Chapter 2
gave a light laugh, my voice calm. “It’s just a wedding dress. If she likes it, let her have it.” Then, turning away, I added, “I’ve got work at the lab. I’ll head out now.“”
William froze, watching me leave without a word.
Later that evening, William came to pick me up for the first time in months. He held a small mango cake in his hands, presenting it like a peace offering.
But the problem? I was allergic to mangoes.
It was Ava who loved mangoes, not me. After all this time, he still hadn’t figured that out.
“I thought you might forget to eat while
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working” he said, as if the cake could smooth over everything. He wanted me to play along, to accept it the way I always had.
So I did. I smiled brightly, pretending to be touched. “Thank you so much!”
William looked taken aback, surprised that I didn’t argue or complain.
On the drive home, he glanced at me.
“Victoria, are you mad at me?”
I was lost in my thoughts about the lab- wrapping up my project, preparing notes, and making sure my junior colleagues would have everything they needed. His words barely registered, so I murmured absentmindedly, “Sorry, I just got lost in thought. What did you say?”
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+ 5 Points
Perhaps my tone sounded too distant.
He slammed on the brakes, his eyes. snapping to mine. “Are you still mad about that wedding dress?”
“Huh?” I blinked, genuinely puzzled. “Why would I be? No, of course not.”
William studied my face for several seconds, searching for any trace of anger. All he found was calm indifference. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he started the car again, his voice hoarse. “You’ve changed. You’re not like this… not like you used to be.”
He was right.
A year ago, when Ava returned to town after graduating, everything between William and me changed. Our once peaceful relationship became a battlefield, and she was the cause
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5 Points
of every argument. He always insisted that Ava was nothing more than a little sister to him, and when I questioned their closeness, he’d accuse me of being unreasonable.
“She’s like a sister to me. Stop being so ridiculous!” he’d shout, defending her every time.
The worst fight came when he lost his temper completely, pointing his finger at me with fury in his eyes.
“Victoria, you’re unbelievable! If I had anything going on with Ava, do you really think I’d still be with you? You’re just a broke student who depends on me for everything. If we broke up, how would you even survive?” he raged.
We spent a month in cold silence after that. In the end, I swallowed my pride, apologizing
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45 Points
and begging for forgiveness.
But love doesn’t vanish overnight–it fades slowly, piece by piece, like ice melting under the heat of the sun. Over the past year, the constant fighting, paired with Ava’s smug presence, had drained whatever feelings I had left for him.
Now, I couldn’t even summon the energy to feel anything.
I smiled faintly, trying to sound calm. “You’re right. I wasn’t very mature before, but I’ve grown up now. I’ll do better.”
The truth was, I wouldn’t be around long enough to prove it, but I didn’t say that aloud.
That night, just before bed, while William was in the shower, I saw a new post from Ava on social media.
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+ 5 Points
Nine photos.
In every one, she wore my wedding dress, her smile radiant as she clung to my fiancé.
“Getting married to the one I love! OH!”
Dozens of their friends had liked the post. One person even commented, “Wait, isn’t that William in the background?”
Ava’s smug response: “Yes! My brother favors me the most!”
I quietly liked the post, set my phone aside, and prepared for bed.
I had barely settled into the sheets when the bed beside me shifted. William’s cold skin pressed against mine as he slid an arm around my waist.
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+ 5 Points
“Victoria…” he murmured, his warm breath against my ear as his hand slid under the hem of my nightgown, fingers trailing along my skin.
I shifted slightly, putting some distance between us.
Then, I gently took his hand and said, “William, I’m tired tonight. I don’t want to.”
In all the years we’d been together, I had never refused him.
Back then, when we fought, things always ended the same way–his patience and teasing slowly wearing me down until I gave in, begging for him. And afterward, he’d hold me close, whispering sweet promises, telling me not to be jealous anymore.
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But tonight, I felt nothing.
+ 5 Points
8/8
