AUTHOR’S POV
The Grand Ballroom of the Carter estate had been transformed into a sanctuary of understated wealth for the rehearsal dinner. To the outside world, this was the final, elegant hurdle before the wedding of the year. But inside the room, the air felt thin, charged with the kind of electricity that precedes a lightning strike.
At the head of the table sat Lucas Carter.
He looked every bit the impenetrable heir, his charcoal suit absorbing the light around him. Beside him, the seat for his bride remained empty.
“She’s late,” Margaret whispered, leaning toward Lucas. Her emerald silk gown shimmered like serpent scales in the candlelight. “It’s a poor start, Lucas. The board is already whispering. They expect a Carter bride to understand that in this family, punctuality is a for
