Dear EX
Roman began, his deep, gravelly voice booming over the sound system.
The room was dead quiet.
"When my brother told me he was getting married, I was surprised," Roman said, his words measured, slow, and dangerous. "In our family, we are taught to measure everything. Value. Status. Investments. We are raised to believe that love is just a transaction. Something you negotiate on paper with the right family name."
Victoria Blake smiled proudly from her front table, raising her wine glass in approval. Julianna sat up straighter, beaming.
"But real love..." Roman continued, his voice dropping an octave as his eyes burned into mine, refusing to let me look away. "Real love isn't clean. It isn't st