Our schedules had never lined up, and the handful of family details he’d told me had never included the name Rosewood Hall.
Margaret nodded toward the file.
“When you said Ethan Carter, I wondered whether you were the Violet Savannah had heard about.
I called her.
She confirmed it, then asked me to pull the reservation history before anyone changed another thing.”
Vivian seized on that immediately.
“So this is favoritism.”
Savannah looked almost amused.
“No.
The family connection is why my mother recognized Violet’s name.
The contract is why Violet keeps the date.”
She tapped the first page.
“If her fiancé were a stranger to me, this paperwork would say exactly the same thing.”
That was the part that mattered most.
I didn’t want Rosewood because Ethan knew somebody who knew somebody.
I wanted the room because I’d signed for it, saved for it, and paid for it.
My aunt had spent years treating basic fairness like a favor people granted when they liked you enough.
Savannah was making it painfully clear that no favor was required.
Chloe had been silent for most of the confrontation.
Now she stepped away from her mother.
“Mom, did you know it was Violet’s actual wedding date?”
Vivian turned toward her.
“Of course I knew.
That’s why I told them it could be worked out.”
Chloe’s face changed.
“You told me Rosewood had an opening.”
“It does now.”
“No,” Chloe said.
“It doesn’t.”
For the first time, Vivian looked betrayed by someone other than me.
“Chloe, don’t start.”
“You said they were moving another event.
You didn’t say you were moving Violet’s wedding.”
Vivian’s shoulders stiffened.
“Your engagement party is important.”
“So is her wedding.”
The words were simple, but Vivian reacted as though Chloe had shouted.
I watched my cousin put her phone into her purse.
“I’m not having my party here on her date.
Even if they offered it.”
Mrs.
Delaney nodded once.
“They won’t.”
Vivian turned back toward Margaret.
“Are you refusing our business entirely?”
“I’m refusing to give you this date.
If your daughter wants to inquire about another available date under our normal terms, she may.”
That was more restraint than Vivian would have shown anyone else.
She didn’t appreciate it.
“I know people who book events all over this city.”
Margaret’s gaze remained steady.
“Then I’m sure they’ll appreciate accurate information about our policy.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.
It’s a policy.”
