로그인lucian POV....I had been so consumed by the questions surrounding my mother, Aroma, and Damien Voss that I had forgotten about the person sitting at the center of everything—Aria.Not because I didn't care.Perhaps that was the problem.For so long, I had trained myself not to care about her feelings. I had convinced myself that she was simply Romano's daughter, another piece on a board I had been playing on for years. I had insulted her, humiliated her, controlled her choices, and deliberately made her feel small because I wanted her father to suffer.I had called it revenge.I had called it justice.But sitting alone in my mother's old room, reading the letter she had written to Aroma about wanting our children to escape this poisonous world, I had finally understood how cruel my own actions looked.My mother had wished for Lucian and Aria to find happiness.Instead, I had brought the very darkness she had wanted them to escape.By the time I reached Aria's room, it was late evenin
Lucian.I couldn't stop looking at the photograph.Aria was still standing across from me, her eyes fixed on the old picture of her mother. I had spent years believing I knew every important detail about my mother's life.Apparently, I didn't.My mother had never spoken to me about Aroma.Not once.When I was young, if I asked about her friends, there had always been one name.Lilly.Lilly had been the woman my mother trusted. The woman whose letters I had occasionally seen. The woman who visited our house and sat beside my mother for hours, drinking tea and discussing everything from family problems to society gossip.I had never heard the name Aroma.Until today.And now I was holding a letter written by my mother to Aria's mother as though they had shared a friendship important enough for my mother to dream about our children growing up together.Why had she hidden it?I looked at the letter again.There was nothing suspicious in the words.Nothing about Damien.Nothing about Roman
Lucian... stared at the envelope bearing Aria's name. For several seconds, I couldn't bring myself to open it. Something about the handwriting felt familiar. Not because I had seen it recently. Because I had seen it as a child. I carefully unfolded the brittle paper inside. The moment I saw the handwriting, my chest tightened. It belonged to my mother. My fingers trembled. "That's my mother's handwriting," I whispered. Lucas stepped closer, but I raised my hand. "Give me a moment." I began reading. My dearest friend, I don't know what the future will bring for either of us, but there is one dream I have carried in my heart for years. I want our children to marry one day. Not because of business. Not because of family names. Not because of money or power. I want them to choose each other freely. I want our children to have the life we were never allowed to have. We have spent too many years surrounded by people who believe wealth gives them the ri
lucian...I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.Little Aria.Six years old, perhaps seven. Messy hair, dusty cheeks, and a smile so innocent that it seemed almost impossible that the woman I knew had once been that carefree.But it wasn't the photograph that disturbed me.It was the message on the back.Never forget what you promised me.— Damien VossI read it again.And again."Lucas," I said quietly, "find out when this photograph was taken."He immediately pulled out his phone."Already checking."I walked around Romano's office, searching for anything that could explain why Damien had kept this photograph—or why he had left his message on it.The desk drawers were empty.The bookshelves had been cleared.Even the paintings had disappeared.Whoever had emptied this mansion hadn't simply moved out.They had erased themselves."Sir."I turned.Lucas was staring at his phone."What?""This photograph was taken seventeen years ago."My eyes narrowed."Seventeen?""Yes. Aria would
Lucian..Three days had passed.The mansion no longer echoed with Aria's laughter. She barely left her room except when I practically forced her to eat.That morning was no different.I walked into the dining room to find her staring blankly out the window while breakfast sat untouched.The chef had prepared everything she used to like.Fresh fruit.Butter croissants.Scrambled eggs.Orange juice.None of it had been touched.I pulled out the chair across from her."Eat."No response.She continued staring at the garden."Aria."Nothing.I sighed."For God's sake, you're not going to solve anything by starving yourself.""I don't feel hungry.""You haven't felt hungry in three days."Silence.I pushed the plate closer."Eat."She looked at me with tired eyes."You sound like my father."Something inside me twisted."I don't care what I sound like.""You'll eat."She reluctantly picked up the fork and forced herself to take a bite.Only one.But it was enough.I stood."I'll be back be
lucian...imitation."I clenched my jaw."So we're chasing shadows."Lucas nodded."There is one more thing.""What?""The message itself."He enlarged the recovered text.Only one sentence had survived.Everything is ready. Bring her when the time comes.I read it again.And again.Bring her.My grip tightened around the tablet."Who is 'her'?"Lucas remained silent.Neither of us had an answer.I looked toward Aria.She still hadn't moved.Could this have been about her?Or someone else entirely?My thoughts drifted back fifteen years.The fire.The screams.The smell of smoke.Victor Romano standing on the ruins of my family's empire.Back then, Aria didn't even exist.She had never been part of my hatred.She had become part of it only because she carried Romano's name.If this message was real...Then Victor Romano had been hiding something for years.If it was fake...Someone wanted me to believe he was.Either possibility changed everything.I handed the tablet back to Lucas."







