The Hidden Billionaire

CHAPTER 13

Zia quickly dashed in front of Thomas and snatched the membership card from his hand.

"Wow, I can't believe you brought out that membership card!

Looks like we're going to benefit from your generosity today. Everyone, make sure to thank Thomas later. But honestly, I bet even Ms. Bailey doesn't know her husband has a membership here," she said with a sarcastic tone. Hearing her snide remarks, the surrounding colleagues exchanged mischievous smiles.

While she desperately wished Thomas would help her out, he was only making things worse. How could someone like him possibly have such an upscale membership card? Moreover, his wife had never known him to come here. Did he want her to be humiliated in front of her colleagues? Thomas, however, appeared completely unfazed, wearing a relaxed expression as if he didn't care about the chatter at all. Zia raised an eyebrow, looking smugly at Ava as she noticed the latter's face turning sour. A triumphant smile crept onto her lips.

"Since you have that membership card, Mrs. Bailey, you're treating us to dinner today," she declared, striding over to the front desk and handing the card to the waiter. Watching the server's actions, Zia felt a swell of pride. Finally, she could enjoy herself. For so long, Ava had always managed to outshine her at work and in every aspect of life. Today, however, Zia could finally turn the tables and see Ava make a fool of herself.

Ava had everything going for her, but who would have thought she'd end up with such a useless husband? Today, thanks to him, Ava was about to be embarrassed in front of her colleagues. Zia couldn't wait to see how Ava would handle this humiliation.

Ava watched Zia’s antics, unable to suppress a frown. She shot a glare at Thomas. It was all his fault that she felt so embarrassed. Thomas managed a wry smile. He knew that his past actions had eroded Ava’s trust in him. No matter what he did now, she would instinctively doubt him. But at least this time, he wasn't just pulling a trick out of thin air. Since Mr. Keira needed his help, he was sure he wouldn't trick him. Zia, feeling triumphant, turned to the server and said, "Is it ready yet? Is there something wrong with this membership card?"

She deliberately raised her voice, making sure everyone could hear her. Ava instinctively frowned. She felt a strange discomfort as she glanced at Thomas, who stood nearby, still composed. It stirred something odd within her.

"Is this card yours?" the server asked respectfully, looking up at Zia.

Hearing this, Zia’s pride swelled even more. She casually replied, "Of course, this card isn't mine; it belongs to Ms. Bailey's husband from our company."

At her words, the server's expression shifted to one of excitement. "This card is our hotel's supreme card. We've only issued four of them, and yours is one of them. We have already prepared a buffet for you to enjoy," she said, stepping out from behind the front desk and respectfully handing the card to Thomas. No one expected things to turn out this way, and everyone was left dumbfounded.

"How is that possible? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? How could this guy possibly have your restaurant VIP card?"

"That's impossible. This card was personally given by our boss to the most esteemed guests," the waiter insisted confidently. Thomas was just as surprised as everyone else that Mr. Keira had given him such a high-status card. It was clear that his identity had its perks. He calmly tucked the card away, maintaining his composure. Ava, upon hearing this, looked at Thomas with a hint of surprise. Why had she never known about this?

She instinctively stepped closer to Thomas and whispered, "Where did you get this card? How come I had no idea you had one?"

Given Thomas's monthly salary of just three thousand dollars, there was no way he could afford such a card. Ava’s gaze turned scrutinizing as she studied him. Thomas replied nonchalantly, "Didn't I tell you I was here to meet the parents of one of my students? This card is temporarily in my possession for safekeeping."

Ah, that makes sense.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; it was just a case of borrowing someone else's privilege. Their faces showed a deeper disdain as they looked at Thomas, unable to hold back their head shakes. Luis felt his legs weaken at the sight of what had just happened. He never expected that the useless person he had looked down upon would possess such a valuable membership card. But as soon as he heard Thomas's explanation, he quickly regained his composure.

"I thought you were some kind of hidden billionaire," Luis said, chuckling. Thomas merely glanced at him with an indifferent expression, but Luis felt a chill run down his spine. That look held a warning, as deep and dark as an endless abyss. When had this guy become so intimidating? By the time Luis dared to look up again, he found that Thomas had already shifted his gaze away. It was as if everything that had just happened was merely a figment of his imagination. Luis let out a sigh of relief, wondering how this guy could possess such a piercing stare.

"I was just thinking he might finally hit it big, but it looks like that was just wishful thinking," Luis muttered. Hearing Luis' words, the others resumed their role as spectators, casually glancing at Thomas before chiming in. "If he were that wealthy, Mrs. Bailey wouldn't be working so hard," one of them remarked.

"I agree. If he could afford the VIP card here, why would he let his wife struggle to make ends meet?" another added.

"Yeah, when will Mrs. Bailey finally get to relax and not suffer out there in the rain and wind?" someone sighed.

As the chatter continued around him, Thomas didn't even blink. He turned to Ava and said, "I need to go check on Emma at home. You guys go ahead and eat."

Before Ava could react, he had already turned and walked away. Ava felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her, unsure if she should run after him or let him go. Meanwhile, her colleagues were urging her to join them for lunch, and reluctantly, she nodded in agreement. As they sat down to eat, only Luis and Zia felt a twinge of discomfort. After all, this meal was only possible because of that so-called "useless" guy. Thomas couldn't decide if he was just lucky or if he was simply having a bad day.

As soon as he stepped out of the hotel, he received a text from Ava. It was short and to the point, just two words: "Thank you."

A small smile crept onto Thomas's face as he calmly replied, "You're welcome."

Deep down, he felt a sense of guilt towards Ava. Over the years, she had endured a lot while being by his side, never really experiencing a day of true happiness. In his youth, he had been rebellious, despite having billions in the bank. He wanted to prove himself by starting from scratch and living a different life. Now, looking back, he realized it was all just a fantasy. He had so much money, yet she still had to work, making Ava suffer alongside him. If he were to reveal the truth to her, she might not be able to handle it at first. With a sigh, Thomas rubbed his forehead, lost in thought about when he could finally share the truth with Ava.

He hailed a taxi, intending to go home and meet his daughter. However, as he turned a corner, he suddenly collided with a motorcycle.

The motorcycle was speeding, and the rider was startled to see the taxi appear out of nowhere. In a panic, they slammed on the brakes, but it was too late; both the rider and the bike flew straight into the bush nearby.

The taxi driver turned pale with fear, and Thomas quickly unbuckled his seatbelt, ready to check on the rider's injuries. It wasn't entirely their fault; the road was simply too narrow, and the motorcycle was going the wrong way at high speed, showing no regard for safety. That's how this accident happened.

At that moment, a man and a woman crawled out of the bush, struggling to get up. They were covered in dirt, their clothes torn by branches, looking like they had just rolled in mud.

The woman shouted angrily, "What the heck! Are you blind or something?" Thomas calmly replied, "I'm sorry, we didn't see you there. Are you hurt? Do you want to go to the hospital?"

The man quickly got up to check his motorcycle and then started yelling.

"Didn't see us? Are your eyes just for decoration? Do you know how much this motorcycle costs? Can you even afford to pay for it? This is the latest Lamborghini motorcycle, worth $30,000!"

"I can cover that amount," Thomas said, glancing at their injuries. He couldn't help but add, "But first, shouldn't you go to the hospital? I can take care of the medical expenses too."

Upon hearing this, the man looked Thomas up and down, then burst into laughter. "Don't talk like you have the money. Do you think you can afford that much? If you could, why are you taking a taxi and pretending to be someone you're not?"

As he spoke, he shoved Thomas. Thomas frowned, his voice turning cold. "You were the ones breaking the rules by going the wrong way. We were driving normally, so we're not at fault here. Offering to pay you anything is already generous." The man was furious at Thomas's words and raised his fist, ready to strike. Just then, the woman took a good look at Thomas's face and let out a shriek.