bChapter /b39

I nced at him with a faint smile. “I’m just trying to help her build some character. You know how she yells bat /bme and bhas /bno respect for me anymore. If I let bher /bget away with everything, we’ll end up hating each other.”

b“/bbIt’s /bnot that serious. She’s bjust /ba kid. No kid really holds a grudge against their mom,” Jared said, clearly thinking I was being too harsh.

b“/bbYes/b, they do,” I said firmly. “If her bvalues /bget twisted, she’ll hate me. And honestly, I might end up hating her, too.”

Jared thought I bwas /bbeing unreasonable, so he went back to his study without saying another word.

My thoughts were a mess. I leaned back in my chair and shut my eyes tightly.

In my previous blife/b, the older Yvonne got, the less brespect /bshe had for me. When she hit thirteen, her rebellious bstreak /bnearly broke me.

She threatened to go on a hunger strike, and she even said she wanted to end her own life, so I had to watch bher /bconstantly.

During that time, I bwas /bbso /bworn out that I looked like I had aged ten years overnight with dark circles under my eyes.

It was not going to happen to me again. I still had to teach her, but I’d do it with a firm hand to make sure that she had the right values and learned to control her emotions.

I wasn’t about to go through another round of her rebellious phases ever again.

The next day, I was back at work, focusing on design. Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was dark outside when my phone rang. A deep voice came through. “Victoria, it’s Nathan.”

He just called me Victoria so casually with no respect at all. I was his benefactor. He should at least call me Mrs. Hob.

“How old are you this year, Mr. Hallman?” I asked with a smile.

“Twenty–seven,” he replied.

“Oh, I thought you were younger than me,” I said. It felt good to talk with him a little after a long day.

“Do I look that young?” Nathan asked, sounding pleased.

b“/bSureb, /byoung man,” I said honestly.

He let out a low chuckle on the other end. “So, any ns for tonight?”

b“/bJust going home to take care of my husband,” I answered. I wasn’t trying to flirt with Nathan, so I had no problem bringing bup /bmy husband to set some boundaries.

The bst /btime Nathan said he was interested in me, things got a little too risky. I couldn’t let him cross that line again.

“Oh,” Nathan said, his excitement gone, like I’d dumped ice water on him.

“If that’s all, I’m going to hang up now. I’m a bit busy,” I said with a smile.

b“/bAlright, bye,” Nathan replied, waiting for me to end the bcall/b.

b1/2 /b

Then I bhung /bbup /bwithout hesitation.

bBy /bthe time night fellb, /bJared showed up bat /bthe door of the design studio.

At that moment, bI /bwas in the middle of a design discussionb, /bwith the projector showing a series of images on the screen.

Someone recognized bhim /band stepped forward to greet him. b“/bHi, Mr. Hob.

“I’m here to pick up my bwife /bfor dinner,b” /bJared said calmly.

I turned to look at him, realizing it bwas /btime to wrap bup/bb. /bI walked over and asked, “How did you find me hereb?/b*

“Let’s go. We’re meeting someone for dinner,” Jared said, his expression cold as he turned and walked out.

I quickly packed up and followed himb, /basking, “So, who are we having dinner with tonight?”

Jared didn’t answer. He just bsat /bquietly in the back bseat/b, his face unreadable.

I had no idea what he bwas /bmad about this time. He was acting ball /bgloomy and passive–aggressive.

When we got to the hotel, Jared led me to the third floor, where the business dining rooms were. He opened the door to a private room.

Inside, there were a dozen or so people. But when I saw Nathan sitting at the head of the table, my eyes widened in surprise.

bAD /b