Chapter 21
"May I ask if Mr. Darby is present?" Wayne repeated his question, noticing that no one had responded.
Still, everyone shook their heads.
It was well known that the man at the door was Wayne Woodall. But the 'Mr. Darby' he referred to—could it really be Darryl, that worthless individual?
Wayne also seemed puzzled. It couldn't be a mistake; he had conducted a thorough inquiry. The second young master was supposed to be at the Lyndon residence today. It was the young master’s birthday, and Wayne had come personally to deliver a gift. Moreover, upon arriving at the Lyndon residence, he saw that someone was indeed celebrating their birthday.
Wayne swallowed nervously and handed over the box he carried. "Since Mr. Darby isn’t here, I’ll take my leave. This is a birthday gift; I’ll leave it here."
Wayne then departed with his entourage.
As soon as he left, the crowd couldn’t wait any longer and gathered around the birthday gift he had left behind.
Grandmother Lyndon gestured for the box to be opened.
After all, Wayne Woodall was a prominent figure in Donghai City. Everyone had seen his imposing presence, accompanied by more than ten men and several Rolls-Royces. He had come specifically to present a birthday gift to Grandmother Lyndon! The old lady’s reputation was surely impressive!
Many of the guests were filled with envy.
Who in Donghai City wouldn’t want to have a good relationship with Wayne? He was the owner of the Oriental Pearl Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Donghai City. Prestigious families always held their annual gatherings and events at the Oriental Pearl. The hotel had a sterling reputation, and it was many people’s wish to be friends with Wayne.
However, Wayne was known for his eccentric personality. He rarely made friends and almost never attended birthday celebrations!
Grandmother Lyndon’s connections were truly remarkable!
Although Grandmother Lyndon was confused, she kept a smile on her face.
Why would Wayne give her a birthday gift? She had no connection to him. Still, she was the only one celebrating a birthday here—if the gift wasn’t for her, then who else could it be for?
At Grandmother’s instruction, Stefan opened the box. Immediately, there was a stunned silence as everyone held their breath!
Inside was a night-shining pearl, the size of a fist! But this pearl looked different from the one William had gifted earlier.
Stefan, always reliable, took out the night-shining pearl that William had given and placed it next to Wayne’s. The difference became apparent!
The curtains were opened, and sunlight flooded in. Under the daylight, William’s pearl looked like an ordinary glass ball, without any radiance.
However, Wayne’s night-shining pearl glowed brightly, almost like a mini sun, even in the daytime!
Everyone was speechless, staring wide-eyed at the pearls.
"Quick, close the curtains and turn off the lights!" Stefan commanded.
When the room was completely dark, the crowd gasped in astonishment!
At that moment, the glaring difference between the two pearls became undeniable. Wayne’s pearl illuminated the entire room as if it were broad daylight!
Someone couldn’t help but gulp loudly, and instantly, the room was filled with excitement!
"What’s going on? Two pearls of the same size, but how could they be so different?"
"A moment ago, Darryl said William’s pearl was fake, but no one believed him..."
"It seems like it really was a fake..."
Grandmother Lyndon’s expression soured as whispers filled the room. She glanced at William with disappointment, having held high expectations for him. William was, after all, her favorite grandchild! It was shocking that he would present her with a fake gift!
William, feeling anxious, tried to slip away quietly.
However, just then, another voice made an announcement!
"Grandmother, Felix Blakely, the president of Black Tiger Real Estate, has arrived!"
Immediately, the house became lively again! Felix had come as well? He was one of the top developers in Donghai City!
As property values in Donghai City continued to rise, Felix’s wealth had increased significantly. He had developed several high-end properties, and many wealthy individuals resided in his estates.
What kind of connections did Grandmother have?
Did she even know Felix Blakely?
Grandmother Lyndon stood there in shock. She had at least met Wayne before—during an incident at the Oriental Pearl Hotel when William had run up a 30 million dollar bill on expensive wine. It made sense that Wayne would come by to give her a gift.
But she had never met Felix!
The sound of engines rumbled outside as a fleet of black Lincoln limousines arrived. Felix, wearing a suit, strode towards the villa, surrounded by men dressed in black.
"Is Mr. Darby here?"
His voice boomed through the hall.
What?!
Everyone trembled in shock.
Who was Mr. Darby?
"Is there anyone by the name of Darby here?" Grandmother Lyndon could no longer hold back and slammed her hand on the table. "If there is a Mr. Darby present, please step forward. I apologize for the poor hospitality. I would personally offer you a drink!"
At her words, the thousand or so guests looked at each other in confusion. They truly didn’t know anyone by that name!
Just then, Stefan joked, "Only Darryl’s surname is Darby... Could it be him?"
"Hahaha!"
The entire room erupted in laughter. At first, everyone was confused, but after hearing Stefan’s remark, they were thoroughly amused.
Chapter 22
A few of the women began speculating. Some said that Mister Darby was a middle-aged man with a bit of stubble.
Others said Mister Darby was tall and handsome. Every possibility was imagined.
Finally, Grandmother Lyndon waved her hand, stopping the chatter.
At that moment, Felix entered with a few men, glancing around, but there was no sign of Darryl.
"I’ll leave the birthday gift here, then. I’ll be on my way," Felix said with a slight bow.
Grandmother Lyndon felt uneasy, nodding quickly and even returning a bow as a gesture of respect.
After Felix left, his gift was opened, and this time the shock was even greater!
It was a property deed!
"Here’s to many more birthdays and much success. For your esteemed birthday, I present you a special gift: Southernwood Villa, No. A88."
Complete silence! The entire hall was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard!
A villa as a birthday present?
And it wasn’t just any villa—it was Southernwood Villa! Located in one of Donghai City’s top villa communities!
Among the villas in Southernwood, three were the most expensive: A66, A88, and A99. Each of these villas was worth at least ten million dollars!
Villa A88 was the most expensive of them all. It sat in the center of the community, with a private swimming pool, backyard, mini zoo, and even a mini aquarium!
Felix had gifted this villa for Grandmother Lyndon’s birthday! This was incredible.
The only person who didn’t look surprised was Lily.
Although Lily harbored resentment towards Darryl, ever since he had left, she couldn’t help but think about him.
Lily took out her phone and sent Darryl a message.
[Lily: Where are you?]
Darryl replied shortly after.
[Darryl: At home, packing up. Leaving tonight.]
When Lily read his reply, she felt an uneasy sensation in her heart.
Darryl was worthless, and she should feel better knowing he was leaving.
But Lily bit her lip and, strangely enough, responded.
[Lily: Wait for me, I’m coming back now.]
Maybe she wanted to see him one last time?
After all, they had been married for three years. Even if it were a dog, she would have developed some feelings, let alone with a person.
"Mom, I’m going out for a while," Lily said softly as she left the villa.
Everyone was still stunned by Wayne and Felix’s gifts and didn’t notice that Lily had left.
Only Ashton followed her out quickly.
Lily drove to the main entrance and had just gotten out of her car when she saw Ashton running towards her.
"Lilybud, why did you leave so suddenly?" Ashton asked. "Granny’s going to agree to our wedding after the banquet. Let’s go back quickly."
"You go ahead," Lily said, hurrying towards the residential area.
"Lilybud!" Ashton shouted, grabbing her wrist. He had seen the message Lily had sent to Darryl.
"Are you going to see that trash?" Ashton said, taking a deep breath, his eyes reddening. "What good is he? If he wants to leave, let him leave! Why do you need to see him? Come back with me!"
Ashton was nervous. He knew very well that the scroll he had given, Wang Xizhi’s Ping’an Tie, was a high-quality replica. After the banquet, Grandmother Lyndon would likely have an expert examine it, and when that happened, the truth would be exposed.
With nothing left to lose, Ashton was desperate to sleep with this goddess just once! If Grandmother Lyndon agreed to the marriage, he could bring Lily to his house without any surveillance cameras. He already had a plan for that moment—he would slip something into her drink.
With that thought, Ashton touched his pocket, where he kept a packet of sedative powder. The powder would dissolve instantly in water, and just one sip would make someone feel weak.
"Stop pulling me," Lily said softly. "Ashton, I know you care about me, but I need to see him one last time."
"No!" Ashton exclaimed. "Let’s go back and see if Granny agrees to our marriage."
As they argued, a Land Rover pulled up beside them, and Samantha stepped out in her high heels.
"Ashton, Lilybud, what are you doing here?" Samantha asked in a hurry. "Come back quickly; Granny is about to announce your marriage."
"I want to see Darryl one last time. I’m not going back, no matter what you say!" Lily replied, biting her lip.
Ashton’s gaze shifted between Samantha and Lily, and a wicked gleam appeared in his eyes.
"Auntie, let me get you something to drink," Ashton offered.
He went to a milk tea shop and bought two cups of milk tea, secretly adding the sedative powder to both cups.
Samantha was pulling Lily back when Ashton returned with the drinks, smiling as he handed them over.
The weather was hot, and both women drank the tea. Samantha laughed, saying, "Lilybud, go back and wait for Granny’s announcement about your marriage. Look at how thoughtful Ashton is, getting us milk tea in this heat."
But as she finished speaking, Samantha felt her body grow weak, struggling to keep her balance.
Lily felt the same, her hands trembling as she dropped her cup of milk tea.
Chapter 23
30 minutes later, at Ashton’s house.
“Help! Someone help!” Samantha screamed in despair.
Never in her wildest dreams did Samantha think that the man she had seen as a future son-in-law would do something like this!
Samantha and Lily were both tied up.
“Quiet,” Ashton said, putting his finger to his lips. “Stop shouting. No one can hear you, even if you scream until your voice gives out. The walls of my house are three times thicker than normal. Save your energy.” Ashton smiled as he spoke.
Samantha clenched her fists tightly, her eyes red with tears. “Ashton, don’t be reckless. You’re a talented young man with a bright future. Don’t throw it away!”
“Shut up!” Ashton stormed towards Samantha, grabbing her by the hair. “Ruin my future? Let me tell you the truth—my future is already destroyed! I worked hard for 10 years, and just as I achieved something, the Darby family kicked me out of the company!”
“What? What did you say?” Lily was shocked. “They kicked you out of the company? Didn’t you say you sold it to buy me The Worship of Crystal?”
“Hahaha!” Ashton laughed as he slowly got up from the bed. “You believed that nonsense? I have 30 million bucks, and you think I’d spend it all just to buy you a pair of shoes? You must be out of your mind!
Ashton clenched his fists. “Sure, you’re beautiful and sexy, but don’t think too highly of yourself! Honestly, I didn’t even buy those shoes for you! I thought you were a classy goddess, but you’re just another filthy woman! If not, why don’t you know who gave you the shoes?”
“Ashton Adagio, you bastard!”
Lily was furious. She wanted to stand up and slap Ashton across the face, but she was tied up and couldn’t move. All she could do was bite her lip so hard it nearly bled.
Ashton took out a cigarette and lit it, taking a puff. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of both of you very soon.”
“Ashton, you’re a good person. Why are you acting so impulsively?” Samantha asked, staring at him in disbelief.
“Why?” Ashton responded, his face full of self-pity. “Because I have nothing left! The Darby family kicked me out and withdrew all their support! Do you know why they did this to me?”
Ashton laughed bitterly. “I asked them, and they said I offended someone, but I still don’t know who! I’ve given up—I can’t come back from this. Lily, I’ve liked you for so many years, and today, I’m finally going to fulfill my wish!”
Lily and Samantha exchanged desperate glances.
But just then, there was a sudden knock on the door!
Ashton flinched in fear. He pointed at Samantha and Lily, warning them, “If either of you makes a sound, I swear it’ll be the end of you.”
Then Ashton called out, “Who is it?”
“Hello, sir, the candles you ordered have arrived,” said a voice from the other side of the door.
Ashton sighed in relief. It was just the delivery person. He had ordered candles, planning to have a candlelight dinner with Lily after Grandmother Lyndon approved their marriage, but now that seemed pointless.
“Leave them at the door,” Ashton instructed.
“I’m sorry, sir, I need a signature for the delivery.”
“So troublesome,” Ashton muttered as he went to open the door.
In that moment, Samantha quickly glanced at Lily.
“Quick, think of something.”
Lily understood Samantha’s message. The drug’s effects were wearing off, but her body was still weak. With some effort, she managed to pull out her phone, trying to send Darryl a message.
“Are you crazy?” Samantha whispered angrily. “Call the police! Why are you trying to contact that useless trash? Call the police!”
Samantha’s eyes were red with frustration. Even if that trash Darryl came, what could he do? She couldn’t believe that, at this moment, Lily was still thinking about him!
Realizing the sense in what Samantha said, Lily called the police instead.
The call connected, but Lily didn’t speak. Instead, she tapped frantically on her phone before quickly hanging up.
If Ashton found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The police in Donghai City were professional and alert. They’d surely realize that someone was in danger.
After Ashton signed for the delivery, he set the candles on the table and walked back towards the bed.
Ashton couldn’t hold back any longer as he looked at the two beautiful women...
Meanwhile, at the Lyndon family villa...
Chapter 24
"Granny, Poesia Eleganza’s president, Emily Dickinson, is here."
Wow!
The entire villa was in shock.
If Wayne and Felix had a great reputation in Donghai City, Emily’s would have been even better!
Right now, Poesia Eleganza was at the peak of its success! Among national cosmetic brands, their products were highly praised, leading in sales and market share. Their newly released Crown line was almost impossible to get!
Grandmother Lyndon knew President Dickinson too!?
Everyone stared at the door, stunned.
Emily walked in, dressed in a business suit and high heels, followed by five or six burly men.
Many men in the room were amazed. Emily had a powerful and captivating aura. Even though she was a woman, her presence was strong enough to outshine all the men around her!
“Excuse me, is Mister Darby here?”
Emily asked softly as she entered, placing her gift beside her feet. It wasn’t in a box—it was a grandfather clock made entirely of gold! The amount of gold needed for it left everyone speechless!
But the most confusing part was that Emily, like the others before her, asked for Mister Darby!
Who exactly was Mister Darby?
Grandmother Lyndon was overwhelmed—this was Emily Dickinson!
The women in the crowd couldn’t contain their excitement, so they surrounded Emily.
“President Dickinson, does your company still have any stock left for the Crown line? I want to buy some!”
“Yes, I’m willing to pay double the price!”
“I’ll pay five times the price! Please sell us a few!”
Women across the country were desperate to get their hands on the Crown line cosmetics. Was there any woman who didn’t want it?
Emily smiled, glancing around but not seeing Darryl. She felt a little disappointed.
But she had already confirmed that Darryl was at the Lyndon residence. His relationship with the Lyndons must be good, right?
With that thought, Emily said, “Of course, a friend of Mister Darby’s is a friend of mine. Our Crown line is sold out, but since I’m grateful to Mister Darby for turning my life around, I can spare a few sets.”
“For real? I’m not dreaming, am I? I’m going to get the Crown line!”
The women were thrilled, unaware that the Mister Darby they always looked down on was the one they were now desperate to find.
“Ladies,” Emily said, waving her hand, “just tell Mister Darby how many sets you need, and he’ll let me know. I’ll be heading out now. I’ll leave the birthday gift here.”
With that, Emily left.
“President Dickinson, who is Mister Darby?” some of the women asked, but Emily was already gone. Without finding Mister Darby, they wouldn’t be able to get the Crown line. The women anxiously discussed among themselves.
“Granny’s connections are truly impressive!”
At that moment, the patriarch of the White family, Claude, couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Granny, our family has an interesting project, and we’re looking for partners. How about our clans work together?”
Claude, the talented patriarch of the White clan, had been stunned this whole time! Grandmother Lyndon knew Wayne and Felix, and these people treated her with great respect, even gifting her birthday presents worth millions!
Seeing her connections, nothing could be better than a partnership with her clan!
“Mister White, please wait a moment,” said a middle-aged man stepping forward. He was Gailen Godfrey, president of La Fortuna.
“We at La Fortuna have an interesting project as well,” Gailen said with a broad smile.
Even an idiot could see that many people in the room now wanted to cooperate with the Lyndon clan.
Chapter 25
Sure enough, after Gailen finished speaking, several others also expressed their desire to seek cooperation.
The Lyndon children were all smiles, as this good fortune came so quickly!
Suddenly, Wentworth stood up.
"Wentworth, what is it?" Grandmother Lyndon asked curiously.
She used to favor Wentworth, but ever since Lily married Darryl, she wasn’t as fond of him.
Wentworth waved his hand and said, "Mom, as you know, I’ve been overseas for a while. I came back not only to celebrate your birthday but to bring good news. It’s a great money-making project."
“Oh?” Granny replied, raising her eyebrows. "Do tell."
Indeed, members of the Lyndon clan had heard that Wentworth made a lot of money overseas. When he came back, he casually gave Samantha and Lily two large checks, making many people envious.
Wentworth laughed. "Mom, I made a friend overseas, his name is Tony. He’s a financier. All we have to do is invest money, and it will double in a month!"
What?
Everyone scoffed. Could it really be that simple? Double the money in a month?
Wentworth pulled out his phone to show his transaction records. "Come, see for yourselves."
The crowd quickly gathered around. Sure enough, the records showed that for the past six months, Wentworth had invested 10 million each month and received 20 million in return every month.
"Mom," Wentworth explained, "I came back for three reasons: to celebrate your birthday, to ensure Lily divorces Darryl since I know you dislike him, and to share this opportunity. I swear on my life that Tony is reliable!"
“Swear on your life?”
“Sounds interesting, it does seem reliable.”
The Lyndons murmured among themselves. Wentworth had always been trustworthy, a top student in school, and an honest man. Plus, his phone clearly showed he was making huge profits every month.
Grandmother Lyndon furrowed her brows and finally said, “Wentworth, if what you’re saying is true, we can give it a try. But in recent years, our family businesses haven’t been doing well. We only have around 300 to 400 million in funds. How about we start with 50 million?”
“Mom, if we’re going to bet, let’s go big!” Wentworth took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Tony might retire soon. Let’s invest all 400 million! In a month, we’ll get 800 million, and we won’t need to do it again. What do you think?"
The family exchanged glances. Some were tempted, others skeptical.
“Granny, we can’t do this,” Elsa said, standing up after some thought.
“There’s no such thing as easy money!” Elsa stomped her foot in frustration. "This is a scam, we shouldn’t do it!"
Smack!
Wentworth slammed the table, glaring at Elsa. "What are you implying, Elsa? Do you think I came back to scam the family? How could you think so poorly of me?"
"It’s not about thinking badly of you. But if money came so easily, why would anyone still need to work?"
"You...!" Wentworth was about to speak, but Grandmother Lyndon cut him off.
“Enough, we’re family, no need to argue,” she said irritably before turning to William. "William, what do you think?"
Despite his recent mistakes, William was still her favorite, and she valued his opinion on important matters.
No one noticed William quietly smirking to himself.
Double the money in a month? This was clearly a scam! Granny was old and couldn’t see it.
Although William was a bit stubborn, he was sharp enough to recognize this for what it was. Normally, he would have warned her, but his heart was filled with hatred for Darryl.
Wentworth was Darryl’s father-in-law, and William didn’t like him.
"Granny, I think we can give it a try," William said.
William had already made up his mind. The money would be lost, and Wentworth’s reputation would be ruined. Eventually, his entire family would be banished from the clan, and only then would William feel satisfied!
“William, are you crazy?” Elsa shouted angrily. "You’re advising Granny to invest?"
Before William could respond, Grandmother Lyndon waved her hand and stood up. "Enough, no more arguing. I’ve decided—we’ll invest all of our funds."
Chapter 26
Woah!
The whole crowd erupted, but Grandmother Lyndon’s decision was final, and no one dared to oppose it.
After all, she favored William, and just a word from him was enough to make her decide.
With the help of the family’s financial director, Wentworth eagerly transferred the Lyndon clan’s 400 million into his account.
---------------------------------------------------
Donghai City Grandioso Community:
Several police cars were parked at the entrance of the community, and dozens of police officers rushed down, surrounding Ashton’s house!
It was a single-story house, now completely surrounded by the police.
Surprisingly, a policewoman led the team. Her loose police uniform couldn’t hide her stunning figure.
"Madam Castello, what should we do next?" asked a young officer, walking up to her.
Megan Castello glanced around. They had received an emergency call not long ago, with frantic tapping on the screen. It was clear that this was a kidnapping case. After checking the phone number, they found it belonged to Lily Lyndon, owner of Neptunus Corporation.
As captain of the criminal investigation team, Megan was personally leading the operation.
"Set up a cordon and bring me a loudspeaker," Megan ordered. "Also, investigate this Lily Lyndon. Find out if she has any family members and call them over quickly."
"Yes, Madam Castello," the officer nodded, handing over the loudspeaker.
Inside the house, Ashton was fumbling with a video recorder. He planned to film everything, thinking he could use the footage to threaten Lily and Samantha if things got heated.
However, the device wasn’t working properly, and by the time he figured it out, he heard a woman’s voice from outside the window.
"Listen carefully, people inside! Release the hostages, let’s settle this peacefully!"
Ashton was startled. He crawled to the door and peeked outside, his heart racing.
Dozens of police officers surrounded the house. There was no way out.
"You idiots!" Ashton cursed, glaring at Lily and Samantha. He should have taken their phones!
But it was too late now. He grabbed a dagger and held it to Lily’s neck.
"Just wait! If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me!"
Ashton yelled as he moved toward the window. "Everyone, back off! Leave now, or I’ll do it! Leave!"
Outside, a police officer rushed over to Megan.
"Madam Castello, the suspect inside seems agitated, and he’s holding the hostages. What should we do?" The officer was sweating as he reported.
Megan was also on edge. There were too many trees around, making it hard for snipers to get a clear shot.
Suddenly, a voice broke the tension.
"Ashton, let them go. I’ll come in and be your hostage."
Everyone turned to see where the voice came from.
An electric bike rolled up slowly, and Darryl stopped in front of the house.
"No, you can’t!" Megan hurried over. "Are you a family member? It’s too dangerous inside, you can’t go in!"
"Ashton, do you hear me?"
Darryl ignored Megan and continued. "What kind of man are you, kidnapping two women?"
Inside, Lily felt a warm sensation in her heart, her eyes slightly red as she watched Darryl on his electric bike. She wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but she shouted, "Darryl, don’t be foolish! Leave now!"
"Lily, what are you talking about?!" Samantha yelled angrily. "If that loser wants to be the hostage, let him! Then we can leave!"
Chapter 27
The crowd erupted in commotion, but Grandmother Lyndon had made her decision, and no one dared to oppose it. After all, she trusted William, and just a word from him was enough to sway her.
With the help of the family's financial director, Wentworth excitedly transferred the entire Lyndon family's fund of 400 million into his account.
At Donghai City’s Grandioso Community, several police cars were stationed at the entrance. Dozens of officers rushed in, surrounding Ashton’s house. It was a single-story building, now completely encircled by the police.
A policewoman led the operation, her loose uniform unable to hide her striking figure.
"Madam Castello, what's our next move?" asked a junior officer.
Megan Castello scanned the area. They had received an emergency call, with the caller repeatedly tapping on the phone screen—a sign of distress, likely a kidnapping. She checked the caller’s number and found that it belonged to Lily Lyndon, the owner of Neptunus Corporation.
Megan, as the head of the criminal investigation team, had to take the lead in such cases.
"Set up the perimeter and bring the loudspeaker," Megan ordered. "Also, investigate Lily Lyndon’s family. Bring them here immediately."
"Yes, Madam Castello," the officer nodded and handed her the loudspeaker.
Inside the house, Ashton fumbled with a video recorder. His plan was to record the events and use the footage to threaten Lily and Samantha if they resisted. But the device, given to him by someone, was difficult to operate. By the time he finally got it working, a woman's voice came from outside.
"Everyone inside, listen carefully. Let the hostages go, and we’ll settle this peacefully," Megan’s voice echoed from outside.
Ashton froze in panic. He crawled to the door and peeked outside. The sight made his heart race: dozens of policemen surrounded the house. There was no escape.
"You fools!" Ashton cursed at Lily and Samantha. He regretted not taking their phones. But it was too late. Holding a dagger against Lily’s neck, he shouted toward the window, "I’ll take you all down if I die today! Leave, or I’ll do it!"
Outside, a police officer ran over to Megan. "Madam, the suspect is agitated and holding the hostages. What should we do?"
Megan was also concerned. The trees obstructed the snipers, making it difficult to aim. Meanwhile, a crowd of onlookers was gathering. Suddenly, a voice called out.
"Ashton, let them go. I'll take their place as your hostage."
Everyone was stunned and turned to see a man approaching on an electric bike. It was Darryl. He stopped in front of the house and addressed Ashton.
"No, Darryl, don’t be reckless! Leave!" Lily cried out from inside the house, her eyes red with emotion.
Samantha, however, had a different reaction. "That worthless fool is volunteering to be a hostage? Why are you stopping him? Let him in so we can leave!"
Chapter 28
Two policemen were blocking Darryl from entering the house. Darryl turned his head and shouted, "Captain Castello, I am Lily's husband, and I am here to take her place as a hostage. Please let me in!"
Megan, unable to intervene since Darryl had volunteered, felt helpless. Granny quickly stood up and said, "Captain, did you hear him? Darryl volunteered himself. Let him take her place as a hostage immediately!"
Megan, feeling powerless, nodded at Darryl. "Let them go," Darryl said coldly.
Inside the room, Ashton clenched his fists tightly as he saw Darryl enter. He untied Samantha and Lily, freeing them, and immediately grabbed Darryl.
"Both of you, leave now," Darryl ordered, looking at Lily. Lily's eyes filled with tears. This man was willing to be a hostage in her place!
"Let's go quickly!" Samantha urged. She pulled Lily and left the room without looking back.
Outside the house, the police and the Lyndon clan surrounded Lily and Samantha as they exited. Wentworth burst into tears.
"Lilybud, Sam, are you alright?" he asked, his hands shaking as he held his wife and daughter. He had always been focused on business and had never faced a situation like this before. Just moments ago, he was terrified, but now he felt relieved seeing his family safe.
"Dad, I'm alright. But Darryl, he..." Lily said, turning to look at the house. Ashton was holding Darryl hostage with a sharp dagger pressed against his neck. Despite this, Darryl's face showed no fear; instead, he smiled at Lily.
"Daughter, why do you care about him?!" Samantha demanded angrily. "His life or death doesn't concern us! He's just a live-in son-in-law. You've been married for three years and never even held hands. Why are you worried about his safety?"
"Indeed. Why do you have to make us worry?" Grandmother Lyndon said as she walked over. "Let's go home quickly."
"Yes, let's go now," Wentworth agreed, grabbing Lily's hand and starting to walk away.
"No, I will not leave. Darryl is still in there!" Lily insisted. However, no one seemed to hear her. She was being pulled away by several people and was soon out of the residential community.
"Captain Castello, is there anything else concerning us? If not, we’ll leave now," Grandmother Lyndon asked as she and two subordinates approached Megan.
Megan glanced at her and replied, "Darryl is still in there. Are you not his family?"
"No," Granny responded decisively, then turned and walked away.
Inside the house, Darryl remained expressionless as he saw the Lyndons leave.
"Tsk tsk tsk! Darryl, is this all you're worth?" Ashton laughed loudly.
"It doesn’t matter how much I’m worth. I know I’m legally married to Lily. But you—why are you so miserable?" Darryl chuckled. "Let me ask you, did the Darby clan suddenly cut off your financial support and lock you out of the company?"
"How did you know about this?!" Ashton shouted. Few people knew, even Lily and Samantha weren’t aware until he told them. How did this piece of trash, Darryl, find out?
"Did the Darby clan also tell you that you messed with someone you shouldn’t have?" Darryl continued.
"How the hell did you know?!" Ashton screamed, losing his composure.
Outside the door, a police officer ran to Megan’s side.
"Madam Castello, it seems Darryl is provoking the criminal further. He’s agitating him," the officer reported.
"That man!" Megan exclaimed anxiously. "He’s causing us trouble! Agitating the criminal like that—does he want to die?"
"Madam Castello!" The police officer reported again, his face in disbelief. After a moment, he slowly said, "Madam Castello, look... it seems the criminal is kneeling in front of Darryl."
Chapter 29
What?
Megan looked through the windows into the house. Indeed, Ashton had placed the dagger on the floor and was kneeling in front of Darryl!
What was happening? Megan found it unbelievable! It was the first time she had seen a criminal kneeling for a hostage!
The policemen surrounding the house were also stunned and didn’t know what to say. They had expected to negotiate for a long time. No one had anticipated that Darryl would say just a few sentences and make the criminal kneel and beg for forgiveness!
Inside the room, Darryl smiled at Ashton. He had just revealed his true identity to Ashton. At first, Ashton didn’t believe Darryl's words. However, when Darryl showed him his bank card’s balance, Ashton completely lost his composure!
It turned out that Darryl was the person Ashton shouldn’t have messed with. No wonder Lily had received the Worship of Crystal—it was from Darryl, the Darby clan's second young master! This man, whom everyone despised, was actually the Darby clan's second young master!
"Second young master, I beg you, I was blinded before," Ashton pleaded, his eyes red. "Please forgive me. I promise I will never bother your wife again. I swear to God..."
Darryl looked down at him with a smile. "Ashton, I can forgive you. As long as you acknowledge your fault, I can speak with my clan to forgive you this once. However, the problem now is that you’ve committed unforgivable acts. Look outside the window; they’re all waiting to arrest you."
"No worries, Mister Darryl. My crimes aren’t major now because I stopped in time!" Ashton cried out.
"Fine, go and plead guilty then," Darryl said, waving his hand. "I’ll let you go as long as you don’t hold any grudge against me when you’re out of jail."
"Thank you, Mister Darryl, thank you!" Ashton kneeled and kowtowed repeatedly. As long as he could get his life back to normal, he was willing to lose ten years of his life!
Darryl didn’t respond and quickly left the room. The policemen rushed in as soon as he walked out.
Megan was the only one who approached Darryl. After many years in the police force, it was the first time she had seen someone like him.
"Captain Castello, is there a problem?" Darryl asked.
Megan, undeniably beautiful despite her police uniform, had a curvy figure that was hard to miss.
"Would it be convenient for you to come to the police station to file a record?" Megan asked.
"I'm sorry, I have something to do now," Darryl replied with a laugh. Right now, he just wanted to return to his company. He had already decided to leave the Lyndon clan behind and buy a house nearby to manage his company properly.
As Darryl was about to leave, two Rolls-Royces drove up and stopped in front of him. A middle-aged man emerged from the car, escorted by several people, and walked toward Darryl.
"Second young... Mister Darby," Samson said, bowing as he greeted Darryl. He had almost addressed him as "second young master" but recalled that Darryl disliked that title.
"Samson Facey?" Megan murmured to herself.
In Donghai City, Samson was well-known as the boss of Moonlit River Bar. As the captain of the police force, Megan often dealt with criminal cases, and Moonlit River was notorious for its daily fights, so she was familiar with Samson.
But Samson’s net worth was several billion! Yet, he was bowing to Darryl? What was going on?
Megan couldn’t help but look twice. Darryl was standing in front of her dressed in bargain clothes and had arrived on an electric bike! What kind of influence did he have to make Samson bow respectfully?
"Mister Darby," Samson said again, wiping sweat from his forehead. He had just remembered that it was Darryl's birthday today! He had initially remembered but then got busy and forgot.
"Samson, what is it?" Darryl asked as he got on his electric bike.
"Mister Darby, I forgot it’s your birthday today. I’m sorry I arrived late," Samson said apologetically. He took a wooden box from the car, bowed toward Darryl while handing it to him, and said, "Mister Darby, a little gift..."
"Fine, I’ll accept it. I still have some business to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now," Darryl said as he took the box. He didn’t want to waste time, knowing Samson wouldn’t give up if he didn’t accept it.
Darryl placed the box in his pocket and rode away on his electric bike.
"Mister..." Samson started to say more, but Darryl had already ridden far away. He could only shake his head and leave in the car.
Three days later, at the Lyndon clan's villa.
It was a great day as Lily had finally agreed to negotiate with Platinum Corporation. As expected, Platinum Corporation agreed to let the Lyndons style Giselle's image.
Therefore, everyone gathered to discuss how to style Giselle's image.
"Granny, I think we should first let Giselle compete in Superstar. This variety show is very popular right now," suggested William.
"Granny, we could also boost her fame as an Internet celebrity," suggested a woman.
Chapter 30
Everyone shared their opinions. Only Lily seemed absent-minded, wondering why Platinum Corporation was interested in her specifically when she hadn’t even met the company’s president. She was also puzzled about who had given her the Worship of Crystal.
Lily had many questions, but she tried to push them aside, focusing instead on Darryl’s willingness to become a hostage in her place. It had been three days since she last saw Darryl, and she worried about how he was managing.
Lily felt uneasy. She forced herself not to think about him, but her mind kept returning to him.
"Lilybud, what do you think?" Grandmother Lyndon asked.
"Lilybud?"
"I'm here, I'm here," Lily said, lifting her head to find everyone looking at her.
"Lilybud, why are you so absent-minded?" Granny asked. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Granny," Lily said with a forced smile, shaking her head as she tried to push thoughts of Darryl out of her mind.
At Platinum Corporation, Darryl held a folder. He had thoroughly analyzed the company over the past three days. Previously managed by his aunt-in-law, the business had struggled due to poor management. Last year's gross profit was only 100 million bucks, which was extremely low for a company like Platinum Corporation. It should have had at least two billion bucks, even as a conservative estimate.
As the new president, Darryl needed to address this issue. The solution was simple: style Giselle and promote her. Giselle had great looks, an impressive figure, and decent singing skills. With proper marketing, she could become famous.
Although Darryl no longer lived with the Lyndons, he still had some feelings for Lily. He had assigned the task of styling and promoting Giselle to her as a parting gift. According to the Lyndons' research, Giselle should participate in "Superstar," a popular talent show similar to the past "Super Boy" and "Super Girl" series.
The show also had Platinum Corporation's financial support, but Darryl discovered that the company's low gross profit was due to its huge investment in "Superstar"—over two billion bucks. Despite its popularity, the show’s financial returns were disappointing.
With "Superstar" about to start its new season, Darryl decided to find a sponsor. Many companies wanted to sponsor popular shows, and Darryl offered Audi the opportunity. Audi agreed to sponsor one billion bucks in exchange for a 10-minute advertisement slot per episode. Though other companies were willing to offer up to 1.5 billion bucks, Audi’s president, a good friend of Samson, received the chance as a favor.
Darryl took the folder and left the company. He rode his electric bike to Audi's headquarters, intending to negotiate a deal and possibly buy a car.
Several luxury cars, including Land Rovers and Mercedes-Benz, were parked at the entrance of Audi’s headquarters. Clearly, those who could afford an Audi were wealthy. Darryl parked his electric bike and hurried inside.
"Welcome, is there anything I can help you with?" A woman in professional attire greeted him with a smile.
The woman was attractive, with a height of 165 cm and delicate fair skin. Even in a suit, her impressive figure was evident. Audi clearly employed beautiful staff.
"Uh, I would like to buy a car," Darryl said, scratching his head. "I saw on TV that there’s an Audi convertible. Can I see it?"
"I'm sorry, we're on our lunch break," the lady said with a forced smile, her disgust barely concealed. She viewed Darryl as a peasant in bargain clothes wanting to buy a car—something she doubted he could afford.
"Lunch break?" Darryl looked around, noticing that several people were inspecting cars. These customers were dressed in suits and leather shoes, indicating their wealth.
"If that’s the case, why are there people attending to them?" Darryl asked.
The lady sighed, clearly annoyed. She assumed Darryl was a factory worker using his lunch break to window-shop or take photos of the cars to brag about. Such people were truly distasteful to her.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we're on our lunch break. Moreover, none of our cars are priced below 300,000 bucks. With all expenses included, it would cost at least 350,000 bucks. Even with installment payments, the upfront cost is over 100,000 bucks. The cheapest model is out of stock. If there’s nothing else, please leave," the lady said, struggling to contain her irritation.
Darryl was about to respond when he saw a man and a woman entering the showroom.
Upon seeing the woman, Darryl’s fist clenched tightly.
Lily?!
Darryl had only been away for a few days, and already there was another man with her?
Posts
0 Comments
Post a Comment