The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 128

(Jasper’s POV)

***$25 Paints

“Jasper.” Scarlett’s voice is steady, but I hear the tension underneath. “What are you doing here?”

“I…” My throat closes up. All the words I planned to say disappear when I see her standing there with Dorian’s ring on her finger, my daughter in his arms.

“You need to leave,” Chloe says sharply. “Now.”

“It’s okay.” Scarlett holds up a hand, her eyes never leaving mine. “What do you want, Jasper?”

What do I want? I want to turn back time. I want to be the husband you needed. I want my family back.

But I can’t say any of that. Not here. Not now.

Instead, I hold out the small wrapped box with trembling hands. “Blair wanted me to give this to you. For your birthday.”

Scarlett stares at the gift like it might explode. “I don’t want anything from the Stones.”

“I know. But she… she’s been crying every day since you told her to stay away. She kept this for you, all these years.”

Something flickers in Scarlett’s eyes. Pain, maybe. Or just exhaustion.

The silence stretches between us, heavy with everything we can’t say. I can feel Dorian watching me, probably wondering if he needs to physically remove me from the premises for everyone’s peace of mind.

Finally, Scarlett steps forward and takes the gift. Her fingers brush mine for just a second, and the contact burns through me.

“Thank you,” she says softly. “For bringing it.”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. This is it. My last moment with her. The final goodbye I never got to say four years ago.

“Scarlett, I-”

“Don’t.” She shakes her head. “Please don’t.”

But I have to say it. Have to get the words out before they choke me.

1/5

< Chapter 128

+25 Points

“I’m happy for you,” I whisper, the lie tasting like ash in my mouth. “You deserve to be happy.”

Her eyes fill with tears, but she doesn’t let them fall. “I know.”

Three words. Simple and devastating. She knows she deserves better than what I gave her. Knows she’s worthy of love that doesn’t come with conditions.

I turn to leave, but Lily’s voice stops me.

“Daddy?”

The word hits me like a truck. I look back to see her reaching for me from Dorian’s arms, confused by the tension in the room.

“Hi, baby girl.” My voice cracks. “I just came to bring Mama a birthday present.”

“Are you staying for the party?”

God, how do I answer that? How do I explain to a four–year–old that I’m not part of this family anymore? That I gave up my place in her life?

“No, sweetheart. I have to go.”

“Why?”

Because I’m a coward. Because I destroyed everything good in my life. Because your mama found someone better.

“Because this is Mama’s special day,” I say instead. “And Uncle Dorian is taking good care of you both.”

Lily looks between me and Dorian, processing this with the frightening clarity of children. “Are you sad, Daddy?”

The question makes my eyes prickle with tears, but I press my lips together, forcing a smile to keep them at bay.

“I’m okay, baby. I just want you and Mama to be happy.”

And I mean it. Despite the pain, despite the jealousy, despite feeling like my heart is being torn from my chest–I mean it.

“Could we…” I clear my throat, looking at Scarlett. “Could we step outside? Just for a minute?”

Scarlett looks back at Dorian, at the ring on her finger, at the life she’s building without me. For a moment, I think she’ll say no.

2/5

<Chapter 128

But then he gives her a nod, and she says, “Five minutes.”

We walk out into the cool night air. The street is quiet except for the distant hum of traffic. Scarlett wraps her arms around herself, and I resist the urge to offer her my jacket. That’s not my place anymore.

“What is this really about, Jasper?” she asks, her voice tired. “Because if you came here to-

“Are you really going to marry him?”

The question bursts out of me before I can stop it. Raw, Desperate.

Scarlett’s laugh is hollow. “You saw him propose. You saw me say yes.”

“That’s not what I mean.” I run a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. “I mean… are you really going to marry him? Or are you just trying to forget?”

She stares at me for a long moment. Then she holds up her left hand, letting the ring catch the streetlight.

“Not really going to,” she says quietly. “Already engaged. Already decided.”

The finality in her voice cuts through me.

“Scarlett-‘

“Don’t.” She shakes her head. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

“I just need to know if you’re happy. Really happy.”

“You don’t have the right to ask.” Her eyes flash with the first real anger I’ve seen from her tonight. “You don’t get to show up here and question my choices. Not after everything you put me through.”

She’s right. I know she’s right. But I can’t stop myself.

“What about us? What we had-”

“What we had was toxic. What we had nearly destroyed me. What we had is something I won’t put Lily through, something I won’t put myself through again.”

“I’ve changed-”

“Have you?” She studies my face in the dim light. “Because you look like hell, Jasper. You smell like whiskey and desperation. That’s not change. That’s just different kinds of self–destruction.”

3/5

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify