The estate sprawled across forty acres of manicured gardens and ancient oak trees , a monument to wealth that made Aria's previous apartment look like a closet.
She stood in the marble foyer, her duffel bag heavy in her hand, and wondered what fresh hell her mother had dragged her into this time.
"Aria, darling!" Her mother swept down the curved staircase, all diamonds and champagne perfume, arms outstretched. "Isn't it magnificent? Your new home!"
"New home?" Aria set down her bag. "Mom, you called three days ago. Three days. You said you were 'seeing someone,' not marrying him."
"Well, when you know, you know." Her mother's laugh was brittle, practiced. "Richard is wonderful. Successful. And he has a son. Julian. You'll have a stepbrother!"
Aria's stomach twisted. She'd had stepfath
