Lucian's POV
The car ride to Sinclair's mansion was silent.
Too silent.
Aria sat beside me, her eyes fixed on the dark road ahead, fingers clenched tightly in her lap.Not once did she look at me.
And that scared me more than any weapon ever could.
The city lights blurred past us, but my mind was stuck in the basement — my father's laughter, the blood on my hands, the contract clenched in my fist. I had fought monsters tonight.
Yet the one sitting beside me felt the most distant.
"Aria…" I finally spoke.
She didn't answer.
The car stopped in front of the Sinclair mansion. The iron gates opened slowly, as if the house itself was judging her return.
As soon as we stepped in, the doors slammed shut behind us.
Not loudly.
But with authority.
The living room lights were on.
Too bright.
Her uncle stood near the fireplace, arms crossed, face carved with cold pride. Beside him stood her grandmother — calm, composed, dangerous in her silence.
She looked untouched, unbothered, as if what happened today in the basement was just a nightmare that had ended.
"So," her uncle spoke, his voice smooth like poison,"you chose him again."
Aria's shoulders stiffened.
"I chose to live," she replied quietly.
His lips curled. "And in doing so, you chose to disgrace this family."
I stepped forward instinctively, but Aria raised her hand — stopping me.
That single gesture hurt more than any punch ever had.
"You will not interfere, Lucian," her grandmother finally spoke."This is a Sinclair matter."
Why? Why is Aria not even speaking up!
This women just teamed up few hours ago with my father and is now standing here, instructing me.
Telling me what I should do?
Her uncle continued,"By six this evening, you will return home permanently. No university. No city. And certainly—"his eyes flicked to me,"—no him."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Then Aria turned towards me.
Her eyes met mine for the first time since the hospital.
They weren't angry.
They weren't scared.
They were tired.
"Lucian," she whispered, her voice breaking just a little,"is being with you worth losing everything?"
Those words hit harder than any blade.
The room froze.
A smile crept on her uncle's face.
Her grandmother took a deep breath waiting for me to speak.
Her aunt held the corner of the sofa, tightly, as if Aria faith depended on me.
My chest tightened. I had faced contracts, guns, and my own father this night — yet this… this was the battle I had no weapon for.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear.
"They want you broken," I said softly."They want you obedient."I paused."But I will never ask you to lose yourself for me."
Her eyes shimmered.
"If walking away from me keeps you safe," I continued,"then I'll step back."My fists clenched."But if they think they can decide your life—"I looked straight at her uncle,"—then they don't know who they're dealing with."
Her uncle laughed.
"You talk big for someone who doesn't own her name."
I pulled out my phone.
And placed it on the table.
"Then let's make this official," I said coldly."Because by tonight, the Sinclairs will learn that contracts, threats, and bloodlines don't scare me anymore."
Aria inhaled sharply.
The war hadn't ended.
It had just entered her home.
"Lucian!" Aria shouted as loud as she could.
I shifted, not afraid but hurt.
She looked straight into my eyes.
"Please, give me some time, this night..." she paused and stared at everyone in the living room,
"is not going to end with a termination letter" She looked towards me.
She wanted me to leave.
Leave. Why?
I didn't argue.
I know she is not weak but... maybe she really wants me to step away this time.
Then I will happily do so.
I walked out...No questions. Just silence.
But this wasn't silent but too loud to handle.
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Aria's POV-
Lucian had already left.
I could still feel his presence in the room — like a storm that had passed but left the air heavy behind it.
Before I could gather my thoughts, my uncle's phone rang.
The sharp sound cut through the silence.
He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening.
"Yes," he said curtly, turning away from us.
I didn't try to listen.
I didn't need to.
When he disconnected the call, he looked straight at me.
"This is your last warning, Aria," he said coldly."You step out of line again, and Greece won't be a threat — it will be a decision."
My jaw tightened.
He picked up his coat, eyes briefly flicking towards my grandmother.
"We'll talk later," he said to her.
Then turned towards aunt, "Move" he instructed.
At once, she stood up and moved out. Fear. Threat. Silence.
And then he left.
Just like that.
The door closed behind him.
Now it was only us.
Me.
And her.
My grandmother walked towards the sofa and sat down slowly, folding her hands in her lap.She looked calm.
Too calm.
"I want to know, my past, who am I?" I demanded, voice low but strong enough to reach her.
"You already know, don't you?" she said quietly.
I didn't answer immediately.
"Yes," I replied finally."I know I'm adopted."
Saying it out loud still felt strange.
She inhaled deeply.
"I never hid it because I hated you," she said."I hid it because the truth isn't always kind."
I laughed softly, without humor.
"Knowing doesn't make it easier," I said."Hearing it still hurts."
Her eyes softened — just a little.
"You were never unwanted, Aria," she said."You were brought to me broken… and I chose you."
I looked at her.
"Then tell me," I said, my voice steady but firm,"who were they?"
She knew there was no escaping this now.
"Your parents are dead," she said.
My heart skipped.
Not shattered.
Just… numb.
"They died years ago," she continued."You were too young to remember anything clearly."
I clenched my fists.
"So the Sinclair name?" I asked."Why give me someone else's surname?"
She hesitated.
"You were given my daughter's , in-laws' surname," she replied."The Sinclair name was power.Power meant protection."
I nodded slowly.
"I was hidden behind a name, I was a pawn, in your game..." I murmured.
She didn't deny it.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
"Is there anyone else?""My real family… anyone alive?"
Her fingers tightened.
That was enough.
She murmured something under her breath but enough loud for me to hear.
"My aunt," I said quietly."She's alive, isn't she?"
She looked up at me, surprised.
"Yes," she admitted."Your father's sister."
My breath hitched.
"All this time…" I whispered.
"She stayed away to protect you," my grandmother said."Distance was her choice."
I straightened my back.
"Maybe," I replied,"but hiding my truth was yours."
Silence stretched between us.
She stood up slowly and walked towards me.
"No matter what you believe," she said, placing a hand lightly on my shoulder,"You are still my Aria."
I looked at her hand. "Affection?" I laughed, just a little, "After all you did to me?"
I knew she was capable of cruelty.
I also knew — painfully — that somewhere beneath it all, she cared, even if just to use me as a piece.
"I won't stay silent anymore," I said calmly."Not about my life. Not about my blood. Not about Lucian."
Her hand trembled slightly.
"Be careful, I will not stop you, my war has ended but you don't know the monsters hidden around," she warned.
I met her gaze.
"I already am."
For the first time in my life, I didn't feel like a Sinclair.
And for the first time—
That felt like the beginning of my own story.