Chapter 4

I didn’t respond in the family group chat.

I saved the screenshot Paige had posted. I also captured Ethan’s message claiming I couldn’t remember what I had said at dinner.

If they were going to blame every disagreement on my grief, I needed records that didn’t depend on anyone’s memory.

After three ignored calls, Ethan texted:

Don’t let one out-of-context screenshot ruin tonight. I’ll go with you tomorrow morning to check the hotel records.

He made it sound as if the truth only counted when he was there to supervise it.

By eight the next morning, I was sitting beside the front desk. The manager on duty wasn’t due until nine.

Ethan sent four messages. The last one said everyone was waiting for me at the family breakfast.

I didn’t go.

At nine-oh-seven, a man in a navy suit approached me.

He introduced himself as Adrian Cole, the hotel’s events manager.

Lucy had already told him about the cancellation form and the date of the changes.

Adrian checked my identification and the original reservation. Then he explained that the hotel couldn’t release another guest’s private emails.

“The reservation is in my name,” I said. “And my name was used on the cancellation request.”

He examined the signature form. His expression turned serious.

“This isn’t a handwritten signature. When a name is entered on the online request, the system generates it in a signature-style font.”

“Who entered my name?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

He opened the hotel records and reviewed them for several minutes before turning the screen toward me.

The first email was from Ethan.

It had been sent four weeks earlier.

He asked the hotel to convert our anniversary package into a family celebration. He canceled our private dinner, welcome champagne, and couples photo session.

Paige would provide the guest list and choose the activities.

The hotel coordinator replied that canceling the anniversary package required approval from the primary guest, Claire Bennett.

Ethan responded twelve minutes later.

Claire can’t deal with these details right now. She asked me to handle everything. Please submit the changes under her name. I’ll take responsibility.

After I finished reading, I asked Adrian to forward the entire email chain to me.

He hesitated and said he needed approval from the hotel’s guest relations manager.

While we waited, my phone vibrated again.

Ethan: Don’t turn a family problem into a public scene in front of the manager.

He knew I was there.

Twenty minutes later, Adrian received permission.

He forwarded the emails to the address I had used when making the original reservation.

He also confirmed that every change had been requested from the same address.

Ethan’s personal email account.

There were more messages in the chain.

The hotel coordinator had warned Ethan that I might see the original anniversary notes when I arrived. She asked whether the hotel should contact me in advance.

Ethan’s response was only three lines.

No. She has a lot going on right now.

If Claire asks, tell her there was a scheduling problem at the hotel. She doesn’t like making scenes in public. Once she sees that everyone is already there, she’ll stay.

I saved the email and crossed the lobby. Ethan was outside the restaurant.

When he saw the hotel manager’s name on my screen, he reached for the phone.

I moved it out of reach.

“Go inside,” I said. “Tell them you used my name because you knew I would say no.”

The restaurant door opened. Helen and Paige were close enough to hear.

Ethan looked at them, then back at me.

“Keep your voice down.”