Chapter 2

Back at my temporary accommodation, I received a call from the social services department.

“Mr. Hayes, I’m very sorry to disturb your washing up.” The director of the Department of Social Services’ voice was filled with obvious awe and panic. “You left in too much of a hurry! The New York State’s top commissioner has arrived, and your background check has triggered a top-secret alert.”

I grabbed a towel to dry my hands: "Get to the point."

“Although you were imprisoned back then, your core technology patents and underlying business structure were never frozen! The specialist must confirm this with you in person, especially that top-secret file involving Andrew Shaw's company's alteration of financial data…”

The name "Andrew" is like a spark falling into a powder keg.

That phone call completely ignited the coldness in my eyes. I grabbed a minimalist black shirt with no logo and put it on.

"Tell him to wait, I'll be there in ten minutes."

After slamming a copy of the initial evidence—enough to ruin Andrew—on the state commissioner's desk, I strode into the conference room.

Things went surprisingly smoothly, but the nauseating sound coming from the end of the corridor abruptly stopped me in my tracks.

Hey! Look who's here!

Ethan's exaggerated, mocking laughter echoed at the lobby exit. He stood like a piece of chewing gum stuck in front of the automatic door, looking me up and down in my clean shirt that I had just changed into.

"What? You slunk away like that just now, but now you've specially changed into something presentable and come back?" Ethan's eyes were full of disdain. "You obviously felt ashamed of what you were wearing just now, so you're suffering for the sake of saving face and deliberately dressed like this to come and beg for food, aren't you?"

I stared at him coldly, as if I were looking at a clown.

Jennifer walked forward in her high heels, adopting an air of superiority, her eyes revealing a triumphant arrogance.

"Liam, I knew you wouldn't give up so easily. Your attempt to play hard to get is so clumsy."

She ran her hand through her hair, adopting a magnanimous posture: "You gave us the cold shoulder just now, but I won't hold it against you. Don't let it happen again. Now, come with me and apologize to Andrew properly."

“Uncle Andrew now manages a fund worth tens of billions. As long as you are humble enough, he will never treat you unfairly!” Ethan chimed in smugly.

I wouldn't even bother to spare a single word for this idiotic mother and son.

Ignoring their outstretched hands, I expressionlessly stepped aside, pushed open the door, and walked towards the car parked by the roadside.

It was a pure black, custom-made Maybach S680 armored sedan, without any fancy decorations, as understated as a ghost in the night.

"Bang!"

The moment the car door closed, I pressed the start button.

The V12 engine let out a deep and furious roar, like a beast awakening.

I floored the accelerator, the tires screeching as they rubbed against the asphalt, and the car sped away like an arrow.

In the rearview mirror, Jennifer's arrogance instantly cracked, Ethan's mouth dropped open, and their smugness shattered into disbelief and comical blank stares.

Before the roar of the engine had even faded, the car's central control screen suddenly started flashing wildly.

It's Jennifer.

She actually had the nerve to hit me.

I pressed the answer button, and her imperious, shrill voice immediately blared from the Bluetooth speaker: "Liam! Come to the coffee shop on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan right now! I have something to discuss with you!"

"No time." I uttered those two words coldly, preparing to hang up.

"Stop right there!" Jennifer yelled urgently, her voice laced with anger and embarrassment. "Are you still holding a grudge against me and Ethan? Liam, you need to face reality! What happened back then was indeed outrageous!"

She took a deep breath, as if she had seized the moral high ground: "Andrew is not the kind of person you describe at all! You shouldn't have fabricated evidence to frame him out of jealousy of his talent. You were sentenced to seven years in prison, which is already Andrew being very lenient and showing mercy!"

These disgusting remarks, which distort the truth, made the veins on the back of my hand gripping the steering wheel bulge.

"If you called just to talk nonsense, then I'm hanging up." I interrupted her without any politeness.

"Wait!" Jennifer finally snapped, throwing out what she thought was her trump card, "Tonight, I'm taking you to the 'Peak Club'!"

My foot paused slightly on the accelerator.

“That’s the most exclusive private club in all of New York, no, in the world!” Jennifer’s voice was filled with undisguised pride. “Even Andrew, now, spent three whole years just barely getting a regular membership!”

She paused, then her tone became condescending and arrogant again: "I'm only taking you in to broaden your horizons and introduce you to some truly important people because we were husband and wife."

"Not interested." I sneered.

"Don't be ungrateful!" Jennifer was enraged by my attitude and retorted sarcastically, "That car you just drove off in, wasn't it a government car issued to executives by the Social Services Department? Have you been reduced to being a government car driver for the Social Services Department now?"

I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

She drew her own conclusion, her tone growing increasingly disdainful: "Since you're a driver, you must have plenty of free time. The club is short-staffed tonight, so come with me and serve some dishes. Earning a little tip is better than starving to death in the slums!"

Go to the elite club? To serve dishes?

I couldn't help but chuckle.

See you tonight.

Before she could say another word, I decisively hung up the phone and floored the gas pedal.