The Killer Queen

Yvonne was on the verge of a meltdown, her face hidden behind her hands as tear after tear streamed down her cheeks.

“Malvina, how could you hit me? I swear I didn’t mean it that way. I wasn’t trying to stir up trouble!”

“Yeah, right!” Malvina massaged her wrist before slapping Yvonne once again. “Come on, tell her how she’s supposed to talk to a lady of my standing.”

One of the Gruber family’s servants stepped forward and declared, “Being slapped by Malvina is a privilege, Yvonne. You should be thanking her for even bothering with you.”

Yvonne’s face was ablaze with pain, her gaze turning to Noella, who had remained silent throughout the ordeal.

Noella’s expression was indifferent, and Yvonne suddenly felt like a complete fool in her presence.

“Noella, we’re practically family. Please, ask Malvina to let me off this once,” Yvonne pleaded, her eyes locking onto Noella’s.

Convinced that with so many high–society guests watching, Noella would surely play the magnanimous card to leave a good impression, Noella had to speak up for her.

Noella’s voice was cool and detached. “Have you forgotten what I told you outside the art gallery last time?”

The mere memory of that public humiliation at the gallery had Yvonne’s cheeks throbbing all over again. “Ms. Schnabel, please, ask Malvina to spare me. I’ll never cross you again,

save me.”

Noella was toying with her! It must be that Noella was jealous now that she had become the Gruber family’s darling. It had to be envy!

Noella looked away, her tone unchanging. “Oh, I won’t help.”

Yvonne was dumbstruck. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

The country bumpkin dared to reject her? Was she not afraid of being seen as uncouth and heartless by the others?

Noella wasn’t giving Yvonne a second thought. Her little charades were just pathetic attempts to sow discord between her and Malvina, all to gain some advantage.

“What’s going on here?”

A commanding voice echoed from nearby as Walden approached, pushing an elderly man in a wheelchair.

The old man, appearing frail and aged, was dressed in a silk robe embroidered with a thajestic black dragen, exuding an air of authority.

Yvonne’s spirits lifted at the sight of Arthur. This was her chance to play the victim!

Palmer, sensing the impending drama, wrapped his arm around Noella and stepped back.

He whispered, “Looks like we’re in for a show. My fiancée, getting to know what Ms. Gruber is really like is part of the package.”

Noella, new to the Imperial City’s elite, was unacquainted with the notorious Malvina. This was her first encounter with someone so brazen yet unsophisticated. Malvina’s personality was bold, and somehow, Noella couldn’t help but find it entertaining..

As Yvonne rushed over to Arthur, Malvina’s foot jutted out, tripping her and sending her sprawling to the ground.

“Ah…”

Malvina clapped a hand over her mouth, feigning innocence. “Yvonne, how could you be so mean to me? You even tried to hit me. Oh, dear! It’s okay, I don’t blame you. After all, you can’t help it if you weren’t taught our Gruber family ways. Your father was just an adopted child, after all.”

Malvina pinched her waist, wincing in pain, and tears immediately began to flow.

Yvonne lay on the ground, internally cursing Malvina. When had she ever hit Malvina? It was clear who the real victim was!

“Grandfather, it’s not like that, it’s…”

Malvina turned and clung to Noella, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ms. Schnabel can vouch for me, Grandpa. Yvonne’s just immature. I don’t blame her; she’s clueless. I can forgive her for the sake of our family!”

Arthur’s gaze shifted to Noella. She nodded to him in greeting. “Malvina is innocent.”

With a sly wink at Noella, Malvina turned back and stealthily stepped on Yvonne, her stiletto heel digging in.

Yvonne burst into tears from the pain. “Ow!”

Malvina, disgusted, said, “Yvonne, you really need to learn some manners. Sigh… it pains me to see this. You can’t just scream and shout like that, especially not here. But then again, I suppose it’s natural for someone less fortunate–looking to seek attention in such ways. I get it!”

Yvonne was speechless.

Was Malvina crazy?

Noella’s lips curled into a smile, her impression of Malvina deepening. Indeed, the Gruber

family’s young lady was too hard to hatel

After Malvina’s display, Arthur’s frown softened, and he beckoned her over. “Malvina knows best. I am so proud of you. Yvonne, on the other hand… Go rest, and don’t come out until you can behave.”

It was clear that he saw Yvonne as an embarrassment.

Unable to protest, Yvonne’s eyes filled with tears of indignation. “Yes, Grandpa.”

Supported by the servants, she limped back to her room, her eyes burning with

resentment.

Malvina whistled cheerfully at Yvonne’s retreating figure, playfully tossing her hair.

That’s it? Trying to compete with her? Way too easy.

Walden’s eyes were fixed on Noella, full of admiration. “Ms. Schnabel, I’m so pleased you could join us today.”

Noella faced Walden, her voice calm. “Walden, out of the dog house so soon?”

Walden’s lips twitched as he clenched his teeth to clarify. “Ms. Schnabel might have gotten the wrong impression of me! The incident at your gallery wasn’t my doing–I was framed!” “You publicly picking a fight with me in front of the media was you being framed too? Walden, are you delusional? Or is it that you’re possessed by some foul spirit?”

Noella’s distaste was palpable as she cast a disdainful glance at Walden, stepping back as if he were some kind of vermin.

Palmer’s arm steadied Noella, his brow furrowed. “If the Gruber family lacks such decorum, we would rather leave! From now on, the Pollack family will have no part in the Gruber family’s business affairs!”

Walden’s face turned a shade of green!

What did they mean by that? What did it mean that the Pollack family would have no part in the Gruber family’s business affairs? Did Palmer remember how he had snatched away all of the Gruber family’s deals in Imperial City just last month?

All of them!

Many of Walden’s deals had been poached by Palmer, even those that the Pollack Group didn’t actually need, causing the Gruber family a substantial financial loss last month.

The whole point of organizing the gemstone auction was to win back those lost clients.

Once he became the helmsman of the Gruber family, he’d see if they dared to look at him with such disdain!

As Palmer seemed poised to leave with Noella, Arthur intervened. “Mr. Pollack, on behalf

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of Walden, I offer you and Ms. Schnabel my apologies. Out of respect for me, Mr. Pollack, would you please stay?”

Palmer looked down at Noella in his arms, asking softly, “Shall we stay?”

Realization dawned on Arthur. “Ms. Schnabel, my sincerest apologies. Please, in light of the longstanding friendship between the Grubers and the Schnabels, don’t be upset.”

With a light chuckle, Noella replied, “Since Mr. Gruber insists, I’ll stay and see how things unfold, But if the Gruber family is represented by a bastard, it’s Mr. Gruber’s reputation that’s being tarnished.”

Palmer forced a smile. “Mr. Gruber, my fiancée has a delicate stomach; unsavory sights tend to upset her. Our apologies.”

Malvina yawned. “Noella, darling, feeling queasy? The stomach is a mirror of our moods;– discomfort is indeed distressing! Grandpa, let’s prioritize our guests‘ needs today, shall

we?