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!”

because of his

he really didn’t want to shell out cash for

a big deal to negotiate. Get me out of here. Does this village even have

grinned from ear to ear. “Sure do.

was baffled. What kind of vehicle needed pulling?

Maddox was off to get the “vehicle,” Vincent looked up at the

sweat, and tears to make something of himself in Tranquility City, to become a

the house seemed to have been refurbished?

materials, even planted Old Mrs. Lambert’s favorite osmanthus tree by the door–a mature tree of this variety could easily fetch 200

no way he was behind this renovation. Why would he spend money on fixing up this

for Briony, secretly spruced up the place to surprise the family?

Vincent thought about it, the more it made

an amazing

Rosenberg family had hit a rough patch, it was still not to be underestimated, given its previous glory. Besides, they had always

had always been close to Milford, unlike Noella, who was

back, he would definitely need to talk about Briony’s engagement with the Rosenbergs–can’t let a catch

daydream was shattered when Maddox showed

actual ox cart!

seen better days,

is the only ox cart we’ve got. Hop on, and we’ll make it to

voice was trembling. “There’s

a bus, and you’ll be in

Vincent remembered.

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Chapter 33

hassle to leave! Linefort City had no airport; he would

village asked him to donate for road construction, he thought it wasn’t worth it since he couldn’t brag about it, so he donated to

up. Once it gets light, the old ox has

his breath, Vincent pinched his nose and climbed atop

signaled to a beggar, “Take Mr. Lambert

cart lurched forward, shaking so violently that Vincent’s sandwich lunch threatened to make

retreating figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite GPS and

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

“Appreciate it.”

wrinkled face split into a

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

the

peeped at the video Maddox sent her and then locked her

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

Tranquility City

slammer door and let the Lambert ladies walk

and looking all

the sight of him!

through the wringer more than I did, and I was the one

from Linefort City, burning rubber