The Killer Queen (Noella Briony) novel Chapter 161

Why now of all times?

Marcel scoffed. "Then go find Sexton. I don't buy that he's out traveling too."

As for who Tristan's mother was, Marcel had his suspicions, but he needed more evidence.

...

At the Pollack Mansion, Marcel looked at Sexton, who was sprawled on the couch, feigning death.

"Sexton! Get up! I want some straight answers from you!"

"What's gotten into you? How am I supposed to know what you're on about? I was as gutted as anyone when Harriet had her troubles. If you'd taken better care of Harriet back in the day, let her marry me, she wouldn't have had such a miserable life."

Marcel took a seat, exhaling heavily at the words. "I just need to know one thing. Did Harriet have a child back then?"

Sexton rolled over, hugging his tailor-made body pillow, silent as the grave.

"It was my mistake back then. I never imagined Harriet was still alive, nor did I suspect that Tristan... Tristan wasn't her child."

The 'her' he referred to was Ashlyn. Marcel was at the point where he couldn't even stand to speak her name.

"She deceived me. I had no idea Tristan was my son but not hers. I married her for the sake of the child. If I'd known Harriet was still alive..."

Sexton cut him off with a wave of his hand. "You sure do go on. If you're really hung up on Harriet, get to the bottom of what really happened."

Marcel leaned in, his tone serious. "Sexton, I came to you because I suspect there's more to Harriet's story. She was in Tandy Hospital when it happened. I've checked, and there have been mix-ups at Tandy Hospital. Noella was switched at birth there, and your second son, Jacob’s wife had her accident there too!"

At this revelation, Sexton sat bolt upright. Narrowing his eyes, he locked gazes with Marcel. The once formidable business tycoon and the battle-hardened general seemed to return to their prime; the air itself froze in that instant.

"Spill it. What have you found?"

"There's definitely something fishy about Tandy Hospital. Last month, the director of Tandy Hospital got nabbed by Interpol for meeting with Toxic Monarch in Imperial City. He's been shipped off to Lockhart Prison. He knows everything."

Sexton nodded, his tone bold. "I'll see what I can do. But neither of us can leave the country, let alone get into Lockhart Prison. We can't go in person, but this is critical. I'll send Palmer. Though young, he's reliable. Have Noella accompany him. Heh, they might even bond over the adventure!"

Sexton indulged in his fantasy, chuckling at the thought of them returning with a baby in tow.

Marcel stood abruptly, his cane thudding against the floor. "Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea what kind of place Lockhart Prison is? If anything happens to my precious granddaughter, I'll have you in a coffin ahead of schedule! Noella is just a child. How could you consider sending her to such a perilous place? What are you playing at?"

Lockhart Prison was in one of the most dangerous international war zones, a place of constant violence and bloodshed.

Marcel felt uneasy at the thought of sending delicate, precious Noella there.

Sexton shot him a defiant look. "Sit down! Let's talk this through without you getting on your high horse. I wasn't finished. What's the rush?"

"Palmer will look after her, isn't that reassurance enough? I swear, with my grandson by her side, Noella will be perfectly safe. Plus, Noella was raised by Harriet. With Harriet's bracelet, Lockhart Prison will be her turf."

Calmed by this assurance, Marcel sat back down.

Sexton continued persuasively, "Noella's in a unique position. If you sent your son or grandson, they wouldn't last two seconds. I don't want to endanger my future granddaughter-in-law. I'm looking forward to their wedding, after all!"