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L EONIE DOESN’T SAY A WORD WHEN SHE REALIZES THE RING IS GONE. She doesn’t order searches. She doesn’t summon family for rounds of interrogation.

Nothing.

I know she suspects me. Or I suspect she suspects me. She’s undoubtedly connected the key’s disappearance to the spa where she spent hours with her favorite granddaughter. No disrespect, Mia. Grandmother said so herself.

Nonetheless, I was careful to ensure there were plenty of other suspects near the necklace. The waitstaff who could have been bribed, the various cousins who visited the spa while we were there.

I’m not entirely certain why Leonie hasn’t undertaken recovering the ring with more vigor, even if her efforts would be inefficient. Perhaps she doesn’t want word to get out that someone knows the combination to the vault.

Or… perhaps she’s pleased someone will soon fall into whatever trap she has laid.

I like this possibility the least.

I slept with the ring under my pillow. In the morning, we’re off to the airport, where we learn Leonie’s plane has been grounded.

Everyone’s worst nightmare ensues. The Owens family will need to fly commercial .

While I’m no stranger to commercial flights, knowing I’ll have to get the ring through the security checks without my family noticing it makes me nervous.

Worse, the airport’s security is exceptionally thorough.

With mounting nerves, I watch family members in front of me get patted down and frisked, asked to remove layers, the whole nine yards.

I know I can’t risk the ring being exposed when I’m asked to remove my hoodie.

During the disturbance caused when Elwood, misunderstanding the directive to remove computers and liquids, fully unpacks her suitcase onto the conveyor, I slip the ring from my neck into the front pouch on my luggage preemptively in case I’m searched in front of my family.

I walk into the metal detector, watching my bag enter the X-ray machine.

I’m waiting anxiously on the other end when it emerges.

Darting my hand into the pouch, I feel the ring’s smooth metal. Relief rushes over me.

Despite the flight and the following four-hour drive up to Volenvell, I don’t feel the slightest bit exhausted.

One reason for my enthusiastic mood is within the backpack I keep in my lap, my hand resting protectively on the front pouch. The ring. The ring will bring my crew back together. Reunited, we’ll pull off the Swiss heist just like we pulled off the wedding.

The other reason waits for me outside Volenvell’s front doors.

Jackson is the only person who greets our convoy in the driveway. The moment my feet hit cobblestone, I pull my backpack secure and run to him in view of everyone.

Yes, I’d run to Jackson’s embrace no matter who was watching. I always want to run to him. Right now, though, I have other designs. I have to prove to Leonie her efforts with Tom have not gone as she intended. In fact, they’ve backfired. Tom made me an offer that would thrill Leonie. I refused.

Well played, Grandmother. Giving me the day in Norway to miss my dreamy boyfriend? Real mastermind shit.

Jackson grins into my kiss. It’s wonderful. Exactly how I imagined on the plane. I enjoy the public display of gloating, my stomach swooping like during our flight’s ascent into the clouds, while Jackson’s warm scent surrounds me. Outside the frozen castle, I melt into him.

I can’t declare to Leonie that I stole the ring, but I intend to prove I’ve stolen something more—my independence. My heart. In front of my imperious grandmother, I can declare I’m not her and Jackson isn’t my grandfather.

When we part, breathless, Jackson’s gaze moves behind me. I follow his eyeline to Leonie.

Jackson’s features change. His gaze goes from soft adoration to sharp cunning. His hand grips mine defiantly, as if he’s stolen me and won’t give me back. No objection here.

The intensity of his voice chills me when he speaks. “It doesn’t matter how many ways you try to separate us,” he says to Leonie. “You won’t succeed. You think you have some kind of power over her because you’re family.”

His expression hardens. His eyes narrow.

“One day I’ll be Olivia’s family,” he says. “Not you.”