Chapter 499

Jared’s handsome face froze, as if he’d just been slapped across the face. Then he bit his lip. “You want him to be your backup plan?”

I took a breath and nodded. “Why can’t he be?”

The color drained from Jared’s face, inch by inch. I knew exactly what it felt like to be left behind—it hurt like hell.

“Really?” Jared’s eyes turned dark. After a long, heavy silence, he finally looked up at me. “In my previous life, I stumbled through the business world, made a ton of mistakes before I got anywhere, and in the end, it was like trying to catch water with a basket—nothing to show for it. But this time around, Victoria, I know I can make my fortune twice as big as before. Are you sure you don’t want to keep me as your backup plan?”

This jerk, trying to win me over with money again.

Jared’s eyes lit up, bright as a galaxy. “If you don’t want me as your backup, then just treat me like a brick—move me wherever you want. But if you go to Braylin and act like you need the Jennings family for everything, do you really think they’ll respect you?”

I was caught off guard. This bastard actually made sense, and it was exactly what I’d been worried about.

“If you build your own business, and make it even bigger, the Jennings family will see you as independent and emotionally mature,” he went on.

“At least then, they won’t have to worry about you suddenly getting pregnant just to climb the ranks. Of course, if you really do give them a son, Jeffrey Jennings will make sure you get plenty in return.”

“You can keep Ryan as your backup, but you’ll have to give him a son first,” Jared said, his long lashes casting deep shadows over his eyes. “I’ve never been your only safety net… not ever.”

I looked at Jared, his face like a brooding ghost, and my heart was a mess.

In my previous life, I’d begged him for a little love, but he’d been stingy with it.

Now, in this life, when I didn’t want it anymore, he was offering it all.

“I guess I won’t be quitting just yet, Jared,” I finally said after thinking it over.

Jared lifted his head, his eyes suddenly lighting up with hope as he looked at me.

It felt like I’d just picked his side, choosing his business over trying to win favor with the Jennings family by giving them a son.

He reached for his glasses and put them on slowly, his voice softer and lower than ever. “Alright. If you ever want to talk about anything, just let me know.”

I met his gaze and gave a small nod.

Jared let out a soft sigh, his tense fingers finally relaxing as he turned away.

I slumped back in my chair, completely drained. I just couldn’t figure out why both Jared and I had been reborn into this world.

Was this world even real? Or was it just a dream I couldn’t wake up from?

I pinched my thigh hard, the sting of pain making me cry out.

The pain was real, no question about it. If this was all just a dream, then how the hell did Nathan, Ryan, and Edward end up in it?

I never met any of them in my previous life. Honestly, it’s all way too surreal.

Since everything here feels real enough, I might as well stop overthinking the whole rebirth thing and just focus on what’s right in front of me.

Jared said he could take his business to new heights—so if I stick with him, maybe I’ll really hit the jackpot.

And Jared actually wants to help me climb to the top, too. Maybe because we’ve lived two lives together, he’s gotten a lot more chill about everything.