Happily Ever After… Without Him — Novel

About

Elena thought she’d found her place in a makeshift family, sharing laughter and love with Nathan, Gabriel, and her adopted sister, Sabrina. But betrayal shatters that illusion when she discovers Nathan's secret kisses with Sabrina—her once-beloved sister. As the lines between affection and animosity blur, Elena is left to grapple with the painful reality of her relationship with Nathan and the twisted bond with Sabrina.

After a disastrous birthday party leaves her bloodied and humiliated, Elena decides she's done being the scapegoat. She burns every memory of their shared past, hoping to sever the ties that bind her to the pain. But as days pass, Nathan and Gabriel attempt to sweep the chaos under the rug, acting as if nothing has changed. Their casual apologies only deepen her sense of betrayal. Will Elena find the strength to reclaim her life, or will the ghosts of her past continue to haunt her?

As she navigates a world where love and loyalty collide, Elena must decide whether to rebuild what’s been broken or turn her back on a family that never truly accepted her. Can she discover her own happily ever after… without them?

Happily Ever After… Without HimChapter 1

It was Sabrina’s birthday. My parents’ adopted daughter. The girl I had once called my little sister. The same girl I’d defended from bullies back in high school, when the four of us—Sabrina, Nathan, Gabriel, and I—were supposed to be a makeshift family.

I had genuinely believed I was doing the right thing back then. Helping her would bring us closer. We’d all live under one roof, sharing laughter over dinners. I never imagined she would twist it all against me.

Sabrina had always been clever, quietly inserting herself into everything. At first, she simply tagged along with us—me, Nathan, and Gabriel—but over time, it became something else. Whispering into Nathan’s ear when I wasn’t looking. Making Gabriel laugh in ways that had once belonged solely to me. I told myself not to overthink it.

Until the night I saw it. The kiss.

It was supposed to be quiet, just me and Nathan—the boy who eventually became my boyfriend—confessing our love. But instead, I caught him pressing his lips to Sabrina’s.

I let it slide. Once. Twice. Too many times.

Every time I confronted him, Nathan brushed it off. “You’re imagining things,” he’d say. “She’s like a sister.”