{"id":223,"date":"2026-10-11T04:56:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T04:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/?p=223"},"modified":"2026-10-11T04:56:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T04:56:29","slug":"silas-looked-across-our-kitchen-as-if-eight-years-of-marriage-were-an-uncomfortable-jacket-he-had-finally-decided-to-take-off-im-done-pretending-marin-your-sister-is-the-woman-i-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/?p=223","title":{"rendered":"Silas looked across our kitchen as if eight years of marriage were an uncomfortable jacket he had finally decided to take off. \u201cI\u2019m done pretending, Marin. Your sister is the woman I should have married.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"space-y-4\">\n<h1 class=\"entry-title font-display-lg text-display-lg-mobile md:text-display-lg text-text-rich leading-tight\">Silas looked across our kitchen as if eight years of marriage were an uncomfortable jacket he had finally decided to take off. \u201cI\u2019m done pretending, Marin. Your sister is the woman I should have married.\u201d<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"w-full overflow-hidden rounded-lg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full h-auto object-cover transform hover:scale-105 transition-transform duration-700 wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/kok.suamaytinthanhtin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2-3-1024x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"675\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"space-y-6 text-body-lg font-body-lg text-on-surface leading-relaxed max-w-none prose\">\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-14\">\n<div class=\"gliaplayer-container WBNmTEfvkkkjD7vLhAex\" data-slot=\"suamaytinthanhtin_kok_desktop\" data-gc-slot-occupied=\"\" data-gc-donotuse-internal-id=\"slot-element\" data-gc-boot-time=\"2026-10-11T04:55:38.811Z\" data-gc-test-id=\"gc-instream-slot\" data-gc-instream-style-scope=\"\">\n<div class=\"InstreamDom_root_YfauF\" data-ref=\"root\" data-gc-test-id=\"gc-instream-root\">\n<div class=\"InstreamDom_main_vXXeM\" data-gc-instream-float-sentry=\"\">\n<div class=\"InstreamDom_floater_VbM6k\" data-ref=\"floater\" data-gc-test-id=\"gc-instream-floater\" data-gc-instream-floater-state=\"unfloating\" data-animation-name=\"none\">\n<div class=\"InstreamDom_playerBox_AGi5h\" data-arb-aspect-ratio=\"1.7777777777777777\" data-arb-resize-mode=\"compute-height\">\n<div class=\"InstreamDom_player_OxyEf\" data-ref=\"player\" data-gc-test-id=\"gc-instream-player\">\n<div class=\"aIPowPuvkytIlTrZrOUM\" data-ref=\"prebidInstreamAd\" data-status=\"reset\" data-ad-unit-group-id=\"A-18\" data-ad-unit-group-order=\"47\">\n<div class=\"VideoAdControls_root_vKfl5\">\n<div class=\"VideoAdControls_muteButtonWrap_kfKmV\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gliaplayer-container\" data-slot=\"suamaytinthanhtin_kok_mobile\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-chapterbar\" role=\"progressbar\" aria-label=\"Chapter 2 \/ 4\" aria-valuemin=\"1\" aria-valuemax=\"4\" aria-valuenow=\"2\"><span class=\"sc-chapterbar__label\">Chapter 2 \/ 4<\/span><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"sc-chapter-heading\">Chapter 2<\/h2>\n<p>The gym opened with more than six hundred members signed up before the ribbon was cut. Within three months, we were profitable, and within six, I hired my first full-time trainer.<\/p>\n<p>That was when I met Ezra Kavanaugh.<\/p>\n<p>He was thirty-eight, a physical therapist who had competed in weightlifting when he was younger. He joined the gym because it was close to his clinic and spent the first month barely speaking to me beyond polite hellos.<\/p>\n<p>One evening, he watched me help a sixty-year-old client adjust her squat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou see the whole chain,\u201d he said after she left.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-5\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_3_host\"><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>\u201cMost people look at the knee because the knee hurts. You noticed her ankle was the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There was no flirtation in his voice. He was simply noticing something true.<\/p>\n<p>After years of being around people who used compliments as currency, honesty felt almost intimate.<\/p>\n<p>We started with coffee.<\/p>\n<p>Then dinner.<\/p>\n<p>Then quiet Sunday mornings that did not require me to earn my place in them.<\/p>\n<p>Six months after our first date, Ezra told me he loved me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to say anything back,\u201d he added. \u201cI just don\u2019t want to hide important things from you.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-13\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_4_host\"><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>I laughed softly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat a strange concept.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ve had a rough sample group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Eight months later, he proposed.<\/p>\n<p>By then, I was also five months pregnant.<\/p>\n<p>No injections. No clinic. No calendar covered in appointment reminders.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-12\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_5_host\"><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>Just an ordinary positive pregnancy test held in shaking hands at six in the morning while Ezra sat on the bathroom floor beside me and cried harder than I did.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"5325645767\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_6_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_6\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;slotname=5325645767&amp;adk=3255057977&amp;adf=2386688364&amp;pi=t.ma~as.5325645767&amp;abgtt=6&amp;w=900&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1791694538&amp;rafmt=1&amp;format=900x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fkok.suamaytinthanhtin.com%2Fnguyetkok%2Fsilas-looked-across-our-kitchen-as-if-eight-years-of-marriage-were-an-uncomfortable-jacket-he-had-finally-decided-to-take-off-im-done-pretending-marin-your-sister-is-the-woman-i-s%2Fchapter-2%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawU39hhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUhZMFRobmlIczFMa2RJcVRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedmhiiz6OZqG76w3_Eg2E21b4Q-RtDbJYz6NIni43bL9xhJTpfBI-STr_Azw_aem_DrQ879HcbdAYuWO_bbqRZw&amp;fwr=0&amp;fwrattr=true&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aiof=14&amp;asro=0&amp;aimartd=4&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTkuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTU0LjAuODAzNy45OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjE1NC4wLjgwMzcuOTgiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNTQuMC44MDM3Ljk4Il0sWyJOb3QgQShCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl1dLDBd&amp;dt=1791694538186&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=233&amp;idt=124&amp;shv=r20261007&amp;mjsv=m202610050101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D440c1fdc34cd1edb%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791692501%3AS%3DALNI_MbpHvrqiHBFy2UfYxIY4_JNhUUcCQ&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000158fe3ae7587%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791692501%3AS%3DALNI_MYdSfcw_p07f6sVl5BcZdpQkFIiUQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D117475471bfbd51c%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791692501%3AS%3DAA-AfjYe7IwIFXCTncQIuyfbSH7p&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1905x945%2C1200x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280&amp;nras=2&amp;correlator=5221220507985&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=420&amp;u_his=1&amp;u_h=1080&amp;u_w=1920&amp;u_ah=1032&amp;u_aw=1920&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1&amp;dmc=16&amp;adx=503&amp;ady=3717&amp;biw=1905&amp;bih=945&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=81&amp;eid=95404824%2C95404845%2C95405493&amp;oid=2&amp;pvsid=8517312422689727&amp;tmod=1532040078&amp;uas=0&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1920%2C1032%2C1920%2C945&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&amp;abl=CS&amp;pfx=0&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;plas=308x742_l%7C308x742_r&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaAzcuMA..&amp;ifi=7&amp;uci=a!7&amp;btvi=4&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=126\" name=\"aswift_6\" width=\"900\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!7\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CKXavaSWsZcDFXtBOAUdowYJyg\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>My parents learned about the engagement through Aunt Vera, of all people, after my father came into the gym to see the place I had built.<\/p>\n<p>My mother began calling again soon afterward.<\/p>\n<p>Her favorite subject was Colette.<\/p>\n<p>Silas and Colette had held an elaborate wedding ceremony about four months after our divorce became final, and their first anniversary was approaching. My mother wanted the family together for a banquet they had planned at a hotel ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not going,\u201d I told her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarin, enough time has passed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s not how time works.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-11\">.<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt might be good for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would be good for Colette.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My mother went quiet.<\/p>\n<p>Then my father called the next day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour mother says Silas has a big announcement planned.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat has nothing to do with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-10\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_7_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_7\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;slotname=7223005196&amp;adk=3098457029&amp;adf=3698762582&amp;pi=t.ma~as.7223005196&amp;abgtt=6&amp;w=900&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1791694539&amp;rafmt=1&amp;format=900x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fkok.suamaytinthanhtin.com%2Fnguyetkok%2Fsilas-looked-across-our-kitchen-as-if-eight-years-of-marriage-were-an-uncomfortable-jacket-he-had-finally-decided-to-take-off-im-done-pretending-marin-your-sister-is-the-woman-i-s%2Fchapter-2%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawU39hhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUhZMFRobmlIczFMa2RJcVRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedmhiiz6OZqG76w3_Eg2E21b4Q-RtDbJYz6NIni43bL9xhJTpfBI-STr_Azw_aem_DrQ879HcbdAYuWO_bbqRZw%23goog_fullscreen_ad&amp;fwr=0&amp;fwrattr=true&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aiof=14&amp;asro=0&amp;aimartd=4&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTkuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTU0LjAuODAzNy45OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjE1NC4wLjgwMzcuOTgiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNTQuMC44MDM3Ljk4Il0sWyJOb3QgQShCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl1dLDBd&amp;dt=1791694538186&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=234&amp;idt=131&amp;shv=r20261007&amp;mjsv=m202610050101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D440c1fdc34cd1edb%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MbpHvrqiHBFy2UfYxIY4_JNhUUcCQ&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000158fe3ae7587%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MYdSfcw_p07f6sVl5BcZdpQkFIiUQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D117475471bfbd51c%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DAA-AfjYe7IwIFXCTncQIuyfbSH7p&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1905x945%2C1200x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280&amp;nras=2&amp;correlator=5221220507985&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=420&amp;u_his=2&amp;u_h=1080&amp;u_w=1920&amp;u_ah=1032&amp;u_aw=1920&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1&amp;dmc=16&amp;adx=503&amp;ady=4963&amp;biw=1905&amp;bih=945&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=1192&amp;eid=95404824%2C95404845%2C95405493&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGskpM7YuIya1xJTY6JLE_Zb8JruRmhbIlbKuUthfZfUG59BYGBWlvJ0YpEStUg_ngBDH1TykGQ4YtVUPc82d1s6SKE3qog-EwEf_wr6b5uHRJA%2CAOrYGske932y9xUWPL6cymDwGRACSKTMsR7IGoFaojAjN6tjmaTok-awNcHCUZJejBm6P9t8t6l_Id7_mGqO5IKCcuoGdxqKvOAf_bTdeMjbzaq5Bg%2CAOrYGsnev3n9jjTbEddy5r4zy-OtpxgsdiP9u4PQwb9oR8a_LY4R4qay3nW8TQrmNMgC5z2TYPE_07-0XYrEsn83o3NYzoXMeEDZsdIaJjxd8z7dog&amp;pvsid=8517312422689727&amp;tmod=1532040078&amp;uas=0&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1920%2C1032%2C1920%2C945&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&amp;abl=CS&amp;pfx=0&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;plas=308x742_l%7C308x742_r&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaAzcuMA..&amp;ifi=8&amp;uci=a!8&amp;btvi=5&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=1221\" name=\"aswift_7\" width=\"900\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!8\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CMrO-qSWsZcDFfBReAAdyLYxmA\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>The fact that my father said those words surprised me.<\/p>\n<p>Then he added, \u201cCome because you\u2019re ready, not because your mother wants you there. If you\u2019re not ready, don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was new too.<\/p>\n<p>So I went.<\/p>\n<p>Not for Silas.<\/p>\n<p>Not for Colette.<\/p>\n<p>Part of me simply wanted to walk into one room from my old life without shrinking.<\/p>\n<p>Ezra wore a charcoal suit. I wore a deep green dress that made no attempt to hide my pregnancy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-9\">.<\/div>\n<p>Silas saw us the moment we entered.<\/p>\n<p>His eyes went first to my face, then Ezra, then my stomach.<\/p>\n<p>For the first time in eight years of knowing him, Silas looked utterly unprepared.<\/p>\n<p>Colette was pregnant too.<\/p>\n<p>She sat near the head table in a champagne-colored dress, one hand resting constantly over her belly. She smiled for relatives and photographs, but something about her expression looked wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Ten minutes before the toasts, she caught me outside the restroom.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarin.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-8\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_8_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_8\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;slotname=7223005196&amp;adk=3098457029&amp;adf=3638043562&amp;pi=t.ma~as.7223005196&amp;abgtt=6&amp;w=900&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1791694542&amp;rafmt=1&amp;format=900x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fkok.suamaytinthanhtin.com%2Fnguyetkok%2Fsilas-looked-across-our-kitchen-as-if-eight-years-of-marriage-were-an-uncomfortable-jacket-he-had-finally-decided-to-take-off-im-done-pretending-marin-your-sister-is-the-woman-i-s%2Fchapter-2%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawU39hhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUhZMFRobmlIczFMa2RJcVRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedmhiiz6OZqG76w3_Eg2E21b4Q-RtDbJYz6NIni43bL9xhJTpfBI-STr_Azw_aem_DrQ879HcbdAYuWO_bbqRZw%23goog_fullscreen_ad&amp;fwr=0&amp;fwrattr=true&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aiof=14&amp;asro=0&amp;aimartd=4&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTkuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTU0LjAuODAzNy45OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjE1NC4wLjgwMzcuOTgiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNTQuMC44MDM3Ljk4Il0sWyJOb3QgQShCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl1dLDBd&amp;dt=1791694538187&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=235&amp;idt=138&amp;shv=r20261007&amp;mjsv=m202610050101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D440c1fdc34cd1edb%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MbpHvrqiHBFy2UfYxIY4_JNhUUcCQ&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000158fe3ae7587%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MYdSfcw_p07f6sVl5BcZdpQkFIiUQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D117475471bfbd51c%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DAA-AfjYe7IwIFXCTncQIuyfbSH7p&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1905x945%2C1200x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280&amp;nras=2&amp;correlator=5221220507985&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=420&amp;u_his=2&amp;u_h=1080&amp;u_w=1920&amp;u_ah=1032&amp;u_aw=1920&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1&amp;dmc=16&amp;adx=503&amp;ady=5971&amp;biw=1905&amp;bih=945&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=2191&amp;eid=95404824%2C95404845%2C95405493&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGskpM7YuIya1xJTY6JLE_Zb8JruRmhbIlbKuUthfZfUG59BYGBWlvJ0YpEStUg_ngBDH1TykGQ4YtVUPc82d1s6SKE3qog-EwEf_wr6b5uHRJA%2CAOrYGske932y9xUWPL6cymDwGRACSKTMsR7IGoFaojAjN6tjmaTok-awNcHCUZJejBm6P9t8t6l_Id7_mGqO5IKCcuoGdxqKvOAf_bTdeMjbzaq5Bg%2CAOrYGsnev3n9jjTbEddy5r4zy-OtpxgsdiP9u4PQwb9oR8a_LY4R4qay3nW8TQrmNMgC5z2TYPE_07-0XYrEsn83o3NYzoXMeEDZsdIaJjxd8z7dog&amp;pvsid=8517312422689727&amp;tmod=1532040078&amp;uas=0&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1920%2C1032%2C1920%2C945&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&amp;abl=CS&amp;pfx=0&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;plas=308x742_l%7C308x742_r&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaAzcuMA..&amp;ifi=9&amp;uci=a!9&amp;btvi=6&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=4007\" name=\"aswift_8\" width=\"900\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!9\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CMrXoqaWsZcDFXNLeAAdFUsQ_w\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>I turned.<\/p>\n<p>Her fingers closed around my forearm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her face had lost all color.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe knows something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSilas.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-7\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_9_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_9\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;slotname=7223005196&amp;adk=3098457029&amp;adf=3616980173&amp;pi=t.ma~as.7223005196&amp;abgtt=6&amp;w=900&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1791694542&amp;rafmt=1&amp;format=900x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fkok.suamaytinthanhtin.com%2Fnguyetkok%2Fsilas-looked-across-our-kitchen-as-if-eight-years-of-marriage-were-an-uncomfortable-jacket-he-had-finally-decided-to-take-off-im-done-pretending-marin-your-sister-is-the-woman-i-s%2Fchapter-2%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawU39hhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUhZMFRobmlIczFMa2RJcVRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedmhiiz6OZqG76w3_Eg2E21b4Q-RtDbJYz6NIni43bL9xhJTpfBI-STr_Azw_aem_DrQ879HcbdAYuWO_bbqRZw%23goog_fullscreen_ad&amp;fwr=0&amp;fwrattr=true&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aiof=14&amp;asro=0&amp;aimartd=4&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTkuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTU0LjAuODAzNy45OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjE1NC4wLjgwMzcuOTgiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNTQuMC44MDM3Ljk4Il0sWyJOb3QgQShCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl1dLDBd&amp;dt=1791694538187&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=234&amp;idt=144&amp;shv=r20261007&amp;mjsv=m202610050101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D440c1fdc34cd1edb%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MbpHvrqiHBFy2UfYxIY4_JNhUUcCQ&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000158fe3ae7587%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MYdSfcw_p07f6sVl5BcZdpQkFIiUQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D117475471bfbd51c%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DAA-AfjYe7IwIFXCTncQIuyfbSH7p&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1905x945%2C1200x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280&amp;nras=2&amp;correlator=5221220507985&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=420&amp;u_his=2&amp;u_h=1080&amp;u_w=1920&amp;u_ah=1032&amp;u_aw=1920&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1&amp;dmc=16&amp;adx=503&amp;ady=6721&amp;biw=1905&amp;bih=945&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=2991&amp;eid=95404824%2C95404845%2C95405493&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGskpM7YuIya1xJTY6JLE_Zb8JruRmhbIlbKuUthfZfUG59BYGBWlvJ0YpEStUg_ngBDH1TykGQ4YtVUPc82d1s6SKE3qog-EwEf_wr6b5uHRJA%2CAOrYGske932y9xUWPL6cymDwGRACSKTMsR7IGoFaojAjN6tjmaTok-awNcHCUZJejBm6P9t8t6l_Id7_mGqO5IKCcuoGdxqKvOAf_bTdeMjbzaq5Bg%2CAOrYGsnev3n9jjTbEddy5r4zy-OtpxgsdiP9u4PQwb9oR8a_LY4R4qay3nW8TQrmNMgC5z2TYPE_07-0XYrEsn83o3NYzoXMeEDZsdIaJjxd8z7dog&amp;pvsid=8517312422689727&amp;tmod=1532040078&amp;uas=0&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1920%2C1032%2C1920%2C945&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&amp;abl=CS&amp;pfx=0&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;plas=308x742_l%7C308x742_r&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaAzcuMA..&amp;ifi=10&amp;uci=a!a&amp;btvi=7&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=4283\" name=\"aswift_9\" width=\"900\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!a\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CPGNtqaWsZcDFbBJOAUdBoYqQg\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>I pulled my arm gently free.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat does he know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know how much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Someone called her from the ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>Colette looked toward the door, then back at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to help me.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-6\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_10_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_10\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;slotname=7223005196&amp;adk=3098457029&amp;adf=2044062364&amp;pi=t.ma~as.7223005196&amp;abgtt=6&amp;w=900&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1791694542&amp;rafmt=1&amp;format=900x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fkok.suamaytinthanhtin.com%2Fnguyetkok%2Fsilas-looked-across-our-kitchen-as-if-eight-years-of-marriage-were-an-uncomfortable-jacket-he-had-finally-decided-to-take-off-im-done-pretending-marin-your-sister-is-the-woman-i-s%2Fchapter-2%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawU39hhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUhZMFRobmlIczFMa2RJcVRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedmhiiz6OZqG76w3_Eg2E21b4Q-RtDbJYz6NIni43bL9xhJTpfBI-STr_Azw_aem_DrQ879HcbdAYuWO_bbqRZw%23goog_fullscreen_ad&amp;fwr=0&amp;fwrattr=true&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aiof=14&amp;asro=0&amp;aimartd=4&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTkuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTU0LjAuODAzNy45OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjE1NC4wLjgwMzcuOTgiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNTQuMC44MDM3Ljk4Il0sWyJOb3QgQShCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl1dLDBd&amp;dt=1791694538187&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=234&amp;idt=171&amp;shv=r20261007&amp;mjsv=m202610050101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D440c1fdc34cd1edb%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MbpHvrqiHBFy2UfYxIY4_JNhUUcCQ&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000158fe3ae7587%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MYdSfcw_p07f6sVl5BcZdpQkFIiUQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D117475471bfbd51c%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DAA-AfjYe7IwIFXCTncQIuyfbSH7p&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1905x945%2C1200x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280&amp;nras=2&amp;correlator=5221220507985&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=420&amp;u_his=2&amp;u_h=1080&amp;u_w=1920&amp;u_ah=1032&amp;u_aw=1920&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1&amp;dmc=16&amp;adx=503&amp;ady=7135&amp;biw=1905&amp;bih=945&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=3405&amp;eid=95404824%2C95404845%2C95405493&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGskpM7YuIya1xJTY6JLE_Zb8JruRmhbIlbKuUthfZfUG59BYGBWlvJ0YpEStUg_ngBDH1TykGQ4YtVUPc82d1s6SKE3qog-EwEf_wr6b5uHRJA%2CAOrYGske932y9xUWPL6cymDwGRACSKTMsR7IGoFaojAjN6tjmaTok-awNcHCUZJejBm6P9t8t6l_Id7_mGqO5IKCcuoGdxqKvOAf_bTdeMjbzaq5Bg%2CAOrYGsnev3n9jjTbEddy5r4zy-OtpxgsdiP9u4PQwb9oR8a_LY4R4qay3nW8TQrmNMgC5z2TYPE_07-0XYrEsn83o3NYzoXMeEDZsdIaJjxd8z7dog&amp;pvsid=8517312422689727&amp;tmod=1532040078&amp;uas=0&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1920%2C1032%2C1920%2C945&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&amp;abl=CS&amp;pfx=0&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;plas=308x742_l%7C308x742_r&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaAzcuMA..&amp;ifi=11&amp;uci=a!b&amp;btvi=8&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=4502\" name=\"aswift_10\" width=\"900\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!b\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CP3ewqaWsZcDFUxm9QcdTtkj0w\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>The old instinct appeared immediately. Fix it. Protect the family. Absorb whatever disaster Colette created so everyone else could stay comfortable.<\/p>\n<p>Then I remembered Vera telling me to stop inventing debts nobody had given me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n<p>Colette stared at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t even know what you\u2019re asking, but no.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She walked away with tears gathering beneath her carefully applied mascara.<\/p>\n<p>Thirty seconds later, Silas tapped a fork against his glass.<\/p>\n<p>Conversations faded.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-4\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"7223005196\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_11_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_11\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;slotname=7223005196&amp;adk=3098457029&amp;adf=114729036&amp;pi=t.ma~as.7223005196&amp;abgtt=6&amp;w=900&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1791694543&amp;rafmt=1&amp;format=900x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fkok.suamaytinthanhtin.com%2Fnguyetkok%2Fsilas-looked-across-our-kitchen-as-if-eight-years-of-marriage-were-an-uncomfortable-jacket-he-had-finally-decided-to-take-off-im-done-pretending-marin-your-sister-is-the-woman-i-s%2Fchapter-2%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawU39hhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUhZMFRobmlIczFMa2RJcVRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedmhiiz6OZqG76w3_Eg2E21b4Q-RtDbJYz6NIni43bL9xhJTpfBI-STr_Azw_aem_DrQ879HcbdAYuWO_bbqRZw%23goog_fullscreen_ad&amp;fwr=0&amp;fwrattr=true&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aiof=14&amp;asro=0&amp;aimartd=4&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTkuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTU0LjAuODAzNy45OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjE1NC4wLjgwMzcuOTgiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNTQuMC44MDM3Ljk4Il0sWyJOb3QgQShCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl1dLDBd&amp;dt=1791694538187&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=234&amp;idt=182&amp;shv=r20261007&amp;mjsv=m202610050101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D440c1fdc34cd1edb%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MbpHvrqiHBFy2UfYxIY4_JNhUUcCQ&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000158fe3ae7587%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DALNI_MYdSfcw_p07f6sVl5BcZdpQkFIiUQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D117475471bfbd51c%3AT%3D1790845698%3ART%3D1791694539%3AS%3DAA-AfjYe7IwIFXCTncQIuyfbSH7p&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1905x945%2C1200x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280%2C900x280&amp;nras=2&amp;correlator=5221220507985&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=420&amp;u_his=2&amp;u_h=1080&amp;u_w=1920&amp;u_ah=1032&amp;u_aw=1920&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1&amp;dmc=16&amp;adx=503&amp;ady=7356&amp;biw=1905&amp;bih=945&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=3700&amp;eid=95404824%2C95404845%2C95405493&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGskpM7YuIya1xJTY6JLE_Zb8JruRmhbIlbKuUthfZfUG59BYGBWlvJ0YpEStUg_ngBDH1TykGQ4YtVUPc82d1s6SKE3qog-EwEf_wr6b5uHRJA%2CAOrYGske932y9xUWPL6cymDwGRACSKTMsR7IGoFaojAjN6tjmaTok-awNcHCUZJejBm6P9t8t6l_Id7_mGqO5IKCcuoGdxqKvOAf_bTdeMjbzaq5Bg%2CAOrYGsnev3n9jjTbEddy5r4zy-OtpxgsdiP9u4PQwb9oR8a_LY4R4qay3nW8TQrmNMgC5z2TYPE_07-0XYrEsn83o3NYzoXMeEDZsdIaJjxd8z7dog&amp;pvsid=8517312422689727&amp;tmod=1532040078&amp;uas=0&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1920%2C1032%2C1920%2C945&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&amp;abl=CS&amp;pfx=0&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;plas=308x742_l%7C308x742_r&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaAzcuMA..&amp;ifi=12&amp;uci=a!c&amp;btvi=9&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=4988\" name=\"aswift_11\" width=\"900\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!c\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CP_g4aaWsZcDFU2YrwEd1AMU8A\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>My mother smiled eagerly.<\/p>\n<p>Silas stood beside Colette and looked down at her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe baby Colette is carrying,\u201d he began, \u201cisn\u2019t mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The room went silent.<\/p>\n<p>Colette\u2019s lips parted.<\/p>\n<p>Silas continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had medical testing nine months ago. My doctor told me I have a condition that makes it almost impossible for me to father a child.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My mother covered her mouth.<\/p>\n<p>My father stared at the table.<\/p>\n<p>Silas turned toward me.<\/p>\n<p>And I suddenly understood why I had been invited.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLeaving Marin was the biggest mistake of my life,\u201d he announced.<\/p>\n<p>My skin went cold.<\/p>\n<p>He started walking toward me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought I knew what I wanted. I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ezra moved half a step forward, not threatening him, simply creating a boundary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-content injected-in-content injected-in-content-2\">\n<div id=\"suamaytinthanhtincominpage-PIQFgqCzmD\">\n<div id=\"sp_passback-mobileinpage_2058\" data-id=\"sp_passback-mobileinpage_2058\">\n<div class=\"sp-mobileinpage-google-ads sp-demand-div\" data-demand=\"google-ads\">\n<div class=\"nl-scroll-div\">\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Silas stopped.<\/p>\n<p>Then he looked closely at my pregnant stomach.<\/p>\n<p>His entire face changed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarin\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, you need to finish whatever performance you planned.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Behind him, Colette suddenly screamed.<\/p>\n<p>Not at Silas.<\/p>\n<p>At a stranger standing beside the dessert table.<\/p>\n<p>He was around forty, dressed in a gray suit, holding his phone in front of him as though he had been recording.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTurn that off!\u201d Colette shouted.<\/p>\n<p>My mother stood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The man lowered the phone slightly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy name is Roman Katz.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked directly at Silas.<\/p>\n<p>Then he said the sentence that shattered whatever remained of the evening.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m Colette\u2019s husband.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nobody moved.<\/p>\n<p>Roman continued in the same calm voice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Silas looked across our kitchen as if eight years of marriage were an uncomfortable jacket he had finally decided to take off. \u201cI\u2019m done pretending, Marin. Your sister is the&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=223"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224,"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223\/revisions\/224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovenews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}