The Killer Queen

Vincent had it all figured out in his head. He was even strategizing about what to say when he saw Noella. He had to find out the true identity of Noella’s biological parents. If they were

indeed loaded, he’d make sure to milk some benefits from them. And that ten–billion contract, If it existed, it was meant for them, wasn’t it? Taking it would only be fair.

With that money, their financial troubles would vanish, and it wouldn’t have been for nothing that they’d raised Noella all these years!

Alioth could barely contain his disgust at the sight of Vincent’s smug grin. He kept telling himself to hold back as there were too many cameras around; it wouldn’t be a good place to start a fight here.

Taking several deep breaths, Alioth steered Vincent toward the small grove outside the hospital.

Since the last time someone dragged Vincent into the grove and gave him a hiding, he’d developed a phobia of such places.

“Dude, where are you taking me? If Noella’s around, can you ask her to come see me? Look at me, I’m not in the best shape. Maybe we shouldn’t go inside?”

“Let’s just go in. The boss is waiting for us inside.”

Vincent was confused.

What did he mean by “boss“? Was Noella waiting for him with a purpose?

Alioth stopped in the grove and looked up. “Boss, he’s here.”

Vincent glanced up, clueless. His eyes widened at the sight of Noella standing on a tree branch. She was cloaked in a black trench coat, like a specter of the night!

Her figure was slender, her hair misty as twilight, pinned up with a hairpin gifted by Ulrich, exposing her long, pale neck. In the dim light, her eyes were cold and detached, like a queen of the dark!

Vincent swallowed hard without realizing it.

“Noella? What’s with the spook show? What are you doing out here?”

Belinda was equally startled by Noella’s appearance. Somehow, just looking at Noella made her feel like her breath had been taken away.

Mysterious and dangerously alluring, she was a sight that felt almost sacrilegious to behold. Was this really the same girl she had never taken seriously?

Feeling a little intimidated and with her voice trembling, Belinda said, “Noella, have you been waiting here for us? We really missed you. Let’s go home together, shall we?”

Vincent chimed in, “Yeah, come home with us. It’s too hard for a girl like you to work out here

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alone. Come home and live the good life with me. We’ve even found you a match.”

Vincent glanced back at Ellsworth.

Ellsworth, staring at Noella perched above, was practically drooling!

She was stunning!

He’d always known she was pretty, but he hadn’t realized that a bit of dressing up could transform her this much. She was like a phantom of the night, her legs in boots long and slender. Just standing there in silence was enough to mesmerize Ellsworth.

“Noella, I’ve always liked you. Trust me, just come back with us, and then we can spend some time getting to know each other.”

Such a beautiful woman had to be his!

Noella looked down at her so–called family, her lips curling into a sneer. “You like me? You just want me to bail you out, don’t you, moron? Couldn’t afford a mirror at home, could you? Take a good look at yourself, you toad–faced, filthy thing! Vincent, do you even believe the rubbish you spout? I’m not a three–year–old.”

She hadn’t believed such nonsense since she was that age!

It was the first time Vincent had heard Noella call him by his first name so directly. He was enraged.

“Noella, was it wrong for us to raise you for so many years? You’re coming back with us today, and you’re going to settle down with Ellsworth! We’ve raised you all these years; you owe us for that upbringing. Don’t worry about paying too much. I know your parents got a big payout from the Emerald County council. Just give me ten million, and we’ll call it even.”

Noella’s lips twisted further into a scornful smile.

Vincent sure had a nerve, still thinking about getting money from her.

“Just looking at you makes me sick!”

With a graceful leap, Noella flipped down from the tree, her legs kicking against the trunk as she landed with poise. Her trench coat flared like a skirt, casting a bewitching and dangerous arc in the night, like the scythe of the Grim Reaper slicing through the darkness.

Vincent and the Fuller family were dumbstruck by her display.

When did Noella become so agile? Was it from climbing trees back in Glen Village?

She stood beneath the tree, taking deliberate steps toward Vincent.

Facing those icy cold eyes, Vincent’s heart started to race erratically, as if their owner was about to tear him to shreds. NôvelDrama.Org © content.

“What… what are you going to do? I’m telling you, I’m your dad…

Before he could finish, Alioth’s gloved hand clamped over his mouth.

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Alioth, slightly disgusted, said, “Enough with the noise. And keep it clean, will you?”

Vincent’s eyes bulged as the Fuller family members around him passed out, collapsing in a heap on the ground!

When had they made their move?

Noella approached Vincent, calmly putting on her thin surgical gloves. She flicked open a small knife, twisting it in her hand and stabbing it into Vincent’s thigh!

Vincent almost bit his tongue in pain!

Noella produced a syringe, her voice cool, “Relax, I didn’t hit an artery. You won’t die yet. But if you keep bothering me. I can’t guarantee how long you’ll last.”

She was being merciful to Vincent, but only out of respect for Old Mrs. Lambert. But that didn’t mean she’d always be so forgiving!

The chill in Noella’s gaze made Vincent truly afraid. Those cold eyes seemed to freeze his blood.

When had this girl become so terrifying?

Vincent felt like his head was spinning after getting a syringe of blood drawn. The pain was almost enough to make him pass out, and to make matters worse, Alioth was clamping his hand over Vincent’s mouth to stifle his screams.

Ivan sauntered up behind them, casually tossing a handful of what looked like fireplace ashi onto Vincent’s wound.

“Picked it up off the sidewalk. It’ll stop the bleeding, but no guarantees beyond that,” Ivan said, indifferent to Vincent’s discomfort.

Vincent, staring at the mess of soot on his leg, promptly fainted.

Alioth, with a look of disgust, peeled off his gloves and stuffed them into Vincent’s agape

mouth.

“Disgusting.” Alioth muttered. “Boss, are you heading back to the lab? We can handle these

guys.”

Noella, having collected the blood samples she needed, cast a disinterested glance at the people sprawled on the ground.

The Fuller family, they were old acquaintances of hers. They’d been a thorn in her side for ages, harassing her and her grandmother. Once, when her grandmother had been saving up to send her to school, the Fullers had stolen the tuition money, almost reducing her grandmother to tears for days.

How could she forget those deeds?

“Handle it.” Noella said coolly, “but leave one breathing. When I find the time, I’ll settle the score with them myself.”

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“Sure, Boss. You go on ahead.”

Noella nodded and vanished into the night.

There was an exhibition tomorrow, and it was too late to head back to the lab, but she needed the DNA report early to uncover whatever secrets her grandmother had been hiding from her.

Mulling over her next move. Noella swung her leg over a sleek black motorcycle parked by the curb. She had just slipped on her helmet when suddenly, a figure appeared out of nowhere. right in front of her!