Chapter 104

“I was busy. What’s up?” I asked in a flat voice.

“I fell and scraped my knee. It’s all red and it hurts so much,” Yvonne suddenly started bawling.

I comforted her in a flat voice. “Don’t cry. Just be more careful next time.”

“Mom, where are you? I want you to come 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 kept complaining 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-to-ceiling 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’m coming 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 sounded completely 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 to come 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 flaring. “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 him coming 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 seemed completely 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 flatly, “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?”