The manager, who was still kneeling on the floor, looked completely broken. His earlier confidence had vanished completely without a trace, and in its place was a man overwhelmed by fear and regret. His hands trembled as he slowly lifted his head to look at Martin Fletcher, his eyes filled with desperation.“Sir… please,” he began, his voice unsteady and strained. “Please call the owner back and speak to him on our behalf. I beg you… this was a misunderstanding. We didn’t know who he was. If we had known, we would never have treated him that way.”His words came out in a rush, as he believed that speaking faster might somehow save him from the consequences that were already unfolding. However, Martin Fletcher did not respond to him. In fact, he did not even acknowledge that he had spoken. Instead, he turned his attention to Justin, his expression softening slightly as he focused on his son.“Were you able to withdraw the money you came here for?” he asked calmly, his tone complete

The driver eventually brought the car to a smooth stop in front of a modest clothing store that catered to middle-class customers.A place that stood in sharp contrast to the luxury boutiques Justin now had access to. Justin stepped out of the car, glancing briefly at the storefront before walking in without hesitation. The driver remained behind, watching him with mild curiosity, still trying to understand why someone in Justin’s position would deliberately avoid expensive stores.Inside the shop, Justin did not waste any time browsing excessively or indulging in unnecessary luxury. Instead, he moved with purpose, scanning through the neatly arranged racks of clothing until he found something simple but presentable. After a short moment of consideration, he picked out a well-fitted pair of jeans and a clean, understated shirt. The clothes were decent, stylish in a subtle way, and far removed from the torn janitor uniform he had been wearing earlier.As he approached the counter,

Justin did not hesitate as he reached into his pocket and brought out a thick stack of neatly folded bills. His movements were calm, casual, as though he were performing an ordinary task that required no second thought. He extended his hand toward the guard standing at the entrance of the restaurant and placed the money into his palm with confidence that seemed completely at odds with his still slightly worn appearance.“Here,” Justin said simply. “That should be ten thousand dollars. You can count it to confirm.” The guard blinked once, clearly surprised by both the amount and the ease with which it had been handed over. For a brief moment, he hesitated, trying to determine whether this was real or some elaborate misunderstanding. Then, recovering himself, he nodded respectfully and began counting the money carefully, his fingers moving quickly but precisely through the stack.Beside Justin, Thalia stood completely frozen.Her eyes were fixed on Justin’s hand, or rather, on the

Justin's expression hardened as he glared at them both.His gaze directly focused on Steven and Britney before speaking in a calm but firm tone.“Why don’t the two of you stop being a nuisance and focus on what is in front of you?” he said. “You came here to eat, not to interfere in other people’s business.”The remark landed with an unexpected sharpness. It was not loud, but it carried enough weight to immediately change the atmosphere around their table.Steven’s reaction was instant. His expression darkened, and he pushed his chair back with a loud scraping sound before rising to his feet.“What did you just say to me?” he demanded, his voice filled with anger as he took a step forward.It was clear that he was ready to escalate the situation into something physical without hesitation. However, before he could move any closer, Britney reached out and grabbed his arm firmly.“Steven,” she said, her voice soft but controlling.He paused and looked down at her.“Sit down,” she continu

Britney’s momentary shock did not last long. The disbelief that had shown across her face quickly hardened into something far more aggressive, as she had decided that Justin’s words were not only ridiculous but also offensive to her sense of superiority.She let out a sharp, incredulous laugh.“How dare you?” she demanded, her voice rising just enough to draw the attention of nearby tables. “How dare you stand there and call ten thousand dollars’ worth of food cheap?”Her eyes narrowed as she looked him up and down, trying to remind him of his place.“Have you completely forgotten who you are?” she continued, her tone filled with scorn. “Or do you think one small opportunity of coming to a place like this makes you belong or changes everything about you?”Justin remained where he was, his posture relaxed, his expression composed. He did not interrupt her, which only seemed to encourage her further.“You should be the last person talking about expensive food,” Britney went on. “Becaus