Aria didn't sleep.
Not even for a second.
The words from the night before kept replaying in her mind like a broken record.
Your father owed me.
It doesn't change the truth.
What if it is?
Each sentence felt like a knife twisting deeper into her chest.
By morning, her eyes were tired… but her mind was wide awake.
She needed answers.
And if Lucien wouldn't give them to her—
She would find them herself.
The mansion was unusually quiet as she stepped into the hallway.
Too quiet.
Like the walls themselves were hiding secrets.
Aria wrapped her arms around herself as she walked, her steps slow, cautious.
She didn't even know what she was looking for.
Anything.
Something.
Proof that Lucien was lying.
Because he had to be.
He just had to.
She made her way downstairs, her eyes scanning everything carefully.
The living room.
The hallway.
Locked doors she hadn't noticed before.
Her heart raced slightly.
Why so many locked rooms?
Just as she turned a corner—
"Curiosity really is dangerous in this house."
Aria froze.
That voice wasn't Lucien's.
Slowly, she turned.
A woman stood a few steps away, leaning casually against the wall.
Tall. Elegant. Beautiful.
But there was something sharp in her gaze.
Something unsettling.
"Who are you?" Aria asked, her guard immediately up.
The woman smiled faintly.
"I could ask you the same thing," she said. "But I already know."
Her eyes dropped briefly to Aria's ring.
"Mrs. Knight."
The way she said it didn't sound respectful.
It sounded… mocking.
Aria straightened slightly.
"And you are?"
The woman pushed herself off the wall and walked closer, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
"Vivian."
She paused.
"Vivian Hale."
Aria didn't recognize the name.
But something about her presence felt… important.
Dangerous, even.
"You shouldn't be here," Vivian added, her tone light but her eyes serious.
Aria frowned.
"I live here."
Vivian let out a soft laugh.
"No," she said quietly. "You're staying here."
There's a difference.
The words hit harder than they should have.
Aria clenched her jaw slightly.
"What do you want?"
Vivian studied her for a moment.
Like she was trying to figure her out.
Then her expression shifted—just slightly.
From amused…
To something more serious.
"I came to warn you."
Aria blinked.
"Warn me?"
Vivian stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"Lucien Knight is not the man you think he is."
A bitter laugh almost escaped Aria.
"I already figured that out."
Vivian's gaze sharpened.
"No," she said. "You didn't."
A chill ran down Aria's spine.
"What do you mean?"
Vivian hesitated for a second.
As if deciding how much to say.
Then—
"He destroys people."
Aria's heart skipped.
"Anyone who gets in his way… anyone who becomes a problem…"
Vivian's eyes locked onto hers.
"They don't recover."
The air suddenly felt heavier.
Harder to breathe.
Aria tried to steady herself.
"You're exaggerating."
Vivian didn't smile this time.
"I wish I was."
Silence.
Tense. Thick.
Then Aria shook her head.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Vivian's gaze softened slightly.
But not with kindness.
With something closer to… pity.
"Because I've seen what happens," she said quietly. "And you don't look like someone who can survive it."
That stung.
"I'm not weak," Aria shot back.
Vivian tilted her head slightly.
"Then prove me wrong."
Her eyes flickered briefly toward the hallway behind Aria.
Then back.
"Just be careful," she added. "Digging into Lucien's past…"
She stepped closer, her voice almost a whisper now.
"…might get you hurt."
Aria's heart pounded.
Before she could respond—
"Vivian."
The voice cut through the air like a blade.
Both of them turned.
Lucien stood at the end of the hallway.
His expression dark.
Unreadable.
But his eyes—
His eyes were locked on Vivian.
And they weren't friendly.
"Still interfering where you don't belong?" he said coldly.
Vivian smirked slightly.
"Just having a conversation."
Lucien's gaze shifted briefly to Aria.
Then back to Vivian.
"Leave."
The word was sharp.
Final.
But Vivian didn't move immediately.
Instead, she glanced at Aria one last time.
"Remember what I said," she murmured.
Then she turned and walked away, completely unfazed.
The sound of her heels faded into silence.
Now it was just the two of them.
Aria and Lucien.
Again.
The tension returned instantly.
Stronger than before.
"What was that about?" Lucien asked, his voice low.
Aria crossed her arms.
"She warned me about you."
His expression didn't change.
"Did she?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
"And what do you think?" he asked.
Aria hesitated.
Just for a second.
But that second was enough.
Lucien noticed.
Of course he did.
Her chest tightened.
"I think…" she started slowly, "there's a lot you're not telling me."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"That hasn't changed."
Her heart pounded.
"Then maybe it should."
The words came out before she could stop them.
Bold.
Risky.
Dangerous.
Lucien stepped closer.
Too close.
His presence overwhelming as always.
"And maybe," he said quietly, "you should learn when to stop pushing."
Her breath caught.
But she didn't step back.
Not this time.
"I won't," she said.
A challenge.
Clear and direct.
For a moment, they just stared at each other.
Then—
A faint, dangerous smile touched Lucien's lips.
"Good."
Her heart skipped.
"Because I prefer it that way."
Confusion flickered across her face.
What?
"You'll need that courage," he added, his voice dropping slightly.
"Especially when you find out the rest of the truth."
A chill ran down her spine.
Before she could ask anything else—
He turned and walked away.
Leaving her there.
With questions.
With fear.
With curiosity burning stronger than ever.
And this time…
Aria knew one thing for sure.
She wasn't going to stop digging.
No matter the cost.