James closes the kitchen door behind us, his face grim. This is it. This is where he tells me to stay away from his family.


    “Sit down.”


    I remain standing. “If you’re going to tell me to leave Scarlett alone-”


    “I’m going to tell <i>you </i><i>to </i>make a choice.” His voice is cold, businesslike. “Scarlett may not be my blood, but she’s still the girl I raised. And Virginia is my flesh and blood.”


    My stomach drops. “James-”


    “If your actions hurt either one of them, I won’t let you off easy.” He steps closer, and despite being shorter than me, his presence fills the small space. “So you need to decide, right now, what <i>you </i>want.”


    “I want Scarlett.”


    “Then cut ties with Virginia. Clearly and decisively. Set the boundaries that should have been


    :


    < Chapter 74


    there from the beginning.”


    More Rewards >


    Heat res through me. From where he’s standing, it must look to James like I’ve been using Virginia as a security nket while keeping Scarlett at arm’s length.


    “If you like Virginia, if you want to be with Virginia, then make that clear to Scarlett and stop stringing both of them along.”


    “I only love Scarlett.” The wordse out hoarse, desperate. “I’ve only ever loved Scarlett.”


    James studies my face for a long moment. Whatever he sees there must convince him because his expression softens slightly.


    “Then get your s**t together. Because right now, Scarlett’s set on divorcing you. And frankly, after what you put her through, I can’t me her.”


    The kitchen feels too small suddenly. I lean against the counter, trying to catch my breath.


    He’s right. James is absolutely right.


    Because every time Scarlett needed me, I was with Virginia. Every time I had to choose between Virginia and Scarlett, I chose Virginia.


    I neglected Scarlett despite being her husband.


    So I can’t me her either.


    The woman in that living room, the one who can talk about divorce papers like she’s discussing the weather–she’s not the girl who used to look at me like I was the center of her


    world.


    I killed that girl. I killed her love with my stupidity, my pride, my inability to see what was right


    in front of me.


    Before I can respond, my phone buzzes. Virginia’s name shes on the screen.


    James notices. “You better decide soon, son. Because time is running out.”


    I decline the call, but Virginia immediately texts: <i>Found </i>a way to <i>help</i><i>. </i>Meet me at pond by the old park in an hour<i>. </i>


    Something cold settles in my stomach as I read the message.


    Virginia…I really <i>hope </i><i>I’m </i>wrong <i>about </i><i>you</i>.


    “I have to go,” I tell James. <fn530f> Discover more novels at Find?Novel</fn530f>


    < Chapter 74


    He nods grimly. “Remember what I said.”


    When we return to the living room, Lily runs to me with the finished puzzle.


    “Look, Daddy! We did it!”


    More Rewards <b>> </b>


    “Beautiful, sweetheart.” I lift her up, breathing in her sweet scent. “You’re so smart.”


    “Are you leaving?” Her bottom lip trembles.


    “Just for a little while. I’ll see you soon, okay?”


    I set her down and turn to Scarlett, who’s watching us with an unreadable expression.


    “We should talk about those papers,” I say quietly.


    “There’s nothing to talk about.”


    “Scarlett-”


    “Please just sign them, Jasper. For both our sakes.”


    The plea in her voice is like a knife to my chest. It hurts. It hurts so bad, I find it hard to breathe. But I nod through the pain, giving her a faint smile I don’t feel.


    “I’ll see youter.”


    An hourter, I find Virginia waiting by the duck pond, looking unusuallyposed. She’s dressed in white, her hair pulled back, looking almost angelic in the afternoon sun.


    “Thank <i>you </i>foring.”


    “What’s this about, Virginia?”


    She smiles, and something about it makes my skin crawl. “I told you. I have a way to help you win back Scarlett.”


    “And what exactly did <i>you </i>have in mind?”


    “Simple.” Her eyes gleam with something I can’t identify. “We’re going to make her realize she can’t live without you.”


    “How?”


    Virginia’s smile widens, and for the first time since I’ve known her, I see something dangerous lurking beneath her innocent facade.


    “Leave that to me, Jasper. Just follow my lead.”


    < Chapter 75


    C