it truly does suck, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do-- everything happens for a reason (even though we usually can't figure out what that reason is)
What I've learned is that it's best to try to ignore that betrayal, or you end up with no family at all. What we do is follow the rule that the outcasts of the family are never to be discussed by those who have not severed ties with them. It's not a perfect system, but it works and seems to keep the peace. Good luck!
I'll start with the unhappy one. After my parents divorced I just kind of stopped talking to my cousin(my father's only sibling's only child) and we went our separate ways, I went off to college and whatnot and she married young and had 3 children. I always just kind of assumed that I could re-connect any time I wanted to, then when I was working abroad in Japan I found out that she had died at the age of 26.... and on top of that because of my circumstances I couldn't even make it to the funeral. Never really forgave myself for that one.
I stopped speaking to my father after he constantly lied to me and was never there for me in person or financially....he refused to visit his own mother on her deathbed and right after she died his first question to my aunt was about the inheritance.
My God, what an experience you have endured. I hope things are good for you now and you're past living in fear, sounds to me like you've earned more than a little happiness.