I didn't leave.

I tried to push past him, but he grabbed my arm and shoved me back so hard I stumbled.

"I said LEAVE. Are you deaf or just crazy?"

Before I could respond, someone walked out of the ballroom doors.

Nadia Chen. My former personal assistant — the one I had hired to help Elijah manage the restaurant I'd opened for him.

Relief flooded through me. Nadia had worked for me for two years. She knew exactly who I was.

"Nadia!" I called out. "Tell this man who I am."

Nadia looked at me. For a split second, something flickered in her eyes — recognition, maybe guilt. Then it vanished.

She turned to the security guard. "I've never seen this woman before in my life. She's been stalking Mr. Grant for months. Don't let her ruin the wedding."

The air left my lungs.

"Nadia." My voice was barely steady. "When you couldn't make rent two years ago, who paid your landlord? When your mother needed surgery, who covered the bill? I did. You worked for ME."

Nadia looked at me with a perfectly blank expression.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You're clearly delusional." She turned to the guard. "Get her out of here. If she disrupts Mrs. Grant's wedding, you'll all be fired."

The guard grabbed both my arms this time. Another one appeared and took my other side.

"Let's go, psycho. You stalker types are all the same — one rejection and you lose your mind."

They started dragging me toward the exit.

I dug my heels in. "My name is Vivienne Ashford. I am Elijah Grant's legal wife. Call the police if you want — they'll confirm it!"

The name Ashford should have stopped them. The Ashford Group owned half the commercial real estate in Astoria. My grandmother built this city's skyline.

But the guard just laughed. "Sure, and I'm the King of England. Lady, the Ashfords are the richest family in this state. You think anyone believes a homeless-looking woman like you is one of them?"

"Mrs. Grant's father is right inside. One word from him and we'll have you arrested for trespassing. So I suggest you leave quietly."

Mrs. Grant's father?

"Who is Mrs. Grant's father?" I demanded.

The guard rolled his eyes. "Mr. Langford, obviously. Sophia Langford's father, Robert Langford. Mr. Grant's new father-in-law. Now GO."

Robert Langford. I knew that name. He was a mid-level contractor who'd gone bankrupt twice. Elijah used to mock him at dinner parties.

Now he was the father-in-law at MY husband's wedding?

As they shoved me toward the door, three more guards surrounded me, blocking any path back to the ballroom.

"You want to do this the hard way?" The first guard pulled out a taser. "I'm authorized to use force on trespassers."

I looked at the ballroom doors. I could hear applause inside. Someone was giving a toast.

I took a breath and straightened my back.

"Fine. You want to see authorization?" I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

The guard sneered. "Calling your imaginary rich friends?"

The phone rang twice before a voice answered. "Ms. Ashford?"

"Daniel. I'm at the Astoria Grand. I'm being physically removed from the building by security staff. I need you here in ten minutes."

"Ma'am, I'll be there in five."

I hung up and looked at the guard calmly. "You have five minutes to decide if you'd like to keep your job."

He laughed in my face. "Five minutes? Lady, in five minutes, you'll be sitting in a police car."

He grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back, forcing me toward the exit.

That's when the ballroom doors swung open and Elijah walked out.

He wore a custom Tom Ford suit — the one I'd had made for his birthday last year. Ten thousand dollars. He'd said it was too expensive, that he'd save it for a special occasion.

I guess this was his special occasion.

His arm was around Sophia Langford. She was glowing in her wedding dress, her hand resting on his chest exactly like the poster.

Elijah saw me and froze.

For one second, just one, I saw panic in his eyes.

Then it was gone.

He squared his shoulders, looked me up and down and said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Security, why is this woman still here? I told you — she's a stalker. She's obsessed with me. Get her out."