A Bride's Ghostly Return

lread

air, a spectator at my

athedral, their scent so thick it feels heavy. The bride, Olivia Reed, is radiant in a dress that c

e perfect couple.

the one st

ching the man I love marry my adopti

e Millers' real biological daughter, came back. My parents, the pe

broad to study," my mother

st," my father ad

onaire's Playground," a private island where rich men prey o

d. I die

e I prepared

swing at a lavish hotel ballroom. Laughter and champagne flow freely

stage where Ryan and Ol

terling," the man say

acticed smile. "Oh, who is

head. "The sender just sa

lively chatter in the ballroom dies down instant

a friend of my adoptiv

ess girl? She still has t

she went wild overseas, sleeping around with anyone who would h

took her in, and this is how she repays t

t closer, watching my adoptive parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mi

erchief. "We only wanted her to have a good education, but she...

parents and a perfect new couple, haunted by a disgraceful p

darling, just have someone throw it away. I don'

has worn that mask for months, ever since those photos of me on the island were sent to him. He never

ck on me when I

ession is different. It' s not angry o

et but firm, cutting through the

"But Ryan, it' s probably something awf

gaze fixed on the box. He doesn't look

es the box and s

room holds

whatever is left of it, beat