"But the person you love isn't me, Leo Joyce. Why can't you just let me go?"
Tiana's words made Leo Joyce freeze. For a moment, it felt as if time itself had stopped.
A few seconds later, Leo Joyce finally snapped out of it. He looked down at the crying woman in his arms, his expression earnest and grave. "Tiana, I can tell you with absolute certainty, the one I want is you! Only you!"
Tiana stiffened and gave a bitter laugh.
'Want?'
'He's always like this, so cleverly sidestepping her question. She'd clearly asked who he *loved*.'
"Tiana, trust me!"
'She wanted to trust him, but who was it that pushed her away every single time?'
Even though she knew Amelia would always have a place in his heart, she couldn't stop herself from asking, "So, do you love me, or Amelia Avery?"
"…" A wave of panic washed over Leo Joyce, and his eyes seemed to deliberately avoid Tiana's gaze.
