Miriam's POV

“Mom, Neal is your grandson. I know 100,000 is a lot, but you’ve got nearly two million in your retirement account. Spending a bit on your grandson isn’t too much to ask, is it?” Alvin Conner, my second son, said.

Then Edwin Conner, my youngest, came in, eyeing the newest electric sedan, asking me for $80,000 to help pay for it.

When they found out there wasn’t any money left in the account, just like their older brother, their faces turned cold, and the interrogation began.

But I hadn’t touched a single cent!

It wasn’t until I was pushed to death that I finally learned where the money had gone.

That memory made my fist tighten, and I nearly crushed the retirement card in my hand.

At that moment, my eldest son’s voice snapped back in with impatience. “Mom? Did you hear me? Just transfer me the 200,000 to cover this for now—”

I didn’t let him finish. I took a deep breath and cut him off coldly, “There’s no money.”

Right after that, I hung up.

In my past life, when I first got the test results, I panicked. I cried right there in the hospital.

The doctor tried to comfort me. “It’s cancer, yes, but we caught it early, and the tumor’s still small. As long as you get surgery soon, we can treat it.”

I thought about how busy my three sons were with work. After much hesitation, I decided not to bother them and handle it on my own.

But when I tried to pay the five-grand hospital deposit, I learned the truth about my retirement card.

It wasn’t the illness that killed me in the end. It was the three sons I’d worked so hard to raise all by myself.

The thought alone sent a chill down my spine.

Thankfully, this time, things were different. After I called my best friend for help, she immediately transferred $100,000 to me.

She also contacted her acquaintance in the hospital to arrange a VIP room for me and to hire a personal caregiver as well.

“Don’t stress about anything,” she said. “Just focus on getting through the surgery tomorrow.”

Still, just to be safe, I asked the nurses not to share my room number with anyone.

I also contacted my niece, who works at a bank, and asked her to print out the last ten years’ worth of transaction history for that retirement account.

It was a big request, so it would take a little time. But she promised to send me the electronic file within three hours.

With all that taken care of, I finally felt like I could breathe.

But just as I let my guard down, the hospital room door suddenly slammed open.

It was Alvin. Right behind him were my grandson, Neal Conner, and my daughter-in-law, Clara Conner.

I sighed. I’d done everything to prevent this, and still, he found me.

Alvin looked around the room quickly with admiration, then marched straight to the bed and flopped down without hesitation.

“Mom! You didn’t even tell me you were in the hospital. I was so worried!”

I gave a bitter chuckle and shifted my arm slightly as he’d sat right on the one hooked up to the IV.

He said he was worried, but not once did he ask how I was actually doing. Who would believe that?

Then he launched into his real reason for being there. “Anyway, here’s the thing. Neal’s school is organizing a summer program. They’re sending students to a top international university. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

Hesitating, he continued, “It’s just… the fee is a bit high. 100,000. I wouldn’t be asking if all my money wasn’t tied up in a project right now. So, could you…”

Before he could finish, I cut in with a flat, emotionless voice, “I have no money.”

Quickly, he sprang up like I’d just burned him. “No money? Impossible! You just paid 80,000 for surgery, and this is a luxury hospital room with a private nurse. You think I’m blind?”

“Mom, that money, my brothers and I saved that for your retirement. It wasn’t meant for you to spend however you please! And come on, I’m only asking for 100,000. That card has 1.8 million!” he insisted.

Clara also jumped in quickly, trying to smooth things over, though her voice was already rising. “Mom, Neal’s your grandson. If you're really that hesitant to spend money on him, once Alvin gets his project bonus, he can pay you back. Isn’t that fair?”

Miriam's POV

Neal tugged impatiently at my arm. “Grandma, hurry and give us the money! If we're too late, the spot will be gone!”

Outside the room, a few family members from other patients were passing by. I heard them whispering about me.

“Her sons are so filial. They gave her 1.8 million for retirement, and she can’t even spare 100,000 for her own grandson? That’s just stingy.”

“Exactly! She keeps saying she doesn’t have money, but look at her, staying in a VIP hospital room. She’s clearly treating her sons like suckers.”

Even the nurse’s aide, who had just returned with hot water, looked at me strangely.

She hesitated, then finally said, “Auntie, maybe you should just give them the money. You clearly have it, and it’s not worth upsetting the whole family over something so small.”

Even though I had lived through this once already, hearing those words again made my whole body shake with anger.

I knew there was no point in arguing right now. Nothing I said would change their minds.

Only the bank statement would shut them up.

But the truth was, every single hospital expense had been paid for by my best friend, not me.

I couldn’t just let this go.

As such, I yanked the IV needle from my arm and stood up, ready to grab the receipt to prove it to them.

Alvin must’ve thought I was finally giving in. He looked thrilled and rushed over to help me up.

But the moment I stood, my head spun, and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside was already dark. My head felt heavy and foggy. A nurse was changing out my IV drip.

The moment he saw me wake up, Alvin rushed over, all concerned. “Mom, thank God you’re awake! You scared me to death!”

But then he quickly turned annoyed. “If you didn’t want to give the money, you could’ve just said so. Did you really have to pretend to faint?”

I almost laughed out loud. Pretend to faint? Just to avoid giving him money?

What did he think I was, some kind of ATM that spits out cash in exchange for hollow expressions of ‘filial piety’?

Even an ATM needs to have money in it first. Mine had been drained long ago.

I wanted to fire back at him, to give him a piece of my mind.

But before I could say a word, I heard hurried footsteps coming from the hallway.

I didn’t even need to look. I already knew. It was my youngest, Edwin Conner.

“Alvin, you’re here too?”

He glanced at his older brother, then walked straight over to me. “Mom, I found this amazing car. Great specs, incredible performance. I just need 80,000 more. Can I borrow it from your retirement account? I swear, as soon as I get my bonus next month, I’ll pay you right back!”

As he spoke, he started reaching into my pockets to find the card.

But Alvin immediately stopped him, roaring, “Edwin, what the hell are you doing? That money is for Neal’s overseas trip! That’s a real opportunity. You can buy your stupid car later!”

Edwin stood his ground, face flushed. “Stupid car? You wouldn’t understand. It’s called technology, okay? Sure, your son going abroad is important. But I’m in a critical stage of my career. How am I supposed to look professional without a decent car? What will clients think of me?”

He then turned to me, asking for back-up. “Mom, be fair. Say something.”

Not to be outdone, Alvin jumped back in. “Mom, we’re talking about your grandson! Neal is family!”

Edwin rolled his eyes and shot back, “And buying the car is for work, so I can earn more and take better care of Mom in the future!”

The two of them were shouting now, arguing louder and louder.

One wanted to send his son abroad using my retirement fund.

The other wanted to buy a flashy new car with it.

And neither of them even asked me how I was feeling. Not a single word about the surgery.

This was what I gave up everything for? I sold the only apartment I had with my late husband just to send these boys to the best schools.

If I hadn’t been reborn, I wouldn’t have believed any of this was real.

Just then, the nurse rushed into the room, looking flustered. “Auntie! Something happened. A man claiming to be your eldest son is at the front desk. He’s trying to cancel your surgery and get a refund on the payment.”

Miriam's POV

I froze for a second, stunned. Before I could even process what was happening, Oliver stormed into the room.

“Mom! I just checked your retirement card. There’s only three grand left in it!” he shouted. “You need to explain right now where all that money went. Otherwise, forget about having the surgery!”

Alvin and Edwin immediately stopped arguing. Both turned to stare at me in shock.

“Three grand?” Alvin echoed, eyes wide. “That’s impossible! That account had 1.8 million. How could it just disappear?”

I looked at the three of them, suspicious, accusatory eyes fixed on me, and finally, after ten years of swallowing bitterness and betrayal, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“You seriously have the nerve to question me about the money?” I snapped.

My outburst caught Oliver off guard. He flinched, but quickly recovered, his embarrassment flipping into anger.

“Why shouldn’t we ask?” he shot back. “That money came from us! We’re entitled to know!”

Alvin then chimed in, fuming. “Exactly! Mom, are you even listening to yourself? That money was ours. And I need it now!”

Edwin also joined in, arms crossed. “Right! It’s not like you’re using it anyway!”

Their voices kept rising, drawing more and more attention. Soon, patients, family members, even nurses and doctors gathered at the door, forming a small crowd.

Someone even took out their phone and started a livestream.

“Guys, check this out,” the livestreamer said, camera pointed straight at me. “This old lady’s sons gave her 1.8 million for retirement, and now the money’s just vanished. And she won’t say where it went.”

Comments flooded the screen in real time.

[She’s probably planning to take it all to the grave.]

[Bet she gave it to her loser brother or something. Gross!]

[Nah, I think she got scammed by some fake ‘godson’ and is too embarrassed to admit it. These lonely old folks, man.]

People passing by glared at me with disgust. Someone even threw garbage at me, and someone else dumped urine.

And through it all, my three sons just stood there, watching silently, doing nothing.

“Mom, please,” Oliver said coldly. “Just tell us where the retirement money went.”

“We’re your own children,” added Alvin. “Do you really think we’d hurt you?”

Just then, my phone buzzed. I looked down, saw the message, and gave a bitter smile.

Finally, this nightmare was about to end.

I wiped the filth from my face, let out a dry laugh, and said, “You want the truth? Fine. You want to know what happened to your money? Well, open your eyes and take a good look.”

I pulled up the document my niece had just sent me, the complete transaction history from the retirement card over the past ten years, and held it up for them all to see.

The crowd leaned in, curious. The livestream camera zoomed in for a better look.

But before the screen could focus, all three brothers suddenly panicked.

Their faces changed instantly. Oliver jumped in front of the phone, blocking the view.