The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence, save for the soft rustling of whispered disbelief among the guests. My heart, though heavy, was resolute. This was the unexpected crescendo to a symphony of lies, but it was time to conduct the finale.
Karen remained on the floor, her tear-streaked face a mask of betrayal and fear. Her bravado had crumbled, and now she was just a scared girl caught in her own web. I wanted to feel sympathy, but all I could muster was a detached curiosity about this stranger I thought I knew.
Colton, still clutching my hand, was now trembling. “Anna, I—” he began, his voice a rasp.
