The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 136

After hanging up the call with Master Killian, the crisp chime of Noella’s mini laptop resonated through the stillness of her room.

She settled into her chair, booted up the computer, and plugged in a custom–made network card that granted her direct access to the shadowy reaches of the deep web, her IP address. completely obfuscated.

Even the sharp–eyed hounds from the Schnabel family couldn’t sniff out her midnight digital excursions.

A message from Erek popped up: [Boss, got the scoop. Ashlyn’s insisting on a hospital visit, probably ‘cause of that morning call from Vincent.]

[Vincent?]

[Yeah, the sleazeball seems keen on marrying you off to Ellsworth, that notorious money pit of a gambler. Need us to handle it?]

[No need to dirty our hands. Let Ellsworth’s creditors knock on his door.]

Ellsworth was up to his neck in debt, and those underground casinos in Linefort City had some ties to Polaris Star.

Back in the day, when Noella had learned the art of gambling stones with Master Hector, they’d dominated the underground scene with nothing but a deck of cards, inadvertently gaining some shady assets.

Thankfully, their operations had been smooth sailing, no

messes ma

Erek chuckled and replied: [Roger that, Boss. You’ve always been too kind. Phecda and the crew are retrieving Old Mrs. Lambert’s DNA as we speak. Now we just need Vincent’s. Want me to ‘draw some blood‘ from him?]

Erek had been itching for a chance to teach Vincent a lesson!

Without their boss’s discreet support, Vincent wouldn’t have made a dime. Yet, he mistook Noella’s goodwill for his supposed business acumen. Such a man belonged under a bridge, collecting cans!

[I’ll handle it myself. Where are they now?]

[Headed to Imperial West Hospital. I’ll be outside to cover you.]

With an affirmation, Noella closed her palm–sized computer, swiftly disassembled it, and transformed it into an inconspicuous trinket on her desk.

With everything in place, she slipped out of her room, unnoticed by anyone.

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at Imperial West Hospital, Vincent, wheelchair–bound, was wheeled in by Belinda, with a few slackers from

with a grin, “Excuse me, we’re looking for Marcel’s wife. Could you tell us

It’s not visiting hours. Come back at eight in

Vincent was baffled!

Ashlyn end up in ICU? She sounded fine when he called earlier! If Ashlyn was ill, where would they

grew desperate. “Where do we find Noella now? I don’t care; she’s gotta marry Ellsworth!”

was equally

the hospital corridor, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the end.

me over there!”

figure. “You’re Noella’s father, right? You’re the one who took

with paperwork for Marcel,

this? He seemed

memory. “That time when you were gatekeeping for the Schnabels… We’ve met

Noella’s father must’ve been a security guard for the Schnabels, which was how

Noella’s former foster father? I’m

never been good to Noella. If it weren’t for the watchful eyes in the hospital, Wren would’ve

so kind and sensible, and yet they

Wren go. “Look, it’s like a family feud. We’re all

Η

not Noella’s father. What do

rubbed his hands together. “Well, we heard about some subsidies at Emerald County. We did raise Noella for years,

you turned down a contract

Vincent was stunned.

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Chapter 136

What was it

me, what exactly is the status

people, how could they afford a contract worth

them out of

the past, now that they saw an opportunity to benefit from her, they shamelessly

The nerve!

Don’t throw me out! Tell me who

with utter contempt. “Pfft, I haven’t seen