His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 629 Good different

Jace’s mouth had fallen open. Just slightly. Just enough.

His gaze traveled from Jay’s dark hair down to his fitted suit, then back up again. Slowly and deliberately. Like he was seeing something for the first time. His eyes lingered on the sharp line of Jay’s jaw, the way his shoulders filled out the jacket, the confidence in his stance. He looked like he was memorizing every detail, storing it away for later.

Jay wanted to laugh. Wanted to run to him. Wanted to see if those lips would stay parted if he got closer. Wanted to whisper something in his ear just to watch him shiver.

But before he could move, a group of women surrounded him.

"Sir, you look so handsome!"

"I didn’t even recognize you at first! You look like a completely different person."

Jay blinked, pulled from his Jace-induced trance. Three women stood before him, all smiles and wide eyes, their voices overlapping in excitement. They were dressed elegantly, clearly part of the celebration, clearly emboldened by the champagne in their hands.

He recovered quickly, slipping into easy charm. "Thank you, ladies. Just trying something new."

"New is good," one of them breathed. Her friend nodded vigorously, her eyes sweeping over him appreciatively.

Another leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You’re much more approachable than your brother. He’s always so intense. Brooding. Like he might murder someone if they breathe wrong."

Jay laughed, the sound light and warm. "Leo’s not so bad once you get to know him."

"I’ll take your word for it," she said, grinning. "But you, you actually look like you know how to have fun."

Across the room, Jace’s jaw tightened. His grip on his glass had turned white-knuckled. His eyes hadn’t left Jay for a second. His posture had shifted, shoulders squared, weight balanced, like a predator watching someone get too close to what was his.

Jay caught the look and bit back a smile.

One of the women touched his arm lightly. "Are you seeing anyone, or are you available for conversation tonight?"

Jay’s eyes flicked to Jace. Held. A slow smile spread across his face. "I’m very much taken."

The woman’s face fell slightly, but she recovered quickly, glancing around. "Is she here tonight? I’d love to know who managed to catch you."

Jay just smiled and didn’t say anything.

Across the room, Bella walked toward Leo.

He was still at the bar, still holding his drink, still watching her with those dark, intense eyes that made her feel like the only person in the room. The crowd seemed to part around her as she moved, conversations fading, attention shifting, heads turning, but she didn’t notice any of it. Her focus was entirely on him.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor, a steady rhythm that matched her heartbeat. Her dress swayed with each step, the midnight blue fabric catching the amber light. Her hair moved softly around her shoulders, and her red lips were curved into a small, knowing smile.

She watched him watch her.

Leo set his glass down. Pushed off the bar. Turned to face her fully.

He didn’t move to meet her. He waited. Let her come to him. Let everyone see she was his.

She stopped in front of him, close enough to touch, close enough to smell his cologne, clean and dark, familiar.

"You came," she said softly.

"I came." His voice was rough, low, meant only for her.

His eyes traced her face. Her hair. Her lips. The gold hoops at her ears. The bracelet at her wrist. The way the dress hugged her waist. Every detail. He took her in like a man who’d been starving.

"You’re beautiful," he said. It wasn’t a compliment. It was a statement. A fact.

She tilted her head, smile widening. "I know."

A sound escaped him, almost a laugh, almost a growl. His hand found her waist, fingers pressing into the blue fabric, pulling her half a step closer.

"Jay’s hair," he said, glancing briefly at his brother across the room.

"Is dark now," Bella finished. "It’s new. I think he was nervous about it."

"I noticed." Leo’s eyes came back to her. "You’re not nervous."

It wasn’t a question.

"I have nothing to be nervous about." She touched his tie, straightening it unnecessarily. "I’m exactly where I want to be."

His hand tightened on her waist.

Around them, the room continued to buzz. Conversations resumed. Music played. Glasses clinked.

"Are you going to say anything about Jay?" she asked, her fingers playing with the edge of his collar.

"Later." His thumb traced circles on her hip. "Right now I’m looking at you."

She bit her lip, cheeks flushing. "You’re always looking at me."

"You’re always worth looking at."

She laughed softly, the sound lost in the noise of the room.

From across the banquet hall, Jay was making his way toward Jace, who had retreated to a quieter corner near the windows. The women had dispersed, leaving him alone again, and he moved through the crowd with a new kind of ease, shoulders back, head high, dark hair catching the light.

He stopped a few feet away from Jace. Didn’t close the distance completely. Let the space between them hum with tension.

Jace’s voice was low, controlled. "Your hair."

Jay ran a hand through it, suddenly self-conscious. "Yeah. Too much?"

Jace didn’t answer right away. His eyes traveled over Jay’s face, his new hair, his fitted suit. The expression in his blue eyes was something Jay had never seen before, something hungry and restrained all at once.

"No," Jace said finally. His voice was rough. "Just different."

"Good different?"

Jace’s hand twitched at his side, like he wanted to reach out and touch. But he didn’t. Couldn’t. Not here, not with so many eyes around.

"Come with me," he said quietly.

Jay’s heart jumped. "Where?"

Jace didn’t answer. He turned and walked toward the door that led to the back corridor, away from the crowd, away from prying eyes.

Jay followed without hesitation.

The corridor was quiet, empty, the noise of the banquet muffled behind the heavy door. Jace stopped and turned, and suddenly they were close, close enough that Jay could see the way Jace’s chest rose and fell, the way his hands were clenched at his sides.

Jay leaned against the wall, trying to look casual, trying to hide how fast his heart was beating. "So. Thoughts?"