REBIRTH TO BECOME TRILLIONAIRE HEIR

Chapter 4: The Power of Authority

Kelvin's Pov 

The clerk’s hesitation turns into outright doubt. She looks at me, then at Mrs. Sarah, and finally at the black card in her hand. Her lips press into a thin line as she makes her decision.  

“I’m sorry, sir,” she says, her voice firm but apologetic. “But I’m going to have to ask you to give up the Soul root. We can’t proceed with this transaction.”  

Mrs. Sarah smirks, crossing her arms triumphantly. “Told you. He’s just wasting everyone’s time.”  

I narrow my eyes, my patience wearing thin. “You’re making a mistake. I was here first, and I have the means to pay. You should honor the first-come, first-serve principle.”  

The clerk shakes her head, her tone turning condescending. “Sir, with all due respect, this herb is extremely expensive. We can’t risk a declined payment. If you can’t provide another form of payment, I’ll have to give it to Mrs. Sarah.”  

Mary’s sister giggles, her voice dripping with mockery. “Maybe he can pay with pocket change. Oh wait, he probably doesn’t even have that.”  

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Call your manager. Let’s settle this properly.”  

The clerk hesitates but eventually picks up the phone and dials a number. A few minutes later, a man in a tailored suit strides into the store, his expression stern.  

“What’s the problem here?” he asks, his voice carrying an air of authority.  

The clerk quickly explains the situation, gesturing to me and Mrs. Sarah. The manager’s eyes flicker over me, taking in my appearance my worn clothes, my unassuming demeanor. His lips curl into a faint sneer.  

“Sir,” he says, addressing me with barely concealed disdain, “I understand you’re trying to purchase the Soulroot, but we have a policy against accepting… questionable forms of payment. If you can’t provide a valid card, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”  

Mrs. Sarah smirks, clearly enjoying the spectacle. “See? Even the manager knows you’re full of it.”  

I clench my fists, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. “The card is valid. Run it.”  

The manager shakes his head, his tone patronizing. “I’m afraid we can’t take that risk. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have other customers to attend to.”  

The manager walk out on me, as if I were invisible, like I didn’t matter, it hit me harder than I expected. In that moment, I was reminded of the sense of not belonging, of being insignificant. 

It wasn’t just about that incident; it stirred memories of a lifetime of being overlooked, dismissed, and made to feel as though my presence didn’t count. The cold indifference in their actions mirrored the many times I had been treated like an outsider, like I was unworthy of attention or respect. 

I’ve had enough. Pulling out my phone, I dial Lydia’s number. She answers on the first ring.  

“Kelvin,” she says, her voice calm and professional. “What do you need?”  

“Come inside,” I say, my tone sharp. “There’s a situation.”  

I hang up before she can respond. The manager raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.  

“Calling for backup?” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Let me guess your imaginary friend is going to vouch for you?”  

Mrs. Sarah and her sister laugh, their voices grating on my nerves. I ignore them, focusing on the manager.  

“You’re about to regret this,” I say, my voice low and steady.  

The manager smirks, clearly unconvinced. “Oh, I’m shaking. Who exactly are you calling? The CEO of this store?”  

Before I can respond, the door chimes. All eyes turn as Lydia steps inside.  

She’s a vision of power and authority, her sharp suit and cold demeanor commanding immediate respect. The manager’s smirk falters as he recognizes her.  

General manager of eclipse group “Ms. Lydia,” he stammers, his voice suddenly shaky. “What… what are you doing here?”  

Lydia ignores him, her gaze sweeping the room before landing on me. “Kelvin,” she says, her tone respectful. “What’s the issue?”  

The manager pales, his earlier confidence evaporating. “Ms. Lydia, I… I didn’t realize…”  

“This man,” I say, cutting him off, “refused to process my payment. He assumed my card was fake and sided with these women instead.” I gesture to Mrs. Sarah and her sister, who are now staring at Lydia with wide eyes.  

Lydia’s expression hardens as she turns to the manager. “Is this true?”  

The manager stumbles over his words, his face turning red. “I… I didn’t know he was with you, Ms. Lydia. I thought…”  

“You thought wrong,” Lydia interrupts, her voice icy. “This is Kelvin, And that card you refused to process? It’s a Black Eclipse Card, one of the most exclusive in existence. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?”  

The manager’s face drains of color. “I… I had no idea. Please, Ms. Lydia, I…”  

“Save it,” Lydia says, cutting him off again. She turns to the clerk, who looks like she’s about to faint. “you dare go against Kelvin.”  

Lydia turns to me, her expression softening slightly. “Are you alright?”  

I nod, though my hands are still trembling. “I’m fine. Thanks for stepping in.”  

She gives me a small, approving nod. “You handled yourself well. But remember, Kelvin you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Your name alone commands respect.”  

I take a deep breath, letting her words sink in. She’s right. I’ve spent my entire life being looked down on, being treated like I’m nothing. But that ends today.