Chapter 45: The Money Man, Two Relics

Nightfall.

Louis was visiting Mary’s home.

It had to be said, Mary’s house was indeed a bit small and modest, but it had everything necessary, and the atmosphere felt quite warm and cozy.

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

Mary looked down, fiddling with a Lego figure. “Frank.”

She gave her reason.

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

Louis nodded with admiration. Although Mary was young and not very sociable, she was undeniably clever—perhaps this was what genius looked like.

At that moment, the driver came in and nodded at Louis.

Louis understood immediately; the matter had been settled.

What had been done exactly?

Come on, they were a mafia family—what good could they be up to?

Of course, they had done a little “neutering.”

Since it was confirmed that Mary wanted to stay at Frank’s, it was time to handle things quickly.

Louis stepped outside. Frank was in a heated discussion with his lawyer.

The lawyer had lost confidence in winning the case, and the other side was equally worried about losing. Both parties considered compromising according to the child welfare commissioner’s suggestion—to find Mary a better, more loving foster home.

“Frank, do you really think you can provide a good life for Mary?”

Frank’s lips curled bitterly.

“Ahem, I think Mary is happy now. If that’s true, it means Frank has done something right,” Louis said as he approached, holding a drink, addressing Frank, who bore a striking resemblance to Captain America.

Seeing Louis, Frank forced a smile. He was deeply grateful to this boy, ever since the kidnapping incident.

Yet the black lawyer beside him looked somewhat helpless. Things were never that simple, especially not just because a child said so.

“Kid, the adult world is complicated. Happiness isn’t just about feeling good.”

“Oh, of course, I know. That’s why I’m here to help,” Louis smiled, tossing a sleek black card edged with a golden rim to Frank.

“There’s about a million on this card. It’s enough for you to provide Mary with a decent living environment. With this money, you can get a new house, buy a piano, a computer. With your knowledge as a university teaching assistant, you can teach Mary. So, you won’t lose.”

Such was the power of money!

The black lawyer’s eyes nearly popped out—one million dollars???

Frank stared at the card in disbelief. Having once moved in high society, he recognized this card; it was impossible to obtain without over a million dollars. So it was real!

But then the question arose: who exactly was this boy before him?

Why was he doing this?

“Why?”

Louis sipped his drink, savoring the sugary taste, frowning slightly. “Just think of it as me investing in Mary’s future.”

Page 2

“Doesn’t that sound more reasonable?”

Frank fell silent.

After a moment, he clenched the card tightly, clearly having made up his mind.

“No matter your reasons, I sincerely thank you. If there’s anything I can do, just say the word.”

“Oh, in that case, I have some questions for you.”

“Why do you think Mary shouldn’t go to Oak Genius Academy?”

“Because of her mother’s past. I don’t want her to repeat those mistakes.” Frank explained Mary’s mother’s situation.

Louis nodded. It was roughly about wanting Mary to have a happy life free from control.

“Although I don’t agree with your mother—that lady who constantly claims to lead humanity forward—she did say something right: staying too long in the wrong environment, can Mary truly be happy?”

Frank sighed.

“Actually, you could change your perspective. Provide her with love and freedom. What’s wrong with letting her attend Genius Academy? With you by her side, I believe you won’t be like your mother, right?” Louis said.

Frank was startled; Louis’s words were like a sudden awakening, shaking him to his core.

He was not his mother... absolutely not...

“All right, that’s enough. Once this is settled, I have to get back. I hope you can be efficient.”

Watching Louis’s back, Frank was lost in thought. Who was this boy?

He didn’t seem like a child at all.

But he was a good person, at least.

...

With Louis’s financial support, Frank displayed his wealth in court the next day and declared his willingness to send Mary to a better school, one that suited her talent.

This caught Evelyn completely off guard.

At this point, the outcome was clear: the judge ruled that Frank retained custody, but the child welfare agency must conduct monthly visits to ensure Frank no longer involved Mary in fighting lessons.

Evelyn’s visitation rights remained unchanged.

The verdict was announced.

Yet Evelyn chased after Frank, shouting, “Frank! Frank!”

“I don’t know where you got all this money, but let me say this: give me the child, and I can lead her to a more successful path. Yes, you might have some money now, but you have no connections. I can get Mary into MIT!”

“No, Mother. Just like you abandoned me without hesitation back then, will you truly do right by Mary? Aren’t you just using her as a tool?”

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

Seeing her mother persist, Frank simply said, “Follow me.”

Soon, Frank brought out a box from his room.

“See for yourself.”

Evelyn flipped through its contents—various drafts filled with complex calculations.

“What... what is this?” Her voice trembled.

Page 3

“You know, this is what you’ve longed for your whole life—success, fame, a mark on the world.”

“No, you can’t have calculated this.”

“Of course not me. It was Diane. This is her legacy. She calculated it before she died.”

“Then, why?”

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

Evelyn looked at him in confusion. Frank sighed, “After you die.”

!!!

It was like a thunderclap.

His daughter... harbored such resentment...

“I wasn’t supposed to show this, but if it can secure Mary’s unrestricted future, I believe Diane would agree. Now, this is yours. Protect it. Publish it.”

Evelyn opened her mouth several times, her eyes reddening as tears slipped down her cheeks. She was truly heartbroken. Though she had been harsh on Diane, treating her as the bearer of her dreams, she had also loved her—though perhaps that love was not pure.

After trembling a few times, she finally took the papers.

Now, all she had left...

But then she suddenly looked at Frank, who was about to leave.

“Frank, I know you may think I’m not a good mother.”

“Yes, you’re not,” Frank said without hesitation.

Evelyn stiffened but continued, “But I have something to give you both, something extraordinary.”

Before Frank could speak, her face grew very serious.

“Listen to me. I don’t have dementia, and I’m not making this up. I found a cabinet that can steal time.”

“Even ordinary people, with this cabinet, can work hard and become geniuses in reality.”

“But that’s a waste. Its true purpose is for geniuses. Their efficiency will far surpass ordinary people.”

“I was planning to wait until Mary was older, more learned, to let her use it. Then, she could become famous in one go.”

“I’m not lying. When we go back, I will bring it over. Whether you use it or not is your choice. Consider this my grandmother’s final gift of love.”

“Frank... I truly love you both...”

Tears streamed down Evelyn’s face.

But Frank took a deep breath and walked out.

Now, he needed a moment of quiet.