Chapter 27 — The Names We Didn't Say
It came wrapped in silence,a single white envelope left on his desk before dawn, no stamp, no name, only the Moretti crest pressed into the wax seal.Lucien read the contents once and then crumpled the letter in his fist.
They knew.His mother's handwriting was unmistakable: delicate, slanted, precise.
"We will receive Lucien and Aria Monroe at the Villa in two days.
It seems there's been a… confusion.
We expect honesty.
_Francesca and Dante Moretti."
Lucien sat back in his chair, cold fury winding through his chest.It hadn't taken them long of course it hadn't.They ran the old Moretti network with iron gloves and glass smiles.He stared at the fireplace for a long time, fingers still clenched.
Aria was in the garden,pacing peaceful,still unaware the calm was about to end.Lucien was too quiet over breakfast.
He watched her like he was memorizing her, the curve of her shoulder, the way she stirred her tea, how she tucked her hair behind one ear.
She knew something was wrong but he didn't tell her until they were walking the east corridor, where the sunlit windows made everything feel softer than it was."My parents know," he said.Aria stopped mid-step.Her heartbeat kicked into her throat. "Knows what?"
Lucien looked at her with gravity and replied "That you're not Isla."The words didn't echo but they fell hardand final.
Her hands trembled. "How?"
"We don't know but they've summoned us."
"When?"
"Two days. At the old estate."
She nodded, swallowing hard. "What are you going to tell them?"
Lucien stepped closer,his voice dropped. "That you're my wife."She looked up, eyes wide.
"But.."
" No buts,I chose you Aria."and that stopped her because it wasn't about lies anymore nor politics or duty.Lucien was no longer bound to the marriage for power,he was staying with her.
The Moretti Villa — Two Days Later
It was colder than Aria expected.All marble and shadow, the Moretti estate loomed like something out of an ancient war ,beautiful but unwelcoming, as if built to withstand betrayal.Lucien didn't hold her hand when they walked through the grand entrance but he stayed close.
His mother waited in the receiving hall,Francesca Moretti was elegance incarnate ,severe black dress, silver hair pinned in an immaculate bun, lips like a blade.
Beside her stood Dante Moretti, silent as a statue, eyes sharp and unreadable.
Francesca's gaze landed on Aria, there was no warmth or rage in her eyes, just calculation.
"Not Isla," she said softly.
"No ma'am," Aria whispered.
Francesca looked at Lucien."You knew?"
"Yes," he answered.
Dante finally spoke. "Since when?"
Lucien didn't flinch. "Since the day of the wedding."
Francesca's lips curved faintly. "And you let it continue?"
Lucien stepped in front of Aria. "She is my wife,the contract is signed,the alliance is intact."
Francesca's brow arched. "The Monroes lied. That invalidates everything."
"No," Lucien said, voice harder. "They substituted one daughter for another. But Aria was a Monroe and the deal was with the family."
"Do you think name alone makes her acceptable?
Aria stayed silent as the storm broke around her.Francesca circled slowly,like a lioness inspecting prey.
"You look like her," she murmured. "Enough that the guests didn't notice,enough that the press remained quiet but not enough for me to be fooled."
Aria forced herself to stand taller. "I never wanted to lie."
"But you did."
"I had no choice."
Francesca stopped in front of her. "And now?"
Aria met her eyes. "Now I'm here and I won't run."
For a moment, silence,then Francesca gave a faint, dry smile.
"Well," she said. "At least you're not a coward."
Later That Evening
Lucien led her to a smaller parlor at the back of the estate,neither of them spoke until the door was closed.
"I don't think they'll try to annul it," he said.
Aria sank onto the velvet sofa. "Why?"
"Because power isn't the only thing they care about."
She looked up.
"What else do they care about?"
Lucien's jaw ticked."Loyalty."
She touched his hand lightly. "You defended me."
He looked at her then and said.
"I didn't do it for the alliance or for their approval."
"Then why?"Aria asked.
Lucien's voice was barely a breath.
"Because you've already proven yourself more loyal than anyone in this house."