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I let out a slow breath. “Yeah. About that.”

Emily waited.

I glanced toward the balcony door just to make sure nobody was nearby.

Then I looked back at her. “I know my brother likes to keep things away from you,” I said. “He thinks he’s protecting you.”

Emily nodded slowly. “He does.”

“But as a woman,” I continued, “and as your friend, I’m not going to do that.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Do what?”

“Lie to you.” I leaned back in my chair. “My family does arranged marriages with other families to gain power.”

“Wait. Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

Her face twisted in confusion. “And your mom keeps bringing that up because…?”

“Just know it isn’t Zay. I’m the one who’s supposed to do it.”

Emily stared at me. “With who?”

My eyes drifted toward the ocean for a second before I answered. “Ares.”

“You’re telling me you’re being forced to marry him?”

“Yeah.”

“Like, actually marry him?”

“Yeah.”

She shook her head. “Wait… hold on.” Her brain was clearly trying to catch up. “You don’t want to be with him?”

“No.” I laughed softly, but there wasn’t any humor in it. “I mean… I had him before. One night in Vegas. But… I barely know the man.”

Emily leaned back in her chair again, staring out toward the water.

Little Zay ran past us again, completely happy in his own world.

After a few seconds, she spoke again. “Can I be honest with you?”

“Please.”

“I heard things about Ares through the girls in the modeling industry.”

I raised my eyebrow. “What things?”

“That he treats women good.”

I frowned. “Girl, money don’t make a man good.”

She shrugged. “I’m serious. I’ve heard people say he’s charming. That he’s respectful. He doesn’t hit women. He knows how to love.”

I rolled my eyes a little. “Emily, that man had six girlfriends. That’s not love.”