Lila spent the next few days in a daze, torn between the life she'd built on the ranch and the powerful legacy that Charles Blackwell had left her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the threatening letter and the blank faces of Damon and Aiden, both of whom seemed to be vying for her attention, albeit for different reasons.
That morning, she woke up to find Aiden sitting on the porch steps. He was drinking coffee, looking contemplative under the early morning light. Damon was nowhere in sight, which wasn't unusual, but it still didn't sit well with her.
"I wanted to talk to you," Aiden said quietly, looking up as she joined him.
Lila sighed and sat down beside him. "I'm not in the mood for this, Aiden."
"I know," he said, setting his cup down. "But you can't avoid it forever."
"Maybe I should," she retorted, her voice brittle. "This whole situation is… it's too much."
Aiden reached for her hand, his grip warm. "I didn't mean to pressure you, Lila. I just… I don't want you to make a decision you'll regret."
"I don't even know what I want," she admitted, her voice breaking. "How can I think about the future when everything's so messed up?"
Aiden pulled her into a hug, his arms strong around her. "You don't have to have all the answers now. But you do have options. You can walk away from all this if you want. No one will blame you."
Lila sighed, her eyes drifting to the barn where Damon was working alone. "Damon won't let me."
Aiden stiffened, then pulled back to look at her. "Damon's never been easy to read. He's protective, Lila, but that doesn't mean he knows everything. Sometimes he doesn't get what you need."
She frowned. "And you do?"
"I know you, Lila. Better than anyone. And I care about you. I can see you're hurting and I want to help."
Later that day, Lila decided to go for a long drive, hoping the solitude would help clear her mind. She drove through the winding countryside, past fields that seemed to stretch forever. When she found herself at the edge of a cliff overlooking the city below, she parked and stared out at the vast expanse.
She pulled out Charles's letter and read it again, the words heavy with the weight of decision. If you're reading this, it means Vivian has told you something I couldn't. You may hate me for my absence, but I hope you'll allow me the chance to explain myself. I am your father, Lila. And if you're willing, I would like to meet you.
Lila closed her eyes, fighting back tears. "Why didn't you come sooner?" she whispered into the wind.
Suddenly, a car pulled up beside hers, and she glanced over to find Aiden getting out. "You followed me?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"Only because I didn't want you to be alone out here," he said, his tone defensive.
Lila sighed, her anger deflating. "I just needed to think, Aiden."
"I know," he said, sitting beside her. "But that's not what you're really doing, is it?"
She bit her lip, staring out over the city. "I don't know who I am anymore. Everything's changed."
Aiden took her hand, his grip reassuring. "Lila, you're still you. That's what matters. You don't have to let Charles's will define you. It's a part of you, but it doesn't have to be everything."
She looked at him, tears swimming in her eyes. "What if I do want it? What if I want to know what's out there, in that world?"
Aiden's face softened, his voice gentle. "Then take the risk, Lila. But do it for you, not because of anyone else's expectations.