The Richest God of War

10. This is Ridiculous

Mr. Martin forced a smile. "Miss Williams, there's no mistake. Albany City Bank lowered the rate as an apology.

"It was our fault. One careless employee delayed your loan. Please accept this small gift as our way of saying sorry."

Yvette was stunned.

Since when was Albany City Bank this kind?

Not long ago, she had begged every credit manager in that bank for this loan. She had even sold her beloved sports car to buy them gifts. All she'd gotten was one chance: Rosetta going to the bank's cocktail party.

Now the general manager himself had come to their door, offering a loan that was almost free.

It felt like a dream.

"Sis," she whispered. "Am I dreaming? Am I still asleep?"

A sharp pinch hit her waist.

"Ow! You pinch hard!"

"Stop wasting time," Rosetta hissed. "Give him your answer."

Who would say no to nearly free money? Yvette nodded fast. "Okay, Mr. Martin. I'll sign."

Mr. Martin let out a long breath.

Rosetta watched her sister sign, still uneasy. The bank would earn almost nothing from this deal, and it had treated them badly just a day ago. Why would it do this now?

"Mr. Martin, please be honest with us. Why did your bank change so much in one night? Even as an apology, this is too generous."

"It is an apology! Truly!"

He would say nothing more.

As soon as Yvette finished signing, she tucked the contract away. The family walked Mr. Martin to the door, and he left.

Outside the villa, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Then he noticed someone standing beside him.

Richard.

On any other day, Mr. Martin wouldn't have spared a glance for the Williams family's famous good-for-nothing. But today he smiled, gave a small nod, and hurried away.

Inside, he was boiling with anger.

*Damn it. If Fletcher Wade hadn't called me at three in the morning, I'd never have done this. He told me to handle the loan myself and treat that family with respect. Why would the general manager of Albany City Bank bow to a tiny company like Williams? Why does Fletcher care so much about this family?*

Back in the villa, the family was celebrating. Yvette chattered nonstop to her parents.

Rosetta still couldn't understand. When Richard came in, she asked, "Richard, what really happened?"

Richard smiled. "Maybe good things happen to good people."

*Good things happen to good people?* Rosetta shook her head slightly. Richard was as simple as ever. Who got rewarded for being good in this world?

After breakfast, her agent called. With the family's trouble lifted, Rosetta left for work. She was a rising star, and rising stars had plenty of jobs to do.

This was the life she had chosen.

After she left, Richard cleaned the table and went to his room. Apart from Rosetta, no one in the house liked him, and he didn't care to talk to them.

Then Mrs. Williams called out. "Richard! Take Yvette to work on your scooter!"

*My scooter? Why not a taxi?*

Richard stopped, then turned to leave. Yvette was his sister-in-law, but she was always cold to him. She kept telling Rosetta to divorce him. Why should he drive her anywhere?

"Are you deaf?" Mrs. Williams snapped. "I said take Yvette to work!"

Yvette came over in a business suit and high heels and stamped her foot. "Hurry up! Or don't you want to take me?"

Richard was about to walk away. Then his phone buzzed. It was a message from Rosetta.

*The loan came through. Yvette has to be at the company today. She sold her car, so she has no ride. Could you take her on your scooter? And I'm sorry I snapped at you last night.*

Richard read it. Then he looked up. "Fine. I'll take you."

Soon the little scooter was rolling down the street.

"Faster, Richard!" Yvette said from the back. The speed was nothing like her old sports car. "If I'm late, I'll never forgive you!"

She regretted it at once.

Somehow, Richard made the little scooter fly like a motorcycle. The street blurred past. Without thinking, Yvette threw her arms around his waist.

She only came to her senses when they reached the company. She looked down and saw she was hugging her useless brother-in-law. Disgust and regret hit her together. She shoved him away, jumped off, and started for the door.

Then an engine roared. A Jaguar pulled up beside the scooter.

A man in a sharp suit stepped out, walked up to Yvette, and pointed at Richard. "Yvette, who is this?"

"Charles," she said quietly. "This is Richard."

His eyes snagged on Richard's head. No bandage. No bruise. A flicker of unease crossed his face, and he buried it.

Richard knew that face. He had last seen it grinning over a golf club.

"Richard? Oh. Your useless brother-in-law." Charles snorted.

Everyone in Albany's upper class knew the story. Rosetta had married her own servant. Which young master didn't know the Williams family's good-for-nothing son-in-law?

Charles pulled Yvette close to his side, his face softening into fake concern. "Yvette, I have good news. My father agreed to lend your company three million. He said he's glad to help his future in-laws. The interest will be the same as the bank's. So why don't we..."

Richard understood at once. This was a suitor who hadn't won her yet. He had heard the Williams company was in trouble, and he was using a loan as bait.

Richard chuckled.

It was a small sound, but Charles heard it.

"Hey! What are you laughing at?" Charles spun around and pointed at him.

"Three million," Richard said. "And it's a loan. You think that's enough to date Miss Williams?" He shook his head. "Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous."