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“Why didn’t you tell me about Ace Corps?”
I’m having a whiplash at how fast Riley is flitting between different topics, but I understand that this is all too much for him, and he’s trying to make sense of it.
“There’s no valid excuse, Riley. I swear I meant to tell you, but I was scared about how you would react, so I kept postponing it.” I pace the living room. “My life here in New York and back in France is completely different, and I try as much as possible not to spill anything over from both worlds. Here, in New York, I’m happiest.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s no family responsibility,” I sigh. “Don’t get me wrong, I understand the weight on my shoulders and am willing to bear it, but I don’t have to like it. I was raised like an heir, never had friends, and never attended parties, until I came to NYU and met you. You were the first person to ever treat me like a normal person, and I was scared that if I told you who I was, things between us would change.”
“Like hell, it would.” Riley rolls his eyes. “Nothing would have changed our friendship, Alec. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. We’re friends, and that's the only thing that matters.”
“I’m sorry, Riley. I really am.”
Riley stares at me for a few seconds before shrugging. “What’s with you and Jasmine?”
At the mention of her name, my heart constricts. “I love your sister, Riley. I love her so much. I’m not going to hurt her. I promise you.”
“You already did,” Riley frowns. “Who is the lady you were on a date with?”
I release a deep breath, regretting that I even agreed to go on that date with Eve in the first place. “Remember the family responsibilities I told you earlier?”
“Yes.”
“Eve is a major example.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ve been betrothed to each other since we were little.”
“What? They still do that?”
“You’ll be surprised at the many archaic practices the rich still dabble in,” I scoff. “Anyways, my family expects that I marry Eve to strengthen our alliances and merge the Sicilian and Ace corporations.”
“Then what do you want with Jasmine?” All traces of laughter disappear from Riley’s eyes. “This sounds like too much trouble.”
“It is, but I don’t love Eve, and I won’t marry her. I love Jasmine. She’s the one I want to be with.”
“Your family would not accept her,” Riley says, and I’m shocked by how close to the truth he is.
“At the end of the day, my family cannot dictate the decisions I make for my happiness. After the date, I broke it off with Eve.” I walk towards Riley, stopping a few feet away from him.
“Riley, I promise that I’ll never hurt Jasmine. You can trust me with her. She means the world to me, and I’ll fight everything—even my family—to ensure we end up together. I promise.”
For a moment, Riley doesn’t speak. Then, he balls his hand into a fist and punches me across the face. I stagger back, my hand touching my nose where blood is trickling out. I look up to see Riley smirking at him.
“That’s for making Jasmine cry,” he says. “Don’t do it again.”
“I deserve that.” I nod, wiping off the blood. “Any idea where she must have gone?”
“Ana’s house,” Riley says, and I rush out.
Damien is waiting downstairs in the car, and his eyes narrow when he sees my bloody nose. “What happened?”
“Riley.” I shut the door behind me. “Drive. We’re going to Ana’s house.”
Damien pulls the car onto the road with a disapproving look on his face. “Why did Riley hit you?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shuffle through the glove compartment for some tissues and wipe the blood trailing from my nose.
