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 Noella, that country bumpkin, when she was the true lady 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 a complete 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 become a Lambert!”
Yvonne’s face went ghostly pale at the thought! Being sent to Noella’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 your last warning. No matter what Noella does, she’s part of the Schnabel family. Her future children will be Schnabel heirs, regardless of who their father is. As for Mr. Pollack…”
Annie chimed in from behind, her smile courteous and bowing slightly. “Mr. Pollack treasures Ms. Noella like a gem. He says he’ll do anything to make her happy, and he’ll treat any child of hers as his own.”
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Palmer had said this with such confidence, clearly certain that he’d be the father of Noella’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 Noella’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 Noella, there’s no place for you in the Schnabel family.”
Chapter 106
“Why? I am a daughter of the Schnabels too.”
Desperation and suffocation filled Yvonne’s heart, compounded 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 glance 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 Noella, but given Noella’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 could come up with that kind of money yourself,” Vincent retorted, puffing up with indignation and blatantly disregarding Zachary’s presence.
He was well aware of the near–bankruptcy 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 plans to visit his mother’s grave for solace.
Vincent knew the Rosenberg family had hit a rough patch with their business tanking lately. He had initially planned to milk them for a hefty money when Briony tied the knot, figuring she
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Chapter 106
could always divorce later 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 in–laws.”
–
Vincent was perplexed. He barely gave the Fullers, his wife’s parents, two grand a year – pocket change, really.
“What are you on about? When have I ever lavished my father–in–law 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–in–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–pinching 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 balance 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.
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“Vincent, Zachary, you’re both suspected of unlawfully entering someone else’s property – the graveyard, to be precise. We’re going to need you to come with us.
