The next morning, I put on my best suit and drove to the venue. The place was breathtaking—a testament to a budget with no limits. As I walked through the doors, a wave of unease washed over me. This was it. The first time seeing them in seven years.

Claire, radiant in a flurry of white lace, greeted me with a warm hug. “I’m so glad you came,” she whispered. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to hope. Then I saw Denise, watching me from across the room like a predator sizing up its prey.