Chapter 22: No Turning Back

At Jared's question, Sandy shook her head vigorously. "No! I'm not done! Please forgive me, Jared! I was coerced into it! I had no choice!"

"That has nothing to do with me anymore!" Jared began winding up the car window.

Sandy clung to the window, refusing to let go. Josephine, in the passenger seat, her blood boiling, flung open the car door despite the torrential rain and stormed out.

"How shameless are you? Let go! If you dare pester my husband again, I'll have someone break your leg! Mark my words!" Josephine roared, eyeing Sandy disdainfully. "Who do you think you are? How are you better than me? Richer? More powerful? More beautiful? You're inferior in every way! Why should Jared forgive you and choose you? There's no turning back in life! Since you didn't appreciate him, it's too late to beg him now! Go away!"

Josephine kicked Sandy, sending her to the ground. Sandy glared, but lacked the courage to reply. Josephine was right; she was no match for her. There was no reason for Jared to choose Sandy.

Finally, Josephine returned to the passenger seat, slamming the door. "Drive!"

Jared smiled slightly, glanced at her, floored the gas pedal, and sped off.

"Jared!" Sandy yelled, but he ignored her.

Sandy had always believed Josephine controlled Jared. She’d feared nothing after Josephine supposedly dumped him. She never expected to be the fool. The Sullivan family, she realized, had no influence over Walter or Tommy; everything was because of Jared. She couldn't understand what had changed about him—why these big shots now treated him with deference.

"Why are you smiling? Don't you think I was fierce?" Josephine asked, glaring at Jared.

He hastily shook his head. "No! I like that temperament!"

Josephine chuckled. "Really? She's lucky I didn't have someone break her leg for seducing my husband right in front of me!"

The car stopped in front of the mansion. Jared said to Josephine, "You can go home now."

"I'm soaked! I'll catch a cold!"

Josephine got out of the car.

"You want to stay here?" Jared asked, surprised.

"Why not? Plenty of rooms. Don't tell me you want to share a room with me? In your dreams!"

Josephine strode into the mansion. Jared stared at her back, helplessness etched on his face, but exhilaration bubbled inside. Despite his transformation into an energy cultivator and the change in his mentality, he was still a man—a hot-blooded man.

The door clicked open. "Jared, where were you? It's late, and it's pouring." Hannah's anxious voice called out.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Chance. We went hiking," Josephine explained quickly.

"Oh, Josephine! It's okay. Come in. You must be soaked!" Hannah smiled, stepping forward. Seeing Josephine was drenched, she fretted, "You're soaked! I only have a few clothes, and they won't fit you. What should we do?"

"Don't worry, Mrs. Chance. There's a room upstairs with my clothes," Josephine replied, smiling.

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