\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 6\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 6\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, Mom and Dad dragged me to see a therapist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The same one I saw as a kid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After it happened I got diagnosed with depression and spent a year in treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the doctor said I was fine, my mom cried tears of joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That year I was sick was her nightmare too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the appointment, Mom took me to the grocery store, buying everything she could, insisting I eat well and\u00a0<\/p>\n
recover.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Carrying bags and walking home, I saw Ashton outside our building.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our complex had private elevator access. You needed a key card.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dad was home-probably didn\u2019t let him up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mom had been cheerful, but the moment she saw him, her smile vanished.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton wore the same clothes as yesterday. His eyes were bruised, a faint slap mark on his face, looking utterly\u00a0<\/p>\n
defeated:\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice came out rough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStella. Can we talk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo talk to your side piece.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mom rolled her eyes hard, pulling me toward the entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine Mom. Let me handle this so he stops bothering me.\u201d,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton went pale.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mom kept glancing back as she led me away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stayed calm, eyes fixed on him. \u201cWhat do you want.\u201d\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
55.6%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 6\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly the guy who was so desperate to talk couldn\u2019t find words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mouth opened and closed. Finally managed to say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI broke up with Jade.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. \u201cSo?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton stared at me intense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, my company hit a major crisis. I worked nonstop for a month, barely eating.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJade noticed. She made me meals every day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was grateful. Gave her gifts. And then we got closer and-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned, cutting him off, impatient.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your point. Give me your love history? Don\u2019t gross me out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton\u2019s breath caught. He looked crushed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment of silence he tried again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to say I confused gratitude and companionship with love. Last night I realized\u2026 the one I really love is still you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStella. Can we get back together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head, cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashton got desperate, gripping my shoulders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStella we\u2019ve been together ten years. How many decades do people get? You\u2019re really gonna throw it all away just like that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI only got confused because you weren\u2019t there. I was vulnerable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard from my mom-you\u2019ll be moving to New York after New Year. Then we can be together, live properly. Isn\u2019t that what you want?\u201d\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
59.3%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 6\u00a0<\/p>\n
His hands started shaking on my shoulders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re worried we can just get married right now-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah! Let\u2019s get married!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like he\u2019d had some brilliant idea. He grabbed my hand and started pulling me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I yanked my hand free, massaging the sore wrist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAshton are you insane. Why would you think I\u2019d forgive someone who betrayed me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes went red.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not! I just made one little mistake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t understand the pain of struggling alone in a new city. If someone cares for you then, gives you warmth, you\u2019d-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d WHAT!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared him down, looking at a face so familiar yet completely alien.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think I\u2019d cheat too? Ashton not everyone\u2019s as shitty as you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
All the hurt I\u2019d been swallowing came flooding out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think only you have it hard? The world doesn\u2019t owe you anything!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI stayed home alone while you couldn\u2019t help with family stuff. When your parents were sick, I took time off to care for them. And you think I wouldn\u2019t envy other girls?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAshton, your excuses for cheating are disgusting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at him one last time, then turned around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re done. Don\u2019t come looking for me again. I don\u2019t want to see you anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without waiting for his reaction, I walked straight upstairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2661 (2)\u00a0<\/p>\n
(0)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dinter Six 222\u00a0<\/p>\n
63.0%\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 6 \u00a0 Chapter 6\u00a0 Chapter 6\u00a0 The next morning, Mom and Dad dragged me […]<\/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-22865","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\/22865","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=22865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22865\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}