Ava's fingers trembled as she held the envelope in her hands. It felt heavier than it should have, as if the truth inside carried a weight she wasn't prepared to bear. The dim glow of the library's old chandeliers flickered slightly, casting long shadows across the room. Liam stood a few steps away, his expression unreadable, while Jasper remained close, his stance protective, his gaze locked onto Liam with barely concealed suspicion.
Ava took a deep breath. She knew she had a choice. She could walk away, pretend she never saw Liam tonight, or she could open the envelope and face whatever truth he claimed to hold about Noah.
Liam smirked slightly, as if he could already predict her decision. "It won't bite, Ava. It's just the truth."
She shot him a glare, but her fingers moved instinctively, sliding beneath the flap of the envelope. The paper inside was old, slightly crumpled, as if it had been carried around for years. She pulled out the contents—a series of documents, some faded, others marked with red ink. And then her eyes landed on a name.
Noah Evander.
Her heart pounded. She scanned the papers, her breath hitching. A report, a list of names, transactions, dates. Words like cover-up, unaccounted funds, missing persons. A shiver ran down her spine as she flipped to another page. A photograph. A younger Noah, standing beside a man she didn't recognize, but the resemblance between them was undeniable.
Liam's voice cut through the silence. "He's not who you think he is."
Jasper stepped forward, his patience wearing thin. "Enough games. If you have something to say, say it."
Liam's smirk faltered. His tone shifted, serious now. "Noah's father wasn't just a businessman, Ava. He was a powerful man with dangerous ties. And Noah… well, let's just say he wasn't always as clean as he wants you to believe."
Ava's throat felt dry. She wanted to deny it, to throw the papers back at Liam and call him a liar. But the evidence was in her hands.
"You're lying," she whispered, though even she wasn't sure she believed it.
Liam sighed, stepping closer. "You wanted the truth, Ava. This is just the beginning."
Jasper moved between them, his presence a solid barrier. "We're done here."
Liam exhaled sharply, but didn't argue. "Suit yourself. But sooner or later, you'll have to decide who you really trust."
Ava clutched the papers against her chest as Jasper led her toward the door. Her mind swirled with questions, doubts, and a single terrifying thought—what if everything she knew about Noah was a lie?