Chapter 32: A Clash of Fire and Ice

Jordan walked confidently beside Victoria, his Gucci suit pristine, his hair perfectly styled.

He exuded authority, the aura of a powerful CEO.

Hailey’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

“This jerk dressed up like this—after divorcing me!?”

For three years, she had seen Jordan as nothing more than a docile, obedient husband. She had never imagined he could carry himself like this.

So refined. So powerful.

So… desirable.

A pang of bitterness crept into her heart. If she had known Jordan could look like this, she would have dressed him up properly all along.

At least then, she could have shown him off at gatherings and saved herself the embarrassment of having a plain-looking husband.

---

Old Habits Die Hard

From a distance, Jordan took the car keys from Victoria.

“Pass me the keys. I’ll drive. You’re in heels—it wouldn’t be convenient for you.”

Victoria actually had flats in her car.

But instead of changing into them, she simply handed Jordan the keys.

“Thank you, Mr. Steele.”

Jordan nodded, walking toward the sleek red Porsche Panamera.

Then, unexpectedly, he walked to the passenger side first—and opened the door.

Victoria was taken aback.

“You…?”

She blinked, confused. Didn’t he say he’d drive?

Jordan let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.

“Oh shucks. I’ve been opening the car door for Hailey Camden for the past three years. It’s a habit.”

Victoria smirked.

Jordan, the man who had once been overlooked and dismissed, had just opened the door for her—as if she were the queen of his world.

With a teasing tone, she said, “Oh my God, I’m honored to have Mr. Steele personally open the door for me.”

Jordan grinned.

“It’s nothing. I did this for Hailey Camden every single day for three years.”

Victoria snorted, shaking her head.

“Hailey Camden never knew how lucky she was.”

She slid into the passenger seat, basking in the moment.

Then—

A furious voice rang out from across the parking lot.

“Jordan Steele! You’re so shameless! How dare you become Victoria Clarke’s lackey!?”

---

Hailey’s Wrath

Jordan looked up in surprise.

Standing before them, fuming, was Hailey.

Victoria also stepped out of the car, startled by Hailey’s sudden arrival.

Why was she here?

If it were about business, then they should be expecting Herman instead.

Hailey’s eyes burned with rage as she pointed at Jordan.

“Have you no dignity!?” she screamed. “How could you kneel before Victoria, beg for her forgiveness, and become her lapdog!?”

Jordan’s expression darkened.

Hailey wasn’t done.

“You had no problem throwing away your pride for her, but not for me? I gave you so many chances!

If you had just kneeled and begged me, you’d still be my husband today!

If you had kneeled at West Lake Hotel, I wouldn’t have called the cops!

You’re kneeling anyway, so why her and not me!?”

---

A Reckoning

Jordan’s temper flared.

His voice came out cold as ice.

“You still have the nerve to ask me that?”

His eyes bored into her with an intensity that made Hailey flinch.

“The day before yesterday, you slept with Tyler Collins behind my back. You humiliated me.

And you still expect me to kneel before you? To beg you?

Are you insane!?”

Hailey pursed her lips, then retorted, “That was just one mistake! What about the chances I gave you after that?

At Grandma’s birthday banquet yesterday, I gave you an opportunity to kneel, and you refused!

If you had just kneeled, Grandma wouldn’t have forced me to divorce you!

You’d still be my husband!

I wouldn’t have called the police on you!

But no— instead, you kneeled for another woman!”

Her voice cracked with emotion, her jealousy boiling over.

Jordan snorted.

“It’s not humiliating to kneel before my wife.”

He took a step forward, glaring down at her.

“But it is humiliating to kneel before a cheating wife.”

His voice was calm.

Deadly.

“You betrayed me, and instead of begging for my forgiveness, you wanted me to kneel to you?”

His jaw clenched.

“I spoiled you rotten for three years. Clearly, that was a mistake.”

---

Victoria’s Fury

Hailey’s eyes burned with fury.

“Spoiled me? Ha! I spoiled YOU! If I had known this would happen, I would have made you kneel at my feet every day! You should have washed my feet every night like a proper husband!”

SMACK!

The sound of a slap echoed through the parking lot.

Hailey stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek.

Shocked, she looked up.

It wasn’t Jordan who had slapped her.

It was Victoria.

Victoria’s eyes blazed with disgust.

“Hailey Camden, you cheated on your husband, and now you stand here blaming him?”

Her voice was sharp, cutting like glass.

“As a woman, aren’t you ashamed!?”

Hailey’s eyes filled with disbelief.

“You… you slapped me!?”

Victoria folded her arms.

“What, should I schedule an appointment first?”

Jordan smirked, watching Hailey seethe.

Hailey’s face burned red with humiliation.

“You stole my man, and now you slap me!?” she shouted, her voice trembling.

Victoria laughed coldly.

“Stole your man? Hailey, you threw him away.”

Her words sliced deep, leaving Hailey speechless.

For the first time, Hailey felt something she had never experienced before.

Regret.