ed at the encryp

rsor b

"I need to

most instantly

tood. D

fingers hovered over th

During my wedding weekend in t

brief. "Feasib

Emily typed, her heart

er, her fiancé, the man s

moment, probably planning an

uare lit up, blinding in

YOU MARRY ME? YOU

oared. Came

features: "Tech Mogul

yed her part, accepte

t nothing but a

commented on E

from Paris for her

cklace must have

island! Some guys have all t

he public narrative o

nstructed lie, and sh

replayed

ram influencer, draped i

s bed, wearin

artier bracelet, identic

plicit photo

working late with you tonight? Fu

this sordid affair, hidden b

tor meetings." "Coding emergen

li

faced, sharp

divorce. The feel

an, fierce an

nt you, but I'll a

ort, now felt like a d

into a desire for esc

to feel a fract

about escape. It was about inf

ed apartment opened. E

ide-to-be!" he said, pul

hers, a practic

ay. She let him hold

via's cloying perfume, a

oblivious. "The Carter Foundat

charm that had fooled everyo

the next evening, wh

ook so

power

, her hand resting l

s exhausting,

were clear: maintain norm

would make the eventual "tragedy" mor

in, his voice

tonight, Em. E

fectly feigned, alm

she said, her voice smooth. "L

s arm, a gestur

ed, sat

. The Hamptons could

h hosted by Ethan's mother, Mrs. Carter

perceptible smirk

se of the screen – a

d, quickly pocketing the phon

elf, walking to

go, her expression

, each piece a nail in the

he'd promised her at a Sotheby's a

ntly, a public displ

been ther

Emily's jewelry box,

ind. A relic of a love

The yacht. T

s all

ourn her. Ethan w

yes would fi