I hadn’t expected Jared to show up out of nowhere. The words were already out, and there was no way to take them back.

Jared sat down beside us and asked, “Mom, what are you and Victoria chatting about this time?”

Sally said with a stern look, “We’re talking about Yvonne’s custody. Jared, are you thinking of letting Victoria have Yvonne? Don’t be such a pushover. I know you care about her, but you can’t just give in every time.”

Jared looked a little surprised. He turned to me and asked, “So, you want custody of Yvonne?”

I shook my head and replied, “No, I don’t want custody. She belongs with the Holcomb family.”

“If you don’t want her, then why has she been coming to see you every single day? What have you been teaching her as her mother?” Sally snapped.

Jared frowned and said, “Mom, I was the one who asked Yvonne to visit Victoria. This isn’t Victoria’s fault. Yvonne’s been upset ever since she found out about our divorce.”

“It’s pitiful for a child to have such a cold-hearted mother,” Sally said, her eyes turning red as she started to feel sorry for Yvonne.

Jared shot me a resentful look as if complaining that I was completely heartless.

I took a deep breath. Yvonne’s recent changes threw me for a loop, but I’d already made up my mind not to meddle in her life anymore.

Now all I could do is stand by her as her mom. I’d be here if she needed me, and I’d respect every choice she made.

I said, “Yvonne told me herself she wanted another mom. So as long as someone treats her well, she’ll see them as her mother. I’m not the only one she sees as her mom.”

Sally shot back, “Seriously, you’re taking a kid’s words at face value? Do you even know what’s really going on in Yvonne’s head?”

If I hadn’t heard those words right before I died in my previous life, I never would’ve been able to let go of the daughter I raised myself. But I did hear them, loud and clear.

I spent my whole life acting like Yvonne’s nanny—maybe I never got any recognition, but I still gave it my all. Yet in her eyes, I wasn’t even as important as some outsider.

Since I already knew all my efforts were for nothing, pulling back now didn’t make me heartless.

So I said, “Call me heartless if you want. You can teach Yvonne right from wrong and how to be a decent person. I believe the Holcomb family has what it takes to help her succeed.

“If you could raise a son as outstanding as Jared, I’m sure you can do the same with your granddaughter.”

I didn’t want to argue with Sally about custody anymore, because in the end, we both wanted the same thing—for Yvonne to grow up into someone better.

Sally’s expression softened a little when she heard me say that. She shot a proud look at Jared, who was sitting there quietly with his head down, and couldn’t help but smile. She said, “You know, you’re right about one thing.

My son is something.”

Jared cut her off. He said, “Mom, that’s enough. Let’s just see what Yvonne wants. If she wants to stay with Victoria…”

I interrupted him, “I’ll talk to her myself and tell her she should stay with the Holcomb family.”

Sally blinked, looking baffled. She asked, “Victoria, what’s gotten into you? In just a few days, you tossed your husband and kid aside. Did you fall for someone else or something?”

Jared’s gaze turned stormy, locking onto me. Guess he was wondering the same thing.