Chapter 5

"Mom, how are you? Which hospital are you at? I'll come see you right now."

Mom's voice came through the receiver, cold and indifferent. "Drop the act. What were you doing earlier? Forget it. I won't argue with you. Just transfer me some money. The money isn't enough for the surgery."

Back then, I didn't realize that she never wanted me to visit at all. All she wanted was money.

I gripped the phone tightly, my knuckles turning pale. I said with difficulty, "Mom, isn't all my money with you? My salary, and the severance pay from when I got laid off. You said you were keeping it for me for a house and marriage. Now that you're hospitalized, you should use that first. It's fine. Just use it."

Silence stretched on the other end. Even the relatives in the gallery fell quiet, their expressions turning strange as they looked at Mom. She turned her head away, avoiding their gazes.

The live chat exploded.

"I finally understand why the three of them get to live so comfortably while Brandon's out doing odd jobs. He doesn't even get his own money."

"What if Brandon's mom really didn't want to touch his savings?"

"To the commenter above, are you still defending them? None of the three of them even work, yet they live that well. Where do you think the money came from?"

Back on the screen, Mom finally spoke again. "Wasn't your money supposed to be for Cody? Do you have any idea how much his private school tuition costs each year?

"And he needs proper clothes too. Otherwise, how's he supposed to hold his head up in school? That little salary of yours isn't enough for anyone. Transfer the money now, or I'll die here in the hospital!"

I remembered how my chest tightened then, how my blood ran cold. That was five years' worth of my wages. I had lived frugally to support the household. I had trusted Mom completely, handing over all my savings to her. I never imagined she'd spend every cent on Cody.

I gritted my teeth. "I don't have any money left either. Just tell me which hospital you're in. I'll come see you."

Even after everything, I still understood Mom's love for Cody. I was still worried about her condition.

But she barked back, "If you don't have money, why bother coming? If money is more important than me, then go earn more money! Don't call me your mother!"

The call then ended. I stood there, frozen, still holding the phone to my ear.

As the scene abruptly ended there, Judge Caine brought down the gavel. "On the first charge, the defendant is not guilty."

At that verdict, my parents and Cody glared at me, their teeth clenched. A third of the relatives who had been backing Mom earlier fell silent. But some still spoke up.

"What does this prove? So what if a son spends a little money on his mother? Even if she didn't tell him which hospital, he could've found out if he really cared."

"Yeah. It's about sincerity. He's got a mouth. He could've asked around."

Mom immediately resumed her pitiful performance, tears and snot running down her face.

"Bran, I was just in pain back then. My emotions got the better of me. Can you forgive me? You've always had an income, haven't you? I'm not in the best health, and your father's salary barely covers anything. Families are supposed to support each other."

Support each other? I recalled being the only one giving all this time.

For the first time, I met Mom's eyes directly. And for the first time in this courtroom, I spoke to her. "The truth is what it is. You and I both know it. You can cut the act now. Just keep watching."

Mom choked. I clearly saw the malice flash in her eyes.

My relatives immediately jumped back in. "You heartless thing! How could you talk to your mother like that? Even if you slipped past this charge, how do you explain beating your own parents?"