The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 89

(Scarlett’s POV)

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Jasper’s words hang in the air between us, the sincerity in his voice carrying a plea I’m not ready to answer.

Permission to be in yours and Lily’s life.

A part of me wants to say yes, to give him permission to be the father Lily never had, even if he couldn’t be the husband I’ve always wanted. But another part, the stronger, smarter, more wary part whispers in the back of my mind: If you let him enter your life, then what of Virginia?

I can’t separate Jasper from her. Virginia clings to him like poison ivy, spreading her toxin wherever she goes. And now that she’s James and Blair’s biological daughter, she has more power, more ways to hurt us than I like to admit.

I reach for the door handle. “I should go.”

“Scarlett-”

“Thank you for today.” I step out before he can finish, my heels clicking against the snowy pavement. “Lily had a great time with you.”

I hurry toward the apartment building where James and Blair wait with Lily. She’s still chattering about her flower bread, her cheeks pink from the cold. James and Blair give me questioning looks, but I don’t respond. I head straight for the elevator.

The doors are about to close when Jasper slips inside behind me. My pulse jumps. I’m about to ask him why he’s following us, when the elevator reaches my floor. As we step out, I

freeze.

A familiar figure leans against my door like she owns the place.

Upon seeing us Virginia straightens, her perfect smile sliding into position. She’s wrapped in a cream cashmere coat that makes her look innocent and sweet–an illusion I know better than to trust, her dark hair falling in perfect waves over her shoulders.

Against the warm glow of the Christmas lights in the hallway, she looks like something out of a holiday magazine.

“There you are!” She pushes off from the wall, her voice bright as tinsel. “I was wondering where everyone disappeared to.”

James and Blair exchange glances, and I catch the guilt that flashes across their faces. They

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didn’t tell her about today. Part of me is glad, but another part knows this will only make things worse.

“Virginia, sweety, we went to help Scarlett with a community project.” Blair forces a smile.

“How wonderful! I would have loved to come along if anyone had told me. You know how much I enjoy doing charity work.”

Yeah right. Just recalling the last charity work we did together makes me want to scoff. She left me to handle all the work, while she clung to Jasper like a sick patient ready to collapse any second. Only, she never did.

“It was a last minute program,” James explains as I fumble with my keys, my fingers numb from more than just the cold. “You weren’t home, and we didn’t want to bother you.”

“I’m never too busy for family time, Dad.” Virginia’s smile stays perfect, but I catch the edge in

her tone.

Just then, Jasper steps out from behind me, and Virginia’s entire body goes rigid. Her smile freezes, and for a split second, I see pure fury, and resentment, twist her features before she

recovers her control.

“Jasper! You were there too? You should’ve taken me along.” She shoves me aside, rudely, striding to his side.

He ignores, his eyes fixed on me as I finally get the door open.

My living room feels too small with all of them crowding in. Lily runs to her toy box, pulling out her coloring books to show Blair. James settles onto the couch looking like the head of

the household.

Virginia meanwhile, perches on the edge of my armchair, her hands folded in her lap like a well–trained doll. “So tell me about this community project. What kind of charity work were you doing?”

“We went to an orphanage,” Lily announces, looking up from her crayons. “Mama taught all

the kids how to make animal bread!”

“An orphanage?” Something flickers across Virginia’s face. “How… noble.”

“The children were incredible,” Blair continues, her face lighting up. “You should have seen their creativity, Virginia. They were marvelous.”

“And Scarlett taught with such patience,” James adds. “She has a real gift.”

I watch Virginia’s face as they describe the afternoon. Her smile never wavers, but her eyes

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grow colder with each word. It’s like

It makes my skin crawl.

“Animal bread sounds delightful. Did you teach them any special techniques, Scarlett?”

There’s something predatory in the way she asks, like a cat circling a mouse.

“Just basic bread shaping.”

“And they made such beautiful things,” Blair gushes, oblivious to the tension crackling through the room. “Marcus made an elephant, Emma made a bunny with the sweetest long

ears…”

Virginia listens to every detail, her smile never faltering. But her hands clench in her lap when Blair describes how proud the children were, how they beamed when I praised their work.

“Well.” Virginia stands with fluid grace, smoothing down her expensive coat. “It sounds like you all had a wonderful time.” She moves toward the door, then pauses. “But I should probably head home now. I have some… business to take care of.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Jasper offers, but Virginia waves him off.

“No need. Stay and enjoy your family time.” The word ‘family‘ comes out strained, like it tastes bitter in her mouth. “I can see myself out.”

The moment the door closes behind her, the tension in the room eases. But I can’t shake off

the feeling that we’ve just lit a fuse.

“Maybe I should talk to her,” Blair says, casting worried glances at the door. “She seemed

upset.”

“She’s probably hurt we didn’t include her in our program,” James sighs, looking concerned. “

We should talk to her.”

But I’ve seen that look in Virginia’s eyes before. Right before she destroyed my marriage. Right before she turned my parents against me. Right before she made my life hell.

She’s planning something. And this time, I don’t think she’ll be content with just taking Jasper or James and Blair’s affection.

(Virginia’s POV)

The elevator can’t move fast enough. My face aches from holding that perfect smile, and my hands shake with barely contained rage.

An orphanage. They went to a f*****g orphanage without me.

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Not just James and Blair – though that stings enough. But Jasper. Jasper went with them to play happy family with Scarlett and that brat.

The elevator doors slide open to the lobby, and I finally let my mask slip. In the reflection of the glass doors, I see my face twisted with fury, nothing like the sweet girl I’ve been playing for years.

Outside, snow swirls through the air, coating the Christmas decorations in white. For almost the end of December, the snow is late this year. The city looks like a postcard, all twinkling lights and winter magic. It makes me sick.

Scarlett has a bakery in one of the most exclusive malls in the city, and she’s teaching orphans like she’s some kind of saint.

Why? Why does she always outshine me? Why does she always attract everyone’s attention, while I fade to the background?

I was the one who was abandoned. I was the one who grew up with nothing while she lived in luxury. But somehow, she’s still the golden child, still the one everyone rallies around.

She still gets everyone’s love, despite all knowing I’m the one they need to make up for.

My phone buzzes. A text from Mom–Blair–asking if I’m okay.

Too little, too late.

I decline her call, and punch in the numbers I know by heart, my finger stabbing at the screen with violent precision.

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