Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 26

Nathan’s insight surprised me. He seemed to know me better than I’d realized.

“Have you been checking up on me?” My smile faded. The collapse of my marriage was painful enough without strangers poking through the remains.

“Sorry, I overstepped,” Nathan blurted out, uncharacteristically flustered. “Just heard some things in passing. No background checks, I promise.”

“Lovely meeting you.” I gave him my best polite dismissal and walked away.

Nathan stayed frozen where he stood.

Back at our table, Melissa was still nervously eyeing the handsome stranger at the other table, clearly working up the courage to talk to him.

“Melissa, ready to go?” I asked, already gathering my things. Nathan’s lingering gaze and that unsettling confession had me suddenly desperate for an exit.

She rose with obvious reluctance, just as Nathan came back inside.

I pulled Melissa forward. “Mr. Hallman, meet Melissa–legal genius and my best friend. Keep her number handy for when you inevitably need a lawyer.”

“Victoria…” Melissa hadn’t expected me to be so forward. She turned bright red, wishing she could vanish on the spot.

I shot her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry. Mr. Hallman and I know each other.”

Nathan handed Melissa a business card. “Ms. Jenkins, my company could use legal counsel. If you’re interested, reach out to my assistant, Zachary Chandler.”

“Hello,” said Zachary, the handsome guy across the table, raising his hand. He slid his card toward her. “Just give me a call.”

Melissa took both cards, her face burning. “Nice to meet you,” she murmured, and then yanked me out of the restaurant at lightning speed.

took one look at her tomato–red cheeks and burst out

just ask for their contacts like

nudged her. “You’ve got their cards now. It’d be a waste

strange and grabbed my arm. “You know Mr. Hallman?

you two meet?”

caught off guard by her rapid–fire

does Mr. Hallman like you?” Melissa squinted. “Don’t even try denying it. I can see it in his eyes–the way he looks at you isn’t just

things from her. So

yours created a tech mogul?” She’d seen his business card–the same guy I’d helped was

was killing it in the

Back then, people talked about this genius

Holcombs‘ charity work at the time. When I heard

Your instincts

wry smile. “It was Jared’s money, not mine. If anyone deserves credit, it’s

his own romantic competitor.

down. If anyone hears you, we’re

her voice dropping to a whisper. “So… you’re really divorcing Jared? Need me to handle the paperwork?

serious expression made me laugh. “Alright,

think Jared will give you half?”

head. “Probably not. I don’t expect half. Even ten

never been stingy with you. Honestly, he’d probably hand over whatever you needed without you asking.” Melissa studied me, her usual teasing tone

down that aisle, did you ever think it would

thinking about divorce?” I said bitterly. “We were all in, picturing silver anniversaries, matching rocking chairs, a house

we romanticized marriage too much,” Melissa interrupted. “Truth is, it’s just

your losses early,” I

nodded with a knowing smile. “Exactly.

are all the same. The magic always fades. Why not just keep dating? Always have someone new to love