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After dinner, as we came down the restaurant steps, my phone rang. Beatrice.

"Nina. Professor wants me to confirm. Are you committing to the full timeline? The project's classified. You may be out of contact with the outside for a year or two."

Ahead of me, Dante walked down the steps with his arm carefully around Isobel's waist.

My voice was perfectly level. "I'm confirming."

On the other end, Beatrice exhaled. "Good. Professor was worried you wouldn't be able to leave your husband."

I pulled my eyes off them and turned the other way.

"The wedding's canceled."

"I'm ready to leave."

My words had barely died in the air when a voice behind me said, confused:

"Who's leaving?"