After being reborn, I make up my mind to stop chasing after my husband and daughter

Chapter 5

I knew Yvonne was faking her stomachache to manipulate Jared and me. She was young, but already such a schemer, and had totally played me for a fool in my previous life.

I texted Jared back: [Take her to the hospital yourself.] Then I tossed my phone aside and turned back to the movie’s ending.

Jared didn’t bug me after that. When the credits rolled, a couple of guys pushed their way towards me. One bumped into me, and his face went bright red.

Melissa was about to give them an earful, but I squeezed her hand gently and said, “It’s fine.”

The guy stammered an apology, smacked his friend, and they hightailed it out of there.

Melissa grinned and nudged me. “Guess pretty girls make guys go brain–dead. Victoria, Jared’s seriously lucky. Bet the second he laid eyes on your face and body, he was dying to get you into bed, huh?”

My cheeks heated up–I was the one dying for it. Too embarrassed to say that, I just smiled and said, “You’ll get it when you have a boyfriend.”

“Get what?” Melissa blinked.

“Time passes, and even the hottest girl stops turning her man’s head eventually. Don’t pour your whole heart into love,” I said softly.

“I get it. Lately, I’ve been handling several divorce cases. Those wives are all stunners, and yet the guys still strayed. Can you believe that?” Melissa bit the words out.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t pin too much hope on men.”

Melissa must’ve picked up on something, her face etched with concern as she asked, “Jared… has affairs?”

dating Tracy, and hardly anyone knew about it. As his wife, I didn’t want word getting out. Though I no longer cared about him, I had to save my face. “I don’t think so,” I

and yet the living room light was

half–asleep but perked up when she heard

“Honey, let me help you get to bed. Your mom still needs to take a

whined, shoving my mom away. “Grandma, go

into the living room. Yvonne bolted over and latched onto my leg. “Mommy, you’re home

lightly. “Who taught you to

as she stepped back. Then she turned

“Victoria, why did you snap at her the moment

age saying stuff like that? She

She’s too little to know what ‘cheating‘ even means,” Mom said, sounding stern. “Kids have feelings too, you know. Slapping her will just hurt her. Don’t do it

to bed.” I said it like I meant it. But deep down, I knew Yvonne’s upbringing needed a total reset. Better

at the top, holding a sobbing Yvonne. It looked like he’d been waiting

to look up at the father–daughter duo. A faint smile played on my lips, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “What, she’s been spinning stories

bad,” Yvonne whimpered, clinging tight to Jared’s neck. With a pitiful pout, she accused me, “Mom’s trying to kill me, isn’t

little slap could

to talk,” Jared said. Then he set Yvonne down, crouching to comfort her. “Go

snooty glare,

I went straight to our bedroom, sat at the vanity, and started removing my

was wearing a sleek, tight dress. My thick, long hair cascaded down my back–no styling, no fancy updo, just natural loose curls that exuded an effortless charm

had got tired of me. In my previous life, I’d tried so hard to be sweet, but he’d just brush me off, saying he was worn out from work

chair, looking sultry and confident. Glancing back over my shoulder, I caught him