Chapter 16 But the calm didn't last long. Marissa's obsession didn't end with the public humiliation-it only twisted into something darker. She stopped making scenes. Instead, she started stalking. She memorized Jace's class schedule. Began lurking near his lecture halls, the library, even outside the boys' dorms. She didn't yell or cry anymore. Just stared at him with those wounded, accusing eyes, whispering the same lines over and over. "Why are you doing this to me, Jace?" "You promised you'd look out for me. Did you forget?" "I'm not leaving until you explain." Her silent, relentless presence was more disturbing than a meltdown. Jace was beyond fed up. He ignored her, walked faster, cut her off at every turn-but she always came back. One evening, after a game with his roommates, he pushed open the dorm door and was hit with a cloud of perfume that didn't belong. Marissa was sitting at his desk, fingers idly stroking the pages of an open textbook. His roommates exchanged stunned glances. The air was thick with tension and discomfort. "Dude... this is..." one of them started, obviously annoyed. Jace's expression turned thunderous. Without a word, he strode over and yanked Marissa up by the wrist. She cried out from the pain, but he didn't stop. He dragged her out of the dorm in front of his stunned roommates, down the stairs, out of the building- straight toward the campus gates. "Jace! You're hurting me! Let go!" Marissa cried, half-sobbing, half-panicked. He didn't respond. His jaw was tight, eyes cold, his whole body radiating fury. Only when they reached a deserted back alley outside campus did he finally let go, shoving her arm away. Chapter 16 72.73% Marissa clutched her reddening wrist, eyes swimming with tears. "Jace, you bastard! How can you treat me like this?!" "How could I?" he shot back, his voice cold. "That's my question, Marissa. What gives you the right to stalk me? To harass me and my friends?" "I just want an answer! I want things back the way they were!" she cried, her voice rising hysterically. "This is all because of Sloane, isn't it? If she weren't- "Even if Sloane didn't exist, it would never be you." Jace cut her off, voice hard and merciless. "Whatever 'care' I showed you before was out of obligation-because we went to the same school, because a teacher asked me to. I wasn't thinking straight, and I let it send the wrong message. But let me be clear: there is nothing between us. There never was, and there never will be." His words hit her like daggers. Marissa's face drained of color, then flushed bright red with humiliation. "You... you can't say that! You-" "I can," he interrupted, stepping closer. "Marissa, I'm done. If you keep following me, harassing me, or bothering anyone I know..." He paused, eyes narrowing as he stared her down. "I won't hesitate to document everything. How you 'accidentally' spilled juice to borrow my shirt. How you 'fell' down the stairs. Every nasty thing you've said about Sloane. I'll post it all online. I'll send it to the university administration. Your department. Your scholarship committee. Let's see how your precious recommendations and grad school plans hold up then." The color drained from Marissa's face completely. Her lips trembled. For the first time, real fear flickered in her eyes. Because she knew-Jace wasn't bluffing. All the little schemes she'd thought were clever-none of them could stand up to the truth being dragged into the light. Once exposed, the image she'd worked so hard to maintain would be shattered. Her future gone. "Jace... you wouldn't..." "I would," he stated firmly. "So drop the act. Leave. Now. And if I see you again, I won't hesitate." With that, he turned and walked away without a second glance, leaving her frozen in the cold, empty alley. Marissa stayed there for a long time before slowly sinking to the ground, burying her face in her arms. Chapter 16 72.73% Shame. Rage. Fear. It all came crashing down. But she knew it-she'd lost. Completely. Jace's words had crushed every last hope and closed every door. She might not care about dignity-but she couldn't afford to lose her future. Eventually, she stood, wiped her tears, and staggered out of the alley. Her figure was pitiful, her steps unsteady. At least for now-she wouldn't be showing up again. Chapter 16 72.73%