Millions for Her, Not Our Son

My billionaire husband, Finley Anderson, spent tens of millions on an art graduation exhibition for the college student he'd been sponsoring for two years, yet refused to pay twenty thousand dollars for our son's medical treatment.

After our son died of severe diarrhea and dehydration right before my eyes, I handed him divorce papers with a heart full of despair.

When he saw the death certificate attached to the papers, Finley couldn't help but let out a laugh:

"Sorry, I never thought diarrhea could actually kill someone."

"I know you're upset, but it's okay. Lily's due in three days."

"After sponsoring her all this time, she's very understanding and grateful. I've already discussed it with heronce the baby's born, we'll bring it over for you to raise. You can just focus on being Mrs. Anderson. But there's one condition: you have to let Lily visit the child regularly."

"No need," I said with a self-deprecating smile. "I only want a divorce."

After failing to get money from Finley, I sold the engagement ring he'd once paid a fortune to create for mesold it for next to nothing.

Clutching the cash, I rushed back to the hospital. Through the long corridor, I could hear the sharp, piercing sound of medical equipment from the room at the far end.

Then, seconds later, the world went silent, as if someone had pressed pause.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Lane. Please accept our condolences..."

"Actually, if you'd been able to pay the medical fees a few days earlier so we could administer medication, this wouldn't have happened."

"Hospital policy states that without timely payment from the patient or their family, we cannot provide medication. I'm truly sorry, Ms. Lane. We did everything we could. Please accept our condolences..."

I opened my mouth, but my throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton-wrapped razor bladeschoking and painful.

I dragged my heavy legs to the bedside. I didn't know how to face my son's death.

Just this morning, the child lying in this bed had managed to smile and call me "Mom."

The TV on the white wall flickered for a moment. When the signal returned, Finley's face appeared on the screen.

He was smiling. The man who was usually so cold to outsiders now stood behind his sponsored college student, warmly greeting every guest at the exhibition.

Some bold person didn't hesitate to gossip about their relationship right in front of the media bloggers' cameras:

"With my years of experience as a matchmaker, I'd say Mr. Anderson and our painter Ms. Dixon aren't just sponsor and sponsored, are they?"

"Come on, spill it! Are you two tying the knot soon?"

Lily Dixon blushed shyly under everyone's teasing, her eyes constantly falling on Finley with a gaze full of love and bashfulness.

He didn't refute these comments. From the smile at the corner of his mouth, you could tell he was happy.

"But isn't Mr. Anderson married? His kid's already five years old. Has Mr. Anderson divorced and just not announced it?"

Everyone present fell silent for a few seconds. The person who'd asked shrank back into the crowd, not daring to speak again.

Lily's eyes reddened with embarrassment in front of the camera. She turned to ask the man timidly:

"Finley, why didn't your wife come to the exhibition? Is she still angry about what happened at the auction?"

"Should I... go apologize to her again?"

Without any hesitation, Finley refused.

"No need."

"I've spoiled her so much she's become petty. It was just a set of rare jewelry, yet she actually attacked you over it. Since she's become so obsessed with money and material things, I won't give her a single penny to spend. Can't let that slap you took go unpunished."

"Seeing her take out her frustrations on you just irritates me."

This protective tone made everyone certain of the marital troubles between Finley and me, and also led most people to believe I was the one at fault for the relationship going bad.

"Mrs. Anderson must be such a petty person. Being with someone like that must be exhausting. No wonder Mr. Anderson's affections shifted."

"Let's set that aside for nowdon't they have a child? If they really divorce, what about the kid? If Mr. Anderson and Ms. Dixon continue to develop their relationship, they'll definitely get married eventually. Being a stepmother in a wealthy family won't be easy."

My heart felt like it was being fried in oil, flipped over and over thousands of times.

I could no longer tell if there was more sadness or more anger in my chest.

The air conditioning in the hospital room was set very low. Countless threads of cold air drilled relentlessly into my body. I shivered and couldn't help but remind the family member at the next bed:

"Could you please turn up the temperature? My child has severe diarrhea and can't catch a chill."

I don't know how much time passed, but that cold air kept drilling into the depths of my heart. I looked up somewhat impatiently, only to meet the horrified eyes of a nurse.

"Ms... Ms. Lane, normally family members can't stay in the morgue for more than fifteen minutes, but you've been here for half the afternoon. Please leave now. The director has been urging you to sign the medical death certificate. And what about the child's father? He's never shown up. Now that the child is gone, he should at least make an appearance. You should contact him as soon as possible."

My head exploded. I finally came to my senses and stumbled to my feet, heading out.

The process of handling the death certificate was quick.

In less than two hours, I stood in the cold wind, hands trembling as I called the funeral home.

After that, I called Finley over thirty times. As expected, all went unanswered.

Leaning against the cold tiles, I kept laughing at myself in my heart.

The funeral home staff came to collect our son before the hospital director got off work. Along the way, I lost count of how many times I cried myself unconscious.

After arriving at the funeral home, the staff immediately took our son to the cold storage room, then gently instructed me to go home and bring his favorite clothes for him to change into.

To leave this world clean and neat.

That's right.

Our son was just like Finleyboth had obsessive cleanliness.

"After the deceased's body arrives at the funeral home, it usually must be cremated within 72 hours. But if the family requests, we can extend the cremation timethree days, five days, or seven days. Do you need that?"

I reached out to touch our son's face, which had no warmth left. "Three days."

......

It was already late at night when I made it home in a daze.

Seeing me, the smile in Finley's eyes faded.

"Why are you back so late? Is Asher feeling better? Lily heard he's been having diarrhea and was so worried. She specifically asked me to bring back two boxes of anti-diarrheal medicine."

I dodged to avoid the medicine he handed me. After seeing the date on the box clearly, I let out a cold laugh, and tears flowed uncontrollably again.

"Expired medicine. Who's she trying to poison?"

Finley's expression froze on his face. The side showing the production date turned over, and then a flash of impatience crossed his face.

"Lily just didn't notice, that's all. Can't you speak without being so sarcastic? You know pregnant women need to be careful with medication. She's just a girl in her twentieshow can she keep track of everything?"

"And why didn't you come to Lily's art exhibition today? I told you days ago how important this exhibition was. Did you have to cause trouble on this particular day?"

He instinctively defended Lily by scolding me. I don't know when he started being able to completely ignore my red-rimmed eyes.

"Do you still remember your original intention for sponsoring Lily?"

Finley froze. The scolding words were all swallowed back.

"You've forgotten, haven't you?"

"Do you still remember when your relationship with her started to change?"

I looked at him calmly. "Do you remember what you said to me after I caught you two after your reckless night together?"

The living room fell silent. The faint scent of vetiver in the air pulled both Finley's and my thoughts back to the past.

Lily was a college student Finley brought back from a business trip to a remote area two years ago. At that time, she was angry about her family wanting to marry her off to the neighboring village chief's son and resenting her fate.

She tearfully complained about how difficult it had been to stay in school and accused her parents of favoritism. The determination in her expression moved Finley.

The billionaire CEO decided to sponsor her, so he brought her back and arranged for her to attend a prestigious university not far from the Anderson estate.

He bought her a house, a luxury car for transportation, and gave her a black card as spending money.

Gradually, Finley grew closer to her and more distant from me. He even became completely indifferent to our son.

Finally, one night when he was working late, Finley came home to the wrong place.

After I discovered them, he knelt on the ground, constantly pulling my hand to hit his face.

"I'm sorry, Alana. It's my fault. I had too much to drink at the business dinner. She was forced by me..."

"I promise this is the only time. I won't see her anymore. After she graduates, I'll stop sponsoring her."

Then Lily got pregnant.

A mocking smile tugged at my lips. "Finley, can you tell meyou slept with her once a year ago, so why is she eight months pregnant now? Has there been some new medical research showing that ovarian fertilization can be delayed by two to four months?"

"Enough!"

Faced with my questioning, Finley's expression darkened.

"I'll explain all this to you later."

"Where's Asher? Why didn't you bring him back? It's just diarrhea. Does he really need to stay at the hospital this long?"

Thinking of our son, my heart felt like it was being pounded by thousands of iron hammers.

I pulled out the death certificate and divorce papers from my bag, folded neatly. All strength left my body as I sat in the entryway, my face full of despair.

"Three days from now, cremation."

"Find time to come see him with me, and let's get the divorce finalized."

Taking the certificate and papers, Finley's scrutinizing gaze fell on me.

Suddenly, he couldn't help but laugh.

"What a coincidence with the timing, huh?"

He let go, and the certificate and papers fell at my feet.

"Sorry, I never thought diarrhea could actually kill someone."

"I know you're upset, but it's okay. Lily's due in three days."

"After sponsoring her all this time, she's very understanding and grateful. I've already discussed it with heronce the baby's born, we'll bring it over for you to raise. You can just focus on being Mrs. Anderson. But there's one condition: you have to let Lily visit the child regularly."

I froze, turning to look at him in disbelief.

"Finley Anderson! Saying something like thatare you even human?!"

My voice was loud enough to wake Lily, who'd been sleeping in the bedroom.

Finley glanced at me, his eyes full of disapproval.

"Keep it down. Lily's taking an afternoon nap with the baby."

A crisp slap rang out.

Finley's face turned to the side. He turned back, his eyes full of coldness.

"Feel better now?"

"Don't make jokes like that again. Who ever died from diarrhea? Making jokes about Asher like thisaren't you afraid he'll learn bad habits from you?"

So he didn't believe the death certificate.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I picked up the divorce papers and signed my name.