The Killer Queen (Noella Briony) novel Chapter 168

The Schnabel family gathered around the osmanthus sculpture that Stirling had brought back home.

If Noella wasn't so sure there was something hidden inside, they'd all be doubting whether they had the right object at all! How could a U-disk be stashed in this thing?

The sculpture looked seamless, carved from a single piece of fine white jade without a single trace of joint or graft, as though it was a masterpiece hewn from the heart of the earth itself!

Tristan whistled in awe, "Last year, a white jade sculpture by Master Sylvie went for a cool fifty million at the auction. This one could fetch a pretty penny if we ever decided to sell."

Beckett asked, "Noella, did Grandma buy this sculpture?"

Noella shook her head, "No, it was a gift from me to grandma. Picked it up at a flea market for ten buck."

In truth, this was her very first carving after she learned the craft. Grandma had always cherished osmanthus fragrans, so Noella carved one for her.

As for the stone, it indeed cost only ten dollar, but the white jade that was later uncovered turned out to be worth a fortune.

The Schnabel family members were stunned to hear such an exquisite sculpture came with such a meager price tag!

Jasper asked his father, "Dad, are you sure this isn't a piece by Master Sylvie?"

Tristan slapped his forehead in frustration.

"It has Master Sylvie's signature mark. Most wouldn't recognize it, but I've bought so many of Sylvie's pieces over the years; I can tell this is the real deal!"

Marcel motioned for silence, "Enough chatter, Noella, where did Grandma stash the thing? Surely we're not going to smash this sculpture?"

Tristan clutched the piece protectively, "No way, Dad! This is a top-tier sculpture!"

"Out of my way, you fool. Are you really going to value this over what your mother left behind?"

"But...the sculpture was also left by mom!"

Marcel paused, contemplating the truth in those words. The sculpture was clearly one of Harriet's beloved possessions. If they destroyed it, she would have been furious.

Noella stepped forward, delicately lifting the osmanthus branch from atop the sculpture, revealing a USB drive hidden within.

“This is the U-disk.”

Originally, during her stay with the Lambert family, she came up with the USB to store things discreetly, not wanting Vincent and the others to come across it.

Removing the osmanthus branch did not detract from the sculpture's overall beauty; if anything, it added an air of boundless charm that left Marcel marveling.

"Marvelous, Master Sylvie's craft is indeed exquisite."

"You can say that again, Master Sylvie is truly a jewel in the world of sculpture!"

Noella touched her nose, silently taking in the Schnabel family’s colorful praises for Master Sylvie.

She plugged the USB into the large screen in the living room of the Schnabel Manor.

The family sat together, eyes wide with anticipation. The first thing to appear was the soft cough of the elderly matriarch in a sapphire blue dress.

Her hair, silver as the moon, was neatly arranged behind her ears, adorned with an osmanthus hairpin that highlighted her picturesque features.

Even with the passage of years, Harriet remained elegant and gentle, her gaze as tender as a babbling brook.

The moment Marcel saw her, his eyes brimmed with tears.