Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 17

I never called myself the prettiest girl on campus, but I was nominated for it once in college. Later, I lost to another girl from a wealthier family–not that I cared, though it gave the gossip mill plenty to churn over.

“The runner–up belle,” I said with a self–deprecating smile.

The man hosting us was Lloyd Johnson, dressed in a tailored suit that screamed corporate success.

People crowded around him, laying on the praise. He wore the smug look of a man who’d made it, though his gaze kept flickering to me.

Truth was, only Melissa knew I’d married Jared. The rest just assumed I had a rich husband and left it at that.

“Victoria!” A voice cut through the chatter. I turned to see the class loudmouth–a guy who’d once tried to date me.

I used to skip these reunions back then. It wasn’t hard to feel insecure when everyone else had successful careers while I stayed home. My bank account might have been full, but not my sense of self–worth.

nearby, just as a group of

and lean, probably over six feet–in a tailored navy suit and gold–framed glasses. When he heard that guy call out my name, he

lights above the door cast a glow over

“Hello, Mr. Hallman, I’m Lloyd Johnson from Luminovate Tech–we met several weeks ago.” He scrambled to pull out a business card and offered it with

Hallman” nodded and

without warning, his gaze flicked toward me

could help it–amid a crowd

practically tripped over himself to close the

crush on Lloyd vanished the moment she saw him turn into

for male bravado while we

a stay–at–home mom,” I answered when asked

Jared called halfway through dinner, I let my phone