You couldn’t allow it? No. The single word echoed through the empty ballroom. Desmond was quiet for a long moment.
Then to Novi’s surprise, he began to smile. “Zachary,” he said softly. “In all the years I’ve known you, you have never shown interest in any woman.”
Zach said nothing. “Girls threw themselves at you in college. Beautiful women, brilliant women, wealthy women.
You rejected every single one.” Desmond stepped closer to his nephew. Not cruy, you were always polite, but firmly.
Absolutely. Like the concept of romance was foreign to you. He paused and something like sadness flickered across his distinguished features.
After your father passed, after your mother left you at the funeral, you closed yourself off completely.
You built an empire, became more successful than anyone expected. But you became cold, Zachary.
Distant. He sighed heavily. Elizabeth worried about you most of all. Before she died, she made me promise to look after you, to help you find happiness.
Novi felt her chest tighten. His mother had left him at his father’s funeral. “I failed her in that,” Desmond continued.
“When you showed no interest in marriage, in children, in building a family, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I would marry a young woman, have children, ensure our family’s legacy continued. He looked at Novi, then back at Zach.
But now you’re telling me there’s a woman you care about? A woman worth disrupting my wedding for?
His smile widened. Genuine this time. Prove it. Noi’s stomach dropped. R. Prove it. If you two have history, if you care about each other the way you claim, a simple embrace should be easy.
Desmond’s gray eyes glittered with something like hope. Hug her, kiss her, anything, Zachary, right now.
Show me this great passion you apparently feel.” Zach didn’t move. His shoulders were rigid, his hands clenched behind his back, his face a perfect mask of nothing.
But Novi could see the tension radiating from every line of his body. “He can’t do it,” she realized with growing horror.
“He doesn’t like being touched. This is going to fall apart.” Vernon stepped forward, triumph gleaming in his small eyes.
You see, he can’t do it. He’s lying. They’re both lying. Zachary. Desmond’s voice was quiet but demanding.
Zach still didn’t move. Novi’s mind raced. If they failed this test, everything was over.
On Vernon would drag her back. Desmond would demand his bride. Her one chance at freedom would crumble.
I have to do something now. She stepped forward and slipped her hand into Zach’s.
His entire body went rigid. She felt his fingers twitch, felt the instinct to pull away ripple through him like an electric shock.
But she held on tight. “Please,” she thought desperately. “Please just play along.” “Baby,” she said, forcing her voice into something light and teasing.
“You know how you are. Don’t make this awkward.” She turned to Desmond with her most convincing smile.
He’s always been like this, absolutely hopeless with public affection. Even when we were together, I had to practically beg for handholding.
She laughed and it came out surprisingly natural. It’s not personal. He’s just wired differently.
I He shows love in other ways. Is that so? Absolutely. Novi leaned into Zach’s side, ignoring how stiff he’d become.
She could feel the warmth of him through his suit jacket, could smell his cologne.
Something clean and expensive and dangerously appealing. “Focus, Novi. Zach isn’t about grand gestures,” she continued.
“He’s about loyalty, about showing up when it matters, about the small things nobody else notices.”
She looked up at him, and their eyes met. His black gaze was intense, unreadable, boring into her like he was trying to solve a puzzle he’d never encountered before.
“Right, baby,” she prompted softly. A muscle ticked in his jaw. Then slowly, so slowly she almost missed it.
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