CHAPTER 2 IN THE RAIN

The sound was deafening in the pouring rain.

The people who had been laughing at Fernando fell silent. They froze in place, their eyes wide, as if their eyeballs were about to fall out.

This messenger... from a rich family? They thought incredulously.

However, when Fernando looked at the newly arrived people, his expression immediately turned cold.

"Who sent you here? Get lost!" he said in a sharp tone.

They were the servants of the Quinn Family, and the man standing at the front was Feynman, the family's butler.

"Mr. Fernando," Feynman said in a trembling voice, his face full of fear. "Your grandfather sent us to get you. He wants you to take a DNA test. If we can't get your blood within three days... something terrible will happen to the Quinns! Please, come back with me and save your family!"

"Come back?" Fernando grinned bitterly.

"For as long as I can remember, no one in the Quinn Family has ever treated me like a human. You know very well what kind of life I led there, don't you?"

His tone was full of anger and old wounds.

"Three years ago, my brother accused me of being an illegitimate child. We fought, and what happened? My own grandfather broke my arm and kicked me out of the family. Because of them, I'm the trash I am today!"

Fernando snorted sharply. "And now... That grandfather called me back just because the Quinn Family is in trouble?" He laughed coldly. "Let me tell you something, even if I starve to death, I'll never step into that house again!"

Since childhood, Fernando had never felt the love of family. His parents died when he was very young, and since then, the world to him has only been cold and lonely.

So, the request that he return to the Quinns for DNA testing, or to save them, meant nothing to him.

All that was on his mind right now was to go... far away, to a place where no one knew him, and end his life in peace.

"Mr. Fernando, please... come back with us," Feynman pleaded pleadingly. "Your grandfather wants you to come home, and he promised to leave the inheritance and the position of head of the family to you. You will have complete control over your brother... and me."

Fernando growled softly. "You don't understand, do you, what I just said?"

Angrily, he kicked at the men in suits. "Purple! I said leave!"

Just then, a soft voice came from behind him.

"Fernando! Have you lost your mind? Stop it!"

Fernando recognized the voice immediately. He turned around and saw Joyce standing in the pouring rain.

Her body was soaking wet. Her breathing was labored, the white T-shirt clinging to her body stuck to her skin, and her chest was heaving with exhaustion. Her hair was a mess, her face pale.

Seeing Joyce in such a state, Fernando's heart suddenly softened. He immediately ran over to her and put his jacket around her shoulders.

"Joyce, why are you here? Oh my..." he said worriedly.

However, his concern was immediately rewarded with a hard slap on the cheek.

Plak!

Fernando fell silent.

Joyce's eyes were red, her lips quivering with anger. "You're really not a man!" she cried. "I've done all I can for this family, and you're suspecting me! How can you doubt me, Fernando?"

Joyce's gaze was sharp and painful.

Seeing her anger, Fernando realized that perhaps he had misjudged the situation at the hotel.

"I... I'll get back to you later!" said Joyce, her voice shaking with emotion.

She glared at Fernando, then walked quickly towards the men in suits standing nearby.

But as soon as she saw the Rolls-Royce with license plates from the capital, Joyce's steps stopped. Her body stiffened.

Oh no!

With that many cars, and those expensive license plates, they were clearly not ordinary people. How could Fernando dare to challenge a big man from the capital? Was he not afraid of being pushed aside?

"I'm sorry, sir," Joyce said quickly, bowing politely before Feynman. "My husband has been in a bad mood lately. He's emotional, so he's overreacting. I apologize for his behavior. Please do not take it personally."

Feynman immediately smiled kindly. "It's alright, ma'am. I understand. In a household, harmony is most important. But... you should not hit your husband again next time."

"Huh?" Joyce was stunned.

She looked at Feynman in confusion. Fernando had just punched and kicked their bodyguard, but Feynman was advising her not to hit her husband?

Isn't that... a bit strange?

Joyce looked down in shame. "I'm sorry..."

Feynman smiled politely. He took a large umbrella from the trunk of the Rolls-Royce and handed it to Joyce.

"It's all right. Go home with your husband. Talk things through. Don't use violence again."

Joyce was transfixed for a moment. The umbrella looked luxurious, pitch black in color, heavy, and when opened, it had a Rolls-Royce license plate logo on the inside. She could tell just by the look of it. An umbrella like this must be worth more than a hundred thousand dollars.

Before he could say thank you, Feynman was back in his car. The convoy of Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes-Benzes slowly left the scene, disappearing into the pouring rain.

Joyce took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She then walked over to Fernando, carrying an umbrella. Her gaze was sharp, her voice cold.

"See for yourself, right? Those people from the capital are so classy. And you?" He gave Fernando a disappointed look. "You even dared to hit them. It's a good thing they didn't get angry. Otherwise, you'd be in the hospital by now."

Fernando looked down. "I... I didn't mean it."

He didn't know where to start explaining. How could he say that the man who came by earlier was the butler of the Quinn Family household, and they had come to get him back?

"Hmph!" Joyce snorted in annoyance. "Never mind. Now quickly hold the umbrella for me. My car is still at the LT Hotel!"

Fernando could only nod obediently. He quickly took the umbrella from Joyce's hand, opened it, and walked with her through the rain.

Slowly, the two of them disappeared under the splashing water, accompanied by the curious gazes of the people still standing by the roadside.