The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 1

On the second floor of the Lambert Mansion.

Briony Lambert, decked out in a plain white princess dress, whipped out her pocket mirror to admire her own lovely face.

She pinched her handkerchief, cocking a smug smile at Noella in front of her.

“Sis, there’s something I wanna lay on you…”

Just last month, when Belinda fell ill and needed a blood transfusion, both Noella and Briony were called over. And bam! Turns out Noella wasn’t the biological daughter of the Lamberts! A paternity test on the spot proved Briony was the real flesh and blood of the Lambert family!

Holding the paternity test report, Briony’s eyes were dancing with triumph. She grew up with Noella since they were knee–high.

Why should she remain relegated to the role of the nanny’s niece while Noella basked in the glory as the high and mighty Ms. Lambert?

Now, it was all hers for the taking!

Behind Briony, the Lambert folks were giving Noella heart–wrenching glances.

Spotting Noella’s gaze, Vincent Lambert brushed away a nonexistence tear.

“Noella, nobody anticipated that Briony was our own flesh and blood. We had plans for you to grow up here alongside her, but out of the blue, your folks decide to take you back. We’re gutted to see you go, but it’s only right to send you back. I can’t bear to separate you from your biological parents; it would be too cruel.”

Vincent was actually game for keeping Noella around, but Belinda argued that Briony had been overshadowed by Noella all her life, and living together would be unfair to her.

Just the thought of her darling daughter living like a servant under her own roof was enough to make Belinda’s heart bleed.

It’s all Noella’s fault!

As for Noella, their supposed daughter, the moment Vincent spread the word, calls from Emerald County flooded in, seeking a reunion. The thick accent on the other end of the line was as dense as molasses! Vincent could barely make heads or tails of what they were saying.

Emerald County, as the news reported, had an average annual income of less than a grand per resident last year. A place so broke that charity couldn’t even lift it up!

It turned out that Noella’s real parents were from Emerald County, and judging by the sound of it, they were farmers.

“Noella, even though your parents are farmers, don’t you worry. I heard chickens in the background when I was on the phone. So, at least if you’re hungry, you can chow down on

Chapter 1

some chicken…”

snorted with

They even

get it. In places that poor, chickens are worth more than people. You can’t just eat them whenever you

a picture of superiority.

right through their act and stood up, asking coolly,

of grace and elegance that Briony could never mimic, no matter

What a

touch your laptop. It’s a clunker from five years ago. You

chimed in,

Noella would be so petty as to care

about to head back to the boonies, where folks probably don’t even

laptop

was smirking all

and whipped out her phone,

sneaking into Noella’s room last night when everyone else was distracted and

footage showed Briony

hag, why does she only care about you! I’m

Had Noella lost her marbles? She’d actually rigged her, own room with cameras! And caught

Briony behind her as if Noella was about to gobble her

home too. How could you set up cameras here? You know your dad’s got loads of trade secrets. If

Vincent’s expression turned

want to check if you’ve planted cameras anywhere else.”

was left speechless. She didn’t give a

Vincent, Noella wiped her phone clean,

Chapter 1

feeling a bit sheepish, chuckled, “I’m not doubting you.

was icy. “Give me my laptop, and I’ll

dig

such an old piece of junk. Emerald County probably doesn’t even have the

up now, only a soon–to–be poor girl like Noella would treasure

laptop, a gift from Old Mrs. Lambert while she was still around, had

do without them. It’s just that this

entire Lambert family favored Briony, top to bottom, except for Old Mrs. Lambert who loved. her from the start,

gone, the Lambert family

door without a backward glance or a shred

regret.