FROM SHAME TO SUPREMACY

Episode 8

Kyle wanted to speak, but when he caught the smug gleam in Kevin Quinn’s eyes, he only shook his head and forced a calm smile. Turning to Megan, he said softly, “Shall we leave together? I don’t trust this atmosphere. It could turn ugly later.”

Megan hesitated. In college, she and Kyle had always gotten along, but tonight Kevin was the “star” everyone clung to. To walk out with Kyle now would mean standing against Kevin in front of the whole class.

Kevin noticed Kyle lingering and even daring to speak with the beautiful Megan. His face darkened instantly. He eyes blazed with hostility and barked, “Kyle, can’t you just crawl back into the hole you came from? And now you dare invite Megan to leave with you? Who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a live-in son-in-law—trash that brings shame even to our class!”

Voices echoed in agreement.

“That’s right! Everyone here has achieved something. You’re the disgrace among us.”

“Useless son-in-law, hurry up and get lost! Megan, don’t let yourself be fooled by him. He’s a worthless thrash!”

Kevin was tonight’s center of attention, and the classmates, though not truly capable, were skilled at flattery. At this moment, they all threw cruel words at Kyle without mercy, their insults sharp and humiliating.

Kyle frowned slightly. If it was not for worrying that Megan might be dragged into trouble later, he would not have even opened his mouth again.

Kevin, seeing Kyle still standing there calmly, felt his pride slipping. With a smirk, he pulled a bank card from his pocket and tossed it onto the table. His voice dripped with mockery. “Loser, then pay for this meal. Since someone here doesn’t know his place, Let’s see if you can afford a meal like this in your lifetime.”

Gasps rippled across the room.

It was a Black card. Only those with assets over a million could apply for it.

No wonder Kevin seemed so smug at his age. It looked like he really had made something of himself.

Kyle, in their eyes, was poor and pitiful. The contrast between the two men felt like a slap in the face.

Even Lily’s eyes flickered toward Kevin when she saw the Black card, her gaze carrying a trace of admiration. She thought to herself that perhaps this man was indeed capable.

Kevin’s heart swelled when he caught that look. He fixed his gaze on Kyle and added with a sneer, “I’ve changed my mind. Waiter, split the bill. Give Kyle his share, and I’ll cover the rest. Go on, calculate it separately.”

The waiter nodded and left.

Megan’s chest tightened with unease. Why had Kyle not just walked away? Tonight’s dinner could easily reach tens of thousands, and the share per person was well over a thousand. Could Kyle afford that? She sighed quietly and slipped her hand into her bag, ready to pull out her card. If it came to it, she would help cover for Kyle, anything to spare him the humiliation.

Just then, the waiter returned with the manager. Both entered the private room quickly, their faces serious.

The waiter bowed apologetically. “Sir, I’m afraid there’s an issue. Your card balance is insufficient.”

Kevin froze, stunned. Then anger flared. “What nonsense is this? I have millions in that card. How could it be insufficient?”

“Yes, sir. I’m truly sorry,” the waiter replied, keeping his head low. “Tonight’s total comes to around 1.8 million. After deducting this gentleman’s portion, you still owe about 1.7 million…”

Kyle nearly laughed aloud. He had to bite his lip together to hold it back.

Kevin really had outdone himself this time. No one else knew, but Kyle was well aware of the real reason for the sky-high bill.

Those two bottles of wine Kevin had ordered earlier—Jeroboam XII, the original royal series—each cost around eight hundred thousand. Just those two alone pushed the bill over 1.6 million.

Kevin’s face drained of color. He jabbed a finger at the waiter. “Impossible! There are fewer than twenty of us here. How can the bill reach nearly two million? Get your manager here. I want to see how your Five Star Hotel dares to cheat us!”

The waiter sighed and gestured to the neatly dressed man beside him. “This is our manager.”

Kevin exploded. He pointed at the manager and barked, “So you’re the one running this scam? How did you calculate this? Per person a hundred thousand? Do you even know who I am? My cousin is Tyler Ravenwood! I'll will crush this place.”

The manager remained calm, his tone slow but firm. “Sir, forgive me. The food itself was only tens of thousands. However, you ordered two bottles of Jeroboam XII. Each costs eight hundred and eighty thousand. Together with the meal, it reaches about 1.8 million. But since you are connected to Mr. Ravenwood, we already rounded the number down.”

“You…believe it or not, I’ll kill you!” Kevin roared, seizing the manager’s collar. “How could your hotel even have wine that costs more than eight hundred thousand? I never said I wanted that! I’ll call the police right now!”

The manager shook off his hand without panic. He had seen all kinds of arrogant men in Zinland, but this was the first time he met one who pretended to be rich without the money to back it up.

“Mister,” he said coldly, “let me make this clear. First, the wine was requested by you. Second, our wine is genuine, with proof. Third, we have evidence of the order. If you want to call the police, please do so.”

The manager snapped his fingers lightly.

Boom. The private room door burst open. Several large men in undershirts rushed in, each one fierce and intimidating.

Kevin trembled. His face broke out in cold sweat. Teeth gritted, he stammered, “Wh….Where’s your boss? Bring out your boss! You dare run a scam shop like this?”

A low voice answered with a mocking laugh. “So you’re saying I run a scam shop?”

A man with a taper fade haircut, silver-framed glasses, and a pair of wrist balls walked in with a smile that chilled the air. His presence suffocating.

It was Adam Westham, the owner of the Five Star Hotel, one of the most feared figures in Zinland.

Kevin’s tongue tied itself into knots. His earlier bravado drained away instantly. He had just claimed Tyler and Adam were close friends, but in reality, Tyler was nothing compared to this man.

Kevin was just an ordinary guy. How could he dare offend Adam Westham?

The manager’s tone hardened now that his boss had arrived. “Mister, you carry a Black card and drive a Lamborghini. Clearly, you’re not someone who can’t afford this. You ordered the best wine yourself and even asked for two bottles. Now you’re refusing to pay?”

“No… I wouldn’t dare!” Kevin’s voice shook. “Kevin trembled. “I… I’ll pay… I’ll pay…” He looked desperately at his classmates, his eyes begging for help. But one by one, they avoided his eyes. They had cheered when he flaunted his wealth, but now? They weren’t about to shoulder 1.7 million for his arrogance.

Adam Westham saw the truth immediately. He stepped forward, slapped Kevin’s face lightly twice, and sneered. “Boy, if you have no money, stop pretending. Keep a low profile. You think a Black Card makes you untouchable? Learn your place.”

“I understand… I understand…”

Adam’s smile turned into something cruel. His eyes swept across the room, pausing on Lily’s radiant figure, then lingering on Megan’s graceful beauty. Desire glimmered in his gaze.

“I’ll let you off the bill tonight,” Adam said slowly. “But only on one condition.”

Kevin’s teeth chattered. “Please… anything. Just tell me…”

Adam leaned back, his voice dripping with cruelty. “Let those two… keep me company.”