“Bury your daughter first,” I said quietly. “After that, we’ll discuss everything else you tried to bury.”
After the service, Vanessa began performing.
She collapsed beside the reception table, sobbing against the shoulders of people she barely knew. Daniel remained close, rubbing her back while telling guests that I was “in shock” and “not thinking rationally.”
Later, Vanessa cornered me inside the church kitchen.
“You will not turn Sofia’s funeral into a drama about your marriage,” she hissed.
“My marriage?”
Something flickered in her eyes.
Daniel entered and closed the door behind him.
“Emma, we made a mistake,” he said. “It was only one trip.”
“One hotel room,” I replied.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“You’ve always been jealous of me.”
I nearly laughed.
Sofia’s favourite purple ribbon was still tied around my wrist.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“We need to resolve this privately. People’s reputations are involved.”
