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I’d missed several reunions over the years because of work. They were so used to it by now they didn’t bother pressuring me to “take time off,” which made me feel even worse.

The flight attendant came by to offer us more food and drinks. Vuk and I both declined before he focused on me again.

Who’s your favorite sibling?

I side-eyed him. “Are you trying to get me in trouble?”

He shrugged, a shadow of a smirk playing around his mouth.

I didn’t know what to make of his sudden interest in my personal life. I hadn’t forgotten his earlier note:I don’t hate you. But I wish I did.

But he wasn’t acting like he wanted to hate me. He was acting like he genuinely wanted to know more about me.

We were apparently blowing hot again. As much as I hated his mood swings, it’d been so long since I’d had a real conversation about anything other than work and the wedding. It was…nice.

“I love them both, but Liya is closer to my age,” I conceded. “She’s three years older than me while Aaron is seven years older. We just have more in common. You’ll meet her soon; she’s my maid of honor.”

Vuk’s mouth flattened into a straight line again.Why Jordan?

I blinked, so thrown off by the sudden switch in topic it took me a minute to respond. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Why did you choose to marry him?

Choose. That word again.

I supposed Ihadchosen to marry him, but like my modeling career, it was out of necessity more than anything else.

My entire adult life had been shaped by circumstances out of my control.

A rock lodged in my throat. I crossed my legs and smoothed a hand over my skirt, stalling for time.

I wasn’t a fidgeter, but Vuk’s questions—his very presence—set me on edge. I felt like I was teetering on the precipice of ruin. One wrong move, and everything would come crashing down.

“Why wouldn’t I marry him?”

Deflection 101: answer a question with a question and hope they moved on.

Vuk’s gaze bore into mine, so cold it burned.

That’s not an answer, Ayana.

I’d never heard his voice, but the phantom sound of my name sent an electric shiver down my spine.

“He’s nice.” I suppressed a wince at my milquetoast description. “We’ve known each other for a long time, and we enjoy each other’s company. He’s exactly the type of person I should marry.”

I wasn’t selling our love story at all, but in my defense, no one had ever asked me why I was marrying Jordan. The model and the fashion CEO. To most people, the answer was obvious.

Unfortunately, Vuk wasn’t most people.

If we use your logic, I would’ve married Jordan before you. I’ve known him a long time, and I enjoy his company.

I would’ve teased him about almost making a joke had it not been for the strange sparks dancing beneath my skin. “That’s a lie. You don’t enjoy anyone’s company.”

Wrong.

“Name one person whose company you enjoy. Besides Jordan.”

Does he not count as “anyone?”