Chapter 1The Final Prescription

The doctor said I have six months to live, at most.

When my mom found out, she cried and said: "Scarlett, Mom will accompany you on this last journey."

Then she moved into my apartment, cooking different meals for me every day.

Until I saw the chat history between her and my brother on her phone:

"Mom, how long does Sis have?"

"Doctor said six months tops. Keep your girlfriend steady. Once she dies, the apartment is yours."

"Why serve her then? No one washes my socks anymore."

"Silly boy, we have to put on a full show. By the way, bring some gifts tomorrow to see her. Remember to cry miserably, make her offer the house to you herself."

I put down the phone and walked into the kitchen.

"Mom, good news."

"The doctor just called. It was a misdiagnosis. It's benign."

The ladle in her hand fell into the pot with a loud CLANG.

* * *

Mom froze in place, her face white as a sheet.

"Aren't you happy I'm not sick?" I asked.

"Happy! Of course, I'm happy!"

She snapped back, her voice high and floating, eyes dodging mine:

"This hospital is too unreliable! How can cancer be misdiagnosed? No, we have to go to a big hospital to check again! Tomorrow! Cancer can't be fake!"

"No need to check. The doctor was very clear on the phone. It's benign."

"Benign?!"

"He says benign and you believe him? You've always been stubborn since you were little. Can you joke about life and death?! Did I raise you for nothing? So worrisome!"

I looked at my mom calmly.

My eyes grew colder.

"Scarlett," her voice softened, coaxing, "Mom doesn't distrust you, Mom is scared! What if... the disease comes back? Better safe than sorry! You're fine now, but what about the future? You're alone, how can Mom be at ease?"

She approached, holding my hand.

"Listen to Mom. Your apartment, and your savings... put them with Mom. Mom will keep them safe for you."

"If, Mom says if, something happens to your health again, Mom can take out the money immediately to treat you! Better than you falling ill alone with no one around and money stuck in the bank, right?"

This is my mom.

She is waiting for me to die.

Since childhood, she never liked me.

I'm dying, and she's plotting for my little property.

This is the "motherly love" I secretly craved for so many years.

I slowly withdrew my hand.

"No need, Mom. I can manage my money and house."

"Manage yourself?" She sneered.

"What can you manage? Huh? Look at you, over thirty, no marriage, no man, busy with your broken business all day! Now you almost can't even manage your own life!"

She got agitated, finger almost poking my face:

"The proposal with Old Man Miller back then, what a good family! Owned three factories! Older, yes, but older men know how to care for people! If you listened to me and married him, you'd be a rich wife now, not working yourself to death and ending up sick?"

"Mom," I interrupted her, "Miller is two years older than Dad, and three wives died before him."

"So what?!" She glared.

"He has a tough fate, brings fortune to the family! You? You bring bad luck! Refusing good fortune, insisting on struggling alone! Now look, an old maid, no one, no home, no one to collect your corpse when you die!"

"Do you want this 'fortune'?"

She froze.

"Finished? If finished, leave."

I walked to the door and opened it.

"I'm tired."

"You're kicking me out?!"

She screamed in disbelief.

"Scarlett! You're rebelling! I'm your mother! I came to take care of you, and you treat me like this?!"

"I don't need your care."

"I won't go!"

She sat on the sofa, playing rogue.

"This is my daughter's house, why should I leave! Call the police if you can! Let everyone see how you abuse your own mother!"

Her voice was so loud the whole floor could hear.

I nodded, said nothing more, and picked up my phone to call building security.

"Hello, security? I'm the owner of Unit 2801. There's a mentally unstable person in my house harassing me, claiming to be my mother. Please send two guards to handle it."