Arlene's POV
"Warner," I start to say.
"Vaughn," he interrupts, his voice carrying a weight I haven't heard before. "I prefer Vaughn. That other name, no one uses it anymore. I stick with Warner because I can't escape what it represents. It's my shield against my father."
His admission catches me off guard. There's vulnerability in his tone that makes my chest tighten.
"Everyone recognizes me as his successor. They know exactly what kind of monster he is. He can't eliminate me without raising questions, and nobody dares to target me because they understand he's the one who determines whether I'm fit to inherit his legacy."
The casual way he discusses his own father potentially killing him sends chills down my spine. This world I've been thrust into operates by rules I'm still learning to comprehend.
"What aren't you telling me?" The question escapes before I can stop it.
"Your background," he responds, rising to his feet with deliberate slowness. "What you come from."
