Momentster, Jace barged in, heading straight for the bedroom without even ncing at me on the


    couch.


    Wayne wiped the corner of his mouth. For a split second, I saw it–a faint smear of red.


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    Jace returned, and Wayne, as unbothered as ever, spoke up. “You don’t always have to assume the


    worst of me.”


    Jace’s eyes finallynded on me. His tense expression eased slightly when he saw I was still fully


    clothed, but his voice stayed sharp. “You shouldn’t have gone after her.”


    Wayne grabbed a tissue, dabbing at his mouth before strolling to the liquor cab. He poured


    himself a drink, taking a slow sip. “She came after me,” he replied, calm as ever.


    His words sent a chill through me. Had he figured out I was trying to get close to him on purpose?


    “Or is it you who’s been watching her all along?” Jace fired back, cutting straight to the chase.


    Wayne leaned casually against the cab, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, giving him an


    almost devil- may–care edge. “Don’t forget, Jace–you’re nothing to her now. She’s single. She can


    start fresh if she wants, and me liking her? That doesn’t break any rules.”


    I had to admit, Wayne’sposure was on point. Technically, he wasn’t wrong.


    But Jace’s frustration was written all over him. “Like anyone you want–but not her.”


    “Because she used to be with you?” Wayne sneered. “I don’t care about that.”


    The words hit hard. I couldn’t help but remember what Wayne once told me: my past didn’t matter to


    him. As long as it was me, nothing else did.


    “I care,” Jace snapped, his voice tight and unrelenting. “Anyone but her. Pick someone else.”


    Wayne let out a low chuckle, his confidence unwavering. “Why? Afraid she’ll choose me? Or is it…”


    He paused, his eyes narrowing. “You still want her, don’t you? Hoping to fix things?”


    Jace’s fists tightened, his knuckles white. His voice dropped to a deliberate, almost menacing tone.


    “You don’t need to know why. Just understand this: I. Forbid. It.”


    Each word hit like a hammer, final and immovable.


    Without waiting for a reply, Jace walked toward me and scooped me up in his arms.


    I couldn’t help but wonder–was his arm injury healed? Could he even carry me like this?


    “Where are you taking her?” Wayne’s voice cut through the room.


    The tension was unbearable. Were they really about to throw down over me?


    Jace didn’t answer. He carried me to the door without looking back. To my surprise, Wayne didn’t


    stop him. As we crossed the threshold, I exhaled in relief.


    ying drunk to get closer to Wayne had seemed like a smart move at the time, but being in his


    space had put me on edge. Oddly enough, I felt safer with Jace.


    Maybe it was because, despite everything, Jace had always respected my limits–well, except for


    that one time in


    his office.


    Jace brought me downstairs and ced me gently into his car. I had no clue where he nned to


    take me, but I wasn’t up for more drama.


    1/2


    Feigning nausea, I grabbed the door handle and stumbled out, heading for a flowerbed nearby.


    I bent over, pretending to throw up, making sure my act was convincing.


    Jace didn’t rush to help. He just stood there, letting me “recover.”


    When I finally straightened up, swaying unsteadily, I started walking off in a random direction.


    Still, he didn’t stop me. He watched as I gged down a cab and climbed in.


    As the cab drove off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Jace had seen right through my lousy


    performance.


    Once I got home, I soaked in the bath, trying to wash away the tension of the night. But Wayne’s


    face at DracoLux kept shing in my mind.


    He was hiding something–I was sure of it. Maybe even the secret Demi had mentioned.


    But after tonight, it was obvious Cole and the others were onto me. Going back wouldn’t get me any


    closer to the truth. Not now.