Chapter 557

The burning ache in my throat spread straight to my heart. As silence hung on Hayden's end, I forced myself to say, "I won't bother you while you're picking out rings. Goodbye."

Then I hung up, pressing the button so hard it felt like I was crushing my own heart along with the call.

I stood there, frozen, until Jace walked over. The second he got close, I dropped my head and hurried toward the elevator. "Wait here. I'm just going to pack my things," I mumbled as I passed him.

"I'll go up with you," he said.

"There's no need. I can handle it myself," I replied, voice sharper than I intended, quickening my pace.

But Jace followed anyway. "What's wrong?"

He could tell something was off.

The bitterness clawing at my chest nearly broke me then and there. I felt myself on the edge, seconds from falling apart, from letting everything spill out in front of him.

But I couldn't. Not in front of Jace.

When I'd chosen to be with Hayden, I'd been so sure, practically bragging to Jace that