The Killer Queen

Palmer was feeling a bit of regret. He reached out, twirling a strand of Noella’s hair that had fallen across her face between his fingers. “If we were somewhere else, say in the international warzones, their fate wouldn’t have been so lucky.”

In the international warzones, he was known as Vocalist, the fearsome leader of a killer organization. Those who fell into his hands usually had one inevitable outcome!

Death!

The Lambert family should count their blessings for having raised Noella for nearly nineteen years. Otherwise, what they would face from him wouldn’t be so lenient!

Palmer squinted slightly, shielding the sunlight from Noella’s eyes, coaxing her to look into his.

“I’m thinking of bankrupting the Rosenberg family. Would my dear fiancée mind?”

“Why would I mind?”

What did she have to do with the Rosenberg family? Even if Milford had been betrothed to her in childhood, his fiancée in question was “Ms. Lambert“, not her personally.

“You don’t need to tell me what you’re up to. Aren’t you already on it?”

Noella was speechless.

Did Palmer have a screw loose or something? Every single day, whatever he was up to, he would shoot her a message. Photos of his meals, videos from his schmoozing sessions, even updates on whom he’s met – and if she didn’t text back, he would call up to ask!

She had no choice but to reply with a sentence or two every time Palmer texted her. This back–and– forth meant she was pretty much clued into his daily doings.

Palmer chuckled.

This little ingrate – he shared everything with her, and she couldn’t get the hint?

“I’m keeping you in the loop to put your mind at ease and also to keep myself on your mind. Since you’re not used to missing me, I can work on that!”

She w

wasn’t used to having him around, which was fine! He was going to gradually make her get

used to it.

“Thorpe sent me a message, hoping I’d give up Lunaris‘ consultation rights. What do you think, my dear fiancée?”

“Can’t you call me something else?”

Always with that title, it was like the whole world knew she was his betrothed. Noella felt her face burning with embarrassment. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Sure, how about ‘babe‘? ‘Honey“? I’m open to other nicknames, but I’d prefer them after we’re

11:12

Chanter ba

married.”

“Uh… Never mind, call me whatever you want. How much is Thorpe offering?”

“You willing to treat him?”

Noella nodded. Thorpe still had the director of the Heartfelt Orphanage in his hands, and she needed to find the person to uncover the truth about the past. With families like the Schnabels, she doubted they would easily mix up children.

Plus, there was Elara’s case that self–proclaimed humanitarian doctor also came from Tandy Hospital!

There had to be bigger secrets lurking behind these events, and Noella had to get to the bottom.

of it.

“Got it. I’ll get in touch with Thorpe, but I have one condition.”

“What’s that?”

Palmer slid his hand around Noella’s slender waist, drawing her close to his side, almost flush against him, creating an intimate atmosphere that even the air seemed to blush.

“If you go see Thorpe, you have to take me with you!”

“Thorpe would probably freak out if he sees you.”

Thorpe only wanted to see Lunaris for his brother’s treatment, not the head of the Abyssal Organization!

“Just go under a different pretext; he doesn’t know who I am. I don’t like the idea of my fiancée spending too much time with other men. I get jealous.”

Noella was speechless. She was a doctor going to see a patient – what was there for him to be jealous about?

Was he nuts?

“Oh, when I operated on your granddad last time, I took off his shirt and touched his chest. Go get jealous, then.”

Palmer’s face went through shades of red and white, speechless at Noella’s retort, and for once, he seemed a bit flustered.

A glint of mischief sparkled in Noella’s eyes.

Yvonne, lying in the ICU bed, slowly came to.

“Ms. Schnabel, you’re awake. We can move you to a regular ward now.”

“How… how did I end up here?”

As the nurse was making notes, she explained. “You forgot? Last night, you insisted on

swimming from the harbor back to Emerald County. You almost drowned, and Jasper brought you here. You’re fine now that you’ve woken up.”

Yvonne was puzzled. Swim from the harbor back to Emerald County? She wasn’t aware of such

a plan!

Clearly. Jasper had popped up and spoiled her chance. Otherwise, by now, the billion dollars would be hers!

If Jasper showed up, it must be because he didn’t want her to strike it rich or steal Noella’s thunder. Looked like she needed to find some other business on the deep web.

The nurse wheeled her bed out, glancing down from the floor.

“Looks like that’s Mr. Pollack’s car. Mr. Pollack is so devoted, visiting his grandfather at the hospital every day.”

Right! Palmer! If Palmer saw her now, all frail and with a touch of sorrow, he would surely be drawn to her. Just a bit of sympathy and she could slip in how terribly the Schnabel family treated her.

Once Yvonne was settled in the regular ward, the nurse left. Yvonne slipped away quietly. heading toward Sexton’s room.

Marcel and Sexton were downstairs, playing chess with a few silver–haired old gents. That meant Palmer was alone in the room!

Yvonne’s excitement grew as she hurried along, reaching the door to the room, even tugging at her clothing and undoing a few buttons.

“Palmy, I’m here!”

On the balcony, Palmer had his arms around Noella’s waist, whispering in her ear while she occasionally responded, looking very much in sync.

The moment that whiny, grating voice hit his ears, Palmer’s face soured. “Beat it!”

Yvonne was stunned!

How come Noella was here? And cuddling with Palmer! The shamelessness…

Before even tying the knot with Palmer, Noella was at the hospital trying to seduce him. Just what one would expect from an uncultured bumpkin! If it weren’t for Noella screwing up her own game here, she could’ve been the one in Palmer’s arms right now.

Major Garnett charged in, hoisted Yvonne, and high–tailed it out of there. Completely ignored her shrieking and whisked her away from the ward in no time. And he even had the courtesy to shut the door behind him.

Noella was at a loss for words.

The way Major Garnett moved, it was like he had done this a million times before like he had gotten used to dealing with Yvonne.

11:12

“She a regular or something?”

“I’ve got nothing to do with her. Believe me.”

Noella was speechless. What was it to her who he was involved with?

“I don’t let her come to see Grandpa, but with Grandpa Marcel around, since she’s part of the Schnabel family, that’s outta my hands.

Every time Yvonne used the excuse of visiting Marcel to hassle Sexton, Major Garnett would be there to swoop in and carry her off. It got to the point where he would just charge in and bundle her away the

moment he laid eyes on her.

Noella nodded. “I’ll have Major Garnett block her from now on, and she won’t need to bother Grandpa either.”

Yvonne might still have that Nourishment Pill on her. If she slipped it into Marcel’s meds when he was not looking, that would be a real mess. Better play it safe and keep her at bay.

“Tell Thorpe we’ll trade with the director of Heartfelt Orphanage: I want him alive.”

Palmer got her drift. “That’s too cheap.”

Asking for just the person might tip off Thorpe about some aspects of Noella’s identity, which wouldn’t be a good thing.

“Throw in a little extra cash; how about a billion? It’s not much, but I’ve checked Thorpe’s assets; asking for any more would be dirty money.”

“That’ll work.”

Palmer took her hand and gently dropped a kiss on the back of it. “I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow. Remember to wait for me.”