The Original Son-in-law

Chapter 4: Carlson's Entry

Chapter 4

Henry had barely replied when a voice came from behind.

“Look at who will be here, the live-in-son-in-law of Graham's family."

Henry turned and frowned immediately.

The person was no other than Carlson, Mario's immediate friend. Carlson was from a rich family, but his family's name wasn't popular in the city. However, they lived comfortable lives.

Carlson loved spending lavishly, especially on flashy stuff just to drag beautiful ladies' attention. He had been a playboy all from the start. He probably was here to get nice and expensive clothes to look good in.

Carlson strode forward. "What have you come here to steal?” He asked.

The salesperson narrowed her eyes. At first, when she saw Henry, she knew he wasn't capable of purchasing things here, but out of courtesy's sake, she decided to receive him.

But after hearing this now, her previous impression resurfaced.

“Sir, do you know him?" She asked.

Carlson tilted vehemently. "Of course, I do! He's the live-in-son-in-law of the Graham's family, where one of my friends is married. This guy here is a leech on his in-laws. He’s got nothing. No name. No background. Nothing! Just wondering what he's doing here."

“He came to buy clothes."

“Buy clothes?" Carlson scorned. “Does he look like he can afford anything here?"

A small crowd had started to gather, hearing what Carlson was saying about Henry.

However, the latter had been quietly shaking his head.

Carlson, enjoying the attention he had pulled to himself, smirked as he continued to humiliate Henry. “Listen here, everyone, let me tell you all something. This thing you're seeing here is a shameless asshole! On his grandmother-in-law’s birthday, he couldn't even buy a gift for her. Instead, he was begging her for bucks that I can comfortably throw away.”

Faces contorted with disdain, and murmuring started to fill the room.

"He's that useless!”

"What manner of man is he who can't even afford to gift his grandmother even if it's a piece of earrings on her birthday?”

When the humiliation started to grow uncontrollably, Henry, who had been silent for a very long time now, suddenly spoke.

Although he had never wanted to speak since he was older than Carlson by two years, he found it belittling to see himself exchanging words with each other.

But things were getting out of hand; therefore, he said, “So, you think you're the only person who can afford things here, right?" He asked in slight agitation.

Carlson tilted. “Yes, everyone else can accept a lowlife like you!"

“Okay. Fine," Henry said, “Let's enter a bet then. If I can pay for what I wanted to get, I'll slap you across the face, and if I don't, you'll do the same thing. Agreed?"

“No!" Carlson disagreed. “I can't have my clean hand touch your disgusting cheek!"

Laughter erupted in the place.

Then someone from the crowd suggested. “Do it this way, Mr. Carlson; if he can pay, you'll lick his shoes, and if he can't, he'll lick yours.”

Carlson turned sharply to the person who had made that remark, and he was impressed. “That's a perfect idea! Your brain is working perfectly!"

He pulled out three stacks of one hundred-dollar bills and gave them to the person. Carlson was fully convinced that there was no way someone like Henry could win a bet against him, especially when the bet was money-related.

Turning, Carlson asked. “In for that?"

Henry hesitated.

Carlson smirked. "Are you afraid now? Oh, come on, please, don't be. You've got all the money to challenge me with,” he sarcastically uttered. "I know you will win me, just dare me…..”

His words trailed off after Henry interrupted him.

"Alright. In.”

Carlson's smirk faltered.

At first, he thought Henry was joking, but he could see seriousness on his face. As Carlson tried to think much about it, he suddenly waved it off.

Henry must be bluffing, trying to save face. He knew him very well.

Without waiting for any response, Henry turned to face the salesperson and said, “Let me have a look at what you guys have got."

The salesperson nodded, taking him inside further, not because she really wanted to sell to him, but because she couldn't wait to see this wretched idiot humiliated.

The people who had gathered exchanged looks, staying calm to watch the aftermath; however, they already knew who was going to lick the other's shoes.

Carlson, who had totally waved the thought of why Henry decided to agree to participate in the bet off his head, was grinning from ear to ear.

He couldn't wait to tell the whole family how Henry licked his shoes at dinner today!

About an hour later, Henry returned, dragging two carts on the ground with both hands, followed by the salesperson, also dragging two carts, taking them to the cashier's desk.

When Carlson saw it, he was stunned at first, but subsequently shook his head with a smirk.

Henry is really a good artist.

At the cashier's desk, the cashier started to scan the price of each item one after the other. Finally, after thirty minutes, the cashier packaged everything and handed it over to Henry.

“Everything summed up to $20k,” the cashier said

Everyone gaped in shock.

They stared at Henry with a mixture of disbelief and surprise.

“$20k, that's a whopping sum of money!" Someone muttered, completely caught off guard.

“Can he really pay for that?"

“I doubt it!"

Amidst them, Carlson was taken aback.

"Henry, are you kidding me or what?” He said, "Since I've been shopping, I haven't spent more than $15k in a single shopping trip, and you want me to believe you, of all people, can afford to pay for this?”

A laugh exploded from his lips suddenly.

"This is so freaking hilarious! Why don't we record it then?”

He brought out his iPhone and gave it to one of the onlookers to record the moment.

Ignoring them all and without batting an eye, Henry reached for his card from his pocket and handed it to the cashier.

“Debit it."

“What kind of card is that?" Someone curiously asked.

“Haven't seen such before," another admitted.

"That is a brokeman's card!” Carlson replied as he watched the cashier take the card from Henry.

After collecting the card, the cashier then swiped it, and instantly the machine beeped, producing a sharp sound.

Payment successful!

Eyes swung open. Mouths gaped.

How was that possible?