The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 10

Jasper’s POV

The house feels different when I walk through the door. Like a crime scene waiting to be discovered. Virginia’s humming drifts from the kitchen, sweet and innocent as always. The sound makes my skin crawl.

“Jasper? How did it go?” She appears in the doorway, dish towel in hand. Something about the image feels off, until it hits me. She’s playing the role of a perfect housewife. “Did you find her?”

I don’t answer, heading straight for the bedroom, my footsteps heavy on the hardwood. The closet where I threw the divorce papers sits open, the floor bare except for a few pair of

shoes sitting on the side.

“Looking for something?” Virginia follows me, her voice light and curious.

“Where are they?”

“Where are what?”

“The divorce papers.” I turn to face her, my hands shaking with barely contained rage. “The

ones Scarlett sent me. The ones that I threw to the side?”

Her face doesn’t change, but something flickers in her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking

about.”

“Don’t.” The word comes out like a growl. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying-”

“I saw them, Virginia.” I step closer, watching her face carefully. “Chloe showed me a photo. My signature was on those papers. A signature only you know.”

She takes a step back, but I follow. The dish towel drops from her hands.

“Jasper, you’re scaring me.”

“Good. Because I’m about to get a lot scarier if you don’t start telling me the truth.” My voice is low, dangerous. “Did you forge my signature?”

“No! I would never-”

“You’re the only one who knows how to copy my handwriting. You used to practice it in college, remember? For fun, you said.”

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< Chapter 10

Her face goes pale. “That was years ago.”

“Answer the question.”

“I didn’t-”

“I said, don’t lie to me!”

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She flinches, and for a moment, I see a vicious gleam flash across her features. Nothing like the sweet, innocent Virginia I used to know. Or, did I ever even knew her?

“Fine!” she snaps, all pretense dropping away. “Yes, I signed them. But I did it for you!”

The admission hits me like a physical blow. “You what?”

“I did it for your own good, Jasper. She was making you miserable. Anyone with eyes could

see that.”

“You had no right-”

“I had every right!” Her voice rises, shrill and desperate. “I love you! I’ve loved you since we were kids, and I watched you throw your life away for some spoiled princess who never appreciated what she had!”

“She was my wife!”

“She was a mistake!” Virginia’s composure cracks completely. “You told me that, remember? You were supposed to be mine! We were supposed to be together! But then her daddy’s money came along, and suddenly you were married to her instead of me!”

I stare at her, seeing her clearly for the first time. The sweet, helpless girl I thought I knew is gone. In her place stands someone I don’t even recognize.

“The panic attacks,” I say slowly. “Were they real?”

She lifts her chin defiantly. “Some of them.”

“Some of them. Meaning…the others were fake.”

“I needed you to see how much I needed you. How much better I was for you than her.”

“You manipulated me.”

“I saved you!” she shouts. “From a loveless marriage, from a woman who only wanted to possess you! Don’t you see? She never loved you! Not the way I do!”

“You destroyed my family.”

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“What family?” She laughs, the sound bitter and twisted. “You barely talked to her. You treated her like a stranger. At least I made you feel something.”

The words hit too close to home, every word coming out of her mouth making my insides twitch with guilt. And pain. Because she’s right about one thing–I did treat Scarlett like a stranger. I was so caught up in my own wounded pride, so caught up in the notion of being nothing more than a tool, a toy her parents bought to amuse her, that I never gave us a real

chance.

What have I done?

My baby. Because I was too blind to see what was right in front of me, I might never get to see my baby enter this world.

“Get out,” I say quietly.

“What?”

“Get out of my house. Now.”

“Jasper, please-”

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