Chapter 203
She said men never really grow up emotionally; they were just big boys who needed someone to rein them in. But at the time, I was so wrapped up in the bliss of being in love that I didn’t take any of her advice to heart.
After we got married, I basically let Jared do whatever he pleased. I figured, if you couldn’t keep a dog on a leash, sooner or later it’d get into trouble.
And back then, I was so naive. I thought everyone went to those clubs just to have fun, and Jared actually believed he was only there for fruit platters. Now, all I could do was shrug and laugh at myself.
The kitchen was alive with the sizzling and popping of stir-fry, oil crackling in the pan. After six years as a housewife, I’d gotten pretty talented in the kitchen. I had everything on the table in no time.
Right then, the doorbell rang. My parents glanced at me, and I rushed over to open it. Sure enough, Jared was standing outside. He paused for a moment when he saw me wearing an apron.
Maybe seeing me like this reminded him of all those times I used to bustle around the kitchen at home. I wondered if it made him feel annoyed with me all over again.
“What are you doing here?” I asked coolly.
“Just came by to see your parents,” Jared replied, holding up some fruit and a bottle of wine.
I frowned. This damn man was haunting me like a ghost these days.
My dad walked over and said, “Jared, since you’re here, come have dinner with us.”
Since Dad had already spoken, I couldn’t refuse and just let him in. As Jared walked past me, he glanced at me, looking a little lost in thought.
My dad was always good-natured. Even though Jared and I were in the middle of a divorce, since things hadn’t turned nasty, he still treated Jared like family and chatted with him as usual.
“William, Mariah, I’m sorry for all the trouble between me and Victoria,” Jared said, raising his glass. “Let me drink three as an apology.”
“Alright, this is just a regular family dinner, not some business party. No need for all that,” my dad quickly stopped him, but Jared still drank up the wine.
During dinner, I listened to my parents talking with Jared. He really knew how to work a conversation—never said a single thing that could piss them off.
Instead, he handled everything like a pro, making it sound like we’d just had a minor argument, not that we were actually heading for a divorce.
After dinner, wanting him out of the house ASAP, I made up an excuse about needing some sauce and dragged Jared out with me.
As we waited for the elevator, Jared said quietly, “Victoria, it’s been a while since I had a meal you made. It still tastes just as good as before.”
I smirked, sarcasm lacing my words. “Yeah, it’s been a while since you saw me in an apron, too. Do I still look like a mess to you?”
Jared shook his head, his expression serious. “No, even with the apron, you’re different now!”
“Oh? How am I different?” I asked offhandedly as I stepped into the elevator with him following behind.
With no one else around, his gaze grew a little bold. He lowered his voice, “You never used to cook in your work clothes.”
I paused, glancing down at myself—a rose-gold blouse and a knee-length linen pencil skirt. He was right. Wearing an apron over business attire really did give off a different vibe.
Jared let out a low chuckle. “Honestly, you look pretty great like this.”
“Stop,” I said, raising my hand. “Quit with the compliments. Next time you want to see me, at least give me a heads-up instead of just showing up unannounced, okay?”
Jared’s eyes flickered with surprise. He was obviously shocked.
As soon as the elevator doors slid open, I said coolly, “Send yourself out.”
Just as I turned to leave, Jared suddenly grabbed my arm. “Victoria, the truth is I’ve actually been following you since you left the office today. It sounds messed up, but I just really wanted to see you."
“Maybe this is what your life was always like, and I never cared enough to ask what you did after work. Today, watching you shop at the supermarket hit me how little I ever knew about your world.”