Chapter 3

3

"What are you saying? Evelyn has brain cancer? We need to get her to a doctor right now!"

Arthur's voice was frantic. At least one person in that family was sane.

"Dad, don't worry. I'll make sure she's taken care of."

"We're going to grab her ID and insurance cards from the house and head out."

But when I arrived at the house with Evelyn, Arthur was standing in the driveway, fuming.

"Nathaniel Shea, I treated you like a son, and you have the nerve to lie to me about my wife having cancer!"

"Lydia just called me. She said you were going to use a fake illness to trick me into making her come home."

"You're a pathological liar! I regret ever letting my daughter marry you!"

Arthur's face was purple with rage. Lydia had played him perfectly.

My mother died when I was young. Evelyn had always been the one to look after me.

When I worked late shifts, she would bring me hot meals.

One winter night during a blizzard, she walked to the hospital with a thermos of soup tucked under her coat just to keep it warm.

If it wasn't for her, I would have walked away from this toxic family a long time ago.

But Arthur was a stubborn, traditional man. He didn't believe a word I said.

He clutched Evelyn's ID cards and wouldn't let go.

"Maybe if you were a real man, your wife wouldn't feel the need to go on vacation with someone else."

I didn't care what he said about me. I only cared about the woman shivering in the passenger seat.

"Dad, she is really sick. I am a doctor. Please, just trust me this once."

Arthur sneered at me with pure disgust.

"Lydia told me everything. You've been suspended because you're incompetent."

"A grown man should focus on his career instead of playing these pathetic games."

We were in a small suburban neighborhood, and his shouting was drawing eyes from the neighbors.

But I couldn't let her die without a fight.

"Dad, look at the markers on this sheet. It's pre-cancerous indicators. She needs a biopsy now!"

Arthur was a big man, a former high school football coach, and much stronger than me. He shoved me hard, sending me hitting the pavement.

"You little bastard! You're cursing your own mother-in-law just to keep your wife on a leash. Lydia will divorce you the second she lands!"

The neighbors started whispering.

"How disrespectful," one said. "What an ungrateful son-in-law."

"Didn't Lydia bring home that handsome guy, Silas, once? He seemed way better than this guy."

Their words felt like needles, but I was used to the sting.

Arthur eventually pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He put it on speaker.

"Silas, my boy! I'm counting on you. You're a much better man for Lydia than this loser Nathaniel."

"When you two get back, I'll help her with the divorce. We'll throw you guys a huge wedding!"

Silas's voice came through the speaker, smooth and smug.

"Don't worry, Mr. Sterling. I'll take care of her. We're the real deal."

"Nathaniel is unemployed and pathetic now. He can't provide for her like I can. He's just a desperate coward."

The old me would have screamed back. I would have fought for my dignity.

But after living through my own death, these insults meant nothing.

Then Lydia's voice joined in.

"Nathaniel, I'm marrying Silas the moment I get back. Stay out of our lives."

"Marrying a man like you was the biggest mistake of my life!"

Arthur and the neighbors continued to heckle me, throwing clumps of dirt at my face.

Everyone has their own destiny. If they refused my help so violently, why should I die for them again?

"Evelyn, I'm sorry. I have to go. Let Lydia handle this from now on."

I turned and walked away without looking back. Behind me, Arthur was still yelling.

I sat in my car for a long time, smoking a cigarette, until I heard the sirens.

I didn't know it then, but the ambulance was coming for Evelyn. Her tumor had finally ruptured.