Henry hadn't replied to my messages; it was over two hours later when he finally called me on a video call.
I answered it, but then Aria's smug face came into view. She tilted the camera to show herself and a sleeping Henry.
Aria said haughtily, "Henry is exhausted and fell asleep. If you have something to say, just tell me."
Aria shamelessly showed me the red marks on her neck, flaunting how intense they had been.
The pain hit me again, and I couldn't tell if it was heartache or physical pain.
With trembling hands, I pressed the record button.
"Let him answer the phone, now." My voice was uncontrollably shaking.
While I was on the brink of death, my husband was indulging in pleasure with his mistress.
Aria smirked, "Amelia, why should I listen to you? He needs to rest. After all, he was so vigorous during sex that I almost couldn't take it."
She raised her chin arrogantly, as if she were Henry's wife.
I suppressed my nausea and sneered, "Do you feel proud being the other woman?"
Aria seemed to be hit where it hurt and instantly flared up, "Henry loves me. He will divorce you and marry me sooner or later. You're here for money, right? Dream on! He won't give you a penny. You might as well be dead. You're just wasting air by being alive."
I listened to her insults expressionlessly and stopped recording.
"Are you done? If you're done, transfer the money, or your true colors will be exposed." With that, I hung up the call and sent the recording to Aria.
Aria always played the innocent role in front of Henry and definitely wouldn't want him to see her other side.
Soon, a sixty-second voice message came through.
I didn't even bother to listen; she was definitely cursing me.
Next came the notification of a $500,000 deposit into my bank account.
I accepted it with a clear conscience. Everything she wore and used now was bought with my husband's money. $500,000 was too little.
With this money, I could afford my treatment for the next month.
Even though living was hard and painful, I still wanted to cling to life, living one more day if I could.
This world was beautiful, and living one more day was a gain.
I transferred all the money to the hospital account for my subsequent treatment.
Nova walked in wearing her white coat and hugged me tightly. "Amelia, I knew you would be okay."
Nova cried, and I let her hold me for a long time, silently wiping her tears.
Over the years, only Nova had stayed by my side.
She placed a pillow behind me, her eyes still red. "Henry didn't come to see you at all for such a major surgery? Is he still with that bitch? How could he treat you like this?"
I said weakly, "It's better if he's not here. As long as he gives me money, I don't care if he comes or not."
In Henry's mind, I had always been a selfish woman. Even if I explained to him, he wouldn't believe me. So just let him keep thinking that way.
I forced a smile. "My successful surgery is a good thing. You should be happy."
Nova turned her face away and secretly wiped her tears.
Seeing her cry, I inexplicably felt like crying too.
Nova said, "Amelia, why don't you just divorce him? If you divorce, you can get some compensation. At least you won't have to worry about money for your treatment."
Divorce? Over the years, I had thought about divorce, but each time I told myself to endure a little longer. Maybe one day Henry would change his mind.
But as I was nearing death, he hadn't changed. Instead, he became worse, changing women faster and faster.
Now, I didn't want to endure anymore.