Chapter 216 Get Her Attention
Jacquar wasn't that big. When I decided to return, I had mentally prepared myself for the possibility of running into him.
But not this soon.
I quickly pulled my hand back and heard Madison speak in surprise, "Mrs. Valence?"
"Yes."
"Ex-wife."
Christopher and I spoke almost simultaneously.
Burying my temper, I looked at Madison with a smidge of a smile. “Ms. Ortiz, we’ll be leaving now.”
"Yes, Ms. Ortiz, feel free to call if you need anything," Elissa added politely as we walked away.
As we exited, I could faintly hear Madison’s teasing remark behind us. “Mr. Valence, your ex-wife doesn’t seem too fond of you.”
Just as we stepped out of the hotel, a sleek black Bentley Continental pulled away from the valet area. My instincts kicked in, and I sprinted towards it, catching a glimpse of a vaguely familiar license plate.
Elissa hurried after me. “What’s the rush? Who did you see?”
“No one,” I pointed ahead to the Bentley disappearing into traffic. “But I saw Jerry get into that exact car at the nursing home the other day.”
Elissa furrowed her brows. “Jerry came to Jacquar?”
"Probably." I tossed her the car keys. “You head back. I need to check out Jacquar One.”
Jerry’s death had been public knowledge for two years, so he probably didn’t live there anymore. But I had to try my luck.
“I’m coming with you,” Elissa insisted, grabbing my arm to stop me from taking a cab.
At Jacquar One, she parked and decided to wait for me in the garage. “If he’s there, it’s better if I steer clear of this reunion. Call me if you need anything.”
“Sure.” I nodded and made my way to the elevator, pressing the familiar button.
As the floors ticked up, my nerves frayed. What could I even say? Back then, I had chosen to let him go.
Reaching the desired floor, I stepped out and approached the door he had leaned against countless times. Clenching my hands, I raised one to press the doorbell.
I was prepared for an empty apartment. But instead, a strikingly mature woman with long wavy hair and flawless makeup opened the door. She raised an eyebrow at me. “Who are you?”
I stood there momentarily stunned, then smiled awkwardly. “I... I must have the wrong apartment.”
“No problem.” The woman was easygoing. She closed the door as I turned back to the elevator.
Inside, Jerry sat on the sofa, a blanket over his legs, handling business on a tablet. He glanced at her darkly. “Had enough of a look?”
She sauntered to a single sofa and dropped onto it with interest. “Not nearly. I need to understand what kind of woman has you so devoted all these years.”
Jerry sneered, "Don't cause her any trouble, Sophia."
Sophia crossed her long legs and taunted, “Still defending her? She betrayed you, didn’t she? In the two years you were 'dead,' she became Mrs. Valence. And when Avery called her, it was Christopher who answered.”
Jerry’s voice turned icy. “Sophia Hammer, shut up.”
Sophia shrugged, unfazed. “Did I say something wrong?”
Jerry’s gaze bore into her. “Right or wrong doesn’t matter; it hurts, and I don’t want to hear it.”
Sophia's voice softened, but her playful demeanor didn't wane. "So what’s your next move? Keep 'dying'?”
Jerry fiddled with a lighter, his face betraying no emotion. “I don’t know.”
Sophia laughed, almost sympathetically. “Even you have moments of being confused?”
Jerry sighed. “I don’t want to force her into anything.”
Sophia saw through his guise immediately and smirked. “Please, spare me the act. You knew she was going to that hotel today—you drove that flashy car over there just to make sure she noticed. And now, when she shows up, you hide away, not daring to see her.”
She leaned closer, her voice dripping with irony. “Jerry, are you trying to get her attention on purpose?”
Jerry swatted her hand away, feigning indifference. “Your imagination is wilder than hers.”
He reminisced about how decisively she had chosen Christopher, severing all ties with him. Even when Avery informed her of his ‘death,' it was Christopher who had answered. He had called several times in those hauntingly lonely nights, only to hear Christopher's voice on the other end.
I returned to the car, despondent. Elissa took one look at my face and asked, “No one home?”
“There was,” I replied, fastening my seatbelt.
She frowned. “Then why do you look so disappointed?”
“It wasn’t Jerry. He must have sold the house. A woman opened the door.”
Elissa looked perplexed. “Young and pretty?”
“Quite pretty. Probably around our age,” I conceded.
Elissa considered this. “Have you thought that she might be Jerry’s girlfriend or a close friend?”
I hadn’t allowed my mind to wander there. Two years could bring about significant changes. Just as Christopher couldn’t expect me to remain static in his absence, I couldn’t expect Jerry to either.
Yet, I still shook my head. “Probably not.”
Elissa pondered for a moment. “True. If he’s not dead and still has luxury cars and bodyguards, it means his power is still formidable. He’s probably been too busy these past two years to dive into any relationships.”
It made sense.
As long as Jerry was thriving, it brought me a subdued comfort.
I delved back into my work at ElevateJoy as a design director, investing most of my energy in designing Madison’s dress. The success of this endeavor could propel both ElevateJoy and my career to unprecedented heights. Failure, however, was not an option considering her massive fanbase.
One day, an unknown number flashed on my phone. The voice on the line was instantly recognizable: Donald.
“Ms. Royston, Mr. Valence would like to schedule a time with you to have a few suits made.”
I refused, "I'm very busy lately."
There was a tragic irony in this request. I had designed countless suits for Christopher, most of which were left unworn, hanging in his closet as neglected as our relationship.
Donald wasn’t fazed. “Mr. Valence anticipated that. He mentioned that he could accompany you to finalize the divorce procedures first, then you might reconsider his request.”
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