Lost Everything?

Violet stood in the center of the room, her heart pounding in her chest as the celebrations swirled around her. The laughter, the joy- it felt like a cruel joke. Luna's hand rested protectively over her own belly, the barely noticeable swell a constant reminder of what Violet had just learned: her sister was pregnant with Christian's child.

Her entire world had collapsed in an instant.

Violet’s hands clutched her own belly, holding onto the only thing she thought she still had- her baby, Christian’s baby. The life growing inside her was supposed to be the joy that brought their family together. Instead, it had been replaced by Luna’s pregnancy, the attention and excitement shifting entirely to her.

But the final blow was still coming. The murmurs started quietly at first, but then they grew louder. She could hear the whispers, the skeptical glances thrown in her direction.

“You think it’s really Christian’s baby?” someone asked in a hushed tone, but loud enough for Violet to hear.

Violet froze, her breath catching in her throat. No. They couldn’t be saying this. Not after everything.

Another voice chimed in, “I mean, look at her. Christian’s been distant for a long time. Who knows what she’s been up to?”

Violet’s chest tightened as she looked around the room. Eyes that had once been filled with mild disapproval were now full of suspicion. Faces that once gave her polite smiles now looked at her with doubt. Christian’s mother, who had always made her feel like an outsider, sat with a pleased smirk on her face, clearly reveling in the shift of power.

“Are we even sure the baby is Christian’s?” his mother said, her voice dripping with disdain. She glanced at Violet, her eyes narrowed with contempt. “It’s not like they’ve been close lately.”

Violet’s mouth went dry, her hands trembling. “It IS Christian’s baby,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She was too overwhelmed, too devastated to yell, but her words were filled with desperation. “I would never-”

But no one was listening. Not even one of them.

Christian’s father, who had always been distant and cold toward her, now spoke up. “It does raise some questions, though. I mean, why has Christian been so unhappy? Maybe there’s something else going on.”

The words stung, but it was Christian’s response that crushed her soul.

Christian, standing next to Luna, looked at Violet with indifference. His jaw tightened, his eyes flickered with something close to disgust. “I’ve been thinking the same,” he said flatly. “It wouldn’t surprise me if there was someone else.”

A wave of nausea hit Violet as Christian’s cold accusation hung in the air. It felt like a betrayal deeper than any she had experienced that night. He was questioning her loyalty, her love, her very integrity- all while standing next to her sister, the woman he had been having an affair with.

“Christian!” Violet gasped, her voice barely holding together. “How can you say that? You know-”

“Do I?” Christian interrupted, his voice sharp, cutting through her like a blade. “You’ve been distant too, Violet. You’ve been distracted. Who’s to say that you didn’t find comfort somewhere else?”

Her world tilted. She looked around the room, hoping- pleading -for someone to stand up for her, to defend her. But all she saw were faces full of doubt, suspicion, and judgment. Even her own mother- Luna’s mother -sat with a satisfied smile, clearly thrilled that Luna was the one in Christian’s arms now.

“Violet…” Her mother’s voice was soft but condescending. “You’ve been under so much stress lately. It wouldn’t be so far-fetched to think that maybe you… made a mistake.”

“No!” Violet cried, shaking her head furiously. “I didn’t- this baby is Christian’s! I would never betray him!”

But her protests fell on deaf ears. No one believed her. Or worse, no one cared.

The room was closing in around her, the walls tightening as their cruel words and glances battered her from every side. The whispers grew louder, more accusatory.

“I bet it’s not even Christian’s.”

“Poor Christian, having to deal with this.”

“Luna will give him the family he deserves.”

The room felt suffocating, and Violet could hardly breathe. She clutched her belly, trying to ground herself in the reality that she knew- this baby was Christian’s. But the way everyone treated her, it was as if the truth didn’t matter. They had already decided she was guilty.

And then, Christian turned toward her, his eyes cold and calculating. “We need to talk about something else, Violet.”

Violet’s heart sank. What now? Was there anything left he could take from her?

“I want control of your father’s company. Fully control of it.” Christian said, his voice steady but ruthless. “It makes sense. You can’t handle it alone, and I’m going to need more resources for my future with Luna.”

The words were so callous, so brazen, that Violet felt like she had been punched in the stomach. Her father’s company- the only thing she had left, the last piece of her real family- he wanted that too? The company was her father’s legacy, something she had fought to preserve ever since his death. And now Christian was trying to steal it from her, like he had stolen everything else.

“No,” Violet whispered, her voice shaking with disbelief. “You can’t ask for that.”

But Christian stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “I’m not asking, Violet. You’re going to give me control. It’s the only way this transition will be smooth for everyone.”

“Everyone?” Violet’s voice cracked. “You mean you and Luna, not everyone.”

A ripple of discomfort spread through the room, but no one spoke up to defend her. She looked desperately at her mother, her in-laws, anyone, but all she saw were faces that had already made up their minds.

Christian’s mother chimed in. “It’s for the best, dear. The company is too much for you to handle. Christian can take care of it now.”

Violet’s hands trembled with rage. “It’s my father’s company! You have no right!”

But Christian’s expression hardened. “I have every right. And if you don’t sign it over willingly, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

The threat hung in the air, thick with menace. Violet’s heart raced, her mind spinning as she tried to think of a way out. But there was no one to help her. No one to stand by her side. She was utterly alone, surrounded by people who only wanted to see her broken.

Her eyes filled with tears as she met Christian’s gaze. The man she had once loved was gone, replaced by someone cruel and heartless, someone who would take everything from her without a second thought. And everyone in the room was backing him.

Violet looked at the faces of her supposed family- her mother, her in-laws, her sister -all of them united against her. She had no one left. No allies. No support. Not even the child she carried in her belly could protect her from the cold, brutal reality of what was happening.

She was being erased from her own life. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her hands fell limp at her sides. The fight drained from her body. “I won’t let you take my father’s company,” she whispered, but her voice was weak, full of defeat.

Christian stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “Then you’ll have nothing, Violet. Not me, not this family, and not your child’s future.”

The words were like a final blow, shattering the last pieces of her resistance. She couldn’t fight anymore. She had already lost everything- her husband, her sister, her family, and now, her father’s legacy. There was nothing left to hold onto.

With trembling hands, Violet finally nodded. “Fine,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Take it.”

Christian’s lips curled into a victorious smile. He turned to Luna, who beamed up at him with adoration, her hand still resting on her belly. The room erupted in cheers, congratulations once again directed toward Christian and Luna. The room that had once been decorated for Violet’s celebration now seemed to belong entirely to her sister.

And as the laughter and joy filled the space around her, Violet stood in the middle of it all- alone, broken, and completely forgotten. The storm inside her heart matched the storm outside, but no one even noticed her pain. She had lost everything, and in the eyes of the people who were supposed to care, she was already gone.