Chapter 6

Tanya had a close call; her baby was saved, and now she was back in her hospital room.

Her face was pale and drawn, her eyes red and puffy, making her look fragile and pitiful.

"Don't worry, the baby is fine," Jace reassured her.

"Jace, I was so scared," Tanya began to cry.

Jace handed her a tissue, and she took it, grabbing his hand and resting her tear-streaked face on it.

'She might be pitiful, but does being pitiful give her the right to treat my fiancé as her own?' I thought.

I walked over. "Mrs. Blake, the doctor said that strong emotions are bad for the baby. You barely managed to save the child. If something happens again because you're crying like this, it would be terrible."

I reached out to support her, subtly pulling her away.

Seeing her tears on Jace's hand still made me uncomfortable, like something of mine had been tainted by someone else. I was a bit of a clean freak, both in life and in love.

Tanya seemed taken aback when I called her Mrs. Blake. Her face visibly stiffened but she quickly regained her composure.

"Jace, I'm sorry, I..." She reached for a tissue to wipe Jace's hand.

I stopped her. "You shouldn't move around too much right now."

Her face stiffened again, her tear-filled eyes looking at Jace with obvious affection.

Once Jace and I left the room, I asked him directly, "Does Tanya like you?"

"No!" he denied immediately.

"Do you like her?" I pressed, wanting to clear things up once and for all.

Jace's face tensed, and after a few seconds, he finally muttered, "We're just friends..."

'Just friends?'

"Desmond isn't here anymore. When he was dying, he held my hand and asked me to take care of her..." Jace's voice trembled, his hands shaking as well.

It was clear that bringing up Desmond's death always upset him. This wasn't the first time.

Seeing him like this made my heart ache. "I didn't mean anything, it's just that Tanya seems very dependent on you."

"She's probably just feeling insecure because she's pregnant and alone," Jace explained, his gloomy eyes falling on my face. "Rea, I'll be more careful in the future."

Since he had said this much, what more could I say? Still, I reminded him, "Even if you're looking after her for Desmond's sake, there are boundaries."

I didn't want to see another scene like the one earlier. It made me uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I understand..."

He had barely finished speaking when we heard the urgent sound of wheels scraping against the floor nearby.

I turned my head and saw a group of people rushing toward us with an emergency stretcher.

Just as I was about to step aside, I heard Jace's voice, "Watch out!" and he pulled me out of the way. The stretcher sped past us from behind.

I found myself pressed against his chest, his heartbeat loud and fast in my ears.

The sound reminded me of something that had happened soon after I arrived at the Johnston residence: I had fallen during a school event, and Jace had caught me. He reassured me and carried me to the infirmary.

That was the first time I heard his heartbeat, so rapid and frantic. That was also the moment I truly fell for him.

Now, his heartbeat was still fast, still because of me.

I closed my eyes, pushing away all other thoughts, and snuggled closer to Jace's chest. "Let's go home. I'm tired."

"Alright, I'll let Tanya know," Jace said, kissing my forehead as he released me.

I waited at the door instead of going into the room.

I didn't hear what Jace said to Tanya, but as he came out, I heard her sobbing.

When we returned to the Johnston residence, his parents, Matthew Johnston and Lindey Jewell, were still awake, sitting on the couch watching TV. Neither of them spoke to the other.

Usually, Matthew and Lindey didn't talk much. I once asked Lindey about it, and she said that after so many years of marriage, seeing each other every day, what was there to talk about?

Jace had told me that their love had been passionate when they were young, but it eventually settled into this calm routine.

Perhaps this was what love would look like in the end.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

"Hi, Lindey, Matthew."

Jace and I greeted them.

"Have you guys eaten? If not, there's some food left for you," Lindey said gently.

"We've eaten," Jace replied, then turned to me. "Are you still hungry? Do you want to eat something?"

I hadn't eaten much for dinner, but I wasn't hungry at all now. "No, I'm good."

"Then go upstairs and rest. I'll have Isabel bring you some milk later," Lindey said with a smile.

Isabel was the family maid.

I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but something about her smile felt off. I didn't dwell on it, though, and headed upstairs. When I opened the door, I was taken aback and turned to look at Jace.

He stood at the doorway, looking back at me.

Before we could go back downstairs, Lindey had already come up. "Rea, I forgot to mention earlier, we need to get Jace's room ready as your wedding room, so for now, he'll be staying in your room."

"Mom, after we get married, we're moving out. Why bother preparing a wedding room here?" Jace questioned.

"Moving out doesn't mean you'll never stay here. During holidays or when it gets late, you'll still need a place to stay," Lindey replied, giving him a playful glare. She pulled him to my door. "You two are getting married soon. There's no issue with you sharing a room."

"Rea, you don't mind, do you?" Lindey asked me.

Jace's words to Steve echoed in my mind, leaving me momentarily speechless.

"No problem," Jace answered for me.

I looked up at him, and the next second, he had his arm around my shoulder, guiding me into the room.

"Goodnight, Mom!" Jace called out as he closed the door.

Neither Jace nor I spoke, and the atmosphere was awkward, with a hint of something more intimate.

Especially with the bed made up in wedding-themed linens, it felt like tonight was our wedding night.

My face flushed. "Um... I'll change it..."

I pulled away from Jace's arm, but he grabbed me, his deep eyes locking onto mine, making my heart race and my breath quicken.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he stepped closer. Every nerve in my body tightened.

He got closer, his hand moving from my arm to my shoulder, then to the back of my neck. His face lowered toward mine.

Nervously, I gripped his arm. "Jace..."

But my words were cut off by his lips. His kiss was fierce and fiery, unlike any before.

Over the years, we had kissed, of course, but he had always kept it light, never probing deeper. Tonight was different; his kiss was intense.

I was so nervous that my teeth chattered, making it impossible for him to deepen the kiss.

Jace didn't press further but whispered in my ear, "Relax."

Then, I felt my body lighten as he picked me up and placed me on the bed. As his fingers moved to unbutton my shirt, my toes curled with tension.

I could see the veins bulging on his forehead, and his Adam's apple moved more prominently.

Though I had never experienced it, I knew what was coming. I could sense his excitement matching mine.

Maybe when he said he wasn't interested before, it was just because he hadn't tried it yet.

Wasn't there a saying that "once you try it, you'll want more"?

I closed my eyes, anticipating the start of our intimate journey.

As I felt a coolness on my skin with my clothes being removed, his lips brushed against my neck.

Then Jace's phone rang.

My nerves jolted, and I instinctively clutched his arm. "Jace..."