Jace’s POVThe first thing I noticed was how small she looked. Her knees drawn to her chest like that, shoulders shaking with her face buried in her hands.Lisa Carter, the woman who had faced me with biting words and accusing glares, the woman who had just sent Kaito packing with a trembling voice… was breaking.And for some reason, that broke something in me too.I didn’t think. I just crouched down in front of her, slipping my hands under her arms.“Lisa,” I called, my voice softer than I’d meant it to be.She didn’t respond, just kept shaking her head, muttering something muffled against her hands.“Hey,” I tried again, firmer this time. “Look at me.”She slowly lifted her head, and God, the look in her eyes made my chest tighten. Red, puffy, wet with tears. She tried to wipe them away quickly, as if embarrassed.“Don’t,” I said and caught her wrist before she could.She blinked, confused, and I forced a small smile, one that felt foreign even to me. “You don’t have to pretend ri
Last Updated : 2025-07-22 Read more