THE SON-IN-LAW THEY LEFT TO DIE

CHAPTER 8

A few minutes later, Johnson was about to step through the grand gates of the McArthur mansion when someone suddenly called out behind him.

"Young Master! Please wait!"

Johnson turned around and saw a man dressed in a professional chauffeur's uniform hurrying toward him.

The man stopped in front of him and bowed respectfully, "Young Master, where are you going?"

Johnson looked at him in confusion.

"I just want to buy some clothes."

The chauffeur looked alarmed.

"You cannot leave like this!"

Johnson frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Young Master, Master McArthur arranged thirty luxury vehicles exclusively to be your convoy and they are all at your disposal."

Johnson blinked.

"Thirty?"

"Yes, Young Master. They are to escort you wherever you are going."

Johnson rubbed his forehead, "I think it is going to take me some time to get used to all of this," he muttered.

Then he looked at the chauffeur and said calmly, “Thank you but I don’t need any escort right now”.

"But Young Master—"

"The only thing I need right now is a few sets of clothes," Johnson interrupted. "I do not need a convoy to buy shirts and trousers."

The chauffeur hesitated.

"At least allow one of us to drive you."

Johnson smiled awkwardly.

"Thank you, but I will be fine."

Without giving the man another opportunity to argue, Johnson walked through the gates.

The chauffeur stared helplessly at his disappearing figure.

Outside the villa, Johnson flagged down a taxi.

"Where to, sir?"

"Exclusive Store."

The driver's eyes widened slightly. Exclusive store was one of the biggest apparel stores in the city. People that usually shop there were celebrities and extremely wealthy people, not people that looked like these.

"The Exclusive Store?" He asked to be sure he heard correctly.

Johnson nodded.

"Yes."

A few moments later, the taxi stopped outside one of the most luxurious clothing stores in the city.

Johnson paid the driver and stepped out.

Just as he was about to head into the store, an expensive SUV pulled into the parking lot. The driver's door opened. A rotund man with a large stomach climbed out.

The passenger door opened immediately afterward. A young woman wearing heavy make-up stepped out chewing bubble gum.

The man wrapped an arm around her slender waist as they headed towards the door.

Johnson froze staring at the couple. The age difference between the two was simply too large not to cause a passerby to Atleast steal a glance.

The man looked to be in his early sixties or at least in his late fifties while the young woman with him was barely above twenty.

But that was not why Johnson was staring at the couple. He recognized the young lady immediately.

Who else would it be?

It was Bethany’s friend who was infamous for hooking up with almost all the wealthy men in the city regardless of their age.

"Jacintha?"

The young woman looked toward him. Her expression immediately soured.

"Oh no."

The rotund man looked Johnson up and down before asking, “You know this beggar?”

Jacintha clenched her jaw in irritation, “unfortunately”.

Meanwhile Johnson walked over quickly, a genuine smile brightening his face.

"Jacintha. It's been a—"

Before he even finished his statement, Jacintha’s hand shot out and delivered a tight slap across his face.

"Are you not ashamed of yourself?" she snapped. "Do you want to embarrass me in public by letting everyone know that I know someone like you?"

Johnson’s hand instinctively covered his chin and blinked in confusion.

"What? I only wanted to greet you."

Jacintha’s frown deepened. “Did I tell you I need your greetings?!” She folded her arms in front of her chest. “You think I don’t know those tricks? First, you greet people politely then the next thing you know, you are begging for money”.

The older man beside her smirked arrogantly while Jacintha continued mercilessly.

"Look at yourself, Bethany divorced you barely twenty-four hours ago and you are already wandering around the streets begging people for money. Honestly, what kind of shameless man are you?"

Johnson frowned.

"Jacintha, you're misunderstanding. I wasn't going to ask you for anything. And I'm not wandering around. I came here to shop."

"Can you hear yourself?" Jacintha scoffed. "You can't even come up with a good lie. You? Shopping at Exclusive store?"

Johnson opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off

"Save it," she snapped before hooking her arm possessively around the older man's. "Let's go, darling. I do not want my mood ruined."

The man nodded proudly and together they walked into the store.

Johnson remained standing outside for a few moments, staring after them in disbelief.

"What was that?" he muttered under his breath.

Shaking his head, he eventually entered the store as well.

Inside, he noticed Jacintha admiring expensive jewelry while her sugar daddy stood beside her with a smug expression on his face. Choosing to ignore them, Johnson headed toward the men's section.

A saleswoman quickly approached him.

"Good afternoon, sir. Can I help you with anything?"

"Good afternoon," Johnson replied politely. "I would like to look at some casual clothes."

"Certainly, sir. Please feel free to browse."

Johnson nodded and picked up a neatly folded shirt from one of the racks.

Just as he was about to try it on—

CRASH!

A deafening sound echoed throughout the store.

Everyone immediately turned toward the source of the noise.

Johnson looked over, and his eyes widened.

Jacintha was sprawled across the floor amidst the shattered remains of a glass display stand. Scattered around her were dozens of exotic diamond watches that had been reduced to ruins.

The store manager let out a horrified scream.

"My watches! Oh my God, my watches!"

He rushed toward Jacintha, grabbing her arm.

"You destroyed them!"

Jacintha looked completely panicked.

"It was an accident! My heel snapped! I lost my balance. I didn't mean to fall on the stand”.

The manager looked close to tears, "I do not care whether it was intentional or not. You have to pay for this!"

The sugar daddy stepped forward arrogantly.

"How dare you raise your voice at my girlfriend? They're just some damn watches."

He pulled out his wallet confidently, "How much are they? I will pay for everything, so leave her alone."

The manager pointed toward the ruined collection.

"The entire collection is worth one hundred million dollars."

Silence immediately descended upon the store.

The man's confident expression disappeared instantly.

"...What?"

"One hundred million dollars," the manager repeated firmly. "That is the value of the collection she destroyed."

The older man's face turned pale.

"W-What did you say?"

"One hundred million dollars!" The manager repeated for the third time, this time his voice louder.

The older man’s lips began trembling.

Jacintha hurriedly grabbed his arm, "Darling, pay them. People are watching, don’t let him embarrass me in front of all these people"

The man quickly pulled away from her.

"Pay?"

"Yes!" Jacintha cried. "You said you would do anything for me, remember?"

Suddenly, the man's entire attitude changed.

“You are a wicked girl!” he shouted nervously. “Where do you want me to get that kind of money from? Do you want me to sell my company and fall into debts?”

“But darling—”

“Don’t call me that!” he snapped “I am married. I have a wife and children. You should leave me alone."

Jacintha's stared at him blankly.

But before anyone could react, the man turned around and ran.

"Darling!" Jacintha screamed after him.

He rushed out of the store, and moments later, everyone heard the SUV speeding away.

The manager immediately turned towards Jacintha his voice callous as he demanded, “Where is my money? If you don’t pay, I am calling the police right now!”

Jacintha’s heart skipped.

She dropped to her knees, “Please, don’t call the police on me. If I get arrested my reputation would be ruined,” she cried desperately.

"I do not care!" the manager snapped before turning toward a sales girl. "Call the police!"

Within minutes, police officers arrived at the scene.

After the manager explained what happened, one of the officers looked directly at Jacintha.

"Miss if you don’t pay the money we are going to have no choice but to throw you in jail until we recover the money!"

Jacintha looked nothing like the earlier arrogant lady, sweat and tears had completely messed up her make up. But at the moment that was the least of her worries.

Jacintha crawled on her knees towards the police officer,

"Please... I am begging you. Please don't take me away."

But her pleas fell on deaf ears as officer instead removed a handcuff, “You will have to come with us ma’am”

But just before the metal touched her wrist, a male voice spoke calmly.

"Wait."

Everyone turned towards the source of the voice— Johnson.

The manager frowned.

"What do you want?"

Johnson looked at him calmly, "How much is the damage again?"

"One hundred million dollars," the manager disclosed immediately. “Why are you asking?”

Then his gaze drifted toward Johnson's ordinary clothes, and his expression immediately became contemptuous.

"Wait a second..." He folded his arms. "What is someone like you even doing in our store in the first place? Did you wander in here by mistake?"