CHapter 201
The Killer Queen
Chapter 201
Malvina blinked, looking at Ulrich who stood before her.
âWas it Dr. Schnabel who saved me? Thanks. Letâs forget about the whole neckâgrabbing and waistâtouching incident from before. Weâre square now, huh?â
Elara looked at Ulrich with a mix of disgust and disbelief.
âWhat kind of mess have you gotten yourself into, Ulrich? Youâre acting like a street thug.â
Ulrich, faced with the expectant gazes of two sisters, felt his face flush with embarrassment.
âI needed Ms. Gruberâs help to locate the whereabouts of the Shadow Dragon Society. It was an emergency, and Iâve apologized for my actions!â
The Schnabels rarely mingled with the Grubers, and Ulrich only knew Malvina as the feisty and temperamental heiress.
His actions had been out of sheer desperation, so how could he have known what Malvina was really like?
Malvina offered a weak smile, âForget it, Iâm a forgiving soul. I didnât let it slide last time, but this time you, are forgiven.â
Noella popped open the thermos she had brought and handed it to Malvina.
âMy mom prepared this for you. Donât turn your nose up at it.â
Sienna knew that Malvina and her baby daughter got along well, so she insisted that they bring something to eat when they went out, claiming that Malvina must have had a tough life growing up without a motherâs care.
Imagine that⦠neither of the Schnabel daughters had managed to make a proper friend
yet!
Sienna was as excited as if her own daughter had made her first friend.
The steamy soup shimmered with a golden hue, while another container held a fragrant almond dessert.
Noella set the dessert beside Malvina, âHave this. You inhaled a lot of smoke; this is good for the lungs.â
Malvina, holding the warm soup, teared up as she looked at Noella. âDid Sienna prepare this for me?â she asked.
s
âYeah, My mom said youâve been on your own and wanted us to bring this over. Sheâll keep sending food while youâre in the hospital, so donât worry.â
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The scent of the delicious soup with the wellâprepared dessert made Malvinaâs heart swell with a bittersweet feeling, and yet she couldnât help but smile.
So, there was someone who cared for her after all.
Tears rolled down her cheeks and disappeared into the soup.
âThank you, Noella, my dear. Itâs so good to have you!â
She looked at Noella, sobbing with gratitude.
If it werenât for Noella, she wouldnât be enjoying such a wonderful soup.
âIâve never met my mother. As long as I can remember, my dad always said she was no good. But itâs hilarious because Yates is even older than me. The child from a secretaryâs affair is older than the legitimate one; talk about whoâs the decent one!â
âThen, you know, people from the Shadow Dragon Society found me and gave me a lot of stuff. My mom knew she couldnât be there as I grew up, so she left me lots of things.â
Malvina choked up as she was taking small sips of the soup Sienna had prepared for her.
It was the first time she truly felt a motherâs care, even if it wasnât from her own mother.
Noella handed Malvina a tissue to wipe away her tears, âDonât cry. Youâve done so well, and things are going to get better.â
Elara nudged Ulrich, who was silently standing by.
âThatâs right, Ms. Gruber. Youâve got the whole future ahead of you! Ulrich will make sure your injuries heal without leaving a scarâI stake his reputation on it!â
Ulrich was baffled.
When had he promised that Malvinaâs burns wouldnât scar? He was no miracle worker!
Her leg burns might not be extensive, but given the severity, a full recover impossible. What was he supposed to guarantee?
Why wasnât Elara staking her own reputation?
emed almost
But faced with Malvinaâs eyes, which were shining with tears, Ulrich couldnât bring himself to say anything. Instead, he swallowed his words and turned away with a pang of sympathy in his heart.
âSure, I promise.â
Meanwhile, in the ICU.
Calvin looked at the patient on the bed and gave a relieved sigh.
âHeâs finally awake. Otherwise, Iâd have had a hard time explaining to Lucian.â
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Chapter 201
The man in the bed didnât have the energy to speak but looked at Calvin confusedly. He remembered being saved by a girl who didnât look or sound like Calvin. He was sure that Calvin hadnât been the one who operated on him.
But who was it then?
âAlright. Just rest up. Lucian is on his way.â After arranging a battery of tests to ensure all the patientâs vitals were stable, Calvin stepped out of the ICU, running into Ulrich and Noella as they left a room.
Ulrich clapped Calvin on the shoulder, âNicely done, Professor Calvin. You saved a patient with an aortic dissection problem.â
âAh, you wouldâve done the same had you been there. If it werenât for you being tied up with another emergency, this case wouldâve likely been yours.â Calvin spoke while giving Noella a knowing wink, indicating that everything went well with the patient.
âItâs all the same when saving lives. His situation was dire; even if I were there, I canât say the outcome would have been this good.â
Thinking of the patientâs operation, Ulrich was amazed. Calvin was indeed a topânotch surgeon among the country!
Calvin glanced at Noella and nearly rolled his eyes. He only got this one because Noella was indifferent to taking credit.
Noella appeared nonchalant. She barely curved her lips and had no idea that she was the one to be praised.
âAnd the Gruber family were taken to which hospital?â
Calvin shook his head, âOver at the hospital next door. The Gruber familyâs mess is all over the newsâbankruptcy and fire, what a spectacle. I reckon the old man might be saved, but heâs likely to end up in a vegetative state.â
he
Noella turned around and spoke with a hint of detachment, âHe overdoser Nourishment Pill. Even if he lives as a vegetable, he wonât be living much of a life.â
Arthurâs days were numbered even without the fire.
Calvinâs initial shock gave way to understanding as he nodded, âThe Gruber boys are in serious trouble. If they donât make it, itâs game over for the Gruber dynasty.â
Ulrich thought about the Gruber familyâs dodgy dealings and had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. His professionalism held him back.
âYvonne wasnât hurt too badlyâthough.â Calvinâs face twisted into something odd when he mentioned Yvonne. He couldnât quite figure out how Yvonne went from the Schnabels to the Grubers.
Yvonneâs fringe position in the Gruber household meant she got one of the lesser rooms,
11:22
which ironically let her escape quickly when the fire started.
Noellaâs gaze landed on Malvina, who was in conversation with Elara. She kept her back straight though her face bore the signs of weariness. Whatever she was discussing with Elara was bringing smiles to both of their faces.
The sunlight streaming through the window bathed them in a serene glow, as if that was a moment of tranquil time.
Noellaâs lips curved into a slight smile, and she chuckled, âNo worries, let the rescue happen. But, saved or not, the Grubers are done for.â
The real shocker she had in store for the Grubers was still waiting in the wings!
Elara closed the door of the hospital room and stepped out, âConvinced her to stay at the Schnabel estate for a bit once sheâs healed. Arenât I just the best? Bro, thereâs no way to fix Malvinaâs burns?â
Ulrichâs face twisted with conflict.
Catching Noellaâs cue, Calvin cleared his throat, âWell, donât worry. Iâve got something up my sleeve!â