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

think you are, demanding me to report everything to you?”

1/4

11:1

***

Chapter 120

Let’s play chess. I’ve got a whole new book in mind!

out. His new book would make

– weaving all his affections into his writing.

that you’re

Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell. Heh.” Merrick was all smiles, glancing at Marcel scratching

he’d never spill

at the Lambert

battered body dragging with exhaustion as

her parents were close behind, none faring much better.

Lambert ancestral home a few days back. Probably went back to pay her

and dialed Noella’s number, intending to use Old Mrs. Lambert as leverage to coax Noella into visiting Tranquility City. If she came,

recognizing Vincent’s voice, she hung up

barely got out, “Noella,

in his

That darn kid!

she’s

just some chicken farmers in Emerald County?

up and dialed

you used to live in Emerald County? You see, a relative’s kid wants to visit. How’s

government’s using Emerald County for experiments

Chapter 120

County had moved? That meant Noella’s real parents were likely rolling in cash from the

than ever! If he could just find Noella’s biological parents, he might recover

much did you

us. But one family

Fifty million!

up instantly!

Noella’s real parents‘ names were, or else he’d know exactly how much