Part 3I Sold My House for My Husband's Cure He Used the Money to Raise a Baby With My Best Friend

I called my lawyer and had him draw up divorce papers. With no shared assets left, the division was simple.

By the time I was done, night had fallen. A stream of messages had come in from Brenda, the nurse. Jess had been in Mark’s room almost constantly. They were keeping their voices low. A few times when Brenda had entered to check his vitals, they’d both jumped, looking flustered.

I smiled grimly and texted her my thanks.

For the next two days, with me absent, they grew bolder. Jess would stroll into his room, her white doctor’s coat barely concealing a black lace teddy. She’d stay for hours. Once, Brenda noted, she came out looking flushed, her legs unsteady.

The nurse saw what was happening. She texted me several times, gently suggesting I should come back to the hospital.

I politely declined each time. It wasn’t time to show my hand.

I wasn’t idle. I hired a private investigator to dig up every wire transfer, every gift, every hotel stay Mark had ever paid for on Jess’s behalf. Evidence for the lawsuit to come.

On the morning of the surgery, the hospital’s finance department noted the bill was still unpaid.

That’s when Mark’s composure finally cracked. My phone blew up.

“Anna, where are you? The surgery is this afternoon. Did you get the money?”

“Why aren’t you answering? Is there a problem with the sale? Don’t try to handle it all alone, I’m here for you. If it doesn’t work out, then we just forget the surgery. My life isn’t worth you suffering like this.”

“When I’m gone, find a good man and remarry. I won’t blame you.”

I stared at the screen, a fresh wave of cold fury washing over me. A masterclass in manipulation. This wasn’t a man preparing for his death; this was a con artist afraid his mark was about to walk away.

Jess was less composed. She called, again and again. Each time with a new, frantic story. Mark was coughing up blood. Mark had slipped into a coma. The hospital had issued three separate critical condition alerts, all of which she had heroically intercepted on my behalf.

I answered the last call, my voice calm. “I’m on my way.”

I heard her exhale in relief. And just before she hung up, I heard Mark’s triumphant laugh in the background.

Laugh all you want, I thought. After today, you won’t have the strength to cry.

The private investigator had found more than just financial records. He’d delivered an unexpected little bonus.

When I arrived at the hospital, Mark’s mother was already there, holding court with a flock of relatives outside his room. The moment they saw me, they swarmed.

“Anna, you poor thing, you’ve been through so much,” his mother gushed, grabbing my hands. “I only just heard Mark was in the hospital! Thank you, thank you for not abandoning him. Having a daughter-in-law like you is the greatest blessing our family could ask for…”

Jess pushed through the crowd, her face a perfect portrait of anxious urgency. “You’re finally here! The doctors are saying if we wait any longer, it’ll be too late! Thank god you made it. Go pay the fee, quickly! I’ll get the surgical team prepped right now!”

Mark’s mother shot Jess a subtle glance. When she turned back to me, her eyes were instantly red-rimmed and brimming with tears. She grabbed my arm and began pulling me toward the billing office. “Let’s go, hurry. Mark is waiting.”

The look that passed between her and Jess confirmed it. She was in on it, too. Of course. It explained why she’d been conveniently absent until the very day the money was due. I always thought Mark was just trying to spare her the worry. Now I saw it clearly. The three of them were a pack of wolves, and my mother and I were the prey they intended to devour.

Surrounded by the expectant faces of his family, I stopped in my tracks.

I pulled my arm free and held up my empty hands.

“What surgery fee?” I said, my voice clear and steady. “I couldn’t get it. I don’t have any money.”