A/N: I'm not gonna apologize for the delay, I have no excuses. Except for this pandemic which is not good for my writing. New busy job isn't good for my writing too. But I hope you'll enjoy this new chapter.

Reviews are feeding me, and let's be honest, it's also nice to have a feedback.

So let's see you at the end.

"How many girlfriends for London's heartthrob ?"

That's the question on everybody's lips. After being linked to Hollywood's princess, Helen Blackthorn, Jace Wayland has been seen during the past few months a lot with Aline Penhallow. They have been spotted in many parties and premieres throughout the capital recently, Wayland appearing to confirm he's back with his former flame. So who is that charming pretty redhead he's been photographed dancing with at some charity ball, in an English high school ? During the last few hours, dozens of photos showing the couple dancing closely have emerged, leaving little doubt about the true nature of their relationship. And we have the answer ! The gorgeous woman named Clary Verlac is a French teacher, who was on a foreign exchange with her school last week in Wayland's old high school. Soooooo, how did the pair meet? How long have they been seeing each other ? And how many women are there in Wayland's love life ? We really hope Vogue model Aline Penhallow is aware she is in an open relationship with her beau, otherwise the shock is gonna be rough.

Stay tuned! We contacted a spokesperson for Jace Wayland for more information.

"This is just bullshit!"

I throw my phone across the sofa. I should have known that the pictures taken by the students would emerge online and that tabloids would jump on the occasion. It doesn't matter to me but I hate that they lash out at Clary. At least, they are rather kind to her and haven't divulged too much information. When Hodge called me this morning telling me he was asked for more information, we decided to remain silent and not make a statement. What's happening in my life isn't their business. But I hate that it could have repercussions on Clary's life. I don't know if she's still with him and it could worsen the situation. Considering her attitude towards me during the evening, I'd love to believe she's now single and that article would cause her no harm but I need to be sure.

Taking back my phone while lighting a cigarette, I finally find the courage I've been lacking for the past months.

Hey Clary, I'm sorry for all this bullshit online. I hope you're okay with this. ~ J

The answer is almost immediate.

No worries. Students and phones in the same room, it was meant to happen. ~ C

I chuckle. She's right. You can't keep them from posting their whole life online, so when your teacher is dancing too close to a famous actor, you literally have to share it with the whole world.

You're right. I just hope it won't cause you any harm at school or at home. ~ J

School will be okay, I'm sure I'm gonna be their new favourite teacher. *wink* ~ C

And at home, I wonder, What will he say ? I realise I know nothing about what happened after our fight that day. I only know she lost the baby and that's all. I know nothing because I wasn't brave enough to ask her when I saw her. I search for her name in my contacts list and call her. The perfect reaction would be not to pick the phone up but I sigh as soon as I hear her angelic voice.

"Jace."

"Darling, uh sorry, Clary. I hope I'm not bothering you."

"No, that's alright, I've just come back home from school." Her keys clink while being dropped on a table and I hear her pulling a chair. I imagine her, eyes closed, head backwards, hair piled up on top of her head, relaxing for the first time of the day. Is he behind her, massaging her shoulders, maybe drawing her a bath?

"Is it a good time? Are you alone? I can call you later if you want", I ask.

"I have a few minutes. What can I do for you?" she says, eluding a clear answer. Compared to our dancing moment, she's just cordial, maybe a bit distant, maybe a bit suspicious.

"First, I wanted to apologise about what happened online. I should have known it would happen. Personally I don't care about being exposed but I should have thought about you. Tabloids can be harsh and I don't want you to suffer from that."

She sneers. "Really, that's the least of my worries. After everything I have endured those past few months, nothing can be worse."

And I'm the one who caused that. Every single word uttered is like a needle under my skin. My whole body is aching realising how badly I hurt her. And even if it's the best moment to apologise for it and asks about what happened next, I still can't find the courage to do it. The words are on the tip of my tongue but no sound is coming from my throat. I'm a coward.

"Jace? You there?"

"Uh yes sorry. Well sorry again for those pictures. I wanted to call you anyway to have your permission to record your song."

"It's not my song, Jace. It's yours."

"You're the one who wrote it. These are your words, Clary. And this is magnificent."

She stammers. "Re...really? You wanna record it? To be on the album ?"

"It's finished but I'm gonna ask for it to be added. We still have a few weeks before its release."

"Are you sure it's worth it? I mean, all those changes, it's gonna bother a lot of people?" she asks.

"It has to be on that album. Trust me, it truly completes it. Once you'll hear it, you'll figure it out." I add, really hoping she'll understand me once she'll listen to all the songs. "If this is okay for you, I'll ask my producer to send you the legal contract."

"No,no, Jace, there's no need for that. I give it to you."

"I want to see your name next to mine in the credits, Clary. Please, let me do this. Let me add Verlac next to Wayland and let the world know who wrote this masterpiece."

After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally gives in. "Okay Jace. I'll wait for the papers. I'm still convinced that that song is totally your work but I'll do it."

I sigh. "Thank you. You don't know how much this song means to me."

"It means to me a lot either."

A comfortable silence settles. That's the first real conversation we've had for weeks and behind our words hides so much more.

Healing. Grief. Acceptance. Trust. Rebirth.

"I've got to go Jace, I've got a lot of work to do for school. By the way, be sure to put the right name on the contract. Clary Fray. It's no more Verlac", she whispers at the other end of the line before hanging up.

I smile.

Hope.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Who the fuck is that bitch?" She screams, bursting into the living room. She's livid, even with the amount of cosmetics she has on her face. She must have come straight from a photoshoot.

"Well, hello to you too, Aline. How are you?"

Her voice doesn't lower. She throws her phone on my lap, Clary's face on the screen. "Don't you dare asking me how I am ! Just tell me who this bitch is and what you're doing with her!"

"That's not of your business. And stop screaming for fuck's sake. You're gonna give me a headache."

Pacing in front of the sofa, she's twisting her fingers with anger before stopping in front of me. "This is my fucking business! You're cheating on me again, Jace."

"Well, Aline, let's be clear. I'm not cheating again because nothing's happening."

She points her finger at me angrily. "That's not what it seems. Do you know what people will think of me again? Do you know how stupid I look ? Being cheated twice by the same person, what a joke!"

I stand up, putting her away from me. "Aline, once and for all, I'm not cheating. And I'm not cheating because there's nothing between us. We fuck, that's all. Like in the good old days. You're the only one who seems to think there's something more between us but I've never told you we were exclusive."

A myriad of emotions pass on her face. But hurt may be the strongest of all. And for a few seconds, I'm regretting what I've been doing to her. Tears pool into her eyes and she let herself fall in the sofa. I sit next to her and gather strands of hair behind her ear.

"I think we should have talked a long time ago. Even if I'll always have affection for you Aline, after everything we've lived together, I'm not in love with you anymore. And I'm sorry if you mistook this for a relationship but it's not," I explain.

"But I love you Jace. We're good together," she mutters, her big brown eyes full of unshed tears.

"I'm sorry, Aline. This is over. It's better for both of us, this is hurting you too much. This isn't love, believe me."

She leans on me, putting her face in the crook on my neck and I know she's crying. All I can do is put my arms around her shoulders and hold her tightly against me. Despite my behaviour of the last days, I'm not a heartless monster. "You'll find someone good for you, someone who'll love you unconditionally. And that you will love forever. We all have that someone somewhere out there." Clary is that person for me, I'm now sure of this. And even if I am not ready to say the big L word and allow my heart to explode with it, I recognise that feeling.

"Jace. Baby."

Aline's voice and her breath close to my lips startle me out of my musings.

"Let me kiss you one last time. And I'll leave."

"That's not a good idea, Aline," I tell her, trying to put space between us but her grip around my waist is strong.

"Please, baby. Don't deny me this. After all those years."

And even if I know that nothing good can come from that, I allow her to put her lips on mine. I let her control that last kiss and found myself cradling her neck, as I open my mouth and let my tongue meet hers. Our kiss quickly deepen, our teeths clashing and biting each other's lips and I know I should stop it. But rather than pull away, I grab her long frame and make her straddle me, grinding my erection against her hot core. I know this isn't right but I can't help it. The cocaine I'm taking every day is making me horny as fuck. My hands creep up her inner thighs and pass the hem of her dress. They soon dive under her panties as soon as she tries to unbuckle my belt. And all of a sudden I realise what I'm doing. Technically, I'm not a cheater because there's nothing going on with Clary but I feel like one nevertheless. If I want to fix us, and try to build something with her, if she's okay with that, I need to stop this now, and be a good person.

I immediately seize Aline's fingers in my hands. "Stop, Aline. This shouldn't happen."

But she's a stubborn woman and she's not used to have people who resist her. She immediately pushes me backward in the sofa and freeing her hands, opens swiftly the zip of my jeans, grabbing my cock through my boxers. "Don't tell me you don't want it Jace. Your body can't lie."

My body is a traitor. My body tries to convince me one time isn't bad. My body whispers into my ear no one will know about this. But as soon as I feel her hands on my naked skin, my mind proves to be stronger than my body. I push her from my lap into the sofa firmly and put my clothes back on.

" I don't want it. My body maybe makes you think otherwise but you're not the one I want. I'm sorry."

No one says No to Aline Penhallow. I know it, I see it on her face where lust makes place to anger. I feel it too when her hand lands on my cheek and her nails on my chest. "You're an ugly bastard, Jace. You use people and when you don't need them anymore you throw them away. That Bitch, does she know that while you were thinking about her, you were pounding into me from behind? That I was the one with your cock in my mouth ? That I'm the one who saw your eyes rolling when you came?"

"You don't speak about her and you don't call her like that. You don't know her," I hiss at her, grabbing her arms to make her stop hitting me.

"Well, why isn't she here with you instead of me? Poor Jace has finally found someone who resists him, right? You aren't the only one who doesn't want to feel engaged in a relationship apparently! This is karma, Jace, it comes to bite you back. No one will be stupid enough to love you. Ever."

The anger I've been trying to restrain for the past minutes breaks free at her words. And she's right. I'm alone. I'm broken. I'm worthless. I've lost the only person who has really cared for me in the last few years. And it's too late. And I can't see properly in front of me, I know she's taken a step back but the tears in my eyes put a blurred veil on the room. My chest is oppressed with anger and despair and I know the only way to reduce this pain. Grabbing the only thing near me, I throw it against the nearest wall with all my strength, making Aline scream with fear.

"Listen to me. You won't be there when I come back, and I'll never see you again. And don't even dare thinking about causing harm to her, or I'll find you again. Wherever you are, even if you hide from me," I growl, wiping the tears on my cheeks.

The only way to feel better would be to stop thinking. And I know a way to forget everything. He picks up immediately.

"Meliorn, are you home ? I'm on my way."

A/N : This is not a good decision, Jace.

Someone want to smack his head too ?