bChapter /b41

I let Jared get in first. As bI /bwas about to follow, Nathan breached /bout above my headb, /bmaking sure I didn’t hit the roof of the

bcar/bb. /b

“Have a safe drive home,” Nathan said, and his thoughtful gesture made my heart brace/b.

I gave him a pointed look, but Nathan just curved his lips into ba /bsmileb, /bwaved at me, and closed the door.

Inside the car, Jared pressed his hand to his forehead, clearly feeling the effects of alcohol. “Call Yvonne and bsee /bbif /bshe wants toe home tonight,” he mumbled, still thinking about what Yvonne wanted even when drunk.

bI /bcalled Sally, my mother–inw. It sounded like she was in the middle of a noisy card game. She quickly passed the phone bto /bYvonne.

“Mom, are you calling to apologize?” Yvonne asked, sounding way too grown–up for her ageb. /b“I’m not ready to forgive you yet.”

Her aggressive tone made my heart heavy. “Your dad just wants to know if you want toe home tonight. If you do, we’lle pick you up,” I said.

Yvonne huffed. “You don’t even like me anymore, so why should Ie back? I’m staying at Grandma’s home.”

“Alright, it’s your choice,” I said, and then I hung up.

It was all my fault that Yvonne had be so pushy. I had spoiled her, and now she spoke to me with no respect, and I bjust /bhad to put up with it.

“Yvonne’s noting back?” Jared said with a deep frown.

I nodded. “She’s still mad at me.”

Jared winced like his headache was getting worse. He leaned in close, his presence making me feel trapped.

“Tomorrow afternoon, buy her something to cheer her up,” Jared murmured, his warm breath sending shivers down my neck.

“I’m not going to coax her,” I snapped, my temper rising.

Jared paused for a moment and then asked, “Are you really going to stay mad at her forever?”

“If she can’t respect me as her mother, then being enemies is an option,” I said, my voice calm and firm.

“Victoria,e on. You’re a grown woman. Why stoop to her level?” Jared shot back, his gaze heavy.

I met his angry stare and couldn’t help but smile. I was getting better at pissing him off. In my previous life, Jared was always cold and polite, never showing real emotion. Now, it felt like I could get under his skin whenever I wanted.

b“/bbBabe/b, do you still love me?b” /bbI /basked softly, meeting his angry eyes.

bJared /bfurrowed his browb, /bclearly not wanting to get into this.

I blowered /bmy gaze, feeling disappointed. “They say the bbest /bthing for a child is bto /bbsee /btheir dad love their mom. Maybe that’s why Yvonne doesn’t brespect /bme bbecause /byou stopped loving meb./bb” /b

b1/2 /b

so she’s acting out.”

“I’m not bmade /bbof /bstone. If you push me too far, I’m going to snap,” bI /bsaid in a cold bvoice/b, looking out the window.

Jared said in a low, mocking tone, “So why didn’t you snap before? Were you just being calcting, or are you really that patient and even able to put up with it for bsix /bwhole byears/b?b” /b

My heart ached at that. Actually, I’d endured thirty years in my previous life. I was practically numb to it.

I was done with this rtionship anyway. I didn’t care about walking on eggshells anymore. Since Jared asked, I might as well give him an answer. “I put up with it because I loved you. But if that love bis /bgone, you’re nothing to meb./bb” /b

AD