Ava's fingers trembled as she stared at the worn photograph in Jasper's hand. The edges were frayed, the ink faded with time, but the faces… the faces were unmistakable.
Noah.
Liam.
And Dorian Hale.
Together.
Her stomach twisted, a deep unease settling in her bones. This wasn't just some coincidence. This was a connection,one Noah had deliberately hidden from her.
She looked up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where did you get this?"
Jasper didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced toward the closed door, the one Noah had disappeared through moments ago. His jaw tightened, his usual sharp confidence replaced by something more cautious.
"You need to understand something, Ava." His voice was low, steady. "Noah isn't lying to you. Not completely. But he's also not telling you the full truth."
Ava's grip on the photograph tightened. "Then why don't you tell me?"
Jasper hesitated. For the first time since she'd met him, he looked unsure. "It's not that simple."
A sharp knock echoed through the room, making Ava jump.
She turned toward the door. The knocking came again,firmer, more deliberate. Not frantic. Not hesitant.
Someone knew they would be let in.
Jasper took a slow step back. "You should put that away," he murmured.
Ava's pulse pounded in her ears. "Why?"
The door creaked open before she could get an answer.
And standing on the other side,was Noah.
His gaze flickered to the photograph in her hand, and for a split second, something unspoken passed through his expression.
Not shock. Not confusion.
But recognition.
Ava felt the air shift. The room suddenly felt too small, too suffocating.
Noah stepped inside, his movements slow, deliberate. His voice was unreadable. "Where did you get that?"
Jasper didn't move. Didn't speak.
Ava forced herself to hold Noah's gaze. "You tell me, Noah. What were you, Liam, and Dorian Hale doing together?"
The silence that followed was heavier than any answer he could have given.