My Husband Cheated With His Childhood Friend

My husband was a mama's boy to the core.

While he was always seeking his mother's approval and keeping his childhood friend close, I was stuck staring at my lab results: advanced leukemia. My clock was officially winding down. Maybe our love was never meant to be. Mila left the country years ago, which gave me a shot at marrying Zaiden. Now she's back, and they're practically attached at the hip again. I never imagined that after I'm gone, Zaiden would argue with his mother and cry, wishing he could follow me into the afterlife.

I knew Mila would return eventually—I just didn't expect it this fast. Zaiden never bothers to tell me where he's been. It wasn't until he brought her home that I realized he'd gone to pick her up. Normally drowning in work, he somehow found the time to help Mila contact landlords, set up her new place, and even handle all the furniture arrangements personally. He even offhandedly offered to let her crash here for a few days if she had nowhere else to go. And he didn't bother asking me—like I was a guest in my own damn house.

Looking back on our years of marriage, Zaiden barely noticed me outside of the evenings. Truth is, our union was built on obligation, not love. If he hadn't been wasted that night and I hadn't taken care of him, we never would've ended up together by accident. Pulled by duty, he married me. Later, when I got diagnosed with a congenital condition meaning I might never have children, it became an unforgivable sin in the eyes of the Harper family—they value their bloodline above everything else.

Margaret, my mother-in-law, never hid her contempt. And Zaiden, her ever-obedient son, gradually faded away from me under her influence—no surprise there. That evening, he came home late, and the food on the table had long gone cold. Knowing he preferred a warm meal, I plated some fresh pasta for him. He ate in silence, but, playing the picture-perfect son, he turned to his mother and said, "Mom, you shouldn't stay up this late for me. Thanks."

Margaret smiled with that sickly-sweet indulgence of hers. "If I didn't wait up, the house would feel so empty when you got home. Too lonely."

In her eyes, I was still invisible. She went on, "By the way, is Mila all settled in? She just got back; you'd better make sure she's comfortable."

"Everything's handled," Zaiden replied, his tone way too casual. Then his eyes suddenly caught mine and he grabbed my hand. "Sweetheart, don't stress. Mila's like a sister to me—I can't just turn my back on her. We're meant to be together forever, and you know that, right?"

His words sounded sincere enough, but that slick look on his face made me sick. I forced a smile past the ache inside me.

Right then, a cold snort cut through the air. Margaret's voice was sharp as a blade. "Enough with the drama. Finish your dinner and go to bed. You'll need to check on Mila first thing tomorrow, see how she's doing."

"A woman who can't bear children doesn't belong in the Harper family."

She stood up, shot me a look dripping with disdain, and retreated to her room. Zaiden's grip on my hand went slack as he casually pulled away. His lips parted like he wanted to say something—but nothing came out.

I let out a soft breath and gave him a gentle smile. "It's okay, Zaiden. Mom's just blowing off steam; I get it."

I wanted to reassure him, like I always did, but the weight of that medical report pressed down on me so hard. There really wasn't much left to say.