ZOE'S POV
Leo opened his mouth to answer my question, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart race. I could see him struggling with what to say, how much to reveal.
"Why did you kiss me?" I asked again, leaning forward in my chair.
He took a deep breath. "Zoe, I—"
The office door burst open without warning, and Marcus stormed in like he owned the place.
"Zoe," he said, completely ignoring Leo's presence. "We need to talk. Now."
I felt my stomach drop. "Marcus, this isn't a good time."
"I don't care if it's a good time. You and I are going to have a conversation right now."
Leo stood up from his chair, his face darkening. "Mr. Washington, this is my office. You can't just barge in here without knocking."
Marcus finally looked at him, his expression filled with disgust. "I'm taking my niece somewhere we can speak privately. Away from your influence."
"My influence?" Leo's voice was dangerously quiet.
"Marcus, stop," I said, standing up too. "You can't talk to him like that."
"I can talk to him however I want. He's destroyed your reputation, Zoe. He's ruined your future."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it? Do you think any respectable music program is going to accept you after this scandal? Do you think any orchestra is going to hire you knowing you were involved with your professor?"
The words hit me like physical blows, but I forced myself to stand straighter. "If they judge me based on gossip instead of my talent, then I don't want to work for them anyway."
Marcus grabbed my arm. "Come on. We're leaving."
"Take your hands off her," Leo said, stepping around his desk.
"Or what? You'll call security? You'll have me arrested? I'm her guardian, and I'm taking her home."
"I'm twenty-three years old," I said, pulling my arm free. "You're not my guardian anymore. You haven't been for two years."
"Zoe—"
"No, Marcus. I'm done listening to you try to control my life."
I walked out of Leo’s office, with my uncle trailing behind me.
"We're going home," Marcus said, trying to grab my arm again. "We're going to figure out how to fix this mess."
"There's nothing to fix," I said, stepping away from him. "The only problem here is you spying on us and arranging for that video to be taken."
"I did no such thing."
"Didn't you? Then explain to me how someone happened to be on that beach with a camera at three in the morning."
Marcus's face went red. "It doesn't matter how the video was taken. What matters is that it exists, and it shows you making the biggest mistake of your life."
"The biggest mistake of my life was trusting you to have my best interests at heart."
"Everything I've done has been for you, Zoe. Everything."
I felt tears starting to form in my eyes, but I blinked them back. "No, Marcus. Everything you've done has been for you. For your reputation, for your connections, for your career. I've just been a convenient way for you to stay relevant in the music world."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it? When was the last time you asked me what I wanted? When was the last time you supported a decision of mine that you didn't make for me first?"
Marcus looked genuinely hurt by my words. "I've sacrificed everything for you, Zoe. My own career, my own relationships—"
"Nobody asked you to sacrifice anything. You chose to take me in after my parents died, and I'll always be grateful for that. But gratitude doesn't mean I owe you my entire life."
"You don't understand what you're throwing away."
"Yes, I do. And you know what I'm throwing it away for? For the chance to be with someone who actually listens to me. Someone who respects my music and my opinions. Someone who makes me feel like I'm worth something."
Marcus's mouth fell open. "Are you talking about him?"
"Yes, I'm talking about him."
"Zoe, you can't be serious. You're infatuated with your professor. This isn't real love. This is just—"
"This is just what, Marcus? Just me being young and stupid? Just me being manipulated by an older man? Is that what you think of me?"
"I think you're confused. I think you've mistaken mentorship for romance."
I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I know the difference between mentorship and romance, Marcus. And I know that I'm in love with Leo Mercer."
The hallway went completely silent. Even the passing students had stopped to listen to our argument.
Marcus stared at me like I'd just told him I was planning to drop out of school and join the circus.
"You don't know what you're saying," he whispered.
"Yes, I do. I'm saying that I like him. I'm saying that I care about him. I'm saying that what happened between us wasn't a mistake or a moment of weakness. It was real."
"Zoe—"
I turned around to walk away, feeling liberated by what I'd just done.
That's when I saw Leo standing behind me, just inside the building entrance. His face was pale, his eyes wide with something that looked like disbelief.
He'd heard everything.