CHAPTER 010
AVA’S POV
+25 BONUS
A few hours later, we were lying in bed, wrapped in the quiet of the night. I had my back to him, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against mine, and it almost felt like the old us.
I let myself get lost in the familiarity of it–the feeling of being close to him again, as I tried to clear the numerous thoughts swirling in my mind about what my decision would be.
Should I forgive him and give him another chance? Or should I give up on us?
I was still in love with him, I admit. He was my first love and the man who took my virginity, so no matter how much he had hurt me, I just couldn’t stop loving him.
But I also couldn’t tolerate being disrespected constantly because of him and Laura.
But then, in the silence, I heard it–the soft buzz of his phone vibrating on the nightstand.
At first, I tried to ignore it. Phones ring all the time, and it might just be a randorn call, not Laura. I even tried to convince myself that it wasn’t anything important and that I shouldn’t overthink
But when I felt Jason’s body stiffen as he glanced at his phone, I knew. I knew exactly who it was, even though I didn’t need to look.
His eyes were already on the phone, his attention split between me and whatever was happening on that screen.
I didn’t need to see the name. I could feel it in the air. Laura
The phone rang again, louder this time like it was mocking the silence between us.
“Jason,” I whispered, barely more than a breath. “Why don’t you pick it up.’
He hesitated, his hand hovering above the phone.
I watched him, waiting for him to make a choice, but there was something about the way he looked at the screen that made me feel… empty.
Finally, be reached over and answered.
“Hello?” His voice was calm, almost too calm.
I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to know. But I couldn’t pull my gaze away.
The words slipped out, soft but heavy with meaning. “It’s the nurse,” he said quietly. “She says Laura wants to see me.”
I could feel my chest tighten like the air was being sucked out of the room. I didn’t want to hear her name. I didn’t want to know that she was still here, still weaving her way into his life. But there it was, that simple truth hanging between us.
“I’m not going,” Jason said after a long pause. His voice was firm, but even then, I could tell it wasn’t a decision he was happy with.
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I believed him. I wanted to, I really did. But the doubt lingered.”
He ended the call, but still, there was no peace. The silence stretched on, heavy and thick with unspoken words.
I took a deep breath and let myself sink into sleep, I wanted to believe that Jason would keep his promises.
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+25 BONUS
CHAPTER 010
And then, just like that, I heard it–the soft shuffle of his feet against the floor, the creak of the floorboards as he stood up from the bed.
I could feel the rush of panic rising in my chest.
I held my breath, pretending to be asleep. He knew I was a deep sleeper, so I guess that’s why he felt he could leave without me noticing.
The more I listened to him move, the more I realized he was getting dressed.
Quietly, deliberately, as if he didn’t want me to know. He was so careful, so calculated in his movements like he thought I wouldn’t notice.
But I did.
I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my heart pounding in my chest. I heard him pull on his jacket, and my stomach dropped.
This wasn’t happening. He wasn’t really leaving-
But he was. He was leaving me for her again.
I heard the door creak open, the faintest click of the latch as it shut behind him. And I stayed there, motionless, staring at the darkened ceiling, pretending I didn’t know.
Pretending I didn’t care was the hardest part. But it was a lie. And deep down, we both knew it.
I didn’t move for a long time. I couldn’t.
My mind was spinning, racing through a hundred thoughts all at once.
He promised he wouldn’t hurt me again, that he wouldn’t put Laura first anymore, but now he was doing the opposite of his promises.
The truth was, I knew this wasn’t the first time. And deep down, I was beginning to realize it might not be the last
Jason and I had been through so much over the years, which is why I thought maybe we could find our way back.
But now, with Laura in the picture, I realize that finding our way back is next to impossible.
When I woke up the next morning, I didn’t acknowledge what had happened. I didn’t say a word about Jason sneaking out in the middle of the night.
I didn’t want him to know I had seen it, that I had noticed. I didn’t want him to think I was still hurt
I dragged myself out of bed, forcing myself to act normal. I couldn’t let him see that it had gotten to me. I couldn’t let him see that I was already pulling away.
I walked into the kitchen, my heart still heavy, and there he was–Jason, cooking breakfast like everything was fine. Like he didn’t leave to go to her last night.
The sound of sizzling bacon and eggs filled the air, and for a moment, it felt like I was in a dream, like nothing bad changed. But everything had. I could feel it deep inside me.
“Morning,” he said without turning around, his voice bright, too bright. The kind of cheerfulness that didn’t match the silence between us.
“Morning,” I replied, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
I didn’t say anything else. Neither did he. The quiet between us felt like a thick fog, smothering everything in its
2/3
+25 BONUS
CHAPTER 010
path. I couldn’t look at him, I didn’t want to look at him.
The phone buzzed again, breaking the silence. Jason didn’t even glance at it, but I saw the way his hand twitched, the way his expression shifted just slightly. It was the same number. The same name.
Laura.
I couldn’t stop myself from looking at the screen. I knew what was coming. I could feel it in my bones.
“I need to take this, it’s work,” Jason said, his voice suddenly tight.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
And as he walked out of the kitchen to answer, I felt the weight of everything settling over me. I had to make a decision. I couldn’t keep pretending.
And I made up my mind. I couldn’t keep living like this, hanging onto something that wasn’t there anymore.
I was done with this marriage!
