“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.