Chapter 34: Unfinished Business

Even as the Porsche pulled away from the underground parking lot, Jordan could almost still hear the echoes of Hailey’s crying and accusations.

The Hailey he knew had always been proud and untouchable, someone who never allowed herself to be humiliated—especially not in public.

Despite everything, Jordan felt a twinge of emotion.

While driving, he turned to Victoria and said, “Victoria, you don’t have to interfere in matters between Hailey and me. Don’t slap her again.”

Victoria raised an eyebrow, studying his expression.

She could tell—he still cared.

“You still have feelings for her, don’t you?” she asked.

Jordan smiled faintly, his voice calm.

“Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Without love, there can be no hate.”

Victoria fell silent for a moment, absorbing his words.

She had assumed Jordan was just another young, naive man, but there was depth to him—an understanding of emotions that only a man who has been hurt could possess.

He was handsome, wealthy, intelligent, and mature, with a sense of integrity that was hard to find.

Her heart wavered.

‘I must win him over.’

---

The Stolen Dream

After a long drive, Jordan and Victoria arrived at Golden Pavilion.

The area was breathtaking—lush greenery, serene lakes, and an unfinished museum beside what seemed to be a resort.

Jordan stepped out of the car and took in the majestic landscape.

“So, this is where the Camdens want to build their top-class private residences.”

Victoria nodded. “This is the project they asked Ace Corporation to invest in.”

According to the proposal, the estate would feature over ten luxury villas, each designed with full-length glass windows and pinewood interiors to create an exclusive, picturesque community.

Victoria continued, “This is the greenest part of the city. It’s filled with maple trees, and the estate’s residents will have access to natural springs and a private forest for picnics. The wealthy will be lining up to buy property here.”

Then she turned to Jordan, her expression serious.

“But are you really considering investing? After everything the Camdens did to you?”

Jordan chuckled, shaking his head.

“The truth is… this was my idea.”

Victoria’s eyes widened. “What?”

“The Camdens didn’t come up with this concept. I did.”

Victoria was stunned.

“So they stole your idea?”

Jordan shrugged. “Not exactly.”

He explained, “The Camdens have always wanted to be connected to Orlando’s top families. But without any real influence or skill, they had no way to achieve that.”

“So I came up with a solution—create an exclusive, high-end community that only the elite could buy into. That way, the Camdens wouldn’t need power. They’d just need the right land and investment.”

Jordan smirked bitterly.

“I shared this idea with Hailey. She passed it on to her grandmother. They loved it. But instead of giving me credit, they put Herman Camden in charge.”

Victoria sighed, shaking her head.

“The Camdens always favor men over women. They think Hailey isn’t fit to inherit the family business, no matter how capable she is. I do feel bad for her.”

Jordan nodded thoughtfully.

“She was always belittled by her family. Her parents pressured her constantly. And to make things worse, they forced her into a marriage with a live-in son-in-law… someone they saw as beneath them.”

Victoria’s expression hardened.

“That’s no excuse for cheating.”

A gentle breeze blew a maple leaf into Victoria’s hair.

Jordan reached out, brushing it away.

Then, he smiled.

“Victoria, have a drink with me.”

---

Drowning in Denial

New City Residential Estate.

Hailey sat on her couch, aggressively swirling a glass of wine.

Across from her, her best friend Rachel Quinn watched with amusement.

Rachel snatched the glass away.

“Alright, spill. Who pissed you off this time?”

Hailey’s eyes burned with fury.

“It’s that bitch, Victoria Clarke!” she snapped.

Rachel perked up, intrigued. “Oh?”

Hailey took the glass back and downed the rest of the wine in one gulp.

“She slapped me! Right in public! And all I did was scold Jordan! Who the hell does she think she is!?”

Rachel laughed, leaning back. “You know the saying—‘consider a dog’s master before kicking it.’ Since Jordan is Victoria’s lapdog now, of course, she won’t let you insult him.”

Hailey gritted her teeth.

Then, as if another thought struck her, she slammed the empty glass on the table.

“Jordan is so heartless. I only cheated on him once! But what beautiful woman hasn’t cheated these days!?”

Rachel arched an eyebrow. “Wow. Justifying it now?”

Hailey waved her hand dismissively. “Come on, Rachel, you cheated twice, and your husband never found out.”

Rachel, looking mildly embarrassed, poured herself more wine.

“Well, at least I was smart about it. Unlike you, I didn’t get caught.”

Hailey ignored the jab, continuing her rant.

“Jordan is just a live-in son-in-law. Even if he caught me, he should have sucked it up! Instead, he had the nerve to leave me and go kneel before Victoria Clarke!”

She slammed her fist on the table. “Why her!? Why not me!?”

Rachel twirled her glass, smirking.

“You’re looking at this all wrong. Jordan hasn’t moved on. He’s doing this for you.”

Hailey blinked, caught off guard.

“What?”

Rachel leaned in.

“Think about it. If he took your money, he’d still feel like a freeloader. But if he earns his own money, he can hold his head high in front of you.”

“He’s trying to make a name for himself. So that when he comes back to you, he’ll be worthy of proposing to you.”

Hailey’s anger slowly faded, replaced with a smug smile.

“Hmph. I knew it. He still loves me.”

Then, her expression darkened.

“But I’m not waiting around for him.”

Rachel shrugged. “You don’t have to. Marry Tyler Collins. If it doesn’t work out, divorce him and get Jordan back. A naive fool like him will definitely take you back.”

Hailey grinned, raising her glass. “Good idea.”

Rachel clinked her glass against Hailey’s.

“To second chances.”

---

The Scheme Tightens

The next morning, Hailey woke up groggily, her head pounding from last night’s drinking.

The shrill ringing of her phone made her groan.

She picked it up, barely able to keep her eyes open.

“What…?”

A sharp voice cut through the line.

“Hailey, get to Grandma’s now! We found evidence—Jordan sold the watch!”

Hailey’s eyes snapped open.

“What!?”

She shot out of bed.

Jordan Steele was about to pay for leaving her.