Chapter 217

Amy looked up with a strange expression. Everyone at the table shot me and Jared these knowing looks, like they all knew exactly who left that mark on him.

Right, it was me. I wanted to make him bleed, but my teeth just weren’t sharp enough.

Jared was grinning at me with everyone making a fuss, soaking up all the teasing like he was loving every second of it. But honestly, I thought he was seriously out of his mind.

Back when I used to show up at his office, he’d just have his assistant brush me off, and any food I brought, he’d just pass it off to whoever was around, like he was doing them a favor.

He used to act like I didn’t even exist, and now he was putting on this act like he was deeply in love with me. He’d got to have some kind of personality disorder or something.

I didn’t want to talk about our private life in front of all these people, so I just kept my head down and scrolled through my phone.

The news about Jared and me getting a divorce had only spread within our families so far. No one else knew.

Besides, at the office, people all gossiped that I’d only come back to work to be worthy of Jared, that I was doing it all for love, and honestly, they said it was just sad.

Even though Tracy had left the company, her legend still lingered. People said I was working so hard just to catch up to her, maybe even hoping to surpass her one day.

I’d heard all this gossip a million times already, and honestly, I couldn’t care less about setting the record straight anymore.

The dinner was impressive, with plenty of food and drinks. Everyone was enjoying themselves.

Halfway through dinner, I pretended I needed the restroom and stepped out into the hallway to get some air. The smell of alcohol inside was making me uncomfortable.

I walked to the back of the restaurant and was surprised to find a little area with a bunch of rabbits and some chickens. It was spotless, and under the lights, they were bouncing around, full of life.

I stood there watching, and a bunch of kids came over to check them out, too. Seeing a few moms come over with bowls and spoons to feed their kids made my heart ache.

Feeding Yvonne used to be my job. She was such a picky eater. Before she turned five, she wouldn’t go near anything spicy. I busted my chops in the kitchen just to get her to eat a little more.

But later, she got hooked on spicy food, and I knew it was Tracy who got her into it. I was lost in thought, and the warm lights seemed to fade into a haze.

Suddenly, a kid darted past me, and I instinctively stepped back to get out of the way, only to find myself crashing right into someone’s arms.

That guy slipped one arm around my waist and caught hold of my wrist with the other, holding me tight from behind.

It was Jared. His voice was soft and warm from the drinks, and he murmured, “Victoria, are you missing Yvonne?”

He saw me lost in thought, staring at those kids.

“No,” I pried his hands off and turned on my heel, heading straight back to the private room.

Jared caught up in a few strides, blocking my way in the hallway. He looked at me under the lights and said, “Stop drinking, you really can’t hold your liquor.”

I let out a laugh. “Maybe you should mind your own business.”

I started to walk away, but then I paused and turned back. “From now on, watch what you say. Stop making things ambiguous. In a little over three months, we’ll be divorced.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, Amy stepped out from right by the restroom door. Clearly, she’d overheard everything I just said. Her eyes went wide as she stared at us, totally caught off guard.

My mind was a mess, and I strode straight back to the private room. Damn it, I still couldn’t get a grip on my emotions.

Jared stayed outside with Amy for a few minutes before coming back. Amy seemed way more upbeat than before, even starting to mingle and drink with everyone.

But Jared grew even more silent, his gaze kept drifting over to me from time to time.

Once dinner was over, I headed downstairs. The company had sent cars over, so I left mine parked there and got into one of the company cars.

I was originally squeezed in with a few of the female execs, but when Jared came over, they all quickly made room for him. In the end, it ended up being just the two of us in the car.

“Victoria, I talked to Amy. She promised not to say anything, so you don’t have to worry,” Jared said as the car drove onto the main road.