Lily red with intensity. “Enough of this ridiculous charade. The restaurant has nothing to do with you, so don’t even think about hoping I’ll pay you a dime! That painting is the property of the restaurant. If you don’t return it immediately, I’ll have no choice but to call the police and report you for theft!”


    Standing beside Lily, Jerome also scoffed. “Listen, kid. You’d be wise to cooperate with us. My connections in Aurous Hill are not something you want to test right now. If you refuse to hand over the painting, I’ll have to pay a visit to the public security bureau, and they’ll lock you up without hesitation! Given its value, you could be looking at a minimum of ten years behind bars!”


    Dous, overwhelmed with emotion, let the tears stream down his face as he pleaded with Lily, “I’ve always treated you well over the past few years, giving you everything I could! It’s fine if you don’t love me, but why do you have to do this to me?”


    Lily let out a chillingugh. “Love you? Who do you think you are to expect that? Listen closely, fool—I’ve never loved you! You don’t deserve it! I would only fall for a man like Jerome, someone who truly merits my affection!”


    Jerome smirked sarcastically. “Oh, and I should add, we definitely know how to meet each other’s needs in bed!”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Lily blushed. “Ohe on, Jerome! Why bring that up? It’s so embarrassing…”


    “Embarrassed?” Jerome chuckled. “Why don’t we close the doors and show this worthless loser how it’s done? Let’s demonstrate how you usually satisfy me.”


    “Jerome, darling, no! That would be far too embarrassing!” Lily protested.


    Unable to endure the spectacle any longer, Dous hurled a pillow at them while shouting, “You maniacs! Get out of here!”


    Jerome swiftly caught the pillow and sneered. “I’m warning you—hand over the painting, or I’ll break your other leg and have you thrown in jail!”


    At that moment, Charlie, who had been listening at the door, strode into the room and shouted, “You dare to harm my brother? Do you have a death wish?”


    Jerome turned to face Charlie, locking eyes with him. “Who are you?”


    Lily chimed in, “He’s Charlie Wade, the one who gifted the painting.”


    Jerome erupted inughter. “Ah, just the useless toyboy! You’ve made quite a name for yourself, you know? Everyone in Aurous Hill knows who you are!”


    Jerome then shot Charlie a cold re. “I’ll give you three seconds to disappear from my sight. If you do, I’ll pretend you were never here and won’ty a finger on you.”<fn72f2> This content belongs to fin?novel</fn72f2>


    Charlie, irritated, scoffed back. “Get out of your sight? Who do you think you are?”


    Jerome gritted his teeth. “Are you challenging me, kid?”


    Charlie responded coolly, “I don’t care who you are, but you’ve crossed the line today. I’ll give you a second chance: apologize to my brother right now, and let him break one of your legs as an apology for what you did to him. If not, you’ll suffer a horrifying fate!”


    Jerome threw his head back,ughing maniacally, but his expression quickly soured. “What did you just say, punk? Me, Jerome, apologizing? Do you want to die?”


    Lily, chuckling, added, “Charlie, are you out of your mind? Challenging my darling Jerome? Do you really want to meet your end that badly?”


    Charlie shot back coldly, “Shut your mouth, you witch!”


    “You…” Lily fumed, turning to Jerome. “Jerome, darling! He just called me a witch! Have someone tear him apart!”


    Jerome clenched his jaw again. “Just wait, you pathetic swine! I’ll have someone take care of you right now!”


    Charlie smiled coldly at Jerome’s threat. “Sure, but remember this: if you fail to take me down, both you and this witch will pay dearly for itter.”