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.

osmanthus branch from atop the

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12:04

is the

during her stay with the Lambert family, she came up with the USB to store

the osmanthus branch did not detract from the sculpture’s overall beauty; if anything, it added an air of

Master Sylvie’s craft is indeed exquisite.”

can say that again, Master Sylvie is truly a jewel

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

the large screen in the living room of the

together, eyes wide with anticipation. The first thing to appear was the soft cough of the elderly matriarch in a sapphire blue

moon, was neatly arranged behind her ears, adorned with

and gentle, her gaze as tender as

her, his eyes brimmed with tears.

“Harriet.”

had often thought about growing old, wondering if Harriet would scorn his aged appearance, remembering her as the young beauty she once

aged, Marcel realized how much he regretted not spending those

gentle voice of the matriarch filled the room, “Noella, my precious girl, if

is failing day by day. When you weren’t at home, I started to forget many things, and I feared I’d forget you, so I recorded these messages in advance.

nothing behind, you’d surely cry in secret, just like

Every day since her grandmother’s departure, she had

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

find your

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12:05

take my belongings and go to

and

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

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 were five – I

and cook, standing on a chair to make porridge for me. You never cried out even when you fell; it broke my

the Schnabel family ever treat you poorly, I’ll haunt

followed by a fit of coughing. It took

am so sorry it’s taken me this long to remember the past, to have made you endure so much