Chapter 46: The Money Hero: Two Heirlooms

Night.

Louis was a guest at Mary’s house.

I have to say, Mary’s home is indeed a bit small and simple, but it has everything it needs and looks quite cozy.

[3] To be fair, Mary’s home was small and humble, but it had everything it needed, and the atmosphere felt warm.

“Mary, do you want to stay with Frank or your grandmother?”

Mary lowered her head, clutching a Lego figure. “Frank.”

She gave her reason.

“When I wasn’t a genius, my grandmother never showed up.”

Louis nodded, his expression approving. Though young and socially awkward, this child was indeed clever—perhaps that was what made a genius.

At that moment, the driver entered and nodded to Louis.

Louis understood—everything had been taken care of.

As for what exactly had been done?

Come on, they were a crime family—what good could they possibly do?

Of course, they castrated him.

Since Mary had chosen to stay with Frank, they should settle this quickly.

Louis stepped outside, where Frank was arguing with his lawyer.

The lawyer had lost confidence in winning the case, and the opposing side feared losing it too—so they agreed, per the child welfare officer’s suggestion, to find Mary a better, more loving foster home.

“Frank, do you really believe you can give Mary a good life?”

Frank’s mouth tasted bitter.

“Cough, cough—I think Mary is happy now. If so, that proves Frank is doing something right.” Louis walked over with a drink in hand, speaking to the man who looked vaguely like Captain America.

Seeing Louis, Frank forced a smile—he was deeply grateful to this child, ever since the kidnapping incident.

But the Black lawyer beside him felt helpless—how could such a complex matter be settled so simply by a child’s words?

“Child, the adult world is complicated. Happiness alone isn’t enough.”

“Oh, of course I know that. That’s why I’ve come to help.” Louis smiled and tossed Frank a card—jet black, edged with golden patterns.

“There’s fifty thousand in here. More than enough to give Mary a solid living environment. With this money, you can move to a better house, buy a piano, a computer. Your knowledge as a university teaching assistant is more than enough to guide Mary. So—you won’t lose.”

This was the power of money!

The Black lawyer’s eyes nearly bulged out—fifty thousand U.S. dollars???

Frank stared at the card in his hand, equally stunned. He’d once moved in upper-class circles—he recognized this card. No one could obtain it without over fifty thousand dollars. It was real.

So the question arose—who was this boy?

Why was he doing this?

“Why?”

Louis took a sip of his drink, the cloying sweetness making him frown. “Think of it as an investment in Mary’s future.”

“Doesn’t that sound more reasonable?”

Frank fell silent.

After a moment, he gripped the card tightly—he had made his decision.

“No matter your reason, I sincerely thank you. If there’s anything I can do for you, just say it.”

“Oh? Then I have a few questions for you.”

“Why do you think Mary shouldn’t go to Oakwood Academy for the Gifted?”

“Because of my wife’s past. I don’t want her to repeat the same mistakes.” Frank told the story of Mary’s mother.

Louis nodded—he understood. Frank simply wanted Mary to have a happy, uncontrolled life.

“Though I don’t agree with your mother—the woman who constantly claims to lead humanity forward—she did say one thing correctly: if Mary stays too long in an unsuitable environment, can she truly be happy?”

Frank sighed.

“You might change your perspective. Give her both love and freedom. Let her attend the academy. With you beside her, I believe you won’t become like your mother, will you?” Louis said.

Frank froze. Louis’s words struck him like a revelation.

I’m not my mother… never will be…

“Enough said. I need to return after handling this. I hope you’ll act efficiently.”

Watching Louis’s back, Frank stood dazed—who was this person?

He didn’t act like a child at all.

But he’s a good man, though.

…

With Louis’s financial backing, Frank displayed his wealth in court the next day and declared his willingness to send the child to a better school, ensuring she received education matching her talent.

This caught Evelyn completely off guard.

At this point, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The judge ruled that Frank retained custody, but the Child Welfare Association must conduct monthly inspections to ensure Frank no longer exposed the child to violent training.

Evelyn’s visitation rights remained unchanged.

The verdict was delivered.

Yet Evelyn chased after them. “Frank! Frank!”

“I don’t know where you got all this money, but I must say—hand her over to me. I can lead her to greater success. Yes, you may have money now, but you lack connections. I can get Mary into MIT!”

“No, Mother. Just as you abandoned me without hesitation, will you truly care for Mary? Aren’t you just using her as a tool?”

“No! How can you say that? She’s my granddaughter—I…”

Seeing his mother still nagging, Frank cut in: “Come with me.”

Soon, Frank brought out a box from his room. “Take a look.”

Evelyn flipped through it—pages filled with dense calculations.

“This… what is this?” Her voice trembled.

“You know. It’s what you spent your whole life chasing—fame, legacy, a name in history.”

“No, you couldn’t have calculated this…”

“Of course not. It was Diane. She finished it before she died.”

“Then why—?”

“She told me to publish it after her death.”

Evelyn stared at him. Frank sighed. “After your death.”

!!!

As if struck by lightning.

Her daughter… hated her so deeply…

“I shouldn’t have brought this out. But if I trade this for Mary’s unshackled future, I believe Diane would agree. Now, these are yours. Go protect them. Publish them.”

Evelyn opened her mouth several times, eyes red, tears falling—she was truly heartbroken. Though she had treated Diane harshly, using her as a vessel for her own dreams…

Yet she had also loved her. Even if that love wasn’t pure…

After trembling several times, she finally picked up the papers.

Now, these were all she had left…

But—

Suddenly, she turned to Frank, who was about to leave.

“Frank, I know I may not seem like a qualified mother to you.”

“Yes. You’re not.” Frank said without hesitation.

Evelyn stiffened, yet continued: “But I have something to give you. Something extraordinary.”

Before Frank could speak, her expression turned grave.

“Listen—I’m not senile, and I’m not lying. I found a cabinet. It can steal time.”

“Even an ordinary person, with this cabinet, can become a genius through effort.”

“But that’s a waste. The real use is for geniuses—their efficiency will far surpass ordinary people.”

“I planned to give it to Mary when she grew older, when her knowledge was deeper—then she could rise to fame all at once.”

“I’m not lying. When I return, I’ll ship it over. Whether you use it or not is up to you. Consider it my gift as a grandmother—my final token of love.”

“Frank… I truly love you both…”

Evelyn wept bitterly.

But Frank only took a deep breath and walked out.

Now, he needed to be alone.

(End of Chapter)