Chapter 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. “Relax. 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 it comes to money, he’s only ever had the 600 dollars 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 dollars 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 dollars on it,” Jared replied honestly.

My heart clenched as I wondered, ‘100 thousand dollars? Why did he give Aiden so much this time?’

Jared smiled and reassured me. “Relax. 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-in-law.

“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 glanced up at the sky, thick with dark clouds—yep, 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.

When I got out of the car, the garage was black, 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?”