The Killer Queen

Seeing the figure sprawled out on the hospital bed, Noella furrowed her brow.

Calvin’s face lit up with hope upon spotting Noella!

The patient was in critical condition, but he remembered Noella’s paper was about the very research on the symptoms now manifesting before them.

Noella glanced at Palmer and passed the sandwich Ulrich had handed her to Palmer’s waiting hands.

“Be back in a jiffy.”

“Sure thing.”

Palmer knew she’d dive into the fray, so a faint smile played on his lips.

Donning surgical scrubs, Noella followed Calvin into the ER.

“Take a gander, he’s got what looks like a problem in his aortic dissection. The inner layer of the aorta’s torn, and it’s a Type A. Guy’s passing out and bleeding massively from the dissection, and they didn’t even dare do CPR on the way here. We’ve got to operate now, and honestly, even I’ve only got a thirty percent shot at pulling this off.”

Noella nodded. She grasped the gravity of the situation and looked up at Calvin with a serious tone, “I’ll take over, just sign the consent.”

Calvin gritted his teeth. He knew there was no time to waver, thus quickly stepping aside

for Noella.

“Let’s get anesthesia going and prep for surgery!” Seeing the hesitant looks from the other doctors, Calvin asserted firmly, “I’m in charge! We’re all backing Noella on this!”

With Calvin’s word and the urgency of the patient’s condition, the ER buzzed to action.

Two hours later.

The assisting doctor wiped the sweat from Noella’s forehead with awe at her steady

hand.

No wonder Professor Calvin had insisted on her for the operation. Her skill was rare even among seasoned surgical experts!

Noella exhaled a sigh of relief, “The surgery went well, but we need to monitor closely for complications like renal failure.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll inform the family.” Calvin affirmed.

Noella nodded and exited with Calvin while peeling off her surgical attire.

“Where did you pick up this case?” she asked. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

11:21

Calvin wasn’t an ER doc, so stumbling upon such a dire case was a rarity for him.

He chuckled wryly, “The patient’s Lucian’s grandson. Collapsed fresh off the plane at the airport, and I just happened to be there after a conference.”

He was so lucky to have run into Noella of all people.

“Noella, what brings you to the hospital? Checking on your brother?”

“No, the Gruber family had a fire. Malvina got burned and we rushed her here.”

Calvin was at a loss for words.

“Let’s keep this under wraps from Ulrich; I don’t want him worried. You signed off on it anyway, so it’s not on me. If any complications arise, call me.” Noella added.

But Noella was confident in her work. With proper care, the patient should pull through.

Calvin gave a wry smile while washing his hands, “Fine by me. Just think, saving a patient with an aortic dissection disease puts me in the limelight for years to come at the hospital’s award ceremonies. If you don’t want the credit, I’ll take it!”

“It’s yours. I don’t need it.” Such accolades never mattered to Noella.

Stepping out of the OR, Palmer was briefing Annie on the Gruber family incident.

Annie rushed over when she saw Noella, “Ms. Noella! The news of the Gruber family’s bankruptcy will break tomorrow, but it’s unclear how many made it out of the fire. They’ve nabbed the arsonist, a member of the Shadow Dragon Society.”

Noella raised an eyebrow, “Shadow Dragon Society?”

“Yeah, an insider helped Malvina start the fire. Apparently, the Gruber family’s gasoline was all supplied by the Shadow Dragon Society. He claimed he had no idea Malvina wanted to end it all. Once he knew Malvina was hospitalized, he took the fall and got

arrested.”

The ER lights finally went off, and a weary Ulrich emerged.

“She’ll live, but doesn’t seem to want to. The burn and smoke inhalation aren’t too bad; her airway’s clear.” He said.

Malvina’s biggest issue was a lack of will to live.

Muttering, Ulrich added, “Why on earth would she kill herself out of the blue? You and Palmer can head on home, Noella. I’ve got it from here so she’ll make it.”

“Alright. Will she scar?”

“Not on her face, maybe on her legs. But a tattoo will cover that up nicely in the future,” Ulrich replied honestly.

Noella looked at her brother. She had no idea that her brother was a caring doctor who

11:21

even thought about how to treat future wounds for his patient.

“We’re off then. Let her know to call me when she wakes. Ordered you some food; it’s in your office. Lay off the sandwiches.” With a wave of the sandwich in her hand, Noella and Palmer left the hospital.

Hearing about the meal from his sister, Ulrich beamed with joy.

The Schnabel family group chat soon buzzed with Ulrich’s boastful videos.

“Who’s the angel that bought me this late–night feast? Oh, it’s my sis!”

Beckett chimed in, “Why’s she at the hospital so late?”

Stirling added, “Thought Noella was with Palmer? How come she’s in hospital? Did he do something?”

Ulrich quickly clarified, and everyone relaxed.

Elara scrolled through her gallery to share all those photos in the group, “Look at all these meals my sis arranged for me every day. She worries that I won’t eat well in Emerald County. She loves me!”

Jasper teased, “Now that you’re not in Emerald County, you can skip meals.”

“So jealous, huh? I even get to snuggle with sis at night, eat your hearts out, boys~” Elara signed off from the group chat with a sense of satisfaction and quickly clicked on Ulrich’s private message.

[Since Ms. Gruber got burnt with you being the lead doc and all, you gotta keep a closer eye on her, ya know?]

Ulrich was all bewildered. Why should he care about Malvina in particular? Didn’t he care about all his patients?

Bright and early the next day, Noella arrived at the hospital with Elara in tow.

Malvina was awake. Her once shiny hair was now dull and straw–like, her face drawn and tired, lacking its usual sparkle.

“Noella, sweetie, thanks for saving me. Love you to bits.” She said.

Noella just shook her head, handing Malvina a plush pillow to lean on comfortably.

Noella knew what Malvina fretted about and didn’t keep her in the dark.

“The Grubers are bankrupt. Arthur, Yates and Walden are all hanging by a thread, but Yvonne Gruber managed to hightail it out.”

Malvina nodded, “Hmm, that’s some silver lining, I guess.”

RIA

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Elara was feeling uneasy, “Malvina, what are you gonna do with the Grubers going under?” Malvina gave a weak smile, her hand wrapped in bandages as she brushed her hair aside. “I’ve got a stash, you know. Kept it hidden. Even if the Grubers are bust, I’ve got my own trove – a bunch of gold bars worth a few hundred grand! Smart, huh? But I… never thought I’d make it out alive.”

Her gaze

feil on the photo album placed beside her, her eyes brimming with longing.

“I miss my mom, miss her every day. So much that when I see Sienna calling to check if you’ve eaten, what you had, it just makes me wanna cry.”

She wiped away a tear, the corners of her lips pulling into a weary smile.

“I’m really scared, you know. Scared Arthur would sell me off to some old geezer for a good price, scared Yates might off me someday, scared I won’t get to avenge my mom, and I was also scared of dying!”

She was so full of fear, yet when it came time to avenge her mother, she showed such

courage.

The door to the room swung open, and there stood Ulrich, his face set in a stern expression as he looked at Malvina, “Your life was saved by me, Ms. Gruber! You don’t get to throw it away!”