had lunch ns with Melissa<b>. </b>Since she was busy, I drove to a restaurant near herw firm.
Melissa arrived in a suit, carrying a briefcase. She had <b>been </b>datingtely, had gotten softer, and looked rosy. “Sorry. I kept you <b>waiting </b>again, <b>she </b>sa with a grin <b>as </b>she slid into her seat.
I propped my chin on my hand, studying her. Melissa looked puzzled. “Have things nased up between you and your husband recently?”
I shook my head. “Nope, it’s only getting worse.
“Are you really nning to get a divorce?” Melissa asked, surprised. “He’s the CEO of a publicpany. Are you sure you want to let that go?”
Melissa, as awyer, was always rational and smart, and she understood just how much I had <b>gained </b>from this marriage. Logically, as long as Jared hadn’t pushed <b>me </b>away, I shouldn’t be thinking about divorce,
It was true. Many believed that if a woman didn’t work, she should cling tightly to her <b>marriage</b>.
In my previous life, I took that path but never <b>made </b>it work. I just ended up like a madwoman.
“Yeah, I’ve decided. I’m going to get a divorce as soon as <b>I </b><b>can</b>,” I said tly
“By the way, I dug up some stuff for you. Take a look,” Melissa said, pulling out photos. “Two years ago, when Jared’spany got listed in Aurelia, Tracy was there with him. Their rtionship is clearly more than business.”
I stared at the photos, feeling nothing, and gave her the phone back. “Thanks for digging this up, but it won’t do much.”
Melissa said bitterly, “Victoria, are you sure you’re giving up on your man and your fortune? if I were you, I would never divorce. I’d be scheming every day on how to spend his money.”
Lused to think the same. However, what <b>people </b>chose depended a lot on their situation and values. I did blow money carelessly, but just on small stuff, not like Tracy, who spent smartly, like investing
“I don’t even know how to spend money <b>properly</b>.” <b>I </b>joked bitterly. “I thought buying jewelry, clothes, and houses <b>would </b>make me happy. My garage is. full of Cullinans, Bentleys, and Porsches, yet none of it brings me joy.”
Melissa was speechless at my unintentional bragging She said, “Victoria, are you sure you don’t want this stuff? If <b>you </b>divorce Jared, none of this will be <b>yours</b>. Even if you want to drive those carster, you won’t get the chance.”
I nodded. “I’ve thought it through. What’s the point of having it all if I’m not happy?”
“You honestly don’t know how lucky you are. I’ve dreamed of a life like yours.” Melissa sighed, rubbing her forehead.
She made meugh.
Melissa asked, “Aher your divorce, you’ll be stuck living the same tough life I have. Are you
okay with that?”
“Jared should give me a portion of his money. My life won’t be that bad,” I replied, full of confidence.
Melissa said with a wicked grin, “Fine, then you can take his money and find <b>yourself </b>a few young guys.<b>” </b>
“Sounds great,” I replied, grinning.
We had a pleasant meal, and Melissa told me the and Zachary were doing well I also asked about Nathan. She <b>said </b><b>he </b>had been busy with some government projects, and his career was really taking off
Melissa rested her chin in her hand and stared <b>at </b>me nkly. “Victoria, I never <b>thought </b>a beautiful face could be a kind of resource, but now, seeing you<b>, </b>I realize beauty is something rare.
*Jared married you for your beauty. Hathan couldn’t stop thinking about you because of your isele. [bet manynorár
future, you don’t have to worry about that,”
I smiled and said, “Thanks. You’re beautiful an well.”
“No, you’re different hom other women. They all have a simr kind of beauty, but your delicate and elegant kind is rare, Melissa s
I shook my head and said, “I hope that soon, you’ll say beauty is the least impressive thing about me,”
Melissa couldn’t help butugh. “Alright, I get it. You’re a career woman now, full of ambition.”
“is ambition such a bad thing?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Melissa shrugged. “Not at all. I’ve always been pretty ambitious myself
“Ambition is just a fancy word for having big goals,” I said, smiling
Suddenly, a message popped up on my phone. It was from Clyde. He said Tracy was pregnant and <b>asked </b>if the child was Jared’s