I was diagnosed with breast cancer during my premarital checkup. My fiancé Daniel tried to persuade me: “Elliot, just get it removed. I won’t think less of you. Georgina specially applied for this surgery slot for you. She’s been interning in oncology for a year now, and it wasn’t easy for her to get this practical opportunity.” So he was pushing me to accept the surgery just so his childhood friend could practice on me. I endured the churning pain in my chest and firmly refused: “No!” “But Georgina needs this surgery!” he said angrily. I looked at him in disbelief. Daniel realized his tone was too harsh and softened his attitude: “If something’s broken, it has to be removed. Worst case… you can just get implants later. If you don’t have the surgery, how can we still get married?” Then let’s not get married! He didn’t know I’d already booked my flight abroad. I had a childhood friend who happened to be a world-renowned oncology expert. Seeing me silent, Daniel took advantage of the red light to grab my hand and persuade me. “Would I really harm you?” “Georgina already analyzed the pros and cons with me. If you don’t get this surgery soon, it could be life-threatening!” “Who do you think I’m doing this for?” The more he spoke, the more panicked he became. I coldly pulled my hand away from Daniel’s. “Daniel, don’t treat people like fools.” “You know perfectly well who you’re doing this for!” The atmosphere in the car dropped several degrees. Daniel’s proud jawline tensed. He glanced back at me with a glare. “Here you go again, getting jealous and making a scene over Georgina, right?” “I’ve told you hundreds of times—Georgina and I are completely innocent. It’s not as dirty as you think!” “If you really think that way, I guess there’s really no need for us to get married.” Whenever Georgina was mentioned, Daniel would use marriage to pressure me. Whenever it concerned Georgina, it was always me overthinking, me being petty. “Fine. Let’s not get married then.” The car suddenly screeched to a halt by the roadside. Daniel hadn’t expected me to agree. Disbelief flickered in his eyes. “Elliot, you really don’t know what’s good for you.” “Do you know how long Georgina fought with the hospital for this surgery slot for you? Do you know how many times I’ve gone to the hospital for your condition?” I let out a cold laugh. “Well, thank you both so much for your hard work.” “But I already said—I’m not doing this surgery.” “Whether as family or as a doctor, shouldn’t you respect the patient’s own wishes?” It had been a month since the premarital checkup diagnosed my breast cancer. During this month, Daniel had indeed been running back and forth to the hospital. But it wasn’t for my condition—it was to pick up and drop off Georgina from work. Daniel and I had been together for eight years. Forget picking me up from work—he didn’t even know which direction my office door faced. But Georgina had only been back for six months, and he’d already become a hospital regular. “Elliot, this isn’t up to you.” “I’ve already filled out the admission form for you, and I’ll sign the surgery consent form as your spouse when the time comes.” “This surgery is important for both you and Georgina!” Not important for me. Important for Georgina. Who didn’t know that Georgina, despite being back for six months, kept making mistakes in the operating room and might get fired? She needed my surgery to prove her abilities. “No way…” My unfinished words were interrupted by urgent ringing. Georgina’s name flashed on the screen. I stared at the custom sticker on the passenger side dashboard—”Georgina’s Seat Only”—the words burning into my eyes. I’d fought with him countless times over this sticker, but Daniel always said the same thing: “She’s younger than you, more immature than you. Can’t you just be understanding?” “It’s just a sticker. What’s the big deal?” Whenever it concerned Georgina, in Daniel’s eyes I was being unreasonable and jealous. Over the past six months, I’d swallowed more grievances than I could count. I rolled my eyes and said nothing, watching him answer the call. “What’s wrong, Georgina?” Completely different from his confrontational tone with me moments ago, his voice was immediately gentle and concerned. Whatever she sobbed about on the other end, Daniel tensed up nervously. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” After hanging up, Daniel unlocked the doors. “Georgina’s apartment is flooding. I need to get over there.” “Take a cab home yourself.” Daniel turned the steering wheel and made a U-turn. “The surgery is decided. Stop putting on a show.” “That thing—once it’s gone, it’s gone. Let’s be real, women’s breasts are basically just there for men anyway, right?” “I’m not even bothered that you won’t have them. Why are you making such a fuss?” My mind exploded with a buzzing sound. Before I could respond, Daniel unbuckled my seatbelt and pushed me out of the car.
The car drove off in a cloud of dust, leaving me standing there in a daze for a long time. Eight years—it felt like I was seeing Daniel clearly for the first time. Even the heavens seemed to be mocking me. I’d only walked a few steps when the rain began pouring down. Daniel’s car was still at the traffic light. One second, two seconds, three seconds—the car started up and sped away without a moment’s hesitation. He claimed to be worried about my illness, yet he could still abandon his sick fiancée in the rain for a single word from Georgina. When he left, he didn’t even think to leave me an umbrella. The journey home felt endless. I don’t know how I made it back. All I knew was that Daniel and I were truly over. When I reached the door of what was supposed to be our marital home, I heard a man and woman laughing inside through the half-open door. As I pushed the door open, Daniel and Georgina both turned around simultaneously. Daniel said nothing, just frowned at my drenched appearance. Georgina exclaimed, “Elliot, what happened to you?” “You can’t get caught in the rain with your condition! If you get a fever, you won’t be able to have the surgery the day after tomorrow…” So the surgery was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Coincidentally, my flight was also the day after tomorrow. Hearing this, Daniel panicked. He hurriedly grabbed a towel and hairdryer, pulled me over, and pressed me down onto the sofa. “What are you doing!” “Didn’t I tell you to take a cab home?” “If you delay Georgina’s surgery, I’m telling you—I won’t marry you!” The hairdryer roared. Daniel’s words pierced my heart like needles. It hurt. My health wasn’t important. What mattered was Georgina’s surgery. In Daniel’s eyes, my breast was Georgina’s ticket to stay at State Hospital, her only chance. “Go take a hot shower quickly. Don’t catch a cold.” “These next few days, take care of yourself. No colds, no fevers.” Daniel gave me a push. Georgina smiled beside him, adding quite a few pre-surgery precautions. “Daniel, I’m hungry…” “I want to eat your red wine steak.” Georgina’s coquettish voice came from behind me, along with Daniel’s indulgent response. My feet felt like they were filled with lead. In our eight years together, I’d only learned that Daniel could cook after Georgina came back. The day Georgina returned to the country, Daniel brought her to our home. I’d thoughtfully made restaurant reservations, but Georgina said she wanted to eat Daniel’s home cooking, so he immediately went into the kitchen. He spent three hours making eight dishes. The last dish was red wine steak. “I’ve missed your cooking all these years abroad.” “Daniel, you haven’t forgotten what you promised me, have you?” Daniel took off his apron and wiped his hands. “How would I dare forget what the princess said? I’ve never cooked for anyone else. If you don’t believe me, ask Elliot—she didn’t even know I could cook!” The two of them laughed. Daniel gently ruffled Georgina’s hair. At the dining table, I sat across from Georgina, so embarrassed I wanted to crawl into a hole. That day they chatted happily while I couldn’t get a word in. When I came out after my shower, the greasy smell of food hit me. “Elliot, come over here.” Georgina was sitting next to Daniel, calling me over to eat. I glanced at their shoulders pressed together and gave a slight smile. Where was there a place for me at that table?
“No thanks. I’m not hungry.” I turned and went back to the bedroom, only to find it filled with someone else’s belongings. “What’s going on?” Daniel didn’t even look up. “Oh, Georgina’s apartment flooded.” “She’s moving in temporarily.” “After you finish your surgery and recover, she’ll move out.” My hand holding the towel trembled uncontrollably. When I spoke, my voice carried a hint of tears. “Daniel, this is our marital home.” Each word was heavy with grief. But Daniel didn’t understand. He frowned and looked over, his eyes carrying a trace of reproach. “We’re not married yet, are we? Whether it’s a marital home is debatable! Elliot, stop making trouble out of nothing.” Georgina didn’t say a word, keeping her head down as she ate, but her trembling shoulders showed she was laughing. I said nothing, just took my things and went to the guest room. Just a few more days. I could endure this. The flight was the day after tomorrow. Once I left, I’d like to see who Georgina could practice her surgery on! Just as I sat down, my phone rang. It was Williams. “My queen, don’t forget next Monday’s flight.” Williams’s mischievous voice came through the phone. I’d always said I found him annoying, but now his voice felt like a lifeline. “I haven’t forgotten.” “Williams, what if my situation is really bad enough to require surgery?” There was silence on the other end for a moment. “Elliot, don’t be scared.” “I’ve seen the scans you sent me. It’s not as terrible as it seems. Our equipment here is more precise. Do another scan here—what if it’s a misdiagnosis?” “Even if it is confirmed, there are many treatment options. Surgery isn’t the only one.” Williams had always been like an unreliable kid who never grew up. But hearing this string of comforting words, I suddenly realized the boy on the other end was no longer the Williams I remembered. Williams’s words soothed my wounded heart. Not long after I hung up, there was a knock on the door. It was Georgina. She was wearing my pajamas, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation. “Elliot, you don’t mind me wearing your pajamas, do you?” I glanced at her coldly. “No problem. I’ll just throw them out later.” Georgina’s red lips curved up slightly as she smiled and walked in. “Elliot, do you know why Daniel didn’t show up to get our marriage license last time?” Daniel and I had scheduled our license appointment six months ago, for the third day after Georgina’s return. On the day we were supposed to register, Daniel was late. By the time he arrived, everyone at city hall had already left. He pulled me aside apologetically. “Elliot, I really didn’t mean to. My car got rear-ended on the way.” “My phone broke too…” Daniel pitifully pulled out his shattered phone from his pocket as proof it was really an accident. I believed him. “Because that day was the anniversary of the first time we slept together. He went with me to revisit the place where it happened.” “Do you know where?” “His bedroom, when I was eighteen…” Georgina leaned close to me. The hickey at the neckline of her pajamas was very conspicuous. This was Daniel’s “nothing’s going on with Georgina.” No wonder after Georgina came back, Daniel never mentioned getting our license again. The only time he brought it up was for this premarital checkup. He mentioned it on the day of our eight-year anniversary. “Elliot, let’s do a premarital checkup. Georgina said she’d arrange it for us.” Daniel and I had our biggest fight ever. “Daniel, if you don’t want to get married, just say so. No need to keep dragging this out. I’m not someone who can’t live without you!”
That wasn’t just talk. In the six months since Georgina came back, Daniel put her first in everything. Various dinners, picking her up and dropping her off from work—every single time we’d fight because of her. But nothing ever got resolved. We’d make up in a muddle, then start fighting about Georgina again. Every time we fought, Daniel would threaten not to marry me. The constant back and forth had long since exhausted all my expectations. But people are like that—they don’t turn back until they hit a wall. I couldn’t completely let go of my eight years with Daniel. So I agreed to the checkup, and that’s when the breast cancer was discovered. “Elliot, tell me—if a woman doesn’t have breasts, what’s the difference between her and a man?” Georgina’s words interrupted my memories. She covered her mouth as she laughed, triumph in her smiling eyes. “If I were you, I wouldn’t even want to live… Daniel even said…” I clenched my fists. “Get out!” I didn’t want to hear another word from Georgina. After pushing her out, I slid down against the door and sat on the floor. That powerless, painful feeling spread through my chest like vines, as if someone was strangling my neck. I could barely breathe. Eight years. I’d wasted eight years. Perhaps because of my excessive grief, I developed a high fever that night. I pressed ice packs to my body and head, but nothing worked. With no other choice, I knocked on Daniel’s door. “I think I have a fever…” Before I could finish, I collapsed into Daniel’s arms. Daniel panicked and tried to call for an ambulance, but Georgina stopped him. “Don’t call!” “If she goes to the hospital now, they’ll definitely give her an IV. Once she’s on medication, the surgery the day after tomorrow will be ruined!” Daniel was caught in a dilemma. “Then what do we do? We can’t just let her burn up!” Georgina took a deep breath. “Put her in the bathtub. Soaking overnight will bring down the fever.” I struggled to maintain consciousness, begging Daniel to take me to the hospital. “Daniel… I need… to go to the hospital… Please, take me to the hospital…” Georgina shook her head at him. “No.” Daniel glanced at Georgina, bit his lip, and said to her, “Okay, go run the water.” Whatever faint hope I’d been harboring died completely in that moment. For the sake of Georgina completing her surgery, my life meant nothing to Daniel. Fortunately, my fever broke the next day. Daniel seemed somewhat guilty. He specially made porridge for breakfast. “Elliot, I made this especially for you.” “Georgina said to eat something light today so you’ll be ready for surgery tomorrow.” I glanced at it indifferently, then tossed it straight into the trash. All day, I didn’t say a single word to Daniel. Not until I got up in the middle of the night for water and heard Daniel’s voice coming through the door crack. “I know, I know.” “After her surgery is done, I’ll definitely talk to her about breaking up.” “I’m only keeping her happy now so you can do the surgery, aren’t I? Okay, okay, don’t be angry…” I wasn’t surprised by what Daniel said. Instead, I felt strangely relieved. That night, I sat in the living room until dawn. When Daniel discovered me, he took a surprised step back. “Why are you up so early?” I stood up. “Waiting for you two, to go to the hospital for surgery.” “Didn’t you say once the surgery’s done, we can get our license?” “Daniel, I’ve thought it through.” Daniel seemed surprised, unable to hide his happiness. Last night he’d been worried I’d make a scene at the hospital and the surgery couldn’t proceed smoothly. Now it seemed everything was going perfectly. Daniel took Georgina and me to the hospital. Georgina busied herself with pre-surgery preparations while Daniel waited outside my hospital room. “I’m going to change clothes first.” Daniel was very reassured and didn’t follow. I followed the medical staff to the changing room, and taking advantage of the crowd, turned around and walked out. Following the flow of people, I took the elevator out of the inpatient building. “To the airport.” I got in a car and left the hospital. Meanwhile, Daniel sat in the hospital room waiting for a long time without seeing anyone return. Worried, he got up to look. “Where’s Elliot? Wasn’t she changing clothes?” The medical staff frowned. “She changed and came out ages ago.” Daniel broke out in a cold sweat. He searched the entire inpatient building without finding any trace of me. All his calls were rejected. Daniel completely panicked. Just then, his phone rang. When Daniel saw who it was, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Elliot, did you get lost?” “Where are you? I’ll come get you…” “I’m at the airport. Daniel, let’s break up.”
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