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When Piper returns from a trip with her friends, she cannot wait to get home to her husband. But as she unpacks her car, a neighbor approaches her, complaining about the noise from her apartment. If Piper wasn’t home, who was Matthew entertaining in her absence?
I had just returned from a blissful week-long camping trip with my friends. It was all about us taking time away from our lives and enjoying being away from the city.
My husband, Matthew, had stayed behind, claiming that he needed to stay at home.
“I have to be home, Piper,” he said when I was packing my bags. “It’s just work responsibilities. There are meetings and presentations coming up.”
“Are you sure?” I asked him. “Why don’t you come along, and then we can find you a place to work in between it all?”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he said. “You go and join the others and have fun. You need some time away from this place.”
He continued to persuade me to go on the trip, and eventually, I gave in.
“If you’re sure, then it’s settled. I’ll go,” I said. “But I’ll meal prep your food for you before I go.”
Two weeks later, I was back home, feeling rejuvenated and happy to be back with my husband.
“I missed you,” I said when I walked into the house.
Matthew was cooking for us, music was playing in the background, and I felt grateful that I could come home to him.
“I’m just going to unpack the car,” I said. “But dinner smells great!”
I went outside and began to unpack my things when our downstairs neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, approached me by the car. Her stern expression made me pause everything.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her, ready to jump at whatever she needed.
“No, Piper,” she said, crossing her arms. “I know that you and your husband are a young couple and stay up until the late hours. But could you try and keep it quiet at night? At least from about nine-thirty. For the past week, I could barely sleep.”
I blinked, taken aback.
“What? Mrs. Peterson, I haven’t been home all week. Are you sure that it was coming from our place?”
The old woman frowned, and I could tell that she was trying to see if I was joking or not.
“Well, someone was making a lot of noise, Piper,” she said. “It sounded like a party every single night.”
I wasn’t sure what I was listening to. I knew that Matthew was a good guy, but we were on the top floor, and there wasn’t anyone living above us.
Was there a possibility that I didn’t know my husband as well as I thought?
I apologized profusely, my mind racing. As soon as she walked away, I rushed upstairs to confront Matthew. I needed to know what Mrs. Peterson was talking about.
If he had been entertaining people, then that was one thing, and it was okay.
But what if he was having an affair?
“Stop it,” I muttered to myself as I stood in the elevator.
I found my husband lounging on the couch, watching TV.
“Matt, we need to talk,” I said, my voice giving me away.
He looked at me, picked up the remote, and switched the TV off.
“What’s wrong, Piper?”
“Mrs. Peterson just complained about noise coming from our apartment every night last week. I wasn’t here, Matthew. What the hell is going on, and who were you making so much noise with?”
My husband’s face paled, and he buried his face in his hands. My heart sank.
There was something about the resignation of his body that made me think that he was guilty. But guilty of what?
Was he simply guilty of having friends over? Or an affair?
“Please, just tell me the truth,” I pleaded, sitting down on the couch across from him.
“I’m not having an affair,” he muttered, barely audible. “And I know that’s what you’re thinking. But I was just ashamed to tell you the truth.”
“What truth? What do you mean? What’s going on?” I asked, the questions hurling themselves at Matthew.
My husband took a deep breath and looked up, his eyes filled with something that I couldn’t understand.
“I lost my job a few months ago, Piper. I didn’t know how to tell you. But I’ve been desperate to make money so that you wouldn’t notice the shortfall. While you were gone, I rented out our apartment to make some money. I stayed at Trent’s place while the apartment was rented out.”
I sighed, the relief and confusion dissipating from my body.
“So, the noise was from the people who rented out the place?” I asked, needing to hear it from him.
He nodded.
“I’m sorry, love,” Matthew said. “I just didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t want you to worry. And I didn’t want you to miss the trip just because of me. I also had an interview during the first week, and I wasn’t about to reschedule it.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me, Matt?” I asked. “We could have figured something out together.”
“I know,” he said, his voice breaking. “But I was just scared about letting you down.”
“We’re a team, Matthew,” I said. “You don’t have to face things like these alone. We can deal with this together. That’s what marriage is about.”
My husband smiled and pulled me toward him.
“I understand that now,” he said.
We sat in silence for a while, both trying to figure out the next move. I knew that he would have been trying to find another job, and I didn’t want to ask him a million questions about it.
He would tell me when something came up.
“Come,” he said. “Let’s eat.”
We sat down at the table, and Matthew asked me about the trip.
“Tell me everything,” he said. “Did Liam get drunk and do something stupid?”
“Of course he did!” I laughed as Matthew poured me a glass of wine. “He tried moonshine from some other campers and ended up streaking, running through tents.”
“I bet Sasha wasn’t impressed,” Matthew laughed. “That couple is always disagreeing.”
As we did the dishes together that evening, Matthew sighed and leaned against the counter.
“Thank you for understanding,” he said. “Thank you for not thinking that I was covering up an affair.”
I smiled at my husband, ashamed that I entertained the thought of him having another woman in our home.
“But did you make sure to change the bedding?” I asked him. “I’m not about to sleep in a bed that other people have been in.”
Matthew laughed loudly.
“Our bedroom was locked, darling,” he said. “They only used the guest room.”
Over the next few days, we talked about everything. We spoke about the loss of his job, the financial strain, and our plan moving forward.
“I’m actively looking, Piper,” he said over coffee and toast the next morning. “I’ve set up alerts for job positions that I would fit into. And I’ve cut down on any other unnecessary expenses. This isn’t going to be for long. I can promise you that.”
As for Mrs. Peterson, I went downstairs to her apartment, ready to explain everything.
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t know about everything Matthew was going through. And he ended up letting our apartment out as an Airbnb for the week, just to make some money off it.”
“Oh, honey,” she said, her eyes softening as she put the kettle on. “It’s okay! I understand it now. I just thought that you two were taking advantage of the situation. But I get it now.”
“Thank you for understanding,” I said. “We just need a minute to get back on our feet.”
Mrs. Peterson faffed around the kitchen, making us some tea.
“Look, Piper,” she said, giving me a plate of biscuits. “I’m here and willing to help you out if you ever need the help.”
It turned out that in her youth, Mrs. Peterson had been through tough times herself and knew how hard it could be to ask for help.
What would you have done?
BRAD PITT’S STUNNING RED CARPET DEBUT WITH INES DE RAMON LEAVES VENICE BUZZING
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Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon made a stylish red carpet debut at an event. While some online users have expressed happiness for the duo, others have posted comments riddled with lookalike theories and speculations.
Stealing the spotlight at the Venice International Film Festival, Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon made a striking red carpet debut in Italy on September 1. Their appearance has prompted a wave of mixed reactions from netizens who have seen the online photos of the duo, with some comparing Ines to a certain someone from Brad’s past.
For the prestigious event, which they attended for the premiere of Brad’s new movie *Wolfs*, Ines and Brad went for a black-and-white theme. Ines wore a chic, white, one-shoulder bodycon dress. She matched it with metallic heels and elegant, dangling earrings.
Ines’ beau looked dashing in an all-black outfit, including a double-breasted tuxedo jacket, flared pants, and a black t-shirt.
Throughout the evening, Brad and Ines shared several romantic moments, embracing each other and exchanging affectionate glances.
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At one point, the evening turned into a bit of a double date when Brad and Ines were joined by the famous couple George and Amal Clooney. George was also at the Venice Film Festival for the premiere of “Wolfs,” in which he co-stars with Brad.
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Amal looked stunning in a ruffled, sleeveless, pastel-yellow gown, while George matched her elegance in a classic black tuxedo.
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Brad also posed for solo photos with his co-stars Amy Ryan and Austin Abrams. Reports mention that Brad and his girlfriend, Ines, attended the Venice Film Festival just two days after Brad’s ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, was seen at the event for the premiere of her new movie, *Maria*.
When photos of Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon at the Venice Film Festival appeared online, social media users quickly shared their thoughts. Many were excited to see them together, praising Ines for her beauty and wishing the couple well.
One fan on Facebook wrote, “Good for him. He moved on. So should [you’s],” while another commented, “She is extremely beautiful.” Someone else wished Brad luck, saying, “Good Luck Brad Pitt. Hopefully she’s a Keeper.”
However, not everyone was positive. Some people criticized the relationship or questioned if it was just for publicity. One user wrote, “Shame on him,” and another asked, “Wonder if this is just for publicity?”
Additionally, some users compared Ines to famous women from Brad’s past. One person even noted, “She resembles [Meghan Markle].”
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One Facebook user commented, “This young woman is not as pretty as Jennifer Aniston. I hope he learned something after his past relationships, but men usually don’t. Good luck to his new girlfriend. The only good thing is that he is older.”
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Adding to the comparisons, one observer wrote, “LMAO can see Angelina’s face.” Another commented, “Jolie is much more attractive,” and someone else added, “She isn’t Jolie.”
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While some people may be disappointed that Ines doesn’t look like Brad’s ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, it’s clear that Brad is very happy with her. According to a source, the couple had a wonderful summer before the Venice Film Festival.
The source mentioned that Brad has been working in Europe, which allowed them to spend a lot of time together there. The source said, “Brad is serious about Ines. He’s really happy and enjoys being with her. She’s easygoing, and everyone likes her.”
Brad and Ines first became linked in November 2022 when they were seen at a Bono concert. Soon after, they were also spotted at the premiere and afterparty for Brad’s movie “Babylon” in Los Angeles.
By July 2023, a source close to Brad and Ines said their relationship was still “going very strong.” The same source shared how much they enjoy being together.
In February 2024, another source revealed that Ines had moved into Brad’s home, although she still has her own place.
In July, Brad and Ines were seen at the British Grand Prix in Northampton, England. Before that, in May, they were spotted taking a peaceful morning walk on the beach in Santa Barbara, which got a lot of attention online.
The couple looked relaxed and comfortable at the event, dressing casually for the occasion. Some people online noticed that Ines seemed to have features similar to Brad’s famous exes, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston.
One person commented, “I can’t help but see a mix of both his ex-wives in her. It’s like combining Angelina and Jennifer into one.”
Another said, “She looks like a younger Angelina.” However, opinions varied. One Facebook user mentioned, “She doesn’t look like Angelina at all. She’s missing the cheekbones.”
While some focused on her resemblance to Brad’s exes, others praised Ines for her own unique beauty and the couple’s strong connection. “She looks beautiful just as herself. No need to compare her to Angie,” said a supportive comment on Facebook.
Fans have been discussing the deeper side of Brad and Ines’ relationship, appreciating how genuine Ines is. Some people commented, “Now he has someone who stands up for him,” and “Ines is the real deal. She’s not after money or fame. They seem to have a lot in common. I hope it works out!”
When they were spotted at the beach, they both wore white outfits, which added a touch of elegance to their casual stroll. Brad wore a white t-shirt with a loosely buttoned polo shirt and cream pants that suited the beach setting. He also had on orange sunglasses and was holding a drink, indicating a relaxed day.
Ines complemented Brad’s style with her own white flowy sundress that had a thigh-high slit. She finished her look with a sleeveless green puffer jacket and white sneakers.
This backdrop of personal changes for Ines mirrors Brad’s ongoing divorce saga, emphasizing how both are dealing with breakups in the public eye.
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