Jerome studied her for a long moment, as if trying to see past her words and into her thoughts. Finally, he nodded, though the suspicion in his eyes remained. “You should stay close tonight, Aria. There are those who would take advantage of any weakness. We must be vigilant.”
Aria swallowed hard, understanding the double meaning behind his words. He wasn’t just talking about the potential threat from Blood Moon Park—he was warning her, subtly reminding her of the expectations and responsibilities that came with being his daughter, the heir to Crescent Park.
“Yes, Father,” she replied quietly, her heart heavy with the weight of the secret she was keeping.
As Jerome turned his attention back to the crowd, continuing his speech, Aria felt a surge of dread. Their secret was hanging by a thr
