The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

The reason Noella was here, lending a hand to the Pollack family, was because of Palmer!

Emeric raised an eyebrow, his gaze loaded with a meaningful depth, before breaking into a soft chuckle.

“Kiddo, when a Pollack man falls in love, he’s hooked for life. You better be sure about this. If things don’t work out with Palmer, he might just lose it.”

“I have no intentions of backing out.”

Emeric continued, “Aren’t you scared? What if history repeats itself?”

Noella locked eyes with the man in front of her, a middle-aged figure wrapped in a cloak of artistic flair and a touch of melancholy. Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

“Choose fear over him? Mr. Pollack, did fear stop you from choosing Palmer?”

Her gaze was unwavering. “You think you’re doing what’s best for Palmer, watching over him from the shadows as he grows up alone. Was that because of fear?”

The question left Emeric momentarily speechless. He was indeed afraid. After Kendra left, he delved into the case, uncovering forces the Pollack family couldn't stand against. That was also when he discovered the Polaris Start, which led him to venture alone to the borderland.

The deeper he investigated, the more terrified he became. He even started to fear that if the demise of the Pollack family was inevitable, his closeness with Palmer might one day harm him.

Noella’s eyes turned cold. “Mr. Pollack, your excuses boil down to not loving Palmer enough. You only loved your wife, and out of fear of losing again, you chose to keep your distance.”

To Noella, Emeric’s excuses only reinforced the impression that his parents and children were insignificant in his eyes.

Noella was an outsider, not wishing to judge Emeric’s actions with more words. But when it came to her own choices, she was confident in her ability to decide for herself!

Her gaze shifted past everyone, landing on Palmer, who was also watching her. In that moment of eye contact, she saw a bright smile on his face, as radiant as the flowing light.

Noella’s lips curved up. “I’m not afraid! I’ve never been afraid! Besides, I can take care of myself. Even if the Pollack family is a den of dragons and tigers, they can’t touch me. Mr. Pollack, you failed to protect your loved one, but I’m not like you!”

Noella wasn’t Lavinia, nor was she Kendra. She had chosen Palmer simply because she liked him, nothing more!

When she witnessed the embrace between Ulrich and Malvina, Noella also felt the joy as an observer. In that moment, her thoughts unexpectedly turned to Palmer!

Instinctive reactions don’t lie.

Noella chuckled softly, her eyes filled with unprecedented tenderness. “Mr. Pollack, you say all this not to discourage me but because you worry about Palmer, right? Don’t worry, I’ll protect him. No one can harm him, not even you as his family.”

Emeric’s face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn’t expected this young girl, not even twenty, to see right through him! And he certainly didn’t expect Noella to confront him so directly!

This girl was unlike any other Emeric had ever met.

Regardless of Emeric’s intentions, Noella spoke her mind. “Mr. Pollack, I don’t have much respect for you, and don’t measure me by your standards!”

Emeric was momentarily taken aback. Facing Noella’s serious yet disdainful gaze, Emeric was a bit stunned. “What do you know…”

Noella shook her head, looking at Emeric with pity. “I may not understand, but you don’t understand me, nor Palmer. It’s okay, from now on, I’ll be the one who understands him.”

After saying that, she got up and walked towards Palmer, who took her hand and quietly asked what she had talked about with Emeric. Moments later, Emeric saw Palmer glance at him in astonishment. Then he looked away.

But in that look, Emeric saw acceptance!

The father-son bond momentarily seemed to revert to its former state, yet it was clear it could never fully return to what it once was. Over the years, he had deliberately kept his distance from Palmer, and now he wondered if he had made a mistake.

The Schnabel family car pulled up in front of the Pollack ancestral home.

Marcel, supported by Tristan, entered to pay his respects to the departed, his expression solemn.

Turning to Sexton, Marcel inquired, “Is everything resolved?”

“All resolved! But my people didn’t even need to step in; the kids handled it brilliantly, better than I expected!”

Sexton was somewhat moved. He had set the stage to resolve past issues on this occasion. Unexpectedly, his people didn’t get a chance to show up; the troublesome relatives were dealt with swiftly!

Sexton felt reassured. “With the Pollack family in their hands, I’m at ease. Marcel, you’ve got a wonderful granddaughter, and thank you, for giving me one too!”

Sexton gestured for Elara to come over. “Elara, I know you dislike scheming environments. So, I’ve arranged a special project just for you. The Pollack and Schnabel families will fund it, and you’ll be the sole lead. Your team, your rules. The lab was nestled close to Lucian and Merrick’s homes. However, the ownership was still tied up in layers of bureaucracy.”

Sexton always wanted Elara leading her own research facility, but the higher-ups were reluctant to let such a talent go.

Elara was taken aback. "Grandpa..."

"The top brass said that once your project yields results, you could be fast-tracked to a national honor, Elara! Give it your all!"

They must have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to help her achieve independence. Just the thought of the hoops Sexton and Marcel must have jumped through for her sake was mind- boggling.

Marcel chuckled. "You'll always be our granddaughter, the pride of the Schnabel family, just like Noella. To us, you're equally cherished. The Schnabel family will always be your home!"

Tears welled up in Elara's eyes. "I have so many homes now."

Palmer, holding Noella's hand, cast a wary glance at Emeric from a distance.

"He's bad news, keep away from him in the future."

Noella happily agreed to Palmer's suggestion. "Of course."

Meanwhile, Tristan was exchanging pleasantries with Emeric, while Sienna kept Helen company, the elderly lady wearing a rare smile.

Sexton sighed. "Kendra's case is still open, but at least she can rest in peace now!"

Marcel snorted. "You always had to play the good guy, putting our own at risk. Do we finally know who was behind it?"

Sexton nodded, his gaze sharp. "Garrick... It's been years since we've crossed paths. I wonder if he's still as tough as he used to be."