bChapter /b110

I knew right baway /bYvonne must’ve called Sally and spilled everything. And I’d bet anything she bwas /bstanding outside the door, eavesdropping.

Yvonne knew I always acted all respectful around Sally, bso /bbif /bshe got someone like her toe scold me, I’d have bno /bchoice but to behave.

“Sally, spoiling a child is as bad as harming them. bIf /bbshe’s /balready pulling disappearing acts now, what do you think she’ll do when she’s older?

“Run away from home? bGet /bpregnant out of wedlock? Aren’t you even a little worried about that?” bI /bargued, keeping my tone calm but firm.

Sally looked momentarily stunned, as if the thought had just urred to her. Her voice softened a bit. “Even bif /byou want to discipline her, you still need to be more gentle. After all, she’s a girl.”

“Sally, every time I try to teach her a lesson, she goes running to you toin about me. How am I supposed to discipline her like this?” bI /bturned to look at her, bitterness in my voice. “Sometimes, I really just feel powerlessb./bb” /b

Sally was stunned, maybe because it was the first time I actually let my exhaustion show.

“Alright, you two should talk this over ande up with a solution. I’ll take Yvonne to school for now.” Sally let out a sigh. “Jared said he wants to hire a full–time nanny for her.

“Leave it to me. I’ll make sure to find someone Yvonne actually likes.”

I just replied, “Thanks for taking care of it, Sally.”

Sally headed downstairs, and I followed her. Quinn was sitting on the couch, goofing around with Yvonne.

Yvonne wasughing and having a great time, but the moment she saw meing down the stairs, she immediately pouted and turned her face away.

Seeing this, Quinn put her hands on her hips and said to me, “Victoria, what did you do to scare Yvonne like that? You’re so fierce.b” /b

“Quinn, don’t talk to Victoria like that,” Jared said, his tone gentle but firm. “You guys should head out now.”

Quinn quickly grabbed Yvonne’s backpack, and Sally took her hand, swinging it gently. “Say goodbye to your parents.“”

Yvonne immediately called out loudly, “Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom.”

That kid really knew how to act in front of the elders.

I bsat /bbat /bthe dining table, taking my time with breakfast. Jared had already finished eating and was sitting on the couch, talking on the phone.

I could just barely catch a few words. It sounded like he was telling someone to take care of something for him.

Maybe bI /bgot hooked on eavesdropping in my previous life, but every time Jared got a call, my ears would automatically perk up, and I’d start suspecting it was Tracy on the other end.

And right now, I was doing it again. ‘If he’s got nothing to hide, then why does he always have to take his calls somewhere belse/bb?/bb‘ /bbI /bcouldn’t help but think.

Jared walked in and asked, “bSo/bb, /bbare /byou going bto /bthe boffice /bor the bhotel /bbtoday/b?”

bI /bbanswered/b, “The hotel. They’re dropping boff /bsome materialsb, /band I want to bsee /bfor myself.”

Jared hesitated for ba /bsecond, then said, “You don’t have to handle everything bon /byour own. You bcan /bput the people bI /bassign to you straight to work.b” /b

I nodded. “bYeah/b, iI /iknow they’re good, but I just want to pick up more experience.”

Jared didn’t bsay /banother word. He just turned and left the house. Soon, I heard his car drive off down the road.

After finishing breakfastb, /bI headed straight to the hotel. What I didn’t expect was that thepany handling the delivery this time bwas /brun by Tracy’s cousin.

I’d met him in my previous life. He looked like a btotal /bgentleman on the outside, but all the stuff he did was downright shamelessb. /b

In his own words, he bwas /bnot into young girls. Married women were his real weakness.

Right then, he jumped out of his Porsche. The moment he spotted me, his eyes practically lit up. He hurried overb, /bstuck out his hand, and grinned, “Mrs. Hob, it’s a real pleasure to serve you.

“Don’t worry. Everything I’ve brought is the real deal. Or, if you want, you can check it out yourself–see if it meets your standardsb?/bb” /b

I could hear all the innuendo in his words, but I just replied tly, “No need. If anything’s wrong, I’ll just sue.”

“My name is Owen Maxwell. Oh, by the way, my cousin is Tracy, the VP at yourpany. You must’ve met her, right?” His eyes were practically glued to me, roaming up and down like he couldn’t tear himself away.

His look made my skin crawl, and honestly, I was even more pissed at Jared. ‘Seriously? Bringing in Tracy’s cousin for this job? Is he just trying to get under my skin on purpose?‘ I wondered.

b2/2 /b