Chapter 20

“Fine,” I replied, closing my eyes to signal the discussion was over.

Like sand, men escaped when held too tightly. Push them too hard, and they’d only push back harder. It wasn’t worth the fight.

Play by their rules, and their better nature might show itself. That was when a smart woman could claim her advantage.

I knew Jared from before–knew the only way to get anything from him was to play vulnerable. Let him pity me, and I might just get what I wanted.

The hours at the hospital passed quickly. Before we knew it, evening had arrived. Yvonne’s cut turned out to be shallow, so after changing the dressing, the doctor cleared us to leave.

Our usually dramatic daughter actually grew more cautious after the scare.

Yvonne’s injury kept her home from school the next day. Though she pleaded for company, I prioritized the hotel negotiations at Jared’s company, confident the servants would care for her properly.

didn’t offer to cancel my

fake motherly affection, and Jared’s silent stares made

in me.

curves as

door. “You’re really going

“Six is

Jared said, his gaze sweeping over me. “There was a time when you’d drop everything

a baby anymore. Six–year–olds don’t need constant coddling. I walked myself to school at that age.”

between babyhood and childhood—still clinging to me one moment, yet quick to take her future stepmother’s side

downstairs to comfort Yvonne. The tantrum ended with his promises of a pony for the

indulgence with quiet satisfaction.

previous life, he’d handed his entire company to Yvonne. She burned through hundreds of millions in a single year, a testament to her

love me anymore, Mom?” Yvonne sniffled from the couch, her injured leg carefully positioned. “You’re all dressed up to leave me when

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