Chapter 7 JADE

Chapter 7

Jace's POV:

I sat beside Jade's hospital bed, feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was relieved that she was going to be okay. On the other hand, I was frustrated that I had to stay with her overnight.

"It's just for tonight, Jace," Jade said, as if reading my mind. "I promise I'll be back on my feet in no time."

I smiled, feeling a pang of guilt for my earlier hesitation. "I'm sorry, sis. I'm just worried about you."

Jade smiled back, her eyes shining with amusement. "I know you are, Jace. But I'm fine, really. Just a broken leg."

We chatted for a while, talking about everything and nothing. I was just starting to relax when I remembered that I had promised Natasha I would call her later.

I pulled out my phone, but before I could even unlock the screen, Jade snatched it out of my hand.

"No phones allowed until I'm discharged," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye.

I tried to protest, but Jade was firm. "No way, Jace. You're going to stay here and keep me company, phone-free."

I sighed, feeling frustrated. "But it's work-related," I tried to explain. "And you know how Dad can be."

Jade just rolled her eyes. "Don't try to spin this, Jace. I know you're not working on anything that can't wait till tomorrow. Besides, if Dad gives you any grief, I'll just talk to him myself."

I knew better than to argue with Jade when she was in this mood. So I reluctantly agreed to put my phone away and focus on spending time with her.

As we continued to chat, Jade noticed that my mind seemed to be elsewhere. "Hey, is everything okay?" she asked, looking at me with concern. "You seem a little distracted."

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But Jade's expression was kind and non-judgmental, so I decided to open up to her.

"It's just...a friend of mine is having some issues," I said, trying to downplay the situation. "And I'm not sure how to advise him."

Jade raised an eyebrow. "Which friend?" she asked, her tone skeptical. "You don't really have any friends outside of work, Jace."

I felt a twinge of guilt for lying to Jade. But I didn't want to admit the truth - that I was actually thinking about Natasha and our complicated situation.

"His name is Henry," I said, trying to sound casual.

Jade looked at me suspiciously. "Henry? I've never heard you mention anyone by that name before."

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, well, we just met recently."

Jade wasn't totally satisfied with my explanation, but she let it drop. "So, what's going on with Henry?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

I took a deep breath, trying to articulate my own feelings. "Well, Henry just met this amazing girl, and he really likes her."

Jade's eyes lit up with interest. "Is she beautiful?" she asked, her voice teasing.

I smiled, feeling a pang of guilt for talking about Natasha behind her back. "Yeah, she's very beautiful."

Jade nodded, her expression thoughtful. "So, what's the problem?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But Jade's kind eyes encouraged me to continue.

"Well, Henry's just found out that she's a single mom...to two daughters."

Jade's expression changed, her eyes narrowing in disapproval. "What? That's a lot to take on. Henry should definitely reconsider."

I felt a pang of defensiveness, but Jade's expression only grew more stern.

"Jace, I know you're not telling me the whole truth. This isn't about Henry, is it? It's about you and this girl."

I sighed, feeling caught. "Jade, please just listen to me."

But Jade shook her head, her expression unyielding. "No, Jace. I won't listen to this. You can't seriously be considering a relationship with a single mom. That's just crazy."

I felt a surge of frustration, but Jade's expression only grew more stubborn.

"Jace, our parents will never approve of this. And even if they did, it's just not a good idea. You deserve someone better than that."

I felt a pang of guilt for not being honest with Jade from the start. But now that she knew, I realized that she was never going to approve of Natasha.

"Jade, please just try to understand," I said, feeling desperate.

But Jade just shook her head, her expression unyielding. "No, Jace. I won't understand. And I won't support this. You need to forget about this girl and move on."

I felt a surge of frustration at Jade's words. How could she be so judgmental and close-minded? Didn't she understand that people's circumstances didn't define them?

"Jade, that's not fair," I said, trying to keep my cool. "You don't even know Natasha. She's an amazing person, and she deserves a chance."

Jade scoffed. "I don't need to know her to know that she's not right for you. You're a wealthy businessman, Jace. You need someone who can keep up with you, someone who is sophisticated and elegant. Not some...some single mom with two kids."

I felt a wave of anger wash over me at Jade's words. How could she be so cruel and heartless?

"That's enough, Jade," I said, my voice firm. "I won't listen to you trash Natasha like that. She's a wonderful person, and I care about her deeply."

Jade's expression turned cold, and she looked at me with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"Fine, Jace," she said. "If you want to throw your life away on some unsuitable woman, that's your choice. But don't come crying to me when it all falls apart."

I felt a pang of sadness at Jade's words. I had never seen her so angry and hurt before. But I knew that I couldn't back down now. I had to stand up for Natasha and for what I believed in.

"Jade, please try to understand," I said, reaching out to her.

But she just shook her head and turned away from me.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore, Jace," she said. "Just leave me alone."