Chapter 4

Camille’s phone filled my vision. My face stared back, pale beneath the lights, while comments climbed too quickly to read.

“This was supposed to be a new beginning,” Camille told the viewers. Her voice trembled without breaking. “I didn’t expect to be punished for accepting one night of kindness.”

Behind her, florists loosened the hydrangeas from the main frame while the quartet packed. Each ordinary movement stripped away the illusion Daniel had expected me to maintain.

“Turn that off,” I said.

Camille angled the camera higher. “People should see what’s happening.”

Daniel approached, holding my ring box. “Restore the services.…