Ten Years Later

Maryse Lightwood watched as the Wayland boy made his way up the Institute steps. Maryse was still surprised to call the New York Institute hers, though the Clave had pronounced it so more than two years ago. Her and Robert now ran the Institute, but Maryse doubted the Clave would have given it to them had they known what her husband had done. Troubled families did not make good leaders. Maryse had told no one about her husband's infraction, other than Jocelyn Morgenstern. She had always seemed to understand her more than the other members of the circle, even though she was wed to Valentine. Robert, too, had adhered to his promise.

The young boy reached the doors where Maryse stood. He stared at the ground, though he walked with a rolling swagger that said, I can rule the world if I want to. He had an air of arrogance to him, although he was quite timid-looking at the moment. He did not at all evoke the memory of Michael Wayland in Maryse's mind; he seemed quite a different person than his late father. "Hello, ma'am," he said politely," I'm Jace Wayland. I was told to meet a Maryse Lightwood."

Maryse looked down at the boy kindly. "I am Maryse. Welcome to the Institute." She had been told that the boy was named Jonathan, however the Clave might have disregarded the fact that the boy went by a nickname. They did not stand for the shortening of the official.

Maryse let Izzy show Jace around the Institute. She thought perhaps her daughter would take a liking to the boy; so far her theory had been proved wrong. Isabelle glared at the newcomer with open dislike, sometimes even hostility. Maryse could not fathom why. Isabelle had grown up to be an independent, strong-headed girl, rather like Maryse.

Maryse was standing in the dining room, thinking about the circle's most recent ventures, when Isabelle walked in behind her. "Mommy?" Maryse turned around. "Yes, Isabelle?' Izzy looked up at her questioningly. "Why are you so sad Jace is here?" Maryse was stunned. "Sad? I'm not sad! Why would I be sad, Iz?" Isabelle just looked at her. "You are sad, Mommy." Maryse sighed. "I'm sad because I'm putting another child in the care of your father." She couldn't stand that she had given that horrible man three children of his own, and now another to be adopted. "What did Daddy do?" The question was not an innocent one; it was one of a person whose suspicions had been confirmed.

Maryse looked her darling Isabelle straight in the eyes as she said, "Your father saw another woman. Before Max was born. Iz nodded gravely. "Who?" Isabelle had never known Annamarie; after the incident she and Maryse had never spoken again. "It doesn't matter now. It's the past. It will never matter again."