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Nancy groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. ‘Oh, forfuck’s sake.’

‘No, you know what?’ Ari said, straightening her dress. ‘Let’s talk about who the thiefreallyis here, hmm?’

Paris’s lips curled. ‘Yes, we all know I stole your heart. Get over it. I have.’

‘Oh, sweetheart,’ Ari purred. ‘Youwishyou still had that effect on me.’

Nancy grabbed Ari’s wrist before she could get any closer, her grip firm. ‘Donotstart a brawl at this wedding.’

Ari turned to her, arching a brow. ‘Wouldn’t bestartingone, technically.’

Paris scoffed. ‘Grow up, Ari.’

Ari’s jaw tightened, but before she could retaliate, someone new approached.

‘Why,’ said a voice, ‘is there shouting?’

All three of them turned. Helen was among them. ‘Anyone care to explain?’ she asked.

Silence.

Ari flicked her gaze to Nancy, who was now looking like she very much wanted the ground to swallow her whole. She had turned her body away from Helen, trying to hide in plain sight.

Ari, for her part, was starting to think this washilarious. She smiled, slow and wicked.

‘Well, funny story…’

And then a pair of hands grabbed her.

Forty-Three

Nancy stood frozen, her stomach sinking as two security guards flanked Ari and started leading her towards the exit.

Ari wasn’t fighting them. But her whole body was taut, her chin lifted in defiance, eyes glittering with a dangerous mix of anger and amusement.

Nancy, on the other hand, wasn’t remotely amused.

Paris had wasted no time spinning her tale, her voice ringing out to the hall, perfectly measured to sound both reasonable and wounded as she dropped the knackered necklace into her tiny clutch.

‘It’s honestlysad,’ she said, pressing a delicate hand to her chest as she addressed the watching guests.

Cal appeared at her side, the concerned husband. She took his hand, though she didn’t seem to notice he was there in any meaningful way as she addressed her audience.

‘I always knew she never quite got over me, but to go this far? Over a necklace? She gave it to me when we were together, sure. And when I ended things, I said I wanted to give it back to her. But sheinsistedI keep it. My god, if she’d asked me this weekend, I’d have given it to her. And now I find out she’s been creeping around my room, going through my things? I feel utterly violated. And on myweddingday.’

Nancy, keeping ten people between her and Helen, clenched her teeth so hard she felt her molars protest.

Paris barely spared her a glance as she continued, spinning her fiction with effortless ease. ‘But I suppose seeing memove onwas too much for her. It’s the only explanation, isn’t it?’

Nancy suddenly stopped giving a shit if Helen was going to recognise her. ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,’ she couldn’t stop herself from saying.

That got Paris’s attention. She turned, one perfectly arched brow lifting. ‘Something to say?’

Nancy folded her arms. ‘Yeah. What aloadof bullshit.’

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Paris only sighed, like Nancy was some foolish child who just didn’tget it.

Helen was looking at her directly now. Her expression still didn’t betray recognition. Nancy was starting to think she was face blind. Either way, it didn’t much matter now.