Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, about to speak.

Unexpectedly, Isabella quickly tugged at Sophia's arm, trying to look all innocent as she said, "Mom, no need to call security, right? She's young. Probably just lost her mind for a sec and stormed in here."

Then she turned around and walked a few steps toward Elizabeth, wearing that fake graceful look.

"Hey, girl, you should go now. This really isn't the place for you."

"Oh really?" Elizabeth's smile grew softer, but her tone had a chill sharp enough to bite. "And just so we're clear-you're the one who doesn't belong here."

After all these years, Elizabeth hadn't expected her to get even more shameless.

Her tricks were deeper now. She was playing the innocent act better than ever.

"How could you say that?" Isabella's eyes welled up, trying to look heartbroken. "I was just trying to help you."

Elizabeth let out a cold laugh, too tired to even fake politeness with her.

Slap!

Without any warning, Elizabeth swung hard, landing a sharp slap right across Isabella's face, knocking her off her feet.

The hall went dead silent.

Had this crazy woman seriously just laid hands on the Kaisers' daughter?

"Ahh!" Isabella clutched her face, eyes wide with pain and panic. Her lips swelled up instantly, blood-stained saliva dribbling down as tears brimmed in her eyes. She scrambled backward in fear.

"You bitch!" Sophia shouted, furious and shocked. She rushed forward and raised her hand, aiming for a slap. "Where the hell did you come from? How dare you hit my daughter! You shameless brat-"

"What on earth are you doing?" Victor stared at Elizabeth, totally stunned.

Elizabeth's smile didn't budge, but her eyes turned icy. She twisted her body, dodged Sophia's hand with ease, then threw back a slap of her own, smacking Sophia's face sideways.

That second slap left everyone in the room in total shock.

"You... you dared to hit me!" Sophia clutched her cheek, shaking with rage.

She had been Mrs. Kaiser for over a decade, spoiled and respected. No one had ever dared lay a finger on her.

Getting slapped by some nobody girl who popped out of nowhere? That was like being stripped naked and thrown in public. Her fury exploded, and logic went out the window.

Sophia swung at Elizabeth again, but it was useless. Elizabeth scoffed, then gave her a solid kick, sending her flying off the stage.

There was a faint crunch of bone.

"Aaaagh!" Sophia screamed, "My back... my leg!"

"Sophia!" Lucas shouted in panic.

He rushed to her side, helping her up and frantically checking her injuries. "Are you okay?!"

Meanwhile, Isabella finally snapped out of it. She messily wiped her mouth with a towel, giving Elizabeth a look full of blame and sadness. "I see now... you're into Victor too, aren't you?"

"I'll back off and let you have him. Just please... let me and my mom go, alright?"

Her pitiful sobs made Victor's heart ache. He said, "Elizabeth, don't say that nonsense. A lunatic like her doesn't even deserve me!"

"I wanna be with you, but I can't keep watching my mom get hurt..."

Just like that, Isabella slumped into his arms, and the two clung to each other.

To outsiders, she was delicate and miserable-totally the poor victim. But Elizabeth was getting sick of the act. Actually sick.

Elizabeth wasn't even sure she could stop herself from throwing another slap if Isabella kept it up.

"Cut it out," Elizabeth sneered. "Charlotte, drop the innocent act. You think pretending to be some poor little thing changes the fact that you're nothing but a filthy thief?"

Yeah, no one should be fooled-she and Sophia were two of a kind, both spoiled and sinister to the core.

She wasn't some sweet girl named Isabella.

She was Charlotte Murray.

Isabella stood frozen, a bit stunned, and right below her, Sophia's expression stiffened too.

They glanced toward Elizabeth, all wary and on edge. "Who the hell are you?"

Elizabeth gave a soft, almost polite smile. "Did I not just say it loud and clear? Victor is my fiancé. So, naturally, I'm Elizabeth, his fiancée."

Her tone shifted, eyes narrowing a little. "Or... don't you guys even know who his fiancée is supposed to be?"

That question hung for barely a second before the crowd started murmuring like a boiling pot.

"Wait, isn't she Mr. Kaiser's daughter from his first marriage?"

"Oh my god, so it's really her? No wonder! She's the one engaged to Young Master Victor!"

"Didn't the Kaisers and the Lanes agree on an arranged marriage like twenty years ago? I heard the old patriarchs already passed, and the ex-wife cheated and had a kid with someone else... then she disappeared."

The whispers grew louder and more chaotic, but Lucas's face was nothing but a storm cloud now.

His jaw clenched as he yelled up at her furiously, "It's you?! Get down from there, now!"

Even after all these years, all he gave her was bitterness. It wasn't the kind of look you gave your own daughter-more like she was his biggest disgrace.

Sophia and Isabella were both pale as paper, clutching their hands tight. They thought Elizabeth was long gone, out of their lives. But here she was, bold as ever.

Elizabeth's gaze swept lazily to Lucas. "You think you can order me around? I'd keep that mouth shut if I were you," she said quietly, but her words cut sharp, "Push me and I won't stop at a simple slap next time."

That rainy night ten years ago-yeah, it had wiped out whatever last bit of family bond they had.

"You-" Lucas's finger shook as he pointed at her, his face flushed from rage. "Don't think just because you've grown up and got guts that you don't answer to me. You're still a Kaiser, and that means you're under my roof. I'll show you today what a real lesson feels like!"

Elizabeth just laughed, unimpressed. "Yeah, good luck with that.""You think I took the Kaiser name for you? Please. I took Grandpa's last name. You don't even deserve to be called a Kaiser. You're an embarrassment to this family, and you still think you can lecture me?"

"You brat, you've completely lost your mind!" Lucas snapped, gritting his teeth. He waved a hand and shouted to the ten bodyguards standing nearby, "Throw her out of here, now!"

The bodyguards, all trained fighters, saw that Elizabeth was clearly unarmed and didn't take her seriously. Even though they moved to surround her, only two were bold enough to make the first move.

Out of nowhere, Isabella rushed to stand in front of Elizabeth, arms spread wide, shouting, "Dad, don't! Please don't hurt her, it's all my fault!"

Really? Using her to play the innocent angel again?

Elizabeth frowned slightly, clearly annoyed. She shot her sister a cold look.

"Move." Her voice was sharp as she kicked Isabella to the side, like swatting away a fly.

Then, in one smooth motion, she grabbed one of the bodyguards by the arm, her palm and forearm twisting in sync. In a blink, she flung him over her shoulder.

The burly man landed with a heavy thud, groaning in pain.

That single move froze the others in place, eyes wide and hands unconsciously pulling back. They traded uneasy glances, then clenched their fists, clearly ready to charge.

Elizabeth let out a cold snort, lips curved in a smile that didn't reach her eyes. The moment anyone came close, she kicked-swift and clean-dropping them one by one before they could even raise a hand.

It was humiliating. None of them had even touched her, yet they were the ones lying on the floor.

Their pride hit rock bottom. Fueled by shame and disbelief, they scrambled to their feet, more determined than ever, charging at her in unison.

Less than thirty seconds later, Elizabeth had them all back on the ground, groaning and immobilized.

She stood calmly on the stage, microphone in hand, letting out a lazy yawn. Her smile stayed bright and beautiful, but the mocking glint in her eyes was enough to make people's skin crawl.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd-some with sarcasm, some with awe.

Her gaze shifted to Isabella, who was now trembling, both hands shaking, her face drained of all color.

Hearing those sharp whispers around her, Isabella felt like fear had punched her straight in the gut.

She was terrified-terrified that any of these people might actually start liking Elizabeth, even the tiniest bit. Admiring her? Absolutely not.

Her legs went weak, and out of nowhere, she dropped to her knees, flinging herself toward Elizabeth with a loud thud that turned every head in the room.

"Elizabeth, please," she cried, voice trembling. "Don't be mad at Mom and Dad. It's all on me. I shouldn't have taken Victor from you! Mom and Dad are getting older, they can't handle this kind of stress. Please... just take it out on me instead, okay? I swear I'll give Victor back. You can be his fiancée again. Just... don't hate me."

Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, her sobs weak but dramatic as she clung to Elizabeth.

"You really feel guilty? Then slap yourself, how about that?"

Elizabeth crossed her arms, smirking as she stared down at her with eyes full of sarcasm.

She wasn't buying this act. Isabella's sorry excuse for acting didn't fool her one bit.

Besides, Elizabeth didn't show up at this engagement party to fight over some lame promise of marriage...

But Isabella grabbed hold of that line and ran with it, making her expression look even more pitiful, like Elizabeth was some heartless villain picking on the helpless.

She clutched her face and sobbed louder now, looking like the picture of tragedy.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes so hard it was almost audible.

Vivian Lane couldn't take it anymore. She rushed up and helped Isabella off the floor, shooting Elizabeth a death glare.

"I don't care what the old master agreed to back then. That childish engagement doesn't hold weight anymore. Isabella and Victor truly care about each other. Miss Kaiser, you're way out of line acting like this."

"Oh? And I suppose barging in and rewriting someone else's word is polite?" Elizabeth shot back with a smile. "The old man's dead, so now it's just your say-so? That's pretty disrespectful."

"I mean, the Lane family used to have integrity. If you're tossing that aside now..."

"Bull! That's pure nonsense!" Vivian snapped, voice rising with her fury.

She was totally losing it now, too angry to fake calm.

"You're mouthy, aren't you? But don't think being loud and unruly will get you through our front door. Someone like you? You don't deserve the Lane name."

"Only someone like Isabella-a real lady-deserves to be my daughter-in-law."

Her words, meant to sound proud, just made Elizabeth crack up.

She covered her mouth, but the laughter burst out anyway.

"You're calling her a proper lady? Knowing full well Victor was already engaged, but still chasing after him? That's classy?"

Her blunt shot landed, and Isabella's face twitched so hard it almost broke her mask.

The crowd broke into whispers again, buzzing with doubt.

It wasn't hard to guess they weren't saying anything nice.

Vivian was left gaping, too stunned to reply.

Where did this mouthy little witch learn to talk circles around people like this?

Isabella's eyes sparkled with fresh tears that wouldn't stop flowing.

"Elizabeth, I never meant to take him away-I wasn't trying to hurt you. It's just... Victor's everything I've ever dreamed of. I couldn't help falling for him...You say we're not right for each other. But am I wrong for truly loving him?"

Elizabeth let out a dry laugh, disgust tightening her stomach.

Of course, Victor was all heart-eyes for this sob story.

He grabbed Isabella's hands, looked like he was about to cry.

"Babe, don't worry-I only love you. No one's going to come between us."

"I love you too, Victor," Isabella wept.

And there they were, the pathetic couple, holding each other like the world had betrayed them.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes again. For real this time.