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?”

word getting out. Though I no longer cared about him, I had to save my face. “I don’t

got back home late, and yet the living room

half–asleep but perked up when she heard the car. She slid off Mom’s back

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

I want Mommy,” Yvonne whined, shoving my mom away. “Grandma, go upstairs and sleep.

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

“Who taught you to say

as she stepped back.

you snap at her the moment you walked

her? A kid that age saying stuff like

She’s too little to know what ‘cheating‘ even means,” Mom said, sounding stern. “Kids have feelings

it, Mom. It’s late–go to bed.” I said it like I meant it. But deep down, I knew Yvonne’s upbringing needed a total reset. Better she resented me or ignored me now than for me to pour out all my love, only

climbed the stairs. Jared was at the top, holding a sobbing Yvonne. It looked like he’d

look up at the father–daughter duo. A faint smile played on

bad,” Yvonne whimpered, clinging tight to Jared’s neck. With a pitiful

slap could kill you, then you’re just wasting

set Yvonne down, crouching to comfort her. “Go to your room. I’ll be there in a minute to

glare, then stomped into her bedroom and slammed

follow Jared to his study. Instead, I went straight to our bedroom, sat at the vanity, and started removing

my back–no styling, no fancy updo, just natural loose curls that exuded an effortless charm and

me. In my previous life, I’d tried so hard to be sweet, but he’d

shoulder, I caught him staring