Chapter 226: A Selfish Kind of Love
Lip had no idea about the 200,000 in illicit cash—only Fiona knew about that.
However, Lip did know about Frank's bank card and his inheritance. In fact, he was the one who accompanied Fiona to the bank to check the balance after Frank passed.
He also knew that the money in the account was meant for the kids' college tuition—Frank had clearly stated this in his will.
Although, in consideration of the kids' feelings, Frank's will phrased it as being "for the children's college education," it was obvious to everyone that the money was intended for Lip.
Frank had many children, but realistically, Lip was the only one with a real shot at going to college.
Frank had wanted Fiona to go to college, but after his death, Fiona had to shoulder the burden of supporting the family. She simply didn't have the time to study.
Debbie and Carl were still young, both in elementary school. When summer passed, Debbie would only just be entering middle school—college was still a distant prospect for them.
Only Lip and Ian were of college age. Lip was two years older than Ian and would certainly graduate high school first.
In fact, Lip had long had the ability to graduate. He could pass college entrance exams anytime and choose from top-tier schools.
If it hadn't been for money, if tuition hadn't been an issue, Lip could have skipped a grade and started college last winter.
So, the money in Frank's bank account was clearly meant for Lip's tuition.
Fiona knew this, and so did all the other kids.
But no one said it out loud. It was an unspoken understanding—everyone tacitly agreed the money was for Lip's college education.
Among all of Frank's children, Lip was the only one with the smarts and the potential to change his fate through education—to get out of this run-down neighborhood in the South Side.
So even with that sizable inheritance Frank left behind, Fiona never touched the money.
The family continued to live in poverty. The kids each tried in their own ways to earn money. No matter what happened, they never used the funds in that bank account.
It was only when the family was torn apart, when the children were taken away by Child Protective Services, when there was no other way to keep the family together—that's when Fiona finally considered using the money to bring the kids home.
"The money in that account barely covers a year's tuition. I don't want to be saddled with student loans," Lip said.
Frank's account did hold quite a bit of money, but it was just enough for one year. Lip didn't believe he could earn enough within that time to pay for the rest of college. He knew he'd have to rely on loans or grants eventually.
"You won't need a loan," Frank replied earnestly. "I have enough money to support you through graduation—right now. If you want it, I can give it to you today."
"Let's talk about it later," Lip said after staring at Frank for a while, then turning away, clearly rejecting the offer.
"If that's how you feel, I respect your decision. I won't force you to go to college," Frank said, recognizing Lip's refusal.
Over the past six months, Frank had often reflected on what happened that night.
He had finally figured it out—why things had gone so wrong.
The truth was, his mindset hadn't fully adapted. He hadn't communicated enough with the kids.
Even though he knew the gap between Eastern and Western ways of thinking was huge, his actions six months ago were still driven by a deeply ingrained Eastern mindset.
He believed he was doing what was best for the kids. He intervened in their lives without discussion, making decisions without consulting them.
In that regard, Frank's behavior was no different from Officer Eddie.
Eddie also thought he was doing what was best for Karen. He wanted her to become a "proper young lady," so he took her to that father-daughter purity ball—and it backfired disastrously.
What Frank had done was, at its core, exactly the same.
Measuring love by his own standards, not taking into account how the kids felt or what they wanted—this kind of one-sided affection was selfish. In reality, a lot of harm is done under the banner of love. Eddie and Karen were a textbook example.
And much of that selfish love stems from a lack of communication.
Take Eddie's situation—Karen had a close relationship with her mother, Sheila. But Eddie couldn't get along with Sheila because of her unusual sexual proclivities. He avoided going home and would rather go fishing on his days off than spend time with his wife and kids.
Parents don't share secrets with their children, especially not something so private.
Because of this, Eddie was cold and even hostile toward Sheila. Karen, feeling it was unfair, started resenting her father. As a result, the relationship between Karen and Eddie deteriorated rapidly.
At its root, it was all a communication problem. Eddie passively let things spiral, never facing the issue or trying to explain the truth to Karen.
Sure, what happened between Eddie and Sheila wasn't something easy to explain. But if he really wanted to resolve things, there would have been a way.
The same applied to Frank and Ian.
Frank had realized Ian was gay but hesitated too long, unsure whether to bring it up. He never communicated his acceptance—and that silence was the spark that led to the disastrous night.
In fact, the closer people are, the more vital communication becomes. You can't assume proximity equals understanding. You can't use self-righteous methods to show love.
Eddie and Karen lived under the same roof, ate at the same table for over a decade, but emotionally, they were worlds apart. Neither truly understood the other.
Real love requires thought. You have to consider what the other person wants—not just what you want to give them or what you think they should want. Expressing only your own perspective is an incredibly selfish form of love.
And this kind of love—well-meaning, but controlling—is typical of a traditional Eastern mindset.
It's a way of thinking passed down for generations: raise children with strict control, then expect them to pass it on the same way.
Frank had once been that way, too.
He dragged Fiona back to school against her will, forcing her to get her GED with no regard for how she felt.
He did the same with Lip and Karen, believing their breakup was for the best without talking to Lip at all.
And with Ian, it was even worse—Frank had always looked at Ian's situation through his own lens.
When he caught Ian fooling around with the store owner's married husband, he didn't think to talk to Ian about it. He didn't try to understand. He just assumed they had to be separated, that Ian must be a victim.
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