Chapter 6 All Counterfeits

• "What business is it of a good-for-nothing like you whom I marry off my daughter to, you loser?" Elowen said coldly.
• Brody also looked at Roman with hateful eyes.
• "Mom, Giselle and I haven't divorced yet, which means she's still my wife. You can't arbitrarily arrange for her to remarry. That's illegal," Roman said earnestly. "Also, I'll find a way to solve the family business crisis."
• "Mom, Roman is right," Giselle echoed, standing up. "We're still legally married. You can't marry me off to someone else just like that. That's illegal."
• Elowen's countenance turned grim. She glared at Roman and shouted, "Yes, you and Giselle haven't divorced, but you disappeared for three years. I've already declared you dead. So, your marriage to Giselle is practically null and void, meaning I can do whatever I want! And you think you alone can resolve the crisis? Huh, don't make me laugh! I'd rather believe pigs can fly than that you, a worthless loser, can solve our problems!"
• Hearing that his mother-in-law had declared him dead, Roman was stunned for a moment. After a while, he looked at Elowen and said seriously, "Mom, I have been gone for three years, but now that I'm back, I promise to take good care of Giselle and protect her. I won't let her suffer anymore. Please believe me."
• "You? Huh, forget it!" Elowen sneered.
• "Mom, the fact remains that I'm still legally married to Roman, and you can't make decisions for me. I won't marry anyone else," Giselle said coldly to her mother.
• "Fine! If that's how it is, I'll find a way to make you divorce!" Elowen sneered inwardly, then turned to Brody. "Brody, you should head home for now. I really like you. Please come by often."
• "Sure, Mrs. Chaplin." Brody smiled and then pulled out a jewelry box, presenting it to Elowen. "Mrs. Chaplin, I bought this gold necklace for you. It's worth about sixty thousand. Please accept it."
• He opened the jewelry box, revealing a dazzling gold necklace. Elowen accepted it happily, repeatedly saying how beautiful it was. "You're too kind, Brody. I really like it," she said joyfully.
• "Bye, Mrs. Chaplin…" Brody smiled as he left, but before he reached the door, he smugly mouthed to Roman, "Trash!"
• Roman merely smirked back, not reacting. I'll let you dance around for a while, he thought. The more they flaunt, the worse they fall. In Roman's world, no one could escape this rule.
• After Brody left, Roman took out a cloth bundle from his belongings and handed it to Elowen, saying, "Mom, Dad, I brought some gifts for you from my travels. I hope you'll like them."
• Elowen glanced at the filthy-looking bundle, which also seemed to emit an unpleasant odor. She immediately knocked it out of Roman's hand with disgust, saying, "Why would I like that? God, who knows where you picked up this trash?!"
• Roman's gaze narrowed as he looked at the bundle on the ground. Inside were precious gifts he had spent a billion Liberty Dollars collecting from various sources, now knocked to the floor by Elowen.
• "Mom, what are you doing?! Since Roman thoughtfully brought you gifts, you should accept them. As the saying goes, 'A small gift carries deep affection.' It shows he's thinking of you," Giselle said, picking up the bundle without looking inside. She then smiled at Roman, saying, "I'll accept these on my mom's behalf, Roman."
• "Okay, there's a gift for you in there too. You'll know which one it is when you see it," Roman replied with a slight smile.
• "Alright," Giselle responded politely.
• Seeing Giselle's relatively kind attitude toward Roman, Elowen turned grim with anger. She couldn't stand by and watch her daughter fall back into a pit. "Hey, jinx, it's late. We need to rest. You can leave now!" she said coldly to Roman.
• "Mom, why are you driving Roman away? He's alone in Riverport without any relatives. Where do you expect him to stay?" Giselle argued.
• "Isn't he a vagrant? Train station, overpass, roadside, he can sleep anywhere."
• "Mom…"
• "Not another word! That loser is filthy. He might have lice on him, for all we know! Now, you, get out!"
• Napoleon, who had been silent all this time, spoke slowly, "Roman, since you're legally dead, you can't be considered our son-in-law anymore. So, it's best if you leave."
• "Alright, Mom, Dad, I'll be off now," Roman said without further argument. He then looked at Giselle and said, "See you, honey."
• "Hold up." Giselle walked up to Roman, took out two hundred Cathay Credits from her pocket, and stuffed it into Roman's hand, saying, "Don't crash at the train station or overpass. Go find a hotel to stay for a night."
• Roman was speechless. He couldn't believe his wife thought he was a real vagrant. Regardless, he accepted it. "Okay, thank you, honey."
• Despite his mother-in-law's disdain, Roman felt a warmth in his heart due to Giselle's care. Whether it was out of pity or something else, Roman could feel her genuine concern for him.
• "Also, you should lay low for now. The Lyons will get back at you for belaboring Dominic," Giselle whispered, making Roman warm and fuzzy. It's so nice to have a wife who cares.
• "Don't worry, I'll be fine," Roman reassured her. Holding the two hundred Cathay Credits, he left feeling warm inside.
• As soon as Roman left, Elowen couldn't wait to grab a mop and start cleaning the spot where Roman had been standing, muttering incessantly, "So dirty, who knows if there are lice…"
• "What kind of junk did that loser get you guys?" Bella curiously asked as she unwrapped the cloth bundle. The moment she saw what was inside, she exclaimed in awe, "Woah, a diamond-studded Patek Philippe watch… a pair of ice jade bracelets… and, holy cow! a ruby necklace with 'Giselle' engraved on it! This is definitely yours. Gosh, it's so pretty and luxurious!"
• As Bella exclaimed in amazement, Giselle's family quickly gathered around, and they were equally shocked when they saw the items.
• Napoleon hurriedly picked up the watch and put it on, muttering, "You know what, this is quite stylish!"
• Giselle picked up the ruby necklace inscribed with her name, her expression becoming complex.
• Meanwhile, Elowen picked up the pair of jade bracelets and seemed to like them very much.
• "Uncle Napoleon, Aunt Elowen, Giselle, I can guarantee that if these items are genuine, they are worth at least 500 million!" Bella analyzed. "Especially Giselle's ruby necklace, which is worth at least four billion! It seems Roman has made it big!"
• "They're fake, they're all fakes. Just look at them; they're all knock-offs! How could that loser bring such valuable things?" Elowen sneered disdainfully.
• "From my years of experience in appraising antiques, these things are indeed knock-offs, worth maybe a few thousand at best. But even if they're fake, they still look good," Napoleon said, looking like he knew what he was talking about.
• "No way, they look too good to be fake…" Bella shook her head, mumbling.
• …
• Roman walked out of the compound, feeling extremely good with the two hundred credits in his hand. But just then, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class with its headlights flashing came speeding toward him.
• Roman's eyes narrowed, and his body instantly tensed. He moved like a cheetah, swiftly dodging. The car abruptly stopped where he had been standing. The window rolled down, and Brody's arrogant voice came through. "Hey, loser, this is just a warning! If you dare to bother my future wife again, there will be consequences!"
• With that, the Mercedes-Benz roared away.
• A hint of animosity flashed across Roman's eyes as he watched the departing car, and just then, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness like lightning and knelt in front of Roman, speaking respectfully, "I have come on Mr. Ybarra's orders to await your command, My Lord. Shall I kill that man just now?"
• "I don't like being followed. Tell Oscar that when I need him, I'll contact him myself! Now, get lost!"
• "Yes, My Lord!" The shadowy figure shuddered and disappeared swiftly.