**The Betrayal**
Alices fingers trembled around her phone, damp with sweat. «What do *you* know about love?» she spat. «Three months of fancy dinners, flowers, thenpoofyou vanish like none of it ever mattered!»
«Listen,» Daniels voice was infuriatingly calm. «I never promised forever. We had fun. Thats all it was.»
«Fun?» Alice exhaled sharply, fighting the shake in her voice. «Brilliant. Just *brilliant*. You know what? Ill come by tomorrow to get my things. Then youll never see me again.»
«Not tomorrow. Ive got plans.»
«Plans? Another girl waiting?»
«Alice, dont start. Im busy till eight. Come after then.»
«No. Ill be there at noon. I dont care about your *plans*. Ten minutes, and you can go back to your perfect, *Alice-free* life.»
She jabbed the end-call button before he could reply, hurling her phone onto the sofa before collapsing beside it, face buried in her hands. The tears shed held back all week spilled over. *Why?* Why did she keep choosing men who treated her like a temporary distraction?
A soft knock. «Alice, love you alright?» Her mum peered in, teacup in hand.
«Im fine,» Alice swiped at her cheeks. «Just tired.»
Her mum set the tea down and pulled her close. «I heard. Daniel again?»
Alice nodded, throat too tight to speak.
«Sweetheart, how long will you let this man break your heart?»
«Im *not* heartbroken,» she lied. «I just want my things. Closure.»
«Whats even left there? A jumper? A few books?»
«My perfume. Two blouses. Grans photo album. I cant just leave them.»
Her mum sighed, stroking her hair. «Let me fetch them. Or Emily?»
At the mention of her older sister, Alice stiffened. «Dont drag *Emily* into this! Were not speaking.»
«Good grief, what now?»
«Nothing. She just *always* knows best. Said Daniel was all charm, no substance. Bet shes thrilled she was *right*.»
«She cares, thats all,» her mum murmured.
Alice shook her head. Emily was perfectstraight-A student, first-class degree, high-flying career, picture-perfect marriage. Easy for *her* to judge. Meanwhile, Alice at thirty-two: a dead-end job, a rented flat, and a shattered heart.
«Ill get my things myself,» she said firmly. «And thatll be the end of it.»
—
The next morning, Alice woke with a headache, her mind replaying the coming confrontation. She needed to look flawlesslet him regret losing her. Makeup immaculate, a new dress, heels sharp enough to match her tone.
As the cab wound through Londons streets, she rehearsed the script: icy, collected. No tears. No begging. Grab her things, leave with dignity.
Daniels building loomed, silent. The lift carried her to the seventh floor. Her pulse hammered so loudly she swore the neighbours could hear. One deep breath, then she pressed the buzzer.
Silence.
Had he really left? She pressed again, longer.
Footsteps. She straightened
The door swung open.
And Alice froze.
There stood Emily. *Her sister.* In a robe, hair damp, bewildered.
«Alice? Whatwhat are you doing here?»
Alices voice cracked. «What am *I*? Why are *you* in my exs flat? In a *robe*?»
Emily dragged a hand down her face. «Its not what you»
«Whos there, Em?» Daniel appeared behind her, buttoning his shirt. He stalled at the sight of Alice, annoyance flickering. «I *said* after eight.»
Alices gaze darted between them. Something inside her snapped.
«You and *her*?» Her voice shook. «My *sister*?»
Emily stepped forward. «Alice, pleaselets talk somewhere»
«Talk? About *what*? How long youve been laughing behind my back?» Nausea rose. «Was this going on *while we were together*?»
Daniel sighed. «Nothing happened back then. Emily and I met *after*»
«*Met*?» Alice laughed bitterly. «Funny way to *meet*, half-dressed in your flat!»
«Stop,» Emily cut in. «Youre twisting this.»
«Then *explain*! How else am I supposed to take it?»
Emilys lips parted, but Alice spun away, sprinting for the lift, jabbing the button like it might erase the image burned into her mind.
«Alice, *wait*!» Emily chased after her, robe flapping.
«Dont *touch* me!» Alice recoiled as the lift doors shut, leaving Emilys stricken face behind.
—
Outside, sunlight mocked her. She stumbled into a café, ordered coffee she wouldnt drink, hands clenched between her knees to stop their shaking.
Her phone buzzed*Mum*. She answered.
«Alice? Emily rang me in *floods*she said you misunderstood»
«Misunderstood?» Alice nearly screamed. «I saw her *in his robe*!»
Silence. Then, quietly: «She said she was *helping* you.»
«*Helping*?» A bark of laughter drew stares. «How?»
«I dont know the details. But she begged you to listen.»
Alice hung up, switched off her phone.
She couldnt go homeMum would play peacemaker. Or worse, *Emily* would be there. Instead, she went to Sophies, the friend whod warned her about Daniel from the start.
Sophie listened, aghast, as Alice sobbed out the story. «But this isnt like Emily,» she finally said. «Hear her out.»
«No. I *saw* it.»
—
The next evening, a knock. Emily stood at Sophies door, eyes red. «Please. Let me explain.»
Alice folded her arms. «Talk.»
Emily sat, gripping her bag strap. «Im not with Daniel. Never was.»
Alice scoffed. «Then why were you there?»
«I went to get your things.» She pulled out a bagperfume, blouses, Grans album. «*Your* robe. The silk one you left there.»
Alice remembered itblue, embroidered with swallows.
«And the shower?»
Emily winced. «He spilled coffee on me. My clothes were drying.»
Alice stared. It *could* be true. Emily *never* lied to her.
«Why didnt you *tell* me you were going?»
«Because youd refuse. Youre too proud.» Emilys voice broke. «I *saw* how he hurt you. I just wanted to spare you the pain.»
Alices anger faltered. All this time, shed assumed the worstwhile Emily had been trying to *protect* her.
«Im sorry,» she whispered.
Emily burst into tears. They clung to each other, years of unspoken rivalry melting away.
Later, over tea, Emily admitted her own strugglesher near-divorce last year. «No ones perfect, Ali. Not even me.»
Alice smiled wryly, holding the blue robe. «Turns out Daniel wasnt worth the tears.»
«And youve got a sister wholl always fight for you,» Emily nudged her. «Even when youre being a *complete* prat.»
Alice laughed. Shed gone to collect her things from an ex. Instead, shed found something far more precious.
