\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t remember getting home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I came to it was already six days into the New Year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mom and Dad saw I was off, but didn\u2019t ask.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They just kept trying to joking, distracting me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That morning Mom asked carefully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Reeds invited you for dinner. Do you want to go?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced at my phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton had finally replied yesterday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two messages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One deleted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The newest one just said: \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I agreed to go anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some things needed to be faced head-on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a crowd outside the Reed house.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their eyes were strange when they saw me-some pitying, some just curious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest tightened. I walked in and saw Ashton kneeling in the middle of the living room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Standing awkwardly beside him was Jade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He must\u2019ve brought her home the second he saw my breakup text.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mrs. Reed\u2019s face was bright red, slamming the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou ungrateful brat! How could you do this to Stella!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton looked rough, but his expression stayed defiant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10.00\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll explain it to her. I don\u2019t love her anymore. Jade\u2019s my girlfriend now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It felt like someone was squeezing my heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing him say it out loud still hurt like hell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mrs. Reed was almost laughing in anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen tell me what\u2019s so special about her that you\u2019d throw away ten years with Stella.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton\u2019s face lit up with happiness and pride.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe cooks for me. Smooths out my always-wrinkled shirts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven when the company hits a crisis, she stays up all night with me, working through it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStella just hid back home ignoring me. Couldn\u2019t even bring me a hot meal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo why would I stay with her!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He sounded so righteous, so convinced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like he was trying to convince his parents. Or maybe himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone in the crowd muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess the Morrison girl wasn\u2019t cutting it. Relationships are about being there for each other right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped, a bitter knot rising in my throat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hilarious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nobody knew I\u2019d planned to stay in New York too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Better opportunities. Better career prospects. My dream jobs were all here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Ashton wanted to start his business, and his parents were worried.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were older and wanted him close after marriage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I gave up my plans for his dreams, took some boring job and stayed home to take care of his parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During those brutal startup years I gave him every paycheck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When his parents got sick I handled everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:08\u00a0<\/p>\n
Surprise Visit Gone WRONG-Not Him Crying About Loneliness After Calling Me Dirty Sir?22\u00a0<\/p>\n
35.6%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
And now he was saying he preferred another girl\u2019s company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fingers dug into my palms without me realizing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mrs. Reed rushed over when she saw me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so sorry Stella. Ashton\u2019s just confused right now. Let me talk to him-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton jumped up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStella YOU broke up with ME. Tell my parents! Tell them Jade\u2019s not a homewrecker!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr. Reed had enough, kicked him to the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou piece of shit!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKick that mistress out. Apologize to Stella, or get out of this house!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton curled on the floor, unable to move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jade shrieked and ran over to help him up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She lifted her head, eyes stubborn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. and Mrs. Reed, people are free to love who they want. Ashton doesn\u2019t have feelings for Stella anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she glanced at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next second she raised her voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t force your son to waste his life taking care of Stella, just because she was abused as a child!.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not fair!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words hit me like thunder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gasps rippled through the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone\u2019s eyes on me, pointing, murmuring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mind went blank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thing I\u2019d feared my whole life just happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10.00\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dinter Cina22\u00a0<\/p>\n
27 80%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Terror and rage flooded through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lost control, rushed her, shoved her down, yanked her hair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A powerful hand grabbed my arm and slammed me away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slammed into the corner of a table. Pain blacked out my vision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton pulled Jade into his arms, eyes blazing with fury,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStella are you insane!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I screamed back hoarse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t see she did that on purpose?! She WANTED everyone to know!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton cut me off furious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s telling the truth!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The whispers around me got louder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my god it\u2019s real. That poor girl.\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStill she shouldn\u2019t have hidden it. That\u2019s tricking someone into being with damaged goods.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words-pity and scorn-pricked at my back like needles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard, tears burning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you that secret so you could announce it to everyone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton looked at me without an ounce of the care he used to have,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told me yourself. If you didn\u2019t care, why should I keep it secret.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd why did it even happen to you anyway.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTakes two to tango. Maybe if you didn\u2019t dress so slutty all the time-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
SMACK.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton\u2019s head whipped to the side. Red handprint on his cheek.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:08\u00a0<\/p>\n
Surprise Visit Gone WRONG-Not Him Crying About Loneliness After Calling Me Dirty Sir???\u00a0<\/p>\n
40.0%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mrs. Reed hit him with everything she had, eyes full of disappointment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou monster!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know Stella went through all that because of YOU!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2661 (0)\u00a0<\/p>\n
(0)\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:09\u00a0<\/p>\n
Surprise Visit Gone WRONG-Not Him Crying About Loneliness After Calling Me Dirty Sir???\u00a0<\/p>\n
42.2%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.<\/p>\n
Princess Without Pack by Mark Twain 4 \u00a0 Chapter 4\u00a0 Chapter 4\u00a0 I don\u2019t remember getting home.\u00a0 When I came […]<\/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":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-new-year-celebration-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22863","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=22863"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22863\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}