Chapter 272
Palmer raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
“Grandma, if you didn’t want Noella to come 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 Noella’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 glanced up at her grandson. “What are you staring at? If you weren’t so useless, wouldn’t I have a granddaughter–in–law 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 Pollack family’s grandchildren, few could claim a close relationship with her.
Understanding her nature, Palmer didn’t take offense and left the room with Elara.
Palmer rubbed his temples. “Elara, if you want to come, then come. 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, Elara said, “I’ll come over with Noella tomorrow to see how things are. If it feels off, Noella and I will just leave.”
The idea of facing Helen alone did indeed intimidate Elara slightly.
Palmer’s thoughts drifted to Noella’s charming face, warming his heart. His expression softened considerably.
Noella 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 Noella was likely reading.
After sending Elara home, Jacob stood behind Palmer, looking at his nephew who was in prime condition.
Following Palmer’s gaze, which was fixed on Noella’s room without even a glimpse of her in sight, Jacob joked half–seriously, “Real fallen for her, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you’d call off the engagement.”
Given Palmer’s personality, Jacob was sure he would not easily accept 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 fiancée like a treasure, with all the softness in his eyes almost melting away.
“Uncle Jacob, I thought she and 1 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 glass 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, Noella, 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 Elara, 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 Noella in her just–awoken state.
She was adorable even then!
Unfortunately, his fiancée 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, Noella, now fully dressed, simply walked past Palmer and headed downstairs. She didn’t even spare him an extra glance, clearly seeming a bit miffed.
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09:57
Chapter 2IL
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, Noella ignored whatever Palmer was saying.
“I’ll go get Grandpa. You can go ahead and have breakfast.”
“Okay.”
Sitting down at the breakfast table, Elara handed Noella a glass of warm water. “Noella, didn’t Palmer come to get you? Where is he?”
“He went to ca!! Grandpa Sexton. Next time, don’t let him come up.”
Elara chuckled mischievously. “Did you two have a fight?”
“No, I’m just not a morning person, and he talks too much.”
Noella 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 Noella realize she might not be averse to it after all.
Elara, trying to stifle her laughter, said, “Alright, next time we won’t let him bother you!”
Seeing Noella expertly remove Palmer from the block list on her phone, Elara’s smile widened even further!
It seemed Palmer had been blocked quite a few times by Noella!
“Way to go! That’s my sister!”
Noella explained, “He kept messaging me while I was working. It was distracting.”
After finishing her work, Noella would forget to remove Palmer from the block list.
Elara was nearly in stitches!
Who would have thought the aloof and proud flower, the decisive and swift helmsman of the Pollack Group, could be so chatty!
Just imagining that scenario had Elara in fits of laughter.
“But this does show that he really likes you!”
Noella, eating her breakfast, merely smiled faintly at the comment, feeling a sweetness she couldn’t quite name.
After breakfast, Noella and Elara headed over to the neighboring Pollack Mansion.
Helen had just finished her breakfast, comfortably nestled in her garden rocking chair, engrossed in a good read and occasionally strumming her guitar, acknowledging their presence with a mere nod.
“Entertain yourselves, don’t bother me.”
Noella had been forewarned about the old lady’s temper but chose not to take it to heart.
Closing her book, Helen serenely played a melody on her guitar, then practiced her vocal scales, belting out a piece of classic soprano piece.
Listening to the song, Noella suddenly remembered Old Mrs. Pollack was the celebrated singer Helen from the last century. Back then, Helen’s fame had swept the nation, captivating fans from coast to coast!
As a child in Glen Village, Noella 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 Noella initially failed to recognize her.
Elara was utterly amazed, clapping 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 Noella over.
Understanding the cue, Noella approached Helen, allowing those sharp, discerning eyes to scrutinize her. With a raised eyebrow, Helen cut straight to the point. “Do you really plan on marrying Palmer?”
09
