The Killer Queen

“Craving anything to munch on?” he asked.

“Nah.”

Palmer got the hint and gestured for Annie to steer the car towards a downtown eatery.

“Into painting, are you? Prefer oil or sketch? Got a few decent pieces back at mine, could owing them by next time.”

“I’m more into oils. Don’t bother, I’m swamped with paintings as it is.” She said.

Master Killian must churn out a gazillion paintings for her each year, and Ivan, Killian’s star pupil leaves his works lying around Polaris Star’s lab like they’re going out of style.

“So spill. What’s your jam?” Palmer requested.

Noella couldn’t help but look up at Palmer with a puzzled look.

The guy was a mix of suave and ice–cold, one glance and you’d peg him as a ruthless ruler with a heart of stone. Yet, when he peered at her, all you could see was this uncontrollable tenderness.

Those deep and piercing eyes carried a touch frosty, while his whole vibe screamed a chilled elegance. And there, at his cuffs, a pair of ruby cufflinks added him an extra layer of posh.

“Why the sudden interest in my likes?” she asked.

“I could play the guessing game with your preferences, but hitting the nail on the head with gifts. is always a win. Plus, I wanna get to know you better.” Palmer whipped off his glasses that were perched on his prominent nose and put them aside casually.

Without the barrier of lenses, he could gaze more intently into Noella’s crystal–clear eyes.

“Before I knew you were my fiancée, prying into your likes might’ve! can, I’d rather hear it from you than through the grapevine.”

Under his intense gaze, it was like she could see a vast starry sky.

“Got it.” She nodded.

a tad rude. Now that !

“But hey, if you are itching to figure me out, there are plenty of ways. I’m an open book.”

Noella pursed her lips, glancing at Palmer, “Saw this morning’s gossip rag tagging you with some mystery actress at a hotel. Cool with that?”

His smile froze instantly. Tabloid journos always cook up anything for clicks!

If Noella actually bought that spiel, he’d be up incapable of defending himself.

A smirk played on Noella’s lips.

Annie, the dutiful assistant, leapt into action as she watched her boss get cornered, “Miss, that

13:24

was a family member related to Mr. Pollack, and they were at the Pollack Group’s hotel. We’ll handle that media mess, so you just sit tight.”

Noella wasn’t really using the news to test Palmer. She just got a kick out of seeing him.

squirm.

Palmer chuckled wryly, his eyes never straying from Noella, “Gotcha, you’re miffed I haven’t introduced you to the Pollacks. Was worried you’d be spooked because they’re a tad overbearing. But since you’ve asked, I’ll set it up ASAP. Just give me a bit of time.”

Now Noella was the one who couldn’t muster a smile. She never wanted to meet his family.

But Palmer took it to heart. He turned around to arrange a Pollack family dinner, and with Noella unable to get a word in edgewise, she just let it be.

In the Horwich Mansion

Yvonne sat on the couch and was bawling her eyes out. Her tears were flowing like a faucet as she said, “Grandpa, I never wanted to compete with Noella! But she’s just too much. She tossed out the painting I slaved over for two months!”

Merrick had seen Yvonne’s dedication to that piece and knew it was a labor of love.

But if Noella tossed it, there must be a reason.

He’d given Noella the gallery and wasn’t about to meddle. Whatever she wanted to do was fine by him.

Watching Yvonne cry her heart out, Tristan was getting edgy, “Yvonne, the gallery’s Noella’s now. Our hands are tied. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ve got a small gallery and now it’s yours. Take your paintings, hang them up, and have your own show.”

Yvonne’s tears stopped in their tracks!”

Tristan’s gallery wasn’t even a tenth of Merrick’s size!

They were fobbing her off with that little space?!Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

And why did Noella get the prime gallery, and she’s left with crumbs?

“Dad, that’s not what I meant. I just want an explanation. She’s being unfair to me. Is she holding a grudge? That painting was my heart and soul. Grandpa’s an artist: surely he understands the significance of a work. If she treats an artist’s work like this, then God knows what she’ll do with the gallery.” She retorted.

Merrick waved it off as if it were nothing. “Noella can do as she pleases. Worst case, the gallery goes under. No biggie.”

No biggie?!

That gallery was the Imperial City’s art hub and home to the most Killian masterpieces. If

1904

Noella runs it into the ground, won’t that prove the bumpkin can’t handle a gallery?

Why was Merrick so chill about it?

“I don’t mind the gallery, but that painting was my masterpiece and it was two months of hard work. She showed me zero respect so she owes me an apology!”

Tristan was in a pickle.

His princess apologizing to Yvonne? He couldn’t bear it.

Even if his daughter stepped out of line, it wasn’t the end of the world.

But Yvonne grew up alongside Ashlyn, calling him ‘Dad.‘ If she made a fuss to Ashlyn, his girl would be in for a headache.

After a silent moment, Sienna suggested, “Let’s wait for Noella to come back, then we’ll talk.”

She was confident her sweet, smart, lovely, and charming daughter would never do anything so disrespectful!

Sienna knew her precious girl’s character inside out. The Lambert family has been such jerks to Noella, and she hasn’t even thought about getting back at the Lamberts. It’s just heartbreaking.

Sienna wants to believe there’s a good reason her daughter’s taking the high road.

Yvonne was bitter and ticked off that Sienna still didn’t take her side, even with things the way they were, “Mom, are you saying you don’t believe me? I’m your daughter too. I get that you feel for sis, but you can’t just ignore right and wrong!”

Freya couldn’t stand it anymore and snapped, “Enough! We can’t just take your word for it. Let’s wait for Noella to come back and give us the lowdown. If she really ditched your painting without any good reason, she owes you an apology. But if there’s more to the story, that’s a different ball game.”

“Yes, Grandma.” Yvonne didn’t dare to throw a tantrum in front of Freya and had to agree.

Darn it, they were still siding with Noella even if things had gone so wrong. If she couldn’t do something soon, she’d be a nobody in the Schnabel family.