Chapter 18
Hearing the men discuss their careers today, I realized with sudden clarity–I deserved that same confidence, that equal seat at the table.
Jared called again as soon as I got home. I answered while sinking into the couch.
“Why weren’t you answering your phone?” Jared’s suspicion bled through the line.
“Must’ve been on silent. What’s up?” The lie came automatically now.
“Who were you out with? Yvonne said you went out again.” He might as well have been taking attendance.
“Just some college friends,” I said lightly. “They’re all doing well here. Thought I’d reconnect before starting work.”
He seemed to turn my answer over in his head before responding. “You’ve changed lately. What’s going on?”
“Changed how?” I toyed with my hair, suddenly recalling my younger self–the one who wanted to burn bright, not fade into someone’s background.
“You’re dressing differently these days,” Jared said, proving he noticed every detail about me.
“Don’t I look good?” I asked with a playful smirk.
“You look fine. Just not… dignified enough.” He was never one to mince words.
“Dignified?” I barked a laugh. “Those wedding vows about loving me unconditionally–were those just empty promises?”
The silence on his end was satisfying. “I never said it was bad,” he finally offered after a loaded pause.
“Was there anything else? I’m tired.” I had zero patience for his critiques tonight.
The line went quiet for a beat. “Fine. Goodbye,” he said tightly before the line went dead.
I clutched my phone with a humorless chuckle. Jared was always perfectly composed, the genteel husband who never raised his voice. But that same restraint made him emotionally sterile.
The truth had always been simple–women mirrored what they were given. Coldness turned them to ice. Passion set them ablaze.
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