Rise of the Dann

An Unexpected Proving

The guests in the room hurled sharp insults at Dann as he casually stated that he would repay his debt to Thomas. Jeremy laughed the loudest, his voice echoing among the other guests’ mocking laughter.

"Really?" Jeremy sneered, looking at Dann with a scornful gaze. "You, a former dock worker, suddenly able to pay off such a huge debt? Haven't you just been boasting this whole time?"

Jeremy’s mockery seemed to signal the other guests to join in the laughter. Some whispered shamelessly, making equally cutting remarks.

"Hilarious," said a woman with a shrill voice. "The Anderson family’s son-in-law who was just a dockhand dares to make such grand promises! You should be grateful just to be here."

Another chimed in, "My God, Dann. You showed up with an old phone that even has a cracked screen visible from a mile away. Are you sure you’re not keeping all your money in some imaginary bank, not in reality?"

Dann looked at all of them with a steely gaze. Despite the barrage of insults, he didn’t flinch. Jeremy smirked, clearly enjoying the moment even more.

"You know, Dann," Jeremy said with a smug grin, "Thomas, our father-in-law, has been far too patient with you. Maybe you should leave before bringing even more embarrassment to this family."

But before Dann could respond, the sound of an engine hummed from outside. The guests all fell silent, glancing around curiously. Slowly, their attention turned to the front door, where a bank vehicle had pulled up, complete with uniformed security guards. Jeremy, who had been so full of confidence moments ago, now looked bewildered. The guests murmured among themselves, confused by the arrival of the bank vehicle.

A bank director stepped out of the car, carrying a large briefcase, followed by several guards who were escorting cash straight into the event. As they entered, the director walked toward Dann and handed him the case with all the guests watching in tense silence. Dann received the briefcase, then opened it slowly, revealing stacks of cash inside.

Every eye widened at the sight of the massive amount of money. The mocking and jeering that had filled the room moments before suddenly stopped. Dann gave a faint smile, looking at Jeremy and the now-silent guests. "You might all be right," he said, his voice calm but sharp. "I'm just a former dock worker. But I know one thing—I never needed a title or a family inheritance to be responsible for my own life."

The guests exchanged uneasy glances, embarrassment spreading across their faces. Jeremy, who had been so loud with his insults, now fumbled for words, unable to respond.

With quiet confidence, the bank director turned to Thomas and handed him the briefcase directly. "Mr. Thomas," he said respectfully, "this is the full payment of your debt, as requested by Mr. Dann Riddect."

Thomas stared at the briefcase, wide-eyed and in shock, then shifted his gaze to Dann, who stood there without saying much. Dann looked back at him with steady and meaningful eyes.

"I never took your money, Father," Dann said quietly, his voice firm. "I just wanted to lift this burden from Eva. There’s no reason she should have to bear this any longer for this family."

Thomas remained silent, still stunned. Jeremy, now at a loss, swallowed hard, unable to hide his shame. The guests, who had been mocking Dann moments before, exchanged guilty glances, embarrassed by their behavior. Eva looked at Dann, her eyes welling up with a mix of admiration and relief.

Another engine revved outside, and this time, a sleek black limousine pulled up in front of the house. Without saying a word, Dann walked over to Eva, gently taking her hand. He gave her a small smile, signaling that it was time to leave.

"Eva, let’s go home," Dann said softly, as though he didn’t need to explain anything to anyone in the room.

Eva nodded, feeling a newfound sense of calm settle over her. Xenna, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward, realizing it was time to leave this place behind. The three of them walked out together, heading to the waiting limousine.

The guests could only stare in shock as Dann, Eva, and Xenna stepped into the luxury vehicle. Without another word, the limousine pulled away, leaving the silent crowd behind. For Dann, his small family was his greatest treasure, and he had proven beyond doubt that love and sacrifice were worth more than any title or insult.

Jeremy clenched his fists, his face flushed red with anger. After watching the limousine carry Dann and Eva away, he turned sharply, glaring at Thomas with pure hatred.

"This is all your fault, Thomas!" Jeremy seethed, his voice low and menacing. "You let Dann humiliate us in front of everyone! You know I deserved that respect, not him!"

Thomas, still speechless and full of regret, tried to calm Jeremy. "Jeremy, let’s talk this over calmly. Dann didn’t mean to damage your reputation."

But Jeremy wasn’t listening. He raised a finger, pointing it at Thomas with a threatening expression. "Don’t think I’ll just stand by! You’ll regret embarrassing me today. I’ll make sure you and your family pay for this."

Thomas looked at Jeremy, feeling guilt over everything that had happened. Yet, he knew Jeremy’s threat wasn’t empty, and that realization made his heart sink. A day that had begun with celebration now ended in ruin.

Thomas took a deep breath, looking at Jeremy with a sharp, steely glare, his hidden anger simmering beneath the surface. Despite his son’s threats, a faint smile crept onto his face, for beneath this humiliating scene, he had just come into a fortune he never expected.

"Do you really think you can intimidate me with your empty threats, Jeremy?" Thomas sneered coldly, eyeing the stack of money before him. "Dann may be the son-in-law you despise, but look at what he did—he paid off my debt without a single condition. And you, Jeremy… all you can do is bluff."

Jeremy’s face darkened with rage, his eyes blazing. "I did this for our family’s honor, Thomas. You should be siding with me, not with that lowlife!"

Thomas stepped closer, his gaze challenging. "You need to face reality, Jeremy. Dann did something you could never do—he respected and protected this family without expecting anything in return. If you’re bold enough to ‘settle’ things with me, go ahead. But remember one thing, I’ll never side with you if all you care about is your ego."

Jeremy’s fury was evident, yet Thomas turned away with a satisfied smirk, dismissing his son’s emotions. To Thomas, the money was victory enough, a win no one could deny.