Chapter 139
Noella slid into Palmer’s sleek sedan and immediately felt the intensity of his gaze–it 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 fiancée all night. I’ve missed your terribly.”
Noella 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,” Noella retorted.
After all, no one would turn down money.
Palmer pulled out a checkbook, scribbled his signature, and handed it to Noella.
“Whatever they’re offering. I’ll match it. Consider this a down payment to reclaim my life. In the meantime, it’s in the safekeeping of my betrothed.”
Could one’s life be entrusted to safekeeping?
Noella pinched the thin check between her fingers, noting that the amount was left for her to fill
- 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?”
Noella 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.
Noella preferred a steady income, and maybe there were other reasons she couldn’t quite
name.
Palmer buried his head into the crook of Noella’s neck, laughing, his shoulders trembling lightly. Was his fiancée 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
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mind taking care of Grandpa?”
Noella 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 Noella off and then just leaving? Is the company really that important? Can’t he just spend more time with Noella!”
Sexton knew the Pollack Group kept Palmer busy, but he disapproved of his grandson’s neglect. in wooing his fiancée. Did Palmer realize how exceptional Noella was? What if she caught. someone else’s eye while he was away? Seeing that Noella didn’t seem too fond of Palmer yet. that kid really should worry!
Sexton was genuinely concerned.
Outside, the press had already taken their places. As soon as Noella appeared, the cameras went live, trained on the Schnabel family.
Travis was stunned by the turnout.
Had Ms. Noella 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 Noella, surrounded by the Schnabels, a flash 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–I’m Walden Gruber.”
Beckett stepped in front of Noella, 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 Noella. 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 Elara 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.
Noella hadn’t realized the depth of the bad blood between Walden and the Schnabel siblings.
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Chapter 139
“And then?”
“Then our parents made us apologize, and we beat him up again in the hospital. We almost gave him a complex. 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 glares were anything but friendly.
Noella covered her mouth, hiding her amusement.
The Schnabels always protected their own.
Jasper cautioned, “Noella, 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, Noella knew he wasn’t just any ordinary guy.
A bastard son rising through the ranks of the Gruber family–how could he achieve that without a fair share of cunning and resourcefulness?
Walden turned his gaze to Noella. “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 never laid eyes on before? But I’ve heard no whispers of new masterpieces from Master Killian in recent years. Perhaps, Ms. Schnabel, you plan 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.
Noella’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–to report back to the old guard at home!
“My apprentice is organizing my exhibition, and you’re worried about the lack 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!
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Chapter 139
How could Master Killian himself be here! He referred to Ms. Schnabel as his apprentice?
