The next day,

Aria

If there was one thing Chloe Whitmore loved more than attention, it was an audience.

Unfortunately for her, I had started recognizing the warning signs.

The soft smile.

The carefully chosen timing.

The way she always positioned herself where the maximum number of people could witness whatever performance she was about to stage.

At this point, it was practically a survival instinct.

The problem wasn't Chloe herself.

The problem was the ridiculous number of people willing to believe her.

Not because she was particularly intelligent.

Not because she was especially talented.

Because she understood something most people didn't.

People preferred comfortable lies over uncomfortable truths.

That...