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Chapter 4
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2024-12-11 19:53:43Related chapters
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 5
John looked like he could not believe his ears. I was actually suggesting a divorce.He knew I had always been terrified of him leaving me and being alone without him.He was the only person I had left by my side.He would use that fear against me. Whenever he screwed up, he would threaten me with divorce if I did not calm down.I would always end up crying and willing to forget all his mistakes as I begged him not to go through with it. That had been my life for years."I said I want a divorce. Can you hear me?" I repeated it, firmer this time.Staring at him, my heart felt still for once.He used to be the boy I adored.However, after we got married, I slowly stopped being his priority.His Messenger was always full of hotel bookings, and his chat logs were suspiciously spotless.Whenever I confronted him, he would say the hotels were for business trips and that he just liked to keep his chats tidy.Then, he would throw in a jab: "You really don't trust me? Women are just
Last Updated : 2024-12-11When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 6
The art show wrapped up. Hank was the perfect gentleman, offering to escort me out and drive me home.Before I could even respond, John grabbed my hand."She's got a husband. I'll take her home," he declared and whisked me away.A sharp, fishy stench hit me the moment I stepped into the car. I was not naive, and I knew exactly what that smell meant."I just had the car washed. It's probably the cleaner they used," John blurted out a bit too quickly.I let it slide, asking instead, "What about Holly?"You're just going to leave her to get herself home?""Yasmin, can you please drop the attitude?" he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation."I know I shouldn't have fought with you this morning. I've been wrong about a lot of things."I get that you can't stand Holly. I'll cut ties with her. Can't we just get back to how things used to be?"I had heard his empty promises more times than I could count.Six years trapped in a joyless marriage was more than enough.Now, all I
Last Updated : 2024-12-11When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 7
John caught up to me and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug."Yasmin, what's going on with you?"How come you're not freaking out about me getting cozy with another woman?"I froze. He knew exactly what he was doing.I shoved him off me."Why should I care?"Aren't you all about Holly lately? You've been all over her on social media.""No, that's not it…"He looked at me, his face twisted in pain, trying to explain."I was just trying to get a rise out of you. I thought you'd come after me like you used to."His words brought back memories.Back then, he would post flirty pictures with Holly just to get at me when we were fighting. I would always end up crying, begging him not to leave me and be with someone else.However, that was when I still loved him.Now, I did not. The love I had for him had been chipped away by all he had done."John, you don't have to do this."I faced him, my expression blank and my voice steady."There's no going back for us."I don't
Last Updated : 2024-12-11When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 8
"Enough about that. I'm going to prove my sincerity to you now."John grabbed a rose and unveiled the contents of the gift box.A white silk dress was nestled inside.I had once pleaded with him to buy that very dress for me.Back then, he had snapped, "Do you even deserve a dress that pretty? It's not even practical considering all the cooking you do every day."I lifted the dress, running my fingers over the smooth fabric.However, the dress did not seem so beautiful to me anymore.In a swift motion, I tossed it straight into the trash."This dress isn't pretty at all."John's face went pale, and he scrambled to rescue the dress from the bin."But you used to love this dress! You begged me to get it for you.""People change," I murmured. "Just like you've changed.""I..." He was at a loss for words.He knew better than anyone the kind of person he had turned into.The boy who used to cycle to the ice cream shop with me was nowhere to be found.Six years had passed, and
Last Updated : 2024-12-11When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 9
"Sorry about that. I just wanted to give that jerk a taste of his own medicine."Once we were out of John's sight, I let go of Hank's arm.He was blushing a little.“I’m honored to have been part of one of your genius schemes.”I could not help but laugh. "You're quite the comedian yourself."...Later that night, John's call caught me off guard.His voice was all choked up."Yasmin, I might as well die if you really don't want me anymore.""Where are you?""I'm on the rooftop of my place."I went back to him. Not because I was scared he would jump, but because we were not divorced yet. If he died, I would be stuck planning his funeral, and the thought of that disgusted me.He was a mess when I got there. He was sitting on the rooftop, surrounded by a sea of beer bottles, with his eyes rimmed red."Yasmin, please don't stay with that guy, okay?"His voice was shaky, and he looked totally lost."Who I'm with is none of your business, John."I kept my voice cool and detac
Last Updated : 2024-12-11When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 1
As I was freshening up in the bathroom, my eyes caught a glimpse of something unsettling in the trash can: a pair of black lace panties that screamed seduction. Resting on them was a used condom, its contents a telling milky white.I stood frozen in place, petrified.John Smith and I had not been intimate in over a year, and I was too reserved to wear something as skimpy as that.The only explanation was that John had enjoyed some company while I was out at a friend's place yesterday.I reached for my phone, intent on confronting him, but his latest Messenger text stopped me in my tracks.[I’m swamped. Can you handle things yourself today?]Why today, out of all days? It was the anniversary of my mom's passing.John used to join me for the memorial prayers.I had even double-checked with him in the morning before he headed to work, and he said he would be there.Now, he was bailing.What could have been so important?That was when I saw Holly Green, his so-called god-sister,
Last Updated : 2024-12-11When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 2
I slumped on the living room couch, my gaze shifting between my phone and the portrait of my late mother.She had cried in her last moments, entrusting me to John's care and begging him to look after me.Standing by her deathbed, John had solemnly promised, "Mom, you can rest easy. I'll take good care of Yasmin for you."However, since she had been gone, John started spending more and more nights away from home.He would come home reeking of another woman's perfume, his skin often marked with telltale signs of betrayal.Every time it happened, tears would stream down my face as I asked him if there was someone else. He would snap back, "You're going crazy! You’re cooped up all day playing housewife, and you’re starting to imagine crazy things. I'm out there networking, so of course I'm gonna pick up different scents."Snapping out of it, I gathered my things and made my way to my mom's grave.I laid down the flowers and poured my heart out to her tombstone.I told her that I
Last Updated : 2024-12-11When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 3
Holly was already whipping up something in the kitchen when I got home. John had given her our home's secret code. She had made herself quite at home since then, popping over whenever she felt like it. That was why I had gotten into the habit of changing the code daily.However, I just did not bother today. What was the point? John would just tell Holly the new code anyway. It was pointless to put in this Sisyphean effort."Yasmin, you're back! Dinner's almost ready!" Holly called out with her cutesy, doll-like smile, acting like she owned the place. She and John had hit it off at some party two years back. Rumor had it that John was plastered, and she played the good Samaritan with a juice box. He was so moved that he started calling her his 'god-sister'—a title he had dropped on me without asking. Just like that, she was part of the family."Uh-huh," I muttered, snapping out of my thoughts and acknowledging Holly. I headed to my room to change, with John hot on my heel
Last Updated : 2024-12-11
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When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 9
"Sorry about that. I just wanted to give that jerk a taste of his own medicine."Once we were out of John's sight, I let go of Hank's arm.He was blushing a little.“I’m honored to have been part of one of your genius schemes.”I could not help but laugh. "You're quite the comedian yourself."...Later that night, John's call caught me off guard.His voice was all choked up."Yasmin, I might as well die if you really don't want me anymore.""Where are you?""I'm on the rooftop of my place."I went back to him. Not because I was scared he would jump, but because we were not divorced yet. If he died, I would be stuck planning his funeral, and the thought of that disgusted me.He was a mess when I got there. He was sitting on the rooftop, surrounded by a sea of beer bottles, with his eyes rimmed red."Yasmin, please don't stay with that guy, okay?"His voice was shaky, and he looked totally lost."Who I'm with is none of your business, John."I kept my voice cool and detac
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 8
"Enough about that. I'm going to prove my sincerity to you now."John grabbed a rose and unveiled the contents of the gift box.A white silk dress was nestled inside.I had once pleaded with him to buy that very dress for me.Back then, he had snapped, "Do you even deserve a dress that pretty? It's not even practical considering all the cooking you do every day."I lifted the dress, running my fingers over the smooth fabric.However, the dress did not seem so beautiful to me anymore.In a swift motion, I tossed it straight into the trash."This dress isn't pretty at all."John's face went pale, and he scrambled to rescue the dress from the bin."But you used to love this dress! You begged me to get it for you.""People change," I murmured. "Just like you've changed.""I..." He was at a loss for words.He knew better than anyone the kind of person he had turned into.The boy who used to cycle to the ice cream shop with me was nowhere to be found.Six years had passed, and
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 7
John caught up to me and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug."Yasmin, what's going on with you?"How come you're not freaking out about me getting cozy with another woman?"I froze. He knew exactly what he was doing.I shoved him off me."Why should I care?"Aren't you all about Holly lately? You've been all over her on social media.""No, that's not it…"He looked at me, his face twisted in pain, trying to explain."I was just trying to get a rise out of you. I thought you'd come after me like you used to."His words brought back memories.Back then, he would post flirty pictures with Holly just to get at me when we were fighting. I would always end up crying, begging him not to leave me and be with someone else.However, that was when I still loved him.Now, I did not. The love I had for him had been chipped away by all he had done."John, you don't have to do this."I faced him, my expression blank and my voice steady."There's no going back for us."I don't
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 6
The art show wrapped up. Hank was the perfect gentleman, offering to escort me out and drive me home.Before I could even respond, John grabbed my hand."She's got a husband. I'll take her home," he declared and whisked me away.A sharp, fishy stench hit me the moment I stepped into the car. I was not naive, and I knew exactly what that smell meant."I just had the car washed. It's probably the cleaner they used," John blurted out a bit too quickly.I let it slide, asking instead, "What about Holly?"You're just going to leave her to get herself home?""Yasmin, can you please drop the attitude?" he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation."I know I shouldn't have fought with you this morning. I've been wrong about a lot of things."I get that you can't stand Holly. I'll cut ties with her. Can't we just get back to how things used to be?"I had heard his empty promises more times than I could count.Six years trapped in a joyless marriage was more than enough.Now, all I
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 5
John looked like he could not believe his ears. I was actually suggesting a divorce.He knew I had always been terrified of him leaving me and being alone without him.He was the only person I had left by my side.He would use that fear against me. Whenever he screwed up, he would threaten me with divorce if I did not calm down.I would always end up crying and willing to forget all his mistakes as I begged him not to go through with it. That had been my life for years."I said I want a divorce. Can you hear me?" I repeated it, firmer this time.Staring at him, my heart felt still for once.He used to be the boy I adored.However, after we got married, I slowly stopped being his priority.His Messenger was always full of hotel bookings, and his chat logs were suspiciously spotless.Whenever I confronted him, he would say the hotels were for business trips and that he just liked to keep his chats tidy.Then, he would throw in a jab: "You really don't trust me? Women are just
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 4
"Hey, Yasmin. You weren't home the other night, and I kind of crashed here because I was too wasted to go home. I think I left my undies somewhere. Have you seen them?"Holly's cheeks were a shade of pink, and her eyes sparkled with a sly satisfaction.She seemed eager to drop the bomb that she had hooked up with my husband.That trash I found was clearly her doing."Yeah, I found them in the bathroom trash. You tossed them there, didn't you?"Oh, and there was a condom there too."I had never been one to play nice with her kind.John went as white as a sheet when he heard that, blurting out, "Holly, no more bringing your boyfriend over. Got it?"He was shooting her desperate looks.Holly looked a bit miffed but managed to say, "Sorry, Yasmin. My boyfriend left that there."I had to laugh on the inside.Putting on a show right in front of me? Do they think I'm clueless?I kept my cool and just kept eating.After dinner, I did not bother with the dishes.I knew Holly and J
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 3
Holly was already whipping up something in the kitchen when I got home. John had given her our home's secret code. She had made herself quite at home since then, popping over whenever she felt like it. That was why I had gotten into the habit of changing the code daily.However, I just did not bother today. What was the point? John would just tell Holly the new code anyway. It was pointless to put in this Sisyphean effort."Yasmin, you're back! Dinner's almost ready!" Holly called out with her cutesy, doll-like smile, acting like she owned the place. She and John had hit it off at some party two years back. Rumor had it that John was plastered, and she played the good Samaritan with a juice box. He was so moved that he started calling her his 'god-sister'—a title he had dropped on me without asking. Just like that, she was part of the family."Uh-huh," I muttered, snapping out of my thoughts and acknowledging Holly. I headed to my room to change, with John hot on my heel
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 2
I slumped on the living room couch, my gaze shifting between my phone and the portrait of my late mother.She had cried in her last moments, entrusting me to John's care and begging him to look after me.Standing by her deathbed, John had solemnly promised, "Mom, you can rest easy. I'll take good care of Yasmin for you."However, since she had been gone, John started spending more and more nights away from home.He would come home reeking of another woman's perfume, his skin often marked with telltale signs of betrayal.Every time it happened, tears would stream down my face as I asked him if there was someone else. He would snap back, "You're going crazy! You’re cooped up all day playing housewife, and you’re starting to imagine crazy things. I'm out there networking, so of course I'm gonna pick up different scents."Snapping out of it, I gathered my things and made my way to my mom's grave.I laid down the flowers and poured my heart out to her tombstone.I told her that I
When Dreams Fade to Ashes Chapter 1
As I was freshening up in the bathroom, my eyes caught a glimpse of something unsettling in the trash can: a pair of black lace panties that screamed seduction. Resting on them was a used condom, its contents a telling milky white.I stood frozen in place, petrified.John Smith and I had not been intimate in over a year, and I was too reserved to wear something as skimpy as that.The only explanation was that John had enjoyed some company while I was out at a friend's place yesterday.I reached for my phone, intent on confronting him, but his latest Messenger text stopped me in my tracks.[I’m swamped. Can you handle things yourself today?]Why today, out of all days? It was the anniversary of my mom's passing.John used to join me for the memorial prayers.I had even double-checked with him in the morning before he headed to work, and he said he would be there.Now, he was bailing.What could have been so important?That was when I saw Holly Green, his so-called god-sister,
