Chapter 2
Ivy's gaze slowly shifted from the bank card to Fiona's face.
She thought of Wade, the guy she'd dated for three years. He was always gentle and caring, and he promised to love her for life.
Did he know about this?
[System analysis of associated person: Wade Brown.
[Relationship: Mother and son.
[Information synchronization status: Aware and tacitly approved.
[Wade Brown's core demand: Fulfill his mother's dying wish by getting married and having kids ASAP, and dump all the caregiving and companionship duties onto his wife (you) under the guise of being a dutiful son.
[Additional reminder: Thirty minutes ago, Wade gave himself sole authority to make large withdrawals from the joint bank account you share. Once you're gone, all the money in the account will be transferred out.]
He knew. He let it happen. And now he was going to drain every last bit of her savings.
The last bit of warmth in Ivy's heart died out.
The anger faded away, replaced by an icy numbness and an almost absolute calm.
So this wasn't about forcing lovers apart. It was a carefully orchestrated, all-out scam.
A predatory hunt with her as the target.
Wade played the good cop and Fiona the bad cop. They schemed to wreck her health, rob her blind, and lock Ivy into a lifetime of servitude, all so she'd be forced to care for Fiona, this venomous woman, until the very end.
What a brilliant scheme.
Ivy slowly stood up. She didn't glance at the bank card or the deadly coffee.
She picked up her bag, looked at Fiona across the table, and actually smiled.
"Mrs. Green," she said softly but clearly, "you're right."
Fiona was stunned. She'd prepared a thousand comebacks for Ivy's meltdown, but this calm response was the last thing she expected.
Ivy didn't give Fiona a chance to say another word. She turned and left without looking back.
Her steps were resolute and decisive, without a trace of attachment remaining.
As Ivy stepped out of the café, the summer sunlight made her eyes sting.
She flagged down a taxi and slid inside. "Can you take me to the nearest bank?"
The icy blue notification popped up again. [Host is now out of immediate danger. Beginner quest 'The Fateful Afternoon Tea' is complete.
[System reward: Crisis warning system activated.
[Current crisis alert: Your joint bank account has 80 thousand. That's everything you've got. Wade's scheduled transfer will go through in 15 minutes. Host, handle it now.]
Ivy stared at the number, her gaze cold as ice.
She made a silent vow. Wade and Fiona. They would pay.
*****
The taxi pulled up in front of a downtown bank.
Ivy rushed inside at top speed.
She didn't bother waiting in line; she headed straight for the VIP lounge.
Her financial track record over the past few years had earned her VIP status at the bank.
Wade and Fiona would never have imagined that the "broke office nobody" they always looked down on actually qualified for this kind of VIP treatment.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Jennings. How can I assist you today?" the account manager greeted Ivy warmly.
"I need this done ASAP," Ivy said, placing her driver's license and debit cards on the counter. Her words came rapid-fire but laser-focused. "Liquidate every account: checking, savings, everything, and wire it to a new account. Now.
"Restrict the account to in-person access only with my driver's license. No online banking. No third-party payments. Only face-to-face transactions at the counter.
"Also, close my joint account with Wade Brown immediately. Revoke all his access and remove him as a beneficiary everywhere."
The account manager was a little surprised, but her professionalism kept her from asking any questions. "Of course, I'll take care of it right away."
Watching the screen, Ivy saw her 80 thousand transfer over, transaction by transaction, into her sole account. No ties, no loopholes. Hers alone. For the first time, she felt truly secure.
Almost the moment the last transfer went through, her phone buzzed with a text. [Your bank card ending in xxxx attempted to transfer 80 thousand, but the transaction failed due to insufficient funds.]
Ivy let out a cold laugh, snapped the useless joint card in half, and tossed it straight into the trash.
Only after she'd done all that did she finally feel like she could breathe again.