The soft hum of the restaurant blended with the distant piano music as Jace's phone began to vibrate on the table. He glanced at the screen—Luke.
He hesitated for a moment before picking up.
"Yeah," he answered coolly.
Luke's voice blasted through immediately, loud and familiar.
"Bro! You ghosted us! Come out to Pluto tonight—our usual spot. Dino is already here. We haven't hung out in weeks."
Jace rubbed his temple.
"Fine. I'll be there soon."
"Good. I'm ordering your usual drink."
The call ended.
Jace slipped his phone into his pocket and lifted his eyes to Selena. She sat quietly, sipping her water, her long lashes lowering and rising delicately. She looked soft. Calm. Too calm.
He cleared his throat.
"I'll be going out after dinner," he told her.
Selena blinked, her brows lifting slightly.
"Oh… is it work-related? The upcoming campaign?"
"No," Jace said, shaking his head lightly. "Luke called. My friend."
Selena nodded. "Oh, okay."
Jace studied her for a moment before adding, "Luke and Dino are my closest friends. We grew up together."
Her lips parted in a small circle of surprise.
"Ohhh… okay."
"And one of these days," he continued casually, "I'll introduce them to you."
Selena's eyes widened instantly.
"Introduce… them to me? Why?" she asked without thinking.
Jace tilted his head, his gaze deep and direct.
"You're my wife, Selena. You should know the people I move with."
Her heart stumbled in her chest. Wife. He said it so effortlessly… like it was natural. Like it meant something.
Jace leaned back slightly. "And soon, you'll meet my family too."
Selena froze.
Her stomach dropped.
Her mind went blank for a second.
"Y-your… family?" she whispered.
Jace's lips curved into a faint, teasing smile.
"What? Shocked?"
She nodded honestly.
And he didn't explain further. He didn't need to. The fact he even said it was already enough to turn her entire world upside down.
They finished their meal in silence, but the air between them felt… charged. Different. Almost warm.
Jace stood up, waiting for her politely—something he had never done before their recent shift. They walked out together, footsteps echoing softly along the marble flooring of the restaurant.
He escorted her to the car, opened the door, and Selena stepped in quietly, her mind still spinning.
The ride home was calm. Comfortable. Strangely intimate even without words.
When they reached the house, Jace stopped the engine and turned slightly toward her.
"You can go inside," he said gently. "I'm heading to meet Luke."
Selena's hand froze on the door handle.
"Will… will you come back home tonight?" she asked softly.
Jace raised a brow, almost amused.
"You should know better than anyone that I don't like staying outside overnight."
She nodded.
"Okay. Drive safely."
"I will."
Selena stepped out of the car and walked toward the door. The moment she entered, she didn't go to her room or change her clothes. Instead, she slumped onto the plush sofa, sinking deep into its cushions like she needed something to hold her together.
She placed a hand on her chest.
Her heart was still beating too fast.
"What is… happening?" she whispered to herself.
Everything Jace did tonight replayed in her mind like a movie:
– pulling her chair for her
– ordering gently and respectfully
– asking if she preferred water or juice
– talking about his friends
– mentioning introducing her
– and worst of all…
telling her she would meet his family.
Selena covered her face with both hands.
"This man is confusing," she muttered.
But beneath the confusion… she felt something warm blooming.
She thought about Melissa.
If not for that entire scene today… would Jace even be acting like this?
"Maybe I should thank her," Selena whispered with a soft, amused sigh. "If she didn't show up, maybe I wouldn't have seen this side of him."
The thought startled her.
She was actually… grateful?
She leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
She had always pushed her feelings down because she knew the contract had an end date… three months. And two months were already gone. She planned to disappear quietly when the time came.
But now?
"Maybe…" she whispered, touching her chest, "maybe I should open my heart a little and see where it leads."
Her feelings had already begun growing long before today. She had just buried them under fear. Under reality. Under the contract.
But it seemed Jace was starting to pull her into his world—slowly but surely.
"Still…" she said, shaking her head gently, "I shouldn't assume. Jace is unpredictable."
Just because he was acting differently didn't mean everything had changed.
She would take it slow. Let things unfold naturally.
At the same moment Selena decided to breathe and let things flow, Jace pushed open the grand doors of Pluto Club, stepping inside the familiar dark, luxurious atmosphere.
Luke spotted him immediately and raised his glass.
"Finally! The ice king has arrived!"
Dino laughed beside him.
"We thought you disappeared to another country."
Jace only smirked slightly, but his mind… wasn't fully there.
It was still at home.
With the girl he just dropped , lost in her thoughts.
His wife.
And for the first time… he wanted to hurry back.