Fifty Bucks Worth of Cake

Loud noises of tables and chairs being overturned echoed from the phone.

Draco’s excited voice followed, “Boss, is it really you?! Where have you been!? You’ve been missing for all this time and it almost drove us mad!

“Since your identity is confidential, we are not permitted to locate you without official orders.”

Kaze sighed and said, “I got into some trouble. I’m fine now. I have recovered.”

“Someone tried to harm you? Who is it? Just one word, boss! Me and the guys will raze them to the ground,” Draco said angrily.

“It’s okay,” Kaze replied coldly. He did not want others to be involved in his affair with the Lee family. He must end it with his own hands and his own hands alone.

“I have something that I need you to do. Arrange for Sky High Investment Group to enter Lilyrose by tonight and announce an investment in the city worth ten billion.”

He served in the army for three years. Not only did he lead his men to battle, but he also founded a business empire in another country—the Sky High Investment Group.

He wanted to use his company to help Darcy.

“Yes, sir!” Draco answered vigorously. “Boss, I’ll come to Lilyrose right away. While you were away, domestic and foreign enemies grew restless. I have something I must inform you in person.”

“Alright.”

…

That night, Sky High Investment Group declared its entry to Lilyrose City.

The news exploded and spread across every nook and cranny of the city as everyone knew this would be a great opportunity to reshuffle the city’s power dynamics.

Sky High Investment Group was one of the top companies in the world. They controlled a great amount of funds and specialized in investment.

Any lucky family or company in Lilyrose City that managed to get an investment from Sky High Investment Group would rise to prominence within the city in no time.

On the next day, Kaze was discharged and he made his way to visit the Quint family.

Meanwhile, at the Quint family’s mansion, Master Quint’s seventieth birthday event was being held.

The place was lively and crowded.

“Granddaughter, Deborah Quint, an antique teapot worth six hundred thousand.”

“Grandson, Samus Quint, a golden antique statue worth four hundred thousand.”

The young ones were presenting their presents to Master Quint at the main hall while the butler announced the value of the presents.

Sitting in the master’s seat, Master Quint looked delighted by his grandchildren’s generosity.

Everyone was in a celebratory mood until Darcy arrived.

“Granddaughter, Darcy Quint, a cake worth… fifty!”

Everyone looked at Darcy with the cake in her hand, surprised.

“Embarrassment! Are you seriously giving me a cake?!” Master Quint bellowed and his expression turned grim.

“Grandfather, I…”

Darcy wanted to explain but her cousin, Deborah Quint, scoffed and stopped her. “Darcy, this is Grandfather’s seventieth birthday. All of us prepared tens of thousands worth of presents for him and you are giving him a cake? Aren’t you a little too cheap?”

Deborah was never close with Darcy because she was jealous of Darcy’s looks.

Darcy was consumed by bitterness. She explained timidly, “Deborah, it’s not that I don’t want to, but my family is deep in debt and our company is on the brink of bankruptcy. This is all…”

“What’s wrong? Blaming poverty now? You have no money so it becomes an excuse for you to present a cheap cake to Grandfather?”

Slap!

Deborah scoffed and slammed the cake to the ground.

“Not even a dog will eat this cake. I don’t know what gives you the nerves to bring this here to embarrass yourself and Grandfather.”

Darcy teared up while staring at the fallen cake.

She spent an entire night baking the cake, which symbolized her heartfelt feelings, but they were not appreciated by her extended family.

Then, Deborah’s brother, Samus Quint, approached with a contemptuous gaze.

“Darcy, are you trying to simply brush us off with a cheap cake and feast on the food later?”

“Grandfather did prepare a feast and I believe you and your family aren’t in the condition to even have a proper meal.”

His words amused everyone else.

“Samus is right. I think Darcy and her family are here for the food only.”

“They are in no position to taste the food Grandfather prepared.”

“Tell the kitchen to make them instant ramen instead!”

“You overestimated them. Just give them leftovers from yesterday. It's already a blessing for them.”

Even Master Quint was amused by the terrible joke. The grimace on his face softened and he said, “Just give them some noodles. Leftovers are for dogs.”

“Grandfather is too kind.”

“Darcy, hurry up and thank Grandfather for his kindness,” Deborah said with disdain.

Darcy bit her lips, her eyes teared up, and unable to speak a word due to the grievance felt.

“Enough. The feast is starting. Deborah, arrange for everyone to be seated.”

Master Quint did not care about Darcy’s reaction. He simply told Deborah to announce the seating for the rest of the family.

With Master Quint’s order, Deborah stepped up and made the announcement.

“For family members who contributed more than ten million, the main table.”

“For family members who contributed more than five million, the first row.”

“For family members who contributed more than one million, the second row.”

…

Soon, all the Quints were seated, except for Darcy and her family.

The three of them were left standing in awkwardness.

Embarrassed, Darcy asked, “Deborah, where are we sitting?”

Deborah scoffed. “You guys? You see that folded table in the corner? That’s yours. Sit down and the kitchen will make you some instant ramen.”

It was pure insult.

Darcy held her tears back and said, “We are family, why are you doing this to us?”

Deborah scoffed. “What’s wrong, not happy with the decision? The seats are prepared for those who made a contribution. The bigger the contribution, the better the seat; the lesser the contribution, the worse it would be.”

Then, a rich voice came from outside the door, saying, “Then where is the seat for those who contributed ten billion?”

Ten billion?

Who spoke with such audacity?

Everyone looked at the entrance and saw Kaze.

They laughed as if they saw a clown.

“And here I thought it was someone else. It’s Kaze the retard!”

“He doesn’t even know how much ten billion is. I guess the zeroes are enough to confuse him.”

Master Quint tapped his seat made with pure solid wood. “If you can contribute ten billion, how about I give you my seat?”

“Too bad the retard can’t even contribute a penny!”

Everyone laughed again.

Deborah shouted in disgust, “Darcy, how dare you let the retard through our door? Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is?”

Darcy and her parents wished there were holes big enough to bury themselves from the embarrassment.

“You stupid retard, what are you doing here? Get the hell out!”

Darcy’s mother, Agnes Quint, née Otter, swung her hand to slap Kaze but he dodged it easily.

Everyone was surprised. They looked at Kaze strangely.

The retard could never react in time and always received a beating.

What happened to him today? Was he no longer a retard?

Candidate for Succession

“Kaze, you’ve recovered?!”

Seeing the clarity in Kaze’s eyes, Darcy covered her mouth in disbelief, thrilled to see her husband looking lively.

“Yes, Darcy, I have recovered.”

Kaze looked at Darcy as his eyes teared up despite having gone through countless brutal fights on the battlefield himself.

Darcy broke down in tears instantly. She was thrilled to see Kaze healthy.

Kaze pulled her into his arms. He felt sorry for putting her through so much suffering all these years.

“Hmph. So what if you’ve recovered? You are still a piece of trash,” Deborah said with a scoff.

She sat down, pointed at the folded table in the corner, and said loudly, “Get over there and sit down. Contributing ten billion? What a joke!”

Kaze frowned. He wanted to argue but Darcy stopped him and dragged him over to the corner.

The four of them sat at the folded table.

The others were having a feast whereas Darcy and her family were served four cups of ramen.

Master Quint at the center seat looked at the ebullient atmosphere and his heart filled with grandeur.

“Quiet everyone, I have an announcement to make.”

Everyone put down their cutleries and listened.

Master Quint nodded in satisfaction and said, “I believe everyone has received news of Sky High Investment Group making a high-profile entrance to Lilyrose City.

“The Sky High Investment Group is a world-class company, a titan in the industry. Their coming to our city will be a great chance for the power hierarchy to reshuffle, and it will be an opportunity for our family.

“Our family might be second-tier, living a decent life, but other families can easily overtake us in power. That’s why we must seize this chance to get an investment from Sky High Investment Group. Even if it’s just a little, it will be enough for us to live a carefree life and rise to the next level of power.”

Master Quint got excited as he explained. His face flushed as he continued, “I hereby announce that whoever of us obtain an investment from Sky High Investment Group will be entitled to ten percent of the company shares, and… the position of general manager!”

The shocking news left everyone in shock and awe.

“Ten percent of the company shares is a huge sum of money! We can use it on anything we like!”

“The most important thing is the position of general manager! That’s the second highest position in the company!”

“But it's a difficult task. I heard many families in the city are lining up to meet the representatives from Sky High Investment Group.”

While everyone was in a heated discussion, Deborah got on her feet.

“Grandfather, don’t worry. I’ll definitely get the investment! I have already asked Vincent to submit a proposal to them. I believe we will get a reply from Sky High soon.”

Her words shocked everyone. They were jealous of Deborah’s influential support.

Vincent Hanser was her boyfriend, the eldest son of a first-tier family in Lilyrose.

With Vincent’s help, it was almost certain that she would get the investment from Sky High Investment Group.

“Good! Good! You are indeed the best among my grandchildren, Deborah! Your birthday is in three days and I’ll make sure you get the grandest birthday party!”

Master Quint was thrilled. “Deborah, if you secure the investment, you will be the next in line to inherit the family business!”

As soon as Master Quint made the announcement, Darcy and her family were shocked.

As part of the extended family, everyone was extremely sensitive toward the position of the heir, especially Darcy’s father who was the second son.

Deborah’s father was the eldest son, and her family never treated Darcy and her family well. If Master Quint passed and Deborah was chosen as the heir, then Darcy and her family would suffer.

Looking at the pale looks on his in-laws’ faces, Kaze said, “Grandfather, does it mean that if Darcy gets the investment, she will also be made a candidate for succession?”

His question silenced everyone.

Pft!

Samus scoffed when he heard the question. “Kaze, are you still a retard or what? Darcy getting the investment? With what? With you and your retarded brain? Eat your ramen and shut up! I bet after this meal, you and your family will starve again.”

Deborah lifted her head and looked at Kaze in disdain. “Retard, you might not know since you’ve just recovered but Darcy and her parents are deep in debt. They are selling whatever they can and borrowing money everywhere. I wonder if Darcy has to sell herself to put food on the table.

“Oh, I remember it’s Darcy’s birthday as well in three days. We share the same birthday anyway, but we definitely don’t share the same financial status. She’s living in poverty. Why doesn’t she pick up the cake that she made and keep it for three days later?”

Everyone laughed. They all looked at Kaze and Darcy scornfully.

The insults made Darcy cry. Sobbing, she said, “Deborah, where is your conscience? You snatched my company away and put me in charge of your declining company. The debts originally belonged to you…”

Deborah stopped her immediately and cried, “Darcy, one more word from that mouth of yours and I’ll slap it off! You are useless, don’t put the blame on me!”

The atmosphere got tense as a catfight almost broke out between the two ladies.

“Enough.”

Master Quint spoke to calm the atmosphere. He then said, “Kaze, if Darcy gets an investment from Sky High, I will clear her debts and give them back the bonuses from previous years.”

Darcy’s parents, Agnes and Hector Quint, were delighted by Master Quint’s promise.

Ever since Kaze left on Darcy’s wedding night, the family’s annual bonus had been confiscated by Master Quint, and a few million in total at that.

If they could get the bonuses, then their lives would change for the better.

However, before they could fully embrace that idea, Master Quint added, "But Darcy must also recover the debt from Pietro Beneli!"

Agnes and Hector were stunned, while the rest were surprised.

Pietro Beneli was a well-known gangster in Lilyrose City.

Other family members tried to recover the debt from him before and they were almost beaten to death.

Master Quint’s request was obviously trying to put Darcy in a difficult situation.

In a panic, Agnes exclaimed, "No, Father! It's too risky! What if something happens to Darcy? What if they harm her?"

Deborah then feigned a difficult look and said, “Aunt Agnes, it’s okay if she doesn’t want to go, but you and your family won’t be able to make a comeback for the rest of your lives.”

Upon hearing Deborah, Darcy and her family turned deathly pale.

Darcy was in a dilemma.

Then, Kaze held her hand and whispered, “Darcy, take the offer.”

What?! Darcy thought she heard him wrong.

She frowned and whispered back, “Kaze, what are you talking about? That’s Pietro Beneli, it’s not possible to try to recover the debt!”

Kaze confidently said, “Darcy, trust me. Take the offer and I’ll help you recover the debt.”

Pietro Beneli

Looking at Kaze’s confident face, Darcy hesitated. She thought of her family’s current financial situation and it gave her no choice. She bit the bullet, got up, and said, “Grandfather, I’ll go and recover the debt.”

“You stupid girl! Are you crazy? What if that gangster ripped your face apart? Henry wouldn’t want you then!”

Agnes panicked.

The others were shocked, including Master Quint. No one expected Darcy to take up the task.

Samus and the others gloated at her. He then took a five-dollar bill and tossed it at Darcy. “This is for your bravery and for you to take the bus back.”

Deborah crossed her arms and said with raised brows, “You agreed to go yourself. If anything happens to you, don't blame us.”

Kaze glared at the few of them coldly. He did not even want to argue with them because they were simply clowns.

He held Darcy’s hand and left the mansion.

Meanwhile, Darcy’s parents were giddy with anxiety. Agnes gritted her teeth, “We must ask Henry to help us, he’s our only hope. Henry has always liked Darcy…”

…

Meanwhile in Loco Town, Darcy held two bags of fruit in her hands as she reminded Kaze, “Remember, mind your words, don’t speak if you don’t know what’s going on. Don’t anger the man.”

Kaze nodded. Darcy was slightly relieved.

Just when they wanted to knock on Pietro’s office door, a series of hurried honks sounded behind them.

A pink Porsche stopped beside the two of them. The window wound down to reveal Deborah’s mean face.

“Geez, you two are really here to recover the debt? I thought you were just bluffing.”

“Deborah? What are you doing here?” Darcy frowned and questioned her impatiently.

“I’m here to buy a car. Unlike you two who are stupid enough to come here knowing that the guy will beat you up.”

Deborah had a pair of sunglasses on and it amplified her arrogance. “After you two left, Grandfather distributed the bonus to all of us. We got an extra two million this year, and I’m buying myself a new car as a birthday present. Unlike you who can’t even afford a better restaurant on your birthday.”

Darcy’s fists clenched upon hearing Deborah. She was slightly shaking.

Kaze grinned and scoffed, “Deborah, it’s just two million, what’s there to show off? Sky High Investment Group hates people who like to show off the little money they have, like you. Don’t even think about getting the investment.”

“You!”

Deborah was furious. She scoffed and said, “You retard, you can really speak now. I hope you can keep it up when you ask Pietro for the money.”

She got out of the car and strutted into Pietro’s office.

Darcy and Kaze followed her inside.

They entered a spacious office with a man wearing a flamboyant golden necklace. He had a saleswoman sitting on his lap and his hands were all over her voluptuous body.

The terrible scar on his face could easily scare people off.

The uninvited guests made Pietro angry. He shouted, “Who the f*ck are you? Get the hell out! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?”

The man was as fierce as rumored.

Pietro’s shout made Deborah sweat nervously. She stammered, “P-Pietro, I’m Deborah. Vincent recommended that I buy a car here.”

Upon hearing Deborah, Pietro raised his brows and switched his annoyance for a wide smile. “Deborah Quint? I see. Welcome. Please have a seat.”

He did receive a call from Vincent informing him of Deborah’s arrival. Since it was a request from a first-tier family, he had to oblige.

He usually served customers with a strong background or reputation himself, which was one of his tactics of creating a connection with the powerful and wealthy.

“And these two are…” Pietro asked when he saw two more people at the door.

Seeing Pietro’s drastic change of attitude, Deborah felt relieved.

She spoke as if she was seeking attention, “Pietro, remember the debt you owe the Quint family? These two are here to collect the debt from you. But don’t worry, I have nothing to do with this, I’m just here to buy a car.”

“I see.”

Pietro nodded upon hearing Deborah. He leaned back in his seat and stared at Darcy and Kaze with his sharp eyes. “I did not expect such audacity from the two of you, to come down here to Loco Town to collect the debt. You two must have a death wish.”

Darcy shuddered when she saw Pietro’s frosty glare. She instinctively took a step back and said, “Pietro, we really need the money back. Please, give us the money back or my family and I won’t make it.”

“What does your family’s situation have to do with me?” Pietro said and scoffed.

He continued scornfully, “The land that Loco Town is built on is mine. On my turf, if I say I ain't paying, then I ain't paying. What you gonna do about it, huh?”

Darcy bitterly curled her lips, her eyes were overflowing with despair.

Then, Kaze spoke, “Since when do you have total control over Loco Town’s land, Pietro Beneli?”

Pietro was surprised when Kaze called his full name. He grinned coldly and said impatiently, “Punk, do you have any idea what you are saying?”

Deborah joined Pietro and scolded Kaze, “You retard. Pietro is the owner of Loco Town, of course he’s in charge. Kneel down and apologize!”

Darcy turned pale. She tugged Kaze’s sleeve anxiously, signaling him to stop talking.

Kaze was not afraid of the threats. He continued, “Am I wrong? This land actually belongs to Giovani Beneli, and you are just a watchdog.”

On the way here, Kaze had received Pietro’s background information on his phone.

Pietro was working for Giovani, and Giovani once served under Draco.

Pietro was infuriated by the disrespect, but he forcefully suppressed the anger. His brows furrowed as he asked, “You know my boss?”

“I don’t,” Kaze said. He did not need to know someone who served under his men.

“No? Are you fucking with me?!” Pietro bellowed as his expression turned vicious.

Deborah then fanned the flames from the side, saying, “Pietro, how could he even know Giovani? He’s Kaze Lee, a useless retard who married into our family.”

A guy who married into the Quint family?

Pietro widened his eyes in astonishment.

At the next moment, his anger erupted as if he was insulted.

He cracked his fists as he glared at Kaze viciously.

“Very well.” Pietro clenched his teeth. “It has been years since someone tries to fuck with me!”

Deborah could not hold back her delight when Pietro got mad. She thought this would be the end of the retard.

“Pietro, please, calm down…”

Darcy was at a loss for action. She tried her best to talk some sense into Pietro, “Kaze didn’t mean it. Please don’t mind…”

Pietro did not listen to her. He raised his hand and more than a dozen men rushed into the office.

Each one of them looked vicious and tough.

Darcy could barely stand still when the men rushed in.

Fortunately, Kaze held her up.

“Pietro, you scared my wife.”

A killer aura appeared when Kaze furrowed his brows.

Pietro did not notice it at all. He shouted, “So what if I did? You f*ck with me, so don’t think about getting out here in one piece!”

He glared at Kaze viciously. The men were waiting for an order to charge at Kaze.

Suddenly, Pietro’s phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and was shocked. He ran to the corner immediately and picked up the phone.

The viciousness on his face was replaced by a strange look of obedience and timidity.

“Boss? What is it? A man and a woman at my place? One of them has the family name of Lee?”