Chapter 3

Yuna's eyes filled with uncertainty like a deer caught in the headlights. "Ivan is lucky to have a wife like you. I wish you both happiness."

When I made to leave afterward, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. There was a brooch resting on her couch, its pink diamond glinting under the sunlight.

Nausea hit me hard. I clutched my chest and rushed out of Yuna's home.

As I crouched by the side of the road, I vomited bile. My mind was consumed by a single thought.

Why was Ivan's brooch at Yuna's house?

Did they do something on the couch?

…

When Ivan came home that night, he was furious.

The door slammed shut with a bang, which echoed in the hallway. The sharp noise pierced through my head, making me feel dizzy.

"Cordelia! Why did you look for Yuna?"

His voice was loud and angry—something he had never directed at me throughout our marriage.

"She's already suffering enough. Why did you go and make things worse for her?"

I stared at him dumbfoundedly, then tried to defend myself. "I didn't—"

But Ivan wasn't listening. He kept ranting about Yuna's tragic past, most of which I had already heard from Iris.

Yuna was born into poverty. Her father had died early, and her mother had remarried a man who wasn't kind to her. Things took an even darker turn when her stepfather began to make inappropriate advances toward her. When Yuna told her mother, she was told to endure it.

Growing up in such a toxic household, Yuna believed she'd finally found happiness when she met Ivan.

However, life wasn't a fairy tale. After strong opposition from Ivan's parents, Yuna left the country.

Abroad, she had married an abusive man who was a gambler and alcoholic. Not only did he cheat on her, but he was also physically violent, which eventually led to her miscarriage.

In the end, he had used up all the money she'd saved. Yuna had divorced him recently in hopes of a fresh start, only to discover that she had leukemia.

Ivan's hard gaze bore into me.

"Cordelia, you were born into a life of privilege. How could you ever understand the kind of suffering Yuna has endured? If you had any empathy at all, you wouldn't have gone to trouble her."

I opened my mouth to respond, but all I could ask was, "Who told you I looked for Yuna?"

Only Iris and Yuna knew about it.

Ivan grew impatient and snapped, "It wasn't Yuna if that's what you're thinking. She's kind; she wouldn't tell me or try to take anything from you."

I almost laughed. But I couldn't.

Yes, Yuna had endured terrible hardships. But none of that was my fault. Why was I supposed to be the generous one and allow my husband to look after his first love?

When I fell silent, Ivan softened his tone and explained, "It was Iris. She didn't want you to trouble Yuna, especially when she's sick."

My heart clenched painfully. So, my dear sister-in-law, whom I thought was on my side, was secretly worried about Yuna too.

I pulled out my phone and sent Iris a message. "Did you tell Ivan that I went to see Yuna?"

Iris responded with a playful emoji. "Sorry, Cordelia! I just didn't want Yuna to get hurt. She's sick, after all. And it's not like my brother is doing anything wrong. He's just looking after her a bit. Can't you be more open-minded? You and Ivan have plenty of time together in the future anyway."

I didn't reply. Instead, a bitter thought crossed my mind.

I don't have much time left.

While leukemia could be treated, terminal stomach cancer could not.