<b>Chapter </b><b>410 </b>


    “Victoria, why are you so mad? I was just worried about you being alone and wanted to help you find someone,” Jessica blurted out, scrambling to defend herself after I hit the nail on the head.


    “Do I look desperate for a man to you? I’m divorced, and you set me up with some old guy? Why not a younger one?” I wasn’t holding back anymore–no more letting her pawn me off like this.


    “Victoria, you’re really taking my good intentions the wrong way. I just don’t want you to end up alone in the future. Young guys don’t have the money to support you, you know,” Jessica shot back, cutting right to my weak spot.


    Izily ran my fingers through my hair and said, “If things ever get that bad, I’ll just go back to my ex. At least he’s young, hof, and rich.”


    “Mr. Hob would take you back? Please, that’s hrious,” Jessica said, crossing her arms and letting out an annoyedugh.


    I shrugged. “If I feel like buttering him up, maybe. Or maybe if I mess with him a little, he’ll actuallye running back.”


    “Victoria, you really let me down. All those years of friendship, and it was all for nothing,” Jessica said, so pissed she wouldn’t even look at me.


    Warner snorted, “Ms. Murphy, with your standards, I wouldn’t dare. Go chase after your boy toy. I’m actually curious what this so–called younger guy looks like.”


    Jessica shot back, “What do you think? Just graduated college, probably doesn’t even know where he’ll be working.”


    I stood up, grabbed my bag, and pulled out 600 dors in cash, pping it on the table. “Let’s split the bill.”


    With that, I walked out, not looking back.


    But Jessica actually chased after me, grabbing my arm. “Victoria, what are you doing? Are we not friends anymore?”


    “I’m done being friends with someone who treats me like a product to be traded,” I shot back, my anger getting the better of me.


    “Warner’s really a great guy. His ex–wife ran off with his money, but he’s got a good heart,” Jessica insisted, still trying to sell me on him.


    “If he’s so great, you keep him,” I said, pushing her hand away and walking off without looking back.


    I found a quiet café and sat there by myself.


    After that blind date Jessica set up for me, it really got to me.


    In Jessica’s mind, the best I could do was a guy like Warner.


    Was a divorced woman really just someone to be tossed aside?


    Did I really not deserve to be loved or treasured anymore?


    I was feeling pretty low.


    People hustled past the window, their faces showing everything–sadness, happiness, anxiety. Everyone looked so busy.


    Where was everyone rushing off to, anyway?


    The café music was kinda gloomy, those violin notes just made me feel even worse.


    <b>I </b>zoned out, staring at the street, totally lost for a second.


    Just then, my phone buzzed. I nced <b>at </b>the screen–it was Ryan.


    I answered, and Ryan said, “Victoria, where are you? Want toe y a game with me?”


    “y what?” I asked.


    “Badminton.” Ryan replied.


    Honestly, I was feeling pretty down. Maybe working up a sweat would help me stop overthinking everything.


    “Sure, where are you? I’lle over,” I said, agreeing to meet him.


    Just as I got up, I noticed some sharp–looking businessman at the next table, streaming a major financial news segment on hisptop. When I caught the news about the failed IPO, I instinctively nced over–and, to my surprise, Nathan’s face popped up on the screen. My mind went totally nk for a second. Without thinking, I whipped out my phone and started searching for updates on Nathan’spany. Turns out their IPO in Aurelia had crashed and burned. People online were all guessing what went down–some said it was all because of same crazy shakeup with thepany’s shares. Everyone who’d been hyping up thepany was <i>now </i>gossiping about it.


    I just stood there, frozen. ‘How the hell did this happen?‘ I thought.


    ‘That guy who was always so full of life–could he really handle a blow like this?‘


    ‘What really happened?‘


    I was supposed to head back to Hachester on Friday, but it was only Thursday, and I just couldn’t wait. I had to go back and find out for myself.


    I shot Ryan a quick text, telling him something urgent hade up and I couldn’t make it. Without another thought, I rushed to my car and sped off.


    I didn’t even go home to grab anything–I just got on the highway and drove straight toward Hachester.