24. RomanThe 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 laughed quietly. The sound carried no amusement."You really want to know?"Her eyes softened."Yes."I looked down at the table, at the coffee growing cold beside me, at anything except her because looking a
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