My name did not appear anywhere in those documents, which immediately made my heart tighten in confusion. Connor’s name was printed clearly, and beside it was Grace’s name, followed by a single word that removed all doubt.
That word was ceremony.
At exactly 1:10 in the afternoon, with my phone vibrating quietly beside me, I parked my car in front of the vineyard estate.
The California heat pressed down heavily on the landscape, and the sky remained cloudless as if the day itself refused to hide anything.
From the open entrance, I could see white chairs arranged in perfect rows and a floral arch decorated with ivory roses. Glasses were already filled with champagne, and a string quartet played softly in a way that felt almost mocking.
I stepped out of the car and walked forward slowly without attempting to hide or announce my presence to anyone nearby.
I wore a dark navy dress and oversized sunglasses, carrying myself with the calm certainty of someone who had already accepted the truth.