Chapter 76

CHAPTER 76 The reactions of the people to the 280-pound man being lifted off his feet and getting sent crashing back were not subtle.

While Jane’s mouth and eyes widened, Jacob dropped the ice cube in his mouth. Dorothy opened her mouth so much her artificial teeth set came loose. Veronica covered her mouth with her hand.

Jane’s father came rushing in anger, but Jane stopped him.

Most people began to murmur, wondering what the hell was wrong with Benjamin. At the same time, some began running their opinions about Donovan. “Isn’t he a pro-wrestler? How can he lose to some waiter from nowhere?” “Are you guys sure he isn’t an imposter?”

Their words were clearly directed at Jane and her family and made them feel quite uncomfortable.

The police officer came to check up on Donovan who was knocked out cold. (I only received a weaker knuckle punch to the throat, but this big guy got a full-blown punch to the chin. If his neck wasn’t as thick, he’d have suffered some serious injury.)

Veronica came up to her father and said in a low voice, “Dad, why are you just standing? Go and teach him a lesson for hitting Jane’s boyfriend.”

“Did dogs eat your mind or what?” Jacob glared at her, sending a shiver running through her body. “If he didn’t even do that much to stand up for his wife, he’s not worthy to be living in my villa.”

Veronica was stunned to hear that. Did this mean Jacob approved what Benjamin just did? How could he back what the useless son-in-law did? she looked at her sister, hoping at least she would do the right thing.

Rebecca, however, stood right where she was, wearing a slightly complex expression. She pitied Donovan but at the same time liked what Benjamin had done for her. The remnant anger she was feeling from what happened in the morning had vaporized quite a bit in a matter of seconds.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, swallowed her own breath, wondering what would have happened to her had Benjamin slapped her at the Rye’s Pizzas. What if she lost a tooth or two? She couldn’t even imagine herself smiling with a missing tooth. She could always use artificial teeth, but why make matters worse with her own hand?

Benjamin just walked out, and people still kept staring at him as he left. Amidst the commotion, Dorothy sneakily stole a gold coin from the wooden gift box. She thought nobody noticed, but Jacob did. He also saw Nolan shoving the rare old wine button up his shirt.

Elizabeth saw no value in staying there anymore, so she also began to walk out. As she got lost in thought, she didn’t notice Jane’s grandma who was still sitting on the stairs and said, “I would love to wear those gold coins as earrings. Don’t know if they’ll be light or not, though.” Suddenly, something smacked her butt so hard, she jumped off her feet for a second and hissed in pain. She looked back, and it was Jane’s mother who had just swung her walking stick. “Why did you hit me, granny?” she rubbed her butt as it hurt quite a bit. “A thief is stealing our gold,” the old woman yelled and kept swinging the stick. “Stop right there! You damned thief!”

Elizabeth kept backing away, shouting she wasn’t a thief. Jane and her parents ran out and stopped the senile lady and made her sit down in a chair and told her it wasn’t a thief, but she didn’t believe them and kept telling that they talked about gold and whatnot.

Jane came to Elizabeth and apologized. “I’m sorry for what she did. She’s in her nineties now, so she even forgets that her husband is long dead. She thinks it’s her birthday every other week as my grandpa used to make her birthdays feel really special. Please don’t mind her calling you a thief.” “I-It’s okay, but if she’s attacking the guests, shouldn’t you tie her ankle to a pillar or something?” “What are you talking about?” Jane rebuked. “She’s not a dog!” “I never said she was,” Elizabeth didn’t back down. “It’s better to bind her ankle than to send her to a mental hospital.” Jane gritted her teeth. “She isn’t a mental patient.”

Despite her efforts, Elizabeth didn’t look convinced. “You know that, forgive me for inviting you. I’ll be sending your diamond rings back through the post, so thank you for coming.” Elizabeth forced out a smile and came closer. “You better watch your mouth, girl, or...” she glanced at the apartment, “one fire accident can make you and your little family here the poorest in the neighborhood overnight.”

Jane frowned and couldn’t utter another word.

“Hmph, that’s more like it,” Elizabeth turned and walked away confidently and arrogantly. Jane, on the other hand, who thought her family’s future was secured was made to feel insecure with a mere sentence from Elizabeth. Her complete perspective over the adult’s affairs in the world changed at this moment. “Yeah,” she nodded to herself. “I agree that our apartment is our strength and weakness, but I’m sure everyone has some weaknesses, too. Though I don’t wish it, I would like you see you fearing losing your property just like I did. I wonder if you’d still have that arrogant look on your face.”

In the background, Jane’s mother was asking for her birthday cake.

Meanwhile, inside the apartment, the police officer wearing an informal dress woke Donovan up.

“What happened?” Donovan looked clueless. “Why am I...” Why was he down on the floor, his butt pressing down on one of the gift packages. And why were the guests looking at him with strangely unpleasant gazes? “So you didn’t even see the punch coming, huh...” the officer wasn’t surprised as he also fell victim to a similar attack.

Donovan’s eyes widened. Something suddenly flashed in his mind. He was standing with his guard down as Benjamin approached. He never expected Benjamin to attack him. Nevertheless, all his professionally trained eyes could see in that fraction of a second was nothing. Not even a blur of Benjamin’s arm moving. This made Donovan cover his face with his hand, as embarrassment and rage burned together in his heart. (To think I got knocked out before I knew it... Who the hell are you, Benjamin?)