Hades Has Returned

Chapter 005

"Young Master Bailey, you... you bought a painting by Master Mason Wainright and gave it to Manager Lewis on my behalf?"

Tia Sutton rushed to Perry Bailey's side, her face a mask of shock and awe.

"Hey! Tia, don't get so excited. We're good friends; this is something I should do!" Perry Bailey laughed warmly, but as his gaze drifted toward Jack Brooks, his eyes turned cold. "And who is this?"

"Just a toad who just got out of prison. Ignore him!" Diane Lee walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of stir-fried wood ear mushrooms, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Young Master Bailey, you are too kind. It's enough that you came to visit, but spending so much money to help Tia... you really have a heart!"

She shot a dirty look at Jack. "Unlike some people. Haven't seen him in years, and when he finally shows up, he doesn't even bring a fart!"

Jack Brooks ignored her barbed comments. He looked Perry Bailey up and down calmly.

"That painting was my gift to Uncle George," Jack said flatly. "Since when did it become yours?"

The room went silent. Everyone froze.

"Jack Brooks, do you have no shame?!" Diane Lee exploded instantly, her eyes bulging.

"Do you have no idea what you're worth? That painting is an authentic work by Master Mason Wainright! It's worth millions! Could you afford that?"

"You want to claim credit for everything! Why don't you just say the Capital Grand Manor on Moonview Mountain is yours too?"

George Sutton looked serious. "Jack, this kind of joke isn't funny."

Perry Bailey waved his hand magnanimously, smiling like a saint. "Auntie, Brother Brooks probably feels guilty for coming empty-handed. He just wants to establish a foothold in the The Sutton Family, so he claimed the painting as his own."

"I understand."

He nodded solemnly. "Yes... let's just say that painting is Brother Brooks's!"

Then, he pointed to two bottles of Premium Grain Liquor sitting on the entryway table. "When I came in, I only brought two bottles of liquor. I certainly didn't bring * Misty Rain over Southriver *!"

Perry Bailey's strategy of retreating to advance was brilliant. It pushed Diane Lee's dissatisfaction with Jack to its peak.

"Jack Brooks! My daughter has already married you, yet you still want to steal credit from Young Master Bailey?"

"People need face, like trees need bark!"

"It's obviously Young Master Bailey's gift, yet you insist it's yours!"

"If you don't find it embarrassing, I feel ashamed for you!"

Diane Lee scolded Jack viciously, leaving him absolutely no dignity.

Tia Sutton also looked at Jack with deep contempt.

This guy has no ability, but his skin is thicker than a city wall.

He must have heard her mother mocking him for not bringing a gift, so he tried to steal the credit for the painting.

Truly despicable!

"Uncle George, I'm not joking. When I came in, I put the painting on the entryway table," Jack explained calmly.

"Ruby Jordan opened the door for me. If you don't believe me, ask her."

George Sutton nodded. "Alright. Ruby has been sleeping all day anyway. Dinner is ready; let's wake her up and ask."

"That child... playing on her phone until midnight every day. We need to find her a job soon!" Diane Lee grumbled as she walked over and banged heavily on the bedroom door.

Ruby Jordan opened the door, yawning widely.

"Ruby, did Jack bring a painting when he came in?"

"Painting?" Ruby Jordan rubbed her sleepy eyes, confused.

"Yes. Young Master Bailey brought an authentic painting by Master Mason Wainright. Jack insists he brought it, and he says you saw it when you opened the door," Diane Lee explained.

"Master Mason Wainright's painting? I didn't see anything!" Ruby Jordan blinked innocently.

When Jack arrived, she had been half-asleep on the sofa. She had stumbled to the door when she heard the knock, her eyes barely open.

However.

She did remember that Jack was carrying a scroll.

But so what?

Even if Jack brought a painting, it must be stolen. Or fake.

A person like him wasn't worth defending.

At this moment, everyone's eyes fell on Jack, waiting to see what else he had to say.

Diane Lee didn't hold back. "Nothing to say now, right? A shameless person like you would have had their tongue cut out in ancient times!"

"A waste filled with lies!"

Seeing Jack being ridiculed, a cold sneer flashed across Perry Bailey's lips.

"Alright, let's stop criticizing him. After all, Brother Brooks just got back and needs to prove himself. Everyone, please be understanding!"

"If he wants to prove himself, he should use real ability! Claiming a painting worth millions is his... how is that different from theft?" Ruby Jordan rolled her eyes at Jack and turned her head away in disgust.

This man is unbearable. My cousin marrying him is truly eight lifetimes of bad luck.

Jack Brooks laughed coldly. He looked at Perry Bailey.

"You have absolutely no idea who you have provoked," Jack said, his voice low and dangerous. "I advise you to be kind. Otherwise, you won't even have the chance to kneel."

"That's too much!" Tia Sutton's face darkened. She shouted, fierce as a tiger protecting its cub.

"Jack Brooks, are you done yet?! Young Master Bailey spoke up for you, and you dare to threaten him!"

"Don't know who you provoked? What gives an ex-convict like you the right to be tough? Do you want to beat up Young Master Bailey and go back to prison for a few more years?"

Jack looked at Ruby Jordan indifferently.

"If you are willing to think carefully, you definitely know I brought that painting," he said.

"I don't know what your intentions are in hiding the truth."

This girl looked pure and innocent, barely twenty years old. He hadn't expected her to be such a habitual liar.

Hearing this, Ruby Jordan hid behind Tia Sutton, feigning fear.

"Is Brother-in-law going to hit me too? Fine, fine, it was you who brought the painting, okay?"

"Auntie, Jack brought the painting. Please don't scold him anymore."

Seeing Ruby Jordan's pitiful act, Diane Lee was furious.

"Jack Brooks! You useless waste! You steal Young Master Bailey's credit and now you threaten Ruby?!"

"Believe it or not, I will beat you out of this house right now!"

"Enough!" George Sutton shouted, stopping the chaos. "This matter ends here! No one mention it again!"

He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "We got the project, but we need to bring one hundred million dollars to sign the contract the day after tomorrow."

"The Sutton Group only has a few tens of millions in liquid funds. Has the bank loan been approved?"

Tia Sutton shook her head, her face falling. "I just called. The one-hundred-million-dollar loan application was rejected again."

"Sigh!" George Sutton sighed heavily. "We can't get back the thirty million owed by the Myriad Dragons Chamber, and the loan wasn't approved. Even if we have the project, we can't sign the contract."

"If this continues, you won't be able to stay on as President much longer."

"Don't panic. Staying up all night worrying won't help," Diane Lee said, though her face was also clouded with worry.

A sly glint flashed in Perry Bailey's eyes. He coughed twice to clear his throat.

"Auntie, didn't Brother Brooks say he bought the painting?"

"Someone who can afford a painting worth millions must have significant ability, right?"

"Why don't we let Brother Brooks ask around?"

After saying this, Perry Bailey turned to look at Jack, his face full of mockery.

An ex-convict just out of jail. A Hillbilly from nowhere.

He probably can't even get through the front door of a bank. Let's see how he ends this!

However.

Jack Brooks spoke calmly. "Sure. It's just a small matter."

"A small matter?!"

Hearing this, everyone looked at Jack in utter shock, their eyes popping out of their heads.

"Shut your stinking mouth!" Diane Lee roared immediately. "'Just a one-hundred-million-dollar loan'? Do you own the bank?"

"No one will think you're mute if you don't speak! Say one more word and get out!"

"A waste who has to show off about everything!"

Jack's face darkened. A cold light shot from his eyes like a knife. "Are you finished?"

If it weren't for helping George Sutton with his troubles, he wouldn't want to step foot in the The Sutton Family home at all.

"What? You want to hit me?" Diane Lee was startled by Jack's grim expression but stubbornly retorted.

"Auntie, there's no need to get angry. I'll help Tia ask Apex Bank," Perry Bailey quickly stepped in as the Peacemaker.

"That would be wonderful, thank you so much, Young Master Bailey." Diane Lee's face turned from cloudy to sunny instantly, nodding with a smile.

"Uncle George, it's getting late. I'm going back."

Jack suddenly felt bored. He picked up his canvas bag and walked out of the The Sutton Family home.

He was already in a bad mood today. He couldn't be bothered to waste his breath on them or endure their cold faces any longer.

George Sutton frowned. He was so vexed by the loan issue that he didn't try to stop Jack.

Jack arrived at Moonview Mountain.

This was the wealthiest district in Northriver. There were over twenty villas halfway up the mountain, the cheapest of which cost five hundred million dollars.

And at the very peak sat the Number One Villa, named "Capital Grand Manor." Its interior area exceeded thirty thousand square feet, and it was valued at three billion dollars.

It had been the property of the War God of the North, Tyler Jennings.

Now, the owner of this villa was Jack Brooks.

Jack took a shower. Afterward, he went to the garage and saw over a dozen supercars parked there.

Maybach, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Koenigsegg... it had everything.

Jack chose a Lamborghini and drove down the mountain, intending to go to the riverside for some fresh air.

"Hmm? Is that him?"

At the foot of the mountain, Winter Lacy slammed on her brakes, shocked beyond belief.

Just as she arrived at the base of Moonview Mountain, she saw a Lamborghini roar past, speeding down from the summit.

"Who is it, My Lady?" asked Tina Cheney from the passenger seat.

Winter Lacy frowned deeply. "I think I just saw Jack Brooks coming down from the mountain... driving a Lamborghini..."