On my wedding night, my husband slept with my maid of honor. And she was my best friend. My face went pale as I watched him kneeling and slapping himself across the face in desperation. He claimed it was all because he had been shielding me from the alcohol, that the booze had clouded his judgment. A month later, my best friend found out she was pregnant. The doctor said her health was too fragile, and after an abortion, she probably wouldn’t be able to conceive again. She sobbed, her eyes red, telling me she wanted to keep the baby. She said her greatest dream had always been to become a mother. I couldn’t help but feel deeply for her—her strength was both heartbreaking and inspiring. To make up for my husband’s mistake, I threw myself into supporting her during her pregnancy. But after the baby was born, I caught a glimpse of the truth—my husband sneaking into the hospital room. Through the door, I heard the unmistakable sounds of them kissing. Amelia, who had once raged at him for what he had done, now giggled and said, “Why are you here? What if Cassandra finds out?” Nathaniel, still smiling, gently tapped her nose. “I’m just checking on my child. Besides, we’ve done this so well—she’ll never suspect.” ***** I stood frozen outside the door, clutching the bowl of bird’s nest soup. My vision blurred, and my legs almost gave out under me. For the past few weeks, I had given up my job to care for Amelia, going back and forth to the hospital every day. Just two hours ago, Amelia had asked for the soup I had made, saying she felt weak and needed some nourishment. Concerned for her health and the strain of late pregnancy, I rushed home to prepare it. Worried that it might cool down and become unappetizing, I cradled the steaming bowl carefully in my arms and hurried over to the hospital to deliver it. But as I reached the door, I walked right into this shocking scene. Ever since the wedding, I’d felt an overwhelming sense of guilt toward Amelia. Her life had been permanently altered by that night, and every day since, she had lived in its shadow. When we were together, her gaze would sometimes turn vacant, and she would tear up without warning. At home, she would retreat to the bathroom for hours, often shaking uncontrollably late into the night. She didn’t resist me—of all people, she trusted me. Anyone else who came near her would send her into a panic, crying out, screaming, and smashing anything she could get her hands on. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this, so I quit my job and devoted myself to taking care of her full-time. I took her out whenever I could to get her mind off things, making sure she got some fresh air and a change of scenery. At night, I stayed up until I was certain she had fallen asleep before I let myself get any rest. I told myself I was doing this to help her move on, but deep down, I knew I couldn’t undo the damage. The guilt of what had happened had become too much to bear. But after hearing the sounds from inside that hospital room, everything I had believed shattered into pieces. Amelia was still teasing Nathaniel. “Come on, you’d better leave. Cassandra will be back soon. How are you going to explain this to her?” Nathaniel chuckled, planting a kiss on the baby and then on her lips. “You’re glowing after the birth—how can I possibly resist?” Amelia playfully hit his chest, pulling him closer for a deeper kiss. “It’s because your amazing wife took such great care of me,” she said with a smile. “Having such a wonderful wife—I guess you’ve forgotten all about me.” Nathaniel’s face softened as he stroked her hair. “I can’t risk being seen, you know that. But Amelia, I only have eyes for you.” I could barely hold myself up. The bird’s nest soup burned my hand, leaving a red mark, but I couldn’t feel it. Only the weight of disbelief crushed me, squeezing the air out of my lungs.
After a few more moments, the two inside exchanged their goodbyes, and I quickly retreated into the stairwell. From there, I could see everything. Nathaniel stood by the door for a long time before finally walking away. When he turned, I saw a satisfied smile on his face, one that made my heart freeze. The chill spread through my body, making my limbs feel heavy and cold. Since that night, Nathaniel hadn’t smiled in front of me once. He’d been consumed with guilt, his eyes red and hollow with regret. He despised himself for what he had done, for sinking so low. The man I had once loved, the confident and charming Nathaniel, had been replaced with someone broken. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, but at the same time, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I was suffering, too. This wasn’t just his fault. Amelia had lost everything—her job, her ability to move on. She had even tried to take her own life. And through all of this, I was the one left to pick up the pieces. I had to comfort Nathaniel, all while bearing the pain of his betrayal. I also had to care for Amelia, overcome with guilt for the part I had played in her suffering. It had been a year since that night, and Amelia hadn’t seen Nathaniel again. Whenever anyone mentioned his name, she would fly into a frenzy, screaming “rapist” and destroying anything in her path. But just now, she had been flirting with him, her face glowing with affection. Her smile, the way she looked at him—it wasn’t the look of someone who had been traumatized. I stood in the stairwell for what felt like hours, the bird’s nest soup cold and forgotten in my hands. Finally, Amelia called me. “Cassandra, where are you? I’m starving!” Her voice was sharp, impatient. I felt a pang of guilt twist in my stomach, but I forced myself to sound calm. “Sorry, I forgot to turn off the stove. The soup burned.” “Oh no, are you okay? Don’t worry. I can just order something.” She sounded concerned, but I could barely hold it together. I replied with a soft “mm” and hung up the phone. Without a second thought, I threw the soup into the trash. My hand was blistered, but the pain felt distant, irrelevant. Instead, all I could feel was the crushing weight of the past year, of everything I had been forced to endure. But now, I understood the truth. Amelia didn’t care about the soup. She had used it as a distraction so she could sneak around with Nathaniel. Lost in thought, I found myself on the rooftop of the hospital. I stared down, tears blurring my vision. For the first time in a year, I cried for myself. I had convinced myself that their pain was greater than mine, that their suffering outweighed my own. But the brutal truth was now clear; I had been played. I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore, releasing all the pent-up emotions I had held inside. When I finally stopped, I looked up at the sky. The sunset was breathtaking, with vibrant colors painting the horizon. A cool breeze ruffled my hair, and slowly, the fog lifted from my mind. Why should I bear the weight of their mistakes? I needed to take a step back and rethink everything.
I replayed everything that happened on my wedding day in my mind. A year ago, Nathaniel and I got married at my family’s villa. Nathaniel wasn’t fond of large gatherings, so we kept the guest list small, inviting only close family and friends. We had a blast, replacing the usual formal toasts with a fun drinking game that everyone enjoyed. I was having the time of my life, and Nathaniel, ever the supportive husband, stood by with a smile, helping me take shots. Everyone was commenting on how sweet and loving we were as a couple. A few hours later, I noticed Nathaniel seemed off. His hand, which was holding mine, felt unusually hot, and his eyes were glassy. I gently encouraged him to take a break, assuring him I could handle the rest. Amelia, my maid of honor, had joined in the fun, but it was obvious she wasn’t interested. She got up, yawning, and asked if there was somewhere she could rest. I remembered there was a guest room upstairs, so I suggested she go take a nap. In between games, I started to worry about Nathaniel. He’d drunk a lot, and I was concerned he might be getting too intoxicated. I decided to leave the game for a moment and check on him upstairs. But when I opened the door to our bedroom, what I saw would haunt me for the rest of my life. Nathaniel was on top of Amelia, both of them disheveled. Amelia’s dress was torn, and when she saw me, she screamed, “Cassandra, your husband’s gone crazy!” The world seemed to collapse around me in an instant. Without thinking, I rushed toward them, shoving Nathaniel off her. He tumbled to the floor, dazed. His confused expression told me he was still drunk and hadn’t realized what was going on. Before he could react, I slapped him across the face with all my strength. That slap seemed to wake him up. His face went pale as he realized the gravity of the situation. Everything around me blurred, and I could hardly breathe. The only thing I remember clearly is wrapping Amelia in a blanket and seeing Nathaniel kneeling, begging for forgiveness. He claimed he was too drunk and had mistaken Amelia for me. Amelia cried, saying she had gotten lost and accidentally walked into the wrong room, only to be attacked by Nathaniel as soon as she opened the door. The noise from downstairs had drowned out her cries for help. It was all a tragic, terrible mistake. I was trembling, unable to speak as I pointed at Nathaniel. Amelia clung to my sleeve, tears pouring down her face as she begged me not to tell anyone. “Cassandra, please don’t tell anyone. A woman’s reputation is everything. If this gets out, I’m finished!” Looking at Amelia’s devastated face, I froze. What was I supposed to do? This was my husband, the man I loved more than anyone. And even though it was Amelia being hurt, I couldn’t deny that I was just as lost as she was. Nathaniel, seeing my shock, crawled over to me. He was in a desperate attempt to show his remorse and slapped himself twice. “Honey, I swear, I didn’t mean to. I was so drunk. I thought it was you…” He turned to Amelia, bowing his head repeatedly, apologizing. “Amelia, I’m so sorry. I’ll do anything to make it right. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you!” Amelia pushed him away violently, screaming, “Get away! Don’t ever come near me again!” The sight before me made my heart boil with rage, but it also broke my heart. I was furious at Nathaniel for not controlling himself, for doing something so monstrous. But I also knew I had my own share of responsibility. If he hadn’t been trying to shield me from the alcohol, none of this would have happened. I comforted Amelia for hours until she finally calmed down. I helped her into the bathroom and found her a fresh outfit. Fortunately, I had a spare maid-of-honor dress, so nobody would notice the tear in her clothing. Meanwhile, Nathaniel stayed downstairs with the guests, fighting to keep his emotions under control. After Amelia left, I was left feeling completely lost. When I returned to the front room, the guests looked at me with knowing smiles. “Cassandra, what’s going on? You’re already getting your wedding night over with?” I froze, my gaze landing on Nathaniel’s neck, where a prominent red mark stood out. The teasing from the guests felt like a knife to my chest, and I could barely breathe. But I forced myself to smile, hiding the pain. Amelia had begged me not to tell anyone, and I had promised. This was supposed to be the most important day of my life, my wedding day. And this is what had happened. All I could do was swallow my pride and pretend everything was fine. That night, we didn’t have our honeymoon. After sending the guests off, we rushed to Amelia’s apartment. She had torn everything apart, shouting for Nathaniel to leave. Nathaniel’s eyes were bloodshot, full of guilt. And all he could do was turn and walk away. From then on, I took care of Amelia every day. As a woman, I understood the deep emotional toll this had taken on her. At that time, my company had just gone public, and things were looking up. But for Amelia’s sake, I sold my shares at a loss, passing them to a competitor. I also replaced everything Amelia had destroyed, no questions asked. She gave me a list of what she wanted, and I didn’t hesitate to buy it for her. But looking back, I realize how much was wrong with all of this. A month later, Amelia found out she was pregnant. When I saw the pregnancy test, it felt like the ground had disappeared beneath me. I remember frantically grabbing her hand, ready to take her to the clinic for an abortion. But Amelia, tears streaming down her face, told me the doctor had warned her that her body wouldn’t be able to handle it. If she had the abortion, she might never be able to have children again. She wanted to keep the baby. Looking at her face, I finally understood what it felt like for the world to collapse around me. This was Nathaniel’s child, the child that had been conceived that night. But it was more than just that—since the wedding, Nathaniel had been distant, consumed by guilt, never coming near me again. Now, Amelia was carrying his child. “Cassandra, please, I really want this child. You know I grew up without parents…” Amelia’s voice was broken, and her eyes pleaded with me. My heart wavered. Amelia had grown up in an orphanage, and her greatest desire had always been to feel the love of a family. I knew that, and I couldn’t ignore it. This child might be her only chance at finding some kind of family, some kind of love. I couldn’t bear the thought of her losing it. What would she do if I forced her to get rid of it? I couldn’t say no. After many long talks with Nathaniel, we agreed to let Amelia keep the child. He looked at me with bloodshot eyes, his voice barely audible as he said, “Honey, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I’ll take responsibility for it.” I shook my head, tears falling. “No, we’re married. We face this together.” From that moment on, my life became a blur of sleepless nights. No matter what time it was, if Amelia called, I had to get up and attend to her needs. Nathaniel, unable to face her, stayed home cooking meals for me. But I barely had a moment to sit down before Amelia would call again. Sometimes Nathaniel would sigh and mutter, “If only I hadn’t drunk so much that day…” Each time, my guilt deepened. The stress of sleepless nights took a toll on me. When the baby was born, I cried harder than Amelia did. I thought things would get better and I could finally catch a break. But instead, Amelia became even more demanding. The sweet, caring friend I had known was gone. Now, looking back, everything seemed suspicious. How could Nathaniel have mistaken Amelia for me? Amelia and I have a significant height difference, and I was wearing a wedding dress that day. How could Nathaniel possibly mistake me for her? Amelia and I have been like sisters since childhood. She often came over to my house. How could she have gotten lost in the house she knew so well? And when Amelia made her long lists of demands—always the latest designer clothes, bags, and furniture—something didn’t add up. How could someone so emotionally traumatized be so concerned with material things? The more I thought about it, the colder I felt. Everything had been wrong from the start. After piecing everything together, I made my way back to the hospital room. When I looked at Amelia again, a chill ran through me. She was chatting away with the nurse, smiling, completely indifferent to my presence. “Your postpartum nurse is so attentive. You’re really recovering well,” the nurse said. “Oh, yes. Cassandra really knows how to take care of people,” Amelia replied with a grin. During my time in the delivery room, she’d insisted that I play the role of the postpartum nurse. She claimed that since she had no family support, this would prevent anyone from looking down on her in the hospital. Although it made me uncomfortable, I had agreed. When the nurse saw me, she handed the baby to me without hesitation. “You disappeared for a while? New moms need someone with them 24/7 during recovery, didn’t you know that?” she scolded. I didn’t respond. I just stared coldly at Amelia. I wanted to confront her, to ask her about everything that had happened in the room earlier. To ask if she had ever truly considered me a friend. Amelia met my gaze but quickly flinched and looked away, her face a mask of guilt. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. With a neutral expression, I took the baby and smiled faintly at the nurse. “I’ll be more careful,” I said. Seeing that I was back to normal, Amelia visibly relaxed. She quickly tried to smooth things over. “I think I’m almost ready to be discharged. Cassandra, if you’re tired, you can go home and rest. You don’t need to stay with me all the time,” she said. I pursed my lips. It was clear she was trying to get me out of the way to avoid any more interruptions. Without thinking, I tightened my grip on the baby, making it cry. Amelia’s expression changed instantly. “Cassandra, I’ve already been very patient with you today. How can you not even calm the baby down? Don’t forget that this child is here because of both of you—” she started, her voice thick with fake emotion. It was one of her usual tricks. She knew how to make me feel guilty just by mentioning that day. That was how she controlled me. But not today. I looked down at the baby in my arms, whose face reminded me so much of Nathaniel’s, and a wave of nausea hit me. I walked over to her and shoved the baby into her arms. “Since it’s your baby, shouldn’t you know how to comfort it?” I asked coldly. Amelia looked shocked, staring at me for a moment. She seemed to shrink back, stammering, “Cassandra, you must be exhausted. Take a few days off. You don’t need to take care of me anymore.” Take a break? She had gotten so used to me running around after her that it had become second nature. But this was exactly what I had been waiting for. “Fine, I’ll take a few days off,” I said. Standing up straight, I saw a glint of triumph flash in Amelia’s eyes. At home, Nathaniel had made dinner and was waiting for me. He was still wearing the same clothes he’d worn when he met Amelia, and I could faintly smell the sterile scent of the delivery room on him. My stomach turned. As soon as I sat down, he spoke up, “Honey, work’s been crazy lately. I might have to go on a business trip for a while.” News traveled fast, didn’t it? I smiled faintly, as if nothing had happened, and picked up my fork. “Alright, stay safe.” He looked at me, caught off guard by my lack of questions. He quickly noticed the blisters on my hand and asked, “Honey, what happened to your hand? Do you want me to put some ointment on it?” As he spoke, he propped himself up and reached out to take my hand to examine it more closely. His concern had once been enough to make me believe he cared. I subtly pulled my hand back. I didn’t want to touch this disgusting man anymore. Nathaniel’s expression darkened. “You think I’m dirty, don’t you? Cassandra, I’m sorry.” In the past, whenever Nathaniel said things like that, I’d feel a pang of pity. Now, I realized—he and Amelia had been playing me all along. I looked up and met his eyes. This was the first time I had truly looked into his eyes when he said something like that. There was no remorse, no guilt, and certainly no love for me. It was all just a performance. My heart went cold. “I’m just a little tired,” I said. Seeing my mood had soured, Nathaniel didn’t press further. After dinner, I went to my room. Since that incident, we had been sleeping in separate rooms. I heard the sound of water running from the bathroom next to the study and quietly opened the door. I found his clothes in the doorway and grabbed his phone. I tried a few passwords, but none of them worked. Finally, I entered Amelia’s birthday, and it unlocked. Everything was falling into place. Nathaniel had covered his tracks well. There were no obvious clues on his phone. He didn’t have Amelia’s contact number, meaning she likely had another account. Clinging to the last shred of hope, I opened the messages. I froze when I saw the message recycle bin. The contents made my stomach churn. It was a conversation between Nathaniel and Amelia from a year ago. The date was our wedding day. Amelia: [Can’t you be a bit smarter? Cassandra almost caught us. Luckily, I reacted quickly. You can’t even get married without causing trouble.] Nathaniel: [Oh, right, smart ass, aren’t you? You made me out to be a rapist in front of Cassandra. How am I supposed to live with her? What about the inheritance?] Amelia: [Didn’t you text me saying you wanted some fun? Now it’s my fault? I don’t care what you do. You need to get the inheritance.] My vision blurred, and my stomach twisted painfully. Then, the bathroom door opened.
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