Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 22

In our six years of marriage, we’d only dined out for family holidays. Most nights we ate at home, though often interrupted by his endless phone calls. I’d cooked elaborate meals that went untouched.

Now that we had private servants preparing perfectly balanced dinners every night, he suddenly wanted to take me out.

I’d endured years of loneliness, disappointment, and the quiet heartbreak of constant rejection. Now it was his turn to taste that bitterness.

“Can’t. My plate’s full. Ask someone else.” I kept my eyes on my work, feigning concentration.

Jared went completely still. The polite smile froze on his face. He’d anticipated delight, not this offhand rejection.

“The work will still be there after dinner,” he said, with uncharacteristic patience.

“I’m not hungry.” I glanced up with a bland smile. “Had dessert earlier.”

Some of the tension left his posture when he realized this was about schedules, not rejection.

“I’ll head back for Yvonne then. Don’t work too late.” With that, he left without another word, and I returned to my files,

Jared said he needed to call a board meeting to decide on the appointment, but I knew it was just a formality.

He ruled the company with absolute authority. His competence left no room for challenges.

Our personal relationship blurred professional lines, but I believed that Jared could silence critics effortlessly.

It was 11 p.m. when I got home, arms full of documents. Jared had already tucked Yvonne in and was lounging on the sofa in his pajamas, sipping coffee.

his coffee cup aside and crossing his long legs. His piercing eyes fixed on me as he said, “You’re back

some things,” I said flatly. I kicked

a beat before slowly following

reached the bedroom, I grabbed my pajamas and ducked into the

time–thirty minutes–and when I finally stepped out, he was propped against the headboard with a

it stung. There’d been nights I’d waited for him, aching for this very moment. But when he finally lay beside me and I

mirror looked different now

the bed, impatience creeping into his voice. I’d taken longer than usual, and he

about sex. Was he going

Men always noticed those

1/3

wait. The moment I settled in, he threw

toward me under the

against the curve of my

caught his wrist. “Too tired

three months,” he said, his voice

muttered, not wanting to get into

want this?” He knew me inside out–my body and my desires. Normally, I’d be crawling out of my

didn’t want him at all anymore. Jared used to be the one losing interest, but now it

heavier. In the past, one word of refusal would have made him pull away

me. Angry as he clearly was, none of his usual gentlemanly

someone else satisfy you?” Jared’s voice was suddenly at my ear, his teeth grazing my earlobe. “Who

and self–assured, was actually reduced to this kind of