Callen stormed in from the corridor, fury twisting his face.
As soon as he reached Jace, his hands shot forward, gripping the robe's front lapels. The loose silk strained under his fist, slipping open at the chest as he yanked Jace upward.
Noelle froze. Her lips parted, eyes wide. "C-Callen?"
Jace blinked, his body jerking from the sudden pull. For a split second he wore a startled look. But inside, he was grinning.
"CALLEN!" Noelle shouted, her voice cracking.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded, her hands hovering in panic.
Callen's jaw clenched, his eyes locked on Jace. "Don't worry, Noelle. I won't blame you. I know this bastard must have manipulated you."
Jace's lip curled faintly. 'I'm surprised this dumbass got that right.'
He forced his face back to shock, keeping up his act. "Mr. Callen, I don't know what issues you have, but it would be better to put your hands down…"
"Rght now." His voice carried a cold, menacing edge.
His teeth ground together. "You…"
His fist shook. "PIECE OF TRASH!"
The punch landed square on Jace's cheek.
The impact cracked loud in the hallway. Jace's head snapped sideways as Callen released his grip. His body dropped, crashing onto the floor. His lip split, blood smearing across his chin.
Noelle gasped, a scream lodged in her throat.
Callen stood over him, chest heaving, breath sharp and uneven. His knuckles trembled, reddened from the blow.
He raised his hand again, voice guttural. "One punch isn't enough for trash like you."
But before he could land another hit, Noelle rushed forward, sliding between them. She spread her arms wide, head lowered.
Callen's eyes blazed. "What are you doing?"
Her voice shook. "Stop… Please stop!"
"Noelle. Move aside." His tone was sharp, commanding.
"You don't have to worry about him blackmailing you. I'll take care—"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
The shout tore from her throat, raw and furious.
Callen flinched. "W-What? Why are you acting like this…"
Noelle lifted her head. Her eyes burned, bright with rage.
Callen's arm fell slightly, lowering.
At that moment, he realized. The smile she'd shown Jace earlier. The photos where her expression looked natural. And now, the way she was standing here, protecting Jace — something she had never done for him.
His chest hollowed. A wound deeper than any physical pain.
Hurt. Betrayed.
Cheated.
A laugh cracked from his lips.
Noelle's breath caught. "C-Callen…"
The laugh grew louder. Harsh. Hysterical.
Jace wiped blood from his mouth, watching with cold amusement. 'Did this dumbass go insane?'
"Now I understand what's happening," Callen growled.
He leaned toward Noelle, eyes sharp as blades. "YOU ARE A WHORE."
Her face paled. Her lips trembled.
He didn't stop. "You're nothing more than a slut, spreading your legs for anyone with money."
"W-What…" Noelle staggered, her voice breaking, torn between anger and grief.
Then Callen's hand lifted high, swinging toward her face.
Noelle's eyes shut tight, bracing for the pain.
But it never came.
A hand caught Callen's wrist midair.
Jace's grip was iron, his expression darkened. His aura shifted, the air thickening, suffocating.
"THAT'S ENOUGH."
Noelle gasped, her eyes darting between them.
Callen froze, a cold shiver breaking through his fury.
Jace's glare cut into him. "If you don't leave right now… I'll call the cops."
For a long second, the room was silent except for Callen's ragged breath. Then he clicked his tongue hard, tearing his wrist free.
Without a word, he turned and stormed out.
Jace exhaled a heavy sigh, rubbing his temple. "Hah…" His voice carried relief. But his thoughts told a different story.
'His reaction to just part one is so perfect. I wonder how he'll break in part two… and three.'
A faint smirk curled on his lips.
'Now…'
His eyes slid toward Noelle. She was stiff, her shoulders shaking, eyes glazed in sadness.
'…Time to treat myself to a little reward.'
"Miss Noelle, let's go inside," Jace said softly.
She nodded weakly and moved, sitting on the sofa. Her face looked a second away from tears. Callen's words still echoed in her chest like knives.
Then something tapped her cheek lightly.
She looked up.
Jace stood there, a glass of whiskey in one hand, the bottle in the other.
"Sometimes drinking helps to relieve pain."
Her eyes shifted from his face to the glass. She stared at it, silent.
Then, without a word, she took the bottle straight from his hand and pressed it to her lips.
"W-Wait, Miss Noelle, don't drink from the bottle—"
But she was already chugging deep until her throat bobbed with each swallow.
Jace yanked it away with a sharp pop.
She wiped the smear of liquid from her lips, then staggered up.
"Are you feeling dizzy?" he asked quickly.
She turned, unsteady.
"Tch. I told you not to drink the whole damn bottle." He pointed to the door near his bed. "Washroom's that way."
But instead of walking, she moved back toward him.
Suddenly she pushed him down.
Jace's back hit the sofa, his body sinking into the cushions. Noelle climbed on top, straddling him.
"Miss Noelle," he said with a nervous smile. "I think you're drunk."
"We should stop—"
Her finger pressed to his lips.
"~Ssh."
Then she kissed him.
At first, it was just lips brushing, soft and shaky. Her mouth pressed harder, clumsy in its urgency.
A few seconds later, her tongue pushed in, awkward and sudden, as if she didn't quite know what to do but refused to stop.
Her breasts pressed against his chest, warm and squeezing. Her pussy pressed against his cock through the thin layers of fabric.
From the bottle to playing submissive — it had all been deliberate. From Lena's report, Jace knew beforehand that Noelle was weak to alcohol.
And now, she was the one making the first move, fulfilling Jace's carefully crafted plan.
'But submission really doesn't suit me.'
Noelle kissed harder, saliva smearing at the corners of their mouths. Wet sounds echoed between them, messy and uncontrolled.
It was sloppy, every movement betraying her inexperience.
Jace pushed her suddenly. Their lips parted with a slick pop, a thin string of spit snapping between them.
He slipped out from under her.
Noelle slumped against the sofa, her body trembling once. "S-Sir… do you also not want meee?" Her words dragged, drunk and weak.
Jace leaned over her. Her back pressed flat to the cushions.
One hand slid along her waist. His knee pressed between her thighs, prying them apart.
"I want…" His lips brushed her ear, his breath hot and heavy, voice sinking lower. "Every… single… inch of you."
Her body shivered.
Then his hand cupped her breast.