CHAPTER 241

ARIA’S POV

Ethan and I walk out together, the weight of the evening's confrontation still heavy in the air behind us. As we make our way to the exit, Ethan turns to me, curiosity evident in his eyes. He asks how I knew about his true identity.

“Not telling you.”

I smile slightly, keeping my voice light, and tell him that I’m not going to reveal my sources. He shakes his head, a mix of amusement and concern on his face, and says that I shouldn’t have mentioned it to Lydia.

I respond firmly, telling him that only by knowing the truth can Lydia truly understand what she has lost. This is the best way to make her see the consequences of her actions. She must be regretting every life decision she’s made up to this point. The satisfaction in my voice is clear; I want her to feel the sting of her choices, just as Ethan did.

“Ha! Ha! We had fun back in there.”

“We did!”

As we approach the door, Adam suddenly appears behind us, stopping us in our tracks. His presence is intense, his eyes dark