Chapter Seventy FiveThe crowd stood transfixed, mouths agape, as the impossible unfolded before them. Jasmine’s Benz, which had sunk to the river’s depths just moments ago, was now rising steadily, supported by hidden floaters that popped out around it, keeping it buoyant. The car glistened under the lights, looking pristine, without a single scratch marring its surface. It bobbed gently on the water’s surface, gleaming like new, the only sign it had been submerged being the droplets sliding off and a faint coating of mud on the tires.Henry calmly pulled a sleek remote from his pocket, his thumb hovering over the control. With a slight, calculated movement, he pressed a button, and to everyone’s astonishment, the Benz responded, gliding smoothly toward the shore, its engine humming softly as it drove itself out of the water, guided by artificial intelligence.“This… can’t be!” Alexander stammered, his face pale as he stared in utter disbelief. His jaw dropped as he watched the car
Chapter Seventy Six Damon’s wife turned her nose up in disgust, her lip curling as she caught sight of the tag on the clay pot. “Charlie’s name,” she muttered, her voice filled with disdain. “I’m not surprised.” She raised her voice so the entire room could hear, her tone dripping with condescension. “If you can’t afford a proper gift, kindly don’t bring any gift at all,” she sneered, rolling her eyes before tossing the pot aside. Alexander’s face lit up with renewed purpose, spotting his chance to get back at Henry for his earlier embarrassment. He stepped forward, crossing his arms and smirking. “I knew it. How stupid and insulting to bring a toy clay pot to a prestigious gathering like this,” he jeered, his laughter sharp and mocking. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Henry.” Alexander’s laugh grew louder, feeding off the gasps and curious murmurs of the crowd. Damon’s wife, feeling her own irritation rise, picked up the pot again, glaring at it as if it had personally of
Chapter Seventy SevenMoments later, Damon’s mother-in-law entered the room, her posture radiating elegance and authority. She strode over to the clay pot, lifting it with a smirk of disdain as she inspected it under the light. Her experienced eyes scanned every inch of it, and after a thorough examination, she shook her head, pursing her lips in disappointment.“This is fake,” she declared, her voice loud enough to silence the room. “I’ve never seen anything like this claiming to be gold.” She looked at Henry with a raised eyebrow, her expression a mix of suspicion and ridicule. The room erupted, her statement setting off a wave of murmurs and taunts. Alexander was the first to leap in, a grin spreading across his face as he seized the opportunity.“I knew it!” he sneered, pointing at Henry with a triumphant glint in his eyes. “How foolish to think you could fool us with a ‘toy gold’ pot at a prestigious gathering like this. You should be ashamed of yourself, Henry.” His voice dri
Chapter Seventy EightThe room grew tense as Damon took a shaky step forward, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear edging into his tone. “What exactly are you here for?” he asked, his eyes darting nervously between the thugs.The thug leader, a burly man with a jagged scar across his cheek, sneered and crossed his arms. “We’re real estate moguls,” he said mockingly, the sarcasm dripping from his voice. “You didn’t pay your development levy, Damon. So now, you have two options: either pay up or watch us walk out with that gold pot.”A ripple of murmurs passed through the guests, who instinctively backed away, giving the thugs a wide berth. Damon’s eyes flitted from the thugs to the gold pot, anxiety tightening his chest.Alexander, always eager to run his mouth, swaggered forward, his drunken confidence all too apparent. “Well, isn’t that an easy fix?” he slurred, his smirk smug and proud. “My father is a real estate tycoon, part of the HEXAGON CONSORTIUM. They make billion
Chapter Seventy Nine The thug leader paused, his gaze shifting to Henry with a curious glint in his eye. For a moment, he simply stared, then, as though struck by sudden recognition, he dipped his head in a respectful bow.“Henry, how are you doing?” the thug boss said, his tone laced with surprising deference. “I didn’t know it was you.”Henry blinked, momentarily confused, trying to place the man. But the thug leader continued, not giving him a chance to respond. “We met at the bank a while back,” he explained. “Your mother-in-law and her friends were having some issues, and you helped her out. We didn’t know who you were, but we respect your power. It’s like you’re a lord commander or something from another life.”The thug leader’s tone was so reverent that the crowd looked on in stunned silence. He kept his eyes on Henry, nodding as if he were in the presence of a superior.“No worries, Damon,” the thug leader said, still glancing occasionally at Henry with a measure of awe. “He
Chapter Eighty Henry stepped out of the bedroom, his gaze softening as he took in the sight of Jasmine. She looked radiant, her white silk dress cascading down like a waterfall, and the delicate crystal headband added an almost ethereal glow. A proud smile spread across his face as he walked over, offering her a single red rose."You look breathtaking," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her forehead gently.Jasmine’s cheeks flushed slightly as she took the rose, smiling up at him.“Thank you. You’ve really gone all out tonight… but you still haven’t told me what this surprise is.” She raised an eyebrow playfully, her curiosity evident.Henry chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Patience, my love. Trust me, it’ll be worth the wait.”Soon, they were on their way in her Benz, the city lights flashing by as they drove. Jasmine kept stealing glances at Henry, trying to read his expression, but he remained cool and calm, his face giving nothing away. After a while, she couldn’t help
Chapter Eighty One The CEO, noticing Jasmine’s amused reaction to Kim’s obvious attempt at flaunting her relationship, turned to her with a polite but serious expression. Clearing his throat, he addressed her directly. “Just to clarify, Ms. Jasmine,” he began, “Kim Al isn’t my… ‘sugar baby,’ as you might think. In fact, we recently married in a private ceremony after my wife passed away. We wanted to avoid the public eye.” Jasmine blinked, her eyebrows lifting slightly, caught off guard by the unexpected news. Kim, catching this reaction, tilted her chin up, her face lighting up with smug satisfaction. She leaned into the CEO’s arm and laughed, a sharp, mocking sound that rang out. “Don’t mind them, my love,” Kim purred, glancing disdainfully at Jasmine and Henry. “Poor, dirty people are always going to have their little issues.” Her voice was filled with scorn. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t even allowed to sit inside. Maybe they’ll end up standing in the back with t
Chapter Eighty TwoThe CEO’s face twisted in fury, his normally calm demeanor shattered as he stared at Kim K. His voice was low, filled with barely restrained anger. “Kim,” he said through gritted teeth, “I cannot believe you would humiliate me like this in front of everyone. This… this is beyond anything I could have imagined.” Kim, realizing her grip on her new life was slipping fast, knelt down right there on the polished floor, tears streaming down her face. She reached out, clutching at the hem of his suit in desperation. “Please,” she choked out, her voice trembling. “I’m begging you. Don’t leave me. I… I’ve changed. I’m a new person now. Please, just forgive me.”The guests looked on, whispering in hushed tones as she sobbed. Kim’s mascara began to run, her carefully composed appearance unraveling as she pleaded with her husband. All the confidence and arrogance she had exuded just moments ago had dissolved, leaving her looking broken and desperate.The CEO’s face hardened,