*****
“Young master Bottoms, I wasn’t expecting your magnificent self to attend my birthday banquet, it's a wonderful surprise.” The Old Madamé Johnson suddenly expressed shamelessly.But the thing is that, apart from Alan Bottoms and Rex Magnus, nobody in the huge hall found anything wrong with her sudden change of disposition at all.Well… it wasn’t their fault though.The highest ranked family present were in the same rank as the Johnson family, third rated families, so to everybody standing before Alan Bottoms right at this moment, they were like mortals standing before an immortal.‘What's this lowly old woman talking about?’ Alan Bottoms who had been startled by the Old Matriarch's unexpected words suddenly thought with flustered eyes. ‘Aren't I only here for her granddaughter? What in the hell does she mean by saying she had never expected I would come to her birthday banquet? Is today her birthday? What a coincidence!’Suddenly, an elegant and slight grin appeared on Alan Bottoms’ face, instantly sending the hearts of all the maidens and married women present racing.“Madamé Johnson, wouldn’t it be a great sin if a youngling like me doesn’t come to wish you a joyous birthday?”Just as he uttered this, the old matriarch immediately became over-the-moon excited and started grinning from ear to ear whilst the people of the other families present directly became filled to the brim with envy.‘It looks like the position of the Johnson family would definitely rise soon.’‘What a lucky family! How were they able to pull something extraordinary like this off?’‘Wow!!!’‘I need to go rush the old man of my family to deepen the relationship between our family and the Johnson family now with this hidden and divine connection of theirs.’‘This is a one-time opportunity, I must find a way to also enter the good book of this young master.’Whilst everybody was busy daydreaming, scheming, and planning within their minds, Alan Bottoms suddenly remember that he had gotten something earlier for one of his bitches who had been disturbing him for days now.‘Well… I will buy something else for you another day.’Thinking of this unapologetically, Alan Bottoms suddenly insert his hand into his suit pocket before gently removing a small-sized box.“Madamé Johnson, this is my gift for your birthday. Please do forgive me for how small it is, it was only prepared at the last moment.”Not knowing that Alan Bottoms literally meant the last thing he said, The old Matriarch thought he was only being ceremonious.She suddenly grinned excitedly from the bottom of her heart before nervously receiving the box presented to her.“Thank you very much, Young Master Bottoms. I truly appreciate your wonderful present from the bottom of my heart, thanks a lot.”Seeing this overtly grateful attitude, Alan Bottoms suddenly couldn’t help but ridicule more in his mind.‘As expected from an ordinary third-rated family that had fallen from grace.’Fortunately or unfortunately, he doesn’t show this on his face.Still smiling gently, he waved his hands dismissively before opening his mouth elegantly.“Please madamé Johnson, you’re thanking me too much. You should check if the gift is to your liking.”Hearing this, everybody’s attention abruptly turned with hot gazes to the old Matriarch, hoping she would open the box in her hand so that they all would feed their deep curiosity by knowing the content inside.Seeing this, the old Matriarch became even more excited.With her aged hand trembling, she opened the box gently and the first thing that entered everybody's eyes was little glowing white lights.“Wow!!!”“What’s that thing glowing with bright lights?!”“Is that a divine item directly from heaven!?”Everybody began to gasp.They watched as the old granny gently picked up the object within the box with her hand shivering so much.It's a beautiful necklace made with jade stones.Noticing how everybody was acting, Alan Bottoms became filled with contempt as he mock in his mind.‘Fools,’ he suddenly shook his head slightly before directly breathing out gently.“This's a heart-hade necklace. It's one of the only 200 pieces ever and would ever be created.” His voice suddenly boomed gently and dreamily, startling everybody again.Hearing what he said, A few people's eyes within the crowd abruptly lighten up before instantly becoming huge and wide open in their socketsThe people near these few people instantly became serious after seeing the surprised reaction on their faces.“Please, do you know what this necklace is?”“Brother, please enlighten this ignorant me.”They started begging before some abruptly responded proudly“Of cause, who doesn’t know the heart-hade necklace, the necklace that cost a whooping amount of 2.5 million dollars.”The moment everybody heard the crazed and ridiculously huge amount, they became flabbergasted and unconsciously swallow hard.This is especially so for the old Matriarch who's presently holding the neckless, hearing its price, she instantly became dumbfounded to her core to the extent that the necklace she was holding rapidly became heavy and almost fall off her hand.“2… 2… 2.5 million dollars?”She couldn’t believe this price at all.The Old Matriarch suddenly glanced at the necklace in her hand fearfully, then instantly, she doesn’t know what to feel, think, or do anymore.Honestly, 2.5 million dollars wasn’t exactly an extremely huge amount of money for the Johnson family, but at the same time, it isn’t small at all.The highest liquid wealth they could move around right now is only a little above 4 million dollars, so holding a present that cost more than half of their liquid cash scares the old matriarch to death.Seeing this, Alan Bottoms became dumbfounded.He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.‘Is 2.5 million dollars a lot of money?’He became confused.‘So this family is already so poor and broken to this extent?’He couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly. But thinking of that beautiful lady he hadn’t been able to take off his mind since a week ago, Alan Bottoms decided not to bother with the thoughts in his mind anymore.As for Rex Magnus who hadn’t left yet. He could be seen currently witnessing everybody's reaction with a stupefied look on his face.Like everybody else, he also currently has an extremely dumbfounded look covering his face. But it wasn’t because of the same reasons as them, rather, it was directly the opposite.‘This money, isn’t it a little too trivial to put everybody in this state?’He couldn’t help but suddenly glance at the medicine in his hand subconsciously before thinking in his heart. ‘This should be more than 10 billion dollars, right?’He directly shakes his head slightly before deciding not to think anymore about the unnecessary things.‘It’s her lost anyways.’Just as Rex Magnus thought like this and decided to excuse himself, something else immediately stopped him.“I’m glad that Madamé Johnson loves my present. But actually, this wasn’t the only reason I’m here.”The moment she heard this, the old Matriarch who still wasn't able to take her mind off the necklace in her hand returned to her senses.Smiling extraordinarily happily, she glanced at Alan Bottoms.“Please young master Bottoms, go ahead, I will definitely happily offer my help if it's something I could do."Hearing this, Alan Bottoms smiled slightly, then for the first time since he entered, he raised his head and searched around the hall.The instant he saw her, his heart shook widely.“Actually, I’m here to propose a marriage between myself and the Jonson family.”Everybody, "Hun?!"Their eyes abruptly widen for the umpteenth time today after hearing Alan Bottoms' shocking words.But for the first time, their minds stopped working completely.‘Mar… marriage proposal?!!!’Their hearts began to thunder with so much force in their chest.******“The great young master Bottoms of the Bottoms family wants to propose a marriage between himself and the Johnson family!!!” Everybody's eyes instantly widen to the extent that they almost started falling out of their sockets. What Alan Bottoms said just now is completely out of their expectations and thoughts. “Wow!!! What a lucky family!” After overcoming their shock, thick enviousness that could almost drown an entire nation abruptly descended over everybody. As for Rex Magnus who also heard this statement, he doesn’t think much about it because his wife wasn’t the only young lady in the Johnson family. Also, he felt that she wouldn't be an option since she was already married to him. Thinking dismissively like this, he finally walked away without anybody noticing......“You… you… you want to marry someone from my family?” The Old Matriarch ultimately returned to her senses after looking astonished for a while and instantly became thoroughly excited to an extent tha
***** Everybody's heads followed the direction in which Alan Bottoms' finger was pointed, then instantly, all the buzzes within the hall died down and all sorts of expressions appeared on their faces. Two people standing beside each other could be seen there, Fiona and Sally. Right now, the two's mouths could be seen completely wide open. They couldn’t believe what they just heard. After a while, Sally gradually regained her composure and soon felt a surge of excitement building within her, growing into an overwhelming wave of fervor. She wasn’t expecting this great news. “You… you want to marry my daughter?” She suddenly questioned unconsciously. Hearing this, Alan Bottoms glanced at Sally, and although he felt nothing. Not even the slightest respect, he still nodded his head. “Yes aunty, your daughter had stolen my heart since the first day I set my eyes on her.” Apart from Sally and Alan Bottoms, nobody could still react. After another long while, Ethan's eyes abruptly f
*****“What nonsense are you brat talking, I dare you to repeat what you just said again!”Sally suddenly glared ferociously at her daughter, as if she would shoot out laser beams from her eyes and evaporate her to nothingness if she dares repeat what she just said.But unfortunately for her and the entire Johnson family, Fiona has already lost it completely right now to care about anything.“No!!!” She stood her ground without being moved at all and suddenly spat.“I will never agree to this! I’m a married woman!”Not flinching nor looking scared, she added.“How could I suddenly be told to marry another man?”Hearing this, the old Matriarch began to tremble all over again.She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.Ever since she knew Fiona. Apart from always acting cold, she had never been disrespectful to her or her seniors even when cursed to damnation.This is the first time.‘This stupid brat. How could she act like this at this critical moment?’The Old Matriarch
***** At the moment, a solitary figure could be observed strolling calmly and leisurely down a deserted street illuminated solely by the street lamps and the faint glow of the crescent moon above. This person is Rex Magnus who just left the coffee shop and is on his way home.Despite his apparent calmness at the moment, his mind is currently overwhelmed with the information given to him by May not long ago.'So, despite the affection, attention, and care I show that cousin, he was involved in the planning of the unfortunate and tragic incident that happened to me three years ago.'He pondered before a deep sigh abruptly escaped him and his eyes flickered with a cold glint within the dimly lit street. Then suddenly, memories of the diligent and taciturn young lad he once knew flooded into his mind.Although he lacked a deep understanding of human emotions, Rex Magnus had recognized the reverence and admiration the young man had for him then which was why he frequently guided him duri
***** Upon hearing her grandma's cold, emotionless voice, Fiona trembled instantly. Nevertheless, she responded while her gaze remained fixated on her palms resting on her lap. “Grandma, it… it was because I'm already married to the man provided by my brother.”As soon as these words reached the ears of everybody present, they became still. It was as if a heavy weight of emotion had descended upon them.They couldn’t help but suddenly remember the person known well to all the members of the Johnson family, Ronald Johnson, Fiona's Brother.He was the young and lone man who had single-handedly made the Johnson family a first-rated family when he was alive.Till today, nobody has forgotten him.In fact, some people still don’t believe in his death to date because they hadn’t seen his corpse or heard of anyone seeing it for the past three years.Suddenly, the old matriarch involuntarily squeeze her eyes shut for a moment and upon reopening them, they had become utterly devoid
***** Not knowing that his wife was being schemed against, Rex Magnus is presently blaming himself inside a hospital lounge. It’s a hospital of a moderate size that falls somewhere in between the best and worst options available in Chase City. This was the first hospital Rex Magnus had sighted earlier after searching about, so he had brought the old man and his granddaughter here. Who would have thought that after Rex Magnus and some nurses had finished moving the patient into the best ward within the hospital, he would be detained because that was what happened? In all honesty, Rex Magnus could leave if he so much desired, but to avoid unnecessary complications, he chooses to remain and he was left at one side while everybody instantly became extremely busy. It was as if something significant had occurred within the hospital, everywhere became abuzz with activities as doctors, nurses, and cleaners rushed about to create the best possible environment for the elderly man. Re
***** “Master Rodriguez's condition is by no way looking good at all this time around.”As soon as everybody standing before Rex Magnus heard this, they became filled with fear and hastily advanced, their face etched with deep concern and anxiety, leaving Rex Magnus alone with an expressionless and unconcerned face.Without being hasty at all, Rex Magnus took his time to enter before turning his gaze to study the patient currently lying on the bed dismissively.Done with this, he glanced at the old man currently checking the patient’s pulse with a still utterly blank face.Without making a sound, Rex Magnus stepped to the side to watch further.“Mi… mister Du, plea… please, could… could you… you save father?”One of the three middle-aged men wearing expressions of extreme concern on their faces suddenly implored earnestly. This was instantly followed by the remaining two men and the young girl, all of whom began to give pitiful pleading looks.“Please mister Du, help us
***** Everybody was currently glaring ferociously at Rex Magnus with killing intent visible in their eyes, but like he doesn’t notice, Rex Magnus remained unfazed.To him, their killing intent that could scare ordinary people to death was nothing but the roaring of a fly before a huge elephant.Rex Magnus stared at the Old Man Du's face with a vacant expression and monotonously repeated his words, infuriating the elderly man even more. Just as the old man was about to spit angrily, two loud voices roared.“You… you… you, which son of a peasant are you? How dare a piece of trash like you curse my father, are you tired of living?”“You fucking brat, how dare you speak nonsense that Mister Du would kill my father, are you really that tired of being alive?”“Young man, please watch your mouth please, don’t do what would make your good turn evil!”Despite being the only person who was kind to Rex Magnus earlier, even the little girl’s father is extremely mad right now.He