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?”

hardly anyone knew about it. As his wife, I didn’t want word getting out. Though I no longer cared about him,

yet

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

over to coax her. “Honey, let me help you get

Yvonne whined, shoving my mom away. “Grandma, go upstairs and sleep. Leave me

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

taught you to

clutched her cheek, tears spilling over. “You hit me?” she sniffled, lips trembling as she stepped back. Then she turned and ran upstairs, sobbing

at her the moment you walked

at Mom. “Did you hear her? A kid that age saying stuff like that? She needs a little discipline, and then

means,” Mom said, sounding stern. “Kids have feelings too, you know. Slapping her will just hurt her. Don’t

a total reset. Better she resented me or ignored me

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

at the father–daughter duo. A faint

Jared’s neck. With a pitiful pout, she accused me,

could kill you, then you’re

we need to talk,” Jared said. Then he set Yvonne down, crouching to comfort her. “Go to your room. I’ll

shot me a snooty glare, then stomped into her bedroom and slammed

I went straight to our bedroom, sat at

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

got tired of me. In my previous life, I’d tried so hard to be sweet, but he’d just brush me

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

little kid. Even if she did something wrong, a few words would’ve