The Bachelor's Promise (Bachelor Auction) by Naima Simone Read Free Book Online

rumble short of erupting.
    “Noelle isn’t her father,” Lucas murmured. “Or her brother.”
    Aiden released a bark of laughter, the sharp edges of it abrading his throat. “You do know how hypocritical you sound, right?” Only a year ago, he’d warned Lucas against punishing Sydney for the sins of her father. Not that he’d heeded that warning.
    “And you remember what you told me then? That I should leave Sydney out of my plans for revenge against Jason? That she was innocent? I should’ve listened to you. It would’ve saved her—and me—a lot of unnecessary pain.”
    “Excuse me?” Aiden said, pouring exaggerated shock into his voice. “Could you repeat that? You should’ve what?” His chuckle at Lucas’s grunt faded, as did the quick burst of humor. He sighed, tunneling his fingers through his hair. Raw frustration and…and helplessness rose inside him like a swelling wave. Huge and too out of control to be ridden out. “I thought that part of my life was over. After Peyton, I swore I wouldn’t give the Ranas one more thing to tear away from me. And now I have to invite them back into my life? I don’t know if I can.”
    Lucas sighed. “You think I don’t understand bitterness? Hate, even? Aiden, you, more than anyone, know I wrote that damn book. But it’s not them, just Noelle.” He paused. “Caroline talked to me about her, too.”
    “What?” Aiden rasped, shock streaking through him like an electrical current. “You never mentioned…”
    “There didn’t seem to be a need when Noelle wouldn’t accept your help after the funeral,” Lucas explained, his tone solemn. “Caroline told me about the money she wanted to leave Noelle. She didn’t know about you two—how close you’d become. But she did know how you felt about Frank. She didn’t blame you; you were her son, and she recognized the issue you had with him. But in case you couldn’t fulfill her request, she asked me to.”
    God, that stung. Aiden flattened his palm against the window, bowing his head. He clenched his jaw as if the action could contain the pain and shame brewing inside him.
    “Aiden,” Lucas murmured.
    “No,” Aiden interrupted, his voice a hoarse, almost unrecognizable replica of itself. “Give me a minute.”
    Love.
    How many times had he questioned his mother about why she stayed—why she allowed Frank to stay? And her answer had always been the same: I love him . And her eyes, the same green eyes she’d bequeathed to Aiden, had been so sad, as if stating, I know you don’t understand . The hell he didn’t understand. Experience had taught him one valuable, irreversible lesson: Love was an excuse. A fucked-up excuse to use someone. For a person to remain in a relationship that demeaned them because being alone was too damn scary. An excuse to lie, to cheat…to devastate.
    His mother had claimed to love Frank…or had she been more in love with who she wished he could’ve been?
    Aiden had loved Peyton. And it had blinded him to her instability, her emotional problems, her betrayal.
    He hated the word.
    “She didn’t ask me to hurt you or force you into anything, Aiden,” Lucas said. “But she truly cared for Noelle like she was her own child. She didn’t ensure Frank was provided for—she didn’t mention him at all. Her concern was for Noelle . And she entrusted you—us—with her care. And as much as I understand why you would wash your hands of all this, it’s what Caroline wanted. So if you won’t do it for Noelle—for Caroline—then I will.”
    Aiden swallowed the acidic retort that scalded his throat. Not because Lucas didn’t deserve his vitriol—although he didn’t. No. What halted it—halted him—was the image of his mother. Or rather, images.
    Caroline walking him to school, her coat flapping in the wind, her blond curls blowing around her face…her hand strong around his smaller one. Promising without words that she would never let anyone harm him.
    Caroline turning to