My brain is spinning. "What's the plan?"
"My plane is ready in Florence. My driver is waiting downstairs," Harper says. Still typing on her phone. "I'm taking the boys back to New York with me. Collette and your mother have asked to stay to distract Kitty and her family long enough for your brother to escape."
I look at Pierre. He looks broken. Devastated.
"I'm in too," I state.
"Thank you." Pierre rushes over and pulls me into a hug.
Everyone says rushed goodbyes amidst hugs and tears. And then they're gone. Harper, Felix, and Pierre.
Mom, Collette, and I stand in the empty room, the silence is deafening.
"Well," Collette says finally. "Someone has to tell her, and it’s not going to be me.”
“Fine. I’ll tell her.”
“You’re the best.” Collette smiles.
We pack first for our getaway, then we head back to the party and try to pretend everything is okay.
An hour later, I approach Kitty. "Can we talk? Somewhere private," I ask her.
Her smile falters. "Why?"
"Please, just come with me."
She follows me upstairs to her and Pierre's suite. The room is pristine, all white and gold, and her wedding dress hangs in the corner. She turns to face me, arms crossed, stamping her foot. "Well?"
I take a breath. "The wedding is off."
Silence.
Kitty blinks twice, like her brain is buffering. "What?"
"The wedding. It's not happening."
Her face goes pale. Then red. "What are you talking about? The wedding is in two days. We have two hundred and fifty guests. We have a million-dollar magazine deal."
"Pierre left."
"Left?" Her voice climbs higher. "Left where?”
"He's gone."
She stares at me. "That's not funny, Joelle."
"I'm not joking."
She pushes past me and yanks open the door. "Pierre!" she screams into the hallway. "Pierre!"
Nothing.
She whirls back. "Where the fuck is my fiancé?"
"He's not coming back."
"Why?" Her eyes are wild now. Panicked. "What happened?"
