Thomas said, "Expected."

"There's more," Reyes said. "Their attorney is here."

Of course he was.

Sterling money could apparently summon legal counsel faster than most people could summon an Uber.

The attorney's name was Franklin Price.

I knew him by reputation.

Corporate litigator.

Crisis specialist.

Man whose job was making problems expensive enough to disappear.

He entered only after Chloe agreed.

He remained near the door.

"Mrs. Sterling."

"Chloe."

"Chloe. Your husband is deeply concerned."

She stared at him.

"I don't care."

Price continued smoothly.

"There is clearly marital conflict. No one denies emotions are high."

Thomas interrupted.

"Careful."

Price ignored him.

"However, possession of confidential Sterling family materials complicates matters significantly."

Chloe looked at the folders.

"You mean the plan you made for my life without asking me?"

"I have not reviewed that document."

"Then maybe you should."

"Some materials could be fabricated."

Captain Reyes said, "Which is why investigators will handle them."

Price looked at me.

"Mrs. Hale, if someone persuaded you to remove company property—"

"Stop."

My voice surprised me.

For hours I had smiled, pretended, waited, calculated.

I was finished.

"You want to know what persuaded me?"

He said nothing.

"My daughter threw flowers at me because it was the only way she could ask her mother for help without her husband knowing."

I pointed toward Chloe's bruises.

"That persuaded me."

Price looked away.

Good.

Let him.

A sound rose outside.

Guests talking.

Phones vibrating.

The story was spreading.

Graham entered without permission.

Captain Reyes immediately stepped toward him.

"You need to wait outside."

He ignored her.

He looked at Chloe.

"I have known you for two years."

Chloe stared back.

"I know."

"We welcomed you."

"You managed me."

"We protected you."

"From what?"

He paused.

She continued.

"From my mother? My friends? My own phone?"

"From public scrutiny that comes with this family."

"I never wanted this family."

The words hit harder than shouting.

Graham's face changed.

"You're upset."

"No."

Chloe stood.

She was still wearing the wedding dress Cecelia had chosen.

Mascara marked her cheeks.

Her wrists were bruised.

Her veil lay crumpled across a chair.

But for the first time that evening, she looked like herself.

"I'm finally not pretending."

Maxwell appeared in the doorway.

Captain Reyes turned.

"I said no."

He pushed past Price.

"Chloe, look at me."

She did.

"Come upstairs."

"No."

"We'll talk privately."

"No."

"Your mother is poisoning this."

Chloe's eyes hardened.

"My mother didn't grab me this morning."

"You tried to leave five minutes before the ceremony."

"Yes."

"You were hysterical."

"I was scared."

"Of yourself."

Thomas stood.

"That's enough."

Maxwell ignored him.

"Chloe, everything I did was because you couldn't handle pressure."

"No."

"You forget things."

"No."

"You make impulsive decisions."

"No."

"You need structure."

"No."

Each answer became stronger.

Maxwell's voice rose.

"I built our entire life."

"You built a cage."

Silence.

His face twisted.

"After everything I gave you?"

"You mean everything you used to decide what I was allowed to do?"

"I loved you."

Chloe began crying.

"I loved you too."

That was the first thing that truly hurt him.

Not the accusation.

The past tense.

He stepped toward her.

Captain Reyes blocked him.

"Mr. Sterling, leave."

Maxwell's mask shattered.

He pointed at Chloe.

"You're going to regret this."

The room froze.

Captain Reyes said, "Would you like to repeat that?"

Maxwell realized what he'd done.

Franklin Price closed his eyes.

Graham whispered, "Maxwell."

My daughter didn't move.

He looked at me instead.

"This is because of you."

I held his gaze.

"No."

Then Chloe spoke.

"This is because of you."

Two county officers escorted Maxwell into the hallway.

He wasn't arrested yet.

There were interviews to conduct, evidence to authenticate, jurisdictional questions, and enough lawyers gathering around the Sterlings to build a wall.

But he was separated from Chloe.

For that night, that was enough.

Judge Ramirez's colleague granted a temporary emergency protective order after reviewing Chloe's statement, photographs of her injuries, the dressing-room image, the threatening comment Maxwell had made in front of witnesses, and the concerns about her passport.

Maxwell was ordered to have no contact with her.

The honeymoon was gone.

The private jet reservation was canceled.

Chloe's passport was recovered from the hotel safe.

At 1:17 in the morning, we finally left the Fairmont Crest through the service entrance.

Chloe wore Elaine's cardigan over her wedding gown.

Guests had gone home.

Flowers remained everywhere.

Hundreds of white roses.

She looked back once.

"I hated those flowers."

I squeezed her hand.

"Then we'll never buy another one."

For the first time all night, she laughed.

Weakly.

But genuinely.

My phone vibrated.

Olivia.

Is Chloe safe?

I answered.

For tonight. Yes.

The reply came immediately.

Then tomorrow, she needs to know the rest.

I stared at the message.

What rest?

Three dots appeared.

Disappeared.

Returned.

Then:

Maxwell didn't start controlling women with Chloe.