Page 60 of North

Her voice shook, but there was steel beneath it. “What about you?” she shot back. “What the fuck did you do?”

Dad’s expression flickered with something unreadable before his usual mask slid back into place. “Evie, calm down—”

“No.” She cut him off, her jaw tight. “For once, just tell the fucking truth, Dad. Did you cover up Lila’s accident? Did you hide the fact that Robert Harley wasn’t the only one to blame?”

Dad’s silence was the answer.

I didn’t need to hear the words.

I could see it written all over his face.

And on Lauren’s.

Guilt.

Shame.

The truth.

Dad’s face hardened, his usual calm facade cracking. “It wasn’t that simple.”

Evie let out a bitter laugh, her eyes burning. “Then explain it to me!” she demanded. “Why did you lie to us? Why did you let me hate Robert Harley when you were just as guilty?”

Dad’s voice turned sharp. “BECAUSE HE FUCKING OWED THAT TO ME.”

His words boomed through the room, his face turning red, his anger spilling out like poison.

I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

Lauren’s lips parted in quiet horror. “Mark—”

“I did it to protect this family,” Mark went on, his voice rising. “To protect all of you. The truth would’ve destroyed everything. Rob might’ve gotten away with it, but he fucking owed me my family’s respect at least.”

Lauren tried to step in, her voice placating. “Evie, please—”

Evie’s glare was sharp enough to cut glass. “Don’t.” Her voice cracked. “You knew, too, didn’t you?” She took a shaky breath. “Is this why my mother left?”

Lauren flinched at the accusation. Her lips pressed together, her face in pain.

“No,” she whispered. “This isn’t why Julianne left.”

But I wasn’t even listening anymore.

I was watching Quinn.

She stood near the doorway, silent, her arms wrapped around herself, her face pale. A single tear dripped down her cheek.

I wanted to go to her.

I wanted to say something.

But I lost that right when I turned her into a pawn and made the whole town listen to an audio of her creaming around my dick. Like she was just a whore, and not the woman I’d fallen in love with.

Evie stormed out before anyone could stop her, grabbing her bags without looking back, and Lauren followed after her.

Quinn hesitated, then left, closing her bedroom door quietly as she left Dad and me in the living room. The man I had spent my whole life trying to impress. The man I had defended. The man I had tried to become. I fucking hated him.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” My voice was raw.

---