The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66

(Jasper’s POV)

After Scarlett and Lily enter the building, Dorian walks back to his car, looking relaxed. He just spent the afternoon playing house with my beautiful wife and angelic daughter. So why wouldn’t he be?

Red heat floods my vision, but I force myself to stay calm. Losing my temper won’t achieve anything.

I walk out from the corner I’ve been hiding in ever since I saw the look in Scarlett’s eyes.

“Dorian.”

He turns, and I see surprise flicker across his face before it settles scrutinizing wariness. Is that scorn I see in his eyes? Bastard.

“We need to talk.” I grit out through clenched teeth, hostility leaking from my tone. “Let’s find a place.”

“There’s a coffee shop two blocks down. We can talk there.”

We walk to the coffee shop side by side, turning a few heads as we sit at a corner table. The leather seats are butter–soft, the lighting dim and intimate.

Perfect for a private conversation that might determine the course of my life.

Dorian orders his coffee black. I ask for the same, though my stomach is already churning with acid and anxiety.

“You love her.” Not a question. A statement. I see it in the way he looks at her, the way he’s at

her side at the slightest hint of trouble.

“Yes, I love them both.”

I clench my fist as another shot of pain flares through my chest. “But she’s my wife.

*Soon to be your ex–wife. And clearly one you failed to cherish. Tell me, Jasper – did you even remember she was pregnant when you left her in the middle of nowhere for another woman.”

Hearing the mention of my failure as a husband from the mouth of another man, one interested in my wife, no less, isn’t pleasant.

Because they don’t understand. None of them understand. I never felt anything for Virginia. I only ever saw her as a sister. “I didn’t leave her for another woman. Virginia was having a

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panic attack.”

“Do you even believe yourself?”

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“She was my oldest friend. My only family before…” I run my hands through my hair. “I thought I needed to protect her, to be there for her after everything she did for me.”

“And what, exactly, did she do for you that was so great you failed your wife?”

go

silent at that. Not because I don’t have an answer. I do.

I just can’t find the words to confess I’m the cause of Virginia’s frail health.

Dorian rests his elbows on the table, clasping his hands together. My heart goes cold when he says, “Scarlett is done with you, Jasper. She doesn’t love you anymore. She asked me for help in finalizing your divorce. And I am going to help her, whether you like it or not.”

“Does Old Mr Cross know his grandson is lusting after a married woman?”

“My grandfather has no say in the woman I love.”

“Oh? Not even when the woman gave birth to another man’s child?” I regret the words almost as soon as they leave my mouth. Almost.

From the way I said it, anyone in earshot would think I have a low opinion of the woman in question. But God knows. I need to do this.

I need to know if Dorian is the one manipulating things in the background. I need to know if he’s the one behind the fake DNA result.

“Jasper Blake, you’re a scum. You deserve a snake like Virginia Stone.” He spat, and rose out of his seat, heading for the door.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask, rising after him. But he doesn’t respond. Doesn’t even look back as he walks out of the shop.

I feel like s**t. I shouldn’t have talked about Scarlett like that. After everything I’ve put her through, the least she deserves is a little respect.

But thanks to my choice of words, I now know Dorian isn’t the one who sent me those documents through Sarah. He isn’t the one who tempered with the DNA test results.

If he were, he wouldn’t have reacted so strongly to what I said.

And this proves Lily is my daughter. The certainty settles in my heart like a weight.

The relief should be overwhelming. Should fill the hollow spaces in my chest with something

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resembling hope.

Instead, all I feel is cold, creeping fear.

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Because the fake DNA results were meant to break me. To make me walk away from my family permanently.

Someone wanted them gone from my life. Someone who knows exactly how to break me.

Someone who’s still out there, still playing their dirty games.

My phone rings. Virginia’s name flashes on the screen.

“Jasper? I’ve been worried about you. You seemed so upset yesterday-”

“Virginia.” My voice comes out flat, dead. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

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