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I wanted to disappear into the mud beneath my feet. I wanted to be anywhere but here. Not only had Noah’s grandfather threatened me, but he was now grilling my ex-boyfriend about his feelings for me.

As if this moment couldn’t get any worse, I spotted my father at the other end of the parking lot. He must have sensed my eyes on him because he looked at me and smiled. But when he saw who I was with, his expression turned, and he started stalking toward us. Thankfully, I couldn’t see my mom anywhere.

“What’s going on? Isobel, are you okay?” Matthew demanded as he approached. Concern lit his features, and he reached out and gripped my arm. He was standing far closer than normal, and from the way he positioned his body between William, Noah, and me, I could tell he was trying to be protective.

He only let go of me when I nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” I sent Noah’s grandfather a sharp look. “William was just letting me know what can happen when you get on the wrong side of a Hastings.”

Ever so slowly, Matthew’s eyes hardened, and he squared his shoulders as he faced William Hastings. Even without the fake blood splattered on his face, my father would have looked fierce as he glared at the man who had caused our family so much pain.

“Threatening my daughter in a darkened parking lot, William? And I thought you could sink no lower.” I had no idea how Matthew managed to keep his voice so calm but also sound so powerful. His tone only carried a hint of his tightly coiled rage, and the worry that had been evident in his words just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

“I was simply reminding her to keep her distance from my grandson. They both appear to have forgotten...”

“We haven’t forgotten,” Noah said.

“We broke up just like you all wanted,” I added, anger pulsing through my veins. "Isn’t that enough?”

“No, it’s not.” William spat. “I wouldn’t be satisfied if you were in a school on the other side of the world. And even that wouldn’t be far enough.”

“Watch your tone with my daughter,” Matthew ordered.

“Why? So she thinks I’ll just stand by while she ensnares my grandson the same way your sister did my son?”

Don’t you dare mention my sister.”

The tension and anger between them was almost unbearable, and as I glanced at Noah, I could see he was struggling with it just as much as I was. This all needed to stop.

“Can’t we just put the past behind us?” I shouted over them.

Matthew and William both turned to face me.

“Seriously.” I focused mostly on my father. “You said you tried to work things out with Noah’s dad before. Maybe we can try again now?”

A flicker of concern shot through Matthew’s eyes, and he glanced at Noah. For a second, they shared a look, but I had no idea what they communicated in that fleeting moment.

“What’s she talking about?” William’s voice was low and filled with so much ice it rivaled the chill in the air.

My father’s expression turned just as cold as he faced Noah’s grandfather. “I’ve got no idea. She must be confused because I would never try to mend things with a Hastings. Especially not Liam.”

“What do you mean by that?” Noah asked. He’d gone completely rigid, and I gave Matthew a worried look. Why was he pretending he hadn’t tried to fix the feud? Surely, he knew to tread lightly where Noah’s father was concerned?

Matthew seemed completely oblivious to the fact Noah had gone lethally still.

“I mean that your father was the worst of you. He was a liar, a fraud and a cheater who got my sister and himself killed—” Matthew didn’t get a chance to finish as Noah’s fist came swinging through the air.

“Noah!” I screamed. But my alarm did nothing to stop him.

Matthew’s head cracked back as Noah’s fist connected with his cheek. He stumbled away, his hand clinging to his face as he stared at Noah in horror.

I ran to my father’s side, grabbing hold of him as I turned to glare at Noah. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I yelled before turning to my dad. “Matthew, are you okay?”

He slowly nodded, but he had to be in pain. His cheek was turning red, and I had no doubt it was going to bruise. What on earth had Noah been thinking? And why had Matthew felt the need to taunt him about his dad? Matthew was clearly on edge after finding me alone out here with William and Noah, but I’d never seen him lose his cool that way before.

Matthew gave Noah a tight smile. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer. Come on, Isobel.”