hake off. Every time she glanced at her phone, the buzzing sensation of it felt like a weight in her pocket, a constant reminder of the unresolved tensi

ill affectionate, but there was an undercurrent of something unspoken that made her skin crawl. He would often come h

ing of pasta in the pot felt like a distant reality as she stood there, knife in hand, slicing through the air more forcefully than necessary. I

d, tugging at her apron, his li

bounced away, and she allowed herself a moment of silence. Leaning agains

relentless and suffocating. She had trusted him completely, but now that t

itchen, a comforting presence amidst her swirling doubts. Should she confront him directly? No, that could lead to

home. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anxiety in he

take a closer look at Daniel's phone. It felt invasive, wrong even, but the need to k

hted squeals. He wrapped his arms around both of them, planting kisses on Ethan's ch

niel asked, tousling Ethan's ha

ined as she fought to keep her emotions in check. She excused herse

need to wait until he was distracted, perhaps aft

ion of the microwave. Her eyes were shadowed, and her face looked weary

this

m back, inhaling deeply to quell the rising tide of sadness

ng silly faces while Victoria contributed only half-heartedly, her mind elsewhere. They chatted about Ethan's da

ds today?" Daniel asked, hi

t dinosaur stickers!" Ethan beamed, his littl

stickers for you to bring to school!" Danie

her heart aching. Why c

to catch up on a game, Victoria found a moment of solitude. She rushed t

till illuminated from when he had last used it. The messages from

something? Wh

was about to commit. It felt wrong, but her need to know outweighed her morals. She p

ampered past, shouting something about a monster in

d, her heart racing as she rushed to join t

ety momentarily. "I think the monster is ju

low!" Ethan insisted, his littl

ing herself that dinner had gone well and that they were still a fa

up and down, waving a pillow around like a sword

that pillow!" Victoria said, joining in the playful

f anxiety twisted tighter, and she knew the truth was lurking just

e door, watching him drift off, the innocent rise and fall of his chest pulling at her heartstrings. She longed fo

or now, she would tuck her feelings away, putting on a brave