Chapter 4

"Mr. Lowe, what are you doing here?" Samuel immediately bent down to hold the man's hand, looking respectful.

Andy Lowe said, "Wow, Samuel, I had no idea you were this successful! You actually booked the entire hotel just for your daughter's party. I clearly underestimated you."

Samuel scratched his head, looking modest. "Oh, I'm nothing compared to you, Mr. Lowe. Do you want to join us for a couple of drinks?"

Andy nodded with a smile. "I have some business to discuss with the hotel owner later, so I'll just have a couple of drinks."

Samuel ushered him inside, then turned and grabbed Kayla. "No matter what, we're holding this party! Mr. Lowe is a big name in investment circles. If he gives me a few pointers, we'll be rolling in money."

Kayla looked troubled. "But where are we supposed to get a million dollars?"

"Ask Stacy for it! I'm going inside first!"

Samuel hurried after Andy into the banquet hall.

Kayla stared at Dan for a second before suddenly asking, "He said your boss is here? What's his name?"

Dan replied, "Sorry. I can't reveal his personal information to you."

Kayla frowned and called me. "Stacy, do you know the owner of Tipton Hotel?"

I feigned impatience. "Yeah."

Kayla smiled knowingly. "Do me a favor, Stacy. Someone's trying to take the banquet hall from me. Tell the owner to save it for me."

I chuckled. "Oh, that's easy. Let me make a call."

After hanging up, Kayla immediately raised her eyebrow at Dan. "Heard that? My sister has a special relationship with your boss. No matter how much the other person offers, this hall is mine today."

Dan's mouth twitched slightly. "Alright, I'll check with my boss."

A smug smile appeared on Kayla's face as she linked arms with Mom and walked inside.

But she had no idea I would never make that call, and her smugness wouldn't last long. Half an hour later, I texted Dan. "Go in and collect the money now. Don't go easy on her."

Dan replied, "Okay."

Kayla was on stage. She thanked our parents, her in-laws, and her husband while wearing the designer jewelry I'd bought her, leaving me out of her speech.

The applause kept coming.

The next moment, the banquet hall doors swung open, and Dan walked in with a few staff members. He said, "Ms. Upton, sorry to interrupt."

Kayla's smile froze. "What is it again?"

In front of everyone, Dan placed the bill on the table. "The other client just raised their offer to 2.5 million dollars. If you want to stay, you'll have to pay another two million dollars."

The room fell silent, and Kayla's face went pale.

"What did you say?"

Dan repeated, "You'll have to pay another two million dollars. If you can't afford it, you and your guests will have to leave."

Someone heckled, "They live in a mansion and drive luxury cars. How could they not afford a measly two million dollars?"

"We're so lucky to know the Upton family. This is the most expensive banquet I've ever attended in my life."

Kayla forced an awkward smile and gritted her teeth. "Take everyone outside first. I'll settle the bill after this ends."

Dan's face was emotionless. "Please pay now."

Kayla opened her mouth but said nothing. Her credit cards were maxed out, and she'd poured all her available money into the house she'd just bought.

She instinctively looked at Mom and Dad, but they averted their gazes.

Just then, someone scoffed. "Don't tell me they can't afford it."

"Don't you know? All their money comes from Stacy. And she isn't even here. Looks like they really can't pay."

"Jeez, aren't they just a bunch of bloodsuckers? I feel sorry for Stacy…"

Kayla couldn't take the humiliation anymore. She abruptly took out a Porsche key and slapped it onto the table.

"I just made an investment recently, so my money's tied up. See this? My car alone is worth over a million dollars. How could I not afford two million? You can hold on to the car for now. I'll pay the rest later!"

Dan picked up the key and nodded. "That works."

With that, he turned and left.

Kayla finally relaxed.

But ten minutes later, Dan was back. He told Kayla, "Ms. Upton, we can't find the car in the parking garage."

Kayla's expression changed. "How is that possible?"

Dan put the key on the table. "Is this fake?"

Someone burst out laughing, and whispers immediately spread through the banquet hall.

It was a slap in Kayla's face. She clenched her fingers tightly, her eyes turning red.

At last, Dan spoke, "If you refuse to pay, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Kayla jerked her head up. "I want to see your boss! Tell him I'm Stacy's sister!"

Mom joined in, shouting, "We're Stacy's parents! He's slept with my daughter, and he still dares to disrespect us?"

Kayla snapped, "Stacy has plenty of sugar daddies! If he wants to continue sleeping with her, he should know what to do!"

Dan stared at them in silence, as if he'd never met such shameless people before.

Just then, his phone buzzed.

My message read, "Bring them upstairs."

Dan put his phone away and told them, "My boss wants to see you."

Kayla froze for a moment. Then, the humiliation vanished from her face. She straightened her back and even fixed her hair.

"I told you he wouldn't refuse Stacy a favor."

She linked arms with Mom and followed Dan into the elevator with Dad. When they reached the floor, Dan pushed open the door at the very end of the hallway.

Kayla walked in first. "Hi, I'm Stacy's sister…"

She stopped mid-sentence.

I was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking up at her. "Kayla, whose bed were you planning to send me to?"