Looking at the furious Emily Collins,

I smiled slightly and said, “Tomorrow is my birthday. I’ll transfer the money to your brother on Monday. And today, let’s give our son a day off from school.”

My father had died in a car accident, and I received an insurance payout of $800,000.

Emily kept pestering me, demanding I buy her brother a car.

But what she didn’t know was—

I had already died once.

And it was by her own hand, when she stabbed a knife straight into my heart!

I came back to life, but not in the real sense of resurrection.

I only had 24 hours left to live.

“Why take the day off?” she asked.

Emily didn’t object to me delaying the money transfer until Monday.

To her, it was just a matter of waiting two more days.

“I’ve already got the money. Tomorrow and the next are the weekend. Mom has worked hard her whole life. Dad’s death was a heavy blow to her. And you’ve also given so much to this family all these years. I want to take this chance for all of us to go out and spend two days together.”

“That… a family trip would be a waste of money…” she muttered.

“My decision is made.”

Seeing that I was determined, Emily didn’t press the issue further.

Right after, I called Margaret Parker, my mom.

When she heard I wanted to take her out for two days, she refused immediately.

“Everything is so expensive these days. Don’t waste money going out…”

“Mom, do you remember when I was little, I promised to take you to the Rocky Mountain National Park?”

“Your mom is old now, her legs aren’t good. Climbing that high is too much for her body. Why don’t we just go as a family and let her stay home to watch the house?” Emily suggested.

“Right, your daughter-in-law is right. You all go have fun, I’ll stay home and keep the house.”

“No.”

I held my mom’s hand tightly and said seriously, “Mom, this was a promise I made as a child. I’m a man—when I say something, I must keep my word. A man is nothing without trust. You wouldn’t want your son to be someone who breaks his word, would you?”

“This…”

“Mom, it’s decided. Pack a couple of clothes. I’ll buy the tickets. We leave in ten minutes.”

Before we left, Emily pulled me aside and whispered, “Honey, do you really want to do this? Your mom isn’t fit to climb the Rocky Mountains.”

“She’s worked hard all her life. She deserves to enjoy it. And if she can’t manage, I’ll carry her on my back.”

“Do you realize how much extra money that will cost us?”

Seeing she couldn’t talk me out of it, Emily grew visibly irritated.

“I have money.”

“Yes, right now you have money—an $800,000 payout—but you need to spend it wisely! If your mom comes with us, that means extra expenses for food, lodging, travel. It’s such a waste. And—”

“You want $200,000 to buy your brother a car—did I ever say that was wasteful?”

“That’s different. He’s my brother. What’s wrong with me, as his sister, buying him a car?”

“Enough. My decision is final.”

As I turned, a cold glint flashed in my eyes.

Buying her brother a car was ‘perfectly natural.’

But taking my mother on a trip was ‘a waste.’

I must have been blind before to think she was a good woman.

And my time was short.

I didn’t want to waste another second arguing.

When we reached Denver, I led them into a five-star hotel.

Mom hesitated, scolding me for being too extravagant, saying a cheap motel would’ve been fine.

Before I could reply, Emily quickly added, “Mom, you reminded me. I’ll book you a nearby motel instead. You can stay there—it’ll save us some money.”

“Grandma, you won’t get used to a fancy hotel like this. You might even dirty their rooms. You should stay at a small motel instead.”

My son Ethan Parker’s words instantly ignited the fury I had been suppressing for so long.

At that moment, I wanted to strangle him!

How could anyone say such a thing?

But I held back.

I only had twenty-four hours left.

I couldn’t waste my time on rage.

I just wanted to spend what little time I had left showing my mother the love she deserved.

When Emily actually began booking the motel, I grabbed her phone out of her hand.

“What are you doing?” she snapped, glaring at me.

“This trip is for the whole family. She’s my mom. How can we stay in a hotel and send her off to a cheap motel?”

“She can’t stay in the same room as us. Getting her her own room here is too expensive. A motel is much more affordable.”

“Fine. Then you and Ethan go stay at the motel. I’ll stay here with my mom.”

I had no interest in debating further.

Taking Mom by the hand, I walked straight to the front desk.

“Dad, I don’t want to stay in a lousy motel. I want the big hotel.”

“I know, I know,” Emily said to Ethan. “Your dad’s lost his mind. Bringing your grandma along on our trip—wasting money and being an eyesore.”

“Yeah, she should’ve stayed home.”

“What can I do? Your dad insisted.”

With no choice, Emily brought Ethan to stand by me.

I glanced at them but said nothing.

Once check-in was done, we rode the elevator to the 28th floor.

I had booked a luxury suite.

The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows offered a sweeping view of all Denver.

“Daniel, how much does this room cost per night?” Mom asked, awestruck by the suite’s grandeur.

There wasn’t a trace of joy on her face—only pain.

Because she knew it couldn’t be cheap.

“Mom, not much. Holiday discounts. Don’t worry about it. Just enjoy yourself.”

No sooner had I spoken than Emily pulled Ethan toward the master bedroom.

“Hold on,” I said.

She turned back. “What?”

“That’s Mom’s room.”

“What did you say?” Emily looked at me in disbelief.

“We’ll take the guest room. Mom gets the master.”

“Why should we take the smaller one?”

“Because I said so.”

“Daniel, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you picking fights with me?”

Faced with Emily’s angry glare, Mom quickly tried to defuse it.

“I can sleep anywhere. Even the sofa looks comfortable enough.”

“Mom, you’re taking the master bedroom.”

Without another word, I led Mom toward the room.

Emily blocked me.

“What do you mean? Explain yourself.”

“I just want Mom to be comfortable and happy on this trip.”

“You only care about your mom’s feelings. What about mine? What about Ethan’s?”

I ignored her.

Emily stomped her feet in frustration.

“Mom, take a rest. Later, we’ll go out for steak.”

“Daniel, is something going on?”

“Mom, I just want you to enjoy this trip.”

Then I pulled Emily aside.

“I don’t want Mom upset on this trip. As long as you cooperate, once we get back, I’ll not only buy Jason Collins a car—I’ll hand over the rest of the money to you, completely under your control.”

Hearing that, Emily’s frown disappeared, her eyes lighting up.

“Really?” she asked, staring at me.

“When have I ever lied to you?”

“Fine. I’ll do what you say.”

Half an hour later, I took them to the most famous high-end steakhouse in Denver, where the average bill was thousands per person.

Mom had never eaten at a Western restaurant, never had steak.

I remembered her once saying she wanted to try it.

“Daniel, this place… it must be expensive,” Mom whispered, glancing around nervously.

“It’s not. Just fifty-eight dollars a person.”

“Dad, don’t lie. I looked it up online—the minimum is $1,988.” Ethan interjected.

“What? That much? Then I won’t eat here…” Mom stood up, panicked.

I shot Ethan a furious glare and gently guided Mom back into her seat.

“Mom, it’s rare for us to travel. Eating something good is what you deserve. You raised me all these years, and I’ve never properly shown you my gratitude. Sit down and enjoy—it won’t cost much.”

“Daniel, I know you have a good heart. But it’s too expensive. Why don’t you all eat here, and I’ll just find a noodle shop downstairs?”

“She’s right,” Emily muttered. “This fancy steak is wasted on her. Noodles suit her better.”

“Enough,” I snapped, frowning.

Emily opened her mouth again, but then remembered the promise I had made.

She knew better than to push me now.

The steaks and wine arrived soon after.

Mom awkwardly held the knife and fork, clearly unsure what to do.

Smiling, I showed her how to use them.

When she still struggled, I simply cut the steak into small pieces for her.

She ate two bites.

Then, hearing Ethan say he wasn’t full, she set aside her own steak for him.

But Ethan suddenly exploded.

He swept all the beef she’d put onto his plate onto the floor.

“You ate from it already! You think I’d eat your leftovers? Disgusting!”

“Sweetheart, I hadn’t touched those pieces—”

“If it was on your plate, then it’s dirty!”

Mom’s eyes reddened with tears of humiliation.

She bent down, trying to pick the beef up.

I stopped her.

Then, with a sharp crack, I slapped Ethan across the face.

The sound echoed.

Ethan froze, eyes wide in shock.

Emily, too, was stunned.

“Ethan Parker, I raised you to respect your grandmother. Did you ignore everything I taught you?”

“Dad, I’m not wrong! Eating her leftovers could spread germs! I could get sick!”

Tears streamed down Ethan’s cheeks as he glared at me defiantly.

“It was my fault. I wasn’t careful,” Mom quickly interjected, trying to ease the tension.

“Take your son back to the hotel,” I told Emily.

“Come on, Ethan. Let’s go,” she muttered.

Emily didn’t want to push me too far.

She was still waiting for me to hand over the money.

When they were gone, I gently took Mom’s hand.

Fighting back tears, I said, “Mom, I’m sorry. I’ve failed you. I haven’t raised him right.”

“Silly boy, I don’t blame you. I only feel sorry for you. You work so hard every day. Where do you find the time to teach him properly? And me—I have so little education. Even if I wanted to teach him, I wouldn’t know how.”

Mom gave a bitter smile.