24. Roman
The fork froze halfway to my mouth and for a second, I genuinely forgot how to breathe.
Tiana's question lingered between us. It was simple but devastating.
"If you loved me... why didn't you choose me when my family wanted a business marriage?"
The eggs on my fork suddenly became the least important thing in the world.
Slowly, I lowered the utensil back onto the plate. Across from me, Tiana watched and waiting.
God!
I had imagined this conversation a thousand times over the years. In every version, I was smarter, braver and less pathetic. But sitting here now, staring at the woman I had spent years loving from a distance, I realized there was no perfect answer, only the truth and the truth made me look like a fool.
I leaned back in my chair, ran a hand over my jaw then l
