The story Olivia had shared with Eloise the night before refused to leave her mind, its every word echoing in the quiet spaces of her thoughts, stirring an unease she couldn’t fully comprehend. The tale had been filled with cryptic warnings—about the Van Alen family's hidden past, the lies that shaped their legacy, and the deeper, more sinister reason behind Eloise’s place within their world. But more than the family's history, it was the truth of her betrothal to Zachary that gnawed at her, refusing to let go. Deep down, Eloise had always known she was just a piece of a larger plan—a pawn in the grand scheme of the Van Alens’ ambitions. Her purpose was clear: to bear children, heirs who would inherit the powerful abilities coursing through Zachary’s bloodline.
It was never about love. It
