<b>Chapter </b><b>10 </b>
Yvonne’s <b>eyes </b><b>went </b>wide<b>. </b>“Mom, you look <b>so </b>pretty today. Why didn’t you <b>wear </b>stuff like this <b>before</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“From now on, <b>I </b><b>will</b>,” I said, grabbing my bag and taking her downstairs.
<b>Jared </b>was by the door on a <b>call</b>, his <b>face </b><b>as </b>calm <b>as </b>ever. While talking, he nced up <b>at </b><b>me </b>on the <b>stairs</b>–his <b>gaze </b>paused <b>for </b>a moment, <b>as </b><b>if </b>caught off guard.
Wendy hadid out a big breakfast, and now she was helping feed Yvonne.
<b>I </b>sat at the table and ate slowly, lost in thought. In my previous life, I’d wake up at 6:30 and spend an hour cooking breakfast. After wolfing down my meal, I’d drop Yvonne off at school wearingfy, worn–out clothes.
I thought I’d touched everyone’s hearts–turns out, I’d only impressed myself. We were loaded, and hiring two helpers <b>was </b>pocket change. But back then, I just couldn’t stop giving.
Jared finished his call, walked over, and sat next to me. “There’s an executive lunch at noon. Wannae?”
I shook my head right away. “I’ve got ns.”
Jared turned to me, his eyes sharp. “What ns? Eat with someone again?”
“Nah, I’ve got a lesson with a teacher,” I said tly.
“What lesson?” Jared sounded taken aback.
Yvonne slurped her gruel, piping up, “Mom, didn’t you always bug Dad to let you visit his office? This <b>is </b>your chance, so why not go?”
Her words hit me hard–why was I being so stubborn? Jared rarely ever invited me to work events. And avoiding Tracy wasn’t like me at all. I switched gears. “Okay. Where’s the lunch? I’ll make it.”
Jared frowned. “You just said you had a lesson. You didn’t even check with me first.”
I let out a smallugh. “I never checked with you about anything, remember?”
Jared looked anything but pleased, as if he thought I was being an irrational, dramatic wife.
I said, “The house’s fine with the servants. I want to take dancing and violin again. I hired an Englysian tutor, too. And soon I’m getting a job.”
“Why work?” Jared clearly had a problem with it. “We don’t need you to bring in extra cash.”
“I don’t want to be azy housewife anymore.” I held his gaze, firm. “I want my own career. I hope you’ll support that.”
<b>Jared </b>tossed his fork onto the table and stood up. “No way.”
My <b>face </b>stiffened; I didn’t say a word, but the look said it all.
Jared continued, “Your job is taking care of the house and Yvonne. If you need cash, just ask.”
He pulled a card out of his pocket and dropped it on the table. “Spare card. <b>Use </b><b>it</b>.”
<b>I </b>stared at the card, <b>a </b><b>small </b><bugh </b>slipping out. No doubt my defiance had gotten under his skin.
He’d told his friends I <b>was </b>low–maintenance and family–focused–the kind of wife who’d <b>stay </b>home withoutining,
but could <b>also </b>shine when <b>we </b>went out.
To him, being his full–time wife was my job, and I was supposed to nail that role without ever wanting more. What I said was threatening his little kingdom. And he wasn’t about to let that happen.
Yvonne jumped right in<b>, </b>taking his side. “Mom, Dad’s super busy with work. Why stress him out? Your job <b>is </b>just <b>to </b>take care of me. Dad makes more than enough money.”
After a brief pause, she yelled angrily, “You’re being selfish with this job stuff. You’ve been ignoring me. I was gone two days, and you didn’t even call to check on me. You’re not a good mom.”
<b>I </b>mmed the bowl in my hand onto the floor. The crash echoed–silencing the room for a long, tense second.
Wendy and Joyce were also startled. They quickly rushed over to clean up the mess.
I turned to Jared, my eyes sharp. “I said I don’t want to be stuck at home as a housewife. I want a job. If you’re not okay with that, we’re getting a divorce.”
In my first life, Jared had threatened divorce a hundred times, but I’d clung to him for Yvonne’s sake, begging him to stay. Now, the word rolled off my tongue like it was nothing. Finally, I was in control.
“Say that again?” Jared’s eyes locked onto mine–calm on the surface, but I could see the storm brewing.