Chapter 1
The vase shattered before the wedding toast.
One second, Maisie was standing beside the gift table in her pale pink dress, trying to squeeze past a row of chairs.
The next, her elbow brushed the blue-and-white antique vase beside the bridal table.
It rocked once.
Twice.
Then crashed onto the marble floor.
The sound cut through the ballroom.
Porcelain exploded around her little shoes.
Maisie froze.
She was six years old.
Her lips parted.
“I’m sorry.”
Portia moved faster than anyone.
She struck Maisie across the face so hard my niece fell beside the broken pieces.
“You destroy everything you touch.”
For one frozen breath, no one moved.
Then I crossed the ballroom.
I had been speaking with guests near the champagne table, smiling through a wedding I already knew was built on tension.
Now I lifted Maisie from the floor and placed her behind me.
Her cheek was red.
Her hands were shaking.
I looked at Portia.
“Touch her again and this wedding ends in handcuffs.”
Portia’s face twisted.
“She ruined a family heirloom.”
Behind us, Flora, one of the maids, knelt to gather the broken porcelain.
As she moved a large shard, something slid out from beneath the cabinet where the vase had stood.
A small sealed envelope.
Portia saw it.
Her eyes went wide.
She lunged toward Flora.
“Give me that envelope.”
I caught her wrist before she reached the maid.
Flora placed the envelope in my hand.
At the wedding table, Cedric slowly stood.
My father-in-law.
His face had gone gray.
“That’s your mother’s handwriting.”
Portia reached for the envelope again.
I released her wrist.
Then I slapped her once across the face.
She stumbled backward into an empty wedding chair and collapsed.
Every voice vanished.
I looked at the envelope.
Then at Portia.
Two of my bodyguards moved behind her.
May you like
“You weren’t protecting the vase,” I said. “You were protecting this.”
Portia went pale.
