The Killer Queen

Merrick was getting fired up too. “You think only you’ve got the cash? Noella, sweetheart, if you beat me in chess, I’ll gift you a brand spanking new company!”

Noella looked helplessly at the two old timers.

This kind of one–upmanship was fine, but totally unnecessary.

Half an hour later, Merrick couldn’t sit still! “Noella, dear, where did you learn to play chess like this? I am at my wit’s end!”

Marcel chortled with pride. “Ha, even old Tavian can’t beat Noella at chess. And you’re making fun of me? Think you can do better?”

Back in his youth, Merrick was a chess prodigy, yet here he was, unable to outplay his granddaughter for even half an hour!

“Embarrassed much?”

“Get outta here. Noella being a whiz is all thanks to our Horwich family genes. You’ve got nothing to do with it.”

Marcel was having none of it, slamming his cup down, sparking yet another round of bickering. “What are you implying? Noella is a Schnabel through and through!”

“Heh, saying your wife had the good genes? I’m not calling you daft, Tristan, but your mom, she’s no Einstein.”

Tristan wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking this was pretty much the same as being called dumb.

Merrick quipped, “Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re not Ashlyn’s flesh and blood, thankfully. You don’t resemble that hag, which is a good thing.”

The family was stunned.

What did he mean Tristan wasn’t Ashlyn’s flesh and blood?

Tristan was dumbfounded. “What are you saying? Whose child am I?”

Realizing he had misspoken, Merrick chuckled. “I’m pulling your leg. You couldn’t possibly be mine, a Horwich, right?”

Tristan got the picture he was still being called ugly.

Indeed, Merrick and Freya were known for their looks. When Tristan first laid eyes on their daughter Sienna, it was love at first sight.

Marcel frowned at Merrick, twirling a chess piece in his hand, sensing there was more to Merrick’s words. “Are you keeping something from me?”

“Give me a break. Who do you think you are, demanding me to report everything to you?”

1/4

11:1

***

Merrick wasn’t playing that game. He grabbed Noella and headed for the chessboard. “Come on, Noella. Let’s play chess. I’ve got a whole new book in mind! It starts with a chess game!”

He had it all figured out. His new book would make a splash, showcasing his beloved granddaughter’s brilliance.

This was the romance of a wordsmith – weaving all his affections into his writing. Everyone who read that book would know about his perfect granddaughter!

“Grandpa, do you know something that you’re keeping from Grandpa Marcel?”

“Not a clue. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell. Heh.” Merrick was all smiles, glancing at Marcel scratching his head.

Heh, he’d never spill the beans!

Tranquility City, at the Lambert Mansion.

Vincent returned to the Lambert Mansion, his battered body dragging with exhaustion as he collapsed onto the couch.

Belinda and her parents were close behind, none faring much better.

“Vincent, get in touch with Noella, will ya? I heard from Maddox she was at the Lambert ancestral home a few days back. Probably went back to pay her respects to the old lady.”

Vincent had a plan. He took the Fuller parents‘ phone and dialed Noella’s number, intending to use Old Mrs. Lambert as leverage to coax Noella into visiting Tranquility City. If she came, they could call the shots.

Noella picked up nonchalantly, and upon recognizing Vincent’s voice, she hung up without a word.

Vincent barely got out, “Noella, uh…”

The dial tone rang in his ear, leaving Vincent fuming.

That darn kid!

The Fullers wouldn’t give up. “I heard she left by helicopter. Maybe she’s met some rich folks? Vincent, are Noella’s real parents truly paupers?”

Weren’t her folks just some chicken farmers in Emerald County?

Vincent, now unsure, sat up and dialed a number.

“Buddy, it’s Vincent. Didn’t you used to live in Emerald County? You see, a relative’s kid wants to visit. How’s the place holding up?”

His buddy snickered and belched. “Everyone’s moved out. The government’s using Emerald County for experiments now, paid us a pretty penny!”

Vincent was shocked. Everyone from Emerald County had moved? That meant Noella’s real parents were likely rolling in cash from the government buyout.

Vincent had recently made a rush on real estate to get out of a bind. He needed money now more than ever! If he could just find Noella’s biological parents, he might recover some funds. for ‘raising‘ their daughter, right?

“How much did you guys get?”

“Not much, just ten million for us. But one family in the county hit the jackpot with fifty million!”

Fifty million!

Vincent perked up instantly!

Too bad he had no clue what Noella’s real parents‘ names were, or else he’d know exactly how much they pocketed.

After the call, Vincent rubbed the bruises on his face, his eyes narrowing with determination.

“I’m totally rooting for Noella and Ellsworth to tie the knot. I just can’t seem to get ahold of that girl. Trying to play matchmaker here and I can’t even get in touch with her…”

Mr. and Mrs. Fuller had decided to park themselves at the Lambert Mansion and showed no signs of leaving.

“Noella’s like a daughter to you. She won’t answer your calls, so you gotta find another way. Worst comes to worst, report her as missing. Won’t the cops have to do something then?”

“And Briony? Get her to come down and give me a foot rub, will ya? Oh, my aching body!”

Vincent couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the Fullers‘ entitled behavior.

He had to find Noella!

With a sense of resolve, he finally bit the bullet and dialed Ashlyn’s number.

“Ashlyn, I’m Noella’s foster father. I don’t know what’s gotten into the kid lately; she just won’t see me. Her grandparents are sick with worry. I was hoping you could help us out, maybe arrange a meeting with Noella, see if she’d be willing to come home?”

Ashlyn had enough on her plate. She didn’t feel like taking Vincent’s call at first, but when he mentioned wanting Noella back with the Lambert family, her interest was piqued.

Marcel was probably divorcing her because of some loose talk from that wild child, Noella. Why else would he choose to divorce now of all times? If she could just get rid of that troublemaker, she could

stay in the Schnabel family!

“You really want Noella to come home?”

“Absolutely, no doubt about it!” RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

Ashlyn pondered for a moment. “Alright, wait for my word.”

Vincent hung up the phone, grinning from ear to ear!

With Ashlyn’s help, Noella would surely come back. Once she was home, he’d be back in

control.

Noella’s phone buzzed with a message from Ashlyn.

[I’ll agree to the divorce, but you have to come and get the papers.]