The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Scarlett’s POV

The manila envelope arrives on a Tuesday morning, delivered by a courier. My hands shake as I sign for it, knowing exactly what’s inside.

The divorce papers.

I stare at the envelope for a long moment before tearing it open.

“That jerk,” Chloe mutters, peering over my shoulder. “He couldn’t even call you first? Just signed it and sent it back like some business deal?”

I flip through the pages, scanning the legal language. It’s all there–the division of assets, custody arrangements, everything that reduces three years of marriage to bullet points and signatures.

My marriage is officially over. I’m now a divorcee.

“Actually, this is perfect,” I say, surprising myself with how calm I sound. “He made it easy for

me.”

“Easy?” Chloe raises an eyebrow. “Scarlett, he abandoned you. On a highway. While you were pregnant. And now he’s divorcing you without even trying to work things out.”

“Exactly.” I fold the papers and set them aside. “He’s showing me exactly who he is. No more confusion, no more hoping he’ll change. It’s done.”

Something shifts in my chest. Relief, maybe. Or loss.

“You know what?” I grab my laptop from the coffee table. “I’m tired of letting other people control my life. I’m going to do something for myself.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Remember that baking school in Nashville I mentioned? The one my baking tutor attended?” I open the laptop and navigate to the website. “I’ve been thinking about it more and more.”

Chloe’s eyes widen. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious.” I click through the program details, my heart starting to race with excitement. “Look at this–six months of intensive training. French pastries, artisan breads, business management. Everything I need to start my own bakery.”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Chloe scoots closer, reading over my shoulder. “You

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make kickass pastries. Some French chefs better be ready to go out of business.”

I laugh, the first real laugh I’ve had in days. “You’re exaggerating.”

“I’m stating a fact.” She grins. “You have a gift, habibti. And soon, you’ll realize it.”

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I scroll down to the enrollment section. The program starts in three weeks. Three weeks to completely change my life.

“I’m going to do it,” I say, clicking on the application. “I already filled this out last night. I just need to submit it and pay the tuition.”

My fingers fly over the keyboard, filling in the final details. When I get to the payment section, I pull out my credit card, hands shaking slightly.

This is it. This is my new beginning.

I enter my card information and hit submit.

The screen flashes red.

PAYMENT DECLINED

I frown and try again. Same result.

“That’s weird,” I mutter, trying a different card. “Maybe there’s an issue with the website.”

But the second card is declined too. And the third.

My phone buzzes with a text from Dad: Your credit cards have been frozen until you come home and stop this nonsense. We need to talk.

The laptop screen blurs as tears fill my eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What’s wrong?” Chloe asks, concern creeping into her voice.

I show her the text. “He blocked my cards.”

“He wouldn’t!”

“They did, and he can since the accounts are in his name.” I laugh bitterly. “God, I’m so stupid. I never thought they’d actually-”

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

“Don’t answer it,” Chloe hisses.

But I’m already sliding to accept the call. “Hello.”

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“Scarlett, thank God. Where are you?”

“I’m at my friend’s.”

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“We need you to come home. Now. This divorce nonsense has got to stop. Running away isn’t going to solve anything.”

“Running away?” I stand up, pacing to the window. “I’m not running away. I’m moving forward.”

“By abandoning your family?”

“What family?” The words come out sharper than I intended. “You mean the family that cut me off? The family that gave away my inheritance, my husband, my entire life to someone else?”

“Virginia is our daughter-”

“And I’m not.” The truth sits heavy between us. “I never was. I was just a replacement until the real one came back.”

Silence stretches across the line.

“That’s not true,” he says finally, but his voice lacks conviction. And good thing for me my heart has grown numb. Because hearing more of their excuses might’ve just broken me.

“Scar, come home. We’ll talk about this at home.”

“No.” I close my eyes, summoning strength I didn’t know I had. “I’m done being controlled. By you, by Mom, by Jasper. I’m done.”

“Scarlett-”

I hang up and immediately turn off my phone.

“That was badass,” Chloe says with a grin. “But now what? You can’t pay for school without

money.”

I slump back down on the couch, the weight of reality crushing my brief moment of freedom. “I don’t know. Maybe I could get a loan? Or find a job and save up?”

“How long would that take?”

“Years, probably.” I bury my face in my hands. “By then, I’ll have a newborn to take care of. I’ll never get another chance.”

“Hey.” Chloe’s voice is gentle. “Look at me.”

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I lift my head, trying not to cry again.

“You’re not doing this alone,” she says. “I’m going to pay for it.”

“Chloe, no-”

“Yes.” She pulls out her phone. “I have the money, and you’re going to that school.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. It’s fifteen thousand dollars.”

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“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” She starts typing on her phone. “And before you argue, remember when I wanted to quit my job and start my marketing firm? You lent me twenty thousand dollars without even thinking about it.”

“That was different—”

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