Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

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 just 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.

his recklessness, he'd always been fiercely loyal to

he owes

everything my dad's done... your family 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,"

debt. The words hit me, reminding me of all the times I'd given my

Jace droppe

the problem-I didn't know what I wanted from him or his family. And that made it worse. "What could

"Rea, I know... no matter what we do, your parents aren't coming

people. All I have now is a cold gravestone to call Mom and

"Jace, do you

I didn't make him guess. "Myself," I whispered, slapping my own arm. "I hate that I have the

all the color draining out like he'd

the one I should hate

happiness, my reason to get up each day. Now, they were just

irony

+25 BONUS

Chapter 533