Chapter 571

I kept thinking about what Ryan had said–every word felt like a heavy stone pressing down on my heart.

Ryan called it his battlefield–a place of power plays and schemes, fought without smoke or gunfire, but people still get hurt, and blood is still spilled.

I squeezed my eyes shut and told Jared, “Don’t go after him. I broke up with him.”

“When did that happen?” Jared looked genuinely shocked. “Wait, you mean just now?”

I shook my head. “No, it was about half a month ago. It was pretty amicable, I guess.”

“Amicable?” Jared scoffed. “If it was really that peaceful, then why did he take off? And why do you look so out of it?”

I was stunned, my mouth half open, wanting to say something but not even knowing where to start.

Jared crossed his arms, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “See? Love isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s just dressed up to look nice, but in the end, it just leaves you hurt.”

I couldn’t argue with him, but I didn’t believe that love always ended in pain. Ryan hadn’t hurt me–he was just trying to protect me in his own way.

“Oh? Did I strike a nerve? Is that why you’re speechless?” Jared looked down at me with that superior attitude, clearly annoyed. “Victoria, if you’re going to mess around with love, you need a heart of steel. If you keep getting your heart broken every time you fall for someone, I seriously doubt you’ll last as long as you did in your previous life.”

“Jared, you’re so loud,” I snapped, turning away from him.

Realizing he’d crossed a line, Jared lowered his voice. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just don’t want to see you get yourself hospitalized over some guy.”

I knew Jared was only acting this way because he cared, even if his worry made him a little harsh. I just didn’t have it in me to give him a hard time.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry,” I said, finally starting to get my head straight.

Ryan hated the Chamberlain family because they did things he utterly despised.

Forcing him into marriage and resorting to vile assassination attempts–that’s what made him so furious.

If the Chamberlain family really wanted to take my life just because I had a relationship with Ryan, then any revenge that came their way was completely justified.

I shouldn’t keep beating myself up–I need to focus on getting stronger.

All I can do now is find my own way to grow, maybe through my career. Who knows, maybe someday I could actually lend Ryan a hand. But honestly, the Jennings family is already a powerhouse–even if I bust my ass, I doubt I could make much of a difference.

Two days later, I was discharged from the hospital. After wrapping up a few things at work, I flew back to Hachester with Jared.

That evening, Jared set up a family dinner for us, with Yvonne joining in.

Sally had been on edge lately because Jared didn’t seem interested in getting married anytime soon.

Seeing me walk into the private room with him probably made me look a little more appealing to her.

She quickly stood up, all smiles. “Victoria, did you come back from Braylin with Jared this time? So, does that mean you two—”

“We’re just friends,” I replied, catching on to what she was getting at.

“Friends, huh? Ex–husband and ex–wife turning into friends–that’s something you don’t see every day,” Sally said, her smile slipping a little.

Jared just gave a small smirk and added, “Mom, it’s a bit of both: family and friends.”

Sally shot him a look. “Just eat your food. You talk too much.”

Yvonne sat beside us, giggling to herself, while Quinn just rolled her eyes and mouthed something silently that I couldn’t catch.

When the conversation turned to me taking over as the hotel’s general manager, Quinn’s face immediately darkened.

“Jared, why are you always looking out for your ex–wife? Aren’t you worried she’ll end up richer than you someday?” Quinn had never liked me–ever since the whole thing with Ryan, she just had to put me down no matter what I did.

Jared replied calmly, “Victoria becoming more successful is great for Yvonne.”

Yvonne immediately grinned and chimed in, “So all the money you guys make will be mine one day!”

Sally gave her a playful tap on the head. “Look at you, all excited. But you need to study hard and become someone amazing yourself.”

Yvonne puffed up her cheeks and said, “Of course I will!”

Quinn still wasn’t happy. She immediately stuck out her hand. “Hey, what about my cut? You promised to invest in my boutique last time, so cough up the cash already!”

Jared gave her a cool look. “Send me a proposal, and I’ll see if it’s worth investing in.”

Just then, James rushed in wearing a crisp blue suit. “Sorry I’m late! Traffic was a nightmare.”

Everyone turned to look at him as he sat down next to Sally like it was no big deal.

Sally rolled her eyes. “You’re getting up there in years, and you still dress like a peacock every single day. Look at Jared–he’s not even as stylish as you.”

James just chuckled. “Jared’s never been stylish, not even when he was a kid.”

Jared glanced at his dad’s flamboyant outfit with indifference, lips pressed together, saying nothing.

But Quinn hooked her arm through her dad’s and said, “Mom, you just don’t get fashion. Dad’s totally pulling off this ‘silver fox’ vibe–I picked out the outfit myself! Right, Dad? Bet you had everyone turning to look at you, huh?”

James grinned and nodded. “You know it! A couple of ladies downstairs even asked for my number and wanted to know if I could dance.”