DOCTOR’S LEGACY

Chapter 7

Richard was flaring with anger as he stepped forward, “This clothes is mine. Fiona, I am not the person you think I am again!” .

“Oh my God,” Fiona gasped loudly, her voice carrying across the showroom. “You actually think you can buy this car? Hahaha… this is too rich. Look at you, Richard..did you even eat today?  you always washed my mom's feet and mine, until this yesterday ” She leaned closer, her voice sharp, drawing the attention of several staff and showroom visitors.

 “Yesterday, we divorced because you are just… poor! And now..now you want a Lamborghini? A Lamborghini! Hah! You must be joking.”

Frederick laughed, low and derisive. “Seriously, this is insane.  Do you have any idea how much this costs? Stop embarrassing yourself.”

Richard’s lips curled into a slow, calm smile. “I can… and I will buy it.”

Fiona’s laugh turned louder, almost hysterical. “Oh, please! Feet washer! Can you just shut up already with your delusions”.

The crowd in the showroom had started to gather, curious about the commotion. People whispered, some even pointing at Richard. The staff exchanged nervous glances.

“Sir… can you really pay for it?”, the staff has her doubts.

Richard’s eyes flicked to her. “Yes. I can pay.”

Fiona clapped her hands mockingly. “Oh, no, no! Don’t listen to him. We are the one that can pay. Right, Frederick?”

Frederick  putting on a casual shrug. “Yeah… of course.”

“Alright, let’s see how much it costs,” Fiona said loudly, deliberately, so Richard would hear every word. “How much is it, huh? Say it! So this little foot washer knows what he’s dealing with!”

The staff hesitated, then announced, “$500,000, ma’am.”

Richard’s gaze never left Frederick. He noticed the twitch at the corner of his lips, the slight tremor in his hand. Frederick’s smug façade was cracking.

In reality, Frederick and his family had been hiding a disaster. His father’s reckless investments and gambling had wiped out most of their fortune. Their current funds were pitiful.

 No more than $700,000 in Fedrick personal account  and Frederick had never intended to spend over $200,000, this showroom stunt was purely to impress and seduce Fiona, to secure her trust and eventually access her resources. So he could dupe her and her family.

Richard let a small, almost inaudible laugh escape. “You… you are sure your boyfriend here can really pay for it, Fiona?”.

Fiona’s mocked. “I’m sure. Because he is capable. Right”

Frederick’s smile faltered. He simply scoffed, nodding. 

Fiona’s face turned red with impatience. “You think everyone is as broke as you? Frederick, just pay for it quickly so we can leave!”.

She urged him, dragging his hand for him to do quick.

Then Frederick moved closer and whispered to her.

“Not that I can't buy it, I can. But can we go for another lesser car?, the money is a bit high, we can use it for another thing”.

Fiona was shocked and stared at him, “Are you saying this because you don't love me. I know your family is worth more than this, half a million is a very little piece of money for you, please don't let me be embarrassed here”.

“But___”.

Fiona immediately cut him off and said, “My husband will pay now”.

Richard’s eyes narrowed,  “If your boyfriend is so confident, Fiona… the both of you will bark for wasting our time,” 

Fiona threw her head back and laughed, sharp and ringing, “Bark? Hahaha! Oh, this is rich! They will pay anyway! What are you insinuating, Richard?”.

A slow, chilling smile crept onto Richard’s face. “Since you are so sure… will you do that? Bark if you can’t.”

Frederick’s jaw tightened. He was irritated, angry at the ridiculousness of the challenge.

“Okay,” Fedrick said in anger. “And if I really pay… you will be the one to bark.”

 “Yeah… be my guest. Everyone here can watch.” Richard said. 

Frederick exhaled sharply, forcing a smirk. He reached for his card, “Swipe it. Give us the car now,” he said.

“Let’s see this poor man bark.”

 Richard had seen him hesitate earlier, had noticed the micro-expression of doubt when the $500,000 figure was mentioned. He gambled that Fedrick didn't have that amount,  what he didn't know was Fedrick had a little more than that.

 The staff wiped the card. Frederick leaned back slightly, confidence masking a twitching hand. “I can’t wait for your barking,” he muttered under his breath.

The screen beeped.

Tooom!!!.

Everyone was invested.

 The staff frowned. “Uh… sir… the transaction…”

Fiona and Frederick leaned forward simultaneously. The words came slowly, heavy like a thunderclap.

“Card declined. Insufficient funds.”

Fiona’s laughter froze mid-air. Her mouth opened, then snapped shut. Frederick’s face was drained of color. His smirk vanished, replaced by a flicker of panic. He looked at the card, then at the staff, then back at Richard.

“What are you saying, you better check again, are you doing this to humiliate me. There is money in that account!”. Fedrick screamed.

The staff tried again, and said. insufficient funds. 

Fedrick was shocked. Checked his phone to check for the balance, that was when he saw a debit alert. 

-$400,000.

He looked shocked, that was undoubtedly his father. He wouldn't stop gambling,  he had withdrawn his money. The one he was planning on spending..

Fiona, oblivious to the situation, whined, “Baby, what happened? Call your father and ask him for money. We can’t be humiliated like this!”

“Just shut up!” Frederick shouted, his anger boiling over.

Fiona flinched, her voice trembling. “Shut up, please. Don’t even mention my father here!”

The staff stepped forward, frowning. “Take your empty card, please. Leave if you have nothing to pay.”

People around them started muttering and jeering.

“Aren’t they the ones bragging just a moment ago?”

“So, they have no money, yet they’re causing a commotion?”

“Stupid, rude couple!”

Frederick and Fiona were so embarrassed that they began to walk out slowly, before Richard called out.

“Wait! You forget to do something.”