lone in t

the echo of Liam's final words: "Now

uld hold. He had wrapped his logic around her so tightly, she could barely breathe. He'd used her father

. She had whispered

than the floor bene

. Fix your face. The co

sharp, scraping inhale. She was Aurora Vale.

ouched her pearls, her cold diamond. Armor. She lifted her chin, composi

open and stepped b

cal wave. The scent of lilies-so many lilies-was sudde

ed gowns, laughed and drank. The string quartet was p

ound him i

i

d tilted back, the perfect picture of a charmed, loving groom. He hadn't just dismissed her; he had forgotten her. The co

h didn't just twist. It turned,

He's lying

c pulse in her mind, a co

ans, past the bankers, past her own smilin

e foun

ssa

at had been yesterday's uniform,

navy blue. Her dark hair was pulled back in a chignon so tight it looked painful. She stood near the ballroom entrance, a

nothing lik

like a quee

looked up. Her eyes-cool, intelligent, and utterly d

ook away, to show some f

sa di

here was no panic. There was only a calm, assessing patience.

's lips parted into a

of pure, unadul

ss, matte precision, were the deepe

e lace strap Aurora h

lted. The a

. That was

t hiding. She

tonight was the one she wore for her. It was a message, sent from on

You're just

od drain from her face. She was going to

rling, you

s, landed on her arm. I

her own face. "All this planning. But he's wonderful, is

ed, her voice barely

tion in a mirrored pillar n

is air, smell these flowers, or stand in the same

her aunt's grasp, murmur

rth, threading her way through the clusters of laughing guests, all of them turning to co

d Liam and

ght, darling?" Hen

in, tight line. He wa

e. She placed a hand on his arm. "I have a terrible headache. It's just... it's

"Of course, darling. You go rest. Y

er; it was a command. He needed to control the n

d her tone. "No, please. You stay. You're the host.

is cheek. His skin was cold. "I'l

r father. "Go

y from them, her back str

he could feel Vanessa's. She was a t

d staircase, each ste

f the party below, her composure cracked. Sh

been screaming. They had

too busy believin

ite. She locked the door. Sh

ering tableau of lies. She saw the white tent on the lawn, rea

he crimson red dress, a ghost hanging over all