bhapter /bbi55 /i/b

Sally thought that since we were richb, /bbI /bshould bfocus /bon the family. But this timeb, /bI wouldn’t bjust /bbsit /bat home bas /ba housewife, no bmatter /bwhat. Money bwas /bokay, but feeling worthless and disrespected hurt.

bI /bstood my ground. “Sally, bI’ve /bmade up my mind. I have to work. Yvonne is older now; bif /bshe’s bored, bI’ll /bhire ba /btutor for her.”

“bNo /bway!b” /bYvonne shot back. “I’m not taking lessons.”

Sally didn’t look pleased with my stubbornness.

Just then, Jared showed up at the door. He was wearing a suit with a white shirt, looking all professional. When he bsaw /bme, he seemed to remember our fightst night, and his face instantly went cold.

“Daddy…b” /bYvonne, like a sweet little bird, flew into his arms. “Why are you here? Don’t you have work?”

Jared scooped her up and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Daddy just wanted to see you.”

Yvonne asked, “Can you take me out for lunch?”

After things went bad between me and Jared, Yvonne stuck to Jared like glue. Luckily, he was always patient and loving with

her.

“Sure, Mom, you twoe with us.” Jared walked to the elevator with Yvonne in his arms.

Sally and I trailed behind, lugging a few bags, and squeezed into the elevator. It was tiny and packed. Sally shoved me back, and I ended up pressed against Jared.

At some point, I stopped seeing Jared as my husband. Being close to him made me uneasy, like he was just someone I knew.

In the basement parking lot, Jared put Yvonne in his car, gave the driver the address, and closed the door.

“I’ll ride with you,” Jared said to me.

Sally had a driver, too. So, all three cars took off together.

Jared sat next to me in the passenger seat. He was quiet for a bit, lost in thought.

I focused on driving and stayed quiet.

“I bwas /bdown yesterday; don’t take it personally,” Jared said, turning to look at me as we stopped at a red light.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, holding back my emotions. In my previous life, his apology would’ve made me cry and bact /ball hurt, hoping he’d notice and care more.

But now, his words didn’t mean a thing. I didn’t want to show weakness in front of him. I just wanted to talk about divorce calmly. “I’m not overthinking it,” I said coolly.

Jared stared at me. He must be shocked that I did not cry or me him.

After all, before I “came back,” I cried at least three times in two months. Each time, I begged for his care and kindness, like a fish out of water without his loveb. /b

“No more divorce talk,” Jared said firmly.

I chuckled softly. “Not talking won’t solve our problems.”

bChapter /bb55 /b

b“/bbWhat /bproblemsb?/bb” /bbJared /basked, his bvoice /bbgetting /bbharsher/bb. /b

bI /bpaused bfor /bba /bfew seconds. “Our life is boringb, /blike in bwater/b. I’m not a bgreat /bmom and don’t have ba /bbreal /bcareer. You’re always baway /bworking for weeks. I’m tired of this cycle.”

bJared /bwent quiet after bthat/bb. /bbBut /bhe didn’t get it. He scoffed, “Life must be too easy for you to think like thatb.” /b

I froze and nced at him. Jared kept going, “Forget your obscure major. Can it get you a decent job after college? Even if you did, what difference would you make?b” /b

I gripped the steering wheel tighter. What bhe /bsaid was kinda true.

Jared scoffed, “Careers aren’t built on dreams and chatterb. /bI’m swamped with work and stressed out. Money doesn’t just appear. You want me to get you? Then learn from other wives and bsee /bmy struggles.

“I’ve always spoiled you with stuff. Big monthly allowance, plenty for your parents every year. What? Marrying meb, /bJared, bwas /bit really that awful?b” /b

His words bwere /blike ba /bbucket of ice water dumped over my head, freezing me to the core.

bAD /b