(Jasper’s POV)
The sound of Scarlett’s car disappearing into the distance sears my heart like a death knell. I stand there for a long moment, staring at the empty street, feeling like my entire world just
drove away.
Again.
But this time, I know exactly why she left. And I know exactly who’s responsible.
I turn back to the Stones‘ new house, my hands clenched into fists. The rage building inside me is different from anything I’ve felt before. It’s fiery and blinding. The kind of anger that burns to destroy and wreck havoc.
The front door is open, spilling warm light onto the driveway. I can hear voices inside–James and ir talking to Virginia in soothing tones. Probably consoling her about whatever drama she’s manufactured now.
I storm inside without knocking.
“Jasper!” Virginia looks up from where she’s sitting on the couch, tears streaming down her face. “Thank God you’re back. I was so worried when you walked after-”
“Shut up.”
The wordse out sharp, cold. Virginia’s tears stop instantly. ir and James both turn to look at me with shock and disapproval in their eyes.
“Jasper,” James starts, “what’s gotten into you?”
I ignore him, keeping my eyes fixed on Virginia. She’s gone pale, her eyes wide. Good. She should be scared.
“I want you to tell me about the house,” I say quietly.
“What house?” Virginia’s voice is small, uncertain.
“Don’t y dumb with me. The house you sold off without telling anyone!”
Virginia nces at James and ir, then back at me. I see the gears turning in her head, trying to figure out what I know and don’t know, what to say to exonerate herself.
“I…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sell the house. But there was this family, the Hernandez <b>family</b>. They’ve been renting for years, saving every penny to buy a house for their children. When
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they approached me about the old house, I couldn’t say no.”
$25 <b>Points </b>
She’s good. I’ll give her that. Always knowing what to say, how to say it. Her voice <b>carries </b><b>just </b>the right amount of guilt, tinged with hurt at being questioned.
“They were so desperate,” she continues, dabbing at her eyes. “Three young <b>children</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>they’d been turned down by the bank because of their credit history. <b>I </b><b>sold </b><b>it </b><b>to </b>them <b>at </b><b>a </b>fraction of what it was worth because I wanted to help.”
ir’s expression softens immediately. “Oh, Virginia. That’s so kind of you.”
“I had no idea they would throw away everything,” Virginia continues, voice quivering. “<b>I’m </b>sorry…so sorry.”
“You tried to help, sweetie. It’s not your fault they didn’t handle things properly.” ir soothes, reaching over to pat her hand.
I watch this performance with a sense of irony. I was like them once, blind, easily swayed by Virginia’s crocodile tears. It’s harrowing to witness the same tactics being used on others from a bystander’s standpoint.
“You really don’t see it, do you?” I ask. “Your biological daughter has been lying to you <i>from </i>the moment she walked into your life. She sold your house without permission, forged your signature, and threw away twenty–three years of Scarlett’s memories. And you’re still defending her.”
“Virginia made a mistake,” ir says firmly. “But her heart was in the right ce. She was trying to help a family in need.”
“Fine,” I say, turning toward the door. “Believe what you want to believe. But you should know that Scarlett already found out about the house.”
The words stop them cold. ir’s hand flies to her throat.
“What do you mean?” James asks.
“I mean she drove by the house and saw strangers throwing her childhood photos in a dumpster.”
“Oh God.” ir sinks back onto the couch, her face pale. “She must think we <b>did </b><b>it </b><b><i>on </i></b>purpose.” <fn249f> Newest update provided by FιndＮovel</fn249f>
“We have to call her,” James reaches for his phone. “We have to <i>exin—</i><b>” </b>
“Exin what? That you didn’t mean to sell the house? Or that Virginia sold <b>it </b>to <b>help </b><b>a </b><b>poor </b><i>family</i>? Either way, you’ve proven you care more about Virginia’s <i>feelings </i><b>than </b><b>Scarlett’s</b>, <b>so </b>
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what’s the point?”
“Scarlett isn’t their biological daughter. I am.” Virginia says suddenly, her voice vicious. The sweet, innocent act is gone, reced by the bitter, jealous woman I should have seen years
ago.
ir looks like she’s going to be sick. “Virginia, how could you say that? Scarlett is our daughter too.”
As if suddenly remembering what she has just done, Virginia’s eyes sh with fear, but its gone so quickly I almost miss it.
“I’m sorry Mom, that’s not what I meant. It’s just, the Hernandez family came to me desperate. What was I supposed to do, turn them away?”
But I’m already walking toward the door, having seen enough.
“Where are you going?” Virginia calls after me, her voice desperate now that she’s revealed a glimpse of her true self.
“To try to fix what you’ve broken,” I say without turning around. “If it’s even possible.”
“Jasper, wait!” James calls. “We need to talk to Scarlett together.”
I stop in the doorway, looking back at them. James looks shell–shocked. ir is sobbing into her hands. Virginia is standing in the middle of it all, looking sad and pitiful.
“You want to talk to Scarlett?” I ask. “<i>Good </i>luck with that. Because I don’t think she’ll ever speak to any of us again.”
The truth of those words hits them like a physical blow. ir’s sobs get louder. James looks like he’s aged ten years in ten minutes.
But it’s <i>too </ite for regrets now. Toote for apologies. Toote for exnations.
As I walk <i>out </i><i>into </i>the night, leaving behind the chaos Virginia has created, I see the situation I’ve put myself in clearly.
And I also see myself for who I am.
I was never a victim of Virginia’s maniption. I was a willing participant in her maniption. I chose to believe her lies because it was easier than facing the truth about my marriage. I chose to put her needs above Scarlett’s because it made me feel needed, important, masculine.