Chapter 533

Jace looked wrecked—pale, hair a mess, rough stubble shadowing his jaw. I’d never seen him this messed up, like he’d had a night just as brutal as mine. He must’ve found out about Matthew. Why else would he keep blowing up my phone?

Weirdly, I didn’t feel the anger I’d expected. Instead, I felt…nothing. Like something in me had finally burnt out. Maybe I was numb.

The doorway wasn’t the place for this. I said, “Come in.”

Jace walked in and dropped onto the couch across from me. “My mom told me everything… Rea, I’m so sorry…”

I didn’t answer. I knew he hadn’t just come here to apologize.

“Look, I know sorry’s not enough. But I came here to ask… no, to beg…” His voice cracked as he looked at me, his face full of something raw. “Please, just… can you spare my dad? Just for whatever time he has left?”

Beg? Hearing that word from Jace was rare. For all his recklessness, he’d always been fiercely loyal to his family.

I just stared, watching his jaw tighten. “I know it’s a lot to ask. After everything my dad’s done… your family owes a debt he could never repay. But please, let him go. Let me pay back that debt instead.”

“Jace, do you even get what kind of debt this is? It’s a life debt,” I said, my calm slipping.

Life debt. The words hit me, reminding me of all the times I’d given my blood to him. Like maybe he already owed me.

Jace dropped his gaze. “I know. That’s why, if you’re willing to spare him, I’ll do whatever you ask.” But that was the problem—I didn’t know what I wanted from him or his family. And that made it worse. “What could you possibly do to make up for my parents’ lives?” I said, my voice sharp.

Jace looked at me, defeated. “Rea, I know… no matter what we do, your parents aren’t coming back.”

“Exactly. I lost my parents—real, living people. All I have now is a cold gravestone to call Mom and Dad.” My voice wavered.

I fought to keep it together. “Jace, do you know who I hate most right now?”

He waited, but I didn’t make him guess. “Myself,” I whispered, slapping my own arm. “I hate that I have the same blood type as you. I hate that I ever met you.”

His face fell, all the color draining out like he’d taken a hit.

“Jace, all of this—this mess, this pain—it started with you. You’re the one I should hate the most.” I spat the words, every memory of us hitting me at once.

Once, those memories had been my happiness, my reason to get up each day. Now, they were just bitter irony.

Chapter 533

“Yeah, I’m the one to hate,” Jace said, nodding. His calm acceptance only fueled my anger. “And what’s that even worth? Can you turn back time?”

“No,” he replied, his voice barely a whisper. “Rea, would it make you hate me less if I… if I died?”

Died? Was he serious? I was so wound up, I couldn’t stop myself. “Fine, go die, then!”

He held my gaze, a strange darkness in his eyes. “If that would ease your hatred and make you spare my dad… then I will.”

He stood, his face softening as he looked at me. “Rea, if I had one thing in life that made me truly happy, it was you. My biggest regret is letting you go. If there’s a next life, I’d want to meet you, love you quietly, grow old together.”

The words hung in the silence as he turned and walked to the door.

Chapter 534