"Disrupt their plans and eliminate them first to avoid future complications." This sentence rang repeatedly in Jace's head as he thought about how to disrupt their plans. First, he wanted to take advantage of the surveillance camera being used to track him, and then every other plan would be effective two days later. While making his plan, Jave left the apartment for a convenience store.He wanted to make a few more purchases for school, but little did he know that he was about to meet with Tess, in the most disappointing way possible.Tess had given all credits to Ben, who gladly accepted. He agreed with Tess when she thanked him for paying her mother's hospital bills, and he claimed to have gotten her all those presents, including the exotic high heels that she always wanted.Tess instinctively believed that all these gestures were signs that Ben would do anything to win her heart. However, something was unsettling.Her mother was discharged the day after Tristan had paid for her f

Tess’s brows furrowed at Alexa’s words, her gaze flickering with confusion for a split second. She stared from Jace to Ben and back, and all of a sudden, he doubt vanished once more. “That’s impossible,” she muttered, turning away and shaking her head as if trying to erase the truth. “You must be mistaken, Alexa, I know it was a really scary day, so you probably don’t remember clearly.” “No, I do,” Alexa insisted quietly, still holding the sneakers to her chest. “It was him. He was the one who argued with the doctors. He even yelled at them... and then he paid.” “Tess,” Betty chimed in softly, “I told you. I saw him that day too... he came with a box of shoes and presents. Why don’t you believe us?” "I can't," Tess whispered to herself. "It's not possible." She wouldn't even look at her sisters. Instead, she turned her anger back toward Jace, her arms folded tightly across her chest. “So what, Jace?” she snapped. “You think you can just walk in here, act like

The door creaked open as Tess stepped into the house, with the late afternoon light spilling in behind her, casting long, warm stripes across the wooden floor.It should have been a return to peace, but instead, her heart was tight with something she couldn’t name yet. She just couldn't wait to get her hands on those papers to confirm who the liar had been all this time.Ben was right behind her, putting down everything they purchased on the living room couch. To anyone else, they would’ve looked like a couple who had weathered a storm and survived it. His smile was relaxed, almost lazy, as he took in the living room like he belonged there like he had earned that place beside her.“Tess,” Alexa, called softly, dropping her hand and picking up a medicine bottle from the centre table, “Mom’s still resting, I'd have to wake her up and give this to her, she ought to have taken it an hour ago.""Yes, sure," Tess nodded distractedly, her eyes already locked on the papers placed neatly on t

The next morning, Jace stood by the window, dressed immaculately in a dark tailored coat that brushed his knees. His travel bag rested by the couch, while his mother paced from one part of the house to another looking for something that wasn't missing."Leaving by 6 am for a 10 am flight," Jace shrugged. He was glad that after all the chaos, betrayals, and near-death nights, he had earned the right to leave the city and get to the college like he always dreamed of.But one Task remained and that was to take care of the Chief just like he did to Briggs, and from a trustworthy source, he learned that the Chief would be waiting for him at the airport, and Jace couldn't wait to get down to business. He took a sip of lukewarm coffee his mother had made, savouring its bitter taste while waiting for her. But all of a sudden, the doorbell rang."Huh?" Jace turned, eyes narrowing. Max wasn’t due for another ten minutes, and he wasn't sure his mother had invited anyone to bade him goodbye at

The airport bustled with noise and motion as the travelling bag wheels dragged across tiled floors. The airport announcements echoed in multiple languages, and security personnel scanned every face with routine suspicion. But Jace wasn’t focused on that because his senses were tuned to one frequency of danger.This same airport was the beginning of his predicament as well as his success, the same checkpoint where he had gotten arrested, the same pathway where he was dragged without mercy and where his mother had sat down crying. And to top it all up, history was about to repeat itself, but this time he is prepared for it.He had barely gotten any rest after the fight with the attackers, and he had taken off the coat because it still bore faint bloodstains and dirt. His knuckles ached from the last punches he threw, and his mind often drifted back to the task he failed to accomplish, even though the system was yet to announce it.He walked steadily through the terminal, every step caut