My father-in-law, Louis Collins' cancer recurred. I was at the hospital, busy with his pre-surgery preparations.

Suddenly, my phone started pinging with deduction alerts.

I found a moment to check my phone and gasped.

The 500,000 dollars I had painstakingly saved for Louis' surgery had been spent.

I quickly called my son, Roy Stewart. He was the only other person linked to the bank card.

The phone was hung up several times before he finally answered.

Roy complained impatiently, "Dad, stop calling. You're so annoying. I lost my game because of you.

"It's just some money. You can earn more. Isn't money meant to be spent?"

I held back my anger and asked, "Roy, were you scammed? What did you buy that cost so much? Was someone influencing you? If you were scammed, you need to report it to the police!"

Roy said indifferently, "I wasn't scammed. Is that a lot of money? People spend a million on a character in the game. I only spent a few hundred thousand. That's not much.

"Besides, there are Christmas discounts. Not buying would cost more.

"Dad, stop nagging. I'm saving you money!

"By the way, your card is out of money. Put more in. If my gear isn't upgraded, I'll be ashamed."

I was shaking with anger. "The most important for you now is about grades and learning! Roy, wait at home and return everything you bought!"

Hearing my serious tone, Roy calmly said, "Dad, times have changed. Competing in studies is your generation's thing. Now, we don't care about that."

I stormed home angrily. Only to open the door, I found my mother-in-law, Amelia Hall, even angrier.

"James, can't you talk things out calmly?

"You called over ten times. Roy didn't answer because he was busy. Are you out of your mind?

"If Roy hadn't called me, I wouldn't know how you abuse him!"

It turned out that Roy had called in Amelia.

I took a deep breath and patiently asked Amelia, "Mom, did he tell you why I called him?"

"Didn't he just spend some money? Was it that serious?"

"Spent some money?" I glanced at Roy. He was watching from the living room. I said, "He spent all the 500,000 dollars we saved for Dad's surgery!"

Amelia was silent momentarily, then looked at pitiful Roy and said firmly, "What's wrong with him spending some money? Money is earned to be spent, not saved.

"If there's not enough money for his surgery, it's your fault. How dare you blame my good grandson.

"He even bought me a pair of shoes today. What about you? You never think of us."

I felt a rush of anger.

My parents passed away early. I've always treated my in-laws as my own parents.

I had given them thousands during holidays, up to tens of thousands yearly. Yet, to her, it didn't compare to a pair of shoes.

Was it because I didn't give? No, it's because she never used what I gave her and scolded me for wasting money.

"Mom, you can't spoil him like this. It will ruin him. Those things he bought can still be returned!"

Amelia looked displeased. "What's wrong with him spending some money? I don't mind the 500,000 dollars!

"But you left Louis alone in the hospital. How do you justify that?

"Instead of wasting time here, you should be finding more money!"

Amelia blocked me from confronting Roy and blamed me instead.

With Amelia backing him, Roy was arrogant and showed no remorse.

This was my son. If I didn't educate him properly, he would be ruined! At such a young age, spending 500,000 dollars so casually. What would happen in the future?

I pushed Amelia aside and grabbed Roy, who was trying to escape. I yelled. "Roy, return those things or face the consequences!"

Roy struggled and slammed me into the wall. My head throbbed with pain as I stared at him.

Surprisedly, Roy looked at the wall, then said firmly, "Dad, Grandma agrees. You should listen to her!

"I won't return the money. Others have limited-edition shoes and branded backpacks, but I have nothing. Dad, you always want me to study well and improve my grades, but how can I study with nothing?

"You and Mom are incompetent and can't spend much. I won't live like you."

He picked up his phone and went to his room. I wanted to chase after him but heard Amelia crying outside. "Oh, James is going to kill someone."

She sat on the ground, refusing to get up. "At my age, I can't even let my grandson spend some money. I might as well die."

I endured my headache and helped Amelia, saying, "Mom, 500,000 dollars is not a small amount. There should be limits to spoiling him."

But Amelia still sat on the ground, refusing to get up. "If you keep after Roy today, I won't get up."

"Mom, we need to pay for Dad's surgery today! He can't wait any longer!"

"That's your problem. You can't even gather such a small amount for surgery, yet you're always busy with work. I'm ashamed to tell anyone!"

Helpless, I called my wife.

My wife, Emily Collins, had a good job but was busy. I sacrificed my previous career and took a leisurely job as a househusband.

She was on a business trip. When this project ended, there would be a six-figure bonus that could cover our debt.

But now, it seemed like a bottomless pit.

Emily argued with Amelia over the phone. Finally, Amelia agreed to help raise 300,000 dollars.

But where could she get it?

Louis and Amelia's savings had been depleted by Louis' illness.

Everyone said that long illnesses reveal unfilial children. But after a long illness, even Amelia didn't care much for Louis.

I fought for this surgery for him.

Amelia said, "He will die anyway even with treatment. It's a waste of money, time, and effort!"

But the doctor said Louis' recurrence was caught in time and the surgery had a high success rate.

"Mom, where did you get so much money? Roy really doesn't need those things. Let him return them!"

"Don't worry about me. Tomorrow, I'll get you 300,000 dollars. You still need to find another 200,000 dollars yourself.

"Ugh, I'm just here to pay off the debts for your useless stuff."

Amelia said this while standing in front of Roy's door. She was afraid I would go in and make him return the money.

I had no choice but to send Roy a message, appealing to his emotions and reasoning.

But Roy had already blocked me.

I took out a temporary credit loan of 200,000 dollars and paid part of the money for Louis.

I believed Amelia couldn't come up with the 300,000 dollars and would make Roy return the money.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, Amelia really transferred 300,000 dollars to me.

"Here's the money. Don't bother Roy."

She thought I was causing trouble for Roy. But I felt that if he acted like this at a young age, there would be big trouble in the future.

But I couldn't educate Roy in front of Amelia. I decided to talk to him properly after Louis' surgery.

"Mom, where did you get the money?"

300,000 dollars was no small amount. Amelia managed to get it in one night.

Amelia said righteously, "Why do you care so much?

"Take good care of Louis after his surgery. I'm old and unwell. I need to go home and rest. I won't bother you anymore."

Amelia left as if escaping. Louis' illness had indeed scared her over the years.

I waited in the surgery room for Louis. The finance manager called me.

"James, did you use the company's bank card funds?"

My heart skipped a beat. My first thought was that Amelia's 300,000 dollars came from my company's money.

"Yesterday afternoon, the card had seven transactions totaling 500,000 dollars."

Yesterday afternoon? Could it be Roy? But the company settlement card had always been with me. It was also never out of my sight.

I checked my bag. It was missing.

"It seems it was used to tip streamers. I'll give you one day to cover the amount. You know the consequences of embezzling company funds!"

The manager hung up. My heart raced. I was about to cry.

What did I do to deserve such a son?

I was the only one waiting at the surgery room for Louis. I couldn't leave.

I had to call Roy, but he had already blocked me.

I called Emily. She was in a remote area with no signal.

I had no choice but to call Amelia again. After several hang-ups, she finally answered.

I heard the sound of chess over the phone. "What's so urgent? If Louis is critical, don't save him. He was supposed to go years ago. There's no need to save him now."

"Mom, Dad is still in surgery. I have an issue at the company. Can you come to the hospital?"

"Didn't you take leave? Is the company more important than Louis' health?"

"Mom, Roy secretly used my company's card to embezzle funds. This is a crime. I need to go home and deal with it right away!"

Amelia didn't seem to hear me. She absentmindedly said, "This is your own problem. Don't bother me. I'm having a good day. I won't leave."

She hung up before I could finish.

I was desperate and at a loss.

Roy used to be well-behaved when he was little. Since Louis got sick, Emily and I ignored Roy to earn enough money for his treatment. Roy seemed to change.

But every time I found a problem and wanted to educate Roy properly, Amelia was the first to stand up for him.

Today's incident seemed to have been foreseeable.

I paid for a caregiver to wait for news at the surgery room. I hurried back home.

Roy was still at home playing games. I walked in and slapped him.

"Roy, you used Grandpa's life-saving money and even embezzled company funds?"

Roy angrily threw down his phone and stood up, looking down at me.

"What do you want? Didn't Grandma say not to bother me?"

"Do you know that embezzling funds is a crime? Where did you spend it? Let's find a way to get it back! Roy, you're grown up. You need to think more about us!

"The manager sees that I've worked hard for so many years and gave me one day. Roy, please don't ruin me!"

After saying that, I was speechless. I had no way to deal with him if he disobeyed and confronted me.

"I tipped game streamers with that money. Getting it back is impossible. All my classmates watch that streamer. Getting it back would be embarrassing!

"Who made you so useless? You are busy working all the time, ignoring me. You only make this much money every year.

"If you don't have money, sell the house! Grandma told me this house could be sold for 3 million dollars. Didn't Grandpa and Grandma leave this house as your lifesaver?"

My dad left this house before he passed away. I didn't expect Roy to be so insane as to target the house.

This was the last thing I could use to raise money.

"Roy, how dare you! How can you say such a thing?" All the blood rushed to my head. I only heard a buzzing in my ears.