Wind tore across the lawn, flattening dresses and sending napkins flying while glasses trembled violently in people’s hands. The machine circled once, then lowered itself toward a hidden landing area no one had noticed before.
Bryce stopped speaking mid sentence, and Amanda’s smile froze in place.
The helicopter landed with force, tearing apart the perfection of the lawn and scattering decorations in every direction. The noise swallowed all conversation as dust and debris filled the air.
The buffet collapsed, crystal shattered, and the entire illusion of elegance disintegrated within seconds.
Amanda screamed but her voice vanished beneath the roar, and Bryce shielded his face as grit struck his skin.
When the blades slowed, the silence that followed felt overwhelming and unnatural.
The door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She wore a fitted cream suit that matched her strong frame, and her presence filled the space without effort. She was no longer the awkward girl they remembered.
She was controlled, confident, and completely unshaken.