C4 Dad

The entire hall fell silent in an instant.

Ruby was dumbfounded, asking in confusion, "Hubby, what's gotten into you?"

"What's wrong?"

Edwin was nearly driven mad with frustration. "You're showing no respect to this gentleman whatsoever!"

"I brought him up to you recently. He's Lavinia's son-in-law. He upset me, and you even said you'd help me set him straight," Ruby explained.

Edwin was taken aback.

Lavinia was renowned as Fayedge's foremost beauty, making her son-in-law quite well-known.

It was him!

How on earth did he get a Black Dragon Card?

Could it be a counterfeit?

Edwin's face fell as he regarded Duane, thinking back to the respect he had just shown him. He felt utterly disgraced.

"Security!"

He summoned several guards, barking, "This man is causing a disturbance. Throw him out!"

While speaking, he signaled the guards with a glance, indicating they should rough Duane up.

"Wait!"

Ruby scoffed, "Hubby, he's here to withdraw money. You should check his bank card. I just made a bet with him! We have plenty of witnesses."

"Ah, I see."

Edwin couldn't help but smile.

He passed the bank card to a staff member.

Edwin and Ruby watched from the sidelines, anticipating a spectacle.

The staff member was visibly shocked, her eyes wide as she gaped at the computer screen, speechless.

Seeing her reaction, Edwin pressed, "What's the hold-up? Does his card actually have eight million?"

"Yes," the staff member said, still in a daze.

Ruby burst into laughter, taunting Duane, "You've lost! No backing out now, with all these witnesses."

Then she paused, turning to the staff member, "What did you just say?"

"I'm sorry, the card balance is client confidentiality," the staff member responded.

She glanced at Edwin.

Edwin strode over immediately.

The amount on Duane's card left him astounded!

It took him a moment to regain his composure. He rushed over and bowed deeply to Duane, "Mr. Quarles, I am truly sorry."

"Hubby, does his card really have eight million? You can't be serious, that's just not possible!"

Ruby spoke up.

In a fit of rage, Edwin slapped her once more and bellowed, "Apologize to Mr. Quarles, now!"

The Black Dragon Card.

Eight hundred million!

Duane was an untouchable titan, a major player one simply couldn't afford to cross!

And she had dragged him into this mess!

The crowd watching was dumbfounded.

Could Duane really possess eight million?

It seemed beyond belief!

Noticing Ruby still dazed, Edwin grew frantic. "You made a bet with Mr. Quarles, didn't you? Get on your knees and call him 'Daddy' now!"

Ruby was bewildered all over again.

"Kneel down, do it!" Edwin urged, nearly in tears, as he gave Ruby another slap across her face.

Ruby snapped to her senses, sensing trouble, and tried to make a quick exit.

But as she took her first step, Edwin grabbed her: "Where do you think you're going? Call out to him, now!"

He was out of options.

If she escaped, he'd be the one facing problems.

With no other choice, Ruby knelt on the ground under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, her face flushed with shame, trembling as she called out to Duane, "Daddy."

"Repulsive."

Duane looked on with contempt. "I have no desire for such a worthless daughter. Sing me a song instead."

Ruby's eyes widened in shock. "Duane, you're being too much!"

Edwin struck her on the back of the head, urging, "Sing, now!"

Ruby broke down in tears.

She might not fear Duane, but the unhinged Edwin terrified her. With a ghostly pallor, she began to sing.

The crowd in the hall couldn't contain their laughter.

"Time to withdraw the money," Duane instructed the staff, enjoying the melodious singing.

With the Black Dragon Card, there was no need for appointments, no matter the withdrawal amount. Even if he wanted a hundred million, the bank was obliged to comply within thirty minutes.

Shortly thereafter, Duane walked out carrying two hefty cases of cash, not sparing Ruby or Edwin a glance as he left.

Once he was gone, Ruby seized the chance to flee.

The humiliation was too much to bear!

Duane, too, departed. He loaded the two cases of cash onto the back seat of his electric scooter and set off for Lavinia's company.

He had thought about a wire transfer.

But without the details of Lavinia's company account, he had no choice but to withdraw the money in cash.

Duane arrived at the office when suddenly a Land Rover pulled up to the front door. A man in a suit stepped out, clutching a bouquet of roses, and even spritzed a bit of cologne on himself.

Duane recognized him.

His name was Grant, a returnee from overseas whose father owned a company valued at twenty million. He had previously pursued Lavinia.

"Still pining for my wife?" Duane, astride his electric scooter, blocked Grant's way.

"You must be Lavinia's good-for-nothing husband!" Grant's smile was self-satisfied. "You've got it wrong this time. Your wife called me. Her company's in trouble, and I'm the only one who can help her."

"My wife's issues are mine to handle. You're not needed here. Leave!"

Duane's voice was icy.

"What can you possibly handle? She needs millions, and you don't even have a few hundred to your name, do you?" Grant's smirk was laced with malice. "Your wife needs me. And if something were to happen between us, don't get mad. You can only blame your own poverty and incompetence!"

Duane's brow furrowed as he spoke deliberately, "Are you asking for trouble?"

"You think you can take me on? I train in Taekwondo year-round, and I've reached the eighth-degree black belt. Not even ten strong men can stand against me. Do you think you can handle me?"

Grant boasted with a triumphant laugh.

"Let's put that to the test."

Duane responded with scorn.

"Fine, but if I end up crippling you, it's not my fault," Grant declared, assuming a classic Taekwondo stance, his excitement palpable. If he could put Duane in the hospital, he was sure he'd have a chance with Lavinia.

But before he could make a move, Duane was upon him like a whirlwind, landing a solid punch to Grant's abdomen.

In an instant.

Grant felt his insides churn as if caught in a maelstrom!

Duane seized his hair and slammed his head against his knee.

Blood sprayed from Grant's wounds!

Stunned, Grant's mind went blank.

He could never have imagined Duane being so ferocious and savage in a fight!

Grant couldn't even find the breath to fight back!

The martial arts Duane had mastered were not for show but a lethal form of national combat arts, designed to kill!

Every strike and technique Duane delivered was so vicious it left his opponents crippled or dead!

Years ago, a renowned Western boxing champion sought out Duane Quarles for a life-and-death challenge. With just three swift moves, Duane ended the life of the so-called king.

"Please, no more. I was wrong," Grant pleaded from the ground, writhing in agony.

To him, Duane was as terrifying as the grim reaper.

"You think with those pathetic skills you can win over my wife? Beat it!" Duane scoffed with contempt.

Grant scrambled into his car and fled the scene.

Duane mused to himself, "Seems like there's a long line of folks after my wife. Well, I'm ready to take on anyone who dares try."

He then called Christian and instructed, "Look up a guy named Grant for me. I want him begging on the streets."

"Got it," Christian replied crisply before hanging up.

Walking into the company's office building, Duane overheard the whispers.

"That's Director Xavier's husband over there."

"He's home all day, just cooking and cleaning."

"It's such a shame for Director Xavier. She's Fayedge's most beautiful woman, and she's married to a freeloader."

The female employees, clad in their business attire, were gossiping about him, but Duane was unfazed. He'd heard it all before and chose to ignore them.

With two cases of money in hand, he made his way through the murmurs to Lavinia Xavier's office, the general manager of the company.