Garrett got into his truck.
Douglas hesitated, looking at Sienna through the hot shimmer rising off the hood.
For one second, she thought he might say something that mattered.
He did not.
He got in beside his son.
Vivien stayed by the Mercedes a little longer.
Her sunglasses were still in her hand.
Without them, her face looked older, sharper, and less certain.
“You will regret this,” she said.
Sienna shook her head.
“No,” she said. “I already regretted trusting you. This is what came after.”
Vivien left without another word.
The driveway stayed quiet after the vehicles disappeared.
No one seemed to know whether to speak.
Then Natalie exhaled, and the sound broke the spell.
“Your shoulder,” she said.
“I’m okay.”
“No,” Natalie said. “You’re functioning. That is not the same thing.”
Sienna laughed once, because if she did not, she might fold.
The delivery driver asked whether she wanted him to stay while she called someone.
One of the wedding planners said she had seen everything and would write it down.
The other offered a bottle of water with shaking hands.
