The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 33

At the Lambert ancestral home in Linefort City.

Jasper’s hired muscle flew in by chopper and, while still several feet from the ground, yanked Vincent out and dumped him right at the doorstep of the Lambert ancestral horne,

Vincent, well into his fifties, nearly broke every bone in his old body!

“Dammit… Do you even know the law? This is assault, pure and simple!”

The bodyguard, sporting dark shades, Just gave a lopsided grin and sneered. “Our boss said we’re doing you a solid, dropping you home. You know exactly how you treated Ms. Noella–don’t play innocent!”

Vincent was speechless.

This was completely different!

Noella was just a heartless country bumpkin while he was the high and mighty CEO of the Lambert family!

After making the delivery, the bodyguard hopped back on the chopper and took off.

Blown around by the helicopter’s downdraft, Vincent’s hair was a mess, his suit was wrinkled, and his face was caked with dust and dirt, making him look like a beggar.

The actual beggars at the Lambert ancestral home’s gate nearly mistook him for one of their

own.

Vincent was fuming. He whipped out his phone to call the cops, but, of course, there was no signal!

Maddox, who was in charge of guarding the old homestead, spotted Vincent and hurried over to greet him.

“Mr. Lambert, why didn’t you give us a heads–up? Here to donate?”

Vincent was speechless again.

He was too proud to come back home without fanfare, always making a big show of donating like 30 to 50 grand, turning it into a spectacle the whole village knew about.

Vincent changed the subject. “How come there’s not even a proper road in this place?”

“Ah, Mr. Lambert, you’re here to fund road construction? That’s fantastic! I’ll go tell the mayor right now!”

Vincent quickly grabbed him.

“No, no, get me out of here first. My phone’s got no signal; I can’t make any donations to the village!”

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“What? Mr. Lambert, you’re also gonna build us a cell tower? That’s amazing!”

because of

really didn’t want to shell out cash

to negotiate. Get me out of here. Does

to ear. “Sure do.

What kind

off to get the “vehicle,” Vincent looked

but it took blood, sweat, and tears to make something of himself in Tranquility

looking at it, the house

used top–notch materials, even planted Old Mrs. Lambert’s favorite osmanthus tree by the door–a mature tree of this

would he spend money on fixing up this

for Briony, secretly spruced up the place to surprise the

more Vincent thought about it,

an amazing son–in–law!

though the Rosenberg family had hit a rough patch, it was still not to be underestimated, given its previous glory. Besides, they had always been

Briony, she had always been close to Milford, unlike Noella,

would definitely need to talk about Briony’s engagement with the Rosenbergs–can’t let a catch

in his happy thoughts, Vincent’s daydream was shattered when

ox cart!

old ox clearly had seen better days, stopping to rest after every step.

we’ve got. Hop on, and we’ll make it to

“There’s transportation in town?”

From there, hop on a bus, and you’ll be in Linefort City in

Vincent remembered.

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Chapter 33

reason he hadn’t come back for years was because it was such a hassle to leave! Linefort City had no airport; he would have to take the rickety old

donate for road construction, he thought it wasn’t worth it since he couldn’t brag about it, so he donated to Tranquility

on up. Once it gets light, the old ox has to

nose and climbed atop

to a beggar, “Take Mr. Lambert to

lurched forward, shaking so violently that Vincent’s

as he watched Vincent’s retreating figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite GPS and dialed Noella.

Mr. Lambert said about donating for roads and

“Appreciate it.”

split into

village would’ve been toast a long time ago,

the

Maddox sent her and

tiny village nestled in the Linefort City mountains, where Old Mrs. Lambert had weathered her whole life. Noella would guard it

days later, at Tranquility

cop swung open the slammer door and let

beard and looking all kinds

gobsmacked at the sight of