Page 85 of Silent Secrets

Hadley

Thedoorfliesopen and slams against the wall, breaking Hunter and me apart.

I frown as I turn to see who the hell is barging in on a private moment. I smile when I see Adaline standing in the doorway. She’d told me she’d be around, though she wouldn’t technically be attending the party. But this is the first time that I’ve seen her since just before I entered the ballroom. I know that she’s a human and technically she works for me, but I don’t see her that way. She’s my friend.

I listened to Grace when she’d told me it wouldn’t be right for Adaline to attend my birthday masquerade, but I won’t be allowing that in the future. I don’t care what others think. My friend will be by my side—human or not. And if anyone has a problem with that? Then they can take it up with me and I’ll happily set them straight.

The smile slides from my lips as Adaline continues to stand there in the doorway, her face ashen. Something is obviously very wrong, though I don’t know what could be bothering her. Her eyes aren’t on me though—they’re locked on Hunter.

“Adaline? What’s going on?”

Adaline shakes her head, turning her attention to me. “Maybe I should ask you that.”

I rear back, not used to my friend using that tone with me. I don’t understand why she’s so upset.

“Seriously, Adaline. What’s wrong with you?”

She shakes her head, scoffing as she lets her eyes move over the men. “I just don’t know how you can be around them after what they’ve done.”

Frowning, I glance between her and the guys. I still don’t understand what’s going on, but I can see the guilt in Caiden’s eyes. Worry shoots through me as the beating of my heart picks up. Turning back to Adaline, I take a deep breath as I try to prepare myself for whatever is coming next.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’d like to. What did they do?”

Adaline’s face falls. “You don’t know? That’s not why you’re in here? They weren’t telling you?”

I don’t bother to turn to look at the four men who seem to move as one as they step closer to me. I just shake my head and gesture for her to continue.

“Oh, Hadley. I hate that I’m the one that’s going to tell you this. I don’t want to hurt you. You’ve been so good to me, and you’re my friend. But you need to know.”

My chest tightens, pressure threatening to crush me. The longer that she takes to tell me what’s going on, the more I’m freaking out. My mind is spinning, imagining every bad thing that these men could have done to make Adaline look at me like that.

“Tell me,” I demand.

I almost feel bad when Adaline winces at my tone, but I can’t take this any longer. She needs to tell me what the hell she’s talking about. I can’t stand the suspense, the not knowing.

“I think it would be easier to show you,” she whispers as she walks over to me, offering me her phone as she glares over my shoulder.

I take the phone from her to find a video pulled up, refusing to look at her or the men who are now trying to get my attention. They’re worried about what I’m about to see—which means that I need to see whatever this is, regardless of if I want to or not. And I need to see it now, before they have a chance to convince me to not watch.

I steel myself as I press play, yanking away from whoever tries to grab me from behind. It doesn’t feel like they’re trying to take the phone from me, but like they’re trying to get my attention. But I can’t be sure of that and I need to see this. I need to know what they’ve done. I need to know just how badly I’ve screwed up by trusting them.

The video is dark and a little shaky. I don’t recognize the room, but I do recognize the voice that’s speaking. It’s Gabe, Hunter’s father. I keep my face blank as I watch him berate Hunter, Caiden, and Marcos. While he threatens my life. While he tells them that the only way to make up for failing to get me to abandon the throne is to marry me.

I can hear all four men speaking to me over the video, but I tune out their words and watch until the end. Anger courses through me at their betrayal, at my stupidity. I knew trusting them was a mistake, but I’d allowed my weak heart to rule me. If I’d listened to my head, I wouldn’t feel like my heart was breaking.

I’m not surprised that Hunter’s words to me just moments ago were a lie, but I am surprised by the fact that the other three betrayed me. I shouldn’t be, but I am. This is what I deserve for believing their lies and trusting them—and now it’s coming back to bite me in the ass.

But the person who I’m most angry with is myself. This is my own fault for falling for their lies—for falling for them. I was swayed by pretty words that I’d been too weak to see for the lies that they were. But that’s done. I know better now.

A small part of me questions if I’m overreacting to this. A part that’s begging for me to allow them a chance to explain, but I shut that down. I can’t do this—I don’t want to do this. I never should’ve allowed myself to fall for them in the first place. Focusing on the betrayal buzzing in my blood instead, I’m grateful that I don’t feel the overwhelming anger that I would’ve felt just earlier in the day.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I fight against the tears threatening to spill. Yes, their actions have hurt me, but I refuse to allow them to see it. I just need to be strong for a little while longer.

“Angel, please…” Kai grabs my wrist, turning me to face him.

My eyes narrow on him when I yank my wrist from his grasp. He winces, refusing to meet my eyes, and showing me his guilt. That’s all I need to see. He might not have been in the video, but I know he played a part in this as well—he must have, otherwise why the guilt?

“Don’t touch me,” I hiss, turning my glare on the other three as well. “None of you. Just stay the hell away from me. In fact, I think you should go home. There’s nothing for you here any longer. You can tell Gabe that you failed again because none of you will ever be my consorts.”

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