The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

What a gem Noella was!

Even Helen, known for her notoriously critical eye, could see how much Palmer was smitten with her. She saw how Noella stood by Palmer steadfastly, defending him with everything she had. In her eyes, Noella was already the chosen one for the Pollack family, a perfect match for her grandson. And Garrick, that old curmudgeon, dared to upset her future granddaughter-in-law!

With that, Helen was even more determined to set things right for Noella!

"Noella, dear, don't you worry. I'll make sure Garrick spends a month in the hospital if I have to. Let's see him try his tricks then! And as for the other incidents, leave them to me. I've got them covered."

Noella tried to interject, but Helen, clearly running out of patience, cut her off.

"You and Palmer should be out on dates, falling in love, doing what young folks do. Don't you worry about these adult matters. Just go shopping, buy some dresses, pick out some handbags - Palmer's credit card is yours to use! Don't even think about saving his money. It's all going to be yours someday anyway!"

Hearing Helen casually planning Palmer's finances, clearly siding with Noella, Palmer couldn't help but chuckle helplessly.

Then, amid the clangs and clatters from the other end of the phone, Helen was rummaging through her belongings, ready to storm Imperial University and settle the score with Garrick.

"Leave the rest to us old folks; we're not gone yet! Go enjoy your shopping spree, and don't come back until you've maxed out Palmer's card!"

With her plans for Noella and Palmer's date set, Helen hung up.

Listening to the dial tone, Noella couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.

Horatio always mentioned how fierce Helen could be, but it seemed the lady was not just fierce but downright explosive. One could only imagine the rough day Garrick was about to have!

...

In the hospital, Lavinia's room was cluttered with research papers and files. Whenever she had a moment, she'd sift through her past achievements.

Elara took the papers from her hands. “You should rest, not strain your brain with this stuff.”

Seeing Elara, Lavinia smiled softly. “I'm just browsing, not really thinking. Consider it an eye exercise.”

Even though it was all things she had written in the past, it had been too long. Faced with so much data and experimental samples, and with her mind feeling hazy and sluggish, it was just too exhausting to delve into anything research-related. Lavinia had only managed to get through one paper, and even then, parts of it were puzzling.

“Elara, could you check these figures for me?”

Elara frowned slightly. “Your research area was different from mine. These statistics… maybe you should ask Jacob to look at this.”

Lavinia and Jacob were once part of the same research team. If she sought clarity on her own work, Jacob would indeed be the quicker route. Besides, there were classified materials that Elara couldn't access due to her clearance level.

Lavinia paused, then composed herself. “I… I don’t really want to see him, but I do want a copy of these documents. Could you ask him?”

After so many years, Lavinia didn’t know how to face Jacob. Fortunately, there was still Elara between them.

Elara agreed and then tentatively mentioned, “Mr. Pollack said he’d like to see you.”

Lavinia shook her head with a smile. She tenderly stroked Elara’s hair, her eyes shining with warmth.

“Having you is enough for me. Thinking about anything else just gives me a headache. I’ve been ill for so many years, it’s like living through a foggy dream. And now, I look so unwell; I don’t want him to see me like this.”

After surgery, she’d lost much of her hair, and just the thought of her appearance made her feel somewhat absurd.

“But he wouldn’t mind. To him, your mere existence brings comfort.”

“You don’t understand, Elara. It’s not your father I need to see, nor my past lover, but my former self.”

Jacob represented Lavinia’s past. She couldn’t face her younger self, now confined to a hospital bed, barely snatching back her life from death’s grasp, with all her dreams and ambitions turned to dust.

For Lavinia, accepting her secluded life over the years was a hard pill to swallow. Especially seeing Elara, it was like looking at her younger, vibrant self, full of dreams and confidence.

Lavinia softly laughed. “Let’s just let things be. As long as you’re with me, I’m content.”

Bowie Richardson entered, handing Elara a medical report.

“Aunt’s condition is stable. She just needs peace and quiet now.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Bowie, Lavinia remembered Lorne Richardson’s funeral. She asked, “Lorne’s funeral…”

“We kept it simple. Everything’s been arranged. My parents won’t be coming back, and asked me to apologize to you and Elara on their behalf.”

The Richardson family’s eldest son had been adopted by Lucian and worked at an embassy abroad, unable to return home without a significant reason.

“That’s alright. You’ve been a great help, Bowie. Don’t worry too much.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Aunt. Heaven sent Elara as a compensation to you. Everything will look up from here.”

Lavinia shook her head with calm resolve. "Elara is a person, not a means of compensation. Even if she doesn't return to my side, she remains the Schnabel family's pride and joy. My presence is merely the icing on the cake."

For Lavinia, Elara represented redemption, but she was well aware of how much the Schnabel family cherished their daughter!

"It was Sienna who shared her daughter with me. It’s a gift from above, not compensation."

"You’re right." Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Weariness evident on her face, Lavinia let Elara tuck her in and sing her to sleep before she and Bowie left the hospital room.

Elara was dressed in a simple sundress, covered by a cardigan with unique stitching. The tiny, handmade pearl buttons added a touch of chaos yet elegance to her outfit.

Bowie couldn't help but inquire after a few glances, "Ms. Elara, is that cardigan a bespoke piece from some high-end brand?"

After some thought, Bowie couldn't place which luxury brand might have released such an item. Could it be that the Schnabel family's affection for Elara was merely for show?

With that thought, Bowie's mind started to race. If the Schnabel family didn't care much for Elara, his plans could become much simpler!

Elara looked down at her cardigan, grinning. "My mom knitted this for me! Both Noella and I have one. She's even planning to knit one for Ulrich's girlfriend!"