The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Crush?

That word felt like a hot potato!

Ulrich had never really known what having a crush felt like!

“A crush...what’s that?”

“It’s like, whenever you think of someone, you get this bittersweet feeling inside. Or imagine, if Malvina were to confess her feelings to you, would you say yes?”

The mere thought of Malvina confessing to him made Ulrich’s lips curve into a smile, his eyes sparkling with hope. Being the most literary among the Schnabel siblings, his smile was like the first day of spring after a long winter!

Realizing he might be smiling too broadly, Ulrich quickly composed himself.

“Of course, I wouldn’t say yes right away! I’d play it cool, wait for her to make the first move. Don’t worry, Noella, I’ve got my own pace. I won’t be led by the nose!”

Noella raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

Waiting for Malvina to confess to Ulrich seemed to Noella like waiting for a train that might never arrive.

Ulrich glanced at his surgery schedule, then swiftly changed out of his lab coat and strode out of the room.

On his way out, he bumped into Elara, who was just returning from a shoe shopping spree. Seeing Ulrich hurrying out of the hospital, Elara was puzzled.

“Ulrich, where are you off to in such a hurry?”

Without looking back, Ulrich marched on.

“Off to have your future sister-in-law confess to me!”

Elara was baffled. “What? I tell you, this is what happens when you spend too much time in the lab.”

Thinking Ulrich was off to make a fantasy come true was one thing, but expecting Malvina to actually confess?

Given Ulrich’s routine of home, lab, hospital, Elara doubted any confession outside his imagination.

Jasper also concluded, “He’s lost it.”

Noella shrugged, quickly siding with Elara and Jasper in agreement.

...

In Lavinia Richardson’s hospital room,

Helen, sat by, watching over the sleeping Lavinia. Lucian sat opposite her, both elders silent, sharing a heavy sigh.

“Lucian, you insisted on adopting those kids, and now look what’s happened.”

“Was it really my choice at the time? I had no choice.”

Helen scoffed, her disapproving gaze unwavering. “No choice? Well, if you insist on playing the fool, you’ve certainly left yourself no options.”

“Helen Barth, could you not be so harsh?”

“That would require you to act like a decent human. To a fool, even wise words sound like nonsense.”

Frustrated yet unable to win the verbal spar, Lucian knew too well that Helen’s biting wit was unmatched.

“This is your daughter, Lucian. If you won’t care for her, who will?”

Lucian, feeling the weight of his decisions, lamented, “With Lorne gone, what more can I do for Lavinia but be there for her? It’s not like I can undo the past.”

“Well, you’re not entirely wrong.”

Helen, her eyes clouding with sadness, touched Lavinia’s hand, her own voice heavy with emotion.

“Lucian, the wrongs you’ve committed shouldn’t punish the child, right?”

Tears brimmed in her eyes, perhaps recalling a painful memory, as she turned away to wipe her cheeks.

Seeing Helen’s shoulders tremble, Lucian too felt a pang of regret.

“I know how much you cared for Lavinia, dreaming of her as your daughter-in-law. But when she discovered what she shouldn’t have, what choice did I have but to hide her away?”

For years, Lucian had kept Lavinia’s existence a secret, partly due to her health and partly because he didn’t want the world to know she was still alive.

Lucian confessed, “Lavinia’s been unwell, and in a way, I’m relieved she forgets things. But seeing Elara, I regret so much.”

Tears streamed down his face, the sorrow of a father’s heartbreak.

“If only I’d known about Elara sooner. Lavinia is my only child; how could I bear to lose her?”

The Richardson family secret, that Lucian’s eldest was adopted, was barely known. Lavinia, his only daughter, remained the primary shareholder of the Richardson legacy. This was why the Richardson family sought an alliance with the Schnabels.

Hearing of Elara, Helen sighed. “Elara is a good kid. Don’t you dare let her down. I’ve written my will; all my possessions will be hers. We owe her that much.”

Helen’s gaze was firm as she prodded Lucian with her cane.

“But money isn’t what she lacks. What she needs is her mother. Let’s not dwell on what could have been. It’s your mess to clean up. Just don’t leave my granddaughter motherless.”

With that, Helen, her body trembling, stood up, her heart heavy.

“I’ve already seen three grandsons grow up without a mother. I can’t bear to see them look at me, wondering if their mom will ever come back.”

The thought of Palmer and his two brothers’ longing looks was enough to tear her apart.

Stepping out of the hospital room, Helen nearly collided with Elara and the others who were headed her way.

Elara rushed forward. "Grandma, what are you doing here?"

"Just checking on your mother, and dropping by to see Lucian. Elara, you weren't too scared, were you?" Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Elara shook her head then nodded. She had been frightened, but after a good cry in Jasper's arms, she felt much better. Her emotions were somewhat relieved now!

"That's good to hear. Make sure someone keeps a close eye on your mom these next few days. Someone who can be with her every step of the way. And double-check all her medications. We can’t afford any mistakes!"

Helen's expression was stern as she held Elara's hand, her instructions detailed to the point where it seemed less like caring for a patient and more like a briefing. After finishing, she left.

Elara found it odd watching Helen's retreating figure. She couldn't help but wonder, "Why is Grandma acting as if she’s guarding against spies?"

Elara's job made her particularly sensitive to such matters.

Helen had been too detailed, even mentioning the need to monitor Lavinia's room daily!

Noella watched Helen walk away on her own.

Why did it feel like Helen knew something they didn't?

Entering the hospital room, Lucian was wiping away tears as he looked at Lavinia.

"You’re here, find yourselves a seat. Lavinia... it's my fault, if I had known what kind of person Lorne was, I would have never agreed to adopt him!"

Elara asked, puzzled, "Lorne was adopted by you?"

Lucian nodded. "Yes, both brothers were. When Garrick brought them to me, I couldn't say no. If only I had known... I would have never agreed! I just thought, if I didn’t take them in, Garrick would surely have sent them to Polaris Star for experiments. I couldn’t bear that!"

Little did Lucian know, his act of kindness would end up hurting his daughter!

Noella frowned slightly. "Grandpa Lucian, do you know about Garrick and Polaris Star?"

Lucian shook his head with a sigh. "How could I not? I, too, once escaped from that dreadful place."