Loved Him 5 Years, I Dumped the Cheater

During our romantic relationship of five years, Joshua Ford had always anticipated my every desire. Everyone in our circle often remarked with envy about how fortunate I was to have found a man so remarkable. However, everything changed that morning when his perpetually buzzing phone, left behind, caught my attention. Without giving it much thought, I unlocked the screen. The first thing I saw was a message from the hospital. St. Elara's Hospital: Dear Mr. Ford, your wife's 4D ultrasound is booked for 9 AM. I was struck dumb. My hands shaking, I delved into his medical appointments, only to uncover that alongside his name, there was another patient listed: Sofia Stone. The most recent document was a pregnancy report dated three months ago. ***** The Easter holiday had only just begun. A mere two hours before, Joshua was in the kitchen, crafting breakfast for me with loving care. He had softly kissed my forehead, making a promise that once he wrapped up his business merger out of town, he would whisk me away to the ocean. Now, here I was, just three miles from home, standing outside the VIP maternity ward at St. Elara's Hospital. Behind the glass, I spotted Joshua who was supposed to be on a plane. Relaxed in casual wear, Joshua was tenderly helping a young woman in a pinafore dress, her belly prominently rounded. It was Sofia Stone. She gazed up at Joshua, coaxing playfully, while his eyes spoke volumes of affection. He delicately dabbed away coffee from her lips with a tissue. Joshua then bent down and kissed Sofia's nose with warmth. She playfully tapped his chest in mock annoyance, and he seamlessly entwined her fingers, kissing her hand. I held onto the door frame, my nails breaking and bleeding, yet numb to any pain. Next to me sat Mary Ford on the waiting bench, stern with me for five years yet now beaming, clutching a few crosses. "Sofia, here are some from the church. They'll keep the little one safe," she offered. "Thanks, Mary. Joshua, see how much Mary cares for the baby," Sofia chimed in. "My mom doesn't just love the baby. She's crazy about you!" Joshua responded with a laugh. Just then, the head nurse of the VIP ward walked up with water, teasing them fondly. "Mr. and Mrs. Ford, you make such a perfect couple. I just peeked at your latest anniversary post on Spoiled Me. Your thousands of fans are eager for updates on the baby's 4D ultrasound." Sofia nestled shyly into Joshua's embrace, playfully waving her phone around. "I want my followers to see how amazing my hubby and mother-in-law are." Joshua chuckled, gently messing up her hair, "Alright, today's check-up was exhausting. You should rest instead of being glued to your phone." Their family was wrapped in blissful contentment. And then there was me, hidden in the shadows, where light barely touched, trembling like a forgotten ghost in the night. For five long years, Mary had belittled me relentlessly, taunting me for my modest upbringing, sneering that all I had was a pretty face, and labeling my sister a burden. Each time, Joshua would step in, his eyes fierce as he vowed, "Sarah, just give me some time. I'll make my mom see things differently." For his promise, I endured for five years, hopelessly devoted. Unbeknownst to me, I was the real fool in this tragic play. With a trembling hand, I pulled out my phone and typed two simple words into the search bar: Spoiled Me. A profile with hundreds of thousands of followers sprang up instantly. The top post was from yesterday. Spoiled Me: Five years together. Soon, our little one will join us! The image was from five years ago, during the first day of the Easter break, when Joshua had dazzled her with a spectacular fireworks show by the sea. I couldn't help but fixate on that date. The first day of the Easter holiday, five years ago. The same day, Joshua and I had made our relationship official. In a cramped rented room, he'd held my hand and promised me a future together. I skimmed through Sofia's updates. Spoiled Me: Joshua turned down a billion-dollar deal just to attend my appointment. Spoiled Me: My mother-in-law's gifting me a villa for having a baby. It's way over the top! Spoiled Me: A day being cherished by the entire family like royalty. Her life seemed drenched in love and sunshine from the very start. But what did that leave me with? I peered through the glass door, watching Joshua as he accepted Sofia's ultrasound report, his face alight with the happiness of soon becoming a father. Feeling numb, I slowly made my way out of the hospital. The sunlight outside was unbearably bright, making it hard to keep my eyes open, and the queasiness I'd been holding back surged up uncontrollably. I bent over by the curb, vomiting up the breakfast he had lovingly prepared for me today, purging five years of heartfelt devotion, until I was completely emptied out.