After finishing his words, Kayden handed the key to John Baker, saying, “Uncle Baker, this villa in Alaric Center is yours now! You can move in right away and start living there.”
Although John Baker’s earlier misunderstanding about Kayden had upset him, the thought of John Baker’s current difficult situation caused a pang of sympathy in Kayden’s heart. If Kayden’s father hadn’t faced his own misfortune back then, this man-John Baker-wouldn’t have been reduced to such a state, trampled by the likes of these women. John Baker was meant to stand tall, a man of true stature, but life had treated him cruelly.
For this reason, Kayden didn’t mind giving this villa to John Baker. Setting aside John Baker’s wife, Kayden still saw him as a straightforward and honorable man. The villa, gifted to Kayden by the Alfredson family, held little value to him. However, for John Baker’s family, it might represent a chance to change their destiny.
The moment Alaric Center was mentioned, the women sitting at the same table froze in shock.
Alaric Center! The most exclusive residential area in Western Frontier. Only those at the very top-figures of immense power and influence-could afford to live there. Ordinary people like them could only gaze at it from afar, wondering if they might have the fortune to live there in their next life.
It wasn’t just a luxurious place. It was a community named after King Alaric, a legendary figure who once established his kingdom in this very region. Alaric Center’s exclusivity wasn’t merely about money-it was about status. The villa district only had eight residences, reserved for the top eight elite families of Western Frontier. Living there was the ultimate symbol of power and prestige.
The room fell into a stunned silence. Everyone stared at Kayden in disbelief, their faces filled with shock. The lively conversation from moments ago evaporated, leaving behind a heavy, suffocating quiet. The previously smug expressions on their faces now looked as though they had just swallowed ten pounds of filth.
Finally, after a few moments, Mrs. Rayne forced a bitter smile, her lips twitching as she spoke. “Impossible. How could you possibly have a villa in Alaric Center? Are you one of the Eight Great Families? No, that’s not right-I know who belongs to those families, and you’re not one of them. You’re lying!”
Her words immediately stoked the doubts of the group. Their goal here today was simple: to humiliate John Baker and his wife, May, pushing them toward divorce. If John and May divorced, Finnian Baker would have a better chance of winning over May. This was the entire reason they had been trying to trample on John Baker and his wife.
But now, this young man sitting with them had brought out the key to a villa in Alaric Center and even declared he was giving it to John Baker’s family. It was like a wrench thrown into their carefully laid plans.
“Exactly! Alaric Center isn’t just a place you can buy into with money. It’s a symbol of status and power, reserved for the elite families. Someone like him? He’s clearly bluffing, trying to show off in front of us.”
“If you had claimed to own a villa in the northern or southern districts, we might have believed you. But Alaric Center? That’s pure nonsense! Do you even know the history of Alaric Center? It’s a place commemorating King Alaric himself. Even if you had the money, you couldn’t buy your way in!”
As these words spread, the tense atmosphere relaxed. The women, who had been nervous moments before, burst into laughter, mocking Kayden openly. Even May, sitting nearby, cast a disdainful glance at him. She muttered to herself in frustration, “Unbelievable. The lies people will tell just to show off.”
Then, leaning toward John Baker, she whispered in anger, “John, haven’t we embarrassed ourselves enough? Why would you let someone like this sit with us and make us look even worse? Tell him to stop talking. This is beyond humiliating.”
John Baker felt the same way. Although Kayden seemed to be trying to help them save face, it was a futile effort. What use was false pride? What John needed was a grounded and reliable Kayden-the young man he thought he knew.
Just as John Baker was about to speak to Kayden, the latter interrupted, his voice calm and firm. “This house wasn’t bought by me. It was a gift from Zack Alfredson. If you don’t believe me, why don’t we go to Alaric Center right now and see for ourselves?”
The words hit the room like a thunderclap. The mocking laughter froze on their faces, replaced by an eerie silence. One by one, they exchanged uneasy glances, unable to respond.
Zack Alfredson had given him the house? Zack Alfredson, the head of the Alfredson family-one of the most illustrious figures in Western Frontier? Could this really be true? Kayden didn’t look like he was joking. His expression was serious, and he seemed ready to prove it at any moment.
Mrs. Rayne’s lips twitched uncontrollably. Finally, she forced out a dismissive laugh, trying to regain her composure. “You’re quite the comedian. Do you even know who Mr. Alfredson is? He’s the head of one of the Eight Great Families, a man with an impeccable reputation. Are you seriously going to use his name to back up your lies?”
“Whether it’s true or not, why not come with me and find out?” Kayden replied bluntly, his patience clearly running thin.
Mrs. Rayne’s face flushed with frustration. Before she could respond, a man’s voice cut through the tension. “Alright, let’s go and see for ourselves. Let’s find out if this young man really has a villa in Alaric Center. It’s only a fifteen-minute drive from here.”
The speaker wasn’t anyone else-it was Finnian Baker.
“Besides,” Finnian added with a sly smile, “I’ve never had the chance to visit a place like that. It’ll be an eye-opener.”
Finnian’s words dripped with malice, his smile a thin veil over his true intentions. He had been silently observing the conversation, biding his time. Finnian had long desired John Baker’s wife, May, and had been plotting to drive a wedge between John and May. This gathering was supposed to be a perfect opportunity to humiliate John and push him closer to ruin. But now, this young man-this Kayden-had disrupted his plans.
Still, Finnian saw an opportunity in this. If Kayden wanted to boast, Finnian would gladly play along-just to watch him fall flat on his face.
“Kayden,” Finnian said, his tone laced with false camaraderie, “you’re not being fair. If you know such an important figure, why haven’t you introduced me? Or… have you never considered me a friend?”