MainNovelChapter 18
Hearing the men discuss their careers today, | realized with sudden clarity-I deserved that sconfidence, that
equal seat at the table.
Jared called again as soon as | got home. | answered while sinking into the couch.
“Why weren't you answering your phone?” Jared's suspicion bled through the line.
“Must’ve been on silent. What's up?” The lie cautomatically now.
“Who were you out with? Yvonne said you went out again.” He might as well have been taking attendance.
“Just scollege friends,” | said lightly. “They’re all doing well here. Thought I'd reconnect before starting
work.”
He seemed to turn my answer over in his head before responding. “You've changed lately. What's going on?”
“Changed how?” | toyed with my hair, suddenly recalling my younger self-the one who wanted to burn bright,
not fade into someone's background.
“You're dressing differently these days,” Jared said, proving he noticed every detail about me.
“Don’t | look good?” | asked with a playful smirk.
“You look fine. Just not... dignified enough.” He was never one to mince words.
“Dignified?” | barked a laugh. “Those wedding vows about lovingunconditionally-were those just empty
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtpromises?”
The silence on his end was satisfying. “I never said it was bad,” he finally offered after a loaded pause.
“Was there anything else? I'm tired.” | had zero patience for his critiques tonight.
The line went quiet for a beat. “Fine. Goodbye,” he said tightly before the line went dead.
| clutched my phone with a humorless chuckle. Jared was always perfectly composed, the genteel husband who
never raised his voice. But that srestraint made him emotionally sterile.
The truth had always been simple-women mirrored what they were given. Coldness turned them to ice. Passion
set them ablaze.
In college, | used to radiate joy, always smiling, always bright. That changed when | married Jared. The real
smiles disappeared, replaced by careful words and actions tailored to his expectations.
“Madam, I've made sgruel,” Wendy offered softly. “Would you care for a bowl?”
“Yes, thank you.” | drew a steadying breath. This was the day I'd stop playing a role and start being myself
again.
| slept deeply that night until the nightmare cat dawn.
In my dream, | died again, experiencing the shelpless terror and crushing despair. | woke gasping, the
sheets damp
with sweat.
| stumbled barefoot to the bathroom mirror, pressing my palms against the sink until my reflection-young,
unmarked-
convinced| was safe.
The phone rang as | was having breakfast. It was from a charity representative.
1/2
Chapter 18
“Ms. Murphy, the student you sponsored before would like to take you to lunch. If you're available, of course,”
the person said.
| paused with my spoon halfway to my mouth. “That's odd. | can’t quite recall.”
“Five years ago,” the voice said
warmly, “when you volunteered With
us, you donated 260usnd to
HEA cllege student after his
family went bankrupt. Do you
remember?” The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
The old memory crushing back. “Oh, that. But we signed an NDA. How did he get my name?”
“Ms. Murphy..." The voice turned
apologetic. “He formall requested
your “oR through oie
chahhe s. If this causes you any
trouble, we'll handle it.” The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“I'l pass on the lunch,” | replied. “Just
tell him I'm happy ey Good
Erna {Rah S$ necessary.”
ith that, | ended the call. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
Yet | felt strangely moved. That he remembered suggested maybe the world wasn’t completely rotten.
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