There was a reason why Mom favored Sean.

When we were young, she smacked Sean twice because he finished an entire jar of candy. The next day, she took us out, and while we were waiting at the traffic light, Sean pushed her onto the busy road out of resentment.

He didn't use much force, but Mom's guard was down. And just like that, she stumbled onto the road.

The moment she hit the ground, a car sped past and broke her hand.

When she glanced back at us, my arms were still outstretched—I had been trying to save her. But she assumed I was the devil's spawn, trying to end her life, the one responsible for ruining her bright future.

The real culprit, however, stood there crying and gained all of Mom's sympathy. She thought Sean was worried about her, but she had no idea the one who ruined her career was her favorite son.

Fortunately, Mom wasn't in danger. Her hand eventually recovered after the surgery, but as a cardiac surgeon, she could no longer perform operations.

The hospital director where she worked happened to retire around that time, so he offered her his position.

But her dream was to become a world-renowned cardiac surgeon. How could she settle for being just the director of a public hospital at such a young age?

Since then, Mom had been depressed. Her mood became unpredictable, and she would smash anything in sight during her tantrums—pots, pans, the fridge, even the television couldn't escape her wrath.

Dad tried to comfort her, but his efforts were in vain. Sometimes, she even hurt him physically. His face was always marred with scratches he'd gotten trying to calm her rages.

At first, he thought that if he were patient enough, he could eventually help her find her way back.

But one day, when she flew into another rage, she picked up a knife and slashed his wrist. He nearly lost his life, and that was the last straw.

Even Dad, who was known for his good temper, lost it. He filed for divorce against Mom and walked out on us, leaving Sean and me with her.

From then on, Mom had to juggle work and raising us. Life was hard for her.

And after Dad left, she resented me even more. She blamed me for ruining the bright, enviable future she once had.

She used to say I looked just like him—but there was no affection in her gaze, only growing disdain.

Sean, however, became her only source of strength.

She always said if it weren't for him, she wouldn't know how long she would struggle with depression. To her, he was like her savior who brought light back into her life.

But what Mom never knew was that after Dad left, I was the one who cooked all our meals after school. I knew she hated me, so I always had Sean call her to dinner.

I was the one who always kept the house clean. I also did the laundry, standing on a stool to hang the clothes out to dry. And with the money I'd saved up over the years since I was young, I bought her Mother's Day gifts, surprise presents, and always made sure her vases were filled with fresh flowers.

But she credited it all to Sean, and it was simply because I wasn't good with words.

I once tried to explain what really happened during the accident, but every single time, she'd cut me off and tell me off for trying to gain sympathy and falsely accusing Sean.

After a few attempts, she decided I was just being defiant and gave me a harsh beating, intending to teach me a lesson.

Since then, I stopped trying to explain myself.

Sean, of course, noticed how much Mom favored him. So he played the part perfectly—clinging to her like a sweet, considerate child while quietly badmouthing me behind my back.

And I'd received beatings more than once because of that.

The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, jolting me out of my reverie.

He cast a sheepish look at Mom and apologized, "Sorry, I almost missed the stop."

But Mom, who usually wouldn't miss her chance to snap at the driver at a time like this, was currently too focused on Sean to bother with such trivial things. She ignored the driver, grabbed her luggage, and exited the car.

I stared at the view in front of me and belatedly realized this luxury suite with a seaside view was the one I once told her about.

Using the money I'd saved up from my years of salary, I had planned to bring her and Sean here once she was on break.

And now I had indeed come with them—only, as a soul.

Vain as ever, Sean was clearly stunned by the scenery too. Pulling his phone out, he began snapping selfies nonstop and posted several updates to his social media.

Ever since they arrived at Meldives, they seemed to have completely forgotten that I'd just come out of surgery. They spent every day either lounging in the sun or indulging in food.

Forget about checking in with me—they hadn't so much as mentioned my name once.

Just as I was fuming with nowhere to vent, my attending physician, Yvonne Jones, suddenly showed up.

Mom also looked surprised to see her all the way out here in a foreign country.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Dr. Zieck, you've been away from the hospital for days," Yvonne said, her eyes reddening. "It's Zachary. He's…"

But Mom seemed like she already knew what Yvonne was about to say.

"He's dead, is he?" She cut Yvonne off coldly. "I've heard that line so many times that I can practically recite it. Can't you all come up with something new?"

Panic gripped Yvonne. She didn't know how to make Mom believe her, so she could only repeat herself over and over again.

"Please, just believe me this once," she cried out. "Zachary's body has been lying in the morgue for an entire week. We've been waiting for you to come and collect it!"

Mom threw her head back and laughed. "Collect his body? If he's really dead, I'd celebrate! I'd throw him the grandest funeral this country's ever seen."

Just as Yvonne was about to speak again, Mom's expression suddenly darkened.

"Enough!" she snapped. "It's bad enough that Zachary lies through his teeth every day, but now you're playing along too?

"What did he promise you to get you to come all this way and trick me? Don't tell me you have a crush on him?"

She burst out in laughter. "To think someone's actually interested in him!"

Hearing this, Sean also sidled up to them and said, "Well, if it isn't Dr. Jones. What kind of spell did Zachary cast on you to make you so loyal to him?

"I've always known you had a bit of a thing for him, but did you really have to come all the way here just to scare my mom?"

Yvonne's face flushed with fury at their mocking. Deciding to stop persuading them, she stiffened her tone and said, "Zachary's body is in the morgue right now. If you don't believe me, go see for yourselves. Just don't come crying later."