“Dominic, I promise to love you till the end of my life,” I had said at our wedding, five years ago. But standing in my own kitchen, watching him hurry to pour a glass of sparkling water for Jennifer, his late brother’s widow who had lived under our roof for years, I felt the promise dying in my chest. “Madison, would you be an angel and fetch me a glass of sparkling water? ” Jennifer called from the couch, her voice sickly sweet.
“I’m parched. ”
“Can’t you get it yourself? You can still walk, can’t you? ”
Dominic shot me a look.
“Madison, she’s hurt. Why can’t you just help her out? ”
“I’ve got just a month left,” I muttered, half to myself. “It’s time I lived it for myself.
”
That month wasn’t a figure of speech. It was a death sentence I hadn’t told anyone about. Dominic didn’t hear me. Or maybe he just didn’t care.
“What’s all this about? ”
“I’m making space for Jennifer. ”
“What do you mean? ”
“It’s been five years.
I’ve had enough. And in case you haven’t noticed, Jennifer’s in love with you. ”
“Are you out of your mind? ”
I wasn’t.
Every day for five years, Jennifer had hung all over him, wearing my nightgowns, asking his opinion on her outfits, crossing every line a sister-in-law shouldn’t cross. And Dominic, blind or willfully ignorant, had let her. “What are you doing in here? And in my nightgown?
” I snapped when Jennifer sauntered into our bedroom that evening. “Madison, you’ve really let yourself go,” she said, tilting her head. “Do you really think Dominic still wants you? ”
I confronted Dominic.
“I promised my brother on his deathbed that I was going to take care of Jennifer,” he said. “She’s got nowhere else to go. ”
“Then take care of her. You never take care of me.
You haven’t even asked how my day has been. ”
“Enough. Go say sorry to Jennifer. ”
“Not happening.
I want a divorce. ”
He didn’t believe me. Jennifer played the victim, offering to leave, knowing full well Dominic would never let her. And I was done.
I had less than a month to live, and I refused to spend it as the doormat in my own marriage. I went on a spending spree. Designer heels, dresses, jewelry. I didn’t care about the money anymore.
I was dying. “Has Madison lost her mind? ” Jennifer hissed. “She’s spending so much.
You have to do something, baby. ”
“She’s upset,” Dominic said. “She can spend as much as she wants. ”
That night, I hit the bars with my friends.
“Everybody, I’m Madison! ” I shouted. “After five years of being married, I’m single again! Who wants to help me celebrate?
”
Dominic showed up, furious. “What do you think you’re doing? ”
“I’m taking you home,” he demanded. “No.
I’m not going back. ”
“So you think it’s okay for you to sleep with some random guy while we’re still married? ”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. What’s wrong with that?
You keep another woman at the house, but I can’t have a hot guy keep me company at a bar? ”
“I’ve told you, Jennifer is family to me,” he said. “Why can’t you understand? ”
“I don’t want to hear anymore of that stupid name.
”
I was supposed to meet Larry, an old friend from my past, downstairs in his hotel suite. Dominic showed up instead, wild-eyed. “If I hadn’t shown up, you would have at least slept with him. ”
“Yes, Dominic, I’m divorcing you.
It’s not your business anymore. ”
He tried to grab Larry. “Don’t touch him. You can’t touch him with me here.
I’ll stick you! ”
“Get out! ” I screamed. “You’re driving me crazy.
”
“Dominic, I just don’t love you anymore. ”
“No, you don’t mean that,” he pleaded. “If it’s about Jennifer, I can ask her to leave. From now on, it’s just you and me.
Just give me another chance and let’s start fresh. ”
“It’s too late to talk. ”
“But we were supposed to start a family this year,” he said, his voice breaking. “You, me, the baby.
”
“It’s over, Dominic. ”
“Please, no. ”
I couldn’t tell him the truth. That I had two weeks to live, give or take.
That starting a family was never going to happen. That the only reason I was pushing him away was to spare him the pain of watching me die. Greta, Dominic’s mother, summoned me to a café. “I cannot believe you spent Dominic’s money on another man,” she fumed.
“I want you to divorce Dominic now. If you don’t, I… ”
“For the last five years, I have been a full-time housewife, managing Dominic’s day-to-day, handling the housework, even your banquets. Calculating fair market compensation, I’d say you owe me a hundred million dollars.
”
“How dare you ask for money after yesterday? You don’t love Dominic at all. You’re just after his money. ”
“As his wife, I have every right to spend his money.
And if we get divorced, I’m entitled to half of everything he owns. ”
“Maybe this will wake you up. ”
“You just helped Jennifer destroy your son’s marriage,” I said. “Jennifer confessed her love for Dominic to me.
She’s using you, Greta. ”
“Greta, I’ve done nothing wrong,” Jennifer said, feigning innocence. “I don’t know where she’s getting this from. ”
Later, when Jennifer tried to hit Greta and I stopped her, security footage exposed her lies.
But Dominic still chose Jennifer. “Let Jennifer live with us,” he said. “She’s family. ”
“Enough.
Sign the document. Let’s end this. ”
Dominic’s brother, a voice of reason, stepped in. “Mom, this is how you treat Madison when I’m not around?
She’s my wife. You need to respect her. ”
For a moment, Dominic seemed to see things clearly. He forced Jennifer to move out, against his mother’s wishes.
But then Jennifer showed up at our door again, strutting in like she owned the place. “Actually, Dominic invited me to dinner,” she said. “Seems he’s ready to kick start his divorce celebrations. ”
“I know your type.
You’re a shameless…”
“What did you just call me? ”
“So sorry. I said that you are a shameless—”
“You’re going to regret this. ”
I laughed.
“Should I call Dominic and tell him that you two are together? ”
“Go ahead. Call him. Like we care about what that guy thinks.
”
Larry, my friend, stepped forward. “Jennifer, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. ”
Dominic arrived, apologizing for the incident at the hotel. “Madison, it’s been miserable with your family for years.
How could you let that happen? I promise I’ll change. Just give me another chance. ”
“It’s too late for promises.
”
I had bought a villa for twenty million dollars. Good news arrived: the government was turning the area into a mall. Net profit: a hundred million dollars. “So, after I’m gone, Dominic could inherit my estate?
” I mused. “No way. I’d rather donate it all than let the Murphys get a dime. ”
I donated a hundred million dollars to the hospital.
The Murphy Group’s stock skyrocketed. “Was that the plan? ” Dominic asked, stunned. “How did I end up boosting the Murphy Group again?
”
“Listen up, everyone,” I announced to the press. “That donation was on me. It had nothing to do with the Murphy Group. And to set the record straight, Dominic and I are done.
We’re getting a divorce. ”
“Did you really have to spill it in front of everyone? ”
“I just wanted to make it clear to everyone, and to you. ”
Jennifer saw her chance.
She showed up at Dominic’s house, drunk, confessing six years of love. “I’d be a better wife than her,” she slurred. “I only want Madison,” he said firmly. “No matter what.
”
“She’s leaving you. And I’ll always be here for you. ”
“My brother left you in my charge before he died. I only see you as family.
Please, don’t make it harder than it is. ”
“Why am I any less than Madison? I love you. From the bottom of my heart.
”
He sent her away. But I was already planning my final goodbye. I visited a funeral home, arranging everything: elegant urns with purple ribbons, Bach playing throughout, red roses instead of carnations. “Ma’am, if I may ask, who is the ceremony for?
”
“Me. I want my funeral to be unique. ”
Larry found me. “Oh god, the thought of you being here…
I can’t imagine being without you. I was going to tell Dominic to come to my funeral, but now I see no need. How about a funeral party? We’ll get all your friends together.
”
“I’ve lived for Dominic all these years. Now I shall celebrate for myself. ”
I booked the club for a grand farewell party, my last gathering before I slipped away quietly. Jennifer, however, sabotaged it.
She paid the club manager to steal my reservation, turning my farewell into Greta’s birthday banquet. I stormed in anyway, dressed to the nines. “I booked this place yesterday. You can’t just hijack my venue for a birthday party.
”
“Oh, did you get all dolled up so that you could please Dominic so that he’d take you back? ” Jennifer sneered. “It’s him that can’t let go, not me. ”
“Madison, you’ve gone too far,” Greta scolded.
“Don’t touch me. I don’t want your phony concern. ”
Dominic arrived. “Madison, let’s step out and talk.
”
His mother snapped. “Dominic, you’re still taking her side. It’s me or her today. You choose.
”
Dominic hesitated. And in that hesitation, I saw everything I needed to see. “Mr. Murphy,” a doctor said, pulling him aside.
“Your wife has breast cancer. She’s got about two weeks left. ”
Dominic’s world shattered. “You’re pathetic,” Larry spat at him.
“You can’t even look after your own wife. Madison never should have married you. You bastard. ”
“It was all set up for Madison’s farewell party,” Larry explained.
“But Jennifer snatched it up for your mom’s birthday. Jennifer kicked out all the people that Madison invited. You’re clueless. ”
In the hospital, I woke up to Dominic by my bedside.
“Why did you keep this a secret from me? ”
“What’s the point of telling you? ”
“I’ll find the best doctors for you. I’ll find a way.
”
“Don’t bother. There’s no cure for late-stage cancer. ”
“I’m not giving up. ”
“I don’t want to spend my last days lying in a hospital bed doing chemo and losing my hair.
I just want to stay beautiful until the end. Please don’t give up on your treatment. I want to go quietly on my own. ”
“I don’t think we should see each other anymore.
”
“Madison, please don’t give up on yourself. I know I messed up. Please give me one more chance to make things right. ”
“Go.
Get out. ”
Greta, seeing the truth at last, turned on Jennifer. “Jennifer, how could you do this to me? I saw the terrible way that Madison was treating you and Dominic, and I had to teach her a lesson.
I’m so disappointed in you right now. Do not come near me. I can’t trust you anymore. ”
Dominic took me home, and for a single beautiful week, we pretended.
Breakfast in bed, promises of the Northern Lights. “Today, you are my queen,” he said. “Each day from now on until the end of our time on Earth. ”
“Being here with you is all I need.
I love you. ”
But peace never lasts with Jennifer around. She dragged a shareholder to our home, then drugged my water, trying to make me pass out so I’d be examined in a hospital, where she’d planted fake results claiming I lied about my cancer. She failed.
Dominic had already seen the truth. “Miss Andrews, did you pay off a doctor to frame Mrs. Murphy? ” the press demanded outside the hospital.
Jennifer panicked. “Dominic, I did bribe the doctors, but the report is real. If you just check it out… ”
“Stop trying to mess with my wife and my family.
”
“Dominic, Madison’s not sick. She’s playing you. ”
“Well, actually, if she’s not sick, it’s great news because that means we get to spend more time together. And Jennifer, you’re not part of this family.
Starting now. ”
“You can’t just kick me out. ”
“My brother would have never stood for so much nonsense. Jennifer, you brought this on yourself.
That’s it for today. Love you so much,” he said, turning to me. But I had doubts. “Dominic, I think I’m going to get a second checkup.
No mistakes this time. ”
“Sounds good to me. Whatever happens, I’m here till the end. I’m not going anywhere.
”
The second test came back. “You’ll be pleased to know that you’re all good. It’s not cancer. Just a benign nodule.
”
The relief was overwhelming. I called Dominic. “Guess what? I don’t have cancer.
I’m fine. ”
“Oh my god. Really? That’s incredible.
I’ll be right there. Don’t move. ”
But Jennifer had snapped. She showed up in the hospital room, knife in hand.
“You made me do this. Dominic took back my shares, and now I have nothing. How come you get to be happy? ”
“Jennifer, let Madison go,” Dominic pleaded.
“Dominic, shut up. ”
“Jennifer, if you let her go, I’ll give you back your shares. ”
“I want my shares back. I want you.
Please, Jennifer, I love Madison. ”
“How am I never good enough for you? I love you way more than she does. Can’t you see?
”
The police were on their way. There was a struggle. A scream. “You’re okay,” I gasped, watching Dominic bleed.
Jennifer was taken away. And I held him, the man I’d been ready to leave, in my arms while the doctors worked on his wound. We walked out of the hospital together, scarred but alive. “This is amazing, isn’t it?
Thank god we get to start over. ”
Dominic knelt, producing a ring. “Madison. This is for you.
It’s eternal love. No matter what, in riches or poverty, in sickness or in health, I’m here to be with you. How about a second shot with me? At least stick with me for the long haul.
I will always love you. ”
I said yes. Before our flight to see the Northern Lights, Greta came to say goodbye. “Madison.
I am so sorry about everything before. Can you forgive me? ”
“Greta, we’re family. There’s no need for apologies.
”
“Have a wonderful vacation, okay? I love you so much. ”
As we boarded the plane, I felt the weight of everything lift. The lies, the betrayal, the fear.
They belonged to another life now. And then we were flying toward the lights, together, with a future I never thought I’d have.
