Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Dinner That Broke the Silence
Jess endures a tense dinner at Ben's parents' house, where they subtly undermine her and praise Ben. Back home, a confrontation with Ben escalates, and Jamie witnesses his mother's distress. Jess realizes she must find a way to reach her children and reclaim her strength.
The afternoon dragged like a pulled tooth. Jess moved through the motions—showering, dressing, brushing Layla’s hair into tight braids. Her hands worked on automatic, but her mind was a tangled knot. The note she’d typed that morning echoed in her skull: I need to leave. I need a plan. She kept her phone in her pocket, face down, the screen cold and silent. No texts from Maria. No lifelines.
Ben emerged from the bedroom in a pressed shirt, his hair slicked back. He smelled of cologne and control. “You look nice,” he said, but his eyes swept over her like he was checking for flaws. “But maybe change the earrings. Those are too loud for my mum’s taste.”
Jess’s hand went to her earrings—small silver hoops she’d worn for years. “They’re just hoops, Ben.”
Keep reading "Chapter 4: The Dinner That Broke the Silence"
Open the same story in AIBookCraft. Later chapters may require an active subscription.
Free on iOS & Android · No signup to read