“You’re dismissed from your position effective immediately,” Carl declared. “Security, throw him out.” The guards wasted no time. They grabbed the manager, despite his protests and pitiful cries for mercy. His desperate pleas fell on deaf ears as they unceremoniously dragged him toward the exit. The manager, once so confident in his authority, was now reduced to a snivelling wreck, thrown out of the store and onto the street. Meanwhile, the middle-aged man, who had earlier considered confronting Dave, now stood pale and trembling when he recognized Carl Mullen, a man he had only seen on local TV and heard about in business circles. His knees nearly buckled at the realization of whom he had crossed paths with. Meanwhile, his mistress who was beside him, emboldened by her earlier defiance, opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, a sharp slap from the middle-aged man silenced her. The slap echoed through the store, stunning everyone. "Keep shut?!" The

Ava, Hannah, and Jerry were ecstatic, their excitement palpable as they clutched their invitations to the charity gala. This was a golden opportunity, one that could potentially cement Ava’s place as a candidate member of the prestigious Great Kevton Chamber of Commerce. It was a goal Ava held dearly, one that she believed would significantly impact her career and her family’s business.“Ava, this is fantastic!” Hannah exclaimed, her eyes shining with delight. “You’re going to make such a great candidate member. This is exactly what you needed!”Jerry, standing beside Ava, smiled confidently. “I’m glad I could help, Ava. This gala is going to be a turning point for you.”Ava turned to Jerry, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Jerry, thank you so much. This really means a lot to me. The membership could change everything for my career and my family business."Hannah praised Jerry effusively. “Jerry, you’re amazing. You’ve done so much for Ava. You’re thoughtful and resourceful, just

Ava’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. To Ava, it was laughable to think that someone like Dave—a nobody—could even get close to the mansion, let alone, lodge there!“Right,” she scoffed, folding her arms tighter. “You haven't even desisted from being such a shameless braggart! We both know you couldn’t go near such a place, let alone, logde there. You’re just sulking over what happened last night, and instead of apologizing, you’re getting worse!”Dave didn’t bother to argue. He knew there was no point in trying to convince Ava of anything. Her mind was already made up, and her disdain for him was evident in every word she spoke. She had assumed he was lying, just as she had assumed he lied about the gifts and invitations last night!Ava looked straight into Dave's eyes. She didn’t want to waste any more time pretending to be something they weren’t. “Listen, Dave,” she began with a firm voice, “before my grandfather arrives, we need to talk. Now, I want you to reject whatever pro

Ava’s eyes narrowed as she had overheard Dave having a smooth talk with her grandfather. She hated to admit it, but he had handled the situation well, deflecting her grandfather’s suggestion without causing any tension. Although she still looked down on him, Ava couldn’t help but mentally applaud his ability to navigate the conversation so deftly.However, she quickly pushed those thoughts aside as she focused on the task at hand. She had the money, but she couldn’t very well present the bank card to Dave in front of everyone—not with her grandfather and parents watching so closely. She needed to find a way to do this discreetly, but for now, she had to maintain the facade.Almost immediately, Gordon noticed her and his expression darkened slightly with displeasure. “Ava,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of reproach, “why haven’t you acknowledged and welcomed Dave properly? Come on, he’s your husband!”Gordon couldn't help but think Ava was being somewhat inconsiderate toward D

As soon as Dave mentioned having his own money, Ava’s parents, Greg and Joyce Smith, exchanged sceptical glances. Greg shook his head, unable to believe Dave's audacity. How could a nobody like Dave have the guts to say he had money?! “Money, huh?” Greg scoffed, his voice thick with derision. “You expect us to believe that you’ve got your own money, but you’re still here, living off of our daughter?” Joyce folded her arms tightly across her chest, her eyes narrowing as she looked Dave up and down. “You see, we know your type. Just trying to get a free ride, aren’t you? Do you think you can mooch off our family and live comfortably without lifting a finger? Well, let me tell you, it’s not going to work!” Dave stood calmly, his face betraying no emotion despite the biting words being thrown at him. And before everyone knew it, Gordon, Ava’s grandfather, stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. “Enough!” Gordon said firmly, his voice carrying