Laura pursed her lips with a displeased expression. “I’m ashamed of having such a humiliating ex-
colleague!”
Sage smiled half-heartedly and replied, “Yes, he’s blind, but not entirely wrong.”
Sage was a little tipsy, and she was slightly fazed.
“I hid my true identity from him for three years. I kept everything about Sage Norah in the dark, and
every single day, I was worried that my true identity would be exposed. “I became an entirely different
person. I was no different than a people-pleasing puppet. How could Jace like me when I don’t even
like myself?”
Laura thought for a moment and suddenly asked, “You know, I previously had a crush on Jace. Do you
know how he rejected me back then?”
Sage looked up and sneered, “He only had eyes for Sienna at that time, and he must’ve told you that
he had someone else in mind.”
Laura replied, “No. He told me that… he’s a killer, not a lover.”
Ta
Sage was dumbfounded. “What a stupid man.”
Laura laughed and added, “He was what they called a killing machine back then. He would always be
at the frontlines, no matter how dangerous or challenging the mission was. “As one of the most
powerful packs of the nation, we have to face any danger and fearlessly fight for our country. However,
Jace was the only one who was truly unafraid of death.” Sage blinked for a bit as Laura’s tone suddenly
became solemn.
“I remember there was a time we were under orders to kill the commander of our enemies. It was
literally mission impossible, but we had no choice but to just go for it. Everyone in our force had to write
suicide notes for our loved ones, and we were prepared to sacrifice ourselves.
She added, “In Yoel’s letter, he reprimanded his father for sending him to die at a young age and not to
blame him if he died. Jace was the only one without a note out of the nine of us.”
Sage’s heart muscles tightened. Then, she asked, “Why so?”
“He said that no one cared if he was dead or alive. He doesn’t owe anyone an explanation.”
Sage looked down, “Why did he think like that?”
Sage asked, but she already knew the answer.
Jace joined the forces after his mother jumped off a building, survived, underwent physiotherapy, and
was diagnosed with severe depression. Freya’s maid, Aunt Wendy, told that to Sage.
“Jace had been wronged his entire life. People often thought he was lucky to be an heir to his extended
family and that it was a blessing. However, I know Jace suffered a lot all his life. His traumatic
childhood made him the cold person he is today,” Aunt Wendy said to Sage.
Aunt Wendy added, “Jace was an intelligent and active kid. Even though he was not
particularly talkative, he was able to impress everyone each time he spoke. Madam is strict toward him,
but she never forced him to inherit the family business. Her only wish was for him to become a man of
his words.
“Later on, Mister Lucas and Madam’s relationship started falling apart, and they argued day and night.
Jace tried to stop them, but Lucas slapped him, and he fell on the coffee table. Jace ended up with six
stitches on his face.”
Aunt Wendy recalled the scenario and said sadly, “Since then, Jace became quiet and reserved. He no
longer put a smile on his face. Luna manipulated Jace and Madam, and they slowly grew distant from
each other. Since Madam and Mister Lucas got divorced, Madam became stricter toward Jace.
“During that time, Jace wanted to join the army. However, everyone in the household disagreed with his
decision, and Madam was worried for his safety. Madam told him if he joined the army, she would
disown him, and his life and death won’t matter to her,” Aunt Wendy told Sage
Sage remembered the day Jace saved her in the woods. It was extremely dangerous since anyone
could lose their lives entering the territory.
As Sage almost gave up on her life, Jace came and gave her the will of hope.
Alas, Jace was not a loving person. Sage drank her glass of wine, and she felt bitter in her heart. He
was a man she had loved for a decade…
She would rather not have Jace go through all those hardships. She could make peace with the fact
that he did not love her.
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