PART 2 — THE MAN IN THE DOORWAY
The gray-haired man stopped beneath the chandelier.
He looked around the ballroom once.
Then his eyes landed on me.
“Kristen?”
My throat tightened.
“Dr. Harris.”
A murmur passed through the guests.
Jessica’s face suddenly lost its color.
“Why is he here?” she whispered.
I didn’t answer.
Dr. Samuel Harris had been the emergency surgeon on duty twelve years earlier.
The night of the fire.
The night everyone in my family had agreed never to discuss again.
My father stepped toward him.
“Doctor, this is a private family event.”
Dr. Harris looked at him calmly.
“I know.”
Then he opened his leather briefcase.
“And that’s exactly why I came.”
Jessica grabbed my arm.
“Kristen, stop this.”
I gently pulled away.
“No.”
She stared at me.
“What are you doing?”
“For twelve years, I protected you.”
Her eyes filled with fear.
“From what?”
“The truth.”
PART 3 — TWELVE YEARS EARLIER
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