Chapter 228

Jared’s face crumpled slightly. “Victoria, stop being difficult,” he pleaded. “Mom just wants what’s best for us.”

I wasn’t interested in Jared’s weak attempt to play peacemaker. He was the one stalling this divorce out of wounded pride. I was ready to sign the papers.

“Actually, I think Mrs. Holcomb is right,” I said with a fake smile. “We are getting a divorce. I should start acting like it.”

Yvonne already knew about the divorce. But unlike before, she didn’t cry or throw a tantrum. Her face was stiff, her eyes wide and blank as she watched us.

Sally was a total hothead who never held back. I was directly challenging her authority, and she was not about to let it slide.

She shot to her feet. “Victoria, I have had it with you,” she yelled, pointing a trembling finger at me. “You humiliated me in front of all my friends and family. Made me look like a complete idiot.

“I was the one fighting for this marriage, but not anymore. Now I’m telling you to end it. Jared, file the damn papers. Stop dragging this out. You can find someone way better than her.”

Sally’s shouting didn’t faze me, but it terrified Yvonne. The little girl burst into tears and scrambled from her seat. She buried herself in Jared’s side, pressing her hands tightly over her ears.

Jared immediately switched into daddy mode. “Mom, cut it out. You’re scaring Yvonne.”

Sally slumped back into her seat, but the look she gave me was pure poison. She was looking at me like I was her worst enemy. The picture was suddenly crystal clear. She had already hand-picked Jared’s next wife.

Tracy knew how to play people, and I was sure she’d spent the last few days getting Sally on her side. Now that Sally had a shiny new model to compare me to, I was officially out.

Jared squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep breath. “Mom,” he said through gritted teeth, “don’t do this to Victoria. This is my fault. I’m the one who screwed up, and I’m the one who has to fix it.”

“What did you do wrong? She’s the one who doesn’t understand you. A wife is supposed to share your burdens, and she can’t even do that. She sucks as a wife.” Sally was telling a completely different story about me now.

I just stared down at the table and listened. Nothing they said could surprise me anymore. Self-interest had a way of revealing a person’s true colors.

“That’s not true,” Jared said, shaking his head. “Everything Victoria did before proved she was a good mother and a good wife.

“And now she’s stepping up at work to share responsibilities, showing everyone how capable she is. You’re being too hard on her, Mom.”

I looked up at Jared, surprised that he was defending me. Maybe he really was sorry and trying to win me back. Anyway, it was too bad that I had zero interest in his cheap, convenient love.

“No,” I corrected him, my voice cold and clear. “I went back to work for me. For no one else.”

“Jared, did you hear that?” Sally said. “She’s only looking out for herself. She knows the divorce is coming and wants to make her own money.”

She turned her venom back on me. “And for the record, after this divorce, you will not be working at Jared’s company. Is that your new scheme? A way to keep your claws in him?

“He is going to remarry, Victoria. How do you think it will look to have his ex-wife haunting the office?”

I nodded. “You’re absolutely right, Mrs. Holcomb. I’ll quit the minute our divorce goes through.”

“Why wait?” Sally began. “You should quit-”