The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

\"Isn't Master just a shareholder in Azure?\"

Millie took a big bite of her burger.

Spending the afternoon trying to act like the perfect daughter alongside her mom and Sienna had nearly frozen her face into a permanent smile! \"I remember on my last birthday, Master gifted me a dress from Azure. It was personally delivered by Kitai, who said it was Master's request.\" Getting a custom piece from Azure delivered personally by Kitai was a big deal

Millie couldn't help but get excited thinking about that moment!

Jasper was shocked

\"What? Noella owns shares in Azure?!\"

Noella nodded calmly, \"Yes, that's right.\"

There weren't many shareholders in Azure. A quick look into the ownership structure would reveal that Noella owned eighty percent, with the rest held by folks from Polaris Star.

Beckett was the first to catch on.

\"Last time Azure was negotiating a contract with our company, they said they'd cut the company in for a thirty percent share of the profits. That was your doing?\"

\"Yes, it was me. After all, we shop at Azure for our clothes, so it doesn't hurt to give some profits back to the company.\"

As it turned out, the profits Azure made this year went to either the Schnabels or the Pollacks...

Every time Noella thought about how the family’s money ended up in her own pocket, she felt a bit embarrassedBelongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Azure's revenue was unmatched in the luxury floor of the mall, and yet they were willing to share profits, something Beckett found odd at the time! But it all made sense now that it was his sister's arrangement!

"I see.\"

A look of realization and affectionate amusement spread across Beckett's face as he casually picked up his phone to call his secretary.

\"Handle this first thing tomorrow morning. Going forward, waive the store fees for Azure, and we won't take any dividends either.\"

"Understood, Mr. Schnabell\”

Beckett looked at Noella, who was about to protest, and said gently, \"It doesn't make sense to profit from my own sister. Now that I know it's your business, I'm relieved!\"

The performance of Azure's business was well-known.

At the very least, it proved that his sister hadn't had it too tough in the past!

Jasper was still somewhat in disbelief.

\"Why didn’t you tell us sooner that you owned Azure? I even gifted you Azure clothes before, how embarrassing!" Being a shareholder, Noella must have been familiar with every piece in the store! Jasper covered his face in agony.

Noella reassured him: \"Don't worry, Jasper, I really like them.\"

That was true; the simplest reason behind her designs was her own preference.

Sienna patted Noella's cheek with sympathy.

\"You're amazing, darling! It must have been tough, right? How did you and Millie meet?\" Millie was several years older than Noella, yet she spoke of Noella with such respect! Sienna was curious.

Millie rested her chin on her hands and smiled, \"It was back when Master's grandma opened a diner. I was broke at the time and could only afford the cheapest muffin available.\"

The Gallagher family was notoriously tough on their kids!

Even in their teens, the Gallaghers wouldn't give them much money, letting them fend for themselves.

Vincent refused to provide Noella with support money and always skimped on her living expenses, while Harriet wanted Noella to eat well. So, Harriet decided to open a small diner.

Millie would pass by every day with her backpack, always buying the cheapest muffin, which was all she had for the day!

\"Then one day, I found my muffin had meat inside. I thought Grandma Harriet made a mistake and was secretly thrilled!\"

That was also the day Millie found herself cornered in a dark alley by a group.

At the time, Ms. Noella from the Gallagher family had many followers.

The sewage water poured over Millie's head as the group laughed mockingly.

\"Ha! Thinking you can compete with Millie for the inheritance? Look at yourself!\"

Ms. Noella from the Gallagher family sneered, holding Millie's chin, \"Do you think the Gallagher family would choose someone who's been covered in filth as their heir?\"

Millie felt her heart sink!

Then, a cold voice echoed from the bathroom entrance.

\"What are you doing? Bullying? \"

This school was the best in the area, but no one dared to cross the Gallaghers, and even the teachers turned a blind eye. \"Mind your own business!\"

Noella's gaze fell on the drenched Millie, calmly saying, \"Do you think I'm meddling too much?\" \"...It was you? You better leave, they're not good people, they'll hurt you!\"

Young Noella shook her head gently, \"I only ask, do you need help?\"

Millie's eyes lit up for a second before dimming again.

"You can't handle them...\"

\"Do you need help?\"

Millie met Noella's calm and determined gaze, nodding almost involuntarily!

In that moment, she actually felt that the frail girl could be trusted, that she could save her!

And that decision truly saved Millie.

The jeers of the Gallagher group turned into screams!

Noella stood firm, her actions speaking louder than words, changing the dynamics in an instant. \"Do you need more help? She seemed keen on dunking you into the toilet just now.\"

\"No, that's enough! Were you... looking for me?\"

Noella nodded.

\"Yes, my grandma asked me to find you so you could come home with us for dinner.\"

Home? Dinner?

Such a rare concept.

\'Let's go. My grandma knew you ~~ couldn't afford meals and that a muffinwwasn't enough. She wont charge you; just help clean the diner int feturn.\"

That's when Millie realized, the muffin with meat inside wasn't a coincidence!

Grandma Harriet had known all along that she couldn't afford a meal. She'd done it on purpose!

Millie burst into tears in an instant.

Wrapping herself in Noella’s jacket as she stepped out of the restroom, Milliethrew a glance back at Noella, herface ablaze with angerand fury.

Catching up with Noella's strides, Millie asked, \"Can you teach me?\"

\"What do you want to learn?\"

\"The way you fought them off just now! I want to learn! I want to be able to protect myself!\" Noella stopped in her tracks, asking nonchalantly, \"Just for self-defense?\"

Millie, taken aback for a moment. then clenched her fists tighter.

\"I want to prove that I am the strongest!\"

Noella let out a light chuckle and walked away.

\"If you're up for the challenge, follow me and learn.\"

Reflecting on those times. Millie felt a wave of emotion

\"If it hadn't been for Grandma Harriet and my mentor, I might have starved to death. I wouldn't be where I am today.\"

\It was mymentor who taught me that I was-born to be a mountain, not a strear?: I am meant to stand.on the shoulders of giants and look dows on the mediocrity of cowards!\" “

Sienna was moved by her words.

Jasper looked at Millie with a new respect.

\"It hasn't been easy for you, but meeting Noella was a stroke of luck.\"

Millie raised an eyebrow and teased, \"Aw, are you starting to feel sorry for me? How about marrying me then?\" \"Nutcasel\"

\"Is that all the vocabulary you have, Jasper? What a disgrace to the profession.\”

Watching the two of them bicker, Sienna couldn't help but remark that they were truly a pair of rivals.

\"Just make yourself at home and stay at ease, as if it's your own place!\" Sienna said.

Jasper and Millie chorused in unison, \"That won't do!\"