The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Megan collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

In just one night, she had lost both her parents.

"Mom, why did you have to be so... naive?"

They all thought about how hard Sexton's departure must have hit Helen.

Megan had everything planned out for taking the elderly lady abroad, thinking that the presence of three young kids would keep her from sinking into deep sorrow.

But the elderly lady decided to follow her husband in death!

Losing parents in middle age is a pain that's just as intense!

Jacob forced himself to calm down, pulling his emotionally shattered sister up, while dialing Emeric's number.

Emeric, who was in Antarctica waiting for the aurora with a research team, was stunned when he heard the news.

He just sat down hard on the snow.

"You're saying... both mom and dad are gone?"

"Dad's been sick for a long time, and mom... followed him. Palmer's engagement was rushed because of this. Why didn't you come back when I asked?"

Emeric was silent for a long time.

"I get it, I'll come home right away."

He had been waiting to see this year's aurora, a promise made to his wife.

Since it was just an engagement, not a wedding, Emeric thought it wasn't that crucial and chose the aurora over returning home.

But he never imagined that this departure would be his final goodbye to his parents.

Jacob, frustrated and disappointed, said, "Don't bother now, just chase your dreams. Kendra's been gone for how long, and you think you're the only one hurting? Have you even thought about your kids?"

"If all you can see is the past, then don't bother coming back!"

"Palmer's engaged now, and with mom and dad gone, the Pollack family won't force you into anything anymore!"

Jacob angrily ended the call.

Emeric, stunned, struggled with the poor satellite signal, his ears buzzing, his mind dizzy.

"What's wrong?"

"I... I have to go home!"

Snapping back to reality, Emeric hastily grabbed his gear, the only thought in his mind being to get home.

The team around him was puzzled.

"Weren't you set on seeing this aurora? This one's supposed to be a century's spectacle, wasn't it you and your wife's dream?" Underneath his goggles, Emeric realized he was already in tears.

"If my wife knew I missed our son's engagement, she'd never forgive me!"Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"I need to go home, I have to go home now!"

Those who wander are without a home.

And he was about to lose his.

...

On the other side, the Pollack family was engulfed in sorrow.

The remnants of the daytime engagement party were still being cleared away when they were replaced with mourning banners.

Marcel stood in the hall, looking at the Pollack couple lying side by side, and sighed deeply.

Noella stood behind him, whispering, "Grandpa, Grandpa Sexton passed peacefully, and grandma looked serene. Don't worry."

Marcel nodded.

Reaching out, Noella came forward, supporting the slightly staggering Marcel as they left.

"Noella," Marcel squeezed her hand, his voice laden with emotion, "you and Palmer need to take care of each other. It was your Grandpa Sexton's wish."

"I know."

"And if my time comes, remember to send me off just like we did your grandpa. I don't want to end up in a bed, hooked up to machines." "Grandpa..."

Hearing the old man speak like this made Noella feel somber.

Marcel patted her hand reassuringly.

"What haven't I seen at my age? Knowing you're back and informed about your grandma, I'm already content. No regrets. Don't be sad, your Grandpa Sexton didn't suffer in his passing."

"Yeah."

It wasn't Noella's first time saying goodbye to a loved one.

Harriet, too, had closed her eyes in Noella's arms.

Noella softly said, "Grandpa, grandma didn't blame you. I used to think she was waiting for someone from the Lambert family before she passed, but... she was probably waiting for you."

Harriet knew what Vincent Lambert was like all along.

She hadn't held much hope.

As one of the founders of Polaris Star, in her final moments, Harriet's thoughts were of the person she missed the most.

"She often asked me why you hadn't come."

Back then, Noella thought her grandmother was just confused.

Who was her grandpa?

Looking back, Marcel was the person Harriet missed the most after forgetting so much.

"Grandma didn't blame you, Grandpa. You don't need to feel so guilty."

Marcel always felt remorseful when Harriet was mentioned.

"If I had just been a bit smarter, dug a little deeper, how could Harriet have suffered so much..."

"Grandpa, Horatio said it was grandma's fate. Even if she stayed with the Schnabel family, maybe she would've faced other troubles."

"At least she passed peacefully."

Marcel nodded, wiping away a tear roughly.

At his age, so many things no longer mattered, but he and Harriet were destined to miss out on a life together.

Marcel sighed.

"Sexton, you left first, leaving me here all alone."

Their group of old friends, the ones he was closest to, were either scattered across the globe or had passed on.

Marcel let out a wistful smile, full of resignation.

He declined Noella's offer to escort him to his room, leaning on his cane as he walked away.

Seeing the once-straight back of the old man now slightly bent, Noella felt a pang of sadness.

Returning to the Pollack home, Noella was immediately embraced by Elara.

"Noella, I'm so sad!"

Noella comforted her with gentle pats on the back.

"I regret not spending more time with grandma and grandpa. They were looking forward to me coming home..."

As Elara closed her eyes, her mind was flooded with images of Mr. and Mrs. Pollack's warm smiles and loving gazes.

"Elara, dear, your grandpa will always have your back, no matter what."

"I'm so sorry, Elara. It's all grandma's fault. I made you feel so alienated from the idea of having a grandma. Believe me, I'm nothing like that wicked witch from the Schnabel family."

"Elara, no matter where you are, as long as you hold the Pollack family in your heart, that's all that matters!"

"Elara, your grandparents will always favor you, forever and always!"

Elara covered her face, burying her head in Noella's neck as tears rolled down her cheeks, her emotions completely shattered in that moment.

They promised to love her forever, so why did they have to leave her so suddenly?

Sexton, who would chase Jacob around the entire yard just to stand up for her.

Helen, who would defend her honor at all costs, even if it meant getting into a tussle with Ashlyn.

The grandparents who, knowing she

was having a hard time eating well

and sleeping in the lab, would bring

their own cook and wait under the scorching sun just to bring her a homemade meal.

Even though Helen was allergic to seafood, she would still cook it herself, treating Elara like her little child.

"Noella, I have no grandparents left..."