C2 One Should Not Judge a Book by Its Cover

As Eustace read the text message, a smile involuntarily crept across his lips.

"Is the family embargo finally over?"

Born Hugh Rhodes, Eustace hailed from the illustrious Rhodes family—a dynasty of wealth where he played the role of a prodigal heir, lavishing money without a second thought. The extent of the Rhodes family's fortune was a mystery even to Eustace himself.

He once gambled with abandon, squandering 30 billion dollars in a single night. His father's reprimand from that incident still echoed in his memory: "Losing money is one thing, but losing the Rhodes family's reputation is another. I'm done lecturing you. By the time I've finished this sentence, we've already recouped the 30 billion."

Those few words took less than ten seconds to utter. In the time it took Eustace to lose 30 billion dollars, the Rhodes family had earned it back in a mere moment. That meant they were raking in billions every second. The Rhodes family's wealth was accumulating so rapidly that Eustace's spending couldn't possibly keep pace.

No one in the Rhodes family truly knew the depths of their wealth. By the time you finished tallying it, the figures had already changed, making it an impossible task to track.

Had it not been for the string of mishaps that led to Eustace being cast out by his family three years ago, he wouldn't have ended up as a househusband.

​For three long years, he was barred from contact with his family and from accessing a single dime from the Rhodes family fortune – a punishment imposed by his kin.

Now, three years later, the Rhodes family had lifted their punitive restrictions. Eustace retreated to his bedroom, retrieving his wallet which contained only his ID and a black credit card.

This was no ordinary piece of plastic; it was the Infinite Card, the undisputed "King of Cards," recognized globally as the pinnacle of exclusive credit cards and shrouded in mystique.

Targeted at the elite, the Infinite Card knew no spending limits. Its holders were a who's who of global dignitaries, billionaires, and the social elite.

Cardholders of the "King of Cards" are privy to the pinnacle of prestige, tailor-made services, and unmatched global privileges. These include "on-demand" concierge services available around the clock, VIP seating at premier global events, and exclusive access to top private clubs in major cities worldwide.

"I've been married to Dagny for three years now. She's endured a lot because of me during that time. It's high time I made it up to her."

Eustace resumed his chore of tidying up the dishes in the dining room while Kori was engrossed in a TV show in the living room.

Casting a dismissive look at Eustace, Kori commanded in a haughty tone, "Go wash some fruit for me!"

After washing the fruit, Eustace presented it to Kori.

"Mom, Dagny and I have plans to see a movie tonight. I'll be picking her up after work, so you'll need to handle dinner on your own."

Kori huffed, "You have the nerve to go to the movies? A grown man without a proper job, living off my daughter. She pays for your shopping, dates, and even movie tickets. Aren't you embarrassed?"

"How Dagny ever fell for a loser like you is beyond me. You have three days to find a job and start contributing financially, or you can just go ahead and divorce her. Don't hold my daughter back from living her life."

With that, Kori knocked the freshly washed fruit to the floor and stormed off to her bedroom.

Kori's disdain for Eustace was nothing new. She frequently seized opportunities when Dagny was away to belittle and insult him, hoping to incite a divorce between him and Dagny.

Even when divorce was brought up in Dagny's presence, she rejected the idea without a second thought.

The true reasons were known only to Eustace and Dagny.

Eustace picked up the fruit from the floor and left the house by himself.

He hailed a taxi and headed to Rustin's largest shopping mall, intent on picking out a small gift for Dagny—a surprise for their date that evening.

Rustin, as one of the most bustling first-tier cities, boasted a plethora of international luxury brands within its malls.

Yet to Eustace, these so-called luxury items were indistinguishable from the wares found at street stalls.

Back when he was part of the Rhodes family, everything he used—from food to clothing—was of the utmost quality, often beyond the reach of money.

He walked into a Patek Philippe boutique, recalling the last time he and Dagny had browsed here.

Back then, Dagny had her eye on a particular watch, but even the most affordable Patek Philippe was upwards of 100,000 dollars—far beyond what the average person could splurge on.

Dagny, a real estate sales agent, earned a decent wage—no less than 10,000 dollars a month, with good months bringing in up to 30,000 dollars.

Yet, she was frugal, diligently saving for a down payment on a house to move out of her parents' place and spare Eustace from their constant ridicule.

Even with the means to purchase the watch, she couldn't bring herself to do it, leaving the store with a lingering sense of longing.

Eustace stood at the counter, eyeing the same watch, and addressed the saleswoman, "Could you bring out this watch for me to see?"

Melusine sized up Eustace, noting his simple casual attire that looked no more than a few hundred bucks in total, and her expression turned scornful.

"Sir, we deal in high-end watches here. If it's out of your budget, I'd advise against trying them on."

Eustace raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Who says I can't afford it?"

With a scoff, Melusine replied condescendingly, "I've seen plenty of customers like you. Earning a mere two to three thousand a month, you can't possibly afford luxury items. You just want to try on the watch, snap a photo for social media to impress your friends, garner some likes, and then leave, claiming the watch wasn't to your taste."

Eustace just smiled, not bothering to engage further with the saleswoman. He confidently pulled out his Infinity Card.

"Charge it, and please wrap up the watch."

Melusine paused, then sneered, "Don't play the big shot. Buying luxury goods on credit? You do realize you have to pay it back, right? A moment of showing off leads to a lifetime of debt."

Just then, another woman sporting a "Manager" badge approached. She caught sight of the card in Eustace's hand, and her demeanor instantly shifted.

As the boutique's manager, she had mingled with numerous wealthy individuals and undergone specialized training, giving her a perspective far beyond that of an average clerk.

"Hello, sir. My name is Aida, and I'm the manager here. How may I assist you today?" she inquired with a courteous tone.

Melusine was taken aback by her manager's deferential manner. Even in the presence of multimillionaires, she had never seen Aida show such reverence.

Eustace responded indifferently, "I'd like to purchase this watch. Please wrap it for me. The card's PIN is six zeros."

A sense of excitement stirred within Aida. A young man like Eustace, in possession of a Infinity Card, was clearly no ordinary customer.

Forging a connection with someone of his stature could open doors for her, perhaps leading to unforeseen opportunities.

"Very well, sir. Melusine, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and process the payment!"

Aida carefully took out the watch and wrapped it herself. Once Melusine had completed the transaction and returned, Aida handed the card and the watch to Eustace.

"Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?" she asked.

"No, that will be all," Eustace said, shaking his head. He had no intention of revealing his affluent family background or disrupting the tranquil life he shared with Dagny by purchasing overly lavish gifts.

As Eustace prepared to leave, Aida quickly added, "Sir, may I have your phone number? In case you encounter any issues with the watch, we offer a complimentary 12-year maintenance service, including home pick-up."

Without giving it much thought, Eustace agreed and provided his contact details before departing.

"Why were you so polite with him, Aida?" Melusine couldn't contain her curiosity. "He only bought the least expensive model, and he doesn't seem wealthy based on his appearance."

Aida shot Melusine a sharp look. "You have much to learn. Appearances can be deceiving. He could become a major client for us. If he returns, notify me immediately."

She kept the detail of the Infinity Card to herself, playing her cards close to her chest.

Nowadays, which of these young ladies isn't eager to reach for the higher branches?

If Melusine were to discover Eustace's true identity, who knows how far she'd go to curry favor and ingratiate herself with him? That would certainly mean one more rival for Aida to contend with.