Housewife Gone Wild

Loose 449

I watched Jared’s back, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. “I don’t want to talk about this. Let’s focus on work,” I said.

Jared’s voice dropped, rough and low. “I knew this would happen.”

His weird comment made me stop in my tracks. “What do you mean?”

Jared finally stood up and turned to face me. His face was half in shadow, but his eyes were bright and clear. “Someone else will take you away from me.”

I froze, feeling like I was being treated like a piece of property.

Jared walked up to me, towering over me, sizing me up. “I wanted to keep you all to myself, hidden away so no one else would even know you existed. But now, everything’s spiraled out of control.”

“Jared, if you’re crazy, go see a doctor. Don’t use me for your entertainment,” I shot back, my anger flaring. In my last life, I let him hide me away, but when he got bored, he just went looking for someone else. So much for wanting to keep me–he just wanted to own me, then tossed me aside like I was nothing.

Jared took my rant in stride, not even getting mad. Instead, he actually laughed. “You’ve hitched your wagon to the Jennings family now. Who knows, you might end up way ahead of me. Maybe when I write my memoirs, I’ll have to mention my ex–wife who was out of my league…”

I almost laughed out of sheer frustration. I stood up from my chair, feeling tall in my heels. I used to look up to Jared, thinking he was untouchable. But now? Other than that cold, handsome face, he’s really not all that special.

day my daughter will write in her essay about

he stopped and looked at me with a deep, lingering affection. “Victoria, maybe this is the real you–fun, vibrant, not meant to be kept

you some credit. Every step in life matters. If meeting Ryan is my destination, then you were just the bridge I crossed to get

storm of emotions, like he’d just

true love, and now I’m just a bridge? Victoria, your

really tried to understand me, Mr. Holcomb.” I hugged my papers and walked to the

We were actively seeking business partners and investors, and we’d already connected with several major local tour groups to set up long–term partnerships. It was

for lunch at The

09:11 Fri, 29 Aug

Chapter 449

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charm, and everyone was in high spirits. Glasses kept clinking, drinks kept coming, and the whole

+38

knocking back drinks, and I had a few myself. Once I started feeling

switched to

about Nathan’s investment deal. You got a minute? I’m staying

talk in my

“Not happening. I’m buzzed,