Chapter 1

Three years into my cancer battle, my husband suggested I get my will notarized.

Two days before the notarization, he abandoned me on the highway to meet our daughter's yoga instructor.

As my stomach cancer flared up, he was busy making out with the female teacher in his car.

I begged the highway patrol to call him. When they got through, I heard a woman's passionate moans.

My husband answered the phone impatiently:

"I don't have time to deal with a sick person! Wait until she's dead, then call me to collect the body!"

The first thing I did upon waking up in the hospital was cancel my will notarization appointment.

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1

"Elowen, where the hell have you been?! I've been waiting for you at the notary's office for five minutes!"

"With your health in such a bad state, why aren't you rushing to make a will and leave your assets to me and your daughter? What are you waiting for?!"

"You think I'm after your money? This is all for your daughter's sake!"

Alec's furious yelling came through the phone.

"I had a stomach attack. I'm at the hospital."

"I forgot to tell you, I cancelled the will notarization."

A wave of pain surged through my stomach, making even breathing difficult.

The other end went silent.

For a moment, I thought he was worried about me.

The next second, an ice-cold voice came through the phone:

"Fine, we'll reschedule another day."

His tone was so indifferent, as if I were a complete stranger.

"Actually, Lily has a competition these couple of days. Melody and I are going with her... Don't..."

Alec drew in a sharp breath, his voice becoming somewhat agitated.

Before I could ask what was wrong, he hung up.

Even if I were an idiot, at this moment I understood that he was still with Melody.

I stared intently at my hand receiving the IV drip, feeling a sharp pain in my heart. He didn't come to check on my condition, nor did he offer to take care of me. He only cared about my inheritance.

He even flirted with another woman while on the phone with me.

After ten years of marriage, any affection between us had completely vanished.

During my hospital stay, Alec hadn't called me once. Even my daughter hadn't thought of me.

I couldn't help but open Melody's social media.

Only to discover that Melody and Alec had gone to Hawaii. Some competition? It was all just an excuse.

Hawaii was where I had planned to settle and recuperate after my sixth round of chemotherapy.

But now, while I'm still alive, my husband and child have gone there with another woman.

As I scrolled through the recent posts, Melody's diamond ring was particularly eye-catching.

In many photos, I could see Alec and Lily in the background.

"My baby's daddy says I'm a great dance teacher. This is my reward for teaching!"

The words "baby's daddy" stung badly.

Even more painful was that diamond ring. Alec and I had bought it together. He said it was a gift for when I finished chemo.

Turns out, I'd been fooled again.

Looking at my phone, my eyes began to sting.

Tears slowly blurred my vision.

Unconsciously, I commented: "Can she really compete well while you're out sightseeing?" In the next moment, a call came in from Alec, who hadn't phoned me in ages.

He began with a scolding tone:

"Elowen, are you out of your mind? What's with those nonsense comments on Melody's post!"

"Do you have any idea how hard it is for a dad to nurture a child's talent? If you can't help, why are you making things worse?"

Alec's accusations felt like daggers, causing a deep ache in my gut.

"Go apologize to Melody right now. If she actually comes back and Lily misses her competition because of this, you'll have me to answer to!"

"Yeah! Mom, why are you being so petty? Teacher Channing has been so good to us, and you're trash-talking him! Apologize now, or I'll never call you Mom again!"

Lily's shrill cries from the sidelines made my heart die all over again.

I thought I'd expose Alec's lies, but after hearing all this, I found myself without the strength to argue.

A $300,000 diamond ring now adorned the female teacher's finger, supposedly a "teaching reward."

Their social media was devoid of any competition updates, instead filled with posts of wining, dining, and merrymaking.

What kind of dancing match was this? It was clearly their honeymoon!

Even my own daughter had taken their side, pointing out my faults.

I said nothing, hung up the phone, and deleted my comment. There is no greater sorrow than the death of the heart.