Chapter 30: Dawn of a new day.

The next morning, the sunlight poured through the large windows of Charles’ mansion. Aria sat on a velvet armchair in the drawing room, waiting for her father. She tapped her manicured nails against the armrest, her mind racing with thoughts of her plan.

Charles entered, his commanding presence filling the room. His neatly pressed suit and confident stride gave him the air of a man who knew how to get what he wanted. He smiled at Aria, but there was a calculating gleam in his eyes.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he said, settling into the armchair across from her. "You sounded urgent on the...