I was beaten to disability by the school bully and his gang, but my mom—a top-tier lawyer—became the defendant’s attorney. In court, she tore me apart with her words, delivering a flawless not-guilty defense for the guy who nearly killed me. All because that guy’s father was her benefactor who’d once funded her college education. When I confronted her, Mom said righteously: “Everyone is equal before the law. I can’t compromise my professional ethics just because you’re the victim.” “Jacob just got a little impulsive. I can’t bear to ruin his entire life.” Watching the assailant swagger out of the courthouse, I smiled. I pulled out the severance agreement I’d prepared from my bag and threw it in her face. “Since you’re so devoted to your professional ethics and repaying favors—” “I hope you can defend the rest of your life just as well.” Mom didn’t look at the agreement. To her, this was just another rebellious stunt from her teenage son. “Ethan, are you done with your tantrum?” She picked up the paper from the floor and, without even glancing at it, crumpled it into a ball and tossed it in the trash. “Tonight your Uncle Greg is hosting a party at The Golden Pavilion. You’re coming with me.” “Jacob will be there too. Perfect chance for him to apologize, and we can all move past this.” I stared at her in disbelief. Move past this? I was still in a wheelchair. The perpetrator had just walked free. And she wanted me to attend his party? “I’m not going.” I spat out three cold words and wheeled myself toward the exit. Behind me came Mom’s voice, seething with suppressed rage. “Ethan! Can’t you be less petty about this?” “Your uncle’s family doesn’t have much money. He spent half a month’s salary on this dinner.” “If you don’t go, you’re disrespecting me and disrespecting him!” I didn’t look back. I spun the wheels frantically, escaping this suffocating place. Outside the courthouse, the glaring sunlight made me dizzy. Dad’s car was parked by the curb. When he saw me come out, he rushed over, looking timid as always. “Ethan, how’d it go? What was the verdict?” Looking at this man who’d spent his whole life being a doormat in this family, I felt a wave of helplessness. “Not guilty.” Dad froze, his mouth hanging open, unable to speak. “How could… Your mom said it was just a formality, didn’t she?” “She said she’d try to get Jacob probation. How could it be not guilty?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Dad, your wife is a top-tier lawyer.” “Whoever she wants acquitted gets acquitted.” “Even if that person shattered her own son’s leg.” Dad wrung his hands, looking uncomfortable. “This… this… Your mom must have her reasons.” “That Greg guy really did help her…” “Enough.” I cut him off. “Take me to the hospital. I’m not going home.” Dad hesitated, glancing back at the courthouse entrance. “Um… Your mom just texted. She wants us to go straight to The Golden Pavilion.” “She said if we don’t go, she’ll freeze my credit card.” I looked at this man in front of me. Fifty years old, living like a dog. All his finances controlled by Mom. He didn’t even dare raise his voice. “Then you can go.” I pulled out my phone and called for an accessible ride-share. “I’ll manage on my own.” “Ethan! Don’t be like this…” Dad tried to grab me. I shook him off. “Dad, if you still want to call me your son, don’t go to that dinner.” “If you go, don’t bother visiting me again.” The ride-share arrived. The driver helped lift me into the car. Through the window, I watched Dad standing there, torn. Finally, he sighed and got into his own car. His destination: The Golden Pavilion. I closed my eyes. Tears finally streamed down. This was my family. A mom overflowing with misplaced kindness. A weak, incompetent dad. And me—the dispensable sacrifice in this household. At the hospital, I’d barely lain down when my phone started buzzing nonstop. On Ins, Jacob had posted a nine-photo grid. In the pictures, he raised a wine glass, beaming. Mom sat in the place of honor, smiling gracefully and elegantly. The caption read: “Thanks to Ms. Sullivan! Justice may be delayed, but it’s never denied! Cheers!” Justice? Fuck his justice. I opened the comments. Full of ass-kissing from Jacob’s loser friends. “Badass!” “Where’s the cripple? Not here drinking?” Jacob’s reply: “Probably crying at home, hahahaha.” I stared at the screen, fingers trembling. Suddenly, a new transfer notification popped up. From Mom. Amount: $2,000. Note: “Stop throwing tantrums. Buy yourself something nice to eat. I already told Greg he doesn’t need to pay your medical bills. Their family is struggling. We need to be understanding.” I stared at those words, my stomach churning. I wanted to puke. I hurled my phone at the wall.
I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those three days, Mom never came to see me once. But Greg did show up—carrying a basket of rotten apples. He wore dust-covered work clothes and stood at my hospital room door with a simple, honest expression. “Ethan, Uncle came to check on you.” He set the apples on the bedside table and rubbed his calloused hands together. “Jacob doesn’t know his own strength, that kid.” “I already scolded him.” “Look, your mom got Jacob off the hook, so we’re even now, yeah?” Even? I looked at that basket of apples—probably picked from some roadside stand—and laughed bitterly. “My leg is worth this basket of rotten apples?” Greg’s expression flickered, but he quickly plastered on a smile again. “Hey, Ethan, you can’t put it like that.” “When your mom was in college, I scraped together that tuition from my own teeth.” “People need to have a conscience. Look how sensible your mom is.” “Besides, your family’s loaded. You’re not hurting for medical bills, right?” “My Jacob still needs to get married. Can’t have him saddled with debt.” In that moment, I finally understood the saying: “When people have no shame, they’re invincible.” This whole family were vampires. And my mom was the idiot who willingly offered her neck, complaining the blood wasn’t flowing fast enough. “Get out.” I pointed at the door. “Take your rotten apples and get out.” Greg’s smile froze. “What kind of manners do you have, kid?” “No wonder Jacob beat you up. You deserved it.” He stormed out cursing, carrying his apples. Before leaving, he spat on the floor. I rang the nurse’s bell and asked someone to disinfect. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. That afternoon, the head nurse came in with a billing statement. She didn’t look pleased. “Ethan, your account is overdue.” “If you don’t pay soon, we’ll have to stop your medication.” I froze. “Overdue? My mom… didn’t Ms. Sullivan pay?” The nurse shook her head. “Ms. Sullivan came yesterday and withdrew the $50,000 deposit.” “She said… she said the other party’s family is struggling, and she’s lending them the money temporarily.” “She told you to figure it out yourself.” A thunderclap in my brain. The last thread snapped. She withdrew my life-saving medical funds to give to the assailant who beat me? What kind of mother does this? My hands trembling, I borrowed the nurse’s phone to call Mom. It rang for a long time before she picked up. “Hello? Who’s this?” “It’s me.” Silence on the other end. Then came Mom’s impatient voice. “Ethan? Where’s your phone? Why are you calling from a strange number?” “Sullivan, did you withdraw my medical funds?” I called her by her first name. “How dare you talk to your mother like that?” Mom’s voice rose several octaves. “Greg’s family is buying a house in the city. They’re short on the down payment.” “I figured you wouldn’t spend much in the hospital anyway, so I lent it to them for emergencies.” “Don’t you still have birthday money in your account? Use that.” “People can’t be so selfish. You need to know gratitude.” Gratitude? She was taking my bones apart to show gratitude to someone else! “That’s my surgery money!” I screamed into the phone. “The doctor said I need a second reconstructive surgery next week, or I’ll be disabled for life!” “You gave the money to Jacob’s family for a house? Are you insane?” Greg’s voice came through the phone. “Oh, if Ethan really needs it urgently, we can hold off on the house…” Then came Mom’s firm voice. “Greg, don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense.” “Doctors just like to scare people. It’s not that serious.” “Buying a house is a big deal. Jacob’s about to get married—how can he do that without a house?” “Ethan, figure it out yourself. Stop bothering me.” “Beep beep beep…” She hung up. I held the phone, frozen. The head nurse looked at me sympathetically. “Ethan… why don’t you call your dad?” My dad? That man who had to ask for cigarette money? I shook my head. “No need.” “Please help me with the discharge paperwork.” “But your leg…” “I’m not treating it anymore.” Since this world was rotten to the core— I didn’t need to pretend to be a good son anymore. I went home once. While no one was there, I packed everything that belonged to me in that so-called “home.” Except for that severance agreement. I left nothing. My sneaker collection, limited-edition figures, and the gold bars I’d saved since childhood. I listed everything on resale platforms. Fire sale prices. Cash only. With that money, I rented a small apartment with an elevator in the neighboring city. Then I went to a private orthopedic hospital. Though I’d missed the optimal treatment window, the doctor said that with enough money, I still had hope of walking normally again. Just no more intense physical activity. I used to be captain of the school basketball team. Now I was a cripple who could barely walk straight. But I didn’t cry. I’d run out of tears that afternoon.
Half a month later. I was doing rehabilitation, drenched in sweat, gripping the parallel bars as I shuffled forward. The hospital room door burst open. Mom stormed in with Jacob and Greg, looking furious. Mom’s face was ashen. She clutched a document in her hand. “Ethan! What are you doing hiding out here?” “Do you know how long we’ve been looking for you?” I ignored her and continued moving my feet through gritted teeth. Every step felt like walking on knife points. Jacob chewed gum, looking annoyed. “Ms. Sullivan, I told you he was hiding.” “Such a drama queen. It’s just a broken leg, not like he died.” Mom slammed the document on my bedside table. “Sign this right now.” I glanced at it. A settlement agreement. For the school. “Jacob’s getting expelled for the fight.” Mom said self-righteously. “If you sign this settlement, admitting it was a mutual fight, the school will let him keep his enrollment.” “Jacob still needs to go to college. We can’t let this little incident ruin his future.” Mutual fight? I stopped moving, turned around, and stared at her. “Six people beating one. I spent the whole time with my head covered, taking hits.” “That’s a mutual fight?” “Ms. Sullivan, you can actually say that lie out loud?” Mom’s eyes flickered briefly, but she quickly regained her domineering demeanor. “As long as you say it is, it is.” “I’m a lawyer. I have ways to make it work.” “Just sign it. Stop wasting everyone’s time.” Greg chimed in from the side. “Yeah, Ethan, we’re all family. Why make things so tense?” “If Jacob gets expelled, how will he find work later?” “Why do you have such a rotten heart, kid?” I looked at these three people’s faces. Suddenly it all seemed absurdly ridiculous. “And if I don’t sign?” Jacob spat his gum on the floor and walked over, shoving me. I was already unsteady. I fell straight to the ground. My knee slammed hard against the floor. Searing pain shot through me. I screamed. Mom startled and instinctively moved to help me. But Jacob stopped her. “Ms. Sullivan, don’t spoil him.” “He’s just faking it.” “Ethan, let me tell you—today you’re signing whether you like it or not.” “Or I’ll beat your ass every time I see you.” He raised his foot, about to stomp on my broken leg. “Stop!” Mom finally shouted. Not to protect me. But because she was afraid of consequences. “Jacob, don’t! There are cameras here.” She pulled Jacob back and looked down at me on the floor. “Ethan, I’m asking you one last time. Will you sign or not?” “If you don’t sign, don’t expect another cent of living expenses from me.” “And don’t think about coming back to that house.” I lay on the ground, cold sweat pouring from the pain. But I laughed. “Home?” “The home that took my medical funds to buy the assailant a house?” “The home that defended the assailant and got him acquitted?” “Susan, did you forget?” “I already severed ties with you.” I pulled out my phone from my pocket. The screen showed a recording in progress. “Jacob pushing me just now, and you forcing me to sign a fake settlement—I recorded it all.” “This time, I won’t let you get away with it.” Mom’s face went deathly pale. “You… you set me up?” I braced myself against the floor and slowly got up. Like a dog with a broken spine, but with the eyes of a wolf. “You taught me, Mom.” “Everyone is equal before the law.” Mom panicked. She was a top lawyer. She knew better than anyone the importance of evidence. Jacob had just pushed me, causing secondary injury. Plus forcing a victim to sign a false settlement. If this got exposed, her career would be stained. “Ethan, give Mom the phone.” Her tone softened, trying to use family guilt. “We’re family. Let’s talk this out.” “Jacob just has a short temper. He didn’t mean it.” I stared coldly at her outstretched hand. “Jacob, grab the phone.” Greg shouted from the side. Jacob snapped to attention and lunged to grab my phone. I was ready. I hit send. The files uploaded directly to my cloud and simultaneously sent to several influencers I’d already contacted. “Too late.” I threw the phone on the ground. “It’s already out there.” Jacob stomped on my phone, crushing it, then grabbed my collar, ready to hit me. “You dare set me up?” Just then, the hospital room door crashed open. Several security guards rushed in, followed by my attending physician. “Stop! What’s going on here!” The doctor saw me on the ground, blood seeping from my leg, and erupted in fury. “The patient is in recovery! This is deliberate assault!” “Call the police! Call them now!” The police arrived quickly. Because this was a hospital—a public space—the offense was serious. Jacob was cuffed on the spot. Greg sat on the ground, throwing a tantrum, claiming I was scamming them. Mom stood in the corner, her face ashen. She looked at me, her eyes full of disappointment and heartbreak. “Ethan, you’ve disappointed me so much. Are you trying to destroy Jacob and me too?”
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