Chapter: A Threat
Kancy cheerfully suggested, “Gear, since it’s lunchtime, let’s all go together!” Za nodded enthusiastically at the imitation. Soon, Mancy led us to an upscale Florian restaurant that screamed luxury from every corner.
When we arrived, she flashed a mischievous smile and said, “I need to handle something personal. Please order whatever you like. It’s all excellent.” After that, she disappeared into the back of the restaurant. I noticed her smoothly plucking a rose from a vase near the reception desk as she passed. Soon, she was standing in front of a young man wearing a hoodie and sneakers, presenting him with the rose. His eyes lit up instantly as he exclaimed, “Nancy, you finally made it! It’s been so long!” They immediately fell into animated conversation.
Impressed by her smooth moves in winning over the young man, I shook my head and led Za to a table. When the waiter brought the menus, I nearly choked at the prices. This would have been painful if I had been paying, but since Nancy was footing the bill, I decided to indulge. I ordered several intriguing dishes that caught my eye before passing the menus to Za. She seemed nervous, fidgeting with the menus before whispering, “Mr. Yates, I’m not good at ordering.” Her face flushed adorably as she spoke, reminiscent of a girl next door. I reassured her, saying, “Relax, someone else is treating us. So, enjoy the food.” This seemed to put her at ease, and she carefully selected two dishes before returning the menu to the waiter.
Suddenly, a group of tall, handsome guys approached our table. Their leader pointed his phone camera at us. As he lowered his phone, I recognized him—it was Jack. “Owen?” Jackson called out with fake enthusiasm. Then, he turned to his friends, smirking as he added loudly, “This is my cousin, the one who married into the wealthy Jennings family.” He emphasized the last part with obvious contempt despite his smile. Za looked surprised, clearly unaware of my marital status. The three men came forward to greet me, creating an awkward atmosphere.
“Hey Owen, Jackson’s told us about you. He said you’re not much and have quite the attitude. Apparently, your ‘cooling skills’ are what got Ms. Jennings head over heels,” one of them said. Another chimed in, “Thanks to Jackson treating us to this fancy lunch, we finally meet you. While you might not be much to look at, being a good caretaker is certainly a skill. It’s pretty impressive.”
I found their amateur attempts at provocation, clearly orchestrated by Jackson, rather amusing. I gave them all a calm once-over, including Jackson and his snarky friends, while casually pouring myself some water. I said, “Hello, Jackson’s friends. While you guys might be lacking in both IQ and EQ, at least you’re physically and somewhat presentable. Jackson’s truly blessed to have such… companions.” Za could barely contain her laughter, while everyone else’s expressions turned hilariously sour.
Jackson’s face darkened as he snapped, “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you insulting us?” While his friends glared at me, I glanced at Jackson dismissively and replied, “If you understand, there’s no need to state the obvious—unless you’re really that slow.” Jackson was left speechless, gritting his teeth in anger while I maintained my composure and sipped my water. After being reborn, I had no intention of indulging him anymore, especially now that I was finally independent and did not need to worry about him or his mother pressuring my dad.
Taking a deep breath, Jackson composed himself and looked at Za. “So, Chwen, who’s this? I don’t think I’ve seen her before.” I gave him a sidelong glance and simply said, “Friend.” Za stood up politely and introduced herself, “Hello, I’m Moore, Mr. Yates’ colleague.”
Jackson looked her up and down derisively before leaning close to my ear and whispering, “Owen, you’re an amazing man. Even if Yvette doesn’t care about you, you can’t use her money to at least make your lies believable. How can she be your colleague when you don’t even have a job?” Before I could respond, Za jumped up nervously, accidentally bumping the table and wincing in pain. She argued, “You’ve got it wrong. I have a boyfriend. Mr. Yates and I are just colleagues.” Jackson sneered, “Shut it, gold digger. I’m talking to Owen, so keep out of it.”
I was clearly flustered by this sudden attack, and her actions made me wonder how she had managed to fight with Yvette for years in my previous life. I silently doubted she had lasted a day. Taking the opportunity, Jackson and his friends made themselves comfortable at our table. Then, he started pretending to show concern, saying, “Owen, Yvette is smart, beautiful, and from a powerful family. The fact that she’s got her books down on you only proves you’re not good enough. But that doesn’t mean you should give up and go for someone like this. If you’re going to find someone else, at least find someone better.” He clicked his tongue, showing his distaste. While fiddling with a video on his phone, he added with a meaningful smile, “Wonder what Yvette would think if she saw this?”
I maintained my smile and replied calmly, “Deal. And send it. You’ve been flapping your gums so much, you might as well back it up with some actions, right?” Za nearly choked, her eyes wide. Jackson’s face turned ashen. I casually played with my phone and responded nonchalantly, “My wife knows what type of person I am, and I don’t need you poking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” His hand slammed on the table. “Oh, you’ve got some nerve! You’re having an affair and still talking back?” “You should worry about yourself and what you’re up to, you like!”
“That vanity, fake smiles, and scheming. You’re a walking, talking lie, only knowing how to take what’s not yours. It doesn’t take a genius to see through that.”
“This?” Jackson exploded, his eyes bulging. “What? Deal listener – I’ve been recording everything. If you don’t explain yourself, I’m sending this video to Yvette and your dad.” He threatened, “Let’s see who gets to you—item or me!”