Maya's POV
Sebastian's attention shifted to me, that unresolved question about Valentina still suspended between us like a challenge waiting to be answered.
Then something unexpected happened. His lips curved into that maddening half-smile that appeared whenever he decided to flip the script entirely.
"What about you?" His voice carried a dangerous edge as his gaze pinned mine. "Are you still hung up on Julian?"
The directness of it knocked the breath from my lungs. My heart hammered against my ribs as if trying to escape. Sure, it was only fair after what I'd asked him, but something about the way he said it felt like he was peeling back layers I wasn't ready to expose.
"You already know the answer to that," I said, forcing myself to look out at the shadowy vineyard instead of into those penetrating eyes. "People don't just switch off years of feelings overnight."
