It had been three days.
Three whole days since everything changed. Since I stopped being myself.
I hadn't left my room. I barely moved from my bed, still curled up under the covers like a scared little girl, pretending if I stayed still long enough, none of it would be real. But it was. And the quiet knocks on my door and the hushed whispers outside it proved it. They all knew now. Sebastian must've told them. I didn't ask. I didn't care.
The funeral was probably in a few days. Or maybe tomorrow. I didn't know. I didn't want to know. I hadn't eaten. I hadn't showered. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror without seeing the last fight I had with my father playing over and over again in my head.
Thank God for Sebastian.
He protected me from them. From all the fake people downstairs waiting to say their cold, empty condolences like they actually cared. He was the only one I trusted right now. Him and… Feya.
She came yesterday, stayed with me for a while. I didn't say much—couldn't. She just held my hand for an hour, kissed my forehead, and left quietly. She understood me. Thank God for her too.
I sat up slowly, my fingers finding the small dagger by my nightstand. The one my dad gave me after I passed his "little test." He'd made me disarm a man. I was only thirteen. He'd smiled so wide when I succeeded. "You're my daughter," he'd said. "You're ready."
Now he was gone.
The only thing I had left of my real parents was the blood-red amulet I wore. I never took it off. Not once. It sat over my heart now, warm against my skin. Like it was reminding me to breathe.
The moon was out tonight. Not full, but bright enough to make the halls glow. I got up. The house felt... still. Too still. The kind of quiet that made you feel like something was watching.
I walked barefoot through the hallway, letting the silence guide me to my father's study. It was exactly how he left it—clean, neat, perfect.
I stepped in slowly. The scent of cigars, leather, and his cologne still hung in the air.
I looked around. Touched his desk. His books. Then my eyes landed on the painting above the fireplace. His favorite one. A wolf beneath a red moon. He loved that painting.
I walked toward it, brushing dust from the frame. When I tilted it gently, I heard a soft click.
A small compartment opened behind the painting.
I froze.
Inside was a single envelope. My name written on it.
I held it tight, my hands shaking. "Typical Dad," I whispered with a tearful smile.
I sat in his chair, clutching the letter to my chest, the weight of grief crashing down again. I didn't even notice Sebastian standing in the doorway.
I just whispered, "I miss you, Dad."
And the house stayed quiet.
It took everything in me to open that letter. My hands trembled, fingers brushing over the paper like it might burn me.
Dear Ali,
I broke. The moment my eyes saw those two words, I crumbled. That was his nickname for me since I was a kid—only he ever called me that.
I wish I had more time. I wish our last words had been softer. But if you're reading this, then time has already run out—for me, at least.
Tears blurred the ink on the page, my chest tightening with every line. I felt Sebastian shift behind me, quiet, respectful. Waiting. But this wasn't something I could be comforted through.
I'm sorry, Aliana. Sorry that I couldn't explain everything. That I had to keep you in the dark. But you are my daughter—my heir—and you were never meant to be ordinary.
I paused. That line… it buzzed with something more than grief. More than sorrow.
The world you're about to face is cruel, crueler than you know. There are secrets buried in the Rivera name—bloodlines laced with power, shadows that howl under the moon, and enemies who wear the face of family.
I blinked rapidly. Was that metaphor, or something else?
You've probably guessed by now that this wasn't a random accident. You're too smart for that. I had enemies, Ali. People who would kill to keep the truth buried, and maybe they did.
A shiver crawled down my spine.
Sebastian is by your side for a reason. Trust him. And soon, you'll meet someone else—Dominic. Yes, I know you've snooped in my office. I saw your little fingerprints all over my liquor cabinet, too.
That pulled a weak laugh from my throat. God, he knew everything.
Dominic will come for you. And when he does, let him in not just into the estate, but into your heart. He's not your babysitter, Aliana. He's your protector. Your anchor. The only person I trust to stand beside you when everything else falls apart.
I wiped at my tears, my heart aching like it might break in two.
You'll feel alone. You'll feel angry. But I need you to remember this—I have always, always loved you. Even in silence. Even in secrets. Even in the mistakes I made. You are my everything, Ali. My moon. My girl.
I couldn't hold back the sob that ripped out of me. I buried my face in the paper like it could bring him back. I didn't even notice Sebastian until I heard the faint rustle of movement behind me.
"I didn't mean to intrude," he said quietly. "But I thought… you shouldn't be alone."
I turned, still clutching the letter. "Sebastian… Who is Dominic really? My father—he trusted him. But can I?"
Sebastian met my eyes without hesitation. "If I had to bet everything I've ever known on one man in this world, it would be Dominic. He is the only one strong enough to stand beside you—and survive."
Something in his voice sent a chill down my spine. Not fear. Just the weight of truth.
And suddenly, the silence of the mansion didn't feel so silent anymore.