Chapter 2028

Lady Wilson had planned to work at the supermarket today, earning double pay. However, after Elaine Ma stole her hard-earned money and mocked her, Lady Wilson's blood pressure soared, leaving her unable to get up from her chair. While physically unharmed, her anger and high blood pressure prevented her from going to work.

Desperate over her lost money and wages, she initially considered sending Wendy to the supermarket in her place. But with her son and grandson seriously ill in bed, and her own incapacitation, she couldn't leave Wendy.

The four of them sat in their luxurious villa, penniless, their only sustenance the leftover vegetable scraps from the previous night. These scraps, once the bottom of a vegetable dish, had become a watery, unappetizing soup.

Wendy suggested reheating the leftovers for lunch, but Lady Wilson refused. "That's all the food we have," she explained to Wendy. "If we eat it now, we'll starve tonight. It's New Year's Eve; we can't go without a meal."

Wendy protested, "Grandmother, it's not enough for even a small meal for four people. What's the point of saving it?"

Lady Wilson insisted, "You don't understand! New Year's Eve dinner is essential. Skipping it means bad luck for the coming year!"

Harold cried, "Grandmother, you promised meat-filled dumplings! Why are we eating these leftovers?"

Lady Wilson, helpless, replied, "Harold, we have no money. How can we buy meat and noodles?"

Harold sobbed, "Grandmother, it's New Year's Eve! I don't want these leftovers. They smell like dirty pot water and rusty knives!"

Christopher choked back tears. "Harold, at least we have something. It's better than starving." He gritted his teeth, adding, "Blame your mother! She stole Grandmother's money. Otherwise, we could have dumplings!"

Wendy wept, "Mom is awful! She didn't think of our family when she stole Grandma's money!"

Lady Wilson, enraged, exclaimed, "She cares about nothing! If she cared, she wouldn't have prostituted herself in a coal mine. If God is just, he'll punish her!"

She sat paralyzed, patting her thighs and crying, "God, look at us! What kind of life is this?"

Lady Wilson covered her face and wept. The others sobbed uncontrollably, the four of them united in their despair.