Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 20

“Fine,” I replied, closing my eyes to signal the discussion was over.

Like sand, men escaped when held too tightly. Push them too hard, and they’d only push back harder. It wasn’t worth the fight.

Play by their rules, and their better nature might show itself. That was when a smart woman could claim her advantage.

I knew Jared from before–knew the only way to get anything from him was to play vulnerable. Let him pity me, and I might just get what I wanted.

The hours at the hospital passed quickly. Before we knew it, evening had arrived. Yvonne’s cut turned out to be shallow, so after changing the dressing, the doctor cleared us to leave.

Our usually dramatic daughter actually grew more cautious after the scare.

Yvonne’s injury kept her home from school the next day. Though she pleaded for company, I prioritized the hotel negotiations at Jared’s company, confident the servants would care for her properly.

I didn’t offer to cancel my

longer fake motherly affection, and Jared’s silent stares made

in me.

powder–blue dress hugged my curves as

door. “You’re really

earrings. “Six is plenty old

me. “There was a time when you’d drop everything the moment Yvonne cried. A single cough would

anymore. Six–year–olds don’t need constant coddling. I walked myself to school at that age.”

caught between babyhood and childhood—still clinging to me one moment, yet quick to take her future stepmother’s side

disappeared downstairs to comfort Yvonne. The tantrum

quiet satisfaction. He’d

hundreds of

from the couch, her injured leg carefully positioned. “You’re all dressed up to leave me when

said, smoothing my dress. “I need to work so we can