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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10:55

and he’s this elated? His happiness

a small smile to grace her lips.

a bit unsettling

his line of work? Looks like a businessman, and he’s down–to–earth.

Noella’s chosen stone on the cutting

anywhere along

securing the stone, he removed his suit jacket and draped it over Noella, saying considerately, “It’s going to get dusty. Wait for

gown was stunning, and it would be a shame if it were marred by the dust

slightly and she

shivered in

only right. If I had a fiancée that beautiful, I’d spoil her rotten

numb for a moment. “Wait, you

Malvina was speechless.

to get a better view of the

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

the grinding wheel stopped,

stared at the freshly cut surface, “That’s… that’s Glassy

the most shocked; how could there be Glassy Type in this batch of stones?

each one; all the likely ones had been

translucent and bright,

downplaying her success. “Not bad, Glassy Type, but not

a stroke

10:55

to the

her eyebrows raised. “Yates, this Glassy

the Gemstone Gambling King… remember our bett

collapsed to the ground, his face ashen, speechless.

Type, this naive girl had unearthed Glassy Type while he had found nothing. The Gruber family

the crowd with a grin. “Ms. Schnabel, I truly apologize. The Gruber family was deceived by Gary as well. Ms. Schnabel, you’re incredibly lucky, and I

Schnabel, are you selling that Glassy Type? I love the color!

wasn’t particularly precious. She turned to Palmer, meeting his gaze. He was impeccably dressed in a black shirt, now dusted with the residue from the

like

fiancée picks out, I’m all

the fact that she chose it was what mattered. It

fiancée was

it’s cut, it’ll make a fine set of