After I Caught My Fiancé Cheating On My Birthday

In the walk-in closet, I packed my suitcase in silence while Joshua lounged in the doorway, a playful smirk on his face.

“Sadie, how long do you think we’ll be apart this time?” he teased. “Want me to call a driver or book you a hotel?”

Every time we argued, I’d make a whole production of leaving—only to spend a few nights away. Joshua was sure this time would be no different.

Our three cats—Whiskers, Mittens, and Shadow—sensed the tension and jumped into my suitcase, dead set on coming with me. Joshua hesitated. When he saw I was ignoring him—and the cats—he rubbed his nose awkwardly.

“It’s raining and cold out,” he offered. “Why don’t you stay? I’ll be the one to go.”

The house felt huge and hollow with just me in it. I fell asleep clutching the cats and drifted into restless dreams that dragged me back to fifteen.

That was the year my father had an affair and got another woman pregnant. When my mother found out, the fights turned loud and ugly. She wanted to protect her estate, but she couldn’t stomach his betrayal.

She’d once been glamorous and strong. Now she seemed to age overnight, her spark fading fast. One afternoon, I came home from school with flowers, hoping to cheer her up. But she was nowhere to be found.

When I opened the bathroom door, I found the tub filled with blood-red water. My mother was lying there, lifeless—she’d tried to end her life by cutting her wrists.

I screamed. Joshua covered my eyes, then called for the adults—and an ambulance. Thanks to how fast they acted, she survived.

My father broke things off with the other woman and came back to us, but their relationship was in ruins. It left a void in our home. I was traumatized. Depression set in, terrifying nightmares plagued me, and I even lost my ability to speak.

Through it all, Joshua stayed by my side. He took time off from school, made me laugh, and went with me to every therapy session. Six months later, I spoke my first words again.

“Do you really think love never falters?” I asked Joshua.

He squeezed my hand, tears in his eyes and a silly grin on his face. “Of course it doesn’t,” he said. “Sadie, I’ll love you forever.”

Years later, after college, my father got seriously ill. I took over the family business—until the other woman showed up again with her son, demanding a share. The company spiraled into chaos. Internal fights broke out and threatened to tear it apart. Fresh out of college, I was drowning under the pressure.

Joshua stepped in. He brought in experts to steady the business and used his family’s influence to back us. His efforts helped save the company.

Those were Joshua’s free passes in my life. But despite our shared history, time had taken its toll.

A text alert jolted me awake: “Sorry for ruining your birthday. I’ll make it up to you with a big gift when I can afford it.”

I didn’t respond. I just drifted back to sleep. The next morning, I was barely awake when my friend Nathanael Gibson blew up my phone.

“Sadie, I heard you and Joshua had a fight?” he started, his voice grating.

“If you’re just calling about that, I’m hanging up—” I interrupted.

“Wait, don’t hang up! Listen,” Nathanael urged, clearing his throat. “Sadie, you probably haven’t heard yet, but Augustine is back from overseas.”

“He’s hosting a party tonight at The Blue Elm. He mentioned you specifically.”

Our circle of friends had similar backgrounds and grew up together, though Augustine left before high school ended. Despite the distance, I’d heard he was successful abroad—and that could be an opportunity for me.

I nodded and agreed to go.