Chapter Twelve: In Nominee Patri

Lark, Lachlan, and Aunt Ethel arrive for the weekly family brunch. Ava explodes when Ethel blurts that Lark and Lachlan are married. Lachlan diffuses the shock with costly gifts and a composed explanation, while Lark projects happiness and introduces him to her stepfather, Damian Covaci. Under questioning, Lachlan admits to an ill-judged “trunk” incident but frames it as a necessary rescue, and Lark supports the story.

As conversation shifts, Lachlan shares selective truths about his family, earning tentative tolerance. The calm ends when Ethel raises the Leviathan security contract. Nina and Damian deny any deal, but Ethel declares she has appointed Lark chief security officer and slides paperwork to formalize it, intending Lark to award Leviathan the Montague account.

Nina objects over conflict of interest. Lark abruptly asserts that Lachlan will retire, pledging to award Leviathan and protect the family. Tensions peak when Nina calls Lachlan a killer. Lark counters that their family isn’t innocent either, then detonates the final reveal: she has legally changed her name to Lark Kane, presenting her new driver’s license.

The shock forces a fragile truce. Damian offers to host a future celebration, masking hurt as Lark insists she is happy. When they leave, Lachlan vows to protect his wife, earning Damian’s wary acceptance. In the car, Lark worries about securing both family contracts; Ethel is confident and advises visible affection to deter interference.

Ethel explains the strategy: the marriage and license create doubt and delay any move against Lachlan. She reveals Lark never took Damian’s surname before but did now, a deliberate wound to the family to safeguard Lachlan. The chapter ends with the cost clear—Lark has fractured her family’s heart to protect her husband.