The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

"Nobody knows Polaris Star better than me!" Lucian's face held a hint of wistfulness.

Elara was totally gobsmacked!

"Grandpa Lucian, you were part of Polaris Star too?"

Lucian waved it off. "That's all water under the bridge. If it hadn't been for Garrick spinning his tales, who would've even considered taking on that project?"

Listening to Lucian, it seemed he was, just like Garrick, one of the pioneers of the Polaris Star project!

Lucian tucked Lavinia in a bit more snugly.

"The biggest regret of my life is Polaris Star. Garrick sold it as a humanitarian effort, and I got involved because the guy had dirt on me. Then he backed out, and so did I. Over twenty years ago, he asked me to take in Lorne and Bowie, and I did!"

There were many decisions Lucian couldn't make on his own. Even now, thinking back, he was filled with regret.

"But what's the use of regret now? Polaris Star never should've existed!"

Noella remembered visiting Lucian with Master Killian, who had even brought some paintings as gifts. She was puzzled about how Master Killian knew Lucian! It turned out, they met during their time with Polaris Star!

"What about my grandma?"

Lucian shook his head. "You should ask your granddad about your grandma's story. If he's not willing to tell you, it's not my place to say."

"My granddad knew about Polaris Star?"

"Your granddad nearly blew up Polaris Star's base back in the day, what do you think?"

Noella bit her lip, her brow furrowing slightly.

Marcel's station was right on the border, coincidentally the same border where Polaris Star was located!

Noella calmly said, "If my grandpa couldn't do anything, it only means Polaris Star was sanctioned from up high."

Elara chimed in, "With a project as big as Polaris Star, who could sign off on it?"

To keep such a massive project afloat, there had to be someone of significant stature backing it, or else it would never have existed.

The allure of Polaris Star was too great, with too many opportunities for profit. Someone wanted a piece of the pie badly enough to approve Garrick's proposal!

Lucian chuckled. "Smart, as expected from Marcel Schnabel's kids, better than the ones I raised. But there's no need to dig deeper. Knowing too much won't do you any good."

It seemed Lucian wasn't willing to disclose what he knew.

Noella looked at Lucian for a moment before suddenly saying, "Grandma Helen pushed Garrick into the lake. He's probably still recuperating. If you're looking for him, he'll be at the Pollack family’s resort."

"What did you say?"

Lucian was clearly taken aback! His gaze landed on Palmer, who nodded affirmatively, and then Lucian gritted his teeth and cursed. "Helen, that crazy woman! Even in her old age, she's not toning it down! She almost sent Garrick to meet his maker when she was younger."

Recalling Helen's exploits, Lucian was practically seething with indignation!

Elara curiously asked, "What did Grandma do?"

Lucian's face turned a shade of beet red, seemingly with a thousand curses he wanted to unleash but refrained from doing so in front of the kids.

"Helen was a wild card even when she was young. I could never figure out what Sexton saw in her!"

Perhaps feeling it inappropriate to discuss such matters in front of the kids, Lucian sighed and glanced at Lavinia, who was lying in the bed.

"Lavinia, as long as you can live safely, I’ll bear all the sins."

The atmosphere in the room grew tense, the smell of disinfectant unusually strong.

Noella bent down to pick up Lavinia's medicine, her brow furrowed as she carefully inspected a pill after popping it out of the blister pack. "This medication doesn't seem right."

Initially, Noella thought Helen's warnings were just out of caution. But after hearing Lucian's words, she began to suspect that Helen might have known something all along!

After inspecting all of Lavinia's medications, Noella found several issues!

Elara exclaimed, "So Grandma Helen was right?"

"Let's get these tested. Luckily, she hasn't woken up yet, so we don't need these drugs for now."

Calvin officially signed off on Lavinia's surgery, but Palmer knew the surgery was actually Noella's work, and she prescribed the medications, fully aware of their effects.

In the short time they had left the operating room, the medications had been tampered with!

Lucian immediately requested the hospital to review the surveillance footage from the room. "I'll head to the surveillance room. You guys stay here with Lavinia."

Elara followed, supporting Lucian as they left the room together.

After their departure, Palmer spoke softly, "Do you think Grandma Helen knows who's behind this?"

Noella met Palmer's gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Their understanding of each other seemed to have reached a point where words were unnecessary —they knew what the other was thinking.

"Yeah, so I'm planning to ask her. Do you want to come? Whoever managed to tamper with the medications right under our noses won't be easy to trace. But before that, I need to pick someone up from the airport."

This was the first time Noella had invited him to join her in doing something!

Palmer couldn't hide his delight, his eyes and smile brimming with excitement. He mock-bowed, as if tipping an imaginary hat. “You forgot, I'm currently a free spirit with time to spare. Can't be your chauffeur right now because of this injury, but I'd be more than happy to play porter for Ms. Schnabel.”

The idea of having the head honcho of the Pollack Group carrying bags seemed a bit too grand for Noella!

“I don’t have any bags that need carrying, but you can follow.”

Lavinia’s hospital suite had already been staffed with caregivers, all part of a professional team developed by Megrez while brainstorming services for companionship for the elderly, ensuring Lavinia’s safety.

After exchanging greetings with Jasper, who was waiting outside, Noella and Palmer left the hospital, heading towards the airport.

On the way, Palmer gazed at the rapidly passing scenery. “The one we're picking up, is it someone from Polaris Star?”

“Not exactly, but someone I trust. Not your average Joe. You’ll see.”

For Noella, that was high praise.

“Are you introducing me to more of your friends?”

“Is that a problem?”

A smile played on Palmer’s lips, his eyes twinkling with delight.

“Of course not. It’s an honor.”

Annie, who was driving, covered her mouth to hide her grin!

...

At the Imperial City International Airport, a bald monk, his robe adorned with gems, sat in the VIP area, his eyes lowered in prayer, his whole being seeming to radiate light. A young man beside him looked on with respect and admiration.

“Horatio, I'm Bowie from the Richardson family. To meet is to be fated, and I’d like to invite you to our place for a bit!” Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Horatio’s prayer beads moved slightly in his hand, but he didn’t look up. He had already used many excuses to decline Bowie’s invitations and was now running out of patience.

“No, my friend, put your faith in science, don’t fall for superstitions!”