Chapter 704


    Agnes was at a loss for words, feeling as if she were in a dream.


    For a moment, she thought perhaps everyone''s fate, every event in their life, every encounter, was


    preordained. That from birth to death, every detail of one''s life was choreographed by a divine


    ywright.


    And they were merely actors, faithfully following the script in the river of time.


    Otherwise, how could she possibly run into Jared?


    She had specifically gone out to clear her mind and avoid him.


    Yet here he was, clearly not alone.


    At his side, her arm entwined with his, stood none other than Valeria.


    Valeria''s appearance that day was striking.


    A low-cut white evening gown, her makeup as sharp and wless as ever.


    Tall and slender, she looked like a supermodel straight from a Paris runway, her presence radiating


    power.


    Compared to Valeria, there was one aspect where Agnes couldn''tpete.


    Valeria''s aura exuded a natural blend of confidence and authority.


    Whereas Agnes was merely putting on a show.


    Valeria had noticed Agnes too.


    Her gaze was expressionless as she nced at Jared beside her.


    Effortlessly, she withdrew her arm from Jared''s.


    Jared''s face was as calm as a still pond.


    When he saw Agnes, he didn''t even betray the slightest hint of surprise.


    But his gaze was deep and piercing, scrutinizing Agnes like a hawk.


    Under such scrutiny, Agnes felt her heart skip a beat.


    She instinctively tightened her grip on Kearney''s arm.


    Kearney nced at Jared, asking, "Your ex-husband?"


    He had met Jared before, briefly, at the airport on the day he returned home.


    Agnes didn''t respond, but her reaction said it all.


    Kearney cast a surreptitious nce towards them, before leaning in to whisper in Agnes'' ear, "The


    woman with him is Valeria Thomas, our biggestpetitor for the wine distribution rights. She''s very


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    close with Count and Countess Alexandra, and it''s practically a done deal that she''ll be awarded the


    rights. I''m here primarily to try and snatch those rights from her. I heard she just got married and was


    bringing her new husband to meet the Alexandras. I didn''t expect it to be your ex-husband."


    Kearney had exined the situation quite clearly.


    Agnes couldn''t believe the coincidence.


    Valeria was Kearney''s fiercestpetitor.


    She had heard rumors of Valeria running a sessful wine business in France, so Valeria''s presence


    here wasn''t surprising.


    What was surprising was that Jared, who had supposedly called off his engagement with Valeria, was


    here as her husband.


    Suddenly, Agnes remembered the emotional plea Jared had made just the day before.


    He had asked for a fresh start between them.


    But now, it seemed those words were empty promises.


    Of course.


    He and Valeria had a history, four years of shared experiences, even an engagement.


    It was only natural that he wouldn''t be able to move on so easily.


    Jared might have wanted to reconcile with her for the sake of their child.


    But he was also managing other romantic rtionships in his life.


    That was something Agnes couldn''t tolerate.


    She could be friends with Jared, they could co-parent their child, they could even live in harmony.


    But they could never be lovers or spouses again.


    The irony was, when Jared had asked her to seriously consider his proposition, she had actually given


    it some thought.


    She had been too naive.