Chapter 246

Jace's POV

My throat constricted as I watched Eleanor, my clenched fists trembling slightly. The look of desperation in her eyes pierced through my heart like a thousand needles, leaving me speechless. The golden afternoon light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast long shadows across her face, making her expression even more haunting.

"If there was anyone else who could help me, I wouldn't be asking you," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. The elaborate crystal chandelier above cast dancing shadows on her face as she continued, "But right now, you're the only one who can convince Drew that I don't love him." She paused, a bitter smile playing at her corners of her lips. "It's pathetic, isn't it? Twenty-five years of life, and I've only truly loved two people. If only I had one more choice... just one more."

I fought to control the emotions surging through my body, every muscle tense with the effort. The words felt like lead in my mouth as I forced them out: "I'll help you."

She just looked at me, her gaze steady and unflinching. There was no gratitude in her eyes, no relief. Why should there be? I was only agreeing because she had backed me into a corner, leaving me no choice. The weight of her request hung heavy in the air between us, filling the spacious living room with unspoken tension.

"Thank you," she said softly. I knew this wasn't genuine appreciation-it was acknowledgment of my reluctant compliance despite my obvious discomfort.

The evening settled around us, the city lights beginning to twinkle outside the windows. At just before eight, the electronic door chime echoed through the apartment. I could hear the keypad beeping as someone entered the security code, each number a countdown to what was about to happen.

We remained seated on the plush leather sofa, waiting for Drew's arrival. Eleanor had warned me earlier that she would need to take some liberties, pushing boundaries to make this convincing. She'd asked me to endure it, no matter how uncomfortable it might become.

Now, she moved closer, her arm sliding around my neck. She deliberately decreased the space between us, creating an image of intimacy. My body instinctively stiffened, but I knew this was exactly the reaction she was counting on. The scent of her perfume-subtle notes of jasmine and vanilla-filled my senses, making it harder to maintain my composure.

I could feel her unwavering determination despite my obvious resistance. This was her selfishness showing through-when it came to the person she truly cared about, their feelings took precedence over everything else. She was more concerned with ensuring Drew would finally let her go than anything else.

As the sound of the door lock disengaging echoed through the apartment, her lips met mine. In that moment, my heart threatened to burst from my chest, my hands hanging uselessly at my sides, balled into tight fists. My mind went completely blank, barely registering that this entire performance was for someone else's benefit.

All my senses focused on the softness of her lips against mine, the contact sending electric currents through my entire body. I had lost count of how many times I'd dreamed of this moment, only to wake up with tears staining my pillow. The reality was both sweeter and more painful than any dream had been.

I remained frozen, afraid to move a muscle. I had no idea what kind of reaction she was hoping to elicit, and I feared that any response from me would be too much for her to handle. So I fought against every instinct, every desire, leaving all control in her hands. The weight of unspoken words and suppressed emotions filled the space between us, making the air thick with tension.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway grew closer, each step echoing like a drumbeat counting down to the inevitable moment when Drew would walk through that door.

I could feel Eleanor's heartbeat racing where her chest pressed against mine, though her exterior remained calm and deliberate. This close, I could see the slight tremor in her hands, the only sign that this was affecting her as much as it was affecting me.

Eleanor's POV

The moment the door swung fully open, I saw Drew standing there. The smile on his face froze instantly, transforming into an expression I'll never forget. His eyes, usually bright with mischief, began to glisten with tears, but he didn't move. He didn't storm away, didn't demand answers, didn't even make a sound to interrupt us. He just stood there, watching as I deliberately kissed Jace Gillard.

Through my peripheral vision, I could see Drew's rigid silhouette in the doorway. I could imagine the devastation coursing through him. To be honest, part of me wished he would rush forward, push us apart, even slap me. But he did nothing - just stood there, suffering in silence, his breathing becoming increasingly labored with each passing second.

My eyes trembled slightly before I closed them, feeling hot tears escape down my cheeks. Instead of pulling away, I deepened the kiss with Jace. What had started as a butterfly-light touch transformed into something more intimate as I deliberately parted my lips, letting my tongue explore his mouth. I felt him shudder at the unexpected intensity, his whole body tensing with surprise and uncertainty.

The taste of coffee lingered on his lips - he must have been working late again, fueling himself with caffeine. My tongue carefully traced his, dancing in a slow, deliberate rhythm that made his breath catch. His heartbeat accelerated; I could feel it where my hand rested against his chest. The silk of his tie brushed against my wrist as I moved closer, eliminating what little space remained between us.

Jace remained frozen, clearly fighting every instinct to respond. His hands stayed firmly at his sides, though I could feel the tremors running through his body. The scent of his cologne - subtle and clean - filled my senses as I pressed closer, deepening the kiss further. The tension in his jaw betrayed his internal struggle, matching the war raging in my own heart.

I knew this was wrong. Every cell in my body screamed at the betrayal I was committing. But I couldn't stop. The forbidden nature of it all, the knowledge that Drew was watching, the way Jace's breath hitched when my fingers curled into his shirt - it was intoxicating and devastating all at once.

The crystal decanter on the side table caught the evening light, casting fractured rainbows across the room. They danced over Drew's face, highlighting the anguish etched into every line.

Suddenly, rough hands grabbed my shoulders, yanking me backward. The violent movement sent my earrings jingling, the sound absurdly delicate in the charged atmosphere.

"WHAM!"

The thunderous crash of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the room.

I watched, heart in my throat, as Drew's fist connected with Jace's face. The impact sent Jace stumbling backward, his hand automatically rising to touch his rapidly swelling cheek. But he didn't retaliate. He just stood there, meeting Drew's gaze steadily, accepting the punishment as if he believed he deserved it.

Drew's entire body trembled with barely contained rage. His knuckles were white where they clenched into fists, his expensive watch glinting as his arms shook. The setting sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the tears he was fighting to hold back.

"She's my girlfriend, Jace!"

Drew's voice cracked with emotion. "My girlfriend!" The words echoed off the modern art adorning the walls, bouncing back to hit us all like physical blows.