Chapter 86
Jared let out a cold laugh. “The things you said at the office today didn’t seem very respectful.”
“What are you talking about?” I frowned.
“You talked about me and Tracy getting a room together.” Jared’s voice turned icy. “Tracy is an unmarried woman. Do you realize how damaging your words are to her reputation?”
I was momentarily stunned. “If her reputation matters to you, then where did all those company rumors come from?”
“I don’t care what others say, but you can’t do it. Every word you utter becomes a death sentence for her reputation."
“She’s not just my subordinate; she’s my friend. Don’t you think respecting me means respecting my friends too?” Jared’s voice grew heavier, and his expression darkened.
I laughed suddenly and kept quiet, thinking, ‘Fine. I allow others not to love me. I’ll just find a way to love myself.'
“There’s no way life with someone else would be the same. My marriage with Jared is dead; I can’t keep living with him.”
Sally returned with Yvonne and Quinn, signaling the start of dinner.
James smiled kindly at me. “Victoria, isn’t it about time you and Jared thought about having another child?”
Before we could respond, Yvonne piped up loudly. “My mom swore she’d never have another kid with Dad.”
Both Jared and I froze.
“Children shouldn’t interrupt. You should eat your food,” Sally coaxed Yvonne with a smile.
Quinn glanced at me snidely. “Yvonne is already six. If you wanted to have another one, it would’ve happened by now. Victoria, might there be a problem with one of you?”
Jared gave Quinn a stern look. “Don’t talk nonsense; we’re both perfectly fine.”
“So then, you two just don’t get together very often?” Quinn half-joked, half-mocked.
Jared’s expression stiffened for a moment. In fact, before I came back, we rarely spent intimate time together. But lately, Jared’s been pretty fired up in bed.
“It’ll get better,” Jared said, putting on a supportive front as he placed a piece of beef onto my plate. “Victoria, did you hear that?”
Clearly, Jared was trying to present a loving and harmonious image in front of the family. Naturally, I had to play along. “I heard it,” I replied.
Finally, a faint smile appeared on Jared’s face. “Yvonne, all your little classmates seem to have younger siblings. Don’t you want one?”
Yvonne blinked curiously and looked at Sally.
Sally immediately stroked her head with a warm smile and said, “Look at your aunt and dad–they’re siblings who grew up together and always had someone to play with. Wouldn’t it be nice for you to have a little sibling too?”
Yvonne, being a child with limited thought process–and likely influenced by the persistent persuasion from Sally–nodded earnestly and replied, “Okay, but I only want a baby brother. No sisters. Brothers will play with me, but sisters will fight with me for my pretty dresses.”
As soon as she said this, James and Sally lit up with joy. Quinn, however, made a strange expression but didn’t say a word.
Jared gazed at Yvonne fondly, looking deeply pleased as if his daughter had suddenly grown up.
I was the only one remaining calm, watching the scene unfold while thinking to myself, ‘If the Holcomb family wants an heir, there are plenty of women out there who’d gladly have Jared’s child–but the child would not come from my womb.’
Dinner ended on a fairly cheerful note. Yvonne stayed behind with Sally while Jared announced he would ride back home in my car, sending his driver off for the night.
On the drive home, I rolled down the windows to let the cool breeze in.
At a red light, I rested one elbow lazily on the steering wheel, watching the countdown timer as the wind tousled my long hair around.
Out of instinct, my eyes drifted to the side mirror–and I caught Jared staring straight at me. My heart tensed slightly as I thought to myself, ‘What’s he playing at now?’
“You seem to have loosened up lately,” Jared remarked casually, breaking the silence. “You’ve become more carefree.”