Bianca found Scarlett standing not too far behind their mother. “What’s going on?” she hissed.
“No idea,” Scarlett murmured. “Mom just started freaking out.”
“I don’t know what the fuss is,” Ellen said, maintaining the dignity that Vivianne had forgotten. “I have to say, this isn’t the Vivi I remember.”
“Get her out of here,” Vivianne hissed. “Now.”
Bianca stepped forward instinctively. But before she could blink, her father was beside her, one hand on his youngest’s arm. Bianca froze. When was the last time her father willingly touched her, let alone out of concern?
“Viv,” he said. “Calm down. Let the security take care of this.”
Ellen shot him a look that Bianca couldn’t parse. Neither could Scarlett, who instinctively took her sister’s other arm and drew her backward as her eyes searched the crowd for Isabel.
“I want her out of here. And I never want to see her again.” Vivianne turned around, jabbing a finger in Sam’s direction. “Do you understand me?
Sam nodded, proceeding to take care of the situation. Scarlett released her grasp on Bianca, instead taking the hand of Isabel, who was now by her side.
Bianca turned to her mother. “What is going on? What did Ellen do?”
“She was not on the guest list. She must have sweet-talked her way in somehow.” Suddenly, her mother’s face paled. She grabbed Bianca by the shoulders. “Ellen. How did you know her name? Tell me!”
“I…” Bianca glanced around, trying to come up with an adequate lie. “I’ve met her before. She introduced herself to me as an old friend of yours. From college.”
Her mother was so unsteady that her husband had to steady her with his hand. “That woman is a liar. Do not trust her. Do not talk to her. Do not let her get close to you ever again.” She glanced at Scarlett, along with Parker, who had just joined them. “That goes for all of you.”
It was Scarlett who spoke the thought that was on Bianca’s mind. “Is that woman the security threat?”
Her father inserted himself between them. “Disperse, girls. We’ll talk about this later.”