\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 2\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked out of the bathroom and found Gianna in the kitchen and Vincent in the living room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes were glued to the TV, but he wasn\u2019t really watching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAh!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp cry rang out from the kitchen. I rushed toward the sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent charged past me, shoving me aside with enough force to slam my back against the doorframe,\u00a0<\/p>\n
The impact knocked a low groan out of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He grabbed Gianna This book had been added on your bookshelf. into his mouth-a gesture that felt far too practiced and intimate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all red. Does it still hurt?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gianna pulled her hand away, looking awkward. \u201cVince, that\u2019s enough. I know you mean well, but this is a little too much for Becca to see.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent stiffened. He turned to me, his voice taking on a defensive, explanatory tone. \u201cBecca, Gianna\u2019s the one who\u2019s always looked out for you. I know it upsets you when she\u2019s hurt. I won\u2019t do this next time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The warm kitchen light hit their clasped hands, creating a heaviness in the room that made it hard to breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head numbly and backed out of the room, putting physical distance between us to match the growing distance in our marriage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat at the dining table, staring blankly at my empty plate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:05%\u00a0<\/p>\n
288 Vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they finally joined me, they both looked uneasy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced the corners of my mouth up and waved them over. \u201cCan we eat yet? I\u2019m starving.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The vibe at the table lacked its usual ease; the tension was so thick it felt physically oppressive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Halfway through the meal, a delivery arrived-a bouquet of roses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHappy fifth anniversary, Becca,\u201d Vincent said, handing them to me. His voice was flat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In five years of marriage, this was the first gift he had ever given me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled as I took them, but my excitement vanished the second my eyes swept over the attached card.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGia, the 3,667th bouquet, for the 3,667th day of loving you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp sting hit my nose, and tears fell before I could stop them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Vincent asked, panic rising in his voice as he fumbled for a tissue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wiped my eyes, my voice trembling. \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026 It\u2019s the first time you\u2019ve ever given me flowers. I\u2019m overwhelmed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecca, don\u2019t be so easy on him,\u201d Gianna said, her expression unreadable. \u201cHe can be charming one moment, and you might not even realize how he\u2019s playing you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head, my voice muffled. \u201cIf it\u2019s the two of you lying to me, I don\u2019t mind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gianna\u2019s hand froze on my hair. Her body went rigid, and she didn\u2019t say another word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:05:\u00a0<\/p>\n
After dinner, Gianna started to clear the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent, who never did chores, stood up abruptly and took the plate from her. \u201cI\u2019ll do it. You sit down and rest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As they went back and forth, I reached out and took the dishes, \u201cGia, your hand is hurt. I\u2019ll wash them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent paused, reaching out to help me, but I stepped away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou stay here. Keep Gia company.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He hesitated for a second, then pulled Gianna down to sit with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
had taken care of me for so many years, she deserved a break.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I owed her everything-even my life, if she asked for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The only problem was that she had fallen in love with Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked into the kitchen intending to wash the dishes, but instead, I found myself pulling up the security feed on my phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the screen, Vincent held up a ring, his voice angry. \u201cGia, I gave this ring to you. Why give it to Becca? Haven\u2019t you sacrificed enough for her? Now you want to give me up, too?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shanna\u2019s voice was choked with tears as she turned her head away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Becca?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGiving in once was enough. We have to stop before it goes any further.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the mention of my name, Vincent\u2019s expression froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He closed his eyes, looking like he had made a decision. \u201cIf you\u2019re willing, I can\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gi\u00a0<\/p>\n
eried out and clamped her hand over his mouth. \u201cDon\u2019t! I don\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
11.05 WO\u00a0<\/p>\n
want to hurt Becca!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I abruptly turned off the feed. Large tears splashed onto the dishes, instantly washed away by the running water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Gianna walked in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She held up her hand, her eyes shining with happiness. \u201cBecca, look. Do you like the new ring I bought?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I quickly wiped my face dry and teased her, just like I always used to. \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it looks like part of a couple\u2019s set. Come on, tell me are you seeing someone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I was ten, my parents died in a car accident.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gianna, only fifteen at the time, dropped out of school and worked to raise me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She gave up her education for me, never dared to date, and focused only on making money.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whenever I saw her collapse from exhaustion, I wanted to quit school to help, but she would always scold me furiously. \u201cRebecca! I quit school so you could have a future, not so you could become a laborer like me!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t want me taking orders from people my whole life, then study hard. Whatever happens, I\u2019ll earn the money so you can study!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was only five years older, but she shouldered every burden for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, Vincent came along.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With his brilliant mind and scholarship money, he helped support us, and life slowly began to improve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
59.71%\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:05 0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 2\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were the people I loved most, the ones I owed everything to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1288 Vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I once thought this love and gratitude would be the stable foundation of my entire life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Gianna paused. Her eyes darted instinctively toward Vincent. She hesitated for a moment, then gave a soft, affirmative hum.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced a smile and grabbed her hand, feigning excitement. \u201cIs your boyfriend good to you? Tell me everything. If he isn\u2019t, I won\u2019t stand for it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She glanced at Vincent out of the corner of her eye and spoke shyly. \u201cHe\u2026 he\u2019s younger than me, but very thoughtful. Back when I used to work overtime and he was still in school, he\u2019d go out of his way to bring me food. He knew I was afraid of the dark, so he\u2019d wait to walk me home at night. When I had a fever, he stayed up all night taking care of me\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In that moment, all the details I had ignored came flooding back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I walked home at night and called him for a ride, he\u2019d said, \u201cI\u2019m busy with research. Just take a taxi.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I had a high fever from a bad flu, he simply told me to take some medicine myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My belief that he was busy, or that he just didn\u2019t get it, was nothing but a self-deceptive excuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp, intense pain radiated through my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds wonderful,\u201d I interrupted, my voice trembling but sincere. \u201cGia, I wish you happiness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:05 M\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.<\/p>\n
Nothing Fell Apart by Mark Twain 2 \u00a0 Chapter 2\u00a0 I walked out of the bathroom and found Gianna in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-unfaithful-husband-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22835\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}