The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 242

Lorne could sense Noella's wariness in her lines.

He adjusted his smile and flashed her an apologetic expression, "You've got me all wrong, Noella. I didn't mean any harm. You're Elara's sister, right? I didn't get the chance to properly introduce myself at the hospital. I'm not the bad guy here. Maybe it wasn't the smartest move to approach you now, I admit. Sorry if I startled you."

Noella gave him a fleeting look, her expression cool and detached, "What does it matter to me whether you're a bad guy? You're in my way. Please move."

Lorne rolled his wheelchair aside, watching as Noella disappeared down the tree-lined path without a backward glance. His smile faded as he said to himself, "She’s quite the tough cookie. But then again, she’d have to be one to run the Obelisk Organization."

An limping big guy emerged from the shadows behind Lorne with a smirk played across his lips, "You think a little chitchat is going to impress the Wise Fool? That devil is way tougher than you can imagine."

"She's only siding with Palmer for the prestige of the Pollack family. Us Richardsons are no slouches either," Lorne said with a chuckle.

Thorpe paused. He, as a towering and burly man, expressed his incomprehension at Lorne's self-confidence at the moment.

"Should I remind you that neither the Schnabel family nor the Obelisk Organization are short on cash? Maybe Wise Fool, that rich girl, is just taken with Vocalist's pretty face."

Lorne snorted, "Pretty face? If she's that shallow, then this will be a cakewalk. I'm as good-looking as Palmer, if not better."

Thorpe's smirk twitched into a grimace as he regarded Lorne. Such confidence these Harmonia Country folks had.

"I've got all the paperwork sorted. Proximity breeds fondness, and Ms. Schnabel will soon see I'm a far better catch than her fiancé." Lorne claimed.

A marriage contract among the elite meant little. Once Noella got to know him, she'd see his worth.

Thorpe just shrugged helplessly. "Well, it's your life. Just don't mess with my mission."

...

Noella had just stepped into the grand hall when Mizar popped out from the side, "Boss, you ran into Lorne out there? What's his angle?"

Noella's communicator had still been on during her encounter with Lorne, and Mizar had overheard the exchange.

"What he wants doesn't matter. Where's Master Rainer?"

Mizar gestured towards the stage, "He's been invited to play a piece at the opening ceremony next week. We're here to help him out."

"Who invited him?"

Master Rainer had been off the stage for years. The last public performance was at a state banquet. Whoever had persuaded Master Rainer to play must be someone of significance.

"Who else but the legendary former leader of the Polaris Star, Garrick!? But when the master met him, he didn't let me in on it. All hush-hush. Afterwards, he just said he'd honor them with a performance. Anyone who can get the teacher to play is certainly no ordinary person," Mizar admitted with a trace of regret. All her prepared eavesdropping devices had been for naught, and she'd even earned herself a warning.

Noella nodded slightly. The last photo of Garrick with Harriet had also been left by Master Hector, which showed that the old guards truly had a connection with Garrick.

Master Rainer's return to the country was likely linked to Garrick as well.

Noella's gaze landed on the man standing beside Master Rainer. The long-haired man in a suit was grizzled, his clothes embroidered with dragons. Despite the evident wear of years, his features remained sharp, matching the man in the photo provided by Master Hector.

Feeling Noella's gaze, Garrick looked up, locking eyes with her from his position on stage.

As the last music note faded, Master Rainer scowled, "What are you staring for? It's not like you've never seen him before!"

He couldn't believe Garrick had been in the dark about Harriet all these years. When Noella had joined Polaris Star, he was certain Garrick must have heard something.

Garrick remained unfazed, his eyes filled with appreciation as he looked at Noella, as if admiring a rare work of art.