Chapter 6 Unmasking the past

The days that followed were a constant reminder of how much Arielle had underestimated the complexities of her new life. The Lancaster family was a tight-knit unit, bound by secrets, unspoken expectations, and the constant pressure to uphold their reputation. And yet, it was clear that no matter how much Arielle tried to fit in, she was always going to be an outsider.

Damien remained distant, his coldness like a wall she couldn't scale. They spoke only when necessary, and his presence, though always nearby, felt as though he were a million miles away. Arielle had resigned herself to the fact that she would never break through his icy demeanor, not in the way she wanted. Still, she couldn't help but wonder why he married her if he was so determined to shut her out.

It was the little moments-those brief, fleeting interactions-that seemed to spark something in her. A glance that lingered a second too long, a barely audible sigh as they passed each other in the hallway. These were the cracks in his armor, and yet, they always closed just as quickly as they appeared, leaving her with nothing but questions.

But it wasn't just Damien who made her feel like she was walking a tightrope. The Lancaster family, in all their wealth and influence, didn't welcome her with open arms. Eleanor, Damien's mother, was particularly cold, her sharp eyes always scrutinizing Arielle as though trying to unearth some hidden flaw. Then there was Julian, whose casual teasing seemed to hide a more serious agenda, one Arielle wasn't sure she fully understood.

One afternoon, as Arielle was making her way through the grand hallways of the Lancaster estate, she was stopped by a soft voice.

"Arielle."

She turned to see Julian standing at the end of the corridor, his ever-present smirk plastered across his face. He was leaning casually against the wall, one hand tucked into his pocket.

"Julian," she said, offering a polite nod. "What's on your mind?"

He pushed himself off the wall and walked toward her with that signature nonchalance. "I thought we might have a chat. It seems you've been a little... isolated lately."

Arielle raised an eyebrow. "I don't recall asking for company."

He chuckled. "Oh, but you didn't have to. I find it rather amusing, actually, how you and Damien keep dancing around each other. You'd think after all this time, the two of you would figure it out."

Arielle's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Damien. She wasn't sure if it was the frustration she felt with him or the curious way Julian spoke about their relationship, but something about his words made her uneasy.

"What exactly are you implying?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"I'm implying that there's more going on between you two than either of you are willing to admit," Julian replied, his smile widening. "I'm not blind, Arielle. I see the way Damien looks at you when he thinks no one is watching."

Arielle's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected Julian to be so direct. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, though she felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks.

Julian took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with something she couldn't quite place. "You don't have to pretend with me. I know Damien. I know the way he acts when he's interested. And trust me, he's interested."

Arielle recoiled slightly, her mind racing. "Damien Lancaster? Interested in me?" The idea seemed preposterous, and yet... it was hard to ignore the nagging feeling that something was off.

"You'd be surprised," Julian said, his voice low. "But I'm not here to talk about that. I want to talk about something else. Something that might interest you."

Arielle narrowed her eyes. "And what's that?"

Julian stepped back and looked around, ensuring they were alone before speaking. "I've been doing some digging. I'm not as much of a playboy as I seem, you know."

Arielle tilted her head, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "Digging about what?"

"About you," he said bluntly. "I was curious about your past-why you're really here. And what I found was... well, it was quite revealing."

Her stomach dropped. "What did you find?"

Julian's expression softened just a touch, but there was an unmistakable gleam of amusement in his eyes. "You're not just a substitute, Arielle. You're not just some poor, innocent girl caught in a game you didn't understand. You've got your own skeletons."

Arielle's pulse quickened. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your family. Your real family. The one you've been hiding from," he said, his tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the words hit her like a wave. Her family? What did Julian know about her? The very idea that he could have uncovered anything about her past filled her with dread.

"I don't know what you're implying, Julian," she said through gritted teeth. "But if you've been snooping around in my life, you're making a big mistake."

He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Arielle. I'm not trying to cause trouble. But you should know that I found something-something that might change the way Damien sees you."

"What are you talking about?" Arielle demanded, her voice rising slightly. She felt her composure slipping.

Julian's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Let's just say that your father isn't who you think he is. And neither is your mother."

Arielle's mind spun as she tried to process his words. Her parents had never been a topic of conversation in the Lancaster household. She hadn't seen or heard from her father in years, and her mother... well, her mother's influence had always been limited. But the idea that Julian knew something about them-something she didn't know-was terrifying.

"Stop," Arielle said, her voice firm despite the fear crawling up her spine. "What do you mean? What do you know about my parents?"

Julian's eyes gleamed with a wicked curiosity. "You really don't know, do you? Your father didn't just abandon you and your mother. He was pushed out-by someone who's very close to this family. Someone who would like nothing more than to see you fail."

Arielle felt her world shift beneath her. Her mind was spinning, trying to make sense of the web Julian was weaving. Who was he talking about? Who in the Lancaster family would have had anything to do with her father?

Before she could ask another question, Julian held up a hand. "But don't worry. I won't say anything more until you're ready to hear the full story. All I'll say is this-your past is more tangled with this family than you realize."

Arielle's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say, there's a lot more to your marriage than you think," Julian said, his voice now low and serious. "And if I were you, I'd start looking into your family's past before someone else does."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Arielle standing there, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt like the ground beneath her was slipping away, like she was being pulled into a darkness she wasn't ready to face.

Her mind was racing, her thoughts tumbling over each other. What had Julian meant? What did he know about her family that she didn't? And why had he chosen to tell her now?

The questions plagued her, and she knew one thing for sure-she was no longer just a passive participant in the Lancaster family drama. She had her own secrets to uncover, and she wasn't going to let anyone-least of all Damien-keep her in the dark.

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