Chapter 52

Getting sick was rough. I knew that well. That night, I felt a bit better and went to the hospital.

Yvonne was young but tough. When I got there, she was jumping around in her room.

When I walked in, she hid her phone under the covers. I heard a ping; she ducked under to text back and then peeked at me.

“Mom, what took you so long? I’m starving,” Yvonne whined when she saw me.

I used what little energy I had to sit down next to her. “Sorry, I’m sick, too. No food. Call your dad and ask him to bring some.”

“Did I make you sick?” Yvonne blinked. “Good thing I didn’t let Tracy hug me, or she’d be sick too. If she’s sick, Dad won’t have help with work.”

She was such a pain. “Aren’t you hungry? Why not call your dad?” I didn’t want to argue. Maybe I should just ignore her instead of fighting with a kid.

Yvonne huffed, “Why should I call? Can’t you do it?”

“You’re the hungry one,” I told her.

“You’re supposed to be my mom.” Yvonne’s eyes filled with tears, whining, “Other moms are always there for their kids, not like you. I hardly see you all day.”

I paused, and then quietly texted Jared to bring food.

Soon, Jared’s driver showed up with dinner–all Yvonne’s favorites. She sat on the bed, legs crossed, eating slowly and staring at me.

I was hungry, too, but I just wanted to sleep.

After eating, Yvonne flopped back. “Mom, clean this up,” she said. I got up and tidied everything. Then Yvonne sat up straight. “Tracy said there’s a toy store downstairs. I wanna go!”

Thinking about how she used to get whatever she wanted, with top-brand clothes and the best of everything, but now, I wouldn’t spoil her like that. She couldn’t just get everything she asked for.

“No. You’ve got toys by your bed. Play with those first,” I said firmly.

“Why not?” Yvonne whined. “You’re making me unhappy. I’m a patient. I had a shot and my hand’s swollen.” When she didn’t get her way, she acted all upset, like she’d been wronged.

I knew she was faking it, so I stayed strong. “Yvonne,” I said seriously, “you gotta earn things. If you get everything easy, you won’t treasure it.”

“Why should I treasure stuff? Dad’s rich; Grandma’s rich. They give me whatever I want. But you? You don’t earn anything and won’t let me spend. The money you use is Dad’s. You’re just a parasite.” Yvonne was really going at it, sounding too smart for her age.

I looked at her like she was a little wolf ready to bite. My look was cold, so Yvonne wanted to say something but stopped herself.

“You reminded me. I’ll work hard and stop asking for money. So, Yvonne, Mom will be busy working. You need to be more independent; do your own stuff. And… it’s okay for your dad to give me money; I’m his wife.”

Yvonne blinked, surprised, like it was the first time she heard me talk like this. She wasn’t used to it. “If Dad leaves you, you won’t spend his money,” Yvonne snapped back, clearly hurt.

“Why should I be scared? I’m young, pretty, and smart. If your dad stops spending on me, other men will. But having someone isn’t everything. I need my own path. I’ll work hard. If you need help, ask your dad or grandma.”

I stopped seeing Yvonne as just my child, but as someone who could understand. Whether she got it or not, I needed her to know she was grown up. I couldn’t spend all my time on her.

Yvonne’s eyes widened. She was really trying to put me down, make me know my place–to serve her like her nanny. She had a powerful family and was their little princess. As for me, an unemployed nanny, I must put her first.

But I didn’t let her win. So she was confused. For someone so young, she was already trying to manipulate. I must say, Jared’s genes were strong.

In my previous life, I’d have let my daughter take advantage of me without a word. I thought her happiness was mine. But mothers were role models. Children became what they saw. If a mother lost her place, she became unimportant.

Yvonne realized I was better at arguing. She went quiet and played with her toy.

I leaned back on the sofa and closed my eyes to rest.

Around 9 PM, Jared showed up. He saw me on the sofa and asked, “Did you eat?”

I opened my eyes, still half-asleep, and looked at him. Being sick made me mix up my current life with my past. Jared still meant something to me, even though he was a real jerk. After all, I’d loved him for years.

I just kept staring at him, not saying a word.

He bent down and felt my forehead with the back of his hand, asking, “Still sick?”

His hand’s warmth woke me up. I pushed his arm away and said, “You’re here? Then I’ll go grab something to eat downstairs.” Then I grabbed my bag and walked out.

“I’ll come with you,” Jared said suddenly, following me out. “I’ll ask Warner to watch Yvonne.”

“No, you should stay here,” I refused right away.

Yvonne cried, “Daddy, don’t go. Play with me!”

Jared looked at his daughter, and then at me. “You sure you don’t need me?”

His words sounded a bit angry. In my previous life, I always tried to make him stay with me. I relied on him a lot. That was why Jared felt so important.

“No.”