She Stole My Fiancé, I Found Her Ex

Athina’s pov This little girl should be mine, the supposed first fruit of my womb. But instead, I watched her laugh between my sister and the man who broke my heart, the man who once swore he would marry me. Everyone at this table thinks it is a happy family dinner. For me, it felt like sitting front row at the life that was stolen from me. “She is such a beautiful child,” Dad said, his voice full of pride, like nothing in the world could be better. I forced a smile, but inside, my chest felt tight. My little niece, Vivienne, looked like she had stepped out of a storybook, wide, curious eyes, soft brown curls, and a sweet little smile as she reached for more fruit on the table. She had Emma’s beauty, my elder sister, the one who stabbed at my back like nothing happened. Emma, my older sister, the golden one. A famous model with flawless looks, even after becoming a mother. And beside her sat Rafael, the man who once knelt before me with a ring, told me I was his only love, and promised me a life together. Now he was hers. Her husband. Their daughter. And me? I was nothing but the one left behind. They were visiting from abroad, and my parents, blissfully blind to the past, decided it would be “wonderful” to have a family dinner. What a perfect way to twist the knife. “Athina, when will you give us a grandchild?” Mum asked casually, stabbing at her food like it had offended her. I stopped chewing. The air felt heavier. “Maybe one day,” I said, staring down at my plate. My hunger was gone. “You are not getting any younger,” she pressed. “Still no boyfriend? Or are you still holding on to Rafael?” And just like that, she said his name. Rafael, the man who shattered me, then married my sister. The man sitting across from me as if he had not stolen everything that mattered. The father of the child I should have had. I tightened my grip on my fork. “Really, Mum? You want to talk about this now? At the table? In front of them?” Rafael shifted in his seat, but I refused to look at him. He had no right to feel awkward. “I am only asking,” Mum said, frowning as if I had embarrassed her. “You raised us to respect people, yet here you are, making me feel small in front of everyone,” I replied, my voice steady but cold. “Is that your idea of manners?” Dad pushed his chair back and glared. “Watch your tone, young lady. That is your mother you are speaking to.” Emma, the ever-perfect daughter, placed a hand on his arm. “Dad, please. Vivienne is here.” Then her eyes met mine, filled with the same look she had given me for years, as if I was the bitter one who could not move on. But she did not know the truth. None of them did. You do not just move on from a wound that deep. Some betrayals stain you forever. Do I care how I look to them? She took the man who was meant to be mine. “I am done eating,” I said, pushing my chair back. I stood and headed for the stairs without another glance. They called after me, but I kept going. Let them. I was finished pretending at that table, smiling with the very people who had destroyed me. I closed my bedroom door and threw myself onto the bed. Staring up at the ceiling, I tried to steady my breathing. My chest ached, as if something heavy was pressing down on it. Why do they keep bringing up my past? Just because I do not have a boyfriend or a child right now does not mean I have failed. Since Rafael left me, I have not even tried to start dating again. The pain was too deep. He left a scar that still hurts sometimes. How can someone trust again after going through that? We were together for two whole years. Two years that felt real. But all that time, he was lying to me. He did not love me. He loved my sister. I was only the path that led him to her. The worst part? He asked me to marry him. He got down on one knee, crying in front of my parents, acting like he could not live without me. It was all a lie. He only did it to make my sister jealous. He used me until she finally admitted she had feelings for him too. Can you believe that? A love triangle I never wanted. A betrayal I never saw coming. But that was over three years ago now. I tell myself I have moved on. Sometimes, I even believe it. But deep down, the anger is still there. So is the bitterness. Emma and Rafael have been married for almost three years. They lived in Canada for two years. Emma is twenty-five. Rafael is twenty-six. Their daughter, Vivienne, is two years old. That little girl... she should have been mine. I was supposed to be the one holding her hand, raising her, and building a family with the man I once loved. But life had other plans. I wish someone had warned me not to fall for a man close to my older sister’s age because sometimes… he will leave you for her. It sounds harsh, I know. But that is exactly what happened. Let us be honest, older sisters often seem like the better version of us. The prettier one. The smarter one. The one who looks like “wife material.” And me? I am just me. Emotional. Clingy. Always overthinking. I envy her. I really do. She is beautiful, calm, and loved by everyone. She got the man I loved. Now she has a home, a family, and a perfect little girl. And me? I am the one who was left behind. The one not chosen. The one who feels like something is missing all the time. I am jealous. I am insecure. And I am tired of pretending I am not.