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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dead of night, at Imperial West Hospital, Vincent, wheelchair–bound, was wheeled in by Belinda, with a few

me, we’re looking for Marcel’s wife. Could you tell us where

ICU. It’s not visiting hours. Come back

Vincent was baffled!

he called earlier! If Ashlyn was

now? I don’t care;

was equally vexed.

around the hospital corridor, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at

me over there!”

father, right? You’re the one who

paperwork for Marcel, looked puzzled at

He seemed

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

he thought about it. Noella’s father must’ve been a security guard

Noella’s former foster

Noella. If it weren’t for the watchful eyes in the hospital,

and sensible, and yet they treated her like dirt!

to let Wren go. “Look, it’s

Η

father. What do

about some subsidies at Emerald County. We did raise

for money. “Considering you turned down a contract

Vincent was stunned.

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Chapter 136

billion! What was it

me, what exactly is the status of Noella’s birth parents?”

ordinary people, how could they afford a

few commandos. “Get them

in the past, now that they saw an opportunity

The nerve!

Don’t throw me out! Tell me

looked at him with utter contempt. “Pfft, I haven’t seen someone this shameless