Chapter 4

Richard Carlisle violently pushed his way to the front of the crowd. His face was purple with rage.

The wealthy hedge fund CEO screamed at Lana.

"I will have you locked in a federal penitentiary for assaulting my daughter!"

Serena Beaumont rushed to Richard's side. She frantically apologized.

"Richard, please. I will have her sent to a psychiatric facility tonight. She is unwell," Serena pleaded.

Lana kicked the side of Chloe's thigh. She forced the sobbing girl to roll over so her zip-tied hands were visible to everyone.

Lana looked directly at Richard Carlisle. Her voice echoed clearly across the silent room.

"I am executing a lawful restraint for a felony."

The crowd erupted into bewildered whispers. They mocked the idea that the trailer park girl knew anything about the law.

Richard lunged toward Lana. He raised his fist to physically strike her.

Lana did not flinch. Earlier, when she had subdued the overzealous guard who tried to drag her away, he had stumbled backward, dropping not just his radio but his entire gear belt-complete with a standard security tablet-onto the floor. Now, Lana bent down and pulled the tablet from the guard's dropped gear belt. She did not bother with modern passwords. Instead, her fingers traced an ancient, invisible sigil over the glass screen while she muttered a low, resonant syllable. The mystic interference surged through the local Wi-Fi, forcefully overriding the ballroom's central audiovisual system.

The massive projector screen on the far wall flickered. The charity logos vanished. The screen turned black.

High-definition security footage from the pool area thirty minutes prior blared onto the massive screen.

The video clearly showed Lana standing near the edge. The Carlisle Trio sneaked up behind her with malicious grins.

The footage captured Chloe Carlisle placing both hands on Lana's back. Chloe violently shoved her into the deep end.

The audio feed kicked in. It picked up the trio laughing and mocking Lana as she thrashed and sank under the water.

The entire ballroom fell into a deathly, horrified silence. They watched the undeniable proof of a crime.

Richard Carlisle stopped dead in his tracks. The color drained entirely from his face. His fist slowly lowered.

Lana tossed the tablet onto a nearby cocktail table. The glass surface cracked slightly under the impact.

She looked at Richard. Her tone was clinical.

"That is the legal definition of premeditated attempted murder in the state of New York."

She paused, letting the words sink in.

"I have already forwarded the encrypted file to three separate major news outlets and a federal prosecutor."

Quinn Beaumont's face turned ashen. She realized her friends were completely destroyed. She knew she might be implicated.

Serena covered her mouth in horror. She finally realized her biological daughter was actually nearly murdered on her property.

Richard Carlisle stammered. His arrogant billionaire persona crumbled completely.

"Lana... please. Let us discuss this privately," he begged.

Lana scoffed. It was a sound of pure, icy disdain. She rejected the plea for a backroom NDA settlement instantly.

"Prepare your legal team. I will not drop the charges for any amount of money," Lana said.

Lana turned her gaze to Quinn. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She delivered a silent, terrifying promise that Quinn was next.

Quinn physically recoiled. She hid behind Serena's shoulder, shivering from the sheer killing intent radiating from Lana.

Having achieved total psychological and social victory, Lana turned around. Her black dress swished elegantly.

The crowd of billionaires and socialites parted for her again. This time, they moved out of genuine fear and respect.

Lana walked out of the ballroom. Her posture remained immaculate. She left the Carlisle family in ruins behind her.

She headed back to the staircase. A sudden wave of dizziness hit her. The adrenaline faded, and the host body's severe weakness returned. She gripped the banister tightly, her knuckles white.