Behind her stepped two young boys, dressed in dark suits and walking in perfect formation beside her. Their expressions were calm, focused, and far too composed for their age.
The crowd fell silent in stunned disbelief.
Amanda felt something unfamiliar rising inside her, and it was not anger but uncertainty.
The woman walked forward, scanning the environment with sharp precision, her eyes assessing distances, exits, and people. She moved with the discipline of someone trained for real situations, not social games.
The boys followed closely, mirroring her movement without hesitation, their attention fixed and unwavering.
Bryce attempted to step forward and reclaim authority, but something about her presence stopped him instantly.
She did not acknowledge him.
She approached slowly, stepping over broken glass and ruined decorations without a glance. Her focus remained locked on Amanda and Bryce.
They stood near the fountain, their confidence stripped away, their appearance damaged by dust and chaos.
She stopped exactly three meters away from them.
Silence stretched between them, heavy and intentional.
Amanda finally spoke, her voice strained, “Do you realize what you’ve done to this property?”