CHapter 43
The Killer Queen
Chapter 43
Annie said with anticipation, âThe shindig at the Schnabel Manor is really something today.â
As a senior assistant to the president of the Pollack Group, Annie had her fair share of fancy lady friends in her social circle.
âI saw a bunch of girls posting selfies with Ms. Yvonne Schnabel. Though itâs her birthday bash, Ms. Schnabel dressed pretty plainly. I have no clue how she passed that high society etiquette class.â
Highâend birthday parties came with a whole set of complicated doâs and donâts!
Yvonneâs sporting a dress with like ten layers of lace and this huge, ridiculous hat â totally not the vibe for a birthday party.
âHer etiquette skills arenât my problem. Iâll head over when the birthday party kicks off tonight.â
The disdain Palmer had for Yvonne was plain as day in his voice!
âRight, Iâll get ready then.â Annie bowed and left Palmerâs study.
Standing in front of the massive floorâtoâceiling window was a man with a statuesque figure and handsome features as perfectly chiseled as an ice sculpture, exuding an air of absolute authority! He glanced at his phone, eyebrows knitting slightly.
âBusy today? Or some mission from the Obelisk Organization?â
Noella hadnât replied to his messages all day!
The conversation was still on yesterdayâs transaction, where Noella sent him a hundred bucks, jokingly labeled âtaxi fareâ!
This was probably the smallest amount of money Palmer had ever received in his life!
Yet, it excited him more than his first 100 million dollars when he was fifteen. His business empire was all under his thumb, but Noella⦠he had to admit she had him all twisted up!
A wave of sheer joy swept over him; he couldnât wait to see her!
Palmer pocketed his phone and looked out over the Schnabel familyâs blooming estate.
No rush!
Once he successfully broke off the engagement today, he would be free to chase after her!
Meanwhile, at the Schnabel Mansion.
From top to bottom, even the family dogâs collar was worth a whopping ten grand. Each servant scrubbed up three times and donned fresh threads just for this birthday event!
Stirling was not only a movie star and top idol, but he also had the worldâs biggest
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entertainment company in his grip!
âOver here, make sure the live stream captures every angle. I want my sister looking flawless from all sides! What do you mean by âturn on the filterâ? Are you trying to insult my sisterâs outâofâthisâworld beauty? Look at me. Do you think my sister needs a filter?â
Stirlingâs face had been hailed as a universal treasure, topping the âWorldâs Most Handsome Menâ list for five straight years.
The assistant thought, âSure, Mr. Schnabel might not need it, but Miss Yvonne sure could use a
little help.â
âYes, yes, weâll sort the cameras! Weâll make sure the young missâs face shines from every angle!â
Jasper stayed by Beckettâs side to greet guests.
The whoâs who coming and going were the ones topping the rich list each year, and anyone outside the top hundred didnât stand a chance of getting an invite from the Schnabels!
Even Noellaâs birthday wasnât a freeâforâall â not everyone had the privilege to step into the Schnabel manor.
Yvonne couldnât help feeling sour and slighted as she watched the spectacle unfold.
She cursed inwardly. âJust you wait! Soon, youâll all see in a house like the Schnabels, even if youâve got the blood, an impure daughter wonât ever be acknowledged!â
As night fell, the birthday celebration began!
Outside the Phoenix Tower, eightyâeight cannon salutes echoed in unison, fresh flowers flown in overnight carpeted the entiré venue, and ribbons danced in the sky!
The girls close to Yvonne were green with envy!
âYvonneâs got it made, just for a birthday party.â
âOh my gosh, isnât that Mr. Pollack? Did Mr. Pollack come just for Yvonneâs birthday party?â
In the twilight, Palmer was followed by an impressive entourage, with Annie in tow wearing her business suit, clutching several gift boxes.
Palmer, alone in the moonlight, exuded a cool and distant charm, his modelâlike stature and features bathed in the soft moonlight â his presence was killer!
Tristan hurried over when he spotted Palmer.
âAhh, Mr. Pollack, long time no see! I was beginning to think you wouldnât make it even thought we sent an invite!â
Palmer replied with a casual smile, âMr. Tristan, just Palmer is fine. Since itâs the young missâs birthday party, of course, I should attend. Plus, Iâve got some important matters to discuss with
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Tristan exchanged a knowing look with Stenna by his side. Clearly, they had all but forgotten about Pared!
Even if they hadnât, who would have thought he would actually have time to show up?
Palmer, reigning at the top of the worldâs wealthiest for several years, had businesses too numerous to count, so busy he barely had a moment to spare, Even his grandfather Sexton couldnât see him whenever he wanted,
Sure, the invite was sent, but the Schnabels had totally spaced on the fact that Palmer had never actually met Noella!
Meeting his fiancee for the first time at her birthday party, the Schnabels felt it was rather sudden for the Pollacks.
Palmer was definitely here to talk marriage!
Tristan clapped Palmer on the shoulder, speaking with a hint of subtlety, âWhatever it is, letâs wait until she shows up; then we can all sit down and talk it over, okay?â
Palmer scanned the crowd but didnât spot Yvonne anywhere.
âAlright, Iâll follow your lead. These are my gifts, one for you and your wife and one for Ms. Schnabelâ
âYouâre too polite, kid! Donât worry, weâll make sure my daughter knows these are from you! Heh
heh.â
The more Tristan looked at Palmer, the more he liked what he saw!
Outside, fireworks burst into the sky!
The entire sky was engulfed in brilliant pyrotechnics, with the dazzling display converging into patterns above that rained down as showers of fresh flowers!
Everyone was gobsmacked!
Oh man, talk about the Schnabel family making a scene!
Imagine this: flowers raining from the sky, a massive swing made of blooms, suddenly
appearing amid the most dazzling fireworks. And there, sitting pretty on that swing, a little fairy in a gown!
At the end of the fireworks show, bold letters light up the night:
âHappy Birthday Princess Noella Schnabel!â
The four Schnabel brothers lined up and took a knee in front of the swing, reaching out their
hands.
Noella placed her hand in Beckettâs and gracefully stepped off the swing.
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Tristan and Sienna, watching their son and daughter approach step by step, were so overjoyed they were on the verge of tears!
Noella was rocking a dress designed by Master Azure, hem decked out with diamonds. sparkling under the lights like a real fairy from the Milky Way; each step she took was a sight. to behold, the epitome of grace and beauty.
Walking alongside the Schnabel brothers, one could tell right away she was a Schnabel daughter through and through!
She lifted her dress slightly and curtsied to her parents with the smoothness of a stream, pulling off a move that would put even court nobles to shame!
Palmer watched Noella step by step onto the stage, his breath caught in his throat!
Noella! Her name was Noella Schnabel!
Tristan, holding Noellaâs hand, turned to the crowd.
âThis is our daughter Noella Schnabel, who, for various reasons, wasnât able to grow up with us. Now, by some miracle, sheâs finally home, and we couldnât be more grateful. Thank you all for joining our little girlâs birthday bash: the Schnabels owe you big time!â.
Noella, too, holding up her dress, curtsied to thank everyone.
The four Schnabel sons and the equally dolledâup Elara stood at the foot of the stage, looking every bit the knights to the princess, nodding their thanks to the crowd!
Tristan went on, âNoella is our youngest, and Elara is our adopted daughter, just as much a part of the Schnabel family. Weâre entrusting these six young ones to your care.â
Six young ones!
Annieâs mouth dropped open in shock. So, that meant Ms. Yvonne Schnabel wasnât even acknowledged. She was not even a Schnabel lady!
The real Ms. Schnabel, the one her boss couldnât stop thinking about, was none other than Ms.
Noella!