Chapter 180
Elara’s mom, Jacob’s fiancée?
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 genetic tolerance for alcohol.
With a sheepish grin plastered 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 Noella 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 was completely numb to it all.
“No, I was just marveling at how Ms. Schnabel’s head, so pretty and small, could remember so much stuff!”
Noella, chin held high, retorted, “Based on what Tandy said, it seems they used the same tricks on my grandma and Elara’s mom. Since my grandma is alive but has lost some memories, I have reason to suspect Elara’s mom might be in the same boat.”
Palmer’s steely gaze fell on Hollis.
With an innocently disarming smile and a nonchalant 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.”
Noella turned to Xavier and tossed her magnetic earrings to him. “Inside is a copy of a file. Videos and photos left by my grandma are all in there–the password is her birthday.”
Xavier, in a fluster, caught the earrings Noella casually threw. He was terrified of breaking something so precious!
This was everything Harriet had left behind!
His voice softened as he looked at Noella 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
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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 Noella, a spark hope ignited within Xavier!
“Will you come back to… Forget it, this place is no good. Just go, and don’t look back!”
He watched as Noella and Palmer headed to the helicopter, his eyes heavy with reluctance.
The helicopter blades roared to life, and as Noella 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 Noella and Palmer weren’t part of the Schnabel and Pollack families, the power of the Obelisk and Abyssal organizations still surpassed that of Cerulean Whale. Did Thorpe always believe they could replace them?
Wiping away a tear, Xavier cheerfully took the earring Noella 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 Noella. 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.
Noella 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 to come home!
The room was eerily quiet, the ticking of the clock hanging on the wall echoing clearly.
Noella was taken aback by the crowd, but soon realized that they were all there for Elara’s sake.
Marcel waved Noella 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 Noella. 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 uncontrollably. his gaze never leaving Elara.
Noella obediently took her seat next to Marcel, with Elara right beside her.
Elara leaned in and whispered, “Don’t be scared, they’ll leave after the chat.”
Noella soothed Elara’s palm with a gentle scratch.
In this setting, shouldn’t it be Elara who should be scared?
Marcel glanced 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 Elara’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 Elara 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 Elara transferred back to the Imperial City Institute. At least he’s doing something.”
Merrick turned to Noella with a twinkle in his eye. “So, Noella, did you guys uncover anything new on this trip?”
Noella nodded. “We’re still not sure what exactly happened to Grandma back in the day, but Palmer and I think there’s a chance Elara’s mother might still be alive. Grandpa Sexton, who is Elara’s mother, really?”
Only the Pollack family knew the true identity of the woman once betrothed to Jacob.
Sexton stood up abruptly, a storm of emotions in his eyes. “Noella, you… you mean she could be alive? Then why hasn’t she sought out Jacob, or Elara? What kind of mother could be so heartless?”
Noella 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 Elara, then Elara…”
His voice trailed off as he turned to look at Elara, his eyes brimming with tears that streaked down his weathered cheeks.
