Chapter One: The Falling Bouquet

Mira used those minutes well. Citing insurance requirements, she obtained the assistant’s identification. She enabled the photographers’ cloud backup so every conversation would survive. Then she sealed the bouquet inside a clear evidence pouch normally reserved for broken jewelry. At the sixth minute, Jo messaged: the car had never gone to the registry office. The marriage certificate in the photographs was a prop. The family attorney called next. Serena’s father was gravely ill, and after the reception she was expected to sign a prenuptial share-management agreement drafted by Theo’s lawyer. Buried inside was a proxy granting him control of eleven percent of Su Holdings. Mira entered the bridal room as Serena retouched her lipstick.