Pending release

Tristan knew she was trying to dodge his question and wasn't going to let her off the hook so easily. "I'm sure you'll find multiple ways to twist my questions and give me weird, beat-around-the-bush answers so I'll just ask straightforwardly."

He brought his fingers to her chin and tilted her head up so she could look at him. Tristan stared deeply into her eyes as he asked her, "In the hospital, you said you loved me, did you mean it?"

"I want you to be honest with me, Anessa."

She wanted to be honest with him, but she was too afraid. Before in the hospital, they were only acting, and at that moment, she blurted out that she loved him, but his reaction, she was terrified to know the truth of it.

"I just wanted Victoria to think she really was taking you from me." Anessa smiled as she playfully punched his shoulder, "Your reaction was perfect." She met his green eyes before wrapping her arms around his waist, "I really really like you though."