System: From Trash Son-in-Law to Billionaire

Chapter 7

Daniel and Cheryl’s steps toward the VIP room suddenly halted right at the threshold of the golden stained-glass doors. A rhythmic and loud sound of clapping echoed from the lobby, breaking the attention of New York’s elite who had just witnessed Seraphina’s downfall.

“Splendid! What a neatly arranged charade, Daniel Leonard!”

A man in an ivory-white tuxedo strode in arrogantly. His hair was slicked back neatly, and the Richard Mille watch on his left wrist was intentionally flaunted under the glow of the crystal chandeliers. Evan Vanguard. Behind him, four burly men in pitch-black suits—the personal bodyguards of the Vanguard clan—followed with intimidating strides.

Seeing Evan’s arrival, Seraphina, who was still sitting on the floor, seemed to see a ray of light in the midst of darkness. “Evan... Help me, Evan! Daniel... this damn man claims to be the shareholder of Ashford!” she wailed in a hoarse voice.

Evan glanced at Seraphina briefly with a cold look—he despised weak women in public—then turned his gaze back to Daniel with a sinister, triumphant smile. He stepped forward, standing directly in the middle of the hall, blocking Daniel and Cheryl’s path.

“Get up, Seraphina! Don’t embarrass yourself in front of this boastful man,” Evan said loudly, his voice intentionally raised so it could be heard throughout the restaurant.

Evan walked closer to Daniel, then looked at Cheryl with a heroic, pretentious air. “Miss Cheryl, I believe you and the entire board of directors of Ashford Global have become victims of manipulation. The man beside you? The owner of 40% cash shares? Don’t make me laugh! The Vanguard Group just checked Manhattan’s banking network this afternoon. There is not a single account under the name of Daniel Leonard that has assets worth more than a thousand dollars!”

The restaurant hall grew noisy again. Speculative whispers began to be heard from the businessmen who had initially submitted to Daniel. They believed the words of the Vanguard Group heir more than Daniel, whose background was unclear.

“Mr. Vanguard,” Cheryl’s voice sounded clear yet as cold as ice, her eyes flashing with deep anger. “Your aura of arrogance cannot alter the legal facts within Ashford Global’s documents.”

“Legal facts can be forged, Miss Cheryl,” Evan cut in quickly with a mocking tone. “The Vanguard clan knows that Ashford Global is being shaken by internal conflict due to your uncle’s antics. It is very easy for a bastard like Daniel to cooperate with a traitorous faction in your company, creating fake documents just to bluff the Monroe clan tonight!”

Evan pointed his finger directly at Daniel’s face. “Daniel, claiming to be a billionaire will not change the fact that you are a former waiter who smells of a café. How much bribe money did you give to the insiders of Ashford for this crazy scenario, huh?”

Seraphina stepped forward as well, wiping her dirty gown with a face full of renewed, burning vengeance. “That’s right! I lived with him for years! Let alone billions of dollars, he had to rely on my money just to pay the apartment rent! Miss Cheryl, you are being used by a fraud!”

Daniel remained silent. He did not reply to a single word of those insults. Instead of being angry, he actually put one hand into the pocket of his Savile Row suit, looking at Evan with an amused gaze, as if he were watching a free comedy show.

Daniel’s unshakeable calmness made Evan feel even more insulted. Evan’s face turned red. He waved his hand to his four bodyguards. “Detain Daniel Leonard! Don’t let this fraud escape before the financial authorities examine his fake documents!”

*Sret!*

The four burly bodyguards immediately stepped forward, forming a tight barricade in front of Daniel and Cheryl, blocking their path with threatening glares. One of the bodyguards, who had the largest build, stepped forward, attempting to grab Daniel’s shoulder to pin him to the floor. “Come with us, bastard.”

However, before the bodyguard’s hand could touch Daniel’s expensive suit fabric, Daniel moved.

His movement was so fast, precise, and without hesitation. Daniel grabbed the bodyguard’s wrist, twisting it backward until a sickening click was heard, and with a single jerk of his shoulder, he slammed the 90-kilogram man onto a nearby buffet table.

*Pranggg! Brukk!*

“Argh?!” The bodyguard groaned in pain amidst the shattered crystal plates.

The other three bodyguards jolted backward, immediately dropping into fighting stances, shocked to see the man they assumed to be a “weak waiter” possess such terrifying physical strength.

Daniel remained standing right where he was. He did not even catch his breath; his clothes remained neat without a single crease. Daniel looked at the three remaining bodyguards with his cold sapphire eyes. “You are paid to protect your master’s life, not to deliver your own lives into my hands. Move aside.”

Daniel’s voice was not loud, but the psychological pressure he radiated made the three bodyguards freeze. Their fighting instincts told them that the man in front of them was the true predator. Slowly, with trembling bodies, the three bodyguards stepped aside and opened the path.

Evan glared in horror seeing his own bodyguards defect out of fear. “You fools! Why are you stepping back?! Attack him!”

“I told you, Mr. Vanguard. Barking too loudly only makes you look pathetic,” Daniel said flatly. He took one step forward, causing Evan to reflexively take a step back out of intimidation.

Daniel glanced at his phone briefly. The System had just reported that his tactical funds had successfully and covertly locked the daily stock movement of the Vanguard Group on the stock exchange tonight. Daniel smiled faintly. He did not want to destroy Vanguard right now. It would be too easy if they died tonight. He wanted Evan to feel a slow-burning anxiety before his total downfall.

“Evan,” Daniel whispered, his voice only audible to Evan and Seraphina who were nearby. “Enjoy the rest of your days with this arrogance. Because before long, even to hire foolish bodyguards like them, you will have to sell the rest of your pride.”

“You... you are just bluffing!” Evan snapped, trying to cover up his heart that was beating wildly from an inexplicable fear.

Daniel paid him no more attention. He turned toward Cheryl, giving a polite gesture full of authority. “Miss Cheryl, our private room is ready. Let us leave this noisy place.”

Cheryl looked at Daniel with eyes gleaming with deep admiration. Daniel’s calmness, physical strength, and the way he controlled the situation truly captivated her heart. “Of course, Mr. Daniel. The restaurant security will take care of the trash littering this hall.”

Daniel and Cheryl walked gracefully once again, passing Evan who stood frozen with trembling clenched fists, and leaving Seraphina and Keith who wept hysterically, mourning the beginning of their family’s total destruction.