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 trying to find

parents simply hoped Elara Schnabel could remain part of the

whoever the Schnabel folks wanted to take care of

“I got it.”

parents breathed a sigh of

been with them for years, and even when they stumbled upon the truth years ago, they couldn’t bear to send her

said excitedly. “You’ll surely like Elara

remained neutral, silent.

under her breath, “And

Schnabel noticeably dampened the parents‘

sip of her soup and said indifferently. “As for Yvonne, she’s an orphan adopted by your grandma, not really a Schnabel daughter, so

away for research, leaving Yvonne as the only daughter at home. Mr. Schnabel and his wife were bound to

in town, everything that

look but didn’t give two hoots.

“Why adopt?”

couple’s attitude

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; we’ll Introduce

with a nod, slightly bowing

clapped his hands. “Noella, wanna

of the Schnabel parents, Noella nodded.

They went upstairs.

exams next month. Got any schools in mind? No

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Chapter 9

academics aren’t your thing. We can study

received acceptance letters from Aqua Vine College and Northlight University last

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

figured it out

your time. Your brothers all studied abroad, and Elara graduated from Northlight’s gifted youth program and is now pursuing her Ph.D. at the Harmonia Country Science

area. No wonder the Schnabel

his chest, “You can ask me too! I’m a

because your old man

at a loss for words. He chuckled awkwardly and

in minimalist style, but every

a bathroom floor one could see one’s reflection in,