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?”

started dating Tracy, and hardly anyone knew about it. As his 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

and yet

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

“Honey, let me help you get

whined, shoving my mom away. “Grandma, go upstairs

bolted over and

taught you to say that

hit me?” she sniffled, lips trembling as she stepped back. Then she turned and ran upstairs, sobbing like her heart

the stairs. “Victoria, why did you snap at her the

age saying stuff like that? She needs a little discipline, and then

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

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 my love, only to get betrayal and hatred in

was at the top, holding a sobbing Yvonne.

stopped in my tracks, tilting my head to look up at the father–daughter duo. A faint smile played on my lips, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “What, she’s been spinning

whimpered, clinging tight to Jared’s neck. With a

climbing. “If a little slap could

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

shot me a snooty glare, then stomped

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

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

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

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

if she did something wrong, a few words would’ve been enough. You don’t hit a child