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

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

George took a sip of coffee. “Ms. Murphy has had a child and reached a certain age. Maturity was inevitable,” he said.

I glanced at George. He wasn’t wrong, but it was interesting he’d addressed me as “Ms. Murphy” rather than the casual “Victoria.”

Jared let out a tired sigh. “She was so easy when she was little. Now she’s a teenager who talks back constantly, and I don’t know how to deal with her anymore.”

Sandra smiled knowingly. “No one understands parenting like Victoria. She put her whole life on hold for six years to raise Yvonne–that kind of devotion shows.”

I smiled bitterly to myself. Morality wasn’t taught–it was something people were born with or without, plain as that.

Lunch was served amid pleasant conversation. Jared made a show of putting food on my plate–those carefully calculated husband gestures he’d mastered.

Sandra watched with undisguised envy while Wendell shoveled food into his mouth, completely oblivious.

Without Tracy, without Jared’s betrayal, I might have called this a happy marriage. But that illusion had shattered long ago.

After lunch, true to his word, Jared transferred the money. When he asked if I was going to the office that afternoon, I declined, saying I needed to visit the Harmonia Hotel site instead.

He arranged for his driver to take me while he left with George.

After six years of marriage, we’d settled into a comfortable routine–all the passion spent, our conversations as predictable as the tide.

Was this what happened to all marriages eventually? Or was ours uniquely empty?

*****

its aging facilities showed their years. While its reputation kept occupancy decent, the declining numbers spelled an

had fallen by the time I finished my inspection. I left with photographs and blueprints

new pony, though I’d resolved to send her back

dinner in his usual suit, shrugging off his jacket as

documents spread across my lap until I felt his

rush to greet him, taking his coat to hang up while asking about dinner and even offering

I didn’t even shift on the couch. Jared waited a beat

from the stairs. Then her voice turned sulky. “Mom won’t play with me. Is she really going back to work? But you promised she’d stay home with

When had Jared

if she wants to,” Jared murmured. “You’re

1/3

to do”

home. I’m still little, and taking care of me is her

couldn’t even fake a smile when I

while I gave her my whole heart, all she wanted was to keep me prisoner in our home. Yvonne’s version of love was

clear parenting failure. “Your mother and I won’t always

Yvonne completely disregarded my words but perked up at her father’s voice, putting on that childish pout she

is over. You’re going to school tomorrow,” Jared declared before

documents in my hands, she grabbed them with

my hand connecting

doing?” Yvonne screamed. “You’re not my mom. Get

was getting worse by the day, and it stunned me. Jared and I were both calm

it clicked. Jared’s sister–my sister–in–law–had the same explosive temper. Maybe it was in

for thirty minutes,” I said coldly, pointing to

a split second before crossing her arms

for you.” I knew I had to