The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 120

Merrick was getting fired up too. “You think only you’ve got the cash? Noella, sweetheart, if you beat me in chess, I’ll gift you a brand spanking new company!”

Noella looked helplessly at the two old timers.

This kind of one–upmanship was fine, but totally unnecessary.

Half an hour later, Merrick couldn’t sit still! “Noella, dear, where did you learn to play chess like this? I am at my wit’s end!”

Marcel chortled with pride. “Ha, even old Tavian can’t beat Noella at chess. And you’re making fun of me? Think you can do better?”

Back in his youth, Merrick was a chess prodigy, yet here he was, unable to outplay his granddaughter for even half an hour!

“Embarrassed much?”

“Get outta here. Noella being a whiz is all thanks to our Horwich family genes. You’ve got nothing to do with it.”

Marcel was having none of it, slamming his cup down, sparking yet another round of bickering. “What are you implying? Noella is a Schnabel through and through!”

“Heh, saying your wife had the good genes? I’m not calling you daft, Tristan, but your mom, she’s no Einstein.”

Tristan wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking this was pretty much the same as being called dumb.

Merrick quipped, “Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re not Ashlyn’s flesh and blood, thankfully. You don’t resemble that hag, which is a good thing.”

The family was stunned.

What did he mean Tristan wasn’t Ashlyn’s flesh and blood?

Tristan was dumbfounded. “What are you saying? Whose child am I?”

Realizing he had misspoken, Merrick chuckled. “I’m pulling your leg. You couldn’t possibly be mine, a Horwich, right?”

Tristan got the picture he was still being called ugly.

Indeed, Merrick and Freya were known for their looks. When Tristan first laid eyes on their daughter Sienna, it was love at first sight.

frowned at Merrick, twirling a chess piece in his hand, sensing there was more to Merrick’s words. “Are you

do you think you

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Chapter 120

grabbed Noella and headed for the chessboard. “Come on, Noella. Let’s play chess. I’ve got a whole

would make a splash,

all his affections into his writing. Everyone who read that book

that

I did, I wouldn’t tell. Heh.”

never spill the

City, at the

Mansion, his battered body dragging with exhaustion as he collapsed

her parents were close behind,

Lambert ancestral home a few days back. Probably went

use Old Mrs. Lambert as leverage to coax Noella into visiting Tranquility City. If she came, they could call

recognizing Vincent’s

got out, “Noella, uh…”

tone rang in his ear, leaving

That darn kid!

Maybe she’s met some rich folks? Vincent, are Noella’s real

her folks just some chicken farmers

unsure, sat up and

Didn’t you used to live in Emerald County? You see, a relative’s kid wants to visit. How’s

“Everyone’s moved out. The government’s using Emerald County for experiments now, paid us a

Chapter 120

shocked. Everyone from Emerald County had moved? That meant Noella’s real parents were likely rolling in

needed money now more than ever! If he could just find Noella’s biological parents, he might recover some funds. for ‘raising‘ their daughter, right?

did you guys get?”

us. But one family in the county hit the jackpot with fifty

Fifty million!

up instantly!

he had no clue what Noella’s real parents‘ names were, or