Chapter 7 Maybach

• Arriving at the entrance of the residential area, I forced myself to calm down.
• Despite my fury, I knew I had to uncover the truth of what the man had claimed yesterday. I needed to ascertain whether Bethany had indeed cheated on me!
• The residential area was old and run-down, with narrow pathways that made it impossible for cars to enter.
• I parked the car outside and walked back home. As I was about to head upstairs, I encountered two individuals coming out of the stairwell. They were my father-in-law, Jason, and my mother-in-law, Helen.
• Upon seeing me, Jason grimaced and turned to look elsewhere.
• Helen, beside herself with rage, yelled, “Marcel, where have you been all day? You didn't even cook or do laundry. What were you thinking?”
• I knitted my brows and swiftly recomposed myself.
• Until I find out exactly what Bethany had done, I don't want to confront or fall out with her family.
• “I'll head upstairs to tidy up now,” I murmured quietly.
• Helen bellowed, “There's no need for that! Bethany will be arriving soon. If you delay picking her up, I won't let you off the hook!”
• I bowed my head in silence, having grown accustomed to being treated in such a manner over the years.
• “Where's the car I told you to borrow?” Helen asked impatiently as she walked.
• “I—”
• Before I could answer, she continued scolding me. “Did you take a taxi again? Can't you be more considerate toward Bethany? She's an executive at her company, yet every time she returns from a business trip, you pick her up in a taxi. Don't you care about her dignity? Marcel, you're truly the most useless person I've ever seen. Can't you stop bringing shame to Bethany for once? Forget it. Arguing with someone like you is a waste of my breath. I've already contacted your brother-in-law, Michael. He'll be driving his Honda Accord over soon. Remember to say something nice to Michael when you see him later. Aren't you ashamed for always bothering him?”
• Helen rattled on like a machine gun, spewing incessant nonsense and not giving me a chance to speak.
• Therefore, I decided to remain silent. Over the years, I had grown used to her discourtesy.
• Before long, we reached the entrance of the residential area just as a Honda Accord pulled up.
• Helen immediately waved her hand, signaling for the car to come over. Unexpectedly, the car drove past us and parked on the other side.
• “What's the matter? Did he not see us?” Helen asked in astonishment.
• Another vehicle was parked next to them, and it was none other than Calvin's sedan.
• Jason looked at the car and uttered in an undertone, “He didn't miss us. He's avoiding this car.”
• “He's avoiding this car? Why?” she asked in bafflement.
• “This is a Maybach with a twelve-cylinder piston engine. The starting price is over three million. Moreover, this car is clearly modified and should be worth no less than five million in total. A minor scratch on this car would cost more than his Honda Accord is worth,” Jason elaborated with a longing look in his eyes. “My dad owns a Maybach too, but this one here is significantly more high-end.”
• Helen was taken aback. “I can't believe someone in our residential area can afford such a luxurious car!”
• “It may not necessarily be someone from our neighborhood. It could be someone they know.” Jason paused briefly and continued in a lower voice, “But anyone who is acquainted with a person who can afford this kind of luxury car is certainly no average Joe too.”
• At that moment, a bald man got out of the Honda Accord. He was my brother-in-law, Michael Snyder.
• Helen immediately put on a smile. “Mike, I'm so sorry to trouble you again.”
• Michael first cast an envious glance at the Maybach before smugly looking at me. It was evident that he was once again comparing himself to me in his mind.
• “Mom, what are you talking about? We're a family, so there's no need for formalities,” Michael replied. He gave me a mocking look before adding, “Marcel, if you needed a car, you could've called me yourself. Why do you always have to trouble Mom?”
• I kept my head lowered, not uttering a word. Michael was a local troublemaker. Later on, he got involved with a businessman and became a small trader himself.
• Despite marrying Bethany's younger sister, Dahlia Xenos, he always had a wandering eye for Bethany.
• In private, Michael would mock and ridicule me more than anyone else.
• During every family gathering, he would go to great lengths to assert his superiority over me, aiming to ridicule me and intentionally flaunt himself in front of Bethany.
• I would never seek help from someone like him.
• Sensing my silence, Helen uttered exasperatedly, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and thank Michael!”
• Michael regarded me with a triumphant expression. I furrowed my brows and said, “Mom, I have a car. There's no need to thank him.”
• “You have a car?” Helen seemed taken aback for a moment before snapping, “We need to pick Bethany up at the airport in a respectable car. You didn't get an old car, did you? Can't you think about Bethany's feelings for once?”
• Michael sneered. “Exactly, Marcel. Bethany is an executive at her company. Why don't you man up and buy a car? You can't always rely on other men to pick her up, right?”
• Hearing that, I couldn't help but recall the phone call from yesterday. Annoyance instantly welled up within me as I responded solemnly, “That's none of your concern. From now on, she won't have to ride in other people's cars anymore!”
• “Ha! Anyone can talk big. The key is whether you have the means!” Michael bragged, patting his Honda Accord. “Buying a car doesn't cost much nowadays, but you'll have to shell out at least twenty to thirty thousand. I heard it cost thirty thousand to save your sister's life, so will you use the money to buy a car or save a life?”
• “Marcel, you're truly disappointing. You're just all talk, and your incompetence is evident. I won't rely on you this time,” Helen said with an irritated expression. “Mike, come with us to pick Bethany up at the airport.”
• “Okay!” Michael's face lit up at once.
• Just then, I walked over to the Maybach, opened the car door, and turned to face Helen. “I'll go pick Bethany up instead.”