"Where did she go?" Anna whispered, her eyes scanning the crowd with a growing sense of urgency. She could have sworn she'd seen her heading toward the reception area—but now, it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
With a sigh of resignation, Anna briefly closed her eyes, wondering if it had all been a trick of her imagination. Just as she turned to head back to the wine tasting area, someone bumped into her, and the cold splash of wine nearly soaked the front of her dress. She dodged it just in time.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"
Anna's breath caught in her throat, her pulse thudding in her ears. It was a strange, jarring moment—she had just been imagining how it would feel to face Marienne again, and now, here she was.
Her hair was still that unmistakable artificial shade of blonde, cut short and neat, barely reaching the middle of her neck. Her large green eyes, framed by thick, exaggerated lashes, blinked at her with feigned innocence.
