Chapter 5

"Claire?"

Lily’s voice was panicked. She was still holding the ring box, her joy collapsing into utter confusion. "Why are you here?"

That single word—Claire—dropped like a stone into water.

The whispers spread rapidly among the guests.

"Who is she?"

"Did she say he's already married?"

"Oh my god, did Vanessa know?"

People covered their mouths. The phones stayed up, lenses locked on us.

The certificate in my hand, the photos on the screen, and Dominic’s frantic denial were shredding his carefully curated lie to pieces.

"Security!" Dominic hissed through his teeth.

Then he spun to me, his eyes bloodshot.…