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    <b>Chapter </b><b>109 </b>


    <b>Jared </b><b>was </b>probably shaken up, too. When we got home<b>, </b><b>he </b>seemed really quiet. Yvonne went straight to her room and cried into <b>her </b>pillow. <b>Jared </b>and I both hit the showers and changed clothes.


    Finally, both of <b>us </b>stood by Yvonne’s bed. She <b>was </b>yanking the covers over her head, trying to hide her face from us.


    <b>I </b>walked right over, sat down, and firmly yanked the covers <b>away </b>from her.


    “What are you doing?<b>” </b>Yvonne red at me, her cheeks puffed out in anger.


    “Running <b>away </b>every time something happens? Are you just going to bury your head in the sand like an ostrich?” <b>I </b>asked angrily.


    Yvonne looked at me, aggrieved, then turned to Jared. “What else am I supposed to do? You’re just going to scold me again.”


    “So you knew you’d get in trouble, but you still decided to disappear?” <b>I </b>couldn’t help butugh in disbelief.


    Yvonne just sat there, lips pursed in a pout, and I couldn’t tell if she even realized how serious this was.


    Jared spoke up seriously, “Yvonne, promise your dad this won’t ever happen again.”


    After Yvonne <b>grew </b>a bit older, she started to really respect, and even fear, Jared, especially when he put on that stern face. Whenever he talked to her like this, she’d make sure to remember the lesson.


    “Okay, Dad, I promise.” Yvonne raised her little hand. “But can you ask Mom to leave first?”


    Jared furrowed his brows, but without a word, I got up and walked out.


    Jared reached for my arm, but I shook him off hard.


    Well, once again, it just proved I was nothing more than the outsider here. The real bond was between father and daughter.


    Downstairs, Wendy was busy cooking. When she saw me, she smiled and said, “Mrs. Hob, just a few more minutes and dinner will be ready.”


    “No rush, Wendy. Take your time,” I replied with a gentle smile.


    Another cleaningdy was mopping the corridor outside. The rain had blown in under the eaves, and there were puddles of water everywhere.


    The rain had stopped now.


    I stepped out into the garden to get some air. After a moment, Jared suddenly showed up behind me.


    He said, “Don’t take it to heart with Yvonne. She’s still a kid. Just guide her patiently.”


    “I didn’t take it to heart,” I replied, lowering my gaze to the green nts at my feet. “She just doesn’t want me as her mom.”


    <b>Jared </b>cut in, sounding a bit anxious, “Come on, what kid doesn’t like their mom?”


    I turned to look at him, half–mocking, half–smiling. “Why don’t you just find her a new mom? I mean, Tracy seems to get along with her just fine.”


    “Victoria, do you even hear yourself right now?” Jared’s face instantly clouded over.


    I raised an eyebrow and said lightly, “Swear to God you’ve never thought about it.”


    Jared was momentarily at a loss for words, clearly annoyed, “You’re being ridiculous,” he snapped.


    With that, he turned and went inside for dinner. I stayed outside, but oddly enough, I actually felt a bit better.


    I thought back to <i>how</i><i>, </i>even when I knew he was getting along so well with Tracy, I kept everything bottled up inside. I barely even dared to mention her name, afraid that if I did, I’d make him angry and he’d divorce me.


    But now, I could bring that name that used to haunt me up whenever I wanted. Probably, it was <b>a </b>progress.


    Jared called Yvonne down for dinner. Maybe all that crying made her hungry, because she ended up eating a lot. The whole time, she kept sneaking nces at my face.


    <b>I </b>stayed indifferent. Since I’d decided to stop meddling, I <b>wasn’t </b>about to <b>say </b>anything more to her.


    Yvonne put down her te and fork. “Dad, Mom, I’m full. I’m going upstairs to watch cartoons now.”


    With that, she turned and headed upstairs. Jared was still giving me the cold shoulder after what I said earlier, but honestly, I was enjoying the peace<i>. </i>


    That night was as calm as still water.


    But the next morning, Sally showed up, with Quinn tagging along.


    Sally came charging upstairs. I was in the middle of doing my makeup when she nted herself right next to me, pointed her finger in my face, and snapped, “Yvonne almost went missing yesterday.


    “What kind of mother are you? This better never happen again. Yvonne is the Hob family’s princess.


    “I don’t care what’s going on with you, but from now on, you are not toy a hand on her or even raise your voice at her. Got