Sister-in-Law’s Smear, My Devastating Reveal

The first time our parents met.

We were all seated at a long restaurant table, and I was making polite small talk with my boyfriend's parents when his sister-in-law had a moment of what looked like sudden realization.

Beth, you look so familiar! Oh my god, I know where from, she exclaimed, her voice a little too loud. I was the doctor for your abortion procedure!

She clapped a hand over her mouth in mock horror, but the words were already out, hanging in the air like poison.

The table erupted.

Just moments ago, Marks parents had been showering me with warmth. Now, their eyes were filled with judgment.

Well, young people these days certainly know how to live, dont they

No wonder she was in such a hurry to meet the family. Now it all makes sense

A tide of crimson shame washed over my parents' faces. Beside me, Mark stared at me, his eyes blazing with fury.

As for me, I slowly set down my fork, my movements calm and deliberate.

Its perfectly normal that youd find me familiar, Sophia, I said, my voice even. After all, I manage the security system at The Azure Heights. I see you coming and going from Building 6 every day.

It was the first time our parents were meeting.

To make sure the occasion felt significant and to avoid any awkward silences, my parents had invited my talkative aunt and my godmother to join us.

Marks family, however, had shown up in force. Besides his parents, his grandparents and his older brother, Henry, with his wife, Sophia, were there. Theyd also brought a whole clan of relatives who spilled into the private dining room, forcing the staff to squeeze in four extra chairs just to fit everyone.

The food arrived, and the first round of wine was poured.

I did my best to keep the conversation flowing, chatting with Marks parents. Mark sat beside me, occasionally placing a piece of food on my plate. The atmosphere was a bit strained, but stable.

Then, Marks aunt turned the spotlight on me.

Beth, youre just stunning. And so stylish! You have to teach my daughter your ways. Shes so plain, she cant find a date to save her life!

My own aunt jumped in smoothly. And Mark is so handsome! With such a great job, too. They make a perfect couple.

The relatives exchanged pleasantries, a volley of polite, meaningless words.

I was about to offer a modest reply when Sophia, sitting across from me, fixed me with an intense stare.

Beth, even though this is our first time meeting, I just cant shake the feeling that I know you from somewhere.

I gave her a polite smile. I guess I just have one of those faces.

But Sophia shook her head, her eyes scanning my features. Suddenly, she gasped, her voice piercing the low hum of conversation.

I remember now! I was the doctor on your abortion procedure, wasn't I!

The words landed, and the air in the room instantly turned to ice.

Sophia feigned a sudden grasp of her mistake. Oh, this mouth of mine I really shouldnt have said that in front of everyone

She pressed her hand to her lips, her face a perfect mask of someone who had just let a terrible secret slip.

My mind went blank. I couldnt believe she would fabricate such a lie on the spot.

What are you talking about? I said, my voice barely a whisper.

She immediately adopted a wounded, apologetic expression. Oh, Beth, Im so sorry. Im just too blunt for my own good! I didnt think I really didn't mean to!

But the damage was done.

The smile vanished from Marks mothers face. His fathers brow furrowed. The aunt who had just complimented me now looked away, her expression curdled.

A chorus of whispers started to ripple across the table.

These young women, a pretty face is all it takes for them to run wild

So thats why she was rushing to meet the parents. There was a reason, after all.

Tsk, tsk. She looks so quiet and innocent, who would have thought

My parents faces were beet-red, but they stammered, unable to form a single sentence to defend their daughters honor.

Marks aunt didnt hold back. You can forget what I said earlier. I dont want my daughter associating with that kind of person!

My own aunt and godmother, however, were furious, slapping their hands on the table. Beth would never do something like that! You watch what you say, or youll have to deal with us!

And Mark he whipped his head towards me, his eyes a storm of shock and rising rage. Beth, is what my sister-in-law said true? Did you go behind my back and

No! I cut him off, my voice sharp and certain. I have never had that kind of procedure.

But a seed of doubt, once planted, grows with venomous speed.

Marks mother spoke, her voice cold as steel. People dont just make these things up, do they.

I stared at the woman who had just assassinated my character, a knot of fury tightening in my chest. This was the first time wed ever met. I had done nothing to her, yet she had manufactured this lie out of thin air.

I fought to keep my voice steady. Sophia, you cant just say things like that. Slander is illegal, you know.

My sharp tone seemed to wound her. Her eyes welled up. Beth, I really didnt mean any harm Im just a straightforward person, I say what I think without any filters.

Her words were a masterclass in manipulationvague, defensive, and full of insinuation. She could have cleared it all up with a simple sentence, but she chose to dance around the truth, leaving a trail of suspicion.

I had no idea what Id done to earn her malice. But for Marks sake, I tried to keep my cool.

Sophia, you must be mistaken. It wasnt me. It couldnt have been.

I was offering her an easy way out, a chance to gracefully retract her statement. But she took it as an attack.

Her voice broke into a sob. Beth, dont be so harsh I just said you looked familiar, it was just a thought. How can you accuse me of slander?

She kept repeating the same lines, each one subtly reinforcing the idea that I was hiding a shameful secret.

I finally lost my patience. Sophia, I snarled, I have no quarrel with you. Why are you targeting me like this?

My outburst brought on a flood of tears. She shrank back, hiding behind Marks brother, Henry, as if I were a monster. Even then, she didnt stop her performance.

Please, dont misunderstand, Im not targeting Beth Mark, please dont let this come between you.

Henry immediately wrapped an arm around her, his tone disapproving as he looked at me. Sophia made an honest mistake. Beth, dont you think your reaction is a little extreme?

Mark was even worse. He turned on me completely.

Beth Finch! Do you have to be so damn aggressive? If you had a clear conscience, why would she make something like this up out of nowhere? Don't you know what you've done?!

The questions hit me like a barrage of stones, with no regard for my feelings. Three years together, and our relationship was so fragile it could be shattered by a few ambiguous words from a stranger. He didnt even bother to seek the truth; he just immediately took their side against me.

Mark's relatives chimed in, eager to pile on.

Well, the truth always comes out!

Sophia is such a sensible person, and shes a doctor. She has professional ethics. She wouldnt just say something like that for no reason!

Exactly, where theres smoke, theres fire. No one would target you without a reason!

Mark slammed his hand on the table, pointing a finger at my face. Beth, I want a straight answer! Did you or did you not do something disgraceful behind my back?

I took a deep breath and repeated myself. I did not.

Then I turned to Sophia, my voice low and dangerous. You said you performed my surgery. Fine. Tell me which hospital, and on what date. Because making false accusations has serious legal consequences.

A flicker of panic crossed Sophias eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of profound hurt. Beth, why are you pushing me like this I didnt want to say anything.

Her voice was thick with false sorrow. I was trying to protect you, trying to keep it from Mark. But when you accuse me like this, it just it breaks my heart.

To prove Im not lying, she declared, her voice ringing with phony righteousness, Ill get the procedure records from the nurse in my department right now!

She pulled out her phone, her fingers flying across the screen, pulling up a chat history she had clearly prepared. She paraded the phone around the table for everyone to see, finally shoving it in my face.

The triumph in her voice was unmistakable. See for yourself, Beth. Im not making it up. The name on the patient form is yours!

I would never admit to something I didn't do. Not in a million years.

The way Sophia had so quickly produced the "evidence" on her phone already felt staged.

A picture of a screen proves nothing, I said, my voice cold. With modern AI, you can fake anything.

I saw a flash of panic in her eyes, but she held her ground. She put on her pitiful act again, her voice choked with emotion.

Beth, you cant just tarnish my name to save your own! Youre supposed to be my future sister-in-law! Why would I make this up? I wish Id never come today! None of this would have happened if it weren't for me!

Her performance was so convincing that the room turned against me again.

For Mark, it was the final nail in the coffin. A vein throbbed on his temple, and his eyes burned with disgust.

Beth Finch, what more do you have to say for yourself? No wonder you were always claiming to work late on weekends So this is the kind of filth you were dealing with!

Filth?

After three years together, this was how he saw me.

His mothers voice, sharp and shrill, cut through the air. If a woman like that marries into our family, what will happen to our reputation? Well be a laughingstock!

The others joined the chorus, their words growing uglier by the second.

Shameless! All that education wasted!

If she were my daughter, Id have slapped the life out of her by now!

What a disgrace to her family, raising such a degenerate!

My own mother, after seeing the so-called evidence, felt her last shred of hope collapse. She pointed a trembling finger at me, her face contorted with rage. Beth! Did you do it or not?! If you did something this disgraceful, Ill pretend I never gave birth to you!

I didnt! I shouted back, my body shaking uncontrollably.

My aunt and godmother opened their mouths to speak, but faced with "proof," they fell silent.

Every eye in the room was a needle, pricking my skin. Contempt, mockery, morbid curiosity

And the people who were supposed to be closest to memy family, my partnernot a single one believed me.

Just then, Sophia spoke again, her tone now condescendingly gentle, urging me to confess and repent.

Beth, its okay to admit your mistakes. What matters is that you learn from them. A sullied body doesn't mean a sullied soul. Dont worry, well keep this between us.

Her words were so absurd, so sanctimonious, that a laugh escaped my lips. It was a cold, bitter sound.

Sophia, you and I both know whose name is really on that form, I said, my voice dangerously low. And as for being sullied youre the filthiest person in this room.

I locked my eyes on hers, wanting to see just how deep her depravity went.

The venom in my gaze startled her. She flinched, her voice trembling. You youre lying! How dare you! Youre the one who had the abortion, not me!

Mark looked like he was about to explode. He lunged forward, his face inches from mine, spitting words laced with pure hatred.

My sister-in-law exposed you for what you are, and you have the audacity to attack her? I dont have a shameless tramp for a girlfriend. Were done. You disgust me!

Looking at his twisted face, the whole situation felt utterly surreal.

And in that moment, I saw everything with perfect clarity.

Were not even engaged yet, I sneered. Only an idiot like you would be so easily manipulated by her. You trust her over the woman youve been with for three years.

My words hit their mark. He completely lost control. With a roar of fury, he grabbed a ceramic bowl from the table and hurled it at my head.

Shut your mouth! he screamed. Its not your place to lecture me, you cheap tramp! Go crawl back to whatever gutter you came from!

I didnt have time to react. The bowl crashed against my temple, and a warm trickle of blood immediately ran down my face.

The room fell silent. Everyone just stared.

I raised a hand to my head and brought it away, slick with red.

I looked at Mark, then let my gaze sweep slowly across the stunned faces of his family, and finally, to my own parents, who were frozen in shock but had made no move to help me.

Suddenly, the whole thing seemed like a sick joke.

Well done, Mark, I said softly.

A flicker of panic crossed his face, quickly swallowed by a wave of defensive anger. You brought this on yourself! he spat.

Sophia, ever the actress, rushed to his side, gently pulling on his arm. Dont be angry, Mark. Its all my fault. I never should have brought it up. She bit her lip, looking every bit the noble peacemaker. This is our first time meeting, and Ive caused such a scene I I should just go. Please dont let me ruin things between you.

With that, she made a show of grabbing her purse to leave.

Henry quickly stopped her, cooing gentle reassurances. The others, snapping out of their stupor, begged her to stay.

Then, as one, they all turned to me, their expressions demanding. They wanted me to apologize to Sophia.

Mark raised his chin, his voice dripping with venom. Beth Finch! Look what youve done to Sophia! And shes still trying to defend you! You will apologize to her. Right now. You won't get up until she forgives you!

My parents, seeing this as their chance to salvage the situation, eagerly chimed in. Beth! Just do it! Listen to Mark! It was your fault to begin with, whats so hard about saying sorry? Do you want to ruin this engagement and humiliate us all?!

I stared at them in disbelief. My parents. My partner.

My heart felt like it had been plunged into a bucket of ice.

She slanders me, and you want me to apologize to her?

Youre still being stubborn! my fathers face was flush with anger. The proof is right there! The doctor and nurses can prove it! If it werent for your kind sister-in-law exposing you, we would have all been deceived! How could we show our faces in public? You should be grateful to her for saving you, not arguing! Apologize!

The relatives all agreed, chanting that I owed Sophia an apology. They spoke with such conviction, as if I were the villain in a play they were all watching.

And I was. A dark, twisted comedy.

Me, apologize to her? Not in this lifetime.

Seeing my defiance, my parents became enraged. My father picked up a pair of chopsticks and threw them at me, screaming about how he had raised such a shameless creature.

Sophia, now the cherished victim at the center of everyone's concern, glanced at me over their shoulders. Deep in her eyes, I saw it: pure, unadulterated triumph and provocation.

But her words were soft as silk. Beth, please dont be like this. Im your elder, I would never truly demand an apology like that. As long as you admit you were wrong and promise to be a better person, Ill forgive you. The most important thing is that you can change for the better, isnt it?

Hearing this, everyone praised her for being so magnanimous and understanding. Their contempt for me only deepened, and the pressure to confess intensified.

I, however, slowly set down my own chopsticks. I looked at Sophias hypocritical face and smiled.

Its perfectly normal that youd find me familiar, Sophia. After all, I manage the security system at The Azure Heights residential complex. I see you coming and going from Building 6 all the time.

And if I remember correctly, I added, my voice cutting through the stunned silence, the name on the title for that apartment isnt your husband, Henry, is it?