The silence in the cathedral was absolute, save for the ragged, uneven sound of Desmond Vance’s breathing. Pinned to the cold marble floor by the heavy hands of Vivienne’s security detail, his previously immaculate tuxedo was twisted, the bowtie hanging limply from his collar like a broken noose.

"No!" Desmond’s scream tore through the cathedral, a raw, guttural sound of a man watching his entire universe collapse. He thrashed violently, ignoring the heavy hands of the guards pinning his shoulders to the marble. "This is a forgery! It's a lie! I went to the clinic in Geneva myself! I gave th

The rhythmic, rubber-on-marble squeak of the stroller’s wheels echoed through the cavernous expanse of the cathedral.

It was the only sound in the world.

The millions of people watching the live broadcast from their phones, their televisions, and their office computers were entirely silent. The