Chapter 1 - THE CAKE
Emily Parker was already crying when she shoved the cake off the table.
The large white celebration cake slid across the board, tipped over the edge, and smashed onto the polished wooden floor.
Turquoise and orange frosting scattered everywhere.
Guests gasped.
“Emily!”
James Parker crossed the room so fast his chair nearly fell backward.
“Why would you do that?”
Emily stepped away from the ruined cake, both hands pressed against her chest.
Serena Vale stood behind the guests in her dark-emerald dress, watching silently.
“Please—just look at my phone!”
James stopped.
Emily grabbed the lavender-cased phone from the table.
Her hands shook so badly she almost dropped it.
She opened a video.
On-screen, Serena leaned over a bowl of thick white frosting and emptied a tiny vial of clear liquid into it.
“I saw her put this in.”
The room went silent.
Serena’s face changed.
James slowly turned toward her.
May you like
“Serena—what did you put in that bowl?”
For the first time all afternoon, Serena had no immediate answer.
