“I’m going to grab some lunch first. I’ll get in touch with you later,” Edward said gently, then added, “Next time I visit him, I’ll bring you with me.”

I didn’t really want to go with him, but since he’d said it, I just smiled and nodded. “Sure!”

After Edward left, I headed out too. There were some important documents waiting for my signature at the office.

By the time I got to the office, I caught up on my tasks and then got pulled into a last-minute meeting. Before I knew it, it was already dark outside.

My poor assistants were still hanging around, stuck working overtime just because I hadn’t left yet.

Once I finished up, I stood up to leave.

They’d been watching me like hawks, and the moment I got up, they started packing up too.

Just then, a tall figure appeared in the hallway.

The assistants’ faces fell when they saw him.

It was Jared.

I walked over to the door and told the assistants, “You can all head home now.”

They quickly gathered their things and slipped out.

Jared looked like a thundercloud about to burst–his mood was seriously off.

I glanced at him, keeping my cool. “Jared, burning the midnight oil again?”

Jared just barged into my office without saying a word.

I was caught off guard for a moment, then turned to look at him.

Jared didn’t say a word. He perched himself on my desk and started idly fiddling with a little figurine I kept there.

That figurine was a gift from my brother. It looked just like him when he was a kid, so I always kept it close by. Whenever I glanced at it, it always made me smile.

Seeing Jared holding it made my heart tighten. I strode over and snatched the figurine back from his hands.

Jared looked down at his empty hands, then finally glanced up at me. “Did Edward spend the night at your place?”

I kept my voice calm. “What’s it to you? I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“Victoria, do you even know what it means to be a public bus?” Jared sneered.

My expression darkened instantly. I glared at him, furious.

“One person hops on, pays a little, rides for a bit, then gets off. And then another person comes along, pays up…” Jared sneered, his words laced with venom.

Before I could stop myself, I slapped him hard across the face.

The sound echoed through the office.

A bright red handprint appeared on Jared’s pale face. He turned his head to the side, but then just smirked, pressing his tongue against his cheek. “Touched a sore spot, huh? Mad because I’m right?”

“Shut up! What gives you the right to mock me?” I shot back, my fury spiking.

Like he’d lost his mind, Jared suddenly yanked me toward him. Before I could react, he grabbed my chin and crushed his lips to mine in a punishing kiss.

“Jared…” I clenched my jaw, refusing to give in.

But Jared was ruthless. With practiced ease, he gripped my face, forced my lips apart, and invaded with a wild, stormy passion.

I was trembling with rage. I couldn’t believe Jared actually dared to treat me like this.

Jared gripped my chin with one hand, the other arm locked tightly around my waist, trapping my hands between us and leaving me breathless.

Finally, when I stopped struggling, he let go. There was a wild, reckless glint in his eyes. “Go on, hit me again. I’d rather die by your hand than be driven crazy by you. Victoria, don’t keep hurting yourself just to punish me. Just let go of what happened in our previous life.”

His eyes were red, burning with stubborn defiance. I stumbled back a few steps, gasping for air, glaring at him with resentment and anger.

“Not hitting me anymore? Did your hand get sore? Let me take a look…” Jared suddenly stood up from the desk and strode over, reaching for my hand.

I immediately hid my hand behind my back. “Jared, what do you think you’re doing?”

“I just want to talk some sense into you, but you never listen,” Jared said, looking like he was on some kind of mission to save me.

I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking he was absolutely ridiculous.

“See reason? And you’re the one to show me? You just said I’m hurting myself to punish you? Where do you get the nerve to think you matter that much? The guys I date are way out of your league. You have no idea how happy I am. Jared, don’t flatter yourself,” I shot back, my anger making every word sting.