Page 55 of Sweet Temptation

“God, Noah, I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head. “It’s hardly your fault,” he said. “It was an accident. But I think a part of me will always wish that my father had never gotten caught up with a LaFleur. That maybe he wouldn’t have been at the lab so late that night. That maybe he’d still be alive...”

I couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like for Noah to bear that weight on his shoulders. It made sense he couldn’t stand my father’s family. That his grandfather wanted him away from me and Matthew.

We both sat in silence, the enormity of his confession hanging over us. Matthew had said my aunt died before her time, but I’d had no idea of the circumstances surrounding it. It was tragic and heartbreaking for both Noah and my father. Perhaps this was why Matthew hated the Hastings so much too? Why he had warned me away from Noah in the first place.

“You can’t tell anyone what I’ve told you tonight,” Noah said, finally looking my way. “About my father and your aunt, about the financial trouble our company is in. No one knows any of it. Not even Cress.”

“They really don’t know?” Things had to be pretty bad if Noah hadn’t even told his cousin his family was in financial trouble. And I had to wonder how no one knew about his dad and my aunt. Affairs were secretive in nature, but once it had been discovered, I imagined it would have been hard to keep quiet.

“If people knew about the state of the company, it could ruin us completely,” he said. “And the affair? My grandfather managed to keep it secret to protect my father’s legacy. I don’t want him to be remembered for that.”

“No, of course,” I said. “I won’t tell anyone. Not even Cress.”

He released a breath and relaxed a little. “I know it’s a lot to ask, given everything, but my grandfather would freak if anyone found out.”

“I won’t say a word,” I reassured him.

“Thank you.”

We sat there staring silently at one another as I allowed everything he’d told me to sink in. There was a lot to digest, but it meant so much to me that Noah had trusted me enough to share the truth.

“Thank you for telling me,” I finally said. “I’m surprised you can even stand to be in the same room as me after all that’s happened.”

“You’re not the problem,” Noah said. “You never were. I’d look past all that in a heartbeat for you, but...”

“Your grandfather,” I murmured.

“My grandfather.” He nodded. “He didn’t give me any choice. If I stayed with you, he’d see it as the worst betrayal, and…” His voice trailed off, but I knew what he was going to say.

“You can’t lose him too, I get it.” Neither of Noah’s parents were around anymore, and his grandfather was all he had. If being with Noah meant losing my mom, I would have made the same choice too. “It doesn’t make it any easier though.”

“No.” He shared a sad smile with me. “How do you feel? Now that you know.”

“It’s a lot to take in,” I said. “I can’t believe our families have been through so much. I know we can’t change the past, but I just wish there was a way we could mend the pain and hurt we’ve caused each other.”

Noah’s brow furrowed as he looked at me. “That’s impossible.”

“But what about your dad and my aunt? If they were together, it means they put the rivalry and the fighting and the history aside. How did that happen if it’s impossible? How didwehappen?”

Noah’s frown deepened, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He probably thought I was silly for wishing our families could change. They had hated each other since before either of us were born, and hostility like that wasn't easily forgotten.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at it to see a text from Cress asking how I was. The play was over, and she wanted to know if I needed her to pick anything up on their way back to the hotel.

I sent her a quick text back saying I was fine and didn’t need anything before I lifted my eyes to Noah.

“Everyone’s coming back now,” I said. “You should probably leave. If a teacher catches you in here, we’ll both get in trouble.”

“I’m not leaving you when you’re sick.”

“I’m okay,” I quickly replied. “I’m feeling much better. I just need to try and get some sleep.”

He nodded and started to stand. “If you’re sure…”

“I am. Thanks for looking after me.”

“It was no problem.”

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