A few minutes earlier.
The west garden was quieter than the rest of the estate. Less light, more space. The flowers here didn't glow—they swayed gently under the moonlight. The wind smelled like cold mint and white blossoms.
Evelyn stood near a marble railing overlooking a koi pond, the soft ripple of water the only sound in the silence. She sighed quietly. The noise of the main event felt far away, like it belonged to another world. This part of the garden was hers for a moment.
Until footsteps echoed behind her.
Slow. Confident.
She turned, and her smile faded the moment she saw him.
Garrick Thorn.
His black suit was pressed tight across his broad shoulders, and his dark-blonde hair was brushed back like it always was—like he was performing for an invisible audience. His smile? Practiced. Eyes? Cold. Too cold for a party.
"Evelyn," he said, hands in his pockets, strolling like he owned the grass. "Didn't think I'd find you alone."
