Mr. and Mrs. Thorne’s eyes lit up instantly upon hearing Vincent Hawthorne’s words.
Mrs. Thorne couldn’t wait to say, "The bride price is 188,000..."
She hadn’t finished speaking when Mr. Thorne tugged hard on her arm, then flashed a greedy smile at Vincent Hawthorne.
"Mr. Hawthorne, you rich folks don’t know how hard it is for us village couples to raise a daughter!" he said, rubbing his hands and glancing at Vincent Hawthorne’s expression.
Leah Thorne was too familiar with her father’s insatiable look; the greed in his eyes was almost overflowing, stretching out the wrinkles on his old face.
She used to be most annoyed by her parents showing this selfish and rcenary face in public. Every ti they ca to her school, Leah felt humiliated in front of others.
They would speak loudly and act rudely, always asking her for money, and even if she wore a new piece of clothing, they would humiliate her...
But now, Leah was actually grateful for their ugly and greedy deanor.
Quietly, she observed Vincent Hawthorne’s handso face, and the disgust in his eyes was obvious.
Vincent Hawthorne looked at Mr. Thorne coldly, "So, what do you an?"
Mr. Thorne spread out his five dark, rough fingers, "We want 500,000! Besides the bride price, the rest is compensation for the hard work us old folks put into raising Leah."
Vincent Hawthorne could only find it laughable, "Five hundred thousand? You’re planning to sell your daughter to , right?"
Worried that Vincent Hawthorne wouldn’t be willing to pay, Mrs. Thorne resorted to her usual tricks of making a scene, raising her voice sharply, "Don’t think I don’t know about your relationship with my daughter! You seem like a decent person, so I’m telling you—if you don’t pay, I’ll make a fuss at your workplace! I’ll say—you bullied my daughter! Let’s see how you get by then!"
Leah suppressed the corners of her mouth from curling up.
The Thorne parents had used this trick before; during the sumr of Leah’s high school graduation, she tutored a classmate from a fairly well-off family who had poor grades, to earn money.
That classmate was Wesley Crawford, quite good-looking, and his family had so money.
He liked her, and Leah also had so feelings for him.
Plus, she needed the money, so she beca Wesley Crawford’s tutor.
The two of them spent ti together every day, and their mutual affection grew, developing into deeper feelings.
Back then, Leah had harbored a bit of fantasy about Wesley Crawford, thinking maybe he could help her escape her bloodsucking family.
But later, reality gave her a harsh slap in the face.
When she and Wesley Crawford went into town to watch a movie, soone from the village caught them secretly kissing, took photos, and sent them to her parents.
When Leah returned ho, Mrs. Thorne slapped her across the face.
They scolded her for being indiscreet, making her kneel at the gate, as the villagers gathered around, pointing and whispering.
Leah was furious, trembling with anger, and she blurted out that she had slept with Wesley Crawford.
Mrs. Thorne pulled her by the hair and hit her, then locked her up in their ho.
Through the rusty iron window, she watched her parents storm out in a rage.
They were off to settle scores with the Crawford Family, not for her protection, but because she was "no longer pure," which ant less bride price, and she wouldn’t be worth selling at a good price...
Leah fantasized that Wesley Crawford might keep his promise, really take responsibility, and tell her parents he would marry her.
She imagined he would protect her.
Her parents didn’t return until the next evening; Leah went hungry for an entire day and night. She saw the triumphant smiles on their faces and a thick envelope filled with cash in their hands.
The hope in Leah’s eyes shattered...
Later, she went to et Wesley Crawford one last ti, but he hid in his room, refusing to co out.
It was Wesley Crawford’s mother who warned her not to bring trouble to their family.
Her parents had previously gone straight to Wesley Crawford’s father’s workplace to cause a scene, almost costing Mr. Crawford his job...
The Thorne parents had tasted success with Wesley Crawford, and now they planned to apply the sa tactics to Vincent Hawthorne.
Leah almost burst out laughing.
Yes, their vision and skills were only that big, making scenes and throwing tantrums.
But Vincent Hawthorne was not Wesley Crawford.
This is Aris, not their old small town!
Vincent Hawthorne raised an eyebrow at the Thorne parents and suddenly smiled, seeming to be in a good mood.
"So, you’re saying if I don’t give you the 500,000, you’ll fra , ruin my reputation, is that right?"
The Thorne parents mistakenly thought Vincent Hawthorne was afraid, feeling smug.
Mr. Thorne: "We’re not afraid of you rich people! You have money and status, but if we make a scene, you’ll lose your job, and that won’t be sothing 500,000 can solve!"
Mrs. Thorne chid in, "Mr. Hawthorne, be good and give us the money, and we’ll leave now. We won’t interrupt your date with Leah!"
Vincent Hawthorne confird, "So unless I give you the money, you’ll keep pestering , is that it?"
"As long as you know to be scared!" Mr. Thorne replied triumphantly.
Vincent Hawthorne smirked slightly, agreeing bluntly.
"Alright. Give an account number, and I’ll transfer the money to you now."
Mr. Thorne imdiately took out his phone and provided the account number.
Vincent Hawthorne readily transferred the money.
Seeing how easily they got 500,000, the old couple was ecstatic.
At that mont, Jonah Rivers, looking sharp in a suit and accompanied by a lawyer, strode over to them.
Jonah Rivers: "President Hawthorne."
Vincent Hawthorne pulled out his phone and said, "I’ve sent you a recording of their extortion attempt along with the transaction record. The rest is up to you."
He glanced casually at the Thorne parents, who were still in a daze, not comprehending the situation.
"With 500,000 worth of extortion, you’ll have enough to spend the rest of your lives in prison."
The Thorne parents’ faces went pale in an instant.
"What extortion? You gave it willingly!"
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