The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Walden's face turned ghostly pale in an instant!

"Ms. Schnabel...you've got to be kidding me. This is no joke - I truly meant to apologize!"

Noella let out a mocking laugh, dripping with scorn.

"Walden, you've been poisoning paintings at my gallery, poaching my staff, tampering with supplies to nearly cause accidents, and the Gruber family has been openly challenging my employees. And you call this a sincere apology? If brains were dynamite, the Gruber family wouldn't have enough to blow their nose. You might as well declare bankruptcy now, rather than waiting for the inevitable."

Walden hadn't expected Noella to know all about the dirty tricks he'd orchestrated! Impossible. His schemes had been so covert; how did Noella find out he was the mastermind behind them? She must be bluffing.

"Ms. Noella, don't throw around accusations. I've never stooped to such lows. Someone must be framing me. It's all a misunderstanding; please don't fall for it."

With a sneer, Noella pulled out her phone and played a video for everyone to see. The video clearly showed workers confessing that the person who wanted to poison Noella to death was none other than Walden!

Everybody's gaze towards Walden became complicated! Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“It’s one thing for Walden to use shady tactics to undermine the gallery - that could be chalked up to rough-and-tumble business warfare. But to poison Ms. Schnabel? That takes nerve!”

“Aside from being the apple of the Schnabel family's eye, she was also Mr. Pollack's fiancée.”

“Considering how Mr. Pollack had just publicly kicked Walden to the curb for her, this mess was far from over.”

At Lucian's birthday bash, the elite of high society could see the writing on the wall for the Gruber family!

Right there, people started backing out, "Walden, about that deal we discussed, I've changed my mind. Let's not go through with it."

"Yeah, that thing you mentioned earlier, let's forget it. I think it's best we don't do business together in the future!"

...

Walden's head buzzed with the voices around him! He had indeed drugged Noella, but only to make her fall mysteriously ill so he could swoop in as the savior. Ms. Schnabel would surely leave Palmer and fall head over heels for him!

He never intended for Noella to die. But now his carefully laid plans were in tatters!

Unable to take the hit, Walden fainted, and then he was quickly dragged away by the estate's security to be returned to the Gruber family.

Noella watched as Walden was hauled off like a sack of potatoes, her smile fading.

Palmer wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered, "Drugged him?"

"Mm-hmm, just to keep him busy and away from my mentor, nothing lethal."

The non-lethal drug Noella had used was enough to socially bury Walden multiple times, with a few more “burials” to come once he got back to the Gruber family.

Amazement flickered in Palmer's eyes. He hadn't seen when she'd slipped Walden the drug. Her ability to poison without a trace was reminiscent of the elusive medic rumored to operate in international warzones.

Could his fiancée be connected to the medic, or could Noella herself be this phantom figure? No wonder the Abyssal Organization had never received a response to their overtures!

"Should I be worried? If I upset my fiancée, will I also end up bedridden for days?"

Noella gave him a cool glance, her voice chilly, "If you’re curious, you’re welcome to try."

Palmer chuckled softly; leaning closer to her ear, he uttered, "I don't plan on being bedridden, but I wouldn't mind spending a few days in bed with you."

Noella had a feeling there was more to his words than met the ear. Was this man out of his mind? She hadn't realized before how immature and tedious he could be.

A blush crept over Noella's cheeks, and with an irritated glance at Palmer, she walked towards Master Killian who was not far away.

"Lucian, let me introduce you to my sole mentee. You'd better remember her."

Lucian, a man of advanced years, kept his silver hair neatly combed back and exuded a meticulously organized aura. His eyes twinkled with life as he took Noella in.

He let out an approbatory grin, "Marcel's granddaughter? Tavian mentioned you're quite the chess player. Come by sometime for a game."

Noella replied obligingly, "Of course."

Lucian nodded contentedly, then looked around the room with a meaningful expression, and said, "Noella, don't take the earlier incident to heart. The Gruber family has been living high off the hog for too long and seems to have forgotten that they're nothing but lapdogs!"

Noella recalled that the head of the Gruber family was once Lucian's secretary and had risen to prominence with the support of the Richardson family. Referring to them as Lucian's dogs seemed quite fitting.

Master Killian addressed Noella, "I have some matters to attend to. You two head back when you're ready."

"Will do."

Noella consented and, accompanied by Palmer, left the estate to find a car waiting by the curb. As Palmer leaned in to fasten her seat belt, he asked with a touch of care, "Should I arrange for someone to keep an eye on Master Killian?"

"No need. He won't run into trouble."

Noella was well aware of Master Killian's capabilities as a veteran member of the Polaris Star. Her mentor didn’t have the intention of making moves; otherwise, nobody was capable of keeping Polaris Star’s people.

...

At Schnabel Manor.

The car rolled to a stop at the front gate, and Palmer bent down to plant a tender kiss on the back of Noella's hand.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow for our little excursion to Lockhart Prison. I'll have everything ready, so tonight, just kick back and relax. Think of it as a casual jaunt."

The warmth from his lips lingered on Noella's skin as she withdrew her hand, her expression unimpressed, "Lockhart Prison isn't exactly a tourist hotspot."

And indeed, no one in their right mind would consider that place a playground.

Palmer, however, with his brash confidence, made it sound like a walk in the park.

And he had the clout to back it up! Even if the Abyssal Organization wasn't enough to rattle the bars of Lockhart Prison, the Pollack Group's influence was certainly enough to make them wary.

Standing tall on the borderlands for ages, Lockhart Prison had its own formidable reputation and an untouchable strength.

Palmer chuckled lightly, "Alright, you wish for a different kind of getaway, huh? How about we plan a real trip once we're back? I'll take care of everything. Wherever you wish to go, we'll go."

In the passenger seat, Annie nearly jumped with excitement.

Were the boss and Ms. Noella talking about going on a honeymoon so soon? Did that mean she might be on the brink of securing a super-extended vacation?

Annie immediately piped up, "Don't you worry, Ms. Noella, I'll handle all the arrangements! You'll have the time of your life! Do you prefer the beach, or perhaps ancient castles?"

Noella stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut with a definitive snap, not bothering to look back as she strode towards the Schnabel Manor.

When did she ever say she wanted to go on a trip with Palmer?

Annie rolled down the window, calling out to Noella's slender figure, "Ms. Noella, rest assured, I'll craft the perfect travel itinerary for you!"

For the sake of her own holiday, she was all in!

No sooner had Noella crossed the threshold of her home than Stirling beckoned to her, "Noella, come take a look at this sculpture. How does it open? Where could Grandma's video be stored?"