The silence stretched between them like an unspoken challenge. The dim library lights flickered, casting elongated shadows that danced against the dusty shelves. Ava's pulse was erratic, her breathing shallow. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to leave, to turn away from Liam and the cryptic warning he had just given her.
Yet, she stood still.
Jasper, on the other hand, was not one for hesitation. He took a step forward, positioning himself slightly in front of Ava, his jaw clenched. "If you have something to say, Liam, say it. Stop playing games."
Liam chuckled, the sound devoid of humor. "Always so protective, aren't you, Jasper?" He turned his sharp gaze back to Ava. "But this isn't about him. It's about you, Ava. And what you deserve to know."
Ava swallowed hard. "Then stop talking in riddles. What are you trying to tell me about Noah?"
Liam's expression darkened. He reached into the inside pocket of his coat, pulling out a small, worn envelope. He extended it toward her. "Read this. Then tell me if you still believe Noah is who he says he is."
Ava hesitated before slowly taking the envelope from his hands. It felt old, the paper slightly crinkled beneath her fingers. With a deep breath, she carefully unfolded it, her eyes scanning the first few lines.
The moment she began reading, the blood drained from her face.
Jasper, noticing the shift in her expression, moved closer. "Ava? What is it?"
Ava couldn't speak. Her mind reeled as she read line after line, each word sinking into her like a blade. Her hands trembled.
"No…" she whispered.
Liam's voice was quiet but firm. "Noah's been keeping secrets from you. But this… this is the truth."
Ava looked up, her heart pounding. She wanted to deny it, to claim that it was all a fabrication. But deep down, she knew—there was no mistaking the weight of what she had just read.
The Noah she thought she knew…
Was a lie.