The sun dipped low on the horizon as Ryker and Aria made their way back to the kingdom after a successful business conference in the neighboring province. The journey was quiet, the tension between them palpable. Aria stole glances at Ryker, noting the furrow in his brow and the tightness in his jaw. She knew he was still processing the revelation of Ava and Liam's true parentage.

Ryker kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. The realization that he had children, children he never knew existed, was both exhilarating and overwhelming. He couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, the sense that Aria had...