Chapter 16: Aryanna’s Secret, Lisa’s Sentence

*Darren*

After our brief talk in the living room, Aryanna retreated to her new room. Her footsteps faded up the staircase as I watched her go. I stayed a moment longer, letting the silence settle around me. This entire arrangement with her—engagement, marriage, whatever one called it—was already stirring up complications. Trusting someone so new in my life went against my every instinct, yet the potential gain kept me committed.

Once the room was empty, I left for the office, sliding into the sleek black car waiting outside. The drive was uneventful, the usual cityscape flashing by the tinted windows. But my mind kept drifting back to Aryanna, calculating the exact risk her presence posed. By the time I reached my office, all I could think of was our talk earlier.