The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

The sound of car horns pierced the quiet of the cemetery outskirts.

A convoy of over a dozen cars pulled up, led by an elderly gentleman who stepped out, accompanied by a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties.

Dressed in a pristine white suit, a boutonniere pinned to his chest, and a black fedora, the old man walked with a slight limp.

Upon seeing him, Tristan hurried over. “Uncle Ephraim, what brings you here?”

“Hmph, you're holding a memorial for your mother and didn’t think to call your kin? Do we mean nothing to you?”

Ashlyn, hoisted on a model’s shoulder, perked up at the sight of the Schnabel family members. Trouble was brewing, and she was here for it!

“Ephraim, you have to back me up! Kick Harriet out; I should be the one standing here! When have I ever let the family down?

And Linnea, oh! You and our Yvonne were practically sisters, you gotta stand with me here!

These people are ganging up on me! We need to get rid of these bad omens!”

To Ashlyn, both Sienna and Noella were just obstacles in her path!

If it weren’t for them, the Schnabel family would have been hers by now.

How could it be that after marrying Marcel, he wouldn’t even touch her, yet Sienna kept having children, one after another!

For thirty years, Ashlyn harbored a towering resentment!

Linnea remained calm, “I was taken in by my grandfather, not related to you. I have my own grandmother.”

Ashlyn was relentless.

“You were raised alongside our Yvonne, who knows, you might actually be sisters!

Yvonne is my true granddaughter, just like you!”

Seeing Linnea, Ashlyn's eyes lit up!

Linnea, however, stepped back emotionlessly.

“Then go find Yvonne Schnabel. I’m not your granddaughter.”

Yvonne?

Who knows where that brat ended up!

Just mentioning her name made Ashlyn’s blood boil!

If it weren’t for Yvonne abandoning her, Ashlyn wouldn’t be in this mess!

“Ephraim, what are you here for? To throw Harriet out?”

Ashlyn was visibly agitated.

Ephraim adjusted his suit and, with Linnea’s support, approached Marcel, bowing deeply, “Marcel, I’m late.”

“Didn’t invite you, what do you want?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Ephraim said sternly, “To pay respects to my sister-in-law, and to ask, when will you let Noella officially join the family? A spot in the family tree is already prepared, right next to Elara’s!”

Marcel nodded.

“It’s time to handle this. Noella’s name can be added at any time; she will always be a Schnabel.”

“What about my sister-in-law’s name?”

Ephraim was cautious.

Even in his old age, facing Marcel still filled him with apprehension.

Without Marcel’s guidance, the Schnabels wouldn’t be where they are today, and Ephraim might not have survived.

Marcel pondered for a moment.

“No need.”

Ephraim quickly interjected.

“Marcel, everyone deserves to find their roots. My sister-in-law has wandered all her life; you should give her a place to belong.”

“If that's the case, then add her, just list her as Tristan’s mother. I worry... she wouldn’t want to be linked with me!”

“Alright, I’ll see to the family tree.”

Hearing Ephraim, Ashlyn was beside herself!

“You’re mad! Why her! I’m Marcel’s wife!”

Ephraim slowly said, “Right, your name, it should be removed!”

Ashlyn was livid!

Helen, watching the drama unfold with her arms crossed, seemed to find a satisfactory resolution, her downturned mouth curving into a slight smile.

“The Schnabels still have some shame. I was about to say, if you didn’t want Elara and Noella, I’d take them to add to the Pollack family tree today.”

Elara was curious, “Grandma, the Pollacks wouldn’t just let us join their tree easily, would they?”

Given the Pollacks they’d encountered before, they didn’t seem easy to get along with!

Helen matter-of-factly stated, “Put a blade to their neck, and there’s no one in the world who can’t be reasoned with! If it’s about being tired of living, I’ve never been afraid!”

At her age, she doubted anyone was more reckless than she was.

Helen exuded a determined ferocity!

Palmer, observing Helen, felt she might have made a bold decision without telling the rest of the Pollacks.

Ashlyn fainted.

Helen remarked indifferently, “Well, I’m off. If this old thing dies, I’ll actually be bored!”

Her tone suggested she saw Ashlyn more as entertainment than anything else.

Watching Helen and her entourage of models leave, Ephraim wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Helen’s temperament is as fiery as ever... Marcel, let me pay my respects to my sister-in-law. Years ago, she saved my life.”

If not for Harriet’s kindness in saving a critically ill Ephraim, he wouldn’t be here today.

“Go on, your gratitude means everything.”

With Linnea’s support, Ephraim sincerely offered respects to Harriet.

Ephraim rose to his feet, turning to face Marcel with a matter at heart.

"Marcel, I came over today for another reason. Linnea's graduating from college this year, and I was thinking it might be good for her to join the Schnabel family business. What do you think?"

Marcel glanced at Linnea, who was standing beside Ephraim.

"Linnea's majoring in hospitality management, right? Why not have her work at one of our hotels? We just handed one over to Noella. But since Noella's the boss now, it's only right we get her take on it."

Ephraim looked towards Noella, who was standing a bit back, and flashed a big grin. "Hey, Noella, how about letting Linnea be your right-hand woman? That okay with you?"

Since it was a request coming from within the Schnabel family, Noella had no objections.

She hadn't even visited the hotel herself yet.

If Marcel wanted to make arrangements, sending Linnea directly over would work just fine. Asking Noella was more a matter of courtesy than necessity.

"Sure, I don't mind at all."

Ephraim's smile grew even brighter.

"Don't worry, Linnea's not some pampered child. She can start from the bottom up! As long as none of the troublemakers give her a hard time, she'll follow your lead on everything else!"

Linnea chimed in, "Grandpa, nobody can bully me. You don't have to worry."

She knew Ephraim was just concerned about her facing difficulties in the workplace on her own.

That's why he had brought her to the Schnabel family estate and even arranged for her to work under Noella at the hotel.

Outside the estate, Garrick, covered in dirt, coughed a few times, his appearance somewhat haggard.

He walked into the estate, followed by a group that had just clambered out of some holes, looking quite the sight.

Marcel frowned. "Garrick, what's this... Did you go treasure hunting, or were you digging your own grave?

You look a mess, something's not right!”