After Beating Cancer, I Dumped My Cheater

After several rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, Lydia Lynn had finally beaten cancer. Her phone rang; it was her husband, Shawn Sterling. Today wasn't just the day she had overcome the disease; it also marked the third anniversary of Shawn returning to the family after his affair. "How did the checkup go?" Shawn's voice was tense over the phone. For the past three years, he had cared for her obsessively, far more than he had when they first married. "The results are good," Lydia said evenly, her eyes scanning the report without a flicker of emotion. "So it's really over? Don't move; I'll come pick you up." Before Lydia could respond, she heard the sound of Shawn hastily leaving his office. Within fifteen minutes, he appeared outside the hospital. He ran toward her, brimming with excitement, and pulled her into his arms. "My love, do you know how long I've been waiting for this day?" But Lydia remained cold and distant, entirely unmoved by his excitement. Silently, she pushed him away, her subconscious still resisting his touch. Shawn's expression froze for a moment but was quickly masked. On the way home, he was in high spirits. As soon as they arrived, Lydia hadn't even taken off her shoes before Shawn wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing her against the door. His lips trailed across her cheek, her neck, and her back with lingering kisses. Lydia bit her lip, her body stiffening as a wave of nausea rose in her stomach. "Sweetheart, I held back before for your health, but now..." Seeing his lips approach, Lydia turned her head and instinctively slapped him across the face. Shawn froze, and once clarity replaced desire, he released her without asking why she had struck him. Lydia knew his indulgence wasn't love; it was guilt. Three years ago, Shawn had cheated on her with a woman named Willa Watson, Lydia's closest friend outside her family. While Lydia was away at work, the two of them had entangled themselves. Had Lydia not returned early from a business trip and caught them, the affair might have continued indefinitely. Shawn knew he had wronged Lydia, so when he was discovered, he made no excuses. Shawn had agreed to every term Lydia wanted in the divorce, and the two of them were already working through the legal process. But before the divorce could be finalized, Lydia was diagnosed with cancer. The moment Shawn learned of her illness, his eyes filled with tears, and he knelt before her, promising to sever all ties with Willa. He did not ask for her forgiveness, only for a chance to care for her. It was an act of atonement; the Sterling family's wealth was unquestionable, and Lydia's treatment required money. At that moment, Lydia no longer cared who loved whom; she only wanted to survive. Now that she was cured, Shawn held no value for her. Watching him struggle to maintain composure, Lydia smiled. "Shawn, you weren't like this when we first married. These past three years, you've been so good to me. Why is that?" "Oh, right. I remember now," Lydia said, her voice turning icy. "It was because of Willa." The moment she spoke that name, Shawn's face darkened. His thin lips pressed tight, his hand hanging at his side clenched unconsciously. "Lyd, why are you bringing her up again? Does everything I've done for you these past three years not prove my feelings? I have promised you countless times. I, Shawn, only love you. Why don't you believe me?" Shawn looked extremely agitated, as though he'd been holding those words in for a long time and had finally gotten the chance to say them out loud. But after saying them, he seemed to regret it almost immediately. Pulling his jacket from the coat rack, he said, "It's been a long day for you too. Get some rest. I'm going out to clear my head." Lydia watched him leave. Her expression remained calm, unchanged. Just then, she remembered something. Earlier, while they were in the car, she'd noticed a call come through that Shawn had declined almost instantly. She pulled out her phone and opened an app. A live feed from Shawn's car appeared on the screen. The camera system had been Shawn's idea. He'd installed it himself, claiming it was "so you'd never have to worry." Apparently, he'd forgotten all about it. That was exactly like Shawn. On the screen, someone opened the passenger-side door and practically threw herself into Shawn's arms. Willa Watson, Lydia's former best friend. The woman Shawn cheated with three years ago. "Shawn..." Willa said. "I've missed you so much these past three years... I really have." Willa wrapped her arms around him, and before long, Shawn's hands began moving over her body. "Please don't leave me again, okay? You're the only one who can help me now..." On the screen, the two of them kissed. The camera captured both of their faces clearly. They were completely absorbed in each other. Lydia pressed the record button on her phone. At the same time, she picked up her lab report and checked the diagnosis again, reading it over carefully one more time. Everything was real. She exhaled in relief. It was only her husband cheating a second time, not a cancer recurrence. She had survived cancer. Losing a man was nothing.