Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 2

I had been so small–minded in my precious life. Now, I saw things clearer. I didn’t need to prove I was pretty or that I’d always be loved–what a stupid waste of time.

Luckily, I’d got looks to spare. Those looks I got from people made that crystal clear. But beauty was just one thing I’d got going for me.

Last time around, I’d been stuck on all that nonsense–guys fawning over me, girls jealous as hell. But now, that whole mindset felt like a fragile bubble. One tiny touch, and it burst.

Now that I got a second shot at life, I knew being pretty should be just one card in my deck. Power, money, and respect were the real game–changers. Fairness wouldn’t just fall into my lap, and I needed the skills and brains to take on the world.

I already lived through that nightmare of a previous life. From now on, I was keeping it simple: no drama, no tears.

After staring at myself for what felt like forever, I stripped off my casual dress and headed into the bathroom.

In those five years of marriage, I’d been all about being the perfect wife. To keep Jared from worrying, I’d long since packed away or straight–up tossed–all those revealing outfits. Every time I went shopping, I only looked for modest pieces that screamed “good girl.”

My body was still killer–with that classic married woman’s soft, smooth look. Even a simple fitted dress could showcase my killer curves. Why would I waste this perfect figure?

The sky was turning dark, and a sleek SUV rolled up to the gate.

I figured it was Warner, Jared’s driver, dropping off Yvonne. But nope–it was Jared himself. He opened the back door, and Yvonne dragged her backpack into the living room.

Spotting me on the couch, she hurled the backpack at me and yelled, “Mom, why didn’t you pick me up? You promised you’d be on time every day.”

Looking at my little girl–so young, yet so quick to fly off the handle–I knew I’d spoiled her rotten. She stared at me with that demanding look, like a princess ordering around her hardworking maid.

Jared stepped in, scowling. Barely thirty, he already had that CEO vibe. Dressed in a sharp suit, he looked like a total power player straight out of a romance novel.

in my previous life. But now, he was just a

Yvonne shrieked at

and cornered her at the bottom of the

disbelief and fury blazing out

I said, calm

yelled

squeezed her eyes shut, bracing

called, his

1/3

and locked

the backpack, and led the fuming Yvonne

kitchen. “What’s going on? Is that Yvonne

walked over to her. “Yeah, I was just disciplining her. She was acting

looked disapproving. “She’s

why she needs to learn who’s in charge,” I said. My voice came out cold as ice. Mom gave me a few

my voice to her. When she threw a tantrum, I’d spend

being patient. Coddling an ungrateful kid was just a waste of my time. After all, she’d end up fawning over her stepmom instead

no live–in maid in the house; I’d always handled the cooking myself. Only a cleaning crew swept through every three

to be a perfect wife–keep the house running like a well–oiled machine, so Jared’d see how hard I was trying,

agency tomorrow,” I

gave me a puzzled look. “Why? Gonna replace the

full–time maids for our place,”

much work. Cooking, laundry, picking

cleaning floors.” I laughed, but my tone was serious. “Families like ours typically have three or four full–time housekeepers. Why should