Dying of Cancer, I Watched My Husband Marry My Stepsister

To save my son, I had to undergo a radical procedure.

I gained sixty pounds in less than three months to meet the extreme BMI and health requirements for a critical, lifesaving bone marrow donation.

I lost my onceperfect, hourglass figure. But looking at my son's healthy, energetic face, I convinced myself it was all worth it. Later, I tried desperately to lose the weight.

But nothing worked. Instead, the numbers on the scale kept climbing. Because of my body, my husband, Julian, grew increasingly cold and distant.

Desperate to save my marriage, I went under the knife for a gastric sleeve surgery right before our anniversary.

When I dragged my aching body back home alone after being discharged, I heard voices coming from our bedroom.

It was Julian and another woman. "Julian, five years ago you lied and said Toby had leukemia just so Avery would fatten herself up for a bone marrow transplant.

If she ever finds out that the donation actually saved my life, will you divorce her?" "Serena, you're her halfsister.

Saving you was her duty," Julian's voice was chillingly indifferent. "Besides, look at her now. She's a fat cow. Who would want her if she left me?

I only keep her around like a pet pig." The sharp, agonizing pain from my surgical incisions ripped through my body. But it was nothing compared to the agony shattering my heart.

Julian, do you really think I'll never leave you? "Mom?" The bedroom door swung open. My son, Toby, stood there, looking at me in shock. The room fell dead silent.

A moment later, both Julian and Serena walked out, adjusting their clothes. Julian straightened his collar, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before it vanished. "Avery?

You just had surgery. Why aren't you resting in the hospital?" I ignored Serena, who was standing behind him with her hair disheveled and blouse halfunbuttoned.

I placed the cake I bought on the table. "Did you forget? Today is our anniversary. We haven't celebrated in five years.

I wanted to come home and cook a nice dinner for you and Toby." Julian opened his mouth, looking conflicted, but said nothing.

As I turned to go to the kitchen, Toby ran right past me and threw his arms around Serena. "Serena! When did you get here? Can you take me out to eat?

I don't want to eat Mom's cooking. I'm scared I'll get as fat as her!" My heart squeezed painfully. I gripped the plastic grocery bag so hard my knuckles turned white.

Over the past few years, my own son had grown to despise my body. He never called me "Mom" in public, claiming I embarrassed him.

He even warned me that if I didn't lose weight, I wasn't allowed to show my face around his teachers or classmates.

Julian's face darkened, and he scolded Toby. "The food outside isn't healthy. You're staying home tonight." Toby pouted, glaring at me with raw resentment. "It's all your fault!

Why do you have to cook? Your stomach is practically cut in half, and you're still so obsessed with food!" "Be good, Toby.

Listen to your father," Serena said, gently stroking his hair. She then looked at me with a sweet, patronizing smile. "I came to talk to Julian about some business tonight.

I didn't realize it was such a special day.

Avery, do I have the honor of tasting my stepsister's cooking?" Before I could even answer, Julian nodded. "You've never cooked for Serena in all these years.

What kind of sister are you?" Julian demanded coldly. "Serena loves shrimp. Make sure you peel them all." I quietly nodded. Julian remembered that Serena loved shrimp.

But he forgot that I was severely allergic to seafood. I looked into the fridge. It was already fully stocked with premium seafood.

Compared to that, my efforts—insisting on leaving the hospital against the doctor's advice and dragging myself through the local market in excruciating pain—seemed like a pathetic joke.

Hearing that Serena was staying, Toby happily held her hand, but he couldn't resist throwing one last insult at me. "Don't eat too much, Serena.

I bet my mom puts pig feed in her food." Julian and Serena looked at each other and laughed, amused by the child's "innocent" joke. A wave of intense nausea hit me.

I quickly grabbed the groceries and shut myself in the kitchen. I gasped for air, cold sweat pouring down my face as I forced myself to start cooking.

From the living room, the happy laughter of the three of them drifted in. My surgical wound felt like it was tearing open.

Shivering from the pain, I peeled the shrimp, my fingers gradually going numb. Just as I finished the first dish, the front door opened, and a crowd of guests walked in.

They were Julian and Serena's friends and business partners. Though shocked, I didn't say a word.

I had never associated with these people. To them, I was just the illegitimate daughter of the family, a blemish.

As I served the dishes, their glances were filled with unconcealed disgust and mockery.

While chopping vegetables in the kitchen, I heard a guest who didn't recognize me ask, "The food is great.

Is that fat girl your new maid, Julian?" Julian didn't deny it, nor did he explain. His deep voice carried a cruel amusement. "Yeah. She's been with me for years.

You can tell by her size that we never starve the help in our house." The word help made my hand freeze. The knife slipped.

The tip of my finger turned bright red, and blood began to drip onto the cutting board. Outside, the guests burst into laughter.

Those who knew the truth peeked into the kitchen, waiting to see a show. I stared at the blood on my finger, feeling completely numb. Julian was right.

In this marriage, I was nothing but a maid to him and his son. No, even a hired maid would have more dignity than me. Because in this house, even the servants looked down on me.

And Julian allowed all of it. By the time I finished cooking eighteen dishes, my shirt was soaked with sweat and blood.

When I walked out, I realized there wasn't even a seat left for me at the table. Suddenly, the lights in the living room went out.

Someone pushed a large, elaborate cake from another room. It was beautifully decorated, and its sweet aroma filled the air. I froze, my eyes instinctively finding Julian.

The candles on the cake flickered, casting a warm glow. Julian was looking back at me. For a second, a tiny spark of hope flared in my chest.

Two weeks ago, I had told Julian that I wanted to celebrate our anniversary properly this year.

I told him I wanted a big cake, because no one had ever bought me a birthday or anniversary cake before. Is this cake for me? I was so pathetic.

No matter how badly Julian treated me, a tiny crumb of affection was enough to make me forgive him.

The sweet scent filled my heart, temporarily numbing the pain, heartbreak, and exhaustion of the day. I smiled at Julian. He remembered. But Julian quickly looked away.

As I stepped toward the cake, someone rudely shoved me aside. "Hey, watch it! You're a maid, and you're huge. Do you have any idea how much space you're taking up?

Get back to the kitchen!" The guest then pushed the cake right in front of Serena, offering a flattering smile. "Happy birthday, Serena!" I felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck me.

I stood frozen in place. The crowd cheered, singing "Happy Birthday" in unison.

Serena looked pleasantly surprised and mouthed to Julian, "Thank you." Toby clapped his hands excitedly. "Make a wish and blow out the candles, Serena! I want cake!

None of the food Mom made tonight can compare to this cake!" I stood there like a clown in the middle of a circus. Reality slapped me hard.

How could I have been so foolish to expect anything from Julian? Our wedding anniversary was on the exact same day as Serena's birthday.

No wonder Julian was always "busy" on this day every single year. I let out a selfdeprecating laugh. As I turned to walk away, Serena glanced at me.

Suddenly, she tripped over her own feet, her entire body falling toward the cake. The lit candles flew off, landing directly on me.

My clothes, soaked in cooking oil from hours in the kitchen, instantly caught fire. I screamed in pain, frantically beating at the flames.

But because of my size, I couldn't extinguish them. Through the searing heat and blinding pain, I saw Julian immediately pull Serena into his arms.

Serena feigned fainting, and Toby pointed a finger at me, shouting, "I saw it!

She pushed Serena!" Hearing this, Julian glared at me with pure disgust. "Just because we didn't celebrate your stupid anniversary, you take it out on her?

You know how fragile Serena's health is!" he roared. "Did you actually think this cake was for you? Stop flattering yourself.

You aren't worth a single hair on her head!" Julian scooped Serena up in his arms and rushed out the door. Toby followed close behind.

"Toby, help me! Help Mom put out the fire..." I screamed in agony. But my son only looked back at me with utter contempt. "You ruined Serena's birthday!

I hope you burn to death!" The remaining guests scattered like rats, leaving me to my fate. Not a single person cared if I lived or died. I lay on the floor, unable to move.

Tears poured down my face, but they couldn't extinguish the fire burning my skin. Yes, let me burn to death. Let it all end.

Perhaps it was because my excess fat smothered the flames, but the fire eventually died down on its own. Covered in severe burns, I dragged myself to the hospital.

The hospital corridors were bustling with people. I leaned against the cold wall, clutching a medical report in my trembling hands. I hadn't died from the fire.

But the doctor had just given me a death sentence: because of years of severe, stressinduced eating disorders—alternating between binge eating and starvation—I had developed terminal stomach cancer.

At that moment, I actually felt a sense of relief.

Just a few yards away, in one of the private rooms, my husband and son were hovering over another woman, showering her with affection.

If they knew I had cancer, they would probably celebrate. They were finally going to be free of me. Julian stepped out of the room.

When he saw my burnt, disheveled state, a brief flash of guilt crossed his eyes. He walked over, his tone awkward. "It was too dark earlier, and I couldn't see clearly.

The housekeeper sent me the security footage. It was an accident. I blamed you wrongfully.

How are your burns?" He reached out to take the paper in my hand, but I quickly hid it behind my back. "I'm fine.

Go back to Serena." Julian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Toby is still a kid. He speaks without thinking. I know you didn't do it.

I was just too worried about Serena." He paused. "Don't worry, Avery.

Once Serena is stable, I'll make it up to you with a perfect anniversary dinner." I looked up at him, the urge to scream rising in my throat. You say that every year.

And every year, you forget. I took a deep breath, forcing my tears back.

I looked at his bare hand. "Where is your wedding ring?" Julian awkwardly hid his hand behind his back, pretending it was nothing. "Oh, I've lost some weight recently, and the ring became too loose.

I was afraid of losing it, so I put it away." I didn't say a word, only letting out a mocking smile.

Feeling exposed, Julian snapped, his voice growing impatient. "Well, you're so fat, so of course you don't know what it's like to lose weight.

Didn't you stop wearing yours because your fingers got too bloated? You probably lost yours ages ago." My face went pale.

When I first gained weight, I had refused to take off my wedding ring. I wore it until it cut deep into my flesh, causing a severe infection.

To save my finger from amputation, the doctors had to surgically cut the ring off. Realizing he had gone too far, Julian turned his head away. "Just take care of yourself.

Didn't you just have gastric sleeve surgery? You'll lose the weight soon. Honestly... you were beautiful when we first got married." My throat tightened.

I clutched the cancer report tighter. "Julian, I have can—" "Dad! Serena is awake!" Toby's voice cut me off.

Julian instantly abandoned me, running back into the room without a second thought. The words died in my throat. My tears finally spilled over.

I reached for the necklace around my neck. Hanging at the end of the chain was my wedding ring—the one the doctors had cut off, which I had repaired and kept close to my heart.

Julian was my husband, but he had never once noticed it. I slid down the cold wall, burying my face in my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. There were too many tears in a hospital.

No one stopped to comfort me. When I returned home, the living room was a disaster. Exhausted, I curled up on the couch and opened Instagram.

I immediately saw Serena's latest post: "Ended up in the hospital on my birthday, but it's okay because I have the people I love by my side, and the best birthday gift!" The attached photo was a cozy family portrait of Serena, Julian, and Toby.

They looked like a perfect family. I zoomed in on the photo. My eyes locked onto the matching, brandnew rings on Julian and Serena's fingers.

So, that was the birthday gift Julian gave her.

A sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I threw my head back, my face soaked with tears. This is fine, I thought.

When I die, Julian will have a new wife, and Toby will have a new mother. They can finally have their happy ending. My phone buzzed.

It was a notification for Toby's ParentTeacher Conference in three days. This would probably be the last school event I could ever attend for him.

Julian and Toby never came home over the next three days. When I arrived at the school, I saw them. Serena was there too.

Serena had one arm linked through Julian's while holding Toby's hand with the other, chatting and laughing with the teacher. She looked exactly like Toby's mother.

I stood in a dark corner of the hallway, watching them like a stray dog staring at someone else's warm home.

Toby was complaining loudly to Serena. "My classmates always call me 'the son of a fat pig' behind my back. Serena, I wish you were my real mom.

You're ten thousand times prettier than her. My mom looks like a monster!" Serena let out a soft giggle. "But Toby, your mom only got fat to save me. Don't you remember?

You helped your dad lie about having leukemia to trick her into donating her bone marrow.

If your mom hadn't done that, I wouldn't be alive today." As she spoke, Serena's eyes swept toward the corner where I stood. The smirk on her face was venomous.

My nails dug deep into my palms. The pain was sharp, but my mind was sharper. My own son knew. He knew he didn't have leukemia.

He had stood by and watched his mother gorge herself to the point of sickness, just to save the woman he liked better. Julian and Toby followed Serena's gaze and saw me.

Toby immediately flew into a rage. "I told you not to show your face at my school!

You're embarrassing me!" Julian's expression flickered with a brief moment of shame before settling into a cold, defensive scowl. He walked over to me.

I looked up at him, my voice barely a whisper. "I heard everything. You and Toby lied to me. Toby never had leukemia.

It was Serena." Julian's eyes darted away, but he quickly recovered his arrogant composure. "So what? You and Serena share the same blood.

I did this to help you do something good for once.

It's time you paid back the family debt anyway." "Debt?" I burst into hysterical laughter. "What debt?" "Am I supposed to be grateful that our father abandoned my mother when she was pregnant and ignored us for over a decade?" "Am I supposed to thank him for bringing me back after my mother died, only to watch Serena and the other rich kids bully me?" I used to be so grateful to my father for marrying me off to Julian.

But now I realized the truth. My father knew Julian was a monster. He threw me to the wolves to protect Serena.

I took a deep breath, my voice steady and cold. "The only person I owe anything to is my mother." "Julian, you're just like my father—a heartless, pathetic coward.

You and Serena deserve each other. A perfect match: a bastard and a bitch." Slap! Julian's hand whipped across my face.

He stared down at me, his eyes icy. "You can insult me, but I won't let you speak about Serena like that." "Apologize to her, or don't bother coming home today." Holding my burning cheek, humiliated beyond words, I turned and ran.

I leaned against a wall in the alleyway, dryheaving until my chest burned. It felt like I was going to throw up my remaining stomach. A group of high school students walked past.

They picked up small rocks and threw them at me. "Look at that fat freak!" I ran from the school, having no idea where to go. I walked for hours, until the night grew pitch black.

The streets were deserted. It was only then that I realized a man was following me. A flood of dark, traumatic memories rushed back. With shaking hands, I dialed Julian's number.

It rang several times before he finally picked up. "Julian... someone is following me. I'm so scared. Can you please come pick me up?"