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?

*****

prime location, though its aging facilities showed their years.

I finished my inspection. I left with

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

usual suit, shrugging off his jacket as he

spread across my lap until I felt

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

on the couch. Jared waited a beat before taking his

called from the stairs. Then her voice turned sulky. “Mom won’t play with

words. When had Jared ever made

she wants to,” Jared murmured. “You’re a big girl

1/3

to do”

steps. “I want Mom home. I’m

a smile when I heard

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

Jared said sternly, realizing how self–absorbed his daughter had become–a clear parenting failure. “Your mother and I won’t always be around. You

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

You’re going to

she saw the documents in my hands, she grabbed

struck out, my hand

Yvonne screamed. “You’re not my mom. Get

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

sister–in–law–had the same explosive

minutes,” I said

hesitated for a split second before crossing her

no dinner for you.” I knew I had to