Page 98 of Symphony for Lies

I was speechless.

“Tristan and I never got along,” he continued. “He’s known for a long time that I am interested in you. I get back into town, and suddenly, he’s always by your side. Before, you two weren’t even that close.”

His lips pressed into a tight line as if he had just swallowed something bitter.“And now, you’re worried about him. You want to help him. Of course, that doesn’t make me happy.”

It took me a moment to speak. “How long have you been interested in me?”

Another long pause.

He pulled into his driveway, keeping his hands on the wheel.“Three years.”

My lips partedslightly.

“Since the first time I saw you while I was on stage,” he admitted.“You looked at me with shining eyes while I played my violin. I hated that song so much.” His gaze finally met mine.“But your eyes… you loved it.

“I was having a terrible time that night. And then… you were there.” He exhaled sharply. “At every performance, you stood out in the audience. Even after I left this city, you stayed in my mind. I didn’t know how to approach you. And then, one day… there you were. Standing in front of my parents’ house.”

His lips curled into something between amusement and disbelief.“Like a gift served on a silver platter.”

“And that’s why you were so rude to me?”

He laughed at himself.“Because I’m a fucking amateur.” When he turned fully towards me, his expression was raw, open, and achingly honest.“I’ve always had everything I wanted. Success, money, recognition. But you? You were the one thing I couldn’t just have.”

He gestured toward his chest. “It hurt like hell to see you laughing with Tristan. To see you hug him.” His hand found mine, guiding it over his heart.It raced beneath my touch.

“You never looked at me the way you looked at him. But when I saw that door crack open, I had to squeeze through it, no matter what. I took my chance, Amelia. I wasn’t going to let it close again.”

My own heartbeat matched his.

A small smile formed at the corner of his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes.“Kiss me, Amelia. And tell me that Tristan means nothing to you.”

His confession had thrown me completely off balance.

My heart screamed to lean in, to erase the tension with my lips. But my mind? Chaos.

Tristan was important to me. Not in a romantic sense, but he was someone I admired. A friend who helped me when I felt lost. When mygrandfather died, Tristan’s music gave me a way to process my grief and help me cope.

He wasn’t just anyone.And I knew… I knew that he was innocent.

The longer I stayed silent, the heavier the air between us became. Zane was as rigid as stone.

“Zane—”

I barely got his name out before he yanked me against him, pressing our lips together in a fierce, desperate kiss.He trembled with raw hunger and fear, and his fingers dug into my skin like he was afraid to let go.

But I didn’t kiss him back. Instead, I bit down hard.

A sharp, metallic taste filled my mouth. Blood.

Zane still didn’t pull away.

I pressed both hands against his chest and pushed him back with all my strength.Cubbing his cheeks, I forced him to look at me.“Listen. To. Me.”

The air between us was thick and heavy with our ragged breaths. With unspoken words.

Zane’s tongue flicked out, tasting his own blood.

“Tristan and I are just friends.”