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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West Hospital, Vincent, wheelchair–bound, was wheeled in by Belinda, with a few slackers from the Fuller family

we’re looking for Marcel’s wife.

in ICU. It’s not visiting hours. Come

Vincent was baffled!

ICU? She sounded fine when he called earlier! If Ashlyn was

find Noella now? I don’t care; she’s gotta

was equally

spotted a familiar figure at the end.

me over there!”

You’re the one who took her away

with paperwork for Marcel,

was this? He seemed vaguely

to jog his memory. “That time when you were gatekeeping for the Schnabels… We’ve met before!”

must’ve been a security guard for the Schnabels, which was how she got

former foster father?

the Schnabel family knew these people had never been good to Noella. If it weren’t for the watchful eyes in the hospital,

was so kind and sensible, and

to let Wren go. “Look, it’s like a family

Η

I’m not Noella’s father. What do you

hands together. “Well, we heard about some subsidies at Emerald County.

down a contract worth a ten billion before, you’re asking

Vincent was stunned.

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Chapter 136

What was it about?

Can you tell me, what exactly is the status of

people, how could they afford

“Get them out of here. They’re an eyesore.”

them! After giving Ms. Noella a hard time in the past, now that they saw an

The nerve!

throw me out! Tell me who Noella’s parents really

with utter contempt. “Pfft, I haven’t seen someone this shameless in a long time. Get