Shattered Trust

The rain drummed steadily against the windows, each drop a soft thud that echoed in the empty living room. The scent of wet earth wafted in from the garden, but inside, the room was decorated with pink and blue balloons, banners that read "Boy or Girl?" in cheerful letters. Cupcakes were stacked on the table, untouched, with tiny question marks delicately frosted on top. The cake, sitting in the center of the table, remained uncut- the very cake that was supposed to reveal the gender of their baby.

It was 9 p.m., and the gender reveal party, meant to start at 4, had long since fallen apart. Guests, once filled with excitement, had left one by one, exchanging awkward glances and murmured apologies. No one knew where Christian was, and Violet was running out of excuses.

Violet’s hands shook as she scrolled through her phone, the screen blurred by the tears welling in her eyes. She had called Christian at least twenty times, texted him countless messages- each one more desperate than the last.

Where are you?

Christian, please, everyone is here… waiting.

Are you okay?

But there was no response. Each time her phone remained silent, her heart sank deeper into her chest. The room felt stifling, the weight of her guests’ eyes earlier had pressed on her like an unbearable burden. Now, only her family and his remained, lingering in uncomfortable silence.

Her mother-in-law sat stiffly in the corner, her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line as she glanced at her watch. She sighed dramatically before finally breaking the silence. “Where is he, Violet? Don’t you even know where your own husband is? You’ve made us wait for hours.”

Violet flinched at the harshness of her tone, her chest tightening. She wanted to say something, anything to defend herself, but nothing came out. She didn’t know where Christian was, and the helplessness gnawed at her insides. She looked down at her hands, trying to steady her breath, trying to think of how to salvage the night.

“I’m sure he’ll be here any minute,” she whispered, her voice cracking. But even she didn’t believe her own words.

Her mother’s hand reached out gently, resting on her shoulder. “Honey, maybe we should just call it a night. Everyone’s tired.”

Violet swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding weakly. She knew she had no other choice. But as she stood up to announce the end of the evening, the door creaked open. For a moment, Violet’s heart leaped, a surge of relief rushing through her. Finally, Christian had come. She turned quickly toward the door, her lips parting to call out his name- only to have the words die in her throat.

Christian stepped inside, his face blank, eyes cold. His suit was damp from the rain, his hair messy and out of place as if he hadn’t cared to look presentable at all. But it wasn’t just his disheveled appearance that sent a chill down Violet’s spine.

It was the woman standing beside him.

Violet’s breath caught in her chest. Luna. Her sister. Luna’s arm was hooked around Christian’s as they walked in together. Both of them looked unkempt, and it didn’t take long for Violet to notice the marks on Luna’s neck- faint bruises that no scarf or collar could hide. Her gaze drifted to Christian’s collar, where similar marks darkened his skin.

Her entire body went cold.

“Christian?” Violet’s voice trembled, barely a whisper, but in the silence of the room, it sounded like a scream.

Christian’s eyes flickered to hers, then swept across the room, taking in the shocked faces of their families. For a moment, something like annoyance passed over his face, but there was no guilt. No apology. No explanation. He just sighed, as if this moment had been inevitable, as if he was tired of pretending.

“I didn’t want to hide anymore,” he said, his voice disturbingly calm, like he was discussing the weather.

Violet’s heart shattered into a thousand pieces. She stared at him, her eyes wide, uncomprehending. Her mind couldn’t wrap itself around what was happening. She wanted to scream, to demand answers, but her body was frozen in place, her mind paralyzed by shock.

Her mother-in-law’s face twisted into a look of disgust, not at Christian, but at her. "You've driven him to this, haven’t you?" she spat. "No wonder he’s found comfort elsewhere. Look at the state of you, Violet. You can’t even keep your own husband interested."

The words cut deep, like a dagger plunged into her chest. Violet opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She was suffocating, her breath shallow and uneven as her eyes darted between Christian and Luna. Her own sister. The betrayal was too much.

“How long?” Violet finally choked out, her voice hoarse, her lips trembling. She couldn’t look at Luna, not yet. She couldn’t handle it. Her eyes stayed locked on Christian, silently pleading for him to tell her this was some kind of mistake. That this nightmare wasn’t real.

Christian glanced at Luna briefly before answering. “Does it matter?”

The casual indifference in his voice sent a sharp pain through her chest. He turned away from her as if the conversation wasn’t even worth his attention. He walked past her like she was invisible, heading toward the kitchen. Violet stood there, her body shaking as he poured himself a glass of water. He drank it slowly, methodically, as if the entire world hadn’t just come crashing down around them.

“Christian, please…” Violet’s voice cracked. She followed him, desperate, her hands shaking as she reached out for him, but he didn’t even flinch. “Tell me this is a joke.”

He turned slowly, setting the glass on the counter. His eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth or affection. The man she had loved for so long, the father of her unborn child, looked at her like she was nothing. Like a stranger.

“Violet, you had to have seen this coming,” he said, his voice as empty as his expression. “We’ve been over for a long time.”

“Over?” Violet echoed, her voice breaking on the word. She felt like she was falling, spiraling into a void she couldn’t escape. Over? How could he say that? How could he just- dismiss her like this?

Her hands instinctively went to her swollen belly, the small bump barely noticeable under her dress. She had thought this child would bring them closer, that it was the hope they had been waiting for. But now, it felt like a cruel reminder of what she was about to lose.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “We’re having a baby…”

Christian’s expression didn’t change. If anything, his gaze hardened, as if her words meant nothing to him. “I’m filing for divorce,” he said flatly, without hesitation. “I’ve already spoken to my lawyer.”

The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet. Divorce. The word hung in the air, suffocating her. Divorce? Was this how it all ended? After everything they had been through? After all the years they had spent trying to build a family, to love one another?

Violet stumbled back, her legs weak, her body shaking as the reality of his words sank in. “Divorce?” she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

Christian’s face was a mask of indifference. “It’s over, Vi. I’m done.”

Tears fell freely down her cheeks, her vision blurred as her heart shattered in ways she hadn’t thought possible. She could barely breathe, the pain in her chest unbearable, suffocating. She clutched her belly tighter, as if holding onto their child would somehow stop him from leaving.

“But I’m pregnant,” she said, her voice breaking, desperation seeping into every word. “You can’t just leave… Christian, please.”

He stared at her for a long moment, his eyes empty of any remorse. When he spoke, his voice was cold, final. “I’m not joking, Violet. This is over.”

And with that, he turned away, his back to her as if she no longer existed. He walked toward the stairs, leaving her standing there in the cold, silent room. Violet’s knees buckled, and she lean her back to the counter while supporting her back with her hands, her sobs breaking through the fragile silence as the weight of his betrayal crushed her.

The man she loved, the man she had trusted with her heart, her life, her future, had walked away without a second glance. Without an ounce of regret. And all she could do was watch as her world crumbled around her.

“Is this even real?” she whisper to herself.