Chapter 23

I was ready for his accusations and anger. His words didn’t upset me. I just lay there calmly, meeting his furious, bewildered stare.

“You’ve treated me well. You were always generous, perfectly polite—a true gentleman in every way. You just… never shared your work life with me or brought me around your friends.

“You simply… stopped loving me. But that doesn’t make you any less of a good husband or father.” My voice stayed even as I held his gaze, stating facts.

Jared’s eyes turned to stone. “That’s ridiculous,” he snapped. “Why would I have married you if I didn’t love you?”

I watched the color rise in his handsome face, his anger giving way to something closer to panic and guilt.

I sighed and closed my eyes. “You did love me once. But love doesn’t come with guarantees. Yours changed, and then faded. I could feel it.”

“No…” Jared finally lost control. He pushed me down with sudden force, his mouth claiming mine in a kiss that burned with anger. His usual tenderness was gone—this was a storm I couldn’t weather, his passion overwhelming me completely.

My pajamas slipped away as he moved with rough urgency, his eyes darkening with need. Pinned beneath him, I couldn’t resist—and after three months of tension, we finally crashed through that barrier together.

His hands moved over me with urgent purpose, seeking the familiar responses that used to come so easily between us and some sign I still loved him.

For the first time, he’d actually satisfied me completely. Yet I forced myself to keep playing the wounded wife because I knew this marriage still had more to give me.

When he finally released me past 2 a.m., I gathered the sheets around my trembling body and retreated to the guest room, my hair disheveled and eyes glistening with unshed tears.

I couldn’t guess Jared’s thoughts, but he’d broken his own rules tonight. By making the first move, he’d let down his guard—and that first touch might have just cost him the upper hand.

Jared’s sudden change showed me the truth—when I stopped caring and started focusing on myself, unexpected things began to happen.

Men never outgrew that primitive need to chase what eluded them.

I realized that a woman couldn’t afford to be gentle with men or love. She had to be tougher when necessary and walk away without hesitation when the time came.

The morning came too soon. I was still half-asleep when Yvonne came barreling in. “Mom!” she shouted, shaking me. “Wake up. It’s playtime. No more sleeping. Play with me now.”

I kept my eyes closed, pretending not to hear. My spoiling had made Yvonne forget all about manners—here she was, waking me at dawn.

Just as I considered telling her off, Jared’s voice came from the doorway. “Yvonne, come out. Let your mother sleep.”

“Dad,” she complained, “why did you marry someone so lazy?”

“That’s no way to speak about your mother,” Jared said firmly, ushering Yvonne out and closing the door behind them.

I blinked at the shut door for a moment before drifting back to sleep.

When I woke past nine, Yvonne was outside playing with her pony.

Jared truly spoiled her—when she asked for a pony, he actually had a pure white miniature one flown in from overseas.