[Jake's POV]
For one terrible second, the entire gallery froze.
Then chaos erupted.
The scream cut through the mansion like a knife.
Conversations died instantly. Crystal shattered somewhere behind me as someone dropped a champagne flute. Several guests gasped. Others surged toward the staircase on instinct before security immediately began trying to contain the panic.
I was already moving.
"Jake," Claire snapped through the comms.
I ignored her.
The scream had belonged to Marianne.
I knew it.
Two security guards stepped in front of the staircase.
"Sir, the upper level is private—"
I slipped around the first before he finished speaking.
The second grabbed my arm.
That was unfortunate for him.
I twisted instinctively, using his own momentum against him. The guard stumbled sideways into the banister with a startled curse while I continued up the stairs without breaking stride.
No skills.
No System enhancements.
No impossible reflexes.
Just experience.
