The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 80

Merrick and Freya were making such a big deal about taking photos with Noella, as if they were more excited than if they finished novels or won science awards. They even dug out their wedding outfits to snap pics with her.

Freya’s rocking this burgundy silk dress, and man, she’s still got it all grace and poise. The dress just added to her charm.

Merrick’s suit was an oldie but goodie, with a well–preserved fleur–de–lis brooch adding a touch. of scholarly kindness.

Noella, sandwiched between the two old–timers, snapped their first group selfie.

Freya was over the moon, and she waved at Tristan and Sienna, who look like they were about to drool with envy.

They were practically itching to jump in and take pics with their daughter.

away

Last time at the birthday bash, they were so busy clicking at their girl that they totally spaced on getting a group shot. Now they were kicking themselves over it.

“Come on, get in here. We’ll photoshop Stirling and Elara in later.”

The whole family ended up taking a bunch of photos together.

Merrick couldn’t wait to switch his profile pic to the selfie with Noella. He hightailed it to chat with Marcel, “Whoa, why did I change my profile pic? Can’t quite make out who’s in it, can you?” Marcel was in the middle of a chess game with Sexton, and when he saw that message, he was so close to flipping out. “That sly old fox’s showing off his pic with Noella, huh? Just wait until she visits me in the hospital. I’ll get my photo op too!”

Seeing Noella all cozy with Merrick in the photo, Marcel was getting all choked up.

Why didn’t he think to take a pic with his granddaughter?

Now he’s just got to sit there and watch Merrick strut his stuff!

In the Schnabel family group chat, Beckett ‘accidentally‘ dropped à ton of Noella’s pics. including the fresh ones they just took.

Ulrich: [Noella’s looking adorable. That outfit’s perfect on her. Grandma doing okay? I’ll swing by after my surgery.]

Stirling: [What’s the deal here? Why didn’t we take any when I was home?!]

Elara: [No biggie, I got Photoshop.]

She played it cool, but she quickly edited herself into the group shot and uploaded it to the chat.

12:22

fake, drop the act. You’re probably dying to cry,

voice pathetic, “Noella! Stirling’s saying I’m fake, so does he want to kick me out? I can’t stand to leave you, my baby girl! Oh well, I

head was spinning as she calmed her down, “Sis, I’ll swing by Emerald County when I can. I’ll bring

take photos with

we’ll take

pleased as punch and dropped the recording of the

chat.

Stirling was livid.

out of line! You are stirring up drama to get sympathy from

“Noella, lunch tomorrow? I wanna take photos with

“Sure.”

photo requests, Noella breathed

the Lambert days, she hardly ever took pics

a kid. And when she was laid to rest, that photo went with her into the grave. Therefore, Noella didn’t have

a tear wipe when no one’s watching and planting a kiss on that photo on her phone. “My granddaughter

current flowing through her heart as she

act.

his hand, “I take you to check out the

“Sure.” She answered.

Noella heard him humming a tune. Sounding like

folks weren’t always like this. Dad used to be super tough, but after finding out Elara wasn’t

elevator accident at the mall, and a kid was

12-22

saying how great it’d be if someone

losing you, and Mom just broke down and got ill. Elara’s great, but we missed you too. Now

of silence, Noella cracked a smile too, “Yeah,

soft hair, “Elara once came to me, said she’d leave the Schnabels once you were back. But she dropped the idea as she

tough for the Schnabels at first, so she cracked open, “Elara’s awesome. We are still a family even if

and reassured as he pinched

a true Schnabel through and through!

to Elara without changing a single letter, and added a few scolding lines of his own, telling Elara to stay put

quickly bombarded him with a stream of

piece of crap!

and felt a throb

moment, he couldn’t help but curse with a chuckle, “What