Chapter 5
1135 Words
At the entrance of the Martin family villa.
Observing Grace Martin descending alone from the extended car, Emily Johnson sighed with compassion, "Grace, are you alright?"
Grace Martin forced a slight smile and nodded slightly, "Emily Johnson, let's go to the kitchen and bake cookies."
Throughout the afternoon, Grace Martin stayed in the kitchen with Emily Johnson, preparing cookies to bring back to Matthew Wilson.
Around eight in the evening, as Grace Martin was preparing to return to the Wilson family's mansion, the chauffeur Robert rushed in a flurry, stating that stepmother Jessica Smith had a headache and requested some antihypertensive medicine. Concerned about Robert making a mistake, Grace Martin decided to accompany him in the car.
The Martin family ostensibly ran a nightclub, but in reality, it harbored the city's largest underground gambling den. James Martin was merely a frontman, not the manipulator behind the scenes. One of the manipulators was none other than Matthew Wilson.
At the entrance of the casino, Robert retrieved a card-like business card from his suit's inner pocket, lightly swiping it in a faint slot on the wall. The door opened with a strange sound immediately following.
It's hard to describe; it was a complex symphony of sounds—playing cards, dice, roulette, various machines spinning, electronic music from slot machines, people's exclamations, sighs, cheers, women's screams, men's roars, and more, all intertwining to create an intricate atmosphere.
Entering the hall, Grace Martin saw a place only seen in movies: a casino!
This hall was spacious, covering over a thousand square meters. The foot traffic seemed impressive, with groups of people surrounding each gambling table. Grace Martin noticed that every guest here was impeccably dressed, both men and women, displaying a sense of propriety. However, overall, the majority were men.
Led by Robert, Grace Martin walked through the crowd and arrived at a door with an LCD monitor.
Two seconds later, the door opened automatically!
Inside, only three ordinary desks were visible. However, there was another door with a strong metallic texture inside, appearing sufficiently thick!
"Miss Martin, please wait here for a moment. I'll go out and handle matters first," Robert said to Grace Martin with a professional smile, then turned and exited.
Grace Martin surveyed the room and noticed a formidable-looking guard standing by the door. In front of the guard was an oversized screen displaying the situation outside the door!
So, there were cameras installed outside!
Grace Martin gave the guard a polite smile, and he did not speak, merely extending his hand, gesturing for her to sit.
Grace Martin settled on the two-seater sofa inside. She speculated that stepmother Jessica Smith must be behind this robust metallic door.
Indeed, after a while, the door opened with a muffled sound, sufficiently demonstrating its thickness. A dealer (casino staff) came out, carrying a tray with a colorful array of chips. Subsequently, a dialogue between a man and a woman emanated from within.
"Sister Jessica, would you like the young one to write an IOU?"
"Mr. White, what nonsense are you talking about? Two million is hardly enough to bother with an IOU. Are you underestimating the might of the Heavenly Dragon?"
Following their lighthearted laughter, the man continued, "How about this, next week, Mr. White will transfer ten million to the casino's account, sparing you the trouble of carrying cash back and forth..."
"No, that won't do! Your transfer might be convenient, but it will also attract the attention of the police. After all, ten million is not a small amount!"
Admiration indeed, for Jessica's foresight! Moreover, with James Martin's backing, aren't you overly cautious? With James Martin's influence, what is there to fear?
"Hehe... As the ancient saying goes, 'A careful voyage lasts a thousand years!' If Mr. White finds it troublesome, the next time you visit, I'll have someone assist you with your belongings, or I'll do it personally!"
"How could I dare to trouble you, sir? If James Martin, that devil, finds out, he might devour me! Hehe..."
As they spoke, they had already walked out of that metallic gate.
The woman, around forty years old, adorned in a light yellow qipao, with picturesque features, exuded an indescribable grace. Her tall stature, slender figure, and poised demeanor showcased elegance. Jet-black hair, skin like jade, and eyes that sparkled with charm. Every expression, every smile, revealed an enchanting allure. She resembled a blooming peony, beautiful yet not seductive, charming yet not vulgar, unparalleled in grace and allure.
"Stepmother!" Grace Martin exclaimed with joy, immediately leaping off the sofa.
"Grace Martin?! Why are you here?! Wait a moment; Mr. White and I have something to discuss!" Grace Martin's arrival surprised Jessica Smith, as she never allowed her daughters to meddle in the affairs of the casino.
Only now did Grace Martin appraise Mr. White at her stepmother's side.
That enchanting man.
Dressed in a black shirt, subtle and restrained in color, yet his presence remained strong.
His gaze upon Grace Martin, his eyes, an excessively pure black, thick and inscrutable, evoking a sense of fear.
Like soil saturated with sin, a demonic terrain.
His eyes lingered on Grace Martin's face for three to four seconds, a gaze that felt oddly familiar, inducing a sense of unease and suffocation in Grace Martin.
"James Martin wouldn't mistreat his daughter, raising her to be so fragile, would he?" Mr. White, with a hidden agenda, remarked.
"Mr. White, jesting as always! Grace Martin, this is Mr. White, the infamous kingpin—Cold-blooded White!" Jessica Smith introduced.
Kingpin? Grace Martin was astonished!
However, through her stepmother's seemingly indifferent gaze and casual words, Grace Martin's initial impression was that her stepmother was jesting with her.
"Jessica, have I ever been as terrifying as you describe? Don't frighten the young lady!" Cold-blooded White smiled at Grace Martin, a peculiar smile, eerily familiar.
Out of courtesy, Grace Martin reciprocated with a seemingly smiling glance.
"Mr. White is usually so magnanimous; how come he can't take a joke today?" Jessica Smith's words carried a hint of laughter.
"Is that so? Perhaps my luck isn't favorable today; I've lost a bit more..." Cold-blooded White didn't address Leng Min directly, just casually glancing at Grace Martin.
Grace Martin evaded his gaze, for his eyes were sharp enough to penetrate her clothing.
"Hehe... Others might not know, but I, Jessica Smith, am aware of Mr. White's influence! A few million inputs can indeed affect Mr. White's mood, can't it?" Jessica Smith chuckled.
"In that case, Jessica, wish me luck today!" With that, he walked straight out, the dealer carrying the chips closely following!
"Stepmother, is he truly a kingpin?" Upon his departure, Grace Martin immediately inquired.
"His identity, no one can fathom! All I know is, both the black and white paths fear him!" Jessica Smith lightly said.
- Writer
