A woman near the arch pressed a hand to her mouth. A cameraman lowered his lens, unsure whether this was still a love story.

Daniel stepped forward. “We’re separated,” he said, fast, as if speed could make it true. “We—paperwork—it’s complicated.”

“Complicated is a good word,” Claire agreed. “Separation is another. It’s just not a legal one. Not yet.”

He reached for Isabelle’s hand. She didn’t move. Her eyes flicked from Claire to the documents, then back to Daniel. The music from the ballroom faltered and stopped, leaving strings of silence vibrating in the air.

“I’m not here to destroy your evening,” Claire said—though looking at Daniel’s face, she realized the evening was already in pieces. “I came to return something.”