The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60

(Jasper’s POV)

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I’ve known Scarlett for seven years. Seven years are long enough to understand a person’s character. And Scarlett…she is my wife.

The only person I ever shared a bed with.

I can be blind to anyone’s character. Anyone, because I don’t care about them enough to want to know them, to understand them as a person.

But Scarlett is the one person I can never get wrong.

So the only explanation is that the reports are fake.

The DNA results came back too fast. Even with expedited processing, it should take at least three days for the test results to come out.

And the financial records–they’re too perfect.

Too damning.

No matter how one looked at it, it all screamed conspiracy.

I stumble up the stairs, my legs weak but my mind finally, brutally clear. In my bedroom, I go straight to the dresser where I keep my cufflinks and watch. Hidden behind them is a small plastic bag I almost forgot about.

Lily’s hair. Three dark strands I pulled free when I hugged her at James and Blair’s house last night. I’d been careful, gentle, telling myself I just needed to know for sure. That I owed it to all of us to have proof.

Thank goodness I kept them.

My hands shake as I dial Sarah’s number. She answers on the first ring, her voice alert despite the late hour.

“Mr. Blake? Is everything-”

“I need you at my house. Now.” My voice comes out rough, raw from crying and whiskey. “Bring evidence bags. Small ones.”

“Sir, it’s almost midnight-”

“Sarah.” I close my eyes, trying to find some semblance of control. “Please. This is about my

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< Chapter 60

daughter.”

Silence stretches between us. Then: “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

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The wait feels endless. I pace my bedroom like a caged animal, the plastic bag clutched in my fist. Every few minutes, I pull up the fake DNA results on my phone, reading them over and over like they might disappear if I’m not watching.

My daughter. The little girl who called me daddy with such trust, such love. Who held my finger while she slept and looked at me like I’m a hero.

I almost walked away from her because of someone’s lies.

When Sarah arrives, I’m waiting by the front door. She takes one look at my face and doesn’t ask questions, just holds out the evidence bags.

“I need these tested,” I tell her, carefully placing the hair strands in separate bags. “Five different labs. Outside the city. Rush processing, but make sure no one, and I mean no one, finds out about this. Not even Virginia.”

“Of course.” She seals the bags with practiced efficiency. “How soon do you need them?”

“As soon as possible.” I run my hands through my hair, pulling out a few strands. “These too. A paternity test between Lily and me.”

Sarah’s eyes widen slightly, but she nods. “I’ll have the results by Friday at the latest.”

“Make it earlier if you can.”

After she leaves, I sit in my empty living room and stare at my phone. It’s past midnight now, but I know Scarlett. If Lily’s still running a fever, she’ll be awake, checking on her every few

hours.

My finger hovers over her number. What do I say? How do I explain that I almost questioned her character? Calling the woman who shared a bed with me for three years a cheater…isn’t honorable, let alone acceptable.

But I dial her number anyway. Because now, I need to hear her voice, anything, to keep me from losing my s**t.

“Jasper?” She sounds irritated. “Why are you calling so late?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” I swallow, suddenly nervous. When was the last time I felt nervous talking to my wife. I can’t remember. “I kept thinking about Lily. How is she?”

A pause. “Well…She’s been sleeping peacefully since you left.”

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< Chapter 60

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Relief floods through me, leaving me shaky. I have to sit down to get my emotions under control. “Good. That’s good.”

Scarlett is silent for a second, almost hesitant, before she says. “She asked about you before bed, wanted to know if you’d come back to see her tomorrow.”

Ah. My daughter asked about me. She wants to see me. I chuckle under my breath, knowing that’s the last thing Scarlett probably wants to see, but is helpless to prevent.

Another long pause settles between us, before she continues, “do you want to come by? Maybe in the afternoon when she’s feeling better?”

I close my eyes, fighting back tears. Yes, this is Scarlett. My Scarlett. The woman I married, the woman I loved. She’s not playing games or trying to manipulate me. She’s a mother wanting what’s best for her child.

Our child.

No matter how wary she is of me, no matter how much she doesn’t want to see me, she’ll never harm her own daughter by keeping her biological father away from her.

Or by lying to her about her parentage.

This much, I am certain of.

“Yes,” I manage. “I’d like that very much.”

“She’ll be happy. As long as Lily is happy…” I hear a faint sigh, and my heart breaks.

“Scarlett?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry about today. About everything. I know I’ve been… difficult.” I suddenly apologize, feeling like I owe her.

Virginia and I grew up together in the orphanage. Before meeting Scarlett, she had been my only family, my only friend, my only support. I would do anything to keep her happy and safe.

Because of this, I didn’t see anything wrong with taking care of her when she fell sick. And it never occurred to me to explain myself to Scarlett, to consider my closeness to Virginia might bother her.

But after seeing Scarlett with Dorian, after those documents detailing how he took care of her, of them both…I’m beginning to understand.

Some feelings don’t follow logic or reason. And certain relationships require boundaries to

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