Blondie punched in the last digits of the PIN with bated breath.
Everyone held their breath, âIncorrect PIN.â
Ivy kept a calm facade, but she was sweating bullets internally.
âSorry, Iâve got so many cards. I mustâve mixed them up. Try this one,â She stammered, trying to remember the right combination.
Blondie still clung to hope that it was just a mix-up with the PIN, not a zero balance.
If Ivy had not dangled the carrot of an additional two million, he would have been content with one million.
But now, after getting a whiff of three million, who could stomach walking away with just a million?
âInsufficient funds. Please use another card.â
Blondie saw red when those words popped up and lunged at Ivy, slapping her hard across the face.
Watching from the sidelines, Clara could not help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction wash over her.
âHa! I told you! That broad doesnât have the dough. You didnât listen! Now look at you, played for fools!â
Unfortunately, her gloating was cut short by a slap from Jack, who was none too pleased.
Raven grabbed Ivy by the hair. âYou think you can make fools out of us, huh?â
âI didnâtâ¦â Ivyâs voice was filled with pain.
Her face was numb from the hit, her ears ringing.
âYou didnât?â Raven slapped her again. âYou have the guts to make demands with no money? You must be joking! In fact, I think you were lying about your illness, too! Blondie, youâre the youngest-get a taste of this starlet. We canât get the cash. Weâll get our moneyâs worth another way!â
Raven stepped back, fuming, but Blondie had lost all interest.
What if she really was sick? He did not want to catch anything.
âStop. You promised no rough stuff.â Ivy tried to squirm away.
âBoss, what if sheâs really sick? Should I even touch her?â Blondie looked concerned.
âSheâs bluffing, trying to scare you. Sheâs probably clean!â
Clara blurted out, realizing that maybe Ivyâs tale of being diseased was just another lie.
She did not look sick at all!
They had been played!
Fear finally flashed across Ivyâs face as the thugs realized she had been lying all along.
âDamn her, making fools of us⦠I knew it! Those legs are too fresh for sickness.â
âAh!â
Before Blondie could touch Ivy, something heavy struck him on the back of the head. He fell to his knees.
Before Raven could react, a grim figure emerged, striding towards them like a revenant from the depths.
âWho the hell are you? Who let you in?â Raven demanded.
Seeing Balfour approach like a knight in shining armor, Ivy could no longer hold back her tears. âYou came⦠I knew you wouldâ¦â
Balfour frowned, disliking the sight of Ivyâs tears.
All this, thanks to the three goons in front of him.
Clara was stunned. Never in a million years had she expected Ivyâs sugar daddy to be such a young man.