The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 168

The Schnabel family gathered around the osmanthus sculpture that Stirling had brought back home.

If Noella wasn’t so sure there was something hidden inside, they’d all be doubting whether they had the right object at all! How could a U–disk be stashed in this thing?

The sculpture looked seamless, carved from a single piece of fine white jade without a single trace of joint or graft, as though it was a masterpiece hewn from the heart of the earth itself!

Tristan whistled in awe, “Last year, a white jade sculpture by Master Sylvie went for a cool fifty million at the auction. This one could fetch a pretty penny if we ever decided to sell.”

Beckett asked, “Noella, did Grandma buy this sculpture?”

Noella shook her head, “No, it was a gift from me to grandma. Picked it up at a flea market for ten buck.”

In truth, this was her very first carving after she learned the craft. Grandma had always cherished osmanthus fragrans, so Noella carved one for her.

As for the stone, it indeed cost only ten dollar, but the white jade that was later uncovered

turned out to be worth a fortune.

The Schnabel family members were stunned to hear such an exquisite sculpture came with such a meager price tag!

Jasper asked his father, “Dad, are you sure this isn’t a piece by Master Sylvie?”

Tristan slapped his forehead in frustration.

“It has Master Sylvie’s signature mark. Most wouldn’t recognize it, but I’ve bought so many of Sylvie’s pieces over the years; I can tell this is the real deal!”

Marcel motioned for silence, “Enough chatter, Noella, where did Grandma stash the thing? Surely we’re not going to smash this sculpture?”

Tristan clutched the piece protectively, “No way, Dad! This is a top–tier sculpture!”

“Out of my way, you fool. Are you really going to value this over what your mother left behind?”

“But…the sculpture was also left by mom!”

Marcel paused, contemplating the truth in those words. The sculpture was clearly one of Harriet’s beloved possessions. If they destroyed it, she would have been furious.

delicately lifting the osmanthus branch from atop the sculpture, revealing a USB drive hidden

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12:04

the

the Lambert family, she came up with the USB to store things discreetly, not wanting Vincent and

sculpture’s overall beauty; if

craft

again, Master Sylvie is truly a jewel in

touched her nose, silently taking in the Schnabel family’s colorful praises

plugged the USB into the large screen in the

anticipation. The first thing to appear was the soft cough

the moon, was neatly arranged behind her ears, adorned with an osmanthus hairpin

and

moment Marcel saw her, his eyes

“Harriet.”

Harriet would scorn his aged appearance, remembering her as the young beauty she once

Marcel realized how much he regretted not spending those decades with her, not witnessing her grow old!

voice of the matriarch filled the room, “Noella, my precious girl, if you’re watching this video, I

started to forget many things, and I feared I’d forget you,

secret, just like when you were a little girl, thinking I wouldn’t notice.”

welled up in Noella’s eyes, but she blinked them back. Every day since her grandmother’s departure, she had missed her dearly.

and you mustn’t be sad. I know you’re not Vincent’s kid, but he’s not my kid, either.

well, and if you ever find your family, I’d be so happy.

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12:05

If you can’t find them, take my belongings and

treat you right, and so will your

she spoke, she smiled towards the camera, “As for the things I’ve kept from you, I hope you can understand.

and lost many memories. Now that I’m nearing the end, they’ve all come flooding back. Just show the Schnabels my bracelet, and they will accept you. You don’t need to live the hard life I did. I know you used to sneak out to pick wild vegetables to ease my burden when you

for me. You never cried out even when you fell;

girl, if the Schnabel family ever treat you poorly, I’ll haunt Marcel even from beyond

coughing. It took

to remember the past, to have made you endure so much hardship alongside me. I will watch over