The Killer Queen

Palmer’s voice was a jumble of tones.

1.she

Noella wanted to pull her hand away, but remembering Palmer’s wrist was still wounded and any tug might cause it to bleed again, decided against it

“Palmer?”

Palmer slowly opened his eyes, his gaze foggy, but at least he was awake.

“Noella? Wasn’t I just dreaming? How come you’re here?”

Instead of answering his question, Noella picked up the water glass from the nightstand and handed it to him.

“Take your medicine”

“Alright”

Noella watched Palmer swallow his medicine and helped him lie back down.

His eyes, typically deep and impenetrable, now sparkled with a vivid luster, following her every move without shifting away even for a

moment

Feeling her cheeks heat under his gaze, Noella suddenly recalled what Annie had said earlier.

“Boss wanted to head to Polaris Star to dig up some dirt on your past. He figured if he didn’t, you would.”

Was he so set on handling dangerous matters himself just because he felt they were too perilous for her?

Gazing at the frail Palmer before her, she noticed his pallor, yet his fever made his eyes moist and vulnerable, his gaze fixed on her.

“1 seem to recall telling Annie not to disturb you, yet she still called you. Sorry for interrupting your sweet dreams.”

“Why didn’t you want me to come?”

Palmer reached out his touch scorching due to the fever, his palm pressing hotly against Noella’s cheek.

“Noella, tell me, do you worry about me?”

He wanted his girl to care, yet he didn’t want her distracted on his account. But now that she was here, he yeamed for an answer.

Palmer squinted slightly, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips, as elusive as the moon still hanging outside the window.

“If I told you and then found out you didn’t worry about me at all, I’d be heartbroken,” Palmer said, his words blending jest with delirium, his voice thick with exhaustion and longing

Noella’s eyelashes fluttered as she tucked Palmer back under the covers. “Go to sleep now. You don’t have to worry about a broken heart. Yours is just fine.”

The medicine kicked in, and it was hard to tell whether it was fatigue or happiness that brought a smile to Palmer’s face first.

She said he wouldn’t be heartbroken- did that mean… she did worry about him, even just a little bit?

Noella frowned slightly as she watched Palmer drift off to sleep again. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Palmer’s fever wasn’t due to his wound, but rather from catching a chill. His wound wasn’t inflamed; the lever seemed more like the result of getting drenched.

Annie’s injuries seemed far more severe.

While Noella pondered, she felt her hand grasped by Palmer’s, and he pressed a burning kiss into her palm.

“Goodnight.”

Noella quickly withdrew her hand, yanked the covers over Palmer’s face, and left the room in a fluster!

Annie, who had just left the Pollack Mansion, glanced back towards her boss’s home.

“Geez, I wonder if Ms. Noella will question how Boss caught a fever from such a minor injury? Probably not!”

After all, the wound was real enough, though the circumstances were somewhat convoluted. The outcome was the same, wasn’t it?

The next morning, Noella yawned as she descended the stairs, only to see Sienna holding Malvina with a face full of motherly love.

Sienna was soft–hearted, her greatest trial in life being a tumultuous mother–in–law relationship, which now seemed to have reached a sweet resolution. Seeing the burn scars on Malvina, Sienna’s tears

flowed with empathy.

“Does it hurt, sweetheart? Don’t worry, I know several top plastic surgeons who can fix you right up!*

“It’s okay, Sienna, Dr. Schnabel said he can take care of it.”

Ulrich, coming downstairs, nearly stumbled at the mention, nearly missing the last step.

10:55

Jasper questioned, “Since when did you pick up an interest in bum treatment? Change of research topic? From NôvelDrama.Org.

Ulrich cleared his throat to regain composure Thofessor Calvin has been studying it, so I thought Td learn a bit as well

Hearing that Calvin had a solution. Sienna also relaxed.

“That’s wonderful. Nothing beats Professor Calvin Malvina, you stay with us for a while. I’ll cook you some delicious meals!”

The rest of the Schnabel family didn’t show any surprise at Malvina’s presence. It was as if her joining them at the table was the most natural thing in the world.

But seeing Palraer at the breakfast table, the Schnabel brothers‘ eyes held a hint of hostility, especially when they saw their sister helping him with his food due to his bandaged wrist.

Jasper couldn’t hold back his imitation “If Mr. Pollack isn’t well, he should stay in the hospital instead.

Tristan slapped him on the back, annoyed “Quit your sniping! What’s wrong with Palmer having a meal here? You’m the one who talks too much! Palmer, don’t mind him. Have some more to eat. How did you get hurt all of a sudden?”

Palmer, accepting the pomidge Noella had prepared, thanked her. “Thanks, Noella. Sorry to worry you, Tristan, Just a small mishap during a site inspection at work, nothing serious”

Sexton chuckled at Palmer. “Now that you’re hurt, take a break from the company for a couple of days. The place will run without you. Stay home and spend some time with Noella.”

He had long been irked by Palmer’s dedication to work over spending time with his granddaughter–in– law, Now, he had his chance. Marcel laughed along with Sexton, “Palmer’s a hard worker, and you, old man, haven’t kicked the bucket yet, so go fill in for the kid at work for a few days!”

“What? Why should I go to work? At my age, shouldn’t I be the one taking it easy?”

Palmer caught Marcel’s incessant winking and couldn’t help but let a grin spread across his face.

In a playful tone, he addressed Sexton, “Grandpa, I still need to head out for a meeting to sign some contracts.”

Sexton, frustrated with the lack of initiative, exclaimed, “What contract is so important that you have to attend to it personally? I can oversee things for a couple of days! I refuse to believe that with me around, anything can go south!”

“Thanks, Grandpa I appreciate it.”

It dawned on Sexton a moment too late that he had just agreed to step in for Palmer at work.

Was anyone his age still clocking in at the office?

But seeing the pallor on his grandson’s face, enough to tug at anyone’s heartstrings, Sexton felt compelled to step in. After all, managing the Pollack Group for so many years, signing a few contracts, and following procedures was no big deal

Jasper couldn’t help but feel his temples throb as he watched Palmer “Mr. Pollack, it’s not like both of your hands are injured. You can still manage to eat on your own, can’t you?”

Why on earth would his sister need to spoon–feed Palmer?

The very sight was like a punch to the gut!

Palmer flashed an innocent smile at Jasper. “Well, you see, eating with my left hand is a bit awkward, so I had to trouble Noella”

Awkward?

Jasper vividly remembered that during their last meeting at the Pollack Group, Palmer had signed documents with his left hand! A guy who could write with his left hand was claiming eating was inconvenient?

But Palmer was playing the patient card, and Sienna shot Jasper a waming glance. “Quit nitpicking and just eat your food!” Palmer reached out and took the spoon from Noella’s hand. I can manage on my own, Wouldn’t want to delay your meal.”

“Sure, just call if you need anything”

Jasper rolled his eyes

The boy was definitely playing games! His sweet, nalve sister had been completely bamboozled by Palmer, the wolf in sheep’s clothing!