The following days unfolded in a blur of routine—school, errands, and family time, all laced with a growing sense of unease that Victoria struggled to shake off. Every time she glanced at her phone, the buzzing sensation of it felt like a weight in her pocket, a constant reminder of the unresolved tension hanging in the air. The suggestive texts haunted her thoughts, and the more she tried to dismiss them, the more they festered like an untreated wound.
As she set about her daily tasks, she noticed how her interactions with Daniel had shifted. He was still charming, still affectionate, but there was an undercurrent of something unspoken that made her skin crawl. He would often come home late, his excuses always wrapped in a smooth package of corporate jargon that only served to deepen her suspicion. That Friday evening, Victoria found herself in a daze, her mind racing as she prepared dinner. The sizzle of vegetables in the pan and the bubbling of pasta in the pot felt like a distant reality as she stood there, knife in hand, slicing through the air more forcefully than necessary. It was the same meal they always had on Fridays: spaghetti and meatballs, but tonight, it felt like she was serving up a false sense of normalcy. “Mommy, can I help?” Ethan asked, tugging at her apron, his little face bright with excitement. “Of course, sweetie! You can set the table,” she said, forcing a smile. He bounced away, and she allowed herself a moment of silence. Leaning against the counter, she felt the weight of the world pressing down on her chest. What do I even know about Daniel? The question spiraled through her mind, relentless and suffocating. She had trusted him completely, but now that trust felt like a fragile shell, ready to shatter at the slightest pressure. After dinner was served, Victoria took a moment to gather her thoughts. The aroma of the meal wafted through the kitchen, a comforting presence amidst her swirling doubts. Should she confront him directly? No, that could lead to chaos—chaos that could spill over and disrupt Ethan’s innocent world. Instead, she decided on a quieter approach. Victoria glanced at the clock; it was almost time for Daniel to come home. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anxiety in her chest. As she cleared the table, her mind began to formulate a plan. After Ethan had eaten his fill and disappeared into the living room to play, she would take a closer look at Daniel’s phone. It felt invasive, wrong even, but the need to know overwhelmed her better judgment. What harm could come from a little investigation? Daniel’s laughter echoed through the house as he walked in, greeted by Ethan’s delighted squeals. He wrapped his arms around both of them, planting kisses on Ethan’s cheeks while Victoria plastered on a smile, the façade of the perfect family in place. “How’s my little superhero?” Daniel asked, tousling Ethan’s hair as he lifted him into the air. “He’s saving the world!” Victoria replied, her voice light but strained as she fought to keep her emotions in check. She excused herself to the kitchen, her heart racing as the plan began to take shape. With each clatter of dishes, her mind raced. She’d need to wait until he was distracted, perhaps after dinner when he settled down with the television. As she finished cleaning up, she caught sight of herself in the reflection of the microwave. Her eyes were shadowed, and her face looked weary, as though the very act of maintaining this normalcy drained her spirit. Why is this so hard? Tears threatened to spill over, but she quickly blinked them back, inhaling deeply to quell the rising tide of sadness. Not now, she told herself, focusing on her family instead. The evening unfolded like a well-rehearsed play. They ate together, Daniel engaged with Ethan, laughing and making silly faces while Victoria contributed only half-heartedly, her mind elsewhere. They chatted about Ethan’s day at school, but Victoria’s responses were automatic, her thoughts tangled in a web of suspicion and heartbreak. “Did you make any new friends today?” Daniel asked, his eyes bright with interest. “Yeah! I played with Jamie. He has the coolest dinosaur stickers!” Ethan beamed, his little hands animated as he described the stickers. “That’s awesome, buddy! We should get some stickers for you to bring to school!” Daniel replied, a warm smile lighting up his face. Victoria watched them, her heart aching. Why can’t I feel this happy? When dinner finally came to an end, and Daniel moved to the living room to catch up on a game, Victoria found a moment of solitude. She rushed to their bedroom, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. She picked up Daniel’s phone from the bedside table, the screen still illuminated from when he had last used it. The messages from Maya flashed in her mind, a haunting specter she couldn’t shake. What if I find something? What if I don’t? Her breath caught in her throat as she held the device, contemplating the betrayal she was about to commit. It felt wrong, but her need to know outweighed her morals. She pressed her thumb against the screen, and it lit up, revealing a world of notifications. Just then, the front door creaked open, and Ethan scampered past, shouting something about a monster in the living room. “Mom! Come quick! There’s a monster!” Victoria dropped the phone back onto the bed, her heart racing as she rushed to join them, guilt washing over her like cold water. Daniel’s laughter rang out, easing her anxiety momentarily. “I think the monster is just a pillow!” he called, his voice playful. “No way! It’s a huge, scary pillow!” Ethan insisted, his little feet pounding across the floor. Victoria took a deep breath, forcing her emotions back down, reminding herself that dinner had gone well and that they were still a family, even if it felt like they were teetering on the brink of chaos. As she entered the living room, Ethan was jumping up and down, waving a pillow around like a sword, his laughter infectious. “See, Mom? I told you!” “Alright, brave Ethan the Monster Slayer! Let’s get that pillow!” Victoria said, joining in the playful banter, her heart softening at the sight of their joy. For now, she would maintain the façade. But deep inside, the knot of anxiety twisted tighter, and she knew the truth was lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. As she tucked Ethan in later that night, she felt the weight of her decision press down on her. She lingered by the door, watching him drift off, the innocent rise and fall of his chest pulling at her heartstrings. She longed for the day when she wouldn’t feel this way, when her family could be whole without the shadows lurking around them. I’ll find out the truth, she promised herself silently. But for now, she would tuck her feelings away, putting on a brave face, if only to protect the innocence of her little superhero.R-18The wedding was a blast. Every people that Victoria loved was there, it was far different from the wedding she had, 7 years ago. Victoria was now at the veranda of their house, the reception was held into their house garden where she personally took care of the flowers, looking below, with a glass of champagne on her right hand. She was now wearing her chiffon dress as her reception dress. A hand suddenly snaked around her wait, she doesn’t have to look who was it. No one would dare to get their hand on her, the moment, Zander announced she was his wife. “Are you tired?” Zander muttered and drop a soft kissed near her ears. “Nah, just happy,” She said while glancing at the party in front of her, “After seven years of fake and failed marriage, I never thought that I could be this happy again, the last time that I remembered that I was genuinely happy was when Ethan was born,” “The last time that I got so happy was when you told me you love me too,” Victoria chuckled, and s
R-18The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the backyard, where the soft murmur of the evening breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers. Victoria sat on the back porch, her legs tucked beneath her, watching the tranquility unfold around her. The city hummed in the distance, but here, in this small pocket of serenity, everything felt perfect.Zander joined her quietly, settling beside her on the steps, a glass of wine in hand. He offered it to her with a soft smile, the warmth in his eyes more intimate than words.“To new beginnings,” he said, his voice low, and the look he gave her seemed to say so much more.Victoria accepted the glass, feeling the coolness of the wine against her fingertips, the familiar strength of his presence beside her. “To new beginnings,” she echoed, taking a sip, the rich taste spreading across her tongue. She glanced around at their friends—Ethan and Sophie, laughing by the grill, teasing each other about their cooking skills. Th
The evening had settled in, a peaceful quiet enveloping the apartment, broken only by the soft clink of glasses and the faint hum of city life in the distance. Victoria sat on the couch, a glass of wine in hand, her eyes focused on the canvas before her.The room was filled with the aroma of fresh paint, an ever-present reminder of the work she poured her soul into. Zander, sitting across from her, leaned back in the chair, his eyes fixed on her with a quiet admiration.“You know,” Zander said, breaking the comfortable silence, “sometimes I can’t help but wonder what our life will look like in a few years.”Victoria’s fingers paused on the brush, her eyes lifting to meet his. “What do you mean?”Zander smiled, his gaze steady. “I mean, we’ve come so far already, and I keep thinking about where we’re going. I want to know your dreams. Not just about today or tomorrow, but about the future. What do you see for us?”Victoria sat back, her mind racing. She had never fully allowed herself
The morning of the wedding arrived with a warm, golden hue filling the sky. It was a perfect day, as though the world had conspired to give them this one, flawless moment. Victoria stood in front of the mirror, taking in the reflection of the woman she had become.The dress she wore, a simple yet elegant design of lace and satin, glimmered with the soft light that streamed in from the window. Her makeup was light, and her hair was softly curled, framing her face in delicate waves. She felt beautiful, not just in appearance, but in every way that truly mattered.“Mommy!” Ethan’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her away from the mirror. She turned around to see him standing at the door, eyes wide with excitement, wearing his little suit. He looked so much like Zander that it made her heart ache with love.“Hey, my handsome boy,” Victoria said, crouching down to his level. She brushed her fingers through his hair, feeling a lump rise in her throat.“I’m ready, Mommy,” Ethan sai
Victoria sat at the dining table, her phone in hand, scrolling through endless wedding inspiration posts. Zander walked in from the living room, a cup of coffee in hand, and sat down across from her.“You’re deep into wedding mode, huh?” Zander chuckled, watching as Victoria flipped through photos.Victoria sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “I just want everything to feel right, you know? Nothing too extravagant, but still special. It has to be perfect for us.”Zander leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening as he watched her. “We’ll make it perfect. You don’t have to stress. It’s about us—our family—and the people who love us.”Victoria smiled, grateful for his calm demeanor. “I know, I know. It’s just hard to narrow down choices when everything is so… big. I don’t want to overwhelm Ethan or make him feel like it’s all too much.”Zander reached over and gently placed his hand over hers. “It’ll be easy, love. Whatever we do, it’ll be just right because it’s ours. Ethan
The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the balcony where Victoria and Sophie sat side by side, a quiet evening breeze brushing through their hair. The past few years had been a whirlwind of change, growth, and, sometimes, heartbreak—but in this moment, the two women found solace in each other’s company, reflecting on the journey that had brought them to this point.Sophie took a deep breath, staring out at the city lights below. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? How much has changed in such a short time.”Victoria nodded, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her wine glass. “I never thought we’d end up here, Sophie. I don’t know where I thought I’d be, but it wasn’t this.”“Yeah,” Sophie said with a laugh, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “I remember when you first told me about Ethan’s father, and all that drama with Zander. I thought, ‘How is she going to get through all of this?’”Victoria chuckled, the memory of those chaotic days bringing a bittersweet smile to