Chapter 1
The words landed harder than the fall.
Emily reached across her sleeve, trying to wipe away the frosting sliding toward her wrist. As she pulled back the soaked fabric, an old silver ring tied to a faded leather cord slipped into view.
She never wore it on her finger.
It had always hung around her wrist instead.
The ring wasn't beautiful anymore. Time had softened its edges, and countless tiny scratches covered its surface.
It was the only thing her mother had left her.
Emily instinctively covered it with her hand.
Too late.
Across the ballroom, Victoria Bennett stopped speaking in the middle of a sentence.
She had been thanking donors near the orchestra.
Now she wasn't listening to anyone.
Her eyes locked onto the ring.
Color drained from her face.
The champagne glass in her hand trembled.
One of the guests asked if she felt unwell.
Victoria didn't answer.
She walked forward slowly, barely seeming aware of the dozens of eyes following her.
Emily assumed another insult was coming.
Instead, Victoria stopped only a few feet away.
Her hands shook.
"That ring..." she whispered.
May you like
Emily frowned.
"...who gave it to you?"
