All the inmates in the whole cell block were only enjoying the show, and no one wanted to say a word of justice for Elaine. So, Elaine could only clench her teeth and nod.Although Elaine felt very resentful, she did not dare to disobey Chloe. After all, she had no choice but to concede since she was in a disadvantageous position. What’s more, she felt even more helpless because she was in a foreign country now and had no one to rely on. Fortunately, Elaine could still adapt to the situation, and she could only submit and give in when she saw that she could not afford to offend Chloe.When Chloe saw that Elaine had swallowed all the toothpaste in her mouth, she smiled contemptuously and asked coldly, “Did the toothpaste just now help you recall how to give someone a foot massage?”Elaine hurriedly nodded repeatedly and said, “I remember... I remember...”Chloe snorted and scolded, “Since you already remember how to do it, why aren’t you getting a basin of water to wash my feet
Chloe pulled her foot out of the warm water and kicked Elaine’s chest as she said coldly, “Old lady, you need to figure out your place here. When you’re here, you only have one option, and that is to obey what I say. Otherwise, I have ten thousand ways to deal with you. Do you understand me?!” Elaine already had a broken rib. After getting kicked like this, even though Chloe did not hit her broken rib, the pain caused Elaine to tear.Elaine could not help but look at the other inmates as she hoped that someone would step forward to administer justice for her or even plead with Chloe on her behalf. However, she did not expect that everyone in the entire prison cell, including the Oskian girl who had spoken to her and translated for her just now, was only watching as she was ridiculed. So, she could only nod as she sobbed and cried out, “I understand... I understand...”Chloe sneered and then looked at the time as she spoke up, “It just so happens that there are still four hours left
Elaine knew that many bad people were colluding in this place, and it was not the right time for her to reason with this American prison guard. So, Elaine hastily asked her, “Can I call my family now?”“Yes.” Jacelyn said lightly, “It will be your unwinding time after dinner. You can use your ID card to call your family then.”Having said that, she secretly slipped a piece of paper into Elaine’s hand and whispered, “This is my younger sister’s phone number. You can contact her if you want to buy cigarettes.”She could not wait to call Charlie right now and cry so that she could let Charlie do everything he could to save her.However, if she wanted to call home, she would have to wait until dinner time was over and everyone was out on the field. So, Elaine could only follow the large group to the dining hall.When Elaine was in the dining hall, she could only hold her dinner plate and forcefully bring her dinner plate to an unoccupied corner.After she had sat down, Chloe sudden
Elaine was slightly relieved when she heard this.Two thousand US dollars was indeed not a small sum if it were to be converted into Oskian dollars, but Elaine believed in her son-in-law’s ability to make money.After all, Charlie could usually earn several million Oskian dollars whenever he went out to read Feng Shui for others. This would be converted into hundreds of thousands of US dollars which would be enough for her to live a worry-free life in prison for a long time.As she thought of this, she hurriedly said to Chloe, “Okay! I’ll call my son-in-law after dinner as long as you can keep your promise!”“Okay!” Chloe nodded in great satisfaction.She had been in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for so long, but she had never met an inmate with such great financial strength before. She had originally planned to get someone to buy a cigarette from Jacelyn so that she would also receive fifty US dollars in addition to the cigarette.And just now, Jacelyn had told her in pr
Elaine sobbed uncontrollably over the phone.She told Charlie everything from how Chloe had beaten her up, forced her to massage the feet of eight people, and how she was even being jointly blackmailed by Chloe and Jacelyn. After Elaine had told Charlie everything, she felt even more angry and aggrieved as she cried and said, “My dear son-in-law, they will probably beat me up badly tomorrow if you don’t buy two cigarettes from the prison guard...”Charlie knew that the situation in the prisons in the United States would be terrible, but he did not expect that it would be so terrible. He had originally hoped that Elaine would naturally be able to receive some practical prison education in the prison in the United States, but it seemed as though this reality education was a little too cruel based on Elaine’s description.So, he said to Elaine, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll ask my client to help me buy the cigarettes.”Elaine heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, “By the way, my dea
Kathleen laughed and said, “It’s just a small prison warden, so to be honest, if I really want to look for him, I might have to go through several layers down the line of my connections. However, if you need anything from the warden, I can arrange for my acquaintance in the judicial department to intervene, and this matter should be settled quickly.”Charlie said, “Okay. By the way, ask your acquaintance to greet the warden and then transfer the three female soldiers from Ten Thousand Armies that Porter had arranged to be in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility to be sent to the prison cell where my mother-in-law is. I will give you information about their identities later.”Kathleen agreed immediately, “Okay, Mr. Wade.”***Meanwhile, in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in the northern suburbs of New York. Just halfway through the one hour to unwind, the prison guard, Jacelyn, came to Chloe’s side and whispered, “1024’s family member has already paid for the cigarettes. I will
The one hour to unwind passed quickly, and all the inmates soon lined up to return to their cells under the prison guards’ supervision.Elaine returned to the cell with her fellow inmates filled with dread. She felt even more uneasy upon arriving at her cell.She did not know how long it would take for Charlie to use his connections to get the money and transfer it for the cigarettes to Jacelyn’s sister, and she also did not know whether Chloe would stop bullying her then. After returning to the cell, Elaine silently went to her bed, but her bed was still wet. Not to mention sleeping, she could not even sit on it.Chloe then approached the bed opposite Elaine with a smile on her face. After sitting down, she looked up at Elaine, who was submissive, and smiled as she said, “1024, the prison guard said that she has already received the money from your family to buy the cigarettes.” When Elaine heard this, she heaved a huge sigh of relief immediately and quickly said respectfully, “
She stood up, reached out her hands, and grabbed Elaine’s collar as she stared into Elaine’s eyes and said coldly, “Remember this! I’m the queen of this place! You will stand when I tell you to stand, and kneel when I tell you to kneel! Even if I tell you to eat sh*t, you have to open your mouth and swallow it for me! You must obey all my orders unconditionally as long as you want to live! Otherwise, I will make your life worse than death itself! Do you understand?”Elaine panicked and nodded. “I understand... I understand...”Chloe snorted and continued, “There used to be a newcomer like you who only obeyed me on the surface but was always very resentful and dissatisfied with me. Later, I stabbed her in both eyes with a toothbrush while she was sleeping. If you don’t respect me from the bottom of your heart, the next person to be blinded by me will be you!”Elaine was so frightened that her whole body started shaking uncontrollably. She could not even speak.Deep down in her heart
Zachary nodded repeatedly. "Mr. Montague? Very well!""Yes!" Jacob grinned smugly. "Longer last names are simply better—it just sounds so authoritative."With that agreed upon, both men alighted, where the master was waiting nearby.Seeing them get off, he hurried over to them, smiling, "Please, follow me."Zachary looked around and huffed, "Honestly, Mr. Cardensky, isn't this way too far from the highway? The road is narrow and terrible, and I have to park my car all the way out here. Just coming here is taxing."Mr. Cardensky smiled in turn. "My friend, that's exactly why we picked this place. Do you remember seeing a couple of cars parked by the road, occupying half of it?""We arranged for them to be there. Anyone coming by car would have to slow down that way, buying time for us to see who they truly are. If it's cops, our watchers would quietly text us while we clean the house and bail."Zachary exclaimed in realization, "You boys really run a tight ship!""For sure," Mr.
After working in Antique Street for years, Zachary's connections and influence were naturally special. And yet, though he was acquainted with some of the more impressive individuals, he was not that close with them either.For example, the forgery masters who worked specifically to deceive experts only accepted jobs from major clients, usually antique traders high in social status and wealth.In contrast, they wouldn't ever be interested in frivolous people like Zachary. Even if he could reach them, they might not look at him twice.If one would describe them as the cartel boss, then Zachary would be a low-level enforcer, managing night joints or goofing off.But now, Zachary had turned over a new leaf—he worked under Don Albert, so one of those masters was pleasantly surprised when he called one of them, inviting him to his own workshop for a visit and further discussion.As such, Zachary picked up Jacob and went over to the master's hideout where the latter worked on his count
Zachary was naturally shrewd enough to read Jacob's intention.In reality, he wasn't offering to pay just because he wanted the profit. He merely wanted to get in Jacob's good graces. After all, wouldn't Jacob be even more grateful that he wasn't just helping his revenge but also helping him make money?As such, he didn't hesitate to tell Jacob, "Well, chief—since you'll be paying, I will make sure that you will get every cent of profit that you deserve."Jacob was grinning ear-to-ear, but he said, "Oh, you don't have to! If we really are making a profit, there's no way I would let your good work go unrewarded!"Spreading his arms, he continued generously, "How about this? I will pay the full cost while you get twenty percent of the net profit!"Zachary laughed. "Now, that can wait, chief. We need to pay as soon as we decide on the item we want, and there's no time for buyer's regret. But if Raymond doesn't take the bait, all that money will go down the drain, and whether we can s
Zachary chuckled and continued, "Well, I went to Antique Street and asked around. Turns out our mutual friend only brought a few hundred thousand grand with him. If he messes up and loses all his money, won't it be over for him?""He won't just be broke either—he'd be humiliated and forced to fuck off from Antique Street. You'd get even then!"Jacob was at once excited.Just yesterday, Claire and Charlie were warning him that assault meant doing time.As the vice president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association and the next presidential-hopeful, he would lose his place if he was charged with assault or being an accessory to a case.However, Zachary's plan was much better. Jacob wouldn't have to take responsibility, and the damage on Raymond would be even worse!In comparison, slapping Raymond meant nothing. Watching him go broke and get humiliated would really ease his heart!With that in mind, he promptly pressed Zachary, "Are you sure that prick will mess up?""I can't a
Jacob Wilson was in his office at the Calligraphy and Painting Association, planning his itinerary in Dubai.Still, he was immediately thrilled when Zachary told him that there was progress, and he quickly said, "Come see me at the Calligraphy and Painting Association. We'll talk in my office!""Alright!" Zachary agreed to it happily. "Just wait, Mr. Wilson. I'll be right there!"Jacob then quickly told him, "By the way, remember to address me as the vice president when you're here. Got it?"Zachary was naturally sharp enough to understand why, especially around other members of the Calligraphy and Painting Association.Smiling, he said, "Don't worry, chief. You can always be at ease when I'm on the job!"Once he hung up, he drove to the Calligraphy and Painting Association at top speed.There were just a dozen people around the dozens of work cubicles although Zachary was curious about the personal effects or office tools in the cubicles.After asking around, a staff member le
Then, Mick continued, "I won't lie—Moore Group's bean counters have been eager to get rid of Vintage Deluxe for a while now. It's only Miss Moore's insistence that keeps them at bay, even occasionally coming to check on how business is going. That means she holds sentiment for this place, but if she knows that Raymond is back and doing well, she might hire him again!"Zachary could laugh right then. After all, Mick was terrible at gathering information—he could worry about anyone taking his palace, but not Raymond. The man was fired because he had insulted Master Wade's father in-law, and Miss Moore was endlessly respectful—even obedient to Master Wade. There was no chance that she would hire Raymond back after what he had done, and Mick was just being paranoid.However, Zachary did not tell Mick that.As Mick was begging him to intervene and thus owing him big time, he would also be helping Jacob Wilson get even.Two birds with one stone, so why not?With that in mind, Zachar
Zachary then said, "By the way, I have some friends who have a lot of stock. How much capital do you have, Mr. Cole? I'll check if they have stuff that suits you, and you can partner with them."When Zachary asked how much capital, he was basically asking Raymond how much he would invest in his own business and how much he could spend on taking new stock as he was buying.As such, Raymond replied modestly, "I've been chasing my tail for a while, so I didn't earn more than a few hundred thousand. I definitely would have no issue taking items with rebates, but I'm afraid I can't afford premiums.""Alright!" Zachary nodded, having discerned the scale of Zachary's capital."I'll check on what's available and see if we can get a few personal deals."Raymond nodded. "Thank you, Zachary!"Zachary smiled, shaking his head. "Mr. Crane, please buy another fruit basket for Mr. Cole—I'll pay you later."Mick quickly said, "Oh, you don't have to, Mr. Evans! It's my pleasure, no worries!"Zach
With the last stroke, Raymond got on a ladder to reach the old signboard, pasting the banner over the old shop sign.Then, he added a notice by the entrance: We buy all antiques and measure all treasures.As soon as the makeshift sign and notice were up, Mick was the first to arrive with a fruit basket to celebrate the occasion.The instant they met, he greeted Raymond warmly, "Ah, Mr. Cole! You sure are efficient—you just came back yesterday evening, and you're already setting up shop today at noon!"Raymond smiled, "Doing a small business by myself is naturally much quicker."Mick shook his head disapprovingly as he put the fruit basket by the door, "Now, now. Don't be a stranger, Mr. Cole—almost everyone in Antique Street is a friend, but you didn't tell the gang when you opened the shop! It'd hype things up when everyone comes bringing you gifts!"Raymond quickly shook his head. "Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't know if this humble trade will last. It's better to keep m
To not lose three months' worth of rent on top of that, Donald called over the owner at top speed while getting some of the friends in the antique trade to appraise what merchandise he had left.Taking losses had always been the hardest pill to swallow, but once the decision was made, there really was nothing that couldn't be given up.The owner was plenty pleased as well since that meant someone was picking up on his rental. He promptly had Donald sign the agreement transferring the last three months for the rental to Raymond while signing a new rental contract with Raymond.Raymond didn't have to pay up immediately either—he just had to start paying rent to the owner once Donald's three-month rent was up.Once the agreement was signed, every stall owner as well as owners of businesses resembling the Pearl House swarmed the premises.After all, they loved to take stock from people in the same line of business. Once a business owner decided to close shop, they wouldn't be bothered