Chapter Three: The Dead Woman in the Ring

Pain burst through Mira’s chest. She fell into his arms as blood flooded the white fabric. Someone in the panicked crowd shouted, “Adrian Gu shot her!” Her final sight was a gun in his hand, smoke curling from its muzzle. He looked down at her like a man who had just lost everything. “I’m sorry,” he said. The vision shattered. Mira opened her eyes still standing. Adrian held her shoulders. She retreated instinctively, staring at his empty right hand. “You killed me.” The office went silent. “At the wedding?” Celeste asked. “I was the bride. Cloudshore chapel, apparently on the contracted date.” Mira recited every detail except Adrian’s apology. He sealed the ring in an evidence bag. “The wedding is canceled.” “No.”