Many children bring happiness, a shameless start

Lip walked directly to Frank, squatted down, took out his wallet from his pocket, and pulled out seventy or eighty dollars along with several credit cards.

The credit cards bore the names Lip, Ian, Debbie, and Carl.

Seeing the credit cards, Debbie and Carl, who had still harbored some illusions, were completely sobered up.

Although young, they understood the importance of personal credit.

"Oh, Frank. Damn Frank!" Even Kevin, who was merely watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but curse when he saw the credit cards issued in their names.

"Kevin, go get busy!" Lip said.

"Okay."

Kevin knew this was Lip's way of asking him to leave, as what came next was clearly a Gallagher family matter.

Lip knelt down and slapped Frank twice, but he didn't wake up.

Lip originally considered peeing on Frank's face to wake him, but with Carl and Debbie watching, he held back.

Instead, he went to the bar, grabbed a cup, and filled it with cold water from the bathroom.

Returning, he poured the water cleanly over Frank's face.

"What the hell?!" Frank jolted awake, startled.

When he saw the four of them standing before him, he rubbed his eyes and then looked extremely annoyed.

"Oh, great. What do you want now? Did you get into trouble again? I don't have time for your nonsense!"

Frank struggled to get up from the floor as he grumbled.

Lip held up the credit cards and waved them in Frank's face.

Frank recognized them instantly. He paused, then reached out to grab them.

"Lip, how could you steal from me while I was sleeping? Treasonous!"

Frank started to rant, but Lip's cold stare made him falter.

"Frank, these credit cards are in our names," Lip said icily.

Frank forced a grin and threw an arm around both Debbie and Carl.

"Surprise! This is my gift to you!" he exclaimed. "Normally, you have to wait until you're eighteen to apply for a credit card, but I went ahead and got them for you. Aren't you going to thank me?"

Debbie remained indifferent.

Carl rolled his eyes.

Frank awkwardly withdrew his arms.

"What about the money you overdrew on the cards?" Lip's tone grew even colder.

"Oh, that's mostly gone. I only have seventy or eighty bucks left," Frank admitted shamelessly.

"I've raised you all, and you've never repaid me! Not a single gift! Consider this interest on all I've done for you," he added smugly.

"Ha! You raised us?" Lip sneered. "I've never seen someone as shameless as you."

Suddenly, Lip stepped forward and punched Frank in the nose.

He held back his strength—just enough to avoid sending Frank to meet God with a single punch.

"Oh, damn it!" Frank cried out, falling to the floor as blood dripped from his nose.

Seeing Frank's pathetic state, Lip felt an unusual sense of satisfaction.

He had wanted to hit this worthless man ever since watching the show!

"Frank, you'd better give us the rest of the money right now," Lip warned.

"Money? Over my dead body! Go ahead, beat me to death if you can!" Frank spat, defiant.

"Fine," Lip said with a smile. He pulled out his phone and played a pre-recorded clip.

"Hello, this is the Chicago Police Department. How can I help you?"

"I'd like to report identity theft involving four minors. Their personal information was used to apply for credit cards without consent for illegal cash withdrawal."

"This sounds serious. We'll dispatch officers immediately. Can you provide your address?"

Frank, panicked, scrambled over and clung to Lip's leg.

"Wait! No, no, no! Don't call them! I'll give you the money. Please hang up!" Frank begged, nearly in tears.

"Oh, there's no need. This is just a recording," Lip said with a grin.

Frank froze, realizing he'd been played.

"But if you try any more tricks, I won't hesitate to call 911 for real—and I'll include details about this and your other 'secrets.'"

"What secrets?"

"How Aunt Ginger died. How you scammed work injury compensation. And more…"

"Stop! Fine, I'll give you the money!" Frank exclaimed, breaking down.

"Honestly, Frank, I'm starting to think sending you to prison for ten or twenty years would be more satisfying than letting you off lightly," Lip remarked, smiling dangerously.

Frank stared at Lip, a chill running down his spine. It felt as though a predator had locked onto him.

"Fine, fine, I'll pay!" Frank cried, visibly shaken.

He was terrified—having lived through Chicago's brutality, he had no desire to end up back in that hell.

"Good. Let's settle the accounts," Lip said calmly.

He borrowed a pen and paper from Kevin at the bar.

Kevin gave him a thumbs-up, while the surrounding patrons applauded in admiration.