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At the hospital,I had miscarried.
Charlotte sat by my bed,blaming me.“Emily,how careless can you be?You couldn’t even keep a baby.Our family’s counting on Ethan to continue the family legacy.Imagine how heartbroken he’ll be.”
“I’ll keep your miscarriage from Ethan,okay?Poor thing.”
Grieving,I didn’t question her,and even blamed myself for losing the baby.
I never told Ethan.
Only then did I realized she’d poured the detergent.
I opened her door,acting oblivious.“Honey,Charlotte,why’re you talking behind closed doors?”
Charlotte turned away,silent.
That night,while Ethan slept,I grabbed his phone.The passcode was Charlotte’s birthday,and the wallpaper was a photo of them.
Anyone would think they were a married couple.
In his messages,I found“Chloe,”someone he chatted with daily,their exchanges dripping with flirtation.
I scrolled to the day I had a bad cold.I’d begged Ethan to come home,but he claimed he had a work event and told me to drink water.
I called,but he didn’t answer.
He was cheating with Chloe that night.
I found Charlotte’s messages to him:
“Ethan,Emily can’t have kids.Why keep her?”
“Here’s Chloe’s contact.Talk to her.”
“How’s it going with Chloe?Bring me to your next date,sweetie!”
The husband I thought loved me had betrayed me long ago.
I’d foolishly trusted him,even feeling guilty for losing his child.
I glared at the sleeping man,seething.
I’d thought he was just sister-obsessed,but he and Charlotte were cut from the same cloth.
They’d both face consequences.
The next day,Ethan called during work,saying Charlotte was hungry and I should take leave to cook for her.
Before,I’d slaved for Charlotte.She’d do nothing all day,calling Ethan during work hours to fake hunger emergencies.
He’d dump the task on me,making me leave work to cook.
I’d beg for time off,cater to her preferences,but she’d nitpick—too bland,too salty—causing me to be late and lose pay.
She’d badmouth me to neighbors,claiming I tampered with her meals or turned Ethan against her.
This time,I wouldn’t be a doormat.
I agreed,then scooped a bowl of slop from the office cafeteria’s waste bin.
