jaces pov
Jace sat at the edge of his bed, shirtless, staring at the sunlight bleeding through the blinds. His apartment still smelled faintly of last night's cologne and leather. On the floor was a half-empty bottle of whiskey he hadn't touched. For once, he hadn't gone out. He hadn't even answered texts.
He reached for his phone, scrolled through messages—none from Mel.
Her silence felt louder than anything.
The echo of her voice from that night still rang through him: "If you want me, change."
He stood and walked to his mirror. He looked tired, not just physically—but like he'd aged under the weight of his lifestyle. Late nights. Empty thrills. Faces he never remembered.
What have you really built, Jace? he thought. A name that wasn't his own. A life that felt hollow.
He turned and opened his closet, pushing past the leather jackets and designer clothes. In the back, buried under dust and old habits, he found a tailored suit—one he hadn't worn since his father's business meeting months ago.
He stared at it for a long moment.
Then slowly, pulled it out.
Today… he was going to his father's office. But not for his father. For her.
Mel's pov
Mel sat in the corner of the cafeteria, her fork poking at a cold salad she had no intention of eating. Her mind was in a fog—one that no amount of coffee or convincing from Ella could clear.
She hadn't spoken to Jace since that night.
He hadn't texted.
Hadn't shown up.
Maybe Ella was right. Maybe he'd made his choice after all.
"Hey, Mel," came a chirpy voice from her left. It was Rachel, one of the newer hires. Her tray clattered as she sat down across from Mel. "Sooo… who's your secret admirer?"
Mel blinked. "What?"
Rachel grinned and slid over a small cream-colored envelope. "This was at the front desk with your name on it. The guy in the lobby dropped it off. And he was… fine."
Mel hesitated, then opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note on thick, ivory paper. It smelled faintly like his cologne.
> If I could go back, I'd show up on time.
If I could undo the clubs and the recklessness, I would.
But I can't.
What I can do—is try to be better. For you.
Can I prove that to you?
—J
Her throat tightened.
Rachel leaned over, reading the note upside down. "Oooh. You're totally blushing."
Mel quickly folded it. "It's nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
Not to her.
– Jaces pov
Jace stood in the gleaming lobby of Morgan Enterprise, his hands tucked into the pockets of his slacks. He'd trimmed his stubble, combed back his dark hair, and for once, looked like the heir to the empire he usually ran from.
But he wasn't here to play prince.
He was here to prove he wasn't just a storm that passed through her life.
"Mr. Morgan?" The receptionist's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Sir, your father is in the conference room."
He shook his head. "Actually, I'm not here for him today."
He stood there till Mel Walked by on seeing him her heart sank , he didn't say anything, he just
He handed her a second envelope. Inside was another note for Mel—this one simple, with a single line.
> Dinner. One chance. I'll be outside at seven.
Then he left, without waiting for an answer.
Mel sent a text since he didn't wait for an answer saying
**not really up for it
Jace phone beeped and there was the text he starred back at the message with a hole in his chest, he was really looking forward to seeing her, well I guess she needs more proof he said.