CHapter 4

Chapter 4

Noella remained notably quiet, resembling the depth of still water. Her brows and eyes exuded a picturesque quality, akin to delicately painting hills in soft shades of green, evoking elegance and charm.

Wren coughed twice, thinking about the task the lord had given him, and gently said, “Miss, are Mr. and Mrs. Lambert good to you?“–

Noella looked up nonchalantly, her gaze steady yet somehow making Wren feel as though there were needles on his back.

Despite being only 18, her look was more intimidating than the lord. It was as if she could see right through him.

Noella shifted her gaze back down, her eyelashes resembling raven feathers, focusing on the design draft in her hands.

She said indifferently. “They’re okay. Are we heading to Emerald County?”

“We’re not heading to Emerald County. Miss Elara is just doing her research there. She manages a 2,000–acre chicken farm. You seem interested, maybe next time I can take you there for a visit. The call you got last time was from a staff member at the research institute. We’re heading back to Imperial City. Your family is waiting for you at home.”

Imperial City, the political and economic hub of Harmonia Country, where real estate was worth its weight in gold. Getting a house there for a whole family to live in, even a small one, would cost a pretty penny.

Just yesterday, Briony wanted to buy a house in Imperial City because of university stuff, but Vincent shot her down saying it wasn’t a smart investment.

On top of money, you’d need connections to snag a house in Imperial City that ticked all your boxes!

Even in a mountainous area like Emerald County, owning a 2,000–acre chicken farm for research meant you had to be loaded.

Vincent’s connections and cash barely qualified him as the richest guy in the smallest district of Tranquility City, all thanks to Noella secretly funneling him resources out of respect for Old Mrs. Lambert. Otherwise, Vincent wouldn’t have been able to afford a villa by now.

But his days as the top dog were numbered!

At the Lambert Mansion, after seeing Noella off, the family sat amid the chaos of their living

room.

Briony asked uncertainly. “Mom, if sis has a hard time in the future, will she come back to us for money?”

Chapter 4

Belinda snapped, “Listen up, sweetie, keep your distance from her. People like us, we’re not on the same level as those country bumpkins.”

Briony was just worried Belinda might soften and take Noella back in. Hearing her say that made Briony feel warm and fuzzy inside.

“Did you see that helicopter flying by earlier? It wasn’t Noella, was it?”

Vincent chuckled and tapped her nose affectionately. “Her family having a decent car is already a stretch. Honey, you have no idea, that was the latest combat chopper, brand spanking new tech, only deputy national leaders get to ride those. No way Noella’s family could pull that off.”

Deputy national level big shots were way out of Vincent’s league for life. If that were true, he’d be frying fish for Noella with his bare hands.

“And their car…

Belinda cut in, annoyed, “Must be something her dad borrowed. Just looking at all that dust on him was bad luck. This afternoon, I’ll take you shopping and get you more jewelry and clothes!” Briony smiled sweetly, snuggling into Belinda. “I want the latest from Master Azure too!”

Owning anything designed by Master Azure, even a tiny handkerchief, would let Briony strut around the socialite circle.

Belinda readily agreed.

Alena walked in with a parcel. “Sir, your delivery.”

Vincent received tons of mail and parcels every day; he couldn’t

keep track of them all.

He opened it, and the contents made his eyes nearly pop out of his skull!

Inside were two paternity test reports.

One was between him and Briony, and the other between Belinda and Briony.

However, the results were worlds apart!

Vincent’s hands trembled as he looked at the sequence of numbers, feeling like he was betrayed.

“What the heck is this!”

Belinda hurried over, glanced at the documents, and suddenly remembered what Noella had mentioned about the ‘gift‘ for them before leaving.

That damn girl!

Gritting her teeth, Belinda said, “Vincent, it must be Noella’s doing. This report is definitely forged. Do you know how expensive a paternity test is? She only gets 2,000 a month; where would she get the cash? She’s about to live a miserable life and wants to drag Briony down with her! Honey, Briony looks so much like you. You can’t doubt her!”

Chapter 4

Briony, tears streaming down her face, played the part of the tearful daughter.

Vincent looked at her skeptically, indeed seeing his own features in hers.

This daughter must be real.

He put the report down, wearily saying, “I’m not doubting Briony, I just don’t want to mistake my daughter. It’s definitely Noella’s doing; the kid’s twisted. Good thing we cut her off.”

Sending away such a malicious girl was the wisest decision they’d made!!

Once Vincent left, Belinda breathed a sigh of relief.

She instructed Briony. “I’ve enrolled you in a course to learn micro expressions. As long as you act and look like your dad, he’ll think you’re like him and won’t doubt you.”

Briony didn’t dare defy Belinda and muttered a yes, “Then mom, buy me another designer piece. from Master Azure. I want a matching hair clip!”

Belinda hugged her, her smile full of tenderness. “Sure, I will get it for you.”

Briony’s smile was smugly satisfied.

Noella probably didn’t even know who Master Azure was. Their lives from now on would be Worlds apart – one a princess, the other an ugly duckling!

On the plane, Noella glanced at her phone, selectively replying to messages.

She had a hand in developing that helicopter too. It could stay connected even 10,000 meters. up in the sky.

Her phone wasn’t completely wiped either. With a few taps and swipes, she had it back in business. She couldn’t care less about keeping anything from the Lambert family..

Kitai’s message instantly came in: [Boss, the latest collection just dropped. I’ll send the reservation details to your phone.]

[The design is killer! Just hit the shelves and it’s selling like hotcakes. The cash is already rolling into your account. There was even a catfight over a scarf at the launch – talk about high society drama!]

Noella replied coolly: [Make sure everything’s safe.]

Kitai replied: [Don’t worry, boss. We’ll make sure they pay up every last dime!]

They’ve been working with Noella long enough to know her inside out.

Kitai asked: (Boss, have you sketched out next quarter’s drafts? Not that I’m rushing you or anything!]

But Kitai knew what Noella’s like when she’s in the zone. In just one hour, while he’s still munching on his meal, she’d whip up a whole season’s worth of designs!

Every piece she created was nothing short of breathtaking. Kital got to the point where he

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Chapter 4

wanted to drop to his knees in awe of those magical hands of hers.

Everyone in the industry raved about Master Azure’s designs being out of this world. If they had only known these masterpieces were whipped up during her lunch breaks, their jaws would have hit the floor!

Noella looked at that stack of blank papers, no patterns in sight.

[I’ll send them over once they’re done. I’ll give you the heads–up once I’ve sorted the formula for the reveal agent.]

[Roger that!]

Kitai knew Noella had always been super careful. Every design draft she made was on her custom paper, using special pens that no ordinary Joe could decipher.

To actually see the designs, you needed Noella’s personally concocted reveal agent mixed to the right formula. To anyone else who might have stumbled upon these drafts by some fluke, they’d have seen nothing more than blank sheets.

Getting your hands on Master Azure’s designs? Might as well try to reach the stars.

Wren was over the moon after picking up Noella, grinning ear to ear, happier than if he’d hit the jackpot himself.

“Miss, you’re finally home. Now we can seal the deal on that marriage arrangement with the Pollack family.”