The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 186

Yvonne was on the verge of a meltdown, her face hidden behind her hands as tear after tear streamed down her cheeks.

"Malvina, how could you hit me? I swear I didn’t mean it that way. I wasn't trying to stir up trouble!"

"Yeah, right!" Malvina massaged her wrist before slapping Yvonne once again. "Come on, tell her how she's supposed to talk to a lady of my standing."

One of the Gruber family's servants stepped forward and declared, "Being slapped by Malvina is a privilege, Yvonne. You should be thanking her for even bothering with you."

Yvonne's face was ablaze with pain, her gaze turning to Noella, who had remained silent throughout the ordeal.

Noella's expression was indifferent, and Yvonne suddenly felt like a complete fool in her presence.

"Noella, we're practically family. Please, ask Malvina to let me off this once," Yvonne pleaded, her eyes locking onto Noella’s.

Convinced that with so many high-society guests watching, Noella would surely play the magnanimous card to leave a good impression. Noella had to speak up for her.

Noella's voice was cool and detached. "Have you forgotten what I told you outside the art gallery last time?"

The mere memory of that public humiliation at the gallery had Yvonne's cheeks throbbing all over again. "Ms. Schnabel, please, ask Malvina to spare me. I'll never cross you again, save me."

Noella was toying with her! It must be that Noella was jealous now that she had become the Gruber family's darling. It had to be envy!

Noella looked away, her tone unchanging. "Oh, I won't help."

Yvonne was dumbstruck.

The country bumpkin dared to reject her? Was she not afraid of being seen as uncouth and heartless by the others?

Noella wasn't giving Yvonne a second thought. Her little charades were just pathetic attempts to sow discord between her and Malvina, all to gain some advantage.

"What's going on here?"

A commanding voice echoed from nearby as Walden approached, pushing an elderly man in a wheelchair.

The old man, appearing frail and aged, was dressed in a silk robe embroidered with a majestic black dragon, exuding an air of authority.

Yvonne's spirits lifted at the sight of Arthur. This was her chance to play the victim!

Palmer, sensing the impending drama, wrapped his arm around Noella and stepped back.

He whispered, "Looks like we're in for a show. My fiancée, getting to know what Ms. Gruber is really like is part of the package."

Noella, new to the Imperial City's elite, was unacquainted with the notorious Malvina. This was her first encounter with someone so brazen yet unsophisticated. Malvina's personality was bold, and somehow, Noella couldn’t help but find it entertaining.

As Yvonne rushed over to Arthur, Malvina's foot jutted out, tripping her and sending her sprawling to the ground.

"Ah…"

Malvina clapped a hand over her mouth, feigning innocence. "Yvonne, how could you be so mean to me? You even tried to hit me. Oh, dear! It's okay, I don't blame you. After all, you can't help it if you weren't taught our Gruber family ways. Your father was just an adopted child, after all."

Malvina pinched her waist, wincing in pain, and tears immediately began to flow.

Yvonne lay on the ground, internally cursing Malvina. When had she ever hit Malvina? It was clear who the real victim was!

"Grandfather, it's not like that, it's..."

Malvina turned and clung to Noella, her eyes brimming with tears. "Ms. Schnabel can vouch for me, Grandpa. Yvonne's just immature. I don't blame her; she's clueless. I can forgive her for the sake of our family!"

Arthur's gaze shifted to Noella. She nodded to him in greeting. “Malvina is innocent.”