Then Vanessa raised her left hand.
A teardrop-sized diamond flashed beneath the chandeliers.
Daniel lifted a champagne glass.
“To new beginnings.”
The room erupted in cheers.
Someone near the entrance noticed me.
Her smile vanished.
Daniel followed her gaze.
For one long second, his face went blank.
Then Vanessa turned, saw me, and actually laughed.
“Oh,” she said. “You came.”
I looked at Daniel.
“You’re engaged?”
He stepped toward me, lowering his voice.
“Claire, not here.”
“Interesting choice of words.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Daniel said your marriage was basically over.”
“Basically?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“We were going to talk tonight.”
I glanced at the ring.
“Before or after Paris?”
His eyes dropped to the tickets in my hand.
The room fell silent.
Vanessa’s smile sharpened.
“This is embarrassing.”
I looked at her, then at him.
Something inside me broke cleanly—not like glass, but like a lock opening.
