. The white damask wallpaper was pulsating. Harper cl

lace is delicate," the a

drifted in. Two other employees, whispering. They thou

irrors," one voice murmured. "My cousin at th

see the alert on Page Six? Spotted at the St. Regis w

e ring is just a c

like physical blows

t she was complicit. They thought she was selli

n. Not a text. A vide

y she almost dropped the dev

rk, like a phone had been left recording in a pocke

smissive sound. "It's just for the investors, Felix. Family man image. Harper

eo cut

e. Easy t

he nee

ami. Her chest seized. Her fingertip

ouldn't listen to her mother cooing over the iPad about flower a

ers. She didn't take off the dress. She couldn't deal with the zippers and the bu

ssistant gasped as Harpe

cold marble floor. She ignored the receptionist's shocked f

shared commercial space, high-end offices and boutiques.

g. She turned the corner toward the elevator bank sharply,

inoline fighting her every step. It felt like running through quicksand. She yanked at the f

up to meet her. She braced herself f

idn't hit

ething solid. A wall

lose; he held her firmly, creating a stable frame for her chaotic collapse. It was

d and lies. It was cedar, rain, and expensiv

r bare feet dangling inches from the floor

" a voice

e, vibrating through

pulling back.

d

eyes that were so dark they looked almost black. He was looking down at her not wit

ing she had her balance before ste

t the wedding dress. He didn't look at her