After being reborn, I make up my mind to stop chasing after my husband and daughter

Chapter 220

Chapter 220

The Holcomb family’s maneuvering grew transparent. Clearly, Sally was hedging her bets, keeping Tracy on standby as the reserve daughter in Dra last shred of goodwill I harbored for Sally evaporated.

I understood -my resolve for divorce was absolute, and as Jared’s mother, securing his future was natural. But by actively courting Tracy, she’d relinquished any moral standing to meddle in the divorce proceedings.

Sally had intended secrecy, but Yvonne became the unforeseen leak, prematurely blowing her grandmother’s cover. I meticulously saved three photos where Tracy’s presence was undeniable.

Melissa slammed her palm on the table, incensed. “Vipers! Absolute vipers. You’re not even legally divorced, and they’re already auditioning replacements? The sheer audacity. Victoria, divorcing that man was the single wisest decision you’ve ever made.”

A profound sense of detachment settled over me. I was finally untethered. The sting of divorce couldn’t reach me now. “Indeed,” I murmured. “Let’s see what their next move is.” Then I steered the conversation elsewhere. No point squandering energy on their theatrics.

Melissa wisely avoided mentioning Nathan again. She understood my principles. I wasn’t one for blurred lines. Until the divorce was finalized, any whiff of scandal with another man could jeopardize my position.

Returning to my temporary office after lunch, I found Jared ensconced in my chair, idly flipping through one of my books. Nearby, Ryan fidgeted with a pen, his gaze locked on Jared with the wary stillness of a predator assessing a rival.

“Ms. Murphy, Mr. Holcomb has been waiting for some time,” a colleague offered pointedly as I entered.

another chimed in, a

earn this kind of devotion,” a third

they knew the truth. He wasn’t saved by me;

meet

bypassing the seat he’d warmed, I dragged a side chair to the opposite side of the desk and sat. “Mr.

so distant? I was merely passing by and thought to bring

the desk. Inside nestled an assortment of exquisite miniature cakes from my

courtship isn’t entirely lost on you,” I observed, my voice laced with icy

suppose attempting to

Jared,” I stated flatly, my gaze fixed on the screen cycling through a roster of male models–each sculpted like a Greek god. In that moment, clarity struck: clinging to a single, withering branch was sheer folly when an entire forest

offering, sparked a flash of genuine pain in his eyes. “Victoria,” the plea was raw, stripped bare, “must it be like this? Not even a sliver of a chance to

truth bare, mercilessly. While Sally and Yvonne were scouting your next bride in Aurelia, you performed this devotion pantomime here? The irony was

he knew. And knowing, he still arrived bearing sweetness. Was his

was a moment of grace before

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Chapter 220

at the desktop, drawing a slow, steadying breath. I compartmentalized the unsettling encounter and forced my focus back onto