I realized I’d zoned out, staring at Ryan for a good five seconds. I quickly let out an awkwardugh and said, “Sorry, I can’t wrap my head around why you’de to Hachester for a job.”


    Ryan thought for a moment and then said, “After we parted in Shariport, I kept waiting for you to reach out. You’d mentioned Hachester, and I figured we weren’t far apart. Then you vanished–dropped off the face of the earth.


    “So I pulled a few strings. I swear I wasn’t snooping.”


    “So you didn’t just randomly apply at the hotel?” I asked.


    Ryan replied, “Nope, I went there on purpose to find you. The moment I saw you, I was honestly pretty thrilled, but I didn’t dare let it show.”


    “So, were you disappointed when you found out I was married and had a kid?” I asked, meeting his gaze.


    Ryan said, “Not at all. I asked around and heard you’re in the middle of a divorce with Jared. Maybe I went a bit overboard? You’re not mad, right? I just wanted to get to know you better.”


    I couldn’t help but get annoyed. After all, no one could stand living with zero privacy. I asked, “So, did you look up


    my whole family history, too?”


    Ryan said, “Not that far. Rx, I won’t bother you. I just want to start off as friends.”


    <i>Once </i>the food hit the table, we chatted as we ate. I was honestly surprised that Ryan had made a special trip to


    Hachester just to see me.


    “Victoria, <i>you </i>said you were worried about me before. Was that for real?” Ryan asked, looking up at me with a


    smile while still eating.


    I replied, “I was worried <i>you </i>might get snatched by debt collectors, so I asked the cops to keep an eye on you.”


    Ryan’s face lit up. He said, “Thanks for caring. I’ll be fine.”


    “From now on, don’t ever lie to me again. If I catch you being dishonest, I’ll still have to let you go,” I warned him sternly.


    Ryan nodded and said, “Understood.”


    Just then, my phone, lying on the table, lit up with a message from Jared. I nced at it.


    He was asking who the man I was just with was, and if that was the real reason I went to Shariport.


    I didn’t reply. After all, Jared never bothered to exin things when he was getting close to Tracy.


    After we finished ourte–night snack, Ryan saw me off at the elevator, then went back to his ce.


    12:08 Thu, 21 Aug 5,


    54%


    The next morning, I slept inte. Half–asleep, I heard someone knocking on the door. I thought it was Ryaning to see me, so I quickly got up, tied my hair back, freshened up, and wrapped my robe tight before opening the


    door.


    But when I opened the door, I saw Jared standing outside. I stared at him, totally stunned.


    Jared stormed in, searching every possible hiding spot in my room. Finally, he stood there, hands on his hips,


    fuming as he demanded, “Where’s that guy?”


    I never thought Jared would lose his mind and rush from Hachester <i>to </i>Shariport just to bust me for cheating. He was totally out of his mind.


    I pulled my robe tighter, leaning against the wine cab, and sneered, “Jared, let me make this clear. This is my


    ce. You barge in here, causing a scene, and you think you’re in the right?”


    Jared froze as he finally realized that I wasn’t his wife anymore.


    I didn’t have my divorce certificate with me, or I would’ve thrown it in his face to snap him out of it.


    Jared rubbed his forehead in frustration, then slumped onto the couch, looking exhausted. He said, “Victoria, can


    you just be straight with me? Did you already have someone waiting in the wings before our divorce? That guy from yesterday. Was he Nathan?”


    I froze. I was starting to wonder if Jared’s ears were on the fritz yesterday–couldn’t he tell that it wasn’t Nathan’s


    voice?


    I shot back, “Why should I tell you anything? We’re divorced. We don’t owe each other anything.”