Chapter 173

Jared’s face went stiff as he stared 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 from me and reaching for his cigarettes, only to realize he didn’t have any. Annoyed, he gave the sofa a hard kick.

This was the first time I’d ever seen Jared completely lose it. I must really be something to piss him off this much.

“Just leave, 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 glare 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 play 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 explain myself. “I thought if I acted like the real wife, I could put her in her place. 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 gaze, 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, feeling completely 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 to come 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 marriage. 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, listening. He was right. I really did love him with everything I had, once.

Jared shook his head with a self-mocking smile, turning his gaze to me. “But over time, I lost myself. Your love started to feel like a burden, like a weight on my shoulders. Because honestly, it felt like loving me was all you had.”