The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 33

At the Lambert ancestral home in Linefort City.

Jasper’s hired muscle flew in by chopper and, while still several feet from the ground, yanked Vincent out and dumped him right at the doorstep of the Lambert ancestral horne,

Vincent, well into his fifties, nearly broke every bone in his old body!

“Dammit… Do you even know the law? This is assault, pure and simple!”

The bodyguard, sporting dark shades, Just gave a lopsided grin and sneered. “Our boss said we’re doing you a solid, dropping you home. You know exactly how you treated Ms. Noella–don’t play innocent!”

Vincent was speechless.

This was completely different!

Noella was just a heartless country bumpkin while he was the high and mighty CEO of the Lambert family!

After making the delivery, the bodyguard hopped back on the chopper and took off.

Blown around by the helicopter’s downdraft, Vincent’s hair was a mess, his suit was wrinkled, and his face was caked with dust and dirt, making him look like a beggar.

The actual beggars at the Lambert ancestral home’s gate nearly mistook him for one of their

own.

Vincent was fuming. He whipped out his phone to call the cops, but, of course, there was no signal!

Maddox, who was in charge of guarding the old homestead, spotted Vincent and hurried over to greet him.

“Mr. Lambert, why didn’t you give us a heads–up? Here to donate?”

Vincent was speechless again.

He was too proud to come back home without fanfare, always making a big show of donating like 30 to 50 grand, turning it into a spectacle the whole village knew about.

Vincent changed the subject. “How come there’s not even a proper road in this place?”

“Ah, Mr. Lambert, you’re here to fund road construction? That’s fantastic! I’ll go tell the mayor right now!”

Vincent quickly grabbed him.

“No, no, get me out of here first. My phone’s got no signal; I can’t make any donations to the village!”

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“What? Mr. Lambert, you’re also gonna build us a cell tower? That’s amazing!”

Maddox! Playing dumb because of his

he really didn’t want to shell

negotiate. Get me out of here. Does this village even have a car?”

do. Let me pull it here for

kind of vehicle needed

off to get the “vehicle,” Vincent looked

grew up here, but it took blood, sweat, and tears to make something of himself in

it, the house seemed to have been

Lambert’s favorite osmanthus tree by the door–a mature tree of this variety could easily fetch 200 grand at

way he was behind this renovation. Why would he spend money on fixing up this rundown place?

for Briony, secretly spruced up the

about it, the more

amazing son–in–law!

be underestimated, given its previous glory. Besides, they had always been a notch above

for Briony, she had always been close to Milford, unlike Noella, who was

talk about Briony’s engagement with

happy thoughts, Vincent’s daydream was shattered when

actual ox cart!

seen better days, stopping to rest after every step.

only ox cart we’ve got. Hop on,

“There’s

there, hop on a bus, and you’ll be in Linefort City in

Vincent remembered.

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Chapter 33

hassle to leave! Linefort City had no airport; he would have to take the rickety old

construction, he thought it wasn’t worth it since he couldn’t brag about it, so he

on up. Once it gets light, the old ox

nose and climbed atop

beggar, “Take Mr. Lambert to

so violently that Vincent’s

chuckled as he watched Vincent’s retreating figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite GPS and dialed

Mr. Lambert said about donating for roads and a cell tower on video. Sending it your way

“Appreciate it.”

face split into a

help, our village would’ve been toast a long time ago, not to mention the renovations you funded for the

the least I

Maddox sent her

village nestled in the Linefort City mountains, where Old Mrs. Lambert had weathered her whole life. Noella would

days later, at Tranquility

swung open the slammer door and let the

looking all kinds of wiped, waited

was gobsmacked at the sight of

the wringer more than I did, and

the verge of tears! He hustled back from Linefort City, burning rubber to pull