The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Only Malvina could say something with such seriousness and not even bat an eyelid!

The Schnabel family adored her for it. Her personality was just the perfect match for Ulrich! Ulrich, coming from a military family, had spent years as a doctor without borders on the front lines, witnessing countless horrors. As the second child, he was incredibly bright, which often went unnoticed. Not as much in the spotlight as the eldest, Beckett, nor as much as the naive Stirling and the tearful Jasper. And certainly not as much as Elara, the once only daughter of the family!

Before Noella returned, Tristan was a rather strict father. He was stern with all the Schnabel children, including Elara, pushing them towards taking over the family business! What Ulrich needed was a clever yet easy-going girl by his side!

Beckett chuckled, "Don't worry, it'll be after your wedding."

"We've decided not to have a wedding just yet. Malvina's morning sickness is pretty bad, and a wedding would be too much for her now. We'll wait until things stabilize."

"But we're going to get the license tomorrow!"

Malvina blushed and smiled sheepishly. "My birthday is the day after tomorrow, and I wanted to be married before I turned 25, so we're going tomorrow to make it official!"

"Congratulations."

"Beckett, we're still expecting to attend your wedding in May."

Beckett smiled, tipping his head back to sip his drink, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Don't worry."

On his phone, Beckett quickly shared a video he'd just taken with Darcy. Darcy, fresh out of class, clicked on the video expecting a wedding scene but was surprised to see Beckett's face instead! His handsome features looked softer, less aloof than usual.

Beckett's voice was a bit low: "Noella got engaged, saved some sweets for you! I'll bring them to you after your class."

"Got your favorite chocolate, still like it?"Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Darcy pursed her lips, zooming in on the image. "What I liked before, I like even more now."

"But it's not the chocolate, it's you!"

Beckett, finding a secluded spot, dialed the number as soon as he read the message. "What do I do, I feel..."

Darcy listened to his slightly tipsy voice, "Feel?"

"Both warm and sweet."

It was hard to imagine the CEO of Rising Glory Group sounding so tender after a few drinks, Darcy was momentarily transported back to their college days...

"Beckett, I can't have children."

"I'm not that fond of kids."

Beckett massaged his temples, "I like kids, why not start a daycare? The Schnabel Group has ties with the Red Cross, plenty of kids there, they're all the same to me."

"If you must like kids, they'll be ours. In the absence of them, enjoying each other's company is just as good, right?"

Darcy stopped in her tracks. "But, the Schnabel family would want kids, right?"

"Darcy, I have three younger brothers and two sisters, and who knows, maybe my parents could still have more."

His words implied that the Schnabel family didn't necessarily need him to have his own children!

Darcy couldn't help but laugh at his comment. "Would your parents mind?"

"It's about you and me, my parents aren't planning on divorcing any time soon."

She wasn't there to be a stepmother to the Schnabels; Tristan and Sienna's opinions weren't that crucial! Besides, they were probably more worried about him ending up alone!

Darcy's main concern wasn't really about kids, but about Beckett's stance. Beckett said calmly, "If this really bothers you, I'll get a vasectomy before we marry, so we're in the same boat."

What kind of man would go to such lengths!

Darcy shook her head. "No need! I might not be good enough, but wait for me, I'll make sure I'm worthy of you!"

Beckett chuckled softly, "How long should I wait?"

"Very soon!"

Beckett knew Darcy was a planner and wouldn't press her on matters she chose not to discuss. "So, you're not giving me a commitment until then?"

He didn't want to lose the girlfriend he'd finally won back. In Beckett's eyes, everything he had was thanks to his family's legacy, having grown up at the top of the pyramid. It was no small feat for Darcy, who came from nothing, to stand by his side.

"Mr. Schnabel, don't worry, your status is coming soon." "Looking forward to it."

...

After the reception. As the last guests left, Serene Haven settled into a quiet calm, with Helen sitting alone in the garden, admiring the flowers. "Why don't you go to sleep?"

"I can't sleep."

Sexton ambled into the courtyard, settling down on a lounger, and pulled her down beside him. Looking up, the sky was filled with stars, just like always.

"When are they heading back?"

"In a few days."

The conversation dropped, and after

a while, Sexton sighed softly, "Helen,

I

I'm sorry, I promised to travel the

Orld with you, but I have to break

that promise now!"

to

"Horatio said our signs are incompatible; you shouldn't come to see me off, it'll bring you bad luck!"

Helen scoffed, "He's a half-baked fortune teller; he doesn't know anything!"

"Ah, but Horatio's predictions are spot on. Just listen to me!"

"Fine, I won't send you off."

Satisfied with her answer, Sexton nodded contentedly. As the night deepened, the breathing of the person beside her gradually quieted. "Take care of yourself..."

His voice faded away until his breathing was no longer audible, his hand slipping gently off the lounger. Helen swallowed the lump in her throat. "I wasn't going to send you off anyway."

Beside her was an empty bottle of medicine. The night air was cool, but the elderly couple remained intertwined, their hands clasped together even in silence.

Standing on her balcony, Noella was about to bid Palmer goodbye when she suddenly squinted toward the direction of the Pollack family's garden. "Palmer! Hurry back and check on Grandma and Grandpa!"

Hearing her cry of alarm, Palmer also took a sharp breath! They synchronously leapt from the balcony, sprinting toward the Pollack Mansion's garden! Tristan, who had just stepped out to invite them for a late-night snack, watched his daughter and future son-in-law zoom past. A gust of wind blew past him!

"... Huh? Are they practicing sprinting?"

It surely wasn't the time for a nighttime jog!

Noella turned her head back, urgently saying, "Dad, quick, go call for help! Something might have happened to the Pollack grandparents!"

Tristan was so startled he nearly

jumped out of his skin! But it was too late; Helen had already decided to depart this world alongside

Sexton, By the time the Pollack

family members rushed to the garden, the old couple's bodies were already cold.

Underneath a bottle of pills, there lay a note penned by Helen.

"I won't send you off; I'll accompany you on your journey!"