After He Walked Away Penniless, the Diagnosis Changed Chapter 03

After He Walked Away Penniless, the Diagnosis Changed Chapter 03

I thought everything had been settled peacefully—until a colleague sent me a link.

Julian and Emma were livestreaming from their shared couple’s account.

They were even wearing matching outfits.

Julian launched into an impassioned speech for the audience.

“Yes, I’m divorced. When I was younger, I mistook getting along for love. Married way too young.”

“My married life was dull, empty, and lifeless.”

“I wanted to talk about Camus, Shakespeare, Tagore with my wife, but she just… never got it.”

“We were never able to have a meaningful conversation.”

“Our life together was dull and routine. Then I met Emma, and everything finally felt alive.”

He looked at Emma with deep affection. She gave the camera a shy, flawless smile.

The comments flooded in, praising their love story as if it were something out of a fairy tale.

“Emma and I share poetry, philosophy, everything.”

“Being with her, I finally understand the true meaning of life, not just survival.”

“Since the divorce, I finally feel free. No more dealing with a vulgar, shallow wife. No more pressure to have kids.”

Anger ignited in my chest.

We had tried for a baby for an entire year. The problem had been his low sperm count.

At his family’s insistence, and because he desperately wanted a child, we went through IVF.

I gave up my life as a mafia principessa. I put up with his family’s constant nagging.

I went through round after round of painful hormone shots.

I lived in a constant state of anxiety, wondering if I’d ever even get pregnant.

And in his eyes? I was just some vulgar, shallow wife. What right did he have to judge me?

Fueled by anger, I typed a comment into the chat.

[How does a cheating husband get to play the victim?]

[So what if you’re knowing well in art and literature? Does that brush off your cheating, your damn controlling jerk?]

Everyone kept talking about how perfect they were together, but my message stood out.

The chat went dead quiet for a beat. Then it blew up.

I let out a cold laugh and typed another line.

[Julian. Did you get those test results I sent you?]

Chaos erupted instantly.

[Why’s he trashing his ex just to hype up his new relationship?]

[A respected professor being this petty? The ego on this guy.]

[He actually called ordinary life vulgar? Everyone lives simple, real lives.]

[Wait, hold up—he cheated during the marriage?]

[He’s just using his ex-wife to build some tragic romantic persona.]

[What test results? I need all the drama.]

Doubt spread rapidly.

On screen, Julian and Emma’s faces went pale.

Julian cleared his throat and avoided the real question.

“Let me just explain. A month ago, I was diagnosed with a terminal condition.”

“The doctor said I only had three months left.” His expression turned sorrowful.

“That’s why my wife left me.”

“And I’m so deeply grateful that Emma has stayed by my side. She wasn’t afraid of a dying man.”

“Her pure, gentle love has healed me. With her, my final days will be perfect.”

[That’s so tragically beautiful. No wonder the ex bailed.]

[She ditched her dying husband? That’s cold.]

[He’s only telling his side of it. Notice how he totally dodged the cheating question?]

The chat descended into chaos.

I was about to reply again when a system notification popped up.

[You have been removed from this live.]

Julian kept right on performing his perfect little romance.

Emma gently held his hand and whispered softly.

“People drift apart when times get hard. But love conquers all.”

“Even if we only have one day left, I’ll love him with everything I have.”

It made me sick. I was done. Fury surged through me.

I verified my account. Then I renamed it “Julian’s Ex-Wife.”

I used one of our old photos as my profile picture and went live for the first time.