bChapter /bb10 /b

Yvonne’s beyes /bbwent /bwideb. /b“Mom, you look bso /bpretty today. Why didn’t you bwear /bstuff like this bbefore/bb?/bb” /b

“From now on, bI /bbwill/b,” I said, grabbing my bag and taking her downstairs.

bJared /bwas by the door on a bcall/b, his bface /bbas /bcalm bas /bever. While talking, he nced up bat /bbme /bon the bstairs/b–his bgaze /bpaused bfor /ba moment, bas /bbif /bcaught off guard.

Wendy hadid out a big breakfast, and now she was helping feed Yvonne.

bI /bsat 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 bwas /bpocket 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 bis /byour 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.”

bJared /btossed his fork onto the table and stood up. “No way.”

My bface /bstiffened; 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. bUse /bbit/b.”

bI /bstared at the card, ba /bbsmall /bbugh /bslipping out. No doubt my defiance had gotten under his skin.

He’d told his friends I bwas /blow–maintenance and family–focused–the kind of wife who’d bstay /bhome withoutining,

but could balso /bshine when bwe /bwent 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 inb, /btaking his side. “Mom, Dad’s super busy with work. Why stress him out? Your job bis /bjust bto /btake 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.”

bI /bmmed 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.