The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 34

(Virginia’s POV)

Once Blair and James leave the shop, I move out of the driver’s seat and sit in the back.

The car ride back feels endless. James grips the steering wheel so tight his knuckles have gone white, while Blair stares out the window with tears still streaming down her face. The silence is suffocating, but I need it. I need this quiet to think, to plan.

That little girl’s face won’t leave my mind. Those brown eyes that are so clearly Jasper’s. The way she smiled, so innocent and trusting. She has no idea what her existence could cost me.

What it will cost me if I don’t act fast.

“We can’t tell Jasper,” I say suddenly, breaking the silence.

James’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. “What?”

“About Lily. We can’t tell him about her.”

“Are you insane?” Blair turns in her seat to face me, her mascara smudged and her face blotchy from crying. “That’s his daughter, Virginia. His child.”

“I know exactly who she is.” I keep my voice soft, reasonable. Like I’m not dying inside at the thought of losing everything. “But think about what telling him will do.”

“It’ll give him his daughter back-”

“It’ll make Scarlett run.” I lean forward, letting desperation creep into my voice. Not fake desperation–real fear that they can hear and believe. “You saw how angry she was. How protective. If she finds out Jasper knows about Lily, she’ll disappear again. This time for good.”

James pulls into the driveway but doesn’t turn off the engine. His jaw works like he’s chewing on something bitter.

“She already hates us,” I continue. “She made it clear we’re not family anymore. If we tell Jasper about Lily without her permission, she’ll see it as the ultimate betrayal. She’ll take that little girl and vanish, and none of us will ever see her again.”

Blair’s face crumples. “But she’s our granddaughter-”

“And Scarlett is your daughter.” The lie tastes like ash, but I force it out. Me, not Scarlett, I am their daughter. But swallowing this loss means achieving my goal. “If we want any chance of

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being part of their lives, we have to respect Scarlett’s wishes. We have to wait until she’s ready.”

“How long?” James asks roughly. “How long do we wait while our son–in–law doesn’t even

know he has a child?”

“As long as it takes.” I reach forward and touch Blair’s shoulder, putting every ounce of false sincerity I can muster into my voice. “I know how much this hurts. I know you want to tell him. But pushing Scarlett right now will only make things worse.”

James turns off the engine. The sudden quiet feels heavy, loaded with all the things none of us are saying.

“She might never give us permission,” Blair whispers.

“She might. But only if we show her we respect her boundaries. Only if we prove we’ve changed.”

It’s a good argument. Logical. The kind of thing that would appeal to their guilt over how they treated Scarlett before.

“I hate this,” James says finally.

“I know. But it’s the right thing to do.”

Blair nods slowly, wiping her eyes. “You’re right. We have to think about what’s best for Lily. And if telling Jasper now would make Scarlett run…”

“It would,” I say firmly. “I guarantee it.”

James sighs, suddenly looking every one of his sixty–two years. “Fine. We wait. But Virginia…”

“Yes?”

“This better work. Because if we lose our chance to be in that little girl’s life because of your

advice…”

The threat hangs in the air between us. I nod, accepting it, even though my stomach is churning.

“It will work. I promise.”

But as we walk toward the house, I’m already planning my next move. Because waiting isn’t enough. I need Scarlett gone permanently, and I need to make sure Jasper never finds out why.

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The front door opens before we reach it. Jasper stands there, his hair messy like he’s been running his hands through it, his eyes bright with hope and impatience,

“How did it go? Did you see her? Did she listen?”

The hope in his voice makes me sick. He’s practically vibrating with anticipation, like a man starved, waiting for news that could change his life.

If only he knew how that sickens me.

“We saw her,” James says heavily, pushing past Jasper into the house.

“And?” Jasper follows us into the living room, his eyes darting between all of us. “What did she say?”

Blair collapses onto the sofa like all the strength has gone out of her legs. “She… she doesn’t want us in her life anymore.”

The light in Jasper’s eyes dims. “What do you mean?”

“She’s angry,” I say carefully. “Angrier than I’ve ever seen her. She told us to leave and not come back.”

“That’s it. I’m going over there.” Jasper turns toward the door, his jaw set in that stubborn line I know so well. “I’m going to talk to her myself.”

“No.” I grab his arm, my fingers digging into his arm. “Jasper, you can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s not ready. She’s hurt and defensive, and if you show up now, you’ll only make things worse.”

He shakes me off, but he doesn’t head for the door. “She’s my wife-

“She doesn’t want to be your wife anymore.” The words come out sharper than I intended, and I see him flinch. “She made that very clear.”

“I don’t care what she thinks she wants. We belong together.”

“Maybe you do. But right now, she can’t see past her anger. If you push too hard, she’ll run away again. This time, she might just disappear forever.”

Jasper’s hands clench into fists. “So what? I’m supposed to just sit here and do nothing?”

“No, you’re supposed to be patient. Give her time to calm down, to think about what she really wants.”

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“I know what she really wants-

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“Do you?” I step closer, letting vulnerability show in my eyes. “Because the woman we met today wasn’t the Scarlett we used to know. She’s stronger now. Colder. Independent in a way that…”

I trail off, letting him fill in the blanks. Letting him imagine a Scarlett who doesn’t need him

anymore.

“She built a whole life without you,” I continue softly. “A successful business, friends, a routine. Maybe she doesn’t want to give that up for a man who hurt her.”

The words hit their mark. I can see the doubt creeping into his expression, the fear that

maybe I’m right.

“But she loved me,” he says, and he sounds lost. Like a little boy who’s just been told there’s no Santa Claus.

“She did. But love isn’t always enough, Jasper. Sometimes the hurt goes too deep to overcome the hatred.”

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