“Now that everyone’s here, let’s begin,” Jace said, his voice flat.

He sounded detached, like he wasn’t even part of the funeral, just some neutral bystander.

Even with Matthew’s death, Jace handled the funeral plans like clockwork-calm, precise, unaffected. It was almost unsettling how serene he seemed, like nothing could touch him. anymore.

Wayne stayed silent, and Hayden stood off to the side, blending in like he was just another Johnston family member. But we all knew better.

Hayden had every reason to despise this family. The car crash that killed his dad? Matthew had orchestrated it.

Maybe he could let go of hating the living, but honoring the dead? No chance.

Seeing him so compliant next to Wayne was weird. It didn’t sit right.