THE EMPTY CHAIR AT HER SISTER’S WEDDING WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVE HER FIANCÉ HAD LEFT HER—BUT WHEN A QUIET STRANGER SAT BESIDE HER, KORA NEVER IMAGINED HE OWNED THE HOTEL, OR THAT HIS FAMILY WAS ALREADY PLANNING THE MARRIAGE THAT COULD DESTROY THEM BOTH

And she wrote that she was glad Liam had chosen what he had chosen, and that between then and Christmas, she would become a less effective version of someone who had been wrong.

Kora read it aloud.

Liam stood very still.

She put the letter back in her bag and placed her hand over his.

Later, when the mezzanine emptied and the lobby below was quiet, Liam continue reading …