From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 59

Chapter 7

Recently, things had been getting ugly between the Reeves and Winters families over this whole marriage arrangement.

Even though Jake had been willing to compromise on everything for Victoria at first, the Winters family was asking for way too much–like they were literally selling their daughter to the highest bidder.

Caught between his family’s interests and the woman he thought he loved, Jake was stuck in an impossible position.

But Victoria didn’t give a damn about what he was going through. She wouldn’t budge on anything, wouldn’t even give him room to breathe.

After weeks of this bullshit, Jake was nearly losing his mind.

“Victoria, just give me three days to sort everything out. Whatever happens, I’ll give you an answer then…”

Before he could finish speaking, Victoria’s eyes suddenly widened and she sharply interrupted him.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?! You don’t want to marry me anymore? Jake Reeves, are you even a man?! I’m carrying your child and you want to just dump me?”

“That’s not what I-”

“Then what ARE you saying? You’re still hung up on that bitch Sage, aren’t you? You want to go running back to her? Fine! I’ll just get rid of this baby then. I’ll make it easy for you two!”

Victoria started running toward the door, crying hysterically. Jake instinctively grabbed for her. “Calm down! I never said I wouldn’t marry you. I just need

some time-”

But Victoria was done listening. She fought against his grip, thrashing around wildly, when suddenly she stumbled and went crashing straight into the

doorframe.

Everything happened so fast. Before Jake could react, he only heard her scream.

Victoria doubled over, clutching her stomach as dark red started seeping through her dress. Jake immediately rushed her to the hospital.

Hours later, the doctor came out and told them the baby didn’t make it.

For the next few days, Victoria just lay in that hospital bed, silently crying.

No matter what Jake said or did to comfort her, she wouldn’t respond.

Seeing her look so broken made his chest tight with guilt. He would’ve given her anything to make up for this mess.

But she wouldn’t even look at him. All she said was that she wanted cupcakes from that little place near the base they used to go to.

Jake remembered how she’d been when she first came back from overseas–so fragile, so in need of protection.

He had been so certain back then that he would protect her, yet today, because of Sage, he had made a complete mess of everything.

And now look what he’d done.

The guilt was eating him alive. He couldn’t even meet Victoria’s eyes as he nodded and headed for the door.

The second the hospital room door closed behind him, Victoria dropped the sad act and pulled out her phone.

“Your advice totally worked! Playing the victim is way better than throwing tantrums. A few crocodile tears and he looked absolutely devastated!”

Through the door, Jake heard Victoria’s smug tone and his hand froze on the door handle.

I know it was risky, but with the wedding getting closer, I was scared that bitch Sage might come back and mess things up! I had to take the gamble.”

Chapter 7

“Of course he doesn’t suspect anything. The only reason I bothered with him in the first place was because he could help me destroy Sage. Plus, the Winters family needs a war hero son–in–law right now. He’s not going anywhere.”

“As for Sage? Ha! She was only ever good enough to be my stand in. Did she actually think Jake had feelings for her? He just liked that she looked like me!

Victoria’s cold calculation hit Jake like a lightning bolt.

So this was who she really was when he wasn’t watching.

How much of her helplessness, her tears, her need for him had been real?

He’d treated her like precious gift while she played him like a fucking puppet!

ake’s hands curled into fists, and he wasn’t sure if he was laughing at his own stupidity or her ruthlessness.

He turned and walked away without looking back, pulling out his phone.

Get someone to dig into every guy Victoria Winters’s been involved with abroad over the years.”

♡ (0)