"Are you still playing dumb? This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, how would your brother and I have ended up clashing with Hansel?" Lucy snapped.

Now that there was no benefit to gain, she didn’t feel the need to act like a caring mother anymore.

Franklin was furious, and he chimed in, "Hansel went after us so ruthlessly! Why didn’t you warn us? Today, Mom and I almost got killed because of him!"

"Was this your plan all along? Were you hoping we’d get hurt so you could keep that three million all to yourself?"

Ingrid quickly defended herself. "I didn’t! I would never try to hurt you. I had no idea Hansel would go that far!"

Lucy sneered. "You’ve been with Hansel for so long, and you expect us to believe you don’t know what kind of person he is?"

"Exactly!" Franklin added. "Look at these injuries–treating them will cost a fortune! And now that there’s no more money to get from Hansel, you have to pay me!"

"Don’t play the victim with me. Hansel already said he gave you three million!" Lucy fumed, her anger flaring at the thought of Ingrid hiding the money.

Ingrid had kept quiet about it, likely hoping they would take the heat while she stayed behind to enjoy the spoils.

Ingrid’s eyes flickered with unease as she pressed her lips together. "I don’t have much left right now. I can give you 20 thousand for now…"

"Don’t give me that nonsense!" Lucy shot back furiously. "Do you think I don’t know how sneaky you are? Where’s the card? Is it here? Or here?"

Lucy knew her daughter all too well. She had inherited her cunning. Ingrid was definitely hiding money. Ignoring Ingrid’s pleas, Lucy started rummaging through the room.

Terrified of losing what little she had left, Ingrid tried to get out of bed, but Franklin blocked her.

"Stay put!" he shouted. "Mom and I have done so much for you this month, we deserve some compensation!"

Lucy rifled through the drawers and cabinets until she found a bank card tucked in Ingrid’s backpack.

"Frankie! Come here!" she called.

Franklin’s eyes lit up with greed.

"That’s my money! Give it back!" Ingrid cried, desperate to stop them. That card held all her remaining funds–what was left of the original three million.

She had spent some, but there was still over a million left. If they took it, she would be left with nothing. Franklin shoved her roughly, snarling, "So you were hiding money after all! I can’t believe how cunning you are!"

Chapter 0430

Lucy was unfazed as she said, "Frankie, don’t waste your breath. She’s my daughter, and if I want to take her money, I will. Let’s go–we’re done here."

If Ingrid had just been upfront about the money, they wouldn’t have wasted so much time. Now, they were making sure to collect what was theirs.

"Mom, Frankie–please! You can’t do this! That’s my money!" Ingrid chased after them, her voice filled with despair. "Take the money, but don’t leave me behind… Mom!"

But Lucy didn’t even look back.

Ingrid collapsed in the hallway, sobbing uncontrollably. At that moment, it felt like the entire world had abandoned her.

When Hansel heard that Lucy and Franklin had left the city with all of Ingrid’s money, he couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction. He called the hospital. "Freeze the account and suspend all charges."

"But sir, what about Ms. Ingrid’s hospital bills?" the voice on the other end asked cautiously.

"Didn’t you hear what I said? Freeze it. As for what happens to her, that’s for the hospital to figure out."

That afternoon, a nurse came in. "Ms. Ingrid, you’ve recovered well. It’s time for you to be discharged."

"I’m not leaving. I’m still waiting for him," Ingrid replied. She was sitting motionless on the bed. Her eyes were dull, as lifeless as a puppet.

"If you wish to stay longer, then you’ll need to make a payment on the first floor. Here’s the bill for your stay…"