“Why no?” Aunt Lydia’s voice rose, sharp with confusion and a hint of hurt. She leaned forward on the couch, her hand slipping off Jace’s knee as she stared at me. “Ava, what’s wrong?”

I stood there, frozen in the doorway, my pulse still racing from the hotel disaster. My mouth opened and closed once before the words tumbled out louder than I intended. “No—it can’t be possible. Marrying this man?” It came out almost a yell, my voice cracking on the last word.

Lydia’s ...