17-15
Chapter 74
Sienna saw that the old man and lady were set in their ways, so she thought better of trying to persuade them further.
A stretched Bentley pulled up at the door, its luxurious, sleek body gliding over the flower and plant–covered path, leaving a trail of sweet fragrance.
Two tall and handsome men got out first, and just as Stirling reached out his hand, he saw Palmer already bending down and offering his hand to Noella.
“Sis, save some hand–holding for me!” Stirling was on the verge of tears. At home, Beckett always hogged the spotlight, and he could live with not getting to hold his sister’s hand, but now Palmer was in the picture, too!
Noella, holding onto one brother on each side, approached the Horwich family elders.
“Grandpa and Grandma, I’m back.”
“Good, good. From now on, this is your home too!”
Merrick Horwich had met Noella before, so he was quite composed, patting her hand gently.
Freya, however, was meeting her granddaughter for the first time. Initially, she had mixed feelings about Noella because of her worries about Elara, but the moment she saw Noella’s face, which bore a striking resemblance to Sienna’s, Freya’s tears started rolling down her
cheeks.
“My dear child, you’ve finally come back. I missed your last birthday; don’t hold it against me.”
Sienna was startled. “Mom, what’s going on? Why the tears? Don’t scare Noella, let’s go inside.” Noella squatted in front of Freya, looking up at the old lady with white hair.
Freya, a scientist who made significant contributions to Harmonia Country and didn’t even shed a tear when receiving the national medal of honor, was now crying like a baby.
“Grandma. I’m not mad.”
Stirling chimed in, “Grandma, I’m still here, don’t play favorites! Don’t act like I’m invisible; you always said I was your favorite!”
Freya couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing her obviously neglected grandson. “You little scamp. who could possibly miss you? Let’s go inside. Noella must be tired from standing at the door, and even the little Pollack family guy is here. Great, I love a full house.”
Polite as ever, Palmer presented a gift. “These are for both of you, prepared by Noella and me.” Sienna couldn’t help but see hearts when she looked at Palmer and Noella together–such a picture–perfect couple! She had worried that someone with Palmer’s background wouldn’t think Noella was good enough, but Palmer couldn’t care less and was super attentive and
caring towards Noella–total devotion!
Freya and Merrick only had Sienna as their daughter and treated her kids like the apple of their
eve.
At the dinner table, the family sat together for a rare meal.
Freva turned to Sienna, putting down her cutlery. “Sienna, you mentioned you wanted to divorce Tristan? What’s that about? I didn’t have a chance to ask you when I got back last night, what exactly happened?”
Tristan was on the brink of tears!
Oh boy, his dear mother–in–law! He had just barely smoothed things over, and Sienna had agreed to drop it, but now his mother–in–law brought it up, and Sienna was sure to get worked up again!
Sienna put down her fork, her gaze piercing as she looked at her parents.
“Yes, and I’m determined to go through with it! Mom, Dad, I’ve thought it over. I didn’t divorce Tristan before because I loved him and also because Noella hadn’t come back. I felt guilty towards my child, thinking how devastated she would be if she found out her parents were divorced.”
She looked lovingly at Noella sitting beside her, her mind made up.
“But I can’t stand that old witch bullying my daughter over and over again! Why should my Noella be bossed around by her? Mom, Dad, can you believe Tristan’s mother badmouthed my precious daughter right in front of me? I was so close to slapping her!”
Sienna had always been well–mannered and demure, never raising her voice. But when it came to Ashlyn, she was so furious that her eyes were bloodshot, remembering the nasty things Ashlyn had said about Noella right to her face.
Merrick looked at Tristan. “Tristan, this is something we really can’t meddle in. Your mother has indeed gone too far. For years, Sienna and we have put up with it for you and the kids, but it’s clear that your mother won’t become kind–hearted just because of our patience!”
Tristan was frantic! “Right, right, I’ve discussed this with my father, and he says they will divorce tomorrow. From now on, Sienna and Noella won’t have to see her again. I promise I’ll make sure it never happens again!”
Sienna snorted. “Your promise? And how will you keep it? Do you have any idea that the call you got last night was from someone she gave your number to?”
Tristan’s gaze turned icy.
What the Lambert family had done to Noella was unforgivable to the Schnabel family.
If Ashlyn of the Schnabel family indirectly assisted the Lambert family in harming Noella, he might not be able to forgive his own mother!
Yox, Fit get to the bottom of this, Don’t worry, no matter what she says, I won’t let her bother
Trdan was about ready to kneel right there in front of his in–laws. In his middle age, though sit the refined and handsome helmsman of the Schnabel family, Tristan had no airs about him when it came to Sienna. “Sienna, I can’t be without you. How about we just stay here and never
back home?”
seeing him so tearful. Sienna’s heart softened. She took Noella’s hand, her face full of remorse. Sweetheart, if that old witch ever bothers you again, just black her.”
Sana olanced over at Palmer standing behind Noella. “Mr. Pollack, Noella’s still wet behind. the ears and, just like me, a total softie. Please, keep an extra eye on her for me.” Palmer nodded resolutely, slipping his arm around Noella’s waist in a sweet yet appropriate gesture
No worries, Noella’s my fiancée; I’ll take good care of her.”
Freva, seeing how lovey–dovey they were, couldn’t help but snicker and playfully kicked the old man next to her.
That old coot, just last night, he was bad–mouthing Palmer, plotting to call off this engagement. and now he was gawking at Palmer, who was looking at Noella like she was his prized possession; their romance was obviously going strong!
“Sienna, why does your mother–in–law have it out for you all the time?”
“It’s all because she’s banking on her niece marrying Tristan, dead set on getting her own kin in as the Mrs.”
Talking about all that drama, Sienna rolled her eyes and reached out to show her parents the burn she got from Ashlyn’s ridiculous tantrum. When she stretched out her hand, she noticed the redness and swelling had vanished!
“Noella, that medicine you gave me last time is pure magic. I thought it would take ages to heal! Hook me up with some more; next time I get hurt, it’ll come in handy!”
“Sure, I’ll get some for you when I get home.”
The ointment Noella made for Sienna was top–notch, her handiwork. In the black market, anything doled out by the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris was worth its weight in gold.
But it was with the Schnabel family that her concoctions really proved their worth. She just wanted to protect her family, hoping they could live happily and safely!
Palmer, on the sidelines, didn’t feel like an outsider at all, watching Noella with a smile in his
eyes.
The family she cherished, he would gladly protect, too!
11:15
Chapter 74
Briony had only popped to the loo, and her parents had vanished into thin air. After searching high and low to no avail, she decided to just book a hotel room and catch some Zs. She had a film audition to nail and needed her beauty sleep.
To avoid any interruptions from her parents, Briony switched off her phone early and arrived at the set bright and early.
Everyone there was gearing up for auditions, with Briony’s hands shaking with nerves.
“Ms. Schnabel, right this way, please.”
Yvonne strutted onto the set, taking a look at the competition vying for the same role and snorted disdainfully.
“This part. I’ve got my eye on it, so the rest of you might as well pack it in!”
