Chapter 6 Unraveling Truths

The rest of the evening felt like a blur to Elena. The words Christian had spoken still echoed in her mind-Your father used to work for Aiden's family. But what did it mean? Why hadn't her father ever mentioned anything about working for the Sinclairs? Had he kept it a secret from her? Was it something so terrible that he had to bury it in silence?

Her head spun as she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all. And then there was Aiden. His warning to ignore Christian, his aggression when the conversation took a darker turn... Was he trying to protect her, or was there more to his connection to her father than he was letting on?

She didn't realize how late it had gotten until her phone buzzed again, breaking through the haze of her thoughts. She reached for it, expecting to see another message from Sienna, but instead, it was a text from an unknown number.

"We need to talk. Meet me by the old bridge at midnight. -A"

Her pulse quickened. The message was from Aiden. It was cryptic, intense, and impossible to ignore. There was no question about it-Aiden wanted to talk. But about what? Was it related to what Christian had said? Was he going to reveal something, or was he just trying to exert more control over her?

With a sense of unease settling in her chest, Elena slipped out of bed and dressed in the darkness of her room. She grabbed her coat and snuck out of the house, the cold night air biting at her skin as she made her way to the old bridge. The meeting spot seemed deliberate, secluded-far from the eyes of the rest of the school, away from anyone who might be watching.

As Elena approached the bridge, she could see a figure standing at the far end. Aiden. His silhouette was outlined against the moonlight, tall and imposing. Even in the darkness, she could feel the intensity of his presence.

"Did you think I'd just let you walk away?" Aiden's voice broke through the silence as she stepped closer.

Elena froze. There was something raw in his tone, something desperate that she hadn't expected. But before she could respond, Aiden stepped forward, his eyes flashing in the dim light.

"I need you to understand something," he said, his voice low but firm. "You have no idea what you're walking into. What Christian told you-about my family, about my past-it's dangerous. It's all a lie. But if you keep digging, you're going to find things you're not ready to see."

Elena took a step back, her mind racing. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice shaky with a mix of anger and confusion. "Why did you keep it a secret? If you cared about me, you would've told me the truth."

Aiden's jaw clenched, and for a moment, Elena could see the pain in his eyes. "It's not that simple," he said, his tone softer now. "I didn't tell you because I thought I could protect you. But now, I don't know what's real anymore." He reached out, almost like he wanted to touch her, but then his hand dropped to his side. "You don't understand, Elena. There are things in my family that... that can destroy everything."

Elena's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she processed his words. "And Christian? Why does he know so much? How does he fit into all of this?"

Aiden looked away for a moment, his face hardening. "Christian is trying to use you against me," he said, his voice tight with barely controlled anger. "He's always been obsessed with power-my power, my family's legacy. He'll do anything to tear us apart. And now that you're in the middle of it, he'll stop at nothing to make sure you're the one who gets hurt."

Elena felt a chill run down her spine. "I'm not your pawn, Aiden. I never was." Her voice shook with the weight of everything she'd just learned. "I don't care about your family's legacy. I care about the truth. I care about what you're hiding from me."

Aiden's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Elena saw something dangerous flicker in his gaze. But then, just as quickly, the moment passed, and he seemed to pull himself together.

"I didn't want to drag you into this," he said, his voice suddenly distant. "But it's too late for that now. You're already in deeper than you realize."

Elena stood frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe. The truth, or whatever Aiden was about to reveal, seemed just out of reach. The tension between them was palpable, as though the very air around them crackled with uncertainty.

"Why do you want to protect me?" Elena whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "You don't owe me anything."

Aiden stepped closer, and for the first time, there was a rawness in his expression that unsettled her. "I don't know anymore," he admitted quietly. "Maybe because I don't want to see you torn apart by all the lies. Maybe because I-" He broke off, as though the words were too painful to say.

The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. Elena wanted to reach out, to make sense of everything, but she didn't know if she could trust him anymore.

Before she could ask another question, a sudden sound broke the stillness-a faint rustling in the shadows. Elena turned, but when she looked back, Aiden was gone.

She was alone.