Chapter 154: Peggy — Frank's Natural Enemy
"What the hell are you?" Peggy snapped. "Why are you targeting Frank? And what the hell did you do to my body?"
Peggy wasn't some devout believer.
She was a woman who knew how to cook meth and occasionally blow things up—faith wasn't exactly her strong suit.
There was no way she'd just accept this as some kind of miracle.
William could tell right away—there was no fooling her.
But it didn't matter.
Even if she told anyone, no one would believe her.
And as long as she stayed alive, she herself would be Frank's greatest torment.
"Listen, Peggy," William said calmly. "You just need to do what you're supposed to do."
He gave her a slight push forward.
"Right now, what you should be doing… is letting your son take you to meet your old student."
With that, he wheeled her straight toward Frank.
"Frank," William suddenly called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "look who's here."
Frank, who had been busy bragging to the crowd, turned around with a smug grin still on his face—
Only for it to freeze instantly.
"…M—Mom?"
His lips trembled. Even his voice shook.
"Th-they let you out?!"
Peggy still had a thousand questions in her mind, but she didn't have time to dwell on William's cryptic nonsense.
Pancreatic cancer didn't just disappear like that.
Right now, what mattered was getting her hands on that $200,000—so she could distribute it before she died.
"Yeah," she said flatly. "They let me out."
She stood up from the wheelchair.
For a moment, she felt… incredibly light.
Almost as if the cancer was truly gone.
That made her glance back at William instinctively—
Did he just inject me with something? Some new kind of drug?
Nearby, Kevin looked just as surprised.
"Didn't expect to see you, Peggy," he said. "I thought they gave you life."
Peggy smirked. "I told them I was dying. They bought it—and let me go."
Then she turned to William.
"You got any cash? Buy me a drink."
Since the money hidden in the wall was gone, she currently had nothing on her.
William, enjoying the show, didn't hesitate.
"Sure. Order whatever you want."
Frank's face, meanwhile, was a masterpiece.
Shock. Fear. Panic. Resentment.
It was like every emotion possible was flashing across it at once.
William casually pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it over.
Peggy passed it to Kevin. "Gin."
Then she turned back to Frank.
"So," Frank finally forced out, "what are you doing here?"
Peggy didn't even blink.
"I'm conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Frank. What do you think I'm doing?"
Her words hit like a slap.
She downed the drink in one go, exhaled, then looked straight at him.
"Now—buy your mother a drink… and pretend you're happy to see me."
Frank's mouth twitched.
Moments later, the two of them sat across from each other at a small table.
At a nearby table, William ordered a beer and a plate of fries, watching like it was live entertainment.
(He would've preferred peanuts—but oh well.)
"Another one," Peggy called out to Kevin.
Then she leaned forward slightly, fixing Frank with a cold stare.
"Tell me the truth, Frank… did you touch my stuff?"
Peggy narrowed her eyes and tested him.
Seeing how cowardly Frank looked, she needed to confirm one thing—
Did this bastard actually have the guts to take the money she'd hidden?
"What stuff?" Frank blinked, confused.
The sudden question made his whole body tense up.
"Don't play dumb with me—you know exactly what I'm talking about!"
Peggy slammed her hand down on the table.
The loud bang startled everyone nearby.
Frank included.
Off to the side, William finally pieced it together.
Ah… so she's realized the ten grand is gone.
He had originally thought she came to make Frank take her to find that student—Pete—the one who'd ripped her off.
"Wh—what stuff?! Can you be more specific?!"
Frank's heart was practically stopping from the shock.
Peggy stared at him, unblinking, trying to determine whether her son was lying.
After a long moment, relying on her understanding of him, she decided to probe further.
"How much money do you have on you right now? Hand it over."
"No! No way! I—"
Frank tried to act tough—but the moment he met Peggy's murderous glare…
He folded instantly.
Reluctantly, he dug into his pockets and threw a few hundred dollars onto the table.
Truth be told, he could've pulled out more.
But recently, he'd been investing quite a bit—buying tools, supplies… all part of his plan to take over Dottie's house.
Still, he'd managed to keep her happy.
And every dollar here? Hard-earned money—from working at a gay bar.
"That's it?" Peggy counted the cash, her lips curling in disgust.
"You're like a slice of pizza people wouldn't even bother picking up off the street."
Frank shrank under her words, mumbling weakly, not daring to argue.
A man pushing sixty… still acting like a scolded child.
There was no doubt about it—
Peggy was his natural predator.
Still, this confirmed one thing for her:
Frank hadn't taken the money.
So if not him… then who?
She wanted answers—but time wasn't on her side.
Her life was ticking away, day by day.
(Well… everyone's was, technically.)
So instead of chasing that mystery, Peggy decided on something more immediate—
She'd drag Frank along and settle accounts with Noah.
"My student, Noah—he betrayed me. You know that, Frank?"
Frank blinked, caught off guard by the sudden topic shift.
Part of him was amazed at how fast she jumped between subjects.
The other part wondered if she'd finally lost it.
"No. He didn't."
Peggy swirled her drink, pressing on.
"Then how did the cops find my lab?"
Frank shrugged. "No idea. Probably the explosion."
Peggy didn't really care about the details.
What she wanted—was her money back.
"We're going to visit an old friend of mine." she said.
"Tomorrow morning. Find a car. Pick me up at six."
Frank looked at her helplessly.
"I… don't have a car…"
Peggy stared at him in disbelief.
"My God. You are pathetic."
It was 2010—and this man didn't even have a car?
"You're useless," she continued mercilessly.
"What can you do besides wet the bed? Give blowjobs to other men? Jesus—"
As brutal as her mouth was…
Sometimes, disturbingly—
She hit a little too close to the truth.