Clary was startled awake as a sharp cold breeze made its way through the slid open door blowing the curtains along with it. She slowly opened her eyes blinking away the drowsiness as she noticed the missing presence of the man beside her. Gathering the sheets with her as she sat up to look for the missing man, she spotted him standing on the deck. Throwing her legs over the bed quietly, she bent down and picked up the oversized burgundy button down shirt, thrown on top of a messy pile of clothes. She was surprised all their clothes managed to make it in one pile instead of a randomly thrown all-around-the-room pattern they usually do, especially considering the night they had before or morning, she really didn't know. Clary took small quiet footsteps along the shiny wooden floors, the sounds of the waves rushing to shore and the whistling breeze overpowering the squeaking of the wood. She stood right behind him, admiring the fine lines of muscle sculpted along his back and the smooth edges of his arms stretched along the railing in front of him, the black ink in his forearm noticeable even in the dark of night. He wore nothing but a pair of boxer briefs and somewhere in her naughty mind she admired his firm butt. Even from the back he looked like a model but she knew the front was a view with triple the beauty. Jace tensed at first before immediately relaxing when she slowly wrapped her arms along his hard stomach and burying her face between his shoulder blades.

"Hey angel, why are you up?" he asked as he slowly covered her arms with his.

"The breeze," she replied simply along with a shrug.

"Sorry love, I didn't think of it." He stepped out her arms and pulled her along with him tucking her in his shoulder as he led them to the couch. Jace quickly clicked on the button to turn on the outdoor fireplace. The immediate blow of fire to light up the wood settled inside, gave an immediate heat to a shivering Clary. He lay on the back of the couch positioning Clary on his side right next to the fire as he covered them with a blanket. After tucking in the blanket around them, especially Clary, he gently pressed his lips to her temple.

"Sorry I woke you"

"It's okay, besides I love waiting for sunrise with you. Why did you wake up anyways?"

"Just a bad dream," he replied simply though he knew it's far worse than that. It's a dream of what could be his future. A dream that could happen and could separate him from the girl he loves the most, the girl lying in his arms at the moment. She couldn't know and he wouldn't let her. The guilt slowly killed him inside but the fear of losing her tortured him more.

"What was it about?"

"You."

"Me?" Clary immediately lifted her and propped herself on his chest to look him in the eyes.

"Losing you." Jace stared into her deep green eyes as he took a deep breath.

"You'll never lose me Jace, you know that," she whispered back as she slowly brushed her finger along his cheek.

"I don't know, you could decide to accept your father's offer to take over Morgenstern Corp and move to New York." He knew she wouldn't accept the offer. She blatantly laughed in her father's face when he asked. Jonathan would gladly accept to take over the company but he insisted they ask Clary first. He may have been born first but he loved his sister so much he'd always give her the first choice. It was useless as Clary, daughter of the CEO of a multibillion company, was content in painting in her rooftop studio in LA then sending them to her art gallery in New York. Art collectors around the world praised her paintings, they were beautiful and he wasn't being biased about it at all, even galleries in Paris started asking for some of her pieces. Yet she never kept the earnings to herself. Each payment for her pieces was immediately sent to different charities she constantly donated to. Her shares in the company's stock funded for her life expenses, not that she even lived luxuriously.

"Oh please! You know I'd never do that. I'd rather stick to my paints and brushes in my studio. Besides we both know who the businessman is in this relationship Mr. future-CEO of Herondale Industries." There was one good thing about being forced to learn Business Ed and that was meeting Jace. Her parents approved of her and Jonathan's decisions to choose whatever major they wanted but they still required them to learn how to run a company. For Jonathan it was no big deal as he already wanted to follow in his father's footsteps of running the company. For her, it was a whole different level as she had to endure boring classes of something she had no interest in. Then their parents decided to give them hands on experience thus sending them to different companies owned by their friends to learn the different techniques of handling a company. Herondale Industries along with Morgenstern Corp, Lightwood Enterprise, and Verlac Inc all formed a group "The Circle" as they called it to work together. Each company was in great partnership with each other and ran smoothly together. Herondale Industries was her last place to learn and she did not look forward to it whatsoever, hearing stories of their player son. She hated him at first, that much was obvious to anyone really, but somehow Jace with his sarcastic and conceited persona wormed his way to her heart. To anyone he was cold and distant, conceited and rude but to her he was warm and sweet, loving and protective. It was a side she saw up close, the other half to his whole personality. The whole personality that convinced her to move to California and of course his beauty just a cherry on top. Staring into his eyes now all she was love and care all directed for her.

"I love you. You know that right?" he tenderly asked as he cupped her face.

"And I love you," she replied as she leaned up sealing their words with a kiss. He squeezed her in his arms tighter as they both lay there just in time to witness the sun rise over the ocean. It only lasted a few minutes, enough time for her to slumber back to sleep. After all, Jace did tire her out completely a mere few hours ago, not to mention she just simply hated mornings. Clary barely felt herself being lifted into strong comfortable arms and gently being laid down on the bed but it was enough for her to sense him. It was enough for her to crave his presence for her to tug on his wrist as he made a move to leave the bed. "Stay with me please. I just want to be in your arms a little longer."

"Of course Clary." He could never say no to her pleas. He was usually up by sunrise, it was how his body worked, but for her he'd do anything. Settling himself under the covers he scooped her in his arms tugging her back to his chest. She laced her fingers through his hand as he nuzzled his face into her hair, smelling completely of strawberries. "You know I'd do anything for you."

It was almost noon when she woke again and to her disappointment the man next to her was gone once again. She vaguely heard the doorbell ring before going out in search for her fiancé. She barely remembered they were hosting the game today as she found Jace standing by the door dressed in only a pair of sweatpants, talking to the delivery guy.

Jace has encountered many gorgeous women in his life, but none can compare to Clary. Just the sight of her standing in the kitchen in nothing but his shirt all crumpled up from the sleep along with her tangled hair and red sleep etched face still made his heart stump. His mouth curled up into a smile as he made his way to her.

"Good morning!"

Jace laughed as he pulled her in his arms kissing her "I'm pretty sure it's good afternoon now love. Go get ready the guys will be here soon. I'll just put the food away and join you the shower."

"Who says I want you to join me in the shower?" she giggled at his presumptuousness but who was she kidding, she'd love for him to join her.

"Oh love, we're already getting married. There's no need to play hard to get. We both know you'll want all of this anytime any day." She laughed loudly walking away, as he winked at her with that smirk on his face.

"Izzy! I can't believe you bailed on us now I'm the only girl here left with all the guys."

"Sorry I had to fly to Paris last minute; there was something that went wrong in the setup for the fashion show. Besides honey, I'm sure it's just the usual people and if there's someone new Jace will beat them to a pulp just for staring at you."

"You better hope there won't be any beating today! Okay I gotta go I hear people coming in talk to you soon!

It turns out she really was worried for nothing. Their get together only included Jace's normal gang of friends Alec, Simon, Jordan, Sebastian, and Alec's boyfriend Magnus. She never watched football much, until she met Jace. Having played football in high school, watching the superbowl was a must for him. Knowing how much he loves the game, she stopped Jace from going to the kitchen to get more food and volunteered instead. She can hear the boys' shouts as someone apparently made a touchdown intensifying their bets. Jace was winning and he tended to show off, not a good comparison with Sebastian, who was losing and gets butt hurt quite easily if she was being honest. Frankly she didn't know why Sebastian was there at all. He never quite got along with anyone else especially Jace. Apparently they've been rivals during their high school football years and rivals in academics during college. As she made her way to the living room she overheard "it can't be as worse as making a bet to make a girl fall in love with you right Jordan?"

"You what Jordan?! That's so messed up!" Clary immediately noticed Jace tense in front of her but thinking she just surprised him with his voice she thought nothing of it. She made her way to set down the plates on the table as she questioned them further "Who is it? What's the prize? You do know you'll be breaking this poor girl's heart."

Jace helped her set everything down pulling her into his arms. "Angel, it's their business just let it go alright."

Clary would've been persuaded with Jace's soothing voice but she wasn't going to let an innocent girl be hurt. She's seen her friends go through that, seen their pain and she was going to stop it from happening if she can. "No! I don't approve of this Jordan! This is possibly the worst thing you can do!"

"What's the worst that can happen? You and Jace seem to be doing great at it" Sebastian slurred tipping his beer to them.

She immediately felt Jace tense behind her as she saw everyone else's glare directed to Sebastian with the exception of Magnus who looked as confused as her. Clary laughed slightly out of confusion as she questioned "What do Jace and me have to do with this? We're talking about making bets of making girls fall in love with -." She abruptly stopped as realization struck her. Memories of Jace persuading her to no end, her overhearing them congratulating Jace when they announced they were together, that drunken night of Jace endlessly mumbling I'm sorry Clary please forgive me, and many more suddenly all making sense. Her heart beat faster and her hands started to shake as she turned to face the man in question. "Was I - am I just a bet to you? Is that the reason why you asked me to be yours?" She knew, she could sense it yet a part of her hoped it all to be not true.

Jace opened his mouth to say something, anything but nothing would come out. The lump in his throat made it hard for him to respond. His silence said it all. He knew that, she knew that, everyone in the room knew that. Just like that Jace Herondale broke her heart in half without even having to say anything. Her eyes were filled with betrayal and anger as they stared into his. For a second he thought she was going to slap him, or as she was Clary she would most likely punch him instead, but then he noticed she raised her right hand to touch the engagement ring that lay on her left hand. He made a move towards her, to gather her in his arms once more when she immediately stepped back. "Clary it's not - I didn't - I just." He tried to get something out but he couldn't form any coherent thoughts. The only coherent thought he could make was she's going to leave me. Everything was quiet as if everyone stopped breathing even the noise of the TV seemed to decrease, then a laugh.

Clary laughed a short sarcastic empty laugh then slowly her mouth curled upwards into a small smile. She slightly shook her head before focusing her eyes on gold once again. Her eyes were no longer filled with betrayal and anger now. They were now filled with heartache and pain. Clary the girl whose eyes he'd always look to see happiness now looked at him with nothing but disappointment. He froze and his heart beat fast as if it will explode soon. Then suddenly it did, his heart exploded as Clary simply walked past him into their bedroom locking the door behind her.

She grabbed her bag and filled it with her phone, wallet, keys, and passport. She didn't care about anything else, clothes or whatever, since she can easily buy a new one. Taking one last look at the room behind her she summoned herself to not break down in tears. She was Clarissa Morgenstern damn it and Morgensterns were not weak. Clary knew Jace was in front of that door and to be honest she'd rather prefer to go out through the back but she wasn't a child no, she faced everything head on. Taking one deep breath, she opened the door only to be faced with a panic stricken pale Jace. His eyes seemed to be filled with tears of sadness but who was he to feel sad? This was his decision and she simply got played along with it. She made her way to the front door ignoring Jace's please behind her.

"Clary please stop! Clary! Angel please just listen to me! It's not like that anymore! Please angel I love you so much! Let's talk about it! Please don't leave me." Jace was sobbing now. He had no idea when the last time he cried was but now he just didn't care at all. All he cared about was making her stay. "I'd give it all back just stay please! Let's talk! Just stay!"

Clary froze right when she unlocked her door. Give it all back? "So you took it? You took the prize even though you knew you'll be hurting me?"

Jace couldn't answer. He couldn't say anything else.

"What was it Jace? What did you win?" She stared at him waiting for his answer and when she knew it wouldn't come she opened her car door. Jace quickly shut it closed angering her even more "You wanted to talk so much Jace then TALK! TELL ME! If you're not going to talk then I'll just be on my way now."

"No please Clary. I - it was, it was the business deal. Sebastian he uh he was trying to make this deal with a European supplier. My grandfather wanted me to make that deal, it was the way I can prove myself to him." Of course it was the grandfather. The grandfather who saw him as nothing, who believed he can never accomplish what his father did. The one, who he greatly tried to impress only to be humiliated and embarrassed. "You just came to the company then and hated me. You were the only girl to not fall for me or even show a slight interest so we made a bet if I can get you to fall in love with me, he'll give me the deal."

"That's all I was worth Jace? Just a damn freaking BUSINESS DEAL! How much did it earn you huh? The European one right? The one that earned your company $500 million dollars? Well damn Jace I'm the daughter of a billionaire, my trust is bigger than that! Couldn't I have at least been worth a billion dollars business deal? Or is that just really how little I mean to you?"

"No clary, love no. You're worth so much more you're priceless. I was just an idiot to not realize that sooner. Please angel don't leave I love you so much I don't think I can live without you." He was on his knees now. Begging her to stay. He was Jace Herondale and Jace Herondale doesn't beg but for this girl he would. He'd do anything for her.

"Stop," she whispered. Clary grabbed his shoulders and lifted him up to stand. She sounded so broken and he did that to her. "You don't know what love is. You were right, your grandfather was right to love is to destroy and to be loved is to be destroyed because you certainly destroyed me right now Jace Herondale." It was a low blow she'd admit it but it did its worth. Jace sucked in a breath and paled even more unconsciously staggering back. Getting her chance Clary immediately entered the car locking the door behind as soon as she got in. She ignored his knocking on the window and pleas as she peeled out of the driveway. She couldn't think of a time when he cried and looked so pained but no she wouldn't think of him. He certainly didn't care about what she would feel, he has no right to be hurt. It was all his doing. She could still see him trying to run after her car and for a second she almost stepped on the break but no. It all started out as a lie. Taking her eyes off of his silhouette slowly getting smaller in the distance she increased her speed and made her way to the airport not taking a glance back.

Days passed, weeks passed, months passed. Not a single word from her. Jace practically spent his whole week calling her phone until suddenly he was left with a robotic voice explaining how the number was disconnected. He flew to New York going to her house, to her apartment, to her gallery but no she wasn't there. She wasn't even in the state at all. He would've never known if Simon hadn't told him. Apparently she told Izzy she left New York and Izzy told Simon. It was only a vacation to get a break from the world, to get a break from him. He was determined to head back to New York when she came but then the package came. The package filled with every single thing he gave to her. It was filled with jewelry, clothes, and their pictures together. He denied it. She was still shock from it all. She just needs more time but then the mail came. The mail with no return address. The mail with only one thing inside it. The mail that contained the engagement ring he gave her. Upon holding the ring in his palm, all of Jace's hope dissipated and he fell on his knees.