All Chapters of ANOTHER DAY ROTTING IN VAIN: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

It was Thursday afternoon when Demani decided to go to a shopping center to buy new summer dresses for their upcoming vacation in El Nido, Palawan. She had already started packing when she realized she barely had any beach clothes, so she thought of heading to Ortigas to shop first.She had already spoken with her parents during her visit a couple of days ago. She told them that she and Van would be going on vacation and wouldn’t be back until Monday. Surprisingly, her family didn’t question her about it, and when she informed her Grandma Val, the old woman was even delighted to know that Van had finally made time for her.Demani was relieved she didn’t have to make up any stories just to avoid being questioned about their absence at the upcoming Sunday get-together. Even Van was visibly pleased that the trip was pushing through.

She had no plans of taking it back. Not her request. Not her bold, desperate need.Right now, she needed her husband’s touch more than anything else in the world. She needed to feel wanted. To be held. To be consumed.His love was the only thing that could quiet the storm raging inside her; more than warm baths, more than medicine, more than words. She ached for him, and she wasn’t going to pretend otherwise.Van didn’t say anything. Not a single word.Instead, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her burned hand, so tender it sent shivers up her spine. Then he kissed her again, a breath longer this time.Then again, slower, warmer, tracing the shape of her pain with devotion.

Demani cautiously turned the knob and pushed open the door to their bedroom that night. Her heart pounded as she stepped inside. She had just come back from the hospital where Coreen had been admitted, and now, thankfully, her cousin was resting. It was already ten in the evening, and she knew Van was likely inside, waiting for her.She felt a deep unease creeping into her chest. She didn’t know what kind of mood Van would be in or how he would react to everything that had happened. And that scared her.Earlier that afternoon, right before leaving for the hospital, Demani had tried to reach Van. She had called him twice, but both attempts went unanswered. Then she remembered he had back-to-back meetings that day, three major ones, in fact. It was entirely possible that he didn’t have his phone with him during the meetings.So she sent him a message instead. In the text, she told him that Coreen h

 It was a little past one in the morning when Demani heard the sound of her husband’s car pulling up. She rushed to the front door, eager to meet him. But after several minutes of waiting, the door still hadn’t opened.Frowning, she turned the knob and stepped outside. She walked toward the garage, and what she saw confused her even more. Van was standing by the side of his car. His hands were resting on the roof, his head bowed. The engine was off, but the driver’s door remained open.She approached him, worry tightening in her chest. She had only taken a few steps when she heard Van let out a low groan.Her brows furrowed. Was he hurt?A terrifying thought crossed her mind. What if he ha

It was ten o’clock in the evening again when Van came home. That, too, was nothing new. Somehow, she had gotten used to him returning late at night. She had stopped asking questions because he always gave the same answer.“I went out with some clients.”And she believed him. Of course she did. She knew her husband would never lie to her.“Would you like something to eat?” she asked as he entered through the front door. Unlike the past few nights, Van didn’t smell of alcohol. And he didn’t seem upset.He even gave her a faint smile.“You waited up again,” he said.She tightened the belt of her silk robe. She had been cold for a