The uneasy truce in Aria's life didn't last long. While Jacob seemed to have backed off, there was still an undercurrent of tension hanging over her and Damien. She could feel it every time she walked through the school hallways, every time she saw Damien's stormy gaze following her, as if he were waiting for the next disaster to strike.
But Aria wasn't willing to remain in the dark anymore. She needed answers—about Jacob, about Damien, about the danger that seemed to be creeping closer every day.
---
The day started like any other, but by lunch, Aria found herself in the library again, this time not for solace but for information. She typed Damien's name into the school's search system, expecting nothing of consequence to come up.
Instead, she found a news article from two years ago.
"High School Scandal: Suspicious Death Linked to Carter Family Feud."
Her breath caught as she read further. The article detailed a fight between Damien and another student at his old school. The boy—Jason West—had died in what was ruled a tragic accident, but the details were vague.
"Looking for something?"
Aria jumped, slamming the laptop shut. She turned to see Damien leaning against the bookshelf, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" she said, her voice shaky.
"What are you doing?" he asked, ignoring her outburst.
"I…" She hesitated, then squared her shoulders. "I was looking you up."
His jaw tightened. "Why?"
"Because I don't know anything about you," she said. "And I'm tired of being kept in the dark."
Damien sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Why?" she demanded. "What are you so afraid I'll find?"
"Because the truth will make everything worse," he said, his voice low.
Aria stood her ground. "Try me."
For a long moment, he just stared at her, as if debating how much to reveal. Finally, he gestured for her to follow him.
---
They ended up at a quiet park on the edge of town, far from prying eyes. Damien sat on a bench, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"I used to be different," he began. "I wasn't always… this."
Aria sat beside him, waiting for him to continue.
"My family has a lot of money, and with money comes power. People either wanted to be me or destroy me."
He paused, his jaw clenching. "Jason was one of the latter. He hated me from the moment we met, and I didn't make it easy on him. I was arrogant, reckless… cruel."
"What happened?" Aria asked softly.
"We fought," Damien said, his voice heavy. "It got out of hand, and he fell. Hit his head on a rock. The police ruled it an accident, but his family didn't see it that way."
Aria's heart ached at the pain in his voice. "And you've been running from it ever since?"
"Not just from them," Damien said. "From myself."
---
That night, Aria lay awake, her thoughts racing. Damien's confession had given her some clarity, but it had also raised more questions. Who was Damien, really? And what role did she play in his life now?
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from an unknown number.
"You think he can protect you? He's the reason you're in danger. Meet me at the old mill tomorrow at 8 PM if you want the truth."
Aria's heart pounded as she stared at the message. She knew it was a bad idea, but she couldn't ignore it. She needed answers, even if it meant putting herself at risk.
---
The next evening, Aria told Emma she was going to the library and slipped out of the house, her nerves frayed. The old mill was a crumbling building on the outskirts of town, surrounded by thick woods.
As she approached, she saw a figure waiting for her—Jacob.
"You've got guts showing up," he said, his voice laced with mockery.
"What do you want?" Aria demanded, keeping her distance.
"To show you the truth," Jacob said, tossing a file at her feet.
Aria hesitated before picking it up. Inside were photos, documents, and a recording. She pressed play on her phone and heard Damien's voice, cold and angry.
"I don't care who gets hurt. Do what you have to do."
Aria's stomach twisted. "What is this?"
"The real Damien Carter," Jacob said with a smirk.
Before she could respond, a shadow moved behind Jacob.
"Funny," Damien's voice said, low and dangerous. "I don't remember giving you permission to dig through my past."
Jacob spun around, but Damien was faster. He grabbed Jacob by the collar, slamming him against the wall of the mill.
"I warned you," Damien growled.
"Damien, stop!" Aria shouted, her voice breaking.
He froze, his grip loosening just enough for Jacob to slip away.
"This isn't over," Jacob spat before disappearing into the woods.
Damien turned to Aria, his expression a mix of anger and desperation. "Why were you here?"
"I wanted the truth," she said, her voice trembling.
He stepped closer, his gaze softening. "The truth is, I'll do anything to protect you—even if it means being the monster you think I am."
Her heart ached at his words, but she couldn't ignore the fear swirling inside her. Who was Damien, really? And how far was he willing to go for her?