The Killer Queen

The four Schnabel brothers widened their eyes.

Elara, you’re totally cheating here!

Ulrich flashed a meaningful smile, his eyes shimmering with ripples like a serene autumn pond, as his gaze landed on the hairpin atop Noella’s head.

On the hairpin he had carved himself, he had also stealthily inscribed: “I love you!”

The butler hurried forward, “Mr. Schnabel, Palmer has sent over two gifts.”

Tristan scratched his head. “Two gifts? Should be one for the elders and one for Noella, right? After all, Noella and him are still engaged. The kid sure knows how to curry favor!”

Sienna looked puzzled. “But Palmer doesn’t know Noella’s back home, so how come he’s sending her a gift?*

The butler explained, “One’s for you, Mr. and Mrs. Schnabel, and one for Ulrich, as a thank–you for saving Sexton Pollack.”

“When did I save Sexton?”

Noella knew full well that the gift from the Pollack family was meant for her but they mistook Ulrich for her.

She discreetly tugged Ulrich’s hand and whispered, “Ulrich, just take it.”

Ulrich’s heart nearly melted when a soft little hand gripped his suddenly!

Thinking it over, since Noella had been at the hospital lately, she might know the scoop. Tossing all rational thought aside, Ulrich, with a genteel smile, played along. “That was me. I helped Sexton with a prescription before. Mr. Pollack is too kind.”

Sienna playfully scolded, “You didn’t even give us a heads–up. You almost had me thinking Mr. Pollack got the wrong person. We’ve invited Mr. Pollack to Noella’s birthday party; they can meet the kids then!”

Noella was confused. What’s that got to do with me? Engagement? When?”

Seeing how the Schnabels were all hyped up, Noella didn’t have the heart to burst their bubble.

Imperial West Hospital, patient room

Yvonne, holding a nourishing tonic soup, took her sweet time fixing up her look outside Sexton’s

room.

“Palmy, this is the soup I made for…”

Inside, Palmer was locked in a standoff with Sexton over taking his medicine.

“I’m not taking It! There’s nothing wrong with me, and it was the wrong meds last time that made me sick! They are all bad stuff, out to get mel”

Palmer was helpless.

It was indeed his oversight that allowed Sexton’s meds to be tampered with last time, but now It’s Sexton’s excuse for not taking them.

“Grandpa, this batch was made on a dedicated production line just for you, and I personally oversaw it, so it’s all good.”

“I won’t listen, and I won’t take it!”

Yvonne, feeling ignored, promptly stepped forward, her hat adorned with a massive cluster of artificial flowers screaming for attention, and her skirt supported by a huge crinoline that required her to sidle through the door, with an umbrella in hand that nearly poked secretary Annie in the face..

Annie was a bit upset.

What’s with Ms. Schnabel?

Her fashion sense was like a psychedelic trip! And it was a hospital, not a costume catwalk!

As a fellow blue–blooded young lady, how could her taste be so… backwoods?

Palmer had always preferred a clean, neat look. Yvonne’s getup was like jumping into Palmer’s

no–go zone.

Annie, maintaining her professional composure as a top–notch assistant, suggested, “Ms. Schnabel, would you mind changing into something more appropriate? Your outfit isn’t quite fitting for a lady of your stature.”

Yvonne haughtily lifted her chin, sizing up Annie who stood a head taller in a professional suit.

Who’s this chick?

Who is she to criticize my careful selection for seeing Palmer?

Yvonne’s gaze swept over Annie’s supermodel–like face and figure, scoffing. “And who are you, some random chick? Worthy of standing next to Palmer? Once we’re married, I’ll have him fire all the female staff!”

“Ms. Schnabel, you’re a woman too, so how can you endorse such workplace gender bias?”

“Humph, unlike you lowlifes, I am Palmer’s fiancée, the future lady of the Pollack family!”

Annie was flabbergasted!

They hadn’t even gotten married, yet Yvonne was like this, what if she actually married Mr. Pollack? That would plunge the entire Pollack Group into a female workplace crisis!

Sexton glanced at Yvonne and saw a colorful blob standing there. Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

12:22

“And you are?”

Yvonne quickly shoved Annie aside, fawning over him. “Grandpa Sexton, I’m Yvonne from the Schnabel family. I specially brewed this soup for you!”

Sexton felt his own eyes drying out looking at her glistening lids. “Yvonne? Never heard of a Schnabel granddaughter by that name.”

Clearly, Sexton didn’t recognize her.

Palmer’s gaze was icy, devoid of any warmth.

“Grandpa, she claims she saved you last time.”

Sexton’s eyes popped out in disbelief. “What? No, no, no, definitely not her. The one who saved me was way prettier, had better taste. It was definitely not this peacock…”

Yvonne panicked as her lie was exposed.

“Palmy, I didn’t mean to lie. I really am Professor Calvin’s student, and I know how to take care of your grandfather, so let me stay and look after him, and it would be even better if you could stay here too.”

Palmer frowned, his aura as formidable as a natural–born Satan, cold and heartless.

“Get out, and don’t you ever come back to see my grandfather again. You and I have nothing to do with each other.”

Yvonne’s face turned pale with shock. How could he be so heartless to her!

“Palmy, I’m your fiancée…”

Palmer let out a snort of disdain, his eyes deep and dark, “A mere adopted daughter of the Schnabel family dares to call herself my fiancée? Since when did the Schnabels grow such a big pair?”

Adopted daughter! How in the world did Palmer get wind of that?

Yvonne was freaking out! “I truly love you, Palmer, and I’m the one who’s meant to be your wife. Marry me and you’ll see I’m the best choice!”

Palmer, clearly irritated, waved his hand dismissively and instantly, a bodyguard stepped up. scooped up Yvonne in a sideways hold because of her outrageous hat and dress, and chucked her out!

Finally, Sexton could enjoy some peace and quiet.

“Man, that chick was annoying, yapping away non–stop. The last one was so much quieter, and a real whiz at chess too. What was her name? I can’t seem to remember…”

Sexton’s memory had been a bit spotty since his surgery. He was probably talking about Elara, the national youth chess champion from a few years back.

“Grandpa, I’m taking off now.”

12:22

“Where to? Going on a hot date with my granddaughter–in–law?”

Palmer gave him a cool glance and said, “I’m off to chat with Dr. Calvin about your meds.”

Sexton immediately shut his eyes and started faking a faint.

As Palmer left the hospital room, tall and majestic, he seemed to radiate light, like a natural–born monarch.

He pulled out his phone and shot off a message.

[Heads up, I heard that Thorpe from Cerulean Whale will show up at the bar tonight. I’ll pick you up.]

Noella responded quickly.

[Okay, I’ll wait for you at the entrance of Imperial West Hospital.]

Was Noella at Imperial West Hospital too?

Must be digging into that whole Cerulean Whale assassin business.

Palmer quickened his pace, ignoring Yvonne who was loitering in the hallway, unwilling to leave, his face betraying a slight, almost imperceptible smile.

But Yvonne wouldn’t take no for an answer; she hitched up her dress and went after him! She just couldn’t be without Palmer!

The bodyguard blocked her at the door, and by the time Yvonne dashed out, Palmer was nowhere in sight.

Fuming. Yvonne stood at the entrance, scanning around, when suddenly she spotted Noella!

Noella had inherited the tall genes from the Schnabel couple, with a figure as elegant and willowy as Sienna, her hair cascading down, standing out in any crowd.

“What’s that country bumpkin doing here?” She crouched and crept closer, just in time to see Noella getting into a beat–up old Volkswagen!

It had to be Noella’s boyfriend picking her up!

Country bumpkin remains a country bumpkin, with no taste in men, only able to snag a guy who drives a clunker like that, barely worth a dime, not even enough to buy her a handbag.

Yvonne, with a cunning thought, made sure to snap a photo of Noella getting into the car.

If the Schnabels got wind of Noella dating a random driver, they’d surely kick her to the curb!

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