The guests hummed approvingly. How romantic! I felt a cold knot tighten in my throat. I had known Darius for exactly ten years, but I remembered no secret love. Our relationship had begun just one year ago, swiftly and professionally, at my father’s behest.

“And I believe that today, on this most important day, I must finally be honest,” Darius continued, his voice rising. He looked toward the head table, but not at me. His gaze was fixed on Simone. “This dance, this first dance in my new life, is for the one I’ve secretly loved all these ten years