Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 1

It was late 2044, and I was in my fifties, counting down my final moments.

Breast cancer had ravaged my body. My husband, Jared Holcomb, was desperately trying to save me, rushing to find the best doctors. But I was done fighting. I’d stopped eating for three days, not even taking a sip of water.

We’d been married for thirty years, but I couldn’t stand the thought of laying eyes on him one last time.

In the hospice room, I lay dying, my eyes tightly closed. Suddenly, familiar footsteps grew louder–Jared and our daughter, Yvonne, were approaching my bedside.

The doctor’s voice was heavy. “She’s stopped eating. You don’t have much time left.”

A thick silence filled the room. My remaining consciousness was fading, bit by bit.

Then I heard Yvonne whisper, her voice deliberately low, “Mom’s about to pass. When are you going to marry Tracy?”

Jared paused before responding, “We’ll see. Let’s get the funeral over with first.”

Yvonne sighed, “Mom wasted her entire life. I never understood what she was holding onto. She should’ve divorced years ago. All that stress just ate her alive.”

My heart felt like it was drowning in bitterness. The reason I’d stayed married was so simple–I wanted Yvonne to grow up in an intact family. I didn’t want her to deal with in–law drama when she got married someday.

Now, my stubborn persistence felt like one pathetic, cruel joke. Whatever, I was about to leave this world that had torn my heart to shreds. Finally, I’d be free.

“Quiet as she seems, she’s always been stubborn,” Jared muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. “It destroyed everything, including herself.”

What a sharp way to sum up my life.

“Tracy’s had it tough, hanging around without any real status. Finally, she’s gonna get what she deserves,” Yvonne said, sounding relieved.

time. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her,” Jared replied, his

only

bell, like it was ringing far off in the distance. Exhaustion crashed

blinding light sliced through the dark. Dazed, I forced my eyes

scolding voice drifted in. “Victoria, still sleeping? Yvonne’s

my mom–who’d been gone for years–gathering up the curtains.

tapping my arm. “Were you up late reading romance novels again? I’ve told

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Chapter

was. I grabbed her hand, felt its warmth, and clung to it like it was my lifeline.

back slightly and touching my forehead. “Sweetie, did you have some crazy dream? You said you were bored and asked me to come stay for a few days. I took the car

like a key turning in a lock. Just after Memorial Day in 2014, Mom had taken some time off, and I’d had the driver bring her

my thought. “Go get Yvonne. Jared’s on his way home for supper, and I need to fire up that salmon before he walks in.”

we got married. It was 2014,

son, he’d been running the company pretty well–everyone always said

I time–traveled? Did fate take pity on me, seeing how I’d wasted my first life? Was this

guys were playing tennis on the community court, that easy, carefree vibe of being young just

while, I let out a laugh. It seemed all those

worked.

deep breath and checked the time—3:40 PM. Normally, as a stay–at–home mom, I’d

kid, but picking her up wasn’t just

answered, “What’s up? You on

onto the couch, feigning a weak tone. “Ugh, my stomach’s been acting up. Can you

a meeting. Can your

raw fish,” I said