The Legendary Martin Garvey

Chapter 9

“What he said is true.”

Martin lifted his head and looked at Quinn.

At the same time, he casually tilted his chin toward Ethan. Instead of showing the respectful gesture of a subordinate toward his superior, Martin’s movement was relaxed—almost dismissive—like Ethan was no one important.

“We came here because we have a reservation card. Whatever you’re eating has nothing to do with him. He’s not the one paying for us.”

Once again, Martin casually motioned toward Ethan.

“It’s fine. Eat.”

He smiled—this time freely.

“I’ve never taken you to a nice restaurant before. Consider this the first debt I’m paying back to you.”

After saying that, Martin picked up a piece of whole-wheat bread, dipped it into the mayonnaise sauce in front of him, and focused on his food.

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

Gulp.

“Delicious!”

Martin didn’t care about what anyone said.

He came here for one reason—to make Quinn happy.

As long as his wife got what she wanted, that was more than enough for him.

“Alright.”

Quinn nodded, letting out a relieved breath.

Seeing how much Martin seemed to be enjoying his meal, the burden in her heart eased.

Now nothing stood in her way from enjoying the dishes in front of her.

However, Martin’s voice had been loud enough for the people who had been whispering earlier to hear.

“Huh! Who does he think he is, talking to his employer like that?” muttered the middle-aged woman, pursing her lips at him.

“Oh, I get it. He must be her relative. So poor that he has to work as a servant in his brother-in-law’s house. How embarrassing.”

At the same time, Martin’s words had also infuriated Ethan.

Damn it! How dare he act like that in front of me!

Not wanting to ruin his image as a patient and friendly hospital director, he forced himself to hold back.

But seeing this trash of a young man behave so disrespectfully toward him, he couldn’t simply stay silent.

You want to pick a fight with me? Fine. Let’s see who wins this time.

Ethan had failed to humiliate Martin at the hospital.

This time, he would make sure he succeeded.

No matter what.

Thirty minutes later, Ethan had finished everything on his plate, while Quinn had only managed to finish her steak.

“Miss Hayes, how was it? Are you satisfied with the meal?”

“Yes, of course, Mr. Downey. It was wonderful.”

“Good. You do realize food of this quality doesn’t come cheap, don’t you?” Ethan continued.

“Yes, you’re right.”

Quinn nodded awkwardly, not understanding where this was going.

“To be honest, I have no problem paying for it. My money is more than enough to buy every dish in this restaurant. But I heard it was your husband who insisted on paying for everything we eat. Of course, I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”

What?

Quinn froze.

She suddenly realized that a reservation card didn’t mean the meal was prepaid.

Oh my God… what have I done?

She should never have insisted on bringing Martin here.

Now it was too late.

She certainly didn’t have the money to pay.

And she wasn’t sure her husband could either.

What should we do?

Seeing her distress, Ethan shifted his gaze to Martin, who had also finished eating.

“Hey, man. A real man stands by his words. You said I’m not the one paying for this, right? Prove it.”

Before Martin could answer, Ethan added,

“Oh, and one more thing. Since you came here with your wife and me—two members of the most prominent family in this city—you should know better than to embarrass us. Now go on. Pay. Pay for all of it.”

Ethan smirked.

Now he would show Martin what he was incapable of doing.

You said you got that reservation card on your own? Ethan sneered inwardly. Idiot. I was the one who booked it for Quinn. Now let’s see how you crawl and beg me to pay for you.

H Liberty was no ordinary restaurant where $500–$1,000 would cover dinner.

Here, $10,000 was the bare minimum one should expect.

With premium dishes and top-class drinks, the bill could easily double.

Hahaha! Ethan laughed inwardly. Even if you spent your entire life mopping hospital floors, your salary would never be enough.

Imagining different scenarios, the hospital director smiled broadly, waiting for Martin’s response.

At the same time, he couldn’t wait to show Quinn what a gentleman like him could do.

Once Martin gave up, he would seize that moment.

“Of course. Do you think I came here just to eat for free?”

Martin calmly took out his worn-out wallet.

“I’ll pay for everything. Including everything you’ve eaten.”

Bastard!

Under the table, Ethan clenched his fists.

This bastard really wants to be taught a lesson!

Instead of keeping quiet or asking for help, Martin casually mocked him.

In this position, it almost looked as if Ethan were the one asking Martin to pay for him.

Before Ethan could speak again, the middle-aged woman who had been disgusted by Martin’s presence finally burst out,

“Hey! You shameless lowlife! What do you think this place is? Acting like you’re rich here! How exactly are you going to pay?”

“That’s right!” another woman stood up. “I’ve felt uncomfortable since the moment I saw him. He should be thrown out immediately!”

The commotion grew louder.

Soon, a middle-aged man in a black suit with a manager’s badge entered the room.

Because the third floor had become so noisy, he had to take action.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

He bowed politely.

“But I assure you, whoever caused this disturbance will face strict consequences.”

His words sounded fair, yet from the moment he arrived, his eyes never left Martin—as if already convinced he was the troublemaker.

After all, among all the elegantly dressed guests, only this young man looked like a homeless drifter.

Even his mere presence seemed wrong.

“Sir, I tried to stop him from entering,” the receptionist said, pointing at Martin.

“But he forced his way in. He even arrogantly claimed he could pay for all the food here.”

Before saying that, he glanced at Ethan and winked.

Ethan subtly responded by forming an “OK” sign with his fingers.

Originally, Ethan had only wanted to humiliate Martin and show Quinn how unreliable her husband was.

He had expected Martin to flee and leave his wife behind.

But since that didn’t happen, he would take one final step—

Make sure Martin hit rock bottom here.

“I’m sure he deliberately came to cause trouble,” the receptionist added.

“Is that so?”

Turning toward Martin, the manager looked at him with barely concealed disdain.

“You said you’d pay for all the food here? Remember—only people of the highest class set foot in this place. By saying that, are you claiming to be the richest man in the city?”

Laughter erupted.

“Living in poverty must have made him delusional,” someone mocked. “He can’t tell reality from dreams.”

“So?” the manager pressed. “Are you going to take out your black card and pay?”

Hahaha!

The laughter grew even louder.

In this city, only a handful of people possessed a black card.

Asking Martin for one was the ultimate mockery.

“Mr. Manager, I already generously offered to help,” Ethan said, unable to suppress his amusement any longer.

“But as your receptionist said, this man is too stubborn to accept that he can’t afford it. A man like that doesn’t deserve a girl as beautiful as her.”

As he said the last sentence, he shamelessly looked at Quinn, clearly implying what he could provide that her husband could not.

Ethan wanted Quinn.

And if this was his chance, why not take it?

“You people talk too much. I said I’d pay, and I will.”

Martin had had enough.

He didn’t care if they looked down on him.

But he wouldn’t allow them to make Quinn uncomfortable because of him.

“Take this.”

From his old, worn wallet, Martin pulled out a black card.

“I’ll pay for everyone’s meals here.”

Not just the meals—if Martin wanted to buy the entire restaurant, it would be nothing to him.

“Whoa! What’s this?”

The manager quickly grabbed the card and raised it in the air.

“Everyone, this man is truly impressive! A billionaire in disguise! As you can see—this is a black card!”

Holding it between two fingers as if it were something filthy, the manager laughed.

He was obviously mocking him.

He had seen many black cards before.

None looked like this.

This was clearly a toy card.

Hahaha!

The crowd burst into laughter.

“How ridiculous! His imagination is so wild he thinks a toy card is real!”