He sighs. “I know, Karina. But that doesn’t answer my question.”

“They’re my parents,” I repeat, not knowing what else to say. “I can’t let them down.”

“What’s going to happen if you do? Would they stop caring about you? Stop loving you?”

“Maybe!” I bite my tongue. I didn’t mean to say that.

Ace looks at me in surprise. “Is that true? Would they stop loving you because you’re not who they want you to be?”

“I—I don’t know,” I say, my breaths coming faster. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...

He scrubs a hand over his face. “Listen, I don’t care about telling your parents about us. I don’t care if they never know. As long as you want to be together, that’s enough for me. We respect each other’s lines, right? But what about you? You have to hide so much of yourself from your parents. Do they even know who you are?”

“They know enough,” I say, swallowing painfully.

“Do they?” he asks lightly. “I’m asking genuinely. It’s your life, not mine. I’ll never ask you to do something you don’t want to do. That’s not my place. But is this enough for you? Is it enough to have their love, even if it means hiding who you really are? You’re their daughter, Karina. You shouldn’t have to change yourself to make them happy. If their love comes with terms and conditions, what’s the point?”

“They’re my parents.” My voice cracks miserably. “I can’t—I can’t...”

Ace reaches for me, but I move back unthinkingly.

“Karina,” he says, his own voice pained. “I want you to be happy. I want you to want yourself to be happy.”

“I am happy.” I blink back tears. “But I’d be happier if I made them proud.”

“You make me proud,” he says softly. “You make Nandini and Cora proud. You make Miss Cannon proud. You make your Dadu proud. Can’t that be enough?”

I heave on a sob. It’s not enough. It’s not enough, and I wish so badly that it was.

Ace reaches for me again but falters halfway. “Can I please touch you?”

Another sob tears its way out of my throat, and I nod. I need something to ground me.

He wraps his arms around me, and I bury my head in his chest, crying. I wish it didn’t have to be like this. I wish it was enough to have other people look at me with pride. I wish I didn’t feel like I owe this gigantic debt to my parents and the only way to ever pay it back is to succeed in their eyes.