Jace let out a shortugh. “So, you really do resent me, huh?”


    “I wouldn’t go that far,” I said, though we both knew there was some truth in it. “But yeah, there’s


    definitely a bit of an imbnce. You wasted ten years of my life my time, my emotions.” Since we


    were already on the subject, I wasn’t holding back.


    “And what about my ten years?” he said quietly, his voice low. “Rea, I loved you all those years, too.


    I gave you my heart.”


    I met his eyes for a second, then looked away. “I’m not denying that. But the second you slept with


    Tanya, everything you gave? Gone. You wiped it all out yourself.”


    Jace’s jaw clenched in frustration. “Even criminals get parole, chances to redeem themselves. Why


    can’t I get one?”


    “Because with me, there are no second chances,” I said just as the food arrived.


    He clearly wanted to keep talking, but I wasn’t having it. “If you want me to actually eat this, drop the


    past.”


    His eyes darkened, but he stayed quiet.


    We ate in near silence, neither of us really tasting the food. The whole thing felt pointless.


    After dinner, Jace drove me to the hotel and arranged for me to stay in the room next to his.


    As I was about to enter my room, I turned to him. “I want to see Steve as soon as possible.”


    “I know,” Jace said, pausing for a moment. “If you need anything, just call me.”


    This time, I nodded, not fighting him on it, and headed into my room.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Just as I was closing the door, Jace called out, “Rea, do you really know Hayden?”


    I stopped, confused. “What do you mean?”


    He didn’t answer, just gave me a hard look before disappearing into his room.


    I frowned. What was that supposed to mean?


    Once inside, I immediately tried video calling Hayden, but no answer. Maybe he was busy, or his


    phone was somewhere out of reach. I shrugged it off and snapped a quick picture of my room,


    sending it with a short message: [All settled in safely.]


    Still nothing.


    As I stared at our chat, Jace’s weird question yed on repeat in my head. ‘Do you really know


    Hayden?‘


    I thought I did. I knew his background, his family, his age, his finances. He’d always been open, and


    we even worked together now. Everything checked out.


    So why would Jace ask that? Was he hinting at something deeper? Was there something about


    Hayden I didn’t know?


    I tried to shake off the doubt. Hayden was solid. His life was clean, he donated a chunk of his


    earnings to


    charity, and he’d never hidden anything from me. Plus, he trusted me enough to leave me in Jace’s


    care- who would do that unless they werepletely confident?


    So, what else was there to know?


    But Jace wouldn’t have thrown that out there casually. He wasn’t the type to stir up drama or y


    mind games, especially not like this. Was he trying to warn me about something?


    Still, I couldn’t ask Jace for more. And I couldn’t let his words nt doubts in my head. If one cryptic


    comment was enough to shake me, Jace would think my rtionship with Hayden wasn’t that solid


    in the first ce.


    Minutes passed. Hayden still hadn’t responded. A small flicker of unease started creeping in. I tried


    video calling him again.


    It connected, but the screen was pitch ck. Instead of seeing Hayden, I heard voices.


    “You wanted time, and I’ve given you that,” said a deep, gravelly voice–an older man, stern and


    authoritative. “Now, I’ve waited long enough. How much longer do you n to avoid returning to the


    Hart family?”


    My heart sped up. Who is this guy? And was he talking to Hayden?


    Hart family? The same Hart family?


    I gripped my phone tighter, barely breathing as I strained to hear more.


    Then I heard Hayden’s voice, calm but tense. “You’ve waited this long; a little more time won’t hurt.”