Chapter 498
“Bad karma is still karma, and bitter fruit is still fruit,” I replied with a mocking smile.
Jared lowered his head and let out a genuine laugh, like I’d actually amused him. That open, honest smile was something I’d never seen from him before.
‘This bastard… is he trying to reel me in again?’ I thought.
Jared pressed his long fingers to his lips, giving me a playful look. “Victoria, you really have changed. There’s this fearless vibe about you now, like nothing scares you anymore–not even life or death.”
I turned my face away and gave a little huff. “Like I had a choice–with you pushing me like that.”
“I’m sorry. I was a real bastard in our previous life, but I got what I deserved. You probably never saw me get run off a cliff in a car crash…”
“Stop!” I shot my hand up to cut him off. For some reason, the way he said it–so casual–felt like invisible needles pricking at my heart.
Jared just looked at me with those deep eyes, got the message, and let the topic drop.
His voice dropped, turning earnest. “Victoria, in this life, let me be the one you can always fall back on, your final safe haven. Will you let me?”
I never expected him to say something like that. For a second, I honestly thought he was joking–I just stared at him, stunned and unsure if he really meant it.
There was a rare humility in Jared’s eyes. “Whatever you need, I’ll do it–to atone for my sins from our previous life.”
“Jared, are you out of your mind?” I shot upright, almost on reflex, and pressed my hand to his forehead. He wasn’t even warm.
Jared lingered on the feel of my palm, and for a heartbeat, pure elation and a deep, aching attachment flashed in his eyes–before he buried it all away.
He gave me a gentle smile. “I’m not sick. I’ve wanted to say this for ages, but I just never got the chance.”
I pulled my hand back, and the joy on Jared’s face faded. He looked at me earnestly. “I feel like if I don’t make up for how I wronged you in this life, maybe I’ll get hit by another car again…”
“Huh? Did you get bound to some system or something? Are you here to conquer me?” I shot up and circled around him.
Jared let out a helpless laugh. “No, it’s just me–my soul came back, that’s all. Nobody and nothing is forcing me, no system, no rules. I’m doing this because I want to.”
“No matter how sincere you are, I still don’t want anything to do with you,” I said, my voice icy as I sat back down.
Jared leaned in, his tall frame drawing closer, his tone dead serious. “You still haven’t answered me. Does Edward have feelings for you?”
My heart gave a nervous jolt, and I tried to steer the conversation away.
But Jared wasn’t about to let me off the hook. He threw the evidence right at me. “Some kinds of love can’t be said out loud, but you can see it in what people do. The way the seats were arranged at the product launch… Actually, just the fact that Edward showed up at a public event like that is already unbelievable. From what I know, a guy like him hardly ever makes an appearance all year. So, who do you think he was showing up for?”
My breath hitched, and I just stared blankly into Jared’s eyes, completely stunned.
Jared suddenly let all the want and longing show in his gaze. He smirked lightly, a glint in his eyes. “See? When you care about someone, you might never say it, but your eyes always betray you. His eyes? Trust me, they’re anything but innocent.”
“Just stop!” I blurted out, my heart all over the place as I quickly turned my face away.
“Once you get involved with a guy like him, do you really think you can just walk away? If you don’t play his game, if you don’t give in to what he wants, he’ll just keep coming after you.” Jared didn’t let me dodge it–he just spelled out the ugly truth.
I bit my lip and took a slow, shaky breath. Yeah, I knew better than anyone–Edward was the kind of trouble you couldn’t just shake off.
“Then I’ll just do whatever it takes to marry Ryan,” I blurted out, barely thinking. In the middle of all this mental chaos, his name popped into my head and suddenly felt like my lifeline.