"Seems like a solid guess."I stopped flipping through the files, a lightbulb going off. "Wait, did Alice hook up with this college guy before giving Yoel the boot?"Jack, on the other end of the line, clicked his tongue. "Bingo! A serial cheater like her? No way she'd settle for just one guy."I mean, not to stir the pot, but Alice's type hasn't changed since you knew her. This intern struts into their office, all high and mighty, just like Yoel used to be, acting like he's the main squeeze."I was hit with a wave of nostalgia but also wondered about Yoel. "Jack, did Yoel ever sign over the house to Alice?"Jack scoffed. "Yoel is no fool. Why would he hand over that property to Alice? He trashed the Benz with fake blood, had it dumped at Alice's place, and that car was toast. And his daughter? Yoel's never been the fatherly type."Alice got the message loud and clear when Yoel went all out—she didn't dare mention the house again."Just like that, a luxury car worth a cool 150 t
When Alice Scott came back, I stared at the birthday cake and swallowed a Sunitinib pill.The pill, a necessary evil since the surgery to remove the cancer from my stomach, had become part of my routine.It was my birthday, and I had bought the cake in advance, waiting for Alice to return home. I wanted to tell her that I had surgery while she was away on her business trip.However, as the clock ticked to seven, with no call or text from Alice, the festive spirit had long evaporated.It was not until I left a snarky comment on Yoel Harris's boastful post about his new property that my phone finally buzzed. Alice's voice crackled through, not with concern or birthday wishes, but a torrent of accusations.I tried to interject, to tell her about the surgery, but the line went dead, and with it, my last bit of composure. The wound on my abdomen, barely healed, throbbed with fresh pain.When Alice finally noticed the medicine and the cake, her eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Is it you
After two grueling hours hooked up to an IV, I stepped outside to find no sign of Alice's car. I felt so awful I could not take it anymore and ended up hailing a cab home.My phone had only been off for a couple of minutes.So, it was clear—she had not come for me at all.Alice used to be so attentive to me. When did she start growing so distant?"You blocked me. I couldn't even call you."Alice paused, the fire in her eyes dimming slightly. "I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you some French Onion Soup for a late-night bite."I stared at the bowl she handed me. It was sprinkled with a few green onions but lacked any trace of beef—it looked more like someone's leftovers.Just half an hour earlier, I had seen Yoel bragging on social media.He had posted a photo of Alice in the kitchen, cooking soup.[Who says there aren't any good women left? She's out here taking me for midnight drives in her slick car, and when I'm hungry, she's up making me delicious soup.]I gave
Jenny gave the girl a swift kick and scolded her for her cluelessness."I need to hit the restroom." I stood up slowly, not wanting to make a scene, just trying to save face for us both.Alice shot me a look, then Yoel, but she did not come after me.When I returned, everyone was lounging on the beach, full and content.Yoel and Alice were cozied up next to each other, their closeness speaking volumes. I quietly grabbed a seat off to the side, keeping to myself.Jenny, ever the life of the party, piped up, "Alright, everyone's here. Game time! Truth or Dare, people."Alice came out on top in the first round, with Yoel on the losing end.He picked the truth, and Alice, playing nice, asked him about any recent joys.Yoel's eyes twinkled as he looked at Alice with a tender gaze."I met this amazing woman, and just like that, I had it all—a house, a car. And get this, she even took me for a spin in her brand-new car to unwind."Finishing his tale, Yoel shot me a smug grin.The c
Time lost its meaning, but when I came to, it was Jack's angry voice that filled my ears."Alice, what were you thinking? You made him swim when he's just had surgery for a stomach tumor. Didn't you know?""He just had an operation... When did he get sick? Why didn't he tell me..." Alice's voice was thick with shock and regret."Are you blind? He's been looking terrible. Haven't you noticed? Or do you only have eyes for Yoel?"Jack was livid. If we were not in a hospital, he might have actually slapped her."I... I had no idea..." Alice's voice trailed off, weaker then."Seriously? You signed over the house to that guy who's all smiles but plotting behind your back, got him a car, and you had no clue? You wonder why he's been so frail lately? Your actions reopened his old wounds!""I...""That's it, I can't stand the sight of you. Get out."Quietness enveloped the room once more, and I gently opened my eyes.Jack sat down next to me, his brows knitted in concern. "Hey, are yo
Alice grabbed the speaker and chucked it out the window disdainfully, a stark contrast to her earlier guilt. "So annoying, I'm done with it."Just in the nick of time, as the stereo was about to meet its end, I grabbed her arm and let out a weary sigh."No need for that, I honestly don't mind.""Honey...""Besides, you two will end up together anyway. He'd be upset if you tossed it."With those words, Alice turned pale. I turned away, gazing out at the world beyond the window, trying to escape the tension in the air.Back at home, Alice broke the news that she had booked our November getaway."You've always dreamed of seeing the snow in Eddington, right? Look after yourself these next few months. We'll make the trip in November, I've taken care of all the arrangements."I used to fantasize about dropping everything just to spend a couple of weeks in Eddington with the woman I love, basking in life's simple pleasures.However, five years into our marriage, my whimsical dreams w
"Seems like a solid guess."I stopped flipping through the files, a lightbulb going off. "Wait, did Alice hook up with this college guy before giving Yoel the boot?"Jack, on the other end of the line, clicked his tongue. "Bingo! A serial cheater like her? No way she'd settle for just one guy."I mean, not to stir the pot, but Alice's type hasn't changed since you knew her. This intern struts into their office, all high and mighty, just like Yoel used to be, acting like he's the main squeeze."I was hit with a wave of nostalgia but also wondered about Yoel. "Jack, did Yoel ever sign over the house to Alice?"Jack scoffed. "Yoel is no fool. Why would he hand over that property to Alice? He trashed the Benz with fake blood, had it dumped at Alice's place, and that car was toast. And his daughter? Yoel's never been the fatherly type."Alice got the message loud and clear when Yoel went all out—she didn't dare mention the house again."Just like that, a luxury car worth a cool 150 t
That night, I implored Alice to think of our love and to end things with Yoel.She was lounging on the couch, glued to her phone, a secret smile playing on her lips as she read Yoel's messages, her gaze soft and doting.Then she turned to me with a frosty look. "Richard, why must you always be such a downer? Can't you just let emotions be less... consuming? No one dies from a breakup. You hovering over me like this is suffocating."I spent the rest of that night wide awake.…"You can't find it in your heart to forgive me?" Alice's voice broke as she sought my eyes, her own filled with tears."Alright.""Really? You mean it? You forgive me?""I forgive you, but it doesn't change a thing about the divorce. We'll settle this in court."I left her there, her face ashen as she collapsed to the floor.That night, Alice caught the red-eye back home.Days later, Yoel's messages popped up again, this time with a barrage of photos of him and Alice, together.He was a changed man fro
Alice grabbed the speaker and chucked it out the window disdainfully, a stark contrast to her earlier guilt. "So annoying, I'm done with it."Just in the nick of time, as the stereo was about to meet its end, I grabbed her arm and let out a weary sigh."No need for that, I honestly don't mind.""Honey...""Besides, you two will end up together anyway. He'd be upset if you tossed it."With those words, Alice turned pale. I turned away, gazing out at the world beyond the window, trying to escape the tension in the air.Back at home, Alice broke the news that she had booked our November getaway."You've always dreamed of seeing the snow in Eddington, right? Look after yourself these next few months. We'll make the trip in November, I've taken care of all the arrangements."I used to fantasize about dropping everything just to spend a couple of weeks in Eddington with the woman I love, basking in life's simple pleasures.However, five years into our marriage, my whimsical dreams w
Time lost its meaning, but when I came to, it was Jack's angry voice that filled my ears."Alice, what were you thinking? You made him swim when he's just had surgery for a stomach tumor. Didn't you know?""He just had an operation... When did he get sick? Why didn't he tell me..." Alice's voice was thick with shock and regret."Are you blind? He's been looking terrible. Haven't you noticed? Or do you only have eyes for Yoel?"Jack was livid. If we were not in a hospital, he might have actually slapped her."I... I had no idea..." Alice's voice trailed off, weaker then."Seriously? You signed over the house to that guy who's all smiles but plotting behind your back, got him a car, and you had no clue? You wonder why he's been so frail lately? Your actions reopened his old wounds!""I...""That's it, I can't stand the sight of you. Get out."Quietness enveloped the room once more, and I gently opened my eyes.Jack sat down next to me, his brows knitted in concern. "Hey, are yo
Jenny gave the girl a swift kick and scolded her for her cluelessness."I need to hit the restroom." I stood up slowly, not wanting to make a scene, just trying to save face for us both.Alice shot me a look, then Yoel, but she did not come after me.When I returned, everyone was lounging on the beach, full and content.Yoel and Alice were cozied up next to each other, their closeness speaking volumes. I quietly grabbed a seat off to the side, keeping to myself.Jenny, ever the life of the party, piped up, "Alright, everyone's here. Game time! Truth or Dare, people."Alice came out on top in the first round, with Yoel on the losing end.He picked the truth, and Alice, playing nice, asked him about any recent joys.Yoel's eyes twinkled as he looked at Alice with a tender gaze."I met this amazing woman, and just like that, I had it all—a house, a car. And get this, she even took me for a spin in her brand-new car to unwind."Finishing his tale, Yoel shot me a smug grin.The c
After two grueling hours hooked up to an IV, I stepped outside to find no sign of Alice's car. I felt so awful I could not take it anymore and ended up hailing a cab home.My phone had only been off for a couple of minutes.So, it was clear—she had not come for me at all.Alice used to be so attentive to me. When did she start growing so distant?"You blocked me. I couldn't even call you."Alice paused, the fire in her eyes dimming slightly. "I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you some French Onion Soup for a late-night bite."I stared at the bowl she handed me. It was sprinkled with a few green onions but lacked any trace of beef—it looked more like someone's leftovers.Just half an hour earlier, I had seen Yoel bragging on social media.He had posted a photo of Alice in the kitchen, cooking soup.[Who says there aren't any good women left? She's out here taking me for midnight drives in her slick car, and when I'm hungry, she's up making me delicious soup.]I gave
When Alice Scott came back, I stared at the birthday cake and swallowed a Sunitinib pill.The pill, a necessary evil since the surgery to remove the cancer from my stomach, had become part of my routine.It was my birthday, and I had bought the cake in advance, waiting for Alice to return home. I wanted to tell her that I had surgery while she was away on her business trip.However, as the clock ticked to seven, with no call or text from Alice, the festive spirit had long evaporated.It was not until I left a snarky comment on Yoel Harris's boastful post about his new property that my phone finally buzzed. Alice's voice crackled through, not with concern or birthday wishes, but a torrent of accusations.I tried to interject, to tell her about the surgery, but the line went dead, and with it, my last bit of composure. The wound on my abdomen, barely healed, throbbed with fresh pain.When Alice finally noticed the medicine and the cake, her eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Is it you