Chapter 55

Lindey’s grip on my hand trembled. She cursed, “That rascal! I’ll call him right now and ask him what he thinks he’s doing. Didn’t he say there’s nothing going on with that woman?”

She released my hand and reached for her phone.

I flexed my hand to shake off the numbness. “Lindey, I’ve already spoken to him at the office. He agreed to break up, and…” I hesitated. “He’s even hired Tanya to work at the company.”

Saying all this felt like tattling. Since that was the case, I might as well reveal everything Jace had done.

“What?”

They were visibly shocked, especially Matthew, whose face darkened.

Lindey turned to him. “Didn’t you say you had control over everything at the company? How could you not know about this?”

Just as I suspected, Matthew might stay home, but he knew everything about the company. However, small details like an individual hire weren’t always on a chairman’s radar.

Matthew didn’t respond, but his eyes showed clear anger.

Lindey urged, “We need to call Jace back and ask him what’s going on.”

I stopped them. Jace’s presence would only complicate matters.

“If you both find this unacceptable, imagine how I feel. He totally ignored me as his fiancée by bringing Tanya into the company after their scandal.”

“Rea, we’ll make him get rid of her,” Lindey said, grabbing my hand again.

“Lindey, the day before we were supposed to get married, he cut off all contact with Tanya right in front of me. But it didn’t stop him from secretly accompanying her to her prenatal checkup the next day. Kicking Tanya out won’t fix this,” I said.

I pressed my lips together and continued, “The real issue is that Jace’s heart is with her. For her, he’s willing to lie and ignore everything else.”

Saying this left a bitter taste and a sense of humiliation. Despite all the years with Jace, I couldn’t compete with a pregnant widow for his affection. In the end, I lost.

Matthew and Lindey couldn’t argue with me. I laid it all out.

“Even if you make Jace stay with me, his heart wouldn’t be in it. A loveless marriage would only hurt me. If you really care about me, you wouldn’t want me to go through a lifetime of tears, right?”

“Rea…” Lindey’s eyes filled with tears. “Maybe Jace is just confused. Can’t you give him another chance to think things over and make it right?”

“Wait for what?” Matthew’s voice was firm. “He’s the one who hurt Rea. Why should she wait for him?”

Matthew’s words felt so protective, it brought a lump to my throat.

“Rea, if Jace doesn’t know how to appreciate you, don’t give him another chance. You deserve better. And if you don’t find anyone, I know some great guys I can introduce you to,” Matthew said, sounding like a caring dad.

Lindey, however, seemed flustered, glaring at him. “What are you talking about? I’ve already accepted Rea as my daughter-in-law. I’m not letting her marry anyone else.”

Their exchange lightened the somber mood a bit.

“Planning to have another son?” Matthew joked.

Before Lindey could respond, a familiar voice came from the doorway, “I think that’s possible.”

I looked up and saw Wayne, dressed casually, standing there with a suitcase. His eyes met mine, shining brightly.