The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 198

Noella locked eyes with Palmer's intense gaze, and for a moment, the ring in her hand seemed to scorch her palm with an uncomfortable heat.

"I can't accept this," she said. "You should take it back."

"Without you accepting this ring, everything I've done today is meaningless," Palmer replied as he tried his best to lift his hand and gently tousled Noella's hair.

"Even if you don't like me, please don't reject it, okay?" His eyes held a plea, a vulnerability that was likely the result of too much blood loss, and it tugged at Noella's heartstrings.

The ring, with its rose-shaped gemstone, sparkled brilliantly in her palm. It was a testament to how cherished it had been by its previous owner.

"Please, take it," Palmer implored softly as he gazed at her.

Feeling the burn of his gaze, Noella quickly averted her eyes.

"Alright, I'll keep it," she then quickly added when she met his burning gaze, "It's not that I dislike you. Maybe I’m not that into you, but don’t try to test me."

Her feelings for Palmer were a muddle – not quite passionate enough to call love, but certainly far from disdain.

"It's not a test, I just lack confidence," Palmer admitted.

Noella didn't respond. Instead, she focused on dressing the wounds he had sustained, handing him a new shirt designed by Azure. The shirt was yet to be embellished with the usual intricate embroidery that would mark it as an Azure original; it looked plain, and she hoped Palmer wouldn't notice its designer origins.

But as Palmer examined the shirt he was now wearing, he couldn't help but find it eerily similar to several others in his closet. High-end brands had their unique styles, after all.

Clearing her throat, Noella said sternly, "Take off your pants."

"You've got injuries on your legs from the blast. Do you want to strip them off yourself, or should I help?" she added.

At her serious tone, Palmer couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"I can manage, thanks. I've always taken care of my own wounds. But I appreciate if you can prepare the medicine for me."

His gaze toward her became suggestive, "I know you are a doctor, so you see no gender in your patients. But selfishly, I hope that you’ll talk like this under different circumstances – like in your bedroom. I'd be very pleased then."

A hint of red touched Noella's ears, but her face betrayed no other emotion as she glanced at him before handing over the medicine.

"Malvina's mother was friends with your mother?" she asked.

"Yes. They were friends back in the day, but Mrs. Gruber passed away shortly after Malvina was born," Palmer explained.

Noella leaned against the wall, her brow furrowed as she pressed, "You knew Malvina long before?"

"Not personally. Both of our mothers died when we were young, although I had met hers. So when she needed the Pollack family's name to approach my grandfather, he was willing to help."

Palmer caught Noella's eye, "Are you planning on staying to watch me apply the medicine?"

As he began to unbuckle his belt, Noella turned sharply and strode out of the room, leaving Palmer to laugh quietly to himself, thoroughly amused.

...

At the Gruber estate.