<b>Chapter </b>234


    I looked at Sally, puzzled. I said, “Mrs. Hob, are you sure you’ve got it right? I’m not fighting for custody. I have no intention of taking Yvonne.”


    Sally snapped, “Cut the crap. Yvonne threw a fit this afternoon, insisting on going to your parents‘ ce. I couldn’t stop her at all. Jared already arranged for someone to take her to the airport.


    “Victoria, don’t push your luck. As your mother–inw, have I ever treated you badly all these years? You never gave the Hob family an heir, but did I everin? And now, you want to leave us with nothing, is that it?”


    Sally got more and more upset, and finally, she just copsed onto a chair and broke down in tears at my desk.


    I stiffened.


    Sally sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. When she finally stopped, she red at me and said, “I don’t know what kind of spell you put on Jared, but why is he still hung up on you?


    “You’re so cold, wanting to divorce him and just walk away. Even when he’s drunk, he still calls your name. Victoria, you’re just a drama queen.


    “Jared and Tracy have nothing between them, but you just have to make it sound shady. You’re the one ruining


    Jared’s reputation. All you want is his money. You’re the worst.”


    I sat there, keeping my face nk as I listened to her venting, but inside, I couldn’t help feeling a bit stunned.


    I said coldly, “Jared’s just being stubborn. If I hadn’t brought up the divorce, he would’ve done it sooner orter. I


    know him.”


    Sally snapped, “You don’t know a damn thing. If Jared didn’t care about you, how could you have ever married


    him? I know my son–he’s not some yer. It’s you. You’re the one who’s been trampling all over his feelings.”


    Like any mother, Sally saw her son as her pride and joy, wless in her eyes.


    1 said calmly, “Mrs. Hob, it’s over between Jared and me. There’s no point in your crying about it. You should


    start looking for his next wife, someone who can give you the big, healthy baby you want as your heir.


    “If you want to know how much money I got, just ask Jared. I didn’t take much at all.”


    Sally wiped her tears and said, “Honestly, I wish <b>Jared </b>would just end up with Tracy. At least she’s not as ungrateful


    as you. Tracy said she’d be a real help to him, both at work and at home.”


    I shot back, “Yeah, I’ll admit it–Tracy’s great. She and Jared are a match made in heaven. You should hurry up and help him win her back. Let Tracy be the one to look after you from now on.”


    I wasn’t going to get all worked up and start yelling anymore. Now, if I argued, I was keeping it ssy.


    Sally got even more pissed, probably because I was so obviously dismissive of Jared in my tone. She snapped,


    12:03 Thu, 21 Aug On


    57%


    “Victoria, did you ever love Jared at all? When you married him, was it just for his money? You’re so scheming, it’s


    honestly creepy.”


    As she spoke, she slowly stood up and backed away, as if I were some kind of poisonous snake.


    I blinked, a little surprised, but if that was what she wanted to think, whatever–let her.


    39


    “Mrs. Hob, at your age, do you still believe in love? It’s like ghosts–everyone talks about it, but no one’s ever


    actually seen one,” I said with a smile.


    Sally fixed me with a piercing re, then suddenly lunged at me. Before I could react, <i>she </i>pped me hard across


    the face. She said, “You venomous woman. I knew it–you were only after my son’s money. Victoria, you’ll never


    have a good end.”