Chapter 72

Those two days were the weekend. Besides supervising the site at Harmonia Hotel, I went out for dinner with Melissa. Then Sally called and asked the three of us to eat together.

That afternoon, Yvonne stayed at Sally’s. When she was dropped off at night, she carried a big bag of toys, including some cute silver jewelry. As soon as Yvonne got home, she grabbed scissors and sat in her room stringing beads.

I knew she was making a gift for Tracy. She was focused on it. When I brought her some fruit, Yvonne seemed a little guilty and hid it at first.

Unexpectedly, the beads she was stringing spilled all over the floor halfway through. She shouted in frustration, “It’s your fault, Mom, you’re distracting me from making my bracelet!”

Then she knelt and crawled around picking up beads one by one. I sat nearby, popped a cherry tomato in my mouth, and asked, “Who’s this for? You’re working so hard.”

“None of your business,” Yvonne replied, not telling the truth, and quickly told me, “Mom, please go away. Don’t bother me.”

I had no choice but to leave her room. Inside, it felt like someone stabbed me in the heart. I didn’t understand why Yvonne liked Tracy so much, but resented me as her mother.

‘I must have messed up somewhere. Or maybe that’s just how people are–loving the distant but resenting the close,’ I thought.

Tracy flattered her easily, and Yvonne was happy. I cared for her day and night and managed her life, but I became the person she hated.

Late at night, I lay in bed when my period suddenly started. I went to the bathroom to handle it. When I came out, Jared was sitting on the other side of the bed.

I froze. Then I remembered we had been giving each other the cold shoulder for three days. But I hadn’t gone to apologize to him yet tonight.

Since tomorrow night was going to be Tracy’s birthday, I figured that Jared had probably prepared a gift for her.

I turned on my side and saw Jared toss his phone down hard beside him. The next second, he lay down too. “I’m on my period.” I knew what he was waiting for, so I crushed his hopes right away.

Not long after, Jared got up and closed my bedroom door. Since we couldn’t have sex, he left. So he came to my room just for that.

The next morning, I noticed Wendy had made some desserts for breakfast. “Mrs. Holcomb, Mr. Holcomb asked me to make these for you. Here’s chocolate pie and rice pudding.”

“Thank you, Wendy,” I said gratefully.

Wendy smiled and said, “Mr. Holcomb really cares about you.”

I didn’t take that seriously. If just asking a maid to cook meant caring, that was pretty cheap care. “Mr. Holcomb already took Yvonne to class,” Wendy added.

I nodded. It was Monday. After breakfast, I had to head to work. At the office, Tracy said she wanted to treat us to lunch. She even asked if I was free because it was her birthday and she wanted to gather the higher-ups.

She didn’t have enough status yet to bring me along, so I didn’t go. Not only did I skip it, but I went to the company cafeteria and asked the kitchen to prepare a special meal for me, my favorite salmon and beef steak.

I sat alone, enjoying my meal, when the door suddenly opened. Jared appeared in front of me. I froze and thought, ‘Why is he here?’

Jared asked the kitchen for a knife and fork and sat down. He openly started eating my lunch. “Tracy said it’s her birthday and invited a lot of people. Why didn’t you go?” I asked casually.

“I promised her dinner tonight, so I didn’t go for lunch,” Jared said plainly.

“Oh.” I thought there was no point in asking more. I didn’t think I was more important than Tracy.

“You come with me tonight,” Jared suddenly said.

A cold feeling spread through me. Jared definitely spoiled Tracy. She was having a birthday, and he brought me, his wife, to show everyone that his wife and his mistress got along perfectly. He was even attending her birthday personally.

“I already have plans with friends tonight, so I won’t go,” I said coldly.

“That lawyer again?” Jared seemed annoyed with Melissa. “What’s the point of you two women eating together all the time?”

“She’s Melissa, a longtime friend,” I answered seriously.

Jared glanced at me and smirked. “I know her name. I just want to warn you not to get too close. Be careful. Don’t let her use you.”

Hearing that, I slammed my fork down on the table. “Jared, can you be reasonable? First, I’m a person. Second, I’m your wife.

“People are social creatures. I have my friends. So what? Don’t you have your group of guy friends? Have I ever interfered with your private life?”

Jared looked at me oddly. Then he said casually, “Friends of the same sex are fine. But opposite sex friends? No.”

“Why not?” I had to stand up for myself.

Jared looked me up and down and said bluntly, “Honestly, any guy trying to get close to you just wants to sleep with you.”