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My sister hurled red wine across my dress uniform and told me I had no place in that ballroom, my father told security to get me out before I humiliated his future son-in-law, and I watched the stain slide over my ribbons, checked the countdown on my watch, and said, “You’re right. I don’t,” because in less than a minute the entire room was going to understand why I had really come.

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” I murmured, my posture ramrod straight.

“Clara, leave. Now,” my father demanded, stepping forward to physically block my line of sight to Preston. “Security will escort you out before you cause another scene.”

“Forty seconds.”

Preston chuckled, but it lacked its previous warmth. He adjusted his cuffs, a nervous tic I had noted months ago. “Let her have continue reading …

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