The Killer Queen

Vincent was stuck in the hospital, paralyzed from the waist down. When he got the call from Briony, he was ready to give her an earful! That ungrateful girl, she had the audacity to hit him with her car, leaving him bedridden and paralyzed, unable to do a thing.

“Why aren’t you in jail? You almost killed me with that car. How did you get out?”

“Dad, it wasn’t me who hit you. It was all a setup by the Schnabel family! Just look it up online, and you’ll see that Noella is actually the Schnabel’s daughter! She must be out for revenge. Our family’s downfall – it’s all because Noella used the Schnabel family’s resources to target us!”

Vincent suddenly felt a surge of energy.

“I’ll look into what you’ve said.”

He hung up and immediately started looking up information on the Schnabel family.

The first thing that popped up was Noella’s globally streamed birthday bash! It was such a grand affair, and Vincent had even attended, trying to give Ms. Schnabel a gift, only to be turned away by the Schnabel family’s folks!

It was quite the embarrassment for the Lambert family! He hadn’t kept up with the news online since then.

Realizing that Noella was indeed Ms. Schnabel of the Schnabel family, Vincent’s vision blurred.

He had insulted Noella in front of the Schnabel family’s young masters, calling her an ingrate. And he even said in front of Marcel that Noella was just a caregiver!

The Lambert family’s bankruptcy must have been Noella’s doing!

Vincent dialed Belinda’s number.

“Come get me discharged! We need to reach out to Noella and the Schnabel family. As long as Noella is willing to forgive us, with the Schnabel family behind us, our family can surely rise again!”

Belinda, initially impatient, jumped at the news!

“Are you serious, honey?”

“Absolutely. Just check the news online! Before, Briony told us that it was all fake, but turns out Noella was the real Ms. Schnabel.”

Belinda’s eyes sparkled, suddenly regretting everything!

“That little devil, always keeping us in the dark, such an ingrate! Honey, let’s go find Marcel Schnabel. We’ve raised her for so many years; we deserve some compensation, don’t we? Even if not for us, your mother was truly heartfelt towards Noella.”

Vincent initially felt a bit guilty. But remembering Old Mrs. Lambert’s kindness towards Noella, he stood his ground.

“You’re right. Asking the Schnabel family for a billion isn’t too much.”

That amount was just pocket change for the Schnabel family.

Belinda, knowing she wouldn’t get much of that billion, schemed further.

“Honey, the Schnabel family is so wealthy, Noella’s birthday alone cost over a billion. Let’s just claim half of the Schnabel family’s fortune. Without us and your mother, Noella wouldn’t have made it this far.”

Half of the Schnabel family’s fortune! That was a lot of money!

Vincent swallowed hard, greed evident in his gaze.

“Alright. Let’s go to the Schnabel family and demand our share!”

Vincent and Belinda, completely forgetting about Briony hiding out in the vacation resort, hurriedly drove the Lambert family’s last beat–up car to Imperial City. The car was bought by Belinda with the money she had squirreled away from Vincent.

Serene Haven was Imperial City’s most elite neighborhood, ordinary folks couldn’t just walk in. The guard looked at Belinda’s beat–up car and didn’t recognize the two, refusing them entry.

“What’s your business here? No loitering allowed!”

Belinda quickly explained with a smile, “Hi, I’m here to see my daughter. She lives here in Phoenix Tower.”

“Phoenix Tower belongs to Ms. Schnabel. Is your daughter one of the Schnabel famil

“My daughter is Ms. Schnabel! We’re here to visit her!”

maids?”

The guard frowned, looking at Belinda and Vincent with skepticism, then reached for his walkie–talkie.

“Two nutcases at the east gate, send them away!”

These two were Ms. Schnabel’s parents? Ridiculous.

09:57

As the security guard, they knew what Tristan and Sienna looked like, and even if they had plastic surgery, they couldn’t possibly end up looking this bad!

Suddenly a sleek, black luxury car approached, its engine purring softly. The driver was clad in a crisp suit and pristine white gloves. In the car’s rear seat, Beckett sat, smoking a cigar. His profile, akin to that of a finely crafted sculpture, exuded both elegance and authority. A slight furrow of his brow emitted an icy aura, permeating his entire presence.

“Mr. Schnabel, welcome home.”

Now, this was the sort of presence befitting the Schnabel family, not some folks in a run–down car!

Vincent’s eyes lit up at the sight of Beckett. He really missed the boat before, thinking Noella was just batting her eyelashes and climbing the social ladder by getting with Beckett. If only they knew then that Noella was Ms. Schnabel, the Lambert family could’ve been living the high life by now!

All said and done, it was all Noella’s fault. Had that sneaky girl not kept this from them, they wouldn’t just be finding out now.

Vincent saw that Beckett was about to leave and quickly blurted out, “Mr. Schnabel, a moment, please!”

Beckett slightly turned, his gaze deep and piercing, landing on Vincent.

“I’m Noella’s foster father. We had no idea Noella was actually part of your family. We came to see her, but the security guard wouldn’t let us in.”

Beckett exhaled a puff of his cigar, his thin lips curling into a mocking smile.

“Serene Haven isn’t a dumpster, of course, you shouldn’t have come.”

Vincent hurriedly said, “Mr. Schnabel, there was a misunderstanding before. We’re all family here…”

Beckett asked indifferently, “What do you want?” Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“We just missed the kid, wanted to see Noella. Is she home?”

“Noella’s not home. You can leave now.”

After saying that, Beckett rolled up his car window and instructed the driver to leave.

S

Vincent and Belinda, seeing Beckett’s attitude, were quite upset.

“It must be Noella, that little brat, bad–mouthing us to the Schnabel family.”

Suddenly, another car stopped behind them, the window rolling down to reveal Oriana looking at Vincent and Belinda.

“Do you know Noella?”

“Yes, we’re her foster parents! Came to see her!”

Oriana also lived in Serene Haven, albeit in the least expensive building. Her parents were still paying off the mortgages. Upon seeing Vincent and Belinda’s appearance, Oriana felt a sense of superiority.

So what if she was Ms. Schnabel? She still had foster parents who looked like they’d fallen on hard times! Compared to Noella, she came from a family of education and culture, way above the nouveau riche Schnabels.

Oriana could see that these two weren’t good news and could spell trouble for Noella, so she said, “Noella might not be home, but why don’t you come in with me?”

“That’s wonderful! You’re such a kind–hearted lady!”