I hated how well Callum filled out that suit, how my eyes refused to look away until I forced my head back to the food.
It didn’t matter, he’d find out soon enough—
My hand paused over the cheese.
No. That’s not fair. He, though was a jerk, deserved an answer before someone else said it for me. I didn’t want to wait for anyone to hand me the right time, the right words, the right stage.
I’d let too many people speak for me before. Bianca. The gossipers in the hall. Callum.
Even my father, who would be arriving soon with the truth on his tongue and a legacy to wield like a dagger.
But he didn’t get to say it first.
I did. And I had to end it. Callum was always chasing duty, not love. Not me.
I wiped my fingers on a napkin, took a breath, and began to cross the ballroom.
It was l
