Chapter 183

Jared’s expression flared for a second as he took the food from me, then he shut the door with a bit more force than necessary.

As the door clicked shut, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Maybe once one stopped depending on men, they were just another tool in one’s arsenal. One could use them when needed, and dismiss them 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 blame for this. “Tracy, 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.

After a few seconds of silence, she said, “This baby really couldn’t have come 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 sneered, “You claim 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.”

Tracy laughed 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 play the victim and act pitiful. No wonder I never bothered to look at you twice, you’re just a nobody.”

I was stunned. 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 a laugh. “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 replacing me is also a woman? She’s got a master’s in finance from Aurella, 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. The door’s open. He can come or go as he pleases. Either way, I’m not going to lose sleep over him anymore.”

Tracy let out a couple of dry laughs. “Don’t pretend it’s that easy. You’ve loved him for years. There’s no way you can just get over it. You’re 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.

1/2

Chapter 163

I fiddled with my phone, my mind drifting 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 sending them 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. I crashed 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 every last 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 blasted 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.