“Deviana, wait!”

That deep voice chased after her just as she slammed her car door shut. Deviana glanced back—and there stood Adrian, breathing heavily, his eyes filled with worry.

“What now, Adrian? Do you want to tell me I have to obey your family’s orders?” Her voice was sharp, trembling with anger.

Adrian stepped closer, his hand half-raised but stopping in the air. “I’m not asking you to obey them. I just… I just want to talk to you. Just once, without them between us.”

Deviana scoffed, opening her car door again. “Talk? We’ve talked too many times, Adrian. And it always ends the same—I’m the one who has to...