A huge thank-you to my Pitch Wars mentors Denise Williams and Charish Reid, for plucking me out of the submission pile and teaching me how to revise a novel. To everyone behind the Pitch Wars program that basically changed my life. To my Pitch Wars Romance family, Courtney, Nikki, Sarah, Ella, and Amy, I don’t think I could have survived all this without you. Vanessa, Alicia, and Jessica, your support has meant the world to me. To Monica and Adrianna, for helping me depict Nathan’s identity and heritage with respect and care. To Kristen and Rebecca, for cheering me on and making the day job bearable when juggling it all felt overwhelming.
Thank you to my parents, for your unconditional love and wisdom. To Vivian, for sharing your love of books. If you were still with us, I know you’d be proud. To James and Finley, for being the loves of my life. You are and will always be my reason. To Karen, for always believing I could do this, and loving all my characters as much （if not more） than I do. To Angel, for being the best twin sister I could ever ask for. All those summer library trips hauling heavy backpacks stuffed with books were worth it.
And finally, a huge thanks to you, my readers. Time is a gift and I’m honored to have been the recipient of yours.