Chapter 11
Jade, her high heels clacking as she stomped forward, demanded, "Make him call me mommy, then throw him out!"
Harry, his face flushed with anger, roared, "Did you hear Miss Jade? Call her mommy, or else..." He signaled to his men, and more than twenty burly bouncers pulled out expandable batons.
"Consider this your last chance. Call her mommy, kneel, and admit your mistake, and I'll let you leave unharmed. Otherwise, you’ll be carried out on a stretcher," Harry said with a sneer.
Jade, enjoying the spectacle, pulled out her cellphone. If Darryl complied, she planned to record it and send it to Lily.
Darryl, unfazed, looked Jade up and down. "What if I don’t?"
Jade’s irritation grew as Darryl resisted. "Mister Harry, hit him and make him kneel!" she ordered.
Harry grinned maliciously. "My pleasure!" He grabbed Darryl by the collar and threw a fierce punch.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Samson Facey, the boss of Moonlit River Bar, and other influential figures like Wayne Woodall, Felix Blakely, Emily Dickinson, and Siegfried Yates entered. The room fell silent.
Darryl’s face brightened upon seeing them. They were old friends who had succeeded thanks to his help.
Samson, furious, slapped Harry hard. "How dare you touch the Second Young Master!" he shouted.
Harry, shocked and hurt, protested, "But Godfather, this peasant is causing trouble! He doesn’t belong in Room 888!"
Another slap from Samson made Harry flinch. "You’ve forgotten who helped you rise to where you are! This is the Darby family's Second Young Master!"
The room was stunned. Harry couldn’t believe Darryl was the Second Young Master of the Darby family, a figure of immense wealth and power.
Jade, pale and trembling, took a step back. She was in disbelief, realizing that Darryl was the person she had looked down on. She had been wrong to underestimate him.
"Mister Darryl, I was wrong. Please forgive me," Jade said, her voice barely audible.
Darryl, unmoved, replied, "Didn’t you say you wanted me to kneel and call you mommy?"
Jade bit her lip and, with great reluctance, knelt in front of Darryl. "Mister Darryl, I’m begging you. Please forgive me for Lily’s sake."
"Sure, but what do you need to call me?" Darryl asked with a smirk.
Jade, her face flushed, whispered, "D...d...daddy."
Darryl nodded in satisfaction. "You’ll address me like that from now on. And keep my identity a secret from Lily."
Jade agreed, promising not to reveal what happened. Darryl, pleased, waved her off.
As everyone prepared to leave, Samson, Wayne, Felix, Emily, and Siegfried approached Darryl. They bowed respectfully.
Emily, presenting a gift, said, "We got you something for your birthday. We know you’re fond of antiques."
She opened a box revealing a scroll. Darryl gasped—it was a calligraphy piece by Wang Xizhi, highly prized and recently auctioned.
Felix explained, "We pooled our resources to get this for you. Your birthday is in three days, right? This is our gift."
Darryl was touched. He had forgotten his birthday, which coincided with Grandmother Lyndon's. It was surprising to have people remember it.
Meanwhile, in a café, Ashton was with Lily. He hadn’t told her about his bankruptcy yet. "Lilybud, I’ll propose to the Lyndon family on Grandmother Lyndon’s birthday," he declared affectionately.
Chapter 12
Lily frowned when Ashton mentioned the marriage proposal. "Forget it. I’m not divorced yet."
Despite Darryl's shortcomings, he had worked hard over the years and taken care of housework, facing criticism without complaint. Even a dog has feelings, let alone a person. Darryl had recently loaned them five million to help with company problems and used his savings to cover a cost when William suggested going Dutch at the Oriental Pearl Hotel.
Ashton looked at Lily with affection. "Lilybud, am I worse than Darryl? He's a loser. Don't worry; I'll get a great gift for Grandma's birthday. She’ll love it, and when I propose, she won’t refuse."
Lily sipped her coffee. The Lyndon family's rules were strict, and Grandmother Lyndon had the final say. If she took a liking to Ashton, Lily might be pressured to divorce Darryl. Although Lily viewed Darryl as a loser, she had been married to him for three years and didn’t entirely lack feelings for him.
Lily suddenly asked, "That pair of The Worship of Crystal—you didn’t give me the real ones, did you?"
Ashton’s expression turned fierce. "The shoes I gave you were imitations worth three hundred thousand. Your loser husband destroyed them. But I knew you didn’t like them much, so I decided to sell the company and buy you the real pair."
He showed Lily a photo of his contract to leave the company, chuckling to himself. Although the contract was genuine, Ashton had been forced out by the Darby family, and he had not truly sold the company for the shoes.
Lily, touched by the gesture, felt a mix of emotions. "Why are you so stupid?"
"I’m not stupid!" Ashton reached out to hold her hand. "I’d do anything for you, Lilybud."
Lily, moved but conflicted, pulled her hand away and left. Ashton watched her go, determined to win her over.
At Moonlit River Bar, Darryl, drunk and reflective, told Samson, "Don’t call me Second Young Master anymore. I don’t like it."
Three years ago, Darryl had been expelled from the family by his sister-in-law after investing eight million in Southeast Petroleum shares. His sister-in-law’s goal was to eliminate competition for the position of the family patriarch.
Wayne asked, "Can we call you Mister Darby from now on?"
Darryl nodded, his mood darkened by past events. Emily approached and said, "I have something to tell you. Your sister-in-law contacted me last year to buy a limited-edition cosmetic. She’s very ambitious."
Darryl, already aware of his sister-in-law’s ruthlessness, listened with a faint smile.
Meanwhile, Lily, walking with Phoebe, was distracted by thoughts of Ashton. Phoebe asked, "Why are you so distracted?"
Lily shook her head. "It’s nothing."
Phoebe excitedly mentioned the cosmetics brand Poesia Eleganza. "Have you heard about their new Crown line? It’s limited to 520 sets and costs 520,000 bucks. Everyone wants it, but it's nearly impossible to get without connections."
Lily's interest was piqued as she listened to Phoebe's enthusiasm about the coveted cosmetics.
Chapter 13
Phoebe excitedly told Lily, "Valentine’s Day is coming up. It would be amazing to get a set of Poesia Eleganza's Crown line cosmetics."
Lily smiled and replied, "Keep dreaming."
The Crown line was incredibly expensive and limited to just 520 sets, likely all sold out. Families like the Lyndons had no chance of getting them.
"Alright, let’s go shopping for some clothes," Lily suggested. "Granny's birthday is coming up, and we need to look nice."
The next day at Platinum Corporation, Darryl, who had spent the night at the office after a drinking session, received two texts: one from his mother-in-law, Samantha, scolding him for not coming home, and another from Lily, reminding him to buy a present for Grandma.
Pearl Hahn, his secretary, entered the office and informed him that the Lyndons wanted to discuss taking over Giselle's image consultancy. Darryl dismissed the request and canceled the contract.
William, who was waiting anxiously, was shocked when Pearl told him that the contract was canceled and he was to leave. The cancellation was because the Lyndons had previously dealt with Lily, and Platinum Corporation now required her to handle any future negotiations.
At the Lyndon family villa, the elderly matriarch was furious upon hearing the news. She scolded the younger generation for their short-sightedness and explained that suing Platinum Corporation would be futile. The Darby family, who owned the company, could easily overshadow them.
William tried to explain, but the old lady was unimpressed. She revealed that the cooperation with the Lyndons was solely due to Lily, which left everyone stunned. Lily, despite being from a less profitable branch of the family, was deemed significant enough by Platinum Corporation.
At Donghai Airport, Lily and Samantha awaited the arrival of Lily’s father, Wentworth, who was returning to surprise Grandma for her birthday. Lily received a text from Darryl advising her to reject any request from Grandma to negotiate with Platinum Corporation.
Samantha, noting the text, declared that after the birthday celebration, she and Wentworth would take Lily to finalize the divorce with Darryl. Despite Lily’s conflicted feelings about Darryl, Samantha was adamant about ending the marriage.
Lily, unsure how to articulate her mixed feelings about Darryl, was left to contemplate the situation.
Chapter 14
Samantha told Lily harshly, “Consider how much ridicule you’ve faced since marrying Darryl. We’ve provided for him, and he hasn’t even helped with the company’s five million deficit. We’re even now. I just want you to leave him.”
Lily hesitated, biting her lip.
Samantha continued, “Ashton called me. He’ll attend Grandma’s birthday and has a great gift for her. You should be with him if Grandma takes a liking to him.”
Just then, Lily’s father, Wentworth, arrived. Dressed sharply, he was carrying a suitcase. The family greeted him warmly and enjoyed their time together.
At home, Samantha cooked a lavish meal. Though cooking was usually Darryl’s responsibility, Samantha had clearly maintained her appearance well.
During dinner, Wentworth spoke of his uneventful life abroad, except for his luxurious accommodations and business dealings. He then handed Samantha a check for 50 million, declaring, “Our struggles are over!”
Wentworth also gave another check for 50 million, noting that it couldn’t be cashed immediately and would only be valid after he left the country. Samantha accepted it eagerly, thrilled by the prospect of their improved financial situation.
While the family celebrated, Lily received a call from Grandmother Lyndon. It was unusual for the matriarch to personally call her, as she usually communicated through the elders.
The old lady asked Lily for a favor: to handle negotiations with Platinum Corporation regarding Giselle’s image consultancy. This was surprising since the task had previously been given to William.
Samantha, though puzzled, agreed to have Lily handle it. Lily felt a shiver, recalling Darryl’s text advising her to refuse any request from Grandma. Conflicted, Lily nonetheless told her grandmother she would not take on the task, insisting William should handle it.
Grandmother Lyndon was enraged and called Lily arrogant. Lily ended the call before the old lady could finish.
Samantha and Wentworth were upset with Lily’s decision, especially after the old lady had personally requested her help. Samantha was furious and demanded Lily’s respect for the family’s head.
Lily, uncertain but influenced by Darryl’s earlier text, sent him a message asking what to do next. Darryl replied, instructing her to keep refusing, as Platinum Corporation would only acknowledge her.
Samantha, seeing Lily’s phone, was enraged that Darryl was influencing her. She insisted Lily divorce him after Grandma’s birthday.
The following day, Grandmother Lyndon sent Stefan, another capable member of the Lyndon family, to handle the negotiations. However, Stefan was turned away by security at Platinum Corporation.
Panicking, Grandmother Lyndon began chain-smoking, unable to understand why only Lily was acceptable to Platinum Corporation.
William proposed a solution, suggesting that since the contract was likely secured by Lily’s looks, Elsa, another beautiful Lyndon family member, should try. The family agreed, believing that Platinum Corporation’s President was merely interested in attractiveness.
Early the next morning, Elsa, who was stunning and highly regarded for her beauty, went to Platinum Corporation alone.
Chapter 15
Elsa arrived at Platinum Corporation, catching the attention of paparazzi who mistook her for a rising star due to her charm and beauty. The security guard, believing she was a celebrity, let her through. However, Pearl, who was on her way to serve tea to Darryl, encountered Elsa and, recognizing her as part of the Lyndon family, promptly had her removed from the building.
Elsa, known for her beauty in Donghai City, felt humiliated by the rejection. Meanwhile, Grandmother Lyndon was frantic upon hearing the news.
At the Lyndon family villa the next day, Grandmother Lyndon’s 70th birthday was being celebrated. The villa was bustling with activity, and a fleet of cars lined the streets. Lily and Samantha waited anxiously for Darryl, who arrived late on an electric bike after being stuck in traffic. His unconventional arrival drew snickers from guests, with some commenting on his lowly status and shabby attire.
Lily asked Darryl to park the bike further away to avoid embarrassment. Darryl, indifferent, presented a very shabby wooden box as Grandma’s gift, causing Lily to scold him for such an inappropriate present.
As the birthday celebrations began, high-profile guests started to present their gifts. Albert Sohn of Skybrook Group gifted a valuable Qing Dynasty Cloisonné vase, impressing everyone with its worth.
William, the family’s favorite, made a grand entrance with a jade box. After a dramatic build-up, he revealed a large night-shining pearl, which he claimed to be worth over two million. The crowd applauded, but Darryl, recognizing the pearl as a synthetic fake, couldn’t help but laugh. His laughter drew unwanted attention and criticism from William, who was embarrassed that his gift was exposed as fake.
Samantha, furious with Darryl for his public outburst, warned him to behave or leave.
Chapter 16
After more than half an hour of gift presentations, most guests had given expensive presents, with none costing less than $200,000. Elsa’s gift, a pair of flawless jadeite bracelets, was particularly noteworthy. Grandmother Lyndon was thrilled and praised Elsa, even announcing that Elsa was single and open to marriage proposals, provided the suitors were worthy.
Seated beside Darryl at the banquet, Elsa overheard Darryl commenting on the jadeite bracelets, identifying them as Ice Green Lao Hang Imperial Jade. Surprised by his knowledge, Elsa asked Darryl how much he thought they were worth. Darryl estimated them at around $400,000, noting that Elsa had overpaid. Elsa was intrigued by his expertise.
Soon, Zachary White, the eldest grandson of the White family, presented his gift—a check for $1,314,520, symbolizing his admiration for Elsa and his intention to propose marriage. The guests were captivated, but Elsa, though flattered, felt she needed time to consider the proposal.
Ashton then arrived, aiming to propose to Lily. He announced his intention boldly, disregarding Darryl’s presence. Ashton revealed a pair of high-end heels, The Worship of Crystal, worth $30 million. The guests were dazzled by the extravagant gift. Ashton claimed he sold his company and used his remaining assets to buy the heels, though Darryl was skeptical of Ashton’s claims.
Ashton then unveiled another gift: a scroll he claimed was Wang Xizhi’s Ping’an Tie, which Darryl recognized as possibly being the same piece he had seen before. This ancient calligraphy scroll was worth at least $20 million, and everyone, including the White family patriarch, was astonished by the purported value of Ashton’s gifts.
Chapter 17
"Come here, let me see it."
The old lady, feeling impatient, gave a soft command, and everyone made way for her.
She adjusted her reading glasses and stared at the scroll intently.
The strokes were powerful and smooth, making it a true masterpiece!
"I’m quite sure this isn’t a replica," Claude said enthusiastically, giving a thumbs-up. "I never expected to see an original Wang Xizhi here!"
"Yes! This is typically found only in museums!"
"So beautiful! Wang Xizhi truly deserves his title as the Sage of Calligraphy!"
The praises poured in, and Grandmother Lyndon was thrilled beyond words!
"Alright, alright, alright!" the old lady repeated three times before carefully storing the scroll. She instructed her servants, "Put this in the box right away. Handle it gently and place it down carefully!"
"Yes," the servants replied, nodding quickly and being extremely cautious not to handle it roughly. Given its value, they wouldn’t want to risk damaging it! On the other hand, Lily was touched for some reason.
Ashton had sold his company to buy her those high heels and had presented such a significant gift to the grandmother.
"Hey, everyone, look at Darryl’s expression—it’s hilarious!" William burst out laughing and pointed at Darryl. "Look, he’s also holding a box! Haha! He has a gift for the grandmother too!"
William’s comment prompted the crowd to start laughing at Darryl.
Darryl’s expression was awkward, but it was because of Ashton’s audacity! Ashton had given the old lady a fake!
"Come on now, Darryl! Show us your gift!" William jumped over excitedly. "It’s Granny’s birthday today, and everyone else has shown their gifts. Yours is the only one left! Your wife is about to be proposed to, so how will you redeem yourself if you don’t reveal your gift?"
"Hahaha!"
William’s remarks made everyone laugh heartily.
Lily’s mood soured dramatically, feeling frustrated. She had advised Darryl to prepare a better gift, but he did the exact opposite! Now, he was making a fool of himself!
"Sit down now. Stop standing!" Lily tugged at Darryl’s arm and reprimanded him softly.
Meanwhile, Samantha’s anger was visible. She pointed at Darryl and shouted, "Hurry up and put your worthless gift by the door. Don’t embarrass us here, you good-for-nothing!"
"Oh," Darryl muttered. He carried the box to the door where many gifts were already placed.
Just as he was about to put the box among the gifts, William rushed over and grabbed it unexpectedly!
"Haha, don’t be so stingy! What gift did you get for Granny? Show us!" William said eagerly and opened the box!
In an instant, the entire villa fell silent!
Everyone stared at Darryl’s gift in astonishment and swallowed hard!
It was an antique hand fan with black ribs.
When the hand fan was unfolded, it displayed a snowy landscape painted with thick ink. The brushwork was superb, clearly done by a master with decades of expertise!
A poem was written in the corner of the fan:
'One flake, two flakes, snowflakes three and four; five six, seven eight, nine flakes, ten and more; gliding into plum-flowers, snowflakes were seen no more.'
There were several seals on the fan, but the most striking feature was the poem’s royal signature: Hongli!
Hongli?! The Qianlong Emperor?!
Hahaha!
Someone burst into uncontrollable laughter, and the rest of the crowd joined in, laughing loudly!
"Hahaha, you’re killing me! This fan must be fake, right? Hahaha!"
"Absolutely. Would a fan used by the Qianlong Emperor really be here? Haha!"
"Donghai City History Museum might not even dare claim they have it!"
William laughed so hard he nearly fainted, clutching his stomach. He pointed at Darryl, "You’re a riot! Haha! How could you think of giving such a gift? Where did you even get this fan? Hahaha!"
"I had a friend help me get it," Darryl said plainly.
His original plan was to gift Wang Xizhi’s Ping’an Tie, but since it was a gift from Wayne and others, re-gifting it would be disrespectful.
So, Darryl had asked Emily to find a gift. Emily had managed to get this fan, saying her friend, a leading antique collector, had reluctantly given it to her. It was said that the Qianlong Emperor had used this fan for an entire year. It was known as the Boundless Universe Fan.
"A friend helped you get it?! How much did you spend?" William asked, barely holding back his laughter.
"None. My friend didn’t want money. She only asked for a future treat of rice noodle soup," Darryl replied.
"Rice noodle soup?! Haha, you mean rice noodle soup from Yunnan?!" William could barely stop laughing again.
Hahaha! The crowd erupted in laughter!
Darryl had become the punchline, and the crowd’s laughter showed no sign of stopping!
Grandmother Lyndon’s mood turned cold. "Do you have no sense of dignity? Lily was so unfortunate to marry you! Someone, please throw this worthless fan away!"
"Yes!"
Two servants picked up the fan and the box, opened the door, and threw them out.
The laughter continued, and Darryl sighed as he returned to his seat.
Grandmother Lyndon, initially pleased, couldn’t keep up the cheerfulness after the incident. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, let me say a few words. First, I want to thank everyone for coming to my birthday celebration despite your busy schedules."
She gave a slight nod and continued, "Please enjoy yourselves to the fullest today. Eat and drink as much as you like! Two gentlemen have proposed to our family, and I’ve noted it. We’ll discuss it after the banquet."
At that moment, the old lady stood up. "Dear guests! You’ve all brought such wonderful gifts today, and it’s only right that I show the same generosity. I’ve arranged for a lavish feast for you all!"
The old lady clapped her hands, signaling for dozens of waiters to bring in a variety of sumptuous dishes.
"Premium King Abalone, Buddha’s Temptation, Shark Fin Soup with Abalone and Birds’ Nest..."
Dish after dish appeared, each one more impressive than the last.
The dishes were so exquisite that the total cost for each table was estimated to be no less than one hundred thousand!
The guests were still in awe when an announcement came!
"Old Madam, Miss Yvonne Young has arrived."
"Hurry and welcome her!" The old lady said quickly.
The Young family, known for their antique dealings, had a strong relationship with the Lyndon family. Yvonne was invited to the banquet organized by the old lady for Lily.
Lily smiled, remembering that Yvonne had previously asked about the high heels Ashton had gifted her and offered to buy them at double the price. Lily now planned to ask Ashton for help in getting a pair for Yvonne.
As Yvonne entered, the men ogled at her. She wore tight jeans and a white shirt that showcased her figure beautifully.
"Please accept my apologies for the delay; there was a traffic jam," Yvonne said with an apologetic smile as she walked in.
To everyone’s surprise, she stopped abruptly and looked down at the discarded fan!
"This... This is..."
Yvonne stared at the fan and its box, recognizing that the box was quite extraordinary given her background in antiques.
"President Young, there’s no need to bother with that trash. Someone will clean it up," the old lady said with a smile.
Chapter 18
"Trash?"
Yvonne found the term amusing. If she was correct, the box probably came from the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong period. The box's material seemed highly valuable, likely Golden-thread Nanmu.
Though the box looked weathered and wrecked, its craftsmanship was incredibly detailed upon closer inspection!
The box alone was worth hundreds of thousands, yet it was being treated like rubbish?!
Perhaps out of habit, Yvonne took out a pastel green magnifying glass from her bag. The Young family had been in the antique business for generations and always carried a magnifying glass.
"President Young, what are you doing?"
The old lady couldn’t help but comment, "This is just trash. The servants will come and throw it away."
Yvonne remained silent. As she examined the wooden box with her magnifying glass, beads of sweat formed on her forehead!
A golden dragon was engraved on the box!
Despite its age and wear, it was only through the magnifying glass that Yvonne could see it was undoubtedly used by the emperor!
In the past, only a few dared to create dragon carvings. Back then, only the emperor's engravers could make such a box.
Her earlier guess of several hundred thousand was a severe understatement. The box was worth at least one million!
"President Young? Come and have a seat." William approached and bowed respectfully to Yvonne. "The banquet is about to begin."
Yvonne put away her magnifying glass and whispered, "Whose gift is this?"
"No one!" William quickly waved his hand. "Don’t get me wrong, President Young, all our guests are distinguished people. They wouldn’t give presents from a roadside stall. Haha!"
The Lyndon family was too prestigious to accept such a gift.
William, still chuckling, brought the box over and was about to discard it.
The old lady looked at William approvingly. He was such a good grandson, and she was glad she hadn’t pampered him in vain!
"Wait."
Yvonne intervened and took the box. It became clear that no one there recognized its true value! A roadside stall item? No one realized it was a precious treasure!
With growing excitement, she opened the box. Almost immediately, Yvonne was stunned, and a shiver ran down her spine!
The Boundless Universe Fan?!
How could this be!
Yvonne bit her lip hard enough to draw blood!
It was well-known that the Qianlong Emperor had a strong passion for two things: seal engravement and poetry. He had created thousands of seals and written over 40,000 poems, though many were mediocre. However, one poem was widely remembered:
'One flake, two flakes, snowflakes three and four; five six, seven eight, nine flakes, ten and more; gliding into plum-flowers, snowflakes were seen no more.'
The first three lines of the poem were written by the Qianlong Emperor, while the fourth line was added by Ji Xiaolan.
Legend had it that the emperor was so pleased with the poem that he asked the best painter to create a fan with it. The Qianlong Emperor then inscribed the poem on the fan and added numerous seals.
The fan, known as the Boundless Universe Fan, was considered the best hand fan in the Qing Dynasty! It was kept in the Forbidden City until it was lost after the Qing Dynasty’s fall.
At that moment, Yvonne was seeing it with her own eyes!
Thrilled, Yvonne’s legs went weak. She instinctively reached for her cellphone to take a picture for her father. This fan was a supreme treasure for any collector!
"President Young, I’ll take care of this fan. Don’t dirty your hands," William said with a smile. "I know you’re an antique expert, so you must find it amusing that a fake like this would appear at our Lyndon home."
"A fake?" Yvonne raised an eyebrow.
Having been immersed in antiques from a young age, Yvonne’s judgment was always accurate. This item was authentic!
"You’ve made a mistake," Yvonne said softly. "This fan..."
"This fan belongs to me." Darryl suddenly stood up and walked to Yvonne to reclaim the fan.
Everyone knew it was Granny’s birthday, but how many knew it was also his birthday?
Darryl clenched his fists. Even if no one knew it was his birthday, why should he tolerate their insults? If they couldn’t recognize the value of his gift, he’d take it back!
"It’s yours?"
Yvonne looked at Darryl.
Wasn’t he the person who gave up his seat for her at the Oriental Pearl Hotel?
She had heard he was the live-in son-in-law of the Lyndon family, a nobody. How could this fan belong to him?
"Yes, President Young, this broken fan belongs to him!" William exclaimed. "Only someone like him would have the audacity to bring such a broken thing!"
"No matter how tattered my gift is, it’s still better than your fake night-shining pearl," Darryl shot back coldly. "Granny loves you so much, yet you have no shame in giving her that worthless pearl worth only a few thousand? Don’t appreciate my fan? Fine, I’ll take it back."
Darryl pocketed the fan as he spoke.
"Are you out of your mind?!" William suddenly exploded with anger. "Who are you accusing of giving a gift worth only a few thousand? Keep making such comparisons, and I’ll have someone take care of you."
"Enough," the old lady finally intervened. "This is supposed to be a joyful occasion. Stop arguing. I have something to say."
William spat in Darryl’s direction and returned to his seat.
As a distinguished guest, Yvonne was expected to sit at the front, but she chose to sit next to Darryl.
"Can I sit here, Auntie?" Yvonne asked Samantha.
"Yes, of course!" Samantha said with a smile. "Darryl, move aside for President Young!"
"No, no, Auntie, don’t misunderstand," Yvonne smiled slightly. "I meant, can I sit next to him?"
Yvonne pointed to Darryl as she made her request.
What?!
Yvonne’s voice was not loud, but everyone heard her clearly!
What was happening?! Why did the goddess want to sit next to a loser?
Other girls would avoid him, but she wanted to sit next to him?
Samantha was also stunned. Her first thought was that Darryl had somehow offended Yvonne earlier.
"President Young, Darryl is a fool. Don’t be upset with him," Samantha said. "Don’t take it personally."
"You misunderstood, Auntie." Yvonne’s lips curled up slightly. "I just want to chat with him."
Hearing this, everyone was even more shocked!
What could Yvonne possibly have in common with Darryl? He was so poor that he was repulsive! How could a goddess and a loser have anything to talk about?
Samantha hesitated but then nodded. She gave up her seat and moved to the back.
Lily looked to her side, feeling a slight discomfort in her heart. She had always thought Darryl was a loser who wouldn’t attract any girl. With Yvonne suddenly wanting to sit next to him, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Her intuition told her there must be a reason for Yvonne’s interest in sitting next to Darryl.
Now, three beautiful women were seated around Darryl: Yvonne, Lily, and Elsa.
Half of the men were watching him, shifting their gazes between the three women. All three had their own unique appeal.
"Hello... Excuse me..." Yvonne started to speak to Darryl but swallowed her words when she realized he didn’t even glance at her.
Yvonne felt a pang of annoyance. She had made an effort to talk to him, but he ignored her.
Chapter 19
As Yvonne was about to continue her conversation with Darryl, Grandmother Lyndon approached Lily with a wine glass in hand, drawing everyone's attention.
"Lilybud, I have a favor to ask," the old lady said.
"Of course, Granny," Lily replied.
Grandmother Lyndon continued, "Since it's my birthday, could you negotiate with Platinum Corporation for us? They might let us manage Giselle's styling, which would be very profitable. Will you do that?"
Lily hesitated, glancing at Darryl. She had previously worked hard to secure the deal with Platinum Corporation, but William had taken credit, leaving her frustrated. Darryl had advised her not to agree to Grandmother Lyndon’s request.
Seeing Darryl shake his head, Lily felt conflicted. Rejecting Grandmother Lyndon in front of everyone was daunting.
"Yes, Mom," Samantha suddenly interjected. "Let Lily handle it. She'll do her best!"
"Good!" Grandmother Lyndon said with a smile.
At that moment, Darryl stood up abruptly, saying, "Not a chance."
His words were harsh and drew everyone's attention. "Lily was the one who negotiated the contract, but her efforts were overshadowed by William. Now that Platinum Corporation is willing to acknowledge Lily, it's unfair to ask her to take on this task. If you want to continue with them, find someone else."
Grandmother Lyndon was furious. "What right do you have to decide for Lilybud?"
"I'm her husband," Darryl responded coldly, causing a stir among the guests.
Grandmother Lyndon laughed derisively. "Let's ask Lily if she recognizes you as her husband. If she does, I'll consider it. If not, you should leave."
The crowd turned to Lily, who was speechless and clearly distressed. Samantha stood up and slapped Darryl unexpectedly, her anger evident.
"Who do you think you are?" Samantha yelled. "You're just the Lyndon family’s live-in son-in-law. You've never even held Lilybud's hand! Get out of here!"
The crowd tried to stifle their laughter as they watched the confrontation.
Despite the humiliation, Darryl smiled slightly and addressed Samantha. "I've been married to Lily for three years and worked hard without complaints. If you don't appreciate that, fine. With this slap, we're even. If you want me to leave, I will."
Darryl walked toward the door, leaving everyone stunned.
William, not content, jumped up and shouted, "You’re not leaving without facing the consequences!" He called for reinforcements, and soon black vans arrived with over twenty strong men armed with baseball bats and steel pipes.
Darryl recognized the leader, Harry Crocker, and almost laughed. Harry was known for his ruthlessness.
As Harry approached, Lily, panicked, stood up and warned Darryl, "Get out of here!"
Chapter 20
It was Harry Crocker, for goodness' sake!
Although Lily didn’t know him personally, his name often came up in conversations with her friends!
It was said that Harry was a well-known figure in Donghai City, known for his youth, bravery, and especially his ruthlessness. Most importantly, Samson was behind him!
Samson owned Moonlit River Bar, the most luxurious bar in Donghai City.
Lily could see Harry’s fierce face as he held the machete. If he got to Darryl, Darryl would be at least half-crippled, if not dead.
“Hurry up and leave!” Lily was extremely anxious. She stood up and was about to go over and pull Darryl, but was stopped by those around her.
Lily couldn’t even understand her own feelings. While she did look down on Darryl, she felt uncomfortable seeing him about to be beaten up.
Those around her didn’t share her views.
They were more excited to see Darryl being beaten to a pulp!
Especially Ashton, who immediately grabbed Lily. “What are you doing with this loser, Lilybud? He doesn’t know his place but has the guts to provoke William. He deserves to be beaten up!”
Harry raised his machete and rushed into the villa!
“Rest assured, William.” Harry spat out the cigarette butt in his mouth and said, “I’m curious to see which fool grew the balls to threaten my bro!
That person is as good as dead today!”
William nodded heavily and walked arrogantly toward Darryl. He felt good because he had such a good reputation and could call on Harry!
In reality, he had only met Harry once by chance.
Once, William was on the road and got into a fight with another driver. They both agreed to take the fight somewhere and the driver had called Harry.
At that time, Harry nearly beat William to death. William was afraid of him, so he tried his best to befriend Harry.
He learned that Harry liked to gamble and often lost a lot of money. William therefore ‘lent’ Harry a sum of money each month. Though it was called a ‘loan’, Harry never paid it back.
William had no intention of asking him to pay it back either! It didn’t hurt to give Harry some cash every month, and he could call on Harry for help if needed.
No one dared to mess with William after he got to know Harry. Harry’s reputation was widespread throughout Donghai City, and no one among the younger generation dared to challenge it!
Harry was only ten meters away from Darryl when they exchanged glances.
Unfortunately, Harry was a short-sighted kid and didn’t recognize Darryl despite squinting his eyes! Still full of aggression, he raised his knife and rushed to Darryl’s side!
“Run! Run!” Lily shouted, but there were people all around her.
Lily closed her eyes, envisioning Darryl falling into a pool of blood!
However, she never expected Harry to stop dead in his tracks just as he was about to sink the knife into Darryl!
Darryl looked at him with a smile. Their distance was only about half a meter at that moment!
William suddenly felt anxious after seeing Harry frozen.
“Mister Harry, this is the idiot I was talking about!” William roared. “It’s him, Brother Harry! Make him kneel!”
William’s eyes were red with rage!
“You… Is this the guy you want me to beat up?” Harry finally reacted and asked William incredulously.
“Yes, it’s him!” William nodded his head repeatedly.
Everyone in the Lyndon family was giving their full attention, eager to see the drama unfold.
Grandmother Lyndon walked over and said, “William, don’t overdo it. Don’t injure him severely.”
“Don’t injure him severely?” William sneered. Darryl had slapped him in front of the entire family. If he didn’t avenge himself, how could he have the dignity to face the family in the future?!
“Okay. Don’t worry, Granny. I’ll just hit him and make him kneel,” William snickered with a smile.
It was then that Harry managed to get a clear glimpse of Darryl and was so shocked he nearly peed his pants!
Harry’s cold sweat began to trickle down. His godfather had to address Darryl as Second Young Master whenever they met!
“The person you want me to beat up?” Harry confirmed again, asking incredulously.
“Yes, it’s him!” William yelled. The sight of Harry’s inaction made William’s blood boil, prompting him to try punching Darryl immediately!
He was just about to deliver that punch when, in a surprising turn, he saw Harry roar strangely and grab him by his hair!
Slap!
Without warning, Harry slapped William hard in the face!
The slap was so strong that blood began dripping down William’s cheek.
William covered his cheek in bewilderment. “Mister Harry! What did I do wrong?!”
Aside from William, everyone else was equally dumbfounded!
What was going on? Harry was supposed to be on good terms with William, right?
“You little bastard, are you trying to get me killed?!” Harry’s anger grew. He slapped William a second time, knocking him onto the ground, and began kicking him.
“Mister Harry, what are you doing!” William cried in grief, rolling all over the ground in pain.
Nobody from the Lyndon family dared to stop him. Grandmother Lyndon could not bear it anymore and waved to several young men from the family.
The young men walked over timidly and worked up the courage to yell, “Get the f*ck away!”
Harry was very furious. He held a knife in his hand and pointed toward the men. “I’ll get rid of anyone who’s stopping me today!”
Those words left everyone dumbfounded. No one would dare to fight Harry!
“Hit him. I’ll take responsibility if something goes wrong!” Harry shouted to his goons behind him. A group of people then surrounded William and began kicking him.
“Mister Darryl…” At that moment, Harry forced a flattering smile and walked humbly to Darryl. “Don’t worry, Mister Darryl. This bastard had the guts to go against you, right? I’ll kill him today!”
What?!
Everyone’s mind went blank after hearing that!
What in the name of God was going on? Why would Harry be so respectful to Darryl?! The respect he showed was like a son addressing his father!
How could it be possible that a loser like him would be so formidable!
Lily was stupefied as well. Her initial feeling of anxiety had turned into shock! Complete, utter shock!
“Mister Darryl, I really didn’t know it was you; otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to come even if I was beaten to death.” Seeing that Darryl did not say anything, Harry’s complexion was pale with fright. Harry continued, “Mister Darryl, I’m begging you. Please don’t get angry. I’m begging you. I really didn’t know it was you…”
“Alright, alright.” Darryl waved his hand impatiently. He felt uneasy at first, but after hearing Harry’s blabbing, he found it annoying and turned to leave.
It was over…
Harry’s heart dropped. Was Darryl not angry with him?
“Beat him to death!” Harry ordered angrily.
The Lyndon family exchanged glances with each other, and no one dared to stop them. After beating William to the verge of meeting his maker, they finally stopped.
William’s nose and face were swollen. He was crying. “Brother Harry, why on earth did you hit…”
Harry’s arms were akimbo, and he kicked William irritably once more. “Why did I hit you? Don’t you f*cking know how great Mister Darryl is?!”
“How great could he be? He’s the live-in son-in-law of our Lyndon family!” William felt distressed considering how the person he had asked for help had beat him to a pulp instead! That aside, the truth was still up in the air!
“Live-in son-in-law?” Harry sneered. He was just about to mention that Darryl was the Darby family’s second young master when he remembered his godfather mentioned before that Darryl had already left the Darby family.
Therefore, he did not have any exact knowledge of Darryl’s current status!
Harry rolled his eyes and said to William, “In any case, you better f*cking remember this: if you ever dare to act like you’re all that in front of Mister Darryl again, I’ll kill you.”
“Let’s go!” Harry waved his hand and left rowdily with his group of people.
“William, are you okay?!”
It was not until then that everyone dared to go over and surround William.
William felt miserable!
The entire incident was such a shame!
“Granny, Wayne’s here! The boss of Oriental Pearl!”
A voice announced, causing everyone to look at the door.
Five Rolls-Royce cars were parked there, and out came a middle-aged man from the front passenger seat of the first car. He walked with the help of a walking stick and was dressed in a tunic suit.
It was Wayne!
“The Lyndon family’s old lady is so famed that she even invited Mister Wayne here.”
“Yeah…”
A group of guests chatted among themselves. After all, Wayne was an important figure in Donghai City. He was worth billions and had never attended anyone’s birthday party before! It was downright surprising that he would be invited by the old lady that day!
“President Woodall!”
Grandmother Lyndon was similarly confused. She had no idea what was going on and why Wayne was there as she had not invited him.
“Excuse me, Madam Lyndon, is Mister Darby here?” Wayne asked with a smile.
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