The Killer Queen

Vincent got booted straight out of the hospital. When Major Garnett heard what he had just said, he didn’t go easy at all and chucked him right onto the concrete.

Vincent was gritting his teeth in pain; his butt nearly bloomed with bruises!

What was the deal with the Schnabel family, always tossing people out like that?

Last time he went to give a gift, he got thrown out by the Schnabel folks, and this time, just for having a chat with the old man’s caretaker, out he went!

Noella, that heartless little wench. If it wasn’t for them kicking her out of the house, would she ever have had the chance to rub elbows with the Schnabels?

Now that she had climbed up the social ladder, she didn’t give a hoot about the Lambert family’s fate!

Vincent stomped back to Belinda’s ward, fuming. “If you hadn’t decided to cut ties with Noella on your own, she’d still be our daughter, and I wouldn’t be in this embarrassing mess.”

Belinda was also seething. “She’s just a caretaker, and you want her as our daughter? I’m embarrassed even if you’re not! That girl’s an ungrateful wretch; you can’t count on her. Better think of another plan than running after her.”

Vincent, puzzled, asked, “What other plan could there be?”

Belinda leaned back on her pillow and gave a mysterious smile. “I just overheard the nurses saying Ashlyn’s in this hospital too. Whether it’s the old man or the old lady, they’re both Schnabels. If one road’s blocked, we’ll just take another.”

Vincent’s eyes lit up! +

Ashlyn was good. She’s surely more approachable than Marcel. A little whisper in her ear and the Lambert family could be back from the dead.

“Good thing I still have the gifts from earlier. Let’s take them to Ashlyn now!”

The Lambert family, pumped up like they were on steroids, lugged their bags and headed toward Ashlyn’s room.

Ashlyn was lying in her hospital bed listening to catholic songs, looking all serene and peaceful. The sunlight streaming through the window lit up her white hair; anyone clueless would think she was a sweet, friendly old lady.

“Madam Ashlyn, we’re the Lamberts from Tranquility City. We heard you’re not well, so we brought you some gifts!”

Ashlyn opened her eyes to find three strangers by her bed.

Gifts for her?

11:13

Ever since Marcel banned her from mingling with the noble families, it had been years since anyone brought her gifts! What were these people up to?

Ashlyn eyed the three rough–and–ready folks in front of her and snorted coldly. “Take all this. stuff away: I’m not interested.”

“Madam, we’ve just come from Marcel’s place. He sent us to give you these, said he’s been worried about your health!”

Hearing that Marcel had sent them, Ashlyn’s eyes suddenly widened!

She knew it! That old coot still had her on his mind. After a lifetime together, he couldn’t be that heartless.

“Alright, lay them down, then you can go.”

Vincent plastered a sycophantic smile on his face, rubbing his hands together. “Madam, we’re Noella’s foster parents. Just wanted to ask if that girl is still behaving well?”

Noella’s foster parents?

Hearing this, Ashlyn’s disdain grew even stronger.

No wonder she felt these people reeked; turned out they were that girl’s foster parents.

Birds of a feather, coarse and crass.

“Behaving? What’s that got to do with me? As long as I’m alive, she’s never setting foot in the Schnabel household!”

The Lambert family perked up at that!

Wasn’t Ashlyn basically saying Noella had no chance of marrying into the Schnabel family? Even if she was dying to climb up the social ladder, they didn’t give a damn about her!

Briony felt a whole lot better, too.

“Madam, Noella is my sister. We grew up together. She always liked to hang with lots of boys. and she was engaged to my fiancé, but she was unfaithful.”

Ashlyn frowned as if she had heard something filthy. “I knew that girl was no good! What exactly are you here for?”

“Madam, mainly we don’t want you to be duped by Noella. She’s been trouble since she was little! My mother was practically driven to her death by her! If you want the scoop on Noella, we’re at your service.”

A glint of intrigue appeared in Ashlyn’s eyes. She might not have much respect for these three, but if they could provide something interesting, she wouldn’t mind lending an ear.

“Madam, you must kick Noella out of the Schnabels! We’ll cut ties with her just because she’s always been light–fingered…”

“Light–fingered?”

11:13

Vincent spilled the beans about losing his contract.

“The Schnabel estate is massive; if Noella pulls something at home, the losses could be huge!”

Ashlyn was alarmed. She whipped out her phone and dialed her son Tristan’s number straight

away.

But Tristan was busy pampering his wife and didn’t pick up even after ten calls!

“Mr. Schnabel must be tied up. Why don’t you give me his number, and I’ll get in touch with him.” Vincent looked at Ashlyn with puppy–dog eyes. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“Alright, make sure you tell my son everything she’s done. Don’t let him be fooled.”

“Will do!”

Vincent left his number with a beaming smile and strutted out of the room with Tristan’s number in hand.

“Judging by Ashlyn’s behavior just now, Noella must’ve been up to no good in the Schnabel family. It’s a good thing we cut ties with her; she could’ve dragged us down with her.”

Belinda nodded in total agreement. “Let’s hustle back and reach out to Tristan Schnabel. As long as we have the Schnabel family on our side, we’ll definitely make it through this rough patch.”

At the Horwich Mansion.

The quaint courtyard was brimming with priceless plants and flowers, and the little bridge over running water added an extra touch of unique and elegant charm, much like a scene straight out of the water towns, filled with an air of romance.

Sienna lounged on the deck chair, letting Tristan grovel at her feet and massage her legs like a lapdog.

“Honey, don’t be mad anymore. Look at how you scared our daughter today.”

1

“Was it me who wanted to be mad? It’s your mom who drove me to it!”

Tristan gave a sheepish grin. “Heh heh, my mom’s getting on in years; her brain’s not what it used to be. Next time she calls you over, just ignore her.”

Sienna shot him a look that was all alluring and annoying.

“You think I want to deal with her? I’m only doing it so she won’t bother me and then take it out on Noella. Let me tell you, I can handle her bullying me, but if she even thinks about messing with my daughter, it’s war!”

Tristan nodded vigorously. “Don’t worry! Noella is our little treasure. No one’s allowed to bully her.”

Right after he said that his phone started to ring.

11:13

“Who’s that?”

“Mr. Schnabel! This is Vincent from Tranquility City. I’ve got some dirt on your family’s caretaker, Noella! That chick is full of tricks, has a heart like a snake, and shows no respect for parents and elders. She’s always been vicious to our daughter and is not fit to stay by Mr. Marcel’s side as a caregiver.”

Tristan was utterly confused at first, but the more he listened, the angrier he got. He was so close to reaching through the phone and wringing Vincent’s neck!

Back in his younger days, he was a big shot, a heavyweight, a boss who ruled the roost, especially among the Schnabel kids. Once they took over the family business, Tristan happily stepped back. Thus, he seemed to be the easiest one in the family to talk to, though that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Tristan’s face turned stone cold, an aura of chilling anger emanating from him that even Sienna picked up on and asked, “What’s wrong? Who’s calling?”

Vincent was still going on and on. “Is your wife there too? This is really important. I swear on my name that if Noella stays with the Schnabel family, she’s going to harm you guys. We wouldn’t have kicked her out of our house for nothing!”