The Killer Queen

“Grandma’s health is really bad, and every time Noella comes around, she says some pretty nasty stuff. I have no clue why she’s being so mean to Grandma.

Yvonne was bawling her eyes out, looking absolutely pitiful.

“Mr. Pollack! Grandma is just looking out for the Schnabel family, she’s telling the truth. I swear. I know you don’t wanna believe it, but Grandma wouldn’t lie to you…

Palmer gave Yvonne and Ashlyn, who was clutching her chest and moaning, a cold glance.

“I only believe what I see with my own eyes. I know exactly what Noella is like, and nobody’s gonna drag her name through the mud on my watch.”

With those words, he yanked the hospital room door open, ready to make his exit without a second thought. He didn’t even give a rat’s ass about Ashlyn pretending to be sick on the bed.

Ashlyn was freaking out!

She couldn’t believe Palmer wouldn’t even give her the time of day! She had it all planned out – if Palmer just showed a bit of sympathy while she was playing sick and said some nice things, she could weasel Yvonne into his good graces.

Even if she couldn’t make them break off the engagement right away, at least she could keep Yvonne around Palmer all the time. Any guy would fall for that eventually! And the engagement would naturally fall into Yvonne’s lap!

But Palmer just up and left, with a face colder than ice.

“I’m telling the stone–cold truth! That Noella chick stole a ton of my money!”

Palmer frowned, and as he opened the hospital door, Noella was standing right there.

She was dressed in a light purple dress today, paired with a pearl bag that Sienna had picked out with care, wearing off–white leather shoes. Her eyelashes were long and curled, making her look like an adorable, delicate doll.

Ever since her daughter came home, Sienna was all about this new game of dressing her up. She would pick out a bunch of outfits for Noella every day. Just seeing Noella dolled up could keep Sienna grinning all day long. Noella was her precious girl! The Lambert family must’ve been out of their minds to cut ties with such an amazing daughter!

Worried that Noella might have heard Ashlyn’s rant, Palmer quickly shut the ward door, closing

off the world behind them.

“Weren’t you supposed to go see Grandpa?” Palmer sounded distressed.

If she had been standing there the whole time, she must have heard all the nasty stuff Ashlyn was spewing.

Noella tilted her chin up and pointed to a few caretakers standing by.

12:25

“They wouldn’t let me leave, worried that Grandma Ashlyn might want to say something to me after seeing you.”

Ashlyn’s plan indeed involved making Noella and Palmer call off the engagement on the spot or at least get Noella to agree to pass the engagement on to Yvonne.

Palmer took Noella’s hand with a frosty look at the caretakers nearby.

The caretakers met Palmer’s piercing, icy stare and quickly found their shoes incredibly interesting….

They only dared to stop Noella from leaving because Ashlyn had told them to. However, just looking at Mr. Pollack standing there, oozing that intimidating vibe, they were literally shaking in their boots – they definitely wouldn’t dare to stop him!

Palmer, hand in hand with Noella, left Ashlyn’s ward.

“Did you catch what Grandma Ashlyn said?” Palmer asked.

Noella nodded. She had a pretty good guess about what Ashlyn might say. But she hadn’t expected Palmer’s reaction.

“Don’t sweat the stuff she said. I’m not calling off our engagement. You know, Noella, if it weren’t for you being my fiancée at the birthday bash, this engagement would’ve been history.” Palmer looked seriously into the eyes of the girl in front of him, making his feelings crystal clear.

“Noella, the reason this engagement existed in the first place was to make the old folks happy. But now, it’s because of you. It exists only because of you.”

Noella met his deep, gem–like gaze and got the picture.

If it wasn’t her, Palmer would’ve ditched the engagement in a heartbeat.

As for Ashlyn’s delusional plan to hook Yvonne up with Palmer – pure pie in the sky.

Noella’s cheeks flushed a bit, and she felt slightly warm.

Palmer reached out and handed her a blank check.

“What’s this for?” Noella felt confused.

“I can’t have my flancée short on cash. I know the Schnabel family gave you plenty of bank. cards, but my check can be cashed at any bank.”

Noella frowned slightly, her slender, fair fingers pinching the check, puzzled.

Palmer chuckled and ruffled her hair. “Don’t overthink it. I’m not buying what Grandma Ashlyn’s

selling not a single word.”

–

“Then why the check for me?”

12:25

A twinkle flickered in Palmer’s eyes like scattered stars. “Can’t I give my fiancée some pocket money?”

Pocket money?

She was not really a little kid!

Sexton Pollack, who had been waiting at the ward door, heard their voices.

The moment he saw Noella, Sexton, decked out in his hospital gown, bolted towards her.

“My dear granddaughter–in–law! I’ve missed you like crazy! What are you and that rascal chatting about in the hallway? Why didn’t you come in?”

Seeing Sexton so full of beans, Palmer could tell his grandpa was doing alright.

Sexton noticed the check in Noella’s hand and scoffed.

“A check? Man, you really don’t know how to make a girl happy. Who on earth gives checks as a gift?”

Palmer helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. “It’s just a little pocket money I’m giving to Noella.”

Sexton inserted himself between them, shouldering Palmer aside and taking Noella’s arm to head back to the room.

“Pocket money? Let me tell you, us Pollack men? Once we’re hitched, we’re broke. All the cash is gonna be Noella’s turf, and you’ll be the one on an allowance.

Heh, Noella, sweetheart, you just give him as much as you feel like later on, but don’t spoil the guy! As for this check, write any amount you want; the kid’s loaded; no need to pinch pennies

for him. Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Noella was a bit helpless.

Her and Palmer’s wedding wasn’t even on the horizon.

But faced with Sexton, she couldn’t bring herself to say no.

“Alright, got it.”

The more Sexton looked at Noella, the more he took to her, completely forgetting about his grandson standing behind him.

Palmer, watching Sexton and Noella’s retreating figures, felt a new warmth in his heart.

Sexton was actually a stiff, quirky old–timer, so his taking a shine to Noella was totally unexpected.

He had already spotted the old man eagerly waiting in the hallway and could feel his genuine fondness for Noella.

But waiting for Noella wasn’t Sexton’s only agenda.

12:25

“Noella, honey, could you check on how I’m doing? Can I get discharged from the hospital. soon?”

Marcel’s voice came from the doorway of the room. “How are you doing? You’ll be six feet under tomorrow! Scram, stop pestering my precious granddaughter! If you’ve got the guts, go have your own kids pop out one for you!”

Sexton perked up instantly. “Hey, Marcell My kids might not be able to give me a granddaughter as great as this one, but my grandson and his wife sure can give me an even better great–grandkid!”

Although Marcel also longed for the sight of four generations under one roof, his top priority at the moment was verbal sparring with Sexton.

“If I don’t agree, you can kiss your dream of holding a great–grandkid goodbye.”

Sexton charged at him on the spot. “You just wait! I’m gonna settle the score with you today!”