Chapter 103. Big Ass Mistake: pt. 3

“Why no?” Aunt Lydia’s voice rose, sharp with confusion and a hint of hurt. She leaned forward on the couch, her hand slipping off Jace’s knee as she stared at me. “Ava, what’s wrong?”

I stood there, frozen in the doorway, my pulse still racing from the hotel disaster. My mouth opened and closed once before the words tumbled out louder than I intended. “No—it can’t be possible. Marrying this man?” It came out almost a yell, my voice cracking on the last word.

Lydia’s eyebrows shot up. She glanced at Jace, who hadn’t moved, but his eyes locked onto mine with that slow, deliberate calm that always made my skin crawl. “Ava,” she said firmly, “tell me why right now. And don’t make Jace uncomfortable in his own announcement.”

Jace tilted his head slightly, giving me that warning stare—the same one he’d given me weeks ago in the back of his car, the night I’d done something I swore I’d take to my grave. His lips curved into the faintest smile, not warm, not kind, just kn