The air conditioning in the California police station was set to an icy chill.

Kyle Grant stood before the cold storage unit, staring at two waterlogged corpses with pallid skin. His bodyguard pointed to a scratch on one victim's arm. "This is the mark."

The coroner adjusted his rubber gloves as he examined the wound. "Time of death exceeds 48 hours. Both victims suffered severe beatings prior to expiration."

Kyle's eyes turned glacial.

The killers had been silenced.

He immediately dialed Ethan Sullivan. "The hitmen are dead."

Ethan's voice came through low and tense. "My father's still hospitalized. His phone's confiscated."

"Your mother?"

"Vacationing in Switzerland." A pause. "It's Adrian."

Kyle tightened his grip on the phone. "He's killing two birds with one stone."

"Exactly." Ethan's tone dripped frost. "First driving a wedge between my father and me, then forcing Sophia to leave."

After hanging up, Kyle lit a cigarette outside the precinct.

Through the smoke, he recalled Sophia's gaunt face.

Three days later.

The Sullivan manor glittered with decorations.

Willow Grant stormed into the dressing room where Kyle adjusted his bowtie. "This stand-in bride is unconvincing!"

Kyle didn't glance up. "Grandmother's vision is failing."

"Do you take her for a blind woman?" Willow stamped her foot.

As the wedding march began, a slender figure appeared in the garden.

Kyle's pupils contracted.

Sophia Laurent approached in a pale dress, her complexion ghostly white.

"Who invited you?" His voice strained.

Willow interjected, "My honored guest."

Sophia eyed the impostor bride. "I'll adjust her makeup."

Thirty minutes later, the transformed bride left everyone speechless.

Willow glared daggers at her son.

In her wheelchair, the frail grandmother trembled as she raised her spectacles.

"Is that...Sophia?"

Kyle's Adam's apple bobbed. "Yes."

Tears welled in the old woman's clouded eyes. "Good...so good..."

Mid-ceremony, Lillian Yates burst in.

"Kyle!" She shrieked, yanking his sleeve. "How could you marry someone else?"

The veil slipped askew.

Kyle clamped it down. "Don't."

Lillian snapped photos through her tears.

Departing, she dialed Ethan.

"Your beloved," she spat, "is marrying another man!"

Dead silence answered.

Lillian cackled wildly, sending every image.

In a shadowed corner, Sophia observed the spectacle.

She turned to leave—then heard porcelain shatter.

Beside the grandmother's wheelchair, steaming tea pooled among broken china.