Chapter 4

The silence in the ballroom was heavy, thick with the kind of tension that makes rich people nervous.

Grayson stared at his own hand, flexing the fingers Isolde had just twisted. His face was flushing a deep, angry red.

"You are drunk," he accused, stepping forward again. "Security-"

"I am not drunk," Isolde said. Her voice was calm. Terrifyingly calm.

She looked around the room. She saw the judgmental stares of the Manhattan elite. She saw Belle, clutching Kaiden's hand, looking like the victim of Isolde's madness.

Isolde smiled.

She walked toward the small stage where the microphone stood for the toasts.

"Isolde, stop!" Grayson hissed, pursuing her.

She stepped up onto the platform. She tapped the microphone.

SCREECH.

The feedback pierced the room. Everyone flinched. The jazz band stopped playing.

Isolde held the mic. She looked down at the crowd. She looked directly at Belle.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate Kaiden's fifth birthday," she began. Her voice was steady, magnified by the speakers.

"I have a special gift for the birthday boy," she continued. She gestured to where Belle stood with the boy. "I realized something today. A child needs his mother. His real mother."

A ripple of whispers went through the crowd. Belle went pale.

"For five years," Isolde said, locking eyes with Grayson, "I have played the role of the dutiful wife and the loving stepmother. I have organized the parties, hired the nannies, and smiled for the photos."

She took a step closer to the edge of the stage.

"But I think it's time we stop pretending. Belle," she pointed a finger at the woman in the red dress, "you know Kaiden's favorite color. You know his allergies. You know him better than anyone. Because you should."

"What is she saying?" someone whispered loudly.

"Is she implying...?"

Isolde dropped her hand. "I am officially stepping down as the unpaid manager of the Lancaster household. Grayson, Belle... you two look like a wonderful family. I won't stand in your way anymore."

Grayson looked like he had been struck by lightning. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Isolde placed the microphone back on the stand. It clunked heavily.

"Happy Birthday, Kaiden," she said.

She walked off the stage. She didn't look back. She walked straight to Effie, who was watching with wide, awe-filled eyes.

"Come on, baby," Isolde said, taking Effie's hand. "We're leaving."

She marched toward the exit. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, terrified of her energy.

Grayson snapped out of his shock. He signaled to the two large security guards by the double doors.

"Stop her!" he roared.

The guards stepped in front of Isolde, crossing their arms. They were big men, hired for intimidation.

"Mrs. Lancaster," one said, "Mr. Lancaster asked you to stay."

Isolde didn't slow down.

"Move," she said.

"I can't do that, Ma'am." The guard reached out to block her path.

Isolde didn't think. The self-defense drills from her racing days-meant for escaping a crash or a kidnapping-came back in a flash of muscle memory. The 'Valkyrie' programming-buried under five years of domestic submission-surged forward.

She stepped into the guard's space. She grabbed his extended wrist, used his own momentum, and applied pressure to the ulnar nerve while sweeping his leg.

It was subtle, fast, and brutal.

The 250-pound man buckled, stumbling to one knee with a grunt of pain.

The second guard flinched, stepping back in surprise.

Isolde stepped over the kneeling guard. She didn't even look at him.

Grayson had caught up. He stared at the guard on the floor, then at Isolde.

"What the hell was that?" he demanded. "Since when do you know-"

"There is a lot you don't know about me, Grayson," Isolde said.

Kaiden ran up, holding a piece of half-eaten cake. He saw Effie.

"You're stupid!" Kaiden yelled, throwing the cake.

It missed Effie, splattering against Isolde's expensive blue dress. Frosting and crumbs slid down the silk.

In the past, Isolde would have apologized. She would have tried to clean it up. She would have cried.

Now, she just flicked a crumb off her chest. She looked at Kaiden with absolute indifference. Not hate. Just... nothing.

"Goodbye, Kaiden," she said.

She pushed the heavy doors open and walked out into the foyer.