Chapter 81

Granny Lyndon repeated, "William, if we successfully sell our shares, I won’t just reward you greatly, I’ll also hand over the Lyndon Enterprise to you."

“Thank you, Granny. Thank you so much!” William could barely contain his excitement, shooting a glance at Lily. Are you really the best here? My deal with Platinum Corporation was stolen by you. But now, when the company is in danger, it’s me, William Lyndon, who’s saving it, he thought to himself smugly.

Not long after, a black limousine pulled up at the entrance of the Lyndon Residence. Out stepped a man dressed casually, wearing sunglasses. It was Trent Young, followed closely by several bodyguards. Though still in his twenties, his exceptional martial arts skills had earned him a prominent name in the martial world. He was a highly accomplished man.

“Granny, Master Young has arrived,” William announced.

In the martial world, those who practiced were often respectfully addressed as 'Master.' 

“Please, please come in,” Granny Lyndon said, standing up with excitement.

The murmurs in the room fell silent as everyone turned to the entrance, where William was waiting. Trent Young entered with a commanding presence, his bodyguards trailing behind him. He carried an aura of strength and confidence with every movement.

“Haha! Brother Trent, you came so quickly!” William greeted him enthusiastically, shaking his hand. “Bro, this is my Granny.”

“How do you do, Granny Lyndon,” Trent nodded in acknowledgment, though his tone was slightly arrogant. 

Granny, however, didn’t seem to mind, knowing how capable he was. “Please, have a seat,” she said warmly.

Trent reclined on the sofa comfortably, while his bodyguards stood at attention behind him. The room remained silent, and Granny gestured for William to explain the business situation to Trent.

“So, you’re looking to sell some of your shares,” Trent said after listening, nodding as he smiled. “Twenty percent of the shares… Well, that’s worth five billion. But that’s too little; I’ll offer eight billion.”

“What?” The room was stunned. Everyone was already taken aback by the mention of five billion, but Trent calling it 'too little' left them in disbelief. This man was incredibly wealthy, with martial clubs and championship titles, but no one had realized just how wealthy.

Shock gave way to joy for most, including Granny Lyndon. Eight billion would be more than enough for the Lyndon family to regain their standing. 

William, also stunned at first, quickly composed himself. “Bro, thank you so much!”

But then Trent added, “Under one condition.”

“What is it, Master Young? Please, tell us,” Granny Lyndon responded without hesitation.

Trent stood up, scanning the room before speaking slowly. “When I spoke to William the other day, he mentioned he has a cousin who is both intelligent and beautiful. I’ve been wanting to meet her. So aside from our business deal, I’m also here to propose to her. I hope you don’t mind, Granny.”

The room was left speechless by his unexpected words. 

Although arranged marriages for business reasons were common, once the initial shock subsided, everyone’s eyes turned to Elsa Lyndon. In the Lyndon family, the most beautiful women were Lily and Elsa, but since Lily was already married, it seemed clear that Trent was referring to Elsa.

Chapter 82

Under the pressure of everyone's gaze, Elsa felt uncomfortable. She wanted to speak but hesitated. William, recovering from his shock, addressed Trent, "Bro, you scared me there! I was wondering what you could possibly ask for, and it turns out to be this!" 

Trent remained silent, his eyes fixed on Granny Lyndon, awaiting her decision. Since this proposal could determine the future of the Lyndon family, only Granny had the authority to speak. Without hesitation, Granny smiled and said, "It's our pleasure to unite with Master Young in marriage." She then turned to Elsa, "Elsa, what do you think?"

As Elsa stood up to speak, Trent interrupted, shaking his head, "Granny, I think you're mistaken. I wasn’t talking about her."

What? Not Elsa? The entire family was taken aback. Elsa herself was caught off guard, feeling both relieved and curious. While the Lyndon family members were confused, Trent walked forward with all eyes on him. When he stopped, the hall fell into complete silence—he had stopped in front of Lily.

Lily, dressed in a sheath dress that emphasized her graceful figure, felt her heart race as Trent stood before her. Trembling slightly, she looked up at him. "Ms. Lyndon, I've admired you for a long time," Trent said with a smile, locking eyes with her as he reached out his hand.

Lily, not wanting to accept his gesture, took a deep breath and carefully replied, "Master Young, I think you've made a mistake. I’m already married."

At this point, the room began to recover from the shock, with everyone nodding in agreement. William added, "Bro, you must have confused the two of them! Lily’s been married for three years!"

Trent, however, smiled faintly and turned to William, "No, I’m not mistaken at all. I’ve always admired Lily, and let me be clear—I’m only offering to buy your shares because of her. Understand?"

William was stunned into silence, his face stiffening as he struggled to respond.

Granny Lyndon tried to laugh it off, "Oh, Master Young, you must be joking..."

But Trent cut her off. "Granny, do I look like I’m joking?" he said firmly. "If you don’t agree, I won’t push it. But I urge you to think carefully about your situation. Without my help, who else would pay eight billion for your shares?"

Granny felt torn, but still attempted to reason with him. "Master Young, if you want to marry Elsa, I wouldn’t object. But Lily... she’s someone’s wife. What you’re asking for isn’t right."

Trent, with a dismissive smile, replied, "Don’t worry about that, Granny. The man Lily married is a nobody, isn’t that what everyone here thinks? They’ve been married three years and haven’t had any children. Isn’t that right, Lily?"

At this, both Granny and the rest of the family fell silent, realizing he was right about Darryl. He hadn’t contributed anything to the family in the past three years, and most of them wanted him out. If Lily married Trent instead, it would rid them of the burden of Darryl.

As these thoughts passed through their minds, many family members silently agreed, though what Trent was suggesting still made them uncomfortable.

"Oh, my beautiful Lily," Trent continued with a grin, sitting beside her. "It looks like your family agrees with me. What about you? Don’t be shy." He reached out to grab Lily’s hand.

Lily recoiled, pushing his hand away, and said coldly, "Master Young, please behave yourself."

Though she appeared composed, Lily’s heart was racing. She had never been in such a situation before, and Trent’s boldness made her extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, her family just watched, doing nothing to stop him.

Lily felt a deep sense of unease and betrayal—why wasn’t anyone standing up for her?

Chapter 83

"Tsk tsk, so sexy! Your angry face makes my heart itch. I want you for sure," Trent said. Lily's complaints did nothing to deter him; in fact, they only excited him more. 

With that, he grabbed Lily again. This time, Trent used his martial skills to restrain her hands, and of course, she couldn't push him away. He then moved closer to her and took a loud sniff right in front of her, his face filled with a dreamy expression. "You smell so good," he murmured.

By this point, Granny's face had turned pale with anger. She had already accepted Trent’s proposal for Lily, reasoning that it wasn’t a bad match. She had even been preparing to set a date for Trent to take Lily home. However, his misbehavior in front of her and everyone else, in their own mansion, was shocking.

"Get your hands off her!" Samantha finally stepped in, yelling at Trent. While Samantha disliked Darryl and wanted Lily to leave him, her view of Darryl had changed slightly after receiving a necklace from him last night. 

To be fair, as the saying goes, someone may change their behavior but not their habits. Though Darryl had a job now and had made wealthy friends who loaned him five million and gave him a valuable necklace, Samantha still believed that if a person isn’t truly capable, their connections won’t help them. She still wanted Lily to leave Darryl at that moment.

However, Lily had not left Darryl yet, and seeing Trent being so disrespectful, no mother could sit back and do nothing. "Hey, get your hands off her! Do you know where you are? This is the Lyndon Residence, not your backyard! Let go of Lily, now!"

At this moment, Lily was struggling in anger and embarrassment, shouting, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

Granny's face grew pale, trembling with anger. The crowd murmured in disdain for Trent, but he didn’t care at all. He smirked and looked Granny in the eyes. "Granny, your family isn’t showing me any sincerity. I made my conditions clear, and if you don’t agree, I’ll leave, and the deal is off."

As Trent said this, the rest of the family turned their eyes to Granny, frustrated. They knew that one word from her would be enough to kick this man out of the mansion instantly.

But Granny said nothing. She looked at Trent with a mix of emotions and sighed. 

It wasn’t that Granny didn’t care about Lily, but compared to the profits they were about to lose, Lily’s reputation seemed insignificant. Without the eight billion, the family business would collapse.

Granny remained silent, and the rest of the family had no choice but to stay seated, holding onto their grudges. Samantha was unwilling but had no power to intervene, so she could only glare at Trent angrily. Lily, on the other hand, felt utterly defeated.

Seeing this, Trent grinned proudly and grew even bolder. He pulled Lily towards him violently. She gasped as she was forced into his arms, and before she could resist, he held her tightly. "My gorgeous Lily, don’t be afraid. I’ll take good care of you," Trent grinned, leaning in to kiss her.

Lily knew she had no way to escape him. She gave up struggling and shut her eyes in despair. 

What is despair? This is despair—being assaulted by Trent Young in front of her mother, her relatives, and her siblings, and nobody willing to stand up for her. 

This was true despair. Why did they have to sacrifice her for the sake of the family? She was just a woman—why did they treat her this way?

Her eyes filled with tears that rolled down her cheeks. She felt Trent’s breath getting closer, his exhale on her face. 

‘Darryl, where are you? I’m being bullied, don’t you know that?’ She didn’t know why, but in this moment, the only person she wanted to see was her useless husband!

Her tears kept falling, and she could feel Trent’s lips about to touch hers. At that moment, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. The rest of the family sighed in helplessness.

Just as Trent was about to kiss her, a strong and firm hand gripped his shoulder.

"Damn it! Who the f*ck are you!" Trent swore, irritated at being interrupted.

Standing before him was a man in his twenties, dressed in cheap clothing, staring at him coldly. 

"Darryl?"

All eyes turned to him.

"It... it really is you..." Lily said softly, her lips bleeding from where she had been biting them.

Chapter 84

"Kid, who are you?" Trent scoffed coldly, ignoring the ominous presence coming from Darryl.

Darryl replied calmly, "Darryl Darby."

"Oh... hahaha! So you're the trash everyone’s been talking about. What now? Can’t handle me making out with your wife? Let me tell you, your wife is mine now!" Trent sneered, his face filled with disturbing provocation.

"You’re looking for trouble," Darryl said, enunciating each word clearly. His gaze sent chills through everyone in the hall. 

Was this the same person they used to call trash? Why did he suddenly have such a powerful aura?

"Me? Looking for trouble? Kid, do you even know who you’re talking to? I was searching for you earlier, and now you’ve come right to me!" Trent growled as he lunged at Darryl like a raging tiger.

Seeing this, the family around them watched with troubled expressions. As much as they despised Darryl, at this moment, most of them secretly hoped he could win the fight.

Of course, they also knew that this was probably a hopeless wish. Trent had won the martial arts championship three years in a row and had established numerous martial clubs.

"Darryl, you can’t beat him! Run away!" Lily screamed, terrified for his safety. She was already grateful that Darryl had shown up today.

But Darryl didn’t move. He stood there as if he hadn’t heard her, unflinching even as Trent charged at him. He stood still like a rock.

Lily panicked. She ran out of the living room and called the police. The call connected quickly, and a voice on the other end asked, "How can we help you?"

In a trembling voice filled with fear, she answered, "Send someone to the Lyndon Residence right now! There’s a fight!"

Bam!

As Lily spoke, a loud crash came from the living room. Darryl and Trent were already fighting!

The police on the other end sounded doubtful. "A fight? Who’s fighting whom?"

Lily, frantic, blurted out, "It’s Trent Young attacking my...my husband!" As she said the word "husband," her heart fluttered, and her face flushed. 

It was the first time she had ever admitted that Darryl was her husband.

When she ended the call and returned to the room, she froze at the sight. Not only her, but everyone was staring in disbelief.

No one had ever doubted Trent’s strength; he was the strongest fighter in town. But no one expected Darryl to hold his own against him. At that moment, the fight was intense, with punches flying back and forth at a speed that human eyes could barely follow.

Lily stared blankly, bewildered.

How could he be this skilled? With these abilities, it was no coincidence that Darryl had beaten William at Granny’s party.

"Argh!" 

Suddenly, Trent let out a loud groan and crashed hard onto the floor.

Huh?

Darryl... Darryl won?

The room fell into a dead silence. 

"I lost... please, stop hitting me..." Trent pleaded, his eyes wide with fear, begging for mercy.

Darryl coldly replied, "What were you thinking when you touched my wife earlier? Why should I stop just because you’re asking me to?" He stepped closer to Trent, his face emotionless and chilling.

Both Darryl and Trent were Level Two Masters, but after taking the pill from Samson, Darryl’s strength had far surpassed those at his level.

Darryl squinted and pressed his foot onto Trent’s body.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The sound of crisp slaps echoed through the hall as Darryl struck Trent’s face repeatedly.

Everyone in the room looked at Darryl in stunned silence, as if they were seeing a devil. Not a word was spoken.

Was this really the same useless son-in-law they had known?

Lily bit her lip, feeling a strange, inexplicable stirring in her heart. In three years, this was the first time she had ever seen Darryl act so manly.

Chapter 85

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

Darryl’s strikes made everyone’s heart skip a beat. The entire Lyndon mansion fell into dead silence.

Finally, two police cars arrived. Megan Castello, dressed in her uniform, led a group of officers into the mansion. Upon entering the main hall, she grimaced at the scene before her.

“Freeze!” One of the officers moved toward the altercation.

Darryl stopped, slowly stood up, and flexed his wrist. Recognizing Darryl, Megan approached him.

"Who called the police?" another officer asked, flipping through his report book and scanning the surroundings.

Lily, finally coming to her senses, quickly responded, "I... I did."

"You said someone was beating up your husband? Is that the man on the floor?" the officer asked, pointing to the barely recognizable Trent Young lying on the ground, all while taking notes and questioning her.

"No, no, he... he’s not my husband," Lily stammered, shaking her head. She shifted her gaze to Darryl and whispered, "He is." She lowered her head in embarrassment, her face flushed. She looked irresistibly charming at that moment.

When Lily admitted that Darryl was her husband in front of everyone, Darryl felt a wave of indescribable joy.

One of the officers swallowed hard, secretly sizing Darryl up. This man actually beat Trent Young to the point where he couldn’t defend himself?

At that moment, Trent groaned in pain from the floor. "Officer, you’ve got to help me! This man’s a lunatic!" Being beaten in public by a live-in son-in-law was too much for Trent to bear, and he finally let out his grievances as the police arrived.

"Enough! Everyone, back to the station for questioning!" Megan interrupted, glaring at Trent, who immediately fell silent, glaring at Darryl with resentment.

"You, stay behind and take everyone’s statements," Megan instructed one of the officers. Turning to Darryl, she added, "Please come with us to the station."

Darryl nodded. Lily looked worried and said softly, "I’ll come with you."

Darryl chuckled and shook his head. "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I trust Officer Castello to be fair and just."

Hearing this, Lily relaxed a little.

Darryl entered one of the police vehicles. Once inside, only the two of them, Megan began driving—but not toward the police station.

"Aren’t we going to take my statement?" Darryl asked, puzzled.

Megan glanced at him and spoke slowly, "We all know how arrogant and domineering Trent Young is. It’s clear this was his fault. I’ll have my team check the surveillance footage, and everything will be cleared up."

"Officer Castello, what a sharp observation," Darryl said with a smile.

Megan rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap. I saw it all with my own eyes just now. You’ve become a Cultivator, haven’t you?"

Darryl nodded. "Level Two Master."

That piqued Megan’s interest. For Darryl to become not just a Cultivator but a Level Two Master in just a few days—it had to have been an extraordinary journey.

"To be honest, Darryl, do you have any more of those Godly pills you gave me before?" Megan asked.

"Officer Castello, I already gave you one," Darryl replied with a sly smile. "And if I recall correctly, weren’t you the one who warned me not to give it to just anyone?" he added.

Megan blushed. "I... I didn’t realize how effective the pill would be. I have a friend who’s been stuck at Level Five Master for a long time. If you still have any, could you spare one?"

Darryl stretched and replied lazily, "And what does your friend’s problem have to do with me?" Though the extraction process of the Godly pill was simple, it wasn’t something that should be handed out easily. The pill had been sold to Brandon for a staggering two billion and an antique thumb ring.

Megan bit her lip in frustration. As the Criminal Investigation Team Leader and a "rose among thorns," she wasn’t used to men refusing her requests.

Chapter 86

However, Darryl is an exception. He actually possesses something as rare as the Godly pill and managed to become a Level Two Master in such a short time.

With that thought in mind, Megan softened her tone. "So, what would it take for me to get another Godly pill?"

Even in her uniform, Megan looked stunning. Darryl chuckled. "Alright, how about you compliment me? But it has to be sincere. If it pleases me, I'll give you the pill."

Megan shuddered. This was highly inappropriate and not in her character to flatter others. She slowed the car, biting her lip, deep in thought. After a long pause, she finally gave in. "Darryl... you're the most charming man I've ever met. Please, could you give me another Godly pill?"

Darryl laughed. He had to admit, seeing a strong, beautiful woman like Megan yielding to him would make any man struggle to resist. Even he found it irresistible.

"Alright, alright, I'll give you one," Darryl said, pleased, handing her the pill.

"Thank you!" Megan responded with genuine gratitude. Unable to hide her joy, she quickly picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Hey, I've got the pill you wanted. Do you want to come to get it now?" The voice on the other end muttered something inaudible, and Megan nodded before hanging up.

"Darryl, I have a friend at the Oriental Pearl. Shall we meet him? He’d like to thank you in person," Megan suggested.

"Sure," Darryl agreed.

At the Oriental Pearl, Megan led Darryl to a private luxury dining room. Inside were a few couples, and Darryl recognized some of the men. They were all trust fund kids from Donghai City, known for attending Lyndon Enterprise’s annual galas. Though wealthy, they were idle and didn’t do much with their lives.

As soon as Megan walked in, one of the guys stood up, grinning. "Hey, guys! Let me introduce my girlfriend, Megan. She brought me a Godly pill! Now I can finally rise to the level of Master General!"

"What?!" Darryl was stunned. Damn! Megan wanted the pill for this guy? He’s her boyfriend?!

Kent Hough, heir apparent to Everlasting Group, was a rich but arrogant guy. Why is someone as amazing as Megan with him? Darryl thought.

Kent tried to hold Megan’s hand, but she gently brushed him off. "Kent, there are too many people around. Let’s not do this here," she said softly.

Kent chuckled and turned to the group. "Brothers, look at my girlfriend! She only lets me hold her hand in public. She says she’ll only give herself to me when we’re married! Don’t tease me, haha!"

"Yo, bro, sis-in-law is a gem!" one of them chimed in. Others joined in, saying, "Kent, you really hit the jackpot. She’s gorgeous and so refined!"

The atmosphere was rowdy, filled with laughter and banter, when suddenly someone shouted, "No way! Isn’t that the Lyndon Residence’s live-in son-in-law?"

In a ripple effect, everyone turned their attention to Darryl.

"What’s this trash doing here?"

"Yeah, why is he in a place like this?"

The rich kids continued mocking him one after another. Kent frowned. "It really is him! Dude, you’re in the wrong place. Get lost! The Oriental Pearl isn’t for someone like you."

They all knew that Darryl was living with his in-laws—the Lyndons—who were nearly bankrupt, having sold off a large part of their estate. Darryl couldn’t afford to be in a place like the Oriental Pearl.

Megan couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped in. "Kent, stop. Darryl is with me. He’s my friend."

"What?" The room fell silent, and everyone stared in disbelief. Did they hear that right?

They had all heard that Megan was Donghai City’s Criminal Investigation Team Leader. How could this "worthless" guy be her friend? She was a goddess, and he was considered a total loser.

Chapter 87

“Come, Darryl, sit here,” Megan said with a smile, pulling a chair next to her, ignoring the judgmental stares from the others.

Darryl was ready to leave but was moved by Megan's sincerity. He sat down calmly.

“Meg, love, why are you friends with him?” Kent finally asked, confused.

Megan sighed. “Kent, can you not judge a book by its cover? In my eyes, everyone is the same. So what if Darryl Darby lives with his in-laws? Does that mean I can’t be friends with him?” she explained patiently.

Kent was left speechless. Megan then pulled out the Godly pill from her bag. “Kent, haven’t you been stuck at Level Five Master for a while? This pill can help you. Darryl gave it to me.”

“Whoa!” The others were stunned by Megan's words.

Some of the rich brats were also Cultivators, though beginners. Their families were willing to spend money to help them become Cultivators. They knew how challenging it was to break through to the next level. Hearing that the Godly pill could help piqued everyone's interest. But more than the pill, they were now curious about Darryl. A live-in son-in-law had such a rare Godly pill? If it was real, many people would pay a fortune for it.

No one dared to mock Megan, but they scorned Darryl.

Kent, too, was shocked. He had heard of the wonders of the Godly pill, but upon learning it was from Darryl, he laughed mockingly. Taking the pill from Megan, he scrutinized it and scoffed, “This lousy thing can help me? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

His tone turned serious. “Meg, love, you’ve always been straightforward but gullible. I bet you reached Master General because of your solid cultivation technique, not this pill. There’s no such thing as a Godly pill. If there were, everyone would be a Master General by now.” Kent casually tossed the pill onto the table.

“I’m serious! It’s because of this pill that I broke through!” Megan protested anxiously.

Kent sneered. “This guy is lying to you. You’ve been stuck at Level Five for years, and your breakthrough was due to your hard work, not this pill. That was just a happy coincidence.”

He glared coldly at Darryl. “You, toyboy, I don’t know what your game is with Megan, but stay the hell away from her. Got it? Or I’ll make your life miserable in Donghai City.”

“You heard him? Some people are out of your league! Know your place, and stop conning people with fake stuff. Stay away from our sis-in-law!”

Darryl was fuming. This idiot Kent doesn’t even know how Megan begged me for the pill. People like Brandon would pay two billion and offer a jade thumb ring for it. I’m giving it for free, and this fool mocks me?

He stood up, laughing coldly. “Fine. If you think it’s fake, give it back.”

“Take it yourself. You expect me to hand it to you? You’ll dirty my hands!” Kent jeered, not even glancing at the pill. As if on cue, the room erupted in laughter.

Darryl was about to retrieve the pill when Megan snatched it and handed it to Kent. “Kent Hough, if you trust me, you’ll take this pill right now. If not, I’m leaving with Darryl,” she said, her face showing a mix of frustration and apology toward Darryl.

Everyone was baffled by Megan’s reaction. Why did she trust this live-in son-in-law so much?

Kent, visibly uncomfortable, didn’t know how to respond. But seeing how upset Megan was, he gave in. He had no choice but to swallow the pill. “For Megan’s sake, I’ll let it slide,” he said with a weak smile.

Trying to change the topic, Kent asked, “I heard you’re looking for a job, Darryl. What do you do? Maybe we can help.”

“I’m working for someone,” Darryl replied calmly.

Chapter 88

"Oh wow, working for someone. Haha!" Kent mocked, nodding in an exaggerated manner as the waiter began serving the food. Kent had toned down a bit due to Megan's earlier outrage, but he still found ways to try and embarrass Darryl, with the other rich brats chiming in cooperatively.

Megan excused herself to the washroom, clearly unable to tolerate the situation any longer. The moment she left, Kent pounced. "Dude, if I were you, I’d leave as soon as possible. What good will come from you staying here? Do you even know what kind of place this is? The Oriental Pearl is the finest hotel in Donghai City. Who are you to eat here?"

The rest of the group slammed the table in agreement, while their girlfriends smirked at Darryl mockingly.

“Yeah, if it weren’t for our sis-in-law, do you think we’d really let you hang out with us?” one of them sneered.

“F*ck off! Letting you overstay your welcome in this dining room is already more than generous!” another added.

“You’re just a worthless live-in son-in-law! Who do you think you are? You can’t afford this place!” someone else chimed in.

Darryl remained calm, laughing. “Kent Hough, right? Your reputation precedes you—you’re exceptionally cheap.”

Kent slammed the table, eyes flaring with anger. “Motherf*cker, I dare you to say that one more time!”

Darryl shrugged nonchalantly. “Just because your family has a few extra pennies, you think eating at the Oriental Pearl makes you high and mighty? If that’s not cheap, then what is?”

Kent was momentarily speechless, and the rest were equally taken aback. They started to look at Darryl with more interest. This guy must be mentally unsound, they thought. *How dare he talk to Kent that way?

Kent gritted his teeth. “Wow, this is something—a toyboy looking down on us.”

Then, with a smirk, Kent added provocatively, “Dude, don’t tell me you’re the owner of the Oriental Pearl? Oh no, I’m so scared.” The whole group burst into laughter.

Darryl smiled calmly and picked up his phone. He dialed Wayne Woodall’s number.

“Mr. Darby!” Wayne’s voice came through, surprised.

Darryl got straight to the point. “I’m at the Oriental Pearl. Please come to Dining Room 666.” He hung up the call, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea, sipping it slowly.

Kent continued with his taunts. “Dude, who did you call? Your wife? Or someone from the Lyndon family? Haha!”

“A loser like him, of course he’d call his wife if there’s any trouble. Who else?” The jabs kept coming.

Darryl quietly enjoyed his tea, completely ignoring their insults. Kent grew increasingly irritated with Darryl’s calm demeanor. He was about to continue when the door to the dining room opened. 

A man in a black Chinese tunic, a Zhongshan suit, stepped in. The room fell silent immediately. Several of the rich brats sat up straighter. Wayne Woodall was a well-known figure in Donghai City, someone to be respected.

Everyone turned to Kent, assuming he was the reason Wayne had shown up—Kent’s family was planning to discuss a business deal with him after all.

Kent snickered to himself, pleased. *This is my chance,* he thought. Two days ago, his dad had mentioned that they were trying to finalize a deal with Wayne.

Meanwhile, the ladies in the room, despite being with their boyfriends, cast admiring glances at Wayne.

Chapter 89

Kent Hough straightened up, believing he looked impressive as he said, "President Woodall, I'm glad to meet y—" But he froze mid-sentence. Wayne Woodall didn’t even glance his way; instead, he walked directly toward Darryl.

“Mr. Darby, you called. What can I help you with?” Wayne asked.

What? Mr. Darby? Wayne Woodall actually acknowledged this live-in son-in-law with such respect? Everyone’s jaws dropped, bewildered. How was it possible that a loser like Darryl could be acquainted with someone like Wayne Woodall?

As the shock hung in the air, Darryl smiled gently and nodded at Wayne. “Nothing special, just wanted to see you,” he replied.

“Mr. Darby, you’re too kind,” Wayne laughed politely. He scanned the room and suddenly seemed to grasp the situation. “You should’ve told me beforehand that you’d be coming. I would’ve prepared for you.”

With that, Wayne waved to the waiter. “Tell your manager to waive all expenses in this box.”

What? All free? Kent and the others were shocked to their core. They looked at Darryl, their feelings even more complicated. How did this dude earn such immense respect from Wayne Woodall?

Just as the waiter was about to leave, Darryl stood up and waved his hand. “Don’t bother! Today’s expenses should be calculated down to every cent. I’m not the one treating, and I barely ate anything. Besides, the people paying aren’t short on cash.”

Wayne responded by signaling the waiter to leave. “Okay, that’s all. I should get going as well. You get busy,” Darryl said, dismissing Wayne with a wave. Wayne's presence had a significant impact on the rest of the group.

Wayne seemed to understand the situation and quickly added, “In the future, if Mr. Darby has any requests, feel free to let me know. I’ll assist in any way I can.”

Wayne glanced around the room, noticing that no one dared to look him in the eye before he turned and left. His strong presence lightened the atmosphere considerably. Darryl chuckled softly and exited the room.

Kent and the others exchanged looks, unable to shake off their shock for quite some time. After about half an hour, they began to regain their senses. One of them finally said, “F*ck, this dude is actually well acquainted with Wayne Woodall!”

“Well acquainted? It’s definitely more than that! Did you see how Wayne treated Darryl? They have a special relationship.”

“It’s strange, though. Isn’t this guy a live-in son-in-law?” they murmured among themselves. The ladies felt regretful; who would’ve guessed that this live-in son-in-law had such strong connections? If they had known earlier, they wouldn’t have taunted him.

Kent, still pale but starting to regain his composure, sneered disdainfully. “What special relationship? You guys don’t know anything. I’ll have you know that Wayne Woodall has business with the Lyndons. The last I heard, when it was Grandma Lyndon’s birthday, Wayne personally sent a gift himself. So, Wayne being polite to that dude is all because of his connections with Grandma Lyndon! If he weren’t the Lyndons’ son-in-law, Wayne wouldn’t even bat an eye at him!” Kent scoffed.

The rest began to nod in agreement, feeling that it made sense. Kent’s expression, however, darkened. You’re good, Darryl Darby. I was almost unnerved by you. Using your connections with the Lyndons to boost your status—how shameless!

Darryl was in the lobby when he bumped into Megan, who had just exited the washroom. She had changed her outfit and was now wearing dark blue skinny jeans, her curvaceous figure enough to captivate any man.

“Darryl, what happened? Are you leaving?” Megan asked, walking toward him.

Chapter 90

Darryl laughed lightly. “It’s fine. I had nothing to do there anyway, and I wasn’t hungry.”

Megan looked apologetic. “I’m so sorry. Kent and the others, they’re just like that. Please don’t mind them.”

Darryl shrugged. “It’s fine; I’ve met many people like him.” He glanced at Megan and hesitated. “But do you think you and Kent Hough are a match?”

It wasn’t really his business, and he shouldn’t have brought it up, but he felt compelled to ask. Megan didn’t respond, appearing stiff and awkward.

The truth was, Megan didn’t dislike Kent, but she didn’t have feelings for him either. They had similar family backgrounds and had known each other for a long time, plus both their families heavily approved of their relationship. This is why she reluctantly agreed to be with Kent. However, she had a clear stance—no sex before marriage, just holding hands at most.

Megan quickly shifted the topic. “Hey, let’s go. I’ll send you back. After all, I’m the one who brought you here; I can’t expect you to grab a cab back by yourself.” Darryl nodded in agreement.

As they were leaving the hotel, Kent ran up to them and called out, “Meg! Why are you still with him?” He glared disrespectfully at Darryl.

Megan responded, “Kent, I’ve told you many times. Darryl is my friend. How could you treat him that way in the dining room just now?”

Seeing Megan defend Darryl only made Kent furious. Did I say anything wrong? Isn’t he the Lyndons’ live-in son-in-law? He’s been living with the Lyndons for three years—a worthless good-for-nothing. The entire Donghai City knows this! I’m just stating the facts!

Megan ignored him and continued walking.

Frustrated that Megan was disregarding him, Kent exclaimed, “Where are you going?”

Megan snapped back, “To send Darryl back! I brought him here, and I’m not leaving him alone!”

Kent’s anger began to fade as he noticed Megan’s figure—how could he stay mad at such a gorgeous woman who was also his girlfriend?

“How about you wait for me in the dining room? I’ll bring Darryl back. There’s a party tonight; let’s go together,” Kent offered, trying to ease the tension.

“Not interested,” Megan replied firmly.

Darryl sighed, contemplating whether to hail a taxi when suddenly a black luxury minivan pulled up from the hotel’s parking lot. The minivan stopped right in front of the trio, and a few burly men got out. Darryl tensed.

The leader, with deep eyes that appeared mature for his age, stepped forward. “Hello, are you Ms. Megan Castello?” he asked politely.

Darryl relaxed a little; after all, they recognized Megan. He didn’t think they were looking for trouble. Besides, Megan was the Criminal Investigation Team Leader of Donghai City—who would dare to mess with her?

He was wrong.

Megan nodded. At that moment, the men scattered a handful of light-colored powder that enveloped them like fog. They were completely caught off guard. Inhaling the powder made them dizzy, and their bodies went limp.

What the f*ck is happening? Is this a kidnapping? Darryl was stunned, barely able to react as all three of them were shoved into the minivan.

The vehicle sped off into darkness, and they had no idea where they were being taken. Kent was flustered. “Who the hell are you guys? What do you want with us? Don’t you know who I am—”

SLAP!

One of the men slapped Kent so hard that two of his teeth flew out.

“Shut up, or I’ll kill you,” one of the men threatened. Kent shuddered, silenced by fear.

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