Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 251

CHATITERWAR

CHAPTER 145-1

I kept staring at the flowers Tong after Jace had called Derek to come and check them.

They were beautiful, which somehow made the situation feel even stranger, because after everything that had happened at Lawson Customs, I had learned not to assume that something innocent was actually innocent.

Jace crouched beside the bouquet without touching it, and Derek carefully examined the flowers before checking the ground around them.

“Nothing suspicious.” Derek finally said as Jace looked at him.

“Are you sure?” Jace asked.

“There are no wires, no obvious devices, and no sign anyone tampered with them.” Derek said as I folded my arms.

“That still does not tell us who left them.” I said.

Derek pointed toward the small white envelope tucked between the stems.

“The note might.” Derek said and Jace carefully removed it and handed it to me.

I recognized the handwriting before I even unfolded the paper and my stomach tightened.

“Victoria.” I said and Jace looked at me.

“You are sure?” Jace asked as I nodded.

“I’ve seen her handwriting before.” I said.

I opened the note slowly, and the words immediately made my chest ache.

Paige,

I know an apology can’t undo what happened, and I know I’ve no right to ask you to forgive me.

I’msorry for the choices I made, for the things I allowed, and for the ways I failed you when I should have protected you.

You don’t have to answer this, and you don’t have to forgive me, but I needed you to know that I’msorry.

I hope one day you can have peace, even if that peace does not include me.

Victoria.

I read it twice and then I folded it carefully as Jace watched me.

“What are you thinking?” Jace asked.

“I don’t know.” I said.

“Do you believe her?” Jace asked as I looked at the flowers.

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CHAPTER 1454-

+believe she is sorry.” I said and he nodded.

But?” He asked.

“But I’mnot ready to forgive her.” I said as Jace reached for my hand.

“You don’t have to.” He said as I looked down at the bouquet again.

“Can I take these inside?” I asked.

“Of course.” He said.

Claus

I carried the flowers into Lawson Customs while Jace followed behind me, and instead of putting them in the office or leaving them at the front counter, I walked toward Uncle Will’s old office.

The room still smelled faintly of oil, leather, and the cedar shelves Uncle Will had installed years ago.

I placed the flowers inside an old glass jar on his desk.

They looked strangely beautiful sitting there.

I set Victoria’s note beside them, and for a moment, I simply stood there.

Uncle Will had always told me that anger could protect you for a while, but if you carried it long enough, it eventually became another kind of prison.

I had never understood what he meant until now.

I was still angry. I still remembered everything and I still didn’t trust Victoria enough to let her back into my life.

But for the first time, I didn’t feel like I needed to hate her.

That realization surprised me.

I closed my eyes briefly before leaving the office.

When I returned to the workshop, Emma was standing near the doorway with a box of parts and she looked at me carefully.

“You look different.” She said and I frowned.

“Different how?” I asked.

“Lighter.” She said and I laughed quietly.

“I’ve been told I look exhausted, angry, covered in grease, and occasionally terrifying.” I said as Emma smiled.

“Those things can all be true, but today you look more peaceful.” She said and I glanced toward Uncle Will’s office.

“Victoria left the flowers.” I said and Emma’s expression softened.

“Your mother?” She asked.

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