INEXPLICABLE _(ⁿᵒ ᵒⁿᵉ ʰᵃˢ ᵗᵒ ᵏⁿᵒʷ, ᵃ ʰⁱᵈᵈᵉⁿ ᵖˡᵃᶜᵉ ᵒᶠ ˢᵉᶜʳᵉᵗˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵈᵉˢⁱʳᵉ)

Chapter 56 (End of me?)

There was chaos around me I asked every board member to leave dad's private office but Luke was inquiring every one of them about all the incident happened few hours ago I made sure dad is alright his blood pressure is hight a bit due to all of this event happened few hours ago I insisted him to go home but he didn't, he stayed.

"Alec" I heard him calling my name I tuned to look at him he is sad, he is terrified and he is the Jace I new when we were best friends I just nodded at him and left dad's side for sometime and walked towards him.

"Wanna tell me everything true now...this is a last chance you will get Jace" I asked him he nodded and that red head held his arm protectively making me clench my fist at my sides. the man I always love with my whole heart since we were boys since I knew what is love, no I am wrong its wasn't love, it was a chase, a conquest and a delusion...a biggest mistake of my life. Since I involved Jace in my life romantically everything held dear just rolled through my fingers. The day I saw those texts lightning his mobile when I was foolishly and desperately making love to him, how he always tried to controlled me, made me go up against my family all the time, all these years I chased his love chased him, begged him to love me back the way I did, be with me, it all just came and bite me in my ass when all of my life is fucked up now he and his grandmother is being real bitches and hurting my dad, my family and my legacy this is not gonna happen anymore this has to stop now..

This. has.To. Stop. Now.

I remember Jace in high school first time we met the camp and I shared my snack with him then after he helped me to retaliate few bullies in school he told me 'its you..be the first person who will stand by yourself'. We became best buddies, inseparable, long night bike rides, sharing lunch, staying out in each other's house, studying late. And then one day he just looked me in the eyes in a way made me think my bettie judgement twice and fell in love with him but now after all these years I question all of it I question now if I ever loved him.

Jace was standing not pacing, not restless for once. Just standing, like his limbs might give out if he moved too fast. His hands were in his jacket pockets, and his jaw was tight. Not in arrogance. In fear. The red hair girl still standing beside him clutching his arm and not meeting my eyes to be honest I don't feel anything anymore for him or for her. But I am furious and I need to know why the hell of this happened.

Jace took a breath, and started. "I didn't want this." His voice broke on the third word. "I didn't want any of this. You have to believe that before anything else." I didn't look at him. But Jace continued anyway. "When we were sixteen, when we met at that stupid fencing camp and you gave me your protein bar after mine got stepped on... I swear, Alec, that was the first time anyone ever gave something to me without wanting something back. I didn't know what to do with it." I blinked, slow. And put all my focus on him my brows furrowed. "I didn't know what it felt like to be seen and not used," Jace said, voice quieter now. "And then you just kept... being you. Loyal. Blunt. Infuriating. Good. God, you were so good..too protective of people you love and it made me feel safe protected and loved but as your friend like a brother"

He continued he is looking into my eyes his eyes glassy there is a guilt, sincerity in his eyes and something in me believed it. "We became friends. Best friends. You remember those years, right? The way we could talk until three in the morning, and it never felt like time passed at all?" I closed his eyes. His hands were clenched, my jaw tight and heart shrank. Jace's voice softened, trembled. A tear rolled down his cheek "Then she started whispering things in my ear."

"Imogen?" I said flatly.

Jace nodded, shame colouring every inch of his face. He wiped his face with his hands and looked at me again. "She hated your father. Robert. Always did. Said he stepped on everyone to get where he is now. That he crushed my father, Stefan, humiliated him, stole clients, froze him out. That your dad was the reason my dad lost his company... and eventually, he made his mind and killed himself".