He’d come in, playfully tweaking her nose with warm eyes. “You! This one, this one, and make sure to pair it with this bag.”
A wave of bitterness washed over her, causing her nose to prickle as tears threatened. Victoria rubbed her nose, giving a bitter smile as she swallowed her emotion.
She stood before the wardrobe, running her fingers through the rows of clothes and shoes. Everything in there was from the most recent limited-edition collections.
Could it be?
Had he actually let another woman live in her home?
She staggered slightly and leaned back against the wall.
“What’s wrong?” Jayden appeared in an instant, grabbing her shoulders to steady her.
Victoria blinked, as if she’d just realised he was there. She tapped his chest gently, pouting, “So you’re not going to admit it? The closet’s full of women’s clothes!”
She gave him a defiant smile, but his response was to pull her close and kiss her on the forehead. “No. There’s only ever been you.”
A glimmer of doubt appeared in her eyes.
Is it only her?
Jayden lifted her chin, his dark eyes locked on hers as he whispered, “Be good. Put on this dress.”
Turning in his embrace, she noticed the white dress he was holding. Her face had lost its colour.
It was her favourite dress, but she despised it the most. She wore this dress to marry Jayden. She later wore it to say goodbye to her son and father.
Now, Jayden has brought this dress out for another woman to wear?
Even if that woman was herself, she couldn’t take it.
A sly smile appeared on her lips as she began unbuttoning her shirt and letting it fall from her shoulders. “Wouldn’t it be better to take everything off?”
Her skin, smooth and flawless like porcelain, was abruptly exposed before him. Her soft, half-revealed curves radiated a sensual allure that was both irresistible and dangerously seductive.
Jayden’s breathing became heavier as she revealed more information. He muttered a curse under his breath, grabbing her waist and leaning in close.
As he approached, she held his gaze with a seductive smile, but her heart grew colder by the second.
So this was the man she had previously chosen.
Victoria laughed as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, looking at the marks on her body. But as she laughed, tears started streaming down her cheeks.
She used to despise women who would do anything to achieve their goals. She had become one of them. She had promised herself she would not soften, but here she was, unable to hold back the tears.
Her father was gone. Wyatt, too. And the woman she used to be had left with them.
There was no going back now. All of this was debt he owed.
She buried her head in her folded arms and hugged herself tightly, as if it was the only way to summon the strength to keep going.
When Victoria emerged from the bathroom, a steaming bowl of pasta was already waiting on the dining table. She sat down across from him, smiling. “Wow, Jayden, I didn’t know you could cook!”
Jayden seemed surprised for a moment. Her tone and expression were identical to the woman he remembered. Something flickered in his eyes, but he just pushed the bowl towards her with a faint smile. “Eat it while it’s hot.”
Victoria looked down at the bowl and utensils in front of her, her expression faltering for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered, wrinkling her nose playfully. “Am I your first taste-tester?” But, if I am, you are not permitted to prepare this for anyone else! This pasta is my special dish right now.”
Jayden blinked, seemingly lost in thought.
He remembered her standing by the table, tilting her chin up, pointing at the steaming pasta, and jokingly declaring, “You can only make this for me! Not for anyone else, particularly not another woman!”
Back then, she was his proud little princess, and he was the happiest man on the planet.
But something had changed.
Victoria picked up the fork and took a bite, swallowing the pasta along with the tears that threatened to spill over. The steam rose up, stinging her eyes.
Jayden leaned back in his chair, playing with an unlit cigarette between his fingers. Hearing her eat enthusiastically, his expression softened.
“You’re just like her…” he muttered.
“Jayden, why not tell me about her?”
They both froze, staring at each other in surprise. Victoria hadn’t meant to ask, but now that she had, she put on a curious expression, encouraging him on with a smile. “You keep mentioning her. Where is she?”
Jayden’s fingers tightened around the cigarette, then slowly loosened; he lowered his gaze to the slightly crushed cigarette in his hand, remaining silent for an extended period.
The room was filled with tense silence, interrupted only by their breathing.
Victoria clutched the fork, a knot forming in her chest, choking her speech.
Jayden didn’t want to talk about her because she turned out to be nothing more than a toxic coping mechanism for him when he was lonely.
But it wasn’t important anymore.
