The night wind was chilly when I stepped out of the taxi, heavy and exhausted from the night duty at the hospital. Hidden in my bag, something even heavier weighed on me.

From outside my family's home I could see the lights and the sounds of revelry. Tonight was a birthday celebration for my mother and everyone including my husband was there. I was the only one left at work yet none had called me.

As I entered, the warmth and glowing lights filled my vision alongside the view of the harmonious family. My mother and father were smiling, raising toasts. My brother Ryan was joking and laughing whilst my husband, Kayden, was chatting with my best friend Rachel.

As usual, they looked like a harmonious family and I, an outsider.

A dull ache gripped me.

When I entered the room, none of them paid me any mind aside from a cursory glance, but that was the least of my problems. I moved towards Rachel, interrupting them.

“Rachel, I need to talk to you.” I whispered. For a moment something glinted in her eyes before she smiled.

“Emma, welcome back. What's going on?”

“I can't say it here.” I whispered, “can we speak? Alone?”

I could already feel my family's eyes on me as I tried to lead her, bringing out the file with my free hand to show her privately, but before we could get anywhere, she pulled away.

“What are you talking about Emma? If there's anything you need to say, say it in front of the family.” She looked down at what I was holding and frowned.

“A hospital report? What is it?”

“Wait!”

Before I could stop her she snatched it, opening up the file. In my panic, I only managed to grasp the top half of the paper but it was too late.

She gasped.

“You have a terminal venereal disease!” she loudly announced. My blood ran cold.

Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, bathing the entire room in silence. All eyes fell on me.

I hurriedly snatched the papers back into the files.

“No. It's not like that-” I tried to explain but was interrupted.

“Emma, what have you done?” Rachel gasped, a mix of shock and heartbreak in her eyes as she shook her head, “Kayden has been good to you and you've been messing around? How could you do this to him? To your family? I thought I knew you but I never thought you'd be like this. Even if you told me in secret I wouldn't dare hide this from them.”

“Stop.” I shouted, heart racing. Facing Kayden I rushed to talk to him.

“Kay, let me explain. This report, its-”

SMACK.

Pain bloomed from my cheek before I found myself sprawled onto the floor blinking back tears. Disbelief filled me as I looked up. My husband, the man I loved, was now staring at me with disgust as he wiped his hands.

“Don’t lay your dirty hands on me.”

Tears ran down my cheeks.

“Kayden, how could you-”

“What do you expect? Thank goodness we haven't slept together for months now. All your talk about work was just to cover up your whoring. I won't stay in this marriage any longer.”

“We don't want someone like you in our family either.”

Before I could process his words my parents spoke with Ryan alongside them, completely surrounding me.

“Mom...dad...”

“Don’t call us that. You're a disgrace.” My father frowned, “It's bad enough how useless you are but you've brought dishonor to this family. We've tolerated you for long enough. From now on you're no longer our daughter. We have only Ryan and Rachel.”

Their words hit harshly. I turned to my younger brother, Ryan.

“Ryan, help me-”

“Don’t touch me.” He snapped, kicking my hand away, “you don't deserve to be part of this family or my sister. Rachel is a thousand times better than you.”

I barely felt the pain on my hands compared to their words.

Rachel.

Standing up, I turned to find her looking at me with a detached face.

“Rachel. You're my best friend. This is a mistake. Please for the sake of our friendship let me talk to you privately.”

I reached out to grasp her hand. But soon I was suddenly pushed aside by Kayden, hitting the nearest corner. Pain bloomed like stars.

“Don’t you dare touch her. Do you want to infect her?”

I looked up. Kayden was holding Rachel in his arms, glaring at me. Rachel's face in fear, buried herself into his arms comfortably .

Too comfortably.

A realization slipped in.

No. This couldn't be true.

“There’s something between you two isn't there?” I asked, voice trembling.

They didn't refute it. My heart fell as Rachel snuggled further against Kayden.

“Yes.” Kayden said. Those single words made my heart shatter.

I stumbled back. My husband and my best friend had betrayed me.

“For how long?” I cried out. Rachel didn't answer, but Kayden did.

“A year and two months.”

My mind went blank. We had been married for only two years.

I turned to my parents, expecting them to be engaged. However they didn't look surprised.

“You knew?” I breathed out.

“And so what if we did?”

My mother, who had spoken, pointed at me.

“It's been two years since you two got married and yet you haven't been able to conceive. You're so busy with your so-called work that you neglect your husband and marriage. You barely take care of your appearance, looking so haggard. Why won't he look astray?” she shrilled.

“Mom, don't say that. I'm sure Emma didn't mean it.” Rachel called out, before turning to me with glistening tears, “Emma I swear it wasn't my intention. Kayden was lonely and I kept him company and told him to be understanding. One thing happened after another...”

“You don't have to apologize to her, Rachel.” Kayden said, looking at her so softly that it made me nauseous. "All this time we held back for her sake. Besides, it's clear what she's been 'busy' with. She has no right to complain."

His gaze turned to me, and it was cold as ice.

“Don't you dare bully Rachel. If not for her I would have divorced you long ago. It's for her sake that we lasted this long.”

“Yes,” My mother sneered, “You should be grateful that Kayden put up with you for so long. Unlike you, Rachel keeps her appearance and is actually considerate, visiting us and sending gifts. She's the perfect daughter and wife. Now that this happened they can be together in the open.”

Nausea filled me, my entire being in a daze when I was suddenly grabbed and pulled away by Ryan. Before I could process it I was thrown out of the house onto the sidewalk.

“Get out and never come back.” he sneered, shutting the door.

The cold air pierced my skin. Several minutes later, their revelry started alongside cheers. I remained there numb to it.

My family, and husband had betrayed me, kept secrets and lied to me. Now, they cast me aside.

And for what?

Looking down at the half opened diagnostic report I looked at the top corner of the paper, ironically the corner my hand covered when Rachel had grabbed it. Her name stood out.

'Rachel Adams'

The one who was sick wasn't me but Rachel herself, and none of them knew.

...

I made my way to my home after what felt like an eternity, drained and numb. What I didn't expect was to find piles of clothes and luggage laid on the front porch.

My belongings.

“What's going on?” I asked shakily towards Gina, our house maid.

“Mr Reeves instructed us to pack your belongings out and ensure that you aren't allowed inside. Madam, please leave.” the older woman's face was full of disgust as she looked at me. I knew at that glance that Kayden told her everything.

Glancing at the other maids, their gazes averted, as though afraid of catching an infection. They shrank back from me.

Bitterness filled me but I held it in.

“Alright.” I said. Without hesitation, I gathered my belongings.

I could hear their murmurs and their surprise. They expected me to fight. No arguments. But I didn't care.

Ignoring the mockery and murmurs behind me, I dragged every single belonging I had away until I reached the empty streets. The cold and my exhaustion were unbearable.

I had nowhere else to go.

Taking a deep breath, I called a number and prayed for the best.

“Hi. Sorry for bothering you this late but I need a favour...”

…

It was past midnight when I entered her home. Lena, a nurse in the hospital, my coworker and work friend helped me take in my luggage with furrowed brows.

We started talking after an incident where she was blamed and nearly fired and I ended up clearing her name. Although we often spoke at work we never met outside. I didn't think that she would actually respond. I called her to ask her if she knew any motels, at first, yet when she demanded the truth I told her. Surprisingly, she demanded that I stay over at her home, even paying the fare for her location.

“I'm so sorry for bothering you. I swear I'll think of something as soon as possible.” I said only for her to shake her head.

“Don’t worry about it. This apartment is too big for me alone so you can stay here as long as you want.” She brushed off with an ease that made my eyes sting.

Before I could say anything she led me to the couch with a curious look.

“You said you were kicked out of your home. Tell me, what happened?” she asked.

Taking a deep breath, I explained every detail. When I was done, I didn't expect her to be so furious.

“Bastards. All of them,” she cursed loudly, “how can people be so rotten and despicable? You're better off without them.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. She looked at me like I had two heads.

“Are you serious?” She scoffed, “From everything I know you've dedicated yourself to them. Yet they've been looking down on you for someone else. If that's not ungrateful, I don't know what is.”

The more she spoke, the more I understood. It was like my eyes were being opened.

Yes, I had devoted myself to them. They had criticised me for working too much, looking too haggard and never visiting, but weren't they the reason?