Chapter 259

Jared’s eyes were blazing red as he suddenly shot up and started closing the distance between us, step by step.

He said, “I can’t stand it. You have no idea—just picturing you with another guy makes my mind explode. I can’t take it, it drives me insane.”

I froze in place as Jared stopped right in front of me. He said, “Victoria, I’m seriously losing it. I must’ve been crazy to ever agree to that divorce.”

I shoved him away and walked over to the window, turning my back on him. I said, “I managed to accept you hooking up with Tracy, so why can’t you handle me being with another guy?”

“I never hooked up with Tracy,” Jared said, his voice raw with pain.

I let out a cold laugh and said, “You say that. But I’ve had so many dreams of you two together—making out on a mountaintop, in a car, even in the stadium bathroom.”

Jared looked at me, totally floored. He asked, “What are you even saying?”

I felt suffocated. I turned and shot him a cold look. Then I said, “It’s nothing. Honestly, maybe you should chase after some other woman for a change. Maybe that’ll make you happy.”

Jared just shook his head, his eyes locked on mine, stubborn as ever. He said, “I can’t get you out of my head. There’s no one else.”

“That’s only because you finally realize you can’t have me anymore,” I retorted, my words laced with mockery.

Jared froze for a second, then said, “Victoria, these days I’ve been thinking. All those years we were married, I was buried in work and forgot to take you out to watch the world roll by—sunsets, sunrises, the whole sky show.

“You always talked about chasing shimmering lights at the edge of the world, about lying under a crystal-clear night sky where the stars feel close enough to touch. I kept telling myself I’d take you someday, as soon as work let up.”

I cut him off, “Save it. I can go see all those beautiful sights by myself. What I don’t get is why men always wait until after everything’s over to talk about these plans. Where were you when we were together?”

Jared clearly hadn’t expected me to be so blunt, and he just stood there, stunned.

I sneered, “Don’t give me that ‘I finally get it’ look. Men love to play these pointless games, thinking that if they paint a big enough picture of the future, women will just follow along.

“But we are flesh and blood, too—those grand promises don’t fill an empty stomach; they only leave one disappointment after another.”

Jared let out a bitter laugh and said, “Victoria, I guess I never really understood you at all. You’re right—guys have all kinds of tricks to sweet-talk women, but I never should’ve tried that with you. I won’t treat you that way ever again.”

I shot back, “You don’t have the chance. Snow melts in the sun, grass wilts in the frost, people fear being broken, and love fears heartbreak.

“I’ve got money now, I don’t need a man’s love, and there’s nothing left for me to be afraid of. My future? I’ll handle it myself.”

Jared’s face fell. He demanded, “So, you spent the night with another man?”

His bizarre logic left me speechless. Putting on my coldest front, I said flatly, “I don’t owe you any explanations about my private life. Just go—I want to get some more sleep.”

Jared looked like he’d just been slapped, his face flickering between flushed and ashen.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and my heart skipped a beat.

Jared was quicker than I, striding over to open it.

There stood Ryan, holding a breakfast box.

Jared recognized Ryan. He said, “It is you?”

Ryan greeted him with a calm smile. He said, “Good morning, Mr. Holcomb.”

Jared turned to me, eyes blazing. He said, “My mom said he’s your little fling, and I guess she was right. You brought him to Shariport just to mess around? Victoria, are you that desperate? Any random guy is good enough for you now?”

Staying calm, I shot back, “You can mess around with your employees, so what’s stopping me?”