Chapter 1My mother-in-law just got diagnosed with cervical cancer. I called a realtor that same day to sell the house for her treatment. But then? "Your deed's fake."
I went home to ask my husband what the hell was going on. Heard voices at the door.
My mother-in-law's voice was cold.
"I switched the deed already. Seven years, can't even give me a grandkid, now cancer? Useless bitch. When she's dead, go get Melody."
My husband sounded like he'd won the lottery.
"Mom, told Melody already. We get the house, straight to Hawaii. Finally."
So they thought I was the one with cancer.
I looked down at the cancer report in my hands. HER cancer report.
Oh, you want me dead? Fine. Let's see who dies first.
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Walking outta the hospital with my mother-in-law, I was freaking out. Like, how the hell do I tell her this?
She literally just retired. And now she's got cervical cancer.
The doctor's words won't stop playing in my head:
"Removing the uterus won't stop it. It's stage four—already spread. You'll wanna start making plans."
Look, this woman raised my husband. Yeah, he's cheap, but still. I can't let her die.
Plus, aren't women supposed to help each other out?
So I didn't tell my parents. Just took the house deed—the one they gave me before the wedding—and went to a realtor.
The guy looked at it and pushed it back.
"This is fake."
Then he called his manager. Said he's gonna report me.
"Fake? My parents gave me this house!"
The manager laughed at me.
"Parents don't lie to their kids. But your husband? Different story."
"This doesn't even have a stamp. You're gonna fake something, at least do it right."
I just stood there. Everyone's staring.
I left, almost hit three red lights going home.
I was gonna walk in and scream at Derek, but I heard him on the phone. He sounded happy.
"Melody, babe, my wife dies, I'm marrying you."
Melody. We work together. She's been coming by the house for work stuff.
And now my husband's calling her babe.
I froze.
"She looked like shit coming back from the hospital. My mom says it's cervical cancer—stage four!"
Derek's voice shook. Not sad. Excited.
"Who cares if she's got money? She dies, I get everything."
"Mom went to some psychic. Said we're soulmates. Gonna give me a son."
"Then you can buy whatever. I'll take you and the kid to Hawaii. Romantic as hell, right?"
Melody laughed. Then said some nasty shit about how good Derek is in bed. He's eating it up.
"So when's she gonna die? I don't got all day."
Derek laughed. "Couple months. We should start looking at places for the wedding."
He hung up and went right back to being the perfect husband.
Wow. What an actor.
I just stood there. Couldn't move.
So pissed I could barely think.
Last week, my company did this wellness thing—bring a family member for a free checkup.
I brought Derek's mom.
Results came back. Cervical cancer. Stage four.
I didn't wanna tell her yet. Figured I'd get the money first.
But she can't even read, and somehow she tells Derek I'm the one dying.
My husband? Thought he was cheap. Nope. Just spending everything on his side chick.
I'm busting my ass, paying all the bills, while he's funding her.
And now they stole my house deed. Waiting for me to die.
I got madder and madder. Then weirdly calm.
Called my parents. Said I'm staying with them a few days.
Then hit up my best friend. Got a spa day, went shopping, bought myself this huge gold bracelet.
Heavy. Expensive. Felt amazing.
Oh, and one more thing.
I hid my mother-in-law's medical records. The ones saying she's got cancer.
You wanna wait for me to die?
Fine. Let's see who goes first.
Chapter 2
Got everything done. I went home feeling good.
Derek's mom saw me. Her face dropped.
"What time is it? Where've you been? Go make dinner. We're starving."
She pushed me toward the kitchen. Saw the bracelet on my wrist. Eyes went wide.
"Gold's expensive. Who said you could buy that?"
"You're dying. Save the money for my son."
"And you didn't even get me one? What kind of daughter-in-law are you?"
I stared at her. Didn't even recognize her.
So they're not gonna treat me. They're just planning to take all my stuff.
Everything was fake.
She kept going. I walked past her, sat on the couch, turned on the TV.
Derek saw I was pissed. Grabbed my hand. Felt up the bracelet.
"Babe, don't get mad at Mom. She's telling you the truth."
"You got a few months. Wanna do something, say it now. Don't die wishing you did."
His mom dropped the laundry. Pointed at me.
"Wishing? You're lucky we even let you marry in."
"Most people would've left by now. We're nice. Letting you go out with dignity."
Derek waited till she stopped. Then got all sweet.
"Babe, it's not personal. Mom didn't go to school. You did. You know what this costs."
"We borrowed for the wedding. There's nothing for treatment."
"The house? Just give it to me. Then your love wasn't for nothing."
My heart dropped.
I looked at Derek. Three years together.
I'm not even dead yet, and they're already fighting over my money and my house.
Not even pretending there's hope. Just straight up said they won't pay.
And I was gonna sell my house for his mom.
God, I'm such an idiot.
I looked Derek in the eye.
"You really want me dead?"
He looked away.
"Not my fault you got sick. We were together three years though. I'll give you a nice funeral."
His mom started crying. Not for me. For him.
"My poor baby. Married someone who can't have kids. Not even one."
Then she turned to me.
"You didn't give us a kid. So the house? That's ours now. For the three years you wasted."
I couldn't believe it. But I wasn't scared.
I'm not the one with cancer.
I looked at Derek. He was really into this act. Asked all sweet:
"Babe, what if it was your mom with cervical cancer? You'd skip treatment for her too?"
Derek froze. Then slapped me.
"You're cursing my mom?"
"You know what she did for me? You don't cook. Don't clean. Don't respect her. And you say that?"
His mom saw him hit me. Started laughing.
"Good. That's what you get."
"Say sorry to my mom. Now."
I put my head down. Bent forward.
They thought I was gonna beg on my knees.
But then I grabbed her waist and slammed her down.
"Cursing you? Just watch."
Chapter 3
Derek jumped up. Tried pulling me off her.
"You just hit my mom?!"
I smiled at him like he was nothing.
"So I'm sick, I die. Your mom's sick, I sell my house?"
"Babe, you got it wrong! I never said we won't treat you! Just don't sell the house!"
His mom's on the floor. Hitting the ground. Hair everywhere. Crying.
"Hospitals take your money! I'm not letting you give it to them!"
Derek grabbed me. "Just accept it. We'll be together next life."
I finally got it.
They won't let me go to the hospital. Won't let me sell the house. They want my money now.
Evil. Fucking evil.
I watched his mom crying. Faking like she cared.
So I cried too. Grabbed Derek's hand.
"Babe, I haven't even had your kid yet. I don't wanna die."
"What if we do one of those death pact things? So I'm not alone when I go."
They both went white.
"Uh... babe... I'm still alive. That's weird."
"What's weird? You said we're soulmates. Together forever, right?"
Derek's face went ghost white.
"Okay okay, calm down. I got Melody to find you this healer. Master Nevin. Supposedly cures cancer."
Master Nevin. I know that guy.
Total fraud. Runs some meditation center, takes people's money.
That's Derek's "treatment." Ship me off to die at some retreat.
I wiped my eyes. "Babe, you're amazing. Knew you wouldn't give up."
Derek looked so proud. I looked at his mom.
"Cervical cancer's everywhere now. Your mom should probably come too. You know, just to be safe."
I was setting them up. Neither one's getting out.
His mom's eyes went wide. Backed up.
Derek saw it working. Looked at his mom. Didn't care if she suffered—just wanted me gone.
"Mom, you've been her mother-in-law three years. Keep her company one last time."
Then he booked some fancy hotel near the place. Acting all generous.
"Babe, don't worry. The guy said three months, maybe a year. You'll be fine."
"Oh, one more thing. I'm gonna be out there alone. It's not safe. Can you get me life insurance? So if something happens, you and your mom are covered."
Derek's eyes lit up. I die, he gets paid.
Didn't even think about it. Started filling out forms right there.
Then I said: "You can't just get it for me though. Get one for your mom too. Can't play favorites."
He didn't want to. But I wasn't budging. So he did it.
Think you're collecting on me?
Nah. You're gonna be collecting on your own mom.
