Chapter 1
KAT'S POV
I pull into the garage of our mansion. The house represents everything I'm supposed to have—success, security, luxury—but it feels empty. I let out a sigh, glancing at the dashboard before reaching for my phone.
I dial Melissa's number. She's my best friend, the person I thought would be by my side through thick and thin. We had planned a trip to Tijuana to relax. It's supposed to be a week of sun, sea, and freedom. We needed it. I needed it. But when I hear the call go straight to voicemail, my stomach twists and I feel disappointed.
Of course, she didn't pick up.
"Hey, it's Melissa," her cheerful voice greets me on the voicemail. "Sorry I missed your call. Leave a message and I'll get back to you!" The beep sounds, but I don't leave a message. Instead, I end the call.
I stare at the phone screen for a moment as I stare at the text she sent me a while ago.
Melissa: Sorry, Kat, I can't make it. Caught a flu. You should go without me, okay? I really am sorry.
I should be understanding, but all I feel is frustration and confusion. We'd been talking about this trip for weeks. She bails on me now? Since when did being sick stop Melissa? If Melisa really wants to do something, even illness can't hold her down. Oh well.
I sit in the car for a while, staring out at the mansion, feeling more alone than ever. Eventually, I get out, slam the car door, and head for the door of the house. It's quiet inside. I think everything will go well until it doesn't.
And then, of course, there's Paula, my mother in law.
I hear her before I see her.
"Kat, you finally decided to show up?" She doesn't even bother looking up when I enter. She's watching TV in the living room.
"Hi, Paula," I say, I walk past her, heading straight for the stairs. My feet hesitate as her voice sounds again.
"Can't you do anything right? Look at you, coming in all late and pathetic. Maybe if you didn't spend so much time whining over your little trip, you'd actually be useful for once." Her words hit like daggers, but I don't flinch. Not this time.
I ignore her, keeping my gaze ahead, but I can hear her muttering behind me.
"You're so useless. Can't even keep your husband happy, can you? Barren and poor, that's all you are."
I don't turn back, but the words sink into my skin. They hurt me more than I want to admit. Barren. Poor. The words sting, but I refuse to let her see that. I don't want to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.
I keep walking with my head held high even though tears are pricking at the back of my eyes.
The second I'm out of her reach, I take a deep breath, pushing everything else out of my mind. I want Matt. My husband. I need to be with him. I know he'll make me feel better. He always does. I focus on that thought, on him, and make my way toward our room.
I reach the door and push it open with a smile.
"Matt?" I call. My voice is light with hope.
But the sight that greets me freezes me in place and the smile fades from my lips.
Matt is in bed, his body tangled with someone else's—someone I recognize all too well.
Melissa.
My heart stops and my breath catches in my throat. They don't notice me at first. The sound of skin against skin fills the room. Their soft moans echo in my ears.
My whole body trembles. I freeze there, taking it all in. I don't know what to do—whether to scream, run, or just stand here and disappear. The truth sinks in slowly, painfully.
My husband and my best friend are having an affair.
How long has this been going on?
I stumble back. My legs give out beneath me as I catch myself on the doorframe. My mind is spiraling, struggling to grasp what I'm seeing, but nothing makes sense anymore. I thought we were happy. I thought everything was perfect.
Matt. My husband. My partner. The man I vowed to spend my life with. He's laying there, tangled in bed sheets with none other than Melissa—my best friend. Her laugh is loud as she leans in to kiss him again, like nothing is wrong. Like this isn't the ultimate betrayal. My stomach twists and my chest tightens painfully as I stand there, frozen. My mouth opens, but no words come. The air feels suffocating.
Then, finally, I manage to choke out a desperate question. "What the hell is going on?"
The words barely leave my lips when both of them freeze. Matt's eyes widen in panic, and Melissa just... doesn't care. She doesn't even flinch.
"Kat..." Matt whispers as he pulls away from her.
But it's too late. I've seen everything. There's no pretending now.
Melissa, on the other hand, just smirks. It's cold. Calculated. Like she's won some kind of twisted game. I don't even recognize her anymore.
"Oh Kat. Don't be surprised. You were never good enough for him," Melissa sneers, "You think you're some princess in this mansion, but you're nothing more than his boring wife who can't do anything right. Matt deserves someone who's more.... like me."
My hands tremble and my whole body shakes as her words sink in. The pain hits me like a huge wave. I feel like I'm drowning in it—her betrayal, his betrayal.
How could they? How could they do this to me?
I blink, but the tears come anyway, spilling down my cheeks as I stand there rooted to the spot. I want to scream. I want to throw something. I want to hurt them the way they've hurt me. But all I can do is cry. I feel so pathetic..
Matt finally stands up from the bed. He walks over to the dresser and opens a drawer. He fumbles with something inside then pulls out a thick envelope. He looks at me. But there's no apology, no regret in his eyes. No remorse.
He holds out the envelope to me "I was going to have this mailed to you in Tijuana. But it seems like you found out anyway."
I stare at the envelope. I take it from him and look at the papers inside.
Divorce papers.
I don't know what to say. I don't know how to react. This is my life. They both betrayed me and now, he wants a divorce too.
I glance up at Matt, searching for a hint of the man I once knew. But there's nothing. His face is cold and indifferent, like he's been waiting for this moment for far too long.
"How could you do this to me?" I whisper. The tears blur my vision. "After everything..."
"Kat..." he starts, but the words don't come. He stands there, looking at me like a stranger.
And then, just when I think it can't get any worse, Paula appears in the doorway. She doesn't even knock. She just barges in with a smirk on her face.
"Well, well, look who's finally come to terms with it." She crosses her arms "Didn't think you'd ever figure it out, huh?"
I turn to face her "You knew. You knew about this."
Paula shrugs "Of course I knew. It was obvious. Matt deserves better than you, Kat. You can't even give him what he needs. You've always been a disappointment."
I want to scream at her. To lash out. But I don't. I hold it in, even though every part of me wants to explode. How dare she?
Melissa walks up behind me with her smirk still in place, and puts a hand on my shoulder like we're friends.
"You'll survive, Kat. You'll find someone else." She pauses, looking me up and down with disgust. "Not that it matters. No one is going to care about you. Not with your pathetic little life."
I flinch. Her words cut deeper than any knife could. Melissa is my best friend. How could she do this to me?
My head spins as my mind tries to make sense of it all, but nothing makes sense anymore. This is my life. This is my reality.
I feel dizzy and numb. I glance down at the divorce papers in my hands. The signature lines are waiting for me to give them my name. The name of a woman who thought she had everything—who thought she was loved.
But I'm not. I'm not loved. I'm nothing.
I look back up at Matt "You want me to sign them?"
He nods "It's for the best, Kat. I've already made my decision."
And just like that, I realize that there is no going back. There is no saving this. No fighting for what was once mine.
My hands shake as I go to the table and pick up the pen. My tears fall freely now.
I don't even look up when I'm done. I just throw the papers to the floor at Matt's feet.
Paula steps forward, laughing "Good riddance. You'll never be good enough for him, Kat. You were always a failure."
And then, as if on cue, Melissa joins in "Don't worry, Kat. You'll be fine. You'll find someone who might be able to tolerate you. But Matt? He deserves so much more than what you could ever offer."
I want to scream. I want to destroy them both. To hurt them like they've hurt me.
But I don't. I can't. Instead, I stand up and hold myself with the little dignity I have left.
There's no need to cry. There's no need to throw tantrums. What's done is done. The only solution is to move forward. They don't deserve my tears.
"I'll deal with you both," I whisper. "You haven't seen anything yet. I swear, you will pay for this."
The last thing I hear before I walk out of the room is Matt's voice "Goodbye, Kat."
And just like that, I walk away from everything.