Chapter 7
When I walked into the bank, Jenny and Ethan were already waiting for me.
They stood side by side, both wearing identical eager smiles.
As soon as Jenny saw me, she came up to me warmly and linked arms with me. "Mom, you're here."
She was so affectionate that one would never guess she was the same person who slammed the table and stormed out yesterday.
Ethan followed behind, carrying a fancy gift box. "Mom, this is some white truffle we got for you. You must not have been resting well lately. You need to take care of yourself."
He gave me an innocent, sincere smile, like he wasn't the same guy who planted that debt bomb on me yesterday.
Watching their performance, like they were auditioning for Best Actor and Actress, I felt sick to my stomach.
But on my face, I put on a warm, appreciative smile. "Oh, you really shouldn't have. Just having you here is a gift enough."
I patted Jenny's hand. "Come on, let's go inside and talk."
Guided by the bank manager, we entered a glass-enclosed VIP room.
The moment the door closed, all the noise from outside faded away.
The VIP room was furnished with comfortable sofas and a coffee table.
As soon as we sat down, Jenny blurted out, "Mom, we're so glad you've finally come around.
"Don't worry, from now on, let us handle your money. We'll make sure everything's clear as day, and you'll never get the short end of the stick."
Ethan chimed in, "Yeah, Mom, we want to buy a bigger place and have you move in with us, so we can really take care of you."
All that talk of virtue and morality, but underneath it all, they were nothing but degenerates.
I didn't respond right away.
Taking my time, I reached into my canvas bag and pulled out my stuff: an old wallet, an old passbook, and a few bank cards.
I set them out one by one on the coffee table.
Jenny and Ethan's eyes lit up instantly, like a couple of hungry wolves spotting a fresh kill.
Their eyes were glued to the cards and the passbook, and their breathing grew a little ragged.
"Mom, is this all your savings?" Jenny asked tentatively, trying to sound casual but unable to hide her eagerness.
I nodded, my face showing a touch of sadness and unwillingness. My performance was so convincing that it could win an Oscar. "Yeah, everything I've worked for my whole life is right here."
I picked up my salary card and handed it to her. "This is my salary card. There's about 70 thousand in the checking account, plus some investments."
Then I picked up the passbook. "This is a ten-year fixed deposit with 600 thousand. It matures next month."
"Altogether, it's exactly 700 thousand."
My voice was soft, but every word hit them like a sledgehammer to the chest.
I caught Jenny and Ethan exchanging a glance, their eyes practically glowing with barely suppressed elation and greed.
Jenny's hand was shaking as she practically snatched the salary card from me. "Mom, the PIN...?"
"It's your birthday," I replied calmly.
Jenny flashed a triumphant grin. She thought she had me right where she wanted.
Just then, I shifted gears. "But Jenny, before I hand over this money, I have a question for you."
My voice took on a serious edge.
Jenny and Ethan looked surprised.
"What is it?" Jenny asked.
I didn't look at her. Instead, I fixed my gaze on Ethan.
I looked him straight in the eye and asked slowly and deliberately, "Ethan, did you give me a bank card yesterday?"
Ethan's expression changed in a flash.
His smile froze on his face, and a hint of panic flickered in his eyes.
"L-Luna, what are you talking about? I did visit you yesterday, but I didn't give you any card," he stammered, trying to deny it.
Jenny frowned. She looked at me and then at Ethan, confused. "Mom, what's going on? Did Ethan give you a card? What kind of card?"
She was clearly still in the dark.
I let out a cold laugh. So Ethan hadn't even dared to tell his own wife about that 1.7-million-dollar bomb he was sitting on.
He was probably planning to ruin me first, then tell Jenny he'd "accidentally" discovered that I was actually a gambler who owed 1.7 million in gambling debts.
What a schemer.