Chapter 1 Divorce

• Willard Newman, the doctor, declared, "I'm sorry, Mr. Raine, but your mother's liver cancer is in its final stage."
• Edward Raine felt dizzy, and his eyes reddened instantly when he looked at the doctor shaking his head.
• From childhood, the mother and son had depended on each other. She worked tirelessly to support his education, never having the chance to enjoy life before falling into this condition.
• "Dr. Newman, please save my mom. Is there nothing we can do? Edward's voice was hoarse, tinged with desperation.
• Willard hesitated before saying, "There is one last option. We can try a liver transplant, and the hospital currently has a matching donor."
• He paused, sizing up Edward. Years of treating his mother helped the doctor understand Edward's financial situation.
• "But," the doctor continued, "it's very costly. The initial estimate is at least 30 thousand dollars."
• Thirty thousand dollars?
• Edward's eyes lit up. He gripped the doctor's hand tightly and pleaded, "Save her, please! I can get the money."
• Money can be earned again, but once his mother was gone, she would never come back.
• "In this case, you need to raise the funds quickly. If we delay any longer, even a transplant won't be possible."
• The doctor nodded. He let out a sigh before he walked away.
• Outside the hospital, a drizzle was falling.
• Edward rushed home. His wife, Olivia Thomas, was curled up on the couch watching TV and munching on chips.
• Olivia glanced at her husband and said, "Is your mom not going to make it?"
• "The doctor said if she can get a liver transplant, she still has a chance," Edward replied, clinging to this last hope. "We need 30 thousand dollars, but we have it. Mom has one more shot."
• He went to the room to get the bank card.
• Olivia's expression changed. She quickly called out, "Edward, stay right there!"
• Edward frowned a little as he sensed something. He turned to look at Olivia and asked, "Where's the money?"
• Panicked, she mumbled without making sense.
• "You gave it to your family again?" Edward raised an eyebrow and revealed a bitter smile.
• He sank onto the couch and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. He lit one and took a deep drag. Then Edward slumped back, exhausted.
• In their three years of marriage, this had happened more than once.
• "Olivia, that money is for my mom's life," Edward said wearily. "Can you get it back?"
• "Get it back?"
• Olivia's eyebrows shot up, and she shrieked, "What do you mean? I already gave some money to my parents. How could you ask for it back?"
• Edward's expression turned cold, and he said, "The hospital has a matching liver now. If we can get the money, they can perform the transplant. With my mom's condition, she won't last much longer."
• "I don't care. This is your problem. Figure it out yourself." Olivia started crying, tears streaming down her face.
• "Where am I supposed to find another 30 thousand on such short notice?" Edward felt like his head was about to explode. Half begging, he said, "Olivia, please help me this once. Get the money back. My mom's life depends on it!"
• "Edward! The money's already with my mom. I can't ask for it back." Olivia sat down on the floor, sobbing and wailing. "Your mom is dying, and you still want to throw money at the hospital? Have you even considered this family?"
• Edward shivered at her comment. He felt a surge of anger rise, and he was on the verge of exploding.
• He grabbed Olivia's phone and declared, "If you won't call, I will!"
• Before Olivia could stop him, the call connected.
• Edward pleaded, "Mom, did Olivia just give you thirty thousand? Please, I need that money back. It's my mom's life-saving money. She's in the hospital and needed that money for surgery."
• On the other end, his mother-in-law screeched, "Edward, what nonsense are you spouting? That money is Olivia's gift to us, and you have the nerve to ask for it back? We never wanted Olivia to marry you in the first place. Love blinded her, leading her to marry someone from a humble background.
• "And now, when Olivia demonstrates her filial piety, do you have the nerve to shamelessly ask for it back? Let me tell you, Randy is getting married, and we're using that thirty thousand for his house down payment. Want the money back? Not a chance!"
• Click!
• The phone call ended.
• Edward was utterly stunned. Does she not understand what I'm saying at all?
• "Edward, have you lost your mind?" Olivia grabbed Edward's collar frantically. "How could you do this? Is it a crime for me to give money to my parents?"
• He looked at Olivia devastatedly; Edward's eyes had turned red. He said, "In your eyes, is my mother's life worth less than the down payment for your brother's house?"
• "Bullsh*t!"
• Olivia let go of Edward and started smashing everything in the room.
• In no time, the living room was a complete mess.
• Sobbing uncontrollably, Olivia collapsed onto the sofa and complained, "You heartless b*stard! Why did I marry you in the first place? How much have you spent on your mother? I've been living off scraps with you, and we're still renting a place. Have you ever thought about my feelings? Randy is my brother, and he's your brother too. He's getting married, can't I help him out?"
• "Help him out?"
• Edward's anger boiled over. He exploded, "In the three years we've been married, how much have you given to that tr*sh? He's a lazy, good-for-nothing slob who lives off his parents because you spoil him!"
• "Don't you dare talk about my brother like that!" Olivia's face twisted in rage as she pointed threateningly at Edward.
• Edward sneered and mocked, "Why can't I? When he got a classmate pregnant in college, I paid for the abortion. When he wanted a car, I bought it for him. How much have I given your family over the past three years? You're the one who doesn't care about this family!"
• "Shut up!" Olivia screamed and threw a tantrum. "What do you mean by that? Do you still want to stay married, or not?"
• "You took my mother's life-saving money to buy a house for that worthless brother of yours, leaving her to die. You're the one who doesn't want this marriage!"
• Edward shrugged and said expressionless, "Let's get a divorce."
• Olivia was stunned and asked, "What did you say?"
• In his three years of marriage, Edward had never spoken to her like this.
• "Let's get a divorce," Edward repeated. "Marrying me has been too much of a burden for you. I'm not good enough for you, and I can't support your whole family."
• With that, he turned and left.
• Edward wasn't the type to drag things out. For three years, he had tolerated everything, thinking that Olivia had sacrificed a lot to marry him and that she still had feelings for him.
• This time, he had reached his limit.
• After Edward left, Olivia finally came to her senses.
• She grabbed her phone in a panic and called her mother, crying, "Mom! Edward wants a divorce."
• "That b*stard dares to divorce you?"
• Her mother's shrill voice came through the phone. "Let him! That penniless loser has the nerve to act so arrogantly! We've got the last 30 thousand from him. If he divorces you, let him cry over his dead mother."
• Meanwhile, Edward wandered aimlessly out of the house.
• A light rain drizzled down, soaking him.
• He ran a hand through his hair in frustration and kicked at a puddle by the roadside.
• Money, money, money! It was always about money!
• Now that he had fallen out with the Thomases, where was he going to find the 30 thousand for his mother's life-saving surgery?
• Screech!
• A Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up beside Edward.
• The window rolled down, revealing an elderly man in suit.
• He smiled at Edward and said, "Master Edward? Please get in the car, I'll take you to Orilorn Hospital."
• Master?
• Edward stared at the old man in bewilderment as he was unable to process what was happening.
• The old man smiled gently and explained, "Your mother is already undergoing liver transplant surgery at the hospital."