Page 52 of North

I had said that. I had believed that.

But standing here now, watching Quinn shrink into herself, unable to even meet my gaze—

Nothing about it felt justified.

Before I could say anything, Aiden moved.

His fist connected with Connor’s face so fast none of us had time to react. The sound of it was sharp, a sickening crack that sent Connor stumbling back, clutching his nose. Blood dripped down his fingers.

“Aiden! What the fuck?” Connor choked out, his voice filled with shock.

Aiden didn’t flinch. His hands were still clenched, his entire body vibrating with rage.

“You think it’s funny?” he growled. “You think ruining someone’s life is a joke? You’re a fucking disgrace, Con.”

“I did it for you!” Connor shouted, his voice shaking, eyes flashing with something desperate. “You can’t even fucking walk properly, Aiden. He ruined your life!”

Aiden stilled.

And then he let out a harsh, bitter laugh. “That better not be your fucking excuse for this, Connor, or I swear to God.”

Realization flickered across his features as the silence grew. “All three of you are fucking idiots! I ruined my own life,” he said, his voice shaking with something close to agony. “I ruined my own fucking life.”

The room fell silent.

But Aiden wasn’t done.

His eyes locked onto mine, and suddenly, I felt like I was the one who had just been punched.

“You think you have some kind of moral high ground because of what Robert Harley did?” Aiden’s voice was bitter, sharp. “You’re no better. None of you.”

Evie’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Your father. Mark.” His gaze bore into mine, cold and cutting. “He covered it up. Just like my dad. Just like Robert.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

The room went still.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.

“What?” Connor whispered, his voice hoarse, his face still bloodied from the punch.

Aiden exhaled, shaking his head. “You want the truth? Robert Harley didn’t act alone. He took the fall for all of them. Mark, my dad, Robert—they were all in on it. And you know why?” His voice broke slightly. “Because I was the one fucking driving that night, and I was just as drunk as he’d been. Lila was already dead when they came to help me, so they made something up on the spot to try and cover it all up. No one expected my leg to be fucked. Not that it fucking matters.”

My pulse pounded in my ears.

No.

That wasn’t—

“That’s not possible,” I said, my voice cold, sharp, barely above a whisper. “My father didn’t have anything to do with that fucking accident.”

Aiden scoffed. “You really think so?”

Evie looked stunned, her voice shaking. “Aiden, what are you saying?”

Aiden ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. “They buried the truth to protect me. To protect all of us. And now you’re out here destroying Quinn for something her father did when all of your hands are just as dirty.”

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