Chapter 1-Get the Money Tonight!

In the hospital hallways, a man with a disheveled appearance stands facing the window. His face is haggard and dark circles are clearly visible in both eyes.

Alex's eyes are focused on the water droplets on the window. His lips are pressed tightly together, but his mind is as noisy as a broken record. Alex can't stop thinking about his daughter-Bianca-who is sick, as well as the problems that have hit him hard.

His property company had gone bankrupt. There is nothing left. Alex's savings had also been used up to pay off debts and he is still unemployed.

Alex let out a long sigh for the umpteenth time, then he sits down on the waiting chair. He looks at Bianca lying limp in the hospital bed, then at his wife's family members who stare at him sarcastically.

Ever since Alex's company went bankrupt and he no longer had a high income, his wife's family always blamed him. It seemed as if Alex was the source of his problems, even though he had worked hard to save his property company.

Especially, his wife-Jasmine Sans. She didn't stop complaining in the past week, and even started shouting at Alex as a useless unemployed person.

It is not easy to find a job in this small town. New Hampshire doesn't have many jobs related to his skill set, despite his competence. Someone recommended Alex to go to Texas, but he doesn't have enough money to go there.

"Oh my God. How is it now? What about Bianca's medical bills?" Jasmine chuckled, almost shouting. She stomped her pointed heels on the tile floor, then looked at her husband in exasperation. "How about now? Who will pay for Bianca's medical bills? You have nothing left and you're taking her to this expensive hospital!"

Alex opens his mouth to speak, but his mother-in-law interrupts sharply, "When your company went bankrupt, you should have looked for a job immediately. See what's happening now? Bianca is sick and you don't have the money to pay for it," Mrs. Anne said with an exasperated hiss.

The 48-year-old stares at her son-in-law reluctantly, as if Alex is a disgusting piece of shit.

Alex takes a deep breath to calm the anger that is slowly rising in his heart. He had had his fill of all sorts of insults, but his mother-in-law always had a stock phrase to step on his pride.

"Mom, I've been trying to find a job, but…"

"What did you try to find a job?" Now it was his father-in-law's turn to criticize. Mr. Victor Sans snorted and continued cursing, "What efforts? If so, where are the results? It's been a week since Jasmine complained that you didn't give her a penny. Are you going to feed my children and grandchildren rocks? Is that it?"

Jasmine nods her head in agreement with her father's words.

"What good are you as a husband? You're just torturing my daughter and granddaughter."

Alex sighs wearily. " Dad, please understand. Even though my situation is difficult, I will still be responsible. I won't let Jasmine and Bianca suffer. They have always lived in luxury and now please understand that I..."

"Enough!" Mr. Victor swung his hand in the air, cutting off Alex's sentence in annoyance. The corners of his lips pulled into a dismissive grin. "Your daughter is already in the hospital and you're just sitting here. Do you think money will fall from the sky on its own?"

"Dad, what do you expect from him? His company has gone bankrupt and he has nothing left." John Sans who is Alex's brother-in-law chimed in with a scornful expression.

Alex clenched his hands together angrily. He wants to hit his brother-in-law who always interfered with his life, but if he does that, everyone will hate him even more.

"I won't abandon Jasmine or Bianca. I will get the money to pay for my daughter's medical bills," Alex said solemnly. However, his words seemed to be taken for granted.

Jasmine rolls her eyes lazily, clearly not believing her unemployed husband's words. She prefers to stare boredly at her nails, then straightens her blonde hair.

Alex turns to stare at his two in-laws who sneer in disbelief. They were glancing at Alex with pursed lips, the dismissive gaze not fading in the slightest.

Not only the in-laws, John Sans shook his head and pretended to make a concerned face.

Alex rubbed his face in frustration. No one believed in him anymore, not even his own wife. Is everything really judged by money? Do they only see how much he has?

When he was rich and wealthy, everyone adored him. There was always a twinkle in their eye and a smile on their lips. Their words were sweeter than honey.

However, when his world is turned upside down and he is down, everyone instantly hates him. Considering him trash or dirt that needed to be removed immediately.

Maybe Alex could put up with the insults of others, but his wife already seemed fed up with him.

"It's called bad luck. Already broke, Bianca is sick too. Maybe you're the bearer of that bad luck," his mother-in-law said in a low, contemptuous voice.

Alex couldn't take the insults anymore. He stood up from his chair and looked at his family with his face flushed with annoyance.

"I told you, I can pay for Bianca's medical bills! Don't you understand?! I just need time!" Alex's loud voice overpowered the falling rain. Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the man, staring in surprise.

But a second later, dismissive smiles appeared on their lips. Jasmine laughed and shook her head, as if Alex was cracking an outrageously funny joke.

"Wow, did you hear that?" Mrs. Anne clapped her hands excitedly and looked at her son-in-law with an amused smile. "He said he is going to get money? Seriously! That's amazing!"

Alex's face grew redder at the insult, not to mention the scornful laughter that followed.

"I'm not joking. Tonight, I'm going to get $500. You'll see," Alex said in a stiff voice. Anger was at its peak and he didn't want to be insulted again.

But again, no one believes him.

Mrs. Anne came forward and jabbed Alex roughly in the shoulder with her index finger. "Don't dream, and just prove it! Get the money tonight, if you're really not a poor man!"