Mariana's POV
The drive to my parents' estate was silent. I stared out the window, watching as the city lights blurred past. It had been months since I'd last set foot there, and even longer since I had felt like I belonged.
Aiden reached over, squeezing my hand briefly before returning it to the wheel. "No matter what happens, I've got your back."
I turned to him, a small, grateful smile tugging at my lips. "I know."
When we arrived, the estate was in chaos. Guards rushed around, voices filled with urgency. The tension in the air was suffocating.
The moment I stepped inside, my mother appeared, her face pale, her usually pristine hair slightly out of place. "Marian!" She grabbed my hands, her grip desperate. "Thank God you're here."
"Tell me everything," I said firmly.
