Part 10

“Go ahead.”

“Ethan is telling people I am having a breakdown.”

Miriam sighed.

“That is not unusual when someone wants to control the narrative.”

I looked toward the wedding gown.

“He’s probably telling everyone I had a panic attack.”

“Then you should decide whether you want to correct that story.”

I didn’t answer immediately.

I had spent the morning trying to escape the wedding.

Part of me wanted to disappear completely.

I could leave Boston, stay with a friend, and let Miriam handle the legal matters.

I didn’t owe the guests an explanation.

I didn’t owe Ethan another conversation.

But I also knew how he operated.

He would tell everyone I was unstable.

He would say I had become overwhelmed by the pressure of the wedding.

Vanessa would probably explain that she had only borrowed the limousine because she wanted to help.

By tomorrow morning, I would be the unreasonable woman who abandoned a perfectly good man on their wedding day.

And the documents would remain hidden behind their carefully managed public image.

I looked down at my phone.

There was another message from Ethan.

Ethan: You need to come to the hotel.

We can discuss everything privately.

Then another.

Ethan: People are asking questions.

I almost laughed.

People were asking questions.

For the first time, I hoped they would keep asking.

“Miriam?”

“Yes?”

“I think I’m going to the hotel.”

There was a brief pause.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want him telling everyone a story about me that isn’t true.”

“Do you have someone who can accompany you?”

“I can arrange that.”

“Don’t take original documents with you.”

“I won’t.”

“And don’t let him pressure you into signing anything.”

“I won’t.”

After the call, I stood up.

I went into the bedroom and looked at the wedding gown.

The fabric was still folded over the chair.

I touched the lace sleeve.

For a moment, I remembered the excitement I had felt when I first tried it on.

I remembered calling my mother and telling her I had finally found the dress.

I remembered Ethan standing behind me in the mirror, smiling as though he were looking at the woman he wanted to spend his life with.

I wondered whether any of those moments had been real.

Then I remembered the limousine.

The way he had crouched beside Vanessa.

The way he had closed the door.

I stepped away from the dress.

I wasn’t going to wear it again.

I put on my dark jeans, a black coat, and a pair of comfortable shoes.

I took my phone, my laptop, and a small folder containing copies of the documents.

Then I called the wedding planner.

Her name was Sophie.

She answered immediately.

“Clare!

Thank goodness.”

Her voice sounded strained.

“Where have you been?”

“I’m not coming to the ceremony.”

Silence.

“What?”

“The wedding is canceled.”

There was another pause.

“Is Ethan aware?”

“Yes.”

“He told us you weren’t feeling well.”

I closed my eyes.

“Of course he did.”

“Clare, the guests are arriving.”

“I know.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

I appreciated the question.

“Please make sure the hotel understands that I am canceling the ceremony and any services booked in my name.”

“All right.”

“And Sophie?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry this is happening on your working day.”

She sounded almost emotional.

“You don’t need to apologize to me.”

I thanked her and ended the call.

Then I took a car to the Hawthorne Hotel.

The building looked exactly as it had in the photographs.

Elegant stone walls.

Tall windows.

Warm golden lights.

White flowers framed the entrance.

The hotel staff had prepared everything according to the plan Ethan and I had approved months earlier.

Except that the plan had never really belonged to me.