The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 192

Elara was still gnawing at the rock-hard loaf of bread Sienna had baked with more enthusiasm than skill. The message on her screen was so unexpected that she nearly chipped a tooth on the dense bread.

Noella walked in just in time to see Elara furiously typing away, surrounded by what looked like a pile of charcoal briquettes.

"What are you researching there, Elara? Charcoal?" Noella quipped, peering at the blackened lumps.

"Noella, darling, I might as well be analyzing these for their carbon content to figure out why they're so blasted hard! But alas, these are Mom's so-called 'breads'."

Noella, well-acquainted with Sienna's culinary catastrophes, gave a diplomatic assessment. "Well, it's an improvement over her last batch. Praise where praise is due."

But let's be honest, the improvement wasn’t really obvious.

Elara gestured Noella to come closer to the computer. "Look at this, I've got a string of anonymous texts. I pulled some strings to track the sender, and guess what? It's Yates Gruber, the eldest son of the Gruber family. What could he possibly want with me?"

Her phone number was under strict supervision, with all incoming messages logged by her superiors. Considering the texts mentioned Phoenix Lab, she decided to dig deeper. Elara was a woman who trusted data over gossip.

She was more interested in why Yates reached out than the vague threats he mentioned. After Noella nonchalantly recounted the recent events at the Grubers', Elara's frown was so sharp it could slice through the tension.

"So, that dimwit failed to charm you and now he's knocking on my door? Genius must run in the Gruber family," Elara scoffed.

Yates probably assumed that after seeing his messages, Elara would inevitably get in touch. His follow-up text was an invitation to dinner, of all things.

Elara snorted and hit 'report'.

"Protected numbers like mine aren't handed out to just anyone. If Yates is privy to so much dirt on Phoenix Lab, maybe he's the instigator. He can explain himself to the State Security Bureau."

Reporting Yates on suspicions of tampering with state secrets was quick work for Elara. Noella could almost picture the look on Yates' face when he got the call from the authorities – definitely not his best moment.

After sending the report, Elara was in high spirits. "Come on, Noella, let's hit the shops! Whatever you want, it's on me!"

She lowered her voice conspiratorially, "You have no idea, I've come into quite a bit of cash lately. Donations from the Pollack family, from our parents, from our brothers – I'm rolling in it!"

Initially, Elara thought the first deposit from the Schnabel family was a prelude to being kicked to the curb. Turns out, Tristan, Sienna, and her brothers just felt sorry for her. The Pollacks didn't hesitate and cut her in on some shares. And then there were the unexpected funds from the Richardsons.

Resting her head on Noella's shoulder, Elara's voice grew muffled. "I've had it too easy, Noella. I've never known hardship within our family. I'm not the one to pity. It's me who stole the life you were meant to have. I'm sorry."

The mere thought of Harriet's revelations – all the experiences that should've been her sister's – brought tears to her eyes.

Noella felt a warmth in her heart, knowing these were words Elara had longed to say. She smiled gently, patting Elara's hand in comfort.

"It wasn't your choice to make. You've done nothing wrong. There's no need for apologies."

Elara nodded against Noella. "I've got the paternity test results, Noella. I... I don't know what to do."

The numbers confirmed her suspicions, but seeing them in black and white left her feeling adrift.

"My mother... she doesn't recognize me, doesn't remember me."

Elara tried to laugh it off, but the tears came anyway. "I tried to see her, Noella, but she... she doesn't remember me at all."

Forgetting one's child was pain enough, but being forgotten cut Elara deeply.