«Il giorno prima del matrimonio di mia figlia, mi disse: “Vuoi farmi un regalo? Allora sparisci dalla mia vita”. Rimasi in silenzio e feci esattamente quello che voleva. Dopo aver venduto la casa e annullato il matrimonio da sogno… lasciai un piccolo regalo nella casa vuota che lasciò tutta la sua famiglia sbalordita.»

Amber’s silence answered more eloquently than words.

“Amber has been very gracious about including everyone,” Victoria interjected smoothly, her country club poise unshakable. “We simply want tomorrow to go perfectly for both families.”

Both families.

As if my family—just me, really, and elderly Grandma Helen—were somehow comparable to the Prescotts, with their old money and legacy admissions to Ivy League schools.

“It will be perfect,” I assured her, with a smile that cost me everything to produce. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need some air.”

I walked