Chapter 758

In the distance, a figure was retreating into the shadows. Under the moonlight, that silhouette stood out—familiar, clear, yet so far away.

“Jace, thank you,” I murmured softly, my words carried only by the wind. Without his help, getting close to Mrs. Drago wouldn’t have been so easy. Maybe part of the reason she had agreed so readily was because of him. Even when he wasn’t visible, even when I had no idea what he was doing, he was always helping me in silence. Maybe this was his way of loving me.

I tilted my head up to the glowing moon, and in that moment, I felt something I hadn’t expected: release. Release from the ten years of my life tied to Jace. People always say breaking up with an ex feels like losing your youth. But for me, it wasn’t.

Back in my room, I didn’t go to sleep right away. Instead, I snapped a picture of the moon outside my window and posted it to social media with a single word: [Released.] Lena liked it almost instantly and messaged me: [Released what?] I replied just as fast: [The past.] Then I added another message: [Why are you still awake? Just finished a surgery?]

Lena responded: [Night shift.] She attached a picture of a newborn baby with a note: [The 1,385th little angel.] That four-digit number, a quiet testament to her dedication and everything she’d achieved.

Looking at the baby’s picture, a warmth I wasn’t expecting rose in me. The thought of having a child of my own struck hard and fast, catching me off guard. Before I could overthink it, I closed my chat with Lena and opened Hayden’s profile on the app. My fingers moved on their own, typing out a message: [Come back, and let’s have a baby.]

I hit send, knowing full well it was pointless. The message vanished into the void like all the others. No response. How I wished he’d surprise me—just once—with a simple: ‘Wait for me.’

Lena had spammed me with a few more messages, and when I didn’t reply, she hit me with a sticker: [Fell asleep?]

Me: [No, just thinking about something.] Lena: [Thinking about Hayden?]

Busted. She knew the whole situation—I’d given her the full drama download before coming here, including the dirt about the box with the ashes and its secret tech stash. Just in case I went full missing-person vibes, Lena was ready to bring the bad guys down.

Hayden had once told me the data-sync thingy hidden in the box was always collecting info, even while he was MIA. I didn’t bother asking how it worked—magic, probably? But if it used his phone, it’s not like he’d have that on him. Even if he did, it would’ve been hacked six ways to Sunday by now.

Thinking out loud, I texted Lena: [Do you think Hayden could have a chip in him or something? How else is this info getting out?] Lena: [How would I know? Hayden’s your guy. If he’s hiding something, maybe ask him instead of me?]

Touché. Walked right into that one. I tried to remember if there’d been anything off about Hayden physically, but nope. No cyborg vibes or secret USB ports. If there was something, it wasn’t visible—and knowing Hayden, it was probably James Bond–level subtle.

Then Lena switched topics: [Nate’s coming back tomorrow.] Nate—the doctor I was counting on to help with Aunt Abby. I shot back: [I’ll head back tomorrow then.] Lena: [Nah, he’ll be back late, and I’d like some alone time with him first. You know, couple stuff.] Me: []

But fair. Long-distance had been brutal on her and Nate. Meanwhile, I was over here barely surviving a short-term split from Hayden, already feeling like a lovesick cliché. Ugh. Lena and Nate? They’d go months—like three to five—without seeing each other. Honestly, relationship goals or total insanity, I couldn’t decide.

Me: [Fine, you two enjoy your little reunion first.] Lena: [Don’t stress, I’ve got your Aunt Abby’s case covered. I’ll bring Nate to see her. If anything urgent comes up, you can swing back later.]