The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 190

Noella’s choice didn’t seem out of the ordinary. It was just a piece of stone Gary had discarded earlier, nothing noteworthy at first glance.

Gary let out a sigh of relief, his laugh tinged with contempt. “I thought you picked something special, but just like what you said earlier, this stone is just junk.”

It was one he had overlooked.

Noella gently wiped the stone in her hand and weighed it thoughtfully. “Your failure to find treasure is your own shortcoming. If I succeed, it’s simply good luck.”

Gary, still hoping to ride on the coattails of his moniker “Gemstone Gambling King,” saw Noella’s novice demeanor and hatched a plan.

He had studied all the raw stones before the game, convinced that this particular rock harbored nothing of value, not even a mediocre peony jade.

“Ms. Schnabel, if you fail, you owe me an apology!”

Noella met Gary’s gaze with disdain. “You, the self–proclaimed Gemstone Gambling King, fail to find anything of worth and expect an apology from a novice like me?”

Yasbel chimed in with mockery. “It’s laughable. The Gemstone Gambling King comes up empty and demands an apology from Ms. Schnabel. How childish. You should just go home to your mommy.”

Gary’s face tightened, but he was certain Noella’s stone was junk. “If Ms. Schnabel’s piece turns out to be something, I’ll never gamble on stones again!”

Noella shook her head lightly. “No, you’ll have to admit you’re a fraud. According to the Northstone Quarry tradition, you’ll have to leave a hand behind.”

There had been impostors claiming to be the Gemstone Gambling King in the past, and losing a hand was getting off easy.

Gary shuddered under Arthur’s menacing look. “Fine! I agree!”

After all, he was sure the girl’s stone was worthless.

Yates offered his assistance with a smile. “Ms. Schnabel, need a hand?”

Noella didn’t even glance at him, instead passing the stone to Palmer, “Help me out. I’ll guide you on where to cut.

“Happy to assist my fiancée.”

Noella, dressed in a form–fitting strapless gown, found it impractical to bend over the cutting machine. After handing the stone to Palmer, she didn’t miss the joy twinkling in his

eyes.

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a small favor and he’s this elated? His happiness seemed

a small smile to grace her

bit

seem well–matched. What’s his line of work? Looks like a businessman, and he’s

Noella’s chosen stone

cut anywhere along

suit jacket and draped it over Noella, saying considerately, “It’s

and it would be a shame if

cheeks flushed slightly and she stepped back

and Yasbel shivered in mock jealousy.

Noella. But it’s only right. If I had a fiancée that beautiful,

a moment.

Malvina was speechless.

neck to get a better view of the

cutting machine echoed in the hall, Palmer’s hands steady, betraying

stopped, everyone

couldn’t believe his eyes as he stared at

could there be

carefully checked each one; all the likely ones had been cut

revealed a vibrant green, translucent and bright, without a single

on it, downplaying her success. “Not bad, Glassy Type,

quality Glassy Type was a stroke of

10:55

to the

raised. “Yates, this Glassy

the Gemstone Gambling King… remember

to the ground, his face

Type while he

relying on the Gemstone Gambling King was futile now. He waved his hand, directing someone to take Gary away, then turned to the crowd with

raised a sign. “Ms. Schnabel, are you selling that Glassy Type?

and to her, this Glassy Type wasn’t particularly precious. She turned to Palmer, meeting his gaze. He was impeccably dressed in

you like it?”

my fiancée picks out, I’m

the emerald wasn’t the issue; the fact that she chose it was what mattered. It was also

at the very least, his fiancée was trying

it’s cut, it’ll