The knocking echoed in the room three times, but no one answered.
Nico pressed his palm against the door, his knocks growing heavier. He called out, "Rosalie? Are you there?"
His voice was tight in his throat, edged with barely perceptible tension.
Behind him, Vivienne stepped forward. She said, "Nico... maybe I shouldn't go. Let Rosalie go instead."
She looked at the tightly shut door, her voice dropping. She added, "This is a family event to begin with. What status do I have?"
Nico turned to glance at her.
Vivienne was wearing a silk dress today, her hair specially curled that morning.
New manicure. New necklace.
He pressed his fingers to the space between his brows, suppressing that faint twinge of guilt.
He replied, "I said I'd take you. You can't just swap people out at the l
