e Lancaster family was a tight-knit unit, bound by secrets, unspoken expectations, and the constant pressure to uphold thei

nearby, felt as though he were a million miles away. Arielle had resigned herself to the fact that she would never break through his i

lingered a second too long, a barely audible sigh as they passed each other in the hallway. These were the cracks

come her with open arms. Eleanor, Damien's mother, was particularly cold, her sharp eyes always scrutinizing Arielle as though trying to unearth

y through the grand hallways of the Lancast

iel

his ever-present smirk plastered across his face. He was leani

ffering a polite nod.

h that signature nonchalance. "I thought we might have a

brow. "I don't recall

, actually, how you and Damien keep dancing around each other. You

if it was the frustration she felt with him or the curious way Julian spo

ou implying?" she a

are willing to admit," Julian replied, his smile widening. "I'm not blind, A

ian to be so direct. "I don't know what you're talking about,"

t quite place. "You don't have to pretend with me. I know Damien. I kno

Interested in me?" The idea seemed preposterous, and yet... i

t I'm not here to talk about that. I want to talk abo

d her eyes. "An

ere alone before speaking. "I've been doing some diggi

curiosity piqued despite he

bout your past-why you're really here. And wha

ropped. "What

sement in his eyes. "You're not just a substitute, Arielle. You're not just some poor

ickened. "What are

ly. The one you've been hiding from," he said,

er family? What did Julian know about her? The very idea that he c

id through gritted teeth. "But if you've been snoop

ot trying to cause trouble. But you should know that I found s

le demanded, her voice rising sligh

"Let's just say that your father isn't who

caster household. She hadn't seen or heard from her father in years, and her mother... well, her mother's influence

e the fear crawling up her spine. "What do

father didn't just abandon you and your mother. He was pushed out-by someone who's v

to make sense of the web Julian was weaving. Who was he talking about? W

y. I won't say anything more until you're ready to hear the full story. All I

ught in her throat.

," Julian said, his voice now low and serious. "And if I were you,

eart pounding in her chest. She felt like the ground beneath her was slippi

r. What had Julian meant? What did he know about her fami

a passive participant in the Lancaster family drama. She had her own secrets to un

-