Every flower, every decoration—I had spent six months crafting them by hand.

Sabina knew full well that it was our dream wedding.

And she was handing it to her student?

I drew a long breath, forcing down the pain.

"Fine. Whatever. Just send my things back. Especially the bracelet in the safe."

The manager sounded even more bewildered.

"But the bride already took the bracelet from the safe. She said it was her dowry—a gift for the groom."

My skull rang like a bell had been struck inside it.

I hung up immediately and called Sabina. Over and over.

Every call was rejected. It wasn't until the eighteenth attempt that she finally picked up.

Her voice carried a weary, irritated edge.

"Didn't I already tell you? Don't contact me right now. I need to focus on playing the part with Eustace. I was just chatting with his parents and you nearly blew my cover."

My throat locked shut. I managed to force the words out.

"Sabina—did you take my bracelet?"

She paused for a second, then laughed.

"Oh, that. Eustace's mother said it's their family tradition—the dowry has to include a bracelet. Yours was heavy enough and pretty, so I grabbed it to present as part of the dowry to their family."

The pain tore through me as if my heart were being ripped apart.

"Sabina!!"

My voice cracked into a raw, shattered scream.

"That was a keepsake from my mother! What gives you the right to hand it over to your boy toy as a dowry!"

"Give it back! Right now! Bring it back to me this instant! Or I'm calling the police! I'll make sure you two hold your wedding behind bars!"

I was shaking with rage, every word barbed.

Sabina flinched, then fired right back:

"Watch your mouth! I already told you it's all an act! I'm just borrowing it! It's not like I'm keeping it! Besides, didn't you say it yourself? That you were giving it to me? Well, if it's mine, I can do whatever I want with it. You don't get a say!"

My voice went cold.

"That was my mother's heirloom bracelet, meant for her future daughter-in-law. You married someone else. You have no right to take it."

"Come on, I already told you it's a fake marriage..."

I couldn't stand to hear her voice for another second.

I hung up, walked out the door, hailed a cab, and gave the driver Eustace's address.

I grabbed Sabina's luggage on my way out.

On the ride over, my phone buzzed nonstop. Texts from Sabina.