Chapter 91 Chapter 91: “Exactly,” Nelson said. “You don’t know. Because you didn’t build it p> He turned his back on her entirely. “I don’t waste time with pretenders p> He offered his arm to Isolde. “Ms. Carson. I believe there is a bottle of 1964 Scotch in the VIP
Chapter 90 Chapter 90: The sound of indrawn breath moved through the crowd like a current. Conversations stopped. The music seemed to fade. Daron froze mid-lunge, hand suspended in the air. He stared at her face and saw her eyes — utterly still, the eyes of someone who had nothing
Chapter 89 Chapter 89: Isolde turned to Daron. Her expression didn’t change. It was simply bored. “Hello, Daron. Still riding Grayson’s coattails? Careful — the fabric is getting thin p> Daron flushed. “At least my credentials are real. You’re a mechanic who married up. And now that you’re divorced, you’re
Chapter 88 Chapter 88: Isolde’s phone buzzed. A text from Arland. Professor Nelson is the keynote speaker tomorrow. He’s asking about the ‘mystery engineer’ who fixed my turbine specs. This is your chance. Isolde looked at Stone, then at the message. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll go p> That night, in
Chapter 87 Chapter 87: “Arland,” she said the moment he answered. “I need a lawyer. Not a family friend. Not a mediator. I need a shark. Someone who eats Lancasters for lunch p> Arland didn’t hesitate. “I know a guy. Arthur Stone. He’s expensive, he’s mean, and he’s had a
Chapter 86 Chapter 86: Isolde looked at the vanity. It was unrecognizable. Her organized trays were gone, replaced by a chaotic sprawl of Belle’s makeup, hairspray cans, and cheap jewelry. “Oh, that old thing?” Belle laughed. “That dusty book? I cleared out all the junk to make room for my
Chapter 85 Chapter 85: Grayson, in his arrogance, had revoked her fingerprint access and user-level permissions, but he hadn’t wiped the root firmware. He didn’t know she had written a backdoor into the system years ago — a ghost protocol, for emergencies. She checked the logs. Front Door: Locked. Motion
Chapter 84 Chapter 84: Effie ran into the living room, her footsteps echoing. “Look at the water p> Isolde walked to the balcony doors. “It’s… incredible p> “It was an investment property,” Arland said, leaning against the kitchen island. “I never fully furnished it. But the basics are there. Beds,
Chapter 83 Chapter 83: Isolde felt heat rise in her cheeks. Not shame. Rage. Pure, molten rage. “Excuse me p> A hand settled on Isolde’s shoulder. Warm. Firm. She turned. 𝖱e𝖼o𝗆𝘮еոd 𝘵𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝘂𝗿 𝖿𝗋𝘪𝗲n𝘥𝗌 Arland Roth stood there in a casual linen suit, looking as though he had just stepped
Chapter 82 Chapter 82: They took a cab uptown to Bergdorf Goodman. The department store smelled of expensive perfume and old money. Isolde bypassed the sections she used to frequent. She went straight to the designers Grayson had always dismissed as “too aggressive.” She selected a structured blazer in charcoal
Chapter 81 Chapter 81: She grabbed the strawberries. Then she grabbed another box. She marched to the meat counter and ordered two prime ribeyes. She added a bag of imported truffle chips, a box of artisanal chocolates, and a jar of expensive manuka honey. She filled the cart until it
Chapter 80 Chapter 80: “I don’t care!” Kaiden screamed. The audio cracked with the volume. “Belle said you’re just having a tantrum! She said you’re trying to get attention! Come back and make me dinner! Now p> Isolde felt a cold snap in her chest. Tantrum. That was Grayson’s word.
Chapter 79 Chapter 79: Isolde’s hand paused over the blueprint. The Institute. That was sacred ground. That was where Professor Nelson ruled. A slow smile spread across her face. “Let her go,” Isolde said. “Let him buy her a seat at the table p> “Why?” Arland asked. “She’ll ruin the
Chapter 78 Chapter 78: Daron yelped, forced to bend at the waist to keep his arm from snapping. He was suddenly bowing to her. “Don’t touch me,” Isolde whispered in his ear. “I am not in the mood p> She released him. He stumbled back, rubbing his wrist, his face
Chapter 77 Chapter 77: Twenty minutes later, at the Mount Sinai Emergency Room intake desk. “That will be a co-pay of five hundred dollars for the immediate burn treatment,” the nurse said. Isolde handed over her Platinum Amex — the one Grayson paid for. She knew exactly what would happen
Chapter 76 Chapter 76: Isolde let out a laugh that sounded like a sob. “You want me to apologize… while our daughter has second-degree burns p> “Effie can wait twenty minutes,” Grayson said. “Priorities, Isolde p> “Priorities,” Isolde repeated. She grabbed the keys. She picked up Effie. “Mrs. Higgins,” Beatrice
Chapter 75 Chapter 75: Grayson looked down. He saw the coffee dripping onto his trousers. “Dammit!” he barked into the phone. “Belle, hold on.” He looked at Effie, his face twisted in annoyance. “Watch where you’re going! This suit is custom Zegna. It’s twenty thousand dollars p> Isolde dropped the
Chapter 74 Chapter 74: Grayson held up a hand. A key fob dangled from his index finger, the Volvo logo glinting in the light. “The roads are winding,” Grayson said smoothly. “And you’re emotional. I can’t in good conscience let you drive. It’s a liability p> He pocketed the keys.
Chapter 73 Chapter 73: He truly believed it. Or rather, he had to. He had built his entire world on the foundation of her being lesser. “You need rest,” Grayson said, his voice dropping an octave, turning authoritative. “Not a job fetching coffee for men who actually know math. Drink
Chapter 72 Chapter 72: “That girl,” the old woman muttered. “She has more spine than the lot of you combined p> Grayson felt the heat climb up his neck. He gripped his knife until his knuckles turned white. Back in the guest room, the air was peaceful. Isolde ordered grilled