The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

"Just think of me as someone with a quirky taste for adopting old men, okay?"

"After all, we already have a lonely old man at home. What's adding one more to the mix?"

Xavier was caught off guard!

"I, um, this is..."

Accustomed to betrayal and bloodshed, a world forever shrouded in darkness, he was suddenly greeted by a ray of light!

Noella glanced at Xavier.

"I'm taking over the joint next door. You're coming home with me, any objections?"

How could there be any objections?

But as easy as it sounds, how could it be done?

"This isn't a joke. The Baker Group is deeply rooted, plus they've got the 7-Slayers on their side. How do you plan to make your move?"

"Old men don't need to worry about such details. Just tell me, are you willing to come home with me or not?"

In Noella's eyes, Xavier was nothing but an old man in need of a retirement rest!

"You should cut down on the screen time in your golden years, all those silly videos dull the mind."

Xavier was at a loss for words!

Was he addicted to his phone?

The scenes he'd witnessed were far more gruesome than anything those videos could show!

But when it came to speaking his heart, all he could muster was a choked sigh.

"Eh, alright, granduncle's all ears..."

How could he refuse to go back!

It was his homeland, filled with memories!

Not to mention, the invitation came from Noella!

He had raised the finest kid in the world.

Noella patted Xavier on the shoulder.

"Crying? Embarrassing, your boys are watching."

"Watch what, damn it. It's just dust in my eye, they don't know jack!"

He was overjoyed!

Standing side by side, their silhouettes were identical — tall and solemn.

"Oh, by the way, kiddo, there's this guy who's dying. Says he wants to see you one last time. You up for it?"

"Who?"

"That mutt your grandma took in. That Vincent guy!"

Noella had almost forgotten about him!

"No need. There's no point."

The Lambert family had long since become strangers to her.

"Alright, just that he mentioned someone paid him a visit a few years back, told him to stay out of your grandma's business. Probably just blabbering!"

Xavier had enjoyed his fair share of games with Vincent lately.

All harmless enough, yet enough to strip Vincent of a layer of skin.

Hearing it was about grandma, Noella pondered for a moment, "Then let's pay a visit. No harm in that."

Xavier didn't press her further, cheerfully escorting the visitor to the cell, keys jingling as he hummed a tune on his way out.

Magee asked in confusion, "Boss, why the good mood?"

"You wouldn't understand!"

Inside the cell.

The entire Vincent family was cramped together, cowering in a corner.

Magee explained, "That Briony Lambert got too sick, afraid of contaminating others, so she was taken elsewhere."

Meanwhile, Vincent and his wife Yvonne Gruber were locked up together!

Upon seeing Noella, Vincent charged at her.

"It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in here!"

Noella calmly asked, "Do you remember grandma?"

"Who? You have the nerve to bring her up? She wasted her kindness on you!"

"Grandma was Xavier's younger

sister and my biological father's mother Had you treated grandma a better, you wouldn't be in this

bit

mess."

Had Vincent shown Harriet Lambert any kindness, the entire Schnabel family would have remembered his goodwill!

Let alone facing jail time, he could've walked sideways through Imperial City for the rest of his life.

Vincent's expression crumbled!

"What did you say?"

"You weren't grandma's biological son, hence the lack of filial piety. Right?"

Vincent had known for years he wasn't Harriet's flesh and blood, believing his devotion was futile.

"Grandma's biological son is my dad, Tristan, the CEO of the Schnabel Group. Xavier is my granduncle. Got it now?"

Understanding dawned on him, but his defenses were utterly shattered.

Vincent, realizing what he had missed out on, clasped his head and screamed in anguish.

"No, no! It was all supposed to be mine! I was so close to being brothers with the richest man... Mom, why didn't you tell me? Why did you lie?" Even now, Vincent blamed Harriet for deceiving him.

"Who told you to mistreat grandma?"

"I don't know him. He gave me money to stay out of your grandma and your affairs..."

Noella mocked, "Back then, you didn't know I wasn't your biological daughter, did you?"

"I have other children..."

Besides, Noella was just a distant daughter to him.

He didn't need to care too much about her!

Back then, Vincent needed money and didn't care much about Noella or Harriet, so he readily agreed.

Noella looked at Vincent with cold disdain, "Hopeless."

Ignoring the screams behind her, Noella exited the cell.

Palmer leaned against the doorframe, joining her as they both gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky.

"Had a good chat?"

“Nothing worth mentioning. Just let him know he's missed out big time. Let's head next door, shall we?"

The Baker Group.

The vast underground palace was like a labyrinth, its endless corridors twisting in every direction.

Casually disposing of a venomous snake that had slithered their way, Millie lamented, "What a waste. Could've made a fortune selling this."

Jasper's lips twitched.

"Are you that desperate for cash?"

Even venomous snakes were considered assets!

Was life at the Gallagher family that tough?

“Who doesn't want more money? These things fetch a good price out there, easy money."

There were plenty who'd use the snake for brewing tonic or, for the more eccentric, as a decorative specimen.

"Sir, you're wealthy, so you wouldn't understand the plight of those of us who've nearly starved due to lack of funds." Jasper looked on, his expression a mix of emotions.

"When I was broke, I survived on a bowl of noodles every two days, and even that was thanks to my good looks."Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

Back when he was undergoing the family's trial, Jasper had to win over

turning himself into a skeleton wrapped in skin, a penniless nobody.

a drug lord's trust, which meant 1.4

And that bowl of noodles? Earned purely by his charm.

Millie raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in her tone. "Wow, our dear Jasper isn't just good at shedding tears, huh?"

Can you believe she just said that?

Since when was he known for just crying?

"The Schnabel family has no room for failures."

Jasper twirled the handle of his knife, tossing aside the carcass of a venomous creature. His movements were smooth and practiced, effortlessly

cool.

Clearly, this wasn't his first rodeo.

"Wait a sec, you used to roll with the Toxic Monarch, didn't you? Didn't you know venomous snakes are worth a fortune?"

Jasper's gaze landed on Millie as he leaned in close, his hand propping up against the wall near her ear.

They were so close, they could see the tiny hairs on each other's faces.

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His Swiss Army Knife pierced the wall, flipping the blade to pin the snake's vital spot directly to the surface. The snake's head squirmed, but it was quickly immobilized.

"Not every snake is valuable. This one's a gift for you."