Chris narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, voice cold and cutting.
"Have you suddenly gone dumb? I asked you a question and I expect an answer!"
Benjamin scoffed lightly, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
"You expect me to tell you whether these items are fake or real?" he replied, struggling to maintain composure. "Well, I won't answer a thing unless you pay $2.4 billion for the valuables you destroyed."
Chris let out a sharp, bitter laugh.
"I'd be the most foolish man on Earth to hand over that kind of money!" he snapped, his tone razor-edged.
Unable to hold herself back, Karen stormed across the room and delivered a resounding slap to Chris's cheek.
"How dare you destroy the precious gifts Benjamin brought for me!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the stunned banquet hall.
"You wrecked them when you can't even afford the cheapest among them!"
Chris's jaw tightened, his fingers flexing at his sides. He could have retaliated—but for Ava's sake, he swallowed the rage.
Karen glared at him, eyes blazing.
"You'll kneel and apologize to Mr. Burton or—"
"With all due respect, Aunt," Chris interrupted coldly, "not even in my seventeenth generation would I kneel before a fake billionaire."
The tension in the room thickened as Benjamin balled his fists. He stared at Chris, remembering a time when Chris deferred to him. Back then, Benjamin's wealth towered over Chris's. But now, everything had changed—and it stung.
"I'll let this slide, Chris," Benjamin said slowly, trying to reclaim his pride, "but only if you present something more valuable than my gifts."
Chris smirked.
"Do you mean the fake $2.4 billion valuation or the real $10 million worth?"
Benjamin's lips curled in mock amusement.
"Surpass the fake amount, then. I swear on my income—you can't even deliver gifts worth $500!"
Chris's gaze sharpened.
"And if I do?"
Benjamin tilted his head arrogantly.
"Then I'll kneel before you."
A snap of Chris's fingers silenced the murmurs. The banquet doors opened, and Miss Poison strode in with five Dragon members clad in black, each bearing trays draped in luxurious cloth.
Miss Poison's voice rang out clearly:
"A diamond necklace—$3 billion!"
"Ten golden wristwatches—$10 billion!"
"Rome's 500-year-old statue—$70 billion!"
"An elixir of life—$40 billion!"
"Key to an emerald villa—$470 billion!"
The trays were placed before Karen as gasps of disbelief rippled through the room.
"Total value—$500 billion," Miss Poison declared. "All presented by the command of the Dragon Lord."
All eyes turned to Chris, who stood motionless, hands deep in his pockets, face unreadable.
Benjamin staggered slightly, dumbfounded.
"How… how is this possible?" he murmured, eyes darting between Chris and Miss Poison.
Chris stepped forward casually, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
"I hope you're satisfied now, Aunt Karen." He turned toward Benjamin. "And this is why you never challenge the Dragon Lord."
Miss Poison bowed slightly.
"Mrs. Nile, please accept this humble token from the Dragon Lord. We'll take our leave now."
As she turned to exit, Karen stepped forward.
"Thank you… truly, I—"
Miss Poison interrupted coolly.
"No need. The Dragons waste no time once sent." She and her entourage vanished into the night.
Ava's heart raced.
Did Chris order all that? How did he gain such power? Something's definitely off…
Chris's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Keep your word, Benjamin. You said you'd kneel if I delivered more than $500."
Benjamin barked a laugh, dripping with scorn.
"You really think I'll kneel? The gifts were from the Dragon Lord! Weren't you listening?" he spat. "They weren't presented in your name, so you get nothing from me!"
Chris's fists clenched at his sides, knuckles turning white. He could have forced Benjamin down—but he remembered the secrecy he'd ordered Miss Poison to keep.
Benjamin turned to Karen, his face tight with frustration.
"I'm leaving, Mrs. Nile." He paused and sneered at Chris.
"I'm not finished with you, Chris. My brother took your precious wife—and now I'll take Ava. You'll always be a second-hand man."
He leaned in slightly. "Remember calling me 'Boss'? You'll do it till the day you die." With that, he stormed out.
Chris exhaled slowly, battling the fury rising inside him. Instead of retaliating, he approached Mr. Josh Nile—his godfather—and bowed respectfully. The man had once rescued him when he was cast aside by Mr. Jones, raising him like a son. But Karen… Karen had never accepted him.
That was why Chris hid his true identity. He needed to shield Ava and her family from the enemies hunting him—Benjamin being one of the worst.
Chris made a vow right there. He would never allow Benjamin to marry Ava.
To ensure that, he chose to live with Ava in her family home. Karen resisted at first, but once they returned, she called him into the dining room.
She folded her arms, eyes steely.
"I only took you in because we raised you. Even though you're an ex-convict, I let you in again. But don't think you'll live here freeloading on my daughter's salary!"
Chris met her gaze calmly.
"I understand, Aunt. I'll find a job."
Karen raised a brow.
"I already arranged one for you."
Chris blinked.
"Excuse me? You… already found me a job?"
"Yes." Karen replied crisply. "I spoke to Mr. Burton. He agreed. Starting tomorrow, you'll be working for him in his company."