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?”

I didn’t want word getting out. Though

home late, and yet the living room

pacing around the living room with Yvonne on her back. Yvonne was half–asleep but perked up when she heard the car. She slid off Mom’s back and darted to the

you get to bed. Your mom

shoving my mom away. “Grandma, go upstairs

room. Yvonne bolted over and latched onto my leg. “Mommy, you’re home

taught

me?” she sniffled, lips trembling as she stepped back. Then she turned and ran upstairs,

glancing between me and the stairs. “Victoria, why did you snap at

that age saying stuff like that?

it up from the TV. She’s too little to know what ‘cheating‘ even means,” Mom said, sounding stern. “Kids have feelings too, you know. Slapping her will just hurt

I knew Yvonne’s upbringing needed a total reset. Better she resented me

the stairs. Jared was at the top, holding a sobbing Yvonne. It looked like he’d been waiting

the father–daughter duo. A faint smile

so bad,” Yvonne whimpered, clinging tight to Jared’s neck. With a

little slap could kill

to talk,” Jared said. Then he set Yvonne down, crouching to comfort her. “Go to your room. I’ll be there in a minute to read you a bedtime

Yvonne shot me a snooty glare, then stomped into

didn’t follow Jared to his study. Instead, I went straight to our bedroom, sat at the vanity, and started removing my

hair cascaded down my back–no styling, no fancy updo, just natural loose curls that exuded

to be sweet, but he’d just brush

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

if she did something wrong, a few words would’ve