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?”

his wife, I didn’t want word getting out. Though I no longer

and yet the living room light was still

perked up when

let me help you get to bed. Your

Grandma; I want Mommy,” Yvonne whined, shoving my mom away. “Grandma,

the car and walked into the living room. Yvonne bolted over and latched onto my leg. “Mommy, you’re home so

her lightly. “Who taught

hit me?” she sniffled, lips trembling as she stepped back. Then

stairs. “Victoria, why did you snap at her the moment you walked in? She was waiting for you. Go easy

saying stuff like that? She needs a little

Mom said,

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 my love, only to get

the top, holding a sobbing Yvonne.

to look up at the father–daughter duo. A faint smile played on my lips, but it

With a pitiful pout, she accused me, “Mom’s trying to kill me, isn’t

little slap could kill you, then

comfort her. “Go to your room. I’ll be there in a minute to

glare, then stomped into her bedroom and slammed the

straight to our bedroom,

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

to be sweet, but he’d just brush me off, saying he was worn out from work and

shoulder, I caught him staring off into space. “What did you want to

hit Yvonne today? She’s just a little kid. Even if she did something wrong, a few words would’ve been enough. You don’t hit a child in the face–she has