“How do you know this fucking store?” Jace asked, genuine surprise slipping into his voice.Of course he’d be surprised. Bella lifted a shoulder casually. “We can leave if you don’t want to be here,” she said, trying—and failing—to hide the small, triumphant smile tugging at her lips.“No. We’re going in,” Jace replied evenly. “You suggested it.”With a grin she didn’t bother hiding anymore, Bella led the way inside.The owner looked up immediately—and his face lit up. He stood and pulled Bella into a warm hug.“How are you doing, Bella?” he asked, his wrinkled face breaking into a wide smile.“I’ve been good,” she said. “Finals are coming up. It’s been… crazy.”“I know you’ll pull through, dear.” He nodded, then lifted his head—finally noticing Jace.His expression changed instantly.He didn’t even look back at Bella.“Oh my goodness—Jace Prescott!” the man exclaimed, already walking toward him. “How long has it been? You never gave me your number. I could’ve called you so many times

Jace shrugged. He wasn’t going to give her his number. Not yet. Tonight was supposed to be him acting—like a gentleman. Because whether he liked it or not, he was a man now, and men didn’t drift through things pretending they didn’t matter.And he doesn’t have a father—No. Not tonight. He can’t think about that crap now.“Hey,” he said, glancing at her. “You really got nowhere else to go?”“When my brother took me on a date, we went to the beach.”“I’m not your fucking brother.”Bella’s mouth opened. “I was about to say something.”“Of course you were,” Jace said dryly.“It would be a perfect date, if you don’t mind. I can pay—”“You don’t pay when you’re on a date with me,” Jace cut in, eyes still on the road.Bella swore, right then, that she would do anything to go on another date with Jace. Even if it meant asking Amanda to pull strings. Even if it meant embarrassing herself again.“You’ve got an older brother?” Jace asked, speeding up to overtake a long bus.Bella almost snapped

As much as James knew this was the time Jace needed him the most, he also knew he couldn’t skip school tonight.This wasn’t one of those lectures you miss and promise yourself you’ll catch up on before exams. It was a practical. No makeup. No alternative. Miss it, and that was it.They’d been back for about two hours.James and Paxton had stayed in the lobby on purpose, giving Jace all the time he might need with his one-time date. James was fucking sure Jace wouldn’t do anything stupid like sleeping with some random girl—but at the same time, he wouldn’t have been shocked if it somehow happened. Jace was unpredictable like that.What did shock him was this.When James finally came back to the hotel with Paxton, Jace still hadn’t returned.At first, they laughed it off.Then another hour passed.Now it was two.They sat side by side on the couch, the room's lights too bright, the silence too loud. Paxton stared at his phone without really seeing it. James leaned back, eyes fixed on no

Maya took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She never thought she’d be asking for help from a total stranger.“What can you do?” she asked, her voice shaky.“I should’ve told you this earlier, but I didn’t know how you’d take it,” he said. “I’m going back to the U.S. in five days. No pressure at all. I just wanted you to know.”Maya swallowed hard. “What do you want in exchange for helping me?”“Um… can we just meet and discuss it?” he said quickly. “You’re a known figure, and I’m just some dude from nowhere. I need to stay that kind of guy.”Maya gave him an address, and they hung up.Shit… what the hell had she gotten herself into? Earlier, she thought Dave’s plans were too outrageous, which was why she came here to see Jace one last time—maybe to talk to him, or figure something out—but now, seeing Paxton defending that idiot, it all felt completely out of context.If Jace succeeded in turning the people she relied on against her, he was a far bigger threat than she’d realized

Maya paced up and down the tiny room Dave was living in. It made her even more disgusted. She hadn’t expected a ridiculously rich guy, at least… but she had imagined someone more classic, more sophisticated. But damn, the guy had power.“Would you please tell me how you made it possible for that memo to pass?” she asked abruptly.Dave didn’t even raise his head from the laptop he was glued to. Too nonchalant. And, damn, it stung compared to how lovey-dovey he had been with her at the restaurant just yesterday.He gave her a lazy look. “Huh?”“Yeah… you have the power. That’s why you made the call and got that memo passed—so all freshers would have to stay in the school hostel. That was supposed to trap Jace. But what do you want from me?” She changed the question before he could zone out completely.“Let’s get this straight so we can move to the important part,” he said, eyes still on the laptop. “Ever wonder where Jace got his money from? The sudden wealth?”“Is that related to what