Chapter 6
Mom grew even more furious seeing Yvonne, who had seemed so meek just moments ago, now standing her ground so aggressively.
“Yvonne,” she snapped. “I’m warning you… you’d better know your place. Be careful, or I’ll fire you
the moment I get back!
“Get out of my sight while I still have some mercy left!”
Words lodged in Yvonne’s throat. Unable to speak anymore, she wiped her tears and turned
around to leave.
I wanted to speak up for her, to defend someone who had only ever tried to help me. But no
matter how hard I screamed, no sound came out.
I could only watch helplessly as she disappeared around the corner, crying. I couldn’t even
wipe her tears away for her.
After she left, Sean tried to comfort Mom.
“It’s okay, Mom. Don’t be angry. Maybe Zachary’s still bitter about me taking that medical
award from him last time.”
Mom sighed. “Even if he had won that award, what good would it have done? Forget about saving others—we should be thankful if someone as twisted as him didn’t end up harming people instead.”
As soon as her words fell, a throbbing ache bloomed in my head. And with that came a
memory.
As a soul, much of my past had faded into a blur. But still, their conversation had stirred something I’d forgotten.
Back then, Sean had just graduated from medical school, and I was about to become the youngest recipient of a major medical award.
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However, Mom secretly pulled strings and used her position to give the award to Sean
instead.
I’d dressed up and gone to the ceremony, confident and ready. This was something I had
poured a full year of work into–cutting–edge research that could save lives.
Then came the applause from the audience, and the announcer called out Sean’s name.
Had it been anyone else, I would’ve acknowledged their work. But Sean, who constantly skipped classes and was barely into his internship, clearly didn’t deserve the award.
Everyone knew what deal they had behind the scenes.
After returning home, I confronted Mom. “Why did you do it? Don’t you know how much this award means to me? I spent a whole year on this research, all because I wanted to help
others!”
It was the first time in my life I’d ever raised my voice at her. Normally, I wouldn’t even dare speak loudly in front of her. I’d always just swallowed my pride and accepted whatever came, thinking it was better to take the hit than to upset her.
Mom immediately blew up. Slamming the table in a fit of rage, she shrieked, “Since when do you think it’s okay to shout at me?
“Help others? What a joke! As if someone like you, who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt his own mother, would do that!
“Do
you think anyone’s going to believe that you’re in this to save lives? I saved you today by taking that spot away from you. If I hadn’t, you would’ve dragged our entire family down with you.”
Realizing how nonsensical Mom sounded, I itched to throw a few punches at her. But the moment I clenched my fists, I felt a pang of guilt. I thought no matter what, I shouldn’t have done that to my mother.
But she clearly thought otherwise. As she rambled on, she grew even more furious and eventually slapped me hard across the face.
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I stared at her, absolutely dumbfounded. I was the one who’d been robbed, worked hard for
nothing, and been falsely accused. And yet somehow, I was the one getting punished.
Seeing this, Sean decided to add fuel to the fire. “Zachary, Mom’s just doing what’s best for you. How could you speak to her like that? Apologize, then she’ll forgive you.”
When I saw how smug and self–righteous he looked, I couldn’t take it anymore. I lunged at him and punched him.
Mom rushed over, clearly panicking as she checked Sean’s injuries. Then she swerved toward me and screeched, “Zachary, how dare you? You’re nothing but a ruthless bastard!”
Sean seized the opportunity to play the victim again. “Mom, don’t be mad at him. I know he’s hated me for a long time. I’ll just leave, okay?”
Of course, Mom wouldn’t let him be wronged. She’d doted on him all his life. So, she
grabbed a broom and started chasing me through the house, beating me before throwing me out entirely.
I stood outside the door in a daze for a long time.
I began to wonder whether all the years I’d spent giving everything I had for this family were for nothing. Did Mom really not love me at all? Had everything I’d done for her meant absolutely nothing? Or did she just choose not to see it?
After getting kicked out, I checked into a cheap hotel. But the odds were just never in my
favor.
Not long after, I collapsed in the hotel lobby and was rushed to the hospital, where they diagnosed me with a brain tumor.
