The Housewife's Return To Her Alluring Prime - Chapter 57: Chapter 57
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Suddenly hearing Jared's voice, I snapped my eyes open and turned my head to look at him.
I saw him raise both hands above his head and bow deeply, looking completely devoted.
He was dressed in casual clothes, and for once, he didn't have that usual stern, bossy aura. Instead, he looked refined and elegant, like a breath of fresh air.
I was a bit annoyed, though. He'd interrupted me while I was praying. I hadn't even finished properly praying for some wealth, and he just had to butt in.
So, I said, "I'm praying for money."
Jared, who had just bowed twice, suddenly turned to look at me. "Aren't you here to pray for a child?"
I laughed, "Money is more loyal than a son. Money doesn't go through a rebellious phase, but sons do, from childhood all the way to adulthood."
Jared gave me a speechless look, then finished his prayers and stood up.
I ignored him, closed my eyes, and continued my silent prayer. Finally, I bowed three times sincerely and turned to leave.
Outside, the sun was blazing, so bright I could barely keep my eyes open.
Jared was standing under a tree, watching me. Yvonne and Quinn had wandered off somewhere with Sally.
I didn't want to go over to Jared, so I purposely headed in the other direction, taking in the sights as I walked.
Jared strolled after me at a leisurely pace, then suddenly sped up to catch up. "You've been a bit cold lately."
Keeping my eyes on the crowd, I said lightly, "Have I? I feel like I'm the same as before."
"You never used to just turn away when you saw me." Jared pointed out.
"We've been married this long. No need to act all lovey-dovey, right?" I teased casually.
Suddenly, Jared grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a quieter corner. "Are you still mad about me having dinner with Tracy?"
I gently shook off his hand and looked him straight in the eye. "I'm not mad at you. I just think I can't force some things. Like you?
"If you end up liking someone else, I wouldn't blame you. You're great. It's only natural that people are drawn to you."
"You're acting weird." Jared frowned. "It's like you've been holding a grudge against me lately."
"Isn't this how most couples are? We've been married for seven years. Feelings fade, it's just how it goes," I said, turning to leave.
But Jared quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my way. "Victoria, you're not really thinking of divorcing me, are you?"
I shot him a look, then turned my gaze away.
"Is it because of Nathan?" Jared suddenly brought up his name. "He's younger than me, a hotshot in tech with a limitless future. Did you fall for him?"
I was totally mad at suddenly getting accused like that. I shot back with a sneer, "I'm not like you, Jared. I don't mess around behind my spouse's back."
"It's not as disgraceful as you think between me and Tracy," Jared shot back, his face flushing with anger as he tried to defend himself.
I stared into his reddened eyes, remembering how, in my previous life, he had admitted to me just how passionate things were between him and Tracy. However, now he was denying it. Probably, he really thought I was that naive.
"Jared, can you honestly say you've never once thought about divorcing me to be with her? Can you swear here?" My voice was icy, my gaze sharp as I stared him down. "Think carefully.
"This church is famous for its power. Oaths made here have a way of coming true."
Jared's face went from red to pale. In the end, he didn't dare swear. He just stood there, hands on his hips, staring off into the distance in frustration.
I immediately walked around him, turned a corner, and saw Sally holding Yvonne's hand as they came over.
"Hi, Mommy." Yvonne spotted me and ran over, looking a bit happy as she grabbed my finger.
Sally grinned, "I just had a fortune teller read Yvonne's fortune. He said the next baby will be a boy."
"Mommy, why not give me a little brother ASAP?" Yvonne said, all cheerful as she shook my hand. "I want a little brother."
"Alright, Yvonne, don't say that out loud. Just keep it in your heart," Sally said, beaming like she thought I could give her a son tomorrow.
Jared walked over, and Sally looked at him in surprise. "Jared, didn't you say you weren't coming?"
Jared replied gently, "Mom, the child belongs to both of us. Praying for a child only works if both husband and wife come together."
"Daddy?" Yvonne spotted him, let go of my hand, and ran over with a big smile.
Jared bent down, scooped her up, and gave her nose a playful tap. "Did you have fun?"
"Yes, Daddy. When are you going to kiss Mommy? Grandma said if you two kiss, I'll get a little brother," Yvonne asked, grinning from ear to ear.
As soon as those words left her mouth, not just us—even Sally turned red. She hurried to cover Yvonne's mouth. "Hush now, sweetie. There are so many people here. Your parents will get embarrassed."
Jared just smiled indulgently, "Don't worry. It'll happen soon."
I really didn't want to hear their talk. It was like my feelings didn't even exist to them. Nobody bothered to ask what I wanted.
"Where's Quinn?" Jared asked.
Sally shot me a reproachful look. "She left right after praying. Her friends wanted to hang out."
"How about we all have lunch together?" Jared suggested, glancing at me. "Victoria, it's been ages since we all had a meal out with Yvonne."
Sally nodded. "Alright, I was planning to buy Yvonne a toy at lunchtime anyway. Let's go to the mall."
On the way back, Jared asked me to ride with him. Seeing that I didn't respond, Sally said, "Victoria, why don't you talk to Jared? Yvonne can come with me."
I hadn't driven over. I'd come in Sally's car, so now I had no choice but to ride with Jared.
He didn't bring a driver and drove himself. When I went to open the back door, Jared was clearly annoyed. "Come and sit in the front."
But I ignored him and settled into the back seat.
"So now I'm just your driver, huh?" Jared turned to look at me, looking even more furious.
"If you don't want me in your car, I'll just call a cab," I said, reaching for the door.
"Alright, quit it," Jared said, trying to rein in his temper. "Being your exclusive driver isn't exactly a big deal."
I kept quiet. It was still up in the air whose exclusive driver he actually was. Not like I was lucky enough to enjoy that kind of treatment.
Jared looked pretty good behind the wheel, all laid-back and casual. He just drove in silence for a long while.
At a red light, a Maybach squeezed in next to us. Jared glanced over, adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see me sitting in the back.
I was eyeing the car, too. Upon thinking about how Nathan drove the exact same model, my heart fluttered a bit.
"What? Are you fantasizing that Nathan's the one in that car?" Jared shot back, his words edged with thorns.
I crossed my arms over my chest, my tone cool. "And what if I am? Are you going to police even my thoughts now?"
Jared tapped his long fingers on the steering wheel. "Victoria, as long as we're still married, you're my wife. Nathan doesn't even get to fantasize about you."
His words carried an unspoken threat, even without anger. It sent a chill through me, reminding me just how deep Jared's possessiveness and dominance really ran, always hidden beneath the surface.
"Got it? Nathan may be young, but you'd better keep your hands off him." Jared's eyes fixed on me through the rearview mirror, staring me down with that possessive intensity.
It was both a reminder and a warning.
I saw him raise both hands above his head and bow deeply, looking completely devoted.
He was dressed in casual clothes, and for once, he didn't have that usual stern, bossy aura. Instead, he looked refined and elegant, like a breath of fresh air.
I was a bit annoyed, though. He'd interrupted me while I was praying. I hadn't even finished properly praying for some wealth, and he just had to butt in.
So, I said, "I'm praying for money."
Jared, who had just bowed twice, suddenly turned to look at me. "Aren't you here to pray for a child?"
I laughed, "Money is more loyal than a son. Money doesn't go through a rebellious phase, but sons do, from childhood all the way to adulthood."
Jared gave me a speechless look, then finished his prayers and stood up.
I ignored him, closed my eyes, and continued my silent prayer. Finally, I bowed three times sincerely and turned to leave.
Outside, the sun was blazing, so bright I could barely keep my eyes open.
Jared was standing under a tree, watching me. Yvonne and Quinn had wandered off somewhere with Sally.
I didn't want to go over to Jared, so I purposely headed in the other direction, taking in the sights as I walked.
Jared strolled after me at a leisurely pace, then suddenly sped up to catch up. "You've been a bit cold lately."
Keeping my eyes on the crowd, I said lightly, "Have I? I feel like I'm the same as before."
"You never used to just turn away when you saw me." Jared pointed out.
"We've been married this long. No need to act all lovey-dovey, right?" I teased casually.
Suddenly, Jared grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a quieter corner. "Are you still mad about me having dinner with Tracy?"
I gently shook off his hand and looked him straight in the eye. "I'm not mad at you. I just think I can't force some things. Like you?
"If you end up liking someone else, I wouldn't blame you. You're great. It's only natural that people are drawn to you."
"You're acting weird." Jared frowned. "It's like you've been holding a grudge against me lately."
"Isn't this how most couples are? We've been married for seven years. Feelings fade, it's just how it goes," I said, turning to leave.
But Jared quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my way. "Victoria, you're not really thinking of divorcing me, are you?"
I shot him a look, then turned my gaze away.
"Is it because of Nathan?" Jared suddenly brought up his name. "He's younger than me, a hotshot in tech with a limitless future. Did you fall for him?"
I was totally mad at suddenly getting accused like that. I shot back with a sneer, "I'm not like you, Jared. I don't mess around behind my spouse's back."
"It's not as disgraceful as you think between me and Tracy," Jared shot back, his face flushing with anger as he tried to defend himself.
I stared into his reddened eyes, remembering how, in my previous life, he had admitted to me just how passionate things were between him and Tracy. However, now he was denying it. Probably, he really thought I was that naive.
"Jared, can you honestly say you've never once thought about divorcing me to be with her? Can you swear here?" My voice was icy, my gaze sharp as I stared him down. "Think carefully.
"This church is famous for its power. Oaths made here have a way of coming true."
Jared's face went from red to pale. In the end, he didn't dare swear. He just stood there, hands on his hips, staring off into the distance in frustration.
I immediately walked around him, turned a corner, and saw Sally holding Yvonne's hand as they came over.
"Hi, Mommy." Yvonne spotted me and ran over, looking a bit happy as she grabbed my finger.
Sally grinned, "I just had a fortune teller read Yvonne's fortune. He said the next baby will be a boy."
"Mommy, why not give me a little brother ASAP?" Yvonne said, all cheerful as she shook my hand. "I want a little brother."
"Alright, Yvonne, don't say that out loud. Just keep it in your heart," Sally said, beaming like she thought I could give her a son tomorrow.
Jared walked over, and Sally looked at him in surprise. "Jared, didn't you say you weren't coming?"
Jared replied gently, "Mom, the child belongs to both of us. Praying for a child only works if both husband and wife come together."
"Daddy?" Yvonne spotted him, let go of my hand, and ran over with a big smile.
Jared bent down, scooped her up, and gave her nose a playful tap. "Did you have fun?"
"Yes, Daddy. When are you going to kiss Mommy? Grandma said if you two kiss, I'll get a little brother," Yvonne asked, grinning from ear to ear.
As soon as those words left her mouth, not just us—even Sally turned red. She hurried to cover Yvonne's mouth. "Hush now, sweetie. There are so many people here. Your parents will get embarrassed."
Jared just smiled indulgently, "Don't worry. It'll happen soon."
I really didn't want to hear their talk. It was like my feelings didn't even exist to them. Nobody bothered to ask what I wanted.
"Where's Quinn?" Jared asked.
Sally shot me a reproachful look. "She left right after praying. Her friends wanted to hang out."
"How about we all have lunch together?" Jared suggested, glancing at me. "Victoria, it's been ages since we all had a meal out with Yvonne."
Sally nodded. "Alright, I was planning to buy Yvonne a toy at lunchtime anyway. Let's go to the mall."
On the way back, Jared asked me to ride with him. Seeing that I didn't respond, Sally said, "Victoria, why don't you talk to Jared? Yvonne can come with me."
I hadn't driven over. I'd come in Sally's car, so now I had no choice but to ride with Jared.
He didn't bring a driver and drove himself. When I went to open the back door, Jared was clearly annoyed. "Come and sit in the front."
But I ignored him and settled into the back seat.
"So now I'm just your driver, huh?" Jared turned to look at me, looking even more furious.
"If you don't want me in your car, I'll just call a cab," I said, reaching for the door.
"Alright, quit it," Jared said, trying to rein in his temper. "Being your exclusive driver isn't exactly a big deal."
I kept quiet. It was still up in the air whose exclusive driver he actually was. Not like I was lucky enough to enjoy that kind of treatment.
Jared looked pretty good behind the wheel, all laid-back and casual. He just drove in silence for a long while.
At a red light, a Maybach squeezed in next to us. Jared glanced over, adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see me sitting in the back.
I was eyeing the car, too. Upon thinking about how Nathan drove the exact same model, my heart fluttered a bit.
"What? Are you fantasizing that Nathan's the one in that car?" Jared shot back, his words edged with thorns.
I crossed my arms over my chest, my tone cool. "And what if I am? Are you going to police even my thoughts now?"
Jared tapped his long fingers on the steering wheel. "Victoria, as long as we're still married, you're my wife. Nathan doesn't even get to fantasize about you."
His words carried an unspoken threat, even without anger. It sent a chill through me, reminding me just how deep Jared's possessiveness and dominance really ran, always hidden beneath the surface.
"Got it? Nathan may be young, but you'd better keep your hands off him." Jared's eyes fixed on me through the rearview mirror, staring me down with that possessive intensity.
It was both a reminder and a warning.
End of The Housewife's Return To Her Alluring Prime Chapter 57. Continue reading Chapter 58 or return to The Housewife's Return To Her Alluring Prime book page.