My Family’s Betrayal

David knew my parents had always favored Laura and that I’d grown up in that house quietly swallowing every injustice. I had longed desperately for him to be the one who would stand by me unshakably.

Yet, instead, he was chasing some fantasy of being a valiant knight rescuing a poisoned princess, and erased me completely.

That kitchen had carried so many of my hopes and dreams. Every warm moment I had there still lived vividly in my memory.

Now, piece by piece, it was being dismantled.

Soon, it was gone entirely. In its place was a spacious walk-in closet.

Just like my life, Laura had overwritten and replaced it.

In the back corner of the former kitchen, a small photo frame had been left behind.

David quietly picked it up, slipped my photo out of it, and tucked it into his shirt pocket.

Back at the hotel, the sous-chef pulled David aside.

Apparently, I hadn’t shown up for work in a while. They had to bring in temp chefs to cover the banquet orders booked by clients who weren’t happy. There were lots of complaints about the food.

David’s face darkened. Without a word, he whipped out his phone and dialed my number.

Still, there was no answer.

His usual calm shattered. He spun around and overturned one of the banquet hall tables.

That day, he had formally terminated my employment, citing absenteeism. Then, he announced Laura, who had never studied cooking, as the new head pastry chef.

In the hotel suite, David finally gave in to Laura’s temptation.

He and Laura tumbled into bed together, their limbs tangled.

The passion didn’t stop there. They hooked up on the office desk, even in the storage closet, inseparable and insatiable, like teenagers drunk on new love.

I watched it all, my stomach twisting in knots. Instinctively, I cradled my slightly swollen belly.

How could I have been so blinded by love, believing his promises to me? I hated myself for it.

I was four weeks pregnant at the time and wanted to surprise David with the news at the ceremony. Now, the child and I had both been abandoned in the silver mine.

A few days passed before David remembered me again. He began texting nonstop, asking where I was.

Maybe the thrill of forbidden lust had started to wear off, because his tone grew softer. He humbled himself more with every word he messaged.

But I was already dead. There was no one left to reply.

“Darling, what are you thinking about?”

Laura walked up behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder. Her belly, too, had begun to swell.

Just several weeks after my death, she was pregnant.

Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes sparkled with health. There was no trace of the supposed fatal poisoning she had used to manipulate everyone.

Yet, David didn’t seem to remember that was the entire reason for abandoning me and mate-bonding with Laura.

Startled by her voice, David quickly shoved his phone into his pocket like a cheating husband caught red-handed.

He turned around, trying to act natural, and reached out to hug her when he noticed the gemstone ring on her finger.

“Isn’t that Eva’s favorite ring? Why is it on your hand?”

“Huh? What a coincidence! I saw it at a boutique and thought it looked pretty, so I bought it.”

David frowned.

That ring wasn’t just any ring. He had bought it for me when we were both at Lycan Academy. It wasn’t expensive, but it had been our promise to each other.

It never left my finger.

Laura’s eyes flickered with guilt for a moment, then she quickly changed the subject.

“Sweetheart, today we’re celebrating the baby! My parents are cooking for once. They’re waiting for us at home!”

I watched them walk away, instinctively brushing the finger where my ring used to be.

The ring was taken off my finger by the thug who killed me. Now it was on Laura’s finger.

Could that really be just a coincidence?

Was my death not an accident, after all?

“Our Laura’s always been frail. To think she risked her life to carry this child. David, you must take care of them!”

“You can’t let Laura down.”

At home, Mom and Dad stared at Laura’s pale face, wiping tears from their eyes.