Diane's POV
The weight of betrayal pressed heavily on my chest, making it hard to breathe. Mom and Joan, my pillars of strength, insisted it was ti for to get out of Joan's house and clear my head. I reluctantly agreed, knowing they were right, but a gnawing anxiety clawed at as we stepped outside.
The park was bustling with life—children running, laughing, and chasing after colorful balls. I watched a little girl with pigtails giggle as she caught a bright red ball, her carefree spirit a sharp contrast to the storm inside . My hand drifted to my stomach, an unconscious gesture. I swallowed hard. What kind of life would I give my baby now?
For a mont, I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like to have my own children running through this very park.
"Look at that, Diane," Mom said, pointing to a woman pushing a stroller. "Rember when you and Sophie were that small? I used to bring you both here all the ti."
The ntion of Sophie stung, but I pushed the feelings aside. "I rember, Mom. Those were good tis."
Joan squeezed my arm. "And there will be good tis again, sweetie. You're stronger than you know."
I smiled weakly, but my thoughts were miles away. How could there be good tis when every breath felt like shards of glass in my lungs?
As the sun began to set, our stomachs growled. "Why don't we grab so dinner?" Joan suggested. "There's a cozy little Italian restaurant around the corner."
Mom nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds lovely. What do you think, Diane?"
I wasn't hungry, but I nodded. "Sure, why not?"
The restaurant slled of garlic and tomato sauce, its checkered tablecloths lending it a warm, old-world charm. The hostess seated us at a table near the window, and I absently perused the nu, not really seeing the words.
Our waiter had just taken our orders when I heard the bell above the door chi. I glanced up—and my heart stopped.
There, walking into the restaurant hand in hand, were Sophie and Liam, laughing like they hadn't destroyed .
Ti slowed as the betrayal hit all over again, a fresh wave of pain crashing down. My breath caught in my throat.
Mom noticed my distress and followed my gaze. Her face darkened with fury, and before I could stop her, she was already marching toward the couple.
"Mom, don't—" I started, but it was too late.
CRACK! The sound of her hand connecting with Sophie's cheek echoed through the suddenly silent restaurant.
"How dare you!" Mom fud, her voice trembling with rage. "How could you do this to your own sister? Have you no sha?"
"Is this the reason why you've been avoiding my calls? I even ca to your apartnt but you shut out.
Sophie stumbled back, her hand flying to her already reddened cheek. Liam stood still, his face expressionless. Not even a flicker of guilt, which only stirred my anger.
"Mom, I—" Sophie started, but Mom cut her off.
"Don't you 'Mom' ! You ungrateful little snake!" Mom's voice rose, drawing the attention of every one in the restaurant.
"I raised you better than this. Both of you!" She turned her furious gaze on Liam. "And you! You miserable excuse for a man. How could you betray my daughter like this after everything she's sacrificed for you?"
Sophie's eyes flashed with a mix of defiance and hurt. "You raised better? That's rich, Mom. You've always favored Diane. Always! I was never good enough, never smart enough. It was always Diane, Diane, Diane!"
"Don't you dare try to justify your actions!" Mom shouted back. "Your sister loved you, trusted you. And this is how you repay her? By sleeping with her husband?"
"It's not like that!" Sophie yelled, tears streaming down her face. "We fell in love. It wasn't planned, it just happened!"
"Love?" Mom spat. "You don't know anything about love. Love is loyalty. Sacrifice. Not whatever this is."
I sat frozen as they argued, each word cutting deeper. Joan placed a protective hand on my shoulder, grounding , but it wasn't enough. I couldn't listen anymore.
Sophie's gaze found mine over Mom's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Diane," she said, her voice cracking. "But I can't do this anymore. I've always lived in your shadow, always been second best. For once, I wanted sothing for myself."
Her words cut deep, reopening wounds I thought had started to heal. I stared at her, unable to form a response.
"I love Liam," Sophie continued, her voice growing stronger. "And he loves . We didn't an for it to happen, but it did. And I'm done hiding how I truly feel."
Mom laughed bitterly. "Love? You think this is love? This is nothing but selfishness and betrayal. You've destroyed your sister's marriage, torn this family apart, and for what? A man who couldn't even keep his vows?"
"You don't understand!" Sophie scread, her composure completely shattered. "You've never understood . Never tried to see things from my perspective. It's always been about Diane!"
"Because Diane would never do sothing so despicable!" Mom shot back. "She would never betray her family like this!"
As they continued to shout at each other, I found my voice. "Stop it," I said quietly at first, then louder.
"STOP IT!" I shouted, my voice trembling but loud enough to silence the room. I stood, my legs shaking, yet my voice steady. "You're right, Sophie. You've always lived in my shadow. But that's not my fault. What you did isn't love—it's selfishness. You betrayed , our family, and yourself."
Sophie's lip quivered, but Liam remained stone-faced. Without a word, he tugged her toward the door. As they passed our table, I locked eyes with her.
"I hope it was worth it," I said softly.
The bell chid as they left, leaving behind a suffocating silence. The dam holding back my emotions broke, and tears stread down my face. Joan wrapped her arms around , whispering soothing words.
Mom's anger dissolved into sorrow. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I couldn't stand seeing them together, knowing how much they've hurt you."
I wiped my face, barely holding myself together. "I want to go ho," I said quietly.
The ride back to Joan's house was silent, each of us lost in our thoughts. As I stepped into the house, a deep exhaustion settled over .
In my room, I stood in the wreckage of my emotions, surrounded by pillows and sheets I had thrown in a fit of rage. My hand rested on my stomach.
They had taken everything from . My marriage, my happiness, my peace. But I wasn't going to be their victim anymore.
I would make them regret ever crossing . "I wouldn't just survive this. I would burn everything they cared about to the ground."
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