51. (DEIRK POV)

(DEIRK POV)

I couldn't shake the feeling that Camilla had a hand in orchestrating this entire situation just for me. The tailored suit I donned, a gift from Dane years ago, was supposed to instill confidence, but instead, it served as a reminder of the facades we often hide behind.

Reflecting on the past month spent with Jo, I realized there was never a moment of desire beyond brotherly protection. My heart didn't race from our closeness, not in the way one might expect. Yes, I admired and cared for her, but the absence of any deeper romantic or sexual inclination towards her was a truth I could no longer ignore.

Despite my affection for the company of women, my heart veered in a different direction. Perhaps my upbringing, surrounded by women with a stark absence of male companionship, influenced my inclinations more than I cared to admit.

Dane wrapped me in a hug, his confidence in me unshaken. "Little lord, you've got this," he encouraged. His casual use of the nickname didn't