Chapter 124
In the Lunar Lab, it only took a couple of hours to verify a familial connection with their cutting–edge equipment.
“Let’s use magnetic 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?”
Noella, masked and with lashes 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 declared 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–related 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–and–dagger stuff?”
Noella expertly added isopropanol and magnetic 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 nabbed last time, real name Tandy, turns out he’s the head of Heartfelt Orphanage and Tandy Hospital. He’s locked up in Lockhart
Prison now.”
Noella frowned slightly. “Isn’t Lockhart on the border?”
“Yeah, we’ve been there before. His activities were border–based, so they transferred him to the border prison. But our network 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, the largest penitentiary on the border.
“Which group has sway over Lockhart Prison right now?”
Phecda gave Noella a mischievous wink, his mask nearly slipping off.
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“Cut the clowning, Phecda. Is your mouth crooked or what?” Her fingers snapped as she placed the centrifuge tubes into the magnetic 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. Pollack 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–hitting, 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–profile inmate like Tandy, that’s a huge favor to ask. You think our boss likes to be indebted to others?”
Noella 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. Pollack 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 his commitment?”
Noella’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 Elara’s origins!
If she could unravel the mystery, at least she’d know who Elara’s real family was.
“Let me think it over.”
Phecda stroked his chin. “Or you could just ask Mr. Pollack out–dinner, 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. Pollack on a date, he’d parachute into the lab right now!”
Phecda winked at Noella, the mastermind behind the scenes. He’d already sent the text. It was up to Mr. Pollack to pick up on their boss’s hints.
Two hours later, Noella reviewed the lab 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–fetched.
At the entrance of the lab, Megrez, who had just changed and was about to hit the restroom, let out an exclamation, “Holy smokes, Boss, have I time–traveled or what?”
Then Noella’s phone buzzed insistently. She neatly arranged the lab reports on her desk and picked up the call.
Palmer’s voice was deep and seductive, laced with an indefinable allure. “I’m outside. Come on
out.”
Noella was puzzled. Hadn’t they agreed to meet tonight? What on earth was Palmer doing here now?
Phecda, with a sly smirk, nudged Noella’s shoulder, ushering her towards the door.
The scene at the lab’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 barren land outside the lab, 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” emblazoned on them!
ÎN
The helicopter’s rotor whipped up waves among the floral sea, and there was Palmer, dressed to the nines in a tuxedo, dangling one–handed from the helicopter’s rope. His face was etched with a tender smile as he descended towards Noella!
His movements were fluid and effortless, casual yet dashing, with the surrounding roses merely an embellishment to his knightly presence.
“My fiancée said she wanted a date, and I’m thrilled. I had to throw this together on short notice, but I hope you like it.”
Noella, frowning at the extravaganza before her, said, “When did I ever say…”
Behind her, Phecda took advantage of her distraction and pushed Noella into Palmer’s arms!
“Heh, Boss, your experiment is done. Go enjoy your date!”
If they let Noella, this workaholic, stay in the lab forever, she’d have nothing but experiments on her mind, and their own plans wouldn’t get far.
He had sneakily used Noella’s account to message Palmer. Getting no reply, he thought their
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boss had met his match in another workaholic. But judging by the current setup, at least Mr. Pollack knew a thing or two about romance!
Noella was enveloped in Palmer’s embrace, her senses wrapped in his scent,
