The Killer Queen

After hanging up the call with Master Killian, the crisp chime of Noella’s mini laptop resonated through the stillness of her room.

She settled into her chair, booted up the computer, and plugged in a custom–made network card that granted her direct access to the shadowy reaches of the deep web, her IP address. completely obfuscated.

Even the sharp–eyed hounds from the Schnabel family couldn’t sniff out her midnight digital excursions.

A message from Erek popped up: [Boss, got the scoop. Ashlyn’s insisting on a hospital visit, probably ‘cause of that morning call from Vincent.]

[Vincent?]

[Yeah, the sleazeball seems keen on marrying you off to Ellsworth, that notorious money pit of a gambler. Need us to handle it?]

[No need to dirty our hands. Let Ellsworth’s creditors knock on his door.]

Ellsworth was up to his neck in debt, and those underground casinos in Linefort City had some ties to Polaris Star.

Back in the day, when Noella had learned the art of gambling stones with Master Hector, they’d dominated the underground scene with nothing but a deck of cards, inadvertently gaining some shady assets.

Thankfully, their operations had been smooth sailing, no

messes ma

Erek chuckled and replied: [Roger that, Boss. You’ve always been too kind. Phecda and the crew are retrieving Old Mrs. Lambert’s DNA as we speak. Now we just need Vincent’s. Want me to ‘draw some blood‘ from him?]

Erek had been itching for a chance to teach Vincent a lesson!

Without their boss’s discreet support, Vincent wouldn’t have made a dime. Yet, he mistook Noella’s goodwill for his supposed business acumen. Such a man belonged under a bridge, collecting cans! Owned by NôvelDrama.Org.

[I’ll handle it myself. Where are they now?]

[Headed to Imperial West Hospital. I’ll be outside to cover you.]

With an affirmation, Noella closed her palm–sized computer, swiftly disassembled it, and transformed it into an inconspicuous trinket on her desk.

With everything in place, she slipped out of her room, unnoticed by anyone.

1023

In the dead of night, at Imperial West Hospital, Vincent, wheelchair–bound, was wheeled in by Belinda, with a few slackers from the Fuller family trailing behind.

Malcom Fuller stopped a passing nurse with a grin, “Excuse me, we’re looking for Marcel’s wife. Could you tell us where her room is?”

“Ashlyn’s in ICU. It’s not visiting hours. Come back at eight in the morning.”

Vincent was baffled!

How did Ashlyn end up in ICU? She sounded fine when he called earlier! If Ashlyn was ill, where would they find Noella?

Malcom grew desperate. “Where do we find Noella now? I don’t care; she’s gotta marry Ellsworth!”

Vincent was equally vexed.

Glancing around the hospital corridor, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the end.

“Quick, push me over there!”

Belinda wheeled him towards the figure. “You’re Noella’s father, right? You’re the one who took her away last time. Remember me?”

Wren, busy with paperwork for Marcel, looked puzzled at Vincent.

Who was this? He seemed vaguely familiar.

Vincent hurried to jog his memory. “That time when you were gatekeeping for the Schnabels… We’ve met before!”

As he thought about it. Noella’s father must’ve been a security guard for the Schnabels, which was how she got to khow them.

Wren frowned. “You’re Noella’s former foster father? I’m busy, step aside.”

Everyone in the Schnabel family knew these people had never been good to Noella. If it weren’t for the watchful eyes in the hospital, Wren would’ve slapped them.

Noella was so kind and sensible, and yet they treated her like dirt!

Vincent, still thinking about Emerald County’s subsidies, was reluctant to let Wren go. “Look, it’s like a family feud. We’re all Noella’s fathers, we’re family…”

Η

“Family? I’m not Noella’s father. What do you want, exactly?”

Vincent rubbed his hands together. “Well, we heard about some subsidies at Emerald County. We did raise Noella for years, so shouldn’t we get a little something?”

Wren realized they were there for money. “Considering you turned down a contract worth a ten billion before, you’re asking for favors now? Too late!”

Vincent was stunned.

10-23-

A ten billion! What was it about? When?

“You… Can you tell me, what exactly is the status of Noella’s birth parents?”

If they were ordinary people, how could they afford a contract worth a ten billion?

Wren motioned for a few commandos. “Get them out of here. They’re an eyesore.”

He couldn’t be bothered to exchange another word with them! After giving Ms. Noella a hard time in the past, now that they saw an opportunity to benefit from her, they shamelessly tried to cozy up?

The nerve!

“No! Don’t throw me out! Tell me who Noella’s parents really are!”

Wren looked at him with utter contempt. “Pfft, I haven’t seen someone this shameless in a long time. Get lost!”

Watching the group being thrown out, Wren finally took a deep breath of relief.

Vincent was utterly confused!

“Belinda, do you think Noella’s family can actually pull off a ten billion deal?”

And that guy, he could actually command special forces; Vincent suddenly had a sinking feeling.

Could it be that Noella’s folks weren’t just humble farmers tending their fields in the sticks after all?

Belinda was equally puzzled. “No way, if that girl was from a wealthy family, would she be working as a caregiver? And the clothes she wears don’t look designer at all.”

Those clothes didn’t even have a single logo, definitely not high–end.

Vincent nodded in agreement. “You might be right. That guy could very well be Noella’s father. playing dumb. Let’s just find Noella and get to the bottom of this.”

As Vincent mulled over this, he looked up and saw Alioth standing not too far away. His eyes lit up, and he quickly signaled Belinda to wheel him over.

“You’re Noella’s friend, right? I saw you back in Tranquility City!”

Alioth stared blankly at Vincent. He had been with the boss in Tranquility City handling some business, probably when Vincent had spotted him.

“Oh, you must be Noella’s classmate, right? Our whole family came to the hospital, and we suddenly lost touch with Noella. Could you help me get in touch with her? Look at me, I’m sick as can be, and that kid won’t even come to see me. Even if my child is cold–hearted, I can’t blame her, can I?”

His tone almost made him sound like the world’s most selfless father.

10:23

Alioth felt an itch in his fist just looking at him. He was the least intimidating member of the Polaris Star crew, with a friendly smile and a round, seemingly easy–to–bully face.

Vincent thought he’d found an easy mark!

Sure enough, after shedding a few crocodile tears, Alioth started pushing his wheelchair out of the hospital.

“I’ll take you to her.”

Vincent was overjoyed! He hurriedly motioned for his entourage to follow.

They had come with a party of six, and he was determined to take Noella back with them, by hook or by crook. Once she was with him, he’d call the shots.