Maya Thompson stood in the center of the lavish dining room, her gaze fixed on the perfectly set table. The soft flicker of candlelight reflected off the fine china, casting gentle shadows on the walls. A bottle of expensive red wine sat in the center, unopened. The aroma of roasted lamb filled the air—a dish she had spent hours perfecting.
Tonight was supposed to be special.
Tonight, she was finally ready to share the wonderful news she had held close to her heart for so long.
After three years of heartbreak, endless doctor visits, and countless tests that had drained her both emotionally and physically, she was finally cured. She could give him the child he had always wanted—the family they had dreamed of building together.
But he wasn't home.
Maya glanced at the clock on the ornate mantle. 10:12 PM.
Mark was late. Again.
Her fingers curled into fists, nails pressing into her palms as unease settled in her chest. Lately, he had been distant, his late nights growing more frequent. The man who once held her close now barely spared her a glance, as if she had become nothing more than a shadow in his life.
But tonight was different. Tonight, she needed him to listen—to understand that she had never stopped trying.
Just as she reached for her phone, the front door creaked open.
Relief flooded her. But it lasted only a moment.
Laughter.
A woman's laughter.
Maya's heart pounded painfully in her chest. She stepped into the hallway, and her breath hitched at the sight before her.
Mark stood there, his expensive suit slightly wrinkled, his arm wrapped around another woman's waist.
Sarah.
Maya's blood ran cold.
Her best friend.
The woman who had comforted her through endless nights of tears, the one who had held her hand when she thought she could never conceive. And now, Sarah's hands rested protectively over a swollen belly—a belly that was unmistakably carrying Mark's child.
The air in Maya's lungs turned to ice.
No. This isn't real. This isn't happening.
"Mark… w-what is this?" Her voice was barely a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile world she had built.
Mark met her gaze, He pursed his mouth, all sorts of emotions slicing through her head, shocked, surprised, struggling, and guilt.
His back was soaked with sweat at once.
His heart ached so much as though it was being strangled by a rope.
(I'm sorry, maya)
His voice frosty. He shut his eyes to stop the guilt from spilling out. The decision, cruel or even brutal for someone, had finally been made.
"What does it look like?" he said, his tone dripping with condescension.
Maya's vision blurred, tears threatening to spill. "You… you brought her here?"
Sarah sighed, tilting her head as if she pitied her. "Oh, Maya. Don't make this difficult." A slow smile curled on her lips. "I tried to warn you, didn't I? A man like Mark deserves a family. Someone who can give him a child."
Maya staggered back, her fingers gripping the doorframe for support.
"I—I was going to tell you—"
"Tell me what?" Mark's voice was sharp, unyielding. "That you're suddenly fixed? That after three years of waiting, you can finally give me the child I deserve?" He scoffed, his eyes cold and distant. "Too late, Maya. Sarah is already carrying my heir."
Heir.
The word sliced through her like a knife, each syllable deepening the wound in her heart.
Sarah let out a small, amused laugh, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. "Mark, don't be so harsh," she murmured, placing a hand on his chest. Then, she turned to Maya, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "You should be happy for us. You always said Mark deserved to be a father."
Happy?
They wanted her to be happy?
Before Maya could process the words, Mark reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. With hesitationand guilt, he put in the table.
Papers spilled onto the floor.
A divorce agreement.
Maya's breath caught in her throat.
"I've already signed it," Mark trembled but said coldly. "You can leave whenever you're ready."
The final blow.
Maya stood frozen, her world crumbling around her.
Her husband. Her best friend. The people she had trusted most had betrayed her in the cruelest way imaginable.
A shaky breath escaped her lips, but she forced herself to stand tall.
She wouldn't break. Not in front of them.
With numb fingers, she bent down, picked up the divorce papers, and walked away—leaving behind the man who had never truly loved her.
Maya stumbled into the kitchen, the soft glow of the dining room candles flickering behind her. The scent of roasted lamb, once comforting, now felt suffocating.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched the kitchen counter for support. How had it come to this? How had the man she loved become a stranger?
And Sarah—her best friend—how could she betray her like this?
Her trembling hands reached for the knife on the counter.
A sharp metallic sound filled the silent room as the blade scraped against the cutting board.
For a brief second, she simply stared at it.
Then, with a deep breath, she set it down.
She wouldn't let this break her.
She had fought too hard to let this be her end.
Moving on autopilot, she filled the kettle with water and grabbed a small box of her favorite herbal tea. As she waited for it to boil, her mind raced.
She couldn't stay in this house.
Every corner held memories of a love that had turned toxic.
The kettle whistled, and she poured the steaming water over the tea leaves. The familiar scent of chamomile and lavender wrapped around her like a fragile comfort.
As she sat at the kitchen table, cradling the warm mug in her hands, her phone buzzed.
A text.
Sarah: Maya, I'm sorry. I know this is hard. Can we talk?
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
Talk? What was left to say?
With a swipe, she deleted the message.
Her heart ached, but for the first time in a long time, clarity settled over her.
She had spent years sacrificing for a man who had never truly cared. Years doubting herself, feeling inadequate.
But now, despite everything, she still wanted to be a mother.
And she would be—on her own terms.
The sun began to rise outside, painting the sky with soft hues of orange and pink. A new day. A new beginning.
Maya stood, her heart steadying.
She walked to the living room, picked up the divorce papers, and took one last look around.
Then, she stepped out into the cool morning air, leaving behind her past.
She wasn't just walking away from Mark.
She was walking toward the woman she was always meant to be.