The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 20

(Virginia’s POV)

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I’m pretending to read a magazine when James and Blair return from their grocery trip, but really I’m watching them from the corner of my eye. Something’s different. There’s an energy around them I haven’t seen in years–a mixture of excitement and guilt that makes my

stomach clench.

“How was shopping?” I ask, keeping my voice light and casual.

“Fine,” James says, but he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at Blair with an expression I recognize too well. One of silent warning telling her to watch her words. I’ve seen it more often than I like to admit in these four years. He used it whenever Blair mentioned Scarlett to protect me from getting hurt.

So now I’m curious. What doesn’t he want me to know?

Blair sets down her purse with shaking hands. “We met the sweetest little girl.”

My blood runs cold, but I force a smile. “Oh?”

“She was lost in the supermarket. Four years old, maybe five.” Blair’s voice takes on that dreamy quality it gets when she’s remembering something precious. “Dark hair in little braids, wearing this pink jacket…”

James clears his throat, but Blair continues anyway.

“She reminded me so much of Scarlett at that age,” Blair whispers, her eyes getting that distant look. “The way she talked, her mannerisms. Even her smile.”

There it is. The name that always manages to ruin everything perfect in my life.

My magazine crumples slightly in my grip, but I keep my expression neutral. “Really? That’s… interesting.”

“She called us Grandpa and Grandma,” Blair continues, tears filling her eyes. “Can you imagine? This little stranger, and she just… she trusted us completely. Held our hands, shared her candy with us.”

James shifts uncomfortably in his chair. “Blair, don’t get carried away. She was just a child being polite.”

“But James, you saw it too. The way she tilted her head when she listened, how she bit her lip when she was thinking…” Blair turns to him with pleading eyes. “She was exactly like Scarlett

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was.”

“So?” James’s voice turns sharp. “What does that matter now?”

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Blair flinches at his tone, and I feel a small surge of relief. At least James isn’t getting swept away by some sentimental moment with a random child.

“It made me think,” Blair says quietly. “Maybe we were too harsh with Scarlett. Maybe we didn’t handle things the right way when we told her about Virginia.”

My heart stops. “What do you mean?”

James’s face darkens. “We handled it perfectly fine. We told her the truth–that Virginia is our biological daughter. If she couldn’t accept that like an adult, that’s her problem.”

“She was eight months pregnant, James. Scared, confused-”

“She was selfish,” James cuts her off. “The moment she realized she’d have to share our attention with Virginia, she threw a tantrum and ran off like a spoiled child.”

I should feel vindicated by his words, but something about Blair’s expression makes my stomach twist. She’s not convinced. The guilt is still there, written all over her face.

“Put yourself in her position,” Blair tries again. “The man she loved was already pulling away from her. Then she finds out she’s adopted, that Virginia–who she saw as competition–is actually our real daughter…”

“Competition?” James stands up abruptly. “Virginia wasn’t competition! She was a lost child who finally found her family!”

“I know that,” Blair says softly. “But Scarlett didn’t see it that way. In her mind, Virginia was taking everything she thought was hers. Her husband’s attention, our love, even her place in the family.”

“Her place?” James’s voice rises. “Virginia’s place was stolen from her as a baby! Scarlett had twenty–one years of love and support that should have been Virginia’s!”

I want to cheer him on, but something about Blair’s persistent sadness tells me this conversation isn’t over. She’s not going to let this go.

“That doesn’t mean Scarlett deserved to be cast aside,” Blair argues. “We raised her, James. We loved her. She was our daughter too.”

“Was,” James emphasizes. “Past tense. She made her choice when she walked out that door.”

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“What if we made the wrong choice? What if we pushed too hard, expected too much?”

James stares at his wife like she’s lost her mind. “Are you seriously questioning our decision to choose our biological daughter over the girl who abandoned us?”

“I’m questioning whether we had to choose at all,” Blair whispers.

The silence that follows is deafening. I can feel the tension crackling between them, and panic starts to build in my chest. This is exactly what I was afraid of. Blair’s guilt is going to poison everything.

“So what are you suggesting?” James asks coldly.

Blair takes a shaky breath. “Maybe we should try to find her.”

“Absolutely not.” James’s voice is like steel.

“Just to know she’s okay,” Blair pleads. “To see if she had the baby safely. To know if we have a grandchild out there—”

“We don’t have a grandchild,” James snaps. “We have Virginia. The daughter who was taken from us, who we finally found, who chose to stay and be part of this family.”

“But Scarlett-”

“Scarlett left!” James explodes. “She chose to walk away rather than accept Virginia as her sister! After everything we gave her, everything we sacrificed for her, she couldn’t handle sharing our love for five minutes!”

I should feel grateful that James is defending me, but Blair’s tears are making me nervous. She’s not backing down.

“She was hurt,” Blair says quietly. “Confused. Maybe if we reached out now, explained things

better-”

“Explained what? That we’re sorry for loving our real daughter? That we’re sorry for giving Virginia the place that was always meant to be hers?” James’s face is red with anger. “I won’t apologize for choosing my flesh and blood over someone who turned her back on us the

moment things got complicated.”

“James-”

“No, Blair. I’m done discussing this. Scarlett made her bed when she decided to disappear without a word. For four years, Virginia has been here, loving us, being the daughter we always deserved. I won’t betray her by chasing after someone who clearly doesn’t want us in her life.”

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Blair looks defeated, but I can see the stubborn set of her jaw. This isn’t over. She’s just going to wait until James isn’t around to bring it up again.

“I need some air,” I mumble, grabbing my purse and keys with shaking hands.

“Virginia, wait-” Blair calls after me.

But I’m already out the door, my mind racing. James might be on my side now, but Blair’s guilt is dangerous. If she keeps pushing, she might wear him down. And if they start looking for Scarlett, if they find out she’s here in the city with that bakery…

Everything I’ve worked for will crumble.

I drive aimlessly through the city, my hands trembling on the steering wheel. I can’t let this happen. Blair’s maternal instincts are going to destroy everything.

I pull into a parking lot and grab my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I find Marcus Fitzgerald’s number. He owes me a favor from when I helped cover up his gambling debts

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