The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 169

hapter 169

(Scarlett’s POV)

I always knew Virginia didn’t like me.

Hell, scratch that. She hates me. But it’s not like I have a particular fondness for her.

It’s just…I never expected her to fall so low as to kidnap Lily.

My heart pounds against my ribs. “Virginia, listen to me-

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“No, you listen.” She moves closer, her voice rising. “Do you know what it’s like? To finally find your real family, only to discover they don’t actually want you? That they threw you away to chase their own dreams? That your own mother knows the likes and dislikes of her enemy’s daughter but can’t remember your favorite color?”

Something in her voice cracks, and for a moment–just a moment–I see past the hatred to the hurt underneath.

Most of the stuff she’s saying doesn’t make sense. When did James and Blair throw her away, which enemy’s daughter does Blair know about her likes and dislikes?

I suspect something might be wrong with her mental state, and try not to aggravate her, choosing my words carefully, “that’s not your fault. But it’s not mine either. I didn’t ask to be adopted. I didn’t ask James and Blair to-”

“But they did!” The c***k widens, spilling out years of resentment. “They loved you. They still love you. And Jasper-” Her voice breaks completely. “Jasper never even saw me. I’ve loved him since we were children, stood by him through everything, and he married you just because your father waved a checkbook.”

“I know.” The admission tastes like ash. “I know he didn’t love me when we married. But that

doesn’t give you the right to-”

“To what? Fight for what should’ve been mine from the start?” She laughs again, and this time it sounds unhinged. “You got everything, Scarlett. The family, the husband, the perfect life. And you didn’t even want it! You left! You walked away from all of it!”

“Because it was killing me!” The words explode out before I can stop them. “Living with a man who looked at me like a burden. Watching my parents choose you over me. Being invisible in my own life. Yes, I left. And I don’t regret it.”

“Then you should’ve stayed away. Why did you come back? Why?”

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Chapter 169

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“Virginia.” I try again, softening my voice. “Where’s Lily? Please. She’s just a child. She has nothing to do with any of this.”

“She has everything to do with this. She’s the reason Jasper can’t let you go. The living proof of what you two had together.”

Fear turns my blood to ice. “Don’t hurt her. Please. I’ll do anything-”

“Never see Jasper or Lily or our parents again?”

“Yes.” I don’t hesitate, because as long as Lily is safe, as long as she’s safe…I can accept all her conditions. As for everything else, I’ll think about it later. “Yes, if you let her go, I’ll disappear. You’ll never see me again.”

For a second, she looks surprised. Then suspicious. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. I love my daughter more than anything in this world. More than Jasper, more than this city, more than my own life. Just tell me where she is. Let me know she’s safe, and I’ll go. I swear to God, Virginia, I’ll go.”

She studies my face, searching for the lie. But there isn’t one. I’d burn my entire life to the ground if it meant Lily was safe.

“How touching.”

The new voice makes us both turn.

A woman emerges from the shadows–red hair, sharp green eyes, elegant even in the dim warehouse light. She’s older, maybe late forties, with the kind of beauty that comes from bone structure and confidence rather than youth.

My heart sinks at the sight of her. For some reason, this woman, whoever she is, gives me an even more dangerous vibe than Virginia did.

“You…who are you?” I whisper, taking back a step.

Her green eyes darken, and I feel a shiver go down my spine as they zero in on me, cold, calm, predatory.

“Hi Scarlett. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Morgan.”

Morgan? Doesn’t ring a bell.

“You don’t know me, but I know you. Don’t worry. Soon, you’ll know me as well.”

She looks at Virginia with something like approval. “You did well, sweetheart. She came exactly as planned.”

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< Chapter 169

Virginia’s face lights up. “Mother-”

Wait. Mother?

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The woman–Morgan–smiles at Virginia. “I knew you could do it. Despite all your doubts, despite your weak moment earlier, you came through in the end.”

“I told you.” Virginia’s voice is eager, desperate for approval. “I told you I could help. That I wanted to help.”

“You did.” Morgan reaches out and touches Virginia’s cheek almost tenderly.

Then she pulls something from her pocket–a small, dark object that catches the light–and before Virginia can react, Morgan swings it against her temple.

Virginia crumples like a puppet with cut strings.

“No!” I rush forward on instinct, but Morgan raises the object–a gun, I realize with horror- pointing it directly at my chest.

“Stay where you are.”

I freeze, my eyes darting between the gun and Virginia’s unconscious form on the concrete floor. Blood trickles from her temple. “What–why would you-”

“She served her purpose.” Morgan’s voice is calm, almost conversational. “And frankly, she was becoming a liability. All that hand–wringing and moral crisis. I don’t have time for weak

links.”

My mind races, trying to make sense of this. “She called you mother…”

“She did, didn’t she?” Morgan’s smile is cold. “That’s what she thinks, anyway. That I gave birth to her, left her at that orphanage, and watched from afar as she suffered. All part of the plan.”

“Plan? What plan? I don’t even know you. Why did you kidnap my daughter? What is your intention?”

“Revenge, obviously.” She says it like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Against James Stone. The man who destroyed my family, who took everything from us. And now, thanks to his darling adopted daughter and his precious biological one, I’m going to take everything from him.”

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