Noah sank into the worn armchair at Hannah’s childhood home, his mind spinning like the snowstorm outside. The recording Hannah pressed into his hands felt heavier than any weight he had ever carried. He listened, each word from Raven and Mia cutting through him like shards of ice.
“…he’s not really ours. Remember the papers? The deal? Keep him under control.”
His heart lurched. “What… what does this mean?” he whispered, disbelief choking his words.
Hannah knelt beside him, her hand firm on his knee. “It means everything you thought you knew about your family… might be a lie. I didn’t want to believe it either, but it’s real, Noah. You deserve the truth.”
His chest tightened, anger and betrayal warring with confusion. “How could they… my own mother and sister…?” His voice cracked, raw with emotion.
Hannah’s eyes softened, fierce and protective. “That’s why we’re not letting this go. We need someone who can dig deeper, someone who won’t be swayed by family ties.”
Noah swallowed hard, the knot of fear and uncertainty tightening. “A private investigator?” he asked, the words tasting foreign yet necessary.
“Yes,” Hannah said, rising and grabbing her coat. “Jack Riley. He’s discreet, thorough… the best chance we have at uncovering the truth.”
Hours later, they sat across from Jack Riley in his cluttered office, the faint scent of old leather and coffee hanging in the air. He didn’t flinch at Noah’s tension or Hannah’s determined glare. Instead, he folded his hands, eyes steady and calculating.
“So,” Jack began, voice calm, almost unnervingly so, “you want the full story. Not just the lies, not just the rumors. You want to know exactly what your family has been hiding.”
Noah met Hannah’s gaze, seeing the same mix of fear and resolve reflected in her eyes. He drew in a slow, trembling breath. “Yes. We need the truth… no matter how ugly it is.”
Jack leaned back, assessing them both. “Good. That’s the first step. The truth can set you free—but it can also burn everything down in its path.”
Noah’s hands clenched into fists. The air between them was electric, charged with fear, anticipation, and a new kind of courage. Whatever secrets lay ahead, he and Hannah would face them together—and they wouldn’t back down.