The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

For over two decades, Palmer had been riding solo, navigating life without a co-pilot. That was until Noella came into view, her presence bathed in the golden glow of a setting sun, casting a halo around her that to Palmer, made her look nothing short of angelic.

"In my barren years, Noella, you've been a godsend," Palmer mused, his gaze fixed on her serene and graceful demeanor.

To outsiders, Palmer's life was the epitome of glam and success. Both his mother's and father's families held considerable clout in the elite circles of Imperial City. Yet. only Palmer knew the bitter truth behind the facade.

His life was a maze of family discord and unfulfilled paternal affection, a weight he bore alone... until Noella's arrival painted his world in vibrant hues. "That year you saved me. I was at my lowest,” Palmer confessed

The Pollack family’s distant relatives had no intention of seeing Palmer succeed. They threw obstacle after obstacle in his path, hoping to trip him up and leave him in the dust.

Meeting Noella was like finding an oasis in a desert. She was his beacon of hope in a quest that seemed as futile as searching for a nameless girl in the vast wilderness.

Noella reached out, pulling Palmer to his feet. "You're such a fool," she said, a playful glint in her eye. Palmer, in her eyes, was adorably naive, a trait that made him all the more endearing

The thought of spending a lifetime with him sparked an unexpected excitement in Noella

When word got out that Palmer and Noella were planning a spring wedding, Sienna, Palmer’s mother, couldn't contain her joy. “Alright, I'll take care of everything,” she promised, thrilled by the news that brightened the entire household.

Meanwhile, at Stirling's entertainment company, a pile of documents on the table was causing a stir. "Is this the ad campaign you signed me up for? Didn't I say I'm taking a break from endorsements?” Stirling fumed at his executive agent.

"Boss, this perfume ad could elevate your brand value significantly,” the agent tried to reason, hinting at the potential to impress Master Azure, a key figure in the fashion industry vying for brand ambassadors across the Asia-Pacific.

But Stirling wasn't having any of it. He knew the endorsement was already promised to Yasbel, and he wasn't about to step on toes to climb the ladder. "Cancel it." he ordered, adamant about not crossing lines he'd set for himself.

Despite the agent's reluctance to let go of such a lucrative opportunity, Stirling's principles stood firm. He even reached out to Yasbel to clear the air and offer an olive branch in the form of other potential endorsements.

"Dinner to make amends?" Stirling offered over the phone, trying to mend fences.

"No thanks, I'm not looking to start any rumors," Yasbel retorted, keen on avoiding the paparazzi’s prying eyes.

Hanging up;Stirling faced a teasing. remark from Jasper, his younger=~ brothe® lounging nearby. "Got turned down, I huh? That's a first for you, Stirling.” I to

Rubbing his temples, Stirling brushed off the jest. "Aren’t you supposed to be finding a girlfriend instead of meddling in my business?" Jasper chuckled, unfazed. "Who knew? Stirling, playing the knight in shining armor for Yasbel. What's the world coming to?”

Stirling could only shake his head, amused and annoyed in equal measure. Life, it seemed. was full of unexpected turns.

"Man, I won't name names, but some of us can't seem to score a dinner date to save their life!"

"Oh yeah? Let's see you try," came the retort.

With a cocky raise of his eyebrow, Jasper flashed a devil-may-care smile. "What if I actually pull it off?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

That's Stirling for you, stubborn as a mule, unwilling to admit he might be the problem.

While saying this, Jasper didn't miss a beat and dialed Yasbel's number right then and there.

"Hey Yasbel, remember that case ~ you mentioned last time? I think Le got something. The trial's next> month, wanna grab a bite today and tall it over?" 7

"Sure, my treat. I appreciate your help." Jasper couldn't help but flaunt his phone with a grin so smug it was begging for a punch.

Stirling just stared, speechless.

Just as Jasper was about to makea quick exitwith the documents from the table, to avoid any potential physical retribution from Stirling, he heard a cough from behind: ‘Content ~~

"I'll tag along," Stirling announced, "I owe you an apology, anyway. Yeah, that's the ticket!”

Jasper couldn't help but smirk. This dinner was shaping up to be more interesting than he'd anticipated.