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

I did not ask for any of this.”

Cordelia looked at her gloves.

Then, quietly, Kora said, “If you will allow me, I am sorry about your husband.”

That landed.

Cordelia set the gloves down.

Picked them up again.

Inclined her head.

“Thank you,” she said. “I will think about what you have said.”

Then she left.

That night, Kora did not sleep.

At one in the morning,continue reading …