Jace smiled through his tears, and Bella's heart cracked open at the sight.
She continued to stroke his hair gently, her fingers moving slowly through the strands in a quiet attempt to soothe him.
"Wait," Bella said slowly as a thought pushed through the haze of emotion. "Is that why you helped Pablo hack Leo's company base last time? That job? Not because of the high payment?"
Jace shook his head.
"No. That was actually just for money. He didn't know I was a hacker and he still doesn't know. If he knew, he would try to keep me on his side by any means."
Bella nodded slowly as she processed that.
"So you're his only son?"
Jace's expression hardened.
"No. He has another son. The one he loves to death. The legitimate one. The heir. I'm just… a mistake he tried to erase."
"So you know him? The other son?"
Jace nodded again. "I know of him. I've never met him. He doesn't know I exist."
Bella's mind was racing now, pieces clicking together.
