The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Half an hour ago, Palmer stood his ground against Larson at the Pollack family’s vacation resort.

An old mahogany table stood between them, bearing a document that had Larson shaking with fury.

“Palmer, you’re crossing the line! I'm now the CEO of the Pollack Group. Stealing my deals? Do you want to run the Pollack Group into the ground?”

Palmer, with a casual air, responded, “If you can’t handle it, step down. You're the CEO of the Pollack Group, but also my employee. If you can’t cut it, I’ll find your replacement at the next board meeting.”

As the major shareholder, Palmer had the power to elevate Larson to his position, or to take it away.

Larson realized then that Palmer’s support had been a setup, making him a puppet for his amusement!

Those damned partners, all siding with Palmer, understood that this was an internal shake-up within the Pollack Group and ignored Larson completely! His position as CEO had become a joke.

Now, Larson was stuck, unable to advance or retreat, with a pile of business matters waiting for his attention.

Palmer lit his cigarette with a lighter, not even sparing Larson a glance.

“If you can’t handle matters as insignificant as this, you’ll have no role in the Pollack Group affairs anymore.”

“Palmer! You want me out? Over my dead body!”

Palmer chuckled softly. “Uncle Larson, why rush? I’ve got plenty more 'gifts' for you. You’re going to love them.”

Gifts? The last 'gift' Palmer gave Larson was a video of Eamon’s downfall! What could it be this time? Something to push Larson over the edge, no doubt.

Caught in a dilemma, Larson felt like Palmer had him over a barrel.

Annie entered, bowing slightly. “Mr. Pollack, Mr. Schnabel is on the line from overseas.”

Tristan had tried to reach Ulrich without success, likely caught up in surgery. So, he had called Palmer instead.

Tristan’s exact words were, “Palmer, Noella has never been one to fight her own battles. Go handle Lorne! Don’t let Noella get bullied. I was thinking of having Ulrich pull the plug on Lorne.”

A brutally simple plan, thwarted only by failing to reach Ulrich.

“I’ll go see Noella right away.”

“If Lorne really causes trouble, just blame it on your Uncle Jacob!”

Palmer couldn’t help but smile wryly, realizing Tristan still harbored resentment towards Jacob over Elara’s situation.

After ending the call, Palmer hurried over, grateful he wasn’t too late.

A smile crossed Noella’s face. “The VIP suite on the sixth floor? I’ll leave it to you.”

“Would you join me for dinner later, as thanks?”

“Sounds good.”

Professor Calvin watched Palmer leave, sensing something odd between him and Noella.

Strange, almost like an unspoken intimacy!

“How bizarre. You two are practically engaged, yet there’s something so peculiar about you.”

Despite their lack of affectionate gestures, Professor Calvin couldn’t shake off the feeling of being fed a dose of sweetness!

Noella raised an eyebrow. “Where is the patient I’m here to see?”

“In my office. Let’s go.” Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Noella then turned to Malvina. “Are you heading back, or will you wait for me?”

Malvina remembered Palmer’s dinner plans with Noella. Staying would mean playing the third wheel.

“I’ll head home!”

Then, it hit her – her home was gone, consumed by fire.

“Oh, right… I’ll head back to the gang. Got some things to sort out.”

“I’ve sent some folks from the fight club to your gang. It’s best you stay away for now.”

The Shadow Dragon Society had crossed a line, and Noella wouldn’t mind teaching them a lesson.

“Ah? Sweetie, you didn’t have to do that for me. Ugh, I’m forever in your debt!”

Noella’s expression softened. “It’s nothing. I don’t like it when they use my turf to bully you.”

The underground fight club was a murky world, yet it was under Polaris Star’s control. Noella disliked any chaos on her turf. Helping Malvina was just part of cleaning house.

“Then, I… I’ve made plans with Dr. Schnabel. Yes, I’m taking him out to dinner!”

Malvina, desperate to not intrude on Noella and Palmer’s dinner, had no choice but to drag Ulrich into her plans!

Firmly, she added, “Dr. Schnabel covered my medical bills. Dinner is the least I can do to thank him.”

Noella nodded, leaving with Calvin.

Once Noella was gone, Malvina slumped, her heart racing.

“Scared me to death. Looks like I really have to take Dr. Schnabel out to dinner now.”

Dr. Lowry, puzzled, asked, “Are you Dr. Schnabel’s girlfriend? I feel like I’ve seen you around before.”

“Of course not! Dr. Schnabel would date a cadaver before dating me.”

A cadaver – the term for bodies donated to medical science.

This was Dr. Lowry’s first encounter with someone like Malvina, leaving her speechless.

As Malvina pushed Dr. Lowry back to the ward, she mused aloud, “I asked Dr. Schnabel when was the last time he held hands with a girl. He said it was with a cadaver, studying how cancer cells spread to the hand.”

Dr. Lowry just stared, speechless.

"I asked him if he ever felt his heart skip a beat, and he said yes, once during an anatomy class, when the cadaver's heart was just perfectly shaped!"

That was when Malvina, out of curiosity, asked what a perfect heart looked like, and Ulrich, in the middle of her lunch, bombarded her with pictures of heart specimens! All from international journals, claimed to be the epitomes of perfection.

Malvina was feeling all sorts of emotions.

"First off, I have a huge respect for cadaver, and second, I respect the art of medical photography, but there I was, chowing down on a cold pork heart salad!"

Dr. Lowry's lips twitched in response.

Malvina had already wheeled Dr. Lowry to her room. Leaning on the edge of the wheelchair, she started with a smile.

"And you know, we're about the same age. Look at me, I've made it through so much. I grew up without parents. After my mom passed, my dad flaunted his new flame right in front of me. The first person I dealt with after coming of age was that woman. I thought I was done for, but then Noella, the busybody, saved my life."

There was a sparkle in Malvina's beautiful eyes. "So, you gotta keep on living, okay?"

Dr. Lowry nodded, whispering, "I get it! But, I feel like you and Dr. Schnabel would make a great pair. You're both so attractive."

Malvina straightened up, shrugging. "I'll admit I've got looks that could launch a thousand ships, but Dr. Schnabel and I... we're just in different worlds now."

She was starting from scratch, with a tough journey ahead, never knowing if she'd accidentally get caught in a gang crossfire.

Malvina smiled wistfully, her gaze drifting to the window where flowers bloomed vibrantly on the trees, their fervor unmatched. Yet, she felt herself sinking into barrenness.

"Dr. Schnabel is too good, and being with me just wouldn't be right. Even if it means shortchanging myself, I couldn't bear it."

Dr. Lowry, puzzled, asked, "Ms. Gruber, don't you like Dr. Schnabel?"