CHAPTER 26
A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by the mundane sounds of the busy restaurant. Sterling let the weight of his admission hang in the air for a long moment, watching Amelia’s face fall still with the finality of it.
“It’s a family obligation,” he finally explained, his voice so quiet it was barely audible above the din. “A contract, drawn up years ago. It’s what my family does. It was never my choice, and it’s not something I have any say in.”
He ran a hand through his hair, his earlier weariness returning. “I didn’t tell you because… I suppose I wanted to pretend it didn’t exist, at least not with you. Our time together was the one place where I could forget about it.”
He looked at her, his expression filled with regret, and he offered no excuses, just the tr
