Julia Brown, my mother-in-law, suddenly had a heart attack. I had set aside 100,000 dollars for emergencies just for her. But my wife, Sophie Brown, ended up lending that lifesaving cash to her ex-boyfriend, Connor Gibson, to gamble on soccer.

I pressed Sophie to get the money back from Connor, but she scolded me for being short-sighted. "Why the rush? Do you really think Connor is going to stiff you?

Just wait till he wins tonight. He'll pay back everything, with interest. Don't act like you've never seen money before!"

Then I heard Connor yelling through the phone, "Sophie, look, it's a goal!"

Before I could respond, Sophie quickly hung up.

In the end, because we missed the critical window for treatment, Julia passed away in tears.

"Just start the surgery on her, please. I'll get the money to you ASAP," I pleaded.

My mother-in-law, Julia, suddenly had a heart attack. I had set aside 100,000 dollars for emergencies just for her. But my wife, Sophie, ended up lending that lifesaving cash to her ex-boyfriend, Connor, to gamble on soccer.

I was so desperate that I even knelt in front of the doctors.

The doctors exchanged a look and nodded at me, saying, "We'll do what we can."

I called Sophie over and over. Finally, she picked up after ten long minutes.

"Bradley, can you just stop? I told you to wait a bit. Don't you get it? Connor's team is about to win," Sophie snapped.

"But what about the money for Mom's surgery..." I began, but Sophie hung up before I could finish.

Staring at the operating room doors, I felt my stomach twist with worry.

The hospital agreed to start the surgery, but made it clear we couldn't delay paying for further treatment.

After we married, I gave my payroll card to Sophie. Now, I didn't have a penny to my name.

Julia didn't have any other children, just Sophie.

I was an orphan, and after marrying Sophie, Julia treated me like her own son.

I was deeply grateful to Julia and never picked fights with Sophie. But now, with Julia's life on the line, I had to do something.

Luckily, I knew where Connor lived because I had often driven Sophie to his house for parties.

Without a second thought, I grabbed a cab and headed to Connor's place.

I got to the front door just as cheers erupted from inside.

I went to knock. Somehow, they were so wrapped up in their fun that they hadn't locked the door, and it swung open as I pushed.

Inside, I found Sophie in Connor's lap, kissing him passionately.

I lost it and stormed over, yanking them apart.

"Where's the 100,000 dollars I saved for Mom? Give it to me now!" I demanded.

Sophie, who had been cozying up to Connor, turned cold as she saw me.

She snapped, "Bradley, I've told you. Wait till Connor wins, and I'll get the money. Man, stop being jealous.

Enough with your calls, and now you show up here? Really?"

Her eyes flashed with disdain and disgust.

The looked at me like I was a jerk who ruined their happy time.

But right then, I couldn't care less about their feelings. Julia was dying.

Anxiously, I said, "Look, Sophie, I don't care what you're up to with Connor. Mom's had another heart attack and is in the emergency room waiting for the money. Just give me the 100,000 dollars I set aside for her, and I'll leave.

Even if you two were in bed together, I wouldn't care right now."

Before I could finish, Sophie slapped me across the face.

She jabbed a finger at me and shouted, "Bradley, you might be jealous, but that's no reason to curse my mom. How can you be so mean? I spoke to Mom on the phone before I came here. Make up a better lie next time!

Keep this up, and I'll divorce you!"

Connor stepped in front of Sophie.

"Bradley, you're Sophie's husband, and Mrs. Brown is practically your mom. We all know how well she treats you. How could you curse Mrs. Brown with a heart attack? That's mean," Connor said.

Then, he turned to Sophie. "Maybe you should go with him, Sophie.

We're friends. If hanging out and watching a game is messing up your marriage, I'd feel terrible."

Connor's words really got Sophie riled up against me.

Sophie said, "Bradley, my mom treats you like her own. How can you be so heartless?

Just because we're married, doesn't mean I can't have my own life. Connor and I were just watching a game. Is it really that big of a deal?

Do you really think Connor's going to stiff you on the money? Come on.

He'll give it all back tomorrow, with interest. Don't act like you've never seen money before. It's embarrassing!"

I glared at Sophie, my eyes burning. "That's your mom we're talking about. Do you think I'd joke about something like this?"

Sophie frowned slightly.

Connor let out a cold laugh. "Bradley, it's just 100 grand. Don't be so dramatic, man. I was just trying to help us all make some money."

Turning to Sophie, he said, "Look, Sophie, if your husband is so worried about his money, I'll sort this out. I don't have the cash right now, but I'll go pawn my car and get it for you."

"Bradley, let me be clear," Connor continued. "There's nothing going on between me and Sophie. If there was, it wouldn't have waited till now. I just hate to see her struggle.

You don't need to come at us like this."

A sneer curled at the corner of Connor's mouth.

He reached for his car keys to leave, but Sophie grabbed him and pushed him back onto the couch.

"You're not going anywhere. He is!" said Sophie.

Then she glared at me and said, "Enough, Bradley!

I told you, I was just betting on a game with Connor. Are you really being this jealous, making a scene like this?

And think about it, if there was anything going on with Connor, would I still have married you?

Even if you came here just for that 100,000 dollars, if we win this bet, we could triple it or more. I could give you even more then, okay?"

I fought to keep my rage under control and steadied my shaking body.

"Sophie, does this bet really matter that much? Mom's in the emergency room right now. We might not even get to say goodbye if we're too late," I said.

Sophie rolled her eyes, but Connor suddenly yelled, "Sophie, look, another goal!"

Sophie's attention was pulled back to the game.

Then she shouted at me, "You have three seconds to get out of my sight, or we're getting a divorce!"

After that, she and Connor resumed cheering for their team.

It had been over an hour since I left the hospital. I anxiously wondered how Julia's surgery was going.

Anger and anxiety overwhelmed me, and I blacked out, collapsing to the floor.

Sophie just looked down at me, not lifting a finger to help.

Thinking of Julia's critical condition, I gasped out, "Sophie, the hospital needs to be paid. Even if Mom gets through surgery, we need more money for her treatment.

Can we put our issues aside? Mom's life is on the line."

In the past, no matter how jealous or mad I got, I always backed off whenever Sophie threatened divorce.

But this time was different. I stood my ground, and that made Sophie confused.

Connor let out a sigh. "Sophie, why don't you just head home with Bradley? It's just a bet. I can deal with winning or losing on my own. It gets lonely, sure, but Bradley can't keep getting jealous like this. Maybe we should cool it for a while."

His words hit hard, and Sophie's face fell.

Sophie snapped, "Bradley, Connor's just had some bad luck with his business, and he's only in town for a few days. I just wanted to watch a soccer game with him. Stop making a scene. I'm at my breaking point.

And that 100,000 dollars? I took it from my mom.

You always said it was a gift for her. The moment you gave it, it wasn't yours anymore.

If I'm paying anyone back, it's my mom. Get that straight."

I said, "But all my paychecks go to you..."

"You chose to do that," Sophie retorted, her face emotionless.

Then, I forced myself up and staggered back to the hospital.

By then, Julia's surgery was nearly done.

The doctor hurriedly opened the operating room door, telling me Julia wanted to see me one last time.

I scrambled to her side, tried to smile, but tears betrayed me, dripping onto the bed.

"Mom, don't worry, I'll make sure they take care of you," I whispered.

Julia weakly lifted her hand to my cheek and said, "Bradley, I know my own body. I might not last the night."

"Mom, don't talk like that. The doctors still see a chance," I insisted.

"Bradley, I wrote a will. It's in the safe of my old house. The key is in the bedside drawer," Julia informed me.

Tears streamed down my face as I listened to Julia's final wishes.

Suddenly, her hand dropped. Overwhelmed with grief, I cried out, "Mom!"

I cried a long while, then got up, wiped my tears, and muttered, "Mom, I got it."

Julia raised Sophie by herself. Other than Sophie, I was her only family.

After I had Julia cremated, I walked out of the crematorium holding her urn. That was when Sophie, who'd been hanging out with Connor for the past two days, finally decided to call.

As soon as I picked up, I could hear the annoyance in her voice. "Bradley, where's my mom? I told her not to go wandering off. Did you take her out?"

Remembering Julia's final moments twisted my heart, and I replied somberly, "She's with me."

"You'll see her soon," I added, my voice cold.

Tired of Sophie's fake concern for Julia, which came too late, I hung up.

The phone wouldn't stop ringing, so I put it on silent.

As I reached the entrance of the apartment complex, I looked down at the urn in my arms and whispered, "Mom, we're almost home."

When I opened the door, Sophie's anger hit me like a wave.

She screamed, "Bradley, were you dead? Why didn't you pick up any of my calls?

It's been two days. Are you still hung up on your jealousy? What's the point?

I can't believe Mom insisted I marry a man like you!"

After her outburst, she seemed to remember something and looked behind me.

Frowning, she asked, "Bradley, where's Mom? You said she was with you, right?"

Gazing at Sophie, I felt an overwhelming sadness.

Julia's biggest regret might have been not seeing Sophie one last time.

If Julia had known her daughter was out gambling on soccer with some guy in her final moments, that might have killed her faster than her illness.

"Don't bother looking," I said quietly. "She's right here."