The Killer Queen

Once Noella sees him, she would surely soften up! After all, he’s the dad who’s raised her for over a decade!

However, Vincent started to waver. “That chick’s definitely scrubbing floors at Rising Glory Mall, but who knows what time she clocks in every day? If she’s a no–show, am I supposed to just hang around? That’s just a blow to my dignity.”

How can he, a big shot businessman in Tranquility City, stoop to loitering around a mall entrance for a cleaner? How’s he gonna face anyone after that?

“Mr. Lambert, why don’t you just chill at a café near Rising Glory Mall and wait it out? Bet you’ll spot Noella in no time.”

Vincent thought it over and, gritting his teeth, agreed to the plan.

“This is all Noella’s fault. Just wait till Belinda and Briony are out of the police station; I’ll show

her!”

“Of course, Noella’s family is nothing but a bunch of unreasonable bumpkins. In the end, they’ll have to listen to you.”

The Schnabel Mansion’s vast living room was filled with jewelry boxes. Among them, diamond and gemstone necklaces shimmered inside their velvet cases, with a pink diamond necklace worth a whopping billion right in the center. Each diamond boasted three carats, with the centerpiece rivaling the size of a pigeon’s egg, sparkling like crazy!

Yvonne was practically blinded by the sea of diamond necklaces as soon as she walked in!

Did Sienna buy all these?

Sienna always had a thing for jewels, stocking up every year. As a lady of the Schnabel family’s status, jewels were an essential part of Sienna’s getup.

meant Yvonne

Elara, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about these trinkets; it was always Yvonne who accompanied Sienna on her jewelry hauls. Sienna’s shopping sprees inevitabl would manage to snag a little something for herself.

Now, drool practically dripped down Yvonne’s chin at the sight of all those diamond necklaces! She had already picked out which one she’d drape around her neck!

“Mom, what in the world are you doing?”

Sienna waved her over. “Noella’s birthday bash is just around the corner, and I need to pick out a necklace to wear. Come help me decide which one’s a fit!”

Yvonne, feigning difficulty, picked up a rather old–fashioned jade necklace.

“This one’s the perfect match for you, Mom. That pink diamond’s nice, sure, but a tad too

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de tax your aura.

She had her eye on that necklace the moment she walked int

It’s not that Sienna couldn’t rock the pink diamond, a beauty like her would dazzle with any jewel exuding elegance and grace.

But Yvonne knew that Stenna would remove the pink diamond necklace as an option if she mentioned it to her first. And just like that, the pink diamond necklace would be hers!

Sure enough, Sienna grabbed the jade necklace Yvonne mentioned and tried it on.

“You’re right, I’ll wear this one then, Give the pink diamond one to Noella.”

Yvonne’s smile froze solid!

“Mom, that necklace is for Noella?”

Sienna nodded, gesturing to the treasure trove before them. “All of these are for her. I managed to snag a jade necklace for myself thanks to Noella.”

Yvonne was shocked, thinking this must be a jokel

There must be at least a hundred necklaces there- diamonds, rubles, and even some rare pearls. Together, they could buy a villa in Imperial City!

All for that country bumpkin?

In the past, after a whole afternoon of accessory shopping with Sienna, Yvonne might score a necklace with a measly two–carat diamond. And now, the bumpkin waltzes in and lands all

these goodies?

“Mom, this is just too much. Noella’s room won’t even hold all this…”

Sienna waved her off. “Nonsense. We’ll just buy more rooms if we must. For these things, space is hardly an issue. I just hope Noella likes them, and if not, we can always buy more!”

Yvonne was at a loss for words.

Why did the country bumpkin get it all! She’s a Schnabel daughter too!

Yvonne watched as Sienna moved among jewels that should’ve been hers, her face almost twisted in agony at the thought that they were all for Noella!

No way, this should all be hers!

The nanny stood behind Yvonne and spoke up softly, “Ms. Yvonne, these treasures should be yours. Ms. Noella has just returned and has no right to compete with you!”

Yvonne turned to the nanny in surprise.

“I used to care for Ashlyn. I watched you grow up, Ms. Yvonne. I know your character best. You’re the true Schnabel daughter, the perfect match for the Pollack family.”

“Really? What should I do? Mom and Dad are totally duped by Noella now.”

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The nanny’s voice dropped even lower. “I overheard while cooking that Ms. Noella used to have a fiancé. Maybe you should dig into it. For all we know, she might not be a virgin, and certainly not worthy of the Schnabel or Pollack families.”

Joy sparkled in Yvonne’s eyes!

Who knew the bumpkin had an ex–fiancé! She’d make sure that girl was too humiliated to stay with the Schnabels!

At the Rising Glory Mall, Vincent paced back and forth at the mall entrance, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He’d been waiting here for days on end!

Every time, he hung around until the café closed, yet he still hadn’t caught a glimpse of Noella.

Were mall cleaners really this laid–back now? He’d show up post–lunch, post–nap, and wait until the café kicked him out without a sign of Noella.

Vincent was beyond irritated, his feet blistered and sore!

A black Cayenne pulled up at the curb, its flashy emblem dazzling Vincent’s eyes.

Noella stepped out of the car, rocking a light blue dress paired with a tiny white cape and a matching light blue hat. She was a knockout, with skin as smooth as porcelain, and every move she made oozed the grace and composure of a high–society lady- just like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.

Vincent barely recognized her as Noella!

He bolted towards her, all wound up! “Look at you, you little rebel! I told you to spring your mom and sister from the slammer, and here you are, out shopping like you haven’t got a care in the world! Got any conscience left?”

Noella’s outfit was obviously a knockoff, with not a logo in sight – she must’ve snagged it from some sketchy online store.

Dressing like this was her way of saying she didn’t wanna leave Imperial City and the Lambert family, huh?

“Come back with me right now; you’ve got to get your mom and sis out!”

Vincent was about to grab Noella’s wrist when a man stepped in front of him and kicked his leg hard, sending him tumbling down!

“Ouch, you dare hit me! You little traitor!”

Jasper dusted off his clothes, frowning at Vincent sitting on the ground.

“Sir, you were the one who spoke can back that up.”

rudely to Noella and acted aggressively. The cameras here

If it weren’t for spotting his sister’s missing brooch on her cape while they were meeting for Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

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dinner, he wouldn’t have ended up at Rising Glory Mall. He should’ve had the designer deliver the stuff straight to their door.

Jasper was a bit annoyed, giving Vincent a nasty look.

Interrupting his quality time with his sister was just plain infuriating!

At the entrance of Rising Glory Mall, a bunch of cameras pointed in one direction made Vincent feel edgy.

This guy had an air of distinction, and the limited–edition Porsche Cayenne behind him said it all. Definitely some high–flyer Noella met in Imperial City!

It all made sense why she had the guts to hang up on him – she’d found herself a new rock to cling to.

Vincent got up, his voice choked with emotion. “This is a family matter. Who the heck are you to butt in? We’ve raised this girl for over a decade, and just over some petty issue, she throws my wife and daughter into jail. That’s just inhuman!”

Jasper just blinked.

So, this troublemaker, this old chump, was the poor sap who’d been keeping his sister? The same Lambert family that kidnapped her and expected her to forgive and forget?

“I’m Jasper Schnabel, Noella’s lawyer. Whatever you’ve got to say, spill it.”

Vincent’s eyes widened.

Jasper, the hotshot lawyer known for never losing a case, the guy who could practically raise the dead in court!

The Lambert family had tried to secure Jasper’s services before, but his fees were sky–high, way beyond Vincent’s reach, so they went with another lawyer.

Now, this powerhouse of á lawyer was representing Noella, that wild child!