บททั้งหมดของ An Expensive Meal and an Unexpected Meltdown: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Barron's words left me stunned for a full beat.The family's reputation?Dad dragged him out of a casino years ago, paid off his millions in gambling debts, gave him a home and a plot of land so he could start over. Back then, "family reputation" wasn't anywhere on his mind.Now, he was wrapped around a woman's finger and helping an outsider pick on his nephew, yet he was suddenly talking about saving the family's reputation.Looking at his face, worn thin by booze and debauchery, I felt nothing but deep disappointment.Meanwhile, Hilda was glowing smugly at seeing Barron completely under her control. She turned back to face the livestream like she'd just won a war."See that, guys? There has to be no mercy when you handle freeloaders!"With that, she turned and entered the house, only to come back holding an EDC machine. "Card or transfer?"She gave me a slow once-over before her eyes landed on the Patek Philippe watch on my left wrist. "If you're that broke, you can pawn that

The moment the words left my mouth, Hilda's smile froze. Even in her livestream, the rapidly scrolling comments came to an abrupt halt.She frowned and could barely believe what she had just heard. "Are you still trying to bargain with me?"Once again, her voice turned shrill.I ignored her questioning and looked straight into her phone's camera before calmly continuing, "Ten thousand dollars is too cheap. It doesn't match the Supreme Farmhouse Set Meal you've put together, featuring your imported Ardorian chives and classically trained gourmet chicken."I'll give you a million dollars."The entire scene erupted in uproar.Villagers gathered at the fence, gasped in unison, while her livestream comments exploded into endless punctuation marks of "?" and "!" They nearly obscured the entire screen."Holy shit! Did I hear that right? A million dollars?""He's snapped. Hilda must've broken his brain.""Even the top fans don't throw money like that! Is he rich or just stupid?"Mild

Law enforcement officers and the corporate team sprang into action with astonishing efficiency. Within minutes, Hilda's Farmhouse was completely taken over.Inspectors from the market regulation bureau marched straight into the kitchen. In under five minutes, they emerged carrying several large bags."Sir, we have something to report," one announced. "We found massive amounts of expired ingredients and materials without production dates, quality certificates, or manufacturer information in the freezer and storage room."On camera, an inspector ripped a bag of so-called "Ardorian air-freighted prairie chives" to reveal wilted, ordinary local chives. Nearby, the chicken coop allegedly housing the "classical-music-raised gourmet chickens" was surrounded by bags of feed heavily adulterated with hormonal additives.Everything was a stark contrast to what Hilda had boasted about on her livestream and the exorbitant descriptions on her price menu.Next, the tax officials connected profes

Watching Barron and Hilda claw at each other like stray dogs, I felt nothing but disgust.They fought for some time and finally stopped only when they were both exhausted. By then, their hair was disheveled and their clothes in disarray like two roosters who'd lost the same fight.I turned to Barron. "Uncle Barron, for Dad's sake, I can give you one last chance."Hope instantly flared in their eyes as if they'd just clutched at a lifeline. But I sighed on purpose and wore a complicated expression as if I was wrestling with a difficult decision."I can choose not to reclaim the house and land for now… As for the fines from the trouble Hilda stirred up, I can step in and cover part of them since we're family, but only if…"Looking at them, I hardened my tone and continued, "You both show real remorse."When Barron heard that the house wouldn't be immediately reclaimed and help was provided with the fines, his face lit up with relief. He showered me with effusive thanks and nodded h

The court's verdict swiftly arrived.Convicted on multiple charges, Hilda was sentenced to ten years in prison and a three-million-dollar fine. Every penny she'd conned, swindled, or cheated out of others was confiscated and used to compensate her previous victims.Barron was also sentenced to eight years of imprisonment and fined for illegal business operations, poaching protected wildlife, and a string of related offenses.The civil compensation lawsuit against Barron proceeded with exceptional smoothness. The old IOUs, bank transfer records, and every entry in Dad's ledger formed an airtight chain of evidence.The original two million dollars, plus 20 years of legal interest, amounted to an astronomical number beyond Barron's wildest dreams.Since I'd legally reclaimed the only house and land under his name, he no longer had a single asset to his name. He would be saddled with the insurmountable debt for life and declared a permanent credit defaulter.It meant that for the res