Coming home early from a business trip, I shivered when I saw my sister and her husband “writhing” on the bed. He looked at me, pulled the blanket for his lover, and then calmly said sarcastic words that made me bitter.

My name is Vina, I have been married for five years. He—Nate—is a successful, well-spoken man, and was once my pride in front of my friends. But for the past five years, I have not been pregnant once. Every time I went to the doctor, he shook his head: I was infertile.

Every time I thought about it, my heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. At first, Nate was still encouraging, but then his eyes gradually changed—more indifferent. I endured, believing that love could keep him. Until one day…

That day, I was sent on a three-day business trip to Cebu. The work ended early, so I decided to come back unexpectedly to spend time with my husband, secretly hoping to rekindle our love.

The taxi stopped in front of the condo in Mandaluyong at noon. I opened the door softly to surprise her—but the sight before me made me freeze.

In the living room, Nate and… my real sister—Trisha—were entangled. Clothes were strewn across the floor.

I was paralyzed, my heart stopped:

— You… you…!

Both of us were startled. Nate scrambled to his feet, pulling the blanket over Trisha; my sister’s face paled, stuttering:

— Vina… listen to me explain…

I burst into tears:

— Explain what else? Is this what you call family?

Nate squeezed my shoulder, his voice brazen:

— If you can’t give birth, let Trisha give birth! We’re still a family, don’t you understand?

My ears rang. That sentence was like a knife that ended all trust.

That night, the house was silent. I locked the door, crying until I was exhausted. Outside, Nate and Trisha whispered:
— Let her stay, as long as we are married, our assets will not be lost.

— But I’m scared…
— Don’t worry, she will have to accept it.

I trembled. It turned out that they had planned it all along—not only betraying us, but also using our marriage to legitimize everything.

The next morning, I pretended to be calm, gathering evidence: text messages on Nate’s phone, hidden chats between him and Trisha, and the building’s CCTV and the house’s cameras. Everything revealed the truth.

When I had enough, I sat down at the breakfast table, looking straight at Nate:
— I will file for annulment.

Nate growled:
— What do you think you will gain by leaving? No children, no assets, you have nothing left!

I put the stack of photos and recordings on the table, smiling faintly:
— What about adultery, immoral relations and the intention to seize property? If this case goes to court, what do you think you will keep—your honor, your job at BGC, or the silence of both families?

Trisha burst into tears, kneeling down:
— Vina, forgive me… I was only temporary…

I looked at my sister—the one who had taken care of me when I was young—with tears still falling:

— I can forgive many things, but never this betrayal.

A few months later, the court accepted the annulment. I left my husband’s house empty-handed, but with a light heart. Nate lost his reputation, the company in BGC was in trouble. Trisha, disowned by her entire family, quietly left Quezon City for another place.

I chose to start over. No more husband, no more sister, but I had myself. I rented a small studio in Ortigas, decorating every corner myself. The day I moved in, standing by the window, I took a deep breath. The wind blew cool. I knew that the painful days had ended, and a new life was opening up.

As a woman, you may lack many things—but you absolutely must not lack self-respect. And this time, I will move on, without needing to cling to anyone