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 all

delight, Noella allowed a small

shuddered. “It’s still a bit unsettling

What’s his line of work? Looks like a businessman, and he’s

positioned Noella’s chosen stone on the

anywhere along

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

a shame if it were

slightly and she stepped back

and Yasbel shivered in

be so tender with Noella. But it’s only right. If I had

brain went numb for a moment. “Wait, you want a

Malvina was speechless.

his neck to get a better view of the

machine echoed in the hall, Palmer’s hands steady, betraying no sign this was

stopped, everyone held their

eyes as he stared at the freshly

be

likely ones had been cut open. How could Noella’s random

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

success. “Not bad, Glassy Type, but not

Type was a stroke of luck for the Gruber family. But now it was Noella’s luck that shone!

10:55

to the

raised. “Yates,

Gemstone Gambling King…

the ground, his face ashen, speechless.

had unearthed Glassy Type while he

his hand, directing someone to take Gary away, then turned to the crowd with a grin. “Ms. Schnabel, I truly apologize. The Gruber family was deceived by Gary as

are you selling that Glassy Type? I love the color! Name your price?”

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

you like

emerald my fiancée picks out,

that she chose it was

fiancée was trying to accept him in her own way?

yours. After it’s cut, it’ll make a fine set of