The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

(Virginia’s POV)

“What did you find?”

“Ms Blair, your boyfriend visited a bakery recently opened on Main Street. Sunrise Bakes. It’s quite popular these days.”

Jasper, visiting a bakery? When did he start taking interest in such places?

No, if Jasper visited that place, then there has to be something more to it.

I cut off the line, and send the private detective a huffy sum, before scrolling through social media to find more information about this bakery.

I want to know when it opened, who owns it, and why Jasper visited that place out of all the bakeries in the city. After all, how can a new bakery compare to the branded ones of our upper class society?

As I scroll through the images of the bakery, my thumb freezes over the screen.

There, in the background of one photo, is a woman in a maroon hijab and dress. She’s wearing a flour–dusted apron and has her back turned to the camera, but I’d know that figure, I would recognize that silhouette anywhere.

Scarlett.

My heart hammers against my ribs as I scroll through more photos. In another shot, she’s visible from the side, smiling as she hands a customer a paper bag. Still beautiful. Still radiant. Still everything I hate about her.

The caption reads: “Sunrise Bakery – owner Scarlett creates magic with simple ingredients. A

must–visit!”

She’s back. She’s actually back in the city.

For four years, I’ve had everything I ever wanted. The Stone family fortune, their unconditional love, and Jasper completely to myself. Though I don’t have his heart, I’m the only woman by his side. I’ve been living the life that should have been mine from birth.

But now she’s here, and threatening to steal everything away from me again.

No, I won’t allow it!

Not this time.

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I grab my purse and keys, my hands shaking with rage and panic. This can’t happen. I won’t let her waltz back into town and destroy everything I’ve built.

The drive to main street passes in a blur. My mind races with memories of four years ago – how easily she’d walked away from the life I’d fought so hard to claim. How she owned everything that should’ve rightfully belonged to me.

Her family, her husband.

They should’ve all been mine right from the start.

But because of her, I lived 21 years of my life like an orphan, longing for the love of the man that should’ve been mine.

And she wants to take them away from me again? I won’t allow it.

Sunrise Bakes sits on a charming corner, its warm lighting and rustic wooden sign giving it an annoyingly cozy appearance. Through the large windows, I see customers sitting at small tables, looking perfectly content with their treats, their perfect little lives.

The bell chimes as I push through the door. The smell of fresh bread and coffee hits me, along with something else – success. This place is thriving, which makes my stomach churn

with resentment.

The moment I enter, Scarlett emerges from behind the counter, and for a second, neither of

us moves.

Four years have changed her. She’s thinner than before, but there’s a maturity, and strength in her posture that wasn’t there before. Her smile is radiant, kind eyes softening her features in gentle layers. She looks… confident.

It sickens me.

“Virginia. What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” I step to the counter, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor. “What are you doing back in Avalon, Scarlett?”

She doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t look away. The old Scarlett would have scowled, or cowered back by now. But this new Scarlett….unease makes my heart restless.

I have to get her out of the city. Jasper can’t find her. No matter the cost, I can’t allow them to

meet.

“What is it to you?” she smiles, and I can’t help feeling the mockery in her eyes. “Do I need to report to you when I leave or return to my own city?”

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“After the way you vanished like a theft, I never thought you’d return. After all, Mama and Baba are still upset with you.” Her smile falters, and that brightens my mood. I gleefully ask, “did you tell them you’re back?” knowing just how much it pained her to mention them.

“If you’re not here to buy anything, you should leave.”

The dismissal in her tone ignites something violent in my chest. How dare she speak to me like that? How dare she act like she has the right to dismiss me?

“You have some nerve,” I sneer, moving closer. “Disappearing for four years without a word, abandoning everyone who cared about you, and now you just… what? Expect to slip back into the picture like nothing happened?”

“I don’t expect.” Her eyes flash. “Especially not from the people you think.”

“Good. It better be that way. I’ll give you two days to pack up your stuff and disappear. If you

don’t…”

“You’ll do what? Chase me away?” I wish I could. But I don’t own Avalon.

Even with the support of the Stones and Jasper, I can’t drive Scarlett away without alerting them. And if Jasper finds out Scarlett is back in town…just recalling our last conversation makes my blood boil.

“Jasper has been looking for you. He spent thousands of dollars flying to different cities, hiring private detectives, checking hospital records, all in the hopes of finding his child. Tell me. If he finds out you’re back in town, what do you think he’ll do?”

Something flickers across her face – panic, maybe, or fear. But it’s gone so quickly I might have imagined it.

“He can do his worst. But he won’t get anywhere near my child,” she says coldly.

“Oh? So confident? Why? Did you find a new man?” That would be for the best. After all, a pregnant woman can only get so far on her own. But based on the set–up of this bakery, this isn’t something a broke woman can afford on her own. Definitely not in the most expensive district of the city.

So there has to be a man. And if there’s a man…

Oh, that’ll make things so much easier.

“I want you to leave my bakery.”

The calm authority in her voice doesn’t bother me this time. Ignoring her words, I lean against the counter, sweeping my gaze around the shop, heart pounding with excitement. The more I

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