She poured herself a ss of wine, finally turning to face them. "Everything’s handled. We no longer have any financial crisis anymore." Abby smiled.


    "Ari, you can start nning your engagement party, and tell your mother we will not be hiring the city hall anymore. This mansion will be transformed before then." She dered shocking the people in the parlor with her.


    "What are you talking about?" Chris was the one to ask. It was only this morning his mother hadined about money, and right now, she said they were free? He didn’t understand what she meant.


    Abby sipped her wine, then set the ss down with a soft clink. She found her way to one of the sofas and sat on it, that sweet smile still on her lips.


    "That man who came earlier offered 5 billion for a tiny Job." Abby dropped the bomb. But she didn’t get the reaction she had expected.


    "What man?" Gregory asked his wife.


    Ariana stared at her mother-inw and thenughed. Sheughed so hard that she fell to the floor.


    What sort of sick joke was this?


    She had seen the man. Even though he imed he was an Adkins, he didn’t look like one who could afford a day’s meal. How the hell was he supposed to give them 5 billion?


    "Why theughs, what’s so funny?" Abby asked ring at her daughter-inw.


    "Mother, this is the twenty-first century, not the 90s. It’s clear that the man tried to scam you. Did you give him anything?" Ariana asked worriedly.


    "My bank details," Abby said calmly.


    "Oh my God! We need to call someone to lock up all of your ounts before he steals."


    "Stop it, Ariana." Abby snapped.


    "I’m not a fool to not know when someone’s about to scam me. It was a clear business deal." She said.


    "Business deal?" Greg asked worriedly. Since when did his wife know how to make business negotiations?


    "What was the deal about?" Chris asked scared that his mother might have given their remaining money off to a beggar. It was enough that Penny had cut down their allowance to nothing.


    "It’s the same n we all had when the Madman’s wife arrived." She said calmly, crossing her legs as both her hands rested on her knees.


    "What n?" Ariana asked this time.


    "To kill the madman." She said and Chris frowned.


    "Who would offer his mother 5 billion to kill a madman? This is clear scam. His mother has been tricked again!


    "Just as we nned before, we kill him and put the me on Penny, but this time, we have a month to do it. Once the money is delivered." Chris watched his mother chant quietly and he didn’t know how to tell her she’s clearly been scammed.


    He believed his mother to be smarter than this, so how did she let herself get scammed?


    "Where’s the money?" He asked.


    "Well, the gentleman said he’d send the money in the next thirty minutes. So far, we have just five minutes left." Abby said confidently.


    "I know you all don’t believe me. But be ready to eat your words once he sends the money." She rolled her eyes.


    Inside, Abby was also scared of being scammed. But she wasn’t the type who epted defeat. If it turns out that man had scammed her, she’d find him and make sure she deals with him. She’ll make him pay.


    Ari, Chris, and Greg all sat in the parlor, waiting patiently. They all prayed it was true too. But someone giving out 5 billion for the madman was too good to be true. It’s not possible.


    He’s just a madman. It’s not like he’s worth anything.


    Once the five minutes wereplete, Abby heard her cellphone beep and she quickly checked, only to smile.


    "I told you I’m your savior.’ Abby bragged. "Now it’s time for you three to eat your words." She turned the phone and all three people’s eyes went wide.


    It was true. Someone had offered 5 billion to kill the madman.


    "And this is not all. They said our only job is to kill him and then me it on Penny." Abby said.


    "Then what happens to my inheritance?" Chris asked his mother.


    "That is not an issue Chris. We get to keep everything. Beanos was very clear with that. He said the family hase to an agreement that the madman was ruining their image and they want him gone." Abby said.


    "But how do we do all of these in less than a month?" Ari asked.


    Penny wasn’t just Penny anymore. She is the daughter of Xavier Bloodsworth. A powerful man, they couldn’t just harm his child.


    Abby was about to respond when her cellphone beeped again. She checked and this time it was a message.


    "31:23:00:55."


    "The time is ticking. We will provide everything you need to eliminate him. Just name it." Abby read the message and smiled.


    She couldn’t possibly start now. She had a full month to kill the madman.


    "It’s easy Ariana. There are more than a thousand ways to kill a bird."