(Scarlett’s POV)
Jasper's words hang in the air between us, the sincerity in his voice carrying a plea I'm not ready to answer.
Permission to be in yours and Lily's life.
A part of me wants to say yes, to give him permission to be the father Lily never had, even if he couldn’t be the husband I’ve always wanted. But another part, the stronger, smarter, more wary part whispers in the back of my mind: If you let him enter your life, then what of Virginia?
I can't separate Jasper from her. Virginia clings to him like poison ivy, spreading her toxin wherever she goes. And now that she's James and Blair’s biological daughter, she has more power, more ways to hurt us than I like to admit.
I reach for the door handle. "I should go."
"Scarlett—"
"Thank you for today." I step out before he
