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

Chapter 19

My morning dance class leftdrenched and pleasantly loose-limbed.

Cnoon, | called Sally about whether Yvonne was coming home.

“Yvonne's at the amusement park with Tracy,” Sally informed me. “You should give Tracy a call.”

Tracy had beclike a second mother to Yvonne-genuinely devoted and always making tfor her.

Not that | hadn’t been that mother once. There was a twhen my world revolved around parent-teacher

conferences and bedtstories too.

| didn’t call Tracy. If my daughter smiled more with her, who was | to interfere?

| was about to eat alone when my phone buzzed with an unknown number.

“Hello. Is that Victoria Murphy?” The male voice on the line was warm and unfamiliar.

“Speaking,” | answered automatically before catching myself. “May | ask who's calling?”

“I'm the student you sponsored years ago.” The earnestness in his voice prickled my skin. “I was hoping we

might have lunch today.”

The pause stretched too long. I'd never wanted gratitude, and now wasn’t the tto revisit the past-not when |

had my own reasons to keep my distance.

In my previous life, I'd seen enough online stories about scholarship recipients turning on their benefactors to

last a lifetime.

“It’s just lunch,” he said, lowering his voice when he caught my hesitation. “No strings attached.”

“I'm married,” | said quickly. “Meeting men alone... it wouldn't look right.”

“Bring a friend then,” he offered.

Though I could hear the genuine gratitude in his voice, | calmly refused. “Meeting isn’t necessary. The best

repayment is you succeeding,” | said, and hung up before he could argue.

| enjoyed a peaceful lunch by myself. At three in the afternoon, Jared called. “Yvonne fell. Her leg’s hurt. Meet us

at the hospital,” he said, his voice tight.

“How?” My stomach dropped.

“She tripped.” As soon as he finished, the hospital location appeared on my screen.

As Yvonne's mother, | knew she neededthere.

When | arrived at the hospital, Yvonne was curled against Jared, quietly crying with her leg bandaged. Tracy sat

nearby, her face filled with guilt.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

As 1 entered, Yvonne immediately reached for me, her small voice breaking. “Mom, hold me.”

1 sat on the edge of the hospital bed and cradled her close.

1/3

“I'm so sorry,” Tracy said, her voice thick with remorse. “I should have been watching her more closely when she

fell.”

Jared spoke up to comfort her. “We all know how Yvonne is, always climbing where she shouldn't. This wasn’t

your fault.”

Tracy's eyes grew red as silent tears fell.

Yvonne must have cried herself to exhaustion. She fell asleep in my arms within moments.

Jared watchedcarefully, clearly worried I'd blTracy. “Victoria,” he said quickly, “Tracy was just trying to

help with Yvonne. Don’t be hard on her.”

| nearly laughed at his protectiveness. Did he really think I'd play the jealous shrew?

“I'm so sorry, Mrs. Holcomb.” Tracy's voice trembled with tears.

They both held their breath, waiting for my reaction. In my previous life, when Yvonne was my entire world, |

would have torn Tracy apart for letting Yvonne get hurt. Now | barely had the energy to care.

| smoothed Yvonne's tousled hair and then turned to Tracy. “Thank you for watching her. She’s a handful even for

me.”

Their stunned silence was almost comical.

Tracy looked almost disappointed when | didn’t give her the tic scene she wanted.

She'd perfected her act in my previous life-playing the fragile victim while needlinginto outbursts that only

made Jared despisemore.

“Mrs. Holcomb, this was entirely my fault,” Tracy said with theatrical remorse, tears streaming as she made a

deep, exaggerated bow.

| caught her shoulders mid-bow, forcing her upright. When she snapped her head up, | saw the frustrated

realization in her eyes-her performance had failed.

“Jared,” | said, looking up calmly, “why don’t you take Tracy hnow? I'll stay with Yvonne.”

My reasonable tone and unexpected kindness toward Tracy clearly caught Jared off guard. He shifted

uncomfortably.

“Tracy, you should go now,” Jared said. Whether out of guilt or self-reproach, he sent her away but stayed

behind himself.

Tracy had no choice but to leave, though not without one last resentful look in my direction.

Settling back against the raised hospital bed, | closed my eyes, our daughter secure in my arms.

“Here, lettake her,” Jared offered suddenly. “You should rest.”

| opened my eyes to find Jared leaning in to carefully transfer our sleeping child from my embrace.

As he drew close, | saw the moment he caught my scent-something subtle and floral-and how his gaze darkened

in

response.

I'd switched perfumes and opted for a deliberately provocative outfit-a sheer white blouse over a black lace

camisole that accentuated every curve.

As Jared reached for our daughter, his arm grazed my chest, and | watched his muscles tense instantly.

1 stretched languidly before moving to the couch, leaving the bed behind.

2/3

“Don’t you want to know how badly she’s hurt?” Jared's voice cut through the quiet.

“She'll live,” | murmured, not bothering to open my eyes.

“Since when do you not care about our daughter?” The accusation hung between us.

“| care,” | said to the ceiling. “Just tell

Tracy to watch her more closely

Maybe (Gehl gedoh Yon ne some

chutibn Actually, this is a good

thing.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Tracy is... very responsible,” Jared said suddenly. “She genuinely cares for Yvonne.”

| hid a bitter smile. Tracy only cared for Yvonne as an afterthought—another way to please Jared.

“Tracy's quite the perfect assistant,” |

said, keeping my tone carefully

balanced between ies oeeity

pete Arg e you at work

and mothers our daughter at home.

Really, you should give her a

raise—someone that indispensable

deserves it." The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Jared went quiet. | couldn't tell if I'd touched a nerve, but he clearly had no intention of continuing the

conversation.

After several minutes of silence,

Jared abruptly changed the subject.

“Victoria, I'll ried yu {ake

oferhord) Gherations at next month's

board meeting. Start at the office

tomorrow—/'ll arrange the handover.”

Share to your friends

facebook sharing button

twitter sharing button

reddit sharing button

whatsharing button

telegram sharing button

sharethis sharing button