Chapter 5 There's No Money in Your Bank Account

• Upon arriving at Myro Cafe, Aric stepped out of the car and walked into the cafe alongside Galadriel.
• On the way, through Galadriel's introduction, he learned that the person who had called her to set up the blind date was Ivan Grant, the chairman of Umbravale Group. The so-called blind date was Ivan's son, Howard.
• Despite Umbravale Group's influential presence in Brightvale, Howard was known as a notorious playboy.
• Ivan relentlessly pushed for Galadriel and Howard to get together, aiming to bind Galadriel to the Umbravale Group by making her his daughter-in-law.
• After several refusals, Galadriel couldn't decline any further when Ivan personally called.
• The cafe was empty, clearly reserved for the occasion.
• "Are you Galadriel?"
• In the center of the cafe, Howard, dressed casually and sitting nonchalantly, waved at Galadriel. He eyed her up and down, silently admiring her beauty.
• Despite her slightly older age, she had a unique charm.
• However, when he noticed Aric beside her, his smile froze.
• "Hello, Mr. Grant, I'm Aric," Aric said as he stepped up to Howard and shook his hand before sitting across from him.
• Galadriel sat closely next to Aric.
• Howard raised his eyebrows. "Galadriel, what's the meaning of this? Bringing a man along to our blind date?"
• Galadriel smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Mr. Grant, but I already have a boyfriend. I came here to clarify that. I hope your father will stop setting me up with anyone."
• Before she could finish, Howard slammed his palm on the table, shattering the delicate plate onto the floor.
• Howard had been a domineering figure in Brightvale for years, and this was the first time a woman had dared to disrespect him.
• He didn't particularly care about the blind date itself, but bringing some random guy to pretend to be her boyfriend and reject him was an insult.
• Who does she think she is? An employee of his father's company, at best.
• If I get angry, she will be expelled from the city with just an order from me.
• "Mr. Grant, what are you doing?" Galadriel's expression turned cold.
• She might heed Howard's words as she's the chairman of Umbravale Group, but she wouldn't tolerate his behavior.
• Howard glared at her. "You have a boyfriend? This guy is your boyfriend? His whole outfit doesn't even cost as much as my socks. Galadriel, you can reject me, but don't insult me with this riffraff."
• He threw a cup at her feet, causing her to flinch. Before Howard could rise, Aric pressed him back into his seat.
• Howard was momentarily stunned, not having noticed Aric moving behind him.
• "Mr. Grant, if you enjoy breaking things, you should work in demolition. Swinging a hammer at walls every day would be more satisfying. Smashing cups in a cafe is hardly impressive," Aric said coldly.
• Howard shrugged off Aric's hand as if it were dirty and brushed off his clothes. "Don't touch me with your filthy hand. This shirt costs six thousand. If you dirty it, your two months' salary won't cover it."
• Aric smirked. "Mr. Grant, are you wealthy?"
• Howard leaned back in his chair. "Of course. Thinking of currying favor now, are you? Galadriel, next time you find someone to pretend to be your boyfriend, make it believable. If you want to reject me, just say so. I don't lack women."
• Galadriel bit her lip, remaining silent. She had thought Howard was just a playboy, but he turned out to be an even bigger jerk.
• "How about we see who has more money, Mr. Grant?" As Aric sat back, he picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip, grimacing at its bitterness.
• Howard laughed mockingly. "Compete with me in wealth? Galadriel, the man you brought is not only ugly but also mentally deficient."
• Howard's father was the chairman of Umbravale Group, Ivan. In the entire Brightvale, Umbravale Group ranked in the top ten.
• Howard took out a card from his wallet and tossed it on the table. "Don't say I'm bullying you. This is a Citibank Prestige Black Card, only available to users with annual spending of over ten million. And you? How much do you have?"
• Aric put down the coffee and rummaged through his pockets, counting and laying out his money on the table.
• "One hundred and sixty-four. Oh wait…" He reached into another pocket and took out a coin, which was a change from a pack of cigarettes.
• Howard's face turned dark with anger.
• "This little? Dude, you're competing with me with that?"
• Aric smiled. "It's enough. I bet there's no money in your bank card."
• He picked up Howard's card and dialed a number on his phone.
• "Contact Citibank. I need to freeze a card immediately. The card number is 5591 3988…"
• After the call, Galadriel tugged at Aric.
• She felt he was overdoing it. She brought him to tactfully reject Howard, not to make enemies with Ivan and Howard.
• Aric wrapped his arm around Galadriel, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I've never lost a bet on wealth."
• Howard leaned back in his chair, unable to suppress his laughter. "Galadriel, where did you find this idiot? Freeze my bank card? This is a Citibank card. You'd need to go to Messina to do that. A phone call to freeze my card? How laughable!"
• He signaled a waiter for a POS machine. "Let's see how much money is in my card."
• Galadriel sighed as she glanced at Aric. She believed in him, but competing with Howard in wealth seemed like a lost cause, especially when Aric had only a hundred on him.
• The waiter swiped Howard's card but received no transaction confirmation.
• "Mr. Grant, it appears your card has no funds," the waiter said and handed the card back to Howard.
• Stunned, Howard grabbed the POS machine. "That's impossible. There are over ten million in this card. It must be a machine error. Swipe it again."
• He entered his PIN, but the POS machine displayed a failed transaction again.