CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX: LOVE

Tiana’s heart sank as she braced herself for the inevitable rejection. She had known all along that confessing her feelings to Adrian was a risky move, but she had hoped against hope that he might feel the same way .”But,” Adrian continued, his voice softening slightly, “I’m afraid I cannot give you the answer you seek at this moment.” Tiana’s eyes widened in surprise at Adrian’s unexpected response. She had been prepared for rejection, but this was something else entirely. Adrian’s cryptic words left her feeling confused and uncertain, unsure of what to make of his ambiguous response. ”I need time,” Adrian continued, his gaze intense as he locked eyes with Tiana. “Time to sort through my own feelings, to unravel the complexities of my heart. I cannot promise you anything, Tiana, but I can promise to be honest with you every step of the way.” Tiana’s heart swelled with a mixture of hope and apprehension at Adrian’s words. Though his response was far from the declaration of love