Noah didn't answer right away. His eyes lingered on the photograph, his expression unreadable. Ava felt the weight of his silence pressing down on her, thick with meaning,thick with secrets.
Jasper shifted beside her, his body tense. He was watching Noah carefully, like someone expecting a fight.
Ava swallowed hard. "Say something."
Noah finally lifted his gaze to meet hers. "Where did you get that?"
His voice was steady. Too steady.
She clenched her jaw. "Does it matter?"
Noah exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. It does."
Ava took a step closer, holding up the photograph. "I found Dorian Hale's name. You lied to me about not knowing him. Now I find this" she shook the photo slightly, her frustration bubbling over. "You, Liam, and Dorian. Together. So tell me, Noah. What the hell is going on?"
Something flickered in Noah's eyes,guilt, maybe, or something darker. He looked at Jasper, as if weighing his next words carefully.
Jasper crossed his arms. "Just tell her."
Noah's jaw tightened. "It's not that simple."
Ava felt her patience snap. "Stop saying that! Every time I get close to the truth, you shut me out. Do you know how exhausting that is?"
Noah took a slow breath. "I didn't want you involved in this, Ava. I was trying to protect you."
She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Protect me from what? The truth?"
Noah hesitated.
And in that moment, she knew.
Whatever he was hiding,whatever this was,it wasn't just about some old connection to Dorian Hale.
It was something worse.
Jasper's voice was quiet. "She deserves to know, Noah."
Noah looked at him for a long moment. Then, without a word, he turned back to Ava.
His voice was softer this time. "Come with me."
Ava hesitated. "Where?"
Noah's expression darkened. "Somewhere we can talk. Somewhere they can't hear us."
Her pulse quickened. "They?"
Noah didn't elaborate. Instead, he extended his hand.
Ava glanced at Jasper, who gave a barely perceptible nod.
She turned back to Noah, her heart pounding.
And then, against every instinct screaming at her to stop,she took his hand.