*Flashback continuation*

"Mom." Jinki sobbed as she clamped on his mother's hand, afraid to lose the only real family member he had left.

Saera tried to smile and patted the boy's head gently, her eyes having a warm and gentle gaze as she looked at her son, a goodlooking smart and good boy.

"What's wrnong with you, mom...?" he asked, tears rolling down the rosy cheeks of a young Jinki as he looked at the pale face of his mother laying on a hospital's bed.

The strength she used to have in her eyes were completely gone, replaced by a gloomy and weak glimmer.

"Mom's body isn't so healthy anymore. I'm too sick." Saera answered the boy's question and coucghed a few times before trying to smile again.

Jinki wasn't stupid, he knew something was off, his heart hurting badly.

"It's from being too angry with dad and that woman, isn't it?!" the boy cried.

Saera didn't respond and only tried to reach for a glass of water to decrease the pain of her hoarse and dry throat.

"Jinki, you have to promise mom... Stay the good person you are, don't change your heart because of what's happening in that house." Saera said with her lips curled up in a small smile.

"When you're older, you'll understand everything. Mom is just sad that I can't see you grow up to a young man anymore." Saera tried to push back the tears threatening to escape her tired eyes.

"Don't say that, mom, please don't say such words!" Jinki sobbed, hugging her mothers body, afraid that if he even let go just a tiny bit he would end up losing her.

The kind mother hugged her son back, holding in the pain she was feeling in her heart.

"Here is your last birthday present. take care of it well." Saera spoke and placed a card in his little hands. "Remember to use this card when I'm gone, alright?"

Jinki couldn't help but nod even though he refused to let his mother go.

"Lee Jinki!" the man growled as he raised his hand and let it touch the boy's face, his cheek getting swollen and red immediately.

The little boy fell to the ground as he winced in pain.

"Your mother is in the hospital and now you're creating troubles at home?! Don't you know how to respect your elders?!" the man hissed as he hit the child again.

From the door, Taemin looked with scared eyes at what was happening.

Because of such a fierce man, this little boy quickly ran away, hiding in his own room as he tried to not listen to the cries of his older stepbrother.

"You're bullying your stepmother like this?!" the man roared furiously, taking the beatnig seriously.

Jinki couldn't help but hold in his cries of pain as he let the person that used to be his dad hit him.

"Stay in your room for one week! you're not allowed to leave!" the man finally said and closed the door, locking it up.

Panic flashed through Jinki's eyes as he slammed on the doors.

"Let me out! Let me out! You can't lock me up like this! Please, I'm begging you, let me out of thie room! Mom is in the hospital! Nooo!!" Jinki screamed, nocking on the door but his strength couldn't open a locked door.

The man ignored his son's pleas and walked away, quickly comforting Mari who sobbed quietly in their room.

Taemin could hear