The Killer Queen

Elara’s gaze drifted from the photograph with a serene detachment. “We do have a striking resemblance. We must share some serendipitous connection.”

“It’s uncanny. I must say I’ve taken quite a liking to Miss Elara too!”

Lucian observed the exchange silently, his eyes eventually drifting to the manor’s verdant garden, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

Noella glanced at Lavinia with a smile. “Lavina, that hair clip of yours is gorgeous. May I take a look?”

“Of course, you can. I heard from Master Killian that you are studying jewelry design, right? This clip was crafted by a master jeweler; it’s quite unique.”

Noella carefully unfastened the hair clip from Lavinia’s head, admired it for a moment, and then returned it.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

After a short while, Noella and Elara got up to leave.

Lucian quickly interjected, “What’s the rush? You’ve only just arrived. Stay a little longer.”

Noella answered politely, “We were just passing by; we didn’t mean to disturb you guys for so long. My sister and I still need to get home for dinner.”

Lucian knew he had no right to ask them to stay but couldn’t bear to see them go. “Elara, could I get your phone number? Maybe you could visit me sometime?”

“Sure, I’ll be working at a research institute in Imperial City soon. If I happen to drop by for a meal, you can’t send me packing!”

The largest research institutes were conveniently located near the Richardson family estate, with Phoenix Lab’s affiliated labs close by.

Joy spread across Lucian’s face, smoothing out the wrinkles into a wide grin. “Come by anytime, my dear. If anyone tries to shoo you away, they’ll have me to answer to!”

Stepping outside the estate, Elara exhaled deeply.

Noella swung a leg over her motorcycle and handed Elara something.

“What’s this?”

“Lavinia’s hair.”

Noella had snagged it while removing Lavinia’s hair clip, enough for a DNA test.

“You said you trust DNA more, right? Lucian also sneakily put away the spoon you

Elara hadn’t noticed that detail. She slapped her forehead as if struck by a sudden revelation. “Is there enough DNA on the spoon, or should I drop a few strands of my hair in there, just in case?”

“That should do it.”

Elara quickly pulled a few strands from her head, sealed them in a baggie, and said, “Wait here, Noella!”

She dashed back to the manor and, panting crouched in front of Lucian. “This is for you. The spoon might not be enough!”

Lucian blushed at being caught red–handed. “Well, I didn’t mean to…”

“No worries. Call me with the results. Goodbye, Lucian!”

Watching Elara’s hasty retreat, Lucian chuckled, holding the strands of hair in his hand. “That girl’s got spunk. I like her!”

In the depths of the night at the Schnabel Manor in Serene Haven.

Noella was on the video call with Yasbel.

Yasbel sprawled on her bed, exuding an air of defeat. “Boss! The old man’s arriving in Imperial City tomorrow! We’ve got to pick him up. Ugh, I’m done for!”

“Is the Gemstone Gambling King invited by the Gruber family here?”

Master Hector, the previous Gemstone Gambling King, had an impeccable reputation for his skill in valuing precious stones. His biggest pet peeve was anyone tarnishing his moniker with false claims and deceit!

Yasbel scoffed. “The last Gemstone Gambling King’s on a flight across the ocean, and the current one’s right here. If it’s about half–baked gem betting, no one beats me. Calling himself a king? More like a joke! The Gruber family’s Walden sure knows how to stir up trouble. He’s still oblivious to the lesson from his last encounter with you and Mr. Pollack. Tomorrow, he’s hosting a public gemstone auction, and the Gruber family’s turning a blind eye because of Gemstone Gambling King’s title.”

“Then there’s Yvonne, her dad’s just a glorified errand boy for the Gruber family. She thinks she’s the heiress or something? Is Yvonne Gruber a cockroach or what?”

Hearing this description, Noella lifted her eyes. “What’s the matter?”

“She’s a nightmare. After Mr. Pollack bought her gallery and gave it to you, she had the nerve to open a new music store right across from yours!”

Yasbel was visibly irked.

10:56

Noella responded calm TKT Empying Party Program Vrit freds T

‘Decent size, similar to your music store. It’s not stocked with as many planos, but it’s in a prime location.”

Noella nodded, “It’s mine.”

Yasber’s brain short–circuited. “What?”

“Any objections?”

“Not at all. I’ll handle acquiring… wait, no, retrieving your music store.*

The excitement in Yasbel’s voice was palpable. Yvonne was still playing in the mud while their boss was making big moves. Their boss could even claim Polaris Star, so what was

a music store to her?

“Yasbel, you’ll pick up Master Hector tomorrow, and don’t you dare skip out.”

Yasbel, resigned to the imminent downgrade of his acting career, muttered, “Got it!”

After ending the call, Noella’s gaze settled on the curtains dancing in the night breeze.

Her voice was cool, laced with a faint hint of mockery. “Since when does Mr. Pollack need to scale balconies? Has the Pollack Group fallen on such hard times that they can’t even afford a door?”

The doors on the balcony swung open from the outside, and Palmer stepped through, clad in a robe. The silk garment hung open slightly at his chest, revealing the contours of his muscular torso and the hint of a six–pack.

“I didn’t want to wake you, so I didn’t knock.”

“Climbing through windows will wake me just the same.”

As a hitwoman, Noella was always on edge. Whether it was someone knocking at the door or scaling the wall, she would snap to alertness in an instant, ready for anything.

Palmer walked into Noella’s room and leaned on her bed, looking down at her as she sat cross–legged on the mattress.

She must have bathed not long ago; her body was cloaked in a light fragrance, and her hair, misty as a cloud, cascaded across the bed, alluring and captivating.

There was a touch of hurt in Palmer’s voice as he whispered, “I just missed you. You haven’t spoken to me since you got back from Lockhart Prison, and you didn’t reply to my messages.*

Noella looked up at Palmer.

When did this man become so clingy?

At most, he used to just watch her from his own room, and now he was climbing through

10:56

windows to see her!

Meeting Palmer’s intense and fervent gaze, Noella reluctantly spoke the truth 1 didn’t have time to check my phone this afternoon, and it was too late to reply.” Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Were you over at Grandpa Lucian’s?” He’d seen her and Elara ride off on the motorcycle and guessed she must have gone to see Lavinia

“Yeah. Our previous suspicions were mostly right. Lavinia doesn’t remember anything, not your uncle, nor Elara.”

T’ll tell Grandpa, is that okay?”

“By all means, but this is Blara’s business; you should ask her.”

Palmer nodded. “I will. But it’s late now, I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”

He knows it’s late? Then what was he doing in her room at this hour?

Seeing Noella’s accusatory expression, Palmer gently tapped her nose, his voice indulgent. “The Gruber family’s gemstone auction is tomorrow. Will my fiancée accompany me?”

If she hadn’t been ignoring his messages, and he hadn’t been so desperate to see her, he wouldn’t have come at this hour. It seemed that in her presence, the self–control he was so proud of was not quite sufficient.

I

The gemstone auction was an event Noella would have attended anyway. “Fine, now you can leave. I need to sleep!*

Palmer’s lips curled into a sly smile, his voice enticing. “Why don’t you sleep with me, my fiancée?”