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?”

As his wife, I didn’t want word getting out. Though I no longer cared about him, I had

yet the living room light was

living room with Yvonne on her back. Yvonne was half–asleep but perked up when

coax her. “Honey, let me help you get

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

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

smacked her lightly. “Who taught you

hit me?” she sniffled, lips trembling as she stepped back. Then she turned and ran

me and the stairs. “Victoria, why did you snap at her the moment you

age saying stuff like that? She needs a little discipline, and then she’ll

means,” Mom said, sounding

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 to get betrayal and hatred in

holding a sobbing Yvonne. It

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

my cheek hurts so bad,” Yvonne whimpered, clinging tight to Jared’s neck. With a pitiful pout, she accused

“If a little slap could

Then he set Yvonne down, crouching to comfort her. “Go

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

straight to our bedroom, sat at the vanity,

wearing a sleek, tight dress. My thick, long hair cascaded down my back–no styling, no fancy updo, just natural

sweet, but he’d just brush me off, saying he

shoulder, I caught him staring off into space. “What did you want