“Who is this man, huh?”
“Accusing Mr. Daniel? Does he have a death wish?”
“Yes, he does. I can't wait to see him dead.”
“I see no reason why Mr. Daniel would buy a fake leaf when he's wealthy.”
“This man is just a clout chaser and he needs to be dealt with.”
“A poor and handicapped man challenging the rich. What a poor world.”
Adrian paid no attention to the hateful and shameful comment that he was hearing. He pretended as though he didn't hear any of them.
His attention was fixed on the so-called rich Mr. Daniel.
“How dare you claim the original leaf I bought was worth millions of dollars fake!” The man yelled but he wasn't fazed by it.
“Do you mean the imitation that you bought was fake?” Adrian said in a cold tone, challenging the rich man before him which made the guest infuriated by his gut.
“What is the meaning of what you're doing?” His wife, Sandra, asked as she leaned closer to him.
“Stop it and leave,” she said in a cold tone and he shook his head in response.
“I won't leave until I prove myself right. Trust me,” he muttered and she nodded her head in response.
Somehow, for the first time, she felt she should trust him. She stood in a corner as she watched the drama unfold.
He felt a strange warmth in his heart that she supported him without arguing. He didn't know she was doing it because she noticed something odd about Mr. Daniel as well.
“Can you tell me what made you think it's an imitation?” Daniel asked and Adrian smiled.
“Yes. Give us a good reason.”
“If you fail to give us a good reason, I won't hesitate to lock you up in jail.”
“Go ahead and talk, you wimp,” the guests in the room challenged him and he squeezed out a smile.
It's a surprise that he could manage to smile in such a situation.
He moved forward and cleared his throat so that others who were far from him would be able to hear it and know who the real scammer was.
“Mr. Daniel claimed that he bought the leaf for a million dollars which I do not doubt because I know it's worth as well.”
“Yes, you can't doubt it because you can't afford to buy it,” one of them spoke up and they laughed at him mockingly.
He ignored them and continued with what he was saying. “He claimed he bought it from Lu Xun, and according to recent reports, General Lu Xun has been in seclusion for months. So how do you buy the ginseng from the General?”
Everyone became quiet and began to listen to him with rapt attention after he finished the statement.
“That aside, the ginseng leaf used to be deep in color but yours seems to be lighter and the moisture is thicker compared to the real ginseng leaf. What do you say about this, Mr. Daniel?” He asked with a proud smile and Daniel shuddered in fear.
He wondered how Adrian was able to know the flaws with few glances even without touching the leaf.
He wasn't aware that Adrian had little knowledge about antiques so he couldn't let another one steal the spotlight with fake antiques.
Mr. Daniel quickly spoke up when he saw that everyone was beginning to suspect him. “That's a lie. That's not enough reason to tell whether it's an imitation or not.”
“And besides, it's lame to say I can't buy the ginseng leaf in the absence of General Lu Xun. I bought it from his right-hand man, ” Mr. Daniel said and everyone's perspective about Adrian began to change from good to bad.
They believed General Lu Xun's right-hand man wouldn't scam him or sell a fake leaf to him because he was a man with good virtue.
“Then he sold the fake one to you,” Adrian said coldly and one of the guests interfered.
“And what made you think yours is real?” The guest asked, rendering Adrian speechless for a moment.
They started bashing him before he could open his mouth and talk.
“That's right. Show us proof that this leaf with you is real. I can show mine,” the man brought out his phone, went to his bank details, and flaunted the payment receipt that he made to buy the leaf.
This action made it hard for Adrian to convince the guests that he was right and that the deceitful man before him was wrong.
“Where is your receipt? Where do you buy it from? And who gave this fake leaf to you?” The man asked, changing everything in his favor.
Adrian was surprised at how the man was able to turn the tides.
He was now the culprit.
His wife, Sandra, who was standing by the corner hissed after seeing what happened. She regretted trusting him. Maybe there was nothing good about him anyway.
“Why aren't you talking, Mr. Adrian? If you don't want me to call the cops on you for discriminating against me without concrete proof, I want you to kneel and apologize then I'll forgive you,” the man said with a proud smile.
“What if I don't?” Adrian asked.
“Are you daring me, Adrian?” Daniel asked coldly.
“Just to kneel. That's too merciful of Mr. Daniel.”
“What! This handicapped man dared reject Mr. Daniel,”
Just as they were about to argue, a noise from the back made them stop. “Mr. Stephen is dying. Please save him,” a young lady cried bitterly and they all gathered around them.
“What happened to him?” He asked.
“I don't know. He suddenly slumped,” she answered with tears rolling down from her eyes.
“Let's take him to the hospital,” one of them said eagerly.
“The nearest hospital is three hundred kilometers away from here and he might die before we get there. I suggest Mr. Daniel use the leaf he bought for me to revive him back,” Sandra suggested in fear.
She knew she could land in trouble if anything could happen to the guest because it was at her event, her birthday ceremony.
“Yes, Mr. Daniel. Please use it on him. We can't afford to lose anyone among us.”
“It's a good thing that we have someone like you in our midst,” they praised him and he shuddered in fear.
Adrian chuckled mockingly when he noticed how nervous Mr. Daniel was. “I thought you claimed the ginseng leaf is real. Why are you hesitating?” He asked and Daniel snarled at him.
“I'm not hesitating. This will prove you wrong that the leaf with me is not an imitation,” he said and walked away pretending to be confident.
Sandra returned with the briefcase and he took the leaf from it. He rubbed his hand on the leaf and squeezed it until he could get a scoop of liquid from it then he forced it into the victim's mouth.
A few minutes later, everyone stared at Mr. Daniel in awe after Stephen, who had been unconscious for a while suddenly woke up and coughed.
“Wow! He did it. He has always been right.”
“He just saved Stephan. Sandra's husband is a liar.”
Just as they were about to bash Adrian, he spoke up. “Maybe that's not true.” He pointed at the victim on the floor.
They were engrossed in mocking him to notice the blood oozing from his mouth and nose until he called their attention to him.
“What happened to you, Stephen? What did you do to my brother, Daniel?” The young lady, who was about eighteen years old, yelled in a cold tone.
That was when they realized that she was the daughter of General Lei Feng, a famous general known for his bravery and loyalty. It would be a death sentence to offend someone like him.
“If anything happens to my brother, I promise to bring you and your general down,” she threatened.
When she spoke, no one dared to speak. Even at such a young age, she carried authority and power.
“I don't know…” he stammered in front of the young girl, unable to find his voice.
He knew he was dead if anything could happen to her.
Adrian smiled in satisfaction when he saw what was happening. “You claim you bought the leaf a million dollars but it's ineffective and can't even revive this dying man,” he said and chuckled mockingly.
The girl turned to Adrian with a cold sharp gaze but he wasn't moved by any of it. “Is there anything you could do to save him?” She asked.
She wouldn't have asked the poor man for help but she had no alternative. Her brother was on the verge of dying and the nearest hospital was far from them.
“Yes, I do but I won't help him,” he said dominantly and they all flared up.
He ignored their hateful comments, crossed his arms, and stared at the young girl calmly.
“What are you saying, Adrian? You'd better save him if you have a way to cure the sickness unless we'll all be in trouble,” Brianna spoke up amidst the tension and he scoffed.
“What if I don't? They'll break my two arms so I won't be able to use crutches anymore,” he said and everywhere went silent.
“What!”“Who does he think he is? Trying to challenge General Lei Feng family?”“I think he has a dead wish.”“I can't wait to see what the dominant daughter of the General would do.”Just as they were commenting badly about Adrian's behavior, he was less concerned sitting comfortably on a swivel chair. “What's wrong with you, Adrian? You should help him if you can even though I'm sure you can't,” Brianna scolded him but he was unfazed any of it. “You're still doubting me. Well, I don't think I'll be able to do anything,” he said in a calm and meek tone. “Why are you doing this?”“That's because you were there when this scammer was discriminating me and you did nothing about it.”“Of course, you believed him over your son-in-law,” he said and swallowed the lump in his throat. His throat was burning with pain coupled with the overwhelming sadness in his mind. Although he appeared calm and cold, he was weak and heartbroken within. Those who were supposed to support him, were busy su
“I'm sorry, Mr. Daniel. I don't think I'll be able to help you considering how you embarrassed me over there so I'd suggest you step out of my way,” Adrian said conclusively, giving no room for any conversation. Mr. Daniel wiped off the bead of sweat that formed on his face as he noticed the indifferent look on his face. He wouldn't stoop so low to be begging for a low life if he didn't have what he needed in his possession and his life was at stake. Someone else was in danger and all the guests were all depending on him to turn the tides while he knew nothing about the problem. He had to find an excuse so he could meet up and ask the location of the leaf but it seemed Adrian didn't want to help him. If something happens to the lady, he will be blamed and punished by her powerful father. “Please forgive me, Mr. Adrian. I know I have offended you but I need your forgiveness. The lady will die if nothing is dead,” he said and Adrian chuckled softly. “You're only concerned about he
Adrian bit on his lower lips with an angry look on his face as his gaze on Brian, who had a sly smile on his face as he forced the sedative into the glass cup of drink she was holding. She was so carried away by his sweet words that she didn't notice what he was doing at that moment. He wanted to go forward and challenge Brian to spike the drink of his wife but he stopped himself as he remembered that he wasn't with any evidence. No one would believe it. He could only try to warn his wife to avoid and stay away from Brian. He had always known that Brian didn't have good intentions toward his wife but he didn't tell his wife because she would think he was jealous and she might get angry at him. And besides, she had been loyal to him.He took a cold breath when he remembered that his wife and his mother-in-law were angry at him for turning down General Lei Feng's daughter's offer. He could only hope that she would listen to him and stay away from Brian but he wouldn't be able to d
“How dare you!” Brian dropped his hand from Sarah's waist with a frustrated look on his face as he heard Adrian's voice from behind. He turned back and a soft gasp left his lips as his gaze landed on Adrian. He was awe-struck to see Adrian in his hotel room. Not only did Adrian have the gut to stalk him to the hotel but he also found his way into his hotel room. How did he do it? Why wasn't he thrown out?However, Brian remained unfazed. “It's a wonder how you managed to enter the hotel without being thrown by the security men,” Brian said and chuckled mockingly. Adrian's eyes burned with anger after hearing Brian's statement. He couldn't believe that Brian could still be talking to him in such a way despite what he did to his wife. He moved closer to him and clenched to the crutches with his left hand then raised his right hand and slapped him fiercely on his cheek. Brian staggered backward as the impact of the slap made him lose his stamina. He placed his hand on his right c
“Brian?” Sarah asked with a confused look on her face and he nodded his head. He placed his hand on his chest and cleared his throat. “That’s the truth. He brought you here.”“The other time that I warned you to stay away from him, I saw him putting a substance inside your drink while you were unaware. I warned him to stay away from you but he refused. I came…” she interrupted him with a deep frown on her face before he could finish explaining to her. “Can’t you hear yourself?” She asked with a cold look on her face. “You claimed that it was Brian who brought me to this place but how come that I'm here with you?” she asked in a cold tone and he shook his head with a sigh. He knew it would be hard to convince his wife that he was only trying to help her from the wolf in human clothing. “Please listen and try to understand me,” he said and crouched close to her but she sent a cold glare at him. “I won't. Keep whatever explanation you have to yourself,” she said and he bit on his l
“What!” Adrian gasped out in shock with a surprised look on his face. He couldn't understand why they wanted to arrest him just because he was having a nice time with his wife. Wasn't Sarah his wife? Why all of this? He wished he could get an answer to those questions that were disturbing his mind but he couldn't. He was clueless with no direction. Once again, he would be cheated upon. “Come with you to your custody? What do you mean, officer?” Adrian asked with a confused look, his heart was racing rapidly. “Yes, you have to come with me to the custody for interrogation,” the officer said in a cold tone and Brianna hissed. “What's the meaning of this, officer? I told you that he has sex with my daughter. He assaulted her and you're saying you want to take him away for interrogation.”“I thought you were supposed to take him away and lock him up in a cell,” Brianna said in an angry tone as she turned to the officer. “That's enough, madam. You can't tell me what to do so let me do
What! Adrian gasped out in shock and his mouth widened agape, unable to comprehend the revelation. How is that possible? He asked himself but he couldn't get an answer to himself. He didn't want to believe that the officer was lying. He needed to do something or he might end up in the cell for trying to save his wife, who was almost destroyed by the effect of the aphrodisiac drug. “You can't arrest me. I didn't bring her here,” he adamantly opposed and the officer became impatient. “Don't make me angry, Mr. Man. This is the proof before you so why are you still opposing me? If you don't comply, I would have to force you to then,” the officer said and Adrian kept quiet for a while. He took a deep breath. “You can't arrest me for the crime that I didn't commit. I didn't do anything to her,” he said in a cold tone. Sarah felt the sincerity in his voice but the anger boiling inside of her wouldn't let her admit it. “That's the proof before you. You can check it yourself,” the offic
Brian? He was surprised when he heard his name. He thought the officer called the wrong cellmate until the officer called him by his name after sending his doubt. Why would Brian want to see him and not his wife? Somehow, he was disappointed that it was Brian and not his wife who came to the police station to check up on him. He thought it was his wife at first and he was beginning to have hope until he discovered it was his wife. The level of disappointment he felt couldn't be explained. He wondered why she chose to believe a stranger over him. She would have believed him under any circumstances but she chose not to believe him now. “Are you sure of what you're saying, officer?” He asked and his cellmate scoffed inwardly. “Will you get up and stop questioning me? I thought I had answered your question earlier,” the policeman complained that something was wrong. “Whatever,” Adrian shook his head with a sigh and rolled his eyes at the officer, who failed to notice it because of t