Chapter 114:


    Grayson reached out and took her right hand. His skin was warm.


    “Isolde,” he said, his voice softening. “Why does it have to be this way? We were good once.”


    Isolde pulled her hand away as though he had burned her.


    “We were never good, Grayson,” she said. “I was just blind.”


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    She got out of the car and closed the door behind her.


    Saturday morning arrived beneath a sky the color of a bruise.


    Grayson sent a car — not just a car, but an entire team. Hair, makeup, styling. He wanted to control every inch of her appearance.


    He insisted they prepare at the Penthouse. “For the optics,” he had said. “The paparazzi are outside.”


    Isolde walked into the Penthouse foyer holding Effie’s hand. It felt like walking into a mausoleum. The air was stale.


    “Mommy, I don’t like it here,” Effie whispered.


    “I know, baby. Just a few hours.”


    They walked into the living room.


    Belle was there.


    She was lounging on the white sofa — Isolde’s sofa — wearing a silk robe Isolde recognized from the master bedroom closet. A mimosa dangled from her fingers.


    “Oh, look who’s here,” Belle drawled. “The invalid.”


    Kaiden was on the floor in a VR headset, iling his arms. He knocked over a vase. It shattered.


    “Oops,” Kaidenughed, not bothering to remove the headset.


    Grayson walked in from the study, adjusting his cufflinks. He looked at the broken vase, then at Kaiden, then at Isolde. He said nothing about the mess.


    “You’rete,” Grayson said.


    “Traffic,” Isolde said. “Why is she here?” She pointed at Belle.


    “I live here now, sweetie,” Belle smiled. “Didn’t you get the memo?”


    “Grayson,” Isolde said. “The deal.”


    “She’s just getting ready,” Grayson said dismissively. “She’s leaving in a separate car.”


    Kaiden pulled off his headset. He saw Effie.


    “Hey, Crybaby,” Kaiden sneered. “Did you bring your helmet? Or are you going to get hit by another drone?”


    Effie flinched and stepped behind Isolde.


    “Kaiden, that’s enough,” Grayson said, his tone bored.


    “No, it’s not enough.” Kaiden stood and walked toward Effie. He was a full head taller than her. “You shouldn’t be here. This is my house. My dad said you’re a mistake.”


    The blood roared in Isolde’s ears. She stepped forward, her hand rising.


    But Effie moved first.


    She stepped out from behind Isolde. She looked small, fragile — her burn scar still pink against her neck — but her eyes were zing.


    “I am not a mistake,” Effie said, her voice clear and absolutely steady. “I am a Lancaster. And I am a Carson. And you…” She raised a trembling finger at Kaiden. “You are just a bully. And bullies are cowards.”


    The room went silent.


    Kaiden blinked. He had never heard Effie speak above a whisper.


    “You… shut up!” Kaiden shoved her.


    Effie didn’t fall. She nted her feet. “No. You shut up. You hurt my mommy. You are bad.”


    Belle gasped. “Grayson! Did you hear that? She called him bad!”


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