The Betrayal

The rain outside pounded harder against the windows, as if echoing the storm raging in Violet’s chest. She lean more to the counter, tears streaking down her cheeks, trying to catch her breath. Her entire world had just collapsed. Christian’s words echoed in her ears, his cold indifference seared into her mind.

“It’s over.”

But before she could even process the depth of his betrayal, the sound of footsteps broke through her sobs. Christian was descending the stairs, his footsteps slow and deliberate, as though he was about to deliver another devastating blow. Violet glanced up, her vision blurred by tears, her heart still clinging to a faint hope that maybe, just maybe, he had reconsidered.

“Violet,” Christian’s voice was firm, devoid of any warmth or affection. “Come to the living room.”

She struggled to stand straight, her legs weak beneath her, the weight of his earlier words still pressing on her chest like a vice. What else could he possibly say now? Wasn’t the pain he had inflicted enough?

Her body moved on autopilot as she followed him back into the living room. The pink and blue decorations mocked her, a cruel reminder of the future she thought they were building together. The air was thick with tension, but this time, it wasn’t just from the absence of Christian.

Everyone was still there- her family, his family -waiting. Waiting for something. Violet’s heart raced in confusion. The guests that had once seemed bored or disappointed now looked at Christian with expectant faces. It was like they were waiting for something more. Something bigger.

She glanced around the room, her mother-in-law sitting primly on the couch, her lips curved into a smug smile. Her sister, Luna, stood beside her, still close to Christian, her body practically molded to his side. The sight of them together made Violet’s stomach churn, but the worst part was the absence of shock on their faces.

No one seemed surprised.

Christian walked to the center of the room, pulling Luna forward with him, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back. Violet watched in horror as the room seemed to shift, the air growing thicker with anticipation.

And then, Christian’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. “I wanted to gather you all here to say something important.”

Violet’s heart skipped a beat. This couldn’t be happening.

He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the room, locking briefly on Violet’s tear-streaked face before looking away, as if the sight of her no longer mattered to him. His grip on Luna tightened, and Luna’s lips curled into a small, satisfied smile.

“I’ve made my decision,” Christian continued, his voice strong, unyielding. “I’m divorcing Violet.”

The words hit Violet like a punch to the gut. She had heard them before, upstairs in the privacy of their home, but here, in front of everyone- their family, their friends -it was like the final nail in the coffin. She felt the room spin around her, her body growing cold as she struggled to keep standing.

But Christian wasn’t finished.

“And I’ve decided to be with Luna instead.”

A collective gasp filled the room, but it wasn’t a gasp of horror or outrage. It was more of a gasp of surprise, as though Christian had just made an unexpected but necessary announcement. Violet stood frozen, her mind reeling, unable to believe what she was hearing. Her sister- her own sister -stood beside Christian, a triumphant look on her face, as if she had just won some twisted prize.

“No…” Violet whispered, her voice barely audible. Her hands instinctively went to her belly, holding their unborn child as if to protect herself from the cruel reality unfolding in front of her.

Christian’s mother was the first to break the silence. She rose from her seat, a pleased smile spreading across her face. “Well, it’s about time, Christian,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “I always knew you were meant for someone better.”

The word better cut through Violet like a knife. She felt the ground shift beneath her feet, her legs trembling as the people who were supposed to be her family seemed to turn on her, one by one. She glanced desperately at her mother, hoping for some support, some defense- but the look in her mother’s eyes made her blood run cold.

Her mother- Luna’s mother -was smiling too.

Violet’s breath hitched as her world spun into chaos. How could this be happening? How could they all stand there, watching this unfold, and act like it was normal? Like it was right?

Violet’s mother- no, Luna’s mother -stepped forward, her eyes alight with joy. “I knew it!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “I always knew Christian would choose the right woman eventually. Oh, Christian, you’ve made the best decision for your future, for your family.”

Violet’s stomach dropped. The words twisted inside her, leaving her numb and broken. Her own mother- the woman who had raised her after her real mother had died -was standing there, beaming with pride that her other daughter, Luna, had stolen her husband. She wasn’t Violet’s mother. She never had been.

The betrayal, the coldness, the pure indifference of everyone around her was too much to bear.

“I’m carrying his child!” Violet shouted, her voice cracking with desperation. She looked around the room, hoping- begging -for someone to acknowledge her, to care. She placed a hand over her swollen belly, trying to remind them of the life growing inside her. A life she thought Christian had wanted, too.

But Christian barely glanced her way. His face remained impassive, as if her words didn’t matter. “That doesn’t change anything,” he said, his voice cold and emotionless. “This is what’s best for everyone.”

“For everyone?” Violet’s voice trembled. “What about me? What about our baby?”

Christian’s jaw tightened, but his eyes remained cold, distant. “You’ll be taken care of, Violet. But this-” He gestured to Luna beside him, pulling her closer, “-this is what I want.”

Violet’s heart shattered all over again. The man she loved, the man she had trusted with her heart and her future, was standing in front of her family, openly choosing her sister over her. And no one- not even one -was defending her.

The room fell silent again, the tension thick and suffocating. Then, as if a dam had broken, voices erupted all around her. Her in-laws, once cold and disapproving toward her, now spoke with enthusiasm.

“This is perfect,” someone said.

“Yes, Luna will be much better for him,” another agreed.

“Finally! Christian, you deserve to be happy,” his mother added, her voice filled with approval. She walked over to Luna, embracing her with open arms, as if she were the true daughter-in-law all along.

Violet stood there, her body trembling, her mind reeling. She was pregnant. She was carrying Christian’s child, and yet, no one seemed to care. They were all celebrating- celebrating the fact that he had chosen her sister instead of her. Her own mother was rejoicing, hugging Luna tightly as if she was the true victor in this sick game.

The room seemed to blur around her. The voices became distant, like echoes in a vast, empty space. Violet’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as the betrayal washed over her again and again. The pain was relentless, merciless.

Finally, Violet couldn’t take it anymore. Her voice broke through the chaos, trembling with pain. “How could you do this to me?”

For a brief moment, the room quieted, and all eyes turned to her. Christian stared at her, his expression unreadable, but there was no remorse, no guilt. Just indifference.

“I’m doing what’s best for me,” he said simply.

Those words, spoken so casually, crushed the last piece of Violet’s spirit. He didn’t care about her. He didn’t care about their child. He didn’t care about the life they had built together. And then, as if to twist the knife even deeper, Luna’s hand drifted to her own stomach, her fingers tracing a small, subtle bump. A knowing smile played on her lips as she exchanged a glance with Christian.

Violet’s blood ran cold. No. It couldn’t be.

But the look on Luna’s face confirmed it. She was pregnant too. Tears welled up in Violet’s eyes as the weight of the betrayal became too much to bear. Luna wasn’t just stealing her husband. She was carrying his child, too.

The room erupted in congratulations, cheers of happiness and excitement. Violet stood in the center of it all, broken and forgotten, as her world crumbled around her. The people who were supposed to be her family, her support, had chosen her sister. And there was no one left to stand by her side.