“The new mayor of Lilyrose will show the old guy the utmost respect?” Kaze looked at Trent with a pretentious smile. “Oh, really? Who is he? I know nothing about him.” He found Pete’s statement hilarious because he was the new mayor. “You’re cocky, young man. Who are you?” Trent grimaced. Pierce called Trent for two reasons. In a way, this was his way of apologizing to the Glitters and making up for walking away when Kaze scared him. He also wanted Trent to find out who Kaze was. Hence, Pierce left out the information that Kaze might be the new mayor. Heck, he did not even let Trent know anything about Kaze. Trent knew nothing about Kaze. Lyon said angrily, “You’re the son-in-law of the Quints, Kaze. You were lucky to be the chairman of Shangrila Group thanks to your wife’s help. “I don’t know how you managed to seek Johnson’s favor. So you have a friend in high places. “Do you think you’re untouchable? “I’ll be honest with you. Your connections and social stat
Everybody there was stunned. Um… It was bad enough that Kaze kept testing Trent’s patience. Now, he was reprimanding Trent as if he stood on higher ground. The young man, who was no more than 30 years old, was just a boy before Trent’s presence. The nerve of Kaze. Where did he find the courage to take jabs at the former mayor? The crowd was speechless. It was clear to them that Kaze did not know how to read the room. Trent smirked in rage. “I have walked this earth longer than you, young man. Who are you to tell me off?“I was the mayor of the city for twenty years, and the people love me. “The only thing I heard about you is your reputation as a mooching son-in-law of the Quints.“I don’t know why you think it’s appropriate for you to give me a dressing down.” Trent’s tone was flat. He had never met such an arrogant prick. Kaze smiled callously. “It’s just a nice reminder. “It’s your business whether you want to take my advice. “Don’t keep bringing up the
Apart from Kaze and Draco, everybody else in the villa pricked up their ears. They wanted to know Johnson’s response. Maybe Trent’s stern tone pressured Johnson for an answer. The latter did not keep the crowd waiting for long. Johnson replied eagerly, “Why do you ask, Trent?“No, I’m not his friend in high places.” The urgency in his tone gave the impression of his keenness to dissociate from Kaze. Mocking gazes fell on Kaze. “Yesterday’s news?” “Now you know the extent of Mr. Fuller’s influence. Your friend dropped you without hesitation.”“Who do you think you are to be rude to Mr. Fuller? You’re asking for it.” “Mr. Fuller can crush you without lifting a finger.” Lyon and members of the Four Ocean Commerce Guild were left frustrated since Kaze’s arrival. Finally, Trent broke the cycle. They attacked Kaze with taunts and jeers to blow off steam. Trent turned to Kaze and said callously, “What do you have to say for yourself?” He expected to see Kaze turnin
“What? You can’t?” Johnson’s response stirred an uproar. “Why? Kaze is just the son-in-law of the Quints. Yet, Mayor Brooks defied his teacher for him. Did I hear that right?” “Johnson didn’t punish Kaze for upsetting Mr. Glitter in his name and disrespecting Mr. Fuller. What is he thinking?” No one could figure out why Johnson would do such a thing. Kaze was just a loser who took his wife’s last name. Given Johnson’s steady rise in politics, he could just say the word to make Kaze pay. Even Trent could not wrap his head around it. No one expected Johnson’s shocking response. After reeling in from the shock, Trent blew up. “What’s the meaning of this, Johnson? “You can’t even handle a trivial matter. I can’t believe you were the mayor.” On the other end of the line, Johnson said patiently, “Anything to do with Mr. Lee is out of my hands, Trent. “I’d advise you to stay out of it too. “If you are not deeply involved, you can apologize to Mr. Lee. I believe Mr. L
“Johnson just hung up on you. Shouldn’t you learn your lesson by now, old man?” Kaze shook his head. Despite his age, Trent was stubborn and refused to admit he was wrong. “Hmph! Do you think I care about Johnson?” Trent said curtly, “He was only the mayor for a couple of years. He didn’t even get the hang of the job yet. “I’ll show you whose voice carries weight on the council.” Trent stubbornly thought Johnson was Kaze’s friend in high places. Johnson’s statement about not getting in Kaze’s business was just his way of washing his hands of the matter and humiliating Trent. Kaze was not powerful and well-connected as Johnson hinted. Otherwise, Kaze would not marry into an upper-middle-class family and take his wife’s last name. “I can say the word and make the Quints the public enemy, boy,” Trent threatened grimacingly. He would not let the matter go until Kaze yielded to him. Kaze furrowed his brows. He was disinterested in going around in circles with Trent.
The military had always been an extraordinary existence in Arcadia. Even the most prominent families would put their attitude down a notch in the face of the army. Trent’s heart skipped a beat when Draco admitted he was serving. Even Lyon frowned and observed Draco in silence. “Which branch of the military do you serve him, buddy?” Trent asked, even taking a more amiable form of address. Draco kept the vile attitude. “I serve Lilyrose Strategic Department. Just cut the crap and get to the point.” Lilyrose Strategic Department! He was from Lilyrose Strategic Department. Trent and Lyon’s hearts sank. Lilyrose Strategic Department governed the military in five states. The local council answered to Lilyrose Strategic Department, not the other way around. Lilyrose Strategic Department was prominent in the South River State too. Trent stared intently at Draco’s arrogant face as some bad times came to mind. As the mayor of Lilyrose for twenty years, Trent often got
Lyon tried to find out more about Draco before he made any decisions about the next move, but Draco did not even answer him. “Who do you think you are, talking to me?” With that, Draco strutted back and stood behind Kaze. Lyon and the others were surprised by Draco’s reaction. The man from Lilyrose Strategic Department seemed to assume Kaze as his leader. Who exactly was the useless son-in-law of the Quints? Lyon was a smart man who could read the room. He knew that before he identified Draco’s identity, it would be better to patch things up with him. As for what would come after this, it would be a matter for a later date. He took a deep breath and went over to Kaze. He bowed and nodded, saying, “Brother, I’m sorry to have offended you in any way. How about we put this little misunderstanding aside?” When the words escaped his mouth, Lyon was drowning in his own grievance. Since he was one of the martial artist Gareth Hornberg’s best students, and also affiliated w
Slap! “Don’t you have the Glitter family’s support? Where are your balls now?” Slap! Slap after slap, Kaze humiliated Lyon in the worst way possible. Slap after slap, Kaze exerted more strength, which caused Lyon’s face to swell. Lyon’s eyes were burning with the flames of rage and they were on the verge of erupting, but he managed to keep his fists to himself. “So you're this coward even when you have the Glitters behind you? You don’t even dare to raise your fist at me? I won’t have the excuse to kill you. How boring.” Kaze grew tired of slapping Lyon. He turned around and kicked Leigh in the stomach again. “Mr. Glitter, let’s continue talking about how you sent your men to thrash my wife’s car. How do you plan to settle that?” Leigh never thought he would be beaten up so badly. He was barely alive after all the torture and it grinded his intention to resist to nothing. He just wanted to get this over with and escape Kaze’s evil clutches. He weakly said, “Just t
“Kaze, you bastard! How dare you ask Patrick to break up with Maxine? Who the hell are you to say that?!” “Patrick introduced you to a job, yet you ignored him and tried to convince him to break up with Maxine. How could you be so narrow-minded?!” “You’re living a terrible life but that doesn’t mean others should live the same!” Alex, Adam, and the others criticized Kaze for what he said as it was frustrating. How could he instigate Patrick to break up with Maxine in front of them? It was like pulling a treasure box away from their hands! It was disrespectful to the family! Patrick’s expression darkened. He hugged Maxine tightly and said coldly, “Maxine and I are tight. You don’t need to worry about that. Whatever problem that comes my way, I’ll just deal with it. “The more problems she gets me into, and I solve it, means I am more capable than other men. Only an incompetent man would dislike the woman causing problems for himself.” Maxine hugged Patrick even tighter.
Patrick looked shocked. “Huh? He’s a live-in husband? So he has been unemployed?” Kaze looked at Maxine and Patrick, who were obviously asking for trouble. He smirked and nodded. “I guess you can say so.” Everyone heard his answer. Those who were simply watching from the side were surprised that he admitted it so quickly. Their gazes at him showed a strong sense of contempt. How could a man like him deserve a woman like Darcy? Even if he did not manage to marry himself into Darcy’s family, he still should not be qualified to even be her follower. Patrick did not expect Kaze to be so witty. It caught him by surprise and it left him speechless for a moment. It was until Maxine nudged him, he regained his composure and scoffed. “Is it because you didn’t get any suitable jobs? “Why don’t you tell me what you are interested in, I can recommend you. My company has been recruiting lately, like security guards or janitors. “For Maxine’s sake, you can simply pick a job under ten
“I just got it!” The man was Maxine’s new boyfriend, Patrick Weather. The smile on his face was bright. “I have been working for my cousin, Casius, and I have been performing well, so he rewarded me with this Cullinan. “I literally just got it just now and I wanted to surprise you.” Knowing that the young man was Casius’ cousin, Kaze raised his brows and spared an extra glance at him. Everyone at the scene knew who Casius was, so their eyes on Patrick showed respect. Casius Weather, one of the Riverbank Seven. His status and power could easily pressure everyone at the scene, combined. “You’re always full of surprises! It’s just a Cullinan, you don’t have to keep it from me!” Maxine playfully punched Patrick in the arm but her eyes widened with affection. Her boyfriend’s arrival made her proud and happy. She even felt proud in front of Darcy, who had been overshadowing her. “Uncle Alex, hi…” Patrick then went up to the seniors of the family and greeted them. He the
Many guests went up to Darcy to make acquaintances, especially the younger ones. They were not just attracted by Darcy’s status but also her beauty. If they could win her affection, then it would be a harvest of beauty and wealth. No man could resist the temptation. Darcy knew exactly what the people were thinking. Just as she was surrounded by people, as annoying as flies, she dragged Kaze over and said, “Let me introduce you, this is my husband, Kaze Lee.” Kaze looked at the “flies” who looked at him in shock and smiled. “I’m Kaze Lee. Nice to meet you.” “Oh? Ms. Quint is married…” The young men glanced between Kaze and Darcy, unsure of how to react. As the atmosphere grew awkward, they could only chuckle uncomfortably. Adam knew Darcy was using Kaze as a shield and it displeased him. He said, “Darcy, Kaze does not share a common language with them. “They know you are a businesswoman and want to talk business with you. Their fathers are our family’s close friends and
“You’re going to give your brandless cigarettes and wine to my mother? Hmph! It certainly is an idea only you can come up with.” Agnes waved at Kaze in disgust. “Go, go to the side and don’t disturb us.” Darcy disagreed with the suggestion. After a quick thought, she said, “I think we should just go with some jade or something elegant for Grandmother. It’s more acceptable.” “Sounds fine to me. It’s settled then.” Agnes agreed with Darcy’s suggestion. Almost 11:00 AM. After choosing the present, Darcy and her family went off, together with Rose, who had been freeloading at their house since yesterday. Kaze glanced at the jade bracelet that Darcy picked and it was not particularly impressive. He quickly packed two boxes of cigarettes and two bottles of wine into a black plastic bag and then stored it in the trunk of the car as a backup gift option, just in case. If Madam Otter was displeased with the gift Darcy picked, he might be able to give the special cigarettes and w
“Tsk. Tobacco and wine? Kaze, what friends do you have? Why are they giving you these?” Agnes looked disappointed and upset. She rolled her eyes at Kaze and said, “Be mindful of what friends you made. Can’t they give you something better? “Look at the boxes! It’s like they picked it up from the streets. Putting them in front of our house makes us look bad. Just throw them away.” “This is my house. I can put whatever I want in it.” Kaze took one of the boxes, opened it up, and gave the person in charge and his team a few cigarettes. “Thank you, guys. Here. Can you help me move the boxes inside?” The person in charge and his team nodded and smiled and then moved the boxes of tobacco and wine inside. Kaze’s offhand response left Agnes annoyed but recalling the sharp sting of his slap, she chose to be quiet. She grunted coldly and then went back into the house, bumping into Darcy who was coming downstairs. She said, “Darcy, your Uncle Alex called earlier and told me the O
Kaze saw it as a mere errand, so he nodded and said, “I’ll drop by tomorrow.” “Haha, with Boss showing up, this is in the bag already. I’ll tell Ryken that you will be going there.” After the call, Kaze headed to the bedroom and tried to go in but the door was locked from the inside. “Why don’t you sleep in the other room? I have to work late and I don’t want to keep you up.” Darcy’s voice came from inside. It seemed like she was still jealous of Buffy. Kaze chuckled helplessly and then headed to the guest room. On the second morning, after his morning jog, Kaze came back to the villa and saw people delivering boxes to his door. “What are these? Who sent them?” Agnes asked. Her eyes lit up when she saw the boxes. She always had the bad habit of taking advantage of things whenever she could. The person from management said politely, “I’m sorry, we don’t know. A car came by earlier and left the boxes with us. The driver said they are tobacco and wine, specially prepared
Darcy sounded calm but Kaze felt troubled. It was obvious that she was jealous. Kaze awkwardly chuckled and said, “Darcy, why would I stay outside while you are at home? Besides, Buffy has Dayton and his friends at her place.” As he spoke, he walked over to hug Darcy by the waist. Hearing him, Darcy’s jealous expression softened but she still tapped his hands away and said coldly, “Go take a shower.” Kaze breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to the bathroom. After his shower, he received a phone call from Draco. He answered it and asked, “What is it?” “Boss, the Battle Dragon Troops’ battalion, the Flying Dragon, just came back from the battlefield and was ordered to join the South River Strategic Department. “But you know how those fellas behave, arrogant and feisty. Other than the boys from the God of War Palace, they looked down on everyone. “They got into a little argument with Aaron Krad, the new guy in the South River Strategic Department. “I thought o
Buffy sighed. She knew Kaze was right. Even if Jude was ready to let go, Faith’s birth family, the Krads, would not allow it either. Unless Jude had the resolve to break away from the Krads but it was impossible. No matter how many connections Jude had, the strongest and the only reliable support was the Krads. Like Kaze said, desperate times require desperate measures. Whether Jude and Faith wanted it or not, they would eventually bow before Kaze and accept his terms. “Kaze, if my father holds his promise, will you really cure Faith?” Buffy asked out of curiosity. Kaze smiled. “Of course. I am not like your father. If I said I will do it, I intend to deliver, since curing Faith doesn’t cost me anything. If she comes after me, I’ll just swat her like a fly.” He sounded casual and calm as if it was a casual chat. Buffy was curious. She never understood how Kaze got the confidence to do everything as if there was no obstacle big enough in his life to stop him. “It’s mid