When she challenged an assumption.
When she hesitated before speaking.
And gradually, undeniably… she noticed him noticing.
—
It was Zayn who clarified the connection one evening when she stayed for dinner.
“Thomas is a distant cousin,” he explained casually. “Different branch of the family.”
Lana blinked.
“That explains the last name.”
“And his tolerance for pressure, even if sometimes he can be quite annoying and competitive without reason,” Zayn added dryly.
The information settled something in her mind — made his presence feel less like coincidence and more like inevitability.
Still… inevitability did not explain the way his attention lingered.
Or the way his voice softened slightly when addressing her directly.
Or the quiet patience with which he waited for her responses,
