Chapter 97
Men had this ingrained sense of pride that made them treat their wives like their property. They could mess around all they wanted, but when it came to their wives, they always held a double standard. She had to belong to him and only him.
And the moment another man so much as looked at his wife, he’d instantly put up his guard.
I wasn’t about to lose my head over this. I’d started learning to weigh the pros and cons, just like he did. Before the divorce was finalized, I had no intention of challenging his authority, let alone backing myself into a corner.
As Quinn said, I was different from her.
I was born into an upper-middle-class family. My mom was a teacher, and my dad worked at a state-owned company. If it weren’t for the wealth my grandparents had built up to support us, we’d probably be stuck in stable poverty.
So, I needed money.
I said calmly, “I don’t have any ulterior motives, and I won’t cheat on you. So relax.”
Jared’s gaze shifted from the rearview mirror to the road ahead.
After a long silence, he suddenly said, “Tracy and I are just boss and assistant. If you really want to call it something else, we’re just friends who’ve known each other for years.”
He sounded sincere, but I wasn’t buying it. Men’s words were nothing but lies.
Upon seeing I didn’t say a word, Jared’s brow creased with a trace of annoyance. But honestly, I couldn’t care less.
Whatever he said, that was what counted. Once I caught them red-handed in bed, I’d make him eat his words. For now, lying low and waiting was the smartest move.
At noon, we picked a stylish restaurant. Whenever we took Yvonne out to eat, she always stole the spotlight. Everyone fussed over her, and she was more than used to being the family’s little princess.
Jared noticed I wasn’t eating much and asked, “Don’t you like the food here? Why aren’t you having more?”
Sally turned to me and said, “Victoria, you’ve gotten a lot skinnier lately. Are you trying to lose weight?”
“Yeah, if I eat too much, I’ll feel stuffed,” I replied offhandedly.
“Don’t go on a diet. You and Jared should have another baby. You need to eat well,” Sally said, putting a piece of beef on my plate.
Jared shot me a complicated look. Actually, we’d already talked about this. I wasn’t going to have another child, and he knew it. But I was pretty sure he hadn’t told Sally.
So, Jared and I both knew perfectly well. There was never going to be a second child between us.
After lunch, Jared and I went straight to the office. On the way, he started asking me all sorts of questions about the hotel renovation.
When I answered every one of them with ease, he looked a bit surprised and said, “So, you’ve actually done your homework on the renovation, huh?”
I nodded. “I don’t want to get ripped off. I have to know what I’m talking about.”
Jared let out an amused chuckle. “You’ve really changed a lot lately. It’s like you’re getting ready to spread your wings and fly. What is it? Are you preparing to leave me and picking up experience along the way?”
He said it like a joke, but my heart gave a little jolt. Jared might be young, but he was a sly old fox. He could always see right through things.
Bingo, he got it right. I really was building up experience for my future.
“I thought you liked career-driven women, like Tracy. I just want to be a better version of myself,” I said, trying to sound casual.
Honestly, I just wanted to give him a perfunctory answer, but Melissa’s suggestion was causing a storm in my mind.
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 wondered.
So, my answer was intentionally a bit vague.
Sure enough, Jared gave me a long, searching look in the rearview mirror. “So, you’re changing yourself for me?”
I nodded, looking serious. “Why else would I do it?”
“You’re working so hard, but at the same time, you’re drifting away from me? I don’t buy it,” Jared said with a soft, mocking laugh. “Don’t kid yourself. You’re doing this for you.”