Page 182 of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding

Heis.

“I’m sorry, Em.”

“Sorry for what?”

“ItwasFred. Fred and Simone.”

“What?”

There’s a cacophony of voices. I’m not even sure who’s speaking.

But it’s clear in my mind. Finally.

I turn to Simone, who’s standing stock-still. “You were bailing him out, weren’t you? It wasn’t your idea, it wasFred’s. This isall his fault.Heowed money to Tyler and didn’t have a way out. He had to make the movie to pay back his debt. And then he brought youon as the director as, what? An apology?”

Simone’s chin lifts. “I deserved the job.”

“Of course you did. But you’ve been in the wilderness for years, just like David. This was your shot. He probably didn’t even tell you about his plan to seduce Emma and marry her for her money at first.”

“He didnot.”

“Of course he didn’t. He thinks he’s smarter than he is. But nothing he does ever fixes anything. It only makes it worse.” I pause, waiting for her to say something more.

I don’t even search for Fred in the room, but I can feel him backing away from us.

Only there’s nowhere to go.

“And then what happened?” I say, working it out aloud. “Hewent and fell for Emma for real, didn’t he? He left you for her. He was going to get his cake and eat it, too, and leave you out of it. After everything you did for him.”

“Fred?” Emma says. “What’s she talking about? Is this...Is this true?”

And now we all turn to look at him. He seems smaller than he did a few minutes ago, like the key light he’s usually standing under has been dimmed.

“Of course not, darling, I promise. I love you.” His voice sounds hollow. “That’s the only thing she’s said that’s true. I fell in love with you, I did.”

“And her?” Emma’s hand rises and points toward Simone.

“She’s nothing to me.”

Simone winces.

“But you were with her...You told me it was casual, but you lied. And your mother. Your mother hates Simone. She wouldn’t hate just some random girl you’d been with. She wouldn’t accuse her of murder.” Emma’s head shakes slowly from side to side. “Isshethe ex? The ex who was texting you? The one you couldn’t let anyone know about?”

“No.”

“I don’t believe you.” Emma slides down to the floor, her knees catching her in a deep knee bend. “Oh my God. Oh my God. You were going to kill me, weren’t you?”

Bile rises in my throat because it’s sickening, that thought. But also, it must be true.

“I would never do that.”

“But you’d have to. We signed a prenup. If we got divorced, you wouldn’t get anything. But if I die...if I die, then you geteverything.”

“Oldest motive in the book.”

“Shut up, Tucci!”

“You were going to kill me.” Emma’s swaying on her heels now, still crouched. Maybe she feels safer, closer to the ground.

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