All Chapters of Cheating Husbands are Cancer: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

“Rachel Steiner, let’s get a divorce. “It’s terminal. I’d rather not trouble you any further.” Ian Smith lay curled up at one end of the sofa. He had his face buried in his hands, so that I couldn’t see what sort of expression he was wearing. But I could hear, in that hoarse whisper, all the agony and despair he was feeling. My gaze strayed over to the handbag, where it had been discarded. Among its contents was a report of Ian’s physical examination. A tumor in the liver, the doctor had told me. My eyes stung. I fought back sudden tears. So he’d found out about that, after all. I’d been waiting for all the arrangements to be in place, first. For the money to come through. And then—after several more days, perhaps—I’d have told him. I stepped forward and held him gently, my tears plummeting down onto his shoulder. “I’m not leaving you. Everything will be alright. Even if we have to sell every last thing we own, we’ll get you cured. It’s only cancer, big deal. Medici

Chapter 2

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

There was a pause, and then he gently whispered, “Rachel, are you awake?” I kept still. He reached out to me, and carefully brushed a tear away with his fingertip. Then he wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace, as he usually did. I turned away, still pretending to be fast asleep. With my back to him, I gradually opened my eyes. In the darkness, everything was magnified—even emotions. The resentment in my heart was spiralling rapidly into a howling cyclone of hatred. How could anyone do something like this? While plotting my ruin under the table, how could he still act as though I was the greatest love of his life? Despicable, two-faced thing… I had to fight back the urge to gag. - The next day, I took that medical report Ian had presented me with, and brought it to the hospital which had supposedly issued the diagnosis. By the time I staggered out of their Oncology Department, my heart had grown cold. It was a sham, a falsified document that Ian had draw

Chapter 3

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

I injected my voice with tones of anxiety and concern, even though those feelings didn’t quite reach my face. “What did the doctor say, then? Have you gotten a report yet?” After a pause, he sighed theatrically. “The doctor says I should prepare for surgery, as soon as possible. After that, chemotherapy might also be needed. The estimated bills for surgery and hospitalization… it comes up to an incredible figure…” And then he stopped, waiting for me to step in here—to volunteer something. He was waiting for me to offer up bold promises about stopping at nothing to make sure he was cured, even if it meant selling my house, my car… I scowled to myself, and then began wailing in feigned anguish, sobbing incoherently, barely able to draw breath in ragged gasps. Ultimately, he was the one who had to console me instead, in spite of himself. The conversation wasn’t going the way he wanted. Soon, he made up some reason to end the call. I put my handphone away, and dismissed the

Chapter 4

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

No, divorce was unthinkable. For one thing, Ian and I had been married for ten years, and all our assets and holdings were jointly owned by us both. Splitting everything down the middle would result in tremendous losses for him. Hence, this half-baked ploy revolving around his fake claims of cancer… There, just as I’d thought: Jane was panicking. When I tried to send her another message, all I got was an alert about having been blocked from her end. I shook my head with a little chuckle. Very well then… if they intended to play games, I could certainly join in. They were the ones in a precarious position. I was eager to see just how long they could keep up this sordid charade… - However, Ian was in even worse shape than I’d imagined. Just as I got back home, he arrived right behind me. Perhaps his mistress had given him quite an earful, because he was a wretched and miserable sight. He presented me with a divorce application form, while making a plaintive appeal. “R

Chapter 5

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

I pretended not to notice his unease. Now was the time for decisive action. I straightened up and took him by the hand, as though to go call upon his mother this very instant. What mother could hold anything back when her son's health hung in the balance? His mother lived just nearby, in the next block. She'd lived alone there, ever since Ian's father passed away. During the early years, after I'd married into their family, I'd taken pity on her solitude, and invited her to move in with us. I'd also suggested to rent out her place, for a decent bit of income on the side. She'd responded unkindly to this, complaining to Ian that this was all just a scheme to make her into an unpaid servant, bound to this house, waiting hand-and-foot at my pleasure—and that I would meanwhile seize their family home for my own purposes. The point was that she refused to leave that house behind. After that, she hardly ever came by here anymore—unless I visited her in person, and made extravag

Chapter 6

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

"To hell with him! And, indeed, hell is what awaits the sort of man who abandons his own wife and family!"The conspirators exchanged looks amongst themselves, the displeasure evident upon their faces. And yet, as much as they'd like to get in a few choice words here, all they could really do was swallow it down and sulk. Meanwhile, I was having the time of my life! It was the perfect moment to add fuel to the fire. "Mom, are you aware that your son has late-stage cancer, and is standing right at death's door?" At these words, Ian's mother stiffened with a nasty jolt, and instantly began screeching in my direction: "What nonsense is this?! How dare you—" Ian rushed forward, and caught hold of her arm. She froze mid-sentence, and then her expression transformed dramatically as she began to wail in lamentation instead. "No matter what it is that's gone wrong, he can be cured! Modern medicine regularly makes miracles happen!" So it was true: They were both in on this scheme, to

Chapter 7

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

Such a brilliant plan. I really had to hand it to them. If not because I'd sensed something amiss right away, I might really have been robbed of everything, before being swept out the door like so much refuse. And then, in the wake of my departure, they'd be one big happy family, with kids to cuddle and money to spend. I laid a hand upon my belly, which still remained flat and even at present. I allowed a single, boiling-hot tear to slip free. Then I looked up at everyone, my face full of faux emotion. "Very well. Let's get divorced, Ian." As one, they all sighed with relief. The mood in the room brightened up considerably. I smiled too, seeing how happy everyone was. What a wonderful thing divorce was! For one thing, it freed up a man to get himself a younger woman instead. For another, it allowed a woman to make off with her share of everything. Of course, our marriage wouldn't be dissolved in the blink of an eye, just because I said so. There would still have to

Chapter 8

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

I put the phone down in a corner until he was done with his ranting."Ian, I've given it a lot of thought… and I've changed my mind about this divorce! I'm going to stick with you until the bitter end! I don't care if I end up your widow! 'In sickness and in health, until death do we part!' I remember my vows to you! Ian… the truth is that you were hoping I'd decide to stay with you, weren't you? Doesn't this lift your spirits, my love?"I, for one, was absolutely thrilled by this turn of events!"By the way, I'll be out of town for some days. Best not to call me unless it's really important. Take care of yourself, go for regular check-ups and treatment… make sure you give the doctors your full cooperation, okay?"Yet another chance, for old times' sake. It was possible that these might turn out to be the last sincere words I'd ever say to him.I doubt he appreciated the gesture. Fuming, he ended the call on me, this time.When I returned from the care center, I found Ian in a tr

Chapter 9

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

“Unlike you, they won’t be able to make a living for themselves… and Jane will have a child to raise, too!” Instantly, my temper ignited once again. I pried his fingers free, one at a time, while glaring coldly down at him. “I, too, have been with child.” He gazed up at me in surprise, and then delight. Next, his eyes moved down to my abdomen. “I… I’m going to become a father…?” he burbled, somewhat tongue-tied. I slapped him right across the face. “Isn’t there another woman somewhere who’s already providing you with a child? As for this one… it’s gone, now. Knowing that it would inherit the affliction of its father’s bloodline, I decided to spare it from this suffering.” His expression of shock slowly gave way to abject grief. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry, I had no idea…” He sank back down onto the hospital bed, appearing utterly devastated. Seeing his exaggerated reaction to these developments, his apparent shame and regret… all I felt was disgust. I pocketed his handphone a

Chapter 10

Cheating Husbands are Cancer/Serene Autumn

Once his death certificate had been issued, I called Ian’s mother again. She ought to have the chance to look upon him one last time. “Come to the hospital, so you can say your final farewells to Ian.” “Can’t make it. I’m really busy over here. Jane hasn’t been feeling well, so I’ve got to look after her—not to mention the child in her belly.” Calmly, I ended the call. I accompanied Ian’s body to the funeral parlor, where I sent his mother a photo. Only then did she come hurrying over, spooked and mortified. She made it just in time to see Ian’s body being pushed into the fire. At this sight, she collapsed to the floor, weeping inconsolably. I came over to stand impassively before her, quietly pronouncing the truth. “So many times I called you, and still you refused to take me seriously. His death is on you. You weren’t even there when he drew his last breath!” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with bewilderment, disbelief, and horror. “No… no, it’s not… not my fault…”

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