Aria's pov
"The weather is lovely today, so I thought I'd water the lilacs ," Ophina remarked casually, her tone dripping with fake sweetness.
I barely looked at her. I kept my distance, at least six feet, as I tried to walk past.
My indifference was a shield.
"The lilacs ? Oh, I had them all removed," Ophina added, a smug, almost triumphant smile curving her lips.
It was the kind of smile that reveled in small cruelties.
"What?" I stopped dead in my tracks, my eyes narrowing as I turned toward her.
My voice was ice cold, barely hiding the fury that simmered beneath." Why would you rip out the lilacs ? What did those flowers ever do to offend you?"
"The scent was too strong," Ophina said, gently placing her hand on her stomach.
It was a clear reminder of her pr
