Chapter 1

The notification sound from my mobile banking app overlapped with the system chime in my head.

I glanced at the deposit alert—$2,000 credited—and the smile on my lips deepened.

It wasn’t much, but just enough to cover my mom’s hospital deposit.

Lily Foster’s frown deepened, the disgust in her eyes barely contained.

“Aaron, what the hell are you doing? I’m talking to you about something serious!”

[ Ding! Received 40 Malice Points from Lily Foster. Cashback of $4,000 has been credited. ]

I smiled again.

So, her hatred toward me was actually worth something.

“It’s nothing,” I said, looking at her calmly. “I just think you’re right. It’s your money; you can spend it however you want. It’s none of my business.”

Lily froze.

She had probably expected me to either argue angrily like before or beg her in humiliation.

But this time, she got it wrong.

“Y-you understand, that’s good,” she said, clearly thrown off, her expression stiff.

“But speaking of which, what are you going to do about your mom’s surgery?”

There was a trace of barely hidden schadenfreude in her tone.

Before I could respond, her precious brother Marcus Foster pulled up beside me in his bright red Ferrari and honked.

The sharp roar of the engine drew the attention of everyone nearby.

“Hey, Aaron, still couldn’t find anyone to lend you the money?”

Marcus rolled down the window, elbow resting on the door, wearing a punchable grin.

“Why not beg my sister? If she’s in a good mood, maybe she’ll toss you a few hundred bucks.”

[ Ding! Received 60 Malice Points from Marcus Foster. Cashback of $6,000 has been credited. ]

My phone buzzed again in my pocket.

I looked at the total balance—$12,000—and felt an unusual calm settle in.

“No need.”

I walked past the front of the car and headed straight toward the hospital.

Behind me, Lily’s furious voice rang out. “Aaron! Where are you going? I’m not done talking!”

[ Ding! Received 100 Malice Points from Lily Foster. Cashback of $10,000 has been credited. ]

I didn’t look back.

My phone buzzed again. I glanced at my balance.

It had climbed to $22,000.

My mom’s surgery fees were covered.

I went straight to the billing counter and paid $20,000 in one go.

The nurse at the window looked up at me, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

After all, just yesterday, I had still been struggling to come up with the deposit.

After finishing the paperwork, I went to my mom’s room.

She lay weakly in bed. When she saw me, a faint light flickered in her clouded eyes.

“Aaron… the money…”

“Mom, don’t worry. It’s all taken care of. Just focus on getting ready for the surgery.”

I held her dry hand, my voice steady.

She looked at me, her eyes reddening.

She knew my situation. Over the past three years, trying to keep up with Lily’s so-called financial independence, I had lived on the edge.

“Son, did you…”

“Mom, don’t overthink it. The money came from a proper source.”

I didn’t want her to worry, so I brushed it off.

After staying with her for a while, my phone rang. It was Lily.

The moment the call connected, her voice came crashing down in a barrage of accusations.

“Aaron! Where the hell did you go? Do you not care if your mom lives or dies?”

I walked to the end of the hallway, my voice cold. “What is it?”

[ Ding! Received 20 Malice Points from Lily Foster. Cashback of $2,000 has been credited. ]

“What kind of attitude is that? I’m asking you—how are you going to get the cash?”

“It’s handled.”

There was silence on the other end.

A few seconds later, Lily’s sharp voice cut through again. “Handled? Where did you get $20,000 from?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“None of my concern? Aaron, have you been hiding money from me behind my back?”