Chapter 682
I took a good look at the poster and then looked away. “Yeah, he’s drop-dead gorgeous.”
“Ms. Murphy, you totally could’ve had a guy like that in your collection back in the day. If you ever throw a party, don’t forget to invite me,” Elaine joked with a mischievous grin.
I laughed along. “Who knows, maybe I really will get my shot.”
“Ms. Murphy, I just knew you’re not the type to stick to one tree. You’re after the whole forest, aren’t you?” Elaine said, acting like she had me all figured out.
I gazed at the busy street, and that powerful, domineering face flashed through my mind.
“Keeping a whole mountain and a forest of men isn’t exactly a bargain,” I said, half-joking.
When I got back to my apartment that night, Jared called.
“Just ten days left and your course is over. Are you about to quit on me?” Jared sounded like he’d been drinking, his voice hoarse with a hint of drunkenness.
“Quit what job? Are you firing me now?” I teased him back.
“Isn’t that what you’re planning? You used this trip abroad to find someone to rely on for life. Even if you wanted to stay here, Edward wouldn’t let you. With him around, what could you possibly worry about?” Jared knew just how loaded the Jennings family was, so in his mind, as long as I ended up with Edward, I’d be set for life.
“Jared, in my previous life, I relied too much on men, and it ended with me dying miserably. Do you really think I’d walk down that same road again?” I said, keeping my voice steady.
Jared seemed to snap out of it, his voice suddenly clearer. “So, what’s your decision?”
“I’m heading back to Hachester and picking up my work again,” I replied, my tone steady and cool.
“Does Edward know about this?” Jared sounded genuinely surprised, like he hadn’t seen that coming.
“Why should I need his approval?” I shot back, my voice calm. “I’m my own person, he’s his. We just crossed paths for a while–that doesn’t mean he’s my whole future.”
“Victoria, I knew it… you really can’t trust anyone anymore, can you?” Jared let out a low, regretful sigh. “Did I hurt you that much?”
“I just want to live my life clear-headed,” I said, biting my lip. ‘Whether it’s right or wrong, as long as I don’t regret it, that’s enough for me. It has nothing to do with anyone else!’
“You’re so chill and carefree, while I’m just spinning in circles, stuck in a box I drew myself,” Jared said with a bitter laugh. “It’s like I’ve locked myself up and can’t find the way out.”
“Nobody trapped you there, you know. You’re the one who won’t step out,” I replied, not about to take the fall for his issues.
“Yeah, I drew the lines, and I’m the one refusing to cross them. Can’t blame anyone else for that,” Jared said, poking fun at himself.
“Jared, where’d all your passion and desires go? Planning to become a monk now?” I teased, laughing. “The you I knew was never this boring.”
Jared’s voice was tinged with loneliness. “Why didn’t you ever do what I did in your previous life–go out, find other men, and just enjoy yourself? Why did you draw a prison around yourself and spend your whole life guarding the walls of marriage?”
It felt like a blow to the head–I was left stunned, completely at a loss.
Even in my previous life, when I was drowning in despair, I still held my ground. I couldn’t even remember why I kept clinging to that red line anymore.
“I don’t remember,” I said wistfully. “I’ve long since forgotten what I was holding on for.”
Jared let out a soft, ironic laugh. “I know why. Because you loved me, and when you love someone like that, no one else even exists.”
I was stunned. ‘Is that really why?’ I wondered, a little lost.
“Victoria, right now I feel just like you did in your previous life. Waiting for someone to come back, I can’t even see all the women around me anymore. It just feels like holding onto this hope is the purest thing I’ve got,” Jared murmured.
“I don’t need your bargain-bin feelings. Give me something I actually want,” I said coldly. My heart was already dead–there was no way Jared could win me back with pretty words.
“What do you want, then? Money? Fine. As long as you don’t quit, I’ll give you 30 million in stock dividends every year,” Jared said, his voice rough and resigned.
“Deal. Just remember–don’t go back on your word,” I replied, not the least bit shy about taking his money.