My name was Shana Byrd. My five-year-old son, Teddy Parker, fell ill with acute meningitis, lay alone at home for three days, and died because he missed the rescue period.

My husband, Phil Parker, who should have taken care of Teddy, went to another town to spend Black Friday with another woman, Tracy Clem.

I tearfully made a video call so Teddy could see Phil one last time before he died.

The video call was connected. Phil looked at me with a disgusted expression while holding Tracy's hand.

"Shana, you actually asked Teddy to pretend to be sick to get me back? Good for you!

"You'll only make me feel that you are both scheming and disgusting!"

Phil hung up the phone. When I called back, he had already turned off his phone.

Before closing his eyes, Teddy asked with a tender voice full of sadness, "Mom, did I do something wrong? Why doesn't Daddy want me anymore?"

Teddy died. In despair, I asked Phil for a divorce.

Phil agreed on the premise that he had Teddy's custody.

He didn't know that Teddy was dead a few days ago because of him...

***

When I returned from my business trip and opened the door, Teddy was already lying unconscious in the doorway, the blood from his nose all over the floor.

Panicked, I picked him up and rushed to the hospital by car.

After the doctor's examination, I knew that Teddy had acute meningitis. The onset time was three days ago.

The doctor scolded me angrily.

"He has acute meningitis. Even adults wouldn't stand the pain. Why did you wait three days before bringing him here?

"What kind of parents are you? You don't deserve to be his mom!"

Only then did I know that Teddy had been locked at home for three whole days without anyone taking care of him.

I bowed my head and kept apologizing, begging the doctor to save Teddy as soon as possible.

Soon, Teddy was pushed into the operating room.

I sat in front of the operating room, crying and shaking helplessly, clutching Teddy's phone watch.

According to the watch, Teddy had been calling Phil since three days ago.

Phil didn't answer any of the fifty calls that Teddy made.

Three days ago, when I was sent by my company on a business trip, I told Phil again and again.

While I was away, he must take care of Teddy!

After just three days, Teddy was in such a serious condition...

I called Phil and angrily asked, "I asked you to take care of Teddy. Where the hell are you?"

He casually said, "I have already told my mom to take care of him..."

His mother was from the countryside and was always unreliable. She broke promises all the day.

I angrily interrupted him, "Where are you exactly?"

A woman's coquettish voice rang out.

"Phil, who are you talking to? She sounds so mean. It's like you're talking to a man!"

Phil started to get impatient. "It'll be Black Friday. I'm downtown with Tracy at the mall. I'll be staying at her place these days."

Tracy Clem grabbed the phone and said with a smile, "Shana, Phil and I have known each other since we were kids. He's like my brother.

"I'm sure you are not the kind of petty woman who gets jealous easily, right?"

With tears in my eyes, I choked and asked, "Phil, are Teddy and I more important to you or Tracy?"

Phil said coldly, "I can be with you and Teddy anytime, but the Black Friday promotion only lasts for three days.

"Also, Tracy is like my sister. Put away your nasty thoughts."

He hung up the phone, and I fell to the ground feebly.

The operating room door was open, and the doctor's expression was solemn.

"Ms. Byrd, your son's condition has been delayed for too long. We have tried our best to save him, but... I'm sorry.

"He only has ten minutes left. You may go inside to be with him."

On the hospital bed, Teddy's body was full of tubes, and his cheeks were bloodless.

My heart was broken into pieces, and there seemed to be a blade stuck in my throat, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.

Teddy raised his tender little hand and wiped away my tears with difficulty, saying, "Mommy, don't cry. I'm already a little man and can protect you."

I endured the pain and said, "Teddy, what do you want? I'll get it done."

"I... I miss Daddy," he weakly said.

I immediately took out my phone and made a video call to Phil.

After I was hung up countless times, Phil finally impatiently answered the video call.

"Shana, are you done?

"You used Teddy to try to get me back? You'll only make me feel that you are both scheming and disgusting!

"Bring Teddy home now! Or I'll never come back!"

The call was disconnected, and when I called back, Phil had already turned off his phone.

At the last moment of his life, Teddy, with tears streaming down his face, asked in a voice full of grievance, "Mommy, did I do something wrong?

"Why doesn't Daddy want me anymore?"

Teddy was dead. I cried until my voice was hoarse. My throat was bleeding, and I passed out several times.

After what was like ages, I received a call from Phil.

He said sternly, "Mom told me you haven't come home for about five days already!

"I don't care if you go out and fool around. Just bring Teddy back immediately!"

After hanging up the phone, I cremated Teddy's body and brought the urn home.

I pushed open the door and saw Phil's foster sister Tracy standing in the living room wearing only underwear.

Phil opened a package, took out a white gauze dress for her to put on, and thoughtfully helped her zip up the back.

Tracy turned around in place and asked, "Phil, who looks better, me or Shana?"

Phil said without hesitation, "All she does is dress professionally and drink with a bunch of old men. How can she compare to you? You're so sweet and cute."

I stood at the door, holding the urn in a daze.

In three days, my poor Teddy fell sick and died of illness and pain. Till the moment he died, he didn't receive any love from Phil.

In those three days, Phil accompanied Tracy on a shopping spree happily.

I was more than furious and asked coldly, "What are you doing?"

Tracy wasn't embarrassed at all. She took off the dress while grinning and walked around in front of Phil wearing only underwear.

"Shana, during the Black Friday sale, Phil and I went shopping downtown for three days and bought a lot of things.

"See? I bought these for you."

I opened the package handed to me by Tracy. Inside were a bunch of gynecological anti-inflammatory drugs.

Tracy said affectedly, "Phil told me that you often go on business trips and drink with men, and you even go to hotels.

"Make sure to use the medicine to wash your body every night. Don't bring any diseases back home."

I immediately turned furious. "What are you implying?"

Tracy looked innocent and said, "Shana, please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you're fooling around with other men.

"What I mean is that the beds in hotels are dirty, and I'm afraid you might catch a disease and pass it on to Phil and Teddy."

I laughed out of anger. "You're so 'thoughtful'."

Phil frowned and said, "Tracy is saying this out of concern for you and Teddy. Don't be sarcastic."

Tracy stood behind Phil and looked at me provocatively.

I could no longer shed a single tear.

After marriage, Phil and I started a small business together.

Phil was not good at communicating with people, so he could only count goods at home, move freight, and do some chores.

I was both the boss and the sales, trying to get us orders day and night. I often had to drink with clients till I had a stomach bleed.

I worked my ass off for the sake of our family. I wanted to provide Teddy with a better life.

I never expected that Phil would spread filthy rumors about me with another woman.

I said bitterly, "You walk around in front of Phil wearing underwear.

"Who is the dirty one? Me or you?"

She cried, aggrieved. Then she said in a broken voice, "Shana, you really got me wrong.

"Phil and I have known each other since we were little. If we wanted to be together, we would have."

I was already tired of arguing. "Phil, let's get divorced."

Phil angrily said, "Where does this come from? Why are you being unreasonable? Nothing happened!"

I resolutely said, "I'll prepare the divorce agreement when I go back. We'll go to the courthouse next Monday."

He said, "You want a divorce? Fine. But Teddy will live with me!"

I placed the urn with Teddy's ashes inside on the table and choked back tears as I said, "When Teddy left, all he talked about was you.

"Spend time with him these days."

I turned and walked out.

Phil stood at the door and shouted, "What are you talking about? Where did Teddy go?"

For a moment, I didn't know whether to be sad or to hate.

If Phil had cared a little more about our family, he would have known that Teddy had already left for good...

On Monday, I brought the prepared divorce agreement to get Phil to sign.

Tracy, was busy at home wearing pajamas as if she was the hostess.

Phil was unpacking the express deliveries and taking out a bunch of toys such as Transformers and Ultraman.

He turned around and glanced at me, sneering, "Tracy bought a bunch of toys, clothes, and even a pet dog for Teddy during the promotion.

"You're a woman, too. Why can't you be more gentle and considerate?"

Tracy said earnestly, "Shana, I'm not judging you.

"But you're always on business trips, drinking with a bunch of dubious men. How could it be good for Teddy's growth?"

I wasn't in the mood to argue. I just slapped the divorce agreement on the table.

"Phil, sign it."

Phil was startled when he saw the divorce agreement. "You're serious?"

I sneered, "We'll divorce. And I give you two my blessing. I hope you stay together forever."

Phil suddenly became irritable, and he slapped the table loudly. "Shana, when will you learn to be less selfish?

"Teddy is only five. What will he think if we divorce now?

"What if it affects Teddy's physical and mental health? Can you afford the responsibility?

"You're so selfish. You don't deserve to be a mother!"

Tracy wrapped her arms around his arm and said softly, "Phil, there's no need to get angry over a woman like her.

"Maybe she dumped you because she met some rich man while doing business.

"I will treat Teddy well from now on. He'll know what it feels like to be loved by his mom..."

The two were like a loving couple, and on the contrary, I became a guilty sinner to my family and to Teddy.

I silently returned to the room and packed my luggage.

Phil chased to the door and asked, "Where have you taken Teddy, Shana?"

He was such a good father who looked out for his son. He didn't even know his son was dead already.

If he had just made a phone call to the hospital, he wouldn't have been so muddle-headed.

My phone rang. It was someone from the funeral home.

They told me that Teddy's portrait had been made, and the customized urn would be delivered soon.

I hung up the phone and said with a desperate smile, "Don't worry. Teddy will be here soon."