Chapter 158

Aria

Aunt Esther has been staring at Lucas and me from the couch like I’ve completely lost my mind. For the past hour, she hasn’t stopped looking at us that way, ever since I barged into her apartment and told her everything that’s been going on.

“I still can’t believe this,” she says for what feels like the hundredth time. “Kane isn’t your real father?”

“That’s what I’m hearing,” I reply with a nod.

She shakes her head, and stands up from the couch. “But Aria, how can you be so sure? Kane and Martha… I thought they loved each other.”

I watch her pace slowly across the room, her words leaving me puzzled. “Come on, Aunt Esther, why are you acting so confused? It’s not like you actually knew my parents well.”

She pauses, her hand resting against her forehead, and lets out a quiet sigh. “You don’t understand. I’m certain of something, I mean… Aria, there are things you wouldn’t understand.”

I fold my arms, feeling the doubt start to sett