eavy, thick with the kind of tens

the fingers Isolde had just twisted. H

ccused, stepping forw

e said. Her voice was c

es of the Manhattan elite. She saw Belle, clutching Kai

e smi

ll stage where the microp

Grayson hissed

the platform. She ta

RE

oom. Everyone flinched. Th

ooked down at the crowd. S

iden's fifth birthday," she began. Her vo

She gestured to where Belle stood with the boy. "I realized

went through the cr

ayed the role of the dutiful wife and the loving stepmother. I have

closer to the ed

at the woman in the red dress, "you know Kaiden's favorite color. You

ying?" someone

implyi

paid manager of the Lancaster household. Grayson, Belle... you tw

struck by lightning. He opened h

ophone back on the sta

hday, Kaide

k back. She walked straight to Effie, wh

e said, taking Effie's

The crowd parted like the Red

He signaled to the two large sec

er!" he

lde, crossing their arms. They wer

e said, "Mr. Lancast

idn't sl

," sh

m." The guard reached

aping a crash or a kidnapping-came back in a flash of muscle memory. The 'Valky

extended wrist, used his own momentum, and applied

tle, fast,

ed, stumbling to one kn

flinched, steppin

e kneeling guard. She

stared at the guard on t

at?" he demanded. "Si

on't know about me, G

g a piece of half-eat

Kaiden yelled,

t Isolde's expensive blue dress. Fr

ologized. She would have tried to

est. She looked at Kaiden with absolute

Kaiden,"

doors open and walk