After my husband's first love, Sydney Edwards, used me as a walking blood bank, I died in the run-down rental apartment my billionaire husband, Casper Hawthorne, had tossed me into like it was a blessing for me.

Today was the third day since I had died.

My six-year-old son, Adam, finally realized something was wrong.

He had cut his finger while playing with his toys, yet I did not comfort him.

He tore open a packet of crackers and raised one to my mouth to feed me, but I did not stop him.

He lay in my arms, clutching my clothes and whispering for me. Still, I did not answer.

Lost and panicking, he found my phone and called his father, Casper. "Dad, why is Mom still sleeping?"

The man sent back a photo of himself having New Year's Eve dinner with Sydney and said in a cold voice, "She's just sleeping, she's not dead. Today is New Year's Eve. I'm busy. Tell that clueless mom of yours that when she's ready to admit she was wrong, she can come and look for me."

After the call ended, Adam stood there frozen for a long time.

He picked up the last biscuit in the rental apartment from the trash can, broke it in half, and held one piece to my mouth. "Mom, let's eat too."

The woman on the bed still wasn't responding, but my son Adam was already used to it. He carefully placed the cracker by the pillow, then devoured his own half.

He touched his stomach… He was still hungry.

My son subconsciously glanced at the uneaten piece of cracker, then walked into the kitchen and drank a large bowl of cold water from a cup, as if he had done it many times.

My soul floated in the air, my heart aching as I watched this scene.

Was this still my dear, beloved Adam? My baby boy, who would cry if dinner was even a little late?

How could he have become like this when I had only been gone for three days?

The phone screen suddenly lit up, revealing the family photo used as its wallpaper. It had been taken in a cozy room—Casper Hawthorne still had his arm around me and our son, the two of them laughing at the camera while I was still asleep.

Their similar faces showed the same cheerfulness.

That day, when I was still sleeping, Casper had brought our son in, tiptoeing and whispering, "Adam, Mommy is sleeping in again, should we wake her up together?"

Our son had nodded, smiling mischievously. "Okay, Daddy."

Casper had raised his eyebrows and then took out a delicate feather pen from behind his back. Then, he had gently placed it on the tip of my nose. He tickled me once… Twice… until I couldn't help but sneeze. I sat up angrily and grabbed a pillow, wanting to smack him with a hit.

"Casper Hawthorne!" I had yelled.

Casper pulled our son in front of him as if asking for help. "Adam! Quick! Help Daddy stop Mommy!"

A chaotic and playful scene had then unfolded.

The warm scene sparked a memory in my son. He looked at the feather in the picture with wonder, his eyes shining brightly. "Is that how Daddy used to wake up sleepy Mommy?"

He put down the phone and hurried to the bedside. "Mommy, I know how to wake you up now. I'm going back to our old home to get the feather!"

Watching my son walk out so determinedly, I was stunned for a moment, subconsciously wanting to pick up the shoes on the floor and put them on for him. Alas, my outstretched hand passed through the air without resistance.

That was… Yeah. I forgot.

I was already dead. I couldn't take care of my dear boy anymore.

Leaving the house, I followed my son to the Hawthorne family residence.

It was New Year's Eve today, and the streets were filled with the scent of fireworks. The mood around us was lively, filled with the joyous sounds of family gatherings.

In front of the magnificent residence, a tall, handsome man was having a snowball fight in the yard with a girl who was only six years old. A woman was also standing at the side, her eyes filled with satisfaction. The man's gentle voice could be heard from time to time, "Slow down, don't fall."

What a harmonious scene.

My son saw this scene through the fence, blinked his eyes, and felt somewhat sad. He and Casper would frequently have snowball fights on New Year's Eve in the past, too.

He raised his eyes to wipe away the tears on his face and then tiptoed to press the doorbell.

Soon, someone came to open the door.

It wasn't Casper, it was Sydney. Sydney Edwards.

Sydney's smile vanished instantly when she saw my son, her expression replaced by a look of deep suspicion. "Why are you here?"

Sydney turned her head to look at Casper, who was still oblivious to all this, and her anxiety relaxed slightly. When she turned her head around, only annoyance remained on her face. "Did that shameless mother of yours send you here? Didn't she tell you that this isn't your home anymore? Get lost, kid."

She startled Adam, and his eyes quickly turned red as he glared at her. "You're lying! My mommy isn't someone shameless! You're the bad woman! I want to see my daddy!"

Sydney sneered, and while no one was looking, she gave him a hard shove. Caught off guard, my son's forehead slammed heavily against the iron gate, causing a loud sound.

"Who's there?" Casper asked, sensing something was off.

Sydney nervously covered my son's mouth and gave a casual excuse. "It's nothing, just a cat. It's getting cold; you should take Lily back inside first."

After the man left, Sydney immediately pinched my son hard with a vicious look in her eyes. "You're just as shameless as your mother, kid. All you do is cause trouble for me."

Adam struggled, fresh blood mixing with his tears as they rolled down together.

"Bah!" Sydney spat at my son in disgust and threw him onto the snow. "So disgusting."

My son got to his feet and continued to shout. "You're the disgusting one! You're the bad woman! I want to see Daddy, let me see Daddy!"

Sydney sneered, kicking at the dog door built into the main gate with her ten-centimeter red high heels. Her eyes were full of malice as she said, "If you're willing to crawl through this dog door, I'll take you to see your daddy. How does that sound?"

I was right beside them, glaring at Sydney. Blood was almost flowing out of my eyes.

How dare she?

How dare she humiliate my son like this?!

Heartache and rage nearly ate away my sanity.

I waved my hands frantically at Adam, wanting him to refuse it. Mommy was already dead. Mommy didn't need you to do so much for her.

Adam, go!

Go home!

My son raised his head, his gaze passing through me toward the festive villa in the distance. "You promise?"

Sydney was taken aback for a moment, then doubled over with laughter. She couldn't help but be amused by all this as she said, "Of course, I promise."

My son bit his lips. Then, he got on his hands and knees and stiffly crawled through the dog door, all while trembling. As he crawled, he comforted himself. "I'm okay. I won't cry. I still need to wake Mommy up."

But his tears still flowed uncontrollably, soaking his collar.

Sydney took out her phone and recorded what was happening in front of her. The excitement and sick pleasure in her eyes were apparent. "You're so obedient… No wonder you're Winnie's son, unwanted the moment you're born. Come on, bark like a dog. Make my day."

Just as she was busy enjoying herself, a voice with an unreadable tone suddenly came from behind. "What are you doing?"

Sydney's expression turned into panic as she quickly threw her phone on the ground. Then, she helped Adam up and patted the dirt off his clothes. "It's nothing. Adam was here looking for you, and I was just playing with him for a bit."

"Really?" Casper was a little uncertain, but Sydney immediately diverted his attention.

"Casper, look how cold it is outside. We should take Adam inside now, don't let him catch a cold," Sydney said with a frown, her face full of concern.

My son also raised his head, revealing the wound on his face. He was trying to find a trace of compassion on Casper's face, hoping his daddy would hold him and comfort him, just like in the past.

But Casper simply glanced at the wound on his son's head, and his eyes filled with indescribable anger. "Is this how Winnie is as a mother? Using her son to fight for favor was one thing, but now she's even hurting him? Does she think I'll feel bad for her now? She's dreaming!"

He then looked at Sydney, his tone full of affection. "Sydney, you're just too kind. That's why schemers take advantage of you again and again."

Adam and I were both stunned when we heard that.

Hearing what Casper said, Adam could only open his mouth as tears rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably. "Daddy..."

Perhaps that word finally moved Casper. He frowned, the coldness in his eyes icier than the frigid snowstorm. "Alright, say it, then. What do you want this time? Money or a house?"

Adam's hands were balled into fists, but he was too afraid to speak against him. He had once told Casper that Sydney was bullying him, but all it took was a crocodile tear from Sydney to make Casper believe that I was jealous of his affection toward her and that I was inciting our son to frame a woman.

That time, Casper had locked me in the basement for a whole week.

My son had also had nightmares for a whole week.

Adam couldn't help but shiver when that memory crossed his mind. He lowered his head and said softly, "Daddy, I can't wake Mommy up. Can you give me your quill?"

Casper's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously asked. "What do you mean you can't wake her up? Didn't your mother only donate 400cc worth of blood..."

"Casper!" Sydney suddenly cut him off.

Casper turned his head, a look of shock on his face. "What is it?"

Sydney stiffened and awkwardly changed the subject as she felt Casper's inquisitive look.

"Today is New Year's Eve. If Adam gets home late, Winnie will get worried. All he wants is a quill, right? You should hurry and give it to him. Let's not disturb their New Year's celebration."

Casper's attention was quickly diverted, and his expression softened slightly. "You're still so sympathetic. In that case, come with me."

The group entered the villa, and the wound on my son's face looked even more frightening under the bright lights. Sydney's daughter came over and looked at my disheveled son, asking curiously, "Daddy Casper, who is this? Is he a beggar? He's so dirty."

The girl's innocent words made my son's face flush red.

He looked weakly at Casper, hoping he would explain it to the girl. However, his father was seemingly triggered by something and looked at him with disgust. "Is this how your mother taught you to act to gain others' pity? Do you think I'll feel sympathy for you if you look more miserable? This is ridiculous…"

The redness on my son's face slowly faded as Casper voiced out his thoughts, replaced by paleness and fragility.

Adam thought that… His father really didn't love him anymore.

Wiping the tears from his face, he looked up again. Casper had already gone upstairs, and only Sydney was left, looking at him triumphantly with her eyes full of pity. "Tsk… How sad. Even your father doesn't want you anymore. Let me think… Why don't you call me 'Mommy'? I suppose I can let you stay and be my pet dog. How does that sound?"

"Never!" Adam's body was trembling with anger as his fists clenched tightly, and his eyes were red. "You're not my mommy. I only have one mommy, and her name is Winnie, not you! Don't be so smug! When my mommy wakes up, she'll get back at you for me!"

Adam gritted his teeth and said those words with so much conviction, but I was in so much heartache I could barely breathe. I couldn't imagine how devastated he would be if he found out I would never wake up again.

How could he face the future?

He was only six years old!

Just as tears blurred my vision, Sydney was also completely enraged. She looked around, and the moment she saw Casper coming downstairs, she suddenly fumbled in her pocket and shouted in feigned panic. "My phone? Where's my phone?!"

Sydney frantically searched all over herself until her eyes finally fell on my son. There was a faint smile on her lips as she said, "Adam, did you steal my phone?"

My son was startled and immediately shook his head. "I didn't! Didn't you..."

Slap!

He was forced to swallow every word he wanted to say.

Casper's eyes were filled with disappointment as he held the quill in one hand and pointed at Adam's swollen, red face with his other hand. "I knew it! I knew you were up to no good coming back this time! It's bad enough that your mother taught you to frame Sydney previously, but now, you've learned how to steal, too? What did I do to deserve a son like you?!

"Tell me now! Where did you hide the phone? Give it up right now!"