Rise of The Abandoned Husband (Liam Knight) novel Chapter 104

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104 Chapter 104- The Amusement Park Power Play and a Shocking Reunion

104 Chapter 04 The Amusement Park Power Play and a Shocking Reunion

The silence that followed Isabelle’s cutting remark felt like the calm before a storm. Lyra Howard’s mouth gaped open, her perfectly contoured face contorting with indignation. I could practically see the gears turning behind her eyes as she processed being called a “D–list celebrity” by someone who didn’t even recognize her.

“Do you have any idea who I am?” she finally sputtered, her voice rising an octave. People around us were pulling out phones, eager to capture the drama.

Isabelle cocked her head slightly, her expression one of mild curiosity. “I believe I just established that I don’t. Nor am I particularly interested in finding out.”

I suppressed a smile. This was a side of Isabelle I’d seen before–cool, composed, and utterly devastating when provoked. The stark contrast between her earlier carefree laughter and this ice–queen demeanor was striking.

Lyra’s face flushed an unbecoming shade of red beneath her makeup. “I am Lyra Howard, three–time Diamond Award winner and star of ‘Midnight Confessions‘! I’ve reserved this entire area for my promotional photoshoot!”

“Interesting,” Isabelle replied, glancing around at the dozens of regular parkgoers still in line. “I don’t see any signs indicating a private reservation. Nor any park staff enforcing one.”

Castro, Lyra’s assistant, stepped forward, his demeanor increasingly desperate. “Miss Howard’s team made arrangements with park management. If you’d just step aside—”

“Show me the paperwork,” Isabelle interrupted, extendíng her hand palm–up. Her voice remained even, but there was steel behind it.

Castro blinked. “Excuse me?”

“The paperwork,” Isabelle repeated. “For the reservation. If you’ve officially booked this area, you should have documentation. I’d like to see it.”

A crowd was gathering now, murmuring and watching the standoff with avid interest. I stood slightly behind Isabelle, ready to step in if needed but recognizing she had the situation well in hand.

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104 Chapter 104- The Amusement Park Power Play and a Shocking Reunion

“This is ridiculous,” Lyra hissed. “Castro, call security and have these nobodies

removed!”

Castro fumbled for his phone, but I could tell by his nervous glances that there was no paperwork. This was clearly a celebrity used to getting her way through intimidation rather than proper channels.

“While your assistant attempts to summon security for a non–existent violation,” Isabelle said smoothly, “perhaps you should consider that making a scene is attracting far more attention than simply waiting your turn like everyone else.”

Lyra’s eyes narrowed behind her oversized sunglasses. She stepped closer to Isabelle, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “Listen here, you bargain–bin dressed nobody. I don’t know who you think you are, but I can make one phone call and have you blacklisted from every decent establishment in this city.”

I tensed, ready to intervene, but Isabelle remained unruffled.

“You seem to operate under the misapprehension that your opinion matters to me,” Isabelle responded, her voice equally low but carrying enough for those nearby to

hear. “It doesn’t.”

Something in Lyra snapped. “You pathetic, jealous bitch!” she spat. “Just because you’re ugly and untalented doesn’t mean you can stand in my way!”

The slap happened so fast I barely saw it coming. Isabelle’s palm connected with Lyra’s cheek with a crack that seemed to echo across the suddenly silent crowd. Lyra staggered back, her sunglasses askew, her hand flying to her reddening cheek.

“How dare you!” she shrieked. “Do you know who my boyfriend is? You’re finished!”

Two burly men–obviously bodyguards who had been hanging back–pushed forward. I immediately stepped in front of Isabelle, shielding her with my body.

“That’s far enough,” I warned them, keeping my voice level but with enough authority that they hesitated.

Lyra was in full meltdown mode now. “Jason! Marcus! Remove these people immediately! And make sure that bitch regrets putting her hands on me!”

The bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances but continued advancing. I shifted my stance subtly, preparing for a confrontation I didn’t want but wouldn’t back down

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104 Chapter 104 The Amusement Park Power Play and a Shocking Reunion

“Llam, Isabelle said

etly behind me, “stand down. This isn’t worth your energy.

Before I could respond, Lyra pulled out her phone, frantically dialing. “You’ve made a huge mistake,” she snarled at us. “I’m calling in everyone. By the time I’m done, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”

Within minutes, several luxury cars pulled up at the nearby park entrance. Men in expensive suits emerged, walking purposefully toward our confrontation. They had the unmistakable look of business associates or sponsors–people with money and influence who were invested in Lyra’s career.

“Now you’ll see,” Lyra crowed triumphantly. “These are the people who own half this city. What do you have to say now?”

Isabelle calmly pulled out her own phone, pressed a single button, and held it to her ear. “Hello? Yes, it’s me. I’m at Wonderland Park and encountering some… resistance. Would you mind sending a reminder of who we are? Thank you.”

She ended the call and slipped the phone back into her purse, her face betraying nothing.

Lyra laughed. “Was that supposed to scare me? Calling your mommy for help?”

Isabelle merely smiled, a small, knowing curve of her lips that sent a chill down my spine. I’d seen that smile before–right before she demolished someone.

We didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes, a fleet of black Audi A6s–the vehicle of choice for government officials–pulled up at the park entrance. The doors opened simultaneously, and men and women in dark suits emerged, their posture and demeanor screaming authority.

The crowd parted silently as they approached. I recognized several high–ranking South City officials among them–people whose faces regularly appeared on the news. They formed a semicircle behind us, not saying a word, just standing in silent support.

The effect on Lyra’s entourage was immediate and dramatic. The businessmen who had arrived to back her suddenly found urgent calls to take, retreating hastily to their vehicles. Lyra’s face had gone from flushed with anger to ashen with shock.

“Ms. Ashworth,” one of the officials said respectfully, “is there a problem here?”

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104 Chapter 104- The Amusement Park Power Play and a Shocking Reunion

And just like that, recognition dawned on Lyra’s face. Her eyes widened as she finally realized who she had been threatening. “A–Ashworth?” she stammered. “As in…”

“Isabelle Ashworth,” Ic irmed, unable to keep the satisfaction from my voice. “Perhaps you’ve heard of her after all.”

Lyra looked like she might faint. Her assistant, Castro, was already backing away, frantically trying to distance himself from the disaster unfolding.

“This is a misunderstanding,” Lyra managed weakly. “I didn’t realize-”

“That actions have consequences?” Isabelle finished for her. “Clearly.”

Just as Lyra seemed on the verge of a complete meltdown, one of her bodyguards leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Whatever he said caused her expression to shift from terror to renewed hope.

“Young Lord Lane is here,” she announced, her confidence partially restored. “He just

arrived.”

Lyra brushed past us, hurrying toward the park entrance where yet another luxury car had pulled up. She returned moments later, hanging on the arm of a tall, impeccably dressed man with sharp features and cold eyes.

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