Chapter 22

The night was as dark as ink. Aiden had clearly used up all his energy playing at the old house. The moment they got in the car, he curled up on his mom's lap and passed out cold. The car was quiet, save for the soft sound of Aiden's breathing. Nothing else broke the silence. Today had gone surprisingly smoothly, and Lilah was genuinely grateful to have such a sweet little protector like Aiden by her side. She kept her eyes on him, that soft and gentle look never leaving her face. Funny thing—awake, Aiden was the spitting image of Gabriel. But asleep? He looked kind of like her. "From now on, there's no more restriction on your outings from the estate." Gabriel's deep, smooth voice suddenly broke through the silence. "If you want to visit Clara, go ahead." Lilah looked up in surprise. The man beside her was staring out the window. His profile, so sharp and flawless, almost felt unreal—like something out of a sculpture. The original Lilah had been under house arrest at the estate becaus