<b>Chapter </b>86
Jared let out a coldugh. “The things you said at the office today didn’t seem very respectful.”
“What are you talking about?<b>” </b>I frowned.
“You talked about me and Tracy getting a room together.” Jared’s voice turned icy. “Tracy is an unmarried woman. Do you realize how damaging your words are to her reputation?”
I was momentarily stunned. “If her reputation matters to you, then where did all thosepany rumorse from?”
“I don’t care what others say, but you can’t do it. Every word you utter bes a death sentence for her reputation.
“She’s not just my subordinate; she’s my friend. Don’t you think respecting me means respecting my friends too?” Jared’s voice grew heavier, and his expression darkened.
Iughed suddenly and kept quiet, thinking, ‘Fine. I allow others not to love me. I’ll just find a way to love myself.
“There’s no way life with someone else would be the same. My marriage with Jared is dead; I can’t keep living with him.’
Sally returned with Yvonne and Quinn, signaling the start of dinner.
James smiled kindly at me. “Victoria, isn’t it about time you and Jared thought about having another child?”
Before we could respond, Yvonne piped up loudly. “My mom swore she’d never have another kid with Dad.”
Both Jared and I froze.
“Children shouldn’t interrupt. You should eat your food,” Sally coaxed Yvonne with a smile.
Quinn nced at me snidely. “Yvonne is already six. If you wanted to have another one, it would’ve happened by now. Victoria, might there be a problem with one of you?”
Jared gave Quinn a stern look. “Don’t talk nonsense; we’re both perfectly fine.”
“So then, you two just don’t get together very often?” Quinn half–joked, half–mocked.
Jared’s expression stiffened for a moment. In fact, before I came back, we rarely spent intimate time together. Buttely, Jared’s been pretty fired up in bed.
“It’ll get better,” Jared said, putting on a supportive front as he ced a piece of beef onto my te. “Victoria, did you hear that?<b>” </b>
Clearly, Jared was trying to present a loving and harmonious image in front of the family. Naturally, ‘I had to y along. “I heard it,” I replied.
Finally, a faint smile appeared on Jared’s face. “Yvonne, all your little ssmates seem to have younger siblings. Don’t you want one?”
Yvonne blinked curiously and looked at Sally.
Sally immediately stroked her head with a warm smile and said, “Look at your aunt and dad–they’re siblings who grew up together and always had someone to y with. Wouldn’t it be nice for you to have a little sibling too?”
Yvonne, being a child with limited thought process–and likely influenced by the persistent persuasion from Sally–nodded earnestly and replied, “Okay, but I only want a baby brother. No sisters. Brothers will y with me, but sisters will fight with
me for my pretty dresses.”
<b>As </b>soon as she said this<b>, </b>James and Sally lit up with joy. Quinn, however, made a strange <b>expression </b>but didn’t say a word.
Jared gazed at Yvonne fondly, looking deeply pleased as if his daughter had suddenly grown up.
I <b>was </b><b>the </b>only one remaining calm<b>, </b>watching <b>the </b>scene unfold while thinking to myself, ‘If the Hob family wants an heir, there are plenty of women out there who’d dly have Jared’s child–but the child would note from my womb.
Dinner ended on a fairly cheerful note. Yvonne stayed behind with Sally while Jared announced he would ride back home in my car, sending his driver off for the night.
On the drive home, I rolled down the windows to let the cool breeze in.
At a red light, I rested one elbowzily on the steering wheel, watching the countdown timer <b>as </b>the wind tousled my long hair around.
Out of instinct<b>, </b>my eyes drifted to the side mirror–and I caught Jared staring straight at me. My heart tensed slightly as I thought to myself, ‘What’s he ying at now?‘
“You seem to have loosened uptely,” Jared remarked casually, breaking the silence<b>. </b>“You’ve be more carefree.”