My Husband Cheated With His Childhood Friend

A few days later, Margaret had Mila over for dinner.

The moment she walked through the door, Mila made a beeline for the kitchen, glancing back at my mother-in-law. "Margaret, let me cook for you and Zaiden tonight. It's the least I can do after how wonderful you've been to me."

Margaret beamed. "Alright, alright, whatever you like, dear."

Then she turned to Zaiden. "Zaiden, go help Mila in the kitchen. Don't let her wear herself out."

Zaiden smiled and nodded, and just like that, everyone fell into their roles, moving together like a well-oiled machine. I stood off to the side like some forgotten relic, silently watching this picture-perfect family scene play out.

This was supposed to be my home. But right now, they looked more like a family than I ever was, and I felt like the outsider.

Mila whipped up an Italian feast. Lobster, shrimp, sea bass—every dish golden and mouthwatering, the kind that made your stomach rumble just looking at it. But I'd been allergic to seafood since I was a kid. Even a tiny bite could break me out in hives, or worse, send me into anaphylactic shock.

Zaiden knew that. But he hadn't made a single damn thing I could eat. Staring at the spread in front of me, I set my fork down and forced a smile.

Catching my hesitation, Mila shot me a playful grin. "What's the matter? Don't you like it, Kataleya?"

Margaret's face immediately pinched with disapproval. "Mila came all the way here. Are you trying to upset her on purpose? Just eat it. Show a little gratitude for all the effort she put in. Honestly, sometimes you're so inconsiderate."

Desperate, I shot Zaiden a pleading look, but all I got was an icy stare. "Kataleya, you heard my mom. Or did you just tune her out? Mila worked hard on this. Quit acting like you're above it."

And just like that, it all clicked.

Under their watchful gazes, I started forcing down the seafood, bite by bitter bite. Every swallow scraped down my throat like shards of glass. But even as I choked it down, I held onto the tiniest shred of dignity.