The Killer Queen

Yvonne shamelessly mooched a dinner at the Schnabel family’s pad.

Turns out, being Ashlyn’s adopted kid wasn’t so bad. When she wasn’t causing a ruckus, the Schnabel couple and their four boys would just give her the cold shoulder at most, nothing too harsh.

After dinner, Tristan rallied the Schnabel boys to brainstorm about Noella’s birthday party.

Beckett chimed in. “Our place is kinda cramped. Noella’s party might be a tad humble. How about we snap up a new crib right now? The penthouse over at Serene Haven is pretty sweet, a thousand square meters for just a cool billion. We can just put it in Noella’s name.”

Tristan agreed, “Serene Haven’s barely passable. These days, the mansions in Imperial City ain’t what they used to be. Next year, let’s jet off to Italon and snag Noella a castle. Castles here feel too small– time. Plus, with Grandpa and Grandma not well, they can’t travel abroad.”

Noella was shocked at Tristan’s words.

Ulrich suggested, “Let’s get fresh flowers air–shipped for the venue. Noella digs roses, so how ‘bout we craft a rose crown with pink diamonds for her birthday?”

Stirling got hyped, “We’ll invite all the media, have choppers and drones live–streaming the whole party, and let the world know about our Schnabel family princess! I’ve already touched base with Imperial Quartet for the music, and Master Azure’s agreed to design a custom gown for Noella!”

Jasper added, “I’ve invited top chefs from state dinners around the globe for the catering. The ingredients will be air–freighted the same day, so Noella can feast on the freshest delights from all over the world. Oh, and we’ll ditch the onions and garlic.”

Noella didn’t know what to say..

It was just a birthday. Wasn’t this all a bit much?

Just as Noella was about to decline, Elara gently held her hand.

“We’re in a bit of a rush this year, sorry for the fuss, Noella. I know you’ve never had a birthday party back at the Lambert family. It’s okay, we’ll make it up to you, and give you the best of everything in the world.”

Sienna was on the verge of tears. She was still fretting that the plans were too last–minute to give her darling daughter the best possible experience. And to think, her beloved had never even celebrated her birthday before!

“Sweetie, Mom and Dad are so sorry you’ve had it rough. Why didn’t you tell us?”

Sienna’s beauty was classic, the picture of a well–read Horwich family lady – pure, expressive eyes that could melt hearts, especially when she cried.

The Schnabel brothers were tripping over themselves trying to comfort her.

Elara patted her own mouth and said, “My bad for running my mouth and upsetting Mom. Sorry, Mom!”

Noella held Sienna’s hand, wiping away her tears.

“I’ve been fine, no worries.”

Sienna knew her daughter was just consoling her; it was a mix of heartache and gratitude, but mostly it was just painful to know.

Elara, foreseeing a headache if Sienna continued crying, quickly changed the subject.

“I’ll handle the fireworks for the party. Our lab just cooked up these colorless, odorless fireworks with some sick effects. Noella will definitely love ‘em!”

Elara’s lab stuff was mostly top–secret government gear. If she said it was the good stuff, you couldn’t even buy it with cash!

“I’ll grab my laptop to write a report and show you guys the designs!”

Every experiment she ran was crucial, demanding full–on focus.

The data was super important, too. Even a tiny slip could lead to irreversible damage.

Back in the study, Elara fired up her laptop and her brows instantly knotted – something was off with her data!

“Who’s been in my study just now?”

Sienna looked up at the stern–faced Elara and asked, “What’s up? Noella and I popped in earlier to change the flowers in your study.”

Elara, still frowning, said, “Someone’s tampered with my laptop.”

Her laptop data was sacred- not a bit could be out of place!

Yvonne, green with envy over Noella’s birthday plans, piped up.

“Everyone knows not to mess with Elara’s laptop, except maybe Noella. Probably just an accident, but Noella, don’t be scared. You’ve gotta own up, and everyone will forgive you!”

Noella was left speechless. Why would I mess with Elara’s laptop? She thought.

“It wasn’t me.”

Yvonne, in her sweetest voice, stirred the pot, “Noella, no use denying it. Elara’s data is super important – one wrong click could spell disaster. Even if it was an accident, you’ve gotta fess up!”

Noella frowned slightly and said again, “It wasn’t me.”

Sienna nodded in agreement. “We really didn’t touch your laptop. I can vouch for that.”

12:21

Yvonne rolled her eyes.

“Mom can’t just cover for you ‘cause you’re the new kid on the block. It ain’t good for you, you know. Grandma always taught me to be honest and trustworthy. Why are you being like this, Mom?”

Sienna was in a bind. She was sure Noella hadn’t touched Elara’s laptop, but data doesn’t just change itself, does it?

Yvonne smirked to herself.

For Elara, those precious datasets trump everything. If Noella messed with them, she’d go ballistic!

Let them fight like cats and dogs, and soon the Schnabel family will have only one daughter-

her!

Whether it’s birthday parties or the Pollack family engagement, it’ll all be hers alone!

Elara nodded. “I trust Noella. If she says it wasn’t her, I believe her. But you… Yvonne, I recall you were in my study before dinner. Did you touch my laptop?”

Yvonne’s face went pale with panic!

“Nope, wasn’t me. I know better than to mess with your laptop, so how could you even think it was me? The only one in the house who’s clueless about this stuff is Noella, so…”

Elara’s face was stone–cold, her piercing gaze chilling to the bone.

Despite her youth, she held a high rank and exuded an aura of authority that scared the living daylights out of her underlings. Just one look from her was enough to send shivers down Yvonne’s spine and give her the creeps!

“I got cameras in my study, so let’s just check the footage and see.”

Yvonne was dumbfounded.

Was Elara for real? Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Who puts cameras in their study? How paranoid can you get about your own family?

Noella’s voice rang out, nonchalant as ever, “Elara, need a hand? Mind if I take a look at your data?”

Yvonne was full of scorn. She couldn’t make heads or tails of Elara’s crazy data, and here was country bumpkin Noella thinking she could crack it?

“Noella, c’mon, Elara’s data isn’t child’s play. You won’t get it.”

Elara never lets anyone peek at her precious data! But Elara hesitated for a sec before nodding. “Sure.”

It was a rare request from her little sis, and she just didn’t have the heart to say no!

Besides, Noella probably wouldn’t understand the data anyway, so no harm in showing her.

Noella took the laptop and scanned over the complex jumble of numbers like she was reading the morning paper, all focused and serious.

She pointed to a figure and asked, “Elara, is there a problem with this data?”

Elara leaned in, surprised, “Yes, how did you spot it? These experimental figures are all mixed up with loads of controls. Fixing it’s gonna be a real pain, and I gotta head back to the lab,”

Noella’s fingers danced across the keyboard, a symphony of clicks filling the air.

“Is this the one?”

Elara was floored. “Yes, that’s it! Noella, how did you figure it out? It’s super complex. I couldn’t even remember it!”

Noella replied coolly. “Just did the math. You laid out all the data, so just apply Lagrange’s Intermediate Value Theorem and L’Hôpital’s rule and voila, piece of cake.”

Elara was over the moon!

The four Schnabel brothers were all grinning like idiots at Noella. Their little sis was a genius, for real!

Yvonne stood there silently. She couldn’t even understand a word Noella said. It had to be a con; there was no way she could solve the data on Elara’s laptop. Elara was probably just covering for her!

Yvonne totally forgot that she was the one who tampered with the data. Her face was all twisted up, and while everyone was distracted, she slipped out unnoticed.

The Schnabel family didn’t even realize they were one short.

Elara showed Noella her latest experiment, and when the fireworks went up, flower petals danced in the sky, creating a breathtaking sea of flowers!

In the midst of the blossoms, the fireworks formed radiant words: “Noella, I love you!”

It was a rare request from her little sis, and she just didn’t have the heart to say no!

Besides. Noella probably wouldn’t understand the data anyway, so no harm in showing her.

Noella took the laptop and scanned over the complex jumble of numbers like she was reading the morning paper, all focused and serious.

She pointed to a figure and asked, “Elara, is there a problem with this data?”

Elara leaned in, surprised, “Yes, how did you spot it? These experimental figures are all mixed up with loads of controls. Fixing it’s gonna be a real pain, and I gotta head back to the lab.”

Noella’s fingers danced across the keyboard, a symphony of clicks filling the air.

“Is this the one?”

Elara was floored. “Yes, that’s it! Noella, how did you figure it out? It’s super complex. I couldn’t even remember it!”

Noella replied coolly, “Just did the math. You laid out all the data, so just apply Lagrange’s Intermediate Value Theorem and L’Hôpital’s rule and voila, piece of cake.”

Elara was over the moon!

The four Schnabel brothers were all grinning like idiots at Noella. Their little sis was a genius. for real!

Yvonne stood there silently. She couldn’t even understand a word Noella said. It had to be a con; there was no way she could solve the data on Elara’s laptop. Elara was probably just covering for her!

Yvonne totally forgot that she was the one who tampered with the data. Her face was all twisted up, and while everyone was distracted, she slipped out unnoticed.

The Schnabel family didn’t even realize they were one short.

Elara showed Noella her latest experiment, and when the fireworks went up, flower petals danced in the sky, creating a breathtaking sea of flowers!

In the midst of the blossoms, the fireworks formed radiant words: “Noella, I love you!”