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!”

1/5

12:26

Chapter 33

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

Playing dumb because of his selective

say he wouldn’t donate, and he really didn’t want to shell out cash for these yokels. He grabbed

Get me out of here. Does this village even have a car?”

from ear to ear. “Sure do. Let

kind of vehicle

off to get the “vehicle,” Vincent looked

and tears to make something of himself in Tranquility City, to become a known and respected tycoon. He never wanted to come back.

the house seemed to

even planted Old Mrs. Lambert’s favorite osmanthus tree by the door–a mature tree of this variety could easily fetch 200 grand at

was behind this renovation. Why would he spend money on

it be that Milford Rosenberg, out of respect for Briony, secretly spruced up

Vincent thought about it, the more

an amazing son–in–law!

patch, it was still not to be underestimated, given its previous

always been close to Milford, unlike Noella, who was always

to talk about Briony’s engagement with the Rosenbergs–can’t let a catch like that

Vincent’s daydream was shattered when Maddox showed up

actual ox cart!

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

only ox cart we’ve got. Hop on, and we’ll make it to town

trembling. “There’s

tractors. From there, hop on a bus, and you’ll be

Vincent remembered.

715

17-26

Chapter 33

because it was such a hassle to leave! Linefort City had no airport; he would have to take the rickety old

to donate for road construction, he thought it wasn’t worth it since he couldn’t brag about it, so he donated to Tranquility City’s overpass instead, barely making it onto the

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

his breath, Vincent pinched his nose and climbed atop the ox cart, dodging cow dung

signaled to a beggar, “Take Mr. Lambert to

so violently that Vincent’s sandwich lunch threatened to make

figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite

for roads and a cell tower on video. Sending it your way now!”

“Appreciate it.”

face split into

If it weren’t for your help, our village would’ve been toast a long time ago, not to mention the renovations you funded for the

Grandma’s house. It’s the least I

Maddox sent her and then locked her

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

days later, at Tranquility City Police Station.

open the slammer door and let the Lambert

rocking a scruffy beard and looking all

the sight of