(Virginia’s POV)


    The second Scarlett appeared, Jasper has been lost in thought.


    I recognize the look in his eyes. The frustration and rage are emotions I’m all <i>too </i>familiar with as I experienced them myself the years he and Scarlett lived together.


    They are emotions I still struggle to deal with whenever I find him thinking about Scarlett instead of seeing me, loving me.


    I hate them, and I hate her more.


    Because in the years she’s been gone, Jasper has never once expressed such emotions towards me. Frustration, rage…jealousy.


    They are emotions one experiences only when the one they care about doesn’t care for them, but someone else.


    My breath catches in my throat, and just as my resentment towards Scarlett builds up, recognition ms into me.


    Dorian Cross. CEO of Cross Industries, one of the most sessful retail chains in the country. His face has been on magazine covers, business journals, Forbes lists.


    And he’s here. With Scarlett. Forget about how he’s looking at her.


    Just the fact that he’s here with her says a lot about their rtionship.


    Because Dorian Cross isn’t some random man. He is the CEO of Cross Industries. And the way he touches her wheelchair, the protective stance, the familiarity between them…


    My mind races, countless possibilities shing in second. When did they meet? How long have they been involved? And that little girl, Lily, with her dark hair and those expressive


    eyes…


    A smile spreads across my face before I can stop it. This is perfect. Better than perfect. “Jasper,” I whisper, touching his arm lightly. “Do you know who that is?”


    He’s still staring at Scarlett, his jaw clenched tight. “Some guy she’s dating, apparently.”


    “That’s not just some guy.” I let my voice carry just enough surprise, just enough concern. “That’s Dorian Cross. He owns Cross Industries.”


    4 Chapter 37


    Jasper’s head snaps toward me. “What?”


    More Dewanda


    “I’ve seen him in business magazines. He’s worth millions, Jasper. And look at them…” I gesture subtly toward where Dorian is adjusting Scarlett’s ice pack with practiced ease. “They’re not new to this. The way he touches her, the way she lets him… Scarlett isn’t the type of woman to let any man touch her. There must be something between them.”


    I watch as his face goes pale, then flushes dark red. I can practically see the thoughts churning in his head, the jealousy and pain and fury building like a storm.


    This is working better than I could have hoped.


    “She moved on,” I say softly, injecting just the right amount of sympathy into my voice. “Completely. With someone who can give her anything she wants.”


    “Shut up,” he growls.


    “I’m sorry. I know this hurts, but it’s better to ept the truth—” <fn3259> Content originallyes from f?ndnovel</fn3259>


    “I said shut up, Virginia.”


    And I do. Because my goal is aplished. I can see it in his eyes, in the way he’s looking at Scarlett and Dorian with something that borders murderous rage.


    Perfect.


    Now I just need to nt the seeds deeper. Make him believe that little girl belongs to Dorian, not him. Make him think Scarlett’s been ying happy family with another man while he’s been searching for her.


    The lie will destroy him. But my version of the truth will destroy anything that ever existed between them.


    (Jasper’s POV)


    Cross Industries. I know that name, know exactly how much money and poweres with it. Dorian Cross isn’t just sessful–he’s in apletely different league than me.


    And he’s touching my wife like he owns her.


    The


    rage building in my chest is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Not jealousy–no, I’m not jealous. This is deeper, more primal. The need to protect what’s mine, to make it clear to everyone in this sterile hospital hallway that Scarlett Stone belongs to me.


    I watch him wheel her toward the exit, his hand resting possessively on her shoulder<i>. </i>The sight makes me see red. She’s not resisting his touch. Instead, she’s looking up at him with


    < Chapter 37


    something that might be gratitude or might be something more, and it makes me want to put my fist through the nearest wall.


    Four years. She’s been gone for four years, and as soon as she returns, this is what I get?


    “Jasper,” Virginia’s voice cuts through the roar in my head. “Maybe we should just go-”


    “No.”


    I’m moving before I can think it through, my feet carrying me across the waiting room like I’m being pulled by some invisible force. People turn to stare as I stride past them, but I don’t care. All I can see is my wife being wheeled away by another man.


    “Scarlett.”


    They stop near the automatic doors. Dorian’s grip on the wheelchair tightens, and Scarlett’s spine goes rigid.


    “What do you want, Jasper?” Her voice is cold, dismissive. Like I’m some stranger bothering


    her.


    “We need to talk.”


    “No, we don’t.”


    “Yes, we do.” I step closer, and Dorian shifts slightly, putting himself between us. The protective gesture sends another spike of fury through me. “Alone.”


    “She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Dorian says, his voice calm but firm. “I think you should respect that.”


    Iugh, but there’s no humor in it. “I’m sorry, who are you exactly? Becausest I checked, you’re not her husband.”


    “Neither are you, apparently.” Dorian’s eyes are steady, unflinching. “At least, not ording to


    her.”


    “Is that what she told you?” I look at Scarlett, who’s staring straight ahead <i>like </i>she can pretend I don’t exist. “Did you tell him we’re divorced, Scarlett? Because we’re not.”


    Her head snaps up, eyes shing with anger. “You really going to do this?”


    “I’m just saying. You wouldn’t want to keep the man in the dark.”


    The silence that follows is deafening. I can see the moment the words hit her, the way her face goes pale and then flushes with rage.


    “Well, that’s why I returned. To sign them again and close our chapter for good.”


    “Sadly, that’s not how divorce works. Both parties‘ signatures are required for it to take effect. And I…I won’t those papers, Scarlett. We’re still married, and you will always remain my wife. Which means you can’t just-” I gesture between her and Dorian, “-move on with someone


    else.”


    Scarlett’sugh is sharp, bitter. “Are you serious right now?”


    “Dead serious.”


    She stares at me for a long moment, then her lips curve into a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. It’s the kind of smile that promises pain.


    Violet Moon


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