Chapter 1

"Great news! That damn old hag I married has cervical cancer and isn't long for this world! We can finally be together, Irie!" my husband, Leonard Ziegler, exclaimed excitedly into his phone from outside the entrance.

I broke out into cold sweat from where I'd overheard him in a corner of the corridor.

I'd gotten off work early to drop by the hospital and pick up my sister-in-law Cynthia Ziegler's physical examination report.

My heart ached fiercely at the words "mid-stage cervical cancer" printed in large letters on the report.

After returning home, I hesitated to head upstairs. Instead, I squatted in a corner and sent an electronic copy of the report to a doctor from another hospital, David Williams, while sighing to myself.

The probability of curing cervical cancer was relatively high so long as it hadn't progressed to an advanced stage.

Early-stage treatment costs were also very low, but Cynthia's condition had to have already progressed to the middle stage. The surgery costs alone would be at least two to three hundred thousand dollars, not including the additional expenses for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other treatments.

David also suggested that Cynthia return to the hospital for a second opinion.

If she were to seek treatment, we simply didn't have enough liquid capital at home to afford it. Leonard and I would have to sell off our matrimonial home.

If she were to refuse treatment, Leonard and my mother-in-law, Amanda Powell, would definitely raise objections.

Cynthia was born a posthumous child, arriving after the death of her father and my father-in-law, Graham Ziegler. Amanda had also conceived her very late in life.

Amanda always felt that Graham had been reincarnated as Cynthia, so both she and Leonard doted on Cynthia very much.

Just as I was feeling lost as to how to break the news, I received a text message from Leonard.

"I've seen the correspondence and electronic report on your computer, honey. Please don't act impulsively. I've already deleted the doctor you consulted from your contacts list. My mother has already come up with a way to extend your life!"

While I was still stunned and confused, Amanda called me as well. "Come back quickly, Vicky. Hospitals are all shady places filled with people who are just out for your money. After all, there's no cure for cancer.

"Please don't panic and waste your money on fruitless efforts. Once you come back, we'll all think of a solution together."

It was only after listening to what Amanda said that I realized she and Leonard thought I was the one with cancer.

In addition, it sounded like neither of them intended to let me seek treatment.

A second later, Leonard stepped into the corridor in high spirits with his phone. "Fortunately, you were smart and purchased a huge insurance policy for this old hag in advance, baby. This is great! Even the gods are smiling upon us!

"I don't even have to do anything myself now! Once our child is born, they'll be set for life, Irie! We'll soon be enjoying easy lives!"

Due to how quiet the corridor was, I could even hear the delicate voice of the woman on the other end of the call. "You're the best, honey! I'll definitely give birth to a plump, healthy child for you!"

I covered my mouth, feeling a chill run down my spine at what I'd heard.

I'd been married to Leonard for five years, and I'd dismissed all of my family's objections to me marrying him back then. Despite that, he'd conceived a child with another woman and had even plotted to kill me!