The sound of car horns pierced the quiet of the cemetery outskirts.
A convoy of over a dozen cars pulled up, led by an elderly gentleman who stepped out, accompanied by a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties.
Dressed in a pristine white suit, a boutonniere pinned to his chest, and a black fedora, the old man walked with a slight limp.
Upon seeing him, Tristan hurried over. “Uncle Ephraim, what brings you here?”
“Hmph, you're holding a memorial for your mother and didn’t think to call your kin? Do we mean nothing to you?”
Ashlyn, hoisted on a model’s shoulder, perked up at the sight of the Schnabel family members. Trouble was brewing, and she was here for it!
“Ephraim, you have to back me up! Kick Harriet out; I should be the one standing here! When have I ever let the family down?
And Linnea, oh! You and our Yvonne were practically sisters, you gotta stand with me here!
These people are ganging up on me! We need to get rid of these bad omens!”
To Ashlyn, both Sienna and Noella were just obstacles in her path!
If it weren’t for them, the Schnabel family would have been hers by now.
How could it be that after marrying Marcel, he wouldn’t even touch her, yet Sienna kept having children, one after another!
For thirty years, Ashlyn harbored a towering resentment!
Linnea remained calm, “I was taken in by my grandfather, not related to you. I have my own grandmother.”
Ashlyn was relentless.
“You were raised alongside our Yvonne, who knows, you might actually be sisters!
Yvonne is my true granddaughter, just like you!”
Seeing Linnea, Ashlyn's eyes lit up!
Linnea, however, stepped back emotionlessly.
“Then go find Yvonne Schnabel. I’m not your granddaughter.”
Yvonne?
Who knows where that brat ended up!
Just mentioning her name made Ashlyn’s blood boil!
If it weren’t for Yvonne abandoning her, Ashlyn wouldn’t be in this mess!
“Ephraim, what are you here for? To throw Harriet out?”
Ashlyn was visibly agitated.
Ephraim adjusted his suit and, with Linnea’s support, approached Marcel, bowing deeply, “Marcel, I’m late.”
“Didn’t invite you, what do you want?”
Ephraim said sternly, “To pay respects to my sister-in-law, and to ask, when will you let Noella officially join the family? A spot in the family tree is already prepared, right next to Elara’s!”
Marcel nodded.
“It’s time to handle this. Noella’s name can be added at any time; she will always be a Schnabel.”
“What about my sister-in-law’s name?”
Ephraim was cautious.
Even in his old age, facing Marcel still filled him with apprehension.
Without Marcel’s guidance, the Schnabels wouldn’t be where they are today, and Ephraim might not have survived.
Marcel pondered for a moment.
“No need.”
Ephraim quickly interjected.
“Marcel, everyone deserves to find their roots. My sister-in-law has wandered all her life; you should give her a place to belong.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony )