The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

"I didn't mean to..." Malvina was at a loss for words!

To claim she hadn’t toyed with the idea of breaking up with Ulrich would probably make even Ulrich himself burst into laughter. But those words had just slipped out without her even thinking.

Ulrich understood, though. He knew Malvina was just acting out of self-defense!

The Gruber family's messed-up ideas about love had always been a thorn in Malvina’s side, convincing her from a young age that true love was just a fairy tale. And that she herself wasn’t worthy of it.

Ulrich, with a mix of assertiveness and tenderness, lifted Malvina's chin and planted a kiss on her lips!

His kiss was fiery, and Malvina found herself succumbing to the heat of his anger and guilt, their breaths intertwining in a dance of desperation and need.

"Stop talking like that. At least try to trust me more. If you can't, then... play with my feelings if you must. If you don't believe in everlasting love, then let's live in the moment and enjoy what we have, alright?"

Ulrich's expression was a curious mix of humor and seriousness.

"You could even play with me, you know. You won’t be at a loss. Just enjoy yourself."

Malvina struggled to breathe, Ulrich's bold proposition sending her into a fit of coughs! "Is that even something you can say? If I really did play with you, would you ever let me go?"

"Played or not, I wouldn’t let you go anyway."

"Then maybe I should play a little."

Malvina felt dragged down a path she hadn’t expected by Ulrich. Following this logic, it seemed she really should indulge in playing with Ulrich's emotions and... body?

But something about that idea just didn’t sit right with her.

"Remember how you told me you weren’t allowed to have a puppy when you were little? Well, you don’t have to be sad about that anymore because you can have me as your puppy."

Him as her puppy? Just the thought sent a wave of heat through Malvina’s body.

Ulrich’s voice, laced with seduction, made her knees weak. If not for the wall behind her, she might have collapsed right there and then!

"Really? Can I?"

"Of course, you can. You’re my queen. Whatever you wish from me, I’m more than happy to oblige."

Malvina forced herself to remain calm. "It's not the same... I also said I wanted to be your sister, and that was just a joke."

How could Ulrich take such playful banter seriously?

Ulrich stepped closer, his hand finding her waist as he leaned in and whispered, "Then I guess I'll be your puppy."

His words, loaded with enticement, sent shivers down Malvina's spine, drawing her deeper into the trap he had laid out so enticingly. Yet, his words struck a chord in Malvina’s heart!

It was as if electricity coursed through her, fireworks bursting before her eyes. She realized she liked this kind of attention.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Ulrich had already scooped her up and carried her into his bedroom, the door slamming shut behind them.

The hallway fell silent, and Noella peeked out, her curiosity peaked.

"Ulrich seems to be quite the player, huh?"

She never knew Ulrich had this side to him. But it seemed his approach was working wonders on Malvina!

Palmer, covering Noella's eyes, whispered, "Don't spy on others’ privacy."

"I'm not spying."

She was outright staring, if anything.

Noella removed Palmer's hand from her eyes, fanning herself with her hand as if to cool off from the heated exchange she just witnessed.

Though nothing had happened, the atmosphere was charged with a tantalizing tension, leaving even Noella, who nearly walked into the scene, blushing.

Not to mention Malvina, probably completely ensnared by Ulrich by now.

Palmer chuckled softly behind her, "Does Noella want to play too?"

Noella quickly shook her head, pulling Palmer towards the study.

"You're making things up. I don't think like that."

Palmer's voice carried a teasing regret.

"What a shame, I thought since you're siblings, you might enjoy it too."

Enjoy what?

Being pressed against a wall and kissed forcefully? Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

Noella was sure she didn't harbor such desires.

"I don't have such inclinations, nor do I intend to break up with you."

"I'm glad to hear that. At least Noella has faith in me."

Noella smiled! She had chosen Palmer, just as he had chosen her!

Since she had decided to give it a try with Palmer, she wouldn't waver like Malvina did!

But observing Ulrich and Malvina, it seemed Ulrich had found the best way to deal with Malvina's insecurities.

Closing the door to the study, they left the commotion behind.

"I've got work to tend to. Do as you like."

Palmer sighed with a smile. His fiancée was more of a workaholic than he was – a fact that both amused and exasperated him!

"I think we should spend our rare time together not working."

Noella raised an eyebrow, "Why can't working together be a date? You’re saying you are less busy than me?"

The truth was, he was swamped with work. But whenever he was with Noella, Palmer couldn’t bring himself to do anything else but spend every possible moment with her.

"How is working together a date?"

"It's the perfect date for us."

"Noella... do you not enjoy being with me?"

"I do, that's why you're here."

Palmer smiled, charmed by Noella's straightforwardness. He loved how she never made him guess her feelings.

"Then, may I have a spot to work beside you?"

"Of course."

Noella’s study was cozy – making room for Palmer was easy.

Handing him an unpowered laptop, Noella pointed to the desk opposite hers, but Palmer shook his head, leaning in closer.

"I'd rather sit next to you."

"...Alright."

Palmer and Noella had set up an impromptu office, two chairs pulled together in a cozy corner. As Palmer pretended to be absorbed in the financial reports on his laptop, his hand casually found its way to Noella's waist. The arrangement was unconventional, sure, but it felt surprisingly right.

Noella booted up her laptop, only to be bombarded with notifications from the company's feedback app. She hadn't expected much, but the contents left her utterly shocked. Almost all the complaints were about Cosmo!

There were reports accusing the HR manager and head of design, Cosmo, of engaging in inappropriate relationships with both female and male employees. Allegations of taking kickbacks, maintaining dubious relationships with clients, harassment of staff members regardless of gender, and even skimming off employee bonuses for his own gain were rampant.

Reading through the reports, Noella was astounded.

Cosmo wasn't just acting like a king in his own little kingdom; he was treating the company like it was his personal playground.

Given that the feedback app was accessible to all employees, Cosmo was in for a sleepless night.

Closing her laptop, Noella turned to Palmer, who, it turned out, hadn't been working on financial reports at all but had been watching her, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"How about we change the scenery... go on a date?" Noella suggested, a playful tone in her voice.

"Absolutely, are we heading to your room?" Palmer responded, his grin widening.