CHapter 80

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Chapter 80

Merrick and Freya were making such a big deal about taking photos with Noella, as if they were more excited than if they finished novels or won science awards. They even dug out their wedding outfits to snap pics with her.

Freya’s rocking this burgundy silk dress, and man, she’s still got it all grace and poise. The dress just added to her charm.

Merrick’s suit was an oldie but goodie, with a well–preserved fleur–de–lis brooch adding a touch. of scholarly kindness.

Noella, sandwiched between the two old–timers, snapped their first group selfie.

Freya was over the moon, and she waved at Tristan and Sienna, who look like they were about to drool with envy.

They were practically itching to jump in and take pics with their daughter.

away

Last time at the birthday bash, they were so busy clicking at their girl that they totally spaced on getting a group shot. Now they were kicking themselves over it.

“Come on, get in here. We’ll photoshop Stirling and Elara in later.”

The whole family ended up taking a bunch of photos together.

Merrick couldn’t wait to switch his profile pic to the selfie with Noella. He hightailed it to chat with Marcel, “Whoa, why did I change my profile pic? Can’t quite make out who’s in it, can you?” Marcel was in the middle of a chess game with Sexton, and when he saw that message, he was so close to flipping out. “That sly old fox’s showing off his pic with Noella, huh? Just wait until she visits me in the hospital. I’ll get my photo op too!”

Seeing Noella all cozy with Merrick in the photo, Marcel was getting all choked up.

Why didn’t he think to take a pic with his granddaughter?

Now he’s just got to sit there and watch Merrick strut his stuff!

In the Schnabel family group chat, Beckett ‘accidentally‘ dropped à ton of Noella’s pics. including the fresh ones they just took.

Ulrich: [Noella’s looking adorable. That outfit’s perfect on her. Grandma doing okay? I’ll swing by after my surgery.]

Stirling: [What’s the deal here? Why didn’t we take any when I was home?!]

Elara: [No biggie, I got Photoshop.]

She played it cool, but she quickly edited herself into the group shot and uploaded it to the chat.

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Stirling: (Fake is fake, drop the act. You’re probably dying to cry, right?]

Elara gave Noella a call, his voice pathetic, “Noella! Stirling’s saying I’m fake, so does he want to kick me out? I can’t stand to leave you, my baby girl! Oh well, I guess I’m not really a Schnabel; I deserve this and I’ll just leave.”

Noella’s head was spinning as she calmed her down, “Sis, I’ll swing by Emerald County when I can. I’ll bring you some treats then.”

“Then I wanna take photos with you too!” Elara said.

“Sure, we’ll take loads.”

Elara hung up. She was pleased as punch and dropped the recording of the call into the group

chat.

Stirling was livid.

[You’re way out of line! You are stirring up drama to get sympathy from our sis. Right, Ulrich?] He furiously typed.

Ulrich was not even bothering with their group chat drama. “Noella, lunch tomorrow? I wanna take photos with you too.” He called Noella directly.

“Sure.”

After sorting through the Schnabels‘ photo requests, Noella breathed a sigh of relief.

Back in the Lambert days, she hardly ever took pics and didn’t have many keepsakes.

Except for Old Mrs. Lambert, who treasured this one photo of her as a kid. And when she was laid to rest, that photo went with her into the grave. Therefore, Noella didn’t have a single picture left from her time with the Lamberts.

Freya peeked at the photo of Noella’s sweet, gentle smile, sneaking a tear wipe when no one’s watching and planting a kiss on that photo on her phone. “My granddaughter is so precious; what a blessing.”

Noella felt a warm current flowing through her heart as she sensed Freya’s love in that simple

act.

Beckett offered his hand, “I take you to check out the music store?”

“Sure.” She answered.

As they drove off with Beckett, Noella heard him humming a tune. Sounding like he’s in a particularly good mood.

“Noella, you wouldn’t believe it, but our folks weren’t always like this. Dad used to be super tough, but after finding out Elara wasn’t ours, he just changed – no joke, you’d have thought he was this stony type if you met him earlier.”

Like one time, there was an elevator accident at the mall, and a kid was stuck. Dad could’ve

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had someone wait with the kid, but no, he sat there himself, saying how great it’d be if someone did that for you if you were in trouble.

We’ve always been big on charity, especially these last couple of years. One time, Grandma said it was Mom’s fault for losing you, and Mom just broke down and got ill. Elara’s great, but we missed you too. Now you’re here with us, and you have no idea how happy we are.”

After a moment of silence, Noella cracked a smile too, “Yeah, I know. I’m happy too.”

Beckett reached out to ruffle her soft hair, “Elara once came to me, said she’d leave the Schnabels once you were back. But she dropped the idea as she thought that the elders wouldn’t let her go.”

Noella knew it was tough for the Schnabels at first, so she cracked open, “Elara’s awesome. We are still a family even if she finds her own, right?”

Beckett was caught off guard, then moved and reassured as he pinched Noella’s cheek.

She’s just the best, a true Schnabel through and through!

He forwarded Noella’s words to Elara without changing a single letter, and added a few scolding lines of his own, telling Elara to stay put with the Schnabel family because she’ll always be a part of it.

Elara quickly bombarded him with a stream of crying emojis.

“My sis is my little angel! And how dare you scold me, Beckett? You piece of crap! Lololol! My sister and I love each other. You are the only one getting blocked!”

Beckett looked at his phone and felt a throb in his temples.

After a moment, he couldn’t help but curse with a chuckle, “What a cheeky girl. She just has no respect for her brother.”

But the corners of his mouth still curled up in a smile and brimmed with Joy.

The Lambert Mansion in the Tranquility City.

Vincent and Belinda were dumped rudely at the villa’s doorstep as the car with no plate sped

off into the distance.

Briony, hearing the commotion, hurried outside only to the Lambert couple lying on the ground. battered and bruised.

“Mom, Dad, what happened to you? I sent the money already!”

Vincent slapped Briony across the face, “You little brat. Did you delay our rescue on purpose and cause us all beaten up? You did it all on purpose!”

Half of Briony’s face went numb. This was the first time she’d ever been hit.

“Dad, why would you do that? It took me so long to borrow that money, and I still have to pay it

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Chapter 80

back…” she muttered.

Vincent and Belinda, helped by the housekeeper, entered the house and plopped down on the couch, heaving sighs of distress.

“Pay it back? Didn’t you borrow it from Milford? Just deduct it from the wedding gift when it’s due. What’s there to pay back?”

That was five million! If Vincent had to cough up five million, it would be the death of him!

Paying it back was just not happening!

Briony was torn, “But…”

“There are no ‘buts‘. Call the doctor now! Ouch, it hurts like hell!” Vincent retorted.

Seeing Vincent and Belinda all bruised up, Briony was worried and anxious, “Should we call the police?”

Vincent rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Call the police? They delivered us right to our doorstep so what’s there to be scared of? Just go call the doctor!”

The most important thing was that during the beating, Vincent had vaguely heard some illegal stuff the Lambert family’s company was involved in.

If he called the police, and those things got reported by the other party, the Lambert family would be utterly ruined!