The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

The ambulance arrived swiftly, its siren cutting through the calm of the evening. Lavinia was carefully loaded in, with Noella and Elara accompanying her to the hospital.

Jacob remained, watching the vehicle speed away, his expression clouded with worry and a touch of melancholy.

The air was filled with the scent of absinthe and sandalwood as Palmer appeared beside Jacob, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Uncle Jacob, you should go see her too.”

“I… Lucian forbade me from seeing her.”

Palmer, hands buried in his trench coat pockets, stood tall and somberly elegant. His features softened slightly. “It’s Noella who asked for you.”

Noella would be performing surgery on Lavinia today, removing a protective personality that had emerged, leaving behind the core personality who recognized Jacob.

Hearing this, Jacob turned in surprise to face his slightly taller nephew.

“Go on, Uncle Jacob. Follow the doctor’s orders.”

“Aren’t you coming? Aren’t you worried about Noella?”

Palmer turned to leave, his voice carrying a chill. “I trust her. There are matters I need to attend to. You go ahead, Uncle Jacob.”

He was determined to leave no trouble for Noella, including cleaning up the mess Lorne had left behind.

… Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

At Four Seasons Law Firm, Jasper, now dressed in a sleek suit, looked every bit the part as he sat across from his older brother.

“Beckett, you could’ve given me a heads up before coming. I had a client meeting scheduled.”

“Just passing by. Came to check in and, well, there’s some corporate legal matters that need your attention.”

Jasper’s assistant opened the door, politely announcing, “Jasper, your client has arrived.”

“Have her wait in the conference room.”

Jasper gestured for Beckett to make himself comfortable in the office before quickly excusing himself.

Beckett idly picked up a case file Jasper had been working on. A few papers slipped out, and as he bent to pick them up, his eyes scanned the documents. His pupils dilated slightly as the content of the papers swiftly sank in.

Moments later, Beckett knocked on the conference room door.

Inside, Jasper was discussing the case with the client when he looked up in surprise at Beckett’s entrance.

“Sorry to disturb. I’ve had your secretary prepare a file on all of Lorne’s holdings for a report. I’m heading to the hospital. Handle the rest, will you?”

Jasper frowned. “Didn’t we already file a report? What’s at the hospital for you?”

“This time it’s everything. Including Lorne himself. He kidnapped his aunt to blackmail Elara and Noella.”

Jasper stood abruptly, his water glass tipping and spilling onto his expensive tailored suit.

“What the hell? Does Lorne have a death wish?”

Beckett’s gaze lingered on a familiar figure before speaking calmly, “If all goes as expected, he won’t have the chance to live much longer.”

The client, standing up, met Beckett’s calm yet angry gaze.

Darcy clenched the documents in her hand.

Dalia, anxious, asked, “Is Ms. Schnabel alright? How could this happen?”

Jasper pressed a hand to his forehead. “Sorry, but we’ll have to postpone today’s meeting. I can’t leave my sisters in this state. Today’s consultation will be on the house.”

Dalia quickly responded, “Oh, no, that’s okay! Can we come with you? I’m worried about Ms. Schnabel!”

Darcy spoke up calmly, “I’d like to see Noella too. Please, take us with you.”

For Darcy and Dalia, as Noella’s teacher and employee, the news of potential harm had them more agitated than any inheritance dispute could.

Jasper looked to Beckett for approval, only to find his brother already striding away. He quickly gathered the sisters and followed.

In the car, Dalia continued to express concern for Noella.

“Jasper, nothing’s going to happen to Ms. Schnabel, right? Oh, she’s so capable, surely she’ll be fine!”

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach Elara and Noella by phone, Jasper’s anxiety mounted.

Finally, Elara called back, her voice trembling with tears.

“Elara, don’t cry, we are on our way! How’s Noella?”

“Noella’s fine, and so am I. She’s with Professor Calvin in the surgery room now. Jasper, I’m so scared.”

Relieved to hear they were safe, Jasper loosened his tie and let out a breath, adopting a soothing tone.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost there!”

After hanging up, Jasper clenched his fist, striking the leather seat in frustration.

“Damn it! Using Elara to blackmail Noella into calling off the engagement? Do they think our family is to be trifled with?”

Beckett remained calm. “As long as Noella and Elara are safe, that’s what matters. Let’s get the full story before we decide anything. Let’s not tell Grandpa or our parents yet.”

“Got it.”

With Marcel’s age, it’d be best not to trouble him with this news, and with Tristan and Sienna abroad, informing them would only cause more distress.

Dalia breathed a sigh of relief.

“Jasper, is that Elara, the one who was on TV? She’s your sister too?”

Elara’s research had earned her a prestigious award, and the clip from the TV broadcast was saved on every Schnabel family member’s phone.

“Yeah, I only have two sisters, Elara and Noella. If anything had happened to them, I’d have Lorne’s grave dug up!”

Darcy’s expression flickered with concern as she ventured, “What about Yvonne?”

"Yvonne? She was never really part of our family! My grandpa had her sent off to jail for spreading rumors about Beckett and Stirling, and trying to snatch Noella’s stuff - just nasty."

Sent to jail? And what's with spreading rumors about Beckett?

Jasper was clueless that Beckett’s ex was right in front of him.

"Ms. Darcy, you've got no idea. She even went after Beckett's ex, cooking up all sorts of trouble, messing things up so bad that Beckett's still flying solo..."

Beckett interrupted with a cold voice, "Jasper, zip it."

Jasper clapped a hand over his mouth. "Sorry, Ms. Darcy. My bad, really. The stuff Yvonne’s done is beyond the pale, just like her grandma."

Dalia chimed in, "Now that you mention it, I remember someone causing a scene at our gallery, getting a lesson from Ms. Schnabel. Was that the same Yvonne my sister mentioned?"

Darcy felt uneasy. "Probably."

Their brief exchange was enough to confirm that the person who had sought her out back then was indeed no kin to the Schnabel family.

Darcy clenched the fabric of her dress tightly, her gaze fixed on Beckett sitting before her.

His demeanor was calm and resolute, his jawline sharp, his presence understated yet powerful. His shirt and tie meticulously arranged, with a hint of mercilessness beneath his cool exterior.

Beckett seemed to notice Darcy's stare. He slightly turned his head, his tone indifferent, leaving it unclear whether he was referring to the past or the present.

"It's okay, it's all in the past now. No need to dwell on it."