<b>Chapter </b><b>170 </b>


    Inarrowed my eyes, Tracy really wasn’t doing this out of the goodness of her heart.


    But thinking about it, Jared was the real catch here, If Tracy was willing to throw that kind of money around just for him, it actually made sense.


    “So, tell me. Tracy, are you his wife or am I? What t gives you the right in decide how the assets in my marriage get split?” I didn’t trust her for a second.


    “There are way


    y too many loopheles in didding up property. If she yed dirty behind my back, I could end up with nothing and a whole lot of trouble.


    <b>Tracy’s </b>face changed a little, her lips pressed tight. “I don’t help you, do you really think Jared would give you that much?”


    “I know exactly who gets to call the shots here, and it’s not you don’t need some outsider meddling in my business,” I replied coldly, cutting her off


    A sh of malice flickered across <b>Tracy’s </b>face. She clearly hadn’t expected me to have any brains. In her <b>eyes</b>, I was just a pretty face, no substance, no smarts, nothing worth respecting


    “Mrs. Hob, youth is precious, especially for someone as beautiful as you. Jared doesn’t love you, and you’re trapped in this marriage, unable to find someonepatible. Don’t you feel it’s a waste of time?” <b>Tracy </b>always emphasized that Jared no longer loved me.


    Every word she threw <b>was </b>a dagger straight to the heart. Tracy really know how to twist the knife.


    “Oh, <b>really</b>? The time I’ve wasted‘ is his too. Sure, <b>maybe </b>he doesn’t love me anymore<b>, </b>but he’s still my husband, rich, handsome, and honestly, pretty damn good in <b>bed</b><b>, </b><b>I </b><b>don’t </b>see any of that as a waste.”


    Hazily flipped my hair. “Honestly, Tracy, you’re the one who seems desperate here.” Tracy’s face flushed bright red with anger. She clearly didn’t expect me to be this unfazed.


    “Victoria, don’t get too full of yourself. One day, you’ll eat your words,” Tracy said, getting to her feet, clearly not wanting to talk anymore.


    “What do I <b>have </b>to regret? It’s


    it’s you who’s so eager to climb up, iming not to care about Mrs. Hob’s position. I think what you want most is that title.” 1 coldly mocked her retreating figure.


    Tracy stiffened, shot <b>me </b><b>a </b>vicious re, then grabbed her bag and walked out. Once she was gone, I reached into my bag and pulled out a voice recorder.


    Ever since I decided to gather evidence for the divorce, I’d been <b>doing </b>my homework and getting ready for anything


    my previous life, I’d been caught up in chaos, <b>but </b>this time around, I wasn’t going into battle without a n


    In my


    I finished listening to the recording, and honestly, Tracy’s pushy attitude was seriously infuriating. Still, I <b>wasn’t </b>about to confront Jared with this recording and start a scene. I had something way smarter in mind.


    I took the afternoon off, not going to the office, not heading home either. Instead, I went to Willow Bay alone to take in the scenery. Around seven in the evening, Jared called me, but I hung up on him.


    By eight, <b>a </b>sudden downpour had everyone scurrying for cover, I sat alone on a bench by Willow Bay, letting the rain <b>soak </b>my hair and drench my


    clothes.


    Jared kept calling, one after another, but I didn’t answer. I hadpletely vanished from his world. Then Jared’s parents <b>started </b>calling, and Yvonne sent me messages, but lignored them all.


    By ten o’clock, Jared was losing his mind, going all over the ce looking for me. Melissa called, saying Jared was pounding on her door like a madman, asking where <b>the </b>hell I was.


    I gave the address to Melissa, who told <b>Jared </b>Late that night by Willow Bay, a siker Bentley sped through the rain and screeched to a stop beside me Jared ran out, holding an umbre over him as he approached


    I sat on a bench beneath a huge tree, rain soaking me to the bone, halk, clothes, everything. Jared came running, practically throwing <b>the </b>umbre aude


    <b>1/2 </b>


    as he pulled me into his armis, holding me so tight it almost hurt.


    “Victoria, are you out of your mind? It’s pouring and you just sit here? What the hell are you trying to do? Why did youe here? What are your thinking?”


    His eyes were wild and red, darting to the dark waters of Willow Bay nearby. When he looked back at me, his arms tightened around me even more, like he was afraid I’d slip <b>away</b>.


    I was shivering all over, and with what little strength I had left, I showed him hard. “Why don’t you go back to your precious Tracy? Just leave me the het


    alone.”


    E