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Home / Romance Short Story / Fifty-Two Trips Too Late / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Fifty-Two Trips Too Late: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

11 Chapters

Chapter 1

It was past midnight when Kevin stumbled through the door, reeking of alcohol.The second he saw the photos and divorce papers on the coffee table, he froze.The color drained from his face.I shoved the papers and a pen toward him."Sign it. I'm not sharing my husband."He didn't.Instead, he crossed the room, crouched in front of me, and launched into an explanation."Fiona's been dealing with depression for years. She keeps threatening to kill herself if she can't see me. I can't just abandon someone I grew up with. She's like a little sister—""'Little sister'?"I let out a cold laugh."What kind of 'little sister' ends up in your bed and gets pregnant with your kid?"Panic flickered across his face."It's not mine. She wrote that herself. There's nothing going on between us!"When I didn't respond, he frowned.Like he was the one being wronged."We've been together for seven years. Don't you trust me at all?"I was done listening to excuses.I shoved the pen back

Chapter 2

When I came back to the dining room, I insisted on a divorce.Kevin refused.To win me back, he started coming home on time every day. He cooked, washed dishes, and hovered around me nonstop.He even deleted Fiona from his chat app and let me check his phone whenever I wanted.He thought all that devotion would earn my forgiveness.Then I ran into Fiona at the hospital.She stood alone in the hallway, clutching a hospital bill.She looked small and helpless.Kevin, who'd insisted on coming with me to my appointment, immediately strode over. His face hardened."Why are you back? You're pregnant. You should be resting at home."Fiona looked up at him. Her eyes lit up for a split second before the light faded."Kevin, this city is my home too. Am I not even allowed to come back and see a doctor? Fine. If I'm causing problems for you, I'll get rid of the baby right now and disappear."Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.Kevin's expression remained cold. "Why are you cry

Chapter 3

After Fiona lost the baby, Kevin and I barely spoke.He still cooked. Still did the dishes. Still told me where he was going.But that was it.Three days later, my dad called and said Mom had suddenly collapsed.By the time I reached the hospital, she'd already been moved to the ICU.Dad's voice shook. "The doctor said she's in critical condition. She needs a bone marrow transplant right away—""I'll do it.""No. Your body never fully recovered after the car accident. Even if you donate, it'd just be trading one life for another. The only match in the country is Kevin. But I can't reach him. What do we do?"At the mention of Kevin's name, my head started buzzing.Why him?I took a deep breath and called him.No answer.I called twenty times.Still nothing.After calming Dad down, I grabbed a cab and headed to the hospital where Kevin worked.The nurse told me he'd taken the day off for a family emergency.I almost laughed.Since when had Fiona's place become his family

Chapter 4

I let out a laugh."Do you even have a conscience?"I turned and stormed for the door.But the moment I reached it, I stopped.Mom was lying in the ICU, her life hanging by a thread.Dad, the strongest person I knew, hadn't stopped crying.Kevin was the only person in the country who could save her. If we missed this chance, my mom would die.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.Then I turned back.Kevin froze. "Avery, you..."I looked up at him through my tears. "I'm begging you. Please save my mom."His lips parted, but nothing came out.I raised my hand and slapped myself across the face. "You can ask anything of me. You want to be with her? I won't get in the way. If you have kids and don't want to raise them, I'll do it for you. I'm begging you!"I slapped myself again.My cheek burned.Kevin crouched down and tried to pull me up."Don't do this..."I gripped his pant leg tighter."I've never begged anyone in my life. I saved yours. For the sake of the child

Chapter 5

By the time I rushed back to the hospital, the ICU light was still on.Dad sat on a bench in the hallway, looking completely drained."Dad..."At the sound of my voice, he looked up.The light in his eyes was gone."Avery." His voice was barely a whisper. "Your mom... she's gone."I froze. "What?""Forty minutes after you left, she started hemorrhaging. The doctor said if they'd had matching bone marrow half an hour earlier... just half an hour..."His voice broke.I leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor.One thought kept echoing in my head.If I hadn't insisted on marrying Kevin, would he have saved Mom?I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.It wasn't until tears hit my face that I realized I was crying.Dad walked over, crouched beside me, and pulled me into his arms.His shoulders shook.So did his voice."It's not your fault."I shook my head hard.It was.I married the wrong man.I saved his life.He wouldn't save my mother's.***Dad and

Chapter 6

Kevin refused to sign. He kept insisting he'd treat me right from now on.The words made me sick.I slapped him, grabbed a fruit knife from the table, and pressed it against his neck."Don't make me sick with this act. Sign it, or I'll send you to my mom so you can apologize to her yourself."He let out a long breath.In the end, he signed.But a signed divorce agreement wasn't enough.I went back to my apartment and compiled every cent Kevin and Fiona had spent on their affair over the past seven years.I was going to make them pay back every last dollar.The apartment Fiona lived in. The car he bought her. The jewelry. The clothes.Even the plane tickets. Fifty-two of them. All first class.Every penny came from our marital assets.I picked up my phone and dialed a number."Natalie? It's Avery. I want to hire you for a lawsuit."Natalie was my college classmate. In divorce and family law, she had a reputation for being ruthless."Asset recovery?" she asked. "Do you hav

Chapter 7

I hung up.Then I blocked his number again.The lawsuit dragged on for a month and a half.Natalie lived up to her reputation. She tied every one of Kevin's transactions into an airtight chain of evidence.Kevin hired a lawyer.It didn't help.The verdict came down.I won.A total of $7.13 million.Kevin was ordered to pay all legal fees.As we walked out of the courthouse, Natalie patted my shoulder."Avery, you okay?"I smiled. "I'm great. Better than I've ever been."My phone rang.Unknown number.I answered and immediately heard Fiona crying."Avery, are you really going to kick me out? I don't have anywhere to go. I have nothing left—""You have Kevin."I was in a great mood. My voice stayed light.She sounded close to a breakdown."He can't help me anymore. The hospital suspended him. He's nothing now—""Perfect. Two losers. Sounds like a match."She went silent."How can you be so cruel?"I laughed."You got pregnant by my husband, spent my money, lived

Chapter 8

The wind rolled in, carrying the sharp bite of ice and snow.Leo was four years younger than me. Clean-cut, easy smile. Every time he talked, his eyes crinkled at the corners."Did you come by yourself?""Yeah.""That's pretty brave." He smiled. "You're the youngest one here. Everyone else came with someone."I didn't answer.I zipped my puffer jacket up higher and kept staring at the glacier.Leo didn't push it.He just sat beside me.Every now and then, he'd hand me a cup of hot coffee.The next night, we waited for the aurora out on the ice field.Everyone else had already gone back to their tents to warm up.I was the only one still outside.At some point, Leo stepped out and stopped a couple feet behind me."Avery, aren't you freezing?""I'm fine.""Then why are you still out here?"I looked at the faint streak of green along the horizon. "I'm waiting for the aurora."He was quiet for a second.Then he walked over and held out a scarf. "Put this on. If you freez

Chapter 9

After I got back from Antarctica, I moved into the house I'd bought.Once the lawsuit money came through, I transferred half of it to Dad."Dad, take it. Spend it. Stop being so frugal."He was quiet for a long moment before speaking."I don't need the money. Keep it. Go live your life.""I already am.""Then when are you coming home to see me?"My nose stung. "I'll be back this weekend."That weekend, I loaded up with gifts and headed back to my hometown.When Dad opened the door, I noticed even more gray in his hair.Mom's framed photo sat on the mantel. Fresh lilies rested on the table beside it."Mom liked lilies. I remember."Dad nodded, his eyes turning red. "The day she passed, the last thing she said was your name."I set my bags down and walked over. My fingers brushed the frame."Mom, I'm here."That night, Dad and I sat on the balcony, sipping tea.He asked what I wanted to do next."I want to open a flower shop.""A flower shop?""Yeah. Mom always said sh

Chapter 10

The day the flower shop opened, Leo actually showed up.He stood in the doorway with a flower basket, wearing a white T-shirt. His smile was bright enough to rival the sunlight."Avery, congrats on the grand opening!""How'd you find this place?""Your social media post had the address."Right. I'd posted the shop location two days ago."Come in. I'll make some tea."Leo wandered around the shop, taking everything in."It's beautiful.""My mom came up with it.""Your mom?"I lowered my head and trimmed a few stems. "She always wanted a place like this. White walls. Wooden shelves. Sunlight pouring through the windows, making everything feel warm."He was quiet for a second."Your mom must've been really gentle.""She was."I handed him a cup of tea.After one sip, he studied me."Avery, did you lose weight?""Did I?""Yeah. Your face looks thinner."His brows pulled together like he was genuinely concerned.I almost laughed."You're a kid. Why are you worrying so

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