Chapter 1

My husband's childhood sweetheart had a check-up at my hospital and was unfortunately diagnosed with cervical cancer.

After triple-checking, I took the report home to urge her to start treatment immediately.

Not only did she refuse to believe it, but she also wrapped her arms around my husband's neck and slowly sat on his lap, acting coy.

"Tiernan, is sister just bitter that she can't have children herself, so she can't stand to see me happy?"

My good intentions were completely disregarded. I looked at her provocative gaze and laughed bitterly in anger.

My husband, who usually dotes on me endlessly, furrowed his brow in clear disapproval.

What he said next left me frozen in place.

"Lacey, when did you become so vicious?"

"How dare you curse Scarlett with infertility."

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1

I hear these words and can't believe they came out of Tiernan's mouth.

Pointing at myself uncertainly, I ask, "You're saying I'm cruel?"

Cervical cancer with a hysterectomy is already the best and luckiest outcome.

Tiernan, who has always trusted me unconditionally, is now calling me cruel because of this!

I thought they didn't understand, so I patiently explained, "This is cancer!"

"If it's not treated early, you might not even be able to save your life, let alone have children."

Unexpectedly, Scarlett looks at me suspiciously upon hearing this.

"Sis, are you afraid you can't have children, and that Tiernan will abandon you and be with me?"

"So you made up this story to scare people?"

She keeps saying "can't have children" over and over again.

Perhaps Tiernan has been saying the same things about me outside, which makes his friends so bold.

I look at Tiernan, who has been intimate with Scarlett without hesitation since she returned, and feel disappointed.

I take out the examination report from my bag and push it in front of them.

"You can look at the results yourself, or you can ask a doctor you know to help you look at them."

"As for whether to treat it or not, that's your own business."Is it my stupidity that led me to believe Tiernan's sweet words, truly thinking he saw Scarlett as just a sister?

I even thought I should love her too, pouring my heart out to her.

Now, hearing their harmonious slander and seeing Tiernan's unperturbed reaction to Scarlett sitting in his lap, I understand everything, even if I'm a fool.

"Lacey, Scarlett is our guest. How can you give her the cold shoulder?"

As I turned to leave, Tiernan unexpectedly grabbed my hand.

But his words were like daggers to my heart.

I raised my other hand, prying his fingers off one by one, looking at this husband of mine who had changed so much since Scarlett's return.

"Tiernan, didn't you hear her say I can't have children and that I can't stand seeing others happy?"

"What kind of guest would say such things about their host?"

"And why didn't you say a single word in my defense?"

"Now I'm just tired and don't want to say more, yet you step up to criticize me for being cold?"

"Can't you tell who's close and who's distant? Or am I the one who's distant to you?"

I stared unflinchingly into Tiernan's eyes as I confronted him, voicing my dissatisfaction.Tiernan's eyes darted nervously, avoiding direct contact.

Before he could speak, Scarlett swiftly snatched up the medical report.

"Come off it, Lacey. Calling you 'sister' is already giving you too much credit."

"Tiernan and I grew up together. You've only been married to him for a few years. You'll never be as close to him as I am."

"Besides, who knows if this report isn't just some fake you've cooked up to frame me?"

"I... I don't believe a single word of it!"

She spat out her words venomously, then laughed as she tore the report to shreds, scattering the pieces all over the floor.

When she turned back to face Tiernan, her demeanor changed completely.

"Tiernan, darling, I've made a reservation at our favorite restaurant. Shall we go for a drink?"