Chapter 704

“When you were with Nathan, I didn’t feel this uneasy. And when you were with Ryan, I thought you were just going through the motions, living life like it was a game. After a lifetime of being held back by your emotions, I figured you wouldn’t fall for anyone so easily again. But with Edward… are you actually thinking about marrying him?” Jared’s voice carried doubt and a touch of melancholy, like he was seeing right through me all over again.

“Knock it off,” I snapped, yanking the contract out of his hand. “Jared, mind your own business and stop meddling in mine.”

“If you really go through with this marriage, what about Ryan? The woman he once loved would suddenly become his stepmom. You’d be running into each other all the time, especially at family gatherings and holidays. Victoria, are you really going to lock yourself up in a gilded cage like that?” Jared asked, his eyes dark and intense as he stared at me.

I avoided his gaze, feeling a pang of guilt, and clenched my fingers tight. “Relax. I’m not going to let myself get trapped like that.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Jared said, tapping his fingers on the desk. “Out of these three guys, Nathan’s better than the other two for you.”

I turned back to look at him. “This isn’t some kind of test.”

“It is a test,” Jared retorted, getting a little heated. “You’re choosing who you want to be with, and what kind of life you want to live.”

“Thanks for caring, but I know what I’m doing,” I said stubbornly, tossing my hair and turning to leave.

Honestly, I was only picking a fight with Jared because I was feeling insecure, Victoria thought to herself.

Leaning back in my office chair, I reminded myself that now wasn’t the time to get caught up in relationship drama–I should be focusing on leveling up my career.

The tourism industry was about to boom for the next few years, and with the economy on the upswing, there’d be all kinds of golden opportunities popping up.

Now that I was back home, I felt a lot more at peace.

Looking back on everything that happened with Edward in the UK, it almost felt unreal–like I’d just woken up from a dream.

That dream was both vivid and blurry, but it wasn’t something I could let myself chase after.

“Ms. Murphy, the Capital Hotel has been booked by a luxury brand for three days. Here’s the detailed contract for you to review and sign,” my assistant said, handing me a stack of papers.

The hotel in Braylin was right in the heart of the city, and from the moment it opened, we locked in long-term deals with several companies. Rarely did we ever have empty rooms–business was always steady. Honestly, it was one of my best investments yet.

With the success stories from Shaville and Braylin, companies were lining up to work with us. By early May, we were already talking partnerships with Trinity Real Estate and other firms in Habornington, Gordezin, Showtown, and Westford. Honestly, I never saw this massive turning point coming in May.

Work got insanely busy almost overnight. Within just a few days, I was flying from city to city, constantly on the move for partnership meetings.

During all this, Edward and I never really lost touch. All those flirty texts just couldn’t compare to actually seeing him face-to-face.

When my plane touched down in Sandanyo, he sent me a photo.

He was right there–at a beach in Sandanyo.

My heart tightened. ‘Why is he here?‘

I’d only casually mentioned I’d be in town for work, and yet, here he was.

The airport car dropped me off at the hotel lobby, and I was chatting with my team about work stuff as we walked in.

Out of nowhere…

A cheerful male voice called out, “Ms. Murphy! What are the odds? Never thought I’d bump into you back home.”

I glanced at his striking features and instantly remembered–Joel Sinclair.

Just as Joel finished talking to me, a young woman in a beige suit walked out of the elevator, phone pressed to her ear. Joel said with a smile, “I’m here on vacation with a friend.”

The woman in the beige suit handed her purse to Joel without missing a beat, then walked straight out toward the lobby doors, where a Rolls-Royce was parked right outside waiting for her.