After being reborn, I make up my mind to stop chasing after my husband and daughter

Jared froze mid-pour. “And which one are you?”

Leaning back, | smirked. “Oh, I'm neither. At best, I’m the one you forget and ignore eventually.”

He studiedfor a long moment, then exhaled sharply. “Overthinking leads to hair loss, you know.”

The jab hit its mark. Annoyance flared-I"d walked right into his game. Psychology books call this deactivation:

the moment you stop feeding someone’s emotional hooks, their power over you collapses. Yet here | was,

scrambling to counter him.

Silently, | sipped my tea, stewing. Jared, meanwhile, looked unbearably pleased with himself.

Then my phone buzzed. A notification flashed-$3,000,000.00 deposited-Current Account. | glanced at the screen,

then up at Jared. At least

the man kept his word.

He smirked, reading my expression. “Need to count the zeros to be sure?”

| set my phone down, refusing to play. “I trust you,” | said flatly.

The amusement drained from his face. Bored, he stood. “Dinner at my mother’s tonight. Need a ride?”

“No. I'll drive myself.”

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing else. Finishing his tea, he left without another word.

That evening, the Holcomb estate was conspicuously missing one small, chaotic presence. No Yvonne. | didn’t

ask. If my daughter wasn’t

here to scream atfor existing, all the better.

Sally, ever the gracious hostess, offered an explanation unprompted: “Quinn took Yvonne to sconcert.” She

waved a manicured hand.

“Teenagers.”

| nodded. Maybe distance was best. Without me-the “failed mother“-weighing her down, Yvonne would thrive

differently. Better.

Dinner unfolded like a corporate negotiation. James, Jared's father, had cto lobby for another round of

funding for his latest “surefire” investment. Sally needled him between courses, but James just chuckled,

unfazed.

Jared, meanwhile, dissected the proposal with clinical detachment. His parents’ toxic dynamic might as well have

been background noise,

nothing distracted him from his empire.

That's what real strength looks like, | realized. Unshakable focus. No emotional leaks.

Predictably, James left empty-handed after Jared rejected his pitch again. The roar of his Ferrari faded into the

night, leaving behind strained

silence.

Jared checked his phone. “When’s Quinn bringing Yvonne back?”

Sally shrugged. “Call her yourself. | tried earlier, probably too loud at the concert to hear her phone.”

Just as Jared was about to dial, his phone rang. His brow furrowed as he checked the caller ID, then he strode out

of the villa to take the call.

| decided it was tto leave. Grabbing my bag, | headed for the door. As | passed Jared outside, he hadn't

noticedyet. His voice was low,

tense.

1/3

15:14 Wed, 13 Aug YI

Chapter 141

ug 83

“Where are you? I'll cpick up Yvonne. You just got off a flight. | appreciate you looking after her.” A pause.

“Yeah, stay there. I'm on my

way.”

He hung up and turned, only to seestanding there. A flicker of discomfort crossed his face. “I'm going to get

Yvonne. You should head

home.”

“Sure.” | had no intention of joining him anyway. But that fleeting unease in his eyes? My instincts screamed,

Maybe Quinn and Yvonne weren't the only ones at that concert. Maybe Tracy was there too. And that was why

Jared didn’t insist | calong. Because tonight, my presence wasn’t required.

| marched to my car, slid in, and sped off. | didn’t hear them chome. By the tJared and Yvonne returned,

| was already asleep.

The next morning, Yvonne was draped over Jared's lap, rubbing her eyes tically. “Daddy, my tummy hurts.

| can’t go to school.”

Jared sighed, stroking her hair. “Yvonne, Mommy and | have work. If you're really sick, we'll go to the hospital.”

He didn’t allow her to skip

classes.

“Will they givea shot?” Her eyes widened in horror.

“Possibly.”

“Never mind!” She scrambled upright. “School’s fine.”

Just then, 1 descended the stairs. Yvonne immediately bolted from Jared and latched onto my leg. “Mommy, skip

work today! Taketo the park instead?”

| looked down at her. Mosquito bites dotted her cheeks, angry red welts against her skin. Normally, I'd fuss over

her, applying ointment until the swelling faded. Today, | couldn't muster the energy.

“I'm busy.” My voice was ice.

“You never loveanymore!” she wailed. “Tracy would never-" She caught herself, but the damage was done.

Jared's gaze flicked to me, testing my reaction. | gave none. Instead, | took a deliberate bite of the organic

avocado toast Wendy had prepared, the morning sunlight catching my cheeks.

Lately, I'd been taking better care of

myself. My skin glowed, my om

complexion wager) ine

skekly ANS once had was gone. My

eyes, no longer dull and tired, now

shone with clarity. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Jared crouched before our pouting daughter. “Mom's busy. I'll drop you at school, might pick you up if my

meetings clear.”

“Can someone else get me? | want-" Yvonne whisper-shouted into his ear, throwinga sidelong glare.

His jaw tightened. “Pleeeeease, Daddy?” She batted her lashes, the perfect little manipulator.

Defeated, he ruffled her hair. “Finish your chia pudding first.” She devoured it with performative gusto, shooting