A single offhand remark from me had struck Sally like a boulder, sending shockwaves through her carefully constructed worldview. In her eyes, I’d never been good enough for Jared. Even back when we married, it was only because he had stubbornly insisted.
Throughout our marriage, I’d been the one tiptoeing around her, maintaining a fragile peace. She’d played the gracious matriarch, never openly hostile, yet micromanaging every detail of my life.
In the early days, Sally had visited weekly to inspect my “homework,” scrutinizing whether I’d kept the house spotless, whether I’d catered to Jared’s every need.
Before our marriage, Jared had lived with his parents, and Sally had orchestrated his life with military precision. When I took over, she’d treated me like an incompetent intern, dictating everything from meal plans to laundry routines.
Sally was never satisfied with that meek, people-pleasing Victoria.
Of course, in Sally’s mind, post-divorce Victoria should be scheming to win Jared back, not moving on. The idea that I’d found someone else was unthinkable. She believed I would never move on unless Jared remarried first, leaving me with no other option.
“Victoria, is this another one of your games?” Her tone dripped with skepticism. “Oh, I see now. This is how you’ve been messing with Jared’s head, staging some fake romance to make him jealous. How pathetic.”
Just as I’d predicted, she refused to believe it.
Of course, in Sally’s mind, why would I ever willingly let go of Jared? He was successful and handsome. He was the kind of man no woman who had ever loved him, or been loved by him, could simply walk away from.
“Sally, Jared already knows about this. If you don’t believe me, ask him,” I replied calmly, unfazed.
“Victoria, spare me the nonsense. Just quit already. If you disappear, Jared will move on.” Her patience had worn thin; her tone was now outright demanding.
I answered coolly, “Sorry, but I happen to like my job. Besides, I plan to stay in Shaville long-term. I won’t be returning to Hachester often, so you’d better hurry and find Jared a new girlfriend."
“Or just stick with Tracy. Wasn’t she the one who promised you a grandson? Though, given her recent miscarriage, she’ll need at least six months to recover before–”
“Victoria, that’s none of your concern,” Sally cut me off and hung up.
I set my phone down, finished getting ready, and headed out. Jared had scheduled a lunch meeting today with several hotel investors, preceded by a two-hour discussion. I needed to get there fast. I wanted to hear their insights on hotel investments firsthand.
By the time I arrived, Jared was already deep in conversation with the group in one of the meeting rooms.
Honestly, I found his level of involvement in this hotel project unusual. He had plenty of other investments, all far more significant than this one. Yet here he was, flying to Shaville personally, arranging meetings with top-tier international hotel investors.
A quiet suspicion nagged at me: Was Jared doing this for me? Had he already started funneling his resources and connections my way?
As I passed the glass-walled conference room, I caught sight of Jared inside, effortlessly charming the room. If he really was going out of his way to help me, then… well, I couldn’t fault him for that.
Most men turned cold after divorce, and some even went out of their way to sabotage their exes. Actively supporting one? That was rare.
Then again, maybe Jared had ulterior motives, like his infamous offer: “Three million for one night.” The memory almost made me laugh.
Was he still obsessed with sleeping with me? Seven years of marriage, and he still wasn’t bored? Or was it the thrill of the chase, the idea of “stealing” what he couldn’t have anymore?
Fine. If that was what he wanted, I’d let him chase. I’d string him along just enough to keep those resources flowing my way.