Aria sat at the dining table, her heart pounding in her chest with a wild, unrelenting thump-thump-thump. She could barely focus, her thoughts swirling into a storm of panic and dread. She was doomed.
That was the only conclusion she could reach. Lucien, her second adoptive brother,.had told their father about what had happened between them in his room. She was certain of it. What else could explain why she had suddenly been invited to this rare family dinner? This was likely an orchestrated attempt to interrogate her publicly, humiliate her, and then pass down her punishment.
Her trembling hands rested on her lap, gripping the folds of her dress tightly, as if the fabric could somehow shield her from the punishment she was sure awaited her. What kind of punishment will it be? she wondered, her mind flying to the darkest possibilities.
