Chapter 2: Why?

"Sure, I'll go, but you'll regret this," Jack said with a steely resolve in his voice. He turned and stormed out of the room, leaving his wife shocked and speechless.

As Jack packed his things and walked out of the house, he couldn't help but feel a whirlwind of emotions. Betrayal, grief, and rage churned within him, but deep down, he also felt a sense of liberation. He had finally seen his wife's true face and realized that he deserved better.

As he made his way towards his bike, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing mind. He knew he couldn't wallow in the pain and betrayal forever. Instead, he decided to focus on rebuilding his life and finding happiness without the weight of his unfaithful wife and scornful in-laws.

With a newfound courage, Jack rode his bike towards an unknown future. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to face the obstacles that awaited him. He would find a new job, surround himself with supportive people, and work towards building a life that satisfied him.

He drove to his mother's house; it was said that she didn't have a child, so she adopted him after he was found after the plane crash, and he knew that if everyone rejected him, she certainly would not.

As Jack arrived at his mother's house, his heart felt heavy with a mix of emotions. He parked his bike outside the run-down house, whose paint was peeling and the roof covered in patches. The house stood as a symbol of his mother's humble means, yet it held a warmth that brought him solace in his time of need.

With a sigh, Jack walked up the shaky steps and pushed open the front door. Inside, the house was dark and gloomy, creating a dismal atmosphere. The living room, furnished with old, ragged furniture, held memories of happier times. The faint aroma of his mother's cooking lingered in the air, a soothing reminder of the love that had always embraced him.

Jack's heart dropped further as the realization of his mother's absence hit him. Tears stung in his eyes. Did she abandon him?

He quickly made his way to his mother's room, the door squeaking with each step. As he entered, he saw the bed he used to sleep in as a child, its sheets stained and torn. But something caught his eye. There, lying on the bed, was his mother's old quilt, lovingly made with scraps of fabric sewn together.

His heart leaped as he noticed a figure lying motionless beneath the quilt. "Mom?" he whispered, his voice cracking with hope and fear. He ran towards the bed, his footsteps thundering through the quiet room, but his mother didn't react.

Gently, he laid his hand on her arm. It was cold and stiff. Panic surged within him as he realized something was horribly wrong. He leaned closer, calling out to her frantically, but there was no response, not even a twitch of movement.

With trembling hands, Jack placed his fingers against her pale neck, searching for a pulse. His heart stopped as he felt nothing at all. Terror coursed through his veins as he realized she was gone.

He lifted his mother into his arms, her fragile body almost weightless. He sprinted out of the house, panic driving him forward. He got into the rundown car parked outside, the engine sputtering to life reluctantly. With resolve in his eyes, he raced towards the nearest hospital, the tires squealing.

Jack's hands gripped tightly on the steering wheel, his heart plunging further with each passing second. The gravity of the situation pressed heavy on his chest, but the reality of the hospital's demand for payment made him feel hopeless.

"Excuse me, sir," a nurse said softly, her voice laced with sympathy. "I overheard your plight. I understand that this is an incredibly hard time for you. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Jack's eyes met the nurse's, with desperation blazing in them. He cleared the lump in his throat and spoke, his voice strained with anxiety. "I don't have the money to pay the bills right now. My mother's condition is critical, and I can't afford to lose her. Is there any way you can help?"

"You're such a handsome man; why wouldn't I help you?" She winked at him.

She ran a checkup on the woman and said, "She doesn't have much time; why don't you satisfy my desires, and I'll get your mother treated?" She gave him a suggestive smile, and Jack widened his eyes at her. Really?

"Please help me save my mother. I would do whatever you want me to do afterwards." After thinking about it for a while, he said, After all, Jen betrayed him.

"I'm sorry; I'll only help you out after I'm pleased." She turned around and walked away.

"Please come back." As he was about to chase after her, he felt his mother squeeze his hand and say, "Don't go, dear." He turned around after hearing her voice and knelt down, saying, "Mom, you're okay. You'll be fine, I promise." He was about to stand up, but he was pulled down again. "Promise me that you will live well; I have to leave you now, son. We will meet again, but not now." She smiled before closing her eyes in death, and her body turned cold.

"No, no, mom, please." He cried out, but no one seemed to care.

"Hey, come on, everything is ready; make sure to keep your word after now." He turned to the nurse and said, "All women are the same, but mark my words, you'll regret everything you did here today; this whole hospital will regret it."

"You ungrateful bastard, get out of here before I call the guards on you!" Without wasting a second, he took his mother and walked out of the hospital.

"A day will come that this hospital will be burned to the ground!"