Messing With Her? Are You Crazy! novel Chapter 816

"What do you want with her?" Nicholas stepped in front of Serena, his voice low and lazy, but laced with an overwhelming, oppressive authority.

"What do we want? Revenge!" Kane jabbed the air with his rifle. "Listen up, Serena! You're going to step out here and surrender right now! Otherwise... I'll shoot a random guest every sixty seconds!"

"Until you turn yourself in!"

To emphasize his point, Kane fired another deafening burst into the ceiling.

The entire ballroom exploded into panic.

The guests, already trembling in fear, were pushed past their breaking point. Their terror instantly morphed into blistering anger aimed at the most convenient target.

"What kind of curse has the Vinton family brought upon us? Bringing this girl back just to get us all killed!"

"I knew it! The moment they found her, I heard she was nothing but trouble! A feral girl from the countryside, dragging her filthy underworld enemies right to our doorstep!"

"Miss Lancaster, this is your mess! Don't drag us down with you!"

"He just wants you to surrender! You obviously did something horrific to them! Get out there and turn yourself in! Are you trying to get us all slaughtered?"

Some of the elites even turned their fury on Holden. "Mr. Vinton, this is a personal vendetta against your family! You can't expect the rest of us to take a bullet for her!"

Once the dam broke, the insults poured in. Everyone pointed their fingers at Serena, treating her like the ultimate villain.

The Vinton family's expressions turned murderous. They swept cold, warning glares across the panicked crowd.

Holden slammed his cane violently against the marble floor. "Shut your mouths! Whoever says another word about my granddaughter makes an enemy of the Vinton family!"

Holden might be getting older, but his authority was absolute.

Even Princess Isadora stepped up, her voice slicing through the chaos. "Everyone will protect Miss Serena. Anyone who stands against her stands against the Royal House of Vaelion."

Nicholas kept one arm wrapped securely around Serena's waist, while his free hand hung loosely at his side. A deadly, metallic glint flashed between his fingers, ready to strike.

But Serena remained entirely unfazed.

She watched Kane and his men march toward her. It looked like they were closing in on her, but Serena's sharp eyes caught a glaring detail.

Their eyes were darting away. Their peripheral vision was locked firmly onto... Holden and Kiera.

Especially as they closed the distance.

When the Vinton family formed a human wall in front of Serena, Kane visibly slowed his pace. His eyes fixated entirely on the elderly couple, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Their target... wasn't her at all.

It was Holden and Kiera.