No one believed that. Why would Sam Jenck personally protect any regular old Joe? He was clearly lying through his teeth, Bryson thought. He was certain that Elio was more than he seemed now. The kid was someone none of them could afford to offend, not even Tiger!"Master Rinz, what should we do with these people?" Sam asked."It's better to let them go. I’m sure they’ve learned their lesson and won't cause any trouble again." Elio knew very well that the true masterminds were Tiger and Wendell. These thugs were just following orders, so he was content with teaching them a lesson they would not forget anytime soon.Sam nodded. "They're lucky."He then looked coldly at Bryso and said in a deep voice, "Black Tower, right? Consider yourself lucky this time. Master Rinz won't hold what you did against you. If you cause trouble again, we’ll throw you to the gators. Go back and tell that bastard Tiger to behave himself. If he continues to pick fights with Master Rinz, I’ll personally h
Elio had long heard of Third Master Chance's reputation. He was a little wary of the old man, but he had thought it through. If he wanted to gain a foothold in Cloudsea, he had to deal with the various factions in the city. Otherwise, he would never be able to expand his influence."If the old man shows up on my doorstep, I'll fight him!"His tone was calm but determined, earning him even more of Sam’s respect. Like father, like son, he thought. Thinking of Elio’s father, Sam nodded approvingly. "That's right. I’ll help you no matter who the enemy is, Master Rinz. If Third Master Chance wants to meet you, you must let me know. We'll deal with him together."That was exactly what Elio wanted. After all, he had just started his business in Cloudsea, and he still needed Sam's support. He smiled and said, "Thank you and sorry for the trouble, Mr. Jenck."Sam hurriedly said, "It’s no trouble at all! I would never have made it to where I am today without your family’s support. I will for
"Tiger, calm down! We could have won at first, but the CEO of Eagle Security brought a couple hundred security guards over and helped that kid gang up on us. Our brothers couldn't keep up," another hooligan hurriedly explained, deliberately exaggerating the truth to appease his boss.Tiger frowned. "What? Sam Jenck brought his men over and personally protected that kid? He even set his guards on you?! Didn't he tell him that you're my subordinates?"Bryson replied, "I did, but he didn't give me any face at all. He even specially asked me to tell you that he would personally hunt you down if you pick any more fights with Elio Rinz.”"That motherfucker!" Tiger was furious. He grabbed the bottle of wine in front of him and smashed it on the ground with a crash. The wine splashed everywhere, causing everyone to back away in a panic.The fat mob boss suddenly stood up, the veins on his neck bulging as he roared, “How dare he threaten me?! Jenck has gotten too full of himself. I’ll kill
At four o'clock in the afternoon, Charlie made an unexpected visit to Evelyn’s advertising agency and barged straight into the general manager's office. He never got along with his cousin, so it was a surprise to everyone who saw him.Behind her desk, Evelyn was wearing glasses and reading a document. She looked beautiful and elegant. When she realized that someone had entered without knocking, she glanced up with a frown. "Charlie? Why are you here?"Glancing across at his beautiful cousin, Charlie thought it was no wonder Master Sampson had been obsessed with her. The girl was absolutely gorgeous.Even so, he said sarcastically, "I just had time for a visit. When will you pay back the money you owe the family company, by the way?"He did not seem to think of her as family at all. What did she do to deserve a relative like him?Evelyn took off her glasses and threw them on the table. Anger surged in her eyes. "You're too much. Grandpa has already agreed to let me pay off the debt
The private room was now closed off to the world. Everything was under Josh’s control. Thanks to that scumbag Charlie's help, he had Evelyn right where he wanted her.Josh was extremely excited. He took a sip of red wine from his wine glass, his blood already boiling."Evelyn, why are you panicking? I’ll let you leave once we’re done here. Come, sit down first. I prepared some fine wine and delicacies. Let's eat and chat. We shouldn’t waste the night.”Evelyn knew he was up to no good. She hurriedly shielded her body with her bag and said sternly, "I have nothing to talk to you about. Let me go at once.""Hmph!" Josh slammed his wine glass on the table, his expression vicious. "It's only right for a wife to repay her husband's debts. Elio is your husband, right? He colluded with that b*tch Yvonne to cheat me of 1.8 million dollars!"It was Elio's fault again! Why did she have to marry that no-good curse? He was always causing her trouble! Evelyn gritted her teeth inwardly and said
The girl was none other than Kaori Hashimoto, who was in charge of secretly protecting Master Rinz’s wife. Once she looked at Evelyn up close, she understood why Elio was so devoted to her.Evelyn really was as beautiful as a goddess!"Let’s head out, ma’am," Kaori said with a grin. Evelyn said in surprise, "Do you know me?""How should I put it? You'll know soon enough."Kaori smiled sweetly and did not answer directly. She took Evelyn's hand and led her out of the private room. When she saw the two bodyguards lying at the door, Evelyn was even more surprised. The little girl was clearly an extraordinary fighter."Thank you so much!" Evelyn said gratefully as they walked away quickly."You're welcome. I was just doing my duty."Outside the hotel, a Cayenne roared to a stop in front of them. Elio's agile figure emerged from the car. He had just received a message from Kaori saying that Evelyn was in danger, so he had rushed over as quickly as possible, afraid that something wo
Even though she was the general manager of the advertising company, Evelyn only drove a Volkswagen Polo. She invested most of her money in the company's operations, so she did not have the funds to buy a luxury car.On the contrary, the unemployed Elio often drove brand-new luxury cars that formed a stark contrast with his cheap clothes. Last time he had a Lamborghini supercar, and this time, he had a million-dollar Cayenne.The Cayenne’s passenger seat was comfortable, but Evelyn felt uneasy. She asked in confusion, "Whose car is this? You've been driving it for a while. Don't tell me it's Yvonne’s?"Elio knew that his wife didn't like Yvonne, so he quickly explained, "It's not hers. I didn't have the chance to tell you before, but I'm not her driver anymore.""Really? How could she bear to let you go? I thought she really liked you." Evelyn asked unhappily.Was Evelyn… jealous? Elio was delighted. That meant his wife was starting to care about him, at least a little. It was a
Bennet Zaccone had a big grin on his face as he said, "This here is the renowned Colombia Gold Coffee. Please, allow me to offer you a taste. If it suits your palate, then consider your coffee needs in my hands from here on."Howard quickly replied, "Wow, that's really generous of you, but I feel bad for making you spend so much."Lana was all smiles as she chimed in, "No need for thanks. Bennett's practically family. He'll be our son-in-law once he and Evelyn tie the knot."‘That's right. I'm just doing what I should,’ Bennett thought, pleased with himself. He figured Evelyn's mom was the type to love a good deal and would be easy to win over.Howard stayed quiet. Evelyn had not even divorced Elio yet, and there was his wife, introducing a backup guy into their home. It did not sit right with him, but he did not feel he could speak up, so he kept silent.When Evelyn walked in, she was a sight for sore eyes—beautiful and elegant, like a goddess from a dream. Bennett could not hide
"What?" Charlie's anger boiled over, his face turning bright red as he yelled, "This is too much! I want to see your chairman! He needs to apologize, or he'll regret it when I trash this place!"Laird gave a cold snort, grabbed the ready walkie-talkie, and called out, "Security, get in here, quick! We've got someone trying to wreck the place."In a flash, four security guards in black suits rushed into the room, grabbed Charlie, and marched him right out the door.The poor Jones family heir thought he could throw his weight around, but instead, he got a beating from the guards and ended up tossed outside, his suit torn and his face a mess of bruises.He tried to get up, wanting to shout insults, but the angry stares from the guards scared him silent. He scrambled into his Audi and sped away.Afterward, General Manager Howe filled in the chairman on what had happened. Elio could not help but feel a rush of glee. 'Charlie, you think you can take me on? Look where that got you!' Elio
That night, the news about the Aerin Group taking on the shanty town makeover project was all over the Cloudsea TV show. It shook up the whole business world in the city. Bosses from real estate and construction companies were all on the phone, trying to get the scoop.The Aerin Group was pretty new and not well-known in Cloudsea. Now, all of a sudden, it was the talk of the town. The big project that everyone wanted had somehow ended up with them, and it was really weird.The project to fix up the old town was massive, and lots of companies wanted to work on it. If they got even a piece of the job, they would be rolling in dough. So, they all rushed to make connections, hoping to meet with the big boss of Evamor Group to talk business.What surprised all the big shots was that nobody knew a thing about the boss of Evamor. It was like a big secret. Clearly, that person liked staying out of the spotlight, pulling strings from behind the curtain.Who would have guessed that this amaz
York nodded non-stop, apologizing. "Got it. Please forgive me. I'm really sorry."With the bill canceled, Elio felt they had done enough. "Let's call it even. Time to go."They walked out, heads high, leaving the staff and the hostesses in awe. York sat on the couch, face grim, and gulped down the fake Louis XIII. It was liquor from some other brand, cleverly resealed to look like the fancy stuff. It tasted pretty good, and hardly anyone could tell it was not the real deal. However, somehow, that kid figured it out. Who was he, anyway?York was fuming. Ever since his shop opened, he had sold bottle after bottle of this top-notch liquor to all sorts of important people, and no one had ever called him out. Now, some nobody had caught him."That little troublemaker, causing a scene in my shop," he grumbled. "Just you wait. I'll take care of you."As the boss was getting worked up and ready to get even, one of the girls spoke up, "That Mr. Rinz seems pretty impressive. I heard he even
York asked with a friendly smile, "I don't think I've met this young man before. Can someone introduce him?"Yvonne replied with a grin, "This is Mr. Rinz, a dear friend of ours. He's the one who wanted to meet you."York did not know Elio's story, and he looked like an average guy. However, he had ordered three bottles of the fancy Louis XIII cognac and seemed to be friends with some pretty important people, including a famous TV beauty. York could not help but be impressed."Really? I'm super honored and happy to meet you, Mr. Rinz. Hope you'll come to hang out with us more," York said with a big smile. He's the kind of guy who knew just what to say and was ready to shake hands, showing lots of respect. However, Elio did not reach out his hand at all, which made York's smile disappear, and he felt really annoyed inside.Elio just frowned and said, "I think once is enough for this place." Yvonne and the others exchanged puzzled looks. They had no clue why Elio was upset and wh
"You think you can hit me and get away with it? I could ruin your family in an instant. Now, get out of here, do you hear me?" Tanner yelled at her."You..." Fear flickered in May's eyes. She was too scared to argue, worried about what he might do to her.Jenny let out a sigh, went over to help her friend up, and whispered, "Let's just go. We can't stand up to him. We've just got to deal with this bad luck."May knew the truth. She and Jenny might come from money, but they were nothing compared to Tanner's powerful family. What could she do? If she pushed him too far, she was afraid he might make her disappear for good.May had no choice but to follow her best friend, looking all messy and upset. She did not think she would end up like that, feeling so angry. She was mad at Tanner for messing with her feelings and even madder at Elio, thinking he had a big part in her troubles.The room was super quiet; no one wanted to talk. Tanner was in a bad mood—he got tricked by someone not
As Evelyn's figure vanished from view, May frowned deeply and sneered, "She's so hopeless. She can't even handle her husband. Being a woman like that is just embarrassing.""Come on, don't be so hard on her," Jenny said. "Evelyn's got guts. She was ready to divorce Elio to stand up for what's right. Friends like her are rare.""Hmph, what good does that do? She still didn't get the stuff back. I really thought she could handle that jerk, but it was a waste," May said, not hiding her scorn."May, just a heads-up," Jenny lowered her voice, "the divorce might be good for Evelyn, but it puts you at risk. I've noticed Tanner looking her way a lot. Be careful."May felt a chill, sensing trouble, but she pushed back, "No way. Tanner told me he only loves me. You're just worrying too much."Jenny could tell what her best friend was thinking but kept it to herself. "Okay, let's just say I didn't mention anything. Let's head back."In the private room, Tanner was eager to hear the news. Wh
Jenny and May were shocked, staring at each other and not knowing what to do.The couple was at a breaking point. May felt a rush of panic. Did that mean she would never get back the fancy watch and the big Benz? She quickly pulled on Evelyn's arm, trying to tell her friend not to say things she could not take back. However, it was too late."That's for the best," Evelyn snapped. "From now on, we're nothing to each other.""Let's just hope we're both happy from here on out," Elio said, trying to sound indifferent. However, inside, it felt like a thousand needles were poking his heart.Evelyn did not look back. She turned and walked away fast, a cold air swirling around her.Jenny and May ran after her, calling out, "Evelyn, wait up!""Don't leave, wait for us!"Evelyn felt a heavy sadness. They had been married for three years, together every day. To say she felt nothing would be a lie. Even though she never really respected Elio, going their separate ways was still hard to take
The Seven Fairies Team was a tough bunch, and except for Helen, each one had fought their way to success in the cutthroat world of business. They were not about to let anyone push them around.With a loud "smack," Jenny's cheek stung from a fierce slap. She let out a sharp cry and glared at Yvonne. "Ouch! How dare you hit me?""You insult us, and you think a slap is too much?" Yvonne spat back, her teeth clenched in anger.May was not lucky, either. She, too, got slapped, leaving a bright red mark on her face. Lydia, who did it, shouted at her, "Who are you calling names, huh?"Jenny and May were no pushovers, but now, with their cheeks burning from the slaps and surrounded by a group of fierce-looking girls, they were boiling with rage inside. Yet, they did not dare to strike back, appearing utterly defeated and powerless.It was not the super-tough opponents they needed to worry about. It was the teammates who messed everything up!Evelyn had been sure she could get back those
The women finally got it—the beautiful woman was Elio's wife. Yarely and the others stood up for a better look.A bunch of girls with eyes as wide as saucers were watching everything unfold, each one silently agreeing that Evelyn was the picture of perfection. It was no surprise that Master Rinz could keep his cool, even with all those stunning girls around him.Evelyn scanned the room, and it hit her—they were all gorgeous girls, and Elio was the only boy. It was just like the old saying: he was the lone rooster in the henhouse.When Yvonne tried to be friendly, Evelyn was not having any of it. She huffed, "Forget it. I just need to talk to Elio about something private. I'll be out of your hair in no time."That made Evelyn seem super stuck-up and hard to talk to. Yarely and the others felt put off, so they just sat back down on the couch.They were all tough cookies, top dogs in their own right. If she was going to act all high and mighty, why would they want to hang out with he