《Housewife Gone Wild》 Loose 1 Chapter 1 It was 2044, and I was in my fifties, counting down my final moments. Breast cancer had ravaged my body. My husband, Jared Hob, was desperately trying to save me, rushing to find the best doctors. But I was done fighting. I¡¯d stopped eating for three days, not even taking a sip of water. We¡¯d been married for thirty years, but I couldn¡¯t stand the thought ofying eyes on him onest time. In the hospice room, Iy dying, my eyes tightly closed. Suddenly, familiar footsteps grew louder¨CJared and our daughter, Yvonne, were approaching my bedside. The doctor¡¯s voice was heavy. ¡°She¡¯s stopped eating. You don¡¯t have much time left.¡± A thick silence filled the room. My remaining consciousness was fading, bit by bit. Then I heard Yvonne whisper, her voice deliberately low, ¡°Mom¡¯s about to pass. When are you going to marry Tracy?¡± Jared paused before responding, ¡°We¡¯ll see. Let¡¯s get the funeral over with first.¡± Yvonne sighed, ¡°Mom wasted her entire life. I never understood what she was holding onto. She should¡¯ve divorced years ago. All that stress just ate her alive.¡± My heart felt like it was drowning in bitterness. The reason I¡¯d stayed married was so simple¨CI wanted Yvonne to grow up in an intact family. I didn¡¯t want her to deal with inw drama when she got married someday. Now, my stubborn persistence felt like one pathetic, cruel joke. Whatever, I was about to leave this world that had torn my heart to shreds. Finally, I¡¯d be free. ¡°Quiet as she seems, she¡¯s always been stubborn,¡± Jared muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. ¡°It destroyed everything, including herself.¡± What a sharp way to sum up my life. ¡°Tracy¡¯s had it tough, hanging around without any real status. Finally, she¡¯s gonna get what she deserves,¡± Yvonne said, sounding relieved. ¡°Yeah, I owe her big time. I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her,¡± Jared replied, his voiceden with guilt. Tears streamed down my face, uncontroble. So, my years of sacrifice meant nothing to them. They only cared about the woman who¡¯d wrecked my marriage, like she¡¯d been ¡°suffering silently¡± all these years. Just then, I thought I heard a faint bell, like it was ringing far off in the distance. Exhaustion crashed over me, and I was spent and desperate for rest. All of a sudden, a bright, blinding light sliced through the dark. Dazed, I forced my eyes open. My mom¡¯s scolding voice drifted in. ¡°Victoria, still sleeping? Yvonne¡¯s gonna be out of school soon.¡± I shot to my feet and spun around. There, standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, was my mom¨Cwho¡¯d been gone for years¨Cgathering up the curtains. Outside, the sun zed bright, and the garden was lush with green. ¡°Still half¨Casleep? Time to pick up Yvonne.¡± Mom walked over, yfully tapping my arm. ¡°Were you upte reading romance novels again? I¡¯ve told you not to mess up your sleep. I¡¯m still waiting for you and Jared to give me another grandkid.¡± 1/3 Chapter ¡°Mom¡­ The brightness faded, and there she was. I grabbed her hand, felt its warmth, and clung to it like it was my lifeline. ¡°Is it really you? How¡¯d you get here?¡± Mom looked startled, pulling back slightly and touching my forehead. ¡°Sweetie, did you have some crazy dream? You said you were bored and asked me to stay for a few days. I took the car you sent¨Chere I am.¡± Her words clicked into ce like a key turning in a lock. Just after Memorial Day in 2014, Mom had taken some time off, and I¡¯d had the driver bring her from our hometown to Hachester, wanting herpany. I wondered if I¡­ ¡°Knock it off,¡± Mom said, Mom said, shooing me out of my thought. ¡°Go get Yvonne. Jared¡¯s on his way home for supper, and I need to fire up that salmon before he walks in.¡± She spun on her heel and ttered downstairs. I panted, ncing around. This was the vi Jared had bought after we got married. It was 2014, and Yvonne was six, in herst year of kindergarten. Jared was from Hachester, born into a family with their own business. As the eldest son, he¡¯d been running thepany pretty well¨Ceveryone always said I¡¯d hit the jackpot marrying a guy who was this young, handsome, and sessful. I walked out to the balcony. The sun warmed my skin, and I wondered¨Chad I time¨Ctraveled? Did fate take pity on me, seeing how I¡¯d wasted my first life? Was this a do¨Cover, or just another shot at screwing things up? Not far away, a couple of guys were ying tennis on themunity court, that easy, carefree vibe of being young just pouring off them. I rested my chin in my hand, watching. After a while, I let out augh. It seemed all those prayers at the churches actually worked. I took a deep breath and checked the time¡ª3:40 PM. Normally, as a stay¨Cat¨Chome mom, I¡¯d now be heading out to pick Yvonne up, a 30¨Cminute drive from the vi. But today, I felt like cking off. Yvonne was my kid, but picking her up wasn¡¯t just my job. I pulled out my phone and called Jared. His young, crisp voice answered, ¡°What¡¯s up? You on your way to get Yvonne?¡± I flopped back onto the couch, feigning a weak tone. ¡°Ugh, my stomach¡¯s been acting up. Can you pick her up instead?¡± Jared¡¯s voice tightened. ¡°I¡¯ve got a meeting. Can your mom do it?¡± ¡°She¡¯s busy cooking. You know I can¡¯t handle raw fish,¡± I said casually. I knew him¨Cif I didn¡¯t go, he¡¯d find a way. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll send someone,¡± Jared said and hung up quickly. I stood up and walked to the closet. The mirror caught me¨Ca young woman in a rxed, flowy dress. Back then, Jared wasn¡¯t really into me for my personality. He was attracted to my looks, my body¨Che¡¯d say I was hot, spirited, even a bit wild. Crazy, right? A guy as smart and put¨Ctogether as Jared could be so superficial. Jared was basically a gentleman. Ever since we started dating, he¡¯d always been polite¨Cnever raised his voice or picked fights. He worked things out with words, never gave me the cold shoulder, and didn¡¯t have any nasty guy habits. He could always keep his cool and solve problems like they were no big deal. On our wedding night, he¡¯d had some drinks before he stepped into the room. One look at me in that mermaid gown and his eyes burned with desire. Still, he asked nicely if I was okay with that. I looked up to him, practically worshipped him, so I just nodded. Even though he hadn¡¯t got all wild like most guys might, that night, I became his woman, just like I¡¯d hoped. I¡¯d been so hopeful, dreaming of a happy life with him¨Cliving together day in and day out, him working, me taking care of home. However, dreams and reality never mixed. There was always a line between them. By our fifth year of marriage, he cheated. Her name was Tracy Darwin¨Chis assistant, his go¨Cto, his right¨Chand woman. He said she was his main support, the one who had his back when he was up against rivals. He couldn¡¯t live without her. They¡¯d been together over a year by now. In my previous life, I was still in the dark at this point. This time, I decided to let him go and finally set myself free. I was gonna live by that line I saw online: [Anyway, he¡¯s the only one paying your bills without wanting your body in return.] Loose 2 Chapter 2 I had been so small¨Cminded in my precious life. Now, I saw things clearer. I didn¡¯t need to prove I was pretty or that I¡¯d always be loved¨Cwhat a stupid waste of time. Luckily, I¡¯d got looks to spare. Those looks I got from people made that crystal clear. But beauty was just one thing I¡¯d got going for me. Last time around, I¡¯d been stuck on all that nonsense¨Cguys fawning over me, girls jealous as hell. But now, that whole mindset felt like a fragile bubble. One tiny touch, and it burst. Now that I got a second shot at life, I knew being pretty should be just one card in my deck. Power, money, and respect were the real game¨Cchangers. Fairness wouldn¡¯t just fall into myp, and I needed the skills and brains to take on the world. I already lived through that nightmare of a previous life. From now on, I was keeping it simple: no drama, no tears. After staring at myself for what felt like forever, I stripped off my casual dress and headed into the bathroom. In those five years of marriage, I¡¯d been all about being the perfect wife. To keep Jared from worrying, I¡¯d long since packed away or straight¨Cup tossed¨Call those revealing outfits. Every time I went shopping, I only looked for modest pieces that screamed ¡°good girl.¡± My body was still killer¨Cwith that ssic married woman¡¯s soft, smooth look. Even a simple fitted dress could showcase my killer curves. Why would I waste this perfect figure? The sky was turning dark, and a sleek SUV rolled up to the gate. I figured it was Warner, Jared¡¯s driver, dropping off Yvonne. But nope¨Cit was Jared himself. He opened the back door, and Yvonne dragged her backpack into the living room. Spotting me on the couch, she hurled the backpack at me and yelled, ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you pick me up? You promised you¡¯d be on time every day.¡± Looking at my little girl¨Cso young, yet so quick to fly off the handle¨CI knew I¡¯d spoiled her rotten. She stared at me with that demanding look, like a princess ordering around her hardworking maid. Jared stepped in, scowling. Barely thirty, he already had that CEO vibe. Dressed in a sharp suit, he looked like a total power yer straight out of a romance novel. I¡¯d loved him so much I¡¯d lost myself in my previous life. But now, he was just a lover of yesterday, totally dead to me. ¡°I never wanna talk to you again,¡± Yvonne shrieked at me. ¡°You¡¯re a terrible mom.¡± I shot up and cornered her at the bottom of the stairs. I grabbed her cor, making sure she couldn¡¯t bolt. Yvonne thrashed, eyes wide, pure disbelief and fury zing out like she could torch me with a look. ¡°Pick up your backpack,¡± I said, calm but hard. ¡°NO!¡± she yelled right back. I lifted my hand. Yvonne squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the hit. ¡°Victoria, Jared called, his voice low. I turned and locked eyes with him. He hurried over, picked up the backpack, and led the fuming Yvonne upstairs. Themotion brought Mom out of the kitchen. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is that Yvonne crying?¡± she asked. I walked over to her. ¡°Yeah, I was just disciplining her. She was acting out.¡± Mom looked disapproving. ¡°She¡¯s just a kid.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why she needs to learn who¡¯s in charge,¡± I said. My voice came out cold as ice. Mom gave me a few weird looks. She must feel it strange. Yvonne had been my entire world, and I¡¯d never even raised my voice to her. When she threw a tantrum, I¡¯d spend hours trying to calm her down, usually giving in to whatever she wanted in the end. But now, I was done being patient. Coddling an ungrateful kid was just a waste of my time. After all, she¡¯d end up fawning over her stepmom instead of me. Then I went help Mom cook dinner. There was no live¨Cin maid in the house; I¡¯d always handled the cooking myself. Only a cleaning crew swept through every three days, and awn guy would swing by regrly to keep the yard in check. I¡¯d wanted to be a perfect wife¨Ckeep the house running like a well¨Coiled machine, so Jared¡¯d see how hard I was trying, Maybe then, he¡¯d say something good about me when he talked to other people. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m heading to the housekeeping agency tomorrow,¡± I said while rinsing veggies. Mom stirred a pan on the stove and gave me a puzzled look. ¡°Why? Gonna rece the cleaner?¡± ¡°Nah. I¡¯m nning to hire two full¨Ctime maids for our ce,¡± I replied casually. ¡°Huh?¡± Mom¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°This house isn¡¯t that much work. Cooking,undry, picking up the kid¨Ccan¡¯t you handle that?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m a wealthy man¡¯s wife now. I¡¯m done with cleaning floors.¡± Iughed, but my tone was serious. ¡°Families like ours typically have three or four full¨Ctime housekeepers. Why should I break my back? I can afford it.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Mom began, then quickly turned back to the stove as the food in the pan started to sizzle and nearly burn. Mom and I whipped up five dishes and a soup. After setting the table, she nudged me. ¡°Go call Jared and Yvonne. Dinner¡¯s getting cold.¡± I headed upstairs right away. In the kids¡® room, I found Yvonne still crying, holding a small pair of scissors. She was cutting up photos of herself and me, shredding my pictures and leaving only hers intact. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I was shocked. Just a little scolding, and she was out here destroying our pictures¨Cthis kid was truly heartless. ¡°I don¡¯t want you as my mom.¡± She red up, fire in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so mean. You yelled at me.¡± I looked down at her. Whatever little maternal warmth I had fizzled out. ¡°Fine. If not me, then who?¡± I asked, my voice calm. Fuming, Yvonne blurted out, ¡°I want Tracy to be my mom. She¡¯s so nice to me, not like you. You didn¡¯t pick me up, lied, and even raised your voice at me. I hate you!¡± 1 didn¡¯t expect her to mention Tracy and wanted to dig deeper. Just then, Jared¡¯s stern voice came from outside the door. ¡°Yvonne, stop talking nonsense.¡± Spotting Jared, who had just gotten off his call, Yvonne dropped the scissors right away, darted into his arms, and clung to him, sniffling. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want her as my mom. She yelled at me.¡± Jared¡¯s gaze snapped to me. For a split second, his eyes went wide¨Cshocked. I knew why. I was wearing this tightce minidress, the kind that shows off my back. My figure¨Cslim, with skin tender as cream¨Cwas out there for anyone to see. Loose 3 Chapter 3 Jared seemed ufortable with my outfit. He probably thought my clothes were totally inappropriate¨Cno decent woman would wear something so revealing and sexy. ¡°Honey, Yvonne just said she wants Tracy to be her mom. Who¡¯s this Tracy?¡± I asked, feigning curiosity as I stepped up to him. Jared nced down at Yvonne, his face tight. ¡°She¡¯s just rambling,¡± he told me. ¡°Don¡¯t take it seriously. Let¡¯s go downstairs and eat.¡± This was unexpected. Jared was actually trying to cover things up. I remembered how I discovered Tracy in my previous life¨Ctotally by chance when I ran into him at a private room, drinking and chatting with his friends. I¡¯d been excited, ready to pop in and say hi. But right outside the door, I overheard a man asking Jared when he nned to divorce me and give Tracy an official status. Jared had said he wasn¡¯t considering divorce because of Yvonne. The guy pressed, ¡°So you¡¯re just gonna string Tracy along? C¡¯mon, you¡¯ve lost all love in your marriage anyway. Divorce seems like a good option.¡± Jared took a drag, crushed his cigarette out, and said, ¡°Victoria¡¯s not my dream wife, but she¡¯s the kid¡¯s mom. As long as she stays in line and learns to live with Tracy, I won¡¯t leave her.¡± Back then, I just froze outside that door. Never in a million years would I have guessed my husband could brush me off that easily¨Cjust the kid¡¯s mom, not his wife. He was only keeping me around out of pity because I¡¯d given him a child, not because he saw me as his wife. I had stood there, numb, listening to him go on, ¡°She¡¯s good¨Clooking, which makes me look good when we¡¯re out. Plus, she takes care of the house without creating drama, exactly the kind of wife my parents want me to have.¡± Snapping back to reality, I trailed behind Jared and Yvonne as they headed downstairs. Mom was getting dinner ready for them,dling out soup she¡¯d been simmering for hours. Jared was as sweet to Mom as he¡¯d always been¨Cnoints there. ¡°Grandma,¡± Yvonne piped up, pouting, ¡°how¡¯d you have a daughter this mean? Can you take her back?¡± I¡¯d just reached the top of the stairs. Without waiting for Mom to respond, I shot back coldly, ¡°If people could return kids, you¡¯d be first. Bet on it?¡± My words must¡¯ve sounded pretty scary. Yvonne flinched and scrambled to huddle closer to Jared. Jared shot me a disapproving look. ¡°Victoria, what¡¯s your deal today? Why do you keep picking on Yvonne? She¡¯s your daughter¨Cthe one you carried for ten months. Can¡¯t you see how much you¡¯re hurting her?¡± I sat down, grabbed the soup bowl, and took a bite. ¡°She started it. And for your info, I¡¯m my mom¡¯s perfect girl. But your daughter told my mom she wishes I had never been born. I can¡¯t get mad?¡± Mom jumped in, smiling to smooth things over. ¡°Jared, Victoria¡¯s just fired up. Don¡¯t take it hard. Yvonne, here¨Cc chicken wings. Your favorite.¡± Yvonne pushed her te away. ¡°No.¡± I snagged it right up. ¡°I¡¯ll take ¡®em, Mom. Love these.¡± Mom sensed the sudden absence of my maternal warmth and just shook her head with a sigh. Jared patiently helped Yvonne finish her dinner. As I was stuffed, I turned to him. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about hiring two live¨Cin servants to help take care of Yvonne. What do you think?¡± Jared looked a little surprised but didn¡¯t push back. ¡°You handle the house stuff however you want. Fine by me.¡± ¡°Why servants?¡± Yvonne blinked, looking innocent. ¡°Aren¡¯t you my servant, Mom? Don¡¯t you want to take care of me anymore?¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m tired and need a break. Plus, I want to take a short trip. Staying cooped up at home¡¯s driving me nuts.¡± ¡°Trip?¡± Jared frowned. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s in school. Where are you going?¡± I held out my hand, ncing at my smooth nails. ¡°Chill out. It¡¯s not far¨Cjust a quick escape nearby.¡± ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want Mom to leave. I still need her to drive me to and from school,¡± Yvonne whined. Just moments ago, she¡¯d been shooting me death res, but that attitude disappeared the instant she heard I was heading out. She slid off Jared¡¯sp andtched onto my leg. ¡°Mom, even though you scolded me earlier, I¡¯m not mad. Let¡¯s make up, okay?¡± Looking at my clever little girl, I could already see Jared in her. At her age, she¡¯d picked up his best and worst¨Csharp, quick, knowing exactly how to read a room and y her cards. In my previous life, I¡¯d praised her for being ¡°smart¡± and ¡°thoughtful.¡± But the truth was, I was a total failure as a mom. I dropped the ball with her character; she didn¡¯t show me an ounce of respect. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not angry,¡± I said with a t tone. ¡°But sweetheart, you¡¯re about to start elementary school. You¡¯re a big girl now. It¡¯s time to learn to do things by yourself¨Cstop relying on everyone else.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m still little,¡± Yvonne said, batting her eyshes and pouting. ¡°I need you. And I¡¯ll love you¡ªpromise¡ªif you stop getting on my case.¡± I smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m tough on you because I care. I don¡¯t want you developing bad habits. Trust me, nobody likes a bratty kid.¡± Jared gave me a look that suggested I was being too harsh. ¡°Take it easy,¡± he said, frowning. ¡°She¡¯s just a kid.¡± ¡°Six is old enough to know better. Remember when she cut up our photos?¡± I shot back. ¡°Yvonne, you can say sorry, and I¡¯ll forgive you. But those photos are gone forever.¡± I pried her off my leg. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. Got friends to meet.¡± Mom, still picking at her food, looked up. ¡°Who are you meeting? It¡¯s gettingte; where are you off to?¡± ¡°Movie night,¡± I grinned, grabbed my bag, and headed for the door to slip on my shoes. All the shoes by the entry were boring¨Cnone of them had the oomph to match my curves. It bugged me for no reason. In the end, I dug through the bunch and picked out a pair of silver kitten heels. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re wearing?¡± Jared suddenly asked, stepping up beside me. Loose 4 Chapter 4 I looked back at Jared. It had been years since he¡¯d cared about me. Honestly, I wanted tough. I knew he wasn¡¯t worried about me¨Che was worried about how his wife would look. ¡°Got an issue?¡± I shot back, no more staying quiet. Jared scowled, clearly pissed. But he didn¡¯t argue¨Che¡¯d tolerate anything until it threatened his precious bottom line. ¡°Nah. Just don¡¯t stay out toote,¡± he replied, turning and heading upstairs. Behind me, Mom was still fussing over Yvonne at the table, cooing ¡°sweetie¡± while shoveling bites into her mouth. I shook my head, feeling defeated. I wouldn¡¯t stop anyone from taking care of Yvonne. But I couldn¡¯t love her like a typical mom anymore. I stepped outside, jingling my car keys. Jared had given me a silver Mercedes¨CBenz E¨Css years ago, but the garage had better options. I usually drove the Bentley to pick up Yvonne from school, because it looked more impressive. I fired up the engine, floored the gas, and drove into the dark night. I¡¯d made ns with an old college friend, Melissa Jenkins, awyer who was single and had been hustling in the city for years. Not long ago, she¡¯d bought a new ce and asked me over to warm it up. But that day, Yvonne had gotten deathly sick- throwing up, diarrhea, the whole mess. I¡¯d stayed up all night with her. When Jared rolled in, he¡¯d tore into me for taking Yvonne to the mall yground, iming that was where she had caught the virus. To make up for missing Melissa¡¯s housewarming, I¡¯d asked Melissa out tonight. She rushed over, briefcase in tow, her face registering total disbelief. I held out a small blue box. ¡°Missed your housewarming. This is my make¨Cgood.¡± Melissa opened it and peeked inside¡ªa gold bracelet gleamed back at her. ¡°Oh my God, Victoria, you¡¯re so awesome!¡± she squealed, quickly sping the bracelet on her wrist. After a moment, she added, ¡°But this is way too much. I can¡¯t ept this.¡± She started to yank it off, though her eyes betrayed how much she loved it. I caught her hand. ¡°If we¡¯re still friends, keep it.¡± Tears glistened in Melissa¡¯s eyes as she pulled me into a tight hug. ¡°Thank you, Victoria. I love it.¡± After she pulled back, I pulled out two movie tickets. ¡°Wanna go watch a movie with me?¡± Melissa¡¯s eyes widened, a yful smirk tugging at her lips. ¡°Whoa, sudden ns? Did your husband and kid finally give you a day pass?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need their permission. I run my own life now,¡± I said with a confident smile. In my previous life, I¡¯d lived a suppressed and gutless existence¨Calways looking busy, but achieving nothing. I never even made time for myself. ¡°For real?¡± Melissa stared at me, her face a mix of shock and excitement. ¡°Well, I love seeing you like this. It¡¯s just like the old you.¡± 1 nodded. ¡°Me too.¡± As we walked into the theater, Melissa reached out and brushed a hand over my back. I turned to look at her. She raised her hands, grinning. ¡°Sorry. Your back looks amazing. I had to check it out. But seriously, when did you start dressing like this? You¡¯re usually so buttoned up.¡± I smiled, pressing my lips together. ¡°Do I look good in this?¡± Melissa leaned in, whispering in my ear. ¡°Half the guys here are about to trip over themselves. Your back is so damn tempting.¡± I almostughed out loud. Some things never changed¨CMelissa was still the same jokester she was back in the day. ¡°Let them stare.¡± I dropped my voice too, rambling. ¡°Heard some big shot say¡ªif you¡¯re pretty, you gotta go out and let people look. Otherwise, it¡¯s such a waste.¡± Melissa teased, ¡°Jared cool with that?¡± Her tone sounded like his mood was the be¨Call¨Cend¨Call of my life. I scoffed, ¡°A guy who controls what his wife wears was a total loser.¡± Melissa burst outughing, drawing weird looks from everyone around us. She quickly covered her mouth, ring at me. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. Now I look like a total weirdo.¡± I passed her a bucket of popcorn. ¡°Here. Stuff it.¡± I didn¡¯t pay much attention to the movie, while Melissa ate it up¨Ceyes wide, totally invested. I leaned back in my seat, propping my chin on my hand. Finally, I had a moment to process this whole time¨Ctravel thing. I was back to twenty¨Csix¨Cyoung enough to turn things around. And there was only one path for me: making something of myself. Right now, I was a wealthy housewife with money, time, and looks. In my,previous life, I thought this was the ultimate goal for a woman, and I was totally satisfied, never pushing myself further. Every day, I¡¯d focus on taking care of my daughter and dream about giving Jared a son who¡¯d be just as sessful and charming as him. I clung to the fantasy of relying on my husband when young and my son when old. But ever since Tracy showed up, Jared and I barely had any intimacy¨Chardly a handful of times the entire year. Yet, I was young and had strong physical needs. Every month during ovtion, I¡¯d silently beg for him toe home, feeling like a desperate, starving animal. When he dide home, he¡¯d nce right past my sexy outfits, head to his study, and stay there till midnight. Then he¡¯d crash in the guest room. I¡¯d tossed and turned in bed, dying to burst into his bedroom. Jared had been a gentle, refined man with a low sex drive. But when we did have sex, it wouldst around an hour. He¡¯d given me just enough to keep me hoping. However, the less we did it, the more intense my desire became. When it got unbearable, I¡¯d take care of myself, only to feel even more empty. ¡°Victoria, your phone¡¯s ringing.¡± Melissa¡¯s voice pulled me out of the haze. I nced at the buzzing phone¨Cit was Jared. I tossed it back into my bag and said casually, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be interrupted during the movie.¡± Melissa¡¯s eyes bugged, and she reminded me again, ¡°Victoria, that¡¯s Jared.¡± I propped my chin on my hand, my eyes on the screen. ¡°I know. Not answering.¡± Melissa¡¯s jaw dropped. She stared at me, looking me up and down like she couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. It made sense she was so shocked. In my previous life, I¡¯d treated Jared¡¯s calls like royalmands. Miss one, and I¡¯d feel like a traitor. But after all the mind games and lonely nights, I was done with his mands¡± for good. The phone rang for a bit, then went quiet. Soon after, a text came through. Jared said Yvonne had a stomachache and needed to go to the hospital, asking when I coulde back. Loose 5 Chapter 5 I knew Yvonne was faking her stomachache to manipte Jared and me. She was young, but already such a schemer, and had totally yed me for a fool in my previous life. I texted Jared back: [Take her to the hospital yourself.] Then I tossed my phone aside and turned back to the movie¡¯s ending. Jared didn¡¯t bug me after that. When the credits rolled, a couple of guys pushed their way towards me. One bumped into me, and his face went bright red. Melissa was about to give them an earful, but I squeezed her hand gently and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The guy stammered an apology, smacked his friend, and they hightailed it out of there. Melissa grinned and nudged me. ¡°Guess pretty girls make guys go brain¨Cdead. Victoria, Jared¡¯s seriously lucky. Bet the second heid eyes on your face and body, he was dying to get you into bed, huh?¡± My cheeks heated up¨CI was the one dying for it. Too embarrassed to say that, I just smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ll get it when you have a boyfriend.¡± ¡°Get what?¡± Melissa blinked. ¡°Time passes, and even the hottest girl stops turning her man¡¯s head eventually. Don¡¯t pour your whole heart into love,¡± I said softly. ¡°I get it. Lately, I¡¯ve been handling several divorce cases. Those wives are all stunners, and yet the guys still strayed. Can you believe that?¡± Melissa bit the words out. I let out a bitterugh. ¡°Don¡¯t pin too much hope on men.¡± Melissa must¡¯ve picked up on something, her face etched with concern as she asked, ¡°Jared¡­ has affairs?¡± At that point, Jared had just started dating Tracy, and hardly anyone knew about it. As his wife, I didn¡¯t want word getting out. Though I no longer cared about him, I had to save my face. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± I said. I got back homete, and yet the living room light was still on. My mom was pacing around the living room with Yvonne on her back. Yvonne was half¨Casleep but perked up when she heard the car. She slid off Mom¡¯s back and darted to the door, waiting for me. My mom walked over to coax her. ¡°Honey, let me help you get to bed. Your mom still needs to take a shower.¡± ¡°Not Grandma; I want Mommy,¡± Yvonne whined, shoving my mom away. ¡°Grandma, go upstairs and sleep. Leave me alone.¡± I parked the car and walked into the living room. Yvonne bolted over andtched onto my leg. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re home sote. Were you cheating?¡± I smacked her lightly. ¡°Who taught you to say that garbage?¡± Yvonne clutched her cheek, tears spilling over. ¡°You hit me?¡± she sniffled, lips trembling as she stepped back. Then she turned and ran upstairs, sobbing like her heart was broken. Mom looked shocked, ncing between me and the stairs. ¡°Victoria, why did you snap at her the moment you walked in? She was waiting for you. Go easy on her.¡± I smiled at Mom. ¡°Did you hear her? A kid that age saying stuff like that? She needs a little discipline, and then she¡¯ll learn.¡± ¡°She probably picked it up from the TV. She¡¯s too little to know what ¡®cheating¡® even means,¡± Mom said, sounding stern. ¡°Kids have feelings too, you know. pping her will just hurt her. Don¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡°Got it, Mom. It¡¯s ¨Cgo to bed.¡± I said it like I meant it. But deep down, I knew Yvonne¡¯s upbringing needed a total reset. Better she resented me or ignored me now than for me to pour out all my love, only to get betrayal and hatred in return. I climbed the stairs. Jared was at the top, holding a sobbing Yvonne. It looked like he¡¯d been waiting just for me. I stopped in my tracks, tilting my head to look up at the father¨Cdaughter duo. A faint smile yed on my lips, but it didn¡¯t reach my eyes. ¡°What, she¡¯s been spinning stories again?¡± ¡°Daddy, my cheek hurts so bad,¡± Yvonne whimpered, clinging tight to Jared¡¯s neck. With a pitiful pout, she used me, ¡°Mom¡¯s trying to kill me, isn¡¯t she?¡± I continued climbing. ¡°If a little p could kill you, then you¡¯re just wasting oxygen.¡± ¡°Victoria, we need to talk,¡± Jared said. Then he set Yvonne down, crouching tofort her. ¡°Go to your room. I¡¯ll be there in a minute to read you a bedtime story.¡± With Jared coddling her, Yvonne shot me a snooty re, then stomped into her bedroom and mmed the door. I didn¡¯t follow Jared to his study. Instead, I went straight to our bedroom, sat at the vanity, and started removing my earrings. I was wearing a sleek, tight dress. My thick, long hair cascaded down my back¨Cno styling, no fancy updo, just natural loose curls that exuded an effortless charm and allure. Maybe Jared had got tired of me. In my previous life, I¡¯d tried so hard to be sweet, but he¡¯d just brush me off, saying he was worn out from work and needed to crash early. I sat on the white chair, looking sultry and confident. ncing back over my shoulder, I caught him staring off into space. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± I asked. ¡°Why did you hit Yvonne today? She¡¯s just a little kid. Even if she did something wrong, a few words would¡¯ve been enough. You don¡¯t hit a child in the face¨Cshe has feelings too, you know.¡± I let out a small ¡°Hmm,¡± then stood up. Leaning back against the vanity with my hands braced behind me, I met his gaze. ¡°Guess you didn¡¯t hear what she said to me.¡± ¡°No matter what she said-¡± ¡°She said I came homete because I was cheating.¡± I cut him off, a faint smile ying on my lips. ¡°Honey, cheating¡¯s no small thing. If that gets out, it¡¯ll trash both our reputations.¡± Jared¡¯s frown deepened. The word ¡°cheating¡± clearly struck a nerve¨Chis face darkened. After all, he was the one who was cheating. Still, he made excuses for her. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s little; she doesn¡¯t get what that means.¡± I held up my hands. They used to be slim and elegant, but years of constant work had worn them down. I stared at my fingers, my voice steady. ¡°She¡¯s already acting out at her age. ¡°If I don¡¯t get her under control now, she¡¯ll be a total nightmare when she¡¯s older. If you think my approach is too harsh, why don¡¯t you try raising her?¡± 2/3 Jared got mad at my dodging the me instead of owning up. ¡°Victoria, what are you even saying? She¡¯s your daughter. It¡¯s your job to raise her right.¡± I nodded. ¡°I get that. When I¡¯m disciplining her, stay out of it. You can be the fun dad, and I¡¯ll be the strict mom. Just don¡¯t criticize me¨CI don¡¯t want her to resent me.¡± Jared froze. For the first time, his perfectly handsome face looked rattled. Realizing he couldn¡¯t win the argument, he turned to leave. ¡°Go take a shower,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll be in after I tuck Yvonne in.¡± I paused. He said he¡¯d ¡°be in¡°? Was that supposed to be some kind of favor to me? Loose 6 Chapter 6 Jared came in while I was showering. By the time I stepped out in my pajamas, he was already sitting on his side of the bed in his pajamas, flipping through a book. The soft rustle of pages was the only sound breaking the silence. I sat down at the vanity and began my skincare routine, taking my time. I nced over the desk, mentally noting what I needed to pick up the next day. After about ten minutes, Jared called from the bed, ¡°You ready?¡± I finished thering on moisturizer, then walked over and climbed into bed. Jared set his book aside, turned off the overhead light, and left on the littlemp by the bed. The soft, dim light created an intimate, almost sensual atmosphere. One of his hands reached over, resting on my chest. Then, in his usual polite, graceful way, he asked, ¡°This okay?¡± I¡¯d been waiting for this. I met his gaze, my expression serious. ¡°I¡¯m beat today. Maybe next time.¡± His hand froze. After what felt like forever, he pulled it back. ¡°Sure.¡± Funny enough, despite the tension, I fell asleep quickly. No crazy, jumbled thoughts¡ªjust a deep, solid sleep. My rm woke me up the next morning. Jared was already gone. I shook off the sleepiness, got dressed, and headed out. Right by the door, I heard Yvonne whining, ¡°Dad, drive me to school. I don¡¯t want her to take me. I¡¯m still mad at her.¡± Jared sighed, ¡°Yvonne, she¡¯s your mom.¡± ¡°But she hit me! What kind of mom does that to her kid?¡± Yvonne shot back, sharp as ever. ¡°She did it to teach you a lesson,¡± Jared said. ¡°She didn¡¯t mean it. It hurt her, too.¡± ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t care. You have to drive me, Dad,¡± Yvonne insisted, digging her heels in. Jared had always been a pushover with her and could never say no. So he gave in, saying, ¡°Okay,e with me.¡± Yvonne grabbed her backpack and trotted after him down the stairs. I hid by the door, listening until I heard them head downstairs. Then I decided to stay put. They grabbed breakfast to eat in the car, and only then did Ie down. I watched their car drive away, thinking to myself, ¡®Good. Those two can stick together. Just stay out of my way! I had two things to do today: hire two solid servants to handle the house, and find a detective to snap pics of Jared and Tracy cheating¨CI needed solid proof for the divorce, especially when we split our assets. In my first life, I never cared much about money. I always had a few million in my bank ount, but I never bought luxury items or treated myself¡ªI just yed the perfect housewife, saving every penny like it was my full¨Ctime job. But now, I realized I needed to hold onto that cash. The more, the better. Mom came with me to the agency. We interviewed three rounds of candidates before selecting two servants we liked. That afternoon, I took Mom downtown shopping and went all out buying her things. She lookedpletely overwhelmed. On the drive home, she wouldn¡¯t let up. ¡°Victoria, Jared¡¯s money isn¡¯t free. How could you spend like that? Twenty grand on a scarf? Is it woven with gold? That¡¯s crazy.¡± Just enjoy it. Consider it as my precious love for you,¡± I said softly, my chest tight. She¡¯d always been such an amazing. loving mom. In my first life, she hadn¡¯t lived much longer. Now, I wanted her to have it all. ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± she argued. ¡°I know you¡¯ve got money, and you¡¯re sweet to think of me. But I¡¯m old. I don¡¯t need fancy things. ¡°Put your energy into Jared and Yvonne. Make your marriage work. Have a healthy baby boy soon, and that¡¯s the best gift you could give me.¡± My mom was stuck in that old¨Cschool mindset¨Cshe was totally obsessed with having a grandson. In my previous life, I¡¯d tried everything, downing herbal medicines and seeing countless doctors, desperate to get pregnant quickly. But Jared barely paid any attention to me. So, I never had another kid, not even as I got older. In this life, no way I was having a son for him. I turned to Mom, my voice t. ¡°I already have Yvonne. That proves I can have kids.¡± ¡°Of course you can. You¡¯re both young. Jared¡¯s the oldest son, running thepany now. If he doesn¡¯t have a son, people will talk behind his back. He must want a boy,¡± Mom insisted. She was totally stressed, worried that without a son, my position in the family would be at risk. But I figured if Jared wanted a boy, Tracy would give him one. I was not wasting a second on that. All I cared about was finding proof he was cheating. Then I¡¯d push for a divorce and get my share of the assets. With money, looks, and youth on my side, I¡¯d definitely live my best life. I didn¡¯t want to pick a fight with Mom or upset her. So I switched gears. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re leaving the day after tomorrow? Why not stay a little longer?¡± Mom sighed, ¡°I can¡¯t leave your dad and brother alone. As long as I know you¡¯re doing okay, I¡¯m good.¡± She¡¯d always been a worrier, always putting family first. I could tell her mind was made up, so I didn¡¯t push to make her stay. But when she left, I secretly slipped a million¨Cdor gift card into her bag. Lately, Jared hadn¡¯t been home, and Yvonne was nowhere to be found¨Cno calls, no messages. But this time, I didn¡¯t even bother checking in, unlike in my previous life. Back then, if I¡¯d lost track of them, I¡¯d have feltpletely lost, desperately calling and texting to find them. I cleared out all the clothes I¡¯d never liked¡ªeither throwing them away or donating them. The shoes in the cab that weren¡¯t my style got the same treatment. I reced everything with a new collection. The two servants had moved in¨Cone handled cleaning, the other cooking¡ªand suddenly my days became easier. But I was done going through the motions. I decided to get my professional skills back on track, start a new chapter, and go back to work. I¡¯d studied hotel management in college. Dancing and violin were hobbies my parents had invested in for me. Then I got married, had a kid, and gotfortable¨Cdropped everything. Now, I was picking it all back up. I hired a tutor to brush up on my skills. And my Englysian was pretty rusty. It was the globalnguage, so I was determined to nail it¨Cfor future travel, maybe even moving abroad. Last time, I gave Melissa a gold bracelet. She felt like she owed me and insisted on taking me out to a fancy dinner, I¡¯d agreed, so here I was. ¡°Whoa, this dress was made just for you. Stunning!¡± Melissa gushed when she saw me walk over. I¡¯d heard that purple exuded a unique charm, so I¡¯d chose a form¨Cfitting purple slip dress¨Coff¨Cthe¨Cshoulder, a little bit of back showing. A dainty tinum ne and swan earrings finished the look. I always knew what kind of woman caught a man¡¯s eye¨Cthat subtle, effortless allure. Finally, I was leaning into it. Melissa led me inside, and suddenly, she grabbed my hand. ¡°Victoria, let¡¯s go to another restaurant.¡± But I already saw what she was trying to hide. By the window sat Jared with Yvonne, and beside them was Tracy in a beige business suit. Loose 7 Chapter 7 Melissa was way more panicked than I was. She gripped my hand, terrified I¡¯d make a scene. After all, Jared was a big¨Cshot executive. She probably figured if we caused a public embarrassment, I¡¯d end up regretting it. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m so sorry. I¨CI had no clue¡­¡± Melissa stammered, worried I might do something crazy. I patted her hand gently and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Where¡¯s our table? Let¡¯s go sit.¡± Melissa¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief¨Cmy calm must¡¯ve thrown her off. ¡°Victoria¡­¡± she started, then trailed off. I gave a cool smile. ¡°I know that woman. She¡¯s Jared¡¯s assistant, Tracy. No big deal.¡± Melissa peeked over quickly, let out a breath, and led me to our table. Maybe my dress¨Cpart innocent, part sexy¨Cwas too eye¨Ccatching, but Jared spotted me right away. And plenty of guys around us couldn¡¯t help but look up at me, too. ¡°Mom!¡± Yvonne suddenly stood up and called out. I turned and waved, but she didn¡¯t budge. Instead, she nced right at Tracy beside her. Tracy looked over at me. Then she reached out, brushing Yvonne¡¯s hair gently, and whispered something in her ear. But Yvonne just hung back, not moving. Jared stood
  1. me.
up, took Yvonne¡¯s small hand, and walked her over. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked, his eyes sweeping over Melissa perked up, smiling brightly. ¡°Mr. Hob, I invited Victoria to dinner.¡± Jared nodded politely at her and then nudged Yvonne. ¡°Say hello.¡± Yvonne mumbled reluctantly, ¡°Hi, Melissa.¡± Melissa gushed right away. ¡°Yvonne, you¡¯re getting so pretty, and you¡¯ve grown so much taller.¡± Jared looked at me, then at Tracy, and finally at Yvonne. ¡°Want to go with your mom?¡± he asked. ¡°No.¡± Yvonne shook her head firmly. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. Tracy said she¡¯ll take me to the arcadeter. I wanna go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jared nodded and turned to me. ¡°We¡¯re heading out.¡± I gave a small smile, calm as could be. ¡°Okay.¡± Jared stared at me, confused. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t expected this¨Cno scene, no anger, not even a question about the short- haired woman or what she meant to him. He took Yvonne back to their table, grabbed their stuff, and hurried off. Melissa watched them disappear through the door, then turned to me, her face full of sympathy. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Victoria. I shouldn¡¯t have picked this restaurant¨CI never should¡¯ve let you see something that¡¯d hurt you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hurt,¡± I said, my voice steady. ¡°Melissa, I don¡¯t care about Jared anymore.¡± ¡°What?¡± Melissa¡¯s jaw dropped. I sipped my coffee, letting out a bitterugh. ¡°If a guy¡¯s that clueless, trying to control him is just a total waste of time. Now that he wants to fool around out there, let him.¡± ¡°Are you really okay?¡± Melissa asked, her voice filled with concern. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m just finally seeing things. All these years, I¡¯ve been focused on Jared and Yvonne. It was exhausting, and I never even got a thank¨Cyou,¡± I said calmly. Melissa¡¯s eyes instantly welled up, and she felt even more sorry for me, as if I was forcing myself to hold back my hurt, putting on a brave front. I picked up my wine ss and held it out to her. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. Let¡¯s celebrate. New chapter, remember? Wish me a good future¨Cyoung, pretty, healthy, and free.¡± Loose 8 Melissa froze for a second, and then her eyes lit up. She clinked her ss against mine, tears still shimmering. ¡°To new beginnings. And may everything go your way.¡± I smiled from the bottom of my heart. While we were eating, a waiter showed up with three fancy¨Clooking dishes. Melissa blinked. ¡°I didn¡¯t order these. Must be a mix¨Cup?¡± The waiter smiled, ¡°Compliments of Mr. Hob. Your bill¡¯s taken care of.¡± Melissa¡¯s head snapped to me. ¡°Jared sent these?¡± I took a bite. ¡°Not bad. Let¡¯s eat¨Cno sense wasting good food.¡± Melissaughed awkwardly. ¡°One of these probably costs more than my entire meal.¡± I didn¡¯t expect Jared to send over dishes. Maybe he felt guilty and was trying to make up for things with cash? That was just like him¨Cseeming thoughtful, but cold at his core, a total train wreck. Halfway through, Melissa still looked confused by my calm. She leaned in, her voice serious. ¡°Yvonne was so cozy with that woman. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think she¡¯s her kid. Doesn¡¯t that make you mad?¡± I wasn¡¯t surprised she would ask this. She¡¯d watched me hover over Yvonne like a helicopter parent, terrified the kid might get a paper cut. Back then, I barely had enough breast milk. I¡¯d callctation experts every day, let them prod and poke until my skin was raw, and still nothing. I had cried through that whole first month, holding Yvonne, feeling like I was failing her. Melissa used to say Yvonne was my entire world. She thought having my ¡°precious little girl¡± stolen by another woman would be like a knife to the heart. I took a sip of wine and shook my head. ¡°Maybe once. Not anymore. She¡¯s six¨Cold enough to understand right and wrong. Kids aren¡¯t puppets I can control forever. Someday she¡¯ll find her own path. If she¡¯s happier with someone else, I can let her go.¡± Melissa stared at me, looking stunned. She let out a soft sigh. ¡°Wow, Victoria. You¡¯re totally different now. If it weren¡¯t for your face, I¡¯d swear you were apletely different person.¡± I chuckled quietly. ¡°Growing up can catch you off guard sometimes. Melissa, we¡¯ve known each other since high school, stuck together through college, and now we¡¯re living in the same city. I¡¯m still me¨CI just let some things go.¡± Melissa nodded. ¡°Good. You¡¯re my friend, and that¡¯s not gonna change, ever.¡± After dinner, Melissa tried to pay, but the waiter told her Jared had already covered the bill. She looked at me and shrugged. ¡°I was supposed to treat you, but your husband beat me to it. Next time, it¡¯s on me¨Cpromise.¡± I smiled and nodded. ¡°Deal.¡± Since we¡¯d both had a few drinks, driving was out of the question. Melissa stood at the edge of the sidewalk, trying to g down a cab. Just then, a ck Land Rover pulled up. Warner rolled down the window and said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, Mr. Hob sent me to take you home.¡± Melissa scoffed, ¡°Mr. Hob is really thoughtful, huh?¡± I stayed quiet, opened the door for Melissa to get in first, then slid in after her. During the ride, I closed my eyes to rest. Jared¡¯s mixed signals were confusing as hell. If he was gonna cheat, he should just ghost me. But no¨Che took Tracy to dinner and then turned around and yed Mr. Thoughtful for me. How shameless. Loose 9 Chapter 9 From what I knew about Jared, work consumed most of his attention, Yvonne took up half of what was left, and Tracy got the rest. To him, I was basically invisible. It was time to kick my divorce ns into overdrive. When I got home, the servants were still up. They saw me and quickly rushed over to greet me. The two servants, Wendy and Joyce, Wendy and Joyce, both in their early forties, were incredibly hardworking. With them around, the house stayed spotless. ¡°Mrs. Hob, I made oatmeal. Have a bowl before bed?¡± Wendy offered, stepping forward. ¡°Sure, thanks,¡± I said with a smile. Staying healthy was also my focus right now. I was determined to boost my energy, get in shape, and feel great from the inside out. Wendy was an amazing cook. Her oatmeal tasted just as good as any store¨Cbought stuff. I had some, but couldn¡¯t finish it all. suggested she share the rest with Joyce. I I doubted Jared or Yvonne would be home tonight. Tracy was really something. Not only had she stolen my husband, but she¡¯d also had Yvonne under her control. Last time around, I¡¯d fixated on her like she was the root of all evil. We¡¯d barely spoken, but she still drained me. I died in my fifties, totally exhausted. I knew all too well how destructive overthinking and emotional burnout could be. Those toxic people and drama were like a dark cloud hovering over me, blocking out every ray of joy and hope. I was done letting anyone¡¯s negativity trap me like a prisoner. From now on, I was going to do what made me happy. Late that night, I was fast asleep when I barely heard Jared and Yvonne return. For a moment, it seemed like someone¡¯s footsteps had stopped right by my bed, then moved away. The next morning, a warm little body wormed under the covers with me. ¡°Mom, still sleeping? You have to take me to school,¡± Yvonne said, yanking my arm. I realized I¡¯d turned off my rm¨Cno wonder I was runningte. ¡°Ask your dad to give you a ride. I¡¯m swamped today,¡± I said. Yvonne was my flesh and blood, so I still spoke to her kindly. But I¡¯d withdraw my love gradually. Once she was old enough to understand, I¡¯d stop taking care of her. ¡°Mom, what could you possibly be busy with?¡± Yvonne frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t even have a job, and with two servants here, you¡¯re so free.¡± I sat up, and she waved a long box in front of my face. ¡°Dad got this for youst night. Wanna open it?¡± I lifted the lid. Inside was a diamond ne, with a purple gem pendant. ¡°Who helped him pick it out?¡± I asked quietly. ¡°Of cour-¡± Yvonne paused. ¡°Tracy helped pick it out. She¡¯s super gorgeous and has great taste.¡± Jared had probably prepped her to keep things casual, for she was holding back from gushing. ¡°You like her a lot?¡± I asked, locking eyes with her. Yvonne, sharp but still a kid, nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t get mad, okay? Tracy¡¯s Dad¡¯s work partner. She¡¯s nice to me because I¡¯m his 1/2 Chapter y precious daughter.¡± I almostughed. Even at her age, she knew more than she was letting on. Tracy was not just a work partner¨Cshe was Jared¡¯s sweetheart, in and simple. ¡°Let go. I¡¯ll get ready and take you,¡± I said. She was still my kid, and I wouldn¡¯t shirk the basics. ¡°Mom, can you carry me to the bathroom and fix my hair?¡± Yvonne asked, soundingzy. I frowned but lifted her up, carrying her to the bathroom. She clung to my neck, her voice sweet. ¡°Mommy, I don¡¯t hate you for pping mest time. So why are you still frowning?¡± I started braiding her hair. ¡°I¡¯m d you don¡¯t hate me. And I¡¯m not angry.¡± Yvonne nodded, grabbed a little bath toy, and started ying with it. Once her hair was done, I got ready myself. I opened the closet, picked out a white skirt suit, and braided my hair into a side ponytail. The whole look gave off a cool, stunning vibe. Loose 10 Chapter 10 Yvonne¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Mom, you look so pretty today. Why didn¡¯t you wear stuff like this before?¡± ¡°From now on, I will,¡± I said, grabbing my bag and taking her downstairs. Jared was by the door on a call, his face as calm as ever. While talking, he nced up at me on the stairs¨Chis gaze paused for a moment, as if caught off guard. Wendy hadid out a big breakfast, and now she was helping feed Yvonne. I sat at the table and ate slowly, lost in thought. In my previous life, I¡¯d wake up at 6:30 and spend an hour cooking breakfast. After wolfing down my meal, I¡¯d drop Yvonne off at school wearingfy, worn¨Cout clothes. I thought I¡¯d touched everyone¡¯s hearts¨Cturns out, I¡¯d only impressed myself. We were loaded, and hiring two helpers was pocket change. But back then, I just couldn¡¯t stop giving. Jared finished his call, walked over, and sat next to me. ¡°There¡¯s an executive lunch at noon. Wannae?¡± I shook my head right away. ¡°I¡¯ve got ns.¡± Jared turned to me, his eyes sharp. ¡°What ns? Eat with someone again?¡± ¡°Nah, I¡¯ve got a lesson with a teacher,¡± I said tly. ¡°What lesson?¡± Jared sounded taken aback. Yvonne slurped her gruel, piping up, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you always bug Dad to let you visit his office? This is your chance, so why not go?¡± Her words hit me hard¨Cwhy was I being so stubborn? Jared rarely ever invited me to work events. And avoiding Tracy wasn¡¯t like me at all. I switched gears. ¡°Okay. Where¡¯s the lunch? I¡¯ll make it.¡± Jared frowned. ¡°You just said you had a lesson. You didn¡¯t even check with me first.¡± I let out a smallugh. ¡°I never checked with you about anything, remember?¡± Jared looked anything but pleased, as if he thought I was being an irrational, dramatic wife. I said, ¡°The house¡¯s fine with the servants. I want to take dancing and violin again. I hired an Englysian tutor, too. And soon I¡¯m getting a job.¡± ¡°Why work?¡± Jared clearly had a problem with it. ¡°We don¡¯t need you to bring in extra cash.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be azy housewife anymore.¡± I held his gaze, firm. ¡°I want my own career. I hope you¡¯ll support that.¡± Jared tossed his fork onto the table and stood up. ¡°No way.¡± My face stiffened; I didn¡¯t say a word, but the look said it all. Jared continued, ¡°Your job is taking care of the house and Yvonne. If you need cash, just ask.¡± He pulled a card out of his pocket and dropped it on the table. ¡°Spare card. Use it.¡± I stared at the card, a small slipping out. No doubt my defiance had gotten under his skin. He¡¯d told his friends I was low¨Cmaintenance and family¨Cfocused¨Cthe kind of wife who¡¯d stay home withoutining, but could also shine when we went out. To him, being his full¨Ctime wife was my job, and I was supposed to nail that role without ever wanting more. What I said was threatening his little kingdom. And he wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. Yvonne jumped right in, taking his side. ¡°Mom, Dad¡¯s super busy with work. Why stress him out? Your job is just to take care of me. Dad makes more than enough money.¡± After a brief pause, she yelled angrily, ¡°You¡¯re being selfish with this job stuff. You¡¯ve been ignoring me. I was gone two days, and you didn¡¯t even call to check on me. You¡¯re not a good mom.¡± I mmed the bowl in my hand onto the floor. The crash echoed¨Csilencing the room for a long, tense second. Wendy and Joyce were also startled. They quickly rushed over to clean up the mess. I turned to Jared, my eyes sharp. ¡°I said I don¡¯t want to be stuck at home as a housewife. I want a job. If you¡¯re not okay with that, we¡¯re getting a divorce.¡± In my first life, Jared had threatened divorce a hundred times, but I¡¯d clung to him for Yvonne¡¯s sake, begging him to stay. Now, the word rolled off my tongue like it was nothing. Finally, I was in control. ¡°Say that again?¡± Jared¡¯s eyes locked onto mine¨Ccalm on the surface, but I could see the storm brewing. Loose 11 Chapter 11 Yvonne froze. It was the first time she¡¯d ever seen Jared and me fight. Before, whenever we argued, I always gave in first to keep the peace. But today was different. I didn¡¯t apologize or back down. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, please stop.¡± Yvonne burst into tears. She clung to Jared¡¯s arm, wiping her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to fight. Please don¡¯t do this.¡± Jared looked at me, his voice cold. ¡°Work isn¡¯t negotiable. You can keep your little hobbies, but you¡¯re not walking away from our family.¡± He bent down, lifted Yvonne into his arms, grabbed her tiny backpack, and walked out. I didn¡¯t shed a single tear. To be honest, I wasn¡¯t even mad. I had seen thising. ¡°Mrs. Hob, are you okay?¡± Wendy and Joyce asked, voices worried.. I smiled, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Sorry about the mess¨Ccan you clean it up?¡± Then I grabbed my purse and car keys and left. I drove around aimlessly, the wind whipping through the open window, lifting my scarf. Behind my sunsses, my eyes started to burn. I married a rich guy and lived this shiny. To everyone else, I should¡¯ve been carefree and happy. And maybe I was, once. But I¡¯d got stuck in my head, slowly falling apart. I thought after that fight, Jared wouldn¡¯t ask me to lunch. But around eleven, while I was sitting in a caf¨¦, sipping bitter coffee, he texted to ask where I was. I snapped a quick pic and sent it to him. He told me to meet him at a restaurant downstairs from his office at noon. I headed to the restroom and touched up my makeup. If Jared wanted to treat me like his arm candy, fine, I¡¯d y the game. When I showed up, the noisy crowd went quiet. The guys couldn¡¯t even look me in the eyes. They got all polite, keeping their voices low. Some mumbled ¡°hi,¡± and I smiled back. Others tossed outpliments, and I gave a nod of thanks. I made my way to Jared, who stood there in a crisp suit, over six feet tall, looking sharp. I was killing it¨Cabsolutely stunning. We must¡¯ve looked perfect together. Then I saw Tracy, sitting right beside Jared. She had on a gray zer, shoulder¨Clength hair, looking smart and put¨Ctogether. She acted casual, but her watch was a quarter¨Cmillion¨Cdor piece, her ne worth tens of thousands. She was subtly flexing her wealth. Tracy nced up at me but didn¡¯t say a thing. Jared motioned for me to sit. Then everyone started chatting, digging into their food. Halfway through the meal, some guy came over to toast Jared. Jared was clearly feeling himself today¨Chis picture¨Cperfect wife on one side, his sharp mistress on the other. The other guys couldn¡¯t help but stare with pure jealousy. I did him a favor, acting like I had no clue who Tracy really was. I smiled, worked the room, and kept up appearances. Guys were checking me out with those hungry looks, but I yed dumb and ignored them. Jared had drunk quite a lot, a faint flush coloring his handsome face. When a guy tried to toast, Tracy stepped in. ¡°Mr. Hob can¡¯t drink more,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s got a meeting this afternoon.¡± The guy quickly smoothed things over with some glib remarks and dropped the idea of toasting. Obviously, Tracy had clout at the respect. I could tell it was a silent provocation aimed at me. But I acted like I didn¡¯t catch it. Why bother? I was already done with this marriage. If she wanted that jerk Jared, she could have him. Tracy seemed off today, her face nk the whole time. Finally, lunch wrapped up, and I got ready to go. Jared was clearly drunk, unable to stand steady. Suddenly, he leaned into me, his hands reaching out to wrap around me in a hug. I saw Tracy raise her hand to help him up, but her arm froze midway. Back in the day, I would have killed for Jared¡¯s touch. Now, his embrace felt empty, and I even wanted to shove him away. But with all the executives watching, I didn¡¯t want to embarrass him. I gently nudged him off and signaled a male assistant to help him steady. Jared gave me a deep, intense look, his eyes burning red. ¡°Where are you heading this afternoon?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ve got ss,¡± I replied. ¡°Send someone else to pick up Yvonne.¡± Jared frowned, as if my not picking up the kid was some huge crime. ¡°Yvonne wants you to get her,¡± he said, clearly displeased. ¡°I really don¡¯t have time,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°Why don¡¯t you find someone she likes to pick her up? I think Tracy would be perfect.¡± Tracy stood nearby, her face tense and her lips pressed tightly together. Jared nced back at her and asked almost deliberately, ¡°Tracy, you free?¡± Tracy jumped to answer. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll pick up Yvonne and take her to dinner afterward.¡± Loose 12 Chapter 12 ¡°Thanks,¡± Jared said. Without sparing me another nce, he strode away. I spun on my heel and left. Since I hadn¡¯t had a single drink at dinner, I got in the car and drove. In the afternoon, I met my violin coach and locked in the next batch of lessons. That night, when I got home, Jared still wasn¡¯t there. I fired up myputer and started working through the Englysian tutor¡¯s lessons. The next afternoon, Yvonne had a horseback riding lesson that required a parent to be there. Right after I canceled, Jared called and asked, ¡°Why¡¯d you cancel Yvonne¡¯s riding lesson?¡± I kept my voice steady. ¡°I have a ss this afternoon too. No time to go.¡± ¡°Victoria, this has gone way too far. What the hell is your problem?¡± Jared finally snapped¨CYvonne was his absolute bottom line. I knew he¡¯d blow up, so I kept my cool. ¡°I¡¯ll hire another servant tomorrow. She can take Yvonne to her lessons, drop her off at school, pick her up¨Cwon¡¯t interfere with her grades one bit.¡± Jared raised his voice. ¡°You¡¯re Yvonne¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Blood doesn¡¯t always make the best family,¡± I said, speaking from hard experience. In my previous life, I had doted on Yvonne, pouring my entire heart into her, but she only had eyes for Tracy. When Tracy had that little surgery, Yvonne ran to sit by her bed, fawning over her. And when I was on my deathbed, she felt sorry for Tracy instead. What was the point of raising a kid like that? To tear my heart to pieces? ¡°Are you doing this to get back at me?¡± Jared¡¯s voice turned frigid. I stayed quiet. ¡°So if I don¡¯t let you work, you¡¯ll keep giving Yvonne the cold shoulder? Victoria, do you know how to be a mother? You¡¯re ignoring your daughter to focus only on yourself,¡± Jared shouted. He¡¯d guessed my game, and it made him seethe. I couldn¡¯t care less how angry he got. Right now, I was only focused on my happiness. ¡°Fine.¡± He suddenly backed down. ¡°Your college major was hotel management, right? Take over thepany¡¯s two hotels, and you¡¯ll get half the profits. But if they tank, youe home, take care of Yvonne, and drop this whole thing for good.¡± My little protest actually worked? I perked up, suddenly willing to talk. ¡°Then I¡¯ll head to Yvonne¡¯s riding lesson this afternoon.¡± ¡°Victoria, being too clever isn¡¯t always a good thing. Using Yvonne as leverage against me isn¡¯t smart,¡± Jared said coldly before hanging up. I kept my tone calm. ¡°Got it, honey. Thanks for the lesson. With a husband this generous, I¡¯d better step up my game. I¡¯ll study hard ¡°Victoria!¡± Jared¡¯s voice rose with rage. ¡°Gotta go, or I¡¯ll bete for the lesson. Bye.¡± I hung up, giving him no chance to respond. Then I drove to the riding school and found a red¨Ceyed Yvonne. She sat with a pouty expression, while a teacher stayed by her side. Other kids were happily riding their horses. ¡°Yvonne, I¡¯m here,¡± I called, walking over. Yvonne shot me a look like I was thest person on earth she wanted to see. ¡°I don¡¯t want you here. I want Daddy!¡± I crouched down to meet her eyes. ¡°Oh yeah? Did he say he wasing?¡± The teacher jumped in quickly. ¡°Mrs. Hob, Mr. Hob said he was tied up, but you¡¯d be here. Yvonne¡¯s still pretty upset. Maybe you couldfort her?¡± ¡°Comfort her?¡± I plopped down next to Yvonne. ¡°She¡¯s too big for that.¡± Yvonne¡¯s re got even sharper, like I was some evil stepmother. The teacher let out an awkwardugh. ¡°Yvonne, talk to your mom first. I¡¯lle back to get you for riding in a bit.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes zed. Her little fists were clenched so tight that I thought if she were older, she might have swung. I lifted my hand slightly. Instantly, her fists unclenched. With a wail, she threw herself into myp, sobbing. ¡°Mommy, how could you ignore me? Why were youte?¡± With calcted precision, I patted her shoulder. ¡°Quit crying. Let¡¯s go ride.¡± Yvonne wiped her tears and followed the teacher off to ss. I took a seat near a group of wealthy wives. A few of them had fancier backgrounds than me, but most didn¡¯t. There were even some politicians¡® wives, holding court. Those women¨Cmarried to money¨Chad a natural air of pride. A few were busy schmoozing and sucking up, but most kept to themselves, pretty reserved. ¡°Mrs. Hob, we¡¯re doing a baking ss tonight. Wanna bring your little one?¡± a woman asked. I smiled, ¡°I¡¯m swamped.¡± ¡°My husband knows Mr. Hob. You should bring him over,¡± she pushed. I shook my head. ¡°Really, no time.¡± That night, I saw the ¡°baking¡± photos that woman posted on her Twitter. In one, a group of guys sat on a couch drinking coffee, and Jared was among them. In another, Yvonne was focused on making a cakeyer, with Tracy sitting right next to her. Loose 13 Chapter 13 The scene in those photos looked warm and cozy, but to me, it was nothing short of humiliating. I knew exactly why that woman had posted them¨CI¡¯d blown off the event she organized, and now she was getting revenge by exposing my messed¨Cup family situation and making me look like a total joke. What a low blow. I didn¡¯t let her get away with it. As soon as I saw those photos, I called her. ¡°Victoria?¡± she answered, sounding all smiley. ¡°Delete those photos from your Twitter,¡± I said, my voice cold. Her smile vanished from her tone, and her voice oozed with fake innocence. ¡°What? I was just sharing some cute pictures of the kids baking cakes together.¡± ¡°But your little feel¨Cgood moment doesn¡¯t give you the right to mess with someone¡¯s marriage. I know your husband does business with the Hobs. Jared might be easy¨Cgoing, but if he catches wind of these photos¡­¡± I trailed off. ¡°I¡¯ll delete them right now.¡± She caved fast. But before hanging up, she snickered, ¡°Heard Mr. Hob chatting about kids- sounds like he wants a son. And his assistant gets along well with your daughter. Be real, Victoria¨Cdoesn¡¯t that scare you?¡± I let out a coldugh. ¡°If you think your marriage is too perfect, go ahead and check your husband¡¯s phone. Bet you¡¯d find some interesting stuff.¡± She hung up with a sharp click. From what I¡¯d seen, rich guys were always restless. Their wives all knew the deal, and not one of them got to have thestugh. But me? I didn¡¯t love Jared anymore. Nothing he did could hurt me now. I took a shower, did my skincare, then did a few quick bed exercises to stay toned before finally falling asleep. That night, Jared didn¡¯t bring Yvonne home again. The next morning, I was eating breakfast when Sally, my mother¨Cinw, walked in. She was in her fifties, a little plump, with that obvious money vibe. Her hair was a bold burgundy color, way trendier than mine. ¡°Hi, Sally,¡± I said, standing up to greet her. She shot me a re. ¡°What¡¯s your problem? Yvonne says you hit hertely. And you didn¡¯t even pick her up from school. How can you be so mean to your kid?¡± A cold sweat broke out as I suddenly remembered how sneaky Yvonne was. She¡¯d go around spreading rumors, getting everyone to call me out. And Sally was her most powerful ally. Faced with Sally¡¯s scolding, I couldn¡¯t argue. It was true, after all. I smiled and exined, ¡°Yvonne¡¯s six now¨Cshe¡¯s a big girl. I just want her to learn to be independent. It¡¯s not as serious as you thought. How could I not love her?¡± Sally frowned, ¡°She¡¯s way too little for that ¡®independent¡® stuff. She needs your love more than anything. And listen, girls are sensitive about their appearance. You can¡¯t keep hitting her¨Cwhat if you leave a mark? She¡¯s the only granddaughter in the Hob family.¡± Yvonne wasn¡¯t a boy, but she looked and acted so much like Jared. So, Sally had always spoiled her. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± I said. I didn¡¯t want to pick a fight with anyone, not before I got my fair share of the divorce settlement. Sally plopped down on the couch. I made her a cup of coffee myself. Since she was here, I might as well bring up what was on my mind. ¡°I want to get a job,¡± I said straightforwardly. Sally froze mid¨Csip. ¡°You¡¯ve been a housewife for six years. What do you think you can do?¡± A sharp pain stabbed my heart. But fortunately, it was only six years. If it had been sixty, I would havepletely wasted my entire life. Loose 14 Chapter 14 ¡°I don¡¯t want to get left behind. Things change fast these days, and women have real opportunities. I¡¯m not interested in being a kept woman in the Hob family,¡± I said firmly, letting just a hint of vulnerability show in my eyes. Sally stared at me, her eyes wide. After a long pause, she said, ¡°So you¡¯re not gonna give our Hob family a boy?¡± I knew I couldn¡¯t dodge the whole ¡°having a son¡± talk. But since she¡¯d brought it up, I figured I¡¯d link work and pregnancy in my answer. ¡°I can work and still try to get pregnant,¡± I smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been six years, and nothing¡¯s happened. Maybe being cooped up at home has been weighing me down. Getting a job might lift my mood, and who knows? Maybe that¡¯ll help things happen faster.¡± Sally¡¯s face soured. ¡°I wanted you to rx at home, living the easy life as a rich man¡¯s wife. But you got all stir¨Ccrazy from boredom. Guess luxury just isn¡¯t your thing.¡± ¡°Since I¡¯m not pregnant anyway, let me try working for a bit, huh? Just test the waters,¡± I said, quickly moving over to rub her shoulders. I knew Sally was easy to sway. Show her some respect, and she¡¯d ease up. And since all she really cared about was getting a grandson, she¡¯d go along with anything that might help. She sipped her coffee, nodded, and said, ¡°Fine. Talk to Jared about it. If he¡¯s on board, sure. But one thing¨Cyou two really need to hurry up. He¡¯ll be turning thirty next year.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± I nodded along, but inside I was stone¨Ccold calm. Having a son was never going to happen. Divorce was my next move. Sally had her social life and didn¡¯t really bother much with me. After a short chat, she got up and left. Not long after she left, my phone rang. It was Melissa, saying some college friends were having a reunion tonight and asking if I wanted to go. College reunions sounded sketchy and flirty, but the reality was way worse. They could actually break couples apart¨Cone after another. Back in school, few cared about jobs or backgrounds. But once we started working, everything changed. Suddenly, everyone had a role, and the social gaps became crystal clear. It wasn¡¯t about having fun anymore¨Cit was all aboutworking, showing off, and climbing the corporatedder. Still, I nodded. ¡°Why not? I¡¯m bored out of my mind. I¡¯ll swing by.¡± I¡¯d turned down every reunion for years, but this time, I wanted to see what it was about. ¡°Cool, I¡¯ll catch youter,¡± Melissa said. She was always mmed with work. Even through the phone, I could hear a woman crying and guys shouting in the background. I went studying like usual. Around noon, Yvonne called. ¡°Mom, where are you? Can youe pick me up? Daddy¡¯s office is so boring¨CI hate it here.¡± She dragged the words out, whiny. Only then did I remember it was Saturday, and Jared had taken Yvonne to work with him. ¡°I¡¯m having lunch with my teacher. Can¡¯t leave,¡± I replied, my voice t. ¡°I wanna eat with you,¡± Yvonne said, switching to her cute, begging tone like she always did. ¡°Please,e get me.¡± Just then, Jared¡¯s voice came over the line. ¡°I¡¯m flying to Shaville for work this afternoon. You need to pick Yvonne up.¡± I had to head to his office. When I pulled up, the father¨Cdaughter pair was already waiting in the lobby downstairs. Jared was in a ck suit, looking sharp as ever. Yvonne was bouncing around him, all dolled up in a princess dress with a little backpack. The whole scene felt quite warm. I got out of my Mercedes¨CBenz, and the second Jared saw what I was wearing, his eyes narrowed. Loose 15 Chapter 15 I had on a ck crop top¨Cshort, showing a sliver of my waist¨Cpaired with loose beige pants. Standing at five¨Cfoot¨Csix, I had a slim, tall frame, and my brown hair made me look much more gorgeous. ¡°Mom, what¡¯re you wearing? It¡¯s cute!¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes went wide. She¡¯d never seen me dressed like this. Jared¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes flickered with surprise. I flipped my wavy hair and stepped toward them. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Yvonne. I¡¯m gonna bete for dinner.¡± Jared ruffled Yvonne¡¯s hair, his voice soft. ¡°Listen to Mom, okay? Don¡¯t give her a hard time.¡± Yvonne pouted, grumbling. ¡°I know. You say that every day¨Cit¡¯s annoying.¡± Jared looked at her adoringly. Then he turned to me and gave me a thorough once¨Cover. ¡°Who are you having dinner with?¡± ¡°My violin teacher and some ssmates,¡± I replied. His brows pulled tight. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with strangers. Watch out for creeps.¡± Iughed. ¡°Meeting new people is fun for me.¡± Before he could say more, I shut the car door and pulled away. In the rearview mirror, I saw him still standing there, watching me leave. Yvonne pulled out her game console, firing it up. ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t youe bake with me yesterday?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Thought you had Tracy there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the same,¡± she pouted. ¡°Everyone else has both their mom and dad,there, but I only have Dad. If Tracy hadn¡¯t bailed on her own ns toe, I would¡¯ve looked so pathetic.¡± She was basically calling me a bad mom. But I almost smirked¨CTracy was probably thrilled for the chance. Honestly, she should thank me. ¡°Your dad¡¯s pretty nice to Tracy, huh?¡± I said casually. ¡°Of course, she¡¯s-¡°Yvonne started, but quickly stopped. She was as sharp as her dad, after all. She just let out an annoyed huff. ¡°Mom, are you trying to get info about Dad from me? Howme.¡± I fell silent. Time and again, I realized my little girl wasn¡¯t on my side, even at such a young age. I couldn¡¯t convince myself to love her anymore. When I arrived at the restaurant, my teacher and musician ssmates were already there. A few single guys who¡¯d hit on me before looked utterly stunned now that they saw me walk in with my daughter. Jared had cheated, but I wasn¡¯t about to start hooking up with random guys as payback. Love meant nothing to me right now. I just wanted to build my career and be independent. Once I got there, guys would be lining up. Dinner was great, though. Weughed, talked, and swapped stories. I picked up some useful tips, and they even said they¡¯d hit me up for future gigs. Since performing a few times in college, I¡¯d never been on stage again. But I loved that feeling of standing in the spotlight- being adored, being liked¨Cit was pure soul food. And I wanted it back. 1/2 Retired executives often spiraled into depression when the praise stopped¨Ctheir sense of purpose just vanished. For me, it was the same. Without that validation, I felt myself slowly disappearing. Yvonne was quite the social butterfly. She chatted easily with my violin ssmates and even got this wild idea about learning violin together. I quickly shut her down. Loose 16 Chapter 16 She pouted, ¡°You won¡¯t let me learn? Fine. I¡¯ll get Dad to sign me up. One day, I¡¯ll totally crush you¨Cand don¡¯t jealous!¡± you dare get I knew Yvonne was a gifted kid who picked things up quickly. But jealous? Not at all. I was already ready to cut ties with her. Soon enough, I wouldn¡¯t be in her life anymore. That afternoon, she stuck to me like glue. While I was in ss, she napped nearby. When I practiced violin, she yed games, looking bored out of her mind. Later, I asked if she wanted to go visit her grandma, and she lit up, practically jumping at the offer. I called Sally. She was over the moon and immediately had the servants prepare Yvonne¡¯s favorite mini cakes and yogurt. ¡°Grandma!¡± Yvonne darted into Sally¡¯s arms. ¡°Oh, sweetie. Look how tall and gorgeous you¡¯ve gotten.¡± Sally cupped Yvonne¡¯s face, covering it with kisses. I set Yvonne¡¯s backpack on the couch and told Sally, ¡°I¡¯ve got dinner ns tonight. Yvonne can stay over, and I¡¯ll pick her up tomorrow around noon.¡± Sally nced up at me. ¡°You¡¯ve been running around a lottely. Prepping for work?¡± Yvonne spoke up loudly. ¡°Mom¡¯s always going out to eat. She even had lunch with a bunch of people today.¡± Sally¡¯s brows creased. I was still a Hob, and no mother¨Cinw would be thrilled to see her daughter¨Cinw always running around. ¡°Yvonne,¡± I said, shooting her a warning nce, ¡°haven¡¯t I told you? Kids shouldn¡¯t interrupt adult conversations.¡± Yvonne¡¯s bottom lip stuck out. She buried herself in Sally¡¯s arms, shooting daggers at me. Sally had clearly overthought things. She looked at me seriously and warned, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you befriend. But don¡¯t you dare make friends with the wrong crowd. The Hob name¡¯s on the line here. Don¡¯t make trouble for Jared.¡± Back in the day, those words would¡¯ve crushed me. I¡¯d have freaked out, doubting myself and wondering if I¡¯d messed Then I¡¯d mp down and act ¡°proper¡± to keep everyone else satisfied. Now, I just replied tly, ¡°Got it. No worries.¡± Sally nodded. Probably because I¡¯d never done anything improper, she seemed pretty trusting of me. After leaving the Hob residence, I swung by to pick up Melissa. The second she got in the car, she started ranting about the cases she¡¯d handled that day. She got more fired up by the minute, cursing guys for being so damn ungrateful. Those divorce cases must¡¯ve soured her on love. I just let her vent, not saying much. Suddenly, she tugged at my sleeve and grinned, ¡°Guess who¡¯s treating tonight?¡± 1 blinked. ¡°Who?¡±
  1. up.
¡°Our ss president from college. He¡¯s killing it now¨Cheard he¡¯s a manager at some big techpany. Dude¡¯s got a bright future, Melissa said dreamily. 1 teased, ¡°Then go for it. You¡¯re acting all goofy over him.¡± ¡°Please. He wouldn¡¯t even look at me twice,¡± Melissa sighed, then dramatically pouted. ¡°With a knockout like you around, I¡¯m just the backup.¡± I burst outughing. Melissa was quirky as ever. Sure, she always said the most random stuff, but she was still my best friend, the one who kept my boring life interesting. Soon, we arrived at the restaurant, and our old ssmates were clustered near the entrance. As we approached, their eyes immediately lit up. ¡°The beauty queen¡¯s here!¡± someone called out. Loose 17 Chapter 17 I never called myself the prettiest girl on campus, but I was nominated for it once in college. Later, I lost to another girl from a wealthier family¨Cnot that I cared, though it gave the gossip mill plenty to churn over. ¡°The runner¨Cup belle,¡± I said with a self¨Cdeprecating smile. The man hosting us was Lloyd Johnson, dressed in a tailored suit that screamed corporate sess. People crowded around him,ying on the praise. He wore the smug look of a man who¡¯d made it, though his gaze kept flickering to me. Truth was, only Melissa knew I¡¯d married Jared. The rest just assumed I had a rich husband and left it at that. ¡°Victoria!¡± A voice cut through the chatter. I turned to see the ss loudmouth¨Ca guy who¡¯d once tried to date me. I used to skip these reunions back then. It wasn¡¯t hard to feel insecure when everyone else had sessful careers while I stayed home. My bank ount might have been full, but not my sense of self¨Cworth. A ck Mercedes¨CMaybach rolled to a stop nearby, just as a group of people emerged from the lobby entrance. At the front was a young man¨Ctall and lean, probably over six feet¨Cin a tailored navy suit and gold¨Cframed sses. When he heard that guy call out my name, he stopped mid¨Cstep and turned to look at me. The vintage¨Cstyle lights above the door cast a glow over his face, and for a brief moment, our eyes met. ¡°Mr. Hallman, what a pleasure to meet you!¡± Lloyd nearly stumbled in his haste to approach. ¡°Hello, Mr. Hallman, I¡¯m Lloyd Johnson from Luminovate Tech¨Cwe met several weeks ago.¡± He scrambled to pull out a business card and offered it with both hands. The man addressed as ¡°Mr. Hallman¡± nodded and took the card. ¡°Hello,¡± he said. Then, without warning, his gaze flicked toward me before he slid into the Maybach. I¡¯d been watching him the whole time. Not that I could help it¨Camid a crowd of unremarkable men, a face that handsome was impossible to ignore. Lloyd practically tripped over himself to close the car door, his farewell wave oozing false charm. Melissa¡¯s lingering crush on Lloyd vanished the moment she saw him turn into such a suck¨Cup. The dinner table became a stage for male bravado while we women ate infortable silence. ¡°I¡¯m a stay¨Cat¨Chome mom,¡± I answered when asked about work. Then the conversation died right there. When Jared called halfway through dinner, I let my phone vibrate itself into silence. When someone eagerly proposed moving the party to a karaoke bar, Melissa and I declined with polite excuses and made our escape. I helped Melissa all the way into her apartment, where she copsed on the sofa with unexpected rity. ¡°Maybe you were smart to marry young, Victoria. These days I can¡¯t stand any man. Should¡¯ve grabbed someone when I had the chance.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± I said. ¡°Men aren¡¯t that special¨Csame basic parts as the rest of us. Plenty of good ones left.¡± With that pep talk delivered, I headed home. The car hummed with music, and without a care weighing me down, I feltpletely at peace. Loose 18 Chapter 18 Hearing the men discuss their careers today, I realized with sudden rity¨CI deserved that same confidence, that equal seat at the table. Jared called again as soon as I got home. I answered while sinking into the couch. ¡°Why weren¡¯t you answering your phone?¡± Jared¡¯s suspicion bled through the line. ¡°Must¡¯ve been on silent. What¡¯s up?¡± The lie came automatically now. ¡°Who were you out with? Yvonne said you went out again.¡± He might as well have been taking attendance. ¡°Just some college friends,¡± I said lightly. ¡°They¡¯re all doing well here. Thought I¡¯d reconnect before starting work.¡± He seemed to turn my answer over in his head before responding. ¡°You¡¯ve changedtely. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Changed how?¡± I toyed with my hair, suddenly recalling my younger self¨Cthe one who wanted to burn bright, not fade into someone¡¯s background. ¡°You¡¯re dressing differently these days,¡± Jared said, proving he noticed every detail about me. ¡°Don¡¯t I look good?¡± I asked with a yful smirk. ¡°You look fine. Just not¡­ dignified enough.¡± He was never one to mince words. ¡°Dignified?¡± I barked a the student you sponsored before would like to take you to lunch. If you¡¯re avable, of course,¡± the person said. I paused with my spoon halfway to my mouth. ¡°That¡¯s odd. I can¡¯t quite recall.¡± ¡°Five years ago,¡± the voice said warmly, ¡°when you volunteered with us, you donated 250 thousand to help that college student after his family went bankrupt. Do you remember?¡± The old memory came rushing back. ¡°Oh, that. But we signed an NDA. How did he get my name?¡± ¡°Ms. Murphy¡­¡± The voice turned apologetic. ¡°He formally requested your contact through proper channels. If this causes you any trouble, we¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass on the lunch,¡± I replied. ¡°Just tell him I¡¯m happy being a Good Samaritan. No thanks necessary.¡± With that, I ended the call. Yet I felt strangely moved. That he remembered suggested maybe the world wasn¡¯tpletely rotten. Loose 19 Chapter 19 My morning dance ss left me drenched and pleasantly loose¨Climbed. Come noon, I called Sally about whether Yvonne wasing home. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s at the amusement park with Tracy,¡± Sally informed me. ¡°You should give Tracy a call.¡± Tracy had be like a second mother to Yvonne¨Cgenuinely devoted and always making time for her. Not that I hadn¡¯t been that mother once. There was a time when my world revolved around parent¨Cteacher conferences and bedtime stories too. I didn¡¯t call Tracy. If my daughter smiled more with her, who was I to interfere? I was about to eat alone when my phone buzzed with an unknown number. ¡°Hello. Is that Victoria Murphy?¡± The male voice on the line was warm and unfamiliar. ¡°Speaking,¡± I answered automatically before catching myself. ¡°May I ask who¡¯s calling?¡±
¡°I¡¯m the student you sponsored years ago.¡± The earnestness in his voice prickled my skin. ¡°I was hoping we might have lunch today.¡± The pause stretched too long. I¡¯d never wanted gratitude, and now wasn¡¯t the time to revisit the past¨Cnot when I had my own reasons to keep my distance. In my previous life, I¡¯d seen enough online stories about schrship recipients turning on their benefactors tost a lifetime. ¡°It¡¯s just lunch,¡± he said, lowering his voice when he caught my hesitation. ¡°No strings attached.¡± ¡°I¡¯m married,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Meeting men alone¡­ it wouldn¡¯t look right.¡± ¡°Bring a friend then,¡± he offered. Though I could hear the genuine gratitude in his voice, I calmly refused. ¡°Meeting isn¡¯t necessary. The best repayment is you seeding,¡± I said, and hung up before he could argue. I enjoyed a peaceful lunch by myself. At three in the afternoon, Jared called. ¡°Yvonne fell. Her leg¡¯s hurt. Meet us at the hospital,¡± he said, his voice tight. ¡°How?¡± My stomach dropped. ¡°She tripped.¡± As soon as he finished, the hospital location appeared on my screen. As Yvonne¡¯s mother, I knew she needed me there. When I arrived at the hospital, Yvonne was curled against Jared, quietly crying with her leg bandaged. Tracy sat nearby, her face filled with guilt. As 1 entered, Yvonne immediately reached for me, her small voice breaking. ¡°Mom, hold me.¡± 1 sat on the edge of the hospital bed and cradled her close. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Tracy said, her voice thick with remorse. ¡°I should have been watching her more closely when she fell.¡± Jared spoke up to ¡°We all know how Yvonne is, always climbing where she shouldn¡¯t. This wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± Tracy¡¯s eyes grew red as silent tears fell. Yvonne must have cried herself to exhaustion. She fell asleep in my arms within moments. Jared watched me carefully, clearly worried I¡¯d me Tracy. ¡°Victoria,¡± he said quickly, ¡°Tracy was just trying to help with Yvonne. Don¡¯t be hard on her.¡± I nearlyughed at his protectiveness. Did he really think I¡¯d y the jealous shrew? ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mrs. Hob.¡± Tracy¡¯s voice trembled with tears. They both held their breath, waiting for my reaction. In my previous life, when Yvonne was my entire world, I would have torn Tracy apart for letting Yvonne get hurt. Now I barely had the energy to care. I smoothed Yvonne¡¯s tousled hair and then turned to Tracy. ¡°Thank you for watching her. She¡¯s a handful even for me.¡± Their stunned silence was almostical. Tracy looked almost disappointed when I didn¡¯t give her the dramatic scene she wanted. She¡¯d perfected her act in my previous life¨Cying the fragile victim while needling me into outbursts that only made Jared despise me more. ¡°Mrs. Hob, this was entirely my fault,¡± Tracy said with theatrical remorse, tears streaming as she made a deep, exaggerated bow. I caught her shoulders mid¨Cbow, forcing her upright. When she snapped her head up, I saw the frustrated realization in her eyes¨Cher performance had failed. ¡°Jared,¡± I said, looking up calmly, ¡°why don¡¯t you take Tracy home now? I¡¯ll stay with Yvonne.¡± My reasonable tone and unexpected kindness toward Tracy clearly caught Jared off guard. He shifted ufortably. ¡°Tracy, you should go now,¡± Jared said. Whether out of guilt or self¨Creproach, he sent her away but stayed behind himself. Tracy had no choice but to leave, though not without onest resentful look in my direction. Settling back against the raised hospital bed, I closed my eyes, our daughter secure in my arms. ¡°Here, let me take her,¡± Jared offered suddenly. ¡°You should rest.¡± I opened my eyes to find Jared leaning in to carefully transfer our sleeping child from my embrace. As he drew close, I saw the moment he caught my scent¨Csomething subtle and floral¨Cand how his gaze darkened in response. I¡¯d switched perfumes and opted for a deliberately provocative outfit¨Ca sheer white blouse over a ck camisole that entuated every curve. As Jared reached for our daughter, his arm grazed my chest, and I watched his muscles tense instantly. 1 stretchednguidly before moving to the couch, leaving the bed behind. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know how badly she¡¯s hurt?¡± Jared¡¯s voice cut through the quiet. ¡°She¡¯ll live,¡± I murmured, not bothering to open my eyes. ¡°Since when do you not care about our daughter?¡± The usation hung between us. ¡°I care,¡± I said to the ceiling. ¡°Just tell Tracy to watch her more closely. Maybe this will teach Yvonne some caution. Actually, this is a good thing.¡± ¡°Tracy is¡­ very responsible,¡± Jared said suddenly. ¡°She genuinely cares for Yvonne.¡± I hid a bitter smile. Tracy only cared for Yvonne as an afterthought¡ªanother way to please Jared. ¡°Tracy¡¯s quite the perfect assistant,¡± I said, keeping my tone carefully bnced between jest and sincerity. ¡°She battles alongside you at work and mothers our daughter at home. Really, you should give her a raise¨Csomeone that indispensable deserves it.¡± Jared went quiet. I couldn¡¯t tell if I¡¯d touched a nerve, but he clearly had no intention of continuing the conversation. After several minutes of silence, Jared abruptly changed the subject. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯ll rmend you take over hotel operations at next month¡¯s board meeting. Start at the office tomorrow¨CI¡¯ll arrange the handover.¡± Loose 20 Chapter 20 ¡°Fine,¡± I replied, closing my eyes to signal the discussion was over. Like sand, men escaped when held too tightly. Push them too hard, and they¡¯d only push back harder. It wasn¡¯t worth the fight. y by their rules, and their better nature might show itself. That was when a smart woman could im her advantage. I knew Jared from before¨Cknew the only way to get anything from him was to y vulnerable. Let him pity me, and I might just get what I wanted. The hours at the hospital passed quickly. Before we knew it, evening had arrived. Yvonne¡¯s cut turned out to be shallow, so after changing the dressing, the doctor cleared us to leave. Our usually dramatic daughter actually grew more cautious after the scare. Yvonne¡¯s injury kept her home from school the next day. Though she pleaded forpany, I prioritized the hotel negotiations at Jared¡¯spany, confident the servants would care for her properly. Jared frowned when I didn¡¯t offer to cancel my ns and stay at home. This time around, I could no longer fake motherly affection, and Jared¡¯s silent stares made it clear he¡¯d marked the change in me. The powder¨Cblue dress hugged my curves as I perfected my makeup. Jared¡¯s voice came from beyond the bedroom door. ¡°You¡¯re really going to the office? Yvonne needs you right now.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll manage.¡± I fastened my earrings. ¡°Six is plenty old to start learning self¨Creliance.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Victoria,¡± Jared said, his gaze sweeping over me. ¡°There was a time when you¡¯d drop everything the moment Yvonne cried. A single cough would keep you glued to her side for days.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not a baby anymore. Six¨Cyear¨Colds don¡¯t need constant coddling. I walked myself to school at that age.¡± Even as I said it, I knew how hollow it sounded. At six, she was caught between babyhood and childhood¡ªstill clinging to me one moment, yet quick to take her future stepmother¡¯s side against me the next. Without another word, Jared disappeared downstairs tofort Yvonne. The tantrum ended with his promises of a pony for the backyard. I watched his indulgence with quiet satisfaction. He¡¯d regret spoiling her like this. In my previous life, he¡¯d handed his entirepany to Yvonne. She burned through hundreds of millions in a single year, a testament to her talent for financial ruin. ¡°Don¡¯t you love me anymore, Mom?¡± Yvonne sniffled from the couch, her injured leg carefully positioned. ¡°You¡¯re all dressed up to leave me when I¡¯m hurt.¡± ¡°Love¡¯s more than words, darling,¡± I said, smoothing my dress. ¡°I need to work so we can have nice things. Listen to Joyce and Wendy, and call me if you need anything.¡± Her six¨Cyear¨Cold mind struggled with this twisted economics lesson. Jared finally emerged from his constion mission. ¡°We can ride together,¡± he said, eyeing my approach to my own car. ¡°No, I might need to go outter.¡± I wasn¡¯t about to spend time trapped in a car with a man I barely tolerated anymore. His car disappeared down the driveway without another word. As I pulled away, a thrill ran through me¨Cthis independence would¡¯ve terrified my past self. Jared¡¯s money had kept mefortable, but I refused to beg for another cent. Loose 21 Chapter 21 Heads turned as I entered the office. My blue dress stood out starkly against the sea of gray suits, sparking whispers behind my back. My new office sat right next to Tracy¡¯s, with only a ss partition separating me from Jared¡¯s workspace, giving me a clear view of him at all times. Jared called me into his office along with several managers. The two hotels I was inheriting were failing Hob family properties¨Cpoorly maintained and currently operating at a loss. The managers¡® reports confirmed my suspicions¨Coutdated facilities, aging decor, and no viable strategy for improvement. They cited the ongoing losses as justification for withholding further investment. Jared sat silently nearby, his cold gaze fixed on me. I recognized his strategy immediately¨Che intended to saddle me with failing businesses, anticipating my struggle would send me retreating back to domestic life. The ploy was transparent. But as I reviewed the financials, I noted their prime location near Willow Bay. When the tourism boom came, these properties would be golden. My first order of business was getting Jared to finance theplete renovation of both struggling hotels. ¡°Honey,¡± I said, turning with my most charming smile, ¡°would you invest in your wife¡¯s first business venture?¡± I met his gaze without blinking. If a little flirtation secured the deal, I¡¯d y the game. My confident approach clearly surprised him. ¡°How much do you need?¡± he asked instead of refusing. After a quick mental calction, I held up one finger. ¡°Ten million?¡± His eyebrow quirked upward. ¡°One hundred million,¡± I replied. The math was simple¨Conly by bing the undisputed industry leader could we justify this investment. Top¨Ctier hotels printed their own money. The managers¡® stunned expressions said it all. That kind of investment in failing hotels must have sounded like pure insanity to them. Jared gave a humorlessugh. ¡°Be serious, Victoria. Why would I pour that much money into guaranteed failures? This proves you¡¯ve no business sense.¡± I shrugged, undaunted. ¡°We won¡¯t know unless we try.¡± ¡°A hundred million is serious money,¡± Jared said tly. A hundred million was no small sum, yet I knew Jared would dly spend that exact amount next year on a luxury vi for Tracy, his most pampered songbird. ¡°If you won¡¯t provide the funds, could I take out a loan to invest in these hotels?¡± I asked calmly. Jared frowned slightly¨Che hadn¡¯t expected my determination. ¡°Here¡¯s thirty million. Do as you see fit,¡± he finally said. It was less than I¡¯d asked, but still a concession. 1/2 Cikapici 21 ¡°Thank you, dear.¡± With the files secured and a smile that didn¡¯t reach my eyes, I made my exit. The calctions unfolded in my head¨Csaving these hotels would require a solid strategy before any real work began. It was 2014, and my travels in my previous life had introduced me to extraordinary hotels worldwide. Now I¡¯d use that knowledge to transform these two properties into something extraordinary. All I needed was the right team to refine the vision and amplify their reputation. Social media wasing into its own this year, and I intended to secure our presence across every major tform. Timing was everything, and being first to market gave us our best shot. At six o¡¯clock, the sky outside had already darkened. Jared knocked on my office door, making me look up from my paperwork. ¡°Let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight,¡± he said. His invitation caught mepletely off guard. Loose 22 Chapter 22 In our six years of marriage, we¡¯d only dined out for family holidays. Most nights we ate at home, though often interrupted by his endless phone calls. I¡¯d cooked borate meals that went untouched. Now that we had private servants preparing perfectly bnced dinners every night, he suddenly wanted to take me out. I¡¯d endured years of loneliness, disappointment, and the quiet heartbreak of constant rejection. Now it was his turn to taste that bitterness. ¡°Can¡¯t. My te¡¯s full. Ask someone else.¡± I kept my eyes on my work, feigning concentration. Jared wentpletely still. The polite smile froze on his face. He¡¯d anticipated delight, not this offhand rejection. ¡°The work will still be there after dinner,¡± he said, with uncharacteristic patience. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± I nced up with a nd smile. ¡°Had dessert earlier.¡± Some of the tension left his posture when he realized this was about schedules, not rejection. ¡°I¡¯ll head back for Yvonne then. Don¡¯t work toote.¡± With that, he left without another word, and I returned to my files, Jared said he needed to call a board meeting to decide on the appointment, but I knew it was just a formality. He ruled thepany with absolute authority. Hispetence left no room for challenges. Our personal rtionship blurred professional lines, but I believed that Jared could silence critics effortlessly. It was 11 p.m. when I got home, arms full of documents. Jared had already tucked Yvonne in and was lounging on the sofa in his pajamas, sipping coffee. He nced up as I walked in, setting his coffee cup aside and crossing his long legs. His piercing eyes fixed on me as he said, ¡°You¡¯re backte.¡± ¡°Still trying to make sense of some things,¡± I said tly. I kicked off my shoes and headed upstairs, not in the mood to talk. Jared stayed frozen for a beat before slowly following me upstairs. The second I reached the bedroom, I grabbed my pajamas and ducked into the shower. I took my sweet time¨Cthirty minutes¨Cand when I finally stepped out, he was propped against the headboard with a book. The familiarity of it stung. There¡¯d been nights I¡¯d waited for him, aching for this very moment. But when he finallyy beside me and I reached out, he¡¯d catch my wrist, push it away, and murmur, ¡°Not tonight. I¡¯m tired.¡± At the vanity, I smoothed lotion over my skin, the scent curling around me. The woman in the mirror looked different now -her eyes held no trace of their old shadows, only a quiet radiance that made her seem truly alive. ¡°You done yet?¡± Jared called from the bed, impatience creeping into his voice. I¡¯d taken longer than usual, and he wasn¡¯t hiding his frustration. I knew he was thinking about sex. Was he going to make the first move? My recent outfits had been more deliberately feminine¨Csilky blouses, curves entuated. Men always noticed those things. He might not love me, but that didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t want me. Jared exhaled sharply, clearly annoyed at the wait. The moment I settled in, he threw his book down, switched off themp, and turned toward me under the covers. His hands slid over my body, fingers burning against the curve of my waist before inching upward with purpose. I caught his wrist. ¡°Too tired tonight,¡± I mumbled into my pillow. His arm tensed. ¡°It¡¯s been three months,¡± he said, his voice rough. ¡°Yeah, something like that,¡± I muttered, not wanting to get into specifics. ¡°You don¡¯t want this?¡± He knew me inside out¨Cmy body and my desires. Normally, I¡¯d be crawling out of my skin after three months without it, while he could go either way. ¡°Not really,¡± I said. Truth was, I didn¡¯t want him at all anymore. Jared used to be the one losing interest, but now it was me. His breathing grew noticeably heavier. In the past, one word of refusal would have made him pull away immediately. But tonight was different. His fingers only tightened around me. Angry as he clearly was, none of his usual gentlemanly restraint remained. ¡°Did someone else satisfy you?¡± Jared¡¯s voice was suddenly at my ear, his teeth grazing my earlobe. ¡°Who was it?¡± I almostughed. Jared, always so proud and self¨Cassured, was actually reduced to this kind of petty jealousy. ¡°Do you really trust me so little?¡± I pushed his arm away and sat up abruptly. ¡°You use me of cheating just because I say no? Then who were you with all those months you ignored me? Don¡¯t turn your own guilt into my crime.¡± My anger clearly caught him off guard. In the warmmplight, I watched his face flush and pale before he sat up, his eyes locking onto mine. ¡°Then tell me why you won¡¯t let me touch you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just not in the mood,¡± I countered firmly. ¡°What mood do you need for this?¡± Jared shot back. I scoffed. ¡°Of course. Men are always ready. But women? We only give ourselves to those who love us.¡± Jared looked startled by my blunt words. In my previous life, I¡¯d kept quiet for thirty years, but now I refused to stay silent any longer. Speaking my mind was better than letting resentment fester. ¡°Victoria, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Jared¡¯s tone softened as he noticed my unusual behavior. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into youtely? Talk to me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± I turned away in bed. ¡°I¡¯m just tired of this¡­ this endless monotony with no future. ¡°My mother gave me life to live ¨C not to waste away here. I want to see the world, to watch flowers bloom and rivers flow.¡± Jared stared at me in shock, as if seeing me for the first time. The docile wife he¡¯d known had been a facade. This version of me¨Cpassionate, unafraid¨Cwas likely the real one all along. ¡°Victoria, was being the perfect wife for six years such a chore?¡± Jared¡¯s initial shock turned to anger¨Cwhether at my deception or because I no longer fit his ideal of what a wife should be. Loose 23 Chapter 23 I was ready for his usations and anger. His words didn¡¯t upset me. I justy there calmly, meeting his furious, bewildered stare. ¡°You¡¯ve treated me well. You were always generous, perfectly polite¨Ca true gentleman in every way. You just¡­ never shared your work life with me or brought me around your friends. ¡°You simply¡­ stopped loving me. But that doesn¡¯t make you any less of a good husband or father.¡± My voice stayed even as I held his gaze, stating facts. Jared¡¯s eyes turned to stone. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± he snapped. ¡°Why would I have married you if I didn¡¯t love you?¡± I watched the color rise in his handsome face, his anger giving way to something closer to panic and guilt. I sighed and closed my eyes. ¡°You did love me once. But love doesn¡¯te with guarantees. Yours changed, and then faded. I could feel it.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Jared finally lost control. He pushed me down with sudden force, his mouth iming mine in a kiss that burned with anger. His usual tenderness was gone¨Cthis was a storm I couldn¡¯t weather, his passion overwhelming mepletely. My pajamas slipped away as he moved with rough urgency, his eyes darkening with need. Pinned beneath him, I couldn¡¯t resist¨Cand after three months of tension, we finally crashed through that barrier together. His hands moved over me with urgent purpose, seeking the familiar responses that used toe so easily between us and some sign I still loved him. For the first time, he¡¯d actually satisfied mepletely. Yet I forced myself to keep ying the wounded wife because I knew this marriage still had more to give me. When he finally released me past 2 a.m., I gathered the sheets around my trembling body and retreated to the guest room, my hair disheveled and eyes glistening with unshed tears. I couldn¡¯t guess Jared¡¯s thoughts, but he¡¯d broken his own rules tonight. By making the first move, he¡¯d let down his guard- and that first touch might have just cost him the upper hand. Jared¡¯s sudden change showed me the truth¨Cwhen I stopped caring and started focusing on myself, unexpected things began to happen. Men never outgrew that primitive need to chase what eluded them. I realized that a woman couldn¡¯t afford to be gentle with men or love. She had to be tougher when necessary and walk away without hesitation when the time came. The morning came too soon. I was still half¨Casleep when Yvonne came barreling in. ¡°Mom!¡± she shouted, shaking me. ¡°Wake up. It¡¯s ytime. No more sleeping. y with me now.¡± I kept my eyes closed, pretending not to hear. My spoiling had made Yvonne forget all about manners¨Chere she was, waking me at dawn. Just as I considered telling her off, Jared¡¯s voice came from the doorway. ¡°Yvonne, Chapter 24 Wendy made me a nutritious breakfast. I was halfway through my meal when Yvonne came bounding in. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re not going to work today,¡± she dered. ¡°You have to stay home and y with me.¡± I looked at her while spooning my gruel. ¡°From now on, I will be going back to work,¡± I said. ¡°But we¡¯ll sign you up for some fun sses¨Cyou¡¯ll have teachers and ssmates to keep youpany.¡± Yvonne¡¯s face paled at the mention of sses. In an instant, she was pointing at me, her voice rising to a wail. ¡°I don¡¯t want sses. You¡¯re mean. I hate you. I¡¯m telling Grandma.¡± She turned and ran toward the door to find her grandmother. ¡°Come back,¡± Imanded, my voice icy. ¡°Go ahead¨Ctry telling on me.¡± Yvonne¡¯s face was still wet with crocodile tears. She turned to look at me, her eyes wide¨Calmost like she was seeing me for the first time. And for just a second, I caught a flicker of fear. I set my bread down slowly, took a sip of lemon water, and fixed her with a cold stare. ¡°Yvonne, I¡¯m your mother. I brought you into this world. You will respect me. ¡°But if you¡¯d rather have a different mother, go ask your father. I won¡¯t stand in your way.¡± Yvonne wasn¡¯t stupid. She blinked, getting the message quickly. After a pause, she inched closer, clutching my arm. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I won¡¯t talk back again. And I won¡¯t tattle to Grandma. I know you love me best.¡± I studied my daughter¨Cso clever and perceptive. It hurt to remember how, in my previous life, she¡¯d still been taking Tracy¡¯s side even when she was thirty years old. She¡¯d said I deserved the pain, that I was my own worst enemy, dragging everyone down with my unhappiness. I was failing as a parent, and I didn¡¯t know how to fix it. All I wanted was to raise a child who might one day look at me with love¨Cmaybe even gratitude. Modern parenting advice kept telling us to take it easy on our kids. It encouraged us to offer support rather than impose limitations, to foster happiness instead of hardship, and to permit unrestrained development. But for those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, caught between these new ideas and how we were raised, it became exhausting to know what was right. ¡°Go y. I¡¯ve got work soon.¡± Rubbing my temples, I nudged Yvonne toward her pony and went upstairs to change. The mirror reflected the marks Jared had left the night before¨Clove bites scattered down my neck and back. Back then, I would¡¯ve covered every one, too shy to let them show. But today, I didn¡¯t bother hiding a single one. Why should I? A little passion between spouses was nothing to be ashamed of.. I deliberately chose a sleeveless V¨Cneck sweater with beige trousers, tying my hair back loosely to proudly disyst night¡¯s love marks. My rose earrings swung provocatively with every move. I was carrying files down the corporate hallway when I spotted Tracy walking with a group of executives toward a meeting. As we passed each other, I subtly tilted my head to the side. Tracy stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes locking onto the love bites on my neck. Loose 25 Chapter 25 The passing executives gave me knowing smiles. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Hob,¡± they greeted respectfully. ¡°Good morning,¡± I responded with warm professionalism. Tracy¡¯s face fell. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she hurried toward the conference room. Just as I reached my office, Jared emerged from his. His brows furrowed at my outfit¨Cthat familiar disapproval shing across his face. I ignored him. Afterst night, I had every right to be cold. ¡°I¡¯m heading to a meeting,¡± he said, still making time to ask, ¡°Want to do lunchter?¡± I barely nced back. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m having lunch with Melissa.¡± Jared wasn¡¯t ustomed to rejection, and my constant refusals clearly irritated him, though he could do little about it. ¡°Fine,¡± Jared said curtly before walking away. I spent the morning handing over duties to the hotel managers, and then met Melissa for an early lunch at eleven. Melissa kept eyeing every attractive guy in the ce, desperately seeking that storybook¨Cperfect romance. I understood her panic, but kept advising patience. ¡°Victoria,¡± she fretted, ¡°I¡¯m 28 now, two years older than you. You¡¯ve got a six¨Cyear¨Cold daughter, while I¡¯ve never even held hands. Seriously, what¡¯s kissing like?¡± I nearly choked on my coffee. Why was she asking me of all people about kissing? ¡°nd and forgettable,¡± I remarked, lifting my cup. Just as I finished speaking, a deep maleugh came from the table behind me. I turned to see a man in a ck shirt casually drinking coffee, looking like he was waiting for someone. My pulse jumped¨Cthat was the same man Lloyd had fallen all over himself to impress at the reunion. What was he doing here? Melissa spotted him too. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s hot,¡± she mouthed at me. I couldn¡¯t tell if he wasughing at me or at some private thought. Right then, another good¨Clooking guy walked in and joined him. ¡°Hot guys always travel in packs,¡± Melissa whispered. ¡°Just like us gorgeous girls.¡± I choked back augh at her ridiculous self¨Cpraise. Myughter must have caught his attention. He turned and fixed me with an intense stare. Our eyes locked by ident, sending a strange flutter through my chest, like the first note of my favorite song catching me off guard. Melissa was ying the delicate eater today¨Ctiny bites, perfect posture. No question she¡¯d noticed one of the guys behind us. Too bad she couldn¡¯t work up the nerve to talk to him. When Melissa nudged me to intervene, I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m retired from men,¡± I said. ¡°If you want him, go get him.¡± Melissa got that my failed marriage had turned me off menpletely. But she¨Cnever having been with anyone¨Cstill clung to her romantic fantasies. The challenge was getting his digits. I excused myself to the restroom, settling the bill on the way. Coming out, I nearly collided with someone, sending their phone ttering to the floor. That sickening crack hit me first. I grabbed the phone, stomach dropping at the spiderwebbed screen. ¡°Damn it,¡± I hissed. A deep voice above me said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My fault for dropping it.¡± I knew that voice. Looking up, I found myself staring at our mystery guy from earlier¨Cnow sses¨Cless and unfairly attractive. ¡°I¡¯m Nathan Hallman,¡± he said unexpectedly. I paused¨CI hadn¡¯t asked his name. He held my gaze with those piercing eyes after saying his name, waiting. ¡°Let me pay for your cracked screen,¡± I said, focusing more on making things right. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Yes, it is,¡± I said, turning back toward our table. A momentter, I pressed all the cash I had¨Cabout a thousand dors¨Cinto his hand. ¡°For a new one.¡± He¡¯d been waiting silently in the hallway. When I gave him the money, he caught my hand instead. ¡°I¡¯m Nathan.¡± I stared at him. ¡°You already told me that.¡± His expression fell. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯m the one you helped with 250 thousand for university.¡± My eyes widened as realization dawned. ¡°That was you?¡± Nathan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± I remembered that night¨Chis luxury Mercedes¨CBenz and the way Lloyd had groveled. He didn¡¯t look like someone who couldn¡¯t afford school. As I hesitated, he pressed the one thousand back into my palm. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough. It¡¯s just a cracked screen. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± I stared at the cash, then at him. ¡°So you¡¯re the one who reached out to the charity about having lunch with me?¡± Nathan ducked his head with augh. When he looked up, pink tinted his ears. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Had I known you were this hot, I might¡¯ve said yes,¡± I teased, enjoying how his blush deepened. ¡°Seriously?¡± His voice dropped. ¡°Let me take you out tonight.¡± ¡°Just kidding. Your sess is reward enough.¡± I smiled before adding, ¡°But do you have a card?¡± He quickly pulled a business card from his trouser pocket and handed it to me. I nced at the card and smiled. ¡°My friend is really interested in you. You two should get together sometime.¡± Nathan just stared at me without a word. As I turned to leave, Nathan suddenly grabbed my wrist. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your friend,¡± he said, his voice tense. His bluntness caught me off guard. His gaze darkened as he looked at me. ¡°It¡¯s you I¡¯m interested in.¡± My breath hitched as I realized this joke had gone too far. I pulled my arm back gently. ¡°You¡¯ll be disappointed then. I¡¯m married.¡± I automatically lifted my hand to show my wedding ring, but then remembered I¡¯d removed it days earlier. Nathan¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°I know Jared¡¯s your husband,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°But word is your marriage isn¡¯t exactly thriving.¡± Loose 26 Chapter 26 Nathan¡¯s insight surprised me. He seemed to know me better than I¡¯d realized. ¡°Have you been checking up on me?¡± My smile faded. The copse of my marriage was painful enough without strangers poking through the remains. ¡°Sorry, I overstepped,¡± Nathan blurted out, uncharacteristically flustered. ¡°Just heard some things in passing. No background checks, I promise.¡± ¡°Lovely meeting you.¡± I gave him my best polite dismissal and walked away. Nathan stayed frozen where he stood. Back at our table, Melissa was still nervously eyeing the handsome stranger at the other table, clearly working up the courage to talk to him. ¡°Melissa, ready to go?¡± I asked, already gathering my things. Nathan¡¯s lingering gaze and that unsettling confession had me suddenly desperate for an exit. She rose with obvious reluctance, just as Nathan came back inside. I pulled Melissa forward. ¡°Mr. Hallman, meet Melissa¨Clegal genius and my best friend. Keep her number handy for when you inevitably need awyer.¡± ¡°Victoria¡­¡± Melissa hadn¡¯t expected me to be so forward. She turned bright red, wishing she could vanish on the spot. I shot her a reassuring look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Hallman and I know each other.¡± Nathan handed Melissa a business card. ¡°Ms. Jenkins, mypany could use legal counsel. If you¡¯re interested, reach out to my assistant, Zachary Chandler.¡± ¡°Hello,¡± said Zachary, the handsome guy across the table, raising his hand. He slid his card toward her. ¡°Just give me a call.¡± Melissa took both cards, her face burning. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± she murmured, and then yanked me out of the restaurant at lightning speed. I took one look at her tomato¨Cred cheeks and burst outughing, nearly choking. ¡°Victoria, that was mortifying,¡± Melissa hissed, stomping her foot. ¡°How could you just ask for their contacts like that? Now I can never show my face around them again.¡± I grinned and nudged her. ¡°You¡¯ve got their cards now. It¡¯d be a waste not to use them.¡± ¡°Wait a second¡­¡± Melissa picked up on something strange and grabbed my arm. ¡°You know Mr. Hallman? How? Where did you two meet?¡± I froze, caught off guard by her rapid¨Cfire questions. ¡°Victoria, does Mr. Hallman like you?¡± Melissa squinted. ¡°Don¡¯t even try denying it. I can see it in his eyes¨Cthe way he looks at you isn¡¯t just casual.¡± Melissa was my friend, and I didn¡¯t want to hide things from her. So I told her everything¨Cabout volunteering at the charity and the donation. ¡°Wait, that donation of yours created a tech mogul?¡± She¡¯d seen his business card¨Cthe same guy I¡¯d helped was now Nathan 1/3 Hallman, a 27¨Cyear¨Cold rising star who was killing it in the tech world. I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d never actually met him, and I didn¡¯t even know who he was. Back then, people talked about this genius kid- how his family went bankrupt and how his dad died following their financial ruin. ¡°I was helping out with the Hobs¡® charity work at the time. When I heard his story, I donated 250 grand to him.¡± ¡°Victoria, you¡¯ve got a real gift for investments. Your instincts are spot¨Con,¡± Melissa said, giving me an impressed thumbs¨Cup. I gave a wry smile. ¡°It was Jared¡¯s money, not mine. If anyone deserves credit, it¡¯s Jared.¡± Melissa burst outughing, pping her knee. ¡°This is perfect. Jared financed his own romanticpetitor. Imagine how pissed he¡¯ll be when he finds out.¡± I quickly covered her mouth. ¡°Keep your voice down. If anyone hears you, we¡¯re through as friends.¡± Melissa leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re really divorcing Jared? Need me to handle the paperwork? It¡¯s what I do best¨Cmy treat.¡± Her serious expression made meugh. ¡°Alright, draft something up for me to review.¡± ¡°Do you think Jared will give you half?¡± Melissa asked, her eyes alight with curiosity. I shook my head. ¡°Probably not. I don¡¯t expect half. Even ten percent of his fortune wouldst me a lifetime.¡± ¡°Jared¡¯s never been stingy with you. Honestly, he¡¯d probably hand over whatever you needed without you asking.¡± Melissa studied me, her usual teasing tone softening. ¡°But Victoria¡­ when you walked down that aisle, did you ever think it would end in divorce?¡± For all her blunt humor, she asked with genuine care. ¡°Who goes into marriage thinking about divorce?¡± I said bitterly. ¡°We were all in, picturing silver anniversaries, matching rocking chairs, a house full of kids¡­¡± ¡°Maybe we romanticized marriage too much,¡± Melissa interrupted. ¡°Truth is, it¡¯s just a partnership. Pick right, you¡¯re golden. Pick wrong¡­¡± ¡°Cut your losses early,¡± I finished. She nodded with a knowing smile. ¡°Exactly. We¡¯re still young enough to try again.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m done with rtionships. Men and women are all the same. The magic always fades. Why not just keep dating? Always have someone new to love and be loved by.¡± Melissa stared at me in disbelief. ¡°Wow, since when do you talk like that, Victoria?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t use to,¡± I said, pulling her toward my parked car. ¡°Now I do.¡± A sleek Maybach stood out just a few parking spots away¨Cunmistakably Nathan¡¯s car. We¡¯d barely buckled up when Nathan and his assistant approached. I hit the gas before they could reach us. That afternoon, I returned to thepany to discuss the hotel handover when Jared summoned me to his office. I kept my expression carefully nk, refusing to meet his gaze. ¡°About night¡­ I was out of line.¡± So this wasn¡¯t about work, but an apology. I turned my face away, pressing my lips together in silence. Jared stood and extended a navy blue box toward me. ¡°I got you this.¡± I nced at it but didn¡¯t take it. He grabbed my hand and pressed the box into my palm. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡± I gripped the box tightly, willing my eyes to turn red. Jared leaned against his desk, his deep¨Cset eyes studying me. When I remained silent, he sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll invest one hundred million in your business. Will that help?¡± My reddened eyes darted to his face. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± Loose 27 Chapter 27 Jared¡¯s apology seemed genuine enough,ing with both a gift and a substantial investment offer. But I wouldn¡¯t forgive him, nor would I ever let him matter to me again. Even if he broke up with Tracy tomorrow, he¡¯d be nothing more than a useful contact now¨Csomeone to leverage but never let influence my life. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to open it?¡± A flicker of disappointment crossed his face as he noticed myck of interest. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s expensive,¡± I said, making a show of wiping my eyes. ¡°I should go.¡± Jared remained silent as I walked out. Right outside the office, I spotted Tracying toward me, her arms full of documents. I¡¯d been absent from the office and never realized how many projects Tracy managed. The office gossip surprised me¡ªshe wasn¡¯t justpetent, but downright impressive. And she wasn¡¯t some middle¨Css girl either¨Cher family was wealthy. She wasn¡¯t here for the sry; Jared was her real target all along. In my previous life, Jared had hidden her well, forbidding me from making scenes or interfering. To keep me quiet, he¡¯d showered me with materialforts whilepletely neglecting me emotionally. Tracy must have truly loved Jared. I¡¯d heard she terminated her first pregnancy just to calm Yvonne down. When Jared learned what she¡¯d done, his anger melted into pity, and he gifted herpany stock and a vi aspensation. At this memory, my face hardened as I pushed open my office door. When Tracy unexpectedly knocked, I prepared for confrontation, only to find her delivering documents. ¡°Mrs. Hob, here¡¯s my analysis of the hotel¡¯s financial reports with rmendations. You might want to review them. After six years away, your professional knowledge must be quite outdated. ¡°Let me know if you need anything. If I can¡¯t help you personally, I have connections,¡± Tracy said, meeting my eyes with unexpected warmth. Her tone suggested she saw me not as a rival, but as someone Jared cared about. I couldn¡¯t tell if this came from supreme confidence or genuine kindness toward a romanticpetitor. If she meant it kindly, I might actually withdraw gracefully. But if this was just arrogance¨Cif she didn¡¯t even consider me worthpeting against¨Cthat would be humiliating. Tracy had every advantage¨Ca wealthy background, top marks in finance from abroad, and connections in all the right circles. Her morous hobbies, from downhill skiing to weekend racing, gave her minor celebrity status in those scenes. No wonder she viewed me as just another unremarkable housewife. ¡°How thoughtful of you. The rumors about your generosity are clearly true,¡± I said with practiced sweetness. My performance outshone even hers. I stood and offered my hand. ¡°Everyone knows you¡¯re the best at what you do, Tracy. I¡¯d appreciate your help. This paperwork¡¯s been killing me.¡± Tracy smiled warmly as she shook my hand. ¡°No need to be so formal, Mrs. Hob. Helping you is part of my job.¡± ¡°Let me take you to lunch sometime,¡± I said with a grateful smile. ¡°We should bring Yvonne along,¡± Tracy replied. ¡°She¡¯s such a sweetheart.¡± 1 nodded. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s always telling me how kind you are.¡± When Tracy left, I turned back to my desk and caught Jared watching us through his office window, his face unreadable. I focused on my documents, ignoring Jared¡¯s gaze. Let him think what he wanted¨CI¡¯d match Tracy¡¯s act move for move. If she thought me unworthy as an opponent, she was about to get a rude awakening. At around five, Jared called my office. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s going stir¨Ccrazy at home. Let¡¯s take her out for an early dinner.¡± I had zero interest in a family outing. ¡°I¡¯m buried in work,¡± I said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take her? And feel free to invite Tracy if Yvonne needspany.¡± ¡°Victoria,¡± Jared cut in sharply when I brought up Tracy again. ¡°Tracy¡¯s not family, and Yvonne is our responsibility.¡± The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me¨Che was so careful to protect Tracy from domestic duties. His protectiveness spoke volumes. ¡°Fine then,¡± I said. ¡°But I¡¯m bringing work. There are things we need to discuss.¡± If I had to y happy family, I¡¯d make it painful for him. ¡°We¡¯re done for the day¨Cno more work talk.¡± Jared¡¯s voice hardened. ¡°Victoria, some people are born with talent. Others develop it over time. You don¡¯t need to push yourself as Tracy does¨Cyou¡¯re not her.¡± My face went cold. So in Jared¡¯s eyes, Tracy¡¯s brilliance came naturally, while all my efforts amounted to nothing more than pathetic imitation. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, darling.¡± I sighed dramatically. ¡°If Tracy were your wife, you¡¯d have that storybook marriage¨Cperfect harmony. ¡°What a shame you ended up with me¨Call effort, no talent. Do you ever regret settling down so early? Before you could find your perfect match?¡± My tone walked that fine line between yful and poisonous. ¡°Victoria, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jared snapped, exactly as I¡¯d predicted. My words had struck a nerve, and his outburst was nothing but a cover for his panic. I melted into a sweet smile as I apologized, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, darling. I was just being honest. We both know I¡¯m the inferior partner here.¡± ¡°Recognize your ws and improve them. I¡¯m not looking down on you, so don¡¯t give up on yourself.¡± With that, Jared hung up before I could respond. Loose 28 Chapter 28 I avoided mother¨Cdaughter bonding whenever possible. But when forced, I endured it. Jared drove us himself while his driver collected Yvonne. My memories from before were fading, and this life wasn¡¯t following the same script. I had no idea what would happen next -but whatever it was, I refused to be walked over again. Jared had chosen an upscale Fnsia bistro. When we arrived, Yvonne was sprawled across the sofa, her young face already bearing the cynical expression that didn¡¯t belong on a child. ¡°You¡¯rete,¡± Yvonne said by way of greeting, her voice dripping with teenage disdain. ¡°We hit some traffic,¡± Jared offered quietly. ¡°Order whatever you¡¯d like, sweetheart.¡± ¡°I want chocte, ice cream, and all the greasy fried food,¡± Yvonne demanded, proving once again that forbidden treats were always the most tempting. In my previous life, I¡¯d kept strict bans on these ¡°unhealthy¡± foods, leading to endless tantrums as Yvonne fought for every bite. Jared looked to me for support, and then murmured when I stayed silent, ¡°Those will upset your stomach, sweetheart. You don¡¯t want to end up at the doctor¡¯s.¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s saying no again, isn¡¯t she?¡± Yvonne curled into a defensive ball, her small back turned to us. ¡°It¡¯s not fair. Grown¨Cups eat whatever they want!¡± ¡°Let her have what she wants,¡± I said, sinking into the chair beside Jared. ¡°Since when do we allow this?¡± Jared¡¯s eyebrows shot up at my sudden change of heart. I smiled. ¡°Look how upset she is. Children have so few choices. We adults get to pick every meal, while they eat what we decide. From now on, I won¡¯t be so strict about what you eat, Yvonne. Go ahead and order whatever you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Her whole face brightened as she scrambled over to cling to my arm. ¡°Mom, you should¡¯ve done this ages ago. Then I wouldn¡¯t have yelled at you. Dad, hurry up and order.¡± Despite his frown, Jared ordered Yvonne¡¯s preferred dishes first before selecting the house specialties¨Cthe wine¨Cpaired steak, foie gras, and caviar. Fine dining was one area where he neverpromised. When Jared¡¯s phone rang, he excused himself to take the call outside. Soon, the server brought Yvonne¡¯s cake, and she immediately dug in with childish enthusiasm. ¡°Mom,¡± she said between. bites, ¡°my leg still hurts. Can I stay home a few more days?¡± I knew she just wanted to skip school and lounge around. Watching her hopeful expression, I took a slow sip of wine and said tly, ¡°Take it up with your father. It¡¯s fine by me either way.¡± ¡°Really? Mom, you¡¯re so much nicer now. I love you!¡± Yvonne immediately curled into my side, all warm affection. I smiled wryly. It figured¨Cthe parent who disciplined became the viin, but once they loosened the reins, love suddenly returned. Jared returned from his call and settled beside me, his phone face¨Cup on the table. When a text lit up the screen, my peripheral vision caught the sender¨CTracy, probably. Jared barely nced at it and left it unanswered. Yvonne worked her way through fried chicken, ice cream, and finally a whole chocte bar, radiating contentment. Loose 29 Chapter 29 When the steaks arrived, Jared cut Yvonne¡¯s portion into pieces, but she pushed her te away, too full. With a sigh, he turned and noticed me still sipping my wine. ¡°Would you like me to cut yours?¡± he offered. I¡¯m fine.¡± I understood this was simply his upbringing showing¨Cthe reflexive good manners of a man trained from birth in proper etiquette, not actual care. We ate without conversation, the only sound being Jared¡¯s phone buzzing with another message from Tracy¨Cwhich he continued to ignore. We maintained the ritual of family dinners, though ours contained none of the warmth those words suggested. When dinner ended, Jared stood abruptly. ¡°I have things to handle. Take Yvonne home.¡± We both knew where he was going. I answered with a single ¡°Fine,¡± scooped up Yvonne, and retreated to the car. ¡°Dad, where are you going? Can Ie?¡± Yvonne asked, her tone suddenly brightening as if she¡¯d guessed who he was meeting. ¡°Please? There¡¯s nothing to do at home.¡± He wouldn¡¯t bring her, of course. His evening with Tracy required privacy. ¡°Another time,¡± Jared declined. ¡°This is grown¨Cup business.¡± Yvonne slumped against me with a disappointed sigh. I urged the driver to leave immediately, yet an indescribable sorrow welled up inside me. My husband didn¡¯t even bother hiding his affair. What did that make me, the actual wife? Everyone imed the first marriage mattered most, while the others were just temporary. But bing less than the other woman? That was the cruelest joke of all. When we got home, Yvonne begged me for a bedtime story. I picked up a book and read until she drifted off to sleep. After tucking her in, I headed back to the master bedroom. As expected, Jared never came home that night. But I slept just fine¨Cbefore closing my eyes, I let myself think about Nathan for a while. He really was handsome. The next morning, Jared called to ask if I¡¯d taken Yvonne to school. After all, her leg injury was almost healed by now. When I said she still didn¡¯t feel like going and wanted more time off, he just told me to humor her. I remembered how, in my previous life, I¡¯d already mapped out Yvonne¡¯s entire schedule¨Cpiano on Mondays and Wednesdays, dance and violin on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and all¨Cday tutoring on Fridays to prep her for elementary school,plete with Englysian speaking drills. Day after day, I dragged little Yvonne to tutoring sessions, never missing a single one. Back then, Yvonne¡¯s eyes burned with resentment whenever she looked at me. My relentless demands must have driven her straight to Tracy. I pushed her to study until she copsed from exhaustion, while Tracy spoiled her with outings, toys, and pretty dresses. For her birthday, Tracy even secretly took her to Jsburg for three whole days. Now I wondered why I¡¯d put us through all that. Raising our daughter was never just my job. Since Jared couldn¡¯t be troubled to contribute, I saw no reason to keep forcing the issue. I resolved to let her grow naturally and find happiness¨Cthe very things she had always longed for. I was already at my desk when Tracy strolled in around ten, looking thoroughly satisfied. As we passed in the hallway, my eyes instinctively searched for any marks Jared might have left on her, but her pristine cor revealed nothing. Jared didn¡¯te in until noon. The moment he entered my office, I recognized Tracy¡¯s signature rose scent on him. Loose 30 Chapter 30 Jared¡¯s first question was about my lunch ns. The scent of roses intensified as he approached. I schooled my features into indifference. ¡°Cafeteria.¡± Ourpany cafeteria would make me special dishes if I asked. He watched me for a moment. ¡°Come to lunch with me and some friends.¡± Jared¡¯s inner circle consisted of three childhood friends¨Ctwo men and a woman, one couple dating since college. In six years of marriage, I¡¯d met them maybe five times. His invitation caught me off guard. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Not that I minded going if he wanted me there. ¡°Why not? They know you.¡± His eyes traveled over my outfit. ¡°When did you get this? I don¡¯t remember seeing it before.¡± I gave a small smile. ¡°Complete closet overhaul. What do you think of the dress?¡± Jared¡¯s lips thinned slightly. ¡°Meet me downstairs in ten.¡± Men were so predictable. For years, Jared hadn¡¯t noticed what I wore, but this curve¨Chugging dress suddenly made me visible. If visual appeal was what worked, I¡¯d y the game. If he saw me as nothing but a trophy, I might as well look like one. His sudden interest in showing me off to friends spoke volumes. So that was my role¨Cnothing more than a shiny essory. He didn¡¯t bring me along as his wife, but as another one of his status symbols. When I slid into his car ten minutester, I immediately closed my eyes. Then his warm fingers intertwined with mine. My eyes snapped open to find his hand holding tight. He examined my fingers with care. ¡°Your hands are so soft,¡± he murmured. ¡°All that extra care you¡¯ve been taking shows.¡± I let him keep holding them. ¡°Beauty doesn¡¯te cheap,¡± I said dryly. ¡°I¡¯ve been spending a fortely.¡± ¡°Good thing I can afford it.¡± He pulled a tinum card from his pocket. ¡°Your birthday¡¯s the PIN.¡± I took it with a smile. ¡°How could I ever let you go when you spoil me like this?¡± I¡¯d said it lightly, but Jared wasn¡¯tughing. His hand mped down on mine. ¡°Are you seriously thinking about leaving me?¡± I pouted slightly. ¡°I just mean¡­ feelings can change unexpectedly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± He squeezed my other hand, and then stiffened. ¡°Where¡¯s your wedding ring?¡± A cold dread washed over me. I¡¯d promised on our wedding day never to remove it. 1 feigned surprise perfectly. ¡°Oh no, where is it? Did I lose it?¡± Jared¡¯s forehead creased. ¡°A diamond ring doesn¡¯t just disappear.¡± ¡°It must be because I lost weight,¡± I said softly. ¡°I dropped from 132 to 110 pounds. Sorry, sweetheart, that ring cost a fortune.¡± My act convinced himpletely. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said, patting my hand. ¡°We¡¯ll buy a recement this afternoon.¡± ¡°No need. I have others at home.¡± Truth was, I¡¯d rather have the cash equivalent than another ring from him. ¡°Those don¡¯t count. They¡¯re just everyday jewelry.¡± Jared was old¨Cfashioned that way. In his mind, only he could buy my wedding band, and I had to wear it forever. ¡°Darling, why don¡¯t you give me the money and let me choose my own ring?¡± I dropped the pretense and spoke my mind directly. Jared frowned slightly when his phone rang. He kept hold of my hand, absentmindedly stroking my fingers while he took the call. After hanging up, Jared said, ¡°I¡¯ve got things to do this afternoon. Go pick it out yourself¨CI¡¯ll have the money sent to you.¡± ¡°Thanks, darling,¡± I said sweetly, leaning against his arm and conveniently forgetting to mention the card he¡¯d just given me. If Jared sent the money, I¡¯d quietly save it all. As for the wedding ring, some thrift store ring would do¨Cthat was all his Jove was worth. When we arrived at the restaurant, Jared¡¯s friends were already there¨Call around our age, all from the same privileged circles. The only difference was that while they still relied on family allowances, Jared had already taken over the family business. Same privileged upbringing, but he was clearly the most capable. ¡°Oh, you brought Victoria!¡± a bright female voice called out cheerfully. The woman, Sandra Lynn, was dressed casually but elegantly. With her delicate features and the soft lilt of her Shaville ent, she had that ssic, refined beauty. Having met me previously, they were all quite at ease. Jared made the announcement. ¡°Victoria¡¯s joining the business. I¡¯m putting her in charge of the Harmonia Hotel.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± said Wendell Wright, Sandra¡¯s boyfriend. He was easygoing but had a wicked tongue. The other guy, George Thomson, was the more level¨Cheaded one. I didn¡¯t know them well¨Courst meeting had been over two years ago, and I¡¯d never bothered to.ask how they were doing. Then again, rich kids never sit still for long. We lounged on the balcony, soaking up the sun while waiting for lunch. Their conversation drifted to market trends, and I listened without jumping in. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight, Victoria. And your style¡¯s improved,¡± Sandra remarked. Women always sized each other up, and she¡¯d been eyeing me before tossing out thepliment. Just like that, the attention shifted to me¨Calong with the conversation. 2/3 Jared smiled. ¡°Victoria was always a bit slow to mature, still so childlike until recently. She seems to being into her own now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve been spoiling her rotten. You never gave her a reason to grow up,¡± Wendell said with a chuckle. Jared¡¯s expression froze momentarily at the remark. Sandra pinched Wendell¡¯s arm. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Are you saying Jared isn¡¯t loving enough now, so she had to mature?¡± Jared¡¯s gaze fixed on me, piercing and intense. I simply smiled without responding. Loose 31 Chapter 31 George took a sip of coffee. ¡°Ms. Murphy has had a child and reached a certain age. Maturity was inevitable,¡± he said. I nced at George. He wasn¡¯t wrong, but it was interesting he¡¯d addressed me as ¡°Ms. Murphy¡± rather than the casual ¡°Victoria.¡± Jared let out a tired sigh. ¡°She was so easy when she was little. Now she¡¯s a teenager who talks back constantly, and I don¡¯t know how to deal with her anymore.¡± Sandra smiled knowingly. ¡°No one understands parenting like Victoria. She put her whole life on hold for six years to raise Yvonne¨Cthat kind of devotion shows.¡± I smiled bitterly to myself. Morality wasn¡¯t taught¨Cit was something people were born with or without, in as that. Lunch was served amid pleasant conversation. Jared made a show of putting food on my te¨Cthose carefully calcted husband gestures he¡¯d mastered. Sandra watched with undisguised envy while Wendell shoveled food into his mouth,pletely oblivious. Without Tracy, without Jared¡¯s betrayal, I might have called this a happy marriage. But that illusion had shattered long ago. After lunch, true to his word, Jared transferred the money. When he asked if I was going to the office that afternoon, I declined, saying I needed to visit the Harmonia Hotel site instead. He arranged for his driver to take me while he left with George. After six years of marriage, we¡¯d settled into afortable routine¨Call the passion spent, our conversations as predictable as the tide. Was this what happened to all marriages eventually? Or was ours uniquely empty? ***** The Harmonia Hotel upied two buildings in a prime location, though its aging facilities showed their years. While its reputation kept upancy decent, the declining numbers spelled an inevitable end. Night had fallen by the time I finished my inspection. I left with photographs and blueprints tucked under my arm. Yvonne was happily upied with her new pony, though I¡¯d resolved to send her back to school the next day. Jared returned for dinner in his usual suit, shrugging off his jacket as he entered. I didn¡¯t look up from the hotel documents spread across myp until I felt his gaze. There was a time when I¡¯d rush to greet him, taking his coat to hang up while asking about dinner and even offering to draw his bath. Today, however, I didn¡¯t even shift on the couch. Jared waited a beat before taking his coat upstairs himself. ¡°Dad, look at my drawing!¡± Yvonne called from the stairs. Then her voice turned sulky. ¡°Mom won¡¯t y with me. Is she really going back to work? But you promised she¡¯d stay home with me forever.¡± I frowned at her words. When had Jared ever made that promise to her? ¡°Your mom should work if she wants to,¡± Jared murmured. ¡°You¡¯re a big girl now with school and friends. You¡¯ll have plenty to do¡± ¡°No!¡± Yvonne thumped down on the steps. ¡°I want Mom home. I¡¯m still little, and taking care of me is her job.¡± I couldn¡¯t even fake a smile when I heard that. They said love should go both ways, but while I gave her my whole heart, all she wanted was to keep me prisoner in our home. Yvonne¡¯s version of love was pure selfishness wrapped in control. ¡°Yvonne, stop being unreasonable,¡± Jared said sternly, realizing how self¨Cabsorbed his daughter had be¨Ca clear parenting failure. ¡°Your mother and I won¡¯t always be around. You need to learn independence.¡± ¡°Dad¡­¡± Yvonnepletely disregarded my words but perked up at her father¡¯s voice, putting on that childish pout she thought was cute. ¡°This discussion is over. You¡¯re going to school tomorrow,¡± Jared dered before striding upstairs. Yvonne came storming down with a scowl, and when she saw the documents in my hands, she grabbed them with every intention of tearing them apart. Without hesitation, I struck out, my hand connecting with her arm. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Yvonne screamed. ¡°You¡¯re not my mom. Get out!¡± Yvonne¡¯s temper was getting worse by the day, and it stunned me. Jared and I were both calm people¨Cso why did she fly off the handle over the smallest things? Then it clicked. Jared¡¯s sister¨Cmy sister¨Cinw¨Chad the same explosive temper. Maybe it was in their blood. ¡°Go stand outside for thirty minutes,¡± I said coldly, pointing to the door. ¡°No!¡± Yvonne hesitated for a split second before crossing her arms defiantly. ¡°Then no dinner for you.¡± I knew I had to rein her in. ¡°I¡¯ll just sneak food,¡± she shot back with a huff. Looking at my spoiled little tyrant, I felt a pang of regret. They said too much love bred rebellion¨Cnow I knew it firsthand. ¡°Yvonne, starting tomorrow, there will be rules,¡± I said. ¡°Break them, and you¡¯ll face the consequences.¡± With that, I turned and walked upstairs. Other kids learned discipline early. At six, she was already pushing limits¨Cif I didn¡¯t act now, she¡¯d run wild. ¡°How dare you!¡± Yvonne nted her hands on her hips, her voice shrill. ¡°Just wait till I tell Grandma about this.¡± Upstairs, I nearly collided with Jared stepping out of the shower. In sweatpants and a t¨Cshirt, he looked younger¨Cmore like the man I¡¯d first fallen for than the polished executive in suits. I¡¯d be lying if I said his looks and bank ount hadn¡¯t drawn me in initially. Six yearster, his disciplined gym routine kept him just as attractive. Now, the sight hit me with unexpected nostalgia. Jared leaned against the hallway wall, studying me. ¡°That face again,¡± he said. ¡°What did Yvonne do this time?¡± ¡°You deal with her,¡± I sighed, my voice full of defeat. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quitting talk,¡± he said, his voice hardening. ¡°She¡¯s just a kid. We¡¯ll figure this out.¡± ? } Jared blinked at my outburst. Then, in one fluid motion, he drew me into his arms. I Ìï A5 Comment Loose 32 When Jared hugged me, all I could think about was how another woman had been in his arms and how her perfume still lingered on him. My body stiffened before I could stop it. I stepped back quickly, then turned and fled to my bedroom. Since our daughter was born, Jared and I had maintained separate bedrooms. He only visited mine when he wanted sex. Most nights, he slept alone in the guest room, leaving me the master suite to myself. I didn¡¯t care whether my rejection wounded him. I remained in my room until dinner called me downstairs. Downstairs, I found Jared helping Yvonne feed her pony. When Wendy announced dinner, they washed up and took their ces at the table. ¡°Dad,¡± Yvonne whined the instant she saw me, clutching Jared¡¯s arm, ¡°Mom hasn¡¯t made fried meatballs in forever. Can you make her cook some now?¡± Jared met my eyes. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s begging for your meatballs. Feel like making some?¡± Wendy stood beside the dining table, her eyes darting between the spread of dishes she¡¯d just prepared and my indifferent expression. ¡°I¡¯m not cooking tonight,¡± I said tly, not moving from my chair. ¡°There¡¯s more than enough food here.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t eat any of this,¡± Yvonne announced, crossing her arms stubbornly. ¡°I only want Mom¡¯s meatballs.¡± Jared knew Yvonne¡¯s eating habits all too well¡ªthe aversion to spices and the limited pte. I¡¯d spent years coaxing just a few bites into her.
These days, Wendy made three separate dishes at every meal just for her. Yet here she was, stillining. I figured this was her revenge for me bringing up those rules. ¡°Actually, meatballs sound good,¡± Jared said, taking her side as usual. ¡°Why don¡¯t you whip some up?¡± I nearlyughed out loud. ¡°Darling,¡± I asked, ¡°do you have any clue how long proper meatballs take to make?¡± ¡°At least thirty minutes,¡± Wendy added helpfully. ¡°And that¡¯s before all the kneading to get the texture just right.¡± ¡°That long?¡± Jared looked surprised. ¡°I figured it would take five minutes.¡± Seeing Jared¡¯s reaction, Yvonne pouted. ¡°Dad, I only want meatballs. If Mom won¡¯t make them, I¡¯m not eating tonight.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t eat.¡± My patience was wearing thin. She knew exactly how to manipte me. These outrageous demands had worked every time before, so she assumed persistence would make me give in again. But this time, I refused to y along. Jared rubbed his temples. ¡°Just eat something,¡± he said wearily. ¡°We¡¯ll grab burgerster if you¡¯re still hungry.¡± Yvonne made a show of sighing before dragging her spoon through her food. ¡°Fine.¡± I finished my meal in silence and retreated upstairs. Let them figure out their own drama¨CI was done for the night. The tension from yesterday carried into the morning. I ignored Yvonne, and she returned the favor with icy silence until Jared whisked her off to school. I got to the office a little after ten. My first order of business was finding someone to draft the new project¡¯s blueprints¨Cnot like I was short on work. If anything, my te was full. Jared had always treated me like just a housewife, never taking my abilities seriously. But when he saw how swiftly I jumped into action, his eyes took on a new, measuring look. Tracy had amanding presence in thepany¡¯s big decisions, and everyone fell in line under her. Jared trusted her judgmentpletely and backed every call she made. Loose 33 Chapter 33 There was no mistaking it now¨CJared had be every inch the capitalist. He delegated the daily operations to others, reserving for himself only the big decisions that kept thepany on course. Next to Tracy¡¯s influence, I was still an outsider. And being Jared¡¯s wife put me in this weird spot¨Cnot quite part of the team yet impossible to ignore. People made sure to keep their gossip out of earshot when I was around. Still, secrets never stayed buried for long. When I stepped into the restroom, I immediately heard voices outside. ¡°You think Mrs. Hob suddenly decided to work here because she¡¯s feeling insecure?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be real¨Cshe¡¯s just a housewife. There¡¯s no way she canpare to Tracy. I mean, Tracyes from money, she¡¯s highly educated, and toppanies are practically fighting over her. ¡°Tracy¡¯s Mr. Hob¡¯s most valuable employee. Do you really think he would be stupid enough to pick anyone else? Honestly, Mrs. Hob should stop making a fuss. Every penny she spendses from Tracy¡¯s work.¡± Still, you have to admit, Mrs. Hob is stunning. Like, next¨Clevel gorgeous.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, what else would Mr. Hob see in her? Just the pretty face, obviously.¡± ¡°If I looked like that, I¡¯d never close the bathroom door.¡± ¡°Ugh, what do I have to do to get a face like that? Then maybe I could find a husband like Mr. Hob¨Chandsome, wealthy, and sessful.¡± ¡°But what if you had to go up against someone like Tracy?¡± ¡°Who cares? As long as he gives me the money¨Cthat¡¯s all I¡¯m after.¡± ¡°Shhh, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± I stayed hidden until the women finished gossiping. It hit me that the whole office knew about Tracy and Jared. Those two made me sick with their shameless affair. The betrayal cut deep, but what stung worse was my own helplessness. All I could do was choke down my rage for now. Closing my eyes, I faced reality. Even with this second chance, changing this situation, getting the money, and taking back my life wouldn¡¯te easily. The Hobs moved in different circles. Jared was no average husband, and Tracybined wealth with ruthless patience. and a schemer¡¯s mind. In my previous life, she¡¯d been the wife in everything but name,manding Jared¡¯splete devotion while skillfully managing his business affairs. Without the official title, she nheless enjoyed the most enviable life a woman could want. As the water ran in the background, I gripped the counter, knowing exactly what needed to be done. First came divorce and my fair share of the money. Then I¡¯d walk away from both my daughter and husband for the career and freedom I needed. The weather turned strange this afternoon. By four o¡¯clock, thick clouds had swallowed the city sky, thunder growling in the distance. I stood at the window, my heart heavier than the storm clouds outside. Running a business properly required so much more than I¡¯d imagined. Seeing Jared and Tracy¡¯spetence only highlighted how inadequate I was inparison. A deep thunderp shook the air, and suddenly, rain came pelting down, drumming against the windowpanes. Jared appeared in the doorway without warning. ¡°I had Tracy pick up Yvonne,¡± he said. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± I turned to face the handsome man in his tailored suit. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me¨Csince when did Jared seek my permission? He¡¯d never bothered before. ¡°Tracy must be overwhelmed with work already,¡± I said, forcing gratitude into my smile. ¡°It¡¯s very kind of her to fetch our daughter.¡± Jared¡¯s gaze turned searching. ¡°Have you heard any office gossip since you started working here?¡± AD Loose 34 The storm howled outside, rain hammering against the windows as Jared¡¯s words made my blood run cold. Why was he asking this now? Was he worried I¡¯d discovered his secret, or was this his way ofing clean? Would he sit me down again to negotiate his rtionship with Tracy, just like before? My mind raced with questions. Back then, I¡¯d been such a fool, clinging to that worthless marriage certificate, refusing to surrender my ce. This time around, I would dly ept if Jared offered the same deal again, taking only the money and nothing more when I left. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Got something to hide?¡± I asked, forcing a teasing tone I didn¡¯t feel. Jared was dangerous¨Ca man who could smile while burning with rage inside, and then retaliate in ways his victims never anticipated. I couldn¡¯t risk provoking him. If he dropped the act of caring about our marriage, I¡¯d lose everything. My safest move was to take the money and run. As for child support, I knew that wasn¡¯ting. Jared¡¯s gaze lingered on my face. After a long pause, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t believe anything you hear. They¡¯re just rumors without substance. Yvonne is still young, and we need to think of her first.¡± I stared at him in disbelief, unable to reconcile this behavior with the Jared I knew. His suggestion to ignore the rumors while using our daughter¡¯s youth as justification made me wonder if he was avoiding confessing his affair with Tracy. I couldn¡¯t help but recognize the pattern. He had broken his promises but wouldn¡¯t admit it, making me question myself while denying every rumor. Still, I knew one truth¨Crumors didn¡¯t start without reason, and gossip usually contained some truth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, darling,¡± I said, stepping closer with a carefully crafted smile. ¡°You¡¯re the only one I trust.¡± Jared¡¯s expression softened as he reached to brush a stray lock of hair from my face. ¡°How are you settling in at thepany? You seem genuinelymitted to making this work.¡± ¡°I am serious,¡± I replied, turning toward the rain¨Csmeared window. ¡°You should go home ahead of me. Yvonne and I¡­ we¡¯re still not on speaking terms. I doubt she wants to see me right now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I had Tracy take Yvonne to my mom¡¯s ce. Tonight, it¡¯s just the two of us.¡± Jared¡¯s voice was low as he stepped closer behind me. I was wearing an off¨Cthe¨Cshoulder knit top, the fabric slipping just enough to reveal my smooth, glowing skin. Before he could finish, his lips brushed my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t workte. Go home early.¡± There was a roughness in his voice I. hadn¡¯t heard in years. Even on our honeymoon, he¡¯d been strangely proper about intimacy. He¡¯d always ask before kissing me, like we were still figuring out where the lines were. It seemed ridiculous now. What kind of married couple needed permission for every touch? Most people just let things happen when the vibe was right. But Jared never crossed a line. If I didn¡¯t say yes, he didn¡¯t push¨Cno kisses, no embraces, nothing. He was always so controlled, like a man without desire. Recently, I¡¯d been pushing boundaries¨Cdressing to provoke and challenging him at every turn. Yet here he was, kissing my bare shoulder in the office of all ces, murmuring for me to go home early. This wasn¡¯t the restrained Jared I knew. Loose 35 Chapter 35 ¡°Just let me finish these files first.¡± I wasn¡¯t about to make this easy for him. The more he demanded my obedience, the more I dug in my heels. ¡°Since when are files more important than your husband?¡± Jared¡¯s voice dropped dangerously low as his hands gripped my waist, pulling me back against him. ¡°Juste home early, okay?¡± His lips barely grazed my earlobe before he was gone, the office door clicking shut behind him. I stared at the empty doorway, trying to make sense of his sudden intensity. If he was that desperate, Tracy was always avable¨Cshe had proven herself quite skilled at keeping him entertained in ways I never bothered to learn. The memories from my previous life hit me hard¨Chow he¡¯d bragged about their adventures. They¡¯d done it under the stars, in his car, on a wolf¨Chowling hillside, in the gym¡¯s locker room, and even in the racetrack bathroom. Just thinking about it made my blood boil. If Tracy was so perfect, he was supposed to be with her instead. His evasiveness was all the answer I needed. If Jared kept dodging the divorce talk, I¡¯d have to make Tracy push him harder until her demands left him no room for evasion. The realization hit me with a dull ache. Men always had the upper hand in marriage. As long as a wife kept quiet, her husband could fool around while maintaining the perfect family facade. Because at their core, men still clung to that picture¨Cperfect domestic life. Yet women were the ones tearing each other apart over men. We schemed, backstabbed, and debased ourselves¨Call while the men sat back enjoying the show, smug as peacocks about their supposed worth. ** I came home well past nine to find Jared waiting in the living room. ¡°Where¡¯s the house staff?¡± I asked, frowning at the unusual silence. ¡°With Yvonne away, I gave them leave,¡± he said, setting aside hisptop. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°No.¡± My stomach growled in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re just in time. I told Wendy to keep your dinner warm.¡± Jared gave me his perfect¨Chusband smile, the one I knew was all for show. I studied his face, amazed at how convincing he looked. Tracy probably got the same sweet¨Cnothing act. No wonder Tracy had thrown away her inheritance to trail after him and used all her connections for the Hob family. Jared had that toxic charm that made women burn their lives down for him. I warmed the food and ate slowly at the table. Jared selected a bottle from the wine cab, pouring me half a ss. ¡°New vintage. You¡¯ll like this.¡± Jared had a passion for fine wine. He¡¯d invested in a Fnsian vineyard, starting what I knew would be another sessful business¨Cjust as it had been before. I sipped, and then gulped the entire ss. The anticipation of tonight¡¯s ¡°duties¡± left a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn¡¯t love Jared like I once had. Now I took my pleasure where I could get it. But sharing a bed with a man I knew had I been with others still turned my stomach. If getting drunk could dull this disgust, then maybe I should drink until I stopped feeling altogether. ¡°Slow down,¡± Jared said, rescuing the bottle. ¡°This isn¡¯t the kind of wine you want to overdo.¡± The wine left me warm and loose, sober enough to know better but drunk enough not to care. ¡°Carry me upstairs,¡± I demanded, holding out my arms like a spoiled princess expecting to be waited on. Jared paused, and then let out that lowugh of his that always got under my skin. ¡°Someone¡¯s feeling yful tonight?¡± Loose 36 Chapter 36 The alcohol kicked in, and for over an hour, we lost ourselves in the bedroom, where desire and passion flowed together naturally. After sex, instead of heading to the bathroom like he usually did, Jared wrapped his arms around me from behind. ¡°If you need any help with work, just let me know. I can find you a couple of professional managers to help you handle things.¡± ¡°No need,¡± I replied. Since it was my own business, I wanted to do it myself. Jared looked surprised and gently turned me toward him. Under the dim light, desire still lingered in my eyes. My face was flushed, aglow with happiness. Jared gazed at me for a long moment and then pinched my waist. ¡°I¡¯m honestly surprised at how capable you¡¯ve suddenly be.¡± I scoffed inwardly. I could be even more capable. I was going to divorce him and take my share of the money. ¡°Darling, did you take viagra?¡± I asked in a soft, teasing voice. ¡°What?¡± Jared said, staring at me in shock. ¡°Why would I need anything like that?¡± I smiled, burrowing into his arms and nuzzling against him. ¡°Then howe you¡¯re so¡­ vigorous?¡± Moments ago, Jared looked like he was about to get annoyed, but he instantly melted at my praise. He leaned down, kissed my cheek, and said in a low, husky voice, ¡°Isn¡¯t having such an amazing husband your biggest blessing?¡± ¡°Is it a blessing just for me?¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what came over me, but I just couldn¡¯t hold back from saying something a bit sharp. Jared froze for a second. Then it was like he lost all interest. He got out of bed, threw on a towel, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Sleep early.¡± I watched him walk out of the master bedroom. The night air from the window brushed against my bare skin, making me shiver slightly. When all the passion and heat faded away, Jared was still the same as ever. But I was no longer the desperate and stubborn woman who used to beg for his love. I slept well that night. Maybe it was because my body was exhausted, or maybe because my mind had finally settled. In the morning, I didn¡¯t bother getting up to make breakfast for Jared. He came over to my bed with two slices of bread and asked, ¡°Is the nut milk maker broken? I put the nuts in, but nothing¡¯sing out.¡± I nced at him and repliedzily, ¡°Did you put in dry nuts?¡± ¡°Or what?¡± Jared raised an eyebrow. ¡°You should¡¯ve soaked the nuts beforehand,¡± I replied. ¡°Oh, Jared grunted. Then he turned and headed downstairs. I knew Jared came upstairs expecting me to get up and make him breakfast, but I stayed in bed on purpose, refusing to budge. I just there, enjoying my morning nap. After a while, I heard Jared¡¯s car start downstairs. When he left, I finally got up, taking my sweet time to wash up and get dressed at my own pace. I was already tired of the clothes in my closet. It was time to hit the mall and refresh my wardrobe. This time, instead of just tossing the old ones out, I¡¯d drop them off at the secondhand market since most of them had barely been worn. Today, I switched up my style and wore a flowy floral dress with thin straps, showing off a hint of cleavage. A teardrop- shaped ne nestled between my curves, and a pair of pink pearl earrings added a ssh of color to my delicate face. After dying of illness in my previous life, I understood better than anyone that yesterday was gone for good. So today, I was determined to live boldly and keep my spirits high. When I walked into the office, I turned heads just like I expected. The women there couldn¡¯t help but shower me withpliments and then ask for fashion advice. 1 AD Loose 37 But I knew well that they¡¯d talk behind my back, saying I was trying to hold on to my ce as Jared¡¯s wife, dressing to impress every day. Since I couldn¡¯tpete with Tracy in career or skills, I had to rely on my looks. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t care less. As long as they didn¡¯t say it to my face, I¡¯d just turn a blind eye. Being talked about behind my back was just a roundaboutpliment. Jared looked grumpy all morning. Maybe he was just sulking because he missed his nut milk. He kept that sour expression on his face until noon. I couldn¡¯t care less about his mood. I just got on with my work and chatted with the designers. Around noon, Jared called to ask where I was. I told him I was still at the design studio and nned to grab lunch there. But Jared insisted I go to a restaurant near the office instead. His tone made it clear that I didn¡¯t have a choice. So I had no choice but to rush over. As soon as I stepped out of the car, a sudden gust of wind swept by. The wind blew through my flowy, floral chiffon dress and my waist¨Clength, softly curled hair, making them flutter. A few guys passing by couldn¡¯t take their eyes off me, especially when I quickly reached down to hold my skirt, looking a bit flustered. That brief moment of panic seemed to leave them stunned. With my head down and cheeks burning, I hurried into the restaurant. Jared had told me to head up to the second floor. When I got there, I realized his private room overlooked the parking lot. He was standing by the window, turning to look at me as I walked in. ¡°Honey, what¡¯s the specialty here?¡± I asked with a bright smile as I stepped inside. Jared just gave me a long, hard look, not saying a word. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I immediately nced down at myself, checking my outfit. ¡°Is there something wrong with the way I look?¡± Jared sat down, picked up his coffee cup, took a couple of sips, and then said, ¡°A lot of people at the office have been talking about youtely. So you want to be famous now?¡± I was a little surprised, but I sat down and poured myself a cup of coffee. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m dressing to impress too much? This is just normal for women. There¡¯s nothing wrong with what I¡¯m wearing.¡± ¡°You can wear those clothes, but not to the office. This is a workce, not your personal runway. Dress appropriately for work,¡± Jared said, his tone growing sharper. My fingers tightened around the coffee cup as I stared at him. ¡°You men are so funny. You want the flowers to bloom, but you won¡¯t let them see the sun,¡± Jared¡¯s eyes hardened, and his handsome face flushed with anger. I got pissed, too. My face tightened, and I turned away,pletely ignoring him. Jared seemed to realize he was supposed to be calm and easygoing. Losing his temper like that wasn¡¯t his style. He held back and spoke more softly, ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for you. You have no idea how many guys at the office are eyeing you up, wishing they could see what¡¯s under your clothes.¡± I let out a hum, realizing he was jealous. What a petty man he was. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t you feel proud when I look good?¡± I said softly, changing my approach and giving him my sweetest, most innocent look. ¡°You¡¯re already gorgeous. No need to go out of your way,¡± Jared said, staring at my face with fascination in his eyes. I looked him straight in the eye with a serious face and said, ¡°There¡¯s no one definition of beauty. Honestly, when I dress up, it just puts me in a better mood. ¡°Honey, if you don¡¯t like seeing me at the office, I¡¯ll just move my workspace to the Harmonia Hotel. I need to meet with the renovation designers there anyway.¡± Jared¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment, like he thought I was dodging the issue. He seemed to think I just ran away whenever he got mad, but that wasn¡¯t the right way to solve things. AD Loose 38 Chapter 38 I knew exactly what Jared was thinking. It was the same old double standard most men had. They wanted other men¡¯s wives to dress sexy, but their own wives had to be proper and elegant. It was so hypocritical. But I wasn¡¯t about to give up what I liked just because Jared didn¡¯t approve. He¡¯d never treated me badly in my previous life. He gave me everything I needed, except for love. But in this life, I chose not to love him. I wanted to reim the part of myself I¡¯d lost, and he couldn¡¯t control me anymore. ¡°Forget it. Just stay at thepany for now,¡± Jared said. He saw I was about to move out, but of course, he wouldn¡¯t let me. The delicious lunch was brought to the table. To my surprise, Jared had actually ordered my favorite dishes, braised chicken and beef Wellington. I stared at the tes in shock and then looked at him in disbelief. Unexpectedly, Jared avoided my eyes and said in a light tone, ¡°Let¡¯s dig in.¡± I picked up my fork, took a slow bite, and then said softly, ¡°Not bad at all.¡± When Jared saw the look of pleasure on my face, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You used to eat at home all the time. No wonder you haven¡¯t really tried so much good food outside.¡± I couldn¡¯t refute that. He was right. Back then, I was determined to be the ultimate supermom. There was no way I could possibly let my kids eat out every day. Most of the time, I handled everything in the kitchen myself. Sometimes, I would even spend the whole day perfecting a single dish. ¡°Thanks for the meal, honey,¡± I said with a smile. In Jared¡¯s eyes, I was just a sheltered woman, shut off from the world, the type who would light up at the smallest act of kindness. If it was what he believed, I was okay with it. I just needed to y my part and say what I was supposed to say. Anyway, he¡¯d ask for a divorce sooner orter. Tracy wouldn¡¯t wait around forever. Maybe in a few months, she and Jared might have their first child. If Tracy really did get an abortion for Yvonne or to focus on her career, I¡¯d honestly have to give her some credit. I¡¯d admire her for being willing to sacrifice everything just to win a man¡¯s sympathy and attention, no matter the cost. Sometimes, I had to admit that Tracy was a real badass. With her determination, she could achieve anything. But I wasn¡¯t going to follow her lead. I was done hurting myself for a man, and I was done bottling up my feelings just to make a guy happy. After lunch, Jared paid the bill and asked, ¡°Are you going out again this afternoon?¡± ¡°Yeah, I still need to discuss some design stuff with themter,¡± I replied. ¡°Do you even know anything about this?¡± Jared asked, clearly thinking I was just a rookie who always needed him to make decisions. ¡°I know a little,¡± I said. I¡¯d already submitted my design ideas and ns, and most of the next steps would be adjusted based on my requirements. 1/2 ¡°Alright then, looking forward to your masterpiece,¡± Jared said, not interfering further before heading back to the office. That evening, I was still working in the bedroom when Jared came in holding his phone. He said, ¡°It¡¯s Yvonne. Do you want to talk to her?¡± Without looking up, I said, ¡°No, don¡¯t bother. She¡¯s not calling for me anyway.¡± Jared went back to his study to keep chatting with Yvonne. A few minutester, he came back and leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, clearly annoyed. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re an adult. Why are you stooping to a kid¡¯s level? She¡¯s your precious daughter, and you won¡¯t even talk to her or care what she¡¯s up to. Since when did you get so heartless?¡± Jared grumbled, just like I expected. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Loose 39 Chapter 39 I nced at him with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to help her build some character. You know how she yells at me and has no respect for me anymore. If I let her get away with everything, we¡¯ll end up hating each other.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that serious. She¡¯s just a kid. No kid really holds a grudge against their mom,¡± Jared said, clearly thinking I was being too harsh. ¡°Yes, they do,¡± I said firmly. ¡°If her values get twisted, she¡¯ll hate me. And honestly, I might end up hating her, too.¡± Jared thought I was being unreasonable, so he went back to his study without saying another word. My thoughts were a mess. I leaned back in my chair and shut my eyes tightly. In my previous life, the older Yvonne got, the less respect she had for me. When she hit thirteen, her rebellious streak nearly broke me. She threatened to go on a hunger strike, and she even said she wanted to end her own life, so I had to watch her constantly. During that time, I was so worn out that I looked like I had aged ten years overnight with dark circles under my eyes. It was not going to happen to me again. I still had to teach her, but I¡¯d do it with a firm hand to make sure that she had the right values and learned to control her emotions. I wasn¡¯t about to go through another round of her rebellious phases ever again. The next day, I was back at work, focusing on design. Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was dark outside when my phone rang. A deep voice came through. ¡°Victoria, it¡¯s Nathan.¡± He just called me Victoria so casually with no respect at all. I was his benefactor. He should at least call me Mrs. Hob. ¡°How old are you this year, Mr. Hallman?¡± I asked with a smile. ¡°Twenty¨Cseven,¡± he replied. ¡°Oh, I thought you were younger than me,¡± I said. It felt good to talk with him a little after a long day. ¡°Do I look that young?¡± Nathan asked, sounding pleased. ¡°Sure, young man,¡± I said honestly. He let out a low chuckle on the other end. ¡°So, any ns for tonight?¡± ¡°Just going home to take care of my husband,¡± I answered. I wasn¡¯t trying to flirt with Nathan, so I had no problem bringing up my husband to set some boundaries. The time Nathan said he was interested in me, things got a little too risky. I couldn¡¯t let him cross that line again. ¡°Oh,¡± Nathan said, his excitement gone, like I¡¯d dumped ice water on him. ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯m going to hang up now. I¡¯m a bit busy,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°Alright, bye,¡± Nathan replied, waiting for me to end the call. 1/2 Then I hung up without hesitation. By the time night fell, Jared showed up at the door of the design studio. At that moment, I was in the middle of a design discussion, with the projector showing a series of images on the screen. Someone recognized him and stepped forward to greet him. ¡°Hi, Mr. Hob. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up my wife for dinner,¡± Jared said calmly. I turned to look at him, realizing it was time to wrap up. I walked over and asked, ¡°How did you find me here?* ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re meeting someone for dinner,¡± Jared said, his expression cold as he turned and walked out. I quickly packed up and followed him, asking, ¡°So, who are we having dinner with tonight?¡± Jared didn¡¯t answer. He just sat quietly in the back seat, his face unreadable. I had no idea what he was mad about this time. He was acting all gloomy and passive¨Caggressive. When we got to the hotel, Jared led me to the third floor, where the business dining rooms were. He opened the door to a private room. Inside, there were a dozen or so people. But when I saw Nathan sitting at the head of the table, my eyes widened in surprise. AD Loose 40 Chapter 40 Before I could fully process what was happening, Jared started introducing me to the room. ¡°Everyone, this is my wife, Victoria.¡± ¡°Hello, Mrs. Hob,¡± someone said. ¡°Mr. Hob, you¡¯re a lucky man. Your wife is young and beautiful,¡± another person added. Jared smiled politely and led me right over to Nathan. There was an empty seat next to Nathan, and Jared sat down, making me sit beside him. ¡°Victoria, this is Mr. Hallman. We¡¯ve worked with him a lot,¡± Jared said, not realizing Nathan and I already knew each other. He was serious about the introduction. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Hob,¡± Nathan said, shaking my hand with a polite smile. I nced at Jared, and he didn¡¯t react at all, so I shook Nathan¡¯s hand. But to my surprise, Nathan didn¡¯t let go right away. He kept holding my hand and asked, ¡°May I ask where you work, Mrs. Hob?¡± I felt a little freaked out. Jared was right there, but Nathan was still looking at me with those intense eyes. Jared didn¡¯t seem to notice anything. It made sense, though. He was sure I only had eyes for him, that he was my one and only, and that no man could ever take me away. It made my heart tighten a little. It was said that good men weren¡¯t up for grabs. Maybe Jared thought of me the same way, like I was just as untouchable as he was. Jared smiled and said, ¡°My wife¡¯s been a bit bored at home, so she¡¯s looking for something to do. I¡¯m nning to let her take over the Harmonia Hotel, which is part of the Hob Group. ¡°Everyone here is important in business, so I hope you¡¯ll all look out for her and support her when you can.¡± Hearing this, I couldn¡¯t help but nce sideways at Jared. So this was why he brought me to dinner tonight. He was trying to help mework. ¡°Sure, no problem,¡± someone said. ¡°Mrs. Hob is not only beautiful, but she¡¯s also doing great in business,¡± another person added. Nathan chuckled softly. ¡°The Harmonia Hotel has been around forever. Mypany is actually looking for a good ce to host our client events, and I think one of your hotels is near my office.¡± That caught my attention, and my eyes immediately went to Nathan. Jared raised his wine ss with a smile. ¡°In that case, let me thank you in advance for your support, Mr. Hallman.¡± Nathan¡¯s smile lingered at the corners of his eyes, and he said in a polite and serious voice, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Mr. Hob.¡± I could hardly taste my food. Nathan¡¯s eyes keptnding on me, whether on purpose or not. He was young and handsome, and while his gaze was usually calm, now it was full of quiet intensity. He probably thought of me as his savior or something, but honestly, I didn¡¯t want him to pay me back. Business dinners weren¡¯t about the food. They were about making deals. Once everyone was done, the dinner wrapped up naturally. ?? ? ? Jared had a bit too much to drink and motioned for me to help him walk. Since he¡¯d helped mework tonight, I wasn¡¯t going to turn down this small favor. Then I reached out and supported his arm. As Jared said goodbye, I noticed Nathan was a little drunk, too. His face was flushed, and his eyes looked a bit bloodshot. ¡°Mrs. Hob, do you need help?¡± Nathan asked as he walked over. I quickly shook my head. ¡°No, the car¡¯s here.¡± Just then, Warner pulled up. Nathan strode over and opened the car door for us. Loose 41 Chapter 41 I let Jared get in first. As I was about to follow, Nathan reached out above my head, making sure I didn¡¯t hit the roof of the car. ¡°Have a safe drive home,¡± Nathan said, and his thoughtful gesture made my heart race. I gave him a pointed look, but Nathan just curved his lips into a smile, waved at me, and closed the door. Inside the car, Jared pressed his hand to his forehead, clearly feeling the effects of alcohol. ¡°Call Yvonne and see if she wants toe home tonight,¡± he mumbled, still thinking about what Yvonne wanted even when drunk. I called Sally, my mother¨Cinw. It sounded like she was in the middle of a noisy card game. She quickly passed the phone to Yvonne. ¡°Mom, are you calling to apologize?¡± Yvonne asked, sounding way too grown¨Cup for her age. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to forgive you yet.¡± Her aggressive tone made my heart heavy. ¡°Your dad just wants to know if you want toe home tonight. If you do, we¡¯lle pick you up,¡± I said. Yvonne huffed. ¡°You don¡¯t even like me anymore, so why should Ie back? I¡¯m staying at Grandma¡¯s home.¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s your choice,¡± I said, and then I hung up. It was all my fault that Yvonne had be so pushy. I had spoiled her, and now she spoke to me with no respect, and I just had to put up with it. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s noting back?¡± Jared said with a deep frown. I nodded. ¡°She¡¯s still mad at me.¡± Jared winced like his headache was getting worse. He leaned in close, his presence making me feel trapped. ¡°Tomorrow afternoon, buy her something to cheer her up,¡± Jared murmured, his warm breath sending shivers down my neck. ¡°I¡¯m not going to coax her,¡± I snapped, my temper rising. Jared paused for a moment and then asked, ¡°Are you really going to stay mad at her forever?¡± ¡°If she can¡¯t respect me as her mother, then being enemies is an option,¡± I said, my voice calm and firm. ¡°Victoria,e on. You¡¯re a grown woman. Why stoop to her level?¡± Jared shot back, his gaze heavy. I met his angry stare and couldn¡¯t help but smile. I was getting better at pissing him off. In my previous life, Jared was always cold and polite, never showing real emotion. Now, it felt like I could get under his skin whenever I wanted. ¡°Babe, do you still love me?¡± I asked softly, meeting his angry eyes. Jared furrowed his brow, clearly not wanting to get into this. I lowered my gaze, feeling disappointed. ¡°They say the best thing for a child is to see their dad love their mom. Maybe that¡¯s why Yvonne doesn¡¯t respect me because you stopped loving me.¡± 1/2 so she¡¯s acting out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not made of stone. If you push me too far, I¡¯m going to snap,¡± I said in a cold voice, looking out the window. Jared said in a low, mocking tone, ¡°So why didn¡¯t you snap before? Were you just being calcting, or are you really that patient and even able to put up with it for six whole years?¡± My heart ached at that. Actually, I¡¯d endured thirty years in my previous life. I was practically numb to it. I was done with this rtionship anyway. I didn¡¯t care about walking on eggshells anymore. Since Jared asked, I might as well give him an answer. ¡°I put up with it because I loved you. But if that love is gone, you¡¯re nothing to me.¡± AD Loose 42 Chapter 42 My words hit Jared like a punch to the gut, jolting him out of his daze. He stared at me in shock, not saying a word for at least five seconds. I held his gaze, calm and steady, neither backing down nor trying to soften what I¡¯d said. He probably thought I was losing it. Maybe he would get mad and ask for a divorce when seeing see act so irresponsibly. Suddenly, the car swerved hard to avoid a cyclist. I was thrown forward and ended up across Jared¡¯s chest, my hands gripping his shirt tightly. I heard a soft chuckle escape Jared. After staying frozen in his arms for a few seconds, I quickly sat up, feeling unable to breathe. ¡°Victoria, we have been married for so long. Love isn¡¯t what it used to be,¡± Jared said, dodging the real issue. ¡°So, just because we¡¯ve been together, we don¡¯t need love? Should we just act like siblings instead? You can be the brother, and I¡¯ll be the sister. Let¡¯s treat our home like a hotel and our marriage like a business-¡± I shot back. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Jared cut me off coldly. I went quiet right away, and Jared didn¡¯t bother to talk to me anymore. The car rolled to a stop in the vi¡¯s driveway. The atmosphere was thick with tension in the car. Wendy and Joyce hadn¡¯te back yet, so the whole vi was eerily quiet. Soon, Warner drove off, and I kept my head down as I headed upstairs. Maybe after this fight, I would actually get a decent night¡¯s sleep.¡® From what I knew about Jared, whenever I pissed him off, he would freeze me out for ten days, maybe even half a month. I thought it was perfect, exactly what I had hoped for. I headed into the bathroom to shower. Still a little tipsy from the drinks earlier, I eased into the tub, added a few drops of rose essential oil, and closed my eyes, just enjoying the peaceful moment. There was no bratty daughter or cold, distant husband. There was just the warm water, gently soothing my nerves. The silence felt peaceful, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel content. When I came out of the bathroom, I spotted Jared sitting on the other side of the bed. He had showered too and was flipping through a magazine. My heart skipped a beat. I made him mad, so he should have been avoiding my room for at least ten days, maybe even half a month. But instead, he acted I walked out, and I caught his gaze. I was wearing a white silk nightgown that barely covered anything, my skin glowing in the dim light. If there was a definition of a dream wife, this was it. He stared at me for a moment before asking in a low voice, ¡°So, can we sleep together now?¡± I just wanted to get away and escape the suffocating atmosphere. I wasn¡¯t in the mood for him tonight. I¡¯m really tired today,¡± I said, rubbing my temples and pretending to be exhausted. Jared narrowed his eyes, mmed the magazine on the nightstand, immediately threw off the covers, and stormed out. I let out a cold littleugh. He was now experiencing what it felt like to be rejected. I slept well that night. The next morning, I heard noise downstairs. Wendy and Joyce were back on duty. I got dressed and went downstairs in an elegant long dress. Jared finally didn¡¯t have to settle for in bread anymore. Wendy had already made a whole table of delicious food early in the morning. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Hob,¡± the two maids greeted me as I walked downstairs. AD Loose 43 No Ads Chapter 43 ¡°Morning.¡± I smiled at them, then sat down at the table and started enjoying my oatmeal. Jared shot me a sidelong nce, but he never actually met my eyes. ¡°We should pick Yvonne up this afternoon. Can¡¯t have her stay at my mom¡¯s ce forever. Otherwise, my mom will start thinking there¡¯s trouble in paradise,¡± Jared advised coolly as he ate. ¡°Sure, but work¡¯s got me swampedtely. How about you go pick her up, babe?¡± I immediately tried to wriggle out of it. ¡°We¡¯re going together,¡± Jared said, shutting down my excuse before I could even finish. ¡°I¡¯ll get Yvonne a present she¡¯ll love, and you can just take the credit for it.¡± ¡°No need to make up that kind of lie,¡± I said coolly. ¡°Yvonne isn¡¯t some clueless kid. She already understands a lot about people and how the world works.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just doing this for your own good.¡± Jared¡¯s face darkened when he saw I wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°No thanks. Marriage is about fate, and the bond between mother and daughter is the same. Just because she came from me. doesn¡¯t mean she owes me forever.¡± I grabbed two slices of bread, threw my bag over my shoulder, and walked out. Jared watched my back, his eyes following me until my car was out of sight. When I stopped trying to be the perfect wife and mom, I started growing some thorns. Eventually, they¡¯d be my armor. ***** Today was another day spent discussing the renovation. My memory is good, so I just copied some of the best hotel styles I had experienced before. In 2014, the economy here was already picking up, but it was still just beginning. I wasn¡¯t just running the hotel. I was also learning to invest. I knew when to buy stocks, when to go for gold, and when a downturn wasing, so I could weather any storm. The model rooms I designed amazed the designers. Bringing in fresh ideas was really eye¨Copening. With the temtes ready, it was time to get Jared¡¯s approval for the funding. But first, I had to go through Tracy. At the conference table, Tracy looked like a boss with her arms crossed, studying the images on the screen. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Good, Mrs. Hob. The design firm you picked has vision. These styles are unique. I think we can move forward with this.¡± Jared was still giving me the cold shoulder, but he was sitting at the head of the table with his eyes glued to the pictures. He asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the designer behind this? We should definitely keep working with them.¡± The designers exchanged nces, then one of the leads spoke up. ¡°Mr. Hob, actually, all these designs came from Mrs. Hob. We just did the drawings. Every setup and color scheme was all her request. She¡¯s the real mastermind here.¡± The room went dead silent after that. Jared forgot all about his silent treatment. He looked at me, his eyes a little wide with surprise. ¡°You came up with all these designs?¡± I smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t draw. I juste up with these ideas,¡± Tracy¡¯s smile faltered, but she kept it up. ¡°The ideas are great, but honestly, I¡¯m not sure about the colors. Maybe we could change them a bit?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not changing them,¡± I replied instantly. ¡°These are ssic Clusian colors. They¡¯re the most strikingbination.¡± Tracy¡¯s smile froze, and she turned her head away with a hint of mockery and disapproval tugging at the corner of her mouth. Jared nced at her and then turned to me. ¡°Maybe Tracy¡¯s just trying to help. She¡¯s seen a lot of things from all over the world¡± ¡°Babe, this is my project. I really don¡¯t like outsiders meddling in, I said, making it clear. I knew Tracy was impressive, but I wasn¡¯t going to let her steal the spotlight. If the hotel made profits, everyone would give credit to her. No way was I letting her take what was mine. Loose 44 Chapter 44 My assertiveness made Tracy press her lips together, and she stayed silent after that. Honestly, all she had to do was make a few suggestions. If I agreed, she¡¯d swoop in and take credit for my hard work over the past few days. But if I rejected her, her n would fall apart. Jared nced at me, probably surprised, either because I had shown a bit of what I could do or just from how confident I was. Either way, Jared was a good husband. In the end, he said, ¡°Since Victoria is managing the Harmonia Hotel, it¡¯s only natural she makes the decisions.¡± As Jared left the conference room, Tracy stood up and said with a smile, ¡°I never expected you toe up with such a unique design, Mrs. Hob. I¡¯ll have to pick your brain sometime.¡± I forced a smile, looked her in the eye, and replied, ¡°Oh, sure. If anything, I should thank you, Tracy, for all the big contributions you¡¯ve made to thepany. Jared always praises you.¡± As I expected, Tracy¡¯s face changed. As the other woman, she probably didn¡¯t care much about her reputation, but her family did. As long as Jared and I were still married, her rtionship with him would always have to stay secret. ¡°If you ever need anything, just let me know. It¡¯s the least I can do for thepany,¡± Tracy said before walking out. A few senior executives followed her. Once we finalized the room and lobby designs, I had a few more experienced people work on them. Once the blueprints were ready, we could start the construction. Standing at the entrance of the Harmonia Hotel, I couldn¡¯t help but smile, thinking about how Jared had said half the hotel¡¯s profits would go right into my pocket. With all that money, I could invest in everything, like real estate in 2016 and gold in 2023. Suddenly, a deep voice came from behind me. ¡°Ms. Murphy¡­¡± I turned around to see Nathan stepping out of a ck Mercedes¨CBenz. ¡°Hi, Mr. Hallman,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡± ¡°Just passing by,¡± Nathan replied, ncing up at the entrance of the Harmonia Hotel. ¡°Is everything going okay?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No, just came by to have a look.¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so business¨Cminded,¡± Nathan said, a small smile curving his lips. Noticing a few peopleing over, I knew how to keep things proper, so I said, ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of, so I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°Are you avoiding me?¡± Nathan¡¯s eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a soft, almost haunting tone. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not reckless enough to put you in a difficult spot.¡± I turned to look at him. He kept his voice low so that no one else could hear, but it still made my heart race with nerves. ¡°Mr. Hallman, please show some respect,¡± I said firmly. Just because you¡¯re handsome doesn¡¯t mean you get a free pass with
  1. me. I¡¯m still married, and even if I weren¡¯t, I¡¯m not the type to get tangled up with just any man.
Nathan¡¯s deep, intense eyes locked with mine. He blinked twice, looking like a lost puppy. He seemed so pitiful that it almost made my heart ache. But I didn¡¯t want him to flirt with me. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you,¡± Nathan murmured. ¡°The people at the charity wouldn¡¯t tell me anything. First, they said the files were lost, and then they said they were burned¨Canything to keep your identity from me.¡± I frowned, confused. ¡°Why were you looking for me?¡± I asked cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m not really sure,¡± Nathan replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. ¡°Actually, I saw you from a distance the day you made that donation. I ran outside to find you, but you were already gone.¡± I shrugged. ¡°What? Did you see I was young and pretty and try to track me down for another donation?¡± AD Loose 45 No Ads Chapter 45 Nathan dropped his gaze, looking sad and helpless. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I just wanted to know what someone as beautiful and kind as you really looked like. I had this blurry memory of you, and I couldn¡¯t get you out of my mind.¡± I looked at him, his face so sincere and almost heartbroken. I sighed, feeling a bit helpless. ¡°Alright, now you¡¯ve seen what I look like. Wish granted. Can you stop following me now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not following you. I just¡­¡± Nathan seemed like he wanted to say something more, but he stopped when he saw how serious I was. He nervously fidgeted with his fingers, his voice softer. ¡°I¡¯ve just always wanted to take you out for a meal.¡± That made me smile. ¡°Mr. Hallman, you really don¡¯t need to be so formal. Honestly, that donation came from the Hob family. If you want to thank someone, you should treat Jared instead. He¡¯s the real benefactor here.¡± Nathan shook his head. ¡°No, I know the money was from the Hob family, but if it weren¡¯t for you, that money would¡¯ve never made it to me. It¡¯s always been you.¡± His voice grew more urgent, and his eyes burned with intensity. My breath caught as he looked at me with such sincerity. My heart raced,pletely out of control. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thister, when I have time. I really need to go now,¡± I said quickly, not wanting to continue the conversation. Nathan looked like he¡¯d been infatuated with me for years. If he was telling the truth, he¡¯d been obsessed with just a blurry image of me all this time. Just a glimpse of my silhouette had been enough to make him hang on to me for years. Now that I was here in person, he was designs today, did you reallye up with them?¡± I just replied softly, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How did youe up with them? I never realized you were so full of surprises,¡± Jared said, genuinely curious. I gave him a quick look and shot back, ¡°Well, that¡¯s your fault. You never bothered to get to know me. You only cared about my looks, not my mind.¡± Jared looked surprised for a moment, and under the streetlights, I noticed his ears turning a little red. ¡°Are you ming me?¡± he asked, his voice low and almost maic. If this were in my previous life, and he spoke to me like that, I wouldn¡¯t have let him off easy. But now, I felt nothing. All I wanted was to pull my hand away from his palm. ¡°I¡¯m just feeling sorry for myself,¡± I muttered. ¡°So, you are ming me,¡± Jared said, reaching for the ring finger of my left hand. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you put the diamond ring on yet?¡± ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the weekend, so I was thinking of going with Melissa to check it out,¡± I replied casually. ¡°How about I go with you?¡± Jared said, clearly trying to y the part of the caring husband. I shook my head. ¡°No need. You should spend time with Yvonne instead.¡± I thought it was time for Jared to give Yvonne more attention. After all, whoever was stuck looking after her would end going crazy. But here was the funny thing. When Yvonne was with Jared, she would act like the perfect angel with no tantrums, screaming, or drama. But when she was with me, she would act like a little tyrant, totally unreasonable. It looked like even kids knew who to pick on¨Cthe ones who wouldn¡¯t fight back. up AB Loose 46 Chapter 46 Sally didn¡¯t look too happy when we got there, maybe because she¡¯d lost some money ying cards. Right in front of Jared, she started ranting angrily about her friends from poker. Making sure I couldn¡¯t see, Jared quickly reached out a bank card and slipped it into Sally¡¯s hand. Sally¡¯s face immediately lit up. ¡°Jared, Yvonne is sleeping upstairs. Go check on her.¡± Jared looked at me and said, ¡°Go bring Yvonne down. Then let¡¯s get out of here.¡± I rushed upstairs and found Yvonne lying in bed, breathing a bit heavily, and her face was red. I ced my hand on her forehead and found she was burning up. I picked her up right away. Still groggy, Yvonne called out ¡°Mommy¡± a couple of times. Her little hands clutched tightly around my neck. ¡°Mommy, I don¡¯t feel good.¡± As I came down the stairs, Jared came over and took Yvonne from me. As soon as he held her, he realized she had a fever. He turned to Sally. ¡°Mom, Yvonne has a fever. Didn¡¯t you notice?¡± Sally jumped up from the couch. ¡°What? She¡¯s sick? Oh my, I didn¡¯t know. We need to get her to the hospital quickly!¡± Jared¡¯s face darkened, and without saying another word, he stormed out. Sally rushed over and grabbed my arm. ¡°Is Jared mad at me? Yvonne was running around all afternoon. I had no idea she was sick.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. She probably just caught a chill.¡± I tried tofort her, and we headed to the car. ***** We went straight to the hospital. It was pretty busy that night, and since we didn¡¯t call ahead, we had to wait in line. Luckily, the line moved quickly, and after about ten minutes, it was our turn. While we waited, Yvonne suddenly threw up. She was so scared, she started crying loudly, clinging to Jared, her face pale. ¡°Daddy, am I going to die? If I die, will you and Mommy have another baby?¡± Jared¡¯s heart ached as heforted her. ¡°No, sweetheart, you¡¯re not going to die. You just caught a cold.¡± ¡°But you and Mommy still want a baby brother, don¡¯t you?¡± Yvonne cried even harder. ¡°I don¡¯t want a baby brother. I just want you and Mommy to love me, just me.¡± Jared looked at me, and I immediately said seriously, ¡°Yvonne, don¡¯t be so bossy. Whether we have another baby or not is up to your dad and me, not you.¡± ¡°But if you have a baby brother, you¡¯ll stop loving me. I don¡¯t want that. I don¡¯t want him to take your love.¡± Yvonne, likely feverish and confused, blurted out everything in her mind, not caring what we adults thought. Jared hugged her a little tighter, gently patting her back. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t cry. Mom and Dad aren¡¯t nning to have another baby anytime soon. If you¡¯re not feeling well, just close your eyes and rest, okay?¡± ¡°Daddy, Mommy just wants to have a baby brother because she¡¯s afraid you¡¯ll stop loving her. She takes medicine and goes to the doctor every day. Please don¡¯t have a baby brother with her,¡± Yvonne said. She was crying so hard, and to my surprise, she was ming me for wanting a son. I stared at Jared in shock. Jared¡¯s lips pressed together as he looked at me, clearly upset. I felt helpless and speechless. I admit I had been seeing doctors and drinking herbal medicine, making it obvious I wanted a son. But I abandoned that idea now. Loose 47 Chapter 47 Jared gave me a look full of usations, as if silently saying. ¡°You¡¯ve made your intentions so obvious that it¡¯s already getting to Yvonne. His gaze felt like a sharp reprimand. Since I had already decided to divorce him, I didn¡¯t feel the need to hold back anymore. I looked straight at Yvonne and said firmly, ¡°Yvonne, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t have another child. You¡¯ll be my only child for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yvonne looked at me, her pale little face showing a small smile. ¡°Mommy, swear it.¡± I immediately raised my fingers and whispered, ¡°I swear, if I ever have another child with Jared, may something terrible happen to me.¡± Victoria, that¡¯s enough!¡± Jared was clearly shocked by what I said. His face turned stormy as he snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense in front of the kid. ¡°I¡¯m not making things up. I already swore,¡± I said, smiling at him. The me in Jared¡¯s eyes disappeared, reced by heavy gloom. He probably thought I was even more unhinged than our daughter. ¡°Mommy, I believe you. You said you¡¯d only love me. Mommy, hug me.¡± Yvonne¡¯s attitude shifted suddenly, and she threw herself into my arms, clinging tightly. I held her, but unlike before, I didn¡¯t shower her with kisses or squeeze her tightly with motherly love. Now, I just saw Yvonne as a child who needed an adult¡¯s care. I wasn¡¯t going to shower her with affection like I used to. ¡°Mommy, hold me tighter. I¡¯m cold.¡± Yvonne noticed I wasn¡¯t hugging her the way I used to, so she whispered, and I pulled her closer. The doctor said Yvonne had a viral infection, plus diarrhea and vomiting from rotavirus. Her fever wouldn¡¯t go down, and with all her symptoms, she had to be hospitalized. We got a private room. Jared went home to get her things, while I stayed with Yvonne for her IV. She slept the whole time. When Jared returned, Tracy was with him. Tracy was carrying toys and food. When they came in, the noise woke Yvonne up. Yvonne opened her eyes and saw Tracy. She immediately smiled and called out, ¡°Tracy, you¡¯re here!¡± Tracy walked over and went to hug Yvonne, but Yvonne quickly pushed her away. ¡°Don¡¯t hug me, Tracy. I have a cold, and the doctor said I might pass it on. You better not hug me.¡± When Yvonne said that, I froze. She was worried about Tracy catching her cold, but she never thought about me. Just earlier, she insisted I hold her while she got her IV. But Tracy just hugged her tighter, bent down, and kissed her on the head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I just want to give you a hug. Poor thing, what happened to your hand? Why is it so swollen?¡± ¡°That nurse must have been blind. She made my hand all puffy. It hurts so much,¡± Yvonne huffed. Tracy immediately turned around, picked up a towel from the basin Jared brought, and went to get some hot water. Jared came over and asked, ¡°Yvonne looks a bit better now?¡± I was still numb inside. My daughter, as usual, seemed to care more about Tracy, ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m a little hungry. I¡¯m going downstairs to get something to cat. You and Tracy stay with her.¡± ¡°We brought some food.¡± Jared grabbed my arm. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just eat here?¡± I was in a terrible mood and pulled my arm free. ¡°No, I want to go downstairs.¡± With that, I pushed the door open and walked out, bumping into Tracy outside. ¡°I¡¯m just going to put a warmpress on Yvonne¡¯s hand. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Tracy asked, checking with me first Çú Loose 48 No Ads Chapter 48 Tracy was clearly stabbing me in the heart again, but she kept acting sweet and gentle, which only made me look more naive and clueless. ¡°Of course, no. Sorry for troubling you,¡± I said, forcing a grateful smile as I headed to the elevator. I didn¡¯t care anymore if Tracy was trying to win over both Jared and Yvonne. If a man didn¡¯t want to stay, it was better to let him go sooner rather thanter. It was not a big deal. As for Yvonne, her actions tonight really hurt me. To her, Tracy¡¯s life mattered, but mine didn¡¯t. I grabbed some food upstairs and sat on a cold bench for a long time. Then Jared called me. ¡°Are you done eating? Come upstairs and keep Yvonnepany, will you? I have to go back to the office for some work.¡± His voice was as calm and gentle as always. I just hummed in response and went upstairs. Tracy was sitting next to Yvonne¡¯s bed, helping her open a new toy. Yvonne¡¯s pale face looked both excited and happy. But as soon as I walked in, Yvonne¡¯s happy expression disappeared, as if I hade at the wrong time. ¡°Yvonne, dear. Tracy and I need to go to the office for a bit. Your mom will stay here with you, so make sure you listen to her,¡± Jared said gently. ¡°Oh,¡± Yvonne muttered with a pout, clearly unhappy. Jared looked at me, but I avoided his gaze and focused on tidying the table. Before leaving, Jared reminded me again, ¡°The nurse just brought some medicine. Don¡¯t forget to give it to Yvonne, okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to take medicine. I already got a shot. I don¡¯t need it,¡± Yvonne whined right away. I said tly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure she takes it.¡± Yvonne looked at me nervously and then turned to Jared with a pitiful expression. ¡°Daddy, pleasee back soon.¡± Tracy assured her softly, ¡°Mr. Hob will be back as soon as he¡¯s done with work.¡± It was Once Jared and Tracy left, I poured a ss of water and ced the medicine in front of Yvonne. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°Mom, can you get me some candy? I can¡¯t swallow this. It¡¯s too bitter,¡± Yvonne tried her little trick again, thinking I¡¯d fall for it like before. She¡¯din about the taste, and I¡¯d end up coaxing her into taking the medicine. ¡°No candy. You have to take your medicine. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll call the nurse toe hold you down and make you take it,¡± I said tly. After seeing how she treated Tracy, I just couldn¡¯t feel sorry for her anymore. ¡°You¡¯re so mean, Mom! Why are you being so awful?¡± Yvonne started crying. ¡°I want my old mom back. I don¡¯t want this one.¡± I stared at Yvonne in shock. She was sharp indeed. She¡¯d noticed I wasn¡¯t the same anymore. I wondered if Jared had noticed the change in me, too. ¡°I¡¯m still your mom, but the difference is that I¡¯ve decided to teach you properly now,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯re just bullying me!¡± Yvonne crossed her arms and red at me, fuming. ¡°What do you mean by mistreating? Yvonne, I¡¯m your mom. Have you ever shown me any respect?¡± I asked, looking her straight in the eye. I studied her carefully. She really took after Jared. People always said that if the dad was good¨Clooking, the daughter would be beautiful, too. Yvonne definitely had a pretty face. ¡°You gave birth to me, but you don¡¯t love me. So why should I respect you?¡± Yvonne shot back, her words sharp as always. She was crying, trying to make me look like a bad guy. i Loose 49 Chapter 49. Chapter 49 ¡°Stop crying,¡± I said, my face cold. ¡°If I didn¡¯t love you, how would you have grown up at all? ¡°I just want you to understand that if you want real love, you have to give it back. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m treating you badly. It¡¯s that you never appreciate anything.¡± Yvonne froze for a second and then went right back to sulking. ¡°Anyway, you just don¡¯t love me anymore. Grandma said if you don¡¯t love me, Daddy will just find a bunch of other women to love me. I don¡¯t need you.¡± I was stunned. That was exactly the kind of thing Sally would say. It looked like she had been filling Yvonne¡¯s head with this behind my back. This was why Yvonne didn¡¯t take me seriously. In the Hob family, I had no standing or voice. I was invisible. No wonder Yvonne didn¡¯t respect me as her mom. I understood what I had failed to realize in my previous life, and the thought was bitter and sad. It turned out that a woman had to fight for her ce and her voice, no matter what. Otherwise, even my own family would look down on me and treat me like I didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really something now, huh? Already wishing for me and your dad to get divorced,¡± I said, crossing my legs and leaning backzily in my chair. ¡°If someone really can take my ce as your mom, I¡¯ll dly hand over the spot.¡± ¡°No way would you,¡± Yvonne shot back, rolling her eyes. ¡°You love Dad so much. If he dumped you, you¡¯d cry your eyes out. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what you think of me, Yvonne? That your mom has no backbone?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, or else what? You think you¡¯re some tough woman? Last time you said you were running away, you barely made it out the door before you remembered you hadundry drying upstairs and ran right back,¡± Yvonne mocked me, bringing up my past. I had nothing to say because she was right. ¡°I used to be weak, but from now on, I¡¯m going to be strong. Yvonne, if you still think of me as your mom, you¡¯d better start respecting me. If not, you¡¯ll lose me very soon,¡± I said, standing up. Then I ordered her, ¡°You have one minute to take your medicine. If you don¡¯t, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes went wide, and tears welled up as she picked up the cup and forced the pills into her mouth one by one. I didn¡¯t want to see her all pitiful and upset, so I turned away and stood by the window, watching the city lights flicker in the dark. The room was silent for a long time. Yvonne hugged her nket, cried for a bit, and then drifted off to sleep. I closed my eyes and sat down on the small sofa, feeling heavy and bitter inside. It looked like divorce was the only way out now. I pulled out my phone. It was already half past ten, and Jared still hadn¡¯t shown up. Honestly, I really wanted to call him, just to hear if he¡¯d scramble for an excuse. But then I realized if I made that move, it would show he still had control over me. I was going topletely ignore him. If The spent the whole night with his side chick and didn¡¯te back, I¡¯d just pretend he¡¯d vanished. At eleven, Jared finally came back, holding a box of steak. When he saw that Yvonne was already asleep, he set the steak in front of me and said softly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you always say steak was your favorite? Have some.¡± As he sat next to me, I could smell a faint trace of rose perfume. So, he really was with her all this time. Loose 50 Chapter 50 Even though I didn¡¯t love Jared anymore, the smell of another woman¡¯s perfume on him and that fake gentle way he talked to me made me want to throw up. Maybe in front of Jared and Tracy, both smart and good at handling emotions, I was a total dunce. They thought they could trick me, while I was totally clueless. In my previous life, I really didn¡¯t know anything. Not even that Tracy had an abortion to win Yvonne over. I was so ignorant, pouring all my love into my daughter and husband, cooking at home and waiting for them toe back. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Jared sat next to me, staring at his phone. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± I said calmly. ¡°Go home and rest tonight. I¡¯ll stay with Yvonne.¡± Jared rubbed his temples, looking tired. ¡°Did you argue with Yvonne again?¡± ¡°If she doesn¡¯t respect me as her mom, I can¡¯t love her like before.¡± I grabbed my bag and stood up as I spoke. ¡°Thanks for the help. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Jared¡¯s hand froze on his forehead as he watched me leave. I left too fast for him to say anything. Jared and Yvonne were always on the same side. I learned not to care about them anymore. I got home, took a shower, and fell asleep on the bed. The next morning, I ached all over and felt chills. I asked Wendy to bring the thermometer. It read 103 degrees. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you¡¯re sick¡­¡± Wendy came close to helping me up. I stopped her right away. ¡°Don¡¯te in. My cold is contagious. You and Joyce should leave work early.¡± Wendy froze, about to speak but stopped herself. I smiled weakly, ¡°Yvonne got sick yesterday; I took care of her. Now I¡¯m feverish, too. It¡¯s definitely contagious. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll go to the hospital myself.¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes lit up for a second. She nodded and left. I sank back into bed. Though I felt awful, I managed to get up. Not bothering to fix my hair, I got dressed and drove straight out. I skipped the big hospitals. I remembered a good clinic near the Harmonia Hotel. I¡¯d get a shot first. I parked my car and stumbled toward the clinic. The aches and exhaustion made me break out in cold sweats. After just a short walk, I felt queasy and miserable. 1 leaned against a tree trunk, gagging but nothing came up, as a deep male voice asked nearby. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± With tears in my eyes, I looked up and saw Nathan. ¡°Mr. Hallman?¡± I asked in surprise. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for breakfast.¡± As he spoke, Nathan kept staring at me. ¡°You look pale. Are you sick? Want to go to the hospital?¡± ¡°No, I just need a shot at the clinic up ahead.¡± After saying this, I got my strength back and kept walking. Nathan followed behind me, worried. ¡°Is it a cold? Let me take you there.¡± ¡®No need. I can handle it myself.¡± I was not delicate. Nathan ignored me and moved closer. I didn¡¯t see the path clearly and tripped on a raised brick, stumbling forward. Just then, Nathan reached out, grabbed my arm, and pulled me back. I nearly fell into his arms, my legs weak. Nathan was stunned to see how feeble I looked. Without saying a thing, he scooped me up and carried me like a bride. ¡°Nathan¡­ put me down!¡± I freaked out, yelling his name. ¡°You¡¯re about to pass out, but you¡¯re still pushing it. Why act like a kid?¡± Nathan snapped at me. ¡°I¡¯m okay, really. Put me down.¡± Getting carried like a princess by a guy so carly in the day was super awkward, and I was married. Nathan marched ahead quickly. The clinic was right there, and he carried me straight in. I felt dizzy and sore all over. When the meds hit my vein, I let out a sigh of relief. When I was at my weakest, I really wanted a bit of kindness from others. ¡°Go on, Mr. Hallman. I¡¯m fine here,¡± I whispered. ¡°Not till you¡¯re done with the drip,¡± Nathan said, sitting beside me, his eyes warm and caring. ¡°This drip will take at least two hours,¡± I said, looking up as the young nurse, cheeks red, brought two more bottles of meds. ¡°No problem. I¡¯ve got time,¡± Nathan said calmly. Hearing that, I knew I couldn¡¯t get rid of him, so I added, ¡°Then get a mask from the doctor. Don¡¯t catch this from me.¡± Nathan¡¯s face dropped, looking hurt for no reason. ¡°What, are you scared? Think someone might see us?¡± ¡°See what?¡± I tried to warn him to protect himself, but he was moping for no reason. With a hint of sadness, Nathan got up, asked the doctor for a ck mask, and quietly put it on next to me. I turned to him. His eyes looked hurt as he said, ¡°If you won¡¯t tell me to leave, and want me to hide my face, I will.¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡± His pitiful look made meugh, but I said firmly, ¡°Mr. Hallman, I got this from my kid. I¡¯m honestly worried about you.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± Nathan had a ¡°whatever floats your boat¡± look. I totally got Nathan¡¯s deal. He had a thing for me for years. No matter that I got married or got a kid, nothing stopped him from getting close. Honestly, he was handsome, charming, tech billionaire material. At 27, he was the kind that made women go wild. But I was done with guys. I wouldn¡¯t get caught up in feelings. If he would like to give me some career advice, I was all ears. Nathan sat quietly by me, not saying a word. His deep eyes, half¨Chidden under his mask, shone, maybe from mood or just seeing me. Chapter 50M ¡°Miss, get your husband to grab your meds!¡± the doctor yelled from across the room. Both Nathan and I looked shocked. ? ¡°Okay!¡± To my surprise, Nathan stood up and walked over. He stood by the doctor, listening carefully, and I felt all nervous. Loose 51 Chapter 51 Nathan brought the meds back and asked me softly, ¡°Have you eaten breakfast yet?¡± I froze, silent. He went on, ¡°The doctor says eat something before pills.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± I whispered. ¡°What do you feel like eating? I¡¯ll get it,¡± Nathan asked, his voice low. ¡°Just gruel. I need something light,¡± I said. ¡°Okay! Wait for me.¡± Nathan put down the medicine and left. I watched him¨Ctall, lean, in a ck shirt that looked awesome. Plus, he wore a mask outside, giving off a cool, mysterious vibe that made him even more charming. I just stared for a second, and then my head cleared. I realized the first step to sess was to stop being such a fangirl. I had to see people for who they were, not as idols. I thought both men and women could fake being loving and gentle. So, no one got much real love to give. Since we were not love gurus, there was no need to make romance sound so big. While I was spacing out, Nathan came back. ¡°Eat while it¡¯s hot. I got you some snacks too.¡± He sat by me andid everything out. My right hand had an IV, so I had to use my left. It was awkward. On the first bite, I almost spilled it on my chin. I felt so silly and mumbled, ¡°My hand is a bit shaky.¡± Nathan got it right away. As I reached for the second bite, he took my spoon and fed me himself. I froze. ¡°Stop acting tough. Open your mouth.¡± Nathan was so thoughtful. This was the first time a guy took care of me so gently. In my previous life, when I had cancer and was in the hospital, my husband and daughter never fed me; the nurses did everything. Now, just with a cold, Nathan was taking care of me. Theparison was stark. I felt terrible. ¡°Thanks!¡± I blushed and gulped down several big sips. Nathan saw I was just swallowing, not tasting. He added a little something to each spoonful of gruel. I rxed; it tasted way better. After half a bowl, I stopped eating, mostly because Nathan¡¯s feeding me felt too close. ¡°Won¡¯t you eat more?¡± Nathan frowned. I felt he was really looking out for me, no other motives. I was being dramatic. ¡°No, I¡¯ll take my pills.¡± I grabbed water and swallowed them, feeling sick. On thest one, I choked, and the bitterness made me gag. ¡°Have some candy,¡± he said, handing me a piece as I sipped water. ¡°When I had to take medicine as a kid, my mom always gave me candy.¡± 1 froze and stared up at him, shocked. ¡°Nathan, I¡¯m not a kid; I can handle this little difort.¡± Nathan looked at me hard, and then tried to take the candy back. ¡°But who says adults have to suffer?¡± I cut in, ¡°I think in life, we should find ways to enjoy some sweetness.¡± Nathan was confused by my words, and then he chuckled softly, ¡°You¡¯re pretty funny.¡± 1 got him tough; chewing my candy, I felt happier. Just then, my phone rang. Seeing it was Jared, I answered right away. Jared asked over the phone, ¡°When are youing? Yvonne is doing okay. I need to head to work soon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sick with a high fever and getting a shot. Take care of our daughter,¡± I said honestly. Surprisingly, I felt relieved. It reminded me of before¨Call those times I took care of our sick daughter while feeling ill myself. When Jared asked, I¡¯d just say everything was fine to keep him from worrying. But now I was sick, in and simple. I also felt body aches and tiredness. Since Jared hadn¡¯t caught it and he is strong, he should look after our daughter. ¡°Where are you? Are you okay?¡± To my surprise, Jared sounded worried: I looked at Nathan who was stuck close to me. I¡¯ve got help here already. So my annoying husband should stay away. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I got my shot. But I need to rest. I¡¯ll be there tonight.¡± I said and then hung up. Nathan finally rxed his tense face. It seemed he¡¯d sensed something off in my talk with Jared. He¡¯d checked before and knew Jared and I weren¡¯t getting along. This talk just made him more sure of it. ¡°Your daughter is sick, too? Is it bad?¡± Nathan asked, worried. He didn¡¯t know I had a troubled kid and thought all moms freaked out when their kid was sick, so he checked on me. ¡°She¡¯ll be okay. Her dad is with her,¡± I said calmly. ¡°Hmm, get some rest. The doctor said you need shots tomorrow,¡± Nathan said, his voice low and caring. ¡°I will. Health is key. I¡¯ll take care,¡± I said, smiling. ¡°Thanks for today. You can go if you want. I¡¯m good now and feel much better.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in a rush. I¡¯ll stick around,¡± Nathan said. No matter how much I tried to get rid of him, he stayed. Then his phone rang. He got up, took it, and walked away to answer. When he came back, he sat down calmly. I quickly asked, ¡°Work call? You can go if you¡¯re busy.¡± ¡°Work can wait. You¡¯re more important,¡± Nathan saidzily. His words were like a direct confession. I blushed and red at him. Nathan stayed calm, not even blinking. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m always blunt. Hope it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± I cut in. ¡°Mr. Hallman, I know you¡¯re thankful, but I¡¯m taken. Saying stuff like that tempts me.¡± Nathan got flustered, his ears red. ¡°Sorry, I won¡¯t say it again.¡± I said coolly, ¡°I don¡¯t want apologies. Show me with actions.¡± Nathan froze, and then stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ see you tomorrow.¡± He turned and stared at me for a second before leaving. After he left, I felt rxed. A nurse came over, grinning, and said, ¡°Your husband is handsome!¡± I thought there was no point in exining. Loose 52 Chapter 52 Getting sick was rough. I knew that well. That night, I felt a bit better and went to the hospital. Yvonne was young but tough. When I got there, she was jumping around in her room. When I walked in, she hid her phone under the covers. I heard a ping; she ducked under to text back and then peeked at me. ¡°Mom, what took you so long? I¡¯m starving,¡± Yvonne whined when she saw me. I used what little energy I had to sit down next to her. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m sick, too. No food. Call your dad and ask him to bring some.¡± ¡°Did I make you sick?¡± Yvonne blinked. ¡°Good thing I didn¡¯t let Tracy hug me, or she¡¯d be sick too. If she¡¯s sick, Dad won¡¯t have help with work.¡± She was such a pain. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Why not call your dad?¡± I didn¡¯t want to argue. Maybe I should just ignore her instead of fighting with a kid. Yvonne huffed, ¡°Why should I call? Can¡¯t you do it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the hungry one,¡± I told her. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be my mom.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes filled with tears, whining, ¡°Other moms are always there for their kids, not like you. I hardly see you all day.¡± I paused, and then quietly texted Jared to bring food. Soon, Jared¡¯s driver showed up with dinner¨Call Yvonne¡¯s favorites. She sat on the bed, legs crossed, eating slowly and staring at me. I was hungry, too, but I just wanted to sleep. After eating, Yvonne flopped back. ¡°Mom, clean this up,¡± she said. I got up and tidied everything. Then Yvonne sat up straight. ¡°Tracy said there¡¯s a toy store downstairs. I wanna go!¡± Thinking about how she used to get whatever she wanted, with top¨Cbrand clothes and the best of everything, but now, I wouldn¡¯t spoil her like that. She couldn¡¯t just get everything she asked for. ¡°No. You¡¯ve got toys by your bed. y with those first,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Why not?¡± Yvonne whined. ¡°You¡¯re making me unhappy. I¡¯m a patient. I had a shot and my hand¡¯s swollen.¡± When she didn¡¯t get her way, she acted all upset, like she¡¯d been wronged. I knew she was faking it, so I stayed strong. ¡°Yvonne,¡± I said seriously, ¡°you gotta earn things. If you get everything easy, you won¡¯t treasure it.¡± ¡°Why should I treasure stuff? Dad¡¯s rich; Grandma¡¯s rich. They give me whatever I want. But you? You don¡¯t earn anything and won¡¯t let me spend. The money you use is Dad¡¯s. You¡¯re just a parasite.¡± Yvonne was really going at it, sounding too smart for her age. I looked at her like she was a little wolf ready to bite. My look was cold, so Yvonne wanted to say something but stopped herself. ¡°You reminded me. I¡¯ll work hard and stop asking for money. So, Yvonne, Mom will be busy working. You need to be more independent; do your own stuff. And¡­ it¡¯s okay for your dad to give me money; I¡¯m his wife.¡± Chapter ?z Yvonne blinked, surprised, like it was the first time she heard me talk like this. She wasn¡¯t used to it. ¡°If Dad leaves you, you won¡¯t spend his money,¡± Yvonne snapped back, clearly hurt. ¡°Why should I be scared? I¡¯m young, pretty, and smart. If your dad stops spending on me, other men will. But having someone isn¡¯t everything. I need my own path. I¡¯ll work hard. If you need help, ask your dad or grandma.¡± I stopped seeing Yvonne as just my child, but as someone who could understand. Whether she got it or not, I needed her to know she was grown up. I couldn¡¯t spend all my time on her. Yvonne¡¯s eyes widened. She was really trying to put me down, make me know my ce¨Cto serve her like her nanny. She had a powerful family and was their little princess. As for me, an unemployed nanny, I must put her first. But I didn¡¯t let her win. So she was confused. For someone so young, she was already trying to manipte. I must say, Jared¡¯s genes were strong. In my previous life, I¡¯d have let my daughter take advantage of me without a word. I thought her happiness was mine. But mothers were role models. Children became what they saw. If a mother lost her ce, she became unimportant. Yvonne realized I was better at arguing. She went quiet and yed with her toy. I leaned back on the sofa and closed my eyes to rest. Around 9 PM, Jared showed up. He saw me on the sofa and asked, ¡°Did you eat?¡± I opened my eyes, still half¨Casleep, and looked at him. Being sick made me mix up my current life with my past. Jared still meant something to me, even though he was a real jerk. After all, I¡¯d loved him for years. I just kept staring at him, not saying a word. He bent down and felt my forehead with the back of his hand, asking, ¡°Still sick?¡± His hand¡¯s warmth woke me up. I pushed his arm away and said, ¡°You¡¯re here? Then I¡¯ll go grab something to eat downstairs.¡± Then I grabbed my bag and walked out. ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Jared said suddenly, following me out. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Warner to watch Yvonne.¡± ¡°No, you should stay here,¡± I refused right away. Yvonne cried, ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t go. y with me!¡± Jared looked at his daughter, and then at me. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t need me?¡± His words sounded a bit angry. In my previous life, I always tried to make him stay with me. I relied on him a lot. That was why Jared felt so important. Iibe that time he went chonning with me I was happy for dove ¡°No 2/2 Comment Loose 53 Chapter 53 I grabbed a sandwich downstairs. When I took the pills, the bitter one got stuck in my throat. I coughed, and the bitter taste spread in my mouth. I drank water fast, but the taste stayed. Then I remembered the candy Nathan gave me this morning. Suddenly, my eyes filled with tears. Only someone really starved for love would be won over by a piece of candy. I felt bitter inside. My previous life was so terrible that I¡¯d feel protected just because of one candy. I went out, turned left, and went into the store. I bought a bag of candies, tore open the package, and popped one in my mouth. It was sweet and creamy. Holding the bag of candies, I went back to the hospital room. Jared was ying checkers with Yvonne. They were enjoying their nice father¨Cdaughter moment. But when I walked in, I ruined it. Yvonne rolled her eyes at me and said, ¡°Mom, go home. I want Dad to stay here with me.¡± Jared nced at me and said, ¡°Yvonne says you yelled at her again. Victoria, I don¡¯t care about others, but Yvonne is just a kid. Why do you pick on her?¡± My eyes widened. Yvonne wronged me again. I spoiled her too much, so she treated me badly. Taking a deep breath, I said calmly, ¡°So now you¡¯re saying I didn¡¯t raise her right? Sorry, my bad. I spoiled her as a kid, and it gave her all these bad habits.¡± ¡°At least you get it.¡± Jared¡¯s face turned dark. ¡°Change, that from now on.¡± I shook my head and said, ¡°Old habits are hard to break. I mean, our daughter¡¯s probably set in her ways. It¡¯s hard to change her.¡± Yvonne pouted right away, looking upset. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s that supposed to mean? Are you calling me bad?¡± Then she turned to Jared. ¡°Dad, look at her. I¡¯m just a kid, and she¡¯s talking like that!¡± Jared¡¯s face turned dark in a sh. He got up, walked over to me, and said, ¡°Victoria Murphy, do we keep this marriage or not?¡± He used my full name; that meant things were serious. In my previous life, I would¡¯ve thought the world was ending and I had no hope at all. But now, I knew that Jared was no saint. He was moody. Once I saw through people¡¯s illusions, I could think straight again. I nced at Yvonne. She was ying with some beads, smiling smugly. It was like she was saying she¡¯d won this round and Jared would always back her up. I said calmly, ¡°Jared, I¡¯m sorry things are this bad, and I take some of the me. But when ites to parenting, I stick to my guns. If you don¡¯t agree, then¡­ let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± Sometimes emotions just took over. I said money matters. I nned to use Jared to build my career. But now, with my daughter provoking me and my husband siding with her and not getting me, I thought money coulde from other ces. Even divorcing him could get me a big payout, letting me be financially free sooner. That was not all bad. I wouldn¡¯t deal with the emotional pain anymore. I wouldn¡¯t worry about Yvonne¡¯s future anymore. Mine was way more uncertain. She had the Hob family behind her, Jared spoiling her and helping her, while I got nothing. Only my parents cared about me. If I die, they would be the ones hurting the most. ¡°What did you say?¡± Jared was livid. His eyes shook, his voice full of threat. I looked him straight in the eye, not scared, my voice firm. ¡°If it¡¯s not working, let¡¯s just get a divorce. I don¡¯t want to be a burden or enemies with Yvonne.¡± Yvonne watched Jared get so mad. She didn¡¯t care much. She kept ying with her beads, peeking at us every now and then. ¡°Go home and think about it. Stop messing with Yvonne¡¯s life.¡± Jared pointed at the door, his face telling me to go. I grabbed my purse and left. The elevator went down, but my heart didn¡¯t drop like in my previous life, not into a hole. Instead, I felt light and free. When I let go of someone or something, my world really opened up. I drove home, showered, and got into bed. Lying there, I thought Jared¡¯s divorce papers woulde soon. After all, I¡¯d made him mad. He wouldn¡¯t keep me; he¡¯d rush the papers and never let me near Yvonne¡¯s education again. In Jared¡¯s eyes, Yvonne was his real family. For him, I was just someone he could leave anytime. With that thought, I fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, I got up and headed straight to the clinic for a shot. I was still tired, but I¡¯d stopped by Harmonia Hotel earlier to grab some files to read. I couldn¡¯t justze around. Yvonne thought I waszy. It was time to set a goal and get to work. I was flipping through the files when a tall guy sat next to me. Then Nathan showed up with breakfast. He wasn¡¯t in a suit; he had on a tracksuit and looked young and fit. ¡°Why are you back?¡± I stared at him, surprised. As soon as Nathan sat down, he slowly pulled a mask from his pocket and put it on. When he looked over, his face was calm, his eyes deep, and he smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I was ready for this.¡± I froze. Nathan had a great attitude, but he was also pretty bold. ¡°I brought breakfast. Ady from work made it. Have some,¡± Nathan said softly. ¡°How¡¯d you know I didn¡¯t eat?¡± I gave him a curious look, and then went back to my files. Nathan folded his hands and leaned in. It felt respectful. ¡°Even if you ate, have a few more bites,¡± he urged. His voice was so soft that I thought he was coaxing me. I guess it had been too long since a guy took care of me. Nathan¡¯s kindness felt good. ¡°Thanks.¡± I could feed myself today, thank god. ¡°I really skipped breakfast to get here.¡± Nathan frowned, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take better care of yourself? You¡¯re sick and skipping meals?¡± Feeling yful, I teased, ¡°Maybe because I knew someone would bring it.¡± Nathan¡¯s frown faded, and his eyes showed emotion. ¡°Oh? You were waiting for me?¡± Loose 54 Chapter 54 The tension lingered. As Nathan kept looking my way, I wondered if I had gone too far. I didn¡¯t n to keep up with him, but I still teased him carelessly. That was irresponsible. ¡°Mr. Hallman, I¡¯ve got work to do. Could you leave?¡± I asked. ¡°I can give you some advice,¡± Nathan said, looking sad but staying. ¡°No, I can handle it.¡± Nathan and I weren¡¯t even friends; it was better not to ask for help. ¡°Victoria, when are you getting a divorce?¡± Seeing my cold attitude, Nathan suddenly asked a personal question. I was startled, rememberingst night¡¯s argument with Jared. A divorce might happen soon. ¡°Why are you asking? It¡¯s not polite to pry,¡± I said sternly. ¡°Sorry, I just care about you,¡± Nathan said, his eyes warm as he looked at me. ¡°Even after divorce, I don¡¯t n to date soon. Don¡¯t waste your time, Mr. Hallman,¡± I said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ve got time,¡± Nathan replied, a knowing smile in his eyes, like he was hoping for something. I looked at him, puzzled. ¡°Have you liked me for a while?¡± My blunt question made Nathan¡¯s ears turn red, and he looked flustered. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t return your feelings,¡± I said, leaning back in my chair, my face cold. ¡°This marriage has used up all my passion.¡± Nathan stared at me nkly; my rejection was clear, and he seemed hurt. ¡°I won¡¯t cause you much trouble; I just want to see you more often,¡± Nathan said humbly. I stared at him, quiet but seething with resentment inside. I never really got men. When Jared married me, he vowed to love me forever and grow old by my side. But the truth was that promises were just lies to trick women. I was not naive anymore; my next romance would be all about what was in it for me. Nathan was clearly a newbie in love, pure and hopeful. I couldn¡¯t bear to crush his dreams. That was why I turned him down so harshly. ¡°You¡¯re on your first marriage; I¡¯m on my second. We¡¯re not a match. Go hang out with other women,¡± I suggested gently. Nathan dropped his gaze, deep in thought. Soon, he got up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you out to dinner another time. If you need anything, just call me.¡± I watched him curiously; he hadn¡¯t really answered my question yet. Nathan turned and left without pestering me too much, but I had a hunch he wouldn¡¯t give up so easily. ***** At noon, Yvonne called me. She said that she was getting out of the hospital and wanted me to pick her up with a gift. Thinking about the fight with Jared yesterday, I could go pick her up, but I didn¡¯t want to see Jared. Since we were getting a 1/2 divorce, seeing each other might just make things worse. 1 quickly grabbed a gift and headed to the hospital. Sally was there too, with some yummy snacks and cool toys. Yvonne was lounging on the couch, legs propped up on the armrest, ying a video game. Sheined, ¡°Grandma, hurry up! I can¡¯t stand being here; it stinks.¡± Sally had packed her stuff. When she saw me walk in, she asked right away, ¡°Victoria, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to take Yvonne home,¡± I said. Yvonne nced at me and mumbled, ¡°Back home, I¡¯ll be all alone. Mom, can you hang out with me at home this afternoon?¡± Hearing that, Sally scolded me, ¡°Victoria, skip work. Taking care of home is what matters most. Yvonne is little; she needs someone with her.¡± Loose 55 hapter 55 Sally thought that since we were rich, I should focus on the family. But this time, I wouldn¡¯t just sit at home as a housewife, no matter what. Money was okay, but feeling worthless and disrespected hurt. I stood my ground. ¡°Sally, I¡¯ve made up my mind. I have to work. Yvonne is older now; if she¡¯s bored, I¡¯ll hire a tutor for her.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Yvonne shot back. ¡°I¡¯m not taking lessons.¡± Sally didn¡¯t look pleased with my stubbornness. Just then, Jared showed up at the door. He was wearing a suit with a white shirt, looking all professional. When he saw me, he seemed to remember our fightst night, and his face instantly went cold. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Yvonne, like a sweet little bird, flew into his arms. ¡°Why are you here? Don¡¯t you have work?¡± Jared scooped her up and gave her a peck on the cheek. ¡°Daddy just wanted to see you.¡± Yvonne asked, ¡°Can you take me out for lunch?¡± After things went bad between me and Jared, Yvonne stuck to Jared like glue. Luckily, he was always patient and loving with her. ¡°Sure, Mom, you twoe with us.¡± Jared walked to the elevator with Yvonne in his arms. Sally and I trailed behind, lugging a few bags, and squeezed into the elevator. It was tiny and packed. Sally shoved me back, and I ended up pressed against Jared. At some point, I stopped seeing Jared as my husband. Being close to him made me uneasy, like he was just someone I knew. In the basement parking lot, Jared put Yvonne in his car, gave the driver the address, and closed the door. ¡°I¡¯ll ride with you,¡± Jared said to me. Sally had a driver, too. So, all three cars took off together. Jared sat next to me in the passenger seat. He was quiet for a bit, lost in thought. I focused on driving and stayed quiet. ¡°I was down yesterday; don¡¯t take it personally,¡± Jared said, turning to look at me as we stopped at a red light. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, holding back my emotions. In my previous life, his apology would¡¯ve made me cry and act all hurt, hoping he¡¯d notice and care more. But now, his words didn¡¯t mean a thing. I didn¡¯t want to show weakness in front of him. I just wanted to talk about divorce calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not overthinking it,¡± I said coolly. Jared stared at me. He must be shocked that I did not cry or me him. After all, before I ¡°came back,¡± I cried at least three times in two months. Each time, I begged for his care and kindness, like a fish out of water without his love. ¡°No more divorce talk,¡± Jared said firmly. I chuckled softly. ¡°Not talking won¡¯t solve our problems.¡± Chapter 55 ¡°What problems?¡± Jared asked, his voice getting harsher. I paused for a few seconds. ¡°Our life is boring, like in water. I¡¯m not a great mom and don¡¯t have a real career. You¡¯re always away working for weeks. I¡¯m tired of this cycle.¡± Jared went quiet after that. But he didn¡¯t get it. He scoffed, ¡°Life must be too easy for you to think like that.¡± I froze and nced at him. Jared kept going, ¡°Forget your obscure major. Can it get you a decent job after college? Even if you did, what difference would you make?¡± I gripped the steering wheel tighter. What he said was kinda true. Jared scoffed, ¡°Careers aren¡¯t built on dreams and chatter. I¡¯m swamped with work and stressed out. Money doesn¡¯t just appear. You want me to get you? Then learn from other wives and see my struggles. ¡°I¡¯ve always spoiled you with stuff. Big monthly allowance, plenty for your parents every year. What? Marrying me, Jared, was it really that awful?¡± His words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head, freezing me to the core. AD Loose 56 hapter 56 Chapter 56 Jared had a point. Maybe I was being greedy, wanting it all. But everyone paid for their choices. In our six years of marriage, Jared gave me luxury, making me forget what money was worth. But as a woman, torn by thirty years of pain and dying from illness, I wouldn¡¯t go through this again. I wanted more than just cash. I needed a fresh start. Jared saw I wasn¡¯t saying anything. He probably thought he¡¯d crushed my crazy ideas. From now on, I¡¯d just be Mrs. Hob, ignoring his cheating. He wanted it all: a wife at home and pretty lovers outside, both sides ying it cool and keeping quiet. That was Jared¡¯s dream life. I couldn¡¯t share my husband with other women unless I was the one who gained. Jared persuaded me, ¡°Victoria, we¡¯ve been married six years, not six months. That passion and romance you¡¯re after, it¡¯s not that I won¡¯t give it, but we don¡¯t need all that. Let¡¯s live quietly and raise Yvonne. ¡°If you¡¯re bored, we could have another kid. To avoid the pain, we can do IVF. You can even have two sons if you want.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Hearing that, I felt like an invisible hand squeezed my throat, making it hard to breathe. Yvonne had already turned my life upside down. Two more sons would be a total disaster for me. The Hob family needed an heir¨Cthat was their problem. I just wanted to get a divorce and have my own life. Jared squinted, clearly pissed by my answer. ¡°Stop causing a scene, alright? Keep this up, and you¡¯re just being childish.¡± He sounded really disappointed in me. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± I mmed on the brakes and pulled over, my voice tight with hurt. ¡°I know I was too greedy, or maybe I¡¯m just naive, but I really feel like our marriage is falling apart. Jared, I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re bad. You¡¯re great, but I-¡± ¡°Victoria, that¡¯s enough!¡± Jared shouted, angry, afraid I¡¯d say ¡°divorce¡± again. ¡°I gave you Harmonia Hotel to run. Ipromised. Isn¡¯t that the career you wanted? I really liked the design you showed mest time. You¡¯re talented, so do you still want a divorce?¡± My eyes bugged out in shock, and I just stared at him, lost for words. Jared red at me, his eyes deep and angry. ¡°If we split up, you lose your job. And if you ask for a divorce, I might not let you keep the kid or give you much stuff.¡± I looked at Jared and realized how scary he could be. He didn¡¯t love me anymore. He said I shouldn¡¯t dream of romance and I knew it was because Tracy gave him that. They left love signs everywhere, but he kept me stuck in this dead marriage, not letting go. Jared was selfish. He enjoyed wild passion but trapped me. But he did remind me. Divorce meant losing my job and probably not getting much stuff. I needed Harmonia Hotel as a stepping stone. Once I got more skills and experience, I wouldn¡¯t be scared of future challenges. Now was not the time to talk about divorce. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t think it through,¡± I said, getting the car back on track. Jared was mad. He crossed his arms and stared straight ahead, looking really stern. Not divorcing was okay, as long as I kept my feelings in check. I would stop expecting surprises or gifts from him, and wouldn¡¯t ask when he wasing home. We would just live like strangers, close but far apart. At lunch, Sally urged me to have another kid. But Yvonne threw a fit, so Sally shut up. Seeing Yvonne refusing to eat, Jared reassured her, ¡°Okay, Yvonne, Mom and I won¡¯t have a baby now.¡± ¡°And never ever!¡± Yvonne said, clenching her fists, tears in her eyes. Sally , you¡¯re too young to be so bossy. The Hob family needs a son to take over your dad¡¯s businesster.¡± ¡°I can take over,¡± Yvonne snapped, angry. I added calmly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say women should stay home and take care of kids, not have jobs?¡± Yvonne went bright red, silenced by what I said. That was how she always treated me. ¡°I¡¯m not like you; your parents can¡¯t help, so you have to stay home and take care of the kids,¡± Yvonne shot back, feeling irritated. Jared scowled, ¡°Alright, Yvonne, shut up. Let¡¯s eat.¡± After dinner, Sally took Yvonne off, and I went to the office with Jared. That night, Tracy threw a dinner for the bosses. She booked a fancy private karaoke room. Around a dozen managers sat on the couch, sipping wine. I didn¡¯t wanna go, but Jared¨Cmade me. Tracy looked annoyed. To tick her off, I went anyway. Jared was quiet and hated parties, so while others sang, he just sipped coffee. Tracy, though, was all lively. Someone yed an Englysian love song. Tracy walked over and handed Jared the mic. ¡°Mr. Hob, let¡¯s sing!¡± Jared didn¡¯t even look at me. He just stood up with the mic. Tracy smiled sweetly. She noticed me and asked deliberately, ¡°Mrs. Hob, you don¡¯t mind if I sing with Mr. Hob, do you?¡± I smiled right away, ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ve never heard him sing. I¡¯m curious.¡± Jared gave me a weird look and said nothing. Then they sang their love song duet. They sang in perfect Englysian, full of feeling. Jared¡¯s voice was incredible, deep, maic, totally charming. It was the first time I¡¯d ever heard him sing. I never knew he was this good. I couldn¡¯t help but feel sad. Every time Tracy sang, she looked at Jared softly, all admiring and loving. I was better¨Clooking than her, but I was hopeless with men. I was too blunt, too direct, no feminine charm. I just wanted to be a good wife. Jared clearly loved Tracy¡¯s soft stare. His face went red¨Cmaybe from the drinks, maybe from being stirred up. I had seen that look before, like sometimes in bed. But Tracy got him to show it with just one song. That was impressive. I was munching away, head down. When they finished, the room went quiet. I pped first and said, ¡°Honey, you sang great!* Chapter 57 Loose 57 Chapter 57 The room fell silent the second I spoke. Everyone turned to stare at me like I¡¯d lost my mind. And maybe I had. What kind of wife ps for her husband singing a love song with another woman? A smart one¨Cbecause I had a n. Jared told me not to bring up divorce again, so I¡¯d just nudge things along another way. Tracy was running out of time. She wanted my ce badly. If she turned up the pressure on Jared, he¡¯d give it a deep thought and cave eventually. And when he did, he¡¯de to me with that polite, detached tone and ask for a divorce¨Cjust likest time. In my previous life, he¡¯d offered me the vi, 8% of hispany shares, and some primemercial properties. The only thing he wouldn¡¯tpromise on was our daughter¡¯s custody. On paper, it was more than enough to set me up for life. Funny how I didn¡¯t care about the money then. All I wanted was him. I truly believed holding onto that marriage meant security¡ªthat as long as I had him and his wealth, I¡¯d be happy. But life had a cruel way of teaching lessons. It wasn¡¯t sudden disasters that wore me down, but the slow erosion of countless sleepless nights. The constant anxiety gnawing at my insides. Before long, I had been barely holding myself together. Sunshine lost its warmth. I withdrew from friends, unable to bear their sympathetic nces. Avoided family gatherings, terrified they¡¯d notice how fragile I¡¯d be. ¡°Victoria, let¡¯s go.¡± Jared¡¯s voice snapped me back. My apuse must have pissed him off because he snatched his zer and strode out without another word. I set down my snacks, took a slow sip of my coffee, and gave the room a breezy wave. ¡°Enjoy the rest of your night.¡± ¡°Mr. Hob, you¡¯re leaving so soon?¡± Tracy rushed to the door, her face falling like a disappointed puppy. Jared barely nced back. ¡°Enjoy the rest of your night. I got to go back and check on my daughter.¡± Then he disappeared into the elevator, leaving me to trail behind at my own pace. Tracy had always been good at keeping her mask in ce¨Ccool, collected, untouchable. But for just a second, when our eyes met, I saw it: raw resentment. The kind that burns slow but deep. I just sneered. Go ahead. Lose your temper. Let him see the real you. Looked like if I didn¡¯t make a scene, she would. And I couldn¡¯t wait to watch it happen. The elevator doors slid shut, sealing us in silence. Then, out of nowhere, Jared pulled out a cigarette. He bent to light it, but on the next floor, a woman stepped in holding her kid¡¯s hand. Without hesitation, Jared snapped the cigarette in half and crumpled it in his fist. That was the thing about Jared¨Che¡¯s got real ss. Manners, decency, the kind of guy who wouldn¡¯t dream of smoking around a child. Maybe that was why it stung so much in my previous life. I¡¯d let myself go, drowning in motherhood while he moved forward. If one stopped growing in a marriage, the other left. And that was exactly what happened. Back then, I¡¯d packed on nearly 150 pounds. My height could only hide so much. Then I saw Tracy¨Call birdlike wrists and effortless poise¨Cand became convinced that was what Jared craved. So I starved myself down to skin and bones, matching her fragile frame pound for pound, only to discover thinness didn¡¯t bring strength. The hunger left me gaunt and ghostly, my energy sapped to nothing. Loose 58 Chapter 58 But the real tragedy wasn¡¯t the weight I¡¯d lost. It was the equal standing I¡¯d surrendered. The elevator dinged. Jared strode out but paused long enough to toss over his shoulder, ¡°Wait in the car. I need a smoke.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you drive?¡± I asked. ¡°No.¡± He didn¡¯t borate, just walked off toward the designated smoking area. Jared rarely smokes. Only when something was eating at him. So why now? He just spent the evening crooning love songs with his mistress. Shouldn¡¯t he be floating on cloud nine? Unless my presence ruined the fantasy, reminded him how cheap the whole thing really was. I smirked and slid into the car. Let him stew. A few minutester, Jared appeared, his tall frame cutting an imposing figure under the parking lot lights. He yanked open the passenger door and dropped into the seat like a man settling into a courtroom bench¨Call stiff posture and silent authority. Lately, he¡¯d been riding shotgun in my car more often. But in the past, it never would¡¯ve happened. I turned the key in the ignition and couldn¡¯t resist needling him. ¡°You know, we really shouldn¡¯t be in the same car anymore. Safety hazard.¡± Jared shot me a look that could freezeva. ¡°Just drive.¡± I sighed dramatically, ¡°Even if I focus, some idiot could still T¨Cbone us. Rich couples are supposed to travel separately¨Ceggs in different baskets and all that.¡± ¡°Victoria.¡± His voice went icy. ¡°Shut up and drive.¡± Honestly, I was just trying to make it clear he shouldn¡¯t ride with me anymore. The less time trapped in this metal box with him, the better. We arrived home well past midnight to an unusually quiet house. Sally had kept Yvonne overnight¨Cprobably guilt over the kid getting sick on her watch. With both Jared and me working now, Sally seemed determined to ovepensate. After showering, I wore my nightgown and stood in front of the full¨Clength mirror, studying my reflection. Months of clean eating, dance sses, and yoga had sculpted me into better shape than I¡¯d been in years. But this recent cold had whittled away thosest few stubborn pounds, leaving me looking almost fragile. As I turned to apply my nighttime serum, I nearly dropped the bottle. Jared sat motionless on the edge of my bed. When had he slipped in? He moved like a ghost these days¨Cfirst invading my passenger seat, and now my bedroom. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m sick,¡± I announced preemptively,yering my voice with exaggerated weakness. His eyes flicked up. ¡°I know.¡± That deep voice carried its usual finality. ¡°I¡¯m not here for that.¡± The deration hung between us. Then why was he here? Just to share a bed? This from the man who¡¯d once insisted he couldn¡¯t sleep with another person¡¯s breathing disturbing him. At this point, I didn¡¯t know which version of Jared to believe. I finished my routine in silence, slid under the covers, and willed myself to sleep. Jared¡¯s hand shot out, pressing against my forehead without warning. ?? ¨C I stiffened, meeting his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Checking for a fever,¡± he said tersely, like I¡¯d inconvenienced him. ¡°I¡¯ve had meds for two days. No fever,¡± I countered immediately. ¡°Then why the hell were you pping like that tonight?¡± His voice was sharp, irritation shing across his face. ¡°I thought you were delirious or something. What¡¯s your excuse?¡± Showtime. I put on my most earnest expression. ¡°Because you were amazing, darling. I never realized how good your voice was before.¡± Jared studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching. Then, voice dropping low, he asked, ¡°Tracy and I sang a love song. Doesn¡¯t that bother you?¡± Loose 59 Chapter 59 The weight of his stare was suffocating. I yed dumb. ¡°A love song? My Englysian isn¡¯t great, and I didn¡¯t catch that. But wow, you sounded wless. No surprise, though, Mr. Ivy League.¡± Jared let out a quiet scoff. ¡°You¡¯re getting worse at lying. The only reason I sang with Tracy was to save face for her. Half the board was there, and she¡¯s VP now. If I humiliated her, she¡¯d lose credibility with them.¡± ¡°VP?¡± I blinked. ¡°Since when? I thought she was your assistant.¡± ¡°Board promoted herst week,¡± he said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°She earned it.¡± A sharp twist of jealousy hit me. Tracy¡¯s rise had Jared¡¯s fingerprints all over it. Suddenly, I didn¡¯t want to talk anymore. I just muttered, ¡°Oh,¡± and turned away. Jared caught my shift instantly. ¡°Now you care?¡± he taunted. ¡°Bitte for that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± I forced myself to reply tly. ¡°Tracy¡¯spetent. Everyone knows that. She got the job on merit, unlike me, who got Harmonia Hotel¡¯s manager title just because of you.¡± His frown deepened. ¡°You are my wife. That¡¯s not the same.¡± ¡°Got it. Goodnight, dear.¡± I shut my eyes, done with the conversation. Jared didn¡¯t miss my dismissal. In one swift motion, his arms locked around me from behind, his lips grazing the nape of my neck. I tensed. ¡°I¡¯m still not feeling well.¡± My voice was stiff as I shoved at his chest. ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± The words were soft, but his grip wasn¡¯t. Before I could react, he flipped me onto my back, pinning me beneath him. His mouth crashed into mine, hot and insistent. I twisted away, but he caught my wrists and wrenched them above my head. ¡°Jared¡­ I¡¯m sick- No, you¡¯ll catch-¡± His kiss swallowed the protest. He wasn¡¯t gentle. He wasn¡¯t even present¨Cjust furious, relentless, like he was exorcising something. I stopped fighting. What was the point? Maybe this was his frustration over holding back with Tracy tonight. Maybe I was just the convenient stand- in, the warm body to take the edge off. His hands yanked me onto my knees. When my arms buckled, he hauled me back against him, fingers digging into my hips. He never looked at me. Just moved, methodical and detached. It exined everything. I was just Tracy¡¯s recement, definitely. Time passed¨CI wasn¡¯t sure how much. Eventually, he stopped. His body was satisfied, but his expression was still dark, like¡­ it hadn¡¯t lived up to whatever he¡¯d been hoping for. ¡°Victoria, what¡¯s going on with you tonight?¡± Jared¡¯s voice cut through the silence from the other side of the bed. My back and knees ached. A cold, weak feeling settled over me, and I yanked the nket up to cover myself. His usatory tone only stoked my anger. Did he really see me as nothing more than Tracy¡¯s recement? Just some tool for his pleasure? I snapped, ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯ve been really sick and just recovered-¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about,¡± Jared muttered, his voice low and tense. ¡°You¡¯re just not into me anymore.¡± My pulse jumped. I turned to face him, and the look in his eyes¨Canger and suspicion¨Csent a chill through me. ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Jared pulled on his robe and stood beside the bed My pulse jumped. I turned to face him, and the look in his eyes¨Canger and suspicion¨Csent a chill through me. ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Jared pulled on his robe and stood beside the bed, ring down at me. ¡°Are you seeing someone else?¡± Loose 60 Chapter 60 The usation hit like a p. I shot up from the bed, fury burning through me. The hypocrisy! I clutched the nket tighter, but it kept slipping, leaving my skin exposed under his gaze. His eyes darkened as we stared each other down, neither of us backing away. ¡°Me?¡± My voice shook. ¡°You¡¯re questioning my loyalty? What about you, Jared? Are you cheating?¡± For a second, he just looked at me, nk. ¡°So you believe those office rumors about me and Tracy?¡± ¡°If you knew they were spreading, why didn¡¯t you shut them down?¡± My throat tightened. ¡°Fine. If you don¡¯t love me anymore, I can ept that. But I won¡¯t tolerate your distrust.¡± Tears pricked at my eyes, and anger surged. Jared acted like my anger was ridiculous. Instead of addressing the Tracy situation, he hit me with something worse. ¡°I¡¯m clear. But even if there was something between me and Tracy, maybe you should ask yourself why.¡± He meant this was all my fault? The words turned my blood to ice. I red at him, my vision swimming with tears. ¡°If you don¡¯t love me anymore, just say it. Don¡¯t feed me excuses. ¡°Yeah, I lost myself¨Cclung to you like some desperate fool. My crime? Loving you and our child so much that I forgot I existed outside of you. But don¡¯t worry. That¡¯s over now.¡± Jared frowned. ¡°At least you see the issue. But drop the jealousy. Tracy and I are nothing but professional.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± A bitterugh tore from my throat. ¡°Professional? Then why the love songs? Why the lingering looks?¡± ¡°Victoria, when are you going to let this go?¡± His patience snapped. ¡°I¡¯m giving you some space.¡± With that, he walked out, leaving the room in suffocating silence. I stared at the tangled sheets, reying his words. If I wasn¡¯t obedient, he took it as proof I didn¡¯t love him. Jared was always this sharp. And this time, he was right. I didn¡¯t love him anymore. The next morning, I headed downstairs for breakfast. Jared was already on the sofa, flipping through documents, when Tracy walked in. She handed him some papers along with his freshly pressed shirt and suit jacket. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Hob,¡± she greeted me, her smile polite but with just a little too much sweetness. ¡°Mr. Hob and I have a ten¨Cthirty flight to Aurelia. Do you mind if I grab some breakfast before we go?¡± I returned her smile, just as polished. ¡°Of course not. Help yourself.¡± Wendy, our housekeeper, shot me a nce with a flicker of sympathy. Women always knew. Even she could see Tracy wasn¡¯t here just for the coffee. And Jared had to know it too. Last night, he swore nothing was going on between them. But this trip? The perfect opportunity for that to change. ¡°Thanks, Mrs. Hob. You¡¯re always so considerate,¡± Tracy said, sliding into a chair and digging in like she owned the ce. I took a slow sip of my nut milk. ¡°No need for ttery, Tracy. I¡¯m not that easygoing. I don¡¯t pretend to understand everyone¡¯s intentions.¡± Her smile faltered, and she shot Jared a wounded look. But he was too buried in his files to notice our little exchange. ¡°Oh, and Mrs. Hob,¡± Tracy added, all fake helpfulness, ¡°Mr. Hob got a stain on his shirt and suitst time. I hand- washed them for him. Maybe you could take care of them properlyter?¡± ¡°Of course, Tracy. How thoughtful of you.¡± I nodded, and then deliberately raised my voice. ¡°Honestly, you¡¯d make some man a wonderful wife someday.¡± Jared¡¯s head snapped up, his eyes locking onto mine. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Loose 61 Chapter 61 Tracy looked shy and lowered her head while sipping on her gruel. ¡®Since I¡¯ve already set the mood for them, I figure it is time for me to make my exit quietly, I thought. I picked up my purse and said, ¡°Honey, I¡¯m heading to work.¡± Jared suddenly followed me into the garage. His deep, thoughtful eyes scanned me from head to toe. I was wearing slightly red jeans and a lightweight rose¨Cgold blouse. In the past, I used to pile on expensive jewelry, hoping to cover up emotional emptiness with material things. But now, I just wore a delicate chain around my neck and a pair of pink pearl earrings. Simple, but still very feminine. ¡°Drive safe,¡± Jared said. He didn¡¯tment on how I looked. Instead, he showed a bit of concern. I answered calmly and then stepped on the gas and took off. Jared would be away on a business trip for about four days. I tried calling Yvonne, but she ignored all my calls. She was giving me the silent treatment. Then Sally called me to lecture me. She told me I was a lousy mom for breaking my daughter¡¯s heart. She said I should back off for now and that she¡¯d handle things. I always thought Yvonne¡¯s rebellious stage would hit when she was around thirteen or fourteen. Back then in my previous life, she had mepletely under her thumb. But now she was only six and already knew how to rally everyone around her to push me out. It was fine for me. I could finally enjoy some peace. That night, I met up with Melissa for dinner. She showed up in a rush, arms full of paperwork. She was a serious career woman. Melissa was ambitious. In her previous life, she¡¯d been married three times and divorced three times. In the end, she managed to build up some wealth. She had three kids from different dads. She was strong, her kids respected her, and honestly, her life turned out way better than mine. Thinking about everything she¡¯d been through made me feel protective of her. ¡°Order anything you want,¡± I said, handing her the menu. But she stayed polite. ¡°It¡¯s just the two of us. Let¡¯s not go overboard,¡± she said, and then ordered three dishes and a soup. She pushed up her sses and looked straight at me. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯ve changedtely. Got someone new?¡± I was caught off guard. I tucked my hair behind my ear and smiled. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®changed¡°?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve slimmed down. Your style¡¯s different. When we went to the movies, I could tell you were glowing. Super feminine. And today, you look stunning. Not just guys. Girls can¡¯t stop staring either.¡± Melissa might¡¯ve been dramatic, but she wasn¡¯t wrong. I casually sipped my coffee. ¡°I just came to a realization. Flowers don¡¯t bloom forever. Youth fades. If I don¡¯t enjoy dressing up while I still can, I won¡¯t get another shot when I¡¯m older and worn out.¡± ¡°That makes sense, but what happened to that whole thing you used to say? You used to talk about being a proper wife. You even said Mr. Hob liked ssy, elegant women, and that your outfits had to reflect that,¡± Melissa teased. I just smiled and shrugged. ¡°That was then. Things are different now.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re crushing on someone. Come on, spill. Is it Nathan?¡± Melissa asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity. Iughed. ¡°What¡¯s this got to do with him? Maybe I just grew up. Why does it always have to be about a man?¡± ¡°Girl, we¡¯ve known each other for years. I know how you are. I remember you were at your most radiant when Jared was chasing you, before you guys got married.¡± Melissa gave me that ¡°I¡¯m not buying it¡± look. Loose 62 My mind drifted back to those days. I was a junior in college at neen and had great grades. I met Jared at a campus dance. He was there with some friends, and I was the lead dancer for the school¡¯s dance troupe. Jared told meter that he fell for me at first sight. He said the way I lit up on stage, even my hair, felt magical. But thinking about the past just hurt. Every memory was like a little stab. ¡°Melissa, let¡¯s not go there. Let¡¯s talk about now. Weren¡¯t you trying to find a boyfriend? Any news?¡± I asked, smiling. Melissa gave me a slightly awkward smile. ¡°Mr. Hallman¡¯s assistant¡­ we¡¯ve been hanging out a lottely.¡± ¡°No way!¡± My eyes went wide. ¡°You two? Did he make the first move?¡± ¡°Nope. I did,¡± Melissa said boldly. ¡°You¡¯re not judging me, are you?¡± Iughed and reassured her. ¡°Not at all. If you like him, go for it. It¡¯s better to do it now than to regret itter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already living with him.¡± Her next words shocked me. ¡°What? That was fast. We just had dinner not that long ago!¡± I shouted. Melissa blushed and looked down at her coffee. ¡°There was a big rainstorm a few days ago. I invited him to a movie, and we kinda got stuck in the rain together.¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh. Melissa was all business at work, but when it came to love, she didn¡¯t waste time either. ¡°Whose ce are you staying at?¡± I asked with curiosity. ¡°His. It¡¯s a two¨Cbedroom apartment, and it¡¯s super close to my office,¡± she said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. You¡¯re both adults. If it feels right, no reason not to settle down. All I could do was wish her well and support her. ¡°He¡¯s no Mr. Hob, but he¡¯s a good guy. Really driven,¡± she said, looking genuinely happy. ¡°Don¡¯t evenpare anyone to Jared.¡± Just thinking about Jared getting mixed up with Tracy in Aurelia instantly made my blood boil. ¡°He¡¯s not that great, anyway.¡± Melissa looked surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s seeing someone else.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± I felt a wave of bitterness. I didn¡¯t love him anymore, but we weren¡¯t divorced yet. I was still alive. And he was already out traveling and having fun with Tracy like it was nothing. Melissa gave me a worried look. ¡°Try not to overthink it, Victoria. Mr. Hob doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of guy.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat. I don¡¯t want to talk about him.¡± All I wanted was to enjoy a chill dinner with my friend. After we ate, Melissa and I walked out of the restaurant. She nced at a nearby sedan and said, ¡°There he is. He came to pick me up. I¡¯ll catch youter.¡± I watched as the guy jumped out of the car to open the door for her. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Would Melissa go through three marriages again in this life? Or would she finally settle down with just one person?¡® 1 headed toward the parking lot, enjoying the breeze of early summer. Out of nowhere, a sleek Maybach pulled a sharp U- turn and headed straight toward me. Chapter oz I froze. The car looked familiar. It stopped right next to me. Nathan was in the driver¡¯s seat, wearing a ck shirt. He leaned toward the window. ¡°Heading home?¡± I was caught off guard. ¡°What are you doing here? Total coincidence?¡± Nathan parked and got out of the car. ¡°Not really. I came here on purpose to see you.¡± He looked straight at me with total honesty, and for a second, I didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Sorry. My assistant is dating your friend now. That¡¯s how I found out you two were eating here,¡± Nathan said, his eyes sincere. ¡°You need something?¡± I asked bluntly. ¡°I just got off work and haven¡¯t eaten yet. Would you join me for ate bite?¡± he asked softly, his eyes full of hope. G AD Comment Loose 63 Chapter 63 ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got to head home. My daughter¡¯s there alone, and she gets scared.¡± I wasn¡¯t going to have ate¨Cnight bite with another guy just to get back at Jared for running off overseas with Tracy. Nathan looked kind of let down. But after I said no, he looked at me with even more rity in his eyes, like he respected my decision. ¡°Alright. Get home safe,¡± he said gently. I turned around and walked to my car. As I drove past him, he stood by his car, just watching me leave. I lied. But I still think I did the right thing. Jared had no sense of morals. He disrespected our marriage. I had to prove I wasn¡¯t like him. Although I didn¡¯t mind Nathan setting up this little ¡°coincidental¡± meet¨Cup, I knew I wanted my next rtionship to start when I was officially single. I couldn¡¯t start a rtionship with him while I was still married on paper, especially when there was no future for us. That just wouldn¡¯t be fair. By the time I got home, it was already past ten. The nanny heard mee in and asked if I wanted anything to eat. I told her to go ahead and rest. Upstairs, my phone rang. It was Jared calling from abroad. ¡°You didn¡¯t bring Yvonne home today?¡± he asked right away. I stayed calm. ¡°I called her, but she didn¡¯t answer. Mom said I should leave it alone for a few days.¡± ¡°So just because Mon told you to stay out of it, you did?¡± Jared got mad, like I knew he would. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re her mother. It¡¯s fine to focus on work during the day, but once you¡¯re off, your kid shoulde first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pick her up from school tomorrow afternoon.¡± She¡¯s my daughter. Of course, I had to take care of her. ¡°When you see her, don¡¯t be so sharp with your words. Just try to be sweet. She¡¯s still a little kid.¡± Jared could tell I¡¯d been emotionally closed off. He wanted me to soften up. ¡°I hear you.¡± I didn¡¯t want to listen to his lectures. A cheating jerk had no right to talk down to me. There was a pause on his end. Then he asked, ¡°So where were you tonight?¡± ¡°I had dinner with Melissa,¡± I told him honestly. It sounded like he wanted to say something else, but then I heard a woman¡¯s soft voice in the background. She was calling his name sweetly. Jared said something quickly and then hung up. The line went dead. I tossed my phone aside and flopped onto the bed. My mood just tanked. The next day at 4 PM, I showed up at Yvonne¡¯s private preschool right on time. Maybe because I hadn¡¯te in a while, a few of the moms I used to chat with came up to say hi. They asked if I¡¯d been traveling, and said I kind of disappeared. I made up some excuse. But I could see the judgment there, like they already knew what was going on with my marriage. They probably saw those pictures from the other day, Jared and Tracy baking a cake with my daughter. Yvonne came out with her ss. When she saw me, she turned and walked the other way. I quickly went after her. ¡°Yvonne, you can¡¯t just run off like that. What if someone took you?¡± I called out behind her. She stopped, turned around, and red at me. ¡°Why didn¡¯t Grandmae get me?¡± I leaned against the wall and answered calmly, ¡°I¡¯m your mom. It¡¯s my job to pick you up from school.¡± ¡°You hit me before. You were mean. I don¡¯t want a mom like that. Her face twisted in hurt. I noticed her eyes starting to water. I looked down at the ground and thought for a second. ¡°Didn¡¯t your teacher talk about respecting your parents? I spoiled you because I love you. I need you to know something. I need love from you, too.¡± Yvonne blinked hard. Then suddenly, she ran into my arms and hugged me. ¡°Mommy, can you love me like you used to?¡± I looked down at her tiny body in my arms. Lately, I had been cold, even harsh, carrying all this bitterness from my previous life. I disciplined her. But no matter what, she was still the daughter I had loved for so many years. There was no way I could let her go. I just needed to figure out how to raise her the right way. ¡°Yvonne, sweetheart, I want you to always remember. Mommy loves you no matter what. Ìï Loose 64 Chapter 64 ¡°But I hope you can show me some love too, and try to understand what I have been through,¡± I said as I gently patted her head. Yvonne just stared at me with a nk face. Then she slowly nodded. ¡°Okay, I will, Mommy.¡± So I brought her home. I thought maybe something from how I raised her had finally gotten through. Yvonne seemed a little more grown¨Cup. At the very least, she wasn¡¯t having random meltdowns anymore. That night, I bathed her and let her y on the bed while I went to take a shower. When I came out, I noticed she wasn¡¯t in the room. My heart jumped. I walked fast to her bedroom. It was empty. Finally, I heard her voiceing from the media room. Cartoons were ying, and I could hear her talking on the phone. ¡°A robot toy? One that dances and talks to me? That¡¯s so cool. I want it. Tracy, when are youing back? You said you¡¯d take me to the zoost time. Do you still remember?¡± ¡°I wish my mom were even half as nice as you. She¡¯s been super meantely.¡± ¡°Can you tell my dad to talk to her? Tell him to teach her not to be so mean to me.¡± ¡°Hey, your birthday¡¯sing up, right? I asked Grandma for some allowance money. I wanna buy you a present.¡± ¡°You want me to draw something for you?¡± ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll draw a rose, and I¡¯ll make you a ne too. Do you like that?¡± My face fell when I heard that. I turned around quietly and walked back to my room. A few minutester, Yvonne came in. She saw me sitting at my vanity and ran over to y with my makeup. ¡°Mommy, when are you gonna buy me a lipstick? I wanna wear your pretty perfume too!¡± I grabbed some baby lotion and rubbed it on her cheeks and arms. ¡°Time for bed now. Mommy¡¯ll be done soon.¡± ¡°Mommy, I was just watching cartoons,¡± she said all of a sudden, like she was nervous and needed to exin herself. I nodded. ¡°Okay, but go to sleep early. You¡¯ve got school tomorrow.¡± She saw I didn¡¯t question her, so she crawled onto my bed and fell asleep quickly. I couldn¡¯t sleep at all. Tracy¡¯s birthday wasing up, and Yvonne was thinking about getting her a gift. She cared a lot. My birthday¡¯s in November. Last year, Yvonne threw a fit and cried during my birthday dinner because she didn¡¯t get to blow out the candles. My brother did. She didn¡¯t give me any gifts. People are different. Yvonne, even as a kid, already knew how to be sweet to Tracy. But when it came to me, her mom, what she wanted was just my total, unconditional love. The next morning, I dropped Yvonne off at school and then jumped straight into work. For the hotel¡¯s lobby and hallway, I used a designer from Fnsia. The whole vibe was romantic, and the colors were just right, ssy but still modern. Handling all the little details took a lot of brainpower. But I gave it my all. I wasn¡¯t about to give up halfway. I was pushing myself, seeing what I was capable of. I didn¡¯t believe that someone who used to be a top student could turn out to be useless. Chapter 64 Time flew. Jared came back from his business trip. He showed up at the office that afternoon, still looking sharp and confident. He had a hint of tiredness on his face, but he worked straight through until 9 p.m. Yvonne got picked up around 4 and brought to Jared¡¯s office. Tracy stayed with her for a while. By the time I came back from the Harmonia Hotel, Tracy was teaching Yvonne a song. Yvonne was taking it seriously and trying. ¡°Mrs. Hob,¡± Tracy stood up when she saw me. ¡°Are you here to take Yvonne home?¡± ¡°Mommy, can Tracy sing with me a little more?¡± Yvonne was having so much fun, and she didn¡¯t want to leave yet. I nodded. ¡°Sure, go ahead. I¡¯m heading out. You can ride back with Daddyter.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Yvonne ran over and gave me a big hug. ¡°Bye, Mommy.¡± Tracy looked at me with a kind ofplicated expression, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She just stayed with Yvonne. When I got home, I took a shower, had some oatmeal, and checked on the renovation work in my new dance studio. I nned to use it every morning and night for yoga and dancing. I¡¯d added some workout equipment on the side. Wearing a light yoga outfit, I was doing a pretty tough pose when I suddenly heard Jared¡¯s voice behind me. ¡°It¡¯ste. You¡¯re still working out?¡± AD Loose 65 Chapter 65 I stood up slowly from that little flirty move and gave Jared a soft smile. ¡°Honey, I just started practicing. You¡¯ve been traveling for days. You must be wiped out. Why don¡¯t you head up to bed?¡± I was being sweet and thoughtful, but instead of appreciating it, his face got even more tense. Looked like he¡¯d already taken a shower. He was on a gray pajama set, and his short hair was still a little damp, kinda messy. It gave him that rugged, grown¨Cman charm that honestly made him look even more attractive. But honestly, I was over that face. No matter how good¨Clooking he was, I was just tired of it. ¡°Stop practicing and go to bed,¡± he said, his tone heavy, like he wasn¡¯t asking, he was telling. ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll be up in a bit,¡± I said, trying to keep things calm and avoid pushing his buttons. But he was still pissed. He turned on his heel and went upstairs without another word. I kept practicing for another half hour. It helped loosen me up. I felt more at ease as I made my way upstairs. When I walked into the master bedroom and didn¡¯t see him there, I kind of smiled to myself. I¡¯d gotten to him. He left because he was that annoyed. I went to take a shower. As the hot water ran down my shoulders, I realized my mind feltpletely clear. I was rxed, at peace in a way I¡¯d never known in my previous life. Back then, theter the night got, the more restless I¡¯d feel, like my chest was crawling with ants. I¡¯d wait, hopeful, only to be let down again and again. Every time I saw that cold look on his face, it crushed me a little more. It drained my spirit day by day. But now, no expectations meant no disappointments. After I finished showering, I let my long hair fall over my shoulders. The thin straps of my nightgown framed my corbones just right. My skin looked soft and dewy, like it had drunk up the moisture. I opened the bathroom door, ready to start my nighttime skincare routine. Then I saw someone lying on the other side of my bed. I was a little surprised. Jared had been acting weirdtely. He was somehow full of energy. I ignored him and went straight to my skincare. After a few minutes of applying lotion, I heard footsteps behind me. I froze. A cool feeling touched my neck. Then, in the mirror, I saw a thin chain with a teardrop pendant around my neck. ¡°You like it?¡± Jared leaned down, admiring the view with me in the mirror. I was wearing a purple silk nightgown. That color was tricky, but it popped against my tender skin. The ne made the whole look feel kind of fancy. ¡°Thanks, honey.¡± Jared had just given me a pricey gift. I wasn¡¯t about to say no. ¡°How you gonna thank me?¡± Jared¡¯s voice dropped low and husky. His lips brushed the back of my neck, sending warmth through me. I shivered. Before I could say anything, he suddenly bent down and scooped me up from the chair. ¡°Give yourself to me.¡± Lately, Jared¡¯s behavior had been so out of character. I remembered how he barely wanted to touch me before. No matter how much I tried, he never responded. Chapter 65 But now, when I didn¡¯t want to be close, he was all over me. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m kinda tired.¡± Even though I just epted his gift and didn¡¯t want to ruin the mood, I thought about all the times he used this excuse to brush me off. I wanted him to feel what that was like. Jared nted both hands by my shoulders, staring into my eyes with that intense gaze. ¡°Honey.¡± I looked up at him and pleaded, ¡°How about another night?¡± He cut me off with a fierce kiss, not letting me say a word. I could feel his anger all over. Weirdly, that made me feel a little satisfied. He got mad just because I stole his line. When Jared was mad, he got, well, intense in certain ways. Guess I asked for it. He pressed me close and bit my shoulder. His voice was rough. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re my wife. Say something sweet.¡± AD Loose 66 Chapter 66 ¡®Bro, have mercy.¡± I refused and just shouted some random nonsense. ¡°Say sweet things right now!¡± Jared yelled. I bit my lip tightly and refused. He seemed like he wanted to punish me, but after three tries, he looked drained. He gave up and held me tightly, like he wanted to melt me into himself. Even though he¡¯d let go, he still looked upset. His chest felt tight, so he kissed me again, hard and frustrated. I didn¡¯t fight back. I let him have his way until he finally released me, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°If something¡¯s bothering you, just tell me now,¡± Jared said, gripping my arm. His voice was full of anger. At that moment, neither of us was dressed. There was no way we could have a real conversation. I quickly pulled the nket over me. Jared grabbed his pajama top and buttoned it up while staring at me. ¡°What¡¯s got you so upset? You look like you lost your soul. Are you that hurt?¡± he asked. Watching Jared lose it like that, I figured it was because I hadn¡¯t been paying enough attention. I hadn¡¯t been revolving around him like before. His pride and role as head of the family felt challenged. ¡°Honey, what are you even talking about? I don¡¯t get it.¡± The more he pressed for answers, the vaguer I got. Jared hated that kind of response. He clenched his jaw and sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you think I¡¯m cheating¡­ with Tracy? Just ¡®cause I took her on the trip, you¡¯re jealous? Should I fire her? Would that make you happy?¡± I froze. Jared was thinking about firing Tracy for me. But in his previous life, he said she was his trusted assistant, someone who fought alongside him. I didn¡¯t think he would let her go. Besides, Tracy wasn¡¯t my enemy right now. ? still needed her help to get a divorce. ¡°Honey, I swear I¡¯m not jealous of Tracy.¡± I held up a finger. ¡°Tracy¡¯s super capable. If you fire her, won¡¯t thepany lose a key yer?¡± ¡°Then why do you look like that?¡± Jared was still mad. I blinked innocently. ¡°Look like what?¡± ¡°You¡­ the way you¡¯re acting¡­ it¡¯s like you don¡¯t love me anymore.¡± Jared was so angry, he couldn¡¯t even get the words out right. I paused a second, and then chuckled softly. ¡°Honey, we¡¯ve been married for years. There¡¯s no passion left. I¡¯ve always seen you as family. Besides, didn¡¯t you say there¡¯s no spark after all these years? I just want to live peacefully now.¡± I threw his own words back at him. His face turned red with frustration. Jared stormed out of the bedroom, mad as hell. Iy back on the bed. My mood, which had been pretty good, just got even better. I didn¡¯t care what Jared was mad about or what was bothering him. I only cared about my peace. The next morning, I helped Yvonne get dressed. She was still sleepy, eyes shut tight as I put on her clothes. When she was ready, she stretched out her arms. ¡°Mommy, carry me downstairs.¡± I carried her down and set her in her chair. I ced breakfast in front of her. ¡°Eat up.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy?¡± Yvonne looked toward the stairs. ¡°Daddy usually wakes up early and goes jogging. Why hasn¡¯t hee down today?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. Just eat. After that, I¡¯ll take you to school,¡± I said softly. But Yvonne jumped out of her chair and ran upstairs. Watching her go, I felt mixed emotions. Thest time I was sick with a cold, Yvonne didn¡¯t even ask how I was. But now, just because Jared skipped breakfast, she was worried. A few minutes , Yvonne came back down and sat at the table. She started eating and said, ¡°Daddy said he didn¡¯t sleep wellst night, so he¡¯s resting some more.¡± ¡°Mm, let him sleep,¡± I said, already knowing why. Yvonne frowned and added, ¡°Daddy must be tired from his trip. Mommy, I¡¯ve been thinking. You should go back to work. Daddy¡¯s probably too tired earning money all by himself.¡± I was stunned. Yvonne was making this decision not because she respected me, but because she felt sorry for her dad working so hard alone. ¡°And also, Mommy, stop buying so many clothes and handbags. Your closet is full. You need to learn to save money,¡± Yvonne said, sounding way more grown¨Cup than her age. AD Loose 67 Chapter 67 I thought to myself, That¡¯s not enough. Maybe before long, Jared will spend hundreds of millions on a big mansion for Tracy. Right now, I¡¯m his legal wife. Isn¡¯t it only fair and right for me to spend his money?¡® I ignored her and just urged Yvonne to cat faster. After dropping Yvonne off at school, I headed straight to Harmonia Hotel. By then, both hotels had shut down and were being renovated. Jared worried I might get the short end of the deal, so he helped me connect with the right people. At noon, I went back to thepany. My office was still right next to Jared¡¯s. As soon as I got there, I felt people giving me weird looks. I wondered if it was me until one of my little assistants, whom I had bribed with small favors, came over and said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, I heard Tracy threw up during the meeting. Mr. Hob personally took her to the hospital.¡± My expression froze. I stared at her and asked, ¡°Is that for real?¡± She looked at me with sympathy. ¡°Of course. There were lots of people in the meeting room watching. Tracy looked pale, and Mr. Hob helped her into the elevator.¡± I thanked her and went into my office. Even though I already knew from my previous life that Tracy was pregnant, she hadn¡¯t told Jared because of work and Yvonne. She had gone to the hospital secretly and had the procedure done. Jared was both angry and heartbroken afterward. His love for her grew even deeper. He immediately gave her a vi to make up for it so she could rest and recover. A simr story was about to unfold. ¡®Is Tracy¡¯s vomiting morning sickness?¡® I wondered. I leaned back in my chair. People passing my office all looked in at once. I became the target of their pity and sneers. It felt like they were all waiting for me to be dered divorced. At noon, I left thepany. Even though I didn¡¯t care about their looks, they still felt like needles poking me, making me ufortable. For once, I asked Nathan out. When he answered, it was very quiet on his end, like he was in a meeting. But he sounded a little excited. ¡°Why the sudden call?¡± ¡°Can you take me out for lunch?¡± I remembered he had asked before, but I always said no. ¡°Okay, where are you? Want me to pick you up?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was warm and charming. ¡°No need. Just give me the address. I¡¯ll drive there.¡± I took a deep breath to calm my restless heart. Nathan gave me an address far out in the suburbs, about forty minutes away. ¡°Isn¡¯t that kind of far?¡± he asked, waiting for my answer. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s good. It¡¯s better for doing bad things,¡± I joked. Nathan heard the unease in my voice and whispered with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡± ¡°Nothing. See you soon.¡± I hung up and drove toward the restaurant. When I got there, it was almost one o¡¯clock. Nathan was already there. He stood at the entrance, smiling as he walked toward me. Outside the restaurant was a patch of flowers, blooming gardenias and poppies. Nathan¡¯s tall frame looked sharp among the flowers. I got out of the car. He smiled and said, ¡°Sorry for the drive, but this ce is good.¡± ¡°No problem. The scenery here is great,¡± I said, ncing around with a smile. Loose 68 ¡°Let¡¯s go in. I ordered,¡± Nathan said, leading me into a small private room on the second floor. Outside was a little balcony with flowers, and not far off was a field, giving it a countryside feel. ¡°Coffee?¡± Nathan offered warmly. ¡°Thanks.¡± I sipped my coffee slowly, then got up and went to the balcony. Nathan sat behind me, watching, and then softly said, ¡°You look troubled. What¡¯s going on? Can I help?¡± I looked back at him. His eyes were clear and full of concern. ¡°You already helped. Now you¡¯re treating me to lunch,¡± I smiled. Nathan smiled back. ¡°It¡¯s just a meal. No need for formalities.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything about my worries. Nathan didn¡¯t push. We talked more about his field. He spoke freely and with passion. When he talked about his specialty, his eyes lit up. I remembered the future tech industry had a bright outlook. Nathan was sure to do great things. ¡°Mr. Hob has invested in quite a few projectstely,¡± Nathan said suddenly. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about hispany,¡± I answered. I knew Jared was a skilled investor, steady and cautious, so he rarely lost money. ¡°Mr. Hob¡¯s impressive. If you want to learn about investment management, you should ask him more,¡± Nathan chuckled. ¡°Maybeter.¡± I wasn¡¯t interested. Although Jared was a good teacher, I didn¡¯t care much. Besides, I didn¡¯t n to make much money. When I had enough, I¡¯d live differently. Even if it was just gardening and growing flowers, I¡¯d be happy all year. ¡°Your daughter looks just like him,¡± Nathan said out of the blue. ¡°Have you seen my daughter?¡± I asked, surprised. ¡°Yeah, once at a dinner. I happened to notice her and took a good look. Her eyes and features are like Mr. Hob¡¯s, no sign of you,¡± Nathan said, and looked at me eagerly. ¡°If she looked more like you, she¡¯d be prettier.¡± I turned away and avoided his eyes. I gave a small smile and said, ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s OK whether she looks like me. She¡¯s part of the Hob family, and that¡¯s all that matters to them.¡± Nathan heard what I said and already guessed why I was upset. He carefully asked, ¡°Did Mr. Hob do something that hurt you?¡± My eyes tightened, and I shook my head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Every family has its problems. Things like this happen, it¡¯s normal.¡± Nathan frowned deeply and said, ¡°Mr. Hob had an affair?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a guy. You probably understand men better than I do. If I say he did, would that surprise you, or would you think it¡¯s normal?¡± I asked. I needed someone to talk to about this. I thought about telling Melissa before, but she was in love, and I didn¡¯t want to break her spirit. Nathan was someone I could open up to. He was a man, too. Nathan stared at me for a long moment, and then said, ¡°If a er vo man isn¡¯t married, it¡¯s normal for him to meet different women while looking for the right one. ¡°But if he¡¯s married, cheating isn¡¯t okay at all.¡± His answer made me feel a little better. Still, guys can be good actors and liars. Nathan liked me secretly, so maybe he was just telling me what I wanted to hear. ¡°When one is married, both people are happy at first. But over time, a in marriage can get boring. If a guy meets apanion, he might easily fall for her. That¡¯s normal,¡± I said. I leaned back in my chair, my voice full of insights into human nature and helplessness. ¡°Companion?¡± Nathan blinked. ¡°Could thatpanion be a guy?¡± Loose 69 Chapter 69 Nathan¡¯s words snapped me out of my thoughts. I stared at him nkly. His eyes were sincere and deep. When he looked at me, I felt like I could mess with him and get away with it. I pushed those naughty thoughts away fast and straightened my face. ¡°Mr. Hallman, I¡¯m not going to cheat just because he was ying the rooster.¡± Nathan burst outughing. ¡°Is that supposed to be funny?¡± Today, Jared took Tracy, who had morning sickness, to the hospital for a checkup. I wasn¡¯t in the mood tough. Nathan stoppedughing and softly said, ¡°That¡¯s a good way to think. Don¡¯t punish yourself for other people¡¯s mistakes. Just be yourself. Good things and good people will always get noticed.¡± His words healed a lot of my sadness right away. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to hit on me, are you?¡± I blurted out without thinking, caught up in my emotions. Nathan looked shocked, and then his face flushed red. A pure guy really can¡¯t resist teasing. ¡°Uh, I mean, I can be your friend, but I won¡¯t cross any lines,¡± I said honestly. I wanted to be friends with Nathan. Having a powerful friend who could help me get ahead sounded great. Nathan looked hurt by what I said. He said with a deep look, ¡°I never meant to cross the line. At first, I just wanted to get to know you.¡± I smiled and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t we already friends now?¡± ¡°Yeah. If you want to be friends, that makes me happy.¡± Nathan¡¯s gaze was warm, but I knew he had other feelings too. Nathan changed the subject. Halfway through the meal, I suddenly remembered something more urgent. I quickly looked at Nathan. ¡°Can you do me a favor right now?¡± Seeing my serious face, Nathan nodded right away. ¡°Sure. What is it?¡± ¡°Can you send someone to the affiliate hospital¡¯s OB¨CGYN department to take some photos for me?¡± I said, feeling anxious. ¡°Okay. Whose photos?¡± Nathan asked. ¡°Jared took thepany¡¯s VP, Tracy, to the OB¨CGYN department,¡± I said tly. Nathan was shocked. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s toote now, but I have to do this to collect evidence for the divorce.¡± I looked down and hid the sadness in my eyes. Nathan stared at me for a long moment, then quietly got up from his seat and stepped outside to make a phone call. After a short while, he came back and said, ¡°I sent my most trusted person over there. If they can¡¯t get any photos, I¡¯ll use my connections to find out what¡¯s going on.¡± I looked at him gratefully and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± In my previous life, I was isted by everyone. I wasn¡¯t from Hachester and wasn¡¯t good at making connections. If Yvonne hadn¡¯t cried and let some information slip, I wouldn¡¯t have known how close Tracy and Jared were. Therefore, Nathan¡¯s help felt like a lifeline. He looked at me with a bit of pity. I lowered my head and sipped my coffee, worried he might ask for more details. Luckily, he didn¡¯t press me and just , saying he would tell me as soon as he heard anything. We left the restaurant around 2:30. My car was in front, and his car followed closely behind. I had always been confident in my driving, but after about ten minutes, I bumped the car in front of me on a curve. The driver cursed loudly and jumped out, ring at the dented tail light I caused. I was shocked and hit my forehead on the steering wheel. Ignoring the pain, I quickly got out and apologized. Maybe because I looked pretty, the driver stared at me for two seconds. Though angry, his attitude softened a lot. ¡°Youngdy, you must be new at this. Look what you did to my tail light. I was rushing to pick up my kid.¡± My mind was a little foggy, and I said instinctively, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It wasn¡¯t on purpose. It¡¯s my fault.¡± Just then, a gentle male voice spoke behind me. ¡°Ms. Murphy, are you okay?¡± I turned and saw Nathan still behind me. I was surprised since hispany was in the opposite direction. The driver immediately asked, ¡°Are you her husband?¡± ¡°I¡¯m her friend,¡± Nathan said. ¡°She just said it was all her fault. You don¡¯t have a problem with that, right?¡± The driver pushed aggressively. Ìï Loose 70 Chapter 70 Nathan replied calmly, ¡°You just made a U¨Cturn on a double yellow line. She¡¯s not fully at fault.¡± The driver froze and had no answer. ¡°Settle this privately,¡± Nathan said firmly. The driver looked annoyed but admitted he had cut across the double yellow line quickly, so he was partly responsible. ¡°Fifteen hundred dors,¡± Nathan said straight. The driver wanted more, but Nathan¡¯s strong presence made him back down. ¡°Fine, you guys have more backing. You decide.¡±. I quickly turned and grabbed money from my car. When I came back, the driver got in and drove off. ¡°Didn¡¯t he want the money?¡± I asked, surprised. ¡°He got it,¡± Nathan said, frowning as he watched me closely. ¡°Is your husband¡¯s cheating stressing you out? You shouldn¡¯t be driving. Ride with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said and tried to get into my car. Nathan grabbed me suddenly. ¡°You¡¯re risking your life.¡± I looked at him, shocked. ¡°It was really an ident.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t drive.¡± Nathan pulled me toward his car. His driver then came down and politely said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll drive your car back to the city.¡± Nathan pushed me into the back seat without arguing. After I sat down, he didn¡¯t close the door right away. His eyesnded on my forehead. ¡°You got a bump. Let¡¯s get you some medicine first.¡± I touched my forehead and felt a sharp pain. My car also had a broken headlight. I asked Nathan to have his assistant drive my car to the dealership. Luckily, it was in my name, so Jared wouldn¡¯t find out. The driver had already left with my car. Nathan drove his Maybach and stopped in front of a pharmacy. He went inside to buy medicine. Through the ss, I watched his tall figure enter the store. He talked with the staff at the counter, asking questions about the medicines. row of I rested my chin on my hand and suddenly remembered a minor ident I had three years ago. I had smashed a row guardrails and got a swollen forehead. Jared didn¡¯te; he sent his assistant. On a cold, windy street, I stood in a thin coat for over an hour. The assistant bought me a hot coffee and took me home. Jared never called. Nathan came back with the medicine and opened the back door. A cool early summer breeze came in. He smelled like Dn Blue cologne. ¡°Come closer. Let me see,¡± Nathan said, frowning. I didn¡¯t lean in but held out my hand. ¡°Just give me the medicine. I can put it on myself.¡± ¡°Let me disinfect it first,¡± Nathan said. ¡°You got a little scrape.¡± I softly said okay and moved a little closer. Nathan dipped a cotton swab in disinfectant. When he tried to touch the wound, I flinched. Then he said gently, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. It won¡¯t hurt.¡± I looked up at him. He was looking at my wound. When our eyes met, he looked a little embarrassed. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. Whatever happens, just fix it. It¡¯s not the end of the world, and life goes on,¡± Nathan said kindly. ¡°I¡¯m not sad,¡± I said, looking down and smiling. ¡°Really.¡± Nathan thought I was fooling myself, pretending to be okay. Everyone knew I loved Jared. It seemed I was singing a farewell song to hold on to my dignity before love broke me. ¡°Alright, stop overthinking. Don¡¯t put men on a pedestal. No matter how strong or talented a man is, he has his ns. If you¡¯re not part of his world, don¡¯t be upset,¡± Nathan said. It was clear he believed I was about to divorce. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll remember that,¡± I smiled at him. He finished applying the medicine and asked where I nned to go next. ¡°To the dealership. I need to get my car fixed today,¡± I said, tired. ¡°Your headlight¡¯s smashed. They won¡¯t fix it in half a day,¡± Nathan said. He thought I was rushing because I was scared Jared would me me. He felt even more sorry for me. I looked at him. Nathan said nothing and drove me to the dealership entrance. His driver quickly came over and handed me the car keys. I thanked him. Suddenly, Nathan¡¯s phone rang. After he finished, he said to me, ¡°Jared didn¡¯t take Tracy to the OB¨CGYN. They registered in internal medicine. Tracy has a cold.¡± I was shocked. I thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t it supposed to be morning sickness?¡® AD Loose 71 Chapter 71 Nathan looked a little conflicted. His driver, picking up on the vibe, got into the car first. Nathan quietly said, ¡°You worried for nothing.¡± Maybe this time it was just a misunderstanding. But Tracy would get pregnant eventually. She would go through morning sickness eventually. ¡°Looks like I misread him. Are you sure your info is legit?¡± I still had my doubts. Nathan replied firmly, ¡°Definitely.¡± I believed him. Nathan seemed genuine. I told Nathan to leave. I sat inside the Mercedes- Benz dealership, sipping coffee and watching peoplee and go. Then Jared called and asked where I was. My mind went nk for a second, and then I said, ¡°I just smashed my headlight. I¡¯m getting the car fixed now.¡± Jared paused for a couple of seconds and then asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t get hurt, right?¡± ¡°I hurt my forehead. Just a scratch.¡± I¡¯m done sugarcoating things for him. Before, when I was sick, I didn¡¯t tell him. I didn¡¯t want to mess up his work. I put on a tough front, scared to make even a small mistake. But things don¡¯t always turn out the way one wants. People all have their ups and downs. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of life. When I was a kid, only those who cried got candy. When I grew up, strong women didn¡¯t get much attention or care. ¡®I won¡¯t be that strong woman anymore. If I¡¯m hurting or tired, I¡¯m going to cry. That¡¯s the only way to figure out who cares. Those who only say they care but don¡¯t will be pushed as far away as possible,¡® I thought. I hung up and closed my eyes to rest. Because I was a big client here, the manager checked on me several times. Then he politely told me that I probably couldn¡¯t get my car today and shoulde back in three days. I didn¡¯t want to make things difficult. I grabbed my bag and got ready to leave. The manager kindly offered to drive me home. I declined. I stood by the door waiting for a cab when a silver Bentley slowly pulled up. The window rolled down. Jared was sitting in the back seat and said, ¡°Get in.¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I was surprised. Jared not only showed up but came himself. He frowned. ¡°How could you be so careless?¡± I got in the car. Jared immediately reached out to check my forehead. I already had a bandage there. When he reached for it, I instinctively pulled away. His fingers stiffened a bit, then he pulled back and said softly, ¡°Did you hear I took Tracy to the hospital? That¡¯s why you¡¯re upset again, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll drive carefully next time.¡± Jared looked at me and then let out a mockingugh. ¡°You¡¯re so jealous that you can¡¯t even drive. And you say you¡¯re not. You¡¯ve got quite a mouth.¡± I looked up at him and said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not jealous. Tracy works hard for thepany. She got sick. As the boss, it makes sense that you care about her. How could I be jealous?¡± ¡°Victoria, some things, if you fake them too much, just get annoying,¡± Jared said with a sarcastic tone, clearly not buying it. I immediately shut up. People say men are narcissistic, but I didn¡¯t expect Jared to be like that, too. ¡®How do I prove I¡¯m not jealous and that I don¡¯t love him anymore?¡® I thought quietly. The car was silent the rest of the way home. We didn¡¯t say a word. But I knew Jared thought I was fake, and I thought he was way too full of himself. When we got home, Yvonne bounced over and asked, ¡°Howe you guys came home together?¡± Her question was funny. For her, it was surprising that her parents came home at the same time. I didn¡¯t answer and just went straight upstairs. Jared crouched down and hugged our daughter. ¡°What do you want for dinner? Let Wendy make it for you.¡± ¡°Can I have fried chicken drumsticks?¡± Yvonne loved her tasty food. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have Wendy fry some for you.¡± Jared headed to the kitchen and told Wendy. I was in the bathroom, carefully checking my wound. Luckily, it was just a small scrape that wouldn¡¯t leave a scar, but it was still swollen. At dinner, I went downstairs to eat. Jared and Yvonne wereughing at something. When Yvonne saw mee down, she quickly covered her mouth and stoppedughing. Jared gave me a deep, unreadable look but said nothing. I knew he was using his usual silent treatment to punish me for being stubborn. In my previous life, I couldn¡¯tst three days before I¡¯d knock on his doorte at night like a sad little puppy. He would open the door coldly, look at me dressed lightly, then turn and lie down on his bed. I would quietly close the door, hug him from behind, apologize softly, and then get his affection for the whole night. Jared still nned to tame me that way. As I expected, he waited for me to soften ande to him first to make peace. AD Loose 72 Chapter 72 Those two days were the weekend. Besides supervising the site at Harmonia Hotel, I went out for dinner with Melissa. Then Sally called and asked the three of us to eat together. That afternoon, Yvonne stayed at Sally¡¯s. When she was dropped off at night, she carried a big bag of toys, including some cute silver jewelry. As soon as Yvonne got home, she grabbed scissors and sat in her room stringing beads. I knew she was making a gift for Tracy. She was focused on it. When I brought her some fruit, Yvonne seemed a little guilty and hid it at first. Unexpectedly, the beads she was stringing spilled all over the floor halfway through. She shouted in frustration, ¡°It¡¯s your fault, Mom, you¡¯re distracting me from making my bracelet!¡± Then she knelt and crawled around picking up beads one by one. I sat nearby, popped a cherry tomato in my mouth, and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s this for? You¡¯re working so hard.¡± ¡°None of your business,¡± Yvonne replied, not telling the truth, and quickly told me, ¡°Mom, please go away. Don¡¯t bother me.¡± I had no choice but to leave her room. Inside, it felt like someone stabbed me in the heart. I didn¡¯t understand why Yvonne liked Tracy so much, but resented me as her mother. ¡®I must have messed up somewhere. Or maybe that¡¯s just how people are¨Cloving the distant but resenting the close,¡® I thought. Tracy ttered her easily, and Yvonne was happy. I cared for her day and night and managed her life, but I became the person she hated. Late at night, Iy in bed when my period suddenly started. I went to the bathroom to handle it. When I came out, Jared was sitting on the other side of the bed. I froze. Then I remembered we had been giving each other the cold shoulder for three days. But I hadn¡¯t gone to apologize to him yet tonight. Since tomorrow night was going to be Tracy¡¯s birthday, I figured that Jared had probably prepared a gift for her. I turned on my side and saw Jared toss his phone down hard beside him. The next second, hey down too. ¡°I¡¯m on my period.¡± I knew what he was waiting for, so I crushed his hopes right away. Not long after, Jared got up and closed my bedroom door. Since we couldn¡¯t have sex, he left. So he came to my room just for that. The next morning, I noticed Wendy had made some desserts for breakfast. ¡°Mrs. Hob, Mr. Hob asked me to make these for you. Here¡¯s chocte pie and rice pudding.¡± ¡°Thank you, Wendy,¡± I said gratefully. Wendy smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Hob really cares about you.¡± I didn¡¯t take that seriously. If just asking a maid to cook meant caring, that was pretty cheap care. ¡°Mr. Hob already took Yvonne to ss,¡± Wendy added. I nodded. It was Monday. After breakfast, I had to head to work. At the office, Tracy said she wanted to treat us to lunch. She even asked if I was free because it was her birthday and she wanted to gather the higher¨Cups. She didn¡¯t have enough status yet to bring me along, so I didn¡¯t go. Not only did I skip it, but I went to thepany cafeteria and asked the kitchen to prepare a special meal for me, my favorite salmon and beef steak. I sat alone, enjoying my meal, when the door suddenly opened. Jared appeared in front of me. I froze and thought, ¡®Why is he here?¡® Jared asked the kitchen for a knife and fork and sat down. He openly started eating my lunch. ¡°Tracy said it¡¯s her birthday and invited a lot of people. Why didn¡¯t you go?¡± I asked casually. ¡°I promised her a dinner tonight, so I didn¡¯t go for lunch,¡± Jared said inly. ¡°Oh.¡± I thought there was no point in asking more. I didn¡¯t think I was more important than Tracy. ¡°Youe with me tonight,¡± Jared suddenly said. A cold feeling spread through me. Jared definitely spoiled Tracy. She was having a birthday, and he brought me, his wife, to show everyone that his wife and his mistress got along perfectly. He was even attending her birthday personally. ¡°I already have ns with friends tonight, so I won¡¯t go,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Thatwyer again?¡± Jared seemed annoyed with Melissa. ¡°What¡¯s the point of you two women eating together all the time?¡± ¡°She¡¯s Melissa, a longtime friend,¡± I answered seriously. Jared nced at me and smirked. ¡°I know her name. I just want to warn you not to get too close. Be careful. Don¡¯t let her use you.¡± Hearing that, I mmed my fork down on the table. ¡°Jared, can you be reasonable? First, I¡¯m a person. Second, I¡¯m your wife. ¡°People are social creatures. I have my friends. So what? Don¡¯t you have your group of guy friends? Have I ever interfered with your private life?¡± Jared looked at me oddly. Then he said casually, ¡°Friends of the same sex are fine. But opposite sex friends? No.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± I had to stand up for myself. Jared looked me up and down and said bluntly, ¡°Honestly, any guy trying to get close to you just wants to sleep with you.¡± AD Comment Loose 73 Chapter 73 Jared¡¯s words caught me off guard, and I couldn¡¯t help but stare at him. He didn¡¯t even notice the awkward look on my face and just snorted low. ¡°You dress so nicely every day now. ¡°I bet a lot of guys have noticed you. Victoria, you need to understand that outer beauty will never beat inner beauty. You don¡¯t have to dress so shy just to impress me every day.¡± I honestly thought Jared was out of his mind. I dressed up to feel good about myself, not to please him. ¡°Honey, if an ugly freak stood in front of you, would you care about its inner beauty?¡± I asked with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s boring,¡± Jared said, taking two sips of his coffee before standing up. ¡°You¡¯re noting tonight? Yvonne said she wants toe over.¡± ¡°No,¡± I said with a little anger this time. Jared thought I was being unreasonable and didn¡¯t bring it up again. As evening fell, I left work. Melissa suddenly invited me to her and her boyfriend¡¯s ce for dinner. If I hadn¡¯t been in such a bad mood, I wouldn¡¯t have wanted to intrude on their time alone. But maybe catching some of their good energy would help me, so I said yes. On the way, I bought a bunch of fruit. When I got downstairs, I struggled carrying it all and set it down by the elevator door, leaning against the wall to catch my breath. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± a deep voice said behind me, surprised. I turned to see Nathan holding two bottles of red wine. He was dressed casually. The light shone down, and as he looked at me against the light, his gaze was clear. I nced at the elevator, then back at Nathan. I felt like there was some secret I didn¡¯t know about between them. ¡®Melissa is ying matchmaker?¡® I thought. ¡°Is it too heavy? I¡¯ll help you carry it upstairs,¡± Nathan said, reaching out and easily lifting my big bag of fruit. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, my scattered thoughts calming down. I hadn¡¯t made any secret ns with Nathan. I was just going to a friend¡¯s house with him, so it didn¡¯t cross any lines. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you blush,¡± Nathan smiled, asking as we rode the empty elevator. I touched my cheek and said, ¡°The car was parked too far, so I had to walk.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Nathan said, his voice dropping a bit. ¡°Is it a custom in your hometown to bring a gift card when visiting someone¡¯s new home for the first time?¡± he suddenly asked. ¡°Ah,¡± I was surprised. ¡°Is this the first time Melissa¡¯s boyfriend is staying at his new ce?¡± Nathan nodded. ¡°Right, I brought a gift card. Since we came together, if I gave one and you didn¡¯t, it might seem off.¡± I opened my purse right away. ¡°I¡¯ll give cash.¡± Nathanughed and quickly slipped his gift card into my bag. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just give him a bonuster. No need for a gift card.¡± I looked at the gift card in my bag, ready to take it back, but then I heard him quietly say, ¡°Just keep it for now. My pockets Chapter yo are shallow, and if it fell out, that wouldn¡¯t be good.¡± I didn¡¯t know what else to say. He cared about me. The elevator arrived. Melissa had already opened the door, waiting for me, but she didn¡¯t expect us both to show up. ¡°Victoria, you and Mr. Hallman have some luck. In a city as big as Hachester, you meet in the same elevator,¡± Melissa said with a smile, helping with the bags. ¡°Thanks for the gift, Mr. Hallman.¡± Nathan chuckled softly. ¡°Ms. Murphy bought the fruit. These two bottles of wine are for Zachary,¡± AD Loose 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Right then, Zachary, wearing an apron and holding a spat, came running over excitedly. ¡°Mr. Hallman, Ms. Murphy, thanks for two, make yourselvesfortable. Melissa, go ahead and take care of our guests. Just three more dishes to finish up.¡± I gave Melissa a teasing look. When Zachary called her Melissa, it sounded so cheesy. The tough, strong Melissa blushed all of a sudden. With Nathan by my side, I didn¡¯t dare tease her, so I politely sat down on the couch. Melissa got busy making coffee for us. Nathan was calm and collected. When he reached for the coffee with his long, pale fingers, the veins on the back of his hand showed clearly. My heart skipped a beat. ¡°I¡¯ll go help Zachary. You two rx,¡± Melissa said, leaving us alone. Nathan nced toward the kitchen at the happy couple and smiled. ¡°They look really happy.¡± I looked too. Zachary cooked while Melissa washed dishes. The sounds of pots and pans nging gave off a warm, homey vibe. Seeing this, I suddenly thought of my previous life, how I was always alone in the kitchen. Jared wouldn¡¯t evene in to grab a bowl, let alone share that kind of couple closeness. ¡°My friend finally found someone who can satisfy her appetite,¡± I smiled. ¡°Zachary¡¯s from Caelora. His pork¡¯s the real deal,¡± Nathan added. ¡°Oh, I get it,¡± Iughed. I¡¯d heard men in Caelora were known to be very attentive, but I wasn¡¯t sure if that was true. As I watched the kitchen, I felt a burning stare on me. I immediately looked down and calmly sipped my coffee. Nathan seemed to feel that staring was rude and quickly drank his coffee, too. ¡°Ms. Murphy, I didn¡¯t expect you toe,¡± Nathan said quietly, worried I might think the wrong thing. I looked at him sincerely. ¡°I trust you.¡± Nathan stared at me in surprise. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Nothing. I just think you¡¯re honest and not scheming.¡± Nathan was a science geek with clear eyes, not like someone with hidden agendas. Nathan felt a bit underestimated. He lowered his voice. ¡°You don¡¯t know me that well yet.¡± I smiled at him. ¡°We¡¯re just friends. No need to dig too deep. As long as you seem trustworthy, that¡¯s enough.¡± Nathan¡¯s clear eyes darkened for a moment. He said no more. Dinner was great. Zachary and Melissa were outgoing and talkative. After a few toasts, it was my turn. I got tongue¨Ctied. Nathan smiled at me, so I blurted out, ¡°I wish you a happy marriage and lots of kids.¡± ¡°Victoria¡­¡± Melissa protested, blushing hard and giving me a yful re. Zachary happily thanked me. ¡°Thanks for the blessing, Ms. Murphy. We¡¯ll do our best.¡± Chapter 74 Melissa¡¯s eyes lit up. She looked shy but happy. We talked about light, fun stuff at the table. I didn¡¯t drink because I had to drive. Nathan drank a little. He had a driver with him. Zachary drank a lot. He was happy. Melissa only had a little. When the party ended, Nathan suddenly swayed next to me. I instinctively reached out to steady him. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a little drunk,¡± he said, eyes red and breath heavy. Zachary was dead drunk. Melissa had to take care of him. Nathan and I got ready to leave. ¡°Victoria, watch Mr. Hallman so he doesn¡¯t fall,¡± Melissa said worriedly. I nodded. At the elevator entrance, the motion¨Csensor light suddenly went out. The elevator came slowly. We were in total darkness. Nathan stood silently beside me, like a tall white birch tree. My heart pounded. I wondered if I didn¡¯t have the courage to do what Jared did. ¡®How could he be so affectionate with Tracy in front of me all these years?¡® Thinking that, I nced at the elevator still stopped on the third floor. Nathan suddenly swayed. He put his hand on the wall. I reached out and held his other arm. In the dark, he looked at me, and I stared right back. ¡°Victoria¡­¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was hoarse and barely recognizable. I responded softly. Then I felt his breath suddenly move closer but stop about two inches from me. AD Loose 75 Chapter 75 Nathan seemed like he was holding back, trying to keep his feelings in check. It was clear he wanted to make a move. I wasn¡¯t dumb. He never hid that he liked me. He probably thought this was a good chance, but since I was married, he didn¡¯t want to make things awkward for me. And he didn¡¯t want to lose his gentleman¡¯s reputation. I waited for two seconds and saw that the elevator was almost there. Turns out, he was even more shy than I was. My mind was flooded with sad memories from my previous life. I knew I was about to mess up tonight. Nathan was like a loyal, well¨Cbehaved dog waiting for me to kiss him. I couldn¡¯t let my dog feel disappointed or sad. Just as I was about to lean in, the elevator dinged and stopped. The doors opened, and a man carrying a child stepped out. I quickly pushed Nathan aside and moved to the other side. Nathan steadied himself with his hand. The elevator light hit his face, and I saw the hurt and disappointment there. ¡°Sorry, are you okay?¡± I panicked earlier because I didn¡¯t expect anyone in the elevator, so I pushed him away. ¡°I¡¯m not okay.¡± Nathan looked hurt. His handsome face was flushed. He closed his eyes and leaned against the elevator wall. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong,¡± I said with a fake smile. The elevator was quiet. I thought that was the end of it, but then six or seven people rushed in on the 13th floor. I froze at first. Then a big hand grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of Nathan. ¡°Move closer,¡± someone said outside. Everyone stepped back, and I ended up standing close to Nathan. The smell of his Dn Blue cologne was stronger. Maybe because I was dressed a little more flirty, two men who got on purposely squeezed toward me. Luckily, Nathan turned and blocked me in the corner of the elevator, keeping anyone from pressing against me. Instead, he was almost pressing against me. Standing that close, I noticed he was tall, at least 6¡¯2¡°. Jared was tall, too, but only 6 feet. The elevator went down. I felt the man above me breathing heavier. I felt embarrassed. I blinked slowly and put my hands between us by instinct. It took a few seconds to get to the first floor. Once everyone left, the elevator was empty. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± I gently nudged Nathan. He snapped out of it, hid the longing look in his eyes, and stepped aside so I could get out first. Once outside, I said quickly, ¡°I¡¯m leaving. See you.¡± The night air was thick and warm. Summer was on its way. That meant Yvonne¡¯s summer break wasing too. In past years, Jared would arrange for someone to take us on trips abroad. Sometimes we stayed inside the country. Either way, Jared never neglected his daughter. I was always on standby as the nanny, packing and getting everything ready. This summer, I decided to let Jared take the kids. He could take Yvonne wherever he wanted. I wasn¡¯t going to go anymore. Maybe if I didn¡¯t go, they would have more fun. Tracy would be with them all the time. She could charm Yvonne during the day and keep Jared happy at night. Loose 76 Chapter 76 Today was Tracy¡¯s birthday. I figured they¡¯d stay outte. When I got home, Jared¡¯s car was parked at the garden gate. He was back. It was only about 9:30 PM. Maybe Jared had the driver bring Yvonne home carly. He still needed to spend some romantic time with Tracy tonight. ¡°Dad, are you feeling better? Want some more hot water?¡± I heard Yvonne¡¯s voice as I reached the living room door. When I walked in, Jared and Yvonne were sitting on the couch, looking at me. ¡°Mom, where have you been? You¡¯re back sote. Dad drank a lot and got drunk.¡± Yvonne was a kid. She didn¡¯t understand that Jared got drunk on his own, not because others pushed him to. He was happy inside, so he drank more. ¡°Is that so? Then don¡¯t bother him. Let him sleep.¡± I changed my shoes and went upstairs. ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t you going to check on Dad?¡± Yvonne shouted from the stairs. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯ll take a shower first.¡± I wasn¡¯t in the mood. If he got drunk because of his lover, Tracy would be the one to care for him. I, the wife, knew my limits. After my shower, I helped Yvonne take a bath upstairs. She told me about the birthday party, but she was smart enough not to mention anything about Tracy and Jared. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m tired. You go take care of Dad.¡± Yvonne had a regr sleep schedule. After 10 PM, she usually fell asleep. She climbed into bed on her own. I didn¡¯t go downstairs. I went to the bedroom. I still had some payroll stuff I hadn¡¯t figured out. I needed to look up some info on theputer. As I sat there, the door suddenly opened. Jared stood in the doorway, his face flushed, watching me. ¡°Victoria, are you still mad?¡± Jared¡¯s voice sounded angry. I calmly looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m working. I don¡¯t have time to be mad.¡± ¡°I just gave Tracy a birthday party. Do you have to be so petty? She¡¯s thepany¡¯s vice president. She needs my approval as her boss.¡± ¡°Then go ahead. You¡¯ve got long legs. I¡¯m not holding you back.¡± I cut him off. My face turned cold. Jared¡¯s eyes widened. He stepped over and snatched the files from my hands. The first thing he did was tear them into pieces and toss them into the air. The papers fell like snow all over me. ¡°Victoria, I married you so you¡¯d take care of this family. Not so you could cause trouble and act like a jealous woman.¡± Jared was probably drunk. His temper was worse than usual. His face went pale, and his eyes burned with anger. I gave a faint, coldugh. ¡°Jared, how about we sign another agreement?¡± Jared froze and stared at me. I stood up and put my fingers on the table. My eyes were calm but firm as I looked at him. ¡°From now on, we don¡¯t interfere with each other. ¡°I¡¯ll let you mess around outside, and you won¡¯t stop me from making male friends. We¡¯ll live peacefully, each doing our own thing. I won¡¯t ask you toe home early, and you don¡¯t need to ask where I go.¡± Victoria, are you crazy?¡± Jared looked shocked and ashamed. ¡°Have you thought about how much you¡¯ve done for this family? And how much I have? ¡°Every year, I invest a lot in this family and you. The clothes, jewelry, and bags in your closet? I bought every one of them. And now you want fairness from me? Huh?¡± Ìï Loose 77 No Ads Chapter 77 Jared¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, like a wild animal ready tosh out. He stared right at me, but inside, I felt calm as a stillke. I knew he was mad because I stopped caring about the family, I had my temper, and I no longer tried to please him like before. But I wasn¡¯t born to be a doormat. I didn¡¯t want to start arguing big philosophical points with him, because whether I won or lost, it would only prove our marriage was falling apart. In my previous life, I had been a jealous wife, a shrew, a bitter woman. In this life, I just wanted to live with dignity. ¡°Honey, I know it¡¯s tough to support the family. I didn¡¯t work before, so I didn¡¯t understand how hard it was out there. Now I do. ¡°So from now on, don¡¯t spend so much money on me. I want to learn to support myself,¡± I said lightly, like a flirty girl who could leave him anytime. Jared waited for me to get all teary and say sorry. But I stayed cool and distant. His anger melted away instantly. We¡¯d been married for over thirty years. I knew him well. His upbringing wouldn¡¯t let him lose control or act impulsively. So he didn¡¯t argue. He just sat down on the couch, looking dark and brooding. ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have said those things. I don¡¯t deny everything you¡¯ve done for this family. I know that since Yvonne was born, you went through a rough time with no freedom and no social life. What I can do is give you peace of mind with material things,¡± Jared said with a heavy voice. He closed his eyes painfully and added, ¡°Victoria, maybe one day we¡¯ll get divorced. When that happens, will you regret it?¡± My eyes brightened. I stared at him and asked, ¡°Regret what?¡± Jared saw I was suddenly energized again and frowned. ¡°Regret fighting with me, regret your pride being too strong. Hachester¡¯s not your hometown. You¡¯ve lived here six years, but other than Melissa, you have no other friends. If we divorce, where will you go?¡± I almostughed. Jared was stuck in the fake idea that I couldn¡¯t live without him. He had no idea I¡¯d broken free from everything that used to hold me back. I was way out of his league. I had nothing to regret. ¡°Honey, honestly, if we divorced, would you give me a settlement?¡± I flipped my hair flirtatiously and gave him a seductive look. Jared¡¯s brow tightened. He was testing me with a joking tone to see if he still had control. Smart people loved messing with idiots for fun. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re married. I wouldn¡¯t let you leave empty¨Chanded,¡± Jared said, clearly wanting to drop the subject. He stood and headed for the door. ¡°Honey, when I picked you, I knew I was right,¡± I smiled at him. ¡°As for where I¡¯d go after divorce, Hachester isn¡¯t where I was born. I don¡¯t know anyone here except Melissa. I¡¯d just go back home, or Braylin. My brother¡¯s studying there.¡± My words stopped Jared in his tracks. He turned to look at me, but only pressed his lips tightly and walked out. Loose 78 Chapter 78 I rxed and immediately messaged the detective I hired: [Have you found anything recently?] The detective was professional and sent me a batch of photos right away. Sadly, they all showed Jared and Tracy arriving or leaving around the same time, or Jared opening the car door for her. No photos of hugs, kisses, or hotel entrances. [I paid you 30,000 dors for this?] I got mad and asked: [Are you even professional?] The detective sent a voice message: [Mrs. Hob, I did my best. My apprentice and I watch Mr. Hob¡¯s mistress twenty hours every day, sometimes outdoors. It¡¯s not easy. This is all we got.] I rubbed my aching temples and thought, ¡®How could this be?¡® ording to the timeline in my previous life, Jared and Tracy should already be involved. Tracy should have gotten pregnant and aborted by now. But now there was not a single photo of them hugging or kissing. There were only two possibilities. The detective was cking off, or Jared¡¯s security was tight. To keep the cooperation going, I didn¡¯t me them harshly. I told them to keep watching and get me real proof. They agreed quickly, and I deleted all our messages. The next afternoon, I got a call from Yvonne¡¯s teacher. She said there¡¯d be a parent¨Cteacher meeting and asked me to attend on time. Lately, Yvonne¡¯s school had lots of activities. She loved school more and more. Every day, she asked me to braid her hair nicely and even sneaked to use my makeup at night..At six, she was already starting to care about how she looked. That night, Jared didn¡¯te home for dinner. Yvonne quietly asked me, ¡°Mom, do you have to work on Thursday?¡± I nodded, ¡°Yes, what?¡± ¡°Nothing. Then work.¡± Yvonne said with a sly blink. Thursday was the day of the parent meeting. She asked about it. Soon, I figured it out. She did not want me to go. ¡°Yvonne, your teacher told me about the meeting, but I¡¯ll be busy at work that day. You should let your dad go,¡± I guessed what she was thinking and said. ¡°Okay, but Dad might not be free. And Dad doesn¡¯t like being in front of people,¡± Yvonne pouted. ¡°Mom, if neither you nor Dad can go, can I ask Tracy to go?¡± Hearing that, a cold feeling spread inside me. So Yvonne was waiting for me to say yes. ¡°If you want her to go, then let her. I¡¯ve been busy at worktely,¡± I said. I gave up trying to control Yvonne. She would grow up into whoever she was meant to be. If she wanted Tracy to attend the meeting, I wouldn¡¯t ask why. She was six and knew what was right or wrong. She¡¯d learned a lot about people, too. Time flew. Thursday came fast. At noon, I nned to take some managers out for lunch near the hotel. Jared suddenly showed up in the hallway and stopped me. ¡°Got lunch ns?¡± Since our quarrel, he had been indifferent to me for days. So did I. But today, he made the first move. I guess the silent treatment was about to end. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m taking some hotel managers out,¡± I said. ¡°Good, I¡¯lle too,¡± Jared said, then turned and headed to the elevator. I frowned, watching him walk away. To my surprise, Jared wasing too. Loose 79 Chapter 79 I had already reserved a private room at a fancy restaurant. On the table for ten, I put out the Bordeaux I had brought along. It was the wine Jared left at home, and I used it as a favor. Of course, the few wine¨Cloving top executives stared right at the bottle, eager to get a taste. ¡°Mr. Hob and Mrs. Hob seem close. Mrs. Hob, you¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°Yeah, Mr. Hob¡¯s young and sessful, and he spoils you. You¡¯ve got a good thing going.¡± I was tired of these politepliments. If Jared and I didn¡¯t keep up appearances, nobody would know we hadn¡¯t talked in three days or had any intimacy in over a year. Jared carried himself like a powerful man. Wearing a ck shirt, he looked even more distinguished. Every move showed his confidence. ¡°Help yourself, everyone. Victoria will need your support going forward. Let¡¯s eat,¡± Jared said with a smile, backing me up a bit. Everyone started drinking. Someone poured wine into my ss. I reached for it, but suddenly a big hand blocked it. Then Jared said, ¡°She¡¯s not drinking. We¡¯re trying to have a baby.¡± Right after that, everyone looked at us with a knowing nce. I looked at Jared and thought he was nuts. ¡°Mrs. Hob, you¡¯re lucky. You and Mr. Hob will have a healthy baby.¡± ¡°You two have great genes. Have more kids, don¡¯t waste it.¡± I quietly put down my ss. Then, right away, I picked up Jared¡¯s ss and smiled, ¡°Pregnancy prep? Once we build the Harmonia Hotel brand and make it big, then we¡¯ll think about another baby.¡± I downed Jared¡¯s Bordeaux in one go. I saw his face go pale instantly. Nobody noticed the quiet battle between Jared and me. They just thought it was a yful moment between a couple. The wine made my head spin. I quickly got up and headed to the bathroom. I really couldn¡¯t keep up; the consequences hit fast. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± I tried hard to throw up the wine but failed. My face flushed bright red, my eyes shiny. I looked in the mirror and gave a bitter smile. Someone nearby was washing his hands. Jared¡¯s face appeared next to mine. His eyes cooled down a bit. ¡°Don¡¯t you your limit? Don¡¯t be so reckless next time.¡± know ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, sshing cold water gently on my face. ¡°Thanks for worrying.¡± My politeness made Jared mad. He ignored me and went back to the private room. I took a deep breath and went back. As soon as I sat down, Jared¡¯s phone rang on the table. I nced at it without thinking. It was Tracy¡¯s name. Jared grabbed his phone, pushed the door open again, and left. A few minutester, he came back and told me, ¡°Company stuff came up. I have to leave.¡± Several executives stood to see him off. Jared waved and left. The rest of the dinner went on. Those who wanted to drink still drank happily, but some women¡¯s looks toward me suddenly changed. Their eyes showed sympathy mixed with some amusement. I understood. Jared¡¯s favoritism toward Tracy waspletely obvious now. I, the nominal wife of Jared, naturally became their dinner gossip. Loose 80 Chapter 80 After dinner, I stayed in the temporary office at the Harmonia Hotel. Around four in the afternoon, Jared asked if I had sobered up and if I could go to the parent¨Cteacher meeting that evening. I thought Yvonne wanted Tracy to go instead of me, so I said I was busy and had a headache. Jared knew I had messed up drinking that morning. He said, ¡°I was busy, too. If you can¡¯t go, I¡¯ll have my mom go.¡± ¡°Do whatever,¡± I said coldly. When I got home after nine, I found Yvonne sitting on the couch, angrily tearing a book apart. When I walked in, she clenched her little fists and stormed at me. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to be friends with Tracy, right? Why are you so mean? Why did you make Grandma go to the meeting? Tracy and I had already agreed!¡± My daughter looked at me like I was an enemy. I didn¡¯t expect a parent meeting to make her that upset. I quietly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t stop Tracy from going. It was your dad¡¯s call, not mine.¡± ¡°It was you. I know it. Dad wouldn¡¯t stop me from liking her. Only you keep stopping me,¡± Yvonne med me for everything. I looked down at her like a queen, my eyes cold and emotionless. ¡°Yvonne, you really like Tracy, don¡¯t you?¡± I asked. Maybe because my tone changed, Yvonne blinked hard and said nothing. I crouched down and fixed her messy hair. I gave a fake smile without feeling. ¡°If you like something, then go after it. I¡¯m your mom. I want you to be happy. I won¡¯t control you anymore. I won¡¯t stop you from making friends. Yvonne, do you like me as your mom?¡± I asked. Yvonne froze for a second, and then nodded, ¡°If you mean that, I¡¯ll still like you.¡± ¡°Good. From now on, see whoever you want. I won¡¯t stop you.¡± I lightly patted her shoulder and stood up, heading to the kitchen. Wendy was making some food to boost my energy. She brought a bowl over. ¡°Mrs. Hob, it¡¯s still warm.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said politely and sat down to eat slowly. Yvonne had nned a big tantrum, but I calmed her quickly with a few words. She probably had no fight left and ran upstairs. I had just finished eating when I heard Jared¡¯s car engine shut off. I stood up to go upstairs. Halfway up the stairs, Jared came in. I ignored him, didn¡¯t say hi, and went straight to my bedroom. Jared went upstairs to the kids¡® room. They talked for over half an hour. When he came out, Jared strode to my door, his face angry. ¡°Victoria, how do you talk to our daughter?¡± I was holding my pajamas, ready to shower. Seeing Jared suddenly mad, I said calmly, ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°Why did you talk to Yvonne about Tracy? What are you trying to do?¡± Jared asked sharply. I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I was just having a normal talk with my daughter. No bad influence. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°The rumors about me and Tracy at work never stop. Now you talk to Yvonne about her. Are you trying to make our daughter think our marriage is falling apart because of Tracy?¡± Jared said coldly, staring at me. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she share some me, too?¡± I crossed my arms and smirked in reply. Loose 81 My retort made Jared choke momentarily, his handsome face growing darker. ¡°This is between us as husband and wife. Don¡¯t drag someone else into it,¡± Jared said in a lowered tone, but his emotions clearly worsened. I nodded. It was true; when a guy cheated, the other woman was at fault too, but he was even more responsible. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about Tracy. Let¡¯s focus on you. If there¡¯s nothing between you two, why are you so nervous?¡± I asked sharply. Jared¡¯s eyes froze for a second, and then he seemed displeased. ¡°When did I ever act nervous? I¡¯m just having a normal conversation with you. Stop twisting things.¡± Listening to that, it was obvious he wasn¡¯t genuinely trying to exin anything. He was just using a tough attitude to cover up something deeper. I instantly lost interest in arguing further; I needed to look after my own health and sanity. ¡°Fine, I got it. I won¡¯t bring up Tracy around our daughter again.¡± With that, I headed to the bathroom. I thought, ¡®If he wants to win this argument so badly, let him.¡® By the time I came out of the bathroom, Jared was gone. In the middle of the night, Yvonne crawled into my arms, holding my arm tightly with her little hands. ¡°Mommy, I had a nightmare. Hold me while I sleep,¡± she said. Looking at the little body in my arms made my heart ache. I thought, ¡®I¡¯ve decided to stop trying to control her. If Jared and I divorce, I¡¯ll probably see her only every few days, or sometimes not for months.. ¡°If I really move to another city for work, I¡¯ll miss her teenage years and her rebellious phase. I won¡¯t be there for her middle school tutoring sessions or see here homete from high school.. ¡°When she goes abroad for college, it¡¯ll be Jared and Tracy who support her, while I might only call from afar to check in on her.¡® Tears unknowingly filled my eyes. I felt so lost inside. ¡®How does one live life without regrets?¡® I wondered. The next morning, Yvonne went to look for Jared, only to find that he wasn¡¯t in his room. After I got dressed and went downstairs, Wendy told me that Jared had leftst night. I thought he was probably in a bad mood and went to find his lover for somefort. At the breakfast table, Yvonne was eating while eyeing me. ¡°Mom, your clothes have been looking so goodtely. Can I wear them when I grow up?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No, by the time you grow up, these clothes will be old.¡± Yvonne giggled and said, ¡°My teacher said you¡¯re really beautiful and that I¡¯ll grow up to be a beautiful woman too.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well, eat more then,¡± I said, scooping another spoonful of gruel for her. Today, I wore a white blouse with a big bow at the neckline, paired with a high¨Cwaisted fishtail skirt. Thanks to my height, the look was both elegant and striking. I thought, ¡®From now on, I¡¯ll make an effort to dress well every day as a way topensate myself.¡® Chapter of On the way to school, Yvonne asked where we would go during summer vacation and mentioned many ces she wanted to revisit fromst year. She remembered them vividly and wanted to experience them all over again. I told her there were no ns for this summer. If she wanted to go somewhere, she should ask Jared to take her because I had to focus on work. She looked disappointed and refused to talk to me. When we arrived at the school gate, the teacher asked her to say goodbye to me, but she just huffed and ran into the school. Ìï Loose 82 Chapter 82 My heart felt colder by the day, but her ignoring me no longer made me angry, The renovation of the Harmonia Hotel was progressing rapidly because we paid well, and everything was running smoothly. With three months of renovation underway, I was already in discussions with operators about promotional activities. When Tracy found out I had spent a significant amount on advertising, she opposed it during a meeting. Her reasoning was that good products don¡¯t need deliberate promotion; doing so could cheapen them and lower their perceived value. Jared had stormed off yesterday because of me. Hearing Tracy¡¯s objection, I furrowed my brows. I worried that after spending the night with her, Jared might listen to her and cut my budget. Jared, sitting at the head of the table, turned his gaze to me. ¡°What¡¯s your take on this?¡± I immediately stood up and opened my prepared promotion n. I emphasized that the future is about diversification, with the advent of online tforms and the reign of traffic, making promotion essential. Jared, being at the helm of thepany, was actually sharper than me. So, when I mentioned ¡°traffic is king,¡± I saw his eyebrows noticeably twitch in approval. Tracy¡¯s objective was cost¨Csaving for thepany, but there was an underlying intention to restrain me. Fortunately, Jared didn¡¯t cut my promotional budget. Instead, he called me into his office to ask if I was confident. I couldn¡¯t guarantee sess, but I assured him I¡¯d do my best.. Seated behind his desk, Jared leaned back with his long legs crossed, ying with a Rubik¡¯s cube in one hand while scrutinizing me. ¡°Where did you get this ¡®traffic is king¡® idea from?¡± I thought, ¡®If I told you the truth, it would probably shock you.¡® So I made up a story about market research. Jared¡¯s eyes showed a hint of suspicion. ¡°Do you have a mentor guiding you? Who is it?¡± I looked at him, puzzled. ¡°What mentor? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Is it Nathan?¡± Jared suddenly dropped the name. My heart skipped a beat, but my face remained calm. ¡°I¡¯ve only met him.¡± ¡°When did you meet him?¡± Jared asked casually. ¡°Couldn¡¯t have been right after my introduction that you two started meeting privately right away.¡± I was stunned, looking at him in disbelief. ¡°Are you having me followed?¡± Jared put the Rubik¡¯s cube back on his desk and walked over to me, hands in his pockets, looking down at me with amanding presence. ¡°Someone I know happened to see you two together,¡± he said. I didn¡¯t buy his story for a second. Knowing how calcting Jared can be, I thought, ¡®He must have noticed my recent change, less dedication to home, less love towards him, and started investigating my whereabouts, suspecting I might be involved with someone else. I responded calmly, ¡°Mr. Hallman and I know each other from a donation event years ago. There¡¯s nothing personal between us. We had dinner because he wanted to express his gratitude.¡± Jared raised an eyebrow and gave a mocking smile. ¡°Come up with a reason that I¡¯ll actually believe.¡± I frowned, thinking, ¡®Has Jared lost his mind today? Why is he digging so deep into my personal life all of a sudden?¡® ¡°This is the reason. Believe it or not, it¡¯s up to you.¡± I had no patience to exin further. I thought, ¡®When it to feelings, the more you exin, the worse it sounds. I¡¯m not stupid.¡® Seeing my irritated expression, Jared lowered his voice, adding coldly, ¡°Is it because he¡¯s younger than me?¡± I looked at him with a range of emotions on my face, then chuckled, ¡°So what if he¡¯s younger than you? He simply is younger.¡± Jared¡¯s face darkened instantly, and a storm brewed in his eyes. ?? AD Comment Loose 83 Chapter 83 Jared suspected me, but he probably had no evidence, so there was nothing he could do. Being a proud man, Jared knew I had loved him hopelessly for six years and only recently started behaving oddly. Before this, I was always obedient and sweet towards him. Jared believed I wouldn¡¯t dare cheat on him. He likely thought his neglect had upset me, causing a rebellious streak. He knew exactly how to soothe my emotions¨Csome sweet talk, a bit of money, some grand promises, and extra attention at night would keep mepliant. But now, it seemed I wasn¡¯t as easy to pacify anymore. He needed to put in more effort, which annoyed him. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re a married woman with a child. Behave with the dignity expected of you. Thepany¡¯s eyes are watching. You won¡¯t embarrass me, will you?¡± Jared stated sternly, explicitly reminding me not to break maritalws. My emotions had been stable, but now, I couldn¡¯t hold back. I immediately fired back. ¡°You want peace of mind, but do you give me respect? Can you keep things low¨Ckey with Tracy?¡± Jared¡¯s face froze. He expected me to yell and throw a fit. But to me, real despair was calm. I took a deep breath and turned my back to him. ¡°Jared, please keep your distance from Tracy at work. And if you go to a hotel, choose one far away. That¡¯s my biggest concession.¡± Without waiting for his response, I prepared to leave. But the next second, Jared angrily grabbed me back. My head hit his chin; pain radiated through me as he twisted me around. ¡°Victoria, how many times do I have to say it? There¡¯s nothing between Tracy and me!¡± Jared shouted furiously. ¡°Just because there¡¯s nothing now doesn¡¯t mean there won¡¯t be in the future.¡± I had endured enough of their nonsense in my previous life. This time, I wouldn¡¯t tolerate a single bit of pain from love. ¡°There won¡¯t be in the future either,¡± Jared said, breathing heavily, his eyes zing as he red at me. ¡°Stop fantasizing about me cheating; it¡¯s really tedious.¡± His grip on my arm hurt, and I struggled to break free. Suddenly, Jared lowered his head and kissed me fiercely. I froze, realizing what was happening, and tried to push him away. But Jared, seemingly fueled by anger, became more relentless and pinned me to his desk, continuing to kiss me. I wanted to scream at him, thinking, ¡®What kind of forced romance is this? Who enjoys that?¡® ¡°Hey, you two-¡°The half¨Copen office door swung wide as Tracy stood there, eyes wide in shock. Behind her, two high- ranking executives looked equally stunned. 1 Jared¡¯s face briefly showed embarrassment. His handsome face turned red as he pulled me up and said to Tracy and the others, ¡°Wait for me in meeting room one. Close the door on your way out.¡± Tracy Jared, both angry and amused, gently wiped a bit of lipstick from my lips. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯ve been more rebellioustely, but you¡¯re also more vibrant. We¡¯ve got a long life ahead. Let¡¯s make it work.¡± Furious, I pped his hand away and stormed out of his office, thinking, ¡®Who wants to make it work with you? All I want is a divorce as soon as possible. My youth is precious too. I won¡¯t waste it on a self¨Cproimed gentleman! As I stepped out, I came face¨Cto¨Cface with Tracy. Her gaze was no longer calm. Holding her documents, she paused, and as I walked past her, she suddenly said, ¡°Next time, make sure to close the door properly when you¡¯re in Mr. Hob¡¯s office. I don¡¯t really want to see you two flirting.¡± I turned to look at her, thinking, ¡°Tracy thinks I left the door ajar on purpose so she¡¯d walk in and watch? It ended up stabbing right into her heart. It feels pretty good.¡® 2 Loose 84 Chapter 84 ¡°Sorry about that. I¡¯ll remember it next time. Maybe you should also learn a thing or two about knocking,¡± I said, tilting my chin slightly before heading back to my office. I thought, ¡°Tracy must be fuming right now, and probably thinks I¡¯m some scheming viiness. But hey, in my previous life, being oblivious got me nowhere. Why not be a bit more cunning this time?¡± Work ended around six. I noticed the light in Jared¡¯s office was off; he was leaving. 1 pretended to stay busy, deciding to dine out alone tonight so he and Yvonne could eat at home. A knock on the door broke my focus. Jared stood there saying, ¡°Come have dinner at my mom¡¯s ce tonight. My sister¡¯s back, and Yvonne is already there.¡± Caught off guard, I immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯m still finishing up here. How about-¡± ¡°Victoria, tonight is a family dinner.¡± Jared gave me no room to refuse. I reluctantly gathered my things, walked over to him, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± I insisted on driving myself, and Jared didn¡¯t argue. He got into his car, his face cold. My sister¨Cinw Quinn was always scheming. She was constantly calcting how to maximize thepany¡¯s dividends and figuring out how to keep the Hob family¡¯s money from getting split up by outsiders. To her, I am that outsider. In my previous life, when Jared wanted a divorce, the settlement agreement was drawn up. Upon seeing the assets and money listed to be given to me, she schemed within the Hob family. In the end, those numbers were shed by two zeros. This year, Quinn is twenty¨Cthree. She spent three years abroad, part¨Cstudying, part¨Cying. She didn¡¯t learn anything substantial but went through boyfriends one after another. She¡¯s always wanted to marry someone from a family more prestigious than the Hob family. She even tried to break into showbiz, had some minor cosmetic tweaks, appeared on a few sketchy reality shows, and nearly made it into the entertainment industry. But then some dirt got exposed, and she was knocked back to square one. Thinking about all this, I realized another thing¨Csince I¡¯d returned to 2014, events were unfolding differently from my previous life. In my old life, I never knew Nathan, and Melissa¡¯s first husband wasn¡¯t Zachary. ¡®So, what direction will this life take?¡® I was uncertain and a bit confused. But one thing was clear¡ªI¡¯m resolute in loving myself. When I arrived at the Hob residence, Jared had already reached there ahead of me. The whole family was sitting cheerfully on the couch, chatting. My father¨Cinw, James, is still alive, but he and Sally lead separate lives and only appear together for important events. Recently, he¡¯s been following trends, dressing even more fashionably and youthfully than Jared. He¡¯s tall and lean, making him look young from the back. But when he turns around, his face shows the toll of years. Still, that doesn¡¯t stop him from dating younger women. Jared managed to arrange for his father to retire at fifty. He runs thepany alone, supports various rtives, and gives his parents a significant monthly allowance. ¡°Victoria¡¯s here?¡± Quinn greeted me with a fake smile. ¡°Sorry, I came back in such a rush this time; I forgot to get you a gift.¡± Iughed it off immediately. ¡°No worries. Jared gave me a gift the other day.¡± Quinn turned away, ignoring me and snuggling up to Jared¡¯s arm, pouting yfully. ¡°Jared, please say yes to what I mentioned earlier. ¡°My friend is in a tough spot. Her dad just passed away, and she has to support her entire family alone. Can you let her join thepany?¡± Her request caught me off guard. Memories of my previous life rushed back¨CQuinn introducing her friend to thepany who then tried to seduce Jared. Tracy went all out against her, and it ended in a messy escape. I thought to myself, ¡®Well, looks like the main drama is about to begin. This should be interesting! Loose 85 Chapter 85 In this family, my presence feels minimal. Quinn is the center of attention, the darling of the Hob family. Jared, being six years older, has always doted on her. ¡°Jared¡­¡± Quinn used a more pleading tone when she saw Jared contemting. ¡°Please?¡± Jared sighed in resignation. ¡°Have here to the HR department tomorrow. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to train her.¡± ¡°Great, thanks a lot, bro!¡± Quinn, having achieved her goal, happily gave Jared a peck on the cheek. Jared, slightly annoyed, pushed her away gently. ¡°So you¡¯re really not nning to go abroad again?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Quinn¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°I want to see if I canunch my own fashion brand here.¡± Jared nodded approvingly. ¡°And you didn¡¯t neglect your studies these past three years abroad, right?¡± ¡°Of course not, I was quite serious,¡± Quinn replied, feigning a hint of hurt. At that moment, James called out from upstairs. ¡°Jared,e up here for a second. I need to discuss a project with you.¡± Jared headed upstairs, and Quinn suddenly focused her gaze on me. ¡°Victoria, you look a bit different todaypared to usual.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± I responded with a forced smile. ¡°You look much more professional today. By the way, Victoria, I heard from Jared that you¡¯re taking over the Harmonia Hotel? You¡¯ve been out of touch with society for six years. Can you handle it? ¡°Don¡¯t waste money if you can¡¯t even make a ssh. Sure, you¡¯re Jared¡¯s wife, but his money doesn¡¯t grow on trees. You should appreciate that.¡± Quinn started picking at me. Since I married into the Hob family, Jared has made sure I¡¯m well¨Cprovided for, which has never sat well with Quinn. Now, even though Harmonia Hotel is in decline, it still has value. Entrusting it to me likely irks Quinn even more. ¡°Exactly because I¡¯ve been out of touch with society for so long, I want to use this job to reintegrate. A woman having a career gives her a better sense of security,¡± I exined calmly. ¡°Just manage the household and take good care of my little niece. Don¡¯t go stirring up trouble,¡± Quinn continued, admiring her nails while sneakily gauging my reaction. Seeing my face darken, Quinn immediatelyughed and said, ¡°Victoria, you know me. I always speak bluntly. Don¡¯t get offended, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡± I thought, ¡®Giving a p and then offering candy doesn¡¯t work on me anymore. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t mean anything, but this is Jared¡¯s decision.¡± With some people, it was better to coldly ignore them rather than engage in a tussle. Quinn¡¯s type thrived on confrontation; the more one argued, the more worked up she got. Besides, that was the Hob residence¨Carguing with her didn¡¯t do me any good. ¡°Jared is so annoying. He still wants me to submit a business n before he invests in my brand.¡± Quinn fumed, getting up and walking out. I sat quietly on the couch alone. I had no idea where Sally had taken Yvonne¨Cthey might be gossiping at the park again with the other olddies or dancing. 1/2 In a moment, Jared came down the stairs. Seeing me alone, he walked over and asked, ¡°Why¡¯re you not out with Yvonne?¡± I¡¯m tired.¡± I closed my eyes and checked my phone. Suddenly, Jared sat beside me, his eyes fixed on my screen. Startled, I quickly turned off the phone. ¡°Are you hiding something from me?¡± he asked with a raised eyebrow, displeasure evident. ¡°Can I look at your phone?¡± I countered. Jared leaned backzily, a mocking smile on his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t you sneak off to the bathroom to check it every night anyway?¡± I was at a loss for words. His casual mention of past humiliations turned my face red with shame. ¡°You knew it?¡± I tried to stay calm, hating my past self for being so naive in love. ¡°I just wanted you to feel reassured. Did you really think I slept like a log?¡± Jared¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again,¡± I whispered. ¡°I respect your privacy now.¡± Loose 86 Chapter 86 Jared let out a coldugh. ¡°The things you said at the office today didn¡¯t seem very respectful.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I frowned. ¡°You talked about me and Tracy getting a room together.¡± Jared¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°Tracy is an unmarried woman. Do you realize how damaging your words are to her reputation?¡± I was momentarily stunned. ¡°If her reputation matters to you, then where did all thosepany rumorse from?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what others say, but you can¡¯t do it. Every word you utter bes a death sentence for her reputation. ¡°She¡¯s not just my subordinate; she¡¯s my friend. Don¡¯t you think respecting me means respecting my friends too?¡± Jared¡¯s voice grew heavier, and his expression darkened. Iughed suddenly and kept quiet, thinking, ¡®Fine. I allow others not to love me. I¡¯ll just find a way to love myself. ¡°There¡¯s no way life with someone else would be the same. My marriage with Jared is dead; I can¡¯t keep living with him.¡¯ Sally returned with Yvonne and Quinn, signaling the start of dinner. James smiled kindly at me. ¡°Victoria, isn¡¯t it about time you and Jared thought about having another child?¡± Before we could respond, Yvonne piped up loudly. ¡°My mom swore she¡¯d never have another kid with Dad.¡± Both Jared and I froze. ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t interrupt. You should eat your food,¡± Sally coaxed Yvonne with a smile. Quinn nced at me snidely. ¡°Yvonne is already six. If you wanted to have another one, it would¡¯ve happened by now. Victoria, might there be a problem with one of you?¡± Jared gave Quinn a stern look. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense; we¡¯re both perfectly fine.¡± ¡°So then, you two just don¡¯t get together very often?¡± Quinn half¨Cjoked, half¨Cmocked. Jared¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment. In fact, before I came back, we rarely spent intimate time together. Buttely, Jared¡¯s been pretty fired up in bed. ¡°It¡¯ll get better,¡± Jared said, putting on a supportive front as he ced a piece of beef onto my te. ¡°Victoria, did you hear that?¡± Clearly, Jared was trying to present a loving and harmonious image in front of the family. Naturally, ¡®I had to y along. ¡°I heard it,¡± I replied. Finally, a faint smile appeared on Jared¡¯s face. ¡°Yvonne, all your little ssmates seem to have younger siblings. Don¡¯t you want one?¡± Yvonne blinked curiously and looked at Sally. Sally immediately stroked her head with a warm smile and said, ¡°Look at your aunt and dad¨Cthey¡¯re siblings who grew up together and always had someone to y with. Wouldn¡¯t it be nice for you to have a little sibling too?¡± Yvonne, being a child with limited thought process¨Cand likely influenced by the persistent persuasion from Sally¨Cnodded earnestly and replied, ¡°Okay, but I only want a baby brother. No sisters. Brothers will y with me, but sisters will fight with me for my pretty dresses.¡± As soon as she said this, James and Sally lit up with joy. Quinn, however, made a strange expression but didn¡¯t say a word. Jared gazed at Yvonne fondly, looking deeply pleased as if his daughter had suddenly grown up. I was the only one remaining calm, watching the scene unfold while thinking to myself, ¡®If the Hob family wants an heir, there are plenty of women out there who¡¯d dly have Jared¡¯s child¨Cbut the child would note from my womb. Dinner ended on a fairly cheerful note. Yvonne stayed behind with Sally while Jared announced he would ride back home in my car, sending his driver off for the night. On the drive home, I rolled down the windows to let the cool breeze in. At a red light, I rested one elbowzily on the steering wheel, watching the countdown timer as the wind tousled my long hair around. Out of instinct, my eyes drifted to the side mirror¨Cand I caught Jared staring straight at me. My heart tensed slightly as I thought to myself, ¡®What¡¯s he ying at now?¡® ¡°You seem to have loosened uptely,¡± Jared remarked casually, breaking the silence. ¡°You¡¯ve be more carefree.¡± Loose 87 G Chapter 87 I replied casually, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve made peace with the world and let go of many things.¡± Jared frowned slightly. ¡°What brought on this sudden enlightenment? Didn¡¯t you mention attending some spiritual coursest time? Did you go?¡± I had forgotten all about that. However, since Jared brought it up, I recalled a time when I felt deeply troubled and stuck. A few society I had even signed up. ¡°I didn¡¯t go. Those courses are just money traps,¡± I said calmly. For some reason, Jared found this amusing and chuckled. ¡°So you knew they were scams? I thought you¡¯d need to be conned at least three times before waking up.¡± ¡°My brain isn¡¯t that slow. I¡¯d rather invest in gold with that money,¡± I scoffed lightly. ¡°You like gold?¡± Jared raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡± I thought his question was rather redundant. Seeing that I wasn¡¯t in the mood for a conversation, Jared didn¡¯t push further. We arrived back at the vite at night. As I headed downstairs, Jared asked, ¡°Is your¡­ time over?¡± I immediately understood his insinuation and thought, ¡®What¡¯s up? Tracy didn¡¯t satisfy him enough, so he¡¯s back home seeking more?¡® ¡°No,¡± I replied before heading to my room. Jared didn¡¯t bother me after that. The next morning at the breakfast table, he suddenly reached over and touched my ring finger. ¡°Is this a new ring you bought? It doesn¡¯t look that nice.¡± I had bought it cheaply from a second¨Chand market, so of course it couldn¡¯tpare with new ones. ¡°I like the antique style.¡± I fibbed. Jared didn¡¯t say anything more after that. During my lunch break at work, I received a text message from Nathan. He was abroad and sent me a scenic photo, with himself absent from the frame. I nced at it and replied: [Beautiful.] Nathan replied: [It¡¯s even more stunning here in winter when it¡¯s covered in snow.] My heart fluttered at the thought. People said sharing was a silent confession, and Nathan seemed to get that. [I¡¯d love to see it sometime.] I texted back. He simply responded with a ¡°sure¡°, and knowing not to overdo it, he didn¡¯t send anything else. In the afternoon, after wrapping up most of my tasks, I noticed I was added to a new group chat on WhatsApp. Sally had added me to the chat, mentioning she would pick up Yvonne that afternoon so we could focus on work without worry. I saw Jared, Quinn, and James being added one after another. Sally then renamed the group. Sally mentioned that any announcements about picking up the kids would be made in this group. I replied with ¡°Got it.¡± Jared chimed in with a simple ¡°Okay,¡± and Quinn immediately sent a voice noteining about her busy startup schedule. James remained silent. With nobody needing me to pick up Yvonne, I headed to my old dance studio to practice. I had some background in dance, and after plenty of practice in my previous life, I had developed a good sense of rhythm. As soon as I walked in, the dance teacher waved me over. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s film a bit. You did greatst time.¡± Dancing was my ultimate rxation. However, not wanting to be recognized, I went downstairs to buy a mask and borrowed a baseball cap from a ssmate. Dressed in white shorts and a light crop top that showed off my waist, with my long hair flowing freely, I joined my stylish female teacher for a hot dance routine. Initially, I was dancing for the students present, but someone nearby was recording the session. Completely absorbed in the dance, I didn¡¯t notice. Someone approached me to ask if I was the invited instructor because my moves were so expressive. The dance teacher gave me an appreciative look. ¡°Interested in teaching here? The girls seem to really like you, and you have a strong sense of rhythm.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m just here to rx. I don¡¯t have time to teach.¡± ¡°These girls are aiming for entertainment careers; money isn¡¯t a concern for them,¡± the dance teacher added. I was momentarily surprised, realizing they might have misunderstood my situation. When I signed up for the ss, I hadn¡¯t mentioned my background, so they probably assumed I might need the job. AD Comment Loose 88 ¡°I have other work to do and a child at home,¡± I declined politely. I danced until after six, then went home, showered, and began studying Englysian. Thinking about Jared and Tracy¡¯s heartfelt duetst time, I vowed to learn Englysian well. I thought, ¡®One day, I¡¯ll pull a handsome guy and sing a romantic song in Englysian right in front of Jared¨Cas a form of poetic justice.¡¯ Jared didn¡¯t return home tonight, which didn¡¯t surprise me. I thought, ¡®With Yvonne not here, there¡¯s no one he cares enough about at home.¡± For three consecutive nights, it seemed Jared spent them elsewhere. I mused, ¡®So his im of having no involvement with Tracy was just him treating me like a fool.¡¯ Men who were wealthy, attractive, and had abundant resources were always hunters. If it wasn¡¯t Tracy, there would be someone else. Since Jared was a hunter, he would never stop chasing his prey for the thrill of it. And I had decided to join the game as a hunter, too. But first, I wanted a divorce¨Cto be single and hunt honorably. Right now, my top priority was ending this marriage. I thought, ¡°Tracy is really letting me down! In my previous life, she was already pregnant at this time and had an abortion to win Jared¡¯s affection and sympathy. Jared pped a divorce agreement in my face when I least expected it. Now, I had been waiting for that agreement, and my patience was wearing thin. I called my private detective again to check on the progress. The detective grumbled that he hadn¡¯t captured anything sensational yet. Suddenly, a bold idea popped into my head. I offered an extra 15 thousand dors to have them tail Jared for any juicy details. He might be shifting his affections; if they couldn¡¯t catch him with Tracy, maybe they should catch him with someone else. I just needed evidence. The detective eagerly thanked me, promising to get the job done. As for the divorce settlement, I definitely nned to fight for my share. I wasn¡¯t noble enough to leave with nothing. After experiencing the perks of wealth and power, I knew I couldn¡¯tpletely let go. Beautiful women were often a product of wealth¨Cdiscipline could maintain their figure, but money let them stand tall and proud. Money was my backbone, supporting me through all adversities. Jared had worked hard over the years, but I ran this household; even if it didn¡¯t earn me merit, it certainly came with its own struggles. I wanted everything I deserved. As night fell, a sudden rainstorm hit. I stepped out of the temporary office at Harmonia Hotel without an umbre, but my car was parked far away. All my colleagues had left already; I was thest to leave. I decided to wait until the rain died down before making a dash. The rain lightened up, and I lifted my skirt, ready to run. Just then, a silver Bentley stopped in front of me, and Jared got out holding a ck umbre. ¡°Let me drive you home,¡± he offered. I wasn¡¯t expecting him to show up and immediately reached for his umbre. ¡°Can I borrow this? I¡¯ll return itter.¡± With that, I took his umbre and headed toward my car. Jared¡¯s expression was slightly stiff as he got back into his car. Momentster, the silver Bentley disappeared into the rain. When I got home, Jared had given the two maids the night off, leaving dinner for me to make. Just as I was about to refuse, Jared said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want any trouble, just cook some noodles. It¡¯s been a long time since I had your cooking.¡± I thought, Jared often gives the maids time off¨Cwhat a considerate employer.¡® I went into the kitchen and cracked three eggs, mixing them. Suddenly, Jared¡¯s body pressed against me from behind, and he kissed the back of my neck. ¡°Or we could eatter?¡± he suggested. I turned my head to look at him, and Jared leaned in to kiss me. I immediately pushed him away. Jared¡¯s eyes darkened. The next moment, he ignored my struggles, picked me up, and carried me to the sofa. ¡°Are you crazy? Here?¡± I was both angry and annoyed. Jared suddenly opened a nearby box, revealing a neatly arranged stack of gleaming gold bars. Seeing my stunned expression, Jared leaned down and kissed the corner of my lips. ¡°Is it okay now?¡± he asked. Loose 89 Chapter 89 Jared¡¯s gift today was quite unique. Stunned, I felt his lips igniting a fire on mine. When the night breeze swept in from the doorway, I felt a chill and pushed him away, ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± His eyes were unreadable. He gave a rough grunt in response and stood up. I nced at the gleaming box of gold bars, closed it, and carried it upstairs. Jared seemed at a loss for words. Once upstairs, I ced the box on the nightstand and opened it to admire the gold. Jared entered the room after me, seemingly having lost interest. Seeing me staring at the gold, he leaned against the door and asked, ¡°Do you like it that much? Still looking at it?¡± I smiled at him. ¡°Not just like; I love it.¡± Jared thought I was beingpletely unreasonable, but the fire within him reignited. He walked over, cupped my face, and kissed me deeply and intensely. Fulfilling my marital duties wasn¡¯t something I found burdensome. Jared had a good physique, decent stamina, and his performance could earn a good eighty percent. As a woman, I felt perfectly entitled to enjoy the pleasure he brought. ¡°Focus¡­¡± Jared noticed that I asionally nced at the gold beside the bed, and his grip on my face tightened. After one climax, my interest waned, but Jared continued determinedly. He manipted me as he noticed myck of enthusiasm, feeling utterly humiliated. He redoubled his efforts, and despite my disinterest, he managed to bring me to climax twice more. Finally, Jared kissed me forcefully and held me close. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want to sleep,¡± I saidzily. ¡°Done already? The night is still young.¡± He suddenly pressed against me from behind. After some time, Jared sat on the edge of the bed, his expression unreadable. He stared at me and asked, ¡°You seemed distracted earlier. What were you thinking about?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Nothing, just wondering why you gave me gold.¡± ¡°You like it, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m just catering to your preferences,¡± he replied sarcastically. ¡°Yes, I do like it. But I¡¯ve had many things I liked before, and you didn¡¯t always remember them.¡± I turned to study his face. His cheeks were slightly flushed, making him look healthy and youthful. Jared looked at me quizzically. ¡°You¡¯re my wife.¡± That statement made me want tough. ¡®So he does remember,¡® I thought. ¡°Actually, as a husband, you¡¯d only score sixty points.¡± Maybe it was the post¨Ccoital rxation making me bold. Jared seemed surprised. ¡°Only sixty? I put in quite an effort just now, for more than sixty minutes.¡± Leaning back in bed, I stretched my arms and spoke calmly. ¡°The truth is, you don¡¯t really love me, do you?¡± Jared remained silent for a while before responding, ¡°I don¡¯t love anyone that much. Don¡¯t start losing it again.¡± I suddenly lost interest in continuing the conversation. Deep down, I knew pressing further would only lead to more difort. Jared reached over and gently stroked my thick hair. ¡°Victoria, let¡¯s have another child.¡± ¡°No way!¡± I practically jumped up, ignoring the sheet sliding off me. My expression wasposed as I responded, ¡°Right now, I just want to focus on my career. I don¡¯t want to have another child.¡± Jared¡¯s gaze shifted from my body to my face with difficulty. Seeing my firm stance, his face darkened. ¡°You really don¡¯t want to give me a son?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said as I got out of bed and put on a nightgown. Jared, equally infuriated, got out of bed and circled around to grab my arm. ¡°What¡¯s your problem now? If you give me a son, I¡¯ll reward you handsomely. The amount will be significant, not less.¡± 2 Loose 90 No Ads Chapter 90 It seemed he had noticed my recent obsession with money and decided to use it as a bargaining chip. However, I knew the weight of responsibility that came with money. A woman¡¯s greatest self¨Cdiscipline is not having children recklessly. I was nning on divorcing him. If I had another son, my life would mirror my previous one. I couldn¡¯t guarantee another chance to start over. No one could bind my freedom in this lifetime. Love was no longer a mandatory course in my life. ¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± I said firmly, enunciating each word. Jared¡¯s anger intensified. He clearly saw allowing me to have another child as a gift and a safeguard for me. Having a son to secure a mother¡¯s status and share his wealth¨Cthis was his belief. But true happiness came from a mother being esteemed herself, not through her child. A cherished mother was the essence of a joyous state. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re not the only woman in the world who can give me a son. Think carefully,¡± Jared said angrily, trying to intimidate me. I wasn¡¯t intimidated. I smiled charmingly and provocatively said, ¡°Fine, then let another woman have your child. ¡°As long as she can bear him, I¡¯ll even take care of her postpartum. Is that good enough?¡± With that, I shook off his hand and walked into the bathroom. I heard Jared¡¯s heavy breathing and thought, ¡®He must be furious with my words and actions.¡¯ I used to be so obedient, so submissive, like a small cat without a temper. He was my world; whatever he said, I followed without my own thoughts or questioning. But now I was like a rebellious teenager, a wildcat defying him at every turn. He couldn¡¯t control me anymore. When I came back out, Jared had already left, and I put the box of gold bars into my safe. Thinking Jared probably snuck out in the middle of the night again, I was surprised to see him in the hallway in the morning. He was dressed impably, with his hair slicked back and wearing a dark suit. I had no idea what he was up to. When he saw me, his expression was stern. He turned and headed downstairs. were¡® Hearing his car pull away, I slowly made my way downstairs to make breakfast for myself. Wendy¡¯s cooking skills were impable, and her absence made me miss her meals. At noon, Melissa invited me to lunch. When I arrived, I realized she had chosen quite a pricey restaurant. ¡°Ms. Jenkins, did you get promoted?¡± I asked with a friendly smile as I sat down. Melissa, however, wore a troubled expression. ¡°No, I actually wanted to ask you for a loan.¡± Iughed and asked, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°30 thousand.¡± Melissa knew that amount was small change for me. She sincerely ced a loan agreement on the table. ¡°I want to buy a small house. Once I have a baby, my mom mighte to stay to help.¡± I was taken aback. ¡°What about Zachary¡¯s parents?¡± Melissa gave a wry smile. ¡°They¡¯re helping his brother with two kids, and his sister is pregnant too. They have no time. I asked my mom; she said she¡¯de if there¡¯s a ce to stay,¡± You¡¯re pregnant now?¡± I asked, shocked. Melissa lowered her head, blushing slightly. ¡°No. Zachary and I n to visit our families soon and have a wedding. We want to buy the house first so we can start renovations. It¡¯s all step by step.¡± I nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll transfer the money this afternoon. If you need more, let me know.¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s enough.¡± Melissa insisted. She wasn¡¯t one to take advantage, and I feltfortable lending her money. We were seated on the second floor of the restaurant, near a window overlooking the lobby below. Suddenly, I saw Jared and Tracy appear downstairs. My face stiffened as they headed toward a private room door. Before entering. Tracy reached out to straighten Jared¡¯s shoulder where it seemed slightly wrinkled. Loose 91 hapter 91 Melissa noticed me staring downstairs and leaned over. ¡°Mr. Hob? Who¡¯s that bitch with him? And what is she doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fixing his tie,¡± I said. Tracy had just straightened Jared¡¯s cor, then moved on to adjust his tie. The two of them shared a smile before walking through the door together. Melissa¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief, then her gaze turned sympathetic as she looked at me. ¡°Victoria, does it hurt?¡± she asked, reaching out to hug me. I felt like I was frozen in ce, unable to move for a long moment. Then I managed a smile. ¡°No, I¡¯m not surprised at all.¡± Melissa immediately gasped, ¡°They¡¯re together? Victoria, is Jared cheating on you?¡± I picked up my coffee cup and took a sip of it, saying quietly, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t seen any solid proof of him cheating yet, but judging by how flirty they were just now, they might really be together.¡± ¡°Victoria, I used to envy you not long ago, but now I don¡¯t even know what to say,¡± Melissa said, looking at me with sympathy. ¡°So, are you nning to just put up with this? ¡°Turn a blind eye and let them do whatever they want?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m going to get a divorce,¡± I said, lowering my eyes, my voice firm. ¡°Once I have the evidence, I¡¯ll file for divorce, take what¡¯s rightfully mine, and live my single life.¡± As a woman, Melissa understood just how awful it felt when one¡¯s husband cheated. She nodded. ¡°Okay, I support you. But what about your daughter? Can you really get a divorce and give her up?¡± Thinking about Yvonne¡¯s thoughts, I nced out the window and gave a faint smile. ¡°Melissa, to be honest, Yvonne actually likes the woman by his side.¡± ¡°What?¡± Melissa was shocked again. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she on your side? She should be standing shoulder¨Cto¨Cshoulder with you against all this.¡± ¡°I used to think so too,¡± I said with a bitter smile. ¡°But you never really know what¡¯s in someone¡¯s heart. Sometimes, even your child might not truly stand with you.¡± ¡°Victoria, you¡¯ve changed so muchtely. It¡¯s no wonder, with everything that¡¯s happened,¡± Melissa sighed, her voice full of sympathy. ¡°Your daughter is a part of you. How are you supposed to handle all these blows?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just go with the flow,¡± I said. I wasn¡¯t going to force anything anymore. I was ready to ept whatever came my way. ¡°Time heals all wounds. Someday, the pain in my heart will fade away.¡± Melissa looked at me nkly for a long time, then let out a softugh. ¡°Victoria, do you ever regret marrying him and having a child?¡± Her question stunned me. I opened my mouth, but I just couldn¡¯t find the words to answer. ¡°No step in life is ever wasted,¡± I finally said with a smile. ¡°I married Jared, and the youth I spent was his youth too. ¡°There¡¯s really nothing to regret. He gave me thefortable life I have now. It was just a fair trade, you know.¡± Melissa lookedpletely stunned. She probably felt like I was a stranger to her now. After all, not long ago, I was desperately trying to hold on to Jared, ying the part of a dutiful maid, braving the elements every day to pick up and drop off Yvonne. For me to suddenlye to my senses like this must have been pretty shocking. Melissa reached out to touch my forehead, then took my hand, pushed up my sleeve, and saw the mole on my wrist. ¡°Victoria, how did you suddenly get so wise and clear¨Cheaded? I feel like I barely know you anymore.¡± I knew I¡¯d changed so much that it might be a shock to my closest friend. But I couldn¡¯t help it. Life kept pushing me forward, and all I could do was toughen up and build my inner strength. I said softly, ¡°Alright, Melissa, let¡¯s not talk about Jared for now. Let¡¯s talk about ourselves. Whether it¡¯s clothes, bags, stuff around the house, or even the TV shows and idols we used to love, don¡¯t we all get tired of them after a while? ¡°I think it¡¯s just human nature to get tired of things and start wanting something new. Forever is just something people wish for. So, I don¡¯t want to keep tearing myself up inside anymore.¡± Melissa finally seemed convinced that I¡¯d really grown. She gave me a firm pat on the back. ¡°Alright, things will only get better from here. ¡°You¡¯re changing at just the right time. Once you make a name for yourself, you won¡¯t have to depend on anyone else or ask a man for money. There¡¯s a real future to look forward to.¡± I pressed my lips together in a smile. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± Loose 92 Melissa nced down at the lobby again and sighed, ¡°You know, some couples stick together for years, but in the end, they still can¡¯tpete with an innocent or seductive face. Everyone should weigh marriage carefully.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t worry about it. You and Zachary are so in love right now. Don¡¯t let my problems get you down. ¡°Sure, marriage isn¡¯t always perfect, but it¡¯s not all bad either. There are always people out there who are happy,¡± I said gently, trying to reassure her. Melissa smiled and nodded. Maybe it was because I knew Jared and Tracy were in that private room, and I kept ncing downstairs every now and then while I ate. Suddenly, Jared and Tracy stepped out, followed by a middle¨Caged man who looked to be in his fifties. The three of them stood in the hallway outside the private room, talking. Tracy looked bashful and sweet, her hands sped together, head down as she stared at her shoes. Jared was smiling as he spoke with the middle¨Caged man, who suddenly reached out and ruffled Tracy¡¯s hair, his face full of affection. Jared nced at Tracy, too, with an approving smile on his face. Tracy was acting all cute and coy with the middle¨Caged man, even leaning on his shoulder. She was nothing like the strict, authoritative woman from the office. Right now, she looked just like a daughter sweet¨Ctalking her dad. Jared had a gentle, easy smile on his face as the three of them chatted andughed together. The vibe between them couldn¡¯t have been better. After a while, it looked like everything was going smoothly, and the three of them headed back into the private room. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off them, snapping photo after photo with my phone the whole time. ¡°What¡¯s she acting all shy for? Is this seriously a meet¨Cthe¨Cparents moment?¡± Melissa fumed on my behalf, clenching her fists. ¡°Jared is so shameless. You two aren¡¯t even divorced yet.¡± I set my phone down and told her, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. Just eat your food first.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to eat? I¡¯m already full from being angry. Jared can¡¯t treat you like this, meeting her parents before you¡¯re even divorced? Is he really that desperate to get married again?¡± Melissa snapped. She was always straightforward, and right now, she was even angrier than I was. I was feeling pretty stifled, too, but at this point, there was nothing I could do to change any of it. Even though Jared and I had a passionate night together just yesterday, it didn¡¯t change the fact that we were still heading in opposite directions. Suddenly, Melissa looked over at me and said, ¡°Victoria, since your marriage has alreadye to this, I have a piece of advice for you. Care to hear?¡± 1 looked up at her. Melissa continued, ¡°You know that rule about stocks? You¡¯re supposed to sell when the market is at its peak. It¡¯s the same Chapter with a woman¡¯s youth. If you cash out when you¡¯re at your most valuable, that¡¯s when you get the biggest return.¡± I paused with my fork in hand, staring at her in a daze. Melissa looked me up and down. ¡°You¡¯re young, elegant, and beautiful. The other day, you said Jared seemed more interested in youtely. Have you ever thought that maybe he¡¯s actually starting to catch feelings for you again?¡± ¡°And then what?¡± I asked, knowing exactly what she meant. Melissa continued, ¡°Of course, you need to y the game with him. Make him fall for you all over again, then hit him with the divorce. He¡¯ll feel guilty, me himself, and if he still loves you, he¡¯ll end up giving you even more money. ¡°I¡¯ve handled so many divorce cases. Trust me. I know how this works. A smart woman doesn¡¯t go to war with a man. She uses his guilt and takes him for everything he¡¯s got.¡± Melissa said, pping her hands, ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯ve already yed your cards wrong, and there¡¯s no going back now. Victoria, I know you¡¯re soft¨Chearted, but right now, you have to be ruthless. ¡°You need to be smart about this divorce. Don¡¯t be dumb and walk away with nothing, or I¡¯ll seriously look down upon you.¡± I pressed my lips together in a smile. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± After Melissa and I finished our meal and started heading downstairs, to our surprise, the private room door swung open at that exact moment. Jared and the middle¨Caged man were walking ahead, still chatting away like they couldn¡¯t get enough. But then Tracy spotted me, and she walked over to greet me gracefully. ¡°Mrs. Hob, you¡¯re dining here, too? What a coincidence. Jared and I are having dinner with my dad.¡± ¡®Jared?¡® I thought. ¡®Since when did they get so close?¡® Loose 93 Chapter 93 Jared¡¯s expression paused for a moment when he saw me before he quicklyposed himself. He politely said goodbye to Tracy¡¯s dad and walked over to me. Tracy¡¯s dad, Mason Darwin, gave me a meaningful, scrutinizing look before calling out his daughter¡¯s nickname. Tracy, with a hint of disappointment in her eyes, said to Jared, ¡°Jared, I¡¯m going back with my dad now.¡± Jared gave her a gentle nod. ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± Tracy didn¡¯t leave right away. She turned to me with a smile and said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, I hope you don¡¯t misunderstand. ¡°Tonight is just a business dinner. Jared and my family are discussing a potential partnership. Don¡¯t worry. With me around, this deal is as good as done.¡± With that, Tracy acted gently and followed her father out of the restaurant. Jared turned to me, his expression calm. ¡°What brings you and your friend here?¡± Melissa immediately shot back, ¡°Mr. Hob, are you saying Victoria can¡¯t show up anywhere you are from now on?¡°, Jared smiled faintly and exined, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Melissa continued, ¡°Then what do you mean, Mr. Hob? Are you saying Victoria was stalking you?¡± My chest tightened at her words, but I wasn¡¯t about to waste my breath asking about him and Tracy. I¡¯d just ignore itpletely. Jared shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Victoria, are you heading back now? I¡¯ll ride with you.¡± ¡°Sorry, I have to take Melissa home,¡± I said, pulling Melissa along with me as we headed out. Jared didn¡¯t try to follow us. Melissa was still fuming. In the elevator, she asked me, ¡°Victoria, why are you so quiet? You need to let it out. You can¡¯t just let him off the hook like that. You should at least make him put it in writing.¡± I replied coolly, ¡°A man¡¯s nature is to keep falling for new women. Even if he wrote a promise, what difference would it make?¡± Melissa burst outughing at that and nodded. ¡°Exactly. Men can¡¯t get enough of it.¡± Melissa kept ranting, ¡°Did you hear that woman¡¯s tone? She sounded so sweet and familiar. Anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think she was his wife.¡± That suddenly brought back a memory from my previous life. Tracy once told me that at work, she called him Mr. Hob, but in private, she only used his name. And in bed, she¡¯d use all sorts of flirty nicknames, even calling him Baby before. ¡°Melissa, don¡¯t get upset over them,¡± I said softly. ¡°No, any normal person would be upset. Victoria, do you not love him anymore?¡± Melissa suddenly snapped out of it, her eyes going wide as she stared at me. ¡°You only stop hurting and stop caring when you don¡¯t love someone anymore. ¡°So, is that it? You really don¡¯t love him anymore?¡± I gave her a small, wry smile. ¡°Honestly, there are still things I like about him, like his money. But as for the man himself, I stopped loving him a long time ago.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s actually a good thing,¡± Melissa said, arching an eyebrow. ¡°But seriously, the guy is loaded. If you split everything fifty¨Cfifty, you¡¯d be rolling in billions.¡± I never dared to dream of bing some crazy richdy with billions. Just a tiny slice would be more than enough to keep mefortable for the rest of my life. After dropping Melissa off, I headed straight home. Jared was already there. He¡¯d swung by Sally¡¯s ce to pick up Yvonne. Right now, the two of them were in the kids¡® room, ying with building blocks. Jared was dressed in a crisp white shirt and ck cks, looking all professional and business¨Clike. Yvonne was wearing a princess dress, and with the warm light shining down on them, it was a really sweet scene. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re back sote?¡± Yvonne pouted when she saw me standing in the doorway. ¡°Why are you busier than Dad? You don¡¯t even have time to y with me anymore.¡± Jared turned to look at me, then gently patted Yvonne¡¯s head. ¡°Mom¡¯s just starting her business, so it¡¯s normal for her to be busy. I¡¯ll make sure to spend more time with you from now on.¡± Yvonne still wasn¡¯t too happy, her lips pouting even more. I didn¡¯t join them in the kids¡® room; I just went back to the master bedroom. I was beat after a long day, and all I wanted tonight was a nice, rxing soak in the tub. So I started running the bath, sprinkled in some essential oils and rose petals, and in no time, the whole bathroom was filled with a soothing, floral scent. Just as I was testing the water temperature, Jared showed up at the bathroom door. ¡°The Darwin family has a new project I¡¯m working on. Tonight was just a regr business thing. Don¡¯t read too much into it.¡± Loose 94 Chapter 94 His exnation actually took me by surprise. I thought he¡¯d just try to sweep it under the rug like before, acting like nothing happened and hoping I¡¯d keep quiet about it. It looked like Jared really had changed a bittely. Sometimes I wondered if there was some weird bnce in the universe. When one person stopped loving, the other suddenly started to care. So now that I didn¡¯t love him anymore, Jared was the one trying to win me over. I gave him a light smile. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not overthinking it. We¡¯re all just working hard, right? I know things aren¡¯t easy Darling, you really do so much for this family.¡± ¡®Even going so far as to use your looks to please your guest¡¯s daughter,¡® I added inwardly. My considerate words made Jared¡¯s gaze stiffen for a moment. I quickly got up and gently ushered him out. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a bath now. You go tuck Yvonne in.¡± I shoved Jared backward until he was out of the door; his scowl shed, and I mmed the door in his face. After my bath, Jared was still in Yvonne¡¯s room, coaxing her to sleep, while I¡¯d already crawled into bed. That night, Jared didn¡¯te to mess with me. Early the next morning, before my rm even went off, my phone started ringing. for you. Sally¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m heading over to your ce now. Get Yvonne dressed. We¡¯re going to Leayinn Church to pray. It¡¯s Sunday.¡± I was momentarily stunned, then remembered that Sally always liked to pray on Sunday. ¡°Mom, can I just skip it this time? I¡¯ve still got work to finish today,¡± I tried to politely decline. ¡°No way, you have to go,¡± Sally cut me off, her tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°You need this more than Anyway, I¡¯m already outside. Go get Yvonne up, now.¡± anyone. I knew Sally usually acted all easygoing, but when it came to things she cared about, she could totally pull out that ssic richdy attitude. I got up, got dressed, and went to wake Yvonne. But Yvonne wasn¡¯t having it. She rolled over in bed a couple of times and promptly fell back asleep. I had no choice but to change her clothes right there in bed. Yvonne grumbled irritably, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you say you were done with me? Why do I have to get up so early?¡± ¡°Your grandma wants to go to the church to pray, and she wants to bring you along,¡± I exined. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go,¡± Yvonne whined, still cranky from being woken up. ¡°Your grandma¡¯s here. You can tell her yourself,¡± I said, not in the mood to argue anymore, and got up to get ready. As I walked past Jared¡¯s room, I saw his door was already open. It looked like he¡¯d headed out early. Sally hade over for breakfast, and she wasn¡¯t alone. Quinn was with her, wearing that signature look of indifference. ¡°Come on, sweetie, hurry up and get downstairs. I will buy you a toyter today,¡± Sally coaxed, showing just how good she was at spoiling Yvonne. Sally would promise Yvonne anything. Quinn was already eating breakfast upstairs. When I came down, she barely nced at me. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re really starting to enjoy the good life, huh? ¡°Weren¡¯t you used to cooking at home? Now you¡¯ve got two maids, and you just get to kick back and rx.¡± Sure enough, Quinn just couldn¡¯t stand to see me doing well. The moment I lookedfortable, she got annoyed. Wendy, looking a bit awkward, set down a te of freshly baked pies and quickly slipped back into the kitchen. I sat down at the table and said coolly, ¡°Once you get married, you¡¯ll definitely make a great wife. You¡¯re already so considerate of your future in¨CChapter 95 Suddenly hearing Jared¡¯s voice, I snapped my eyes open and turned my head to look at him. I saw him raise both hands above his head and bow deeply, lookingpletely devoted. He was dressed in casual clothes, and for once, he didn¡¯t have that usual stern, bossy aura. Instead, he looked refined and elegant, like a breath of fresh air. I was a bit annoyed, though. He¡¯d interrupted me while I was praying. I hadn¡¯t even finished properly praying for some wealth, and he just had to butt in. So, I said, ¡°I¡¯m praying for money.¡± Jared, who had just bowed twice, suddenly turned to look at me. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to pray for a child?¡± Iughed, ¡°Money is more loyal than a son. Money doesn¡¯t go through a rebellious phase, but sons do, from childhood all the way to adulthood.¡± Jared gave me a speechless look, then finished his prayers and stood up. I ignored him, closed my eyes, and continued my silent prayer. Finally, I bowed three times sincerely and turned to leave. Outside, the sun was zing, so bright I could barely keep my eyes open. Jared was standing under a tree, watching me. Yvonne and Quinn had wandered off somewhere with Sally. I didn¡¯t want to go over to Jared, so I purposely headed in the other direction, taking in the sights as I walked. Jared strolled after me at a leisurely pace, then suddenly sped up to catch up. ¡°You¡¯ve been a bit coldtely.¡± Keeping my eyes on the crowd, I said lightly, ¡°Have I? I feel like I¡¯m the same as before.¡± ¡°You never used to just turn away when you saw me.¡± Jared pointed out. ¡°We¡¯ve been married this long. No need to act all lovey¨Cdovey, right?¡± I teased casually. Suddenly, Jared grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a quieter corner. ¡°Are you still mad about me having dinner with Tracy?¡± I gently shook off his hand and looked him straight in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you. I just think I can¡¯t force some things. Like you? ¡°If you end up liking someone else, I wouldn¡¯t me you. You¡¯re great. It¡¯s only natural that people are drawn to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re acting weird.¡± Jared frowned. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯ve been holding a grudge against metely.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this how most couples are? We¡¯ve been married for seven years. Feelings fade, it¡¯s just how it goes,¡± I said, turning to leave. But Jared quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my way. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re not really thinking of divorcing me, are you?¡± I shot him a look, then turned my gaze away. ¡°Is it because of Nathan?¡± Jared suddenly brought up his name. ¡°He¡¯s younger than me, a hotshot in tech with a limitless future. Did you fall for him?¡± 20) I was totally mad at suddenly getting used like that. I shot back with a sneer, ¡°I¡¯m not like you, Jared. I don¡¯t mess around behind my spouse¡¯s back.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as disgraceful as you think between me and Tracy,¡± Jared shot back, his face flushing with anger as he tried to defend himself. I stared into his reddened eyes, remembering how, in my previous life, he had admitted to me just how passionate things were between him and Tracy. However, now he was denying it. Probably, he really thought I was that naive. ¡°Jared, can you honestly say you¡¯ve never once thought about divorcing me to be with her? Can you swear here?¡± My voice was icy, my gaze sharp as I stared him down. ¡°Think carefully. ¡°This church is famous for its power. Oaths made here have a way ofing true.¡± Jared¡¯s face went from red to pale. In the end, he didn¡¯t dare swear. He just stood there, hands on his hips, staring off into the distance in frustration. I immediately walked around him, turned a corner, and saw Sally holding Yvonne¡¯s hand as they came over. ¡°Hi, Mommy.¡± Yvonne spotted me and ran over, looking a bit happy as she grabbed my finger. 1 AD Comment Loose 96 Chapter 96 Sally grinned, ¡°I just had a fortune teller read Yvonne¡¯s fortune. He said the next baby will be a boy.¡± ¡°Mommy, why not give me a little brother ASAP?¡± Yvonne said, all cheerful as she shook my hand. ¡°I want a little brother.¡± ¡°Alright, Yvonne, don¡¯t say that out loud. Just keep it in your heart,¡± Sally said, beaming like she thought I could give her a son tomorrow. Jared walked over, and Sally looked at him in surprise. ¡°Jared, didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯ting?¡± Jared replied gently, ¡°Mom, the child belongs to both of us. Praying for a child only works if both husband and wifee together.¡± ¡°Daddy?¡± Yvonne spotted him, let go of my hand, and ran over with a big smile. Jared bent down, scooped her up, and gave her nose a yful tap. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± ¡°Yes, Daddy. When are you going to kiss Mommy? Grandma said if you two kiss, I¡¯ll get a little brother,¡± Yvonne asked, grinning from ear to ear. As soon as those words left her mouth, not just us¨Ceven Sally turned red. She hurried to cover Yvonne¡¯s mouth. ¡°Hush now, sweetie. There are so many people here. Your parents will get embarrassed.¡± Jared just smiled indulgently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯ll happen soon.¡± I really didn¡¯t want to hear their talk. It was like my feelings didn¡¯t even exist to them. Nobody bothered to ask what I wanted. ¡°Where¡¯s Quinn?¡± Jared asked. Sally shot me a reproachful look. ¡°She left right after praying. Her friends wanted to hang out.¡± ¡°How about we all have lunch together?¡± Jared suggested, ncing at me. ¡°Victoria, it¡¯s been ages since we all had a meal out with Yvonne.¡± Sally nodded. ¡°Alright, I was nning to buy Yvonne a toy at lunchtime anyway. Let¡¯s go to the mall.¡± On the way back, Jared asked me to ride with him. Seeing that I didn¡¯t respond, Sally said, ¡°Victoria, why don¡¯t you talk to Jared? Yvonne cane with me.¡± I hadn¡¯t driven over. I¡¯de in Sally¡¯s car, so now I had no choice but to ride with Jared. He didn¡¯t bring a driver and drove himself. When I went to open the back door, Jared was clearly annoyed. ¡°Come and sit in the front.¡± But I ignored him and settled into the back seat. ¡°So now I¡¯m just your driver, huh?¡± Jared turned to look at me, looking even more furious. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me in your car, I¡¯ll just call a cab,¡± I said, reaching for the door. ¡°Alright, quit it,¡± Jared said, trying to rein in his temper. ¡°Being your exclusive driver isn¡¯t exactly a big deal.¡± I kept quiet. It was still up in the air whose exclusive driver he actually was. Not like I was lucky enough to enjoy that kind of treatment. Chugter 96 Jarred looked pretty good behind the wheel, allid¨Cback and casual. He just drove in silence for a long while. At a red light, a Marcbach squeezed in next to us. Jared nced over, adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see me sitting in the back was eyeing the can, too. Upon thinking about how Nathan drove the exact same model, my heart fluttered a bit. ¡°What? Are you fantastring that Nathan¡¯s the one in that car?¡± Jared shot back, his words edged with thorns. I crossed my arms over my chest, my tone cool. ¡°And what if I am? Are you going to police even my thoughts now?¡± Jared tagged his long fingers on the steering wheel Victoria, as long as we¡¯re still married, you¡¯re my wife. Nathan doesn¡¯t even get vo fantasize about you¡± His words carried an unspoken threat, even without anger. It sent a chill through me, reminding me just how deep Jared¡¯s possessiveness and dominance really ran, always hidden beneath the surface. ¡°Got it? Nathan may be young, but you¡¯d better keep your hands off him.¡± Jared¡¯s eyes fixed on me through the rearview mirror, staring me down with that possessive intensity. It was both a reminder and a warning. 2/2 127 Loose 97 Chapter 97 Men had this ingrained sense of pride that made them treat their wives like their property. They could mess around all they wanted, but when it came to their wives, they always held a double standard. She had to belong to him and only him. And the moment another man so much as looked at his wife, he¡¯d instantly put up his guard. I wasn¡¯t about to lose my head over this. I¡¯d started learning to weigh the pros and cons, just like he did. Before the divorce was finalized, I had no intention of challenging his authority, let alone backing myself into a corner. As Quinn said, I was different from her. I was born into an upper¨Cmiddle¨Css family. My mom was a teacher, and my dad worked at a state¨Cownedpany. If it weren¡¯t for the wealth my grandparents had built up to support us, we¡¯d probably be stuck in stable poverty. So, I needed money. I said calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives, and I won¡¯t cheat on you. So rx.¡± Jared¡¯s gaze shifted from the rearview mirror to the road ahead. After a long silence, he suddenly said, ¡°Tracy and I are just boss and assistant. If you really want to call it something else, we¡¯re just friends who¡¯ve known each other for years.¡± He sounded sincere, but I wasn¡¯t buying it. Men¡¯s words were nothing but lies. Upon seeing I didn¡¯t say a word, Jared¡¯s brow creased with a trace of annoyance. But honestly, I couldn¡¯t care less. Whatever he said, that was what counted. Once I caught them red¨Chanded in bed, I¡¯d make him eat his words. For now, lying low and waiting was the smartest move. At noon, we picked a stylish restaurant. Whenever we took Yvonne out to eat, she always stole the spotlight. Everyone fussed over her, and she was more than used to being the family¡¯s little princess. Jared noticed I wasn¡¯t eating much and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you like the food here? Why aren¡¯t you having more?¡± Sally turned to me and said, ¡°Victoria, you¡¯ve gotten a lot skinniertely. Are you trying to lose weight?¡± ¡°Yeah, if I eat too much, I¡¯ll feel stuffed,¡± I replied offhandedly. ¡°Don¡¯t go on a diet. You and Jared should have another baby. You need to eat well,¡± Sally said, putting a piece of beef on my te. Jared shot me aplicated look. Actually, we¡¯d already talked about this. I wasn¡¯t going to have another child, and he knew. it. But I was pretty sure he hadn¡¯t told Sally. So, Jared and I both knew perfectly well. There was never going to be a second child between us. After lunch, Jared and I went straight to the office. On the way, he started asking me all sorts of questions about the hotel renovation. When I answered every one of them with ease, he looked a bit surprised and said, ¡°So, you¡¯ve actually done your homework on the renovation, huh?¡± I nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get ripped off. I have to know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Jared let out an amused chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve really changed a lot . It¡¯s like you¡¯re getting ready to spread your wings and fly. What is it? Are you preparing to leave me and picking up experience along the way?¡± He said it like a joke, but my heart gave a little jolt, Jared might be young, but he was a sly old fox. He could always see right through things. Bingo, he got it right. I really was building up experience for my future. ¡°I thought you liked career¨Cdriven women, like Tracy. I just want to be a better version of myself,¡± I said, trying to sound casual. Honestly, I just wanted to give him a perfunctory answer, but Melissa¡¯s suggestion was causing a storm in my mind. You¡¯re supposed to sell when the market is at its peak. It¡¯s the same with a woman¡¯s youth. If you cash out when you¡¯re at your most valuable, that¡¯s when you get the biggest return,¡¯ I wondered. So, my answer was intentionally a bit vague. Sure enough, Jared gave me a long, searching look in the rearview mirror. ¡°So, you¡¯re changing yourself for me?¡± I nodded, looking serious. ¡°Why else would I do it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re working so hard, but at the same time, you¡¯re drifting away from me? I don¡¯t buy it,¡± Jared said with a soft, mockingugh. ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself. You¡¯re doing this for you.¡± Loose 98 Chapter 98 My heart gave a little jolt. ¡®Ugh, Jared¡¯s not someone you can easily y mind games with. I should¡¯ve known that by now, I thought, ¡°So, you don¡¯t like me being so driven and motivated?¡± I raised an eyebrow, showing a bit of attitude. After a few seconds, Jared replied in a husky voice, ¡°I actually do. You¡¯re still young. It¡¯s only right you have this much energy.¡± ¡°So, what did you really think of me back when I was just letting myself go?¡± I asked, taking the chance. I still remembered overhearing him chatting with his friends. They said I was just eye¨Ccandy¨Cjust something nice to look at around the house. ¡®Would he dare say that to my face now?¡® I wondered. ¡°I didn¡¯t really have any particr thoughts. I just thought you did a great job taking care of the house,¡± Jared replied in a calm voice. ¡°I¡¯m not asking about what you think of what I do. I mean what you think of me,¡± I corrected him. Just then, we hit a red light. He stopped the car, turned to look at me, and said, ¡°The version of you I¡¯ve always liked was the one I first saw leading the dance on stage. ¡°And now, it feels like that part of you is back.¡± I choked up for a second, my voice a little stiff. ¡°So, you only care about my looks?¡± Jared nodded, his tone almost ruthless. ¡°Of course. The first thing I ever liked about you was your appearance.¡± I instantly wilted, dropping my head. So, that was what Jared really thought. ¡°Upset?¡± Jared asked, steering the wheel smoothly as he turned onto another street. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it because I¡¯m rich, sessful, and easy on the eyes that you agreed to date me?¡± I just stared at him, lost for words. Seeing me go quiet, Jared justughed. ¡°We¡¯re pretty much even, so let¡¯s not overthink it.¡± ¡°I fell deeper in love with you after marrying you, but you loved me less and less after you married me. We¡¯re walking two totally different roads. How could you say we¡¯re pretty much even?¡± I bit my lip and shot back. This was a twisted kind of marriage. He just wanted a pretty, obedient wife to give him kids, while I, ¨¤ total fool, actually thought he married for love. Jared pressed his lips together and stayed silent. I kept mocking, ¡°Love is like shifting sand. Guess that¡¯s the real truth.¡± Jared was clearly frustrated. ¡°Alright, regardless of how we got here, we¡¯re still husband and wife, and we¡¯re Yvonne¡¯s parents. That part isn¡¯t going to change.¡± I didn¡¯t say another word. When one stripped away all the illusions, there was no sweetness or happiness left in this marriage, just a bare¨Cbones deal. I traded my looks for his support and money. But it took me thirty years in my previous life to finally realize that when beauty faded, so did love. Beauty might be a powerful weapon, but it could never be the foundation of real happiness. When we got to the office, Tracy came over right away. ¡°There are a few important documents that need your signature.¡± Jared nodded and followed her straight into his office. I could feel all those gossipy stares aimed at me, but I straightened my back, held my head high, pushed open my office door, and left all their drama¨Chungry eyes outside. Around seven in the evening, Jared suddenly knocked on my door. ¡°I¡¯ve made ns with some friends. Come have dinner with us.¡± I kept my eyes on theputer screen and just nced at him. ¡°I still have work to do, so I¡¯m not going.¡± Jared¡¯s brows knitted. ¡°Just do it tomorrow. It¡¯s not that urgent.¡± I remembered my ns. So I packed up my things and left with him. We were meeting up with a few of Jared¡¯s childhood friends. When we got there, they were in the card room, shouting about needing one more yer. Naturally, Jared joined the table. Jared said to me, ¡°Grab a chair and sit down.¡± I froze for a second, and the other guys looked at us in disbelief, then started grinning at us with teasing, knowing looks. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re looking more and more gorgeous these days. No wonder Jared takes you everywhere he goes,¡± one of them joked. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t keep a close watch on her, someone might just steal her away. That¡¯d be a real loss,¡± another guy said with a grin. Jared didn¡¯t bother responding to their jokes, justzily drawing his cards. All of a sudden, I stood up, ready to leave. Jared reached out and caught me by the arm. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked. AD Comment Loose 99 Chapter 99 I pouted, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m just some eye¨Ccandy you brought along, with everyone sizing me up and makingments.¡± I let my feelings show, thinking Jared would brush it off like before and tell me not to be so petty, that it was just his friends joking around. But instead, Jared shot a stern look at the other three guys. ¡°Don¡¯t joke about Victoria like that anymore. She¡¯s sensitive.¡± I was stunned for a moment, but the three guys at the table got the hint and immediately apologized to me. ¡°Sorry, Victoria. We were just being jerks, no offense meant.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re Jared¡¯s wife. We¡¯re happy to have you here.¡± ¡°Jared, I bet Victoria¡¯s bored. Why don¡¯t you give up your seat and let her y a couple of rounds?¡± Jared caught my wrist with one hand while drawing a card with the other. ¡°Sit down. You¡¯re not eye¨Ccandy.¡± He gently tugged me back into my chair, but his words kept echoing in my mind. ¡®You¡¯re not eye¨Ccandy. Is he fooling me again?¡® Just then, Jared¡¯s phone rang. He stood up right away and said to me, ¡°You take over for me.¡± I quickly waved my hands. ¡°I don¡¯t really know how to y.¡± ¡°If you win, the victory¡¯s all yours. If you lose, I¡¯ll take the me,¡± Jared said, really knowing how to sweet¨Ctalk me. Since he put it that way, of course, I had to give it a try. Maybe it was just beginner¡¯s luck, but I actually won two rounds in a row. The guys immediately got all fired up, eager to win their money back. Jared showed up at some point, and instead of asking me to move, he braced himself beside me, leaning in close. His body cast a shadow over me, and there was something undeniably flirty in the way his cool, faint scent lingered in the air. I had to admit, when it came to getting a girl hooked, Jared really knew what he was doing. I got hooked the moment I saw that charming face of his. When we first dated, he wasvish, showering me with expensive gifts on every holiday and booking romantic restaurants for every meal. Within three months, he had bought me cars and apartments. I now lived in the new marital vi he purchased, yet I still owned three other properties he gave me. The first was a four- bed, two¨Cbath t downtown, handed over exactly three months after we became official. The second, a retail storefront, showed up the day Yvonne was born. The third was pure impulse. One New Year, driving home from his mother¡¯s, I¡¯d pointed out a high¨Crise and said the view must be amazing. On New Year¡¯s morning, I found a ribbon¨Ctied key on my pillow. He¡¯d bought the top¨Cfloor unit overnight. He broke down my defenses with his money. So sure, maybe I could call him a jerk, but he was never stingy. ¡°Should I y this one?¡± I muttered, rolling a card in my palm, still debating which to throw. Suddenly, Jared reached over, plucked a card from my hand, and tossed it out for me. ¡°Nice luck with the cards,¡± he said. ¡°Jared, Victoria¡¯s luck is off the charts. Don¡¯t think we¡¯re letting her win just because she¡¯s with you.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s bound to bring her man good fortune. Jared, you really hit the jackpot.¡± I paused, and suddenly, I remembered years ago when I went hiking with my parents on Jowain Mount. We ran into a fortune teller who read my fortune and said I was destined to marry a rich man. I never really thought much about it before, but now, I turned to nce at Jared. He lowered his gaze to meet mine, and for a moment, our eyes locked. A faint smile yed at the corners of his lips. ¡°You y. I¡¯m tired,¡± I said, feeling restless. I couldn¡¯t help but imagine Jared had probably done the same thing with Tracy before, letting her y while he sat beside her, giving her tips and acting all attentive. It made me feel even more annoyed. ¡°Come on, just two more rounds. Looks like luck¡¯s on your side tonight,¡± Jared coaxed. ¡®No, I¡¯m done. I need some air,¡± I said, and without another word, I strode out the door. AD Comment Loose 100 Jared just sat down and took my spot at the table, but he didn¡¯te after me. The ce wasn¡¯t all that big, but it was famous for its dishes. The restaurant had three floors, and one had to take the stairs; no elevator anywhere. Outside, there was this charming garden done up in a ssic style. A tiny stream tinkled by, and there were even some decorative fishing boats set up for atmosphere. I picked a chair and sat down. Suddenly, the garden gate swung open, and a group of people walked in, chatting excitedly. The guy leading the pack was wearing gold¨Crimmed sses, and he had this lean, athletic build. He was dressed in jeans and a gray T¨Cshirt. It was Nathan. Nathan was listening intently to the person next to him, clearly not expecting to run into me here. But when his eyesnded on me sitting by the stream, they lit up behind his sses. I was a little surprised, too. It was quite coincidental sometimes. Out of all the ces in this huge city, here we were, running into each other in this quiet corner. ¡°Ms. Murphy, are you here alone?¡± Nathan asked as he walked over. He always switched up what he called me, sometimes Mrs. Hob when he was annoyed, Ms. Murphy when he was in a good mood, and sometimes just my name when he acted all innocent and wronged. He really was a strange one. ¡°No, I¡¯m here with my husband. They¡¯re ying cards upstairs,¡± I said with a smile. Nathan¡¯s expression shifted a bit, then he nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯m here with some friends, too. I¡¯ll head up now.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I said, nodding and looking down at my phone. Nathan and his group headed upstairs. I stared at my phone screen, not even bothering to scroll. I just couldn¡¯t get Nathan out of my head, but his image kept reying over and over. Thinking back to that day at Melissa and Zachary¡¯s housewarming, when sparks almost flew between us, my heart was anything but calm. But I quickly shook those feelings off. It wasn¡¯t a man I wascking right now. I needed skills, a career, and a whole lot of ambition. I wasn¡¯t about to chase after some guy just because he was impressive. No, I wanted to go head¨Cto¨Chead with him in business, crush him, and be my queen. ¡°What are you doing out here all by yourself? Letting the mosquitoes feast on you?¡± Jared came downstairs looking for me. Maybe the food was ready. Right after he said that, I really did feel a few itchy mosquito bites on my legs. I got up and followed him upstairs, but Jared leaned against the railing and said, ¡°Mr. Hallman came over to say hi earlier.¡± My heart skipped a beat. ¡®Why would Nathan go out of his way to talk to Jared?¡® I wondered. Jared continued, ¡°Ourpany just got a new system, and it was built by hispany. We¡¯ll probably be working with them 1/2 a lot more from now on.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what Jared was getting at. ¡®Is he still suspicious about me and Nathan?¡® I thought. ¡°Oh, that doesn¡¯t really have anything to do with me, right?¡± I said with a faint smile. Jared shot me a skeptical look. ¡°Just want you to know. Sometimes, to a man, his career matters more than any woman ever could.¡± I arched a brow and gave him a rebellious grin. ¡°Oh yeah? How would you know if you¡¯ve never even put it to the test?¡± Jared¡¯s face went stiff in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t even try it. I¡¯m worried you couldn¡¯t handle the oue,¡± Jared said, turning to head upstairs. After a few steps, he paused, nced back at me, and added, ¡°You really want to test it?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Rx. I was just messing with you. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually take it seriously.¡± Jared looked a little flustered, clearly embarrassed that I¡¯d managed to tease him like that. He shot me a half¨Cannoyed, half- amused re. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re getting naughty.¡± I just waved it off, grinning. ¡°Hey, you know what they say. Men only love a little bad in their women.¡± Just as I finished speaking, the door to a private room on the second floor suddenly opened, and Nathan walked out. Jared and I happened to be standing right in front of him. Loose 101 Chapter 101 Time seemed to stand still. It wasn¡¯t exactly a mess, but things were definitely awkward, especially now that Jared knew Nathan and I had been talking in private. ¡°Mr. Hob, Mrs. Hob, haven¡¯t you started eating yet?¡± Nathan¡¯s eyes brushed over my face before he turned to Jared with a smile. ¡°We¡¯re just about to have dinner upstairs. Want to join us?¡± Jared asked politely. Nathan¡¯s smile suddenly grew a little deeper, though I wasn¡¯t sure what set him off. ¡°Not really a good time for me. Maybe next time, when it¡¯s more convenient,¡± he replied. Jared¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, and his face no longer looked as pleasant as before. I didn¡¯t say a word, but without meaning to, my gaze kept drifting toward Nathan. With his sses on, he had this refined and handsome look, like a leopard hiding in the shadows, exuding a mysterious and dangerous aura. Then I nced at Jared again. He was dressed all prim and proper, but his vibe was more like a refined rogue than a true gentleman. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll head up then,¡± Jared said as he reached out and pulled me firmly into his arms, holding me close to his side. That sudden show of gentleness made my heart skip a beat. This was honestly kind of funny. ¡®Is Jared actually getting possessive over me now?¡® I wondered. ¡®Could he really be starting to care about me, just like Melissa said? Or am I just overthinking it? ¡®If he really splits his heart and gives part of it to me, what about Tracy? She¡¯s a rich girl. She wants all of Jared, heart and soul. But why should I even care? It¡¯s Jared¡¯s business if he loves her, not mine.¡® Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Nathan still standing by the staircase, as if his gaze was drifting in our direction. Jared held me close as we climbed the first step, but as we turned toward the second, he suddenly pressed me up against the wall. Before I could react, one hand cradled my head while the other was nted firmly on the wall by my shoulder, and he lowered his head to im my lips. I never expected Jared to be so wild. In my previous life, I¡¯d never seen this side of him, but here he was, as if he were staking his im on me. I didn¡¯t pull away. Jared got what he wanted, and as I cracked my eyes open, under the warm glow of the lights, I caught a glimpse of Nathan¡¯s shadow slipping past the staircase. He had quietly followed us up a few steps, but when he saw what was happening, he quietly retreated. Jared didn¡¯t kiss me for long, but the air between us was thick with intimacy. For the first time, I could almost hear his heart pounding like a drum. His breath was hot and a little ragged, and I even caught his ears turning red. Jared was never the kind of guy to lose control like that. If he did, it had to mean he was going against everything he usually was. He must have felt awkward and a little ashamed, too. He didn¡¯t say a word. He just gave my cheek a gentle squeeze before turning and heading upstairs. Maybe I should learn to want it all, too.¡± Upstairs at dinner, I could barely taste a thing. Jared acted totally normal in front of his friends, like nothing had happened. It was just a regr meal. They just talked about work, not women, maybe because I was there. After dinner, Jared took me straight home. He¡¯d had a few drinks, so he leaned back in the passenger seat while I took the wheel. As we pulled out, the Maybach parked nearby suddenly roared to life. I snuck a nce at Jared, wondering if he¡¯d noticed. My heart skipped a beat as I checked the rearview mirror. The car sat quietly with its headlights on, and I could just barely make out the shadowy figure in the driver¡¯s seat. Loose 102 Chapter 102 I started the Bentley and focused on pulling out of the parking lot. When I checked the mirror again, I saw that Nathan wasn¡¯t following us. Maybe he¡¯d just started his car to let me know he was leaving, too. That kind of subtle thoughtfulness really made my heart skip a beat for a couple of seconds. Honestly, Nathan just understands women way better than Jared ever could. When we got home, Yvonne still hadn¡¯te back. Looked like Sally was dead set on giving us some alone time. I got out of the car, and so did Jared. He wasn¡¯t actually drunk. He was just clutching his suit jacket in his hand. As he walked toward me, I could tell he was about to offer me his jacket, but I turned away at the same moment and walked off. There was a soft thud as his suit jacket unexpectedly slipped from his hand and fell to the floor. I went upstairs without so much as a backward nce. Jared bent down to pick up his jacket, his expression looking pretty sour. Wendy and another maid came over to ask if we needed anything, but Jared just told them to go get some rest. The first thing I did when I got home was take a shower. I was a bit of a clean freak. If I didn¡¯t shower first, I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to sit on my bed or even the couch in my room. It was like I had this little OCD thing, thinking all the outside germs wereing in with me. After my shower and finishing up my skincare routine, I crawled into bed and started to drift off. Half¨Casleep, I suddenly felt the mattress sink on the other side, and I snapped awake on instinct. ¡°I had a nightmare. Go back to sleep. I won¡¯t do anything.¡± Jared¡¯s voice came from behind me, and before I knew it, his arms were around me, holding me tight. ¡®What kind of nightmare could actually scare a guy like Jared?¡® I couldn¡¯t help but wonder to myself. But true to his word, Jared didn¡¯t try anything, so I just drifted back to sleep. Ever since I time¨Ctraveled, sleeping had been so much easier for me. After all this, I guessed I had super courage. When I woke up the next morning, I could hear the soft patter of rain against the window, and the air inside felt a little thick and muggy. I realized my sleeping position had totally changed. Last night, I was sure I¡¯d been facing away from him, but now my head was resting against his chest, and one of my legs was draped over his. It was like my vulnerability had been exposed, and I suddenly felt annoyed with myself for letting it happen. I pulled myself away from him and slipped out of bed. By the time I finished washing up, Jared had already gotten out of bed and left the room. It was the weekend, and since Sally was looking after Yvonne, I figured I¡¯d take a trip out of town¨Cjust me, no kid, no husband. I grabbed my small bag and headed downstairs. Jared had just finished his morning run and was still in his ck tracksuit. When he noticed my bag, his eyes narrowed a bit. ¡°Where are you going?¡± 1/2 ¡°Shaville,¡± I replied. ¡°Is it something for work?¡± Jared asked. ¡°No, I just want to go to enjoy the scenery,¡± I replied simply. Jared looked a little taken aback, like my answer had caught him off guard. He let out a slow breath and asked, ¡°You¡¯re going alone?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± I nodded. Jared stared at me like he could see straight through me. The next second, his voice went cold. ¡°No way.¡± I let out augh. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, then why don¡¯t youe with me?¡± I always thought he wasn¡¯t into traveling. He only ever left town for work. But actually, that was not it at all. It turned out that he did like going ces. He just didn¡¯t like going with me. Jared furrowed his brows. I knew he¡¯d turn me down. Jared brushed past me, looking indifferent. As he started up the stairs, he nced back at me and asked, ¡°Did you arrange a car?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive myself,¡± I answered. He didn¡¯t say anything else and just went upstairs. A few minutester, he came back down carrying a bag. ¡°I¡¯ll have Warner drive us. It¡¯s a long trip. You can¡¯t drive that far by yourself.¡± My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at the bag in his hand. Loose 103 Chapter 103 Jared didn¡¯t stop me from going on the trip. Instead, he actually brought himself along, which really caught me off guard. No way, I had to find someone to stop him. So, I came up with an idea. I set my Instagram so only Tracy could see it, then secretly snapped a photo of our two suitcases and captioned it. [Getting ready for a trip, starting from the heart.] Five minutester, Jared¡¯s phone rang. He was still eating breakfast when he picked up the call. After exchanging just a few words, he stood up and stepped outside to take it. My hint must have worked. Tracy must be calling to ask about this. Jared finished the call and then came back to the table to continue eating. I waited for him to say there was an urgent matter at thepany, then throw me a card and tell me to go have fun on my own. But even when Warner pulled up to pick us up and we headed out for Shaville, Jared still didn¡¯t say a word about being busy. The moment he got in the car, he leaned back and tried to catch some sleep, like he hadn¡¯t gotten any restst night. I slipped on my sunsses and gazed out at the passing scenery. In my previous life, I poured all my energy into dealing with family and rtionship drama, never taking the time to enjoy the view. Now, watching the misty rain outside, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty toward myself. But that was not going to happen anymore. From now on, I was going to make sure I saw every beautiful ce this world had to offer, and I wouldn¡¯t let myself have any more regrets. The drive from Hachester to Shaville took about two to three hours. By the time we arrived, the rain had stopped, and the sun was breaking through the clouds, casting a warm glow over everything. It was a whole different kind of beauty. Jared rubbed his tired, bloodshot eyes and looked out the window. ¡°Let¡¯s get something to eat first,¡± he said. I quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet.¡± Jared ignored me and just gave Warner the address of a restaurant. I pressed my lips together, not saying a word. ¡°This trip is my idea, so shouldn¡¯t he at least listen to what I want?¡® I wondered. When we arrived at the restaurant, I realized it was a traditional Shaville spot. Shaville cuisine was all about heavy sauces and rich vors, but the saltiness was always well¨Cbnced. For example, the aroma filled the air, and the duck was fall¨Coff¨Cthe¨Cbone tender and bursting with vor. But I was from the south, and I liked my food spicy. These milder, well¨Cbnced dishes just didn¡¯t really suit my taste buds. When we got to the restaurant, Jared suddenly said, ¡°Tracy brought a few higher¨Cups over for a meeting. We¡¯ll be having lunch with them. You don¡¯t mind, right?¡± Hearing that, I felt a wave of difort. I snapped my head toward him and said, ¡°I came here to rx, not to be someone¡¯spany at lunch.¡± 1/2 Jared¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Victoria, it¡¯s just one meal. Do you really have to make such a fuss about it?¡± I didn¡¯t get mad; instead, I let out a bitterugh. ¡°Yeah, just one meal. It¡¯s like a single sesame seed dropped into my life- tiny, but when you have to keep picking up sesame seeds everywhere, it wears you out.¡± Jared¡¯s frown deepened, but he didn¡¯t try tofort me. He just said in a t voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat here for lunch, do as you like.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I said, pushing the door open and getting out without hesitation. I turned around, gged down another taxi, and left without a second thought. Through the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of Jared suddenly dashing out from the other side of the Bentley, standing at the curb and staring in the direction my cab was heading. I folded my arms across my chest, thinking to myself, ¡®Finally, I¡¯ve shaken him off. ¡®Since he went behind my back and invited Tracy to Shaville, then let them be stuck together for all I care,¡® I thought with a sneer. Traveling solo felt so free, carefree, and totally on my terms. I wandered wherever I wanted, stopping whenever the mood struck me. I didn¡¯t bother snapping any photos, just letting the sights sink in and be memories only I would remember. I spent the whole day eating, drinking, and having fun. By five in the afternoon, I was worn out, so I picked the best hotel around and checked myself in. Yvonne had called me twice earlier, but I deliberately ignored her. Now that I was back at the hotel, she was calling again. I leaned back on the sofa and answered. Yvonne threw a little tantrum. ¡°Mom, are you deaf or something? I called you twice, and you didn¡¯t pick up.¡± AD Comment Send gift Loose 104 Chapter 104 ¡°I was busy. What¡¯s up?¡± I asked in a t voice. ¡°I fell and scraped my knee. It¡¯s all red and it hurts so much.¡± Yvonne suddenly started bawling. Iforted her in a t voice. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Just be more careful next time. ¡°Mom, where are you? I want you toe take care of me,¡± Yvonne sniffled. ¡°I¡¯m in Shaville,¡± I said, not hiding it from her. ¡°Are you in Shaville for work?¡± Yvonne asked, her voice still choked with tears. I wanted to say no, that I was here for a trip, but thinking about her hurt leg, I just said yes. Yvonne keptining for a while, sounding all pitiful, but then it seemed like she got another call. She quickly said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve got to go. Bye.¡± I tossed my phone aside and walked over to the hotel¡¯s floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. The sun was sinking in the west, its afterglow lingering softly across the city. My phone started ringing again. It was Jared calling. I acted like I didn¡¯t see it and just let it ring. Jared sent me a text. [Where are you?] I replied: [What do you want?] [I¡¯ming to see you,] Jared texted back right away. [You should handle your business first. I¡¯m fine on my own,] I replied, my voice calm and steady. Gone was the needy, desperate tone from my previous life; now I soundedpletely unbothered. Jared called again, so I picked up. His voice was tinged with exhaustion. ¡°What do you want to eat tonight?¡± I answered, sounding indifferent, ¡°I don¡¯t really have anything in mind.¡± ¡°I know you didn¡¯t like the Shaville food at lunch. Tonight, I¡¯ll take you out for something you actually like,¡± Jared said in a considerate tone. Suddenly, I realized that Shaville cuisine was Tracy¡¯s favorite, since her mother¡¯s family was from Shaville and her father was from Hachester. So Jared had spent over two hours in the car just toe to Shaville and eat Tracy¡¯s favorite food with her. He¡¯s really obsessed with her. ¡°No need. I¡¯m fine on my own. You should focus on your work,¡± I replied, being even more considerate than he was. ¡°Where are you?¡± Jared sounded impatient. ¡°Are you really by yourself?¡± Hearing that jealous tone from him, I finally realized that Jared was actually suspicious of me. He¡¯d spent the whole afternoon getting cozy with his mistress, and now he suddenly remembered his neglected wife and wondered if I was the one cheating. ¡°Jared, is there really no trust between us at all?¡± I snapped, anger ring. ¡°If you¡¯re always going to think I¡¯m cheating. maybe we should just divorce.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doubting you. I¡¯ve already handled everything on my end, Jared replied, his voice calm but firm. I didn¡¯t want himing over because, honestly, the thought of him having sex with Tracy. He¡¯d probably spent the whole afternoon cozying up to Tracy, and now he wanted to crawl into my bed at night? Please. I¡¯m not some dumping ground for whatever mess he brings back. ¡°No, really, don¡¯t worry about me. I just want some time to myself,¡± I insisted, making it clear I wasn¡¯t changing my mind. In the end, I still didn¡¯t tell him where I was. But of course, Jared had his ways. He managed to track me down to the hotel I was staying at that night. It was only then that I remembered that I¡¯d used my passport to check in. When he knocked on the door, I looked at him standing there. He seemedpletely unfazed, just walked right in, and said, ¡°I was worried you¡¯d just pick some random hotel.¡± As he came in, I caught a faint whiff of rose perfume on him. That was Tracy¡¯s signature scent. Jared set his bag down, plopped onto the sofa, and looked at me. ¡°Sorry, I had a friend help me out. I was worried something might happen to you.¡± Inside, I scoffed. ¡®Yeah, right. He¡¯s just scared I¡¯ll cheat on him, I thought. Since he was already here, there was no point in making a scene and kicking him out. Thankfully, there were two beds in the room. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to get some sleep,¡± I said. Jared grabbed his clothes and went to take a shower. Before long, he came out dressed in pajamas. Seeing that I was already in bed, he suddenly slipped into my bed and wrapped his arms around me from behind. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡± He knew I was upset, and he also knew exactly how to coax me when I was like this. His lips brushed the back of my ear, trailing softly to my cheek. ¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll go shopping with you and get you some gifts.¡± I immediately pushed him away and said tly, ¡°No need. I¡¯m really tired.¡± Jared paused for just a couple of seconds, then started kissing me again. ¡°Victoria, let me show you how good I can be tonight, okay?¡± 2/2 Loose 105 No Ads Chapter 105 I¡¯d never seen Jared so clingy before. Even when we first got married, he wasn¡¯t the type to stick with me. Back then, I was always the one clinging to him. He had work on his mind all the time. The was so busy he was barely ever home, and our honeymoon got cut short. Whenever he did show up, I¡¯d justtch onto him. I suddenly realized that when we got married, he didn¡¯t really love me. He was just after my youth and the emotional value I brought him. It was like I was his little pet. If I made a fuss, he¡¯d hand me some money; if I was upset, he¡¯d buy me a gift. Sure, Jared would sometimes lower his voice and sweet¨Ctalk me, but that was only because he knew I was easy to coax. He was the ultimate tease, and after we got married, he totally had me hooked like a clueless fish. But now, I wasn¡¯t going to be the fish anymore. I was ready to do some fishing of my own. Marriage had turned into a yful game of cat and mouse between us. ¡®So, who¡¯s reeling in who now? If one¡¯s the first to take the bait, one¡¯s the fish, I thought. I didn¡¯t say anything, but with my soft curves and delicate frame, it only took the slightest tease from Jared to bring out all my feminine charm. The crystal chandelier above spilled warm light over us, and Jared¡¯s gaze was so deep, it felt like he was really seeing me for the very first time. He reached out, gently tucking a few yful strands of hair behind my ear, then traced his fingers lightly over my smooth cheek, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Victoria, are you aging backwards or something?¡± I blinked in surprise, refusing to meet his eyes. Instead, I turned my head away, staring out at the night sky. Jared must¡¯ve felt a little let down when I didn¡¯t respond. I figured if I kept acting cold, he¡¯d get the message and just go to sleep on the other bed. But I really underestimated him. Even with me acting all uninterested, he wasn¡¯t about to give up. He reached out and switched off all the lights, leaving the whole bedroom bathed in shadows. The ovepping shadows on the wall made the atmosphere even more intense, and I couldn¡¯t help but blush. I reached out, trying to push him away. Suddenly, Jared lost his patience. He grabbed his belt from the side, caught my hands, and tied them above my head. The leather was stiff and bit into my wrists, making it sting. With a rough, husky whisper in my ear, he said, ¡°Just hold on. It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± After what felt like forever, Jaredy on top of me, his breathing in rough, heavy bursts, not moving an inch. ¡°You¡¯re so heavy,¡± I managed to gasp, barely able to breathe. Only then did Jared kiss me softly on the cheek, undo the belt, and set me free. He gently stroked the red marks on my wrists with his fingers, then pressed two tender kisses to them. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t you love me anymore?¡± He picked this moment to ask, and my heart skipped a beat. I managed to speak, my voice hoarse. ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± ? ? ??? Jared pulled the nket over us, letting out a low ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, then so be it. Love isn¡¯t something you can fake or hide.¡± My eyes went still as I looked at him in the darkness. Jared¡¯s eyes seemed especially bright in the dim room, locked onto me. Finally, he said, ¡°Honestly, whether you love me or not isn¡¯t that important in a marriage. Victoria, I¡¯ll allow you not to love me, but I still don¡¯t want a divorce.¡± It was like he¡¯d really thought this through. As soon as he finished, he didn¡¯t wait for my answer, just got up and walked straight into the bathroom. I sat up abruptly, staring at the bathroom light that had just flicked on. ¡®Is Jared seriously crazy enough to want both a wife and a mistress?¡® I thought. ¡®Does he really think he can live the dream of having it all? ¡®Is he even cut out for that? He¡¯d better be careful, or he¡¯ll wear himself out sooner orter¡® I was so mad I wanted to let loose with some curses, but my parents raised me too well, and all that good¨Cgirl training left my mind nk. I couldn¡¯t even think of a single curse word. When Jared came out, he acted like nothing had happened. He sat down on the bed next to mine, opened hisptop, and got to work. Loose 106 No Ads Chapter 106 Seeing me still pouting and sulking, he didn¡¯t even nce my way. Instead, he just gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who said you were tired? Seems like the more we make love, the more awake you get.¡± I couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with him. I marched straight into the bathroom for a shower, and when I came out, I just curled up with my back to him and went to sleep. If Jared refused to agree to a divorce, then my only option would be to dig up evidence of him cheating and take him to court myself. Of course, I knew the moment I brought up divorce, my whole family would jump in and try to talk me out of it. Just like in my previous life, when Jared wanted to divorce me, everyone tried to convince him otherwise. They said we had a kid, that I hadn¡¯t done anything truly wrong, that he shouldn¡¯t ruin the child¡¯s life, and that I couldn¡¯t survive without him. In the end, Jared didn¡¯t go through with the divorce, but he moved out. I was trapped in a fancy vi with a fat allowance, but feeling like some bug crawling in the dark, insecure, anxious, andpletely lost. Weighing all the pros and cons, if I divorced Jared and didn¡¯t walk away with a fat settlement, then I¡¯d be getting nothing out of this marriage at all. I didn¡¯t know how other women saw material things, but as far as I was concerned, money was everything. Without it, one couldn¡¯t do a thing in this world. Jared knew how to make money, and his investments were all over the ce. Back in my previous life, Tracy¡¯s family started out a little better off than his, butter on, Jared ended up pouring hundreds of millions¨Cno, billions¨Cinto patching up the Darwin family¡¯s messes. He spent so much on them because he was head over heels for Tracy. So, if I treated Jared like my personal cash machine, using marriage and his sense of duty to drive him to make more money for me, that was just another kind of win. In this world, hardly any truly capable man was willing to be a woman¡¯spdog. I wasn¡¯t naive enough to think that once I got divorced, I¡¯d magically turn into some powerful, independent woman. This was the real world. Without resources, skills, or a clear direction, 99% of people were just scraping by, barely making ends meet. I turned my head to nce at Jared. He seemed lost in thought, and right then, our eyes met. He got the wrong idea and thought I was checking him out, and a little smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. I slowly turned away, thinking, ¡®Divorce isn¡¯t something I can rush. For now, I¡¯ll just treat him like my money¨Cmaking tool and learn the ropes of making money from him. ¡®He¡¯s got all the connections and resources, and honestly, Jared isn¡¯t some ruthless, cold¨Chearted jerk. If we can split up peacefully, he might even help me out with contacts and resources afterward. ¡°There¡¯s no need to turn him into my enemy. Both love and hate just breed drama. I might as well treat Jared like my teacher and figure out how topete with men for survival in this world.¡® Honestly, when it came to Tracy, besides being into Jared, she was probably just after his power and what he could do. 1/2 With that thought in mind, I drifted off to sleep. The next morning, while Jared was still sound asleep, I was already up and reading, I¡¯d brought this book over from Jared¡¯s bookshelf at his ce. It was about financial investments. ¡°Take a look at the notes, too. I made it in there,¡± Jared said to me, his voice husky and still thick with sleep. I put the book down and looked at him. Jared slowly sat up. ¡°Since when did you get so into studying? Did you finally decide to use your brain?¡± I kept the book up, blocking his gaze, and replied coolly, ¡°I said I wanted a career. Talk is cheap. I have to actually do something about it.¡± Jared let out a softugh. ¡°Do you really admire women like Tracy, the career¨Cdriven type?¡± I curled my lips in a wry smile. ¡°I have to admit that she¡¯s definitely smarter than me.¡± Jared gave me a long look, as if wondering if I¡¯d lost it, then got out of bed. ¡°So, where do you want to go today? Anything you want as a present?¡± I put the book down. ¡°Is this my reward forst night?¡± Jared nodded. ¡°From now on, every time we sleep together, you can ask me for something in return. As long as it¡¯s not over the top, I¡¯ll agree.¡± AD Loose 107 ??? Chapter 107 Jared was still the same man I knew, who lived by thew of the jungle. Hearing him say that didn¡¯t surprise me. Jared didn¡¯t like owing anyone anything, not even a debt of love. But people like him were often cold and emotionally distant deep down. He rarely fell in love, but once he did, he could be absolutely intense. In my previous life, the woman he loved deeply was Tracy. She was a force to be reckoned with, fighting her way through all his female confidantes and seizing every bit of his affection for herself. Thinking about it, I felt pretty ridiculous. Tracy was ying the game with all her tricks, while all I did was love him, thinking that was enough. No, that dopamine high only about three months. If one really wanted to keep a man¡¯s heart, it was all about knowing how to y the game. Jared took me to breakfast at the hotel first, and then we headed straight to a high¨Cend women¡¯s boutique. In the VIP room, Jared lounged on the sofa while the sales assistant brought in a whole row of new arrivals. I tried them on one by one, taking my sweet time picking out what I liked, like I was picking out vegetables at the market. The sales assistant also brought over matching bags and shoes for each outfit. Jared sat there like a perfect gentleman, giving his opinions on every look, but I ignored all the ones he liked and only bought the ones I thought looked good. Jared was left feeling totally helpless and a bit frustrated. ¡°Mr. Hob, your wife has such beautiful skin,¡± someone couldn¡¯t help butpliment. Thatke¨Cgreen dress was really hard to pull off unless one had great skin, but on me, it looked especially fresh and charming. Jared smiled and said, ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± By the time we finished shopping, the whole morning had flown by. Jared helped me carry all the bags to the car. There were so many of them. It was like a small mountain. But I wasn¡¯t going to feel bad about his money anymore. In my previous life, whenever he offered to buy me something, I always put on the act of being the thrifty, perfect wife. That was until Tracy unted her emerald bangle worth over 3 million dors, bragging that she only nced at it a couple of times and Jared had someone buy it for her right away. In that moment, I could practically hear my heart breaking. Jared was loaded. It didn¡¯t matter who he spent his money on. Before I divorced him, I was definitely going to get myself an emerald bangle worth at least 30 million from him. He owed me that from my previous life. ¡°Are you tired? Do you want to check out anything else?¡± Jared asked in a low voice. ¡°No, I¡¯m hungry,¡± I replied. Shopping was fun, but it really took it out of me. I needed to eat before I could go another round this afternoon. Jared¡¯s eyes grew a shade darker. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was on his mind. ¡°Alright, what do you want to eat?¡± Jared was being unusually gentle today. I turned to look at him and asked, ¡°Is Tracy still around?¡± Jared replied, ¡°She¡¯s having lunch with her grandmother today and heading back to Hachester this afternoon.¡± ¡®Ugh, why did I have to ask that?¡® I thought, suddenly wanting to p myself. ¡®Seriously, why can¡¯t I just keep my mouth shut? Great, now I know Jared has Tracy¡¯s schedule down to the minute. Guess it¡¯s time for me to give up, huh?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I suddenly felt like leaving him behind and going off to enjoy the scenery on my own. Jared gave me a strange look. ¡°You always treat Tracy like your imaginary enemy. Is it really so fun to make yourself miserable?¡± His words just made my already bad mood even worse. ¡°It¡¯s not fun. I just want to wander around by myself this afternoon. Why don¡¯t you head back to Hachester first?¡± In the past, I would have worried about his feelings and kept my thoughts to myself. But now, I didn¡¯t care anymore. If I wanted to do something, I would just tell him. If he tried to stop me, I had every right to lose my temper. Sure enough, Jared¡¯s face grew gloomy. He tapped his fingers on the car door. ¡°You want me to head back to Hachester first because Nathan¡¯sing to that tech conference this afternoon, right? Did you two set this up?¡± ¡°What tech conference? I¡¯ve never even heard of it,¡± I replied, caught off guard. Jared gave me a fake, tight¨Clipped smile. ¡°Guess what? Do you think I¡¯d actually believe that?¡± I felt a sudden jolt of panic. ¡®Wait? Is he serious? Is Nathan actually in Shaville?¡® I thought. I turned my head and caught sight of a few big banners hanging from the streetlights not far away, with bold letters. [Wee to the Shaville Tech Conference. Technology Leads the Future.] Seeing me staring at those banners pping in the wind, Jared¡¯s face grew even more annoyed. ¡°It¡¯s good to be bold, but don¡¯t use it in the wrong ce,¡± Jared said, his voice taking on amanding tone. ¡°Get in the car. We¡¯re going back to Hachester.¡± I shot a dramatic look at those banners¨Cjust my luck. Once I got in the car, I heard Jared tell the driver, Warner, ¡°Head straight back to Hachester.¡± On the way back, Jared closed his eyes and seemed to be resting. He didn¡¯t say a single word to me, except for answering a couple of work calls. Before we got home, we swung by Sally¡¯s ce to pick up Yvonne. 2/2 Loose 108 Chapter 108 Yvonne had been getting more and more spoiled by Sallytely. As soon as she got in the car, she snuggled up in my arms, wanting me to hold her while she fell asleep. Jared kept ncing at me from the side, and I had no idea what was going through his mind. But he must¡¯ve noticed that not only was I cold to him, but my feelings for Yvonne had changed too. As the car headed home, we passed a street, and I caught Jared deliberately ncing at a shop not far away, his lips pressed into a thin, tight line. Upon noticing that little gesture, a wave of bitterness and old memories hit me. Jared loved the cupcakes from that ce. I used to always stop on purpose to buy him a pack, so he¡¯d have them to eat when he got home at night. But this time, as we drove by, I didn¡¯t even bring it up. He probably felt let down. Heh, scumbag. Don¡¯t expect me to ever be nice to you again,¡® I thought. Yvonne fell asleep not long after, and Jared murmured in a wistful tone, ¡°When are you going to buy me some cupcakes?¡± I was lowering my head to check Yvonne¡¯s hair, damp with sweat, when I suddenly heard Jared ask that, with a hint of childishness in his voice. ¡°If you want them, go buy them yourself,¡± I answered tly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to wait in line,¡± Jared replied, sounding a bit sulky. ¡°Neither do I,¡± I shot him a grin. ¡°Why not have Tracy do it for you? She¡¯d probably love to help.¡± ¡°Victoria, can you just drop it already?¡± Jared¡¯s face turned stormy with anger. The mood instantly turned awkward because of what I said. I didn¡¯t know if it was the whole cupcake thing that set him off, but that seemed to be thest straw. Jared gave me the silent treatment for three days straight, even spending two of those nights away from home. Since he was ignoring me, I sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to go groveling for his attention. Luckily, work was keeping me insanely busy, and with my workouts on top of that, I barely had a second to spare. Yvonne had recently gotten into crafts, so I signed her up for some sses. But now, it was the driver taking her back and forth. I was done ying the hands¨Con mom. Yvonne picked up on the change, and she was definitely not happy about it. One night, it started pouring rain, and Yvonne suddenly ran off. The driver was so anxious that he nearly had a heart attack. He called both me and Jared in a panic. Even the teachers at the center rushed out to help search for her. Jared was out there in the rain, frantically searching everywhere. Honestly, I was freaking out, too. After more than an hour of desperate searching, Yvonne finally came running out of a storage room at the center. When she saw all of us soaked to the bone, she finally realized just how much trouble she¡¯d caused. For the first time, I saw Jared go crazy with worry. He rushed over, gave her a couple of light smacks on the butt, and then pulled her into a tight hug. 1/2 Yvonne was stubbom. She didn¡¯t cry when he smacked her, but the moment Jared hugged her, she burst into tears, sobbing and apologizing over and over, promising she¡¯d never hide again. On the way back in the car, both Jared and I were soaked to the bone, and Yvonne kept sobbing for what felt like forever, Then, will crying, she choked out, ¡°I just wanted to scare Mom. She doesn¡¯t go to ss with me anymore.¡± 1 crossed my arms, and my face went cold. ¡°Your life is your own. If you get lost or someone takes you, maybe I¡¯ll be sad for a few days, but I¡¯ll just think that¡¯s the way your life turned out. *Ill still be living my life till I¡¯m ny¨Cnine. Do you get that?¡± Yvonne started shaking, her eyes wide and full of tears as she cried even harder. Jared¡¯s face darkened, and he snapped at me, ¡°She¡¯s already scared enough. Stop scaring her even more.¡± ¡°She pulls this kind of stunt just to scare us, and she¡¯s not even in the wrong? What if something really happened? She¡¯d never see us again. ¡°If we don¡¯t teach her a lesson now, she¡¯ll just keep doing stuff like this.¡± I was so mad my eyes turned red. The kid I¡¯d spoiled all these years was actually using her disappearance to get back at me. I¡¯m sorry, Mom. I know I was wrong, I won¡¯t do it again,¡± Yvonne said, probably because she saw me crying. She reached out her hand and tugged at my arm. ¡°Mom, I just wanted you to spend more time with me. I didn¡¯t mean to scare you? I watched her apologize, but I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to love her like I did in my previous life. I already knew what she¡¯d be like when she grew up, how her heart would always drift further away from me. Even though right now she looked so small and in need of love and protection, I just couldn¡¯t let myself love her so easily anymore. ¡°If you know you did something wrong, then fix it. I¡¯m a mom for the first time. ¡°Why should I always be the one to give in?¡± The more I spoke, the worse I felt, until I just buried my face in my knees and broke down, sobbing. Jared reached out with his big hand and gently pulled me into his arms. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re crying even louder than Yvonne,¡± he said. ¡°I know you were scared, too. From now on, I¡¯ll hire a full¨Ctime nanny to keep Yvonnepany, so she won¡¯t have to feel lonely anymore.¡± Yvonne whimpered softly, ¡°I want my mom.¡± Hearing her say that felt like a knife twisting in my heart. I honestly didn¡¯t know how to be her mom¡¯anymore. Loose 109 No Ads Chapter 109 Jared was probably shaken up, too. When we got home, he seemed really quiet. Yvonne went straight to her room and cried into her pillow. Jared and I both hit the showers and changed clothes. Finally, both of us stood by Yvonne¡¯s bed. She was yanking the covers over her head, trying to hide her face from us. I walked right over, sat down, and firmly yanked the covers away from her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Yvonne red at me, her cheeks puffed out in anger. ¡°Running away every time something happens? Are you just going to bury your head in the sand like an ostrich?¡± I asked angrily. Yvonne looked at me, aggrieved, then turned to Jared. ¡°What else am I supposed to do? You¡¯re just going to scold me again.¡± ¡°So you knew you¡¯d get in trouble, but you still decided to disappear?¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief. Yvonne just sat there, lips pursed in a pout, and I couldn¡¯t tell if she even realized how serious this was. Jared spoke up seriously, ¡°Yvonne, promise your dad this won¡¯t ever happen again.¡± After Yvonne grew a bit older, she started to really respect, and even fear, Jared, especially when he put on that stern face. Whenever he talked to her like this, she¡¯d make sure to remember the lesson. ¡°Okay, Dad, I promise.¡± Yvonne raised her little hand. ¡°But can you ask Mom to leave first?¡± Jared furrowed his brows, but without a word, I got up and walked out. Jared reached for my arm, but I shook him off hard. Well, once again, it just proved I was nothing more than the outsider here. The real bond was between father and daughter. Downstairs, Wendy was busy cooking. When she saw me, she smiled and said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, just a few more minutes and dinner will be ready.¡± ¡°No rush, Wendy. Take your time,¡± I replied with a gentle smile. Another cleaningdy was mopping the corridor outside. The rain had blown in under the eaves, and there were puddles of water everywhere. The rain had stopped now. I stepped out into the garden to get some air. After a moment, Jared suddenly showed up behind me. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart with Yvonne. She¡¯s still a kid. Just guide her patiently.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t take it to heart,¡± I replied, lowering my gaze to the green nts at my feet. ¡°She just doesn¡¯t want me as her mom.¡± Jared cut in, sounding a bit anxious, ¡°Come on, what kid doesn¡¯t like their mom?¡± I turned to look at him, half¨Cmocking, half¨Csmiling. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just find her a new mom? I mean, Tracy seems to get along with her just fine.¡± ¡°Victoria, do you even hear yourself right now?¡± Jared¡¯s face instantly clouded over. I raised an eyebrow and said lightly, ¡°Swear to God you¡¯ve never thought about it.¡± Jared was momentarily at a loss for words, clearly annoyed, ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous,¡± he snapped. With that, he turned and went inside for dinner. I stayed outside, but oddly enough, I actually felt a bit better. I thought back to how, even when I knew he was getting along so well with Tracy, I kept everything bottled up inside. I barely even dared to mention her name, afraid that if I did, I¡¯d make him angry and he¡¯d divorce me. But now, I could bring that name that used to haunt me up whenever I wanted. Probably, it was a progress. Jared called Yvonne down for dinner. Maybe all that crying made her hungry, because she ended up eating a lot. The whole time, she kept sneaking nces at my face. I stayed indifferent. Since I¡¯d decided to stop meddling, I wasn¡¯t about to say anything more to her. Yvonne put down her te and fork. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m full. I¡¯m going upstairs to watch cartoons now.¡± With that, she turned and headed upstairs. Jared was still giving me the cold shoulder after what I said earlier, but honestly, I was enjoying the peace. That night was as calm as still water. But the next morning, Sally showed up, with Quinn tagging along. Sally came charging upstairs. I was in the middle of doing my makeup when she nted herself right next to me, pointed her finger in my face, and snapped, ¡°Yvonne almost went missing yesterday. ¡°What kind of mother are you? This better never happen again. Yvonne is the Hob family¡¯s princess. ¡°I don¡¯t care what¡¯s going on with you, but from now on, you are not toy a hand on her or even raise your voice at her. Got Loose 110 Chapter 110 I knew right away Yvonne must¡¯ve called Sally and spilled everything. And I¡¯d bet anything she was standing outside the door, eavesdropping. Yvonne knew I always acted all respectful around Sally, so if she got someone like her toe scold me, I¡¯d have no choice but to behave. ¡°Sally, spoiling a child is as bad as harming them. If she¡¯s already pulling disappearing acts now, what do you think she¡¯ll do when she¡¯s older? ¡°Run away from home? Get pregnant out of wedlock? Aren¡¯t you even a little worried about that?¡± I argued, keeping my tone calm but firm. Sally looked momentarily stunned, as if the thought had just urred to her. Her voice softened a bit. ¡°Even if you want to discipline her, you still need to be more gentle. After all, she¡¯s a girl.¡± ¡°Sally, every time I try to teach her a lesson, she goes running to you toin about me. How am I supposed to discipline her like this?¡± I turned to look at her, bitterness in my voice. ¡°Sometimes, I really just feel powerless.¡± Sally was stunned, maybe because it was the first time I actually let my exhaustion show. ¡°Alright, you two should talk this over ande up with a solution. I¡¯ll take Yvonne to school for now.¡± Sally let out a sigh. ¡°Jared said he wants to hire a full¨Ctime nanny for her. ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ll make sure to find someone Yvonne actually likes.¡± I just replied, ¡°Thanks for taking care of it, Sally.¡± Sally headed downstairs, and I followed her. Quinn was sitting on the couch, goofing around with Yvonne. Yvonne wasughing and having a great time, but the moment she saw meing down the stairs, she immediately pouted and turned her face away. Seeing this, Quinn put her hands on her hips and said to me, ¡°Victoria, what did you do to scare Yvonne like that? You¡¯re so fierce.¡± ¡°Quinn, don¡¯t talk to Victoria like that,¡± Jared said, his tone gentle but firm. ¡°You guys should head out now.¡± Quinn quickly grabbed Yvonne¡¯s backpack, and Sally took her hand, swinging it gently. ¡°Say goodbye to your parents.¡°¡± Yvonne immediately called out loudly, ¡°Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom.¡± That kid really knew how to act in front of the elders. I sat at the dining table, taking my time with breakfast. Jared had already finished eating and was sitting on the couch, talking on the phone. I could just barely catch a few words. It sounded like he was telling someone to take care of something for him. Maybe I got hooked on eavesdropping in my previous life, but every time Jared got a call, my ears would automatically perk up, and I¡¯d start suspecting it was Tracy on the other end. And right now, I was doing it again. ¡®If he¡¯s got nothing to hide, then why does he always have to take his calls somewhere else?¡® I couldn¡¯t help but think. Jared walked in and asked, ¡°So, are you going to the office or the hotel today?¡± I answered, ¡°The hotel. They¡¯re dropping off some materials, and I want to see for myself.¡± Jared hesitated for a second, then said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to handle everything on your own. You can put the people I assign to you straight to work.¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, I know they¡¯re good, but I just want to pick up more experience.¡± Jared didn¡¯t say another word. He just turned and left the house. Soon, I heard his car drive off down the road. After finishing breakfast, I headed straight to the hotel. What I didn¡¯t expect was that thepany handling the delivery this time was run by Tracy¡¯s cousin. I¡¯d met him in my previous life. He looked like a total gentleman on the outside, but all the stuff he did was downright shameless. In his own words, he was not into young girls. Married women were his real weakness. Right then, he jumped out of his Porsche. The moment he spotted me, his eyes practically lit up. He hurried over, stuck out his hand, and grinned, ¡°Mrs. Hob, it¡¯s a real pleasure to serve you. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everything I¡¯ve brought is the real deal. Or, if you want, you can check it out yourself¨Csee if it meets your standards?¡± I could hear all the innuendo in his words, but I just replied tly, ¡°No need. If anything¡¯s wrong, I¡¯ll just sue.¡± ¡°My name is Owen Maxwell. Oh, by the way, my cousin is Tracy, the VP at yourpany. You must¡¯ve met her, right?¡± His eyes were practically glued to me, roaming up and down like he couldn¡¯t tear himself away. His look made my skin crawl, and honestly, I was even more pissed at Jared. ¡®Seriously? Bringing in Tracy¡¯s cousin for this job? Is he just trying to get under my skin on purpose?¡® I wondered. 2/2 Loose 111 Send gift No Ads Chapter 111 Jared hurt me again with what he did, but if I couldn¡¯t even handle Owen, I was not even in a ce where dreams and goals. were up for discussion. You only get stronger when you learn to take all the nasty people and things in stride, I told myself. ¡®I¡¯ve always believed that a truly ambitious woman needs to have insane willpower and a clear sense of direction. Reputation didn¡¯t matter. Climbing one¡¯s way up, no matter what one had to step over. In the end, it was all about using every advantage and forming alliances, as long as one always put themselves first. I made a pot of coffee in the living room and called Owen over for some. Grinning at me, he said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, I just asked around and heard you guys haven¡¯t settled on the wardrobes yet. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re still discussing it,¡± I replied. ¡°Why not let mypany take care of it? I¡¯ll give you the lowest price,¡± Owen said. He might be a pro at flirting, and he could talk his way through any business deal, too. ¡°Just send me a quote first and I¡¯ll check it out,¡± I said. Since it¡¯s an open bid, of course, I have to shop around. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll have someone prepare the materials and send them over,¡± Owen said, nodding happily. ¡°How about we grab lunch together? My treat.¡± I smiled and nodded, ¡°Sure, that¡¯s very generous of you.¡± ¡°Not at all, Mrs. Hob. Just having you join me is enough,¡± Owen replied. Even though he was obviously checking me out, he knew who I was and wouldn¡¯t dare try anything. Then again, for all I knew, maybe Tracy put him up to this, trying to get some dirt to show Jared. Right after I agreed to have lunch with Owen, Jared called me. I got up and went to the office to take the call. Jared asked, ¡°Do you have any ns for lunch?¡± ¡®A supplier invited me to lunch, so I said yes,¡± I replied. This must be what he always called business socializing. ¡®Which supplier?¡± Jared¡¯s voice dropped a notch. Just some young guy, Tracy¡¯s cousin, Owen. Seems like a fun character. Oh, and we¡¯re still haggling over the hotel wardrobes, and we haven¡¯t settled on a price yet. I told Owen to send me a quote, too,¡± I exined. ¡®Aiden¡¯s in Hachester. Has he reached out to you?¡± Jared cut me off. ¡°What?¡± I shot up from the couch. ¡°Aiden¡¯s here? Where is he?¡± ¡°He just got in from Shaville yesterday with a few friends. I thought he¡¯d call you,¡± Jared said calmly. ¡°He hasn¡¯t called me,¡± I said, totally bummed. Aiden Murphy was my brother, and yet he only bothered to contact Jared when he came to Hachester. I almost forgot that Jared was the perfect brother¨Cinw. He was rich, generous, and always on top of everything. Aiden totally idolized him, swearing every year that he wanted to be as awesome as Jared someday. ¡°I¡¯ve set up lunch with him. Wouldn¡¯t look too good if you, his big sister, didn¡¯t show up, right?¡± Jared drawled. ¡°Send me the restaurant address,¡± I said sullenly. Jared let out a quietugh on the other end. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. Aiden¡¯s just here to hang out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad,¡± I replied, and hung up. Not long after, Jared sent me the restaurant address. I went out and told Owen I had something else going on at lunch. He looked a bit let down, but immediately tried to reschedule for the day after tomorrow, and I ended up saying yes. When I arrived at the restaurant, I saw Aiden chatting with a few friends. There was a girl with sses who looked really sweet and innocent, leaning on his shoulder as she smiled. The two of them definitely seemed to have a spark. ¡°Victoria?¡± Aiden jumped up in surprise when he spotted me at the door. ¡°Why are you here?¡± I smiled and said, ¡°Jared asked me toe. Hasn¡¯t he arrived yet?¡± Aiden, looking startled, hurried over and grabbed my arm. ¡°Victoria, can we talk outside for a sec?¡± Loose 112 Chapter 112 We walked out to the shade of a tree, and I immediately shook his fingers off my arm. ¡°Come on, spill. How much did you hit up Jared for this time?¡± ¡°Not much, really, just a little bit,¡± Aiden mumbled, noticing my expression darken. ¡°Victoria, please don¡¯t be mad, okay? ¡°I brought my girlfriend here for a date, and I didn¡¯t want to bother you. Aren¡¯t you supposed to take care of Yvonne?¡± I looked at him, knowing he was still pretty innocent. He was a college student with a girlfriend, and of course, he wanted to show her off. I could understand that. But even so, it stung a little that he didn¡¯t think to contact me first when he came to Hachester. Jared really had a knack for getting on everyone¡¯s good side. My whole family respected him. He was polite, spent freely, and everyone adored him. ¡°Victoria, the hotel Jared set us up in is like a hidden paradise. Seriously, it¡¯s gorgeous. Rich people really know how to enjoy life,¡± Aiden said, looking totally enchanted. I had a lot of mixed feelings. Aiden was my brother, and he had always been a decent guy. My parents told him to go back to our hometown for work, but instead, hended a job in Hachester. After a few years, he quit, iming the pay was too low to live the life he wanted, then jumped into a small start¨Cup with some friends. He rode the wave; with Jared opening doors, he pivoted to foreign trade and made real money. By forty¨Cplus, though, sess had gone to his head. Wine, women, power, and cash were given to a man, and pride followed. I had no clue how his life would turn out in this lifetime. But seeing him now, in his early twenties, so full of life and swagger, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little emotional. Without thinking, I reached out and hugged him. Aiden looked totally baffled, and the next second, his face turned red as he pushed me away. ¡°Victoria, seriously, I¡¯m a grown man now. Don¡¯t hug me in front of my girlfriend.¡± I grabbed his ear instead, and he immediately put on a pitiful face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, really. Victoria, next time Ie to Hachester, you¡¯ll be the very first person I call, I swear. I won¡¯t break my word.¡± ¡°Yeah, right,¡± I said,ughing despite myself. I let go of his ear and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go on inside. I¡¯ll wait here for Jared.¡± Aiden happily ran back into the private room. Not far away, a silver Bentley rolled up, turning heads in the sunlight. Jared got out, dressed in a white T¨Cshirt and gray pants, looking casual and at ease. ¡°What are you doing out here? Waiting for me?¡± Jared said, his good looks softened by that easy, charming smile. Just then, a breeze drifted by, carrying the moist scent of theke. My long hair danced lightly around my waist in the wind. I tucked my hair behind my ear and said, ¡°Thanks for arranging a ce for Aiden to stay, and for taking care of him.¡± Jared paused for a second, then gave a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m your husband. This is nothing. You really don¡¯t have to thank me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a small thing,¡± I said. ¡°I know I once said you¡¯d only get a 60 out of 100 as a husband, but as a family member, you¡¯d 1/2 casily score over 90.¡± Jared raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡± I nodded. Jared seemed to perk up all of a sudden, reaching out to entwine his fingers with mine. ¡°Hey, we¡¯re husband and wife. No need to be so polite. And you¡¯re out here grading me? Want to know what score you get in my heart?¡± I paused, stopping in my tracks. ¡°Let me guess, barely passing, right?¡± Jared shook his head. ¡°You passed, but don¡¯t get cocky. You¡¯re not top of the ss.¡± I immediately shook his hand off. ¡°You¡¯ve already got your star pupil. Like I¡¯d ever stand a chance.¡± Jared stared at me, baffled, and the mood he¡¯d worked so hard to build just evaporated. ¡°Victoria, just eat your lunch and try not to cause a scene today, okay?¡± Jared teased. I sped up, but Jared easily caught up. As we walked into the private room, he slipped his arm around my waist, acting all affectionate. Loose 113 Chapter 113 When Jared and I walked in, Aiden and his four friends quickly stood up and greeted us. ¡°Hi, Victoria, Jared.¡± All the young guys blushed when they saw me, and their voices weren¡¯t nearly as loud as before. The girl with sses sitting next to Aiden stared at me, lookingpletely stunned. ¡°Victoria, Jared, this is Sophia Langley, my girlfriend,¡± Aiden said, scratching the back of his head, his face turning red. Teenagers in the throes of first love blushed at the drop of a hat. Watching them, I couldn¡¯t help but remember the night I first met Jared. It was during intermission backstage. Jared had walked in with a few people from the student union. Back then, I thought he was just another college guy, but there was something different about him. He looked at me with a gentle smile, and in that moment, my cheeks burned and my heart skipped a beat. But that rush of excitement from back then had long since been drowned in the still, lifeless waters of our marriage. I smiled and made some polite small talk, while Jared also put on a gentle and courteous front. Sophia looked pretty innocent and spoke in a soft voice, but I knew she wasn¡¯t the girl Aiden would end up marrying. In my previous life, this part never happened. Maybe things would turn out differently this time. ¡°Victoria, Mom and Dad want me toe back home to work. What do you think?¡± Aiden asked, worry written all over his face. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t really see a future in that. I wish I could learn the ropes of business from Jared instead.¡± Jared, sipping his coffee, gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Yeah, if you¡¯re interested, I¡¯d be happy to show you the ropes.¡± ¡°No way,¡± I cut in, putting a stop to Aiden¡¯s wishful thinking. ¡°Right now, your top priority is finishing your studies. You¡¯re just a sophomore. There¡¯s still a long way to go.¡± I didn¡¯t want Aiden to get his hopes up, because by the time he graduated, we would already be divorced. If they made promises now, it would just turn into a joke in the future. Jared turned to look at me, his gaze fixed on my face for a few seconds, as if searching for something in my expression. Aiden looked a bit down, but he didn¡¯t dare argue with me. He just put on an obedient face and mumbled, ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing Aiden so disappointed, I secretly swore to myself that I¡¯d work hard to build my business. I didn¡¯t want to be the kind of sister who spoils my brother, but if I ever had the ability, I would definitely give him a hand. The meal was pretty fun. Everyone was young and full of energy, and the conversation flowed easily: As we were leaving, I reached into my bag, pulled out a gift, and quietly slipped it to Sophia. Sophia¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to refuse, but in the end, she still took it. ¡°Victoria, we might take the train back to Braylin this afternoon. We¡¯ll visit Yvonne next time,¡± Aiden said. I nodded. ¡°No worries, just stay safe, ande hang out again next time.¡± They left in Jared¡¯s car with his driver, so when it was time for Jared to head back to the office, Jared had no choice but to ride with me. ¡°Those guys could barely string a sentence together when they saw you,¡± Jared teased from the passenger seat. 1/2 felt. ¡°Then why do they get embarrassed?¡± Jared kept pushing. I shot him a look, a little annoyed. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Jared¡¯s eyes flicked over to my slightly low¨Ccut neckline. ¡°Don¡¯t wear clothes like that again. They¡¯re not right for you.¡± Loose 114 I shot back with a mocking smile, ¡°When did you turn into a nagging guy? If someone dared to design this, why shouldn¡¯t I wear it?¡± Jared was left with nothing to say, and I could feel the air in the car get a little heavier. The car was quiet for a while, and then I suddenly remembered something. I turned to Jared and asked, ¡°Exactly how much did you give Aiden?¡± Jared let out an amused chuckle. ¡°Rx. Since he¡¯s your brother, I only ever give more, never less.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give him any more money from now on,¡± I told him firmly, making sure he understood I was serious. Jared¡¯s brows knitted, looking a bit irritated. ¡°What? No matter how much I give, you¡¯re never satisfied. Are you just looking for a fight?¡± I was taken aback. Jared was only reacting this way because of some disagreements we¡¯d had after six years of marriage, whenever we visited my family. But those were just the usual marital squabbles, nothing that ever turned into real drama between our families. I said, ¡°That was then, but now I¡¯ve really thought it through. Aiden¡¯s still young, and when ites to money, he¡¯s only ever had the 600 dors a month my parents give him for living expenses. ¡°Sure, I chip in with some extra pocket money sometimes, but it never goes over 1,500 dors a month. So right now, his spending is still within his means. I continued, ¡°But if you suddenly hand him a hundred grand or even more, he¡¯ll start thinking he can get easy money without working for it, and he¡¯ll end up spending recklessly. ¡°That¡¯s not a good thing. It¡¯s human nature to want the easy way out, but since he¡¯s not earning anything yet, he shouldn¡¯t be enjoying that kind of lifestyle ahead of time.¡± Jared leaned against the car door, his fingers lightly touching his lips, watching me without blinking, poised and elegant, just like a leopard. ¡°Your concerns make sense. Alright, I¡¯ll hold back next time,¡± Jared agreed, not arguing with me for once. I shot him a sideways look and asked, ¡°So, how much did you actually give him?¡± ¡°I gave him a bank card with 100 thousand dors on it,¡± Jared replied honestly. My heart clenched as I wondered, ¡®100 thousand dors? Why did he give Aiden so much this time?¡® Jared smiled and reassured me. ¡°Rx. A guy feels more confident when he¡¯s got some money in his pocket. Aiden¡¯s an adult now. He knows how to handle his money. Besides, he¡¯s got a girlfriend, so he¡¯ll have more expenses now.¡± I bit my lip. Jared really did look out for Aiden in every possible way. Sometimes he was almost too good of a brother¨Cin- . ¡°Don¡¯t give him any more money,¡± I said. I was not exactly broke. I could take care of it myself. Jared arched an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you suddenly acting like a stranger with me?¡± I didn¡¯t answer him. I¡¯m already busy collecting evidence for our divorce, so what if I act distant?¡® I thought to myself. It was better to draw the line early, so there wouldn¡¯t be endless trouble after the divorce. As we pulled into the parking lot outside the office, Jared suddenly said, ¡°It¡¯s about to pour. Park downstairs instead.¡± I nced up at the sky, thick with dark clouds¨Dyep, it definitely looked like rain. Figuring Jared must really care about this car, I just went along with him and pulled into the underground parking lot. Jared actually had three private garages, so I just picked one and pulled in. He got out of the car before me and stood to the side, watching as I parked. Once I finished parking, Jared suddenly pressed the button to shut the garage door down. When I got out of the car, the garage was ck, with only the headlights casting a small pool of light in the darkness. Suddenly, Jared strode over and gently pressed me against the car door. He lowered his head, seeking out my lips and capturing them in a kiss. ¡°Victoria, have I ever told you just how stunning you looked back then, all innocent and blushing?¡± Loose 115 Seeing me trying to dodge him, Jared cupped my face with both hands and kissed me even deeper and more intensely. ¡°Jared, are you crazy?¡± I thought he was acting like a dog in heat today, not caring about where we were at all. Back then, if the environment wasn¡¯t just right, or if there wasn¡¯t a big bed, he¡¯d never be in the mood to make love. ? ? ? ?? He wouldn¡¯t even be interested unless I took off every piece of clothing. Men¡¯s words were nothing but sweet lies. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy,¡± he said in a hoarse voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t even drink today, and I¡¯m not drunk.¡± I pushed him away with both hands, my voice annoyed. ¡°This is a garage. Can you show me some respect?¡± ¡°Victoria, sometimes, a change of scenery can really change the mood.¡± Jared¡¯s voice was calm, but his actions didn¡¯t slow down at all. Seeing I was still resisting, he half¨Ccarried, half¨Cdragged me to the back seat. With those long legs and arms of his, it wasn¡¯t easy for him to maneuver, but when a guy was in the mood, there was just no stopping him. ¡°No,¡± I protested, still struggling at thest second. ¡°We don¡¯t have any protection.¡± But Jared just kissed me even harder, his lips rough and deep. ¡°Aren¡¯t we trying to pray for a baby anyway?¡± My eyes went wide in disbelief. This bastard actually wanted a son. While I was still stunned, Jared entered me. All my strength slowly drained away, my bodypletely out of control. Thinking about the 100 thousand dors Jared gave Aiden, I thought, ¡®Whatever. It¡¯s just the usual sex. I¡¯m also enjoying it.¡± Jared was really fired up today, switching things up and going at it twice before finally turning in his homework. He was in a much better mood afterward. Seeing me still sprawled out, heughed and teased, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I wear you out?¡± That was when I finally managed to sit up, fixed my clothes, and went to open the garage door. Just then, a few female staffers with files in their arms spotted us. They didn¡¯t catch the whole scene. They just got spooked and bolted. All they probably saw was me and, behind me, Jared¡¯s long legs sticking out, his face still hidden. I kept my face stiff as we got into the elevator, not daring to look at Jared. When we got to the first floor, I was about to walk off when Jared grabbed my wrist and asked, ¡°Where are you off to now?¡± ¡°Getting the morning¨Cafter pill.¡± I tossed over my shoulder, striding out. I had no idea what kind of look Jared had on his face, but one thing was certain. There was no way I was letting myself get pregnant again. By the time I got back from the pharmacy, rumors about what happened in the garage were already quietly making the rounds at the office. I was just bored, so I purposely hung out in a less crowded restroom, waiting to hear what kind of gossip people were spreading about me. Sitting on the toilet lid, I watched as my phone¡¯s bit of battery finally died right in front of me. ¡®Ugh, how annoying,¡¯ I wondered. I was hoping to kill some time scrolling on my phone, but I guessed I would have to go charge it first. I reached out to push the door open. Suddenly, I heard the sound of high heelsing in, and it sounded like there was more than one person. Then I heard a woman¡¯s voice say, ¡°Ms. Darwin, that gossip going around has to be fake, right? It was just the garage door opening, but people are acting like their marriage is some kind of perfect fairy tale.¡± Tracy replied coolly, ¡°I don¡¯t care what they say. It doesn¡¯t affect me. Jared¡¯s partnership with my dad has just started, and all I want is for our families¡® businesses to work more closely together as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Ms. Darwin, do you love him?¡± the other woman asked curiously. ¡°He is a married man, after all.¡± Tracy smiled. ¡°To me, he¡¯s still the same Jared I knew all those years ago. Whether he¡¯s married or has kids, none of that matters to me.¡± ¡°But I heard Mrs. Hob is pretty wild. Don¡¯t let things get out of hand,¡± the woman said in a hushed voice. Tracy scoffed, ¡°I don¡¯t even take her seriously. She¡¯s just some girl from a small town. No matter how wildly she acts, she¡¯s nothing but a sideshow clown. Loose 116 Chapter 116 ¡°A clown might amuse people for a while, but never for a lifetime. Jared¡¯s still young. He¡¯s got his whole life ahead of him.¡± Tracy¡¯s offhand tone was like a shot of adrenaline straight to my heart, making it race uncontrobly. Honestly, I was still Jared¡¯s legal wife, but in Tracy¡¯s eyes, I wasn¡¯t even worth considering aspetition. She was unbelievably full of herself. ¡°Exactly. All she¡¯s got is her looks. What does she know about business? I bet she doesn¡¯t even have a clue how much money Mr. Hob really has. ¡°She probably just takes whatever cash he gives her and lives the easy life,¡± the other woman said, trying to stifle augh, her voice low. ¡°Just pretend she doesn¡¯t exist. I don¡¯t want her messing up my image in front of everyone,¡± Tracy said, probably finishing up her makeup. Then she added, ¡°Let¡¯s push the meeting back another half hour. My dad¡¯s people are still stuck in traffic.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the other woman replied, and then I heard the sound of their high heels clicking away. I still stood in the stall, my arm frozen mid¨Cpush on the door. I waited a minute before finally stepping out. That was when I spotted a heart drawn in lipstick on the mirror, no clue who left that behind. My anger instantly ignited. As I stared at that lipstick heart, my calm was shattered, like a storm suddenly hit my heart. Tracy looked down on me like I was nothing. I wondered, ¡®She¡¯s so damn full of herself, just like in my previous life. Back then, as the mistress, she was always elegant and aloof, always acting like Jared¡¯s wife. ¡®In the end, I, the former wife, got called all sorts of names like unqualified, a washed¨Cup old hag, clueless, and not knowing when to step aside.¡¯ Tracy, always dressed to the nines, would openly show up with Jared, making waves in the business world together. The rumors just got more and more ridiculous. People woulde to me and say that half the money I spent was thanks to Tracy, and that I should just learn to turn a blind eye. I stared at the woman in the mirror, the one who just wouldn¡¯t back down. In those bright eyes, I could see ambition and unwillingness zing to life. I clenched my fists hard. Even if I was dead set on getting a divorce, I was still going to leave a scar on Tracy¡¯s heart that she would never forget. ¡®She acts like I don¡¯t even exist, like I¡¯m just thin air, huh?¡® I thought. ¡®Well, if the air turns toxic, let¡¯s see how long she can breathe easily. I grabbed my lipstick and shed a big X right over that heart, not holding back at all. Challenge epted. But then again, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if I was being too impulsive with all this. My original goal was simple. I would divorce Jared, take the money, and leave the kid behind. I didn¡¯t understand why everything was getting more and moreplicated now. I hadn¡¯t even managed to gather any evidence for the divorce, and Jared, who used to fool around all the time, was suddenly getting clingy. Yvonne was still as rebellious as ever, acting like I didn¡¯t matter, but I was gradually cutting her off emotionally. At least this way, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hurt me so easily. Maybe the smartest move right now, just like Melissa suggested, was to stir up Jared¡¯s feelings first, really turn his heart upside down, and then wait for the perfect chance to ask for a divorce. Since I was going to take his money, I¡¯d make sure it was a big payout before I walked away for good. I went back to the office, my mind still a mess. I plugged my phone in to charge, and work calls just kepting nonstop. By the time it got dark, Jared let me know he¡¯d be meeting with some people sent over from the Darwin family tonight, and told me to go home early and spend time with Yvonne. I watched as Tracy swapped her gray business suit for a cream¨Ccolored long dress. With her perfect makeup and those sharp, ambitious eyes, she looked every bit like she was Jared¡¯s wife here. She did all this without sparing a single thought for my feelings. She just breezed right past me, totally unfazed, then told a few people to bring along some documents, saying they¡¯d need them for the dinner. Watching her, I realized her every move was a silent p in the face to me, the legal wife. AD Comment Loose 117 Chapter 117 Jared stepped out of his office, dressed in a crisp white shirt with a watch on his left wrist, probably because tonight¡¯s dinner was important. When he saw me standing in the hallway, he came over to talk to me. For a split second, in a daze, I thought I saw a wedding ring on his left ring finger. I was momentarily stunned, thinking maybe my eyes were ying tricks on me. But when I looked again, there was no mistake. He¡¯d once tossed that diamond wedding ring onto the cab in his study, but he¡¯d picked it up and put it back on. A white shirt and a ring on the fourth finger were all it took to conjure the image of a devoted husband. So what was Jared trying to silently show me with this baffling move? Maybe once he got in the car, he¡¯d just slip the ring off and quietly tuck it into his pocket. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you heading home yet? I had Warner pick up Yvonne and take her home. When you go back, pick up a gift for her, cheer her up a bit,¡± Jared told me. ¡°No. The house is already overflowing with toys,¡± I shot back, turning on my heel and heading for the elevator. Jared didn¡¯t say anything more. As I stepped into the elevator, Tracy suddenly walked over to talk to him. The two of them standing side by side just looked so perfectly matched, in a way I couldn¡¯t quite put into words. It suddenly struck me that even though I put a lot of thought into my outfits every day, Tracy, standing next to Jared, had that workce ambition and hunger that just seemed to fit his whole aura even better. Whatever, there was no point making myself miserable over it. Maybe they looked so right together because they were sharing a bed. I meant people who slept together were bound to start looking alike. When I got home, Yvonne was out in the garden feeding her miniature pony. The little pony was sparkling clean, thanks to the maid. As soon as Yvonne saw my car pull in, she immediately called out, ¡°Mom,e keep mepany and feed it with me. I walked over, and Yvonne pointed at the pony¡¯s belly. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve given it so much grass and feed. Its little tummy is all round and chubby.¡± I nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t give it too much, okay? You don¡¯t want it to get too stuffed.¡± But Yvonne just pouted and said, ¡°If it eats itself to death, we¡¯ll just buy another one.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± I thought maybe I¡¯d misheard, but that really was what Yvonne had just muttered. ¡°Nothing,¡± Yvonne said, realizing she probably shouldn¡¯t have said that. She looked at me with wide eyes. ¡°Mom, why are you so grumpytely? You¡¯re kinda scary when you¡¯re like this.¡± ¡°Yvonne, do your teachers at school ever teach you how to behave?¡± I asked, sitting down on the chair next to her and fixing my gaze on her. ¡°Like what? I already know everything the teachers teach. I¡¯m always the first to finish my homework,¡± Yvonne said, looking all proud of herself. ¡°The teachers praise me for being smart every day, and I always tell them my dad¡¯s super smart too.¡± Sure, Yvonne was gifted when it came to her studies, but having a degree didn¡¯t make one a good person. In my previous life, Yvonne was the very definition of a sophisticated egoist. Maybe it was because she went abroad, tossing aside Clusian traditional virtues and embracing all that foreign talk about individualism, freedom, and equality. Thinking about that, I couldn¡¯t help but remember the day my mom passed away. Yvonne just stood there, cold and detached, not even a single tear in her eyes. At that moment, I was Chapter 118 In no time, she tugged over a little wagon stacked high with her toy race cars. Yvonne sorted them out one by one and then handed me a remote control. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s race.¡± I looked at her, a swirl of emotions in my chest. I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to leave her behind. She was still so little. Whenever she flitted in front of me, I¡¯d always space out for a moment. ¡°Mom, hurry up. Let¡¯s y. The loser has to do whatever the winner says,¡± Yvonne pleaded, pouting at me. That actually got me interested. ¡°Really? The loser really has to obey?¡± Yvonne nodded eagerly. ¡°Promise. No backing out.¡± That look on her face really fired up mypetitive spirit. No matter how smart Yvonne was, she was still just a kid. In my previous life, whenever we yed games, I¡¯d always let her win on purpose, just so she could taste what victory felt like. Then I¡¯d shower her with praise, using encouragement as my way of teaching her. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re way too fast. Slow down.¡± Yvonne thought I¡¯d go easy on her like I always did, but today, I just zoomed ahead with my car, leaving her far behind. She got so worked up that she started stomping her feet in frustration. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go again. I¡¯m definitely going to beat you this time,¡± Yvonne said, her stubborn streak ring up. ¡°Alright, bring it on,¡± I replied, nodding calmly. In the second and third rounds, I won again. Yvonne sat on the grass with her knees tucked under her, lips pouting, and eyes brimming with tears. In frustration, Yvonne flung the remote control down onto the ground. ¡°It¡¯s not fair. You¡¯re a grown¨Cup. Of course, you¡¯re faster than me. This is so unfair.¡± I looked at the toys she¡¯d thrown aside and reminded her sternly, ¡°Pick those up and put them back in the toy room.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to. Mom, you¡¯re bullying me.¡± Yvonne hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face, sulking. ¡°I¡¯m counting to three.¡± By now, I didn¡¯t believe that gentle encouragement would work on Yvonne anymore. Maybe it was time to try some tough love and see if the old ways could actually make her behave. Yvonne looked up at me, wide¨Ceyed and a little lost. The moment I got to two, she jumped up and scrambled to pick up the toys, yelling, ¡°Mom, stop counting. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m cleaning up already?¡± I watched as she packed up all her toys into her trailer and hauled it back to the toy room as fast as she could. When she came running back out, I didn¡¯t waste a second. ¡°You said the loser has to listen, right? Well, I want you to pull up all those weeds over there. No dinner until you finish.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s way too much.¡± Yvonne scrunched up her face. ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t make me do this. You¡¯re the best mom ever. I love you so much.¡± ¡°Go on, get to work,¡± I said, totally unmoved by her sweet talk. Yvonne pouted, her eyes brimming with tears, but she still shuffled over to the weeds, looking back at me every few steps. It was not that she couldn¡¯t do it. She just didn¡¯t want to. Wendy came out, nced over, and with a big smile, praised Yvonne for her hard work. Yvonne froze for a moment, then perked right up and started yanking out the weeds even faster. I sat nearby, supervising her. Halfway through, Yvonne suddenly whipped out her smartwatch, pulling weeds with one hand while calling Jared with the other. It wasn¡¯t long before Jared¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Yvonne, what¡¯s wrong? I¡¯m still having dinner.¡± ¡°Dad, hurry home and rescue me. Mom¡¯s making me pull weeds in the garden, and she says I can¡¯t eat until I¡¯m done,¡± Yvonne said, not crying, but sounding as pitiful as could be. I thought for sure Jared would say a fewforting words to her, and then turn around and criticize my parenting. But instead, Jared just chuckled warmly on the other end, his voice smooth as whiskey. ¡°Really? Well, then you better listen to your mom. Finish pulling those weeds, and she¡¯ll let you eat.¡± AD Loose 119 Yvonne heard that Jared had no sympathy for her. She pouted, hung up right away, and went back to pulling weeds. Then, just to get my attention, she yanked up a little flower right in front of me. I quickly reached for a small ck twig nearby. Yvonne hesitated for a moment, then dug a tiny hole and carefully rented the flower, her big eyes looking at me all aggrieved. After about ten minutes, Yvonne finally cleared out the little flower bed. She ran over excitedly and said, ¡°Mom, look how awesome I am. I really did it.¡± ¡°Wash your hands, go upstairs, shower, and eat.¡± I didn¡¯t go on and on encouraging her like I used to, or kiss her little face and tell her how great she was. Now, I just gave her orders. ¡°Okay.¡± Yvonne went upstairs. She showered by herself now, and I also made her wash her underwear. She actually did it, too. I didn¡¯t eat much for dinner. After a short break, I started doing yoga. Yvonne yed with my yoga ball nearby, sometimes trying to copy my moves. ¡°Wow, Mom, can you really get your leg up that high?¡± Yvonne asked, her face full of amazement. I had been dancing for over ten years, so my basic moves were always spot on. It was the first time Yvonne had seen me move with such strength, and she was totally mesmerized, just staring at me. I found myself growing quieter around her, not bothering to exin so much anymore. Around eleven, I put on my headphones and finished shadowing my Englysian textbook, then got ready for bed. Then I heard a car engine cut off downstairs. My body tensed up. I quickly shut the door, turned off the lights, and got into bed. Soon after, I heard footsteps, but they went to the guest room next door. ¡®Jared must¡¯ve had too much to drink tonight, and Tracy probably gave him all the emotional support he needed. There¡¯s no way he¡¯de looking for me,¡® I thought. I didn¡¯t expect anything anymore, so I slept soundly through the night. When my heart was steady, everything just seemed to go smoother. I just hoped I could face whatever came my way with confidence from now on. Morning came quietly. It was one of those bright, early summer mornings that just put you in a good mood. The outfit I picked today was perfect for a side ponytail, so I wove a ribbon through my hair, giving myself a touch of yful charm. Sunlight spilled in through the window, and the woman in the mirror almost looked ethereal. That moment made me think back to the summer when I was eighteen, leaning on the windowsill, sketching and daydreaming, my mindpletely at ease. Sometimes I¡¯d poke my head out just to watch the shadows of the trees dancing outside. It had been a while since I visited my family. In the six years since I got married, I only ever went back for the holidays, always telling myself I was too busy. I let out a soft sigh. Once Yvonne¡¯s summer break started, maybe I would go stay at my parents¡® ce for a few days¨Cno Yvonne, no Jared, just me and a heart full of nostalgia. ¡°I¡¯ll ride with you to the officeter,¡± Jared said quietly from behind me. I hadn¡¯t even noticed him standing there, buttoning up his shirt. Honestly, he was starting to get on my nerves. He had a driver and a whole garage full of cars, but for some reason, he always wanted me to drive him. But since I was living off him, I didn¡¯t really have the right toin. So I just said, ¡°Sure.¡± When I came downstairs, Yvonne was animatedly acting out how she fought with the weeds yesterday, waving her hands as she told Jared all about it. Jared listened with a gentle smile, asionally handing her a napkin to wipe the corner of her mouth. As soon as she heard meing down, Yvonne instantly stopped talking, took a big gulp of gruel, and her cheeks puffed out as she looked at me with a grumpy face. Ìï Loose 120 No Ads Chapter 120 Jared gently patted her hair, then turned to me and said, ¡°It¡¯s good for you to get some physical exercise, Yvonne.¡± ¡°Dad?¡± Yvonne¡¯s little face was full of grievance. But Jared just smiled even more charmingly. I couldn¡¯t be bothered to join in their banter, so I sat down, and Wendy brought over the special breakfast she had made just for me. ¡°Mom, what are you eating?¡± Yvonne immediately leaned over to ask. ¡°Oatmeal,¡± I answered calmly. ¡°I want some, too,¡± Yvonne said right away. ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t eat too much of this. There are too many hormones in it. It¡¯s not good for your development,¡± I said. Yvonne puffed up her cheeks andined, ¡°Then howe you get to eat it? Dad¡¯s an adult too, so why doesn¡¯t he get any?¡± Jared nced at me with a smile and said, ¡°I don¡¯t need it. It¡¯s for your mom to keep up her strength.¡± Yvonne crossed her arms over her chest, looking super sulky. This time, I drove Yvonne to school with Jared riding along. They were chatting away in the backseat, and I pretty much kept quiet the whole time. When we got to school, Jared got out and walked her up to the school gate. Her homeroom teacher came over to chat with him. It looked like they were talking about Yvonne. Jared was as warm and polite as ever, and you could tell the teacher was reluctant to say goodbye. Jared came back to the car, opened the passenger door, and got in. I nced at his left hand. Sure enough, his wedding ring had mysteriously disappeared again. Thinking about it, I started fussing with the diamond ring on my own ring finger right in front of him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Jared frowned. I said calmly, ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m just sick of seeing this ring. I don¡¯t feel like wearing it anymore.¡± Jared didn¡¯t call me vain or anything. He just tried tofort me, ¡°I¡¯ll take you out tonight and get you a new one you actually like. Is this one too tight for you?¡± I didn¡¯t expect Jared to try to even more intelligent. When he wasn¡¯t looking at you, he seemed almost peaceful. I didn¡¯t keep staring at him. There was something dangerously captivating about his looks. As soon as we got to the office, Jared woke up and said, ¡°Just stop at the entrance. I¡¯ll have Warner park the car in a bit.¡± I responded with a simple okay, opened the door, and got out. The moment I stepped out, I saw three cars pulling up behind us. The lead car was a Maybach, and my heart thudded in my chest as I nced over. Just as I expected, it was Nathan who stepped out from the back seat. It had been ages since I¡¯dst seen him, but he was still as handsome and refined as ever. Jared seemed just as surprised as I was, then he exined, ¡°Mr. Hallman¡¯s here for a meeting today.¡± I looked at him indifferently and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave you to it. I¡¯m heading over to the hotel to check out the site.¡± Jared walked around to the driver¡¯s side and, out of nowhere, gently brushed a stray lock of hair from my cheek. ¡°Drive safe. If you need anything, call me.¡± My eyes widened a bit. ¡°There he goes again with his pointless concern. What a weirdo,¡® I thought. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, not even sparing Nathan a nce as I stepped on the gas and sped right past Jared. Loose 121 Chapter 121 As soon as I got to the hotel¡¯s temporary office, my phone buzzed. I was in the middle of a conversation, so I didn¡¯t check it right away. By the time I finished, over ten minutes had passed. I picked up my phone and saw a message from Nathan. He sounded a bit jealous, asking: [When did you and Mr. Hob get so close?] I froze for a second. ¡®Nathan¡¯s tone is really weird,¡® I thought to myself. ¡®Why does it sound like Nathan and I are the couple here, and Jared¡¯s the lover?¡® As a married woman, I had to stick to my principles. I couldn¡¯t let Nathan get the wrong impression, like there was always a chance something could happen between us. So, I replied: [Thanks for your concern, Mr. Hallman. Our rtionship is neither good nor bad at the moment.] Nathan replied almost instantly: [I thought you were mad at me and didn¡¯t want to talk to me.] I wasn¡¯t really trying to ignore him; I just didn¡¯t want to leave any evidence for Jared to blow things out of proportion. ¡°Is this the secret monologue of every cheater? Afraid of getting caught, but unable to resist the temptation?¡® I couldn¡¯t help but think. I replied, [It¡¯s just a normal chat. I¡¯m not upset.] Nathan didn¡¯t message me again after that. Maybe he was busy, or maybe I was a bit too distant, and he took the hint. At noon, Owen showed up. As Tracy¡¯s cousin, he seemed pretty interested in me. His squinty eyes kept ncing over me, sizing me up at least a dozen times. Finally, he grinned and asked, ¡°Mrs. Hob, are you free for lunch? I know a ce with some really good grilled fish. Want to try it together?¡± I nodded. ¡°Sure, I love fish.¡± Owen instantly decided I was the type who didn¡¯t have much of a guard up. He immediately called to book a private room. Of course, I kept my guard up around Owen. Even though I was nning to divorce Jared, I couldn¡¯t let him get any dirt on me; instead, I needed to collect evidence against him. I reached into my bag and felt the voice recorder. Thank goodness I had it with me. Owen offered to give me a ride, but I turned him down. I drove myself and brought along a couple of hotel managers. I wasn¡¯t sure if Owen was in cahoots with Tracy. When we got to the underground parking lot, I thought I saw a familiar sedan. It was Jared¡¯s. Not far away was Tracy¡¯s low¨Ckey but luxurious red Porsche, I pretended not to notice either car, chatting with the hotel managers about the renovations as we walked into the elevator. Owen pressed the elevator button, his squinty eyes kept sneaking peeks at me to see how I¡¯d react. When he saw I lookedpletely unfazed, he let out a silent sigh of relief. When we got to the first¨Cfloor lobby, I was still expecting Jared and Tracy to be eating in a private room. But to my surprise, the two of them were sitting openly by the window, sipping red wine, eating grilled fish, and chatting away. Jared was wearing a ck shirt today, which made his skin look even more noble and refined. T Owen looked like he¡¯dpleted his mission. He shot a nce over at the window seat and said in a deliberately casual tone, ¡°Oh wow, Tracy and Mr. Hob are here, too. What are the odds, right?¡± I just gave them a brief, indifferent look and said calmly, ¡°Owen, let¡¯s not bother them. Let¡¯s go upstairs and talk about work.¡± Owen was still hoping I¡¯d go over and make a scene, but I just turned and headed upstairs,pletely unfazed. He hurried after me, calling out, ¡°Mrs. Hob, aren¡¯t you going to say hi to your husband?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not dead, so why bother?¡± I shot back, already pushing open the door to the private room he¡¯d reserved. Owen looked utterly lost, while the managers trailing behind me wore knowing smirks, clearly ready to watch the drama unfold.. I sat down, and someone quickly made me a cup of coffee. I thanked them politely, then pulled out my phone to go over the material lists and price sheets, not even bothering to think about catching anyone in the act. Maybe what Tracy really wanted was for me to see just how lovey¨Cdovey she and Jared could be, not necessarily to make me throw a fit. Loose 122 Chapter 122 That was just her style. She liked to use those calm, everyday scenes to get under my skin. They didn¡¯t look like they were doing anything intimate. At least, I didn¡¯t catch them in bed together. But it was those little moments of sweetness, the silent disy of how close they were, that stung even more. Tracy had always yed her games this way. I knew her all too well, so I had to beat her at her own game. She wanted me to watch. Well, I watched, but so what now? Owen went to ce the order, and before long, Jared came over, with Tracy right by his side. If one didn¡¯t know the real story, seeing them standing together like that, one would honestly think they looked more like husband and wife. ¡°Mrs. Hob, what a surprise to see you here.¡± Tracy put on a look of shock, then turned to Owen. ¡°Are you treating Mrs. Hob and her team to lunch today? ¡°Is it because she¡¯s decided to work with you on the panel business?¡± Owen grinned. ¡°Mrs. Hob is still considering it, but I¡¯m serious about making this deal happen. With Mr. Hob and you here, I can guarantee the panels I provide will be top quality and at the best price.¡± Jared just stood there, his gaze deep and unreadable, saying nothing. I propped my chin on my hand, shing Owen a bright smile. ¡°Alright, since you said that, I might just consider it. But don¡¯t think you can get away with anything sneaky just because Tracy¡¯s the VP.¡± ¡°No way. You¡¯re the boss¡¯s wife,¡± Owen said, quickly topping off my coffee. I picked up my cup and took a light sip. ¡°Well then, here¡¯s to a smooth partnership.¡± Owen¡¯s squinty eyes turned into little lines as he grinned, his face flushing red as he looked at me. Once we finished talking business, I finally pretended to notice Jared standing nearby. ¡°Jared, are you and Tracy done eating? Want to have some more with us?¡± Jared¡¯s face didn¡¯t look too good, his voice dropping low. ¡°No, you guys go ahead.¡± With that, he turned and walked out. Tracy immediately turned to Owen and said, ¡°Make sure you take good care of Mrs. Hob. Don¡¯t let her feel neglected.¡± Owen practically jumped at the chance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mrs. Hob is like a goddess to me right now. I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s well taken care of.¡± I didn¡¯t let Jared¡¯s dark look get to me. I just sat down and had a meal with Owen and the others. I used to think these business dinners were a total drag, and all that drinking culture was just a headache. But when you¡¯re the one calling the shots at the table, all those rituals suddenly feel like they¡¯re under your control¨Cand honestly, it¡¯s not boring at all. Since I had to drive, I didn¡¯t touch a drop, and nobody even tried to get me to drink. I just sat back, listening to the guys shooting the breeze and cracking jokes, and I actually found myself in a pretty good mood. That afternoon, just as I was about to sign the contract with Owen, I got a call from headquarters. They very politely told me hapter they¡¯d already arranged a new supplier for me¨Cand made sure to mention it was Jared¡¯s decision. My hand froze mid¨Csignature. Owen was watching me anxiously, waiting for me to sign. When I put my phone down, his expression froze too. I gave him an apologetic look. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Maxwell, but the head office has already found another supplier. The deal is already set.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Owen¡¯s eyes went wide. I leaned back in my chair, my voice calm. ¡°It just means we can¡¯t work together. Maybe next time, if there¡¯s a chance.¡± Owen¡¯s voice got urgent. ¡°But Tracy¡¯s the VP, and she¡¯s my cousin.¡± ¡°Oh, well, maybe she can¡¯t make the final call. Mr. Maxwell, you seem like a straightforward guy, and I¡¯d love to do business with you. Why don¡¯t you ask her where things went wrong?¡± I said with a crafty smile. Owen hurried out to make a call. I spun the pen between my fingers, a sly smile tugging at my lips. That crazy Jared¨Che just can¡¯t help but stir up trouble behind my back, I thought to myself. Tsk, men were so petty sometimes. He could have a romantic dinner with another woman, but the moment I talked business with another guy, he just had to butt in and ruin it for me. Loose 123 Chapter 123 Once one started to understand the rules of the game, that was when one finally earned one¡¯s ce at the table. In my previous life, all I did was take care of my family, thinking my husband would notice my hard work and remember everything I did for him. I took it for granted that I was the perfect wife, someone who could never be reced. But in reality, only the future one built personally would ever be the destiny one could truly control. Trusting someone else with one¡¯s fate was a mistake from the very beginning. Chasing after the prize might just be an illusion, and even bing what one desired could turn out to be nothing but a dream. Maybe only by stepping back and watching from the sidelines could one truly figure out how to y this game of life and actually enjoy it. I was busy until evening and only got homete, but Jared was already there, sitting in the living room, helping Yvonne with her homework. Yvonne had to write an Englysian essay describing her family members. When I walked in, Jared was teaching Yvonne in Englysian with his deep voice, and Yvonne was speaking more and more fluently. But when she saw me, she deliberately said in Englysian, ¡°My mom has a bad temper. She¡¯s strict most of the time, and she loves spending money to dress herself up.¡± Jared nced up at me, then reached out and patted Yvonne on the head, I couldn¡¯t tell if he was encouraging her or rewarding her¨Cdid he really think what she said about me was true? They both thought my Englysian was terrible and that I couldn¡¯t understand a word they were saying. Buttely, I¡¯d been putting in a lot of effort to improve my Englysian, and I wasn¡¯t bad at it to begin with. So I could easily see through their little trick. Before I could head upstairs, Yvonne took the chance to say in Englysian again, ¡°My mom¡¯s been really into her worktely and has been ignoring me. I wish she would give me all her love.¡± She was recording herself as she spoke, since her writing still couldn¡¯t keep up. I turned to look at the two of them, and Jared¡¯s deep, brooding gaze swept over to me. ¡°Yvonne, record a section first. I¡¯ll check it for youter.¡± I heard Jared tell Yvonne as I reached the second floor. Then he came upstairs. When I got back to my room and saw there was still more than half an hour before dinner, I figured I might as well get some exercise in. Today, I nned to do some strength training to keep my face looking firm and prevent it from sagging. I changed into a lightweight workout outfit and headed downstairs to the dance studio. But right at the doorway, Jared reached out and stopped me from going any further. I stayed silent, just looked up at him. Jared frowned and said, ¡°At lunch, Tracy and I were just talking about the cooperation with her dad¡¯s side. Don¡¯t let your mind run wild.¡± Honestly, the more he tried to exin, the more suspicious he seemed to me. He might as well have just kept his mouth shut and let it go. At least then we could both have some peace. Maybe I just hadn¡¯t built up enough walls around my heart yet, or I was still too soft, because every time he tried to exin, my feelings got all tangled up. I fought back the urge to snap at him and put on a calm smile. ¡°I know. It¡¯s fine. Workes first.¡± ¡°From now on, don¡¯t go out socializing with a bunch of men by yourself,¡± Jared said, his frown deepening when he saw me smile. As I tried to walk past him, he grabbed my arm. ¡°Women can get the short end of the stick at those kinds of business dinners.¡± I arched an eyebrow and grinned. ¡°Oh? So, which woman did you see get the short end of the stick? Or are you speaking from experience?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not joking,¡± Jared said, his face turning serious in an instant. ¡°Who¡¯s joking with you? It¡¯s just business, isn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t blow things out of proportion. Tracy hung out with a bunch of guys talking shop every day, and you never say a word to her.¡± My tone went cold as I argued with him. ¡°It¡¯s different. She grew up surrounded by her parents in the business world, so she¡¯s picked up things you haven¡¯t. ¡°Don¡¯t try to copy her, and there¡¯s no need topare yourself,¡± Jared said, pausing for a couple of seconds before speaking in a tone that sounded like he was just looking out for me. ¡°There¡¯s a first time for everything. She had her parents as examples, but I didn¡¯t. So, kids without umbres have to run faster, right? ¡°I just need to work even harder to catch up. Honey, how about you teach me? I really want to get better,¡± I said, putting on a deliberately cutesy act. Loose 124 Chapter 124 Jared gave me a look like I was being unreasonable. ¡°You¡¯re prettier than Tracy. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± The room went quiet for a moment. My expression stiffened, and Jared seemed to realize he¡¯d let something slip. He ran his hands down his waist in frustration, then tried to exin, ¡°You really don¡¯t need topare yourself to her. ¡°I admit, you both have your strengths. You don¡¯t have to change for me. I just want you to be happy and carefree. As for making money, let me handle that, okay? If you want something, just tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not happy,¡± I said, biting my lip, my voice low. ¡°And I want to have the ability to start my own business. It¡¯s not aboutpeting with anyone or trying to please you. ¡°I¡¯m doing it for myself, so I have some leverage in life. As for you saying I¡¯m pretty, that¡¯s just temporary. Beauty fades, and so does love. You guys know that better than anyone, don¡¯t you?¡± Jared¡¯s handsome eyes widened in disbelief. I took a deep breath and looked at him calmly. ¡°There¡¯s a book that says the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself. I grew up sheltered by my parents, and you gave me afortable, carefree life.
People say this eye¨Ccandy finally found the right owner, but I know just how fragile a candy can be. Jared, I don¡¯t want to be a stic flower stuck in a vase. I want to be wild grass out in the open. ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to admire me. I just want to break through the dirt and grow strong.¡± Once I said that, I didn¡¯t bother to look at Jared¡¯s reaction. I just turned and walked downstairs. Jared must¡¯ve thought I was out of my mind. The eye¨Ccandy he brought home was now saying she wanted to turn into wild grass. He was probably really disappointed. After seven years of marriage, I was finally starting to rebel. Even as I worked out, I couldn¡¯t shake off the uneasiness inside me. The Jared I knew was a man who liked to be in control and lived by his own set of rules. In his world, he couldn¡¯t stand anyone willfully disrupting them. So I was worried he might already be considering divorcing me, and I still hadn¡¯t figured out how to truly grow up survive on my own. and Jared and Yvonne had already started dinner without me. I took a quick shower and headed downstairs, only to find Wendy giving me a worried look. She must have heard my voice getting a little sharp with Jared upstairs and was worried we might have gotten into a fight. Wendy¡¯s a soft¨Chearted person, and she was even more afraid I¡¯d be hurt by it. I gave Wendy a reassuring smile, and when she saw I wasn¡¯t crying, she finally rxed and went back to her chores. After her bath, Yvonne came running downstairs and said, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want these long braids anymore. Can you take me to get them cut tomorrow?¡± I asked her, ¡°Why do you want to cut your hair?¡± ¡°I want to be a boy,¡± Yvonne said, her big, mischievous eyes darting around yfully. ¡°Sure.¡± I agreed right away, not even asking her for a reason. But Yvonne didn¡¯t look happy, She pouted and said, ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you ask me why I want to cut my hair? ¡°It¡¯s up to you. As long as it makes you happy,¡± I said calmly. ¡°Because I heard some kids in my ss say that girls can¡¯t do business, so now I want to be a boy, Yvonne said, tilting her little head, clearly scheming something big. Even at her age, she was already thinking about taking over the family business. ¡°If that¡¯s what you really want, I¡¯ll take you to get it cut,¡± I told her. I knew better than to argue, Yvonne was stubborn, and if 1 said no, she¡¯d definitely throw a tantrum. The next day was the weekend, so I took Yvonne to the barbershop first thing in the morning. She got her hair chopped short and then stood in front of the mirror, practicing her coolest tough¨Cguy faces. ¡°Mom, look at me. Do I look like a little boy or what?¡± Yvonne asked, grinning from ear to ear, I looked at her, and for a second, it was like seeing a pint¨Csized Jared standing there. ¡°You look just like your dad,¡± I said. ¡°Really? Was Dad just like me when he was little?¡± Yvonne blinked her big eyes, then crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°Hmph, those stinky boys won¡¯t dare look down on me now.¡± I was a little stunned. ¡®Did Yvonne really cut her hair just to prove a point to those kids?¡® I wondered to myself. When we got home, Jared was still sleeping in. Maybe he didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. By the time we got back, Sally and Quinn were already there, sitting in the living room, sipping coffee and chatting. ¡°Oh my god. Victoria, just look at what you¡¯ve done,¡± Sally shrieked, her voice going up an octave the moment she saw me walk in with Yvonne sporting her brand new short hair. Loose 125 Chapter 125 Yvonne had been waiting for her family to praise her, but Sally¡¯s reaction was so intense that it stunned her. For a second, she just froze, then darted behind Jared for cover. Jared frowned, studying Yvonne¡¯s boyish short hair, then shot me a reproachful look. ¡°Victoria, why did you cut Yvonne¡¯s hair so short?¡± Next to me, Quinn rolled her eyes and silently mouthed, ¡°You¡¯re nuts.¡± I knew that every time Yvonne made a mistake, it always came back to me getting scolded. I¡¯d gotten used to it. ¡°Yvonne was the one who wanted to get her hair cut,¡± I said. Yvonne nervously clutched Jared¡¯s shirt and whispered, ¡°Yeah, I wanted to. Does it look bad?¡± This time, I wasn¡¯t going to take all the me for Yvonne¡¯s choices. Since she was the one involved, I made sure she spoke up for herself. ¡°My darling, why did you chop off your beautiful waist¨Clength hair like this? It looks like a dog chewed on it,¡± Sally finally stopped ming me and turned her attention to Yvonne. Jared squatted down and asked Yvonne seriously, ¡°Why did you cut your hair? You¡¯re a girl. Long hair is what makes girls look pretty.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be pretty. Mom¡¯s pretty, but it doesn¡¯t do her any good,¡± Yvonne said, using me as her example. With her hands on her hips and in her best grown¨Cup voice, she added, ¡°I want to be a fighter like a boy.¡± Jared and Sally exchanged a nce and couldn¡¯t help butugh. They gave Yvonne¡¯s cheeks a yful pinch, and just like that, the whole hair¨Ccutting drama blew over. Jared looked up at me, probably remembering how they¡¯d just finished scolding me. He said, ¡°Since it was Yvonne¡¯s idea, you still should¡¯ve talked to me before cutting her hair.¡± Honestly, his so¨Ccalledfort after the fact didn¡¯t mean squat to me. I just replied coolly, ¡°She¡¯s growing up. She can make her own choices now. I¡¯m just respecting what she wants.¡± Sally clearly wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°Growing up? She¡¯s not even eighteen yet. She still needs to be kept in line. Just look at her, all tomboyish. She doesn¡¯t look like a girl at all.¡± ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve decided to be a boy for a while,¡± Yvonne said, all rebellious. Sally couldn¡¯t help butugh at that and let it go. Jared looked me over and said, ¡°I¡¯m flying to Showtown this afternoon. Want toe with me?¡± My eyes flickered. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got some business to handle over there. Figured you might be bored staying here, so why note along for a change of scenery?¡± Jared said, actually sounding thoughtful for once. ¡®Since when did he start caring about how I feel?¡® I wondered. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go,¡± I replied, no way I was letting a chance like this slip by. Sally wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°Jared, you¡¯re going for business. Is it really appropriate to bring Victoria along? She doesn¡¯t know the first thing about it.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know now, but she can always learn,¡± Jared replied, shooting me a look that seemed to mean more than he was saying. I narrowed my eyes. ¡®Did our fightst night actually get through to him?¡® I thought. ¡°What does a housewife need to learn all that for?¡± Sally said, a bit displeased. Quinn, sprawled out nearby, drawled, ¡°Jared, are you feeling sorry for Victoria or something? Leaving Yvonne with us on purpose so you can take her out and have some fun together?¡± Jared shot me a nce, then looked away and said in a t voice, ¡°She hasn¡¯t left Hachester in ages. A little change of scenery will do her good.¡± ¡°Dad, I want to go too.¡± Yvonne immediately started whining, ¡°Take me with you.¡± Loose 126 Chapter 126 Sally¡¯s eyes shed shrewdly, and she suddenly scooped Yvonne up into her arms. ¡°Yvonne, don¡¯t go. Let your mom and dad have a couple of days to themselves.¡± I couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡®Sally always has some new scheme up her sleeve. I bet she¡¯s already thinking about having a chubby grandson again. Quinn looked sour. Jared being nice to me meant my standing in the family was on the rise, and as the Hob family¡¯s heiress, she hated anyone threatening her ce at the top. Sometimes, she couldn¡¯t even stand Yvonne. ¡°Jared, what do you think about that brand I mentioned?¡± Quinn was working on her startup, but Jared wasn¡¯t about to give her a quick yes. ¡°I¡¯m still having it evaluated. I¡¯ll let you know the results after a while,¡± Jared said as he headed for the door to put on his leather shoes. ¡°Victoria, go upstairs and pack a few things. I¡¯ll wait for you in the car.¡± I turned and headed upstairs. A little whileter, I came back down with my bag. Sally suddenly walked over and shoved a couple of packets into my hand. ¡°Make sure Jared takes this. It¡¯s for, you know, boosting his virility. And this white one is for you, to nourish you. Both of you need to take them.¡± My head buzzed. ¡®Where does Sally even find these weird folk remedies?¡® I thought. ¡°Oh, sure, I¡¯ll make him take it,¡± I replied with a fake smile. But there was no way I was touching that stuff myself. What if I got poisoned or something? As soon as we got in the car, Jared told Warner to drive us to the airport. On the way, I asked Jared, ¡°Is it just the two of us?¡± ¡°No, there are a few people from thepany, too. They left this morning,¡± Jared replied in his usual t tone. ¡°Is Tracy going to be there?¡± I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm. Jared shot me a look of impatience. ¡°She¡¯s in charge of several major projects at thepany. She¡¯s leading this one too. Of course she¡¯ll be there.¡± I just nodded. ¡®No wonder she¡¯s his go¨Cto person on the front lines. Every penny the Hob family makes has her fingerprints all over it, I thought. But honestly, I couldn¡¯t care less anymore. Tracy was working so hard to show off her skills, all just to impress Jared. As the boss, Jared naturally kept an eye on everyone¡¯s abilities and weighed the pros and cons. Tracy fighting on the front lines for him was just her way of currying favor, nothing more. Suddenly, a big, knuckly hand, warm and dry, reached over and wrapped around my fingers, which were resting on my knee. I tensed up, instinctively wanting to pull away, but Jared seemed to see iting. The second I tried to move, he just tightened his grip. I looked up at him, and he was already looking at me. He didn¡¯t say a word, but his eyes spoke volumes. I was baffled. ¡®What¡¯s with Jared acting all tender right now?¡® I thought. his tone anything but soft. 1 froze. ¡®Is he crazy or what? Why the hell is he asking me this out of nowhere? I thought. Jared closed his eyes and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about love anymore. Grown¨Cup feelings are always changing. Just tell me what I have to do so you¡¯ll finally settle down.¡± ¡°My bottom line is, you¡¯re not allowed to sleep with Tracy,¡± I said, blunt and straight to the point. Jared slowly lifted his gaze to me. ¡°What if I already slept with her?¡± I jerked my hand away from him, furious. The next second, Jared leaned in close to me. ¡°Just kidding. Did you really buy that?¡± I turned my face away and let out a coldugh. ¡°Adults always tell the truth as a joke. Guess whether I believe you or not.¡± Loose 127 Chapter 127 Jared¡¯s expression froze for a moment. My question had really struck a nerve. Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned to look out the window and didn¡¯t joke around with me anymore. Someone had already taken care of the ne tickets, and Jared was sitting in the VIP lounge, pulling out his phone to reply to messages. I had my work to keep me busy now. It wasn¡¯t like before, when every time he got busy, I just felt like I had nothing to do, always hoping he¡¯d spare a moment to talk to me, or that he¡¯d need something I could help with. My phone was full of work emails waiting for me. The hotel renovation was moving fast, and I was sure it wouldn¡¯t be long before we¡¯d get to see the cepletely transformed. I was busy typing away on my phone when Jared suddenly asked, ¡°We¡¯re boarding soon. How much longer?¡± I nced at the time, put my phone down, and followed him onto the ne. Upon watching his tall, lean figure ahead of me, a wave of emotions welled up inside me. Maybe people really did need to keep themselves busy, instead of making someone their whole world. In all six years of my marriage to Jared, this was actually the very first time we¡¯d gone anywhere with just the two of us. Before this, no matter where we went, Yvonne always had toe along. As soon as I got on the ne, I shut my eyes and pretended to sleep. Jared looked like he wanted to say something, but I just didn¡¯t want to hear it. The flight wasn¡¯t long, but just as we were about tond, we hit some really bad weather. It looked like a tornado had hit Gordezin. The ne was shaking and bouncing all over the ce, and everyone on board was screaming. I felt like I was about to die, so I just grabbed onto the armrests as tightly as I could, trying to push that feeling down. Jared seemed scared, too. His face was a little pale, and in the middle of all the shaking, he suddenly turned to look at me. I couldn¡¯t help but nce back at him. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t be scared,¡± Jared said, thinking I was too scared to speak. Maybe I looked pretty pale too, because he suddenly reached out and grabbed my fingers. I yanked my hand away, curling it into a fist, not wanting him to touch me. Jared¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. That feeling of almost dying made me remember my previous life. Even before my final moments, Jared hadn¡¯t held my hand to see me off. This was just a bit of turbulence. I needed hisfort even less now. Thankfully, after all that turbulence, we stillnded safely and soundly at Showtown International Airport. I didn¡¯t know if it was because I pulled my hand away on the ne, but Jared stayed silent the rest of the way. I ignored him. As soon as we got to the hotel, I turned to Jared and said, ¡°I want to go out and look around by myself. Is that alright with you?¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Jared said coldly, still clearly upset. His words didn¡¯t match his usual calm demeanor. ¡°Fine.¡± I turned and gged down a taxi. As I got in, I saw Jared still standing at the hotel entrance, his eyes fixed on me. Showtown was a modern, international city, bursting with innovation, a vibrant multicultural vibe, and booming growth. As I sat in the taxi, aimlessly drifting between towering skyscrapers, I suddenly remembered the city¡¯s most iconic saying. ¡°Here in Showtown, if youe here, you¡¯re one of us.¡± This modern, open¨Cminded city might just be a paradise for anyone chasing their dreams. Eventually, I found myself at Showtown Bay. I¡¯d heard it was a ce as picturesque as a poem, the kind of spot that made people never want to leave. The sun zed warmly overhead, the sea breeze was intoxicating, and as I wandered alone, my mind felt clear and free. In my previous life, I never had this kind of mindset. Even with wealth and leisure, I was always tangled up in social niceties and the messiness of love, too afraid to open my heart and embrace a whole new world. AD Loose 128 Now, I simply open my hands, letting everythinge, and letting everything go. With nothing weighing on my mind, I felt light as air, and the beauty before me was all the more mesmerizing. I sat on a chair, tree shadows swaying gently around me. Suddenly, someone stepped into the sunlight, half¨Cblocking it. I half¨Csquinted up, feeling a little annoyed. ¡°Ms. Murphy, here by yourself?¡± A deep, pleasant voice sounded almost dreamlike to me. My eyes widened again and again, and as they adjusted to the light, I finally realized that Nathan was standing right in front of me. ¡°Nathan?¡± I still felt like he wasn¡¯t real. It wasn¡¯t until he sat down beside me, the chair giving a gentle wobble, that it finally sank in. ¡°Sorry, I followed you,¡± Nathan said. The first thing he did was actually exin himself. ¡°How did you even manage to follow me?¡± I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Nathan just gave me a mysterious smile and stayed silent, tilting his head back to gaze at the shifting shadows in the trees above us. ¡°Bye, I¡¯ll be going now,¡± I said, making it clear I wasn¡¯t going to make this easy for him. Suddenly, Nathan reached out and grabbed my hand. His touch sent a jolt through me, and no matter how hard I tried to pull away, I couldn¡¯t break free. With a bit of force, he pulled me right back down into my seat. ¡°Ms. Murphy, do you know why I decided to work with Mr. Hob?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice was so soft it almost felt like a whisper. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned to look at him. Nathan¡¯s clear eyes, like glowing amber, were impossibly beautiful. Feeling a little embarrassed under my gaze, Nathan looked away and let out a softugh. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because of you. ¡°I couldn¡¯t think of any other way to get closer to you. And then, Mr. Hob needed a settlement system, and mypany just happened to develop one. Everything just fell into ce.¡± By the end, his voice had grown a bit hoarse. Then, he said softly, ¡°Back then, you gave me 250 thousand dors to pay off my family¡¯s debts and help bury my grandmother. ¡°You saved me from hitting rock bottom. What I owe you is so much more than that.¡± Suddenly, memories from my previous life flickered through my mind. I vaguely remembered the charity sending me some photos to update me on the people I¡¯d helped. In one of them, there was a thin figure bowing at the doorway, while someone else was lifting a coffin out of the house. I whipped my head around to look at Nathan, realizing that in my previous life, I had seen him before, too, but all I ever saw was his back as he bowed there. ¡°You know, most people in this world are still good at heart,¡± I said with a gentle smile, trying tofort him. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s not bring up the past anymore. ¡®t believe your grandmother is watching over you from above¨Cshe can see everything you¡¯ve achieved, and I know she¡¯d be proud of you.¡± Yeah, I think my grandmother would want to see me get married, have kids, build my career, and start a family,¡± Nathan said, his deep gaze fixed intently on me. Ive been around the block. I knew exactly what that look in his eyes meant. Honestly, innocent guys were the most dangerous flirts. Just those eyes, saying everything and nothing at once, were enough to send my heart into chaos. I said vaguely, trying to keep things light, ¡°Don¡¯t get too caught up in this. You really shouldn¡¯t set your hopes on someone who¡¯s already married. But Nathan¡¯s voice was unusually resolute. ¡°Sooner orter, you¡¯re going to get a divorce, aren¡¯t you?¡± Whoa, what¡¯s with this guy and that kind of confidence?¡® I thought, startled. ¡®Is he reading my mind or something?¡® The wholepany¡¯s been buzzing about Mr. Hob and Tracy. Don¡¯t tell me you really don¡¯t know,¡± Nathan said, his voice full of wounded grievance, looking so pitiful it almost made one want tofort him. ¡°You really know how to hit a sore spot.¡± I shot him a re, but he just looked back at me, his eyes full of concern and heartache. My fingers tightened around the armrest as I gave him my answer. ¡°Yeah, you got it. Sooner orter, I¡¯m going to divorce him. Loose 129 Chapter 129 Nathan¡¯s usually deep eyes suddenly seemed to catch the sunlight, sweeping away all his earlier gloom. He grinned at me and teased, ¡°So when exactly is sooner orter? Tomorrow morning, or tomorrow night?¡± I shot him an exasperated look. ¡°Do you really think getting divorced is as easy as grabbing a meal or taking a nap? What, you think I can just pick morning or night like it¡¯s nothing?¡± Nathan actually seemed to enjoy getting scolded by me. He grinned like a fool for a bit, then got all serious again. ¡°So, now that you know they¡¯re close, are you still sleeping with Mr. Hob?¡± His question really left me stumped. Sure, Jared was a total yer, but one couldn¡¯t deny he was in great shape and had stamina to spare. Besides, I never imed to be some chaste saint. If the opportunity was right there, why not take it? Honestly, he was still way better than some random gigolo out there. ¡°Uh, that¡¯s a bit much. Don¡¯t you think?¡± I coughed lightly, trying to end the topic. ¡°So, you still are, huh?¡± Nathan looked like he was instantly swallowed up by jealousy. I turned to look at him, thinking, ¡®Nathan runs his own techpany, but how can he still be such a softie?¡± ¡°Once you¡¯ve got a woman, you¡¯ll understand a lot more. Open your mind a little,¡± I said, getting up and walking away. Nathan trailed after me, step for step, like a clingy dog I just couldn¡¯t shake off. I¡¯d walk a bit, then stop, and he¡¯d do exactly the same, matching me move for move. I checked the time. It was already afternoon, and my stomach was growling. I turned to Nathan and said, ¡°Let¡¯s split up here, okay? And don¡¯t follow me back to the hotel. Jared¡¯s not an idiot; he¡¯s already suspicious about us. Well, not that there¡¯s really anything going on between us anyway.¡± ¡°I like you. Doesn¡¯t that count for something?¡± Nathan was always so bold and straightforward, which made me, a married woman, look almost pure byparison. ¡°It counts, but just because you like me doesn¡¯t mean we can just mess around,¡± I said seriously, meeting his eyes. ¡°Nathan, just wait a little longer. Once I¡¯m divorced, I¡¯lle find you first.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Nathan¡¯s eyes lit up, like he¡¯d just won a prize. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, smiling and nodding. ¡°But let me make it clear up front. I¡¯m not getting married again.¡± Nathan¡¯s expression froze. He looked at me, a little hurt. ¡°I¡¯m not Jared. I¡¯m not the type to fool around and then just walk away.¡± ¡°Well, I might.¡± I shot back with a smirk. Living life like a game was just who I was. Nathan looked at me,pletely stunned. I couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud, teasing him and making him blush. I really was turning into a bit of a bad girl. Nathan¡¯s handsome face flushed bright red, whether from embarrassment or frustration, I couldn¡¯t tell. His big hands tightened a little, almost unconsciously. ¡°Fine, no marriage, but we¡¯re still going to be together.¡± His charming eyes actually put me in a pretty good mood, so I gave him a casual promise. ¡°Yeah, I will. I¡¯m off now.¡± Nathan hurried over to open the car door for me. ¡°Drive safe, okay? Shoot me a text when you get there.¡± ¡°Sorry, no texts. I don¡¯t want to leave any evidence,¡± I said as I slipped into the car. By the time I got back to the hotel, it was already past four in the afternoon, and Jared was nowhere to be seen. I had the hotel send up some food and booked a room for myself. I wasn¡¯t going to stay with Jared anymore. If he had the nerve toe looking for me, I¡¯d just shove that packet of medicine Sally gave me down his throat. I was sure Sally just panicked and grabbed some so¨Ccalled family remedy from a random back¨Calley doctor. It probably didn¡¯t work at all¨Check, it might even be toxic. I was munching on my food in the hotel room when Jared called. Loose 130 Chapter 130 I answered while still chewing. Jared¡¯s voice was low and calm as he asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°At the hotel,¡± I replied. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± His tone went up a notch. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± Jared asked, his concern obviously just for show. My heart thudded twice in my chest. ¡®What was he getting at? Did he actually have someone tail me to Showtown Bay and catch me hanging out with Nathan?¡® I wondered. ¡°I just finished a meeting in the hotel conference room. We¡¯re heading out for dinner soon. Come join us,¡± Jared finally spoke up when I stayed silent. I tried to read his tone, and it seemed like he really didn¡¯t know about me meeting up with Nathan. That was a relief. ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle over in a bit.¡± Since I was here to learn the ropes of business from him, I might as well go along. You never know. Watching and learning more could alwayse in handy. I changed into something a bit more proper, not unting my body like I used to. But it was nothing like my old baggy, casual clothes either¨Cthis outfit was fitted enough to show off my shape, but still kept things ssy. When I arrived at the ce Jared mentioned, they were still in the conference room, discussing business. This time, it was Jared¡¯s team talking things over. The door was open, and Jared sat at the head of the table in a slightly more formal suit, listening intently. He was elegantly spinning a pen between his fingers. When he saw me, he waved me over. I walked in right away and spotted Tracy in her professional attire. The moment she saw me, her eyes sharpened, like she was ready for a fight. Jared pointed to the seat next to him, and I sat down. The people in the room didn¡¯t pause their conversation at all because of my arrival. It turned out that the whole reason we were here was to invest in a real estatepany, and the investment was no small sum. That¡¯s why Jared and all the other execs looked dead serious. I listened in on their discussion, learning a ton just by being there. Tracy was as professional as theye. Her analysis and numbers were seriously impressive. I could tell that Jared clearly admired her. Tracy just oozed superiority. Whenever she spoke, her eyes would sweep over me, but always ended up lingering on Jared. She lived for those moments when he nodded at her, giving his approval. It was already after six when Jared and his crew finally got up and headed to the restaurant. On the way there, it was just Jared and me in the car, no one else around. ¡°Did you understand?¡± Jared asked, sounding a bit tired after a long afternoon of work, but still turning to look at me. ¡°Yeah, I understood,¡± I replied. I¡¯m not stupid. If I actually try to understand something, I usually get it. Well, except for math. That was the one thing I just couldn¡¯t do. Jared suddenlyughed, ¡°I thought you¡¯d find meetings like that totally boring.¡± ¡°I used to, but not anymore,¡± I said, shaking my head. Jared nodded and then went quiet for a long moment. I gazed out the window at the night¨Cthis forest of steel and ss, all those city lights merging into one, like a giant fire dragon snaking along the ground. It was so breathtaking I couldn¡¯t even put it into words. ¡°Victoria, how long has it been since you actually cared about me?¡± Jared asked offhandedly, just as I was getting lost in the neon lights outside. I blinked in surprise, turning to look at him. I really hadn¡¯t expected him to ask me something like that. Jared kept his gaze locked on me, a stubborn look in his eyes, and pressed on, ¡°And you haven¡¯t called me in ages. Like today, you went out to have fun, and I had no idea where you were. ¡°You didn¡¯t even bother to check in or tell me what you saw, where you went. You used to be so excited to share everything with me. Did you forget?¡± Loose 131 Chapter 131 Jared got sentimental, which was so unlike him that it threw me off bnce. I stared, my usual quick¨Cwitted deflections failing me. Of all the things I¡¯d prepared for, him asking if I still cared wasn¡¯t one of them. I¡¯d assumed indifference was our unspoken agreement. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re oveplicating things,¡± I said, forcing a smirk. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. ¡°You¡¯ve been different since you said you were going back to work.¡± ¡°Different how? I¡¯m the same person.¡± I tilted my head, ying dumb. ¡°I can¡¯t pinpoint it, but you¡¯re not the same.¡± Jared was a master at keeping people at arm¡¯s length, but he had a razor¨Csharp intuition. Apparently, he¡¯d picked up on the fact that I¡¯d stopped loving him. ¡°You¡¯re imagining things. I¡¯ve just been busy, that¡¯s all.¡± I threw his old excuse back at him, my voice t. He looked even more upset. He pressed his lips into a thin line and said nothing. A cold, quietugh bubbled inside me. Wasn¡¯t he the one who¡¯d dered love irrelevant? Now he wanted to rewrite the rules? If love was optional, he sure as hell didn¡¯t get to demand it now. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m sorry for what I said before.¡± The car glided smoothly down the boulevard, and after a few blocks, Jared actually apologized. ¡°What exactly are you sorry for?¡± I snapped back reflexively. ¡°For saying love didn¡¯t matter. For trying to buy¡­ intimacy.¡± He fell silent again, his eyes fixed on the road as if his thoughts were scrolling across the windshield. Finally, he turned, his gaze locking onto mine. ¡°I read something interesting the other day. It said there are only two things in life you can¡¯t half¨Cass.¡± I stared at him like he¡¯d just sprouted horns. Jared? Giving a TED Talk on emotional priorities? Since when? He turned toward the passenger window, his voice dropping. ¡°One: find the right career. Two: find the right person. ¡°While the sun¡¯s up, you pour everything into your work. But when it sets, you go home and wrap your arms around the one you love. Purpose and belonging¨Cyou need both. One¡¯s your validation. The other¡¯s your anchor.¡± My eyes went wide, glued to his profile. This was not the Jared I knew. When had he had time to wax philosophical? Unless¡­ had he also jumped back from 2044? But no¨Che hadn¡¯t died in my previous life. After my own heart stopped, he was probably busy throwing Tracy the blowout wedding she¡¯d always wanted. Yvonne would¡¯ve been in the front row, sobbing happy tears and hugging Tracy, shouting ¡°Mom!¡± in front of everyone. My death had simply cleared the runway for their perfect takeoff. Thinking about it sent an arctic wave through me¨Cpalms, soles, every inch of skin turned to ice. So whatever mushy epiphany Jared was having about ¡°go home and wrap your arms around the one you love,¡± it had to be a glitch in his brain. He noticed my silence and angled toward me. ¡°What do you think?¡± His tone carried that old challenge. Det my smile curl, slow and They bloom or rot. Doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s spring or hell.¡± Jared¡¯s brows knitted. ¡°Just spit it out,¡± he said curtly. He was definitely the bossy type. I shrugged. ¡°Love me, don¡¯t love me¨CI let the dice roll. Not overthinking it.¡± His pupils red. Lately, he¡¯d been prodding at me, testing for residual feelings. I felt it. Back in the original timeline, he¡¯d been one foot out the door. But since I¡¯d started rewriting the script? That foot was creeping back inside. Typical man. Wanted the steak and the sizzle and the side of fries. Tracy was gorgeous, all sparkle and hustle, and she¡¯d spent years sharpening Jared¡¯spany into a weapon he loved to wield. No way he¡¯d toss that multitool aside. Me? I was the wife on paper. If we hadn¡¯t had a kid, I¡¯m sure Jared would¡¯ve filed a polite,wyer¨Csmooth divorce¨Cno guilt included. Loose 132 Chapter 132 He could pay ¡°sorry¨Cabout¨Cyour¨Ctwenties¡± money without blinking. The only reason I was still wearing the ring? I¡¯d given him a daughter. Jared doesn¡¯t burn bridges; it¡¯s not in his wiring. Maybe that was what I¡¯d gambled on in my previous life¨Chis residual decency. He¡¯s polished, charismatic, and as long as he isn¡¯t cruel, I¡¯d bet he wouldn¡¯t divorce me. I don¡¯t hate him. I hate myself. Nothing murders love like indecision, and I¡¯d turned hesitation into a goddamn masterpiece. I¡¯d dragged him¨Cworse, I¡¯d dragged myself. ¡°Heavy¡± doesn¡¯t scratch the surface. I was the one who refused to let go of him or of the ghost I¡¯d be. Every mistake traced back to my death¨Cgrip on a fantasy. But no more. Time to set a new target: be a high¨Cpowered, over¨Ceducated force of nature. My careless shrugnded like a de between his ribs. ¡°Let the dice roll¡± meant ¡°I don¡¯t care. You can love me or hate me, do whatever you want.¡± Jared was sharp. He¡¯d get the message. I knew he would. Silence crashed down inside the car, thick as a Midwestern snowstorm. My pulse started tap¨Cdancing against my ribs. Am I already wobbling off the path I just drew for myself? Melissa¡¯s n echoed in my head: reel him back in, milk the sympathy, then hit him with divorce papers at the exact emotional peak and walk away loaded. Yet here I was, letting my mouth run in the opposite direction. Would Jared actually sniff out my real agenda and just¡­ calmly serve me papers with a polite alimony check? Fine. Earth keeps spinning without him. Nathan¡¯s eyes from this morning shed across my mind. A single girl¡¯s high¨Cquality rebound shouldn¡¯t count as fickle, right? We pulled up to the restaurant. I figured Jared would bail on me the second the engine died. I swung the door open, and a kid on a bike shot past. Before I could flinch, a big hand snagged my waist and yanked me backward. ¡°Watch it,¡± Jared snapped, voice low against my ear. I blinked, realizing I was stered against his chest. He looked down, scolding. ¡°Daydreaming again?¡± My heart kicked¨Cnot from the rescue, but because my brain had just fast¨Cforwarded to Nathan, shirt half¨Cunbuttoned against a hotel headboard. Heat crawled up my neck. Jared¡¯s gaze lingered on my flushed cheeks for two long seconds before he let go. My outfit today was all business. In my previous life, I¡¯d never dressed like this; I¡¯d never held a real job, and anything this polished felt like ying dress¨Cup. Turns out, when you¡¯ve got the figure and the face, a power suit turns into armor¨Cconfidence tailor¨Cmade, and yeah, men stare. Tracy¡¯s group rounded the corner. Her smile was set to ¡°social,¡± but her eyes were ice. If Jared had shifted even one degree off his usual orbit, Tracy would be the first to feel the tremor. Before, she¡¯d looked straight through me. Now I caught the first flicker of pure dislike¨Cmaybe even hate. Hate me? Fine. Let¡¯s give her something to really hate. I took two steps and let my ankle roll. ¡°Ow-¡°I hissed, catching the wall. My cheeks med; beads of sweat dotted my forehead. Jared, mid¨Chandshake with some executives, snapped around at the sound. He closed the distance in three strides. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Twisted it,¡± I muttered, bending to inspect the damage. His gaze dropped to the seven¨Cinch stilettos, needle¨Cthin. His jaw tightened. ¡°Next time, skip the skyscrapers.¡± ¡°Honey, don¡¯t worry about me,¡± I said,yering on the sugar. ¡°Go on up. I¡¯ll be fine in a minute.¡± Jared flicked a quick nce at the small crowd behind him. ¡°Head on inside. We¡¯ll catch up.¡± Tracy¡¯s eyes went wide¨Cif looks could p, I¡¯d be tasting blood. Come on, girl, I thought. We both know this song and dance. In the life I¡¯d already lived, I¡¯d sworn Jared was selectively blind: Tracy could bat hershes and fake a fainting spell, and he¡¯d buy it wholesale. Now I¡¯d tested the theory¨Cturns out, he¡¯s just as blind when I¡¯m the one performing. ¡°I¡¯m carrying you upstairs,¡± Jared said. No vote, no debate. Before I could object, he bent and scooped me up like I weighed less than hisptop. Loose 133 Chapter 133 The move hit Tracy like a p. Her eyes shed crimson; she spun on her heel and herded the rest of the executives toward the elevator bank, jabbing the call button like it owed her money. ¡°Babe, put me down¨CI can walk,¡± I insisted, trying to sound brave. Jared¡¯s jaw stayed locked. ¡°Quit the hero act. You¡¯re hurt, so behave.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really nothing. Only a quick stretch.¡± I¡¯d never twisted anything to begin with. ¡°Mm.¡± Nomittal, ssic Jared. The next elevator dinged open. He carried me in. My cheeks went hot. This wasn¡¯t a rom¨Cgetting bridal¨Ccarried through a Marriott felt ridiculous in real life. ¡°Let me stand. Just hold my arm,¡± I whispered, wriggling. He relented and lowered me gently, then anchored one big hand around my elbow, I limped into the private dining room at half¨Cspeed, Jared glued to my side. Tracy was out in the hallway, phone to her ear, voice sharp enough to slice bread. Couldn¡¯t tell who was on the other end, but whoever it was, they were getting mb¨¦ed. I tilted my head toward the noise. ¡°Didn¡¯t know Ms. Darwin had that kind of bite.¡± Jared nced back, shrugged. ¡°Guess somebody pushed her buttons.¡± A cold little rock dropped in my stomach. Does he think I¡¯m the one pushing? Tracy stalked back in, cheeks still flushed. The second she spotted Jared, though, she swapped the scowl for a smile that could sell perfume¨Cconfident, silky, the kind that said I don¡¯t need anyone¨Cexcept maybe you. Every few seconds, her gaze flicked to Jared, wounded¨Cpuppy eyes on full disy. I watched the performance with the detachment of a bored movie critic. You used to ignore me, Trace. Let¡¯s see how long that . Let¡¯s be honest: Tracy¡¯s family tree had bigger branches than mine. But she was still shopping for a sturdy trunk to lean on. Jared¨Cyoung, hot, CEO¨Clevelpetent¨Cchecked every box. She wasn¡¯t about to saddle herself with some fifty¨Cyear¨Cold sugar daddy. She wanted the fairy tale, and Jared was Prince Charming with a bnce sheet. Only w in her storybook? He¡¯d already married me, and we¡¯d made Yvonne. Actually, scratch that. She might genuinely adore Yvonne. Last time around, she quietly terminated a pregnancy just so my little girl wouldn¡¯t feel reced. She knew how much Jared adored his daughter, and she yed the long game to stay in both their good graces. Back in my own family tree, the roots are soaked in straight¨Cup sexism. People still mutter about ¡°carrying on the name.¡± But in Hachester, I figured that rumor about them not caring about sons was just a rumor. Then I had Yvonne, and no one blinked. Jared¡¯s devotion to Yvonne was absolute. When she was little, he¡¯d fly home between meetings just to watch her nap on his chest. He¡¯d bnce spreadsheets with her curled on hisp like a sleepy kitten. The image that still guts me: Yvonne running a fever, Jared¡¯s eyes ssy¨Cred, slipping out to the parking deck so none of us would see him cry Those razor¨Csharp details stacked up like Lego bricks until they built the prison of my old hopeless crush. I hate him for it. If he doesn¡¯t love me, why does he keep lighting these tiny, stupid fires I have to stamp out? Why can¡¯t he just be ice¨Ccold, give me something clean to walk away from? But this time I¡¯ve adjusted the lens. Yvonne carries half his DNA; doting on her is simply fatherhood doing its job. Once youbel it ¡°duty,¡± the magic spell snaps. At the table, the conversation stays locked on term sheets and cap tables. I chew slowly, listening hard. One wrong bet and the whole board can flip¨CMonopoly money with real¨Clife consequences. Somehow, I found my favorite dish was within reach. Before I can lift my fork, Jared forks a piece onto my te without missing a beat in his conversation with the CFO, Casual, automatic¨Clike breathing. A5 Loose 134 Chapter 134 I freeze. Across the table, Tracy¡¯s knuckles whiten around her fork. Great. Another breadcrumb. Could you maybe stop seasoning my life with these meaningless gestures? I swear, the man¡¯s fishing with live bait, convinced I¡¯ll bite if he sprinkles just enough sweetness. Does he honestly believe ¡°good wife¡± is a default setting I¡¯ll slide back into if he keeps buttering the pan? But a real partner earns a ¡°good wife,¡± the same way a good man earns loyalty. Most guys just cosy husband until the credits roll¨Cand Jared¡¯s got an Oscar in that category. Dinner wrapped up when one of the senior VPs blurted out that she wanted to hit the Stonecrag Church tomorrow. She swore the ce was magic for both love and career, and after her divorce, she still hadn¡¯t found ¡°the one,¡± so maybe a prayer wouldn¡¯t hurt. Jared said that tomorrow was a day off, with no work scheduled, so everyone was free to do as they pleased. Tracy then suggested that we all go for a walk at Stonecrag Mount. Jared¡¯s eyes slid to me. Voice low, he asked, ¡°Wannae?¡± I nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± By ten, we¡¯d all drifted back to the hotel. When Jared figured out I¡¯d booked my own room, his face went storm¨Ccloud dark. I stopped him in the hallway, yawning for show. ¡°Hon, I¡¯m beat. Gonna crash early¨Cbig climb tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He pivoted into his own room without another word. Inside my suite, the dumb thought hit: if Tracy finds out I¡¯m not bunking with him, will she tiptoe down the hall and slide into his bed? By nine¨Cthirty, the idea died. I¡¯d just stepped out of the shower, blow¨Cdrying the ends of my hair, when the door opened. Jared¨Cfresh from his own shower¨Cwalked in, hair damp, eyes locked on me. I looked away. When the dryer clicked off, he broke the silence. ¡°My mom told me she gave you some pills. You taking them?¡± I froze. She¡¯d even looped him in? ¡°Not really. They never work, and I¡¯m worried about my liver.¡± He held out his palm. ¡°Let me see them.¡± I dug the ck foil packet from my bag and set it in his hand. ¡°You¡¯re actually going to swallow this?¡± ¡°My mom insists.¡± His voice stayed t. I tried a joke. ¡°What if it¡¯s poison?¡± His gaze heated. ¡°Only one way to find out.¡± My pulse stuttered. If he took it, he¡¯d expect me to- ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s useless.¡± I reached out to snatch the packet back. He caught my wrist. ¡°Rx. I¡¯ll take it. You enjoy the ride.¡± Before I could protest, he emptied the powder into a ss of water, knocked it back, and swallowed. ¡°Stay right there,¡± I warned, halfughing, half freaked. Lately, Jared had been wild in ways I didn¡¯t recognize. He sat on the edge of the bed, and within minutes, a flush climbed his neck. Fingers working the top button of his pajama shirt, he muttered, ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m burning up.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call a doctor¨Cssic poisoning symptoms,¡± I chirped, already inching toward the door. He saw the escape attempt. In one smooth move, he grabbed my arm, spun me, and pinned me to the mattress. ¡°Running already?¡± I squeezed my eyes shut and dropped the mood killer. ¡°How much are you paying me this time?¡± Every ounce of heat drained from his face. ¡°You¡¯re really doing this now?¡± ¡°Price first. If we renegotiate after-¡± His mouth crashed over mine, angry, cutting me off. Whatever was in that packet, it worked overtime. Jared was stronger, rougher, and more relentless. Each time I tried to wriggle free, he yanked me back, teeth grazing my neck, hands branding my hips. Between breaths, he growled against my skin, ¡°Tell me again. You¡¯re really letting the dice roll? You don¡¯t care anymore?¡± My brain short¨Ccircuited; my body wouldn¡¯t lie. ¡°Yes,¡± I hissed, clinging to thest shred of logic. The word flipped a switch¡ª he drove harder, deeper, until time blurred. When it finally ended, he stayed locked around me, arms iron¨Ctight. Two fresh bruises throbbed on my Curled against his chest, I whispered the same stupid question. ¡°So¡­ how much?¡± ¨C throat. Loose 135 Chapter 135 The warmth between us vanished the moment I spoke. Jared pushed me away, got up, and pulled on his clothes, his voice turning icy. ¡°How much do you want?¡± I twirled a strand of hair around my finger, my mind racing. The year was 2014. Global markets were recovering, and opportunities were everywhere. Tech giants like Apple and Google, pharmaceutical leaders like Johnson & Johnson and Gilead, streaming tforms like Netflix, emerce like Amazon, even the booming real estate market, all ripe for investment. But I needed capital to get started. ¡°Still thinking?¡± Jared had already buttoned thest sp of his pajamas, his gaze sharp and detached. I hesitated. ¡°If I said three- ¡°Three million. Fine. It¡¯ll be in your ount tomorrow.¡± He cut me off, then strode to the door before pausing. ¡°Victoria, there¡¯s a limit to ying games. After this, I won¡¯t force you again.¡± Cold words, right after passion. I smiled sweetly. ¡°Thanks, darling.¡± The door mmed shut behind him, the sound jolting me. Good. My gamble paid off. Jared might resent me, but he¡¯d never shortchange me financially. Once we got back from this trip to Showtown, I¡¯d start researching stocks. In my previous life as a wealthy wife, I¡¯d dabbled in investments, but this time, I¡¯d go all in. No more half¨Chearted efforts. No more being the disposable housewife. The next morning, Tracy looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes. Jared didn¡¯t ride with me. Instead, I sat alone in the car, watching through the rearview mirror as Tracy finished speaking with a few colleagues before slipping into his vehicle. Our group arrived at Stonecrag Mountain, the scenery lush and serene, birds singing in the crisp air. Jared lingered at the back, deep in conversation with his executives, while I walked ahead with two female VPs, chatting about everything except the obvious tension. Tracy, of course, stayed glued to Jared¡¯s side. She was the VP, after all. She had power. Influence. The women beside me¨Cone married, one divorced and looking¨Ckept shooting me sympathetic nces. They wanted to say something, but Tracy was their boss. Gossip was a luxury they couldn¡¯t afford. We took a seat on a bench in front of Stonecrag Church, chatting about its history. A kind older man nearby warned us, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t make casual prayers at Stonecrag Mountain. This is a sacred ce of worship.¡± Another man chuckled and asked if we were a couple, then added, ¡°There¡¯s also a legend that this is ¡®Breakup Mountain. Many couples who pray here don¡¯tst.¡± The mood dampened, especially for the divorced VP who had been hoping to find a husband. She sighed in frustration. ¡°I should¡¯ve done more research beforeing. Now this whole trip feels wasted.¡± In the end, we decided to head to the Wishing Tree at the summit and make our wishes there. The two female executives and I bent over, writing our desires on wooden ques. I picked up a pen and carefully inscribed: [May you stand unbroken through every storm. May you always rise.] Chapter 135 2 Aug But it didn¡¯t feelplete. Without the courage to face death, there¡¯d be no drive to climb higher. So fadded a few more monde, a reminder to my future self: [if the path is too crowded halfway up, why not aim for the peak?] Finished, I tied the ribbon around my que, stood on my tiptoes, and hung it from a low hanging branch Stepping back, I watched the wind flutter the wooden tag, then tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Loose 136 Chapter 136 After making our wishes, the two executives and I toured Stonecrag Church, paying no attention to Jared and his group. By the time we circled back, Jared stood alone in the smoking area, taking a drag from his cigarette. The others were nowhere in sight. I didn¡¯t approach him. Instead, I chose a bench, sat down, and took a sip of water. Not far away, I spotted Tracy writing her own wish. So even someone as driven and self¨Cassured as her believes in those supernatural things. Jared noticed me and stubbed out his cigarette, walking over. He sat beside me and said, ¡°I have ns tonight. Do you want to head back early?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I nodded. His gaze lingered on my face for a moment before he added, ¡°Have you called Yvonne?¡± ¡°No.¡± Truthfully, I hadn¡¯t spared a single thought for that child. There was a time when three minutes apart would¡¯ve left me anxious. Now, a full day and night had passed without her crossing my mind. This must be what it means for a heart to turn cold. ¡°Yvonne said she misses you,¡± Jared reminded me, his voice carefully neutral. ¡°She wants you to bring her a gift when youe back.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t need another present every time I step out,¡± I replied coolly. His brow furrowed, and he lowered his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve been distant from hertely. Is it because of me?¡± I turned to face him. Dappled sunlight flickered across our faces through the trees, and for the first time in a long while, Jared looked¡­ unsettled. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± I said, keeping my tone light. ¡°I just don¡¯t believe in spoiling children.¡± I didn¡¯t want him to mistake my indifference for lingering resentment. Hate requires love to fuel it. But when even that burns out? There¡¯s nothing left. Jared let out a quiet, humorlessugh. ¡°Victoria¡­ have you ever really tried to understand me?¡± My spine stiffened. Hadn¡¯t I? I¡¯d lived an entire lifetime with him. If that wasn¡¯t understanding, what was? I stayed silent. Jared surprised me with his next words. ¡°I¡¯m not the viin you¡¯ve painted in your head. I care about my reputation, my fegacy.¡± He stood abruptly, sliding a hand into his tailored cks as he turned away. ¡°You want to ¡®aim for the peak.¡® Need someone to point the way?¡± My breath caught. Thete afternoon light traced the sharp line of his jaw, Loose 137 I knew the difference between being handed a fish and being taught to fish. The reality was, a housewife relying solely on her own skills might survive, but she¡¯d never thrive. Not without connections. I was well aware of Jared¡¯s capabilities. His education, his experience, his vastwork. Riding his coattails could set me up for life in just a few years. Sure, divorce would get me a payout. But there was a world of difference between taking a settlement and earning it yourself, I was still young. Was I really going to just coast on alimony? No. I remembered all too well the suffocating emptiness of idle days. A week was tolerable. A year, unbearable. But decades? Unthinkable. Humans are social creatures. We need purpose. Validation. I wouldn¡¯t¨Ccouldn¡¯t just fade into obscurity ¡°If that dayes,¡± I said, meeting Jared¡¯s eyes with a calcted smile, ¡°you can name your price. For the first time, I was negotiating with him. Not as his wife, but as an equal. Jared clearly didn¡¯t like my tone. His face went rigid, voice tight. ¡°Fine. But promise me you won¡¯t neglect Wonne because of whatever¡¯s going on with us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re misunderstanding me,¡± I said evenly. ¡°I¡¯m not neglecting her. I just-¡± The cruel truth lodged in my throat. Really, though, if I were truly strong, would I even need to say it out loud? The fact that I hesitated proved I still had weaknesses to shed ¡°Just what?¡± Jared pressed, a father¡¯s protective instinct ring. ¡°What has Yvonne done to disappoint you?¡± 4 looked down. How could I exin that in my previous life, our daughter had betrayed me in ways that still cut deep? He¡¯d think I was unhinged. Paranoid. No. I had to handle this like a rational adult and sever the ties cleanly. ¡°It¡¯s not her. I¡¯ve just realized I¡¯m failing as a parent. Maybe I¡¯ve¡­ run out of love to give.¡± The sigh escaped before i could stop it. ¡°That¡¯s not what you said when she was born. You swore you¡¯d love her unconditionally, no matter what.¡± His stare bore into me, disappointment thick in his voice. ¡°People change, Jared. She clearly prefers you anyway. Take over her upbringing. Studies show CEO fathers raise more resilient kids. Mothers coddle. Surely you want her to be a fighter?¡± The corporate jargon rolled off my tongue effortlessly. Psychological warfare, executive edition, Jared studied me like a chess opponent before nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll make time. But you don¡¯t get to check outpletely. Unless¡­ you¡¯re done with her.¡± My breath hitched. Exactly what I want¨Cif only I could make the cut clean. When I stayed silent, his jaw twitched. ¡°What about me? Are you done with me, too?¡± He turned on his heel and strode away. I watched his retreating back until Tracy materialized with her entourage of VPs. Their group merged seamlessly, a corpor nced back. No words, just a smirk that screamed checkmate. Leaning forward in the lounge chair, I rested my chin on steepled fingers and coldly observed their exit. Midway to the airport, Nathan¡¯s text lit up my screen: [Where are you?] [Headed to the airport. Going back to Hachester.] *pack. Tracy [Jared¡¯s still in Showtown. Why solo flight?) I didn¡¯t exin, just replied: [Business.] Three dots bounced before his next message: [Dinner tonight?] Loose 138 Chapter 138 Perfect. I needed to pick his brain about investments anyway. [Sure.] His reply was a cheerful emoji. The gate¡¯s charging station was barely warm when my mother¨Cinw¡¯s caller ID shed. Yvonne¡¯s petnt voice came through: ¡°Mom, when are youing home? I told Dad to tell you to buy me a present. Are you gonna get me one?¡± ¡°No.¡± t. Final. ¡°Don¡¯t you love me anymore?¡± Her voice sharpened. ¡°Do you even love me?¡± ¡°Love¡¯s transactional, sweetheart. Even maternal affection has terms.¡± Ice crystallized in my veins. ¡°What did I do wrong? You¡¯re being weird again. I don¡¯t get it!¡± ssic Yvonne, ying dumb to evade ountability. She understood. She just refused to. The call died abruptly. I didn¡¯t redial. Some bridges deserved to burn. By the time Inded in Hachester, it was past six in the evening. Straight from the airport, I headed to dinner. The taxi dropped me off at a secluded garden¨Cstyle restaurant, its old¨Cworld charm entuated by the rain¨Cfreshened air. The parking lot, half¨Chidden beneath flowering trees, was nearly empty, except for one impossible¨Cto¨Cmiss vehicle. Nathan¡¯s Maybach gleamed under the soft glow of the lot lights, its sleek lines even more striking after the rain. As I approached, he stepped out of the car¨Ctall, lean, dressed in a crisp white long¨Csleeved shirt that gave him that quiet, academic aura. The kind of man who looked like he spent more time with equations than people. Just then, a family emerged from the restaurant. A boy, maybe thirteen or fourteen, zeroed in on the Maybach like a moth to a me. ¡°Whoa!¡± He darted over, circling the car with wide¨Ceyed awe before turning to Nathan. ¡°Dude, is this yours?¡± Nathan smiled. ¡°Yeah.¡± The kid¡¯s face lit up like he¡¯d just unlocked a cheat code for life. ¡°If I study till my books fall apart¡­ can I drive something like this someday?¡± Nathan¡¯s gaze flicked to me, amused, before he pped the boy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Absolutely. Keep grinding.¡± The kid practically pranced back to his family, still craning his neck for onest look. When Nathan turned to me, there was a flicker of shyness in his eyes, but he held my stare anyway. ¡°You made it.¡± ¡°Mm. Let¡¯s go in. I¡¯m starving.¡± My tone was deliberatelyzy. Around him, something in me shifted, an unapologetic assertive the surface. sing to Maybe it was the way he radiated earnestness, like a man who¡¯d never learned to armor himself against the world. And humans, myself included, couldn¡¯t resist testing the softest targets. ¡°This way.¡± He led me to a private booth, its warm lighting at odds with the tension coiling in the air. When we sat, he slid the menu toward me, fingers lingering a second too long. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind¡­ just the two of us,¡± he murmured, eyes downcast. 14:57 Tue, 12 Aug I scanned the menu, lips quirking. ¡°Three would be a crowd.¡± His head snapped up, then he caught my meaning and huffed a quietugh. ¡°Yeah. Some things are better with two.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas. I meant dinner.¡± Teasing him was too easy. A flush crept up his neck. Oh, he definitely just did. I handed the menu back after ordering. Nathan added one more dish, and the moment the server left, the door clicked shut. Suddenly, the booth felt smaller. The air was thicker. And the unspoken thing between us? Way too loud. Loose 139 Chapter 139 Nathan was definitely more nervous than I was. His handsome face remained flushed, as if the room were too warm, his gaze asionally drifting toward me with an almost dazed intensity. I took a sip of tea, the porcin warm against my fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about investmentstely. Any advice?¡± He blinked, surprised. ¡°Are you short on cash?¡± The question caught me off guard, a small, unexpected flicker of warmth in my chest. But just as quickly, my rationality reasserted itself. ¡°No. I just want to learn how to make money work for me.¡± Nathan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s smart. Always good to have an exit strategy.¡± The words cut deeper than he probably intended. So even outsiders were counting down the days until my marriage copsed. And why wouldn¡¯t they? Without a backup n, what else was left? Jared had been erratictely, hot and cold, impossible to read. But I knew exactly who he was, in this life and thest. To him, everyone was a calcted decision. Tracy. Me. Maybe Yvonne was the only one he truly kept close. ¡°If you want my opinion,¡± Nathan continued, ¡°I can give you some pointers. Has Mr. Hob fully handed over Harmonia Hotel to you yet?¡± ¡°Mm. Both properties are underperforming. If I didn¡¯t step in, Jared would¡¯ve shut them down by now. He doesn¡¯t keep dead weight.¡± Jared had always been ruthless that way, cutting losses before they bled him dry. ¡°Why take this on? Did you study hospitality management?¡± ¡°I did. But my degree¡¯s been gathering dust for six years. At this point, I¡¯m basically a rookie.¡± ¡°Rookie?¡± Nathan¡¯s eyes crinkled with amusement. ¡°Sounds like someone who needs looking after.¡± ¡°Looking after? I¡¯m not ¡®helpless.¡® Just inexperienced,¡± I corrected. He leaned in, suddenly serious. ¡°I prefer my version. Either way, I know some people in the industry. I¡¯ll introduce you.¡± ¡°Thanks. I¡¯d appreciate that.¡± Connections were everything. The best in any field operated like an exclusive club, imprable without the right key. And Nathan, it seemed, had the right keys. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Now, about investing, have you considered stocks?¡± ¡°I have. But I¡¯d need guidance.¡± Nathan¡¯s gaze softened as he looked at me. ¡°If you trust me, I can connect you with the best in the business.¡± For a moment, I just looked at him. His eyes were clear, unguarded, and in them, I saw only my own reflection. ¡°Sorry, was that too forward?¡± He ducked his head with an almost boyish grin when I didn¡¯t respond immediately. ¡°We barely know each other, and money¡¯s a sensitive topic. Maybe I should just rmend some courses instead. Hands¨Con learning might be better.¡± ¡°Actually, that sounds perfect,¡± I said. If I were stepping out of myfort zone, I wasn¡¯t going to half¨Cass it. ¡°Do you know any good ones?¡± ¡°Plenty. I attend finance seminars all the time.¡± He pulled out his phone. ¡°I¡¯ll send you a list of the best resources.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± I epted his offer, though the conversation lulled afterward. I wasn¡¯t a finance expert, and the silence stretched awkwardly. Loose 140 Chapter 140 35%% Nathan cleared his throat. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t blindly idolize so¨Ccalled ¡®sessful¡® people. Study their journeys, the real ones, not the polished versions. Take Mr. Hob, for example. If you ever get the chance, pick his brain. His advice would be worth more than any lecture.¡± There was a hint of something in his voice¨Cjealousy? Resentment?-but his guidance was sound. I knew he was right. Learning from Jared¡¯s experience would be invaluable. But given our¡­plicated history, was that even possible? ¡°I¡¯ll ask him when I get the chance,¡± I said neutrally. Our food arrived then, saving us from further small talk. Nathan served me the tenderest part of the fish. The cheek, the most vorful bite. I stared at the lifeless eyes of the fish, a bitter taste rising in my throat. Memories shed, me doing the same for Jared, arranging his te just the way he liked, removing anything he disliked without a word. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Nathan frowned when I didn¡¯t move. ¡°Not a fan of fish?¡± ¡°No, I love it.¡± I forced a smile, locking away the past. The rest of dinner passed smoothly. I grilled Nathan on investment strategies, and to his credit, he answered everything with startling transparency. I was learning. Testing men. And so far, Nathan was proving more genuine than I¡¯d expected. When we parted ways outside the restaurant, he hesitated. ¡°Can I drive you home?¡± Jchecked the time. It was past nine. ¡°Not tonight. I¡¯ll grab a cab.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± He didn¡¯t push. I gged down a taxi, but before I could reach for my wallet, Nathan handed the driver a wad of cash, enough to cover the fare and then some. The driver¡¯s grin widened. Nathan¡¯s eyes lingered on me. ¡°Get home safe.¡± The driver gave an enthusiastic nod. ¡°You got it, boss!¡± A smirk tugged at my lips. Nathan caught it and mirrored the expression as he shut the door with finality. The penthouse was dark when I arrived. A quick shower, then bed. Progress moved faster than anticipated. My twin hotel concepts were taking shape: one, a light¨Cfilled pzzo dripping with understated luxury; the other, a Clusian¨Cinspired retreat where every negative space whispered elegance. To bring these visions to life, I¡¯d hired top¨Ctier designers specializing in each. Every detail mattered. The pzzo demanded crisp, refined opulence, while the Clusian¨Cinspired space required deliberate restraint¨Cevery brushstroke of negative space intentional. Around three in the afternoon, Jared unexpectedly showed up on¨Csite. I was masked, deep in discussion with a contractor, when he strolled in, ncing around at the nearly finished interiors. His expression betrayed genuine surprise. I approached him. ¡°When did you get here?¡± wed ¡°Just now,¡± he said, hands in his pockets as he surveyed the space. ¡°Decided to drop by. It¡¯s¡­ unique.¡± ¡°Money buys good taste, Mr. Hob,¡± I emphasized the formal title with a corporate smile. He shot me aplicated look. ¡°Better than I expected. You¡¯ve got talent.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s grab tea,¡± he said abruptly, already turning toward the office. ¡°I¡¯m parched.¡± I followed. He settled onto the sofa, eyes tracking me as I entered. The mask seemed to intrigue him, his gaze lingered a beat too long. ¡°So you¡¯re really all¨Cin on this now?¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what he was probing for. ¡°Obviously. Why?¡± ¡°Work and family, you can¡¯t pour into both cups at once.¡± His tone carried a pointed edge. Iughed, pulling off the mask and shaking out my hair. ¡°Darling, greed doesn¡¯t suit you. Expecting the family type and the working type both? Doesn¡¯t that exhaust you?¡± Loose 141 Jared froze mid¨Cpour. ¡°And which one are you?¡± Leaning back, I smirked. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m neither. At best, I¡¯m the one you forget and ignore eventually.¡± He studied me for a long moment, then exhaled sharply. ¡°Overthinking leads to hair loss, you know.¡± The jab hit its mark. Annoyance red¨CI¡¯d walked right into his game. Psychology books call this deactivation: the moment you stop feeding someone¡¯s emotional hooks, their power over you copses. Yet here I was, scrambling to counter him. Silently, I sipped my tea, stewing. Jared, meanwhile, looked unbearably pleased with himself. Then my phone buzzed. A notification shed-$3,000,000.00 deposited¨CCurrent ount. I nced at the screen, then up at Jared. At least the man kept his word. He smirked, reading my expression. ¡°Need to count the zeros to be sure?¡± I set my phone down, refusing to y. ¡°I trust you,¡± I said tly. The amusement drained from his face. Bored, he stood. ¡°Dinner at my mother¡¯s tonight. Need a ride?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll drive myself.¡± His jaw tightened, but he said nothing else. Finishing his tea, he left without another word. That evening, the Hob estate was conspicuously missing one small, chaotic presence. No Yvonne. I didn¡¯t ask. If my daughter wasn¡¯t here to scream at me for existing, all the better. Sally, ever the gracious hostess, offered an exnation unprompted: ¡°Quinn took Yvonne to some concert.¡± She waved a manicured hand. ¡°Teenagers.¡± I nodded. Maybe distance was best. Without me¨Cthe ¡°failed mother¡°-weighing her down, Yvonne would thrive differently. Better. Dinner unfolded like a corporate negotiation. James, Jared¡¯s father, hade to lobby for another round of funding for histest ¡°surefire¡± investment. Sally needled him between courses, but James just chuckled, unfazed. Jared, meanwhile, dissected the proposal with clinical detachment. His parents¡® toxic dynamic might as well have been background noise, nothing distracted him from his empire. That¡¯s what real strength looks like, I realized. Unshakable focus. No emotional leaks. Predictably, James left empty¨Chanded after Jared rejected his pitch again. The roar of his Ferrari faded into the night, leaving behind strained silence. Jared checked his phone. ¡°When¡¯s Quinn bringing Yvonne back?¡± Sally shrugged. ¡°Call her yourself. I tried earlier, probably too loud at the concert to hear her phone.¡± Just as Jared was about to dial, his phone rang. His brow furrowed as he checked the caller ID, then he strode out of the vi to take the call. I decided it was time to leave. Grabbing my bag, I headed for the door. As I passed Jared outside, he hadn¡¯t noticed me yet. His voice was low, tense. 15:14 Wed, 13 Aug ? YI ug 83 ¡°Where are you? I¡¯lle pick up Yvonne. You just got off a flight. I appreciate you looking after her.¡± A pause. ¡°Yeah, stay there. I¡¯m on my way.¡± He hung up and turned, only to see me standing there. A flicker of difort crossed his face. ¡°I¡¯m going to get Yvonne. You should head home.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± I had no intention of joining him anyway. But that fleeting unease in his eyes? My instincts screamed, Maybe Quinn and Yvonne weren¡¯t the only ones at that concert. Maybe Tracy was there too. And that was why Jared didn¡¯t insist Ie along. Because tonight, my presence wasn¡¯t required. I marched to my car, slid in, and sped off. I didn¡¯t hear theme home. By the time Jared and Yvonne returned, I was already asleep. The next morning, Yvonne was draped over Jared¡¯sp, rubbing her eyes dramatically. ¡°Daddy, my tummy hurts. I can¡¯t go to school.¡± Jared sighed, stroking her hair. ¡°Yvonne, Mommy and I have work. If you¡¯re really sick, we¡¯ll go to the hospital.¡± He didn¡¯t allow her to skip sses. ¡°Will they give me a shot?¡± Her eyes widened in horror. ¡°Possibly.¡± ¡°Never mind!¡± She scrambled upright. ¡°School¡¯s fine.¡± Just then, 1 descended the stairs. Yvonne immediately bolted from Jared andtched onto my leg. ¡°Mommy, skip work today! Take me to the park instead?¡± I looked down at her. Mosquito bites dotted her cheeks, angry red welts against her skin. Normally, I¡¯d fuss over her, applying ointment until the swelling faded. Today, I couldn¡¯t muster the energy. ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± My voice was ice. ¡°You never love me anymore!¡± she wailed. ¡°Tracy would never-¡± She caught herself, but the damage was done. Jared¡¯s gaze flicked to me, testing my reaction. I gave none. Instead, I took a deliberate bite of the organic avocado toast Wendy had prepared, the morning sunlight catching my cheeks. Lately, I¡¯d been taking better care of myself. My skin glowed, myplexion was radiant, and the sickly pallor I once had was gone. My eyes, no longer dull and tired, now shone with rity. Jared crouched before our pouting daughter. ¡°Mom¡¯s busy. I¡¯ll drop you at school, might pick you up if my meetings clear.¡± ¡°Can someone else get me? I want-¡± Yvonne whisper¨Cshouted into his ear, throwing me a sidelong re. His jaw tightened. ¡°Pleeeeease, Daddy?¡± She batted hershes, the perfect little maniptor. Defeated, he ruffled her hair. ¡°Finish your chia pudding first.¡± She devoured it with performative gusto, shooting me a triumphant look. After dropping Yvonne off at school, Jared headed to work. I had business at thepany too, some financial matters needed sorting out. The moment I stepped into the finance department, I spotted Tracy. Her expression darkened when she saw me. As she turned to leave, she suddenly asked, ¡°A transfer of 3 million was made from Mr. Hob¡¯s personal ount yesterday. Do you know where that money went, Mrs. Hob?¡± IP TO AUY I blinked. Since when did Tracy have ess to Jared¡¯s finances? She was really stepping into the wife role, wasn¡¯t she? ¡°Why ask me? Ask him,¡± I shot back, no longer the meek woman I used to be. Tracy¡¯s face tightened. ¡°I will.¡± 433580 I was almost curious how Jared would exin this. Would he tell her the truth? If Tracy found out, she might just get mad on the spot. But knowing Jared, he¡¯d probably keep it to himself. He always guarded his privacy fiercely. As I left the finance office, I spotted Jared stepping out of the elevator. I pretended not to see him and turned the other way, but he called out, ¡°Honey,e to my office for a minute.¡± The entire hallway froze. Honey? Since when did he call me that in public? The man was putting on quite the devoted¨Chusband act. But everyone in thispany knew Tracy was his real love. Loose 142 Chapter 142 I pretended not to hear and kept walking. Jared caught up, grabbing my arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± I stared at his face, mentally picturing him as a stack of hundred¨Cdor bills to keep my temper in check. ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked tly. ¡°My cousin¡¯s getting married tomorrow. We¡¯re going to Shariport tonight,¡± he said, right there in the middle of the hallway. I knew this cousin, a university professor. Scrolling through my memories of my previous life, I vaguely recalled my mother¨Cinw mentioning the wedding. Back then, Jared had gone alone. Of course, ¡°alone¡± in his world had never truly meant alone. There had always been a certainpanion- Tracy, no doubt. So, color me surprised. Jared actually wanted me to go this time. Tracy must be seething. ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot on my te right now,¡± I said, deliberately dismissive. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll sit this one out.¡± Part of my new mission in this life was to emotionally detach¨Cand, when possible, subtly needle him. Payback for the lifetime of neglect he¡¯d served me. Jared¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°He¡¯s my closest cousin. My parents can¡¯t make it, so we¡¯re representing the family. You not going would be disrespectful.¡± ¡°Are we taking Yvonne?¡± Thest thing I wanted was a long trip with her. ¡°No. Just us.¡± His voice was clipped. A business hub like Shariport was exactly where I needed to be. Networking opportunities, industry elites¨Cattending as Jared Hob¡¯s wife would open doors for my career. Plus, I¡¯d been nning to grow a TikTok presence for the hotel. This trip could give me content worth filming. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll wrap up work and pack,¡± I said, shaking off his grip and striding toward my office. Through the ss reflection, I saw him standing rigidly, frustration etched between his brows. That evening, we rode in silence to the airport. ¡°We didn¡¯t tell Yvonne about Shariport, did we?¡± Jared asked abruptly. 1 shook my head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good. No need to upset her.¡± His voice softened, the same indulgent tone he always used when it came to her. I didn¡¯t reply, turning to watch the city lights blur past. The airport buzzed with travelers. Jared and I traveled light, breezing through security before settling in the VIP lounge. He was all sharp angles and tailored businesswear, his million¨Cdor watch glinting under the lights as he typed away on hisptop, every inch the elite CEO. I took my coffee outside, leaning against the ss to watch nes take off. No need to sit with him. When I returned, three giggling girls,had clustered near Jared, their cheeks pink as they nudged each other, clearly angling for his number. 35% I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorway, watching. Ah, youth. Bold, hopeful, unburdened. Not like me. Though my body was young again, my soul felt like a wastnd, ravaged and barren. But perhaps that was the very point of a second life: to rebuild hope, brick by stubborn brick, atop the ruins of my previous life, Finally, one of the girls gathered her courage and approached Jared for his number. He looked up from hisptop, momentarily confused, before his gaze flickered past her, straight to me standing in the doorway. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, voice cool. ¡°My wife is right there. She might get the wrong idea.¡± Three pairs of eyes snapped to me. The girls flushed and scurried away like startled deer. I almost felt bad for them. They were clearly well¨Cbred, dressed in designerbels, probably just smitten by Jared¡¯s sharp suit and CEO aura, hoping for a whirlwind meet¨Ccute. But they didn¡¯t know Jared. The reckless impulsiveness of his youth was long gone. The man who¡¯d once spotted me in a crowd and pursued me with feverish intensity, who¡¯d married me in a ze of passion¡­ that man no longer existed. Marrying me was probably the one impulsive decision he¡¯de to regret. Seduced by my face, only to realize too rises. ¡°There¡¯s a new luxury development going up over there. We should check it out tomorrow.¡± My breath hitched, my pulse quickening. Again with the money, Jared knew exactly how to dangle the right bait. Chapter 142 I pretended not to hear and kept walking, Jared caught up, grabbing my arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± I stared at his face, mentally picturing him as a stack of hundred¨Cdor bills to keep my temper in check. ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked tly. ¡°My cousin¡¯s getting married tomorrow. We¡¯re going to Shariport tonight,¡± he said, right there in the middle of the hallway. knew this cousin, a university professor. Scrolling through my memories of my previous life, I vaguely recalled my mother¨Cinw mentioning the wedding. Back then, Jared had gone alone. Of course, ¡°alone¡± in his world had never truly meant alone. There had always been a certainpanion- Tracy, no doubt. So, color me surprised. Jared actually wanted me to go this time. Tracy must be seething. ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot on my te right now,¡± I said, deliberately dismissive. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll sit this one out.¡± Part of my new mission in this life was to emotionally detach¨Cand, when possible, subtly needle him. Payback for the lifetime of neglect he¡¯d served me. Jared¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°He¡¯s my closest cousin. My parents can¡¯t make it, so we¡¯re representing the family. You not going would be disrespectful.¡± ¡°Are we taking Yvonne?¡± Thest thing I wanted was a long trip with her. ¡°No. Just us.¡± His voice was clipped. A business hub like Shariport was exactly where I needed to be. Networking opportunities, industry elites¨Cattending as Jared Hob¡¯s wife would open doors for my career. Plus, I¡¯d been nning to grow a TikTok presence for the hotel. This trip could give me content worth filming. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll wrap up work and pack,¡± I said, shaking off his grip and striding toward my office. Through the ss reflection, I saw him standing rigidly, frustration etched between his brows. That evening, we rode in silence to the airport. ¡°We didn¡¯t tell Yvonne about Shariport, did we?¡± Jared asked abruptly. 1 shook my head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good. No need to upset her.¡± His voice softened, the same indulgent tone he always used when it came to her. I didn¡¯t reply, turning to watch the city lights blur past. The airport buzzed with travelers. Jared and I traveled light, breezing through security before settling in the VIP lounge. He was all sharp angles and tailored businesswear, his million¨Cdor watch glinting under the lights as he typed away on hisptop, every inch the elite CEO. I took my coffee outside, leaning against the ss to watch nes take off. No need to sit with him. When I returned, three giggling girls had clustered near Jared, their cheeks pink as they nudged each other, clearly angling for his number. 15:15 Wed, 13 Aug 35% ¡°Where are you? I¡¯lle pick up Yvonne. You just got off a flight. I appreciate you looking after her.¡± A pause. ¡°Yeah, stay there. I¡¯m on my way.¡± He hung up and turned, only to see me standing there. A flicker of difort crossed his face. ¡°I¡¯m going to get Yvonne. You should head home.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± I had no intention of joining him anyway. But that fleeting unease in his eyes? My instincts screamed. Maybe Quinn and Yvonne weren¡¯t the only ones at that concert. Maybe Tracy was there too. And that was why Jared didn¡¯t insist Ie along. Because tonight, my presence wasn¡¯t required. I marched to my car, slid in, and sped off. I didn¡¯t hear theme home. By the time Jared and Yvonne returned, I was already asleep. The next morning, Yvonne was draped over Jared¡¯sp, rubbing her eyes dramatically. ¡°Daddy, my tummy hurts. I can¡¯t go to school.¡± Jared sighed, stroking her hair. ¡°Yvonne, Mommy and I have work. If you¡¯re really sick, we¡¯ll go to the hospital.¡± He didn¡¯t allow her to skip sses. ¡°Will they give me a shot?¡± Her eyes widened in horror. ¡°Possibly.¡± ¡°Never mind!¡± She scrambled upright. ¡°School¡¯s fine.¡± Just then, I descended the stairs. Yvonne immediately bolted from Jared andtched onto my leg. ¡°Mommy, skip work today! Take me to the park instead?¡± I looked down at her. Mosquito bites dotted her cheeks, angry red welts against her skin. Normally, I¡¯d fuss over her, applying ointment until the swelling faded. Today, I couldn¡¯t muster the energy. ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± My voice was ice. ¡°You never love me anymore!¡± she wailed. ¡°Tracy would never¡± She caught herself, but the damage was done. Jared¡¯s gaze flicked to me, testing my reaction. I gave none. Instead, I took a deliberate bite of the organic avocado toast Wendy had prepared, the morning sunlight catching my cheeks. Lately, I¡¯d been taking better care of myself. My skin glowed, myplexion was radiant, and the sickly pallor I once had was gone. My eyes, no longer dull and tired, now shone with rity. Jared crouched before our pouting daughter. ¡°Mom¡¯s busy. I¡¯ll drop you at school, might pick you up if my meetings clear.¡± ¡°Can someone else get me? I want-¡± Yvonne whisper¨Cshouted into his ear, throwing me a sidelong re. His jaw tightened. ¡°Pleeeeease, Daddy?¡± She batted hershes, the perfect little maniptor. Defeated, he ruffled her hair. ¡°Finish your chia pudding first.¡± She devoured it with performative gusto, shooting me a triumphant look. After dropping Yvonne off at school, Jared headed to work. I had business at thepany too, some financial matters needed sorting out. The moment I stepped into the finance department, I spotted Tracy. Her expression darkened when she saw me. As she turned to leave, she suddenly asked, ¡°A transfer of 3 million was made from Mr. Hob¡¯s personal ount yesterday. Do you know where that money went, Mrs. Hob?¡± 15:15 Wed, 13 Aug VI 1 blinked. Since when did Tracy have ess to Jared¡¯s finances? She was really stepping into the wife role, wasn¡¯t she? ¡°Why ask me? Ask him,¡± I shot back, no longer the meek woman I used to be. Tracy¡¯s face tightened. ¡°I will.¡± £¤ëƒ35% I was almost curious how Jared would exin this. Would he tell her the truth? If Tracy found out, she might just get mad on the spot. But knowing Jared, he¡¯d probably keep it to himself. He always guarded his privacy fiercely. As I left the finance office, I spotted Jared stepping out of the elevator. I pretended not to see him and turned the other way, but he called out, ¡°Honey,e to my office for a minute.¡± The entire hallway froze. Honey? Since when did he call me that in public? The man was putting on quite the devoted¨Chusband act. But everyone in thispany knew Tracy was his real love. Loose 143 Chapter 143 Æø33%º¬ I¡¯ll admit, I wasn¡¯t like those ruthless heroines from revenge novels, cold and calcting with every move. So when Jared offered me a home in one of the most expensive cities in the world, my resolve wavered. When we first got married, young and foolishly in love, I¡¯d insisted on signing a prenup to prove I wasn¡¯t after his wealth. Jared had resisted at first, but I was stubborn, determined to show everyone¨Chis parents, mine¨Cthat I loved him, not his money. In the end, the agreement was clear: anything Jared chose to give me would be mine, but I had no im to hispany shares or other assets. Even now, I had no idea how much he was really worth. But one thing was certain, buying a penthouse in Shariport was nothing more than pocket change to him. ¡°The property would be solely in your name,¡± he continued, voice low. ¡°A ce for you to escape to when you need space. And you love shopping, don¡¯t you? The boutiques here are unparalleled.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°Why the sudden generosity?¡± Jared turned away, his silhouette framed against the city lights. ¡°These past six years¡­ I¡¯ve been too focused on work. I neglected you and Yvonne. You raised her alone, I know it wasn¡¯t easy.¡± He paused. ¡°I understand why you¡¯re resentful. But Victoria¡­ let¡¯s try again. Let¡¯s fix this. Give Yvonne the family she deserves.¡± When he faced me again, his expression was unreadable, those dark eyes impossible to decipher. Was he sincere? Or was this just another game? In my previous life, this speech would¡¯ve shattered me. I¡¯d have sobbed into his chest, grateful for scraps of his attention. But not this time. If men were reliable, I wouldn¡¯t be here. Still, the game required finesse. Melissa¡¯s advice was working. Jared had been differenttely: gold bracelets ¡°just because,¡± stacks of cash slipped into my purse, and now this, a penthouse in Shariport? His motives were murky, but the assets were real. And they¡¯d be mine. I let my lower lip tremble. ¡°I just¡­ feel lost.¡± Stepping closer, I blinked up at him with ssy eyes, the perfect picture of fragile devotion. ¡°Like I have everything and nothing at once. Yvonne will grow up, and you¡­¡± A shaky breath. ¡°I¡¯ve always known I wasn¡¯t enough. Now you¡¯re soaring higher, and I¡¯m just¡­ stagnant. It terrifies me.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d leave?¡± His hand settled on my back, pulling me close. ¡°I might lose my way sometimes, but I alwayse home.¡± A thumb brushed my cheek. ¡°Want a career? I¡¯ll help.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I tilted my face up, all wide¨Ceyed hope. ¡°But you always said women can¡¯t bnce both.¡± ¡°Three years,¡± he conceded, fingers trailing through my hair. ¡°Focus on work now. Yvonne¡¯s too young to handle a sibling anyway. By ten, she¡¯ll adjust.¡± Of course. Our daughter remained his priority. ¡°Okay,¡± I agreed softly, then slipped from his arms with a calcted pause. ¡°Can we see that property tonight? Just the exterior?¡± Jared blinked. His gaze flicked to the king¨Csized bed, then back to me. ¡°Please?¡± I caught his sleeve, deploying the delicate, pleading tone men pr¨¦tend to hate. With a resigned sigh, he reached for his jacket. ¡°Fine. Let me change.¡± 777 33% 498 The high¨Crise loomed before us, its ss facade gleaming under the midnight lights. Even at this hour, construction crews worked¨Cproof this was the kind of elite development where money erased inconveniences like business hours. The sales center stood locked, but I didn¡¯t need to see interiors to know: this was power, crystallized in real estate. ¡°I want a higher floor,¡± I mused, tracing imaginary tiers in the air until my finger stopped at the 28th level. ¡°The view must be breathtaking.¡± Jared watched me, amused. ¡°We¡¯lle back tomorrow after the wedding.¡± ¡°Thank you, darling.¡± I coated the words in honey. He¡¯d noticed the change, of course, how my eyes now lingered on bnce sheets longer than on his face. But he¡¯d misinterpreted greed as insecurity, a w he could conveniently fix with more zeroes. Men love ying savior. Then, as I smiled my brightest, he struck: ¡°Victoria. One honest answer: do I still matter to you?¡± My focus slid from the penthouse to the man under the streemp. Honesty? Please. In my world, truths were just liabilities waiting to be weaponized. Jared stepped closer, undeterred. ¡°I want you to look at me like you used to. Like I¡¯m the only thing in the room.¡± I opened my mouth, then hesitated. Even lies tasted bitter now. When I stayed silent, Jared suddenly gripped the back of my neck, pulling me in. His lips crashed against mine, rough and possessive, before he released me just as abruptly. ¡°The first time I saw you,¡± he murmured, voice thick with something dangerously close to sincerity, ¡°I knew it wasn¡¯t just a passing attraction. My body recognized yours. You don¡¯t have topete with anyone. When you¡¯re near me, you win by default.¡± I nearlyughed. Oh, please. In my previous life, he¡¯d said the same damn thing to Tracy. She had been the one who ¡°won by default¡± while I withered in the shadows. Men were all the same, full of pretty words when they couldn¡¯t have what they wanted. But as I stared into his heated gaze, a cold realization settled in. I didn¡¯t want him, I wanted his money. And since he held the purse strings, I¡¯d have to y the game a little longer. Maybe I needed to adjust my mindset. Men were tools. Use them well today, discard them tomorrow. Jared was still my husband, after all. And I was no saint. He was handsome, loaded, and for now, mine. Why not enjoy the perks? Once the divorce papers were signed, a man like him wouldn¡¯t look my way twice. With a practiced smile, I tilted my head. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you tonight, honey? So sentimental, it¡¯s not like you.¡± Jared leaned against the car door, lighting a cigarette. Maybe he really was in a strange mood. ¡°I never believed it before,¡± he mused, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. ¡°But now I get it. The person you fall for at first sight¡­ no matter what happens, you¡¯ll always want them again.¡± He took another drag, the pale haze curling around his sharp features before he added, almost to himself, ¡°Our ending was written the day we met. Don¡¯t you think so, Victoria?¡± The ember glowed between us. No, I don¡¯t. Loose 144 Chapter 144 Men were baffling creatures. Even after years together, I still couldn¡¯t fully decipher Jared. What was the point of this sudden poetic introspection? Sweet talk had never been his style¨Chell, he wasn¡¯t even good at it. The Jared I knew was unshakablyposed, a man who strategized his way out of every problem with cold precision. A mind that sharp, paired with emotions? Dangerous. It made him twice as lethal, twice as maic. What woman could resist that kind of duality? ¡°You¡¯ve been awfully smoothtely, Jared,¡± I said, sping my hands behind my back with an innocent tilt of my head. ¡°Who¡¯s been coaching you?¡± His expression flickered¨Cjust for a second¨Cbefore freezing over. The moment his sincerity was questioned, its value crumbled. ¡°Victoria,¡± he gritted out, taking another irritated drag. ¡°What are you implying now?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Nothing at all. But you¡¯re awfully quick to assume. Guilty conscience, maybe?¡± His jaw tightened. He stubbed out the cigarette violently and turned away. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯ste.¡± He couldn¡¯t even look me in the eye. Good. Jared¡¯s fickleness was nothing new. He¡¯d always wanted his cake and someone else¡¯s, too. The only difference now? I¡¯d finally adopted the same mindset. Funny how perspective changes everything. Once your standards rise, even the most expertly crafted lies lose their vor. The hotel car glided through the city, a chauffeur handling thete¨Cnight drive. Exhausted, I leaned back and closed my eyes, drifting into a light doze. Then, an arm wrapped around me, pulling me against a firm chest. I blinked awake to find myself pressed against Jared, his scent still tinged with the faint, smoky bitterness of his earlier cigarette. A pang of bitterness twisted inside me. Now he decides to be affectionate¨Cnow, when I no longer love him. Where was this tenderness during all those years of marriage? He¡¯d never been this gentle before. I remembered all the times I¡¯d tried to seduce him¨Cfresh from the shower, wearing nothing but his dress shirt, slipping into his study with deliberate allure. His response? A detached ¡°Not now. I¡¯m in a meeting. People might see.¡± The memory of his indifference stung. I stiffened and pulled away. Jared, who¡¯d also been resting his eyes, frowned as his arms emptied. He cracked one lid open, studying me with that unnerving intensity. ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± I muttered under his heavy gaze. He said nothing, just closed his eyes again, letting me go without argument. By the time we returned to the hotel, it was past 2 AM. I headed straight for the shower, assuming Jared¨Calready cleaned up¨Cwould be asleep by the time I finished. But when I stepped out in my silk pajamas, there he stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, a half¨Cfinished ss of red wine in hand, silhouetted against the dimming city lights. My stomach dropped. Not this again. At the sound of my footsteps, he turned. Slowly, deliberately, he set the ss aside and prowled toward me, every movement a liquid grace. ¡°Tonight,¡± he murmured, voice rough, ¡°Can I?¡± I arched a brow, ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± Jared ignored me. His palm¨Cwarm, slightly calloused¨Ccupped my cheek, thumb brushing my lower lip. ¡°For the penthouse suite,¡± he coaxed, low and husky, ¡°give me a reward.¡± 33% Outside, the city pulsed with light, a glittering testament to greed and desire. His mouth found my corbone, teeth grazing skin. I tilted my head back, letting him deepen the kiss, my gaze fixed on the neon glow beyond the ss. Loose 145 Chapter 145 He was insatiable. An hourter, when he finally let me copse onto the pillows, I was half¨Cdelirious with exhaustion. Just as sleep dragged me under, his voice rumbled against my ear. ¡°Victoria¡­ was I good?¡± I almostughed. Men and their fragile egos, always hung up on those few inches of pride. Still, the suite was spectacr. I mumbled into the sheets, ¡°I guess you were alright.¡°. Jared went rigid. In one swift motion, he flipped me onto my back, eyes zing. ¡°Guess¡®? Just ¡®alright¡®?¡± Too tired to fight, I groaned. ¡°Fine. You were amazing. The best. Happy?¡± His scowl deepened, probably because of the grudging ¡°fine.¡± The night passed, and morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, stinging my eyes. I checked the time. It was 10 a.m. Jared was in the living room, taking one call after another. His face had gradually shifted into that polished, businesslike demeanor he wore so well. He turned to me and seized a pause between calls to say, ¡°Get dressed. We should head out soon.¡± I had brought an elegant, floor¨Clength gown¨Csoft pink, adorned with delicate hand¨Cembroidered birds and flowers. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the price had been steep. I¡¯d bought it because itplemented myplexion perfectly. After changing, I styled my thick, waist¨Clength hair and slipped on a pair of simple pearl drop earrings. The overall effect was understated, a far cry from the ostentatious style I¡¯d embraced in my previous life. Back then, I¡¯d worn my wealth like armor, dripping in jewelry, convinced that anything less than six figures¡® worth of essories would make people look down on me. Now? If anyone dared underestimate me, I¡¯d dismiss them just as easily. I treated everyone with the same detached indifference, Even Jared. In my previous life, he had been my sky, my god, my light. Now? Just a stepping stone for my ambitions, adder to reach the stars. As I turned, I found Jared leaning against the doorframe, idly/spinning his phone in his hand. ¡°Where are all your fancy jewelry pieces and designer bags? Forget to pack them?¡± He eyed my minimalist outfit, assuming I¡¯d left behind the trappings of status in my rush. I smirked. ¡°Those are just material things. Why would I need them when I have you? You¡¯re all the statement I need.¡± For a second, Jared froze. Then his lips curved, and he pinched my cheek yfully. ¡°Since when did you be so smooth with words?¡± I sighed dramatically. ¡°What can I say? A woman who doesn¡¯t sweet¨Ctalk is a woman who suffers.¡± Jared studied me, his gaze conflicted. ¡°You know, it¡¯s strange. I used toin that you were too nd. Now, I¡¯m almost afraid of how effortlessly charming you¡¯ve be,¡± I reached up to adjust his tie, my fingers brushing the crisp fabric of his shirt. ¡°Rx, husband. Your wife is going to make you proud.¡± I shed him a teasing smile. ¡°So you¡¯d better take good care of me.¡± He caught my hand¨Cthe one stirring trouble¨Cand pressed a kiss to my knuckles. ¡°Throwing you into the business world¡­ I worry someone might snatch you away one day.¡± 16:18 Thu, 14 Aug T I blinked, feigning innocence. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re overthinking it.¡± 59% But Jared suddenly pulled me close, his lips grazing my ear as he murmured, ¡°No, the world is harsher than you realize. I suppose I¡¯ll just have to be even more powerful, so no one daresy a finger on what¡¯s mine.¡± +28) I stayed silent, suppressing a scoff. Since when did Jared waste energy worrying about me? Did he actually think I was some kind of prize to be fought over? É« Loose 146 Chapter 146 Jared finally released me, his expression smoothing back into its usual controlled mask. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, stepping back. I watched his retreating figure, my lips curling in cold amusement. Was he really worried about losing control over me? Pathetic. 59% +20 The party hall was opulent, filled with well¨Cdressed guests milling about. Jared¡¯s cousin¡¯s family stood near the entrance, greeting arrivals. Jared¡¯s uncle John had moved to Shariport years ago. Though not in the business world himself, John still owned twopanies, having made his fortune reselling electronics back in the day. The man had old¨Cmoney savvy and the bank ount to match. When we arrived, John personally escorted us to a private dining room. Jared seemed to recognize most of the guests there, but they were strangers to me. It was a celebration, so many had brought wives or children. As I took my seat, I discreetly studied the wealthy women around me. Their faces were meticulously maintained, their designer outfits wless. But their eyes betrayed a quiet dissatisfaction, a hollowness behind the polished smiles. I saw myself in them, the version of me from my previous life, drowning in loneliness beneath a glittering facade. I wondered if my own eyes still carried traces of that darkness. But I refused to be that woman again. This time, I would be someone entirely new. As the wine flowed and conversation buzzed, I realized just how influential the guests were. But I also noticed one thing, Jared made sure I didn¡¯t exchange a single business card with any man there. So much forworking. I nearlyughed. Of course he didn¡¯t want me building my own connections. Typical. To Jared, my management of Harmonia Hotel was just a hobby, something to keep me upied but never powerful enough to rival him. I¡¯d been naive to think I could easily tap into his circle. Trailing beside Jared, I collectedpliments like trophies. Some men¡¯s gazes lingered a beat too long, their interest unmistakable. A woman¡¯s most captivating asset isn¡¯t just her appearance, it¡¯s vitality. That radiant, well¨Cnourished glow thates from within, the kind that makes men instinctively lean closer like sunflowers chasing daylight. Tonight, their attention had nothing to do with Jared¡¯s status. It was the flush in my cheeks from proper self¨Ccare, the effortless confidence of someone who¡¯d stopped fighting herself. By the third round of toasts, Jared was pleasantly drunk. I sipped my Bordeaux, hyperaware of the heat in the stare beside me. Turning, I found Jared watching me through loweredshes, that familiar possessive gleam in his eyes. My stomach twisted. What now? Am I back to being his arm candy? At its core, this was just male ego running wild. I avoided his gaze and stood abruptly. ¡°Restroom,¡± I announced. He nodded absently. The party hall¡¯s opulence suddenly felt suffocating. Instead of heading to thedies¡® room, I slipped through a side exit into a hushed corridor connecting to the adjacent five¨Cstar hotel. The quiet was a relief, I decided to take the scenic route back, anything to dy returning to that den of intoxicated posturing, ¡°Ugh-¡± The retching sound came from behind a potted fern. A hunched figure in a white tee clutched the nter, tinum chain glinting 16:19 Thu, 14 Aug under recessed lighting. ¡°Got any tissues?¡± the stranger rasped without turning. Digging into my clutch, I offered a packet of Vinda wipes. ¡°Thanks,¡± he mumbled, wiping his mouth. When he finally looked up, I caught my breath. The kid couldn¡¯t be older than twenty¨Cone. But god¨Cthat face. All sharp cheekbones and insolent charm, like a young aristocrat who¡¯d stumbled out of aing¨Cof¨Cage film. He staggered upright, shing a grin that made his chain gleam. ¡°Appreciate it, Ma¡¯am.¡± His voice held that raw, just¨Cmatured timbre unique to college boys. I asked him, ¡°Are you here for the wedding next door?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Nope.¡± AD Loose 147 58% I shrugged and turned to leave. Just then, a group of men in sharp suits rushed down the hallway. As they passed me, one doubled back. ¡°Excuse me, have you seen a guy in a white T¨Cshirte this way?¡± My pulse spiked. The way they carried themselves screamed trouble. Thinking of the tipsy boy from earlier, I lied, ¡°Yeah, I think he went that way.¡± The men immediately halted, then stormed off in the direction I¡¯d pointed. A low chuckle sounded behind me. ¡°Thanks. You¡¯re the best.¡± I turned to see the boy stepping out from behind a pir and frowned. ¡°Are they after you? Why aren¡¯t you running?¡± Leaningzily against the pir, he smirked. ¡°They are after me. But I don¡¯t need to run.¡± Youth really was wasted on the reckless. Facing capture, he still looked utterly confident. ¡°Well, good luck not getting caught,¡± I said dryly before walking away. By the time I returned to the private dining room, Jared was still holding his liquor¨Cimpressive, given how much he¡¯d drunk. ¡°We¡¯re heading to John¡¯s ce. Let¡¯s go.¡± Jared braced himself against the table and stood, only to sway dangerously before slumping against me. ¡°Victoria, help me out.¡± I barely resisted rolling my eyes in front of everyone and half¨Cdragged him out. We slid into a car, Jared still clinging to me like a leech. I ignored him the whole ride. John¡¯s three¨Cstory vi was a testament to his wealth in this ridiculously expensive city. When we arrived, the Hobs were already there, including Quinn, who hadn¡¯t shown up at dinner earlier. Quinn and John¡¯s daughter Fiona had always been close, being around the same age. Now, they were sprawled on the couch, nning their shopping spree for the night. The second she spotted us, Quinn bounded over, but only to Jared. ¡°Jared! Finally. Fiona and I are hitting the town tonight. You should sponsor me.¡± Jared sank onto the sofa, unimpressed. ¡°You get an allowance every month. How is it not enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s never enough. If you don¡¯t give me more, I¡¯ll just¡­¡± She smirked. ¡°Find a boyfriend to fund me instead.¡± Same old maniption, threatening her reputation. And Jared, as always, fell for it. With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and made a call. Momentster, Quinn¡¯s ount bnce jumped enough to make her grin. She nted a kiss on his cheek. ¡°Thanks, Jared! You¡¯re the best.¡± Jared wiped his face with a grimace. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid. Be safe.¡± ¡°Rx.¡± Only then did she seem to notice me, shing a sharine smile. ¡°Oh, Victoria. Didn¡¯t expect you here. You and Jared getting cozy again?¡± I returned a razor¨Cthin smile. ¡°You must be imagining things. Nothing¡¯s changed.¡± ¡°Sure doesn¡¯t look that way. Feeling a little threatened?¡± she whispered. I shifted my gaze to her. I still remembered the concert where she dragged Yvonne off to hang with Tracy. Looked like my dear sister¨Cinw 58% couldn¡¯t wait for Tracy to rece me. Tracy never yed fair, but she always made it look legitimate. First, she cozied up to Yvonne; now she was buying Quinn off. Next stop, Jared¡¯s mother, Sally? Once everyone adored her, Jared would fall right into line. Same ybook asst time. +28 I kept my voice light. ¡°Threatened? Please. Any man who can be stolen is trash in my book. I¡¯d toss the garbage out myself, no need to wait for someone else to take it.¡± Quinn¡¯s expression went Technicolor. She red at me, then flicked her eyes toward Jared chatting on the couch. Jared hadn¡¯t heard a word, but Quinn looked ready to tear me apart. ¡°Vic, that¡¯s harsh. Even if my brother were ¡®trash, everyone still wants him.¡± I shrugged, all smiles. ¡°Hey, just making a point. I never said he was trash. I said men who can be stolen are. Subtle difference.¡± ¡°You-¡± Quinn practically detonated, but with so many people around, she couldn¡¯t start a scene. She snatched up her purse and stormed out. Loose 148 Chapter 148 581 In my previous life, Quinn and I were oil and water. She thought I was a freeloader because I asked Jared for money and called me a parasit When I refused to divorce him, she cornered me at the door and shouted every insult she could think of. Remembering that sharp tongue o hers, this time around, I¡¯m not giving her an inch. If she jabs at me, I¡¯ll jab right back. I slid onto the couch next to Jared. They were deep in conversation. Apparently, some high¨Cprofile, blue¨Cblooded figure was being flown in from Braylin for medical treatment, and John was trying to pull strings for a visit. So far, no luck. Jared shook his head. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t make that happen.¡± John sighed in disappointment, then filled us in. ¡°The old man¡¯s in his seventies, doesn¡¯t have long. Word is his kids are tearing each other apart over the inheritance. A car ident overseas took out the second son a few weeks ago.¡± A shadow crossed Jared¡¯s face. His long fingers tapped the edge of the coffee table. ¡°The richer the bloodline, the nastier the feud. And that family¡¯s connected to forces way deeper than money. Life and death are always up in the air with them.¡± John nodded. ¡°The guy¡¯s soft spot is his youngest grandson, brought the kid along for his treatments. Wherever the grandpa goes, the kid goes. If the old man dies, that boy¡¯s in trouble. ¡°His dad was killed years ago, so he¡¯s only got his mom¡¯s rtives for backup. I¡¯m betting his grandpa leaves everything to him in the end.¡± Jared¡¯s brows inched up. ¡°The grandson¡¯s in his twenties, right? Which school?¡± ¡°Shaville University. Senior year,¡± John said, clearly well briefed. ¡°Okay, Uncle John, I can introduce you to a couple of people. Whether yound a meeting is on you.¡± With that, Jared stood and stepped outside to make a call. I caught maybe half the story¨Cold¨Cmoney n, ugly session war, a kid about to get steam¨Crolled. At dinner, Jared got pulled away by another phone call, so I stayed with John¡¯s family. The older rtives zeroed in on one topic: when I nned on giving them a baby boy. They listed the perks of having a son while I smiled, nodded on cue, and maintained my gracious¨Cwife fa?ade. By the time I reached the hotel, it was past ten. Instead of phoning Jared, I asked the driver to take me to the harbor, locals said the night views were Instagram gold. The driver was a sweetheart, giving me a mini tour, pointing outndmarks, even snapping a few pictures for me. Just as I was about to head back, my phone buzzed. A text from Tracy: [Mr. Hob¡¯s drunk. You should go to sleep, Mrs. Hob.] I stared at the message in silence, then tossed the phone onto the seat and turned to the window. The car stereo was ying a moody Secret Garden track, sounded like a farewell poem in disguise. Jared¡¯s hot¨Cand¨Ccold routine these past few days? ssic. At the end of the day, a dog still loves its bone. Bon app¨¦tit, Jared. Choke on it if you must. I made it back to the hotel, showered, and went straight to bed. Honestly, I figured Jared and Tracy would be going at it till dawn. But at a little after two¨Cthirty a.m., the door banged open. Jared stumbled in, dead¨Cdrunk, half¨Ccarried by the chauffeur. Their noise yanked me out of a light sleep. 1/3 58%5 Still in my silk night¨Cset¨Csnow¨Cwhite, V¨Cneck, and anything but modest, I padded into the living room. The driver¡¯s eyes locked on me for one stunned heartbeat, then shot to the floor. Jared waved him off with azy ¡°Thanks, man,¡± and the poor guy all but sprinted. Yes, the look was deliberate. Figure¨Chugging satin, bare feet, loose hair, every inch the gorgeous wife who knows the family dog¡¯s been rooting in garbage and is already nning her next spring fling. Jared wasn¡¯t ckout, just buzzed enough to reel. He reached for my curves like a reflex. ¡°Have fun tonight, honey?¡± I asked, ducking out of reach and heading back to the master bedroom. Door closed. Lights out. 29 Sunrise. He woke up on the couch, stiff and furious. ¡°Victoria, did you seriously leave me out here?¡± I sat in a corner chair flipping through Vogue. ¡°Sorry, babe. Me gragging a six¨Cfoot man to bed wasn¡¯t happening. At least I made sure you didn¡¯t face¨Cnt on the floor.¡± ¡°Victoria, I was entertaining clients till three a.m. and this is how you reward me?¡± He snatched the magazine from my hands. I tilted my head. ¡°Thought Tracy had you covered. Surprised she let youe home. How inconsiderate of her.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°How do you know she was with me?¡± I held up my phone. ¡°She texted. Very thoughtful of her, really.¡± He pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Tracy was just¡­ looking out for me. She didn¡¯t want you worrying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried. If anything, I should learn from her. How to empathize with a husband who ¡®works¡®te.¡± My voice stayed velvet¨Csmooth, but color drained from his face. He retreated to the bathroom, showered, and emerged fresh¨Cpressed yet pale fromck of sleep. ¡°So,¡± he said, nting himself in front of me, ¡°what do you want to do today? I¡¯ll take you anywhere.¡± ¡°No, thanks, I feel like exploring solo. You handle your business.¡± He sat, reached for my hand. I casually lifted a teacup instead, letting his fingers meet empty air. His gaze followed the miss. ¡°Are you mad again? I¡¯m sorry. Next time Tracy shows up, I¡¯ll tell you right away. No more misunderstandings.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t a misunderstanding,¡± I answered calmly. ¡°Tracy sacrifices a lot for thepany. I¡¯m not that unreasonable.¡± ¡°Victoria, drop the sarcasm.¡± His patience frayed. ¡°I need you to give me a little grace. Stop sweating the small stuff. Can you do that for me?¡± There he was, the real Jared, head of the household in fullmand. The tender, soulful husband? An illusion. Once the mask dropped, he was all Siberian permafrost. Cold, hard, unyielding. I filed his warning away, then smiled sweetly ¡°Honey, maybe I¡¯m still not ¡®thoughtful¡® enough. Tell me what to fix. From now on, and Tracy travel, I won¡¯t ask questions. At the office, I¡¯ll put her needs first. How¡¯s that?¡± when you A storm cloud darkened his face. ¡°Are we seriously at the point,¡± he murmured, ¡°where there¡¯s zero¨Cabsolutely zero¨Cmarital feeling left between us?¡± Loose 149 Chapter 149 This was the first time since my rewind that things had gotten truly icy between us, and it wasn¡¯t my n. But Jared stayed out all night. Did that business excuse make him automatically right? In my previous life, I swallowed every slight until it made me sick. Yes, I love Jared¡¯s money, but scarfing down garbage is still disgusting. ¡°Jared,¡± I said, meeting his eyes, ¡°every guy dreams of a second home and a new woman, same way some folks think a man only really hits the jackpot once his wife¡¯s in the grave. ¡°Problem is, I¡¯m not dead yet. I keep up your image; the least you can do is respect my feelings.¡± Shock rippled across his face. The pliable girl who once worshiped him had grown venomous fangs. I lowered my gaze,ughing at myself. ¡°Women lose because we buy into ¡®forever and ever, just us two.¡® Men are usually drafting other ns.¡± Jared¡¯s brows knit as if he¡¯d forgotten how to argue back. ¡°Victoria, listen. I¡¯m not talking divorce. I¡¯m under insane pressure right now. We had overseas clientsst night. I asked Tracy to help because she speaks sixnguages, she¡¯s better at that than I¡¯ll ever be.¡± His words tumbled out in a rush. Couldn¡¯t fault him there. He did need the support, and Tracy¡¯s polyglot r¨¦sum¨¦ beat my stay¨Cat¨Chome skills hands down. Still, where did that leave me, the wife? I let out a breath. In that moment, even I wondered whether I was ying the role of ¡°wife¡± all wrong. What does apetent spouse even look like? ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said before he could. Jared¡¯s eyes widened. He¡¯d geared up for another jealous meltdown, ready to referee a steel¨Ccage match between me and Tracy. Instead, I apologized. His hand shot out, closing over mine. ¡°You didn¡¯t do a thing wrong,¡± he said quickly. ¡°This is on me. I should¡¯ve told you where I was and what I was doing. Anyone would overthink.¡± I slipped my hand from his, rose, and turned to the picture window where the first warm light of dawn was pushing over the skyline. ¡°Maybe I just don¡¯t know how to be anybody¡¯s wife, Jared. Maybe neither of us is actually at fault.¡± He stood so fast the chair scraped back. A momentter, his arms slid around me from behind, chin resting in the curve of my shoulder. ¡°If nobody¡¯s wrong, then let¡¯s not fight. I cleared my calendar; today is all yours.¡± I shook my head, then pivoted and put gentle distance between us. ¡°Did you even nce at your cor when you got out of the shower?¡± Jared blinked. I continued, ¡°Two lipstick smudges. You forgot to wipe them off.¡± His face nched. ¡°I was hammered. Honest to God, I don¡¯t remember half the night, but I swear I didn¡¯t sleep with anyone.¡± He kept talking, piling on assurances. I felt¡­ nothing. ¡°I believe you,¡± I said evenly. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t deliberately betray me. Still, someone wanted those marks where I¡¯d find them.¡± I folded my own arms, giving myself a quick squeeze/¡°Beautiful morning. I¡¯m heading out for a bit.¡± ¡°Wantpany?¡± he asked, voice low. Loose 150 ¡°No. I¡¯ll just wander.¡± I grabbed my tote and walked out before he could marshal another argument. Behind me, he hesitated, still rattled by the lipstick stains, probably still reying whatever heat he and Tracy stirred upst night. The elevator doors closed, and my phone pinged. A text¨Cof course¨Cfrom Ms. Darwin herself. Tracy: [Mr. Hob didn¡¯t throw upst night, did he? Sorry, I couldn¡¯t stop him. Two new deals in the bag, he was over the moon. I¡¯ll make sure he drinks less next time.] My stomach rolled at her y. Silence would only let her think she¡¯d hurt me, so I tapped back. [So thoughtful, Tracy. Next time, stamp the lipstick on his chest. That way, even without a heads¨Cup, I¡¯ll know exactly how much fun you two had.] Message sent. No reply. Was she rattled¡­ or just busy savoring her triumph? Hard to say, and I honestly didn¡¯t care. I spent thete morning drifting through the luxury boutiques, snagging a silk scarf for Mom, a leather wallet for Dad, and a DSLR camera my kid brother had been begging for. Around noon, I ducked into a sun¨Csshed caf¨¦ that overlooked the indoor concourse. The sleepy, after¨Clunch sunlight felt like a weighted nket across my shoulders. ¡°Hey¨CMa¡¯am!¡± I nced up. Outside the window stood the same kid who¡¯d staggered into me in the hotel corridorst night, drunk on everything butmon sense. Today he wore a gray tee and baggy jeans, tall and fresh¨Cfaced enough to make a college admissions officer weep with joy. ¡°Small world, huh?¡± he said as he slid into the chair opposite mine. Iughed. Two run¨Cins in forty¨Ceight hours. Even Romeo and Juliet had to work harder. He propped his chin on his hand, eyes crinkling. ¡°You here alone?¡± ¡°Yep. Just doing a little shopping.¡± ¡°Me too. Mind if I get you something? Coffee? Dessert?¡± ¡°Appreciate it, but I was just about to head out for lunch.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Disappointment flickered for half a second, then he bounced up to the counter, borrowed a pen and a slip of paper, and dropped them in front of me. ¡°Name¡¯s Ryan Jennings. My cell¡¯s on there. I¡¯m from Shaville. You local?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m living in Hachester,¡± I said. He looked happy. ¡°Not bad. We¡¯re practically neighbors.¡± His handwriting was borderline calligraphic. I raised an eyebrow, and he flushed like a kid caught practicing love poems. Just then, his phone vibrated. He nced at the screen and grimaced. ¡°Gotta run. My grandpa¡¯s here for treatment. I¡¯m supposed to pick up a gift for him before visiting hours end. Next time I¡¯m up your way, can I take you to lunch?¡± I started to shake my head, then surprised myself by nodding. ¡°Sure. Drop a line.¡± Loose 151 Chapter 151 As I looked at Jared, my mood tanked. Sure, he had been acting bettertely, but just thinking about all that shady stuff with Tracy made ina sick Le wweet word from him just tasted like poison. Jared frowned a little, ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to see the real estate agent? Why didn¡¯t you pick up? Did you change your mind?¡± ¡°Of course not ot¡± I blurted out. ¡°Let¡¯s do it next week, I¡¯ll just pick theyout online,¡± Seeing that I was finally taking him seriously, Jared smiled. ¡°Wright¡± On the drive back, Jaied grow noticeably quieter. I knew the pressure from work was weighing on him. He was always in a rush to hit it big However, that was his thing, not mine. It had nothing to do with me. In his previous life, he had earned a fortune, yet he spent so little on me. What he had spent on me didn¡¯t even amount to a fifth of what he had freely handed to the Darwin family. Every ounce of his grind now was for Tracy and her family. I saw no reason to pity him¡­ By the time we returned to Hachester, night had already fallen. Summer was just around the corner, and Yvonne¡¯s vacation wasing up When we got back, Jared said he missed Yvonne and asked if I wanted to have dinner at Sally¡¯s house. I was tired, so I said no. He went by himself. A little after ten, Jared came back with Yvonne fast asleep in his arms. He put her in her room, then, noticing I still hadn¡¯t shown up, knocked on my door. I was lying back in the rocking chair by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, a face mask on. Jared said, his voice low. ¡°Yvonne is home. Don¡¯t you want to see her? ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± I said Matly. ¡°Victoria, you don¡¯t act like a mom.¡± Jared was clearly mad. He walked over, looking down at me. ¡°Yvonne is under seven, How can you treat her like this? Who are you really angry at, her or me?¡± I looked at him in silence, Jared had never lived through what I had, so he couldn¡¯t possibly understand my grief, I understood that. The problem was, love couldn¡¯t be faked. Jared¡¯s face tightened with disappointment, like a silent judgment. ¡°Victoria, I let you do things your way, but you¡¯re still a mom. Don¡¯t forget that.¡± Jared might indulge me in other matters, but when it came to Yvonne, he never backed down. Maybe it was the warmth of the family life I had once created that had drawn him in so deeply. Losing that just lit the fuse on his anger I stayed silent, unsure of what I could possibly say. Jared turned away and paused at the door. ¡°Yvonne doesn¡¯t need you to be her mom. If you don¡¯t want her, someone out there will take your ce.¡± My heart skipped a beat. I slowly sat up, feeling like things were starting to y out exactly like they had before. This time, I was the one giving him and Yvonne, handing Tracy the chance she wanted, in my previous life, she had pushed me into aer until i had no fight left, and just let them go and left. Humiliation and fury surged within me. I said, ¡°Sure. If you¡¯ve got a better option, go for it.¡± Loose 152 Chapter 152 ¡°Victoria, that¡¯s enough,¡± Jared finally roared, spinning around to selge my tm and yank me toward him. ¡°Are you sure about this? Do you truly want bui divorce?¡± I pulled the mask off img face and looked straight at him. ¡°We¡¯re past the point of no return, aren¡¯t we?¡± saw pain flicker in Jared¡¯s eyes, which surprised me. He hardly ever looked like that. To me, he had always been calm and collected, I had never seen this blend of anger and hurt, not even before. It. He told me I could ask for anything, but we were still getting divorced. And even if we Even when we talked about divorce before, he was cool about it. didn¡¯t, he would still be with Tracy. Seeing him look so heartbroken, I didn¡¯t know what to say. I didn¡¯t like the way he was gripping me. It hurt, so I pushed him off right away. He stumbled back a few steps, staring at me in shock. I had no idea what was going through his mind. To me, divorce wasn¡¯t a big deal. However, if brought it up while he was this mad, I probably wouldn¡¯t walk away with much money. That didn¡¯t matter. More than money, I needed a quiet life. In my previous life, I was stuck in so much pain that life felt pointless. I would be happy to get a diverco. I said, ¡°Jared, don¡¯t look at me like that. If you can find someone who¡¯s a better mother for Wonne, then congrattions I felt sure of myself, but the tears wouldn¡¯t stop. I guess I was only pretending to be tough. Deep down, I was still fragile. Jared stared at me nkly, kind of dazed. We hadid everything bare. Our marriage had reached its end, with no path back. Jared said nothing more, only turned and walked out, his steps stiff and heavy. Trested my forehead in my hand, my mind a total nk I was never good at pretending, I couldn¡¯t fake warmth for him. Maybe he already saw through
  1. me.
Maybe by tomorrow morning, there would be divorce papers on my nightstand, waiting for my signature. Just like in my previous life, Jared would give me no more than three days to decide. For no clear reason, an irritation began to stir inside me. barely slept the entire night. The next morning, I listened to the footsteps outside, picturing Jared sitting in his room, smoking all night and finishing up the divorce agreement. I thought he woulde in, fling open my door, and toss the divorce papers onto my bed. The footsteps faded, and I caught the faint sound of Yvonne crying. She seemed to be looking for me, but I pretended not to hear. Jared talked to her in a calm tone, and before long Wonne went downstairs with him. The corridor wentpletely quiet. I changed my clothes but didn¡¯t rush to go down. Standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, I caught sight of Jared in a ck T¨Cshirt, getting into a car to drive Yvonne to school. When I finally made it downstairs, Wendy greeted me with a warm smile and brought me breakfast. She said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, you¡¯re really lucky. In all my years as a housekeeper, I¡¯ve never seen a man like Mc. Hob. He eats breakfast with the child 10 23:595 Mon 10-ES every single day.¡± I froze for a second. I didn¡¯t think Wendy would still see Jared as a good man. AD Comment Loose 153 Chapter 153 I just smiled and stayed quiet. Wendy, perceptive as ever, saw had no interest in talking about Jared and slipped back into the kitchen Instead of going to the office, I went to the temporary workspace next to Harmonia Hotel. After yesterday¡¯s fight, there was no way I could face Jare without showing my displeasure. I checked the renovation work at Harmonia Hotel and thought about taking both hotels off his hands to run myself. I knew it would be tough without the right connections, but I still wanted to give it a shot. By the afternoon, my phone tang. It was Jared. I was still debating whether to answer when I saw him through the ss door, phone in hand. This sneaky man was just checking my reaction, I nced up, and he hung up and walked in. The moment he arrived in person, a few colleagues quickly found excuses to slip out, leaving just the two of us in the office. I kept my face cold, eyes on theputer, refusing to look at him. He dragged a chair over and sat beside me, his gaze fired on my screen. I shut the file, leaving a screen full of shirtless male models with killer abs and charming looks. Jared had been expressionless, but at the sight of my screen, his expression darkened. ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°Got the divorce agreement ready? I can sign whenever,¡± I said without looking at him. Jared¡¯s jaw tightened. After a moment of silence, he asked, ¡°Do you still want the ce in Shariport?¡± I stared at him. Meeting my gaze, he said, ¡°I got one. 1.5 thousand square feet, 28th floor, fully furnished. Do you want it!¡± I blinked, thrown off. I was talking about divorce papers, and he was talking about a Shariport apartment My fingers tightened no y games with me.¡± on the armrest, my expressionced with mockery. ¡°Seriously? We¡¯re divorcing. Buying me a ce now is pointless. Jared, don¡¯t Jared frowned. ¡°I know you¡¯re disappointed in me, but I¡¯ve always kept my word. If I said I¡¯d give you the apartment, I would.¡± I let out a derisiveugh. ¡°Forget it.¡± Jared¡¯s face instantly soured, a hint of anger flickering in his eyes. ¡°You think there¡¯s something improper between Tracy and me, don¡¯t you? I did think she¡¯d be useful at work and a good partner at home. ¡°She¡¯s got skills, a background like mine, and is attentive and passionate. I thought about going further with her, but never acted on it. What else do you want to know!¡± Jared actually admitted his feelings for Tracy. I froze, looking at him. ¡°If you want to live with her, then just be straightforward about it. I agree with what you said. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t get jealous. r call. I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Jared, let¡¯s stop fighting, Follow your heart, Whoever you want to choose is your o Jared¡¯s face darkened, I made myself clear, but he still seemed unhappy. ¡°You¡¯re so urmeasonable,¡± Jared said. ¡°Are you still interested in the apartment? I set up a meeting to sign the contract tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Thad to admit that Jared was efficient. ¡°If you still want it,e with me tonight. If not, I¡¯ll give the apartment to Youne.¡± Jared sounded like he was deliberately trying to provoke me ¡°I want it¡± I didn¡¯t care about pride or anything else. If he wanted to give it, I wasn¡¯t saying no. Chapter¨C153 ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head to the almort¡± Jared Saldi pot up. ¡°Trhy all your document Inodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got everything with in.¡± Jared and I hurried to the airport, and the scenery along the way seemed somehow brighter. At the airport, Jared called Yvonne and then handed me his phone. ¡°She wants to talk to yal I took the phone and heard Yvonne promise, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry for being so stulibarn before. I promise I¡¯ll behave and won¡¯tory anymore. Please don¡¯t leave me, okay? I¡¯ll be good. Please don¡¯t divorce Dad,¡± My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Jared. I hadn¡¯t expected him to tell Yvonne about our devorce Yvonne said, ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t leave me. I was wrong I¡¯ll do whatever you want from now on, and I won¡¯t cry agai I listened to Yvonne¡¯s repeated promises over the phone with growing irritation. I knew those words were as fragile as bubbles. ¡°Alright, stop crying. Just think things through before you do anything next time.¡± I didn¡¯tfort her; I ended the call abruptly. Jared stared at me in shock, apparently unprepared for my coldness. Yyonne was crying on the phone, and I just ended the call like that. Thanded the phone back and slumped over the nearby table, silent. I wished Yvonne would misbehave like she did in my previous life, so I could just dislike her and ignore her without feeling bad. However, apologizing to me. It was as if she valued me more than Tracy. Jared ced a hand on my shoulder, soothing in a low voice, ¡°Alright, stop crying. Yvonne is used to getting her way. She might have said some harsh things before, but she is sorry. Just forgive her. She¡¯s still a kid. ¡°I told her no matter what, she has to treat you like her mom with love and respect. No rudeness allowed.¡± Jared¡¯s words struck me deeply. I turned to look at him, my eyes rimmed red with tears. Jared saw me crying and softened up. ¡°I know you¡¯re hurting, Victoria, Yvonne won¡¯t be mad at you anymore. Can we please stop talking about divorce?¡± I was surprised. Jared should be preparing the divorce papers now, not trying to hold me back with a house and Yvonne¡¯s apologies I didn¡¯t understand what was happening. I thought this time, things would go like they did before. silence and assumed I might be giving in. He hugged me, chin resting on my shoulder, and said, ¡°Every couple fights, it¡¯s how they figure out what they want, Jared noticed my ¡°I know you feel wronged. I¡¯m under pressure too. I hope you understand. Victoria, let¡¯s move past this, alright? + pushed him away, determined not to yield. AD No Ads Cont Loose 154 Chapter 154 frained the warm mood, and Jared looked at me seriously. Howered my head, pretending to check my phone. Even if red hadn¡¯t cheated yet this i time, thinking of the shame and Parent from my predsta People changed, and so did love. Maybe I valued love too much before, or maybe I was just afraid of what people would think if I divanced However, my failed marriage in my previous life made my parents worry about me even more. I felt I had let them down. Jared suddenly got quiet and distant. Seeing that I wouldn¡¯t talk to him, he turned to his own affairs. The nended, and we headed to the hotel. Jased had booked a presidential suite with two bedrooms. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m sorry. I know you¡¯re a woman who values love above all else. Give me some time. I¡¯ll make things right, okay?¡± Jared acted like a character straight out of a romance novel. I stood there, looking at him. He came over and kissed my forehead, ¡°Good night.¡± Then he went into his bedroom, and I turned and headed to the other one.. The night passed quietly. The next morning. Jared showed me the model house. Shariport prices were steep, and this ce cost a fortune. However, Jared paid without batting an eye, presenting the apartment as a gh. Aher finishing the property paperwork, Jared took me out for lunch. He chose a restaurant with a stunning view overlooking Sharport¡¯s busting business district and shopping malls. Jared sipped his coffee with grace, smiling as he said, ¡°victoria, after all these years of marriage, we rarely have a meal alone like this. Sorry, I was too caught up with work and ignored you.¡± I took a sip of my coffee and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not a perfect wife either Jared froze for a moment, then said, ¡°To me, you¡¯ve always been a perfect wife. I¡¯ve just been too greedy¡± ¡°Do you really think so? I¡¯ve just been coasting these six years, never, trying to improve myself to keep up with you. I¡¯m azy wife,¡± I said, ying along as Jaredplimented me. Jared chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°When I married you, I promised to give you a life without worries. You¡¯re so pretty, and when I first met you, you were like a flower about to bloom. Flowers like that need to be cared for.¡± I stared at him and said, ¡°Flowers will fast and need a lot of care. I¡¯m not fragile like that at all.¡± ¡°Victoria, you¡¯ve been pretty sharp You¡¯ve changed a lot, Jared said, a mix of helplessness and fondness in his expression as he leaned back in his chair. He looked so polished and handsome, with that look of affection in his eyes. I was totally hooked on him before However, now, when I saw a good¨Clooking man, all I wanted was to outshine him at work, not be his wife anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten sharp¨Ctongued. Don¡¯t you like it?¡± raised an eyebrow, teasing a bit. Jared shook his head, examining me with interest. ¡°No, you¡¯re good like this. You¡¯re no longer a gentle lily. You¡¯re a wild rose with thorns.¡± Loose 155 zily ran my fingers through my hair, propping my chin on my hand as I payed not the window. ¡°Se sther with thoms or not, your eyes,¡± Jared blinked, a little thrown off. Just then, hunch arrived. He towered his voice, ¡°Alright, let¡¯verjoy the meat.¡± Late leisurely while Jai ed seemed lost in thought. He barely touched his food, and only half a bottle of red wine passed his lips. ¡°Victoria, if there¡¯s anything at work you need help with, just tell me? Jared said, seeming to guess my ambition and trying to please me, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll consult you if I don¡¯t understand something,¡± I said. ¡°Consult?¡± Jared teased, looking at me. ¡°Tim your husband. ¡°Consult¡® doesn¡¯t sound right.¡± I took a bite of steak, speaking between chews, ¡°I treated you like my husband, I¡¯d lose motivation to learn, but if I treated you like my teacher, it would be different.¡± Jared shook his head helplessly. ¡°Fine, you can see me as whatever you other Halfway through meal, Jared¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it, then stood up. Tll be back soon. I saw him step out and answer the phone in the hallway. I immediately guessed it was from Tracy. Tracy must be anxious. She probably knew Jared brought me to Shariport to buy a house, and she had sensed that he had been focusing more on me quickly, so when Jared thought of being with her, he would feel even more guilty about me. 1 press him for details. Jared returned from the call and resumed eating as if nothing had happened. I didn¡¯t p After we finished eating, Jared took me shopping in Radiance. Heplimented my figure and bought me lots of clothes, bags, and jewelry. Watching Jared pay so smoothly made me ponder if we were really divorced, days like this would be gone, unless I could earn a lot on my own. Maybe that was the trap for housewives. After divorcing, the quality of life dropped sharply. That was why many women who were used to luxury dared not divorce easily. By the time we returned from Shariport, night had fallen, Yvonne was whining to go home, and Sally and Quinn brought her back. Seeing them, I felt nervous, wondering if they knew about my and Jared¡¯s house¨Cbuying trip to Sharport today. ¡°It¡¯ste. You two should head back, Jared said, Quinn looked at me like I was an enemy. I snapped at herst time in Shariport, and she held a grudge. ¡°Did you guys go on a trip?¡± Quinn asked casually. ¡°Just took Victoria out to rx, Jared replied calmly ¡°Is that why you left the kid with us!¡± Quinn said, then turned to me. ¡°Victoria has been a housewife for years, and now she wants to work. I think she just doesn¡¯t want to take care of Yvonne. How can she do that?¡± Yvonne curled up on the couch, silent. Sally immediately said, ¡°Quinn, enough. Victoria wants a different lifestyle. It¡¯s not your concern.¡± 23:59 Mon, 18 ALG- ¡°Mom, you¡¯re spoiling her Now she doesn¡¯t even care for Yvonne. She can¡¯t even. Jared¡¯s expression dalkened suddenly, his voice stern. ¡°Quinn, watch your fons.¡± a mother, Quinn salt sharply, full of s AD Loose 156 Chapter 156 Quinn was always proud and arrogant Spoiled by Jared since childhood, she constantly tried to belittle me in front of him, thadong tromssed to tension between us and didn Fintend to respond However, Quinn had no intention of backing down I stayed quiet, knowing speaking up would only upset them more. They were family, while I was an outsider. A fierce quarrel would only hurt me. Tears instantly welled in Quinn¡¯s eyes. Looking at Jared with a hurt expression, she said, ¡°Ever since you got married, you don¡¯t love me anymore. Sally was surprised and quickly held Quinn¡¯s arm, ¡°What are you talking about? Jared is married, and of course, he loves his wife. You¡¯ll get married one day, too. What¡¯s there to cry about?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that¡± Quinn cried. ¡°She¡¯s not good enough for Jared. I just don¡¯t like her. Jared, she¡¯s got such a bad temper. Why do you defend Her so much? You should just divorce her. Someone like her ¡°Quinn, don¡¯t make me hit you,¡± Jared said, staring seriously at her. Quinn was stunned, her face instantly going pale, and she forgot what she was about to say I stayed out of it, thinking it was smart not to pick a fight. If I argued with Quinn, I would be the one in trouble. As long as I stayed silent, I would be the reasonable one. I had to admit that arguing took skill. Suddenly. Quinn lunged at me and shoved me with all her strength. ¡°Victoria, this is all your fault. I hate you.¡± I lost my bnce and fell backward. Thankfully, there was a couch behind me, but I was still stunned. Jared quickly came over and helped me up, staring coldly at Quinn. ¡°In these three years abroad w worse. If you disrespect her again, you know what will happen.¡± Quinn stood there, tears welling, overwhelmed by shock, anger, and panic. haven¡¯t changed your nasty temper. It¡¯s gotten Sally was surprised. She gently tapped Quinn¡¯s arm. ¡°Why are you picking on Victoria? You¡¯re not married, so you don¡¯t understand how a family works. Husbands and wives each have their roles to y. ¡°Victoria just doesn¡¯t work. She handles everything else well. Stop finding faults with her ande home with me.¡± ¡°Mom, why does everyone act like I¡¯m the one making trouble? Just look at her. All she ever does is y the victim,¡± Quinn yelled, jabbing a finger at me. She was right. I was ying the victim now, but my goal was to provoke her further. ¡°Quinn.¡± Jared became mad ¡°Babe.¡± I grabbed Jared¡¯s arm, lowering my voice. ¡°Don¡¯t me her. She¡¯s right. I¡¯m and have no self¨Cesteem.¡± My eyes stung with unshed tears as I whispered, ¡°Try to change¡± ¡°Victoria, drop the act.¡± Quinn said angrily, ¡°You want to be a career woman like Tracy, right? Give it up. You¡¯re no match for her.¡± Jared suddenly stood up so fast that I lost my gp on his arm. Without hesitation, he pped Quinn across the face Sally¡¯s eyes widened as she saw Quinn get pped by Jared. She yelled, ¡°Who¡¯s Tracy?¡± Wonne froze, scared, wrapping her arms abund herself and curling up. Jared burned with anger. He shut his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°Quinn, stop meddling in my family affairs. And don¡¯t mention Tracy in front of Victoria. Quinn seemed tensified by Jared¡¯s gaze. She stepped back, covered sally jabbed a finger at Jared, unable to believe he would to such a thing, without another word, she turned and chased after Quint. Jared stood at the living room door, hands on his hips, irritated as he stared out at the night view. Wendy took the chance toe over and lead nonne upstairs. I stayed lying on the couch. Jared walked over and asked in a low voice, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± I shook my head. I wasn¡¯t physically hurt, but my pride was wounded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jared said, sounding frustrated. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize Quinn had such a big issue with you, I¡¯ll talk to her¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I said, sitting up and quietly heading upstairs. Jared caught up to me by the stairs, looking up, and said, ¡°Quinn is still a child; she speaks without thinking. Don¡¯t take her words to heart.¡± I sneered. She was already twenty¨Cthree, yet Jared was still calling her a child, ¡°I¡¯m not taking it seriously. I¡¯m just tired,¡± I said softly, then strode upstairs. I went into the bedroom and shut the door. I ran a bath, added rose oil, and closed my eyes, enjoying the warm water. Owning the new ce made me feel calm. Maybe settling in Shariport was a good idea. After the bath, I put on a face mask, applied body lotion, and prepared to sleep. Yvonne had also bathed. Clutching a doll, she stood hesitantly outside my door, afraid toe closer, I pretended not to see her and went back to sleep. Yvonne stood frozen at the door for a while before Jared called her away. He gently closed my door. In my previous life, I never dared to argue for the sake of family peace, Even when Quinn made things difficult for me every time, I always endured. If this had happened back then, I would have felt utterly helpless. However, this time, a strange sense of satisfaction filled me. I seemed to have figured out how to handle Quinn. No matter what she said, I would just keep quiet: She would mess up on her own. Ther next morning, I didn¡¯te downstairs, so Jared had to take Quinn to school alone. Wendy thought I was upset, so she cooked some hometown dishes to cheer me up. I appreciated her kindness and gave her a mug as a gift. She was thrilled. I did understand how the world worked. I was just too kind before and forgot to look out for myself. When¡¯t arrived at thepany, Tracy had thrown up again, I heard she had been vomiting in the restroom for several minutes and looked exhausted when she came out Jared wasn¡¯t at the office. Someone had taken Tracy to the hospital. I immediately texted Clyde. [Tracy might be pregnant. Go check it out. Clyde sent an OK emoji, then a few photos showing Jared having coffee alone with a woman. I squinted, looking closely at the photos, but I didn¡¯t recognize the woman. Loose 157 Chapter 157 The photos from Clyde made me feel sick. I sensed Jared was hiding more than I imagined. He might have more than one mistress. I shut my eyes, trying to calm down. Havinge this far, there was no turning back. I had to figure out how to get what I wanted. In my previous life, I feared trouble and avoided thinking too much, so I drifted along. Now, my situation was different, and I must learn to n for myself. Right after I sat down. Sally called. I stared at the screen, howning as I hesitated over whether to answer. Sally doted on Quinn. Since Quinn got hit by Jared because of me yesterday, I worried Sally would me me for everything In the end, Lanswered. To my surprise, Sally didn¡¯t yell right away, she just asked if I suspected Jared of cheating. She also mentioned the mistress¡¯s name was Tracy, thepany¡¯s vice president. Hearing that, I knew Sally had probably pressured Quinn until she spilled everything. Sally said, ¡°Victoria, I knew something had to be going on for you to act like that. I got it. I¡¯ve seen through men long ago. For example, if hadn¡¯t brought out the evidence, James would never have admitted to cheating. ¡°But honestly, it¡¯s hard for me to believe Jared would do that.¡± Sally talked a lot but ended up saying she didn¡¯t think her son would cheat. I was speechless. She was just calling to get me to ept the truth. ¡°You¡¯ve been a wife too. Surely you can understand how I feel,¡± I said calmly. ¡°Of course, but-¡°Sally¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°You need proof. Without evidence, blindly suspecting him isn¡¯t fair to Jared.¡± e to wait until they have a child?¡± I gave a bitterugh. ¡°A woman¡¯s intuition never lies. I know you want me to swallow my ¡°What kind of proof? Do I have! pride, but sorry, I can¡¯t Sally said, ¡°Victoria, that¡¯s harsh. I just want to say that I know Jared well. He was a top student, smart and driven. You know he puts all his focus into work. Without him, the Hob family wouldn¡¯t be where we are now. ¡°Sometimes men need to y along with social games. You should try to understand him.¡± Sally started giving me that lecture again as if disagreeing with her meant I was just being difficult. I knew most people agreed with her, but I couldn¡¯t ept it. I didn¡¯t want to sacrifice mysell ¡°Do you want me to just put up with it?¡± I asked, my voice t. Sally said, ¡°I just want you to have a proper talk with Jared. If he¡¯s showing signs of cheating, you can stop him in time. Marriage is never smooth sailing. Every couple has conflicts ¡°Women are very forgiving. Victoria, we¡¯ve known each other for six years. Though we¡¯ve had our issues, we¡¯ve always understood each other. I believemunication can fix almost anything.¡± Sally didn¡¯te right out and say it, but I knew she wanted me to just take it. However, remembering how my constant patience backfired in my previous life made my blood boil. Chapter 153 Loose 158 Chapter 158 Tdidn¡¯t want to justify myself er argue. I asked, ¡°If it were me being wrongly used of cheating, would you tell Jared to be understa ¡°Would you tell him that raising a child isn¡¯t easy, so it¡¯s normal for me to have fun? Would you ask him tomunicate with me property? ¡°Victoria, what are you trying to say?¡± Sally raised her voice. ¡°Do you have to make a scene?* I felt tired. ¡°This is between me and him. Stay out of it. We¡¯ve talked plenty, but nothing has changed. Alright, i have to go cut Sally off before she could My more. I sank back into the chain, feeling upset. I couldn¡¯t understand why everyone demanded tolerate Jared, I knew they hated me for not having a job and used that to push me around. In this family, those who didn¡¯t work weren¡¯t tolerated. Jared showed up around noon while I was on the phone, discussing hotel decor with someone. Some of the art pieces we acquired came from ndria and Fnsia, offering a wide variety Jared pushed open the door, Dressed in a ck shirt, his eyes were bloodshot, burning with anger. I quickly ended the call. Jared pulled over a chair and sat across from me. ¡°What did you say to my mom?¡± His voice was low but tense with anger. I ced my hands on the desk, keeping aposed demeanor. ¡°Nothing much. What did she say to you?¡± He stared at me. I wasn¡¯t shy around him like before. I appeared cool, like we were just talking about the weather, ¡°Don¡¯t drag my mom into this. And don¡¯t mention Tracy to her again.¡± Jared looked irritated. Cheating was indeed a serious issue. Even the usually gentle Jared found it hard to control his emotions over this matter. Inodded. ¡°Okay, but it wasn¡¯t me. Quinn told her something.¡± Jared¡¯s face went tense. He looked down for a second and said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell Quinn to stay quiet. If my momes to you again, don¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Am I just supposed to keep quiet and let her yell at me?¡± I stared at him. ¡°We¡¯re not dating. We¡¯re married. Maybe soon my parents will know about this.¡± Jared said, ¡°Just stop saying stupid stuff. I¡¯ve told you a million times that Tracy is just a coworker. And I¡¯ve known her longer than you. We¡¯ve been friends since high school. What¡¯s wrong with me being closer to her? ¡°I really led her, she would have been my wife by now¡± Jared still looked annoyed as if i was being unreasonable. His words hit me hard. He messed up, but talked like he was totally in the right. It felt like everything I had been through was just my illusion. I sighed softly and looked up at Jared. He hadn¡¯t changed much since we met, still good¨Clooking and young. His work had shaped him, taking away his teenage wildness and making him steady and calm. I should have loved him more since he was the husband I wanted. However, loving a man who had turned away was tough. Just thinking about how much I once loved him brought sharp pain. ¡°Jared, I¡¯ve been waiting for you to say all this. Now you¡¯ve finally said it,¡± I said calmly. Jared paused for a moment, then he said, annoyed, ¡°Victoria, are you trying to ruin everything beyond repair?¡± Loose 159 Chapter 159 I stared at Jared, not even wanting to talk anymore. It seemed had hit a nerve, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t look to unsettled. Maybe nothing was going on between him and Tracy, but they must have liked each other before, Maybe found out too early and messed up their rtionship. That was why Tracy dropped her sweet act and started resenting me. Jared was also mad, trying to loss me around like the man of the house, Maybe Jared said all that to try to scare me into silence and submission. However, I looked straight at him and said, ¡°Maybe for men, feelings can be measured by clear standards, mured with pros and cons. Sure, you can do whatever you want before manage, but not alter, ¡°If you haven¡¯t had fun, then why did you get married? Do you think that just because you¡¯re the sole breadwinner, I¡¯m supposed to yield to you and let you live however you want? ¡°You know what, I used to have dreams and be passionate about life. Every day when I held the child and hoped you woulde home on time, where were you?¡± My eyes welled up with tears while I talked. I tried to hold it back. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re busy and stressed, and I should understand you, I¡¯ve put up with you for six years, haven 117¡ä¡ä Jared wanted to say something, but he held back. The room went dead silent. ¡°Im sorry.¡± Jared seemed tired of arguing. He probably hadn¡¯t expected me to hold so much resentment, I used to be so understanding, always smiling at people. He probably thought I had lost my mind, no longer the good wife he once knew. I shook my head, forcing back all my tears. ¡°I don¡¯t want your apology. I just want you to asionally see things from my perspective.¡± Jared sighed, looked up at me, and smiled. ¡°Victoria, what you said just now makes a lot of sense. I admit I¡¯ve often neglected you during these six years. You¡¯ve been the one holding the family together. ¡°I spent all day trying to make more money, thinking giving you enough money would make you happy, but I never realized that you¡¯re human too and that you read care, warmth, and understanding. Sorry, I was too sell¨Ccentered before.¡± I listened to his apology with a slight sneer. It was toote for all this now. I had given him countless chances, yet he never seized any ¡°Just give me some time, okay? Jared stood and came around behind me. Suddenly, he bent down and gently wrapped his arms around me, murmuring ¡°From now on, I¡¯m gonna be a husband who actually cares. I was already done with him, too tired to respond to his sweet talk. ¡°If you¡¯re done, leave. I¡¯ve got stuff to do,¡± I said coldly, pushing him away. Jared froze for a moment, then bent down to kiss my ear. ¡°Weren¡¯t you just saying I¡¯m too focused on my career and ignoring you? Now you¡¯re doing the same thing to me.¡± Inever thought Jared could act all cute like that, it seemed Tracy had been teaching him well. ¡°I¡¯m serious, ¡°I said indifferently. Seeing I wasn¡¯t in the mood, Jared sighed and stood straight, walking around to the other side of the desk. He rested his hands on the desk. ¡°Time for Lunch. Let¡¯s grab some steak. ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± I replied coldly. Jared sighed, sounding a little helpless. ¡°Are you still mad? Just save your anger forter.¡± Hone of your business,¡± said, keeping my head down. Jared tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. ¡°Alright, I have someone pack up some food for you.¡± I have ns to eat out. No need to trouble yourself¡± I gathered my things and prepared to leave. Jared said nothing. As fleft, he grabbed my arm and asked, ¡°Who are you meeting?¡± I shook his hand off. ¡°None of your business.¡± Jared grew anxious, tightening his hold on my arm. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t do this¡± ¡°Do what?¡± I shot back. Jared froze, lost for words. After a pause, he said, ¡°I heard there are perverts targeting married women out there. Be careful. Don¡¯t get kidnapped.¡± I caught the jealousy in his words and mocked lightly, ¡°Really? I heard some married men prefer unmarried women.¡± Jared was shut down and let go of me. ¡°Fine, go ahead.¡± I scowled and stormed off. Loose 160 had lunch ns with Melissa. Since she was busy, I drove to a restaurant near herw firm. Melissa arrived in a suit, carrying a briefcase. She had been datingtely, had gotten softer, and looked rosy. ¡°Sorry. I kept you waiting again, she sa with a grin as 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 gained from this marriage. Logically, as long as Jared hadn¡¯t pushed me 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 marriage. In my previous life, I took that path but never made it work. I just ended up like a madwoman. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve decided. I¡¯m going to get a divorce as soon as I can,¡± 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 people 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 properly.¡± I joked bitterly. ¡°I thought buying jewelry, clothes, and houses would 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 you divorce Jared, none of this will be yours. 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 yourself a few young guys.¡± ¡°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 said he had been busy with some government projects, and his career was really taking off Melissa rested her chin in her hand and stared at me nkly. ¡°Victoria, I never thought a beautiful face could be a kind of resource, but now, seeing you, I realize beauty is something rare. *Jared married you for your beauty. Hathan couldn¡¯t stop thinking about you because of your isele. [bet manynor¨¢r 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 asked if the child was Jared¡¯s Loose 161 Chapter 161 At first, my expression twisted with anger, but then I calmed down. Things were unfolding exactly as i had expected. Just yesterday, Jared swore there was nothing between them. He lied. I was no fool. I nned to pretend ignorance for now and reveal the truth when the time was right. ¡°Victoria, what are you looking at?¡± Melissa waved her hand in front of my face. I snapped out of it I decided to keep this to myself for now and watch how things yed out. ¡°Nothing, just work stuff,¡± I said, putting my phone away and chatting with Melissa a little longer. Melissa suddenly looked at me with concem. ¡°Victoria, I told youst time to hold off on divorce and try to win Jared¡¯s favor first, butt heard about a case recently that scared me.¡± Hooked up at her. ¡°What case?¡± Melissa lowered her head, clearly saddened by the story. ¡°A middle¨Caged woman got beaten by her husband because she wouldn¡¯t divorce. At court, she found out he had transferred assets and left her with over 300 thousand dors in debt.¡± I felt sad as well. ¡°Women are so powerless in marriage. If her husband is a bastard, she¡¯s got to save herself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my main point¡± Melissa looked up at me, worried. ¡°When I talked about this case with colleagues, some of the men said once a man falls for another woman, he sees his ex¨Cwife as an obstacle. ¡°They don¡¯t just want a divorce. They might even want to harm their wives. To prove how much they love their mistresses, men could go as far as killing their wives.¡± My heart tightened sharply. I wondered if any man could really be that cruel. People said that when a man hit it big, the first thing he did was dump his wife. It was like a blind guy who suddenly got his sight back and threw away the cane he had used for year. ¡°Are you worried that if I refuse to divorce, Jared might hurt me?¡± I was grateful Melissa was willing to discuss this. We all liked to bring positive energy to those around us, but only true friends warned us of lurking dangers. Melissa shook her head. ¡°Not necessarily, but there¡¯s always a chance. Jared doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of man, and he wouldn¡¯t be stingy with money. After all, he¡¯s not just some regr guy struggling to get by.¡± ¡°Thanks for telling me all this, I think it over.¡± I nodded and want to settle the bill. Melissa invited me to visit a nearby attraction next time, and I agreed. On the way home, I felt all mixed up inside. What Melissa said really hit me hard. If a guy cheated just for sex, he would usually his. That was enough leverage for me to push him into divorce and get my share. I wondered if Tracy would abort the child again this time, just to please Yvonne A vicious thought struck me. In my previous life, Tracy had an abortion without Jared knowing, leaving him both guilty and heartbroken, and he hadpensated her handsomely Yvonne believed Tracy was a good person and did whatever she said, seeing her as a mom, This time, I nned to stop her from aborting and make Jared stay by her side I wanted to see if Yvonne would sit bien f¨¹r so well e bam Thad already made up my mind. Yvonne was still young, but when she grow up, she would realize what she had lost by that time, I wouldn¡¯the anymore. G This time, I nned to stop her from aborting and inako Jared stay by her side. I wanted to see if wants would still trust he bom Thad already made up my mind. Wonne was still young, but when she grew up, she would realize what the had lost. By that time, I wouldn t b anymore. Loose 162 Loose 161 Chapter 162 Thinking of this, my heart ached terribly, I wondered if I was a terrible mother or if I should have another child. Clyde lot a file on a caf¨¦ table, and I came over to take it. Inside were Tracy¡¯s prenatal checkup reports, printed from photos, along with a picture of her sitting in the doctor¡¯s office, her expression worried. remembered a colleague had apanied her to the hospital, but the photo shower only her. I guessed the, too, felt this was something to hide from everyone. I spent the whole afternoon working As dusk settled, Jared called, saying Yvonne was on summer break and wanted us to have dinner together. I said I was busy with work, and he didn¡¯t insist At around 9p.m., I saw Tracy post on Instagram. The night is beautiful, and so is my mood | She shared several night sky photos, thest one showing a blurry silhouette, but I noticed the silver bracelet Yvonne usually wore. I know Tracy was trying to provoke me. Fortunately, I no longer cared, What I missed wasn¡¯t just dinner tonight, but a miserable life. I should be d, Jared came homete, holding Yvonne in his arms. I didn¡¯t bother with them and went to sleep The next morning, Yvonne told me they had gone to the moviesst night in one of those fancy theaters where one could lie back and watch. ¡°Mom, it was sofy. You shoulde with us next time,¡± Yvonne said, genuinely wanting to share the nice ce withi Timagined Jared and Tracy lying back in those plush seats watching the movie with Yvonne, but when she wasn¡¯t paying attention, maybe they were flirting. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go when I have time.¡± I no longer saw Yvonne as my daughter, just a distant little girl. I would respond to whatever she said. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s summer vacation. Let¡¯s make a travel n.¡± Wonne ran happily to grab her notebook and pen. ¡°Our first stop will be ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time to travel with you,¡± I cut her off. Yvonne stood frozen, with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, she tore her notebook in two and threw it on the floor, then turned and went upstairs. Jared came downstairs and saw Yvonne¡¯s tear¨Cstreaked face. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Mom said she won¡¯t go on a trip with me,¡± Yvonne replied, her voice breaking with sadness Jared frowned and held Yvonne in his arms,ing over to me. ¡°The vacation is long. It¡¯s normal for her to want to go out. Why do you have to be so barsh?¡± I said tly, ¡°I¡¯m just getting started at work, and I really don¡¯t have the time. Get someone else to take her, or you can do it yourself¡± Jared looked down at Yvonne, who was sobbing, and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. ¡°Yvonne, I¡¯ll go with you. How about we go to Disnend in a few days?¡± Yvonne clung to Jared¡¯s neck and whispered, ¡°Mom has been ignoring metely. I told her I was sorry, but she wouldn¡¯t forgive me.¡± Jared looked at me with mixed feelings. ¡°Are you really not going with her?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m busy, ¡°I answered. I didn¡¯t want to le Yvonne began to sob again, even more heartbroken. Jared was so upset that he skipped breakfast and left with Yvonne, I guessed lie would take her thee today. He always spoiled her. thing. He might not love me, but he loved Yvonne, who looked just lika hlin. Tanrived at the office at 5:30, and when I was having lunch in the cafeteria, Inoticed people shooting me side nces Theard them say Tracy hadn¡¯t Disney castle dight behet e Sure enough, Jared had taken Wenne to Shaville, and Tracy was there too. They would definitely be having a great time. Quinn thought i didn¡¯t know this, and she asked me out for coffee Honestly, Jared was the only smart one in the Hob family. Quinn was just so childadepared to him She taunted me, asking if I was brave enough to meet her, and said she was fou rashst time and wanted to talk more, When I showed up, Quinn seemed stunned. I got it, I never had the guts to challenge her in my previous life, and I sways stayed away to avoid conflict. However, this time, I appeared in an elegant outfit, and two men bebind her had their eyes glued to me ¡°Quinn, your sister inw looks so pretty.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m impressed.¡± ¡°Get out, both of you,¡± Quinn shouted, pointing at the door as her two male friends got excited at my arrival. Those guys looked shady. As they left, they kept staring at me. Quinn hated me partly because I was prettier. She looked unattractive. Sally hadmented, a bit regretfully, on Quinn¡¯s looks before, Jared, though, looked like Sally¨Cgentle and refined ¡°I think you used to wear skirts that covered your knees. Why dress so sexy now? Is it because Jared doesn¡¯t care for you enoughtely that you¡¯re flirting with others?¡± Quinn crossed her arms and eyed me, her words full of sarcasm. I sat down gracefully and asked, ¡°So, what do you want from me?¡± Seeing me dodge the topic, Quinn rolled her eyes and sneered. This office outfit you¡¯re wearing makes you look like you have some weird kink, ¡°You want topete with Tracy, right? Just admit it, no matter how hard you try, you¡¯re always overshadowed by her.¡± Quinn clearly wasn¡¯t done after ourst argument and came back to mock me.. Same as before, she was never one to admit defeat. Every time she lost face, she tried to get revenge, overtly or covertly. I leaned in slightly, letting my hot figure speak for itself ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t give a damn about that.¡± Quinn clenched her fists in anger. I remained calm and said, ¡°Are you just here to get under my skin? Don¡¯t waste your breath. I¡¯m notpeting with anyone. I¡¯m just working on myself¡± ¡°Victoria, you only married Jared because of your looks. And now you wanna ¡°work on yourself, huh? Face it, you¡¯re just a trophy wife.¡± Quinn¡¯s words cut deep. I flicked my hair with a smirk and said, ¡°Well, not everyone¡¯s cut out to be a trophy. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bad thing¡± ¡°You-¡°Quinn hated jokes about her appearance. had just pushed her buttons. Thade to ept the word ¡°trophy¡± as a sort ofpliment. Standing up, I said, ¡°Girl, I have work to do, I¡¯m leaving¡± ¡°Victoria, aren¡¯t you curious where Jared and Yvonne went?¡± Quinn suddenly stood behind me, her voice sharp with frustration. I stopped and turned to her with a clueless look. ¡°Where? They headed out early. I didn¡¯t get to ask them.¡± Seeing my curiosity sparked, Quinn lounged backzily. She sipped her coffee and said. ¡°They went to Shaville, Yvonne said they¡¯ll stay for two days, ¡°Oh, Jared said he¡¯s taking her on a little getaway, Shaville is kinda close though, why not somewhere hurtharz Tomruzzed- Quinn smiled. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t manage alone with Yvonne. Luckily, Tracy is on leave to keep himpany Victoria, when will you get out of ? Loose 164 Chapter 164 By expression remained unreadable as 1sat back downs. Just then, my coffee arrived. I sipped it, looking at Quinn¡¯s morking look, and said cal don¡¯t you get me awyer? Fim ready to divorce him now.¡± Quinn thought I would freak out and called Jared inmediately, but I didn¡¯t. That clearly pissed her off She gritted her teeth. ¡°Stop pretending to be so calm. Victoria, you¡¯re a hypocrite Your marriage won¡¯tst long.¡± Traised an eyebrow. ¡°It willst longer than you think.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Quinn mmed the table. ¡°Jared is done with you Stop clinging to him. It¡¯s disgusting¡± I stared at the furious Quinn and sneered. ¡°Then what are you gotta do about it?¡± Quinn¡¯s! ¡®s face twisted with fury at my sharp words. Sise came here to tie me up, but I didn¡¯t take the bait. That only made her madder ¡°When are you going to get out of our house? I¡¯ve put up with you long enough. Quinn shouted, her hatred clear as day I locked eyes with her, feeling her fierce stare burning into me. ¡°Quinn, divorce isn¡¯t something I decide alone. Why don¡¯t you go push your brother about I said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m ready to divorce anytime, but if Tracy ends up marrying Jared, your life won¡¯t be as easy. She¡¯s a workaholic and really controlling. She¡¯ll run your family. You and your mem might not stand a chance.¡± I stood up and left without looking at Quinn. If she wanted to make things hard for me, I would make sure she never forgot them. An overwhelming unease hit me at night. Maybe it was because I didn¡¯t know what the future held, or because I had lost faith in marriage. Unexpectedly, Nathan asked me out, and I showed up as promised. We met in a quiet restaurant with plenty of nts outside and some fireflies flying around. Watching this, a fairy tale scone unfolded in my mind. Aher taking a call, Nathan pushed open the door and ced a fresh yogurt in front of me. ¡°One of the restaurant¡¯s best. Try it.¡± Ayer of honey covered the yogurt. I took a bite. The taste was perfectly bnced¨Csweet and tart. ¡°It¡¯s really good,¡± I said with a soft smile Nathan sat across from me. It had been a while since west met, and he seemed to have lost weight, probably from his busy work. ¡°How¡¯ve you beentely?¡± Nathan asked in a low voice. ¡°Did you ever check out that ss I mentioned?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, I went twice.¡± Nathan¡¯s eyes grew thoughtful as he asked again, ¡°Did you gain anything from it?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m nning to get my finances in order and start investing. Can I invest in your ?¡± I asked him seriously. Nathan¡¯spany was bound for sess, and I wanted to seize this opportunity. Nathan smiled. ¡°Sure. Mypany any will be listed in Shariport. You¡¯re wee to invest.¡± *Really?¡± I was surprised. I figured Nathan¡¯s recent busy schedule was because of this matter. ¡°Yeah,¡± Nathan replied and nodded confidently. ¡°Once yourpany goes public, you¡¯ll be more popr. Should I lock you down now?¡± I joked, smiling at him. Chapter 164 Nathanughed, giving me a meaningful took. ¡°Go for it. Invest in me while I¡¯m still a bargain. You won¡¯t regna. Idropped the joke and calmly sipped the yogurt. ¡°That¡¯s not really my style. I don¡¯t like taking advantage ¡°Why?¡± Nathan lowered his unten. ¡°Aliight, I¡¯ve waited for so long. I¡¯ve got enough patience for you. I got distracted and dropped my spoon, And yogurt smeared on my lips. Nathan¡¯s gaze suddenly grow intense. As reached for a napkin, he stretched qut his arm, gently wiping the yogurt off my lips with his thumb. E Loose 165 Chapter 165 His move was so ftatious, it made my heart skip a beat. All my life, in very lifetime, I¡¯d never even considered another man besides Jared, But now, standing in front of me was Nathan, tall, good¨Clooking, and with that quirky both guy vibe. He definitely looked like perfect prey. Nathan¡¯s gesture was clearly instinctive, and he froze, his handsome face flushing with embarrassment. He quickly withdrew his hand, gently dabbing his fingers with a napkin as he exined, ¡°Sorry, was I being too forward?¡± Seeing him mall flustered and shy, he looked so adorably innocent. I shook my head. ¡°Mo, it¡¯s fine. Thanks.¡± Nathan chuckled awkwardly ¡°I always thought i was pretty gutsy, but when I¡¯m with you, it¡¯s like all my courage just disappears. Isn¡¯t that strange Resting my chin in my hand, I watched him, armised, ¡°It¡¯s totally normal to feel a little self conscious around someone you like.¡± His eyes went wide for a moment at what I said. I just gave him a quiet smile, watching him in silence. His long, narrow eyes dropped, and I noticed for the first time how thick and long hisshes were. No wonder his eyes were so captivating, even behind those sses. Damn, this guy could seduce anyone with just those eyes ¡°Since you know how I feel, can you give me some kind of response?¡± Nathan asked, staring at the table, mustering up the courage. ¡°Stop looking at me like I¡¯m just some puppy you¡¯re teasing.¡± I raised an eyebrow, Looks like this preyi wasn¡¯t dumb at all. He knew I was just toying with him. ¡°Once I¡¯m divorced, I¡¯ll put you on top,¡± I said with a careless, wicked smile, like a total yer. Nathan locked his gaze on me for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh. ¡°Jared really shattered your heart, didn¡¯t he?¡± My joke died in my throat. I wondered why he had to get all serious on me. When I didn¡¯t answer, Nathan suddenly reached out, his warm, steady hand covering mine. His rolled¨Cup white shirt showed off his strong forearm, veins standing out in a way that was unexpectedly hot, making my breath hitch. ¡°Then hurry up and divorce him, okay? If it¡¯s about money, I can help you earn some after you¡¯re free, Nathan said, his voice dropping lower as he looked deep into my eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about being broke. I¡¯ll work even harder for you.¡± Before I could even pull my hand back, Nathan didn¡¯t just cover it/He caught my fingers and curled them up in his palm, holding on tight. ¡°My feelings for you are a mess, but honestly, you¡¯re the reason I¡¯ve made it this far.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I blurted out, totally stunned. No one had ever put me on a pedestal like that before¨Ccalled me their faith ¡°Don¡¯t put all that on me. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s had it tough all these years,¡± I said softly, trying tofort him, my voice gentle.. ¡°No,¡± Nathan said, his eyes turning red as he shook his head. ¡°Back then, when my dad¡¯s factory went bankrupt and he jumped off the building. My mom remarried and moved to Naville. It was just me and my grandma left ¡°I really thought I wouldn¡¯t make it. I nned to leave this world after my grandma was gone. But then there was you, Victoria. You were the one who kept me going. Just the thought of you and that glimpse of your shadow gave me strength. ¡°You helped me without asking for anything in refum. Those 250 thousand dors? Five years ago, who would give that kind of money to a stranger? That kindness was priceless. I¡¯ve always told mysell, one day, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± Listening to Nathan say all this, my heart twisted painfully. I couldn¡¯t imagine how he managed to survive after losing his family. It was honestly gut- wrenching ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry. Things will get better, okay? Actually, they¡¯re already better, aren¡¯t they?¡± I said softly, trying tofort him as I watched this grown bury his face on the table, sobbing. Loose 166 Nathan seemed to realize that breaking down in front of me wasn¡¯t the best look, so he quickly pulled himself together. ¡°Sorry, I honestly havent c ¡°It¡¯s fine. Sometimes you just need to let it out,¡± I said with a gentle smile. Nathan stared at me, still dabbing at his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so understanding. Howe Jared can¡¯t see what he¡¯s got?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just clueless,¡± I mocked. Nathan couldn¡¯t help butugh, his eyes still red but a smile breaking through. ¡°Then maybe you should pick someone who isn¡¯t clueless¡± ¡°Who knows,¡± I said. ¡°Marriage isn¡¯t as great as I thought it would be. Maybe I¡¯m just not good at it. But I¡¯ve seen plenty of couples stay in love their whole lives. Everyone¡¯s got their own path, so there¡¯s no point forcing it.¡± Nathan¡¯s face froze for a moment, then he let go of my fingers and said softly, ¡°if there are good people out there, can¡¯t you just not lose hope?¡± Looking into his sincere, clear eyes, I nodded. Staring out at the beautiful night, I suddenly remembered the two Instagram captions Tracy had posted. Maybe I should share something too. After all, we should all stay passionate about life. I picked up my phone and snapped a photo of the lush green nts outside, dotted with little specks of light. My caption read [Everything¡¯s growing Maybe it¡¯s time for us to be a little more mindful too.¡°] Just as I posted to Instagram, my phone lit up with a call from Jared. Jared called while I was driving home, but ignored it. By the time I got home, Janed had called three times. Lignored every single one. Finally, Wendy spotted me as I walked into the living room and hurried over, waving her phone. ¡°Mrs. Hob, is your phone out of battery? Mr. Hob¡¯s been calling me instead.¡± Sometimes, when one was justpletely speechless, all one could do wasugh. I turned to Wendy. ¡°Don¡¯t answerit. Il call him back.¡± But Wendy, always the sole, still picked up Jared¡¯s call and told him I was home and would call him back. I headed upstairs, flopped onto the couch facing the big window, and finally pulled out my phone to call Jared back. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer? What were you doing?¡± Jared snapped, his voice sharp with anger. I repliedzily. ¡°Why are you so worked up? Did you swallow a stick of dynamite or something?¡± ¡°Is your phone just for show? Didn¡¯t you hear me calling?¡± Jared was pissed that I hadn¡¯t picked up right away. To him, it was like I was ignoring him. ¡°I was driving. It¡¯s dangerous to answer the phone while I¡¯m behind the wheel,¡± I said, my voice calm and steady. Jared was still brooding, but didn¡¯t press further. Then his tone dropped, serious: ¡°Who were you with tonight? I was honestly surprised since Jared ever gave a damn about where I was. It was just that I used to stay home all the time. He knew I barely had a soci life, and Melissa was basically my only friend. I would always let him know before I went out, but all I ever got back was his cold, distant attitude. I still had our old chats on my phone. Our calls neversted more than a minute. I did on the talking, and he just gave me short, half¨Chearted replies. Times when he had asked about my whereabouts with such fury, like today, were really few and far between. Honestly, men were just ridiculous. When I was head over heels for him, he couldn¡¯t care less. But now that I was the one pulling away, suddenly he couldn¡¯t stand it. ¡°I just went out for dinner. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow ¡°Who did you have dinner with?¡± Jared pressed. Trepliedzily, ¡°I didn¡¯t even ask who you were with today. Why do you care so much about what I¡¯m doing?¡± Jared was left speechless, silem for a long time. ¡°Wonne wanted to go to Disnend, and I happened to be free a couple of days, so I brought her along. Do you want toe?¡± Jared finally ending with that question. I gave a lukewarmugh. ¡°Am Leven wee there?¡± AD Loose 167 Chapter 167 Jared wasn¡¯t a fan of my snarky attitude. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°You¡¯re her mom. What¡¯s so iment about that? Honestly, think you j don¡¯t want toe¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got a ton of work, really don¡¯t have the time. So, I¡¯ll have to ask you to spend more time with her ¡°It¡¯s kind of awkward for me to hang out with my daughter all the time, Luckily, Tracy¡¯s on vacation and back in Shaville. Yvonne¡¯s with her now. They went out to have some fun. I¡¯m just stuck at the hotel handling work, Jared exined I blinked in surprise Jared had already brought up Tracy being in Shanville before I could even ask ¡°I know how your mind works. It¡¯s just easier to tell you straight, Jared said calmly. ¡°What a coincidence. You¡¯re in Shaville, and Tracy just happens to be back too. Did you two n this or something?¡± I said with a teasing grin. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t start drama. It really is just a coincidence,¡± Jared replied, his tone serious. ¡°Yeah, sure. How many coincidences do you think I¡¯ll buy? You think i¡¯m stupid? Anyway, go ahead, have your little family time. I really don¡¯t care.¡± Honestly, I just hoped the three of them would stick together and leave me out of it. I hung up before Jared could say anything else. Aber half an hour of yoga, crammed some Englysian. Next week, I had to take my crew to Fnsia to talk business. By midnight, I was dead tired. Just as I was about to crash, I saw someone had sent me two photos. It was Tracy. She¡¯d snapped a couple shots of Yvonne passed out after a long day, and sent a message. Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Hob. Yvonne was super well¨Cbehaved today, just tired out from all the fun.] I just went to sleep. I figured Jared and Yvonne would be in Shaville for at least three days, but they came back the very next afternoon. Yvonne looked totally best, like a deted balloon, kept insisting her legs were sore and wouldn¡¯t stop asking me to rub them. Jared came over after his meeting. I was rubbing Yvonne¡¯s legs with one hand while working on myptop with the other Jared frowned, probably thinking I was halfrassing the whole parenting thing. He scooped up Yvonne, who was half¨Casleep, and nced at myptop screen. ¡°You¡¯re going to Fnsia too?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, I want to check out the quality myself.¡± ¡°Your Englysian sucks, and you¡¯ve never even traveled. Forget it,¡± Jared said, shutting me down without hesitation. Llooked up and met his gaze. ¡°No, I am going, whether you like it or not.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the boss here, and I won¡¯t allow it, Jared replied, his face burning serious. 1 red at him, stubborn as ever. ¡°You always say you want me to be free and support my career, but clearly, that¡¯s just lip service,¡± Jared¡¯s expression soured as I used his own words against him. ¡°I¡¯m just worried something might happen to you if you go abroad,¡± he said. ¡°You travel the time, and you alwayse back just fine.¡± I shot back. Jared bit his lip. ¡°it¡¯s different for men. And you¡¯re the kind of woman people worry about.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe how ridiculous he sounded. ¡°You love admiring lowers, but you¡¯re scared to let them bloom in the sun. Jaged, is that really all you¡¯re capable of?¡± I said, standing up. Jared was left speechless by me. He just picked up Yvonne and walked out without another word. I didn¡¯t care whether Jared agreed or not. If thepany didn¡¯t cover my ticket, I¡¯d just buy it myself. 17 ? 00:02 Tue, 19 Aug Around four in the afternoon, Tracy suddenly texted me, asking if I wanted to grab a coffee downstairs. Icurled my lips into a cold smirk, do, she finally couldn¡¯t hold herself back¨Clooks like she was ready to go on the offensive, Guess being pregnant means she doesn¡¯t have time to y games anymore. When I showed up, Tracy had a ss of lemonade in front of her couldn¡¯t help but think she was craving sour stuff Tracy clearly expected five. She smiled warmly, ¡°Mrs. Hob, do you have a favorite drink? I went ahead and ordered you atte. Hope that¡¯s alright?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± replied, settling into the seat across from her. Sunlight poured in, making Tracy look a bit pale, but her eyes still sparkled with ambition and confidence. ¡°Enjoying your time off, Tracy?¡± I took a sip of the coffee she ordered and smiled, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be on vacation today?¡± ¡°Yeah, I came here just to invite you for coffee, Tracy said, straight to the point. She wasn¡¯t one for small talk or ying mind games. ¡°The got something to say to you. It¡¯s about Jared.¡± When she called him by his name so openly, I knew exactly what she was up to. She wasying her cards on the table, staking her im right in front of
  1. me.
I kept my tone cool. ¡°You think you really know my husband?¡± Tracy met my gaze, a trace of jealousy flickering in her eyes. ¡°know him better than you ever could. Do you believe that?¡± I didn¡¯t say a word, just sipped my coffee in silence, watching her quietly. ? Loose 168 Chapter 168 There was a hint of unwillingness in Tracy¡¯s eyes as she spoke. ¡°Jared and I were ssmates for a year in high school. He was the genius of earschool skipped a grade and left the rest of us in the dust. kept chasing after him, but I still ended up graduating two yearster. When I was studying abroad, I suddenly heard he was getting married. I was crushed¡± Her emotions were a mess, and I couldn¡¯t tell if it was anger or something else in her eyes. She took a sip of her lemonade and went on. ¡°All our ssmates and friends came back for your wedding, but I didn¡¯te back.¡± just looked at her, my face unreadable. Tracy still hadn¡¯t let go of those old wounds. She lifted her gaze at me, her voice tinged with bitterness Talways thought Jared wasn¡¯t the kind of man to be swayed by appearances. Maybe it was your beauty that clouded his judgment, made tim impulsively many you. ¡°But passion isn¡¯t the same as love. I¡¯m not sure what you did to make him marry you, but after seven years, your marriage has been slowly falling apart. I¡¯m sure you feel it too.¡± I just nodded, admitting she was telling the truth. ¡°Mrs. Hob, I¡¯m not like you. When Jared and I crossed paths again and started working together, it was two mature minds meeting as equals ¡°There¡¯s a mutual understanding between us, both in work and in spirit. I¡¯ll be blunt. I¡¯ve admired him for years. I hope you¡¯ll step aside.¡± Tracy paused, gripping her ss tightly and taking a small sip of water ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not asking for your permission, just stating the facts. Jared needs someone who can truly support him in his work. I¡¯ve given my all to thepany, and everyone knows it. As for you, all you know is how to cook, clean, and do theundry.¡± Kingugh. ¡°So now you¡¯ve finally had your big swakening and want to chase a career? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a littlete for that? She let out a mocking ¡°Harmonia Hotel is a legendary ce, and now you¡¯re turning both hotels into a total mess. Honestly, I don¡¯t see you pulling it off. That 100 million you dumped int Might as well flush it down the toilet. ¡°Lucky for you, Jared¡¯s letting you y with that kind of money. You should be grateful you and looking at her. ¡°You¡¯ve said a lot, but you still haven¡¯t gotten to the point.¡± Tracy¡¯s face fell, looking both awkward and embarrassed, I smiled and said, ¡°You wanted to say you two were in love, admiring each other, with perfect understanding. But wasn¡¯t it ridiculous that you ignored morality and marriagews, waving the banner of love for my blessing?¡± ¡°Victoria, could you be a little more civilized?¡± Tracy snapped, her face going green with anger, her ssy actpletely falling apart ¡°Dh? You think I¡¯m being too harsh? Please. You two do the dirt but can¡¯t even own up to it. It¡¯s not just dirty. It¡¯s retten to the core raised an eyebrow. ¡°Leaving everything else aside, you think being a mistress makes you right? ¡°Even if you knew Jared well, as long as he didn¡¯t divorce me, we were still legally married. If you truly loved him, you¡¯d have hime to divorce me, not tell the first wife you¡¯re perfect together.¡± Tracy was livid. Looking at her flushed face, calmly said, ¡°Both of you are highly educated, but to me, you u seem like failures of the system,cking even basic shame. Maybe you should go back for refeducation ¡°Victoria, are you done yot? Tracy gripped her ss so tight it looked like she might toss it at me any second. 1sipped my coffee elegantly and said calmly. ¡°My marriage can be like a leat, green or yellow, it doesn¡¯t matter. But it mustn¡¯t be dirty or rotten. You left BUURUZA 719 Aug. me no choice, tainted my marriage, and now you have no right to criticize me¡± ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re just a woman who can¡¯t even earn her own living. What makes you think you can act all superior here? I tried to talk to you nicely, but a you want to argue, fine by me. Let me spell it out. ¡°Your family and Jared have shielded you way too much. You have no clue how ruthless the world is, how twisted people can be ¡°They¡¯ve got one wife, but a whole parade of lovers. If you can¡¯t ept that, then you deserve to be miserable.¡± Tracy went all in ¡°I never cared about being Jared¡¯s wife. That title means nothing to me. ¡°What matters is that I¡¯m in his heart and on his mind. And let¡¯s be real, everything you have now is thanks to Jared busting his ass. I can help him make even more. The money you spend? My hard work is in there too. ¡°All you have toi o is be a little generous, a little open¨Cminded, and you¡¯ll have more money than your could ever spend. Why not just turn a blind eye and enjoy it?¡± Tracy¡¯s words stung like a whip. I stared at her smug face, feeling the burn. Maybe, to her, I was just some leech she had to support. No one would ever. give a damn about how a parasite felt anyway. ? meno choice, tainted my marriage, and now you have no right to criticize me.¡± ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re just a woman who can¡¯t even earn her own living. What makes you think you can act all superior here! I tried to talk to you nicaty, but if you want to argue, fine by me. Let me spell it out. *Your family and Jared have shielded you way way too much. You have no clue how ruthless the world is, how twisted people can be ¡°They¡¯ve got one wife, but a whole parade of lovers. If you can¡¯t ept that, then you deserve to be miserable.¡± Tracy went all in. ¡± never cared about being Jared¡¯s wife. That title means nothing to me. ¡°What matters is that I¡¯m in his heart and on his mind. And let¡¯s be real, everything you have now is thanks to Jared busting his ass. Fcan help him make even more. The money you spend? My hard work is in there too. ¡°All you have to do is be a little generous, a little open minded, and you¡¯ll have more money than you could ever spend. Why not just burn a blind eye and enjoy it?¡± Tracy¡¯s words stung like a whip. I stared at her smug face, feeling the burn. Maybe, to her, I was just some leech she had to support. No one would th give a damn about how a parasite felt anyway. Loose 169 Chapter 169 Inever expected Tracy to throw down so publicly, and with such swagger. In my previous life, she always kept her distance from me, never starting drama, just to protect her ssy image and the elegance she wore the second Ithought she¡¯d keep up the act forever. Maybe something happened this time that made her finally drop the act. It was clear as day that Jared was the key here. Something must¡¯ve gone down between them, and that was why Tracy was so fired up to challenge me. I thought their rtionship rocked during this trip to Shaville Aber Tracy finished her outburst, she looked stunned, like she couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d just let herself go like that, Clearly, this wasn¡¯t her style. She was supposed to be all grace and poise, not some drama quees Flocked at her, and her words made me pause, but honestly, I didn¡¯t see anything for her to be proud of. If marriagews were nothing but scraps of paper, then everyone here would¡¯ve been buried under them a long time ago. Even though I was boiling inside, I had to stay cool and keep my head. The best way to win an argument was to ignore it. But with Tracying at me liko this, there was no way I could just stay silent. ¡°Tracy, I know you¡¯re head over heels for him, but maybe you should remember who you are. By picking a fight with me, you¡¯re basically admitting you¡¯re the other woman. What do you think people will say about you? ¡°And you say you make n e money for thepany and I just spend il¨Cwrong. The money I getes from Jared. At the end of the day, you¡¯re just a high- paid employee. Are you working for free? You get a sry, right? ¡°I know you got a chunk of thepany when you joined. So, you¡¯re taking Jared¡¯s money too. What makes you think you¡¯re any different from me! You earn it fair and square, I spend it fair and square. You¡¯re not above me!¡± Tracy¡¯s expression turned downright ugly. My words hit her right where it hurt. What she craved most was to be the one and only in Jared¡¯s heart, someone truly special. But the truth was, she was nothing more than a shameless homewrecker. The kind everyone wanted to see crash and burn. ¡°Victoria, he doesn¡¯t love you anymore,¡± Tracy said, her fingers clenched tight as she spat out the words. ¡°Did he actually say that to you?¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Living with a woman he doesn¡¯t love for seven years, even having a daughter together? Jared sure knows how to y the long game.. Tracy¡¯s face went pale again. She had noeback because even if Jared didn¡¯t love me now, there was a time he loved me with everything he had. Seeing the cold, calcting look in Tracy¡¯s eyes, braced myself I thought she was about to spill the biggest secret of all, that she was carrying Jared¡¯s child. If she said she was pregnant, and the baby was Jared¡¯s, then I¡¯d have noeback. She¡¯d have mepletely cornered. ¡°I¡¯m not here to fight with you, Mrs. Hob. Let¡¯s say you divorce him, you¡¯d walk away with a big payout. And I promise, I¡¯ll treat Yvonne like my daughter. ¡°You won¡¯t have to worry about a thing. Plus, I¡¯m willing to help you get the biggest settlement possible,¡± Tracy said, her voice suddenly calm. She looked a little defeated, clearly not expecting to lose the argument. But Tracy was all about ambition, and she was a shark at the negotiation table. If she couldn¡¯t win by arguing, she¡¯d switch to bargaining. She knew how to dangle the carrot, and honestly, it was hard not to waver. ¡°Really?¡± I looked at her with a sly smile. What kind of number are we talking about?¡± 00:03 TUO 19 AUD Tracy gritted her teeth. ¡°How much do you want?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know much about Jared¡¯s assets,¡± I said, keeping my cool. ¡°Jared told me you two signed a prehup when you got married. If you get divorced, ATI decide what you get based on his conscience, tracy repli let out a coldugh. So, Jared even told Tracy about the prenup. He was just trying to put Tracy¡¯s mind at ease. I was so regretful that I could have kicked myself. If only I could go back, I¡¯d p myself for pretending to be aloof and letting love cloud my judged. A single agreement ruined half my life. Tracy looked me straight in the eye and said, ¡°I can get you 300 million in cash, plus 30 million worth of property. W that do?¡± Loose 170 Chapter 170 Inarrowed my eyes, Tracy really wasn¡¯t doing this out of the goodness of her heart. But thinking about it, Jared was the real catch here, If Tracy was willing to throw that kind of money around just for him, it actually made sense. ¡°So, tell me. Tracy, are you his wife or am I? What t gives you the right in decide how the assets in my marriage get split?¡± I didn¡¯t trust her for a second. ¡°There are way y too many loopheles in didding up property. If she yed dirty behind my back, I could end up with nothing and a whole lot of trouble. Tracy¡¯s face changed a little, her lips pressed tight. ¡°I don¡¯t help you, do you really think Jared would give you that much?¡± ¡°I know exactly who gets to call the shots here, and it¡¯s not you don¡¯t need some outsider meddling in my business,¡± I replied coldly, cutting her off A sh of malice flickered across Tracy¡¯s face. She clearly hadn¡¯t expected me to have any brains. In her eyes, I was just a pretty face, no substance, no smarts, nothing worth respecting ¡°Mrs. Hob, youth is precious, especially for someone as beautiful as you. Jared doesn¡¯t love you, and you¡¯re trapped in this marriage, unable to find someonepatible. Don¡¯t you feel it¡¯s a waste of time?¡± Tracy always emphasized that Jared no longer loved me. Every word she threw was a dagger straight to the heart. Tracy really know how to twist the knife. ¡°Oh, really? The time I¡¯ve wasted¡® is his too. Sure, maybe he doesn¡¯t love me anymore, but he¡¯s still my husband, rich, handsome, and honestly, pretty damn good in bed, I don¡¯t see any of that as a waste.¡± Hazily flipped my hair. ¡°Honestly, Tracy, you¡¯re the one who seems desperate here.¡± Tracy¡¯s face flushed bright red with anger. She clearly didn¡¯t expect me to be this unfazed. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t get too full of yourself. One day, you¡¯ll eat your words,¡± Tracy said, getting to her feet, clearly not wanting to talk anymore. ¡°What do I have to regret? It¡¯s it¡¯s you who¡¯s so eager to climb up, iming not to care about Mrs. Hob¡¯s position. I think what you want most is that title.¡± 1 coldly mocked her retreating figure. Tracy stiffened, shot me a vicious re, then grabbed her bag and walked out. Once she was gone, I reached into my bag and pulled out a voice recorder. Ever since I decided to gather evidence for the divorce, I¡¯d been doing my homework and getting ready for anything my previous life, I¡¯d been caught up in chaos, but this time around, I wasn¡¯t going into battle without a n In my I finished listening to the recording, and honestly, Tracy¡¯s pushy attitude was seriously infuriating. Still, I wasn¡¯t about to confront Jared with this recording and start a scene. I had something way smarter in mind. I took the afternoon off, not going to the office, not heading home either. Instead, I went to Willow Bay alone to take in the scenery. Around seven in the evening, Jared called me, but I hung up on him. By eight, a sudden downpour had everyone scurrying for cover, I sat alone on a bench by Willow Bay, letting the rain soak my hair and drench my clothes. Jared kept calling, one after another, but I didn¡¯t answer. I hadpletely vanished from his world. Then Jared¡¯s parents started calling, and Yvonne sent me messages, but lignored them all. By ten o¡¯clock, Jared was losing his mind, going all over the ce looking for me. Melissa called, saying Jared was pounding on her door like a madman, asking where the hell I was. I gave the address to Melissa, who told Jared Late that night by Willow Bay, a siker Bentley sped through the rain and screeched to a stop beside me Jared ran out, holding an umbre over him as he approached I sat on a bench beneath a huge tree, rain soaking me to the bone, halk, clothes, everything. Jared came running, practically throwing the umbre aude 1/2 as he pulled me into his armis, holding me so tight it almost hurt. ¡°Victoria, are you out of your mind? It¡¯s pouring and you just sit here? What the hell are you trying to do? Why did youe here? What are your thinking?¡± His eyes were wild and red, darting to the dark waters of Willow Bay nearby. When he looked back at me, his arms tightened around me even more, like he was afraid I¡¯d slip away. I was shivering all over, and with what little strength I had left, I showed him hard. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go back to your precious Tracy? Just leave me the het alone.¡± E Loose 171 Chapter 171 Janed wouldn¡¯t let go, holding me in adeath grip. I wasn¡¯t in the mood to y nice either, so I turned my head, grabbed his hand, and sank my teeth Jared hissed in pain and finally let go, his breathing in short ragged bursts. ¡°What now? Why did you sneak off here all by yourself without telling anyone? You¡¯ve been sitting here all afternoon!¡± ¡°Just leave me alone.¡± I turned my face away, tears spilling down instantly, looking like the whole world was against me Jared crouched down, reaching out to gently cup my face and turn it toward him. My eyes brimmed with bears, full of hurt and sadness. Jared¡¯s eyes wered too, filled with worry. He looked at me with a mix of tenderness, pain, and guilt, like he was seeing a memorye alive in his eyes. He let out a soft sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Let¡¯s ga home first. ¡°I¡¯m not going home. That ce isn¡¯t my home anymore.¡± I pushed his arms away and turned to walk toward Willow Bay Jared panicked and pulled me into a tight hug from behind. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything reckless, Victoria. Whatever it is, let¡¯s talk it out. Don¡¯t do something stupid.¡± I paused, surprised he thought I¡¯d do something drastic. I just wanted to take a detour and leave, not do anything crazy. But if that¡¯s what Jared thinks, maybe I should y along and make things a little more dramatic. ¡°You don¡¯t love m me anymore, Jared. So why bother putting on this act like you still care?¡± I sobbed, my voice full of sarcasm as I tried to pry his fingers off 200 ¡°Who told you that? Victoria, if I didn¡¯t love you, why would I have married you?¡± Jared said, his words sounding almost forced, as if he was trying to convince both me and himsell let out a cold, bitterugh and didn¡¯t say another word. Jared finally released me, but then gently took my hand in his. ¡°Alright, wherever you want to go, at least change your clothes first. You¡¯ll catch a cold like this.¡± Numbly, I followed him into the car. He turned on the heater and insisted i sit in the passenger seat, not letting me sit in the back. He pressed me down, fearing I might do something foolish, then bent to buckle my seatbelt As he leaned down, I noticed his shirt was soaked through, making him look disheveled. Jared, who always cared about his appearance, rarely let himself end up in such a state. a Jared took me to a hotel and had his driver deliver a change of clothes for both of us. ¡°Go take a hot shower. Want me to help you?¡± Jared asked softly, as if he thought I was helpless. ¡°No.¡± I grabbed the clothes and went straight into the bathroom. Aher my shower, I curled up on the couch, waiting for the next act in this little show. Jared took a shower and came out in fresh clothes. When he saw me still looking miserable, he sighed and sat down next to me. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, right? Let me order us some food.¡± Isnapped back right away, ¡°Don¡¯t act like you care about me.¡± Jared paused, his hand frozen over his phone, frowning at me. ¡°What happened? If you¡¯re upset, at least tell me what¡¯s wrong. Do you know how worried I was when you did this?¡± I knew Jared was just freaked out by what I did, which was why he was getting on my case. But I just cried. My sobs were the only sound in the room ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jared asked, his voice hoarse as he furrowed his brows i ¡°Tracy came to see me,¡± I said quietly. Chapt Loose 172 er 172 Chapter 172 ¡°Why did shee?¡± Jared¡¯s face hardened, his eyes fixed on me, ¡°What did she say to you?¡± Hooked utterly defeated. ¡°She wants me to divorce you. She said that you and she have been in love for years, that you admire each other, and that. feelings go both ways. Jored, I¡¯m sorry. ¡°I was being selfish, holding you back. I didn¡¯t realize you cared about her that much. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t keep you tied down for much longer. If you wint- ¡°So you just believe her?¡± Jared¡¯s face went stiff, and his tone grew sharper, not sure if he was panicking or angry. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her. None of what she swid is true.¡± ¡°Then what is true?¡± Hooked up at him, my eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s real? You admire her and she has feelings for you. Are you saying that¡¯s not true either?¡± Jared¡¯s breathing was ragged, his handsome face flushed with frustration. He got up and paced over to the window, looking totally lost, like his mind was a tangled mess he couldn¡¯t sort out. Finally, he said, ¡°Yeah, I admire her. But I admire a lot of people. Anyone who¡¯s capable, I respect. But you need to get one thing straight. Admiring someone isn¡¯t the same as loving them,¡± ¡°don¡¯t b believe you.¡± ..¡± I whispered. Jared looked like he was about to lose it, letting out a helplessugh. ¡°Why not? Fine, I¡¯ll admit it. Tracy is impressive, but her strengths are in the workce. She¡¯s a good partner to have at work, someone I can fight alongside. ¡°But as my wife? She might not be as good as you. You both have your own strengths and good points. Why do you have topare yourselves!¡± I stared at him,pletely stunned. Jared realized he was getting loud, so he came over and crouched down in front of me. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t lose confidence in yourself. ¡°Don¡¯t doubt who you are. You know I¡¯m not great at talking about this stuff, but I¡¯ve seen everything you¡¯ve done all these years. I know how much you mean to this family.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± I said quietly. Those wordsnded heavy, and his face frome ¡°You must have thought about having Tracy as your wife,¡± added, my v voice full of disappointment as I looked at him. Jared looked like I¡¯d just exposed his deepest secret. He stood up, lips pressed tight in pain, and after a long silence, finally nodded. ¡°Yeah, I thought about it. ¡°Before you changed. I really did. But it was just a thought. Do you really have to blow it out of proportion and talk about divorce? Who in a marriage hasn¡¯t had their mind wander once or twice?¡± Watching Jared scramble to defend himself, I felt my heart turn to ice. All men liked to make excuses for their mistakes and still acted like they were totally justified I looked him in the eye, my voice unwavering. ¡°I don¡¯t know about anyone else, but since I married you, I¡¯ve never let my heart waver. Not even once.¡± Jared¡¯s eyes were stiff and solemn. He stared at me, realizing my words were true. I loved him, showing it in every action, unlike him, who rarely demonstrated his love beyond words. ¡°Victoria, I¡­¡°Jared started, then stopped and fat out a heavy sigh. ¡°I¡¯m trying to find my way back. Can you give me another chance? ¡°Even kids get a shot at fixing their mistakes. I know I¡¯m an adult, but just want one chance to make things right, Will you let me?¡± Hooked at Jared¡¯s repentant expression and thought of Tracy¡¯s pregnancy. He could say those words without flinching. How shameless he was Chapter 172 ¡°Kids get to mess up and learn. Adults should own up to what they¡¯ve done,¡± I said coldly, Loose 173 Chapter 173 Jared¡¯s face went stiff, staring at me in disbelief, thrown off by how cold and unfeeling I was. ¡°victoria, adults aren¡¯t all powerful. Just because someone slips up in their thinking, does that mean they deserve to be damned for it?¡± Jared¡¯s voice was getting heated, frustration spilling out. He shot to his feet, turning away f y from me and reaching for his cigarettes, only to malize he didn¡¯t have any Annoyed, he gave the s a hard kick This was the first time I¡¯d ever seen Jaredpletely lose it. I must really be something to piss him off this much, ¡°Just step, Jared. I¡¯m out of the picture. You and Tracy can have each other,¡± I said, my voice small, full of hurt and resignation. ¡°Divorce? What divorce?¡± Jared snapped, turning to re at me. ¡°Who said we¡¯re getting divorced¡± When Jared refused to talk about divorce, I pulled out a voice recorder. ¡°Maybe you should hear what Tracy has to say,¡± I told him. Jared stiffened all over, his eyes glued to the recorder in my hand. He was clearly unsettled. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Jared asked, his voice a bit strained. I spoke in a low voice. ¡°She came to see me this afternoon. We talked for a while, and then she said¡­¡± ¡°What did she say?¡± Jared narrowed his eyes at me. ¡°I told you, whatever she says, don¡¯t believe her.¡± ¡°She called me a parasite.¡± I choked out, tears streaming down my face like a string of broken pearls. Jared looked at me in disbelief. The next second, I pressed y on the recorder, and Tracy¡¯s arrogant voice filled the room. Jared¡¯s face turned ugly in an Instant While he was listening, I couldn¡¯t help but try to exin myself, ¡°I thought if acted like the real wife, I could put her in her ce. But in Tracy¡¯s eyes, I¡¯m nothing¡± The more Jared listened, the darker his face got, like a storm was about to break But the moment Tracy started talking about making sure I got my share in the divorce, Jared suddenly snatched the recorder from me and shut it off. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Thank goodness Jared hadn¡¯t heard the things I said back to her. Otherwise, he¡¯d probably think I was just as bad as Tracy I lowered my gate, tears glistening in my eyes, and stayed silent. Jared looked like he was at his wit¡¯s end, but at least he seemed calmer now. I had no idea what was going through his head. ¡°Tracy confessed her feelings to me a few times,¡± Jared finally admitted after a long silence. I just stared at him, eyes brimming with tears, feelingpletely lost. Jared looked full of regret and guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was too vague, and she got the wrong idea that I¡¯d divorce you for her. ¡°Victoria, honestly, the reason she came to you this time is mostly because I finally told her the truth when we were in Shaville.¡± I was stunned. So he really did say something to her, and that¡¯s what pushed her toe after me Jared sat down next to me on the sofa, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. ¡°I always thought I¡¯d stay true to my feelings, true to my marnage. When I first met you, I was obsessed. ¡°I wanted nothing more than to make you my wife. The way you looked at me, like I was someone to look up to, so passionate and full of admiration. I¡¯ll admit, I loved that look. It fulfilled every fantasy I had as a man.¡± I just sat there in a dare, listening. He was right. I really did love him with everything I had, once. Jared shook his head with a self¨Cmocking smile, turning his gaze to me. ¡°But over time, I lost myself. Your love started to feel like a burden, like a w on my shoulders. Because honestly, it felt like loving me was all you had.¡± AD Comment Loose 174 Chapter 174 I shuddered, a harsh truth hitting me. So loving someone too much was a mistake, a pressure that suffocates Jared¡¯s eyes grew unfocused, his long fingers digging into the armiest. ¡°These past few years, my career¡¯s been skyrocketing. My bank ount kept growing and maybe I got carried away, started thinking you weren¡¯t right for me anymore. was sprinting down the highway, and you were just standing still. The more Lumted, the farther apart we became, until could barely see you anymore. I bet you could feel I was slipping away loo¡± closed my eyes, quietly listening to everything he said. It was brutally real, and harsh, but that¡¯s just how adulthood works. There was no running away, one just had to face t Seeing me stay quiet, Jared pressed on. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m d you changed and decided to start fresh. When you said you wanted to work, I supported you. ¡°But even if you¡¯re chasing your career, why are you pushing Yvonne away? What did she ever do wrong? Or is it because you hate me, so you¡¯re taking out on her?¡± I couldn¡¯t exin it to him. I¡¯m the only one carrying the pain of Yvonne turning her back on me. It¡¯s not something! can ever talk about, and I know won¡¯t ever stop keeping my distance from her. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve just turned cold and heartless. It¡¯s not about anyone in particr,¡± I said softly. ¡°Yvonne is your daughter. You gave birth to her and poured your heart into raising her for six years. How can you just turn your back on her like that?¡± Jared really worked up about how I was treating Yvonne. I shot him a sarcasticugh. ¡°You never even tried to see things from my side. Just now, I could barely find the will to keep living. So, why should I care about anyone else?¡± Jared choked, his face flushing with anger. My voice dropped, steady but firm. ¡°I have to learn to love myself first before I can love anyone else. Please, just let me do this for myself¡± Jared fell silent, then nodded. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t bring up how you treated the child. But in the recording, Tracy mentioned fighting for divorce assets. Were you tempted by that?¡± My heart skipped a beat. Of course, I was tempted by the money. So much wealth could sway anyone.¡°I know I don¡¯t deserve that much money.¡± ¡°You do,¡± Jared interrupted, locking eyes with me. ¡°It we end up dworcing I¡¯ll give you that much¡± I locked eyes with him. ¡°Really?¡± Jared nodded. ¡°If the divorce is my fault, I won¡¯t hold back. I¡¯ll give you even more than that.¡± My heart was pounding. Jared was never the stingy type. If he was the one who messed up, he¡¯d always make sure I got more than my share. ¡°I think we should get a divorce,¡± I said. Since we had alreadye this far, might as well just all my cards on the table and hit him with the big one. Jared¡¯s brows drew together in confusion as he looked at me. ¡°So, after everything I just said, none of it got through to you? You still insist on divorcing Llet out a silkmockingugh. ¡°How much longer do you think we can drag this out? I could wait forever, but Tracy¡¯s the one who can¡¯t Jared shot me a frustrated look. ¡°Why is she in such a rush? Haven¡¯t I told you already? I¡¯ve made it clear to her. There¡¯s nothing between us. We¡¯re just colleagues, that¡¯s all Tarched my brow, a faint smirk on my lips. ¡°Jared, you always say you¡¯re a grown up. So, as an adult, shouldn¡¯t you own up to what you¡¯ve done?¡± Jared gave me a puzzled look, then nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± I reached into my bag, pulled out a printed sheet, and tossed it right in front of him. ¡°Take a good look. Tracy¡¯s pregnant Time for you to face the he C Loose 175 chucked the paper at Jared, and it smacked him in the his. In gamma stock end fast my mind, picked it up, and tasked it over mitj looked at me, all wide eyed. ¡°You¡¯re prepn¨¢r: 11¨C I thought Jared was meticulous, but shock could make anyone lose theirposure¡± ¡°Look at the name -tearly¡± | coldly reminded NAL Jared finally noticed it was Tracy¡¯s name on the paper. His brows furrowed, and then, in totally baffled, eded, ¡°Why do you RY¡¯S ed recent pregnant sh Thad nothing to hide anymore. ¡°Thired a detective to follow her. These are the photos he took Jared, Tracyat? supplements and going to prenatal checkups with her?¡± Jared gave me a strange look, then set the paper down on the table and stood up I was shocked. Jared wasn¡¯t panicking or looking way He was way too calm. He might already know Tracy was pregnant. ¡°kn¡¯t that enough?¡± I shot back, my voice ity. Jared scoffed, disbelief all over his face. ¡°You seriously think that¡¯s my kid?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± i retorted in my previous life, Tracy had an abortion, and it was Jared¡¯s kid. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t feel so guilty and tried sky it up to her. ¡°Of course not,¡± Jared said, shoving his hands in his pockets and frowning at me. ¡°Me and Tracy? We never even got that far. kid¡¯s definitely not I shot my eyes wide open, blurting out ¡°Don¡¯t give me that.¡± Jared saw how upset i was and lowered his voice, sounding serious. ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth. Why is it so hard for you to believe m ¡°And whose child is it?¡± I was shocked. I thought I had found the key to make Jared feel guilty and divorce me with money. But now, I was confused about what was happening. Jared stayed calm. ¡°As far as I know, she already had a boyfriend before she came back to the country. So, the kid¡¯s probably his ¡°But weren¡¯t you into each other? I just can¡¯t believe nothing ever happened between you.¡± I blurted out, panic rising as my whole n started to ¡°We were just admiring each other, that¡¯s all. There was nothing physical between us,¡± Jared said, sounding a bit frustrated. ¡°Stop overthinking things. From now on, I want us to at least have some basic trust.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. Like I¡¯d ever believe you,¡± I shot back through gritted teeth. Jared looked at me, all flustered, and to my surprise, he actually smiled. His eyes softened as he tried to sootheme. ¡°Come on, Victoria, isn¡¯t that enough drama for one day? I know you¡¯re only this upset because you care. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± snapped, jerking away by the moment his fingers brushed my arm. Jared¡¯s hand froze in midair, frustration clouding his face. ¡°Victoria, are you seriously still going to make a scene?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already cheated emotionally. You¡¯re not innocent anymore.¡± I shot back, locking eyes a s with him. Jared paused for a couple seconds, then bit hislip. ¡°And you? Haven¡¯t you been crossing the line with Nathan?¡± My breath hitched. So Jard really did suspect something between me and Nathan¡­ Jared looked genuinely disappointed. ¡°Victoria, let¡¯s just call it on. I won¡¯t dig to whatever¡¯s going on with you and Nathan, and you let Tracy stuff go, alright?¡± 00:03STUS ¡°No way.¡± Linsisted on sildre seing esch isun separately. Drie matter of time, dna atcount it AD Loose 176 Chapter 176 Jared sighed, lecking totally deleted. ¡°Just call your parents, okay? I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll be worried sick about you? ¡°You told them?¡± gasped, totally shocked. ¡°I was wouled my mom might¡¯ve called them,¡± Jared admitted. Just then, my phone rang, it was my mom. I shot Jared a re and hurried out to the out to the balcony ¡°No good.¡± I insisted on addressing each issue separately. On One matter at a time, one ount After I hung up, Jared asked, ¡°Your mom¡¯s not too worried, is she?¡± I shot back, my voice icy, ¡°From now on, keep my business out of my parents¡± ears.¡± Jared gave me aplicated look. ¡°Your temper¡¯s been getting worsetely.¡± I paused, then met his eyes. ¡°Maybe this is who really am. All this time, I¡¯ve just been faking it, ying the good wife, acting gentle, pretending to be understanding and considerate. ¡°Jared, even if Tracy¡¯s baby isn¡¯t yours, we should still get a divorce. I just can¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Jared went stiff, like he¡¯d just turned to stone,pletely stunned and unable to believe what he was hearing My whole scheme just crashed and burned. If Tracy really had nothing to do with Jared, and that baby wasn¡¯t his, then i had no excuse to make him divorce me. We weren¡¯t talking about divorce or assets now. Aher two major setbacks, our rtionship had already suffered deep wounds. My heart had changed. I couldn¡¯t love him the way I used to Since there was nothing left between us, splitting up was really the only thing that made sense now Jared looked like he¡¯d just been hit by a truck. Honestly, in less than a month, i¡¯d changed so much. He probably wouldn¡¯t even recognize the person I¡¯ve be. It was fine. He was who he was, and I was who I was. We had grown part in heart and body; there was no longer any semnce of us being a couple. ¡°Victoria, are you even listening to yourself?¡± Jared¡¯s face was flushed with anger, his voice tight with frustration. ¡°Our rtionship isn¡¯t broken. We have a kid, we have a home, and now you want a divorce?¡± Hooked at his eyes, turning red, my tone t and detached. ¡°Yeah. You don¡¯t love me anymore, and I don¡¯t love you either. Without love, what¡¯s the point of staying together? Divorce is the only answer.¡± ¡°When did I ever say I didn¡¯t love you? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been making a scene for no reason, Jared snapped, his voice tight with anger. *I¡¯m so done hearing you call me dramatic,¡± I snapped barely holding onto my patience. I shot him a re, my words dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Did any smallint or minor outburst make you call me unreasonable? Jared, you imed to respect me, but you always wanted contral. You never loved me as an equal. I was just your essory, and even defending myself was seen as nagging, right¡± As I said it, bears started streaming down my face, I couldn¡¯t even tell if i was sad or just bitter. Maybe it was just the sting of my first real scheme blowing up in my face, wrecking whatever confidence ad bett Jared was totally stunned. The gentle wife he thought he knew was suddenly going off on him he never before. He never saw iting All this time, he thought he¡¯d picked the perfect, soft¨Cspoken woman, someone who¡¯d always know how to soothe him. But now, I was showing my ws, fighting tooth and nail to break free from him and all his control. 00:03 TUC, 19 Aug Loose 177 I really didn¡¯t want to cry, I knew tears wouldn¡¯t do any good right now. If anything, they¡¯d just make him think I waspromising or beggine sympathy I tried my best to hold back the tears, but I just couldn¡¯t. I could only turn my back to him, refusing to look at his surprised expression. He didn¡¯t say a word, but his handsome face had gone noticeably pale, 1 took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. ¡°When we divorce, I won¡¯t insist on getting anything from you. You can have the child I won¡¯t fight for custody.¡± With that, I grabbed my bag and strode out, not giving Jared a chance to say a word. Leaning against the elevator wall, I was anything but calm. I wiped away the tears at the corners of my eyes with my fingertips The mirrored elevator doors showed me someone new¨Cnot that fragile wallflower who waited around for a man¡¯s love, but a badass female warrior picking up her armor and getting ready to take on the world. This was me after time travel, determined to shove myself out of myfort zone and fight for my future, relying on no one but myself. Thad no idea what Jared was thinking, but knowing him, he was always decisive. Now that i¡¯d said everything I needed to, I figured he¡¯d eventually swing the de and end this toxic bond, letting us both finally breathe free That night, I went to stay at a an apartment I¡¯d bought a while back, For the first time, I didn¡¯t go back to that house. The apartment was pretty spacious with two floors, elegant and refined. I¡¯d drop by asionally to tidy up. It might not have that lived¨Cin warmth, but it was quiet, perfect for recharging and getting my head straight on my own. Jared didn¡¯t call again, but Yvonne kept texting me, asking where I was, if I¡¯d run into any bad people, and if anyone had hurt me. Seeing my daughter¡¯s sudden concern made my eyes sting, but in the end, I forced myself to turn off my phone. Maybe i was asking too much from a six¨Cyear¨Cold. I wanted her to put herself in my shoes, to get what it¡¯s like for me as her mom. She was finally starting to show some maturity, even worrying about me, but honestly, my heart was already shut off. I just didn¡¯t want her to grow up with the memory of me as someone weak, insecure, and always second¨Cguessing everything it Jared raised her, maybe she¡¯d turn out strong and independent, instead of the reckless troublemaker she used to be before. That night, I turned it over and over in my mind, and in the end, I made up my mind to get a divorce. Jared was a good man, but he just wasn¡¯t the one for me anymore. I never needed everything to be perfect, but I knew exactly what kind of life would bring me real happiness let myself bezy all day. On the third day. I went to the office to hand in my resignation. Even though I¡¯d put so much of myself into the Harmonia Hotel, it never truly belonged to When I finally arrived at the office, it was already past ten. I was just about to write my resignation letter when thendline rangi was Jared. ¡°Did you get some rest? His voice was as gentle as ever. I frowned. ¡°Are you in the office right now? I have a form I need you to sign.¡± Jared said, ¡°I already signed off on your ticket to Fnsia for tomorrow?¡± I tensed up at his words. ¡°I¡¯m not going tomorrow. I¡¯m resigning today¡± Jared v was silent for a moment before finally saying ¡°The Harmonia Hotel will be fully renovated in just two months. Are you really going to wal now, when we¡¯re so close to finishing?¡± Honestly, I didn¡¯t want to leave things unfinished, but things havee to this, it was not really my choice anymore. ¡°You can always find someone even better than me to run things, offered. ¡°Victoria, I know you¡¯re not in a great ce right now, but business is business. You can ignore me if you want, but when ites to work, Ineed you to stay focused. ¡°I put Harmonia Hotel in your hands, and I don¡¯t have anyone better for the job. And there are some terms I haven¡¯t told you yet. ¡°If you manage both hotels from now on, I¡¯ll bump up your sry to at least 1 million dors a year, plus half the profits. It¡¯s all written into your contract. Think it over.¡± Jared finished and hung up. ? Loose 178 My mind went totally nk for a moment. 1 million dors a year and a cut of the profits, tost instantly turned into a calctor, crunching the numbers; there was no way could lose on this deal. way I coul Jared really got me. He knew I had been all about the moneytely, so he just kept trying to win me over with cash. He was such a sly, scheming guy. But what about his temper? Didn¡¯t he get mad about what I said that night Why was he ying it so cool now! I knocked on his office door. Jared was sitting in his big ck leather chair, smoking. When he saw mee in, he quickly stubbed out his cigarette and looked up at me, his eyes deep and intense. I walked up to him, but before I could say anything, he slid a contract across the desk. ¡°If you¡¯re worried I might be pullingwyer friend take a look,¡± I didn¡¯t even bother with the contract. I just stared at him, baffled. ¡°Jared, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± A faint smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? I¡¯m trying to get you to stay.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point,¡± I said, my voice icy. you can have your. ¡°I get it.¡± Jared nodded. ¡°But if you want to fly high, you need to grow your wings first. Stay here, build up your skills, and you¡¯ll be unstoppable out there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not letting you buy me off,¡± I snapped. ¡°Buy you off? Please. You¡¯re not freeloading; you¡¯re working, and you deserve every penny. That¡¯s just how it works¡± Jared leaned back, looking all calcting. ¡°I know you want a divorce, but now¡¯s just not the right time. ¡°Not to mention whether our parents could even handle it, and Yvonne definitely doesn¡¯t want to see us split. Victoria, let¡¯s just take a breather and think things through¡± looked at Jared, honestly shocked. He was actually giving in. I kept silent, but my thoughts were all over the ce. I always thought divorce would be straightforward, but now Jared was refusing to let me go, and honestly, it was really getting on my nerves. ¡°Even if you refuse to divorce me, our marriage is already over. Could you really handle a marriage without sex?¡± I knew he was still a man with desires, even if he wasn¡¯t the most passionate type, ¡°No sex?¡± Jared¡¯s brows drew together. ¡°Is this your way of punishing me?¡± I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s not about punishment. Like I said before, a woman only opens her legs for the man she truly loves.¡± ig moment, then finally nodded. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Jared stared at me for a long n I was honestly stunned. Jared actually agreed to live a nd, passionless life with me. I picked up the contract from the desk and started hipping through it. The terms were allid out, but legal stuff isn¡¯t really my thing. I figured I¡¯d ask Melissato lunch so she could help me go over it. Jared looked a bit annoyed after what I said. Seeing me poring over the contract, he told me, ¡°We already signed an agreement, every cent you earn is yours. You don¡¯t have to worry about that¡± I know, but that was exactly why I was double¨Cchecking everything. ¡°Thanks for trusting me with this job. U give it everything I¡¯ve got,¡± I said. Since Jared wasn¡¯t letting me walk away, work was all I could focus on for now. ¡°Victoria, it might seem like I¡¯m the one with all the advantages in this marriage, standing above it all, but honesty, I¡¯m the one of your deep voice called out from behind me as I was about to leave. I stopped in my tracks, looking back at hlin, puzzled. He lowered his eyes, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. ¡°It¡¯s like that. A church thrives when tended with devotion. Candles flicker day and night, and the congregation grows. ¡°Neglected, it crumbles into a forgotten ruin, in this marriage, that seems like you¡¯re begging for scraps of affection. You hold the true keeper of the key ¡°Now you turn to leave, while I stand here offering half my soul. Come or go. Your choice wears the crown. All I can do? Plead through tears, and beg you not to go.¡± His words totally floored me. I was surprised that Jared could actually get all poetic and dramatic ¡°You know, you actually make sense. Guess you¡¯re just not used to losing your VIP treatment, huh?¡± I crossed my arms, smirking at him. ¡°Feeling itchy? Go boil it yourself.¡± With that, I left him to his tragic monologue and walked out without another word. But as soon as I stepped into the hallway, I saw Tracy fuming, ring right at me as she marched over AD Chapter 178 My mind went totally nk for a moment. 1 million dors a year and a cut of the profits, too? instantly turned into a calctor, crunching the mumbers; there was no way I could lose on this deal. Jared really got me. He knew I had been all about the moneytely, so he just kept trying to win me over with cash. He was such a siy, scheming guy. But what about his temper? Didn¡¯t he get mad about what i said that night Why was he ying it so cool now? I knocked on his office door. Jared was sitting in his big ck leather chair, smoking. When he saw mee in, he quickly stubbed out his cigarette and looked up at me, his eyes deep and intense. I walked up to him, but before could say anything, he slid a contract across the desk. ¡°If you¡¯re worried I might be pulling something you can have your friend take a look¡± I didn¡¯t even bother with the contract. I just stared at him, baffled. ¡°Jared, what exactly are you trying to do!¡± A faint smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? I¡¯m trying to get you to stay.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point,¡± I said, my voice icy. t it.¡± Jared nodded. ¡°But if you want to fly high, you need to grow your wings first. Stay here, build up your skills, and you¡¯ll be unstoppable out there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not letting you buy me off, I snapped. ¡°Buy you off? Please. You¡¯re not freeloading; you¡¯re working, and you deserve every penny. That¡¯s just how it works.¡± Jared leaned back, looking all calcting. ¡°I know you want a divorce, but now¡¯s just not the right time. ¡°Not to mention whether our parents could even handle it, and Yvonne definitely doesn¡¯t want to see us split. Victoris, let¡¯s just take a breather and think things through Hooked at Jared, honestly shocked. He was actually giving in. I kept silent, but my thoughts were all over the ce. I always thought divorce would be straightforward, but now Jared was refusing to let me go, and honestly, it was really getting on my nerves. ¡°Even if you refuse to divorce me, our marriage is already over. Could you really handle a marriage without sex?¡± I knew he was still a man with desires, even if he wasn¡¯t the most passionate type. ows drew together. ¡°Is this your way of punishing me? ¡°No sex?¡± Jared¡¯s brows I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s not about punishment. Like I said before, a woman only opens her legs for the man she truly loves.¡± Jared stared at me for a long moment, then finally nodded, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t force you.¡± I was honestly stunned. Jared actually agreed to live a nd, passionless life with me, I picked up the contract from the desk and started ipping through it. The terms were allid out, but legal stuff isn¡¯t really my thing. I figured I¡¯d ask. Melissa to lunch so she could help me go over it. Jared looked a bit annoyed after what I said. Seeing me poring over the contract, he told me, ¡°We already signed an agreement; every cent you earn is yours. You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± I knew, but that was exactly why I was double¨Cchecking everything. ¡°Thanks for trusting me with this job. I¡¯ll give it everything I¡¯ve got,¡± I said. Since Jared wasn¡¯t letting me walk away, work was all I could focus on for now. Loose 179 Chapter 179 Tracy looked like she wanted to kill me, and it sent a chill down my spine. She abys put on that noble and elegant art, but deep down and calcting ¡°Mrs. Hob, let¡¯s talk,¡± Tracy said, her tone losing all its unnal warmth. I nced around at the crowd, clearly waiting for some drama, and just shis ped. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got lunch ns with a friend. Can¡¯t make it.¡± Tracy just seered at me. ¡°What? Are you afraid to talk Her attempt to provoke me didn¡¯t bother me at all. ¡°Why would I be? An honest heart sleeps sound through midnight knacks¡± Tracy¡¯s face darkened instantly. She turned and said, ¡°Conference Room Dre now.¡± She was pregnant, and now she wanted to meet the somewhere with no witnesses. If the identally fell and had a miscarriage, there¡¯d be no way to clear my name. No way I was going with her. She was obviously trying to set me up. ¡°Sorry, really don¡¯t have time,¡± I said, turning to head back to my office. Seeing I wasn¡¯t going to y along, Tracy had no choice but to head back to her office and call me from herndine. ¡°Mrs. Hob, you¡¯re told Jared I¡¯m pregnant, right? You¡¯re absolutely vicious¡± Tracy said, her voice practically shaking with rage. Itered innocence. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant? Congrats. So, who¡¯s the father? Is it Jared?¡± ¡°You know damn well who it is,¡± Tracy snapped, even more furious. ¡°i get it. Pregnancy y hormones mess with your mood. But Tracy, this baby isn¡¯t even my husband¡¯s, so why are you so¨Cobsessed with making trouble for me?¡± I shot back, not in the mood for her games. Tracy took a deep breath. ¡°You¡¯re really ying hardball Guess I really misjudged you.¡± ¡°Someone as full of themselves as you probably don¡¯t think anyone¡¯s worth your time. Tracy, let me guess. You wanted Jared to step up and im this baby, swap the lead in your drama, and I crashed your show halfway through ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re so pissed, right?¡± Honestly, looking at how things went down, I bet in my previous life, Jared got yed by Tracy, too. What a poor dude. Tracy was practically fuming on the other end, her breathing all ragged. Guess I nailed it, ¡°Mrs. Hob, do you really think everyone¡¯s as sneaky and underhanded as you? I could sue you for sending someone to follow me, Tracy said, trying to change the subject. ¡°Sue me? Got any proof?¡± I raised an eyebrow Tracy mmed up. It It seemed that she really didn¡¯t have anything on me. ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky. The fact is, Jared doesn¡¯t love you. Let¡¯s see how long you can keep smiling Tracy said, clearly pissed off, before hanging up on me, Tactually felt pretty good. Tracy¡¯s dirty trick had totally flopped. At lunch, I treated Melissa to a meal and had her check out the contract for me. She raised an eyebrow and grinned. ¡°The contract looks fine, but you¡¯re just a total newble. Guess it really pays to have the right people backing you up! ¡°Let¡¯s not get into that,¡± I said with a faint smile. ¡°Jared¡¯s been really not of hit mindtely I want a divorce, but he won¡¯t go se to it.¡± Melissa just gave me a knowing look. ¡°Of course, For nor thing, it¡¯s not easy to find someone as beautiful as you ¡°And besides, if he divorces you, it could impact hispany¡¯s stock price. He has to be super careful about that kind of thing G Loose 180 I was honestly surprised. I¡¯d never even thought about how a divorce could affect him he that. So maybe that was what was really holding fated back not feelings for me, but business concerns, Men were just in logical. I totally missed that. ¡°So what am I supposed to do? I really can¡¯t stand being with him anymore,¡± I said, frowning ¡°So you¡¯re already itching to find a new me?¡± Melissa shot me a knowing grin. ¡°Makes sense. Seven years with the same guy¨Canyone would get it. ¡°Why not talk to Mr. Hob and suggest you two stay married but live your own lives, no strings attached? You¡¯d be single in everything but name. ¡°Wait? People actually do that?¡± Earched a brow, kind of loving Melissa¡¯s suggestion. If I let Jared off the leash, he¡¯d be free to chase after whoever he wanted. Once he fell for some other beauty, he¡¯d probably be the one begging for a divorce. It would save me the trouble. ¡°That¡¯s how mest rich folks roll, honestly. It¡¯s just hush¨Chush. Ourw firm sees cases like this all the time. But trust me, ying with fire like that? Thing can blow up fast, and there¡¯s danger everywhere,¡± Melissa said, totally unfazed. Man, I really had been living under a rock. Despite experiencing so much, I still treated love like it was some sacred thing. ¡°Yeah, I like that n, I¡¯ll keep it in mind,¡± I replied. Having lunch with Melissa was like seeing a shrink, every bit of gloom just vanished, and all that was left was pure lightness and joy. Melissa was an intriguing woman. Her mind ran wild, and her words ran free, with a spirit so bold, I doubted love was games ever leaving her bruised. I went over to the Harmonia Hotel to keep an eye on things, and just thinking about my trip to Fnsia tomorrow, I couldn¡¯t help feeling a little excited. Jared had told me I couldn¡¯t go abroad, but after we argued, he relented, it looked like all I had to do was pick a fight with him whenever I wanted something he wouldn¡¯t agree to This time, I was heading overseas for business with three senior execs¨Cone man and two women. One of the women was a longtime employee who worked closely with Jared, so I figured she was probably his eyes and ears That evening, Jared showed up at my ce with Yvonne. Yvonne ran over and hugged me tight. ¡°Mommy, Daddy said you¡¯re going abroad for work tomorrow and might not be back for a few days. Can I sleep with you tonight?¡± I replied gently. ¡°I have to sort through some paperwork tonight, so I¡¯ll probably be upte. Why don¡¯t you go home with Daddy tonight?¡± Jared could tell how I was feeling about Yvonne tonight. Even though he was still a little upset, he didn¡¯t push it any further. Instead, heforted Yvonne, ¡°vonne, Mommy¡¯s got a lot of work to do. Don¡¯t bother her, okay? I will take you home,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home, Yvonne cried, tears streaming down her face as she clung to me. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯ve been ignoring metely. Did I do something to upset you? Just tell me what I did wrong, and I¡¯ll fix it, okay?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong,¡± I said, gently prying her arms off me. ¡°Yvonne, you¡¯re starting school soon, and you need to leam to be independent. I¡¯m just here to guide you, but your ide is yours to live.¡± Jared frowned. ¡°She doesn¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°She will, someday,¡± I said, looking at Yvonne, her lips quivering and eyes brimming with bears. Jared let out a sigh, ¡°Alright, do you need any help with your work?¡± ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m good,¡± I replied, not as patient with Jared as used to be. Yvonne seemed to sense something was ofl. She looked up at Jared and asked, ¡°Daddy, did you and Mommy secretly get divorced and not tatt me AD Comment Send gift No Ads Loose 181 Chapter 181 Yvonne suddenly blurted out those words, catching both Jared and mepletely off guard. Before either of us could say a word, Yvonne started walling loudly, grabbing my hand and then clutching Jared¡¯s arm, crying, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to e divorced. I don¡¯t want to be an orphan. Idon¡¯t want people tough at me frowned as I watched Yvonne crying her heart out. When looked up, I happened to catch Jared staring at me, his eyes deep and unreadable, I warned myself not to go soft. No matter what Jared and Yvonne did, had to put myself first. Pitying them would only drag me back to the same old road I¡¯d walked before. ¡°Wonne, stop crying. We aren¡¯t getting divorced,¡± Jared said, unable to stand seeing his daughter so upset He bent down, scooped her up, wiped away her tears, and kissed her cheek. ¡°From now on, you have to listen to your mom, respect her, and be good to her, okay?¡± Yvonne sniffled, gave me a pouty look, and then nodded sweetly. ¡°Okay, I will¡± Watching these two put on their little show in front of me, I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes inwardly. Seeing Yvonne agree, Jared gave me a gentle, almost wistful look. ¡°Victoria, just focus on your work take Yvonne home. Tomorrow, take you to the airport ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can go by myself,¡± I said, turning down his offer without hesitation. Jared pressed his lips together, looking a little disappointed, but he didn¡¯t insist. Holding Yvonne in his arms, he walked away. I spent the whole night buried in work. I wasn¡¯t goi t going to let Jared and Yvonne take up anymore of my time. While I was in the shower, I suddenly wondered if Jared secretly enjoyed being treated badly. Back when I was bending over backwards for him, all gentle and caring, he acted so indifferent, like I barely mattered. But now that I was cold to him, he was the one trying to please me, going along with everything I said. Men were so weird, sometimes deep and serious, other times childish. One just couldn¡¯t figure them out. The next morning, I didn¡¯t go to the office, but I had an informant nted there to keep tabs for me She called me a little after ten, telling me Jared had called Tracy into HR for a private talk. Rumor had it she was about to get another promotion. Now that Jared knew Tracy was carrying another man¡¯s baby, I wondered if he was still going to be the sucker who picked up the mess for her. If he actually had the guts to do that, all I could do was wish him luck. Tracy was Jared¡¯s go¨Cto girl, No matter how ugly things got, I figured he¡¯d never let her leave thepany. No boss would let go of someone that capable. At noon, Jared found out I was still at the apartment and actually showed up with food he¡¯d packed. When I opened the door and saw him in casual clothes, thought he was so annoying Jared walked in, spotted my packed suitcase, and gave it a lift. ¡°This is heavy. Can you even carry it?¡± I was sitting at myptop, working, and replied, ¡°You know, women can haul those big water cooler bottles when there¡¯s no man around.¡± Jared gave me a weird look, and just smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can handle it 1/2 Jared sat down next to me and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. No matter how busy you ned to take care of yourself.¡± I couldn¡¯t argue with that, I closed myptop, walked over to the table, and saw that he¡¯d packed up all my favorite food. I looked at him, and he little awkward. ¡°The world must be going crazy. When i liked you, you didn¡¯t even notice me, Now that we¡¯re getting divorced, you¡¯re suddenly all over ¡°Jared, do you guys think women are that easy to win over? p us around, then give us a treat? One treat not enough? How about 7 Tep down, propped my chin on my hand, and looked at him. Jared frowned slightly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. We¡¯re still married,¡± I knew he wouldn¡¯t have a good answer, so I didn¡¯t press him. I just ate in silence. Jared was eating with me when he suddenly said, ¡°Lasked Tracy to resign.¡± ¡°What?¡± I stared at him in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re really willing to let her go? A Comment Loose 182 Jared shot me a look. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who thought there was something going on hotween us? Now that I¡¯ve let her go, you look all surprind ¡°Letting someone that talented go? isn¡¯t that a huge loss for thepany?¡± I was honestly shocked. I never thought Jared would make such an impulsive move. Jared replied casually, ¡°It¡¯s a loss I should take. Nothing to regret. I¡¯ve already found someone just as capable¡± Honestly, men really did think with their heads, not their hearts. Jared only let Tracy go because she was starting to mess with his reputation. As the boss, he always said he cared about keeping his image clean. He probably just didn¡¯t want to get dragged into some messy gossip because of a ¡°Just be straight with me, okay? Why did you really let her go? And don¡¯t give me that it¡¯s for you excuse,¡± I shot back, my tone full of sarcasm. Jared set down his fork, stood up, opened the wine cab, and pulled out a bottle. He poured himself half a ss, took a slow sip, and when he looked at me, his eyes were cool and steady. ¡°Victoria, in your eyes, what kind of man is your husband?¡± ¡°A guy still breathing,¡± I answered, Jared couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten a lot chattertely, and a lot funnier, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because life hasn¡¯t been going my way, and I¡¯m done holding back. If someone ticks me off, I¡¯m not holding back anymore. Il p right back.¡± I wasn¡¯t pretending with Jared anymore. Before, I always worried that saying things like this would make him see me as some nag, ruining the gentle image I tried so hard to keep in his eyes. ¡°Yeah, a woman with a bit of an edge is even more attractive Jared nodded. I tightened my grip on my fork and let out a coldugh. ¡°So Tracy¡¯s the kind of woman with that edge, really attractive, right?¡± Jared just looked at me, speechless. He took another sip of his wine and said, ¡°Why do you always have topare yourself to hor? Tracy¡¯s too arrogant. ¡°Sure, she¡¯s capable, but her sharpness is over the top, and it puts a lot of pressure on people¡± I gave a drychuckle. ¡°So you men just like women, you can keep in check, huh? The moment they stop being easy to handle, you find an excuse to me them or push them away.¡± ¡°Victoria, you want the truth? Fine, I¡¯lly it all out. Ever since Tracy joined thepany, there has always been gossip swirling around. ¡°I get it¨Con paper, Tracy and I look like the perfect pair with the same background, same skills, even looks. ¡°People just forgot I had a wife waiting for me at home, Jared paused, his gaze fixed on me. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m sorry. I really have neglected you all this time.¡± ¡°No need to apologize. I brought it on myself,¡± I replied, feeling nothing at all as he said it. He shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s on me. If I¡¯d cared about your feelings and stepped up to clear the air when the rumors started, you wouldn¡¯t have felt like you had topete with Tracy. ¡°I was supposed to be your umbre, but instead, I let you get caught in the rain. ¡°Storms help you grow. It¡¯s not the worst thing¡± I said, looking up at him, ¡°And as for you, the umbre full of holes, when you end up with someone else, at least I won¡¯t feel so miserable.¡± Jated seemed at a loss for words I smiled, ¡°So it was Tracy hurting your reputation at work that de yoki decide to let her go, huh? ¡± I got it right. Jared paused for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Pretty much. I gave her a pretty ponereus severance, and she said the wants to keep ¡°Really? She¡¯s not even married, and she¡¯s still willing to have the baby?¡± I was lily surprised. In my previous life, Tracy didn¡¯t hesitate to bett but new she¡¯s doing theplete opposite. ¡°That¡¯s what she told me. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll actually have the baby, but either way, it¡¯s over between us, Jared said, finishing his drink and getting to his feet. I¡¯m heading back to the office. Safe travels, and take care I watched as Jared walked over to the rotryway to put on his shoes, and I called out, ¡°Wait a second! Jared stood by the door, looking at me with a list of hope in his eyes, probably thinking I was going to give him a kiss goodbye But all I did was quickly gather up the leftovers and say, ¡°Take the trash out on your way out.¡± AD Loose 183 Chapter 183 Jared¡¯s expression fire for a second as he took the food hom me, then be shut the door with a bit more force than necessary As the door clicked shut, I felt a wave of relief wash out me. Maybe once one stopped depending on men, they were just another tool in one¡¯s tone. One could use them when to let them at when one didn¡¯t. But whatever one did, never bend over backwards to please them. It was just after one in the afternoon, and I was getting ready to head to the airport when Tracy called me The rival who tangled up half my previous life was now meeting such an anticlimactic end in this one Tracy¡¯s voice was tinged with resentment. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m quitting. Bet you¡¯re happy about it. Was it you who got Jared to fire me?¡± I wasn¡¯t about to take the me for this, ¡°Sony, I had no idea you were leaving. Jared dropped off lunch for me at noon and happened to mention it.¡± My showing off must¡¯ve stung Tracy. Atter a few seconds of silence, she said, ¡°This baby really couldn¡¯t havee at a worse time I do love Jared, and I wanted to have his child. But sometimes life throws you curveballs you just can¡¯t dodge.¡± ¡°I do love Jared, and I wanted to have his child. But sometimes life throws you curveballs you just can¡¯t dodge.¡± 1 sneered, ¡°You im you love my husband, but you go and sleep with another guy and get pregnant? Tracy, have you even listened to yourself? You sound absolutely ridiculous.¡± Tracyughed on the other end, totally unfazed, and said coolly, ¡°Victoria, just because you¡¯re willing to stick with one man your whole life doesn¡¯t mean I have to be like you. I¡¯m a hunter, not some helpless prey. Men are just there to be used when I need them. I never once thought about pretending to be pure to hook Jared Brains are what matter most between a woman and a man. When two strong people collide, that¡¯s when the real sparks fly ¡°But you? All you do is y the victim and act pitiful. No wonder i never bothered to look at you twice, you¡¯re just a nobody¡± I was stutined. For the first time, it hit me that women could rule the world just like men, as long as they were strong enough. Tracy just taught me a lesson I¡¯d never forget ¡°Guess I was being shallow,¡± I said with augh. ¡°Thanks for sharing all that, it really opened my eyes. And don¡¯t feel too bad. Jared did respect you, you know ¡°I don¡¯t need you to spell it out for me. I get it,¡± Tracy snorted. ¡°Oh, and did you know the person recing me is also a woman? She¡¯s got a master¡¯s in finance from Aure, and she¡¯s every bit as sharp as I am. ¡°Victoria, you think taking me down means you can sit back and chill? You¡¯re dead wrong. A guy like Jared is both a hunter and the hunted. There¡¯s no shortage of people lining up to snatch him away. You won¡¯t be able to keep him.¡± ¡°Why should I bother holding onto him?¡± I shot back Tracy was stunned into silence I said coolly, ¡°I¡¯m done overthinking things. Thy doors open. He cane or go as he pleases. Either way, I¡¯m not going to lose sleep over him anymore. Tracy let out a couple of dryughs. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend it¡¯s that easy. You¡¯ve loved him for years. There¡¯s no way you can just get ove just trying to make your loss look less pathetic in front of me. With that, she hung up, probably realizing she couldn¡¯t get a rise out of me, so there was no satisfaction in it for her that You¡¯re 1/2 Ifiddled with my phone, my mind dining far away. it wasn¡¯t just years I loved Jared. Back in my previous life, he was my whole world. When I got to the airport, I noticed the woman Jared sent over was snapping a few quick photos of me with her phone. She was probably i straight to him for an update I didn¡¯t bother with her. Jared was something else. He could chase after other women all he wanted, but the second I left town, he got someone spying on me. It was such a double standard After a long flight, I finally touched down icrashed for the night, then jumped straight into work the next morning About that 100 million wrangled out of Jared, I was dead set on burning through everyst penny. Harmonia Hotel was massive, over a thousand rooms between the two properties, plus the front and back gardens were begging for a makeover I sted the news all over the local papers and started hyping it up on every major website. A lot of people were keeping a close eye on this project. AD Loose 184 Chapter 184 After lunch and tapping up work for the day, I told everyone to go do their men thing of course, I made a beeline for the high and boutons I was dressed in a light green dress, my long hair braided to one side, channeling a ssic, timeless elegance. ¡°Mrs. Hob, Mr. Hob said your Englysian isn¡¯t the best, so how about I join you for some shopping? I¡¯m fluent in threenguages,¡± Luna Scott chimed in, smiling as she tried to tag along. She was obviously Jared¡¯s spy, and there was no way I was letting her followi me around. ¡°Tio need, fve already got an interpreter from the hotel. You¡¯ve been busy all day. Go rx and take it easy ¡°But, Mrs. Hob, I can help carry your bags, I¡¯m pretty strong¡± Luna was clearly worried about failing whatever Jared put her up to, so she kept insisting ¡°Oh? Do I need to check in with you about everywhere I go now?¡± I shot back, my voice cold as ice Luna mmed up instantly. I¡¯d been so easy to deal with this whole trip that everyone thought I was soft, but now, the chill in my voice made her back off without another word. I turned opened the car door, and slid into the seat. The female interpreter I¡¯d hired joined me inside. Finally out from under Jared¡¯s watchful eye, I could actually breathe again. As my interpreter chatted about the sights and local culture, I found myse soaking it all in, getting a real taste of what this country was all about. I came back loaded down with shopping bags, feeling way better than thad in a long time. After four days in Fnsia, it was finally time to head home. When Inded, Jared and Yvonne were waiting for me at the airport. Yvonne was clutching a bouquet of flowers, looking a bit bashful as she offered them to me. ¡°Here, Mom. These are for you¡± I took the flowers and passed them straight to one of the senior women behind me. Yvonne¡¯s face fell in an instant. Jared could tell I was being distant. He looked like he wanted to say something, but held back, just reached out and took my suitcase ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve got dinner all set up.¡± I said coolly, ¡°I¡¯m skipping dinner. I just want to go home and Jared insisted, ¡°My folks areing too. Let¡¯s all have dinner together.¡± I met his gaze and insisted, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to go. Yvonne suddenly snapped, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s gotten into youtely? Why are you being so distant with all of us?¡± I looked at her and said, ¡°Can¡¯t I have a break when I¡¯m tired?¡± ¡°But you never used to get tired like this. Now you¡¯re always saying you¡¯re exhausted. Are you sick or something? Maybe you should see a doctor,¡± Yvonne retorted, quick as ever with herebacks. Jared just stood there, saying nothing. It was obvious. I¡¯d hit a nerve by skipping the Hob family dinner; he was definitely not happy about it I couldn¡¯t care less if he was pissed. It was not like he ever agreed to the divorce anyway. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s just go. If she¡¯s noting, we came all this way for nothing.¡± Yvonne said, tugging at Jared¡¯s arm. ¡°See? I told y but you wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± would be a burki Jared loosened his grip on the suitcase handle bit by bit, then said quietly, ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re tired, go home and get some rest. I take Yvonne with 1/2 ¡°Okay,¡± I said, grabbling my suitcase and fagging down a cali. Once Inside, I nced back through the rear window. Jared and Yohn were still standing there on the nub. As the car drove off, it hit me. I¡¯d really let them go, not just in person, but in my heart, too. Jared always thought I was just bluffing whenever I mentioned divorce, like I was just thenwing a fit and didn¡¯t really mean it. But now that I was actually following through, he would finally realize I meant every word. I wasn¡¯t ying around. He always thought I couldn¡¯t live without himand that i¡¯d never find anyone better. Just like that, Nathan showed up. He was like a powerful rival, eyeing me like a wolf, just waiting for Jared to loosen his grip so he could swoop right in Nathan¡¯s presence made Jared finally stop ignoring me. It tumed out that it took a littlepetition to actually get noticed. Before I got divorced, Nathan always kept things strictly tonic, never once crossing the line. But that night, when I was having dinner with Melisse,1 ran into him and Zachary at the restaurant. Melissa shot me an awkward look and said, ¡°Zachary brought his boss along. Victoria, hope you don¡¯t mind?¡± I just shook my head andughed. People brought friends or family to dinner, sure, but since when did it be a thing to bring one¡¯s boss? Comment Loose 185 The open¨Cair restaurant at night had a dreamy vibe. The warm ambient lights wrappert everyone in a gentle, cory glow, Zachary walked over with a smile, looking at me politely. ¡°M. Hallman said he didn¡¯t want to cook at home alone, so fimited him to join us. I hope yo don¡¯t mind, Ms. Murphy¡± I knew Zachary and Melissa were always the first to look out for me, and I really liked how they made me feel respected. I nced at Nathan, and he gave me a nod. When there were other people around, Nathan actually know how to keep his distance, I would give him credit for that After that, we started ordering food. Nathan and Zachary chatted about work, while Melissa shared some wild stories from her side. Finally, Nathan looked at me and asked, ¡°How have you beentely?¡± I smiled and said, ¡°Tim doing alright¡± Nathan¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of disappointment I knew exactly what he was feeling, but I wasn¡¯t about to give a guy hope or promises I couldn¡¯t deliver. Nathan really was a good guy, but this was his first marriage. Because he was so decent, I wanted him to be happy. If he couldn¡¯t find love with me, then he deserved to go find his next chance at happiness. Maybe he¡¯d meet someone he liked even more, get married, and start a family¨Cinstead of waiting around, lost and hopeless, for me to get divorced. Since everyone knew about my messed¨Cup marriage, they steered clear of my personal life. Halfway through dinner, Jared called and asked if i wanted him to drop off some food for me since they¡¯d just finished eating It was pretty noisy on my end, and when I picked up, Jared sounded a bit suspicious. ¡°You went out to eat?¡± I answered honestly, ¡°I¡¯m having dinner with Melissa.¡± ¡°Are you Jared asked. I thought about it. I really didn¡¯t want to see Yvonne, and Jared had been way too clingytely. So I just told him I wasn¡¯ting home and would be staying at my ce tonight instead. quiet for a couple of seconds, then asked, ¡°Are you thinking about separating before we actually get divorced!¡± Jared went quiet That was when i remembered that if we lived apart for two years, the divorce would go through faster. But two years? That was way too long. There was no way I could wait that out. I said, ¡°Just think about the divorce.¡± As I stared into the endless night, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that until this was settled, I¡¯d never be at peace. Jared clearly hadn¡¯t expected me to bring this up out of nowhere. Aber a few beats, he replied, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when we¡¯re home.¡± Then he hung up first. My heart felt like it was left hanging in the air, just luck there, not going up or down, leaving me feeling all kinds of restless inside Back in my previous life, Jared was the one who wanted a divorce, and I was the one who refused to let go, chasing after him no matter what Now, I was the one asking for it, and he just kept hemming and hawing, refusing to give me a straight answer. Fate sure ssing with me. When I got back to the table, Nathan asked quietly, ¡°Are you heading out?¡± I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s about time for me to head out. You guys take your time.¡± meto Nathan stood up. ¡°Let me walk you downstairs.¡± ¡°No need, just enjoy your meal,¡± I said, then said goodbye to Melissa before leaving. I could see the reluctance in Nathan¡¯s eyes; he really didn¡¯t want me to go. if I were single right now, everything would be a whole lot simple: When I got back to my apartment, I saw the lights were on. My heart skipped a beat. Had someone broken in? Irushed inside and found Jared lounging on the couch, a bottle of red wine by his side, drinking alone. He was dressed in a gray shirt and ck pants that really highlighted his lean, athletic build. Honestly, he was pretty much my ideal type. Loose 186 Chapter 186 But the scars from my previous life can way too deep. Those waves of anxiety and grief would crash over me out of nowhere, leaving mes cold, and that feeling haunted me for the rest of my days. Honestly, I was just way too obsessed with trying to win him back, and in the end, I was the one who couldn¡¯t let myself go Jared set down his ss and stood up, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Sorry, Yvonne didn¡¯te back with me, so I figured I¡¯d drap by your ce.¡± I nodded and teased, ¡°Good thing it wasn¡¯t a burr¡± Jared seemed at a loss for words I set my bag down and headed to the kitchen to brew myself a cup of tea. When I turned around, I saw Jared standing by the doorway, watching me with an unreadable look on his face. Today, I was dressed in a chic, professional Chanel¨Cinspired dress that gave me a touch of sophisticated femininity Jared¡¯s gaze was like a mirror; if I changed for the better, I could always see it reflected in his eyes. ¡°Victoria, can we postpone the divorce for a while? Mypany¡¯s in the middle of a few big projects, and all the major shareholders are watching ma closely ¡°If we get divorced now, I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll think I¡¯m up to something shady,¡± Jared said in a low voice. ¡°How long?¡± I turned to look at him. ¡°If it¡¯s going to take too long, then forget it Jared looked a bit stunned, clearly not expecting me to be so particr about the timing. He gave a wry smile. ¡°Am I really that bad?¡± I looked at him and shook my head. ¡°No, you¡¯re a great guy. But we¡¯re not right for each other anymore.¡± ¡°Is this all because of Tracy? Just because I had a thing with her for a while, you¡¯re ready to write me off?¡± Jared put on a wounded, innocent look ¡°Come on, every adult messes up sometimes. Isn¡¯t that just normal?¡± ¡°Normal for who?¡± I snapped, clearly annoyed. ¡°That¡¯s on you. Don¡¯t give me that adults do this crap Jared let out a helplessugh, leaning against the ss and staring up at the ceiling. ¡°Do you really not love me anymore? Why did your love suddenly vanish?¡± I gave a coldugh. ¡°It wasn¡¯t sudden. It was years and years of disappointment, Jared. You always knew I loved you, so you acted like you could do whatever you wanted ¡°When you went public in Aurelia, Tracy was the one by your side, cheering you on. And me? I was stuck at home, raising the kids. We were never truly partners. ¡°I was just the babysitter locked away in your ce. When you were happy, you¡¯d reward me with some spending money or a ne. When you weren¡¯t, you¡¯d just say you were under a lot of pressure and disappear for weeks at a time¡± Jared¡¯s face trombled because I¡¯did bare the truth. He must have remembered how, when he was riding high, Tracy was always there, pping for him, looking all sweet and devoted. Maybe back then, his whole world was just Track, and I¡¯d already been forgotten in some dark corner. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything, and don¡¯t try to exin, Don¡¯t make me lose even more respect for you,¡± I said Iraised a hand to cut Jared off when I saw that look on his face, like he was about to start making excuses, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± Jared looked awkward and cleared his throat. ¡°So our hearts have been apart for a long time, huhd I was just for slow to retira ia untai ¡°Jared, honestly, divetce might just be the best thing for you¡± I curved my liptinto a teasing smile, ¡°I mean, look at you, med¨Clooking 17, loaded. ¡°Once we¡¯re done, you¡¯ll be like a fish set loose in the ocean the whole sea¡¯s yours to explore. No and will be holding you back. ¡°you could have women lining up for you, living out that bachelor king fantasy, sampling the harem life if you want. Doesn¡¯t that sound tempting y shocked I tossed out those words half jokingly, and Jared looked genuinely s Girls like me, raised in bookish, cultured families, were supposed to be graceful, well¨Cmannered, and conservative, to me talking like this mont¡¯ve fitt like a total curveball to Jared. AD Loose 187 Jared opened his s deep eyes just a little, studying me intently, like he was trying to figure out whos i really was all over again. ¡°Victoria, do you think I¡¯m a yer?¡± Jared sounded a little pissed by my words, his voile low and serious. ¡°You know me that¡¯s not who dri want meaningless llings, and I definitely don¡¯t wantplications ¡°want a woman who understands me, someone to build a lie with. Why would I need a crowd?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smirk at his excuses. ¡°Oh, right. You¡¯re not that young anymore. Heard once men hit twenty five, it¡¯s downhill. Can¡¯t beep up thate days, huh?¡± ¡°Victoria,¡± Jared¡¯s handsome face flushed bright red, ¡°Who says I¡¯m not up to it?¡± Traised an eyebrow. ¡°Sorry, sore subject? But ording to what you said, Tracy counts, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her anymore. She¡¯s overseas now,¡± Jared said, sounding Irritated.. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk about ourselves. Getting divorced is good for you. Maybe your next wife will give you another kid,¡± I said. I remembered his old lide disappointment at only having Wonne. I¡¯m not living just for kids,¡± Jared said, frowning Yvonne is my daughter. We¡¯re blood¨Crted. She is my next generation. That¡¯s enough. Victoria. if you don¡¯t want more children, we won¡¯t. Yvonne can be our heiress. Alright?¡± I almost wavered, then steadied myself, ¡°No. Maybe you don¡¯t want more kids, but I do. Just not with you.¡± The words hit Jared hard. His breathing sharpened, anger palpable. ¡°Victoria, are you trying to drive me mad?¡± He grabbed his suit jacket and stormed rut Watching him loseposure gave me a twisted satisfaction. Jared really could get mad. He wasn¡¯t always the ice¨Ccold type alter all. I¡¯d pushed his buttons again. Maybe the divorce was finally within reach. But the next day at noon, Jared asked me out to lunch, saying he had someo he wanted me to meet I figured it was probably someone connected to the hotel. When I arrived, I saw a stylish, elegant couple at the table, deep in conversation. Just one look, and I instantly pegged them as Shaville locals. Only people from that city dressed with such impable taste, and their essories always looked effortlessly ssy. ¡°Mr. Hob. The woman immediately stood up with a smile as we walked over. I gave Jared a puzzled look. Jared suddenly reached out, pulled me close by the waist, and introduced me, ¡°This is my wife, Victoria.¡± The poised woman smiled at me. ¡°Mrs. Hob, lovely to meet you. I¡¯m Amy, this is my husband, Clint. I join thepany tomorrow. Looking forward to working with you, Mr. Hob.¡± I shot Jared a surprised look, and he gave my waist & gentle pat. Clint stood, shaking Jared¡¯s hand. ¡°Amy always admired yourpany culture. d she¡¯s joining your team¡± Ishifted into professional mode, a polite smile in ce. Sipping water, I understood Jared¡¯s y. He was reassuring me He introduced me to his new VP, making it super clear she was happily married and totally off limits. Basically, he was bell office drama or sketchy stuff with subordinates. not to worry about But I was married too, and I knew for a fact that when married women decided to let loose, they were even crazier than the single ones. 1/3 Amy was super chatty, while Clint seemed pretty quiet byparison. Jared discussed business briefly, Phen mentione me a surprised look, ¡°Mrs. Hob, you actually have your own career? I assumed with Mr. Hab¡¯s sess, you¡¯d enjoy life at hore,¡± Amy said with is bright these Jared looked at me with a gentle warmth in his eyes. ¡°Honestly, I always pictured her home with our child.¡± ¡°You have a kid?¡± Amy looked genuinely surprised, clearly not up to speed on Jared¡¯s personal de ¡°Mr. Hob, you and Mrs. Hob lock younger. than we do. How old is your kid?¡± Jared chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s just over she. We got married pretty young.¡± Clint reached over and squeezed Any¡¯s hand. ¡°Ansy and are nning to stay child¨Cfree.¡± Amy nodded, ¡°Yeah, kids are cute and all, but we¡¯d rather just enjoy our lives.¡± Back in my old life, I¡¯d have seen their choice as a waste given their excellence and backgrounds. Now, I understood it Jared nodded respectfully. He wasn¡¯t caught up in all that macho nonsense. He was warm, ssy, and sharp as a tack. Like he always said, he cared more about quality than quantity when it came to rtionships. Too bad 1 was not the high¨Ccaliber woman he wanted. There was just no soul connection between us. I rested my chin in my hand, watching Jared in my previous life, I¡¯d hated him utterly. But now, I refused to cling to that hate. I trailed behind him, acknowledging my own part in our past. I couldn¡¯t im moral high ground and me him entirely. I wanted distance, From now on, he¡¯d walk his own road, and I¡¯d search for my own future. In the end, our lives just wouldn¡¯t intersect anymore. Jared saw me spacing out and reached over to rule my hair. ¡°Are you full?¡± I nodded and got up. ¡°I¡¯m gonna hit the restroom.¡± I left the table and made my way down the long hallway to the restroom, Finishing washing my hands, someone pressed against me from behind. It was Jared. His cool, minty scent surrounded me. I went rigid on the spot. ¡°Victoria, I just realized having you with me at these events is actually really enjoyable,¡± Jared murmured, his voice low and way too close forfort. He leaned in, a little lost in the moment, and pressed a lingering kiss to the back of my neck ¡°Stop flirting here. Someone could walk in, I teased, pushing him off and turning back to the sink. Jared looked a bit deted when I pushed him away, his voice burning rough and low. ¡°How about I take you with me everywhere from now on, yeah?¡± I faced him, realization striking. Jared had once wanted me for my looks. Now I¡¯d reimed myself, he seemed mesmerized anew. His eyes lingered, that familiar spark igniting. ¡°No need,¡± I said. ¡°What you want at twenty doesn¡¯t matter at thirty. I¡¯ve changed too. What I wanted months ago means nothing now.¡± I turned to leave But then, Jared grabbed my wrist and yanked me fraight into his arms, holding me tight against his chest. ¡°Victoria, can we start over? Loose 188 Chapter 188 Jared wrapped fils arms around me from behind. He pleaded sincerely for us to start over knew that in matters of the heart, the worst thing was to drag things out. Jared knew that i had feelings for him. He thought that a little please sohen me up and start dues. If he know what I had been through to stand before him again, he wouldn¡¯t think that was even a possibility. Calm and resolute, I pried his arms off me the nest moment, I turned to face him, a confident smile on my lips. ¡°Don¡¯t do this. If we¡¯re going to pe do it with dignity¡± Jared¡¯s eyes wavered for a moment. I wasn¡¯t teary eyed, nor did I look upset. I just gave him a faint, distant sende, as if he were just a stranger Emotional distance cut the deepest. I knew it, and i wanted him to feel it. Right now, he was no different from any random from me now was nothing but courtesy. ¡°Victoria Jared sounded helpless as he softly called my name. ¡°Please, don¡¯t shut me out like this.¡°. I shook my head and said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m not being heartless. It¡¯s only right to do so.¡± ¡°What do you take our marriage for?¡± Jared¡¯s anger rose up, his face flushing red. ¡°Is it just a business deal to you? Are our feelings just chips in some negotiation!¡± I knew Jared couldn¡¯t ept the fact that I suddenly stopped loving him. But he had to. Just like I couldn¡¯t escape the pain be and Tracy put me through in my previousl ¡°Honestly, if you could treat marriage like a business deal, things might be easier. When it¡¯s over, you just cut your losses and walk away. We¡¯re not kids anymore. If it fails once, it¡¯ll probably fail the next time, and the time after that I dropped my gaze, refusing to look at how pissed off he was. After saying that, I turned and headed back to my seat. As soon as I got back to the table. I noticed Clint giving me a look that was hard to ignore. It was a man¡¯s open admiration. With Jared still away, Clint didn¡¯t even bother to hide it anymore. Amy, meanwhile, acted like nothing was going on. She sipped her wipe, gazing out the window with effortless grace ¡°Mrs. Hob, your skin is amazing, Clint said, grinning at me without looking away. ¡°I¡¯m in the beauty business, withpanies all over the world. Here¡¯s my VIP card here, Please, take it as a gift¡± Tepted it politely and thanked him. Amy nced over at me, her smile faint. ¡°Mrs. Hob, you have such an air of elegance. Money really does wonders. You look every bit the part of someone living in luxury. Mr. Hob certainly has an eye for quality, and you¡¯re truly blessed.¡± I never made a show of my looks, andpliments like these at social gatherings never meant much to me anyway. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Hob? He¡¯s been gone quite a while, Amy suddenly remarked, leigning concern. I kept eating quietly, and didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°Hey, Clint, why don¡¯t you go see what¡¯s taking him so long? He did have a few drinks earlier,¡± Amy said, nudging Clint. Just as Clint was about to get up, Jared walked back in. He¡¯d already gotten his emotions under control. By the time he sat down, it was like all that earlier drama had never happened. ¡°Mr. Hob, did you go pay the bill? We were meant to treat you today,¡± Amy said with a smile. Jared just smiled back. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal: Have a good time.¡± I didn¡¯t look at Jared, but I could tell he kept sneaking nces at me. He was very careful because he was afraid I¡¯d catch him watching. AD Loose 189 Chapter 189 After lunch, Amy and Clint left ahead of us. Frode with Jareil, and he asked when I wanted to go I told him to drop me off at the Hannonia Hotel. The car was quiet. The sun was ring outside, but the AC was sting, making me feel a little drowsy. When we stopped reached mer and wrapped his fingers around mine, I gently slipped my hand away without making a scene, just as the light turned green, Jared drave off in silence. ca red light, Jared suddenly ¡°You like Nathan now, don¡¯t you?¡± the next red light, Jared finally spoke up. His voice was eerily calm, but I could feel the tension underneath. I froze for a second. He continued, ¡°Love doesn¡¯t disappear. It moves on. You won¡¯t let me touch you now, acting all chaste for another guy. I know how grown¨Cup rtionships work. I probably get it better than you is Nathan the reason you¡¯re acting this way?¡± ¡°What does he have to do with any of this?¡± I asked. His imagination was something else. ¡°You women always say one thing and mean another, don¡¯t you? Of course he¡¯s involved.¡± Janed shot me a mocking look. ¡°if he hadn¡¯t shown up, you wouldn¡¯t be treating me like this.¡± I didn¡¯t me Jared for thinking that way. I mean, me suddenly falling out of love with him must¡¯ve felt like some glitch in the system, it was something that just didn¡¯t make sense. He couldn¡¯t ept it, so he was desperate to find proot ¡°Jared, don¡¯t be so naive, What, you think women can¡¯t survive without love?¡± I shot him a sarcastic look. ¡°Honestly, women can live for themselves and love themselves. ¡°Sometimes, men are just extra baggage. Ever thought about that?¡± Jared¡¯s fingers tightened around the steering wheel, his lips pressed into a thin, hard line. We were were still on the road, and I didn¡¯t want to push him any further, so I kept quiet But Jared had other ideas. He jorked the wheel and pulled the car over to the side, ¡°So now you¡¯re done with me, and you¡¯ve got all these excuses? De you really think you can just toss me aside?¡± Jared red at me, furious. ¡°I don¡¯t want to exin myself, Jared. It¡¯s you who¡¯s keeping me trapped.¡± I stared him down, my eyes zing with anger. ¡°I used to think splitting the assets after a divorce was the best option, Sure, money matters, but so does how I feel.¡± ¡°Victoria, I¡¯ve always made sure you had everything you wanted. Even if you want a divorce now, I¡¯ll make sure you get what you deserve. Just tell me. Did you fall for someone else?¡± Jared demanded, his voice tight with frustration. ¡°No,¡± I said, meeting his gaze head¨Con. ¡°I¡¯m not in love with anyone.¡± Jared¡¯s breathing quickened, his eyes reddening at the corners. He raised his hands and mmed them down hard on the steering wheel twice. And then he rested his head on the wheel I was startled by his reaction. This was the kind ofthing women usually did¨Cbreaking down and crying on the steering wheel Turned out men would do the same. Jared¡¯s voice came out rough and broken. ¡°Are you really never going to get over what happened between me and Tracy?¡± His timing seriously threw me off. ¡°You have every right to find someone better. I¡¯ve never tried to hold you back,¡± I replie detached, like I was just some bystander Lonepletely ¡°Other wives would step in when their husbands start acting up, but you just let me do whatever. Are you saying you never really loved -na- tried to twist my words, giving me that wounded, using look. ¡°You¡¯re something else. You screw up, and now it¡¯s my fault for not keeping you on a leash? Why don¡¯t you admit you shouldn¡¯t have messed up in t first ce? I¡¯m your wife, not your mom ¡°Seriously, how old are you? You still need me to keep you in check?¡± I was absolutely furious, E AD Comment Loose 190 I totally shut Jared down. He couldn¡¯t even get a word out. He just slumped over the steering wheel, sulking in dead silence. After a long, thoughtful pause, Jared finally spoke up, his voice steady and calm ¡°Look, divorce isn¡¯t something we can just rush ito. We hand to gi down with both our families and talk it through. Plus, I¡¯m running a publicpany ¡°My personal life is under the microscope, and a stable marriage is crucial for thepany¡¯s image Victoria, can we hold off on the divorce for now? if you feel like you¡¯re getting the short end of the stick, we can get a notarized agreement ¡°I¡¯ll give you 4% of thepany¡¯s shares. That way, you¡¯ll officially be a shareholder and get a cut of the profits every year.¡± My mind started racing. Four percent of the shares was a fortune. Jared was actually offering me a piece of his business just to keep the marriage going I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.¡± get that you need to keep your personal le clean for thepany¡¯s sake, but we signed a prenup, remember? When we get divorced, that agreement will still be legally binding. I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll affect your business.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Jared said, his tone firm. ¡°I¡¯m a higher¨Cup at thepany. There shouldn¡¯t be any mess in my personal life. Just give me two more years. Once thepany¡¯s stable, I promise it agree to the divorce.¡± I frowned at him. Jared looked back at me, his gaze growing distant. ¡°Once we¡¯re divorced, we¡¯ll be strangers for the rest of our lives. Whatever happens to you after that is none of my business, right?¡± I stared at him in surprise. He was actually thinking about what came after I gave him a small smile. ¡°I don¡¯t want to think about the future I only care about the present Jared¡¯s eyes grew dim. He quietly steered us back onto the main road and said, ¡°Just give me six months. I promise give you a proper answer. er than two years. Six months was not so long. At least it was way better ¡°I¡¯ll handle the stock transfer. You¡¯ll get the shares from me. Think of it aspensation for all these years,¡± Jared said, slipping back into his usual calm. ¡°So, I¡¯ll actually be a shareholder?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. For once, Jared was actually showing some heart ¡°Yeah. Once you have the shares, you cane to the shareholder meetings. At least then, I have a reason to see you,¡± Jared said, giving a self- mocking smile. ¡°Are your family okay with you giving me the shares?¡± I asked. I wasn¡¯t really worried about Jared changing his mind, but honestly, just the thought of his family flipping out over the divorce and splitting the shares was enough to give me a headache. ¡°This is my decision, I don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s approval,¡± Jared said, his voice low and firm. ¡°Alright, then,¡± I said, Six months¨CI could handle that. Jared looked like he finally let out a breath he¡¯d been Holding. He dropped me off at my destination and then pulled away. Harmonia Hotel was all spruced up, The exterior was almost finished, and the front looked brand new. If Jared were handing me those shares, figured he¡¯d keep me running the hotel too. So, chances were, we¡¯d still cross paths at work¡­ I honestly had no clue how those people in novels managed to cut ties and get divorced like it was nothing. For me, breaking free from Jared was way harder than it sounded. Our rtionship and careers were all tangled up together. If I ever tried to break free, I¡¯d probably be totally lost, not wing what to do. Guess I¡¯d just get to work. No way I¡¯d say no to money. Even after the divorce, I¡¯d still be working for Jared. And if wanted to date someone new, it was not like he¡¯d dare butt in Loose 191 And if he ended up with someone else, I¡¯d just act like I didn¡¯t know I might even with them fuck, Yvonne was totally spoiled, which was why she turned out so overbearing. If Jared had more kids, there was no way she¡¯d be as brady as sh Maybe her whole he would be different. Night had already allen by the time I finished work and headed back to my apartment, I wasn¡¯t expecting Sally to show up at my done: She came by hersell, and the moment she walked in, I could tell she wasn¡¯t too happy. As soon as she sat down on the couch, I brought her a ss of water. Sally looked at me seriously and said, ¡°Yvonne told me you¡¯ve been staying these past few days. Victoria, tell me the truth. Are you and Jared having problems!¡± There was no point hiding it anymore, so I nodded. ¡°Yeah, things just aren¡¯t the same between us anymore.¡± ¡°Is this all because of Tracy? Didn¡¯t I already tell Jared to let her go? Are you still making a fuss about that? Victoria, let me tell you. Jared is the kind of man any woman would dream of marrying. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have any bad habits. He¡¯s handsome. His manners are impable. What on earth could you possibly find fault with?¡± Sally¡¯s voice shot up a notch, her frustration written all over her face. I knew Sally would be upset. After all, in her eyes, Jared could do no wrong, both as a son and as a husband. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t get worked up. Have some water,¡± I said calmly. ¡°Victoria, you can¡¯t just keep harping on his tiny mistakes, Go look at other husbands out there, Guys as good as Jared aren¡¯t half as loyal, and the ones ashandsome ashim don¡¯t have his brains. ¡°Hespoils Yvonne but never lets her get out of hand, and he¡¯s always treated you well. The life you¡¯re living is what every woman wishes she had,¡± Sally said, getting more and more worked up, like I was being ungrateful ¡°Mom, I know all that,¡± I replied, my voice t. ¡°You have no idea. All you ever do is nitpick Jared¡¯s tiny mistakes. You¡¯ve been married for so long. Stop treating love as some kind of life support. Jared¡¯s got a million things on his te. ¡°He can¡¯t shower you with affection 24/7, You should be more sensible. If you feel bored, hang out with your friends, you¡¯re not locked up,¡± Sally said. She was fine with me, but whenever things got rocky between Jared and me, she was Team Jared. ¡°How about finding myself a boyfriend then?¡± I said, grinning, not even bothered anymore. Sally spat out her water. She shot me a re, full of exasperation. ¡°Huh? This is all because you¡¯re mad about Yared and that Tracy, right? nning to get even by finding your own guy? Who¡¯s the lucky dude? I¡¯ll go y matchmaker for you.¡± Honestly, Sally¡¯d always been a real character. Her quirks never failed to catch me off guard. By now, I was pretty used to her being totally unpredictable. Seriously, the way she handled things just let me speechless. ¡°What¡¯s his name? Is he at handsome as Jared? Is his career anywhere near Jared¡¯s level? You¡¯re not just chasing after some guy for fun, are you? Don¡¯t let yourself gat fooled,¡± Sally pressed, totally serious I dropped the act and shook my head. ¡°No, Mom, I was messing around. But you know, sometimes people get divorced for more than just cheating. Sometimes it¡¯s just that their personalities sh or they see the world differently.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Jared? He¡¯s got a great personality. And as for cheating, I grilled him about it, and he swears nothing happened. But that Tracy, ugh, she¡¯s something else,¡± Sally gritted her teeth her voice sharp ¡°She was messing around with Jared and got herself pregnant by some other guy. Victoria, I¡¯m totally with you when ites to taking down shameless side chicks, but you need to give Jared a chance¡± 17 1 looked down at thy Engers and said, ¡°Mom, there¡¯s no room for negotiation on this ? Loose 192 Seeing how stubborn was, Sally shot up from the couch, fuming. ¡°Victoria, what¡¯s your problem? Am really that unreasoria bler idas a wronged you? ¡°It¡¯s been so many years, and you didn¡¯t give birth to a child, and I never said a word about it, Vihat¡¯s with your attitude now? Sally just got angrier, her face flushed red. Basically, she was calling me stubborn, heartless, ungrateful, and blind to my own good fortune I didn¡¯t know how to tell Sally that I didn¡¯t want either Jared or Yvonne. ¡°Mom, I know you¡¯re upset, but my decision isn¡¯t going to change reped firmly, taking a deep breath. ¡°Have you lost your mind, Victoria? Does your family even know about this divorce? Why are you trying to break up a perfectly good family? When you and Jared got married, you swore you¡¯d grow old together. ¡°heard every word of your vows. Why do you have to do this?¡± Sally choked up, tears streaming as she buried her face in her arms. ¡°You two were doing fine as a couple, and now you want a divorce? ¡°What about Yvonne? She¡¯s just a kid. Do you know what a family is? A family¡¯s like a house: the father is the frame, the mother is every brick and stone. that holds it together ¡°As long as you and Jared are good, Yvonne has a home. If you split up, do you have any idea how sad she¡¯ll be?¡± I let out a soft sigh, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s enough. I know all that. Yvonne¡¯s not a little kid anymore. She¡¯ll be starting elementary school this September. She get it. Isn¡¯t it just as much torture for her to grow up in a family without love!¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a kid. She wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Sally yelled at me. ¡°Do you have another man out there is Jared not good enough for you anymore?¡± I was momentarily stunned that if a woman wanted a divorce, everyone would assume there was another man in the picture. Removing people¡¯s prejudices was truly difficult. ¡°Mom, before the divorce is final, I won¡¯t get involved with any other man, I won¡¯t cheat on Jared, I¡¯m just getting a divorce. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m some kind of criminal. Why do you always need me to justify myself? ¡°Why do you have to make me out to be the viin?¡± I raised my voice a little. I could listen to all their lectures, but I was never gonna agree to what they said. Sally stared at me in surprise, clearly taken aback by how firm I was being islumped back onto the couch, looking at Sally. ¡°I discuss it with Jared Mom, thank you for all your care and understanding You¡¯ve been a wonderful mother¨Cinw. Someday, you¡¯ll have a better daughter¨Cinw,¡± Sally blinked, and then suddenly snatched up her bag and stood up. ¡°Honestly, I just can¡¯t figure out what you young people are thinking, or what you even want these days. With that, she stormed out, mming the door behind her. I knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before my parents heard about this, and then they¡¯d show up in no time, trying to talk some sense int¡¯s me. I¡¯d been staying at the apartment for three days, and the only times I saw Jared were those brief moments when we bumped into eachother at work. He was busy with a business trip to Shaville, so he was hardly around. Yvonne was staying with Sally, but every now and then she¡¯d send me a message. She¡¯d just figured out how to use the camera on her phone, so she kept sending me snapshots of wherever she was ying. Mostly. I just looked at them, and replied once in a while. The project was moving along even faster than we¡¯d nned. After a meeting with the execs, we realized we still neede different parts of the country before locking in our room designs. eck out the marketin Chapter 192 So I took the native, munded up my team, and started prepping for trips to all the top nu tities with at that on diy p, in than before Before I knew it, more than a week had flown by, and the market research was done. Work really made me shine again AD Loose 193 Chapter 193 felt like I¡¯d changed, inside and out. My eyes were shining again. Instead of getting lost in my own feelings, I was talking shop with my coworkers, way more interested in work than my personal drama Being out in the world and meeting all kinds of people, I finally understood that looks really mattered. Whenever I talked to guys, they¡¯d instantly turm into perfect gentlemen, voices dropping a notch. When I got back to the office that afternoon, I was wiped out from a work of traveling, but it was just my body that was tired. My mind and heartfelt refreshed. All those new experiences and lessons made it feel like my soul had been uplifted. When I saw a flower in full bloom, I could just appreciate its beauty. instead of worrying about how quickly it might fade, twasn¡¯t depressed anymore. That afternoon, we had an important meeting Harmonia Hotel was getting renamed again, this time to something more evocative and romantic. The new name would be decided right there in the meeting. I was sitting in the third seat at the table. When the office door swung open, I turned my head and saw Jared walk in. It had been a while since I¡¯dst seen him. Dressed in a gray¨Cblue shirt, he looked simmer and somehow even more attractive than before. When he nced my way, his eyes lingered on me for a couple of seconds before he took his ce at the head of the table. ¡°Let¡¯s get started,¡± he said, his tone cool and detached ¡°Victoria, why don¡¯t you take this one?¡± one of the execs said, sounding a bit on edge. Maybe it was the pressure from Jared, but he clearly didn¡¯t want to be the one up there, so he smoothly pushed the spotlight onto me. Well, I guess it made sense. Being Jared¡¯s wife did give my words a little extra weight. Jared watched me in silence, like he was wondering if I was really up to running this meeting. In his eyes, I was probably still that woman who¡¯d rather stay in his shadow¡ªtoo shy to ever step into the spotlight. Trose from my seat and stepped forward as the projector cast the meeting¡¯s key points onto the screen. With poise and an easy confidence, I began my presentation my voice smooth and unhurried. Jared didn¡¯t bother looking up, his eyes glued to the stack of papers in front of him, asionally flipping through them. He hardly nced at me, and honestly, I had no idea if he was actually paying attention. The meeting stretched on for more than an hour, with my team doing most of the talking. Jared and the other two execs kept quiet, nodding when they agreed, and only chiming in with a couple of short remarks when they had something to say When the meeting wrapped up, we all started packing up to leave. I was gathering my papers, about to head out, when Jared finally spoke up, his voice low. ¡°Victoria, could you stay for a minute?¡± As soon as he said that, everyone gave us these looks, like they thought we were about to do something we shouldn¡¯t in the conference room. Once everyone had left, I wanted to ask him what he wanted, but Jared reached out and pulled the door shut behind us. I frowned. It would be easier to talk with the door open. Now that he¡¯d closed it, it¡¯d be even harder to exin ourselves. Jared looked at me, his gaze hard to read. ¡°Wasn¡¯t all that running around for work exhausting?¡± Ishook my head. ¡°Nope Honestly, I enjoyed it Jared paused, a bit surprised, and then gave a quietpliment. ¡°You did a great job with the presentation. You¡¯re reallying into your own as a professional woman. You¡¯ve changed a lot.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± Larched an eyebrow. ¡°Thanks for noticing¡± ¡°50, the name you guyse up with¨CDreamy Ripples¨Cwas that your idea?¡± Jared asked. I shook my head. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t me. We actually had a master pick it for us.¡± For some reason, Jared broke into a genuineugh. ¡°So you¡¯re even getting into all that mystical stuff now?¡± I nodded. ¡°Hey, people pick wedding dates based on fortune¨Ctelling, right? for a hotel this big, of course, we have to turn to an expert¡± Jared¡¯s eyes grew intense, almost burning with emotion as he looked at me. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since Ist saw you. Freally missed you AD Loose 194 Chapter 194 Hooked into Jared¡¯s eyes. He hesitated for a split second, almost inching, before finally meeting my gave. Those ayes, always do petania and my memory, few seemed shadowed by a touch of mncholy ¡°Why?¡°Lasked, my old shyness nowhere to be found. Everything I¡¯d been throughtely had pretty much apertout any sense of embarreement. Jared locked surprised that I¡¯d pressed him. He frore for a second, and then replied, ¡°When you¡¯re not home, the ce just feels so empty ¡°Oh, so you got used to having me around, he? Now you can¡¯t live without it raised an eyebrow, grind ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡± red shook his head, but couldn¡¯t really put it into words. He let out a low sigh and said, ¡°Come home for dinner tonight. Yvonne wants to see you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not do that,¡± I said, staring down at the floor, my tone t. ¡°We¡¯re going to be loving separateves soon anyway. She has you and the Hob family to look after her. I¡¯m not worried¡± ¡°Victoria, how can you be so heartless?¡± Jared snapped, his temper ring. He just couldn¡¯t take it when it came to Yvonne I locked at him coolly. ¡°I¡¯ve been even tougher on myself, and I still made it through, didn¡¯t I The world doesn¡¯t stop for anyone. Yvonne will grow up. She doesn¡¯t really need me. To her, I¡¯m just a high¨Cend nanny. What¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. You¡¯re her mother, Jared argued, almost desperate. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m her mother. If she ever needs my help in the future, I¡¯ll be there.¡± With that, I pushed open the door and left, leaving Jared standing there, his face stiff and unreadable. Back in my office, a pang of sadness hit me. Sometimes I¡¯d think, if never had a child, no one would ever have the power to hurt me. But now Yvonne was in my life, and there was no undoing it As parents, we tried every trick to smooth things out for our kids, even trying to map out their entire future. But we forgot that once they were born, they were free. Hovering too much wasn¡¯t always for the best. When it came to Yvonne, I¡¯d decided to let go. No matter what kind of person she grew up to be, I wouldn¡¯t interfere As night fell, my parents showed up in Hachester and called me back to the vi. When I walked in, Jared was sitting on the couch with Yvonne in his arms. My parents were chatting with Sally, and Quinn was there too She looked at me like I was some kind of ungrateful brat and gave me the biggest eye roll ever. I stood by the door, feeling like a criminal on trial. A chill ran down my spine. But I quickly pulled myself together and went over to greet everyone. My mom shot me a silent look of judgment. My dad let out a heavy sigh. Sally¡¯s face was anything but friendly. Jared kept his eyes down, lost in his own thoughts Quinn liked running her mouth. When everyone else stayed quiet, she jumped right in. *Victoria, what¡¯s up with you? You vanished for so long and finally decided to show your face. Since when are you busier than Jared? It¡¯s almost impossible to see you these days,¡± she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, My expression darkened. Jared looked over at Quinn and said, ¡°Don¡¯t stir things up.¡± Quinn crossed her arms and hutted, ¡°If you two really get divorced, there¡¯ll be tons of women dying to marry into the Hob family, You better think it through Loose 195 Chapter 195 My parents¡® faces went ghostly pale, I¡¯d married into a way better family with Jard. All these years, we never even argued, and he always treated my folks like royalty. Every holiday, he¡¯d go all out with gifts. My parents adored him. Sally jumped into break the tension, shooting Quinn a look and saying, ¡°Can you just pip it for once! Don¡¯t make things worse. Victoria, 1 cabed parents over, but it¡¯s not because I¡¯m trying to break you two up, so don¡¯t overthink it. rand Jored. Yvonne¡¯s already grown, and you¡¯re both adults. Divorce in¡¯t ¡°We just want everyone to sit down and talk things through about you a something you just do on a whim.¡± Jared tumed his face away, with a hint of frustration in his voice. ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t I say we should handle this ourselves? You¡¯re just muking things harder for Victoria I finally put the pieces together Turned out, Sally was the one who called my parents, not Jared, My mom finally spoke up, unable to hide her Instration any longer, ¡°victoria, whatever you¡¯re feeling right now, your dad and I just want you and Jared to work things out is there really any hurdle you two can¡¯t get over?¡± Jared immediately looked guilty and said. ¡°Mom, Dad, this is all on me. I got involved with a female executive at work, and it broke Victoria¡¯s heart.¡± My parents¡± faces went stiff. They were clearly hearing this for the first time, Sally looked a bit uneasy and let out an awkwardugh. ¡°You know, sometimes adults let their minds wander a little. It¡¯s really not that big of a deal There¡¯s no need to make a huge fuss over it.¡± My parents exchanged nces, clearly starting to reassess the whole situation, I always figured I was pretty lucky. My parents were never old¨Cschool or stubborn. If Jared were the one at fault, they¡¯d totally have my back if I wanted a divorce. When I married up into the Hob family, they were against it Jared and I came from different worlds, and they thought life wouldn¡¯t be easy for me there. But in the end, they just couldn¡¯t talk me out of it. I was crazy about Jared, and he was perfect in every way. That was how they finally gave us their blessing. Now, the look in my parents¡± eyes basically screamed, ¡°Told you so.¡± Jared¡¯s face went stiff, clearly noticing my parents¡® change in mood. He cleared his throat. ¡°She¡¯s not working at thepany anymore. I won¡¯t be seeing her. There was nothing real between us. It was just mutual admiration.¡± I sat there toning. At least Jared was man enough to admit it. He didn¡¯t cheat this time around, but in my previous life, I literally died pissed off in that hospital bed. No way he was innocent back then. My dad finally broke the silence, his tone serious. ¡°Jared, we aren¡¯t going to interfere. This is between the two of you. Whether you want to get or try to work things out, that¡¯s for you both to decide¡± t divorced My mom¡¯s eyes were full of sympathy as she looked at me. She said, ¡°Victoria is our daughter. If she did anything wrong, maybe that¡¯s on us as her parents. But if she¡¯s done nothing wrong, we don¡¯t want her to be hurt.¡± When I walked in, I was bracing myself for a battle. But with my parents showing me such unwavering support and unconditional love, I couldn¡¯t hold it together anymore. Tears started streaming down my face, unstoppable. Jared and Sally were visibly stunned, their faces frozen in disbelief. They never saw iting that my parents would stand firmly humy side Loose 196 Sally looked shocked, and a bit annoyed. ¡°Inws, I called you here to discuss the kid marriage. You should help us out. Victoria is your da she¡¯ll be to you.¡± My dad¡¯s face grow serious. ¡°That depends on who¡¯s at fault. If Victoria did something wrong, we¡¯d set her straight. But she hasn¡¯t done anything ONE My mom nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. We may not be as rich as the Hob family, but even if they do got divorced, we can still make sure ctoria has food on Jared¡¯s face went ghostly pale. He blurted out, ¡°Mom, Dad, know I messed up. Please, just give me a chance to fix things. Let Victoria and get back together,¡± I nced at Jared, who looked frantic, but he wasn¡¯t looking at me. His eyes were locked on my parents. Instead, my gaze met Yvonne¡¯s. She had her arms wrapped tightly around Jared¡¯s neck, her face buried against his chest. When she heard about the divorce, she was clearly startled, but it didn¡¯t take long before she shot me a furious re. My dad could tell I¡¯d put up with a lot. They stood up and said, ¡°Jared, this is between you and Victoria, We¡¯ve never meddled in her choices. We raised her to be well¨Ceducated and considerate. ¡°If there¡¯s something she can get past, she¡¯d have figured it out herself. She doesn¡¯t need us to talk her into anything¡± My mom nodded. ¡°Exactly. Victoria¡¯s always been a top student, quick on her feet. She¡¯s gentle and never unreasonable. We know she¡¯ll make the best decision for herself.¡± ¡°Hey, inws, why are you pushing for them to break up instead of making peace? This is about both our families!¡± Sally jumped up and hurried after my parents, trying to block their way. I stood up as well and said to Sally, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll be going, too.¡± ¡°Victoria, this is your home. Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Sally blocked my path, her tone full of authority I quickly stepped around her and made for the door. Just then, a small figure darted over. I turned. It was Yvonne I thought she might try to hold me back, but at the doorway, she suddenly shoved me, and my foot outside the door. ¡°Go away, if you don¡¯t want Dad, don¡¯t want me, or even this family, then just go. Don¡¯t evere back. I never want to see you again!¡± wonne yelled at me, her voice echoing through the hall. Jared rushed over and pulled Yvonne into his arms, trying to calm her down. He nced at me and said, ¡°Go be with your parents for now. talk to Yvonne.¡± In that moment when she shoved me out, my heart grew even colder, Without looking back, I strode toward my car. Behind me, I could hear Yvonne crying her heart out. No matter what anyone said, just wouldn¡¯t stop. Seeing all this, my parents were clearly upset too. My mom started to move toward Yvonne tofort her, but my dad gently stopped her, shaking his head. Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned into his shoulder. I walked over, my eyes rimmed with tears, and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, let¡¯s go to my apartment.¡± They nodded, got into my car, and we drove away from the vi together, We drove in silence, me just keeping my eyes on the road. Before anything else, I took them to a restaurant for dinner. In the private room, my mom was still crying. Maybe it was after Yvonne shoved me and broke down herself. She just couldn¡¯t stop ¡°Dad, Mom, have some coffee,¡± I said, guilt gnawing at me. I hadn¡¯t been able to handle this mess, and now I¡¯d dragged them into it too AD Loose 197 hapter 197 My dad asked calmly. ¡°Did he really have an affair?¡°. I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure, but emotionally, he definitely cheated¡± My mom het out a helpless sigh. ¡°Honestly, when you two got married, I was worried, always had a feeling your marriage wouldn¡¯tst. ¡°Jared¡¯s just too handsome, with his career going so well, and he¡¯s got that charm, Guys like him don¡¯t even have to go looking Women just flock in them.¡± My dad nodded. ¡°Rich men deal with temptations we can¡¯t even nugine. Jared managed to hold out this long before messing up. Well, at least he tried to keep it together for a while.¡± I froze, staring at my parents. ¡°So you both saw thising? You knew I¡¯d have to face this kind of karma?¡± They shared a nce and then nodded together. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re always worried Jared wasn¡¯t someone you could truly count on. We¡¯ve even thought about what you¡¯d do after the divorce¡± My dad startedughing ¡°Your mom¡¯s already set you up for a blind date, It¡¯s with a college professor from her circle. He¡¯s divorced too, and honestly, ho¡¯s got a pretty sharp look¡± I couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing, half amused, half exasperated. My parents were such schemers. My mom elbowed my dad, shooting him a look to shut him up. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself, Just follow your own heart and do things your way. You only live once, so live in a way that makes you happy. ¡°Your dad and I are old enough to see what really matters. Money and status are important, but if you¡¯re unhappy, it really hurts us,¡± my mom said softly, trying to , and I just wouldn¡¯t let go, no matter what But now, I¡¯ve finally came around. With my parents behind me, I felt like I had all the confidence and strength I needed to take on every glitch and curveball this world could throw at me ¡°Alright, Dad, Mor Mom, I¡¯m really sorry you had toe all this way here. Trust me. I¡¯m not losing my mind here. ¡°I¡¯ve thought this through, and this isn¡¯t some impulsive move or me trying to use divorce to get back at anyone,¡± I said with a smile, hoping to reassure them. Hearing that, they looked a little less troubled, and I could tell my words helped ease their worries. While we were eating, my phone buzzed with a bunch of texts. I nced at them. They were all from Quinn, and every single one was packed with insults, Dripping me to shreds. Right away, I took screenshots of all her messages and sent them straight to Jared so he could see for himself just how ¡°talented¡± Quinn was for trash Not long after, Jared called, I picked up my phone and said to my parents, ¡°I¡¯ll step outside to take this¡± They looked at me with concern, but i gave them a reassuring smile. Stepping out into the hallway, I picked up the call still young. She doesn¡¯t really get it. She was just mad. Don¡¯t let it get to you.¡± oice was hoarse. ¡°She¡¯s He was just unbelievable. I was fed up with his excuses. I didn¡¯t bother sugarcoating it. ¡°Jared, you keep saying she¡¯s young and clueless, but she¡¯s in her twenties now 21:49 TUB, 19780 ¡°Seriously, she¡¯s been through college and still can¡¯t tell right from wrong! How old does the have to be before shal finally grows upri AD Comment Send gift Loose 198 My sharp words made Jared go quiet on the other and After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice repy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll keep a closer eye on her from now on. I should¡¯ve done a better job raising her Quinn yed favorites. She only acted cute with people she thought she could take advantage I¡¯d never seen her get snarky with anyone else. She just figured I was easy to bully, and that she could mouth off at me without facing any conseque That was just human nature. Jared was caught in the crossfire again, but I didn¡¯t feel the least bit sorry for him. ¡°Jared, I hope this is thest time. If she mouths off at me again, I fight back. And when I lose it, I can¡¯t promise what I¡¯ll do.¡± With that, I hung up When I got back to the private room, my parents were whispering to each other. The second they saw me, they stopped. I knew they were still worried about me. I mean, parents wanted their kids to have a happy family life. But even the moon waxed and waned. Nobody¡¯s life was perfect. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not good enough at handling family rtionships. I shouldn¡¯t be making you worry about me really felt guilty. They were getting older, and I still couldn¡¯t give them any peace of mind. ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± my dad said. ¡°We¡¯re family. Whateveres up, we¡¯ll find a way through it.¡± He was the backbone of our family. He didn¡¯t say much most of the time, but when it mattered, he was always the one to make the call I nodded, and my mom asked seriously, ¡°If you really get divorced, Yvonne would end up with the Hobs, right?¡± My dad jumped in right away. ¡°Your mom and I have talked it over. If you can get custody, your mom will retire early and move in to help you with ¡°No need,¡± said. There was no way I was going to keep dragging my parents into this. I needed to handle it myself. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m not going to keep Yvonne. Let her stay with the Hobs. They can give her a better life.¡± My mom oodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. Our family¡¯s not bad, but we can¡¯t reallypare to the Hobs. Jared¡¯s got severalpanies listed on the stock exchange, and he¡¯s still young Who knows how much more he¡¯ll achieve in the future?¡± She¡¯d always been fond of Jared as her son¨Cinw ¡°Mom, no matter how sessful he bes, it has nothing to do with me anymore,¡± I replied calmly. ¡°From now on, my n is to build something for myself and then make sure you and Dad can finally rx My parents broke into smiles, looking proud and relieved. That night, my parents stayed over at the apartment, Ever since I talked to Jared, Quinn hadn¡¯t sent me anymore of her nasty texts. She¡¯d been so quick to insult and belittle me because she knew she could get away with it. Even when her elders or Jared got mad, they¡¯d only give her a Quinn had been spoiled her whole life, so a few Barsh words didn¡¯t mean much to her, especially when there were no real consequences. But now, she wouldn¡¯t dare bother me again. figured Jared must have finally done something about it. In my previous life, I bit my tongue and endured everything just to keep the peace between them and me. This time around, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if my actions would end up rocking the boat I knew exactly what Sally was like. As long as I didn¡¯t stir up trouble, just stayed home and did my job as a housewif her every request, she wouldn¡¯t give me a hard time.. But now, I was dead set ois gelling a divorce. Jared was refusing to go along with it, and Wenne had be a different person because was no way Sally was going to bold back with me anymore. Bring it on, then. Let the storm rage on. Nothing ever bothered me anyway. The next morning, Jared showed up at the apartment bright and early, carrying expensive wine and gifts for my mom I opened the door and looked at him. He hadn¡¯t slept a wink. His eyes were bloodshot. When he saw me, he looked a little taken aback. ¡°Are your parents. still asleep?¡± he asked softly ¡°You really didn¡¯t have to bring all these, I said, frowning Jared had been acting so much bettertely, and I couldn¡¯t help but think that maybe people only started to value what they couldn¡¯t have. ¡°Victoria, your parents came a long way. These gifts are just a little gesture from me. Please, don¡¯t say no, Jared said, his voice a bit hourse, but his eyes were genuinely sincere. crossed my arms, feeling irritated. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to get divorced in six months? Don¡¯t bother with all this anymore. I don¡¯t see any point in getting more tangled up with each other.¡± My cold words made Jared¡¯s face go rigid for a moment. He set the gifts down and turned to leave. ? AD Comment Send gift Loose 199 Chapter 199 Watching his back, shoulders tense as he walked away, I still didn¡¯t feel sorry for him. With how things ended in thy previous life, I was determ choose a different path this time. No matter how greatted was, I wasn¡¯t going to get hung up on him anymore. When my parents woke up and saw all the pits Jared had dropped off so early, they both seemed a bit heavy hearted. ty decent guy, isn¡¯t he?¡± my mom said, and I could see a spark of hope in her eyes as she booked at me ¡°Victoria, Jared¡¯s actually a pretty i ¡°wah, he is, but he¡¯s got this bad habit of straying, and he just won¡¯t change,¡± I said tly, barely ncing up from my phone as replied to work My dad sat there with his coffee, pinning ¡°As a guy, I know how it goes. Once a man gets a taste for something new, he might resist the first time, feet guilty the second, but by the third, all bets are oft My mom shot him a re. ¡°Oh, listen to you. You never fooled around, and now you think you missed out on something in Set¡± My dad jumped up, flustered, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking in general, not about myself. Can you not put words in my mouth? I¡¯m just saying Victoria needs to keep her eyes open when ites to guys cheating¡± Iughed and jumped in, ¡°Come on, you two, no need to argue. Honestly, when ites to cheating, there¡¯s really not much to talk about if you can put up with it, then keep going. ¡°if you can¡¯t stand it, just walk away early. Books never taught us about the gray areas, but the more you go through in life, the more you realize that there¡¯s no absolute right or wrong, only what works for you. ¡°Listen to that. Victoria¡¯s got a better outlook than we do,¡± my dad said approvingly I stood up. ¡°Alright, Mom, Dad, you two enjoy yourselves. I¡¯m off to work.¡± ¡°Victoria, are you really sure you can handle running the hotel? And what if you two end up getting divorced? Won¡¯t everything you¡¯ve done just go down the drain? He¡¯ll just take it all back,¡± my mom said, worry written all over her face. ¡°Rx, Mom, I¡¯m just picking up experience right now. It¡¯s not like n to be stuck running these hotels forever. As long as I keep moving forward, I¡¯m not scared of anything ¡°Money and power wille eventually,¡± I said with a grin, flipping my hair and grabbing my bag as I headed out the door. never really understood just how much of a weapon good looks could be, but now I totally got i As long as I kept building my own brand, I was honestly not even a little worried about making bank, Worst came to worst, I¡¯d just hop on Tik Tok and start selling clothes live. Women¡¯s fashion in Hachester was blowing up right now. If I got in early and caught the wave, I could totally support myself When I got to the office, Amy had already started. Compared to Tracy, she had a much more feminine vibe. Tracy was the type who lived for her career, all sharp edges and professionalism, while Amy really know how to bnce work and life. She just seemed to have it all under control. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Hob,¡± Amy said with a smile as she walked over. ¡°Mr. Hob said he wouldn¡¯t being in today, Is everything okay?¡± Thadn¡¯t expected Jared to take the day off When Amy asked, I just shrugged and said, le probably didn¡¯t get much sleep Amy shot measly grin, her eyes glinting. ¡°Mrs. Hob, I hear Mr. Hob is super popr around here. That must put a lot of pressure on you, huh?¡± I blinked, thenughed. ¡°Rx Only someone who¡¯s lost their mind would actually have a thing for their boss.¡± 1/2 ¡°Oh? Is that so? Care to borate?¡± Amy looked at me, genuinely surprised. I took the coffee my assistant handed over, sipped it, and said, ¡°Some women think they can score big by trying to y office wife, carying op to their boss for money or perks. ¡°But honestly, it¡¯s just the boss milking their emotional value to squeeze more work out of them. Just look at your predecessor¡± Amy¡¯s smile turned a bit awkward. She said, ¡°Yeah, I know a bit about what happened with Tracy I shot her a fake smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just get to work. Catch youter,¡± Amy stood there in the hallway, looking awkward for a while before she finally walked off Guess that was a reality check for her. I wanted to make it clear that if the were here to work, then just do her job. Seriously, nobody¡¯d got time for office romance. Around here, everyone was just trying to get ahead. At lunchtime, Jared asked me to meet him for a bite at a restaurant near the office. He mentioned he wanted to go over some work stuff and told me to just bring the updates straight to him, I didn¡¯t overthink it. I just grabbed the documents that needed his signature and headed right over, As soon as I walked into the private room, I saw Quinn. AD Loose 200 Quinn looked up at me with a weird lock, Ignoring her, I took a seat nearby. Jared looked a bit worn out. As soon as I sat down, he said coldly. ¡°Quinn, apologize to Victoria Quinn must¡¯ve gotten a talking to. Her eyes looked dull and lifeless. She stared at me, at a loss for words for a moment, but I could tell she was waiting for something Like maybe I¡¯d immediately turn to Jared with a gentle smile and say, ¡°No need to apologize. We¡¯re all family here.¡± But now, I just sat there with a calm face, saying nothing. If she thought I¡¯d just forgive her, she was kidding herself. I was not someone who bullied others, but that didn¡¯t mean anyone could walk all over me. ¡°Quinn, do I need to say it again?¡± Jared said sternly. Quinn¡¯s eyes turned red, and she said in a small, aggrieved voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Victoria. I shouldn¡¯t have sent those nasty messages yesterday. I know this wasn¡¯t your fault. It¡¯s my brother who let you down. You¡¯re a victim too.¡± Ilistened, expressionless, and just gave a small nod. ¡°I won¡¯t do it again,¡± Quinn mumbled, her head down. Well, Well, that was really hard to tell whether she said it out of guilt or something else. Quinn didn¡¯t stick around for lunch. After her apology, she made up some excuse and left. When it was just Jared and me left in the room, I looked at him and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Jared looked a little taken aback. He asked, ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Thank you for finally standing up for me. For once, you were actually fair,¡± I said with a faint smile. Jared¡¯s face stiffened a little. He knew exactly what I meant. ¡°I should¡¯ve done better as her big brother. If I¡¯d stepped in and put a stop to it the first time Quinn was out of line, she wouldn¡¯t have kept pushing you around,¡± Jared said, finally sounding like the brother he was supposed to be. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. It¡¯s all in the past,¡± I brushed it off. Jared breathed a subtle sigh of relief, and right then, the waiter came in with our food. We ate slowly. Jared seemed lost in thought and didn¡¯t eat much. While Late, I kept talking to him about work. He wasn¡¯t really paying attention, but whenever I brought up something important, he¡¯d chime in with some pointers. I spent the wholemeal talking about work, and he had no choice but to listen. Finally, he put down his fork and said, ¡°You¡¯re starting to foot more my subordinate than my wife.¡± I chuckled softly. ¡°Working for you would be way easier. All I¡¯d have to do is get the job done.¡± Jared paused for a moment, then let out a smallugh, ¡°is being my wife really that tough? I¡¯m not that much of a perfectionist, am 17¡± I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s not my body that¡¯s tired, but my heart.¡± Jared understood instantly. His gaze grow more tender as he said, ¡°Victoria, maybe I haven¡¯t been the husband you deserve, but I¡¯m working on it Chapter 200 ¡°You don¡¯t need to change. You¡¯re already good enough,¡± I said, cutting him off with a raised hand. ¡°Seriously, Jared, even if we¡¯re my parents only ever say good things about you. You¡¯ve always been a stand up guy¡± Jared¡¯s face fell a little. He must be wondering why we couldn¡¯t stay together. ¡°Victoria, when did you start using ttery as a weapon against me?¡± Jared grumbled, clearly not pleased. ¡°Guessi want out.¡± wasn¡¯t good enough if you I gave him a mischievous grin. ¡°Looks like you saw right through me? AD Loose 201 Jared just gared at nie, ale dared. I knew my smile had always had a certain charm. He used to say it was warm and captivating, which would make . ¡®any ce feet like home. Now, with no schenses of old scars behind it, my smile felt more honest and natural than ever, Jared looked down at the coffee cup on the table, turning it slowly in his hand, ¡°Victoria, you probably don¡¯t realize this, but just the thought of us never seeing each other again after the divorce, of having nothing to do with each other¡­ It makes me feel like I¡¯m losing my mind.¡± I was stunned for a moment. That was exactly what I went through in my previous life. When Jared pat those divorce papers in front of me, promising me a pile of minney if I signed, what terrified me most was the thought that this amazing man would no longer be mine, Once we split, I might never see him again, I remembered frantically tearing those papers to shreds. I still didn¡¯t know how my delicate hands managed to rip through all those sheets like that. Jared looked at me, his eyes shadowed, his voice nothing like his usual calm. ¡°Victoria, I guess I¡¯m really no different from any other man. I never knew to cherish what I had until I was about to lose it. Now I can¡¯t let go. ¡°Tused to call you weak and say you depended on others too much. I never understood why you needed that, just like I don¡¯t understand now why I can¡¯t let you go.¡± Watching Jared get lost in his own doubts and inner conflict, I felt nothing at all. These were the same feelings that used to torment me, but aftering back to life, I learned to let them go Emotions could really mess people up. If we held on too tight, they¡¯d end up torturing us. I lowered my head and let out a softugh. ¡°People are happy when they get exactly what they ask for. But once they get greedy, happiness slips away.¡± Jared nced over, looking a bit taken aback. I stood up, turned my back to him, and rested my hands on the window, staring out at the street. ¡°Honestly, you already know the reason. You just don¡¯t want to admit it. When people can¡¯t satisfy their desires, they get fixated, and that¡¯s when it really hurts¡± After I finished, I turned to look at Jared. ¡°You want too much. Maybe you could try wanting less, like, maybe you should just let me go Jared went rigid for a moment. As soon as I said ¡°let me go,¡± he suddenly shot up and lunged at me. He pressed me up against the window, his armi locking around me. And then he searched for my lips. mped my lips shut, refusing to let him in. He lingered there, almost pleading. His lips brushed desperately against mine. Finally, he pulled away, his arms trembling as he hugged me.¡± get all that, but I just can¡¯t do it.¡±¡± I tried to push him away, a little annoyed, but he pulled me in even tighter, his breathing out heavy. ¡°These days without you, can¡¯t sleep at all. Victoria, you have no idea. I¡¯ve been missing you so much. It¡¯s driving me crazy¡± I was honestly stunned. Jared was always cool as ice, never letting his emotions show. He shouldn¡¯t be so obsessed that he¡¯d lose his mind over missing There must be something wrong. Jared wasn¡¯t the same as the one I knew before. This time around, it was like he¡¯d really fallen for me. ¡°Jared, let go of me,¡± I said, my voice sharp with anger. Just thinking about all those endless nights I spent alone, tossing and turning, craving seven a bit of warmth, I wanted to get bark at him, ¨C ¡°No way,¡± Jared replied, his voice hoarse, and he lowered his head, searching for my lips again. Loose 202 Jared¡¯s actions made me both furious and want tough at the same time, I fought back hard, but it only made him kiss me even more injamaly forced my mouth open, his kiss growing hotter and more demanding His one hand locked around the back of my head, holding me in ce, while the other gripped my waist. His long legs trapped me firmly against the window, leaving me no room to escape. I gave up resisting. Maybe my struggle was just making him enjoy it even more wentpletely still, letting him do whatever he wanted. Jared seemed to slowly saw my nk, unresponsive face, a flicker of sisare finally crossed his features. He let go of me and stepped back, frustration and Self- reproach written all over him: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Victoria¡­I¡­ Jared said, apologizing I took a deep breath to steady myself, and then said, ¡°Sign these documents. I¡¯m leaving¡± Jared kept stealing cautious nces at my face as he picked up the pen. He almost signed in the wrong spot. He quickly scribbled it out, and then finally. found the right ce to sign his name ¡°Victoria, about earlier,¡± he began ¡°No need to exin,¡± I cut him off, my expression turning cold. I grabbed the documents, pushed the door open, and then walked out. Once I was out, I headed straight for the restroom. After washing away any trace of him, I looked at myself in the mirror. Lately, I¡¯d started to treat myself better. There was a new light in my eyes, and I could feel a sense of hope and strength growing inside me. There were only five months and twenty days left until my divorce from Jared was finalized. I was counting down the days Jared had promised me the shares, and knowing him, he¡¯d keep his word. Right now, my determination was for nothing but the money It turned out that when you stopped loving someone, even their touch became unbearable. There was a time when I longed for him, adored him like a lovesick fangirl, and just the warmth of his fingertips could set my heart on fire. But now, when Jared kisses me, all I felt was revulsion. Aher work that afternoon, I wanted to take my parents out for dinner, but they said they¡¯d been out all day and just wanted to cook at home. So I headed straight to the supermarket, grabbed some ingredients, and hurried back home. As I carried the groceries upstairs, my mom came over to help. I set my bag down, tied on an apron, and sent her out of the kitchen. ¡°Mom, let me handle dinner tonight. Why don¡¯t you and Dad go rx and watch some TV?¡± My mom immediately gave me a worried look. ¡°You¡¯ve been working all day. Why don¡¯t you take a break?¡± ¡°it¡¯s fine, I haven¡¯t cooked muchtely. I want to see if I¡¯ve still got it,¡± I said with a grin. My dad chuckled from the side. ¡°Let her do her thing. It¡¯s been a while since I got to eat her food.¡± My mom shot him a re. ¡°Seriously? What kind of dad are you, making her do all the work?¡± My dad immediately shut up, not daring to say another word. Watching my parents banter like that made me think back to when I was a kid, always seeing my dad get teased by my mom. They¡¯d bicker every day, but that was just how they had always been¨Cliving together in their own simple way for all these years. Sometimes people would say my dad was henpecked, like he wasn¡¯t a real man. But I never saw it that way. To the, he was just smart. He loved my mom enough to let her car the shots. That was mal widom, because fo he loved our family. tremembered how, before I got married, my mom sat me down for a heart to heart. She told me that after tying the knot, I should at least try le Jared in check, not just let hint do whatever he wanted. AD Loose 203 Chapter 203 She said men never really grow up emotionally they were just big boys who needed someone to rein them in. But at the time, was so wrapped up ind the bliss of being in love that I didn¡¯t take any of her advice to heart After we got married, I basically let Jared do whatever he pleased, I figured, if you couldn¡¯t keep a dog on a leash, sooner orter it¡¯d get into troub And back then, I was so naive. I thought everyone went to those clubs just to have fun, and Jared actually believed he was only there for fruit tters. Now, all I could do was shrug andugh at myself. The kitchen was alive with the sizzling and popping of stir¨Cfry, oil crackling in the pan. After six years as a housewife, I¡¯d gotten pretty talented in the kitchen, I had everything on the table in no time. ¨C Right then, the doorbell rang. My parents nced at ine, and I rushed over to open it. Sure enough, Jared was standing outside. He paused for a moment when he saw me wearing an apron. Maybe seeing me like this reminded him of all those times I used to bustle around the kitchen at home. I wondered if it made him feel annoyed with ma all over again. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± asked coolly ¡°Just came by to see your parents,¡± Jared replied, holding up some frowned. This damn man was haunting me like a ghost these days. fruit and a bottle of wine. My dad walked over and said, ¡°Jared, since you¡¯re here,e have dinner with us.¡± Since Dad had already spoken, I couldn¡¯t refuse and just let him in. As Jared walked past me, he nced at me, looking a little lost in thought. My dad was always good¨Cnatured. Even though Jared and I were in the middle of a divorce, since things hadn¡¯t turned nasty, he still treated Jared like family and chatted with him as usual. y for all the trouble between me and Victoria,¡± Jared said, raising his ss. ¡°Let me drink three as an apology¡± ¡°William, Mariah, I¡¯m sorry f ¡°Ainght, this is just a regr family dinner, not some business party. No need for all that,¡± my dad quickly stopped him, but Jared still drank up the wine. During dinner, I listened to my parents talking with Jared. He really knew how to work a conversation¨Cnever said a single thing that could piss them off Instead, he handled everything like a pro, making it sound like we¡¯d just had a minor argument, not that we were actually heading for a divorce. Aher dinner, wanting him out of the house ASAP, I made P, I made up an excuse about needing some sauce and dragged Jared out with me. As we waited for the elevator, Jared said quietly, ¡°Victoria, it¡¯s been a while since I had a meal you made. It still tastes just as good as before.¡± I smirked, sarcasmcing my words. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a while since you saw me in an apron, too. Do I still look like a mess to you?¡± Jared shook his head, his expression serious. ¡°No, even with the apron, you¡¯re different now! ¡°Oh? How am I different?¡± I asked offhandedly as I stepped into the elevator with him following behind. With no one else around, his gaze grew a little bold. He lowered his voice, ¡°You never used to cook in your work clothes¡± I paused, ncing down at myself¨Ca rose¨Cgold blouse and a knee¨Clength linen pencil skirt. He was right. Wearing an apron over business attire really did give off a different vibe. Jared let out a low chuckle. ¡°Honestly, you look pretty great like this¡± ¡°Stop,¡± I said, raising my hand. ¡°Quit with thepliments. Next time you want to see me, at least give me a heads¨Cup instead of just showing up unannounced, okay? Jared¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise. He was obviously shocked. As soon as the elevator doors slid open, i said coolly, ¡°Sen yourself out. Just as I turned to leave, Jared suddenly grabbed my arm. ¡°Victoria, the truth is Fve actually been following you since you let the office throw, it sounds messed up, but I just really wanted to see your ¡°Maybe this is what your life was always like, and I never cared enough to ask what you did after work. Today, watching you shop at the supermark hit me how little lever knew about your world¡± ? Loose 204 Chapter 204 Ired at Jared, eyes wide with anger. ¡°Were you seriously stalking me? That¡¯s so not you, Jared¡® 1 huffed, ¡°And for the record, I used to be a housewife. Grocery shopping and running to the market? That was literally my job. Don¡¯t act like I¡¯s some big revtion. That was my daily life.¡± I yanked my hand out of his. ¡°Turns out, with you raking in the cash, all my so¨Ccalled struggles were just for show. I was only fooling myself.¡± Jared¡¯s expression froze as he listened. He said, ¡°Victoria, I know I used to overlook what you did every day. I always know taking care of the kid wasn¡¯t easy for you. I even said I¡¯d hire two nannies, but you ¡± ¡°Yeah, I brought it all on myself. I¡¯m not ming anyone,¡± I cut him off. This bitterness¨Crd just have to swallow it alone. ¡°Victoria, from now on, I¡¯ll go grocery shopping and hit the market with you. I want to blend into your daily life, okay?¡± Jared looked at me with those deep eyes, but honestly, I couldn¡¯t help finding his wordsughable, ¡°No need,¡± I shook my head. ¡°Someone as high and mighty as you, Mr. Hob, showing up at the market? Please. Your mom and your sister would probably chew me out right there As soon as I said that, Jared¡¯s face went stift. Yeah, I remembered it perfectly. Back when we first got married, Sally sat us both down and told me straight up that Jared was a man destined for big things, and I shouldn¡¯t bother him with trivial stuff like family chores. aly have Men only so much energy, she said. She even warned me not to get too carried away with our sex life. Back then, I was so obedient. I took every word of Sally¡¯s advice to heart and followed it to the letter ¡°Victoria, I know I messed up before,¡± Jared said, looking embarrassed, not even trying to exin himself. But honestly, he really seemed like he wanted a taste of ordinary lile with me. I didn¡¯t want to hear his excuses. I turned and stepped into the elevator, jabbing the close button hard, Jared stood at the elevator doors, and his eyes fixed on me until they closed, sealing us off from each other. I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that I still didn¡¯t know him as well as I thought. It turned out that even he had his moments of hesitation. Jared, sometimes I wished that you could time¨Ctravel back so you could see everything you did and just how miserable I ended up. Maybe then you¡¯d finally get it¡ªno amount of sweet talk was ever going to win me over again. When I got home, my parents looked like they wanted to say something but held back. I quickly added, ¡°Jared showed up uninvited. I didn¡¯t ask him toe.¡± My mom nodded. ¡°Yeah, we know. At dinner, it was pretty obvious that Jared really doesn¡¯t want a divorce.¡± ¡°Well, he might not, but i do,¡± I said firmly, ¡°it¡¯s gotta happen.¡± My parents exchanged a look but didn¡¯t say anything more. Just as I was about to head upstairs, my dad suddenly said, ¡°Your mom and I bought some gifts today to see Yvonne, but she refused to s My chest tightened with frustration, but I knew that as her grandparents, they truly loved Yvonne as their own granddaughter. Even if Jared and I were about to get divorced, they¡¯d still love Yvonn¨¦ just the same. But I never thought Yvonne would actually refuse to see them. Guess that was just how it was. 11:50 Tue, 19 Aup ¡°Dad, Mom, don¡¯t go out of your way anymore, She hates me now, so it¡¯s only natural she doesn¡¯t want to see you wither,¡± I said. Then headed up? AD Loose 205 edmy The moment reached my door, I couldn¡¯t hold back my tears anymore, I could see just how much my parents were hurting. Yvonneused to be so close to them. She¡¯d spend every winter and summer break at their ce. Now, she wouldn¡¯t even see them. They must be feeling so heartbroken. I cried quietly for a while, and then came to terms with it. This was just a phase, and sooner orter, we¡¯d get through it. My parents seemed to know I was hurting as well, so they just stopped mentioning Yvonne in front of me. I kept going to work asual. By the third day, my parents were getting a bit restless, and with their vacation almost over, I bought them ne tickets and saw them off at the airport mysell During that time, Jared¡¯s parents treated my parents to dinner once. Not sure what they discussed, but when my parents came back, they told me that they respected my choice. Honestly, that really reassured me and gave me the strength I needed. ¡°Victoria, if you ever need somewhere to go after the divorce, juste home. You can always find something steady here,¡± my mom said, squeezing my fingers: ¡°She¡¯s gotten used to living in the city. She might not fit in back home anymore. It¡¯s up to her,¡± my dad chimed in. I nodded to them.¡± know. I¡¯m not a kid anymore. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Aber seeing my parents off, I headed back to the office. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, Theardughter drifting from the meeting room. A voice sounded, ¡°Amy, is it really that far away? Is it really dangerous? You actually went exploring in deserted caves? That¡¯s so cool! When I grow up, want to be just the you.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯ve climbed snowy mountains? And your biggest dream is to conquer Everest? That¡¯s the tallest one in the world)¡± Linstantly recognized Wonne¡¯s voice. Taking a deep breath, I walked by the door as if i didn¡¯t care, keeping myposure. Just then, the chatter inside suddenly stopped. sitting on my desk. Next to it was a note, scrawled in Yvonne¡¯s messy When I walked into my office, I saw a little flower made out of toy blocks sit handwriting: [Mom, I¡¯m sorry. Here¡¯s a flower for you. I stared at it for a long while. Then, I gently moved it aside so I could get back to work. Emotions were just part of being human, but they could really mess with you Back when Yvonne would show a little gratitude and give me something, it would¡¯ve made my file day. But now, I was forcing myself to shove those feelings down. When i thought about everything I¡¯d done for her, it just left me feeling numb inside. I couldn¡¯t help but suspect Jared had Yvonne bring me this little present, hoping it¡¯d spark some motherly feelings I barely had left. Gotta admit, Jared really knew how to pull people¡¯s strings.. But for someone who had already stared death in the face, kindness was a fatal weakness. Keeping my heart hard¨Cthat was just how my life worked now. My office door was gently pushed open, and Yvonne cautiously poked her head in. She didn¡¯t say a word, just kept stealing nces at me. I treated her The she was invisible. Wonne waited for a while, and when I still didn¡¯t call her over, she started to get a little sulky, in the end, she quietly closed the door Just a few minutester, she came back and opened the door again. This time, she wasn¡¯t sneaking nces. She stood there, nervously twisting her fingers, her big eyes full of grieved innocence as she looked at me. 1/2 ¡°Get out. Don¡¯t bother me while I¡¯m working¡± I said coldly. Wenne suddenly burst into tears. Then she threw the door open and ran out. It wasn¡¯t long before Jared carhe back, leading a bawling Yvonne by the hand, and knocked on my office door again. AD Loose 206 These two were unbelievable. They kept barging in and interrupting me during normal working hours. Jared, not hearing me say anything, just barged right in. ¡°Victoria, did you see the gift Yvonne gave you?¡± Jared asked, and then added, ¡°She spent all night building it.¡± Ijust shrugged, ncing at the edge of my desk. ¡°I thought someone left it here by ident. I almost tossed it in the trash.¡± My words were like flipping a switch¨CWonne¡¯s tears started up again. She buried her face in Jared¡¯s big hand, her little shoulders trembling, looking so pitiful. Jared was at a loss with me, so he just bent down and scooped Yvonne into his arms. ¡°Yvonne, don¡¯t cry. Mom¡¯s got a lot on her te at work, I¡¯ll take you out for dinner tonight.¡± Yvonne nodded, but when she nced at me, her eyes looked a bit vacant. Jared ended up carrying her out. I grabbed my water and took a sip. I guessed Yvonne¡¯de a long way. If this were my previous life, she¡¯d still be at home screaming at me and throwing a fit right about now. Whenever I told her to drink water, she¡¯d toss the cup onto the floor just because she didn¡¯t want to. I¡¯d spend ages cleaning up, crawling around to pick up every tiny shard, for fear that she¡¯d step on one and hurt her little feet. Now, I didn¡¯t have to babysit or bend over backwards for my husband. I could just get my work done in peace. Anyone stuck with the kids was bound to lose their mind. This time, it was Jared¡¯s turn to enjoy that ¡°blessing¡°. After work, I got a call from Sally, telling me to join her for dinner that night. It seemed that Sally just couldn¡¯t wait any longer¨Cshe was gearing up to give me one of her famous life lessons. I wasn¡¯t fazed. I showed up at the restaurant right on time, and the moment I stepped into the private room, it was like walking into a bustling market- packed with middle¨Caged women. There were at least a dozen of them. I nced around and, sure enough, they were all Sally¡¯s friends and distant rtives, the kind who¡¯d watched my whole rollercoaster marriage with Jared from the sidelines. Uh¨Coh, they were all here for me. Was Sally nning to have them/take turns lecturing me tonight? Well, I was already here. If I just walked out now, they¡¯d probably gossip about me behind my back. Since that was the case, I¡¯d just let them say whatever they wanted to my face. I¡¯d handle it as it came. I knew all of them, so I greeted each one and quietly took my seat next to Sally. Seeing me looking all sweet and sensible, Sally said, ¡°Victoria, thesedies are all your elders. They¡¯ve seen it all and been through the ups and downs of marriage. Honestly, everyone thinks your marriage with Jared is just fine.¡± Someone chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, Victoria. Jared¡¯s really good to you. He doesn¡¯ty a hand on you, doesn¡¯t have any bad habits, and he¡¯s got a good job.¡± I arched an eyebrow at her and said, ¡°What about the silent treatment? Doesn¡¯t that count?¡± Sally¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°Jared wouldn¡¯t do that. I let out a dryugh. ¡°Sally, that¡¯s only because he treats you differently.¡± Sally went quiet instantly. Another woman immediately started going on and on about how happy someone¡¯s marriage was, telling me I should learn from her on how to make a marriage work. 13:42 Wed I smiled at her and said, ¡°If you think she¡¯s happy, it just means you don¡¯t really know her.¡± The woman was totally thrown off, stammering, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really know her. She¡¯s just my cousin¡¯s daughter¡¯s best friend¡¯s sister. Sally looked speechless. A Loose 207 Chapter 207 ¡°Come on, Victoria, you need to think about this family and the bigger picture,¡± someone said, trying to hit me with some big life lesson I kept eating and shot her a look. ¡°Have you ever heard the saying? If someone tells you to think about the bigger picture, it means you¡¯re not actually part of it. ¡°And when they say it¡¯s for your own good, it¡¯s usually for theirs. Like, did Sally offer you something for this?¡± ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t be so disrespectful in front of you elders,¡± Sally said, her face flushed with anger. Guess I struck a nerve. I just replied coolly, ¡°it¡¯s true. People who tell others to just suck it up always get what¡¯sing to them.¡± As soon as I said that, the whole room went dead silent. Sally was fuming. ¡°Victoria, what¡¯s with your attitude? | invited these rtives to give you some good advice, and you not only ignore them, but you¡¯re cursing them, too? ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re irreceable as my daughter¨Cinw?¡± Seeing Sally finally snap, I kept my cool and said, ¡°Sally, they¡¯re not me. all. Do you honestly think your own marriages are that happy?¡± They haven¡¯t lived my life, so it¡¯s easy for them to just judge me. Let me ask you As soon as I said that, the whole room went dead silent. Even Sally looked pretty ufortable. Sally knew exactly what kind of man her husband was. e¨Cwhat are the actual perks? I¡¯ll listen,¡± I said with a smile, ncing around at them. ¡°But don¡¯t give me ¡°If marriage is really that wonderful, then tell me- any fake answers. I¡¯ll know.¡± One of the women immediately grabbed her fork. ¡°Come on, guys, try this roast chicken. It¡¯s even better than what my housekeeper makes.¡± So everyone just buried their heads in their food, while Sally looked like she was really pissed off and frustrated. Once I finished eating, I made my exit. Sally didn¡¯t even bother to stop me. The moment I stepped out, I felt instantly lighter, like all the stress just melted away. It turned out that pping back at people was actually a great cure for anxiety and depression. The way l¡¯acted at dinner totally blew up my old image. I was pretty sure that after tonight, nobody was going to call me the sweet, obedient, perfect wife anymore. They¡¯d just say I¡¯d got a tongue like a razor. I didn¡¯t expect that word would get to Jared by just after 8 p.m. When Jared called, he was alreadyughing on the other end. I was just sitting there, totally lost, until I finally got impatient and said, ¡°Are you done? If you¡¯ve got something to say, spit it out.¡± Jared finally stoppedughing and said, ¡°Did you really manage to offend all of my mom¡¯s rtives?¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± I frowned. Since when did Jared turn into a gossip? ¡°My mom¡¯s so mad she¡¯s about to cry. She¡¯s venting to her friend, and I heard the whole thing,¡± Jared said. ¡°I made your mom this mad, and you¡¯re not upset?¡± I was honestly surprised. Jared used to always tell me to be understanding because she was our elder, even if I had the slightest disagreement with her. What happened to him? Jared let out a sigh. ¡°Sure, my mom¡¯s upset, but I think you¡¯ve got a point. Especially what you said about people thinking others have it go¡­ just because they don¡¯t really know them. That¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear any of this life advice. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Victoria, you used to suppress who you really are just to please me, and it made me think you were just an emotionless beauty. But now I realize you re 13:42 Wed 20 A00 Chapter 207 actually really fun and lively,¡± Jared sald, eager topliment me ¡°So?¡± I asked. AD Comment Loose 208 Jared was stunned by my question, and then he let out a sigh. ¡°Victoria, do I really need to spell it out for you? I swear, I¡¯m more into you now than ATACA You¡¯re like someone I¡¯ve never met before. You¡¯re shining.¡± I let out a mockingugh. ¡°So you only start to see my shine now that I¡¯m not yours anymore? What am I supposed to say to that?¡± It was like I¡¯d just called him out, and Jared gave an awkward chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve put up with so much before. Now, I¡¯m giving you a chance¨Cwant to get your revenge?¡± I hadn¡¯t expected Jared to take my sarcasm so well. Instead of getting mad, he just flirted back in that easygoing way. Tracy really did a number on him- he had really learned how to be a flirt. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to torture people, but you¡¯ve changedtely. Have you noticed?¡± I let out a coldugh. ¡°I haven¡¯t changed. I¡¯m still me.¡± Jared insisted. ¡°No, you have. You never used to pull these moves. I¡¯m guessing Ms. Darwin taught you all these tricks,¡± I said, keeping my tone even. Jared seemed to tense up at the mention of Tracy¡¯s name, and he rushed to exin, ¡°Victoria, are you really never going to get over this thing with Tracy? How many times do I have to say it? There¡¯s nothing between us. ¡°Just because we work together and appreciate each other¡¯s talent, does that really count as being unfaithful?¡± I could tell Jared really hated it whenever I brought up Tracy. She was his baggage. But that wasn¡¯t my problem. I could mention her whenever I wanted, and if he didn¡¯t like it, that was his problem, not mine. ¡°Alright, if you say so. It¡¯s all about admiring talent and recognizing ability, huh? You¡¯ve really taught me a lesson. Maybe I¡¯ll start using that excuse at work, too,¡± I said with azy, carelessugh. Jared must have been pissed, since his breathing got heavier. ¡°Victoria, in rtionships, women usually end up getting hurt more. I just hope you realize that,¡± Jared said seriously, almost like he was afraid I¡¯d actually take a page from his book. ¡°Oh? Who says so? I haven¡¯t even tried it yet, so I¡¯m not about to take your word for it,¡± I replied, my voice stillzy and careless, which only made him more annoyed. Jared was left speechless by me. He had to force himself to stay patient. ¡°Alright, Victoria, there¡¯s no need for us to argue. I checked the weather¨Cit says there¡¯s going to be a strong storm tonight, maybe even thunder. ¡°You¡¯re living up high, so if you get scared or anything.¡± ¡°Not scared. Thanks,¡± I said, and hung up right after. Not long after I hung up, the wind squeezed through the windows that weren¡¯t fully closed, making a low, whimpering sound. The apartment was huge, a two¨Cstory loft. Back then, I¡¯d insisted on ss windows just because they looked good, but now the wind was thumping against them, echoing through the ce. I got up and hurried to the windows. The wind rushed in, hitting me square in the chest, and I had to step back before struggling to shut them all tight. Not far away, thick storm clouds, crackling with lightning, swept in fast. I just stood there by the window, feeling my bright mood get sw.. storm. I grabbed a book, headed upstairs, and pulled my bedroom curtains tight, shutting out every bit of light. d up by the I turned on themp, put on my headphones, and let soft music y as I lost myself in my book. I couldn¡¯t care less when the storm outside finally let up. The next morning, Harmonia Hotel was looking to recruit a new batch of staff for some professional training, and they wanted me to carne tre oversee things, so I showed up pretty early. By around ten, people starteding in to apply for the job. Since the office we¡¯d rented was pretty cramped and just temporary, my workspace was only separated from the interview area by a pane of ss i basically had a front¨Crow seat to all the hiring action. Suddenly, a handsome guy walked in, and I did a double¨Ctake. Then I saw this lean, tall guy with clear eyes, ncing around and checking out the ce. Finally, he spotted me, and the next second, he shed me a smile. Hey, I knew this guy. I got up and walked over to the HR manager, a chubbydy who was totally caught up checking out the handsome guy in front of her. She didn¡¯t even notice me standing right behind her. ¡°I heard you¡¯re hiring,¡± the guy said, grinning at me. Loose 209 Chapter 209 ¡°Yes. You¡¯re¡­¡± I started. ¡°Ryan Jennings,¡± he jumped in. ¡°Wow, you really do forget people fast. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s been ages since west met.¡± I let out a couple of dryughs. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s up with you? Howe you¡¯re suddenly showing up here for a job interview?¡± Ryan ducked his head, those long, striking eyes glinting for a second before he said, ¡°My family cut off my allowance, so I figured I¡¯d earn some pocket money.¡± The chubby HR manager was moved. ¡°Aw, poor kid. Must be tough at home, huh? Ms. Murphy, I think he¡¯s great. We still need a few porters, anyway. Let¡¯s take him in.¡± But I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. He looked all clean and polished, with this air of sophistication that set him apart. Plus, thest time I ran into him in Shariport, he was dressed in some seriously expensive clothes. No way he was actually strapped for cash. ¡°No, he¡¯s not cut out for this kind of tough work,¡± I shot him down right away. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re studying in Shaville, so whye all the way to Hachester for a summer gig? ¡°There are tons of jobs back home. Why make things harder for yourself? Doesn¡¯t add up to me.¡± Ryan blinked, caught off guard. But he quickly lowered his voice and said, ¡°I just really like Hachester. I want to stay here for a couple of months. Victoria,e on, let me crash here for a bit, please.¡± The HR manager burst outughing. ¡°Young man, she is married. Mind your distance.¡± I crossed my arms, fixing Ryan with a sharp, no¨Cnonsense stare. Under my gaze, his cheeks flushed, and he looked at me like a lost puppy, eyes full of pleading. ¡°I really need this job,¡± he said. ¡°Did you actually see what the job involves?¡± I asked. Ryan nodded. ¡°Yeah, I did. Don¡¯t judge me by my looks. I¡¯m stronger than I look. I can handle the heavy lifting.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to do sales, run errands, and the job description is pretty vague. Might be cleaning up, making coffee, or even passing out flyers downtown. You sure you¡¯re up for all that?¡± I raised an eyebrow at him. Ryan didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°I¡¯m good with all that,¡± he said, totally serious. The HR manager was already won over and chimed in, ¡°Ms. Murphy, trust me, these college kids are usually super reliable and easy to manage.¡± Ryan nodded like his life depended on it. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ll do whatever. I just need the cash.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but feel confused. This young guy¨Cno matter how hard I tried, I just couldn¡¯t read him. His eyes looked so clear and innocent, but for some reason, I kept thinking he wasn¡¯t as simple as he seemed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you stay on for a month¡¯s trial,¡± I said. Honestly, I could really use someone to help out right now. And just like that, Ryan was hired and set up at a desk not far from mine. He really looked like a total newbie, He spent forever just admiring his not¨Cquite¨Cnew chair, his puppy¨Cdog eyes all wide and innocent, with this adorably clueless look quite read. By lunchtime, everyone else had headed out to eat, but Ryan was still at his desk, flipping through some files. I asked, ¡°How are you handling lunch? We don¡¯t provide meals here.¡± nile I couldn¡¯t Chapter 209 Ryan answered right away, ¡°I¡¯m fine with everything. Where are you eating, Victoria?¡± Since we¡¯d met a couple of times before, I figured I¡¯d treat him to lunch. ¡°There¡¯s a good spot nearby. Want to me?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Ryan said, getting up right away and tagging along to the restaurant. We¡¯d barely sat down when suddenly a crowd poured in, and the tables around us filled up in no time. Thedy taking our order, a cheerful older woman, came over grinning. ¡°Wow, you two really bring in the crowd! The ce was almost empty just a minute ago, and now it¡¯s packed since you walked in.¡± I nced around, smiled, and started ordering. Ryan was idly scrolling through his phone, but every so often, he¡¯d sneak a look at me. After we ordered, it wasn¡¯t long before a waiter rushed over, looking a little flustered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we only have one fish left, and the table over there already ordered it. Would you mind switching to something else?¡± I was about to say something when a middle¨Caged guy at the other table stood up and raised his hand. ¡°We¡¯ll pass on the fish,¡± he said. The waiter¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Great! They don¡¯t want it, so it¡¯s all yours now.¡± Ryan just nced over at their table, and instantly, everyone there went dead quiet. Loose 210 Chapter 210 The food hit the table, and I started eating with one hand while checking work emails on thought people glued to their phones for work were just putting on a show. It turned out that there really was an endless stream of stuff to deal with. Prejudice was really horrible. ¡°Victoria-¡± Ryan started. ¡°Call me Ms. Murphy,¡± I said without looking up. Ryan nodded obediently. ¡°Okay, Ms. Murphy. You first. Work never ends.¡± 1 paused, looking up at him. ¡°You¡¯re pretty thoughtful my phone with the other. Back when I wasn¡¯t working fatwaye Ryan looked a bit embarrassed and said quietly, ¡°I just noticed you weren¡¯t eating much.¡± I put my phone down and focused on my meal. That was when I noticed Ryan ate with a certain grace¨Cslow andposed, totally different from those teenage boys i¡¯d seen before who usually just wolfed down their food. After we finished eating, Ryan suddenly stood up and ran off to pay ¡°Hey, let me get this!¡± I called out, waving him back. But Ryan was fast¨Che¡¯d already paid and job today.¡± the check. was back in his seat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Ms. Murphy. If it weren¡¯t for you, I probably wouldn¡¯t have gotten a I smiled. So he was the grateful type. I nodded. ¡°Alright, just work hard, okay?¡± After lunch, we walked back to the office. That afternoon, I sent Ryan out to run an errand and discuss a promo cob. We¡¯d already settled everything, but when Ryan got there, the other side totally went back on their word and jacked up the price by 30%. When I called to negotiate, they were polite but wouldn¡¯t budge on the price. I told Ryan toe back, but he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Murphy. I¡¯ll see if I can pull some strings.¡± ¡°You have connections?¡± I asked in surprise. ¡°I remember a senior from college who works at thatpany. Maybe he can help smooth things over,¡± Ryan said with a smile. I wasn¡¯t expecting much, but before nightfall, Ryan came back having pulled it off¨Cand he even negotiated the price down by 30%. He really surprised me. I saw him in a whole new light. Ryan didn¡¯t get cocky about it, though. He just quietly went back to his seat and started flipping through those boringpany reports like nothing had happened. As it got dark, I told Ryan to call it a day. He gave azy stretch and strolled out of the office. I was about to head out myself. When I stepped outside, I noticed quite a few cars sporting Shaville tes parked out front, and even one with a Braylin te. Since I parked here every day, I always kept an eye on the cars around, so spotting all these out¨Cof¨Ctown tes all of a sudden real ht me off guard. Before heading home, I swung by the supermarket for some groceries. When I got back, Jared was downstairs at my building, smoking. As soon as he he quickly stubbed out his cigarette saw me, Jared came over, trying to take my groceries, but I dodged his hand and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to call before you show up? What if it¡¯s not convenient for me?¡± 13:42 Wed 20 Aug Jared paused, looking surprised. ¡°Not convenient? What, are you bringing some guy home?¡± I wanted to piss him off, but risking my own reputation didn¡¯t seem smart. So I replied coolly, ¡°Why does it have to be a guy? Can¡¯t I just buy some toys for my own pleasure?¡± Jared seemed at a loss for words. When I got into the elevator, he slipped in right after me, his voice dropping low. ¡°I want to eat your cooking tonight. Is that okay?¡°. ¡°We already have a divorce date set. If you hadn¡¯t kept stalling, we¡¯d be nothing but strangers by now. Do you really think it¡¯s okay for you to just show up for dinner?¡± I shot him a cold look. A Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 211 Loose 211 Chapter 211 Even though the papers weren¡¯t signed yet, it already felt like we were divorced. Jared looked a little gloomy, saying nothing as he just trailed after min silence. When we got to my doot, I opened it. Since this apartment was a gift from him, I didn¡¯t force him to leave. I figured this could be ourst dinner together. As long as he didn¡¯t start making any unreasonable demands, I could let him have this meal. ¡°Let me help prep the veggies,¡± Jared said, rolling up his sleeves and trying to follow me into the kitchen. ¡°No need. Just sit out there and wait for dinner,¡± I said, waving him off. Jared just stood outside, staring at me, dumbfounded. I didn¡¯t bother with him. I knew what was going through his head. My actions totally blindsided him, and now he was second¨Cguessing himself and everything about his life. In his mind, there was no way I¡¯d be the crie to ask for a divorce, no way I¡¯d just walk away from him and the kid. Even if he brought it up, I would beg him not to leave. That was how things were ¡°supposed¡± to go. But now, not only did I bring it up first, but I was also ready to leave without fighting for money or custody. I was so chill about it, it was almost ruthless¨Cand it left Jared totally stunned. So, he was all tangled up inside, caught in a mess of mixed¨Cup feelings. Once I finished cooking, Jared came over to help with the cutlery. Our fingers identally touched, and I pulled away quickly. He just stood there, turning to look at me, a bit stunned. We ate quietly. Even back when we ate at home together, we hardly ever talked. But tonight, the silence felt different¨Calmost like a warning that something was about to end. Jared didn¡¯t seem to have much of an appetite. He took a few bites and then just stared at me, lost in thought. I, on the other hand, was happily digging in. I looked up at him and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to eat my cooking? Why aren¡¯t you eating more? Is it not as good as you remembered?¡± Jared shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m not in the best mood.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Brooding like this will just give you gray hair,¡± I said with a smile. It was just like when he used to see me sulking and say I¡¯d get old faster. Jared just gave me a helpless, speechless look. I went on, ¡°You know, your stomach is basically ruled by your emotions. If you¡¯re in a bad mood, of course you won¡¯t feel like eating. Try to pull yourself together, okay?¡± ¡°Victoria, is divorce really the only way?¡± Jared¡¯s voice was thick with pain. ¡°Can¡¯t we just stay together?¡± ¡°Are you here to eat, or just to ruin my mood?¡± I shot him a cold look. ¡°If you¡¯re going to eat, then eat. If not, just leave.¡± Jared just stared at me, dazed, looking like he might burst into tears¨Cand I didn¡¯t offer him a single word offort. I¡¯d said it before: I was done feeling sorry for men. ¡°I¡¯ll eat a bit more,¡± Jared said, finally getting it¨Cacting pitiful wasn¡¯t going to get him anywhere with me. So he dug into his meal while settled onto the couch and flipped on the TV. It happened to be a finance channel, and there was Nathan¨Can exclusive interview with the rising star of the tech world. Nathan¡¯s voice was deep and carried a quiet wisdom, making him sound effortlessly sharp. Jared turned to look at the TV, his expression instantly turning gloomy. I was munching on some fruit, totally engrossed in the interview. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Even though the papers weren¡¯t signed yet, it already felt like we were divorced. Jared looked a little gloomy, saying nothing as he just trailed ¨¹ber me silence. When we got to my door, I opened it. Since this apartment was a gift from him, I didn¡¯t force him to leave. I figured this could be ourst dinner together. As long as he didn¡¯t start making any unreasonable demands, I could let him have this meal ¡°Let me help prep the veggies,¡± Jared said, rolling up his sleeves and trying to follow me into the kitchen. ¡°No need. Just sit out there and wait for dinner,¡± I said, waving him off. Jared just stood outside, staring at me, dumbfounded. I didn¡¯t bother with him. I knew what was going through his head. My actions totally blindsided him, and now he was second¨Cguessing himself and everything about his life. In his mind, there was no way I¡¯d be the one to ask for a divorce, no way I¡¯d just walk away from him and the kid. Even if he brought it up, I would beg him not to leave. That was how things were ¡°supposed¡± to go. But now, not only did I bring it up first, but I was also ready to leave without fighting for money or custody. I was so chill about it, it was almost ruthless¨Cand it left Jared totally stunned. So, he was all tangled up inside, caught in a mess of mixed¨Cup feelings. Once I finished cooking, Jared came over to help with the cutlery. Our fingers identally touched, and I pulled away quickly. He just stood there, turning to look at me, a bit stunned. We ate quietly. Even back when we ate at home together, we hardly ever talked. But tonight, the silence felt different¨Calmost like a warning that something was about to end. Jared didn¡¯t seem to have much of an appetite. He took a few bites and then just stared at me, lost in thought. I, on the other hand, was happily digging in. I looked up at him and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to eat my cooking? Why aren¡¯t you eating more? Is it not as good as you remembered?¡± Jared shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m not in the best mood.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Brooding like this will just give you gray hair,¡± I said with a smile. It was just like when he used to see me sulking and say I¡¯d get old faster. Jared just gave me a helpless, speechless look. I went on, ¡°You know, your stomach is basically ruled by your emotions. If you¡¯re in a bad mood, of course you won¡¯t feel like eating. Try to pull yourself together, okay?¡± ¡°Victoria, is divorce really the only way?¡± Jared¡¯s voice was thick with pain. ¡°Can¡¯t we just stay together?¡± ¡°Are you here to eat, or just to ruin my mood?¡± I shot him a cold look. ¡°If you¡¯re going to eat, then eat. If not, just leave.¡± Jared just stared at me, dazed, looking like he might burst into tears¨Cand I didn¡¯t offer him a single word offort. I¡¯d said it before: 1 was done feeling sorry for men. ¡°I¡¯ll eat a bit more,¡± Jared said, finally getting it¨Cacting pitiful wasn¡¯t going to get him anywhere with me. So he dug into his meal while! couch and flipped on the TV. It happened to be a finance channel, and there was Nathan¨Can exclusive interview with the rising star of the tech world. Nathan¡¯s voice was deep and carried a quiet wisdom, making him sound effortlessly sharp. Jared turned to look at the TV, his expression instantly turning gloomy. I was munching on some fruit, totally engrossed in the interview. onto the Nathan was talking about the future of tech. It was totally his area, so his eyes sparkled with excitement, making him even more maic Jared put his fork down, walked straight over, and unplugged the TV. Then he crossed his arms, blocked my view as he stood in front of the sercan, and looked down at me. He said, ¡°Have you been paying attention to him all the time?¡± Loose 212 Chapter 212 Jared was suddenly acting all sensitive, and honestly, I wasn¡¯t used to it. After all, he was always so gentle and calm, never losing his cool no matter what happened, and always gave off this distant vibe.. But now, he actually dafed to yank out my power cord, turn off my TV, and even use me of things that never happened. I definitely wasn¡¯t going to let him get away with it. ¡°Plug it back in,¡± I said seriously. But Jared didn¡¯t budge. He just frowned at me with emotions surging in his eyes. He said, ¡°So you¡¯re so determined to divorce me because of him? Is he chasing after you? ¡°You don¡¯t even care about the money and just want out, because someone else is there to catch you?¡± With every word, his emotions ramped up, until he was almost certain there was something shady between me and Nathan. ¡°Where¡¯s your evidence? Show me the evidence,¡± I said, not even bothering to exin or argue. I hadn¡¯t seen Nathan much, and even though I knew he had feelings for me, I¡¯d never responded. I¡¯d always kept my distance. The only time I¡¯d almost kissed him in that elevator, was out of anger and wanting to get back at Jared. ¡°Victoria, is this your way of getting back at me?¡± Jared¡¯s face twisted in pain. ¡°How far have things gone between you two?¡± ¡°Can you not make a scene here? We¡¯re just acquaintances,¡± I said, getting impatient. Suddenly, Jared stepped right up to me, crouched down, and caged me in on the armchair with his arms. His voice was rough. ¡°If this is just your way of getting back at me, I¡¯ll let it go.¡± ¡°Just cut all ties with him from now on, Victoria. Don¡¯t do something you¡¯ll regret just because of me.¡± I stared at him, not understanding a word he said. ¡°Victoria, I have feelings for you, really. You¡¯ve always had a ce in my heart,¡± Jared murmured, suddenly pressing his face against my knees. I froze. Jared rubbed his face against my skin, overwhelmed. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about when we were together. Back then, you were as passionate as a wild rose, and I waspletely obsessed with you. Victoria, I¡¯m serious, I won¡¯t make the same mistakes again.¡± I was no saint. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I instinctively tried to push him away. But Jared grabbed my hand, pulling me closer until I was pressed against his shoulder. Then, out of nowhere, he scooped me up andid me across the couch, leaning over me. His intentions were clear. On impulse, I sank my teeth into his neck. Jared winced, his dazed eyes slowly clearing. Finally, he sat back and looked at me, a bitter smile on his face. ¡°So now you can¡¯t even stand me touching you?¡± I straightened my clothes, which he¡¯d messed up, and said in a t and cold voice, ¡°Jared, don¡¯t be like this.¡± Jared took a deep breath, stood up, opened the door, and left. He lookedpletely defeated. I used to be the one desperately chasing after his love, doing everything I could just to make him notice me. But now, the tables had turned What went around came around. Life was a cycle, and the fables always turned. For some reason, I just felt this ache, like life was messing with me¡ªalways dumping stuff I never wanted on me, while everything I did want slipped right through my fingers. I buried my face in my knees, thinking I¡¯d break down sobbing, but my tears betrayed me. They just made my eyes wet, stubbornly refusing to fall. 1 Chapter 212 Guess I wasn¡¯t that sad. Fighting life never worked, anyway. Sometimes, letting things happen would bring its own kind of surprise. I turned the TV back on. The interview was still going. By now, the main interview was over and it was almost time to wrap up. With a grin, the host a Nathan if he was single. A shy smile crept onto Nathan¡¯s face as he nodded and admitted he was still single. Comment Loose 213 AD Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Seeing how easy it was to fluster him, the host couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°So, is there someone you have feelings for? And, just pretending to ask for all your fangirls out there¡ªwhat kind of woman would you want as your wife?¡± I thought that was kind of out of line. This was a finance show, not a dating show. Poor Nathan, that must¡¯ve been awkward for him. But Nathan just answered honestly, ¡°I like someone quiet and a bit on the mature side.¡± The host continued, ¡°Oh,e on, tell us more. I¡¯m sure all your fans are dying to know what kind of woman catches your eye.¡± Nathan nced at the camera, and then lowered his gaze with a gentle smile. ¡°It¡¯s hard to put into words, but as long as she¡¯s standing there, it could only ever be her.¡± The host¡¯s face lit up with understanding. She grinned and said, ¡°Well, looks like Mr. Hallman has someone special in mind. Here¡¯s to hoping your dreamse true soon!¡± My heart skipped a beat. Could he be talking about me? The show ended, but my mind was still racing. Years ago, I did something kind without thinking much of it, never realizing it would help Nathan be a rising star in tech. That was definitely a good thing. But, without meaning to, I¡¯d ended up stirring up his feelings. Was that really a good thing as well? I switched off the TV, and my heart finally calmed down. Once I knew I wasn¡¯t ever getting married again, Nathan just wasn¡¯t someone I could consider anymore. He¡¯d worked so hard to get to where he was. How could I just toss his feelings aside like they meant nothing? If I ever wanted to mess with someone, it should be Jared¨CI¡¯d drive him crazy. The next morning, I headed to the office for a meeting. The hotel project had been getting tons of buzztely, and with all my relentless promotion and packaging, we were seeing a massive surge in traffic. Jared sat in the meeting, looking as calm as ever, showing no sign thatst night had rattled him at all. When thetest numbers came in, Jared nced up and shot me this deep, unreadable look. I knew we were entering the era where traffic was king, and riding this wave for all it was worth was a huge win for the hotel. Jared just asked one thing, ¡°Who came up with these ns?¡± The person giving the report pointed right at me. ¡°All these ideas came from Ms. Murphy.¡± Jared shot me a moreplicated nce, like he couldn¡¯t quite wrap his head around the fact that I was the one behind all these fresh ideas. Amy always had that smiley, super¨Cconfident vibe, but when she realized my ns had made the hotel blow up overnight, her gaze got a whole lot sharper. I¡¯d got a few informants nted around thepany, and as for that detective I hired before, he was not working for me anymore, and I never even settled up with him. He dug up the news about Tracy being pregnant and imed they¡¯d risked their lives for it. Honestly, I was speechless. Still, for the sake of future coboration, I let it go. They must¡¯ve felt a bit guilty about taking so much casi to send someone else to keep an eye on Jared for me. ey promised Mypany spies would sometimes update me on who Jared was hanging out with, especially if it was a woman. But every time, it was strictly business no funny business at all. Well, except for this one girl from sales who¡¯d been going out of her way to get close to himtely. 1 knew that girl was Quinn¡¯s best friend, and she¡¯d been using that connection to get close to Jared, even catching a ride with him a few d¨¢vek. But from what I knew about Jared, just being pretty wasn¡¯t enough to get his attention, and he¡¯d never take a risk for a gitt like that. Unless she was someone like Tracy¨Csomeone who could actually help him in his career and really connected with him on a deeper level. Amy was married, but the way she looked at Jared was definitely not innocent. After the meeting, Jared came straight over to my office. I was packing up, getting ready to head to the temporary office by the hotel, when he cut right to the chase, ¡°Who¡¯s the woman Nathan was talking about?¡± AL Loose 214 Chapter 214 I looked up at Jared, stunned. How did Jared know about Nathan¡¯s interview? Did he actually go out of his way to watch it? Seriously, did he have nothing better to do? ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± I said, ying dumb. Jared thought I really hadn¡¯t seen Nathan¡¯s interview, so he pulled out his phone and yed the video for me. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation? You must¡¯ve promised him something, or he wouldn¡¯t have had the guts to say all that in front of everyone. ¡°Hispany¡¯s about to go public, and every move he makes is under a microscope. He wouldn¡¯t risk it unless he was sure.¡± His expression looked sullen, like I¡¯d already cheated on him. I couldn¡¯t help but find it funny¨Chow the tables had turned. Now he was the one getting all jealous over me. ¡°I¡¯ve only met him a handful of times, and you probably don¡¯t know this, but Melissa is dating his right¨Chand man. We¡¯ve never met alone,¡± I said, stilt keeping a lot to myself, but honestly, my conscience was clear. Jared looked genuinely surprised. ¡°Melissa¡¯s boyfriend is Nathan¡¯s right¨Chand man?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s a really great guy.¡± Jared¡¯s face flushed with jealousy. ¡°This has got to be Nathan¡¯s way of getting close to you. He¡¯s so scheming, even dragging his own crew into it!¡± I just let it slide. Melissa and Zachary were together because they genuinely admired each other¡¯s talent, nothing more. ¡°Victor¨ªa, don¡¯t just go trusting any guy, okay?¡± Jared said, sounding desperate. He was out of moves¨Che couldn¡¯t stop me, let alone change how I felt. ¡°Thanks, but I stopped trusting men a long time ago,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Nathan¡¯s not serious about you. He probably just thinks you¡¯re pretty and wants a fling,¡± Jared warned me. I raised an eyebrow with a mischievous glint in my eyes. ¡°How do you know I¡¯m not just ying around with him? If he wants abel, I¡¯m not giving it to him¨Cwho knows what he¡¯d go bragging about.¡± ¡°Victoria, you¡­¡± Jared looked like he was about to explode. Even though he¡¯d had his thing with Tracy, deep down he was still pretty old¨Cfashioned. These rebellious thoughts were way over his line. ¡°What¡¯s so wrong with that? Who says I can¡¯t date after a divorce?¡± I looked at him calmly. ¡°I¡¯m no saint, I¡¯ve got feelings and desires like anyone else. If someone deserves my love, I¡¯ll go for it¨Csame goes for you.¡± With that, I brushed past his shoulder and walked out the door. I was chipping away at the walls Jared had built around his heart, and at the same time, tearing down that perfect wife¨Cand¨Cmother image everyone expected from me. I didn¡¯t need anyone shackling me with expectations or stickingbels on me. I just wanted to be a free spirit. When I got to the temporary office, I saw Ryan in a hard hat, helping the construction crew move stuff at the hotel entrance. He was moving fast and sure, sweat dripping down his face, but his eyes sparkled with youth¨Cthere wasn¡¯t a hint of worry anywh ¡°Ms. Murphy!¡± Ryan called out when he saw me, shing a smile that felt like a spring breeze brushing past my heart. Honestly, such a young and handsome guy just lit up the ce. ¡°Be careful,¡± 1 told him before heading into the office. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a heart¨Cshaped chocte on Ryan¡¯s desk. 13:43 Wed 2017.09 Chapter 214 A few young clerks were whispering and gossiping, and next to them was my assistant, Ynda Shaw, hiding her face on the desk like the was tryin avoid something. ¡°Ms. Murphy!¡± Ynda jumped up as soon as she saw me. I nodded and headed into my office. Not long after, Ynda came in with some papers for me to sign. Comment Loose 215 Chapter 215 It was almost lunchtime when Ryan walked in, his white shirt soaked with sweat. He shook his thick hair and then spotted the chocte out his desk. He looked around, picked up the choct and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the lovelydy who gave me this? Thanks, but I don¡¯t really do sweets. Ynda¡¯s face Rushed as she stood up. She said, ¡°It¡¯s imported, not sweet at all. Give it a try and you¡¯ll know.¡± Ryan nced at me and then walked over to Ynda. ¡°Thanks for the thought, but I really don¡¯t eat this stuff¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile and shake my head. With looks like Ryan¡¯s, he was bound to catch the eye of every girl around. He had this youthful, sunny vibe that was impossible to ignore. People started heading out for lunch, and I was about to leave, too. I had ns to meet Melissa. Just as I was getting up, with no one else around, Ryan suddenly whipped off his shirt, showing off those lean muscles and that mix of youthful and mature appeal. He shot me a wink over his shoulder, and my heart did a little flip. Honestly, most guys¡® bodies were pretty much the same to me. Jared¡¯d always kept himself in great shape anyway. I walked past him and said, ¡°Better put your shirt back on. The AC¡¯s sting, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± ¡°Ms. Murphy, where are you going? How about I treat you to lunch?¡± Ryan asked sincerely. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ve got ns with a friend,¡± I said and walked out. Ryan quickly threw on a white T¨Cshirt and caught up to me at the door. ¡°Ms. Murphy, is your lunch date a guy or a girl?¡± ¡°Just someone,¡± I replied, heading toward my car. Ryan stood in the doorway, stunned for a long moment. I arrived at the restaurant first, sitting by the window and taking in the view. With a little downtime after all the hustle, my heart finally felt at peace. Back when I didn¡¯t have a job, my days always felt so empty. I once heard someone say that everyone needed something to hold onto in life¡ªa belief, a person, or a dream. Without that anchor, it was easy to feel lost and wonder what the point of living even was. Right now, I was just grateful for my family. They were always there for me, and honestly, they were what kept me going, and what made me want to be my best self. ¡°Victoria, sorry I¡¯mte again,¡± Melissa said, grinning as she walked over. She plopped down, drank up a cup of water, and finally let out a breath. ¡°It¡¯s so hot out there. I swear I¡¯m about to melt.¡± I smiled at her. ¡°Your skin¡¯s looking amazingtely. Guess love really is the best beauty treatment.¡± ¡°I put on makeup today¨Chad a gig to go to. Oh, and this set is the one you gave me! You said you can¡¯t buy it anywhere, is that for real?¡± Melissa leaned in and asked with curiosity. I nodded. ¡°Yeah, a rich woman I know introduced it to me. You can¡¯t buy it anywhere.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing,¡± Melissa sighed. ¡°Turns out the really top¨Ctier stuff is never for ordinary people like us. Even if we wanted it, we couldn¡¯t afford it.¡± ¡°Honestly, having the right mindset is the ultimate beauty hack,¡± I said with a smile, trying to cheer her up. ¡°I love that.¡± Melissa perked right up. ¡°Oh, did you see Mr. Hallman¡¯s interview yesterday?¡± My heart skipped a beat. I knew Melissa would ask about this. I only caught it by ident when I flipped on the TV yesterday. 1/2 ¡°Yeah, I happened to catch it,¡± I admitted. *50¡­ what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Melissa shot me a teasing look. ¡°Now that you can finally divorce your husband with nothing holding your back, all thesa top tier guys are just waiting for you to give them a shot.¡± AD 1 Comment Loose 216 Chapter 216 I just let Melissa¡¯s joke slide. I didn¡¯t take it to heart. ¡°After the divorce, I want to take a few years to really focus on what I do,¡± I said. Melissa sighed, ¡°Once bitten, twice shy. I totally get where you¡¯reing from.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just an exception. Don¡¯t let my story make you lose faith in marriage,¡± I reassured her. But Melissa tilted her head and looked at me. ¡°Victoria, if even you can¡¯t make a marriage work, then what hope is there for someone hot¨Ctempered like me? You can¡¯t be more gentle, always patient, devoted to your family, loving your husband and daughter.¡± Her words made me feel bitter. I said wryly, ¡°All those so¨Ccalled good qualities were just what I thought mattered, but they weren¡¯t what he or my daughter wanted. Nothing worth showing off.¡± Melissa gave me a sympathetic look. ¡°If they can¡¯t see how good you are, then just take it all back. Don¡¯t give them any of it.¡± ¡°Already working on it,¡± I said with a smile. Melissa nodded. ¡°Victoria, you¡¯re even more decisive than me these days. You¡¯re starting to give off that strong independent woman vibe.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really want to make a big deal about being a strong woman. It¡¯s honestly exhausting trying to keep that up. I just want to earn enough to take care of myself and chip in for my family¡¯s bills,¡± I said with a smile. Melissa agreed. As long as you knew how to be content, happiness stuck with you. After lunch, I headed back to the office for an afternoon meeting. The meeting wrapped up around four in the afternoon. Jared¡¯s right¨Chand man suddenly stopped a few of the hotel managers and said, ¡°Mr. Hob wants to treat everyone to dinner tonight to thank you all for your hard work these past few days.¡± Everyone¡¯s faces lit up at the news. The assistant nced at me with a grin and said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, Mr. Hob said you know your team¡¯s tastes best, so why don¡¯t you pick the restaurant?¡± Immediately, all eyes were on me. I wanted to refuse, but I forced myself to swallow the words. ¡°Ms. Murphy, how about hooking us up with some perks?¡± someone chimed in. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get something fancy for dinner!¡± someone else said. With everyone looking at me so expectantly, I ended up booking a pretty great restaurant for us. Around six in the evening, my phone buzzed with a text from Ryan, He asked if I was stilling into the office that night. I replied that I had dinner ns and told him to head home. He just texted back: [Alright.] As the sky grew dark, the restaurant outside was bustling with life. We¡¯d booked a big private room, and by the time we arrived, the dishes w ordered and ready. Jared came in with several of thepany¡¯s top execs, and Amy was with them. She wore a beige suit, looking both elegant andpletely at ease, ady As she walked in, she was still talking to Jared, her eyes shining with respect and admiration for her boss. Jared had that unique Hachester vibe¨Chandsome, steady, and warm, with wise eyes that kept his emotions in check. 1/2 They seemed to be discussing something important, and as soon as they entered, Amy immediately took the seat next to Jared and kept their conversation going. She was speaking mostly in Englysian, and Jared switched right over, the two of them chatting away in fluent Englysian. The room went quiet, everyone glued to their phones, pretending to be busy. Even without looking up, I knew that they were all feeling sorry for ma again. After all, everyone knew Jared was my husband, yet I was sitting as far from him as possible. He was at the head of the table, and I¡¯d picked the very seat. Jared wrapped up the conversation and then looked over at me. ¡°Victoria,e sit next to me.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine right here,¡± I replied, not giving him any face in front of everyone. Jared just smiled, unfazed. Amy kept her head down and focused on her phone. Her expression stayed unchanged. Earlier, everyone had been quiet while Jared discussed business, but now a few people started chatting and lightening the mood, and the whole room rxed. I joined the conversation with the two executives next to me, talking about the hotel business. Suddenly, someone blurted out, ¡°Mr. Hob, is that a bite mark on your neck?¡± Jared paused for a moment, and then reached up to touch the left side of his neck, smiling. ¡°It¡¯s just a bite by a cute animal.¡± I was in the middle of talking when I heard that, and a chill ran down my spine. I even forgot what I was gonna say. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Loose 217 Chapter 217 Amy looked up with a strange expression. Everyone at the table shot me and Jared these knowing looks, like they all knew exactly who left that mark on him. Right, it was me. I wanted to make him bleed, but my teeth just weren¡¯t sharp enough. Jared was grinning at me with everyone making a fuss, soaking up all the teasing like he was loving every second of it. But honestly, I thought he was seriously out of his mind. Back when I used to show up at his office, he¡¯d just have his assistant brush me off, and any food I brought, he¡¯d just pass it off to whoever was around, like he was doing them a favor. He used to act like I didn¡¯t even exist, and now he was putting on this act like he was deeply in love with me. He¡¯d got to have some kind of personality disorder or something. I didn¡¯t want to talk about our private life in front of all these people, so I just kept my head down and scrolled through my phone. The news about Jared and me getting a divorce had only spread within our families so far. No one else knew. Besides, at the office, people all gossiped that I¡¯d onlye back to work to be worthy of Jared, that I was doing it all for love, and honestly, they said it was just sad. Even though Tracy had left thepany, her legend still lingered. People said I was working so hard just to catch up to her, maybe even hoping to surpass her one day. I¡¯d heard all this gossip a million times already, and honestly, I couldn¡¯t care less about setting the record straight anymore. The dinner was impressive, with plenty of food and drinks. Everyone was enjoying themselves. Halfway through dinner, I pretended I needed the restroom and stepped out into the hallway to get some air. The smell of alcohol inside was making me ufortable. I walked to the back of the restaurant and was surprised to find a little area with a bunch of rabbits and some chickens. It was spotless, and under the lights, they were bouncing around, full of life. I stood there watching, and a bunch of kids came over to check them out, too. Seeing a few momse over with bowls and spoons to feed their kids made my heart ache. Feeding Yvonne used to be my job. She was such a picky eater. Before she turned five, she wouldn¡¯t go near anything spicy. I busted my chops in the kitchen just to get her to eat a little more. Butter, she got hooked on spicy food, and I knew it was Tracy who got her into it. I was lost in thought, and the warm lights seemed to fade into a haze. Suddenly, a kid darted past me, and I instinctively stepped back to get out of the way, only to find myself crashing right into someone¡¯s arms. That guy slipped one arm around my waist and caught hold of my wrist with the other, holding me tight from behind. It was Jared. His voice was soft and warm from the drinks, and he murmured, ¡°Victoria, are you missing Yvonne?¡± He saw me lost in thought, staring at those kids. ¡°No.¡± 1 pried his hands off and turned on my heel, heading straight back to the private room. Jared caught up in a few strides, blocking my way in the hallway. He looked at me under the lights and said, ¡°Stop drinking, you really can¡¯t hold your liquor.¡± I let out augh. ¡°Maybe you should mind your own business.¡± I started to walk away, but then I paused and turned back. ¡°From now on, watch what you say. Stop making things ambiguous. In a little over fries months, we¡¯ll be divorced.¡± As soon as the words left my mouth, Amy stepped out from right by the restroom door. Clearly, she¡¯d overheard everything I just sald. Her eyes went s as she stared at us, totally caught off guard. My mind was a mess, and I strode straight back to the private room. Damn it, I still couldn¡¯t get a grip on my emotions. Jared stayed outside with Amy for a few minutes beforeing back. Amy seemed way more upbeat than before, even starting to mingle and drink with everyone. But Jared grew even more silent, his gaze kept drifting over to me from time to time. Once dinner was over, I headed downstairs. Thepany had sent cars over, so I left mine parked there and got into one of thepany cars. I was originally squeezed in with a few of the female execs, but when Jared came over, they all quickly made room for him. In the end, it ended up being just the two of us in the car. ¡°Victoria, I talked to Amy. She promised not to say anything, so you don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Jared said as the car drove onto the main road. AD Loose 218 Chapter 218 I kept my eyes shut, the alcohol churning sourly in my gut. Words deserted me. What worries could I possibly justify? The very fact that I had to conceal my divorce screamed failure loud enough. For the entire ride, I feigned sleep, maintaining a stony silence toward Jared. He remained silent as well. Since I hadn¡¯t given the driver my new address, he defaulted to driving me straight back to the vi. When I opened my eyes, I only wanted the driver to turn the car around. ¡°Victoria, we¡¯re here,¡± Jared said, uncannily echoing my thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s past eleven. Let Warner head home. His wife just delivered their second child. He needs the rest.¡± I nced at Warner. Exhaustion was etched deep on his face. Murmuring thanks, I stepped out into the night. Standing beside Jared, the chilly night air sliced through the alcohol haze, sharpening my senses. Without a word, I turned and walked away. Jared moved instantly, his hand closing around my arm. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± His voice was tight. ¡°This is your home. You lived here for six years.¡± I wrenched my arm free, defiance shing hot. ¡°Not anymore,¡± I stated, my voice cial. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my ce.¡± ¡°Victoria!¡± His shout ripped through the quiet street, raw and desperate. ¡°What the hell do you want from me? How much do I have to give in?¡± His voice cracked, teetering on the edge of control. I kept walking. I¡¯d never wanted him to give in¨Cthe bitter taste of being the supplicant was etched into my memory. ¡°Come back.¡± The plea was ragged as he lunged forward, arms locking around me from behind, trapping me against him. His voice was thick. ¡°Victoria, I was wrong. Please. Don¡¯t go. This house is a tomb without you. Yvonne and I¡­ we need you.¡± This was alcohol talking¨Csober Jared would never let such words pass his lips. ¡°I¡¯ve already proved otherwise,¡± I retorted, twisting futilely against his iron grip. ¡°You and Yvonne managed perfectly well without me.¡± But he only crushed me tighter, as if trying to fuse me back into his existence. ¡°Jared, stop! This isn¡¯t you.¡± Anger finally ignited, sharpening my voice. He clung on, his plea dissolving into raw desperation. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, Victoria. Please. Just stay tonight? One night.¡± ¡°No.¡± The single word was arctic. That cial tone was meant to shatter thest of his illusions, to force the brutal truth into his consciousness: the woman who had loved him was gone. Every reservoir of that love had long since run dry. ¡°Then let me love you,¡± he begged, the words fracturing. ¡°You don¡¯t have to love me back. Just let me try.¡± Only profound drunkenness could exin such abject pleading. ¡°You¡¯ve always loved yourself best, Jared. Your love? I don¡¯t want it. Save it for someone who might believe it.¡± With a final surge of strength, I wrenched myself free. My words must have struck a nerve. His grip ckened. Seizing the instant, I broke free and walked away, refusing to look back. Relief washed over me as Jared didn¡¯t pursue. Thest thing I needed was a protracted scene on the doorstep, fodder for neighborhood gossip. Outside the vi gates, I hailed a cab. It was well past midnight when I finally reached my apartment. Bone¨Cweary, I managed a quick shower before copsing into bed, sleep iming me instantly. That night, I dreamed. Jared stood there, cradling a tiny infant, gently rocking it. He looked up, his eyes meeting mine. ¡°Victoria,¡± he murmured, ¡°the 1/2 Chapter 218 baby¡¯s hungry. She needs feeding.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡°I jolted upright before he could finish, my forehead mmy with sweat. Pressing my palms to my temples, I willed the dream away. The femal irony? Pleasant dreams dissolved upon waking. This nightmare, however, clung with horrifying rity, every detail etched sharp. Apply 46 Comment Loose 219 Chapter 219 A nce at the clock: not even six. Resigned to wakefulness, I pulled on running gear and headed downstairs. Theplexy hushed in the pre¨Cdawn light. Head down, focused on my rhythm, I nearly collided with another runner. The runner who had just passed me slowed, turned, and jogged back. ¡°Ms. Murphy?¡± A voice called out, clear and bright against the quiet morning I halted mid¨Cstride, staring. Ryan? Just then, an elderly man jogged up, slightly breathless. He opened his mouth, seemed to reconsider, and snapped it shut. ¡°Ryan? Are you staying here?¡± I asked with surprise. Ryan threw apanionable arm around the old man¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Just crashing with my great¨Cuncle for a bit,¡± he exined easily. ¡°He lives alone, so I¡¯m keeping himpany.¡± The old man blinked, momentarily flustered, and then nodded with perhaps excessive enthusiasm. ¡°Yes! The boy¡¯s been very attentive.¡± I studied the slightly incongruous pair, a flicker of doubt surfacing, but dismissed it with a nod. ¡°Small world. I¡¯m in Building A. And you?¡± ¡°Building C,¡± Ryan answered, jerking a thumb towards the adjacent building. I offered a faint smile. ¡°Right. See you.¡± Then I resumed my run. Back home, I scrambled some breakfast, showered quickly and prepared to work. Around eight, my phone buzzed¨Ca text from Jared: [Your car has been returned to your parking space.] Recalling how coldly I¡¯d treated himst night, I was surprised Jared wasn¡¯t furious. Instead, he¡¯d orchestrated the return of my car. I chuckled bitterly. Too little, far toote. Bted gestures were worthless. My reply was curt: [Thanks.] Driving out, I noticed Ryan standing at the curb, arm raised for a taxi. It was rush hour right now, not a cab in sight. ncing at the overflowing bus stop nearby, I pulled over beside him. ¡°Hop in, I¡¯ll give you a lift.¡± A grin spread across Ryan¡¯s face as he slid into the back seat. ¡°Thanks, Ms. Murphy. Seriously, you¡¯re a lifesaver,¡± he said with genuine gratitude. I gave a small, dismissive smile. ¡°Just look after my team.¡± Ryan asked to hop out a block from the office to avoid potential gossip, I noted. Smart kid. Good instincts. Later, he appeared at my office door, cing a Starbucks cup on my desk. ¡°Fare payment,¡± he announced with a quick grin before disappearing. Well, if he framed it as fare, refusing would seem churlish. Days had passed without seeing Yvonne. Jared had mentioned Sally whisking her away on a vacation. True to form, my phone lit up today with a barrage of photos from Yvonne¨Csnapshots flooding in from her trip. I scrolled through silently, offering no response. She even sent a dramatic close¨Cup of a scraped knee, followed by a deluge of weepy, woebegone emojis. Day one: over twenty photos. By day two and beyond, the count soared past a hundred. My phone practically vibrated with the digital onught. Finally, I caved and texted: [Focus on having fun. Please, ease up on the photos.] To her credit, Yvonne listened. For the next few days, my phone remained mercifully photo¨Cfree. Over lunch with Melissa, she mentioned she¡¯d never been to Lanimire and was curious. I pulled out my phone. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s been documenting her trip relentlessly. Want to see?¡± Chapter 219 Melissa pored over the pictures with far more attention than I¡¯d ever mustered. Suddenly, she jabbed a finger at one Image Victoria, k?kitar in the background.¡± Her voice dropped. ¡°Is that Tracy?¡± I froze. Snatching the phone back, I peered at the grainy background figure. A cold, heavy stone seemed to drop into my gut if was unmistal 16.3 Tran ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she was pregnant? That she¡¯d gone abroad to have the baby?¡± Melissa¡¯s brow furrowed as she scrutinized the image. She doesn pregnant here. Not at all.¡± The air suddenly felt thick, difficult to draw. Sally took Yvonne abroad to visit Tracy? The implication mmed into me, cold and sickening. What game were they ying? AB Loose 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 The Hob family¡¯s maneuvering grew transparent. Clearly, Sally was hedging her bets, keeping Tracy on standby as the reserve daughter in Dra shred of goodwill I harbored for Sally evaporated. I understood -my resolve for divorce was absolute, and as Jared¡¯s mother, securing his future was natural. But by actively courting Tracy, she¡¯d relinquished any moral standing to meddle in the divorce proceedings. Sally had intended secrecy, but Yvonne became the unforeseen leak, prematurely blowing her grandmother¡¯s cover. I meticulously saved three photos where Tracy¡¯s presence was undeniable. Melissa mmed her palm on the table, incensed. ¡°Vipers! Absolute vipers. You¡¯re not even legally divorced, and they¡¯re already auditioning recements? The sheer audacity. Victoria, divorcing that man was the single wisest decision you¡¯ve ever made.¡± A profound sense of detachment settled over me. I was finally untethered. The sting of divorce couldn¡¯t reach me now. ¡°Indeed,¡± I murmured. ¡°Let¡¯s see what their next move is.¡± Then I steered the conversation elsewhere. No point squandering energy on their theatrics. Melissa wisely avoided mentioning Nathan again. She understood my principles. I wasn¡¯t one for blurred lines. Until the divorce was finalized, any whiff of scandal with another man could jeopardize my position. Returning to my temporary office after lunch, I found Jared ensconced in my chair, idly flipping through one of my books. Nearby, Ryan fidgeted with a pen, his gaze locked on Jared with the wary stillness of a predator assessing a rival. ¡°Ms. Murphy, Mr. Hob has been waiting for some time,¡± a colleague offered pointedly as I entered. ¡°Mr. Hob¡¯s be quite the frequent visitortely,¡± another chimed in, a teasing lilt in her voice. ¡°You must have saved his life to earn this kind of devotion,¡± a third quipped. I managed a thin smile. If only they knew the truth. He wasn¡¯t saved by me; he damn near buried me. Jared¡¯s gaze lifted to meet mine, his expression unreadable. I pushed through the door. Jared rose smoothly, surrendering my chair. Deliberately bypassing the seat he¡¯d warmed, I dragged a side chair to the opposite side of the desk and sat. ¡°Mr. Hob. To what do I owe this visit? Business, I presume?¡± A shadow crossed Jared¡¯s face. ¡°Must you be so distant? I was merely passing by and thought to bring you something sweet.¡± Only then did my gazend on the elegant basket beside the desk. Inside nestled an assortment of exquisite miniature cakes from my go¨Cto patisserie. ¡°So the art of courtship isn¡¯t entirely lost on you,¡± I observed, my voiceced with icy sarcasm. Jared stiffened momentarily, then emitted a short, humorlessugh. ¡°I suppose attempting to remedy past oversights could be construed as progress.¡± ¡°Spare us the charade, Jared,¡± I stated tly, my gaze fixed on the screen cycling through a roster of male models¨Ceach sculpted like a Greek god. In that moment, rity struck: clinging to a single, withering branch was sheer folly when an entire forest beckoned. My icy rejection, even of this small peace offering, sparked a sh of genuine pain in his eyes. ¡°Victoria,¡± the plea was raw, stripped bare, ¡°must it be like this? Not even a sliver of a chance to set things right?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no love left, Jared. And spare me the family pretense¨CI have genuine family.¡± Iid the truth bare, mercilessly. While Sally and Yvonne were scouting your next bride in Aurelia, you performed this devotion pantomime here? The irony was exquisite. The idea that Jared was ignorant of their machinations was absurd. Tracy wouldn¡¯t miss a chance to unt her position. No, he knew. And knowing, he still arrived bearing sweetness. Was his capacity for affection truly this vast, or was this simply another calcted act? ¡°Have I not agreed to the divorce?¡± he retorted, his voice taut with suppressed anger. ¡°All I sought was a moment of grace before we part ways. Was such harshness truly necessary?¡± Without waiting for a reply, he pivoted sharply and strode out. 1/2 Chapter 220 I stared at the desktop, drawing a slow, steadying breath. Ipartmentalized the unsettling encounter and forced my focus back onto the afternoo demanding workload. As dusk bled into the windows, news came that the cleaning service was off sick. The office bore the evidence¨Cdesks cluttered, the floor gritty with. ¡° fineyer of construction dust tracked in from the site. I prepared to tackle the mess myself after work, only to find Ryan already wielding the mop. His movements were unpracticed, hinting at a privileged upbringing unustomed to menial tasks. Yet, the simple initiative¨Crecognizing a need and acting¨Cpossessed an undeniable charm. Once the outer office gleamed damply, he appeared in my doorway. ¡°Ms. Murphy, may I tackle this floor too?¡± I arched a brow, a faint smile touching my lips. ¡°Since no one else volunteered, what motivated you?¡± A! Comment Send gift No Ads 13.44 Wed 20 AUG & DO Loose 221 Chapter 221 He offered a slightly sheepish grin. ¡°Call it a borderlinepulsion. That floor was¡­ genuinely distressing to my sensibilities. ¡°Then I entrust it to your capable hands,¡± I conceded, rising and stepping out to grant him space. Ryan worked with surprising efficiency, swiftly restoring the floor¡¯s shine and even giving my desk a thorough polish. ¡°What are your ns for getting home?¡± I inquired as he finished. ¡°Undecided. Likely brave the rush¨Chour bus gauntlet,¡± he replied with a wry twist of his lips. ¡°Ride back with me, then,¡± I offered. Ryan¡¯s face brightened perceptibly. ¡°Thanks, Ms. Murphy. That¡¯s incredibly kind.¡± At seven, I navigated the evening traffic towards home, Ryan a quiet presence in the passenger seat. A nce in the rearview mirror unexpectedly snagged on his reflection. His gaze held mine, and in that dim light, I saw a sudden, unfamiliar depth¨Caplexity absent in his usual sunlit rity. Seeking to diffuse the sudden charge, I ventured lightly, ¡°Someone with your looks must surely have a girlfriend?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ryan answered simply. ¡°Family rules are strict. Dating¡¯s off the table.¡± A soft, surprisedugh escaped me. ¡°The model of obedient kid, then?¡± ¡°Hardly,¡± he countered, a low undercurrent in his voice. ¡°If anything, I lean towards rebellion.¡± I managed a dry chuckle. ¡°That face must buy considerable leeway, I imagine. A touch of rebellion probably doesn¡¯t diminish their affection much.¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Ryan said, a shadow momentarily darkening his features. ¡°Aside from my grandfather, there¡¯s not much genuine care directed my way.¡± ¡°And your parents?¡± The question escaped before I could cage it, and I instantly regretted it, sensing I¡¯d stumbled onto painful ground. ¡°My father died when I was seven,¡± Ryan said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. ¡°My mother¡­ work consumes her. No time for me. It¡¯s always been just Grandfather and me. We¡¯re each other¡¯s anchor.¡± ¡°Ryan, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I murmured, the words feeling inadequate as I mentally kicked myself for probing the wound. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he said, the brief vulnerability shuttering behind a mask of resolute calm. ¡°I¡¯ll be graduating soon. I can hold my own in whateveres next.¡± ¡°Your grandfather must be getting on in years,¡± I said gently. ¡°Make sure you earn enough to look after him properly.¡± ¡°Yeah, I will,¡± he affirmed. As he spoke, my eyes flicked back to the mirror, meeting his gaze again. The depth I saw¨Cthat unsettling amalgam of solitude and a shadowed weight- felt jarringly incongruous with his youth. A shiver traced my spine. The invisible burdens children carry when families fracture. The thought instantly summoned an image of Yvonne. Post¨Cdivorce, she too would inevitably fade from my daily life. A knot of g tightened in my chest. Iresignation We soon reached theplex¡¯s underground garage. As I popped the trunk to retrieve my things, Ryan lingered nearby, his gaze resting on me. Suddenly, something small, dark, and unnervingly quick skittered over my foot, apanied by high¨Cpitched, frantic squeaks. In that instant, primal fear shot through me¨Cevery hair stood on end¨Cand pure instinct screamed to find higher ground. Ryan froze momentarily, stunned by my sudden, undignified scramble onto him. Instinctively, his anime shot out, wrapping rakursy contror me clear off the ground. Two panicked mice squealed, darting erratically along the wall. The cramped garage offered no easy exit, trapping them lit a frantie, channe tank Lifelong. paralyzing terror of rodents seized me. Trembling violently, I clung to Ryan with desperate, octopus like fanacity A low chuckle vibrated in Ryan¡¯s chest. With a swift, almost nonchnt nudge of his foot, he sent one panicked mouse skittering further away 15 Murphy,¡± he said, clear amusement warming his voice, ¡°I confess, I didn¡¯t picture you being frightened of mice¡± Silence descended, broken only by my ragged breathing. Slowly, my hammering heart began to steady. The mortifying reality crashed over me I was mped onto Ryan like some terrified marsupial. Heat flooded my cheeks. ¡°My apologies for that spectacle,¡± I stammered, hastily disentangling myself, smoothing my hair, and snatching my bags before fleeing towards the elevator. Ryan followed at a discreet distance, a trace of lingering amusement on his lips. ¡°Seems theplex pest control is somewhatcking. ¡® registerint with management.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± 1 mumbled, keeping my gaze firmly fixed ahead. Around hine¨Cthirty, a notification buzzed: a message in the residents¡® group chat from the property manager. The culprit had been identified: an elderly resident covertly keeping chickens in her garage, the unsanitary conditions predictably attracting rodents. She¡¯d been issued an immediate cease and desist order. Reading the update, my suspicion solidified: Ryan had clearly followed through on his promise to management. Later that evening, around nine, my phone buzzed with another message from Yvonne: [Mom, if I delete the photos from my phone, will they vanish from yours too?] 13 Loose 222 Chapter 222 Chapter 222 I didn¡¯t expect Yvonne to ask me that. Had she spotted Tracy in her own photos? Was she afraid of consequences, but had no one else to confide in, so she came to me? My reply was a single, clipped word: [No.] A beat of silence, then a new message: [Oh¡­ Mom, did you a actually look at all the pictures I sent?] [Not all,] I texted back. Silence descended from her end after that. Yvonne¡¯s questions reeked of fear. Yet, by posing them to me, she unwittingly revealed her alliance with Sally¨Cboth diligently sealing cracks, guarding their shared secret as if I were the adversary. August loomed, heralding the hotel¡¯s grand reopening. Overnight, work avnched. I swiftly hired two seasoned managers to absorb the brunt. Jared, too, asionally deigned to assist. One post¨Cmeeting afternoon, Amy cornered me, her smile a fraction too wide. ¡°Victoria! When might you have a free moment?¡± Her tone was artificially bright. ¡°My husband owns a lovely salon downtown. You simply must experience it.¡°/ The overture stank of manufactured goodwill. Women navigate intricateyers of calction, and frankly, our radar for artifice often surpasses men¡¯s. My instincts had honed to razor sharpness, casting a skeptical hue over every interaction. Sudden kindness invariablyes with strings attached. Amy knew the impending divorce. Was this fishing for insider information? True, she was married, her husband a potential obstacle. But ambition has a way of picking locks. Once Jared was single, he¡¯d be a prime target for a swarm of opportunistic women. An inevitability. I declined Amy¡¯s offer. A flicker of genuine disappointment crossed her face before she smoothed it into practiced neutrality. ¡°Perhaps another time,¡± she murmured, retreating gracefully. Inside a restroom stall, I froze mid¨Cmotion as hushed voices drifted under the door. Tracy¡¯s name hooked my attention like a barb. ¡°Tracy resigned, iming she was going to Aurelia to have her baby,¡± one voice murmured. ¡°But my friend heard the stress triggered a miscarriage. Who knows if she¡¯lle back?¡± ¡°What a raw deal for Tracy,¡± another chimed in, sympathyced with gossip. ¡°Gave her all to this ce, just to be forced out because some wife couldn¡¯t handle her jealousy.¡± ¡°Keep your voice down!¡± a third voice cut in sharply. ¡°She¡¯s actually in today.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s true,¡± the second voice persisted, dropping to a whisper. ¡°Jared and Tracy, they just fit better.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough!¡± the first voice snapped, effectively ending the conversation. Footsteps receded. I emerged from the stall. Tracy miscarried? Unburdened, then she was poised for a vengeful return. Tracy¡¯sst lecture had preached cold strategy: men as instruments, not prizes. But the raw fervor in her eyes whenever Jared¡¯s name arose had betrayed her. Could she truly practice such detachment when her own heart was hopelessly entangled? Sally¡¯s past aversion was ancient history. Now, with Sally and Yvonne firmly in her pocket, Tracy wielded formidable leverage. Her return would likely see Jared effortlessly reeled back in. The five¨Cmonth cooling period might be abruptly truncated. Perhaps Jared himself would soon be sliding those divorce papers across my deck with finality. Emerging from a conference room after a grueling strategy session with the hotel brass, I found myself clutching a critical document requiring Jared immediate signature. Deciding efficiency trumped avoidance, I headed for his office. His office was deserted. A quick query to his assistant revealed his refuge: the secluded left¨Cwing smoking lounge. I made my way there. It was Jared¡¯s sanctum, his solitary smoking haunt¨Ca ce employees wisely avoided, unwilling to risk encountering him in a foul mood. AB Comment Loose 223 Chapter 223 Nearing the entrance, Jared¡¯s low voice, carrying clearly in the quiet corridor, stopped me cold. ¡°You¡¯ve just suffered a loss, Tracy. Focus on heslye Hote isn¡¯t the time to dive back into the fray.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to return here. Your family¡¯s business offers far better prospects for you. Amy mightck your technical expertise, but she navigates the politicalndscape effectively. There¡¯s no problem.¡± After a pause, he continued, ¡°Any update on Mom and Yvonne¡¯s flight schedule?¡± ¡°Thanks for looking after them,¡± Jared murmured, his voice softening slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to express my gratitude.¡± Silently, I retreated, melting back into the corridor shadows. Only after Jared concluded his call and returned to his office did l¡¯approach again. Jared sat hunched over his desk, brow deeply jabbing an impatient finger at a stack of documents. At my entrance, his head snapped up. ¡°Meeting concluded?¡± I approached his desk, my expression nk. The acrid of cigarettes clung heavily to him¨Cevidence of more than a brief smoke break. Without ncing at the document, Jared scrawled his signature and thrust it back toward me. ¡°Yvonne returns tomorrow afternoon. Dinner together that evening?¡± I met his gaze, my own utterly devoid of warmth. ¡°No. Enjoy your dinner.¡± ¡°Victoria,¡± frustration hardened his voice and features, ¡°I understand your animosity towards me. But Yvonne? Why punish her?¡± I considered briefly. ¡°The moment she expressed a preference for another mother,¡± I stated, my voice cial, ¡°my sense of obligation evaporated.¡± His face went utterly still, then contorted into a scowl. ¡°She¡¯s a child, Victoria. Childish prattle! And you¡¯re holding that against her?¡± ¡°At three, perhaps not,¡± I conceded, my tone deceptively mild. ¡°But she starts school this year. She should grasp basic right and wrong. She should understand consequences. She is seven.¡± My icy detachment clearly horrified him. ¡°She is your daughter,¡± he bit out, each word sharp. ¡°Your blood flows in her veins. How can you be so cavalier about discarding her?¡± ¡°What if I am reluctant?¡± I countered coldly. ¡°Would that change a single, solitary thing?¡± ¡°To reject motherhood so utterly,¡± he finally struck, ¡°isn¡¯t that the ultimate failure?¡± The words tanded like a physical blow. Silence hung heavy for a moment. Then, my voice emerged, colder than ice. ¡°Failure? Divorce? Letting go? That isn¡¯t failure, Jared. That¡¯s excising a mistake. That¡¯s finally seeing clearly.¡± ¡°Victoria,¡± his voice rose, sharp with disbelief and anger, ¡°where did this twisted perspectivee from? Who filled your head with this poison? The woman I knew would never be like this.¡± I watched his fury erupt at my transformation, at the loss of the woman he thought he owned. Losing his grip on me was clearly an intolerable wound to his pride. ¡°Jared,¡± I held his gaze, unwavering, ¡°I know this much: cutting your losses is infinitely wiser than clinging to the rotting corpse of a dead marriage.¡± His face drained of color as the brutal metaphor struck home. He seemed to dete, his rigid posture copsing into the chair like a pupp strings. Angry fingers drummed a furious stato on the polished wood. ¡°Fine. Splendid.¡± Watching Jared¡¯s near¨Cfrenzy, a memory ambushed me: my former self, the ultimate fool. Denied even the catharsis of rage, I had shrunk into the shadows, a spectral observer haunting the edges of their contentment. cut I turned and walked out. Behind me, the sound of something heavy being mmed onto the floor echoed sharply. A cold sneer touched my lips. Couldn¡¯t 13:45 Wed, 20 Aug Chapter 223 even take that? His famed emotional control was clearly thinner than I¡¯d believed. Jared¡¯s overheard conversation confirmed it: contact with Tracy had never ceased. He¡¯d even deferred to her for Sally and Yvonne¡¯s return schedule. Proof positive she¡¯d orchestrated their trip¨Clikely escorting them to the airport personally. Jared had promised to express his gratitude. Maybe he nned to gift wrap himself? Go ahead, Jared. Throw yourself at her feet. By all means. AD Loose 224 Chapter 224 I remembered Jared promising my parents he wouldn¡¯t see Tracy again. At that thought, I smacked my forehead. I can¡¯t believe I forgot to hit record when I was eavesdropping earlier. If I¡¯d recorded that conversation, I could¡¯ve used it as hard evidence that Jared and Tracy were still hooking up. I needed to get my act together. Just because Tracy¡¯s baby wasn¡¯t Jared¡¯s didn¡¯t mean they hadn¡¯t been sleeping together. Saturday rolled around, but I was still buried in work. Some of the office staff came in for overtime, Ryan could¡¯ve taken the day off since he was just an intern, but he showed up bright and early anyway. ¡°Ms. Murphy, did you have breakfast?¡± Ryan asked, cing a pastry bag on the corner of my desk. ¡°I brought some bread.¡± The milky scent hit me, and I nced at the bag. ¡°Where did you get these? They smell incredible.¡± Ryan¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I¡­ I made them myself.¡± I looked at him in surprise. Yvonne was a ridiculously picky eater. I¡¯d taught myself to bake a few things for her, but I could never pull off anything this good. ¡°No way. You¡¯re what, barely twenty? And you can bake like this?¡± I shook my head in amazement. 10 Ryan blushed a little, but he looked pleased. ¡°Go ahead, try it. Let me know what you think.¡± I picked one out and took a bite. It was fluffy and light, perfectly sweet. ¡°This is amazing,¡± I told him with a nod. A proud smile spread across Ryan¡¯s face. Right then, someone called him over to help move stuff around the hotel. Jared showed up at my office around noon. After our huge fight yesterday, I assumed things between us were at rock bottom. He pushed the door open, looking depressed. And I honestly didn¡¯t think he¡¯d even try to speak to me. He nced at the pastries on my desk. ¡°Let¡¯s go out for lunch, shall we?¡± he said. ¡°No thanks,¡± I said, my voice t. ¡°I¡¯ve got these. I¡¯m good.¡± It was so weird. Jared had been finding all sorts of excuses to take me out to eattely, more than he had in years of our actual marriage. ¡°You can¡¯t just eat that. That¡¯s not a real meal,¡± he argued, frowning at me. I let out a dryugh. ¡°Thanks for caring, but I¡¯m watching my weight. This works.¡± The fact that i wouldn¡¯t even eat with him made his face twist with anger. ¡°We¡¯re not divorced yet,¡± he said, his voice bitter. ¡°All these years¡­ Doesn¡¯t that mean anything to you?¡± He wanted me to think I was the heartless one. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to eat. Why are you pushing it?¡± I said calmly, looking him straight in the eye. ¡°You¡¯re just trying to get to me,¡± Jared said. His eyes were bloodshot. He hadn¡¯t gotten much sleep. ¡°d you noticed. No point in saying it out loud,¡± I said, turning my attention back to myputer. Jared didn¡¯t leave in a huff like I expected. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to me. A few minutester, he was fast asleep. I couldn¡¯t believe it. Jared was a total neat freak and ridiculously picky about where he slept. I¡¯d never seen him just crash in some rand ir like this. I frowned, watching him. Jared had been acting weirdtely. It was almost like me asking for a divorce had somehow made him fall for me all over again. I wasn¡¯t buying it. This was pure ego. He couldn¡¯t stand losing control. I made a bunch of noise on purpose, but he didn¡¯t even twitch. He was still dead to the world. Chapter 224 I could see some staff peeking through the ss walls of the office, whispering to each other. To them, we were still the happy couple¨Can lilusion had worked so hard to build. Suddenly, Jared¡¯s head jerked from side to side, and he let out a low, painful groan, I nced over at him. His face was all tanse. Even though the lowes sting, sweat was beading on his forehead. I ignored him and kept working. AD Loose 225 Chapter 225 All of a sudden, Jared jerked awake. And before I could react, he lunged at me, wrapping his arms around me in a death grip. I was so embarrased. I could feel those employees staring, their eyes full of gossip. ¡°Jared, let go,¡± I said, my voice sharp with anger. ¡°Victoria,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Nightmare¡­ Just let me hold you for a second, please?¡± ¡°Get off me,¡± I snapped, done ying nice. I dug my nails hard into the back of his hand. Jared¡¯s eyes fluttered open, and he stared at me, his gaze clouded and bloodshot. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask what I dreamed about?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± I said coldly. Jared suddenly spun my chair around so I was facing him. He pressed his face into my chest and said in this raspy voice, ¡°I dreamed¡­ You were dead Those words hit me like a punch to the gut. ¡°Screw you,¡± I spat, my voice shaking with anger. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare wish that on me.¡± Just then, Ryan walked in with some other employees. He could see us reflected in the ss¨Cme and Jared in this weird embrace. Ryan stopped dead in his tracks, then turned and ran out. Burning with shame, I shoved Jared away. ¡°Get off me. What the hell is wrong with you, pulling this stunt at my office?¡± Jared just slumped back in his chair, his face nk as he watched me. I got up and walked out. As long as he was in there, I wasn¡¯t going back. My head was a mess. I headed for a quiet path in the small park next to the building. And after a few steps, I spotted Ryan under a tree. Five or six men had him surrounded. I was too far to hear, but from their postures, it looked like a heated argument. My stomach dropped. ¡°Hey,¡± I shouted, marching over. ¡°What the hell¡¯s going on here?¡± They all turned. Ryan looked shocked to see me. It was obvious these guys were trouble. They all had these hard, scary faces. Ryan looked from me to the men, his voice tight with panic. ¡°Look, I keep telling you, I¡¯ll get you your money. Just stop following me.¡± The men¡¯s faces were all frozen in shock. When I heard ¡°money,¡± rm bells went off. I moved to stand in front of Ryan, facing them down. ¡°He works for me,¡± I said. ¡°How much does he owe?¡± The group of burly men looked at each other awkwardly. The one who looked like the leader, a middle¨Caged guy, finally mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a lot.¡± ¡°Ms. Murphy, it¡¯s fine,¡± Ryan said quickly, trying to wave me off. ¡°I can handle it.¡± Ryan was just some college kid working a summer job for beer money. Whatever he owed, he definitely couldn¡¯t pay it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Were these guys nning to drag you away from here?¡± I said, my eyes locked on these muscle¨Cbound men. These guys looked like professional thugs. They had him backed into a secluded spot. They could have easily bundled him into a car, and anything would have happened. The leader¡¯s voice turned hard. ¡°He owes a debt. If he doesn¡¯t pay, we collect. Simple as that.¡± ¡°Ryan, how much is it?¡± I demanded. ¡°What do you owe them?¡± I couldn¡¯t just watch them drag him off somewhere. ¡°150 thousand,¡± Ryan mumbled, staring down at his shoes. ¡°My grandpa owed it to them. When he couldn¡¯t pay, they came for me.¡± The thugs just stood there, looking stunned. 150 thousand wasn¡¯t a big deal to me, but for Ryan, that kind of money would destroy his life. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll cover it,¡± I said, making a split second decision, ¡°Just sign an tOU. You can pay me back when you¡¯re able. ZYJE but I wasn¡¯t gonna let these thugs hurt him over it. Ryan¡¯s mouth fell open. The tough guys looked just as stunned. ¡°Ms. Murphy, why are you doing this?¡± Ryan finally asked, his voice low and serious. ¡°Ms. Murphy, what if I¡¯m running some kind of scam! What¡¯s to stop me from taking the money and just disappearing?¡± I gave him a look. ¡°Then I¡¯d report you to the police. It¡¯s that simple.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Loose 226 Chapter 226 My voice was dead serious, but I heard Ryan let out a small chuckle behind me. ¡°You¡¯re really gonna pay his debt?¡± the leader asked, his voiceced with disbelief. ¡°He¡¯s my employee. I¡¯m not going to stand here and watch you thugs haul him off,¡± I said tly. ¡°Get me the official loan agreement, and I¡¯ll wire you the money.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have it on us,¡± the man said, giving a curt signal to his men. ¡°Same time tomorrow. Right here.¡± And with that, they turned and left. I let out a breath I didn¡¯t know I was holding and turned to look at Ryan. He didn¡¯t look scared at all and just kept staring at me with this weird expression. ¡°You okay?¡± I asked. ¡°That didn¡¯t freak you out?¡± Ryan shook his head. ¡°You were brave,¡± he said quietly. I let out a short, humorlessugh. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure. I¡¯m sweating through my shirt right now.¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes got all intense. ¡°No,¡± he insisted. ¡°You¡¯re the first person besides my mom or my grandma who¡¯s ever stepped up to protect me.¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re an only child?¡± I blurted out, surprised. He just nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then your grandfather is a real piece of work,¡± I muttered, unable to help myself. ¡°Getting into that much debt at his age and leaving a college kid to clean up his mess.¡± Ryan started cracking up, which made no sense to me. When he saw my confused face, he caught himself and stopped abruptly. ¡°My grandpa¡¯s actually¡­ He¡¯s a good man,¡± he said softly. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you meet him.¡± I wasn¡¯t convinced. Any grandpa who let his grandson get hunted down by loan sharks wasn¡¯t winning any awards in my book. ¡°Just go on back to the office,¡± I told him. ¡°Don¡¯t go wandering around by yourself. Those guys mighte back for you.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ryan turned and headed back toward the office. I killed half an hour at a coffee shop. By the time I got back to the office, Jared was gone. I called Melissa to get her advice about Ryan¡¯s loan. She told me to make sure I got the IOU back and to record the whole meeting tomorrow, just in case I get scammed. If these were loan sharks, I really needed to watch myself. It hit me then that Jared was probably doing an airport pickup this afternoon. A wild, reckless thought sparked in my brain: I should go, too. I needed to get proof myself. 58% I grabbed my jacket and bolted. Halfway to my car, I realized it was a stupid n to go alone. I needed help. So, I called Ryan. ¡°Ms. Murphy, should I bring any paperwork?¡± Ryan asked. ¡°No. Just you. I¡¯ll exin in the car. Just hurry,¡± I said, my mind already racing to the airport. He was waiting on a side street. The second he buckled in, he asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°The airport,¡± I said, gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles ached. ¡°Ryan, I¡¯m paying off your debt. Now I need a favor from you.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Ryan nodded right away. I chewed on my lip. The idea of ambushing my own husband was humiliating, but right now, Ryan was the only person I could use. He¡¯d be going back to school in Shaville in two months anyway. And now, I was his creditor. I could make sure he kept quiet. ¡°I¡¯m going to catch Jared cheating,¡± I said after a long silence. ¡°What?¡± Ryan blinked. ¡°So¡­ Things aren¡¯t good with you guys?¡± ¡°Stay out of it,¡± I snapped, my voice like ice. ¡°Just listen. When we get there, you¡¯re going to be my eyes. You are to follow Jared, film every single thing he does, and send it to me. Got it?¡± ¡°Got it,¡± he said, and fell silent. I could feel his pity radiating from the passenger seat. The airport parking lot was massive. After circling for what felt like forever, I spotted it: Jared¡¯s Bentley. He was here. AD Loose 227 Chapter 227 Ryan went off to the gates to y spy for me. I just sat in the car, a nervous energy buzzing under my skin. I was praying this wouldn¡¯t all be for nothing. I checked the flight info. Sally and Yvonne¡¯s ne was due around five. Right on schedule, my phone buzzed with a stream of videos from Ryan. In the first video, Jared had a bouquet and a bag of what looked like toys. Even in casual clothes and sunsses, with an assistant and driver hovering behind him, he was impossible to miss. The third video showed Sally and Yvonne. And right behind them, also in sunsses, was Tracy. Jared gave the flowers to Sally. But after she sniffed them, she turned around with a smile and handed them straight to Tracy. Tracy just took them. Yvonne, bubbly and excited, was holding Tracy¡¯s hand. She was clearly thrilled with her trip. Once Jared rounded everyone up, they started talking and walked toward the parking garage. The video ended there. Ryan sent me another one. Jared and Tracy were talking in some corner by themselves. Neither Sally nor Yvonne was in sight. Tracy looked upset. She threw herself at Jared, trying to hug him, but he dodged, taking a quick step back. He kept talking, keeping his distance. A secondter, Tracy stormed off, furiously wiping at her eyes. Then that video ended, too. I thought that was the end of it, but one more clip arrived. Jared walked back to Sally and Yvonne, and the three of them headed to their car. So, he wasn¡¯t leaving with Tracy. Ryan slid back into the passenger seat, a slight smile on his face. ¡°So, Ms. Murphy? How¡¯d I do with those videos?¡± ¡°They¡¯re crystal clear. Thanks,¡± I said, but my heart sank. There was no shot of Jared and Tracy kissing or in a real embrace. Without that, it wasn¡¯t the smoking gun I needed. ¡°Ms. Murphy, your husband¡¯s got terrible taste. That homewrecker isn¡¯t even close to being as hot as you.¡± Ryan was trying to cheer me up. Iughed at how naive he was. ¡°Trust me, kid,¡± I said, my voice tired. ¡°Men get bored. It doesn¡¯t matter how pretty the face is.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± he said, looking like he was trying to figure that out. Ryan may not have gotten the money shot, but it was still damning. Jared met Tracy at the airport, flowers in hand. On the drive back, my phone buzzed. It was a call from Jared. I ignored it. A text followed, [Where are you? Come to dinner. Yvonne misses you.] 12:02 Thu, 21 Augo Dodging him wasn¡¯t a strategy. It was time to attack. I texted back, [Fine, I¡¯ll be there.] 58% Before Ryan got out of the car, he hesitated. ¡°Hey, Ms. Murphy? About the money¡­ You don¡¯t have to lend it to me. I think I can ask my great¨Cuncle. I¡¯m pretty sure he can help.¡± I¡¯d almost forgotten. Ryan¡¯s great¨Cuncle lived in my neighborhood, and honestly, everyone there was famously loaded. ¡°Okay,¡± I said, nodding. ¡°But if he¡¯s short, you let me know. I¡¯ll cover the rest.¡± Ryan hopped out, and I headed to the restaurant Jared had texted me. As soon as I walked in, Yvonne ran over and threw her arms around my legs. She didn¡¯t seem to hold any grudges. ¡°Mom,¡± she chirped, beaming up at me. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in forever. Did you miss me?¡± I just looked down at her. She was greedy. She wanted Tracy¡¯s affection and mine. ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± was all I said, my voice t. Yvonne¡¯s face crumpled, but she didn¡¯t throw a tantrum like usual. At the table, Sally red at me. I met her gaze with a cool, polite smile. ¡°Hi, Sally.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Mrs. Hob to you,¡± she snapped, her voice low and sharp. ¡°You¡¯re divorcing my son. We¡¯re not that close.¡± ¡°My apologies, Mrs. Hob,¡± I said smoothly. A sh of fury crossed Sally¡¯s face. Jared looked shocked. He probably didn¡¯t expect me to roll with it so easily. ¡°Jared, do you see this attitude?¡± Sally snapped. ¡°She has already checked out of this marriage. Just get it over with.¡± She had flipped from marriage counselor to divorce cheerleader. AD Comment Send gift Loose 228 Chapter 228 Jared¡¯s face crumpled slightly. ¡°Victoria, stop being difficult,¡± he pleaded. ¡°Mom just wants what¡¯s best for us.¡± I wasn¡¯t interested in Jared¡¯s weak attempt to y peacemaker. He was the one stalling this divorce out of wounded pride. I was ready to sign the papers. 58% 38 ¡°Actually, I think Mrs. Hob is right,¡± I said with a fake smile. ¡°We are getting a divorce. I should start acting like it.¡± Yvonne already knew about the divorce. But unlike before, she didn¡¯t cry or throw a tantrum. Her face was stiff, her eyes wide and nk as she watched us. Sally was a total hothead who never held back. I was directly challenging her authority, and she was not about to let it slide. She shot to her feet. ¡°Victoria, I have had it with you,¡± she yelled, pointing a trembling finger at me. ¡°You humiliated me in front of all my friends and family. Made me look like aplete idiot. ¡°I was the one fighting for this marriage, but not anymore. Now I¡¯m telling you to end it. Jared, file the damn papers. Stop dragging this out. You can find someone way better than her.¡± Sally¡¯s shouting didn¡¯t faze me, but it terrified Yvonne. The little girl burst into tears and scrambled from her seat. She buried herself in Jared¡¯s side, pressing her hands tightly over her ears. Jared immediately switched into daddy mode. ¡°Mom, cut it out. You¡¯re scaring Yvonne.¡± Sally slumped back into her seat, but the look she gave me was pure poison. She was looking at me like I was her worst enemy. The picture was suddenly crystal clear. She had already hand¨Cpicked Jared¡¯s next wife. Tracy knew how to y people, and I was sure she¡¯d spent thest few days getting Sally on her side. Now that Sally had a shiny new model topare me to, I was officially out. Jared squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep breath. ¡°Mom,¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t do this to Victoria. This is my fault. I¡¯m the one who screwed and I¡¯m the one who has to fix it.¡± ¡°What did you do wrong? She¡¯s the one who doesn¡¯t understand you. A wife is supposed to share your burdens, and she can¡¯t even do that. She sucks as a wife.¡± Sally was telling apletely different story about me now. I just stared down at the table and listened. Nothing they said could surprise me anymore. Self¨Cinterest had a way of revealing a person¡¯s true colors. ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Jared said, shaking his head. ¡°Everything Victoria did before proved she was a good mother and a good wife. ¡°And now she¡¯s stepping up at work to share responsibilities, showing everyone how capable she is. You¡¯re being too hard on her, Mom.¡± 12:02 Thu, 21 Aud 58% I looked up at Jared, surprised that he was defending me. Maybe he really was sorry and trying to win me back. Anyway, it was too bad that I had zero interest in his cheap, convenient love. ¡°No,¡± I corrected him, my voice cold and clear. ¡°I went back to work for me. For no one else.¡± ¡°Jared, did you hear that?¡± Sally said. ¡°She¡¯s only looking out for herself. She knows the divorce ising and wants to make her own money.¡± She turned her venom back on me. ¡°And for the record, after this divorce, you will not be working at Jared¡¯spany. Is that your new scheme? A way to keep your ws in him? ¡°He is going to remarry, Victoria. How do you think it will look to have his ex¨Cwife haunting the office?¡± I nodded. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Mrs. Hob. I¡¯ll quit the minute our divorce goes through.¡± ¡°Why wait?¡± Sally began. ¡°You should quit-¡± AD Loose 229 Chapter 229 4:58% ¡°Mom, this is business. Stay out of it,¡± Jared cut in, his voice hard as steel. He turned his gaze to me. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t quit. You poured your soul into that hotel. Are you really going to walk away before you see what it bes?¡± ¡°Jared, why are you being so sweet to her?¡± Sallyined. ¡°She¡¯s hell¨Cbent on divorcing you. She doesn¡¯t love you anymore. Stop chasing after her like-¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Jared said again. He never took his eyes off me as he cut her off. ¡°There is nothing wrong with my marriage. Victoria and I are fine.¡± Yvonne slowly lifted her face from Jared¡¯s shoulder. Her gaze found mine. ¡°Mom,¡± she whispered, ¡°please don¡¯t divorce Daddy. I won¡¯t talk to otherdies like Tracy.¡± I froze at her words. Yvonne wiped her nose and said, ¡°Are you mad at me? I used to say Tracy was nice and that I liked her, but I actually like you more¨Cbecause you¡¯re my mom.¡± ¡°Yvonne, stop this nonsense,¡± Sally cut in, her voice sharp. ¡°You told me how wonderful Tracy was. What¡¯s with the sudden change of heart?¡± Yvonne ducked her head, nervously twisting her fingers. ¡°Tracy is nice,¡± she mumbled. ¡°But¡­ She¡¯s nice to her nephew, too. ¡°On our trip, her nephew shoved me down, and she ran to help him first. It really hurt, and she didn¡¯t even check on me.¡± A ripple of surprise went through the adults at the table. A bitter, knowing smile touched my lips. Yvonne finally had her first lesson in human nature. Jared, however, was surprisingly gentle. ¡°Listen, sweetie,¡± he said softly. ¡°Tracy is nice to you because she likes me. If she didn¡¯t¡­ she probably wouldn¡¯t be so nice to you. It¡¯s that simple.¡± ¡°Jared, for heaven¡¯s sake,¡± Sally gasped. ¡°How can you tell a child something like that?¡± ¡°Because Victoria was right,¡± Jared said, his voice firm. ¡°Yvonne is starting school soon. She needs to learn to see people for who they are. I want her street¨Csmart, not naive. Sugarcoating everything isn¡¯t gonna help her.¡± Yvonne nodded hard. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to learn, Dad.¡± ¡°Jared, Tracy lost the baby,¡± Sally said, her voice rising with desperation. ¡°She said she¡¯sing back here to work. She wants to be with you. She loves you, and you two go way back. She¡¯s a perfect match for you.¡± ¡°Mom, a perfect match isn¡¯t the same thing as a wife,¡± Jared said deadpan. ¡°Two ambitious, strong¨Cwilled people like us¡­ We make great business partners. We would make a terrible married couple.¡± Sally was stunned into silence. I looked up at Jared. He might be trying to defend me now, but I was over it. I just 12:02 Thu, 21 Aug didn¡¯t care anymore. 58% 38) With no one else to attack, Sally turned her fury on me. ¡°So, Victoria, are you really that determined to divorce my son? You¡¯d better not regret it.¡± I looked straight at Jared and said firmly, ¡°Yes, I want this divorce. And I won¡¯t regret a thing.¡± Jared¡¯s face went pale. Yvonne buried her face in his chest, her body trembling with quiet sobs. Jared softly ran his fingers through Yvonne¡¯s hair and pressed a gentle kiss to her head. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, sweetie,¡± he whispered. ¡°Mommy¡¯s just upset. She doesn¡¯t mean it.¡± ¡°I mean every word,¡± I stated. ¡°I can keep handling the hotel stuff. And that payment you promised me? The one due six months after the divorce? Don¡¯t try to weasel out of it.¡± Jared squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about it,¡± he said, his voice tight, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer the money to you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Jared, what money? How much did you promise her?¡± Sally practically screamed. ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool.¡± Jared replied coolly, ¡°Mom, this isn¡¯t your business.¡± ¡°Not my business?¡± she shot back. ¡°She¡¯s ying on your guilt to get a bigger payout. Can¡¯t you see that, you idiot?¡± My heart sank. Sally was sharp as a tack. She had seen right through my n. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Mom,¡± he said softly. ¡°Victoria doesn¡¯t y games like that. She¡¯s not capable of it. She¡¯s just¡­ a simple person. So incredibly.¡± Loose 230 I finally saw myself through Jared¡¯s eyes: innocence equaled stupidity, and simplicity equaled brainlessness. That was the box he had always put me in ever since I married him. Jared was just so full of himself and totally self¨Cobsessed. Sally was so mad that she was about to explode, her face practically turning blue. She knew I was ying the emotional card. Jared was clueless about women. He¡¯d rather believe I hated him because I loved him too much, not because I¡¯d stopped caring. So now he was just waiting for me to get over my resentment and run back into his arms, choosing to love him all over again. I almostughed. Honestly, men were arrogant to the core. Sally realized she couldn¡¯t change Jared¡¯s mind and just wanted to cut ties as quickly as possible. She said, ¡°Just hurry up and get the divorce over with. She doesn¡¯t show me any respect anymore¨Cit¡¯s like we¡¯re not even family to her.¡± Jared¡¯s brows furrowed with emotion as he picked up his coffee and took a sip. He then said, ¡°Mom, this is between me and her. I know how to handle it.¡± My heart tightened at his words. I was afraid he¡¯d make me keep waiting, so I spoke up to provoke Sally. I said, ¡°Sally, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t drag this out much longer.¡± Sally was so furious she nearly passed out. She grabbed her bag and snapped, ¡°Yvonne,e with me.¡± But Yvonne snuggled into Jared¡¯s arms, shaking her head. She said, ¡°Grandma, I haven¡¯t had dinner with Mom and Dad in ages. Can I stay for dinner?¡± Sally¡¯s temper red. She snapped, ¡°Eat? Why bother? Your mom doesn¡¯t even want you anymore. Come home with me¨Cyou¡¯re a Hob.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mom. Don¡¯t say things like that in front of Yvonne,¡± Jared¡¯s face darkened as he warned her sternly. Sally was momentarily speechless. She¡¯d meant those words for me. Now that Jared was running thepany and his word wasw in the Hob family, Sally might hate me, but she wouldn¡¯t dare risk making her son any angrier. She shot me a venomous re, gritted her teeth, and stormed out the door. Jared looked like he was about to snap, but he was always tough at his core. He just closed his eyes, forced down his emotions, and then said to Yvonne, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go grab something to drink.¡± 12:02 Thu, 21 Aug 9 ? 58%+ 38 ¡°Okay, Dad,¡± Yvonne replied, her usual spark suddenly gone. She wasn¡¯t bouncing around or shouting like she used to. She suddenly tugged at my arm and asked, ¡°Mom, do you want toe with us?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not going,¡± I said coldly. Yvonne let go of my arm, her head drooping, looking so pitiful. Jared said softly, ¡°Let Mom wait here. We¡¯ll go get her some milk.¡± Yvonne nodded, and she and Jared headed out together. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. By the time they came back, dinner was already served. Jared was taking care of Yvonne at the table, and we just sat there in awkward silence. Yvonne kept looking at me, like she wanted to say something but kept holding back. She probably wanted to share her stories from her trip to Aurelia, but honestly, I just didn¡¯t care anymore. I got a text from Ryan¨Che was asking to borrow 30 thousand. Just picturing his delicate, handsome face made me sigh. His elders were hopelessly unreliable¨Ca debt this size could easily push a boy that beautiful to extremes. I picked up my phone and told Ryan to send me his bank ount number. I¡¯d transfer the money to him first thing in the morning. Ryan sent over his ount number and said he¡¯d give me an IOU tomorrow. While I was texting back, Jared kept ncing over at me until his gaze finally locked onto my phone lying on the table. After dinner, Jared headed back to the vi with Yvonne. Before leaving, he asked if I wanted toe too, but I shook my head. He didn¡¯t insist. Yvonne just stood there, teary¨Ceyed and looking lost, staring at me. I turned away, refusing to meet her gaze¨CI didn¡¯t want to see how much she didn¡¯t want to leave me. AD Comment Loose 231 The next morning, I transferred 30 thousand to Ryan, hoping it would help him get through this tough time. Jared called me into his office, and on his desk was a list. ¡°Take a look at this,¡± he said. My heart skipped a beat as I picked it up. It was a list of properties and shops under Jared¡¯s name¨Cover thirty in total, spread across all the top¨Ctier and second¨Ctier cities nationwide. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked. Jared lit up a cigarette and said, ¡°These are for you. I¡¯ll have all these properties transferred to your name within three days, and they¡¯ll be listed in the divorce papers. ¡°Thepany shares will take a bit longer, but if you¡¯re in a rush, we can sign the divorce papers by the end of the month.¡± ¡°Thanks. I want to get this over with as soon as possible, if possible,¡± I replied. Most people went to war over assets in a divorce, but not Jared. He was loaded, and his real power was his ability to make money. To him, this cash was just pocket change. But to me, it was life¨Cchanging money. Jared stared at me, smoking moodily and tapping the ash off his cigarette. He then said, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll get it done as soon as possible.¡± ¡°What about the hotel business?¡± I asked. Jared said, ¡°Even if you end up working for me, you probably won¡¯t see me much. Don¡¯t worry¨CI won¡¯t be all over you.¡± I froze for a second. After the divorce, he would be/swarmed by gorgeous women. He probably wouldn¡¯t even have time to think about me. ¡°I wasn¡¯t worried about that,¡± I replied. Jared let out a softugh and said, ¡°Victoria, I always thought you were gentle and easygoing, but I never realized you were soft on the outside and tough on the inside. ¡°Once you make up your mind, not even a herd of wild horses could drag you back.¡± I was stunned. There was a hint of self¨Cdeprecation/in Jared¡¯s eyes as he continued, ¡°I always thought you¡¯d never have the guts to divorce me. In this marriage, I just took everything for granted.¡± ¡°Because you were always the one who got all the love,¡± I replied with a faint, mocking smile. Jared nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, you blindsided me. Made me realize that no feeling can stay new forever¨Cnot even 12 02 Thu, 21 Aug 9 with someone who once loved me like you did.¡± 58% ¡°Men are supposed to be all about logic, right? Most couples don¡¯t even make it past three months. Seven years? We beat the odds,¡± I said with a fake smile, trying to soundforting, even though I didn¡¯t really mean it. Jared said, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve got a point.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got things to take care of, so I¡¯m heading out,¡± I said, not wanting to get into anymore deep talks with him. As far as I was concerned, we were done here. Jared stood up, calling out to me, ¡°Victoria.¡± I stopped at the doorway, turned back, and met his gaze. Jared drew in a long breath and said, ¡°If you have time, could you check in on Yvonne? She¡¯s just a girl, and no matter what I do as her dad, I can¡¯t give her a mother¡¯s love.¡± I answered tly, ¡°Just hurry up and get yourself a new girlfriend. Let her y mom for Yvonne¨Cshe won¡¯t be lonely then.¡± Jared looked at me, all bottled up and frustrated. I didn¡¯t bother with him anymore. I opened the door and walked out. The whole divorce mess with Jared had finally cleared up. Recalling the list of properties he¡¯d turned over to me, I realized I could just sit back and watch my worth grow without lifting a finger. I wasn¡¯t about to get greedy. Jared gave me way more than I ever asked for. At noon, Ryan offered to treat me to lunch. Since I¡¯d just helped him out with some cash, I couldn¡¯t say no. I drove over to my office, and Ryan was already waiting for me by the curb. ¡°Ms. Murphy, what do you want to eat?¡± Ryan asked as soon as he hopped into the car. ¡°How about some street food? I haven¡¯t had that in forever,¡± I suggested, just so he wouldn¡¯t have to spend too much on me. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12.03 Thu, 21 AUD Loose 232 Ryan sat in the back seat, stunned for a few seconds before bursting outughing. He then said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, I¡¯m not that broke. I can treat you to a regr meal.¡± I replied, ¡°Ryan, don¡¯t go out of your way. Save your money for something more important. Don¡¯t let the Mrs. Hob title fool you¨CI didn¡¯t exactly grow up with a silver spoon.¡± Ryan asked awkwardly, ¡°Do you know any good street food spots around here? I¡¯m not really familiar with this area.¡± I headed straight to a cramped, grimy dive whose flickering neon sign just said ¡°EAT.¡± Grease fogged the windows, the linoleum was curling, and a parade of construction crews in hard hats had already imed every stool inside. I strong¨Carmed us onto the lone wobbly table on the sidewalk. The moment Ryan took in the chaos, his eyes went wide and restless. ¡°Just sit tight, I¡¯ll go order for us,¡± I said, hurrying to the counter. All the dishes wereid out in a disy fridge, sol simply pointed at a few and told the owner what I wanted. When I got back, all the guys around were staring at me¨Cmy clothes didn¡¯t match the vibe of this ce. Ryan lowered his voice and said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll treat you to something better next time, I promise.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal,¡± I said, lowering my head to check the list Jared had sent me on my phone. Seeing all those properties and shops, I was in a great mood. Ryan was obviously out of his element here. He kept wiping the table with a napkin, still looking pretty tense. When the owner brought over our drinks and identally spilled some, Ryan frowned hard, clearly ufortable. ¡°Don¡¯t fuss, just dig in. The food¡¯s good,¡± I said with a smile. Ryan nodded, picked up his fork, and started eating quietly. As I was eating, I caught something out of my peripheral vision. I quickly leaned over to Ryan and whispered, ¡°Eat faster, I think I just saw your creditor¡¯s car go by.¡± Ryan immediately whipped his head around. I shot him a look, gesturing with my eyes to a spot not far behind him. I said, ¡°That Shaville¨Cted car¨CI¡¯ve seen it hanging around our office a lot.¡± Ryan turned to look, but the car had already disappeared. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Murphy, for dragging you into this. These guys are such a pain,¡± Ryan said softly. 12:03 Thu, 21 Aug 4.57%¨C I said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, but honestly, I¡¯m more worried about what would happen if they actually kidnapped you. You¡¯re still so young.¡± Ryan replied, ¡°Why would they even bother? It¡¯s not like they could sell me for cash.¡± ¡°Who says? With a face like that, you could walk into any high¨Cend host club and your price tag would be sky¨Chigh,¡± I teased, shing a grin. Ryan said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, you know your way around these things. Have you ever been to any host club?¡± I said, ¡°Nope, never been. Just heard about it. Shaville¡¯s got plenty of fancy clubs, you know. If you ever went, you¡¯d probably be their top pick.¡± Just picturing Ryan in a suit, getting picked out by strangers, made me feel bad for him. Ryan said, ¡°Rx, Ms. Murphy, I¡¯d never go to a ce like that. But do you think I¡¯m good¨Clooking?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re pretty good¨Clooking,¡± I said, nodding. Ryan asked, ¡°Who¡¯s better¨Clooking, me or your husband?¡± I almost choked on my food and shot him a re. I said, ¡°Of all people topare, why him? One¡¯s a guy I see every day and I¡¯m already bored with; the other¡¯s someone I just met. How could he possiblypete?¡± Ryan cracked up at my joke,ughing out loud. Even hisugh sounded crisp and melodic¨Cjust another perk of being gorgeous. Honestly, I¡¯d pay to watch some sugar mama work him over. Loose 233 Chapter 233 57% +38 After we finished eating, Ryan went to pay the bill. When he came back, he eximed, ¡°Three dishes, and they only charged me twenty bucks? Is it really that cheap?¡± I rolled my eyes and said, ¡°Must be nice being young¨Cnot even knowing the value of money yet.¡± Ryan just grinned, scratched the back of his head, and followed me toward the parking lot. Once we were back in the car, Ryan pulled out a signed debt slip, stamped it with his thumbprint right in front of me, and handed it over. He said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, thanks for being so generous. I¡¯ll remember this favor for sure.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just make sure you hit the books once summer¡¯s over,¡± I said, folding up the debt slip and tucking it into my bag. ¡°Yeah, I will,¡± Ryan replied, his eyes burning as he looked at me. That look in his eyes sent a wave of heat through me¨Cmaybe it was just the stuffy car, but I suddenly felt a little hot. As I pulled up to the office, I spotted Yvonne sitting on the front steps, clutching that old doll I gave her back in the day. As Ryan and I walked over, Yvonne dashed right up to me. She asked, ¡°Mom, where did you go?¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes went wide. He eximed, ¡°Wait, Ms. Murphy, your kid¡¯s already this big?¡± I nodded. Then I turned to ask Yvonne, ¡°Why are you here all alone? Where¡¯s your dad?¡± Yvonne whispered, ¡°I came by myself.¡± ¡°Go back to your grandma¡¯s ce. I¡¯ve got work to do and can¡¯t look after you right now,¡± I said, waving her off. ¡°Mom, I won¡¯t bother you. Can I just y nearby?¡± Yvonne said, trying to be considerate. ¡°That¡¯s not happening. You¡¯ll just end up distracting me,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Then can I go to Grandpa William¡¯s ce? You always took me there during summer break. I want to go fishing with Grandpa William again,¡± Yvonne asked, her eyes shining with hope. ¡°You didn¡¯t want to see themst time, so you¡¯re not going this time either,¡± I replied, still looking cold. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Yvonne whispered, her eyes starting to fill with tears. Ryan stood there for a bit, kept his/mouth shut, then headed inside to work. Yvonne was holding back her tears¨Cshe wasn¡¯t the crybaby she used to be. I called Jared, and he had the drivere pick her up right away. 57% ¡°Your dad asked for you to go stay with him,¡± I said. Yvonne said, ¡°Mom, are you not going to pay attention to me? Even if I try to be good and do what you say, you still won¡¯t care?¡± ¡°Being good isn¡¯t just something you say,¡± I replied, opening the car door. Yvonne made her way over, dragging her feet. She said, ¡°Mom, can I go hang out at Grandpa William¡¯s ce? I¡¯ll ask them myself.¡± ¡°Whatever, if you can talk them into it, go ahead,¡± I said. I wasn¡¯t about to stop her¨Cmy parents would be happy to have her around. Yvonne finally perked up a bit. She hopped into the car and waved at me. She said, ¡°Bye, Mom.¡± I closed the car door, watched it drive off, then turned and headed back to the office. Around four in the afternoon, Sally suddenly appeared at the door of my temporary office, dripping in jewels. Some people at thepany still had no idea who she was. Sally looked like she was about to explode as she stormed over and shoved open my office door, making the ss rattle. She jabbed a finger at me and said, ¡°Victoria, I always thought you were the quiet, gentle type. Back when Jared said he wanted to marry you, I was a hundred percent against it. ¡°Butter, I saw your good character and finally agreed to let you two get married. And now look at you¨Casking for money, and even trying to snatch Yvonne away from us, is that it?¡± Loose 234 Chapter 234 I looked at Sally, puzzled. I said, ¡°Mrs. Hob, are you sure you¡¯ve got it right? I¡¯m not fighting for custody. I have no intention of taking Yvonne.¡± Sally snapped, ¡°Cut the crap. Yvonne threw a fit this afternoon, insisting on going to your parents¡® ce. I couldn¡¯t stop her at all. Jared already arranged for someone to take her to the airport. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t push your luck. As your mother¨Cinw, have I ever treated you badly all these years? You never gave the Hob family an heir, but did I everin? And now, you want to leave us with nothing, is that it?¡± Sally got more and more upset, and finally, she just copsed onto a chair and broke down in tears at my desk. I stiffened. Sally sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. When she finally stopped, she red at me and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of spell you put on Jared, but why is he still hung up on you? ¡°You¡¯re so cold, wanting to divorce him and just walk away. Even when he¡¯s drunk, he still calls your name. Victoria, you¡¯re just a drama queen. ¡°Jared and Tracy have nothing between them, but you just have to make it sound shady. You¡¯re the one ruining Jared¡¯s reputation. All you want is his money. You¡¯re the worst.¡± I sat there, keeping my face nk as I listened to her venting, but inside, I couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit stunned. I said coldly, ¡°Jared¡¯s just being stubborn. If I hadn¡¯t brought up the divorce, he would¡¯ve done it sooner orter. I know him.¡± Sally snapped, ¡°You don¡¯t know a damn thing. If Jared didn¡¯t care about you, how could you have ever married him? I know my son¨Che¡¯s not some yer. It¡¯s you. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been trampling all over his feelings.¡± Like any mother, Sally saw her son as her pride and joy, wless in her eyes. 1 said calmly, ¡°Mrs. Hob, it¡¯s over between Jared and me. There¡¯s no point in your crying about it. You should start looking for his next wife, someone who can give you the big, healthy baby you want as your heir. ¡°If you want to know how much money I got, just ask Jared. I didn¡¯t take much at all.¡± Sally wiped her tears and said, ¡°Honestly, I wish Jared would just end up with Tracy. At least she¡¯s not as ungrateful as you. Tracy said she¡¯d be a real help to him, both at work and at home.¡± I shot back, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll admit it¨CTracy¡¯s great. She and Jared are a match made in heaven. You should hurry up and help him win her back. Let Tracy be the one to look after you from now on.¡± I wasn¡¯t going to get all worked up and start yelling anymore. Now, if I argued, I was keeping it ssy. Sally got even more pissed, probably because I was so obviously dismissive of Jared in my tone. She snapped, 12:03 Thu, 21 Aug On 57% ¡°Victoria, did you ever love Jared at all? When you married him, was it just for his money? You¡¯re so scheming, it¡¯s honestly creepy.¡± As she spoke, she slowly stood up and backed away, as if I were some kind of poisonous snake. I blinked, a little surprised, but if that was what she wanted to think, whatever¨Clet her. 39 ¡°Mrs. Hob, at your age, do you still believe in love? It¡¯s like ghosts¨Ceveryone talks about it, but no one¡¯s ever actually seen one,¡± I said with a smile. Sally fixed me with a piercing re, then suddenly lunged at me. Before I could react, she pped me hard across the face. She said, ¡°You venomous woman. I knew it¨Cyou were only after my son¡¯s money. Victoria, you¡¯ll never have a good end.¡± Loose 235 Chapter 235 My left face burned, a searing pain shooting straight to the bone. Just as Sally was about toe at me again, the office door burst open. Ryan stepped in, yanked me behind him, and shoved Sally back hard. He demanded, ¡°Hey, olddy, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Sally¡¯s anger red even more when she saw Ryan suddenly appear. She snapped, ¡°I¡¯m teaching this venomous woman a lesson. Mind your own business and get out of my way.¡± Ryan said, ¡°You¡¯re notying another finger on her. Try touching her again and see what happens.¡± Both Sally and I were stunned. Ryan¡¯s aura was so fierce, it was like he was born to , whether I got to stay here or not was up in the air. These people were all opportunists. Ever since I parachuted in as the boss, they never really epted me. Now that it looked like I might be stepping down, the ones working under me were practically buzzing with excitement. Before long, Ryan came rushing back, panting, his arms loaded with all kinds of medicine. He said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, check these out¨Cany of them good for you?¡± I picked up a tube of anti¨Cswelling cream, squeezed some out, and thered it over my cheek. The cool touch instantly soothed that stinging burn. ¡°Guess I made a fool of myself in front of you,¡± I said. But Ryan just stared at my flushed cheek, his jaw tight with anger. He said, ¡°Who does she think she is, hitting you like that? And Jared¨Cwhat a loser. How could he just stand by and let his mom treat you that way?¡± Hearing that, I suddenlyughed. I said, ¡°Couldn¡¯t have said it better myself. Sometimes, he is a loser.¡± Ryan said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep living like this. There¡¯s more to life than just Jared¨Cwhy keep clinging to him?¡± I replied, ¡°Yeah, I know. But you should head out now¨Clet¡¯s not give people the wrong impression.¡± 1203 Thu, 21 Aud 457% 57%8 I remembered how Sally had just called Ryan my pretty boy before storming off. I didn¡¯t want to drag, an innocent person into this mess, especially when Ryan already had his debts to worry about. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of what people say,¡± Ryan said softly. I waved my hand and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re a good kid, but I¡¯m the one who¡¯s worried. Go take care of your stuff¡± Only then did Ryan finally turn and leave. Around five o¡¯clock, Jared rushed into the office, looking all flustered. I was dozing off in my chair, and the loud bang of the door jolted me awake. Jared crouched down in front of me. While I was still dazed, he reached out and gently touched my cheek. He said, ¡°Let me see¨Cdoes it hurt? I¡¯m sorry¨CI never thought my mom would show up and do this to you.¡± I pushed him off me, and Jared almost went sprawling. He caught himself with one hand on the floor, then slowly got back up. He said, ¡°Victoria, my mom¡­¡± I cut him off, ¡°You can eitherpensate me, or I¡¯ll call the police. It¡¯s up to you.¡± I pointed at the security camera across the room and added, ¡°Everything¡¯s on tape.¡± Loose 236 Chapter 236 Jared¡¯s face froze as if he¡¯d just been pped. I knew it wasn¡¯t easy for him to be stuck in the middle, but all this mess was because he never did anything about it in the first ce. Jared said, ¡°Victoria, my mom was wrong to hit you. I know you¡¯ve been wronged, but could you not call the police, considering her age? I¡¯ll make it up to you, okay?¡± His voice was hoarse, and he lookedpletely worn out. He pulled up a chair, sat down, hunched over with his head hanging low, and stared at the floor. ¡°I want 300 thousand. Will you give it to me?¡± I asked coldly. Jared looked at me and said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you 600 thousand. Just please don¡¯t hate my mom. She wasn¡¯t herself.¡± ¡°Jared, since things havee to this, let¡¯s just get the divorce over with. Your mom¡¯s getting old, she can¡¯t handle anymore stress, and you¡¯re a good son¨Cyou should put her first,¡± I said calmly, trying to reason with him. Jared said, ¡°Victoria, I don¡¯t want to lose you. Breaking up with you is thest thing I want. This is tearing me apart. I know, deep down, you¡¯re the one I care about the most.¡± ¡°Stop lying to yourself. If you really loved me, Tracy wouldn¡¯t even be a thing,¡± I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Jared said, ¡°When life gets toofortable, people start wanting more. I¡¯m sorry, Victoria. I was selfish¨CI wanted to keep you by my side. As long as I refused the divorce, you¡¯d be stuck with me, even if we grew tired of each other. ¡°At least I¡¯d know you were close.¡± After he finished, he stared at me, unblinking, the corners of his eyes turning red. He continued, ¡°Buttely, you¡¯ve be so lively and interesting. And I realized my selfishness was just another way of hurting you. ¡°You once said flowers should bloom in the sunlight. You¡¯re right¨Cyou deserve to shine in your own life. You¡¯re not mine to keep.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying all this? Honestly, I just wanted you to treat me like a real person, as an equal,¡± I said, closing my eyes. I really didn¡¯t want to hear anymore of his nonsense. Suddenly, Jared turned and nced through the ss at Ryan¡¯s desk. He said, ¡°Is that your new intern? I haven¡¯t seen him before.¡± I nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s still in college. You don¡¯t believe what your mom said, do you? That I¡¯m keeping him as some kind of boy toy or something?¡± ¡°No, I know you wouldn¡¯t do something like that,¡± Jared said firmly, shaking his head. 12:04 Thu, 21 Aug O 4 57% (3) For some reason, the way Jared acted like he had me all figured out just left me feeling even more defeated. I shot back, ¡°Don¡¯t act like you know me. Maybe I¡¯m just lonely and want a young guy like him.¡± But Jared insisted, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t. You¡¯re not the type to mess with someone¡¯s feelings like that.¡± I bit down on my lip, annoyed. I retorted, ¡°Oh really? Who says I¡¯m just messing around? Maybe I want to date a younger guy for real.¡± Jared asked, ¡°So, would you ever get married again?¡± His question stumped me. Honestly, I didn¡¯t think I was cut out for marriage anymore. ¡°Why should I even tell you?¡± I snapped, anger ring up inside me. Jared said, ¡°Victoria, we got married because we loved each other. Now we¡¯re falling apart over misunderstandings. Maybe, after you¡¯ve gone out and seen the world, we¡¯ll end up together again someday.¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± I snapped, jumping to my feet and ring at him. I added, ¡°Even if you were thest man alive, I¡¯d rather stay single forever than be with you.¡± AD Comment Loose 237 ? ? 57% Jared looked like he¡¯d been punched in the gut; his face went pale. Buttely he¡¯d gotten better at keeping his cool; no matter how much I tried to piss him off, he just stayed calm. He said, ¡°I know you¡¯re mad right now. I¡¯ll transfer the money to your ountter, and let me treat you to dinner tonight.¡± ¡°No need. Just add the dinner money to the transfer,¡± I said, raising my hand to cut him off. Jared seemed at a loss for words. Then he said, ¡°Yvonne already talked to your parents and arranged to stay with them for two weeks. I had someone take her to the airport. They¡¯ve probably picked her up by now.¡± ¡°If my parents are fine with it, I don¡¯t care,¡± I replied tly. ¡°Yvonne seems different these days. Have you noticed?¡± Jared asked. ¡°No,¡± I said tly. Honestly, I had stopped caring about Yvonne altogether.. Jared gave me a disappointed look and sighed. He said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll do my best to keep my mom away from you from now on.¡± I shot back, ¡°You better. If you can¡¯t stop her and she tries something again, who knows who¡¯ll end up getting hurt. I don¡¯t care how old she is¨CI¡¯m not letting her off the hook.¡± Jared¡¯s face went pale, and he nodded. Before leaving, he said, ¡°Tracy had a miscarriage. She came back to the country with Yvonnest time. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t have anymore contact with her.¡± I said, ¡°I¡¯m really not worried, because honestly, I couldn¡¯t care less if you two keep in touch. Your mom seems to like her a lot. Maybe you should give her a shot¨Cshe seems to care about your daughter, too.¡± Jared¡¯s face darkened. He said, ¡°Yvonne doesn¡¯t like her anymore. Tracy¡¯s capable, but she¡¯s too calcting and self¨Cserving. She¡¯s not the right person to help take care of our daughter.¡± I froze. Jared had just called Tracy out for exactly who she was¨Cturned out he¡¯d been seeing through it all along. ¡°And what about me? In your eyes, what kind of person am I?¡± I asked, arms crossed, putting on a bossy front. Jared looked me up and down for a couple of seconds before answering, ¡°You¡¯re still that gentle and thoughtful woman¨Cjust like the one I met back then.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m all about the money now,¡± shot back. Jared said, ¡°You just want enough to look out for yourself. Besides, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re asking for a fortune.¡± With that, he pushed the door open and walked out. I frowned. Jared had deeper schemes than anyone else. He had always known exactly what was going on, but even in my previous life, he still chose to hurt me just to take Tracy¡¯s side. 12.04 Thu, 21 Aug As soon as Jared left, Ryan came over to me. He asked, ¡°Ms. Murphy, did you and your husband fight?¡± I replied, ¡°No. Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s all taken care of.¡± 57% ¡°How did he handle it? Did he just take his mom¡¯s side and tell you to suck it up?¡± Ryan asked, looking worried. I shook my head and said, ¡°No, I made him pay up.¡± ¡°But you guys are married. Doesn¡¯t that mean his money is yours too?¡± Ryan blurted out. I let out a sigh and said, ¡°Nope, we signed a prenup agreement. What¡¯s his stays his.¡± Ryan said, ¡°That¡¯s just too much. He¡¯s always so guarded with you. Ms. Murphy, why haven¡¯t you kicked him to the curb already?¡± I waved my hand and said, ¡°Soon. Go on, get back to work.¡± For the next week, Sally and Quinn stayed out of sight. What really caught me off guard, though, was that Tracy showed up to see me herself. Tracy pulled up outside the hotel and parked her shy sports car smack in the center of the entrance. Gone was her usual business attire; she was head¨Cto¨Ctoe in an expensive Chanel ensemble. She called and asked me toe out and talk. I watched her through several panes of ss. Tracy¡¯s gaze was openly provocative as she challenged, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re too scared to face me now.¡± AD Comment Loose 238 apter 238 57% Tracy came back from overseas after failing to have the baby, rocking a whole new vibe. She saw the kid as nothing but trouble and got rid of it, and now she and Jared were back to being the perfect pair. As I stepped out, Tracy smiled at me, looking smug. She said, ¡°So, should I call you Mrs. Hob or Ms. Murphy now?¡± ¡°Just call me Ms. Murphy,¡± I said tly. Tracy grinned and said, ¡°Looks like Sally was right. You and Jared are really getting a divorce, huh? Or have you already split?¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re here? I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± I shot back, my voice icy. Tracy said, ¡°Let¡¯s grab a coffee at the ce across the street. I can still help you get a better divorce settlement, like I said before. Want to hear what I¡¯ve got in mind?¡± I happened to need a moment to breathe anyway, and I was curious about what Tracy would say. So I followed her to a Starbucks across the road. Tracy ordered me a coffee and sat across from me, giving me these little once¨Covers every so often. After a moment, she said, ¡°With everything you¡¯ve got going for you, Ms. Murphy, you¡¯ll have no problem finding someone better. Honestly, splitting up with Jared is no loss for you.¡± I had to admit, Tracy had both brains and charm, and her way with words was impressive. No wonder Jared had beenpletely under her spell in the previous life. I replied, ¡°I don¡¯t need you ying savior for me. You came back just waiting for your big break, right? Well, the spot¡¯s all yours now¨Cbut do you really think you can handle it? ¡°What makes you think you¡¯ve got what it takes? Looks? You¡¯re cute, but hardly a showstopper. Skills? Jared¡¯s already burned through most of your contacts, hasn¡¯t he? I heard Amy, the one who reced you, is killing it. ¡°Tracy, ever thought you¡¯re just another cast¨Coff, just like me? You want to fight for my share of the assets? How are you even going to pull that off?¡± I stopped ying nice anymore. If Tracy wanted to go head¨Cto¨Chead, I¡¯d just drag her into a whole new battlefield and see how she handled it. Sure enough, Tracy¡¯s expression turned sour. She said, ¡°Amy¡¯s married. If she messes around, her husband would flip out. It¡¯d get ugly,¡± I took a couple of sips of my coffee. Honestly, after meeting Amy and her husbandst time, I always thought there was something weird about the way they acted together. Later, Clint messaged me a few times, asking if I had time toe in for a beauty treatment, saying he¡¯d personally 12.04 Thu, 21 Aug give me the VIP treatment and all that. The whole thing just gave me the creeps. I had a feeling that even though they were married, they were both doing their own thing on the side. I sneered, ¡°Tracy, Jared and I were married too, but that didn¡¯t stop you from chasing after him, did it? Does marriage really stop anyone?¡± 57% Tracy¡¯s expression soured, and she pressed her lips together. Then she shot back, ¡°Thanks for agreeing to the divorce. Whether I end up with Jared or not, that¡¯s my business.¡± ¡°He¡¯s old news to me, but you think he¡¯s something special? That¡¯s kind of adorable,¡± I drawled. Tracy stared at me with disbelief. She eximed, ¡°Old news? Ms. Murphy, that¡¯s a fresh take. Seriously, what kind of mindset do you have to say something like that? Besides appearances, you and Jared have nothing going for you together.¡± ¡°Who says? If we¡¯re such a bad match, then how¡¯d we end up with a kid?¡± I fired back, deliberately twisting her words. Tracy¡¯s expression soured even more. I continued, ¡°Maybe. But I¡¯m letting go now. No matter how amazing Jared is, I won¡¯t look back. To me, he¡¯s just a familiar stranger.¡± ¡°Are you just pretending to be strong?¡± Tracy challenged, locking eyes with me. I shook my head and said, ¡°No. I¡¯ve just learned to see things clearly. If you can¡¯t hold onto something, just let it slip away.¡± Loose 239 Chapter 239 ? ? 57% Tracy looked a bit disappointed. She was probably hoping to see me sad, desperately trying to hold on, maybe even getting hostile with her, or begging her not to steal my husband. My calm indifference clearly got under her skin. She sneered, ¡°Ms. Murphy, looks like you¡¯ve had a pretty smooth ride so far. You can just breeze through this breakup since you¡¯re not even divorced yet. ¡°But once you¡¯re out of the Hob family and Jared¡¯s not there to shield you, you¡¯ll see that all those guys out there don¡¯t evene close to him.¡± I had to admit that Jared was top of the food chain. But since I already decided to divorce him, I wouldn¡¯t change my mind. I stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m set on my path. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to get in the way of your little romance. Go chase after it all you want. But just so you know, your real rival isn¡¯t me. ¡°Maybe you should keep an eye on Amy instead.¡± Tracy¡¯s face went stiff, and I strode out without looking back. The hotel¡¯s grand opening finally arrived. The whole ce had this unique blend of serene grace and modern luxury. By the time we finished the final touches, every room was fully booked¨Ceven three months out. Jared knew everyone worth knowing, so the ce was packed on opening day, and the gifts just kept pouring in. On top of that, we scored deals with several majorpanies, and even a few local government¨Cbacked firms came to us for partnerships. Honestly, I didn¡¯t see thating. Jared nced at me and asked, ¡°Are these your connections?¡± I was just as clueless as he was. It was odd, but the contracts were legit¨Cwe¡¯dnded all the corporate bookings for the next three years. Nathan, whom I hadn¡¯t seen in ages, showed up to celebrate too. He¡¯d been buried inpany businesstely, and one could tell he was a bit worn out, but it didn¡¯t dull his refined good looks one bit. He was wearing sses, looking sharp and schrly. He had already told me he wanted to book all of his agreement. Jared didn¡¯t look too happy about it, but since this was business, he had to show his professional side as the boss. ¡°Thanks for your strong support, Mr. Hallman. Looking forward to working together,¡± Jared said, shaking Nathan¡¯s hand in front of everyone. Nathan gave a polite smile and said, ¡°I promised Victoria I¡¯d set up this partnership, so of course I had to follow through. No need to thank me, Mr. Hob.¡± I stood nearby, smirking. Nathan knew exactly what was going on between me and Jared, and right now, he was making a point. Once Nathan settled into the lounge, Jared suddenly grabbed my hand and dragged me off to a quiet corner. ¡°Nathan¡¯s only here because of you, Victoria. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re hooking up with him?¡± Jared demanded, his face. dark with anger. ¡°Today¡¯s the grand opening¨Cwhy spoil the mood with this kind of talk? It¡¯s just business, try to be a little more gracious,¡± I said with a light smile. Jared took a deep breath and said, ¡°I can¡¯t be gracious. We¡¯re not even divorced yet, and he¡¯s already making a show of it. Tell me, who¡¯s really desperate here?¡± I said coldly, ¡°Already can¡¯t take it, Mr. Hob? Guess you¡¯re not as big¨Chearted as you like to think.¡± ¡°Victoria, did Nathan pull some strings tond you those deals with state¨Cownedpanies? I heard he¡¯s got a lot of government connectionstely,¡± Jared pressed, his tone sharp. His words made me a little skeptical, too. But Nathan never mentioned anything about it before. This was a big deal¨Cif he¡¯d helped me, he definitely would¡¯ve given me a heads¨Cup. I said, ¡°If you¡¯re that nosy, why don¡¯t you go ask those managers yourself?¡± Honestly, I was just curious about who was backing me up like this. Jared¡¯s face fell. He snapped, ¡°You really think I¡¯m that thick¨Cskinned?¡± I replied, ¡°Suit yourself if you don¡¯t want to ask. The deals are set anyway. And remember what you said¨CI¡¯m taking half the profits. Don¡¯t go back on your word.¡± Jared¡¯s eyes darkened as he said, ¡°Rx. Your cut is guaranteed.¡± Watching Jared head back to the entrance to greet the guests, I let out a cold, inwardugh. Business was booming, yet Jared grilled me about where the business wasing from¨Chow ridiculous. Loose 240 Chapter 240 The grand opening ceremony was nothing short of spectacr. The old Harmonia Hotel had beenpletely transformed into Dreamy Ripples with a style so different it felt like crossing from one era into another. It was truly something to marvel at. The hotel¡¯s new name had been chosen at great expense by a celebrity fortune¨Cteller, and the entrance was meticulously designed¨Cevery line, mirror, and crystal ced just so¨Cto summon luck and prosperity. The whole setup was both ingenious and stunning. The hall was packed with nearly sixty tables, the whole ce buzzing with celebration and joy. As the manager of the hotel, I was definitely in the spotlight today. Dressed in a vibrant magenta gown, with my hair swept up in a stylish bun, I looked both professional and charming as I mingled confidently among the VIPS. My graceful presence and poise even caught Jaredpletely off guard. To him, I¡¯d always been the stay¨Cat¨Chome type. Even with my natural beauty, it was usually lost in the daily grind of chores and errands¨Cin and unadorned, like an uncut gem. Maybe I seemed interesting at first nce, but after a while, I probably just faded into the background- nondescript and forgettable. Guys were drawn to gentle, pure women like that at first¨Cthey felt secure knowing she would stay at home. But the moment she turned dazzling and morous, that sense of security became a threat. Deep down, men still wanted to call the shots in a woman¡¯s life¨Cexpecting her to have kids, be caring and thoughtful, support her husband, and raise the family. They didn¡¯t want a woman who burned bright like fire or hit hard like whiskey¨Csomeone who made them feel like they had to run just to keep up, or someone they could only admire from a distance. Today, Ryan was my temporary assistant, darting around me, serving drinks. He had a face mask on, saying his lips. broke out in an allergic reaction yesterday and turned all red. I was feeling a little tipsy, and through the crowd, I caught Nathan staring at me,pletely entranced. He wasn¡¯t the only one. There were plenty of other guys looking at me, too, their eyes filled with admiration and a hint of possessiveness. Jared was sitting at the table with all the big shots, surrounded by important guests he had to entertain. But today, he seemed distracted. Every now and then, he¡¯d wander over to me and say a few words. After I¡¯d made the rounds with my loasts and was feeling a little tipsy, I watched Jared and a few other VIPS give their speeches. Then, as the manager, I stepped into the spotlight for a moment on stage. The apuse was thunderous. During the ribbon¨Ccutting, Jared stood right beside me; suddenly, his hand slipped 12:04 Thu, 21 Aud over and closed tightly around mine. I quietly pulled my hand free without missing a beat, and Jared shot me a resentful, wounded look. 57% 38) By the time things finally wound down around two in the afternoon and the guests had all left, Nathan made his way over to me. He hadn¡¯t touched a drop of alcohol, and there was a deep, unreadable intensity in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading out now,¡± Nathan said, his gaze burning with a heat I hadn¡¯t seen before. Still, he kept his emotions. tightly reined in, every move perfectlyposed and gentlemanly. I nodded at him with gratitude and said, ¡°Thank you foring to support me, and for being such a genuine partner.¡± Nathan smiled and replied, ¡°Wishing you great sess. If you ever need anything, just let me know.¡± ¡°Thank you, take care on your way,¡± I said, walking him to the door. Nathan nced back at me twice, reluctant to leave, before finally getting into his car and driving away. I must have been standing for too long¨Cmy heel wobbled on the carpet and I almost lost my bnce, but Ryan steadied me just in time. He asked, ¡°Do you want to sit down and rest? You¡¯ve been on your feet for hours.¡± Sure, I was tired. But seeing the results made every bit of effort worth it; I was happy, even if I was worn out. Ìï AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12:05 Thu, 21 Aug Loose 241 Ryan grumbled, ¡°This hotel belongs to the Hob family. Why are you working yourself to the bone for them?¡± I replied, ¡°For the money, of course.¡± Ryan said, ¡°You¡¯re just the manager¨Cat best you¡¯ll clear a little over a million a year. Is it really worth killing yourself for?¡± I said, ¡°A million¡¯s nothing to sneeze at. And I¡¯ve got other bonuses on top of that.¡± I just gave him a sly grin, not wanting to spill the details. Ryan said, ¡°If you¡¯re busting your chops for the cash, that¡¯s fair enough. Just don¡¯t lose your head and end upying the groundwork for your ex to walk down the aisle with someone else.¡± I nced over and saw Jared, who¡¯d had more than a few drinks, still chatting away. Amy was hovering close by, and whenever he looked unsteady, she was always right there to catch him. Not wanting to miss anything, I quietly pulled out my phone and snapped a quick video on the sly¨Cjust in case l needed proofter. Tracy didn¡¯t show up today, and honestly, I had no clue why. She¡¯d want to be here¨Cunless Jared was the one who kept her away. Either way, the day had gone off without a hitch, and the hotel was officially open for business. I was sitting in a lounge, rubbing my sore calves, when suddenly the door swung open and Quinn walked in. I shot her a cold look. Quinn didn¡¯t look too happy either. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to pick a fight.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked. Quinn sat down beside me on the couch and gave me a thorough once¨Cover. She then said, ¡°You stole the spotlight today. All those guys out there can¡¯t stop talking about you.¡± I asked, ¡°Talking about me? What for?¡± Her tone was tinged with jealousy as she replied, ¡°What else? They¡¯re all saying how stunning you look, how lucky Jared is, and how you¡¯ve got more presence than any celebrity. ¡°Bet you¡¯re pretty pleased with yourself, huh? From housewife to everyone¡¯s favorite. Even if you ever get divorced, you¡¯ll have guys lining up for you.¡± I replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m just focusing on my career. I¡¯m not thinking about all that like you are.¡± Quinn snapped, ¡°Yeah, right. You stole the show today¨Cdon¡¯t pretend you didn¡¯t want everyone looking at you, 56% remembering your name. Jared thinks you¡¯re all sweet and naive, but honestly, he¡¯s the real innocent one here. He has no idea what you¡¯re really like.¡± She was getting more and more worked up, like she could see straight through me, convinced I wasn¡¯t as simple as I seemed. Just then, Ryan walked in carrying a pot of coffee. He took off his mask, poured me a cup, and handed it over. He said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, have some coffee.¡± Ryan was the kind of guy who was ruggedly handsome¨Cno matter the angle, he looked striking from every side. When Quinn saw him, her eyes widened, like a butterfly spotting a flower. She asked me, ¡°Does he work for you?¡± Then she turned to Ryan and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± It was only then that Ryan noticed Quinn. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. What¡¯s your name? I¡¯m Jared¡¯s brother¨CQuinn,¡± she said, beaming, eyes sparkling like tiny stars. I took a sip of my coffee, keeping a close eye on Ryan. Ryan was being hounded by creditors for 150 thousand, and now, out of nowhere, a rich girl was openly showing interest in him. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯d jump at the chance. Ryan barely spared Quinn a nce, not even bothering to respond. Quinn said, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you.¡± Ryan frowned and asked, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Quinn¡¯s face flushed bright red, and after a moment, she stammered, ¡°I just want to know your name. Is that okay?¡± Ryan arched an eyebrow and replied, ¡°Sorry, but I have no interest in knowing who you are.¡± Quinn was instantly deted, her face going bright red¨Cprobably even more embarrassed because I was right there watching the whole thing. Ryan slipped his mask back on and headed out. Quinn gave me a mocking look and said, ¡°My mom says you picked up a pretty boy¨Cwas that the guy from just now?¡± Loose 242 12:05 Thu, 21 Aug Chapter 242 56% +38) I set down my coffee cup and gave Quinn a calm look. Instead of answering, I asked, ¡°So, why isn¡¯t your mom here. on such an important day?¡± Quinn looked like she¡¯d been waiting for me to bring it up. She smirked and said, ¡°My mom¡¯s out shopping with someone.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Sally was out bonding with Tracy, getting closer as future inws. Then I said, ¡°Oh, right, you got shot down earlier.¡± Quinn¡¯s face froze for a moment, then she shot back with a sneer, ¡°That guy¡¯s just unlucky he missed out on me. It¡¯s not my loss¨Che¡¯s the one who¡¯s not blessed enough.¡± I warned, ¡°He¡¯s someone I brought in, so don¡¯t even think about making a move on him.¡± I knew Quinn had this nasty habit of chasing after handsome guys, only to dump them without a second thought when she got bored. Ryan was easy on the eyes, and he was strapped for cash. Now that Quinn had set her sights on him, I was worried he¡¯d end up as her next toy. Quinn stretched out her pale fingers, admiring her fresh manicure, wearing that smirk like she¡¯d already won. She said, ¡°Tell me not to do something and I¡¯ll do it just to mess with you. Wanna bet? I say in three days he¡¯ll be riding shotgun in my car.¡± I shot her a look of disdain and said, ¡°Don¡¯t ruin him.¡± Quinn said, ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t pretend to be some saint. You¡¯re stopping a guy from striking it rich, you know that? It¡¯s not like I¡¯d let him hang around for free. Just a little pocket change from me would keep him fed for years.¡± After saying that, she got up, walked to the door, and turned back to me. She added, ¡°My mom and Tracy are getting pretty close these days. There¡¯s no chance for you and Jared to patch things up.¡± With that, she strutted out. I¡¯d already seen iting, so I wasn¡¯t surprised. Half an hourter, Jared suddenly barged into my break room. His eyes were red from drinking. As soon as he saw me, he slumped down and started moving toward me. I immediately jumped up and dodged to the armchair nearby. Jared copsed onto the sofa, giving me a long, lingering look. ¡°Don¡¯t start your drunken nonsense here,¡± I warned him coldly, seeing that affectionate look in his eyes. Jared just let out a self¨Cmockingugh and said, ¡°Victoria, do you remember five years ago, when I lost a bunch of money on that investment? You held me, and we cried together.¡± 1205 Thu, 21 Aug 9 ( I cut him off, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± 56% Jared looked dazed, and the urge to talk just faded away. He shut his eyes, like he¡¯d already drifted off to sleep. I started to leave, but Jared suddenly reached out and hauled me to him. I stumbled into his chest; in the next instant, he had me pinned beneath him on the long sofa. ¡°Victoria, you look beautiful today,¡± Jared murmured, gazing intently at my face, his fingers tracing a line along my cheek. ¡°Jared, if you try anything else, I really will call for someone,¡± I warned, my voice sharp with anger. Jared thought I¡¯d be swept away by the moment, but I shut him down cold¨Cmight as well have pped him. Disappointment flooded his face and pooled in his eyes. He froze for a second, then sat up, and I was finally able to get away. Just then, Ryan pushed the door open and walked in, a te of fruit in his hands. He stopped in his tracks, surprised to see me sprawled on the sofa. I turned beet red with embarrassment and hurried out, barely daring to meet his eyes. Ryan hurried after me and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I smoothed out my dress and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We still have to set up ten tables tonight, so I might need your help. If you¡¯re tired, go get some rest now.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m good,¡± Ryan said immediately. Just then, an old man rushed over to Ryan, looking worried. He said, ¡°Ryan, I finished moving those chairs for you. Anything else you need help with?¡± Ryan said, ¡°Ss, Ms. Murphy is here.¡± That was when I realized this old man was Ss. Ss was sweating and looked a bit disheveled. He nced at me, surprised. He said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, you look different fromst time. Sorry, my eyes aren¡¯t what they used to be¨CI didn¡¯t recognize you at first.¡± Loose 243 I had put on some heavy makeup today, so I did lookpletely different from before. I frowned and said, ¡°Ryan, maybe you should let Ss head back and get some rest. He looks exhausted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I can still help out,¡± Ss insisted, trying to wave off my concern. ¡°Ss, it¡¯s okay. Go on home,¡± Ryan said softly. Ss blinked in surprise, then nodded and said, ¡°Alright, Ryan. Just make sure you don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± At the dinner that night, Sally and Tracy showed up. The moment Tracy walked in, she was met with an enthusiastic wee. Thepany execs acted like they still answered to her, and even Amy ended up getting sidelined. Jared had taken a nap all afternoon, so he was in good spirits during dinner. When he saw Tracy, he immediately got up and led her outside. Sally and Quinn rushed out after them. Just then, Ryan set down what he was holding and said to me, ¡°Ms. Murphy, I¡¯m heading out for a bit.¡± I wanted to call him back, but he was already heading out the door. I bet he was out taking photographs of more evidence. He was always thinking ahead¨Che had brains and street smarts. When they came back, Tracy and Sally looked like they¡¯d just swallowed something bitter. They were kept out of sight in a private room, nowhere to be seen in the main hall. When Quinn returned, she shot me a few resentful nces and slipped into that private room too. 1 knew that room was packed with the Hob family¡¯s rtives. Sally probably brought Tracy in to get her acquainted with everyone ahead of time. ¡°Ms. Murphy, I shot you a few messages. Check them out when you get a chance,¡± Ryan said quietly as he returned. ¡°Thanks,¡± I replied, giving him a grateful look. Ryan looked conflicted as he nodded. Once dinner wrapped up, I headed to the elevator and made my way to the top floor of the hotel. There was a room reserved for me there. I pushed the door open and just threw myself onto the sofa. I checked my phone and saw a video. Even though I couldn¡¯t see Jared and Tracy, I could still hear their voices. Tracy sounded sad as she asked Jared, ¡°You used to say Victoria was just a vase, something pretty to keep at 12 05 Thu, 21 AU0 home. So why do you care so much about her now?¡± Jared replied, clearly annoyed, ¡°I just said that without thinking. Your cousin must¡¯ve told you, right?¡± 56% Tracy scoffed, ¡°Every little thing you do matters to me. I remember everything you say. When my cousin told me you called Victoria just a vase, I knew you didn¡¯t love her anymore. ¡°But you¡¯ve been acting strangetely. Is it because I¡¯m pregnant with my ex¡¯s baby?¡± Jared said, ¡°Tracy, we¡¯re not at that point. I¡¯m not going toment on your pregnancy.¡± ¡°Jared, I¡¯m sorry. This was a mistake, it won¡¯t happen again,¡± Tracy said softly. As she spoke, I could hear the sound of clothes rustling¨Cit sounded like they were hugging. But then Jared¡¯s tone turned icy as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s over between us. And stop trying to suck up to my mom¨Cit won¡¯t change anything.¡± Tracy said, ¡°You two are getting divorced. After the divorce, you¡¯ll end up with someone else. Why not me?¡± Jared was quiet for a long moment before finally saying, ¡°I know her¨Cshe¡¯lle back. This divorce is just a phase. Tracy, I¡¯m not going to mess up again. Maybe Victoria¡¯s right. We¡¯re adults¨Cwe have to own up to what we do.¡± ¡°Jared,e back. Please don¡¯t leave. I¡¯ve always loved you, you know that,¡± Tracy pleaded. ¡°Tracy, I don¡¯t need your love anymore. Just let me go,¡± Jared replied coldly. Then Sally¡¯s voice broke in, full of disapproval. She said, ¡°Jared, don¡¯t break her heart like this. Tracy¡¯s done so much for you.¡± Jared just let out a shortugh and said, ¡°Tracy, did you not tell my mom how much money I gave you when we broke up this time?¡± Sally sounded shocked. She eximed, ¡°Wait, Tracy, you asked Jared for money?¡± Tracy replied, ¡°He gave it to me. I¡¯m sorry, Sally. Maybe I really don¡¯t belong here, I should go.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go. Since you¡¯re already here, at least stay for dinner before you leave,¡± Sally said, suddenly popping into the frame. Tracy looked determined to leave, but Sally grabbed her arm and held her back. And that was where the video ended From the way they talked, it was obvious Jared and Tracy had already decided to get together. If I hadn¡¯t pulled myself out of the mess in time, Jared would¡¯ve just kept drifting along, forgetting he was even married. They would¡¯ve crossed thatst line, sneaking around without a shred of shame¨Cjust like in our previous life, hooking up wherever and whenever they could. 3/3 Loose 244 Chapter 244 Even though I knew this wasing, my heart still ached. I tossed my phone aside andy back on the couch, closing my eyes. My eyes stung with unshed tears. After a while, my phone buzzed with a new message. I reached out and nced at it. It was from Jared, asking where I was. I ignored him and kept my eyes closed, trying to collect myself. Jared seemed used to my cold shoulder and didn¡¯t push it. After half an hour of rest, I headed downstairs. The cleanup was already done, and everyone was about to leave. Ryan was still there. Seeing Ie down, he quickly walked over and said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, you¡¯ve had a few drinks tonight. Want me to drive you home?¡± I replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± With that, I handed him my car keys. While Ryan went to get the car, I leaned against a pir by the hotel entrance. The ce was glowing with lights, full of life tonight. Ryan pulled up and opened the back door for me. 38 Just as I was about to get in, Jared appeared out of nowhere. He asked, ¡°Heading home?¡± His voice was gentle, but his gaze burned into me. ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied coolly. Jared nced at Ryan, then turned back to me and asked, ¡°Can I ride back with you to the apartment?¡± I said coldly, ¡°No. Go home to Yvonne. She needs you more than I do.¡± With that, I slid into the car. Jared frowned at me, a faint sadness lingering on his handsome face. Ryan closed the door, circled to the driver¡¯s seat, and drove me away. I nced back in the rearview mirror. Jared was still standing at the hotel entrance, the dazzling lights bathing him in gold, yet he looked so alone¨Clike he was silently saying goodbye. I leaned back in the seat, closed my eyes, and let the tiredness wash over me. But I couldn¡¯t let myself drift off. I had no idea how good Ryan was behind the wheel, so I forced myself to stay awake and keep an eye on the road, just in case. My ride was a Mercedes¨CBenz, definitely a luxury car, but Ryan handled it like he¡¯d been driving it his whole life. We made it back to ourplex safe and sound. 12.05 Thu, 21 Aug b() 3.56%¨C Ryan hopped out, handed me the keys, and walked me to the elevator. He said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, get some rest.¡± ¡°You did well tonight. I¡¯ll make sure you get a bonus this month,¡± I said. Ryan let out a low chuckle and replied, ¡°Thanks, Ms. Murphy.¡± I stepped into the elevator, and as the doors slid shut, I caught Ryan still standing there, watching me through the crack with a lingering look. By the time I got home, it was alreadyte. Yvonne had messaged me a few times earlier, but I hadn¡¯t had a chance to reply. I figured she was probably asleep, so I just left it alone for now. After a shower, I scrolled through the online reviews for the hotel. We¡¯d invited a few well¨Cknown bloggers toe by and give a detailed rundown of the ce¡¯s different styles, and there were plenty of rave reviews in thements. The renovation phase was done¨Cnow the real work of running the hotel was about to begin. To Jared, these two hotels were small potatoes¨Che wasn¡¯t about to waste any real energy on them. What I didn¡¯t seeing was Sally suddenly starting to meddle. Sally and I were already at odds, and the divorce was set in stone. There was no going back. Now that Sally had Tracy, who was a way better daughter¨Cinw than I was, she was dying for me to break things off with Jared ASAP. So, the next day at the meeting, I heard a few voices objecting to my staying on as hotel manager. All of them were rted to Sally one way or another. They brought it up, but Jared shot them down without blinking. After the meeting wrapped up, a few of the higher- ups stopped me. One of them said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, there¡¯s something we need to confirm with you.¡± I turned to look at those old¨Ctimers who had real clout in thepany, then nced over at Jared. Jared was still sitting at the head of the table, absentmindedly spinning a pen between his fingers. His face was dark, lost in thought, and I had no idea what was going through his mind. B AD Comment Send gift Loose 245 4.56% After everyone else had left, one of the old¨Ctimers quietly closed the conference room door. Then he said, ¡°Jared, we all know about the divorce. Even though Victoria¡¯s just started getting involved in thepany, now that you two are splitting up, she really shouldn¡¯t be handling anypany business anymore, right? It¡¯s just not good for either of you.¡± Another chimed in, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. Victoria, it¡¯s not that we doubt your abilities, but divorce is a big deal. If you keep working here, people will gossip, and it won¡¯t look good for you.¡± Someone else said, ¡°Victoria, maybe you should just resign for now. Once the divorce is settled and everything¡¯s divided up, you can always reapply for your job, and no one will have anything to say about it.¡± These old guys were clearly all on the same page, acting all polite, pretending they had my best interests at heart. I nced at Jared, hoping he¡¯d finally speak up and show where he stood. But he just stared back at me, saying nothing, clearly waiting to see how I¡¯d respond. I said, ¡°I¡¯m just a manager here¨Cthe board holds all the real power. If Mr. Hob thinks I¡¯m not fit to stay on, then give me a straightforward reason and I¡¯ll step down right now. ¡°But let¡¯s be honest. Three months ago, these two hotels were on your liquidation list. If I hadn¡¯t stepped in and taken over the renovations, you would¡¯ve sold them off for peanuts by now. ¡°I spent three months working around the clock, personally overseeing every detail of the redesign. Now the hotels are thriving, we¡¯ve secured deals with several major organizations and corporations, and the profits for the next three years are set to soar. ¡°Funny how you¡¯re so quick to use someone and toss them aside when you¡¯re done. You guys really have that down to an art.¡± One of the old men snapped, ¡°Victoria, watch your mouth. You¡¯re just a junior here¨Chow can you talk to your elders like that?¡± ¡°Exactly. We¡¯re all your seniors, and even Jared wouldn¡¯t dare act this way toward us,¡± another added. I fixed my eyes on Jared, who just sat there impassively, casting a cold nce at the old men. I said, ¡°Just because Jared¡¯s got a good temper doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m a pushover. When I signed my contract, Jared still owes me some promises. If you want me gone, no problem¨Cjust pay up thepensation, and I¡¯ll walk right out.¡± With that, I stood up, making it clear I was ready to leave. Jared finally spoke up, ¡°Harmonia Hotel belongs to the Hob family. Victoria stays in charge. End of discussion.¡± 12.05 Thu 21 ?u D The old men looked at each other, shocked. One of them said, ¡°Jared, your mom said she wanted your aunt to run the hotel instead.¡± * .56% My heart skipped a beat. Sally¡¯s younger sister had worked at a big¨Cname hotel before¨Cshe had the chops for management Jared said firmly, ¡°Victoria¡¯s the right fit.¡± Seeing that Jared stood his ground against those old relics, I finally felt the tension ease in my chest. The hotel was set to boom, and that meant real money in my pocket. My love life could go off the rails, but when it came to my future, my bank ount, and my health, there was zero room for mistakes. As long as Jared didn¡¯t kick me out, I was clinging to this gig for dear life and stacking up experience. When they saw they couldn¡¯t sway me, the old men gave me cold, warning looks as they walked past¨Clike they were saying, ¡°Let¡¯s see who gets thestugh.¡± After they left, I was about to head out myself when Jared moved quickly to block my way, stopping the door with his hand before I could leave. He said, ¡°Victoria, my family did want you out before, but I trust you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving it my all,¡± I replied, meeting his eyes with a calm, unflinching look. Jared asked, ¡°Is that so? You¡¯re putting everything into your career now, but what about your feelings?¡± I shot back, ¡°Mr. Hob, what are you really trying to say?¡± Jared tried to pull me into a hug, but I dodged him, leaving his hand frozen awkwardly in midair. Jared gave a wry, bitter smile and said, ¡°Alright then. Just keep working hard. As long as I¡¯m around, nobody¡¯s going to mess with your job.¡± I snapped, ¡°It¡¯s not you I¡¯m staying for. I¡¯m here for the money.¡± Ìï AD Comment Send gift Loose 246 Chapter 246 Jared¡¯s face faltered for a moment, his gazeplicated as he looked at me. 456%•þ I pulled the door open and walked out past him. I just hoped he could finally get over his arrogant, self¨Cabsorbed ways now. I went to the hotel¡¯s new office. As soon as I reached the lobby, I saw Yvonne snapping photos, apanied by a maid working for Sally. Yvonne¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw me, and she immediately ran over. She said, ¡°Mom, this ce is so beautiful! Did you design it? That dreamy wall over there is so magical.¡± Seeing Yvonne show up uninvited¨Cand noticing the admiration in her eyes¨CI realized she finally stopped thinking I was useless. ¡°Well, what brings you here?¡± I asked her calmly. To make the hotel truly memorable, I knew we needed some viral check¨Cin spots. So, I brought in a few creators to design dream¨Cinspired features all over the ce. It worked¨Ctons of people were already checking in and snapping photos to remember their visit. Yvonne came over, grabbed my finger, and gave it a little shake. She said, ¡°Mom, I just wanted to see what your workce looks like.¡± I said coldly, ¡°You¡¯ve seen it now, so you can go. I¡¯ve got a lot on my te today and no time to entertain you.¡± ¡°Mom, back when you didn¡¯t work, you spent every day with me. Now you¡¯re so busy, you don¡¯t even remember to hang out with me,¡± Yvonne said, her face scrunched up in a pout. ¡°You¡¯re growing up. You need to learn to stand on your own,¡± I said, my voice cold and detached. The maid standing nearby quickly whispered, ¡°Mrs. Hob, Yvonne does miss you. These past few days, Tracy¡¯s sent her a bunch of gifts, but Yvonne hasn¡¯t even nced at them. ¡°Tracy even tried to take her out to y, but Yvonne turned her down. She¡¯s been begging toe see you since early this morning.¡± Yvonne nodded hard and said, ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t like Tracy anymore. But she¡¯s even more eager than before. I know she just wants to be my new mom, and Grandma¡¯s getting chummy with her. ¡°But I don¡¯t want a new mom¨CI just want you, my real mom.¡± Her eyes were red and brimming with tears as she hugged my waist, burying her face in my clothes. She then choked out, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want anyone else to be my mom. I only want you. ¡°Dad promised he wouldn¡¯t get me a new mom. He said the three of us will always be a family¨Cthe real family.¡± Although I was a bit taken aback by the fact that she finally got what it meant to be family, deep down, I just 56% couldn¡¯t ept her anymore. In the previous life, she hurt me too much. ¡°Alright. You¡¯re really growing up. I hope you keep getting stronger and more independent, take care of yourself, study hard, and be someone truly outstanding,¡± I said, gently moving Yvonne aside. Right then, someone came over and said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, there are a few documents that need your signature.¡± I took out my pen and signed the papers. Then I followed the person back to my office, talking as we went. I could see that Yvonne had learned from her mistakes and was truly changing¨Cstep by step, she was growing stronger and wiser. Honestly, that was a good sign of progress. Today, Ryan asked me for a couple of days off¨Cjust mentioned it in passing¨Cand I approved it, telling him to fill out the leave formter. Since it was the end of July and payroll time, I had HR tack on a bonus for Ryan. For three days in a row, whenever Yvonne was bored, she¡¯de over to the hotel to y. Sometimes she¡¯d crash in my office for a nap, other times she¡¯d be nowhere to be found. But there was always a housekeeper assigned to watch over her, so I never had to worry about her safety. Yvonne kept dropping by so much that it was starting to get on Sally¡¯s nerves. She called me out to a caf¨¦ just outside the hotel, looking pretty sour. Ìï AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12.06 Thu, 21 Aud Loose 247 ¡°What¡¯s up, Mrs. Hob?¡± I asked, my voice even icier than before. Knowing she was scheming to get her sister to steal my position just made me even frostier toward her. I didn¡¯t go looking for trouble, but that didn¡¯t mean I¡¯d let anyone walk all over me. Sally used to act all friendly with me, but that was never because she was genuinely kind; it was just that I never got in her way. And as a daughter¨Cinw, I always kept to myself and never rocked the boat. Now that there was something at stake, she was treating me like I was her sworn enemy. Sally snapped, ¡°Victoria, Yvonne¡¯s been pestering me nonstop to see you, and she keeps running off to find you. What did you do to her, brainwash her or something? ¡°You and Jared are getting divorced, and you im you don¡¯t want the kid, but here you are, luring Yvonne to your side. It¡¯s honestly ridiculous.¡± I shot back, ¡°I never said anything to Yvonne. She came over on her own¨Cand now you¡¯re ming me for it?¡± Honestly, I was surprised too that Yvonne kepting to see me. Sally said, ¡°You must¡¯ve said something to her. No matter what, she¡¯s still your daughter¨Cjust one word from you and she¡¯d go with you in a heartbeat. But she¡¯s a Hob, and you¡¯re not taking her with you when you divorce. ¡°She¡¯s the Hob family¡¯s only child now, and you¡¯re not taking her away from us¨Cover my dead body.¡± I frowned, not expecting the child to be an obstacle in my divorce. I said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing left to discuss. Call Jared over and let¡¯s talk this out together. ¡°If you¡¯re worried that I¡¯ll take Yvonne, I can sign a written agreement¨Cpromise I won¡¯t try to take her away from you.¡± Sally¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She eximed, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Get Jared here. I¡¯m only talking to him about this,¡± I said, my voice icy. Sally pulled out her phone and called Jared. As soon as Jared heard I was there, he said he¡¯d head over right away. While waiting for Jared, Sally shot me a mocking look and sneered, ¡°Victoria, I misjudged you. I always thought you were just someone who kept to herself and never tried topete. But now, you¡¯ve made the hotel a real sess. ¡°Guess you¡¯ve got some real skills. No wonder Jared doesn¡¯t want to divorce you¨Cyou know how to handle men.¡± I replied calmly, ¡°What are you so worried about, Mrs. Hob? Didn¡¯t you already line up his next woman?¡± 12.06 Thu, 21 Aug 10 456% Sally¡¯s expression shifted. She said, ¡°Because of you, Jared¡¯s not seeing Tracy anymore, and even Yvonne doesn¡¯t like her now. Victoria, now both Jared and Yvonne do whatever you say. You are something.¡± I shot back, ¡°Since you know I¡¯ve got skills, maybe you should quit scheming for a while. You tried to get your sister to take my job and even roped in a few execs to put pressure on me. ¡°Not bad, Mrs. Hob. You know how to y the game.¡± Sally¡¯s face darkened as she gripped her coffee cup tightly. She said, ¡°I just don¡¯t want an outsider taking over a cushy job. I did nothing wrong.¡± I snapped, ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, but next time you go after someone else¡¯s slice, maybe give them a heads¨Cup first.¡± ¡°Thepany¡¯s run by Jared, and I¡¯m his mother. Don¡¯t I even have that much say?¡± Sally said, lifting her chin with pride. I stirred my coffee and said, ¡°You said earlier that Jared can¡¯t bear to divorce me. Is that true?¡± Sally¡¯s expression faltered, worry flickering in her eyes as she looked at me. I continued, ¡°So, even if we get divorced, he still won¡¯t be able to forget me.¡± Sally¡¯s expression changed dramatically as she pped her hand on the table. She demanded, ¡°Victoria, what are you trying to pull?¡± I gave her a wicked grin and said, ¡°Nothing. But if you keep meddling in my work, who knows¨Cmaybe when I¡¯m bored and lonely, I¡¯ll just call Jared over to keep mepany.¡± Sally was furious. She snapped, ¡°How can you be so shameless? Do you think you can just treat my son like a dog and order him around?¡± Just as I was about to respond, Jared strode into the caf¨¦. He must have heard what Sally said, because he looked at me, his eyes wide with shock. AD Comment Loose 248 I hadn¡¯t expected Jared to show up out of nowhere. The words were already out, and there was no way to take them back. Jared sat down beside us and asked, ¡°Mom, what are you and Victoria chatting about this time?¡± Sally said with a stern look, ¡°We¡¯re talking about Yvonne¡¯s custody. Jared, are you thinking of letting Victoria have Yvonne? Don¡¯t be such a pushover. I know you care about her, but you can¡¯t just give in every time.¡± Jared looked a little surprised. He turned to me and asked, ¡°So, you want custody of Yvonne?¡± I shook my head and replied, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want custody. She belongs with the Hob family.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want her, then why has she beening to see you every single day? What have you been teaching her as her mother?¡± Sally snapped. Jared frowned and said, ¡°Mom, I was the one who asked Yvonne to visit Victoria. This isn¡¯t Victoria¡¯s fault. Yvonne¡¯s been upset ever since she found out about our divorce.¡± ¡°It¡¯s pitiful for a child to have such a cold¨Chearted mother,¡± Sally said, her eyes turning red as she started to feel sorry for Yvonne. Jared shot me a resentful look as ifining that I waspletely heartless. I took a deep breath. Yvonne¡¯s recent changes threw me for a loop, but I¡¯d already made up my mind not to meddle in her life anymore. Now all I could do is stand by her as her mom. I¡¯d be here if she needed me, and I¡¯d respect every choice she made. I said, ¡°Yvonne told me herself she wanted another mom. So as long as someone treats her well, she¡¯ll see them as her mother. I¡¯m not the only one she sees as her mom.¡± Sally shot back, ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re taking a kid¡¯s words at face value? Do you even know what¡¯s really going on in Yvonne¡¯s head?¡± If I hadn¡¯t heard those words right before I died in my previous life, I never would¡¯ve been able to let go of the daughter I raised myself. But I did hear them, loud and clear. I spent my whole life acting like Yvonne¡¯s nanny¨Cmaybe I never got any recognition, but I still gave it my all. Yet in her eyes, I wasn¡¯t even as important as some outsider. Since I already knew all my efforts were for nothing, pulling back now didn¡¯t make me heartless. So I said, ¡°Call me heartless if you want. You can teach Yvonne right from wrong and how to be a decent person. I believe the Hob family has what it takes to help her seed. ¡°If you could raise a son as outstanding as Jared, I¡¯m sure you can do the same with your granddaughter.¡± 12.06 Thu 21 Audio 56% 38/ I didn¡¯t want to argue with Sally about custody anymore, because in the end, we both wanted the same thing¨Cfor Yvonne to grow up into someone better. Sally¡¯s expression softened a little when she heard me say that. She shot a proud look at Jared, who was sitting there quietly with his head down, and couldn¡¯t help but smile. She said, ¡°You know, you¡¯re right about one thing. My son is something.¡± Jared cut her off. He said, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s just see what Yvonne wants. If she wants to stay with Victoria¡­¡± I interrupted him, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her myself and tell her she should stay with the Hob family.¡± Sally blinked, looking baffled. She asked, ¡°Victoria, what¡¯s gotten into you? In just a few days, you tossed your husband and kid aside. Did you fall for someone else or something?¡± Jared¡¯s gaze turned stormy, locking onto me. Guess he was wondering the same thing. AD Loose 249 V 56% I picked up my coffee and took a sip. Then I grinned and said, ¡°So what, Sally? Your son¡¯s a gem in your eyes, but you expect me to treat him like he¡¯s the only one that matters? ¡°You never mention a word about him and Tracy, but now you want to throw all the dirt on me?¡± Jared¡¯s face flushed red as he exined quietly, ¡°Tracy and I arepletely over. There won¡¯t be any contact between us from now on.¡± I shot back, ¡°Completely over? So you admit you were together.¡± Jared¡¯s face went stiff, regret flickering in his eyes. Seeing that Jared was getting all flustered after I called him out, Sally instantly jumped in, clearly not happy about
  1. it.
She said, ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t be so aggressive. So what if they had a thing? You¡¯re divorcing him anyway. Why do you even care who he¡¯s seeing?¡± Jared said, ¡°Mom, can you not stir things up? Yeah, Tracy and I did have some thoughts, but I put a stop to it before it went any further. Nothing happened.¡± Sally grumbled, ¡°Jared, what¡¯s the point of exining? Not that it matters¨CVictoria already thinks you cheated.¡± I locked eyes with Jared and said firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t need to hear about your romance with Tracy. Whatever happened before, or whatever might happen in the future, I wish you both well. Just make sure you get those divorce papers ready, and quick.¡± Sally¡¯s eyes went wide. She said, ¡°Victoria, when did you get so tough? Jared¡¯s got such a good temper, but you treat him like this. If you end up with another man¡­¡± ¡°Another man wouldn¡¯t betray me,¡± I cut in, not missing a beat. That one line left Sallypletely speechless. Jared fidgeted with his fingers, clearly frustrated. He said, ¡°Alright, Mom, just give us some space. I need to talk to Victoria,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother talking to her. She¡¯s acting all high and mighty, bossing you around, and I just can¡¯t stand it,¡± Sally said, reaching out to drag Jared away, Jared shook off her hand and said, ¡°Mom, this is between me and her. If you¡¯re here for Yvonne, just go get her and take her home.¡± Sally shot me a nasty look and warned, ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t think you can walk all over Jared just because he¡¯s nice. If you want a cut of his money, you¡¯d better earn it¨CJared never got a cent handed to him.¡± 12:06 Thu, 21 Aug bo I kept my head down, staying quiet. Sally was clearly pissed, but she had no choice but to leave. After Sally left, Jared and I sat there in a long, heavy silence. I nced out the window at the street, then checked my watch. I said, ¡°I need to get to work.¡± 56% +38 Jared reached out and gently pulled me back into my seat. He said, ¡°Victoria, I agree to the divorce, and I¡¯ll split some of the assets with you. But it¡¯ll take a few days to finalize everything. Just give me a little more time.¡± I nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I trust you.¡± Jared said, ¡°I¡¯ll need you to put more effort into managing the hotel from now on. I have faith in your abilities.¡± I nodded again. I was eager to realize my potential at work, and now, step by step, things were finally starting to improve for me. Jared suddenly asked, ¡°So, what are you nning to do after the divorce?¡± I hesitated for a second, then shook my head. I said, ¡°No ns. I¡¯ll just focus on work for now.¡± Jared looked relieved, a smile tugging at his lips. He said, ¡°That¡¯s good. You¡¯ve been wrapped up in family drama for so long¨Cwork will give you some stability. I think that¡¯s great.¡± I sneered, ¡°Why are you suddenly so concerned about me?¡± Jared was caught off guard. Forcing augh, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. You¡¯re just never easy to handle.¡± I chuckled and shot back, ¡°What, worried I might not be able to find a man better than you?¡± Jared¡¯s face went stiff for a moment. He then shook his head and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m worried you actually will.¡± AD Loose 250 Chapter 250 56% It was rare to see Jared this unsure of himself. Still, I frowned and snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t I deserve someone better than you?¡± Jared looked taken aback by my sudden outburst. A sheepish grin spread across his face as he said, ¡°No, you do deserve better. But I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll find someone. ¡°Honestly, I let you stay at the hotel for selfish reasons. I just kept thinking we¡¯d get back together.¡± I stared at him, stunned. I couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d just said that so openly. I raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°So, after the divorce, you¡¯re nning to win me back?¡± Jared was a mature, clear¨Cheaded man. He wasn¡¯t like those shy boys who were too nervous to speak their minds, blushing and stammering, afraid one¡¯d see right through them¨Cor not see them at all. In my memory, he was gentle yet sharp, steady but with underlying forcefulness. Just like with his investments, he liked to see right through things before making a move¨Che¡¯d strike fast and hard, never missing his mark. Now I could tell he had me in his sights. Jared nodded and replied, ¡°Yes. I know it sounds ridiculous, and you probably won¡¯t even give me a shot, but I still want to try.¡± I shot back, ¡°Don¡¯t even bother. You¡¯ll just end up humiliating yourself. Unless you hand over every penny and your life.¡± Jared frowned and asked, ¡°What, you want me to put my life on the line just to chase after you?¡± I shook my head and said, ¡°Rx, I¡¯m just messing with you. Who¡¯d pick up a fork for a dish they¡¯ve already had enough of? Unless they¡¯ve got no other choice and have to settle for cold leftovers.¡± My words made Jared freeze for a second, then he gave a rxed smile. He said, ¡°No one knows you better than I do.¡± I was speechless. He was so cocky¨Che thought he had me all figured out. Not bothering to tangle with him, I said, ¡°Let¡¯s keep it civil and go our separate ways. After the divorce, we¡¯re just strangers.¡± With that, I got up and left. Jared hurried after me. Just as I was about to cross the street/distracted by a phone call, the green light was already counting down. I didn¡¯t notice until Jared reached out and grabbed my wrist. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going,¡± he said. Feeling the heat of his palm, I instantly shook off his hand and waited off to the side. When the light turned green, I quickly finished my call and strode away. 12:07 Thu, 21 Aug Jared stood across the street, watching me. 56% 38 Back in the hotel lobby, I saw him slide into a silver Bentley that was idling at the curb, then pull away. Only then did I realize my heart no longer beat for Jared¨Cthe man I had once been head¨Cover¨Cheels for, year after year. When he first told me he liked me, I was so thrilled I couldn¡¯t sleep, imagining us in a cozy home, doing all the fun things together. But now, my love for him was gone. That night, I took Melissa out for dinner at the hotel¡¯s restaurant. Melissa wandered around, totally floored by the ce. She eximed, ¡°So, this is the ultra¨Cluxury hotel that costs billions to redo. Damn, Victoria, you¡¯re a real gem. I didn¡¯t know you had it in you.¡± Her words made me genuinely happy inside. ¡°I¡¯m finally getting divorced,¡± I told her. Melissa stared at me, stunned. She asked, ¡°Jared agreed to let you go?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. Melissa clicked her tongue and said, ¡°That couldn¡¯t have been easy. But seriously, aren¡¯t you even a little sad about the divorce?¡± ¡°Why should I be?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. Melissa took a step back, locking eyes with me. Then she said, ¡°I was there for all of it¨CI know how much you loved Jared. He was your first love, your first kiss, your first time. ¡°He was the one you had always idealized and the one who set your heart on fire. Are you just walking away from him like this?¡± I froze, a sharp pain twisting in my chest¨Cas if I couldn¡¯t breathe. But just as quickly as it came, the feeling vanished. I replied, ¡°I might not have a man in my heart, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t have one around. If I don¡¯t let him go, how else am I supposed to meet someone new?¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12:07 Thu, 21 Aug Loose 251 Melissaughed and teased, ¡°Damn, Victoria, you¡¯re about to live the good life.¡± I pressed my lips together, then burst outughing, too. 56% Even though I kept cracking jokes, the truth was I¡¯d built an emotional wall when it came to men. Whenever one tried to get close or flirt, I¡¯d tense up¨CI simply wasn¡¯t ready to start anything new. 38) Jared had thrown my whole love life into chaos. I trusted himpletely, chose him with all my heart, and in the end, it still ended in divorce. If I tried again with someone else, it might just be another mess. Melissa¡¯s rtionship was pretty chill¨Cshe and Zachary had agreed to hustle for a couple more years before even thinking about tying the knot. Melissa was relentlessly practical. While we ate, sheid out every cost in detail¨Cdown to thest can of form, up to a house and a car. In the end, the numbers felt crushing. She said, ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m so jealous of you. You¡¯re about to be a millionaire. When will it be my turn to win 1.6 million? I¡¯ve even daydreamed about all the ways I¡¯d spend it.¡°! Iughed and said, ¡°Come on, as far as I know, you¡¯ve never even bought a single lottery ticket in your life.¡± Melissa slumped in defeat. She said, ¡°Yeah, I always thought the lottery was just a scam, so I never even thought about buying one. But I still can¡¯t help fantasizing about hitting the jackpot.¡± ¡°If you ever need money in a pinch, I¡¯ve got your back,¡± I said softly, trying to cheer her up. Melissa waved me off. Her face was set with determination as she said, ¡°Nope. Borrowed money alwayses with strings. I feel way better earning it myself. I¡¯m just gonna work hard and snag that promotion.¡± To me, Melissa was a total badass. I admired her for walking down the aisle three times and walking out three times, yet still living with confidence and joy. From day one, she knew the only person she could truly count on was herself. I¡¯d already talked to my parents about the divorce, and they left the decision up to me. With them backing me up, I had nothing to worry about. The divorce agreementnded on my desk in no time, along with the assets I was getting. I had Melissa¡¯s friend fromw school act as my attorney and help me sort out the numbers. When everything was tallied up¨Cstocks and all kinds of property¨Cit came out to over 460 million dors. Way more than I ever expected. Jared already signed the papers. He walked over, and his eyes lingered on the pen in my hand. He said, ¡°Once you sign, we can go get the divorce certificate.¡± I had mywyer double¨Ccheck everything to make sure there were no issues. Then, I picked up the pen and signed my name. Jared¡¯s gaze locked onto my signature, and he let out a quiet, almost mocking chuckle. Once we¡¯d signed, we went to the city hall to exchange our marriage certificate for a divorce certificate. When we stepped outside, as if the weather was mourning us, it started pouring, trapping us both in the downpour. On the pale walls of the city hall, there were sentimental slogans about the beauty of marriage. I looked down at the divorce certificate in my hand and couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Jared¡¯s driver rushed over with a big ck umbre and said, ¡°Mr. Hob, this is the only one we¡¯ve got.¡± Jared took the umbre and told the driver, ¡°Go wait in the car.¡± The driver nced at me, then turned and hurried off. Jared opened the umbre and said, ¡°Come on, let me walk you to your car.¡± I nodded and replied, ¡°Thanks.¡± As we moved forward, Jared walked right beside me, his tall frame almost brushing mine. Rain pounded the umbre like a drum; at the entrance, water had pooled into a shallow river. My heels were instantly soaked, and the slick ground forced me to slow, every step careful and unsteady. All of a sudden, Jared slipped his arm around my shoulders. I stiffened in surprise, and in the next moment, he pulled me into his arms. He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss on my forehead. ¡°Victoria, is this really the end for us?¡± he murmured, his voice low and full of longing. Loose 252 Chapter 252 The rain poured down, drumming against the umbre. Jared¡¯s lips were cool as they pressed against my forehead. I said, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the end.¡± The whole divorce drama had finallye to an end. Jared¡¯s fingers tightened around mine. He asked, ¡°Can we still be friends?¡± I almostughed. Exes ying ¡°let¡¯s stay friends¡± was just moral grandstanding. I said coldly, ¡°If we can avoid seeing each other, let¡¯s do that.¡± Jared tensed up. 55% I walked away from the shelter of his umbre. The rain instantly drenched my dress and long hair. I wasn¡¯t afraid of the storm anymore. I¡¯d changed¨CI was stronger now. Jared just stood there in the rain, watching as I climbed into my car. I kicked off my ts, slid behind the wheel, and vanished into the downpour. Jared had given me a decent sum, and I needed to use it wisely. The housing market hadn¡¯t yet gone crazy, so I had to think long¨Cterm. Based on what I knew and what I was capable of, I nned to invest in industries that felt stable to me. I had a pretty good grasp of when real estate would dip, when gold would surge, and the general trends of the stock market. All I needed to do was seize the right moments, make the money I could, and then let things settle down. I didn¡¯t have any concrete ideas about starting a business or other investments yet, so for now, real estate was my best bet. It was the hottest industry to cash in on these past few years. 1 had plenty on my te, but I still set aside a nest egg for my parents¡® retirement. And whatever people might say, I was determined to build a fund for Aiden¡¯s future. I¡¯d already told my parents about the divorce; they never once asked about the settlement¨Cjust another reminder of how lucky I am to have parents who respect my choices. Three days after the divorce, I decided to take a short trip to Shariport. So I took a week off work. But there was something that had been weighing on my mind. Ryan had promised two days off, then begged for three more. It was day five, and his phone still went straight to voicemail. The thought of those debt collectors gnawed at me¡ªI was terrified something had happened to Ryan. 12:07 Thu, 21 Aug 500 ? ? 55% > I knew Melissa had a cousin at the police station, so I asked her to have the cousin look into it for me and see if Ryan was being threatened or harassed by anyone shady, or if anything bad had happened to himtely. Melissa promised she¡¯d let me know the moment she heard anything. I remembered bumping into Ryan in Shariportst time, so since I was going there to unwind, I figured maybe I could look him up while I was at it. I never expected to find myself worrying about Ryan like this. Maybe it was because there was something so genuine in his eyes when he looked at me. I felt he deserved a better fate than having to shoulder his family¡¯s debts and deal with all that crap at his age. Jared approved my time off pretty quickly. He called me and asked, ¡°Are you going back to see your parents?¡± ¡°Nah, just taking a little trip,¡± I replied. Jared asked, ¡°Where are you headed?¡± He sounded a bit surprised. He probably thought I¡¯d be heading back to my hometown for a while. After Hachester, my hometown was always my favorite ce to be. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯d rather not say,¡± I replied. I didn¡¯t want Jared getting too involved in my personal life anymore. Jared gave a small, disappointedugh and said, ¡°Hope you have a good trip.¡± I thanked him and hung up. My flight was that night¨CI flew straight to Shariport. I¡¯d already gotten the keys to the ce Jared had given me. 1 Alone, I stood quietly by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, just gazing out at the gorgeous city lights. In that moment, every breath felt free. I spent the night resting, and the next morning, I¡¯slipped into somefortable clothes and made my way to Radiance, ready to lose myself in a day of shopping. I¡¯d originally wanted Melissa to join me, but she couldn¡¯t get away from work¨Cshe had a court sessioning up and just couldn¡¯t take the time off. We promised to hang out together next time. As I wandered alone through these unfamiliar streets, I felt my mind finally rx. It was as if the woman who used to be trapped in the endless cycle of daily chores was slowly fading into the background. I treated myself to a few things I liked/ Even though the divorce had left me with a hefty sum, I knew that without Jared, I couldn¡¯t just spend money however I pleased anymore. From now on, I¡¯d have to stick to what I could earn¨Cno more reckless splurging. Unless, of course, one day my investments paid off, and then maybe I could indulge a little. 1207 Thu, 21 Aug 9 Loose 253 I suddenly spotted a lean figure in a ck T¨Cshirt. From the back, he looked so much like Ryan. I was stunned for a moment, then hurried after him. But when I finally saw his face, my heart sank¨Cit wasn¡¯t him. ¡°Ryan, where are you?¡± I muttered, leaning against the railing and watching the endless stream of people. For the first time, I found myself genuinely worried about someone. I asked the building management about Ss, and found out he was just renting the ce¨Cit wasn¡¯t even his property. The door had been shut tight these past few days, and I¡¯d even gone over to knock myself. An uneasy feeling kept gnawing at me. I kept picturing Ryan¡¯s fresh, gentle face and the way his eyes looked so clear and sincere whenever he smiled. I was annoyed at how much I cared about him. Yvonne video called me that afternoon. I ignored her first call, but when she tried again, I happened to be taking a break in a caf¨¦, so I picked up this time. Yvonne was sprawled out on a couch, chin in her hands, her eyes fixed on the screen. She beamed and asked, ¡°Mom, guess where I am?¡± I replied, ¡°No idea. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at Dad¡¯s office. He¡¯s working right now. Where are you having fun, Mom?¡± Yvonne said, then angled her phone so Jared came into view, sitting at his desk. Jared looked over at us, and Yvonne turned the phone back to herself. She said, ¡°Mom, when youe back, can you bring me a small present?¡± I saw the expectant look in her eyes and replied coolly, ¡°We¡¯ll see. If I see something, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± Yvonne replied, ¡°Okay. Mom, are you and Dad divorced? Does that mean I¡¯ll be staying with Dad¡¯s family from now on? Will you stille see me?¡± As she spoke, her eyes started to turn red. She buried her face in her arms for a moment. When she looked up again, she choked out, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry for always making you mad. You must not like me anymore. ¡°I won¡¯t make you mad again. Pleasee visit me when you have time, okay?¡± Yvonne had learned her lesson this time. I didn¡¯t feel soft¨Chearted at all. I was happy for her. I knew that without me spoiling her, she wouldn¡¯t grow up the wrong way. Honestly, I was at fault too. I couldn¡¯t just me everything on her and Jared. Because I knew I was partly to me, I didn¡¯t hold any deep resentment. I just wanted to get away from them. Suddenly, Jared took the phone from Yvonne. He was sharp¨Ceyed¨Che must have seen the view behind me and figured it out right away. So he asked, ¡°Victoria, are you in Shariport?¡± 55% 38) Seeing Jared¡¯s face on the screen made my heart skip a beat. I quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ve got something to do. Gotta go.¡± Before he could say anything else, I hung up. That night, I nned to take in the night view at Azure Bay, grab some dinner, and then head home to rest. As the sky grew dark, I found a nice restaurant for dinner. Afterward, with the cool night breeze on my face, I headed to one of those Instagram¨Cfamous hotspots. Standing in the crowd, I gazed up at the stunning nightscape. Suddenly, not far away, I spotted a group of young, attractive men and women walking in my direction. The guy at the front looked a lot like Ryan. 1: I stiffened, thinking maybe I was just seeing things again, so I headed over to check. Before I even got close enough, I heard one of the guysugh and say, ¡°Ryan, are you seriously going back to thatme job in Hachester tomorrow?¡± Hearing Ryan¡¯s name stunned me. I followed them at a safe distance and recognized the man with that striking aura Ryan. But he looked nothing like the Ryan I remembered. He was dressed in a crisp white designer shirt, looking effortlessly polished¨Calmost regal. A sea¨Cblue diamond stud glinted in his left ear, lending him an unmistakable air of quiet luxury. I hurriedly pulled a sun hat from my bag and slipped it on, not wanting them to notice me. I heard Ryan reply, ¡°Had enough fun¨Ctime to get back to work.¡± ¡°Ryan, you love making things hard for yourself. Who¡¯s got you so hung up back there?¡± one of the guys teased, curious all over his voice. Ryan shrugged and said, ¡°She¡¯s someone pretty important to me.¡± Right then, the girl on the edge sidled up to Ryan and said, ¡°Ryan, if you dare get yourself a girlfriend, watch out- your grandpa might just break your legs.¡± I was so caught up in their conversation that I identally bumped into a middle¨Caged man. The man immediately let out a loud yell, then dropped his thermos on the ground. He eximed, ¡°Hey, beautiful, my cup¡¯s broken¨Cwhat are you gonna do about it?¡± The thermos hit the ground with a loud,crash, shattering into pieces. Everyone around us jumped at the noise. I froze, stunned. Ryan and his group, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned to look back. Loose 254 The middle¨Caged man gave me a sleazy grin and said, ¡°Hey, prettydy, I know you didn¡¯t do it on purpose, but this thermos really matters to me. It was my mom¡¯s.¡± ¡°How much do you want? I¡¯ll pay,¡± I said, not wanting to get into it with him. The man was about to answer when Ryan walked right over. Ryan said, ¡°How much? I¡¯ll pay.¡± The man had been trying to take advantage of me being alone, but seeing more people around, he backed off fast. He said, ¡°Just 100 dors. Guess it¡¯s my unlucky day.¡± I pulled out my wallet and started to get some cash, but Ryan took the bills from my hand and handed over 30 dors. He said, ¡°That¡¯s the most it¡¯s worth.¡± The man nced at Ryan, realized he wasn¡¯t someone to mess with, took the money, and turned to leave. Ryan handed me the remaining money and asked, ¡°Ms. Murphy, what brings you here?¡± 1 took the money, slipped it back into my wallet, and replied coolly, ¡°Thanks for getting me out of that mess.¡± With that, I turned to leave. I was pissed. I felt Ryan had been anything but straight with me. While I was worried sick about him, he was in Shariport chasing skirts. Ryan rushed after me, cutting me off. He said, ¡°Ms/Murphy, let me exin.¡± I shot back, ¡°Exin what? Why are you rocking a Chanel shirt and a Rolex? Ryan, honestly, I don¡¯t even know who you are anymore.¡± Ryan¡¯s face turned pale, but he still darted in front of me. He said, ¡°I admit I lied to you, but my feelings for you are real,¡± Just then, a girl in a pink dress suddenly squeezed in. She clung to Ryan¡¯s arm and shot me a hostile re. She demanded, ¡°Ryan, who is she? Is that the woman you ran off to Hachester for? She looks way older than you.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Ryan said, shoving the girl aside and looking at me anxiously. He said, ¡°Victoria, I know I was wrong to lie to you, but you¡¯re notpletely innocent here either.¡± I stared at him, totally stunned. I said, ¡°What did I do wrong? I¡¯ve been worried about you for days, but now it seems like I shouldn¡¯t have bothered.¡± Ryan looked at me, his face full of hurt. He said, ¡°Did you just toss the contact info I gave youst time? I¡¯ve been 55% 38 waiting for your call, but you never even saved my number.¡± ¡°And how do you know I didn¡¯t?¡± I shot back, raising an eyebrow. Ryan bit his lip and then said, ¡°I¡¯m still using the same number I gave you. I saw your phonest time¨Cyou didn¡¯t even bother to put my name in.¡± I frowned, thinking he was just making a fuss for nothing. I snapped, ¡°Why would I even save your number? We¡¯ve only met twice¨CI¡¯m not that casual.¡± My head was spinning, and Ryan¡¯s lies had killed my vibe. I turned to leave. Ryan silently trailed behind. When I turned around, he looked just like a kid who¡¯d been caught doing something wrong. I stopped, and he hurried over. He said, ¡°Victoria, do you know? You¡¯re the first person who¡¯s ever gotten my number and never bothered to reach out.¡± I shot back, ¡°Give me one good reason why I should ever call you.¡± Ryan¡¯s face flushed red. He bit his lip and then said, ¡°You¡¯re the first woman I ever actually asked to call me. I thought¡­¡± I cut him off, ¡°Thought what? That I¡¯d fall for you at first sight? Ryan, you still owe me 30 thousand. When you have the money, don¡¯t forget to pay me back.¡± I was speechless at how full of himself he was. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 255 Loose 255 Just then, the girl in the pink dress stormed over, yelling at me, ¡°Hey, do you even know who he is? How could you. hurt his feelings like that? He went all the way to Hachester just for you.¡± Ryan immediately pped a hand over her mouth and pulled her away. Seeing this, I chalked it up to young people flirting and bickering. I turned around and gged down a taxi. Once I got in the car, I shot Melissa a quick text, telling her to stop looking for Ryan. Melissa messaged back, asking if I was developing feelings for Ryan since I was so worried about him. I just saw Ryan as an immature kid, even if he was already twenty¨Ctwo. He was not my type when it came to dating. I told Melissa I wasn¡¯t into Ryan at all, but she just called me a coward, saying I was too chicken to go for it. I could only give a bitter smile. Whether Melissa bought it or not, as a boss, I¡¯d never fall for a subordinate¨Cthat was just asking for trouble. When I got back to the hotel, my phone wouldn¡¯t stop buzzing¨CRyan kept calling and blowing up my messages. I just ignored him. The next morning, someone rang my doorbell. I peeked out the peephole, on full alert. When I saw it was Ryan, I was baffled. I wondered how he¡¯d found me here. I swung the door open, still in shock. Ryan stood outside, guilt written all over his face. He said, ¡°Sorry foring by so early and disturbing you.¡± ¡°How did you even know I was staying here? Were you checking up on me?¡± I demanded, my anger barely contained. Ryan said softly, ¡°I asked a friend to help me out. I¡¯m sorry, I just wanted a chance to exin myself.¡± My expression turned cold as I stared him down. I said, ¡°If you can use your connections to track me down, then everything you told me before was a lie. Ryan, you¡¯ve been lying to me all along. Why?¡± Ryan replied, ¡°I just wanted to get close to you.¡± Only now did it dawn on me¨CRyan was not some ordinary guy. I asked, ¡°Who are you, really?¡± Ryan said, ¡°I¡¯m from Braylin. My family¡¯s loaded. Those guys you sawst time were not debt collectors¨Cthey were my family¡¯s bodyguards. And Ss is my family¡¯s steward.¡± I was totally stunned. I couldn¡¯t wrap my head around it¨Che was the pampered heir to a fortune, yet he yed poor in front of me and even spent his summer break working at my ce just to ¡°earn his stripes.¡± Talk about manufacturing hardship. ¡°Why go through all that?¡± I asked, keeping my cool. He might¡¯ve lied to me, but as long as he was safe, I wasn¡¯t about to make a big deal out of it. Ryan lowered his head and twisted his fingers. He muttered, ¡°Honestly, it was all just to see you. Victoria, maybe you didn¡¯t fall for me at first sight, but for me, it was love at first sight.¡± His words caught me off guard again. Ryan looked at me, his eyes sincere. He said, ¡°The day I saw you at the hotel, you blew me away. I never thought anyone could make a long dress look good. ¡°Women in my family wear them all the time, but to me they always seemed a little gaudy. Then I saw you¨Cdid a double¨Ctake. You made that dress look incredible.¡± I crossed my arms, giving him a teasing smile. I shot back, ¡°Thanks. So, you just got interested because of my looks? Too bad for you¨CI¡¯m not into younger guys, especially ones who try to y me. ¡°Honestly, after what you pulled, you¡¯re not exactly scoring points with me right now.¡± Ryan¡¯s face went beet red, and he dropped his gaze, looking shy. He said, ¡°I know. I did want to tell you the truth, but after working for you, I realized how much you cared about me. ¡°I liked having you look out for me. I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to mess it up.¡± Loose 256 Chapter 256 54% C38 11 Looking at Ryan¡¯s innocent face, rage bubbled up inside me. I sneered, ¡°You lied to me so easily, just because you liked being taken care of by me?¡± Ryan said, ¡°No, I¡¯ve always felt guilty. I¡¯ve always wanted to do something to make it up to you, but in your eyes, I¡¯m just a poor kid. And I did get the bonus you sent me. Thank you, Victoria.¡± ¡°What did you just call me?¡± I asked. Ryan replied, ¡°I¡¯m not going back to work, and you probably don¡¯t want me around anymore. So I won¡¯t call you Ms. Murphy. Since you already knew my feelings, it just feels right to use your name.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t call me that. I¡¯m three years older than you. Show me some respect,¡± I said. Ryan said, ¡°You know what they say¨Cif a woman¡¯s three years older, she¡¯s a treasure.¡± I had been angry, but now I couldn¡¯t help butugh. I said, ¡°Ryan, I¡¯m not into younger guys. Don¡¯t waste your time.¡± As I spoke, I sized him up. He was good¨Clooking and in great shape, but the fact that he was younger than me just didn¡¯t sit right with me. Ryan said, ¡°How do you know I¡¯m too young for you if you haven¡¯t even tried? What¡¯s wrong with being a bit younger? I can bring you emotional value. I won¡¯t piss you off like Jared does. I¡¯ll only make you happy.¡± My eyes widened in surprise as I looked at him. Only now did I see that all his innocence was an act. Beneath that beautiful face lurked one sly fox. Ryan held my gaze and said, ¡°I know you divorced Jared.¡± I narrowed my eyes, and just then, my phone rang. It was a call from Jared. I walked over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window and answered, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jared said, ¡°I found out why those state¨Cownedpanies signed a deal with the hotelst time.¡± ¡°Whose connection was it?¡± I asked. Jared said, ¡°They said the guy¡¯sst name is Jennings, and he¡¯s got ties in Braylin. Victoria, when did you go and make a connection that strong without me knowing?¡± I turned to look at Ryan, who was leaning against the door. At that moment, Ryan looked like a puppy, giving me those soulful eyes, his long fingers twisting together. ¡°Are you sure hisst name is Jennings?¡± I asked, already having a pretty good idea who it was. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure. Who is this guy? What kind of deal did you make with him?¡± Jared pressed. 12:07 Thu, 21 Aug 9 Just then, Ryan came up behind me and asked, ¡°Victoria, want some midnight snacks?¡± I didn¡¯t see thating at all, and before I could stop him, it was already toote¨CJared had heard his voice. Jared instantly demanded, ¡°Is there a guy with you?¡± I shot Ryan a re, and he just blinked back at me, all innocent. 54% 39 I replied, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk about this when I¡¯m back in Hachester. I¡¯ve got things to handle here, so I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± With that, I ended the call and turned, fixing my gaze on Ryan. Ryan looked at me, ying innocent. He said, ¡°Victoria, does Jared think you can¡¯t find anyone better than him now that you¡¯re divorced?¡± ¡°Ryan, just tell me¨Cdid you have anything to do with those state¨Cownedpanies in Hachester suddenly teaming up with the hotel?¡± I asked. Ryan yed dumb. He said, ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± I said, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me the truth right now, I¡¯ll not only fire you, but we¡¯re done being friends.¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes flickered, and he lowered his head. He said, ¡°Yeah, I called in a few favors. Victoria, I couldn¡¯t stand people looking down on you. ¡°I¡¯ve overheard them bad¨Cmouthing you¨Csaying you only got the job because you¡¯re Jared¡¯s wife, that the hotel will crash within a year. So I made sure they signed a three¨Cyear contract.¡± I was honestly stunned. I never imagined Ryan would go this far to help me. AD Comment Loose 257 V ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this sooner?¡± I asked, most of my anger fading away. Honestly, those deals with the state¨Cownedpanies did make my position a lot more secure. Ryan said, ¡°I just wanted to help you out quietly, so you wouldn¡¯t feel like you owed me anything.¡± ¡°Honestly, I do owe you a big favor,¡± I said, just calling it like it is¨Cnot looking to take advantage of him. Ryan said, ¡°You really don¡¯t have to pay me back. Just take it as a gift from me.¡± ¡°No, a favor¡¯s a favor¨CI¡¯ll pay it back,¡± I replied, already running the calctions in my head. My heart was long past getting tangled up in feelings¨Cwhen ites to business, it was all about strategy and leverage. Ryan had serious connections, and cutting him off would only end up hurting me, too. ¡°Victoria, if you want to pay me back, just let me keep working. There¡¯s only a month left¨Clet me stay until the end of the month,¡± Ryan said, putting his condition on the table. ¡°Well, an heir like you willing to roll up his sleeves? Now that¡¯s a rare sight,¡± I teased, raising an eyebrow with a smile. Ryan held my gaze and said, ¡°How do you know the bitter part isn¡¯t what makes it sweet for me? Victoria, don¡¯t worry¨CI¡¯m not plotting anything. I just want a little more time with you.¡± I replied, ¡°Plenty of people are into me¨Cyou¡¯re just one more. But remember, liking is only a feeling. If you expect me to return it, you may be disappointed.¡± My defenses had already hardened; I didn¡¯t fall easily, and when I did, I braced for the pain. Honestly, the safest move was to keep things light and yful. Ryan let out a bitterugh and said, ¡°I get it, Victoria. You just walked out of a messy marriage¨Cno way you¡¯re gonna let anyone in easily for a while.¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯re pretty mature for your age,¡± I said with augh. Ryan said, ¡°I grew up with my grandpa. My mom was always busy working, so I had to grow up fast and learn to take care of myself.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go grab some midnight snacks,¡± I suggested. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Ryan said, his eyes lighting up with a happy smile. I grabbed my keys and led Ryan downstairs. The area was packed with ces to eat. I took him to a Shariport¨Cstyle caf¨¦ and ordered a few dishes. Ryan looked all hyped up, sneaking peeks at me like he was scared I¡¯d still be pissed. 1/2 ¡°Did you take time off just toe to Shariport and have some fun?¡± I asked him. Ryan nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, just here to hang out with some friends for a few days. By the way, are you still around tomorrow? I could let you meet my friends.¡± ¡°Nah, your friends are all too young for me,¡± I said, shaking my head. 38 Ryan looked a little bummed but then added, ¡°That girl in the pink dress today is my childhood friend. She¡¯s from Braylin, too. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea¨Cwe¡¯re just friends.¡± I replied, ¡°Rx, I know nothing is going on.¡± Ryan let out a soft ¡°oh,¡± then asked, ¡°So, in your eyes, do I look like a little brother to you?¡± I nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got a younger brother your age. He¡¯s studying in Braylin.¡± Ryan¡¯s face lit up. He eximed, ¡°Really? Maybe you could introduce me to him sometime?¡± I replied, ¡°No need. He¡¯s not from your world.¡± I could tell Ryan wasn¡¯t just any rich kid¨Che had the kind of innocence and rity that onlyes from being raised among the elite,pletely shielded from the chaos beyond their gates. Ryan asked, ¡°Are you still mad at me?¡± With those rosy lips and perfect white teeth, he looked like a rare wildflower in full bloom on a mountain ridge. I leaned back in my seat, soaking up the view and savoring the moment. A month on site had stolen thest of his office pallor; his lips were a soft, damp pink, and the sun had traded that fragile whiteness for a healthy glow. Ryan caught me looking and blushed. He asked, ¡°Victoria, have you stared enough?¡± Loose 258 I realized I¡¯d zoned out, staring at Ryan for a good five seconds. I quickly let out an awkwardugh and said, ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t wrap my head around why you¡¯de to Hachester for a job.¡± Ryan thought for a moment and then said, ¡°After we parted in Shariport, I kept waiting for you to reach out. You¡¯d mentioned Hachester, and I figured we weren¡¯t far apart. Then you vanished¨Cdropped off the face of the earth. ¡°So I pulled a few strings. I swear I wasn¡¯t snooping.¡± ¡°So you didn¡¯t just randomly apply at the hotel?¡± I asked. Ryan replied, ¡°Nope, I went there on purpose to find you. The moment I saw you, I was honestly pretty thrilled, but I didn¡¯t dare let it show.¡± ¡°So, were you disappointed when you found out I was married and had a kid?¡± I asked, meeting his gaze. Ryan said, ¡°Not at all. I asked around and heard you¡¯re in the middle of a divorce with Jared. Maybe I went a bit overboard? You¡¯re not mad, right? I just wanted to get to know you better.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but get annoyed. After all, no one could stand living with zero privacy. I asked, ¡°So, did you look up my whole family history, too?¡± Ryan said, ¡°Not that far. Rx, I won¡¯t bother you. I just want to start off as friends.¡± Once the food hit the table, we chatted as we ate. I was honestly surprised that Ryan had made a special trip to Hachester just to see me. ¡°Victoria, you said you were worried about me before. Was that for real?¡± Ryan asked, looking up at me with a smile while still eating. I replied, ¡°I was worried you might get snatched by debt collectors, so I asked the cops to keep an eye on you.¡± Ryan¡¯s face lit up. He said, ¡°Thanks for caring. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°From now on, don¡¯t ever lie to me again. If I catch you being dishonest, I¡¯ll still have to let you go,¡± I warned him sternly. Ryan nodded and said, ¡°Understood.¡± Just then, my phone, lying on the table, lit up with a message from Jared. I nced at it. He was asking who the man I was just with was, and if that was the real reason I went to Shariport. I didn¡¯t reply. After all, Jared never bothered to exin things when he was getting close to Tracy. After we finished ourte¨Cnight snack, Ryan saw me off at the elevator, then went back to his ce. 12:08 Thu, 21 Aug 5, 54% The next morning, I slept inte. Half¨Casleep, I heard someone knocking on the door. I thought it was Ryaning to see me, so I quickly got up, tied my hair back, freshened up, and wrapped my robe tight before opening the door. But when I opened the door, I saw Jared standing outside. I stared at him, totally stunned. Jared stormed in, searching every possible hiding spot in my room. Finally, he stood there, hands on his hips, fuming as he demanded, ¡°Where¡¯s that guy?¡± I never thought Jared would lose his mind and rush from Hachester to Shariport just to bust me for cheating. He was totally out of his mind. I pulled my robe tighter, leaning against the wine cab, and sneered, ¡°Jared, let me make this clear. This is my ce. You barge in here, causing a scene, and you think you¡¯re in the right?¡± Jared froze as he finally realized that I wasn¡¯t his wife anymore. I didn¡¯t have my divorce certificate with me, or I would¡¯ve thrown it in his face to snap him out of it. Jared rubbed his forehead in frustration, then slumped onto the couch, looking exhausted. He said, ¡°Victoria, can you just be straight with me? Did you already have someone waiting in the wings before our divorce? That guy from yesterday. Was he Nathan?¡± I froze. I was starting to wonder if Jared¡¯s ears were on the fritz yesterday¨Ccouldn¡¯t he tell that it wasn¡¯t Nathan¡¯s voice? I shot back, ¡°Why should I tell you anything? We¡¯re divorced. We don¡¯t owe each other anything.¡± Loose 259 Chapter 259 ? ? 54% Jared¡¯s eyes were zing red as he suddenly shot up and started closing the distance between us, step by step. He said, ¡°I can¡¯t stand it. You have no idea¨Cjust picturing you with another guy makes my mind explode. I can¡¯t take it, it drives me insane.¡± 38 I froze in ce as Jared stopped right in front of me. He said, ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m seriously losing it. I must¡¯ve been crazy to ever agree to that divorce.¡± I shoved him away and walked over to the window, turning my back on him. I said, ¡°I managed to ept you hooking up with Tracy, so why can¡¯t you handle me being with another guy?¡± ¡°I never hooked up with Tracy,¡± Jared said, his voice raw with pain. I let out a coldugh and said, ¡°You say that. But I¡¯ve had so many dreams of you two together¨Cmaking out on a mountaintop, in a car, even in the stadium bathroom.¡± Jared looked at me, totally floored. He asked, ¡°What are you even saying?¡± I felt suffocated. I turned and shot him a cold look. Then I said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Honestly, maybe you should chase after some other woman for a change. Maybe that¡¯ll make you happy.¡± Jared just shook his head, his eyes locked on mine, stubborn as ever. He said, ¡°I can¡¯t get you out of my head. There¡¯s no one else.¡± ¡°That¡¯s only because you finally realize you can¡¯t have me anymore,¡± I retorted, my wordsced with mockery. Jared froze for a second, then said, ¡°Victoria, these days I¡¯ve been thinking. All those years we were married, I was buried in work and forgot to take you out to watch the world roll by¨Csunsets, sunrises, the whole sky show. ¡°You always talked about chasing shimmering lights at the edge of the world, about lying under a crystal¨Cclear night sky where the stars feel close enough to touch. I kept telling myself I¡¯d take you someday, as soon as work let up.¡± I cut him off, ¡°Save it. I can go see all those beautiful sights by myself. What I don¡¯t get is why men always wait until after everything¡¯s over to talk about these ns. Where were you when we were together?¡± Jared clearly hadn¡¯t expected me to be so blunt, and he just stood there, stunned. I sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t give me that ¡®I finally get it¡® look. Men love to y these pointless games, thinking that if they paint a big enough picture of the future, women will just follow along. ¡°But we are flesh and blood, too¨Cthose grand promises don¡¯t fill an empty stomach; they only leave one disappointment after another.¡± Jared let out a bitterugh and said, ¡°Victoria, I guess I never really understood you at all. You¡¯re right¨Cguys have all kinds of tricks to sweet¨Ctalk women, but I never should¡¯ve tried that with you. I won¡¯t treat you that way ever 54% 38) again.¡± I shot back, ¡°You don¡¯t have the chance. Snow melts in the sun, grass wilts in the frost, people fear being broken, and love fears heartbreak, ¡°I¡¯ve got money now, I don¡¯t need a man¡¯s love, and there¡¯s nothing left for me to be afraid of. My future? I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± Jared¡¯s face fell. He demanded, ¡°So, you spent the night with another man?¡± His bizarre logic left me speechless. Putting on my coldest front, I said tly, ¡°I don¡¯t owe you any exnations about my private life. Just go¨CI want to get some more sleep.¡± Jared looked like he¡¯d just been pped, his face flickering between flushed and ashen. Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and my heart skipped a beat. Jared was quicker than I, striding over to open it. There stood Ryan, holding a breakfast box. Jared recognized Ryan. He said, ¡°It is you?¡± Ryan greeted him with a calm smile. He said, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Hob.¡± Jared turned to me, eyes zing. He said, ¡°My mom said he¡¯s your little fling, and I guess she was right. You brought him to Shariport just to mess around? Victoria, are you that desperate? Any random guy is good enough for you now?¡± Staying calm, I shot back, ¡°You can mess around with your employees, so what¡¯s stopping me?¡± ? Loose 260 Chapter 260 At my words, Jared froze for a moment. Then, it was like something inside him just shattered. His eyes, which used. to shine so brightly, suddenly went dull¨Clike a sparkling gem cracked, all the light gone in an instant. He just stared,pletely stunned. I didn¡¯t know what kind of impact he was feeling inside, and honestly, I didn¡¯t care anymore. Jared said, ¡°You must be joking, right?¡± In his eyes, I was simply the well¨Cbehaved woman my parents had trained to mind every rule. He never thought I would walk away, and even after the divorce, he clung to the illusion that I¡¯d eventuallye back. Men could be so arrogant, refusing to see the truth. It took me crushing that smug certainty beneath my heel for him to realize no one waited forever. Ryan came over to my side and said, ¡°Victoria, I brought you some breakfast.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sweet of you, Ryan. Just have a seat for a bit, okay? I need to talk to him alone,¡± I replied softly. The next second, I spun around and headed for the door. Jared stormed after me, fury written all over his face. Before I could even make it to the deserted stairwell, Jared grabbed my wrist and pulled me roughly back to him. My head knocked into his shoulder as he mmed me against the wall, his breath ragged, eyes zing with anger. He said, ¡°Victoria, you don¡¯t have to hook up with some guy just to punish me. Please, don¡¯t do this¨Cit¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m begging you, Victoria.¡± I froze. Then I shoved him away with all my strength, trying to snap him out of his fantasy. I fixed my nightgown that he¡¯d ripped. Half my pale skin was showing, and Jared just stared at me, dazed. I stared calmly out the window and said, ¡°You messed up, but I¡¯m not putting all the me on you¨Cbecause! made mistakes too.¡± Jared clearly hated how detached I sounded when talking about us. When there was no emotion, there was nothing left to hope for. Honestly, I had already moved on, and I knew exactly where I had messed up. I let out a quiet sigh and turned to look at him. I said, ¡°You¡¯ve been charging ahead all this time, and I¡¯ve just been standing here, waiting for you. But after all these years, I can¡¯t even catch a glimpse of you anymore. And you and Tracy¨Cit¡¯s been over a year, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Jared¡¯s face turned ghostly pale, his lips pressed together,pletely speechless. I went on, ¡°I never grew alongside you. Staying stuck in the same ce was my mistake. I didn¡¯t change at all, and when you came back, all I did was nag about the daily grind¨Cthe chores, the bills, the kids crying. 12:08 Thu, 21 Aug ¡°You must¡¯ve gotten tired of me a long time ago.¡± Jared looked at me, stunned, his eyes full ofplicated emotions. 54% I closed my eyes, then opened them again. I said, ¡°Husband and wife are supposed to grow side by side, always finding new things to talk about, always drawing each other in. ¡°But I stayed where I was, and Tracy slipped into my ce¨Cwith your permission.¡± 38 Jared rubbed his forehead and said, ¡°Just stop. Now that we know where things went wrong, can¡¯t we try to save this together?¡± I could see he was already losing patience just hearing the truth, so I gave a littleugh. I said, ¡°It¡¯s not that we can¡¯t¨Cit¡¯s that it¡¯s impossible now. You know as well as I do: what¡¯s done is done. ¡°Once something¡¯s broken, it never goes back to the way it was. Even if we got back together, the cracks would still be there.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not true,¡± Jared said, stepping closer as he caught my hand and held it tight in his. AD Loose 261 38 I pulled my hand away and hid it behind my back. I said coldly, ¡°That¡¯s because you weren¡¯t the one who got betrayed. You didn¡¯t get hurt, so of course you think anything¡¯s possible. ¡°But let me ask you¨Cif I really slept with Ryan, would you ever take me back?¡± Jared¡¯s eyes flickered with shock. He demanded, ¡°Did you really sleep with him?¡± shook my head and sneered, ¡°See? I was just making a point, and you¡¯re already pissed. You can¡¯t even stand the idea, so don¡¯t stand there telling me to be the bigger person.¡± Jared said, ¡°I know you¡¯re lying to me. But you don¡¯t have to lower yourself like this.¡± ¡°He¡¯s younger than you, and better looking. If anything, I¡¯m the oneing out ahead¨Chow is that degrading myself?¡± I retorted with a sneer. Jared gritted his teeth, clearly at a loss for what to do with me. I said coolly, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I¡¯m going to get some breakfast. Just go.¡± Jared said, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± He then suddenly pulled me into a fierce hug, burying his face in my hair. He muttered, ¡°Victoria,e back to me, please?¡± ¡°I¡¯m noting back, Jared. Clinging like this is beneath you,¡± I reminded him. Jared froze, but then he said, ¡°What good is my status if I don¡¯t have you?¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh at how desperate he was. Jared, always so proud, was acting like a total simp. I said, ¡°Jared, have you ever thought about it? If we stay together, the Hob family will never know peace again.¡± Then I shoved him away and added, ¡°Your family will never ept me, and I¡¯ve already had a public falling out with them.¡± Jared looked at me, stunned, as if he¡¯d just been pped back into reality. 1 continued, ¡°So, for the sake of family harmony, go marry someone your mom approves of.¡± With that, I turned away before he could say anything. This time, Jared didn¡¯t try to stop me. Maybe he finally realized that love might be just between two people, but marriage was never just about two people¨Cit was about both families. He wasn¡¯t about to throw caution to the wind and go against his family just for me. Men were always more practical¨Cthey always thought long¨Cterm. And now, I needed to learn to be just as practical. When I got home, Ryan came over to me, worry written all over his face. 12:09 Thu, 21 Augo ¡°Why are you here?¡± I asked as I closed the door behind me. ¡°I just thought I¡¯d bring you some breakfast,¡± Ryan replied softly. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid, Ryan. 4 can just go downstairs and grab breakfast myself,¡± I said, arching an eyebrow yfully. Ryan said, ¡°I know, but I just wanted to do it for you.¡± I nced at him, and he ducked his head, suddenly bashful, unable to meet my eyes. 54% I had these bedroom eyes that always seemed to brim with feeling. Sometimes I wasn¡¯t even trying to flirt¨Cthey were just misleading, and it never worked out well for anyone. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said softly, then went to boil some water and fix Ryan a cup of morning coffee. I sat down and started on the breakfast he¡¯d brought over. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± I asked him. Ryan shook his head and said, ¡°Nope, I was hoping to eat with you.¡± He was so pure, not yet jaded by the world. Everything he said was honest and adorable, and being around him was just so refreshing. I could finally understand a bit of what Jared must have felt¨Cthere was always something exciting about someone new. ¡°Come on, sit down and eat with me,¡± I said. Ryan beamed and sat down. Just then, my phone buzzed with a text. I nced at it¨Cit was from Jared. I couldn¡¯t believe he was still sending me a love confession after everything that just happened. The message read: [Victoria, my feelings for you haven¡¯t faded¨Cthey¡¯re only growing stronger. Please, don¡¯t get involved with him yet. I¡¯ll convince my family.] Loose 262 Chapter 262 54% Jared surprised me with so many twists and turns. But honestly, with someone new in my life, I shouldn¡¯t bother with the old me. I didn¡¯t reply to Jared. Instead, I flipped my phone face down and left it there. Ryan¡¯s eyes lingered on my phone, then he let out a soft breath and handed me a peeled egg. ¡°Victoria, here, try this.¡± I took it and took a bite. It tasted so good. ¡°What are you up to this morning? Want to go somewhere? I can show you around,¡± Ryan said. 38 I hadn¡¯t nned anything for that trip. I just wanted to take it easy for a few days. I didn¡¯t know what I wanted to
  1. do.
¡°Sure, let¡¯s go have some fun,¡± I said. ¡°How about Disnend?¡± Ryan suggested. ¡°Sure,¡± I replied. I¡¯d taken Yvonne there before, but I was so wrapped up in making sure she had fun that I barely did anything for myself. Ryan couldn¡¯t help but grin when I said yes. Tchanged into somefy clothes, pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and followed Ryan downstairs, only to see him waiting in a Porsche sports car. ¡°Hop in,¡± Ryan said, holding the door open for me. Grinning, Ryan circled around to the driver¡¯s side and fired up the engine. Disnend, nestled on Largtau Ind in the New Terrnd, is Araria¡¯s second Disnend, a ce where the magic of fairytaleses alive, and there¡¯s something for everyone, young or old. Ryan still had that boyish charm. When we arrived, someone had already taken care of everything for us. I nced at him, and he just grinned. ¡°Just a friend of mine prepared all this.¡± I knew Ryan had plenty of secrets, but if he didn¡¯t want to talk about them, I just let it be. We yed until a little after three, and by then, we were both wiped out. Ryan asked if I wanted to keep going, but I said, ¡°Nah, I¡¯m done. I just want to go home and chill.¡± Ryan drove me back, and on the way he got a few calls. From what I overheard, his friends were trying to get him toe out, but he just brushed them off. When we got to my ce, I told Ryan he should go hang out with his friends instead of sticking around here, but he just wouldn¡¯t leave. I let him stretch out on the couch to rest, then headed to the bathroom for a shower, changed into some cozy 12:09 Thu, 21 Aug loungewear, and sprawled out on my bed. I curled up with my pillow and ended up falling asleep. When I woke up, it was already dark outside. 54% I got up and wandered into the living room. Ryan was there, glued to his phone, not even bothering to turn on the lights. He sprang to his feet as soon as he saw me. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± I asked, ¡°Why are you still here? I thought you¡¯d left.¡± Ryan grinned. ¡°Honestly, I got bored with hanging out with my friends. Didn¡¯t feel like tagging along anymore.¡± I flipped on the lights, and the room lit up. Ryan asked, ¡°Did you sleep well? Want me to take you up to Peace Peak to check out the city lights?¡± I nced out the window at the dark sky. ¡°We haven¡¯t even had dinner yet.¡± Ryan chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, then we¡¯ll go. Have you ever been?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Nope, but I¡¯ve heard about it. Isn¡¯t there the Sky Terrace and a cable car that¡¯s been running for over a century?¡± ¡°Yep, so how about we head over now?¡± Ryan suggested with a smile, noticing I was interested. I¡¯d had plenty of sleep, and it was about time to get out for a bit, so I agreed. Ryan seemed to know that ce inside out. After taking me to a restaurant for dinner, he drove us up to Peace Peak. Riding the cable car, the whole Shariport Ind and Nueriloon Penins spread out beneath us, making the city¡¯s magic feel so real. By the time we¡¯d had our fill and headed back down, it was alreadyte. Ryan drove me home and said his goodbyes. I watched him drive away, feeling a little calmer inside. Ryan¡¯s got so much energy, but after spending time with him, I realized he¡¯s got this old¨Csoul vibe, always thinking things through. The next day, I was getting ready to head back to Hachester. As I was packing up, I sent Ryan a quick message. Thinking back to how he said he wanted toe back and work here. I told him I was cool with it. Loose 263 Chapter 263 54% 38) When I got back to Hachester, I met up with Melissa for dinner and gave her a Bulgari bracelet. She was over the moon, showing it off like it was the best thing ever. Melissa said, ¡°Life¡¯s looking up for me now that I¡¯ve got a rich friend like you. Just wait. When I start making money, I¡¯ll take you out of town.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile. Melissa¡¯s such a sweet talker. ¡°Alright, just remember that when you hit it big,¡± I said, sipping my coffee with a grin. Melissa suddenly leaned in and said, ¡°You know, Mr. Hallman¡¯spany is going public in Shariport.¡± I blinked, surprised. ¡°Really? I should probably go congratte him sometime.¡± ¡°Once hispany goes public, he could be worth billions. Victoria, you need to make your move and lock him down,¡± Melissa whispered, nudging me. ¡°What¡¯s the point of locking him down?¡± I said with a smile. ¡°His money is his business. It doesn¡¯t have anything to do with me.¡± ¡°But he likes you,¡± Melissa said, practically bouncing in her seat. ¡°You have no idea how popr Mr. Hallman is right now. All these rich girls are after him. He¡¯s the hottest thing around.¡± Nathan¡¯s handsome face shed through my mind. He was young, good¨Clooking, and super talented, but honestly, I¡¯d been with guys like him before. It wasn¡¯t anything new. ¡°I¡¯d rather he find someone who¡¯s on his level and have a big romance,¡± I said, not feeling it. Nathan was a great guy, and he shouldn¡¯t waste his time. ¡°Ugh, Victoria, once bitten, twice shy. I get it,¡± Melissa sighed, realizing she wasn¡¯t going to change my mind. ¡°But honestly, you¡¯re doing pretty well for yourself. You¡¯re single and well¨Coff. ¡°At the end of the day, all anyone really needs is a bed to sleep in and three meals a day. If you can be content, that¡¯s already pretty great. If Nathan¡¯s not the one, there¡¯s always someone else waiting in line.¡± ¡°Wow, another life lesson?¡± Iughed. ¡°Learned it from you,¡± Melissa said. After dinner with Melissa, I headed back to my apartment. It was under my name, and that ce was going to be my home for good. As I pulled up to the building, I spotted a Maybach parked by the curb, hazard lights blinking. I took a closer look at the license te. It was Nathan¡¯s. For a second, my mind just went nk. I quickly pulled over and parked. Right then, the back door of the Maybach opened, and Nathan got out and headed my way. 1/3 12:09 Thu, 21 Aug 9 I got out of my car, too. Nathan said, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked, curious. 54% 11 Nathan nced up at the apartment building and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you. I wasn¡¯t sure which building was yours.¡± ¡°Is there something you wanted?¡± I asked. Nathan looked at me. ¡°I just wanted to see you. Mypany made a big breakthrough today, and I wanted to share my happiness with someone.¡± Before I could react, Nathan leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the forehead. ¡°Victoria, you and Jared are divorced, right?¡± ¡°You know about that?¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh. I thought I¡¯d kept it on the down low, but Nathan was really in the loop. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping tabs on you,¡± Nathan said with a smile. ¡°So, what are you nning to do next?¡± ¡°No real ns, just taking it easy,¡± I said. That kiss had caught me off guard, and my heart skipped a beat. Damn, those old feelings were waking up again. Nathan smiled, that gentle, handsome face showing a hint of hope. ¡°Alright, then just live your life well.¡± I looked up and met his eyes. He was wearing sses, and behind those frames, his eyes seemed even more captivating. ¡°Nathan, I heard yourpany¡¯s going public. Congrattions,¡± I said sincerely. ¡°Thanks. Once I get this all sorted out, can I take you out for dinner?¡± Nathan asked, his voice a little husky. 1 hesitated. Sure, I wanted to just enjoy my freedom, but romance just wasn¡¯t something I was looking for at that moment. ¡°I just got divorced, and I¡¯m not ready to jump into anything new. But if it¡¯s just being friends, I¡¯m good with that.¡± I made it clear. Nathan¡¯s gaze lingered on me, and then he smiled. ¡°Alright!¡± I nced at the time. ¡°It¡¯s prettyte, and you should get some rest.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Nathan said, pulling out a fancy little box from his pocket and handing it to me. ¡°Here, this is for you.¡± By the time I looked down, Nathan was already striding back to his car. A momentter, his car vanished into the night. I opened the box and found a glittering tinum ne with a delicate butterfly charm. 12:09 Thu, 21 Aug Chapter 264 39) Loose 264 It was the first time I¡¯d ever received a gift from a man who wasn¡¯t Jared. I didn¡¯t know if it was true that if I let go of one tree, I might find a whole forest waiting for me. I took the gift home, deciding to return the favor to Nathan the next day. The ne looked expensive, and I couldn¡¯t just ept it without giving something back. If I didn¡¯t want to end up with a messy love life, I needed to set things straight from the beginning. That way, when Hooked back, I wouldn¡¯t feel regret or shame. I used to buy gifts for Jared pretty often, including ties, lighters, razors, and even his underwear. Guess I¡¯ve gotten pretty good at picking out gifts for guys. Leaning against the elevator wall, I zoned out and had no idea what kind of gift I should get him. A belt, a tie, or a razor was all way too suggestive, like I was trying to im him or something. That thought made meugh. When ites to love, push and pull is what one¡¯s supposed to avoid, but somehow, the more tangled things get, the more addictive it bes. Maybe that¡¯s what makes love so irresistible. I needed to pick something appropriate but not suggestive. I remembered him mentioning over dinner that he liked ying tennis. On my phone, a few photos of Yvonne were sent by her. One showed her bent over, clipping her toenails; another had her in the bathroom brushing her teeth, grinning to show off the little gap where her baby tooth used to be. There was also one where she was pouting, making a heart shape with her hands just like I do. Watching her grow and improve every day made me feel a lot calmer inside. Sometimes being tough on her forced her to figure things out on her own. There were ups and downs, wins and losses, but that was just life. The next morning, I rushed to the office for a meeting, only to find out that while I was on leave, some spicy rumors had been making the rounds. Jared had gotten wasted, puked, and passed out. Amy had to rush him to the hospital and stay with him until midnight. Then Tracy and Sally showed up and kicked Amy out. The next day, Amy stormed into the office and tore into Tracy¡¯s old crew, which stirred up a whole mess of drama among the management. Jared just got divorced, and then everyone was fighting over him, I couldn¡¯t help but shake my head at how fast things changed. I just took it all as a joke. I had a few insiders in thepany, who were married, middle¨Caged women I¡¯d won over 1/2 12:09 Thu, 21 Aug D with some pricey gifts. They¡¯ve been loyal to me ever since. 54% +38 When I arrived, one of them slipped in to spill the tea, shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°Ms. Murphy, the single women in the office have lost their mindstely. They¡¯re all dressing up every day, hoping to catch Mr. Hob¡¯s eye.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t really me them. He¡¯s rich and good¨Clooking,¡± I replied with a faint smile, handing her a cup of coffee. ¡°Keep an eye on things for me, will you?¡± ¡°Will do,¡± she said, taking a sip of coffee before heading out. Not long after, Jared knocked and came in. He hadn¡¯t shown up for the morning meeting, and it looked like he¡¯d just arrived at the office. He¡¯d gotten a bit strongertely, and honestly, there was just something about a guy looking a little stronger that made him even more attractive. Jared just stood there in front of me, checking me out in silence. Loose 265 ¡°Mr. Hob, did you need something?¡± I asked, putting on my best professional face and smiling. Jared sighed, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to me. ¡°Did you have a good time on your vacation?¡± ¡°Spending my ex¨Chusband¡¯s money and living in the house he bought me? Yeah, it was pretty great,¡± I said, just to get under his skin. Jared¡¯s face stayed calm, but his eyes lingered on me, deep and unreadable. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re happy.¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯ve got a lot on your mindtely. What¡¯s up? Can¡¯t make a decision? Want me to break it down for you?¡± I joked, trying to mess with him a little. ¡°Help with what?¡± Jared¡¯s eyes lit up, curious. ¡°You know, between Amy and Tracy, which one¡¯s more wifey material for you?¡± I said, grinning. ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t be so childish.¡± Jared¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What kind of rumors have you been listening to?¡± I shrugged, ying it cool. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for gossip.¡± Jared frowned. ¡°I promised Yvonne I wouldn¡¯t get married again, so you really don¡¯t have to worry.¡± With that, Jared stood up. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s been growing up so fasttely. She even asked to sign up for some sses herself. If you have time, maybe you could hang out with her.¡± I froze for a second, caught off guard. Jared looked me over again, a teasing glint in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re looking more radiant than ever. Guess I¡¯ve been a terrible gardener all these years, huh?¡± I hadn¡¯t expected Jared to be in the mood for jokes. Keeping my cool, I shot back, ¡°You plucked me and stuck me in a vase, barely gave me any water. Of course, I¡¯m not blooming.¡± ¡°Your sass game¡¯s gotten strong. When did you get so mouthy?¡± Jared grumbled, clearly not thrilled. ¡°I¡¯ve been a doormat long enough. It¡¯s about time I started being myself again,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°Just focus on your work. The hotel¡¯s your responsibility now,¡± Jared said as he opened the door to leave. He didn¡¯t even mention anything about me and Ryan, like he trusted me, certain I wasn¡¯t the type to get involved in any drama. That was just Jared, always ying the mastermind, acting like he¡¯s got the whole game mapped out, seeing through everything but never giving anything away. He thought he had got me all figured out, but I was not his caged bird or his kite on a string anymore. If he was hoping to keep me on a leash or watch me from the shadows, he could forget it. 12:09 Thu, 21 Aug 9 (0 ¡°Ms. Murphy, are you free for lunch?¡± Amy walked over, smiling at me. I looked into Amy¡¯s eyes, which screamed ambition, and asked, ¡°Is this about work?¡± 53% ¡°Why do you always look so standoffish? We¡¯re colleagues now. Can¡¯t we be friends, too?¡± Amy said, sounding sincere. I nodded. ¡°Sure, we can grab lunch.¡± Amy booked a restaurant. When we got there and she finished ordering, she said, ¡°Ms. Murphy, I actually divorced Clint two years ago.¡± I asked, ¡°Really? Then howe you two still seem like a couple?¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re not, really. We¡¯re just like old friends who hang out sometimes, nothing more,¡± Amy said with a shrug. ¡°We got divorced because I didn¡¯t want kids, but Clint did. So, we ended things amicably.¡± I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s pretty progressive. Honestly, that kind of arrangement sounds pretty healthy.¡± Amy leaned in, resting her chin on her hand, and sighed as she looked me over. ¡°Ms. Murphy, someone as gorgeous as you must have guys lining up to ask you out.¡± I smiled. ¡°Honestly, not that many.¡± Amy grinned. ¡°That¡¯s because most men feel out of their league around you. If a guy doesn¡¯t have real confidence or status, he wouldn¡¯t dare to just ask you out. ¡°Besides, Mr. Hob spoiled you. Now you¡¯ve got that high¨Css vibe that makes you even more irresistible.¡± Loose 266 Hearing Amy¡¯s words, I smiled. Maybe she was right. Jared had always been generous with me. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re trying to get at, Ms. Wilder?¡± I changed the subject; I hated it when people tried to talk about me and Jared. Amy¡¯s eyes twinkled as she poured me half a cup of coffee. She smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Hob¡¯s ex¨Cwife, so you must know what he likes, right?¡± My face went a little stiff. ¡°So, you want me to spill what he likes?¡± ¡°Ms. Murphy, if I end up with Mr. Hob, things will be a lot better for you. But if Tracy marries him, you, as his ex¨Cwife, are in for a rough time.¡± Amy didn¡¯t beat around the bush as sheid it all out. I had to admit, Amy had all the tricks up her sleeve. She knew how to y on people¡¯s weaknesses, which was why she could be so upfront with me. ¡°So, Ms. Wilder, how sure are you that you¡¯ll actually win him over? And seriously, does Jared even like you?¡± I asked. I¡¯d never set foot in the corporate world before, and I was shocked to see these bossdies hustling just like the guys, fighting for what they want, no matter how hard it is, never backing down. ¡°Does liking even matter?¡± Amy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her tone cool as ever. ¡°It¡¯s not about liking. It¡¯s about being a good fit. If you vibe together, help each other out, that¡¯s the real secret to making itst. ¡°Take you and Mr. Hob, for example. He liked you, even married you, but so what? You two still went your separate ways. How long did that evenst?¡± I was blown away. Seeing the confidence shining on Amy¡¯s face, I honestly felt kind of embarrassed. It was true. My mindset decided how far I could go. ¡°You think I want to be with Mr. Hob forever? Nope. Even if he wants something long¨Cterm, I don¡¯t. I just like how he is right now, smart and decisive. With his advice and help, I can level up at work. ¡°What I want is his support in business. Love and sex? Just seasoning for daily life. Whether they¡¯re there or not, it¡¯s no big deal.¡± Amy shrugged, looking totally chill. It hit me. I shook my head with a smile and took a sip of coffee. ¡°Honestly, chatting with people as ambitious as you is eye¨Copening.¡± ¡°Ms. Murphy, I¡¯m just looking out for you. We can be friends now, and in the future, I can help you out professionally,¡± Amy said, trying to win me over with promises about what she could do for me down the line. I arched my brows and said, ¡°Ms. Wilder, sorry, but Jared and I are divorced. I don¡¯t want to concern myself with anything about him anymore.¡± 12:09 u, 21 Aug 353% ¡°Ms. Murphy, you¡¯re still not hung up on Mr. Hob, are you? Afraid he¡¯ll end up with someone else?¡± Amy shot me a look, her tone teasing. ¡°Or are you just waiting for the perfect chance to get back with him?¡± +38 To be honest, I didn¡¯t like people getting nosy about my private life, even if they said it was for my own good, it still rubbed me the wrong way. ¡°Ms. Wilder, you¡¯re way better at going after men than I¡¯ll ever be. I¡¯m not the one to give you advice on that,¡± I replied, meeting her gaze. ¡°Tracy¡¯s been pretty activetely, getting chummy with Sally. Aren¡¯t you worried she might end up as Mrs. Hob?¡± Amy was trying to push my buttons with the truth. Of course, I was worried. Tracy spent half my previous life making things miserable for me, and if she became ¡°Mrs. Hob¡°, I could kiss my peace goodbye. ¡°Sure, I¡¯m worried, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m gonna help you,¡± I said, keeping my cool. Not about letting anyone y me that easily. As for Tracy, I had my own ways to handle her. In my previous life, Tracy used Yvonne to make my life hell. I could y that game, too. I would use Yvonne and make sure Tracy didn¡¯t stand a chance. I would make sure Tracy paid for what she did. ÊÐ Loose 267 Amy looked a bit helpless but forced a smile. ¡°Ms. Murphy, I suspect you still have feelings for Mr. Hob, Guess, we could end up as colleagues, friends, or even love rivals.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call us love rivals,¡± I said coolly. ¡°Rx, I¡¯m not getting romantically entangled with Jared ever again.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Amy¡¯s face finally rxed a bit. ¡°Is it because Mr. Hob has some kind of health problem? He looks like the type who¡¯s all about self¨Ccontrol. So, how often did you two¡­ You know, do it each month?¡± I met Amy¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°Ms. Wilder, some things are better left to the imagination.¡± Amy let out an awkwardugh. ¡°I talk about this kind of stuff with my girlfriends all the time. Ms. Murphy, are you not into these topics? If you wanna know, just ask. I¡¯m an open book.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it professional. Talking about personal stuff just gives people ammo to use against youter.¡± Amy burst outughing. ¡°Ms. Murphy, you¡¯re really careful, huh? But seriously, you¡¯re such a fun person. Howe you still ended up divorcing Mr. Hob?¡± Amy didn¡¯t pull any punches. Every word hit right where it hurt, and I could feel the sting. I kept my cool. ¡°If you really want to know, Ms. Wilder, you¡¯ll have to ask Jared first. Only then will you get the real story from him.¡± Amy threw up her hands. ¡°Alright, Ms. Murphy, your mind is way deeper than mine. If I ever get the chance, I¡¯ll go straight to the source and ask Mr. Hob myself.¡± After lunch with Amy, I headed straight to the hotel. As soon as I arrived, Ryan got up from his desk. I was surprised to see he¡¯de in so early, too. He might just get back from Shariport. Ryan¡¯s job had changed. He used to be the go¨Cto guy for everything, but now that the hotel renovations were finally wrapped up, he was working as a receptionist in the lobby. Still, he looked like he was feeling a little put out about it. When I arrived, he knocked on my office door and came in, giving me a sheepish grin. ¡°Victoria, is there any way b can switch jobs? HR wants me out front as a receptionist, but I can¡¯t be in the public eye like that.¡± Iughed. ¡°I know you¡¯ve got special circumstances, so being out there isn¡¯t a good idea. How about you be my assistant instead? You can help me out behind the scenes, run errands, and handle paperwork for me.¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes sparkled, and he nodded right away. ¡°Awesome! This suits me perfectly.¡± I smiled, taking a closer look at him. Wearing the hotel¡¯s tailored suit, he looked so much more polished and sophisticated. Especially with his hair slicked back, those clean lines at his temples highlighted his sharp features. He looked so 12:10 Thu, 21 Aug 9 handsome. I¡¯d always felt there was something different about him, but I could never quite name it. At that moment, I realized that Ryan carried an undeniable, almost supreme sense of authority. All it took was a word to HR, and Ryan was my assistant. He handled his work with real care, never slipped up, and even the smallest details were always spot on. Later that afternoon, Yvonne came by to hang out. She even brought me some homemade bread that the housekeeper baked. Her hair used to be so long it reached her waist, and I¡¯d alwayse up with new ways to braid it for her. At that moment, it barely touched her shoulders. She¡¯d just tied it back in a messy little ponytail, with a messy fringe falling over her forehead. Whenever she looked up, she¡¯d brush the hair out of her eyes. Gone was her usual delicate vibe, and she looked just like a little tomboy. When she came to see me, she wasn¡¯t throwing tantrums like she used to. She just sat next to me, reading aic book. Every now and then, she¡¯d wander over to myputer and ask me to teach her a few words. Just then, her smartwatch buzzed. She nced at it and pouted, turning to me. ¡°Mom, Tracy¡¯s trying to reach me again. I don¡¯t want to hang out with her, but she just won¡¯t leave me alely.¡± I was shocked. Yvonne was getting impatient with Tracy. AD Comment Loose 268 Chapter 268 ? . 53% 38) Seeing Yvonne pout, I said, ¡°You need to learn how to tell who¡¯s genuine and who¡¯s just pretending. If someone makes you ufortable, just keep your distance.¡± Yvonne nodded. ¡°Dad said the same thing.¡± I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s your call if you want to answer the phone or not.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Yvonne declined the call, then looked at me and asked, ¡°Mom, can I sleep at your ce tonight?¡± I shook my head. ¡°I have to work tonight.¡± ¡°Oh, okay. Maybe you can call me when you have time,¡± Yvonne said, and her voice was tinged with disappointment. ¡°Sure.¡± I didn¡¯t lecture Yvonne like I did in my previous life, nor did I try to force her to mature overnight. I just chatted with her gently, and I could see how much she¡¯d changed. Yvonne could tell I wasn¡¯t as fond of her as I used to be, and she¡¯d learned a bit of self¨Crespect. She didn¡¯t cling to me like she used to. In the afternoon, Jared swung by to pick her up. Lately, he¡¯s been tangled up in a couple ofwsuits, and thepany¡¯s hunting for a more capable legal team. With all the internal drama going on, he¡¯s been pretty swamped. Jared walked straight into my office, shooting a frosty look at Ryan, who was sitting on the other side of the room. Ryan sat there unfazed, meeting his gaze. Jared settled into the single sofa across from me and said, ¡°So, you¡¯re really that attached to him? Can¡¯t go anywhere without him?¡± I replied coolly, ¡°He¡¯s young. He needs some proper mentoring.¡± ¡°What are you even gonna teach him? In bed, you only ever do the same two things,¡± Jared sneered, not even realizing he¡¯d hit a nerve. I paused, then smiled. ¡°That was with you. With someone else, I¡¯ve got a whole repertoire.¡± Jared turned red, ring at me, totally flustered. ¡°All talk. When it¡¯s the real deal, you¡¯d probably chicken out,¡± Jared said, acting like he had me all figured out. I fired back, ¡°Rx. We¡¯re done anyway. Why do you care if I bail or stick around?¡± Jared was left speechless. He looked around the office. ¡°Where¡¯s Yvonne?¡± ¡°She¡¯s at the yground. Go look for her yourself,¡± I said, waving him off. Jared stood up, then stopped and turned back to me. ¡°We still haven¡¯t had our farewell dinner. Let me arrange it for tonight.¡± u, 21 Aug ¡°I¡¯m not having dinner with you,¡± I snapped back. 53% (38) Jared froze for a second, totally caught off guard. Maybe he thought I was being way too cold, so he didn¡¯t bother saying anything else and just went straight to find Yvonne. Ryan knocked and walked in. He¡¯s gotten a lot gutsiertely. ¡°I moved into a new ce today. Wannae over tomorrow night?¡± Ryan just came right out and asked me. I blinked, surprised. ¡°Where¡¯d you move this time?¡± ¡°Still in your neighborhood, just one of those houses in the back,¡± Ryan said, lowering his voice. ¡°Oh, those ces aren¡¯t cheap,¡± I nodded. Ryan gave me a serious look. ¡°I won¡¯t be staying around here much anymore. I¡¯ll give you my keys. Can you look after the ce for me?¡± I paused, a little taken aback. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± Ryan smiled, lips pressed together. ¡°Don¡¯t freak out. I swear, it¡¯s nothing weird.¡± ¡°Me neither,¡± I replied coolly. Ryan¡¯s eyes lingered on my face for a few seconds before he lowered his voice. ¡°Victoria, I probably won¡¯t be sticking around much longer. I need to head back to Braylin for a while.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Well, go take care of your own stuff. I¡¯m thinking of bringing someone new on board myself,¡± I said, already knowing Ryan could up and leave whenever he wanted. He looked at me, like he had something to say. Just then, Jared walked in, holding Yvonne¡¯s hand. Yvonne ran over to Ryan, grabbed his finger, and gave it a little shake. ¡°Ryan, you promised you¡¯d teach me the Rubik¡¯s Cube. When are you gonna show me?¡± Jared and I both froze. I didn¡¯t know when Ryan and Yvonne became so familiar. Ryan smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a 2¡Á2 Rubik¡¯s Cube tomorrow. We¡¯ll start with that.¡± Jared¡¯s face darkened. He yanked Yvonne back. ¡°Yvonne, say goodbye to your mom.¡± Yvonne blinked, ncing at me and then at Jared. ¡°Bye, Mom. Bye, Ryan!¡± Ryan gave her a little wave, and Jared shot me a look that screamed ¡°watch yourself¡± before heading out with Yvonne. 12:10 Thu, 21 Auge Loose 269 38 Once they were gone, I shot Ryan a quick look. Ryan chuckled awkwardly. ¡°She¡¯s your daughter. I was just teaching her a few things. You¡¯re not mad, right?¡± ¡°No, I appreciate it,¡± I replied, honestly surprised that Ryan would even bother Yvonne. Maybe he did that for me. Ryan let out a sigh. ¡°Why¡¯d you have a kid so young? By the looks of it, you hadn¡¯t even graduated yet, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe I just wasn¡¯t thinking straight,¡± I said with a shrug. Ryan looked at me, a little pity in his eyes. ¡°Did Jared trick you into having a baby?¡± It¡¯s hard to say. Jared and I were pretty crazy about each other back then, and having a kid was something we both wanted. ¡°No, it was my own decision,¡± I said honestly. Ryan looked a bit regretful: ¡°Your daughter doesn¡¯t look like you at all. She¡¯s basically her dad¡¯s mini¨Cme.¡± I hesitated. He was right; Yvonne looked just like Jared, not a single feature from me. ¡°That¡¯s what they say about gics. Daughters usually end up looking more like their fathers,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°If she took after you, she¡¯d be even prettier,¡± Ryan added, a hint of bashfulness in his eyes. I joked yfully, ¡°Oh yeah? Maybe I¡¯ll have another kid someday who actually looks like me.¡± ¡°With whom?¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes froze for a second, a hint of nervousness flickering across his face. I was just joking around, but he actually looked a little tense. I shook my head. ¡°Who knows? Whoever I fall for in the future, I¡¯ll have a kid with them.¡± Ryan nodded, looking a bit disappointed. ¡°I¡¯m graduating next year. My grandpa wants me to go into politics. I could apply for a job in Hachester.¡± I was surprised. ¡°You¡¯ve got a bright future ahead of you. You should really think it through.¡± ¡°Going into politics is what my grandpa wants, but honestly, I¡¯m kind of lost,¡± Ryan said, leaning forward on the desk. ¡°If I had someone to stick with me, maybe I¡¯d actually try to go down that path.¡± I looked into his eyes and saw that determined look shining back at me. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not nning to go through hardships and grow with anyone,¡± I said, my words hitting him hard, Ryan was momentarily stunned. I didn¡¯t want to lie or make empty promises. ¡°Ryan, you need to walk this path alone, or find someone else to walk it with you.¡± Ryan suddenlyughed. ¡°You¡¯re the first person who¡¯s ever been this blunt with me. Everyone else just tells me 1/2 12:10 Thu, 21 Aug what I want to hear.¡± He was basically the golden boy, so everyone wanted to cozy up to him. 53% ¡°Sorry, did I say something you didn¡¯t want to hear?¡± I figured Ryan might be annoyed, so I apologized right away. I had no point in offending a future political heavyweight. Ryan shook his head. ¡°What I really need right now is someone to throw some cold water on me, you know? I¡¯ve spent my whole life surrounded by praise and apuse. I¡¯m starting to lose myself.¡± I said, ¡°What, are you a glutton for punishment or something?¡± Ryan burst outughing. ¡°Yeah, I guess I am. I need someone to give me a reality check and remind me how brutal the real world can be.¡± I raised an eyebrow and shook my head. ¡°Sorry, deep down, I¡¯m just too kind¨Chearted; hurting people isn¡¯t really my thing.¡± Ryan¡¯s mood had clearly lifted, but when he looked at me, there was this air of authority about him that made me feel a weird kind of pressure. He might be younger than me. Although his eyes looked pure, there was a whole storm of scheming, and that untouchable vibe one got from people who had tasted real power. He could y the innocent act all day, but I knew that kind of man was trouble. ¡°I¡¯ll cherish someone who actually tells me the truth,¡± Ryan said out of the blue, then walked out without another word. I let out a wry smile. I didn¡¯t know what Ryan was trying to pull this time. That night, Melissa and Zachary invited me out for dinner. Melissa insisted on treating me since I gave her a giftst time. Melissa let it slip that Nathan would be joining us, too. The tennis racket I¡¯d been meaning to give him was still in my trunk. So, it was a perfect chance to finally give it to him. AD Comment Loose 270 Chapter 270 ????53%> As dusk settled in, the city lit up. Neon signs and headlights stretched down the long, busy roads like a river of light. When I drove up to the restaurant, the old¨Cfashionednterns hanging at the entrance made the ce feel calm and almost timeless, a quiet spot away from the city rush. +38) I thought Nathan hadn¡¯t arrived yet. But when I walked in with my tennis racket, I saw him standing off to the side in the smoking area, holding a cigarette between his fingers. He looked surprised to see me, then quickly put out his cigarette and walked over. The overhead light was almost blinding, shining down on Nathan as he looked at me with his eyes half¨Clidded, his longshes drooping just a little. He had that easygoing vibe. ¡°You¡¯re here early,¡± Nathan said with a smile. ¡°Not as early as you,¡± I said, seeing no one else around, and handed him the tennis racket. ¡°It¡¯s for you. Thanks for the nest time.¡± Nathan looked a little surprised, then he smiled. ¡°Thanks, I really like it.¡± His quick, warm response made my mood soar. Suddenly, everything around me looked a little more beautiful. ¡°I¡¯m just d you like it. I didn¡¯t know what would be a good return gift, so it¡¯s nothing fancy. I hope you don¡¯t mind,¡± I said. ¡°Not at all,¡± Nathan replied. ¡°Anything from you, I like.¡± Whether he was smiling or serious, he was just so captivating. I almost got lost in him. I changed the subject. ¡°Which room are we in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you in,¡± Nathan said. That¡¯s when I realized he was still rocking a sharp gray dress shirt, tailored just right, showing off his tall frame and that powerful vibe. He always wore sses at night, and honestly, they just made him look even cooler. Once we stepped into the private room, Nathan said, ¡°They¡¯re not here yet. Let¡¯s go ahead and order.¡± ¡°Sure, you pick,¡± I replied. After grinding all day at work, all I wanted was to kick back and do nothing. Nathan flipped through the menu, smiling as he asked, ¡°What do you feel like eating? Want to stick with the usual, or try something different?¡± ¡°I¡¯m down for something new,¡± I replied. Nathan¡¯s fingers paused on the menu, and he nced up at me. ¡°Sure.¡± 12:10 Thu, 21 Augs Chapter 270 53% That single word carried a lot more meaning than it seemed. By the time I realized it, Nathan was already grinning. My cheeks suddenly burned. I hoped Nathan didn¡¯t think I was talking about switching up my taste in guys. After Nathan finished ordering, the room fell quiet. When I looked up from my phone, I realized he¡¯d been watching me the whole time. ¡°Been busy at worktely?¡± he asked. ¡°Not too bad. Things at the hotel are pretty steady,¡± I replied. ¡°You still see Mr. Hob every day?¡± Nathan asked, his mood clearly dipping. When he lowered his gaze, I caught that touch of loneliness in the corner of his eyes. Nathan was something to look at, that rare mix of handsome and masculine edges. Give him a few more years, and he¡¯d be downright striking. ¡°We just talk about work. There¡¯s nothing between us anymore,¡± 1 said, not even sure why I felt the need to exin. Nathan looked up at me, and his eyes lit up a bit. ¡°Well, tomorrow¡¯s the weekend. Got any ns?¡± ¡°How about we try out that new tennis racket I got you?¡± At that moment, I was letting my guard down. The idea of ying some casual tennis or badminton with a handsome guy like him sounded pretty great. Nathan broke into a smile and nodded. ¡°Absolutely. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll swing by and pick you up. Let¡¯s go y.¡± ¡°You better go easy on me,¡± I teased. ¡°Of course,¡± Nathan replied, his eyes full of warmth as he looked at me. I was on cloud nine, and it took me a while to settle down. These guys were so easy to reel in. It reminded me of back when Jared first went after me. He didn¡¯t even need bait, and I was already hooked like a clueless fish. AD Comment The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!