I closed my eyes.
“She is preparing her explanation.”
“For what?” Ryan asked.
“For whatever happens when her plan fails.”
At 9:17, Vanessa sent me another message.
I’m worried about you. Please let me come upstairs. I know you’re stressed, and I want to help.
I answered, I’m fine. I’ll see you at the venue.
Then I blocked her from contacting the private wedding group.
At 9:40, we left the hotel through a side entrance. The morning air smelled of salt and rain, and the harbor was bright beneath a pale blue sky.
For a few minutes, I let myself imagine that the worst was over.
Then the venue manager called.
“Olivia, there’s a problem with the ceremony.”
“What happened?”
“The seating chart has been changed.”
“Changed how?”
“Your family is still in the front rows, but several of Ethan’s reserved seats have been reassigned. And there’s a second issue.”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
