Listening to the truth that would destroy everything they’d spent years trying to build.

PART 2

I changed into dry clothes in one of the upstairs guest rooms, far from the backyard where everyone was pretending the engagement party could still be salvaged.

One of the housekeepers, Maria, knocked softly before stepping inside.

She carried a steaming mug of chamomile tea and a stack of fresh towels.

Her eyes were red.

“Mrs. Carter…”

She hesitated.

“I’m so sorry. I wanted to say something, but…”

I smiled gently.

“Don’t apologize for someone else’s cowardice.”

She lowered her head.

“Miss Vanessa treats the staff like that all the time.”

Her voice barely rose above a whisper.

“Nobody speaks up because everyone says she’ll own this house soon.”

I walked to the window.

Down below, Vanessa paced across the patio with her phone pressed to her ear.

The polished smile she’d worn all evening was gone.