Chapter 235

Noah

I acted strong.

That was the lie I kept telling everyone.

On the outside, I nodded. I breathed. I answered questions like a functional adult. On the inside, I was twelve again, stomach twisted, heart racing, waiting for the blow I couldn’t see coming.

“This is a bad idea,” my mother said for the third time, her voice shaking despite how hard she tried to keep it steady. “Noah, he’s a manipulator. He always has been.”

Emily stood beside her, arms crossed tight over her chest. “He’s going to mess with you,” she added quietly. “He’ll twist things. He’ll say whatever hurts most.”

Lexie didn’t argue. She just looked at me, eyes tired and knowing. “You don’t owe him anything,” she said softly. “Not answers. Not forgiveness. Not a single word.”

Hale nodded once. “If this destabilizes you, it helps no one.”

I listened. God, I did. Every word landed.

“I know,” I said finally. “I know all of that.”

Aiden’s hand tightened around mine. “Then don’t do it,” he said, voice low but firm. “We can shut this down.”

I swallowed. “If I don’t hear it from him,” I said, “he’ll use it anyway. In court. Through his lawyer. In my head.”

Silence fell.

“I’ve spent my whole life reacting to him,” I went on. “Trying to predict him. Running from what he might do next.” My voice cracked, just barely. “I don’t want to go into this blind.”

My mom’s eyes filled. “You shouldn’t have to be brave again.”

“I don’t want to be brave,” I said honestly. “I just want this to stop.”

“Then don’t let him lead the conversation.” Emily reached out and squeezed my arm.

“That’s the plan,” I said.

Reluctantly, they agreed.

We decided to regroup at Lexie’s afterward. Lunch. Safety. Familiar faces. A place to land no matter how it went.

And then, just as we were about to leave—

“Noah.”

Our lawyer approached, expression careful. “We can do it now. Private holding room.”

My pulse spiked.

Aiden looked at me. “We don’t have to.”

I met his eyes. “I do. Please stay.”

“Always.”

The hallway felt too long. Too quiet. Every step echoed like it was counting down to something irreversible.

The door opened.

And there he was.

Even now, up close, my father looked thinner. Older. But his eyes—those were the same. Sharp. Assessing. Still convinced he was the smartest person in the room.

“Noah,” he said, like he’d been waiting for me. “You look… different.”

I didn’t sit right away. “Say what you asked to say.”

He smiled faintly. “Still so direct. Your mother never liked that.”

Aiden stiffened beside me.

“Don’t talk about her,” I said flatly.

James sighed, like I was the inconvenience. “Fine. Let’s talk about you, then.”

I sat.

“What information do you have?” I asked.

He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “You know? William wasn’t my first option.”

The words punched the air out of my lungs.

“What?” I whispered.

“You think I went to that church to kill him?” James said calmly. “No. I went there for you.”

Aiden surged to his feet. “That’s enough.”

“Sit down, I’m not done,” James snapped—then smiled again when he saw him pause. “See? Still works.”

My hands shook, but I didn’t look away. “Finish the sentence,” I said.

My father’s eyes stayed locked on mine, cold and assessing.

“Your mother. Your sister. That girl…. All of them, walking around like they’d won something. Like they’d earned safety. Comfort. Freedom…” His mouth twisted. “At first, I wanted to take that away.”

My hands curled into fists. “By killing me.”

“Yes,” he said calmly. “By eliminating the source.”

I let out a sharp, disbelieving breath. “You’re insane.”

“No,” he snapped. “I was wrong. That day at the church, I realized you were never the problem,” he said finally. “Not really.”

My stomach dropped.

“You think they felt safe and untouchable because of you?” he went on. “Because you were successful? Because you were worth something?” He gave a short, humorless laugh. “You never amounted to anything, son.”

Aiden stiffened beside me. “Shut the fuck up—”

“It’s okay, Aiden.” I shook my head, in a silent plea.

“You see,” my father continued, eyes burning now, “none of it came from you. Their money. Their protection. Their shiny little escape.” His lips curled. “It came from him. William. His power. His influence.”

My heart hammered, knowing that he was actually right.

“So I took it away,” my father continued. “Left you all back in the dirt, where you belong. No one powerful left to shield you.”

He paused.

“It wasn’t until I saw your faces that it clicked,” he added softly, “I realized I had just done you a favor…”

I stood so fast my chair scraped loudly against the floor. “What the fuck does that mean?”

Aiden’s hand landed on my shoulder, grounding, steady.

My dad’s gaze flicked between us. Lingering.

“It took one look,” he said. “One look at you afterward. At the way you stood together as they escorted me out.”

His smile was slow. Ugly.

“...To know that my suspicions were right. You really are goddamn queers.”

Aiden moved fully between us, and our lawyer between them both. “Watch your mouth.”

My father ignored him. “Let me guess. The marriage was a sham. William found out about your little affair.” He chuckled. “Blackmailed you. Pushed you around. Just like I used to. Just like everyone does—”

My vision went red.

“I guess,” he continued, “by killing him, I freed you. Didn’t I?”

I lunged forward, rage tearing through me—but Aiden held me back, firm and unyielding.

“That’s enough,” our lawyer cut in sharply.

James wasn’t finished.

“You testify against me,” he said, eyes never leaving mine, “and I tell them everything. Court. Press. Sponsors. The NFL.” He shrugged. “We’ll see how long your fairy tale lasts.”

I laughed.

It surprised all of us.

“You really think that’s leverage?” I asked hoarsely. “You are going to prison whether or not I testify, father. You just confessed to premeditated murder…!”

His expression darkened. “And just like that, I might confess we planned it together,” he added smoothly. “Daddy dearest taking the fall. Saving his son from his blackmailer.” His lips twitched. “Heroic, really.That will lessen my sentence.”

Silence filled the room. Then I stepped forward.

“You’ll never change,” I said quietly. “You were always a monster.”

My father’s eyes narrowed.

“And you’ll die one,” I went on. “Alone. Rotting in a cell. Not near us. Not in our lives.” My voice didn’t shake. “Do your worst. You don’t scare me anymore.”

I turned.

“We’re done.”

Aiden’s hand tightened around mine as we walked out.

For the first time in my life—he didn’t see me shake, he didn’t see me cry.

And I didn’t look back.