The young couple in the hospital room was surprised.

The man gently patted the dust off Micah's clothes and kindly asked, "Do you need anything, young one? Where's your mother?"

Micah scratched his palm nervously before gathering his courage to say, "Sir, my mom's sick, and she's very cold. Could you lend us a blanket? I'll trade you my guardian angel pendant for it. Please, will you help her?"

After a slight hesitation, the man reached into the cabinet, retrieved a new blanket still sealed in plastic, and passed it to Micah. "Here, take this. I hope your mother recovers soon."

The stranger's kindness left Micah speechless. Perhaps it was all the hardships he'd been through that night. He clutched the blanket tightly, murmuring thank you over and over.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you both."

The man waved his hand to stop him. "Don't mention it. We didn't buy this blanket. The founder of this hospital, Mr. Shepherd, provided this. He gave one to every patient's family to celebrate his loved one's successful surgery.

"See? It even has their picture on it. If you want to thank someone, just wish Mr. Shepherd and his loved one a long, happy life together."

Micah stiffened. His mind flashed to Walter Shepherd kicking him out of the hospital room. Then, another memory returned—Walter lifting him onto his shoulders, both of them laughing as they ran across the grass.

Suddenly, he couldn't hold back his tears. "I understand. I'll thank M-Mr. Shepherd."

My heart ached more than any pain I had felt on the operating table. Seeing the hollow look in Micah's eyes, I remembered everything we'd been through.

The truth was, Walter had loved Micah and me once.

He'd stay up all night choosing the perfect name after Micah was born. He'd bought out every toy store in the city for Micah's birthday. He'd hold Micah and read him fairy tales when I was sick with a fever.

But all that ended when Ruby came back from overseas. She kept setting us up, using her heart condition as an excuse. She played the helpless victim, winning Walter's sympathy.

Then, she tricked Micah into putting caterpillars on her bed and faked a heart attack when Walter walked in. After that, nothing was the same.

The man in the hospital room gave an approving nod. "And your father? Why isn't he here with you?"

Micah lowered his head. Tears fell onto the plastic cover with the printed image of Walter's and Ruby's smiling faces.

"My dad's dead," he murmured.

After saying goodbye to the kind man, Micah clutched the precious blanket and hurried back toward the main hospital building.

He had just entered the lobby when he collided with Ruby. She was cradling her dog in her arms. Her carefully applied makeup couldn't disguise the look of utter disgust that twisted her features.

"Get lost, you wretched brat. Do you know how much this outfit cost? You couldn't pay for it even if you sold yourself. You're just like your mother. Disgusting!"

Without a second glance at the bruises on Micah's forehead, Ruby drew back her foot and kicked him viciously. The sudden impact sent him crashing, the blanket flying from his arms.

He ignored the pain as he desperately reached for the blanket, but Ruby crushed his hand under her foot. She pressed down, grinding her heel into Micah's fingers while staring at him in cold fury.

"You wretched brat. Listen. If you ever play the victim in front of Walter again, I'll make sure you and your pathetic mother end up on the streets. Got it?" she threatened.

Her glare was so intense it seemed like she wanted him gone for good.

I gritted my teeth, with rage and sorrow swelling inside me until I could barely breathe. I grabbed Ruby's foot frenetically, trying to shove her away.

"Leave Micah alone! If you want to take your anger out on someone, take it out on me! Don't hurt him!" I shouted, but Ruby couldn't hear me at all.

Instead, she watched, amused, as Micah's face flushed with pain. She pressed her foot down harder.

Micah's arm jerked uncontrollably, but he refused to cry. He raised his head, his swollen eyes glaring at Ruby, who stood flawless and composed.

He yelled indignantly, "My mom isn't disgusting! She's the best mom in the world. You're a horrible person. Don't you dare hurt her!"

Then, he bit down hard on Ruby, hoping to make her retreat.

Ruby, already enraged, snapped. She drove her stiletto heel into Micah's stomach.

"You wretched brat!" she barked.

I screamed and lunged forward, trying to protect Micah. But he phased through my ghostly form and crashed against the wall, blood spurting from his mouth. Still, he wouldn't cry.

His hand fumbled weakly across the floor. "T-The blanket… Mom needs the blanket…"

Ruby wasn't finished. She set her dog down and strode over, striking Micah across the face.

"Ruby?"

Walter's voice, full of shock, froze everyone in place.

Micah's hollow eyes suddenly brightened, his cracked lips barely forming the word. "Dad…"

Walter took a step forward, but Ruby turned and stopped him. "Walter, I was just looking for you."

She laughed sweetly and motioned for the bodyguards to block Micah from sight before pressing herself against Walter.

Walter picked up on something strange and frowned. "Ruby, is that Micah on the floor? Did you hit him?"

Ruby's eyes flickered, and tears instantly spilled down her cheeks. "Walter, I'm sorry. You weren't here when Micah came in yelling terrible things at me. I don't know who told him to do it.

"I tried to ignore him, but he knocked me down. You know I'm still recovering from surgery. The doctor said—"

Walter's expression darkened, his skepticism turning to anger. "Nadia isn't doing right by him. You're already in a fragile state. If he knocked you down and made things worse, I'll ensure they pay for it."

I stood before Walter, frantic to defend Micah. "No, Micah didn't! He's innocent. Ruby is deceiving you!"

Micah must have heard him because he struggled to speak through the pain. "Dad—"

A bodyguard immediately covered his mouth, cutting him off.

Walter paused at the voice and was about to turn to look. "Was that Micah?"

Ruby's expression flashed with anger before she put on a brave face and released Walter's arm. "Go to him. I'll be fine. Even after he caused my heart attack... even after he nearly took me from you for good... he's still just a child. I've forgiven him."

Her words erased any remaining doubt in Walter's eyes. He gave a sharp, mirthless laugh and walked away without looking back.

"Fine. If Nadia can't handle her own kid, Ruby, you deal with him. A child must be disciplined. Nadia will spoil him beyond repair if he's left unchecked. I'll be waiting upstairs."

As Walter left, Micah writhed desperately in the bodyguards' grip.

Ruby stepped forward and struck him again, her blows relentless. His face was swollen and bloody, his lips split. Yet no matter how much she hit him, he refused to let go of the blanket in his arms.

Ruby wasn't done yet. She dragged her long nails over the corner of Micah's eye. "You wretched brat. You're just like your disgusting mother."

I lunged at her like a maniac. My hands grabbed for her throat, but it was no use. Falling to my knees, I broke down sobbing, begging Ruby to spare my child. But that was pointless, too.

The helpless fury burned inside me. Why had I died so soon? Why couldn't I protect Micah?

The abuse only ended when Ruby's dog let out a whimper.

She ran her hand over its smooth coat and murmured, "Sweetheart, did that scare you?"

Ruby, as if she had finally worn herself out, gestured for the bodyguards to let Micah go. She raised her foot and brought it down hard on his bruised face, her expression feigning pity.

She scornfully remarked, "See? Even your father didn't want you. How tragic."

The elevator doors slowly slid shut. Only Micah remained, his small frame curled tight against the cold tile floor.

I dropped to my knees beside him, knowing that it was hopeless but still trying to lift him anyway. It was completely useless.

The hospital doors were already closed. No one would dare help Micah without Walter's permission.

The blood at the corner of Micah's lips dried. His eyelids fluttered weakly, but he couldn't open them. Only the plastic-covered blanket in his arms made a soft, crinkling sound.

The guardian angel pendant he always wore around his neck was gone, lost somewhere. Only a pale line remained where the chain had rested, the last trace that someone had once loved him.

I didn't know how long I knelt there or how long I cried. Eventually, the ache in my chest dulled, and my tears ran dry. Just when I thought it was all over, Walter came down.

The sharp click of his handmade leather shoes against the floor rang out. He stepped into the center of the lobby and fixed his gaze on Micah's motionless form, his expression unreadable.

"Are you done with your act? Are you trying to illicit sympathy just like how Nadia taught you? Did you actually think that I'd break just because you're playing helpless? Keep dreaming!"

Walter's icy voice cut through me, each word a knife twisting deeper into my heart.

I wanted to snap, "Are you even human? How dare you talk about Micah this way! He's kind, thoughtful, and…"

Tears spilled fast, streaking down Micah's face. I wasn't certain whether I'd actually seen it or just imagined it, but his lashes faintly fluttered.

Walter kept ranting, but when Micah stayed still, a flicker of doubt finally tightened his expression. He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Micah.

"Micah? Why aren't you answering me? I know what you're up to. Cut the act."

Walter's tone grew more menacing with each word, his footsteps quicker with every step. Just as he was about to reach Micah, the latter's hand twitched.

Walter halted. The panic on his face hardened into anger. He was sure that this was another trick. He yanked out his phone, snapped photos of Micah, and sent them to me.

He texted, "Nadia, you've gotten smart, haven't you? First, you fake it yourself, and now, you're teaching Micah how to put on an act? Fine. If you want him to play along, we'll see who cracks first!"

After sending the message, Walter turned. He briefly hesitated before walking off without sparing a second glance.

Silence settled over the lobby once more before Micah managed to open his eyes. He coughed, each cough laced with blood. He didn't fully wake until he saw scarlet drops staining the plastic bag he held.

Struggling to his feet, he carefully pressed the blanket to his chest and grinned weakly, his lip split and swollen. While holding the blanket, he stumbled down the hallway to where my bed stood.

When his fingers met my cold flesh, he paused. Summoning the last ounce of his strength, he unfolded the blanket and laid it over me.

"Mom, there… now you'll be warm."

Then, his body gave out, and darkness took him.

…

The next day, a medical intern's scream pierced the hospital. "Someone help! There's a dead patient in here!"

Hearing the commotion, Walter pushed through the crowd, irritated. "Break it up! If any of you disturb Ruby, I'll—"

His voice died when his eyes locked onto my body on the hospital bed, and Micah slumped over me, his breathing shallow. Walter's face went pale.