Chapter 1
"Darryl, throw out the footwash."
Three women sat on the sofa, having just finished soaking their feet. From afar, these beauties exuded an air of elegance and seduction, each with her own unique charm. Among them was Darryl’s wife and her two best friends.
At his wife’s command, Darryl obediently emptied the bowls of dirty water without a single word of complaint. After all, he was the live-in son-in-law. Even after three years of marriage, he held no status in the family. His wife and mother-in-law berated him for the slightest mistake. Even a stray dog had more value in their eyes than he did.
Darryl and Lily Lyndon had been married for three years, but in name only. They hadn’t even consummated their marriage, and he hadn’t once held her hand. Every night, Darryl slept on the floor, a testament to how much Lily despised him.
Washing, cooking, cleaning—every household chore fell to Darryl. Once, he accidentally broke a bowl while cooking and was scolded by Lily for half an hour. Another time, he woke her up while going to the bathroom, and she slapped him across the face without hesitation.
That slap marked the first time Darryl had ever been hit in his life. Even his parents couldn’t bear to lay a hand on him. He was angry, but he swallowed his pride and apologized to Lily, only to be punished by kneeling all night.
Three years had passed, and Darryl had grown used to this miserable existence. He had no one but himself to blame for becoming a live-in son-in-law. Worse still, despite Lily’s constant mistreatment, Darryl had fallen in love with her over time, even though he knew she despised him and treated him like trash.
Darryl was once the second eldest son of the Darby clan, the most prominent family in the Jiangnan region. Three years ago, he had invested eight million dollars to acquire an eight-percent share in Southeast Petroleum. At the time, hundreds of Darby clan members called him crazy, accusing him of trying to siphon the family’s fortune for himself. In the end, the clan, including his parents, disowned him and erased him from the family records.
For the past three years, Darryl experienced the fickleness of relationships. His old friends shunned him, and he had no choice but to become a live-in son-in-law to survive. He never shared his past with anyone, not even Lily.
“My dear Lily, you’ve trained your husband well,” said Jade, one of Lily’s best friends.
Lily let out a cold chuckle. “Are you talking about Darryl? Just looking at him makes me sick. Other women marry into wealthy families. But me? I got stuck with a piece of trash. Look at him—uncouth and shabby, like a peasant from the countryside. I’m embarrassed to even bring him to the Lyndon clan’s annual gathering tomorrow.”
Jade glanced at Darryl, noting his cheap, worn-out clothes. She laughed. “Alright, Lily, enough about him. Speaking of which, I heard your company has run into some trouble?”
Lily nodded solemnly. “Last month, we lost millions trying to break into the fashion business. Now, the company is short on funds and urgently needs five million dollars. We have to find an investor within a week.”
Jade sighed. “Who’s going to hand you five million in a week?”
Lily didn’t respond, but she noticed Darryl, who had just finished his task, was eavesdropping. She glared at him. “Darryl, who said you could listen in? Get lost and wash my clothes!”
“Wash my jeans too; they’re in my luggage,” Jade added.
Darryl, as always, silently obeyed. He threw their clothes into the washing machine along with his own. Tomorrow was his high school reunion, and he wanted to look somewhat decent. As he thought about the reunion, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and frowned upon seeing the number—it was from the Darby clan.
Curious, Darryl opened the message and was stunned by what he read.
“Second Young Master, please help our clan! The Darby clan is in desperate need of financial support.”
Darryl furrowed his brow. “Three years ago, they banished me, and now they’re asking for my help? I have nothing to my name and barely 20 bucks in my pocket. What could I possibly do for them?”
His phone buzzed again with another message.
“Young Master, please, we’re begging you! The shares you bought three years ago have turned a huge profit. We’re doomed without your support.”
Darryl was taken aback. He quickly pulled out his Amethyst Bank black card, which had been gathering dust for the past three years. This exclusive card, reserved for the wealthy, came with its own personal banker. He dialed the customer service number.
“Greetings, Mr. Darby. How may we assist you today?” came the sweet voice of the bank’s representative.
“Quick, tell me my account balance,” Darryl demanded.
“Of course, sir. Please hold for a moment.” Moments later, the voice returned. “Mr. Darby, your account balance exceeds our standard checking limit. We recommend visiting the bank’s VIP section for further assistance.”
Before she could finish, Darryl hung up, laughing to himself. Who would have thought that the investment that got him disowned would turn out to be such a windfall? The excitement of not knowing the exact sum added to the thrill.
“Lily, look at Darryl checking his balance on the phone,” Jade said, barely able to contain her laughter.
Lily smirked. “I give him a $20 daily allowance. He probably thinks he’s saved up a fortune over the last three years.”
“Oh, Lily, just think of it like raising a dog,” Jade replied, and the three women laughed in unison.
Overcome with excitement, Darryl rushed over to his wife. “Your company needs five million, right? How about I figure out a way to help?”
Jade burst out laughing again. “Darryl, do you even know what five million is? Lily gives you $200 a week! If you can somehow come up with five million, maybe I should start calling you ‘Daddy.’”
“Oh, really?” Darryl replied with a sly grin. “Then remember what you said.”
Lily could barely stand the sight of him. “Get lost, Darryl. Stop being such an eyesore.”
Without a word, Darryl left. That night, he couldn’t sleep. The thought of his sudden windfall kept him wide awake. He tossed and turned until morning, barely getting any rest.
His slumber was interrupted by the voice of his mother-in-law, Samantha, shouting from the living room.
“Darryl! Get up and take my daughter to work!”
He turned over, thinking it was a dream, but soon enough, Samantha stormed into the room and gave him a swift kick. “Are you deaf? Take Lily to work!”
Groggily, Darryl got up, confused. After three years, Lily had never wanted to be seen in public with him. Now, suddenly, she needed him to take her to work?
Lily, dressed in her business suit, stomped her foot in frustration. “Are you deaf? Hurry up, or are you refusing to take me?”
“I’m coming! I’m coming!” Darryl scrambled to his feet, threw on some clothes, and hopped on his electric bike to take Lily to her office.
Lily was fuming. Her company was on the brink of bankruptcy due to the lack of an investor, and she had an emergency shareholder meeting to attend. But when she had lent her car to Jade, she had no choice but to rely on Darryl to take her to work.
Chapter 2
Most of the original pairs had been bought by prominent families, and even with money, it was nearly impossible to get access to one now. The heels in Ashton’s hands looked authentic at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the craftsmanship had a few rough edges, making it clear they were a replica.
"Lily, I know you’ve always admired this pair of heels, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find the real ones," Ashton said, handing the shoes to her. "So, I spent three hundred thousand on this replica. Wear these for now, and give me a month to track down the originals."
"There’s no need," Lily replied calmly as she accepted the heels. "You won’t find the real ones for sale anymore. Even if you did, the price would be astronomical. A pair was auctioned off for 30 million last year. There’s no point in wasting your time. This replica is already quite nice."
Ashton swallowed hard. With a net worth of only 30 million, he knew there was no way he could spend all of it on a single pair of shoes. He forced an awkward laugh in response.
At that moment, Darryl abruptly stepped forward, grabbed the heels from Lily’s hands, and hurled them to the ground.
"My dear wife, let’s not take other people’s things. If you want something, as your husband, I’ll buy it for you," Darryl said, holding Lily’s arm and pulling her toward the office building.
"Darryl, what on earth are you talking about?" Lily whispered, trying to contain her frustration.
They were standing at the entrance of the office building, and as the general manager, Lily knew she had to maintain her composure. She instinctively tried to pull her arm free, but Darryl’s grip was firm.
"Stop right there!" Ashton shouted urgently. The shoes had cost him three hundred thousand bucks, and he wasn’t about to let the matter slide.
"What’s the meaning of this?" Ashton demanded, striding up to the couple and pointing angrily at Darryl. "If you’ve damaged those heels, not even selling your kidney would cover the cost! Do you know that?"
"First of all, Lily is my wife, so keep your distance," Darryl replied, his voice calm. "Secondly, if my wife is cold, she can have my jacket." With that, Darryl grabbed Ashton’s jacket and tossed it to the ground. "And finally, anything my wife likes, I will provide. A woman of her caliber wouldn’t lower herself to wear replicas. Tonight, I’ll give her the real ‘Worship of Crystal.’"
"You must be out of your mind! Even the replica cost three hundred thousand! Look at that wreck of a bike you’re riding—how dare you act like you can afford it?" Ashton fumed, his face red with anger. As the heir to the Adagio clan, no one had spoken to him like this in years.
But the most infuriating part? Darryl completely ignored him and continued to lead Lily into the building.
In a fit of rage, Ashton kicked Darryl’s bike hard enough to knock it over. Still not satisfied, he gave it a few more vicious kicks.
Meanwhile, in the general manager’s office at Neptunus Corporation…
Lily sat in her chair, trembling with fury, giving Darryl an icy stare. Ashton was a powerful real estate mogul, backed by none other than Jiangnan’s most influential family—the Darbys!
Neptunus Corporation needed a five-million-dollar investment, and Lily had planned to ask Ashton to be the investor. After Darryl’s fiasco today, Ashton would surely be fuming with rage.
*I never should have brought Darryl out! He has nothing to his name, yet his failures are endless—that’s the perfect way to describe him!* Lily thought bitterly.
"Why are you still standing here? Get lost!" she snapped, glaring coldly at him.
"Oh," Darryl mumbled before turning to leave the office.
Lily grew even angrier at Darryl's indifferent attitude. Her hatred for him gnawed at her. Over the past few years, all of her friends had married into wealthy families. Their husbands were accomplished, and even the least successful of them owned at least two houses, while the wealthiest had net worths in the billions.
The more Lily thought about it, the more wronged she felt being tied to Darryl. Her extended family would undoubtedly mock her again because of him at tonight’s clan gathering.
"Who smashed my bike!?" Darryl’s voice echoed from below the building.
That bike had been with him for three years! He rode it every day to get groceries, and now, seeing it in such a battered and broken state hurt him deeply. It didn’t take much thought to figure out that Ashton was the culprit.
At that moment, a few women in business attire strolled by in their high-heeled shoes. They were employees at Lily's company, and upon seeing Darryl, they couldn't resist pointing and gossiping.
"Look, isn’t that Ms. Lyndon’s husband, Darryl?"
"It is! I was at their wedding!"
"Look at him, mourning his broken bike," one of them said, bursting into laughter.
The women laughed, but Darryl didn’t seem to notice them. He gently patted his bike and sighed, “Don’t worry, my old friend. I’ll avenge you for this.”
As he comforted his battered bike, he took out his phone and dialed his clan’s number.
“Hey, it’s Darryl. I’m willing to help the clan, but I have two conditions. First, get me *The Worship of Crystal*. Second, there’s a man named Ashton Adagio who operates under our clan, right? I want him ruined.”
Right after the call ended, a message from Lily popped up on Darryl’s phone. It was brief: Tonight is the Lyndon clan’s annual gathering. Get yourself some new clothes—don’t embarrass me.
Later, at a seaside villa overlooking the ocean, Darryl found himself meeting with the patriarch of the Darby clan. He sat in a rocking chair without a care in the world, while across from him sat his uncle, Drake Darby.
Drake chuckled as he observed Darryl’s relaxed demeanor. “Ah, Darryl, even after all these years, you’re still the same carefree boy.”
“Uncle, let’s cut to the chase. I’ve got other matters to attend to tonight. You said the family’s fortune is in debt—how much are we talking?” Darryl casually popped a cherry into his mouth and began chewing.
Drake hesitated, scratching his head. Despite being a seasoned leader, he seemed uneasy now that he was asking for help.
“Well… it’s not exactly a small sum…” he began.
“How much?” Darryl asked impatiently.
“We’re… three billion dollars in debt,” Drake finally admitted, lowering his gaze.
“What?! Three billion dollars?!” Darryl thought, shocked.
“I, uh… Uncle, I really need to get going,” Darryl said gloomily as he stood up, ready to leave.
“Wait! Darryl!” Drake called out in desperation. “The clan needs funding! Without it, everything we’ve built will collapse! I’ll meet both of your conditions—Ashton Adagio will be ruined by tonight, and *The Worship of Crystal* is already on its way.”
Darryl sighed. “Uncle, I’d like to help, but where do you expect me to get that kind of money?”
“Darryl, are you really going to let our clan crumble? You have 3.2 billion in your bank account!” Drake’s tone grew even more desperate. “Don’t forget where you came from!”
Darryl’s smile faded as he listened. “Uncle, when I bought shares in Southeast Petroleum, your wife accused me of trying to siphon off the family’s fortune. Hundreds of our family members insulted me, and I was banished from the clan. Did anyone stand up for me then?”
Darryl’s voice grew cold as he continued, “You all know that the eight million I used to buy those shares was earned by me—not from the family fortune. And all these years, while I’ve been treated like dirt as a live-in son-in-law, did anyone from the family ever offer a hand to help?”
His fists clenched in anger. “If you weren’t so desperate for money, you wouldn’t even be talking to me now.”
Drake approached him with regret. “Darryl, we were wrong to banish you, and we sincerely apologize. But right now, our clan is in dire need of your support…” He paused, then said, “As patriarch, I’ll make you the president of Platinum Corporation if you agree to help us. Just give me your identity card and report to the office tomorrow. The secretary will fill you in on everything.”
Platinum Corporation, an entertainment company with the highest potential under the Darby clan, managed many top-tier celebrities. It had always been under the control of Drake’s wife, so Drake’s offer to hand it over to Darryl came as a surprise.
Darryl thought for a moment. Though buying Platinum Corporation for three billion dollars seemed extreme, Drake’s visible desperation moved him.
“Fine. If that’s all, I’ll be on my way,” Darryl said after some thought. He turned to leave, his mind already shifting to more pressing matters.
Tonight was the Lyndon clan’s annual gathering, but before that, Darryl had one other event to attend: his high school reunion. It was starting soon, and he was determined not to be late. He hadn’t seen his classmates in years, and the thought of reuniting with them—especially with his former teacher—filled him with anticipation.
Chapter 3
Meanwhile, at Neptunus Corporation, Lily had just left the meeting room after finishing her meeting with the shareholders. She noticed some of her female employees talking and laughing while looking at their phones.
How dare they ignore their duties during work hours? Lily walked toward them, ready to reprimand them. But as she got closer, she saw that they were watching a video, and the person in the video was none other than Darryl.
"My bike, bro, don't worry. I'll avenge you for this..." In the video, Darryl was patting his bike with a sorrowful look on his face.
"Haha, this guy is hilarious. Who is he?"
"You don't know? That's Miss Lyndon's husband."
"What? You mean that guy, Darryl? I've heard she's married to him."
The ladies continued gossiping, and one of them stood up, mimicking Darryl. "You girls won’t believe it. When I arrived at work earlier today, I heard Darryl say he was going to buy the Worship of Crystal for Miss Lyndon."
"Hahaha, that's such a joke!"
"Yeah, look at him, upset over his broken bike. The Worship of Crystal costs 30 million. He'd need several lifetimes to afford it!"
Their conversation came to a halt when one of the ladies turned around and noticed Lily standing there. Their faces changed instantly.
"Sorry, Miss Lyndon. We'll get back to work..."
Lily bit her lip, trying hard to endure the embarrassment. Even though she was the general manager, it was difficult not to feel humiliated in such a situation. She didn't go out for lunch and instead locked herself in her office, where she couldn't help but tear up.
Meanwhile, Darryl was walking home, humming a tune. He needed to attend his high school reunion later, so he went home to change. Initially, Darryl was in a good mood, but when he entered the house, he was met by Samantha sitting on the sofa, giving him a cold look.
"Darryl, just in time. Come here."
Darryl had been living with the family for three years, and his fear of Samantha was real.
"Darryl, pack your things. You're getting a divorce tomorrow and moving out," Samantha said coldly.
"But ma'am... my love for Lily is genuine..." Darryl said, his head lowered. After three years together, he had developed deep feelings for Lily.
Samantha slammed the table. She stood up and walked toward him. "You love my daughter? What right do you have to love her? For three years, I've tolerated you. Besides doing household chores, what else are you good for? How are you even worthy of my daughter? Do you know how many men would love to be with her? Ashton Adagio just called. He said if I let him marry her, he'll immediately give me a dowry of 20 million bucks."
Darryl smirked faintly. Ashton was a distant relative within the Darby clan, the son of an aunt. All of Ashton's business funds came from the Darby family. Darryl had already made a call, and within 24 hours, Ashton would have nothing left. There would be no 20 million.
"Ma'am, I won't leave. I'll agree to the divorce only if Lily tells me herself," Darryl said, turning and leaving the house.
"How dare you! Come back here right now!" Samantha shouted, stomping her feet in anger as Darryl walked away.
Later that evening at Neptunus Corporation, Lily had locked herself in her office all day. That video of Darryl had spread around the company, making him the subject of ridicule.
Lily took a deep breath and finally left her office. "Alright, you guys can go home now," she told her employees.
"Miss Lyndon, there's a package for you," the front desk receptionist said, carrying over a box and handing it to Lily.
As soon as Lily saw the box, there was a collective gasp from the crowd. The package looked too luxurious, even gilded.
"Wow, what kind of delivery package is this?"
"Yeah, Miss Lily, I've never seen a package like this before!"
"Could it be a gift from someone? Open it up, Miss Lily."
Though Lily was strict at work, she had a good relationship with her employees, and everyone was curious about the package. A small smile crossed her face as she gently opened the box.
The moment the box opened, everyone was left speechless. For about ten seconds, there was complete silence, then the room erupted in excitement.
"This... this is the Worship of Crystal!"
"It can't be! That limited edition pair? Only 99 were made, and they sold for 30 million dollars!"
"It's so beautiful! Miss Lily, you're so lucky!"
As the others talked excitedly, Lily stood frozen, unable to say a word. She had admired the Worship of Crystal heels for years, and one glance was enough to confirm that these were the real deal.
How could this be? Lily stepped back in disbelief, feeling as if she were dreaming. Could it be that Ashton had sold his company and bought her these heels? The thought of it touched her. If she wore the Worship of Crystal to tonight's gathering, she would surely be the center of attention.
In Donghai City, at Flouria KTV, one of the city's famous entertainment centers, Darryl arrived for his high school reunion. Luxurious cars filled the parking lot, as many wealthy people frequented the place.
Darryl arrived on his newly purchased electric bike, whistling as he parked it. He had wanted to buy a car, but since he had given his identity card to his uncle, he had to settle for a bike for now.
As soon as he parked, he heard a loud honk.
"Hey, can you move? You're only riding a shabby bike and you want to take up a whole spot?" a voice called out from a BMW 5 Series.
The driver stuck his head out the window, and both he and Darryl were surprised to see each other.
"Class monitor?" Darryl said, recognizing the man.
"Darryl? What happened to you?" the man replied, looking Darryl up and down before letting out a cold laugh and hurrying into the KTV.
Darryl awkwardly tried to make conversation with him, but the man, Clifford Conway, didn't acknowledge him. They walked into the reserved KTV room one after another.
The rest of their former classmates were already there and turned to greet Clifford.
"Class monitor, you're looking so successful and handsome!"
The room buzzed with excitement over Clifford's arrival. He was dressed in an expensive suit and flaunted his BMW key.
Meanwhile, Darryl, dressed in cheap clothes and carrying the key to an electric bike, was ignored. He looked more like a delivery person than a guest. No one paid him any attention.
Darryl didn't mind and scanned the room, noticing that many of his female classmates had become even more attractive. The most beautiful, however, was still Giselle Lindt.
Giselle had always been the class's goddess, known for wearing jeans that showed off her figure. She had grown even more beautiful with maturity.
Clifford also noticed Giselle and couldn't help but ask, "Giselle, you're even more stunning than I remember. What have you been up to?"
Before she could respond, another woman chimed in. "You haven't heard? Giselle is about to sign a contract with Platinum Corporation. She's going to be a celebrity!"
The room was filled with excitement. Platinum Corporation was a big name in Donghai City, known for managing top celebrities.
Darryl perked up at the mention of Platinum Corporation, knowing that it would soon belong to him. He smiled and tried to sit next to Giselle to strike up a conversation. But as he did, she gave him a cold look and said, "Can you not sit here?"
"Oh? Is someone sitting here?" Darryl asked.
"No, I just don't want to sit next to you," she replied. "You're at a reunion, couldn't you at least wear something decent? Those clothes you're wearing are so cheap."
Chapter 4
'Damn you, I just washed this set of clothes yesterday, and now you're saying it's dirty?' Darryl thought to himself. He was about to voice his opinion but before he could do so, Alex Armstrong dragged him away.
The two were close friends back in high school. They had fought together and even ditched classes together. Alex might be the only one tonight who wasn't disgusted with Darryl. Dragging Darryl to a corner, Alex shook his head and said, "Bro, I'm telling you, a girl like Giselle isn’t the type for us to get hung up on. Aren't you asking to be ridiculed for simply sitting beside her?"
Darryl said nothing and merely chuckled. They wined and dined the whole night through, and the evening passed by quickly. Giselle was a little tipsy, and under the crowd's pressure, she picked up the microphone and sang while gently swaying her body. Her appearance was sensual and seductive, striking awe at the men around. Giselle was truly a beauty!
It was only at night when they decided to call it a day. The class teacher could not make it as she had something come up at the last moment, so they agreed to have another gathering next Monday. As they left, all the men were vying to send Giselle back. However, when they arrived at the entrance, she got in her own Porsche and left the scene, leaving them stupefied.
"Such a beauty," mumbled Alex at the side. "Darryl, no wonder you wanted to sit next to her. I wouldn't mind having my life shortened by ten years if it meant I could spend just one night with her."
Darryl let out a cold laugh. 'So Giselle intends to go to Platinum Corporation tomorrow to have her contract signed? Excellent,' thought Darryl, as he too had planned to go there to claim his title of President. His thoughts were cut short by the sudden ringing of his cellphone.
The crowd laughed upon hearing his ringtone. What era was it for someone to still be using an old Nokia phone?
Darryl hastily answered the call upon seeing the number displayed. Before he could speak, his mother-in-law Samantha's voice came from the other side. "Darryl, do you know that tonight is our clan's annual gathering? Do you want the entire family to wait for you? Get back here immediately."
Darryl let out a wail—he had completely forgotten about the gathering! He quickly got on his scooter in front of his classmates and sped away. Even though he was quite a distance away, he could still hear the voices of his female classmates laughing at him.
A Land Rover was parked at the gate of a high-end residential community in Beihai City. A beautiful woman was standing in front of the car, looking at her phone impatiently.
"I'm back," said Darryl, struggling to catch his breath. He stopped his scooter and ran toward Lily. He could see that she was wearing the Worship of Crystal on her delicate feet. It seemed she really liked the gift as she had put it on so fast.
However, Lily merely gave Darryl a cold glance. "I'm warning you, today is the Lyndon clan's annual gathering, so you better keep your mouth shut and not embarrass me."
"Oh," acknowledged Darryl.
Darryl had barely gotten in the car when he heard another complaint.
"Darryl, don't you have a suit? Do you know how embarrassing it is to wear such cheap clothes?" asked Samantha coldly.
Samantha was wearing a short dress that accentuated her beauty. A touch of maturity combined with seductiveness, she was truly an elegant sight to behold.
Darryl shrugged his shoulders without saying anything.
Samantha flew into a rage upon seeing Darryl's indifferent behavior. "Are you deaf or dumb? Look at how worthless you are. Having you marry my daughter has cursed our family for eight generations."
"Mom, don't be mad," said Lily gently while driving.
"How can I not be mad?" said Samantha as she pointed at Darryl. "I'm ordering you, after tonight's gathering, to immediately go to the marriage registry and settle your divorce. Stop hanging around my house, do you understand me?"
Darryl sat there speechless.
At that moment, over a hundred cars were parked outside the Lyndon clan's villa, and without exception, all of them were luxurious. When Lily and her family arrived, the hall was already filled with people. Several people went up to greet Lily upon her arrival.
During such occasions, Darryl was treated as if he were invisible. No one cared to acknowledge him. However, he didn't mind that, for he was only here to join in the fun. Once the food arrived, he was ready to dig in as much as he could.
But some people enjoy causing trouble when there is none, such as William Lyndon. He seemed to have something against Darryl. Every time they met, William would hurl a couple of insults at him.
"Yoohoo, aren't you the Lyndon clan's good little son-in-law, Darryl?" asked William as he walked from afar, purposely speaking in a loud tone. "Darryl, I might have seen the clothes you're wearing in the bargain bin. What are they, ten bucks each?"
William's words made Darryl the focus of the entire hall. They gawked at him as if he were a monkey.
"Mind your words. This cost me 19 bucks," mumbled Darryl.
The crowd burst into laughter. A few ladies who tried to maintain their composure ultimately caved in and laughed.
"Just shut your mouth," said Lily in a hushed tone. She could feel her pride being tarnished by Darryl's presence.
As Darryl stood there, William came closer and pointed at his suit, "You have no right to be wearing this suit!"
Darryl merely smiled and said, "I think the suit you're wearing isn't appropriate for the occasion. This suit was designed by a famous Italian fashion designer named Francesco Martin. There's only one in existence, and it's currently housed in the Italian Fashion Museum. Hence, the one you're wearing is a replica, and not just that, it's a crude imitation. There's an uncut thread on your right pocket—you can take that off now. If my calculations are correct, this suit is only worth 200 bucks. Even my wife's 1,200-buck dress has better quality than your suit."
"Another thing: this suit's inspiration was derived from Francesco’s father, Petrarch, who suffered from depression after his bankruptcy. He felt the world was distorted, which is why the stripes on this suit are crooked to represent his perspective of a distorted reality," Darryl continued. "The fact that you're wearing this suit today—are you hoping for the Lyndon clan to go bankrupt as well?" said Darryl with a smile. His voice wasn't loud, yet his words echoed throughout the hall!
Silence! Total silence!
The crowd was shocked by his words, finding it hard to believe that those words came out of Darryl's mouth!
"Oh right, another thing I forgot to mention. My wife isn’t too demanding with her clothes, but her standards for shoes are high. The heels on her feet are The Worship of Crystal. If you’ve never heard of it, you can look it up online."
"Wow!"
"The Worship of Crystal? It truly is the real thing! How magnificent."
The crowd was chattering with excitement. The women there were all of high standing, so how could they not have heard of The Worship of Crystal? One glance was enough to determine that the heels on Lily's feet were genuine!
That was The Worship of Crystal that cost 30 million! Ask any woman, and you'd see that all would love it! Lily instantly became the center of attention, showered with praises and admiration.
Lily couldn’t help but look at Darryl. After three years of marriage, this was the first time she felt that this man resembled a real husband. But how did Darryl know all this information? The Italian designer’s name and inspiration—surely only a handful of people would know about that?
After some thinking, Lily figured that Darryl must have secretly looked it up online beforehand!
"You're talking nonsense!" said William, pointing at Darryl angrily, clearly embarrassed.
Smack!
Out of nowhere, Samantha slapped Darryl!
It was a hard slap, and in an instant, the whole crowd stood there in silence, shocked.
"Darryl, what are you babbling about? Apologize to William right now!" Samantha demanded coldly.
Chapter 5
The Lyndon clan’s authority rested in the hands of the grandmother, who favored William the most. Moreover, William had developed quite well, owning at least 30 million in assets. Offending him would not end well.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Lily rushed over, holding her mother back.
Despite her distaste for Darryl, she knew he had helped her out of a difficult situation.
Darryl, with a red slap mark on his cheek, smiled faintly. After three years of marriage, this was the first time Lily had stood up for him. Without saying a word, he turned and walked away, still smiling.
“Get back here, you trash!” Samantha's shouts echoed in the distance, but Darryl kept walking.
Just then, an elderly voice cut through the crowd. “What’s all the fuss about?”
The hall, previously bustling with noise, fell silent as Grandmother Lyndon walked onto the stage.
“All right, no need for formalities. Take a seat,” she waved her hand as she slowly sat down. “I’ve heard some reliable news. Donghai City’s Platinum Corporation will have a new president tomorrow.”
“Woah!” The crowd erupted in excited whispers. The Lyndon clan owned over ten advertising companies, and a partnership with Platinum Corporation would guarantee steady profits. However, the Darby clan, who owned Platinum, had always looked down on the Lyndons, rejecting every proposal for collaboration. But with a new president, there was hope for a partnership.
“Who wants to negotiate this partnership?” Grandmother Lyndon asked, looking around. “Whoever succeeds will make a great contribution to our clan.”
“I’ll go!”
“Granny, I’ll go!”
“I’m willing to try!”
Several people eagerly volunteered. Lily, however, remained quiet, knowing her position in the clan wasn’t strong.
Seeing the enthusiasm, Grandmother Lyndon nodded approvingly. “William, why don’t you go tomorrow and give it a shot?”
William beamed with excitement.
Meanwhile, Darryl, having left the gathering, returned home and went straight to bed. He had barely slept the night before, still thrilled from realizing his newfound fortune. The next morning, after making breakfast, he hopped on his scooter and headed to Platinum Corporation, where his uncle's secretary, Pearl Hahn, was waiting for him.
Platinum Corporation was located in the bustling business district of Donghai City. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars belonging to celebrities under the company's management. Darryl looked at his scooter, thinking, Maybe I should get a car soon...
Suddenly, the roar of an engine caught his attention, and a loud bang nearly sent him flying. His scooter had been hit by a Porsche Cayenne. The Porsche barely had a scratch, but his scooter was dented.
My new scooter! Already broken again?! Darryl lamented silently as a crowd gathered around the scene.
A woman in a sleek sheath dress and high heels stepped out of the Porsche. The crowd murmured in awe as they saw her striking appearance.
“Giselle?” Darryl exclaimed.
Giselle had come to sign her contract at Platinum. Despite her damaging his scooter, Darryl was relieved they weren’t hurt and was about to greet her when she spotted him.
“You? Darryl? What are you doing here?” Giselle sneered, assuming Darryl was a security guard.
“You’re blaming me? You hit me,” Darryl said, baffled.
Just then, the head of security arrived with his guards. Surveying the scene, he immediately took Giselle’s side.
“Don’t you know scooters aren’t allowed on company premises?” the head of security barked at Darryl.
“Since when? Who made that rule?” Darryl asked.
“I made it!” the head of security snapped. “Now apologize to this lady!”
Giselle smirked. “He must be the new security guard.”
The head of security inspected Darryl, noting his bargain clothing and scooter. “Miss, don’t worry. He won’t be working here. He’s fired.”
“You think you can fire me?” Darryl grinned. “Do you even have the authority?”
The head of security was taken aback, but Giselle wasn’t finished. She pulled out her phone and texted someone. Soon, a well-dressed woman in her 30s emerged from the building. It was Penelope Peach, Platinum Corporation’s deputy manager and Giselle’s aunt.
Penelope glanced at Darryl, clearly unimpressed. “Apologize to Giselle.”
Darryl chuckled. “And who are you?”
Penelope’s eyes narrowed. “You’re here to apply for a security job, right? Well, I’m telling you that you’re fired. Get on your scooter and leave.”
Darryl laughed again. “Me? Get lost?”
Before Penelope could respond, the sound of a car horn interrupted. A Bentley pulled up, and a young woman in a business suit and glasses stepped out.
“I’m sorry I’m late, President,” said Miss Pearl, bowing deeply in front of Darryl.
Chapter 6
Darryl glanced at Pearl, realizing she must be the secretary his uncle mentioned.
"Sorry, President, I didn’t mean to be late. There was a traffic jam..." Pearl apologized, bowing slightly, unable to meet Darryl’s eyes.
"Pearl, what are you talking about?" Penelope stepped forward angrily. "This is our company’s new security guard, not the president!"
"Security guard?" Pearl looked confused. She rummaged through her handbag and pulled out a photo, carefully comparing it to Darryl. "Miss Peach, there's no mistake. This is our company's new president, Mr. Darby."
"What?!" The crowd stood in shock, their eyes wide in disbelief.
"You must be mistaken!" Giselle exclaimed, her lips trembling. "This guy is Darryl, my classmate from high school! Look at him—how could he be president?"
Pearl remained calm, showing Giselle the messages on her phone. "The patriarch of the Darby clan informed me that the new president is Darryl Darby. See the conversation records and the photo for yourself."
Giselle’s world collapsed as she realized the truth. Her legs felt weak, and she couldn’t meet Darryl’s gaze.
Penelope, equally stunned, bit her lip. Just moments ago, she had threatened to fire the president of the company she worked for. She walked up to Darryl, her voice trembling, "Mr. Darryl... I’m sorry..."
Darryl chuckled. "I don’t think that’s the right address. You’re Giselle’s aunt, right? Just call me Darryl."
Penelope, looking down in shame, repeated her apology softly.
Darryl waved her off and looked toward the head of security, who had been dumbstruck this whole time. The man stumbled backward, nearly falling.
"You’re fired," Darryl said simply, then turned and walked into the building.
A group of employees followed Darryl respectfully. Penelope and Giselle, despite their high heels, hurried behind them, their previous arrogance replaced by humility.
The Platinum Corporation building was a marvel, its interior resembling a grand palace. As Darryl passed through, news of the new president spread like wildfire. Every employee bowed as he walked by.
When Darryl reached his office on the 11th floor, he settled into a luxurious chair, taking in the splendor of his new position. After years of being cast out by his family, he finally felt the weight of his newfound power.
Giselle and Penelope stood in front of his desk, their demeanor subdued. Despite being family, Penelope's efforts to maintain her appearance made them look more like sisters.
"Mister Darryl," Penelope began, her voice soft and pleading, "I truly apologize... Will Giselle still be able to sign her contract with the company? I’ll do anything you ask."
"Anything?" Darryl smirked, but before he could respond, Pearl knocked and entered.
"Mr. Darby, William of the Lyndon clan is here to discuss business."
At the mention of William’s name, Darryl’s expression darkened.
"Tell him to get lost," Darryl said coldly.
"Yes, sir," Pearl replied, leaving to carry out the order.
Meanwhile, at the Lyndon family villa, an emergency meeting was called. The family members gathered, their faces grim. William, still fuming, relayed the insult he had received.
"Platinum Corporation told me to piss off!" William’s face was red with anger. "They clearly look down on the Lyndon family!"
Grandmother Lyndon, the family matriarch, waved her hand to calm the crowd. "I’ve heard the new president is a young man in his twenties. He’s reckless, but we can’t let this opportunity slip. Who will go negotiate with them?"
The room fell silent. After the humiliation William had faced, no one was eager to take on the challenge.
William, seeing the hesitation, smiled cunningly. "Granny, why don’t we let Lily try?"
Lily, shocked by his suggestion, bit her lip. She knew William was trying to cause trouble.
"You’re a member of the family," William continued. "And the company you manage is struggling with a five-million-dollar deficit, right? You should be willing to help the family."
Grandmother Lyndon, swayed by her favoritism for William, agreed. "Lily, this task is now yours."
"But, Granny..." Lily tried to object, but the meeting was dismissed before she could speak further. The family members left, relieved they weren’t chosen for the task.
Lily returned home feeling anxious. Negotiating with Platinum Corporation seemed impossible. To distract herself, she invited her best friends, Jade and Phoebe, over to talk.
When they arrived, the mood lightened slightly, though Jade couldn’t resist her usual jabs.
"Lily, where’s that loser of a husband?" Jade asked, sipping her wine.
"He left after making breakfast," Lily responded, laughing. "He hasn’t been back yet."
"Lily, you’re too patient," Jade said, placing her wineglass down. "Your company needs five million, and if you had a real husband, he could at least help with a few million. But Darryl? He couldn’t even come up with thirty thousand."
Just as Jade finished, the door opened, and Darryl walked in, drenched and covered in mud from walking home in the rain.
"Speak of the devil," Jade remarked.
Darryl ignored her, placing a black sack on the sofa. Samantha, Lily’s mother, stormed in, furious.
"Darryl, you dare show your face here?" Samantha shouted. "It’s your fault Lily has to negotiate that deal tomorrow!"
Samantha glared at him, fuming over the dirty footprints he had left and the filthy bag he placed on the sofa.
Darryl took a deep breath, keeping his cool. He had endured their disdain for years. Without a word, he approached Lily with a smile. "Honey, I heard your company needs five million. Well, I’ve got something that might help..."
Jade interrupted him with a mocking laugh. "Seriously? You can barely scrape together a few bucks, and now you’re offering millions?"
Chapter 7
"Lily, you're too soft-hearted," Jade said coldly. "If I were you, I would have divorced him already. You’ve been married for so long, yet you two haven’t even consummated the marriage. How can you handle facing this... loser every day?"
"Jade," Darryl called out, unable to hold back any longer. He took a step toward her, his eyes locked on hers.
Jade, dressed in a tight, short skirt, crossed her arms confidently.
"My wife’s company needs five million bucks," Darryl said with a smile. "Why are you assuming I can’t help? Didn’t you say you’d call me ‘daddy’ if I managed to produce that much?"
"Yes, I did," Jade replied, standing up slowly. "Show me the money. If you can’t, though, you’ll call me ‘mommy.’"
With a smirk, Darryl sat down casually in a chair, turned his dirty sack upside down, and poured its contents onto the table.
The room went dead silent.
Stacks of red cash notes spilled onto the table and overflowed onto the floor. Everyone stared, wide-eyed.
"This... this is..." Jade was speechless, her jaw dropping.
Samantha, Lily’s mother, hurried over, her anger quickly dissolving. "All this cash... is it really five million?"
Lily’s best friends, Jade and Phoebe, stood frozen, their legs weakening at the sight of the piles of money.
Darryl leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Call me daddy now, I’m waiting."
Jade eventually snapped out of her shock, narrowing her eyes at Darryl. "Don’t think I’m stupid. Lily only gives you 200 bucks a day. Where did this money come from? It can’t be clean."
Lily, alarmed, quickly took Darryl’s arm and pulled him into the bedroom. Once inside, she shut the door and whispered, "Darryl, where did that money come from? Is it from some shady source?"
Darryl sighed. "It’s clean. I borrowed it from a friend."
"Friend?" Lily raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "How come I’ve never heard of any friends? After all these years of marriage, I didn’t even know you had any."
Darryl’s heart sank at her words. He had lost all his friends after being banished from his family. Swallowing the hurt, he replied, "It’s just an old classmate who got rich from his business. Don’t worry about it, just use the money for your company."
As he headed for the door, he heard Lily’s soft voice behind him. "I’ll pay it back as soon as I can."
Jade and Phoebe had left, leaving Darryl to mumble to himself as he sat down on the sofa. "She didn’t even call me daddy... I guess she wasn’t serious."
Meanwhile, all over Donghai City, rumors were swirling. The largest entertainment company had recently changed bosses, and every major advertising agency was trying to strike a partnership. Yet, bizarrely, the new boss was rejecting even long-time business partners. Companies across the city buzzed with curiosity, wondering who would secure a deal.
The Lyndon clan, despite being a second-tier family, was determined to try again after William had been escorted out. The news that Lily had successfully secured a partnership with Platinum Corporation stunned the entire city.
At the luxurious Oriental Pearl Hotel, Grandmother Lyndon had rented out the entire venue to celebrate Lily’s success. The whole Lyndon clan was in attendance, along with many prominent guests, eager to bask in the clan’s newfound glory.
Lily, seated at the head of the table, was the center of attention, while Darryl sat quietly beside her. Just as they were getting comfortable, a voice interrupted them.
"Get up. This isn’t a seat for you. Make way for Miss Yvonne."
William, standing behind them, gestured to a young, beautiful woman beside him. Without hesitation, Samantha, Lily’s mother, snapped, "Hurry up, you worthless fool! Let Miss Yvonne have your seat!"
Darryl remained calm, munching on some nuts as if he hadn’t heard a thing. But Samantha was furious. "Are you deaf? Move already! Do you know who Miss Yvonne is? She’s the young mistress of the Yung family! They’re worth billions!"
Reluctantly, Lily whispered, "Maybe you should give her the seat, just for now."
"Okay," Darryl said cheerfully, getting up without protest.
William sneered as he pulled out the chair for Yvonne. "Miss Yvonne, please sit. Don’t mind that idiot, he’s just our live-in son-in-law. He acts like he’s important, but he’s nothing."
As Yvonne sat, her eyes caught something. She leaned forward slightly, admiring Lily’s shoes. They were stunning, a pair of The Worship of Crystal heels, highly coveted and limited to just 99 pairs worldwide.
"Miss Lily," Yvonne said softly, unable to resist, "may I ask where you got those heels?"
Lily, her heart swelling with pride, replied, "They were a gift from a friend."
Yvonne’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Could you ask your friend to help me get a pair? I’d be happy to pay double the price."
The surrounding guests turned to listen. The Worship of Crystal was worth 30 million bucks, and the fact that Yvonne was willing to pay double made heads turn.
Samantha urged Lily, "Call your friend right now!"
Lily, feeling the weight of the moment, nodded and took out her phone to call Ashton Adagio.
Chapter 8
Ashton quickly answered the call, and Lily put it on speaker. Samantha, standing nearby, smiled as she saw Lily's phone screen.
"My dear daughter, so Ashton got you The Worship of Crystal. He's a good man; make sure to appreciate him," Samantha said loudly, making sure Darryl could hear. Compared to Ashton, Darryl was worthless. Ashton had even said he'd pay a dowry of 20 million if Lily married him.
Meanwhile, Ashton was sitting on the sidewalk. He had just received a call that the Darby clan had revoked all his funding. Devastated, he had no idea who he'd offended to cause this, and without their support, he was nothing.
"Ashton, can you get me another pair of The Worship of Crystal?" Lily asked over the phone.
Even though Ashton was struggling, he forced a smile when he heard Lily’s voice. "You mean the replica, right?"
"Replica?" Lily and Yvonne exchanged confused glances. They knew the shoes were real.
"Yeah, the pair I gave you cost 300,000. Didn't your worthless husband throw them away? I still have them at my place if you want them," Ashton replied.
Lily was bewildered. The Worship of Crystal she had—wasn't it from Ashton? Who else could have given her such an expensive gift?
She ended the call, remembering the day Darryl had mentioned he was going to buy her the heels. She glanced over at Darryl, who was busy eating, almost finished with his second bowl of rice while everyone else had barely started. People at the table gave him dirty looks and sat as far away as possible.
Lily sighed, thinking it was impossible that Darryl could have been the one to buy the shoes.
Darryl finally put down his chopsticks and looked at Yvonne, who wore an expensive-looking white bracelet. To the untrained eye, it was just a fancy piece of jewelry, but Darryl knew better. The bracelet was an antique, likely from the Tang Dynasty, worth up to 20 million in today’s market.
"Everyone, quiet down," Grandmother Lyndon announced, stepping onto the stage with a cheerful expression. "Lilybud, tell us how you negotiated with Platinum Corporation."
Lily stood awkwardly. "When I got there, I didn’t say anything or meet the president. I was just told I could sign the contract."
Her words caused a stir among the crowd.
"So, Lily didn’t do anything and got the contract?"
"Yeah, I thought she was capable, but it was just luck."
William stepped forward. "Granny, I was escorted out of Platinum Corporation, but Lily got in. They must have recognized our sincerity. Even if it wasn't Lily, anyone could have secured the deal!"
He was clearly trying to claim some credit, and Grandmother Lyndon, who favored William, agreed. "Yes, William deserves some credit too."
William was thrilled and gave a deep bow. "Granny, as a loyal member of the Lyndon clan, I’m willing to sacrifice for the family. I’ve heard there's a new celebrity at Platinum named Giselle Lindt, and Platinum will want to promote her. If we handle this, it will be very profitable. I’m ready to negotiate this deal tomorrow!"
Grandmother Lyndon nodded approvingly. Lily and Samantha exchanged uncomfortable looks. The celebration was supposed to be for Lily’s success, but William had stolen the spotlight. With his upcoming negotiation, he’d take all the credit.
Though unhappy, Lily stayed quiet. After all, William was Granny’s favorite.
William, full of excitement, called for wine. "Bring the best bottles, the most expensive for every table!" he declared.
Soon, a line of waiters brought the wine, and William raised his glass with a broad grin. "Let’s drink till we drop! Cheers!"
With William’s standing at its peak, everyone wanted to be in his good graces, toasting with him. After multiple rounds, William called for the bill. He loudly took out his bank card, trying to impress Yvonne, who sat next to him.
Everyone was in awe when they saw it—a platinum card from Amethyst Bank, which required a balance of at least 10 million. William had been saving this cash for years and was eager to show off.
Even Yvonne took an extra look at the card. Her family’s fortune was tied to antiques worth over two billion, but she didn’t have that kind of personal wealth. To buy something like The Worship of Crystal, she would need her father to sell antiques.
William, feeling victorious, announced, "I'll pay for every table except Darryl’s! He didn’t offer Miss Yvonne his seat, so he needs to be punished. His table alone will cost 10,000 bucks, and he can’t afford it!"
Yvonne stayed silent, smiling lightly. William, meanwhile, bragged to her that he would try to find The Worship of Crystal for her, though it was a long shot.
Just then, two waiters approached William, bowing. "Sir, your card has insufficient funds."
William exploded in anger. "What? I have 11 million in that account!"
The waiter calmly replied, "The total bill is 38.26 million."
Chapter 9
Darryl almost laughed out loud when he heard the bill total. William had no clue what he had ordered. Only Darryl knew it was Romanée-Conti, a wine that retails for over a million dollars per bottle. More than 30 bottles were spread around the dining hall!
William panicked. "Are you kidding me?" he exclaimed. "Over 300 of us ate 30 million dollars' worth of food? That’s 100,000 dollars per person! Call the manager!" The waiters, feeling helpless, called their manager, who appeared, a young man in his 30s, neatly dressed.
William, now furious, pointed at the manager. "Are you trying to run a scam? Charging us 100,000 dollars per person? I'll report this to the Consumers Association!" But the manager remained calm. "Sir, you ordered Romanée-Conti, a limited edition wine. Only 800 bottles are produced annually, and each one costs 1.63 million. We even gave you a discount for ordering over 30 bottles."
William, furious, grabbed the manager's collar. "How can you have 30 bottles of this wine? Who would even order it?"
The manager smiled politely, clearly used to such confrontations. "Firstly, you asked for the best wine, and we have security footage to prove it. Secondly, our wine is certified authentic. Lastly, please be respectful."
At that moment, ten large men entered, all wearing black shirts and showing off their tattoos. They were the hotel’s security team, led by Wayne Woodall, the owner of the Oriental Pearl Hotel. Despite his old-fashioned appearance, Wayne was just 30 years old and had a reputation for a rough background.
Upon seeing Wayne, the Lyndon family panicked. William, sweating profusely, stammered, "We’ll pay... we’ll pay..." He looked at his grandmother for help. But where would they get 30 million dollars? Not paying would likely result in a trip to the hospital—or worse.
Grandmother Lyndon, despite being much older than Wayne, knew they couldn't afford to offend him. She bowed and apologized. "My grandson made a mistake, and we will pay the bill immediately." The rest of the Lyndon family felt uneasy, knowing William had put them all in this situation by ordering the most expensive wine.
Meanwhile, Darryl, trying to avoid recognition, got up to leave. Years ago, when Wayne was just starting out, Darryl had given him 300,000 dollars to help him. Wayne, in return, had always been grateful, but Darryl had nearly forgotten about the incident. He didn’t want to be noticed now.
But Wayne recognized him immediately. "Hey, wait!" he called out, surprising the Lyndon family, who thought Darryl was trying to escape.
William, desperate to distance himself from Darryl, shouted, "Mister Wayne, this man is just our useless live-in son-in-law. Him trying to run has nothing to do with us. We’ll pay the bill!"
Wayne, however, roared, "Shut up!" and ignored William. He approached Darryl, his voice trembling. "Second young master, is it really you?" Wayne had never forgotten the 14-year-old boy who had helped him all those years ago.
Realizing he couldn’t hide, Darryl turned around. Wayne immediately knelt on the ground, overcome with emotion. "I’ve been looking for you for years! I owe you everything!"
The entire dining hall was stunned. A billionaire was kneeling before Darryl, crying with gratitude. But Darryl, wanting to keep a low profile, winked at Wayne. "Mister Wayne, did you fall?" he said, helping Wayne up. Wayne quickly understood and played along, saying, "I must’ve mistaken you for someone else."
The Lyndons, relieved, thought it was all a misunderstanding. Grandmother Lyndon, however, declared that the 38 million-dollar bill would be split among everyone at the dinner, with each person paying 100,000 dollars. For most of the family, this wasn’t a problem.
But Lily and Samantha looked worried. Their company had just gone through financial trouble, and they had no money left.
William, noticing Lily's distress, cruelly mocked her. "Lily, don’t tell me you can’t even afford your share?" All eyes were on her as Lily blushed and admitted, "I... I didn’t bring my bank card."
Chapter 10
William continued to mock Lily and Samantha, laughing at their supposed inability to pay. "Forgot your bank card, huh? That's a fantastic excuse!" he jeered, with the whole room bursting into laughter.
Darryl, standing beside Lily, could sense her unease. He decided to step forward. "I brought my card..." he started, but before he could finish, William snatched the card out of his hand.
"Let’s see if this has even 300,000 bucks in it!" William said as he handed the card to the waiter.
Lily grew even more anxious. She had only ever given Darryl a daily allowance of 200 bucks—how could his card possibly have that kind of money? The room was filled with stifled laughter, eagerly anticipating Darryl's embarrassment.
But just as the waiter took the card, Yvonne, one of the onlookers, suddenly stood up. Her eyes widened in shock. "Wait... Is that an Amethyst Bank's black card?!"
The room fell silent, all laughter abruptly ceasing. Yvonne's words froze everyone in their tracks. The card was solid black, adorned with gold detailing and a diamond. Written in elegant script were the words: Darryl Darby.
An Amethyst Bank black card was a rarity, even in the wealthiest circles. It required a billion dollars in savings. Even the wealthiest in the room, including Wayne, couldn’t boast such a card.
Everyone was in disbelief. Lily and Samantha stood stunned, speechless.
"That’s... that’s probably just a sticker, right?" someone muttered nervously, trying to rationalize the situation.
William, trying to regain his composure, laughed again. "Come on, Darryl, you don’t need to act rich when you’re not!" But his laughter lacked confidence this time.
Lily, still in shock, approached Darryl. "Darryl, is this real? Does the card really have enough money?"
Darryl smiled softly. "It’s enough, Lily. I’ve been saving my allowance."
The room was silent as the waiter processed the payment. Darryl didn’t flinch. Soon after, the bill was settled, and the Lyndon clan left. However, Wayne discreetly pulled Darryl aside, ushering him into his car.
"Second Young Master, I've been waiting so long to meet you again," Wayne said, his excitement barely contained as he drove.
Darryl, perplexed, asked, "Where are you taking me?"
"You’ll see! I’m taking you to meet some people who are dying to see you!" Wayne replied, his hands trembling on the steering wheel.
They soon arrived at the entrance of the Moonlit River Bar, one of the most luxurious spots in Donghai City.
Wayne gestured for Darryl to enter. "There’s a surprise waiting for you inside, Second Young Master."
Darryl reluctantly entered the bar, not a fan of loud, flashy places like this. The music was deafening, and the dance floor was packed with people. As he moved through the crowd, he heard a familiar voice.
"Is that... Darryl?" It was Jade, a woman he recognized immediately. She was wearing tight jeans, looking as glamorous as ever.
Jade approached him with a smug grin. "What are you doing here? This place is way out of your league."
Darryl just smiled. "Shouldn’t you be calling me daddy?"
Infuriated, Jade’s client, a burly man named Harry, stepped forward. "Miss Jade, should I take care of this idiot for you?" Harry was the head of security at the bar and a well-known tough guy in Donghai.
Jade smirked. "Darryl, you really should leave before you get hurt."
Darryl ignored them and walked straight to Room 888, a luxurious private room in the center of the bar. As he sat down inside, Harry and his crew followed him.
"You! Get out of that room!" Harry shouted, storming in with a group of burly men. The room was plated in gold, reserved for only the wealthiest patrons.
Jade, sensing her moment, laughed. "Darryl, if you don’t want trouble, you should apologize and leave now."
Harry grabbed Darryl by the collar, intending to throw him out. "Let's see how tough you are now!" he sneered.
But Darryl remained calm, completely unphased. As Jade looked on, relishing the chaos, she ordered, "Make him call me mommy, then throw him out."
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