When I took the kids for their routine pre-school check-up, I unexpectedly found out that my stepson, Liam, had leukemia. I immediately contacted the bank, desperate to get a loan for a bone marrow transplant. But my daughter, Bella, suddenly piped up, “Dad, when we go in, just say *I* have leukemia.” The moment we walked through the door, Bella dropped to her knees in front of my wife, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, I want to live. Please, save me.” I knew this was Bella’s test, and my eyes were glued to Eleanor’s reaction. If she said *anything* about treating Bella, I’d sell everything I owned to cure Liam. But if Eleanor couldn’t stand by me through this hardship, then I’d have no choice but to watch Liam’s illness with cold indifference. Eleanor helped Bella up, but I caught a flash of resentment in her eyes. She sighed, looking at me with a weighty tone. “I already know about Bella’s leukemia. You know our financial situation… maybe we should just… let it go.” I quickly cut in, “The child calls you Mom, after all! How can we just let it go?” Liam, who was engrossed in his game, impatiently interjected. “So what if she calls her Mom? She’s not her *real* daughter.” His utter lack of concern sent a chill down my spine. After we remarried, I was so worried he wouldn’t adjust that I gave him everything, the very best. I never imagined he wouldn’t just fail to protect his sister, but would say something so heartless. I was shaking with rage, standing up and pointing at him, demanding, “Bella is your sister! Just because she’s not biological, she doesn’t deserve to be saved?” Eleanor, clearly annoyed, pulled me back. “Enough! Why are you yelling at Liam? Forget the astronomical cost of a bone marrow transplant, even a single round of radiation therapy costs tens of thousands. This is a bottomless pit with no end in sight.” She glanced at Bella, whose tears were still wet on her cheeks, and spoke coldly. “Blame Bella for her bad luck, I guess. I know you like having a girl, but if it comes down to it, we can just have another one.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I spoke, my voice laced with urgency. “Leukemia isn’t as terrifying as you think. Early treatment can be covered by insurance. Are you just going to stand there and watch the child…?” She crossed her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Your child is a child, but Liam and I are outsiders? We’re just living together, you know. Don’t be so selfish, okay? If it were Liam who was sick, I would absolutely divorce you and bear the responsibility alone. I would never drag you down.” “Besides, you’d sell the house and car to treat this money pit, and she’ll just get married off eventually anyway, right? How much can you get back from a dowry?” She looked at Bella with disdain, letting out a scornful scoff. “But you can’t just…” Before I could finish, Liam violently slammed his phone screen onto the couch and roared. “Ugh! So annoying!” “I’ve said it a hundred times, she’s not getting treated! You’ve completely messed up my character in the game! If you bother me again while I’m playing, I’ll pull your oxygen tube when you’re old!” Liam was like a furious little beast, his eyes wide, looking at me as if I were his enemy. Suddenly, I felt Eleanor had a point. If I risked everything—selling the house and car—to save Liam, and then had to worry about him not taking care of me in old age, would saving him really be worth it? Lost in thought, Eleanor handed me divorce papers. “What’s the meaning of this?” My heart sank. Only an hour or two had passed since the test results came out, and she already had the divorce papers ready! “Leukemia treatment is astronomically expensive. I don’t want my child to live a life of hardship with you. Sign this, and let’s go to the registry office to get divorced.” Just one glance sent a shiver down my spine. She not only demanded that I leave with absolutely nothing, but also that I pay monthly child support for Liam. I lightly tapped my finger on the table, my eyes fixed on Eleanor. “Why should I walk away with nothing?” Eleanor’s expression was one of complete righteousness. “All these years, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, taking care of the child. I’ve lost my ability to work. Isn’t it only right that you compensate my son and me?” I spread my hands. “After the divorce, you won’t have to take care of the child? Won’t you still need to find a job?” A look of urgency flashed across her face: “Jobs are so hard to find these days. Until I find one, don’t you think you should give me some financial security? Otherwise, how will a single mother and her child survive?” “Didn’t I give you your ‘financial security’ before we even got married? Now that we’re talking divorce, why should I care how you survive?” I genuinely couldn’t fathom how she could say such things. The wedding gifts given before marriage were security, the pre-marriage jewelry was security. Now, if I were the one at fault, she’d seize my property as security. And if a child got sick, she’d take the security and continue her life. As a family, shouldn’t we share risks? Why was a human life worth less than a so-called comfortable life? When she heard I wouldn’t leave penniless, Eleanor started acting hurt again, wiping away tears and sobbing. “Children cost a lot of money, and I don’t have any other income. How are a single mother and her child supposed to survive? After all these years as husband and wife, shouldn’t you take full responsibility?” Wasn’t I responsible enough? The moment I found out about Liam’s illness, I contacted the bank to apply for a loan, ready to sell everything to pay for his treatment! Now, the tables were turned. I just wanted to hear her say *one word* about saving my daughter, just one word! But her? One moment she was calling my daughter a worthless money pit, the next she was demanding I leave with nothing. Was that *my* lack of responsibility? Seeing that I wouldn’t budge, Eleanor sat next to me, took my arm, and softened her voice.
“I treat her like my own daughter too. I don’t mind you treating her as long as it doesn’t cost *our* family’s money. But what if? What if we spend all that money and she doesn’t make it? We need to think about our future, right?” “Divorce is a last resort. Just hand over all the property to me for safekeeping first. Bella isn’t my biological daughter, so after the divorce, I won’t have any obligation to care for her. Even if she really doesn’t make it, you can declare personal bankruptcy, and then we can remarry. That way, your future will be secure, won’t it?” I scoffed internally. The moment she learned my daughter was sick, she was in a frantic rush to divorce me and split the assets. But she *did* remind me of something. Right now, I have a parental obligation to Liam. After a divorce, no matter what, I wouldn’t have to bear any responsibility for him. I looked at the divorce papers. If Eleanor was determined to let Bella go untreated, then I wouldn’t reveal that *her* son was the one who was sick. “I’m not one to fight over a bit of property. We’ve been through so much these years, don’t you trust me?” Seeing my silence, Eleanor raised her voice, asking incredulously. “It’s only been two hours since the medical report came out, and you already have the divorce papers ready. How can I trust you?” Hearing me say that, she instantly exploded. “Honey, honestly, how have I treated Bella all these years? Now she’s become a burden on the family, and isn’t what I’m doing for *our* future?” Each word, “burden,” made my face turn ashen. I pointed at Eleanor, my voice stern. “She’s a living, breathing person, not a burden!” Seeing me on the verge of exploding, Liam forcefully pushed Bella. My already frail daughter was knocked hard to the ground, crying out in pain. “You old man, if you yell at my mom again, I’ll kill her! She’s just a waste of money living anyway!” Liam shrieked at me hysterically, his eyes filled with a ferocity I’d never seen before. I’d never seen such a vicious side to Liam. Turns out, his previous obedience was all an act. He was nothing but an ungrateful monster! Liam pointed at my nose and cursed. “What? You wanna lay a hand on me? Go on, try it! Domestic abuse can make you lose everything, you know!” My fists clenched, wanting nothing more than to slap him across the face. I’d been better to him than my own daughter for four years, and I even thought about getting a loan for his bone marrow transplant! “Come on, hit me here! Do it!” He patted his own face, acting crazed. “Liam, how have I taught you? Kneel!” Eleanor’s stern voice rang out. She turned to me, her voice softening. “My son is being unruly. I’ll make him apologize to his sister right now.” The moment before so arrogant, Liam gnashed his teeth and knelt in front of Bella, deliberately turning his head away, his face full of resentment. Eleanor squatted in front of Bella, gently smoothing the stray hairs from her temples. “Bella, your brother was just impulsive. I’m making him apologize to you. We’re a family, we should be understanding of each other, right? I know what just happened makes you feel wronged, but Mommy feels wronged too!” “A minor illness is one thing, but this is leukemia! Do you want to make Daddy, Mommy, and your brother live a life of hardship with you, or do you want to become a star in the sky, watching us be happy every day?” “But… as long as our family is together, I’ll be happy,” Bella said with innocent sweetness. “Bella, you’re still little, you don’t understand,” Eleanor sighed deeply, shaking her head. “We’re just an ordinary family, we simply don’t have the money to treat you! Didn’t Dad always say not to bother others? I’m not your real mother! Why should I suffer with you?” “Think about it, during treatment, you’ll be hooked up to tubes, in pain and discomfort. Our family’s entire savings will be spent on you alone. Daddy and Mommy will be busy to death every day, and your brother will be mocked at school for not being able to afford designer brands. Is that what you want?” I glared at Eleanor through gritted teeth. She truly was a woman with a viper’s heart. Knowing she couldn’t convince me, she turned to manipulate my daughter. When I found out Liam was sick, I was willing to take out a loan to save him. But when it came to my daughter, she was actually convincing her to die! “Thump!”
The next second, Eleanor, her face haggard, dropped straight to her knees in front of Bella, weeping uncontrollably. “Please, honey, Mom is begging you. Our family really doesn’t have that much money. Can we just not treat it? We’ll make sure you’re happy for the time you have left. I’m still young, I don’t want to beg on the streets!” “Yeah, sis, I just accidentally pushed you earlier, and I apologized. Can you just die without dragging me down?” Liam, still kneeling beside them, added. “But what if? What if I get better, can things go back to how they were?” Bella looked at Eleanor, still hopeful and innocent. Eleanor grew impatient, her voice sharp as she massaged her forehead and retorted, “How many ‘what ifs’ are there? Even if you get better, can the money spent on you be brought back?” That simple sentence extinguished the last flicker of hope I had for saving Liam. “We’re just ordinary people, we only get one chance to gamble. If we lose, our lives will be ruined because of you alone. When you said ‘face it together,’ weren’t you just trying to drag us down with you?” “Mommy and your brother are people too. We don’t ask for great wealth, just a stable life. Can’t you be considerate of Mommy?” With that, she even managed to squeeze out a few fake tears. Liam quickly handed her a tissue, then stood up and glared at me. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Both of them are selfish, they don’t consider our feelings at all!” “Mom, you two should get divorced immediately. I don’t want to go to hell with these two selfish people!” Watching them, I couldn’t help but reflect on their words. Yes, why should I gamble my entire future and Bella’s future for a slim chance at saving *her* son? Seeing that Bella couldn’t be swayed either, Eleanor stood up and looked at me coldly, speaking her true thoughts. “There’s only one illness in this world: poverty. I’m terrified of being poor. I’m just looking out for my own best interests.” I looked at her假惺惺 (hypocritical/feigned) demeanor with a bitter smile, shaking my head helplessly. As for the truth about Liam’s illness? If she was going to look out for her own interests, why couldn’t I? “You’re right. I don’t need you to bear any of this.” Hearing me say that, a glimmer of delight flickered in Eleanor’s eyes. She quickly handed over the divorce papers, striking while the iron was hot. “It’s best if you understand. We’re both thinking of the children, so there’s no need to blame each other.” Just then, my phone rang. It was the bank. “Mr. David, we’ve reviewed your credit score and spending history. Your approved loan amount is fifty thousand dollars.” Hearing the call, Liam’s face changed. “You took out a loan? Why didn’t you discuss something this big with my mom?” Eleanor’s face contorted. “Oh, I see now. I finally understand you. You never considered Liam and me family at all! Confess honestly, were you planning to use that loan to treat that worthless money pit and make *me* share the debt with you?” “I can’t believe you’re this kind of person. We’re getting divorced anyway, can’t we just be civil to each other?” I looked at her helplessly. “We’re getting divorced anyway, what’s wrong with me taking out a loan to treat my child on my own?” Eleanor stared at me, her neck stiff, and shouted. “What’s wrong? If you take out a loan for her treatment now, it becomes shared debt, and *we* have to bear it too!” Liam wasn’t to be outdone, threatening, “You old man, if you make my mom take on that debt, I’ll strangle that b*tch! I’m underage, so I won’t even go to jail!” I turned to look at him, a chill running through me at the venom in his eyes. This little devil would say *anything* to avoid debt! Eleanor patted my shoulder. “I don’t care if you want to take out a loan for treatment, but don’t make me share the debt, okay?” With words like that, I truly felt that all my efforts for them over the years were worthless. If Bella hadn’t had the foresight to test them, I would probably have been completely fooled. I sighed. “Alright then, let’s get divorced now. I’m in a hurry to get the money for treatment. This house goes to me, and the rest of the assets go to you, how about that?” Hearing me say this, Eleanor, barely concealing her smile, modified the agreement and watched intently as I signed the divorce papers. I pulled out the notarized prenuptial agreement from the cabinet and handed it to her. Eleanor looked at the pre-marriage property notarization, and her smile slowly froze. “What is the meaning of this?”
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