Chapter 71 Chapter 71: Grayson slammed the fork down. Grease splattered across the white tablecloth. He glared at Isolde, his eyes full of accusation, as though she had engineered every moment of his humiliation. “I have work to do,” he muttered. “Sit down,” Beatrice commanded. “No,” Grayson snapped. He turned
Chapter 70 Chapter 70: “Good morning, my loves,” he said, his voice rich and theatrical. “Did you sleep well p> He stood and walked toward Isolde, leaning in for a kiss. Beatrice watched from the head of the table like a hawk. Isolde turned her head at the last second.
Chapter 69 Chapter 69: She walked away without looking back, her footsteps echoing on the parquet floor. Inside the guest room, the air was cool and still. Effie was curled up in the center of the massive four-poster bed, clutching her teddy bear, her breathing a soft, rhythmic whistle. Isolde
Chapter 68 Chapter 68: Isolde reached out. The wood was cool beneath her fingertips. She lifted the lid. Inside, nestled on faded blue velvet, lay a metal badge. Isolde picked it up. It was heavy — silver, tarnished by time, but the relief was unmistakable. A silver lozenge flanked by
Chapter 67 Chapter 67: Isolde reached over and lifted the heavy ornate water goblet from the place setting. She didn’t threaten Seraphina with it. Instead, she held the crystal up to the light, turning it slowly, her voice perfectly conversational. “This table is magnificent. A single, solid piece of mahogany.
Chapter 66 Chapter 66: “I know my worth,” Isolde said. “Unlike you, who has never earned a dollar in her life p> Seraphina raised the crop, leveling it at Isolde’s face. Isolde didn’t move a muscle. She didn’t flinch. She simply held Seraphina’s gaze with an unnerving stillness, her voice
Chapter 65 Chapter 65: “We aren’t staying,” Isolde said. “Where is Beatrice p> “The solarium,” Mrs. Higgins sniffed. Isolde took Effie’s hand and walked past the housekeeper without another word. The solarium was a glass jungle of orchids and ferns, the air thick, warm, and humid. Beatrice Lancaster sat in
Chapter 64 Chapter 64: “Done,” Grayson said. “Belle stays in the city p> “Gray!” Belle gasped. “You can’t be serious p> “Stay home, Belle,” Grayson said, his voice leaving no room for argument. “You’ve done enough damage for one week p> Belle slumped back in her seat, furious. “Second,” Isolde
Chapter 63 Chapter 63: “Suspended?” Belle shrieked, jumping to her feet. “He’s five! This will ruin his transcript for prep schools p> “It’s better than expulsion,” the Headmaster said firmly. “Which is what the bylaws demand p> Grayson raised a hand to silence Belle. “Fine. Two weeks p> Belle glared
Chapter 62 Chapter 62: Belle panicked. She looked at Kaiden. He was sitting on the floor, playing with a toy car, completely oblivious. “No,” Belle said quickly. “Kaiden is traumatized. He can’t p> “I agree,” Grayson said, stepping forward. He knew Kaiden couldn’t do it. He knew Kaiden had cheated.
Chapter 61 Chapter 61: “Now!” Grayson screamed. “Leave! You are killing the stock p> Victoria stared at her son. For the first time in her life, she saw that he was no longer her puppet. He was a man trying to save his wallet. She straightened her jacket and lifted
Chapter 60 Chapter 60: She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Isolde tapped the Instagram icon on a secondary, untraceable phone. She swiped right. Live. She typed a title: The Matriarch of Manhattan vs. A 5-Year-Old. She hit Go Live. She kept the phone low, angled upward,
Chapter 59 Chapter 59: Effie didn’t look up. Her hand moved across the paper in a blur. She didn’t reach for scratch paper. She was calculating in real time. Eighteen minutes passed. Effie put her pencil down and raised her hand. The proctor walked over, whispering. “Do you need the
Chapter 58 Chapter 58: “I was walking to the water fountain,” Isolde said coolly. She took a step closer. “But since we’re chatting — be careful. Paper trails are hard to erase p> “You think you’re so smart,” Belle spat, her composure fracturing. “You think because she memorized a few
Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Belle sat in the front row wearing a white pantsuit that cost more than Isolde’s car. Her hair was blown out to perfection. She looked ready to accept an award. Isolde sat in the back, in the shadows. She wore jeans and a black turtleneck. She
Chapter 56 Chapter 56: Belle sat next to Kaiden at the marble island. A team of three tutors — Columbia graduate students — stood nervously nearby. “Kaiden, focus!” Belle snapped. “What is 15 plus 27 p> Kaiden kicked the table leg. “I don’t know! I want to play Minecraft p>
Chapter 55 Chapter 55: “He was scared, Gray!” Belle cried, her voice pitching up into hysteria. “Isolde incited violence! She told Effie to attack him p> “Enough,” Grayson said. He sounded tired. “Mother is handling it. She’s going to the school tomorrow p> Belle froze. Victoria. “Victoria is coming?” Belle
Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Kaiden sat there for a moment, processing the indignity. Then he opened his mouth, and a wail erupted from him — a sound of pure, unadulterated misery. He scrambled in the mud, a desperate, half-formed word rising in his throat, a cry for his primary caregiver
Chapter 53 Chapter 53: She walked over to Effie, scooped her up into her arms, and carried her toward the car. “Does it hurt?” Isolde asked softly. “A lot,” Effie sniffled into her shoulder, her small body trembling. “But you were scary, Mommy p> “Good,” Isolde said, kissing her cheek.
Chapter 52 Chapter 52: He intercepted Effie. He grabbed the book she was holding—a math workbook—and threw it into a puddle. “Kaiden!” Isolde shouted, starting to move. “This is my school!” Kaiden yelled. “Get out p> He shoved Effie. Hard. Effie stumbled back. Her foot caught a root, and she