Chapter 2The Tradwife Trap: My Husband's Secret Playbook

The next morning, I played the part of the dutiful wife. I kissed Jason goodbye and sent him to work.

Then, I went to my mother-in-law's house and picked up the kids.

Emma is five, Noah is three, and Lily is one.

The transition was chaos.

"I don't want to go!" Emma screamed, pointing a finger in my face. "You're mean! I want Nana!"

Noah threw a toy truck at my head.

Only Lily, the baby, seemed okay with me.

I made a silent vow: I would give it one month. If I could bond with them, I would fight for full custody. If they were already too poisoned by his family... well, I had to save myself first.

When Jason came home, he stopped in the doorway, horrified by the noise.

"Whoa," he said, frowning. "Babe, why are the monsters here? Send them back to my mom's. I thought we were having a quiet night."

He winked, implying he wanted to work on Baby #4.

I suppressed a gag.

"I missed them," I said flatly. "I want them home for a while."

"But... the plan," he whined. "We need to focus on us."

"I'm not a factory, Jason," I snapped, letting a bit of my real anger show. "You want a soccer team? You push one out. I'm tired."

He looked shocked. I never talked back.

"Okay, okay," he retreated, hands up. "Whatever you say, honey. How long?"

"A month," I said. "Until summer break ends."

He exhaled, clearly relieved there was a time limit.