Chapter 10
When I filed for divorce from Jasper, I immediately cut all ties with Sunset Winery.
The project Jasper had invested in using company funds for Lila’s sake was halfway through when we discovered it was all garbage.
When I showed up at Sunset with the compensation money, the place was already an empty shell.
urns out Sunset was just a front designed to con idiots like Jasper, and Lila was just one of the bait girls hey used.
Only Jasper had been stupid enough to fall for it completely.
laughed as I looked at the empty office, while Emma sat in the boss chair making disapproving noises.
Jasper’s drowning in debt because of Lila. Wonder if he can even pay it back.”
‘mma put Lila’s financial records from recent years in front of me.
If you sue Lila, you think she’ll admit to any of this?”
ooking at these bills, I no longer felt that heart-piercing pain-just cold professionalism.
Even if she doesn’t want to, she’ll have to.”
efore I could go find Jasper, he came looking for me. He looked haggard, nothing left of the man who’d nce made my heart flutter-just the weariness and defeat of someone beaten down by life.
He walked up to me awkwardly, hesitantly saying my name.
Vera,” he pulled a ring from his pocket, “do you remember this?”
ooking at the ring, my memory was pulled back to graduation day in college, when Jasper got down on one
nee,
‘Vera.”
‘Please, let me be the one who protects you.”
The ring was so sparkly.
At our age, being able to buy a ring worth several thousand dollars with his own money was really something.
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Walgreens Ne
33.60
Chapter 10
I was completely moved by Jasper’s sincerity, even though Emma was being a total buzzkill: “It’s just a cheap ring, and he thinks he can buy Vera’s whole life?”
“Jasper, aren’t you dreaming a little too big?”
Looking at Jasper’s sincere expression, I told him: “I don’t need your protection. I only ask that the true heart I’m giving you now won’t be betrayed.”
That day. Jasper held me so tight, lifting me off the ground and spinning in circles.
Finally, Jasper’s tears fell on my neck.
He said: “Vera, I won’t make you regret this.”
Now that ring was left in our marital home, representing our complete end.
asper said to me: “When I first met Lila, I just thought she seemed like you back then. I wanted to protect
her, like I was protecting the you.”
I know I was wrong.”
asper’s eyes reddened.
Vera, you’re the only person I’ve ever truly loved in my life.”
I’m not asking you to come back,” Jasper said. “I just want to do what you did-even if it’s humiliating, even fit hurts, I have to tell you.”
Vera, I really do love you.”
understood that this was probably Jasper’s belated regret, maybe in his financially strained life he suddenly realized I was worth more.
knew that such emotional moments shouldn’t be ruined by being too blunt, but I felt like Emma had possessed me. I threw the astronomical bills at him.
“Whether you love me or not.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Jasper,” I pointed at the numbers on the bills, “this is what you need to take responsibility for.”
“Got it?”
The next time I saw Jasper and Lila, it was as plaintiff and defendants. I was representing the corporation in charging them with embezzling company funds, plus Lila’s fraud charges.
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Walgreens Notified Me About Hi« ?di
Chapter 10
The day Jasper and Lila were sentenced, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders, like I’d finally said goodbye to the past for good.