Chapter 8: Shifting Shadows
Lena tried to focus on her work as she organized the candy shelf for what felt like the hundredth time, but her mind kept drifting back to yesterday's visitor. Reina Sinclair's polished presence, her sharp red eyes, and the way she'd spoken about Jace—it had all felt surreal, as though a character from a novel had stepped into her quiet little store. And the weight of Reina's words had left Lena with more questions than she could count.
By the time the familiar chime sounded and Jace strolled in, Lena was more than ready to confront him. She watched as he flashed his usual carefree grin, leaning against the counter like he owned the place.
"Morning, Ms. Shop Owner," he greeted, his tone bright and casual. "Did you miss me?"
"Oh, you have no idea," Lena replied, keeping her voice even but her gaze intent. "Actually, I had a very interesting visitor yesterday. Someone who seemed… quite interested in finding you."
The easy smile on Jace's face faltered slightly, and he tilted his head, curiosity flashing in his blue eyes. "Oh? And who might that be?"
"Reina Sinclair," Lena replied, watching his reaction closely.
For a split second, Jace's entire expression changed. His smile dropped, his jaw tightened, and a guarded look flickered across his face—a look Lena had never seen before. He blinked, clearly thrown off, and glanced away as if buying time to collect himself.
"Reina Sinclair," he repeated slowly, his tone flat.
"Yes," Lena continued, a bit unsettled by his reaction. "She said she knew you. That your families are… connected, somehow."
Jace's expression hardened, his usual playfulness replaced by something cold, distant. He shook his head, his voice unusually clipped. "I don't know her."
Lena blinked, caught off guard by his tone. "Jace… she mentioned you by name. Said you two were… friends."
"She can say whatever she wants," Jace replied, his voice low and tense. "I don't know her."
Lena hesitated, sensing the walls he was building around himself. She didn't want to push, but her curiosity—and her concern—drove her forward. "Jace, who is she? And why would she come here looking for you?"
He let out a bitter laugh, his gaze drifting toward the door. "She's no one important, alright? Just someone who thinks she knows me because of… family connections." He paused, clearly struggling to find the right words. "Let's just say my family likes to keep tabs on me, even when I'd rather they didn't."
Lena's eyes widened, questions flooding her mind. She'd known Jace was different, mysterious in a way that suggested he didn't share much about his life. But she hadn't expected this—a wealthy family tracking him down through a woman as powerful as Reina Sinclair.
"Your family?" she asked softly, keeping her tone gentle. "You've never mentioned them."
Jace sighed, his expression softening slightly. He seemed to weigh his options before finally meeting her gaze, a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "That's because there's not much to say. My family and I… we don't exactly see eye to eye. After my parents passed, it was just me and… them." He said the word "them" with an edge, as if the people he referred to were distant strangers rather than family.
Lena felt a pang of sympathy, but she remained silent, giving him space to continue if he wanted to.
"They're… wealthy," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not just comfortable, but powerful. The kind of family that thinks they can control everything. Even me." He clenched his fists, his gaze darkening. "After my parents died, they tried to mold me into something I wasn't. Tried to make decisions for me, including who I should marry, where I should live, what I should do with my life."
Lena's breath caught. "And Reina…?"
Jace nodded, his jaw clenched. "She was part of that. My grandfather's idea of a perfect 'match' to keep everything in the family." He let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. "But I wanted nothing to do with it. So I left."
Lena's heart ached for him as she watched him wrestle with these memories, this hidden part of his life that he'd clearly tried to leave behind. She'd always seen him as carefree, almost too carefree, but now she understood why he'd kept himself so detached.
"I'm sorry, Jace," she said softly, her voice filled with genuine empathy. "I had no idea…"
He shrugged, forcing a faint smile. "It's not your fault, Ms. Shop Owner. I just… I didn't expect them to find me here, of all places." He looked around the store, as if seeing it in a new light. "This place was supposed to be my escape. A place where they wouldn't bother me."
Lena nodded, understanding. She'd built her store into a refuge, a place where she could keep her father's legacy alive and find her own sense of peace. She could only imagine what it must feel like to have that peace threatened by a past he'd been trying to outrun.
"Reina left a business card," she offered, pulling it out of her pocket and holding it out to him. "She asked me to let you know if I saw you."
Jace eyed the card for a moment before taking it with a look of disdain. He didn't even glance at it before slipping it into his pocket. "Thanks, but I'm not planning on calling her anytime soon."
Lena forced a small smile. "If she comes back, I'll… handle it."
Jace's eyes softened, and he let out a small laugh. "Thanks, Ms. Shop Owner. I knew I could count on you to keep the peace."
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of his confession settling between them. Lena wanted to reach out, to tell him that he didn't have to bear this burden alone. But she sensed that Jace needed to keep his distance, that sharing this part of himself was difficult enough.
After a moment, she decided to lighten the mood. "So, where were you yesterday? The store felt strange without your constant commentary."
Jace's usual smirk returned, his eyes brightening. "Oh, did Ms. Shop Owner miss me?"
"Don't flatter yourself," she shot back, rolling her eyes. "It was just… quiet, that's all."
He laughed, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned against the counter. "I just had some things to take care of, that's all. Life outside of annoying you, believe it or not."
"Imagine that," she replied, pretending to be surprised. "I thought your sole purpose in life was to be a nuisance here."
"Hey, I'm a man of many talents," he said with a wink. "But being your daily dose of excitement is definitely one of my top skills."
They both laughed, the tension slowly dissipating, and for a moment, it felt like everything was back to normal. But as they fell into their usual banter, Lena couldn't shake the image of the guarded look in his eyes, the glimpse of his past he'd shared with her.
She knew she'd only scratched the surface of his story, and that Jace still had many secrets. But for now, she was grateful that he'd trusted her with this small piece of himself. And as they talked, Lena felt a quiet resolve growing within her—to be there for him, just as he'd unknowingly been there for her.