“Of course.” I set the cup on the tray, running my hands down myself.
The silence stretches, full of everything we’re not saying.
“So…” I shove my hands in my back pockets, “I'm glad you're okay.”
“Thanks to you.”
The anger that's been dormant since he collapsed flares back to life.
“Actually, don't you think Lucian would be the one to thank?” My voice hardens.
The chasm seems to grow between us. Jace exhales slowly.
“I knew you’d be mad.” He at least has the decency to look sheepish.
“You're damn right, I’m livid.” I throw my hands up, voice rising. “You went off without talking to us,AGAIN!”
“I told Lucian it needed to look realistic. Gideon is too careful. He was never going to go for it if it didn't look right.”
“That's not the point, Jace.” I take a steadying breath. “The point is, you didn’t bother to tellus. It doesn't matter that you told Lucian, because it's notyoutellingus.”
“But it worked!” He winces as he shifts upright, stubborn even in pain. “Gideon is now in Guild custody. His empire is in shambles, and now we can focus on Daniel and your mom. He doesn’t have Gideon’s money bankrolling him. It should be easier to find him.”
I study him. He believes every word, truly believing that the logic shields him. But it's just not enough.
“Results don’t erase the process,” I shoot back. “If someone runs a study using shady methods, the outcome doesn’t magically make it ethical.
“You still came for me, though,” Jace points out.
“Well, of course I did. I can be furious with you and still care.”
His shoulders sag, some invisible tension releasing.
“Please, Isobel, I did this for you. You've seen now what Gideon is capable of, what I've sacrificed to keep you safe.” He reaches for me, slow and hopeful. “Please, come back to me, let me make up for all my mistakes.”
I stare at his hand, reaching for me. The hand that held mine when I cried over Tex, the hand that cupped my face while we kissed, the hand that placed me in Gideon's clutches for five months.
“I can't.” I lift my eyes to his.
Jace's face falls, “What?”
“I can't,” I repeat, eyes burning with tears, “I can't just… pretend like everything’s okay between us. You broke us, Jace. You broke the trust we built. Some part of me was really starting to fall in love with you, maybe that part will always be there, but I can't trust you.”
“Is—”
“No, please let me finish.” My voice wavers, heart splintering in my chest. “I can't trust you to talk to me. I can't trust that you won't go off script and go rogue, thinking it's justified because it's all for the sake of keeping me 'safe'. You ask me to let you make up for your mistakes, but youand I both know you don't see them as mistakes. Your actions are justified in your eyes. You haven'tapologizedonce for anything.”
Tears flow freely now. I gasp as a sob threatens to tear from me. “Which is why we can't be together. It's not going to work.” I turn, not bearing to look at him for a second longer. The pain in his face.
“Isobel, please, I love you. I'm sorry.” Jace pleads, desperation thick in his throat.
My eyes squeeze shut. The pain in my chest is overwhelming, choking me. My feet are rooted to the ground. Gathering every bit of strength within me, I walk out of the room, leaving a piece of my heart with him.
When I makemy way to the waiting room, the tears have slowed but the ache is persistent.
Luca and Noah are waiting in the waiting room. As soon as they see me, Luca jumps up and runs over, enveloping me in his arms.
“Oh, Iz, he's going to be okay,” Luca murmurs, his voice vibrating through his chest.
