These two were unbelievable. They kept barging in and interrupting me during normal working hours.

Jared, not hearing me say anything, just barged right in.

“Victoria, did you see the gift Yvonne gave you?” Jared asked, and then added, “She spent all night building it.”

I just shrugged, glancing at the edge of my desk. “I thought someone left it here by accident. I almost tossed it in the trash.”

My words were like flipping a switch—Yvonne’s tears started up again. She buried her face in Jared’s big hand, her little shoulders trembling, looking so pitiful.

Jared was at a loss with me, so he just bent down and scooped Yvonne into his arms. “Yvonne, don’t cry. Mom’s got a lot on her plate at work, I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.”

Yvonne nodded, but when she glanced at me, her eyes looked a bit vacant. Jared ended up carrying her out. I grabbed my water and took a sip. I guessed Yvonne’d come a long way.

If this were my previous life, she’d still be at home screaming at me and throwing a fit right about now.

Whenever I told her to drink water, she’d toss the cup onto the floor just because she didn’t want to. I’d spend ages cleaning up, crawling around to pick up every tiny shard, for fear that she’d step on one and hurt her little feet.

Now, I didn’t have to babysit or bend over backwards for my husband. I could just get my work done in peace.

Anyone stuck with the kids was bound to lose their mind. This time, it was Jared’s turn to enjoy that “blessing.”

After work, I got a call from Sally, telling me to join her for dinner that night. It seemed that Sally just couldn’t wait any longer—she was gearing up to give me one of her famous life lessons.

I wasn’t fazed. I showed up at the restaurant right on time, and the moment I stepped into the private room, it was like walking into a bustling market—packed with middle-aged women. There were at least a dozen of them.

I glanced around and, sure enough, they were all Sally’s friends and distant relatives, the kind who’d watched my whole rollercoaster marriage with Jared from the sidelines.

Uh-oh, they were all here for me. Was Sally planning to have them take turns lecturing me tonight? Well, I was already here. If I just walked out now, they’d probably gossip about me behind my back.

Since that was the case, I’d just let them say whatever they wanted to my face. I’d handle it as it came.

I knew all of them, so I greeted each one and quietly took my seat next to Sally.

Seeing me looking all sweet and sensible, Sally said, “Victoria, these ladies are all your elders. They’ve seen it all and been through the ups and downs of marriage. Honestly, everyone thinks your marriage with Jared is just fine.”

Someone chimed in, “That’s right, Victoria. Jared’s really good to you. He doesn’t lay a hand on you, doesn’t have any bad habits, and he’s got a good job.”

I arched an eyebrow at her and said, “What about the silent treatment? Doesn’t that count?”

Sally’s brow twitched. “Jared wouldn’t do that.

I let out a dry laugh. “Sally, that’s only because he treats you differently.”

Sally went quiet instantly. Another woman immediately started going on and on about how happy someone’s marriage was, telling me I should learn from her on how to make a marriage work.

Chapter 206

I smiled at her and said, “If you think she’s happy, it just means you don’t really know her.”

The woman was totally thrown off, stammering, “Well, I don’t really know her. She’s just my cousin’s daughter’s best friend’s sister."

Sally looked speechless.