Chapter 422

Jace’s face froze, his eyes locking onto mine like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then, his gaze dropped to my hand, still laced with Hayden’s.

No one said a word for a few awkward seconds. Finally, Hayden cleared his throat. “Mr. Johnston, morning.”

Morning? The sun wasn’t even up yet.

That seemed to snap Jace out of his trance. His jaw clenched, and he looked straight at me. “Rea, I need to talk to you.”

I could’ve said no, but I didn’t. Some conversations had to happen, even if they sucked.

“Hayden, go on upstairs. I’m in the mood for some milk,” I said, super casual, like I was asking my husband to pick up groceries or something.

He gave a small nod, adjusting the coat around my shoulders. “It’s cold this morning.”

He stepped into the elevator, leaving me alone with Jace, who just stared at the floor numbers like he was trying to burn a hole through them. When the doors finally shut, Jace turned back to me. “When did you buy the apartment?”

I used to think he bought the one above mine on purpose, just to mess with me. But from the look on his face, I realized I might’ve been wrong.

“Probably before you did,” I replied, watching his expression shift. Something dark flickered in his eyes.

I had a hunch. “Tanya didn’t tell you to buy that apartment, did she?”

He didn’t say anything, but the silence told me enough. Tanya… wow, she really was something else. She either bought it to flaunt her thing with Jace in my face or to make him see Hayden and me together, hoping it’d break him.

Too bad, girl. I figured out the game before it even started.

“Didn’t you want to talk?” I asked. “You gonna do it here?”

Jace’s eyes flickered again. “Let’s go outside.”

He started walking, slow enough that I could follow easily, like he was afraid I wouldn’t.

Chapter 423

“I haven’t eaten in over a day,” he said softly when we stepped out into the chilly air.

I knew what he meant. He wanted me to eat with him.

“I already ate,” I replied quickly.

The second I said it, I saw the pain flash across his face, followed by a quiet, “You won’t even eat with me anymore?”

Ugh. It wasn’t about the meal, but I didn’t want him thinking I still cared, or worse, felt sorry for him.

Let’s sit by the flowerbeds, I suggested, heading for the small garden nearby. No way was I getting in his car.

Jace followed, and before I knew it, his jacket was draped over my shoulders. It was still warm from him.

I glanced at him, and he straightened the collar around me. “You’re not gonna reject this too, are you?” He didn’t wait for a response, just walked ahead.

I looked down at the jacket, and a weird lump formed in my throat. Back when I first fell for him, wearing his jacket had felt like the best thing in the world, like I had everything I wanted.

Now? It felt like a weight I didn’t ask for.

I caught up with him, and he stopped, looking up at the barely lit sky. “It’s been a long time since I’ve watched the sunrise.”

His words pulled me back to a night I hadn’t thought about in forever. The last time we’d watched the stars together. He’d been out drinking with friends, and I waited all night to pick him up.

It was almost morning by the time he stumbled out, surprised to see me still there.

“You waited this whole time?” he’d asked, completely shocked.

“Yeah,” I’d replied, frustration and sadness clear in my voice.

Sad because I’d spent the whole night worrying about him. Angry because I’d crept up to the door of his private room more than once, terrified he’d had way too much to drink.