<b>Chapter </b><b>369 </b>


    Jared looked a bit speechless. This wasn’t something you could fix with just patience–it took way more than that.


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    “Don’t worry about work in Shaville, just focus on your job,” Jared said, still trying tofort me. “I’ll take care of Yvonne. If it really gets too much, I’ll get her a professional tutor. She said she’ll put in the effort and study hard.”


    “Okay, I trust you,” I replied, my voice calm.


    After we finished talking about Yvonne, there was a moment of silence between us.


    Jared didn’t hang up right away. Instead, he asked, “How’s it going with Nathantely? He seems pretty busy.”


    “Jared, don’t go snooping around and taking pictures of him anymore. It’s not exactly ethical,” I said, deciding to remind him.


    “I’m just worried about you…” he started.


    “If I get cheated on, that’s on me. Maybe it’s just something I have to go through. You don’t need <i>to </i>interfere<i>. </i>People have to learn from their own mistakes, right?” I knew he meant well, and I appreciated it, but having my ex–husband spy <i>on </i>my current boyfriend wasn’t exactly a good long–term n. I didn’t want to end up in a mess with both of them.


    After a long pause, Jared finally said, “Alright.”


    “I gotta go. I’m still busy,” I said, ready to end the call. There wasn’t much else to say.


    “Victoria…” Jared took a shaky breath. “The other night, I took Yvonne out, and she mistook another woman for you.”


    My chest tightened for a moment, but I forced myself to sound calm. “Really? I haven’t been back to Hachester.”


    “I know,” Jared replied, his voice rough. “I thought it was you too, but we realized it was someone else.”


    “Oh, okay. Next time I head back to Hachester, I’ll let Yvonne know first,” I said.


    With that, I hung up. It seemed like the best way to avoid any more mix–ups between them.


    Jared’s words left me feeling unsettled. Sometimes, it’s not the long, emotional speeches that shake your soul–it’s the impact of a single sentence in a moment of surprise.


    I knew Jared probably wanted to say he still couldn’t let me go, but I’m done listening to that.


    So what if he loves me? Could that ever make up for what he owed me in my previous life?


    Could it help me forget all those painful memories?


    “Ms. Murphy, someone’s here to see you…”


    A staff member hurried over, calling out to me.


    I figured it was work rted, so I set down my coffee, <b>smoothed </b>out my jacket, and headed out.


    To my surprise, standing outside was a young girl sporting a Chanel mini backpack and rocking a bold t–shirt dress.


    Her face stopped me in my tracks it was Nathan’s half sister.


    09:21 Mon, 25 Aug M


    “Hi, I’m Lily,” she greeted me with easy confidence. “Are you my brother’s friend?”


    My heart did a little flip. ‘Wait, he told her I’m just a friend?‘


    “Yeah, nice to meet you. I’m Victoria Murphy,” I said, and shook her hand.


    “Sorry for just showing up like this,” she said, her Chinese surprisingly good.


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    28


    “Is there something I can help you with?” I asked, feeling a bit uneasy about meeting Nathan’s family this way. It would’ve felt more natural if Nathan had brought her to see me himself.


    Lily smiled, lips curving up. “Just wanted to talk to you about something small. Are <i>you </i>free <i>now</i><i>? </i>There’s a café across the street- it’s not too crowded.”


    I nodded. “Sure, I’ll treat you.”


    “Thanks!” Lily beamed, her smile bright and full of youth. At twenty, she was at such an enviable age.


    Once we were inside the café, I ordered a lemonade for myself and got her an iced Americano.


    We sat down, and Lily propped her chin on her hand, studying me intently. Then she said, “You’re not the woman my brother’s been secretly in love with for years, are you?”


    AD