The night had fallen, and the house was quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator and the distant rustle of the wind outside. I sat on the edge of the bed, the weight of the past few days pressing down on me.My mind swirled with questions, anger, and a deep, gnawing ache in my chest. I could still feel the heat of the argument with Rita, the sting of her disapproval lingering like a bad taste in my mouth. But beneath that, something else had begun to grow—a quiet, dangerous thought that threatened to consume me.I stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth across the room. My fingers brushed against the corner of the dresser, my gaze moving to the window, where the moonlight spilled across the floor. The quiet seemed to mock me, reminding me of the stillness in my own heart.Daniel’s betrayal wasn’t something I had ever expected. I had always known he was distant at times, but the affair with Isabelle—that was something different. That had shattered something inside me, something I w
I sat on the couch, the silence between Sophie and me heavy, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I could feel her eyes on me, waiting for me to say something. My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my shirt as I avoided looking at her, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. I wasn’t sure how to put the words together—how to tell her what had been eating away at me for so long.Finally, Sophie spoke, breaking the tension. “You’re not okay, Vic. I know that. What’s going on? You can’t keep pretending everything’s fine.”I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar knot in my stomach tighten. I’d always been able to tell Sophie anything, but this… this was different. This was a betrayal that I could hardly even acknowledge out loud.Taking a deep breath, I met her eyes, the pain I had been hiding now spilling out. “Sophie, I… I don’t know how to say this, but…” I paused, my voice shaking. “Daniel’s been cheating on me.”Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I saw the shock and disbe
The afternoon light poured through the windows, casting a soft glow across the living room. Ethan was sprawled on the couch, a pile of books scattered around him as he flipped through the pages of one, his brow furrowed in concentration. I watched him for a moment, my heart aching with love for this little boy who had become my world, and I wondered how much longer I could keep him shielded from the storm brewing in our lives.I walked over and sat down beside him, running my fingers through his dark hair. “Hey, how’s the reading going?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light, even though my mind was a thousand miles away.Ethan looked up, his wide brown eyes filled with the innocence of childhood. “It’s good, Mom,” he said, offering me a small smile. “I like reading about the stars. Do you think there are aliens out there?”I couldn’t help but smile at his curiosity. His mind always seemed to be buzzing with questions, dreams, and ideas that had nothing to do with the chaos swirling
The night felt heavy, the silence stretching between Zander and me as we sat in his living room, the only sound the soft hum of the city outside the window.A glass of wine sat untouched on the coffee table in front of us, the red liquid swirling in the glass as if mocking the stillness in the air. My hands were clenched, and despite the calm demeanor I tried to maintain, my insides were a tangled mess of anxiety and fear.Zander looked at me across the room, his gaze intense, searching. He was waiting for me to say something, anything, to move the conversation forward. But I couldn’t.“We can’t keep living like this, Victoria,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Daniel’s actions, they’re not just hurting you anymore. They’re hurting Ethan too. He deserves to know the truth.”I shifted uncomfortably, my fingers tapping against my knee. Ethan was always at the forefront of my mind. He was the reason I hadn’t acted sooner, the reason I hesitated every time I considered exposing Daniel fo
The grand ballroom was alive with laughter and the clinking of glasses, a world away from the storm inside my chest. I stood close to Daniel, trying to force myself to engage with the guests around us, but the weight of everything I’d been bottling up felt suffocating. Ethan was beside us, his tiny hand gripped firmly in mine, as we made our way through the crowd. I could feel Daniel’s hand on my back, his fingers gentle, but I couldn’t escape the distance I felt between us.“You look amazing tonight, Victoria,” Daniel said, his voice warm as he leaned in close.“Thank you,” I replied, offering him a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. The compliment felt empty, as if it was just another thing expected of us, another part of the performance I was growing so tired of.Daniel didn’t seem to notice the strain in my voice. He was lost in the excitement of the event, mingling with old acquaintances, greeting people with his usual charm. I could feel his gaze on me a few times, but it wa
The drive back from the party was quiet, too quiet. The headlights of our car sliced through the night, casting fleeting shadows along the road.Ethan had fallen asleep in the backseat, his little head resting against the window, oblivious to the tension that hung in the air between Daniel and me. I could feel it—a subtle but undeniable distance between us, something that had grown over time, something that we both chose to ignore until it became too big to avoid.Once we got home, I helped Ethan into his pajamas and tucked him into bed. Daniel kissed him goodnight and then retreated to his study, as usual. I wandered into our bedroom, but the weight of the evening kept pulling me into a place I didn’t want to go. I couldn’t sleep.My mind wouldn’t stop spinning, analyzing every look, every word, every moment that had made tonight feel like a performance—something I didn’t want to be a part of anymore.I tossed and turned for what felt like hours, but it was no use. Sleep wouldn’t com
The next evening, I found myself pacing in the dimly lit park where Zander had asked me to meet him. The air was heavy with the scent of damp grass, the streetlights casting faint glows on the winding pathways. My heart thudded painfully in my chest. I wasn’t sure why I agreed to this, why I let him pull me back into his orbit. But the promise of answers, the possibility of truth, outweighed my hesitation.Zander was already there, leaning against a bench near the edge of the park, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his dark coat. His face was shadowed, but even from a distance, I could see the tension in his posture.“Victoria,” he greeted as I approached, his voice low, his tone heavy.I stopped a few feet away, crossing my arms tightly. “This better be important, Zander.”“It is.” He looked at me for a moment, his expression unreadable, before motioning for me to sit. “Please.”Reluctantly, I sat down, but I kept a guarded distance. “Say what you need to say.”He took a deep breat
The air was tense as Zander and I sat across from each other in the dimly lit café, the quiet murmur of patrons around us barely registering. The weight of what we were planning pressed heavily on my chest, but I knew there was no turning back. The betrayal we both faced had created a bond, an unspoken understanding that this wasn’t just about revenge—it was about reclaiming the control stolen from us.“This has to look real, Victoria,” Zander said, breaking the silence. His tone was measured, but his piercing gaze left no room for doubt.I nodded, my hands tightening around the cup of tea I hadn’t touched. “I know. But we can’t go too far. I don’t want Ethan involved in this.”“Agreed,” he said without hesitation. “This is between us and them. Ethan won’t know a thing.”I sighed, glancing out the window at the passing cars. The streetlights cast a faint glow on the glass, but it did little to lighten the storm inside me. “How do we even begin?”Zander leaned forward, his voice droppi
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
Ethan sat at the kitchen table, his small hands gripping a crayon as he carefully drew shapes on the piece of paper in front of him. His tongue stuck out in concentration as he shaded in a house, a tree, and a bright sun in the corner. Victoria watched him from the counter, a warm smile tugging at her lips.Zander, who had just finished making breakfast, placed a plate of pancakes in front of her before sitting down next to Ethan. He ruffled Ethan’s hair, his touch gentle. “How’s the masterpiece coming along, buddy?”Ethan beamed up at him, his eyes sparkling with pride. “It’s almost done! I’m going to make it perfect, just like you said.”Victoria couldn’t help but chuckle at his determination. It had been like this for weeks now—Ethan was always eager to learn, to create, to take on new challenges. Ever since they moved into the house, he had become more energetic, more confident. He was flourishing, thriving in this environment that was filled with love, safety, and encouragement.
Victoria stepped through the front door, feeling the cool air conditioning hit her face as she walked into the living room. The house was spacious—modern, but cozy, with light wooden floors that gleamed under the soft lighting. A large sectional sofa rested in the center of the room, complemented by a sleek coffee table. The walls were a soft, neutral beige, with just the right amount of warmth from the sunlight pouring through the windows.“Do you like it?” Zander asked, standing beside her with a hopeful look on his face. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.Victoria smiled, walking further into the room. “I love it,” she said, taking in the high ceilings, the contemporary decor, and the natural light. “It’s perfect. It feels… like home.”Zander grinned, his arms crossing as he took a step closer. “Yeah? I was a little nervous, honestly. I wanted it to feel right for you too.”“It feels right,” she repeated, her voice soft. She
The soft afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the living room. Victoria sat on the couch, her legs tucked under her as she gazed out the window, lost in thought.She had spent so much of her life trying to figure out who she was and where she belonged. She had spent years resenting her mother, Rita, for things that had happened in their past, but now, she found herself in a place where understanding, though still delicate, was beginning to bloom.The doorbell rang, pulling Victoria from her thoughts. She straightened up, wiping the faintest trace of tears from her eyes. It had been a quiet day, one where memories had bubbled up, and the weight of everything that had transpired felt heavier than usual. But there was something in her that told her this day would be different.She opened the door to find Rita standing there, a gentle smile on her face. There was no anger or resentment, just a tentative peace in her expression that made Victoria pause.“Ma