Semua Bab Love: A Matter of Conscience: Bab 1 - Bab 9

One night, my stomach condition flared up.Frank Turner, my loving husband, promised to swing by the pharmacy for my meds.Soon after, he called. "My boss just sprung overtime on me. I sent the pills up in the elevator. Take them, alright? I'll be back soon. Love you."I hated the dark, so no matter how late his shifts ran, Frank used to race home, saying the thought of me shivering alone in bed gnawed at him.Now he hung up with a reluctant sigh, and I believed him.Unexpectedly, his "overtime" was a steamy hookup with a college girl in his car. In the backseat, they sweated buckets and panted hard.She asked, "Do you love me, Frank?"He chuckled, "If I didn't, would I be here this late? Gotta punish you for doubting me."They dove into another round, oblivious to the world.After a while, Frank got out, slid into the driver's seat, and drove off.I watched it all in silence, and minutes later, my phone rang."Babe, feeling better now?" he asked. "If not, I'll swing back an

I handed in my resignation and passed off my work.As I left, a delivery guy brought lunch and wedding favors.He announced, "Frank and Adeline's second anniversary is coming up! Lunch and candies on them!"On my phone, Lila's new post popped up.She and Frank were at an amusement park, sporting Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps headbands. Their poses were flirty and intimate.Last year, I had begged Frank for those movie-themed photos, but he had laughed it off, calling them childish.Apparently, they weren't childish with her.I liked her post and walked out.The janitor called after me, "You're leaving these beautiful flowers?""They look pretty, but rotten inside," I replied without looking back.Not long after I arrived home, Frank rushed in with a StellaLou keychain."Babe, I know you love StellaLou," he wheezed, struggling to catch his breath. "Got this for you. Seeing it is like seeing me."Years ago, when we were broke, I'd eyed that keychain at the park but passed to save

My family swarmed me at the airport.My brother, Jonas Houser, griped, "Regret staying with that loser? You could've lived easy here."My mother, Michele Houser, tiptoed and swatted him. "She's home now. Be kind."I felt like I'd escaped a sinking ship, finally safe.Michele planned a trip to lift my spirits, and we roamed from north to south, soaking in every sight. Nature stitched me back together, bit by bit.On the way home, I vomited in the car.I'd always had motion sickness, so I didn't think much of it.But days later, greasy food turned my stomach. Michele dragged me to a doctor, who handed me a bombshell: I was three months pregnant.I stared at the report, knowing I couldn't keep it.Frank's calls and texts flooded my phone. I shut it off.Jonas wanted to fly back and deck him, but Michele stopped him. "Let's hear what Adeline wants."I sat for hours, hand on my belly, wrestling with my heart. Taking a deep breath, I said, "I'm getting an abortion."The little li

I stared at him, a stranger now. "If you'd owned up to loving Lila, I'd respect you. You saved my life, so I won't hold your past against you. Go be with her. We're even."His eyes dimmed. "But you're the only one I love. I can't let you go and start over with someone else."His sincerity was a mockery."Stop playing the devoted husband," I snorted. "I've been more than fair. Your apologies are too late."The next day, Lila texted: [Adeline, you're getting old. Don't ruin Frank's future. He's young, handsome, and successful. If you don't want him, let him go. I'm young and healthy. We'll have a lot of kids. His mom loves me and calls you a useless woman.]I wasn't surprised, knowing how aggressive Ashley was.When we first met, she had made me walk through a circle of candles and doused me with cold water to cleanse my arrogance.Frank couldn't stop her, and they had fought.I had brushed it off, leaning into his arms. He had promised we'd move out after marriage. I had been fu

After Frank's detention, I felt lighter, hanging out with my friends.We drank and danced at a bar to shake off the weight.I was a little drunk so a friend offered to take me home. He held me up all the way so I wouldn't fall.Suddenly, a figure rushed out and punched him. Under the streetlight, I saw it was Frank.My friend was taken off guard, his face bruised."She is my wife! Hands off her!" Frank roared, mistaking it for something more.As I stepped between them, Frank yelled, "You're protecting him?"I was pissed off, slapping him. "You're unhinged! I told you, we're done. Get lost!"He staggered, lowering his fists.In his mind, I was always gentle and calm. In all our years, I'd never yelled or lost my temper."You hit me for him?" he muttered in disbelief, then shook his head. "I get it. This is a test, right? I'm sorry, Adeline. I know your desperation now. What I said at our wedding still stands. If you come back, we can go back to before. I'll be twice as good an