Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 5

I knew Yvonne was faking her stomachache to manipulate Jared and me. She was young, but already such a schemer, and had totally played me for a fool in my previous life.

I texted Jared back: [Take her to the hospital yourself.] Then I tossed my phone aside and turned back to the movie’s ending.

Jared didn’t bug me after that. When the credits rolled, a couple of guys pushed their way towards me. One bumped into me, and his face went bright red.

Melissa was about to give them an earful, but I squeezed her hand gently and said, “It’s fine.”

The guy stammered an apology, smacked his friend, and they hightailed it out of there.

Melissa grinned and nudged me. “Guess pretty girls make guys go brain–dead. Victoria, Jared’s seriously lucky. Bet the second he laid eyes on your face and body, he was dying to get you into bed, huh?”

My cheeks heated up–I was the one dying for it. Too embarrassed to say that, I just smiled and said, “You’ll get it when you have a boyfriend.”

“Get what?” Melissa blinked.

“Time passes, and even the hottest girl stops turning her man’s head eventually. Don’t pour your whole heart into love,” I said softly.

“I get it. Lately, I’ve been handling several divorce cases. Those wives are all stunners, and yet the guys still strayed. Can you believe that?” Melissa bit the words out.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t pin too much hope on men.”

Melissa must’ve picked up on something, her face etched with concern as she asked, “Jared… has affairs?”

wife, I didn’t want word getting out. Though I no longer cared about him, I had to save my face. “I don’t think

back home late, and yet the living room light

her back. Yvonne was half–asleep but perked up when she heard the

you get to bed. Your mom still needs to take a

Mommy,” Yvonne whined, shoving my mom

Yvonne bolted over and

smacked her lightly. “Who taught you

her cheek, tears spilling over. “You hit me?” she sniffled, lips trembling as she stepped back. Then

why did you snap at her the moment you walked

hear her? A kid that age saying stuff like that? She needs a little

probably picked it up from the TV. She’s too little to know what ‘cheating‘ even means,” Mom said, sounding stern.

Mom. It’s late–go to bed.” I said it like I meant it. But deep down, I knew Yvonne’s upbringing needed a total reset. Better she resented me or ignored me now than for me to pour out all

stairs. Jared was at the top, holding a sobbing Yvonne.

head to look up at the father–daughter duo. A faint

clinging tight to Jared’s neck. With

slap could

Yvonne down, crouching to comfort her. “Go to your room. I’ll be there in a minute to read you

coddling her, Yvonne shot me a snooty glare, then

Jared to his study. Instead, I went straight to our bedroom, sat at the vanity, and started removing my

back–no styling, no fancy updo, just

sweet,

on the white chair, looking sultry and confident. Glancing back over my shoulder, I caught him staring off into space. “What

something wrong, a few words would’ve