I bent down, picked up my earring from beneath my brother-in-law’s shoe, and looked at my family. No one seemed shocked by what they had done. Chloe simply held out her hand and demanded the keys.

“You live alone,” she said. “We need that place more than you do.”

I slipped the earring into my clutch and walked out without another word. Behind me, the orchestra started playing again, as if the wedding had already returned to normal.

Outside in the rain, I made a phone call. “Mr. Reed,” I said quietly, “they triggered the clause.-