Chapter 114

Chapter 114
Morning light pushed through the curtains before Jace was ready for it. His body felt heavy, like he had not slept at all—because he had not, not really. He had tossed between shallow dreams and the echo of that sound he heard last night....that faint creak. That feeling of being watched.

He sat up slowly, rubbing at tired eyes and trying to breathe past the tightness that had lodged itself inside his chest. He could still see it clearly, the moment he had turned and caught a shadow slipping away from his doorway. He replayed it over and over, questioning whether it was real or just another nightmare dressed as a memory.

But no...It was real.

Someone had been standing there.
Someone had been watching him cry.

Jace let out a shaky sigh and pushed himself out of bed. The cold floor made him flinch. He grabbed clothes at random— a sweater and dark jeans. He got dressed, brushed his hair and splashed water on his face. Anything to feel less vulnerable.

But vulnerability clung to him like a second skin.

As he buttoned his sweater, the image flashed again in his head.... his son out there somewhere, terrified and the possibility that someone inside this house was sneaking around when watching him.

His chest tightened painfully.

He headed downstairs.

The smell of eggs, butter and warm bread drifted from the kitchen. Mo was there, humming softly as she diced fruit with the clean precision of someone who loved what she did. Sunlight washed across the counters, making everything look warm and normal, two things Jace did not feel in the slightest.

“Morning,” he said, trying to steady his voice.

Mo glanced up, smiling. “Good morning, Mr. Crane. Breakfast’s almost ready.”

Jace hesitated before speaking. “Mo… last night, um....were you anywhere near my room?”

She blinked, caught off guard. “No? I was putting Mila to bed.” She wiped her hands on a towel and looked at him carefully. “Why?”

Jace swallowed. Should he tell her? If someone in this house was spying on him, he needed to know who, but saying it aloud made the fear feel more real.

“I think… I caught someone at my door. Watching me.” His voice dipped, almost embarrassed. “Or spying on me.”

Mo’s brows shot up. “Spying on you? Mr. Crane, no.... It wasn’t me. I was with Mila. We read three books and she still tried to argue about bedtime.” She laughed softly. Then her smile faded. “Is everything okay? You look pale.”

“I am fine.”
He lied, he was not.

But he forced a small smile. “Thanks.”

She nodded and moved back to the stove, though Jace could feel her eyes flick back toward him more than once.

He stepped out of the kitchen, exhaling sharply. If not Mo… then who?

He found Morgan in the hallway outside the house, tightening the strap on his shoulder holster. The bodyguard looked up immediately, reading Jace’s expression like a map.

“You okay?” Morgan asked.

Jace ignored the question, still feeling embarrassed from the accidental kiss but cleared his throat. “Last night… were you upstairs at any point? Near my room?”

Morgan frowned. “No. I was with Mila. She wanted to play one more game before bed.” He adjusted the holster. “Why?”

Jace studied him carefully. Morgan’s expression did not twitch and nor did it shift. He did not even show even a hint of hesitation.

“Nothing,” Jace lied softly. “Forget it.”

Morgan did not look convinced, but Jace ended the conversation by calling, “Mila! Come on sweetheart.....you are going to be late!”

Her tiny footsteps pattered overhead, then down the stairs. Mila appeared with her backpack half open and her hair sticking up on one side. She looked impossibly small and innocent, something Jace felt grateful for and terrified of losing all at once.

He knelt to fix her zipper. “All set?”

“Mm-hmm!” she chirped, holding his hand tightly.

Together, they headed outside. Since the incident with Ben, who disappeared with Mila for those terrifying minutes, Jace had refused to let her travel alone. He needed to see her get into and out of school with his own eyes.

Once inside the car, Mila kicked her legs happily.

“Daddy, look! I did my rainbow drawing!” She held it up proudly.

“It’s so beautiful,” Jace said softly, smiling despite the storm inside his chest.

The car rolled down the long driveway, past the high gates and onto the street. Jace stared out the window, trying to ignore the dread gnawing at him.

He had to know.
He had to confirm.

He cleared his throat gently. “Mila… honey?”

She hummed in response, already occupied with her drawing.

“I wanted to ask you something, okay? Just a small question.”

She nodded.

“Last night… was Mo with you?”

“No,” she said without looking up, dragging a purple crayon across the page.

Jace’s stomach dropped. “Oh. Um… okay. Was Morgan with you? You know… like playing or talking to you before bed?”

Mila shook her head. “No, Daddy. I was alone. I was just drawing in my book.” She looked up, unsure. “Did I do something wrong?”

His heart ached. “No, baby. You did not do anything wrong. I am just asking. That’s all.”

She smiled and went back to colouring.

Jace leaned back slowly, pulse thudding in his ears.

Mo said she had been with Mila...
Morgan said the same thing....

But Mila had just told him that neither of them had been there at all.

A cold wave slid down Jace’s spine.

Why would they lie?

Why.....would both of them.....lie?

The car moved forward, but Jace’s world felt like it had stopped moving altogether.

His breath shook.
His fingers curled tight.
His mind raced, dread forming sharp edges around every thought.

If they were not with Mila…
and they were not near the bedroom…

Then who had been standing at his door?

And why did Mo and Morgan lie about where they were?

Jace stared out the window, throat tightening....

Why would both of them lie?​