Chapter 2

When Ethan heard me say this, his expression immediately softened considerably.

He sighed and stepped forward to comfort me.

"Sophia, don't blame me for being heartless."

"Getting cancer out of nowhere—no one can predict these things. It's not that I don't want to treat you, but cancer is a bottomless pit."

"Think about me, think about your parents. If something happens to you and you're gone, someone still needs to take care of them, right?"

Ethan spoke with such apparent sincerity that he almost moved himself to tears.

But inside, I was laughing coldly.

Sure enough, when something really happens, that's when you see someone's true colors.

Normally, Ethan was thoughtful about everything. After five years of marriage, I thought we were one of those rare loving couples.

He always blow-dried my hair for me after I washed it.

Every night, he personally prepared my footbath water, making sure it was the perfect temperature—not too hot, not too cold.

I was touched by these little details.

I believed that when facing hardship together, we should give our all for each other.

But now, thinking I had cancer, Ethan directly told me to give up treatment while putting on this affectionate act. It was truly disgusting.

I remained silent as Ethan's voice continued in my ear.

"Sophia, I know you're upset about having cancer, but put yourself in my shoes."

He gently held my hand, looking so devoted.

"If I were the one with cancer,"

"Even if you wanted to spend all our savings on my treatment, I wouldn't agree, because I wouldn't burden you even a little bit."

I looked at him silently. "But I have cancer. Wouldn't you even consider selling a house to help raise some medical expenses for me?"

"What if treatment could give me a fighting chance?"

Ethan's brow furrowed tightly. "Sell the house for treatment? Sophia, you're being too naive."

"Do you know how much those targeted cancer drugs cost?"

"Our house would probably be like throwing a stone into a well—you wouldn't even hear a splash. We'd probably end up completely broke."

"Besides, my mom still needs to live in this house. If we really sell it, where would our whole family sleep? Under a bridge?"

My mother-in-law, who had been eavesdropping in her room, couldn't help but come out.

"Sophia White, you've been married for five years and haven't even produced an egg, and now you want my son to sell the house to pay for your treatment? Dream on!"

"Everyone has their fate. If you're short-lived, blame yourself. You can't blame anyone else!"

"Mom!"

Ethan frowned and interrupted his mother. "Sophia is sick after all. Don't talk like that."

He gave her a look. "Go to the market and buy a chicken. Make some chicken soup for Sophia to nourish her body."

His mother looked reluctant and muttered under her breath.

"She's about to die anyway. What's the point of chicken soup? Pure waste!"

The door slammed shut. Ethan pulled out his phone and fiddled with it for a while.

I snapped back to reality and glanced at it. "What are you buying?"

"Painkillers for you, of course."

Ethan didn't even look up, seemingly clicking to pay. "I bought you six months' worth of painkillers. If the pain gets unbearable, just take some."

"After all, having cancer is basically a death sentence. There's no need for you to keep going to the hospital."

Ethan's voice sounded so gentle,

But to me at that moment, it was like a death-beckoning demon.

I was so angry I laughed. "Ethan, are you now even taking away my right to go to the hospital?"

Is this the love you've been claiming all along?

Is this the man I trusted for five years?

"Sophia," Ethan frowned and stood up. "Don't make it sound so harsh."

"I'm not stopping you from going to the hospital. I'm just trying to be considerate, in case you can't bear the pain."

"After all, you've already given up on treatment. Going to the hospital would just waste more money."

I couldn't listen anymore. I grabbed my bag and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

Ethan's voice called after me.

"Remember to come back early tonight. I'll make chicken soup for you."

I took a cab to my mom's house. The moment I opened the door, my mom looked somewhat startled.

"Sophia, why did you come back?"

"Mom, you were right. I lied and said I had cancer, and forget about selling the house for treatment—Ethan wouldn't even spend a penny on me. He told me to just give up on treatment."

And here I was, ready to sell my premarital property to pay for his treatment.

My mom's expression also turned cold as she held my hand with concern.

"Sophia, since your husband said to give up, then give up."

"Didn't you buy Ethan a lot of insurance policies recently? Just wait."