Paying a Debt With My Life

I had mere months left to live unless I removed half of my lungs. But with what remained of my lungs, how long could I live?

Holding the diagnosis report, I hesitated whether or not I should tell my parents about it. However, they took the initiative to call me and tell me to go home.

It was the first time they called to ask me to go home since my marriage. Overwhelmed with joy, I thought they finally missed me.

Never would I have thought that the first thing they did was to tell me to get a divorce! They wanted me to let Rosalie have my husband!

Staring at my family, I thought they seemed so unfamiliar.

Mom and Dad once doted on me when I was younger. Since when had they started to change?

I gazed at the sneer on Rosalie's face. Suddenly, I remember. My parents changed the moment they gave birth to her.

Ever since that day, they only had eyes for Rosalie, and I was invisible to them. I was like a stranger living under the same roof as them.

I always had to give in to Rosalie. Whatever I owned, she would own one too. But I didn't have most of the things she had.

When we were younger, I would always be punished if she fell. Whenever she did something wrong, I would still be the one to be punished.

She'd give me things that she disliked, as though they were trash. However, she'd always snatch what I liked and destroy them.

She could secure my parents' love easily, but I had to work hard and long just for a word of praise.

My parents thought nothing of it when I received admission to a reputable university. However, Rosalie was showered with gifts and praise even though she could only pass for an unimpressive high school.

When Rosalie was younger, she was adorable. Afraid that she would hurt herself, I cushioned her fall countless times when she was learning how to walk.

However, whenever my gaze landed on her cute little face, I gladly endured the pain. She was my little sister, after all!

Nevertheless, I never thought that the little angel would grow up to be a devil. Her happiness came at the expense of my suffering.

Knowing that I valued my parents' love, she'd capture their attention effortlessly.

Knowing that I craved freedom, she sent me into this hell that was the Sadler family.

Looking at them, the family with whom I'd lived for more than 20 years, I was hysterical.

"Why? Why are you doing this to me?

"Why must I marry Ethan in her place when she refused to?

"Why must I get a divorce when Ethan's recovering?

"You were the ones who insisted on me marrying him in the first place, so what gives you the right to say I'm undeserving of him now?"

Dad slapped me hard, so much so that I fell. "Heidi Talbot! Don't forget I was the one who raised you, and I sent you to school. I've not raised you to defy me!"

Rosalie smiled, taking pleasure in my plight.

Mom hesitated, but all she said was, "Heidi, since Ethan doesn't like you anyway, why don't you fulfill their wish to be together?"

At that moment, I was thoroughly disappointed in my family. Feeling dejected, I got up and smiled bitterly. "As long as Ethan agrees to get a divorce, I'll gladly adhere. Whoever wants to be his wife can do so for all I care!"

Then, I turned and left the house that would only remind me of my sorrows.

When I returned to the Sadler residence, Ethan was already waiting for me. He could move around on his own without assistance now.

Staggering, he came toward me and handed me a document file. I opened it. It contained two copies of a divorce agreement, which he had signed, a check, and a bunch of keys.

"Heidi, sign it, and you'll own that property on West Street and two million dollars. Take it as my compensation for the divorce."