Melissa glanced down at the lobby again and sighed, “You know, some couples stick together for years, but in the end, they still can’t compete with an innocent or seductive face. Everyone should weigh marriage carefully.”

“Come on, don’t worry about it. You and Zachary are so in love right now. Don’t let my problems get you down."

“Sure, marriage isn’t always perfect, but it’s not all bad either. There are always people out there who are happy,” I said gently, trying to reassure her.

Melissa smiled and nodded. Maybe it was because I knew Jared and Tracy were in that private room, and I kept glancing downstairs every now and then while I ate.

Suddenly, Jared and Tracy stepped out, followed by a middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties. The three of them stood in the hallway outside the private room, talking. Tracy looked bashful and sweet, her hands clasped together, head down as she stared at her shoes. Jared was smiling as he spoke with the middle-aged man, who suddenly reached out and ruffled Tracy’s hair, his face full of affection. Jared glanced at Tracy, too, with an approving smile on his face.

Tracy was acting all cute and coy with the middle-aged man, even leaning on his shoulder. She was nothing like the strict, authoritative woman from the office. Right now, she looked just like a daughter sweet-talking her dad. Jared had a gentle, easy smile on his face as the three of them chatted and laughed together. The vibe between them couldn’t have been better.

After a while, it looked like everything was going smoothly, and the three of them headed back into the private room. I couldn’t take my eyes off them, snapping photo after photo with my phone the whole time.

“What’s she acting all shy for? Is this seriously a meet-the-parents moment?” Melissa fumed on my behalf, clenching her fists. “Jared is so shameless. You two aren’t even divorced yet.”

I set my phone down and told her, “Don’t be mad. Just eat your food first.”

“How am I supposed to eat? I’m already full from being angry. Jared can’t treat you like this, meeting her parents before you’re even divorced? Is he really that desperate to get married again?” Melissa snapped. She was always straightforward, and right now, she was even angrier than I was.

I was feeling pretty stifled, too, but at this point, there was nothing I could do to change any of it. Even though Jared and I had a passionate night together just yesterday, it didn’t change the fact that we were still heading in opposite directions.

Suddenly, Melissa looked over at me and said, “Victoria, since your marriage has already come to this, I have a piece of advice for you. Care to hear?”

I looked up at her.

Melissa continued, “You know that rule about stocks? You’re supposed to sell when the market is at its peak. It’s the same with a woman’s youth. If you cash out when you’re at your most valuable, that’s when you get the biggest return.”

I paused with my fork in hand, staring at her in a daze.

Melissa looked me up and down. “You’re young, elegant, and beautiful. The other day, you said Jared seemed more interested in you lately. Have you ever thought that maybe he’s actually starting to catch feelings for you again?”

“And then what?” I asked, knowing exactly what she meant.

Melissa continued, “Of course, you need to play the game with him. Make him fall for you all over again, then hit him with the divorce. He’ll feel guilty, blame himself, and if he still loves you, he’ll end up giving you even more money. I’ve handled so many divorce cases. Trust me. I know how this works. A smart woman doesn’t go to war with a man. She uses his guilt and takes him for everything he’s got.”

Melissa said, clapping her hands, “That’s right. You’ve already played your cards wrong, and there’s no going back now. Victoria, I know you’re soft-hearted, but right now, you have to be ruthless. You need to be smart about this divorce. Don’t be dumb and walk away with nothing, or I’ll seriously look down upon you.”

I pressed my lips together in a smile. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

After Melissa and I finished our meal and started heading downstairs, to our surprise, the private room door swung open at that exact moment. Jared and the middle-aged man were walking ahead, still chatting away like they couldn’t get enough.

But then Tracy spotted me, and she walked over to greet me gracefully. “Mrs. Holcomb, you’re dining here, too? What a coincidence. Jared and I are having dinner with my dad.”

‘Jared?’ I thought. ‘Since when did they get so close?’