The one who was not chosen

Athonia’s pov

This little princess should have been mine. If only my sister had not stolen my fiancé, I would have been the one holding her hand, feeding her grapes, calling her my daughter. Instead, I sat across the table, watching my niece, Vivienne, giggling between Maya and my ex-fiance.

“She’s such a beautiful child,” Dad said proudly, smiling like his world was perfect.

I forced myself to smile too. But inside, I felt like I was choking. Vivienne looked like a doll. Big, curious eyes. Soft curls. A little mouth that tugged into a sweet smile as she reached for more fruit. She had Maya’s perfect features. But she could have had mine.

Maya, my older sister, the golden one. A famous model with the body of a goddess, even after giving birth. And the man by her side? Jayden. The man who once knelt before me, swore he loved me, and promised a future together.

Now he was hers. Jayden. Her husband. Vivienne. Their child. And me? I was the one left behind.

They were visiting from abroad, and my parents, bless their blind hearts, thought it would be a great idea to have a “family dinner.”

What a joke.

“Athonia, when will you give us a grandchild?” Mum asked casually, stabbing her food like it had wronged her.

I stopped chewing. The room felt smaller.

“Maybe someday,” I replied, staring at my plate. My appetite vanished.

“You’re not getting any younger,” she added. “You still don’t have a boyfriend? Still hung up on Jayden?”

And just like that, she said his name. Jayden, the man who broke me, then married my sister. Jayden, the man sitting directly across from me like he had not destroyed everything. Jayden, the father of the child I should have had.

I clenched my hand around my fork. “Really, Mum? You bring this up now? At the table? In front of them?”

Jayden cleared his throat. I ignored him. He had no right to look uncomfortable.

“I’m just asking,” Mum said, frowning like I had embarrassed her.

“You taught us to respect others, but here you are, humiliating me while we eat,” I said, my voice calm but cold. “Where are your manners, Mum?”

My father pushed his chair back, glaring. “Watch your tone, young lady. That’s your mother you’re talking to.”

Maya, ever the actress, placed a gentle hand on Dad’s arm. “Dad, please. Vivienne is here.”

Then she looked at me, like I was the one ruining the evening. Like I was the bitter, broken girl who could not let go. But none of them knew the truth. That I had not let go… because some wounds never heal. And some betrayals are too deep to forgive.

Do I look like I care? She ruined everything. She took the one thing that was mine, him.

“I’ve lost my appetite,” I muttered as I stood up.

Without another word, I walked straight to the stairs. They called my name behind me, but I did not stop. Let them yell all they want. I was done sitting at that table, pretending everything was fine, while they smiled and laughed with the very people who betrayed me.

I entered my room and slammed the door.

Throwing myself onto the bed, I stared at the ceiling, trying to slow my breathing. My chest felt tight, like something heavy was sitting on it.

Why do they always bring up my past? Just because I do not have a boyfriend or a child right now does not mean I have failed.

Ever since Jayden left me, I have not even tried to date again. The pain was too much. He left a scar that still stings.

How do you trust again after something like that? We were together for two years. Two full years. I thought it was real. But all along, he was lying to me. He did not love me. He loved my sister. I was just the excuse. The path that led him to her.

The worst part? He proposed to me. Got down on one knee, cried in front of my parents, acted like he could not live without me.

It was all fake. He only did it to make my sister jealous. He used me until she finally gave in and admitted she had feelings for him too. Can you imagine that? A love triangle I never signed up for. A betrayal I never saw coming. But that was over three years ago.

I tell myself I have moved on. Sometimes I even believe it. But the truth is, the anger is still there. The bitterness too.

Maya and Jayden have been married for almost three years now. They lived in Canada for two years. Maya is twenty-five. Jayden is twenty-six. Their daughter, Vivienne, is two.

That little girl… she should have been mine. I was supposed to be the one holding her hand. Raising her. Building a family with the man I once loved. But life had other plans. I wish someone had warned me not to date a man close in age to my older sister. Because sometimes… he will leave you for her.

Sounds harsh, right? But that is exactly what happened. Let us be honest, older sisters are often seen as the more mature version of us. The prettier one. The smarter one. The more “wife material” type.

And me? I am just… me. Emotional. Clingy. Overthinking everything. I envy her. I really do. She is beautiful. Calm. Loved by everyone. She got the man I loved. Now she has a home. A family. A perfect little girl. And me? I am the one who got left behind. The one who was not chosen. The one who always feels like something is missing.

I am jealous. I am insecure. And I am tired of pretending I am not.