After I Ignored Him, My Son Regretted It

My father-in-law, Louis Collins' cancer recurred. I was at the hospital, busy with his pre-surgery preparations.

Suddenly, my phone started pinging with deduction alerts.

I found a moment to check my phone and gasped.

The 500,000 dollars I had painstakingly saved for Louis' surgery had been spent.

I quickly called my son, Roy Stewart. He was the only other person linked to the bank card.

The phone was hung up several times before he finally answered.

Roy complained impatiently, "Dad, stop calling. You're so annoying. I lost my game because of you.

"It's just some money. You can earn more. Isn't money meant to be spent?"

I held back my anger and asked, "Roy, were you scammed? What did you buy that cost so much? Was someone influencing you? If you were scammed, you need to report it to the police!"

Roy said indifferently, "I wasn't scammed. Is that a lot of money? People spend a million on a character in the game. I only spent a few hundred thousand. That's not much.

"Besides, there are Christmas discounts. Not buying would cost more.

"Dad, stop nagging. I'm saving you money!

"By the way, your card is out of money. Put more in. If my gear isn't upgraded, I'll be ashamed."

I was shaking with anger. "The most important for you now is about grades and learning! Roy, wait at home and return everything you bought!"

Hearing my serious tone, Roy calmly said, "Dad, times have changed. Competing in studies is your generation's thing. Now, we don't care about that."

I stormed home angrily. Only to open the door, I found my mother-in-law, Amelia Hall, even angrier.

"James, can't you talk things out calmly?

"You called over ten times. Roy didn't answer because he was busy. Are you out of your mind?

"If Roy hadn't called me, I wouldn't know how you abuse him!"

It turned out that Roy had called in Amelia.

I took a deep breath and patiently asked Amelia, "Mom, did he tell you why I called him?"

"Didn't he just spend some money? Was it that serious?"

"Spent some money?" I glanced at Roy. He was watching from the living room. I said, "He spent all the 500,000 dollars we saved for Dad's surgery!"

Amelia was silent momentarily, then looked at pitiful Roy and said firmly, "What's wrong with him spending some money? Money is earned to be spent, not saved.

"If there's not enough money for his surgery, it's your fault. How dare you blame my good grandson.

"He even bought me a pair of shoes today. What about you? You never think of us."

I felt a rush of anger.

My parents passed away early. I've always treated my in-laws as my own parents.

I had given them thousands during holidays, up to tens of thousands yearly. Yet, to her, it didn't compare to a pair of shoes.

Was it because I didn't give? No, it's because she never used what I gave her and scolded me for wasting money.

"Mom, you can't spoil him like this. It will ruin him. Those things he bought can still be returned!"

Amelia looked displeased. "What's wrong with him spending some money? I don't mind the 500,000 dollars!

"But you left Louis alone in the hospital. How do you justify that?

"Instead of wasting time here, you should be finding more money!"

Amelia blocked me from confronting Roy and blamed me instead.

With Amelia backing him, Roy was arrogant and showed no remorse.

This was my son. If I didn't educate him properly, he would be ruined! At such a young age, spending 500,000 dollars so casually. What would happen in the future?

I pushed Amelia aside and grabbed Roy, who was trying to escape. I yelled. "Roy, return those things or face the consequences!"

Roy struggled and slammed me into the wall. My head throbbed with pain as I stared at him.

Surprisedly, Roy looked at the wall, then said firmly, "Dad, Grandma agrees. You should listen to her!

"I won't return the money. Others have limited-edition shoes and branded backpacks, but I have nothing. Dad, you always want me to study well and improve my grades, but how can I study with nothing?

"You and Mom are incompetent and can't spend much. I won't live like you."

He picked up his phone and went to his room. I wanted to chase after him but heard Amelia crying outside. "Oh, James is going to kill someone."

She sat on the ground, refusing to get up. "At my age, I can't even let my grandson spend some money. I might as well die."

I endured my headache and helped Amelia, saying, "Mom, 500,000 dollars is not a small amount. There should be limits to spoiling him."

But Amelia still sat on the ground, refusing to get up. "If you keep after Roy today, I won't get up."

"Mom, we need to pay for Dad's surgery today! He can't wait any longer!"

"That's your problem. You can't even gather such a small amount for surgery, yet you're always busy with work. I'm ashamed to tell anyone!"

Helpless, I called my wife.