The pounding stopped, and for a full minute I stood against the closed door, breathing. Then Lucas’s phone buzzed. It was his father. “Open the door,” Philip said calmly. “I sent two people to see Natalie, and they are outside now.” Lucas opened it again. My parents had not moved from the porch. Beside the driveway stood a woman in a gray coat, clutching a thick envelope, and next to her stood Mr. Langley, Sebastian’s father, looking as if he had not slept in days.

“Ms. Prescott,” the woman said quietly, “I am Ms. Reyes, the events director at the Royal Meridian. We need to talk about the contracts for this engagement party.” She held up the first page. At the bottom, in blue ink, was my name and my signature. I had never seen the paper in my life. On the porch, Dad’s face went gray.