The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 8

Palmer put the chess piece back on the board and walked out of the hospital room, No sooner had he stepped out than he bumped into a frantic Calvin.

“Mr. Calvin, doing rounds?”

Calvin, seeing Palmer, wiped the sweat from his brow. “Mr. Pollack, I got a call that someone’s been tampering with the meds I prescribed for the old–timers. A patient kicked the bucket because of changes made to their prescription, causing post–op complications. Just here to check things out.”

He looked around but couldn’t spot the person he was searching for.

Palmer, catching on, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Got a meeting, Mr. Calvin?”

Calvin, irritated, said, “Darn it, I told you before that I’d spotted a medical prodigy I wanted to snag for my lab. Looks like I’m a step behind; she’s already vamoosed.”

“For someone to be called a ‘prodigy” by you must be quite something.”

Realizing his search was futile, Calvin sighed. “If you’d ever taken up medicine, you’d be at prodigy too. Too bad, all you think about is making bank.”

Palmer just smiled, saying nothing.

Exiting the hospital, the driver, Wren, had the car spick–and–span, respectfully waiting for Noella.

“Miss, did you see Mr. Marcel?”

Noella nodded, boarding the car. Now that the car was clean, she could confirm it was a special model provided to the government and military.

Bulletproof, according to the reports she had seen when involved in research, and judging by the way those folks treated Marcel, it wasn’t hard to guess her granddad’s clout.

Her family had nothing to do with the ‘broke‘ Vincent rambled about. Maybe they kept a low profile because of their unique status?

And those who wanted Marcel gone? She wasn’t going to let them off easy.

All smiles, Wren said, “Mr. Marcel has been yakking about you for ages. Just now, Mr. Tristan Schnabel and his wife called; they’re waiting at home for you!”

Noella nodded again. She had figured out her new home wasn’t the poor house Vincent had described.

Even with her mental prep, Noella was still taken aback when Wren drove straight into Imperial City’s priciest neighborhood, the Golden Age Community.

Chapter 6

She was rendered speechless.

Get this the smallest flat in the Golden Age Community could buy five Lambert Mansions!

Not to mention, Wren stopped in the villa section of the community!

with all

“We’re home, Miss.”

gazed at the sprawling villa and the 3000–square–foot garden with a twinge of

garden might be peanuts elsewhere, but this was Imperial City!

entrance, Tristan Schnabel and Sienna Horwich, the

Noella stepped out, ribbons in

of servants with bouquets,

in unison,

Noella was confused.

the world

the Schnabels not giving Noella the cold shoulder for being away for years, Wren

was covered in streamers.

and Sienna rushed over, each grabbing one of Noella’s hands.

hug. “Darling! So glad you’re back! Mom’s been missing you so much. I could only manage three meals, afternoon tea, and a late–night snack!”

Noella was speechless.

a full house,

embrace

like this, though she often saw

she had thought that was all there was

be as tender and warm as spring.

took

her skin soft and fair

her daughter looking so good, Sienna felt the

2/4

Chapter 8

realized

a rail in her arms. She wondered how the

poor, all crammed

all good now. Mom’s here to

not to be outdone, kept nodding. “Yeah, yeah, we might not be filthy rich, but we can make sure

the row of luxury cars parked on the lawn behind Tristan, thinking, “Not

gaze. Tristan slapped his forehead.

Ours is a bit on the small side, but no

the villa, cautiously asked, “Honey, do you prefer Frensh or Italonian estates? Royal ones are

Noella was speechless.

that, they were talking about booting out royalty like it

fine. I’m not keen

you something here. Mom’s got a 2,000–acre garden in Shangri–Ra- it’s all yours

villa, it was all glitz and glam. The floor tiles cost hundreds of thousands, the trash bins were gifts exclusive to customers who spent 200 million dollars on a certain brand, the chandelier was worth 60 million, and everywhere

Sienna’s w

necklace that was straight–up emperor–level bling. It fetched a whopping 600 million at an international auction just