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Elora had not been happy the day she married Steph’s father That much was clear What had she said at dinner? That duty was the ? She had done this out of duty—to her faht have had on the subject Steph wondered if her mother’s parents had ever asked her what she had really wanted either, though she already knew that answer

In that h with the ceremony She couldn’t look as downtrodden as herday That was supposed to be the most romantic day of a person’s life!

Thinking back on the conversation she’d had with her parents at dinner, Steph couldn’t think of a way to express her concerns and actually get either of them to understand Her father had justified her nerves as those of a skittish bride, afraid of the unknown Herwhat she must, in the name of tradition

With her stomach in knots, Steph put the photos back in the box and closed it up, carrying the tiara downstairs before folding the stairs back up into the ceiling She headed to her room, where she set the tiara in her suitcase Herroom

“Stephanie! Did you find the headpiece?”

“I did,” Steph called back “It’s already packed!”

When she didn’t hear footsteps co in her direction, Steph perched on the small sill of her tiny bedroom and stared out as the Verlow across the carpet of forest that stretched as far as the eye could see She looked at her phone again, tapping it open and looking at the picture of her in the tiara

She had never looked more scared in her life

Her parents ca on her door

“Co the phone down next to her

“Are you ready for tomorrow?” her father asked, ever enthusiastic