His father’s suicide. His father killed himself when he was just eighteen. Though he was never that close to his dad, I remembered how he looked up to him as his hero, an inspiration. And after his sudden demise, his life changed. He changed. I still remembered how he grew distant with everyone, even with Tobias and Tess, after the incident.

Maybe that’s why he chose to leave this mansion when Caleb decided to stay back. He didn’t want the memories of his father to haunt him.

Something squeezed in my chest again. I couldn’t even understand how much he must have gotten hurt coming back here. But he did. For me.

My legs moved even before I knew, searching for a glimpse of him. I wouldn’t give any explanation why, but I wanted to be there for him right now. Maybe I could give him some comfort?

But where was he? He wasn’t anywhere at the party.

Looking up, I caught a fleeting shadow of his disappearing into the first floor. Not wasting any more time, I followed. Climbing up the stairs, I strode to the way he went. But all I found was an empty hallway.

I just saw him come here. Where did he go now?

My eyes searched for him, but there was no trace of him. Then the east wing came into my view.

Maybe he went that way?

I entered the east wing, even the shadowed corridors didn’t stop me. Though it did look eerie. I didn’t know how Tess and Caleb stayed here alone in this huge palace.

From what I remembered from my last visit years ago, everything has changed. From the antique furniture to the colors of the walls, everything was replaced with a modern contemporary interior. Gone was the old house they got from their ancestors.

I halted in my steps as something caught my peripheral vision. Stepping back, I stood at the head of the hallway. And there he was.

What was he doing in front of that door?

His hands remained in his pockets as he stood there, immobile. But this time, his frame was rigid, eyes darker than I ever encountered. The hatred his gaze held as he stared at the door sent shivers down my spine.

But other than hatred, there was… pain and something else that I couldn’t decipher.

Another tug in my chest urged me to go near him. But I stayed still. Something about his tense demeanor warned me to stay away. But I couldn’t just stay back and watch him like that. So I moved. But as soon as I started to approach, he turned around and stormed away.

“Ace!” I called out for him, running ahead. But he was already gone.