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

Chapter 29

When the steaks arrived, Jared cut Yvonne’s portion into pieces, but she pushed her plate away, too full. With a sigh, he turned and noticed me still sipping my wine. “Would you like me to cut yours?” he offered.

I’m fine.” I understood this was simply his upbringing showing–the reflexive good manners of a man trained from birth in proper etiquette, not actual care.

We ate without conversation, the only sound being Jared’s phone buzzing with another message from Tracy–which he continued to ignore.

We maintained the ritual of family dinners, though ours contained none of the warmth those words suggested.

When dinner ended, Jared stood abruptly. “I have things to handle. Take Yvonne home.”

We both knew where he was going. I answered with a single “Fine,” scooped up Yvonne, and retreated to the car.

“Dad, where are you going? Can I come?” Yvonne asked, her tone suddenly brightening as if she’d guessed who he was meeting. “Please? There’s nothing to do at home.”

course. His evening with Tracy required

time,” Jared declined. “This is grown–up

me with a

the driver to leave immediately, yet an indescribable sorrow welled

did that make me, the actual wife? Everyone claimed the first marriage mattered most, while the others were just temporary. But becoming less

me for a bedtime story. I picked up a book and read until she drifted off to sleep. After tucking

fine–before closing my eyes, I let myself think about Nathan

taken Yvonne to school. After

said she still didn’t feel like going and wanted more time

Wednesdays, dance and violin on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and all–day tutoring on Fridays to prep her for elementary school, complete with Englysian

Yvonne to tutoring sessions, never missing

at me. My relentless demands must have driven her straight to

pushed her to study until she collapsed from exhaustion, while Tracy spoiled her with outings, toys, and pretty dresses. For

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