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

chair had been added by Tessa, Kora’s younger sister, out of mercy. Tessa had refused to let the seating chart announce the truth in public. She would not let every cousin, aunt, former neighbor, and friend of their mother look down and see one lonely chair beside Kora’s name.

So she added another one.

A kindness.

A lie.

A little piece of furniture meant continue reading …