Chapter 602
“So, who the hell did you give the money to? Why do you keep dodging the question?” Cathy demanded, her voice shaking with rage.
Werner’s hand shot up again, poised to strike.
“Enough!” Jonathan and Sanford’s voices cut through the chaos, perfectly in unison.
Sanford looked at Jonathan, who had spoken almost at the same time as he did. Jonathan’s voice was tight with suppressed emotion.
Jonathan said, “Werner, take Hayden and Cathy away first. Stop making a scene here.”
Werner pursed his lips, then hastily dragged Cathy away, Hayden following right behind.
Jonathan looked at Sanford, then at Liora lying on the hospital bed. At that moment, her eyes were brimming with tears, though he couldn’t quite fathom why.
Sanford comforted Liora, “Mom, were you shocked by what just happened? Don’t worry, it’s none of our business anyway.”
Liora remained silent, her gaze fixed on Jonathan as he made the call.
Jonathan called Irene, who arrived shortly after. She had just been swiping her card for some retail therapy nearby to vent her frustration, completely unaware that Jonathan had come to Shaville.
Irene rushed in, still unaware of Cathy’s earlier outburst. Right in front of Sanford and Liora, Jonathan turned to her and demanded, “Irene, what exactly did you come here to do with Liora?”
Irene snapped, “I didn’t do anything!”
Sanford snapped, “If you didn’t do anything, why did my mom suddenly start vomiting blood?”
“She’s dying sooner. What’s that got to do with me?”
“What did you just…” Sanford shot up from his seat, but Liora immediately pulled him back down.
“We should just check the surveillance footage,” Jonathan interjected, his tone decisive.
Irene’s face changed instantly, a flash of panic in her eyes. She blurted out, “I swear I didn’t do anything. There’s no need to check the cameras.”
Liora also protested against checking the surveillance footage. “My vomiting blood has nothing to do with Irene,” she said weakly. “It’s just my own condition worsening.”
“Mom!” Sanford stared at Liora in disbelief. “You don’t have to defend Irene. She’s not going to appreciate it. Just spell it out. What exactly did she say or do to you?”
Liora looked at Sanford and said softly, “My silly boy, there’s truly nothing between Irene and me.” She coughed weakly, her voice trailing off. “I’m exhausted. I just want to rest now. Please, ask everyone to leave.”
Sanford clenched his fists, frustration simmering beneath the surface as he grudgingly stood up.
With the argument going nowhere, Irene was the first to get into her car and leave.
Jonathan handed Sanford an address. “8 PM,” he said curtly before leaving.
Sanford got the message and showed up that evening at a lavish three–story café. The manager who greeted him clearly recognized Jonathan.
Only after Sanford had taken his seat did he realize that the entire café belonged to Jonathan.
“Rolling in money, aren’t you?” Sanford sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Jonathan asked, “Did Werner give you guys any money?”
Sanford shot Jonathan a wary look. “How did you know about that?”
Jonathan nodded. “Just as I thought,” he said. “What’s their relationship?”
“Who? You mean my mom and Werner? As far as I know, they were just classmates. Werner probably had a crush on her back then.”
“Would someone who had a crush on her decades ago really give her $150,000?”
Sanford was confused. Jonathan said, “So you only knew there was money involved, but not how much. You heard what Cathy said today. Werner dipped into all of their retirement savings. That $150,000? He gave it to your mom.”
Sanford froze, recalling the words Cathy had blurted out in the hospital ward earlier. Something about Werner transferring money to the other woman.
Sanford stared at Jonathan in disbelief. “Are you saying my mom is the homewrecker who destroyed their marriage? How is that even possible?”