Chapter 7
I wasn’t sure how much he’d overheard, so I shrugged and answered casually, “Oh, just a school exchange.”
Relief washed over him as he exhaled deeply, giving me a small, almost relieved smile. “Come home with me. There’s something I need to tell you.”
I nodded, following him without a word.
That evening, William announced that he had cleared his schedule for the next two days.
“We should take a little trip,” he said, a soft smile on his face. “You mentioned wanting to watch the sunrise. Let’s just relax, the two of us.”
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“That sounds wonderful,” I replied, keeping
my tone neutral, not ng any of the
doubts swirling inside me.
Then, as if to solidify the promise, he pulled me into his arms. But his scent betrayed him -Ava’s perfume lingered faintly on his shirt.
“Victoria,” he murmured softly, his voice full of earnestness. “I love you. If something’s bothering you, just tell me. I’ll make it right, okay? I promise I’ll spend more time with you, protect you, make sure you’re happy. Please, believe me.”
I smiled gently, playing the part of the understanding fiancée he wanted.
“I believe in you.”
But the very next morning, William broke his promise.
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5 Poirits
A text arrived while I was waiting, as I’d expected.
William: [Something came up at work. My fault, Victoria. I’ll make it up to you next time, I swear!]
I didn’t feel the sting of disappointment- I’d already learned that expecting anything from William was pointless. Ever since Ava had reappeared in his life, his promises had become as empty as air.
That’s why I had booked a reservation for just myself the night before, before going to bed.
The mountains were peaceful, the air crisp and still. I sat in a rocking chair, listening to the gentle hum of insects, feeling a rare sense of peace wash over me.
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As night settled, I scrolled through my phone, my eyes landing on Ava’s latest post.
[Wow, wow, wow! Mom and Dad’s 25th wedding anniversary–and lucky me, I’m following in their footsteps!]
I stared at the screen for a long time, the words blurring before my eyes. Finally, I put the phone down and closed my eyes, the quiet of the night settling over me. It was the kind of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Beneath the deep blue sea, Ava clung to William, her arms wrapped tightly around him. He held her waist, as though afraid
she might slip away, submerged in the cool water. Surrounded by a school of fish, they both laughed, the sound echoing through the stillness of the ocean.
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5 Points
The truth hit me like a slap in the face: the “urgent company business” that had taken him away was nothing more than an excuse to accompany someone else’s parents on a trip.
With only three days left until my departure, I woke early to watch the sunrise. It was time to finish packing, to finally rid myself of the things that had tied me to this place.
The house felt emptier with each passing hour. I sorted through the crafts I’d made when I had nothing else to do, the clay figurines I’d shaped with William, the photo wall in the living room, and the special blind box cabinet in the bedroom. Everything was either sold or discarded. By the afternoon, it felt as though I was already a stranger here.
Then, it hit me–I still had things left in the wedding house. I decided to go there and
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– 5 Points
clear them out.
When I arrived, though, I found that the door code had been changed. I tried several times, but it wouldn’t open, forcing me to call a locksmith to break in.
When I stepped inside, I froze, my breath caught in my throat.
The house was nothing like I remembered- it was far from empty. In fact, it was packed with a whole new life. The photo wall in the living room was now filled with pictures of Ava and William. My beloved succulents, the ones I’d carefully chosen for their air–purifying properties, were gone. In their place, a yoga mat lay on the balcony, and Ava’s underwear flapped in the wind, drying in the open.
The coffee table was cluttered with snacks,
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and leftover potato chips were scattered across the carpet I had personally picked out. Even the clothes in the master bedroom closet had been tossed aside carelessly, as if they didn’t belong. The space was now filled with her clothes, hung next to William’s.
If I didn’t know better, I would have thought this was their wedding home.
Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind- William dropping Ava off here that day, both of them looking at me in that ambiguous way. Her eyes full of insinuation. Now, everything made sense.
Did William even know what a wedding house was? Had he ever thought about it? He’d never even lived here himself, yet he’d allowed someone else to move in.
My brows furrowed in frustration. I wanted
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to scream at him, to lash out. But then I stopped myself. It wasn’t about still loving him–honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could still call it love. No, it was about the disgust I felt at this whole situation.
But then, I realized something–it wasn’t even worth the fight.
Ava’s hold on him hadn’t started yesterday. It had always been there. So why waste energy stirring up more drama?
This house–bought with my parents‘ inheritance and in my name–no longer mattered. I was leaving, and with that, it would all be someone else’s problem.
I called the real estate agent, instructing them to sell the property quickly at a price 20% lower than market value. With short video marketing booming, the house,
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well–maintained and decorated as a wedding home in a prime university district, would practically sell itself.
The agent arrived swiftly, filmed the property, and began marketing it immediately. Before leaving, they added me on WhatsApp, reassuring me, “With the location and the price, this place will sell in no time. Make sure your documents are ready, and we’ll finalize everything as soon as you’re prepared.”
Before exiting, the agent asked, “Do you want any of the things inside?”
I glanced around at the space, which now felt like a stranger’s home. “No, please just clear it all out. I’ll handle the cost.”
I was sitting in the living room, working through the final bits of paperwork, when the
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doorbell rang.
William’s assistant stood there, delivering the news that William had drunk too much at a social event. I couldn’t suppress a laugh. Of course, he had his assistant help back up this ridiculous story.
Maybe he’d even overdone it on the alcohol to sell the lie better. I motioned for the assistant to lay William down on the couch and didn’t bother covering him with a blanket before turning to head into the bedroom.
When I woke up the next morning, William had just finished showering. He saw me and immediately shot me a glare full of silent resentment.
“Victoria, you made me sleep on the couch all night?”
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I blinked, playing it dumb.
+ 5 Points
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