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?”

wife, I didn’t want word getting out. Though I no longer cared about him, I had to save my

and yet the living

room with Yvonne on her back. Yvonne was half–asleep but perked up when she heard the car.

coax her. “Honey, let me help you get to bed. Your mom still needs to

Mommy,” Yvonne whined, shoving my mom away. “Grandma,

room. Yvonne bolted over and latched onto

lightly. “Who taught you

me?” she sniffled, lips trembling as

between me and the stairs. “Victoria, why did you snap at her the moment you walked in? She was waiting for you. Go

A kid that age saying stuff like that? She needs a little discipline,

up from the TV. 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

knew Yvonne’s upbringing needed a total reset. Better she resented me

Jared was at the top, holding a

faint smile played on my lips, but it

tight to Jared’s neck. With

climbing. “If a little slap could kill you, then you’re

to talk,” Jared said. Then he set Yvonne down, crouching to comfort her. “Go to your room. I’ll be there

Yvonne shot me a snooty glare, then stomped into her bedroom and slammed

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

down my back–no styling, no fancy updo,

my previous life, I’d tried so hard to be sweet, but he’d just brush

the white chair, looking sultry and confident. Glancing back over my shoulder, I