Ms. Protich was still sick and not clear-headed. She was not good at organizing her words, so Mrs. Brown explained everything to Lily Thompson.
Mrs. Brown succinctly recounted the entire situation to Lily Thompson.
Lily Thompson went from confusion to surprise, her mouth opening wide enough to fit an egg.
“Is this true? Am I dreaming? My mom’s employer bought her a fifty-million-dollar insurance policy?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Mom, does that mean you have fifty million dollars?”
Mrs. Brown smiled helplessly. “Not exactly. This insurance is for your mother’s safety. For instance, this hospital stay-our company covers all medical expenses. In the future, any major or minor illnesses won’t cost you anything, and we will also take responsibility for any accidents. Additionally, she will receive a monthly pension.”
“How much is the pension?”
Mrs. Brown replied, “It’s currently thirty thousand dollars and will gradually increase every month. Your mother can now rest at home without working.”
Lily Thompson did some quick calculations and felt it was a loss. That was fifty million dollars; even if her mom lived to a hundred, she might not get that much money back.
Moreover, her mom had always been healthy, only catching minor colds occasionally. How much could those medical expenses be?
Lily Thompson pouted. “Fifty million dollars for insurance would be better given directly to us. It’s such a waste. Does she have nowhere else to spend her money?”
“Lily Thompson! What are you saying!”
Lily Thompson mumbled, “I’m just telling the truth. Fifty million dollars in cash could buy a house, but now it’s tied up in insurance and can’t be withdrawn. What’s the point?”
Ms. Protich was so angry that her chest hurt; she didn’t expect her daughter to come and upset her.
“You need to understand that this fifty million dollars never belonged to us in the first place. Miss Dawson can do whatever she wants with it; it’s none of your business even if it’s wasted.”
Ms. Protich was genuinely angry, her hands trembling and her head starting to ache.
Seeing Ms. Protich’s pale face, Lily Thompson panicked a bit. “Mom, don’t get upset; I was just talking.”
“Stop talking and stand aside!”
Mrs. Brown maintained her smile and handed a pen to Ms. Protich after finishing their conversation.
This signature had to be done; Ms. Protich didn’t want it in her heart as she felt the insurance money didn’t belong to her.
The pen in her hand felt heavy, and she didn’t know where to start signing. Standing by, Lily Thompson grew nervous, fearing her mom might refuse and give up the insurance money-a substantial sum that could do many things.
Lily Thompson clenched her hands tightly, staring intently at the pen in Ms. Protich’s hand, silently urging: Sign it, sign it…
Under Lily’s anxious gaze, Ms. Protich finally moved the pen and signed her name.
Marie Protich-she had signed this name countless times over the years and could do it with her eyes closed, but this time it was incredibly difficult and looked ugly and crooked, unlike her usual handwriting.
“You also need to add a fingerprint,” Mrs. Brown said as she took out red ink from a bag.
Ms. Protich put down the pen and pressed her trembling hand into the ink pad; the insurance document was now effective.
Before Ms. Protich could say anything, Lily Thompson eagerly asked Mrs. Brown.
“Mrs. Brown, when will my mom’s pension be deposited each month?”
“The fifteenth.”
The fifteenth-that’s more than ten days away; with this money, she could buy many things again.
Mrs. Brown packed up the documents and stood up, adjusting his glasses on his nose bridge: “Mrs. Thompson, I’ve said everything I needed to say; do you have any questions?”
Ms. Protich stiffly shook her head: “No, thank you.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now; please rest well.”
Mrs. Brown turned to leave while Lily Thompson lowered her head, eyes darting around: “Mom, I’m going out for a bit.”
Before Ms. Protich could respond, Lily Thompson rushed out of the room and ran quickly down the hospital corridor to catch Mrs. Brown just before he got into the elevator: “Mrs. Brown, wait! I have a question.”
The elevator doors opened in front of him; Mrs. Brown had already stepped one foot inside but retracted it upon hearing someone call him from behind.
Turning around, he saw Ms. Protich’s daughter; they were well aware of their clients’ details-knowing Ms. Protich had a daughter in college studying a specific major and living in a particular place-understanding their daily consumption levels.
These surface details were clear but not their personalities; today was his first meeting with Ms. Protich and her daughter.
He had a good impression of Ms. Protich and understood why Winifred Dawson wanted to gift her such high-value insurance.
In contrast, his impression of Lily Thompson was much worse-rude and disrespectful; despite being Ms. Protich’s biological daughter, she hadn’t inherited any of her mother’s honest nature-and that face showed cunning calculation.
“What is it?” Mrs. Brown asked patiently.