But now, well, if I was being honest, it was exhausting. Sure, I loved being the queen bee, but the amount of work it took to keep my throne drained me. There were times I caught myself fantasizing about getting away from everything. Just jumping onto a boat and sailing off far, far away.

But then I looked around the party—the exquisite food, the sparkly cocktails, the random booths, the fawning young girls all craving a piece of me. I’d have to die before I gave all this up.

—

Finally, someone announced that it was time we move to the beach. I breathed a sigh of relief. The “after-party” will be a completely different type of exhausting, but at least everyone will be too smashed to remember if I was perfect or not.

I let the crowd move out before I joined them. Pulling out my phone, I dropped Mike a text—

Anything new?

I wasn’t expecting a reply, but the phone pinged back right away.

When are you signing the marriage certificate?

What the fuck was wrong with him?

The day after tomorrow, Mike. Stop fucking around.

I might have a lead on Zoe Bassett. Will have more information for you tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the religious ceremony. Work faster.

Tomorrow morning is the best I can do. Sorry, darling. Where are you now?

I’ve checked into the Mount Lavinia Hotel. Just call me, okay? Don’t just show up here. My family and relatives are everywhere.

Sure thing, sweetheart.

Mike?

Yes, love?

Do I need to be worried? I typed out, but hesitated. I was sounding like a whiny, needy bitch. Whoever this Zoe is, I can figure it out. I’ve come this far, haven’t I?

Just hurry the fuck up. I hit send.

My head was starting to hurt. I felt inexplicably nervous as I walked down to the party. I wished, well, I haven’t actually wished for this in a while, but I wished I had a friend. Someone I could talk to. Someone I didn’t have to calculate my moves around.

And that’s when I crashed into Amaya.

I was surprised that she’d turned up here today, just like I couldn’t understand why the hell she’d decided to invite herself to all the wedding festivities. Maybe if I didn’t have so much going on with Mr. Ananda and Mike’s information, I’d have been more upset about her. She was the one who disappeared, after all. She was the one who threw out our friendship like it was some dirty old rag not worth saving.

But maybe she knew something about Spencer? Maybe she had information that would help me? Give me something I could use against him if I needed it.

I thought about what happened between us, all those years ago. How she was so upset with me. How she stormed out of the house, never to talk to me again, and all because—it happened so long ago that I couldn’t fully remember all the details.