Chapter 17M
0
Stepping into my new office at Jared’s company felt like shedding an old skin and stepping into something fresh and mine. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of changes. Ones I welcomed with open arms. The weight of my old life, my past with Jairus, the humiliation Katie had tried to drown me in, it all felt like a distant memory now.
Thad spent so many years trapped in a marriage that suffocated me, bound to a man who never truly saw me. Now, I was free. Not just legally, but emotionally. I had reclaimed my life in ways I never thought possible. And this office, this job, was just the beginning
Unlike the cold and sterile atmosphere of Jairus’s corporate empire, Jared’s company thrived on innovation, creativity, and a sense of camaraderie that felt foreign but welcoming. The moment I walked into the sleek office space, greeted by smiling faces rather than wary glances, I knew I had made the right decision. I wasn’t just an accessory to a man’s success anymore. I was carving my own path.
Jared had been by my side every step of the way. Supportive without being overbearing. He was encouraging without pressuring. He had a way of making me feel like I was capable of anything.
That morning, as I sat at my desk, sipping my coffee, I allowed myself a moment of contentment. It was strange, feeling at peace after so much chaos. But I had earned this peace, I had fought for it.M
And then Jared decided to shake things up.N
We were in a meeting, just another ordinary board meeting, when Jared decided to make things interesting.M
“I have an announcement to make,” he started. “Many of you already know Vanessa. But what you may not know is that she is more than just an addition to this company.”
I turned to him with a brow raised. But he only smirked. His gaze flickered to mine before he continued. “She’s my fiancée.“W Silence.
Then a wave of murmurs spread across the room like wildfire.N
I blinked a few times, barely managing to keep my expression neutral. Fiancée? We had talked about taking things slow, about seeing where we landed, but this…
Jared turned to me then. His smirk softened genuinely. “That is, if she’ll have me.“N
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box.N
My breath caught in my throat.N
The room faded. The murmurs, the shock, the stares, I didn’t care about any of it.N
I only saw him.
“Vanessa?“M
I swallowed the lump in my throat before letting out a breathless laugh. “You’re insane.“N
His eyes twinkled. “And?“N
I rolled my eyes. But my heart swelled. “And I’d be a fool to say no.“N
The applause was deafening. But all I heard was my own heartbeat.N
A few days later, I was sipping coffee in my office when my secretary informed me I had an unexpected visitor.N
It was Katie.!!
I should’ve known she wouldn’t be able to resist making a dramatic entrance.N
She walked in as if she owned the place. Her heels clicked against the marble floor with each step. In her hand, she held an envelope, white, thick, and undoubtedly expensive.
I leaned back in my chair and showed how unimpressed I was. “To what do I owe the pleasure?“N
Katie placed the envelope on my desk and slid it toward me with perfectly manicured fingers. “A special delivery,” she said sweetly. “It’s my wedding invitation.“W
I stared at it for a moment before picking it up. Then I flipped it open with deliberate slowness.N
Katie’s smirk widened. “I expect you to be there. After all, it’s only fair that you see what it’s like when a real woman gets everything she wants.”
I let out a soft laugh as I shook my head. “Oh, Katie, you really do set yourself up, don’t you?”
She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?“W
I smiled, then leaned forward slightly. “I’d be delighted to attend.“N
Her lips parted. I saw how the confidence flickered in her eyes, faltering for just a moment. “What?“N
I tilted my head. “What kind of ex–wife would I be if I didn’t come and celebrate your happy ending?”
Katie recovered quickly. But not before I caught the brief flicker of unease in her expression. “Just so you know,” she said with her voice turning smug again, “you can’t compete with me anymore. You never could. And now, I have something you never gave Jairus.“N
I sighed, feigning boredom. “Let me guess. A headache?“N
She narrowed her eyes. “You already know I’m pregnant with his child.”
I arched my brow. My smirk ceased to falter. Then, with all the amusement in the world, I leaned back and crossed my arms. “Oh, are you?”
12:32 PM J
