I pursed my lips when I heard Karen’s voice. It was for Jeremy’s sake so I’m willing to swallow my pride as David’s wife. Asking another woman to let me talk to my husband was humiliating but I thought it didn’t matter as long as Jeremy’s life was out of danger.

“Karen… I need to talk to David. Can you give him the phone? It will be quick,” I said, holding back my anger.

“Oh? Is it important? Maybe you can tell me about it then I’ll let David know,” Karen replied, following a mocking laugh from the other line.

“This is important, Karen. Just give the phone to David. I really need to talk to him,” I begged, biting my lip harder until it bled.

“Then tell me. What is it? Do you need money for shopping or what? David, your wife is calling!” Karen yelled then laughed.

“I don’t have time to talk to her. Just hang up and come back here,” I heard David reply.

“No, don’t! I need you here, David! Jeremy is in a critical—” I didn’t finish what I needed to say when the call hung up. With a heavy heart, I tried calling again but I can no longer connect.

“He must have blocked my number,” I sobbed. “Damn it, David!”

I was wiping my tears while headed to the ICU where they brought Jeremy when a nurse came to me with a worried look on her face.

“Mrs. Brown? The doctors are looking for you. They need to talk to you about something important,” she informed.

Nodding my head, I followed the nurse as she guided me to the doctors who were discussing my son’s condition.

“Mrs. Brown, you’re here. We’re going to be frank with you. Unfortunately, the patient is in a critical condition. We couldn’t start doing anything without permission from his doctor, Dr. Morris. He knows about the patient’s condition best and would be able to provide proper treatment for him right now. We’re afraid we might put the patient’s life in danger if we try something without Dr. Morris,” one of the doctors there, explained.

“Then what are you waiting for? Call Dr. Morris to help my son!” I replied, failing to hide my frustration. If it were David and not me, they would do it as fast as they could.

“Well… about that. Mr. Brown called for Dr. Morris just a few minutes ago. He just left the hospital before you came here,” the nurse muttered.

“Ah, it’s him again!” I screamed inside my head. Taking a deep breath, I asked the doctors to do what they could for the moment while I tried to get Dr. Morris back to the hospital.

I was pacing back and forth while dialing David’s number. I already called him dozens of times but it wasn’t ringing at all.

“Right! I should try calling Lewis,” I mumbled to myself as I dialed David’s secretary’s phone number. My eyes lit up when my call was answered after a ring.

“Lewis! Oh god, thanks! I need your help,” I cried, hoping he wouldn’t hang up on me.

“Mrs. Brown. I-Is there something I can help you with?” Lewis asked quietly. He knew about my husband’s treatment toward me but he was never rude to me before which I was thankful for.

“Jeremy’s in the ICU and I need Dr. Morris to operate on him. But David called Dr. Morris before he could check on my son. Can you please tell me where David is? I need to bring Dr. Morris back to the hospital before it’s too late,” I explained in between sobs.

“Please, Lewis. I will take all the blame from David, just tell me where he is right now,” I continued when Lewis said nothing.

“I-I understand, Mrs. Brown. I will send you the address now,” Lewis said after a minute of silence.

“Thank you so much, Lewis! Thank you,” I exclaimed while wiping my tears before hanging up.

Not long after, I received a message from Lewis containing David’s location. I was no longer surprised when I saw the address. So, he was staying in our vacation house together with Karen. Why would he call for Dr. Morris though?

I rushed outside and took a cab to bring me to the address. I was praying on my way there while clutching my phone in case I received any update from the hospital. It took me almost an hour to get to the address. I was only hoping that nothing bad had happened to Jeremy yet.

“Please wait here. I will be back soon. Don’t worry about the money, I will pay you later,” I told the driver before jumping off the car.

I ran to the gate and stormed inside the house.

“David!” I called as soon as I stepped inside. “Where are you, David?”

I halted when I found my son-of-the-devil husband in the living room, caring for another woman.

“Dr. Morris, you’re here,” I muttered and rushed toward the doctor who was treating Karen’s bruises and wounds on her knee.

“You must be careful not to wet this area for now. It will be bad if your wounds get infected,” Dr. Morris explained after putting medicine on Karen’s knee. “And make sure to carefully use the stairs. You’re lucky since it's just your knee and not your head that got injured from falling.”

It turned out David called for Dr. Morris to check on Karen after she fell on the stairs. It wasn’t as serious as Jeremy’s condition so I wasted no time and asked Dr. Morris to come back to the hospital with me.

“Cynthia! What do you think you’re doing? I called Dr. Morris here!” David yelled as he glared at me. “How did you even find this place? You’re not supposed to be here. Were you stalking me? Unbelievable!” he continued, throwing harsh words at me in front of his other woman.

“Say whatever you want. I don’t have time for this, David. If you won’t hear me out, I’ll do things my way,” I said, walking toward Dr. Morris and dragging him to the door.

“We need to return to the hospital, Dr. Morris. My son needs your help,” I told him. “I will explain everything on our way. The taxi is waiting outside,” I added in a hurry.

“You’re not going anywhere, Cynthia. Dr. Morris isn’t done treating Karen yet,” David grumbled. He glowered at me like a beast ready to prey on those who were weak against them. “Stop making a scene and leave. Don’t bother Dr. Morris,” he warned.

“I would not be doing this for nothing, David. Jeremy had a heart attack and he needed to see the doctor now. His life is in danger! Would you rather let your son live just to fool around with your other woman?” I said, clenching my fists.

“Ah!”

A heavy palm landed on my face. David was clenching his jaws as he continued glaring at me. “How dare you make things up? Are you that desperate to get my attention to even lie about your son’s condition? I saw Jeremy earlier and he was fine! Stop spouting nonsense and leave, Cynthia!”

“Do you think I’m only making things up? We both know I care for Jeremy more than you do. I wouldn’t put my son’s life in danger just so you would look at me. But please, let Dr. Morris return to the hospital now. Jeremy needs an urgent treatment!” I insisted. I was ready to kneel in front of him just so he wouldn’t stop us when Karen suddenly cried.

“Ah! My knees hurt, David. My head too.” She fell on the sofa and covered her eyes.

It was an obvious act that nobody would buy except for David who was a complete fool when it came to his childhood sweetheart.

“Look at what you did, Cynthia! Karen isn’t already feeling well and you had to come and make it harder for her!” David yelled in my face. He rushed to where Karen was to comfort her.

“You wouldn’t even doubt her but you always question my words, huh? What do I need to make you believe me just this once, David? Jeremy…” I could no longer hold back my tears so I let them flow down my face. “Jeremy needs a doctor and he needs you too!”

“Enough. Just go. Leave Dr. Morris alone. He still needs to check on Karen’s condition,” David coldly said. He wouldn’t even look at me.

“Ahem. Excuse me, Mrs. Brown,” Dr. Morris mumbled before heading back to Karen to check on her.

“I’m so sorry, Cynthia. I think other doctors can take care of Jeremy in case you’re telling the truth about his condition. After all, David owns the best hospital in the city. As it is the best hospital, the doctors are also talented,” Karen said and began faking her tears.

“Ah! I’m only concerned about Jeremy’s condition. Why are you looking at me like that?” she mumbled before burying her face on David’s chest.

“Cynthia, leave!”

“I am not a dog, David. Just to remind you, I am still your wife. You can do whatever you want but you should be ashamed of yourself right now. I don’t care if you screw bitches or what, just let Dr. Morris take care of my son and I’ll get out of your sight!” I faced David despite my fear of him hitting me again.

I could endure his slaps as long as he would listen to my request.

David stood and walked toward me. He scoffed before swinging his right hand to slap me again.

I felt my neck got slightly twisted by his slap. Even my body fell on the cold floor because of the impact. A tear fell on my eye but I held it in. I tasted blood on my lips but still, I wouldn’t stop begging for my son’s sake.

Crawling, I grabbed David by his ankle and slowly bowed my head. I could feel the hard floor on my forehead and Karen’s annoying giggles felt suffocating but I ignored it.

“David, please. Let Dr. Morris treat Jeremy. It’s been more than an hour. He needs proper treatment from the doctor. Please,” I begged, not letting go of him.

He kicked me several times but I held tighter. I was willing to get humiliated as much as he wanted in exchange for the doctor who could save Jeremy.

“Please. Just this one, please.”

“I said, enough! Guards! Drag this woman outside the gate and make sure to lock up so she won't enter again!” David ordered his men who were on standby.

“N-No, David. For Jeremy’s sake… Please! Jeremy is your son, too! Why won’t you listen to me? David!” I cried as the guards held me tightly in my arms and pulled me away from David.

“Let me go! I need to knock sense on that bastard’s head so he’ll listen to me. Let me go!”

The guards said nothing in response and just quietly threw me outside the gate. I groaned when my back fell on the pebbles on the ground. It was so frustrating that I grabbed a handful of pebbles and threw them at the gate.

“If something happens to Jeremy, I will not forgive you, David!” I yelled as I cried.

I wasn’t done cursing David when I heard my phone ring. My heartbeat skipped when I saw the hospital number flashing on the screen.

“Jeremy… Please, hold on, sweetheart. Don’t give up on me,” I mumbled before answering the call.

“Mrs. Brown?” an unfamiliar voice said from the other line. “Please don’t be shocked. The patient, Jeremy Brown is dying. He wanted to see you right now. Please hurry back to the hospital to see him…”

“O-Oh!” I didn’t listen to what else the lady had to say. My knees gave up but I forced them to stand as I groggily walked to the taxi. I couldn’t remember how I begged the driver to drive fast back to the hospital that time.

I was only thinking of getting there by whatever means to see my son.

I let out my tears while hugging tightly on Jeremy’s photo. Two days had already passed since the day my son died. I still couldn’t accept the fact that he left before I could reach the hospital that day. I was bawling my eyes as I jumped off the taxi to see my son but it was already too late.

The funeral ended and there was still no news from David. I tried calling him once before the funeral but the call wouldn’t get through. He was still blocking me… and probably enjoying his time fooling around with Karen.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and slowly placed the flowers I prepared on Jeremy’s grave. I brushed my trembling hands against it while muttering his name.

“Oh… Sweetheart. I hope you’re in a good place now,” I whispered, shutting my eyes.

The guilt I felt worsened by the day for failing to help my son. I did all I could but it didn’t change my son’s fate. How ironic that he died because there was no doctor in the best hospital who could operate on him when his father was the owner of the hospital. If only David listened to me… But it was already too late… Jeremy was gone and he was never coming back.

I opened my eyes and stared at his smiling photo. I sat down in front of his grave and recalled the days before the SAT—before he died. Jeremy was happily talking to me about his plan on getting into NYU just like his father. David graduated from NYU and Jeremy wished to be alumnus with him in the future.

My loving son even promised he would do his best to make his father proud. He also hoped that doing this would lessen my arguments with David. Nobody predicted that the day of the exam would be the last day Jeremy would be with us.

I could blame David forever but this wouldn’t bring Jeremy back. However, I still wanted him to realize the pain I was feeling the moment I heard the news that my son had passed away.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m sorry,” I sobbed on his grave.

Jeremy was the only one on my side. And with him gone, I felt alone and hopeless.

After hours of crying, my legs fell asleep and I could barely stand up. I hugged Jeremy’s urn along with his photo and walked to the taxi. David had dozens of cars but he never allowed me to drive any of them. I had no choice but to use public transportation.

I just settled down in my seat when my phone rang. Speaking of the devil, it was David.

“Cynthia, where are you? Ah, never mind. You remember what’s today, right? It’s my mother’s 70th birthday. I need you and Jeremy to come to the villa to celebrate with them,” he ordered with no hint of interest about what was going on with his family when he wasn’t around.

“About that… Can I come late? I still have something to do—”

“Come on time! Are you trying to embarrass me in my family? If you come late, don’t even think of coming at all. I’ll bring Karen with me anyway,” he grumbled after cutting my sentence off.

“David… I can’t. Today, your son…” I couldn’t finish my sentence properly when I remembered about Jeremy’s funeral. I was the only one who came. There was no sign of his father and other family members, just me. And yet David wanted me to come to his mother’s birthday to celebrate?

He had no idea at all. But it’s not my fault that he didn’t know about Jeremy. I did my part trying to inform him and he was the one who was unwilling to listen.

“Just tell me if you can’t come. Perhaps Jeremy will be coming so don’t forget to tell him. His grandma would like to see him,” David insisted in a firm voice.

I took a deep breath and sighed. Wiping my tears, I nodded my head as I replied. “I got it. We will be there. We’ll come.”

David scoffed from the other line upon hearing my response. “Good,” he said and hung up.

“Your grandma wants to see you, sweetheart,” I whispered and hugged the urn even tighter.