bChapter /bb72 /b

Those two bdays /bbwere /bbthe /bweekend. bBesides /bbsupervising /bbthe /bbsite /bbat /bHarmonia Hotel, I went out for dinner with Melissab. /bThen bSally /bbcalled /bband /bbasked /bthe three bof /bus to eat together.

That afternoon, Yvonne bstayed /bat Sally’s. When bshe /bwas dropped off at night, she carried a big bag of toys, including some bcute /bbsilver /bjewelry. As soon bas /bYvonne got home, she grabbed bscissors /band sat in her room stringing beads.

I knew she bwas /bmaking a gift for Tracy. She was focused on it. When I brought her some fruit, Yvonne seemed a little guilty

and hid it at first.

Unexpectedly, the beads bshe was /bstringing spilled all over the floor halfway through. She shouted in frustration, b“/bbIt’s /byour fault, Mom, you’re distracting me from making my braceletb!/b”

Then she knelt and crawled around picking up beads one by one. I sat nearby, popped a cherry tomato in my mouth, and asked, “Who’s this for? You’re working so hard.”

“None of your businessb,/bb” /bYvonne replied, not telling the truth, and quickly told me, “Mom, please go away. Don’t bother me.”

I had no choice but to bleave /bher room. Inside, it felt like someone stabbed me in the heart. I didn’t understand why Yvonne liked Tracy bso /bmuch, but resented me as her mother.

‘I must have messed up somewhere. Or maybe that’s just how people are–loving the distant but resenting the closeb,/bb‘ /bI thought.

Tracy ttered her easily, and Yvonne was happy. I cared for her day and night and managed her life, but I became the person she hated.

Late at night, Iy in bed when my period suddenly started. I went to the bathroom to handle it. When I came out, Jared bwas /bsitting on the other side of the bed.

I froze. Then I remembered we had been giving each other the cold shoulder for three days. But I hadn’t gone to apologize to him yet tonight.

Since tomorrow night was going to be Tracy’s birthday, I figured that Jared had probably prepared a gift for her.

I turned on my side and saw Jared toss his phone down hard beside him. The next second, hey down too. “I’m on my period.” I knew what he was waiting for, so I crushed his hopes right away.

Not long after, Jared got up and closed my bedroom door. Since we couldn’t have sex, he left. So he came to my room just

for that.

The next morning, I noticed Wendy had made some desserts for breakfast. “Mrs. Hob, Mr. Hob asked me to make these for you. Here’s chocte pie and rice pudding.”

“Thank you, Wendy,” I said gratefully.

Wendy smiled and said, “Mr. Hob really cares about you.”

I didn’t take bthat /bseriously. If just asking a maid to cook meant caring, that was pretty cheap care. “Mr. Hob already took Yvonne to bss/b,” Wendy added.

I nodded. It was Monday. After breakfast, bI /bhad to head to work. At the office, Tracy said she wanted to treat us to lunch. She beven /basked if I bwas /bfree bbecause /bit was her birthday and she wanted to gather the higher–ups.

She didn’t bhave /benough bstatus /bbyet /bto bring me along, so I didn’t go. Not only did I skip it, but I went to thepany cafeteria

and basked /bthe bkitchen /bbto prepare /ba bspecial /bmeal for me, my favorite salmon and beef steak.

bI /bbsat /baloneb, /benjoying my meal, when the door suddenly opened. Jared appeared in front of me. I froze and thought, ‘Why is

he bhere/bb?/bb‘ /b

Jared asked bthe /bkitchen for a knife and fork and sat down. bHe /bopenly started eating my lunch. “bTracy /bsaid it’s her birthday and invited a lot of people. Why didn’t you go?b” /bbI /basked casually.

“I promised her a dinner tonight, so I didn’t go for lunch,” Jared said inly.

“Oh.” I thought there bwas /bno point in asking more. I didn’t think I was more important than Tracy.

“Youe with me tonight,” Jared suddenly said.

A cold feeling spread through me. Jared definitely spoiled Tracy. She was having a birthday, and he brought me, his wife, to show everyone that his wife and his mistress got along perfectly. He was even attending her birthday personally.

“I already have ns with friends tonight, so I won’t go,” I said coldly.

“Thatwyer again?” Jared seemed annoyed with Melissa. “What’s the point of you two women eating together all the time?”

“She’s Melissa, a longtime friend,” I answered seriously.

Jared nced at me and smirked. “I know her name. I just want to warn you not to get too close. Be careful. Don’t let her use you.”

Hearing ithat/i, I mmed my fork down on the table. “Jared, can you be reasonable? First, I’m a person. Second, I’m your wife.

“People are social creatures. I have my friends. So what? Don’t you have your group of guy friends? Have I ever interfered with your private life?”

Jared looked at me oddly. Then he said casually, “Friends of the same sex are fine. But opposite sex friends? No.”

“Why not?” I had ito /istand up for myself.

Jared looked me up and down and said bluntly, “Honestly, any guy trying to get close to you just wants to sleep with you.”

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