Chapter 129 The Shakedown
Harold had only had this son when he was approaching forty. If not for that fact, how could he have tolerated that overweight woman? He would have divorced her ages ago!
Harold doted on his beloved son, and that woman, well aware of this, spoiled the boy rotten to keep Harold tied to her!
Eyeing the lustful gaze Harold shot at Hannah, the overweight woman felt her sense of crisis spike and immediately signaled her son to tattle, clearly pleased with the outcome.
"Harold, will you just take a child's word for it? My daughter isn't someone who can be insulted so easily!"
Her pretty face flushed with anger; Hannah clutched Camila tightly, fearing Harold might lay a hand on her daughter.
"What's your daughter but a little troublemaker compared to my son? I'm telling you, my son's been wronged, and if you don't come up with a million dollars to compensate for his emotional distress, I will not let you two get away with this!"
Harold sneered and made an exaggerated demand from Hannah.
Hannah was shocked at Harold's brazen irrationality, extorting her for a million dollars as if she would ever concede, even if she had the money.
"A million dollars, huh? I'll pay you!"
Hannah was about to lash out at Harold when a man's voice suddenly filled the room from the doorway.
Ethan Wilson had arrived!
"How is it our fault? Why should we compensate them with so much money? That child is fine; can't you see they're shaking you down?"
Hannah was pleased by Ethan Wilson's arrival, but his words left her utterly baffled, and she couldn't help but caution him.
"It doesn't matter if it's a shakedown. If he can ask, I have the guts to pay!"
Ethan Wilson replied with an unconcerned chuckle.
"Ethan!"
Upon seeing Ethan Wilson, Camila stretched out her arms, craving his embrace, not even waiting to leave Hannah's arms before reaching for him.
Ethan Wilson chuckled as he gathered the little one into his arms, but his expression darkened at the sight of the clear handprint on her face.
"Does it hurt?"
Ethan stroked the mark on the little girl's face and asked gently.
"It did hurt, but not now that you're here, Ethan, I’m fine!"
Camila shook her head and nuzzled deeper into Ethan's embrace, demonstrating her affection and dependency.
"Are you the father of this little brat?"
Harold sized up Ethan with a scrutinizing gaze, jealousy and suspicion evident in his eyes.
"Father? He's just some random guy that tramp picked up. I heard her tell her teacher she was divorced!"
The hefty woman beside them quickly chimed in, taunting them to escalate the tension.
"Talk smack one more time, and believe me, you'll spend the rest of your life in a bed."
Ethan squinted his eyes, a sharp glare shooting towards the talkative woman.
She felt prey under a predator's gaze, her heart pounding and her body trembling in fear, and she found herself silenced.
"Kid, you dare threaten my wife right in front of me? You have no idea who I, Harold, am!"
Harold's face was stormy as he spoke with a threatening growl.
"I'm not interested in who you are. You want a million dollars, don't you? Bank transfer or cash?"
Ethan pulled out his phone, showing no interest in wasting words with Harold.
"Ha, at least you're sensible! But it's not just a million now! You threatened my wife; that's another million for emotional distress. Two million in total; scan the code!"
Harold sneered. He thought Ethan was bluffing and wouldn't dare to cross him, so he decided to milk him for more, pulling out his phone to display the payment QR code.
"No problem. Are you sure it's just two million? Don't you want more?"
Upon hearing this, Ethan nodded without hesitation, as if he even found the amount unsatisfying, prompting another reminder.
Harold was taken aback.
Was the guy nuts? Agreeing to pay up and even suggesting to pay more?
"Are you insane? Why are you giving him two million?!"
Hannah was stunned as she gripped Ethan's arm, baffled by his actions.
Could he have more money than he knew what to do with?
"If he dares to ask, I dare to give."
Ethan remained unfazed, his nonchalance making Harold feel a twinge of frustration.
Could anyone who doles out two million dollars just like that be a fool?
Even a fool wouldn't be just any fool!
"Who the heck are you?"
With suspicion creeping in, Harold couldn't help but question, concerned that he might inadvertently cross someone he shouldn't.
Having rubbed shoulders with the high and mighty of Novaria for years, Harold was quite familiar with the circles you wouldn't want to offend—and there was no Ethan Wilson on that list.
"You're not getting cold feet, are you, Harold? I'm here giving you money! Let's not waste time; it's just two million!"
As if fearing Harold might back out, Ethan Wilson promptly scanned a code with his smartphone, and just like that, two million dollars landed in Harold's account.
"Smartphones make life easy; you can transfer money by scanning a code! You might want to check your account, Harold." Ethan advised him earnestly.
Snapping back to reality, Harold quickly checked his mobile banking, and sure enough, a deposit of two million was recorded, setting off an ominous feeling in his gut.
"Hmph, at least you have some sense. Honey, let's get out of here. I swear, spending any more time with these lowlifes is shortening my life!" crowed the plump woman, utterly oblivious to any irregularity, as she triumphantly scooped up her son, ready to hustle Harold out the door.
"Wait a second... Who said you could leave?"
Ethan's tone took a sudden and unexpected turn.
Harold had intended to follow his wife's lead and make a swift exit; the unease in his heart only grew after Ethan's unhesitant payment.
If they could leave without further incident, Harold might be able to breathe easy, perhaps convincing himself it was all in his head—Ethan Wilson was just scared of him.
But reality has a cruel way of shattering delusions.
Ethan's words shattered the last of Harold's hopes, causing a tightness in his chest, an ominous sign that the situation would escalate dramatically.
"What, are we supposed to stick around for dinner? Look, kid, my husband let you off the hook because you seemed to understand the score. Don't push your luck!"
The woman's arrogance flared up again, but Harold turned to her with a roar, "Shut your mouth!"
"Who are you really, man?" Harold asked, struggling to suppress the mounting dread as he fixed his gaze on Ethan.
"He's with me, Ethan!" declared Camila, draped proudly around Ethan's neck, answering for him.
"Did you hear that?"
Ethan Wilson flashed a smirk at Harold, posing a question in response.
"Your last name's Wilson?"
Harold breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't heard of any powerful Wilson families, so he seemed to be overthinking things!
But then, Ethan Wilson unexpectedly stopped them again. What for this time?
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