Chapter 242
I looked at her, and for the first time, she seemed so helpless.
I took a deep breath, walked over, and shoved Lysander away.
He was weak, drunk, and couldn't fight back. "As long as I'm here, no one’s taking her!"
"Do you even know who I am?" Lysander slurred.
I sneered, "Yeah, a jerk."
"You're talking nonsense."
Lysander was furious. "I'm her father. How I discipline my daughter is none of your business."
Katherine clutched my hand, her eyes pleading. "Please, just leave."
I patted her hand. "Let me handle this."
"Don't be stubborn, you can't fix this."
She was anxious, tears streaming down her face. "John, if you really care about me, stay out of this."
"Unless I'm blind, deaf, or dead, that's not happening."
"Shut up." Lysander stood up. "He slept with you and didn't pay. He can't leave."
It was hard to believe a father would say that to his daughter. He didn't deserve to be a father, or even a decent human being.
"Pay up, and you can go," Lysander demanded.
I looked at his ugly face, feeling disgusted.
"Fine, I'll pay!" I said.
Katherine slapped my back. "You can't pay him. Get out of my house."
"He wants money, I'll give it to him. You shouldn't."
"He wants two million dollars. You don't have that kind of money," I said.
"I can't afford it, can you?" Katherine shot back.
"I can!" I said firmly.
Katherine was stunned. I held her hand and looked at Lysander. "Two million dollars, and you leave her alone. Deal?"
"The little bitch says you don't have that kind of money. I'm not a fool," Lysander sneered.
"I'm not that close to her. How would she know? And as long as I'm here, you can't take her. Try, and I'll call the cops. You'll be the one embarrassed."
"Are you threatening me? I'll tell the cops you forced my daughter. See who they believe," Lysander retorted.
I pulled out my phone. "Sorry, I've recorded everything. The cops will believe evidence."
"You little bitch, setting me up," Lysander roared, lunging for my phone. I kicked him in the knee, and he went down.
"John, delete the video, now!"
Katherine gripped my hand, nervous.
"Not now." I shook my head. "Jerk, I'll give you two million, but you leave her alone. I’ll be around often, and I don't want you bothering us."
"You little bitch, you said he's not your lover. You're just like your mother," Lysander spat.
Katherine cried silently.
"Answer now, I'm losing patience," I said.
"I refuse!" Lysander snapped.
"One million eight hundred thousand," I countered.
"What did you say?" Lysander asked.
"One million six hundred thousand," I sneered. "Keep talking, and I'll lower it more."
"You..." he started.
"One million..."
"Don't lower it anymore, I agree!" Lysander shouted, getting up.
"Write a guarantee you won't harass her again," I demanded.
"Don't push it, I'm her father," Lysander grumbled.
"One million five hundred thousand," I said.
He looked defeated. "Stop it. I'll write it."
He wrote the guarantee, signed it, and I transferred the money to him.
He was excited. "Enjoy yourself. I won't bother you anymore."
After Lysander left, Katherine sat on the sofa, silently crying.
I went to the fridge, grabbed some ice cubes, wrapped them in a towel, and gently pressed it against her swollen face. "Keep the guarantee safe. He shouldn't bother you for a while."
Katherine shook her head, wincing. "It's useless. I've given him so much money over the years, and he's never satisfied."
"Then why do you let him keep doing this?"
She shook her head again. "I don't want to talk about it, and you shouldn't ask. Sometimes, I wish I never existed."
She wiped her tears. "I'll pay you back the one and a half million as soon as I can."
"No need," I said.
"That was all your money, right? Wait a moment." She took out a bank card from her bag and handed it to me. "There's five hundred thousand on this. Take it, and I'll figure out the rest soon."
I shook my head and gave the card back. "No need. I'm not short on cash right now."
Maybe the money came too easily, spending one and a half million didn't hurt at all.
"I know you want to help, and I appreciate it. But this isn't your burden to bear."
Katherine said, "I only ask one thing: don't talk about what you saw tonight, and delete that video."
I took out my phone, deleted the video in front of her, and said softly, "Maybe you're used to handling things alone. I don't know how you used to be, but now I'm your friend, and I will help you."
Katherine looked at me helplessly. "You shouldn't meddle in other people's business so much. Even if you like to, shouldn't you consider if others want you to?"
"Do you not want me to?" I asked.
"I don't!" Katherine said. "I'm grateful you helped me, but there are some things you can't fix."
"I should at least try," I said, a bit defiantly.
"Do all men like to show off in front of women? Do you think that makes you look cool?"
Katherine frowned. "Not in my case. Reality isn't about wishful thinking and grand gestures."
"I'm not showing off!"
"You definitely are," Katherine sneered. "So, if he comes back for more money, do you have another one and a half million?"
"Showing off needs backing, not just talk. You can't always get what you want!"
I touched my nose. "I think I can actually manage it."
"Alright, then show me!" Katherine said impatiently. "I want to see if you can really do it."
I didn't say anything, just opened my mobile banking app and logged in. "See for yourself."
Katherine looked over, initially indifferent, but then her eyes widened. She snatched my phone, staring at the screen. "You actually have thirteen million dollars!"
"One hundred and thirty-six million," I corrected.
Katherine was stunned, and that look was actually kind of cute.
"How is that possible?"
I thought to myself, more accurately, it was two hundred and thirty-six million, but I hadn't cashed that check yet.
"Why not?" I smiled. "Now, do you believe I have money?"
She realized, her eyes lighting up. "Where did you get so much money?"
"I got lucky, won a big prize."
I didn't want to tell her about starting a company, at least not now.
"Won the lottery?"
She looked incredulous.
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