Chapter 204

I glared at Jared, eyes wide with anger. “Were you seriously stalking me? That’s so not you, Jared.”

I huffed, “And for the record, I used to be a housewife. Grocery shopping and running to the market? That was literally my job. Don’t act like it's some big revelation. That was my daily life.”

I yanked my hand out of his. “Turns out, with you raking in the cash, all my so-called struggles were just for show. I was only fooling myself.”

Jared’s expression froze as he listened. He said, “Victoria, I know I used to overlook what you did every day. I always knew taking care of the kid wasn’t easy for you. I even said I’d hire two nannies, but you…”

“Yeah, I brought it all on myself. I’m not blaming anyone,” I cut him off. This bitterness—I'd just have to swallow it alone.

“Victoria, from now on, I’ll go grocery shopping and hit the market with you. I want to blend into your daily life, okay?” Jared looked at me with those deep eyes, but honestly, I couldn’t help finding his words laughable.

“No need,” I shook my head. “Someone as high and mighty as you, Mr. Holcomb, showing up at the market? Please. Your mom and your sister would probably chew me out right there.”

As soon as I said that, Jared’s face went stiff. Yeah, I remembered it perfectly.

Back when we first got married, Sally sat us both down and told me straight up that Jared was a man destined for big things, and I shouldn’t bother him with trivial stuff like family chores. Men only have so much energy, she said. She even warned me not to get too carried away with our sex life. Back then, I was so obedient. I took every word of Sally’s advice to heart and followed it to the letter.

“Victoria, I know I messed up before,” Jared said, looking embarrassed, not even trying to explain himself. But honestly, he really seemed like he wanted a taste of ordinary life with me.

I didn’t want to hear his excuses. I turned and stepped into the elevator, jabbing the close button hard.

Jared stood at the elevator doors, and his eyes fixed on me until they closed, sealing us off from each other.

I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that I still didn’t know him as well as I thought. It turned out that even he had his moments of hesitation.

Jared, sometimes I wished that you could time-travel back so you could see everything you did and just how miserable I ended up. Maybe then you’d finally get it—no amount of sweet talk was ever going to win me over again.

When I got home, my parents looked like they wanted to say something but held back.

I quickly added, “Jared showed up uninvited. I didn’t ask him to come.”

My mom nodded. “Yeah, we know. At dinner, it was pretty obvious that Jared really doesn’t want a divorce.”

“Well, he might not, but I do,” I said firmly, “it’s gotta happen.”

My parents exchanged a look but didn’t say anything more.

Just as I was about to head upstairs, my dad suddenly said, “Your mom and I bought some gifts today to see Yvonne, but she refused to see us.”

My chest tightened with frustration, but I knew that as her grandparents, they truly loved Yvonne as their own granddaughter. Even if Jared and I were about to get divorced, they’d still love Yvonne just the same.

But I never thought Yvonne would actually refuse to see them. Guess that was just how it was.

“Dad, Mom, don’t go out of your way anymore. She hates me now, so it’s only natural she doesn’t want to see you either,” I said. Then, I headed up.