The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 9

“Do you not like it? How about trying something else?”

With a nonchalant air, Noella said, “I’m not a fan of seasonings: I can’t stand onions, ginger, or

garlic.”

It was just a minor issue, and she didn’t sweat it. After all, in the Lambert family, Belinda never cared about what she liked to eat. Instead, she would force Noella to eat stuff she hated just to flex her control freak muscles.

The soup bowl in her hand was swiftly taken by Sienna, who then turned to the nanny and instructed. “From now on, absolutely no onions, ginger, or garlic in any of our dishes!”

The nanny was speechless.

Yvonne’s favorite dishes contained onions and gingers!

However, she didn’t dare speak up, just shot a glare at Noella, who had been throwing her weight around since she came home, almost grinding her teeth.

Noella blinked, surprised by Sienna’s command. “It’s fine, really.”

Sienna was unfazed and, taking Noella’s hand, advised, “Noella, when you’ve got a sec, jot down what you like and dislike. What you like to eat, me and your dad will like, and what you don’t is a no–show in our house!”

Tristan nodded in agreement. “Yeah, look how skinny you are; the Lamberts definitely didn’t feed you any good grub.”

To the Schnabel parents, the Lambert family had practically become Noella’s tormentors. Her clothes were nothing to write home about, no brand names and her suitcase was tiny, with no

other luggage in sight!

Talk about pinching pennies!

Sienna hesitated before spilling the beans, “Sweetie, you’ve got four brothers and one sister at home. We figured out a few years back that you and Elara were switched at birth. It took us years to find you. Your dad and I, it wasn’t on purpose, we…”

Noella nodded.

Nobody intentionally swaps kids.

“As for Elara, she’s innocent. We’ve raised her for years, and she’s not looking to compete with you. So, until she finds her own family, we hope she can stay with us. Don’t worry, she’s usually out at Emerald County doing research.”

“The one who called me, that was her?” She remembered Vincent mentioning a rooster crowing on the phone.

“Yup, Elara found you and called you. These past two years, we’ve been digging into what

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Chapter 9

realized Elara’s actually a few days older than you. Your dad and I are still

relatives was all about fate. The Schnabet parents simply hoped

folks wanted to

“I got it.”

a sigh of relief.

the type to kick Elara out of the Schnabel household. Elara had been with them for years, and even when they stumbled upon the truth years ago, they couldn’t bear to send

surely like Elara when

remained

breath, “And

dampened the

for Yvonne, she’s an orphan adopted by your grandma, not really

looked a bit miffed but kept her gaze on Noella. She had finally managed to get Elara to stay away for research, leaving Yvonne as the only daughter at home. Mr. Schnabel and his wife were bound to grow

in town, everything that was Yvonne’s was at

the nanny’s resentful look but didn’t give two

“Why adopt?”

Yvonne, the Schnabel couple’s attitude

in the day, dreamed about a celestial maiden descending to keep her company. After she got out of the hospital, she adopted Yvonne, who’s been keeping grandma company ever since. Your brothers are all busy;

acknowledged with a nod, slightly bowing her

wanna

hopeful gaze of the

They went upstairs.

heard you’ve got college entrance exams next month. Got any

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Chapter 9

if academics aren’t your thing. We can study

letters from Aqua Vine College and Northlight

developments. Ever since Belinda stopped Noella from studying properly to provoke Briony, she kept her grades to herself, away from

it

studied abroad, and Elara graduated from Northlight’s gifted youth program and is now pursuing her

the science area. No wonder the Schnabel parents were so keen on keeping her around.

can ask me too! I’m a Aqua

him out, “You only got into Aqua Vine College because your old

chuckled awkwardly and pushed open the

decked out in minimalist style, but every nook and cranny

Lambert family’s master bedroom, a bathroom floor one could see one’s reflection in, plus a study,