CHapter 29
The Killer Queen
Chapter 29
The tone on the phone turned extremely unpleasant. âIâve been polite enough. Now hurry up and bring Noella to the station. If she ticks off the Lambert family, she wonât be able to handle the heat! Heard your whole familyâs farming and chickenâraising in Emerald County. Better watch out, or you might not have land to work on soon!â
Elara was left speechless.
Polite? Thatâs not even fit for human ears!
While her number might be from Emerald County, her account was under full surveillance by the State Security Bureau. It was practically a governmentâissued phone. And blocking her from raising chickens- was this person trying to pick a fight with the Harmonia Country Science Research Institute?
Was the Lambert family some kind of big shot? Did the daughter of the Schnabel family have to give a hoot about the Lambert familyâs status?
Elaraâs veins were popping on the back of her hand, a mouthful of curses poised on her lips, but when she met Noellaâs worried gaze across the table, she swallowed it back down.
The mere thought of her sweet little sister living among those sorts of people made Elara almost bent the metal fork she was holding out of shape!
âDickheads.â
Elara took a deep breath, hung up the phone, blocked the number, and then continued peeling shrimp for Noella with her insured hands.
âHere, these are shrimps just airâflown in. Eat up.â
âThanks.â
Beckett noticed the fork by Elaraâs hand, a cold glint in his eyes. âWho called and got you so worked up?â
âJust some dickheads, nothing important. Beckett, letâs stream Noellaâs birthday bash worldwide, shall we? Iâve bought a couple of screens at Era Square to loop the broadcast!â
She was going to make sure the whole world knew that Noella was their Schnabel family girl! Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry could come around and mess with her!
was the
Sienna first to cheer on. âOh, thatâs great! I thought the party wasnât grand enough, and it would be unfair to Noella. Can you get in touch with the PR department to make sure everyone watching TV sees Noellaâs birthday live?â
âSure, Iâll call the PR department right away and ask. Beckett, come with me to the study. Letâs talk about how to pull this off!â
âAlright.â Beckett put on his suit jacket and followed Elara.
12:24
LINDIFI 29
Noella was at a loss for words.
A global broadcast for just a birthday? Was that really necessary?
But seeing the whole family plotting for her birthday, and meeting Siennaâs tearful eyes. Noellaâs heart melted again.
In the study. Elaraâs face grew serious, dropping the smile. âBeckett, what kind of life has our sister been living? The Lambert family called me, saying if she doesnât forgive the Lambert mother and daughter, theyâll make sure she canât live a good life!â
Beckett knew Elara had more to discuss when she called him to the study. Upon hearing her words, a chilling smile crept onto his refined face.
âThe damn Lambert family! Taking them down is easy, but we should ask Noella first. After all sheâs lived with them for years. We wouldnât want to upset her if she happens to hold any attachment.â
Elara understood this point. âIâm also worried that she might still have some attachment to them, and knowing how they treated them could upset her. They called us dirtâpoor farmers. as if they think weâre broke!â
Beckett was at a loss for words. It was the first time since he was born that he heard someone call the Schnabel family poor.
He pursed his thin lips, gracefully removed his glasses, and wiped them with a tissue, his movements smooth and elegant.
âThere are many ways to deal with a Lambert family, but we still have to ask Noella. Whatever she says, weâll respect her wishes.â
Elara nodded.
Stepping out of the study, they saw Noella holding a fruit platter at the door, her soft hair cascading behind her ears, looking extra docile in her home clothes.
âMom sent this since you didnât eat much earlier.â
Sienna, treating all her children equally, noticed that Elara and Beckett were too busy serving Noella to eat much themselves.
âThanks, Noella. Come in; Beckett and I have something to tell you.â
Noella followed her inside. Elara told her everything about the phone call and then carefully asked, âHow do you think we should handle this?â
Noella was calm, showing no signs of distress. âI wonât go to the police, nor will I forgive them.â
The Lambert family was history to her.
Beckett breathed a sigh of relief. Although he would support whatever decision Noella made, he was glad she wasnât upset about the Lambert familyâs attitude.
19-24
Noelia smiled, meeting the concerned dazes of Beckett and Elara. âI wonât waste my energy bene upset over people who arenât worth it. My family is Grandpa, Mom, Dad, the brothers, and sixty.â
As for the Lambert family, they hadnât been a part of her life since she left!
Remembering the video Yvonne showed her, Elara touched her nose and tentatively asked, âNoella, do you have a boy you like?â
Beckett immediately tensed up, sitting up straight to look at Noella.
Noella shook her head. âNo, why do you ask?â
Elara gave her a knowing look.
Noella must be shy!
âNoella, it doesnât matter who you fancy. The Schnabel family doesnât give a hoot about social status or family background. Even if the guyâs family doesnât have two pennies to rub together, as long as he treats you right and youâre head over heels, worstâcase scenario, he can just marry into our family, right?â
Noella was left speechless.
For some reason, Elaraâs words suddenly brought Palmer to her mind. But for someone like Palmer to marry into the family? He probably wouldnât be down for that.
With that thought. Noella felt her face grow unexpectedly warm.
âSure, weâve got that engagement hanging over our heads, but if youâre not into the Pollack familyâs young master, we can just call the whole thing off!â
Beckett coughed lightly, interrupting Elaraâs wild talk.
âCut the crap. What do you mean âcall it off? The engagement between the Pollack family and us was set in stone by the old timers: itâs not something you can just change your mind about so easily. If Noellaâs got someone sheâs into, we can just keep him around the house, canât we? As my sister, whatâs the harm in having a few extra guys around?â
Noella was at a loss for words,
Whatâs this âkeep him around the houseâ business? Whatâs with the âfew extra guysâ comment? Had the Schnabel family became that open?
Beckett patted Noella on the head. âI will take care of the Lambert family situation, donât you worry. How could our little Schnabel princess suffer even the slightest bit?â
*Thanks. Iâm gonna go rest now.â
âOff you go.â
Noella knew Elara and Beckett had more to discuss, so she closed the study door behind her
and left.
Chapter 29
Beckettâs expression shifted instantly, his demeanor turning dark as storm clouds. âElara, call the State Security Bureau. Inform them that someoneâs threatening your lab, repeatedly harassing you, and might be trying to swipe some state secrets.â
Elara nodded in agreement, and they exchanged a glance, each recognizing the towering rage in the otherâs eyes.
The Lambert family had truly crossed a line this time!
In the Lambert Mansion, Vincent paced the living room, visibly agitated.
âMr. Lambert, Iâve reached out to the folks in Emerald County and told them to promptly send Noella back to apologize to Mrs. and Ms. Lambert.â
âWhat did they say? Whenâs Noella getting here?â
The secretary hesitated, âThose yokels are so unreasonable. They just hung up on me and had the nerve to call you âdickheadsâ!â
Vincentâs head was throbbing with anger!
âI never should have been so nice, taking Noella in all those years. Brionyâs my flesh and blood, and Noella just canât stand seeing Briony living the good life now. Sheâs scheming to worm her way back into our family! Briony and Belinda kidnapping her? Was that really a kidnapping? It was moreâlike arranging for someone to take her back to Emerald County, or else she wouldâve kept squatting in Imperial City! Sheâs a parasite on society!â
The secretary stepped closer, standing by Vincentâs side.
found Noella near the entrance of
âMr. Lambert, Madam and Miss mentioned they kidnapped Rising Glory Mall. Maybe you should check out Rising Glory Mall? If you can find her and get her to sign a settlement agreement, Madam and Miss will be safe.â
A flicker of hope sparked in Vincentâs eyes!