Chapter 1

I died while my younger brother, Sean Goyle, was operating on me. He was just an intern doctor.

After I died, my soul returned to my mother.

At that moment, Mom was busy comforting Sean. "Don't worry. Zachary's a tough one. He'll definitely survive this. Come, let me take you back to rest first."

The look in her eyes as she gazed at him was one I'd never seen before—filled with affection and concern.

Over the years, Mom's disdain for me had been more than evident. She was always impatient with me. I might have pretended not to care, but in truth, it still hurt. I just didn't want others to see my weakness.

Now that I was no longer alive, the grief that had long simmered in my chest finally overflowed.

As soon as Mom got home, her phone rang.

When she heard the doctor say I had passed away, she snapped, "That's impossible! He was only diagnosed with a minor illness. With so many skilled doctors at the hospital, how could he possibly be dead?

"He's just mad that his brother was the one operating on him, so now he's putting on this act with all of you to scare me, right? Don't think I can't see through your tricks!"

Mom hung up, fairly certain that this was nothing but a silly act I pulled. Looking guilty, she turned toward Sean and said, "It's all my fault. Sorry for scaring you. I'll make sure to teach Zachary a lesson once he comes back."

As soon as her words fell, her phone rang again.

Mom scowled at her phone, the gentleness she had just seconds ago completely disappearing. "I made myself very clear earlier. If Zachary wants to die so badly, just get it over with. Stop calling me again and again!"

The other end of the line went silent.

"Madam Zieck, this is the police. We suspect Sean Goyle may be involved in a medical malpractice incident, but we haven't been able to reach him. We're hoping you'll cooperate with our investigation."

Mom completely lost it. "One minute it's the doctors, next it's the police. Whoever you are, you'd better stop slandering my son! Otherwise, you'll regret it!"

"Madam Zieck, you must have misunderstood," the voice on the other end quickly said. "We're just following standard procedure."

Mom glanced at Sean, who was quivering with fear next to her, then turned back to her phone and bellowed, "Enough! Tell Zachary to stop making a scene. I don't want him to scare Sean!"

And with that, she hung up.

Ever since I got sick and was admitted to the hospital, she had been very upset with me. She thought I was exaggerating some mild sickness just to get her attention and that I didn't deserve to be hospitalized.

For some unknown reason, he became increasingly nervous and trembled more severely.

"Mom, I'm so scared…" he murmured. "What if something really happens to Zachary?"

"He's just putting on a show," she replied coldly. "Besides, you let the hospital's best surgeon take over the operation halfway through. He'll be fine. I can't believe he's actually pulling something like this. He's gone too far!"

Seeing Mom acting so indifferent toward me when my body wasn't even cold yet made my heart sink.

I thought back to all those years I spent begging her love like an abandoned puppy, and realization dawned on me—I was nothing but a joke.