Dumped With Cancer: I Became The Woman He Spends His Life Chasing

When Julian received the box of condoms, his brows knit tightly in irritation.

It was too quiet. So quiet it didn't feel like Aria at all.

He remembered last year, when he'd taken another girl out to dinner, Aria had driven her Porsche straight through the restaurant's glass doors, then smashed a wine bottle over the girl's head, blood mixing with spilled wine across the floor.

Last month, when she'd caught him at the movies with some rising starlet, Aria had dug up the girl's plastic surgery history, tax issues, and proof of sugar-daddy deals within three days, wiping her clean out of the entertainment world.

Ten days ago, at his birthday party, he'd put his arm around an influencer. Aria had flipped the cake table on the spot, smashed a bottle, and pressed the jagged glass against the girl's throat. "Get close to him one more time," she'd said, "and I'll make sure you never speak again."

Aria was infamous in their circle for being the kind of crazy that didn't care about consequences.

But this time?

She delivered the condoms and vanished, without even a single accusation.

An inexplicable irritation crawled under Julian's skin. He messaged Aria a warning. "Behave yourself. Don't touch Lila. Or you're out of this city, and even then, I won't spare you a glance."

The next day was the Lawson family's New Year banquet.

He even called Aria personally, his tone all command. "Seven tonight. Dress properly. If you don't come, we're done."

Aria didn't want to go. But then she thought of it, only six days left before she was gone. Why stir up trouble now?

She chose the plainest black gown she owned. The moment she stepped into the banquet hall, she saw Lila in a couture dress, clinging to Julian's arm, smiling sweetly as if she belonged there.

Julian was raising a glass with his cousin, his voice pitched just loud enough for her to hear. "Aria? Hah. She's been so obedient lately."

His cousin teased, "She's that quiet? Maybe she's actually heartbroken. Don't you feel even a little bad?"

Julian let out a scornful laugh, his gaze dripping with contempt. "A woman who's already been used up, what's there to feel bad for? Does she really think she's the wife? Ten years, stuck to me like gum on a shoe. She should take a good look in the mirror."

Laughter exploded around them.

"Exactly! Simps always end up with nothing!"

"Julian's already been more than generous. She's an orphan, totally out of her league. If it were me, I'd have dumped her ages ago."

Aria stood at the entrance, her blood freezing in an instant.

For ten years, she'd thought about leaving more than once. But every time, Julian would get drunk at just the right moment, spoke a few truthful words, and make her hesitate long enough to stay.

But this time, she was really leaving.

Aria dug her nails into her palm until it went numb with pain.

Julian spotted her then.

Instead of holding back, he leaned down and kissed Lila right in front of everyone, his hand sliding along her waist in a shameless, intimate caress.

Everyone turned to look at Aria, their eyes full of ridicule.

Julian went off to toast his parents, Richard Lawson and Catherine Lawson. Lila slipped away from the crowd and walked toward Aria, smiling brightly as she delivered the most vicious words. "Aria, Julian said you're an old woman now. He's had his fun with you, and now you bore him. Why don't you take the hint and get lost? At least you can keep what's left of your dignity."

Aria didn't want to deal with her. She spat out coldly, "Get out of my way. Don't push me."

But Lila suddenly shoved her hard. Aria stumbled back and crashed onto the marble floor.

Lila shrieked and dropped to the floor as well, clutching her ankle as she sobbed, "Aria! Why did you push me? What did I ever do to you?"

Julian strode over. He didn't even spare Aria a glance, only helped Lila up as he barked, "Aria! What the hell is wrong with you? Lila's pregnant and you still dared to lay hands on her? Get out! Don't dirty my home!"

"P-Pregnant?" someone gasped.

"Oh my god, was Aria really vicious enough to go after Lila's baby?"

Aria braced herself against the floor and tried to stand. Her knee burned with pain.

But what hurt more was her heart. The time she'd miscarried for him, he hadn't even bothered to visit her at the hospital.

Now another woman was pregnant, and he looked ready to tear someone apart, protective like a wolf guarding its cub.

She suddenly laughed, laughing at how stupid she'd been for ten years.

No one helped her up. She pushed herself to her feet, brushed the dust from her skirt, and walked out of the banquet hall step by step amid the mocking laughter.

Julian froze. Aria had just learned another woman was carrying his child and she didn't even react?