Riches in Disguise

"Mine?"

"Yeah. Otherwise, why would I even have one in Welsington City? I thought you might want a place to hang with your friends and rest in the future."

I couldn't help but smile. I didn't realize that I had been staying in my own hotel, despite having already been here for almost a full day.

The next morning, after taking a shower and getting dressed, I decided to go for a walk before everyone else woke up.

But as soon as I turned the corner on the first floor, I spotted Isabelle and Charlotte. They sure were up early.

It made sense though, since Charlotte probably couldn't sleep well after going through something like that last night.

But what caught my attention was that both of them were staring intently in one direction. Following their gaze, I saw Victor arguing with a few guests.

I overheard one of the guests angrily shouting, "Didn't you say last night that all the paintings in the hallway were reproductions? So why is the one we damaged not a reproduction?"

Victor sneered. "Who told you that last night's painting was a reproduction? I only spared those women because of the gentleman."

"Then why are we being made to pay?"

"You are paying because I decide who pays and who doesn't! That's my right!

"As for you, the painting you damaged is worth 800 thousand. If you are not willing to pay, be prepared to go to jail. I've already called the police."

Curious about what was going on, I went downstairs to ask Brenda at the front desk about it.

Brenda explained in a whisper, "Those guests are crazy. They thought all the paintings in the hallway were fakes, so they deliberately damaged one today. Mr. Hart is furious and is making them pay."

Did they deliberately damage the painting? How reckless of them. At that moment, Isabelle and Charlotte turned to look at me. Their expressions were odd, and I overheard their whispering.

"Charlotte, did you hear that? That painting last night wasn't a reproduction at all. The manager only spared you because of William."

"That's impossible! What nonsense are you spouting? How could that broke guy have that kind of influence?"

"But the manager said it himself. If you don't believe me, go ask him."

Charlotte, unwilling to accept the truth, went straight up to Victor. "Excuse me, I'd like to ask why you spared me from paying last night. Was it because of someone's influence?"

Victor seemed surprised when he heard what she said. "You don't know?"

Charlotte awkwardly said, "Could you please clarify?"

Without hesitation, Victor turned around and pointed directly at me. "Of course, it was because of him!"

Giving Charlotte a casual shrug, I could only smile nonchalantly. Charlotte was utterly stunned at the moment.

After a while, still unable to fully accept the truth, she said, "Then... Could I ask why you showed him so much respect?"

Victor was becoming impatient from the questions. However, since I said she was a friend of mine, he stayed polite. "It's because I believe he has a bright future ahead of him! Is that a good enough reason?"noveldrama

"Y-yes."

Afraid of making Victor angry and being made to pay, Charlotte quickly dragged Isabelle to the side, and the two of them continued to stare at me with the same strange look.

I didn't mind their staring. After all, they never looked at me in a normal way before, anyway.

At this point, the other guests were getting upset. "What do you mean by that? That guy gets special treatment, but we don't? Do you know who we are?"

Victor scoffed. "Please, enlighten me."

"Hmph! I guess I could tell you. My dad is the branch manager of Welsington Bank's branch on Ninefort Street!"