The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Darcy was at a loss for words.

It wasn't the first time she'd had a conversation with Jasper, and by now she was fairly acquainted with his temperament. The man could talk circles around anyone, yet in court, he was as sharp and unyielding as they came.

Jasper swiftly transitioned to the main topic. “The other party wishes to get in touch with you, and they also mentioned that your father has been keeping you and your sister in his thoughts.”

Darcy shook her head firmly. "I don't see any need to reconnect. My father's gone, and all I want is to secure what's rightfully mine and my sister's."

"Okay, I'll relay the message. But she mentioned having something to give you, apparently something your father intended for you."

After a brief pause, Darcy said, "Sentimental gestures hold no value for me. I feel no sympathy for a woman who engages in extramarital affairs. Whether it's my father or her, they're both perpetrators who have caused harm to my mother."

Jasper, ever the professional, didn't delve into emotional counsel. He was a lawyer, not a therapist.

Darcy subtly glanced towards the car parked on the curb, declining Jasper's offer to grab a drink. "I've got things to handle. We'll catch up another time when you need more documents."

“Alright, goodbye.”

As Darcy walked away, Jasper returned to his car, where Beckett had been waiting.

Beckett withdrew his gaze, calmly asking, "What did you talk about?"

He was well aware of all of Darcy's little habits. She would often play with her hair when feeling uneasy, likely due to something Jasper said!

Jasper replied, "I asked Ms. Darcy to consider you. She mentioned not liking families with many brothers, so I joked that I and the other brothers could go die together. She politely declined. Quite courteous, actually."

Beckett glanced at Jasper with resignation. "The next time you meet a client, start matchmaking for me, and I'll just send you off to become a professional matchmaker."

Jasper zipped his lips.

Casually driving the car towards Ulrich's laboratory, Beckett remarked as if by chance, "With Ms. Darcy’s case, is it inheritance matters?"

"Yes!"

Beckett recalled the strained relationship Darcy had with her family during her school years. Despite her father's desire for a son, he ended up with two daughters. Determined to have a son, he resorted to having an affair.

"Pay extra attention to her requests, considering she's... Noella's teacher."

"I understand. Ms. Darcy's sister even works for Noella, so they're practically family."

Jasper casually mentioned the situation of the Darcy sisters.

"The other party wants to get some money, but our country's laws do not acknowledge common-law marriages, nor do they have any documentation like a will. Now, the other party aims to appeal to Ms. Darcy's emotions."

"She won't be swayed."

"Yeah... how did you know?"

"Reading people, am I worse than you?"

Beckett, after all, was a leader in the financial industry, having met countless people, so Jasper didn't think much of it. Concerned about client privacy, Jasper refrained from saying more.

The car stopped outside Ulrich's lab, and Jasper helped Elara out of the car.

Maintaining a composed demeanor, Beckett said, “You two go find Ulrich. I'll take Noella and Mr. Pollack to the nearby park.”

Noella interjected, “Beckett, we can manage on our own. The scenery here is also quite lovely."

Near the laboratory, there was a vast field of flowers used for experiments. When not in use for experiments, it was open to the public, making it a popular spot for visitors.

As they reached the park near the laboratory, Annie, hidden among the bushes, breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Noella and Palmer strolling hand in hand.

"Ms. Noella, Boss, Dr. Schnabel and Ms. Gruber are in that house over there," Annie said.

Noella nodded, her gaze shifting to the small houses surrounding the flowerbeds, where members of Polaris Star were perched, waiting for an opportunity.

Alioth bounded over excitedly. "Boss, your brother and sister-in-law are safe. They're currently playing games with the people from Shadow Dragon Society!"

Annie raised an eyebrow. "What game?"

"Hehe, you'll see when you get there!"

…

Watching Noella walk hand in hand with Palmer towards the park ahead, Beckett casually turned off the car's lights. The interior fell into dimness, illuminated only by the glowing tip of his cigar. The scent of nicotine lingered in the air, enveloping him in its embrace.

He knew Darcy would never forgive her father, recalling their conversation from their school years when she spoke of her past. Her words from back then still echoed in Beckett's ears.

"My dad doesn't care about me. All he sees is money. I earned a scholarship to study abroad."

"He gave me money, probably hoping I'd take care of him in his old age. I can't betray my mom."

"You don't understand the pride of us poor people, so please, stop asking, okay?"

…

Beckett felt strangely embarrassed! Back then, he hadn't taken those words to heart, but now, he realized he remembered every single thing she had said!

With a weary sigh, Beckett closed his eyes before reaching for his phone to dial a number.

"I've sent you a case. You must ensure the maximum benefit for the plaintiff, and put it on Jasper's plate."

"Mr. Schnabel, isn't Jasper's firm already handling this case?" Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

"Do as I say."

The secretary quickly agreed.

Putting away his phone, Beckett extinguished the cigar in his hand, gathered his thoughts, glanced towards the direction of the lab, and drove off!

Darcy lived nearby, but at this hour, the buses had already stopped running. She didn't want to take a taxi either, so she decided to walk back, treating it as a leisurely stroll, her mind in a tangled mess.

Darcy was still in a daze when the car pulled up beside her.

Beckett rolled down the window, his expression a bit icy. "Get in, I'll give you a lift."

"No, that's okay, I can walk..."

"You're Noella's teacher, and I don't want anything happening to you. It would be a hassle for Noella to have to adjust to a new teacher."

His words were too cold.

Darcy swallowed the words she had on the tip of her tongue.

So, it was to spare Noella the inconvenience of adjusting to a new teacher!

Feeling a bit disheartened, Darcy opened the car door and got in. "Thanks, Mr. Schnabel."

As she settled into the car, Darcy sensed the awkward atmosphere. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke up, "What did you mean by the message you left me last time, Mr. Schnabel?"

Beckett's expression remained neutral, his eyes fixed on the road. "Do I not have a name? Or is it that you've been calling me Mr. Schnabel since you met me?"

Darcy almost bit her tongue! What had she called him before?

Beckett? Wasn’t it impolite to call him that now?

Darcy turned her head away. "Whatever I call you is my choice. I'm not one of your employees; you can't control that."

Beckett adjusted his tie and cracked a smile. "So, whatever message I send you is my choice too! I'm not your student; you can't control that either!"