not only was she not spending, but she was also pushing Tavian into the fire! "This girl, really is full of thorns..." Thorpe gestured across his neck, "Boss, should we take her out?" "Just the few of you? You don''t stand a chance! But, bring a few more, and maybe then you''ll be enough..." His eyes sparkled with a ferocious glint! "If she can''t be swayed, then it''s time to deal with her." He had no use for those who wouldn''t fall in line! He dialed a number stored in his phone. Tavian chuckled warmly, "My dear, are you sure about this? Picking a fight with me, at your age, you should be dreaming big! There''s a time and ce for everything, and this choice of yours is foolish." Noe''s voice was calm, "And at your age, you should be thinking about settling your affairs for the great beyond. Haven''t found a coffin you like yet? The box I sent over would fit you just fine!" Insolent girl! "Your grandfather and I wererades in arms. He''d be displeased to hear you speak to me with such disrespect." "Guess who it was that revealed your identity to me?" Tavian was momentarily silenced! Only a few knew of his identity, so that meant it was Marcel, that old fox, who had spilled the beans! "Pris Star made you who you are. This is biting the hand that feeds." Noe sneered. "Made me? My achievements need no one''s endorsement. Least of all, yours!" Chapter 470 ? Even without the North Star, she would thrive just fine! Tavian knew arguing with Noe was futile, so he hung up the phone on the spot. Turning to face the Quail Quartet. "Go, and don''t disappoint me." "Yes, boss!" Thorpe was on the verge of tears. "The boss has been a mountain of support for us. Without him, we would''ve been gone long ago!" "Enough with the sap, roll out already." The quartet quickly left. Half an hourter, Tavian, startled by the noise outside, frowned and said, "What''s going on?" His bodyguard was panicked! "Boss, you gotta leave, we''ve been made!" "There are over twenty hitmen on their way here!" How did these hitmen discover this well-hidden yard? Tavian scoffed. "Noe, that girl, she''s ruthless!" The bodyguard said, "Boss, even Wise Fool shouldn''t know our location, how did she manage to deliver that package?" And to drop it precisely where Tavian was ying chess? Had it been a bit earlier, Tavian himself would have been crushed! Tavian muttered to himself. "North Star has an unactivated Sk system; could it be... it''s been activated?" With that in mind, seizing control of North Star became even more urgent! ... Meanwhile, at North Star Lab. Noe moved her neck around and cracked her fingers, the sound echoing in the room. She had been in this posture for too long, dealing with her subordinates'' tasks. Mizar said, "Boss, we''ve blown up all of 7-yer''s factories, but not many. The explosives from the Baker Group were somewhat insufficient." She didn''t even want to mention what 7-yer had been up to these years! Theirb''s explosives were more abundant than those from the Baker Group, an international scam syndicate! The difference was their explosives were supplied directly to the military, while Baker Group''s useless junk could only blow up a ditch. Palmer handed Noe a cup of hot water, hisrge, strong hands gently massaging her shoulders, fingers pressing urately on the acupoints, with just the right amount of pressure. "the Pock Group has gathered all the criminal evidence against 7-yer and sent it to your mailbox." Mizar was surprised, "Boss, we''re not going head-to-head with 7-yer?" Noe calmly replied, "Isn''t it more convenient to trust in thew?" 7-yer had been too influential for too many years, rarely anyone could shake his position! Mizar also worried about this. "But he surely has ways to protect himself..." "It doesn''t matter. He''s old. Even if he''s locked up for a few years, who knows what condition he''ll be in when he gets out." What Noe wanted was exactly to have 7-yer locked up for a few years! After all, at his age, instead of enjoying his twilight years, his brain was always in overdrive. It was uncertain if he could leave prison in one piece! "What if he runs?" Noe pointed at the screen, where a bunch of red dots was quickly converging on 7-yer''s courtyard. The address of the courtyard was sent by Thorpe and his team at the earliest. They were all wearing trackers developed by Noe! Noe''s tone was as calm as if she was discussing something unrted to her. "So, I also tipped off the police. Having so many hitmening here is too frightening." Mizar: "..." Do you look frightened at all! And weren''t those hitmen called by you? Noe shrugged, "My family is in Imperial City, so many hitmen would affect public safety. Since 7-yer has a special status, it''s only right to protect him." Cruel, utterly cruel! At theb''s entrance, the winded Quail Quartet stumbled in, Hollis reaching into his mouth to pull out his big tooth, revealing a tracker! "Also copied some stuff from the boss''sputer, but we only have twenty minutes! Hurry!" The North Star team looked at the tooth with some disdain. "How long has it been since you brushed your teeth?" "Is that the point?" After washing the tooth in a sterilizing pool and using tweez to carefully pick it up, Noe''s fingers danced over the keyboard, copying everything within! Palmer watched Noe''s fluid movements, full of admiration. Frowning, he asked, "How did you get close to 7-yer''sputer?" Tandy grinned. "It was something Noe gave me before, capable of directly copying data from phones andputers that had been connected to this phone. 7-yer is old and dislikes fiddling with electronic devices." Meaning, 7-yer''s setup was incredibly simple! Just a phone and aputer! Perhaps 7-yer himself didn''t know that the key evidence incriminating him was copied from his phone... Dog-Head''s phone rang. 7-yer''s cold voice emanated from it. "Betraying me? You don''t care about your son anymore?" Dog-Head was sweating bullets! He had forgotten that Shiba was still in school!Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. In an instant, Dog-Head''s muscles tensed up, the intense fear causing his calves to tremble! Noe, with lightning speed, copied the tracker''s data before everything was formatted, sending it all to the police! Without looking back, Noe said, "Shiba went to the set to find Stirling. Stirling''s TV show needed a child with autism, so they took him." Shiba was extremely wary of strangers, trusting only Dog-Head and Stirling! Handing the still-panicked Dog-Head his phone, Stirling was seen on screen, hugging Shiba, both engrossed in the filming equipment, looking utterly serious! Dog-Head instantly breathed a sigh of relief. yer burst out in anger, ¡°You had all this figured out in advance? You think you''re some kind of mastermind?¡± Noe replied with a smirk, "I''m no ountant, never been one for crunching numbers. These are just the gifts you''ve given me, enjoy them!" A dial tone followed, cutting the call short. Thorpe just plopped down on the floor, exhausted. "Thank goodness our boy''s safe, Noe, how did you know the boss would go after Shiba?" "It''s his style, isn''t it? Burn bridges after g them. If he could discard Connor afteret he w these years, hesitate with us either." A heavy silence fell upon the group. They were all too aware that they were nothing but guard dogs kept by yer! Now that their master was in danger, it was their duty to take a bullet for him! Loyalty, it turned out, was the biggest joke of all. Noe chuckled, "Fortunately, I''m theplete opposite of yer. What he disregards, I value." Dog-Head wiped away a tear. "From now on, my life is yours!" Noe shook her head. "You still have your own lives to live, and... I don''t want any subordinates who are balding." The four of them together couldn''t muster a full head of hair, it was a sight for sore eyes. The group burst into tears. On the set. Hugging Shiba while reviewing the day''s footage, Stirling pointed at the screen, patiently exining, "Shiba, this is you, this is me." Shiba''s gaze was unfocused, symptomatic of his condition, refusing any form ofmunication, devoid of any real connection. Stirling remained patient, never showing any sign of frustration at Shiba''s inability to understand him. Yasbel couldn''t stand it anymore! "Stop troubling the kid." "It''s not troubling him, it''s about getting him back to normal society sooner. Stars are beautiful, but after all, we live on Earth!" A smile yed on Yasbel''s lips as he watched Stirling earnestly engaging with the child. Someone from the props department called out, "Stirling, you''re up for a solo scene next,e get changed!" As Stirling was about to set Shiba down, Yasbel suddenly shouted, "Watch out!¡± A rack nearby teetered and toppled towards Stirling and Shiba! Chapter 471 ? The set was a treasure trove of props, each one an imposing figure of bulk and weight. A disaster waiting to happen if one were to topple over, especially if itnded on someone. The potential for chaos was palpable. Stirling''s value, both in terms of his ties to the illustrious Schnabel family and his own fame as a leading man, was astronomical. The mere thought of him getting injured on set could send shivers down the spine of the production team. The bacsh from his fans alone could be enough to shut everything down. And there he was, not just in danger himself but cradling a child in his arms! In a swift, protective move, Stirling rolled away with little Shiba, covering the child with his own body. They ended up covered in dirt and dust, and Stirling''s arm bore the brunt of the escape, scraped raw by the edge of a steel prop. "Stirling, are you alright?" "Stirling''s hurt! Someone, call an ambnce!" Shaking his head, Stirling dismissed the idea. "No need for an ambnce. Just grab the first-aid kit." It was just a flesh wound, after all. He wasn''t about to make a mountain out of a molehill. The prop team was in disarray. Yasbel, eyebrows furrowed in concern, questioned, "How did that prop even fall? It wasn''t exactly a featherweight." The team suggested, somewhat unconvincingly, "Maybe it was the wind?" "ming it on the wind? You really think nature''s at y here, or do you think I''m naive?" Stirling was lost. "What are you getting at?" "It seems you''ve lost your senses," Yasbel chided, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, which was quite the feat given the circumstances. But one didn''t need to be a genius to realize this wasn''t an act of God. This was sabotage. As Yasbel inspected the first-aid kit, the prop team was sweating buckets. "Yasbel, the first-aid kit is safe, I assure you..." Their assurances fell t when Yasbel pulled a needle from a supposed sterile cotton swab. The room fell silent. The implications were terrifying. Had they used it on Stirling, they would''ve been dealing with more than just a hospital visit. Yasbel''s icy tone cut through the tension. "Check the cameras. Unless you can prove your innocence, you might find yourselves enjoying the local jail''s ''exquisite'' tea selection." Was jail really a ce to critique tea? Regardless of the quality, they weren''t keen on finding out. Nn gestured towards their trailer. "Let''s head to our ce. It''s safe there." Inside Yasbel''s trailer, Stirling finally shed his coat and shirt, revealing the wound still oozing blood. "Lucky it was stainless steel," Yasbelmented as she disinfected the cut, "or you''d be up for a tetanus shot." "I''m not a kid. It''s just a shot," Stirling retorted, his bravado faltering as the alcohol hit his wound, making him wince in pain. Yasbel teased, "Thought you could handle it?" Stirling was at a loss for words, silently enduring as Yasbel finished bandaging him up, even adding a butterfly knot for effect. Nn exchanged a knowing look with Yasbel. "The prop team tampered with the equipment, but it''s minor. Thankfully, no one''s hurt. Yasbel''s got it under control." Stirling knew it was Yasbel''s quick thinking that saved him from a worse fate. "Thanks." "Don''t mention it. It was nothing." Watching Yasbel storm out, filled with an unspoken rage, Stirling was baffled. "What''s her deal? Did I do something wrong?" Nn shrugged, "We alle from Pris Star. Not exactly the hallmark of well-adjusted individuals. Yasbel''s just worried about you and too proud to say it."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Concern over him? "She''s mad because I risked myself to protect the kid." That realization hit Stirling hard. His upbringing in the Schnabel family had always taught him to express his feelings openly. Yasbel''s reticence was something entirely foreign to him. "We''ll get to the bottom of this," Nn assured, "and don''t worry about Yasbel. She''s just... Yasbel." Stirling couldn''t be mad, not really. How could he be upset over someone caring about him? Handing Shiba back to Dog-Head, who awaited them with a mix of worry and relief, Stirling felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Dog-Head tender moment with the child. testament to the man''s hidden softness. "Thanks. If not for you, Shiba might''ve been in real danger." "No worries. He''s a great kid." Standing alone, Stirling made a decisive call to his grandfather, Marcel. "Grandpa, I''m ready for the family trial." Marcel''s voice, warm yet tinged with concern, responded, "Are you sure? The Schnabel family''s trials are no small feat." "I refuse to be the weakest link. If ra can do it, so can I." Marcel chuckled, "Your father faced his own trials. Did you think the Schnabel Group thrived on my name alone?" Stirling, resolute, knew what he had to do. His journey was just beginning. In the early days, the Schnabel family business, the Schnabel Group, struggled to keep pace due, to Marcel''s status. It was Tristan who, against all odds, steered company to its zenith. Later, when Beckett took over, the Schnabel Group expanded even further, securing its position as one of the top families in Imperial City. "Kid, don''t underestimate your old man!" "Grandpa, I''ll head over as soon as I wrap up my current project. Let''s keep this between us for now, I don''t want to worry mom." "Understood, as long as you''ve made up your mind! But I have to warn you, your trial is in the Sahara Desert, and it''s going to be tough!" Stirling said solemnly, "Grandpa, I can handle it!" "Alright!" Hanging up the phone, Stirling felt a weight lift off his shoulders, heaving a sigh of relief. He had been wrestling with this decision for a while, and voicing it out loud made him feel much lighter. Around the corner, Yasbel was chewing on a de of grass, stepping forward to block Stirling''s path. "You''re heading to the desert?" "Not right now. Don''t worry, I''ll leave after we wrap up this movie!" Stirling thought Yasbel was concerned about him dying the project and scratched his head, chuckling. "Why go? Isn''t life good enough for you right now?" Leaning against the wall, Stirling looked up at the night sky, where the dazzling Big Dipper shone brightly. Counting from the handle, the third star was unmistakably the Yasbel Star! "It''s good, but I want it to be better. If I''m not strong enough, how can I conquer the stars in my heart?" Chapter 472 ? The Stars in His Heart! The chilly night seemed to seep into Stirling''s gaze as he looked at Yasbel standing beside him. "Besides, I wouldn''t want Noe to be the one protecting me when danger strikes. I''m the older brother; it''s my job to look out for my siblings." Even though his siblings were terrifyingly strong! A shiver ran down Yasbel''s spine. "You... just be safe." "Don''t worry, there''s still some time. You don''t have to worry about me; I''ll make it back alive!" Yasbel scoffed, "Worry about you? In your dreams." It was as if Yasbel had heard some bizarre ghost story, prompting her to quickly make her escape, running as if the wind was at her heels. Finally back in their RV, Yasbel pulled out her phone and began searching through all the projects under the Pris Star banner. "Bro, what if we start a project in the Sahara Desert?" "We have a desert right by our base, why trek all the way to the Sahara?" It''s not like the African desert is any hotter, right? Yasbel, undeterred, insisted, "No, I want to start a project there, and I''ll be in charge!" Nn looked at Yasbel with a furrowed brow, "Are you insane? Go talk to the boss if you''re so set on it, and stop ranting here. You''re just bored." Why go to the Sahara of all ces! "You don''t get it! I''ve found something amazing, and I can''t rest easy unless I''m there to see it through. Besides, what if he runs into trouble..." The Sahara Desert was too dangerous. Starting a new project was just an excuse; her real motive was her own secret desire! ... Imperial City. The darkness was imprable in the suburbs; even the high-performance car struggled on the uneven road, not daring to stop. "Boss, the border is just ahead. Once we''re across, we''re safe!" Looking at the roadblock ahead, the old man in the passenger seat had a grim expression!Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. He couldn''t believe that Noe''s only goal was to drive him out, to turn him into a fugitive. But even so, he was confident in making aeback! "Damn, to push me to this extent, that girl really has some tricks up her sleeve." He was practically grinding his dentures in frustration! Pulling a handgun from under the seat, Tavian decisively took out the driver and took the wheel, steering the car in a different direction. He trusted no one but himself! Only bypletely controlling his escape route did Tavian believe he wasn''t headed straight to hell. After driving a few miles, a clearugh suddenly rang out ahead. "That driver was your nephew, wasn''t he? So ruthless, even to your own family. You truly live up to the name ''7-yer."" Tavian''s whole body jolted as if electrocuted, staring in disbelief at the scene before him! A dozen cars turned on their headlights, blocking his path. Perched on the hood of the lead car, Noe sat with her legs crossed, looking calmly at Tavian! "How did you know I''d take this route?" Noe shrugged nonchntly. "Oh, nothing much, just nted a tracker under your car hood." Tavian was bbergasted! "My car hood? How could you be sure I''d take this car?" "I didn''t. So, I just happened to take over the parts development for a few car factories recently, tracking all the vehicles." "You''re breaking thew!" Noe nodded, "d to know you still care about thew, so I left all those data backups with the police, not with me." She simply made another copy of the information she needed! Tavian clenched his teeth in anger. Pris Star''s research findings were crucial, and Noe had shared all data with the police unconditionally! If Pris Star was entirely taken over by the authorities, what was the point? "You won''t get away with this!" Noe calmly responded, "What did you say? The Obelisk Organization has been cooperating with the border police since day one." Even as an assassin, Noe only targeted those who were already condemned! "Just doing a bit of bounty hunting on the deep web to make ends meet, a small business, not easy at all." In Tavian''s eyes, Noe was insane! "Your operations won''t bring a brighter future to Pris Star." Noe looked at Tavian with disdain. "Stop dreaming. Your reinforcements? I took care of them too." Tavian didn''t trust anyone, but he also wouldn''t leave here alone to return to the border! "Are you mad? All your choices are wrong!" "Just happened to arrive a bit earlier and took care of some minor issues here." As Tavian realized the futility of his situation, he red at Noe! "You think this is all I have?" "I figured as much, so I also took the liberty of changing the staff at Lockhart Prison." Xavier was once Tavian''s right-hand man! Not wanting to see him struggle in his retirement, Noe simply had all the guards in Lockhart Prison rotated. Tavian wished he could grind Noe to dust and swallow her whole! As the international police took Tavian away, he stared venomously at Noe, "I''ll be back." "You think you''re the Big Bad Wolf? Don''t worry, I''ll be waiting." Watching Tavian being escorted away, the border police blew their whistle, "All clear! Stay alert for any rescue attempts!" Noe added, "My people will escort you a bit of the way, no need to worry too much." Saluting Noe, the international police quickly wrapped up and left in a formidable procession. Watching their retreating figures, Mizar whistled. "Boss, what''s our next move?" "Business as usual, make money, go to school!" Mizar chuckled, "Ah? Didn''t expect the boss to actually like school." "It''s okay. My family wants to see me lead a peaceful and stable life, so let''s give them what they want." "That old fox might get out in a few years." Noe smirked, "Then, before he gets out, let''s make all his possessions mine!" Everyone at Pris Star grinned wickedly. Dark, so dark. But they loved it! ... Four yearster. In the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert, where the endless sea of sand stained the whole world in shades of dust, lost travelers trudged with difficulty. Thendscape was a relentless, undifferentiated canvas of sand, and Dalia Sinir was on the brink of despair. "I should have never strayed from the group. Who said there were precious mineral pigments out here?" If they couldn''t find a way out soon, they were doomed to perish in this barren wilderness. "Hey! There''s someone ahead!" A man, exuding calm and collected energy, rode a camel through the desert with the ease of someone on a leisurely vacation, his camel''s bells ringing melodically. Stirling, observing the obviously lost group, fixed his gaze on Dalia''s face and asked, "You bear a striking resemnce to my cousin Darcy. Are you by any chance rted to the Sinirs?" Was this some kind of bizarre desert pickup line? "Y-Yes... Do you know me?" "The Schnabel Gallery... An employee of Noe''s? Are you folks lost?" Noticing the logo on Dalia''s hat, Stirling immediately recognized it as belonging to Noe''s gallery. "Yes, exactly. We were on the hunt for a rare mineral pigment, rumored to be found here. We''ve lost our way from the rest of our team!" "Noe is here, too?" It had been years since Stirling had crossed paths with anyone from the Schnabel family! Dalia nodded. "Our boss is here, too. But we''re in the middle of nowhere, with no signal on our phones. We can''t find our way out..." With a confident, mischievous grin, vastly different from the actor Stirling once was, he reassured them in a way that momentarily made them forget his past celebrity. "This? This is nothing. I''ll guide you out of here!" Chapter 472 3 Chapter 473 In the vastness of the Sahara, Cressida and Dalia had been wandering in circles for what felt like an eternity. "This ce is a nightmare. We thought we''d find our way out multiple times, only to realize we were walking in circles!" "That''s what happens when rookies like you dare toe treasure hunting in the desert." Stirling, with a swift motion, dismounted his camel, patting its back affectionately. Therge animal obediently bowed down. Turning to Dalia and the other women in the group, Stirling said, "There are a few more camels following us. Ladies, please ride the camels; the rest can walk with me." Seeing the men hesitating to speak, Stirling raised an eyebrow. "Any objections?" The men quickly shook their heads. "None at all! We''ve got the physical advantage; it wouldn''t be fair to make thedies suffer. Besides, Mr. Schnabel would have our heads if we did!" They were all employees of Noe, and now was not the time to mess up! Stirling bent down, scooping up a handful of sand, "We''re heading east. Where''s Mr. Schnabel?" "At the edge of the desert. We have a base there!" Stirling nodded, "Then we better hurry. It''s getting dark." The group followed Stirling without dy. ... Meanwhile, at the edge of the Sahara. Noe''s slender hands were wrapped around a pair of military binocrs, her brows furrowed in concern. "I''m going to find them. If we dy any further, they might die out there." "That''s too risky, Mr. Schnabel. The desert is vast, and you have no clue where they are. What if you run into danger?" Noe insisted, "If I don''t go, they''ll definitely be in danger." The group was visibly anxious, but none would let Noe venture into the Sahara. "Step aside. They''re my employees; I can''t abandon them!" "Mr. Schnabel, the rescue team is already on it. Let''s wait a bit longer, shall we?" As dusk approached, the desert became an even more perilous ce. The distant sound of camel bells echoed, and slowly, a group emerged from the heart of the Sahara.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The man leading the group was imposing, dressed in military attire that barely concealed his powerful build. A dangerous man, indeed! Noe squinted her eyes, her gaze shifting until itnded on a familiar face. The sun-kissed face, still handsome and bright, was smiling in a way that tugged at her heartstrings. Those eyes, even brighter than years before, radiated confidence and charm. Stirling let go of the camel''s reins and opened his arms wide. "Didn''t expect a greeting from your brother?" "Stirling!" After a hearty hug and twirl, Stirling gestured towards the group behind him, "Your kids, I''ve brought them back. Some are close to dehydration; they need medical attention." "Right away!" The Schnabel family had a professional medical team on standby. The missing employees were quickly taken care of, with a long list of check-ups arranged. Among them, Dalia was in rtively good shape. Seeing Stirling embracing Noe, she eximed, "Oh my, you''re Stirling!" Years ago, when Stirling announced his temporary departure from the entertainment industry after hisst TV show, it caused quite a stir. Rumors had been swirling that Stirling had left to take over the family business. Fans were nearly heartbroken, and as time passed with no sight of Stirling, wild theories emerged, including one that he had fallen seriously ill or worse... The rumors were outrageous! With such a stark difference from the heartthrob of years past, Dalia could hardly believe this was the same Stirling! "It''s me. I happened to being from a military assignment when I stumbled upon you all." Noe breathed a sigh of relief. "Without you, they might not have made it today." Stirling nced at Noe, noting how she had grown even more beautiful andmanding, her presence reminiscent of Palmer''s. "They were lucky, but even if they hadn''t run into me, you would have gone in after them!" Stirling''s certainty was palpable. "You think so?" "You, my dear... I had hoped that by now, I would have surpassed you." Stirling''s tone was one of defeat. He had undergone rigorous training in the Sahara, arranged by the Schnabel family, starting from the basics andpleting all tests to earn his medals. Yet, upon finishing, he was told all his records were second-best. First ce belonged to Noe, who had once ventured into the Sahara on a whim... Staring at the wall, where a photo of his sister, nonchntly holding her medal, hung, Stirling felt a mix of pride and mncholy. Noe smiled, "That''s all in the past. I heard you broke many records. Impressive!" The Sahara training camp''smander kept in touch with Noe and had looked out for Stirling over the years. In the exercises Noe hadn''t participated in, Stirling''s name topped the record charts. Shaking his head, Stirling replied, "That''s history. How''s the family?" "Everyone''s good. Mom and Dad miss you. We watch your movies and TV shows every day." Sienna missed Stirling so much she even watched his horror movies multiple times and didn''t skip his animated voiceovers! Stirlingughed heartily, "I miss you all too! I came as soon as I heard you were here." "And Yasbel?" While Stirling was training in the Sahara, Yasbel had been nning a new project in the Sahara, so Noe handed her the task of liaising with the training camp. Mentioning Yasbel, Stirling awkwardly touched his nose. "Ahem... We had a fight. She said she needed some space to cool off, but the Sahara wasn''t cool enough, so she headed to Antarctica." A literal cool-off! Noe burst intoughter. "Don''t worry, Pris Star has a new project down in Antarctica." "I know, the brothers-inw told me." Hearing Stirling''s nickname for the Pris Star crew, Noe couldn''t help but facepalm. When word got out that Yasbel and Stirling were dating, the whole Pris Star gang insisted on vetting Stirling to see if he was good enough for Yasbel! One thing led to another, and they became his "brothers-inw"... The kind that always takes Stirling''s side in any argument! "What''s next for you, Stirling?" "Acting! It''s been ages since I''ve acted, and I''m itching to get back Yasbel has written so many scripts these past years that I absolutely adore. It''s a shame I haven''t been able to perform in any." Yasbel would always share their scripts with Stirling. Initially, it was to keep him entertained, but it eventually turned into performing scenes together in the desert! That was when Stirling realized how much he truly loved Yasbel. Everything he wanted to do was about being a better person for Yasbel! Stirling knew Noe was worried about him spending years in the desert training camp, fearing he might lose sight of his passion. She also feared he might have developed some psychological issues from the experience. Sensing his sister''s subtle yet omnipresent concern, Stirling felt deeply warmed. "Don''t think I didn''t notice. You''ve been secretly having them look out for me, even sneaking extra chicken legs into my meals!" "I did it for everyone, not just you." But, of course, it all started with wanting to give Stirling something extra! Stirling patted Noe on the head. "Now, the most important thing is to head home!" Chapter 474 The Schnabels were quite the lively bunch, and Stirling''s return home was marked by a rather unconventional wee-a brand-new pack of diapersnding smack on his face the moment he stepped through the door. Brushing off the unexpected greeting, Stirling''s gaze fell upon the two little whirlwinds wrestling on the couch, instantly draining any frustration he might have had. The elder, with his hands on his hips, dered with all the seriousness a child could muster, "I''m a boy, and the nanny said only my kids can carry the Schnabel name. Yours will have to take your husband''s!" The younger retorted with a scoff, "At least I''ll be sure my kids are mine. Who knows about yours?" The barb hit home, and the older child''s tears came rushing out. "I''ve read so many forum arguments, howe I can''t win against my sister?" "Because you''re a numbskull," his sister shot back. "Believing such divisive nonsense from the nanny. Look at our family; the most cherished isn''t even a boy!" Realization dawned, and the tears halted at the brink. Indeed, the Schnabels'' favorite was none of their sons. "But why would she say that?" the older sibling wondered aloud. "To see you make a fool of yourself!" Plotting revenge on the nanny, the two kids quickly shifted gears. Stirling cleared his throat, "...Are these two Ulrich''s? Who thought it was funny to hit me with a diaper?" Peeking from behind the staircase, a little one sheepishly admitted, "Uncle Peregrine, sorry, it was my diaper." Sienna rushed to Stirling, barely recognizing her son. "Why do you look so... tough and tanned?" Stirling, having notified only Marcel of his desert adventures, spun around for his mother''s inspection. "Mom, I''m fine." Sienna''s eyes welled up at the sight of her son, grown and changed. The diaper culprit, seeking forgiveness, clung to Sienna''s legs. "Grandma, don''t cry. Uncle Peregrine is a hunk!" Noe introduced the children: "This is La, Beckett''s daughter. And these are Daren and Ophelia, Ulrich''s."Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. After years of frail health, Darcy Sinir hadn''t expected much improvement. Yet, a trip brought them La, a gift from above, ording to Beckett. Home now brimming with kids, Stirling joyously embraced the chaos, showering them with affection. Noe warned, "Don''t underestimate La because of her age. She''s a little schemer." Stirling scoffed, "She''s just a kid. I can handle it." ra counted down, "3, 2, 1..." Stirling''s yells echoed through the house, soon found suspended in a kid-engineered trap. La dered, "Dad said Uncle Peregrine was tough. If he got caught so easily, he must be an imposter." The kids, realizing their mistake, tearfully apologized to Stirling, who couldn''t help but forgive their earnest faces. "No harm done, Uncle Peregrine is fine. You kids just enjoy yourselves." At Noe''s cough, the little conspirators quickly resumed their dinner, innocence stered on their faces. Truly, they were undeniably Schnabels through and through. "That move is straight out of daily practice!" Malvina sighed, "Those three are only scared of Noe''s darling, otherwise, they''d be too big for their britches." Sienna''s gazended on the spot next to Stirling, "When are you bringing her home to meet mom?" Stirling grinned, "I''ll fetch her from the Antarctic tomorrow! Just in time for Noe''s wedding! Perfect timing since Imperial City is in the throes of winter, will cool her off a bit." Stirling had sped through his training camp in the desert to make it back in time for Noe and Palmer''s wedding! After dinner, Noe wrapped a scarf around her neck, grabbed the lunchbox Sienna had insisted she take, and drove off to the Pock Group. On a snowy night, the world was cloaked in pristine white, the moon obscured by the snowkes, while streetlights cast a golden glow. A man in a ck coat emerged from the Pock Group building, finishing up with his secretary. Catching sight of Noe standing by the car his gaze softened instantly. Annie knew to y it cool, "The boss''sdy is here to pick you up, I''ll be heading off then." Noe was the shining star of the Pock Group! Her arrival meant it was officially quitting time! Palmer approached her steadily, making his way to Noe standing in the snow. Removing his gloves to take Noe''s hand, Palmer''s voice trembled almost imperceptibly. "Why didn''t you wait in the car? It''s cold out here." "Just a few minutes, I wanted to see youe out." Bending to hug Noe, opening his coat to share his warmth, Palmer murmured, "Is it not cold, or did you miss me?" "Both." It was about confirming Noe''s wishes, as well as affirming... that the happiness within his reache amidst the stormy night, was genuinely there! Behind him was an endless abyss of darkness, yet aheady the snowy path home. Chapter 475 ? The Schnabel and Pock families were set for a winter wondend wedding! It was a significant day for Noe and Palmer, marking their first meeting on the border. It wasn''t just a matter of life and death salvation; it was choosing each other, bing family in the truest sense. Palmer took it upon himself to transform one of the Pock Group''s inds into a fairy-tale extravaganza for their wedding venue. In the garden, three formally dressed munchkins were squatting on the ground. La, with a flower crown perched atop her head, touched her chin, "Grandma said today''s a big day for auntie and uncle, told us to behave. But is this really okay?" La dered, "But no worries, if something goes wrong, I''ll just say it was you two, not me. Grandma will definitely scold you guys over me." Daren retorted angrily, "Why should it be like that? Just because you''re the youngest?" "It''s because I''m the prettiest." From birth, La''s beauty was the talk of the maternity ward. Her rosy, translucent cheeks, a nose high and mighty even in her infancy, and those dewy, big eyes fringed with longshes were a sight the nursery had never seen before! Beckett even worried La''s beauty was a symptom of Kabuki syndrome! They flew in an international team of specialists who, after several days, confirmed La was simply naturally stunning. With her looks, La had her way in both the Schnabel and the neighboring Pock households. Upon seeing La, ra was smitten, immediately deciding she wanted a child too. "The government''s encouraging it, right? I''ll take this one. You guys go have another! La''s going to hang with me from now on!" La insisted, "Besides, this is all for Aunt ra''s good! I saw that man earlier looking fine. Testing him out is the least we can do, right?" As the eldest among the kids, Daren felt the n was a bit shaky. Ophelia, growing impatient at his hesitation, countered, "You men are always so wishy-washy. Didn''t you see Gavin Vaughn over there? If things go south, we''ll just me Gavin! I''ll distract him, and you guys go test out that handsome man." With that, Ophelia adjusted her princess dress and skipped towards Gavin, now a preteen heartthrob. Seizing the moment, La darted towards their predetermined target. She crashed into him, crying out, only to be caught in a gentle embrace, his voice as soothing as a spring breeze. "My little princess, are you alright? Running around all by yourself, did you lose your family?" Up close, La whispered, "No stic surgery, polite... good-looking..." "What was that? Whose child are you?" La pointed towards ra in the crowd, "There! My aunt''s over there!" "Let me take you to her. And don''t run off again." Carrying La through the crowd, she started shouting for ra from afar. Seeing La, ra breathed a sigh of relief, scolding as she took her, "Are you out of your mind running off like that? Where are your brother and sister?" "Sis went to find Gavin, and brother said I was in the way and left me behind." Daren, lurking nearby, thought, "..." Suddenly, his back felt a phantom pain! "Auntie, I''m here. My sister ran too fast, and I couldn''t keep up." Once assured they were all safe, ra finally rxed. With so many guests today, she was genuinely worried these little rascals had ventured into the sea to feed the sharks! Turning to the man who had been standing by with a gentle smile, ra remembered to express her gratitude. "Thank you so much. These little tyrants are quite the handful. I appreciate you bringing them back!" "Ms. Schnabel, it was nothing." "You know who I am?" The man smiled warmly, "Ms. Schnabel has been a topic of discussion for her contributions to the scientificmunity. I, too, am somewhat in the same field, though my focus is on mathematics. I''m Colin, a Penn math department graduate." ra nodded, "I''ve heard your name, the recent champion of the international mathpetition. Surprising someone so young." Colin modestly replied, "Ms. Schnabel, you''re younger than I imagined." Holding La and guiding Daren, ra excused herself, "The wedding is about to start. Please, excuse us." "As you wish." As they headed to the main wedding venue, La, resting on ra''s shoulder, winked at Colin. Colin, left standing there, couldn''t help butugh. This kid, quite the character! La, clinging to ra''s neck, asked in her sweet, milky voice, "Auntie, what do you think about that man? He''s so handsome!" "There are plenty of good-looking people out there." "But not many who are good-looking and good at math. Mom said everything can lie, but math can''t. If you don''t know it, you just don''t." Daren nodded in agreement, "Yeah, my mom looked at that math paper once and then dered English was her forte." Thoseplex mathematical codes, Malvina could sleep through them! Let alone solve any. La asked, "What''s your mom good at?" Daren quickly answered, "Sleeping and yelling at my dad. Fighting''s not bad either. Last time I got bullied at school, mom was so fierce, made them howl." To avoid drawing too much attention the Schnabel kids attended regr schools. Someone mistook Daren for amoner due to his non-branded clothes and bullied him! Even a teacher led the torment, leaving Daren covered in glue. Furious, Malvina stormed the school with members of the Shadow Dragon Society, causing the administration to think they''d crossed the mafia! To Malvina''s credit, shended a few solid ps on those negligent teachers and bullying parents, with the kids crying out in fright by their side. Ulrich raced over, and it was only then that the school''s administration realized they had kicked a ho''s nest. Apologies came flying left and right on the spot. Malvina, holding Daren''s hand, asked earnestly, "Honey, do you forgive them?" "Can I choose not to?" "Of course, you can!" The very next day, Malvina had Daren transferred to another school, leaving Ulrich to deal with the fallout! In Daren''s eyes, his mom was nothing short of a superhero. So what if he wasn''t good at math!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. After all, his aunt knew everything under the sun! La winked and nudged ra yfully. "Aunt ra, if you don''t start dating, grandma said she''s going to kick you out this year." "It''s okay, I''ve got plenty of moms. If grandma doesn''t want me, I''ll just find a new mom." La gasped, "What? You can do that?" Sienna''s annual threats to kick ra out were just a new tactic to get her to go on blind dates. ra just brushed it off and moved on! "You kids, stop meddling in your aunt''s love life." "Oh... okay, but does auntie have someone she likes? A guy or a girl? Are they cute?" ra was exasperated with this gossip-hungry kid! How her calm and genteel friends, Beckett and Darcy, ended up with such a lively child was beyond her! ra sighed, "No such luck! When I do find someone, you''ll be the first to know, okay, troublemaker?" "Pinky promise! But that guy earlier looked pretty good!" "Zip it, chatterbox." Just as ra got backstage, she saw Tristan pacing anxiously. "What''s going on here? My daughter''s wedding is about to start, and now you''re telling me the custom sculpture won''t make it t What''s wrong with your deliverypany? What? You sent a block of raw marble? How am I supposed to carve something now! Tristan was fuming, stamping his foot in frustration. What good was a block of marble at this time? Hearing themotion, Noe emerged from the makeup room, lifting the curtain with a calm gaze. The priceless wedding dress she wore, adorned withyers of tulle and diamonds, along with her elegant makeup, made Noe look like a princess straight out of a castle! Daren and La eximed, ¡°Wow, Auntie looks stunning!" Noe looked at Tristan, then casually set her veil aside and flexed her wrists. "It''s okay, dad. It''s just a sculpture. I''ve got this." Chapter 476 ? "No way, no way, carving is such a demanding task. You''re the star of the day, being newlyweds and all. Since when does the star of the show lift a finger?" But what really mattered was the piece of stone that had just been delivered. Even Tristan himself felt a chill looking at it. How on earth was he supposed to start? Sienna scolded, "I told you not to mess with these silly ns. If you''re going to order something, order it in advance. Rushing something like thisst minute, do you have any idea how frustrated I am? I could yell at you!" "I didn''t want it to be this way either, but we haven''t been able to get in touch with Master Sylvie at all!" Tristan had nned to feature a piece by Master Sylvie at Noe''s wedding. Master Sylvie''s works had fetched sky-high prices in the past few years, marking her as a world-ss master with an increasingly busy schedule! Noe spoke up calmly, "Oh, I didn''t know Dad was handling it. I left all the wedding preparations to him." Tristan was stunned. While he was still processing, Noe had already called over the crew from Pris Star, dividing the stone into sections. Except for the most crucial part, the head, which Noe took upon herself to carve, the rest was a coborative effort to save time. Watching Noe carve with such expertise and fluidity, Tristan''s jaw hit the floor! "So our precious girl is... Master Sylvie?" No wonder all these years when he bought pieces from Master Sylvie, she insisted on not taking money, just a nominal fee for the craftsmanship! Tristan had thought it was because his taste in art matched Master Sylvie''s... Little did he know, his daughter was Master Sylvie herself! Phecda chuckled, "Only our boss would end up working on her own wedding day. Talk about a unreliable delivery service." Tristan was momentarily lost for words! After quickly picking his jaw up from the floor, Tristan turned around to massage Noe''s shoulders. "Don''t overdo it!" "I know, it''s nothing major." Noe quickly finished her part. ording to Tristan''s wishes, the sculpture was to be of Noe and Palmer in their wedding attire, ced in the most prominent spot. ra outright refused, "Dad, sculptures of real people are usually for memorials. Can''t you think of something more appropriate?" Who would put a life-size sculpture of the bride and groom in the hall at their wedding? Just the thought of it made it hard to bear! Instead, they ended up carving cute chibi versions of the couple, using paints taken from Master Killian, making them look even more adorable. Tristan was thrilled with the sculpture, "So cute! Dad is already looking forward to seeing your kids!" They would surely be just as adorable as these two little figures! As the wedding bells chimed, Noe, with her crown and veil back on, ced her hand on Tristan''s wrist. Three little ones followed behind, holding up her train, as they stepped onto the red carpet. The wedding march echoed, filling every corner of the ind with its sacred and solemn melody. At the other end of the red carpet, Palmer, holding the bouquet, stared at his approaching bride, his eyes misting over. He strode towards Noe, and before Tristan could utter his heartfelt words, he burst into tears. "Palmer, oh! I only have two daughters, and both have been swept away by your family! Noe is my treasure, you must treat her well for life! Otherwise, I won''t let you off even as a ghost!" Noe, between tears andughter, quickly dabbed at Tristan''s eyes with a handkerchief. "Dad, I''ll still live at home after getting married. Palmer''s ce is just next door. We agreed, it''s just a wedding, not a departure." Yet Tristan couldn''t bear it, wailing and jumping down to cling to Sienna''s legs. Sienna remarked, "Your dad is making a spectacle of himself. Don''t mind him; carry on!" Though she said this, Sienna''s eyes were also brimming with tears. If not for fear of ruining her makeup, she might have joined Tristan in his disy. Sitting among the guests, Lavinia wiped away her tears, "I understand Mr. Schnabelpletely." If ra were to get married, she doubted she''d fare any better than Tristan! Jacob Pock by her side promptly dered, "I''d at least handle it better!" "Oh?" "I''ll save my tears forter." Laviniaughed, the somber mood instantly lifted. The wedding proceeded as nned. Noe admired the ring on her finger, a stone she had mined and polished herself into a shape she loved, leaving the rest for Palmer to work on. Together, they had created something unique! Below, Tristan and Jasper were a mess of tears, a ratherical sight. Ulrich, sitting upright, dabbed at his eyes and solemnly said, "Honey, let''s just have sons-inw in the future. Daren can do as he pleases, but I can''t bear the thought of our daughter getting married!" Even Palmer, living just next door, was too much for Tristan to let Noe go! The wedding had been arranged so that Noe would still live with the Schnabel family after, with Palmer simply moving in as well. Malvina patted Ulrich''s shoulder. "Just the other day, I heard Daren saying only his children could carry the Schnabel name. From now on, Ophelia''s children will carry the Schnabel name too!" Ulrich was quick topromise: "I''ve already fired that nanny, honey, don''t worry! Besides, the surname doesn''t matter. If you want, I''d even take yourst name!" Malvina gave him a reproachful look. "I have no affection for the Gruber family! It''s a blessing to have our children bear the Schnabel name, growing up in such a family makes me happy!" "Besides... your daughter doesn''t really need your worry." Malvina nced at Ophelia, who stubbornly clung to Gavin''s leg, and sighed. Ophelia gazed up at Noe Palmer on stage, her cheeks flushed with a timid smile, "Gavin, when I grow up, will you marry me too?"This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Gavin blinked in surprise, "Uh... what?" "Just like Auntie and Uncle! Gavin, you''re so handsome, our wedding would be picture-perfect! We could have our names on a fancy sign at the entrance - Gavin and Ophelia!" Something felt off to Gavin, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on it. "Let''s talk about it when we''re older, little sis Ophelia." "Don''t forget I proposed to you, okay?" Ulrich rubbed his chin, bewildered, "Where did she pick that up from?" Malvina chuckled, "Must be in the genes. Her dad proposed on the first day he confessed his love, after all." Recalling the events of years past, Ulrich joined in theughter, intertwining his fingers with Malvina''s. "Thanks, love. I''m really happy now!" Stirling had invited famous media outlets from around the globe to cover the grand wedding! The champagne for the celebration, air-shipped by Tristan, was poured into a tower by the newlyweds, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. Millie, holding a ss of champagne, was just about to take a sip when Jasper snatched it away. "You''ve still got that injury on your arm; no alcohol for you, I''ll drink it." Watching Jasper down the champagne right in front of her, Millie fumed, "Are you out of your mind? It''s just a bit of champagne!" "Ulrich said you shouldn''t drink." "And why not? It''s not like I''m gonna get drunk!" Jasper coughed, lowering his voice, "Malvina thinks you look pregnant." Millie, hand mid-air ready to p, paused and withdrew, instead touching her belly. "Pregnant? With what? Cheeseburgers, BBQ ribs, or icedttes?" Jasper panicked, "Obviously, mine! Mine!" Millie''s gaze shifted suspiciously between Jasper''s face and her stomach. "You? Are you sure you''re up to it?" "What''s that supposed to mean?" She was doubting his capability! Millie rubbed her belly, "I''ll go see my mentor and then we''ll know for sure." Once Noe, dressed in her toast attire, confirmed Millie''s pregnancy, Millie mused, "Just from that one time identally pulled down the young master''s pants, and now I''m pregnant." A chorus of gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. Jasper, cheeks ame, quickly covered Millie''s mouth and whisked her away! La eximed with excitement, "We''re gonna have a little one in our family! I''m not the baby anymore!" After a moment''s thought, she added, "But still the prettiest!" Ophelia, on her tiptoes, reached for Noe''s hand, "Auntie, when will you have a little baby?" Noe winked at her, gently stroking the young girl''s cheek, "Maybe the little one is up in the stars right now, choosing their mommy, wondering if they should pick me." "Absolutely! Hey, little star baby, listen up! My auntie and uncle are the best, absolutely the best. Hurry up ande!" Everyone couldn''t help butugh at Ophelia''s adorable earnestness. As the waltz yed, everyone stepped onto the dance floor, Ophelia pulling Gavin along to dance too. The children twirled and twisted until they eventually fell asleep amidst the fun. Beyond the dance floor stretched a vast, azure sea. el Noe and Palmer locked eyes, the moonlight reflecting in their clear, bright eyes, illuminating all before them like the bright lights of the Obelisk Organization over the Abyssal Organization, with fireworks lighting up the night sky, as splendid as day. At the beach''s edge, four sturdy men squatted, sharing drinks. Watching the fireworks, Thorpe grinned, "Beautiful, just like tonight''s moon and tomorrow''s sun." But even better is having the people we wait for the sunrise with right beside us! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!