The Almighty Convict's Revenge

04

Standing elegantly at the threshold of the grand double doors was a handsome, refined young man dressed in meticulously tailored designer clothing. His hair was perfectly styled, and an expensive luxury watch peeked out from beneath the crisp cuff of his shirt. He offered a charming, polite smile that radiated pure, unadulterated confidence.

"You must have forgotten about me, Auntie," the young man said smoothly. "I am Callum Domingo. It has been entirely too many years since we last saw each other, yet somehow, you have grown even more beautiful."

Upon hearing that familiar voice and name, the frosty, hostile expression on Celeste Vale's face instantly melted away. It was completely replaced by a blooming, overly enthusiastic smile that made her look entirely different. She had finally recognized the wealthy heir standing on her porch.

"Oh my goodness, it is little Callum!" she exclaimed, reaching out to eagerly grab his arm. "It has been so incredibly long. I heard you went overseas to study. Please, hurry up and come inside. You should have called me in advance so I could have prepared a proper reception for you. Have you even eaten lunch yet?"

"There is no need to go to any trouble, Auntie," Callum replied smoothly, allowing himself to be pulled into the lavishly decorated living room. "I just stepped off the airplane this morning. I had to handle a few minor business matters first, and then I rushed straight over here to see you all."

Celeste practically beamed with joy, patting his arm affectionately. "Now that you have finally returned to the country, are you planning to leave again?"

"No, I am staying for good," Callum answered, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "My parents are getting older, and since I am their only child, there are countless corporate matters and family businesses that require my immediate attention. By the way, it has been far too long since I last saw Mika. Is she doing well?"

Three years ago, the Domingo family had spent millions to send Callum to study for his master's degree in Valoria. Seeing him now, Celeste could clearly tell that the young man's entire demeanor, posture, and aura had dramatically evolved. He was no longer just a rich kid; he was a sophisticated businessman.

"She is right upstairs," Celeste answered eagerly. Turning toward the grand staircase, she pitched her voice into a deafening shout. "Mika! Come down here right now, we have a very special guest!"

On the second floor, the heavy oak door clicked open. Mika stepped out onto the landing, a deeply annoyed frown creasing her perfect forehead. However, the moment her beautiful eyes landed on Callum standing in her living room, she froze in mild surprise. Forcing her frustration down, she offered a polite, somewhat stiff smile and raised her hand in a brief greeting. "Hello. Welcome back."

Callum immediately stood up from the plush leather sofa. His eyes practically locked onto her, unable to stop wandering over her breathtaking figure. Three years had passed since they last met, and the time had only enhanced her beauty. Compared to the girl he remembered, Mika had matured significantly, radiating a captivating, otherworldly elegance mixed with an irresistible allure.

"It has been a very long time, Mika," Callum said, his voice dropping to a softer, more intimate register. "I brought back a special gift just for you."

Reaching into his expensive leather briefcase, Callum pulled out a small, velvet-lined box. He snapped it open, revealing a breathtaking diamond ring. Under the brilliant glow of the living room crystal chandelier, the massive, egg-sized diamond scattered dazzling, blinding rays of light across the walls. Even an untrained eye could instantly tell that this single piece of jewelry was worth an absolute fortune.

Standing off to the side, Celeste's eyes practically bulged out of her skull. Her breathing hitched, entirely mesmerized by the sparkling gemstone. There was simply no woman on earth who could easily resist the overwhelming temptation of such a magnificent diamond.

"Come down here, Mika," Callum urged softly, noticing her hesitation. "Let me put this on your finger."

Just as the tension in the room reached a breaking point, a heavy, deliberate cough echoed from the corner. Belmont cleared his throat loudly, shifting uncomfortably on the sofa.

"Callum, Uncle is genuinely happy and deeply moved that you kept Mika in your heart all these years," Belmont started, his voice laced with awkwardness. "However, you should put that ring away. Mika is already married now. If word got out about this, it would not look good for anyone."

The words struck the young heir like a physical blow. Callum's eyes glazed over in absolute shock, his confident smile shattering into pieces. His right hand violently trembled, entirely losing its grip on the velvet box.

The heavy ring slipped from his fingers. It hit the solid marble floor with a sharp, crisp clink, bouncing away toward the coffee table.

"Oh my dear lord, such a precious, flawless diamond! What if it chipped?!" Celeste shrieked in absolute agony. She threw herself onto the floor with shocking speed, scrambling on her hands and knees to scoop up the fallen jewelry. Her hands trembled wildly as she furiously buffed the massive gemstone against her expensive blouse, completely terrified that the pristine surface might have suffered even a microscopic scratch. Once she was entirely satisfied that the diamond remained undamaged, she discreetly, yet swiftly, slipped the priceless ring deep into her own pants pocket.

"Uncle, are you telling me the truth?" Callum asked, his voice shaking as the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. "When exactly did Mika get married?"

Fearing that the wealthy heir might harbor lingering, inappropriate hopes, Belmont sighed heavily. He pulled open the nearby drawer, retrieved the bright red marriage certificate, and pushed it across the table.

Staring down at the undeniable legal document, Callum felt as though a massive bucket of freezing water had been dumped directly over his head. A chilling numbness spread through his entire body. His ultimate goal for returning to the country had been twofold: to inherit his family's massive empire, and to finally claim Mika as his wife. As one of Bayhaven's Four Beauties, she was the absolute dream lover that countless powerful men desperately yearned for. The thought of another man touching her made his stomach churn.

"Callum, do not pay any attention to this ridiculous piece of paper," Celeste quickly intervened, her eyes darting around as she frantically launched into damage control. "She was completely forced into marrying that miserable ex-convict. They do not have a single shred of emotional foundation between them."

To Celeste, the choice was incredibly obvious. On one side stood a golden bachelor dripping in wealth, and on the other stood a pathetic loser who had just crawled out of a prison cell. Even a complete idiot would know exactly who to choose.

As Callum listened to the absurd, chaotic backstory of the arranged marriage, the dark devastation on his face slowly cleared up. A relaxed, arrogant smirk returned to his lips.

"So that is how it is," Callum said, casually stretching his arms out as a wave of immense relief washed over him. "I was wondering how Mika's standards could have possibly plummeted so drastically."

"Mika, little Callum traveled all this way just to see you," Celeste called out to the second floor, her tone dripping with sweet persuasion. "You two should go out and share a nice dinner tonight."

"There is no need. I already have plans tonight," Mika replied coldly. Without sparing the wealthy heir another glance, she turned her back and firmly shut her bedroom door.

"That stubborn child!" Celeste rolled her eyes aggressively, unable to hold back a frustrated complaint.

"It is perfectly fine, Auntie," Callum replied, waving his hand dismissively. "We have not seen each other in years. It is completely normal for there to be a little bit of a barrier between us right now. I have plenty of patience."

Just as the atmosphere began to settle, the sharp chime of the doorbell completely shattered the peace once again.

Celeste hurried over to the entryway and yanked the heavy door open. The moment she saw Curry standing casually on the porch, her accommodating, sweet smile vanished. Her features twisted into a mask of pure, unfiltered disgust.

"What are you doing crawling back here?" she demanded sharply. "Our family absolutely does not welcome violent convicts. You reek of bad luck and misfortune." She aggressively waved her hand in front of her nose as if trying to swat away a foul stench.

"Celeste, let Curry come inside!" Belmont commanded loudly from his seat in the living room.

Only under her husband's strict orders did Celeste reluctantly step aside, glaring daggers at the young man as he calmly walked past her.

As Curry stepped into the bright light of the living room, Callum's sharp eyes immediately began to size him up. He took in the faded, desperately outdated clothing that looked like it had been violently dug out of a cheap street-market bargain bin. Callum sneered inwardly, genuinely baffled as to what someone like Mika could ever possibly see in such a pathetic, unrefined peasant.

"So, you must be Curry?" Callum asked, a thick layer of mockery lacing his tone.

Curry simply gave a slow, indifferent nod.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the heir said, puffing out his chest proudly. "My name is Callum Domingo. I just returned from completing my master's degree in Valoria, and I am stepping up to take full control of my family's massive corporate empire."

Curry looked at him with utterly calm, deadpan eyes. "And what exactly does any of that have to do with me?"

That perfectly executed display of sheer indifference caused a violent surge of fiery anger to erupt in Callum's chest. He gritted his teeth, his arrogant facade slipping.

"I came back to this country specifically to marry Mika," Callum sneered, taking an aggressive step forward. "I highly suggest you learn to recognize reality and leave her immediately. You are nothing but a newly released criminal. Do you honestly believe you are worthy of someone like her? Filth like you is nothing but a toxic tumor on society. You are a complete waste of space."

Without a single warning, Curry's hand moved.

A loud, sharp crack echoed through the spacious living room as his palm connected squarely with Callum's cheek. The sheer, terrifying force of the sudden impact snapped the wealthy heir's head violently to the side.

"Your mouth is incredibly filthy," Curry stated, his dark eyes radiating a freezing, murderous intent. "For someone who studied abroad, your basic manners desperately need improvement."

Witnessing the sudden outburst of violence, Celeste practically jumped straight into the air. "You filthy convict! How dare you strike a guest in my house! Believe me, I will call the police and have you dragged right back to a cell!"

Nursing his stinging, bright red cheek, Callum's first instinct was to lunge forward and tear the young man apart. But catching sight of Belmont and Celeste watching, he forcefully swallowed his burning rage. He needed to maintain his sophisticated image.

"It is fine, Auntie," Callum said, forcing a tight, incredibly strained smile as he rubbed his throbbing face. "People who lack higher education naturally resort to barbaric violence to pretend they are strong."

Curry completely ignored the pathetic attempt at an insult. He casually strolled over to the plush sofa, dropped himself onto the cushions, and comfortably crossed his legs.

"Stand up right now! Who gave you permission to sit down?!" Celeste shrieked, pointing a trembling finger directly at his nose.

"Do not waste your breath getting angry over trash, Auntie," Callum interjected smoothly, desperately trying to regain control of the room's dynamic. "By the way, Uncle, I vividly remember your deep passion for historical antiques. I specifically asked a friend to acquire this painting for you at a high-end auction. It is The Aurola Portrait."

Reaching into his bag, Callum proudly presented a beautifully carved wooden container.

Seeing the luxurious box, Belmont's eyes immediately lit up with genuine desire. However, decades of business experience helped him maintain a shred of rationality. He forced an awkward chuckle.

"It is enough just knowing you had this kind thought, Callum. Uncle already has plenty of these things lying around the house."

Belmont understood the unwritten rules of society deeply. If you take someone's money, your hands are tied; if you eat their food, your mouth is soft. If he allowed his greed to win and accepted such a priceless masterpiece today, it would inevitably invite massive, unmanageable trouble regarding his daughter's future.

But Celeste absolutely did not share his cautious mindset. Flashing a greedy, delighted grin, she forcefully snatched the ornate wooden box right out of Callum's hands.

She quickly pried the container open and unrolled the ancient parchment. Her eyes greedily scanned the delicate, historical brushstrokes. However, as she stared at the intricate artwork, a deep, heavy frown slowly creased her forehead. She blinked rapidly, thoroughly bewildered by what she was seeing.

"This is incredibly strange," Celeste muttered aloud, her voice laced with pure confusion. "Why does this expensive painting look exactly identical to the garbage piece that Curry just gave us?"