Familial Bond Short Stories & Hypocrisy Marriage Novels

When I'm eight months pregnant, my parents, who sold me off when I was a child, beg for my forgiveness and ask me to come home to await the birth of my baby. Suddenly, a gas explosion occurs. Without a moment's hesitation, Mom and Dad shove me aside and rush through the inferno. They are quick to carry my younger sister, Avril Holden, who suffers from leukemia, to safety. Only my husband, Zack Burton, charges into the flames like a madman to rescue me. He even brings in a top-tier medical team for my treatment after I'm rescued from the fire. In the end, I lose my baby, and a falling roof beam leaves me with a broken leg. As I hobble along to catch one last glimpse of my child, I see Zack outside the morgue, pulling Avril into an excited embrace. "Thank God, Avril! We can now harvest Ashley's bone marrow while she's unconscious, and you'll be cured! You'll be back to your old self in no time." I once believed Zack was my warm, reliable refuge, but it turns out it was nothing more than an illusion all along. The marriage I once took such pride in has become a bitter, freezing winter. If that's how it is, then I shall simply let go.

"Forget it. I'll marry her!" As soon as he utters these words, Cole Gray feels a weight lift off his shoulders. His parents, Samuel Gray and Eleanor Bennett's, delightful voices ring in his ears. "I'm glad you've finally come to your senses, Cole. Your fiancée may be in a vegetative state, but she's beautiful. Sure, she's been in a coma for years, but what if she comes to? She's set to inherit her family business…" There probably isn't another couple in the world who would persuade their own son to marry a woman in a vegetative state while believing he's getting the better end of the deal. Cole lets out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Don't worry. Since I've decided to marry her, I won't go back on my word, nor will I let your beloved adopted son marry her in my place." "What on earth are you on about? You're our flesh and blood. It's just that we can't bear to part with Joseph. "Besides, you know Sienna and Claire both like him. It wouldn't be right to make him marry a woman in a vegetative state. The Lamberts are already preparing for the wedding. "Pack your belongings, Cole. In half a month, the Lamberts will send someone to take you to Northcap." After fobbing him off, Samuel and Eleanor end the call.

I brought home my girlfriend, Vivian Langdale, whom I had dated for five years, to meet my parents. Over the dining table, my mom heard that she had an annual salary of 100,000 dollars, and her smile widened. She even opened the red wine that she had been saving for three years. The atmosphere felt just right for me to seize the chance to ask, “Mom, when shall we set our wedding date?” My mom paused midway while pouring the wine. She didn’t look at me. Instead, she turned hesitatingly to look at my younger brother who was quietly eating his food. “Your younger brother isn’t as outstanding as you are. “His career is mediocre, and he has a tiny social circle. Let him have your girlfriend. You can always find another one.” I sat stunned, the smile on my face stiffening as I struggled to process what she had just asked of me. My mom was asking me to give my younger brother my girlfriend of five years. I was so mad that my hands started shaking. “Mom, you can’t force a relationship. There’s no such thing as giving in for such things.” With that, I turned to grab Vivian’s hand and leave. Yet, Vivian stood where she was with a conflicted look on her face as she turned to me. “Joshua, I think your mom has a point.”

Today was my younger son, Luke's, eighteenth birthday. My ex-husband, Major General Arthur Ashford, let himself into my house without knocking. He headed straight for the liquor cabinet like he still owned the place. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and looked at me with open contempt. "Allison, how have you enjoyed the last eight years? Stuck here in Briarwood because of a family court order. "All because I broke a couple of glasses and put my hands on you a few times, you just had to file for divorce." "And what did that get you? The judge stopped you from taking the kids out of the city and made sure I got regular visitation." He swirled the whiskey in his glass, spilling a little onto the carpet. It was the same cocky look he wore the night he came home drunk and beat me with his belt. "You really thought you could get away from me? As long as I say no, you'll spend the rest of your life under my control. "After Luke cuts his cake, I am filing for emergency guardianship. You will never take my son away from me." I looked at his smug face, gripping the edge of my sleeve, and said nothing. Then he lifted his glass, ready to start barking orders at everyone. My daughter, Kate, rose from her chair and set a thick stack of papers onto the table in front of him. "General Ashford, you should read these. "As of midnight, Luke is legally an adult. Every travel restriction the family court placed on Mom is gone. "And this is the filing receipt for the name change petition for the two of us, which I filed with the Supreme Court." Arthur gave the papers a dismissive glance. Then his smile disappeared. Printed across the top in bold letters were the words: Petitions of Kate Ashford and Luke Ashford to Change Their Surname to Pierce.

My husband had just ducked into the bathroom when his phone started ringing. I glanced at the screen and saw it was his brother calling. A frown creased my brow, but I answered anyway. "George, why haven't you sent the $10,000 to Mom and Dad this month?" Ross Serrano said. "Mom just asked me about it." I hung up without a word, but a rush of fury surged through me. My husband stood at the bathroom door, his hands still dripping wet. I forced a bitter smile. "You make $8,000 a month, right? $3,000 goes to the mortgage, $2,000 to me, and you pocket $1,000 for yourself. You told me you sent $2,000 to your parents, so how did that magically turn into $10,000?" His lips quivered, his face draining of color. My heart sank, and my hands trembled uncontrollably. We'd been married for five years, and I'd never once laid eyes on his bank card. What other secrets was he keeping from me?