Chapter 2 My Family Owns Gold Mines

• Beside them, Dominic's mother-in-law saw that Cherilyn had been hit. She quickly helped her daughter up, all the while chastising Dominic, “Dominic... how could you resort to violence...”
• However, just as his mother-in-law was halfway through her speech, Dominic interrupted her with a sharp rebuke, “Shut up! You're no saint, either. I respectfully address you as my mother-in-law, but have you ever considered if you're worthy of that title? You treat me like a dog. A bag of dog food probably costs more than the clothes on me, and you can't even let me have a full meal... D*mn it...”
• After enduring for such a long time, Dominic finally lost his patience that night.
• I've been enduring again and again. When it becomes unbearable, there's no need for me to endure any longer! If I can't have a wife, at worst, I'll remain a bachelor!
• Moreover, what difference does it make now, being married or not?
• Having been married for over a year, Dominic had spent his time on the living room couch. During the winter, he would often be awakened by the freezing cold in the middle of the night.
• “Get out! Get out of my sight... You've grown audacious, haven't you? Get lost!” Cherilyn scolded Dominic in a fit of rage, yet she was at a loss for words to counter him.
• With a swift motion, Dominic ripped off the apron he was wearing and threw it forcefully onto the ground. He sneered coldly, “You don't need to tell me. I can leave on my own!”
• Approaching the door, Dominic pushed his old bicycle, slung a canvas backpack over his shoulder, and opened the door, ready to step outside.
• Seeing that Dominic seemed to intend to leave truly, a sense of panic arose in Cherilyn's heart. “If... If you dare to walk out this door today, don't ever come back!”
• Dominic paused briefly at the door, a twitch playing at the corner of his mouth.
• Come back?
• You'll have to beg me!
• Such a home, I'm better off not having it!
• Upon leaving the residential complex, Dominic sped down the main street on his bicycle.
• The wind of August, despite it being nine in the evening, still carried a hint of the heatwave.
• Tears streamed down his cheeks, carrying with them a hint of saltiness...
• Dominic harbored resentment in his heart.
• I despise myself for being useless!
• Dominic was not a prodigy by any means. His appearance was average, and so were his academic achievements. He attended a third-tier university, lacking any technical skills or special talents. Consequently, he found it impossible to secure a job after graduation.
• Although he had now found this job as a courier and was earning over five thousand a month, it was barely enough to get by in Sloummont, a city with exceedingly high living costs.
• Buy a house? Buy a car? Marry a wife?
• Dream on!
• Therefore, this was also the reason why Dominic agreed to become a son-in-law who lived with his wife's family at that time. At the very least, marrying Cherilyn would allow him to establish a stable life in this city.
• But in the end, this was the outcome...
• Dominic had no idea how long he had been riding. He was exhausted. He parked his bicycle by the southern bank of the river, gazing down at the surging waters below. For a moment, Dominic seriously contemplated throwing himself in, ending it all in one swift plunge.
• However, whenever Dominic thought of his ailing father and his mother, who was still enduring hardships in the countryside, his heart would fill with profound guilt. Perhaps Mom and Dad are waiting for me to send them money now?
• Tears began to flow uncontrollably once again. Dominic reached into his pocket, intending to pull out a cigarette, only to discover that the pack was already empty. All that was left in his pocket was four bucks, the change he had received from buying barbecue sauce.
• At that time, all that Dominic had on him, apart from an old Nokia phone, was just these four bucks! His entire wealth amounted to this.
• Dominic slammed his fist into the railing by the river, gazing at the distant, dazzling lights. He couldn't help but question himself how he had ended up in such a state.
• After some thought, Dominic decided to give his parents a call. As for the money issue, he would figure out a solution with his colleagues the next day.
• Dominic was just about to take out his phone when it started ringing. It was his father calling.
• Taking a deep breath, Dominic felt a lack of courage to answer the phone. He was afraid of disappointing them... After the phone had rung for several seconds, Dominic finally managed to compose himself and answered the call, “Dad!”
• On the other end of the phone, a resonant voice of a middle-aged man responded, “Hmm, Dom, are you doing okay? Have you eaten yet?” It was indeed Dominic's father, Patrick Lloyd.
• Suppressing the urge to cry, Dominic said, “Dad, I'm doing well! Have you just eaten? Is everything okay? I promised to transfer money to you today, but it might have to wait until tomorrow. Cherilyn is only getting her salary tomorrow...”
• It was always the same with those who were away from home. They shared only the good news and kept their worries to themselves. Even though Dominic had already left Cherilyn, he still didn't want to cause his parents any worry.
• “Money? Oh... You're such a good son. Your mother and I are doing well. You've had it tough over these years! Never mind, let your mother speak to you about it!” As Patrick spoke, it seemed as though he handed the phone over to Dominic's mother, Ruth Zeller.
• Ruth picked up the phone, cleared her throat, and said, “Dominic, the news I'm about to share might be quite shocking for you. You need to prepare yourself mentally.”
• Listening to his mother's solemn tone on the other end of the phone, Dominic couldn't help but feel a wave of curiosity. “Mom, don't scare me. Aren't you all doing well? Is Dad gravely sick?”
• On the other end of the phone, Ruth burst into laughter. “Sick? Your dad has never been sick!” She paused for a moment before continuing, “All right. Let's not talk about that now! What I want to tell you is that, in fact, our family owns ninety-nine gold mines in South Alendor... Simply put, we are extremely wealthy, even more so than you could ever imagine!”
• This was what she wanted to tell me?
• Dominic was left somewhat speechless. The elderly couple had called him in the middle of the night just to tell him this. Were they just looking for some amusement?
• “Oh! I understand now... Mom, you and Dad should go to bed early. Don't overwork yourselves during this period.” Dominic comforted his mother with a hint of helplessness.
• Ninety-nine gold mines? How much money would that be? A hundred billion? Or a trillion? I've lived in the remote mountains of Strico Village since I was a child, growing up in a home so poor it was practically empty. We didn't even have a television until I was in high school. How could I not know if my family had that much money?
• Upon hearing Dominic's words, Ruth was taken aback. “You don't believe it? Never mind... Patrick, why don't we transfer thirty million to our son first? I suspect we've raised this child to be naive due to our frugality!”
• The voice of Patrick came from the other end of the phone. “Thirty million is a bit too little. I'll have my secretary transfer fifty million instead!”
• Dominic was utterly at a loss for words.