CHAPTER 420

ARIA’S POV

As I scroll through the article, my eyes take in every word, but I don’t feel shocked. I had expected something like this—a vicious attack aimed at discrediting me and dragging Adam through the mud. The Mitchells are determined to make us the scapegoats for Ethan’s death, and they’ve done everything in their power to ensure the media runs with that narrative. But I know the truth, and more importantly, I know that there’s no actual evidence linking us to the crash. That knowledge alone gives me a sense of calm, a certainty that we can weather this storm.

Still, the situation is messy. Adam and my family are probably in a state of panic right now, and I can already imagine the whirlwind of calls and meetings that are about to take place. I know they’ll be worried about me, about the fallout from this article, but I’m not going to lose my head over it. If anything, this strengthens my resolve to push back against the Mitchells and whoever else might be behind this smear campa