She had known Daniel would be there.

She had known exactly what the photographs would look like.

Claire stood.

“We need to find her.”

Grayson’s eyes shifted toward the ballroom.

“She’s here.”

Samara’s face lost color.

“She was seated in the front row at the cathedral.”

The music outside had started again, but faintly.

Laughter floated through the closed doors as guests attempted to pretend the wedding had not become a public disaster.

Grayson crossed the room.

Samara stepped after him.

“What are you doing?”

He stopped with one hand on the door.

“Ending this.”

He turned.

“You are not confronting her in front of the entire ballroom.”

“She deserves worse.”

“This is Claire and Ethan’s wedding.”

Claire lifted her chin.

“I’m willing to make an exception.”

Ethan gave his wife a startled look.

She shrugged.

“No one ruins my wedding except me.”

Despite everything, Samara almost smiled.

Grayson did not.

He returned to the twins.

Julian had begun playing with the satin ribbon on Elara’s dress.

Grayson knelt again.

“I need to ask you something.”

Samara remained cautious.

“Will you stay long enough for me to hear the truth from her?”

Her arms folded protectively.

“And if she denies it?”

“She will.”

“Then what?”

“I already know where to look.”

His eyes were colder now.

“Building access records. Archived mail filters. Payments to photographers. Security instructions. My mother taught me never to accuse anyone without documentation.”

A grim smile touched his mouth.

“She should have remembered that I was listening.”

Samara searched his face.

For the first time that night, she seemed to see more decât omul arogant care o dezamăgise.

„Bine,” spuse ea. „Dar copiii rămân aici.”

„Cu Claire,” conveni Grayson.

Claire dădu din cap.

Grayson se ridică și îi oferi lui Samara mâna.

Se uită la ea.

Cu doi ani în urmă, ar fi luat-o fără ezitare.

Acum, spațiul dintre degetele lor conținea trădare, timp pierdut și doi copii care nu-l cunoșteau.

Samara trecu pe lângă el fără să-l atingă.

Se întoarseră în sala de bal umăr la umăr.

Fiecare conversație se opri din nou.

Grayson scană camera.

mama lui nu era la masa ei.

O găsi aproape de scara grandioasă, vorbind în liniște cu un bărbat în vârstă îmbrăcat în costum închis.

Victoria Holt arăta impecabil.

Părul argintiu-blond aranjat cu grijă.

Cercei smarald strălucind sub lumina candelabrelor.

Văzu că Grayson se apropie și zâmbi.

Apoi observă că Samara era lângă el.