The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

(Virginia’s POV)

“What are you doing here, Virginia?”

The question is another slap in my face, trampling on the remaining shreds of my dignity.

What am I doing here? I’m here because I care about him. Because I dropped everything the second I got that call. Because I’ve been taking care of him for years while she got to play house with another man.

But he doesn’t see any of that. He never sees any of that.

“Mike called me,” I say, my voice shaking. “You were drunk and calling for-” I can’t even say her name. It burns too much to speak the truth out loud.

“I didn’t tell Mike to call you.”

Each word is another wound. Another reminder that even in his lowest moment, I’m not the

one he wants by his side.

The tears I’ve been forcing myself to hold back spill over. Years of pain, of watching him love another woman, of plotting and scheming just to be in his life–it all comes pouring out.

“No, you didn’t.” My voice cracks. “You called for her. But I’m the one here. The one who came running the second I heard you were drunk. The only one who gives a damn about you, Jasper!”

“Virginia-”

“Do you have any idea what it’s like?” The words explode out of me, cutting him off. “Do you know what it’s like to love someone for eleven years and have them not once spare you a glance? To watch them pour their heart out to another woman while you’re standing in front

of them?”

“Virginia, stop-”

“She left you!” I’m screaming now, past caring who hears. “She walked away from this marriage, from you without a backward glance, and you’re still calling her name like she’s

some kind of saint!”

Jasper’s face hardens then, voice cold as he sears me with a wrathful glare. But I don’t cower. My sanity teetering on the verge of collapse because of his betrayal of my feelings, my years of waiting, and the promise he failed to keep.

1/4

<Chapter 72

Vize Rewards

“She’s a b***h! A conniving, selfish b***h who doesn’t give a damn about your life or death!

“Don’t talk about Scarlett like that.”

“Why not?” I wipe my nose with the back of my hand, sneering. “I’ve been by your side through everything, Jasper. Every struggle to leave your past behind, every effort to succeed, every time you needed someone–I was there. But she gave up on you the second things got hard.”

“She didn’t give up on me. I pushed her away.”

“And I stayed! Through all your mistakes, all your stupidity, all the times you treated me like trash–I stayed!”

The bar spins around us. Mike has disappeared, probably hiding in the back office to avoid Jasper’s wrath.

“I know you have,” Jasper says quietly. “And I’m grateful-”

“Grateful?” I laugh, but the sound sounds hollow, empty. “I don’t want your gratitude. I want…”

I want your love. I want you to love me the way you love her.

But I can’t say it. Can’t put voice to the desperate longing that’s been eating me alive since we were thirteen years old.

“Virginia.” Jasper’s voice is gentle now, as if he’s talking to a wounded animal. “You’re like a

sister to me-”

“Don’t.” I hold up a hand, backing away from him. “Don’t you dare say that to me.”

“But you are. You’ve always been-”

“I’m not your damn sister!” The words rip from my chest. “We don’t share blood! I’ve spent eleven years dreaming of marrying you one day!”

Jasper goes still. The look in his eyes shifts from confusion to something that might be horror. Or guilt. I can’t tell which. And honestly? I don’t care which it is at this point.

“All these years, you never once looked at me and saw a woman. Even when I grew up, even when I tried to show you how I felt–you only ever saw that scared little girl from the orphanage.”

“Virginia-”

“She took everything from me,” I continue, my voice thick with jealousy, grief, bitter resentment. “The first half of my life, my dream of marrying you, and now… and now your

love too.”

2/4

< Chapter 72

“I know your childhood was hard-”

More Rewards >

“Hard?” I’m shaking now, my whole body trembling with rage and heartbreak. “She got the life that was meant for me. Played little princess while I was stuck in an orphanage with people who tortured me. And now she gets you too? The one person who should’ve been mine?”

Jasper looks at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. Really seeing me. And what he sees makes him take a step back, and pain stabs my heart at the thought of him pushing me away

again.

I look at him, tears and mascara streaking down my face, hating myself for begging but unable to stop, falling at his feet. “Jasper, please let me take Scarlett’s place. I love you more than she ever did. You know I do. I’ve loved you longer, loved you through everything–Let me stay by your side…”

“No, Virginia.” His voice is firm, final. He doesn’t even flinch as he holds my gaze, eyes cold, detached. “It doesn’t matter if Scarlett loves me or not. Because I love her. Scarlett isn’t

replaceable. She is special, because she’s my one and only love.”

I stumble back, my hand clutching my chest, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

My one and only love.

Scarlett, not Virginia. Scarlett is his one and only love.

Something inside me snaps then. The small voice in my head that’s been tormenting my conscience, that’s been holding on by a thread for years finally snaps.

Jasper is mine. He should’ve been mine seven years ago.

And if I can’t have him, then no one can.

Not even Scarlett.

The thought comes to me cold and clear, cutting through the haze of pain and anguish. If Jasper will never love me, if he’ll always choose her over me no matter what I do–then I’ll make sure she can never have him either.

I wipe my face, pulling myself together. The deep ache in my chest replaced by something much darker, more dangerous.

“You’re right,” I say, sounding eerily calm. “I can never replace her.”

Jasper looks surprised by my sudden shift in mood, and I see the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out what I’m scheming now.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify