The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Jasper Schnabel couldn't believe his ears.

"Are you out of your mind?"

In his years on the job, Jasper had met all sorts of people, but Millie Gallagher was something else entirely!

Millie blinked, sitting on the sofa in Jasper's office, casually applying nail polish.

"Isn't this the kind of crazy stunt the Gallagher family pulls? Besides, getting a kiss from a supermodel like me isn't exactly a hardship for you."

"How is that not a hardship?"

Jasper was on the verge of jumping out of his skin, staring at Millie in disbelief.

Millie let her nails dry, then stood up nonchalantly, "I'll take care of this mess for you. In return, you join me for dinner at the Gallaghers'. Sounds fair, right?"

Jasper was wary, "As what, exactly?"

"College buddies, of course. Your last name, Schnabel, is your ticket in. Be thankful. If it weren't for your knack for landing on your feet, I wouldn't have bothered with you."

Jasper's face turned red with frustration!

"Why not Stirling? He's single too!"

"He's got too many fans. I don't want to get mobbed, and since we're in the same line of work, it's more convenient."

Convenient for her, maybe, but did she ever consider his feelings?

"You're already crashing at my place, what more do you want?"

The assistant quickly looked down.

OMG!

Was this some juicy gossip?

Millie was staying at Jasper's place?

The assistant clenched their fist, stuffing it into their mouth to prevent any accidental leaks of this bombshell news from Jasper...

Millie shrugged helplessly.

"That's why I'm living with you. My mom insists I bring a Mr. Schnabel back for dinner. If you refuse, the only eligible Schnabel bachelor left is your granddad!"

Millie glanced back at Jasper, her smile brimming with allure.

"Mind if I become your step-grandma, sweet grandson?"

Jasper had never met a woman so shamelessly bold!

But Sienna Horwich, indeed, had a soft spot for her. With her sweet talk and charming ways around the Schnabel family, Sienna was nearly ready to adopt Millie as her own!

Jasper couldn't even if he wanted to kick Millie out...

Thinking she might actually turn to Marcel, Jasper clenched his fists.

"I give up. Just don't scare my granddad. If you can really sort out Ms. Darcy's mother's mental health assessment, I'll go to that dinner with you." It was just one meal, after all.

Besides, he doubted Millie could really pull it off that easily!

Millie snapped her fingers, "You'll see."

Still, Jasper felt uneasy and decided to tag along.

"What are you going to do, shadow me?"

Jasper replied lightly, "I'm just afraid you'll end up assaulting someone and becoming criminally liable."

At the hospital, in the psychiatric ward.

A middle-aged woman, impeccably dressed with her hair neatly combed and adorned with a pearl hairpin, exuded a sense of delicate elegance. Poppy wore a gentle smile as she spoke to the doctor, "Thank you, doctor, but I assure you, I have no mental issues. The incident with my daughter was an unfortunate accident during play, and as a mother, I deeply regret it."

She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, appearing genuinely distraught.

The door was knocked, and Noella, in a white coat and mask, signaled Deacon to switch places with her. Facing a younger-looking doctor, although only the eyes were visible, Poppy felt inexplicably hesitant.

But then she thought, after so many doctor changes, hasn't there been one who could confirm her sanity?

As long as she lived, she would never let those ungrateful daughters commit her to a hospital!

Noella asked, "Tell me about your children."

"My daughters are exceptional,

graduates from prestigious

universities, thriving in their careers,

both in the arts, thanks to their inheritance of my artistic genes. They are wonderful children."

"Have you always regretted not having a son?" Poppy wiped away a tear.

"Doctor, you're young, probably haven't had children. Each child is piece of their mother's flesh. As for a son, you don't understand, in the countryside, not having a son is a matter of shame!"

Noella observed her, "But you've never lived in the countryside, yet you fear shame?"

Poppy was momentarily lost for words!

Having been raised in the city, why would she worry about rural stigmas?

"... My mother only had daughters, and when I was young, she was often ridiculed by her in-laws, which saddened me."

Noella simply nodded.

Then, pointing to a photo on the computer, "This is your family portrait, right? If I'm not mistaken, your mother had three sons. You're the only daughter."

Narcissistic liars, always weaving tales!

Poppy didn't flinch.

"Doctor, you're young, unfamiliar with such complexities. And what if I felt regret? I still raised two successful daughters!"

"Your husband's mistress bore him a son."

Poppy choked on her words!

How dare that woman bear her husband a son!

"...That's good news. Besides, my husband passed away, and our marriage was unhappy, so let's not dredge up the past."

"Why not divorce if it was unhappy?"

"For the sake of the children. How could I divorce? Without a father, they'd lose their very foundation! I endured an unbearable marriage for a brighter future for my daughters."

Poppy looked pitiful.

"I only wished for my children to

have better lives. What did I do wrong? Even if it meant my sacrifice, it was worth it. I was once so

accomplished, willing to give up everything for my children.

Noella shifted the topic after hearing her story.

"I heard you argued with your youngest daughter over her attire?"

Poppy dried her tears.

"Dressing up is about looking your best. I merely offered my daughter some advice. The modern world's complexities have made her, an art student, lose her sense of beauty."

"In this season, I don't think she looks good in knee-high boots; it just highlights that her legs aren't all that shapely. What's wrong with pointing that

out?"

"And as for getting her hair permed, why make herself look so tacky? Is this what they call artistic taste these days? And then she hangs up on me. Is she trying to cut ties with me or what?"

Noella gave her a fleeting look.

"She's financially independent and has the freedom to express herself however she sees fit. How she chooses to dress is a reflection of her personal

style."

"I just want her to be better. First off, she needs to realize that this look simply isn't flattering. If she insists on embracing 'ugly as the new beautiful,' then I've got nothing more to say!"Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Noella stood up, "Got it. Thanks for your input."

Poppy's actions were textbook narcissistic personality disorder.

What was needed now was an external trigger to expose her.

Opening the door, Millie was leaning against it, sucking on a lollipop, with a grin on her face.

"Lucky you, your eldest daughter's boyfriend is the CEO of Rising Glory, no less!"