The One He Gave Up On Was His Own Mother

Chapter 2

Kian let out a long, relieved breath.

"It's good for both of us that you've come around. I know this is hard on you. I'll make sure to spend more time with you these days. Ask Mom if she has any unfulfilled wishes, okay? We'll do right by her and make her last days as comfortable as possible."

I glanced at him and gave a flat, quiet response. "Mhm."

He smiled softly, reaching out to pat my shoulder. "Aria, you've been holding down the fort these days, and I know it's tough. Once I get time off work, I'll make it up to you, I promise."

I didn't say a word. I wasn't the one suffering the most right now—not by a long shot. It was Eliza, the woman he'd personally cut off treatment for, whose health was deteriorating by the day.

Over the next few days, the shift in Kian was obvious to anyone who looked at him. He was totally relaxed, like a massive weight had rolled right off his back.

Now that he didn't have to stress about that "expensive, incurable illness" eating into their savings, he was practically glowing with energy, leaving the house before sunrise and getting back long after dark every single day.

At first, I held onto a tiny, stupid sliver of hope. I told myself he was just grinding extra hard at work, trying to provide for our family.

That illusion shattered the day Eliza collapsed out of nowhere and got rushed to the hospital. The doctor told us we needed to put down a one-hundred-thousand deposit upfront to start treatment.

I called Kian in a panic, again and again. Three calls in a row, all rang out straight to voicemail.

Then I turned around and ran straight into Kian, who was right there in the hospital, accompanying Mia Carter to her prenatal checkup.

Rage bubbled up in my chest so fast it made my head spin. I stormed over to the two of them before I could even think.

The second Kian saw me, he immediately stepped in front of Mia to shield her. "What are you doing here? Were you following me?"

"You said you were swamped with work lately, that you even had to work weekends! What are you doing then, escorting another woman to her prenatal appointment?"

"Enough! I'll explain everything when we get home. Don't mess up Mia's appointment."

He held onto Mia's arm and tried to step around me, but I blocked their path immediately, shoving the hospital payment slip right in his face.

"The hospital is waiting for the money to start treatment. Give me your bank card."

Kian glanced at the slip, his face twisting with obvious irritation. "Is this about Hazel again? I already made it clear to you before—this chronic illness is a bottomless pit. We're not treating her, and you agreed to that, didn't you?"

Mia tugged gently at his arm, cutting in in a soft, sweet voice. "Kian, maybe you two should talk this out first. Don't let her get so upset."

Kian pulled her into his arms protectively, then looked right at me. "Since you've walked in on this, I guess there's no point hiding it anymore. I'm the one who brings home every penny that pays for this entire household. Why the hell should I throw my hard-earned cash into Hazel's money pit? Mia is carrying my baby, and every cent I have is set aside for her and the baby."

"I'm not giving a single dime for Hazel's treatment. Not one."

His voice was ice-cold, so smug and sure that I had no other options left. "If you're that desperate to treat her, go hit up Hazel's side of the family for cash. Quit wasting my time here."

My eyes were burning with rage, tears pricking at the corners. "You're blowing our family's entire savings on your mistress, just sitting back and watching Mom waste away to die? How do you even sleep at night?"

"Mia gets how hard I have it. She's soft, kind, considerate—nothing like you, who badgers me nonstop about Hazel's illness and makes my life a living hell. I can't get a single moment of peace in that house anymore."

Passersby were already staring, whispering to each other. Kian's face twisted into an ugly scowl. "Keep throwing this hysterical fit, and I won't be so nice to you next time."

Mia sniffled quietly. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't come in for this checkup today, none of this would have happened."

Kian patted her back gently to soothe her, then rounded on me, his voice sharp as a knife. "I've said all I need to say. You're not getting a single cent. Now get the hell out of my face!"

I stared at the man in front of me—my husband, spitting venom at me just to protect another woman—and he felt like a total stranger.

Five years of marriage, and it felt like I was finally seeing the man sleeping right next to me for who he really was, for the very first time.

I stumbled out of the hospital alone. The cold wind bit at my cheeks, and the last faint shred of hope I'd clung to for my marriage shattered into a million tiny pieces, gone forever.