For His First Love, My Husband Gave Up His Mother

On Valentine's Day, my mother-in-law had a heart attack and desperately needed her son, a cardiologist, to save her.

I stayed at the hospital, anxiously trying to reach my husband. When the call finally connected, it was answered by his first love. "Hello, Nora Jones, it's Valentine's Day today. Don't interrupt Nick and me on our date," she said.

"No, you must get Nick Smith to the hospital right away! His mother has had a heart attack and urgently needs treatment!"

Nick scoffed on the other end, "Nora, I'm warning you. If you keep using my mother's health to trick me into coming back, don't force me to file for divorce!"

After that, my calls went unanswered, and my messages received no reply.

He thought I was trying to manipulate him into spending Valentine's Day with me, but his mother was lying right beside me, writhing in pain, unable to speak. Yet she still managed to say, "Divorce him. He's not worthy of you..."

After cremating my mother-in-law, I sent Nick a message asking for a divorce.

His response was swift. "The divorce agreement is on the bedside table. I've already signed it."

1

Valentine's Day was supposed to be a romantic night. My mother-in-law even helped me get ready, insisting that Nick would come home to spend the evening with me.

She had just arrived from her hometown and had called Nick, though he didn't answer.

She smiled, "Well, he'll just have to see when he gets home tonight. He'll be so happy to have both his mother and wife here to celebrate with him."

But then, suddenly, she screamed from her room. I rushed in to find her clutching her chest, almost unconscious.

She had a heart condition.

She was holding a photo of her husband, tears streaming down her face.

Terrified, I hurriedly drove her to the hospital.

"Where's Doctor Nick? Where's Nick? Get him back here to save his mother!" the on-duty doctor shouted. That's when I found out that Nick, who was supposed to be on duty, had skipped his shift.

Nick had two phones—one for work and one personal.

They couldn't reach him on his work phone, so it was up to me to call his personal one.

Desperately, I dialed his number. When it finally connected, a girl answered, "Hello, Nora. Why are you calling? Don't you know it's Valentine's Day?"

If I remembered correctly, this girl was Nick's first love, his girlfriend in college, named Lea Best.

My heart sank, but I couldn't care it.

"Lea, where's Nick? Tell him his mother has had a heart attack and needs emergency care! He needs to come to the hospital now!"

Lea's voice was tinged with frustration, "Nora, you've gone too far. Even if Nick didn't come to be with you tonight, how could you use Auntie's life to trick us? Cursing her like that will only upset Nick."

"No, just let him answer the phone, I—"

There was a busy tone in the receiver.

I was furious. Even if there was no love left between Nick and me, how could he not trust me? How could he believe I would lie about his mother's life just to get him to come back?

I tried calling again, but the line was busy. My messages were ignored.

I could only borrow a nurse's phone, input the number and called Nick, "Nick! No matter what's between us, I wouldn't lie about this! Your mother is in critical condition. Come to the hospital now!"

Nick's voice on the other end was cold, "Nora, you really don't give up, do you? I'm warning you. If you keep using my mother to lie me and get me back, I'll file for divorce."

In the background, I could hear Lea crying, "Nick, I knew we shouldn't have met today. Your wife is even using Auntie's life to trick you. I shouldn't have come. You should go back to accompany her. It's OK to let me alone. And it's good to us. She won't lie to curse Auntie just to get you back..."

Nick comforted her, his voice tender.

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. She's just crazy. Let's not bother with her."

My heart turned to ice.

To keep me from disturbing them, Nick turned off his phone, leaving me unable to reach him, no matter how many times I tried.

I had no idea where they were or how happy they might be together right now.

I could only sit at the hospital, feeling helpless and lost, waiting with my mother-in-law.