The manor stood silent, save for the rhythmic pounding of rain against the windows.

Lia had barely made it to her room before the first bolt of lightning cracked through the sky, illuminating the darkness outside. The sudden boom that followed made her flinch, her entire body tensing as she braced herself against the unexpected sound.

A rush of cold memories slammed into her.

She saw herself as a child, huddled beneath a blanket, trembling in a dark room while thunder roared outside. She remembered crying, calling for her mother, only to be met with silence—her mother too busy tending to Ophelia to spare her a moment of comfort.

Lia swallowed hard, shaking her head to rid herself of the thoughts.

"Not now."

She hurried through the rest of her routine, quickly changing into a pair of shorts and an oversized sweatshirt. The wide neckline slipped off her right shoulder, exposing the smooth skin of her collarbone. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and forced a smile before turning away.

It’s fine.

She stepped out into the dim hallway just as another flash of lightning flickered through the windows.

Lia took a shaky breath and steadied herself. "It will be fine," she whispered under her breath, as if saying it aloud would make it true.

The kitchen was quiet when she entered, the prepared meal left by the maid still waiting for her. She took out the dishes and started heating them, mentally calculating that Lucian wouldn’t be home for at least another half-hour.

Good.

She’d eat quickly and head straight to her room before he arrived. The less interaction, the better.

Once her food was ready, Lia carried her plate into the living room and curled up on the couch, setting her phone beside her.

Then—

Darkness.

The electricity cut off, and the entire house was plunged into blackness.

Lia immediately shot up, her breath hitching.

Her fingers curled into her sweatshirt, wrapping her arms tightly around her own body.

It’s fine, it’s fine, she repeated inside her head, but her heart was pounding, her skin crawling with the eerie silence that followed.

The storm outside raged louder, thunder echoing like a beast roaring through the sky. Rain pelted the windows, the wind howling as if whispering through the cracks of the manor.

Then another bolt of lightning—closer this time.

A loud boom rattled the windows, and panic surged through Lia’s veins.

Her breath hitched as she crouched down, burying her face against her knees.

"I’m not April anymore."

Her hands trembled.

"I can’t be afraid. I’m not her."

But the memories wouldn’t stop.

She saw herself, small and fragile, trapped in that lonely room.

The feeling of abandonment crushed her chest.

"No, no—"

Her gasps became erratic, tears spilling down her cheeks.

She wrapped her arms even tighter around her legs, rocking slightly as she fought against the suffocating weight of her past.

"I’m not pathetic. Please don’t leave me here alone."

The darkness was too much.

"I’m scared."

Then, without realizing, the words that had been buried deep in her heart—words she had sworn to never say again—escaped her lips in a desperate cry.

"Mom, I’m scared!"

Lucian’s Return

Lucian stepped out of his car, his expression tightening as the cold rain poured down on him.

The storm had worsened on his drive back, making the roads slick and nearly impossible to navigate. He had considered staying elsewhere for the night, but something told him to return.

As he entered the manor, he immediately noticed the power outage.

The house was eerily quiet.

A flicker of unease settled in his chest.

Then, he heard it.

Soft cries.

Lucian turned his head toward the living room, his footsteps silent as he approached.

The closer he got, the clearer the sound became—

Lia’s voice, trembling, filled with fear.

"Mom, please come get me. Don’t leave me…"

Lucian’s steps halted.

His eyes widened slightly, confusion flashing across his face.

He moved toward the couch and saw her curled up on the floor, shaking, her face buried in her knees as she sobbed.

Something inside him clenched.

He had never seen her like this.

"Hey."

He kneeled down in front of her, reaching out.

"Lia."

She didn’t react.

Her body trembled violently, her breath coming in short, erratic gasps.

Lucian hesitated for only a moment before lifting her face gently, forcing her to look at him.

Her eyes, wide with fear, locked onto his—

And then, suddenly, she threw herself into his arms.

Lucian stiffened.

Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, clinging onto him as if he were the only thing keeping her from drowning.

"Don’t," she choked out between gasps. "Don’t leave me. Please."

For a moment, Lucian didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

His mind was racing, but his body reacted instinctively.

Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

His hands moved in slow, soothing circles against her back.

"Everything’s fine," he murmured. "You’re not alone."

She shuddered against him, pressing her face into his shoulder as she sobbed harder.

Lucian had no idea what had triggered this breakdown, but his chest felt unbearably tight as he held her.

Then—

Her next words stopped his breath.

"Please, Mom… April will be a good girl. Trust me, I will if you just stay with me."

Lucian’s body went rigid.

His eyes darkened, his grip on her tightening just slightly.

"April."

The name rang in his head like a thunderclap.

Then—she suddenly went limp.

Lucian caught her easily, feeling her body relax completely in his arms as she fell unconscious.

A shaky breath left his lips as he carefully adjusted her, cradling her against his chest.

He stared down at her sleeping face, her tear-streaked cheeks, the soft sniffles that still lingered in her breath.

She had revealed something tonight.

Something he wasn’t supposed to know.

His mother had built an entire life around Cordelia Grey.

But the girl in his arms—

The girl who had just broken down in front of him—

Was not Cordelia.

She was April Winter.

And Lucian Grey had no idea what the hell he was supposed to do about it.