Chapter 458

“Contact me as soon as possible.” That was Cedric’s reply. I quickly typed back, “[Okay,]” but as soon as I hit send, something felt…off. He said “as soon as possible,” and it hit me with this weird sense of urgency. Why was it so pressing?

I tried sending another message: [If it’s more convenient, you can send me photos or any documents you have.] No response. It was like my message just disappeared into the void. That’s how it always went with this police officer—dude was elusive. Unless he reached out first, it was nearly impossible to get a hold of him.

Thinking about my parents’ accident, that unsettled feeling only grew darker. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t know if it was the unfamiliar place or all the stuff swirling in my head, but I tossed and turned for hours.

The next morning, Jace noticed instantly. “Rough night?” he asked. “I’m fine,” I snapped, way too defensive. It was pride talking—that breakup kind of pride where you don’t want anyone, especially an ex, seeing you all fragile and weak. Jace didn’t push it, but the look on his face said I’d annoyed him. Again.

A few minutes later, he broke the silence. “You should be able to see Steve today. Try to calm him down, and while you’re at it, ask him some questions…” His instructions were almost a direct repeat of what Hayden had said last night. Clearly, they were on the same page—this wasn’t just about Steve. They both thought something bigger, something planned, was behind all of this.

When Jace finished talking, I didn’t respond right away. He glanced over at me. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” “Hayden already told me the same thing yesterday,” I said, and just like that, Jace went silent.

I wasn’t trying to stir anything up, just being honest, but I could tell it hit a nerve. “He said he arranged for someone to take me to see Steve,” I added, keeping it casual. Jace didn’t respond, jaw tight. He looked irritated—just like he used to.

People don’t change easily. Jace still had that short fuse, but unlike before, he couldn’t take it out on me anymore. I wasn’t looking to rub salt in the wound, but I asked, “Did you and Hayden go through the same contact for this?” “No.” “Then whoever gets me there first, I’ll go with them.”

Jace stayed quiet. In the end, Hayden’s contact showed up first. Jace walked me to the car, his expression stormy. I could tell he hated feeling like Hayden had one-upped him again.

I remembered when Jace used to look down on Hayden, thinking he was beneath him, throwing that arrogant smirk his way. But in the end, it was my choice, and it left Jace—always the untouchable CEO—on the losing side. Still, Jace had one advantage: his status. He was the Johnston heir, someone Hayden could never touch. But then Hayden turned out to be from the Hart family of West Ridge, a family with a mining empire just as rich, maybe even richer, in some ways. Suddenly, they were on equal footing.

Jace, who’d been competitive his whole life, must’ve been fuming. I could practically feel his frustration radiating off him as I got into the car. He couldn’t even get to Steve, his own friend, faster than Hayden. I imagined Jace stewing in all that, the bitterness eating at him.

On the way to see Steve, my phone buzzed. It was Hayden: [Did they pick you up?] I typed back: [Yeah.]