I almost smiled.
Victoria stopped a few feet away, eyes sweeping over Vani with thinly veiled disdain. She took in her dress, her posture, the way she stood beside me without hesitation. Then her lips curved into an ugly frown.
“So,” she drawled, “this must be the wife.”
Vani turned fully toward her, expression open and amused. “That I am.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed. “You sound awfully proud while being a homewrecker.”
I felt my temper flare. “Victoria—”
But Vani laughed again, this time even louder. It was so unexpected that it caught both of us off guard.
“A homewrecker?” she said, tilting her head. “Is that what you’re going with?”
Victoria crossed her arms. “If the shoe fits.”
Evania glanced down at her left hand, then deliberately lifted it, holding it up between them. The ring caught the sunlight, the diamond gleaming unapologetically.
“Well,” she said pleasantly, “seeing as I’m the one wearing the ring, I highly doubt I’m the homewrecker here.”
I bit back a smile, feeling a flicker of pride at Vani’s response, and the heat of anger in my jaw relaxed just slightly.
Victoria’s mouth tightened. “You think a piece of jewelry makes you legitimate?”
“I think,” Evania replied calmly, “that it makes me his wife.”
She let her hand fall back to her side and leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just enough to carry an edge. “I also think it’s fascinating that an ex my husband clearly despises has the freedom to show up here.”
Her gaze flicked pointedly toward the table, toward my mother. “It's all very interesting.”
Silence followed.
Without saying a word to either of us, she turned sharply and rushed toward my mother, who was clearly watching the entire scene unfold.
Of course, she was watching.
Amy Sterling never missed anything that threatened her control.
I felt Vani stiffen beside me, the shift subtle but unmistakable. Instinctively, I reached over and wrapped my hand around her waist, pulling her closer to me as we started toward the rest of my family.
We were only a few feet away when she gasped suddenly. I followed her gaze and suppressed a smile.
Emily.
My sister stood a few feet away, frozen in shock, staring at Vani as if she had just stepped out of one of her own novels. Vani’s fingers curled lightly against my side.
“Oh my God,” she whispered under her breath.
I leaned slightly toward her. “You okay?”
“That’s Emily Sterling,” she breathed, as if I somehow didn’t know.
“I’m aware.”
Her eyes were wide with equal parts panic and awe. I knew exactly what was going through her mind. Emily wasn’t just my sister. She was one of Vani’s favorite authors. I remember how excited she was at Emily's book signing, and I had hoped that this moment would make everything easier for her.
Emily blinked once, then twice, before finally stepping forward. Her expression softened into something warm despite the obvious surprise still written across her face.
