My fiancé dumped me after a mix-up with our health check-up results. We’d gone for a routine comprehensive health check-up before the wedding, and somehow, our phone numbers got swapped. So, his cancer diagnosis was sent to me, and my clean bill of health was sent to him. I hadn’t even had a chance to tell him the truth. When he showed up at my door with his entire family to break off the engagement. They demanded I return the wedding budget and compensate them for emotional distress. My usually kind prospective mother-in-law looked at me with utter contempt. “You jinx! If we hadn’t gone for that check-up, our family would have been doomed!” I returned the wedding budget and all the gifts Liam had given me during our relationship. Silently, I deleted the cancer diagnosis report from my phone. I was on the phone with my boyfriend, Liam, discussing our wedding plans. He sounded a bit hesitant. “Honestly, I don’t think we need such an expensive reception. We have a long life ahead, and plenty of other expenses will pop up. This is all for you, you know. Wouldn’t it be better to save that money and buy you a designer bag? Don’t you agree?” I felt a pang of annoyance. Ever since we got engaged, Liam had become incredibly stingy, and he always used the excuse that it was “for me,” putting me in a position where I felt obligated to agree, as if refusing would make me the villain. I was about to say something when I suddenly received a text message. I opened it to find a notification from the health center. 【Mr./Ms. Davis, your results from our health center are in. Your examination indicates mid-stage stomach cancer. We recommend you seek further medical review and treatment as soon as possible. We wish you a speedy recovery. For any questions, please call our center.】 How could I have cancer? I was too stunned to speak. Liam called out “Hello?” a few times from the other end of the line. Thinking I was upset, he continued, “Okay, we can go with your plan then, but your parents will have to cover the costs. My mom…” I cut him off. “Check your messages. I… I just sent you a screenshot.” I hung up abruptly and quickly called my parents to explain what happened. My parents dropped everything and rushed me to the health center to get the official results. Once there, after a quick check, we realized it was all a huge misunderstanding. Our phone numbers were just one digit off, and he’d accidentally entered my number during registration. Coupled with a clerical error in the system, the reports had been mixed up. So, it wasn’t me with cancer. It was Liam! My heart, which had just settled, tightened again. I reached for my phone to tell Liam, but then I noticed he hadn’t replied to the message I sent him earlier.
My parents drove my distraught self back to my apartment near the office. But my mind was a mess. Liam hadn’t replied. He must be researching treatment options and trying to figure out how to raise money for my supposed illness. He’d always been like that, always responsive to everything. I remembered one time I got my period in the middle of the night and had terrible cramps. I casually complained to him, and he showed up at my building with freshly brewed ginger tea. After that, I was careful about what I said, afraid he’d go overboard. Sigh! Why was I so impatient? I told him before even confirming the situation. Now, how was I going to delicately tell him that *he* was the one with cancer, not me? Before I could think it through, my dad patted my shoulder. “It’s okay, Clara. Stomach cancer isn’t untreatable. The doctor just said it can be managed, especially with that new treatment they mentioned, some kind of targeted therapy. Didn’t they say it’s very effective?” My mom nodded in agreement. “Yes, exactly. I always told you to keep your wealth under wraps, to see if he was truly after you or just your money, but now this involves a human life, it’s incredibly serious. We should just tell him the truth. We can cover the costs and make sure Liam gets the best treatment.” As she spoke, my dad picked up his phone, leveraging his network to find the best stomach cancer specialists. After a few calls, the experts reassured us, saying the situation wasn’t too severe, not to worry too much, and that the prognosis was good. Right, so many people get cancer these days. It’s not an insurmountable obstacle. And Liam was always so optimistic and cheerful; he’d definitely beat it. My mind was a jumble of thoughts. I imagined that when I told Liam, he’d hug me, overjoyed, perhaps even tear up, saying how lucky it was that it was him and not me. I nodded. “Okay. I’ll go see him tomorrow. We’ll take him directly to a top specialist to discuss treatment options. I’ll just figure out exactly what to say tonight.”
Early the next morning, my parents and I were still asleep when a knock sounded at the door. My dad opened it, only to find Liam and Brenda, along with a group of people I didn’t recognize but who, judging by their appearance, were Liam’s relatives. Everyone looked grim, especially Liam and Brenda. They had worried expressions and dark circles under their eyes, clearly having been up all night. I knew it. He hadn’t replied to my messages because he was busy trying to raise money from his relatives. Tears and laughter mingled as I rushed forward, wanting to embrace Liam. But before I could touch him, Brenda pushed me away with a dark look on her face and started ranting like a machine gun. “You cancer hag! Stay away from my son! Don’t infect him with your disease!” “I thought she was such a good girl. She looks decent on the outside, but she’s rotten to the core!” “You jinx! If we hadn’t gone for that check-up, our family would have been doomed!” “It’s not just about you dying, you almost dragged my son into a second marriage, did you know that?” These words hit me like thunderclaps, making my ears ring. But Brenda wasn’t done yet. “I’m here today with my son to call off this engagement! If you dare to refuse, I’ll take this to court and let the whole world know you’re clinging to my son even when you’re on your deathbed!” My parents and I froze, especially me. The smile on my face instantly stiffened. Brenda had always been so gentle and kind to me before. I used to think I was incredibly lucky to have found such a wonderful boyfriend and such a good prospective mother-in-law. I even told my best friend, “Liam’s mom is so open-minded; she’ll definitely approve of our marriage.”
My parents’ faces were livid with anger. My mom held my dad back, afraid he’d lose his temper and physically lash out. My mom, in her usual good-natured way, said, “Let’s talk this through calmly. Even if you want to break off the engagement…” Brenda cut my parents off. “Who wants to talk calmly with you? Don’t even think about clinging to my family!” I ignored Brenda and turned to look at Liam. After all, he was the one I was supposed to spend my life with. Brenda was undoubtedly upset after hearing about my supposed illness, but Liam just kept his head down, refusing to look at me. I still wanted to give Liam a chance. After so many years together, so many wonderful memories—as long as he was willing to stand by me, I wouldn’t care what Brenda said. At worst, I just wouldn’t associate with her in the future. So, I spoke in a hoarse voice, “Stomach cancer can be treated, and Liam and I, after all…” Brenda heard me and, with a knowing look, cut me off. “I knew you’d try to cling to my son! I don’t know if cancer can be cured, but I do know that cancer can be hereditary. Even if you’re cured, it’ll still be in your genes.” “My son is the only male in our family to carry on the name. If he marries you and has an unhealthy grandchild, what will I do?” “Before, I was just putting on a show for you, because you were an only child from a prosperous background. I thought marrying you would help my son in the future, and your parents could provide financial and practical support!” “But who would’ve thought, after all that careful selection, we’d end up with a cancer hag!” “I was dissatisfied with you long ago! A girl who’s constantly drinking milk tea, eating takeout, always wanting to eat out! Well, serves you right now, even heaven is punishing you for your lifestyle, giving you cancer!”
Liam stood there as if he wasn’t even present, still staring at his shoes. I found it utterly ridiculous. All my fantasies from yesterday now seemed like the most pathetic jokes. I ignored Brenda’s incessant rambling and just stared at Liam. “Is that what you think too? Are you here to break off the engagement?” Liam knew he couldn’t hide any longer. He looked up at me, his eyes devoid of any former affection, and said coldly, “Yes!” I stumbled, and my parents quickly steadied me from behind. “Liam, have you forgotten what you promised me?” Liam scoffed. “Clara and I are only engaged, not married. I have no legal responsibilities or obligations to her. Besides, I’m not looking for someone to take care of; I want a supportive partner, a warm harbor to care for *me* and *my mother*, to make my life and work free from worrying nuisances!” “I’m a normal man; of course, I’d put myself first. Can you honestly say that if *I* were the one with cancer today, you wouldn’t break off the engagement?” But the truth was, we wouldn’t have. After all, I had just been thinking about how to tell you, how to get you treatment, how to care for you. I never once considered abandoning you. My heart shattered into a million pieces, yet I also felt incredibly fortunate to see his true colors now. I smiled and nodded. “Fine, then the engagement is off. We’ll go our separate ways from now on.” Liam probably hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. He looked a bit awkward, then habitually tried to morally blackmail me. “And you talk about loving me? If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t drag me down. I just bought a house; how could I possibly have spare money to pay for your cancer treatment?”
As soon as he said that, Liam quickly fell silent, but I’d already heard it. I couldn’t help but look up. “I only told you about my ‘cancer’ yesterday. How could you have bought a house today?” It wasn’t like me to be so curious. Liam and I had planned to buy a house together after the wedding. I had always discouraged him from buying a house beforehand, intending to surprise him by having him move into the spacious apartment I’d already bought. Liam looked embarrassed. Perhaps out of habit from our years of dating, he still explained after I asked. “The house was bought a few months ago, not yesterday.” But Brenda felt no awkwardness at all. Shielding Liam, she said with a hint of pride, “What are you afraid of? Our buying a house is our business. Why should we have to tell you?” “Besides, do you think we’re stupid? Buying a house after marriage makes it joint marital property. The moment you suggested that, I immediately saw through your intentions. We paid the down payment right away and put the house in *my* name.” Ah, yes. Property acquired before marriage. Then they’d have expected me to cover the renovation costs, and if things went south, I’d end up with nothing in the property division. What a deeply calculating mind. I smiled bitterly and nodded. Now, I wasn’t sad at all. After all, not only was I healthy and cancer-free, but I’d also avoided marrying into such a conniving family. My parents couldn’t take it anymore. My dad stormed over and flung the front door open. “Then you can leave. Don’t make a scene in my house.” Brenda sneered. “Your house? This is the landlord’s place! You’d better return it quickly. Don’t go dying in someone else’s rental; that would be incredibly bad luck!” The assembled relatives burst into laughter, as if Brenda had just told the funniest joke.
I wasn’t angry, and I couldn’t be bothered to explain that this was, in fact, my own apartment. After all, these people were strangers to me now. Why should I get angry at a bunch of strangers? Still, I didn’t understand why they were still here. Brenda stood for a moment, seeing that my parents and I weren’t “playing along,” and decided she couldn’t wait any longer. She spoke directly, “That wedding budget we gave you for the engagement last time? You *must* return it to me. Don’t think about using my family’s money to treat your illness.” So, it was about that $26,000 wedding budget. My dad didn’t waste time. He pulled out his phone and transferred $26,000 directly to Liam. “Now, get out!” “Not enough! There’s also the money for the banquet! We didn’t get married, and ultimately, it’s your daughter’s fault for being sick. You can’t let us lose money; you wasted our family’s funds!” My dad scoffed, pulled out his phone, and transferred another $7,000. “Is that enough? The venue you picked would’ve cost at most $4,100. Here’s $7,000; now get out.” Brenda stared at her phone for a long time, counting the money several times. Once she confirmed it was all there, she still wouldn’t leave. She nudged Liam, who then snapped out of his daze and spoke, “The rings, bracelets, bags, clothes, and shoes I gave you during our relationship – you have to return those too!” Brenda and the relatives behind her nodded in agreement. “Exactly, those are all good things! You’re going to die anyway, what good are they to you?” “Yeah, we can give them to his next girlfriend!” Brenda also nodded. “To be honest, yesterday, when I found out you were gravely ill, I immediately contacted the matchmaker to recommend some girls for my son. We’re just waiting to arrange meetings. It wouldn’t do to go empty-handed on the first date, so those items would make perfect gifts.” “I honestly don’t care about those things.” At my signal, Brenda and Liam started taking things from a box, item by item, confirming whether they were indeed gifts from Liam. It took a long time. In the end, they even packed away a small collectible figurine. Once I saw they had finished packing, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed a broom and literally swept them out the door.
After they left, my dad said angrily, “Clara, don’t tell anyone about Liam’s cancer. Don’t bother with him. He made his own bed; he’ll have to lie in it.” I hummed in agreement, stubbornly deleting the health report from my phone. But secretly, I planned to wait a few days, let things cool down, and then tell him, or at least inform the health center to contact him. I figured that was the extent of my goodwill. A few days later, before I had a chance to reveal Liam’s cancer diagnosis, he and his mother showed up again. This time, they didn’t bring a crowd of relatives for intimidation. Instead, they brought a bespectacled, scholarly-looking man. I didn’t open the door. I frowned at the video doorbell. “What do you want now?” The man with glasses stepped in front of the camera and cleared his throat. “Hello, Ms. Davis. My name is Sterling. I’m the attorney Mr. Hayes has retained. We’re here today to request repayment for the expenses incurred during your relationship. We have a detailed list. Please open the door so we can discuss this civilly. If you refuse, we’ll have no choice but to take legal action.” Liam nodded too. “Clara, you’re going to die anyway. I invested that money in my future wife. Since you won’t be my wife, I need it back.” Brenda laughed. “Yes! Instead of giving that money to you for your illness, it’d be better for my son to use it for his mortgage! I’m telling you, if you don’t return it, I’ll sue you, and you’ll die in prison!” Lunatics! They were truly lunatics. Fine! Let’s tally it all up. Just don’t come crying to me afterward. I didn’t open the door. Instead, I spoke into the intercom. “Then you’ll have to wait. I’m also getting my lawyer. You can come in once my lawyer arrives.” Brenda scoffed. “You should save what little money you have for your cancer treatment, not for a lawyer!” But I said no more after that. The three of them had no choice but to wait in the hallway for half an hour, sweating profusely from the heat. It wasn’t until I called my parents’ company’s legal team, and six senior attorneys arrived in full force, that I finally allowed Liam and his companions inside.
nce inside, Liam’s group was sweltering, especially Mr. Sterling, the lawyer in the suit jacket, who looked on the verge of heatstroke. But he still dutifully handed me a stack of papers. Brenda and Liam, meanwhile, stared at my formidable legal team, whispering, “Where did she get all these lawyers? They’re probably just homeless people she hired to pretend!” I quickly scanned the papers. They listed petty expenses. Takeout he ordered for me, movies he treated me to, drinks he bought, and even that ginger tea I’d remembered—it was all meticulously recorded. The ginger tea alone was listed at $2, with a $7 delivery fee for the middle of the night. All in all, beyond the roughly $8,000 in actual expenses, there was $21,000 for emotional distress and another $21,000 for wasted youth, totaling over $50,000. I nodded. “I’m willing to pay this $50,000, but only if you return everything I gave you!” Liam and Brenda exchanged glances, then quickly nodded. Liam then spoke, dismissively, “The things you gave me were just fakes, worthless. $14,000 should be enough, right?” I shook my head. Probably not enough, actually. But I didn’t need to say anything. My legal team stepped forward with their evidence. “Ms. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Davis anticipated this situation, so they had us prepare everything in advance. Please confirm if it’s all here.” I gave a perfunctory “Hmm.” “It’s fine, whatever.” My legal team handed the evidence to Liam. His face grew darker and darker. “How is this possible? You’re lying! Everything you gave me was fake; how could it be so expensive?” Liam looked utterly shocked, but quickly regained his composure. “You must have cancer and are deliberately trying to deceive me, trying to use my money for your treatment.” Liam’s face registered disbelief, but he quickly returned to his normal expression. “You must have cancer and are deliberately trying to swindle me, just wanting my money to pay for your treatment.” So, that was the root of it. I smiled. “Actually, there’s something else I’ve been hiding from you. You’ve always thought I was the one with cancer, but that’s not true.” I recovered a photo from my phone’s trash bin, a picture I’d taken of Liam’s cancer diagnosis report. “Actually, you’re the one with cancer, not me.” Liam and Brenda snatched my phone, their expressions instantly changing. “How is that possible?”
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