Olivia’s POV
The letter sat on the table between us, its faded ink still holding more weight than an army of accusations. It felt like a heartbeat in the room, pulsing with secrets.
Lucas leaned forward, his elbows braced against his knees, his gaze sharp and unyielding. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the letter since we’d uncovered it.
“R,” he murmured again, the single consonant carrying more questions than answers. “It’s a start.”
But to me, it felt like a knife. My mother’s careful words were heavy with love, but heavier still with fear. If she had gone to such lengths to hide the truth, then whoever “R” was had been more than just forbidden. He had been dangerous.
I rubbed my temples, exhaustion pressing behind my eyes. “A start, yes. But the council won’t care about initials. They
