Riley’s heart pounded as he raced through the hallway. Cassie’s words echoed through his mind, but he couldn’t focus on that now, not when he had so much to tell Noah. Bursting into Noah’s office, Riley stopped abruptly, panting and out of breath.

“Noah!” He blurted out, his voice urgent. “I need to tell you something, it’s important.”

Noah held up a finger then nodded to the open lap top on his desk.

“Yeah, David, I’m still here.” He spoke into the microphone attached to his headset. “It’s looking good. Run it through a couple simulations and then update me on the progress.”

Riley stood, waiting patiently as Noah finished with his video chat. He’d nearly forgotten in all his excitement that Noah was in a virtual meeting with his development team. Riley took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, eager to tell Noah all that he had learned.

Noah finally signed off then took his headset off and set it aside before standing. He walked around the desk to where Riley stood and looked him over, concern etched across his face.

“Riley, what’s wrong?” He asked, taking the omega’s hand in his and squeezing gently. “Is the baby alright?”

Riley nodded, finally able to catch his breath. “The baby’s fine.” He assured Noah. “We’re both fine but, I’ve learned something that, well, I just can’t believe it.”

“Just take a breath, calm down and tell me.” Noah said as he placed both hands on Riley’s shoulders in an attempt to settle him a bit more.

Riley nodded and did as Noah suggested. He took a deep breath and then willed his frazzled nerves to calm down. He could do this. He’d rehearsed it in his head, what he was going to say, how he was going to say it, even down to Noah’s reaction to the news. Things didn’t quite turn out as he’d imagined them though. For starters, he’d been panting so hard that he could barely get a clear word out.

Finally, after he’d calmed himself enough to string together a coherent sentence, he blew out a breath and spoke. “Noah, you might want to sit down for this.” Riley told him. “What I have to tell you is going to come as quite a shock. I know it’s going to sound a little crazy, but trust me, you need to hear this, and please, keep an opened mind…”

Noah sat down and Riley began by telling him about hiding El’s diary after his confrontation with Lilian. Noah wasn’t too pleased to learn that Riley had gone back to the third floor after he’d promised not to but he decided to save the scolding for after Riley was done. It seemed too important to him to get out whatever it was that he needed to tell Noah, so, Noah sat quietly, listening to him, taking in each word that he spoke and growing more concerned with each passing second.

Riley told him everything. From learning that Eric was his father to his theory that El was actually Noah’s biological mother. He explained how El’s entries were becoming more desperate and how she wanted nothing more than to escape from Reaney Hall with her child and make a life for them, free from Stephen and Lilian’s oppressive influence. Riley told Noah how he felt that El’s spirit had reached out to him specifically for help. This revelation opened an entirely new can of worms though.

Riley wholeheartedly believed that El was dead and that her spirit haunted Reaney Hall. What shocked Noah the most though was Riley’s insistence that Noah’s parents had something to do with El’s death. He didn’t come right out and accuse them of murder but he hinted at the possibility. This did not sit well with Noah. His mother was a lot of things but he couldn’t bring himself to even entertain the notion that she was a murderer, and Riley had never even met Stephen. All of his information was being fed to him from a diary written by a woman who, by all accounts, was mentally ill and under Stephen’s care at the time of her pregnancy.

Riley couldn’t accept this though, insisting that El was being held against her will and that Stephen and Lilian were using her and manipulating her just to get their hands on her unborn child, a child who Riley now apparently believed was Noah himself.

“What you’re saying makes no sense.” Noah finally said, “These claims against my parents, they’re ludicrous. They did nothing but try to help El. Riley, El wasn’t stable. She’d had a mental breakdown and that’s why she came here, for help. Anything you’ve read in that diary well, it’s just not true. She was delusional.”

“I just can’t accept that.” Riley sighed, shaking his head. “If you would just read what she wrote, if you could feel her desperation.”

“No, Riley. I’ve heard enough.” Noah stood and walked around to Riley, standing before him, looking down into his dark, brown and beautiful eyes. “I’m not going to read that diary and I don’t want you reading it anymore either. You’re becoming obsessed with it, Riley. You’re becoming obsessed with El and it’s not healthy. You need to stop. The only thing you should be focusing on right now is our child. You need to be healthy for the sake of our baby.”

“I am focused on our baby.” Riley argued. “But I can’t ignore what happened to El either. Noah, something isn’t right here, can’t you feel it? The way Lilian acts towards me, the way she so desperately wanted that diary. She’s hiding something, something that terrifies her. I can see it in her eyes when ever El or the diary is brought up. The more I read, the more questions I have and the only way that any of those questions are going to be answered is if I finish the diary.”

“Or, we can just ask.”

Riley narrowed his eyes. “Ask? Ask who?”

“The one person still living who was actually there. Someone with first hand knowledge about El and what happened to her, my mother.”

“You can’t be serious?” Riley took a step back. “Noah, there is no way that Lilian is going to tell us the truth about anything. I mean, come on, she hid the fact that she knew my parents. She probably has known who I am since the moment I arrived here and yet she’s said nothing. Why would she lie about that?”

Noah shrugged. “Maybe she never made the connection. I don’t really know. The only way we’re really ever going to find out is to ask her and I think she’ll be honest. I’m sure, if she did lie, she had a good reason for it. If nothing else, she should have the chance to explain herself before you go around accusing her of kidnapping and murdering her own sister-in-law.”

Riley sighed, feeling defeated. Noah had blinders on when it came to his mother. Unless she flat out admitted to what she had done to El, Noah would never see the truth. Riley reluctantly agreed to speak to Lilian though deep down, he knew it was a mistake. All Lilian was going to do was manipulate and twist the truth to her own benefit. She couldn’t offer him the truth that El’s diary held but still, he trusted Noah and if Noah thought confronting Lilian would bear some positive results then, he at least had to try. He was right in part. Lilian had to be given the chance to do the right thing and tell them the truth about El. Riley just didn’t have the faith in her that Noah did. Maybe she’d prove him wrong, though he seriously doubted it. Riley’s faith in Lilian Reaney was non-existent at this point.

Despite the enormous size of the estate, Lilian wasn’t that difficult to locate. Noah and Riley found her sitting in the sun room, sipping afternoon tea with Cassie. The moment Noah entered the room the two women turned to look at him. Lilian glowered, her eyes raking over Riley and Cassie immediately rose to her feet and then rushed to Noah and flung herself against him. Her eyes were red from crying and she made quite a show of how upset she was by pushing her face into Noah’s chest and sobbing heavily into his shirt.

“This is your doing.” Lilian pointed a finger at Riley as she admonished him. “Did you really have to go after Cassie this way? Couldn’t you have left her alone, at least? Or do you thrive on making others miserable?”

“I have no idea what you’re even talking about.”Riley rolled his eyes, annoyed that once again Cassie had managed to insert herself between he and Noah. Now she was apparently blaming Riley for something so she could play the victim card, which she did expertly, to draw sympathy from the others.

“Go ahead, play stupid.” Lillian hissed. “But the way you treated this poor girl is unacceptable and I demand you apologize to her at once.”

“I have nothing to apologize for.” Riley narrowed his eyes as he crossed his arms defiantly over his chest. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“That’s not true.” Cassie raised her head and looked up pleadingly at Noah. “The things he said to me, Noah, he was so cruel. He told me that you didn’t want me here. He said no one wanted me around. He insulted me, called me hurtful names and told me that he wouldn’t rest until you threw me out of the house and out of your life. I guessed that he was just jealous of our relationship but I never thought he’d stoop so low. He was just so horrible.” She began crying again, false tears streamed down her cheeks and stained her face.

“I believe it.” Lilian said, rising to her feet then walking over to stand in front of Riley, glaring at him with malice in her eyes. “I always knew he was trouble. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that he would lie like this just to get rid of the competition.”

Noah gently moved Cassie away from him, holding her at arms length then he sighed. “There is no competition, Mother. Cassie and I are just friends, nothing more.”

“If that were true, then this…boy…wouldn’t feel so threatened by her.”

“I’m not threatened by her.” Riley said pointedly, “and I never said any of the things she’s accusing me of.”

“Yes you did!” Cassie sneered, turning to look at Riley with a glare so sharp it could cut through diamonds. “On the stairs, earlier, you told me that Noah doesn’t love me and would never marry me.”

“I said that because it’s true.” Riley argued. “You wishing it to be other wise isn’t going to change anything. He loves me, not you.”

“You didn’t tell me about any of this.” Noah said to Riley. “Why didn’t you mention that you met Cassie on the stairs?”

Riley took a deep breath. “I didn’t think it was important, and I didn’t want to cause anymore trouble between you and Cassie. She is your friend, and I respect that.”

Noah’s expression softened as he turned to Cassie, not sure what to do or say to fix this. Yes, Cassie was his friend, a good friend, but Riley was the love of his life. Cassie needed to understand once and for all that Noah would never see her as anything but a friend and would never love her the way he loved Riley.

“Cass, Riley didn’t mean to hurt you.” Noah tried to explain. “He was just being honest with you. I’m sorry that his words upset you, but you have to understand where he’s coming from.”

Cassie balled Noah’s shirt in her fists and tried to pull him closer to her but when he refused to move her desperation turned to anger. “You don’t understand, Noah. He’s trying to turn you against me. He’s jealous. You and I were always meant to be together. We’re perfect together. We think alike and we come from the same world. You couldn’t ask for a better match.”

“No, Cassie.” Noah shook his head sadly as he gently removed her hands from her shirt. “You and I would never have worked out. Riley isn’t the problem. Even if he wasn’t in the picture, I still wouldn’t be interested in you, Cassie, I’m gay. I’ve known it since we were kids. I just never looked at females the way I looked at males. It’s nothing against you, it’s just the way I am. I’m attracted to men, not women, and I’m in love with Riley.”

“Why?” Cassie’s face twisted with rage. “How can you be in love with him?” She yelled through her sobs. “He’s nothing! He’s vile. He’s hateful and cruel. He said terrible things to me, deliberately, just to hurt me. He hates me because I love you, he hates me for being close to you!”

“No, Cassie.” Noah said firmly. “Riley is my partner, my mate. If he said those things to you, it was only because he was trying to protect our relationship.”

“This isn’t right.” Cassie wiped at her eyes, her mascara making streaks down her cheeks as if her tears were turning black. “You’re not supposed to be with him. You barely even know him but you and I, we’ve shared so much. Who was there for you when your father died, or when Charlie moved away? Who stood by you through all your years of self-imposed isolation? Riley? No, it was me. It’s always been me. I’ve always been here for you. I’ve stood by you when no one else would, I stayed loyal.”

“And I appreciate that.” Noah sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. His shoulders slumped and he looked so exhausted, both mentally and physically. Riley suddenly wished that he had never brought up El or her diary. If he hadn’t, he and Noah could be in their room now, curled up in bed, holding each other close. Instead, they were in the sun room, going around in circles as Noah tried desperately to defend his relationship with Riley to both his mother and now to Cassie as well.

“Cassie, I’ve always cherished our friendship but I can’t be what you want. I can’t be your lover, or your husband, but I will always be your friend. You just have to accept that and move on.”

Cassie shook her head as though she could shake off his words, shake away the pain and humiliation of his rejection. Her heart knew what Noah was saying was true but her mind refused to believe any of it was real. “Why are you doing this to me?” She asked finally, lifting her head to meet Noah’s gaze. Her voice sounded so small, so broken and for a moment, Riley actually felt sorry for her. “Are you trying to punish me for something? Are you angry that I didn’t keep in touch after I left for school? Is that why you’re treating me this way?”

Noah exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. He could feel the start of another headache building, just behind the eyes. A relentless, pounding that became more pronounced with each passing moment.

“Once again, Cass, my feelings have nothing to do with you. You didn’t do anything and I’m not punishing you for anything. I’m not doing this to you, it’s just who I am. Being gay isn’t something you choose, it’s just the way I was born, It’s who I am and nothing can change that. You either accept what I’m telling you or…”

“Or what?” Cassie stared at him, her lip trembling as she waited for Noah to continue.

“Or…I don’t need you in my life.”

Cassie recoiled. The look on her face was one of utter shock and disbelief. She blinked and put a hand to her cheek as though Noah had just slapped her. Riley was certain the sting of his words hurt just the same but it needed to be said. Noah couldn’t have been anymore honest with her and whether or not Cassie chose to accept the truth, well, that was now on her.

“I can’t believe you would say that to me, Noah. After everything we’ve been through, you’d really just throw our friendship away over him?” She pointed angrily at Riley.

“I don’t want to.” Noah told her, “but really, what choice do I have? You can either accept that Riley is a part of my life now, or we’re done. I can’t make it anymore clear than that.”

“I see.” Cassie lifted her head and flung her hair back as she tried to regain her composure, and some dignity. “You’ve hurt me, Noah, you’ve really hurt me.”

“I’m sorry.” Noah said and the look on his face was of genuine remorse. The last thing he wanted was to lose his childhood friend but in all honesty, they had grown apart years ago and Noah felt that her showing up now and without forewarning was more about her parents throwing her out than her being in love with Noah. He was nothing more than a lifeline that she was desperately trying to hold onto as she watched her ship slowly sinking. As much as Noah cared for her, he couldn’t be the savior that she wanted, or needed.

“I suppose there’s nothing left to say then.” She looked to Noah, her eyes pleading, one last time, for him to change his mind but her attempts to sway him were futile.

“I suppose not.” Noah responded.

Cassie nodded slowly, as if answering some unspoken question then she smoothed out her skirt and walked past Noah and Riley, her head held high but her spirits sinking. Before she left the room though, she turned and addressed Noah once more. “You’re going to regret this, both of you.” With that, she turned on her heels and stormed out of the room.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the three remaining occupants. Riley could feel the tension in the air building as Lilian’s hateful gaze bore into him.

“Well, this is a fine mess you’ve caused.” She hissed. “Though I suspect you’re quite pleased with yourself. You’ve finally got what you wanted all along.”

“I never wanted to cause anyone any pain.” Riley told her. “That was never my intention.”

“No, your intention was to destroy this family and it looks as though you may just succeed. Anyway, now I have to go find Cassandra and see if I can at least undo some of the damage you’ve caused. If you’ll excuse me…”

Lilian moved to walk around the two men but Noah stopped her. “Actually, Mother, Riley and I came here looking for you. We want you to clear the air about a few things, if you can.”

“Clear the air?” Lilian crossed her arms over her chest and looked suspiciously between Noah and Riley. “About what, exactly?”

“My parents.” Riley said, looking Lilian dead in the eyes.

Lilian narrowed her eyes and sneered. “Boy, I know nothing of your parents, nor do I care.”

“But that’s not exactly true is it?” Riley stepped in front of her, effectively blocking her path as she attempted to step around him. “You at least knew my omega father, Eric. He was El’s caregiver, wasn’t he?”

“Eric Morgan?” Lilian shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. “Yes, he worked here for a couple of months, taking care of Eleanor. After she left he was dismissed as we no longer had any need for him. I haven’t seen or heard from him since and I certainly never knew he was your father. He wasn’t even married when he was employed with us.”

“You never saw him again after that?” Riley raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips. “If that’s true, then why were they on Kings road when their car went into the river? Don’t you find it odd that they practically died on your doorstep?”

Lilian opened her mouth, ready to deflect Riley’s questions but suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Riley had her and he knew he had her. She backtracked, scrambling to find a way to explain away her own mistake.

“I don’t know why they were there.” Lilian said, becoming defensive. “It was an accident. It was snowing and the roads were icy…”

“So, you do remember the accident?” Riley’s eyes lit up. He’d backed Lilian into a corner knowing she’d have a hard time denying the truth now. To Riley’s surprise though, Lilian glared at him, her anger building and then she flat out admitted the truth to him. She admitted it as though it meant nothing, just some inconsequential piece of information that had momentarily slipped her mind. It was what Riley had been needing to hear, waiting to hear. No more lies. No more skirting around the truth as though the events of that night could have been erased from everyone’s minds if they just stopped talking about it.

“Of course I remember.” Lilian snarled. “It was the same night that my husband was murdered. It was the night of our annual Christmas party, the last one that was ever held at Reaney Hall. I’ll never forget that night for as long as I live. It was the worst night of my life.”

Noah narrowed his eyes. “Why would Riley’s parents be on Kings road the night father was killed?” Noah asked, his voice tense. “That was years after El left. Eric would have had no reason to be anywhere near the house.”

Lilian’s smug tone and demeanor quickly slipped away being replaced by a look of fear and uncertainty. “Why are you suddenly asking me about that night? You know it upsets me to talk about it.” Her eyes filled with tears and she did her best to appear as a wounded animal caught in the grip of a vicious predator.