Chapter 24

When Jace called again, I was at the Cloudscape Monastery listening to a sermon.

“Rea, it’s almost eleven. Why aren’t you here yet?” Jace sounded urgent.

“I’m almost there, just wait a little longer.” I was doing this on purpose. I’d loved him for a decade, and lost track of how many times I’d waited on him. Today, though, I made him wait on me. It was a small payback for a decade of love and youth. “Hurry up, don’t miss the time my mentor recommended,” Jace urged me again.

At that moment, I sat before Abbot Levinsky, who hadn’t mentioned anything about my marriage. It was clear he didn’t know I was supposed to register with Jace today, let alone any auspicious timing.

I softly hummed in acknowledgment, hung up, and switched off my phone, refocusing on Abbot Levinsky’s sermon.

Jace had been a believer ever since miraculously recovering from a serious childhood illness. Lindey had prayed nonstop at the monastery for three days and nights, and somehow, Jace had pulled through. Since then, Lindey had become an even more devout believer, urging Jace to accept Abbot Levinsky as his spiritual guide.

Naturally, I tagged along whenever Jace visited Abbot Levinsky, who personally blessed our relationship. But despite all that, my relationship with Jace still didn’t have a happy ending.

I didn’t leave Cloudscape Monastery until three in the afternoon. My phone remained off as I headed straight to the clerk’s office. Jace wasn’t there.

I wasn’t surprised. I didn’t know how long he waited for me, but it couldn’t have been as long as I’d waited for him in the past.

I parked my car and turned on my phone. Countless messages and missed calls bombarded my screen, most from Jace. There were fifty-three missed calls and seven texts:

[Rea, you here? Why’s your phone dead?] [Rea, it’s time. Hurry up or we’ll miss the best time.] [Rea, what’s going on?] [Rea, seriously, hit me back.] [Rea, 20 mins till the clerk’s office shuts. We won’t be able to get the certificate.] [Rea, are you messing with me?] [Rea, can’t believe you’re pulling this…]

Seeing those texts, I could practically hear Jace going from panicked to pissed off, and finally, just plain frustrated. The last message was sent at 11:55. His patience had worn thin, barely lasting an hour.

Staring at the fifty-three missed calls, I dialed him back. It rang once before he hung up. He was clearly furious, angry that I’d stood him up and wasn’t answering his calls.

I didn’t call again, but I responded to Lena, who had also been trying to reach me. Jace had contacted her while searching for me. Instead of texting back, I sent her a voice message. “Don’t worry, Lena. I’m okay. I just needed some time to pray.”

Lena’s video call came through immediately, and she asked, “What’s going on?”

I hesitated, biting my lip. “It’s kind of a long story.”

Lena said, “Then make it short.”

I smiled, ready to talk, when Jace, who had just hung up on me, called back. I wasn’t going to respond. I was entirely over it. In the past, I would have dropped everything for his calls, but not anymore.

Lena heard my phone ring and asked, “Is that Jace?”

“Yeah.”

“Answer it. He’s been freaking out trying to find you.”

“Huh? Would he ever lose his mind for me?” I thought.